tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21180001186529740462024-03-13T03:17:04.437-07:00Walking with Mom - My Caregiver's JourneyI am not a RN, LPN, or EMT. My husband and I are not in full-time Christian ministry...but I am a daughter caring for my Mother. And I know that the Lord never wastes anything that we go thru, so it is my prayer that something I am learning in this Journey will help, encourage, or strengthen someone else. Keep looking up, and keep moving forward.The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-69954814719577720292018-03-21T18:37:00.001-07:002020-03-11T18:02:43.751-07:00Audella Bernice Grubb Evans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxkJToJtOi74YWQ8m0DedMGrIUkxk3tNQE9FhNJ6qIni4cs4vM_wp43d3Y0oIlh8jubhgSZxqc14dYkE8LoB9OTsgHhMmHzyJoywPA3TVy-pUR2uEAh4a21gAj0iMOPb9pNcpp4p9jZI/s1600/Mom-Spring-of-Life01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="964" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxkJToJtOi74YWQ8m0DedMGrIUkxk3tNQE9FhNJ6qIni4cs4vM_wp43d3Y0oIlh8jubhgSZxqc14dYkE8LoB9OTsgHhMmHzyJoywPA3TVy-pUR2uEAh4a21gAj0iMOPb9pNcpp4p9jZI/s320/Mom-Spring-of-Life01.JPG" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom when she was just a toddler.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b><br />Audella "Dell" Bernice Grubb Evans</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Born into this earth on November 4, 1929 </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">to Bernard Basil Grubb</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and Mollie Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dorton Grubb</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sister to Billy Joe Grubb, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Helen Maxine Grubb,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mary Elizabeth </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Grubb,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and Francis Lee Grubb Brown</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Wife of Douglas Claude Evans, Sr.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mother to "Bill" William Bernard Evans, Sr.,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Cris" Crystal Elizabeth Evans Watson, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Chuck" Chester Glen Evans, Sr.,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and "Doug" Douglas Claude Evans, Jr.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Departed this earth on March 20, 2017.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <b> "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b> Psalm 116:15</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /> During her earthly journey, she was a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, grand-daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, widow, Christian, friend, care-giver, encourager, teacher, nurturer, comforter, confident and a confidence builder. She was loving, genuine, honest, caring, forgiving, giving, generous, a servant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Though she was all of these things and so much more, she was my Momma and truly my very Best Friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;">"Of all the hardships a person must face, none is </b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;">more punishing than the act of saying goodbye." </b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i> Unknown </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFl2YLHzmEsDeh0bdzgYlSfP7PVeZVsQwdYYIrr1dhUQj7D60alO_ozXKlFIvd_0HtOkAVIdWnrNL5HqDFfNEU_EsDPjslxuOUC0Vf0RW-gpHibJ-KWumnxdzLRVKkeUBHctqhl3gQvk/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFl2YLHzmEsDeh0bdzgYlSfP7PVeZVsQwdYYIrr1dhUQj7D60alO_ozXKlFIvd_0HtOkAVIdWnrNL5HqDFfNEU_EsDPjslxuOUC0Vf0RW-gpHibJ-KWumnxdzLRVKkeUBHctqhl3gQvk/s400/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-623.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom Christmas 2016, her last Christmas with us this side of Heaven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-57731966360196997792018-03-20T20:46:00.000-07:002018-03-21T12:41:49.800-07:00First Anniversary of Momma's Home-Going<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvPNryR9cgXTPN4nXCx0_vx8ZNwdYBkXnCvDRMyVI4EbGE-N1dw3ofJg5gm_171ZSPuNIqWIPRiqgGH73zTLTBahWjwM0aPiTqsBpd8824_WgD6NyfwvJiCDQ2JoKxz1b1k0X9Kiz5LU/s1600/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1250" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvPNryR9cgXTPN4nXCx0_vx8ZNwdYBkXnCvDRMyVI4EbGE-N1dw3ofJg5gm_171ZSPuNIqWIPRiqgGH73zTLTBahWjwM0aPiTqsBpd8824_WgD6NyfwvJiCDQ2JoKxz1b1k0X9Kiz5LU/s320/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momma's Sister, Francis Brown; their mother, Lizzie Grubb; and Momma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Today is the first anniversary of Momma's home-going. It is hard for me to grasp that it has been one year already, especially with the way I still miss her. There is nothing that I do that doesn't in some way remind me of her and all that she taught me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszHCBalL4Hzo7Has-c80R8QE2CpJggQuUCWMmxFpRm3zOEPVDf1JdleslSSwp2mpKb1dz_ToICoi4Pk_cfjdfWQeVKCdlIyU-Y934MShg6WU-MZUbRYg2pJqVxYUyEliLMHMmYmgbQj0/s1600/Mom-Teachers-Aid-Curtis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="909" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszHCBalL4Hzo7Has-c80R8QE2CpJggQuUCWMmxFpRm3zOEPVDf1JdleslSSwp2mpKb1dz_ToICoi4Pk_cfjdfWQeVKCdlIyU-Y934MShg6WU-MZUbRYg2pJqVxYUyEliLMHMmYmgbQj0/s320/Mom-Teachers-Aid-Curtis.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Momma loved kids and working with them. For years she worked as a Teacher's Assistant in the Chesterfield County </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Schools as well as being a school bus driver. Often I would be with her in a store and a young adult would come over to her and smile and ask if she remembered them from school or from the bus. And more often than not, she would remember them by name! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48zqu10G3mSNJ55PA7b9ufJklErB2vZhzIk8AinqJ_VWKxLdpkGIqFXmCylFoeQYpqSecgnMcPM-FKYfzSNoRPcoUvfMCWCNt0mCAts7K_8u0ebr77ykzet8AjVsgshVZTdKX5KsokDc/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1290" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48zqu10G3mSNJ55PA7b9ufJklErB2vZhzIk8AinqJ_VWKxLdpkGIqFXmCylFoeQYpqSecgnMcPM-FKYfzSNoRPcoUvfMCWCNt0mCAts7K_8u0ebr77ykzet8AjVsgshVZTdKX5KsokDc/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-103.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And she taught children in Sunday School. They loved her there, too. One young man, Steven Irby, was so attached to her that he refused to be promoted from her class! His mother would find him sitting outside the door to Momma's class rather than going to his new class. They finally decided to let him stay in her class, which he did faithfully until he was a teenager. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v5zt8kGc95Tyv744MKdlkcTQQq2U0h6V6i7YcEJBONoLAZVnm4Mjl4yrfJkbJ3EPIq8IbADSu-1DFhkxKpMNM8Z6aiwQU-4OyT1cfsOH98EN6C-JH34Pw1HbeABYL_wFh61Bsck-X-o/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-043.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v5zt8kGc95Tyv744MKdlkcTQQq2U0h6V6i7YcEJBONoLAZVnm4Mjl4yrfJkbJ3EPIq8IbADSu-1DFhkxKpMNM8Z6aiwQU-4OyT1cfsOH98EN6C-JH34Pw1HbeABYL_wFh61Bsck-X-o/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-043.bmp" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Momma also worked with the Ladies Ministry at her church. She preferred to work behind the scenes and never wanted recognition for anything she did. But from time to time, she would agree to speak to the ladies. Her wisdom and insight into God's Word and her willingness to share what Jesus had done for her was always inspiring and comforting to those of us who heard her speak.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5XKFNoCcQA4DzuCQjRCeyq1rmb2UNi3kJCNRXzJQ2ltkog8vVfNfdYbMbna0SX9MLxIQkyyU-0PQDQ4TkwVDBw6v8lXJ3dNau0pCCrz_TX9eeG9vnAjtZrJrA0wyRc66jrvJAS1aYbU/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5XKFNoCcQA4DzuCQjRCeyq1rmb2UNi3kJCNRXzJQ2ltkog8vVfNfdYbMbna0SX9MLxIQkyyU-0PQDQ4TkwVDBw6v8lXJ3dNau0pCCrz_TX9eeG9vnAjtZrJrA0wyRc66jrvJAS1aYbU/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-065.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> She loved to cook. It was her way of nurturing and caring for us. Like her own mother, she could take a little bit of anything and make a full, delicious meal! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHRZ8tyGMnCu3uU7vdMyHF6_wu2tQp1VQi8cVATddik6v9wt-XNydKmFneo5KkNg61zKynJeI2jgtQe2GdEr2L93-FMCbC5jgdNgTKHgxCoy7HFlUlvAkBpf1CNjz5iKgDqz0iDVoLDA/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHRZ8tyGMnCu3uU7vdMyHF6_wu2tQp1VQi8cVATddik6v9wt-XNydKmFneo5KkNg61zKynJeI2jgtQe2GdEr2L93-FMCbC5jgdNgTKHgxCoy7HFlUlvAkBpf1CNjz5iKgDqz0iDVoLDA/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-096.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Momma was so artistic. She did all of the bulletin boards for her teachers at school as well as in her Sunday School room at Church.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWniTovbXLhjcZDZy_O1rihHIpTMYIo7X5Znj3fkhx91CUgJ8gBvSnEeql4CKrV1a2-N4oYZEKYx044mRewVvpVSSY8NzCF4b1G0OzZjG4i2X9doVgSOO1tlsfY0Aos2m-53N0TWOy_UQ/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWniTovbXLhjcZDZy_O1rihHIpTMYIo7X5Znj3fkhx91CUgJ8gBvSnEeql4CKrV1a2-N4oYZEKYx044mRewVvpVSSY8NzCF4b1G0OzZjG4i2X9doVgSOO1tlsfY0Aos2m-53N0TWOy_UQ/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> She loved to do ceramics and not only did beautiful ceramic pieces, but taught classes in the craft as well. She was a patient teacher and could make you feel like you could do it, too. Such an encourager!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeZFgR9rzgeAqQd__xMYCU7WWwR3crmXGEqKXUbf9d3NZxqwtT61C0RxRyiiJ0bMcMrUYjgLlD69cbQNK3TLYq1NJgKLXb-myeXlyD3xLx6vTsngoHjhyphenhyphenmKp2XbRtOKzkSqHUzaFwDV8/s1600/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-005+%2528cropped%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1407" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeZFgR9rzgeAqQd__xMYCU7WWwR3crmXGEqKXUbf9d3NZxqwtT61C0RxRyiiJ0bMcMrUYjgLlD69cbQNK3TLYq1NJgKLXb-myeXlyD3xLx6vTsngoHjhyphenhyphenmKp2XbRtOKzkSqHUzaFwDV8/s320/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-005+%2528cropped%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My Mother taught me to cook, to sew, to crochet, to keep house, to love, to be loyal, to be faithful, to love and seek the Lord. She taught by her life and her actions, not just her words. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> But of all the things she taught me, Momma never taught me how to live without her. I'm having to learn that one grief-filled day at a time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJangUNG_RsHLgmlzd1zkEcpr_1qqTRxUuqFqNMu0agfhU541xp6iUJjn9fw-bUWzDApxHvyFk1KC51xBy7-ZFaTVOnO3j4bZgEjwlD5ZyzZ1avdTaoIeHdiR5gApH3FwfxB50La2bY/s1600/Mom-SisterMyers+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJangUNG_RsHLgmlzd1zkEcpr_1qqTRxUuqFqNMu0agfhU541xp6iUJjn9fw-bUWzDApxHvyFk1KC51xBy7-ZFaTVOnO3j4bZgEjwlD5ZyzZ1avdTaoIeHdiR5gApH3FwfxB50La2bY/s320/Mom-SisterMyers+.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Tonight Momma's dear friend, Dessie Myers, and I talked and remembered Momma. She reminded me that Momma is in Heaven, that her soul is at rest. Mrs. Myers also reminded me that it won't be long before we all will be with her, just a little bit further down this road and we will round the bend and be at Heaven's Gate ourselves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My journey isn't over, and though I no longer walk with Momma, Jesus still walks with me as He did with her. Just a little bit further, and there will be a bend in the road and then ... Heaven and no more parting, no more grief, no more tears. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Until then, I remember Momma, and I cry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Cris </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwM7VJFKXMnqspQzpYBl1U_EiYdvW_0NDSoelzOSqt5CJqG1BFFVBIR_vfbfEK3Tl50AkbvsB_c3b42fHaewJuHDikwWNGEEz9vAQM6RG2_C2CNFplqELeQh9qqVaAuN2UNx0Sz6AYiSQ/s1600/100_4855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwM7VJFKXMnqspQzpYBl1U_EiYdvW_0NDSoelzOSqt5CJqG1BFFVBIR_vfbfEK3Tl50AkbvsB_c3b42fHaewJuHDikwWNGEEz9vAQM6RG2_C2CNFplqELeQh9qqVaAuN2UNx0Sz6AYiSQ/s320/100_4855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My brother, Doug, gave Momma this Thomas Kincade calendar the last Christmas we had her with us. It is still open to March and hangs in her bedroom just as it did last year when the Lord took her home. I realized only today that the painting is a country path through a spring garden, and it reminded me of Momma's home-going on the first day of Spring and of the words of Mrs. Myers about the journey and the bend in the road.