Easter 2010

Bob, his handsome sons and mom Below is Lilly's first Easter pictures! (well kinda....)

Ralph's mom and dad

My brothers and me

Aundra was the first brave one of us to get a tattoo after Jae's wreck.

Job tells us in chapter 19 v 25 on that:

For I know that my redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on this earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.

How my heart yearns within me!

Emma loves Abby.

You can tell the feeling is mutual!

This old house was my grandfathers.

We need to tear it down but none of us really want to.

As I looked through the lens to snap this picture, all I could think of was how badly I wished Jae was there too.

Of course, what's an old house without old furniture to drag out?

Casey made some sort of wrapped jalapeno doo-dads.

Can you smell these steaks?

Bob needed a spray bottle of water. He ran into mom's kitchen sink and found a spray bottle under her sink.

"Is this water?" he asked.

Mom told him she didn't know.

Ya know how Bob found out?

He squirted it in his mouth. "Yep", it's water!" and ran back out the door.

I'm glad it wasn't carpet cleaner or furniture polish.

Bob's a pyro like the rest of us and without a doubt holds the record for having to call the fire department.

The smoke here is from him using his new-found water-squirter.

Our church joined with a sister church to perform a musical. I had a solo!

It's easy to sing when you are backed up by 40 great voices.

Needed my glasses for most of the songs.

This lady is a happy singer. One of my fav people in the whole wide world.

He is risen indeed!

That's my hope!

Scholarship

It's been a long time since I've been as busy as I am right now.
I'm not whining, but thought I'd share why this blog may be a bit more silent than usual.

The 3 Cheerleaders annual signature fund-raising event is one week away and I am completely overwhelmed with the amount of support given by the businesses in our community.
I am also amazed at the tireless devotion of my family to this cause that they believe in.

When we first began this scholarship, it was for selfish reasons. We did not want Jae Lynn to be forgotten. Putting her name on a educational scholarship seemed to bring some of her presence and permanency into the school hallways where she belonged.
We were crazy with pain and didn't have a clue what we were doing. We just had so much emotion and channeling it into something positive seemed like a good thing to do.
Sure. Sure.
Wait until we are ripped wide open and shattered emotionally, spiritually and physically and THEN start the biggest endeavor of our lifetime.
Who in the world does things like that?

Tens of thousands of people.
Survivors of catastrophe often feel like they have nothing to lose,..so they go for it all. They do hard things and overcome barriers that would have stopped them cold in their "old life".
Unstoppable.

My family and I miss Jae Lynn every morning that we rise and every evening that we lay our heads down. We speak daily, daily I tell ya, of how badly we wish she was still with us.

I am past feeling unstoppable.
In fact, I'm feelin pretty durn stoppable every single day.
Tonight I feel like I'm not even go-able.
If you think about us anytime during the next couple of weeks, please say a prayer of strenght for the whole big lot of us. We want this weekend's event to be a success and bring honor to our Lord at the same time.
Both are of the utmost important to all of us.

(PS: Hey! Come join us! Sherwood Forest 3/14/10, drop in around noon for lunch.)

Recycling

I found some old pictures of the other day which got me to thinking about our years

when the girls were small and

we were covered up with farm animals.

I've reprinted below an old post from a couple of years ago

that talks a bit about those fun days....

An 85 Year Old Blessing

85 years ago today, my mom was born.

I don't know why, but this milestone for her has become significant for me. I think back to so many years ago, and it occurs to me that my present is so wrapped up in her past.
She was raised by Leslie and Mary Bushey in East St. Louis before it was named the most crime-ridden city in America.
She has told me stories of dances with young soldiers, cross-country trips as a young woman, dates with my daddy, farm life as a city girl and teaming with dad to raise a family with very little money.

Growing up in the Jeffers home left me with memories of a stay-at-home mom, lots of free play time, being cared for when I was sick, visitors coming in and out almost every single day, observations of parents who were madly in love, open displays of physical affection, dancing in the kitchen, moral absolutes, devotion to the local church and most of all love, fear and reverence for the Lord.

Mom buried an infant son between David and Bobby. We often wondered what impact this brother of mine would have had in our family. I miss his presence, but not, I'm sure, as much as mom does.

I observed her 45 year-long-distance care for her weaker older sister in Dallas, Texas.
Another aunt of mine, daddy's sister, was brought into our home for recuperation after the ravages of a stroke and alcoholism.
For years.
Then there was dad. His stroke was the one thing he feared the most and mom faced it as if it had happened to her.

She told me once before that losing her mother was the hardest day of her life. To this day, she still expresses regret that she was not at her side during those final moments. That was decades ago and it still pains her.

