This is the day, 79 years ago, that my Mom was born.  She was born and lived in North Carolina until she married Pop and moved to Alabama.  And here she stayed until she moved to her heavenly home.

I think of her so often, and I know many others do also.  When you speak of her to me, it is as if I am seeing her again through your eyes.  When I hear you say that you remember her kindness, or her dedication to her church and missions, or when you tell me of special notes she wrote to you…it reminds me again of how blessed I was to call her Mom.  She loved to pick out special gifts for others, and I could not even begin to tell you how many of her most delicious pound cakes she made to give to friends she loved.

I have written of her often on this blog, and you have so kindly read and commented accordingly.  But, I  have nothing new to add today.  I’ve probably said all there is to say several times over…(I have a tendency to do this more and more the older I get).  That’s OK…I’m just ‘taking after’ her…she did it, too.  🙂

In my files of things I like, I have this poem.  I am sorry that I do not know who to attribute it to.  But, whomever it was who wrote it, did an excellent job.  My Mom lived her dash well.  And, I am grateful to have been there to see so much of it.  And, I am grateful that my children and Joy’s children were there to see how she lived it as well.  As I have said before…she was a wonderful example and we were blessed to live in her heart…as she lives on in ours.

HOW YOU LIVE YOUR DASH

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. 

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth…
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars…the house…the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile.
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

I have been in and feeling bad for tooooo long.   I started on another medicine this week and it has helped tremendously in getting my heart rate down.  I’m not near 100% yet, but, I’m lots better! And, so, I was looking forward to being able to go to church today.  I even had our clothes ironed and ready.   I have missed being there and missed worshipping with ‘my family’.

Yesterday,  the Creekhouse played host to my sweet friend Olivia and her 13th birthday party!  It was such a delight!  And, the perfect kind of party for me!  They brought the guests, they brought the food, and they took all the mess home with them!  Olivia’s Mom, Terri,  has been a friend of mine since SHE was a little girl.  (Don’t think too long about that…it may make me seem old…or something).  I was her piano teacher way back in 1976 or so, and then we have been friends at church with she and her husband and 3 beautiful girls.  Terri has known Adam since he was very little, and so came to know Suzanne.  She was instrumental in helping Suze get a job when she came back to Dothan.  And, Terri, her husband, Brian, and Suzanne all teach at the same school.  Whew! Lots of history there.

*********NOTE TO OLIVIA:  Something dredful happened to my pictures.  I don’t know how to explain it, but they were on the card, and then they were on the computer and then a big grey box covered them all up.  I wish I could explain it…or fix it.  I even got Alex up to look at it…he had never seen anything like it before…and he’s a computer genius!!! So, so sorry!  I’m just going to tell everybody about them.  I’m sure they’ll be able to see them in their mind.  XXXXXX Yes, they  will.  ‘K ?************

Here’s some great pictures we made at the party.  Here is me and Olivia Older Sister.  I’m the short one.  She’s the beautiful tall one. She likes artsy things, too!  And, she’s a TEENAGER!   Next is Faith Ellen Middle Sister holding Sweet Levi.  Isn’t she just the cutest thing…and she’s way smart too, and dances, too.   And Levi…well…he’s just so full of cute it’s busting out all over!!  Next is Maybry Younger Sister, doing a very good trick in the pool.  Can you see?  She was standing there and then she bent over and picked up her foot ond pulled her whole leg straight up in the air !  And, she smiled while she did it!  She’s a dancer and a real good swimmer, too.  She wanted me to try doing the trick with her, but we did not have a net on a pole big enough to get me out!  And, I’m pretty sure I would not have smiling either.  Then, here’s the presents, and here are all 12 girls in the pool….playing and splashing! 

After the fun was over, Suzanne and I rode over to Targ*t, to get this:

Have you seen these things?  It is amazing what all it does.  Amazing to me, at least.  But, remember, I’m just a NEW grandmother…not a VETERAN grandmother. 🙂 So, I’m just getting used to how much things have changed since about 1986.

This thing can be a bassinet, or a changing table, or a play mat with toys overhead.  AND…a play yard.  It will sing to Levi, or vibrate.  It even has a remote control, so I do not even have to move…but I will, of course!  It also folds with the touch of a button, has pockets all over to hold my Diet Dr Pepper while I’m changing him, and wheels so he can push it around behind me…..if he wants to follow me.  🙂

All this because he is going to stay with me 3 days a week when his Mom goes back to work.  And, we here in this Owens home, are so excited.   We are Ready Freddy !

Adam came and he and Suzanne took Levi swimming.  We sat and talked,  and talked and sat, and they swam and we talked.  I made some supper and we ate in shifts…between the sitting and talking and swimming.  After they went home, we went to bed.  And when I tried to swing my legs over the side of the bed to get up……

I can hardly move.  A soon as the pain meds and muscle relaxers wear off…it starts back.  And, those of you whose backs go out know there is not really much to do but rest, and take your meds, and wait.  At least I can use my computer a little.  But, between this pain, and missing church, and the computer destroying my beautiful pictures of Olivia and the party . I’m losing it.  Maybe it’s some sort of conspiracy to drive me bonkers!  The computer and my back must be in cahoots.  Well..maybe they are or maybe they’re not…no mind…I’m still very close to the BONKER level !

Well, that makes me feel a little better.  Are you one of the ‘best people’, too?

PS.  It’s Monday and my back is a teeny bit better…at least I can go to the potty without yelling!

Today, I  felt well enough to get out for a while.  I  had lunch with two dear friends.  We caught up on all that has happened in the last several months.  There was not a minute of silence until we split up to go home.

Don’t you love having friends like that?  Those that you can see 5 or 6 times a year…and it is like you’ve never been apart.  We would love to get together more, but, one has her first grandchild on the way…in another city.  And the other has 2 sweet grand boys who live out of town. And I am involved with Levi and Alex.  Plus the other things we are all involved in, leaves little time for such frivolity as whiling away 3 hours over lunch!  But, even though we don’t get together as often as we’d like…one call would bring any of us running at a moments notice.  I hope you have friends like this.

Since I was out, I tried to run an errand or two.  Went to one store to pick up a gift. I started to the door and was getting in the check out line.  But I must have been tired or something because I forget…... I MUST peruse the homegoods  just  in case there is something new on the shelves that they are saving for me!  But, today, after I made a quick glance… only a set of nice sheets that I had been looking for was of interest to me.  I must tell you that I LOVE  *RL* sheets.    In case that does not make sense to you the first name is ‘Ralph”.  Alex loves these too.  When we moved into the Creekhouse, Mom bought Alex two sets, and had them monogramed on the pillowcases.  That is the only sheet he wants, and the only sheet he sleeps on.  The ones he’s using now still look very nice, and are not even beginning to look like they are wearing out.  They are more expensive $$$, but they feel sooooo good.  They are usually sold in better department stores.  However, if you are a wise and observant shopper…like ‘huh um’…ME…you can find them at stores such as TJM*XX.

Passed by the kids section, and thought that it wouldn’t hurt to look for something cute for the  GREATEST GRANDSON IN THE WORLD !!!  So I look for the baby boy clothes.  There they are.  No, they are over here. No. WAIT ! They are back there.  This drives me crazy.  They have clothes here, there and everywhere, and they are all mixed up.  Sale things, clearance things, and regular price.  No rhyme or reason to their method.  And, the sizes are sorta mixed up, too.  Though, that is really not their fault.  Lots of people just hang things wherever they want.  Also at fault, that Mama and Grandmama who are letting their kids crawl UNDER the clothes racks and come up in the middle and swing on the racks while they (the adults) are laughing and talking and gossiping (I heard them) and generally paying them no mind and all the while clothes of every size are falling on the floor beside the racks and under the racks and piling up on the floor…and in their loudest OUTSIDE voice, they are singing, in a sing song fashion, which gives music a bad name, “You ca-n’t see me.  You ca-n’t see me.  I ca-an do this and you ca-n’t stop me.”  They sang it once, twice, two hundred times!  I couldn’t help myself.  I was already in a mood, because I was, and this was NOT helping.  So, I went around on the other size and pretended I was picking something up off the floor and stuck my head under that rack and looked those hoodlums straight in the eyes.  They were scared, they did not know what was coming next.  Most grown-up people don’t play with them under the racks.   And, I said, quietly so the adults would not come over and take me down, “This is not acceptable.  Only wild and crazy children act like this.  I will not stand for it, I tell you.  Now do the right thing.”  The girl  had quivering lips, and the boy had tears forming in the corner of his eyes.  I don’t care. I’m happy to play the Mommy if the real Mommy has forgotten how!  They came out of their hideout under the clothes.  Their lips were sealed.  They couldn’t speak.  They went to the imposters who were pretending to be their Mama and Grandmama and hung on for dear life.  They never said a word.  And I travelled around the 3 long racks looking for something for Sweet Levi who is really growing. ( Have you seen this guy lately?  He’s a chunk!!!)………I shopped in peace. They never made a sound. Each time I pushed past them, they got further and further behind the adults.  I finally found some little onesies in Levi’s size  and prepared to leave the war zone.  I made one more pass by them and gave them both a big smile, and went on my way.

