Why Bother?

One of my friends posted this quote on Facebook today...and it truly spoke to me.

I've been experiencing some "brain fog" lately, in the aftermath of family issues, the passing of my mother in law, and just plain exhaustion.  I haven't felt like writing...haven't been able to really focus my energy into saying anything worth saying, and was even toying with just taking a "Blog-cation"

(vacation from blogging) for a while...and this was posted today: (and I don't know who Todd Kaneko is...I hope he doesn't mind my sharing this)

So very profound...hit me right between the eyes and in the center of my heart.  Still, I'm not sure when I'll be back up to snuff in writing...but at least this gives me some very strong food for thought.
This is why we blog...this is why I blog...as God leads and gives me words to put onto this page...it's not about me....It's about you...that "someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your (my) words"...

That's why I "bother" with this blog...as long as God gives me "breath"....

My life verse:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19:14

I'll be back later...

Afternoon Tea Time and a New Perspective - One year later...

This was originally written almost one year ago (1/29/2017)...I like reading back over previous posts to see what I was doing this time last year...and if there is anything new or if I need to follow up on anything...and after reading this particular post I realized that I never followed up on what was so lovingly suggested to me last year by my hubby and several others...It all sounded so plausible and wonderful at the time...but like many great ideas it kind of went in one ear and out the other as soon as I closed the computer screen...That's sad.  It was a great idea. Praying that if God still wants me to do this He will help me get back up and try again...and not give up so easily.  That's all a part of this "renewal" project for 2018.  Being renewed to new life, new ideas, new dreams...and following God's leading to be/do all that He wants me to be/do. 

How about you?  Do you have any dreams or ideas that need to be revisited in this new year?  Can we pray for each other and encourage one another as we seek God's direction and trust Him to lead us in these pursuits? 

Thank you, all of you, who wrote such encouraging words last year. I am ashamed that I didn't follow up on this. Praying now that God will show me His plan. Amen.

Original Post 1/29/2017:
Yesterday I was thrilled to find this lovely little teapot at our local flea market.  I was drawn like a magnet across the yard to it as soon as my eyes rested upon it's loveliness.

As it turned out, I actually knew the couple who was selling it, and it belonged to the man's grandmother!  So that made it even more special to me.  I brought it home and cleaned it up and did a little research on the manufacturer of this sweet little teapot:

And I found out that the McCormick Tea Company in Baltimore, MD, actually contracted with the Hall China Co. from East Liverpool, Ohio to manufacture these pots back in the 1940's-90's.  This vintage teapot was most likely from the 1950's or thereabouts, which makes it at least as old as I am!

The teapot actually came with an infuser for loose tea, which was included with my pot...so I am thrilled that it came with all of it's original parts intact, with the exception of a little chip/crack in the infuser.

So naturally, a new teapot warrants a tea party, don't you agree? Since none of the men in the house were interested in attending an afternoon tea party with me, and since it was too blustery of a day to invite anyone over at such short notice, I decided to enjoy a little tea party with my favorite baby doll, "Baby Elva"...

Here she is, all dressed up in her pink party dress, which was actually my very own baby dress! So the teapot isn't the only antique at this party!

Anyway, as I sat here in my rocking chair, sipping Red Rose Tea from a sweet, delicate little bone china "June Bouquet" tea cup that was a gift from my Grandma "Elva" Mursch (yes, Baby Elva is named after my grandmother...and in honor of the March for Life/Sanctity of Life this week, click HERE for more on that story),

I picked up one of my delightful little books about tea time to read..."So Rare a Treasure" by Sandy Lyman Clough.  Sandy is a renowned artist as well as writer...and her claim to fame is her beautiful paintings of teacups and teapots and many other lovely antique treasures.

As I sat there reading and sipping tea and munching on a delicious store-bought "Chip's Ahoy made with bits of Reese's Peanut Butter cup" cookie, I was struck with a new perspective on something that I had been thinking about earlier today.

This morning my hubby was talking to me about my blog, in particular about the new series that I'm writing, "The Secret Garden Chronicles", and he was encouraging me to think about writing a series of small devotional style books---perhaps E-books...and his idea was that they didn't have to be 365 pages long with a devotional for every day of the year, which is what my goal had always been but I'd given up on because it was too exhausting...but that perhaps I should just put together maybe 20 chapters or stories, with the photographs that I take to go along with the stories, and that a shorter style of devotional book might be more realistic.

