• Heritage

    MawMaw’s Bible

    The fourth family Bible in my collection belonged to my paternal grandmother, Annie Matil Jarrell Ezell. She lived from 1919 to 2009. We called her MawMaw.

  • Literary Pursuits

    Survivalist Fiction

    With so many unprecedented things happening this past year I find my mind going down all kinds “what if” rabbit holes. Without a doubt recent months have brought many major changes to life as we know it. Oddly enough, the one that has affected me the most–or at least how I think–was the stupid panic-buying of toilet paper last spring.…

  • Heritage

    The Shumaker Bible

    Heirloom Bibles: Part 2 The second family Bible I have inherited belonged to my great-grandparents, Ernest and Liffa Shumaker. It is even more tattered than the older Maberry Bible. The spine is split down the middle and the cover is literally disintegrating. Also, the first few pages are missing. However, much to my delight, this one does include Family Record…

  • Heritage

    The Maberry Bible

    Heirloom Bibles: Part 1 “You’ll be getting a package in the mail soon,” my mother told me last fall. “I will?” I asked. “What kind of package?” “Mama ‘Berry’s Bible,” she told me. “Seriously?!” I didn’t know Mama ‘Berry’s Bible was still in existence. Mama ‘Berry was my great-great-grandmother who lived from 1872-1949. I mentioned her last year when I…

  • Literary Pursuits

    Coventry Carol

    Several of the Christmas books I’ve read this month have been as hokey and predictable as a Hallmark movie, but that’s okay. I’ve also been inspired, encouraged… and educated, I guess you’d call it. For example, I learned about a very old carol that I don’t remember hearing of before: “Coventry Carol.” Do you know it? From The Christmas Quilt by…

  • Heritage

    A Story of Faithfulness

    This past weekend Ozark View Chapel in Mountainburg, Arkansas celebrated their 50-year anniversary as a church. During those 50 years they have only had 2 pastors: my Dad and my Granddaddy. My grandparents moved to the Ozarks in 1966 when I was about a year old. Six of their 10 children were still at home. Their dream was to establish…

  • Lifestyle

    Happy Fall, Y’all!

    I’m not ready for it to be fall. But then, I never am. Fortunately, around here we are eased into the season with glorious bright blue days and crisp nights. September and October are truly beautiful. It’s just that the increasingly shorter daylight hours remind me that the shadowy dark of winter is not too far off. I really need…

  • Lifestyle

    In the Quiet of the Morning

    In an effort to get more exercise I’ve been going for early morning walks around my neighborhood. I don’t know if it really counts as exercise since they are really more like short, leisurely strolls than power walks. I wish I enjoyed exercising. Maybe I will come to enjoy it if I keep forcing myself to do it. At least…