Each Day Is New-Where is the Father?

Posted on:  yellow6347.wordpress.com  by Brenda Hudson

I love to sit on the balcony at the beach and take in all the action.  We are always looking for a sharks, dolphins and sailboats.  I love to watch

people try to put up their canopy and a big whisk of wind catch it.  I suppose that is funny to me, but not them.

One particular day I was sitting on the balcony and noticed a little boy around two years old who seemed to be by himself.  I didn’t see any adults near him.  He had on his little inner tube and began walking out past the row of umbrellas.  I though “where are the parents?  Is anyone watching this kid?”  Step after step he was heading past the umbrellas and down toward the ocean.  I was really getting worried.  He is now at the edge of the water.  Danger is near.

I spot a young man with two other children and he hold up his arms and the little boy takes his hand.  HE IS THE FATHER.  The father knew where is son was all the time.  The little boy was safe and his father really was watching out for him.

This is just like our Heavenly Father.  Sometimes it seems we are all alone and no one is looking after us.  Our Heavenly Father has us in His sites and He has went down the path before us.  We are safe and He knows our every movement.  What a comforting thought.

Each Day Is New-Should We Be Excited?

I know we are not supposed to look at the past, but I am finding it hard to forget 2012.  Maybe I need to reflect back on this sluggish New Year’s day and see if I could have changed anything. I can begin with all the morning newspapers and all the non-positive things I have read each morning.  I pick up a cup of coffee, add the cream and sit down with my sweetie.  Just looking  at the headline sometimes gives me the chills.  I see murders, child abuse, businesses closing, delinquent taxes, divorces, shootings in schools and malls, drugs, and on and on and on.  So far, reading this newspaper has not made me feel too positive.  Why do I read it anyway?

 

I go downstairs and sit down in my home office, take a deep breath and shake off the residue left from reading the newspaper.  Our company, Hudson-Gillmor Associates, manages the yellow page and online advertising for some major medical and hospital accounts.  Many of these accounts are deeply concerned with the changes in healthcare and need to cut some advertising.  Politely and with much professional care, I lead them through their budgets and devise a plan they will approve for less revenue.  I get off the phone and want to cry……sad but true.

Thinking “out of the box” as been the norm in 2012.  Finding new ways to cut household and business expense has been necessary for most people.  It is the wise things to do.  Closing down office space and moving into home offices was necessary and a positive move.  Gee, I am glad we thought of doing this.  I love working from home….any hour….anytime. No more water cooler talk space, office kitchen closed, but we are still in business and we have jobs.  We are thinking “out of the box”.

The death of many loved ones happened to our family.  Losing our 13-year-old, Lauren Swann has been the most painful experience yet.  Unexpected.  We are trying to understand.  Did this really happen?

Okay, so I am looking back and remember some devastating events, but I don’t think I could have prevented any of them.  Most of the “things” causing heartache were temporal.  The older I get the more I realize “things” or “ways” are not forever.  There is an ever-changing turnover in business, families, lives and the world.  Just about when you think all is well…….look out….it will change.

How do we learn to deal with all this uncertainty?  Even we Christians must ask ourselves this question all the time.  I have experienced major crisis in my life and the only “thing” that brought me through was fully trusting that this crisis would end and God was with me all the way.  If you are troubled, don’t try to figure out how “you” can make it go away.  Stop.  Pray and ask God to give you support and direction.  Then you may need to do some things for yourself.  Talk to a friend you can trust and become a prayer partner with them.  Get out of the house and look at all the people in need and in worse condition than you.

We are never too young or too old to have a new beginning!

 

 

Christmas in West Virginia-2012

Gee, I am playing around on the computer and just noticed I have really deserted my blog.  I think I must have run out of steam and just let the writings mellow and work by themselves.  I looked at my stats and I actually got lot’s of hits over the last year.  The highest rated story is concerning Life in a WV Coal Camp.

Between writings I have been busy with my yellow page and online advertising agency.  Actually, the economy has hit hard and we have now went to home offices.  I really missed the inter mingle of bodies in the office, but love the home office now.  Smart business people are using home offices more and saving all the office rental money.

Basil and Brenda

Christmas was both happy and sad this year.  On December 23rd our niece’s 13 year old daughter passed away following an asthma attack.  This was totally unexpected and we are all still in somewhat disbelief.  The only thing that has pulled our families through is the prayers, thoughts and God being with us.  Lauren Swann, the deceased touched so many lives and will be missed forever. Our happy part of Christmas was all the family gathering at our house on Christmas Eve.  Even with sorrow…..we cherished the time with our four wonderful grandchildren.  Seeing their excitement when opening their gifts made my heart beat a little faster.

I want to being activating my writing again in 2013.  Sorry it has been so long.

Brenda Hudson

Each Day Is New–Graduating at Duval High School

Following 12 years of school our final ceremony at school would be graduation.  I graduated from Duval High School in 1960 and still remember the excitement and also the sadness.  This would be a change in our lives and it would effect where we went to school, who we married, where we chose to live and finding new friends.  We were ready to take the next big step.

Mrs. Vandeline was the teacher in charge of our graduation ceremony and she had rules “that would be followed” or else.  She took great pride in our hats sitting properly, back straight and no gum.  We would line up and march up the hallway and into the gym what seemed like fifty times.  There was no air conditioner or electric fans and it was a hot May day.  She would make sure this ceremony would be even greater than the last one.

Linda McClure and I were asked to gather some cut flowers from our yards.  These flowers and greenery would go on the arch’s that we would march through on graduation night.  We were at school and had to borrow Frank Adkins car to get the flowers.  We were so afraid we would run out of gas so together we came up with fifty cents and got gas.

Everyone worked together as a team to make this night special.  I look back 50 years and really appreciate the teachers that taught us to be respectful, do the best you can do, and make an impact on those around you.

Each Day Is New-Early Life In WV Coal Camp

yellow6347.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/early-life-in-wv-coal-camp/

This is one of my most viewed post and I want to repost for my viewers.  There has been many searches for information on “West Virginia Coal Camps” and you may have missed my information. 

Please leave me a comment after you visit.

Brenda Woodrum Hudson

Each Day Is New-Fearing the Unknown

 

I am a make a list person and need to check it twice.  Before starting a trip all reservations must be made and confirmed or I get frantic.  Well, my adventuresome husband is helping me overcome my fear of traveling without confirmations.

Of course, being a minister he just said we will pray about it and all will be fine.  My faith was not quite so strong on this issue, but I remembered there is a verse about being “submissive” to your husband.  Now why in the world would I suddenly remember this verse?  I thought I would try it.

Basil was so protective of my fear of not knowing where we would stay each night.  He started looking for available lodging around 4pm.  The first night we stayed on the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway at VA Peaks of Otter Lodge (Mile Post 86). I probably would never have ordered this online, but I actually liked the room.  Everything was quite rustic.  The furniture was made out of sort of rough lumber and painted in brown tones.  We had no phone, no internet and no TV…..but we talked to each other. 

This is a “by the way” comment on room rates.  The traveler is really paying their share of taxes.  Room Charge ($107.10) State Tax ($5.36) Local Tax ($5.35) Virginia Tax ($13.09). 

Why are we so conformed to our personal traditions?  Why don’t we just let go and experience the freedom around us?  Why are we afraid to be submissive to those who love us most?

We ate in the lodge by a window that overlooked a huge lake.  We could see the fish jumping up for their dinner, watch traveler walk around the lake and pause to thank God for our food and his blessings on us.  All of this, by just by being submissive and facing my fears. 

 I think I like it.

Each Day Is New-Traveling With No Agenda

When planning a vacation we always reserved a hotel in advance, arrived at that destination on the scheduled day and departed on a scheduled day.  Well……we changed all of that this year.  We discussed certain places we wanted to go and would hit the road with no agenda.

We definitely wanted to drive from the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and travel the full length to North Carolina.  I did all my internet research, printed out some maps and things to see along the way.  We packed our suitcase and were ready for adventure.

I wanted this carefree trip to be relaxing and also spiritual.  I wanted to draw closer to God through prayer, viewing the things He created and be closer to Basil, my husband.  This trip would be all of that and more.

