Wow .. I didn't realize how long it had been since I had posted on my blog until I looked at the date of the last post! How time has flown .. and I think I have some catching up to do!! However, I did want to post some of our Christmas pics ... all the girls were here on Saturday with their kids and of course, Ava, our great-granddaughter.
She and Rudy found that they liked the same things -- like the video game chair which they both went for at the same time .. Rudy pushed and Ava pulled -- Rudy's hair, that is!! It's just hard to believe how quickly the kids all grow up!!
The girls -- youngest to oldest, left to right: Shonna, Teri, Sandi, Roxanne
The grandkids and "Nana": Back row: Kasi, 19, Marley, 13, Rudy, 2-1/2, me; middle row: Regan, 12, Ava, 14 months, Bailey, 10, Kamen, 11; Front row: RJ, 6-1/2, Tyler, 9
I rode with Ron Edwards and his granddaughter, Erin, through the Drive Thru Nativity .. so while you can see what is going on, you can also hear some laughter and comments. Especially when the car in front of us stopped at the manger and they got out!! So, it made it difficult to see. But what an awesome experience!!
It's hard to describe all that goes into putting together a Drive Thru Nativity. It isn't just a simple job but rather lots of people doing lots of things and putting in more hours than there are in a day! But, in the end, 325 vehicles with over 1300 people drove through! What a blessing!!
Keeping with the outside theme, the Christmas Eve service will be held at the Manger .. the theme, "Meet Me at the Manger"! What an awesome way to spend Christmas Eve! We welcome you to join us at 7pm. Although there will be seating, you may want to bring along your favorite lawn chair and maybe a blanket if it is cool.
It seems hard to describe "The Best Christmas Present Ever" so I went to the trusty old internet to get a synopsis .. here is what is posted there:
"RSVP to your invitation to the greatest birthday bash ever! This energetic children's Christmas celebration is overflowing with colorful characters, plenty of humor, a clever story, and a clear evangelistic message: what will you do when Jesus knocks on the door of your heart? Join skeptical news anchor Rod Stark as he covers a small story with a big message. Featuring the classic Carol Cymbala (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir) song "Happy Birthday, Jesus," The Best Christmas Present Ever! will delight audiences of every age.
What an awesome program and presentation of the gospel!! Tyler's solo was in the second song, "Good News, Great Joy" and he was ready and waiting. I think it surprised Sandi at how well he would do but he seemed quite at ease. Especially at the end when he shared, "The innkeeper had no room at the inn and Herod had no room in his heart. How about you? Do you hear Jesus knocking at the door of your heart? Will you say 'yes' to him?" He patted his heart as he shared! In practice, one of the adults commented, "How could anyone say 'no' after that?"
So, here are a few photos from Sunday .. were there any glitches? Ha!! Of course! Right off the bat, the monitor didn't work which had the words of their songs .. but that didn't seem to dampen their enthusiasm! They sang their little hearts out!! What a message of salvation!!
It was so cute when the kids who didn't have speaking parts and the preschoolers joined the rest of the group for "Happy Birthday, Jesus", "Away In a Manger" and the reading of the Christmas Story by Ron Edwards. Ron does such an outstanding job!!
Miss Debbie, Victoria and Hannah sang, "What Will You Do With Jesus?" as Randy got ready to share how his life had been changed by attending this Christmas party!
Randy shared .. I was BC -- Before Christ .. but today it is AD -- an Amazing Day!!
The Christmas music is playing continuously at our house! Yes, continuously. If you were to get up in the night, you will hear our stereo in our living room softly playing the carols of the season. I love this season ... I love Christmas carols! I love the memories of waking up at Grandma Nelson's house on Christmas morning! She lived in a quiet neighborhood and while I could hear the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen as she prepared Christmas dinner, I would reach over to her radio beside her bed and turn it on hoping to hear the 'sounds of the season'. I would peek out the window hoping to see a blanket of snow and would sigh .. this is what Christmas was truly about. Family .. being together .. celebrating our Savior's birth.
