Lines By Landry Part 2

Our hearts are still aching today. The "home going" services for Cory are beginning. Clark and I had another discussion last night about not understanding the Lord's ways, and yet knowing at the same time that he is still able. I know the Lord will carry Bro. & Sis. McCool and Jina on the journey they have before them. My friend, Brenda, ministered to my heart in a blog on the bitter and sweet. So today I thought I'd mix in a little sweet with the sadness that has seemed to settle over so many of us. And, in my opinion there isn't anything much sweeter than words of wisdom from a 4 year old...especially MY 4 year old...

Mama, I really wish you and Daddy would get married so that we could be a REAL family! At this time, I dusted off the wedding pictures to show him that we really were a real family.

Did I have a Daddy when I was three? Once again, we had the family discussion and concluded that Daddy has been a vital part!

Landry: "When you are blind it means that you don't have any hair." Mama: "No, Landry, when you are BLIND you can not see. When you do not have hair, it is called being BALD.
Landry (after much quiet speculation): "I'm sorry, Mama, but you are just wrong!"

We are discussing Disney next year...only a possibility at this point. My mom was telling Landry about the many Disney trips we used to take a when I was a little girl. Landry: "Grandma, WHY didn't you come pick up me, Avery, and Riley and take us too!!!"

The latest, that is my abosolute favorite... "When I hug you it feels like all of the blood rushes to my heart."

Points to Ponder...

"Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing, thou hast...girded me with gladness."

Psalms 30:11

The Lord called Cory to come home...

My heart aches tonight for the loved ones of Cory McCool. He passed away this evening after a brief battle with colon cancer. So many feelings have washed over me as the tears have fallen. First came shock, sadness, anger, and frustration. I remembered when I first met Cory many years ago in Aurora, IL. Bro. Spencer McCool came to preach our Youth RIOT Revival Services. Cory was short back then and a little pudgy...I thought he was such a cutie. He played the drums for his dad and Bro. Denny Livingston. During the day services, Cory kept turning around in the pew trying to make all of us girls laugh. Imagine my surprise when he walked into our church in Maryville last month! He was the tallest McCool I had ever seen! His testimony was so touching, preaching so anointed, and his singing was indescribable. Blessed with such a beautiful and talented wife, father to 2 gorgeous children. In frustrated anger I told Clark, "This was such a waste...why?...I didn't expect this...I expected a miracle." I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt this way. As a wife, you can't imagine losing your husband, as a mother, you can't imagine losing your son...and I can't help but think of the loved ones that are suffering in their loss.

I was running late this morning for the office. As we pulled out of the drive way, I remembered that we had not taken time to pray. I turned off the van and told the boys we were going to have a few minutes of prayer. We prayed for Bro. Cory McCool, asking the Lord to heal his body and strengthen his family during this time. The Lord knew when he heard my prayer that He WAS going to heal Cory this very night, just not in the way my fleshly heart was asking. After I told my sons the sad news tonight, Clark and I had another time of prayer. After I questioned and gave my frustrations to the Lord, I was able to feel his presence. I am so thankful that he knows our end from our beginning, and has ordered each of our steps. Sometimes our children go visit with friends or go to church camps, and even though we know they are having a good time, there comes a point when we know that it is just time for them to come home. And tonight, I think the Lord just thought it was time for Cory to come home. Our time on earth is not the complete story of our life. We must wait until heaven for the rest of the chapter...At death we won't leave home - we'll GO home!(Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life)...so goodbye for now, Cory...your heavenly father thought it was time to come home!

FAC Sanctuary Choir - "You Are Worthy"

This is our church choir at our 25th Anniversary Services a couple of weeks ago. If you're looking for me, I'm wearing a black dress with a big pink flower.

81 and counting...

