Time Off ~

Hello to you, my dear and faithful followers!

I have been MIA these past couple of weeks

while helping with the needs of my mother.

While I was away my post came up in honor of

dad's one year anniversary where he is now in heaven
beholding the glory of God.

It's hard to believe that he has been away from our presence 

for a year now. Where does the time go?

I want to thank you for your precious visits and tender comments

that were shared in love, and I apologize for taking so long in replying

back to those of you who left comments.

Those of you who are a "no-reply" thank you for your beautiful comments and visit.

I appreciate your love and grace shown through your friendship.
May God's grace shine upon you.

For the next couple of weeks I will be

enjoying some time off relaxing in the beauty of God's creation

as seen in these images.
"And He walks with me and He talks with me
and He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
none other has ever known."
~ Hymn In The Garden ~
I'm looking forward to some quiet time alone with my Savior,
as we walk and commune together with no distractions.
Therefore, I will be leaving the internet at home where it belongs

and all the electronic devices that are a part of my daily life

will be taking time off as well.
There is sweet, sweet fellowship to be found
as we seek out the Lord in quietness and confidence.
God desires to meet our every need when we call upon His name, and seek His face.
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God,
thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart
and with all thy soul."
(Deuteronomy 4:29) 

When I return back to our wonderful community of Blogging

I would love to share with you an amazing story of the hand of God.
This little sweetie is our new addition

to our family and home.
My little "Honey Pot"

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord;

in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee,

and will look up."

(Psalm 5:3)

~*~

Precious Heavenly Father,

cause us to always "look up" 

as we daily seek Your face
with praise on our lips.

Amen.

Be Glorious!

~ Debbie ~

Leaving A Legacy~

"The greatest legacy one can pass on to 

one's children and grandchildren is not money

or other material things accumulated in 

one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith."

~Billy Graham~

One year ago today my precious dad was called to his Eternal home

where he is beholding the glory of God,
and praising his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The absence of a loved one leaves within our hearts

an emptiness and longing of those days gone by

where love, laughter and memories were made.

Never again will I hear the voice of my dad
(only through the recorded cassette tapes I have of him)
 feel the touch of his strong hands,

 laugh till I cry, find comfort from his big hugs,

receive another phone call from him as he lovingly says,

 " Hey kiddo, what's happinin" 
and then to hear his ending words as we would close our visit over the phone with,

"love you kiddo!"
Ride with him to the Landfill
 praying my way there hoping to avoid some sort of episode with the dump trailer;
or sit with him by the pool side and watch the doves come and go
 for their little drink and dip in the shallow end of the pool.
Those were the beautiful days spent down south 
where dad and mom would spend their Winter months in the warmth of the sunshine.
 Those days of working along side of dad on his job sites
or on his 40 acres of property are never going to happen again.
Family gatherings where dad would share endless stories
will now be remembered through memories only,
so long as I can keep my memory.  ;)
 These are just a few of the precious memories I have tucked away in my heart,
but those who knew my dad either through relation
or friendship hold their very own special memories
because dad was the type of man you wanted to make memories with.

Every day of my dad's life he created a legacy

of the best and most beautiful parts of himself.

My dad was a man of noble character ~

He was an honorable man full of strength in many ways.

He was a man of integrity who was genuine 

in his care over those he loved.

He looked for opportunities to do good in life,

to be of help to others,

and he gave without regard for anything in return.

Dad never cut corners with the relationships 

he made with people. 

He was honest, decent, loving, sincere and trustworthy. 

Dad was an honorable man in his love for my mother in their marriage,
 becoming a husband early in his life through a bond of love
that was permanent for nearly 58 years.
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
Though dad had disabilities from polio he was a hard working man
looking to the needs of his family. 
My dad would let nothing stop him from doing a job that needed accomplished.
He was the type of man that believed you do what ya gotta do to get er done!

As children we were taught to be respectable individuals

with good work ethics ourselves. 
Dad loved each one of his family members with genuine love and respect,
teaching and training us along the pathway of life.
Five children 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren all created uniquely,
and he loved us for who we are.

"One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare Your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4)

~ One of dads hobbies was restoring automobiles~this is his 56 Ford "Cherry Delight" one of his first restoration projects. She now belongs to me ~

Dad never sat idle, when not working you would often  find him in one of
 his garages with his favorite recorded cassette tapes playing
 as he enjoyed those hobbies that brought him joy and fulfillment.

Dad was a steady man with a vision for his own life 
as well as those of his family.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from 

everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,

and his righteousness unto children's children." (Psalm 103:17)

Dad has left an impact on my life through his values and virtues

that will remain with me all the days of my life.

In his later years when he gave his life over to Christ,

he became a changed man, still a man of noble character,

but a man now changed by the grace of God.
He desired to be more like Christ,
and so therefore, he allowed the working of the Spirit
to purify him so as to come forth as gold.  
I can remember after dad gave his life to Christ,
he had a hunger and desire to read and know the Scriptures,
he would study and ask questions looking for answers to things he didn't quite understand.
Dad was a new man in Christ, and it was glorious! 
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
 not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15) 

Praise the Lord!
~*~

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who greatly delights in his commandments!