She also is tormented with dad's final hours. She left his side at the insistence of all of us as well as the ICU staff. Thankfully, we were called back in time and she was able to hold his hand as he entered into Heaven.

I'll always remember one time after I gave a series of lessons at church on "Finding our purpose in Life" that she mused to me ..."I don't know what my purpose is. I just don't know." Besides the fact that my wise mom was asking my opinion about her spiritual life, I was struck by her train of thought that she considered her life as one with very little impact.
Her life-time of caring for others and taking such wonderful care of daddy after his stroke had limited her Independence and maybe in her mind removed her opportunities for service?

Our culture today places importance on making a difference on a large scale. Touch thousands of people and then you are "successful"....touch only a few and you are only "average".

Mom has an intelligent alert mind that is limited by an aging body. I can only imagine how frustrating that must be.

In this world, my 85 year old mom has probably touched several hundred people directly, but though her husband, children, friends and students of her Sunday school classes her influence reaches well into the thousands. She has not won any awards or prizes to speak of here, but she knows that her real reward is not of this world. She told me just the other day, that living with an eternal perspective makes living here more meaningful.
I see it.

My mom is a living testament to agape love.
Isn't that exactly what God wants us to do with our lives?
I have not always been the best daughter,..but she has certainly been the best mom.
I am rising up today to call her Blessed!

Happy Birthday mom!
I will write you another letter on this blog when you reach 100!

Christmas 2009

I will not be one of those people who enter the Christmas season just wishing it was over.
However, I will also not ignore the strain that I feel this time of the year.
We all have the stress of the holidays, even those of us who try hard to focus on the true meaning.
Can we really escape it?
Can we really enjoy the entire Christmas season with all of it's crowds, parties and programs?
Those of us who love to shop often feel pressure to find a perfect suitable gift for the ones we love but who already have everything.

Our family (Jeffers and Russells) decided this year to really and truly "scale back". We've talked about it before,..but this year most of us really did it. Our plans were to spend our time/money on something which had a positive impact on others.
It was wonderful and I loved it.
I'm not relating the following info to make us look special or holier than others, but I'm sharing what has helped bring more meaning to my life during a wonderful but painful time.

Between all of us, we provided Christmas for several children through the Salvation army, we fed and clothed the hungry through an established organization in Little Rock and we established an award which will be given to a high school student in the North Pulaski Chorale department. It is in memory and honor of two of my favorite singers,..my father, Louie and his granddaughter Jae Lynn.

It's called the

Barefoot Singer Award

Singing with no shoes symbolizes vulnerability, passion and freedom

from barriers and inhibitions.
Singing barefooted heightens the senses of the
performer as well as the listener
by incorporating physical touch and sight

into the creation of musical sounds.

This award in presented tonight in memory of a singer who loved to
perform barefooted on this very stage.
When Jae Lynn Russell’s voice left us in 2004,
the entire choral department of North Pulaski came together,
removed their shoes and performed in her honor.

A Barefoot Singer will have a song
on their mind, in their heart and on their lips
in what ever circumstances they are in.

A Barefoot Singer will sing just as surely as they will breathe
and music is not so much considered a part of their life

as it is a part of their soul.
A Barefoot Singer is a lover, a dreamer and believes that
magical things can happen when music is in the air.

Although this Barefoot Singer award is going to a very talented individual,

it not their ability which sets them apart from their peers.
Rather,....it is their love of the song.

　

I don't know all of my readers and followers but I have loved your company this year.
Merry Christmas friends.

　
　

Storms

Last week, our area experienced a torrential rainstorm which flooded many of our roads and bridges. As I drove home through the worst of it, I unexpectedly found myself driving through the deepest water I ever recall driving through.
I was in it before I knew it was there.

After being home about 20 minutes, I received a call from my mom who, to my dismay, had also been out in this storm.
Mom does not see well at night and the short distance she was driving was flooded which forced her to drive miles out of her way.
In the dark.
In the rain.
And she had forgotten her cell phone.

Mom has driven these roads for 50 years.
She knows every bump and dip.
She knows every home and mailbox along each road.
The distance was short....maybe a mile.
When she left home hours before, the weather was fine.

But Thursday night, the circumstances became very different.
Outside influences changed the normal into the unrecognizable.
Old knowledge was not useful.
What should have been an effortless drive was replaced by danger, worry and fear.

My brothers and I all sat in our homes unaware of what our mom was going through.

What are the lessons here for me?

1. People get blindsided by life.

It happened to me and I bet it will you too.

It nobodies fault,...Life just happens.

One minute you are safe, the next you are near-drowning.

