A 'Crabb'tacular Night

Noelle & Claire going into the Corinth Civic Center Coliseum

Noelle buying a t-shirt and Jason Crabb's new cd

Jason Crabb and Noelle

Jason Crabb and Claire

Ahhh, HE signed my ticket!!!

Aaron and Amanda Crabb

Jason Crabb

Aaron Crabb, Gerald Crabb, Jason Crabb

Dixie Queen Delight!

Another joyous day with friends! This has been the most peculiar, yet wonderful time to me. I need to pinch myself to make sure 'this is my life'!!! So much has happened to me and my family the past year and it's all happening so fast, I don't have time to get one thing settled in my mind until something else comes along! I'm not complaining though. 2009 has been a wild ride, let me tell you! There has been good, there has been glorious, and there has been some hurt and sadness. No matter the situation or occasion; God has been real, God has been true, God has been faithful, and God has worked each thing to our good! I sit here amazed and dumb-founded. Even on those days there was hurt and disappointment, I wouldn't change them for anything. God has proved Himself over and over again, which has brought us closer to Him and has increased our faith and our love for Him. As for last Thursday, July 9, 2009, I met school friends for lunch at our local Dixie Queen which by the way is owned by one of the boys we went to school with all 12 years! Cool, huh? Karen, Michelle, and I had met for lunch a couple of weeks before, but Andrea was able to join us this time. Andrea has three children and SHE IS A GRANDMOTHER! Andrea works in a deli and is a very talented singer and can tickle the piano from one end to the other! She and I have great memories of singing together when we were teens. We are hoping for one more get together before Michelle has to go back to her new home in Texas. Hopefully, we'll add a few more faces to our next outing. We sat in the back corner of the Dixie Queen we all grew up loving. We laughed and laughed and laughed some more!!! We weren't so loud and obnoxious that we ran people off, but we really were quite lively! Ha. We reminisced about times in class and school and told embarrassing yet hilarious stories. I came out of there so refreshed and knowing how good my life has been and how very blessed I have been my 44 years to have such wonderful people in my life. If you read about our first luncheon in a previous post, you remember that our first grade teacher came into the restaurant and we visited with her and had pictures made with her. You never know who you'll meet up with in a small town; we were thrilled when our sixth grade reading teacher came in to the Dixie Queen Thursday. She was with one of her sons and her two grand babies. We grabbed her for a picture! I wish I had words to express the awe and wonder I feel about these precious moments in my life. You'll just have to take my word for it; cause this side of eternity, I will always fail in expressing my love, gratitude, and joy for such a wonderful life filled with such treasures as the people I write about from time to time. Thanks girls~ you light up my life and make my heart feel all gooey inside! Friends Forever and ever!

Back row: Mrs. Sondra Bullen (our 6th grade reading teacher), Michelle Culp English,

Front row: Andrea Gray Hayes, Liesa Gentle George, and Karen Oswalt Timbs

..and a time to laugh...

Ecclesiastes 3:4

Independence Day George Style

Life by George...

Taking it easy!

Cooling off!

Under the old shade tree

Tristan & Noelle resting with a book

Donnie, our chef!

Great food!

Cale enjoying watermelon

Tristan with sparkler

The horse and mules were entertained by the kids!

All four grands and great grand

Noelle, Scot, Tristan, Chrissy

Happy Birthday Ma Ma G

Happy Birthday!

July 7

Scot and his mother

Green Street Mile, 2009

Time: 6:09
Noelle and Kathy before race

We joined the Tates and Minnis's for breakfast at Ryans
after the race.


Three tired, full, and happy runners!

Be Wise

...and he that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

A few weeks ago, my husband taught a class at church on "How To Win Someone To The Lord." Our purpose in life should be to introduce others to Christ through our life and through God's Word. Below are the notes I took during class that night.

Pray for opportunity.
Look for opportunity.

