-Mike's mom passed away this morning at 11:00. His dad died at 11:00 on a Sunday, 7 years ago this March. They both knew that it was time to go to worship!
-We were already on the road when we got the call, and got to Houston around 4:00 in the afternoon. The family is having a graveside service on Tuesday afternoon, and is requesting donations to missions in lieu of flowers. Arnelia loved and supported missions and WMU.
-She also loved "I Can Only Imagine" and it played in her room this morning before she died. God is so good to us!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
On Life and Death
My mother-in-law is dying.
Honestly, she's been going downhill ever since Mike's dad passed away 6 years ago. She's had strokes, and Alzheimer's/dementia, and it's been a long, sad struggle. She's been in a home health care facility for years, confused and barely able to speak. Sometimes we saw a spark of recognition in her eyes--we think--and a ghost of a smile around her mouth, but mostly she just looked at us.
Early this week, we were told that she is no longer eating or drinking, and would probably be gone by Wednesday. Then they changed it to Thursday...then Friday...and now she's still sleeping peacefully, but we've decided to go to Houston tomorrow to say good-bye. The nurses and Mike's sister wonder if maybe she's not letting go because she wants to see her baby boy one more time.
All week I've been asking, "Why is death so quick for some people and so agonizingly long for others?" Why can't she just go on home, where she can be whole and really live again?
Last night (and please don't think I'm crazy) our dog had puppies. FIVE puppies! We suspected it would be the day by the way she was nesting, so when Mike took Rebecca to get a movie, I sat by her bed, and ended up being her midwife for the next 2 hours! I've watched her have puppies twice before, and she never had a problem either of those times. This time was harder. She whimpered some and was shaking; two of them were breach. But it was still--even though she's just a little dog--it was still so moving! When she was having trouble, I thought about how if we humans had never sinned, she wouldn't have trouble at all, and (is this okay?) I prayed that God would make it go well for her. I was so relieved that it did!
So it got me thinking about birth, including my own childbirth experiences, and how unique each one is. My mom's first labor lasted 36 hours and her second about 18 minutes! Well, isn't death for a follower of Christ actually birth into true life, the life we were really created for? So some may be quicker or longer than others, and none will be easy, But the end results will be wonderful beyond our comprehension!
Honestly, she's been going downhill ever since Mike's dad passed away 6 years ago. She's had strokes, and Alzheimer's/dementia, and it's been a long, sad struggle. She's been in a home health care facility for years, confused and barely able to speak. Sometimes we saw a spark of recognition in her eyes--we think--and a ghost of a smile around her mouth, but mostly she just looked at us.
Early this week, we were told that she is no longer eating or drinking, and would probably be gone by Wednesday. Then they changed it to Thursday...then Friday...and now she's still sleeping peacefully, but we've decided to go to Houston tomorrow to say good-bye. The nurses and Mike's sister wonder if maybe she's not letting go because she wants to see her baby boy one more time.
All week I've been asking, "Why is death so quick for some people and so agonizingly long for others?" Why can't she just go on home, where she can be whole and really live again?
Last night (and please don't think I'm crazy) our dog had puppies. FIVE puppies! We suspected it would be the day by the way she was nesting, so when Mike took Rebecca to get a movie, I sat by her bed, and ended up being her midwife for the next 2 hours! I've watched her have puppies twice before, and she never had a problem either of those times. This time was harder. She whimpered some and was shaking; two of them were breach. But it was still--even though she's just a little dog--it was still so moving! When she was having trouble, I thought about how if we humans had never sinned, she wouldn't have trouble at all, and (is this okay?) I prayed that God would make it go well for her. I was so relieved that it did!
So it got me thinking about birth, including my own childbirth experiences, and how unique each one is. My mom's first labor lasted 36 hours and her second about 18 minutes! Well, isn't death for a follower of Christ actually birth into true life, the life we were really created for? So some may be quicker or longer than others, and none will be easy, But the end results will be wonderful beyond our comprehension!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
God keeps blowing my mind!
I can't believe I never blogged about this!
At first I kept it to myself because it wasn't my news to share, and then I guess after it became public I either got busy or thought I already wrote about it.
But listen to this!!
One day in early summer, I was sitting on my back porch swing reading my Bible. I was reading 2 Kings 4, where Elisha promised the Shunnamite woman that "about this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms." When I read those words, I put my Bible in my lap and prayed, "Lord, please do that for Kelli, and for Mandy." Kelli has been married to my nephew Jason for 7 years, and had been told by doctors that she would never get pregnant without medical intervention. Mandy is a friend at church who has been married for about 4 years, I think? who's been wanting a baby for awhile.
