My phone was in the holder. I drive with the camera on and when I see something I want to remember, I can press a button on the side of the phone and take a picture without ever taking my eyes from the road.

I personally believe God said, “Let there be color!” And there was autumn. Then He said, “Let there be heaven on the earth.” And there was West Virginia.

And it was good.

I took an impromptu trip across the state yesterday to see my sweet Uncle Dudley. My mama’s baby brother. He was just sixteen and in high school when I was born. He’s always kinda been my other dad. The one I didn’t get…do God brought me Uncle Dudley.

He’s a good, good man. The spitting image of his dad…my beloved PopPop. I look at him in his 80’s and I see what my grandpa would have looked like had he lived past 72. It’s eerie.

I had a wonderful drive through West Virginia yesterday. I didn’t leave town till around 3:30, so it was after dark by the time I got to his house. We visited for a couple hours, then I picked up my iPad and started showing him pictures. When my grandma was nearing the end of her life, she wouldn’t sleep. She would stand at the buffet and shuffle papers and poke around in the drawers till the sun came up. She was bending and ruining precious family photos, so my mom took them home with her for safe keeping. Some of them got scanned on my computer and I downloaded them to the iPad. They’re mostly photos telling the story of the farm itself. I’m working on a project and I wanted to make sure I got the names and places and dates right before I work on it.

I learned the name of my great grandfather’s 4th wife. I kinda thought he’d been married between Nancy and Pearl. Now I know, I can do some more research and get more info. This was one I didn’t know about at all.

We have been praying for my dear friend’s stepson. Unfortunately, he passed away Monday night. Yesterday, Little texted me out of the blue and asked how my friend was that we went camping with… “the one with all the spiritual energy around her.” I wrote back and said, “Interesting you should ask…why?” She said she just had a gut instincts something was wrong. I told her about the death of her stepson and Little said, “Yeah, that’s probably what was triggering that. You need to reach out to her and see if she’s ok.”

Wow!

Little is an old soul. She has incredible spiritual gifts…one of which is this “knowing”. Grandma had it. I have it. Daughter #2 has it. And now Little. There is no way she could have known. She lives in Colorado. I haven’t spoken to her in a few days. And, she doesn’t read my blog. She’s in high school…she doesn’t have time.

So, lots of memories swirling around me here.

Such good stuff!

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“On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.”

1 Corinthians 14:3 ESV