2. Storms are normal.

However, I, like some of you, think storms are unfair.

3. We often don't realise that the people we love are in danger.

They don't tell us?

They can't tell us?

We don't ask?

4. God always knows exactly where we are.

Thank goodness He is reachable even when we are too frightened

or overwhelmed to seek Him.

He is the original "wireless".

5. Worrying about my parents is right up there with worrying about my kids.

I must nag fuss remind mom that we are not reachable when she is without her cellphone.

No Nobodies In Heaven

Have you ever wondered how God will be able to pay attention to each one of us in Heaven?
If there are a few million of us there, then how will He even know that I've arrived?
If I'm surrounded by King David, Moses, Mother Teresa, and other saints from past and present, won't I end up being just a big "nobody" in Heaven?


(I know you are probably thinking,..I hope God don't put Becky and her sorry attitude in a mansion near me!)


The other night, Bro David mentioned something about Heaven which made me wonder if Heaven may possible be similar to warm loving family get-togethers here.
Up until the time that daddy passed away over a year ago, my entire family would gather at his house. Not because it was the best home or most convenient location, but we came to 8214 Centennial because daddy and momma were there.
One by one, each family member would arrive. Usually, daddy could hear us on the back porch before we entered the kitchen so his eyes were on the door as we arrived. Some of us arrived alone and some of us entered the front door all wadded up as a group. One of the first things we did on arrival was go to his chair to greet him.
During our family gatherings, we would mill around throughout the house laughing and talking to each other, sometimes speaking directly to daddy, sometimes talking to others near his chair and sometimes out of his sight. Regardless, we knew that we were a loving family and we were bound together through our strongest link,...our "patriarch".

If daddy spoke with Bobby or David, I didn't get jealous....I knew he loved each of us.
If daddy was having a conversation with one of the grandchildren, there was no one who was impatiently tapping a foot.
There was no competition for his attention. We all felt that it was simply good enough to be near him.

As the family circle grew larger through marriages and births, the family grew louder and love was multiplied. It grew harder and harder to get all of us together at the same time, but no matter who was missing, the family was incomplete without each person there.
Joyful and loving, but aware of absences.
I recall the days when we had each member there at the table. It was incredibly satisfying.

Maybe Heaven will be like that. Fellowship with each other will be taken to an entirely new dimension, but the best part will be that it will all happen in the "Presence" of God.
Being together,...and near Him will be enough.
He won't have to be giving me undivided attention for me to feel His love.

I bet He can't wait until we are all sitting at His supper table.
I imagine that He is enjoying the ones at his feet and His chair, but He is also aware of each one of us that's missing.

I can identify.

Daddy

Of all the blessings God has lavished on me, making me the daughter of Louis Anderson Jeffers was one of the best.
Memories of...
** family devotions in his and mom's bed.
**sleeping in the middle.
**when the middle got too crowded, I would crawl over him and nestle in front of him as he lay on his side.
** his advice when my heart was broken over Eddie in high school.
**Pulling me in my inner tube in the Buffalo river.
**Working along side of Uncle Tom in our garden.
**him flying up the flying up the driveway in a mail jeep after work. Mom would have his clothes all laid out so he could shower, change, and head off to a revival somewhere across Arkansas.
**Family singings with him leading us in "the blues".
**No one could play the big man Martin guitar like he could.
**His words to me right before he escorted me down the aisle to Ralph ("honey, are you sure you want to do this? I'll take you home right now if you tell me too")
**Flexing his huge biceps
Ahhh....there's just too many to name! I know you understand.


But by far, one of his most lasting legacies for my brothers and I was daddy's passion for music. He immersed us in all kinds of music, not necessarily so we would love it, but more because he loved it. We sang (and still do) in church, we sang in the car, in the garden, on vacations, we sang in bed, we sang at all of our family celebrations and we sang when our hearts were broken.

Little by little, time goes by.

Short if you sing, long if you sigh.

Note by note, life's music plays on.

The song's always changing, but it's never gone.

Daddy's song continues here with us, and I am confident it continues loud and strong in Heaven. I can hardly wait to hear it again......

Easter Ponders

Easter Past:
**The Easter of 1989. Jae and Casey were dressed alike in frilly pink frocks. Bonnets, white gloves and ruffles on their panties.

**Hunting eggs in our living room in 1999. I had the video recorder on Abby as she was in her little nightgown hunting the hidden eggs in our living room. She suddenly stopped, looked directly at me/the camera and asked if I had seen the Easter bunny.
I told her "Yes".
She drawled with the sweetest smile "Wuz he wearin a tie?"

**Hearing Ralph sob in the living room in 2004 as I put out the three Easter baskets of candy. Jae had been gone only days, and I dazedly wondered what the rules were for moments like this.

Easter Present:
**Singing the traditional Easter songs in our service. Feeling sorry for my friends who only attend church on Easter because those are the only songs they ever get to sing.

**Missing all the family members who were not sitting around our family feast table. All are alive somewhere,...some here on Earth, some in Heaven.

**Contemplating the true meaning of the Resurrection. It means so much more to me now and I wonder if I ever could/would have understood these truths had I not been torn asunder by death.

Easter Future:
**Jesus told His disciples (Matt 26) that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the day when He took it with all of us in His Father's Kingdom.
I can hardly wait for that supper.
What in the world will that moment be like?

** Wondering if in Heaven, we will be able to "see" into the past so we can witness our salvation with our own eyes. I have a crazy imagination. In my feeble little mind, I wonder if there could be something akin to a "Heavenly movie night":

Attention!

Playing tonight at the Gold City amphitheater:

David meets and beats Goliath!

David will be present to answer questions

****

Tomorrow night's showing:

The true story of the Passion of the Christ

Worship service to follow.

**Singing with a Heavenly choir, all in one voice. A song that I've never heard, but will know perfectly.
I'm from a family of singers. A loud and harmonious Heavenly choir plumb excites me.

All Hail King Jesus!
All Hail Immanuel!
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Bright Morning Star!
And throughout eternity I'll sing your praises
and I'll reign with you throughout eternity.

David And The Little Rock Marathon

The following is a post from my very first ever "Guest Blogger"!

My brother David participated in the Little Rock Marathon. This has been, by far, one of the biggest accomplishments he has ever done in his life.

I asked him to share with you, my readers, and he sent this to me telling me it wasn't very "bloggable".......That I needed to shorten, edit or cut it up.

I think not.

The official finish line crossing photo at the end of his post is priceless to me. (I ordered it off of the official marathon web site.)

Here's David's post,...just like he wrote it:

*********************************************************

Sunday March 15th 2009, I ran in my first marathon. I ran it in memory of my niece Jae Lynn Russell, who tragically died on March 18th 2004.

As recent as 9 months ago, running a marathon was inconceivable to me.
3 years ago, my wife and I decided that we needed to get in shape and so we joined a local gym.
We both started walking on treadmills a few times a week.

After about 6 months, a friend (Jack Long) who attends church with me, and who was a member of the same gym, approached me and asked if I would be interested in running on a relay team over a ½ marathon, in the upcoming Little Rock Marathon. His daughter was a runner from high school, and was going to run the half marathon, and Jack felt we were both needing a challenge, and proposed that we compete against his daughter (with us running the ½ relay).
I agreed, and neither Jack nor I have looked back.

We competed in that race (2007), ran the ½ marathon ourselves (13.1 miles) in 2008 and this year, joined a Little Rock Marathon training group in July 2008, with the intent of a possible marathon run, but still not committing. We actually didn’t commit until January 2009, still thinking that it was not possible for us to do this.
As the date approached, Jack would not get to compete in the 2009 Little Rock marathon, (instead he is doing the Nashville marathon in April 2009).

The training has been very thorough and tough, but I felt I was as prepared as I could be.
Somewhere in the fall of 2008, we discovered that the 2009 Little Rock Marathon, would be on the same date as the 3 Cheerleaders annual fundraising banquet.
The dates were set for March 15.

At that time, I still had not actually registered for the marathon, wanting to wait, to see if I could actually complete the training, and really run that distance. Anyway, I decided that if I did run, I would run in memory of my niece Jae Lynn Russell, one of the 3 Cheerleaders and that I would try to raise some monies for the scholarship goals, that have been set in memory of Jae.
Jae would have been 21 this year and probably still in college.

The more I considered this, the more I was motivated to run the event—but still hesitant, and afraid of the unknown.

The race was Sunday (3-15-09) and I have completed the marathon.
It was definitely harder than I expected.
My race time was not exceptional—rather it was fairly slow.
However, I am proud that I did run and proud of the opportunity to run for Jae.

There were several significant moments, when I look back at the event.

1) Showing Becky the race shirt that was monogrammed on the back "In Memory of Jae Lynn Russell" and on the pocket "Gone Fishing Jae Lynn Russell".