I kind of "pooh-pooed" the idea in my mind...(but I didn't tell him that), thinking that no one would want such a short book and it would be more trouble than it was worth, etc., you know...just being negative in my thinking...and then this afternoon I picked up this little book, and as I sat there reading through it while sipping my tea and eating my cookie, I noticed that it only had seventeen chapters/stories...and it was devotional in nature, writing about the things she loves...antiques, tea cups and other "treasures", with stories from the heart...

and I was enjoying reading this little book because it wasn't exhaustive...and it was delightful and encouraging...and suddenly I realized this was exactly the kind of book my husband was trying to tell me about this morning!

Now, trust me, I know he has never picked up this book or read anything quite like it, but he was describing it to me so accurately, that I have to believe he was inspired by the Lord to tell me this.

So now, what do I do with this idea?  I do what any God-fearing woman with a crazy idea would do...I pray about it..and seek God's wisdom first.

Psalm 37:5(NKJV)

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

If this idea truly is from the Lord, He will bring it to pass, in His time...and in His way.  So, dear friends, will you pray with me that God would give me a clear vision as to what He wants me to do?

Lord, I place this idea in Your hands today,

and I ask that You will guide me and give me wisdom.

Thank you for my hubby and his encouraging words to me today.

If this is truly from You, Lord, 

I commit this to You,

and I will trust You

to bring it to pass in accordance with Your will.

Amen.

A Blog About Nothing? No, That's Not True

It seems as though I should be writing something...but I can't figure out what it is.  That is how my mind has been working (or not working) here lately.  Lots of thoughts go round and round and yet they don't appear to come out here...(Remember the little song, "The music goes round and round, whoa oh oh oh oh oh, and it comes out here"?)  (Tommy Dorsey days...before our time)

Yeah...that should tell you something...my brain is stuck in gear and it keeps going round and round...but nothing happens...So...this may just be a blog about nothing!  Remember the Jerry Seinfeld show...they said it started out as a "show about nothing"...and look what a hit it became!  So maybe there's hope for me yet!

Maybe I just need to get back to my "roots"...

and write about what I know...

This was the Psalm we read this morning in our devotions, and this is what I know best:  

Psalm 145 (portions thereof)

1.  I will extol You, my God, O King;

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2.  Every day I will bless You, 

and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3.  Great is the Lord,

and greatly to be praised;

And His greatness is unsearchable.

4.  One generation shall praise 

Your works to another,

and shall declare Your mighty acts.

5.  I will meditate on the glorious splendor

of Your majesty,

and on Your wondrous works."

Yes, this is where I need to be...back to my roots...God's Word...where it all began... and every day, regardless of what other stuff may seem to be so important out there in blogland...I need to remember that my first order of business is to glorify God through the pages of this blog...to meditate  "on the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works."  

There are plenty of blogs out there on every topic under the sun...and that's quite all right.  I sometimes dabble in other things too...and like to tell about it...but if I get too far away from my base...God's Word...I begin to falter and lose my focus.  Thankfully:

14.  "The Lord upholds all who fall,

and raises up all who are bowed down.

15.  The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

and You give them their food in due season.

16.  You open Your hand and satisfy the desire

of every living thing."

21.  My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,

and all flesh shall bless His Holy Name

forever and ever."

You know, we have an awesome privilege here in "blogland"...to be able to declare God's "mighty acts"...and to "speak of the might of God's awesome acts."    I fear that someday someone may try to take this wonderful privilege away from us...and before that happens, I want to do my part to

11.  "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

and talk of Your power...

12.  To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

and the glorious majesty of His kingdom."

I hope you agree...this is what it's all about.

It's not  a blog about nothing at all!

It's about the most important thing in the universe!

13.  "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Your dominion endures throughout all generations."

Praise God!!!

Amen!

(Pictures from around my neck of the woods, some from last year's deer families and also some from this year...they are just getting started...so hopefully there will be more to come!)

To My Blogging Friends: What Drives You to Write? UPDATED 8/7/15

It's Random Journal Day!