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-75074998494046751532018-03-19T13:20:00.000-07:002018-03-20T18:42:14.725-07:00Song Lyrics Shared With Me Today<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6DM_8FLAr-nHnFeZcWZUhnbYuBd1qn6XxYQrUdcv4aS3jHPfgSmZTz7xhC8YosPwShEaYNNQPd4o2yk1HJcFAhoerwC4xutT-WJLdeQKhDAkDFxBcf6YLN34Q-1Miyz6W5NYrWueqlA/s1600/3-Mom-Fall-of-Life-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6DM_8FLAr-nHnFeZcWZUhnbYuBd1qn6XxYQrUdcv4aS3jHPfgSmZTz7xhC8YosPwShEaYNNQPd4o2yk1HJcFAhoerwC4xutT-WJLdeQKhDAkDFxBcf6YLN34Q-1Miyz6W5NYrWueqlA/s400/3-Mom-Fall-of-Life-002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momma and her kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Tomorrow it will be one year since Momma's home-going to Heaven. Can't believe it has been a year already; the emptiness in my life where her physical presence was is still so real and so painful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Today I was given the words to a song by the singer Enya. It is titled "So I Could Find My Way". I am sharing it with slight changes to the lyrics because it reminds me not only of my own Mother and the way she always put us ahead of herself, but all the mothers I have known and see every day as they nurture their children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> Cris </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"So I Could Find My Way" - modified</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A thousand dreams you gave to me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You held me high, you held me high;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And all those years you guided me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So I could find my way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How long your love had sheltered me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You held me high, you held me high;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A harbour holding back the sea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So I could find my way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So let me keep my dreams of you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There upon that Heavenly shore;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So let me keep my dreams to you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Each night and ever more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yet only time keeps us apart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You held me high, you held me high;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You'll always be in the center of my heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So I can still find my way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You held me high, you held me high</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So that … I could find my way.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /><br />
<br />
<br />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-17901156719181283292018-03-10T20:10:00.000-08:002018-03-13T11:20:37.079-07:00Momma's Life Is Still Teaching Us<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X-FUug6gWgxGMKLyeMeD-i5EKAvlgS9BmwbL5XWRUelrNzIV-RS2PVphVq4fhU_XtCRUihE6JQaxGBtHkxdm4ce0x-5X0J3_RAOs9UT6ovZUdybPuZA8c-_0iDtU_gwqadcG1O2bC4g/s1600/Grandma2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X-FUug6gWgxGMKLyeMeD-i5EKAvlgS9BmwbL5XWRUelrNzIV-RS2PVphVq4fhU_XtCRUihE6JQaxGBtHkxdm4ce0x-5X0J3_RAOs9UT6ovZUdybPuZA8c-_0iDtU_gwqadcG1O2bC4g/s320/Grandma2005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom, 2005</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In just a ten days, it will be one year since Momma went to be with the Lord. A year – and even though my grief isn't as intense and crushing as it was, most days it seems like Momma's passing just happened. And I cry every day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Through these months, so many people have given me counsel, support, and words of encouragement. But none has been more comforting than my husband who has held me and let me cry regardless of how many times a day I have needed to. He has never told me to grow up, get over it, or move on. Instead, he has lovingly told me to grieve as long as I need to, to cry as much as I have to, and to talk about Momma whenever I want to. He's as good to me as he was to Momma while she was with us. He's my Hero, my Champion, my Love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> He and I were talking the other day and we both agree that caring for Momma changed both of us in the best possible ways. Being her caregivers was a special blessing the Lord gave us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnLinfGIbGVFd5E4VLwr_L84KmfLTCq17Dn9sObHTXxGpopl1G2z-gdYZCGPl_DHYFdhOE8r1p48kYNtkpBJcb6CzofufhiC2Nj0Qb0JklydhNDdF6G5JkW38KRRRaMFTqPfzfvYupOo/s1600/Mom-Wills-Wedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnLinfGIbGVFd5E4VLwr_L84KmfLTCq17Dn9sObHTXxGpopl1G2z-gdYZCGPl_DHYFdhOE8r1p48kYNtkpBJcb6CzofufhiC2Nj0Qb0JklydhNDdF6G5JkW38KRRRaMFTqPfzfvYupOo/s320/Mom-Wills-Wedding.JPG" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom at her Grandson's wedding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And as we talked about Momma, it came to me that she not only lived a long life, but at 87 she had lived a lot of life and experiences: she grew up during hard times in the Coal Camps of West Virginia and saw her parents bury three infant children; as an adult she buried her father, her husband, her adult sister, her mother, her own son. Momma was a cancer survivor, had to deal with us four kids and all the grief and heartache we gave her, and then she dealt with her own terminal illness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And though she had every reason to be bitter, she wasn't! She CHOOSE not to be bitter. She choose to retain a sweet, loving, nurturing and kind attitude in spite of the heartache and disappointment that came through her life. I know this because I saw her life every day, not just on special occasions when we were all with her, not just on Sunday when she was in church. I saw her live out her commitment to the Lord and her humble, surrendered heart every day of her life right though the last hours of her earthly journey. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis-bFKtnO2cY8EEyMFQEJJxlpYbjx0CYxTx6jOrRRlYUgx1RC9yi8DcmHvHZuvBjhMTNpwbDXQeyIp3G_7SjlrUCcqDy2SviKKcMqfyltgH0F_3zU05lI8DKzPchQ195nOP-9vdYRNj8/s1600/Mom-and-Ruth%253DBrooks-in-church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis-bFKtnO2cY8EEyMFQEJJxlpYbjx0CYxTx6jOrRRlYUgx1RC9yi8DcmHvHZuvBjhMTNpwbDXQeyIp3G_7SjlrUCcqDy2SviKKcMqfyltgH0F_3zU05lI8DKzPchQ195nOP-9vdYRNj8/s320/Mom-and-Ruth%253DBrooks-in-church.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth Brooks and Mom in church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> What a legacy of Christ-honoring love and her love for us! It humbles me to think of that and what a strong, good person our Momma was. She told me once that serving the Lord took a made up mind and settled heart. I know now that it takes the same to not be bitter with life and it's heartaches, especially when the Lord's answer to prayer sometimes are "no", or "wait".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, regardless of whether your are just starting your journey, ending your journey, or somewhere in between remember that today is not your life for the rest of your life. At some point on this walk, you will reach that place where the Lord will take your loved one to His Eternal Home and your path will be a totally different one. Now while you have that loved one with you, do all that you can for them: give them your best, give them your time, your attention, your compassion, and especially your love. When that time comes when they are no longer with you, you will not regret a thing you did for them – in fact, you will wish you had done more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And when that time comes that your caregiving journey is over, it is my prayer that you will be blessed with someone that will be there along side you to help you through the broken-ness of no longer having that loved one in your life. And that you will be wise enough to realize that you need their comfort and they need to be allowed to comfort you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, even in your darkest moments remember that you are not alone. Jesus promises to never leave us nor forsake us. And He's just a prayer away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Stay on your knees, and keep looking up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in love, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cris </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;" /></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-38499579127677544832018-02-14T07:40:00.003-08:002023-05-12T17:40:43.203-07:00Love, on Valentine's Day<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOenMpGmkV8WjMq6TUvcnpiLeFk6tfSRukEHFbs4MFFqsWDIBkYuIjCX4LA7ayMNTo_Ce-zFW3kZ_dbMIPdEcrIs6kqce9feMaY0vzLeRMQcX45MfN15hr-VJMxUMyZZRUsElq834ps4A/s1600/Evans-Dad-Mom-hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="821" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOenMpGmkV8WjMq6TUvcnpiLeFk6tfSRukEHFbs4MFFqsWDIBkYuIjCX4LA7ayMNTo_Ce-zFW3kZ_dbMIPdEcrIs6kqce9feMaY0vzLeRMQcX45MfN15hr-VJMxUMyZZRUsElq834ps4A/s400/Evans-Dad-Mom-hearts.jpg" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Mom, 1976</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Our Pastor has said often there is no love like a Mother's love and it is probably closest on this earth to the love the Lord has for us: unconditional, unending, faithful, and pure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I saw that love in my Momma even before she came to stay with us and let me be her caregiver. Momma was the giver and that always started in her over-flowing heart of love. Her life lived for the Lord, her action of love and kindness, her compassion and love and concern for us is her testimony, her continued witness to us, even now that she is in Heaven. The memories I have of all of that are so tender and precious and I thank the Lord for those memories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My Daddy was such a special person, too. Hardworking, smart, such a dry sense of humor! He grew up hard and wasn't comfortable showing us affection, but we always knew he loved us. He was a great man, a great Dad, and he went to Heaven before I grew up enough to know just how great. Even though he has been with the Lord 42 years now, I still miss him every day.</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I read recently that grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith, that it is the price of love. On days like today when my heart is overwhelmed with missing Momma and Daddy and that longing to see them again, that price of love seems too high a price! Yet, I would never want to even imagine what kind of life I would have today had I not know that love nor my precious parents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I just miss them so! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, do all you can for the ones you love while you can. The day will come when all you have are memories – make those memories precious ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Cris</i></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /><br /><div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-51394902450684099212018-01-01T21:02:00.001-08:002018-01-01T21:03:30.176-08:00A New Year Begins<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxfGXbvU__zWHJVBLTkMAxEyk8D20DUE0tKDyr5DRYx9sg9g3aUy6aLm_pqozIIvosQD9tbaD9ILO0hCHNdMskWPUNeRyBJvvc-juLL6SgItDaIsZLmAfMibpwDTVPE2u_16oF36xgh8/s1600/Snow-2017-afternoon-sun-211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxfGXbvU__zWHJVBLTkMAxEyk8D20DUE0tKDyr5DRYx9sg9g3aUy6aLm_pqozIIvosQD9tbaD9ILO0hCHNdMskWPUNeRyBJvvc-juLL6SgItDaIsZLmAfMibpwDTVPE2u_16oF36xgh8/s640/Snow-2017-afternoon-sun-211.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> As a new year begins, I find myself still uncertain about what the Lord's purpose for me is now that I am no longer a caregiver. And there is almost a dread because of the unexpected change in the family dynamic now that Momma isn't here to be the nucleus that drew us all together.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> What has stayed in my mind all day today is a quote from Dr. Jerry Falwell, "We live life looking forward, but we understand life looking back."