Our last road trip of 2008

 

This is Seth & Kelley, with Skye, packed to the rafters & ready to pull out early this morning, heading back to NC. Keith, Cameron, & I were in the equally packed PT Cruiser.
A gentle snow was falling as we drove away....

Since last Saturday evening we had been in Chippewa, Pa., staying at the Phillips' beautiful house & celebrating Christmas with Keith's family.
Thank you, Becky & Don, Sarah & Chris, for your hospitality:)
And thank you, Jean & Ken, for all you are doing for Mom & Dad, and did for us (even washing the sheets)!

We are safely home, thank the LORD, & hope to see pretty snow in NC this winter!!
May the LORD bless Mom & Dad, and all the McFarland's & Carson's.

The End of an Era

 

Today the Carsons & McFarlands met at Mom & Dad's home to clean out what Mom & Dad have accumulated throughout the years, & now no longer need. (Mom & Dad have recently moved to the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh) All the siblings, grandchildren, and in laws came to help.
It was a sweet time, but sad too.....

The house in New Castle is to be sold; ironically the news came today that a person interested in buying it wants to tour it tomorrow. Good news in this housing market!
But, today was a day to ponder things, to remember good times, to reflect on precious family memories.

A special blessing was watching the grandchildren being involved, interested, and supportive.
Afterward we met up once again in Pittsburgh, at the Home, to visit Mom & Dad & encourage them as they deal with life changes that are necessary,
and to honor them.

It's not an easy thing to leave your home behind.

Christmas evening

 

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin,
Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in Heavenly peace,
Sleep in Heavenly peace.

Wishing you the beauty of God's love, and the joy of knowing His Son Jesus.
Merry Christmas.

Christmastime

 
This photo is from Christmas 2007-- Wyatt & Three-Three, best buddies. They love seeing one another and play until they can't wiggle:)! Seen here hoping to get into the living room with their humans...

I am tired tonight, weary, out of steam.
My Christmas spirit has faded...and it's really my favorite time of the year.
I feel my time is not my own---I'm pulled in many directions.
I have no time for doing crafts or artwork or baking very often or cooking....
My diet has been thrown to the wind in the last month, simply out of laziness or tiredness.

Goodness, I am whining here, aren't I?

But....on the other hand,
Skye is home, Keith is on vacation till January, the house is decorated, my gifts are bought & wrapped,
most of my tea rings are baked, my dear daughter in law Kelley is hosting our Christmas morning gathering, we're going to Pa. after Christmas,
and----Wyatt loves me no matter what:)

I can't complain one minute. Tonight I have a warm, comfy bed waiting for me, I'll walk in the morning, go to work for about 2 hours, it'll be Christmas Eve ALL day, and my blessings abound!!

Chilly!

I am tired tonight after working amid the hustle & bustle of shoppers all day, & I'm cold.
It's really chilly here in NC--28 degrees! With a low tonight dipping to 19:(
Burrrr!
Such zig-zag weather so far this winter; the thermometer goes up & down every few days!
By Christmas Day our local temperatures may reach 60 degrees--is that really Christmas weather?:(
But it would be wonderful if we saw a snowfall in Pa.:) We're heading North Saturday after Christmas to visit the McFarland's. Today was 3 degrees in Beaver Falls according to Keith's sister.
Must admit that's a bit much!!
Burrr, chilly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But it makes 19 sound much better, doesn't it?:)

A Memorial

 
In memory of Laura Theresa Cook, 90+ years old, who died this day, December 9th, 2008.
A Southern woman, an Episcopal woman of devout faith, a teacher by profession, a mother to a good friend Terry, mother in law to her favorite son in law Gary, grandmother to Daniel (& Erin), Megan & Rebecca, great-grandmother to Jack, a gardener, a friend, and a friend to many.
I will miss her!

Losing a son

 
I'm just back from Matt Silliman's Memorial Service.
I've been gripped by such deep sadness in his death:( I didn't know him personally but I know his mom & dad. I have tried to wrap my brain around the horrific fact of losing a child, a son:(

Pastor Andy & our Youth Leader Todd spoke precious, powerful, words of comfort.
When a beloved one dies, especially a child, the family yearns for encouraging words.
Today, at Peace, there was an overflow of healing words poured out upon 600+ people.
Did everyone hear it?
Did everyone know what great truth was given?

We need to know that a life cut short was lived well.
Matt's was well lived.

Oh Holy Spirit, comfort this dear family who will sorely miss Matt on this side of Heaven.

The Annual Apex Christmas Parade

 
Seth, Keith, Cameron, & I enjoyed the Apex Christmas Parade this evening. It was quite chilly, but not windy or rainy, so it was festive feeling.
We love the school bands, the floats, & the dance troupes. Also any dog groups, like the greyhound rescue group or the husky outfit.

