A Delightful Surprise . . .

There are few delights such as waking up in the morning and being surprised by a snow storm that started unexpectantly in the night. I enthusiastically sit back and watch snow fall from the heavens and cover the ground in white. God brings rest to the weary and says, "Slow down and see my glory."

I hope for a surprise snow storm like this every year. I catch my breath when it happens, and watch in awe.

I'm one of those few who are called by a different drum beat to live a slower pace. And it can be done. All it takes is priorities and contentment of heart that you have and do enough.

Yes, snow is hard to deal with for many, and it gets dirty and can cause distress, just like the sin in our lives. But God gives us the opportunity to see how our sins are covered "as white as snow" as mentioned in Psalm 51:7.

And as I write, my mind reminds me that just an hour ago, not knowing it was snowing, I read Psalm 51, my scheduled Psalm for this morning. Coincidence? Hardly.

Yes, I will bask in the delight and wonder of fresh fallen snow this morning, and give thanks to God for the beauty He gives to our land, and our hearts.

Once again, I reprint my poem "I Heard Snow" written in 2003 at 7 am one wintry morning.

I heard Snow . . .

"When I opened the back door I heard it,
Snow. I was amazed at the sound.
A whisper different from wind.
Yet, precise;
Snow falling from the heavens.
My heart rested and listened.
I couldn't keep away from my back door.
I heard snow falling,
and I thanked God."

In closing, Jerry came in after plowing snow with his new snow blower for two of our neighbors, and said: "That was fun!" I guess it's all in your perspective.

The Birth of a Chip

In the '90s during my article-writing season, I wrote about anything and everything. I was fortunate to have many articles published, but as with all writers, there were many more never published.

So it was with "The Birth of a Chip," an article written purely because of my extreme enjoyment of a potato chip . . . Utz potato chips, actually. Jerry and I visited the factory and an article developed.

Even an article about potato chips can be enjoyable. I will spare you the complete four page article. I hope you enjoy my shortened version!

"When my husband, Jerry, said, 'Let's visit the Utz's factory,' a flashback of all the reasons I married him ran through my mind as I clobbered him with a giant hug! Potato chips is my middle name. Jerry never knew what hit him.

"I don't recall when my love affair with potato chips began. I remember coming home after church services each Sunday, heading straight to the kitchen to fill a plate high with chips. They were my favorite snack. Plus, they took care of my growling stomach.

"All through my life, potato chips have been my friends. Diets didn't distract me--everything was off limits but the chips.

"I could scarely keep still in my seat as Jerry and I made the hour drive to the Utz factory in Hanover, Maryland. When we arrived at the plant, we glanced through some brochures provided by the company. One of the brochures began with the history of the first potato chip. I'll forever be grateful to Aunt Kate.

"There are four steps in making potato chips: potato selection, preparation, frying, and inspection and seasoning. It was all Jerry could do to hold me back from taking my place on the production line. Several attendants observe all the chips and pick out the dark ones. My hands would be going straight to the perfect ones!

"The most amazing thing I learned was the quickness of going from raw potatos to packaged and ready-for-delivery chips. From start to finish is barely 30 minutes. In one hour, 12,000 pounds of potato chips are produced.

"When the tour ended, Jerry and I drove to the outlet store a few blocks away. I had the pleasure of picking out a potato chip T-shirt.

"Satisfied, we drove home thinking about potato chips. 'You know, I've made potato chips before,' Jerry said. 'I bet we could make ourselves a few chips.' I filed that adventure away for another day.

"'Well, gotta go now. Dinner's about an hour away and old habits never die. It's chip time!'"

I sent my article to the President of the company for accuracy. I was rewarded with a special delivery to my home of a large can of chips!

This article was written in 1990, and 21 years later I still love chips. Utz's potato chips that is.

My Hall of Fame

At the end of one of the biographies I read in Warren Wiersbe's 50 People Every Christian Should Know, he said: "Martyn Lloyd-Jones and I were discussing . . . over dinner one evening . . ." Although I'm not familiar with Martin Lloyd-Jones, my home pastor quoted him often. I was thrilled at the thought of sitting with a great person of faith!

That got me thinking about the people I have known that were great believers in God, and influenced my life for Him. Let me share about some . . .


Elaine was an older women who took notice of a young co-worker in her mid 20s who was lost and needed help. She planted the seed that took me to church where I found Christ and was saved. "I think you'll find what you're looking for at church," were her words to me. She befriended me and walked through a number of years with me, good and bad. Although I attended an Episcopal church throughout my childhood, there was no Christian influence in my home. Elaine is my hero who directed me to the one that I now live for.

