Things were a bit abnormal for a few days in the parsonage.

We sipped on an afternoon cup of coffee and enjoyed visiting while looking out at the yard.

  Some pastors and wives are near their family, but most are not; my parents live four hours away.   I’ve tried to make a trip by myself each spring to spend time with them.  When I was homeschooling, I needed the break away.  Though the girls are gone from home, I’ve continued the tradition, and enjoy it so much. We spend lots of time sitting and catching up.  We’ll visit in the sunroom or library.  We may go to town and shop a bit and also stop for an ice cream.  It’s usually just done on the spur of the moment – doing whatever we feel like doing. 

Being at my parents’ home is so relaxing.  It’s not just that they’re retired that makes their home inviting, though that is a part of it. It is also the quiet setting and location of their house, the lovely set-up of each room so that you can sit comfortably to chat and also view their beautiful yard.

We also watched a pair of finches on the windmill and also on the birdbath.  To have time to sit and watch God’s creatures enjoy the outdoors while I sat comfortably and unhurried was a blessing.

I spent a good deal of time looking through old photo albums.  Oh, my!  My dad also played a video of years ago.  I snapped a picture of the screen…

Being at my parents also means enjoying their touch of beauty inside their home.  It is clean (spotlessly so!), organized and decorated better than a Southern Living model home!  My mom has always had a way of making simple things beautiful – whether it be a meal, an outfit, or a cabinet. She has an eye for beauty, and it shows in every room.  I love sitting and soaking in all the touches that make their house a home.



My mom’s table and red roses.



Doesn’t this just say, “Come on in!”?

 

Of course one blessing of going away from home is coming back!   Here was my view as I drove through the Cumberland Gap:

Then this was waiting for me on my kitchen table…

Yep, I think the parson missed me!  Though I had a great time, I missed him greatly too.  I know how lonely the parsonage can be when you’re the only one occupying it! 

Since I got home, my husband’s phone has rung several times, things are pressing in on the agenda for tomorrow, as well as the next few days.  Yep, things are back to normal, and that’s okay because this is our life – our shared life in the parsonage.

What do you love about your own home or that of your parents’?

Back at my parsonage windows,

I took about 2 1/2 days and dashed to Kentucky to have a visit with my parents and sister this weekend.  What a creative duo my parents make!  My mom will find a lovely idea, show my dad and then he puts it together.  Their newest project was creating tiered serving trays.  She selected the plates and the hardware, then my dad did the drilling and assembling.  Here is the result:

Lovely, huh?  I was excited to learn that they made one for me…

The top and bottom plates are special because they’re made by Cunningham/Pickett, Inc. from Alliance, Ohio!  The pattern is called Yellow Rose.  I know I’ll get lots of use from it.  (I’ve been collecting some cool ideas on Pinterest!)

When I was growing up, Sunday night after church we always had a traditional kind of “lunch.”  We had things like cold roast beef sandwiches (using the leftovers from the roast at dinner), chips, and a slice of pie (also leftover from dinner) and hot tea.  Sometimes we had crackers and peanut butter, slices of cheese, canned peaches and hot tea.  Being English may have called for the tea, but what family of girls doesn’t enjoy a cup of hot tea poured from a beautiful tea pot and sipped from a pretty cup?  This was our family tradition and I always looked forward to it each week.

So, while I was home this weekend, I got to enjoy our family lunch, served on the new tiered tray.  Mom made Cucumber sandwiches from Southern Living.  These were so good!

See them nestled on the bottom plate?  This isn’t just “girl” food – with cream cheese and mayo in the mixture, it really is filling.  Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup peeled, seeded, and finely chopped cucumber

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup minced red onion

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Stir together softened cream cheese, cucumber, mayonnaise, red onion, basil, freshly ground pepper, and salt.

Spread on: white bread; sandwich with diced fresh strawberries. We didn’t use the strawberries on the sandwiches, because we were having them with lemon cake, but I’m anxious to try it!

Something as simple as a square of pound cake placed inside a paper holder, and topped with a beautiful strawberry makes a perfect dessert for a tea!

Probably more important than delicious food and pretty serving pieces is the memories that family traditions make.  I’ve spoken about this many times, but it’s a passion with me, because I was blessed to experience it growing up and know how special it is.  You don’t have to have tea – it can be popcorn every Friday night when your family plays games together.  You could have pancake breakfast made by dad on the weekend or your special homemade pizza on Saturdays.  The point is, find something that you can make as a tradition for your family.  It will bind you together and help everyone look forward to that family meal that you “always” have.  You’re filling more than hungry tummies – you’re filling their heart with family love and memories!

Do you have a special meal you serve each week?

