Allie's Way

“One of the hardest things you will ever have to do is to grieve the loss of a person who is still alive.”  Anonymous

I read this quote the other day and my heart was touched and felt God’s hug. This quote has such deep meaning in my family today, yet I know so many others suffer along with us.  Over the years, I have heard so many people question their grief and why it is happening to them.  In the midst of such pain, it is easy to cry out and blame God for allowing such a burden to be laid at our feet.  I have thought and wondered the same many times, but watching my mother in law perish before our eyes is a deep grief that at times makes my husband and I feel numb because we know that the pain of the end is still in front of us.  Today she does not even know us when we walk in the room.  She can’t really remember the details of her past (or so we believe).  She lives in tiny moments as they pass through her head which can be in the moment or in the past but the connections to the people around her are not made, so she can not call our names and does not act as if she knows who we are when we enter the room.  I know she would not have chosen this ending for herself because she would not want her son and granddaughters to be grieving for her loss even as she lives.  Why has God chosen this path for her?  for us?  I can only find solace in scripture. Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

She is just one among us who is lost yet lives.  Accidents, illnesses, diseases, and age strips so many that we love from our daily lives.  This pain is sometimes hard to bear and even harder for others to understand.  We can be angry with God and turn from him, but watching the pain within our family has lead me to God as the one who truly understand.  God, who was stripped of his son, sacrificed his son, delivered his son to the enemy, that we might all live.  Scripture also reminds us that God allowed his Son to endure Hell for us, “(In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?”  Ephesians 4:9.)  He understands our deepest grief like no one can.

So as we grieve daily for the loss of my mother in law from our lives, and await her entrance into his hands, we are thankful that she will one day enter the gates of Heaven.  We know she loves God, believes in God, and will one day walk with God in a body that is not mangled by a debilitating disease.  This is our greatest gift from her, her love for both God and his son Jesus Christ.  The words of Psalm 119:50, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

We must find God in this grief and loss and believe that his son Jesus Christ gave us a future to rejoice.  1Peter 1: 6-7 reads, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in glory and honor at the relegation of Jesus Christ.” This reminds me of one of my husband’s favorite songs, “One of These Days” by FFH. Be sure to read all the lyrics sometime, but this particular line is a reminder that grief will pass for her and for us and one day only Joy through Christ will exist.

One of these days I’ll finally be
In a place where there’s no more need
No more pain and no more grief
No more foolish disbelief
And all the joy there will be
When at last we finally see
One of these days

Closing Verse: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up, what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance..”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Challenge:  When your heart feels bitter in the pain of loving someone you are losing, turn to God and scripture and find peace in his arms.  God is your Heavenly Father who knows your grief and will soon bring you to a time to dance in his glory.

 

“Harley’s love is unconditional a reminder to our family each day of Christ’s Love for us.”

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1: 14.

A rainy Sunday afternoon is good for one thing and that is a good movie.  After digging through all our movie apps we decided on Woodlawn. This movie is based on  true story which is one of our favorites.  This story touched me deeply as I watched and learned about the transformation in Birmingham, Alabama in the 70’s.  If God can use high school football players to change a city, then I wonder what he can do with me.  Watching this movie and thinking of this volatile time in our past, I realize that our country today is moving toward repeating history once again.  We allow charged words and actions to turn to hate, we forget the role model of our servant Christ. He showed us how to serve in love and always point our glory to God.  Social media makes it so easy to spew out words that seem “right” in our opinion, but really our actions will always speak louder than words.  Do we live the words we speak?  Jesus, of course, had both, but his actions and focus on people around him spoke the most to his disciples.  Would they have learned just from his words or writings like they did watching him live day to day dependent on God and loving all kinds of people.  Meeting people where they are.  Love always Wins.  “Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor”.  Romans 12:10.  This scripture is a challenge to all Christians to strive to serve and show honor to all.

Christmas was a time for Christians to remember the greatest gift given by our Lord and Savior.  He loved us so much that he came to earth to live among us in human flesh.   John 3:16 our daily reminder… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Christmas is a reminder to us that life is about Jesus and not about us and what we want.  We have to remember that we live for him!  Christ speaks to us in John 13:34, ” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:  just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”  Lets always remember to put Love first.

