The Cross

Take a short walk with me
Through the 80s

the and 90s ....

the holidays....

the vacations....

....the fun, daily nights

...the special days

This morning our beloved, Ma Miles, went to meet Jesus. This is one of those joyfully sad days. Expected, given the morphine drip was started last Friday but still feeling a little lost. She has battled Alzheimer's for 10+ years. The last 8 years she been under the everyday care of our dear Aunt Lana....an angel on Earth that serves the Lord without even knowing it!!!...She took her home with her (back to Las Vegas) to care for her. For the last 30 years my aunt has taught at a special school for the mentally challenged....imagine teaching 18-20 year olds that think like 2 year olds. For about the last year we have all been awaiting the phone call that Ma has gone to meet our Maker. We even took a quick trip out in January 2010 to make sure Ma met Claire. My sisters and I were our Ma's world....we lived in the same town with her until 1992. There are so many things I would just love and sit and talk with her about.....now that I am a grown up and all.

please keep reading I promise this is not her obituary it is an incredible chill bumps, only God could do this story......

Our Ma worked hard and generally worked two or three different jobs at one time....jewelry store, wedding coordinator, dress shop, etc. She was very much a southern belle, always properly and beautifully "put together". She still lived in the 800 sq. ft. house they purchased when my dad was in the sixth grade.

One of the last things our grandmother purchased herself was a beautiful, very nice, diamond cross necklace...there is no telling how long she saved to purchase this necklace. She loved beautiful things! About 3 years before she moved to Las Vegas she lost this necklace!! Every time anyone would visit she would have us search the house high and low looking for the cross....imagine your whole house looking like that "one closet" that is not to be opened....although her home was always very well kept, every corner, closet, dresser was packed full. She even had my dad crawl under the house because she was convinced it fell through the walls! Then she started thinking someone must have stolen it....after years of searching...seriously years of looking for the cross we concluded she accidentally threw it away....she had a habit of wrapping things up in paper towels...so pretty easy to throw out.

My dad travels through her hometown regularly and stops by to get a car load from the house. We have very slowly been cleaning out her home for the past 8 years. My dad is a sentimental person so he has just been taking his time walking down memory lane though the stuff stored away at Ma's house. So a box that takes the normal person 5 minutes to go through takes him 5 hours, if not 5 days....but I love this about my father!

You have probably already guessed what happened.....Kathi was helping Dad go through a box and found The Cross.........Last night at around 5....Last night!!!!........the cross was found!!! We all KNEW that second she would pass away last night!

Today is my Aunt's birthday, some view this as a bad thing, but we view it as a gift, a final "thank you" for caring for me and loving me. Now she has left this beautiful cross she cherished for her daughter.

Ma is dancing is Heaven today, with her daughter, Ann Marie, she gave back to the Lord when she was only 9 days old, our Pa whom she let go of nearly 30 years ago, her parents and 11 of her 13 siblings!

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!!!! THANK YOU FOR THE CROSS....the one Your Son died on and the one that brought a peace as we knew our Ma was taking your hand!!!

Seeking

Day 17: A Place to Belong...The church will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it.

Day 18: Experiencing Life Together....Life is meant to be shared...Real Fellowship happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives.

Day 19: Cultivating Community...Community requires commitment....Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

Day 20: Restoring Broken Fellowship....God expects you to make the first move.

Day 21: Protecting Your Church....Divorcing your church at the first sign of disappointment or disillusionment is a mark of immaturity. God has things he wants to teach you, and others, too. Besides, there is no perfect church to escape to. Every church has its own set of weaknesses and problems. You'll soon be disappointed again!

(all the above is from The Purpose Driven Life)

Wow! Day 21...God changed our direction again! I know I skipped a few days but I really wanted to get to this point today! We have been members of FUMC about a year, the draw into this church was an amazing Sunday School leader...so amazing about 6 months after we joined the FUMC foundation called him to go lead a small rural church not far from town. He departed from our church and there has remained a huge "sunday morning" void ever since. After several months of just going through the motions we sensed a need to fill this void and the only way we saw how was to visit other churches and look for a new church...a new church that would satisfy our hunger for the Lord! So we visit around and like what we see, we went to some great churches with plenty to offer! Then comes Day 21....soon to follow comes a quote "Look for ways to serve your church, not for ways your church can serve you!" You know there are those times when God is using something to speak directly to you!! Several of our friends even knew we were on this journey "seeking" fulfillment.....Needless to say that following Sunday we went back to FUMC...what were we seeking??...a Sunday School class of young adults to fellowship with....surely we can't be the only people in the large church wanting a Sunday School class for this generation?? That Sunday we stayed after church and spoke with one of the church leaders about what was on our hearts....he was so excited and is willing do whatever it takes to help find someone to lead this group.....after Bible Study on Tuesday I spoke with another church leader who thinks this is a huge missing piece in our church....we sent an email to our preacher concerning the lack of a young adults ministry in our church and he said the email alone was an answer to church leaders prayers......the more people we talk with the more we realize there are several who think this a huge void in our church....we have spoken with several couples about forming this ministry within our church and all seem very eager to participate and be a part of it!!! Now we are just praying we have talked with all the right people to find the perfect person to lead this group! All this has happened this week!!!

The reason I am telling you all this is because I am asking for your prayer!! A ministry could not be built without prayer and people! We really hope this is something that fills the void for so many in our church, becomes a place for so many looking for a church home, a place where people find fellowship, and most importantly a place where people love the Lord!

"Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together." Romans 14:19

Bowl Buddies

Super Bowl Sunday!!! We headed over to the Roberson's and met up with several friends. Claire was super excited to see her buddies, Titus and Gibson!! (I can't believe I don't have a good picture of sweet Gibson) Each one of them brought there own bag of toys and I wish I had a picture of Eric's face when he walked into the living room after all the toys had been "dumped" out of the bags....he has no idea what is about to happen to his house!!! Needless to say I think we watched the kids more than the football game! Sharing a hug with Titus!

Showing each other their toys...both of them working on sharing...

.... Playing the matching game.....

...had to stop for a snack...

Claire LOVES her some Ashley and Eric....I really think we even may have a jealous issue when Baby Roberson arrives this summer....

The real HALF TIME SHOW....we should already be getting phone calls to book them next year!!!! They were hilarious!!!

....they look like they are line dancing here...

.....they really got into there dancing....just laughed and laughed...

...look at that move???...

....Can't help but LOVE this one.... look at that Dancing Diva!!!

Claire had the best time!!!

Terrible Two Tantrum

I might be an awful Mom for posting this, but hey this blog is about our life and this is our life right now....Miss Claire just playing on a lazy Saturday, eating her chips (Mesha chips as she calls them, her teachers name is Mesha and these are the kind of chips Mesha eats),....

Just being silly for the camera....

Hiding from us....

...hiding her baby doll....

...then I asked her to do something...oh, no!!...

...so we have to throw our self on the ground, cry like something is hurting....

...throw our hands around....

...hide our face....

..continue to cry...peak through our hands to make sure someone is still watching...

...start kicking...

....and rolling around....then guess what? its all over and everything is ok!!!!

"Terrible Two Tantrum by Claire"

More Purpose

Day 11: Becoming Best Friends with God

God wants to be your best friend.

"Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him." Psalm 25:14

(Self expression....wonder what the fashion queen is saying here?!?)

Day 12: Developing Your Friendship with God

I'm as close to God as I choose to be.

"Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you." James 4:8

(Claire loves to read...this is just one of those everyday "little things" at our house.)

A couple of quotes from the book I just wanted to share:

"There is no growth without change, no change without fear or loss, and no loss without pain."

With the world we live in today, with the want for instant, self gratification we all probably need to hear this one 100+ times a day.....

"God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time."

Cupcake Claire

What to do on a cold, snowy day than put our little chef to work! Claire loves cupcakes!! and she loves helping!!! Mixing it all up!

Could not wait to get them all iced and sprinkles on...she had to have one!

Hmmm....which one do I want next?

Time to decorate!

Cheese!

The last one got all the sprinkles dumped on it, then...

YAY!!!!

All done!!!....but wait...

I must eat the one I just dumped all the sprinkles on!!!! Silly girl!

Snowflakes

When snow makes it's way to South Arkansas you can't help but try to soak it up like the first day of the summer sun!...It really was one of those "once every 10 years" snow falls this morning with huge, beautiful snowflakes.

The view from my office window over looks Main Street with the steeple of the largest church in town in its landscape...this morning I probably stared out my window a little too long watching the snow flakes. My mind began to wander a little bit. I had just received a phone from my sister about a friend of ours losing her unborn baby very late in her pregnancy, another good friends father unexpectedly passed away this week, we continue to wait for the "call" that our beloved grandmother has gone to a better place, and this week our little cousin, Lilly, started her radiation treatment for the tumor that has decided to grow back . To me it has just been one of those weeks of heart wrenching stories and a time where I find myself spending more and more time with our Lord. How in the world do non-believers make it in this world??? I recently picked up a favorite book of mine for the another read, "A Purpose Driven Life". If you have never read it, it is worth every penny and every minute. It is very similar to a daily devotional for 40 days.....

Day 1: It All Starts with God

It's not about you.

"Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in." Colossians 1:16

Day 2: You Are Not an Accident

Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God.

"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2 Day 3: What Drives Your Life?

Many people are driven by guilt.

Many people are driven by resentment and anger.

Many people are driven by fear.

Many people are driven by materialism.

Many people are driven by the need for approval.

"You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 Day 4: Made to Last Forever

This life is not all there is.

"This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." 1 John 2:17
Day 5: Seeing Life from God's View

The way you see your life shapes your life.

"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10

Day 6: Life is a Temporary Assignment

Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Day 7: The Reason for Everything

It's all for him.

"For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory." Romans 11:36

Day 8: Planned for God's Pleasure

Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship."

"The LORD takes pleasure in his people." Psalm 149:4

Day 9: What Makes God Smile?

The smile of God is the goal of your life.

"The Lord is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love." Psalm 147:11

Day 10: The Heart of Worship

The heart of worship is surrender.

"Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes." Romans 6:13

............there you have the highlights from the first 10 days...maybe I will get all 40 days on here but I promise the book has sooo much more than just these bullet points. I know there are days when I just need to hear the right words or see the right scripture to open my eyes, help me through, point me in a new direction, help a friend, remind me what's important, or just to remind me why I am here.

Today, being a snow day and all I couldn't help capture a few priceless moments of our "not so much a snow bunny" daughter. By the time her gloves (socks, she didn't want to wear her gloves but thought it was silly to put socks on her hands...) got wet she was ready to come back inside to play. And of course, Duchess, the stuffed dog wanted to go play in the snow too!! Then, up went the coat and boots and out came the riding turtle!!

Have a Blessed and Purpose Filled Weekend!!!!