A Trodden Way

Today is December 7th, a day which has gone down in infamy, as one of our former president’s prophesied it would. However, that was 68 years ago today, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Forty years ago today I was a nine year old little girl, one sibling of five, that lost her father. It is still sad to think of my dad and the memories of childhood and adulthood that have been missed with him due to his departure from this earth.
What I do remember is his laugh, his love of fishing, his bringing home the family’s first TV, his love of NASCAR, his tatoo , his holding my baby sister when she came home from the hospital, his strong hands, his watching football on Saturdays, and taking us to church on Sundays, and the Christmas he bought every one of us bicycles . I also remember each one of us loving him like crazy in our own way.
It has been a joy to introduce my children to their grandfather via these memories and photographs that mom has lovingly divided among us. He has been missed but not forgotten!

…and Charles!  The other night Charles and I were reflecting on our upcoming anniversary with Lauren and Ike.  We were amazed that two years had gone by since our wedding day and yet it seems as though Charles has been part of our life for…ever!! 

I  am forever grateful for the unconditional love that my husband shows me and for the fact that he always has the greater good in mind (loving me as Christ loved the church) when met with my peculiarities.  He is a wonderful companion on this, my second half of the journey here on earth, and makes me laugh along the trodden way.  although his jokes are extremely corny, it makes me laugh that he is comfortable enough to continue to try  to be funny. His caring heart keeps me passionately in love with him.

Olivia  is forever telling Charles that he is the “most wonderful step dad ever”.  That of course was a gigantic hurdle since we will all be living together for a LOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG time.  Olivia and Charles are a team now; Charles being the best dancer in the family and Olivia being the best singer in the family…I know it takes alot to envision all of that.  Just think American Idol “tryouts”.  Yeah, I hear ya laughing!  You are right it IS that hilarious.

Brenton and Charles are forever discussing their passions with eachother; Food, politics and oh yeah, wine too.  So when he comes to visit the two of them have some very interesting conversations.  Whew, thank goodness they are both conservatives!  Brenton’s heart has heard the call towards his Savior once again and having Charles here to help fan that flame with his knowledge of the Word and his love for those walking in repentance toward God has been a blessing unimagined.

Isaac and Lauren grace our table a few times a week and even put up with playing Phase 10 and Scrabble with us.   We are blessed to have them seek godly counsel when they come to our home and that God has given us the opportunity to forever demonstrate a covenant founded in Christ’s Love. What perfect timing for Isaac and Lauren to be planning their future while we are endeavoring to build ours as well.

Of course the past two years hasn’t been perfect!  We are forever missing Josh, Megan, Zach and now little Miss Miria.  When Charles left Ohio to come to Florida and to marry me we both thought that his boys, even though grown, would always be just a flight away.  ‘Tis still true, however, life has a way of twisting and turning.  Zach has been in love for over a year now with Miss Brittany and committed to building a life there with all that entails (family, friends and jobs).  The same with Josh only he has a bride and a baby to care for which leaves them trying to make ends meet.  All that to say, none of us are making those flights back and forth as we had hoped.  I know Charles misses them greatly and that makes his love for me deeper and richer.  I am forever grateful to Josh and Zach for not having hissy fits when their dad and I began to plan our lives here in Florida vs. ohio.  Thanks guys, I love you both so much (so does your step sister!).

so two years and God willing many many more to come!

Now that school is behind me and I have begun planning for opening a ministry with Charles I am as well getting back to what I love so much.  Reading has always been a passion of mine.  In fact after each semester of school I completed, I would treat myself to a book that was not “required”.  No conditions just plain ole enjoyment. 

Upon my graduation my dearest sister in Christ Mimi suggested I join the book club that she and a few of her friends had started.  Each month a new book is introduced by one of the members.  The members then set out to read (and enjoy) the book and then we come together to discuss and share what we got from the book. 

Last month the book we read was “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver.  It was a wonderful book that gave sensitive and inspiring insight into the lives of two sisters.  There is no doubt that at times it challenged me in my thinking (worrying) and exhorted me to abandon old ways or patterns of coping with life that inadvertently left my “first love” (Revelations 2:1-5) out of the picture.  The author did not leave me in that despair however, she encouraged me to lift up my eyes to my Jesus and to abandon those ways so as to surrender, if you will, myself to Him. 

I was blessed to say the least to have both read the book and then to have fellowshipped with godly women who also encouraged me in my walk with Christ.  Amen!

Next month we will be reading a novel, one that looks like it will bring lots of laughter to all of us.  I look forward to sharing the lighter side of things with my new found sisters in Christ.  We will read “Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral” by Kris Radish.  I can’t wait to get started.