The innocence of a dog like our Harley is how our dependence on Christ should be.   We must believe totally that he is our Father and wants what is best for us whether it feels good or even hurts.  As we all move forward with our lives, my prayer to God is for more loving in our country and our families where we respects everyone’s opinions, and we all remember to choose to love others with our words and not choose hate.

Closing Verse: Galatians 5:13 ESV ” For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do no use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Challenge:  The quote below is being passed around on Social Media and I am not sure who the author is , but I am going to make this one of my new years goals.  I challenge you to make it yours.  “While much of America seems to be getting more and more divisive, I’m going to be holding doors for strangers, letting people cut in front of me in traffic, greeting all I meet, exercising patience with others, and smiling at strangers.  I’ll do this as often as I have the opportunity.  I will not stand idly by and let children live in a world where unconditional love is invisible and being rude is acceptable. Join me in showing love and respect to others.  Find your way to swing the pendulum in the direction of love.  Because today, sadly, hate is gaining ground.  Love must begin somewhere and love will overcome hate.  Imagine the difference if we each purposefully love a little more.” Praise God!

How much of our lives do we spending either hurting others or healing from the pain of hurt.  Sadly, we hurt those we love the most more often.  Each time it happens to me, I want to crawl under a rock, and I always cry out to God for wisdom through the valley.  Too bad, I didn’t ask him for guidance before the pain.  I wonder why God allows me down that treacherous road of pain both when I dish it out, and receive it.  What is the lesson I need to learn?  If I believe his word in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ”  then all this pain will turn to good, so I am able to pick myself back up and walk again because I know he will heal and forgive me even if others choose not to forgive.

We hurt our spouses, we hurt our children, and we hurt our friends with simple words and actions.  We feel we are “right”, but does it really matter if we cause pain or hurt.  Certainly, we feel the pain of hurt from others, and then our only hope is they will be able to see the pain they have caused, but sadly human relationships are messy.  Mankind always want to put their individual pain above others.  Sometimes, I wonder if I could push rewind and hear the words that I just spoke if I would still feel the same.  Do I really hear what I am saying to someone?  Do I really want to know how it made them feel?  And, do they want to know how it made me feel?  These are powerful questions that are hard to find the answers to, but I encourage us all to seek God’s peace.  Scripture reminds me in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  My prayer is for the peace of God to not just guard my heart but plant seeds of peace in my heart.

God knew all this about humans and our inadequacies to love like him.  He knew we would hurt each other and him.  How did he reconcile this pain?  He gave the greatest sacrifice of all his Son to forgive us.  If God can open his heart and sacrifice so much, then forgiveness should be so easy to give especially to those we love.  Ask for forgiveness, give forgiveness, hold no grudge, and open your arms.  Choose God’s peace over the pain and hurt no matter which side you end up on.  Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  Matthew 6: 9-13

Closing Verse:  Jesus responds after the Lord’s Prayer in verse 14, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Challenge:  Choose to forgive others no matter the sacrifice just as your Father chose to give his only Son in order bring forgiveness to you.  God promises you will feel the burden lift from you.  Try to stop and put yourself in the place of the person you caused hurt to or who caused you hurt.  The perspective will help you heal.

Sometimes as we look toward the future, it is fear that can halt us and keep us looking backwards instead of moving forward in God’s plan.  Proverbs 22: 4 prepares us, ” The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”  These coming weeks have been the first weeks of my youngest daughter’s life that does not have schooling in her immediate future.  She is now an official college graduate and her future seems to loom before her.  As I watch her struggle to make decisions about her future, I remind her to turn to the Lord for guidance and remember that she is young and this is the time to live her life!  My prayer for her comes from Psalms 86:11, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”  As I ponder her future plans I realize that I also face changes soon in my future.  Sometimes this is scary and sometimes it is exciting to think of what my future could hold. Whether excited or fearful of what the future will bring turning our eyes to the Lord and listening to his guidance may prove hard but rewarding in our lives.  The only fear we should ever have is of the Lord, yet scripture speaks to us in Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

