The Blessing of a Brief Vacation

Dave and I were able to take a brief vacation to Blowing Rock, NC., with one thing in mind...doing absolutely nothing except getting fresh air and sunshine. We stayed at the Chetola Resort in the Bob Timberlake Inn and had such a wonderful, restful time, we didn't want to come home! Enjoy the pics of our few blissful days in the mountains. We hope they can convey the peace and comfort we found there, soaking in the majesty of God's creation!

Guest Post: Dave on "Letting Go"

The last weeks have been quite an exercise in “letting go”. We are in a continuing process of this it seems. During my “Best Man” speech at Kevin and Heather’s wedding, Bev and I thought that “letting go” would be a good theme. I spoke of instances when with both of our children, we had to let go. Whether it was the first day of school, sleepovers, campouts, summer camp or trips to Europe, we knew in our heads it was part of a process we had to go through. Our hearts certainly felt differently when that bus pulled away or we left them at the airport. As they grew older, the “letting go” did not get any easier. College was a big adjustment with Kevin 6 hours away, and K. 1 ½ hours away, both leaving within a 2-year span. Their graduations meant more ‘away’ time with Kevin in Washington, DC working for Senator Helms as an intern and K. getting involved in her career. We jokingly say our children grew to the fine young people they are today in spite of us, not because of us. K.’s marriage was another big step for Bev and I, but knowing that L. was her soul mate and would always be there for her made the “letting go” somewhat easier. It really hit me when, as they were leaving the reception, K. waved and said “Bye Dad”. Kevin’s graduation from grad school, commissioning in the Army and duty stations in Washington, Kentucky, Alabama and Alaska were also big for us. His tour in Iraq has been a tremendous test of our faith. His meeting and marriage to Heather meant as Bev put it, “We are four times blessed”. Kevin, Heather, K. and L., now make up our growing family.

Which brings me back to the “letting go” over the last weeks. After many months we were finally able to sell both of the houses in Rocky Mount to one individual. After my grandfather died, my Dad sold the small farm my grandparents lived on and built a house next door for my grandmother. John and I grew up with my grandmother next door. She was one of the best cooks and some of the things she made, still make me hungry. She was a tremendous Christian lady and loved us all. My parents are “depression era” people and if you know anything about people growing up in that time in history there are several traits they have. They never throw anything away and they always buy products on sale even though they don’t need them right then. We joked that my Dad started preparing for the Y2K scare in 1959. My sister in law and wife cleaned out the closets when we moved them to Morehead, and you would not believe what they found. Multiple cans of food, paper towels, soap, shaving cream, as well as an array of unused washcloths and towels. The attic was more of the same. It is no telling how many loads we took to the dump. Electric frying pans with missing cords, free (important word in the Riley house) glasses, plates and tons of paper bags were just some of the junk that went out.

I guess when you live in one house for over 50 years; you can accumulate a lot of stuff.

