A Special Day!

It certainly was a day to celebrate – my dad’s 90th birthday! 

  
He’s a veteran of World War II with a purple heart (that’s him in the middle there),

and as charismatic now as he was back in the day!

As I’ve mentioned here before, he favors the character Rhett Butler from “Gone with the Wind,” 

And he married Scarlett,

of course,

which happens to be my mom… ;)

Their lives would make for an epic novel, no doubt about it!

 
Well, all of these aren’t “Rhett,” in character, so to speak, but here’s some pictures of Clark Gable…

 

And my dad…

 

My parents do resemble the actors a bit,

but what’s more, they remind us of Rhett and Scarlett!  :D 

He’s an amazing guy, my dad.  

He has a way about him – a classic southern gentleman to be sure.

He exudes charisma & could charm the birds from the trees!

 

He never meets a stranger, and with his quick wit, he manages to get a grin out of just about anyone, even if they’re the most dedicated sourpuss.  

He and I share a number of interests like history, collecting old recipes, a love for cameras and preserving memories , a love of nature and God’s creatures… 

This little puppy’s name was “Pandora” and he is bottle feeding her.

Now my dad doesn’t always think inside the box, “Pandora’s box” I’ll say, when it comes to his pets…

Where typically most people think dogs or cats with pet ownership, he does too, but not quite like you would imagine.

This is his idea of a house cat…

 

His “house cat” was an ocelot named “Savage.”  Savage liked girls.  My dad tells me that Savage would crawl up next to them and go to sleep like a kitten.  On the other hand, he didn’t much care for men, but he respected my dad.  My dad did a lot of traveling across the country, and Savage went too.  What a sight it must have been to see Savage sitting up in the back dashboard of my dad’s car!  

Other unusual animals that I remember my dad having are peacocks and a variety of exotic birds in his backyard by the lake, and llamas across from his house, which were really cute!

I love my dad’s zest for life, and there is a lot to be learned by it.  He doesn’t let challenges get the best of him, and his attitude reflects that there is too much to enjoy in life than to focus on the negative.  Optimism is his forte! 

Daddy and I both live 20-25 miles outside of town, in opposite directions.  So we typically meet each other in town for lunch when we can. 

After 3 course lunches, he with his iced tea and then coffee, and I with my iced tea and lots more iced tea, we linger a while.  Then we usually sit in his car and visit some more.  He always has interesting things to show me and tell me about.

 

All that to say, I’m so blessed to be able to celebrate this 90th birthday with him and it is with great joy!  A picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a picture of him on that special day!  

With much love I celebrate my dad, who is so dear to my heart!

From Doubting to Believing

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”  Mark 9:24

This man believed.  He had doubts too.

Do you ever feel that way? 

Faith is necessary for salvation. 

Faith in the blood of Jesus – yes – that is just what is needed.  In Romans, scripture tells us that faith will count as righteousness.    

“…the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…  Romans 3:22

Unto all, and upon all, that believe.  That means me.  That means you.  

God did not turn his back on this desperate father that we read about in the Gospel of Mark who believed, yet struggled with doubts.  Crying out, this man asked for help not only for his possessed son, but also with his own unbelief, & Jesus did just that as He changed this family’s lives that day.

I needed faith, & God changed my life too.  I was young, & not very armed with God’s truth, but my salvation began with a choice.

I chose to believe.

Limited in knowledge & understanding, with inborn & life given fears mixed with a dash of cynicism, I decided to follow Jesus.   

Before too long, I found myself asking Him to help me with doubts and unbelief that cropped up, as Satan enjoyed toying with my frailties.    

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”  Matt. 7:7

In time, many an experience would increase my faith in the Savior whom I know is trustworthy.

Here are a few things that I’m hoping will help to increase your confidence in Christ, or help you to be armed when you come across someone that is struggling with fears & doubts about trusting Jesus as their Savior.  

1.  Obviously, Jesus is a historical fact.  For the Bible skeptic, there is other historical documentation that tells of Jesus’ healings, followers, death, & resurrection.  An example is this excerpt from The Antiquities of the Jews/Book XVIII by Flavius Josephus:

“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.” 

                                        
Seeing that even some secular history testifies to Jesus can be helpful. 

However, God’s Word is our most reliable source.
 
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”  1 John 5:9 
                                                                              
 
2.  The old testament is full of prophecy that gave Israel the ability to rule out any imposters & validate the genuine credentials of the Messiah.   

