The West Corner of the World

My Refuge….

merrymarlene — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:14:59 +0000

Ps 91:2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

In my growing up years there were not many places of safety I could count on. Suffice to say our family was volatile–things were somewhat “normal” until the weekends…So in my early years of Sunday School I learned of One Whom would be that stability or place of safety for me, and a Place of Refuge. I was drawn to Him…but life,… it’s cares….I wandered; I would wander back to Him in my thoughts when things got tough. But always knowing He was my sure Refuge-my place of safe haven. Until one day in 1979, I choose that place of refuge for my life; to guide & protect me. I chose to abide there daily.

Our Father God wants to be that Refuge for each of us. The truth is, if you choose Him, if you choose to dwell & abide with Him, He will be all the Stability you will ever need. He is the Father ever willing & ready to listen as you pour out your heart.

Father God, I am so blessed beyond words to have You as my Refuge. To have Your ear, and more than that, Your Father’s heart. I choose You today, anew, to be my Refuge…

Love you my Father,

Dwelling…….

merrymarlene — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:38:30 +0000

Ps 91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty (Whose power no foe can withstand).

Dwelling, living in a permanent place, to reside…..thinking about my life when I was growing up, my family never dwelt too long in any one place. We moved so many times, to so many different towns & schools…So for me be able to dwell in the secret place of the Most High is Stability with a capital S. To be in one place long enough to think about, linger over, and ponder God & His word… I love this! Just spending time considering all that it means for me & my family. Thinking about dwelling next to my Father God, living in His Shadow. In that place of stability, protection, provision, guidance & love. That place where mercy & love meet, that’s the place I choose today.

Father God, Today I choose You, Your Stability, Your Kingdom, and Your Shadow in which to live. To stay there, pondering all Your goodness, love & mercy. Thank You for all that Your Glorious Presence provides..Today, I choose life with You, and dwelling in Your Shadow…Love You,
Me

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

merrymarlene — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:02:29 +0000

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless the Lord, my soul, remembering all He has done for me! Ps 103:1-2

Remembering the Lord’s goodness to me is easy….I remember the day it seemed that He turned on my “knower”; Knowing that He was & that He loved me, and those that I loved.

That day way back in 1979 is forever etched in my memory. My mother was in the hospital, with terminal cancer, gravely ill. We did not know if this would be the time we would lose her. I left the hospital that day heading to my brother’s house. I was staying with him so that I could be near Mom in the hospital. Little did I know that day would be the culmination of many people “watering the seed”.
To see my Mother like that was heart rending, and the tears fell down my face like a waterfall. My brother’s pastor was called; He came and spoke to me of God’s love for me & for my Mom. That night I recommitted my life to God. And I prayed for God to touch my Mother. The next morning back to the hospital I went, scared with what I might find, yet……When I saw my Mother she was sitting upright in bed & reading the paper! It was a complete turnaround from the day before! Ok! Yes! I knew that this was the work of the Almighty & I was overwhelmed by His love & mercy.

So, bless the Lord? Yes, I can do that, after all He has & continues to do for me & my family. Forgetting not all His kindnesses….oh, Yes, He is Good & Kind to me! Every day, in every way!

The One to Whom all praise is due! Whom has redeemed us! Bless the Lord, O My Soul!!!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

merrymarlene — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:52:44 +0000

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful….You get the idea, it’s snowing, or rather it has & is now trying to melt, but slowly, because we seem to be stuck at 31 degrees!

We have shoveled, played in, walked in, and taken pictures in the snow. We have enjoyed the beauty of it, likened it to the grace of God, covering us & making us in right standing with God. Now we are watching it melt, as I said before, slooowwly. At least in our town, which for some reason, does not have a plow for our roads. So, my car sits in the garage & my wonderfully amazing man drives me to & from work!

Snow days here in Monte

Jim shoveling the sidewalk

My grand boys are loving it too! Building snow forts, snowmen, snowballs & sledding in it! But don’t go inside until they are at least half frozen, or Mom makes them come in!!! Little boys! Just like the big boys!

