100 years

I still remember my father as a “young man.” He died at the age of 62. Today makes 100 years since he was born. He died on April 3rd 1973 and was buried on my mother’s 58th birthday. What a heritage he left us! Sheralee, Beth, and Jason were the only grandchildren he lived to see. But he still lives on. I see him and hear his voice in my cousin Lyndon Campbell--still have to get used to the grown up name. My sons Matt and Daniel are like him in many ways.

I have many fond memories of working with him on the farm, going to town to the feed store, going to church and picking up neighbor’s children on the way, watching him work algebra word problems “for fun” at night during the winters, and seeing him do Bible study for classes at Currentview. He used to love to sing. I can hear him singing “A Beautiful Life” in our blue, Ford pickup on the way to town. The first line was “Each day I’ll do a golden deed, by helping those who are in need.” I think he really tried to live that line. He was respectful to and friends with the bank president in town and our country drunk. I can remember times when he tried to help that young man who had the drinking problem and how discouraged he felt when it didn’t work. He never failed to tell my mother that she looked pretty when she got dressed up for church on Sunday mornings. I was blessed to have parents who loved each other so very much.


Hope you are having a good summer. Stay cool.




Delores Lee
2 Chro. 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

Food for Thought

Food for Thought

Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. “ (NIV)


I walked through the grocery store loading my cart with brightly colored boxes and packages. Their makers proclaimed these products to be delicious, enriched, fortified, low-cal, free of fats, and fast to fix. The food industry had convinced me that with all their research they could create food that would lead to better health, great culinary pleasures, and satisfaction. A few real foods made it into my cart, but the majority did not resemble any God-made food. My body paid for those choices.

I walked through the world often feeding my mind and spirit with morals and values entertainingly presented in movies, in magazines, in books, on television, or on the internet. These morals and set of values were promoted as more appealing, exciting, enriching, and freeing. I did feed some on God’s word, but the majority of the food for my mind and spirit held little resemblance to God’s truths. How could I expect my spirit to be well nourished?

I’ve changed my grocery shopping habits. Now many God-made foods find their way into my cart. My physical health has improved. I’ve made changes in what I feed my mind and spirit. I spend more time studying God’s word. I am more discerning about choices I make for reading or entertainment. My spiritual health has improved. What joy to be more aware of the presence of God in my life!

My prayer for all of us is that our souls hunger and thirst for God and that we feed our spirits on his word. ( Psalm 42:1-2)

What's This?

What’s This?

Water - Hexylene glycol-Ethanolamine-Propylene glycol-Soytrimonium chloride-Trisodium-Ethylediamine disuccinate-fragrance-Ethoxydigycol-Oleth 5- CII-14 – Pareth-9 -Oleth-2 -Cocamiodopropyl bethane-Dilnoleic acid- Oleic acid-Erthrobic acid – Polysorbate 20- p-Phenylendiamine- Sodium sulfite-Oleamide MIPA- Resorcinol- C112-15 Pareth-3 –Oleth-10 – Panthenol- EDTA- p-Aminophenol- m-Aminophenol- N,N Bis(2-Hydroxethyl p –Phenylenediamine – Sulfate- 2 Methylresorcinol- 1-Napthol- Ascorbic acid-Tocopherol

I recognized the words water, fragrance, acid, sulfate, and parts of the other words! The package did reassure me that the product was ammonia free. That made me feel much better!

Have you guessed what the product is? If you sneaked a peak at the next paragraph you might have guessed. It is the list of ingredients from the product I bought to give my hair a truly natural-looking color and shine.

Thought I had better warn you—I’m going gray. Notice I didn’t say “I’m getting gray.” I’ve been there for a number of years. Some of you are going to be surprised just how gray I am. I will probably be surprised at just how gray I am! It has been a number of years since I let all the color I put in fade out.

This may be traumatic. I am not one of those with beautiful silver hair. Mine is a mousy-brown turned gray. This is going to call for a really good hair cut. I can’t compensate for the lack of color with make-up. I have given up all but a dab of make-up because the list of chemical ingredients was only slightly shorter than those listed above.

I did some research on “natural” ways to color hair. I bought some henna that is supposed to be a better option but couldn’t handle that by myself. I’m not sure I want to go that route even in a hair salon. In a few weeks when I look in the mirror, I may change my mind. I will also research some “natural” make up products.

I’ve been told that a woman who colors her hair can look ten years younger. I’m thinking by not coloring my hair and being exposed to all those chemicals I might add ten years to my life. I may look older, but I hope to live longer!

Rejoice in the Day! Yes!

It's a snow day. I have promised myself no school work today. I'm not even painting a room or doing an "at home project."

I am playing with my i pad. Of all the new tech things that have come out, this is one I have wanted! I've downloaded some more aps, gotten access to my home e-mail, and added Pandora.

Recently I was in the kitchen mentally fussing at the old radio we have there thinking I should just get a new one. Today I realized I have an i pad. I have a Pandora account. Duh! No need for a new radio.

