WHAT'S THE VIEW FROM WHERE YOU ARE?

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

Link:  http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2015/08/whats-view-from-where-you-are.html

What's the View From Where You Are?
Copyright 2003 Mary Marcia Norwood

"I wish for a train ride for my 9th birthday!" said my daughter, Sarah. "I've never-ever been on a train! Pl-e-e-e-e-ase, Mommy!"

CLICK on image to enlarge.  Granddaughter Megan Jewell, Daughters Sarah Zheng-Kang  and Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2003 Marcia Norwood

Two of my daughters, Sarah and Faith, and my granddaughter, Megan were dressed in matching blue and white pin-striped overalls and red turtlenecks.  We boarded the Amtrak train in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and were off on our adventure to Jefferson City, Missouri's capital city, to make Sarah's birthday wish come true. 

CLICK on image to enlarge. Granddaughter Megan Jewell, Daughters Sarah Zheng-Kang  and Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2003 Marcia Norwood

  "Let's call Mema (my mother) from the train," I said as we neared our destination.

"What's the view from where you are?" Mema asked me.

"We're crossing over a bridge and have beautiful views of the Missouri River. We're about to arrive in Jefferson City." I said.

All three girls chattered at the same time to Mema as they shared what they saw from the windows of the train.

Two weeks later, my mother died. She battled cancer bravely for over two years. The hospice nurses who cared for Mom called her their Hospice Poster Girl. Mom made peace with herself, her family, and with God before she crossed the bridge  to Heaven.

If I could talk to Mom today, I would thank her for pouring so much love into me that it continues to overflow into the lives of my own children and grandchildren, and I would ask her:  

"What's the view from where you are in Heaven?" 

CLICK on image to enlarge. Mom (Natalie Bush) on her wedding day, 1947.  Copyright 1947 Marcia Norwood

Family  Wedding Photos

CLICK on image to enlarge. Mom (Natalie Bush) and me on my wedding day, 1970.  Copyright 1970 Marcia Norwood

 What's the view from where you are today?

Thanks for stopping by!
Come back often, and invite a friend! 

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

 

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

 

2013 JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS: CINDY'S MEMORY

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

My friend,  Cindy, shared a Christmas memory about a book her mother read to her as a child in the 2011 JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS booklet.

Cindy's story is even more precious this year, 2013, as her mother went to Heaven just two weeks ago.

 

Cindy and Family.  Copyright 2011 Cindy Kohlstaedt

   

Christmas Memory

By

Cindy Kohlstaedt

One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a child was a beautifully illustrated pop-up book titled, Davey and the First Christmas, by Beth Vardon.   

Mom read it to us every year on Christmas Eve.

Once I learned to read, I would entertain my brothers and sister all through the holiday season - reading them the story of the little stable boy who cleaned the stable where Jesus would be born.

I would try to read it exactly like Mom did, even pausing for giggles in all the right places.

Even though we all had the story memorized, we still couldn't wait for Mom to read it on Christmas Eve.

When my first child was born, Mom gave the book to me. 
Davey and the First Christmas became a tradition for my children.

I remember thinking, as a child - even though Davey made messes, and broke things, and was just a little kid - God still had a very special job for him to do.  And what a fine job he did.  

Davey didn't know who he was cleaning the stable for, he just knew he wanted to do his best.  God used him even in all his clumsiness.

 Cindy Kohlstaedt

Davey and the First Christmas

Audio/Video: 

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KIo.Ap1ZtSIBcAUWT7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTByZWc0dGJtBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMQ--?p=davey+and+the+first+christmas+audio&vid=3213165e368f13305776a4de270ba76b&l=7%3A18&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4589680595699366%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3J3KxY9wsZw&tit=We+Survived+2012!+Davey+and+the+First+Christmas&c=0&sigr=11a9281es&sigt=11f14n7vl&age=0&&tt=b

CLICK on this image to ENLARGE. 

 Thank you, Cindy, 
for sharing your story.

I'm praying for you and your family this Christmas,
and for all those who have said, 
"Goodbye for now"
to a loved one.

Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

 "Brothers and sisters,
we do not want you to be uninformed
about those who sleep in death,
so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind,
who have no hope."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Holy Bible

 

Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

 "...Where we are told, "But our citizenship is in Heaven.
And we eagerly await a Savior from there,
the Lord Jesus Christ, 
Who, by the power than enables Him to bring
everything under His control,
will transform our lowly bodies 
so that they will be like His glorious body."

Philippians 3:20-21 
The Holy Bible 

Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

 Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and bring a friend!

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/