EXCITING NEWS FROM UP CHIP'S WAY.........

I just read this on the blog of Chip's pastor in the Huntsville area.....and we'll be able to listen on the internet!!! 

Voice of the Valley - Coming Soon!

September 3, 2008 by Zach Terry

I recently received an email from Scott Blakely, the station manager at Pro Talk 1490AM asking me to consider hosting a one hour call in talk show that would be broadcasted once a week (then replayed on weekends) in the Tennessee Valley. To be honest the idea was very intriguing to me and I heartily agreed. I am hoping to call the show - Voice of the Valley Live. 

Each week we (Pastor Chip and myself) will offer commentary of a variety of issues facing believers in our culture, then open the lines for questions from callers. The broadcast will stream live from the Pro Talk website.

You can help us by recommending topics, issues facing believers in the TN Valley, questions, ect. What are your ideas?

THEY'RE BACK!!!

L-R:  Jess from CT, Melissa from WI, Jennifer from IN, Julie from TX, 

and Jennifer's sister, Sarah.

From last year's group, we have eight returning campus daughters this fall.  One graduated and one daughter didn't return.  We were thrilled to meet up with some of them for lunch on Sunday~~ their first Sunday back.  The girls not with us with with their parents and another with her friend and her mom for lunch.  We have a new campus daughter this fall but haven't met her yet.  We tried to meet up with her for dinner before church on Wednesday night but weren't able to make the contact.  We look forward to meeting her and know she will fit right in and that her campus sisters will take her in and love her.   Here are a couple of pics that at campus daughter made at Sunday's lunch.  We look forward to the year and loving on "our" girls.

L-R:  Julie from Texas, Sarah (Jennifer's sister) and us old folks!

Sarah Palin ~~ Sarah Works!

Sarah Works By Bruce Walker The selection of Sarah Palin works, on many levels and in many ways. McCain knew what he was doing when he picked her. Consider all the ways in which Palin helps the Republican ticket. Women voters know not only that the election of McCain likely will lead to the nomination of Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee in 2012 or 2016, but the election of McCain-Palin may well mean that the nominee of both major political parties in 2012 will be a woman: Palin, if McCain decides not to seek another term, and Hillary, who would be the presumptive favorite for the Democratic nomination in 2012 if Obama loses in 2008. In other words, women voters who vote in this election know that they can probably ensure that the next president is a woman, if McCain is elected. That knowledge will pull wavering women away from Obama-Biden and to McCain-Palin.Sarah may do more than any person in modern history to close the gender gap, not only for Republicans but for conservatives. Unlike Hillary, who rode into Washington on the back of her husband, Sarah Palin created her own career. Unlike Hillary, who dwells within a small family focused on politics, Sarah has a big family and focuses on life. As a conservative, Sarah Palin sees life as more than politics, election campaigns and litigation. Her husband has a real job in the real economy. Sarah is athletic, animated, alive. Her family seems very real to us. She seems very real to us. Sarah Palin is pro-life, which solidifies McCain's base with conservative voters, but she is pro-life with a vital twist: She has walked the walk. Women who favor the right to abortion love to point out that the male political leaders who want to limit abortion do not know what it is like to give birth, to care for an infant, or to endure the heartache of a child born with serious illnesses. Sarah knows all those things at a very personal level. When Sarah gave birth to Trig, her son with Down Syndrome, she walked the walk in a way that few people ever have had to do on the abortion question. He will grow up in a warm, loving family and his mother can tell the world, with perfect sincerity, that all human life has great worth. She walks the walk on Iraq as well. Track joined the Army. He is going to Iraq. Sarah and Todd are laying their most precious possession, the life of their child, in harm's way for the sake of freedom. Sarah Palin, like John McCain, can tell the American people that they know precisely what sort of sacrifices we all must be willing to make if America is to be safe and free. The contrast between McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden on the personal sacrifices made for America is profound. The criticism of her inexperience is already brewing, but Sarah can say that she has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined. Moreover, she has been a gutsy chief executive of Alaska, which means that she has shown an ability to resist the blandishments of lobbyists which neither Obama nor Biden have demonstrated. McCain and Palin really do represent a resistance to pork exceptional in a presidential ticket. As gas prices becomes an increasingly pressing personal issue for huge numbers of Americans, and as more and more Americans support drilling for oil as a logical way to bring down gas prices, Palin brings a strong and persuasive perspective on ANWR drilling. She loves the outdoors. Alaska is her home state, the place where her family lives. When Sarah says, as she doubtless will, that no outsider can care more about preserving the beauty of Alaska than she does, it will be hard to contradict that. So when she then says that drilling in ANWR will not damage the loveliness of that Alaskan natural wonder which she loves, then Sarah will be believed by millions of otherwise ambivalent voters. Sarah, moreover, will be able to make a very cogent intellectual argument for drilling. She knows more about this issue than Obama, Biden or even McCain. And it is an issue that becomes more important to Americans by the day. Sarah Palin on the ticket also creates some serious problems for Democrats in planning their campaign about the Republican ticket. How, for example, will a reflexively arrogant man like Joe Biden act toward Sarah Palin in the Vice Presidential Debate? This is the same man who talked about Obama as well spoken, for a black man. How careful will Biden be when he debates Palin? The debate will be a virtual minefield for someone as callous as Senator Biden. One slip, one impolitic remark, could shift millions of votes. Governor Palin also lives in a frontier state, a land about as far away from Washington as you can be and still hold political office in our republic. This is a theme that can resonate with voters. Delaware is right next to Washington: Biden commutes home after work. Chicago, the Daley Machine, does not seem to be much of an improvement. But Palin, and for that matter, McCain, come from another part of America completely. Alaska and Arizona are very distant from the capital whose machinations must be curbed. The image of two people from America's frontier cleaning up our nation's capital is potent. The biggest catch, though, is Palin herself. She seems utterly genuine. Her life story sounds familiar and comforting. Her words come from her heart. Her ideas come from a mind not trapped in Beltway Newspeak. We want change? She is change. More than just change, though, Sarah Palin represents change for the better. She personifies all the goodness in America which we seem to have lost. Her election will be a shot across the bow of every entrenched politician in the federal government. As a nominee, Sarah works.

