tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70899892187541528862024-03-05T22:02:39.431-08:00Dawne's DiaryDawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-78011104796217687622010-07-27T08:20:00.000-07:002010-07-27T08:36:11.390-07:00Hello, God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSDRSnmLldy7tRW9wqNUcAczS4gsBWIY-IqwcIeYTutAMz5RSZuWf1fdiX4Dmch7iOei2mWCEimho9RqYB8TwKkzEQ1JYpNGIP32RdZyIIbQzPFgMJdvfgQzyNbGhOgluSb5x4b7Uj_9R/s1600/Clouds+in+the+Evening.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498609906164711378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSDRSnmLldy7tRW9wqNUcAczS4gsBWIY-IqwcIeYTutAMz5RSZuWf1fdiX4Dmch7iOei2mWCEimho9RqYB8TwKkzEQ1JYpNGIP32RdZyIIbQzPFgMJdvfgQzyNbGhOgluSb5x4b7Uj_9R/s320/Clouds+in+the+Evening.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">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!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">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!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-57595756854129407382010-04-13T07:19:00.000-07:002010-04-13T07:34:49.033-07:00Beauty Around Us<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNApAgHt1XrdbYmvLM-NeQmN9BUFz5hmQPipAi3IuGhe9wXOHn6oRPanluEwLX0rFvwiXkD57X-4dmUwuuFXJjaBLHHrVw8e4oRpRnCEhB1oirCWZk6vqqRgdBAgkqs-KtFzVTtr0FVLHW/s1600/Sunset+at+Water+Rock+Knob.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459629183605833186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNApAgHt1XrdbYmvLM-NeQmN9BUFz5hmQPipAi3IuGhe9wXOHn6oRPanluEwLX0rFvwiXkD57X-4dmUwuuFXJjaBLHHrVw8e4oRpRnCEhB1oirCWZk6vqqRgdBAgkqs-KtFzVTtr0FVLHW/s320/Sunset+at+Water+Rock+Knob.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">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 <strong><em>this</em></strong> 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!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">Thank you, God, for your blessings on me!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-32577695258675621642010-03-01T08:22:00.000-08:002010-03-01T08:37:16.224-08:00<p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsitvfZ9_FO_Z4qVwQEugR-zAlvhrjg1_pGDqvEswTdaHCX8_8NmT3ezksSzSLf3RK7oXOjOm2y9tao0M3Pc_gFc1yNVmiPR9pbpxwZoPObCMF3D1u2kzLBXN8DQ7mjINSITRalPODlEJy/s1600-h/Pink+Ribbon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 87px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 70px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443704709047720050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsitvfZ9_FO_Z4qVwQEugR-zAlvhrjg1_pGDqvEswTdaHCX8_8NmT3ezksSzSLf3RK7oXOjOm2y9tao0M3Pc_gFc1yNVmiPR9pbpxwZoPObCMF3D1u2kzLBXN8DQ7mjINSITRalPODlEJy/s320/Pink+Ribbon.jpg" /></a></p><span style="color:#663300;">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.</span><br /><span style="color:#663300;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663300;">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 9<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> and on March 10<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> will start a series of about 35 radiation treatments. She will also be on an oral cancer medication for the next five years.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">God is so very good! We realize that cancer is no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">respecter</span> 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!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Yes, cancer has a whole new meaning to me now, and suddenly all of my petty little problems seem so very trivial!!</span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-65914201841956430862009-12-01T13:36:00.000-08:002009-12-01T13:41:16.887-08:00I Am Lowly<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663333;">I am but a lowly beast – a donkey is all, you see;<br />But on that special journey, I carried royalty!<br />A young girl rode upon my back and lying inside her womb<br />A babe whose first bed was a manger and whose last bed was a tomb.<br />I carried them as gently as my little hooves could trod;<br />That humble little mother and the precious Son of God!<br /><br />I am but a lowly beast – a camel is all, you see;<br />But on that special journey, I carried royalty!<br />Upon my back a wise man rode with precious gift in hand,<br />He went to see a newborn King in another distant land.<br />When we arrived I gently knelt to lower him to the ground,<br />To present his royal treasure to the tiny King he’d found.<br /><br />I am but a lowly one – a simple man, you see;<br />But on that special journey, I carried a cruel tree.<br />The man was badly beaten, his blood so greatly lost.<br />A soldier yelled quite hatefully – “You, carry his cross!”<br />And, so I knelt beside this man, the precious Son of God,<br />I took His cross upon my back, up Calvary’s hill I trod.<br /><br />I am but a lowly beast – a white stallion is all, you see;<br />But on that special journey, I will carry Royalty!<br />At the end of time when the Father says, “It is time, dear One.”<br />It is I who will have the honor of carrying God’s Son!<br /><br /> Written by: Dawne Coward<br /> December 1, 2009</span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-27087177147988205902009-11-17T12:25:00.000-08:002009-11-17T12:34:58.983-08:00Mid-Life and Menopause<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FmhyphenhyphenWv9MFuVhRca7DhwPRTOq8-sD7fkwhBx7CdDtSuNwbwR4BH6skrdfcw5DxRZMfnY3Lj835KBUsRRul1DbZ6mBuAETDYgj8l_FMzWMjRJECR2xrtLO0_MuwU9f_4Irr3xnk-U30mbw/s1600/Haircut+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405173528567499090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 201px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 157px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FmhyphenhyphenWv9MFuVhRca7DhwPRTOq8-sD7fkwhBx7CdDtSuNwbwR4BH6skrdfcw5DxRZMfnY3Lj835KBUsRRul1DbZ6mBuAETDYgj8l_FMzWMjRJECR2xrtLO0_MuwU9f_4Irr3xnk-U30mbw/s320/Haircut+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><span style="color:#663333;">What is it about getting to the "middle age" part of life, combined with the "menopause" part of life, that makes us go temporarily insane at times? That's what happened to me a week ago today when I had a "moment" and got all my hair whacked off! But, you know what? It's a change from the same old thing I've had for the past 10 years or so, and I really like it -- at least for now. Who knows? My next "moment" may result in the GI Jane look!!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Oh well, I'm not too worried -- it's just hair and mine grows like it's shampooed with fertilizer. So, if I get weary of this style, I won't have to be weary of it very long -- that's for certain!</span></div></div></div></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-25616251594939648892009-10-29T11:10:00.000-07:002009-10-29T11:18:05.095-07:00The Puffy Little Puppy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9zWOhbg5AOV_68MZmL0obBcEt8WM1ZB80DJz4eYVu1ey1EiuCecaBycHfrqD1xhinJc7CXVCzExDnqMPVw3Av58-tpjGEMptRoH4X_MybaAa965pL2n53lkXxMVVS9jz5HAZ6wz73ecs/s1600-h/Puffy+Puppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398087790420898498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9zWOhbg5AOV_68MZmL0obBcEt8WM1ZB80DJz4eYVu1ey1EiuCecaBycHfrqD1xhinJc7CXVCzExDnqMPVw3Av58-tpjGEMptRoH4X_MybaAa965pL2n53lkXxMVVS9jz5HAZ6wz73ecs/s320/Puffy+Puppy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663333;">This is my 10-month-old little girl, Belle, last Friday, 10/23/09. But, it looks nothing at all like my beautiful puppy! That's because she was either bitten or stung by something (we don't know what) and this was what happened as a result. Talk about scared! I completely stopped breathing when I walked in the house and saw her almost unrecognizable face. Of course, it was after 5:00 PM, and of course we had to make an emergency trip to the vet's office for shots to reverse the effects, but man was I happy to get some medicine in her little system. She was about to claw her own face off because it was itching so badly.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Now, $103 later, she's back to her normal skinny little face and long nose and I hope this doesn't ever happen again!