Ransomed Relics

09/01/2026

The today you have been gone 7 years! How can that be? It seems like yesterday but also seems forever ago…Here is my dear John letter…..

Dearest John,

It has been seven years today., almost to the minute that you passed from this life to the next. Emotions swirl around my mind as I relive the day you went to heaven. The grief is there but along with the grief comes the realization that I’m so glad that you didn’t suffer. Right after you passed, Covid hit and I’m soo glad you didn’t have to live through that. We got to be with you and love on you till Jesus called you home!

I grieve that you never got to meet your 5 grandchildren! You would have been such a great grandpa!!! They are the light of my life!!!! One day you will get to meet them and you will be so impressed at how much they are such a beautiful reflection of us!! And our kids of course!!! They are such treasures!!!

The kids are doing so well! They miss you so much yet we laugh at the good memories that we all had. You would be soo proud!!! Bethany has had her struggles physically but is doing well and able to work part time! Titus has dealt with pain for 20 years yet he has recently gotten relief through new procedures! I know you would be happy for that! Moriah has a beautiful little girl, Jordan Faith! She lights up a room with her sweet smiles! Blake just turned 9 and what an addition she is to our family! Josiah is getting ready to graduate seminary, you would be soo proud of him! His three girls are the light of my life!! They are such joy!!

Sometimes I sit and think about how much you have missed but then I remember the post you made about heaven and how you were looking forward to seeing Jesus! How can I grieve for you? I can’t! I grieve for our loss but for you time is no more! You are in eternity and will turn around and we will be there!!!

You would be so happy that I’m living a good life. That I am loved by a good man who takes care of me like you did. You’d be happy that we are thriving and enjoying life. You and I talked about it and your hopes came true! God sent me exactly what I needed. I’m sure you have met his late wife, Mary Ann, and you all probably laugh at our adventures and are happy that Carl and I love each other just as we adored you both and we still do!

You are always in my heart, my dear husband and you always will be! Till we meet again! I love you!

07/31/2026

Faith FILLED FRIDAY’S
ARE YOU HUNGRY???

Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you sit down to a meal, it tastes especially good, your sooo hungry and it “hits the spot “!! You enjoy it so much!!! So you return the following week and you order the same thing but it just doesn’t taste the same? What makes the difference?

Maybe, it’s because the first time you ate it, you were sooo hungry!!! Did you know that in Proverbs 27:7 it tells us the
the “full soul” loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet!!! When you are full, the best desserts and the most tasty things loose their effectiveness to make you feel satisfied because you already are full. But when you are hungry, really hungry, even the bitter things taste soo sweet!

Have some bitterness in your life? Things that leave such a bad taste in your mouth??? Get hungry!!! Get so hungry for more of God and his goodness that even the bitter things in your life take on a sweetness when you lay them down at His feet! Jesus made a promise that he that hungers and thirsts after righteous shall be filled!

Sometimes we spend so much time asking the why’s something happens, we forget that God has a purpose for every season in our life! He wants us to be hungry so that even the why’s take on a new meaning to lead us to be more like Him!!!

We fill our hearts with soo much of the world and get so involved in things around us that when it’s time to come to the Lord, our minds are so “filled” with other things that we feel so full we can’t feast at Gods word!!

May we become hungry for Him! Sooo hungry, wanting His will, His touch, His Presence, that all other things pale in comparison because to the hungry even the bitter becomes sweet!!! I’ve had some bitter things in my life, situations that you just hang your head and can’t comprehend another battle, another journey! Ahhh, but when I fall on my face with a hunger in my heart, the Lord breathes His presence into my bitterness! It takes on the sweetness of the Holy Spirit, reviving my soul and bringing new joy and new understanding! And the best thing is that He paid all the cost for us and this is free!!! In this age of uncertainty and the turmoil around us, we have many questions why that we may never have an answer to but our one answer is this:

Isaiah 55:1

1“Come! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.

07/24/2026

07/24/2026

FAITH FILLED FRIDAYS

Carl and I are watching our grandkids for 11 days as my son and daughter-in-love take a much needed break. Kid-free for 11 days! You never know what that means until you have children! As a grandparent, we look forward to this time yet we realize why God gave us our children when we were young! lol We are tired by the end of the day! We are counting down the hours til bedtime! lol but are ready to do it again the next day.

I wasn’t a grandmother until 64. I envy young grandmothers because you have so much energy! The one thing I think that comes with age is the ability to number our days. I recognize at 68 that my time is short and I want to make sure I milk every minute with my children and grand children that I can. I appreciate them more than they can comprehend at their age but someday they will be where I’m at and recognize the effort it took.

