Thank you note from Landry.

Landry was sick last week.  What started out as severe allergies, turned into a sinus infection, and then to pnemonia.  However, he is much better and VERY excited about returning to school today.  We were able to spend many days and nights together so that was the up side of the sickness.  One Presson House rule is when someone is sick they get to sleep with Mama.  Poor Clark.  Landry also watched many games shows this week due to trying to keep him calm with all of the albuterol we were puffing into him.  One particular episode showed a woman that did not win the beloved car, but she did win a day at the spa and several expensive beauty products.  Landry said he was really happy she did not win the car, because she REALLY NEEDED the beauty products.  He said this with all seriousness and kindness, however, it still made me laugh.  He was also missing his classmates and talked often about them.  One day, Riley brought home a packet of get well wishes from his classmates and it excited him beyond words!  The next day he wrote a thank you card, and of course, this Mama thought it was cute, so Clark scanned it in so I can keep it forever! 

 

Sweet Memories of Bro. Chester

One year ago, April 16, 2012, Bro. Chester came to his journey's end.  I have thought so much of Sis. Chester today.  Her facebook posts of the past year have been filled with encouragement and words of love.  She continues to show what a true lady she is even in this difficult time.  May the Lord let his warmth and peace fill her day. 

 

I have wonderful memories of Bro. Chester, and Clark has many.  Last night he spoke of the times that Bro. Chester taught the Lighthouse boys a few basketball skills.  Clark talked of how Bro. Chester taught them more in a couple of hours than anyone else had ever taught them.  He spoke of Bro. Chester being the "man-in-charge" at camp, but yet working and cooking right along with the rest of the staff. 

 

Bro. Chester loved to hold Avery when he was a tiny.  He always said Avery reminded him so much of Justin as a baby with their blonde hair and blue eyes.  I have a wonderful picture of Bro. Chester holding Avery up to the basketball hoop in the gym at church and Avery holding on for dear life.  Avery was fascinated with balls when he was a toddler and Bro. Chester made sure that he had plenty of them to play with (and me to clean up!)

 

Bro. Chester gave me a phone call one day.  He was in need of a personal secretary at the TN UPCI District office.  He told me that he would love for me to take the job. He explained the hours would be 8-5, Monday to Friday.  Sis. Hazel Hilliard was retiring, and he needed someone to "attempt" to fill her shoes.  I do not believe that was a possibility!  I was so honored that he believed in me enough to take on this great responsibility.  A part of me wanted to say YES.  But, there was another part of me that had a 3 year old Avery and a 1 year old Riley, and just couldn't imagine being away from them for that many hours during the day.  Clark and I prayed about it, and several days later I had to call back and tell Bro. Chester thank you, but no.  I explained that I would love the position, but I wanted to be with my boys as much as possible during this time in their life.  Bro. Chester told me he had a feeling of what my answer might be, but wanted to ask.  He said no one had ever turned him down for any better reason!  He always knew how to make anyone feel good about themself!

 

The last time that Clark and I were able to see Bro. Chester we showed him a picture of Isabella, and explained that we were taking steps to adopt her.  He said she was a lucky little lady. 

 

We are the ones that are not only lucky, but blessed to have known such a man as Bro. Chester.  He impacted so many lives with his consistent, steadfast walk with the Lord!  I know he would tell us today that  the joys of heaven are worth the journey to get there!

Happy Siblings Day!

According to Facebook, today is Siblings Day.  I seriously could write sibling memories for hours, but thought I'd share just a few.  One of my EARLIEST sibling memories was my first day of pre-school.  Let me clarify, that I RARELY had been away from my mom in my 4 short years of life, so this was major trauma to me.  I remember how scared I was of all the strangers in the class.  (This will be no surprise to my family.)  I began to cry and scream hysterically.  LUCKILY, this pre-school happened to be at my siblings High School.  Oh, I forgot to mention that they are all mUcH older than me.  heehee!  The teachers had to go pull my sisters from class to take care of me at my new pre-school.  That was just the way I wanted it too. 

I  remember that Bub would play with me more than my sisters.   No matter if it was playing in my kiddie pool or riding my pretty purple bike with the white banana seat, he didn't mind to join in!

