Life!!!

I got the sad news tonight that a classmate of mine lost his wife to cancer. I haven't seen this classmate since graduation, but recently reconnected with them on Facebook. My heart goes out to him and their 2 teenagers daughters who are left without a wife and a mother. Life really is short. Life has no guarantees. There's no rhyme or reason why things happen to people. And to be honest sometimes it is hard to see God's plan in a sad situation. Although I know He has a plan and nothing happens by accident, we are still human and we still wonder why. I certainly don't have the answers, but I trust God. He is in complete control and makes no mistakes. He is there to comfort us in our times of sorrow. He engulfs us in His loving arms and cradles us as we cry out our hurts, disappointment, rejections and sorrows. He is a loving God. My heart felt sympathy goes out to the White family tonight. I think about all the times Stephen made me laugh in school and cheered me up. I only wish I could ease the pain for him some how in this time of sorrow. Say a prayer for this family.

Happy Mail!!!

I went to run a few errands and found myself in the cards. I always stop and read cards wherever I go. I soon found several that I thought would be perfect for some of my friends. I love sending people cards for no reason, and when they really don't expect to get anything. I call it "happy mail". Bills are not happy mail. I even bought stickers to decorate the envelopes. If you don't receive a card from me, maybe I don't have your address. Who knows a card could be coming to mail box near you.

Laughing With Old Friends

On Saturday, I was scheduled to perform at Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church where our friends Kevin and Kelly Thompson are serving. It was their Mother and Daughter Banquet. I just had a ball there, and it was great to see Kelly and her daughter Faith.

Kelly and Faith Thompson

I had to laugh as Kelly introduced me, as she told everyone that she didn't think that Mark and I were married when we first went to Exway. I told her that of course we were married, they let us stay in the parsonage; and we sure weren't shacking up. LOL She actually meant when Mark first started filling in there as the interim in the summer before we were married. Kelly was 14 when we started Exway. As you pastor churches, there are people that are special and you know that you will always stay in touch with them over the years. That is the way Kelly and her family has been. Kelly was 14, Austin was 4 and Justin was 3 when we started Exway. I have so many fond memories of them. Kelly use to come and spend the night with me at the parsonage and we would stay in the guest room and talk and sing the hits of the 80's all night. I have cut her hair and done her nails over the years, and been out to help her feed her pot bellied pig, Lulu. I colored a many of pictures and mailed to Austin and Justin when they were young. Kids love to get mail, and I made sure those boys got lots of mail. I use to play H-O-R-S-E basketball with them and played with the Fisher Price Pirate Ship. Oh, what great memories we have of the Dunn family.

Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church

It was great to come and perform there for them, but it was also exciting seeing Kelly in action as the Pastor's wife. Mark married her and Kevin back in 1997 on the 27th of September (the day after our anniversary). In a way we have felt like Kelly has been ours over the years. I am so proud of her as she serves next to Kevin. They have a wonderful family that includes Faith and Garrett. I wasn't sure that I was going to get through my performance on Saturday, as Kelly stood up there and led things....I beamed with pride. She has always been so special to us. I pray that she always loves and follows the Lord. It was wonderful to see her Saturday....I was disappointed that Ieshia didn't make an appearance though. LOL

Friends!!!

I once thought that when you became friends with someone, you would stay friends forever. True and false. I don't think you lose your friendship completely, but the relationship changes. You see all this BFF from high school kids and some of that will stay true and some won't. Facebook is guilty for this subject. I have reconnected with people from high school and all the places we have lived. I have also found friends that I didn't know before Facebook. We meet people all the time. I have 4 friends on Facebook that are a result of Ebay and 2 friends on there that I have met through my other friends on Facebook. I met one friend through her blog and getting to know her through her writing. People come and go in our lives and our degree of closeness changes, most of the time. I had a best friend in high school whom I spent all my free time with back then. She married and I married...I moved away..20 years past. We found each other on Facebook, and while we are still friends, the closest we once shared is gone. That is to be expected. I have also found that you aren't meant to be friends with someone forever, but it is nice to have friends that stick around. I know that God sends you some friends when you really need someone, and they are there for a season, and the time that we need them. I am friends with people now that I went to in high school with, but barely knew back then. There is a difference in being friends at 16 and at 39. Some have grown into an adult that I don't recognize or can't identify with now. I mean, I am not the same person I was at 16. Friends grow up and start their adult life with their own mind and ideas. Sometimes that makes you closer to someone and sometimes that drives a wedge between you. For example if your whole life is a party and the bar scenes, chances are we are not going to be bosom buddies. We have no common interest. Then I have 2 friends that I have known all my life. We don't always talk, but when we do it is like we have never been apart. These are my BFF. Thanks Karon and Barbara for always being there through the years. Friends are people who love you inspite of your faults and failures. They see you as the person you really are...they see your heart. I hope that everyone has at least one good friend and if you have two or more really good friends, then you are truly blessed.