2) The bible verses in Hebrews Chpt. 12: v1-2, that my oldest daughter left me in a note that morning, referencing the fact that we are "surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses" and that we run the race of life not for ourselves, but for the glory of the Lord. (Jeffers paraphrase)

3) Starting the race with my daughter Amanda and her husband-Ryan (who were running the ½ marathon)

4) Around mile 14--Listening on my ipod to the David Crowder Band singing the song "Indescribable (Oh Praise Him)", and thinking about Heaven and Jae, and my dad, who have both gone on to Heaven, and listening to the words of the song, about the sounds of Heaven, and just as I am nearing the Pulaski Heights Baptist church, --suddenly hearing the church bells start ringing—
It was a praise the Lord moment.

5) Around mile 17, another runner running alongside me, asked me who Jae Lynn Russell, was.
After I told him about Jae, he told me that he understood the grief of losing someone as he had lost his wife, 4 years ago.
As he passed me, I yelled out to him, "What was her name?"(remembering the significance of a name) and he turned and yelled back "Nancy". I repeated her name out loud, thinking how significant a name was, and that he probably needed to hear her name again.

6) Nearing mile 21, my thoughts drifted to considering what I would do, when I crossed the finish line. Should I just raise my arms,… just smile, …do nothing or what?
I decided that I would raise one arm up to Jae, and to look up at the heavens, and also raise 1 finger –showing Christ is the only 1 way.

7) Realizing around mile 19 that I was going to have to go to work to complete the race in under 6 hours.
I did lots of mental calculations in my head, and when I crossed the last relay point 20.1 miles at 4 hrs 27 minutes, I knew I was behind.
I was exhausted, and had horrible running form then, hearing the scraping sounds of my shoes, as they barely lifted off the pavement.
I challenged my self to fix my running form and at the same time, mentally committed to run a long run again (during the past 3 miles, I had been running and walking).
I started at mile 21 and ran to mile 22.
Then I walked mile 23, then started running again, setting goals as to where I would give in to fatigue.
I got to the point of the race called Dillard’s Hill—a large bridge and hill. I walked the uphill portion of this section and ran the downhill portion, still mentally checking my time and whether I would finish under 6 hrs.

8) As I neared the finish line, I really wanted to be below 6 hours, and didn’t have a lot of time (or energy), as it was close to the 6 hr mark.
My son, Nathan, had ran out about ½ mile from the finish and met me, and urged me to finish strong. I jogged in (exhausted at this point) and with his help, was able to keep it up for the entire ½ mile, making my goal of finishing under 6 hours.
Without his help, I would not have been able to do this.

9) As I approached the finish line, a group of friends and my family were there to cheer me on, and the encouragement it gave me was immeasurable. I looked at each of them intently as I passed them, and waved to my granddaughter Emma, as I passed her.
Nathan and Aundra yelled for me to "dig" and I sprinted the 200 yards of the chute towards and across the finish line.
As I raised my arm and looked up, and raised my one finger pointing to Christ, I became very emotional.
I had not expected this from myself, but did not hide it as I wept and as I praised God for finishing.

10) The prayers offered up for me, as I ran the event. Some of them are; My Sunday school class participants, the people at the 3 Cheerleaders fund raiser, my friend Jack who was visiting his father’s SS class in North Carolina and many of those who I had informed that I would be running the race.

11) This feeble comparison of what happens after you finish a race like this-to what happens when you enter Heaven—they call you by name as you finish, you don’t have to do anything, it is done for you by others in the finish area, you receive new clothes, you receive nourishment, you receive accolades for finishing, you get to finally see your loved ones, you receive a medal (crown), there are special areas for the finishers.


Summary
It was harder than I expected.
The joy of running for my niece was more than I expected.
The training periods and runs were longer and more than I expected.
The mental challenge of running a marathon was greater than I expected
The monies raised on behalf of Jae’s scholarship were greater than I expected.
The achievement was greater than I ever imagined possible, even now, I do not really believe I am a marathoner or actually ran that far. Will I run again?---Yes
Will I run a marathon again?---maybe.
I am not scared of it, but the commitment to do it was and is significant.
I am most thankful for the significant moments that I encountered and glad that I did it.

David

Eternity In My Heart

Ecclesiastes 7
I've named this passage "The wise man's school".
But no one wants to go to class.
The Teacher is famous for being loving , but the lessons are ridiculously hard.
The students are usually confused.

Here's the lesson plans for Ecclesiastes 7:

Lesson #1 Quit throwing parties for birthday's and start looking forward to funerals.
Lesson#2. More life lessons are taught at funerals than parties.
Lesson#3. The heart of the wise is (can be) improved when we are distressed.
Lesson#4. It's better to be rebuked by a wise man than be praised by lots of nonbelievers.
Lesson#5. The strong hearted will often lose control during pain.
Lesson#6. (Hardest of all?) God causes pain as well as the joy.