Happy Middle of the Year! My oldest son is officially 11 1/2. When you are eleven the half year mark is very significant. It is not significant when you are 36. Avery has always been on the small side...from the moment he was born. He came a surprising six weeks early...in December of 1997 instead of January of 1998, just tipping the scales at six pounds. My father in law, being the CPA that he is, was so excited that we could count him as a tax rebate for '97. He has always been the shortest in his class, and the thinnest. I keep trying to reassure him that this will not always be the case. I know this, because I see how much food he packs away in his 11 year old body. It is eventually going to catch up! However, today we reached a milestone. I took him to the doctor for a sore throat that looked very strep throatish. Before going in the room, shoes must come off and the dreaded scale must be faced. He always gets upset, because for the past two years he has not been able to pass the 75 pounds mark. Today he was FINALLY up to 81 pounds!!!! I heard the Hallelujah Chorus playing over the speaker system, and fireworks exploded in the background. He turned and gave me a high five that made my heart smile. We stopped on the way home to get him a Big Mac. We are now striving to reach the 85 mark. Secretly, I would love to keep him little for as long as possible...

Prayer Needed

Hello friends! Just wanted to stop in and ask for prayer. As you know, we are celebrating my parents 50th Anniversary this week. We are leaving soon for the mountains. However, my dad has gotten VERY sick. He suffers from Miniere's Disease. It has stolen his hearing and caused many other problems. Unfortunately, he had a sever flare-up last night on the way to church. He ran across another lane of traffic and into the ditch due to the severe dizziness. Luckily, Randy was with him and was able to get in the drivers side and get him home. This dizziness is followed by horrible vomiting. Thankfully, he is not vomiting as of this morning. My mom is very worried about him. Please pray for him this weekend. This is a special time for my parents, and I want both of them to be able to enjoy it. God is able! Thank you, my friends! Love to you all!

My Parents Story...50 Years in the Making

As many of you know my siblings and I are in the midst of celebrating my parents 50th Anniversary. We have family coming in all week by land and air! Such fun times. We are going to the mountains on Thursday to stay in a chalet for several nights. All 32 of us...in one place...chaotic bliss. We just love being together...even in the crazy times. We are having a reception for them on Saturday. My sister Lisa will be reading the following post that the two of us wrote. I am so thankful for the heritage my parents have given me to pass down to my boys. Such blessed memories. God is so good...

This is the love story of Gordon and Joan…

Gordon Charles Widener moved to the Aurora, IL area from Missouri to find work. He worked on the Carlton’s farm. He also attended church with them. Joan had moved to the area with her family from Arkansas. They also began attending the First Apostolic Church on Clark Street in Aurora, IL. This is where they fell in love. Joan and Gordon’s dating days were filled with lots of excitement. Joan would often practice walking down the aisle in the hallway of her home with a lamp shade on her head. Gordon did not court her in fancy style. He picked her up for dates in the bread truck that he used for one of his jobs. It didn’t have a passenger seat, so Joan had to ride around on a milk crate in the truck. The young couple was married at The First Apostolic Church by Rev. Billy Lewis. Ruth Leggett, Joan’s sister, and Donald Carlton, Gordon’s friend, stood up with them.

Mom and Dad married with a whole lot of love, but very little money. But they were so happy that they didn’t care. Mom often says that they didn’t even know that they were poor. Dad worked at the Aurora Paper Board and they lived in a small apartment. They shared a hall way bathroom with the other apartment tenants.

Fourteen months after their wedding day, on September 20, 1960, Lisa LaDean was born. They were so happy and thrilled with their little family. However, it did not stay little for long. Thirteen months later Charles Lance was born and a year and a half later Laura Anne was born. During this time, they lived in a small home on Fifth Avenue in Aurora, and thought it was a mansion. It was a busy time with three toddlers. Mom always says how Dad had time to help her with the babies. He always took part in whatever was going on. Gordon and Joan also added to the excitement by moving from IL to Arkansas and back to IL during the toddler years. When Lisa was four, they moved to 1315 Durham Drive, and this is where the Widener family settled. School life started for the three Widener children. We all attended Gertrude Scott Smith Elementary. The school yard connected with our backyard so we have many memories of walking to school knowing Mom was watching and walking home for lunch knowing Mom would have it ready for us. It felt like we had our own personal playground in the backyard.

