The Recollections of a Child

My father was bigger than life and no time during my childhood did I feel afraid.   I always operated with ease and comfort during my young life not really feeling threatened about anything.  Until 1957. 
My father as a very young child had a terrible accident with a knife trying to cut a shoe lace.  He had sight in only one of his eyes as long as I remembered, always.   But in 1957, he was cutting bushes on the farm and yes, he stuck a thorn in his good eye.  The eye that contained his only sight.  Years later, He told me to hold my hand over one eye, and over the other eye make a fist like a cylinder, and peek through the hole and that was his vision.  Wow!  I remember he was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital and was there for 6 weeks.  There was no interstate in 1957  and by the time he arrived at Vanderbilt, cataracts had grown over his sighted eye.   To say things changed on that day is putting it mildly but I had no idea how much it would impact me until this week.  The week of the flood.  
You see a farm doesn't care if there is a flood.   It doesn't care if there is a drought and everything burns up.  Farmers are some of the hardest workers I know but they do live life in a wonderful setting.  They don't punch a clock nor do they have a boss standing over them demanding more and more output.  
But they don't have family medical leave, unemployment benefits or company health insurance .  The farm didn't care that my father was in the hospital for 6 weeks adjusting to the fact that his life would never be the same.  He had to adjust physically to having limited vision.  But he was on an emotional journey also.  I can just imagine how he laid in that bed day after day worrying about the farm.   What would he do? How would he carry on?  Work on the farm didn't wait.

But that is not the point to the story.   You see, when the 6 weeks were up, we went to Nashville to get my daddy.  When we returned that day, turned the curve, and caught the view of our house, there were so many cars parked on both sides of the road you could hardly get through.  My Dad had come home.  His and my mother's families and all the community came to see him but more than that, the men had come to get my daddy's crops in the barn. They were farmers.  They knew someone needed help and did not hesitate to show up and do what was good, what was right.   My father cried that day and I as a young girl captured that feeling of awe at all those people who loved my father and mother and made sure all was as well as it could be in a time of great crisis.  

 I had that same feeling this week in the time of the flood as I watched people rush in to assist in any way they could.  Neighbors helping neighbors.  People raising money.   Churches cooking food and feeding thousands.    And others had that feeling too.  Someone sent me an email about the blog entitled "We are Nashville".   I think he captures the essence of how I have felt this week and those weeks so long ago in 1957.

http://www.section303.com/we-are-nashville-4366 

Dumplings in the Mouth of the Recipient!

There are many different types of dumplings. And everyone has a different idea what a good dumpling taste like. There are my favorite, chicken and dumplings, also there are apple dumplings, blueberry dumplings, and yankee dumplings. (yes, that's right, yankee) Now it just doesn't seem right (being from the South) having dumpling and yankee in the same sentence but I was assured of the name yesterday. Some folks like dumplings thick, some thin, some pinched, some cut in tiny squares.  They were all represented yesterday at the Lebanon Fairgrounds. I met Ramona, my sister, who received a letter in the mail from the Wilson County Chamber asking her to enter in the Dumpling Cook-off.   She and I talked on the phone a number of times during the last 2 weeks and she finally decided to enter.  As I pulled up in Fiddlers Grove, she along with Rachel and Craig (Rachel's fiancee) arrived at the same time.  She seemed a little nervous and that was odd since she has cooked about a million dumpling in her lifetime. I know if I was cooking a dumpling I would be very nervous and everyone eating them would need to be nervous too.  (grin)  Anyway, she began to set up and I noticed some of the other tables had signs.  Well, not to be out done, I rushed out and got all the materials to make a sign.  Rachel made Ramona's sign and I must say it turned out well.
(Good job, Rachel!)

It reads, "Memories of Mama Kemp".  You see, Ramona has my mother, Osa Dillehay Kemp's  recipe and with a little adjustment to make it her own, Ramona is the Dumpling Queen in our family. 








Guests begin to arrive like Debbie (she isn't asleep) I think I just snapped at the wrong time.      (sorry Debbie!)    
Debbie is Ramona's DIL and her daughers came with her to join in the fun.                      

This is Rachel, Ramona's daughter, and Craig.  Rachel informed me she cooks dumplings all the time and make them like Ramona.  You go Rachel!

This is Dwight, Ramona's son.
You can see Ramona  was well represented by the family. 







