Under His Wings

I recently came across this writing on my phone this week. I thought it was appropriate given the fact that Central Baptist Christian Academy is in the midst of celebrating its 50th anniversary. I had the pleasure of attending there from 1975-84. This is a bit edited from the original to bring it up to date. Even at the age of 5, I was over cautious .  The first day of kindergarten was no different.   After the short ride to the elementary school on bus 55, My bus driver, Mrs. Darling announced "All the kindergarteners stay on the bus to g o Port Crane Elementary." That was the instruction for the public school kids.  I was supposed to get off the bus to go to my school, Central Baptist Christian Academy.    Thankfully, Mrs. Darling realized my mistake in time for me to meet my correct bus .  Then when I got to school, my teacher informed me I brought the wrong glue .  She wanted me to have the stick kind with the stick in the middle.  ...

It's been over 3 years since I last wrote in this blog.  It's not that not because the lack of activity in my life.  I've been focusing my writing to short stories.  My friends in my writer's group I've been in since October of 2015, have encouraged me to do so.   However, after a new online friend reminded me of blogs, I decided it was time to get back to writing here on a more regular basis. It's been a very stressful few months.  It's been one crisis after another.  I've been trying to see God's hand in things.  It's been hard to ignore, but it's still hard to be honest!!! I'll back up what I realized today is nearly six months ago.  I was in the midst of a very stressful overwhelming time at the job I absolutely loved, yet signs showed that it was time to consider leaving.  I didn't have the heart to leave the residents I had come to love serving them meals for the past six years.  I worked at the independent senior community as...

On Monday when I posted about the anniversary of Tim and my first date, someone asked me to share my love story. I've shared bits and pieces here in the blog, but looking back I realized I did not post the whole thing. So here it goes. Tim and my story actually goes back to February of 1990.  I was in a combined English class with a lady named Nancy Gardiner.  She must have mentioned her large family (6 siblings). What she didn't mention was her inkling that her baby brother, Tim and I would make a good match.   It was not God's timing to happen then. He was still in Hornell. I was in Binghamton. I was finishing up my time at Broome Community College about to transfer to SUNY Cortland.   A year later, Tim would move to Elmira.  I moved there in October of 1996. I started attending Maple Avenue Baptist Church the first Sunday I was in town.  God led me there I believe. The timing was near for Tim and I to be together.  Fast forward to Januar...

I have always loved the song The Longer I Serve Him by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  It's one of my top 5 songs of all time. I watched the new Gaither Homecoming video today premiered on You Tube called The Longer I Serve Him.  On the video the title song sung by Jeannie Johnson, touched my heart like no other time I've heard it. "Every need He is supplying Plenteous grace He bestows Every day my way gets brighter The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows" As some of you know, I've had a lifetime of sinus/respiratory issues. The sinus issues have been progressively worse in the past few years but they got really bad in July. I was about to give up with trying to get help for them, but in December, God provided a doctor who took the time to scope my sinuses and throat and found 3 major issues.  Now, I have to admit that septum surgery does scare me as I heard it's one of the most painful surgeries. I bet all my abdominal surgeries pales in comparison. Howe...

It's been months since I've updated this blog.  I've been concentrating more on writing short stories the past few months.  That is my first love of writing.  My first short story was a book I made in 5th grade.  I still have it somewhere.  I'll have to find it. Anyway, I got to thinking on my way home yesterday from a work meeting about this time of year.  I have so much to be thankful for!!!  Then I remembered this blog, a place where I can express my appreciation for all God has done for me. Here's my list for 2019... I'm thankful I still have both of my parents.  I'm on the verge of turning 50...yikes LOL!  A few of my friends have lost one or both of their parents recently.  My Dad is turning 80 in May.  My Mom is 73.  I know my time with them is short.  They are such a loving support to me.  I'm so blessed to have them.  I'm also thankful that in the coming week I have the opportunity to see them a few t...

 what a mess! photo courtesy of Joan Cerio.  She edited the picture to take out the license plate number.  She has been a great help and comfort through this whole situation!!  Thanks so much Joan!! What was planned to be a quiet afternoon of tea and writing, turned out to be an afternoon of stress!  As my dear friend Joan prepared a yummy snack of oranges and tea water (both ended up untouched) we both heard a crash.   Given there was cold and snow in the air, I thought it was a city plow/salt truck.  Joan looked out the window to find the back end of my practically new (June 2017) Nissan Sentra smashed and the truck that hit it damaged in her neighbor's yard. "What happened?"  I exclaimed to the driver, who was very apologetic.  He claimed it was his driver assist feature gone wrong.  A pure accident!   I called Tim and he quickly came to the rescue to help me with phone calls to the police, the car d...

As a 48 year old woman, never did I expect to receive news not only once...but three times within a few months that a childhood friend died. All three friends were in their late forties....within a year or so of me. Two of the three friends died of heart attacks. The latest friend was sick at least for a short while. Beth died in December.  She was part of what I call the Lunch Bunch.  We and 4-5 others ate together all four years of high school.  What fun we had!  At her memorial service I was reunited with most of the group.  We said we need to get together under better circumstances.  I'm hoping we can before our official high school reunion in October. Tonia who died very suddenly in February, lived the next street over from me.  I hung out at her house a lot!  We went to church together sometimes too.  She was briefly part of the Lunch Bunch later in high school. Carol Ann just died on March 30. She lived a few blocks from me....