Rushing Ahead

We live in a hurry-up society, where the race becomes faster-paced all the time. We try to pack more and more into each day, until sometimes it even gets hard to catch a breath. With this mentality, we can run ahead of God, almost without realizing it. There are illustrations of this in the Bible.

Joshua did this in Joshua 6 & 7. The Israelites had just experienced a great victory when the walls of Jericho fell, and Joshua sent out spies to see about the next city in their path. The confident reports came back saying Ai could be taken with only a couple thousand men. But they had become over-confident and forgotten that the victory at Jericho wasn't theirs but God's. Without waiting for God's direction, they attacked Ai, and it was a disaster. The enemy soldiers came rushing out of the city in great numbers, and there was nothing left to do but turn and run. Thirty-six of Joshua's men were killed. Like we often do, Joshua asked God why He had allowed such a defeat to happen.

We need to be careful to look to God for all things, in every choice or decision. It should become a habit, so that it's part of our nature. We should know to wait on Him. How much better life would be if we'd just remember and apply this!

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Encouraging Words 

As I've told many people, it's hard for me to judge how good my books are, because I'm too close to them to have any perspective. I can rate other people's writings, and I've written many reviews, but I rely on the reviews of others or what people tell me to know about my writing.

Therefore, I've been blown away by how positively people have responded to Cleared for Planting.  It is so encouraging! I've seen amazon reviewers rip books apart, especially those of beginning authors, like me, but I've had nothing but positive comments. One lady even compared me to Francine Rivers, and Redeeming Love is one of my all time favorites. I was stunned by that comparison. Every time I read it, I think "Wow!" She wrote:

I love everything by Francine Rivers and I just finished her book Bridge to Haven...awesome!! I see so many similar qualities in your writing. Real life stories, true to life characters, and most importantly redemption woven into the fabric of the plot from cover to cover!!

Some other written comments:

I started reading the 1st book last night and it is soooooo good!! I literally gasped at one point.

So, is your next book out yet??? I'm hooked!!! Man its gonna be hard to wait!!

...just finished reading your great book, Cleared for Planting. Ready for the next one. It was really great! I enjoyed it and could not put the book down.

... This was one of the best books I have read in a very long time. The writing in this book was so smooth... I actually felt that I was there when I was reading the story. I can hardly wait for book 2.

Flawless descriptions and an engaging setting. This inspiring story makes you feel good about humanity by the time you finish and leaves you wishing for a sequel!

Wow, what a great book this is! ... CLEARED FOR PLANTING is written so well that you can feel the bone-chilling mountain air in the winter....

I loved  this book, The characters, setting, and events in the novel made it impossible to put down. Ready for the next one.

These comments were taken from amazon and facebook. Verbal responses have been just as positive. This both humbles and elates me. All I can say is, "God is good, and I feel richly blessed."

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The Belo Home

This magnificent Greek Revival home stands out among the smaller colonial structures in Old Salem, the Moravian colonial town opened to tourists in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Johann Friedrich Belo (earlier spelled Boehlow, Boelo, or Below) bought the property in 1808. His son, Edward was born in 1811.

Like his father, Edward grew up to be a cabinet maker, which he studied at the Boys' School in Salem. After finishing school, he apprenticed in a cabinet shop in Pennsylvania. He returned to Salem and married Caroline Amanda Fries in 1837. He bought and ran an linseed oil mill north of Salem for a while, but he replaced it with an iron foundry. 

In 1849, Edward bought his widowed mother's house and his brother's on the adjoining lot. He asked permission to build an imposing home on Main Street. The home cost around $3,000. To begin with, he ran a dry good business on the first floor, and the family lived on the second floor. By this time, he and his wife had seven children.The columned portico and a third story were added in 1859. 

Because of Edward's woodworking and iron works, the house has many notable features. One first notices the column capitals, the decorative iron grill work, and the life-size cast iron dogs and lion on posts at the sidewalk. He retired from his successful store at the outbreak of the Civil War, but continued his civic interests. For example, he helped form the North Western North Carolina Railroad company after the war.

Edward's garden was also viewed as a thing of beauty, and his roses were considered alluring treasures. A facsimile of the gardens still stands beside the house. Regrettably, the home is not open to the public, but you can see it from the outside and enjoy its outside splendor.

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The Wren's Nest, Home of Joel Chandler Harris

For many of us who grew up in the South, the Uncle Remus tales of Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit are early memories that taught important lessons. Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote the stories, was a prominent newspaper reporter and editor in Atlanta, Georgia. He had already published his first Uncle Remus book, when he moved into the house that he wanted for a retreat in 1881. He continued to live there until his death in 1908, and most of his writing was done from here.

The house had been built in 1870 by George Muse, an established clothier in Atlanta. Harris rented the farmhouse for two years and then purchased it. At that time, it set more in the country than today. Harris hired well-known architect, George Humphreys, to renovate the cottage into a large house that still maintained its cottage charm. 

