Random Musings

When I come to the river at the ending of day When the last winds of sorrow have blown There'll be somebody waiting to show me the way I won't have to cross Jordan alone I won't have to cross Jordan alone Jesus died all my sins to atone In the darkness I see He'll be waiting for me I won't have to cross Jordan alone Often times I'm weary and troubled and sad When it seems that my friends have all flown There is one thought that cheers me and makes my heart glad I won't have to cross Jordan alone I won't have to cross Jordan alone Jesus died all my sins to atone In the darkness I see He'll be waiting for me I won't have to cross Jordan alone Though the billows of trouble and sorrow may sweep Christ the Savior will care for his own Till the end of my journey my soul he will keep And I won't have to cross Jordan alone I won't have to cross Jordan alone Jesus died all my sins to atone In the darkness I see

Several weeks ago North Carolina flags went half mast for a state patrolman who was murdered in the line of duty. Flags had not been full staff but a few days when a Ft.Bragg soldier, who was also a small town NC boy, died in Afghanistan. We weren't full staff long when we dropped back to half mast for the victims of the mass shooting in at the Jewish synagogue in Pennsylvania, and now we're at half mast for the same horror in California. Growing up we seldom saw Old Glory in a state of mourning, but for almost a month, that's all we've seen. And it makes me sad. The fact that we now have to ask "What are we at half-staff for now?" shows just how tragic-stricken our nation has become. And sadly, most of it is brought on from within. So today while I'll head to Apex for a group quilt presentation for some veterans, I'm also mourning that our nation has failed to live up to its potential that these men and women have sacrificed so much for. We are an

Since the beginning of October, every time I pick produce from the garden, I think   "This is the last harvest!" in an excited kind of way. Bobby always laughs and tells me how grateful I should be that our garden is still producing. I think I would be a tad bit more grateful if I hadn't left half as many on the vines because they hadn't filled out yet and are still blooming...right before our first week of truly chilly weather.  But I am thankful that the beans we thought were duds finally started producing more than just a serving here and there. And to think I've been pondering why we call November harvest time...for southerners the harvest has normally come and gone by this point!

This year is ending as quickly as it began. Elections are over, first of three quilt presentations this month is over, and the kids Christmas play at church is rolling almost faster than I can keep up with. This week has also been a major change in Bobby's friend Hank. Today the hospice nurse told us we were looking at days to a few weeks. He's said all his good-byes, and has been very fearful this week that God has not forgiven him for his sins. This afternoon we chatted, and Bobby read several of his favorite passages of Scripture to him. I asked him to read a passage (Psalm 130) that my sis-in-law had posted on FB this morning and Hank surprised us by asking Bobby to read the last two verses of Jude. We both looked at each other, surprised. But we did, and I couldn't help but think what awesome promises to cling to in times of doubt.   Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy