The Trip

I have the sweetest granddaughters! Today Bethany took us to where Tennessee meets Virginia, to "The Birthplace of Country Music" in Bristol. We really didn't know what to expect, but after the drive through the picturesque hills and valleys of southern Appalachia, we came upon the Country Music Museum.

A giant guitar stood in front, welcoming us into the studio where photographs of such luminaries as The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Tennessee Ernie Ford and more were on display. Other guitars bore autographs of the famous on their surfaces: Willie Nelson, George Jones, Marty Stuart and on and on.

Soon we found ourselves entering the facade of a country church, complete with pews and short films of singers earnestly praising God in their heart felt songs with guitar music. Other clips were of the primitive instruments and innovative ways of sharing music, such as having to sing into a horn, for amplification.

I was surprised to learn that The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, giving the history of the music heritage and the preservation of its history.

Getting hungry by this time, lunch sounded good, so Bethany took us to a place she knew where we had a delicious meal. (Her little boys with us loved drinking Root Beer out of a long-neck bottle.) We were offered dessert by the friendly waitress, but our granddaughter had something else in mind, a pastry shop she knew of.

Bethany dropped us off out of the rain while she and the kids found a place to park. We couldn't resist the welcoming fireplace, a wing-back chair on either side and a comfy sofa facing the warmth, where I sat while Howard took the chair. Nothing tasted better than the steaming cups of coffee and donuts (mine was chocolate-covered with cream filling).

Now we can't wait for someone from home to come see us so we can share the mountainous beauty and a trip  to Bristol. It's too fun not to share!

Light

Putting away Christmas decor is bitter sweet. The fragrant scent of the evergreen fronds I used to embellish arrangements is gone, the branches dead and needles falling. I eagerly collected them weeks ago and relished the piney scent. It is Christmas Past.

The "Merry Christmas" pillow from the sofa is stored away, as is the NOEL pillow from last year.  I'm leaving up all my tiny white lights, though. They edge the tray in front of a mirror over an antiqued stand, glow brightly twined on white branches nestled in a tall urn, and highlight the display of beloved portraits and collections seen through the glass of yet another antique cabinet.

A Christmas memento that I cherish is a beautiful pitcher bought on a trip from Oklahoma to Georgia before we moved from the Sooner state. The pitcher with the graceful words, "Merry Christmas," scrolled across it also has a depiction of a red cardinal in one area and a poinsettia at the bottom of the pitcher. One reason I love it so much is that it reminds me of the cardinals that lit up the cold, winter days, perching on the rail fence of the farm or swooping through the branches of the leafless trees.

Keeping my priceless Christmas cards from far away family, especially the ones with photo groups and one newly-wed bride and groom at their ceremony, I find it hard to part with any. I think I will save one of the most beautiful, a sleigh in the glittering snow in a farm scene.

We love Christmas lights, remembering that Jesus is the Light of the world! John 1:7, says of John: "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (8)He was not that Light,  but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (9)That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

John 8:12: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

It is a cold, dark, rainy day, here, the second day of our new year, 2020, but we have the assurance of our Savior, Jesus, who is the Light of the World on any dark day! 

The Unexpected

My daughter, Julie, the crafts expert, made some beautiful, molded soaps for Christmas presents. She had given me some previously, but I had used them to the point of little pieces. This morning I decided to try out one of the pretty designer soaps she had created for me.

All was well, until a fizzy sound got my attention in the tub. Suddenly I was engulfed  in mauve fizzes and bubbles as the water turned a colorful hue while the beautiful soap disintegrated into a miniature volcano spew!

Now I know what her little 4-year-old granddaughter experienced when she bathed and watched the soap spin around. It was delicious fun for her, until she screamed and tried to escape! Her innovative Mimi had enclosed a tiny toy inside the bath bomb! Not just any toy, but a tiny plastic frog that would jump when a tab was pressed! All her other grands thought their surprise toy was fun, but not this girl! She quickly sprang from the tub in terror!

Well, my experience wasn't that bad, just a little surprising. Actually, it was fun! How often does life surprise us! Our son, Trevor, has been getting a kick out of supplying us with coffee. He knows how much we enjoy it, and has sent us several packages lately.

Yesterday, though, he called and asked again if we had received the latest shipment of the tasty brew. No, I told him, but he insisted it should have been delivered days ago. After calling the shipping company, he was told they had delivered it at 10:30 a.m. three days ago! I was getting a little muddled about what came when, and went outside to look again for any package I had missed.

Nothing. But as I started back into the house, I noticed a box tucked in a corner, previously hidden by the air conditioner! I lost no time in calling Trevor and thanking him for the coffee, which is my husband's favorite brand.

Sometimes gifts take an unexpected turn and can be a little unpredictable. I was so relieved last night at a grandson's birthday party...he actually loved the presents we gave him! How thankful we are when God supplies our needs and desires, and sometimes even surprises us!

Surprise Gift!

"You have a package at the door," our granddaughter's hubby announced, as he came over on an errand.

