Sleddin' the "BIG HILL"!!

With snow on the ground and a couple of new sleds there was no way the "BIG HILL" would escape! This was the year Abbi would conquer it and walk away "The Champion"!

The big hill is every bit of ten-twelve feet in elevation and the ride is probably 20 yards long. But when you are four years old, it could pass for Mt. Everest!!

So today, Abbi, Momma and I set off to the "Big Hill" for some sleddin'! It was the perfect sledding day. Bright sunshine, no wind, temp in the upper 20's. PERFECT!!
It didn't take but a couple of trips down the hill to get the "lane" in good shape!
Each trip would take one of us closer to "Abbi Creek" which flows at the bottom of the "Big Hill"!

Then Abbi says, "Papa, I wanna go down on your back!" Well, why not? And so the double decker sledder's were the first to go in the creek! It was just about an eighteen inch drop into the creek and it was frozen, so, no problem other than Papa's busted lip! Funny! The first thought that entered my mind was.... "I haven't had a busted lip in FOREVER!" Oh well! Small price to pay for the laughter shared with my daughter and granddaughter!

After a few more milder trips down the hill, Abbi said, "Papa, I want to go down sittin' in my sled"! So, she climbed in the disc and I let her go. She turned backward about halfway down and had she been dressed in pink she would have looked just like the Energizer Bunny... cause she just kept going & going & going...

You know how at some point things begin to appear to be happening in slow motion? Well, Abbi's actions seemed to be happening in slow motion! I watched as she started backward over the edge of the creek bank holding on to the sled for dear life and her little eyes just got bigger and bigger and bigger and then the sled tipped up and her eyes disappeared!

While Abbi's actions seemed to be in slow motion her momma saw what was going to happen and went from zero to 60 in two seconds flat! She started by hollering, "Don't go in the creek... don't go in the cr.... SHE'S GOING IN THE CREEK!! With each shout her voice took on a higher pitch and the last sentence was more like a high keening sound!

Christie sprinted down the "BIG HILL" faster than I've EVER seen her move!! Seeing all of this happening at once, I was laughing SO hard I couldn't even move! I knew the creek was frozen and there was no danger to Abbi, and it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen... those eyes getting bigger and bigger and then disappearing behind the sled!!

When I finally did get to them, Abbi was standing up and she looked around with wide eyes and said, "I didn't like THAT"!

Even with the "crash in the creek", she walked away a "conquerer" having taken on the "BIG HILL" and living to tell about it!

My mind went back to when I was a boy. My grandparents house sat up on a hill. I used to lie down and roll down that hill in front of the house when I was a kid and I thought it was a BIG hill! Back about 1986 I went back to where my grandparents house had stood, and as I stood there looking at that BIG hill, I realized it wasn't much higher than I was tall! In my memory from my childhood, that hill had ALWAYS been BIG! Memories are great things to have, but they can sure play tricks on you.

Should the Lord tarry and Abigail grows to be a young woman, I hope she has the chance to someday come back and see the "BIG HILL" she conquered when she was 4 yrs. old. I'm sure she will be amazed at how "BIG" it really is!

For me? I'll never forget sleddin' the BIG HILL with Abbi and her momma!
Ahhh! What memories!

BTW Christie's new nickname is "Thunderbird"!

"The Project"

Abigail (holding a huge earthworm) and momma

“Papa, can you come help me swing?” a tiny voice called from the doorway of my shop. I looked up from the project I was working on to find this inquisitive little chatterbox, who was never at a loss for words and always full of questions, standing with hands clasped behind her back, eyes bright with anticipation. This beautiful little dark haired girl was the granddaughter I had always wanted. I placed the tool I was using back in its place on the wall, wiped my hands and called ”Just a minute baby girl.” The project I was working on would have to wait another day.

