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First Fall Event of the Season - Woodmont Baptist |
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Written by Barbara Eubanks
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Wednesday, 23 September 2009 12:10 |
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What a glorious day we had September 19, 2009, at the Ladies' Fall Luncheon at Woodmont Baptist in Florence, Al. Kathy Austin, along with her committee, brought fall indoors with decorations of oranges, browns, and greens. Tables were set in fall motiffs awaiting our scrumptuous catered lunch. The ladies brought their "giggle boxes" with them and enjoyed the funny church stories I shared with them. Afterwards as they came by my book table, I enjoyed personalizing their purchases and hearing a few of their tales. Below are the ladies who served on the events committee and worked to make this a special day. 
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 September 2009 12:17 |
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Parents Better than Birds |
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Written by Barbara Eubanks
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Monday, 20 July 2009 18:41 |
Those who know me well are well aware of the fact I like animals ONLY in their proper places – dogs and cats outside; horses in the pasture; and birds in the air. I must confess it was some of those creatures I allowed out of their place which made me reflect on good parents, like the ones who reared me. Isn’t strange how God gives us object lessons, even through birds? A nest of birds reminded me of how important good parents are.
It is phenomenal. Parents go from dunces to Einsteins almost overnight. When I noticed on my calendar July 26 designated as Parents’ Day, a train of thoughts chugged through my head – one being how smart my parents became as soon as I left the nest. Before I married, that the very house I wanted to leave every day to go places with my friends became the very place I desired to be when my new husband and I would leave our little bungalow to go somewhere. Those same parents who would say no to what, I thought, were reasonable requests seemed to lack knowledge of the real world, suddenly, became sages when I needed advise. (When I had children, I said no to the same requests, and after they left home, I got smarter also.)
Returning from a two-week vacation to Hawaii, the knee-high grass in the yard, the green swimming pool, and mountains of laundry brought me back into the real world post haste. Just as I struggled with my “to do” list, I opened the front door to set up my porch planters the wind had knocked over. To my surprise, I found a bird’s nest built slap-dab in the middle of my beautiful flowered door wreath. My first inclination was to snatch it out, but the cawing of a bird (I don’t know what kind; a bird is a bird to me.) stopped me. I realized it was pleading with me to leave its work unharmed. It had plans for that nest. Just as parents work hard and prepare “nests” for their children, so do birds. Okay, I became a softy and left it there, just for a day, to see what would happen.
The next day, to my surprise, there were four speckled eggs in the nest. I really couldn’t follow through with my demolition of the nest then – for two reasons. I knew in God’s order of things, those eggs needed a place to hatch Another reason was the eggs protectorate sat on the banister screeching at me. I think she/he would have pecked my eyes out if I had as much as touched the nest and eggs. I know my mother would have done more than pecked out the eyes of anyone threatening me or my siblings. Dad would have protected our home with his very life.
I became more interested in nature’s little scenario day by day. In a few more days, I found four tiny birds snuggled safely in the nest. Every time I opened the door, their tiny necks would stretch up and their mouths would open wide as they waited for food. Their parents had already conditioned them to trust and to accept what they needed to mature. Again, I thought of how my parents nurtured me and taught me skills for living.
The birds grew before my very eyes. In a matter of days, I found the nest empty. They, under the tutelage of their parents, had learned to make it on their own. Doesn’t this sound so familiar?
When I saw the birds no longer needed their resting place, I began my demolition. As I scrubbed the bird poop and residue off the front door and porch, I smiled a little and said, “Thank you, Lord, for parents who protected me, nurtured me, and then gave me my wings to make it on my own.”
Then I realized the analogy goes much farther. Isn’t that the kind of care our heavenly Father offers His children? Luke 12:6-7 came to mind: Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. |
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Written by Barbara Eubanks
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Monday, 11 May 2009 18:10 |
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With busy schedules and many demands on our time, my husband Steve and I know the importance of withdrawing for some rest and recreation. I can't think of a better location to do so than was our destination - Hawaii. God simply showed out when he made those islands. Everywhere I looked, the vistas were more than I could possibly absorb. I saw His magnificence in His creations. Even with all the beauty and fun we enjoyed, I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for enjoying such a great vacation. I thought how I would have liked to have shared that experience with the entire family - our sons and their spouses and our eight grandchildren. Then I remembered an sermon illustration Steve used at some point in his ministry. A pastor announced he would be gone two weeks for a vacation. A super-pious deacon came to him after the service and said, "Preacher, do you really think it is appropriate for you to take a vacation? You know the devil never takes one." "Yes, I know that, but I also know my Lord did, and I think I had rather follow His example than the devil's." The quick-witted pastor then reminded the man of the times Jesus saw need to withdraw from the crowds. I return home to loads of laundry, hundreds of emails, knee-high grass in the yard, but with a smile on my face. I praise God anew for His goodness and His grace. I am reminded by His creations that He wants me to have life and have it more abundantly. When the jet-lag leaves, I just know I will be a better writer, speaker, wife, mother, and grandmother for having experienced this wonderful time of rest and recreation. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 July 2009 18:36 |
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Lit Chicks and Easter Bonnets |
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Written by Barbara Eubanks
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Tuesday, 14 April 2009 18:48 |
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"In Your Easter Bonnet" - that's the ticket, I thought. It was my month to host our literary critique group, the Lit Chicks, and since it was Easter week, an Easter bonnet theme seemed to be appropriate. Only after emailing the members of our group the idea and getting their approval did I realize the problem; I didn't have an Easter bonnet. Not to be deterred, I went shopping. The only decent hats I found carried price tags of over a hundred bucks. Being the cheapskate that I am, I wasn't about to pay that for a one-day event. I went home and pulled out the only semblance of a hat that I owned - a black floppy wide-brimmed one (the same one I had used as a witch hat for our Halloween meeting). With a bit of creativity, I decided, I could make it work. To match my cream-colored dress, I found an off-white stocking, tied it around the crown for a band, added a black and white silk flower, and deemed it worthy of the event. It didn't feel quite as worthy when Gay, Lori, and Shirley, crowned with beautiful "bonnets" ( apparently they had dished out the dough for theirs), arrived. Athough Alice had already picked out hers, she failed to make the meeting due to a post-surgery doctor's appointment.. The girls didn't seem to mind my make-shift bonnet after I served them a good lunch. We, in turn, read our latest works, offered critisim and encourgement to each other, and laughed a lot. I had told my husband Steve we would probably be finished early since we had a member misssing. "We should be finished by 4:00PM, " I had told him. At 5:00 we were still chattering. Not to be totally left out, Alice met me in Jacksonville the next day for the two of us to tape a TV show about our literary critique group. It was only a thirty minute show, so we both were still gabbing when the camera's red light dimmed and Carl Brady, the emcee sat stunned thinking, "I thought I was to ask questions or say something or someway be in charge here." What a blessing to have such a group of collegues and friends! Maybe by next year I will have sold a best-seller and be able to fork out the bucks for a real Easter bonnet. ![]()  
Shirley kicks off shoes and lets herhair down. Barbara in her Easter bonnet |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 16 April 2009 10:28 |
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Blog
September 29, 2009, I signed a contract for Laughing with the Lord. This is my third humorous devotional book published with Tate Publishing Co. Each book contains true humorous church-related stories which segue into short devotions and prayer suggestions.