Grandma's Gleanings
Words and Thoughts from Grandma
I admit it, I’m a landscaping junkie. All rehab and recovery attempts have failed, it’s hopeless, I’m addicted to fussing with the appearance of our yard. When we moved into our home nearly forty years ago, the property was void of any decent landscaping, and that would never do! I set my heart on the …
This was one of my favorite desserts as a kid. My sister, who is eight years my elder, made one of the meanest angel food cakes on the planet. By meanest, I mean YUM! Awesome! The best! Mouth-watering! She prepared it from scratch, adding canned fruit cocktail before baking, and the result was a light, …
Parting with someone you love is never easy. Grief is a powerful emotion, capable of swallowing us if we are not rooted in the grace of God. When the loss was sudden and unexpected, the impact can be even more severe. I’ve traveled to the depths of grief and I know the terrain well. …
The Great Depression was one of the darkest periods in American history. I still recall stories from my mom, stories of how tough life was during that desperate era, stories of how folks were barely surviving, working whatever jobs they could find to provide for their family. This world-wide economic disaster took place in …
Sometimes, if we are not cautious, we can try do the right thing the wrong way, independent of God’s direction. Today in my personal Bible reading, I read such a story, an intriguing, yet tragic, story of good intentions gone awry. Sit back and learn a timely life’s lesson from this sad story recorded for us …
What is going on in that car in front of us? First he hugs the center line, crosses over into the oncoming lane, then he corrects himself and skirts over to the edge of the road. Whoa, there he goes again! This weaving is giving me motion sickness. The speed is also spastic, slowing …
I love celebrating Father’s Day, especially due to the fact that I am privileged to be married to one of the world’s best daddies. God has certainly blessed our home by giving us this faithful man. He has fathered five biological children: one precious little one taken to Heaven before birth, one beautiful daughter resting in the arms of Jesus after succumbing to a serious illness …
Discipline can be difficult to enforce on a consistent basis.. I dreaded when my children had purposely transgressed our instruction and had to bear the punishment for their wrongdoing. Standing outside the bedroom door listening to their father administer correction was difficult and heart-breaking for me, but needful. The fruits their daddy’s discipline, as …
I do not have much memory of my earthly dad, sadly only bits and pieces of shared moments remain. He lost a long and nasty battle with cancer early in his life, so our relationship was unfortunately cut short while I was still a young child. As a result, my memories of him are, at best, sparse. I am …
When my children were younger, birthdays were crazy days in our home when the children were toddlers. The gifts, the sugar rush from way too many sweets, disrupted nap schedules, and the grandparent/family visits always resulted in hyperactive, overtired, somewhat cranky kiddos. The day generally featured at least one total meltdown, either by an overstimulated birthday child, …
When I was a young child, laundry day was quite a different experience than it is today. My mother did not own an electric dryer for much of my childhood. Clothes were hung out on the line to dry, or in the basement if the weather was not conducive to outside drying. Mom would …
As I sit on our deck today spending some time with God, I can’t help but be distracted by the noise around me. It is the year of the cicada; it sounds more like the year of the alien invasion! This amazing creature has a seventeen-year life cycle. While underground, the nymphs grow and develop, …
Two of my grandboys stopped by for a visit today, affording their mom and dad an opportunity to enjoy a much-needed date day. While the little one and Pap Pap were cuddling and napping in our large, comfy recliner, Zach and I decided use the wooden train track (while incorporating just about every other toy at Grandma’s house) …
I look forward Sunday mornings with great anticipation. I love getting up early, dressing in my best duds, traveling to church, worshipping my awesome God, and fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. I even make an exerted effort to curl my thin, bodiless hair. While curling today, I made a perfect finger curl. WOW, IT WAS PERFECT! If …
It’s grass cutting day! Oh, yay (she exclaimed with sarcasm dripping from her voice). When I was younger, I loved this chore; I loved grooming the yard, I enjoyed the accomplishment of a job well-one. Hours were spent carefully manicuring the hedges and trim. But now that I am officially a senior citizen and just about everything on this well-worn vessel …