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14  (See also Isaiah 9:6; 45:21-22; and 53, just to name a few…)

These scriptures were written hundreds of years prior to the birth of Christ!  The prophecies of the Old Testament confirm with certainty the identity of Jesus Christ.  The odds of someone matching up to these prophecies were astronomical, yet He was a perfect match.  

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,” Gal. 4:4

The fullness of time did come, and God loves us so much that He sent forth His Son.  Not just a prophet, not just a teacher, not just a man of God.  The Son of God.  The Savior of the world… 

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

3.  When we get down to it, skepticism is doubting the truthfulness of God. 
 
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”  1 John 5:10

God does not deceive.  He tells us in His Word that His Son Jesus is the only way to eternal life. 

4.  I’ll set the scene here on my fourth and favorite point.  The disciples were terrified.  Their intimate friend, the one that called them to be fishers of men,

the one that they saw heal the sick, that turned little into plenty, that walked on water…had been apprehended and was to be crucified.


Imagine the panic they must have felt!  They deserted Him… 

Cowards!  …? 

(Did I grab your attention?  Truth is, had I been in their sandals, I may’ve done the same, but I really don’t want you to miss this point…)

They deserted Jesus.  Why do you suppose they did?  Out of fear?  Doubts?    

But they were anything but cowardly after the resurrection… Why do you think that is…?  

These same men BOLDLY preached Christ, in spite of knowing that they too would likely suffer death for doing so…(And all did with the exception of John).  Yet they courageously preached the gospel!

There is only one logical conclusion.  All doubt was erased and fear paled as these men saw with their own eyes that Jesus was alive.  

In the words of John: 

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 
1 John 4: 14-15        

5.  The disciples weren’t the only ones that would risk life & limb to spread the gospel. 

Because of his Roman citizenship, mixed with his background of a Jewish education, Paul was afforded a life full of opportunity & worldly comforts.  Yet once he experienced Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul traded in living the good life for spreading the gospel, which resulted in being chased, shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, & imprisoned.  Yet that was okay by him.  He was a man on a mission!

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” he writes, in Phil. 1:21.

Within weeks of the resurrection, thousands more abandoned their religious & social practices, becoming convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, in spite of facing the possibility of brutal Roman persecution.  

Ah, my friend, these few evidences that I’ve mentioned here are just the tip of the iceberg.  There is so much to say on this subject that I could fill a book!  But I won’t.  God did that already.           

Sugar Cookies

I love recipes that are handed down, and this one is from my dear Aunt Agnes, who celebrates her 94th birthday this week!  (She is my husband’s aunt, technically, but I claim her!)

These are thin little cookies, with crisp edges and soft middles when baked just until the bottoms and edges turn slightly golden.  Enjoy their simple goodness, or dress them up with pecans, white chocolate chips, or a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar, etc.

Sugar Cookies

2 sticks of butter, softened (no substitutes)
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla 
2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl. (Doing this by hand works fine.)  Add egg and vanilla. (A capful of vanilla = 1 tsp.)  Stir well.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.  Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and stir just until combined.  Chill 2 hours.  Roll in small balls, flatten with a fork or jar dipped in sugar.  Bake 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today!  I am so glad that you did!

Discovering Your Child’s Leaning Style

Like us, many of you are getting in gear with school again.  This brings to mind the basic learning styles.   

Since the kinesthetic learner is a hands on kind of kid and learns by doing,

the visual learner excels by seeing and watching demonstrations,

and the auditory learner does best with verbal instruction,

your child will benefit by you identifying his/her learning style and accommodating accordingly, whether you are homeschooling, helping with homework, or teaching life skills.  

Most children have one dominate way that they learn best, yet will likely have some characteristics that are common to all learning styles.

Here are a few questions that will help get started discovering what your child’s learning style is:

1. How does your child learn to read or how do they learn spelling?

Kinesthetic - tend to be restless when reading and struggle with spelling
Visual – recognizes words by sight
Auditory – learns to read well by phonics, enjoys reading out loud, and spells words by the way they sound

2. What is your child’s handwriting like?

Kinesthetic – may begin their written work neatly, but as space gets slimmer, neatness declines
Visual – neatness and appearance of their penmanship is important and usually makes letters proper size and spaces words neatly
Auditory – letter size may be the same, not differentiating the size of capital and small letters

3. How does your child remember things?

Kinesthetic – doesn’t do well with things that are seen or discussed
Visual – tends to jot down notes; remembers faces, but forgets names
Auditory – memorizes well with repetition; is usually good at remembering names of people

