"I'm Hit, But I Think I Can Make it"

A few months ago,
 I was sitting in a booth eating lunch 
when I overheard 3 "bubba's" talking
 about a certain preacher's wife I know personally.
 She is a great lady!
   If she were a "Hoochy Mama," she still didn't deserve it. 
I wanted to defend her, and slap them up beside the head.
For my Randall's sake, I didn't.
 I'm a Christian, a preacher's wife, mother, and grandmother, I love my Jesus and I love people,
 but I have a big problem liking "backbiters."
 I don't.

The "Church" today could be so much better,
 if some of it's former member's were still sitting on the pew, singing in the choir, and preaching, but we lost them. 
People like "Elvis," who were kicked out of the choir,
 his hair was too this, too that. 
Did you know that Jessica Simpson and Katy Perry recorded & sang for the "Church," but were pushed away because they were too curvy.

I could give you a long list of superstars, 
who loved  the church, but were turned away.
The world say's, ''Wow, you don't want them? 
I'll take them''. Jesus is saying the opposite.
 The world then take's those who belong to "Jesus,"
 and some end up like the late great 
"Whitney Houston," or "Elvis." I often fantasize that "Whitney" could have been like her "character" in 
"The Preacher's Wife," and lived to be 90.
What a great evangelist "Elvis" would have been.
 Girls like Brittany, Miley, Katy, & Jessica,
 could be Sunday School teachers, preacher's wives,
 choir directors, etc. 
We would all be happier, especially "God." 
It's NOT to late for them.

After "Marilyn Monroe" was placed in her favorite
 foster home, she attended church, revival meetings, etc.
She loved this Christian home.
"Norma Jean," asked Jesus into her heart 

After hearing Amiee Semple McPherson preach, 
she cried her eyes out, stating,
 "I want to be just like her when I grow-up. 
Think what she could of been! 

As a preacher's wife,
 I do know how it feels to be under the microscope. 
I know how it feels to have your heart broken, 
to be ripped to shreds verbally, to be falsely accused. 
It happens to us all! But believe me, there is nothing to do but get up, clean the wound, get back on that horse, and keep trusting our Savior. I would rather have Jesus,
 live to be 90, than to have this world, and be snuffed out in my prime. So don't give up girls, if I can do it, so can you!

"We've Come Along Way Baby!"

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

Sometimes I feel like such a relic of the past! 

I was born and raised in modern southern California, so what's wrong with me? 

From the time I can first remember, my nuclear family, was pretty much awesome.

Not rich, not poor, white middle class. Close knit! 

Dad worked hard, mom was a "housewife," she worked hard too.

 Picnics, camping, hot dogs & beer, fun and normal. Like everyone else.

 Dad made his own home brew, in the backyard, & I rolled his cigarettes.

My family partied on weekends. Except Grandma! She read the Bible, 

went to church, didn't allow booze in her fridge, & joyfully took care of her grandchildren. 

While her children went to honky-tonks to dance, drink, 

and hear my mother sing with the likes of "Merle Haggard."

( My grandson just asked me, "Who's Merle Haggard?")

My parents never went to church, I went a few times with "Grandma."

 I did not see her do anything remotely unladylike. 

I didn't know any "Grandma" who wasn't a lady back then. 

That meant no smoking, drinking, or being a "Run Around."

In fact, it would never enter a person's mind, that people 

who attended church, would smoke or drink. 

We even thought YOU had to clean up your life before you could walk thru the church door! (mistakenly!)

 So why are most people who attend church these days,

 not the least bit concerned with "boozing it up?"

 We are "American Christians," not from Italy or France. 

Anyway, why do we want to be like them? They would rather be us. 

It is as if those raised in church, want to flaunt how "worldly" they have become.

 Imagine "Grandma" popping the cork with supper, or lighting up?

 Her 7 sons would have been crushed.

Real sinners want to see real "Christians" who have overcome sin by God's grace.

 Few "Christians" have the respect of today's cynical sinner, Billy Graham maybe?

 Imagine Billy drinking a "Bud?" I DON"T THINK SO!!!


Post Script

 Grandma's prayer's were answered. In 1968 my parents were "Born Again."

 Deeply regretting the B.C. years. (Before Christ.)

 She lived to see my Dad, become a Pastor, and a Missionary to the Philippines. 

To see 4 Grandchildren become Pastors. 

Her legacy continues even now, to great grandchildren 

who are also pastors, preachers, singers, & teachers. 

Thank you God for Grandma.

 When I grow up, I want to be just like her.

"Coming Home"

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

THE OKLAHOMA GIRL

She's lived in shacks and dug-outs,

But that's in day's gone by.

Now there's a healthy, roomy cottage,

that lifts it's gables to the sky.