My Dad’s shop area was an entirely different animal. Dad built a 20X25 foot shop in the 1960’s. I remember his excitement as the floor was poured and the framing was started. He wanted to be able to house all of his tools, welder as well as the freezer. He built workbenches with a vise and grinder. Having worked at the railroad, there was always plenty of scrap metal that was made into knives, fish scrappers, bowls, and anything else he could think of. The guys at the railroad “traded” their skills. The upholstery guys made sheaths for the knives, and zippered carrying bags for your pistol. Dad always also had plenty of car maintenance products. As mentioned earlier, if oil filters were on sale 4 or 5 were bought. Same with just about everything else in the shop. People coming in the shop said it looked like a mini-Wal-Mart. The shop was a great place to be on rainy days. John and I would play baseball with a stick and one of the many sponges Dad had. I think we could have been on the cutting edge of “nerf’ products had we know what we were doing. When we got our first boat, (a big step since we just had a motor before), Dad built a port off of the side to park our 16’ Carolina boat under. This was also one of the areas where John and I got our haircuts. When Calvin Creech, the neighborhood barber went from .25 to .50, Dad decided that was too much, bought a set of clippers and learned how to barber. Thank goodness John was blond and Dad’s workmanship or lack of it didn’t show too badly. After the boat port, was added, Dad built a trailer from more scrap metal, an old car axle and put wooden sides on it. Of course he had to have somewhere to put it, so he had another port built off of the boat port. Since it was a long sloping roof, it made a great place for our Lab, Jake to jump from his doghouse onto the roof to keep watch on everything. Every night at dinner, Dink would announce that Jake would jump off one day, but he never did. Cleaning the shop was quite a task. We offered close friends some of Dad’s tools that we could not use or have anywhere to store. I am glad these are in the hands of friends that knew Dad and hopefully will think of him when they use them. John and I finally had given away all that we could and last Saturday decided the time for the final cleanup was at hand. Armed with 32-gallon trash bags and boxes we began. We had the option of leaving some of the trash on the front curb, but decided with the closing on Monday, it would still be there when the new owner took over. We loaded up the Jeep and hauled and hauled and hauled to the dump. Dad never bought ice for our trips. He always took the cardboard juice cartons, filled them with water and put them in the freezer. This is also a good way to freeze cleaned fish. Anyway, I loaded 2 or 3 of the 32 gallon bags with just” Old South” empty orange juice containers. “Old South” was the house brand for Winn-Dixie, Dad was into generic products way before it was the thing to do. Plus Winn-Dixie has been gone from Rocky Mount since 1980’s

After we finished the shop, we walked through the yard to make sure we cleaned up everything. As we walked through one corner of the backyard, John caught himself looking for deposits made by our last dog, Duchess. Old habits are hard to break. One last walk through the house and it was time to say good by to the house we grew up in. Many memories of the smell of Dink’s fried chicken, Grandma’s pineapple cake and apple turnovers, Dad, John and Bobby High watching “Cade’s Country” every week, John kicking a hole in my bedroom door and many Christmas mornings are just a few.

As we went to the closing today, I told Bev we had closed another chapter is our lives, or maybe just another “Letting Go” that we needed to experience.

Kev's Coming Home!

Made a banner to celebrate my son coming home from Iraq! Any day now, he'll be getting home to AK and Heather! I'm thrilled and touched for Heather to hang this banner among the others made by herself and loving, hopeful families, as we all await their safe arrival home. We are so proud of Kevin and Heather and the way they have not only survived a year apart, but have thrived and grown together in the process!
WELCOME HOME from all of us, Kev! Can't wait to see you both at Christmas!

Blessing of "Looking Closely"

My father-in-law is a diabetic and has macular degeneration. I have spent a lot of time with him and his wife lately. Because of some health problems they've been experiencing, they have needed lots of extra care from all of us. Pop's vision is deteriorating at a rapid rate and what he can see is being reduced to a miniscule area. His vision problems, coupled with his diminishing mental capacities, creates a state of confusion for him and hence, those around him. He is still such a caring man and he tries his best to treat others with respect. He has more than earned the dignity and respect we all feel for him.

Each day I have been in their home, Pop shuffles around from place to place trying to do his daily tasks: fixing his breakfast, taking pills, getting the mail, taking out the trash and checking on his son's boat, which is parked at the end of the condo.

Almost each day, Pop goes over to the table behind the sofa and picks up one picture at a time. He holds the frame very close to his eyes and stares for a few seconds. Then he carefully picks up the next photo and continues, until he has looked at a picture of each of his awesome grandchildren and his precious great-grandson. He seems to try to memorize their faces and you can tell he's reminiscing about each one in a very personal way that brings him great joy! It brings tears to my eyes to witness such a private moment, but Pop has reminded me of a valuable blessing.

The blessing of "looking closely". Our country is being reminded right now about being thankful for the small things: drawing close to our families, our homes, our friends, our God. Our extravagances may be a thing of the not so distant past, and our futures may look very different than we imagined only a year or two ago. How closely have we really looked at our blessings? The blessing of salvation because of Christ's death for us on the cross. The precious people in our lives that we take for granted. The freedom of worshiping and serving God in an open and free society. The ability to create a career for ourselves and change course whenever we want. The levels of safety we experience, when compared to much of the rest of the world. We need to examine, appreciate and rejoice in these blessings and we need to worship and praise the God who bestows these blessings so freely.

I don't know how much longer Pop will be able to "see" those much-loved faces, whether in a picture frame or in the flesh. Some of those grandchildren are grown and living in a different part of the world. We don't know how much longer he will have his sight to enjoy the ones who do live closeby. My prayer is that he will be able to hold on to the vision of each loved one, even if it's just in his mind's eye.

My earnest desire is that you and I will thank God for the blessing of "looking closely" while we still have the time and ability.

"Look to Me, and be saved..." Is. 45:22
"I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go" Jer. 45:5
"Do not worry about your life..." Matt. 6:25
"Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things..." Is. 40:26

I pray that I will see more clearly day by day, be more thankful minute by minute, and get on my knees more and more often, as I look closely at my blessings and my God.

Blessing of Belief

What I love about being a Christian is that no matter how old you are or how long you've known the Lord, He just keeps teaching you, correcting you and drawing you closer and closer to Himself. He reveals more and more of His Word in revitalizing, transforming ways. The Holy Spirit, at any moment, can take a scriptural truth and expose it before your eyes, ears and heart in a way that takes your breath away!

This happened to me recently when it seemed as if I heard this verse for the first time:

"And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:58

How different would my life and the lives of those around me be if I truly believed God for myself and for them?

If I believed He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do? My pastor recently reminded me that all our spiritual problems stem from unbelief. I can look back at so many difficult times in my life and see that I believed the subtle lies of the world/Satan to define a situation and the probable outcome. I read my Bible and prayed for God's intervention, but I paid more attention to the ongoing destructive behaviors of myself or others, and I didn't fully believe in God's power to change whatever was happening, because I didn't think I or the other person(s) involved, deserved a miracle. Unbelief. How many miracles missed?

In Luke 17, when the apostles called on the Lord to "increase our faith", the Lord replied that "if you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and be planted in the sea"; and it would obey you." He isn't saying they needed more faith, they just needed to take the faith they had and believe in His power. When we intercede for someone, we shouldn't bring them before God and tell Him about their merits or their problems, we should simply believe Him on their behalf. How radical would that be? How many unsaved family members, friends, coworkers or acquaintances would know the Lord already if we simply brought them before His throne and claimed/believed His power, promises and great compassion for their lives? How many Christians would live more victoriously, be a better testimony and bear more fruit? How can we expect the world to believe in Christ when even Christians don't fully believe in His power? Unbelief. How many miracles missed?

What about the father in Mark 9 who begged Jesus on behalf of his demon-possessed son? "But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us! And Jesus said to him, If You can? All things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, I do believe; help my unbelief." The woman in Luke 8, who had the issue of blood, believed so strongly in Jesus' power to heal, that she dared to touch the hem of His garment, and she was healed instantly. When belief is present, miracles flow forth!

Jesus tells us in Matthew 28 that "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Do I live as if I believe that?

What would my witness be like if I truly claimed God's power for myself and all those around me? Today at church, one of our pastors shared that out of our gratitude, our worship should be passionate and expressive. Our gratitude is a demonstration of our faith. Lord, I am grateful that you have given me the faith to believe that Your power can be unleashed in us all, to change this world for Your glory.

Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.

I can't wait to see His wondrous miracles! Can you?

