What a year it has been!!!

Well it has been a year for you!!! Working side by side with your best friend literally making a home for you family!!! I know it has a been a dream a long time coming!!! So very happy for you, Donnie and the kiddos!!!

It's been a year of changes also, with big changes at church...a few at the school...but the Lord gives us just what we need to moving forward with Him during each season of our lives!!!

The other day we had a little boy at church standing quietly behind your dad...just waiting for your dad to notice him...in his pressed shirt and tie...made me think of you instantly...I could see you standing there in that little navy dress...oh the memories!!!

It's also been a year of changes with the kiddos...I can see just from the outside looking in how much they are growing up...take your momma's advise and soak it every bit up...even the bad when those times come...it's times of great joy, times of growth...times of learning for them...and for you...you will blink and not only will they be grown but your first grand will be starting high school!!! Time goes so fast and I'm sad I didn't cherish out time more...

I love you our one and only sister!!!!

Love mom!

Can't lose

You can't lose something you never had...those words have been ringing in my ears for 3 days now...people ask me how I am...to be honest I'm not real sure how I am or how I'm suppose to be...it's different this time than in the past...understanding those I'll see again...and those I probably won't...I say probably because I don't know what may have taken place between them and the Lord in the end...however, as believe we can't say we believe God's word is 100% truth and also talk everyone into heaven...

I keep thinking of the story of Lazarus and the Begger...I believe he can see on that side now...he knows 100% truth now...my heart is broken...not for what I lost...like I said...you can't lose something you never had...but it's broken for what he has lost...my fear this whole past several months was how...do I deal with it...and again I've learned the peace that surpasses all understand...a peace that can't be explained but can sustain...a peace that is a gift...so now on this side of it...I can begin to understand how believers make it through when they believe...and when they don't...still it's God...grace...assurance that He is still on the throne...that he knew their hearts...and mine...before the beginning of time...I'm thankful for whatever avenue God used to spur me into sharing the Gospel...not sure I could live with  myself if I had never done that...

The one thing God has spoken the most to me is what a difference my life would be if I was as broken over all lost all around me and not just the one that affected me the most...praying that truth will follow me the rest of my life...

I can't express enough the prayers that have and are going up on behalf of my family...

Time Fly's

Man...another year gone...another year of streching and growing!!! I know this past year has had it's challenges with your schooling but you get to start this year out fresh and FINISHED!!!! Quite an accomplishment...wife...mom to 4 busy kiddos...fulltime job and classes too...but you made it!

Just want to say how proud of you...not for all those accomplishments...even though they are awesome things...but I'm proud just because you are you...

More so this year than ever I'm thankful we are friends beyond mom and daughter...that I can seek godly advice from you...that I know you pray for and with me...to know that you understand your biggest job is to be Jesse's biggest encourager and cheerleader...I know you hearts desire is to spur your children on in spiritual matters above anything this world might offer them...

All these things make you...you...happiest birthday today...know you are loved...and hope you know you are also treasured!!!

Love,
Mom

Katie

What a year this past one has been for you!!! Moving into a new home...adjusting...well I might add...to motherhood with Journie...and welcoming baby bear into the mix!

I was watching the kiddos all play together today...using their imaginations...saying silly things...kissing their friends goodbye...such a sweet time for this Grammy...

I wish I had appreciated those times with you guys when I was younger...but you know...you get busy with life...and you forget to just enjoy...

If I could pass on any words of wisdom to you (and your siblings) it would be to sit back and enjoy...soak it up...cause you will blink...and wow your baby will be...the age you are today!!!!

I'm so thankful for the person you are! Thanks for all the times you checked on me this year...given me advice...and just encouraged me!

I love you!!! Now tonight...slow down...enjoy...and soak up your time with your sweet family...

love~mama

More Sweet Memories...

I was thinking again of those sweet memories with my kids...and a phone call I received from Sis...one that absolutely blew my mind...we had a certain issue that we, Scott and I...me more than Scott, for several years...Scott kept saying we needed to let her come to terms with it or she might always blame us...always wondering...