And then of course, there is my friend from church, Teresa.  Thanks Teresa for coming out and supporting Ramona. 

 Ramona was getting her broth ready when suddenly she noticed her hot plate was not HOT.  We checked it out and finally decided it was the electrical outlet. I notified  the ladies in charge and asked them what to do.  They had already moved one table because of the outlet.

We moved Ramona's table to another location and before you know it, she was cooking again.


Ramona continued cooking and finally she was happy with the results.
And here they are. Yummy!







Judging took place at 2:00PM and at 2:30 they announced the winners. Well, Ramona didn't win.  I can't remember all the names but I do remember the categories that won..

First place:    Chicken and Dumplings (who by the way weren't any better than Ramona's (grin)
Second place:   Caramel Apple Dumplings 
Third place:  Are you ready for this?   Yankee Dumplings  Yep, the Yankees won again. (sigh)

Well, we all had loads of fun and here is the proof. 

I don't think Ramona was too disappointed her dumplings didn't win.  I sure hope she doesn't get discouraged enough to quit making dumplings.  Oh no, what will we do!  I know a lot of people at the Dillehay re-unions and Kemp family outings that will start a full fledge rebellion.  I guess we will have to blame it on the Yankees. (dumplings that is) 

Overcoming Insecurities by Beth Moore

Today I am suggesting more than personal blogging.  If you are a woman that is insecure about something (be honest), you might enjoy the next 3 month journey Beth Moore is providing with her new book, "Overcoming Insecurities".  This book goes on sale Tues. Feb 2nd.  You can also go to her Simulcast website and order on line if you prefer. http://www.ccn.tv/bethmoore2010/ 

If you plan on ordering the book, you might click on her blog, http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ to determine if you would like to participate in her on-line blog study.  In a nutshell, we will read about 2 chapters of the book then she will throw out a couple of questions for us to answer each week through comments on the blog.   Our answers will be compiled and she will use this as a teaching tool for the Simulcast April 24th.  She does not use names so don't be afraid the world will find out all your hidden secrets.  (like I do)   This study (on-line forum)  isn't really a Bible Study as her previous.  But I thought some of you might be interested in participating.

To sign up for the Simulcast Apr. 24th, which will occur just as we wrap up what we have studied on line, go to her Simulcast page http://www.ccn.tv/bethmoore2010/ and click on find a "Host Church" By no means must you participate in the on line forum to be able to go the Simulcast.  The Simulcast will stand alone all on it's own but the on line forum is just an added bonus.

She will be appearing live at the First Baptist Church Woodstock GA for the Simulcast.  Yes, Debrah and Vickie I am so jealous.   NOT! 


For Christmas this year, I gave Marli the book (pre-ordered with delivery set up sometime after Feb. 2nd).   I also contacted a church near her (3 1/2 miles) and purchased her a ticket for the Simulcast.  I love Mapquest!    I will be attending at Gladeville Baptist Church and thought it would be so much fun for us to attend together, sort of.  She will be in NC and I will be in TN.  I am now living an answered prayer and do not for 1 minute forget Who made it all possible.

Black Friday

I am sleeping so soundly.  The phone is ringing "somewhere".  Then I realize it is the phone beside my bed.   You know it is great when someone calls at 2:30 AM and asks what you like in your coffee.  Oh yes, it is 2:30 AM and Kim is picking me up..........

Since Marli lives in NC now, Kim and I braved it alone out there in all that craziness called Black Friday.   Usually the 3 of us go out each year and do our shopping in 1 day.  No other day of the year can you call your daughter at 2:45AM and she answers and is shopping already.  And not only that BUT HER HUSBAND IS WITH HER.  They are newly weds this year and he really doesn't know what he is doing. Oh well,  love is grand. 

Anyway, here are some sayings I heard on Black Friday.  I know if you were out there, you probably heard some great ones too.  Please comment and let me know what you heard.

1.  I am not standing in that line that goes halfway down the side of the building, oh no not me.  I'm sitting in the truck where it is nice and warm.
2.  We should have gotten in line when the line was only half way down the side of the building.  I TOLD YOU!
3.  What do you mean you are sold out!  I got here at 3:00 AM to get my prized gift which by the way goes on sale at 5:00 AM and now you are already out of stock.  HOW CAN YOU BE OUT OF STOCK AT 3 WHEN IT DOESN'T GO ON SALE UNTIL 5? 
4.  Yes, I will be glad to buy that for you since the limit is 1 per person.
5.  No, I don't want a TV for $300.00, I want my TV to cost me $250.00, that's what I want.
6.  Yes, ma'am, you can get out of line and smoke. We'll save your place.
7.  Ma'am excuse me but I don't what you mean, you were just in line and only got out to smoke!  Yeah! Right!