Our Weather Conditions Here With Hurricane Gustav Way to Our West....

Psalm 55:8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

We are touched by the inquires we have had as to our weather conditions today. The rain and wind come with the bands so it comes and goes in cycles. Richard and I drove out to Johnson Beach late this morning to see the waves. I am attaching a few pics from our trip out there but have to leave here in a minute to go work at the college this afternoon. At the beach, the waves are high and the water looks like a wall. Four or five emergency vehicles came out onto the beach while we were there but came back "empty handed" so hopefully, it was a false alarm. We do have a tornado watch until 4:00 p.m. (bet it will be extended) and have had numerous tornado warnings during the day. Richard got me up at 4:45 a.m. to get into the closet because they were reporting a tornado on radar in our immediate vicinity. We have not heard of any touch-downs anywhere and praise the Lord. We are fine here but need to pray for those in LA/MS who are getting battered. As I have time later this evening, I will post some video I made at the beach.

Waiting on the Tropical Storm Conditions to Arrive... and Thanful We Won't Have Hurricane Conditions Here!!

Currently at 8:41 PM

82 °F RealFeel®:87 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Humidity: 73% Dew Point: 73 °F

Pressure: 29.77 in Visibility: 10 Miles

Winds: ENE at 17 mph

Sunday Night, Aug 31

Low: 77 °F RealFeel®: 78 °F

Considerable cloudiness with showers and thunderstorms; winds gusting past 50 mph

Fifty-Years Ago

Back in June, my sister Karen attended the 50th anniversary of Druid Hills United Methodist Church. Why? Because my parents and my sister were charter members of the church when it was begun in 1958. That would have been the year of my 7th birthday and Nonie's 5th birthday so, of course, we weren't charter members. Karen brought to me some nice items from the 50th celebration~~ a church bulletin, an old-fashioned fan, and a wonderful CD of old pics. Back to the story... It was nearly some three yeas later but the congregation raised the money and the present church structure was completed in early 1961. Below is a picture of our Dad, Byron Meyer, having a part in the start of the building program to erect the church.

Our family left Druid Hills when we moved to Gordo in 1961 so I didn't have a lot of years in that church and was only ten when we moved away, but I do remember some aspects of "church life" at Druid Hills. It was years later when my family would join a baptist church that I learned about God's plan of salvation and how I could be born-again. It was age 21 when I truly came face-to-face with my sinful lost condition and prayed to receive Christ. The years certainly fly by and then this life is done. I'm thankful for eternal life. Thank You, Jesus!

I Knew It! I Knew It!!!

Acts 15:36 ....Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city...

I knew my sister's visit would be the Balm of Gilead for my heart. I have so many GOOD and DEAR friends here, but I miss my sisters! It was such a joy when Karen called a couple of weeks ago to say they would like to come down for a quick visit. They did ~~ it took place over the past 24 hours~~ and we enjoyed having Paul and Karen here immensely.



They arrived at about 3:00 and so we sat for a while and talked. They were interested in our recent trip to Alaska so we shared a lot of information with them. Karen helped me prepared dinner ~~ in tribute to the blessed memory of our parents, I had planned to have Dad's "honeymooner" sandwiches and Mom's shrimp salad.

Brian, Amy, and the grandkids came over to have dinner with us so they could fellowship with their Uncle Paul and Aunt Karen, too. After dinner, the four of us went to a restaurant across town that specializes in a delicious key lime pie so that was fun. (Note: I cropped Paul out of this pic as I don't think he wants his picture on the internet.)

On Friday morning, we got up leisurely, enjoyed a few cups of coffee (well, Paul and I enjoyed the coffee. Richard drank his diet coke and Karen had water)' and then at about 10:00, we shoved off on an excursion. We rode out to visit a museum, left there and went to a seafood restaurant for lunch, took a scenic drive, and then visited our infant sister's grave. Sharon was born and died just a few weeks before Karen's 2nd birthday some 4-1/2 years before I was born.


