We missed our Kelley & Skye this year.
But the tradition continues.
Ate supper at Perkins afterward.
We indulged in good comfort food (involving hot coffee for me!) and being in a warm, cozy place:)
Happy Holidays!
Christmas Season is upon us:)

A Sad Day In Apex

Tonight it was confirmed that an Apex High student from our church family was murdered last week. His body was discovered Tuesday night.
In the last 6+ years our Peace family has had far too many of our treasured children die accidentally, or attempt suicide, or die from cancer.
One precious young man died in Iraq at 22.....

But to be murdered, and at this point, by so-called friends?
How will this story unfold?

The one thing that will not change; Matt's death will impact his family forever, the teenagers accused of murder will never be the same, and their families will never be the same.

God have mercy on all those involved.

Help all of us to cling to you & to one another.

Thanksgiving

This Friday, today, will be our Thanksgiving feast day with the family.
I am so thankful for Keith, Cameron, Seth & Kelley, Skye, & Holly.
I am thankful for a Sovereign God who loves us with an everlasting love beyond measure; who knew us before He knit us in our mother's womb, has a plan for each of us, & cares for us:)

I will share my latest thanksgiving story. I've only told to 2 or 3 people.
Pride is involved:(
I tend to lose things...
A few weeks ago in a local dept. store my phone rang. When I pulled it out of my pocketbook to answer, evidently/unbeknown to me, my paycheck fell on the floor.
Disaster:(
It was one of the largest checks I've gotten & had wanted to save it for Keith's Christmas.

After shopping I met a friend in Raleigh for lunch. My phone rang again--my dear manager called & asked if I knew where my paycheck was; well, I thought I did:(
She told me some 'good Samaritan' had turned it in to the nearest Hallmark store!!! The sales associate had called the local "Hallmark" office, who, in turn, called my manager!! I was to stop by the Hallmark store near the dept. store to pick it up, which I did asap.

Thank you to the person honest enough to do that!
Now, that's a blessing!

I am thankful for all the ways the Lord cares for me, through others,.....and you, every day.

A Snowy Walk

 
No better way to start a chilly November day in NC than to have Christmas music playing on your iPod walking through falling snow!

At The Roseland Homeplace

 
This sand rock chair was made by Mr. Briggs from which my mama & daddy bought their Sandhills farm in the early 1950's, & the tiny red cabin on it. Mama named the farm SAND ROCK ACRES. Years later, when I was 12, we moved into our newly built brick ranch located up the hill & closer to the road. Using his tractor, Daddy towed the chair up to the front yard of our new house.
A unique piece of outdoor furniture--guess you'd say it's "shabby-chic":)

Saturday Evening on US 1

 
A GOD thing:)

My favorite kind of day!

 
This Friday morning is just what I'd order---glorious fall leaves, everywhere, and a steady, gentle rain:)I loved my walk today; it was heavenly!
Must be my Scottish blood!
ENJOY!!!

Ken & Mazie Update, Veteran's Day, & My Dad

 
On this Veteran's Day I salute my father in law, Ken, pictured here with my mother in law Mazie. He served in the Army during World War Two, primarily in Alaska, &, by war's end, was transferred to France.

(My dad, Bill, who passed away in 1994, served in the Marines in the Pacific. His life was spared by contracting malaria & being hospitalized in New Zealand while his company perished at Guadalcanal.)

Ken & Mazie's update:
Over this past weekend, after being hospitalized for congestive heart failure for weeks in New Castle & Ellwood City, Pa., Ken was moved to the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mom is moving to the RP Home also, and joined him there yesterday.
Their lives are undergoing great changes, so it is a difficult time for them.
But what a blessing to have a room available at a place that's very familiar & comforting to them---they already know some of residence living there.
Thank God for His provision.

Thank God for all the veterans who have served, & those who died, to protect our country.
God raises up brave men.

This Sunday morning

 

A photo of our house here on Apache Lane this glorious November Sunday morning:)

Lake Pine

 
Just 'loverly':)

Lake Pine

A Blue Heron:) 

Tree Stars

 
Tree stars are falling here....
Wyatt & I spent a gorgeous morning walking along the trail at Lake Pine.
Here in the Piedmont of NC it's an artist's dream at every turn:)

Eye Candy!

 
This photo was taken of Keith, Skye, & Wyatt strolling along Lake Pine trail last year.....

This morning in the early light, after a day of glorious rain, the fall leaves surrounding the lake glowed brilliant gold, maize, copper, peach, red, burgundy!
Eye candy.....

So glorious!
God, the Perfect Artist is painting another season of masterpieces before our eyes! Have you noticed??