I'm afraid my house is somewhere between beyond Thanksgiving and almost Christmas. The tree is up .. and it's one of those great pre-lit trees that I wanted so badly for so many years! Now I'm facing the task of figuring out why some of those prelit thingy's have gone on the blink ... completely off!! Not even blinking to say they still work. They are just off -- and in the oddest places. So, I picked up two more strands of lights to somehow fill in the dark places of my tree!! It's just sitting in the living room right now -- nicely ... well, partly nicely lit!!
But, I am encouraged because up high on the ledge (we have very high ceilings so have a ledge above (on top) of the cabinets) is a Christmas village that our son-in-law, Tim, has put up. He loves Christmas more than I do (how can that be?)and I'm thrilled because I'm not necessarily the most creative person in the world by a long shot. So to have someone around who can handle all that stuff .. I can sit back and watch .. not! Even in my own house, I'll be put to work to get that tree all decorated. My very first decoration on the tree? A wonderful gift from my sister -- a 'frame' ornament with my dad's favorite photo of him and my mom! I'll admit, I have mixed emotions when I look at that photo. This is the first Christmas that they are both gone. This morning, I was driving to Walmart (and at 11:00am, no less .. not the best time to go!) and I thought on the way home, "This is my time to call Dad." I often called him as I was out running errands. I have been so busy recently that I hadn't thought too much about that until today. And there was some sadness .. but I would not wish him back.
Of course, it feels just like Christmas here in warm, sunny (not so sunny today) Florida! I left on Friday before Thanksgiving .. I came home Sunday evening to a brightly lit neighborhood except for a few houses -- and yes, ours was one of them not decorated! I was sure hoping some of the neighbors wouldn't be quite so eager to get it done so soon! But, it seems we have to do an overkill of decorations to convince ourselves that this is wintertime .. or almost anyway. The first year we lived in Florida, I finally figured out in January that Thanksgiving and Christmas had come and gone and I still wasn't sure fall had arrived!
My Christmas wreaths are by the front door. Odd place, I know. But, you see, I forgot to take them down .. good excuse, huh? So, they stayed nicely on the front door most of the year and anyone who visited our house thought I must truly have some sort of dementia not to remember what time of the year it was. Christmas in July maybe? Anyway, the wreaths are by the front door. Sandi took them down momentarily so there could be some decoration or token of the fall season on the front door. She also put out nice corn .. whatever kind it is that you use with fall decorations. That worked well until the squirrels decided that it surely must be better food than decorations. To which Tim said, "I'll get you" and screened in the front porch! The funniest thing was before he got the door on, a squirrel got in and couldn't figure out where the opening was to get out. I mean .. it's right where the door was to go but that squirrel went everywhere but out for a few minutes. Totally freaked out!
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care -- well, does the back of the chimney count? Okay, makes no sense -- you have to be here to understand. The back of our chimney faces the front door -- floor to ceiling mirror with a nice mantle where the girls' stockings are hung. And an antique piano!! Now, I love that and it blocks out having to look at ourselves every time we walk in the front door! Love that especially! And it also holds the flag that was presented to me at my dad's funeral. So, there are the stockings! So many grandkids that theirs won't fit there but I'm afraid to hang them on the mantle above the fireplace. I guess I'm worried that our nice fire (in the fireplace, of course) might either melt the kids' stockings or somehow burn them up that I have to hang them on the wall. So I guess our reading/song would be that the stockings were "hung on the wall" with care. I know, not a very good songwriter am I!
So .. right now, in our living room is a tree -- prelit, mostly lit .. awaiting more lights. And a ladder! You gotta have a ladder to reach to the top of that 9 foot tree! No, I won't be on it because the first thing I would do is fall off of it! Not a very pretty picture for sure! The decorations are in the box (big box, that is) ready and waiting! There's a folding chair in the middle of the room -- wonder why that is there .. oh, I know! I wanted to sit down while trying to 'fluff' all those lower branches on my prelit / mostly lit tree! The only thing is, we didn't get the top of the tree fluffed so it's like a big blob on the top right now. And it's half lit, too! The truth is, Sandi and I got discouraged when part of the tree wouldn't light -- we just said, "We'll leave it for a while!" Not sure what we thought that would accomplish but actually, some of the lights decided to come on after they thought about it for a while. Must be a spooked tree!