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I pray for the day that I will be able to wrap my heart around all this and understand.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Until then, I will stay on my knees and keep looking up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i>Chris</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-47273463445755156522017-12-26T17:45:00.000-08:002018-01-09T18:55:53.528-08:00Christmas Eve 2017<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRW-F2QPXZylvTgWAb6ISL-6netevLuiyVkTH5gPPb-kALn_AZtjq6hrClTonpQr4VDYhoio8zAswCguu6TKKNyzHebHQLb4gg98w1PaA71TYrBfrG31RiTevRFK0cjzjeKOSIxsq96A/s1600/Christmas--fireplace-2017-000+%252846%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRW-F2QPXZylvTgWAb6ISL-6netevLuiyVkTH5gPPb-kALn_AZtjq6hrClTonpQr4VDYhoio8zAswCguu6TKKNyzHebHQLb4gg98w1PaA71TYrBfrG31RiTevRFK0cjzjeKOSIxsq96A/s400/Christmas--fireplace-2017-000+%252846%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspy80Xx9QtizXSusr9SEAyRplmHRyWw1RaPqgnxuLx40ixQiRvWarbQRWZeuPL-sfDf9riBdhBzlKtRZ-kaqDEFfBmfHY-G_hZKMbP_DuBj-P1WUvjOWJgZY103wqXcUhIJe89ebZBFg/s1600/Christmas--fireplace-2017-000+%252845%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspy80Xx9QtizXSusr9SEAyRplmHRyWw1RaPqgnxuLx40ixQiRvWarbQRWZeuPL-sfDf9riBdhBzlKtRZ-kaqDEFfBmfHY-G_hZKMbP_DuBj-P1WUvjOWJgZY103wqXcUhIJe89ebZBFg/s320/Christmas--fireplace-2017-000+%252845%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> All we have now are the memories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i>Chris</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-18332692655647825562017-12-19T08:09:00.001-08:002017-12-20T09:44:23.245-08:00Timely Life Lesson Shared by Our Nephew Will Evans <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREVnMi2gg1tvnnaCeyQTmZG0fUxfieW13NRkkhl7Vwaok8k5WN8nVirVy2XQ4wPgvnT6vULtXTEOdSIfSVomgpnMvLPU1SKdt1DyfQxfzQ2rapmGTKFzYvhaqZLt-nkdWa3QCbnMnTMk/s1600/Will-2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="802" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREVnMi2gg1tvnnaCeyQTmZG0fUxfieW13NRkkhl7Vwaok8k5WN8nVirVy2XQ4wPgvnT6vULtXTEOdSIfSVomgpnMvLPU1SKdt1DyfQxfzQ2rapmGTKFzYvhaqZLt-nkdWa3QCbnMnTMk/s320/Will-2017.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo shared by Will.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Our nephew, Will Evans, shared a real-life lesson a friend of his received from the Lord. It is so timely, not just for me but for so many other hurting hearts. I share it here with the prayer it will encourage you as it has me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, stay on your knees and keep looking up. The Lord knows every ache of your heart and sees every tear you cry. You are not alone - and you are loved with an everlasting love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And Merry CHRISTmas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Chris </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I was in Dollar Tree last night and there was a lady and two kids behind me in the LONG line. One was a big kid, one was a toddler. The bigger one had a pack of glow sticks and the baby was screaming for them so the Mom opened the pack and gave him one, which stopped his tears. He walked around with it smiling, but then the bigger boy took it and the baby started screaming again. Just as the Mom was about to fuss at the older child, he bent the glow sticks and handed it back to the baby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> As we walked outside at the same time, the baby noticed that the stick was now glowing and his brother said "I had to break it so you could get the full effect from it." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I almost ran because l could hear God saying to me, "I had to break you to show you why I created you. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You had to go through it so you could fulfill your purpose. That little baby was happy just swinging that 'unbroken' glow stick around in the air because he didn't understand what it was created to do which was 'glow'."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> There are some people who will be content just "being" but some of us that God has chosen, we have to be "broken". We have to get sick. We go through divorce and financial struggle. We have to bury our brother, spouse, parents, best friend, or our child because, in those moments of desperation, God is breaking us but when the breaking is done, then we will be able to see the reason for which we were created.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <i>Shared by Will Evans</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="color: black;">
<br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-49059591297497440092017-12-06T20:00:00.000-08:002017-12-19T08:03:24.565-08:00Memories of Christmases Long, Long Ago - It's About Family<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jHe2pD8hA-Ht1_-vdvy9a8oIb0bQGabL8yI3rDyxNZPKaC9malWYWk4jKr6RboxcGHvrx-Jze-RMhcl8NUJUyRL4J2hMSM9wbaTwYRxMg5OVO5FmZ4wOk6ougFLUwZM6uxQKUF1GzcE/s1600/Shepherds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="87" data-original-width="216" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jHe2pD8hA-Ht1_-vdvy9a8oIb0bQGabL8yI3rDyxNZPKaC9malWYWk4jKr6RboxcGHvrx-Jze-RMhcl8NUJUyRL4J2hMSM9wbaTwYRxMg5OVO5FmZ4wOk6ougFLUwZM6uxQKUF1GzcE/s400/Shepherds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> We all know that Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus. Yet the gatherings, gifts, and dinners seem to be more about family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> That seems Biblical, too, as the Bible tells us that in the time of creation, God created a family - Adam and Eve - and placed them in the Garden with His blessing to multiply. And when it was time for the Savior to come into the world, Jesus was born into a family. The Bible also refers to the Most High God as "Father", and our Savior as the "Son". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> So Christmas truly is about family! And that's what makes the memories so tender and so precious: memories of time spent together as a family, enjoying not just the food and gifts, but each other, too. And why it is so painful when there is an empty place left with the homegoing of our loved ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In all of my life, I have always had Christmas with my family. Even after getting married and the years my husband and I lived in other states, my husband always got me to my parents' home for Christmas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> But this year, Christmas will be totally different. For the first time ever, we will celebrate the holiday without either of our parents and we will not be gathering at the family homeplace. New family traditions will have to be created, new memories made without Momma and in a different place. I know in my head this must happen, but in my heart I'm already I'm homesick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, while you still have your loved one with you, make memories! Take photos of them, especially when others come to visit them. If their mind is still clear, encourage them to talk about how Christmas was when they were growing up. If you can, video them telling their stories. These things may sound silly or too much trouble but it will make your loved one feel important and a part of the holiday. And when that loved one is no longer with you, these things will be priceless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Cherish the moments for, like the Holiday Season, you will look around and realize they are over too quickly. Don't take into your tomorrows the pain of "I wish I had", but rather, smile through your tears, "I'm so glad I did!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, remember that you are loved with an everlasting love. Stay on your knees and keep looking up</span>.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris</span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGJH7qpL224ZX4lK-nQ9aoxcWdBY3CV192tlYOj_LMTdJrm7s_YS9KTk8peItZsmBs-mIog771XGWK0tqKNHHeodmMQpXSuJvaq1qJ6iIR3vGy28V1KviIChsSlTpakoeX6SYsFa2BUc/s1600/Christmas-1969%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGJH7qpL224ZX4lK-nQ9aoxcWdBY3CV192tlYOj_LMTdJrm7s_YS9KTk8peItZsmBs-mIog771XGWK0tqKNHHeodmMQpXSuJvaq1qJ6iIR3vGy28V1KviIChsSlTpakoeX6SYsFa2BUc/s320/Christmas-1969%25281%2529.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Christmas tree from 1968 - cut from the woods ourselves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-8800814926753673092017-12-02T20:29:00.003-08:002017-12-03T13:44:34.007-08:00Memories of Christmases Long, Long Ago - Daddy's Childhood Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNV946GZy77TPKVh1TDrOOPLUWfxPm9vJPhUqrLWtc_i-FgBP3WGLfjYgftQXYaRCRBli9U0CB3he9VC26959Tod9vQYYZQT6LtZ7YA89O7x8VUUOzPlduti6JqZrYPQDZwdl9lSf2k0/s1600/Daddy-about-1932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1278" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNV946GZy77TPKVh1TDrOOPLUWfxPm9vJPhUqrLWtc_i-FgBP3WGLfjYgftQXYaRCRBli9U0CB3he9VC26959Tod9vQYYZQT6LtZ7YA89O7x8VUUOzPlduti6JqZrYPQDZwdl9lSf2k0/s320/Daddy-about-1932.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School photo of Douglas Evans taken about 1935 or 1936</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In my post yesterday, I shared a story Momma wrote for me about how Christmas was when she was a little girl. While her parents didn't have a lot of money, they made a home for her and her siblings and she had good memories of Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> But Daddy didn't talk much about how it was growing up. His parents divorced when he was young and he didn't have the same kind of home Momma had. I once asked Daddy what toys he received at Christmas. He only said that he remembered a couple of times when he got a cowboy hat and a pair of cap pistols with a holster. The other Christmases, he was given a new shirt or a new pair of trousers. He didn't say much more, just that he guessed his parents did the best they could.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> When we were growing up, Daddy would be fussy when we decorated for Christmas. But after the tree was up and Momma had everything festive and pretty, I would see him looking around under the tree at the gifts. He would always find those with his name on them and then he seemed OK. We were going to have Christmas, and he was included - everything was OK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Christmas always has a big place in our lives, making both good memories and bad. And we carry those memories with us the rest of our lives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Today, I want to remember Daddy and share memories of Christmas when he was with us. Daddy was only 49 when the Lord took him to Heaven. I have too few Christmas memories of Daddy. And this Christmas, I miss him terrible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, you are making memories today that will last the rest of your life, long after your loved one is gone. Do good things today to make warm memories for yourself and those you love, for they will have memories to carry into their tomorrows, too.</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOOCikkwvSLCttcMHDGg_JTM5a9QCo4UxPqPFky_Q6aYZnnATjBoQuGaVyXrm-lzMZvk5jXNW4i_tnzuQatuzhfC-9KJvT7gMxTfS79uwdWwtrdb_XuE4LHOz1HUC0TJQk3zIc9laTAI/s1600/Christmas-1975-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="977" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOOCikkwvSLCttcMHDGg_JTM5a9QCo4UxPqPFky_Q6aYZnnATjBoQuGaVyXrm-lzMZvk5jXNW4i_tnzuQatuzhfC-9KJvT7gMxTfS79uwdWwtrdb_XuE4LHOz1HUC0TJQk3zIc9laTAI/s320/Christmas-1975-03.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Mom, Christmas 1975 - <br />our last Christmas with Daddy this side of Heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-33957379545942588062017-12-01T19:00:00.003-08:002017-12-02T20:30:30.225-08:00Memories of Christmases Long, Long Ago - Momma's Childhood MemoriesC<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF8Pln4xZcgPGxCelId8C2Jzj9brC2gaOLC3rTqSRzb-ymdFHvrX2ppR8B3iOTFXE3MQXhRb4z44iSAaxHMywq8JwpEh7a5cWNCQXBr_s43PXUfCEbUKSWLPGDItZYe6XO17relSuAn4/s1600/heart-wreath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="960" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF8Pln4xZcgPGxCelId8C2Jzj9brC2gaOLC3rTqSRzb-ymdFHvrX2ppR8B3iOTFXE3MQXhRb4z44iSAaxHMywq8JwpEh7a5cWNCQXBr_s43PXUfCEbUKSWLPGDItZYe6XO17relSuAn4/s200/heart-wreath.