Yesterday the call had been, “Papa, can we feed the fishies in the creek? They’re hungry!” The project I was working on had been set aside then as well. As I reached for the tiny hand being held up to me, I was captured by the beauty of her deep brown eyes. Like bottomless pools of molten umber they caught the light of the sun and reflected it back in tiny sparkles like the water in the creek we were heading for. We had to stop and dig some “wums” to feed the fish, which brought squeals, giggles of delight and a few genuine shrieks as they wiggled in her hand on the way to the can she put them in. Who would have thought, my “baby girl”, the one who wanted to be called “Princess”, delighted in the wriggly creatures we dug from the earth.

At the creek there was much laughter and squeals of sheer joy as the fish broke the surface of the water to retrieve the worms that were tossed to them. And then came the inevitable question. “Papa, do fishies go to heaven?” In the nanosecond before I could answer, the question was forgotten as she took my hand to guide me on a tour of her world. There were flowers to see, a butterfly to chase, a baby rabbit to cherish and a hundred other things, which briefly caught her attention. The project was forgotten and the day spent just being with my granddaughter.

Today, as we set out for the swing, she alternated between holding my hand and skipping ahead, only to return and tug me along, chattering all the while. I knew that work on the project had ceased for the day. As I listened to her endless descriptions of every thing she saw, I was aware of another voice trying to get a word in edgeways. I know the voice well, the voice of the Holy Spirit.
I marveled as His gentle words found their way into my heart. “Some projects are much more important than others!” Then He helped me to understand.

You see my precious granddaughter is adopted. She came into our lives as a result of much prayer, and the longing of our daughter’s heart. Our only daughter, and only living child, had never married, but longed for a child. Being the godly woman she is, having a child out of wedlock was not an option. And there were so many children who needed someone to love them and care for them and give them a stable home. We fully supported her when she told us of her decision to try to adopt a child.

From the time our daughter had decided to try for adoption, we had somehow always known she would adopt a girl and in all our conversations concerning the adoption, Abbi (Abigail) was called by name. We reveled in the thoughts that filled our hearts as we waited. What would she look like? What color was her hair? What color were her eyes? Would she grow up to be short or tall? Abigail was included in every plan we made, just in case “the call” came on any given day. On vacation in the mountains of Colorado, our daughter kept the cell phone at hand, waiting for the call. We made alternate plans, so we could be free to rush to her, if the call came. After a three year “eternity”, the call came that our daughter had been chosen to adopt, miracle of miracles, a then as yet unborn baby girl! God had answered our prayers! Abbi was coming to us! Oh the joy that filled our hearts when our daughter gave us the news! It was the last of August 2006 when word came, and Abigail was to be born in late September. That was the longest, hardest wait of my life! I don’t remember being that anxious during the nine months my wife carried our daughter, or our twin boys. (Our twins did not survive, but that’s another story for another time.) Though the days were filled with preparation, they seemed to pass at an interminably slow pace.
I must admit, I was probably good for nothing during those days of waiting. My every thought was of Abigail! We were about to find out the answers to all those musing of, what color eyes, what color hair, short or tall, slim or chubby, dark or fair complexion, and the waiting was eating me alive!

I remember arriving at the hospital the day Abbi was to be born. The doctor was to induce labor that morning and we were told we should expect a delivery sometime that day. WOW! I was going to be a grandpa!!

Let me take a moment to say that, the precious young lady who would bring Abigail into this world was one of the most beautiful individuals I have ever met. Her spirit was SO sweet, and her love for the baby she carried was ever so evident. She now found herself in a situation where some wrong choices had brought her to this point in life, where she had made a most difficult decision, but the right decision nonetheless, to give her baby life and allow someone else the desire of their heart. She knew adoption was best for Abigail and she was determined to do what was best! How my heart went out to her and still goes out to her. There is hardly a day goes by that I don’t think of her, wonder where she is, how she and Abbi’s half sister are, and they are always in my prayers. She will perhaps, never know the joy her selfless act brought into our lives; the gift she placed in our hands and the longing that was fulfilled by her decision. There is NO doubt in my mind about her love for Abigail. The breaking of her heart became the healing for our hearts. You can’t top that kind of selfless love!