All within is neat and tidy,

Ever cozy, even the squirrels,

At last upon the throne of her labors,

Sits the " Oklahoma Girl."

Written by,

"My Grandmother, Nancy Harwell"  

"Grandma's Cottage"

House #1

Why do we love certain houses, and why do they seem to love us? 
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

 I like all the houses I've lived in, through- out my lifetime,
 with the exception of three.
 These house's I cherish! I love them!
 I need a professional to analyze my deep affection for them. 
Allow me to tell you the story of 
 "Three Houses."

House # 1.

"Grandma's Cottage" was a generational home. 
My "Dad was still a young boy when his  family moved into this cottage. 
They owned several acres, along with the cottage,
 in the middle of the"Sunkist" orange groves.

 816 Park Drive was on the crest of the foothills of Bakersfield, California. 
This area was, and is, a "Cowboy" community.
 Most everyone had horses, some cattle, and of course chickens. 
Plenty of room for all the boy's, car's, horses, and friends. 
They grew up here, and this is where they departed to begin life's journey.

My parents were married in the cottage,
 and indeed it was here in this same cottage
 I brought my future husband to meet my big family.

Most of the "Harwell" grandchildren spent a good portion of our childhood here.
 All these many years later, I can describe every detail of this precious little cottage.
 No matter where I lived in the U.S.A. or Europe,
 I would go back to see it,
 even after Grandma passed.

 In 1991 I felt compelled to do something odd regarding the old place.
 I got in my car, drove 5 hours straight to the cottage.
 It looked the same as last year, horses in the back, dogs & little boys playing. 
 I noticed a handy-man working on the house, said hello, as I knocked on the "door," 
through which I had walked so many many times. 
The lady of the house answered, said they were renting, & gave me 
the owners name & phone number.
 I called him! He was a D.J. at KUZZ radio, and knew all about our family, 
"The Harwell's!"
 I then asked him, if I could purchase the "Front Door" of the cottage, 
replacing it with a door from the same era & style? 
The handy-man piped in with, "and I'll do it for you."
The owner then replied, "Miss Cheri, you can have the door."

"Grandma's Door!"

Of course I thanked him, paying for the door anyway.
 I headed to the salvage shops on Edison Highway,
 and found a door exactly like "Grandma's," in much better condition.

Within 2 hours, I had "Grandma's Door"
 wrapped and securely tied, to the top of my car!  Yes!

It was up & opening to family and friends the next day.
 Everything happened so smoothly. And  fast!
 I do have witnesses to back me up on this.

Are you ready, to get your socks knocked off?
 Are you ready to get goose bumps?

Tragically,
 two weeks later "Grandma's Cottage" burned to the ground!!! 
My family and I were heartbroken. 
I felt like a loved one had died.

 A new modern house stands in it's place.

 But
"Grandma's door?"
 I open & shut it everyday.

"Forest Lane Cottage"

House #2

"Forest Lane Cottage" the house, where we raised our family for almost 20 years.
 It was a "Church Parsonage." 
 It was the home in which our youngest daughter lived from the age of "1,"
 Our oldest daughter, age "10."
 Both girls went out to begin life's journey from here.

 It was, and is, in a sub-division, built in 197l. The same year we were married.
  On the corner of Forest Lane and Southwood Drive in Vacaville, California. 
It had been a model home, with 1 previous owner.
 An officer,  from Travis, Air Force Base, and his family. 
In 1981 it looked brand new.

The prior owner was a gifted gardener.
 Flowers of tiny purple orchids, lily of the valley, an orange tree, a lemon tree,
 miniature pomegranate trees, a soft cushy green lawn
 wrapping around the entire corner. 
There were 2 huge perfect maple trees,
 and one little persimmon tree in the big front yard.

 The house was yellow siding and colonial red brick, 
with white window shutters, and trim.

 We planted English Ivy, cuttings from Bob & Lynn garden,
 which covered the front porch and arbor over the garage.
 A weather-vane, Randall attached atop the gabled garage added even more charm.
 I planted a gardenia bush beside the front porch for it's sweet fragrance. 
The pink baby roses I planted every year, reminded me of "Grandma's Cottage."
We packed the Window boxes with "English" garden favorites.
 I was a constant gardener.

This generic track home was given so much soul,
 cars would drive by to see it, 
 some even coming to the door, asking to buy it.

 We had a giant copper roofed birdhouse full of birds singing for joy
 as we watched from the park bench, on the little red brick porch.

It was cozy and warm on the inside too. 
 1640 square feet, all done in English country style, with Cabbage Rose chintz ,
  Laura Ashley fabrics and wallpaper.

