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A special gift of a weekend retreat….what a wonderful thing!

Our dear Kelley’s extended family graciously allowed us use of their delightful mountain town home for the weekend while we moved Skye into her Boone apartment for her senior year at Appalachian.

Last Friday, after assembling a desk & a chest of drawers, & arranging for a mattress & frame to be delivered, we ate a delicious supper in Boone, then headed to our weekend retreat.

From the rocking chairs on the shaded deck to the white-washed cathedral ceilings to the quilt-covered comfy beds, it was the perfect place to rest, read, (enjoy my morning coffee ‘which’ Keith delivered to me in bed:)–will mark that down on my calendar in RED!), cook breakfast, and watch TV:) We lingered there Saturday morning, resisting any urgency to get out & explore, go shopping, or finish decorating Skye’s apartment:)

And situated right between Boone & Blowing Rock:)

A blessed respite:)
Thank you to Kelley’s family:)

After getting married, Keith & I moved to NY, close to the town of Woodstock, and within a few weeks, the Woodstock Festival took place about 30 miles from us. The crowds grew daily as people flocked to the area. We were happy enough just watching the TV news about it:)

In September I began my junior year at SUNY New Palz while Keith worked third shift at IBM.
Sometime that fall Rev. Randall from the local UMC showed up at our cabin door to ask us to be counselors for the church youth group; that group became our family:)
That winter Keith brought home a sweet puppy we named Missy:)

And, gradually, we turned into hippies:)

And there was no air conditioning in the church–whoa!
So we got off to a steamy start!

My college (Sandhills Community College) girlfriends were my honor bridesmaids. My sister Christy, Keith’s sister Jeannie, and my childhood friend Linda were bridesmaids. Another friend from college, Helen, was my Matron of Honor. Jim Maness was Keith’s Best Man and Joe Biggerstaff was an usher, both college buddies. Another Sandhills CC friend, Felton Smith, played the organ, and he was excellent:)

This photo was taken the previous evening at the home of my Aunt Gala and Uncle Cliff who so graciously and generously hosted our Rehearsal/Reception party. It was a fun night, and I recall having a terrible case of giggles all evening!

God has blessed us abundantly through the years:) We have 3 great children, Cameron, Seth, and Skye, and a dear daughter in law Kelley (married to Seth). Cameron’s girlfriend Holly is a special part of our family as well.

Happy Anniversary Keith:) I pray we’ll have 40 more years of health, happiness, and laughs:)

Last night I finished reading John Adams by David McCullough–finally!

At excellent book about an amazing man who saw the vision of a nation independent of Great Britain, and acted on it. Together with Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, these three men were divinely brought together in time to formulate and execute the birth of a nation!

Adams was a God-fearing gentleman who never hesitated to give the Supreme Being His due.
He firmly believed that no man should own slaves, and even as his peer Jefferson heartily agreed with abolishing slavery, Jefferson, unlike Adams, owned slaves until his death.

A quote from Adams:
“The doctrine of human equality is founded entirely in the Christian doctrine that we are all children of the same Father, all accountable to Him for our conduct to one another, all equally bound to respect each other’s self love.”

Ironically, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson died the same day, July 4th, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

I recommend this book to all lovers of history and to lovers of the well written word.
Now, to see the mini series based upon it:)

(I read McCullough’s Truman a few years ago and thought McCullough told his story equally well:))

My Uncle Malcolm died Thursday evening.

The photo here shows his oldest brother in the foreground, Uncle Barney, sitting with him on the front porch of the home place. On a Sunday afternoon when I was a child, this porch was the gathering place of my mama’s brothers (my daddy was allowed there too:))

He was the last sibling to survive of the family of John Patrick Blue & Christian Ann Stewart Blue of Lobelia, NC.

An end of a generation raised in the Depression, who lost their father to a stroke in 1937 (when my mama was 12 and Malcolm & Clarence were younger) and pulled together to support each other during that extremely difficult time, the Blues were hard workers, plain God-fearing Presbyterians, who loved their Scottish heritage and spoke of that place (Scotland) as if they had seen it.

Uncle Malcolm himself was a printer by trade and worked most of his life for his brother, my Uncle Cliff, who owned The Sandhill Citizen newspaper in Aberdeen, NC

Tragically, of this Blue family in their latter years, Cliff, Malcolm, Catherene, and Clarence struggled with Alzheimer’s Disease. Their mama also, “Chrish”, ended her days with the same disease.
Barney and Marshall did not, thank the Lord.

This Sunday Uncle Malcolm’s funeral will be held after the Stewart Reunion at Cypress Church, near Vass, NC.; his Stewart family, his home church, the place and people he loved. And he will be buried there in the cemetery where most of the Blues and Stewart’s are buried. My mama use to love to walk among the grave markers there and tell us about her beloved relatives who had “gone on before her”.

Rest in peace, dear Uncle Malcolm. A humble man, a quiet man, who was devoted to God, his church, and his family.

May the LORD comfort Aunt Herminia, cousin Ann and Chester, cousin Jim and Scarlett, and all the family.
We grieve with you.

