Grandma's photo gallery

Christian at 5 months.
Isn't he cute?

"Let's talk!"

It's common knowledge that Rebecca and I have been given the "gift to gab" and we are proud of it! We love e-mail, blogging, texting,(Rebecca only on this one), talking on cell phones, and just plain face to face verbal communication. What can be more fun than having lunch with girlfriends, talking and laughing for hours. One of my favorite Bible verses is found in Proverbs 25:11-"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." I'm beginning to think Christian has inherited this most "valuable" gene. His "words" may be difficult to understand but he's certainly entertaining. Enjoy listening as my grandson "talks"!

RevoLutionary Love

We all know what love is or at least we have our individual "definitions" but what is RevoLutionary Love? Quite simply put, it is showing the love of God-no strings attached. The pastor at Manna Church, the church I attend with my daughter, son, and daughter-in-law, is currently in the middle of a four-week sermon series titled: RevoLutionary Love. Pastor Fletcher challenges us to go beyond the world's standards of showing kindness and reach out in creative ways anonymously. We are given professionally printed cards which have the following information on the inside: "You just experienced RevoLutionary Love. Someone showed you the love of God-no strings attached. Jesus Christ was the greatest example of this that ever existed. He died on the cross to pay for sins that were not His own-they were yours. The person who gave you the card has experienced that Revolutionary Love and is passing it on to you." With the card then we might add money, gift certificates, gas cards, home-made goodies or anything else we are led to include. In other words reach out with the love of Jesus to a thirsty world where love is seldom shown without expecting something in return.
Every Sunday there are baskets of more cards to take and we continue to think throughout the week how we can show others that Jesus is alive in our community. I am finding this challenge both fun and convicting. To see more on this project go to Manna's website.

Reading Is Fun!

Our grandson agrees with that statement. Reading brings smiles, stimulates thought, provokes conversation, changes views, motivates action, enlightens understanding, and provides hours of enjoyable entertainment.
I have generally been of the opinion that one good book at a time is the most I can digest. Yet, just recently, I counted the number of books on my nightstand and was quite surprised. Five different selections were resting there all with bookmarks nestled among the pages and another is on order from Amazon!
Daily Light by Anne Graham Lotz was given to me by my parents in 1998 and I have read it through every year since, writing in the margins so I can chronicle events in my life and revisit them each year.
Voice of the Faithful by Beth Moore is a book of inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world. Since my sister and her husband will be serving as missionaries in Tanzania I thought this was a very relevant daily "read".
Everything Must Change; Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope by Brian D. McLaren was a Christmas gift from Jacob and Stacia. It deals with the question: "How do the life and teachings of Jesus address the most critical global problems in our world today?" THIS is my "thought provoking" read!
Black by Ted DeKker is book one in a trilogy. This is definitely an adrenaline-packed epic where there is a world of dreams colliding with a world of reality in a tug of evil versus good. Ted is one of my favorite authors, whose books Thr3e and Obssessd kept me up until dawn.
The Bible-New Living Translation, by God, is front and center this year. I'm once again challenged to read it in it's entirety but have happened upon a new method. The text is divided into seven sections and I read a portion from a different one each day of the week: The Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels, and Epistles.
Finally: my book on order-
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. Since I love to bake bread I am anxious for this book to arrive. I will add it to my pile!

I hope I have wet your appetite and you are hungry to turn some pages. Let me know what is currently occupying your nightstand.

"Thanks-mas" in North Carolina

Two holidays were combined on December 9th-11th. Hunter flew in from India while Jacob and Stacia,(Jacob's fiance),flew from San Diego all converging in Raeford, North Carolina. Following was our "designated" itinerary, which unbelievably we followed quite well.
DEC. 9TH:
Christian Michael Thorpe dedicated to the Lord at Manna Church
Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie
Transition into Christmas with opening of presents involving a crazy treasure hunt and a nerf gun fight throughout the Thorpe home
"Apples to Apples" family game occupying the evening hours
DEC. 10TH:
A morning professional photography session at a horticultural garden with sunshine and 80 degree weather
"Some-R-Set" tournament (an unusual bidding card game, which has become the source of fierce competition between the sexes in our family)
Pizza and "Hit the Deck", another fast moving card game
DEC. 11TH:
Pancake breakfast at Branden and Brooke's new home
Bocce ball up and down the sandy knolls of Thorpe's yard complete with fire ants that unmercifully attack "sandlefooted feet"
Murder-Mystery dinner, "Til Death Do Us Part" with everyone in costume and character for an evening of laughter (Check out Rebecca's blog-www.rebeccathorpe.blogspot.com, for more details on this event, which was voted in as an annual affair)

May your holiday gathering be as eventful and fun.

Scuba Diving "Proof"

Just wanted to let everyone know that we really DO scuba dive. Ha! (Photo courtesy of the dive master in Costa Rica.)

Daddy's home!!!

Leave it to Steve to "throw" us a curve ball. Rebecca and I were fully intending to go to the airport on Friday afternoon, Nov. 30th, with Christian in his mom's arms to greet Steve at the airport as he disembarked from the plane. It was going to be one of those "Hallmark Hall of Fame" moments! Well, Steve decided he was going to surprise us and surprise us he did! Rebecca's cell phone rang and as she was talking to Steve, assuming he was in Atlanta, Georgia, the door bell rang. Expecting another UPS Christmas delivery, I went to retrieve the delivery. I was speechless as I opened the door and saw Steve standing there in his army fatigues wearing a grin from "ear to ear". Needless to say there was no well-planned video. I did manage to grab my camera and get a family photo. It was a happy reunion, to say the least!!