The house became known as the Wren's Nest, after the children found a wren's nest inside their mailbox. They quickly put up a new mailbox, so the wrens could live in peace. The house has gone by that name ever since.

Today it's noted as the oldest museum home in Atlanta. It has changed little since Harris's death and contains furnishings original to the family. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962.


The Joel Chandler Harris Home or the Wren's Nest
1050 Ralph Abernathy Blvd.
(In southwest Atlanta off I-20 at exit 55A)
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 2:30 pm, except major holidays
404-753-7735
http://www.wrensnest.org/

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National Herbs and Spices Day

Ginger root

June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day, and, to celebrate, I wanted to take a look at the health benefits of about a dozen of them. This is just general information, and you should always look into them further and consult your physician before using them.

Aniseed - improves digestion; relieves nausea; helps with breast feeding, especially in increasing milk production; can ease nervousness; soothes coughs and sore throats; clears up congestion; and some think it's an aphrodisiac.

Cayenne Pepper - cleanses the body and detoxifies; stimulates circulation; improves digestion; clears congestion, as with colds and flu; eases sore throats and coughs; dulls the appetite and helps with weight loss; boosts metabolism; helps maintain normal levels blood pressure and cholesterol.

Cinnamon - stimulates appetite; aids with digestion; relieves indigestion; helps with diarrhea; balances blood sugar; helps circulation; high in antioxidants.

Cloves - soothes upset stomach and aids in digestion; eases coughs and loosens phlegm; helps get rid of harmful bacteria and parasites; use topically for toothaches.

Fresh cilantro or coriander

Coriander (cilantro) seeds - stimulates insulin and thereby lowers blood sugar levels; lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and raises HDL (good); natural antibiotic and especially helps fight samonella.

Cumin - high in iron and vitamin C; strengthens immune system; improves digestion; fights fungi; helps liver detoxify; relieves insomnia; high in anti-oxidants; may help fight cancer.

Ginger - (also see my blog of November 19, 2014) eases joint stiffness and arthritis pain; good for digestion; fights inflammation; contains anti-oxidants; eases nausea and can be used during pregnancy; protects against colon cancer; boosts immune system; may kill ovarian cancer cells.

Oregano - Rich in vitamin K and anti-oxidants; improves bone density; helps fight infection; useful in respiratory disorders; used for urinary tract problems; eases menstrual cramps; used topically for acne, dandruff, and to repel insects.

Rosemary - boosts memory and concentration; relieves stress; improves circulation; helps heartburn and indigestion; high in anti-oxidants; used topically to stimulate hair growth.

Sage - enhances memory; reduces inflammation; lowers cholesterol; eases hot flashes.

Thyme bundle

Thyme - fights bacteria, especially in respiratory infections; helps acne and candida; may help reduce blood pressure; may help fight breast and colon cancers.

As you can see, all these spices and herbs have multiple benefits, and many of them help with digestion. So, you may want to consider spicing up your foods.

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The Wessington House

The Wessington House sits in historic Edenton, North Carolina. Although the town was established in 1712 and became a hotbed of Patriot activity during the Revolutionary Period, Wessington house wasn't built until around1851. The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1973.


The 15,000 square-foot brick residence has three stories, a full English basement (additional living quarters), and a hallway running down its center. The central hall alone contains 600 square-feet and has been closed off to hold a birthday party for 150 children.The front sports a full-length, two-tiered porch with ornate iron railings and balustrade. It was constructed in a Georgian style with Italian influence.

When first inhabited, the family's living quarters stood over the English basement on the first floor. The second floor contained the family and guest bedrooms, and the third floor was where the servants lived. At this time, there were seven family members and ten to twelve staff members living there. During the right time of the year, they could see the Albemarle Sound from the second and third floors.

The home was built by Dr. Warren, who intended it as a dowry house for his daughter to ensure she secured a good marriage. Later, the Graham family bought it and lived there for 122 years. It remains a private home and was recently purchased by Richard Douglas of New York and Charlottesville, Virginia in 2008. He set about to restore it.

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Currituck Lighthouse

Currituck Beach Lighthouse stands majestically in Corolla on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It's noticeably different from the other North Carolina lighthouses, because it's red bricks were never painted, and many of the others were painted some combination of white and black. The red brick seems to go well with the Gothic Revival architecture of the lighthouse.

Built in 1875, the town grew around it, and it doesn't seem as secluded at the the other lighthouse sites. It's shadow falls on an old one room schoolhouse that's still being used today, a bookstore, gift shops, and some residencies. The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education (see my April 28 blog) is only a short walk away. The lighthouse is now owned by the Outer Banks Conservationists.

This lighthouse is about 150 feet high, has 220 steps, and took one million bricks to build. It lies 34 miles south of the Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia and 32.5 miles north-northwest of Bodie Island Lighthouse. It has one of the largest lens, making it a "first order lighthouse." This was the last major lighthouse built of brick on the Outer Banks.

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