To everything there is a season

My ability to post more than two pictures is about to be tested. Having said that, I would like to share my favorite verse from Ecclesiastes along with some pictures of my family and seasons. I have a photo of this verse hanging in my bedroom. May you embrace all of your seasons!

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8


Grandma and Grandpa Atkinson, thank you for our family!



Mom, thank you for me!




Thank you for my sisters. (Bet you can't tell which one is me, ha ha!)



My wedding day, wishing there was a season that would take me back to this weight! Thank you God for this day!



My son, Chris, grandson, Matthew. Thank you God for both of them!

My daughter, Sara, granddaughter, Taylor. I thank you God for both of these angels!



Of course, I can't leave out my dog family. Lucy, our chocolate lab, is four now, but I just love thjs puppy picture of her! Thank you, God, for Lucy!



Maggie Mae, my 2 1/2 year old Golden Retriever. Thank you, God, for Maggie Mae!

On the Hunt for Stone Crab Claws

So we arrive in South Florida to visit our son and immediately start making plans to find the "crab claw" truck that we discovered last year upon our departure from a visit to the Everglades. Couldn't remember the name, but discovered the business online (what would we do without the web anymore?) and made plans to travel south the next morning to Boca Raton. That location seemed to be the closest to where we were in DelRay Beach. Now, get this, going south is a big deal, because that means you're getting into Ft. Lauderdale/Miami traffic, heaven forbid! So we played it safe and took the A1A which is the beach highway and much more scenic. As it turns out, the distance was only 7 or 8 miles and we found the truck nestled in a very small farmers market in a very trendy shopping center. I had found their booth and purchased that wonderful food from the sea before my husband had a chance to find a place to park!

So we journeyed back to DelRay Beach with our food on ice, looking forward to the feast that lay ahead. Just as we were driving down the main street in DelRay (how many Atlantic Avenues there must be in Florida!) I happened to look to my right down the side street that was holding the DelRay Farmers Market. And there, about two blocks down, was a very large sign that said STONE CRAB CLAWS FOR SALE. So, for all our angst about finding the beloved truck that held our cherished food from the sea, it was right under our noses, just a few blocks from our son's home!

The joke was on us, but we had a lovely drive down the coast through some of the most beautifully lush landscapes we had ever seen in Florida.

magic

it all goes so fast
too fast
most of the time
before i know it
another brief year
has come and gone

i find myself
talking about health issues
when it was
just the other day
all of us
then young adults
were discussing
babies getting teeth
little pieces of
emerging enamel
clinking on
tiny spoons on
mother's day
our joy
we thought
complete

now those babies
have babies
and they have
their teeth
in fact they are losing them

"grandma, grandma,"
she said at 3:30 in the morning
"grandma, it came out!"
with that she handed me
the front tooth that
had wiggled for days

and here she was the poster child
for that song we sang as children
"all i want for christmas
is my two front teeth
my two front teeth
my two front teeth
so i can wish you a
merry chrithmas"

how lucky am i
granddaughter waking me
with such grand news

she rolls over
and goes back to sleep
while i search
in the dark
for my wallet
so the tooth fairy
in whom she fervently believes
can place that reward
under her pillow
to be found
at first light

next morning
she proudly shows off
that wide vacant space
in her sweet big smile
and waves her
three dollars in the
holiday air

the price of being
a good tooth fairy
has gone up
since i was a child
50 cents was
the going rate
perhaps the fairy
is in the banking business
these days

it all goes so fast
too fast for me
at times
but time brings
its very special gifts
gifts like seven year old
granddaughters
awaking adoring grandmothers
in the night
to the adventure of
another lost tooth
and with the
wand of her believing
turns her aging grandmother
into a sprite
a tinker bell
an ephemeral fairy
with delicate strong wings . . .

christie smith stephens
for emma anne
and her glorious smile
1/5/2012

Reflections...

Traveling for two days...road weary.  Sometimes I get tired thinking about another trip… then I have a burst of excitement thinking about sharing time with loved ones.  I had a lovely visit with family and friends. Then I had a moment to reflect…on friends that have a blog connection…

My favorites

•       Christie’s  ~ A few of my favorite poems …friends, yearning, prayer song, turtle, jara, decoration, responsibility…and more
•       Ruth Anne ~ Travels from Key West, Dahlias, Still Around, Home, Anniversary …
•       Mary Beth ~ In Praise of Teachers and Granddaughter  ~
•        Dama ~ Friends, Courage, Living for a Cause, Honoring a Living Legend –
•         Charlene ~ Thank you for your continued friendship and prayers
•          Lisa ~ Thank you for your gift of hospitality and friendship

A special prayer to Mary Beth, May the God of all Comfort continue to give you peace. Remembering your son, Chris.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tea

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." Henry James

Wordless Wednesday