We were driving the parkway and were at an elevation of over 6,000 feet when the storm clouds started moving in on the mountain.  We had driven in the pounding rain for several mile and visibility was not good.  I love storms, but not when driving in them.  I suggested we pull over at the secluded overlook and “experience” the storm.

Basil pulled over and turned off the engine.  I said, “Let’s experience this storm and see God in it”.  We got very quite and just listened and watched.  Quickly we could feel the car move as the wind picked up and the pine trees bent to the winds command.  The pounding rain was now making a ping, ping, ping sound on the windshield and hood of the car.  This is the middle of a hot July day and it is “sleeting”.  We had been clearly been looking at a mountain in front of us, but now the snow-white fog and clouds were blocking any view.  God himself was invisible, but He was commanding all the elements and they were dancing in the rain.  This was an awesome experience, but we were safe in the rocking car.

As I sat there experiencing this storm, it reminded me of the storms in life.  Sometime these storm come quickly, things get shaky and we can’t see in front of us.  We must rest in our faith because we are safe in God’s hands and He will protect us all the way.

Sometimes we just need to slow down and experience everything the day has in store for us.

Each Day Is New- July in West Virginia

Basil and I had lunch under the big oak trees in our front yard today.  I have a picnic table in the back yard and a lovely table and chairs on the deck, but something was calling for the yard.  We have two gravity reclining lawn chairs and this was a nice place to relax.

I could see our American Flag flapping in the breeze of this July day.  I couldn’t keep from thinking of all the people who have helped keep us FREE and it is an honor to see Old Glory.  My grandpa, Pearl Lucas Woodrum-WW I and my dad, Donald Edward Woodrum-WW 2 were only two of thousands who are American heros.

I closed by eyes and the coolest July breeze brushed across my skin and I almost felt like I was on the beach.  I sneaked and opened my eyes and I was still in WV…oak trees and all.  I again closed by eyes and I could hear many birds giving out their calls, bugs clicking in the trees and the smell of smoke in the distance.  Just listen…..Just listen…….The branches hanging from my oak trees were dancing with the breeze and actually keeping rhythm.

Ouch!!!  I felt something sting my hand.  It was something I hadn’t seen all summer.  A sweat bee.  Sweat bee’s are tiny, tiny little bee’s that only sting lazy people (or so my mom always said).  Well, I was being lazy today.

I am anticipating all the 4th of July events in a few days, but today was priceless.  I shared a tuna sandwich with the man I love for time and eternity, the breeze was cooling us and God’s creation was tapping on my shoulder.  Sometime we just need to slow down and look around us.

“Be still and know I am God”.

Each Day Is New- Memorial Day

There will be many different events going on in towns across the United States this week-end.  Small towns will fill the streets with an American spirit and the bands will march in the parades.  The BBQ grills will be heated and hundreds of hotdogs will be consumed.  The red, white and blue American flag will be displayed and families will place flowers on the graves of their loved ones.

How do you celebrate Memorial Day and what does it mean to you?  Please post your comments.

Each Day Is New-Would Jamie Oliver Approve?

I love getting a call and someone asking if the grandkids can be dropped off at my office.  Emily needed to go to the doctor with her mom so Matt and Lauren came to my office after school.  I called it a day around 4pm and we headed to my house for fun and good times!

On the way we discussed what they wanted for dinner.  I made several suggestion, but they said they would like to have “Breakfast for Dinner”.  Of course, grandma wants to please the kiddo’s. 

We buy Steve Evans Sausage at WalMart and it tastes like homemade sausage from down on the farm.  So…….I fried sausage, scrambled eggs fresh eggs, pancakes with sugar free syrup, milk and OJ.   Breakfast for Dinner is not something we do often, but it is nice for a change.

I am sure Jamie Oliver would not approve and neither would I if it were done everyday.  But you know, some wonderful memories were made by doing something out of the ordinary.  They will remember coming to Pawpaw and Mawmaw’s Hudson’s house and swinging on a tire swing, helping water the flowers, planting a pine tree, looking at a bird nest on my door and eating Breakfast for Dinner.