That afternoon I took my girls to the health clinic for shots, and got a phone call from Kelli, which I didn't answer since I was actually talking to the receptionist at the time. Then she texted me...can you guess what she said??! Yep--she told me THAT DAY that she's pregnant! I squealed, and laughed, and got all teary, and just felt in awe of God's answer to my prayer.
I shared that story (without names) as part of my children's sermon that Sunday, then let Mandy know that I had prayed for her at that same time. About 2 weeks later, she grabbed my arm, caught my eye, and grinned at me. Yep--she's pregnant, too! So amazing.
What brought this to mind now, making me check to see if I ever blogged about it, is this: both Kelli and Mandy had their ultrasounds recently, and both of them are having boys. Sons. Just like Elisha promised the Shunammite woman. Wow. Our God still does awesome things, every day.
At first I kept it to myself because it wasn't my news to share, and then I guess after it became public I either got busy or thought I already wrote about it.
But listen to this!!
One day in early summer, I was sitting on my back porch swing reading my Bible. I was reading 2 Kings 4, where Elisha promised the Shunnamite woman that "about this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms." When I read those words, I put my Bible in my lap and prayed, "Lord, please do that for Kelli, and for Mandy." Kelli has been married to my nephew Jason for 7 years, and had been told by doctors that she would never get pregnant without medical intervention. Mandy is a friend at church who has been married for about 4 years, I think? who's been wanting a baby for awhile.
That afternoon I took my girls to the health clinic for shots, and got a phone call from Kelli, which I didn't answer since I was actually talking to the receptionist at the time. Then she texted me...can you guess what she said??! Yep--she told me THAT DAY that she's pregnant! I squealed, and laughed, and got all teary, and just felt in awe of God's answer to my prayer.
I shared that story (without names) as part of my children's sermon that Sunday, then let Mandy know that I had prayed for her at that same time. About 2 weeks later, she grabbed my arm, caught my eye, and grinned at me. Yep--she's pregnant, too! So amazing.
What brought this to mind now, making me check to see if I ever blogged about it, is this: both Kelli and Mandy had their ultrasounds recently, and both of them are having boys. Sons. Just like Elisha promised the Shunammite woman. Wow. Our God still does awesome things, every day.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Gig 'em, Aggies!
One of the good things about marrying an Aggie is that it gives you the opportunity to go to honest-to-goodness NCAA football games, as opposed to my (beloved) alma mater, where you go to football games to talk and visit.
So for Mike's birthday in August, I got tickets to the Texas A & M v. La. Tech game at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, about an hour and a half away from where we live. But Hurricane Isaac threatened to flood it out, so the game was postponed until this past weekend. (We ended up getting less than half an inch of rain! But oh well.)
Mike's brother and his son met us for supper at the Blind Tiger where we ate some yummy Cajun food, then we headed over to the stadium. Mike was totally into it, and our girls were sooo funny. They're not really...sporty...girls, but they found ways to entertain themselves.
A & M has some interesting traditions, to say the least. My favorite is that they get to kiss their dates every time the team scores. :) Since the final score that night was 59-57, there was a lot of kissin' going on. One time Mike kissed me, then I turned and kissed Jessica, then Mike kissed Jessica, then some random old lady sitting behind us kissed Jessica!! It was so funny.
They also link arms and legs and sway back and forth during part of their fight song...no matter who you're standing next to. Mikayla was sitting next to a boy who looked about her age, but when that part came along I looked down at her and she was as far from him as she could possibly get!
Rebecca is our most enthusiastic Aggie fan (aside from Mike, of course) and she was most excited to get to see Reveille live and in person. She is a beautiful dog!
Another thing--Aggies stand for the whole game. Mike was determined to keep this tradition, even after the 1 or 2 Bulldogs sitting in our section started yelling at him and the others. But eventually he graciously sat down...occassionally...when he wasn't standing and yelling.
And there was a LOT of yelling, most of which was led by the yell-leaders, but some of which were spontaneous reactions to the 27--that's twenty-seven--penalties. Add those to all those points, a few injuries, and all the commercial breaks, and it turned into a FIVE HOUR game. Which started at 8:15. P.M. An hour and a half from home. I didn't get to bed until 3:00 in the morning! But it was worth it to see how happy it made my birthday boy.
