The House That Built Me

My Papa and Granny Musser's house as it looks now...Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee

I love this old house...The last words my Granny ever spoke to me, other than she loved me were "Patricia, this house, is where they brought you after you were born."  You see, my Daddy's family were Farmer's. Behind this house were Barns, a Smokehouse and yes, even an Outhouse before the addition off the back, that made way for city water and a Bathroom.  

As Farmer's, families lived together...how in such a small  home did they exist?  Today, we think we need huge open spaces and the best of everything.  But, I think that we had the best of everything back then. 

We had love, we had each other, but mostly, we had God...Jesus, was a welcome member, not just a guest who was invited in during hardships and worries. He was the Head of our home...still is.

I only lived here a short while...Daddy traveled to Michigan when I was 3 and got a job, saved his money, bought a car, rented a house and came for us.  Most of my life has been spent here but  in my heart...I have remained that country girl from Tennessee. 

Traditions of Biscuits made "straight from the barrel" (as Granny would say) a  good days work, caring for my home and family...putting God first, in everything...that is the story of our lives.  Simple, some would say...I feel sorry for them...I wouldn't trade being nestled together, singing Hymns in the evenings and seeing my Papa sitting at the kitchen table with his Bible open and Granny at the stove for anything.  Oh, I am so blessed sisters....

I will give thanks unto you, Lord, with all my heart;  I will tell all your wonderful deeds.  Psalm 9:1

Tidbits Of Truth

Good morning sisters...The above Church is New Hope Methodist Church in Stewart, Tennessee...where my Maternal Great Grandmother Molly Essie Buchanan Alsobrooks grew up, as did my Maternal Grandmother and of course, my Mama.  It still stands today and my Aunts are still members.
 I decided to wait a few days to start my time with you all since Donna put up her last Post, I wanted everyone to be able to enjoy her beautiful gift.
Myself, I am not a gifted writer (My Daddy was)...God didn't breathe that into my soul and mind.  My gifts are giving, mercy and exhortation.  So, sometimes they are not seen, but by God ,which is okay by me...He made me who I am and I praise Him for this.
This morning finds me working around the house, which I love!  A day to stay at home and scrub floors, bathrooms, vacuum, dust, laundrocize and later, put on a big pot of soup...don't need fancy smelling candles with the aroma of love simmering on the stove. LOL.   But, later tonight, I will light a few candles and sit by the fire and spend time enjoying my home.  I love sitting after a day of chores and enjoying the fruits of my labor...don't you?
Our Sunday School lesson and ideas for our Class of 6 and 7 year olds have been prepared and our snack is planned and supplies bought.  This, I guess is my Tidbit...To do everything to the best of your ability, especially when it comes to serving The Lord Jesus Christ.  Mama and Daddy always taught that to us, they raised 8, giving and kind children.  How?  Because they were shining examples...being there for others, loving and giving of their time and themselves,  That my dear sisters is better than diamonds and gold...I am a blessed woman.
Please pray for my Tomer and I, as we teach these wee ones tomorrow and keep our Grandbabies aware of the greatness of God and to serve Him with joy and gladness.
You are always a part of me...I love you all.

For the Love of Books, A Lasting Impact

Do you remember the name of the first book you read that left a lasting impression? 

One particular summer after completion of fourth grade, my reading interest was sparked by Anna Sewell’s “Black Beauty.”  Resting on a blanket under a big oak tree in the front yard, I read page after page, taking into heart, a story of hardship and misfortune, prosperity and joy, cruelty yet kindness, a story of life. I’ve always remembered this ditty from the book:

“If you in the morning

Throw minutes away,

You can’t pick them up

In the course of a day.

You may hurry and scurry

And flurry and worry,

You’ve lost them forever

Forever and aye.”

After that summer, my exposure to books seemed to grow immensely. Eventually I discovered which genre peaked my greatest interest. In high school reading Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken instilled in me a deep desire to read and understand poetry.....and so I did.

 

Reading poetry directed me in two distinct areas…. I particularly enjoy reading biographies/autobiographies of writers, namely poets  and I also am intrigued with the various forms of poetry. A few of my favorites:  Rainer Maria Rilke, Kahlil Gibran, Rod McKuen, Susan Polis Schultz, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Walt Witman.   

With my enjoyment of reading, there came an awareness to write. I took a creative writing class at the local college when I was twenty three  and wrote what I considered my first “real poem” at the age of twenty four.  I was well into my forties before any other  poetic inclinations broke through or began to flow allowing a serious minded adventure of  pen-to-paper.  It was about this time that Jesus entered my world bringing forth a gush of words and thoughts.  I had written a short article, devotional style which a lady from church happened upon.  She encouraged me to pursue writing more seriously and suggested a writers group for support. One thing led to another and before long others were encouraging a lean towards poetry. I attempted rhyme but became quickly discouraged with it’s sing songy, repetitive, constrained, restrictive style.

