Be Still and Know...Then and Now

After many years I have learned what the essential campmeeting supplies are. Now I can get everything over there in one load, the first few years I was captured by the desire to set up house, fortunately my husband did not divorce me with the multiple loads for the first few years. I learned my lesson, as well as realized the error of my eays. Less is more where campmeeting is concerned. I have it pared down to one large Rubbermaid container that is set aside each year. However I have not figured out how to contain the chaos,  the dirt tracked in and out, the things that go undone here at the house, the laundry... The day after is a whir of sweeping, sorting, putting back together and general clean up. The laundry is nearly done, the floors and carpets are sweat and vacuumed, I still need to find the leak in the air mattress but that is for another day. The Hubs wad gone on a mission trip for a week, the turned around and left on a business trip for another week. He got home ...

It rained last night. It cooled things down considerably. No one ever believes me, but sometimes it gets chilly at night. I had to get up and turn the fans off last night and get another blanket. It was cold! Last night felt a bit more familiar. We sat on the front porch, talked, ate homemade chocolate ice cream, enjoyed the youth talent show from afar and listened to the gentle sprinkling on and off throughout the evening. It was good. More accurately stated, it was similar, the rain kept a LOT of folks away. There is an old testament passage, I'll have to search for it later, but the gest of it is a description of longing for the days past. That's it in a nutshell, maybe it's nostalgia,  maybe I see how it is now compared to how it used to be. Yes, I know change is a guarantee. I guess I am wondering where tradition went? I did not grow with a lot of family traditions. Dysfunction tends to overshadowed so many things. I think that, in part, may be why I am reacti...

I am pleased to report that last night's service was very well attended, however Tuesday evening is usually well attended, The Joy class hosted the covered dish supper. These are the saints of the church, they have been hit hard over the last few years, lots of saints going home to Jesus, in years past they had the numbers to host all by themselves, now they are joined by another Sunday school class. The food is always plentiful, comforting and folks look forward to Joy class night. The second draw is Dr. Royeese Stowe , she has been a tradition for several years, folks love to come out and hear the word preached by Royeese, she brings a unique, powerful and humorous word from God. I love listening to her preach! Third, the youth are in residence,  it just isn't campmeeting for me until I can sit after worship and listen to the young ones gather for their worship time under the arbor. I lean on the hope for the future knowing that there is a foundation being laid in the live...

I slept in my own bed last night. It was a bit strange to willingly on purpose skip dinner and worship during campmeeting, but my husband has been out of town on a mission trip then immediately left again for a business trip to Germany. We have not had dinner together in over two week, so I decided to spend time with the Hubs last night. He was very tired, that flight from Germany is a killer, but he is home safe and sound. The day lilies are finished blooming but the crepe myrtle have just started. The black-eyed susan's are almost ready to bloom. After two years the asters I planted look like they my bloom. The bunnies have mowed my yarrow practically down to the ground, I am not to concerned about this, it has never been a favorite of mine in the landscape. The nasty bore worm has attacked my zucchini again this year and I think it may be done for. I should have sprinkled some seven dust, but I try to avoid pesticides. The tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers are out of con...

I actually beat the birds and squirrels up this morning. They are just now emerging from from their campground homes to explore the dropped tid-bits from last nights supper. So my internal dialog is full of difficult questions this morning. Our church is struggling right now, this grieves my spirit. I feel like my family is falling apart and I am at a loss to stop it. When I look back, we have been members here for over 25 years, I remember the sanctuary bursting at the seams. Now we are a dim shadow of what we once were. This struggle has encroached upon my beloved campmeeting. I try to remain positive, yet realistically wonder how much longer it can hang on. I continue to pray, in the fall the church body will be dedicating several months to prayer as well as other actions to seek direction for our future. I know the church, overall across our nation is in decline, but this for me is personal. The momma in me wants to fix it, scold it into submission, embrace it and  comfor...

Campmeeting starts today. My family and me have been participating in campmeeting for 20 years. Things have changed so much, I am not sure all of it is for the good. But since I am not in charge, nor do I want to be, I forge ahead and try to embrace the different without too much grumbling. This year one of my differences will be a BIG test for me. The food. I am going to strive for balance,  as well as maintaining my commitment to repairing my temple. Do I think I can go the whole week without  a portion of fried chicken, banana pudding, Ima Jean's pound cake with Carmel frosting and all the other wonderful offerings that will show up on the table? Probably not. However I am making a plan, what I will take, making a few salads and basically trying not to completely go off the rails for the next five days. I wish I had taken note of exactly when I began, but it has been a gradual process.  Over the course of time, eliminating certain foods and moving towards real f...

It was campmeeting this week! Hands down my favorite week of the year. We have a week of fellowship, worship and it is by far the best week of the year for me! I may do a post later in the week about this years experience, but for now here are my pictures. I actually have more than one every day! Woot Woot! Sunday, July 15 My son and his family came out almost every night. It was so nice to see my granddaughter enjoy all the joys of campmeeting just like mine did when they were little. I can share that I had many moments of Déjà vu as I watched her run around, play in the saw dust and generally have a wonderful time!     Monday, July 16 Muffinhead gave a demonstration on “How To Eat A Cupcake….” As we were enjoying the evening worship service the sky was having a worship service of it’s own. It was shinning down on us and it was absolutely beautiful!    Tuesday, July 17 Muffinhead spent the night with me in my cabin on Monday night. It was another mi...

I guess it was just not a picture worthy week y’all! Tuesday, July 10 I had a pound of Italian sausage in the freezer and I was going to make some spaghetti sauce, but then I decided that it just was not a spaghetti kind night! Frittata with Italian sausage, new potato, green peppers, onion and diced fresh tomato with a sprinkle of cheese! It was really good Thursday, July 12 I have some new color in the back yard. The crocosmia is blooming! I am surprised. Most bulbs do not bloom the first year you plant them, but this one did! Saturday, July 14 Campmeeting starts tomorrow! I was taking a load of our stuff out there and found a wonderful surprise. I had heard about it a few days earlier but I had not seen it until yesterday! Finally after almost ten years the cabin we stay in has a front porch! I am so happy I can hardly stand it y’all! It was an Eagle Project. I am contemplating a special batch of cookies or something top thank they young man! Well that was my week y’all,...

Well my house is almost back in order, the laundry is almost all done and I’m. So. Tired! I love Campmeeting but I am also EXAUSTED! The week of 95 plus temps and late nights of fellowship take their toll on my 52 year old constitution. I am thankful for a light week ahead so I can recuperate a bit. The week was awesome, the nightly worship services were awesome, the fellowship was awesome and the food was awesome. Are you sensing a theme…..AWESOME! Click here to read an article and see more pictures from the local paper. If the calculations are accurate this was our 180th year worshiping at the campground. My family started attending campmeeting in 1993/94. My son was a pre-schooler and my daughter was just a twinkle in the Lord's eye. We began spending the week in residence very shortly after that as my energetic little boy loved the non stop outdoor activity and being surrounded by acres of woods, creeks, and dozen’s of ready playmates. Now after a decade plus it is just...