We recently went through a big move. Well, only 71 miles away from where I lived practically my whole life, but a big move to me. The whole process is big; physical, spiritual, and emotional; selling the house that I lived in a long time, getting rid of extra furniture, having a yard sale (I hate yard sales), searching for boxes (in dumpsters), wrapping, packing, and cleaning. Not to even mention, leaving family and close friends behind. And, all the questions...God, you did promise me that you would never leave or forsake me, didn't you? Well, it's been several weeks now since our move. Things are quiet and peaceful here. But, it still makes me tired when I think about it. Moving is a big deal! Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. We moved to a very small town. Probably only one gas/mini-grocery store here. To get to our house, you go down a little dirt road, a little over a third of a mile, so it's in the middle of the woods kinda. A creek runs around the back side of our property. There isn't much to do here, the usual outdoor stuff; hunt, fish, take a walk, watch your grand kids play baseball, go to church, go to the grocery store, and lie in my hammock (of course I remembered to bring it.) It's beautiful, peaceful, country. You know how when someone loves where they live they describe it as, "God's country." Well, this definitely is. One of the most magnificent sights though is star gazing at night. There isn't any city lights to contend with so all you see is a vast, dark night sky and the most spectacular display of stars, constellations, planets and the moon. The only way I could describe it, the first night I looked up was, it took my breath away. I can see why my daddy loved it so much in this area. He didn't have a fishing camp here, but when I was younger he came to this county a lot to stay with friends in their cabin. He was a real out-doors man and it was a chance for him to get out in the woods that he so loved. He loved hunting, fishing, cooking, and eating. He was a rather hefty man and loved his fried fish and hush puppies. He could cook them as well as anyone could in this part of the country. I'm sure they had their share of campfires and told fish tales and buck stories around it about the big one that got away. They probably even played a game or two of poker. Daddy never told me that much about it but because I knew him so well, I can just imagine.
My husband and I were sitting on our front porch the first night that we lived here. It was kinda funny. But, I was rocking and the rocking chair next to me was rocking by itself. I looked over at the chair and I looked back at my husband and I said something to the effect of, "Do we have a ghost?" The boards on our front porch had not been totally secured and they were moving every time I rocked. It felt very weird. He said jokingly, "Its your daddy rocking with you." Well, that didn't have the effect on me that he expected. I started to cry. No, I started to "boohoo." He said that he was so sorry and got up to come over and console me. Not so sure why it impacted me in that way. I responded to him, "I feel so close to my daddy here." Daddy has been gone for over 10 years. I think about him a lot. A whole lot! He was a big man with big personality and love for life, so it's impossible not to see him in everything I do. I can just hear him now, "Sammie Jean, what are you doing living in those woods?" My answer is, daddy I'm not so sure. But, the truth is...I'm really loving it. I think daddy and I have a whole lot in common.
sammie jean
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 23, 2017
Check out...mymorningmeanderings.blogspot.com
Just wanted to let you know I have started a new blog entitled, My Morning Meanderings at, mymorningmeanderings.blogspot.com. Hope you'll join me as I wonder down a "new path".
I will still be blogging on. "A Life Lying Down."
Grab a cup of coffee and join me 😉
Living Loved!
Sammie Jean
I will still be blogging on. "A Life Lying Down."
Grab a cup of coffee and join me 😉
Living Loved!
Sammie Jean
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
A YEAR BEHIND US...NEW PATH AHEAD
As I walk down my new path, a little dirt road, with leaves, pine straw and all types of animal tracks on it, around a pond, and into the woods, not sure where it leads completely. Kinda like 2017. But, as 2016 winds down my mind revs up and I think about the rain in the natural and in the spiritual, so thankful for God's goodness to us this year.
My husband's and my seventh year of marriage has been one of jubilee. God has smiled down on us with favor. Our land has been blessed with bounty. From jobs for our kids, health for our families, restoration of relationships, to the selling of our home and preparation for a new one...He has been very near.