It’s not nice to mess with a tired, sick Grandmother when she’s ‘in a mood.’

What?  You’ve not ever been in that situation?  I know you have.  So, I had to address it.  You think I was mean?  It was either make them stop or go in there and join them,  Cause I was in a mood, after all…you understand.

And so, I really headed to the check-out.  And, then I heard it…there was so much rain falling on the roof and in the parking lot… even some hail…I could not even see my car!    Now, my friends, you know I don’t do lightning…and it was!  And, they don’t have a nice set of chairs to sit and wait in.  So, I kept walking, and looking.  Found some wonderful things that asked…practically BEGGED!…to come home with me, but I just was not in the mood.    It is bad to be stuck in a store, and not feel like shopping.  And I really needed to sit down.  There were some benches between the outside door and the inside door, but they were both made of glass.  Which meant I would be very close to the lightning and I would have to look at it because the bench faced out.  This would not have been good for my ‘mood’.  Not good at all.  So, I headed for the shoes. They have two little benches at the end of two of the aisles.  It was empty and no one looked as if they needed it, so, I took a seat.  Whew!   “Lord, please let it stop for 5 minutes, so I can get to my car.”

There was an elderly woman…much more ‘eldier’ than me…sitting on the other bench, trying on shoes.  A shiver ran down my spine.  I prayed to be invisible.   I knew when I saw her she did not like to shop alone.  She needed someone to bounce ideas off of.   And, I was right.

EL:  Hon, whatdaya think about these shoes?

They were green and glittery with a big, blue, glittery bow on the top.

ME:  Well, they are really pretty if you have the right dress to wear them with.  Are you going to a party?

EL:  No, but I’s go to church ever Sunday…and I’s jest thinkin these ‘uns would look good with my new white suit.

ME:  Well, I just bet they would.  (I was not in the mood to give her the benefit of my fashion sense,  or I would have told her they were hideous and should only be worn in one of those ‘Womanless Beauty Pageants where the men dress up like women.  Every thing is a joke…just like those shoes.)

EL:  I jest don’t knows what to do.  I’ma thinkin’ I could wear ’em with a lot of things.  See, I has a blue suit, and a black suit, and my new white suit.  I’m thinking I could wear them with all those suits.  Don’t you think so?

ME:  I’m sure they would make an undeniable statement if you did.

EL:  What’s that mean?

ME:  Just that everyone will notice your shoes when you wear them.

EL:  Well, these is the kinda shoes to notice.

ME:  Oh, yes ma’am!

EL:  I bet you might like these better.

And y’all, she picks up a pair of red shoes….bright red patent leather shoes.  A strip of zebra striped fabric went over the toe and around the whole shoe.  The stiletto heels were black…patent leather, of course.

ME:  Hmmm. Those really are interesting.  Don’t think I have ever seen any like this before.  What are you planning to wear these with?

EL:  Well, you knows I got them suits I told you about.  I could wear these with the white suit or the black suit.  But, I don’t think they would look good with the blue, do you?

ME:  No, I think you are right.    You like unusual shoes, don’t you?

EL:  I suppose I do.

ME.:  I can understand that…so do I.

EL:  (She looked over at me, and looked down at my shoes…black T*ms.)

Well, I’m just telling you, Girl, them shoes you got on sho’ don’t do nothin’ for you.

ME:  These are comfortable, and I like them.  But, the truth is, they don’t make shoes like you have picked out in my size.  Those are usually just for people with really BIG feet.

And, with that, I stood up to look outside and it had stopped raining, so I said: “ Gotta go, it’s stopped raining.  You have a great day.  And, I think you should get both pair of the shoes!”

She was still staring at me, and said nary a word.  Good.  O.K. Then.

I was able to check out quickly and get to the car.  Then I ran ( well, walked ) into the grocery store to pick up only the ‘must haves’.  And, headed home.

Oh the experiences one can have when you least expect it!

PS……….If you like green glitter shoes with a big blue bow on top, I think that’s great.  YOU are wise enough to know you have to have the right dress to wear them with……………………………….and it is NOT a black suit that you wear on Sunday…but you know that!