So for Mike's birthday in August, I got tickets to the Texas A & M v. La. Tech game at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, about an hour and a half away from where we live. But Hurricane Isaac threatened to flood it out, so the game was postponed until this past weekend. (We ended up getting less than half an inch of rain! But oh well.)
Mike's brother and his son met us for supper at the Blind Tiger where we ate some yummy Cajun food, then we headed over to the stadium. Mike was totally into it, and our girls were sooo funny. They're not really...sporty...girls, but they found ways to entertain themselves.
A & M has some interesting traditions, to say the least. My favorite is that they get to kiss their dates every time the team scores. :) Since the final score that night was 59-57, there was a lot of kissin' going on. One time Mike kissed me, then I turned and kissed Jessica, then Mike kissed Jessica, then some random old lady sitting behind us kissed Jessica!! It was so funny.
They also link arms and legs and sway back and forth during part of their fight song...no matter who you're standing next to. Mikayla was sitting next to a boy who looked about her age, but when that part came along I looked down at her and she was as far from him as she could possibly get!
Rebecca is our most enthusiastic Aggie fan (aside from Mike, of course) and she was most excited to get to see Reveille live and in person. She is a beautiful dog!
Another thing--Aggies stand for the whole game. Mike was determined to keep this tradition, even after the 1 or 2 Bulldogs sitting in our section started yelling at him and the others. But eventually he graciously sat down...occassionally...when he wasn't standing and yelling.
And there was a LOT of yelling, most of which was led by the yell-leaders, but some of which were spontaneous reactions to the 27--that's twenty-seven--penalties. Add those to all those points, a few injuries, and all the commercial breaks, and it turned into a FIVE HOUR game. Which started at 8:15. P.M. An hour and a half from home. I didn't get to bed until 3:00 in the morning! But it was worth it to see how happy it made my birthday boy.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
My crazy friends
On Sunday my friend Sonia, whom I wrote about here, went to heaven. She lived for 2 1/2 months after the doctors told her she had "weeks to live," and from my long-distance view, she lived them well. The pictures I saw on facebook, especially of her birthday party, show her having just as much fun and acting just as crazy as ever--bowling, eating out with friends and family, and especially her 70's-themed birthday party. She was so much fun that I truly smile through my tears when I look back on my memories of Sonia. She had such a quick, dry wit--always herself, never putting on a show. I hope she knew how I felt about her.
Then on Sunday, I watched an online video of my former church, Wedgwood Baptist, celebrating their/our pastor's 25th anniversary there. I enjoyed seeing people I used to go to church with. I'm not sure why they've aged so much more than I have. ;) They teased Bro. Al about his quirks and habits, and there was even one video from the 80's showing my friend/former roommate Karry and Sunday School teacher Curt doing a lip synch of one of Bro. Al's jokes. It was hilarious! (The lip synch, not the joke) Then they played a tape of one of my friend Sydney Browning's Top Ten lists, and in the middle of it she cracked herself up and started giggling--oh, it did me good to hear her laugh! Sydney was killed in the Wedgwood shooting 13 years ago, and she was a nut, too, also smart and witty and genuine, as I wrote about here. I didn't make it to Sonia's 70's party, but I most definitely enjoyed the one I went to at Sydney and Stephanie's house. I'm literally smiling again just thinking about it.
Sydney and Sonia never met. If they were both still alive today, I doubt they would ever meet, although they both might make smart comments on my facebook that the other might read. But with them both in heaven now, I imagine them meeting, eventually--who knows?--and wouldn't I love to hear THAT conversation.
Then on Sunday, I watched an online video of my former church, Wedgwood Baptist, celebrating their/our pastor's 25th anniversary there. I enjoyed seeing people I used to go to church with. I'm not sure why they've aged so much more than I have. ;) They teased Bro. Al about his quirks and habits, and there was even one video from the 80's showing my friend/former roommate Karry and Sunday School teacher Curt doing a lip synch of one of Bro. Al's jokes. It was hilarious! (The lip synch, not the joke) Then they played a tape of one of my friend Sydney Browning's Top Ten lists, and in the middle of it she cracked herself up and started giggling--oh, it did me good to hear her laugh! Sydney was killed in the Wedgwood shooting 13 years ago, and she was a nut, too, also smart and witty and genuine, as I wrote about here. I didn't make it to Sonia's 70's party, but I most definitely enjoyed the one I went to at Sydney and Stephanie's house. I'm literally smiling again just thinking about it.