Robert Crowley was the pastor at my home church, Montrose. Under his leadership and guidance I grew and was nurtured in the Christian faith, and I credit him for the understanding and strength I have in my faith. I attended his class, "The Sermon on the Mount," which focused on that great passage in Matthew. It was a nine month class that changed my life. I also saw him as a father figure, as my Dad was an alcoholic. There was no communication in our home, and it was cold in affection and love.

I seem to be drawn to older women of great faith, and friends with godly wisdom. I believe in friendship, and I strive at being a good friend. In honor of my 55th birthday a number of yeares ago, I hosted a "Celebration of Friends" party where I honored 16 ladies for their friendship, friends going back as far as grade school.


Lee, Linda B., Carol, Jeanette, Kathy, Mary, Anne, Pam, Melody, Sandy, Holly, Diana, Barbara, Rachel, Paula, and Linda A. have all contributed to the good in my life through wisdom, inspiration, encouragement, laughter, knowledge, and many other ways.

I'm now sitting under another man of God, Michael Trammell. He stands tall in the pulpit and brings forth God's word in truth and with conviction. I feel drawn to him as I was Pastor Crowley. Good preaching and teaching are so important, and I know I will hear words that will inform, teach, inspire and encourage when he preaches.

I want to mention one more individual who is in my Hall of Fame. Her name is Alice, and was only an acquaintance. During an extremely difficult time in my life, Alice wrote me a note to encourage me. That note changed my life, and my ministry of notewriting to encourage began. The gifts God gave me were destined to be used to encourage the hearts of others. Thank you, Alice.

What about you? Who would be in your Hall of Fame? To quote C. S. Lewis, "Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire?"

I don't think so.

Reading Update . . .

Last fall I purchased this book by Warren Wiersbe. Over recent years I've discovered how meaningful and inspiring it is to read about those individuals that have shaped Christian history. Mr. Wiersbe said, "How much richer we would be if we would refuse the books of the hour and discover again the books of the ages." I like that.

The biographies start in the 1500s and take you up to individuals living in the 1900s. They are brief enough that you don't get bogged down with a lot of detail, yet long enough so you can appreciate the lives of each person. Mr. Wiersbe mentions books in each biography that have been written by the individual or someone who knew the individual. I've been keeping a list of the ones I thought might be interesting, but I probably won't have the time or money to read all the books, which most are out of print.


The first week of January I was in the production room at work making copies of a document. While waiting I was looking around and spotted it. Another great find! My friend, Roy Thomas, is a kindred spirit in reading, writing and photography. There lying on the desk was "The Quotable Lewis."



I'm a big fan of quotes and in my "Thoughtful" journals I record quotes I find interesting and inspiring. About the same time I purchased Wiersbe's book, I also purchased "The Soul of C. S. Lewis." I was having a hard time getting started because the depth of his writing seems to be a lot more deeper than my mind! After reading the first six pages, I stopped, went back to the beginning, grabbed a dictionary and started again, slower, much slower.

When I spotted "The Quotable Lewis" I thought it might help me as I struggled through "The Soul of C. S. Lewis." Roy walked into the room right after I'd found the book and I immediately said: "Please let me steal this for one week!" After a little grumbling, Roy agreed. It is now on my wish list.

I'm slowly getting through "The Soul of C. S. Lewis." It's causing a lot of thinking, and I'm hoping the time will be profitable for my walk with Christ. And I've returned "The Quotable Lewis" to Roy, after writing down a few quotes in my "Thoughtful" journal.

Of course, none of this reading has taken the place of God's word. How thankful I am that God opened my eyes so that I could glean His truth and find His gold nuggets in the Bible and other books inspired by Him. Yes, the stories of old provide encouragement to me along my walk in life. How thankful I am for writers!

To quote Mr. Wiersbe again, " . . . dig again the old wells and get acquainted with the godly leaders of the past who kept the light shining long before we were ever on the scene." (Genesis 26:18)

Another Year is Dawning . . .

Early New Year’s Day morning I spent some time with God, and the first song in the book “Amazing Grace” was written for the new year by Frances Ridley Havergal. “Another Year is Dawning” was a greeting Frances sent to her friends for the new year. It is a grand New Year’s prayer of consecration:

“Another year is dawning, Dear Father, let it be, in working or in waiting another year with Thee: another year of progress, another year of praise, another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

“Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace; another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face; another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast; another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

“Another year of service, of witness for Thy love; another year of training for holier work above; another year of dawning, Dear Father, let it be, on earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.”

Jerry and I were preparing our favorite New Year’s morning breakfast of sausage and gravy over biscuits. As Jerry was stirring the mixture, he said: “There is Christmas music; there should be New Year’s music.” I quietly stopped what I was doing, waltzed into the living room, picked up my book, and began singing . . . "Another year is dawning . . ." Oh, may my new years be dedicated to living for and serving God.

There's HOPE in the new year--God's hope . . . Jesus.