Month: January 2009

 
Dear Kelley,
How is the bread maker working out??
This is a “very subtle” hint for a taste:)
Seth did say you made one batch and it was “delish”!
Happy baking!!!
Love, your hungry MIL

 
This week North Carolina was blessed with a beautiful & rare snowfall:) It came on Inauguration Day, a day of hope.
I am so thankful for such beauty & savored every part of it:)

Will our new President fulfill his promise of better things to come?
We pray he will.

I am thankful for God’s Sovereignty, whether it be a snowfall or placing men/women in high positions.
Although achieving a high office looks/feels like the answer to prayer, it may be a test for us in many ways.

During this cold month of January the United States is quite euphoric about the Inauguration of our first black President, Barak Obama.

N.C. has even suspended road construction on 85 & 95 with the expectation of heavy traffic heading to DC beginning today, Saturday, through next Wednesday.
Busloads of folks have already left from the Raleigh area, and many more will be leaving throughout the weekend until Mr. Obama takes the oath of office Tuesday morning….

However I tend to lean politically, I must say I am proud of a lean, handsome, bright, & intelligent, bi-racial gentleman becoming President. As Americans we all should hold our heads a bit higher on Tuesday.

The word “hope” is on thousands of lips as people speak of Obama, and he does give hope to countless Americans that achieving lofty dreams is possible. He is a role model as he begins his Presidency.
Our job will be to pray for him–for Godly wisdom & discernment daily, & for safety for him & his family.
Godspeed, Mr. Obama–I pray for God’s Hand upon you. He has given to you an immense & solemn responsibility.
Let us realize though that only one Man gives “HOPE”….

(The photo is of dear Kelley, contemplating many things; her job situation with a new Governor, her health issues, her Dad’s health, Seth’s grandparent’s move, etc. I thought it suited the mood of many of us as this new year commences)

I must say I am grieving over Bill Petersen’s departure from CSI in the next few weeks.
I looked forward to seeing him (& his partners) every week, every episode we recorded, every re-run….

This from a Entertainment Weekly interview:
Leaving fame and fortune behind in the name of artistic integrity? There’s a novel concept for Hollywood. But still, isn’t he (Peterson) just a little sentimental about parting ways with a character that has defined him since 2000?

“I won’t miss Grissom,” says Petersen matter-of-factly. “It was a complete life for me that’s reached its end, and it’s reached it in the right way, I think. So I won’t miss Grissom. And I hope that the audience won’t miss him either.”

I will miss him like coming to the end of a magnificent book & not ever wanting it to end.
Gil, you were a good man.

I am sad.

I must say I don’t rave about too many movies these days, but must go on record as a big fan of “WALL-E”!

An animated film with many underlying currents, including the musical “Oklahoma” being intertwined throughout & ‘predicting’ the future sad state of affairs on planet Earth.
Yet a tender heart-felt romance is the center of the story of WALL-E & EVE.

(Will we Earthlings drown in our own garbage, or be driven into space because of our flagrant consumerism?)

Let me recommend it to you; from young humans to old ones, WALL-E is a winner–& it’s cute:)!!

PS. Just a hint: WALL-E is a small trash compactor with eyes that will melt your heart, or EVE’s:)

 

A few minutes for Grandma (Jessie Mae) & Skye to visit a little while the McFarland’s/Carson’s celebrate Christmas together.
They are alike in many ways:)

A precious lady died this week, December 31st. A pretty lady, with dimples & a smile:)
Debbie was only 56, too young to die.
She had struggled with cancer.

I haven’t seen her in years, or her husband Danny, but I can’t think of a sweeter couple or dearer folks. (We attended church together for many years)

Danny, & Debbie were probably kinfolks somewhere down the line. They both hailed from a tiny community in NC, the Tar Heel/Dublin area in Bladen County, where my daddy’s people are from.

Debbie became a Christian counselor after her two children, Dana & Brantley, were grown; a noble feat. I was impressed she went back to college & received her degree, to minister–helping those in need.
A Debbie thing:)

She’s another one of those dear ones who lived life well.
Thank you, Debbie, for being a hero to so many.
May you rejoice with the angels (including Brenda Jones & Grace Peacock) till I see you again.

 

This is Seth & Kelley, with Skye, packed to the rafters & ready to pull out early this morning, heading back to NC. Keith, Cameron, & I were in the equally packed PT Cruiser.
A gentle snow was falling as we drove away….

Since last Saturday evening we had been in Chippewa, Pa., staying at the Phillips’ beautiful house & celebrating Christmas with Keith’s family.
Thank you, Becky & Don, Sarah & Chris, for your hospitality:)
And thank you, Jean & Ken, for all you are doing for Mom & Dad, and did for us (even washing the sheets)!

We are safely home, thank the LORD, & hope to see pretty snow in NC this winter!!
May the LORD bless Mom & Dad, and all the McFarland’s & Carson’s.