...and then...out of no where, she called us from college...yes...college...and told us she had decided to step away from the issue...she said she couldn't say it would be forever because she wasn't stepping away because she stopped caring...she went on to tell us that she stepped away because it was her every waking thought...first thing in the morning and the last thing at night...she said until she could get her focus on the Lord then she had to step away from the issue...and she did...it was long and it was hard for her but she made it...

I know we all have issues...maybe it's a dream or a job or a person or finding our whatever....but the truth is...even when we find our place or person...until God has our whole heart and attention...nothing else will complete us or satisfy us...

This memory is  a favorite for this mom because of the growth I witnessed during this time in her life...finding her satisfaction in the Lord...becoming her own person in Christ...my prayer not only for her but for all my kids...and grands...

Love you Sis

Sweet Memories

Lately I've had a pretty big fear of losing my memories...and during this time God has been reminding me of some of those sweet times I've not thought of for some time...

I will be sharing some of them in the coming months...but a few short ones...

When Heather was about to leave for her Jr. Prom...Katie was being silly and she spilled an ENTIRE glass of sweet tea all over Heather's dress...to which...that was one of the times Heather made me so proud...she never raised her voice to her little sister...Katie was immediately crying...she didn't mean to spill it and she knew it was a very big deal that she had potentially messed up...Heather kept telling her it was all going to be okay...not many 17 year old's that would do that...her dress was padded clean with damp towels...the night was saved and I was taught a lesson on being loving and forgiving...

But I've been thinking of a memory a lot the past few days...it was about 20 years ago...our oldest daughter was working in our local "grocery" store...they also made sandwiches...she had worked there long enough that she was able to work on Saturdays alone...so she calls me from work on day when she was working the store alone and she was almost hysterical! As a parent you can only imagine the things there were going through my mind...she couldn't really even talk...all she could really get out was mom I need you...please come...please hurry...while I'm still trying to get an answer from her...and again she can only get out please I need you to get here...so I ran out the door and drove way to fast the 3 miles to her...when I got there all she could really get out to me was...I'm lost and I need Jesus...will you pray with me...I know that all sounds so dramatic but it is how it happened...and I would go through it all over again...she was desperate for Jesus at that point...and what an honor to be there with her when she prayed and received her salvation...that is a dramatic thing in our lives...it is the moment we are forever changed...20 years later I get to watch her...as well as Heather, Michael and Katie how...praying for that salvation in their own children's lives...as Scott and I join them praying for our Grandchildren...

I can't thank Jesus enough for this gift...

My kiddos will laugh (probably out loud) at this but,...precious memories...how they linger...how they ever flood my soul...
  

Sunday's Coming

today is good Friday...I woke up this morning with that being my first waking thought...thank You Lord...without the cross we don't have the glorious resurrection morning!

This year things are so different in my heart...It is difficult to stand and watch someone disappear before your eyes...while they are still there in front of you...but not there...does that make sense...their body is there...but they lose a little more of themselves each day...

All of the sudden things that mattered before...or things that hurt before...seem to fade...the saddest part of this experience is...really...I never knew this person anyway...and now I want to so desperately and that time is slipping away and there is nothing I can do about it...

...my greatest fear...the message of the Gospel will not be able to penetrate the illness...and then the Holy Spirit gently reminds me there are NO barriers for God...as long as there is breath there is hope...

I'm thought of that saying...It's Friday...but Sunday's coming...all day today...but this evening it hit me...that can be the truth of our lives right now...our struggle...whatever that is...we all walk through our "friday's" but we must remember...those of us in Christ..."Sunday's" coming!!!

So on those days that the struggle is harder than others...remind yourself...Sunday's coming...

Tomorrow is going to be a difficult day for this person...a hard goodbye to a life of memories...of proof of a hard working person...of a gifted shade tree mechanic, wood crafter and a lover of some good ole bluegrass...my prayer though...is for this person to learn Sunday's coming...

I don't mean to mock the resurrection of our Lord...not at all...that is the point...the hope...the peace that surpasses all understanding...the strength...

So as we come to the end of Friday...and what it represents...a still, cold, lost, afraid, feeling deserted world...it's just for a while...cause Sunday's coming and the world would be shaken to the core because of the risen Savior...

Happy Resurrection Day...thank you Jesus...