PPS……….If you like red patent leather shoes with zebra trim and a black stiletto heel…well, good for you!  You are obviously a fun person, and wise.  Wise enough not to wear them to church on Sunday.

PPPS……….If you are a Mama or a Grandmama and you let your children act like wild Indians and throw clothes on the floor and damage the ear drums of other shoppers,   I will not go shopping with you if they come along.

***************************************************

I was such a pompous girl when I was pregnant for the first time…”My children will never throw food in a restaurant.  My child will never throw himself down in the floor and have a tantrum.  My child will never climb under the clothes racks and scream and swing.”  How quickly I learned that “Yes, Ma’am, they will. ”  But…only once.   Unless they totally lose their mind and forget the lesson they learned as soon as we left wherever we were when they provided such wonderful entertainment.

Of course, Sweet Levi would never do things such as this when I take him out in the future.  But, should he try.  I’ll let his daddy or his uncles explain to him why he better not ever do it again !

Friends, I have been writing on this post since Sunday.  I have written and re-written, and removed paragraphs, and put in new ones.  Why?  I usually just sit  down to write and the things I want to say come easily.  In this instance,  I have agonized over the words.  I want to explain the way I feel, but I keep second guessing myself…wondering if I am explaining too much, or if I’m not being clear at all.  This post has come from deep inside and it’s important to me that it be exactly as I hear it in my heart.  So, please be forgiving if something strikes you the wrong way.  Know that it is only my intention to say how I feel.  I speak for myself, and even though Joy and I discussed this, I do not claim to speak for her- even though she probably would totally agree.  Cause, I AM her big sister, after all!

This week there has been some sad news in our town, and in our church.  Some dear friends who we have known since childhood, found that their son had passed away during the night.  I can not imagine what you do when you go through something so devastating. I can not imagine  their pain.

There was a time, many years ago, a group of us young married women..still girl’s really… who were members at SBC,  were having babies just as quick as we could.  First one, then another, then another.  This went on for quite a few years…until we all came to our senses!  We produced a wonderful group of boys who were friends from their first Sunday in the nursery.

I can’t even remember who came first, and I sure hope I do not leave any out, but there was my Alex, Clarke, Jud, Harrison, Adam , Josh, Tyler,  my Ian,  Justin, Reid,  Chase, Russ, and these were just the boys that I can recall.

They went to several different schools and had other friends, but they all came together again on Sunday’s and the bonds were still there.  They were in Sunday School, choir, Discipleship, Camp Thunder, R.A.’s,  and summer programs together.    They all had parts in our Living Christmas Tree for many years.   Then, they went their own ways…as all young men should do.    And now, they are scattered all around.  Some are married and have started their families..raising little boys and girls themselves. Some are still working on their careers.  Some  live and work in other cities.    Some have gone to school and have come home to Dothan  Some have come home to SBC and worship in the church they grew up in.  Others are in Dothan and worship elsewhere.  And, two are in Heaven.  Adam went to Heaven when he was about 16…injured in a car accident.  And, now Harrison  has joined him there.

It is  hard, sometimes, to remember the things you know are true when something comes along to shake your life and change your world.    And usually, it comes from out of the blue.  I think it can be such a shock to us, that we tend to forget the things we know.  At these moments, there is only us and the pain and the unrealness of the situation.  After all, we are only human.  We know that God will uphold us.  We know that He will comfort us.  We know that he will walk with us.   We know His promises are true.  We may feel forsaken…even though we know He will never forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)  We wonder how we will live and go on and plan a funeral and get up the next day, and the next, and the next. How will we care for the ill family member, day after day and week after week and month after month and year after year?  We may feel lost and alone…but He has promised to be our strength. (Jeremiah 29:11)  And, He keeps all His promises.  We may think that we will never feel happiness or excitement or joy ever again…but it is He who will comfort us. ( Isaiah 51:12)  And the time will come, amidst the crying and unbelief and sadness, and pleading, when we realize that we are doing what needs to be done.  We are taking care of the things we need to.  We are still sad and may need to cry…that’s just what we do… that will last for a while.  And for each of us, it is different.  But, we are getting a boost from somewhere.  We are amazed at ourselves.  We didn’t think we could cope…but we are.  And, then…we remember…we remember what He promised us, “I will NEVER leave you.  I will be with you WHEREVER you go.”   Deuteronomy 31:6       Even to bury your child.  Even to bury your Mother or Father.  Even to bury a spouse.  Even to deal with a  child’s devastating illness…which, in reality, takes his life, too.  It may an illness for you or a spouse or a parent. You may even have to care for someone who doesn’t even remember who you are.  Maybe you lose all your worldly possessions due to flood or fire or whatever .  Whatever comes to disturb our safe and secure world, He walks beside us there.   We  do what we have to do.    And, we thank Him for holding us up and giving us strength.  We forget again, and sink into despair…but, He’s right there…walking us through it…holding our hand…drying our tears.