His offspring will be mighty in the land:

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever."

(Psalm 112:1-3)
~*~
One week to the day before dad went home to glory
I had the privilege of sharing a devotional with him from my personal study
that was on "Honoring Parents" found in (Ephesians 6:2)
"Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise"
"Whatever your age, whether you are married or single,
whether your parents are even still living or not,
God expects you to honor them."
~Nancy Leigh DeMoss~
That is just a small glimpse of the devotion I was able to read to dad.
As I read that beautifully written devotion about honoring our parents
I had no idea that those would be the last spiritual words I would utter from my lips
to my precious dad.
I believe it was no coincidence that my devotion for that day
was on this very subject and that my dad would hear those precious words
from the Word of God, taking them with him into surgery and then into Eternity.
Dad was never conscious again after his surgery.
One way to honor our parents is by speaking to them with honey on our lips.

~~~**~~~

Dad left behind a legacy that will long be remembered
by those who knew, loved and respected him.
We miss his presence and all that he graced our lives with,
but those deep loving memories will live on in our hearts. 

Everyone will leave a legacy, for good, bad or indifferent.

We all leave footprints behind us.

How will we be remembered by those who knew us?
As I get older it seems as if death surrounds me
more and more through the loss of my loved ones,
friends, acquaintances and even famous people.
I can't help but ponder on my own life and how I have lived it.
What will I be remembered by?
Should I be the subject of conversation,
what are people going to say about Debbie Harris?
 "Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.
A legacy is etched into the minds of others
and the stories they share about you."
~Shannon L. Alder~
 Will I be remembered as a women of noble character,
a women who knew, loved and lived for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Have I been the vessel God desires for me to be
because I have choosen the pathway of obedience as He has
instructed through His Holy Word?
 Am I concerned about looking to the spiritual needs 
of others whom God places in my life?
(Romans 10:13-17)
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things."  (verse15)
 Is Christ seen in and through me
as I run the race He has set before me? 
Will I finish well?
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
~*~
So many questions we can ask ourselves,
as we look into our own lives.
What footprints will I leave behind?
What footprints are you leaving behind?

Precious Heavenly Father,
create in us a love so strong for You
that we cannot help but live a gracious and honorable
life with You, as the Center.
Therefore, leaving behind footprints of a lovely legacy.
Amen.

Be Lovely!
~ Debbie ~ 

Stationary Swap ~

Hello! Happy Spring to you, dear graceful followers!

I had the joy of participating in a "stationary swap"

with a new Blogging friend over at

Small Moments with Barbara.

What a wonderful idea she had with this swap

why, its beautiful, practical and a lovely way of meeting new friends.

The new friend I was blessed to "meet" through this swap

is practically my neighbor, isn't it a small world indeed?

Karen is another Blogger that I had never crossed paths with

until Barbara matched us up with one another and I was overjoyed.

Not knowing Karen ~

I stopped in for a visit over a cup of tea as I sat near the fire

and thoroughly enjoyed taking the time to read many of her older posts.

I had the joy of reading why her Blog name is Pom's Pom's Ponderings,

but I will leave that for you to go and find out 

as it certainly put a smile upon my face. :) 

After much reading and some homework

I was certain that Karen liked the color yellow therefore,
 I was on the hunt for a yellow theme.

God directed me beautifully!

My two daughters and I were in a small historic town

near where we live for our Mother's day celebration

and we did some shopping *as ladies are known to do * and I 

was amazed at how God placed every item with my yellow themed 

idea right into my hands.

Is God too wonderful!!

Karen, I was delighted to shop and exchange with you.

My yellowed themed gift that was sent off to Karen

Karen sent me the sweetest package filled with
 many different items to choose from for sending
a hand written note.
Look at that packet with the typewriter on it, oh so adorable!
It is filled with note cards with vintage photos on the top of the card.
Did you see how beautiful her hand written note was to me?
That was a gift in and of itself, Karen, gorgeous.
Thank you for the love and generosity you have shared with me.
Karen and I have been corresponding already and she is a joy.
I look forward to following her Blog
and getting to know her better.

 Barbara, thank you for allowing me the joy of participating

in your lovely stationary swap.

The Lord bless you for the work it takes
in putting an exchange together for others to enjoy.  
~*~
 "For how great is his goodness,

and how great is his beauty."
Amen.

Be Beautiful!
~ Debbie ~

My Cup of Blessings ~

"Motherhood is the privilege of molding a life and

shaping a character whose influence will extend into eternity. 

It is the opportunity of beginning a life and leading it back to God."

~ Author Unknown 

~~~**~~~

"Her children rise up and call her blessed,

and her husband also, and he praises her."

