Hey all,

Remember my blog spot? I totally forgot about it until today! I wasn't sure if it still existed, but I found it just now. I enjoyed reading your comments from the past blogs. I noticed that my last blog was in 2014!

This will not be lengthy. I know you're busy. 

It's hard to believe it has been ten years since the Texas flood and our move to Georgia. Where does time go? We are all ten years older, but I don't want to think about that.😀

Here it is March 2021 and we've lived through a pandemic. The virus is still around but we've received vaccines and the pandemic is slowing down. I wonder if life will ever be normal again (or back to abnormal, as Dillard says). Our lives have changed, but God hasn't. He is our hope.

Spring has arrived in a big way here in Forsyth County. The Bradford Pear trees are everywhere and their white blossoms are gorgeous. I've seen fields of them and they're a lovely sight. The Cherry trees are in full bloom too, as are Redbud trees, yellow Forsythia and other flowering plants. God has given us a beautiful world to enjoy!

Once warmer weather arrives, and the trees are clothed in their brilliant shades of greens, we'll be out in our little Miata driving through the North Georgia mountains where we grew-up. We'll reminisce about our past, enjoy the day (maybe even wade in a cold stream) and look forward to the future. We have much for which to be thankful.

I hope all is well with each of you. This is my prayer for you - 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Jane Wilbanks

Cumming, Georgia

March 25, 2021

Happy New Year!

Dear Family and Friends,


I noticed that I've not posted a blog since 2013! Where has the time gone? The older I get, the quicker time passes. When I was a child I remember that it took forever for Christmas to arrive each year. Now I pack away the decorations and then it's time to pull them out again!


Speaking of age and time, I attended my 50th high school reunion in July. It was held at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, Georgia - a beautiful mountain setting. It was fun seeing classmates from the past, and yes we looked a little different than we did 50 years ago. :) It was a great evening and was nice to reconnect with some I'd not seen since graduation.


Staying with the subject of time, it's hard to believe we've been back in Georgia for four years now this month. We are enjoying living in Cumming, just north of Atlanta. We have all the shopping and restaurants nearby that anyone would want, plus we have great neighbors and a wonderful church. We are blessed.


Dillard is doing great after his unexpected health issues and surgery in 2012. He has full use of his arm, thanks to prayer and lots of physical therapy. He is the most disciplined person I know and still exercises his arm and shoulder every day.


God continues to bless us with grandchildren - a total of 13 now and one due next July. We also have one precious great-grandson. Are we getting old, or what? Only yesterday was I walking down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams and here we are 47 years later with gray hair and bodies we don't recognize in the mirror. :)


Yes, time passes quickly, so enjoy each day. It is a gift from God.


Happy New Year! May your 2015 be rich with God's blessings.


Jane M. Wilbanks
December 29, 2014
Cumming, Georgia

Hi Friends,

Happy November!

With email on my computer, iPhone and Kindle Fire, plus Instant Messaging, Instagram and Facebook, I forget about my Blog!!!

I've written only one post this year of 2013! It's below. I don't know why the last few paragraphs look the way they do, but I hope you'll take time to read it. I wrote it on Sept 11, but just posted it today. Yes, today! I forgot about it and found it in my drafts.

I hope to post more thoughts and photos during 2014. I don't know if anyone reads them but I enjoy writing and this is my way of sharing with my friends and family.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! May God bless you and yours.

Be sure to read Psalm 100 with your family on Thanksgiving Day.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving -
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
(New Living Translation)


Jane

An Important Day in History - 9/11/2001 - And What About Today? 9/11/2013

Where were you when the towers came crashing down?

Dillard and I were enjoying our vacation on Grand Cayman Island; especially the soothing, warm  and beautiful waters of the Caribbean Ocean.

On the morning of the 11th, Dillard turned on the radio (he was searching for a station with Christian music and found one!) in our condo on Seven Mile Beach. He then heard that the first plane had hit. We immediately turned on the TV and saw the second plane crash. We, with the rest of the world, were stunned.

Our hearts were broken for our fellow Americans and for our beautiful homeland. Needless to say, we stayed in front of the TV for most of the day. To me it was surreal, maybe because we weren't actually on American soil. I could hardly believe it happened.