Full Week!!

Well, things have been busy this week to say the least. We go to Moore County on Tueday morning and by that afternoon, my dad has been put in the hospital. My sister in law calls to tell us that my mother inlaw rehab time is up. Something about insurance. Which I don't believe,(I think since we were going to move her from there they would no longer fight for her therapy) but that is another story. We stayed Wednesday to help get things ready to move Mark's mom on Thursday to the new assisted living place. Mark and Gerald moved her furniture over while Gail and I did the business end. Then around 6 pm we left for Wilmington. Got home late and got up by 5 am the next morning. Was at the hospital before 10 am just incase they took daddy early...the didn't. Didn't go into surgery until about 3:30. Surgery went well. Only one tumor with shallow roots. Possibly no treatments, but the biopsy will determine that. A few complications after the surgery, but they let him come home on Friday with far too many instructions and mentioning way too much about getting to the ER as fast as you could for me to feel comfortable. So far this AM I haven't heard from them, so I am assuming all is well. Lots of love and support has been shown to mom and dad during this time. Mark and I have received lots of emails of people tells us that they are praying for him. I have received 100's of text asking about daddy and keeping up with his progress. It has been a full week, but I was so happy with the news from his surgery. Praying that he feels better and like his old self soon.

So Loved!!!

Sometimes in life the emotion of loneliness creeps into our life. I have experienced this more than once during my life. When you are a preacher's wife, people don't flock around to be your real friend. I have never understood this...I am not God and I don't judge you. People always say or do what they think that I would approve of, but I am human. I am not perfect and say and do things that don't please God...it is called being human. I have said all this to say that this week I have felt so much love. Since learning that Dad has cancer my friends have showed an out pouring of love and support. I have friends that love and care about me. Old friends and new friends. The response has been over whelming. Calls, cards, emails and text. I love technology. Spent most of the ride home yesterday chatting with an old friend. Known Barbara since the 4th grade. She has a calming effect on me, and helped me take my mind off things. Came home last night with hardly any gas in our tank (we heat & cook with gas). Called the gas company to leave my name, but their emergency service answered. In a few minutes a man called and reassured me that I had enough gas until today, and he was adding me to the list. Guess what? The gas employee was my friend Julie's husband. I got to talk to Jules. Haven't got to talk to her in a while. It was like God was putting my old friends in my path when I needed them the most. Reassuring me that Dad is going to be fine and they were praying. Oh my what a feeling to feel the love from friends and family.

Gabby!!!

Today I went to the post office and the library. I find myself at these two places almost daily. I picked up some more books with Christmas themes to read over Christmas. At the post office, I got 2 surprises. First an old friend sent me a cross in my pocket that she had made. How sweet!! Another friend included a little money in their card...that was very nice of them. We haven't seen them in a while.


Mark and I decided to go and get each other some little things to open on Christmas morning. We just hate not to do that, even though the computer is our main gift and the microwave. I have a special little surprise planned for Christmas night for me and Mark. A little celebration that we can have together. I am looking forward to all the Christmas festivities and seeing my family. My uncle is suppose to be coming in from Texas, and I can't wait to see him. He is so funny...I am hoping to get some new material from him. hahaha!! I found out that my mom is making one of my favorite things in the whole wide world...icebox fruit cake. Don't turn your nose up....it is delish!!! I love that stuff, and my sugar level will probably go sky high. I will try to behave myself, but it is so hard. She hasn't made one in quite a while. I was so excited!!! I am looking forward to Christmas Eve and Day. My mom is fixing ribs along with turkey on Christmas day. I love her ribs, they are so gooooood. We are having a little bit of this and that for Christmas. I am in charge of making pinto beans and potato salad. I think that I can handle that.


Delivered my fruit to Amanda's parents last night. It was so good to see Ken and Judy and get to visit with them briefly. She sent home these pecans home with us that she made. I am allergic, but Mark and his dad sure have enjoyed them.