When I set up the account on my i pad, poked an icon and music immediately appeared, I was once again awed by modern technology. I thought back to the development of the communications as man has "invented" all these things. I could just imagine God thinking "Just wait until they discover what else they can do with my creation!" He knows the possibilities.

Now I'm going to rejoice in another technology. Skype--it was invented originally for use by grandmothers. Right?

A Simple Assignment

I listened as a wife related the assignment a counselor had given a couple during their first session of marriage counseling. They were struggling to keep their marriage together, to mend a broken relationship, to deal with deep hurts. Their first “take home assignment” was to spend the time before the next visit practicing being kind to one another.
How often has that been a nice short phrase for memory work in our children’s Bible classes? A simple thing-- right?
Well, it sounded easy. She related what a surprise it was to her to find it so difficult. I would love to say that after hearing her story, I have been kind and compassionate with Kerbe ever since. I think I soon realized how in the wisdom of my creator the “Be kind and compassionate to one another” is followed by “forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” I need the forgiveness part, because I don’t always make it with the kind and compassionate part!
Sometimes I have to become re-aware of the wisdom of God. He created humanity. He knows the best way for us to live to have peace, harmony, happiness, and fulfillment. It’s not something grand and showy. It may be as “simple” as being kind to one another.



Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Be With Me, Lord

For years I have prayed “be with me, Lord” or for others “be with (name), Lord.” I have not been claiming God’s promise. I’ve been asking Him to do something He has already promised. He promises to be with us. The command “do not be afraid for I am with you” is given over 200 times in the Bible.
I have been learning to re-word my prayers. I still catch myself starting “God, please be with (name).” I simply stop and start over. I don’t think He minds. I now pray “Let (name) feel your presence in his/her life.” God will not stop being there. It’s the person who sometimes shuts Him out.
Recently Faye and Kenneth Jackson responded on a Sunday morning with a story that just awed me. Faye is in our Monday night Bible study group. I have included those ladies in my prayers, praying that each of them will feel the presence of God in their lives. They told the story of Faye’s hydroplaning on the interstate coming home from Chattanooga around the Monteagle Pass. It was an amazing story of her awareness of God watching after her safety, of the people He put in her life that day, and of the calm and peace He gave to her during that situation, and how they praised God for His care. I felt like Rhoda who opened the door and was amazed to find Peter standing there after they had been praying for his release from prison.
Since that time Mary Nell Criswell’s mother-in-law died, Peggy McEwen’s father died, and Linda Kirk’s father died. These wonderful Christian ladies are all part of our Bible study group. I am so thankful that I had prayed for them even before they experienced these losses. I know God was with them through this and will continue to be there. I pray with confidence that they will feel His presence and that His presence will shine through them for others to see.
My prayer for anyone reading this is that you will open your heart, soul, and mind to the presence of God in your life. Let Him guide you every minute of your day. You have the creator of the universe with you! How awesome and powerful is that!

Learning As I Go!

I love to travel. During our Christmas Break ’09 travels, I faced these challenges. We were in four states, at six homes (counting Bonnie and Drake’s and the Walton’s), in three times zones in two weeks time and then back to my home. It could be confusing and amusing!

Adjusting from gas (mine) to electric (Kara’s) back to gas (Kathryne and Krista) stoves was interesting—and finding right dial for the right burner important. The microwaves start, stop, time setting things all seemed to vary. I worked at learning or remembering the how-to’s on washers and dryers, kitchen faucets (I did finally find the spray attachment on Krista’s new one without asking), and whether to jiggle the handle in which bathroom in whose house. Then there’s the dishwasher—there’s the learning the dials thing and the how-to on loading. Maybe I should just insist that my kids all get the same brand and model of appliances! I could just stay out of the kitchen and laundry room, but then I’d miss out on the fun. By the time I got back to my house, I had to retrain my fingers.

The kids find it amusing that Kerbe and I like their pets so much but did never had pets when they were at home. I plan to have a dog someday when I can no longer travel. I’ve gained experienced in pet care on my travels. I worked at learning feeding schedules, not to throw away the cup used to get Henery’s water, how the in-and-out the door works for each dog, and what to do with the special treats. The command for sit varies from house to house. We had some confused dogs when Grandma tried to give them commands! Lily retrieves shoes and loves to retrieve items from our bedroom. Thus the bedroom door must remain closed—or at least suitcases up and in the middle of the bed. Henery doesn’t care about those things, but we are on squirrel alert because he loves to go out to chase the squirrels. (I even think of him when I see them in my yard!) Krista’s cats always come to explore our room, and we try to keep the door shut to keep them out because of Kerbe’s allergies. ( Katelyn and Daniel knew that and warned me about it when I was in Searcy in October. But I let their cats in anyway and had some company during the nights I was there.) Tessa loves to share a snuggle blanket.

The grown children, kids, and pets seem to handle the visitors so I count myself blessed.