Mom and Dad were at the beginning of raising three teenagers and life was good, but suddenly it got better. Mom and Dad told the three of us that our family was going to have a baby. Laura began crying (Laura always cried about everything) and said that she thought Mom was too old to have anymore babies. On July 4, 1973, LaTrisa Hope was born. She was everyone’s baby, and still is the baby of the family.

The four of us grew up in a happy home. Mom made sure every event was special whether it was a birthday, school event or Christmas. Our home was filled with love and prayer. Summer was a happy time; we played until dark. When Mom wanted us to come home she would stand on the back porch and yell at the top of her lungs, LISA, LANCE, LAURA and LATRISA -- SUPPER!!!! (The whole neighborhood knew the Wideners were getting ready to eat)

The most important thing of all was that we were raised in church. We were taught who God is and the importance of having a relationship with him. We all grew up going to the First Apostolic Church of Aurora. What a blessing! What a heritage to have and to be able to pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Mom and Dad always worked so hard to make a wonderful home for our family. If you walked into our home you would hear lots of laughter around the dinner table. Dad always worked hard to provide for our family and make sure we had all of the extras that we wanted. He came home at night after a long, hot day of working on construction equipment being sun burned, tired, and dirty. He always carried in his lunch bucket, and set it down in the kitchen so Mom could fill it up for the next day’s lunch. Mom always had a big dinner ready, and we loved being there together. They guided the four of us through childhood and teenage years (3 teenagers in one household at the same time along with a toddler) At times, life brought ups and downs and sometimes even tears, but our home was always filled to the brim with love.

Christmas was one of our favorite times at the Wideners. Mom and Dad always bought us LOTS of gifts. Lance could not wait to open presents. He was always up before everyone else, sneaking peeks of the presents under the tree. We have all inherited this Christmas craziness, and we still have enormous Christmases with LOTS of presents for everyone. It is insane how many gifts are there when we all get together. Another favorite memory is our big 4th of July celebrations with the Bryant’s…to celebrate LaTrisa’s birthday.

However, things quickly changed around our home. Lisa, Lance and Laura began having weddings of their own…and the empty nest started. It was very hard on Mom and Dad when the three older kids started homes of their own. But life quickly sweetened with the arrival of Amber Paige. Mom and Dad have always been the best parents, but they took being grandparents to a whole new level! The day Amber was born in 1979 Mom RAN from house to house in the neighborhood telling everyone she had arrived. Then came Amy and Leslie. Mom and Dad were ecstatic over their 3 granddaughters. Then Chad came and he taught everyone what being a boy all was about! Later, came Meaghan, Ammon and Evan. Mom and Dad were there for the birth of all the grandchildren, usually hovering around in the waiting room, sending up lots of prayers for the new addition. They were always so excited about adding more little ones to their family and had more love to share. During that time Dad, Mom, and LaTrisa moved to Plano, IL. Later Laura’s family moved around the corner from them. We have so many wonderful memories of the times in Plano.

Then, Mom had another big wedding to plan, and that was LaTrisa’s. This event was very bittersweet. Although it was a beautiful wedding day, LaTrisa moved away from the family to Jackson, TN. This was a very hard time for Mom and Dad after having everyone within minutes of their home. What a change. However, that change later brought the non-stop energy and excitement of Avery, Riley and Landry.

The grandkids have so many memories of their own. Grandma always planned big picnics throughout the summer with Papa cooking on the grill. Our nights included bubbles and sparklers, with Grandma having the most fun of all. One of their favorite memories is spending the night at Grandmas and waking up to big breakfasts of chocolate syrup and biscuits or homemade strawberry crepes, with fresh strawberries from Papa’s garden…IF Chad and Ammon had not picked and eaten them all.