From the parsonage kitchen,

Denise

“Many people ask me, ‘Why would God allow you to have cancer?’ My answer to them is, ‘Why not me?'”  Those are the words of a dear godly friend, Kathy Barker, who, as of Tuesday morning, is no longer dealing with cancer or the pain of it, because she has entered the presence of her Savior. 

People questioned her plight because Kathy was a rare breed.  She was one of the sweetest ladies I’ve known.  She was always gracious, giving other people the benefit of the doubt.  She had a contagious smile that was accompanied by the slight lift of her shoulders and a twinkle in her eye.  Kathy was always the same – at church, in the grocery store, or in the hospital.  She was always ready to ask about you when she was the one suffering. 

She never complained as she dealt with the “stuff” cancer brought to her body.  She’d simply say, “It’s going to be okay.  God is good.”  Yes, it is okay, and she’s experiencing God’s goodness face to face today. Kathy knew her God and it was obvious as she dealt with life…and death.   

She has left behind a legacy of her walk with God.  It is seen in her marriage to her husband, Gary.  They spent most of their time together.  They loved one another and it was obvious.  What a testimony that alone is.  They both worked at the VA hospital for many years, so they drove to work together, ate lunch together, came home together, and then spent the evening together.  You hardly saw one without the other.  She often wore his reading glasses when hers were left behind.  It was a bit comical looking, but proved the point that they “saw everything the same!”

Her godly legacy is also seen in her sons, who are godly young men with families of their own.  They are now teaching their children the faith that was passed down from their mother.  Isn’t that where we see if we’ve really made an impact on our children – when they pass it on to their own family?  She did.

Godliness was also evident in her encouragement of others.  She knew what to say to keep a person looking the right direction.  She often told me she was reading my blog and what she’d learned.  There have been many days when I sat wondering if I was doing any good in this particular ministry, that her words came to my heart and kept me writing. 

She wouldn’t want me to be writing this about her.  She would say something like, “I didn’t do anything.  It was all the Lord!  He is good!”  She may also point towards someone nearby and say, “That’s the person that needs to be remembered.  Aren’t they special?”

Kathy Barker, you are special.  We already miss your influence, your smile and your gracious spirit, but it won’t be long until we stand with you on heaven’s shore where we can say together, “Isn’t God good?”

Friend, whatever you are doing consistently is what others will call to mind about you when you’re gone – good or bad.  How will you be remembered?

With love,

I LOVE Mondays.  Mondays are my husband’s “day off” for the most part.  After a very busy weekend with making final preparations on Saturday and then a full day on Sunday, we try to plan something fun to do together on Monday. Monday to us is like most peoples’ Saturday. 

This past Monday we loaded up our bikes and went to a bike path in Kingsport so we could enjoy the beautiful day and some time together.  It was such a blessing. On our excursion, I made two simple observations.  The first came after we’d had quite a vigorous ride.  We sat on one of the benches on the path and talked, cuddled together and just enjoyed some alone time. It knit our hearts together.  It enabled us to connect with what’s going on in each of our lives.  It gave us time to talk without interruption.   Observation #1   Every couple needs times like this; has to have times like this.  For you, it might be fishing together, taking a walk, or going out for an ice cream cone after supper.  Do whatever you enjoy, just make sure that you do it, and that you do it regularly.  Without time together, Satan can put a wedge between you and your husband. It will happen slowly and creep up on you in such a way that you’ll wonder how it happened.   You must carve out time for one another.

As we were riding along we passed many walkers and other bikers.  We exchanged “hello’s” with most who passed by, but there was one man who came towards us who was jogging and looking extremely fatigued.  Seeing his efforts and his exhaustion, my husband, the ever-ready encourager, said to this stranger, “Keep at it Buddy.  It’s worth the effort!”  The man smiled and continued his jogging journey encouraged by my husband’s words, I’m sure. 

Observation #2 – It only takes a moment to encourage other people, and we make a choice as to whether we will just pass by them on our paths and say nothing, or whether we’ll take the time to do or say something that will encourage them on their journey.  My God chooses to encourage me every time I open His Word; can I not pass along the same kind of love and care to others?

Our Monday time together was valuable because it reminded me of those two truths –
1.  I need time to be with my husband doing things so that our marriage will be strengthened on a regular basis. 
2.  Encouragement takes only a moment and it is my choice. 

We had a wonderful afternoon together as we rode along enjoying God’s beautiful world, spending with each other as well as those that He placed along our path.  Have you spent time just recently with your mate?  If not, why not schedule something today?  If you have, what did you do?  Has God given you someone to encourage?  How did you do that, or how have you been encouraged by others?

From the bike path,