But in Chapter 3, the scripture says (my paraphrase)
He has made everything beautiful in it's time, and He has put eternity in their hearts....

I'm at a place tonight where I'm feeling a little empty.
Not distant from God, but not passionate either.
I've sat in the classroom described above and am frustrated that I have to wait to see the beauty of the circumstances.
I can not help but look backwards, but I long to move faster forward.
I know from experience that the remedy for "emptiness" is to start serving others. I must make time to do more for others.

A few months before Jae's wreck, the 5 of us had planned a trip to Williamsburg, VA. Just somewhere different, history, fun stuff, etc. After her death, we scrapped the idea of travel all together. We couldn't dream of vacationing with out Jae. We were too heartbroken.
The Sanden family (I love you Susan, Gary and kids) found out about our cancelled plans and GAVE us a week in Williamsburg, Virginia, at their beautiful condo.
So.
Three months after the funeral, we piled into our van for the two day drive, and sobbed for the first 500 miles.
The trip, however, turned out better than we thought it would, and we even found ourselves laughing for the first time as a family. We made some good memories in the middle of the agony.

Towards the end of the week, on the drive home, our plans were to spend the night in a hotel still several hours away from our house. We pulled into the hotel parking lot about dusk,....tired, sad, missing her, on each others nerves and dreading the last long night ahead of us. We were withdrawn,....barely speaking to each other.
I'll always remember what happened next:

Ralph turned around and said to us:
"Why don't we just stay in the car, drive on through and go home?"

I can not tell you how the atmosphere of our van changed in that moment.
We turned on the music,.....we began to communicate,....we no longer felt tired,...our spirits soared,......we were going home!

*************************

I firmly believe that all things will be beautiful when we get to see God's work from beginning to end.
I'm thankful that He's given me "eternity in my heart".
Oh how I look forward to Heaven!

Extravangant Love

Extravagant: /adj/ 1. exceeding the limits of reason, 2. lacking in moderation, balance or restraint 3. excessively elaborate, 4. paying an unreasonably high price.

Examples:
1. Central Arkansas's support for the memory and legacy of three young teenagers who most of them did not know. The lunch was such a success!

2. My brother David, running the Little Rock Marathon in memory of his niece. His first marathon ever. He will be a "guest blogger' on here soon.

3. Our friend Reg Hamman. He was a stranger 5 years ago. He gets invited into our lives/drama and inspires a vision we were unable to see. He would state it differently, but I see the reason he does stuff like that because a) he loves God with all of his heart, soul and mind, and b) he loves his neighbor as himself.

4. Close friends who get in the trenches with us and help as we literally wander through our fund-raising events. Some come and go as different needs arise and some are there year after year and see all of our weaknesses clearly exposed. All of these volunteers bless us more than words could express.

5. My sister-in-law Susan. With each season change, she decorates and bring beauty to the sacred places of our family. Unless you go to the cemetery to see the graves, you will never see her artistry.

6. My family in general. How great is God's love for me that He would place me in this circle of people. Far from perfect, we love each other deeply and tenderly. (Bobby is better by the way. Home yesterday.) We celebrate the living, worry ourselves crazy about each other and mourn but speak often of our loved ones gone. Some more than others, we all long for Heaven.

6. My daughter's birth mothers. 15 years ago today, a young lady from not too far away labored to bring Abby life. I bless her this morning and the other two which have so richly blessed me. There are those who "can not understand how a woman could give up her child", and then there are a few of us who have wept with wonder and joy at the unexplainable sheer extravagance of their choice.

7. Jesus. Sitting in Heaven with His Father, looking at the world and discussing the plan to bring us all up to them. They could have created one which is logical and makes sense. Instead they created one which defies reason. A sinless King for a weak sinner like Becky.

8. Heaven. After the incomprehensible trade-off of Jesus, God's son, for the sinner,... the plan continues so that the sinner gets rewarded for choosing the death of Jesus.

I am the recipient of extravagant love this morning from all different directions.

Casey

Bored with being a server at a restaurant, Casey has chosen to seek a different type of job this coming summer.
She applied online and her application was one of 12 selected to go to the next phase of the application process.

Know what that is?

A Spring break week long camping/river trip in Arizona.
This phase of the interview process is a time for them to watch her work and for her to try them out as well.
They may or may not like each other.

Her tentative plans to work for a place in Colorado called "Wilderness Aware" will give her a summer of job as a "white water river rafting guide".

Attagirl.
You go baby.
Tryin to "Live Large".

Oh joy.
Just when I thought I would get some sleep!

Advice and Thanksgiving

So what did I tell Eddie was the single most important piece of advice in raising girls?