Amy and Leslie always cried when it was time to go home from Grandma and Papa’s house. Without fail, Randy would always say that if they did not stop crying they were not going to come back anymore. This only made them cry harder. They all loved the long summer days of playing in Grandma and Papa’s swimming pool, and then sitting on the deck and eating snacks and popsicles while they were dripping wet. We always got together as a family to dye Easter eggs. Then the big Easter egg hunt where everyone got a turn hiding and finding them was always a fun hit.

Then came Mom and Dad’s big move to Tennessee. WHAT A CHANGE retirement brought. We were happy for them, but missed them in IL. This came with many phone calls back and forth several times a day. To this day we all talk to them on the phone several times a week. We love coming to their home in the Smokey Mountains. We are so thankful they have a home with many bedrooms and bathrooms. However, we still have big family gatherings in Tennessee. All four kids and many grandchildren were together at their home for this past Christmas. We all get down here every chance we get. And luckily, LaTrisa and Leslie’s familys have gotten to move to the area with them.

AND let’s not forget the fabulous five great grandkids, Gavin, Joseph, Kayla, Hailey, and Lucas. They are a joy to us all!

All our lives, we have known much love, prayers, family togetherness, lots of laughter and some tears along the way. Our family has had our share of pain and sadness, because of sickness, cancer, major injuries and scares down through the years. But through it all God has been with us, we have been bound together with love and it has kept us all close to each other no matter what came our way.

We are a blessed family.
2 people
4 children
4 spouses
12 grandchildren 3 grandson-in-laws
5 great grand children
50 years
ONE GREAT BIG LEGACY!

Mothers, Remember Lot's Wife

She was running, stumbling, getting up and falling again. Sweat was stinging her eyes, and Lot kept screaming to not look back. Every time she looked at him she seethed inside. The night before, he offered her daughters to a group of perverted men, and she hated him for it. Thankfully, two strangers had saved her girls from unspeakable defilement. However, today they were making her leave her beautiful home, precious jewels, and fine linens. Because of this, she was beginning to detest these so-called angels. They said God was going to burn the city. Who was God anyway? She had left other daughters, grandchildren, and son-in-laws in Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps, if there was a fire, they would rescue some of her fine things, and she could secretly return to get them.

If she wasn’t so frustrated, she might even find the situation laughable. Why run from the wrath of a God she no longer served. Why seek shelter in the arms of a God she no longer believed existed? She hadn’t always felt this way. Once she had lived in the tents of Abraham. The blessings were innumerable. At times the presence of Abraham’s Lord was so thick that it felt as if you could touch it. Her marriage was happy. Her children were healthy. For the most part, they honored God and His ways. One day, Lot returned to their tent and told her they would be moving close to the beautiful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. She was ecstatic. Abraham never allowed them to have any fun. A little excitement was just what she needed.

She loved her new life. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah didn’t want to know Abraham’s God, but she and Lot were able to hold onto both God and the world. Then, her family got so caught up in the pleasure of life that they slowly let the ways of God slip from their grasp. They began to assimilate the ways of their heathen neighbors until they couldn’t even remember what it was like to dwell in His presence. She became cold, careless, and disobedient. Not only had she moved into Sodom, but she allowed Sodom to move into her.

A spirit of regret began to seep into her soul as she continued to run from her beloved cities. The guilt of not holding fast to the truth for her children’s sake began to overwhelm her. Perhaps it wasn’t too late. Maybe she could convince the angels to go rescue her children from the doom that was coming.

She called out to them as they ran, but her voice was silenced over the explosion behind her. The smell of brimstone burned her nose, and her back stung from the heat of the fire. It was happening just as the angels said it would. Lot was screaming to run faster. The fire roared louder. She could hear the screams of her neighbors and friends. Suddenly, her mother’s heart struggled past the desire for worldliness, and tried to reach for her unsaved children. She didn’t want to loose them to the fire. The pain of being responsible for her children’s lost souls caused her to feel complete devastation. She turned around to point them to safety, turned back to point them to God, turned back…

We know this Biblical story’s terrible ending. Some of the details of the account have been expanded, but the message remains the same. Sin brings death and destruction that affects more than our selves. Most people assume that Lot had only two daughters, but scripture tells us this is not the case. Lot says to the Sodomites in Genesis 19:8, “See now, I have two unmarried daughters.” Later in verse 14, he “spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters,” meaning Lot and his wife had other married daughters. Finally, the angels tell him in verse 15, “Arise, take your wife and daughters who are here…” implying he had daughters elsewhere. When God rained down fire and brimstone, Lot’s wife’s daughters, sons-in-laws, and possibly grandchildren died a graceless death.