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free clip art courtesy of webweaver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Pastor said once that at Christmas, all hearts turn to home. I know this is true for me, and even more acutely now that I'm facing my first Christmas as an orphan. With Momma's homegoing this past March, I have begun grieving the passing of my Dad and my older brother, Bill, all over again. So Christmas this year is going to be really, really different and for me, very, very hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> My husband keeps reminding me that I had many good years with my family, and especially the past 7 when we had the privilege of caring for Momma. I know this is true, yet I'm still homesick and longing for home, the home of my childhood. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> As I travel this rough part of my journey, I want to say first to you, Caregiver, do those things today that will be a good memory for you when the season changes and your loved one is no longer with you. And share those memories because in the sharing, the memory stays fresh and alive withing you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> And I want to share some memories, too, as I work thru this new way of celebrating Christmas.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> The first that I want to share in these days until Christmas is a story my Momma wrote for me about how Christmas was when she was growing up in the Coal Fields of West Virginia. I share it here to remember her and to remind all of us how different Christmas was back then.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="font-style: italic;">Chris</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhouHI-hU_ZJBTuXR_HgAkqVRZ-MFDMfOoyOycw25vcg5-_csoJjhqsblr-2NRW4J-Mk3Uh8tUW4peIZBvJsQW1zd89P_Xp6U1L28ksB0A4E1fuRMIo95jhKS9fmCr3BWJqgna5QbAPr4/s1600/Mom-Spring-of-life-021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="637" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhouHI-hU_ZJBTuXR_HgAkqVRZ-MFDMfOoyOycw25vcg5-_csoJjhqsblr-2NRW4J-Mk3Uh8tUW4peIZBvJsQW1zd89P_Xp6U1L28ksB0A4E1fuRMIo95jhKS9fmCr3BWJqgna5QbAPr4/s320/Mom-Spring-of-life-021.JPG" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom when she was a little girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christmas In the Coal Fields</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>by Audella Grubb Evans</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Growing up in the mountains and in the Coal Fields of West Virginia wasn't always easy. We had very few conveniences. In the Coal Camp where I lived, we had one store that was owned by the Coal Company. The store had a little of everything, but not a lot of toys or things for Christmas. The miners' wages were not high, and transportation was limited, there were no buses and only a few people owned cars - we did not. So, very little shopping was done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> But we received catalogues thru the mail! Sears, Montgomery Ward, and Aldens - we called them "wish books". And they became well-worn! We would choose 1 or 2 items from the "Wish Book" and our parents would go to Beckley, the nearest town to us, where they had stores. They would try to purchase something for us. They would get what they could afford. I always got a beautiful doll. And if it wasn't the item from the "wish book", that was OK - we were happy with what we got for Christmas.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Dad didn't want to throw the catalogues away, so after Christmas, we would fold down the pages and make a door stop out of our "wish books". </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> We always had a Christmas Tree - one Dad cut from the woods and brought in. We did have lights for the tree and some ready made bulbs, but mostly we made our own tree decorations. We always thought we had the most beautiful Christmas Tree ever!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> The miners had a Union and throughout the year the men would each put a little money into a fund. The Treasurer, my Uncle Fred Schlager, would use that money to buy nuts, candies, and fruit. Then he would fill a large brown paper bag with these goodies - one for each child in a family. We always looked forward to that special treat on Christmas Eve! These items weren't plentiful back then, like they are today.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> And Christmas Eve usually brought snow - snow that would last for 1 or 2 months!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> What I remember most was our family being together. We shared our memories and love toward each other and our neighbors. Not exactly a Norman Rockwell Christmas, but it was ours! And it was precious.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Shared with love,</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<i><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mom</span></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></i>
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<br />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-89062356008601260252017-11-14T18:20:00.002-08:002017-11-22T18:34:04.409-08:00Today Would Have Been Dad and Mom's 71st Wedding Anniversary<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb1bMjZcdQSgBhfXP5S33Zw9JSIXUZuSUvVsWrKTJhNL5Qh1HBErQSExJ6HNgEz9TybPR3Pzm03jXjMBE8R1BzFfUbGKOU26dy2an7GlG6RoAIvL1EouXzeCQGX-8ntMnsiauFg6cdq8/s1600/Dad%2526Mom-before-married.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb1bMjZcdQSgBhfXP5S33Zw9JSIXUZuSUvVsWrKTJhNL5Qh1HBErQSExJ6HNgEz9TybPR3Pzm03jXjMBE8R1BzFfUbGKOU26dy2an7GlG6RoAIvL1EouXzeCQGX-8ntMnsiauFg6cdq8/s320/Dad%2526Mom-before-married.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Mom just before they were married.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi445H3ZYgb4TEdWj-kAGnKEZe7ZTlw6gOsKqZnffmcmOVZVb8bRmjrys0F4ZgYlERy_-QQzWM8ZacIV-h_lC-Fzp9VUETwJwwImb9U-QtLyFfdOEzigVOUPioWcDVIbWqxSZFDFpajY8I/s1600/Dad%2526Mom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1295" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi445H3ZYgb4TEdWj-kAGnKEZe7ZTlw6gOsKqZnffmcmOVZVb8bRmjrys0F4ZgYlERy_-QQzWM8ZacIV-h_lC-Fzp9VUETwJwwImb9U-QtLyFfdOEzigVOUPioWcDVIbWqxSZFDFpajY8I/s320/Dad%2526Mom3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Mom on their last vacation. Taken in 1975.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJhBvSzmhOO7hAnM8RKqOXDtWp3vcxuIFtFfbQ3qcAj7oahUQVGHlFedyPci2vtGRkl2YZ3-ADpJqaIKlR1ueUoGrchb5RQKv2x305thwZceq2pQBO8WMP2yy1TPEpic1lrJOVHQPtCQ/s1600/dad%2526mom2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJhBvSzmhOO7hAnM8RKqOXDtWp3vcxuIFtFfbQ3qcAj7oahUQVGHlFedyPci2vtGRkl2YZ3-ADpJqaIKlR1ueUoGrchb5RQKv2x305thwZceq2pQBO8WMP2yy1TPEpic1lrJOVHQPtCQ/s320/dad%2526mom2.JPG" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last photo of Dad and Mom. This was taken in April, 1976. Dad went to Heaven that November.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> On November 14, 1946, Audella B. Grubb married Douglas C. Evans. Our parents would have celebrated their 71st anniversary today. If they celebrate wedding anniversaries in Heaven, Mom and Dad are celebrating today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> Miss them both every day. Just wanted to remember them on their special day. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Mom and Dad. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> Love and miss you both more than I can ever say, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Chris</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A FAMILY NOTE: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dad and Mom celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary in 1976 while Dad was at MCV Hospital taking radiation treatments for his cancer. I made them an anniversary cake and took it to them at the hospital. Dad told me it was the most beautiful cake he had ever seen. Mom, Dad, Wayne and I enjoyed the cake and Dad shared it with the interns and nurses that came in to take care of him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Lord took Dad to Heaven two weeks later. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mom never remarried. She remained a widow for 41 years. She was a widow longer than she was a wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year, Mom and I were talking about that last anniversary she and Dad had together. She remembered the cake but said the Hospital staff prepared it for them. I didn't correct her. It was enough for me that she remembered it and had good memories of that anniversary. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-3146099769134939272017-11-03T22:03:00.000-07:002017-11-03T22:07:54.541-07:00Happy Birthday, Momma<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0gfx2Sulg-2GA5GrjMA8KUaEBJYLHuCb6w4ji88ygUgld9NYFJJ7T4iJ2401uUbc2z_tKQFrrwcE5yMVTAyF-NBFJPLZP0hHLGZ8rrk64ElykXEx7_sOmdD9-SGGGQ6Jks6CTxuJqb8/s1600/audella.16.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="796" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0gfx2Sulg-2GA5GrjMA8KUaEBJYLHuCb6w4ji88ygUgld9NYFJJ7T4iJ2401uUbc2z_tKQFrrwcE5yMVTAyF-NBFJPLZP0hHLGZ8rrk64ElykXEx7_sOmdD9-SGGGQ6Jks6CTxuJqb8/s200/audella.16.BMP" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAirbHs6DMeG9BTtsD7YZmZ3lMSF1G-NLV1SPtm7VgLteyTzASOJdKIOOUQuHOHPEgBHmKsT6YAsV2nAJkU2-tJEJK2KEpc_rIw66b7ESNs3sFoi3Cc2lMKK12QIgL_vdTiujh7yhM_ZM/s1600/audellaaschild.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="637" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAirbHs6DMeG9BTtsD7YZmZ3lMSF1G-NLV1SPtm7VgLteyTzASOJdKIOOUQuHOHPEgBHmKsT6YAsV2nAJkU2-tJEJK2KEpc_rIw66b7ESNs3sFoi3Cc2lMKK12QIgL_vdTiujh7yhM_ZM/s200/audellaaschild.JPG" width="126" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou2GsruqERUXnzpPYlFhrMJ-zvIMkXm48AKm2M_yK-gKAlLdx-T_uw6WkEVy8ARTE4fzYSggbrdo7pKuD3PeM7_X4aDVCf0Q4JRy6qFfSTdhr_l4tyHr2fXGx_GaMO6f7xUWI4_iI42U/s1600/audellaglenrogers.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="815" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou2GsruqERUXnzpPYlFhrMJ-zvIMkXm48AKm2M_yK-gKAlLdx-T_uw6WkEVy8ARTE4fzYSggbrdo7pKuD3PeM7_X4aDVCf0Q4JRy6qFfSTdhr_l4tyHr2fXGx_GaMO6f7xUWI4_iI42U/s200/audellaglenrogers.BMP" width="148" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VOiTN5GT4YwT4BNzzsF_uOjUKblEDYiu_YGFMhOp4VnDWSNmDadRLcJ_8D_IlGi394S08rJmOJc7w1PcHT8Oyvt2UP6Ro9EXeD6VxyEjP5wzuXfo_2qZwhNEfetqUYNwwQ3NPjPKdiM/s1600/Dad%2526Mom-before-married.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VOiTN5GT4YwT4BNzzsF_uOjUKblEDYiu_YGFMhOp4VnDWSNmDadRLcJ_8D_IlGi394S08rJmOJc7w1PcHT8Oyvt2UP6Ro9EXeD6VxyEjP5wzuXfo_2qZwhNEfetqUYNwwQ3NPjPKdiM/s320/Dad%2526Mom-before-married.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Today is Mom's birthday. She would have been 88 today. She's in Heaven now, so she's not counting birthdays anymore. But I wanted to wish her a <i>"Happy Birthday"</i> by sharing some thoughts about her here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Mom was the first-born of 5 children; her father was a hard-working man, a coal miner; and her mother an industrious woman who could take a little bit of anything and make a delicious meal. They were good, honest people that loved their family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And Mom loved her family above all things on this earth and would do anything for us. Well, not exactly anything: I remember hearing her tell one of my brothers, "I love you and I'll die for you, but I won't lie for you." That was Momma! She had such surrender to Jesus and such integrity!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Mom had a giving heart and was always doing for others. Not only did she work with children in her position at Curtis Elementary School, she also taught children in Sunday School at her church. Her involvement in church wasn't sitting in a pew - she was active in the choir, ladies ministry, and visiting the shut-ins. If there was a need, Mom was usually there! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And she took such delight in her grand-children and great-grandchildren! As her health declined and she wasn't able to go out much, she loved seeing the posts on social media; it gave her a connection with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> She was so talented! She could sew, crochet, and was a great cook, but she loved most of all doing ceramics. Her pieces were works of art. And she put her heart into every one she made.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Mom smiled easily and had such a sense of humor. She loved having fun and enjoyed life even with the heartaches and pain we caused her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Mom wasn't perfect, but to us she was perfectly wonderful! She still influences us every day because the life she lived before us was one of love and honest devotion. And I miss her more than I can put into words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> So today, November 4th, I just want to share these thoughts, remember her, and to say with all my heart, <i><b>"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMA! I love you!"