Many of us,when we were young mothers, didn’t have the help that we are giving our children. It’s important to us that we are part of their lives. That we give them breaks that we never had. That we are involved as much as we possibly can be to root them on! For some of us, that means traveling hours to see them but it’s worth it! To hear the words, “Grammy, I miss you and will stay with you a million years!”, makes my heart melt!!!!

Just a word to those Grandparents that are not able to visit or those who are estranged from a child that keeps you from your grandchildren. I have witnessed first hand that pain through close family members but I also know that God is the lifter up of your head!! You do what you can and leave them to the watch care of your Heavenly Father! Pray for them! Hold them up before our Heavenly Father! Knowing the He does all things well! But don’t beat yourself up and take ALL THE BLAME! We own our mistakes as parents but we don’t have to carry their mistakes as well. They are adults making adult decisions and have to one day answer for what they are doing. The Bible is clear that we reap what we sow! Some of us never sowed what we are reaping but are affected by others decisions. Keep your heart open and pure!! Let forgiveness reign in our lives! Keep doors open as much as you can and encourage open conversations.

We have 10 days left of our time with these precious girls! Lots of fun planned! Lots of memories to make!!!We can rest after they leave ! lol!!! Be blessed dear friends, and may the Lord shine His glorious light in the dark places you think are hopeless!!! May Faith arise in your heart to believe for a miracle!!!

07/21/2026

Sometimes you just have to repurpose what you have to fit where you are going!! I’ve had these terra cotta pots for 18 years. I’m currently working on my bedroom. I figured I would use what I had! This is hand painted and I taught this in my painting lesson for this month!!

Life is kind of like that, you can buy new but you miss the beauty of taking what you already have and fitting it to your current needs. New feels fun for a minute until you get the credit card bill 😂! Not saying it’s wrong, just saying there is a satisfaction that comes with working with your hands to accomplish a task. There comes a deep seated feeling of joy when you look at something and you take pride that you did that! Every thing I’ve learned to do, it was because I took the initiative to try!!! I’ve laid tile, torn down and built walls, laid flooring, landscaped, painted walls, painted furniture. My painting canvases and murals is because I tried!! Playing the piano was self taught as well! Many things I couldn’t afford to pay to have it done unless I did it myself! I’m not bragging on myself, just trying to encourage you just to try. You never know what you can accomplish if you don’t make an effort. That old saying necessity is the mother of invention is so true!!!

Hope you enjoy this little video!!!

07/19/2026

I recently painted my youngest daughter this painting. It was a joy to paint it! I taught it in my online class. I love painting old world scenes. They are so tranquil. Seems like life was slower back then. Sometimes you have to stop and take the time to enjoy the beauty around us!

07/17/2026

FAITH FILLED FRIDAY’S

It’s my birthday today! It’s been awhile since I wrote a Faith Filled Friday. I took a little sabbatical after 6 years of writing them, but I am back!!! Rested and ready to go again!

It’s strange how fast the years seem to just fly by! As I contemplate looking at another year, I truly realize how faithful God has been to me. My heart rejoices to see His hand in the life of all those who call upon His name and His love reaches to those who haven’t known Him yet!

For my birthday, my dear sweet husband surprised me with a new Kawai piano!! I am not that good of a piano player. I haven’t played in 15 years! But oh does it feel so good to play and worship the Lord when I play. Just getting lost in His presence! So on my birthday, I want to continue to share my life with you, my dear Facebook friends!

Faith Filled Friday’s is just another way I have to share what is on my heart. I hope that as we move forward you will be encouraged, challenged and blessed!

Thank you for any comments! Always feel free to share your heart and what is going on with you!!! I love to hear from you!! Rejoice in today while it is yet call today! Be encouraged to know that we serve a God who knows and sees! We are never alone, He promises He will never leave or forsake us! We can count on that!

07/05/2026

I have been busy! Just finished this oil painting for my sweet hubby! It’s from a picture I took in the Pebble Beach area on our honeymoon!!! He loves golf and it was a dream for him to visit there! We have been blessed to have so many adventures together!!!! I want our whole bedroom filled with paintings from our adventures and life together!!! We are truly blessed!!!!

05/29/2026

A New Day Dawning

https://www.ransomedrelics.com/warehouse-open-edition-prints/art_print_products/a-new-day-dawning

05/27/2026

Here is a question worth sitting with: what do you actually see when you walk into your own home?

Not what is there, but what do you still notice? What draws your eye?

What have you stopped seeing because it has been there so long?

"COME SIT FOR AWHILE" and the online art gallery is here, if you need to switch things up.

https://www.ransomedrelics.com