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-70743468888419698262009-10-20T12:16:00.001-07:002009-10-20T13:26:34.893-07:00From Terror to Tranquility<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCbVhKVw9PlPJ_tpqGyaMy-e-unW84tfRrSaHEUzlx3NIZ2ErLnMr_RpmPHJhAqhVgU_-WKc8L0KBOo1sCzbH2CU6UdMo8lhxaH2DzX3VlHL4DAmoaYJ85fjp9XUXq8-OP1VplL_pDPPR/s1600-h/Train+at+Balsam.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394773477666763730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCbVhKVw9PlPJ_tpqGyaMy-e-unW84tfRrSaHEUzlx3NIZ2ErLnMr_RpmPHJhAqhVgU_-WKc8L0KBOo1sCzbH2CU6UdMo8lhxaH2DzX3VlHL4DAmoaYJ85fjp9XUXq8-OP1VplL_pDPPR/s320/Train+at+Balsam.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#663333;">Picture a wee little girl asleep in her bed in the middle of the night Then, imagine an extremely LOUD train coming down the tracks right past the little girl's house, horn blaring fiercely. All of a sudden, the little girl sits straight up in the bed, hops down on the floor and makes a mad dash to her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mamma</span> and daddy's bedroom screaming, "It's gonna get me -- I scared! Can I peas seep <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wif</span> you?" Oh, what a warm comforting feeling to crawl into their bed and snuggle up all safe and sound away from the mean old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">choo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">choo</span> train! </span><span style="color:#663333;">Well, that little girl was me -- oh so many years ago in a small town in South Carolina. Night after night after night that train came through, and night after night after night I ran as fast as my tiny little feet would carry me to the safety of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mamma</span> and daddy's bedroom.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Now picture that same little girl who is all grown up at the age of 48. How ironic is it that I would end up living my married life 3 hours away from the little town in South Carolina, yet a similar set of train tracks runs right past my house nestled back in the mountains of western North Carolina, and a train chugs along those tracks every single day? Only now, it's amazing how much joy and tranquility a train brings to my life! I can't wait to see/hear it coming down those tracks. It's actually makes for quite a beautiful motion picture as it glides along through the lush green trees of spring and summer, the colorful trees of fall, and the snow-laden trees of winter.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Amazing how the clocks and calendars of the aging process have a way of changing our outlook on certain aspects of life and move us along from moments of sheer terror to moments of pure tranquility! More amazing still is what you can see in the picture above that I took on my cell phone at lunchtime today. The train was making its way past my house as I went home for lunch. I wonder if the shadow of a telephone pole, which just happened to somehow get into the picture (and which I didn't notice at all at the time I was taking the picture) was God's way of speaking sweet peace to my soul? After all, that shadow sure looks like a cross to me -- a symbol that God paid the supreme sacrifice and, because He lives in me, I have nothing to fear! Sorta makes cold chills run up and down my spine. Our God is an AWESOME God!!!</span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-85299280302376497822009-10-14T11:01:00.001-07:002009-10-14T11:29:12.976-07:00Flat Stanley<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DIDmZ-5PV0WO-jXzLfJAlg2M3omOaZuV4S7E8w-reS_cmcUlDiYlgtD7aRTrDXvVEwoL3T4LPfsU3anZtOUTTMc_SLGR620zFad0OYB1WXq661WJX38G7TXf4-9a4GnizeBxZLsfUn9g/s1600-h/Flat+Stanley+-+Dollywood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DIDmZ-5PV0WO-jXzLfJAlg2M3omOaZuV4S7E8w-reS_cmcUlDiYlgtD7aRTrDXvVEwoL3T4LPfsU3anZtOUTTMc_SLGR620zFad0OYB1WXq661WJX38G7TXf4-9a4GnizeBxZLsfUn9g/s320/Flat+Stanley+-+Dollywood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392521012760207442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXwy_3ibN0exT1VcHovVKg3EqKW6GUErnB2ro66C0uclAD3a4cdJqi1bwKPQRP75N_KYl9rBJ3Exv7VNaoZ9kvGzsov9ri63MgqKbUYyBUKixrM9Xn3oEEw_n4h9gZeupjmIj5f8EMKPB/s1600-h/Anna+%26+Rikki.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXwy_3ibN0exT1VcHovVKg3EqKW6GUErnB2ro66C0uclAD3a4cdJqi1bwKPQRP75N_KYl9rBJ3Exv7VNaoZ9kvGzsov9ri63MgqKbUYyBUKixrM9Xn3oEEw_n4h9gZeupjmIj5f8EMKPB/s320/Anna+%26+Rikki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392520891528410658" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's me, of course, in the picture to the left. And, that little guy I'm holding who you can barely see is Flat Stanley (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">FS</span>). He was sent to me through the mail by a little cousin in Texas, and she asked if I would be willing to help her with this project for school. Of course, she asked me quite sweetly in a phone call that preceded the US Mail, so I couldn't say no. See the other picture? Well, the cutie on the right in the blue shirt with the glasses is Rikki -- the cousin I'm helping out. The other cutie pie in the red shirt is another Texas cousin, Anna. They were here a couple months ago and we took them to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fuddrucker's</span> to eat. We had such a good time.<br /><br />Anyway, apparently Flat Stanley is a bit of a rage right now in certain grades/classes at the elementary level, so I was asked to take <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FS</span> with me to various places I visited, to write a short story about each place where I traveled, to have my picture taken with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FS</span> at these places, and then to mail him back to Texas. I have to admit that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">FS</span> hasn't been with me to a lot of places, but he's tagged along quite frequently as we went to church, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Mountain State Fair, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dollywood</span> (as you see from this picture).<br /><br />I must admit that I've gotten some very strange looks from folks observing me having my picture taken with, for lack of a better word, a paper doll. But, it's been fun and I hope I can get a few more pictures made with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">FS</span> before packing him up, along with our pictures and my stories, and sending them back to Texas!<br /></span></span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-53268595972562959332009-10-06T07:03:00.000-07:002009-10-06T08:22:36.265-07:00Good Times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M4JNHwYBND8Ij-8KlOt5P8fwjQsYiKfsSDqr1ivQnElT3pGirOns2bLtMt_jTDUIiNzIHKZ9X4ODpE80OHfKx8T2zk7xn61yJhZZeYd0JkO152dJbNKwo-N_6C1zalOkZVBA1y-B_TxN/s1600-h/BHP+Class+of+1979+Reunion+100309.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M4JNHwYBND8Ij-8KlOt5P8fwjQsYiKfsSDqr1ivQnElT3pGirOns2bLtMt_jTDUIiNzIHKZ9X4ODpE80OHfKx8T2zk7xn61yJhZZeYd0JkO152dJbNKwo-N_6C1zalOkZVBA1y-B_TxN/s320/BHP+Class+of+1979+Reunion+100309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389507659524995714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The date is Saturday, October 3, 2009. The place is The Galley at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Portman</span> Marina in Anderson, South Carolina. The time is 7:00 PM. The occasion is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Belton</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Honea</span>-Path High School Class of 1979's 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> reunion.<br /><br />What an absolutely FABULOUS time was had by all in attendance! Our reunion committee (of five very special ladies) did an awesome job of pulling it together, and I am forever grateful to them for all their hard work.