(Proverbs 31:28)

~~~**~~~

* My daughters and me celebrating Mother's Day over tea and precious fellowship this past week *

 My overflowing cup of blessings are the words which echo from my heart.

Thank you God, for entrusting me with two

beautiful daughters and four handsome grandsons to love and care for

with whom belong to You,  first and foremost.

Years ago when my daughters were very young

I wrote some words at the end of Proverbs 31 in my Bible.

"Mother's must live a godly life so her children will

want the Christ she serves." 

As a mother and grandmother,

my mothering efforts and energies have been  focused on 

one goal: to raise each child and grandchild to 

know, love, serve and honor the Lord all the days of their lives.

The children of our Proverbs 31 woman give her life

its highest reward. They bless her. They praise her.

The children experience the sweet fruits of her virtues,

and she experiences the sweet fruits of their lives 

and rejoices in them.

Truly her cup of blessing overflows!

~~~**~~~

My precious daughters are no longer living in our home,

they are both grown women with family's of their own now.

My care has not ceased,  for I now share my mothering efforts

through a long-distance outpouring of love towards them.

We have become friends ~ my heart rejoices

when they rise up and bless me with the love they have for me, as their mother.

Every minute-indeed every second we spend giving the gift

of time and of ourselves to our children

is an investment in their character and in their future.

~~~**~~~

As a Grandmother ~ I also have the privilege to join together with God

and help train up the next generation,

those who will, in turn, train up the generation

that comes after them.

~*~

"Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it."

(Proverbs 22:6) 

We are responsible to hand down the Truth

 from generation to generation.

Another note I made to myself at the end of Proverbs 31 many years ago was;

"The secret of the Proverbs 31 women was that 

she feared the Lord.

She loved her God, and therefore,

 she was a blessing to her family.

~*~

"Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that

fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

(Proverbs 31:30)

Oh Precious Heavenly Father,

cause us to glean the Truths found in Proverbs 31,

and trust You in helping us to apply them

to our own lives passing them on to the next generation

so they will grow up knowing You.

Loving You. Serving You and bringing glory to Your Holy Name.

Amen. 

Mother's Day Blessings!

~ Debbie ~

The Death of a Dove~

  I stepped out my front door dressed and ready

 for my afternoon walk only to find there was a stillness in the air.

I stood there for a second looking and listening carefully.

Not a bird, squirrel, or turkey was in sight;

it was much too quiet.

 I then noticed what appeared to be some tiny bird feathers
laying on the driveway straight ahead of me.
They had a glistening effect as the little ray of sunshine
beamed through the clouds giving them a beautiful silver tint.

It had been snowing lightly all day, the type of snow

that quickly turns to water drops on the ground.

I walked over to examine those feathers as they lay

lifeless never to take take flight again.

Each little feather was covered with water droplets

from the moisture we had been getting. 

 They looked like the feathers of a dove, our first dove of the spring

had come without my notice and then vanished,
leaving behind the evidence that she (or he) had been there.

I looked around the property, hoping to see the feathered friend

 hovering somewhere in fear of needing help;

however, all I saw as I looked up the hill was another little pile

of bird feathers matching the ones I had just examined.

It was obvious that this feathered friend had lost it's life

and likely to a larger predator.

I wasn't there to witness what happened to this little bird,

knowing the course of nature,
it likely became food that was consumed.

The usual activity from the wildlife was silenced,
 I'm sure they were nestled quietly in hiding
until they knew it was safe to come out.
Living in the mountains we have all sorts of creatures
 that would have enjoyed this little guy for a meal.
What could it have been? The fox, the mountain lion, the hawk,
 or possibly some other big bird of prey?
Hmmm...what if it is the weasel 
who has taken up residence in our shed;
not because we have allowed him a comfortable place to lay his head
but because he is wise and sneaky.

On my walk, I thought about the incident and then began to think
of how quickly that bird was taken,
likely before it even knew it's predator was near by.
The Bible verse from 1 Peter 5:8 popped into my head.
"Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking 
whom he may devour."  
We are told to be sober-minded; spiritual sober-mindedness
includes the ideas of steadfastness, self control,
clarity of mind and moral decisiveness.
We are not to be caught up in the allurements of the world.
We are to be "vigilant", watchful, and alert.
Because the devil, our adversary and his forces
are always looking for opportunities to overwhelm
the believer with temptation, persecution, and discouragement.
We should never underestimate the devil; God is greater.


**********

I continued thinking on 1 Peter and thought of verse 9 in Chapter 5,
"Whom resist steadfast in their faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished 
in your brethren that are in the world." 
The way to resist the devil is by remaining firm in the Christian faith.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance,
and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:17)
We are to live in accord with the truth of God's Word.

We are Sojourners and pilgrims here on this earth
and Peter encourages us through our journey.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show
forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 1:9)
The whole brotherhood , the entire Christian community,
is always going through similar trials brought on by the 
roaring lion who never stops trying to devour believers.
But such a promise we have in (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it."

**********

Let us grab hold of this wonderful promise,
 hide it in our hearts and make it our prayer.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you,
then he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 
Amen.

Be Glorious!
~ Debbie ~