One Trip Leads to Another!

Three Blessings...

Matt, Sarah & Zac

Zac & Sarah enjoying coffee & devotions at Lakeside!

What an encouragement to know Chris Houts will be riding in Pelatonia again this year,

not only in Tom's memory BUT now riding in my honor too!

Chris, Vickie and I enjoyed sweet fellowship over Graeter's Ice Cream...

"thank you" Chris & Vickie for your continued love, support and prayers!

This limo was outside of Orange Leaf when Ginny & I got frozen yogurt!

I'm fighting like a girl!

The precious "Gilmer Clan" who graciously allowed me in on their family vacation!

back row:  Carylee, Justin (Carylee's nephew), Jenny (Justin's bride), Melanie (Carylee's sister)

front row:  Baby Joey (Carylee's great-nephew), Cary & Don (Carylee's parents)

What fun to enjoy beach time with them!

Great Aunt "Key" meets Joey for the first time!

Our Beach House

Joey's Beach Bungalow

My sweet friend and travel companion...Carylee!

Lisa & Patty

Ginny Englehart's extended family was at the beach (Sunset Beach) just south of where we were...

So I went on Wednesday to spend the day with them...this is Ginny's cousin, Patty whose husband went home to heaven last August...we connected right away...understanding each others pain...

no vacation will ever be the same without our husbands...

Flying home...

This picture was an awesome reminder that God's love is always shining on me,

just because I see clouds doesn't mean He isn't there!

Matt & Liz

Beulah Beach had a 5k run last Saturday that Matt & Liz ran together!

Sunday was the start of Bible Mission Conference at Beulah Beach...

Sandi Patty was the guest performer Sunday evening...

I stopped at my Aunt Joanne & Uncle Jim's on the way to Beulah Beach...

Uncle Jim & Aunt "J" joined me for dinner & concert!

Beulah Dinner: 1/2 baked chicken, cole slaw, baked beans, roll & watermelon

Uncle Jim, Matt, Lisa & Aunt "J"

Sandi belts it out...she shook Matt's hand just after I snapped this picture!

Matt & his mama...

Sandi started the concert with "He Cares for Me"...I started the concert in tears!

She ended the concert with "We Shall Behold Him"...I ended the concert in tears...

just imagining Tom beholding Him!

Somewhere in the middle of the concert she sang "This Little Light of Mine"...

One of Tom's "famous" songs with our children...he had a special version...

"Let it shine in Tokoyo..."

Matt shared with me at that point that he played "sleep monster" with the children in childcare that day!  Tom 'created' the "sleep monster" game...always a hit with our children & spoken about at Tom's Celebration of Life Service by Sarah!

After the concert I went home with Uncle Jim & Aunt "J" and spent the night at their home.

These beautiful fresh-cut flowers were at my bedside!

Aunt "J" made a delicious breakfast mini quiche!

"Thank You" Uncle Jim & Aunt Joanne for serving & loving me...I am blessed!

Lisa & Aunt Margaret

On my way back to Columbus I stopped in Mansfield to visit my dad's sister, Margaret!

What fun to catch up with her and her grandson, Danny.

Continued "THANKS" to my anonymous friend who graciously gives!

and

To the WCS students who never cease praying & sending the most beautiful cards!

 

"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

For my soul takes refuge in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.
I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.
He will send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches him who tramples upon me.
God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.

Psalm 57:1-3

Catching Up

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

"The secret way to heal a broken heart is to let love leak out like an ocean

through all the cracks."

-Ann Voskamp

 

"He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3



"The best way to tend to your open wounds is to open your arms.

Out-loving is the only ointment that healed anything.

When you have Jesus on the inside, you’re never on the outside.

In name of Jesus who broke His heart to heal ours…"

-Ann Voskamp

 

My life is full...this is good...it means I feel GREAT!  I've received emails wondering why I haven't posted in so long...am I okay?  YES...I'm home from two weeks in Florida (Healing balm of God's Word with the salt, sand and ocean) with my parents...two weeks of rest and relaxation.  Now I'm preparing for my next trip!  But, before I tell you about that...let me back up and recall this past month in pictures:

Matthew & Me

What an awesome trip I had going to Beulah Beach with my dear friend Carylee!  We went to visit our children (Morgan & Matt) who are serving as camp counselors at this amazing camp on Lake Erie's shoreline!