There are many whom I admire and accredit their great works to my understanding, comfort and deeper insights during difficult or challenging times.   To name a few....Elisabeth Elliott,   C.S. Lewis, Stormie Omartian, Max Lucado, John Ethridge, Ruth Graham, Billy Graham, Joni E. Tada, Joyce Meyers, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Swindoll.

 If I am to consider the path I take with my own writing, I most certainly will reflect on the impact of other authors and books. My deepest desire is to create an oasis for others to come to, to draw peace from. Bringing glory to God is the key focus when I begin to write; No matter the story or the experience, how difficult or tramautic life may seem in the moment, God is always there in my midst. And that is the message I pray people hear in the poems I write. The one scripture that spoke volumes to me in the initial days of writing is

Pleasant words are as honeycomb,

sweet to the soul.

Proverbs 16:24

 

For me the greatest Book I’ve ever read is the Bible….

It is where God reveals himself and where his nature and character, his truth, his forgiveness, his justice, his love is discovered.

 "Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light for my path."

Psalm 119:103

Thank you for reading all my posts as I've shared a few of the things that have greatly impacted me and the life I try to live out. I conclude my portion of this adventure with an an excerpt from one of the many sermons of Charles Spurgeon…..

                      "First, my friends, stand over this volume, and admire its authority. This is no common book. It is not the sayings of the sages of Greece; here are not the utterances of philosophers of past ages. If these words were written by a man, we might reject them; but O let me think the solemn thought, that this book is God's handwriting—that these words are God's! Let me look at its date; it is dated from the hills of heaven. Let me look at its letters; they flash glory on my eye. Let me read the chapters; they are big with meaning and mysteries unknown. Let me turn over the prophecies; they are pregnant with unthought-of wonders. Oh, book of books! And wast thou written by my God? Then will I bow before thee. Thou book of vast authority! thou art a proclamation from the Emperor of Heaven; far be it from me to exercise my reason in contradicting thee. Reason, thy place is to stand and find out what this volume means, not to tell what this book ought to say. Come thou, my reason, my intellect, sit thou down and listen, for these words are the words of God. I do not know how to enlarge on this thought. Oh! if you could ever remember that this Bible was actually and really written by God. Oh! if ye had been let into the secret chambers of heaven, if ye had beheld God grasping his pen and writing down these letters—then surely ye would respect them; but they are just as much God's handwriting as if you had seen God write them. This Bible is a book of authority; it is an authorized book, for God has written it. Oh! tremble, lest any of you despise it; mark its authority, for it is the Word of God." (Charles Spurgeon)

For the Love of Music

I cannot remember a time that music was not a part of my life. My father loved country music and gospel hymns and my mother enjoyed all music....I can reflect on my growing up years Saturday nights listening to the country greats Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, Marty Robinson, Charley Pride, Johnny Cash and then switching over at a certain hour to Lawrence Welk and then later to gospel hyms. I played clarinet in high school band, sang in the chorus and in the church choir. My musical skills have greatly diminished  as I've entered my later years. Fingers aren't accustomed to the playing of an instrument anymore and my voice has all but lost the soprano abilities it once knew, but my love for music has never waned. I am an avid listener of rock and roll, 60's/70's oldies, jazz, folk, blues, country, classical, big band just to name a few.  I grew up learning, singing hymns and old time gospel, but also have a deep appreciation for the contemporary of today. Whatever genre you prefer to praise the Lord, may it flow from the depth of your heart and offer up a sweet, sweet sound...of joy, rejoicing, celebrating...one of Holiness. 

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasmert117537.html#x4SrOhiWjEhYlYg2.99

By reading the scriptures 
I am so renewed 
that all nature seems renewed 
around me and with me. 
The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, 
the trees a deeper green. 
The whole world is charged 
with the glory of God and 
I feel fire and music under my feet.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

Henry David Thoreau

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrydavid141463.html#RgeeASpdF0KAPRqd.99

 Thomas Merton

My Redeemer Lives

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Psalm 104:33

Sing a New Song



Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise
 to the rock of our salvation!
Psalm 95:1

How Great Is Our God


Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!
Psalm 105:2

 Bless the Lord, O My Soul


If a man does not keep pace with
his companions perhaps it is because
he hears a different drummer, Let him
step to the music which he hears
however measured or far away
Henry David Thoreau

Just As I am

Music is the divine way
to tell beautiful, poetic things
to the heart. 