Without thinking,... I told him "Grace".
Not just talking about it, but applying it daily to the kids we often get tired of applying it to.

Grace for the ones who stay on the path we have dreamed for them.
Grace for the ones who take a different one which we had hoped for them.
Grace for the ones who create their own path.
Grace for the ones who aren't even looking for a path.

It doesn't matter the age,....the 2 year old needs it just as much as the 20 year old, and come to think of it,..my brothers and I have continued to receive it from our parents,..even at our age!

Speaking this one tiny piece of advice to Eddie last week, reminded me to tell my girls this past week, that I do not expect perfection. It is a challenge for us moms and dads to make sure we deal with our kids based on what we know in our hearts,..and not respond to them because their behavior may hurt our pride. (Our child can not do that,..why,...what would others think?)

I'm pretty much past worrying what others think of my parenting skills of my two daughters. To be honest,..I've already been there, and it was awful.

I still worry about Casey and Abby.
I still nag.
I still get frustrated sometimes.
Some behaviors will require justice,..not mercy.
But I pray that I live out a walking talking example of unconditional love and support. It's not that hard, 'cause they are both incredible girls. I also know that they could be living in someone else's home right now instead of ours.

Holiday's are an excellent time to review the priorities.
A family which loves deeply is a treasure and I am grateful for mine.

November Inventory

Some things that are on my mind
are packing for the Youth Specialties conference.
My mother-in-law,...she's not feeling well.
Abby's grades.

Something that has made me laugh recently
was my co-workers at lunch. We were discussing something and we all began building on one stupid thing after another. Julie is usually so quiet, so when she is overcome with laughter, I can enjoy the memory for a week. Daniel's laugh is loud, Glen's is fun, Levi laughs like a mischievous little boy and Deonna's infectious laugh will make even the biggest grump smile.

The scripture that I'm currently studying is
Luke 3.
I'm supposed to be way deeper into the book by now, but just haven't made it. The Christmas story just never gets old, does it?

A song that recently captured my attention is
"Because" (you have to snap your finger with this)
Just because you think you're so pretty
Just because you think you're so hot.
Just because you think you've sompthin
that nobody else has got.
Though you made me spend all my money
you laughed and called me ole' Santa Clause
Well I'm tellin you honey I'm though with you!
Because! Just because!

(I sometimes have no idea why I sing these songs. My patients however,...quickly go down memory lane with them)

Something which scared me recently
was sending my in-laws into the VA Hospital. Mr. Russell needed to get set-up into that system. I let them out at the door and I wondered if I would ever see them again. It was comparable to letting them out at the entrance of the state fair. I circled the parking lot (I mean,..the city) for 45 minutes looking for a place to park the truck so I could go in with them. However,...there was no place to put a truck. People told me,.."there is a little shuttle to pick you up if you have to park a long way off!" But shuttles aren't helpful if you can't park the vehicle!
No median, no curb, no spot, no nothin.
I had to keep driving.

The thing that is stressing me is
getting the 3Cheerleaders end-of-the-year letter finalized, addressed and mailed.
I'm also wanting a comprehensive web-site. I can't believe we've gone this long without one.

I'm confused by
why I can not keep a vacuum cleaner working. I just don't understand. All my floors are hardwood. I only have one itty bitty rug and somehow I have to buy a new vacuum cleaner every year.
It's a mystery.

I'm pumped about
going to Nashville this weekend for the Youth Specialties Youth Worker Convention. I have wanted to go to a Youth Worker's convention for 25 years. (It's too bad that I'll be the oldest one there!) I'll be seeing The skit guys, the David Crowder band will be there, Tony Compolo, and others. Can't wait.
(The schedule goes until midnight for Pete's sake.)

I'm bummed
that I won't be there to see the short (really short!) video that they have created about Jae and me. It will be on the screen on Sunday night, but unfortunately,..I have to leave Sunday afternoon. I've seen the final version and it's great at discussing the wonderfully amazing Grace of God. I'll try to post it on here someday soon.

I'm praying
that Levi (who is going with me) will be inspired to lead our teenagers for the next 25 years.
You pray for that too,...'cause Becky's getting kinda old tired.

Birthdays and Boxes

About this time 11 years ago, we hosted a sleep-over for Jae Lynn's 10th birthday. As usual, we were planning a party while having almost zero money.
Broke just did not do us justice.
We were "pore".

Jae and Casey were rich in friends however, so hosting their parties meant we had a minimum of 15 kids. Mostly girls, but cousins Nathan and Andrew, and friend Chase always had a standing invitation to all the parties,....including this sleepover. (Only one mama balked at the co-ed sleepover/sleeping arrangements but she finally relented).