We actually pulled #6 and 7 trick on a lady in line but she knew we were teasing.

Let me know what great lines you heard in your quest for the perfect gift.

Change of Plans

I don't know about you, but I am a creature of habit.  I buy the same things at the grocery store.  When I go on a trip, I stop at the same exit.   As life happens, we go to the same places, see the same friends, even go to the same vacation spots.    If we are honest with ourselves, I think most of us are this way.  As some of you know, I have reason to go to North Carolina whenever I can to see the  girls and of course now the guys also.  The trip on I-40 East is wonderful with great scenic sights.

Sometimes when you are driving it is almost like driving into the clouds. Two weeks ago I went with Kelsey and Kaleb to North Carolina to visit Paige and Olivia.   Seeing all my grandchildren at the same time was quite a treat and enjoyed by all.   

So you can understand my dilemma when I found out the road no longer existed, the road I just traveled to get to NC.  When Marli, Rudy and girls returned home last week-end from visiting Tennessee family, they informed me of a great landslide that had taken place 2.6 miles into NC on I-40.
I  immediately remembered pictures I had taken on earlier trips.   I remembered the large nets that were affixed to the rocks on the side of the mountains next to the road.  And I thanked the Lord we were safe and sound by His Grace.

So now, I must find another way, another way to get to my NC destination.  Sigh, I must change my habits, change my plans.

Be Careful What You Ask For!

I had a big adjustment three years ago when my daughter moved to another state and not only did she go but she took my 2 granddaughters with her.  Of all the things I thought she might do, moving away from me wasn't one of them.  I was mad.  Now I wasn't mad at her, I was mad at the Lord.  You see, I had asked Him to make Himself more real in Marli's life,  make her want to serve Him more, have a closer relationship with Him.    Little did I know He had plans for her that didn't include me.  

When Olivia (the 6 year old) was small she would go to church with Meme (me) and she enjoyed it a lot.  Recently when she visited,  she wanted to know if we were "going to Meme's church where all those people loved her".   So to say she has a good impression of church is pretty accurate.  When Marli moved with Paige and Olivia, I was worried that Olivia wouldn't get to go to church.  Who would teach her about Jesus?  Who would tell her all the stories of the Bible, you know about Mary and the baby?  Who would tell her about the wonderful Savior who died for our sins and rose on the third day?

Time went by and many different things happened in this thing called life.  But I noticed on Marli's blog recently,  Olivia has made 2 different comments about Jesus.  You see, Marli takes Olivia to church each Sunday now.  Not Meme, Momma.   And that's the way it should be.  So when you ask the Lord to fix something for  you, be careful what you ask for because sometimes He does it in a way that isn't quite what you expected.

9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
10 - For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Is 55:8 KJV

Just Across the Road

When I drive along the driveway to the parking lot where I work, it is not unusual to see deer, sometimes alone or sometimes in a herd much like here.   I have noticed through the years, they seem to notice us (the humans) less and less almost to the point of ignoring us. As I drove by that day, I could see that the inquisitive ones looked up from their morning breakfast.  But I saw one who didn't even notice.  I think they tolerate us, trust us, and know they are not harmed here.  They have a comfortable sense of security.

 How could they not realize danger when it is so near?   Do they not know these are the same humans that scour the hills and hollows to hunt and kill them, we say in our superior attitude.  

Last week, I had to stop in the driveway at work and shoot a couple more pictures of the deer.  And yes, I was a little taken back at how close they had come to the humans.  They had moved from the fields and grass of the property to across the road in the more human area.  I wondered if they knew we were taking their pictures because it seemed unusual to see them so close to the buildings especially with all the cars parked in the parking lot.

Now we humans become a little puffed up at how much smarter we are than the deer that wander the fields, woods, the parking lots and yes even around the flag pole.

 But are we any better?  Do we sometimes woo ourselves into a false sense of security when calamity is around the corner?   Now, I am not someone who sees a demon in every bush, but the Lord says in Matt 10:16  "Behold , I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

Just remember the deer only crossed the road.