I know that there are fuses somewhere on those strands of lights that are supposed to be replaced maybe -- but Tim has worked and worked on that tree and since he is in construction by trade, if he can't figure it out, I don't think anyone can. We'll just add lights! Did I already say that? :) We'll see if that does the trick!
I did put one of those cut little fiber optic trees in the front window. Or rather, on a table by the front window. I know Sandi will work on that tree because it seems to be leaning a little to one side. I tried to fix it but I think it would probably go on strike, too, so think I'll wait and let her do it!
So .. there you have it! I love Christmastime .. so glad it is here but will be really glad when the tree is all decorated, the fire is lit in the fireplace (without us having to turn the airconditioning on!) and we'll relax with a cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee and wish the season would never end! Oh, the photo above is of Ava last Christmas!
65 years ago tomorrow, my mother and dad stood at an altar in Rock Island, Illinois, and pledged their love and lives to each other. They kept those vows until ‘death do us part’ … my mother on October 8, 2006 and my dad on October 1, 2009. Even after the passing of my mother and when we suggested that we would certainly understand if Dad needed a companion, his love for his beloved never wavered. He would just smile and shake his head when we teased him about a couple ladies who had their eyes on him at the nursing home!
Little did Dad and Mother know what would happen over those next 61+ years they would spend together. Just about a month after their wedding, my dad was off to World War II and the fear that he might not return weighed heavily on both of their minds. My mother has told us about the time that my dad was able to call her while overseas – about a two minute call and she remembers crying most of that time.
And a short synopsis of what followed .. well, how can you put 62 years into a short synopsis. Well, I’ll try!
After the war, it was off to OlivetNazareneCollege where I made my appearance, interrupting my mother’s quest for a college degree.It was there he built their first home – and his desire to ‘build’ or remodel seemed to be always at the back of his mind. I remember several remodeling jobs he did on their homes throughout the years. His artistic and drafting skills served him well.
Tim followed while we were living in Peoria, Illinois where Dad built a church – imagine that! He loved building – not just a congregation but a facility as well. As I look back, I see that throughout all his life. From churches to Bible Colleges, he loved constructing, creating, developing, etc. That was hard for him to give up when they moved to Berkshire as he finally realized those days were over. (You can’t very well remodel an apartment in an independent living facility although I think he would have tried had he been in better health.)
Mark, Joel and Thad arrived in the latter part of the 50’s and Mother was kept quite busy with her growing family. But, she also added another responsibility when Dad felt the calling to establish a BibleCollege. She became his secretary / registrar / administrative assistant! With the help of a number of people, those dreams became a reality in 1958. Oh, how I remember those years and wonder sometimes if had they realized the time and sacrifice it would take, would they have done it all over again? Probably so! The love they had for young people and especially for missions was a driving factor. You see, they had felt a call to go to New Guinea as missionaries. They applied through the NazareneChurch and had been accepted .. everything was ready to go until my mother’s final physical and the doctor felt like she was not quite strong enough to endure the hardships of that field at the time. Disappointment was overwhelming – I remember hearing about it as I was growing up and whenever I hear stories of missions in New Guinea, I wonder for a few moments … “What if …..”I may have grown up on a mission field!
Those years were not necessarily easy but what memories they hold in my heart and I know in theirs. Our home was open to students and some even stayed with us from time to time. When I consider that my dad was 33 years old that first year of the Bible Missionary Institute, I almost cannot comprehend that since our youngest is 33. She’s a very capable young lady but I just can’t imagine what all it would have taken to oversee the establishment of an educational institution! I’m glad I was part of that “era” – I have so many great memories of students, of worship times, of friendships made that are still close today – and even of passing those love notes between students!!