4. When problem solving, how does your child react?

Kinesthetic – impulsive, reacts physically
Visual – list problems, organizes and plans in advance, usually purposeful
Auditory – seeks solutions by talking problems out

5. How does your child express emotions?

Kinesthetic – reacts physically
Visual – reacts with facial expressions
Auditory – reacts verbally; changes tone and volume of voice

6. When faced with new situations, how does your child respond?

Kinesthetic – touches, feels, and tries things out
Visual – observes
Auditory – talks and asks questions

7. During inactive times, what does your child do?

Kinesthetic – brings something to do or otherwise fidgets and finds reasons to move
Visual – finds something to watch; doodles or views surroundings
Auditory – talks, or makes sounds such as singing, humming, whistling

8. How does your child converse?

Kinesthetic – uses gestures to express himself/herself and often will use words such as get, take…
Visual – may be quiet rather than talkative, brief when describing; uses words such as look, see…
Auditory – may be a talker, has lengthy descriptions; use words such as listen, hear…

9. What approach does your child have towards appearance?

Kinesthetic – comfort is priority rather than style
Visual – meticulous; not likely to vary much in appearance of clothing
Auditory – can explain choices in clothes; matching clothes may not be priority

10.  When given written instructions, how does your child respond?

Kinesthetic – may dive in and attempt to do task without paying attention to the directions
Visual – will likely read instructions carefully and methodically follow them
Auditory – may feel overwhelmed and prefers instructions to be explained

If your child is Kinesthetic:
Not only is working with hands important, but they learn better with whole body movement.
Allow for frequent breaks.
Fiddling and fidgeting is not usually an act of rebellion, and this student will learn better in a comfortable spot, rather than a desk or chair.
(I took me a while to grip this with my oldest child when I began homeschooling my little energetic five year old.  I had created a school room, with a school desk and the works, and had my sights on this perfect little environment with a perfectly well postured little student, only to discover that he fiddled with his pencil and did gymnastics at his desk.  In contrast, I had his full cooperation [almost, anyway :)] with projects and learning games.)
Incorporate plenty of field trips, experiments, puzzles and games, computer work…

If your child is visual:
Use plenty of pictures, charts, and outlines as learning aids.
Maintain a quiet environment for this student.
Be aware that doodling on paper doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention.
Encourage to note take or highlight.
When giving verbal instruction, write down key elements for them.  (Dry Erase boards with colored markers works well.)

If your child is auditory:
This student may work better by quiet music in the background.
When appropriate, allow this student to answer questions orally.
Reinforce work by discussion.
Explain things well and paraphrase key points.
Reciting and repetition helps this student with memory work. 

Once in a Blue Moon

My husband and I had a misunderstanding.  Requesting that he set the potted mums that were no longer blooming over on the side of our house where they wouldn’t be seen (pots and all), he dumped them out of the pots in the woods that is to the side of our house, instead.

Ha!  Well, I suppose he is entitled to an occasional Amelia Bedelia moment, considering what he has put up with in me all of these years!  

That happened last winter. 

Imagine my surprise when we stumbled upon those mums at the edge of our woods, thriving and blooming, as if they had been planted!  Not that they make for a great picture in the middle of August in the deep south, but I want to show you anyway!

Perhaps the rare, mild summer, along with ample rain all contributed to their wellbeing!

I don’t mind that the end of summer is drawing near, but I will miss some of the blooms.  Not so much the perennials, knowing that they will return, but it is hard to let the annuals go! 

As for my coleus, there is a simple solution.  I will just break off a few pieces and root them in water.  Once rooted, they will continue to thrive through the winter after being potted and kept indoors beside a sunny window.  My grandmother always had coleus, although a different variety than these, and I’m fond of them as a result. 

I learned something today.  My husband’s SUV started running rough, and his engine light came on.  We held our breath…  But, it turns out, the only thing wrong is that the gas cap is cracked.  Not putting it on tightly can cause the same issues!  Huh! That was good to know!  Plus, I’m glad to breathe again!

I found this wonderful print at a rummage sale that I want to show you.  It was love at first sight, but then there was another layer to my delight…

After finding a name on the back, I discovered it belonged to my fourth grade art teacher!  I am so glad to have something to remember her by!

Well, if there is something that you have wanted to do “once in a blue moon,” tonight is the time to do it!  There will be a blue moon tonight, and it won’t happen again until 2015! 