I never called them by their names.  They were Sissy, Bubby and La La.  That hasn't changed much.  They are still my Sis, Bub and Laura(she gets her real name.  Landry has his own name for her, Aunt Larla.) 

Sis and Bub gave my little life a culture shock when they married and moved from our home when I was 5 years old.  I missed them both so much and would go spend the night with them and their spouses.  Sis would actually write me letters and mail them, even though we lived in the same town.  Whenever Bub took his own baby girl, Amber, to the glorious Chuck E. Cheese, he would come pick me up too. 

As I got older, they made sure they were a huge part of every aspect of my life.  My brother convinced my dad to buy my first car from a friend of his.  It was a small Buick, but the I was missing so we called it the Buck.  The best part about my first car was that my brother always made sure it was filled with gas.  I hardly ever had to pump my own gas, thanks to both Bub and my Dad.  Much to Clark's surprise, and thanks to Bub, I felt that the men in my life were responsible for pumping my gas.  All these years later, my husband still takes care of that chore.  :)

I had my own bedroom at Laura and Dean's house.  As a teenager, I spent almost all of my weekends there, because they lived closer to my friends and church.  When I went to college, my sisters gave me huge surprise going away party, and were in the thick of my wedding planning. 

When Avery came along, the three of them were just as excited as my mom and dad.  Sis drove all the way down to Jackson for his first birthday party and we planned a huge celebration.  For Avery's second birthday, Bub bought him the biggest battery powered dump truck he could find.  Laura still hands out money to my kids when she comes to visit.  Landry and Aunt Larla go out on a "date" each time she visits, and it always includes a trip to the toy aisle.

When I was in the at my weakest during my cancer surgeries and treatments, Laura and Sis drove down to Jackson just to put up my Christmas tree, because I was too sick to do it.  That is one of my favorite "Christmas" memories.

When we moved to Maryville we took a BIG pay cut.  I was 7 months pregnant with boy #3 and we needed a larger vehicle for our growing family, but money was tight.  Sis told Randy to get busy and get us a van and of course, he got right to it.  I will never forget the Sunday afternoon she called and said that our vehicle worries were over.

My sisters are my closest prayer partners and my brother fell in love with our Isabella the second he met her.  As an adult, I see what a blessing they are in my life!

I could go on and on and on. But I won't so Happy Siblings Day to Sis, Lance and Laura.  Love you all so very much! 

Sometimes you lose your hard hat!

I was driving to my parents house yesterday, and worrying.  I really try not to.  I know I shouldn't.  Nevertheless, I was.  Worrying about 3 big dental bills this month, about my constant battle with laundry, and groceries that needed to be purchased in the midst of making 3 different school pick-ups and basketball practice and so on.  Worrying about a heavy burden that has  overwhelmed my spirit for months, frustrated over the fact that no matter how hard I try, I can NOT get it all DONE! You know how it is, your basic Mom stuff, frets, and fears.

 

In the midst of my fretting, the traffic came to a stop due to a flagman and road construction.  It was windy, and the flagman was having a difficult time keeping his STOP sign from turning to the SLOW side.  While trying to make sure traffic was indeed stopping, his hardhat fell off and rolled down into a deep ditch.  He turned back to see if any of his co-workers could help.  They couldn't hear him over the sound of the machinery.  He could not let go of his traffic sign to retrieve his mandatory hard hat from the ditch.  His frustration was very evident!  Let go of the sign to get the hat, and confuse the traffic?  Carry the sign down into the ditch to get the hat, and still confuse the traffic?  I had to chuckle, and sympathize with him, "I know how you feel, mister, I know how you feel."

 

Thankfully, at these times of frustration and worry and I still know the Lord's shoulders are stronger than all of my worries.  He will bear my burdens.  I am quietly reminded of one of my favorite scripture nuggets, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God, and THE PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:2.

 

May you be reminded of this today, especially if your worries are mounting and your hard hat has blown away.  He wants us to be anxious for nothing, tell our worries to Him, and He replaces them with peace!  Happy Thursday!