Circumstances change, however, and my dad left the Bible Missionary Institute and moved across the river (Rock River, that is) and established the FrancisAsburyBibleCollege in Milan, Illinois. And then … along came the last of the children, Rachel. Were they thrilled to have a little girl join the family? Were the boys thrilled? Was I thrilled?I think we were as they say, “over the moon” with excitement! With the heavy schedule my mother had as secretary / registrar / teacher, etc., Rachel became almost like my own and quite often, if we were out shopping, my mother would explain that both of these gals were her daughters, not just one.
And that rounded out our family and the influence of two godly people who had pledged not only to love each other but had added to that their commitment to Christ worked hard to raise their children in such a way that would please God.
I’m going to add a little here of what my brother, Tim, shared at my dad’s funeral that expresses so well what our parents’ influence on our lives:
“… bear with me for a minute as I honor the man who was absolutely the most godly man I’ve ever known. He was my encourager, my greatest cheerleader and in any type of business down spot I had in my life, I knew I could pick up the phone and he’d have a word of prayer with me on the phone. And just to have that in your back pocket would make all the difference. We as children were blessed with a heritage of having two loving parents who loved the Lord with all their heart. My dad never raised his voice to me. When he did discipline, he didn’t do it in anger. He had a unique way of making each of us feel special … I’m blessed beyond words to call this man my father and the love he had for my mother was a very, very unique relationship.”
Dad and Mother showed us how to treat each other. From the time we were little, we weren’t allowed to talk to each other (siblings) in an unkind manner.We were to treat each other with respect and I think that’s why we are so close today. Dad taught the boys that there are some things you do for a lady: Opening a door, a car door (I never saw my mother open her own car door when Dad was there); walking beside the road when walking along a sidewalk; standing up when a lady entered a room; etc. Mother taught us manners … sometimes to a fault but we knew what table manners and etiquette meant. (Did we all excel? Well, that’s another subject – who knows?!) But those things run through my mind to this day – elbows off the table; don’t get up from the table until everyone is done (unless you have asked permission); do not start to eat until all the food has been passed; don’t read at the table; don’t talk with your mouth full, etc.
Oh, and since Dad was an English major, we were encouraged to use proper English from a young age .. I learned the difference between “may” and “can”, “will” and “shall”, “lie”, “lay”, etc. And, for heaven’s sake, when someone asks you how you are, do not say “I’m doing good” but rather “I’m doing well”! What memories!! Oh, and lest I forget – adverbs!!! Just ask my girls! Dad was loving in his instruction but what he taught keeps running through my mind even now! And since Mother was a spelling bee champion, she expected that of her children. Most of us did pretty well in that area and if we didn’t, it wasn’t because she hadn’t tried.
They showed their love openly to us yet with great taste. It was common for my dad to slip up beside my mother, put his arm around her and give her a hug. They wanted us to know how it should be and they were truly a ‘class act’. Oh, and we could never chide or argue with our mates in front of them. Well, I should say, never even raise our voice to our spouse or we could expect some chiding especially from Mother. That simply wasn’t acceptable! And never argue in front of your children .. ever! And that is something that Bob and I worked diligently on. Hopefully we have passed that along to our children.
In later years when there were physical and emotional challenges, my mother would call me and always be so careful as she shared some of her own frustrations, trying not to ever diminish my respect and love for my dad. And he would do the same for her. We had to actually tell them that we knew they were as normal as any of us – and we thought no less of them for being ‘human’! In fact, it made us appreciate them more!
Probably the most valued treasure they left with us is their prayer lives! From the time I was little, they made special times when they prayed together and when we prayed together as a family. In their later years, I knew that early evening was the time that Dad prayed aloud. He named all of us children, all of our children and grandchildren – all by name! He prayed for other concerns and we knew that when he was done, he had truly been to the ‘throne of grace’ as he described it. Mother, on the other hand, could be found early morning in her chair with her Bible and little lists and post-it notes across her lap. She remembered all of us by name but we also knew that on those post-it notes were prayer concerns that were personal – perhaps from one of us but justas often, requests from her grandchildren. You see, they knew that she seemed to have a direct line to the Father and whenever there were needs, she was ready to add them to her list.