God has begun restoring relationships. I am beginning to understand things that I haven't understood before about relationships in my family. When I say restore I don't mean to how it was before but how God wanted it to be from the beginning. As in Malachi's prophesy in the old testament, I will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the hearts of the children to their parents, I feel this is happening.
Three dear high school friends came back in my life this year. They were never very far away but sometimes when you're out of sight you're out of mind too. God lead us to a little cabin in Georgia to spend some time together. There he showed us how much he loved us and we once again realized how much we loved each other. All I can say about these women is that they are precious gems. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. And like all other gems, they have gone through a lot of fire to become the beautiful stones that they are. But, through it all, they radiate with the Love of God on
their faces. I found a quote from C. S. Lewis that I believe fits our friendship. You have not chosen
one another, but I have chosen you for one another. I love these women.
Months back, my husband and I, sat on our porch around a fire one night and talked about the future. It has now started to come to fruition. We sold our home only weeks after putting it on the market with the first person that looked at it. I remember telling my realtor the day that she came to look at the house that I really thought that it would sell fast, but I had no idea just how fast! When am I ever going to learn that God will do what He says He will do! I have felt for a while that God was telling me to "step out of the boat." When I made the first move, I saw He was serious. He made the next...He sold our house quickly. So, together we are going to do this. On a recent trip, I found a cute little plaque that I loved. It said "Less House, More Home." It really spoke to me. I can't say that I
totally understand it, but I'm ready to experience it. I'm pretty sure that He is going to teach us what it means cause were moving from a 1400 square foot house to a little camper. But, the wooded view is gorgeous!
All this brings me back to my front porch, sitting alone, approximately 10 years ago when I heard Holy Spirit. He spoke to me, "I will restore all that has been stolen from you by the enemy." Of
course, I immediately thought that would be money. All along, He had plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope, and a future. So much more than I could have ever dreamed of. He started with giving me a Godly husband. And gave my grandchildren a Godly grandfather. Then, things started falling into place. Today I realize that peace, love, joy and contentment had been stolen from me. These things money cannot buy!
I am an emotional person. I was raised with a lot of emotion. I am learning that emotion will fool
you, and cannot be trusted. I have relied on my emotion way too long. I am seeing that love and emotion are not always friends. So, what did God do? He brought me a man that is not as emotional as I am. He has lovingly told me the truth even when I didn't want to hear it. I am so thankful that God loved me and my family so much that he sent us this wonderful man.
I have begun to understand more about setting boundaries in my own life and the relationships around me. I have always cared way too much about what people thought of me. I am starting to understand that I only need acceptance from my Father God and my husband which He has given to me as a help-mate, and if I please anybody other than that then,"that's just icing on top of the cake." I've always heard that you teach other people how to treat you. I believe it. It's kinda like "say what you mean and mean what you say." A life of integrity. The more I care about myself then the more I will care about how others treat me. The more I care about myself then the more I will care how I treat others. Now I understand why that rule is "golden."
I pray that my daughter and granddaughter see what a "pearl of great price" that they are. I pray that they understand God's love for them. That they are made in His image and beautiful in His sight. The only man that is good enough for them is the man that is sent from Him to them.
I am thankful for my church family. I appreciate all the years that they have stood with me. Through all the ups and downs in life. Through times of misunderstandings and times of great joy, they have been there. During a youth service, New Years Eve, at our church, I stood on the back row and watched the youth, and young adults take their places whether it be in dance, song, word, or worship. I couldn't help but just smile (with a little pride) and say "thank you Father." This is the beginning of the latter day rain that we have prayed for. This rain will bring forth all the seeds planted on good soil. What a beautiful harvest it will be.
I'm so thankful for the rain (in the physical and spiritual.) The drought is over. This new path that I am on is not familiar.. I am "stepping out of the boat." I trust in Him. He has never failed me.
God Has New For You (and me) in 2017! Let's do this!
Sammie Jean
My husband's and my seventh year of marriage has been one of jubilee. God has smiled down on us with favor. Our land has been blessed with bounty. From jobs for our kids, health for our families, restoration of relationships, to the selling of our home and preparation for a new one...He has been very near.
