His love...

       And then there it was. A little red cabin. Hidden from others to find. A diamond in the rough. Way back in the woods in the Carolina mountains 🌄  A dream of ours. One morning I got on the computer, months ago, as I so often do to blog. The first thing that popped up on the screen in front of me was a cabin in North Carolina on Red Bird Road. My husband and I had been searching the real estate market for almost a year.  I looked through the house; fireplace ✔, front porch ✔, rustic looking ✔, on an acre of land ✔; I remember getting a little excited about it; "it was a good find." Thought about it most of the summer. Finally, in August a home came open to rent at a reasonable rate and it was possible for us to go to North Carolina for three weeks. While there, we planned on looking at homes that we had found that were interesting enough. In preparation to go, we made a list of homes we wanted to see. The cabin on Red Bird Road continued to be at the top of our list. Our first week there, we went with a realtor for three days, looking at approximately 12 homes in the Franklin, North Carolina area. We really liked that little town. However, none of the homes had that "wow" factor or I should say none of them spoke to our hearts. We agreed ahead of time that it would happen to both of us when we saw the one we were suppose to have. It wasn't until 13 days later that we were able to finally see the cabin on Red Bird Road in Hayesville. To get to the cabin, your first turn is on Vineyard Road. I absolutely love that for so many reasons. When I lived alone with my son for almost 11 years before I remarried, I decorated our home in grapes and grapevine paraphernalia. I had a large mural on the wall in the living room; an old wine press; wine bottles, grapes,...all symbolic of God's presence in our lives.  I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me, spoke to my heart in a very special way during those years; for Him abiding in me and me abiding in Him became the most important thing to me. As we turned down Vineyard Road, I teared up as Holy Spirit reminded me of what He had done in my life, some 19 years ago. We continued down a country road, winding and turning, around curves and up hills, vineyards along the way, cows in the pasture at the foothills of the mountains. So picturesque. And then there it was. Red Bird Road. A little red cabin. What symbolism for us. I wish I just knew how many times we sat on our back porch in Chipley and watched the red birds as they flew in to eat from our back yard feeder. Our grandchildren even took pictures of them to enter in the local youth fair and won first place for their photography. They were the most brilliant red I have ever seen. We were very fond of them...to say the least. Walking around the property, we found an old cement picnic table; laden with moss. Thought it was a little strange but didn't think too much about it.  It was just like the one across the road from my house at the wayside park near the creek growing up. I can't tell you how many times I have eaten on a cement picnic table just like that one; birthday parties, cheer leading parties, class parties, reunions. It was the go-to place for all our get together events from childhood all the way through high school. We were so excited about the cabin that we invited dear friends to come to look at it with us. Looking closely, we started putting two and two together; we discovered that it must had been a camp ground many years ago. The land was still terraced and rocks strategically placed in certain areas.Someone had labored long and hard to create this scene. I could envision mothers and daddy's playing with their children and could almost hear the children laughing as they played chase around the campsite. What sweet memories they must have made there. I think that it's the neatest thing that God wants us to have this piece of property. He saved it just for us; for over four years this couple has had it for sale off and on. No buyers. How awesome to me that God so intricately wove threads of our past together just to remind us of how much He loves us. How much He has always loved us. Oh my 💓 Couldn't help but think about the beautiful star of Bethlehem that God placed in the heavens the night of Jesus' birth.✦ A sign of His love for all mankind to see. Of course, the symbolism on this property dulls in comparison to the birth of the greatest gift I will ever know.  But, in our personal life, He once again let us know...that the "small stuff " matters to Him 🐦

thank you for loving us
sammie jean

Picture taken by our grandson in our backyard in Chipley, Florida.