Spring Forward

Haven't wrote anything here in about 5 months. I don't have a good excuse other than being busy with life. Holidays, work, keeping a house running. There are so many things I want to get done and don't.

I need to reread a book I read about 15 years ago. "Seven Secrets of Highly Successful People" by Stephen Covey. It so inspired me then to think and do what's important not just do the urgent.

My passions are my God, my family, being creative - whether it's painting or sewing or cooking a new recipe. I need to not let the urgent and the mundane keep me from accomplishing my passions.

Help me Lord.

Monday morning rain

It's Monday morning, and the men have gone to work. I read and studied my Bible. Then checked Facebook and e-mail. Now writing. But it's raining and the sound makes me want to go back to bed. There's lots to do at home on my day off.

Had a great weekend. Went to church. Haven't been in about a month. Yesterday, went to Flea Market with Lewis an Lewie. Then just hung around the house the rest of the day. Zach and family came over for a visit. So good to see them.

Beautiful Tellico River

Last week, I went to 2 funerals in 2 days burying 2 young men taken from this earth in the prime of their lives. So sad to see the close family members grieving over their loss and wondering what they could or should have done differently in their relationships and wishing for more time to make right any wrongs done. Made me want to keep my relationships more healthy.

It has been a long time since writing here. About 5 months. We have been busy. To see my mom, 2 sisters and their families the end of April. Lewis having hernia repair surgery in May. He was off work for 6 weeks. Working, gardening, canning, keeping a home has kept me very busy. The grandsons are growing big and strong and precious. Celebrated my sister Lorine and my birthday on the 8th of September. Went to Provino's for dinner then to take a carriage ride downtown Chattanooga. It was great. My son, Lewie and his wife Bonnie gave me a new laptop computer. Mine had crashed about a month ago. Very nice gift. Very appreciated. Now, I think I better go take my dog for a walk and then get to work.

Good Morning World, It is wonderful to hear the birds singing, see the sky getting light and know how blessed I am to have such a great God and a wonderful family, good health, a home, so much more that it would take me a very long time to list them all. I listened to a really inspiring program yesterday on Midday Connection http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramDetail.aspx?id=85956. I heard a woman telling how she and her husband gave everything in their lives up to God(which is already His anyway)but sometimes we keep part of our lives for us and don't surrender it all to Him. I so needed to hear this. I so want to surrender all to Him. Please God help me.

Where has this year gone?

It's been 6 months since writing here. Wow! How fast time flies! I've been busy working, keeping house, painting, loving grandsons(and sons and husband).
Spent a beautiful fall day at North River close to Tellico River with Lewis. We drove up there and saw my son Lewie and his wife, Bonnie. They were camping there.
Today, I have the day at home. I'm going to paint on an old window. First, I need to go for a walk.
Thank you, Lord for this day. Please bless all my family with health, peace and prosperity.

Tornado Alley

Last Wednesday we had lots of tornadoes in our area. None hit our home I'm thankful. My sister-in-law's house needs a new roof but it looks so much better than the houses around hers. So much devastation. So many people lost homes and loved ones. My nephew lost a really close friend.
We didn't have electricity for 3 days and we have a well so our water ran out after a day and a half. We did put buckets under eaves before the rains came to have water for flushing toilets and boiling for washing dishes. Had some good water saved for drinking. This has made me appreciate running water and electricity a lot more. I'm more conservative with water now.
I can see God's power through this and I think He is saying "Can you hear me now?". He so much deserves our attention and honor and our time. We shouldn't be spending so much time connected on our phones, internet, TV, etc but spend time with God meditating on His word, in prayer and helping each other.

Happy Birthday Zachariah

28 years ago on April 14, I gave birth to my second born son, Zachariah. Wow, where did the time go? He has been such a blessing. He's now married to a beautiful wife and they have 2 wonderful sons. Thank you Lord for him and please continue blessing him and his family. Yesterday our family got together for a birthday bbq for Zach behind their apt complex. We had a great time. Lots of good food, fellowship, kids running around playing. Beautiful.

Sabbath Blessings

I woke up to a beautiful Sabbath morning. Birds singing. Trees and flowers in bloom. A promise of good things to come. Good food coming soon from our garden. I've got 35 Brandywine tomato plants started. Yellow squash, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, eggplant too. Onions, spinach, kale, peas planted in garden.
Life is peaceful here especially compared to the folks in Japan after the terrible earthquake and tsunami. I can't imagine what that would be like and hopefully I won't ever have to experience that.
Sometimes there's things in my life that stress me, get under my skin. But by the grace of God, I get through. He helps me have the right perspective and my mind where it should be. Until I start looking at the problem(s) again and take my eyes off Him where they should be- where they need to stay.
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller

I read this quote on another blog and had to share it. I have always so admired Helen Keller. She is such an inspiration.

The Scoggins family had such a wonderful day last Sabbath at the lake fishing, resting, enjoying a warm day for a great change.