Matt's "Group" of Young Men 



Carylee & Me...Western Night Hoedown

Lake Erie Sunset

Now off to Florida...



Enjoying my parents pool!

Florida Sunset with Dad & Mom

"but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice

piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents;

for this is acceptable in the sight of God."

I Timothy 5:4

Meeting Linda Heiman at The Soda Shoppe!

Dinner at Darryl's with (almost) all my parents friends!

Dale, Tim, Bob, Maryann, Barbie, Jane, Me, Mom, Mary, Tim, Dad & Wyatt

Love these people!

Fourth of July Fun with the Homoelle's

Ready for Beach Fireworks...

Colleen, Bethany & Courtney

Venice Fireworks were GREAT!

Papa & Granny

Anniversary Roses from Dad!

Mary, Mom & Me on our fun adventure to Jody's on Palm Island!

Getting Ready to Ride Over on the Ferry

Jody & Dizzy pick us up from the ferry in "Gumby"

Relaxing in Jeff & Jody's pool after an amazing day on Palm Island Beach

"Thank You" Jody for a wonderful day...

I am blessed by knowing you and look forward to my next adventure to Palm Island Paradise!

You are a gracious hostess and the day was a highlight of my trip!

Our beach "cabana boy"

It's not an "official" vacation without a trip to Nokomis Groves for Ice Cream!

 A short drive to Sarasota for dinner at Owen's Fish Camp...delicious fun!

Mom, Dad, Wyatt & Mary

My dinner "date"!

Life Size Elephants in the Historical District of Sarasota!

Dad enjoys a hammock at Saint Armands Circle

My traveling companions...Suzanne, Colleen & Linda!

Home again:

"You water its furrows abundantly,

You settle its ridges,

You soften it with showers,

You bless its growth.

You have crowned the year with Your bounty,

And Your paths drip with fatness.

The pastures of the wilderness drip,

And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing."

Psalm 65:10-12

My Garden Bounty

My Garden Dinner...

Fried Green Tomatoes, Crookneck Squash & Cucumbers!

July 13, 2013...Braden's Graduation Party!

The best "Host & Hostess"

Mike & Cheryl

Enjoying "grand-parenting"...

Terry, Kelly & Annie Grace

Aunt Aubrey & Annie Grace

Cassidy Joy

Lauren

The newlyweds...Andrew & Erin

Uncle Jim & Aunt "J"

Cheryl's sweet parents...Mary & Chuck

Some of my favorite people...Sarah & Zac

 

A new addition to Zac & Sarah...2013 Chevy Silverado!

 

More favorites...Matt & Liz

Matt & his mama...

(Morgan...how did I end up without a picture of you?...so sad)

I'm looking forward to another adventure...going to the beach (Ocean Isle) with Carylee.  We fly out on Sunday (7/21) to be with her parents, sister & family!  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be with these dear people, to be well enough to go and for friends who are keeping me on my toes!  Last Sunday at our church's baptism service I had the pleasure of chatting with a dear widow (Judy Burgess whose husband went home to the Lord 4 years ago)...she gave me some advice..."stay busy"...I guess that's what I'm doing!  I will only be home for a short while after Ocean Isle and then onto Norris Lake, TN for our family vacation.  Please pray for me as I wrap my mind around a "family" vacation without Tom.  I told Sarah, "what's a family vacation/pictures without your dad?"...just doesn't seem right, but I know God will be right beside me (us) through these bittersweet times.

"Thank You" to my anonymous friend!

 

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow,

nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they?"

Matthew 6:26

"Thank You" Karen Brown...love my bird...reminding me of my worth in Christ!

 

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

 

I meet with my cardiologist tomorrow, Thursday 7/18...as well as I have felt, I still think I need some medication adjustments.  Thank you again for all who love, pray and support me and my family.  I am blessed.

Greetings from Florida!

