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!

Mike Brockmeyer

My heart hurts tonight for my friend, Angie Brockmeyer.  Her husband's funeral visitation is happening now.  I can not begin to imagine the heartache that she is feeling.  I can only pray that she is able to feel the Lord's peace enveloping her and her two children. 

The Brockmeyer family have held a special place in our hearts, since the time that we built a home in 1999.  Ours was one of the first to go up in the subdivision.  We anxiously waited for neighbors.  It was so exciting when Mike and Angie built the home next door to us.  They had a son that was a few months older than our 18 mo. old Avery, and their daughter was six.  It didn't take us long to form a friendship.  We celebrated birthdays together, had picnics in our backyards, and shared snacks and toys.  Avery and Mackenzie were inseparable. 

Mike and Clark were inseparable at times, too!  They spent hours in our yard talking the evenings away while the boys played together.  I remember when Mike first became a police officer, and Angie was so proud of him!  I always loved the way Mackenzie looked so much like Mike, since Avery looked nothing like Clark!  Mike loved his children so much! Kayla's sports events were the highlights of his day.   Mackenzie was playing in the back of Mike's truck one day, and fell out and broke his arm.  I think Mike felt the pain more than Mackenzie!  Because of Mike's shift at the police station, he was often home during the day.  When Riley's due date approached, I began fervently walking the neighborhood in hopes of encouraging Riley to join us.  Every time I would pass the house, Mike would cheer me on!   When I was diagnosed with cancer, Mike and Angie were there to encourage me and pray.  One Halloween, he and Clark took the kids out for trick-or-treating.  Riley's asthma had been terrible that week, and he was unable to go with the others. Mike felt sorry for him and brought him over a big bag filled with candy. Mike helped me pull off a surprise 30th birthday party for Clark, even though he said he almost gave it away a hundred times!  Saying goodbye to our family-like neighbors was hard when we moved to East Tennessee!  We often went by to visit when we whenever we visited Jackson.  Thank you, Mike for being such a wonderful friend and for all of the memories.  Please know that so many are praying for Angie and the kids and believing that the Lord's peace will carry them through this trial.

The following is borrowed from The Jackson Sun...

JPD officer Brockmeyer dies at 38: Former airman's cancer had come back in August

Brockmeyer

 

 

Jackson police officer and former airman Michael Brockmeyer died Friday night after a long battle with leukemia. Brockmeyer was told in June that he was cancer free, but in August his doctors told him his cancer was back.
Members of the community banded together on behalf of Brockmeyer as his condition worsened and his 180 sick-time hours dwindled.
About 20 officers decided to take turns working his shifts, and a schedule was worked out so someone would be covering his shift every day through the end of the year.
In May, officers organized a benefit cookout that raised $6,000, and the family received donations from businesses in the community, such as HaliHannigan's Cupcakery, which donated 10 percent of its cupcake sales and all customer donations on June 30 to the family.
Brockmeyer, 38, had his infected gall bladder removed in March, and his white blood cell count was still high after the surgery, so doctors sent his blood to the pathology lab. The family said the cancer diagnosis was a shock.
He was receiving a new round of chemotherapy at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Police Chief Gill Kendrick said that it is with deep regret that the Jackson Police Department announced Brockmeyer's passing late Friday night.
Brockmeyer had 10 years of service with the department and worked in the Uniform Patrol Division.
Kendrick also requested on behalf of the Brockmeyer family that their privacy be respected at this time.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by George A. Smith & Sons North Chapel. Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Englewood Baptist Church.
The service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Englewood, followed by burial services at Highland Memorial Gardens.

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!