She Had Beautiful Feet

She had beautiful feet.

Her lot in life was simple.
She embraced it, gave it all she had.
A farm wife who never had a real "job",
who never earned any money of her own,
who never had a "girls' night out" or a manicure.

Her house was unadorned, basic furnishings made by her man.
Her floors, always clean, were covered with the cheap linoleum that drummers brought once a year.
Her house was filled with laughter, comfort, quiet.
One always felt welcome entering there, gratified.

Ratty-haired little children who came to her house were offered
Kool-aid, cookies and kindness.
She told them about the Lord, that He loved them,
that they were important to Him, yes, even barefoot girls.
She said He had plans for them.

Some of the seeds she sowed fell away, lost, never recovered.
Others struggled, feeling too small before a big God.
Some fell in love with the Lord and served Him with all their heart,
reproducing from the seed she had sown while rocking on her front porch, a cardboard fan fighting the summer heat, her heart open.

No make-up, her gray hair always in a bun, a tad overweight.
She wouldn't have impressed with her physical beauty.
As she aged, her legs and feet became riddled with blue and red;
varicose veins that distorted and weakened.
She couldn't always wear her shoes.

She had beautiful feet.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10: 13-14

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Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

Holy Smoke Pie

I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie. It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house. After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there. I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then. I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important. It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things. We call it Holy Smoke. Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan. It helps to use your hands (or hand, if you have t

Cedar Trees in Cemeteries

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