Pablo Casalas

O Holy Night

I WILL

I will meditate on Your precepts

And contemplate Your ways

I will delight myself in Your statutes

I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 119: 15,16

Every time I read this verse it gives me assurance of where I am in my prayer and devotional life. The verse does not say I have, or I did, it says I will meditate, I will contemplate, I will delight, I will not forget Your word.

It is a blessed employment, profitable to the soul when I determine myself to say I will read, study and apply the wisdom of God to every moment of my daily life.

My sister directed me to this scripture when I first accepted Christ into my life in 1999. 

I  have always found it a delightful reminder of her and how she sang and rejoiced with me when I came to the Lord....and I know she is singing and dancing with all the angels in heaven waiting for our blessed reunion one day

It is the first scripture that came to mind when the Adventure of the Traveling Tidbit was birthed.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE TRAVELING TIDBITS (by Donna)

At the onset of the Scarf Sister reunion, I embarked on a ten day vacation. A splendid, relaxing and joyous ten days.  Returning to work, however, called for some readjusting/ reverting to the old way of life of being awake all night, sleeping into the day.  My first shift back I was extremely tired.  When I arrived home at the end of my shift,  I took a few minutes to check/answer my emails,  facebook updates and to send a message to Cathy about finishing up the sock adventure. Before shutting down the computer, she responded to my message and also made a comment about brainstorming about the next adventure.

I headed to bed and slept a good portion of the day. Now I am not one that has many dreams or even remembers many of them, but on this particular day/night there was one that stayed with me…and I decided to share it with Cathy….and now with you….

A few of the scarf sisters were gathered, discussing where to go to lunch. I have no idea where we were, what town, or even what country, etc.  Cathy, Pat, Cheryl, Lidia, Terry, Felisol and I were people I knew in the dream.  An older couple, a short stocky man with a huge mustache and his itty bitty shy wife, were the strangers and only other participants. The man was standing outside his restaurant waving us over, trying to coerce us, with less than pleasant words, to come inside the restaurant; unfortunately,  breakfast was all that was being served and none of us wanted breakfast food. He was being very bossy and became very agitated that we wouldn’t eat at his establishment. We told him we were ladies of the  Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf and we were looking for a place to have lunch, not breakfast and wanted to sit a bit and discuss what our next adventure would be.  

He noticed  Cathy carrying a small box , pointed at it, asked what Tidbits were, in a not so kind tone of voice. Cathy corrected him by telling him the name was Timbits and then went on to explain the history of the Tim Horton’s establishment and how Lidia had wanted to have a coffee there while she was in the US visiting from the Philippines and that one of the sister’s,  Tricia in Michigan, loved to go to Tim Horton's every Tuesday night with her friend Peg and that our beloved Canadian sisters also spoke highly of the place....He looked at the box and saw Dad Golden’s name and the John 3:16 scripture written on it for him and said He had not heard that scripture in a very long time and he started to weep because he had forgotten about God and the story of Jesus. Cathy  then told him the story of Dad Golden and how he had become the Dad of the traveling Sisterhood and explained how we were all praying for him and that he was Felisol's prayer child. 

The man apologized for being so cantankerous with us  and suggested that our next adventure should be " The Adventure of the Traveling Tidbits". After all, he said, a tidbit is nothing more than a small morsel of food and/or a small piece of news or information…and to him, it sounded like we were making it our business to spread the Good News and surely knew how to touch people with our stories....because we surely had him.

There was no other scripture given me in the dream other than the one Cathy read off the box….John 3:16

After sharing the dream with Cathy, she adopted it as the theme for the next adventure, The Adventure of the Traveling Tidbits.  The scripture verse that came alive to her is Psalm 78 1-4.   

This is how the adventure will work. 

I have obtained a Timbits box, which is collapsible and can be easily mailed. As it is passed from sister to sister, each one writes a tidbit(s), a delightful morsel, an experience of how SHE has spread the Good News and/or  how her life has/was/impacted by the sharing of the The Good News.  Write and share as many as you like, expand on the blog, but remember that the pieces of paper travel with the box from one sister to the next. Each sister also adds a scripture to the outside of the box.

I am honored, excited, happy, blessed to start off this new adventure and pray each of us receives into our hearts, the richest of  blessings and deepest and greatest of love that can only be known by meditating and sharing in the Good News of our Lord.

All Good Things Must Come to An End



It's with mixed emotions when one adventure ends and a new one begins. 


2012-2013 Traveling Sock Adventure





 You just never know when, where or what will be our common link when the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf begins a new adventure.  Goodbye socks .. Hello ______?  Go ahead and guess the 'what' ...