At the hospital I settled into the waiting room with a book I would never remember reading as my daughter and my wife went to the delivery room to visit with Abigail’s birthmom while she waited for things to progress. This is the only thing I remember happening fast! It seemed I had only read the first page of the book, for maybe the fourth or fifth time, when I looked up to see my wife coming down the hospital corridor blubbering something I couldn't understand and crying uncontrollably! My first thought was that perhaps the young lady had changed her mind about the adoption. I shot out of my seat like I had a rocket strapped to me, and ran toward my wife saying, “What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” She proceeded right past me toward her purse and personal bag, which I was supposed to be watching, and said as she passed me, “Nothings wrong! She’s here and she’s BEAUTIFUL!!” It took just a moment to sink in that things had progressed THAT far THAT fast!! I was left standing there for the moment with a bewildered look on my face as my wife exclaimed, “I NEED MY CAMERA!!” WOW!! Just like that… I was a grandpa!! In just a few moments I was allowed into the room where I got my first look at Abigail! I’ll just say this… I was SMITTEN!!

We love Abigail as if she were our own flesh and blood. She is, in every sense of the word, our daughter’s daughter and our “granddaughter.” My wife cherishes the endearing name “Nana” and fills it to perfection.


Our daughter is an educator in the public school system where we live and is financially able to provide for her new daughter, and very much up to the task of rearing a child. She is a great mother to this little brown-eyed beauty. It is just another testament to God’s love and his wisdom and control over every situation that Abigail LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE HER MOM!!

Since adopting Abbi, I have seen the fullness of life in my daughter like never before. How good God is to give us the desires of our heart. The fact that they live next door to us and we get to babysit Abigail, is just “icing on the cake.”

Now, some are against the idea of adoption by a single person. But I, for one, see things differently. Were it not for adoption by a single person, I may never have known the joy of being “Papa.” And who’s to say that because there is a mommy and daddy at the start, that will be the case five or ten years down the road? I am the main male influence in this little one’s life, as her birth mother’s father has chosen from the start not to be in her life, and her biological father was eager to sign away his rights, or more likely, his responsibilities. I can only say, they have no idea what they are missing.

As the Holy Spirit teaches me about “the project” at hand, I know that this is one project I will never lay aside. Projects of wood or metal may be laid aside from time to time and resumed at will, but not a project as delicate as this. The Holy Spirit ministers to me, that constant attention to detail is of utmost importance and a gentle yet firm hand is needed in the shaping process. I find comfort in the fact that I am only the apprentice on this project and the “master craftsman” is really in charge!

“Papa, can we get something to drink? I’m thirsty!!” Back to “the project” at hand!!

Written by Richard Sessions 06-04-07

I penned this when my grand daughter was a little over eight months old. It was just something that unfolded in my mind and I wrote it down, as I have a habit of doing. So, at the time, it was part fact and part fiction. Obviously, she couldn’t walk or talk at that age, but the commentary surrounding her birth and adoption is true. And wouldn’t you know, I have a picture of her carrying around a big earthworm!! And now, at almost three years of age, she loves to swing and loves the creek on our property (as most kids would) and she is SO full of energy and life and chatters ALL of the time! What a blessing to see the things I envisioned and wrote about coming to pass!

Would you consider being adopted? I'm talking about the process of becoming a child of the King, whereby we are given the spirit of adoption. That is, Christ claiming us as His own and by that adoption we become sons and daughters of the most high God! I was adopted into God's family a number of years ago, and I can't begin to tell you what a joy and comfort it is to know that I belong to the Royal Family! And to top it all off.... I am given eternal life as a son and heir to God.

If you need a family to belong to, let me encourage you to contact me through this blog and I will lead you through the process of becoming a child of the King. There is always room for a new brother or sister!

CAREFUL!! It's Easy to Lose Your Balance!