Since no air traffic was allowed into or out of the island, we remained extra days in paradise. Flying home to Texas, days later, is a story within itself. I won't go into it now other than to say that it was after midnight (dark) when we arrived at our home in Fort Worth. It was also a miracle that we made it home within 24 hours.

The next morning when I left the house to go grocery shopping, I couldn't believe the display of American flags on houses and cars! It was a beautiful sight but was also a very emotional time for me. I cried for the first time since the tragedy. Being home made it real.

This morning, while thinking of this date, I remember how this horrific tragedy turned our country to the Lord, for a time.

Do you remember all the special prayer meetings? Do you remember how people suddenly became more religious? Why did it take a tragedy to cause this awakening in a land that was once called "a Christian Nation" and where is America now, spiritually? It's something to ponder twelve years later.

Where are you today in your spiritual walk with the Lord? I'm asking myself the same question.

I'm studying Deuteronomy with a group at my church. It's a Precept study and those of you who have done Precept know how in-depth the Kay Arthur studies are. This weeks study was a reminder to the Israelites of their great God and of His expectations of them.

This reminder made me stop and search (with a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb!) through my own life. Am I truly where I need to be in my spiritual life? Have the things of the world crowded into my life? Is known sin present in my life? Am I sold out completely to God? These are tough questions for me.

Here's the reminder I mentioned above  - "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" Deuteronomy 10: 12-13
Even though this was specifically directed to the Israelites, it applies to "believers" today. God rescued the Israelites from Egypt and brought them to a new land where their needs were met and satisfied.



God did the same for us when He brought us out of our bondage (sin) by the blood of Jesus. He brought us out and gave us forgiveness. He gave us a new life, a life of satisfaction because of Jesus. With a God who did this for us, shouldn't we live by the reminder above out of love, gratitude and obedience to Him?
As we think of and pray for those who lost loved ones on 9/11, let us ask God to give them strength, love and courage and that their hearts might be focused on Him. Pray that our lives, too, may be turned toward Him.

Christmas Memories

Can you believe it's almost Christmas 2012? This year has flown by! Thinking of Christmas reminded me of two of my writings about my childhood Christmas memories. These were written in 2007.

I don't know about you, but I get a little sentimental this time of year. I miss my parents and the wonderful ways we celebrated Christmas in my home town. 

MY FATHER’S CHRISTMAS TREES

I regret that I never thanked him for the lovely trees. As a father he probably didn’t
expect it, and I’m sure he knew in his own way the enjoyment each tree brought to our
family.

In the 1950’s, Christmases in Blue Ridge, Georgia were exciting to this hometown girl.
Signs of the season were everywhere as merchants along Main Street embellished their
store windows with Christmas trees, colorful lights, shiny tinsel and tempting
merchandise. Ornamental decorations topped the light posts throughout town, and
City Park held a decorated tree.

In keeping with the season, my family, as well as others, placed trees inside the front
windows of our homes. In my opinion, ours was the prettiest of all – thanks to my dad.
Each December, Dad searched through the woods, cut down a live tree, and brought it to
our home on South Main Street. Without fail my mother said, “It’s too big.” Amazingly,
it turned out to be the ideal size.

It pleased me that Dad chose our tree each year; he had a way of finding the perfect one.
To this day I remember how he looked when he came in from the cold, hauling the tree
behind him. He wore a heavy brown jacket; an orange cap with woolen flaps that fell
over his ears; thick gloves that covered his large work-worn hands, and lace-up boots
with traces of mud. His face was slightly red from the cold, but he was smiling. He had
done a good thing and he knew it.

　
We covered the tree with large lights of red, blue, green, yellow, white, and orange; the
1950’s kind before miniature bulbs became popular. Many old ornaments, as well as new
hung from the branches as we breathed in the fragrance of pine or cedar. The
finishing touch was the “throwing of the icicles.” With each throw they fell through the
tree, draped gracefully across the limbs and caused the tree to glisten.

When the tree was lit, it shone! There was something surreal about it that could not be
explained. It stood in all its glory in front of the living room windows for all to enjoy. In a dignified
way it seemed to shout, “Look at me. I’m gorgeous!” We couldn’t help but look.

On Christmas morning my sister and I dashed to the living room to see our gifts from
Santa. Our first sight was of the tree, glowing in its entire splendor, flooding the room
with a soft shimmering light.