I am watching the struggle right now in my daughter as she tries to listen and seek God’s guidance, but her youth tells her to ask everyone else and her parents for guidance.  I pray that the wisdom I provide is what God wants her to hear, as I encourage her to follow her dreams for now since she has nothing to tie her down and let God’s plan work in her life.  2 Timothy 1:7 reads for us all about the spirit God gave us, “For  God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  She certainly has some exciting plans and ideas and I look forward to seeing which one God blesses and develops in for her future.  I am reminded of Luke 12:7 where Jesus shares, “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

My husband and I are now beginning to plan the next stage of our lives.  I will soon reach retirement and now is the time for me to seek God’s guidance for the next phase of my life.  I  feel like my daughter with a new future before me, but I know that my age is telling me to seek my dreams now.  We both know we have to seek God’s guidance in making the best decision for our future.  David writes in Psalms 25:14, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”  Exciting times are ahead!

Closing Verse: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Challenge:  Are you letting fear keep you from stepping out in Faith and moving into your future?  Make time with the Lord and his Word as you face the future.

 

Sometimes it is funny how God talks to you.  How is it that God allows you to dream dreams, either in your sleep or in your lives.  Seems God has been trying to nudge me this holiday season and when that happens, I am always drawn to scripture to figure out exactly what God is trying to tell me.

Maybe I should first begin with God’s little nudges.  God has been nudging me and pricking my heart (more about the details later) and a devotion that I was reading for the Christmas Season ended with this statement, “Make a plan this Christmas Season to do something ridiculous that you know God wants you to do.”  Although maybe it isn’t ridiculous, my doing it might be, so there I was pondering what God wants from me again.  The very next day in my inbox I received a video the explanation in the video discussed Dreaming to Doing.  That moving from Dreaming to actually Doing something is considered RAD.  Ok, God has my attention.  Just pondering dreaming lead me to scripture.  First, let me define dreams in this context.  Dreams are not just what we have when we sleep, but they can also be more importantly dreams we have for life.  How does God challenge us, prick us, or move us through dreams?  His dreams for us which can mean we must let go of our dreams for self so God can work.  In Genesis 41:15-16 it reads,”And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.  I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.'” In the verses, Joseph uses his gift of interpreting dreams for Pharaoh.  Not the gift I have, but it does  make me wonder what the meaning of the dreams I am dreaming really might mean for me.  What is God trying to say to me.  I know I need to listen, but I also need to understand.  Clearly, in Job 33:14-15 we see God speaking through dreams.  “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds”. God brings vision to us and speaks to us in our dreams.  So I pause…

Again, how do we decide what those dreams are really saying to us from God?  In the Old Testament days, prophets like Daniel were given the gift to interpret God’s will as in Daniel 5:12, “because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel.” Today we have to be willing to stop and listen to the Lord when he speaks to us in our dreams.  I know I am one who fails sometimes to really hear him until he continuously pricks my soul.  We must humble ourselves as Solomon did before the Lord in a dream.  When God said, “Ask what I shall give you” 1Kings 3:5, Solomon responded with, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” I Kings 3:9.  Sometimes asking for the wisdom and understanding of God’s true call is not always what we think we want to hear.  It is not what we believed is right or fair for our lives.  We must be accept his wisdom not ours.

Now, dreams are not just those that we have when we sleep, but sometimes they are the goals and dreams we have for our lives.  Whether we actual dreams in our sleep or you are focused on your own desires for your life, be sure that they align with God’s plan.  Otherwise be open to his nudges.  We have to stop and believe that following the dreams that God has for us will result in the dreams found in Psalm 126:1, “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.”

I must plant God’s dreams and desires in my heart and not my own, so that my fruit shows his grace.  This is hard gardening but the fruits will be more abundant than my own.

Closing Verse:  “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasures produce evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  Are we speaking from our hearts (dreams) or the Lord’s will for us?