Scot read Acts 8:26-39 where Philip witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip was obedient to God; he went where God told him, and there he had the opportunity to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch. What did Philip tell this man? To do good? To clean up and go to church? To give of his money? All of those things are good, but no, Philip preached unto him Jesus! (verse 35)

1. Sinner must realize they are a sinner.

Romans 3:10- As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Other verses include: Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 5:12

2. Sinner must believe the Gospel.

Romans 5:6-8, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.I Corinthians 15:3-4, For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures:

3. Sinner receives salvation (recognize God, know they are a sinner, believe, ask)

Romans 10:9-13, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Other verses include Acts 16:30-31, John 3:36

The salvation of our souls and the souls of others is the most important thing on earth. Salvation seems to be taken so lightly these days, and without it, we will all perish. Ask God each day to give you an opportunity to share His Word; He will answer. One of the best ways to witness to others is to just simply to tell them about what Christ has done in your life. As the old song says, 'I once was lost, but now I'm found, twas blind, but now I see.' Eternity is so serious, eternity is forever! Be wise, win souls.

I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story,
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

My Cup Runneth Over

One day week before last, I was in the grocery store. I saw a friend/relative in line checking out, so I waved at her as I went by. She said, "Liesa, I have a gift for you. I will get it to you soon." I said back to her, "Oh, o.k." I was surprised. She caught me off guard I guess. Last Friday when I got on Face Book, there was a note from her telling me to let her know when a good time and place would be to meet me, so I commented back and told her I'd be at the local restaurant that evening. We had been at the restaurant for a while when I noticed this friend and her daughter coming up the steps on the outside. We were sitting in the corner and I was afraid she'd have trouble finding me, so I got up and met her when she came into the restaurant. She handed me a pretty gold gift bag. I peeped in and saw a beautiful tea cup and saucer. I asked her what I did to deserve a gift...this act of kindness really touched my heart. She said when she saw this cup and saucer, it screamed out 'Liesa'. This lady and I hardly ever see each other. I guess we've talked more on Face book the past several months than we have all of our lives. And how did she know I needed a little nudge of encouragement that day? I do know the answer to that one...God laid me on her heart and she was obedient. Thank you Tammie for the beautiful gift, but most of all for the encouragement and for touching my heart with God's love.

'Songbird Garden' by Rosie B. Farmer


Charity suffereth long, and is kind;...
I Corinthians 13:4

Quotes Worth Reading

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - -- Abraham Lincoln

"I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessing on this house (the White House) and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof!" -John Adams

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

"May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right." -John Quincy Adams

"An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory." -Milliard Fillmore

"A man is known by the company he keeps, and also by the company from which he is kept out."
"Above all, tell the truth." - Grover Cleveland

"The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt

"Peace is not made at the Council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men."

"A splendid storehouse of integrity and freedom has been bequeathed to us by our forefathers. In this day of confusion, of peril to liberty, our high duty is to see that this storehouse is not robbed of its contents." -Herbert Hoover

"America is best described by one word, freedom."

"I never saw a pessimistic general win a battle."

"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure." -Dwight Eisenhower

"A president's hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right."

"You ain't learnin' nothin' when you're talkin'."

"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest sleeping in the unplowed ground. . ." -Lyndon Johnson

"Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you. Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."

"What kind of nation we will be, what kind of world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of our hopes, is ours to determine by our actions and our choices." -Richard Nixon

"Truth is the glue that holds governments together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go." -Gerald Ford

"The United States is the best and fairest and most decent nation on the face of the earth." -George H.W. Bush

"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." -George Washington

"We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God."
-Harry S. Truman

"America has begun a spiritual reawakening. Faith and hope are being restored. Americans are turning back to God. Church attendance is up. Audiences for religious books and broadcasts are growing. And I do believe that he has begun to heal our blessed land." -Ronald Reagan

"I have found it advisable not to give too much heed to what people say when I am trying to accomplish something of consequence. Invariably they proclaim it can't be done. I deem that the very best time to make the effort." -Calvin Coolidge

"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day."

"Having chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts."

"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and under a just God, can not long retain it." - Abraham Lincoln

America

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...

Psalm 33:12

America, The Beautiful

by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine!

O Beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam,

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Diamonds In Life

A friend loveth at all times...