Our red and white stockings hung over the fireplace. They bulged with all kinds of goodies,
including an orange, a bright red apple, and a variety of nuts stuffed deep in
the toe.

The crèche with baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph set on the mantle above; a reminder of the
true meaning of Christmas.

Fun gifts sat under the tree waiting to be discovered -- a topaz birthstone ring; a doll that
walked; Roy Rogers and Dale Evans figurines sitting atop their horses, or maybe a
Mickey Mouse watch; a bicycle with sparkly streamers; and an Andy Williams record
album beside a portable record player. All this joy took place under the tree’s
glow as our family enjoyed this special day.

　
My childhood is long gone, as are my precious parents and the beautiful trees; but how
grateful I am for these lingering memories - memories of Christmases past and of
splendid trees, recorded like movies in my mind to be played over and over for the joy
they bring.

Jane Wilbanks
January 10, 2007
Whitney, Texas

　

Thoughts behind the writing of My Father’s Christmas Trees – Jane Wilbanks ~ January 10, 2007

My family lived on East Main Street in Blue Ridge, Georgia. My dad was a hard-working dairy farmer who left early each morning to drive to our farm just outside of the city limits.

I suppose my dad grew accustomed to the cold winters in the mountains of North Georgia, but as a child it saddened me to know he worked outdoors in such freezing weather. Regardless of the cold December weather, I know he didn’t mind searching for our Christmas tree. I think he found joy in doing it.

The tree was placed in front of the living room windows. It looked pretty inside the room as well as from the street where it was admired by friends. Since the room was spacious with a high ceiling, my dad cut down a very tall and full tree. Without fail, my mother thought it was too large. Once the tree was in place, we all agreed that it was the perfect size.

Recent generations may not be familiar with icicles for trees. They were thin strips of textured aluminum placed on the branches to give a shimmer to the tree. In later years they were made from a lightweight substance that didn’t hang as gracefully as the original.

The nativity that set on the mantle is in my possession. It is old and worn but it is still beautiful to me. As a child, I enjoyed gazing at the graceful angel and the other figurines; Joseph in a green robe, Mary in a blue one, both looking down at baby Jesus in a manger full of hay, as sheep and cattle linger nearby.
 
Growing up in the 1950’s was very different from today. Our family received gifts and toys only on birthdays and at Christmas, not throughout the year. As children we participated in giving Christmas gifts to family members and close friends. We enjoyed the look of surprise and delight as they opened gifts from us. We found joy in giving! That’s one reason Christmas was so special.

Even though I wrote about memories of the trees, stockings, and gifts, I must say that we never forgot the true meaning of Christmas. It was celebrated at our church through music and the telling of the Christmas story, and we often went caroling on a cold winter’s night.

What a shame that Christmas is so commercialized today that the word “Christmas” is often removed and replaced with other greetings such as, “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings.” I count on my children to continue to teach the true meaning of Christmas to their children. I pray that this message will spread from generation to generation.

Now that I’m older I realize that my parents probably sacrificed for my sister and for me to have
a pleasant Christmas. They didn’t seem to mind. They saw our joy and heard our laughter as we opened gifts or discovered wonderful things under the tree. We were grateful for the things we received. We expressed it by giving hugs and by saying, “Thank you.”

I feel blessed to have these sweet memories of Christmas - memories of parents who did their best to make it a special time and memories of my father who searched for the perfect tree.

 THE MOUNTAIN STREAM

How beautiful,

The mountain stream;

So swift and cold,

So clear and clean.

Quickly rushing along its way,

What a sight to see on a beautiful day!

Small waterfalls appear here and there,

And, oh, the smell of clean fresh air,

Flowering shrubs and banks of ferns,

Turtles and fish and squiggly worms!

Quickly rushing along its way,

What a sight to see on a beautiful day!

With bare feet and rolled-up cuffs,

The stones feel smooth or sometimes rough,

Pools of water, shallow or deep;

Give a respite from summer’s heat.

Quickly rushing along its way,

What a sight to see on a beautiful day!

It brings a pleasure

That can’t be measured,

A place to play, a place to wade,

A place to linger on a hot summer day.

Quickly rushing along its way,

What a sight to see on a beautiful day!

