Hello, God

Hello, God - it's me. I took this picture of your artistry the other evening just before sunset, but I guess you already knew that, huh? Anyway, it occurred to me that I don't tell you "thanks" often enough for all the beauty you bestow upon this earth. There's no artist in this world who could even come close to painting such scenes with this much grandeur and majesty! And, this is just one small sample of all the beauty surrounding us on "this side" of Heaven.

I sat looking at the sky for just a little while before snapping this picture and, in my mind's eye, tried to imagine what it must look like on Your side of Heaven. I'm so glad I'll be on "Your side" when I finally get to see it, though, because I know that if I saw it now it would be so overwhelming that my heart would simply stop beating!

As mind boggling as I know it will be to view those streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearl, the crystal river and all the mansions, I'm certain these will all pale in comparison to being afforded the priceless opportunity of finally being able to see You face-to-face. I suppose You can also see the goose bumps on my arms right now as I'm typing this, huh? Wow! What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace! I love you, Heavenly Father!

Beauty Around Us

After living in the mountains of western North Carolina for nearly 30 years now, I've come to realize how all too often I take the beauty around me for granted. It didn't used to be that way. When I first married and moved here, I was daily amazed at the beauty and majesty of these mountains. But, the older I'm getting the more I'm realizing how very important it is to take some time and really enjoy God's creation.

Since there was no church on Easter Sunday night, we decided to take some chicken and fixins' and go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to watch the sunset. What a glorious view! And, other than the price of the food and gas to go up there, it was totally free.

I've never stopped to notice how perfectly quiet it can be up there so high -- away from the traffic and noise of the world below. With the exception of a few passing cars on the road below the overlook, the only noise we heard was the magical singing of all the birds.

How relaxing it was sitting there on the blanket on the ground watching the sun descend slowly behind the mountains -- and what an awesome site to watch! To put it in the words of a friend of mine, "Can you imagine, if it's that beautiful on this side of Heaven, what it's going to be like on the other side?" No, friend -- I can't even begin to imagine. But, this much I know -- one day I will find out first-hand!

Thank you, God, for your blessings on me!

Wow! It's been quite some time now since I posted anything on my blog. So much has happened in my life since December 2009. One of the most sobering things has been that my mother was diagnosed on January 29, 2010, with breast cancer. I've talked to many, many people over the years who have received the horrid news of that "C" word; however, I've never actually had to deal with it on a very personal level.

Much to our relief, though, mamma's cancer is only Stage I and was found in the very early stages. She underwent a lumpectomy on February 9th and on March 10th will start a series of about 35 radiation treatments. She will also be on an oral cancer medication for the next five years.

God is so very good! We realize that cancer is no respecter of persons, so we will hold God's Almighty hand as we walk through this valley together. It's wonderful to know that cancer in God's eyes is nothing more than just a rotten cold! Whatever God's will is in this matter, we are willing and ready to accept!

Yes, cancer has a whole new meaning to me now, and suddenly all of my petty little problems seem so very trivial!!