Grand boys playing in the snow!

Of course, I can’t say too much about that, having myself the need to be out walking in it & taking pictures around our area. But then, I’m bundled from head to toe & you can hardly discern whom is under all that garb!!!

Snow G-Ma

But all in all, I have to say, “I Love It”, the beauty of it is unparalleled! God once again has painted a picture for each of us to treasure!

January 12,2012

merrymarlene — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:27:29 +0000

Well, here’s a little shout out to heaven…”Happy Birthday Mom!” Miss you, your wonderfully funny sense of humor & your calls that made me feel so special. Love you Mom!

My Mom…she was the most fun, most exasperating woman and easy to love. She giggled with everything that was in her. If she was on the phone with you, & started giggling, you might as well hang up & let her call you back!

She loved her family the best she knew how. Raised by a step father & his wife love was scarce to come by for her. Yet you would never know that …she cared about people…really cared & put “feet” to her caring. I can see my cutting the hair of one of the older men in our town, or fixing dinner & inviting them to have dinner with us. She showed me how to serve… by the doing of what needed done.

Oh, she had a temper too….you could tell by the slamming of the kitchen doors…sorry for the telling Mom. You would probably laugh about that now, or maybe feel shame for letting anger get the best of you.(I’ve given those doors a few slams of my own, of course I try to pretend they’re just hard to shut). The apple doesn’t fall far….

Now, one of our favorite cousins has a birthday on this day as well & gives us a reason to celebrate. Life continues here & in heaven….Love you Mom, wish we had a few more days, but one day we will….we will worship God together…love you Mom!

Awwww…Looking forward into 2012

merrymarlene — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:37:59 +0000

2012….it has come upon us rather quickly, don’t you think? A new year, with new possibilities, teaching moments, learning opportunities for all who will see & hear. As our Pastor asked, “Are you ready?” I think to myself, yes, as ready as I will ever be. But, how would I become “more ready?” I become readier, is that a word? Yes, more ready the closer I get to Jesus. The more I spend time with Him in prayer, in His word, in pondering the things He says, the more I am ready. How? you say…well when I choose to spend time in His word I learn more about His character, the things He desires of me & for me. And….how to take hold of His promises & provision for not only me, but our family. There’s nothing like sitting at the feet of Jesus & knowing that He chose you, loves you with an everlasting love. Like the best Dad ever, I can see Him smiling over me, (not only me, but all who have taken Him as Saviour) and saying, “That’s My girl!”

To be loved like that makes me ready for come what may. Jesus holding me up, & knowing my heavenly Father can walk me through….come what may!

Christmas is Coming!

merrymarlene — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:03:28 +0000

Christmas is coming! What does that mean for you & your family? Does it change with each year? Does it hold the same wonderful traditions? Are you celebrating the night of our Saviour’s birth? If so how?

This year is the same for us, yet different…with our extended family’s health issues right now, it makes this Christmas more precious to me. God’s gift of life, that Christmas night so long ago, gave to us the most wonderous gift; A Saviour, that would save us all from satan’s power when we were gone astray….Only a Saviour, whose mercies are new every morning, could love a people like me. It’s true, as much as I want to be a “Jesus Girl”, I mess up royally! I’m with Paul, apostle Paul, when he said, “what I want to do, I don’t, what I don’t want to do….I do!” My only saving grace, is literally that; A Saviour that forgives, when I ask, He forgives, makes me feel good about being me again…

I love Christmas! I love the tree, the decorating, the songs, even the shopping! Looking for that just right gift that will make someone smile :0) I love the way most of our songs point us to the Saviour, His most wonderous gift of His Son!

As much as I would love a white Christmas, I have the practical side, that does not want anyone to driving in the snow…I want all save & sound & with the people they love at Christmastime. So, give extra hugs at Christmas, be lavish with your love, love with abandon, give of your time, treasure & talents. Share Christ’s love with others…

For God so love the world….that’s you & I, a perfect reason to celebrate!!