Snow storm 2011

Early Monday morning we got lots of snow. Throughout the day we accumulated over 8 inches. So beautiful. Lewis and Matt got to stay home. We went for a walk. That was pretty hard. Matt's friend picked him up and they went snowboarding, sledding at a farm down the road. Tuesday, they braved driving to work after it got light. I didn't. Stayed busy cleaning, organizing, cooking. Today is Wednesday and they made it to work again. Not me. Sorting through pictures on the computer. More cleaning, cooking. Now writing.
I haven't gone anywhere since Sabbath. I guess some people would get cabin fever. I choose not to. I have too many things I can do. I do believe I'll paint this afternoon. Thank you Lord for the snow, for this time off work without pay so I have time to do other things I wouldn't have time for. Thank you Lord for our home, our family, books, talents, food, hot water, a good warm wood stove.

White Christmas 2010

Christmas day, 2010. So beautiful and white. So perfect. All my sons, their wives and sons, my wonderful husband, great brunch with them. Then playing in the snow. About 5, Lewis' family came over and we had a good visit with some more good food.

Lewis and didn't go anywhere for 3 days. Icy roads and we really didn't need anything.
Tuesday, we all went back to work. On the way home, Lewis was T-boned at the intersection of Ooltewah-Ringgold and East Brainerd Rd. Thank God he or Matt wasn't hurt. The truck wasn't messed up too bad. The other guys was.

Praise God for His marvelous care!!!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful, long Thanksgiving weekend. As I was driving home from cleaning 2 houses on Wednesday, I was pulled over for speeding about a half a mile from home. I was so tired and thinking there goes the money I made today. I'm SOoo thankful to say the policeman let me go, telling me to slow down.
We had lunch on Thanksgiving Day at my niece's home. All of Lewis' brothers and sisters and his mother were there along with their families. Lots of good fun, food and fellowship. Sabbath, we had lunch at our home with all our sons, their wives and children, our nephew, Beau and our daughter-in-law, Bonnie's dad, sister, and brother.
Sunday, we went to the flea market, then to pick up some furniture to sell at the flea market later, back home to work around home - cutting wood, washing clothes, washing dishes. Then we sat down to rest and watch a good movie, "Karate Kid".
Today, it's back to the weekly routine for Lewis and Matthew. I got to stay home today and draw on a canvas to get it ready to paint.

Blessings

Such a beautiful, autumn day. Lovin' it. I cleaned 4 houses this week. I prayed for more work and God gave me more. Praise Him. Had fun buying groceries for a change. Went to 3 different stores, buying what was on sale, lots of buy one get one free. Now having to put it all away.

Got to get busy and cook some yummy food for the weekend. I've got several new recipes I want to try. Asian chicken salad wraps, Apricot-almond bars, Caramelized onion dip with fresh raw veges, Penne frittata with basil and ricotta and some kind of yummy muffins.

Going to play my guitar at Sabbath School tomorrow. Haven't done that in a while.

Matthew, my youngest son, started a full time job Tuesday. He has been working pretty regular but this is a 40 hr, get up at 5:30, punch the time clock kind of job.

Where did September go?

Wow, this month flew by. Last weekend I think was the highlight of the month. All my sons, their families, my sister Lorine and her husband and daughter all went camping with Lewis and me to our favorite camping place, Tellico River. Such a great time even with all the rain Saturday night and Sunday morning while packing. My grandsons had so much fun playing with rocks and sticks and in the water. Saturday night we sat around telling stories. We shared good food, good company and the beauty of God's creation.

Today, my mom is coming for a visit from South Georgia. Her first drive up here alone in a long time. It's been 2 and a half months since my Dad died. We are going to have a blessed visit. Tomorrow is Lewis' birthday and all my sons and their families will be together again for a wonderful, fun and food filled day of celebration of life.

Happy Birthday to my sister Lorine and me

It's my birthday. Wow! The years keep going by faster and faster. I had a wonderful visit with my mom last week. We went to a thrift store, a used book store, out to eat 3 times. That was the most one on one time I've spent with her since childhood.

Today I'm meeting my sister, Lorine for lunch. It's also her birthday. The best birthday present I ever got. My daughter-in-law, Yaha called me this morning to wish me happy birthday. My grandson, Braden and Yaha sang happy birthday to me. So sweet.

I'm enjoying my morning. Just taking it easy today. Cause hey, it's my birthday!!

Fasting from Words

My word fast last week was very enlightening, inspiring, uplifting. I was drawn close to God because I was drawing close to Him. Isn't that what He says will happen? I need to do that more often. I'll try for 3 days a month.

Making Granola

This morning I'm cooking granola. Had to have some to go with the yummy peaches we picked off our trees 2 days ago. It smells so good and it's so easy. Here's the recipe.
4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups nuts(sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Stir dry ingredients together. Heat oil and honey in microwave for about a minute, add vanilla. Stir this mixture into dry ingredients. Pour into long, shallow cooking pan and bake 40 minutes stirring every 10 minutes.

Canning Peaches

Yesterday afternoon, my friend, Cheryl came over and I showed her how to can peaches. It was great fun, lots of good conversation and inspiration from her. Such a godly woman. I have been praying for something to do like this. Teaching the younger women things they maybe didn't learn growing up. I'm so thankful my mom, dad and grandmothers taught me such useful life skills. I hope to start another Bible study soon and teach bread baking, painting and along with my husband and sons and daughters-in-law we can have a teaching place for all kinds of skills such as woodworking, pottery, cake decorating,... So many ideas. I pray for God's help in making them happen.