On The Sunny Side of the Street

Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street.

Can't you hear a pitter-pat
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street.

I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But now I'm not afraid
This rover crossed over.

If I'd never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Going to set my feet
On the sunny side of the street.

Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street.

This is an old song written in 1930.  I can remember listening to Billie Holiday and also Louis Armstrong singing this song.  I love songs from the 1930's and 1940's.

I do want you to know, though, that I am not that old. Not yet anyway.

Yesterday I was ready to move to the sunny side of the street. On my side of the street, there was no sunshine. We had an ice accumulation the night before and it wouldn't melt. I started to venture out, but I could not even make it to my car. My feet were doing a slip and slide on my sidewalk.  I think I invented a new dance.

It's not that I wasn't adventurous enough, it's just that my bones have gotten a little older and I sure don't want any broken ones.

I had no rock salt, but I did have a box of kosher salt. I wasn't for sure how well kosher salt would work, but finally this morning the ice was crunchy enough to walk on. Yesterday it was like glass. When I saw the little boy next door slide and fall face first, I thought I really don't need to get out. 

This morning I was determined to get out. I was out of cokes! It was an emergency. I can do without a lot of things, but not my soft drinks with lots of caffeine.

But I do love the words to this song. "Leave your worry on your doorstep and just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street."

 Sometimes when things seem hard, I'll sing this song just to lift my spirits. 
There is always  a sunny side to be found.

A Widow's Valentine Day

This is my third Valentine without my husband.

Part of me wants to just sit here all day and feel completely sorry for myself. But that's no fun! So I decided to be thankful for all the love I have had and still have.

Valentine's day is more than the love of a husband and a wife. There are so many different kinds of love in this world. It's the love that we have for one another. It's the love we have for our family and for our friends.

I'm so thankful that I have known the love of a husband. We shared a lot of valentines together. I still have every valentine card that Jerry ever gave to me and a lot of wonderful memories.

 

But I still have so much love in my life. The love of my family and of friends. Especially the love of God.

 

 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

So I went for a walk today for a couple of hours and now I'm going to fix me a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup and watch Hallmark Valentine movies, because Valentine's Day is still a wonderful day that I enjoy.

 

 

Tune My Heart To Sing Thy Grace

One of my favorite hymns is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

It was written by Pastor Robert Robinson in the 18th Century. It's a hymn about divine grace. The grace that comes from an all loving God.

Through trials here on earth God tunes our hearts so we can know the wonderful grace and blessings that He has for us.

The lyrics to the song comes from I Samuel 7.

I Samuel 7:12 

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

Israel was coming up against the Philistines and the people asked Samuel to pray.

Samuel told the people of Israel if they would put away their false gods and prepare their hearts unto the Lord and serve Him only, He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

So Israel tuned their hearts and did what Samuel said. Then Samuel cried unto the Lord and the Lord gave Israel victory over the Philistines.

May we tune our hearts to the wishes of the Lord so we can know of God's wonderful GRACE.

INTRODUCING: Laythan Neal Rice

 

Aren't babies a wonderful way to start a person.

So sweet, so innocent, a blessing sent down from heaven.

I already felt love for him, even when he was forming and before I knew his name. Then when I saw that tiny little bundle which cries out for me to touch him and hold him, another part of my heart belongs to another wonderful grandchild - Laythan Neal Rice.

Neal, Amy, and Laythan

Grandparents Tommy & Teresa Cobb

Aunt Lisa

Mema

Neal, Amy, Kyla, Hayden, Brylee, and Laythan

Johann Sebastian Bach

I was reading an article about Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer and musician. In the 17th and 18th century he wrote several 100 pieces, many of which were used to glorify God.

At the beginning of his manuscripts were the letters "JJ" and at the end of his manuscripts were the letters "SDG."

The letters that Bach wrote at the beginning and end of his music are prayers in Latin. JJ is an abbreviation for “Jesu Juva,” which translated into English means, “Jesus, help me.” At the beginning of every work, Bach beseeches the Lord to guide him. The SDG at the end of his music stands for “Soli Deo Gloria.” Here Bach prays that each piece of music will humbly proclaim “To God Alone the Glory.”

 

I was thinking that would be a good way to start each day with a prayer to Jesus asking for His help and guidance throughout the day and in everything that we do.

And when our day has ended, to give our God the glory  and thank Him for His greatness and the salvation that He has given us.

A New Year!

What kind of surprises are in store for this brand new year of 2015. I think I'm glad that we can't see the future.  If we could we might pull the covers over our heads and not get out of bed the whole year. Or we could be full of excitement for a brand new adventure of what God has in store for us this year.

One thing for sure GOD IS IN CONTROL.

 

I love the words to the song, "I Don't Know About Tomorrow"

 

I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
And I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray

And I don't worry about my future
For I know what Jesus said
And today He walks beside me
For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

I pray that in 2015 I'll keep trusting my God to walk beside me and lead me. He's the One that holds my tomorrow.

Falling Behind Already!

2015 has started and I think I'm still in 2014.

My Christmas tree still stands by the fireplace with all of its ornaments. I could pretend that I'm German. They don't take their trees down until January 6. Problem is it's January 8.  Also, I'm still unpacking from my trip.

I don't think I'm ready for 2015. There are still things in 2014 that I wanted to accomplish. I guess I'll just have to move them to 2015.

2014 was a great year full of wonderful blessings shared with family and friends. And the holidays were the greatest. I was able to see all of my family and spend time with my sons and their families and with my Dad.

I'm excited about 2015. I'm going to be a grandmother again. I can't wait to hold that new little grandson.

Please pray for Neal and Amy. Amy has had a rough time with this pregnancy.

My 2014 Christmas Album:

Brylee, Hayden, and Kyla

Decorating Christmas Cookies

Steve, Olivia, Jennifer (Jerry's sister), and Aleise

Gavin, Mark, Alexis, Maria, and Me

Alexis, Mark, Maria, and Gavin

Mark and Scott

Me with My Dad and Scott and Lisa

Janine, Norman, and Jennifer (Jerry's brother and sisters)

Janine, Julie, Norman, Steve, Me, and Jennifer

Lisa, Scott, Jackie, and Aaron at Skyline Chili celebrating Evan's Birthday

Ethan, Aaron, Evan, Emma, Jackie, and Elena

My Grandson, Greg

Scott and Greg