A true Vietnam story told from my aunt ~ God Bless Our Independence day!

My great aunt (who does not allow me to post her name) tells me tales of old every Monday of our weekly visit.  This past Monday she shared with me a story about her nephew that really touched my heart. It was even more special when I was thinking of what an encouraging July the fourth blog this would be to share with others.  Her nephew, whom has since passed away, was named Carl...he left for Vienam at a very young age and fought in the heat of the battle, but back home he had an aunt that would write him every week and he would write her back too, she would pray daily for him and ask God to watch over him - God did! One day she was writing a letter and God told her to go get a bible, tear out the 91st Psalms and mail it to him. 

This was the very first scripture she had ever memorized.  When she was a little girl (born in 1927) there was usually just one family bible in the house, each person didnt have their own bible like we do today. She would get the big family bible, take it out to the field and memorize scripture since she didnt have it at her fingertips to look up.  Can you imagine how much more close we would hold scripture to our hearts if we actually learned it because we wasnt sure when we could punch it into our online bible or blow off the dust of the many bibles laying around the house? 
She said God would not allow her to write it down and although she was feeling very hesitant to tear a page from the bible, her heart felt real strong that God needed Carl to see these words from an actual bible. she managed to find a spare bible (at this time she was older and bibles were a little more easy to get) she mailed the page of the Bible chapter to him!

As he sit in Vietnam he opened the letter and this time he found more than words from an aunt that loved him so much. he found promises from Gods word to help him through the scariest times of his life. He took the bible page folded and placed it in his tshirt pocket under his uniform. every single day he would move that bible page from one shirt to the next until finally he came home.

As soon as he returned home he took that page back to her and told her of all the times that he would hold his hand over that scripture and ask God to protect him and give him the strength to keep fighting for his country and family.  She handed him the bible that the page came from and he returned the page.  God kept his word safe as well as his servant.  God word is such a power tool that we so often overlook or forget.  take his word and hide it in your heart as the 119th psalms instructs us to do. just like carl had to be a soldier prepared for battle, we too can use God to prepare us for everyday battles.

We celebrate and enjoy independance but without the individual stories of men/women fighting, families at home praying, and God protecting, we would never know what being free really meant! God bless you each this independance day! God Bless America!!

Pss.91

[1] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
[2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
[3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
[4] He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
[5] Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
[6] Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
[7] A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
[8] Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
[9] Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
[10] There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
[11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
[12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
[14] Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
[15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
[16] With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The Rose

I have thought of this poem many times since I first read it about 5 years ago.  It is such a beautiful illustration of how some things MUST be left in Gods hands.  I adore roses and previously had a large rose garden for several years, never one time was "I" able to speed up the process of one single bloom.  Each rose opened in its own time, and proved beautiful and perfect EVERY time.  When you start to grow and live spiritually, as a result of God in your heart, you will bloom into the perfect servant that HE would have you be ~ all in "HIS" time! As each petals opens a new experience or trial or mile is represented, God brought you through safely, Beautifully. Love, Shawnte

Eph. 2:10 ~For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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THE ROSE

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

~ © Bryan T. Burgess ~

Being Prepared!

Do you remember that really sick feeling that you get in the pit of your stomach when you show up to class and are not aware that the test date had changed?  I recently experience that and it directed my thoughts to a spiritual avenue...

I walked in to class on Tuesday to find out that my test had changed to that very day; One week sooner! I panicked!!  I had missed the class before because the kids were on spring break and I did not have a sitter.  I texted a girl in class the day I missed and she never mentioned it! At first, I wanted to be mad at everyone else BUT it boiled down to the fact that it was MY class, MY responsiblilty, MY grade, MY career plans that were on the line and I should have been prepared! Fortunately, the professor let me come in the next morning to take it BUT it reminded me of my firm belief that there will be NO second chances when it comes to life after death!

I feel strong in my belief that every breath this side of death is your only second chance!  I am so thankful that I received the only preparation that I will ever need when I asked Jesus into my heart.  Of course along the way I aquire experience that prepares me to deal with new trials that come my way, as well as, a means to help others on their journey. However, the initial YES sealed my hope to heaven when I leave earth.

I have a blog to post of my testimony in detail when God impresses me to do so. 

That sick feeling of not being prepared for the test had a resolution. There are no resolutions after your soul leaves this human body.  I cannot imagine the feeling of "IF" I would have believe on Jesus Christ. When Gods spirit comes by to visit you; please respond "YES" and be sure your prepared for the next billion years.

May God Bless You Each :)

A Flattering Funny

Last week a man that looked to be in his fifties stopped by our home looking for my husband.  I told him that he was not home and the man said no big deal, he would talk to him tomorrow.
-He comes back the next day (I'm not home this time, by the way) and he tells my husband that he better lock his daughter up because she is very pretty! my husband says: "Why thank you sir, but that is my wife and I will be sure to keep a close eye on her!"

LOL! It was "Funny" but also "Flattering" ---> just a little ;)

My poor husband always gets accused of robbing the cradle and he is ONLY one year older than me.  Bless his heart, I guess that is what a mustache & beard since fourteen, an inherited hairline, and hard work will do to you :)

I would NOT add or take away one thing from this man; He was made just especially for me!
Thank you God for the gift of my husband!

My Dad - In a Beagles Life

My Dad – In a Beagles Life!

