Mountain Musings

Games Grannies Play

Recently when my mom was visiting us while recouperating from back surgery, we found some time to play one of her favorite games--Rook. She mostly rested in the living room recliner, so we brought the table, chairs, and deck of cards to her little corner and settled down for a fun afternoon of playing.

She may be a Granny, but she's a wheeler-dealer from way back when it comes to playing Rook! Isn't she just the cutest granny sitting there waiting to play?

As you can see from the picture above, Jonathan is giving the thumbs-up winning sign. That's his hand of cards to the right--complete with the 20-point "Bird." No wonder he and Hannah won that round.

According to Wikipedia, Rook playing cards were introduced in 1906 as an alternative to standard playing cards and was the USA's best selling game in 1913 until Parker Brothers published Monopoly. Very interesting.

We like to play games every now and then, and we'll drag out the games for each family member's birthday evening for a round of whatever the celebrant picks to play. Here's a past post Sarah wrote on her 13 favorite games. Rook made the list!

Update on my mom: this morning I'll be leaving for another week in South Boston to be with my mom. She has some doctors' appointments which I will drive her to, and I'll be helping around the house with chores and just keeping her company. As always, thank you for your prayers during this time of trying to get her back on her feet and on the road to complete recovery.

~Deb

A Little Lift

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."   ~ Proverbs 12:25

"Our coffeemaker one morning produced considerably more than was expected. With no big demands screaming at me from either the calendar or the clock, I was enjoying a rare, rather easy-going morning. First to be done was exercise, second to prepare and eat breakfast, and then to spend my private time with the Lord. In the second activity I encountered an annoying slow-down caused by the coffeemaker.

Coffeemakers are a wonderful modern convenience. I appreciate ours because it takes some hassle out of breakfast preparation. Although our appliance generally has been faithful and effective, it occasionally fails to perform properly due to a stubborn coffee basket. It's as if the latch on the basket locks its jaw and refuses to open.

On the morning mentioned, the coffeemaker and I had an extended contest, and it seemed to be winning. I had pushed, pulled, and fussed--all to no avail. Then I inadvertently gave a tiny lift; it freed the arm mechanism, enabling me to open the basket. Our coffee tasted especially good to me that day. But the flavor that really lingered was connected not to the coffee, but to the coffee basket.

Just a little lift. That's a lesson appropriate to personal relationships in my daily life. For instance, when I need to "fill" someone with advice, instead of either tugging or pushing, mightn't a little lift of kind attitude and patient words make that person receptive? When I need to "empty" someone of a wrong direction or wrong spirit, mightn't a "lift" of commendation or encouragement predispose her to the necessary emptying?

Second Timothy 2:24-25a is a passage that can be applied to this situation: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves." In other words, let's remember to give just a little lift."

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."   ~ Proverbs 31:28

(Devotional taken from Lights on Main Street--A Journal by Beneth Peters Jones.)

~Deb

Visiting Taiwan...by Postcard

Here's a colorful postcard I received in the mail recently from some of Amanda's students in Taiwan. I was thrilled to receive their note and also to acquire the Taiwanese stamps affixed. This picture shows the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas located in the city of Kaohshiung.

I don't know a lot about Taiwan, except what I've learned from Amanda's blog--which is very educational, in addition to being very interesting! She makes her readers feel as if they're right there with her sampling all the strange Taiwanese food choices, seeing all the colorful places she visits, and riding her trusty little moped around town.

The postcard was sent as a thank-you gift for participating in her students' study on eating dinner as a family. I'm not sure if the study was worldwide or just for families in America, but the questions were very interesting, and I enjoyed answering them.

Her students wanted to know:

• what topics of conversation are usually discussed as we eat together each evening
• if any one of us participates in other things while eating such as watching television or reading
• and how often we have dinner together as a family (which seems to be a rarity in our country these days to actually have the time to sit down!)

For our family, all five of us eat together every night of the week, and we usually eat at home unless there's a special occasion to eat out. (In my humble opinion, weekends classify as special occasions.)

No one does anything to distract from the mealtime together--no reading at the table or watching television, although sometimes Jonathan's humor might get us to laughing our heads off so we can't eat! LOL!

We normally discuss activities of the day and which friends we've heard from by email or phone. Jonathan enjoys telling us about his escapades at the airport, and Tom discusses which office he's traveled to in the Valley and some of his duties that particular day. Two evenings of the week end up being more rushed than others since Jonathan has to get out the door for an evening class at 6:30.

Not every evening--but maybe 3 out of 7--Tom will open the Bible after the meal and read a passage to us from his quiet time, and he or Jonathan prays to wrap up. In the past we've read lengthy articles together on courtship, and recently, we've finished reviewing the London Baptist Confession. I'm looking forward to starting a new series, although I'm not sure what Tom has in mind.

How would you answer Amanda's students' questions about your family's dinnertime? Is it a time you look forward to each evening? I'd love to hear what goes on at your house!

~Deb

Picnic on the Parkway

How wonderful it is to be home again after being away last week at my mom's! I switched duties with my sister who will be taking care of everything this week in South Boston, including getting my mom to a MRI appointment today and dealing with whatever that shows. I may have to return again this weekend if needed. In the meantime...