Challenge:  Explore your dreams for God’s desires.  Start a journal and really dig into your dreams that tend to be recurring.  Then start doing! I use both a written and online.  www.penzu.com is a great online journal.

 

The new year is upon us and a time to renew our spirits after the Christmas season and reflect on what God is calling us to this New Year!  Revelations 21:5 reads, “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new…”  Christ is working to make all things new but our service here among man is a calling he makes to us.  How will you help your neighbors this New Year?  We must remember that we are “new creations”, 2 Corinthians 5:17 shares “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  If we have become a new creation then we will bear fruit.  Ephesians 4:22-24 explains our new creation this way, “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

God shares in scripture how serving him is a part of his plan.  In Jeremiah 29:11 the scripture reads “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  and in Isaiah 40:31, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

As we prepare for the coming New Year 2017, stop and listen to the call from Christ in your life.  Stop and pray for God’s guidance in your life.  Then go and faithfully serve him.

Closing Verse:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” 1Peter 1:3.

Challenge:  As you close out the Christmas season and reflect upon God’s calling and plan for you.  Focus on where God want you to serve him in 2017.

What do we find in Christmas?  I find family and traditions in Christmas, but if we focus deeper what will we really find in the meaning of Christmas. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11.  Christ is found in Christmas but the message from Christmas is even deeper.

As we gather with family during the holidays, sometimes both the worst and best comes out in us.  Christmas is reminder to me to live Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  As we leave our parents and have children of our own it is important to remember this verse.  But even more important sometimes as parents you have to let your children find their way back to Christ and to the respect of the verse above.  I know I have to continue to bring myself back to this verse and remember the promise that God is giving me by honoring my parents.  This season is when Christ can turn me back toward family and the importance they have always played in my life.  Christians must pass down these seeds which are planted with our children and nurtured so they are called back to their roots as adults.  I praise God everyday and throughout the Christmas season for giving me Christians parents who planted these seeds.  I know that many do not have this past, so what do they find in Christmas?  – hold that thought.  Christmas and its meaning is pasted down to our children just as scripture states in 2 Timothy 1:5, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”  Many families and I pray that my family will continue to pass the seeds of Christ which is our blessing from God.  Just as many families are generations old there are “new” families beginning the tradition of passing the Faith of Christ and the meaning of Christmas.  Passing Faith from parents to children is a tradition that represents the birth, life, and example of Christ that we find in Christmas.

Christmas and Christ birth is a deep spiritual tradition in many Christian families.  As we lose some and create new ones the traditions surrounding Christ are the ones that matter.  2 Thessalonians 2:15 reminds us to stand firm in our faith and teachings, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”  Christ is our reminder to stand as he did in our faith and his teachings for these matter most for our children.  2 Peter 1:19 reads, “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”  Christ is our lamp of light in this world and Christmas is the reminder to us to shine his light.  How will you shine his light for others in 2017.  Shining Christ light throughout the year reminds us of the great gift and sacrifice Christ made for us, so we must stand firm in the Gospel of Christ.  Christ last commission to his disciples and to us in Matthew reads, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Again we are called by Christ to stand firm, teach, and serve.  Paul reminds the Corinthians as well in 1 Corinthians 11:2, “Now I commend you because remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”  

Christ in Christmas is our reminder of why Christ came to man and that message is found in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Christ came to serve and therefore our reminder at Christmas should be toward service throughout the year.  Remember that question above, Could we be the reason that others around us find Christ in Christmas.  There is so much competition this time of year, but nothing that provides the hope that Christ does for those who are lost.  Christmas time can create so many distractions that our eyes can be removed from Christ but the Old Testament reminds us in 1 Samuel 12:24 to “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.  For consider what great things he has done for you.”  and David’s charge to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 12:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.”  This is a time to reflect on what God is finding in your heart this Christmas Season.  As we all reflect this season, I am reminded also in scripture of how I should be a servant of the Lord (Christ).   We will all be called to serve in different ways for Christ.  I know what he calling me to serve, Do you?  Romans 12:11 says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”  We must be fervent in our service so that the sparkle of Christmas can cover the heartache of Christ throughout the year.  Man broke his heart and man will break ours but our challenge this season is live by his example to love and serve others so that Christmas shines through us throughout the new year.