View from My Open Window

Today is "Random Journal Day"...the first Friday of the month...and some of us brave folks open up old journals or other writings and dare to share them with the world.  Here is my offering for this month...something I wrote several years ago in my early blogging days...and I think it may be appropriate for today.  I still haven't written that book...but I've added quite a few blog posts to this site over the past several years...actually I am in my 6th year of blogging now!  Perhaps one day I will compile some of these "chapters" for a real book...but in the meantime...please feel free to peruse these pages and hopefully enjoy!  When you've finished with this page...you can go over to http://enthusiasticallydawn.com/2015/08/07/random-journal-day-53-with-debbie-anne-parent/#more-3846 to see what others are sharing today!



Original Post 6/6/2012

I've been wondering about something for a while, and kept meaning to sit down and write about it, but it keeps getting put on the "back burner" as other projects and thoughts come to the "front burner" of my mind.  However, since I haven't had too many new thoughts to share lately, I thought perhaps now would be a good time to approach this subject.  This is primarily directed toward my other writing/blogging friends...but perhaps there are a few of you who are "closet writers"...who still haven't gotten up your courage to put your thoughts out here in front for the whole world to see...and maybe you need a little extra push to get started.  That's what I needed...

To share a little history with you...I began writing this blog a couple of years ago while I was in between jobs... "unemployed".  After months of searching, interviewing, praying, sending out more resumes', and feeling a sense of rejection time after time as one door after another slammed shut in my face, I decided it was time to do something constructive with my time.  I began to look for a way to turn my "closed door" into an "open window" of opportunity.  (Link to "Closed Doors, Open Windows, The Beginning"

I have always wanted to write...and have kept a personal journal over most of my adult years, although it was sporadic and not very consistent.  As a pastor's wife (although not currently actively in pastoral ministry), my goal had been for a very long time to write a book for other pastor's wives...a devotional book or a guide for wives in ministry written from my own experiences to hopefully encourage, teach, and minister to my sisters in the parsonage.  But when my husband was no longer serving in a pastoral position, I felt that I was no longer "qualified" to write such a book. Who would want to hear from some one who had been there, but didn't stay there? (Although we did stay there almost 30 years). Besides, who was I to think that anyone would want to read anything that I had to write? We weren't famous, I wasn't "educated", and quite frankly I wasn't too sure that what I had to say would be all that helpful...after all, a lot of our experiences weren't exactly positive.  We had been through some very difficult places and times, leaving us feeling emotionally and spiritually burned out and wounded. If what I had to say couldn't uplift and inspire and comfort other women in similar circumstances, then it would probably be better that I kept quiet.  (Link to "Waiting"...one of my early posts)

One day I started playing around with my computer and discovered this "Blogger" program.  The more I delved into it, the more I found that it was actually pretty simple, and it was a way to start putting some of my thoughts down into a format that could be shared with an unknown audience....a way to test the waters and see if there was any response. (Link to "New Beginnings") During this time I also attended a Christian Writers's Conference thinking that they would jump at the chance to publish my book.  Boy, was I in for a rude awakening...but that's another story.(Link to Psalm 19:14 thoughts) What I did learn was that this blogging idea just might be the outlet I needed...and that instead of wasting my time trying to write a book that most likely would never get published...I could be "published" right away by writing this blog.  Sure, it wasn't going to make me rich or gain any fame...but it was a way to help hone my skills and get some feedback...which is exactly what it has done.

So my question is this:  Why do YOU write your blog, or a book, or poetry, or whatever it is that you are writing?  What are your goals?  Who is your intended audience? What drives you to continue...even when you may not feel like you are making much progress or getting much feedback?  I have had times of discouragement and frustration...(Link to "When Is the Cavalry Ever Going to Get Here?")  but the driving force behind me is a desire to share what the Lord has done in my life...in the simple things, and the complex things...in the good times and the bad times...with the hope and prayer that something may touch someone out there who needs that word of hope, comfort, encouragement or blessing.  That perhaps there may be one little word that breaks through the darkness and brings a hurting soul to the Light...

That is why I keep writing.  Some days are silly and fun, and other days may be filled with my own fears or tears...but through it all there is this hope and prayer:

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14

As long as I keep that thought in my heart as I write, I don't really need to worry about the outcome.  God will do all the rest.