There are other ways He sends comfort to us.  We may read something….a poem, a quote, or an article that has all the words we need to hear.  Soon after her death, I was looking through some of the journals that Mom kept.    I came across a poem that she had cut out of a book or a magazine and taped into a journal.  Beautiful and touching words about losing someone we hold dear.   Exactly what I needed to hear.   We may hear someone say something that resonates with us.  Perhaps we hear something on the radio or TV.  We will ‘accidentally’ come across scripture that God must have put in the Bible just for us.  And, He did.  Because He knew we were going to need it.  He knew the exact day and time we were going to need it.  So, He made sure we would see it.  And, we did.   If God wants to send us a message, He will.   And we WILL get it.

Corrie Ten Boom once said:

“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”

And, it is true.  You may not have experienced it yet, but you will.    Many have experienced sadness and grief and shock in their lives.  And, to those who know Jesus as their Savior, He has given sweet comfort and peace.  I have felt it.  I can testify that it is true.  I know what peace and comfort only He can provide.  You have probably felt it, too.   And, if you are like me…you feel compelled to reach out to others who are hurting and tell them what you have discovered through your experience.    For along with His comfort and sweet peace, He has given us a task.  .  He says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ^“ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”   We  are commanded to do this…but we would anyway.  Because, when you know what He can do, and what He has done for you….you want those you care about that are hurting to know about it, too.  And so you go and remind them of what they already know…but they need to be reminded…just as you did.  Friend helping friend…helping friend.

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.


lyrics…John Fawcett

I was not able to be in church last Sunday, but Joy said the sadness and shock  of this young man’s death could be felt everywhere.  And, then she said something else, which has resonated with me.  A core group of us, who call SBC our church home, our church family, have been in this church since we were young ourselves.  Joy and I started there while we were in grade school.  So, the adults who were our teachers, had children who were our friends.  We developed friendships, strong friendships, and grew  up, and had children of our own.  We, then were the teachers, and our teachers became the grandparents…and some…great-grandparents.  And, now we, though many of us still teach, we are also becoming the grandparents.   And our children are becoming the teachers. And so it goes.  Now, isn’t that a beautiful thing?  Just the way that God intended a family to operate.  Titus 2:3-5 says that “the older women are to teach the younger women.”   Our hearts are invested in these families.  We care, because when something bad happens…it effects the people who loved and nurtured us, and the people we loved and nurtured.  And, the ones who are to come.  It is our friends, and our parent’s friends, and our children’s friends.  And it is all because we are a family…a church family…the family of God.

The funeral is coming, and we will gather to mourn and love and pray together.  Friends who live elsewhere will arrive, and there will be hugs and slaps on the back because we have missed them and are glad to see them.  And, then, we will remember together.  And, we will cry together.  And, yes, we will worship and praise our God together.  Because in the midst of this horrible sadness, we are not defeated.  Because we know:

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ……… No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:35 – 39

Sunday…June 12…2o11

Today was a special day.  You know, I realize how fortunate I am to be able to say that.  I am so thankful for good news.  I am thankful that my family believes that what is good for one of us is good for all.  And, of course…what hurts one of us affects us all.  You take one of us …you take us all.  We are a cohesive unit…even if we have differing paths to follow.

Well,as I said, today was a special day.  And, so much leads up to it, that I don’t know if I can even explain it all to you so that it makes sense.  For years, our family has worshipped together at SBC. ***But children grow up and move away  to other cities and worship with strangers (to us) but where they feel comfortable.  ***They grow up and move away……even if it is only 30 miles up the highway, and they join the community church and use their talents there.  Which is, I believe, what God intends for us to do wherever we may call home.  ***They grow up and move with others to start a new church.  ***They grow up and worship in a totally new kind of church.  ***They grow up, but don’t always move away…and are not even able to attend church at all……but read and study and worships in his own way…living very close to God.  ***And, then there are our elders who simply moved on to  the the most wonderful place of all to worship…at the feet of Jesus.  And, this is the way of the world.  It is right and fitting that they should make their own decisions about how and where they worship.  They are serving the Lord , they are teaching, as they have been taught,  they are raising their children to love their church.  This makes mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles and grandfathers very happy and proud.  Together at SBC or worshipping in other places…we are ALL part of the Family of God.