My past

 
This picture is from the NC State Fair a few weeks ago. Something from my past I am grateful is in the past, never to return!!!
(For those younger folks, these are tobacco sticks used to string tobacco onto, which then was put into a barn & cured)
I will confess as kids we welded them as swords & weapons now and again, and I did my share of welding--oh my:(

I have a birdhouse made from these sticks that my cousin John Lee crafted. Now that's a great use for such a practical item:)

You never know what memories a few sticks can conjure up!)

Tuesday

 

I voted today at the Cary Mall:)
A relief to have it done before the BIG ELECTION DAY a week away.
Cary Towne Center offers voting from 10am to 7pm til November 1st.
Keith voted this afternoon, also, in Morrisville at the Town Hall.
It took me 50 minutes at the Mall; it took Keith 20 minutes at the Town Hall.
I would recommend voting early IF you've decided on your candidates.
It will be less of a headache!

Now, we see through a glass darkly. Pray God gives us wise leaders, whoever they are!

A fine beach weekend!

 
Last Friday afternoon Keith & I headed east to visit my childhood friend Judy & her husband JE at their pretty beach house on Oak Island. Our friend Linda & her husband Dean were meeting us also. The three of us grew up within a few miles of one another in the Sandhills of NC, in the community of Roseland (near Aberdeen) where pine trees flourish & tobacco used to be king.

I married Keith at 19 & moved to NY for a brief time, returning to NC & settling in the Raleigh area in 1973 when Keith was transferred by IBM.
Judy married Keith's Army cohort Bob for a time, then after divorcing years ago, married JE Bost, a good friend from high school:) She stayed primarily in the Aberdeen area throughout the last 40 years. After marrying JE they began buying property on Long Beach.
Linda, on the other hand, married Dean, a fellow classmate of mine, in 1970 or 1971. Dean joined the Air Force, & after finishing NC State, they traveled the world till about 10 years ago when they returned to Roseland to build a home.
All these dates are "guess-timates". I'm sure Judy & Linda will set me straight if I'm wrong:)!

This weekend we just talked, ate, walked, biked, talked, us girls shopped, the guys watched football, talked some more, & we ate seafood Sat. night (except Keith).

I must brag on Judy; she cooks a 'mean' breakfast, I'm telling you! Yum:)
I think she runs the best B&B I know of:)
A brunch both mornings; Saturday--breakfast casserole (Keith's favorite), grits, homemade bread, coffee, & ham biscuits added on the menu Sunday morning. We sat around each morning, leisurely, catching up on everybody's news.

It's so good to fall back into comfortable friendships--those that know you & your family as well as you yourself--maybe better!

(See February 2008 blogs for our previous trip to visit J&JE)

Well....

If Colon Powell & Oppie & Andy (3 of my favorite folks) endorse Obama, do we need an election???
Hmmm.....

Ken/Dad

 
This is a photo of my father in law, Kenny McFarland, this August.
He's a dear man:)
He is going through a health crisis right now with congestive heart failure & some dementia.
He & Keith's mom, with the help of Keith's sister, are facing drastic life-changing decisions.
May the LORD go before them.

Friday at the Fair

 

Today, on this drizzly, cloudy, cool Friday, Skye & I scouted out the Fair. We checked out most of exhibits, & visited the chickens, cows, sheep, & pigs.
For lunch we bought delicious corn dogs & then fudge-covered apples for dessert--yum!! Next we browsed through & critiqued the art work & photo entries. Also shopped for Christmas presents in this pottery exhibit/shop....such a nice day with Skye!

Our Second Mt. Weekend Retreat

 
There's nothing like a wonderful vacation with your family, & I've had two blessed weekends since August, spending time in the beautiful Boone area with Keith, Cameron, Seth & Kelley; all going to visit Skye. AND enjoying riding bikes together--what more could I ask (except to one day ride bikes in Scotland?)!

Last Friday evening through Sunday morning we stayed in the comfy West Jefferson cabin of gracious friends.

Sat. midday all of us (except Kelley) drove to the Va. Creeper Trail. This trip Seth had his new black Trek bike & Cameron had his own orange pro Trek bike--neat:)
We did miss having Kelley along, but she was enjoying an afternoon of serious stress free couch-lounging at the cabin with her Three-Three:)

After finishing the Creeper we picked up Kelley & headed into West Jefferson where we celebrated my birthday at a nice local restaurant, Frasier's. I would highly recommend it; the food was superb & the atmosphere was very nice.
Kelley & I even ended up buying some neat hand-carved wooden trees that we spied scattered along the restaurant window sills.

And Sunday, after having a late breakfast, we packed up & headed to downtown Boone where we shopped a bit & then bought lunch from The Daily Bread, which we took outside for a picnic, enjoying the fresh fall mt. air.
Also met Skye's friends Abby & Adam who joined us for lunch:)

What a blessed time!
And when we had to leave, knowing Skye would be in Apex in three days made it easier.....