Love to all,

Remembering my Mother, Ethel Mae

merrymarlene — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:53:06 +0000

This time of year it is inevitable that my thoughts begin to center on memories of my Mother, Ethel Mae Carrothers Phillips Hanson. Her untimely death in 1980 was a blow to this then 26 yr old. (Her death just 3 days prior to my 27th birthday) Colon cancer took her life; by the time it was discovered it had spread throughout her body and in 1980 they had not made the wonderful strides they have now to help combat this type of cancer. My Mom, a woman who loved to laugh, lived life head-on, and full speed! Time has erased many of the difficult years we endured together. What remains…..a smile as I think of her laughter, her practical jokes, her love of her children, and her incredible dignity in which she faced death.

Mom was born in Pennsylvania, January 12, 1927, to Clara Ethel McCrosky Carrothers & John Carrothers. Little is known of her childhood. What we have pieced together is this: Her parents divorced early on, it was said that John was an abusive man. Clara remarried “High” Norton who raised little Ethel as his own. High later married Luella ? and together they raised Ethel & Luella’s son, Dennis. Luella did not want to raise someone else’s child, and to be fair to Luella, little Ethel could have been a handful considering trauma her young life had already held. Ethel, a young girl wanting to be loved & a step mom that did not know how to love.

One fact that I mourn, was the fact that Mom was not raised by her family. I don’t know why, but I have always felt that life could have been different and perhaps not quite so hard if she had people around her that would love her through the hard times. Something I cannot know for sure.

One trait that was passed down to Mom, from who I do not know, was a love of helping people. Our dinner table was rarely without a guest, Mom often would be giving haircuts to neighbors who did not want to visit the barber or salon, and it was not unusual for Mom to be doing some neighbor’s laundry either.

Mom & Me

In October of 1980 Mom went to be with the Lord. My brother’s pastor leading Mom to the Lord just 2 weeks before she passed away. Her presence gone from earth, but her love of life, quick smile & generosity lives on in the lives of her children & grands & now in her great grandchildren. We miss you Mom, ….tears will fall as we remember, but being sure of this…in His presence is fullness of joy. It is in God’s presence I picture you, the love quotient finally filled to overflowing in you! I love you Mom!

Is It Really……Fall?!?

merrymarlene — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:26:59 +0000

Okay, so officially it is summer still, but don’t you feel fall in the mornings? Hovering around 40 degrees each morning definitely gives a feeling of Fall. But, I do love the cool mornings we’ve been having & the wonderfully warm, sunny afternoons! Oh my, God is good to us

This is week 5 of my official gluten free, sugar free, & nearly caffine free diet (Okay, I have ONE cup of coffee in the morning). It has gone well, in the fact I’m not craving anything really. Especially since discovering now that certain foods are out of my diet, when I try to reintroduce something back into my diet, I could have a reaction(allergy) to it. So far I have discovered that I cannot tolerate heavy cream, buckwheat gluten free bread & no coconut. (OK, the coconut REAlly bums me out, I love coconut). For me a reaction is sinusy feeling, runny nose & a general not feeling well. So that feeling keeps me from really craving much, of which I’m thankful for.

Wednesday of this week I got to hang out with Allison for awhile, we went to Tanner’s football practice. I love it! He is such an athelete, he doesn’t do any of his sports half-way, he is full out to do his best! Here is my football player…

Our Football Player!

After football practice we raced, (well if you can call 4 mph above the speed limit racing) to Costco to get some needed supplies for Tanner & Tyler’s birthday party on Saturday. By the time we got there we had 3 minutes to closing! Allison dropped me at the door & went to park the car. As I ran past the doorman(you know the one that has to look at your Costco card)…he said, you have 3 minutes! I was running, Yes! I was & yelled over my shoulder, “My daughter is just behind me, she’s parking the car”…yeah, he knows who my daughter is!! LOL I’ve got the card, Allison comes racing in, I see her so we split up, one for plates & tissue, the other towards ice cream…Allison says, “Who needs the gym? As we are running. We make great time doing our version of super market sweep. Another lady yells as we sweep by her, “there are lines at the checkout, you’ve got some time!” We make it up to check out with no minutes to spare :0) But….we did it, Costco in under 5 minutes!!! You actually spend less that way, you have NO time to browse…

The house is still under process…Jim is diligently working on the trim & porches. It is looking so good. I’ll post some pictures next time.

