BIG EVENTS!

When I sat down to write this post, I realized that it has been so long that I had forgotten my password! Maybe Jenny is right: I deserve an "F" in blogging 101! It's just that so many wonderful things are happening faster than I can write about them! Describing what all is going on in our family is like trying to describe the cars of a fast-moving train.

I think I'll start with last weekend. Thursday, May 1st, was the National Day of Prayer. My heavy burden for the nation came to a focus that day when I awoke with the desire to fast and spend time talking to the Lord. I've felt a responsibility to pray for our country for as long as I can remember, and it was comforting to me to know that other people shared my burden that day. (I yearn to see our nation return to honoring God, but I won't get off on that subject just now.) Anyway, that morning set the tone for the busy weekend ahead. Normally I would have been running around in all directions, knowing that a number of extra people would be coming for the next few days. Typically, I'm that proverbial swimming duck: calm on the outside but paddling like crazy under the surface! However, going down to our little church and entering the quiet sanctuary was refreshing to my spirit. It didn't make any difference to me if nobody else came. I played the wonderful piano there ( the familiar patriotic songs), and thought about the words and the circumstances under which they were written. After a while, April came and so did Burt, who is always my loyal supporter!

On Thursday afternoon, Betty McKinney came to Ellaville. We had heard a lot about Betty from both Josh and Burt, so I was eagerly anticipating her visit and teaching. I was not disappointed. There were about 40 people who came during the weekend, and I think almost everybody received some particular blessing. I had the most wonderful feeling as I looked at the group gathered in the Carriage House and realized how "young" it was. God is no doubt drawing the upcoming generation into a closer relationship with Himself in preparation for whatever lies ahead. Just as it says in Proverbs 31:25, He is preparing us, His bride, to have no fear of the days to come because we will be prepared. That verse brings me a lot of comfort. Anyway, there were many answers to prayer before the weekend was over. We know that several experienced being baptized with the Holy Spirit for the first time, and others were refreshed by the same Spirit. Several times during the weekend, the thought was expressed that this was the beginning of whatever it is that God has in His plan for our place. I felt more intensely than ever that "our place is His place." I trust that the same Lord who multiplied the loaves and fish which were handed over to Him will take what we dedicate to Him and multiply it to bless many...most of whom we won't meet until we meet in heaven. What a concept!

Everything seemed to go so smoothly over the weekend. The teaching sessions were easily set up. The room was comfortable. The food was good as well as easy. I never felt stressed one tiny bit. Jed did a wonderful job of leading worship. I just revelled in the anointing that God has on him for that purpose; other people recognize it as well. I get comments all the time. It makes me smile when I know that Papa, JoJo, Gran, Dede and all those who have gone on before, are hearing the sweet melodies at the same time we are! Now let me say that on Saturday night,as sweet and worshipful as Jed leading was, I saw the desire to "bust out" in his free style almost overcome him! This was following an unexpected rendition of hip-hop music (I use the term loosely) by Jenn Cannon's boyfriend, Bill B. Jed almost gave in to the urge! My guess is that he went home, turned his cap around, and got down!

Well, if that wasn't enough excitement for the weekend, the finale came on Sunday night. Josh and Jenny became engaged! We have prayed them through several seasons of life, and to see them committing to each other to fulfill the call God has for them as a couple is so wonderful. It still tickles me to think of the two youngest of their respective families getting married to each other, but that's no more a challenge then two "only children," as Pops and I are! I'll always remember the first time Jenny and I went shopping. She helped pick out a red and black shirt for me to wear to Parents' Weekend for Jed's fraternity, and she's been giving me fashion opinions ever since. It was on that trip that she said she thought about how many people she as Josh could win to the Lord together. I'm convinced that's why the Enemy tried so hard to keep them apart. Now I'm loving help make wedding plans!

Well, I've got so much more to say. I haven't even touched on Mother's Day, but that will be next. Get ready!

Rise Up and Walk

We had an unexpected blessing last night. The phone rang about 10:15p.m., and when I answered, there was an unfamiliar voice. My first thought was, "Not a donation appeal at this hour!" Instead, I heard someone say, "This is Paco, from Cabo." It turned out that this was the young man that Burt and I met when we went to Mexico for Jonathan Lafevers' wedding. He was the most incredible pianist who was playing for dinner one night in the "fine dining" restaurant. Because we enjoyed his music so much, we stopped by the piano to thank him as we were leaving. After talking to him for a short while, we detected his Christianity, and to confirm our thinking, he cut loose with "Amazing Grace." It was beautiful.