Last Friday Lovey and Nana had gone down to Abbiland (a little park I built for my granddaughter) to spend sometime swinging, sliding, rock climbing etc.

Before long I found myself wandering in that direction. Oh, I had plenty to do, but I just felt drawn to where they were. I was pretty sure what would happen upon my arrival and sure enough the all important question was quickly voiced by Lovey. "Pa, can we go to the creek?" Well, it's only ten steps from Abbiland, so what could a grandpa say? So off we went to the creek to throw some rocks and gather some water in a bucket and countless other things that just could not wait til another day!

As the play progressed, Lovey became bolder and bolder as she ferried water back and forth from one side of the low water slab to the other. (You don't know what a low water slab is? It's just THAT, a slab that lets you cross the creek during low water times!) Anyway, I was continually cautioning her, "Careful!! It's easy to lose your balance!"

As you can see from the picture above, my warnings went pretty much unheeded and sure enough on one rambunctious trip to get another bucket of water, she pitched face first right out in the creek!

I had followed her back and forth, back and forth across the slab so I would be close when the inevitable happened. So, as she landed face first in the water I was already reaching to grab her. I hauled her, spitting, sputtering and wailing out of the water and held her close and assured her she was OK. She had a little abrasion on her hand and being the "Queen of Drama" she was going to make the most of it. SO, I had to kiss her hand and Nana had to kiss her hand and we had to stop and listen to how she had fell in that "ole wet water" and got hurt! It just so happened, I had given my camera to Nana a moment before and she had started taking pictures. Thus the picture above. So, off we went to the house for dry clothes and to play at something else for a while.

I then went about some things I had to do, and this is when things REALLY started to get INTERESTING!! I was involved in the mundane task of cutting some branches back away from the drive way. They had grown out to where they would scrape along the side of my truck when going in or out the driveway. You city folk probably won't quite understand this. Trust me, It's a country thing!!

Anyway, it doesn't take a great deal of concentration to actually accomplish the task, so my mind was pretty available at the time. So God chose to use the time to His advantage! Do you ever notice how we are sometimes too busy even to listen to our creator? He's the one who has walked the path before us, knows every pitfall, and we don't have time to listen to what He has to say! AMAZING!!

As I was thinking about Lovey's little accident, the Spirit of the Lord just spoke quietly to my heart and said; "Kind of reminds you of my oft repeated warning huh? Careful! It's easy to lose your balance!" That gentle but very forceful voice brought me up short! I thought about how often I got that; I Know What I'm Doing! attitude and God ended up following me around saying; Careful, It's easy to lose your balance! AND so that He would be there to pick me up when the inevitable happened and I finally lost my balance and fell flat on my face! I thought of how I always find something or someone to blame it on as I wail to God about how unfair life is! As Lovey said, 'That ole water got me wet!" Well of course it did! Water is WET!! AND, the muck we sometimes mix up and then fall into is ugly and yucky and unpleasant, to say the least!! Of course an attitude of "It won't happen to me" is a recipe for disaster! And when you are NOT careful, you WILL lose your balance.

This lesson was reinforced Sunday morning by our Sunday School lesson as we studied about how the leaders of Israel leaned to their own desires and lusts until finally they lost their balance and fell face first into the cesspool created by their own hand. Up until that moment they had maintained that nothing bad would come of their actions and even stated that surely God was with them. Well, I'm glad that God is indeed with us, for He is the only one who can rescue us from our "face down in the dirt" position.

But, just as I scooped my granddaughter up and held her close and reassured her that she was ok, so God has done for me many times after a fall. Sometimes my falls were only witnessed by me and God. Other times my failures were allowed to be viewed by others. Public failures are perhaps more difficult as our flaws are there for everyone to see. But the lessons learned from those failures are, perhaps, much more profound.

At any rate, for me, God used a simple action by an over eager child, that ended with a sputter and a wail, to teach me a life lesson that I should have learned long ago.

"CAREFUL! IT'S EASY TO LOSE YOUR BALANCE!!"