</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in love, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><i><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chris</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11Dinx_vYu-L9L6Ek14FZ3eIColP4wOMKFkz6zsOXUNUe4dOo3lnAHgt9HkBZv5XPzvULAXQP1eK4oxdz0CyNv3dfkiIxV1l7ft4iXTGQjf2SJ0lEV1GKY2-YheXoIBm7WYfROEbTWE/s1600/Mom3_12_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11Dinx_vYu-L9L6Ek14FZ3eIColP4wOMKFkz6zsOXUNUe4dOo3lnAHgt9HkBZv5XPzvULAXQP1eK4oxdz0CyNv3dfkiIxV1l7ft4iXTGQjf2SJ0lEV1GKY2-YheXoIBm7WYfROEbTWE/s320/Mom3_12_2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kE0OpiryF3QhOxbpWEN4V9vscrnOXBxxIoMpWGTs7OGvD5u0eU3br6no3bYzJShbY_8Wzku79KiEoNLrelID155h5O7lFg5wlvAcmCwm5IP2Jf-X20H98N28RtXRbpQC1Gdl_UL5dzM/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-043.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kE0OpiryF3QhOxbpWEN4V9vscrnOXBxxIoMpWGTs7OGvD5u0eU3br6no3bYzJShbY_8Wzku79KiEoNLrelID155h5O7lFg5wlvAcmCwm5IP2Jf-X20H98N28RtXRbpQC1Gdl_UL5dzM/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-043.bmp" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWhGa8I4d8aC1Ii9Yf2r8lk2YHBUo0V7M4NVL4UozmPn-4GcXi0kcmQB9yDQqS4p8hxE4dAo2UtVbpy9iAfgFf-dniYHdhD291JWnKNCqkNZYXcb3yp_2PyEuZvF17U9QXXBgRCdd58k/s1600/mom_jail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWhGa8I4d8aC1Ii9Yf2r8lk2YHBUo0V7M4NVL4UozmPn-4GcXi0kcmQB9yDQqS4p8hxE4dAo2UtVbpy9iAfgFf-dniYHdhD291JWnKNCqkNZYXcb3yp_2PyEuZvF17U9QXXBgRCdd58k/s320/mom_jail1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNNBl_ZOem00tQVZujFvtfUpsvgi4pdHlHLjmP9l-A85gzmMDH90zOKVJaTHTQigEnst7Rrkm7LzThIYbLxyVwOZLEYgC-qm2BgEeNV-4nM8Oue8qfsz9HEL58iGJHdtm3vKsdTT9IdI/s1600/Mom-Winter-of-Life90.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNNBl_ZOem00tQVZujFvtfUpsvgi4pdHlHLjmP9l-A85gzmMDH90zOKVJaTHTQigEnst7Rrkm7LzThIYbLxyVwOZLEYgC-qm2BgEeNV-4nM8Oue8qfsz9HEL58iGJHdtm3vKsdTT9IdI/s320/Mom-Winter-of-Life90.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbkvIBOJLSmAo_4kcXNjhIwaEf7xOzzADQ7oO0cNgASR5CcSTyM0CXLGhzfkft0M2boAtKQRosZrBnwVOEpPYLh1x1xRe9mbQsGyeKOchKw5V-LPKml_GrKq6DlQXCikjB4MkZVJKlI4/s1600/Mom-painting-08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbkvIBOJLSmAo_4kcXNjhIwaEf7xOzzADQ7oO0cNgASR5CcSTyM0CXLGhzfkft0M2boAtKQRosZrBnwVOEpPYLh1x1xRe9mbQsGyeKOchKw5V-LPKml_GrKq6DlQXCikjB4MkZVJKlI4/s320/Mom-painting-08.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-42690050036989603832017-09-21T17:47:00.003-07:002017-09-21T17:49:22.341-07:00It's Been Six Months Since Mom's Homegoing<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_F7CsyDavm38AyiXokDjVWQIK5eLehMYKhYxS04ZUxjY1xlDq385yqeLgHKfYSr2vWA7CtSXoCK-tw7boc0DtRd1JMTDI21l9GwaAqS6bYYsdRk7h0HK_PVfuWIeyCbEdhCcqK6zWlM/s1600/Grandma2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_F7CsyDavm38AyiXokDjVWQIK5eLehMYKhYxS04ZUxjY1xlDq385yqeLgHKfYSr2vWA7CtSXoCK-tw7boc0DtRd1JMTDI21l9GwaAqS6bYYsdRk7h0HK_PVfuWIeyCbEdhCcqK6zWlM/s400/Grandma2005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It has been just 6 months today since our Momma went to her eternal home in Heaven. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> While I know she is no longer struggling to breath and that her soul is at rest, I still miss her so much! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> She never understood that she was such a strong lady and to us kids, she was bigger than life. Nothing is the same without her. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">Chris </span> <i style="font-size: xx-large;"> </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-1340941724404406642017-09-09T20:48:00.002-07:002017-09-09T20:51:07.545-07:00Breakfast With a Friend<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2OcZCyiXhvUHXOQX1KfJahyphenhyphenXeNRP_0fZRjzLasf_JcZjzq96BkuzAmzeE-p8vNWS-3aIkCRb-3HUxFKYc2PuuDkhZUxwPMabzsyMRO5t_DEIR6u19C_K59KxSHaWAIdCb_tItWvfaCM/s1600/girls-tea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2OcZCyiXhvUHXOQX1KfJahyphenhyphenXeNRP_0fZRjzLasf_JcZjzq96BkuzAmzeE-p8vNWS-3aIkCRb-3HUxFKYc2PuuDkhZUxwPMabzsyMRO5t_DEIR6u19C_K59KxSHaWAIdCb_tItWvfaCM/s320/girls-tea.JPG" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free Photo courtesy of Dover Clipart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My long-time friend, Nancy Thysell, contacted me to let me know she was going to be in town this weekend for her high school reunion and wanted us to meet for breakfast today. It had been several years since she had been in Virginia and I really wanted to see her. But this morning I found myself dreading it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nan has been my friend since high school even though she lives in another state and we don't talk often. It's the kind of friendship that we just pick up where we left off whenever we talk or visit each other. But her mother passed away a few years ago and it's been just 6 months since my own Mother went to Heaven. I wasn't sure how I could handle it emotionally. Whenever I talk of Momma, especially with someone that is compassionate and sympathetic, I end up in a pool of tears. And I didn't want to do that with Nan who has her own emotional situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I went. And as soon as I saw her precious smile and heard that friendly laugh, I was glad I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After we ordered, she told me she was planning to visit her mother's grave before the reunion tonight. She spoke so comfortably of her mother's death and settling of the estate and I found myself sharing about my own situation with Momma's passing and working thru preparing the homeplace to be sold. She let me talk about Momma, commenting now and then. And when I began to feel the tears forming, she tactfully eased the conversation over to her new business and began telling me about all that she had going on in her life. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For the next hour and a half, we ate and talked. But mostly I listened and was grateful for her kindness in acknowledging Momma's passing and her sensitivity to understand that I needed to focus on something else for a while. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our time together went quickly. Then we both had to get on with our day. We joked that it would probably be another 5 years before we would do this again and touted the benefits of social media to keep connected in a way. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There in the parking lot at Cracker Barrel, I hugged Nan tightly as we said good-by, realizing that she was a physical link to our younger days – days when we have great expectations of life, days before life disappointed us, days before the grief and pain of burying people that we love. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anxiety, pain, grief, tears, homesickness – these are all a part of this very rough road I am on right now. In this season of life, I remind myself how blessed I am that the Lord Jesus gives me strength, that my husband holds me and lets me cry, and that my family is there to comfort me. And I am thankful for interludes like this morning and a good friend that knows me well and cares enough to share her life with me. She refreshed my soul.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">Chris </span> <i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;"> </i><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAYwAAAAnCAIAAACT9+iEAAACA0lEQVR4nO3d0XKjIBiAUd7cR3cvdjdrEOQXkaTrOVdJR4S04zeYZtq0Anyx9OkFAM+S0rnsiBQwVforevytqwHY2hYq2KnYQSe3ZwBFaSM6JHjebILOBQIPlt5FRwXPu5+jf6XAI90YqSsTAPzWl44TOymFAq7Yb3QiMREpYJJU0h519tTbL/YvFniSYp7GRGq/hzq1TwPIerQvyXFM2pHqix/AVq0ezaqIFDDJwU3f4Eit7vWAsGaYLkVqP0HzjABbka3T4J2UQgGn3LiTUihgiONIHQ1snnfYGoHnKb5ZlD1dr9zuZTONWDPwFPt9U+3pWo/Mie7oFBBXvLlrRmofGX/0Dhis9O5TNVK14f+eRubLHgDUpPff2dUKVWxW+YTNyUQKiGtG53jUPjiNSBXHANTU7vXiXuf58+BgpnW3c7v51QE/3qRIpc3tYjYA4ECwQcfD1+NIFcMkUkDE9Z1UvqXaT9B8DFBze6SyyYqPAQ5MitT2oFWkgLB5kcqmvP2VAf+F2yOVKh8+WJZlWZZJr3Jj6TV/qcA6eSeVUrrp4u9Oj1rBl5sRqdcRM1PS15chJwEGGlio9RWp7KoeFalbvxGqBN8pvb9Z1LmBinwE4SMuZhEe4tNX6tqxnujWKfsfDWPXfdEHftRAWPxaLtan7+DvilTm7u8j/Fwj2/PdF84v9YiMkg+lU/8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-7937591592472744972017-08-22T19:33:00.001-07:002017-08-22T19:33:17.450-07:00Discovering Hidden Treasures<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76T-ZEz3MuX3t50EOucxROF8aOzlquxjXuY34HFiTe-5M0d_fb6_UMxUJ_eAPbfmhW8L1iHhNgq1Q_uvbrNkYRByTx_YR6dO_sRhSkElh3wYWWo2syKP-yOTHeRE8XJfkhk4P_Y6lUBM/s1600/Mom-Winter-of-Life91.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76T-ZEz3MuX3t50EOucxROF8aOzlquxjXuY34HFiTe-5M0d_fb6_UMxUJ_eAPbfmhW8L1iHhNgq1Q_uvbrNkYRByTx_YR6dO_sRhSkElh3wYWWo2syKP-yOTHeRE8XJfkhk4P_Y6lUBM/s400/Mom-Winter-of-Life91.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom writing memories of her childhood for me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> For several weeks now, we have had the arduous and emotionally exhausting task of going thru Momma's house. It has been such a blessing that my brothers wanted so much of Momma's furniture and the ceramic items she created. But now I'm down to going thru her more personal things such as her clothes, her Bibles, and her books. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> As I was cleaning out her desk and going thru some of her papers, I came across a little poem that someone had given to her. It doesn't have a date, but the other papers it was with indicated to me it was probably after our brother, Bill, went to Heaven in 2002. I had never seen it before, but it is full of meaning and even though it made me cry, it spoke to my heart. I share it here with the prayer it will help someone else, too.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>A Prayer For The One Who Is Left</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> Lord, the trouble about life just now is that I seem to have all things which don't matter, and to have lost all the things which do matter.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> I have life;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> I have enough money to live on; </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> I have plenty to occupy me;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> but I am alone, and sometimes I feel that nothing can make up for that.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> Lord, compel me to see the meaning of my faith. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> Make me to realize that I have a hope as well as a memory, and the unseen cloud of witnesses is around me; </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> that You meant it when You said that You would always be with me; </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> and make me to realize that as long as You leave me here there is something that I am meant to do; and in doing it, help me to find the comfort and the courage that I need to go on.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> In Jesus' name, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> Amen.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Source Unknown</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> This prayer hit home to me in so many ways when I read it. I do feel alone, even with the love and support of my wonderful husband, family, and friends. I do feel the loss of purpose and direction, even as I work thru the task of handling Momma's estate. And I do need to realize I not only have the memories of Momma, but I have that blessed hope that we will be together again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I can't say that I know what the Lord has left me here to do. Most days, I'm just functioning, crying, and praying for comfort for myself. I don't feel I have enough emotional strength to encourage or help anyone else. Anything good that happens thru me will have to be the Lord's doing! My flesh is too weak, my heart is still too shattered. Without Jesus, I am nothing but a mess. Praise the Lord that He understands and is merciful! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Chris </i> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-39707437453437108202017-08-15T15:52:00.000-07:002017-09-09T20:49:35.938-07:00Homesickness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpMAcgfH51bC_6DYt3fcxhs-LTT5PBziyWFnIdC-YCOpqlDIvF-_rImKPD5JXfxfqYkOphmHbBgrn2LhlfdP1OWxlQMbT-Dkv8XCuppsLXQmDI503kClPC1MGiSRlU9QjwoX40C2V8g8/s1600/Homesick-for-the-people-Mom-Dads-House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1018" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpMAcgfH51bC_6DYt3fcxhs-LTT5PBziyWFnIdC-YCOpqlDIvF-_rImKPD5JXfxfqYkOphmHbBgrn2LhlfdP1OWxlQMbT-Dkv8XCuppsLXQmDI503kClPC1MGiSRlU9QjwoX40C2V8g8/s400/Homesick-for-the-people-Mom-Dads-House.