We didn't see him any more over the weekend, and we regretted that we had not asked for a CD. On the day we were leaving, we were making a phone call to the states, and as I turned around, guess who was coming down the hall in his wheel chair? It was his day off, but he had had to come back to get his check beacuse he had forgotten it. What timing! As it turned out, we spent about two hours talking to him in the outdoor bar there at the hotel. In the process of our discussion, he expressed his desire to go to Brazil and minister to the people through his musical talents; he even speaks Portuguese! We told him about Rick Bonfim and his ministry in Brazil. But the important thing was the prayer time we had with him. He wanted us to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit in his life, and of course we did. I took it a step further and did something I had never had the courage to do: I prayed that he would walk again! He told us that he had just returned from France where he had undergone a stem-cell procedure, and that he was a good candidate for it to regenerate the nerves in his spine and legs. (He made sure we knew this was not an embryonic stem cell.) I prayed that his miracle would bring glory to God.

When he phoned last night, he was calling to report that the feeling is beginning to come into his legs. He is undergoing rehab in California. But here is the best news: He wants to come here to Georgia, and testify in "our church to our friends" what God has done because he said that we were the ones who prayed for him to walk again! I assured him that if he got to the Atlanta airport, we would take care of him from there. I want to have a church filled up with a group of people who will see this as the miracle that it is, and give God all the glory for it.

I think the Holy Spirit is waiting to show us what He will do if we will learn how to believe and then have the courage to obey! I'm just beginning to learn!

Training up the Child

Well...we have successfully completed our grandparenting solo flight! Helen and Clint had the courage to leave us in charge of both Harrison AND Major! Things didn't look too exciting when we arrived because, as Helen has said, she was fighting a sore throat, Harrison had a nasty old cough, Major had had surgery on his ear, and Pops was trying to catch his knee mouse. I knew it would be hard for Helen and Clint to leave and not feel lost, but we also knew how much it enriches a couple's relationship to have that time together. We almost had to push them out the door.

Wouldn't you just know that Clint chose to call home at the very time that Harrison was upset! I had made a quick run to Starbuck's, which was only a short distance from the house, to get coffee for Saturday morning. I left Harrison in his bouncy seat at Pops' feet. I knew he could pick him up and hold him if he cried. Sure enough, he did have to pick him up, but Harrison didn't stop crying, and Burt was holding the phone under his chin and the baby in his lap when Clint called, so I'm sure it sounded bad. Clint called my cell phone, and althought I wasn't gone ten minutes, I still felt guilty! As soon as I got back and took Harrison, he started playing, and we called Helen and Clint back to ease thier feelings.

Harrison was such a sweet little guy. I knew he didn't feel up to par, so I bathed him early (about 6:00P.M.) This was a pretty big challenge because Pops was not much help with his bum knee, and a soapy little cherub is not easy to manage! We did fine, however, and as I gave him his bottle, I really had some QT with the Creator of the Universe. I prayed for Harrison to feel better and to get some sleep. He went from being fretful and fidgety to being peaceful and relaxed. I put him down at 7:30p.m. amd he didn't wake up until 5:00a.m. I had the monitor close to my head, and I heard him cough all during the night, but he never woke up. When I got him at 5:oo the next morning, I knew God had heard my prayers. His cough was so much better, and I gave him a little juice, then snuggled him in the bed with us where he and I slept until 8:ooa.m.

Uncle Jed spent the night with us at Helen and Clint's house on Friday night, and this worked great because he could take care of Major. That meant cleaning his incision with Q-Tips and giving him his meds. Before Jed left on Saturday, he gave the medicine, but I forgot about the incision. Determined that Clint would see that we could be trusted to dog-sit also, I decided to get the job done. Burt couldn't do it, since it required sitting on the floor and holding Major's head. Major must have known that caring for wounds is not my thing, so he lay just as still as could be while I took care of him. I was proud of both of us!

Suffice it to say that the weekend was a blessing. Helen and Clint came home relaxed and refreshed, and they found a happy baby and a healthier looking dog. We had enjoyed our time, and it was a nice bonus to get to spend some time with Jed. Although Pops wasn't too much physical help, he is really my rock regardless. As you can see from the picture, he exposed Harrison to some advanced reading! As Clint said, just forget the "Baby Bunny" stories and get right into some meaty reading!

First Things First

The brothers are getting together at 6:15 A.M. this morning to pray for our company, as well as their relationship with one another, and whatever else they are led to do. What better way to start the Strange Family blog, this being my first post. In Psalms 133:1 says, "How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!" (The exclamation point is even in the Bible.) This verse expresses the biggest desire I've had since having five sons. There were years in which I not only wondered if they could dwell "in harmony"; I just hoped they wouldn't destroy each other before reaching adulthood. Of course that's a mild exaggeration, but there were times that it looked impossible for them to love one another as friends should, and not just tolerate each other because they were brothers. When they were younger it seemed easier because Burt and I have always been around to encourage them to get along. Many times they were told to "bless one another" after somebody had made a smart comment or put-down. We have had to insist that they go through the process of apologizing and asking for forgiveness and having the offended party verbalize the forgiving. They have had to hug each other after a settled dispute. They have heard the reminder that they are each other's best friends for life...
in short, they have had the relationship thing preached to them all their lives.






The fact that Burt and I are both only children might be a factor in our parenting style, or it might just be that the bickering makes someone with my temperament get depressed. Whatever the case, I love Psalm 133:1.