So, on what would have been their 65th wedding anniversary, I want to say Happy Anniversary and say how very blessed we are to have had godly parents whose prayer was to meet every family member in heaven some day! And our prayer now is .. may that circle be unbroken!
I left for Atlanta on Friday morning .. the day after Thanksgiving. I arrived home last evening to a neighborhood already brightly lit with Christmas lights and decorations! I think I need to get busy!!
Thanksgiving .. we know it is a time to be thankful although we need to be thankful all year long!
I’m thankful for family … I often share about my own family, about Bob, our girls, their children, grandchildren. And I am so very blessed!! But, since my dad’s passing, I’ve thought about my siblings and how much I appreciate each of them. We are very different .. imagine that! And I can already hear the responses from them regarding us being different … Tim would just smirk a little, not saying much; Mark would laugh out loud so we all would hear him and he’d say, “Ya think?”, Joel would chuckle and sort of shake his head, Thad would be somewhere between Joel and Mark in his response and Rachel would smile at us all pondering what she might say and I would probably be accused of wondering how I could blog this all .. which I am now doing, go figure!!
We are a mix of all kinds of personalities … dispositions … reactions, etc. But we are a family and I am so thankful for each one. I think of growing up .. I was firstborn and not too thrilled when Tim came along when I was 2-1/2, I am told. So much so that I went into all kinds of antics to keep the attention focused on me and not on my little brother. He must have learned about making faces from me because when he got a little older, he could make the funniest faces which sent me into gales of laughter! (Maybe that’s where the crazy photos started!) He still makes faces – and I still laugh!! He’s not one for a lot of words … but he can respond with looks and expressions .. so much like Mother! We were the only two children for a while so we thought we ruled the roost … and then along came Mark .. then Joel .. then Thad … and finally, I got a little sister I had waited so long for!! But, even though I had waited a long time for Rachel, it didn’t take away my love for my four brothers! Or more commonly referred to as Tim and the ‘three little boys’. I would be asked quite often by my parents, “Where are the ‘three little boys?” … ‘Linda, are you taking the ‘three little boys’ with you?’ … I did and made many memories and I’m sure Mark will remember one July 4th .. and he will not share that here!
As I look at our family, I am so thankful for the various qualities I see in each of them .. their work ethic, how they carry themselves in a mature manner (well, except when Mark launches into his jokes .. which is quite often and he is already laughing at this now!); their love for family – not just their own children but each other and their families. Thad may not have children of his own but he definitely holds a special place in the heart of all of our children! I appreciate how we stick together as a family – each of us is truly just a phone call away.
The night of Dad’s passing – it was after midnight but our phones were busy as we talked to each other, making sure that the others were okay and assuring them that we were all here together. I’m thankful for the time we had together at the funeral home when we stood in a circle, hand-in-hand, an evidence that nothing could break that circle. We were a family!!
I’m thankful for Tim with his quiet supportive manner … he doesn’t always say a lot, but I know he’s right there and probably one of the most special moments he and I will ever have is as we prayed together with Dad over the phone not long before he passed away. Tim, you probably will never know just how much that time meant to me .. we were the oldest two and had some special memories when there were just the two of us … when we lived in Monmouth and sat with Dad watching the high school band playing across the street. Dad reminded me of those days quite often! That night, we said ‘good-bye’ to Dad together and let him know that it was okay to go to be with Mother. Painful, yes, yet so much easier having you there beside me!
I’m thankful for Mark who doesn’t know a stranger .. of course, I’ve been accused of the same thing. Just ask my girls! They claim I know a person’s history before I get through a checkout line at a grocery store! But, Mark may have me beat in that area! Our telephone conversations are often filled with laughter since we seem to see life from a similar perspective many times! He and I probably remember the most from childhood and when we get on a roll, watch out. If Tim is around, he just wants us to shut up!! If you want to liven up a party or get together, just invite Mark!