Jane Wilbanks

May 27, 2002

Blue Ridge, Georgia

 

I was visiting my mother in Georgia when I wrote this poem and living in Fort Worth, Texas at the time. Those of you who grew up in the North Georgia mountains will identify with this poem. The mountain streams were a beautiful part of our childhood.

I've decided to start sharing some of my older writings. This one was written August 2, 2004 in Fort Worth, Texas. I hope you enjoy it!

A Faith Lesson

As I relaxed by the pool and  watched my son, Jeff, play with his son, Jadon, I saw a clear illustration of faith and trust.

Jeff encouraged two year old Jadon to jump to him in the water. Jadon hesitated: he was determined to stay on the edge of the pool. If only he would take a step forward, he would fall into his father's arms.

Finally (with many promptings) Jadon jumped and was caught by Jeff's strong arms. He decided this was a fun thing to do and from that moment on he climbed the ladder many times and jumped to Jeff. He had a huge smile on his face as he totally trusted his dad to catch him.

Isn't this the way we often behave? God, our Father, asks us to take a leap of faith. He is waiting, ready to catch us to keep us from drowning in a new venture.

At first we hesitate - we stand on the edge. We stand there looking and anticipating what will happen. Finally, we get the courage (from His many promptings) to take a step toward the thing that frightens us, and we jump. How wonderful it feels to be caught in the arms of God!

I smile as I think of Jadon's grin each time he jumped. He was excited; he was thrilled; and he was happy he had taken a step forward.

We miss out on God's great plans for us when we fail to trust Him with our next move. He wants us to be excited; he wants us to be thrilled; he wants us to be happy when we take a step of faith.

Next time you hesitate to move forward, remember that the Lord God Almighty is waiting for you with out-stretched arms. Enjoy the leap!

Storms

I was just listening to Casting Crown's song, "Praise You in the Storm," and it reminded me of a literal storm in my life. I'm thinking of The Great Flood of September 2010, as I call it. I'm still amazed at the peace God gave to us during the storm. Not only during, but afterwards, too. It was such a blessing to feel God's presence during that difficult time.

Not everyone has experienced a "literal" storm, but everyone has experienced at least one major upheaval in life. As my favorite pastor, Charles Carter, used to say, "It's not a matter of if but when."

Storms do come. They destroy. They try to steal everything within us, yes even our faith. Therefore, our foundation of faith must be built on the Rock of Jesus Christ, which in turn, enables us to stand firm on solid ground as we continue to trust him - knowing that he is in control. He can, and he will, help us through the storm. He promises to always be with us.

While writing this, an old poem, The Rainy Day, by Henry W. Longfellow, came to mind. I memorized it in high school. The poem states that some days are dark and dreary and that into every life some rain must fall. Longfellow goes on to say "Behind the clouds is the sun still shining". I don't think Longfellow meant for this poem to have spiritual significance. It just states that we all experience rainy days, and the sun is still shining above the clouds, which is true. Storms are a part of life.

As I think of  our storms in a spiritual sense, I must say, yes, even Christians have rainy days...

Yes, some days may be dark and dreary...

Yes, it looks as if the sun will never shine...

But during that time, we must remember - above the clouds, the SON is still shining!

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

Love to each of you.

A Dream Come True

As most of you know, I am taking riding lessons. Early this morning I went riding with my neighbor who is also my instructor. I am not a "morning person", EVER, but once I finally make myself get out of bed, I enjoy the early morning hours. Today, knowing that I was going riding, I had a great incentive to throw off the covers and climb out of bed. (I suppose I should say "jump" out of bed since ours is so high.)

I jerked off my nightgown and put on a shirt, jeans, belt and socks (yawning the whole time). I ate a small amount of breakfast (fixed by hubby), brushed teeth, and pulled on my boots that waited for me on the screened porch. I then headed across our backyard, waded through a small portion of creek, climbed a steep bank (I am thankful for a few skinny trees that give support), and walked into my neighbor's yard. My morning was off to a good start! It became extra special when the horses gave me a "good morning" neigh. I love that sound!

