Is it a cat or a human????

People accuse me of having a very spoiled cat...whom I admit to loving a lot! However, it appears he has decided to start sitting on his hind end. He is just a big, loveable, cat short a few brain cells.
Yes dad, I get to sit here in your nice warm office, on your nice sofa, and sleep all day while you have to work...Ha! Ha! Ha!

Dad and Mom

Dad and mom getting ready to leave for the memorial service. Dad preached the sermonette, and did a great job!

Uncle Jerry and Aunt Lurline did a fantastic job organizing and decorating for the service. It was beautiful...Red, white & blue...in honor of his military service.

You may have seen her...

You may have seen her while you were at the grocery store. A middle age, white woman getting coffee and toilet paper and bread.
You may have passed her while you were rushing to get the one item you forgot to make supper, or maybe you were just stopping in for a snack.
You didn't really notice her..too busy thinking about all the things you had to do, and how you were going to find the time to do them.
but if you had stopped...if you had noticed...you would have seen a broken-hearted woman who just left the nursing home after saying goodbye to her husband for the last time. Who was this woman you ask...she is my aunt. What is the lesson? We never really know what is going on in the hearts and minds the people we see in everyday life that we do not know. So I vow to be more patient, less judgemental, and a little nicer to the people I don't know and most likely will never see again. Why...because I want to be the kind of person who will leave the earth a better place, simply because I was here; and I do not want to be the person who doesn't take the time to notice.

In Loving Memory

Beloved Uncle
Vernon Russell Hammer
December 3,1945 to September 12, 2007
Rest in Peace

I will praise you in this storm

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Moments

Like that, in a moment, it was over. Around 1:00 on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 my uncle passed after a short battle with cancer.

Rest in peace Uncle Vernon...

Having the Courage...

It seems as if the end will be very soon for my Uncle. I just talked to my mom and she and dad have been staying most every day. I believe it is the greatest gift to stay with your loved one during the active dying phase. No one should die alone; but I have discovered that it is a precious gift not everyone is able or willing to give. So I want to say Thank you, to my mom and dad for having the courage and willingness to be there. It is a gift that can never be repaid-but a wonderful example of your unfailing love. I am incredibly blessed and lucky to have been given wonderful, Godly examples for parents!

The sweet innocence of a child

Isabelle got a new nightgown today from Kohls. It has the Disney princesses on it and came with slippers and a "magic" wand.

Well after bath time she wanted to put on her new nightie and slippers and came downstairs with her "magic" wand. I was in the office reading and Isabelle came in and said,

"Mommy, I made a wish with my "magic" wand that Uncle Vernon won't die. Wouldn't that be cool if it worked!" She was so sweet, and it really touched me. Then she said she is going to find a chemical that will kill cancer, "you will put it on your tongue, and it will never come back". She wished she could invent it before Uncle Vernon dies.

Then we had a conversation about God knowing the right time, and having a plan for Uncle Vernon's life. It was very moving and kind of sad. I wish I could protect her, but I think it is good in a way to know that God determines what man can only predict.

The Life of a man

What is the life of a man...
a son
a brother
a husband
a father
a grandfather
a uncle
a nephew
a friend

We learned almost a month ago that my uncle was dying of cancer. There were lots of questions, and lots of the unknown. It is interesting how man tries to determine something as complicated as death. Especially when we know that it is God who will unltimately determine it.

Then begins the process of grief...the questions, and again, lots of the unknown. And the pain, and the helplessness and hopelessness...and what to do with all of it.

and then we are reminded of God's promises:

No more tears. No more pain or grief or death. All of it will be removed, wiped out completely. We will be with God and he with us. Forever. So the comfort comes in knowing we have a merciful God waiting for us. We don't go alone-for he is with us.

...you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes though refind by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor, when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy for you are receiving the goal of your faith, salvation for your soul.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you , who by faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(I Peter)

We also know that he cares for those who are left behind. Even Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus, died (John 11:35). He can provide comfort and peace if it is to Him we turn. We can have comfort in knowing that He has a plan, even when we don't understand it.

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun,a time to be born and a time fo die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrane, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ..I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing can be taken away.

We remember it is His timing, His Plan, and His choice alone.

Sometimes the path He chose for me has led through pleasant ways, through peaceful valleys, quiet streams with warm and sunny days. Sometimes the climb is steep and rough with darkness over head, with chilling winds and falling stones, but still this path I tread. I know this path was planned for me according to his will; I've trusted Him throughout the past and I will trust Him still. And someday he'll reveal to me the wisdom of His choice, then I'll know why this path was best and praise him and rejoice. (copied)

And we trust Him.

So we will say goodbye "for now", and you will be missed...your life here may have been cut short-but eternity is waiting for you...

Black Mail on Paul...

I found this cool witches hat for Halloween. I normally don't like the "witch" look, but this was pretty neat. I had Paul try it on so I could see what it looked like. The I took a picture for good measure!

Mr. Sunshine takes a deserved break...

With Isabelle being gone Sunny has decided he can freely lounge around inside the house without being bothered. He is resting in the sun on the front stairs...ah to be free...(at least until 3:00!)

Back to School 09/04/2007

The girls all went back to school yesterday, and survived!

Isabelle, First grade

Peyton, Fifth grade Isabelle

Peyton

Missing: Madeline, who being a big freshmen and all, thinks she is too old for back to school pictures.

The end of an era....

Tomorrow morning will mark the end of my days without a child home with me most of the day. I have thought, waited and sometimes prayed that this day would come more swiftly, and now that it is here I find myself kind of sad. I have spent most of the last 14 years at home with the girl's...wow, I can't believe it has been that long. I will post first day of school pics. tomorrow.