Sydney and Sonia never met. If they were both still alive today, I doubt they would ever meet, although they both might make smart comments on my facebook that the other might read. But with them both in heaven now, I imagine them meeting, eventually--who knows?--and wouldn't I love to hear THAT conversation.
Monday, October 8, 2012
8 on the 8th...barely...because I can
Last week I was working on school with Rebecca when Mikayla, who was supposedly doing chores, came in and said, "Mom, I think the vacuum cleaner is fried. I smell smoke."
I just put my head in my hands and breathed for a minute or two.
Why such a drastic reaction? Last straw.
Here are 8 things that have broken in our house in the last 6 months or so:
1. Dishwasher
2. Toilet
3. Hot water heater
4. Bread machine
5. Crock pot
6. TV
7. Waffle iron
8. My (sob) laptop
The vacuum cleaner, thankfully, just needed the hair of 4 women cut off the rollers and is now working fine. The dishwasher replacement is great because it's from this millenium, which is a nice change. And the toilet is awesome! It has separate flushes for #1 and #2. Seriously! Should save us some moolah on the water bill. The crock pots were pretty cheap because of our college town's back-to-school promotion, and the TV was able to be fixed. And even my laptop isn't the tragedy it could be, because we had some hand-me-down laptops we can use for school. I'm sad about the videos I should have saved somewhere safe and didn't, but I'm hoping our local computer doctor can find them for me when I get my replacement--which Mike ordered today! :) HP called him with a "deal"--sort of. So of course they're just things, and of course I'm thankful for that and that God always provides...but I sure hope this season is coming to an end!!
I just put my head in my hands and breathed for a minute or two.
Why such a drastic reaction? Last straw.
Here are 8 things that have broken in our house in the last 6 months or so:
1. Dishwasher
2. Toilet
3. Hot water heater
4. Bread machine
5. Crock pot
6. TV
7. Waffle iron
8. My (sob) laptop
The vacuum cleaner, thankfully, just needed the hair of 4 women cut off the rollers and is now working fine. The dishwasher replacement is great because it's from this millenium, which is a nice change. And the toilet is awesome! It has separate flushes for #1 and #2. Seriously! Should save us some moolah on the water bill. The crock pots were pretty cheap because of our college town's back-to-school promotion, and the TV was able to be fixed. And even my laptop isn't the tragedy it could be, because we had some hand-me-down laptops we can use for school. I'm sad about the videos I should have saved somewhere safe and didn't, but I'm hoping our local computer doctor can find them for me when I get my replacement--which Mike ordered today! :) HP called him with a "deal"--sort of. So of course they're just things, and of course I'm thankful for that and that God always provides...but I sure hope this season is coming to an end!!
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sometimes I just want to talk to my dad
Happy Birthday, Daddy!
Are you celebrating in heaven? Or do you just celebrate the day you got to heaven? Or maybe the day you were born again? Hmm. We miss you so much, but I know there's no place you'd rather be.
I'm texting Kelli right now. She's so awesome--you would be so proud of her and Jason. And they're having your third great-grandchild, did you know that? I'm ready for another baby in the family. Especially one that won't keep ME awake at night. :)
Mom is doing good. I mean, she's sad today, and always misses you, but she is always ministering to somebody. Her widow friends, young moms...me. :) She's even stronger than we knew. And she's not letting Parkinson's keep her down. You'd be proud of her, too. I bet she's watching the Arkansas/Aggie game right now. I'm watching it, and using Mike as an excuse to cheer for whoever has the ball. It's a win-win situation for me!
Mike is on a retreat with 31 of his students. His BCM is doing so great this year! He's running 75-90 students every week! Did you know he got his doctorate? DMin, so he always downplays it, saying it's not like he got a PhD or anything. But he worked really hard, and other people are even using his discipleship material! But the retreat means he's missing the game. Arkansas has been really stinking it up this year, but he's not taking anything for granted. Just like you always said, that's why they play the game. (The Aggies just tied it up, by the way.)
Jessica is really growing up--so much it hurts my heart a little. She's taller than me and even than Mike now! She really takes after you. Remember when you bought a watermelon and put it in the garden so she would think it grew there! Ha! And when you showed her the turtle and she said, "That's not for touching." So precious. We've been homeschooling for the past 5 years, which has been fun. I wonder what you would think about that. She's going to go to public high school next year--she'll be in 10th grade, can you believe it? That's the first year in high school here, and we wanted her to have some school experience while she still lived at home, before she goes off to college. She's a good girl.