Before learning to ride, I thought that all a person had to do was hop into a saddle and take off, right? Wrong. Here are the steps taken before riding:

Go into the pen, find your horse, put a fabric halter on him while he is busy eating hay and does not want to be disturbed. Lead him to the fence and tie him there. This requires learning how to tie a special knot, one that is easy for a human to untie but difficult for a horse. Horses are smart animals and can untie easy knots and open gates - not a good thing if either happens.

Use a currycomb to get rid of dirt particles and other stuff matted in his coat. Next, brush out all the loosened debris (I know now why cowboys wear bandanas over their faces, and it isn't for robbing banks). This grooming process takes time, but the horse enjoys it and so do I. It is a time for bonding.

If needed, lift each hoof and clean out mud.

Spray the horse all over with insect repellent.

Go into the tack room, gather bridle, saddle with pad, and go back to the horse. (Smart, the horse I ride, likes to smell the pad before I place it on him.) He is such a cutie!

Place pad on the horse's back; lift the extremely heavy saddle up onto the pad. Make sure the pad and saddle are in proper position.

Reach under the horse, grab the cinch/girth, thread the strap through it (and the saddle) several times, and tighten. This wide strap holds the saddle in place.

Again, reach under the horse, grab the flank cinch, and buckle it.

Hold the bridle, put the bit into the horse's mouth and lift the bridle over his ears. Buckle strap.

Take off the fabric halter.

Whew! As you can see, this is a lot of work.

Sometimes I "work" Smart in a round pen before riding. This requires making him walk, canter, and gallop around the pen while I stand in the middle using a whip and voice commands. This works the feistiness out of him, but it wears me out since I have to gallop along side him! Actually, it's a great workout for both of us.

Now it is time to climb into the saddle and ride! Yipee! Yee-haw! Woo-who!

This morning as I rode, my eyes drank in the beauty of the magnificent Texas sky, an expanse of pastel blue mingled with white clouds, stretching as far as my eyes could see. The pastures were green because of recent rains, the creek flowed steadily in places, and the temperature was just right. A few July wildflowers revealed their faces among the tall grasses giving the landscape a variety of color. The beauty surrounding me filled my heart with joy!

We rode in pastures. We rode in wooded areas. We rode through Cedar Creek. In addition, we climbed two steep banks, one being a creek bank. Overall, it was a pleasant and enjoyable ride.

I feel blessed to be experiencing a childhood dream come true. I thank God for this marvelous opportunity to ride, and I also praise him for the splendor of his creations.

Love to each of you,

Jane

PS After riding, reverse the steps listed above. Give your horse a yummy carrot for his good work and give yourself a pat on the back for having fun during a major workout. You can have a carrot too, if you'd like. :)

Springtime in Texas

I have lived in Texas for almost twenty-three years now. This is the first "real" Spring that I remember us having. We usually go from winter to summer without much spring in between. It is beautiful here! Bluebonnets, Indian Paint Brushes and other wildflowers are in full bloom. Our yard is green, as are the surrounding trees. The creek is clear and is flowing nicely. The pollen has been washed away by just the right amount of rain. All is "well" for the moment. I've mentioned to Dillard many times that our "wellness" can change within a few minutes time. I don't mean to sound negative, it's just the way life is, but for right now I am enjoying every minute of my life here in White Bluff Resort.

Our house is now on the market. If it sells we will move back to our roots in Georgia. I love the state of Georgia, especially its mountain regions with lush green trees and clear, cold streams. I also love the state of Texas and consider myself a Texan. It will be with mixed emotions if/when I leave this state. The "down" side is that we'll be leaving Wendy and her family behind. We will miss them! The "up" side is that we'll be living closer to a few relatives and to our good friends that we left behind back in 1988.

Wow! 1988 - so much has happened since then. Our children grew-up, left home, got married, had children of their own and are living their own lives in other areas of the USA. We don't see them as often as we'd like, but we enjoy them as much as possible when they visit.

Another huge change for Dillard and myself is the aging process that has taken place! Our hair has changed color, our bodies are shaped a little differently, but thank goodness we still have our sense of humor and all of our teeth!!

Okay, I digress. Back to the subject of Springtime and weather - we had a very long, cold winter for our area of Texas. We also had an abundance of rain in early spring and now we're having beautiful sunshine and warmer temperatures. My kind of weather! I'll post a few photos so you'll know how things are looking around here.

I hope all is well with each of you. You are loved! Happy Spring!