We arrived back at our house just in time for Paul and Karen to shove off and return to their home for their weekend activities:

(ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I cannot express the joy in my heart regarding their visit. Thank you, Lord, for the fun time I had with my loved ones.

Weekend Blessings and The Coming Week!

Richard and I had a wonderful weekend at Chip's in the Huntsville area. His pastor was out of town preaching in a revival meeting so Chip filled the pulpit on Sunday morning. What a blessing it was to sit under the preaching of our son. I sat there quite amazed as my man-child proclaimed God's Word with authority. My heart was full to over-flowing. On Sunday evening, his Dad and I were blessed to sit in on Chip's student meeting hour and then to attend the evening worship service where the new minister of worship preached. Bro. Brandon had an excellent message as well. WOW. It was a great day at Capshaw Baptist Church!!

On Monday morning, before our departure to return home, Chip took us to the house he is buying. It is very nice and we are so happy for him as he reaches yet another milestone... that of being a homeowner!



From there, we took off to return home and had supper waiting on Brian, Amy, and the kids when they came in from work/school. It was a sweet time of fellowship with our loved ones here.


This week, we will be keeping our eye on the weather and our hearts in prayer as Gustav churns and grows out in the Atlantic. Our college students begin arriving this weekend and we certainly don't need to have a big storm bearing down on us ~~ or on anyone else for that matter.





My sister is coming!!!! We have been real close since 1951, and I miss Karen. I look up to her in so many ways. She is my mentor not only spiritually but as a faithful wife and mother. She is my mentor as I enter my "senior" years in this thing of aging. I have always admired and revered her. So.... I am so excited that Paul and Karen are due to arrive on Thursday for a visit. It will do my heart and spirit much good to get to spend some quality time with her and Paul.




A few more pics of the house Chip is planning to purchase:

Jaden, The School Boy!

What a hoot when our bell rang at 6:45 a.m. and it was Jaden. He came over to say "hello" and "good-bye" as he was about ready to take off for his first day of school. I grabbed my camera and recorded Jaden's visit:




Jaden didn't know it, but Richard and I were lined up to be volunteer grandparent helpers at the school this morning. About 10 of us were there just to help the little ones who arrived by bus or car and who came in by themselves to get to their classrooms.It is a fun thing to do each year, and we will go again on Friday morning. We were there from 7:15-8:15 and then went out to breakfast with the other members of the grandparent patrol. I made a few pics at school this morning and was so glad to get to see Mommy Amy walking her little Jaden to his class. When he saw me at "Mommy's School," he came a-running and so she snapped our pic. I know Jaden is having a FUN first day at school. I can't wait to hear all about it this evening!




There's Jaden's teacher. She's all ready for the first day of school, too!


Jaden hugging his teacher before he entered the classroom. The other lady is the assistant in Jaden's class. Jaden will do just fine. This spoiled grandma might be the one in question. :)


Principal Amy cruising the halls~~ looking for folks she can assist

I GUESS THIS REALLY IS THE LAST "HURRAH"

For all of his 3 years and 9 months, I have been able to keep Jaden any day that I wanted to. Brian and Amy have been very gracious to allow me my "grandbaby fix" at most any time th need struck ~~ and that was often. Amy was blessed be have a 12-week maternity leave after Jaden's birth, but then I kept Jaden for 5 semesters of school (Amy has summers off) and loved every minute of it. When he was eligible for 3-year-old nursery school, I recommended to Brian and Amy that he attend nursery for the social interaction, more active playtime, and some academic learning. He did real well during his 9 months at the nursery BUT I was able to invite him to stay with me any time that he wanted to or needed to for various reasons. I kept him on Wednesdays and on a lot of weeks added in another day or two at Grandma's house. As of tonight, my option to keep Jaden runs out......

......for tomorrow, Jaden goes to "Mommy's School" to start his 14 years of learning there. What a blessing that we have a wonderful Christian school where our grandkids are educated not only in their A-B-C's and 1-2-3's but also there is a lot of Biblical training there. Of course, Jaden gets wonderful Christian training at home and attends church every time the doors are open and receives wonderful Biblical training there ~~ which means that the school just serves to back up what he is learning both at home and at church. There is NOTHING that would tear down his child-like faith in God (he has not yet trusted Jesus Christ as Savior) or draw him away from the wonderful values and precepts of Christianity that his family holds dear.

So it is with happy hearts that Grandpa and I have kept Jaden today ~~ his last day before starting school ~~ and it is with happy hearts that we watch him go off to kindergarten in the morning. In fact, we are working on the "Grandparent Brigade" which helps all of those brand-spanking new little kindergarten students find their classrooms for the first 3 days of school. Won't we have fun!!!

Jaden, we will pray for you every day of your school years as long as we have breath in our bodies. We know God has a wonderful plan for your life and a good Christian-based education will help to prepare you for your life's work. Go and do good, precious grandson. We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandma