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My sister Christy wrote this recently to honor our mama who is in her 12th year of struggling with Alzheimer’s.

When the kids do something I’m so proud of,
and I want to share the joy
and sometimes even sadness with you
I still almost pick up the phone to call and tell you.

I miss you Mama….

Sometimes, I feel so alone
Like an orphan on my own.
I want you to see and to know
each grandchild and great grandchild,
How they look and how they’re doing,
and my heart hurts so!

I miss you Mama….

There are others, friends and family
that help to take your place.
but let’s face it,
They can really never fill your space.

I miss you Mama….

Your love of family history,
Your written words, each memory,
I treasure each word, each page,
Our Scottish heritage ingrained in me.

I miss you Mama…

You and Daddy worked so hard to teach all of us kids,
morals, values, the love of our land.
You worked hard at the post office and at home.
And gradually I began to understand.

I miss you Mama…

The gardening, raising tobacco, working the land,
We all worked together. It was in God’s plan.
You were a great teacher, we learned of God’s love,
We learned to always believe and have faith in our father above.

I miss you Mama…

Your sense of humor,
Laughing until you cry!
Even now in these circumstances,
It still doesn’t pass you by.

I miss you Mama…

Your writings, drawings, quilts,
the women’s circle, Lobelia, the “Blues”,
Cypress, Roseland UMC, our homeplace “Sandrock Acres”.
These things will always remind me of you.

I miss you Mama…

If I had just one more chance,
to speak to you and you could understand,
I would like to thank you for all the lessons you taught.
For putting up with my faults.
And just for you to “know” who I am again.

I miss you Mama….and I love you!
You’ll always be in my heart!

Your daughter, Christy
Mother’s Day 2007

Notes from Dr. Diane Langberg’s speech at the 2007 PCA Mercy Conference:

“Suffering leaves us speechless. Speaking is necessary for healing. Christians need to give the sufferer a voice. It is redemptive.

Christians are the rescue workers of this world.
We are to bind up the broken-hearted. We are called to live & work among the ‘tombs’–among ‘dead people’. If we work among the ‘dead’, we must believe in the Resurrection & be on our knees in repentance.

Worship is our strength.

Suffering is swallowed up in God’s Glory.
He uses it for His Glory. Work here turns scars into Glory.
God will use the sufferings of others to drive us to Him.”

This week we’ve seen America deep in sorrow & grief over the horrific events which occurred in Blacksburg, Va. Monday, April 16th, on the campus of Va. Tech.
Getting a grip on how tragic this has been to so many family, friends, and loved ones is a difficult thing. We try to put ourselves in their shoes, but all we can do is feel like we’ve been socked in the stomach & can’t catch our breath. Our faith in our fellow Americans is shaken. And how do we help or reach out to those people who are struggling with mental illness or feeling betrayed by society?
I admire many of the students who acted so unselfishly and heroically as they put their lives on the line to save others.
If we look & listen, we usually catch glimpses of mercy & grace in the worst of circumstances.

This coming weekend Heather & Don, fellow Peace church family members, & I will attend a bi-annual Mercy Conference in Atlanta. It is a time of sharing ideas, receiving encouragement, and being motivated so we can return to our churches to do the same; to cast a vision to reach out & minister to the church family & throughout the community in Jesus’ name through mercy. One of the stipulations which I love is that those who attend are asked go back home and institute/update/change our ministry according to the Lord’s leading.

I attended 4 years ago with a group of Peace folks & we came back with the idea of partnering with a church in Southeast Raleigh, reaching cross-culturally to one that needed financial resources as well as volunteers. This has been/is a slow process, but it is a great learning experience for both of our congregations. Lots of potential here!

In 2005 another Peace group attended the Conference. The primary goal for these folks when returning was to begin a Single Mom’s Ministry. Interestingly enough, some single moms had already asked our Comfort & Care ministry for a support group. One of the attendees, Cheryl, has single-handed spear-headed this important outreach, and we see that, in time & with more volunteers, it could become a vital ministry to our community.

What will the Lord have in mind this year for Peace from the Mercy Conference?

Peace has a young Senior Pastor, with a young Disciple/College & Career Pastor, & a young Youth Pastor. Peace is looking for a Pastoral Pastor & has many applicants. The church is also looking into building a new sanctuary or starting satellite churches. The times are exciting.

We need to be attuned to look & listen to where the Lord wants us to serve & what He wants us to do, & how.
I’ll keep you posted:)

“Come, see the place where the Lord lay,” with joy and gladness. He does not lie there now. Weep, when ye see the tomb of Christ, but rejoice because it is empty. Thy sin slew him, but his divinity raised him up. Thy guilt hath murdered him, but his righteousness hath restored him. Oh! he hath burst the bonds of death, he hath ungirt the cerements of the tomb, and hath come out more than conqueror, crushing death beneath his feet. Rejoice, O Christian, for he is not there—he is risen.

“Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Come, view the place then, with all hallowed meditation, where the Lord lay. Spend this afternoon, my beloved brethren, in meditating upon it, and very often go to Christ’s grave, both to weep and to rejoice. Ye timid ones, do not be afraid to approach, for ’tis no vain thing to remember that timidity buried Christ. Faith would not have given him a funeral at all; faith would have kept him above ground, and would never have let him be buried; for it would have said, it would be useless to bury Christ if he were to rise. Fear buried him. Nicodemus, the night disciple, and Joseph of Arimathea, secretly, for fear of the Jews, went and buried him. Therefore, ye timid ones, ye may go too. Ready-to-halt, poor Fearing, and thou, Mrs. Despondency, and Much-afraid, go often there; let it be your favorite haunt, there build a tabernacle, there abide. And often say to your heart, when you are in distress and sorrow, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Charles Spurgeon

Well, I’ve finished my first week of full time work (Public Work) and I’m still standing:) I’m helping out my manager until she finds a full-time assistant.

I must say, it does give me a good idea of what the majority of women today tackle every week–whoa!! Needless to say I’ve done the minimum of anything at home, especially cooking!!

I am learning new computer skills: spreadsheets, financial reports, checking in merchandise, etc. I was positive I couldn’t learn anything to do with numbers (& it is slow-going for me, the one who cares only for details in decorating or painting–oh my!), but my manager is the most “patient” person I know of! She is an encourager & keeps repeating instructions gently over and over, so I’ve been keeping ‘at it’:) She says mistakes are good:) I’m not sure they always are:(
But, she wants to escape from the store every now and then, so she’s hoping I can get a grip on this stuff at some point:)

God does take us to the most unlikely places sometimes!

Skye and I have been on Weight Watcher’s now for 3 weeks. Skye’s lost 13 lbs. and I’ve lost about 8 & 1/2 lbs. It’s a good feeling to have some self control, and it’s good to do this diet together. Some days it’s very hard work, other days it’s not as hard.
But every day is one step closer to our goal!!
We live by points & prayer!!

1. Go UNC–they pulled out an exciting win over USC last night!! Go ACC!!!

2. Wyatt, our basset puppy, is a lover—loves his neck & chest rubbed and wants to be touching one of us at all times if possible! And has the house-training down pat 99% of the time:)

3. I haven’t gotten the hang of working 9-5 yet:( Having trouble on weekends figuring out where to start with my home job! And meals—my family hasn’t seen many of those, I’m afraid:( My hope is that it’ll be 4 days most weeks for the duration (whatever that is). My manager is also teaching me her job so she can escape now and then. The question is: will my mind grasp these things? I am an “artsy” person, not a detail person:( Whoa, a challenge!

4. Our lovely, sweet Kelley had a birthday yesterday and is looking around the corner at a new decade in her life. It’s a neat time, one of plans for a house in the next few years, possibly starting a family in the next few years, and maybe just beginning a new career?:) Go Kelley girl!!

Rose came to us from Oregon, a land far away. She was quiet and unassuming, a slender lady with dark hair and a big smile. She needed work and had experience. She was hired as our assistant manager. Quietly, diligently, she worked and slowly, gradually, revealed to us her love of animals and gardening and Vera and stuffed animals and, most of all, her newest love—-her baby granddaughter:)

In 2006 she & her husband Jerry decided to move across the country to be close to their only son, his wife and baby. Their son had moved his family to our area, the ‘land of opportunity’, for more job security and informed Rose and Jerry a year ago they were planning to make their home here. They invited them to come. So they did.

Those of us who worked with Rose grew to love her. She would share her life any time we had the opportunity and every day we saw her humbleness and sweet spirit.

This week we had to say goodbye after such a short time together, only about 6 months. She has been asked to be a manager at one of the Cary stores. We are excited for her, happy for her, but will miss her terribly!

How sweet to rub shoulders for a time with dear Rose. Her demeaner taught us much. She’ll always be part of ‘us’, her first ‘working family’ in NC:)
Enjoy your next family, Rose:) We’re cheering you on!

Skye & I have embarked on the “Weight Watcher’s” journey once again.
The last time we signed up Keith lost his job, our Charlie-dog died, and my mama had to be moved into an assisted living home against her wishes—three huge stresses/griefs in our lives:(!! After a while we fizzled out:(
As of Monday night we’re trying again:)

Having self control is gratifying.
I pray for it over and over. But evidently we must take the initiative at some point in time and work at it since it doesn’t seem to overtake us instantly!

Doing this together gives us strength & encouragement.
We’re a team.
Wish us well.