Thank you for taking the time to read this offering. 

"The Lord bless you and keep you...The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."  Numbers 6:24-26     Amen.

This Is the Day...

One of my friends commented recently that I had not been blogging much lately...and that she missed seeing my blogs.  I was a little taken aback by that, as I thought I had been posting something at least once a week...albeit, some have been repeats, but it was still something.  But it got me to thinking that what she was saying was probably true...I haven't shared a lot of current original thoughts lately.  My response was that I've been busy, which is true.  So I decided to do a little review of my life and evaluate just what I have been doing...

Working...I do still work full time outside of our home as a Church Administrator (traveling 65 miles round trip 4 days a week) Although I am considered part time because I work less than 40 hours a week, my brain stays busy with the responsibilities of my job 24-7

One of the beautiful stained glass windows
in the church where I work

I am still married...quite happily, I might add, for almost 46 years...so that occupies an extremely large part of my time and energy, definitely 24-7!


My Hubby and Me...acting normal for us...




Bless their hearts, I still have two adult sons living at home...and that is another responsibility that I take seriously 24/7...even though they are mature, hard-working, and very helpful...a mother's heart is always thinking about her children...

My two ADULT sons looking for their Easter Baskets...

He found HIS basket...

Another Easter Basket found!

Add to that, my almost 92 year old Mother in Law stays with us most weekends...and that is also another 24/7 responsibility...(even when she's not here with us physically...we think about her 24/7)

Baking cookies with "Nanny"...

And then, on top of all of that, we have started a home Bible Fellowship, a.k.a. "church" in our home in the past few months...and that is another 24/7 responsibility:

Worship Time

And fellowship time

Now...where was I?  Let's see, I think I can count five different categories above that require my brain and physical participation 24/7 each.  (24/7 = 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)...every week...How is that possible?  

Oh, and then there are other relationships....friends, extended family, that we enjoy entertaining and communicating with on a regular basis...maybe not 24/7, but quite often....

Family gathering when our grandson came to visit from Maine

Ladies' Prayer Fellowship luncheon at our house

Wonderful "old" friends from the past here for lunch and visit

and THEN, there are my hobbies...besides writing this blog, I love to keep up with friends and family via Facebook and email...and my most favorite hobby is taking pictures of just about everything I see...mostly wildlife, flowers, clouds, sunsets, sunrises, birds, people,...you name it...if I see it, I will probably take its picture!

 

(Just a few of my favorite photos)

So,  Now I have to ask myself, "Why don't I write more often???"....and then I wonder, "How did I ever find time to write?"   Well, thankfully, God blesses us with 24 hours in each day, and somehow He gives me the strength and health and the desire to do all of the above, (and sometimes more) with joy and gladness.  

Now, this is funny...I was just trying to come up with a scripture to go along with this post, and the one that came to mind was:

"This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

and as I was on my way to grab my Bible to look it up, I also picked up my copy of "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young, and opened it to today's (April 11) devotional reading, and guess what it said?  (I am not kidding you...this is exactly how it happened...)

"This is the day that I have made.  Rejoice and be glad in it."

But the "coincidental" (if you believe in coincidence...) part of this is beyond even that particular Bible verse...and again, I had not read this before I sat down to write...it is happening just as I am writing it now...listen to the rest of the devotional that Sarah Young wrote specifically for today, and see if you can see any similarity of thought...

"Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life.  Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances.  The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them.  This act of faith frees you from resentment and frees Me to work My ways into the situation, so that good emerges from it.

To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries.  I knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour segments.  I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the weight of only one day at a time.  Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past.  There is abundant life in MY presence today."  

WOW!   I find this fascinating!  Why? Well, because as I was listing all of the responsibilities of my life above, I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed with it all...not complaining or resentful in any way, but just overwhelmed. And then I read this passage from "Jesus Calling", and it was as though God was speaking directly to me...reminding me to find JOY in each day...and to thank HIM for each and every circumstance and/or responsibility...trusting HIM to give me the strength I need to live one day at a time...and to focus my eyes on HIM...not on my present situation.