Closing Verse: “The greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:11

Challenge: Where is Christ urging you to serve for him this coming year?  How did Christ open your eyes this Christmas Season?  Search scripture for your answers.   

 

 

The past 6 weeks seems a blur for me, but yet so much has happened in the lives of my family.  As I continue to recover from major surgery it is always great to hear the doctor say – “We did the right thing.”  It was a tough decision that I made back in January but now looking back it has been a really good one for my overall health.  Sometimes I wonder why God makes decisions seem so hard maybe so we can celebrate in the glory of the goodness he provides on the other side.  I am blessed to have a wonderful so many friends who graciously took care of Derwin and I over those first couple of weeks.  From meals to prayers we felt the abundant love so many provided for us.  Many thanks to my wonderful husband who patiently took care of me over the past month as I heal and slowly regain my strength.  As healing began both physically and mentally, Spring tried hard to come. Yet it is still not here to stay.  Thankfully Spring showed up on an a family retreat to Savannah, Georgia where we met the girls for Spring Break and spent a long weekend enjoying beautiful weather and a beautiful city.

Of course one of the highlights for all us in visiting Savannah, Georgia is the bench from Forrest Gump.  Here we are all standing at the site of where the bench sat in the movie.  This is just one of the many beautiful parks in Savannah.  Kudos to the founding fathers who developed Savannah with the beautiful parks all around the city.  We visited the weekend before St. Patricks Day and now I think visiting again for St. Patricks Day needs to make my Bucket List.  The city goes all out and were definitely preparing and in the spirit while we were there.  The fountains were turned green for the occasion throughout the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could not leave the city without finding the bench we all came to see.  Located in the Savannah History Museum which was fascinating with all the history and development around Savannah is the infamous bench….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was definitely one of our most memorable little weekends together.  Strolling through the park are three most important people in my life!  Enjoying the awesomeness of God’s beauty that day.

 

We had celebrating to do as Jesse had just returned from Boston where she competed with the UTampa Student Model UN team and had just received word she would be an RA next year.  She is excited about having that dorm room to herself.  Derwin and I are proud of all her accomplishments in Tampa.  She has really found her home there.  Ok, she complains about the heat too much and I want to hit her often while I am freezing up here in NC.

Derwin and I are watching our new home take shape and the excitement builds each time I get to walk through the new place.  I can’t wait to enjoy the new home with all our friends and family.  Looking forward to so many good times and laughs and much-needed rest for Derwin and I.

And much more dancing

Final celebration will be in May as we celebrate officially Hannah’s graduation from UNC.  Derwin and I are so proud and can not wait to see her with that light blue on and officially walk out into the real world.  I have been holding the post in anticipation of Hannah making her decision to accept Teach for America’s offer to both teach and begin graduate school beginning with this school year.  She will be located somewhere in Eastern, NC.  Again we are proud of her and her desire to continue a family tradition in Education.  Derwin and I are excited that she will be beginning her own life, yet it seems strange for her to truly have a job and be out in the world on her own.  I do hate tooting my own horn, but I am sure I will be scolded if I do not share the award I won from NCTIES which is a state organization for technology in education.  I will just post a link to one fo the newspaper articles written below.  I am thankful for all the opportunities that the Mooresville Schools have given me to work with students by providing great digital tools.  I work everyday with some awesome educators who love every child, every day!  Love you MMS!

http://www.mooresvilletribune.com/news/article_1d2bc640-b142-11e3-b028-0017a43b2370.html

 

 

 

I am amazed sometimes at how good God is, and the way he goes about teaching and showing his love to his children.  Derwin and I have been on a long journey to sell the house.  It has not been an easy, but God has shown us both so much.  We have learned patience for sure and I have seen the strength in Derwin that God has given him.  Derwin is my overcomer.  The day after the closing I heard this Mandisa song on the radio – Overcomer and could clearly see how God had given Derwin so much strength and how much he had protected me.  Derwin and I have grown in the Lord through this experience.   God has taught us so much and now we move forward into a new era of our lives!