History would have changed in Lot’s family if his wife had taken a stand for righteousness. If she had held kept the boundaries that Abraham, her pastor, had set for the safety of her family, her children would have had the opportunity to be saved. Her daughters that were rescued on that dreadful day birthed the Ammonites and the Moabites. Both of these nations were hostile toward the children of Israel for generations to come.

There are few things in scripture more solemn than this. When Jesus referred to Lot’s wife in the New Testament, he was not warning the Pharisees, but was warning the church. Perhaps he was speaking directly to mothers. Remember Lot’s wife. Remember the daily decisions that you make for your self and your children may cause irreversible consequences. Find a place to pray. When you feel pulled towards the world, fight for the salvation of your children as much as you would fight someone that was physically harming them. The soul of our children is a mother’s greatest responsibility. The pleasure of sin is for a season, but the heartache it brings is for eternity. Mother’s, remember Lot’s wife.

Independence Birthday!

Independence Day has always been extra exciting to me...ALWAYS! The main reason is because it is my birthday...and the birthday of our country :)! My mom as raised me to be very BIG on tradition. As a child, my big day started out with PRESENTS, breakfast at Pancake House in downtown Aurora, parade, humungulous fantabulous picnic at Faye and Ray's (this event brought more PRESENTS!...I am the baby of the family, it comes with the territory). The cherry on top of the day was fireworks in Batavia with all of my family and friends. Sweet memories, sweet life!

Fast forward to 2009. The Pressons dressed in our red, whites, and blues. This is a necessity, almost as important as the presents...almost. We filled up on $40 worth of pancakes at Ihop. I kept thinking how much CHEAPER they would have been if I had made them at home, but it was, after all, my birthday. Then a wonderful picnic at Mom & Dad's, complete with PRESENTS, homemade ice cream, red white and blue birthday cake from Leslie, bubbles, and balloons. My 36th birthday ended with fireworks in Townsend at the foothills of the mountains with family, friends, and PRESENTS. Blessings with a bang!

Did I mention that my cake had 36 candles on it? Well it actually had a number 3 candle with six candles next to the 3. It was the redneck version. I will blog on the age of 36 later...it may take several days to work up the courage...

MY 3 GREATEST PRESENTS EVER...

Leslie brought a pinata filled with goodies! FUN!




Fireworks in the foothills...this was the first year that Landry wasn't scared...Presson progress!

Happy Birthday America, I LOVE sharing my special day with you!

Super Kids Camp has been... well...super!

Super Kids Camp has been...well...super. Avery and Riley attend a camp each year that our church sponsors. It is on our church grounds. They "bunk" in our school classrooms. It is three days filled with focused fun, and a life changing spiritual emphasis gets snuck in there too.

The beginning of the week was busy with getting them ready for camp. Washing and packing play clothes, casual church clothes, extra clothes, sheets, blankets, wash cloths, towels, etc. It's always fun to buy all of the travel size bathroom necessities. I keep my Sharpie handy and label everything...including their boxers! That way most of it comes back home.

This year I also had to cook and pack all of Riley's food and concession snacks due to the dreaded soy allergy. Thank goodness for my wonderful zip lock bags and containers...I SERIOUSLY would be a mess without them. I got all of Riley's meds packed and instructions typed in case any emergencies came up. Finally, all of the work was completed and the boys were taken to camp.