Savoring the remaining remnants of summer, I wanted to take a little time to say hi to you.  But for now though, a good book and a good little friend, with a not so good, silly even, haircut awaits me.  That would be the fault of “yours truly,” I am afraid.  I wish you could have seen how embarrassed she was when the other dogs saw her after I finished.  Poor baby!  I’ve had a few haircuts myself that left me feeling that way too!  How about you? 

When Life Makes You Say…

“But I just don’t know what on earth to do in this situation!”  God is your Counselor.
(Ps. 119:24; Is. 48:17)

“But I am afraid!”  God is your Protector. (Joshua 1:9; Ps. 91:1; John 14:27)

“But I’m so lonely!” God is your Unfailing Friend; your All-time Companion that has your back 24/7. (Deut. 31:6; Is. 49: 15-16)

“But I feel so weary and weak.”  God is your Strength, and His Power is more evident in times of weakness. (Is. 40:31; 2 Cor. 12:9-10)

“But my life is overwhelming.”  He is your Firm Foundation.  Allow Him to keep you steady, by walking closely to Him. (Ps. 40:2; Ps. 46:1; Rom. 8:37)

“But my life is full of chaos and confusion.”  The Holy Spirit’s continuous presence is with you to guide you. (Is. 54:10; Ps. 32:8; Prov. 3:5-6)

“But my world is upside down and I feel uneasy and fearful of the present and future!”  God is your Hope. (Deut. 31:6; Ps. 31:24; Ps. 43:5)

“But I need…” God is your Provider. (2 Cor. 9:8; Phil. 4:19)

“But I’m just not content with the way my life is.”  Contentment and joy come from our relationship with Jesus, not our circumstances. (Is. 26:3-4; Ps. 107:9; Phil. 4:11-12) 

“But I am physically sick, and emotionally drained.”  God is your Great Physician, your Healer, and although we may not always understand His ways, we can trust Him, because He always has our best interest at heart. (2 Cor. 12:9; Ps. 103:3)

“But I feel so sad and rejected.”  Rest in His arms.  He is your Comforter.  He will never reject you. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Gal 6:17)

“But I feel shattered and broken hearted.”  Allow the Lord to use this, my friend.  He will heal your broken heart. (Ps. 34:17; Ps. 147:3; Is. 61:3)

“But my life seems hopeless!”  Hopelessness, to a person that is saved by grace, may be a matter of not understanding.  Peril can cloud our thinking.  If we only knew what He has in store for us, though! Look beyond the raging storms in your life and allow God to enlighten you.  He will provide you with much reason to hope and rejoice! (Eph. 1:18-20; Jer. 29:11)  

“But I feel so unloved.”  Jesus loves you so much that He died for you so that He can be with you forever. (Rom. 8:38-39; John 15:9; Eph. 3:17-19) 

“But I am facing a terrible battle!”  God is your Victorious Warrior and He is committed to winning the battle for you if you will follow Him. (Deut. 33:27; Ps. 34:7; 2 Thess. 3:3)

“But I’ve messed up.”  God is full of forgiveness, and mercy, and grace if you have trusted Jesus as your Savior. (Ps. 86:5; Rom. 10:9) (If you would like to know more about trusting Jesus as your Savior, click here.)

“But you don’t know how terrible my circumstances are!”  That is true, but God does.  He will be with you.  Seek Him wholeheartedly. (Jer. 29:13) Allow Him to guide and instruct you.  Don’t focus on your troubles, my friend, focus on Jesus.  Be consumed by His call; trust and understand that “all things work together for good.” (Rom. 8:28)  When you do that, life will take on a new significance and meaning, and you will discover and experience joy, regardless of the challenges that you face. (Ps.32:8; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Phil. 1:6)

Graphic designed by my friend Abby @ http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com/

Time for Summer Ramblings

Hey there, dear bloggy friends.  What have you been doing to pass the time this summer?

We’ve had a leisurely summer, and stayed cool by watching a few family movies.  My favorite “at home” movie picks so far this summer are:

1.  Unconditional - It was so well done and underscores God’s love.  Although very clean, I wouldn’t recommend this one for the kiddos, unless the parents check it out first due to some intense moments and violence.  Keep a Kleenex handy, a full box of Kleenexes handy!  You can see the complete trailer here, and read a review here.  You don’t want to miss this sweet movie!

2.  Last Ounce of Courage – This movie does a heart good in patriotism.  Good stuff!  See a review here. 

I have been on a history kick and have enjoyed a few afternoon “Sunday drives,” taking pics of old houses:

Isn’t the entranceway to this home beautiful?  Serene.  Peaceful. 
This old southern home is just down the road from us. 