<br /><br />It was a bit comical at times watching one person walk up to another and say, "Hello! How are you doing?" And then give them a great big hug, only to have the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">huggee</span>" pull away and stare at the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hugger's</span>" name badge to see who was hugging them! Yep -- we've changed -- all of us -- in one way or another. Except for a few, who actually make me sick to my stomach because they look EXACTLY like they did in high school!!! You shouldn't look the same as you did in high school after you've been out of high school for 30 years, for crying out loud! What's wrong with these people, anyway? Did they forget they were supposed to age like the rest of us?!?!?<br /><br />What a magical time of camaraderie we shared. Some laughed; some cried because they were overcome with emotion; some acted crazy just like they did in high school; but some were not present to do any of these things because, sadly, they have departed this life way too early. May they all rest in peace!<br /><br />Thank you, God, for allowing me this wonderful opportunity to spend a few precious hours with some of the most special people in the world -- people I grew up with and learned to love at an early age! The older I get the more I realize just how much these friends mean to me, even though now I only get to see most of them at reunions.<br /><br />GOOD TIMES!<br /></span></span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-56929594775936569712009-09-29T05:29:00.000-07:002009-09-29T05:40:55.273-07:00Feeling Old<span style="color:#663333;">Where on earth did the years go? Just yesterday I was a carefree little girl with all my dolls and stuffed animals lined up in a row in my bedroom playing school. In my little mind, I was a great teacher and I had some of the best students in the world. They listened and paid attention, never talking out of turn and never being loud and rowdy.</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Just look at me nearly 49 years later! I just celebrated my 29<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> wedding anniversary the 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> of this month; today I will receive an award for 20 years of service as an employee of the State of North Carolina; on Saturday I will drive to South Carolina to celebrate my 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> high school class reunion; and I have one son who will soon turn 24 and another son who will turn 27 two weeks later. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Unbelievable</span>!</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">We spend the early years of our lives wishing to be older. I remember being very excited about turning 5-years-old and, from there, I could not wait to turn 10, then 16, and then 18. But, once I hit the ripe old age of 20 -- zoom -- the clock of time went into warp speed!</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Yep -- I'm feeling just a tad old right now. So many things (good and bad) have happened in my life over the last 48-3/4 years that I couldn't even begin to write it all down in one post. But, you know what? I'm forever grateful that a loving God has allowed me to live each and every year. I only hope I can spend whatever time I have left on this earth working harder for Him than ever before. God is good -- all the time!</span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-49709919958843031002009-09-21T06:16:00.000-07:002009-09-21T06:35:58.836-07:00My Firemen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabsS-zW5nVKjUS0a3SXQGWBDL3ZFqcFTzzeAArfpBWGgR9l00AX0HjbAGll4NvdjCKmIV4_a3ODBYco9YFMz5oRT35UI_CTknQMuI3gnGWhKsIPs_npq5CjNJhpad0Fv0Bvgt07xnAq_g/s1600-h/The+Coward+Boys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383913619105701666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabsS-zW5nVKjUS0a3SXQGWBDL3ZFqcFTzzeAArfpBWGgR9l00AX0HjbAGll4NvdjCKmIV4_a3ODBYco9YFMz5oRT35UI_CTknQMuI3gnGWhKsIPs_npq5CjNJhpad0Fv0Bvgt07xnAq_g/s320/The+Coward+Boys.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">Last night, like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">soooo</span> many other times in the past, when the pagers in our house went off and woke me from my sound sleep, my heart began racing -- again like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">soooo</span> many other times in the past. You see, my husband and both our boys are volunteer firemen/first responders, and every time they answer a call, the potential is there for none of the three to come back home -- ever again. That is quite a sobering thought! I could all of a sudden find myself "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">husbandless</span>" and "childless" all in one fail swoop. I try not to think about it too much, though, because -- well, it's honestly too much to even imagine!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">My guys absolutely love their role as firefighters/first responders, and even though everything they do is on a volunteer basis, they take their role very seriously. Many times, on snowy/icy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mornings</span> or nights, they have jumped a guardrail in an effort to escape a sliding vehicle careening out of control, and many times they have run into a burning structure in an effort to extinguish flames and insure the safety of those who may be inside -- all the while giving no thought for their own danger.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">I'm very proud of the three of them (as well as all other such volunteers who place their lives in jeopardy on a daily basis), and while it would be more devastating than I can even comprehend to lose them in the line of duty, I know that were such a horrible fate to happen they would die doing something they believed in with all their hearts.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">So, on nights like last night, when they were called out to a possible structure fire; anytime they are called to work a wreck somewhere; and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">every time</span> they crawl into their personal vehicles to answer a call -- no matter what it is -- I do the only thing I can do to help them -- PRAY, PRAY, PRAY AND PRAY SOME MORE!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Thank you, God, for my volunteers!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-76216866169027825842009-09-18T04:57:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:15:42.685-07:00I Feel Like a Kid Again!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfXH-zjmsbSxFwqxeFSdwsnxAr9H_qahClh6Jxq20LEPjIU_acQffA_HMzumDPWBwp57okuiYPPUkdbv5ltJJyljR3rCnPa_bOFssOa2_8BibuWz4WJ0tBrfAPHLBSNHEjGTpy36bw_xD/s1600-h/State+Fair.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382779225264108626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfXH-zjmsbSxFwqxeFSdwsnxAr9H_qahClh6Jxq20LEPjIU_acQffA_HMzumDPWBwp57okuiYPPUkdbv5ltJJyljR3rCnPa_bOFssOa2_8BibuWz4WJ0tBrfAPHLBSNHEjGTpy36bw_xD/s320/State+Fair.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;">Today is the day -- YIPPEE! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">WOOHOO</span>!! I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sooooo</span> excited! Yep -- it's raining, but not hard, and even if it keeps raining at this pace for the rest of the day -- it's gonna be a good day at the Mountain State Fair in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Asheville</span>, NC! I have rain gear, so I'm not worried. Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've been to the fair?</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#330099;">Some of the happiest memories from my childhood were the times my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mamma</span> and daddy took us to the Anderson County Fair (Anderson, SC). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mamma</span> and Daddy didn't have much in the way of money, so we tended to make our own fun most of the time -- for free! But, Daddy always saw to it that we got to go to the fair every year because, quite frankly, he was as big a kid as we were and loved it just as much. I was the dare-devil of us two kids -- my brother tended to analyze things a bit much, so he deduced that a lot of the rides weren't safe enough to get on -- and, he didn't. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mamma</span> pretty much shared my brother's opinion, so they always found something else to do while Daddy and I rode. There wasn't a ride at the fair that we didn't get on, and I remember with much happiness the way my daddy screamed, yelled and laughed along with me on each and every ride. Imagine my surprise when I had children of my own and Daddy confessed that he really didn't liked those rides as much as I thought he did -- he only rode them because he knew I loved them so much and he didn't want me to get on them by myself. Now, people -- THAT'S LOVE!!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#330099;">Once we had visited the livestock area, the arcade area, etc. we were always allowed on the way out of the gate to stop and get either a candy apple or cotton candy -- YUMMY! That was always a hard decision for me since I loved both, but I generally ended up with a candy apple because I so love that red stuff they dip those apples in!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#330099;">When I visit the fair tonight, chances are I won't get on a single ride because in my older years I have become quite the sissy when it comes to rides. But, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll take in all the rest the fair has to offer. And on my way out of the gate, they better have just one red candy apple left for this kid at heart!!</span></div></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-30945646365578709932009-09-14T10:25:00.000-07:002009-09-14T10:57:19.907-07:00Furry Friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ulmDUbZitZ5M13U27VMhMJJFCkW82dIU5bGZj-qSePBl1q221YeUO2B9Yf8NvTrvUWiqCkAGPmGkkrYzbQUNl0a6C54HwC4faTFWm6304tUny_XR09amPga5XsTBa9DobBQAp5wgyPBg/s1600-h/Baby+Belle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381383370732949346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ulmDUbZitZ5M13U27VMhMJJFCkW82dIU5bGZj-qSePBl1q221YeUO2B9Yf8NvTrvUWiqCkAGPmGkkrYzbQUNl0a6C54HwC4faTFWm6304tUny_XR09amPga5XsTBa9DobBQAp5wgyPBg/s320/Baby+Belle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663333;">I never knew one four-legged little critter could bring me so much joy! This is my Belle, and I really don't know what I ever did without her. Except, I do have a cat -- Bree -- and she was my "baby" before Ms. Belle came along. Bree is still my baby because I had her first, but you just can't love a cat and a dog on the same level. Cats want to be loved on their own terms while dogs just want to be loved all the time. So, when Bree rolls over on her back, exposes her furry tummy for me to pet, I try my best to accommodate. I've learned over the 6 or so years that I've had Bree to let her come to me for cuddling and not try to force cuddling on her. She likes to play with a string or chase around a little ball for fun, but she requires her own space sometimes -- much like us humans. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Belle, however, is an entirely different story. She'll take cuddling whenever she can get it. And, this little girl would play 24/7 and never get tired! She has this little personality all her own, and there are many times I'd sure like to be inside her head to know exactly what she's thinking. She can be a little hellion sometimes, though, especially when it comes to tormenting Ms. Bree, pulling things out of the garbage can, and making a mess in general. It's really hard to get mad at Belle, though, because she always gives me this look as if to say, "I'm sorry, mommy -- please don't be mad!" Then, my heart just melts.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Bree has a small problem keeping her floppy little ears in their proper position, so what you see above is what she looks like a large majority of the time. I don't care whether or not her ears flip forwards or backwards -- I love her anyway!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">It's such a pleasure to come home -- no matter what kind of day I've had -- and see that happy little face "smiling" at me. Unless they're sick for some reason, dogs don't have a bad day. And, they don't get mad at us for leaving them alone in a crate all day, either. Now, what they say about us under their breath after we leave them is a question that will never be answered. But, they get over it as soon as they see us walk through the door, and every time we walk through the door it seems like the best day of their life!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">I thank God for making animals -- even huge, scary black bears and screaming coyotes that show up uninvited in the wee hours of the morning! I make no claims of knowing anything about what Heaven will be like; all I know is that I'm going there some day. And, in my heart I believe that, even though animals don't have souls, God will have plenty of them in Heaven because He knows they make for a happier place!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-64044437614599891182009-09-11T07:48:00.001-07:002009-09-11T13:00:58.285-07:00Always Remember<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjUfNy4zrYjcNU1w6wAGEKTrhuedpKSn01uQzfdtIjPQ1FEC5OwEZ4Maw0YlTZGcdcCzBGuELeHbDAphGloDOyRbq_h2TMz3jpYpBXUnHZ_MtOxDW5migBWY7HtEuvGKmwyqVeS-IUXoG/s1600-h/911.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380225630603142514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjUfNy4zrYjcNU1w6wAGEKTrhuedpKSn01uQzfdtIjPQ1FEC5OwEZ4Maw0YlTZGcdcCzBGuELeHbDAphGloDOyRbq_h2TMz3jpYpBXUnHZ_MtOxDW5migBWY7HtEuvGKmwyqVeS-IUXoG/s320/911.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">On that horrific day -- September 11, 2001 -- I was sitting in a room waiting for roll call for jury duty. We soon learned that our case was settled out of court, so all potential jurors were dismissed to go home. I had forgotten my cell phone, so I called home from a pay phone in the hallway to tell my husband, who was staying with our sick son. That's when he told me he was watching the news and had just watched the second plane fly into the Twin Towers.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">We all know what happened from that point forward. I remember going through such a range of emotions, i.e. shock, unbelievable sadness, and fury -- all within a matter of minutes. As I got into my car, I began praying out loud, "Oh, dear God in Heaven, please help us -- there is no way we can get through this without You!"</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">It's so hard to believe that 8 years have passed since that awful, tragic day, and even though it hasn't been constantly on my mind, I have thought about September 11, 2001, many, many times during that 8-year period. So very many lives lost; so many innocent people taken away from their families in such a short time span.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Those of us who are left here to mourn the carnage of that day should make a special effort to pause each and every September 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> to remember the thousands upon thousands of those victims' family members whose lives have been forever changed. May we always remember that day with remorse, and may the United States of America always be the land of the free, the home of the brave and one nation under God!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-69616863586019927182009-09-09T10:29:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:08:27.659-07:00Simpler Times<span style="color:#663333;">How I long for simpler times when life was meant to live,<br />Before our days were packed so full and we had time to give!<br />When we needed ideas for supper, to the garden we would have gone,<br />And there we’d find a smorgasbord of veggies we had grown.<br /><br />If we needed entertainment, the porch swing was always there,<br />We’d sit and swing and watch kids play -- they never had a care.