What I love & miss most about "Forest Lane Cottage" is the
 "living and loving"
  we experienced while living there. 

The many meals, prepared in the small galley kitchen. 
The family table always had room for one more. 
The times we had as many as 30 or more packed in for supper.
 Family, friends, and lonely soldiers. 
But more than anything I love the time with my babies, and my preacher man.

"Castle Petite"

House #3

"Castle Petite" has been our home for 5 years.
Yes, when I was a little girl, 
I really did dream of what my house would be like "someday."
" Well, "someday" is now.
 This is "the house" I drew, in the dirt, on the playground so many years ago.

It was a dream, I never imagined would actually come true. 
I would not presume to dare and ask "God" for a home like this.
Why does He give us the desires of our hearts,
 when we are afraid to ever dream of asking? 
Because.....
He is "God!"

A week after we moved into "Castle Petite," my mother exclaimed, 
"Blessings are chasing you!" 

There was nothing man-made, on this piece of land, when we found it.
 "Castle Petite,"
 emerged slowly from the ground, as we poured our blood,
 sweat and tears into every inch of what you see standing today.

Mindful of the majestic natural landscape, we left every tree,
 blade of clover, and daisy,  completely in tact.
 "Castle Petite,"
 looks as if it has always been here.
In the mind of "Our Heavenly Father," it has!
We hope it will always be "home central," in the hearts of
 our grandchildren and family.

This is the Spot!

 Today, just like my Grandma, I am outnumbered by guys.

My husband, my Dad, his Dad, our grandsons, their friends, my nephew.

Even the dog.

It is still a work in progress.

 We finally have enough room for everybody.

"Grandma's" door too!

It is home!

Baby Sister

Add caption

A Day In The Life Of A Modern Day

Wife And Mother

1.    Gets up in the morning.

2.    Starts coffee & wakes family.

3.    Changes diapers.

4.    Brushes teeth, washes little faces & hands.

5.    Cooks & feeds family breakfast.

6.    Prays with family.

7.    Cleans up after breakfast.

8.    Gets showered & dressed for the day.

9.    Helps little ones dress for school.

10. Makes beds.

11. Makes school lunches.

12. Gives each child coats, backpacks, money, and lunch.

13. Gets kids belted in the car & takes them to school.

14. She goes to her job, and works 8 or more hours.

15. Picks kids up from school.

16. Runs errands to doctors, dentists, etc.

17. Takes kids to activities such as games, lessons.

18. Goes Home

19. Cooks Supper.

20. Does Laundry.

21. Sets Table.

22. Helps kids with homework.

23. Minimally cleans house.

24. When Dad arrives, it’s time for supper.

25. Washes dishes, cleans kitchen.

26. Goes to grocery.

27. Goes to church.

28. Teaches primary class.

29. Goes home.

30. Feeds family a snack

31. Bathes & diapers kids.

32. Helps little ones dress for bedtime.

33. Helps little ones brush teeth.

34. Tucks kids in bed.

35. Reads kids a story.

36. Prays with kids.

37. Kisses kids good night, turns off the lights.

38. Brings them 4 or 5 drinks of water.

39. Gets ready for bed.

40. Prays with you.

41. Becomes your Dream wife.

42. Goes to sleep.

43. Starts all over the next day.

Dear "Forest Lane Cottage,"

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey
April 7, 2000

Just a note to say what's in my heart. You are so beautiful, to see you takes my breath away at times. I love dwelling within your walls, finding joy in every room, no matter the hour or season. You catch me off guard when returning from a journey. I see you standing there steadfast, faithfully waiting for me to open your door as you welcome me home. I'm attached to you to the point of tears. I can walk from room to room in total recall, with my eyes closed tight. Even if I'm away for years, I walk from room to room in my heart. No one will ever love you, little cottage, like me. Enough to give you a name. Enough to leave a little of my soul within your walls.

The One My Soul Loveth!
By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

"I have found the one, my soul loveth."
 One of my favorite scriptures. 
It happened to me 
"my beloved,"
 the day we met.
 You are so much more than I deserve. 
Your heart is so wise, romantic and tender,
 and always faithful. 
You are my elegant "gentleman."

 If I had been blind, I would have fallen in love with you,
 for your deep eloquent voice. 

If I had been deaf, I would have fallen in love with you,
 for you are the most handsome man, on the earth. 

If I been both blind and deaf, I would have fallen in love with you, for the tenderness in your touch.

The scent of your neck alone makes me want to 
breathe you into my soul.
 I need so much more than mere words, 
in any language, to express my heart. 
 Words are all I have to speak or write, my love.

"Happy Anniversary,"
 On this our 47th year of bliss, my blessed "Husband!"
                                                              

April 3, 2018