And I’m thankful for Joel, his quiet manner and his steadiness. From the time he was little, that is who he was – steady, not rattled by much, predictable. He is still that way! He has a low chuckle that I love to hear! And while he doesn’t say a whole lot publicly, those one-on-one conversations are a treasure! I am so thankful he has been Rachel’s rock during the past few years with Dad. And Dad depended on him, too! I remember a few mornings when Joel hadn’t called Dad during his break at work. “Do you think something is wrong? Joel hasn’t called yet? What do you think?” I assured Dad that I was certain Joel was fine but because of Joel’s predictability, Dad was concerned! He spent many hours with Dad – many times late at night!
I am thankful for Thad and especially the past week that he got to spend here in Florida with me. He may be the youngest of the “three little boys”, but he stands much taller than me!! He loves us all deeply … he may not have any children of his own, but he can claim all of ours!! He was able to visit Dad quite often and he always had a nightly talk with Dad. There were times in the evenings when I knew not to call Dad because it was one of the boys’ times to talk. And Dad reminded me that I was the second mother and needed to make sure the boys were okay! I think that is why it was so special to have Thad here .. not only because he and I enjoyed it so much but I knew that it would have meant so much to Dad. He would have called during that time to see how things were going and would have told me again how much it meant to him.
And then there was Rachel … Thad was over 5 years old when Rachel arrived and I don’t think anyone was happier than me .. I am soo thankful for her, not just as my sister but as my closest friend (along with my girls)! From the time I got married and she wanted us to all live on one street and expressed that to my mother, she has been a close part of our lives. And I was able to be with her after the birth of a couple of her children. I am thankful for who she is .. perhaps I share a little more about her than the boys as obviously our relationship is closer. There aren’t many days that go by but what we haven’t talked .. about the good things, the difficulties and one of the things we will never be able to express adequately is our appreciation of how she took care of Dad over the past several years. Oh, he was in a nursing home but he called her several times a day, the nursing home was in contact with her at all times of the day and night … I don’t even know how she did it all! I am indeed so very thankful for having her as my sister!! While she was not yet 4 years old when I got married, it’s amazing how the age difference changes once you are adults! She is close to my girls and I am so thankful for that, also.
So, on this Thanksgiving week, I am thankful for family … I am blessed beyond measure!
It was a delight to have my 'little brother' (youngest brother, that is) visiting for a week in our home! He doesn't get to be down here too often so I decided that we would visit all of our girls and their children -- and got it done all in one day! Wow!
However, we started the day at Northside Christian School where the elementary department was putting on a Thanksgiving program outside (awesome weather) and followed by a Thanksgiving dinner catered by Boston Market! It was an excellent program and we had a great time and were well fed!
One of the elementary classes presented a Thanksgiving Quiz and while most of the answers were pretty well known, there were a couple that stumped some of the parents -- and that is always a delight for kids to know more than their parents! The question that seemed to stump everyone was .. Thanksgiving is celebrated only in the United States - true or false. Well, the answer was indeed false and after some of the parents had yelled out "true", there was some laughter from the students! Canada is the other country which celebrates Thanksgiving. It made it a fun time for all and I am so glad we went. Thad enjoyed our balmy Florida weather -- about 75 degrees with a light wind and clear blue skies! We are certainly blessed! So, since I was able to see all the girls and all their kids, I decided to post the photos of Thad with them! I put them in order by age except that Teri is holding Rudy -- he should be at the bottom of the grandchildren but before Ava (our 'great').
I was raised in a parsonage and married a minister! He is not only my husband, but my best friend!! I'm mom to four girls, grandmom to four girls and four boys and now a great-grandmom to a little gal! My greatest joy is watching all four of our girls serving God and teaching their children to do the same! And, of course, I love spending time with all of them. I am truly blessed!!!
Wow .. I didn't realize how long it had been since I had posted on my blog until I looked at the date of the last post! How time has flown .. and I think I have some catching up to do!! However, I did want to post some of our Christmas pics ... all the girls were here on Saturday with their kids and of course, Ava, our great-granddaughter.
The girls -- youngest to oldest, left to right: Shonna, Teri, Sandi, Roxanne
The grandkids and "Nana":
Rudy does not know what to do with Ava!!
Loved this pic of Rudy and Tyler!
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