<br />Or maybe we would take a walk beside a babbling brook,<br />The sights we saw were more grandeur than any picture book.<br /><br />Life’s more complicated now, to slow down – well, that’s taboo,<br />We rush around so frantically – there’s much we have to do.<br />Yet, taking time for simple things would enhance our lives so much,<br />Like gazing at the fluffy clouds or feeling a baby’s touch.<br /><br />So, let’s strive to make the most of each and every passing day,<br />And thank God for each blessing He has sent along our way.<br />Let’s slow down just a little as we travel through this vale,<br />And appreciate the little things along life’s “simple” trail!<br /><br />Written By: Dawne J. Coward<br />September 9, 2009</span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-5432422648802080412009-09-08T05:03:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:01:09.395-07:00Blessings<span style="color:#663333;">WHERE do the years go? The older I get the more I sit and ponder that question. Seems that just yesterday I walked down the aisle of my church in South Carolina and married the love of my life. Yet, as of this past Sunday, September 6, 2009, that "yesterday" somehow turned into 29 years! As we celebrated our anniversary, I looked back in my mind's eye to our life together. Has it always been wedded bliss? Are you kidding me? What on earth is wedded bliss?!? Have there been times I have just wanted to walk out the door and go far away from him never to return -- and have there been times he wanted to do the same thing? You bet your bottom dollar! But, we've held in there -- together -- and made it through to this phase in our lives. And somewhere along the way, we've managed to raise two wonderful sons. Of course, we didn't stay married this long on our own nor did we raise our children all alone -- we had God right there beside us. I shudder to think what we would have done with Him, too! Wow -- 29 years -- that's a long time to be married to the same person. Amazing how a love that you think can't grow anymore just grows deeper and deeper and deeper with the passing years!<br /><br />And, for our anniversary, we celebrated by going to God's house. I can think of no better way to celebrate! We didn't get each other material gifts because we've recently remodeled our kitchen, and that will be our anniversary, birthday, and Christmas gift to each other for awhile to come. But, we did go to our favorite place to eat -- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Carrabba's</span> -- and it was awesome, as usual! Following our meal, we headed down to South Carolina to spend Labor Day with my parents. I can honestly say that I did absolutely nothing in the way of "labor" on that day -- and it felt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">soooo</span> good to do nothing!<br /><br />What a blessed person I am! I don't know why God chooses to bless me so much! After all, I am the person who lays down in the bed at night, starts saying my prayers, and falls asleep almost instantaneously. I am the person who gripes and complains about the most trivial of things. And, I am the person who all too often takes for granted everything my God in Heaven does for me. Nevertheless, He loves me and blesses me anyway. It's hard for me to fathom the love I have in my heart for my family and friends. It is an impossibility for me to comprehend the love Jehovah God has for me!</span>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-66028489135418658192009-09-04T06:36:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:01:32.582-07:00Family Matters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoUMuvQWz3bQmpZBrC8DcX2H1e1ruFBhZvfR6dB_t-HTBZXN82qYW-u1M2F50uNqqnWFhU3UPN71rg-fZY3sPeIVsKZiQtKz7IOL8nulSbFxPG0S6d8C0XII8ZBf9ABoedTC65CenvZhe/s1600-h/The+Becks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377611691388926642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoUMuvQWz3bQmpZBrC8DcX2H1e1ruFBhZvfR6dB_t-HTBZXN82qYW-u1M2F50uNqqnWFhU3UPN71rg-fZY3sPeIVsKZiQtKz7IOL8nulSbFxPG0S6d8C0XII8ZBf9ABoedTC65CenvZhe/s320/The+Becks.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">I love my family! I love the family I live with (my husband and youngest son); the part of my family that doesn't live in my house anymore (my married son and his wife); my entire family that still lives in South Carolina (my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mamma</span>, daddy, brother, brother & his family etc.) and part of whom live in Charlotte, NC (my niece and nephew); my church family; all of my other "extended" family; and my "pet" family (Bree, Belle, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sox</span>, Maggie and Samson). God has richly blessed me (even though I don't know why) by placing all these people and creatures in my life, and for that I am extremely grateful!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">In this post is a picture of another part of my "family". They are so very near and dear to my heart that I could never express in words exactly how much they mean to me. There's daddy Steve, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mamma</span> Paula and son Tyler, and I couldn't imagine not having them in my life. They are in no way related by blood to anyone else in my family, but they might as well be because I love them with the same love that I have for my blood family! They've been there for us through thick and thin and they know things about my family that no one else knows. They are simply THE BEST! Are they perfect? Heck, no! But, then again, I don't know anyone other than our Heavenly Father who is! Doesn't matter, though, cause in the words of the country music icons "Alabama" -- "they're close enough to perfect for me"!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">I love you with all my heart, Becks!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-43630580902476672562009-09-03T10:02:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:01:46.939-07:00More Treasures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq34dRvbaYMxeqCj03tlVqqgWEXzab_gBxkrOaV5yVjv8wdebQmPaCOBvzh2dKqaeISr9AAFfShbJJZ90Xr3KWCzhTLXDRk8jgl05hl4jEVFhetTsj9L-qwxsIeKIfTOhlqwkFb2vjE0X9/s1600-h/tanner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377296698285052850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq34dRvbaYMxeqCj03tlVqqgWEXzab_gBxkrOaV5yVjv8wdebQmPaCOBvzh2dKqaeISr9AAFfShbJJZ90Xr3KWCzhTLXDRk8jgl05hl4jEVFhetTsj9L-qwxsIeKIfTOhlqwkFb2vjE0X9/s320/tanner.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-YIM-wLx6nT__abr362c0ff1bTrrZuc0Jvw5a58kkmAH__mDcKdU4S1fQSnb4jLNYJEarZ-c5j1Z7DgGKIvRrMH6mC7-kbNdlqpHv8oQ_C0GdCBWzcxXP_2dXSX8a-fjSxqStdkgqchq/s1600-h/Lydia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377296504183438930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-YIM-wLx6nT__abr362c0ff1bTrrZuc0Jvw5a58kkmAH__mDcKdU4S1fQSnb4jLNYJEarZ-c5j1Z7DgGKIvRrMH6mC7-kbNdlqpHv8oQ_C0GdCBWzcxXP_2dXSX8a-fjSxqStdkgqchq/s320/Lydia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2qUoGhpocGy5Flvl2_gaCjrOAogpvdFrvZ8bBLvKTjk4wN6WzGLpK5kyhvzAYAKQeXIdkOg3WJ5HCCP9HpsccfuYhyphenhyphen6Mp-TMSrJdxuqiz_ygF2nLvLGlJMGCkWb-h9Tp_S0tEyGyp9cQ/s1600-h/Addie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377296290229119890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2qUoGhpocGy5Flvl2_gaCjrOAogpvdFrvZ8bBLvKTjk4wN6WzGLpK5kyhvzAYAKQeXIdkOg3WJ5HCCP9HpsccfuYhyphenhyphen6Mp-TMSrJdxuqiz_ygF2nLvLGlJMGCkWb-h9Tp_S0tEyGyp9cQ/s320/Addie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Mamma -- happy birthday to you! I'm very thankful, at my age of nearly 49, to still have a mamma and daddy who are alive and, for the most part, well. Not many people my age are that fortunate. That is a treasure.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">And speaking of treasures, the sweet faces you see in today's post are each a treasure in their own unique way!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">That first face you see is my Tanner. Wow -- what a special guy! He's another one of the many children from our church who I've known since he was in the womb. I've watched him grow, mature and come out of his shell so much over the past several years. He's the smartest guy and so well-rounded. He loves everything from hunting to NASCAR to football to WWE wrestling and so much more. He's been my "go-to" guy several times when I needed someone I could depend on to help out in Christmas plays, etc.