Monday, August 17, 2026

Come and See

 











In memory of my Dear Grannie Maude Cleland, whose life encouraged my love for family.  I am thankful for her birthday today, August 17, 1910.  She left us the afternoon of June 23rd, 2001, just 6 days before her namesake was born on the 29th. 

I still treasure her memory! 










I know she would have loved to linger to meet and hold John, as well as the 9 great-great grandchildren that have since been born to our Gray branch of the Cleland tree.  God has soo generously and richly enlarged our family!  Every single soul would have encouraged her spirit!  






Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.














May the Lord give you increase,
    you and your children!

May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 115:11-15









Mark 9-

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 

34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 

36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 

37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”




Psalm 112-

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
    who greatly delights in his commandments!

His offspring will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,
    and his righteousness endures forever.









Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
    he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

















It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
    who conducts his affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved;
    he will be remembered forever.










He is not afraid of bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.


He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his horn is exalted in honor.

10 

The wicked man sees it and is angry;
    he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
    the desire of the wicked will perish!










Of David.


1

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.

On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.

















All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,

and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.






















Thursday, August 13, 2026

Mother Dear, Our Blessed Memory

 




Dying Mother

A worthy Matron of unspotted life,

A loving Mother and obedient wife,

A friendly Neighbor, pitiful to poor,

Whom oft she fed, and clothed with her store;

To Servants wisely awful, but yet kind,

And as they did, so they reward did find:

A true Instructer of her Family,

The which she ordered with dexterity,

The publick meetings ever did frequent,

And in her Closet constant hours she spent;

Religious in all her words and wayes,

Preparing still for death, till end of dayes:

Of all her Children, Children, liv'd to see,

Then dying, left a blessed memory.


By Anne Bradstreet

America’s First Published Female Poet 


An Epitaph On My Dear And Ever Honoured Mother

Mrs. Dorothy Dudley, Who Deceased Decemb. 27. 1643.

















The above photo was taken on Mom’s birthday, after she left us. 


The photo below was taken the day of her burial service, August 21, 2025.

















Our cousin, Matthew Lussi, traveled to join us that day.  He lingered at the cemetery until Mom was lowered into the ground.  I wish now we had stayed, but we knew the children would not have lingered well that hot day, for a two hour wait.  

It was a blessing to receive this picture from Matt.  He has proven to be the last to linger with other dear family members.  He’s soo very thoughtful! 


The next morning, Uncle Mark, returned to the cemetery to finalize the tombstone engraving instructions.  He visited the burial place of Mom and Dad before he left…


















We visited the cemetery on Mom’s birthday, just five days after Dad’s birthday.  I wanted to go and see the completed engraving on their tombstone…Dad’s engraving had long been completed on the front, and Mom’s was beautifully engraved on the back.   We were told it would take at least 30 days. 















Now that we’re settling into life’s rhythm without them, I miss them more.  Dad suddenly left us in 2020, and Mom, slowed faded away. 

I still have pangs of wanting to catch them up on all that’s happened, most of all, to introduce to them the four additional babies the LORD has added to our family.  

They would be soo thankful and happy to embrace them. 


Mom would tell me again…“Trust in the LORD, Karen, with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 














Mom, I’m thankful you’re with Jesus, surrounded by Dad and many others who encouraged and discipled you in the faith. 

Thank you for being the Brave Heart of our family.  You loved and encouraged us to fear and trust the LORD.  

I’m so very thankful!  

Thank you for following His lead to Shepherd us.  You lived before us soo much love and devotion.  You were a faithful servant to Him and to many!  

My life feels unusually lonely without you.  I sorely miss your fellowship and presence in my life!