A few weeks back our dear friends, Kent and Suzanne Homoelle, invited me to join them on their flight to Florida! It was a last minute thought that made me check their flight schedule and tickets were still available....so I jumped (hesitantly) and decided to come visit my parents for two weeks!  The unfortunate part of this story is Sarah and I came down with the stomach flu the day before I left.  I prayed that it would be the 24 hour stuff...it wasn't.  I would have cancelled the trip had I gotten insurance...the flight was pretty miserable for me, but I was thankful the flight wasn't full, I wasn't flying alone and I didn't have any "mishaps" on the plane.  Once arriving in Tampa, Bethany found a wheelchair for me and pushed me through to baggage claim! I'm not sure I would have made it and so thankful I didn't have to find out! Thanks, Beth!!  Suzanne only had to pull over once for me on our drive from Tampa to Venice...gross.  I prayed mightily that they wouldn't pick up this nasty germ.  It was so good to lay down at my parents and let my mom wait on me! I thought, "it's a 48 hour bug, I'll be better tomorrow"...NOT!  It was a four day bug that really started this vacation off on a bad note.  I'm feeling better and so thankful for the love and care of my parents!
This week is another especially hard week...our anniversary.  Tom and I always joked that the 4th of July fireworks were to celebrate us! Our anniversary is July 6th, but we liked to think the party was ours...not so much a party for me this year. I'm sure Tom is having an incredible celebration...EVERYDAY...much different here on earth, living with the consequences of sin.  I continue to hold my chin high and thank the Lord for the 27 years He did give me with Tom.
Praying you celebrate HIS freedom!

Father's Day...Just Not the Same

Tom's "pride & joy"...Addy Grace

Saturday evening The Engleharts invited us (Papa, Granny, Sarah, Zac, Addy & me) to their beautiful home for fellowship, fishing, food and fun.  As Ginny and mom prepared food, papa fished (Zac & Sarah hadn't arrived yet) I had alone time with God on the dock.  He grabbed my heart as I was lamenting the fact that Sarah and Matt didn't have a dad (in person) to celebrate this Sunday...then He touched me and said, "Tom is celebrating his first Father's Day with his Heavenly Father...it's okay".  With eyes filled with tears I gave thanks for the many years Sarah and Matt did have an amazing earthly father to celebrate and honor.  I am thankful that Tom is having the best Father's Day ever!  Tom would agree that it was never about him, but about Jesus...our real Father.  Addy sure had fun romping in the water, chasing the ducks and running in the country...I know Tom would have enjoyed seeing her have such a great time.

One of many large mouth bass Papa caught!

 I'm so thankful that my parents are here and we can celebrate Father's Day with my dad.

Sarah & Zac enjoy the canoe

Libby & Addy share a bed in exhaustion...not sure Libby was into sharing her bed!

What a fun evening we had ending with a round of Hand & Foot...thank you, Ginny for your generous hospitality!

For Father's Day:

"For His precious children, He serves as both Guard and Guide.

He both precedes us and protects us.

He is simultaneously our Shepherd and Shield.

He is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the One Who goes before,

guiding into the future, and the One Who goes behind, gathering up our debris,

our failures, and our poor attempts at ministry,

blessing us and leaving a blessing behind us for others."

 

"After my father's passing, my mother struggled pitifully with loneliness.  There was little anyone could do for it.  Her rambling mountain house seemed desolate, haunted with memories of a vanished hand and a silenced voice.  But she was a sturdy woman with an unusual streak of determination, and as time passed, she began to discover some of the benefits of living alone, such as God's presence."

The Red Sea Rules

by Robert J. Morgan



I'm not sure how long the above "time" was...
I'm not sure anyone would call me "sturdy"...I feel very frail...
I'm not sure if I have a "streak of determination"...
I'm thankful that I have not had to "learn the benefits of living alone" (without Zac & Sarah)...

...that day is coming

BUT...I pray that I will practice the presence of Jesus and never truly feel alone!

As I think of my parents leaving on Monday, to return to their home in Florida, I can become quite sad.  I'm choosing to be happy for them (they have been gone for over a month!) and choosing to be thankful for all they have done here for me and with me!  I know 'life must move on' so I press on with Jesus on this journey He has me on...thanking Him and releasing what He calls me to release to His perfect plan...it's not easy.

Kelly, Mom & Me at the Papaya Street Grill

"Girls Night Out"

I'm going out in "public" more and more without my wig...with the warmer weather,

it's just too hot!  I really feel uncomfortable around people I know...vanity, oh vanity...

it's just that my hair grows SO slow!  I don't think too much about it until I catch a glimpse of myself, see my shadow or see a reflection and then I think, "who's that man?"!!

 

"But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers,

then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good,

so that we may share His holiness."

Hebrews 12-8-10