God has begun restoring relationships. I am beginning to understand things that I haven't understood before about relationships in my family. When I say restore I don't mean to how it was before but how God wanted it to be from the beginning. As in Malachi's prophesy in the old testament, I will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the hearts of the children to their parents, I feel this is happening.
Three dear high school friends came back in my life this year. They were never very far away but sometimes when you're out of sight you're out of mind too. God lead us to a little cabin in Georgia to spend some time together. There he showed us how much he loved us and we once again realized how much we loved each other. All I can say about these women is that they are precious gems. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. And like all other gems, they have gone through a lot of fire to become the beautiful stones that they are. But, through it all, they radiate with the Love of God on
their faces. I found a quote from C. S. Lewis that I believe fits our friendship. You have not chosen
one another, but I have chosen you for one another. I love these women.
Months back, my husband and I, sat on our porch around a fire one night and talked about the future. It has now started to come to fruition. We sold our home only weeks after putting it on the market with the first person that looked at it. I remember telling my realtor the day that she came to look at the house that I really thought that it would sell fast, but I had no idea just how fast! When am I ever going to learn that God will do what He says He will do! I have felt for a while that God was telling me to "step out of the boat." When I made the first move, I saw He was serious. He made the next...He sold our house quickly. So, together we are going to do this. On a recent trip, I found a cute little plaque that I loved. It said "Less House, More Home." It really spoke to me. I can't say that I
totally understand it, but I'm ready to experience it. I'm pretty sure that He is going to teach us what it means cause were moving from a 1400 square foot house to a little camper. But, the wooded view is gorgeous!
All this brings me back to my front porch, sitting alone, approximately 10 years ago when I heard Holy Spirit. He spoke to me, "I will restore all that has been stolen from you by the enemy." Of
course, I immediately thought that would be money. All along, He had plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope, and a future. So much more than I could have ever dreamed of. He started with giving me a Godly husband. And gave my grandchildren a Godly grandfather. Then, things started falling into place. Today I realize that peace, love, joy and contentment had been stolen from me. These things money cannot buy!
I am an emotional person. I was raised with a lot of emotion. I am learning that emotion will fool
you, and cannot be trusted. I have relied on my emotion way too long. I am seeing that love and emotion are not always friends. So, what did God do? He brought me a man that is not as emotional as I am. He has lovingly told me the truth even when I didn't want to hear it. I am so thankful that God loved me and my family so much that he sent us this wonderful man.
I have begun to understand more about setting boundaries in my own life and the relationships around me. I have always cared way too much about what people thought of me. I am starting to understand that I only need acceptance from my Father God and my husband which He has given to me as a help-mate, and if I please anybody other than that then,"that's just icing on top of the cake." I've always heard that you teach other people how to treat you. I believe it. It's kinda like "say what you mean and mean what you say." A life of integrity. The more I care about myself then the more I will care about how others treat me. The more I care about myself then the more I will care how I treat others. Now I understand why that rule is "golden."
I pray that my daughter and granddaughter see what a "pearl of great price" that they are. I pray that they understand God's love for them. That they are made in His image and beautiful in His sight. The only man that is good enough for them is the man that is sent from Him to them.
I am thankful for my church family. I appreciate all the years that they have stood with me. Through all the ups and downs in life. Through times of misunderstandings and times of great joy, they have been there. During a youth service, New Years Eve, at our church, I stood on the back row and watched the youth, and young adults take their places whether it be in dance, song, word, or worship. I couldn't help but just smile (with a little pride) and say "thank you Father." This is the beginning of the latter day rain that we have prayed for. This rain will bring forth all the seeds planted on good soil. What a beautiful harvest it will be.
I'm so thankful for the rain (in the physical and spiritual.) The drought is over. This new path that I am on is not familiar.. I am "stepping out of the boat." I trust in Him. He has never failed me.
God Has New For You (and me) in 2017! Let's do this!
Sammie Jean
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