How about you? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with all of your responsibilities? I can imagine that many of you have much bigger and more difficult issues to deal with than I do. Mine are really not hard at all...they are a joy and a blessing as long as I don't allow myself to do everything in my own strength. That is the key to survival in this life...let God be present in your life...let His strength carry you through your busy 24/7 schedule. Stay focused on Him, be thankful...and enjoy abundant life in His presence!

Okay, now I've written something...I can cross that off the list for today!  Just kidding...this is my joy and act of thanksgiving...sharing what God is doing in my life today.  I hope it was encouraging to you in some way.  Have a joyful day, my friend!

The End!
(courtesy of the Red Bellied Woodpecker in my neighborhood, this morning)

I'm not really lost, just too busy to find myself...

Do you ever feel this way?  I've been wanting to get back to you (my faithful friends in blogland) for several days, and it seems the longer I wait, the more behind I get.  I noticed that all of my favorite bloggers have been writing away, and I've let this week just slip through my fingers.  But it was a good week...just too busy to take time for myself...or my blog.  Now I'm going to miss out on the RJD-Random Journal Day weekly selection from one of my old journals...and I'm also going to miss out on the Anne of Green Gables Tea Party over at Rose Chintz Cottage on July 9th,  and these were two events in which I had really hoped to participate this week. 

I've missed everyone's marvelous 4th of July posts...I am trying to get caught up and read them all...but to be honest with you, I just don't have time right now...and I am tired.  My eyes don't want to stay open by the time I sit down to read...and I find myself falling asleep "on the job".  Not that you are boring...absolutely NOT!  I need to recognize the fact that I can't keep up with everything and everyone like I want to and take care of my home, job, family, and myself. 

Does anyone else ever feel this way?  Do you ever get overwhelmed with all of the blogs, facebook posts, emails and other interesting items that you wish you had time to pursue on the internet...and find yourself getting more and more frustrated because there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all?  (Especially if you work all day outside of the home like I do and don't dare even look at it while on a break at work...or you'll never get back to your real job (that being the one that you get paid to do...but not necessarily the one you want to do). 

To illustrate my point I was just going to post a picture of myself asleep in my recliner with my mouth hanging open and looking absolutely hideous, but then I realized that I am using my husband's laptop, and I don't have any pictures saved in this computer.  What a shame!  That would have been a real hit!  Might have made this story a best seller!  It definitely would've given you a good laugh! Gee, I feel terrible that I can't post that picture...NOT!!  Ha Ha!  ...we needed a little comedic relief in this deep post... 

Well, my dear faithful friends in blogland, I do hope to get back to my normal routine of reading and writing very soon.  In the meantime, try not to write so many wonderful posts so I won't be so far behind in reading them!  I truly do want to read what you are writing...and I hate to miss out on all the fun with the special events previously mentioned...and maybe I'm just a little bit envious that I can't keep up the same pace as the rest of you.  But I will be back as soon as I get my act together again. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post tonight.  I appreciate the fact that it takes much quality and quantity time to keep up with each other this way.  We have a wonderful family of friends here in blogland...and I don't want to lose track of any of you...or you me.  You have brought much joy, laughter, food for thought and words of hope and encouragement to my life through your posts and comments. It is a part of my life that I highly value. 

And now I must get off of this computer and get some much needed rest...Good Night friends. Hope to see you again soon through "My Open Window". 

Random Journal Day #11-Remants from the Past Revisited

Here it is again..."Random Journal Day"...and I just stumbled upon a journal entry written on March 23, 1991, that links to one of my earlier blog posts: "Remnants of the Past".   Back in 1991 I was bold enough to actually submit an article to "Country Living" Magazine...which was in essence the same story I have written in the above blog post.  Here is what I said about this back in 1991:

Saturday, March 23, 1991, 10:26 p.m.:

"Kind of late already!  Just wanted to record some milestones from today...