CSI: Las Vegas

Tuesday evening Keith & I watched the first episode of CSI for this season.
Sad is not the word.
A tearjerker:(

I became involved with this series a few years ago (I enjoy murder mysteries:)) & have enjoyed the characters, especially Gil Grissom, William Peterson.

Well, a few months ago, actor Gary Dourdan, the character Warrick Brown, literally was arrested for drugs & sleeping in his car. I was afraid that meant things weren't boding well for his CSI character:(
Then, in the final episode of last season, he was shot in the head, murdered by a trusted policeman!!
Such a gut-wrenching show:(!

And now I've read Gil/William will be leaving:( Gil, the steady man of reason; a loner & a thinker, with a compassionate heart.
His friend Sara left last season.
I'm not happy:(
The CSI "family" is changing & I don't like it...but, that's life, isn't it.
Sigh:(

And I worry about the actors.....Warrick (Gary), are you okay??
I'm rooting for you.

Alathea

After a trying week of sleepless nights, awful shoulder pain & doctors' visits, subbing at Hallmark for my manager--working hard!, & leading Bible study Wed. night, I was ready for a calm, soothing, Friday night!

I wasn't disappointed:)
After work my friend Kathy met Keith & me and we traveled to North Raleigh to a house concert performed by a girls' duo, Alathea. I had read about them on Steve West's blog & had listened to them on iTunes, enjoying their style enough to buy a couple of songs for my iPod. I liked their folksy, mountain-style music.

Well....they were very good!
Mandy is the song writer & lead singer, and she's a hoot! Her story telling tales were hilarious, & her songs were beautiful. Christy, the other half, can play numerous instruments, including harmonica, & mandolin, and added harmony to each rendition. Her drums were cans, water bottles, & paint buckets!

A blessed evening of sweet sounds.
Alathea's music soothed my soul:)

Check them out at: www.alathea.com

Anxiety

 

"One of the marks of Christian maturity which a believer should seek is an acquiescence in the Lord's will founded in a persuasion of His wisdom, holiness, sovereignty, & goodness...So far as we attain to this, we are secure from disappointment. Our own limited views, & short-sighted purposes & desires, may be, & will be, often over-ruled; but then our main & leading desire, that the will of the Lord may be done, must be accomplished.

How highly does it become us, both as creatures & as sinners, to submit to the appointments of our Maker! and how necessary is it to our peace!
This great attainment is too often unthought of, & over-looked; we are prone to fix our attention upon the second causes & immediate instruments of events; forgetting that whatever befalls us is according to His purpose, & therefore must be right & seasonable in itself, & shall in the issue be productive of good.

From hence arise impatience, resentment, & secret repinings (complainings), which are not only sinful, but tormenting; whereas, if all things are in His Hand, if the very hairs of our head are numbered; if every event, great & small, is under the direction of His providence & purpose; & if He has a wise, holy, & gracious end in view, to which everything that happens is subordinate & subservient;-then we have nothing to do, but with patience & humility to follow as He leads, & cheerfully to expect a happy issue...

How happy are they who can resign all to Him, see His Hand in every dispensation, & believe that He chooses better for them than they possibly could for themselves!"

John Newton

If only I had learned this before now!
And can I?
Only in spite of me & through His mercy.

This & That

 
Keith & I haven't ridden our bikes in a week or more, simply because of rainy weather, being busy in the evenings, or just plain tired:(
Not good!
I've gained weight, & we're getting rusty:(
We need to get moving again!
September & October weather should be invigorating!!

My dear friend Lorraine & I are taking a short series of collage classes at Apex Community Center. Jillian Goldberg is the art instructor, & she is quite good---we took a pastel class with her last fall:)
Such a grand 2 hours to put aside every care in the world & play with paper & glue! It's so freeing....& can be very beautiful:)
I truly believe every counselor should have their clients do collage art for therapy:)!

Skye surprised us with a visit home this weekend--yea:)!
She's still scouting out App for friends & hangouts, which will come in time.
She does miss her buds here so it didn't take much to decide to head back to Apex for a quick visit:)
We haven't seen much of her, but just knowing she's around is great:)!
She did go to church with the fam today--ate lunch at The Loop, one of our favorite places:)

Had Small Group here tonight.
What fun to visit with friends over a light supper & coffee---friends that have listened to one another through the years as we've faced various & sundry trials, tribulations, & joys.
A great way to end a weekend:)

This week, Tuesday--Thursday, I'll be in charge at Hallmark. Yvonne is heading to the mts. with her fam, & most importantly, little Logan, the new grandbaby:) She deserves this time away!!
Wish me well. It can be stressful at times, but I love the girls I work with & they make it easier & worthwhile:)