Can it Really be True?

Today, 18 years ago, I became a grandmother for the first time. It really is hard to believe that 18 years have FLOWN by. When I walked into Diana's hospital room and laid eyes for the first time on Kristin Elaine Wike, I cannot describe the joy that I felt. Seeing my child with her own child is pure indescribable joy. Krissy was the only grandchild for 4 years and she was our delight. Diana and David lived in Greenville/North Greenville and we got to see Krissy often. One of our greatest and sweetest memories is of the days that she stayed with Nannoo and Papa while Diana worked and David was a student at NGU. Papa and Krissy took an afternoon walk everyday and sometimes several times a day.

Krissy has grown into a beautiful young woman who loves the Lord, loves her friends, and has high ambitions for her life. And I can say unequivocally that she is a good girl. She is also a great student and her plans right now are to go to Clemson, majoring in pre-med. We are so proud of you Krissy, and hope that you have a wonderful 18th birthday. It still doesn't seem possible :).

Spiritual Recovery: A True/False Quiz

My dear friend, Carolyn at Wings of Eagles posted this and gave me permission to use it on my blog. Her pastor gave it to the church family and I find it very fitting for today.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

How did you score? Just remember who you are and who He is.


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GOD IS IN CONTROL

This is no time for fear

This is a time for faith and determination

Don't lose the vision here

Carried away by emotion

Hold on to all that you hide in your heart

There is one thing that has always been true

It holds the world together

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

God is in control, oh God is in control

History marches on

There is a bottom line drawn across the ages

Culture can make its plan

Oh, but the line never changes

No matter how the deception may fly

There is one thing that has always been true

It will be true forever

He has never let you down

Why start to worry now?

He is still the Lord of all we see

And He is still the loving Father

Watching over you and me

watching over you...watching over me..

watching over every things..watching over you..

watching over me..every little sparrow..every little things...

---Twila Paris

Me with You

I dare say, I don't have too many grandpas who read my blog but I know I do have some grandmothers, soon-to-be grandmothers and mothers so listen up...If you are a grandparent, if you had a grandparent, if you know anybody who is a grandparent, or especially if you know children who have (or wish they had) a grandparent, then go to amazon.com and pre-order Kristy's (my daughter's) new children's book which will be out in May 2009. If you're not a grandparent and there is just someone in your life who "completes" you...that you just wouldn't be the person you are without them...then buy Me With You for him or her. The book flap reads:
"We're a pair beyond compare,
a rare and special two,
in all the ways that I am me
and you're completely you.

Here is a special twosome. From tea time to game time, in singing or swinging, in the good times and even the grumpy ones, too, this granddaughter knows her grandpa loves her. Indeed, they are a 'pair beyond compare.'

With simple rhymes and delightfully charming illustrations, Me with You celebrates the sure love that comes from a grandfather and grandchild who dare to be 'completely themselves' while knowing that together -- they are even more!"

Don't you just love the term "sure love?" I know I do and that's exactly what a grandparents love for a grandchild is...SURE HEART-MELTING LOVE. I've seen the illustrations for the whole book and they are absolutely exquisite. You will definitely want a copy of this book and several to give away to friends that have children (or those that don't). Pre-order now at amazon.com and let all your friends know to do the same.

(If you go to amazon to pre-order, author is listed as "Kristin Dempsey")

My Fall Front Porch

Melissa @ The Inspired Room is hosting a "drive-by photo shoot" and I thought I'd share mine. For more inspiration for your fall/halloween/harvest decor, check out her blog.

Words

My daughter, Kristy and I have always had a love of words; word games, i.e., scrabble, crossword puzzles, anagrams, etc., reading, poetry, lots of words in any form! Today is Kristy's birthday so I thought it would be appropriate to use words to describe her

When I was pregnant with Kristy, I was 3 weeks and 2 days OVERDUE; finally on a Friday evening, my water broke. We quickly made arrangements for Diana to go to a neighbor's house and I went to the hospital. When I got to the hospital, unbeknownst to me, the doctors could find NO HEARTBEAT. Don began to pray as I labored all night. All night the doctors and nurses were sure that our baby had died in utero. Don committed himself to God and also committed our unborn child, Kristy, to God. He vowed that if Kristy lived, he would do all within his power to bring her up in a Christian environment and give her every opportunity to become a Christian. He dedicated her to God and his service. At 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Kristy was born; 9# 2 ozs, a head-full of black hair and a strong healthy heart. God spared our child and we fulfilled Don's vow to God. We gave Kristy back to God and Kristy has given herself in service to Him and strives to live her life before her children, her church family and those young college women whom she disciples in a way that they would look at her and see salvation through Jesus Christ.

Kris is a wonderful mother to Meg, Duncan and Kate. She is a wonderful wife to Demps. She is a great sister to Diana, Maggie and Charlie. She is a caring and loving daughter to Tim and me. Kris, I hope you have a great birthday and that this thirty-ninth year of your life is as wonderful as you are. We love you...HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Is Anything More Beautiful

Another Award

Two dear friends, Marian and Ellen, whom I met on the mitfordbooks.com website many years ago have both award me with the BFF Award (blogging friends forever).

There are rules for this award

1. There are only five people allowed.

2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog. (Like Ellen, I have NO idea who regulary follows my blog or how "dedicated " they are to it.

3. One has to be a new follower of your blog, or live in another part of the world.

I am going to choose my recipients later; I'll be back