This particular year, Ralph and I went to an appliance store and found about 6-8 huge boxes which had held new stoves and refrigerators. We tied them into the truck and brought them home and placed them in the front yard.
I really wasn't sure how the kids would respond to "boxes" being the extent of the party entertainment, however,... I can not describe how much fun these kids had playing in them!

They crawled into the boxes, fell out of them, pushed each other around in them, painted them, cut windows into them, hooked them together, jumped out of trees into them, rolled down the hill in them, packed 8 kids into one of them, changed clothes in them and finally, around midnight, all 18 kids fell asleep in them.

That very same weekend, there was a write-up in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about another 10 year old little girl who had very different birthday party than Jae Lynn. This little girl had a limousine pick up her and her friends, where they were all then taken for a manicure/pedicure, pizza and a movie.
(Oh yeah,...they also had a photographer and a write-up in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. )

I felt sorry for that little rich girl.
She should have had refrigerator boxes.

God Wants Me To Sleep

The other night, I was tossing and turning, as I often do in the first couple of hours after turning out the bedroom lights. Sometimes Ralph notices that I'm not sleeping,..sometimes he snores.

This particular night, after an hour or so,..he asked me "What's on your mind?"

Sometimes I tell him "nothing much" because I know he may think my worries are foolish. They often are.
But this time I listed the things which were racing through my sleepy head.

As I listed a random bizarre list of,....foolishness.....I finished by telling him that I was amazed at the way God has worked in my life.
I said "God takes our lives, complete with the details, joys and pains and makes this fascinating story which could only be credited to Him".

I was sure that Ralph would become fully awake and marvel with me about great spiritual things.
There was a long pause.
It was 1 o'clock in the morning.
Dark.
Quiet.

He replied: "I think God wants you to go to sleep".

I laughed out loud!

Oh it's good to have someone around you who make sense.

Our Camera, Our Routine

There is a need for a camera.
The camera is lost.
The search begins.
The opportunity and need for a photograph is over.
Days pass.
The house gets cleaned and the camera is found.
The battery is dead.
The charger cord is lost.
The search begins.
Days go by.
Finally the camera and the cord are brought together.
The camera is now ready to be used.
Abby sees a newly charged camera.
Abby holds the camera above her head at arms length and takes approximately 350 photos of herself.
The camera loses it's charge and so she puts it down.
Days go by.
There is a need for a camera.
The camera is lost.
The search begins.

Soldier/Son Reunion

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE reunions.

Until I experience the reunions I long for, observing others will just have to do:

A Real Prayer Meeting

I have spent the past three days in Duck Hill, Mississippi. Home of my God-fearing in-laws Bobby and Leona Russell. I count myself blessed indeed to be their daughter-in-law. They have taught me much.
Unfortunately, lightning hit their home a couple of weeks ago and the resulting fire left their home in ruins. The charred upstairs, the water damage from the fire hoses and the stench of lingering smoke has turned the happy humble home into an unimaginable mess.
It was sad indeed to see an entire lifetime picked through and eventually thrown into garbage bags. As I worked side by side with Leona in the mess,.... she was a living demonstration in peace and good nature. I've tried to imagine how I would be in similar circumstances. My "possessions" are very dear to me. In fact,..I have a list of things I would grab in case a quick evacuation was necessary.
Most have to do with Jae.
My tangible links to her.

On Wednesday evening,..we went to the Grenada Church of the Nazarene where the Russell's have invested most of their serving adult years. The tiny membership is deeply saddened because of the fire. For the pain my in-laws are enduring,....but for their church as well. That body of believers knows that Bobby and Leona will now move to Arkansas.

Wednesday night prayer meeting.....
I don't know about you, but my church has that scheduled every Wednesday night according to our bulletin, however,... last time I went, I don't recall spending a great deal of time in prayer.
I have had to miss it lately because of work or responsibilities in the Youth department.

Wednesday night "prayer meeting" at the Grenada Church of the Nazarene does the real deal. The few of us there this past Wednesday night gathered around the alter on our knees and prayed for a solid hour.
A solid hour!

One white-haired older man probably spent 5 full minutes on Praise and adoration of the God who saved him and loves him. In fact,...I think I now know how King David would have sounded if he had a deep Mississippi drawl.
Another pray-er was a handsome tattooed young man who had just moments before, witnessed his second child be born into this world. His prayer was so heartfelt and touching that I raised me head to watch him speak to our God.
Bobby and Leona Russell's prayers never mentioned the hardship they are in the midst of.

The entire prayer time was one of the best sermons I've heard.
I am convicted.