BROTHERLY LOVE...

My Mr. AGPMan

At exactly 6:00am yesterday morning my Mr. AGPMan backed one of our vehicles out of our driveway bound and determined to make it to a little town outside of Nashville before nightfall. Packed to the ceiling and spilling out onto the roof, our trusty SUV held most every wood-working and home renovation tool my guy has ever owned. If his state-of-the-art table saw would have fit inside, well, I'm quite sure he would have opted to take it, too.

The eleven hour journey to the beautiful state of Tennessee is a trip my guy is making solely out of love. He's not taking a vacation and no one asked him to come. He's not being paid. He's making the trip purely to bless a brother. Not a brother, brother, mind you. Not that kind. But the "hubby of your wife's sister" kind of brother. Yes, that kind.

No, this trip is not for pleasure. It was planned with a single goal in mind...meant to accomplish only one thing. It's purpose is to renovate my sister's home in hopes of making it completely wheelchair accessible for her husband. After suffering a stroke 8 weeks ago at the age of 51, her hubby, Greg, is finally able to come home.

As I watched my Mr.AGPMan pack his small suitcase with only work clothes, blue jeans and thick white socks, I couldn't help but conclude to myself how very kind his heart is. Quietly kind. He doesn't brag or boast, complain or even waste time trying to measure the worth of his hard working, talented hands. He just presents them, palms up, believing, trusting, God to do the rest...

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love"
Romans 12:10 NIV

"Love suffers long and is kind"
1 Corinthians 13:4 NKJV

Blessings to you as you, too, present your gifted hands, and become a willing servant of the Most High...Rebecca

TO SISTER, WITH LOVE...

My Sister and I - Circa 1964

Los Altos High School Pool
Hacienda Heights, CA

I cannot say for certain just how this tiny photograph has survived the past forty-five years. A copy of the original sits perched on my painting desk and I look at it most every day. It reminds me of a time in my life when the playful meanderings of two little girls were all I truly thought about.
My older sister and I spent the summer of 1964 at our Gramma's House, running through the Sprinkler and slip-sliding the hours away on a plastic shower curtain. I remember how it served us well, being the cheap knock-off to the crazy-popular (and expensive) Slippin'-Slide that it was. A day swimming at Los Altos...forever captured on black and white film are the faces of happy children...dripping wet with stringy hair. Enjoying the sun...the laughter... and the kind of innocence that only a sweet childhood can bring.
Then one day while out running, playing and dreaming, our growing up years passed us both by...
The childhood choreographed on the streets of our tiny California town is but a memory. Today my big sister lives outside of Nashville, far away from my life here in central Oklahoma. I rarely get to see her. Things change. People change. Thankfully the love remains the same.
It is on this hot July day, not unlike the one on which the picture above was taken, my sister finds herself traveling a difficult path. She and her hubby of nearly 30 years have a long journey ahead of them. One that includes physical recovery for him and unending patience and acceptance from her. My heart is heavy and I long to be by her side, holding her still tiny hand tightly in mine.
And so, I call unashamedly out to Jehovah Rapha, to minister healing. Jehovah Jireh, asking for His provisions. And to Jehovah Shalom, for His peace.

I love you Lin...

Blessings as you seek to help carry the burdens of those you love and the ones who love you...Rebecca

Remembering "Country Temptations"

I couldn't resist sharing this delightful photo that was taken back in 1988. For several years my Sis, Mom and I would participate in a local (and very popular) Country Craft Show at a Shoppe called "Country Temptations" in Oklahoma City. This charming picture was taken at the beginning of our second Show. We sold out of EVERYTHING that year! When my Sister moved away to Tennessee a year later it was never quite as fun! I've been in this "business" for a long, long time! Long enough to have survived big hair and to have tossed the silly (but so sweet) outfits that bore our business' name. I thought we looked like workers at See's Candy! Happy times and precious memories for me! My Sister is on the left, my Mother is in the middle and that's me on the right!

Blessings...Rebecca