You can read more and see more photos of the Blues/Stewarts at http://drpepper.jamawkinaw.com/memories.htm

I’ve almost finished reading the book “John Adams” after dilly-dallying far too long (months and months!). I’m a David McCullough fan, so it’s not lack of enjoyment or interest. I simply like reading various types of books at the same time:)

In honor of a Godly man & President, who cared deeply for and helped formulate the new republic of the United States of America, here are two excerpts from McCullough’s book.
The first quote is written by John Adams to his beloved wife Abigail, and the second is “a benediction for the Capitol, the Federal District, and the city of Washington” (all newly built after moving the seat of government from Philadelphia to DC in 1800)

To Abigail from the new President’s House:
“I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”

The benediction:
“It would be unbecoming the representatives of this nation to assemble for the first time in this solemn temple without looking up to the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and imploring His blessing.
May this territory be the residence of virtue and happiness! In this city may that piety and virtue, that wisdom and magnanimity, that constancy and self-government, which adorned the great character whose name (Washington) it bears, be forever held in veneration! Here,and throughout our country, may simple manners, pure morals, and true religion flourish forever!”

Amen!

Saturday, July 18th: A Wedding Shower for Kathy:)
My dear friend.
A lovely gathering of close friends & family.
A brunch at Carol’s home–Carol, our mutual friend, with the gift of hospitality:)
Pretty flowers; pale pink glads & bright pink roses:)
Good food; breakfast casseroles, fruit, cakes, cinnamon rolls, fruit tarts, coffee, juices:)
Much visiting & chatting!
(Sad our friend Lisa did not make it:( Lack of communication I suspect)

Kathy sits & tells her & Alex’s love story:)
She opens sweet cards.
Eventually she opens boxes of soft, lacy, lingerie:)
A precious time together celebrating answered prayer. A year ago Kathy asked her Community Bible Study to pray for a Godly husband.
And the Lord sent Alex:)

Our Peace Church Family rejoices!!
Friends rejoice:)
Family is joyful:)
Hallelujah!

“Lookin’ out across this town
Kinda makes me wonder how
All the things that make us great
Got left so hard behind

This used to be a peaceful place
Decent folks hard workin’ ways
Now they hide behind locked doors
Afraid to speak their minds

I think we need a gunslinger
Somebody tough to tame this town
I think we need a gunslinger
There’ll be justice all around

Someone let the fences go
Wild eyed bunch moved in you know
Shootin’ up the streets shoutin’ everybody down
Dogs all runnin’ loose

Wrecked the papers, closed the school
Tired old judge got roughed up too
No one left to make a stand
They whisper, “What’s the use?”

I think we need a gunslinger
Somebody tough to tame this town
I think we need a gunslinger
There’ll be justice all around

I think we need a gunslinger
Somebody tough to tame this town
I think we need a gunslinger
There’ll be justice all around

I think we need a gunslinger
Somebody tough to tame this town
I think we need a gunslinger
There’ll be justice all around”

[John Fogerty]

Michelle, guess you might eventually need some boots & ammunition to go with that cape!
And Cindy, praying you will see justice, whatever shape it takes!
Heard this while listening to my iPod this morning–thought of you both:)

A few weeks ago, at a wedding reception, a friend from way back asked if I was still doing any artwork. He had a miniature painting I had done twenty years ago, which he still admired.
A loaded question for me. I ponder it often. I have art supplies galore but take no time to paint or collage, or draw with my pastels, do a watercolor, or quilt. My energy these days goes toward working at Hallmark (and am involved in Stephen Ministry and Comfort & Care).

Now I love working at Hallmark, love my co-workers & my manager, love 98% of the customers:)
But…which is my calling, my God appointed calling as I look back on close (very close) to 60 years?

I have said often enough, and believe it, that if a person doesn’t use a God-given talent, God will take it away. Then again, I believe being invested in people is the only lasting, eternal, thing we do here this side of Heaven. So, I try to evaluate my priorities every now & then.

Sunday, Andy preached on the 4th commandment, “Honor the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy. Six days shall you labor but on the Seventh day, you shall rest.”
This week he focused on the labor part.
He said, in summary, “Work is a sacred activity, a holy, religious, activity.
Work enables us to be imitators of our Heavenly Father.
Work enables us to be producers, to be creative.
Work enables us to be givers.
Work is a way to love our neighbors.”
I soaked it in.
Good stuff:)
True stuff:)

Andy quoted from Jacques Maritain of Christian Art: “If you want to make a Christian work, then be Christian, and simply try to make a beautiful work, into which your heart will pass; do not try to ‘make Christian'”.

So, work is an honor and a joy if we do it unto our Heavenly Father, and to bless our co-workers, friends, and neighbors.
And, if the Spirit nudges us to be creative, we better do it as well, for the work of art blesses God and those around us!

SO, to all my family & friends, encourage me to pick up those paintbrushes and pastels, or my needle and thread—on my days off.

 

My dear friend Kathy is getting married August 22nd, a month & a half from now:) To say she’s happy & excited is an understatement!

About a month ago, she & I spent a morning looking for a wedding dress, one suitable for a second marriage. We found this beautiful aqua dress & jacket! It looked gorgeous on her:)

In her excitement, & surprise at finding one so quickly, Kathy didn’t think of conferring with her daughter Robin, & placed an order for the dress:)
Robin was, rightly, disappointed. To rectify the situation, Kathy & Robin met the next afternoon at the same dress shop & chose another dress, somewhat similar in style yet a more traditional color.

So, I figure Kathy gave me the chance to take part, then Robin got to play the most important part–that of choosing THE DRESS:)

But, honestly, this dress looked so great on Kathy, I felt I had to share it:)
What a blessed time for a precious friend:)
Thank you, Kathy, for letting me share in your joy!