The Blessing of Change

"All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I just finished reading Don Piper's book called "90 Minutes in Heaven". It reminded me of the unexpected and often tragic changes which take over our lives unannounced. He died because of an horrendous traffic accident, went to heaven and then came back to life, he says, because of the prayers of others. Not only did he have many years of physical rehabilitation, but also spiritual questioning why God would allow him to taste the unspeakable joys of heaven and then make him come back to earth. It wasn't that he didn't love his family or his church, or appreciate the prayers of the faithful, it's just that he had a glimpse of eternity. The changes in his life from that time forward were profound. His suffering has allowed him to comfort others in ways he never imagined.

Don's experience has caused me to reflect on the changes I have encountered recently and the comfort which I have received in so many forms and from so many precious people.

January 6, 2006 marked a myriad of changes for my family. My father had a life-threatening rare illness which required sudden and longterm hospitalization and rehabilitation. My mother, who had been paralyzed and brain-damaged from a stroke 20 years earlier, had to be taken from her home that same day to live in an assisted living facility, for what we thought would be a short time until my dad recovered from pneumonia. She never came home again. Sounds terrible, doesn't it? It was. But in the midst of those changes, there are no words to describe the love and comfort we all felt during this time. Family members, friends, church family, and even strangers ministered to us in untold ways! God's Spirit was so evident in healing my dad. We still give Him all the glory for that. My mother, who had proven to be nearly indestructible in body and spirit, despite the severe stroke, developed an overwhelming case of Parkinson's, just as my dad was reviving. Neither she nor my dad made it to my beautiful daughter's wedding to her wonderful soul-mate, which was a heartbreak for us all. A change we weren't expecting. They had dreamed of and prayed for her future mate and wedding day, as her father and I had for many years. My mother died under tragic circumstances on September 8, 2006. But despite the threatening way she had to live, she embraced the change to death with a remarkable tranquility and strength. My father then had to accept the changes in his life and build a new one. Without the comforts of those who had endured similar tragedies, we wouldn't have made it. We thank God for the prayers, love, deeds of kindness, and time spent ministering to us all. The changes changed us... for the better.

This year my husband's parents have endured many changes. His father, who had been so strong, the rock of the family, who nursed his wife through numerous illnesses and treatments, began to change mentally and physically. They could no longer do all the things necessary for them to live independently. We have moved them from their home of 50some years to be closer to their other son and daughter-in-law. They have changed everything in their lives in the span of a couple of months and they are moving forward in faith that God will be with them during all the changes. Again, we have had the help of so many people from their hometown, as well as the new friends they are already making in their new location. My mother-in-law is learning how to assume the role of caretaker for her mate. An unexpected, pervasive change. But we know God and the love and comfort of others' prayers and service will see them through.

I also have the blessing of change concerning my children. My amazing daughter and her very talented husband will be moving across the world next year to work in and get to know the people of a new country. It is a change we knew was coming. We knew the desire of their hearts. It is not unwelcome. It is a change we embrace because we wouldn't have it any other way. We will be comforted by the Spirit and the prayers and support of our friends, just as He has promised.

My son will be sent to fight an increasingly complex war next year. He will be in harm's way. A change we do not desire, but we support. His dad and grandfathers have answered the same call. We applaud his courage, dedication and desire to protect and defend, for we have known for a long time that he is a patriot and a rare breed.

Neither of my children nor my son-in-law wants to seem rather than to be. They have the calling to embrace change. For their good and the good of others. I am learning from them.

Which brings me back to my title, that change is a blessing. All the changes I've encountered the past couple of years have made me more like God wants me to be. I still have a long way to go, but I'm more forgiving and loving. I want to show God's love to others so that they will come to know Him better, as I have. I want to comfort them through the changes and challenges in their lives, as He has comforted me.

For me, that's what it's all about. For the rest of my life, until I am able to drink in the wonders Don Piper described in heaven, with God's help, I will be a blessing to others who are in change. Each season of life comes with God-provided changes. Embrace them. No matter what your age, God will bless you and others because of you!

"Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9

My Family Blessing...A "Quilt "Made Over a Lifetime

What an amazing group of people I can call my family! Starting with relatives far and near and ending with my husband and children, they are all still such an important part of my life. Even though time and distance may separate us, my memories and love seem to grow stronger.