It was great to just relax with the family this weekend and enjoy the wonderfully cooler weather. Tom suggested a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it sounded especially appealing when he said we'd be stopping by Subway to pick up all the food. Gotta love that man! :)

After grabbing jackets just in case there was a chill up on the mountain, we headed out. We passed Appalachian Farm and the Humpback Rock parking areas, which were crowded with Sunday afternoon hikers.

As we arrived at the "do-not-feed-the-bears" picnic grounds, it felt as if we were on a fall vacation. We definitely needed our warm sweatshirts and jackets! Oh, how I loved the spontaneousness of it all. How very fun and relaxing to get away with my family.

Did you do anything special or out of the ordinary with your family this weekend?

~Deb

A Weed in our Spiritual Garden

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."   ~ Ecclesiastes 7:9

"Being an inveterate people watcher, over the years I've noted that many actions and reactions, though differently named, handled, and excused, actually spring from a single hidden source.

Let's examine just one outflow from the spring; an outflow that is probably observable on a daily basis: impatience. In its simply stated, broad presentation, that attitude of mind may seem insignificant. The seriousness and constancy of its presence, however, becomes clear when we contemplate examples from our own lives.

What about impatience with people? For instance, do your husband's idiosyncrasies make you impatient? Does impatience rise quickly in dealing with your children? Friends and acquaintances can be thoughtless; do you become impatient with their failings? Even a total stranger--a waitress or a store clerk, for instance--who somehow displeases us can trigger an impatient reaction.

We also get impatient with circumstances. Does snarled traffic tie you in knots? Or a crowded shopping mall? If your neat, carefully thought-out schedule gets destroyed in the first hour of the morning, how do you react? Does an insufficient number of checkout lines at the grocery store make you fume?

Few of us can deny that we become impatient easily, quickly, and often. Making that first step of admission is a mere beginning; it's important to move beyond it--not to the excuse or rationalization that so easily follows, but to a sober self-examination. When we label a response "impatience," are we being honest? Is the term accurate from the Lord's viewpoint? That quick-to-appear weed in our spiritual garden really has a root we're loath to recognize and deal with: anger. When self's comfort, desires, convenience, or progress is thwarted by people or circumstances, anger flares.

God urges us, His blood-bought children, to patience and contentment. When, instead, impatience characterizes us, we should acknowledge its true identity and be moved to repentance and change by a straightforward, sobering reminder from Scripture: "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).

(Devotional taken from Lights on Main Street--A Journal by Beneth Peters Jones.)

~ Deb

An Amazing and Exciting Post!

The cutest dog that has ever walked on the face of the earth.

(Note: This is a purely objective statement of definite fact, with no bias affecting my observation whatsoever.)

That is all. Thank you.

~Sarah

Crying in the Country

Here in the country the black cows that dot the surrounding hillsides are almost as scenic as the mountain views. Early this morning as I walked outside to check on all my plants before I leave for a week away at my mom's, I could hear all the momma cows bawling for their little ones. Evidently (though I'm not positive), this must be the season when the calves are separated and weaned away from their momma. What a pitiful sound in the quiet of the morning to hear the sad mourning of a momma without her babe. It made me hurt inside to hear them crying.

I'll be taking my mom back to her home in South Boston this morning and staying with her this week to help get her situated there. So I'll be absent on the blog awhile, but hopefully the rest of the crew will come up with some amazing and exciting posts while I'm gone. :)

~Deb

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Thanks, Dad, for your legacy:

• Believing in the Lord Jesus
• Loving and leading your family
• Appreciating the gift of music
• Humility, deference to others, and sacrificial service
• Showing mercy and grace, even when we erred

Lots of love,

Tom

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."  Psalm 16:6

Come into the Garden

What a beautiful summer day it is...abundant sunshine and a gentle, warm, and breezy 82-degree day. My mom, Hannah, and I trekked down to Buffalo Springs Herb Farm in Raphine this afternoon. I love to come here whenever I get a chance to see what's in bloom each season and to gather ideas for our own flower gardens. 

I was so glad that my mom felt well enough and wanted to tackle the trip after being in for the past ten days recuperating from back surgery. (By the way, for those who have asked...she's doing better but still has some hip pain. Thank you for your continued prayers for her health and complete healing!)

Here she is with Hannah sitting on one of the garden benches underneath the arbor and surrounded by many beautiful blooming perennials.

This picture was taken of the grounds around the farm. I'm sure I've posted similar pictures of other excursions, but I just can't resist. Everywhere I look is beauty; the grass seems to be much greener, and the flowers more brilliant here at Buffalo Springs.

"Come into the garden...the cloistered spot where golden lilies tinkled, thrushes sang, and every leaf breathed peace." ~ Lavender and Old Lace ~ Myrtle Reed

~Deb

More Blogging Friends Visit

We've enjoyed hosting the Shepherd family this week from Alabama. Jay and his son, Kyle, will attend a two-day farm seminar over at Joel Salatin's place this weekend, and they decided to arrive a couple of days early to tour around Virginia before learning all they can about farming. There's lots to do and see in this area!

Tonight over dinner we heard about their excursion today to Keysville in southside Virginia to research some historical information and then on to Appomattox. They will spend tomorrow in Lexington, home of Stonewall Jackson...which brings back memories of last year's visit with the Serven Clan when we toured the historic cemetery there with them.

We always enjoy friends visiting our wonderful area of Virginia (and especially--meeting in real life!--blogging acquaintances).

~Deb