Whew! I had been telling myself how I was going to enjoy the time while they were away. It would be nice to just have Landry, and be able to give my undivided attention to him. That part really was nice! We dropped the boys off at 4:30. Riley called me by 5:30 to see what we were doing. I was secretly very glad he called! We went to service Wednesday and Thursday night and saw both boys. Our evangelist, Jeremy Joice, was incredible! He is SO on their level with fun and in ministering the Word. They both seemed happy, sunburned, and renewed in their walk with the Lord.

Yet both nights I came home from church lonely!!! Although, I knew they were fine, I still worried about them. Crazy, I know. It just can't be helped. It is a MOM thing! Clark did not seem to have any problems falling asleep or staying asleep the whole time they were gone! The phone rang at 4:00 this morning. Clark answered, it was Avery calling from his cell phone. He needed to go to the bathroom and was scared to walk down the dark hallway. Clark told him to wake up his counselor, and promptly fell back asleep...even snoring! How in the world do men do that! I was immediately awake and worried. I sent Avery a text to call me if he needed to. One minute later he called. I finally convinced him to wake his counsellor. He tried several times...the counsellor is also a man who can sleep through my child's emergencies. I tried to talk him into using his phone for a flash light so he could see to go down the hall way. He said he was too scared to do that, and he would just sit there until daylight. By this time, I also need to use the bathroom. However, I would not! If he could wait until daylight so could I. I was worried he would fall asleep and have an accident. THEN he would really be upset. We sent texts back and forth until 5:15...continually discussing the bathroom dilemma. All the while, my wonderful husband is sleeping soundly. I considered driving to church and shining my headlights in the front doors of the JRS Life Center so Avery could see to walk down the hall! Thankfully, I saw a glimmer of sunlight and told him the sun was coming up, and the hallway would no longer be dark! I finally received the text..."I peed, I finally got to pee!" It was wonderful news! I responded, "Good, I'm going to sleep now!" A few minutes later I received another text that simply said..."Thank you, Mama." And that my friends was worth all of the washing, packing, worrying, lack of sleep, and texting for an hour and a half.

Tonight is the last camp service, and I will be bringing my boys home. I am looking forward to a good nights sleep!

Daily Prayer for the Lost

Several years ago, our weekly choir practice was interrupted by a telephone call. It was one of those phone calls that makes your heart speed up and stop all at the same time. A young girl from a neighboring church had been in a horrible car accident. She was in intensive care and her injuries were life-threatening. My pastor's wife asked that we all find a place to pray. Our sanctuary was immediately filled with the sound of travailing prayer. We all knew this young girl. She was beautiful inside and out; a role model for the youth of our church. We reminded the Lord of the many wonderful attributes that this young lady possessed, and of what potential she had for His work in the future. We wept and pleaded for her life, we claimed healing for her injuries. At the end of our prayer time, my pastor's wife said that she knew the Lord had heard our prayers and felt He had already touched Becky's broken body.

My pastor's wife then went on to ask us how long it had been since we had prayed over a lost soul like we had for our friend that had been injured. Had we wept for our co-workers, neighbors, and loved ones that were destroying their life with sin? Had we reminded the Lord of the potential they had in His kingdom? Had we pleaded with the Lord to save their soul? A quietness settled around us as we began to think of those that needed not a physical touch but a spiritual healing. They were headed for death. Had we travailed for their soul?

The youth of our church have recently returned from youth camp. They have brought home a renewed vision to see lost souls saved. It has spilled over into my heart. So many times, I try to minister to the needs of the saints around me. A meal cooked for a new mother, a card sent to a person going through a tough time, a token of love bought for a friend in need...all of these things are well and good, but how often have I travailed for the sinner? I am ashamed to admit the burden has not bowed me down in prayer lately. I am trying something new this month. I am writing a different name of a lost soul on every day of my July calendar. If the Lord can go searching for the one when the ninety-nine are safe, then the least I can do is bring their name to Him in prayer. My prayers, along with others, for Becky touched the throne of heaven and she received a miraculous healing. Perhaps my prayers will make a difference in the lives of Lance, Billie Joe, Rebecca, Natasha, Daniel, April....