"Stubby's Destiny" has arrived!

"Stubby's Destiny" has arrived! The little donkey trotted right into our hearts! :-)
For those of you who have ordered a copy, we will be mailing them on Tuesday. If any of the rest of you would like a copy, be sure to let us know.

Kim Sponaugle illustrated both "Angel Eyes" and "Stubby's Destiny". You will be moved by her heartwarming illustrations.

The Lord has placed Kim and I together again on another book - "One Noble Journey". You pray for us as we begin working together in the next few weeks.

Thanks for your love and support,
Dixie

Christmas Before Thanksgiving

(Grandma is the lovely lady on the left.)



The move from a spacious acreage to a small, one-bedroom apartment was devastating to my grandmother. She was forced to move because of an aggressive inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis.

In her new apartment complex other women were experiencing the same pain she was; terminal illness, limited income, loss of spouse to death or a nursing home. A remnant of these women formed a weekly Bible study. Grandma became a faithful member. This band of prayer warriors became "kindred spirits" as they prayed for one another and comforted each other from God's Word.

It became apparent by fall that Grandma would not be with us much longer. Her spirit was strong, but her body was growing weaker. A few days before Thanksgiving, she had to be hospitalized. The cancer had metastasized to her lungs.

Word spread quickly among her little Bible study group that Grandma Eleanor was dying. Some had seen the ambulance take her away. Loving cards and concerned phone calls began pouring in.

I hurried to the hospital and hovered over my grandmother's weak frame. I cherished every moment I could spend with her. There was a tap on Grandma's Hospice room door. One of her friends from her Bible study appeared at the door. In her arms was a brown paper grocery sack. She tiptoed to Grandma's bedside, and stooped over the metal bedrail and planted a kiss on Grandma's cheek. Grandma's dark chocolate eyes twinkled as she recognized her friend.

"Mable, how did you get here?" Grandma asked.

"Took a cab, Eleanor. I just had to." Mable chuckled, "It's cold outside, but it was warm in the cab!"

"Oh Mable, you shouldn't have come out in this bitter cold."

"I had to, Eleanor! Christmas is coming. I wanted you to have your Christmas card and the gift I made for you! It's all right here in my bag."

Mable rummaged through her brown bag. She pulled out a bright red envelope.

"This one is from me to you, Eleanor!" She showed Grandma the card. The sunlight shone through the window. Sunbeams splashed on the colorful card causing Mable's eyes to squint.

"Let me read it to you." Mable said as she began to read aloud,

What can I give Him poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I'd give Him a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I'd do my part,
I know what I'll give Him,
All of my heart!

Tears glistened in Grandma's eyes as she whimpered, "Thank you,
Mable."

"That's not all, Eleanor, there's more! Christmas is coming! I just wanted you to have your Christmas present a little early this year." Mable gushed as she pulled out a small package wrapped in previously used Christmas paper topped with a recycled, red bow.

Grandma was too weak to open her special gift. Mable handed it to me. I carefully tore the paper off the small box and opened the lid. Peering back at me was a teddy bear holding a lacey parasol.

"Yep, it's true, Eleanor! Christmas is coming, and I just had to give you your present a little early this year." Mable squealed as she reached for Grandma's hand.

"Mable, thank you and all the other ladies for being my friend this past year. You tell our little group goodbye for me. Thank them for all their prayers. Tell them I'll be spending Christmas with Jesus this year."

Hot tears trickled down Mable's face and fell on her quivering lips.

"I love you, Eleanor!"

"And I love you!" Grandma whispered and then closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Mable reached for me. We embraced. We wept. I thanked her for her kindness to my beloved grandmother as I walked her to the door and told her goodbye.


When I returned to Grandma's side, I wept quietly as I realized that Grandma's "home-going" would be soon. I looked at the teddy bear holding the lacey parasol. I reread Mable's Christmas card,

What can I give Him poor as I am?

I realized that I had just witnessed these verses lived out before my eyes. A loving friend with meager means had given her very best. She even celebrated Christmas before Thanksgiving knowing Grandmother wouldn't live until Christmas.

I closed my eyes and silently thanked God for giving me such a wonderful grandmother, and for giving my grandmother such a wonderful friend.

Grandma went home to be with Jesus two days after Mable's visit! She celebrated Christmas with Jesus.

