Advice on an Anniversary

Jack's funeral was six years ago today.

It was so perfect.

Everything about it--just perfect.

Terri had prepared the most wonderful slide show.

It featured every aspect of Jack's life.

Dr. Gary Smith, who was Jack's friend as well as

his pastor, spoke the perfect words.

Susan and Rob sang beautifully.

Terri honored Jack with a touching eulogy.

And Jay read "Jack's Psalm."

Psalm 112.

I wouldn't change a thing--about the funeral.

So what would I change?

I would have told him all those things we admired

about him earlier and more often!

I found that Psalm while sitting by his bedside

in the last week of his life.

I wish I had found it while he was

still working so hard to provide a comfortable

life for us.

I think he would have been surprised and pleased

that I thought he had influence and honor.

That his good deeds would never be forgotten.

And he would have gotten such a laugh over Rob's

comment about the last verse:

Evil-minded men will be infuriated when they

see all this; they will gnash their teeth in

anger and slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Rob said this could represent their competitors,

suggesting some of the better known ones by name

(just among us!)

Oh, yes.  Jack would have loved that.

Love somebody?

Don't just tell them so.  Tell them why.

Tell them now.  Before it's too late.

Maybe that's out of your comfort zone--or theirs.

Do it anyway.

When darkness overtakes him, light will come

bursting in.

He is kind and merciful--and all goes well

for the generous man who conducts his

business fairly.

Psalm 112

The Living Bible Translation 

My Preacher Story

I should probably call it a "sermon illustration,"

but my favorite pastors readily refer to theirs as titled!

(I think...I hope)

Since I am first and foremost a Christian traveling

through this life in my temporary home,

I often find deeper meanings
 in daily things that happen to me.

For example...today.

If you have read my blog for very long,

you probably know I am really crazy about my

bathtub!!!
It is a Bain Ultra Bubble Tub.
Instead of jacuzzi jets, it has many holes
all the way around for more air circulation.

We got the tub in 2005 when we

remodeled our bathroom.

Today, a mere 11 years later, I found the directions

for operating the features of the tub.

I discovered that I had only been taking

advantage of a minimum range of its capabilities.

The strength of the jets can be turned up

drastically, and they actually heat.
Surprise, surprise!

So how did I apply that to my life? 

Well, I have an instruction book which tells me

how to"operate" my day to day living.

It is called, of course, the Bible.

(A lady I've been in Bible Study Fellowship with
 frequently makes memorable acronyms for us.
 "Bible" is
"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.")


How often do I plug along with pride,
more or less satisfied
 with what I manage to accomplish on my own?
The Bible is not only full of helpful instructions,
it is full of invaluable promises,
there for the claiming.


So while my bubble tub has been very nice,
for 11 years it could have been so much better
had I just read the directions from the maker.


And while I am secure in the knowledge that I,
Linda Jane Lynn Stovall,
am on the road to heaven, that road could have
been and still can be smoother
and more rewarding if I immerse myself
in God's instruction manual.
That, ironically, was my prayer request
for myself this week in BSF.


"Your words are a flashlight to light the path 
ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling."


Psalm 119:105
The Living Bible

Get Out Your Bucket List!

I've got an addition you need to make to it!
It's not only in the good ol' US of A, it's
within driving distance of most of you!


Susan had a great idea that she and I needed
to go on a mother/daughter trip.
You know me--I'm always ready to travel!

Except...she suggested Branson, Missouri!
I said, "I don't want to go to Branson."
I've never been (and neither had she), but
I nixed the idea.
Then she told me about Moses, a spectacular
portrayal of the Biblical story.
Okay, I love Moses.
I've stood on ground where Moses stood.
I'm changin' my mind.


Her idea was that we make it a road trip,
since it is just a little over a 7 hour drive.
No flying hassle!
Okay again.  In fact,

"Yay!!!"


Susan called a friend and asked for hotel suggestions.
She suggested Big Cedar Lodge, which is
about 10 miles south of Branson proper.
Well.  I've been a lot of beautiful places--
The Greenbrier in W. Virginia, Mackinaw Island,
Jekyll Island, but...
Big Cedar is the most special of all in many ways.
It is unbelievable to have something so
fabulous tucked away only 7 hours from here.
And I had never heard of it in my long life.


The property is huge.
Finding our way around was daunting at first,
but once we got settled in we were
shuttled from place to place in one of these.

We stayed in The Falls Lodge.
This is the reception area!

 And this is the view from our room balcony!

That's a large lake in the background.
There are all sorts of water activities--
fishing, boating, water skiing, etc.


Our first activity was to take a golf cart ride
around the premises.

I thought this picture was pretty neat!

The waterfall with our shadow!

But here we are for real!

There was a lovely paved trail to travel on.
There are several picturesque covered bridges--

Waterfalls galore--

and a cave to pass through!

 (The sign says "Welcome to Lost Canyon Cave.")

Our first meal was at Devil's Pool Restaurant.
We were seated right by the fireplace!

I went totally crazy and ordered this:

That is heavenly smoked brisket with their special
barbecue sauce,
fancy mac and cheese (which I never allow myself), 
and coleslaw.
I took most of it back to our refrigerator...
where it remained when we left.



We had a mother/daughter package which included
breakfast, a spa treatment each, and the golf cart tour!
Breakfast was a mahvelous huge buffet.
We had massages which were great!


And then there was Moses.
We had no idea what was in store for us!
Here is the Sight and Sound Theatre:

I LOVE THIS!!!!!
I have a similar lion and lamb on my hearth.


Inside...

The study of Moses was my very first in
Bible Study Fellowship back in 2000.
I have especially loved Moses ever since!


The theatre is much larger than it appears here.

Our performance was completely sold out...
so much so that Susan and I didn't get to sit together.
For the first half I was here--center high in balcony,
and she was way down to the left in the third row.
At intermission we switched.
Live animals run down that center aisle you see.
Of course, I LOVED that!


Back at Big Cedar...
another animal.
A Baylor bear!

And beautiful tulips everywhere!

At sunset each night, a bagpiper plays and a
cannon is fired at
The Top of the Rock.

The cannon is just to the right of this beautiful
church, one of the locations where 
weddings may be held.

Here is the spot where we sat and listened,
by the pinion wood fire.

My prize picture!



Susan doesn't usually get quite as excited as I do
(does anyone???),
but she did about this trip.  
This was the perfect time of year to go--
uncrowded, and I imagine the charges increase
in the high season.
But...wouldn't it be beautiful in the fall!
I hope I've made you want to go.
I can't begin to capture the beauty in pictures
or words.

__________________________

But remember...if you click on the pictures,
you can see them larger!