1. I mailed a story to "Country Living" magazine today ~ "The Old Whelchel Estate", submitted to the "Reader's Corner".  I pray they will accept the story for print in the magazine.  But even if they don't, I enjoyed writing it~it was a step of faith for me to actually send it~kind of like a fleece to see if the Lord will encourage me to write.  Although this wasn't much of an inspirational writing...but it was something from my heart~a starting place to help me get going in all the writing I long to do.
2. Today we submitted our resume's to _____college.  We mailed them to ____(the President of the College).  This again was a BIG STEP OF FAITH.  We've been rejected so many times before.  And really things are going pretty well here now~God is blessing our church and ministry so much, so we aren't trying to escape a bad situation.  We have good jobs.  I have a job where I can do all the things I love to do.  My husband has some positions in the district (denominational), and we recently got a wonderful pay-raise, etc.  So no, it's not an escape~but it's the long standing desire to go back to ____ and teach that keeps driving us onward.  It's been the reason behind all of the further education over the years.  We believe now is the time~if ever there will be a time.  Next fall we will have two sons attending college full time there."

I went on to say:

"And Lord, we commit our future into your hands.  We don't want to ever step out of your will~for anything~no matter how long we've desired it.  So, please Lord, hear our prayer...and know our hearts.  We want to do what is pleasing and acceptable in Your sight."
 
 A couple of weeks later I wrote again in my journal:

"I received a letter back from "Country Living" magazine today. They couldn't use my story.  I guess I figured that.  I believe God wants me to use my talent solely for His honor and glory~and not my own.  So, in His time~I hope to do just that."


And no, we did not get the position we hoped for at the college. For some reason known only to God, that dream was never fulfilled.  We knocked on that door so many times that I am certain there are knuckle dents on the door...but God never allowed the "Closed Door" to be opened to us.  God had other plans for our lives...other places and people (and "Open Windows") that He needed us to minister to. This is probably one of those questions I would like to ask God about someday when I get to heaven...but it won't be necessary...because on that day I will understand with the mind of Christ.  He will show me the "bigger picture" that I can't see now, and it will all make sense at that time.  Until then, I will keep trusting and following my Savior in whatever way He leads.  He has never led us astray...He just hasn't taken us exactly where we hoped to go.  But that's His business, not mine.

And the writing...well this is it. May God be honored and glorified today. Amen.

Transported Back to A Genteel Age...

Hello Friends...It's time again for the Random Journal Day!  If you haven't followed along on these journeys back through time you have missed out on a few pleasant memories.  Scroll back through my list of blog posts and find the other Random Journal entries that I've shared over the past couple of months...and then click on the link for Random Journal Day and visit some of my other blogger friends who have also shared from the hidden pages of their past.  It has been a very enjoyable ride back in time. Maybe you'd like to join us and share some of your long lost "secrets"!

Today I am returning to the year 1985, and the date was September 24th, the day before my 35th birthday! Wow! My youngest son is now 35 years old...time sure flies when you are having so much fun in life...and I have been.  Let's look in on my memories of that day and find out what was going on, okay?

We had recently moved to a new home and ministry in Georgia, and had finally settled in. I was beginning to relax and enjoy my new friends, church, and surroundings.   I wrote in my journal that day:

"Our yard has many lovely trees and shrubs, and just now, as fall begins, we rejoice in the changing colors of the leaves.  Today I went out and picked marigolds, purple mums, and a beautiful miniature Tropicana Rose, blooming just in time for my 35th birthday...which is tomorrow. 

Tomato Curry Soup

Today I felt like royalty.  This very dear lady, whom I'd never met before, but who occasionally attends our church, Helen Barksdale, invited me and another dear lady from church for lunch in her home. What a delightful afternoon we spent!  For lunch we had a delicious home-made cream of tomato soup, with chopped green pepper, onion, and curry.  Then for the main course we had "Seafood Raft", a delicious seafood and cheese concoction served on a large cut deli-hard roll.  Dessert was home-made apple crisp (I think she called it that) ~ Very delectable!  We each had cups of hot tea served with lime wedges.  Her table was formally set with what appeared to be an old English Ironstone china set.

I felt transported back to a more genteel age ~ where ladies enjoyed formal luncheons and "tea", and polite conversation.  Mrs. Barksdale is very interesting...and truly enjoys talking and entertaining!  Very spry for an octo-generian (I'm guessing). 

This is Mrs. Barksdale's actual recipe book that she gave me after our luncheon together. I feel honored to have been given this, with all of her favorite recipes!  As I said, she was a remarkable woman!