Twenty years in the same home.  Sometimes it does not seem real that Derwin and I have finally sold this home and ready to move forward into a new adventure for our family.  This home provided so many good memories raising our two daughters who we are very proud of.  They too have moved on with their lives and are happy independent young women, therefore enabling Derwin and I to look at what we want our future to look like.  We have awesome memories to always hold dear to our hearts and now we are beginning a chapter of making new memories together.

Derwin and I took just a few minutes to have a some pictures made the day before we officially moved out.

At long last we made that last drive out of the driveway into a new part of lives…

Monday morning brought my surgery.  This surgery had been looming over us as the closing seemed to continue to get moved.  Finally the closing and now past a successful surgery.  It is healing time now, so that soon I am ready for the warm weather and boating as well as being healed in time to move into our new home.

A sneak peek of the future…. The townhouse on the right below is the one Derwin and I will be moving into late spring.  We are excited about this maintenance free lifestyle and the freedom we will have to visit our girls and travel with family and friends.   I will try to share more when the building actually begins!

We are thankful that God has blessed us during this time of trials and successes all mixed together.  What we have learned is God is Good!

Romans 8:28  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Tonight (Sunday Evening) is a bitter-sweet night as this is the last night that the house will have at least one of the girls in it.  The last week has flown by just so fast.  I already miss their laughter, arguments, and the mystery that they bring to our home.  They have grown into such beautiful women that I am honored to know.  Last weekend as the men from the church and various other friends had a great afternoon shooting their guns, Harley and I traveled to Greenville-Spartanburg to pick up Jesse.  As usual when Jesse flies there is always a story this time she just can not get off the ground in Tampa with various passenger issues.  Finally, 45 mins late she takes the air and lands safe and sound so excited to see colored leaves and enjoy the cool air.  I think now she is missing the warm Florida weather.  Monday evening Hannah joined us and it was just awesome to have them both in the house.  Harley might have been the happiest.

Thanksgiving Day-

I promised everyone their favorites for Thanksgiving so our meal was a little extensive but…. We enjoyed it for days!

Even today (Sunday) we enjoyed Turkey.  Fury got to eat Carrots before they found the pot and thought this was the best treat ever!

Friday Jesse and Hannah trimmed the tree and we ended the night with a traditional game of Mexican Train.  Yes, we are competitive and addicted, and even Harley wanted in on the action. Saturday we said goodbye to Hannah as she traveled back the Chapel Hill to finish the final two weeks before she officially graduates from UNC Chapel Hill.  Derwin and I are so proud of her and all her hard work to graduate with a double major in 3.5 years.  I wish I could post her 30 page paper that is due Tuesday in order to receive her History degree.  I know she is proud of it just ask her.

Today Jesse has buried herself in homework but she did take time this afternoon to enjoy the sun, Harley and Fury. (Harley is in the chair)

Since I mentioned Jesse’s homework let me share a piece of art she created in her design class.  I know she is proud of it and I think she should sell prints.  In case you are unsure this is the University of Tampa logo.

These memories may be our last here at this house that holds so many of our memories over the last 21 years.  I will miss this home, but I looked forward to where God is sending Derwin and I in the next stage of our lives together.

Update:  Just as I finished this blog and saved it last night, we discovered Jesse’s flight had been cancelled for Monday evening.  After 3 hours in a holding pattern on the phone, we were finally just cut off and gave up.  After 4 hours of sleep we woke this morning and finally got her transferred to a flight in Greensboro that was leaving at 10:45 am.  Derwin hurried to get her there and made it only to find out the flight was delayed until 3 pm.  She finally took off about 6:10 pm this evening and landed around 7:55 pm in Tampa.  It has been a long day and another Jesse flying story.  She might give it up after today.

I am thankful to Ann Newsome who was on standby all day to rescue her from the airport and still pretty much insisted on picking her up this evening and delivering her to her dorm.  So much to be thankful for….God is Good!