Got a great surprise today, Mark's brother, wife and granddaughter visited with us today. Courtney is so great. I couldn't resist (I have no will power) I gave her a few Christmas gifts. I can replace them before we all meet. I gave her a DS game, stickers and a Rachel Ray cookbook. She loved it. I also gave her an autographed copy of a book that our friend, Ken Loyd wrote. She immediately sat down and started reading the book. She was half way through it before they left. She loved it. It was nice to spend the day with them.

Courtney enjoying Ken Loyd's book. She was very engrossed in the book.

Change of Plans!!

Today was suppose to be The Garner Family Christmas. I say suppose to be, because it didn't happen. Mark's brother and sister and all their families got snowed in up in Davidson County. We will have to reschedule. Thinking about doing it the first Saturday in January. I like that idea...it prolongs the Christmas celebration.

Our church is exchanging gifts tomorrow after service, then going out to eat. I thought we were doing it next weekend, so I have got to go and get my gifts this afternoon. Going over to the church to set up our candlelight service this afternoon. Then tonight we are getting our surprises ready for everyone at church.

Lately, I have been every busy doing extra stuff. Not a bad thing...a good thing. We have been able to help more people and ministries this year than any other year. Due to the Lord blessing us so much this year. Also, we were very prepared for the Christmas Season, so we could take on doing a little more. I have really enjoyed helping gather things for Fed by Faith. I think I am more of a collector of things. I love gathering up goodies for a worthy cause. I sent my cards to St.Jude's this past week and I really enjoyed doing that. It was fun gathering them all together for such a worthy cause as that.

Sent 2 ladies a Christmas card that I kinda know, but not that well. They are Mark's parents friends. One lady use to own "The Matthew's Market". I will have to blog about it sometime, because Mark has such fond memories of that place. They are both widowed, so I picked up 2 special cards for them.

Got more stuff to make me some more earrings. I love making them, and I need some black ones as well. I don't know that it is cheaper to make them or not, but it passes the time away.

Went to the library and checked out all non fiction books with Christmas themes. Just finished reading "Christmas Thief" by Mary Higgins Clark. It was a great book. All the other books are by Debbie Macomber. So you should see my books I have read list grow.

Almost home now. Been writing this blog in the car as we travel back to Wilmington.

From the Heart!!!

Mitzvah means worthy deed. There are lots of worthy deeds floating around. People now days stick more to themselves and their families. I have always heard the phrase "God bless our 4 and no more.". That is the way some feel. I have always felt that we are to help people. To help meet their needs no matter their situation, race or social standing. I say situation, but I won't be helping an alcoholic or drug addict buy more booze or drugs. I am talking more about those who have hit bottom or down on their luck. We tend to judge people who are down on their luck. Someone who can't find a job, we automatically think that they are lazy. Why do we judge people when things are at their worst for them? Instead of judging, we need to offer help. You don't always have to pull money from your pocket to help. Help them find a job or guide them to the right place that can help them. Just do something that shows you care. That is what most people want...somone who cares. This Christmas season do a "mitzvah"...a worthy deed.


Today for my deed, I am putting a tie in the mail for one of Mark's old friends. He worked with Leonard at JB Short's years ago. Leonard is a preacher or rather a bishop in his church now. We haven't seen him in a while, and we only catch up with him at Christmas. Just a little surprise for him this Christmas season.



Remember the babe in the manger didn't stay there. He grew up and died on a cross for your sins and my sins. He arose 3 days later and He is coming again. This Christmas not only remember the Reason for the Season, but also remember the reason the babe was born. To save us from our sins if only we believe on Him and accept Him.

Friends!!

Got an email from a friend thanking me for her surprise. I mailed her a pair of Christmas earrings that I had made. Known her since the 4th grade. So glad that she liked them.

My friends, Beth and Steve, from down the road lost their father this weekend. I started to kindergarten with Steve in 1976. His sister Beth is older than us. We use to carpool to school together and spent countless days soaking up the rays at Wrightsville Beach. Lots of good memories with those two. Their dad was a nice man. Always willing to help his neighbor. Mr. Stanley, the Long Creek Community will miss you.

Taking a little girl at church a gift today. I know she will love it...she likes everything. We have caught so many sales and used coupons this year that I have a little back stock of gifts. I love giving children gifts. They get so excited.

Chrismon and a variation of the hanging of the greens service today. Having car trouble that weekend threw us behind. It will be great though. Looking forward to a great day.