First of all, I want to thank my parents for teaching me about God and for taking me to church. I loved eating life savers(they had to keep me quiet somehow) during Sunday morning services and slipping from one pew to another to sit with my favorite old ladies. Sunday nights always seemed special to me. I loved the slight stuffiness and the muted lights inside the safe-feeling sanctuary. The preacher's voice and message always seemed more urgent and pleading in the semi-darkness. It was on a Sunday night when I was 8 years old, that I first felt the weight of my sin and knew that I needed to let Jesus come into my life and wash me clean. My daddy and I were sitting on the back pew of the church and I'll never forget the sadness that rushed over me as I began to understand that I was separated from God because of my sin and how much I had hurt Him. Believe me, I had no trouble understanding my sinful nature. Let's just say I had a reputation for being rather imaginative, energetic and demanding...well, I was an only child. When we got to the car, after church, I was crying. Thank goodness my daddy took the time to question me and then take me right back in the sanctuary to speak to the pastor that night. I remember getting home and going in the kitchen door and daddy telling mama that her little girl had gotten saved that night. What a joyful time we had! The only sad part was that my mama was always very sickly and she had stayed home that night and she wished so much she could have been there, too! I can never repay my parents for all their love and encouragement through all the years!

I can't say enough about my entire family as I was growing up. I have so many happy memories...playing wild all over the mountains, chewing teaberry roots, sitting in a bountiful ripe cherry tree and eating as much as I wanted, bouncing in the Jeep to the top of the mountain, eating currants right off the bush in Grandma's garden, fishing for crawdads with a safety pin, hiking to the scuppernong vines, drinking water from the rusty community dipper at the roadside spring, picking blackberries, going to look for my mama's old gensing patch, chasing the banty(is that a real word?)roosters, gathering eggs from the henhouse, playing the old pump organ in the hallway and spending long, chilly nights listening to the sounds coming across the valley, along with the constant tick tock of the cuckoo clock by the front door. A real love of God's creation was instilled in me from an early age.

Then there were the infamous road trips where we traveled all night to get to Florida, where we had to see the orange groves at 60 mph because we always had to try to beat our best time. I loved sleeping on the back porch of a relative's home close to Cape Canaveral. I never knew what wild animal sounds I was hearing during the steamy nights, but I was thankful for the screen in between me and them. The Myrtle Beach trips were plentiful and so much fun! We never had much money, but we loved to travel together as a big family and our caravans were such an adventure, even if we inevitably lost a car or two along the way and had to wait or turn around to find them! My grandma also loved to take a huge picnic to Tanglewood Park and have the whole family hang out together, talking, planning more times together, playing horseshoes, playing putt-putt or just hanging around on the jungle gym(which I fell off one time and completely knocked myself out...that may help account for some of my current brain spasms). Last but not least, I cherish the bowling nights we all had. I just remember being so small, I had to roll the ball with 2 hands. What fun, except for the stinky shared bowling shoes...

As I said, I had a wonderful childhood. I can't possibly write enough to convey the sense of belonging and security that I felt. Don't get me wrong, things weren't perfect...but I believe God is finally teaching me the secret of my grandmother's unconditional love for us all, no matter what was going on in our lives. You just simply have to live a certain amount of life in order to see God's wonderful plan and experience His amazing grace and love, as you see it played out over and over in the lives of your family members and yourself.

My "lifetime quilt" has been stitched so lovingly by so many wonderful hands. We can't see the beautiful pattern as it's being sewn together, as it's being lived one glorious or painful piece at a time, but when our journey here is complete, we will see our "quilt" and we will marvel at God's awesome handiwork!

My life has an emerging purpose now. I am praying prayers that will be stitched into the beautiful life "quilts" of my children's and my nephews' futures. Isn't God amazing for allowing us to be a part of His work????????

I hope you will share your blessings with me, too!