Across the street from it is a home that General Sherman stayed in during the Civil War; 

I guess he liked it, because it’s still here!

I don’t know the history of the one below, but perched gracefully on a hill near the railroad tracks, I suspect it has a story too…

I have a thing for this house, and need to do some investigating and see if I can find out some history about it.

Now, let’s fast forward a few years…

In it’s day, the local old geezers used to meet here, gathering around the fireside on wintery mornings, getting their fill of warm coffee and juicy gossip in this old country store.  I hear tale that a feller could get educated here! :)  Kinda puts me in the Mayberry mood!  (Who am I kidding?  I’m always in the Mayberry mood!)

We got a little Indian history this summer, too, as we traveled to a reservation and attended an Indian fair, which was chock full of handcrafted items,

and fun entertainment. 

(Did you know that Manhattan Island was purchased from the Indians for about $24 in trading goods?)  (Random trivia moment…) 

Back down here in the south…

Here are my sweet gals as they attend a bridal shower on a sunny, Sunday afternoon.

We are looking forward to that special wedding, which is just around the corner.  Don’t you just love weddings?!

Speaking of things we love, we’re due to pay the library a visit soon. There’s nothing wrong with a digital book, but there is nothing like a library full of good books.

 

A hamster on a wheel is a fitting description of me

each morning this month on my treadmill, where I catch a little reading time.

My dear friend over at Life on a Back Road

       has me motivated with her

 “Put One Foot in Front of the Other Challenge.”

I have had to slow down the past several days,

                                            but I am holding out hope

                                              that I am soon to be going again.

Christmas in July is always a way to refresh the mind and spirit,

and I’ve been having fun over at Mrs.T’s Christmas Kitchen.

You will find lots of inspiration and ideas over there!

After my little sweetie's sewing lesson on Wed. afternoons with a kind lady that lives at my mom’s retirement village, we oftentimes sit outside at McAlister’s Deli, chattering with my mom while enjoying their yummy sandwiches and sweet tea. 

One such evening, several weeks ago, our 30 minute drive home was breathtaking.  As soon we pulled into our driveway, my youngest and I scurried over to the pond, with flip-flops on our feet and cameras in our hands, attempting to capture the beauty of God’s painted sky, which I will leave you with.  Hope ya’ll are having a fun summer!  Stay cool!

Food Safety for Dogs

Some things are obvious not to give a dog to ingest, such as caffeine, alcohol…

But did you know that onions and garlic are dangerous for a dog to ingest?  Even though both are good for us, they are toxic to your dog as they destroy a dog’s red blood cells.  This includes every kind, whether it is raw, powdered, dehydrated, or cooked.  Even small frequent amounts over time are dangerous. (Be aware that some baby foods contain onion powder.)

Most all of us have heard that it isn’t safe to give a dog chocolate.  That is true.  Theobromine is the toxic agent in chocolate and it is in all forms, including white chocolate.  Chocolate can cause gastrointestinal issues, as well as heart arrhythmia, seizures, tremors, and potentially death.

If dogs ingest macadamia nuts or avocados, it can be fatal, and takes very little to make them sick.  Nutmeg is also toxic to your K9 pet. 

Raisins and grapes cause kidney failure in dogs. 

As with people, ingesting raw eggs, meat, or fish may cause food poisoning.  With dogs, raw eggs inhibits the absorption of B vitamins.  Raw fish contain bacteria that can cause “fish disease” in dogs and may be fatal within 2 weeks if untreated. 

Dogs should not have any kind of seeds or pits.  Peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which makes the pits dangerous to both us and dogs.

Unbaked yeast dough ferments and swells in their tummies and will cause severe pain and possibly alcohol poisoning.

Watch out for foods that are sweetened with xylitol, as it can cause a dog’s blood sugar to dive dangerously low and it can cause liver failure.  Xylitol is also found in toothpaste, so even if Rover needs a little breath refreshing, don’t use your toothpaste. :)

Milk and dairy products should be avoided because it can upset their tummies.  

Fat trimmings is unhealthy to dogs, just like people, as well as too much sugary foods, which can cause blood sugar issues in our beloved loyal friends. 

Bones can splinter and cause obstructions and small bones can cause choking hazard.

Heavily salty foods such as chips or pretzels can cause ion poisoning.

Whew!  That is a lot to remember, so I made a graphic for you that you are welcome to use. 

Dangerous foods for dogs free graphic (click to enlarge)
(Background dog graphic is from thegraphicsfairy.com)