I concluded with this thought...

"I thank the Lord for allowing me to have such a wonderful experience."

What an honor and privilege to be welcomed into the home of God's precious and interesting "characters".  These special people don't come around very often...and are rapidly disappearing from our society.  I am quite certain that Mrs. Barksdale has already gone on to meet her reward in heaven...but how marvelous that her memory lives on in the hearts and minds of those to whom she opened her home and heart.  The recipe book that I pictured here she had created especially for her children and grandchildren, so that they would have those family recipes to share with their loved ones and friends for years to come.  That was her legacy...her "claim to fame".  Although I barely knew her, she included me in her legacy by sharing something that was important to her...not just her book of recipes, but her home, her hospitality, and a part of herself.

I've been chatting with one of my other blogging friends this past week about how we need to leave a legacy to our children and grandchildren...and this blog is a part of that. Unfortunately, if we don't take the time to write it down or print it in a form that can be passed from one generation to another, it may be lost forever.  I don't trust our current computer technology to still be available to future generations. We tend to think that handwritten journals and printed books are obsolete.  But when all is said and done, the only real evidence of our writing will be what is on the printed page...something that can be held in our hands and cherished in our treasure chests. Cyberspace blogs and journals may disappear when the technology advances beyond this current age.  If these writings are not saved to a permanent file that is easily transcribed to the next level...they will be what is termed obsolete. 

I say all of this to suggest that we need to think seriously about the legacy we are leaving for our children. Many of us are sharing our faith, our hopes and dreams, our ideas and life experiences through this media of a blog.  My prayer is that this will have some positive impact on those who take the time to read...and that God will use these messages to inspire and encourage and perhaps even bring some laughter and joy to your day. 

However, if this blog is the only legacy I leave behind, I have missed the boat.  I need to be involved in the lives of people around me every day...whether through hospitality, prayer, encouraging words, or whatever way God leads me. It may be by cooking for my family or for friends in need. It should be by using the talents and gifts that God has given me for His honor and glory, no matter how small or great they may seem to be in the eyes of the world.  Helen Barksdale used her gift of hospitality and cooking to honor me when I was a new young pastor's wife in a strange community. I don't know if she even knew it was going to be my birthday on the next day, but she did something that she enjoyed doing to make me feel welcome, and I was truly blessed. That was how many years ago?  Twenty-Seven years!  And I still remember it! Why? Because I wrote it down...yes, that's partly why...and I'm sure I wouldn't have remembered so many details if I hadn't written it down...but also because she took the time to make me feel loved and special...a total stranger. I honestly don't believe I saw her too many times after that day...but that one day has been captured in time forever because she shared her legacy with me, and it made a difference in my life.

Why not make a difference in someone's life today? Use whatever talents and gifts God has given you to bless someone else...maybe someone who doesn't receive too many blessings in life...or someone who is lonely or new to the community or your church.  Go out of your way to share your legacy as soon as you can. You'll be blessed in the process probably just as much if not more than the recipient!  Try it and see!

Something as simple as a "Seafood Raft" could change a life!
Maybe you have a special recipe you could share to bless someone else!
It doesn't have to be fancy...it's the idea of sharing time and love with another
that makes the difference.
Remember, clicking on a photo will enlarge it so you can read it better!

These are the original recipes written in Mrs. Barksdale's own handwriting!
What a treasure!


Blessings to you, my friend!!!



Postscript:  When I was putting Mrs.Barksdale's Recipe Book away after writing this, I discovered a little note tucked inside that she had written to me when she gave me the cookbook. This is what it said:

"Dear Mrs. Steiner,  This book cover was made by Sharron Stubbs last Christmas to put my favorite recipes in for my granddaughters.  Just three people besides them have a copy.  I want you to have this one.  You have made me so happy talking to you this afternoon.

In Christian Love,

Helen Barksdale"

Now do you understand what I meant about the giver of the blessing being blessed in the process?  I believe Mrs. Barksdale was probably lonely...and she did what she did to bless me, but also because perhaps she needed to be blessed as well.  God works in mysterious ways.  I'm so happy I have this memory in writing to share with you today. This is why we need to write journals and remember these precious people and pass their blessings along to others.  Go and do likewise my friends!!