Proverbs 17:17

Wednesday, June 23rd, I met my long time friends Michelle and Karen at our local restaurant for lunch. Michelle, Karen, and I started to school together. We were all three in the same first grade class. We were in school together all twelve years! After we graduated from high school, we went our separate ways of course. Life happens and it's hard to keep in touch. Karen married first in 1984, I married in 1985, and Michelle married in 1986! We all have a son and a daughter each. Karen already has a daughter in law! Michelle moved away with her military husband, so she and I haven't seen each other over six or seven times in the past 26 years. She was home visiting her family in between moving. She and I were expecting our daughters at the same time, and again four years later, we both were expecting our sons the same year. Michelle is a teacher, Karen is a florist and singer, and I am a pastor's wife and home school mother. It's amazing where life takes us! Karen lives in our hometown, so she and I see each other more, but rarely take the time to visit. Last Wednesday was such a bright spot in my life!!! I was like a little kid all morning long anticipating the luncheon with my dear friends. They arrived at the restaurant before me; I found them in line and we all shared hugs and smiles! My forty-four years felt like twelve all over again! I remember what I got to eat, but I honestly don't know if I tasted it. I was sitting there trying to take in every precious moment of the time with my friends. I wanted to engrave each word, smile, and detail into my memory. We sat there for two hours enjoying our time together. We were ecstatic when our first grade teacher, Mrs. Judy came in to eat! As she was leaving, she sat down at our table and visited for a while. She made a huge impression upon my life when I was just a little six year old girl. I had a grand experience in first grade which made me look forward to second grade and so forth! I thought she was the prettiest lady I had ever seen, and she still is today! She was telling us her age the other day and I honestly hope I look half as good as she does when I'm fifty, much less___________! lol I tell you, I sit here amazed and just get chill bumps all over when I think about all the people God has let me cross paths with. I can hardly contain myself. I love people-always have... People like Karen, Michelle, and Mrs. Judy will forever hold special places in my heart. If only they could look inside, for there are no words to express it.


Michelle and Karen catching up!

Diamonds in my life.

Time can't take away anything that has already been given:

Your treasures from days gone by are treasures still;

your most precious memories will always be.

We learn, as we go along,

that happiness is not one big, beautiful jewel we can hold-

or lose- in our hands.

Each one of us is an hourglass.

And in course of our lives,

we get to keep the diamonds that come our way among the passing sands.

~Douglas Pagels

How Does Your Garden Grow?!

My parents home.

Daddy built this house. I lived there from the age

of six until I got married at the age of 20.

My daddy's garden.

This picture was taken several weeks ago.

It's even prettier now.

I had planned to have a small garden this year, but

after we found out we would have to move, I knew

I couldn't have one. My daddy planted one for me

at his house. We are reaping from his hard work.

The size may not show on the picture, but

this cabbage was almost as big as a basketball.

It was wonderful cooked and shredded for cole slaw.

Beans, tomatoes, and squash.
Yum!

My Pa Pa Jess

I think of my grandparents daily. Although all of them are deceased, they were just such an important part of my life, I still feel so close to them. Pa Pa Jess was my daddy's daddy. He was a royal mess! Even as an old man, I thought he was just the cutest thing! Mischievous is a great word to describe him. You couldn't sit beside him without him reaching over and showing you how a mule eats corn by squeezing your knee, which would send us to the other end of the couch, because it tickled so much. He was always making jokes and kidding around. Pa Pa was a hard worker too. He worked on the railroad, did carpentry work, and farmed. My Cale has some actions and ways like Pa Pa Jess, which thrills me to no end. Pa Pa's birthday would have been Tuesday, June 23rd. God blessed me with special grandparents. Death may have separated us for a season, but according to each grandparent's testimony, I believe we'll meet again to be separated never again. Happy Birthday Pa Jess! (and try to behave!)

Indeed, Life Is Good!

Scot and I had a nice anniversary the 22nd. My parents gave us the grill pictured above.

Our children gave us a gift card from 'Olive Garden' which we enjoyed Thursday,the 25th. I ate calamari for the first time. Our church family gave us a generous love gift June 21st. Scot kidded and said that he was using his half to go on a new gun! Wait, maybe he wasn't' kidding! Ha. We also received many beautiful greeting cards, a JC Penny gift card, candle, and picture frames. Scot and I are very blessed with wonderful family and treasured friends. God has been tremendously good to us the past 24 years, and for that, we are truly grateful.

Scot and I decided to try a restaurant that we had never eaten at before. We chose 'Atlanta Bread'. The food was very good; that won't be our last visit.

Bistro Chicken Press (left)

Bella Chicken (right)

Potato salad, pickles, and chips

Chocolate cobbler for dessert

(Cracker Barrel)

After our meal at Atlanta Bread, we shopped a while at

Lowes and Staples, then stopped in at Cracker Barrel for dessert!

Happy 24th Anniversary to my sweet Scot.
And yes, I'd do it all over again!