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">The face right beside Tanner? Well, that's his little sister, my Lydia, and she is quite the character. She's the sweetest, sassiest little thing you'll ever meet and you NEVER know what's going to come out of her mouth! She can be sooooo funny sometimes. And, one day when she's older I just know she's going to get embarrassed when her mom and I start reliving her toddler and preschool years and talking about her huge crush on my son, Dan! Tanner and Lydia have the greatest parents -- Greg and Natalie -- and they are working hard to make sure their children are brought up in the church!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">The cute little face in the bottom picture is my Addie. Her name is Addison, but most of us at church call her Addie. She's such a sweetheart, and one of her passions in life is playing on the playground. I do believe that child would swing and slide all day long if she were given the chance! Her daddy is fairly new to the "preaching profession", but he has already preached at our church a couple of times and does an absolutely great job. Her mommy cleans teeth for a living (and, by the way, she has my utmost respect cause I'm not sure I could play around in people's mouths like that all day!). The three of them make up one of the most precious families I know. Addie is now a PK (Preacher's Kid), and PKs can get a pretty bad rap sometimes. I hope Addie is one of those PKs who proves everybody wrong!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">So, you see, my treasures don't come in the form of diamonds, gold, money and other such worldly things. My treasures come in the form of family members, church family members, the promise of a Heavenly home, health, freedom, etc. These are treasures that cannot be bought!</span></div></div></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-62940227705859654732009-09-02T07:45:00.000-07:002009-09-11T13:03:09.095-07:00I've Fallen In Love With Fall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjsRQdNm85igHkBA_JfXHOoK6-VfaQQYLiUVgNwxFiWQZUJhbcZ9yAr_t-oAxzUshNVUxqEDqrWNTg8KFbow4nUXbjc6fKOThLX_JE3kReuKkWpPnPdBM71yWVqQ-sjMLeoJcnJo7Hoy5/s1600-h/Fall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376886560365458002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjsRQdNm85igHkBA_JfXHOoK6-VfaQQYLiUVgNwxFiWQZUJhbcZ9yAr_t-oAxzUshNVUxqEDqrWNTg8KFbow4nUXbjc6fKOThLX_JE3kReuKkWpPnPdBM71yWVqQ-sjMLeoJcnJo7Hoy5/s320/Fall.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Just when I think God can't improve on His beauty anymore -- along comes FALL and He totally and completely outdoes Himself! I absolutely love autumn. I'm thankful for all seasons, but fall is my favorite time of the year. I am constantly amazed on my drives to and from work at how the color changes day by day until these mountains are absolutely aglow with reds, yellows and oranges. The Master Painter certainly knows how to use His paintbrush to create majestic pictures that no human artist can touch!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">How peaceful it is to view a God-made waterfall while the leaves fall from the trees and float lazily down to the waters below. How exciting it is to hear the cheers and roars from stadiums as football season begins. How tasty it is to bite into a beautiful crunchy apple picked fresh from the tree.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">I don't know why fall means so much to me -- unless it's because I was born in the fall of the year -- but, it always seems to renew my spirits immensely. I thank God for allowing me the privilege of living in these gorgeous mountains where I can witness some of the most beautiful scenery in all the world!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-38643219955172814772009-08-31T06:26:00.001-07:002009-09-11T10:02:23.627-07:00Why Me?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefa_3xaZhZSnFZfvG1kOFK6Lj-_QXRNIXfaKiOtIaUunEwclqp7TUgf7sXJ9tAV0fhoXrtjbpw3i0oOtYVjofm8i7J1rum-EcR_ckVh8D6h8C4tRpsD6nmvUdita_b8Zv4-ia3Rx2wY1X/s1600-h/Creek.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376122276832615554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefa_3xaZhZSnFZfvG1kOFK6Lj-_QXRNIXfaKiOtIaUunEwclqp7TUgf7sXJ9tAV0fhoXrtjbpw3i0oOtYVjofm8i7J1rum-EcR_ckVh8D6h8C4tRpsD6nmvUdita_b8Zv4-ia3Rx2wY1X/s320/Creek.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Over the past several days I've found myself wondering -- why me?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Why did God choose to bless me so much? I never have and never will deserve His blessings, yet He keeps sending them my way day after day after day. I moan and groan, gripe and complain, and whine and cry most of the time, so what kind of God could care enough to bless a person like that? My God, that's who -- my Heavenly Father. It is something I will never understand -- it's just so mind boggling!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">This morning my eyes opened to the sight of another beautiful day; my lungs inhaled and exhaled air; my legs walked me through my daily routine of getting ready for work; my ears heard the priceless songs of grateful little birds; and the list of blessings just in the past couple of hours goes on and on.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">What will I do with this day? Will I wish for 5:00 to be here so that I can leave this place or will I be thankful to have an 8-hour-a-day job where I can do some small part to help provide for our family? Will I snap at my co-workers in anger or will I try my best to show them God's love? Will my cup be half full or half empty?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Today, I choose to try with everything that is in me to be thankful for the blessings I have been given! Again, I ask -- why me? The only answer I have is because: JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW!!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-4054398696155914092009-08-28T05:46:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:02:39.203-07:00Freckles are Our Friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9A6K4qGeusEYw6cEOvr9-K3gbLPgZKiQZAaFfYz_pyGzIO-WM_4kPW6oPSMiZSBbt4Q1fp8LsQd2YIxLkrPW9qrbM-w136fPExrFVQ2DM712gxqe9gUpDGMVqzpgmbzKklJKiQ7wnXbAl/s1600-h/Matthew.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375000643374984162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9A6K4qGeusEYw6cEOvr9-K3gbLPgZKiQZAaFfYz_pyGzIO-WM_4kPW6oPSMiZSBbt4Q1fp8LsQd2YIxLkrPW9qrbM-w136fPExrFVQ2DM712gxqe9gUpDGMVqzpgmbzKklJKiQ7wnXbAl/s320/Matthew.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblKeJVC5mkyh9p63hu3slnyINoaSO5TjpAVpBGe7SDU20Zku3yV9KMobHfwJvW7rB8uxYqL6ugmijBcHLqwhY0CRpe2HIC4oIa_WkA04cI22-JGICqQr1wwY2TqmV7w6t7R-I3BKa-oPP/s1600-h/Breanna.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375000556399051842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblKeJVC5mkyh9p63hu3slnyINoaSO5TjpAVpBGe7SDU20Zku3yV9KMobHfwJvW7rB8uxYqL6ugmijBcHLqwhY0CRpe2HIC4oIa_WkA04cI22-JGICqQr1wwY2TqmV7w6t7R-I3BKa-oPP/s320/Breanna.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">The little guy in today's post is yet another one of my all time favorite little people! His name is Matthew and he's in the 1st grade. He and his beautiful family left our church awhile back to join another church, but they will always, always, always be part of the Balsam Baptist Church family.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">This kid will absolutely crack you up because you never know what he's going to say; yet, it seems that whatever comical thing he says is so appropriate for that particular moment in time. His smile melts my heart absolutely in two! But, one of my most favorite features of Matthew is his freckles!! You see, I'm somewhat a "person of freckles" myself, and while I used to absolutely hate them with every ounce of my being, I've become quite accustomed to them over the years, and they don't seem nearly as ugly to me now as they once did. Matthew's freckles, however, run in a little patch from his cheek on one side right over that cute little nose to his cheek on the other side. They just add so much to this little fella's already bubbly personality. He's quite a handsome young man and is the "mini-me" version of his daddy, Randy.