The Mama is doing better this week. Last week was a challenge, with her eye seeing double, or just pieces or not at all & then with tremors thrown in. She is a trooper, not one to complain, although this stuff has taken it’s toll on the emotions. Next week she will have an MRA, we are hoping there is something the docs can do to help her. Not just pills to cover the symptoms & bring their own set of problems…We are all learning more about care-giving each week, as Mom is learning about aging & it’s limitations on a body. Not easy….A friend told me the other day, “No one knows about caregiving until they have walked in those particular shoes”, I might add, we don’t know of aging & the challenges it brings until we too have walked there.. With God’s help, Mama, Jim & I are taking each day as it comes; this one thing, knowing that God will carry us in these days, giving strength, peace & comfort.

Ps 27:13 & 14

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

This is what we do…this is how we roll, with God’s mercy & strength poured out daily on us… Blessed be the name of the Lord!

In His care

The Pursuit of Health

merrymarlene — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:50:28 +0000

In the pursuit of health…that is the journey I’m on. In that pursuit I’m consulting a Naturopathic doctor, and she has many suggestions or ideas on how to help me right the wrongs I’ve done to my body. But…let me just say that this journey is not for wimps, nor sissies(insert compassion here). Okay, Really…..It is a good journey to be on, it’s just taking me away from most of my comfort foods & all that I hold dear in the “Food” world.

It is interesting to me, that while I’ve wanted to change some habits, such as too much coffee, no water, & a healthier diet, I drag my feet at making it happen. Change is not bad, but in this case good, it’s just for me change has never come easily, even good change. Up to this point I’ve divorced coffee about 20 times & then remarried it, drank much water, then none(pop,coffee,tea..anything but water) & ate chips, cake & goodies to my full. I’m not trying this time, I’m actually doing good things for my body(pat on the back..lol). I’m not looking for anything but better health at this point…so by my birthday, in October, I will be on my way to good health for the rest of my life…at almost 58 it’s a good time to start, don’t cha’ think?

Okay, enough of my sob story about all I’ve given up…(but did you feel just a “wee” bit sorry for me?)

This week we had some good friends from Kentucky come for a visit, Gary & Melissa Hackney, it was great to see them. Makes me very curious about where they live, what it is like there, & wouldn’t I love to see new country!?! We had some really wonderful visits, and they joined us for church on Sunday. They enjoyed it even though it was different from their services. How wonderful when the connection of being God’s son or daughter supersedes any other bias. It was great to worship God with them. Gary & Melissa pastor a Baptist Church back in McAndrews, KY. We were chatting on Facebook about pictures Melissa posted of the guys back in 1973 & now & who would have guessed these two men would be serving God!! God knew! I’ll see if I can get the pics to come up here…

Gary & Jim 1973

Gary & Jim, 2011

Great pics don’t cha’ think?

Our grandson, Bryson is healing up from injuries while breezing a horse a week ago. The horse launched Bry going full speed. He wound up with a concussion, broken ribs, & bruised pelvis. This is the second time for these kind of injuries, so scary. He stopped by on Sunday, so I could see for myself how he is doing. He is mending slowly, & hurting quite a bit, & will be off work for awhile. So if you wouldn’t mind praying for his healing, we would be grateful.

This is my first day back to work, I took a week off to take the two youngest grandboys to Vacation Bible school. Since I was there I got to help, which was very fun. The little guys had a great time learning about Peter learning to follow Jesus, lots of games, plus ministry(making cookie jars for the foodbank).

Here’s Tanner getting fed Jello, both contestants have to wear blindfolds…

Tanner eating jello while blindfolded!`

Here’s Tyler at cooking class!

Tyler cooking

So, as you can see a great time was had by all!

Blessings on your journey,

Marlene