More Pix from Dix

Just had to share some more pictures with y'all from Pastor's Appreciation Sunday.

The Apron

I will never forget a treasured Christmas present I received from my paternal grandmother over forty-eight years ago. I was only three or four, but I still can envision in my mind’s eye how Grandma watched with anticipation as I opened a package and pulled out a red gingham checked apron that she had hand-stitched just for me. The single pocket on the front was solid red cotton, cut out and sewn in the shape of a baby carriage with two large buttons for wheels. A white chain stitch was embroidered and topped off with a flat pearl button for the carriage handle. But what made the apron the perfect gift for a girly girl was an itty-bitty plastic doll tucked inside the carriage pocket.

Grandma believed in learning life skills early. “Little hands should be helping hands,” she often said with enthusiasm.

My preschool hands were taught how to set and clear the dining room table. Christmas baking was also part of my early childhood training. Grandma would set me on a chair that faced the kitchen counter of the old farm house, tie my gingham apron around my tiny waist and my cooking lessons would begin. We would bake all kinds of Christmas cookies. Grandpa loved smelling the tantalizing aroma of cinnamon and gingerbread that wafted through the whole house. My job was to put the Red Hots and raisins on the gingerbread man’s tummy and face. When all the baking was done, Grandma would fold my apron and put it in a cabinet drawer. Then, I crawled up in her lap and listened as she read, “The Gingerbread Man.”

In 1997, Grandma was diagnosed with terminal inflammatory breast cancer. I wondered how I would go on without her daily presence in my life. She was the stabilizing force in our family for as long as I could remember. As the time for her departure grew near, we spoke often of favorite family memories. I mentioned the gingham apron. She smiled weakly and said, “Life’s simple treasures are the best.”

After her death, I thought I would drown in the grief that swelled over my soul in waves. Shades and shadows of suffocating bereavement attempted to swallow me. I would find comfort in the Scriptures and consolation in the old hymns about Heaven, but for some strange reason the familiar gingham apron soothed my anguish, too.

I have a special drawer in my kitchen for the precious heirloom. On days I feel I’m losing eternal perspective I take it from its hiding place. Its symbolism helps keep me grounded. Every inch of it resonates my godly grandmother’s life. The three buttons are still securely fastened even after nearly fifty years – so like Grandma. She was always predictable and dependable. The decorative chain stitch represents Grandma’s keen ability to keep all of our family linked together no matter what life tossed our way. And the little baby tucked in the pocket symbolizes a little girl, forty-eight years ago, who through my grandmother, God kept safe and sheltered from life’s howling winds. Even though the apron no longer fits around my ballooning waist, it fits around my heart just fine.

Family Pictures

Here are a few of family pictures.
Enjoy,
Dixie

Clergy Appreciation

We have the most precious flock. Today was Clergy Appreciation Sunday. It was a very special day. A time of reflection and looking back over this past year and all the blessings that God has sent our way. Here are a few pictures of our special day. Our creative son-by-God's-design, Zacharia David Fox, put together a human video that ended with Paul high up on a scaffold. Look at the pictures and see for yourself. :-)

Some of you have been e-mailing and asking how you can purchase "Stubby's Destiny". If you just let me know how many copies you want, I will reserve them for you and mail them out as soon as the books arrive. They are $13.00 each. We are going to try to keep the cost down as much as we can. If you'd like to reserve a copy just e-mail me at Phillips4Him@omnitelcom.com. Thank you for your love and support.

Writing for wee ones,
Dixie

Shaping Small Souls

I just wanted some of you to see Kim Sponaugle's amazing work. Kim has illustrated both "Angel Eyes" and "Stubby's Destiny". Next month she will begin illustrating "One Noble Journey".

The first of the year the very talented K.C. Snider will be illustrating my fourth book with GAP - "Baby Jethuth is Mithing".

To see just how amazingly talented Kim and K.C. are, you must visit their web pages.
You can go to Kim's at www.picturekitchenstudio.com - Just drop in there and be sure to take time to look around. You'll be glad you did.

To see K.C.'s awesome artwork just go to www.kcsniderart.com You will be blown away by her talent. Be sure to check out all her western art. Makes me want to start yodeling.

I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed these two ladies to be a part of my life.

Dixie