They're all good girls. Mikayla would crack you up. She's so quick and witty. And silly. I have no idea where she got that. :) She's in 7th grade, and actually grew a little this summer. Everybody keeps telling me she went from looking like a little girl to a teenager overnight. But sometimes when I look at her I still see her little shorty-legs striding so confidently around the house. She has the sweetest friends--she's loving being in youth group. Remember how musical she always was? I was convinced she would be the musician of the family. But right now she's the only one who doesn't want to learn an instrument. I guess she'll be our singer. She's reading over my shoulder right now, so I won't talk about her anymore.
I'm sorry Rebecca never got to meet you. She is such a love. Very sweet and sensitive and affectionate. If you were here, I guarantee she would be in your lap every minute when we visited you. She accepted Christ this summer, and Mike baptized her! It was beautiful. Our pastor has each person fill out a testimony page to add to our church's "Book of Life" when they get saved, and I read hers. I cry when other people read their kids, but I didn't cry reading hers. Isn't that funny?
I've been really busy since school started. I'm homeschooling, plus trying to keep the house up, plus leading 2 Bible studies and older elementary kids choir. Phew!
I miss you. I would love to hear your voice right now. And your laugh. And get a great big hug. I love you. See you someday-
XOXOXO,
Kecia
Are you celebrating in heaven? Or do you just celebrate the day you got to heaven? Or maybe the day you were born again? Hmm. We miss you so much, but I know there's no place you'd rather be.
I'm texting Kelli right now. She's so awesome--you would be so proud of her and Jason. And they're having your third great-grandchild, did you know that? I'm ready for another baby in the family. Especially one that won't keep ME awake at night. :)
Mom is doing good. I mean, she's sad today, and always misses you, but she is always ministering to somebody. Her widow friends, young moms...me. :) She's even stronger than we knew. And she's not letting Parkinson's keep her down. You'd be proud of her, too. I bet she's watching the Arkansas/Aggie game right now. I'm watching it, and using Mike as an excuse to cheer for whoever has the ball. It's a win-win situation for me!
Mike is on a retreat with 31 of his students. His BCM is doing so great this year! He's running 75-90 students every week! Did you know he got his doctorate? DMin, so he always downplays it, saying it's not like he got a PhD or anything. But he worked really hard, and other people are even using his discipleship material! But the retreat means he's missing the game. Arkansas has been really stinking it up this year, but he's not taking anything for granted. Just like you always said, that's why they play the game. (The Aggies just tied it up, by the way.)
Jessica is really growing up--so much it hurts my heart a little. She's taller than me and even than Mike now! She really takes after you. Remember when you bought a watermelon and put it in the garden so she would think it grew there! Ha! And when you showed her the turtle and she said, "That's not for touching." So precious. We've been homeschooling for the past 5 years, which has been fun. I wonder what you would think about that. She's going to go to public high school next year--she'll be in 10th grade, can you believe it? That's the first year in high school here, and we wanted her to have some school experience while she still lived at home, before she goes off to college. She's a good girl.
They're all good girls. Mikayla would crack you up. She's so quick and witty. And silly. I have no idea where she got that. :) She's in 7th grade, and actually grew a little this summer. Everybody keeps telling me she went from looking like a little girl to a teenager overnight. But sometimes when I look at her I still see her little shorty-legs striding so confidently around the house. She has the sweetest friends--she's loving being in youth group. Remember how musical she always was? I was convinced she would be the musician of the family. But right now she's the only one who doesn't want to learn an instrument. I guess she'll be our singer. She's reading over my shoulder right now, so I won't talk about her anymore.
I'm sorry Rebecca never got to meet you. She is such a love. Very sweet and sensitive and affectionate. If you were here, I guarantee she would be in your lap every minute when we visited you. She accepted Christ this summer, and Mike baptized her! It was beautiful. Our pastor has each person fill out a testimony page to add to our church's "Book of Life" when they get saved, and I read hers. I cry when other people read their kids, but I didn't cry reading hers. Isn't that funny?
I've been really busy since school started. I'm homeschooling, plus trying to keep the house up, plus leading 2 Bible studies and older elementary kids choir. Phew!
I miss you. I would love to hear your voice right now. And your laugh. And get a great big hug. I love you. See you someday-
XOXOXO,
Kecia
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