 "Oh, it's probably coffee," I remarked, since Howard and I were engrossed in a TV program. Our sweet son in Texas had surprised us with loads of packages of coffee lately. After a few minutes, I figured I'd better go see what the package was.

"Well, this can't be coffee," I said to myself when I saw the large, square flat box, marked FRAGILE.  I took it into the den for Howard to open. What a lovely surprise met our eyes when we saw a wonderful, framed photograph of son Trevor's family! There was daughter-in-law, Jennifer, standing between Trevor and our two young adult grandsons!

Everyone looked so handsome and beautiful posed in front of a huge fireplace in their favorite special occasion restaurant!

"It was supposed to be a Christmas present," Trevor said when I called to thank him, "but it wasn't ready in time."

Well, nothing could have pleased us more!  I have many cherished portraits of our children and grandchildren, but they are not recent; in fact, they are all from younger ages. I lost no time in finding the perfect place for the  framed picture, where it fits in beautifully in our decor.

As far as I know, there was never a picture of Jesus. We see paintings and images of Him, but there are no photographs. His life on the earth told the picture of Him.  Isaiah 53:2 portrays Him in a description: "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."

I used to have a picture I loved of an artist's rendition called "Jesus Laughing." The Bible does say He was anointed with joy above His fellows, Psalm 45:7.

As much as I enjoyed Christmas presents from loved ones, none compare with the Gift we were given on that Bethlehem night so long ago. Let us bear the reflection of Christ in our lives as we remember that starry Christmas night and picture with appreciation all the blessings He has bestowed upon us!   

When in Doubt, Improvise!

I bought a chocolate cake mix the other day, and I finally got around to think about baking it. The only trouble was, I forgot to buy frosting.  So the next time I was in our local store, I picked up a can of frosting and got ready to mix the cake.  But what's this? Reaching for the box of cake mix, I saw that it was not a chocolate, but a white cake.  And I had bought white frosting! Not what I wanted!

If I had some cocoa, I could remedy my situation by adding cocoa to the batter, I reasoned.  No use. No cocoa. What to do? Well, I did have a bottle of chocolate syrup, so I tried it, a little at a time.  Still not very dark looking, so some more syrup had to be added.  All I could do was wait for the results now, as I put the pan in the oven. The cake came out looking more caramel than chocolate, but it was delicious with the white frosting!  And not too sweet! We loved it!

Probably like other homemakers, I often have to get creative when it comes to meals. Not long ago I was making chili, but realized I had no beans to put in it. However, there was a can of Boston baked beans in the cupboard, so in they went, and the men of the family  raved over the chili! I have even substituted pork'n'beans in chili and no one was ever the wiser!

Way back when I was a child, during times when foods and goods were rationed and some not readily available, there was a popular jingle that went: "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without!"  Things are not like that today, with the abundance of offerings in the shops and supermarkets.  People used to have just a few changes of clothing, now our closets are overflowing.

Once we looked at a house we were tempted to buy, an older house made of native rock and very substantial and solid looking. We loved the inside of the house, with its fireplace and breakfast room. The only problem was there were no closets! The house had been updated and well decorated, but several of the rooms were very small. I don't know how or where they kept their wardrobes!

I plan to use my new Christmas gift Instant Pot for tomorrow's roast, another convenience unheard of in the past. My mother used a pressure cooker, but we were always a little wary of it. Mine has worked out wonderfully so far, so perhaps I can produce a meal with no set-backs, substitutions or surprises!

Keeping Track

"Would you like to go with us for a girls' night out?" my oldest granddaughter, Bethany, asked, saying that her mom and sisters would be going, too. Of course! Who could resist an invitation like that? Plans were that after a nice restaurant dinner, we would take in the current movie, "Little Women."

Cheery talk and lots of laughter reigned at our yummy supper table, and even though I couldn't always keep up with my granddaughters' chatter, I managed to get a word in edge-wise once in a while.

I had been upset that day, because my phone, my life line, had breathed its last! Preparations for a new phone was underway, but it would be a few days before we were on line again. The outing took my mind off my loss, and we planned to get a temporary one the next day.

The movie started in glorious color and atmosphere that I remembered from seeing "Little Women" many years ago. However, except for short segments in the beginning, the presentation became increasingly boring. After sitting through half the show, Bethany nudged me and asked if I wanted to leave. All those in our car opted to cut it short and go home. I haven't heard how the ending was from those who stayed on, but our warm conversations in the car on the way home was better than a movie!

Reflecting on my disconnect from contacts (all were lost when my phone died), I gratefully thought of how we can always have communication with the Lord.  The Bible tells us He is not far from any of us: Acts 17:27. "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us."

 Psalm 46:1, assures us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." Under the weather today, I waited in the car while my husband went into a convenience store to get me some medication.  That is to say, I waited and waited and waited. What could be taking him so long! Finally, he came out grinning, saying, "I didn't know they had track phones!" He had bought one, saving us from going all the way to town to purchase one! I had to agree with the wisdom of Psalm 46:1!