My dad has always referred to himself as a mountain man.  He loves to spend ALL his spare time in the mountains; hunting, fishing, camping, enjoying life from the view of a great horned owl (if you know my father personally then you will quickly notice the play on words).  He has hunted almost every beast in America, that is legal, to hunt.  He was a taxidermist in past years and I grew up surrounded by stuffed critters.  His only fear was an eight-legged monster, better known as the spider.  He would catch snakes with his bare hands. He has sewn up dogs in the mountains and saved their lives after encounters with predators when caught off-guard. He was a man that would leave you with a furrowed impression.

The dogs he trained became very valuable.  In fact, one of his most expensive and favorite dogs ran over a cliff in the winter of 1977 just before I was born; he took her home, rolled her up in an old tapestry rug and buried her up the mountain behind his home (at the time).  The comical part of this story is that I ended up with her name… yes, you heard correctly, my middle name is Sheena, the same as dads deceased dog..lol! My mother to this day insists that the dogs name was spelled with one “e” (Shena) on her papers, but I have always felt dad knew otherwise!

My dad called this evening to check on everyone and we were talking about a bit of everything.  He said that he would leave me some birthday money next week at my aunts house and I said: “dad, can you believe your baby girl will be 33 next week.”  He said: ”Actually I never really think about age much but the other evening as I was making my way back across the mountain from buying another beagle, it occurred to me that this very well could be my last trip.” You see, my dad has been making that trip every 12-13 years (about the average life of each beagle) since he was a young man.  He said: "the next trip I’ll be seventy and chances are that I either won’t be up to making the trip or too tired to train and hunt another dog” of course I said: “daddy, you better go ahead and plan to make that trip!”

He told me a couple of months after my first son was born that his only regret in his life was that he didn’t spend more time with my brother and me when we were little instead of hunting.  I don’t remember being neglected my daddy, my memories are of a man who would do anything to provide for his children. I was so very proud to link my arm in his as we walked down the aisle and he gave me away.  As the song Butterfly Kisses played, his eyes filled with tears and my face begin to shine as the words rang so true of our relationship on so many levels. He is a hero of mine... I STILL think he knows everything!!  He is an even better papaw than I could have ever imagined.  God sure did bless me when he chose a good ole' mountain boy to be my dad.

People have many different ways that they reflect on their life and the time periods or decades BUT I just have to smile when I think of my daddy measuring his life, in the life span of beagles.

Our First Date

April 1997

He had seen me, but I had never seen him before! He told my cousin that he wanted to marry me….lol!  She told him: “there is no way, she is in nursing school and totally fed up with guys and I doubt she would marry anyone for many years to come.”  He insisted on my phone number and she gave in, but she did call to warn me that he would be calling! Of course, she used the “he has a motorcycle” to smooth it over with me too…Thanks cuz J

I was living at my grandmother’s house, going to school, working night shift at a nursing home, and had just went through a break-up. 

The phone rang and it was him, we immediately had everything to talk about and talked for hours that first night.  His voice was deep and his accent was definitely country.  I could hear sincerity in his voice and I wanted to know more.

The very first night he said; “I’m looking for a wife, not a long term girlfriend!”…LOL!

I thought: “this guy is psycho, you don’t say that the very first night!! Oh but this guy did!  I certainly DID NOT want to be a WIFE, in fact, I didn’t even want to be a girlfriend but I was intrigued by his confidence.

We scheduled a date for the next day and he came to pick me up.  When he walked up to the glass door, I pushed it back closed fast. I thought… My cousin had not told me that she was setting me up with an old man! I eased the door back open and made sure this guy’s name really was the person I was expecting…he verified that it was him and I said: “I’m very sorry but I just didn’t realize you were old.” He laughed and said: “I’m not old!” I continued to accuse him of being old until he retrieved his wallet and showed me his ID…TWENTY! There is no way this man is only twenty!!!  I kept refusing to believe him and he said: “You’re right! I had a fake ID made on my way here so I could take you out!” We laughed hysterically and I just knew we had a connection that was different.

We climbed in his mustang and rode around, talked more and more, then stopped to eat at Git-N-Go (a gas station for a first date...hmm - strange).  It was my first time eating there but the hot dogs were great!!  Some of his church friends were there eating too and it was a nice comfortable date. 

He took me home…I KNEW that I was interested :)

((Picture is kinda like the one he picked me up in except his had lots of extras and the hood looked different :))

Always There (poem)

I wrote this poem when I was a teenager and put it in a book I made for my Journalism class.  I enjoyed looking back through these poems 15 years later! holy cow, have I been out of school THAT long?!! let me recalculate...1996 minus 2011, yep I believe so.. well, will be this May.

Anyway, it is amazing how we change as we age.  However, this poem has not change too much...with the exception of GOD being my best friend and my husband being my second best friend, oh and of course I have some besties too BUT...anyway just read the poem and you will get the my jest...haha!

Always There

There's a friend out there that everyone could know.

You can take this friend with you everywhere you go.

It will always listen and even understand.

Never telling anyone, always holding to your hand.

This friend will not forget the things most important to you.

Always there to remind you of the things that you should do.

A friend like this never asks for favors in return.

It will show you things about yourself, there is so much you can learn.

This friend is a simple item that anyone can possess.

In all times that I needed a friend, PAPER has been the Best!

{written by: s.stansberry @ age 17}

Of course, since writing this I met Jesus and HE has truly been the best friend that I could ever ask for!!  HE has all the above qualities and much much more!  But, I must say that writing has been a wonderful outlet for me. 

Until next time, God Bless!