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family's photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Last week, August 8th , would have been my brother Bill's 70th birthday. I was weepy all day, as I remembered him and my parents. That evening the Holy Spirit reminded me how Momma said to me just weeks before her home-going that she missed Bill so much. She had buried her husband, both of her parents, her sister, and then her first-born child. Several times, Momma told me that she missed them all, but she missed her son the worse. I've never had to bury a child, but it must be the hardest thing a parent would have to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> That evening as I was missing Momma and was crying, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that this horrible, homesick way I am missing her and Daddy is how Momma was missing Bill, her husband, her parents and her sister. I realized that the way I am hurting into the very core of my being had to have been so much worse for her and I know in my heart of hearts I don't want her to feel that way. And as I began to thank the Lord for taking that hurt from her, my hurt began to ease. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My family and friends keep reminding me of the good life and the time I had with Momma, and that I have so much to be grateful for. I truly am grateful for all of it and I am honestly trying to focus on being grateful and thankful for the blessing of her life and my being allowed to care for Momma. But most of the time, that gets lost in my grief and hurt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And it's not really hurt so much now, but such a deep longing, a painful <b><u>homesickness</u></b> for her and Daddy. I know there is no cure for homesickness other than going home. But this homesickness is not for a place but for the people I love -- so this is a sickness that nothing can cure, because I can't call them to hear their voice or go visit them to be with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I remind myself daily that Momma walked the walk before us to show us the way, and now she walks with Jesus. I am still being blessed by her life and her love. I need to keep reminding myself of that because it helps me thru the darkest times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Chris </i> </span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<br />
<br />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-71372596561945453752017-06-23T19:20:00.003-07:002023-05-12T17:40:28.259-07:00The Journey Didn't End at the Grave Side.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg-acJpM7Zsb6ExMj0MdDedtQ56mbjCYjyQFlbQwEO2GFlssNwSLIn_hD0ESg7CFSpPflUjv6eNWGefnLUvKrMR1iG7XB2UCVE_sapApjkA47kJkS1TodfPfsDP54BTwbTer-tE6qc9g/s1600/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-0000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg-acJpM7Zsb6ExMj0MdDedtQ56mbjCYjyQFlbQwEO2GFlssNwSLIn_hD0ESg7CFSpPflUjv6eNWGefnLUvKrMR1iG7XB2UCVE_sapApjkA47kJkS1TodfPfsDP54BTwbTer-tE6qc9g/s400/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-0000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken about 1952 at Grandpa and Grandma Grubb's house in Glen Fork, WV. L to R: Chris, Mary Baily, Mom, Grandma Grubb and in the back Lois Schlager (Frazer)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I thought that my journey walking with Mom ended at her graveside. I realize now that what a good friend told me is true: <b><i>grief is not an event, it's a journey</i></b>. So apparently my journey walking with Mom isn't over; it has just turned down a very rough and often dark and painful path. And since I am going to have to go thru this, I pray that the Lord will teach me of Himself along the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So before I bring this blog to an end, I will try to share some of the things I'm experiencing. It is with the prayer that something here will help someone else. I realize that grief can be experienced not just in the death of a loved one but in the loss of a career, loss of a home, loss of finances. While my grief is for the passing of my Mother, I do believe the principles apply to all types of grief. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For me, this is what I'm understanding: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You always think there will be plenty of time with them; then after the passing of the loved one, you realize there was never enough time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The death of someone so close to you changes your life in ways that you can't fathom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> I realize completely the truth of what I read before the funeral: "Of all the hardships a person must face, none is more punishing than the act of saying goodbye." <i>Unknown</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After the graveside service, everyone else goes back to their normal life except for the 24/7 caregiver, who goes home to a big, empty place where the loved one was. The caregiver is the one that has to create a new "normal" without the loved one in it. This is not to fault anyone; it's just the truth of the situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dr. Charles Stanley is right: everyone grieves differently. I know, too, that not everyone understands that you aren't grieving like they are and often they don't understand why you're grieving like you are. As my brother, Chuck, said to me when I was crying while talking to him on the phone, "I just want you to be happy." Right now, there is no "happy"; my heart is shattered into little pieces and I am hurting, and even with my husband's love and support, I have never felt so alone. "Happy" may happen again, just not today, just not right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As hard as I try to keep my grief from being someone else's burden, I seem to be failing miserably at it. I cry and it's almost uncontrollable at times. I hate that I am causing those that care about me pain, but I just can't seem to help it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I remind myself every day the words of that a preacher said: "Time doesn't heal. But time does reveal how Jesus heals."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I pray every day the verse shared with me by Momma's pastor's wife, Dessie Myers, the day Momma went to heaven:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Still sharing in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Cris</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmfzZkp429LebZmtFJeaaSfbvCNip65AgcAas6SUngAfBa7QwLov823f-yzt-FUC3rRaB_VeFGMshsnzsbSjERJrLGYqNOaQn9GgBP8qu4nInn1_6-8ulneUeuGS-3u3__EyH3JHABjg/s1600/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-005+%2528cropped%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1407" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmfzZkp429LebZmtFJeaaSfbvCNip65AgcAas6SUngAfBa7QwLov823f-yzt-FUC3rRaB_VeFGMshsnzsbSjERJrLGYqNOaQn9GgBP8qu4nInn1_6-8ulneUeuGS-3u3__EyH3JHABjg/s320/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-005+%2528cropped%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and me; about 1968.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15JpkgVGW1APHAXLQdnCbrMG0Gx2xXgqMEoAfWNh5Yws_Qn7QSDYqqrdNbQknXFvNFoRIceoWTZJcKW1etG7j71IVHA6th8WaP5cYz1LFAXzGvYE6d00ZOqh8e2maMvzDWrHHX06x9f0/s1600/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-043.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1500" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15JpkgVGW1APHAXLQdnCbrMG0Gx2xXgqMEoAfWNh5Yws_Qn7QSDYqqrdNbQknXFvNFoRIceoWTZJcKW1etG7j71IVHA6th8WaP5cYz1LFAXzGvYE6d00ZOqh8e2maMvzDWrHHX06x9f0/s320/2-Mom-Summer-of-Life-043.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Mom on my wedding day, November, 1970.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcSboy4aNphexHtNCDMHfDoBgCgPgJtQJeE87alO7jH74V58kmDWmBL6Havb4K4lUkQAN96zHG3gvvCwulFt5nk-at61uM3QBTG3ByF3qlJyieK184ZWy2-gU7ji7FLdoWOxtmnAV_7U/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-621.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcSboy4aNphexHtNCDMHfDoBgCgPgJtQJeE87alO7jH74V58kmDWmBL6Havb4K4lUkQAN96zHG3gvvCwulFt5nk-at61uM3QBTG3ByF3qlJyieK184ZWy2-gU7ji7FLdoWOxtmnAV_7U/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-621.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tina Evans, Mom, and Me. Christmas 2016<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-90319244587306245032017-05-26T18:30:00.003-07:002017-05-26T18:31:40.624-07:00Dignity and Grace<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS9rSRsxubNf7nEd0GYvjsOK4dyPQedujURnIvGDSofr7Ynhfj9NPlYTLryS88mtqKhhE3ohGA-PeK2_U3REnLpD38lOmzaIvH2g0aOgJQjYbKvTatrWCAHjg80axhnKCxaXn0g7M4ds/s1600/3-Mom-Fall-of-Life-019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS9rSRsxubNf7nEd0GYvjsOK4dyPQedujURnIvGDSofr7Ynhfj9NPlYTLryS88mtqKhhE3ohGA-PeK2_U3REnLpD38lOmzaIvH2g0aOgJQjYbKvTatrWCAHjg80axhnKCxaXn0g7M4ds/s320/3-Mom-Fall-of-Life-019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma Grubb and Mom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBiqd_iXgoUvWPbJtiX-K72c40cDpXLfzEI2BeH_FYeMPx3tWylGk-k8sjYqayx3juZq8oFgv3obX-XBLgeFJQF81LUkGJ5gdbrZXsvcUlQngTIgfTyW20fxXFXGH8_c-CxHLBIeXqD4/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBiqd_iXgoUvWPbJtiX-K72c40cDpXLfzEI2BeH_FYeMPx3tWylGk-k8sjYqayx3juZq8oFgv3obX-XBLgeFJQF81LUkGJ5gdbrZXsvcUlQngTIgfTyW20fxXFXGH8_c-CxHLBIeXqD4/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom at her home last Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7eqb3QZTrTleP3SxKd3G2eeen3V69OP5gV_qklSi1mK9-qlyE0hc1kNPPSLcdw3o5NLXQC59GsHz4P_9EbRElaoZZxz-Lflp_7dr576mc582GykPf7Ee4aODqDqmcT_9vBOP54ro8yE/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-Life-608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1250" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7eqb3QZTrTleP3SxKd3G2eeen3V69OP5gV_qklSi1mK9-qlyE0hc1kNPPSLcdw3o5NLXQC59GsHz4P_9EbRElaoZZxz-Lflp_7dr576mc582GykPf7Ee4aODqDqmcT_9vBOP54ro8yE/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-Life-608.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin, Will, Mom, Chuck, Jennifer, and David last Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZvsNmprx9FNR6P7vY-4Wwgl6-AN3NvWXOJ8vJjI4QdHuIIYOySGZJn18t7r4WU3zXY4L5znr7Ni4Jh1-hHgsDODOFic3EsVluhWoUu1nJxVz0xdqh5HsjLDCMy_HrlhepZyaRlW8xWw/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-Life-201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZvsNmprx9FNR6P7vY-4Wwgl6-AN3NvWXOJ8vJjI4QdHuIIYOySGZJn18t7r4WU3zXY4L5znr7Ni4Jh1-hHgsDODOFic3EsVluhWoUu1nJxVz0xdqh5HsjLDCMy_HrlhepZyaRlW8xWw/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-Life-201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck, Chris, Drake, Doug, with Mom at Drake and Amanda's Wedding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Long before Mom became ill with Pulmonary Fibrosis, she was a woman of great character and strength. She helped care for her sister, our Aunt Francis, until she passed; she took care of her Mother until she passed; she cared for our father until he passed; and she was always, always there for us kids and our families. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I heard her talk often of her concern for us, but I rarely if ever heard her complain. Even during the last 7 years of her life when breathing became a labor and drained her of strength, she never complained. Mom always apologized that I had to do for her and even though I told her often that she was not a burden and that I loved doing for her, she never seemed to grasp that nor what a tremendous blessing it was for me to be her caregiver. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Through everything, our precious Mother lived it all with <b>Grace and Dignity.</b> And I am most blessed to have had the privilege of being her daughter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shared in love,</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-64925008128964610392017-05-13T21:08:00.000-07:002017-05-25T17:34:01.626-07:00Remembering Momma on this First Mother's Day Without Her<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHf8jGkbhqNyGwL4Z0tPpb8ZjJ1dxPmZTC_MO7MzJWfYOP-_AitsPBs8DSkAT1qleY0VEU-AC4ylWKMgaI199yD39Gy6DZ2iWNTsvf44pnl6NDtJY-ZLPzdBMf6XwOd-MviAWChZo9cE/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHf8jGkbhqNyGwL4Z0tPpb8ZjJ1dxPmZTC_MO7MzJWfYOP-_AitsPBs8DSkAT1qleY0VEU-AC4ylWKMgaI199yD39Gy6DZ2iWNTsvf44pnl6NDtJY-ZLPzdBMf6XwOd-MviAWChZo9cE/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-006.JPG" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFx9qaaABZjsXjh51UOgakG1jpYkZrG5Ioct2xPLcuA32Pz7YIuUQ6EtKQGNUdPL0xtqFjEYAxBjXCwu55PDZ8Myugan9-Ys4WjlQpRaQSAjtqqykvkuVF_DyQDe4T6pfwvQcf2Ri5ZI/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-042.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFx9qaaABZjsXjh51UOgakG1jpYkZrG5Ioct2xPLcuA32Pz7YIuUQ6EtKQGNUdPL0xtqFjEYAxBjXCwu55PDZ8Myugan9-Ys4WjlQpRaQSAjtqqykvkuVF_DyQDe4T6pfwvQcf2Ri5ZI/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-042.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7znDpY-1rV0bTr9cF-gZcWJMq0YD70PeN5KFis2b-iTvdd_eTAQhN7B347J1N4eeTwC3F4IIaxs3dUK6h4oP6U_Xdl49bXdpr36mZDywZg3f2lvmVrIvcMTdQf4DybbL3oH8Fx_X7_oI/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-043.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7znDpY-1rV0bTr9cF-gZcWJMq0YD70PeN5KFis2b-iTvdd_eTAQhN7B347J1N4eeTwC3F4IIaxs3dUK6h4oP6U_Xdl49bXdpr36mZDywZg3f2lvmVrIvcMTdQf4DybbL3oH8Fx_X7_oI/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-043.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <i>This coming Monday, it will be only 8 weeks since Mom went to be with the Lord. The emptiness she left behind is still overwhelming and now it's Mother's Day. To honor her on this first Mother's Day without her here with me, I am sharing a devotion that I was allowed to do for her church's Mother-Daughter Banquet a few years ago. These thoughts were shared then and again now to give a glimpse into the tremendous character and strength Momma had - and the most humbling part is that she never thought of herself this way, she just lived it!</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <i> My Momma "Walked the Walk" ... her life was real. She never understood that she was in so many ways larger than life to us kids, nor could she imagine the enormity of the loss I feel now. </i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Mother from her Daughter's Perspective."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My heritage goes back to my Great-Grandmother Beatrice Dorton. Those of us in her family had the privilege of knowing her gentle ways and her devotion to the Lord. She not only talked the talk, she walked the walk! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And "Walking the Walk" is really what is most important - because we can say many things and put on a good front, but our day to day living - our walking and living daily in our homes and workplaces - says more about who and what we really are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My mother - Audella Evans - is the most God-ly person I know. Now, I don't say that because she is my Mom! I say that because I have never known anyone to be as loving, giving, and nurturing as she is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I grew up in the "dark ages" before computers and computer games! So Mom taught me how to play jack-rocks and hop-scotch, to color the flowers on table napkins, and to make paper chains for party decoration. She taught me how to cook, to sew, to clean house, how to do ceramics, how to arrange flowers. But there are a lot of other things she taught me, not by her words but by her actions:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mom did not tell me to be faithful to my husband, she showed me by living faithfully with my father thru good times and bad, for over 30 years, right up to the day he died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me to honor my father and mother, she showed me by putting her life on hold, going to West Virginia and caring for the day-to-day needs of my Grandmother, until my Grandmother died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me to be put other first, she showed me by always taking the back piece of the fried chicken so us kids could have the good pieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me to be honest, she showed me by giving the cashier back money when she was given more than she was due.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me to be a good neighbor, she showed me by caring for an elderly neighbor, without pay, for almost 2 years until the lady died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me to be concerned about others, she showed me by taking hot soup and home-made bread to a hurting wife whose husband was dying of cancer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me that listening was more important than talking, she shows me by always letting me "dump" on her when I needed to vent about a my situations and problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She did not tell me prayer is important, she shows me by interceding to God for me every day and for every thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She does not just tell me that she loves me, she shows me by always being there - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>listening to me when I'm angry, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>comforting me when I'm hurt, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and loving me unconditionally even when</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I'm unlovable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> You see, our Walk talks louder than our Talk talks. To put it in scriptural terms, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Deut. 6:7 says "And thou shalt teach them <i>[them being the precepts of God]</i> diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> This means that in our day-to-day lives, we are to show forth the truths of God's word and the love shown to us in Jesus. I have seen this lived out and I am truly blessed with a rich heritage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Chris</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-91383194664657938952017-04-07T11:26:00.001-07:002017-04-07T11:28:16.217-07:00Mom's Earthly Journey Is Over<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRRbfidee0Xix1XsF5sWWxfA3zqAe57vOdnILVC5ljeXjq2cUpxOYnBXX3F620x_biS9Bt4FfK6yRCim5EQ2rE77NZ6_aH6I3SVgHpa5K_uQ3H1YcIVVL8aNqbj2XL_6_hIY4_KxgZEs/s1600/3-Mom-Fall-of-Life-024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRRbfidee0Xix1XsF5sWWxfA3zqAe57vOdnILVC5ljeXjq2cUpxOYnBXX3F620x_biS9Bt4FfK6yRCim5EQ2rE77NZ6_aH6I3SVgHpa5K_uQ3H1YcIVVL8aNqbj2XL_6_hIY4_KxgZEs/s320/3-Mom-Fall-of-Life-024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFp2qOZ2jo17UNzOA2r3bIJn-LvqcRpa5wO3sIFtLVTn-lsms27PvnItohyphenhyphenG3xEHlQOtc3Qp86zCJjimJiGy73e0a8RGhI_1RiU5jycljs4ORgiycg6rTjx2jAVA7CAE6kHiN_250tuE/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFp2qOZ2jo17UNzOA2r3bIJn-LvqcRpa5wO3sIFtLVTn-lsms27PvnItohyphenhyphenG3xEHlQOtc3Qp86zCJjimJiGy73e0a8RGhI_1RiU5jycljs4ORgiycg6rTjx2jAVA7CAE6kHiN_250tuE/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-life-079.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Day Dinner at her Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrthV2H8yxo3qhwZNob8NDBcu39OZ7g0JPQ4LQBXvDyXzr3B0MoEkjR-rpZs79XxQXKjt2NCEVBwhvpuPJnqxjoxnilRnl8kf8-Y34ERPpNzOB1LodFu2FupXw-tUtR7Hv26fWLOSKUA/s1600/4-Mom-Winter-of-Life-202%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrthV2H8yxo3qhwZNob8NDBcu39OZ7g0JPQ4LQBXvDyXzr3B0MoEkjR-rpZs79XxQXKjt2NCEVBwhvpuPJnqxjoxnilRnl8kf8-Y34ERPpNzOB1LodFu2FupXw-tUtR7Hv26fWLOSKUA/s320/4-Mom-Winter-of-Life-202%25282%2529.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom at her Grandson's Wedding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My precious Mother, Audella Grubb Evans, ended her earthly walk on Monday, March 20, 2017 - the first day of Spring. She took her last earthly breath with all of us around her, loving her, and sharing every precious moment we had. We thank the Lord that she was not in pain but, as the nurse told me, with her lungs being completely scared over and the severe difficult breathing, she was very, very tired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> For almost 8 years, Mom's lungs were gradually being scared over by the pulmonary fibrosis that ended Mom's life. The scaring made breathing a labor and talking became very tiring for her. So this lady who loved the Lord, loved her family, loved her church, loved to travel, enjoyed the company of friends, who taught children, taught ladies' classes, and continually counseled her family found herself withdrawing from society, hiding in the solitude of our home, talking on the phone when she could and ventured outside less and less.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> To those of you who knew her, please know that Mom was always touched by your cards and calls, even if she did not talk with you directly or for very long at a time. She knew that you cared and it brought sunshine into her life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> We ask for your understanding and remember Mom from the days when she was involved with you. Cherish her memory as we do and think often of the ways she influenced your life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> For those of you who knew Mom only thru me, I so regret that you never met her personally and felt the sunshine of her easy smile. You would have loved her, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in love, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <i>Her Children</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-55513936320649774082017-02-27T13:51:00.001-08:002017-02-27T13:53:21.637-08:00Touching Lives in Little Ways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyLvFe4RDXheqKSj_55x1NAAxBAm54muhBDdHrsiIDYBKPoVFom4l6wOaw05hPHPl-tPb2YWSO67DcdCsy062pbOnhf0_1usEK3JlNnaGhE3X0mQSB6I_NRpj1Hv6BhK9B8hZvPTg474/s1600/Valentines-day-gift-02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyLvFe4RDXheqKSj_55x1NAAxBAm54muhBDdHrsiIDYBKPoVFom4l6wOaw05hPHPl-tPb2YWSO67DcdCsy062pbOnhf0_1usEK3JlNnaGhE3X0mQSB6I_NRpj1Hv6BhK9B8hZvPTg474/s400/Valentines-day-gift-02.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> For years now, I have been giving the children at our church Hershey's Kisses. It started way back when my friend's son was a teenager and came out of a joking conversation between us. Since that time, sharing the candy after church has allowed me to be involved in a small way with the children and teens, even giving me the opportunity have a relationship with some of the girls that I enjoy greatly now that they are young adults. As I have said often: they get candy, but I get to know them and I truly get the better part!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I must admit, I didn't grasp how much these small candies mean to the children. But I found out on the Sunday before Valentine's Day. After the morning Church service when I expected to be giving candy Kisses to the little ones, I was surrounded by this large group of children, teens, and several mothers. They sang "Happy Valentines' Day to You," (to the tune of "Happy Birthday to You") and then presented me with an "XOXO" tote bag filled with gifts -- personal little things they had chosen for me, many of which were hand-made. I was so overwhelmed! And, yes, I began to cry!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> When I got home and read the hand-written cards, I cried even more! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> "Thank you for ... showing me how to experience the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> joy of sharing", "Thank you for ... your generosity", </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> "Thank you for ... showing me your love", "Thank you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> for being the Godly role model that you are...", "You </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> have always been there...", "We treasure your</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> friendship..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I do understand that the Moms were the motivators of this, but the kind, loving things that were written by the kids - and some of the Moms! - touched my heart tremendously. I never, never knew any of these young people felt this way about me! I had absolutely no idea the Lord was teaching them something spiritual in my simple act of giving them candy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I am so much more comfortable being the giver of the gift, rather than the recipient. And this totally unexpected show of affection made me feel blessed, and humbled, and very overwhelmed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Each of us travel some very rough stretches of road from time to time, whether it's a financial situation, health issues, children problems, or in my case caring for my aging mother. But as one of the young ladies wrote on her card to me, "Life is a Journey, not a Destination." These gifts remind me that the Lord gives smiles and hugs along the way and they help sweeten the rough places.. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, we need to try to remember to look at the flowers strewn along the path. And may you and I always be surprised by the little things and thankful to the Lord for those lives that He lets us be involved in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Stay on your knees and keep looking up. And remember that you are loved with an everlasting love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> Shared in love, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"> </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris</span></i><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAYwAAAAnCAIAAACT9+iEAAACA0lEQVR4nO3d0XKjIBiAUd7cR3cvdjdrEOQXkaTrOVdJR4S04zeYZtq0Anyx9OkFAM+S0rnsiBQwVforevytqwHY2hYq2KnYQSe3ZwBFaSM6JHjebILOBQIPlt5FRwXPu5+jf6XAI90YqSsTAPzWl44TOymFAq7Yb3QiMREpYJJU0h519tTbL/YvFniSYp7GRGq/hzq1TwPIerQvyXFM2pHqix/AVq0ezaqIFDDJwU3f4Eit7vWAsGaYLkVqP0HzjABbka3T4J2UQgGn3LiTUihgiONIHQ1snnfYGoHnKb5ZlD1dr9zuZTONWDPwFPt9U+3pWo/Mie7oFBBXvLlrRmofGX/0Dhis9O5TNVK14f+eRubLHgDUpPff2dUKVWxW+YTNyUQKiGtG53jUPjiNSBXHANTU7vXiXuf58+BgpnW3c7v51QE/3qRIpc3tYjYA4ECwQcfD1+NIFcMkUkDE9Z1UvqXaT9B8DFBze6SyyYqPAQ5MitT2oFWkgLB5kcqmvP2VAf+F2yOVKh8+WJZlWZZJr3Jj6TV/qcA6eSeVUrrp4u9Oj1rBl5sRqdcRM1PS15chJwEGGlio9RWp7KoeFalbvxGqBN8pvb9Z1LmBinwE4SMuZhEe4tNX6tqxnujWKfsfDWPXfdEHftRAWPxaLtan7+DvilTm7u8j/Fwj2/PdF84v9YiMkg+lU/8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span>The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-45566259331779827132016-12-30T19:59:00.002-08:002017-02-27T13:54:58.225-08:00Year's End<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitf8_H1ecfJKOSNCmSQWIsQgilC-T3GRwi0GxYZ2PGbvxW6p-Wu9ug3T0X6npu9y8RJAxlk6GMly5mYkvGm2HxbCFuuzy8e26k4IZ_z6HZLQwunHdllTvXCKECeMmis4J2H_gI0z9KX8M/s1600/Clouds-with-sun-rays01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitf8_H1ecfJKOSNCmSQWIsQgilC-T3GRwi0GxYZ2PGbvxW6p-Wu9ug3T0X6npu9y8RJAxlk6GMly5mYkvGm2HxbCFuuzy8e26k4IZ_z6HZLQwunHdllTvXCKECeMmis4J2H_gI0z9KX8M/s400/Clouds-with-sun-rays01.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Wayne Watson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Another year is ending, and it seems like it just began. There have been so many things this year that have sent me to my knees, unsure of what the Lord was doing or how things would turn out. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> On this New Year's Eve, I was reminded of something given to me a number of years ago:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>We will face the new year as we have the last: on our knees and trusting in the Sovereignty of Almighty God</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Stay on your knees, Caregiver, and keep looking up as Our God is still in control in this coming year ... just as He has been in each of the past ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> Shared in love, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"> </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris</span></i><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-56909948649153476182016-12-20T18:44:00.001-08:002016-12-20T18:46:11.050-08:00Christmas Away From Home - memories shared by Wayne Watson<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImITx8andVLoXYDXDF-ZiAnCx0dBPoE-XZE3OUaYtQlCMTdsqz8_ddecu1pPF7RZqg6nLMgJ433CFdtrXuFJ9m6DDNH7MpJQ_YPvGM9ASM1Z04iVYWWigpefohfFCHnhyojsTIqj-K-U/s1600/Wayne-Vietnam-02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImITx8andVLoXYDXDF-ZiAnCx0dBPoE-XZE3OUaYtQlCMTdsqz8_ddecu1pPF7RZqg6nLMgJ433CFdtrXuFJ9m6DDNH7MpJQ_YPvGM9ASM1Z04iVYWWigpefohfFCHnhyojsTIqj-K-U/s400/Wayne-Vietnam-02.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wayne Watson, taken "somewhere" in Viet Nam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christmas is a time of memories: sharing favorite ones and making new ones. In that spirit, I am posting here a story my husband shared with us at our family Christmas Eve Dinner several years ago. It's a good reminder that you never know how a simple thing can impact someone's life. </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Chris</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">*</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was December, 1969; Christmas in Viet Nam was coming. First Christmas away from home and the ones I loved. Missions were running as usual – the Viet Cong and the North Viet Nam Army were preparing for T.E.T. and most of us were a little tense to say the least.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Everyone was getting "care packages" from home and just like the rest, I received one, too. And of all the things to get, it was a Christmas tree! But not just a Christmas Tree – this one came complete with "SNOW"! The little tree had tiny Styrofoam balls that blew up through the center of the tree and then fall gently onto and through the branches. The "snow" was collected in the base and then it was blown back up through the center of the tree to make a continuous "snow fall". It was the coolest thing any of us had seen in a long time! It was unlike anything the rest of the guys received and we all really enjoyed it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The most precious lady in the world cared enough for this 19 year old Marine, far away from home, to send something as special as this! We set it up in the middle of the hooch (living quarter) and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Everyone asked if Mom had sent it and I told them, "No, it came from someone very special." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But even I didn't realize then just how special she really was or that someday she would become my wife. And a very special one she has been since our wedding day on November 28, 1970. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Over this 46 year trip, I've been privileged to learn that acts of kindness like the one in 1969 were simply a way of life for her, and I thank God that she became my precious wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <i>Wayne </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Note: The little Christmas tree is still a part of our traditions. It's tiny, paper ornaments have been given an "upgrade"! </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugxgjFRSOf8-AoGl23BuioWuyaXax0XeVz5y4gUDdfWnJ_G1duEXqjJpW2hbVSLJzi1iW8EcXTF0YAL07FX2L7dI6OlP2OSw9SMRZDqF4FUlgvm6nRzK24pzFMmh0FYmKJ5Isyl8HwLg/s1600/Christmas-2012-212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugxgjFRSOf8-AoGl23BuioWuyaXax0XeVz5y4gUDdfWnJ_G1duEXqjJpW2hbVSLJzi1iW8EcXTF0YAL07FX2L7dI6OlP2OSw9SMRZDqF4FUlgvm6nRzK24pzFMmh0FYmKJ5Isyl8HwLg/s400/Christmas-2012-212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <i>Chris </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118000118652974046.post-26598697027887915532016-11-23T21:04:00.001-08:002016-11-25T12:38:01.234-08:00It’s All About Our Focus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzTaZ0RKItJnY3MVELQKMZkNbFvPQT5NlouMbgGKu4ZAEp2fDYGAZPWoa36g6XQwDN60F7dX9LWSPEkoGElaaUQ2gXaKVAKXVLH8YAZbopTmmGb-_LkSFrrcg2JG8O2Ij6-A8KCxwzHs/s1600/Thankfulness.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzTaZ0RKItJnY3MVELQKMZkNbFvPQT5NlouMbgGKu4ZAEp2fDYGAZPWoa36g6XQwDN60F7dX9LWSPEkoGElaaUQ2gXaKVAKXVLH8YAZbopTmmGb-_LkSFrrcg2JG8O2Ij6-A8KCxwzHs/s400/Thankfulness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In my last post, I shared about my stresses and lack of faith in my situations. My Pastor’s wife, Mrs. Brothers, shared with me what keeps her going in the trying times of her life. Those Bible verses and her advice have tremendously helped me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> What has also helped is a recent Devotion reading from Dr. Charles Stanley with “In Touch Ministries”. Dr. Stanley says that what we focus on is what our heart will seek. He says that our fear and stress come from focusing on the situation rather than on the Lord. In his devotion, he retold the story from the Bible when the Disciples were in a boat headed to another town. Before they could reach shore, a storm came up. In the midst of the storm, they saw Jesus walking on the water coming toward them. Peter spoke up and said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” And Jesus did, and Peter stepped out and walked to Him – on the water! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The storm was still raging, but Peter was walking on the water, he walking to his Lord! But then he began to sink into the waves. Why? Because he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm raging around him. While he was focused on Jesus, he was fine. But when he took his eyes off of the Lord, he sank.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I’ve realized after meditating on what Mrs. Brothers had shared with me and Dr. Stanley wrote, that is what has been happened to me: I have my eyes off of my Lord and am focusing on my storms. Where my focus is that is where my heart is: in the dark waters of fear and stress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It’s all about focus. What we focus on is what our heart fills with and what our emotions believe. So focus is vital, especially to our spiritual well-being. And that, too, is a choice: we must choose what to focus on. And sometimes it takes a conscious, deliberate decision to change what we are focusing on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My friend and fellow blog writer, Tracey Brewer, shared the following quote on her blog just recently. It sums this up really well:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwA6Sa94a6RDQUeylq7w0P97zbi4jecqK3-p_4N7B31OhovpJRhQutl_a1qIe8qwL1vLFy0tTGb5oN74IXI2uSfpM1LhUwOAWzchblbk1AVtYsbDYbxH1e0aeUM_5CUmYpicFS7JiITs/s1600/Focus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwA6Sa94a6RDQUeylq7w0P97zbi4jecqK3-p_4N7B31OhovpJRhQutl_a1qIe8qwL1vLFy0tTGb5oN74IXI2uSfpM1LhUwOAWzchblbk1AVtYsbDYbxH1e0aeUM_5CUmYpicFS7JiITs/s320/Focus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In that story of Peter walking on the water, the most precious thing to me is that when Peter cried out, Jesus was right there, took him by the hand and lifted him up. Then the TWO of them walked back to the boat together. Peter just needed to look to Jesus and call out to Him and he was rescued. Jesus was to Peter and is to us today just a heart’s cry away. And He will reach down and pull us up out of the raging waters, too. And by focusing on how much our Lord loves and cares for us, our world will be properly ordered and our daily walk will be restored.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. And my focus needs to be on how blessed I am:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 1. My husband’s surgery went great! The doctor had to do more than he expected but it all went well and we are now in the slow but steady recovery. What a blessing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 2. The presidential election is over. From a secular standpoint, only history will tell if the choice was a good one. But the Bible tells us that the Lord puts down one and raises up another. He is in control. He is still King of Kings. We are blessed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 3. There are still family situations that are not resolved and which I have no control over. But I can pray for them and trust the Holy Spirit to move in their lives. This is a privilege.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 4. Mom’s health will never improve, but she is not in pain and her mind is clear. We have her with us today and we have the privilege of caring for her. We are blessed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> When I focus on the good things and the truth of the Lord that He is in control and involved in the day to day details of my life, the circumstances I deal with are not the “end of the world” that my emotions can make me feel like they are. My focus must be on the strength and faithfulness of our Lord Jesus. And that is Bible truth, regardless of what my raging storm of emotions tries to make me believe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Caregiver, you, like me, are blessed to be in the situation you are in – even if it doesn’t feel like it at times. We choose what we focus on. This Thanksgiving, let’s choose to focus on what we do have - for we have so much! We are truly blessed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Shared in love, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chris</span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2118000118652974046#editor" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="data:image/png;base64,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" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
The Watsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581466279777706863noreply@blogger.com2