But,  there are those of us who come  to our dear SBC each Sunday to worship.  Joy is the church pianist, Don and Tommy serve as Deacons, and committee heads, and Pop leads a Sunday School Department. I have not been able to be very active in the past few months due to my health, but I’m hoping to get a reprieve soon. It is funny thing that if I clear my throat or cough, Joy will always look my way from across the church.  It is a gift to sing the hymns with Don.  It is a treasure in my heart each time my Pop takes my hand during the benediction and holds it gently in his.  He always did the same with Mom.

It is nothing short of an early Heaven to be at church with those who have known you since you were a babe yourself.  Who saw you and loved you and taught you and  TOLD ON YOU!! and set the example of what being a Christian means.  They watched you grow, and helped you grow,  and then they watched your children.  And, they loved them and visited them, and taught them, and set the example, and yes, TOLD ON THEM! when necessary.   And, their children were taught, and loved and TOLD ON, when they were taught by us.    We love their children just as they love ours.These are the people who feed you when you are sick.  They sit with you during illness.  They comfort you during the pain of death.  There are many ladies here who loved my Mom.  They never mind us mentioning her or talking about her…they loved her, too.  It helps us so that we know they can recall sweet times with her, too.   I know that any of them would stand in for my Mom should we need it.   This is what makes a church family.  This is what binds us together.  This is the stabalizing force in our lives.  And, it is a good place to be.  And, here we shall be until we join Mom and  Mrs Elizabeth and Mr. Hanlan  (Don’s Mom and Dad), along with Tommy’s and Ben’s Dads,  on the streets of gold.

Adam grew up at SBC and Suzanne came when she was in college.  There are many, many people who love Adam…from watching him grow…and for watching him fight and beat cancer when he was just a little boy!  And, he and Suzanne are sorely missed…as are the rest of the cousins.

*****Allow me to stop here and say again what a blessing God has given us in Little Levi.  There was much doubt as to whether Adam and Suzanne would be able to bring a child into the world.  There were fertility issues that shall remain theirs to tell.  But, it was devastating when discovered.  However, God can take the saddest things in our lives and work through them to bring about a miracle.  Through wonderful doctors and God’s grace…they were able to have this precious child!  You know…people often get angry with God and wonder why He allows such sadness to occur in the lives of His children.    God made this natural world for us to live in,  and things sometimes go a little wonky.  It is the way of this world.  Even though it was created to be a perfect place…it changed with Adam and Eve.  So, God takes these sad and bad things that come into our lives and turns them into things we can bear.  Sometimes He makes things right.  Sometimes, He helps us find a workable solution…even if it is not the perfection we truly want.  And, sometimes, He says, “Be strong and learn from this trial.  I will help you and hold you and I will never leave you alone.”  And, He does just what He promises.  He is there to smooth our paths and He uses His followers to love on us and comfort us.  He. Is. Always. Good.*****

***Wow!  That was a lot of background that probably was not at all interesting, but as a historian for our family…it is important for me to tell the whole story.***

Today was a day of happiness and joy.  Joy deep down inside.  Adam and Suzanne brought Levi to SBC and my heart overflowed with happy.  There were so, so many people who loved and still love Adam…and they have been praying for he and Suzanne throughout this whole process.  They were happy to hear when they got pregnant, and even more so when he was born.  And, today, they were so happy to see their new son.

Pop began sitting on the other side of the church soon after Mom died.  Joy and Tommy sit there and it is easier for him to sit in a different place.  But today, he came and sat between Adam and I.  Forgive the goofy grin…like  I’m the only woman to ever have a grandchild.  He was so good all through the service.  Not a sound…except when he got the hiccups!

Do you notice how adoringly he is looking at me in the pic above?   Now look at the pic below….see?  Yes, I think the correct word would be adoration…just saying…

Here he is with our dear Uncle Allison, who just celebrated his 92 nd birthday!

Don and I with the sweetest grandson ever!

And, then Adam said they needed to go home.  Well, Levi was having a grand time at church with all the attention.  So, he whispered to me that he wanted to stay.  Then Adam told him that really they had to go.  And, this is what he thought about that…

And, thus the day came to an end.   Adam and Suzanne and Levi will be back in their church next week.  They are now in a  long and well established church where they are very happy.  And, that makes us happy!

“God has given us these times of joy.”  Nehemiah 12:43