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">The beautiful young lady in today's post is Matthew's sister, Breanna. She is a great combination of her mom and dad, and I don't believe dad's feelings would be hurt if I said that she is absolutely as lovely as her Mom. But, the most wonderful thing about Breanna is that she isn't just beautiful on the outside. She has the sweetest spirit inside, and that makes her extra special!</span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">I seriously miss getting to see the Lucas family on a regular basis, but they are always in my heart and I think of them often. They are without a doubt one of the most special families in my life and I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to love them!</span></div></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-63385552344667627492009-08-27T10:06:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:03:37.714-07:00Love Comes in Small Packages<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBPSX5TNFDx0zcq8YuruAZqVYxfLA5U36lpyk39xGe6LyyfUPVCHclk8BOzKHVVtyUL3Jg4t2NF2VoNefDmrqMlt-LDe44wFB0sSZeL4Y5LjKY-2WBNtoN7ZOvMvPr_XLxVskM0ybWHxY/s1600-h/Morgan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374696491789518706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBPSX5TNFDx0zcq8YuruAZqVYxfLA5U36lpyk39xGe6LyyfUPVCHclk8BOzKHVVtyUL3Jg4t2NF2VoNefDmrqMlt-LDe44wFB0sSZeL4Y5LjKY-2WBNtoN7ZOvMvPr_XLxVskM0ybWHxY/s320/Morgan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAkhhd9IdFO2Mp9jVihzeVnKZPgn-gY21EmjZE3RVc-JXXcRbbIzXjBE7jMu7uAyXdTYogObzJW4e08DquwZsmyAqDTOG2YjYqNeFaUNNnOTwLQldutgi3x8Dd8PfbWV2ypsna7001USz/s1600-h/Melissa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374696073936187282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 193px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 155px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAkhhd9IdFO2Mp9jVihzeVnKZPgn-gY21EmjZE3RVc-JXXcRbbIzXjBE7jMu7uAyXdTYogObzJW4e08DquwZsmyAqDTOG2YjYqNeFaUNNnOTwLQldutgi3x8Dd8PfbWV2ypsna7001USz/s320/Melissa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat_VZrOZuJMdWH3xqb31iu6yFQn42MBs-4EPbRaMIs3XTLlhqMxN7-uzg5Yy4mgJnfPQJbHrQqvxL1TrNukMK71Mn30NP7uoY4KlbFA0Ls_fDfAzQ2vsjdcIma64D84JVwQpD5dwXNa8Q/s1600-h/Thomas+the+Train.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374696004310736258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat_VZrOZuJMdWH3xqb31iu6yFQn42MBs-4EPbRaMIs3XTLlhqMxN7-uzg5Yy4mgJnfPQJbHrQqvxL1TrNukMK71Mn30NP7uoY4KlbFA0Ls_fDfAzQ2vsjdcIma64D84JVwQpD5dwXNa8Q/s320/Thomas+the+Train.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnok3MycN9koMfjNjqnZInDLIsSu4ZUjtjE2b8lh4e-udJediZcrFCEiqVzPEWbmbtEccFjL9_WxLGnqkuNwF8SaYAaE19V8It3rx2xoKh1DSUA-Srf4XyIUUjEodIqGyko3Ov6k_Lckw1/s1600-h/Thomas+the+Train.jpg"></a><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">See that cute little guy with the glasses and the backpack? Well, that's Morgan Barnes, one of my favorite fellas in the whole wide world! You see, I've known him since his beautiful mommy carried him in her belly, and I've watched him grow from the sweetest little bundle of joy into a proud kindergartner. I love him soooooo much!! Today is his first day of kindergarten, and while I'm sure there was a certain amount of nervousness on the part of him and his mom about "leaving the nest" and embarking into a whole new world, his mom says he (and she) did just great and there were no tears shed at all when they parted ways at school this morning. YIPPEE!! What a big boy!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Morgan has the greatest older sister you'd ever want to know and he loves his sister more than words can say. He's watched her every move and, even though I'm sure they have their disagreements every now and then, I believe he looks up to Melissa with the utmost respect. I've also watched her grow up from the time she was in her mom's belly -- what a sweetheart! That, of course, is her with the glasses and the beautiful smile.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Morgan's all time favorite thing is Thomas the Tank Engine. That boy eats, drinks, sleeps and breathes Thomas! I'm not sure whether or not he knows it, but Thomas the Tank Engine has a fan for life, for I firmly believe that even when Morgan Barnes is a man, he will still be one of Thomas' biggest fans! It should be quite obvious which picture is Thomas.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">It's a bittersweet feeling that I have in my heart right now. On the one hand, it's very sad that the years have flown by so fast and that now Morgan is old enough to go to school. On the other hand, it's such a blessing from God for me to have had the opportunity to have him in my life for 5-1/2 years, and I pray I will have him and his entire wonderful family in my life for many years to come.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">I love you, little man -- with all my heart and soul!! God bless you!</span></div></div></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-2337742118170458692009-08-26T09:51:00.001-07:002009-09-11T10:03:54.014-07:00The Main Thing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnAiRlrQUJUcOr7fmzszGgbX2E7XaYP8PryYXbE7nnYX0KuSpacd4ZMz-x-9TRcom6uVi89uVkJGnU-yEdo4peeexfTHZPKVlqPXxxBHocrMiO63rK9hJW4ixTBeMV-E-Oubk54W1U58a/s1600-h/Cross.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374324360029540002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnAiRlrQUJUcOr7fmzszGgbX2E7XaYP8PryYXbE7nnYX0KuSpacd4ZMz-x-9TRcom6uVi89uVkJGnU-yEdo4peeexfTHZPKVlqPXxxBHocrMiO63rK9hJW4ixTBeMV-E-Oubk54W1U58a/s320/Cross.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">I've been hearing quite a bit lately about churches who are experiencing turmoil internally and about some who are even tearing apart at the seams, and I find myself asking over and over -- "Why?" The only answer I can come up with is what my pastor has said time and time and time again from the pulpit -- "We have made church all about "us" -- mere, mortal, imperfect humans -- and we are not keeping the main thing the main thing!" And, the main thing is JESUS CHRIST!! After all, what other reason do we have for going to church?</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Oh, don't get me wrong, the fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ is something that can be bought with no amount of money, but the whole purpose of church is to worship the Lord. Are we there to put on a fashion show in order to get compliments on our clothing or to try to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">outdress</span> Sister Sue or Brother Bill? Are we there to have our bottoms powdered, our backs patted and our feelings soothed? Are we there to serve on committees, teach classes, etc. in order to have something upstanding to put on our resumes under the heading "Civic Activities"? Are we there because our ancestors had a falling out with the ancestors of someone else in that church 100 years ago and, by gosh, we have to go in order to defend our ancestors' beliefs? And probably not even knowing the reason for the falling out in the first place?</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">If we answer "yes" to ANY of the above questions, then my friend we have failed to keep the main thing the main thing! God is not impressed by our clothing; He doesn't care about our resumes; and He's more than likely quite nauseated by the years of animosity between church members! And, while He does care about our feelings, my belief is that He expects at some point for us to grow up and get over the need for powdered bottoms, patted backs and soothed feelings!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">Then, I find myself asking "Why?" again. "Why can't we just go to church to worship our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Omnicient</span>, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God?" After all, HE IS THE REASON WE WORSHIP!! No matter what we have been through in the past, what we are going through right now, or what we will face in the future, our Heavenly Father suffered so much more than we ever have or will when He took the sins of the entire world upon His shoulders, hung on that cross, poured out every drop of blood in His body, and endured the most horrible death imaginable. Any problems we have pale in comparison.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">I just know in my heart that if church members were diligent in keeping their eyes focused on Jesus and on trying to reach lost souls for Jesus -- leaving self completely out of the picture --everything else would take care of itself. Churches would thrive, people would love each other and most important of all -- lost people would be saved!! And that, dear friend, is the MAIN thing!!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-1848970470785453652009-08-25T12:24:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:06:34.347-07:00Reminiscing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjSi895N4oVRKwqVn-64WvhhymSZ1AF3PvbiIOK1c5VUSSOn1-q4Lm5-wK8ncRTZ_62AjK1xbuU2uC8vyaYBShDlP5hVNUrQ_CNYDF4P6wv2jPwYSJkp42XTNEzReVv-cEnpWP79iMFMp/s1600-h/Chris+Jennnigs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373986524043724050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjSi895N4oVRKwqVn-64WvhhymSZ1AF3PvbiIOK1c5VUSSOn1-q4Lm5-wK8ncRTZ_62AjK1xbuU2uC8vyaYBShDlP5hVNUrQ_CNYDF4P6wv2jPwYSJkp42XTNEzReVv-cEnpWP79iMFMp/s320/Chris+Jennnigs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;">Even though I have lived in North Carolina for 10 years longer than I lived in South Carolina, my entire family is still in South Carolina and there are many times I find myself missing them so very much. Today, for whatever reason, I've had my brother on my mind. So, I dusted off an old poem I wrote as a present for him for Christmas 2005. I hope those who read it will enjoy it, and I hope it causes you to have fond memories as you think about your "growing up" years. By the way, that's my "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bubba</span>" in the picture on this post.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><span style="color:#663333;">My Thanks for Our Family<br /><br />From the same womb we both entered this world;<br />Two years apart -- you a boy, me a girl.<br />You were the first one to make your debut,<br />With sandy brown hair and eyes azure blue.<br />Born to a couple with hearts full of love,<br />They both knew this miracle came from above.<br /><br />Such joy you brought to your parents each day.<br />“Watch over our baby”, to God they did pray.<br />“Please bless him and keep him in Your loving arms,<br />And, Heavenly Father, protect him from harm.”<br />Day after day you developed and grew,<br />Then all of a sudden, guess what? There were two!<br /><br />I came along with my eyes also blue,<br />I’m sure people thought that I looked just like you.<br />Were you proud of your sister, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bubba</span>, so dear?<br />Or, did my presence cause you a measure of fear?<br />Were you eager to hold me and kiss my bald head?<br />Or, did this “competition” make you angry instead?<br /><br />Our parents loved us so much, you and me.<br />But, I think we convinced them they <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn</span>’t need three!<br />We sure had our moments, some good and some bad.<br />Looking back, though, I know those were the best years we had.<br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">didn</span>’t have money or treasures galore,<br />But with all of that love, we just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">didn</span>’t need more.<br /><br />They raised us the best that they could, Mom and Dad.<br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">didn</span>’t own much, but each other we had.<br />They took us to church and taught us of God,<br />And firmly believed in not “sparing the rod”!<br />They worked very hard so that our needs were met.<br />No better parents could two children get.<br /><br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">weren</span>’t perfect children, oh no, not at all!<br />There were plenty of times we would stumble and fall.<br />I guess we’re the reason their hair turned to gray,<br />And the reason they prayed so much day after day.<br />I often wondered, “Are we causing them pain?”<br />“And do they ever wish it was just them again?<br /><br />Yet, no matter what trials we both put them through,<br />They were always still willing to say, “I love you.”<br />They watched us with love in that “growing up” time,<br />As you became your own person and I became mine.<br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">didn</span>’t always make choices that they’d like us to,<br />But they stood right there with us, their love saw us through.<br /><br />We’re fortunate people, God has blessed us so much!<br />With His sweet gentle Spirit and His soft loving touch.<br />What more could we ask? We have blessings untold,<br />With fond memories to comfort us when we are old.<br />As the years come and go, I’m more thankful each day<br />That God chose to shine on our lives in this way!<br /><br />Written by: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Dawne</span> Jennings <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Coward </span></span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><span style="color:#663333;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error">December</span> 16, 2005</span></em></span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089989218754152886.post-21980081863331080232009-08-24T06:38:00.000-07:002009-09-11T10:06:48.743-07:00Fire Trucks, Family and Fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAI8cBvGSI7v_KRa9hqcjB5WqB2xyF8fyHPtIrcAiNQvhiKgxhUz4h0-zY973gFD0ijrVTCJA7nUsB-F1jh7p9jweKMrMS3CQfA6Bpsj0j_Rpwtani2IV31HBszrufhaiBd6iy30WmYqK/s1600-h/Fire+Truck.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373533103800042306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAI8cBvGSI7v_KRa9hqcjB5WqB2xyF8fyHPtIrcAiNQvhiKgxhUz4h0-zY973gFD0ijrVTCJA7nUsB-F1jh7p9jweKMrMS3CQfA6Bpsj0j_Rpwtani2IV31HBszrufhaiBd6iy30WmYqK/s320/Fire+Truck.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">I have just returned from a 4-day trip to Raleigh where I enjoyed spending time with my family at the North Carolina State Firemen's Association 2009 Expo. My husband, who is the treasurer of this State association, worked extremely hard alongside other members of that board to ensure everything ran smoothly. I have to say that I've never seen so many HUGE fire trucks on display in one place, and there were various and sundry emergency service-related vendors there as well. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to stay in a really nice hotel that had an underground connector to the Raleigh Convention Center where all the festivities took place.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">But, had there been no fire trucks, vendors, or nice hotels, it still would have been one of the most special weekends I've had in a long time. On the drive to Raleigh Thursday, I caught myself with a perpetual smile on my face just listening to my children (who aren't really children anymore -- but who will always be my babies) joking, laughing and having the time of their lives. I didn't realize how much I missed that -- they were like little boys again! As we strolled together along the streets of Raleigh and along the vendor floor of the convention center, I silently and consistently thanked God for allowing me to spend this precious time with my boys.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;">I returned home on Sunday with a renewed sense of thankfulness for God's undeserved yet unending blessings. God is good -- ALL THE TIME!!</span></div>Dawne Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15619225546359926009noreply@blogger.com0