See Ya' Later

Unlike attending a funeral before these times, within the last two months, I traveled to two funerals via cyberspace -- Facebook Live. While it’s not the same as being there in person to support and encourage those whose loved one passed on, it is a blessing to be in this technology age that affords us the opportunity to watch from the comfort of our homes.

Such was the case on Tuesday, when I, from my home in Frisco, TX and my dear 97-year-old mother-in-law in Tulsa, OK, could go all the way to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada via Facebook Live for the funeral/memorial service of mom’s 92-year-old sister. We watched it all as my cousins and mom's nieces and nephews sang and gave beautiful remarks about their mom and grandmother. The theme throughout was Alma's love for her Lord, her knowledge of God's Word, always quoting scriptures, singing about Him with her sisters, leading her children to Him, her hospality, the best baker of sweets -- oh, those tarts -- and loving her family with all her heart. What a legacy!

Auntie Alma’s health drastically declined over the last few months. Mom, the older sister at 97, would daily call her to check in and to encourage her until she was hospitalized. Mom told me she’d say to Alma: “I’m calling to make you laugh again!” And, every time, Alma’s spirit was lifted. One such time, Mom said: “Alma, do you remember when playing Hide and Go Seek, we were all found but we couldn’t find you? We looked and looked but you were nowhere to be found. We were so worried we ran in and told Dad. He came out with his lantern, went straight to his Model T in the garage and found you on the floor board, sound asleep.” The last time mom was able to talk to Alma she told mom, “I’m just too tired to talk today.” Then, Mom starting praying that the Lord would take her home. He did.

My cousin let me know about Auntie Alma's passing on and I let Karen, my sis-in-law know. She found the best time to tell mom. When she told her, mom raised her hands to heaven and shouted: “Hallelujah!” I called then to check on her and she was in a rejoicing-state-of-mind! “I didn't shed a tear and have no sorrow. She’s where I want to be. I remember when we talked about our ten siblings already in heaven and only two seats remained at the table for Alma and me. We wondered which one of us would take the next seat. Now, there’s just one seat left and I’ll soon take it and close the door behind me.”

I love mom’s spirit. She is the last of the 12 siblings on this side of heaven. She is still so on purpose with her life. Only God knows how much longer she’ll be here, but I love her attitude. No grief. No mourning. She just keeps saying “See ya’ later” to those that go before her.

From my own firsthand experience, I know about "passing on" of my husband, parents, and all my siblings. Notice I say “Pass on – not pass away”. “Away” sounds like over and done with, but “on” is like going ON home, going ON a vacation, carrying ON. So, like Mom said “See ya’ later” to Alma – that’s the eternal perspective we can have too! Parting is just temporary!

Alma’s bags were packed. (Actually, I think Mom, mentally, has her bags packed, too). One of these days, Mom’s prayers will be answered, and she’ll walk through the door to eternity. Mom was Auntie Alma's midwife. She helped push her through that door. And here’s the best news for us. We'll walk through that door to our home sweet home one day, too. Our loved ones, there before us, will be on the sidelines cheering for us as we cross our Finish Line. In the meantime, let's give our best to God in each day while we live with eternity in our hearts. I intend to finish strong right along with you! I'll see ya' later!

Thanks for the Memories, Kenny!

So what’s a girl to do on a day when she hears that a dear friend has passed away – especially when she’s in quarantine because of the C-virus? And, when she gets many text messages from friends and family who offer her condolences. She remembers. And, she recalls the love she shared with her lover listening to this man's love songs. SHE recommends that you lovers out there listen to those songs while you're in quarantine!

Last Friday, Kenny Rogers passed away. As a devoted fan of his for so many years, I couldn’t help but shed some big old crocodile tears as I let my mind go back to his many concerts that my husband and I attended. We felt like we knew him personally because his songs were so much a part of our lives. Any time he was within a couple of hours distance from us, we’d make sure we were at his concert.

I’m strong, resilient, determined and I live life to its fullest. I don’t often spend time just reminiscing the past. Looking in the rearview mirror and dwelling there gets us no place. But there are times when it’s okay to remember. I did that on Sunday after I had watched, via livestream, two church services and two masses – all four giving me so much gratitude and deeper love for my Lord. I took notes and journaled what I heard.

Then I called five friends to check on them and to spread some love and encouragement. But once I cozied down in my chair, I listened to some of our Kenny Rogers’ favorites: “She Believes in Me”, “Lady”, “You Decorated My Life” and our absolute favorite in our later years: “Through the Years”. I had me some big old melt down as I remembered my sweetheart’s arms around me and holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes as we heard those songs.

I remembered, when living in Canada, us following Kenny’s entourage to Morden, Manitoba. A white limousine led the way for several white Cadillacs. We had a white Cadillac, so we felt welcomed to follow right in line with them and into the private parking area as the guard waved us through. Kenny and his entourage walked in through the stage doors. We owned it and made our way in with them and into the best seats in the house. Kenny always said from the stage: “Lady, why do you have binoculars when you’re sitting on the front row?” That wasn’t me, because it wasn’t the man we admired as much as we did his songs and his beautiful vibrato voice.

True love didn’t quit through life’s ups and downs.“Through the Years” spoke volumes about two determined people willing to never give up. That song described us perfectly!

To love and be loved is life's sweetest treasure. But even more than the earthly love we enjoy, the most beloved relationship we could ever hope to have, is our relationship with God. What a beautiful romance I have had with Him through the years. He yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us. He says:“I have loved you with an everlasting love”. (Jeremiah 31:3) This world was made for romance -- the rivers, the meadows, the mountains and the beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss, a sunrise, a sunset, a touch.

Shhh! I hear Him singing a love song to me: "The LORD your God among you is powerful -- He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you". Zephaniah 3:17

Perhaps, as a jealous God for our affection, one of the reasons for the incubation and isolation we’re experiencing right now, is because He wants us to turn our attention to Him. We’ve got the time and we’re in just the right place to do that today!

When God's Plans are Way Better than Ours

In 1986, we moved to Canada on a ministry mission. It was a 100% faith-venture for all of us, including my mom. We had no idea what the future would hold, but we knew Who held our future. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

I’ll limit the adventures of the next seven years to this one story that helps explain that scripture in our lives and, perhaps, in yours. Our daughter had a huge Oklahoma basketball career ahead of her and was chosen for the Junior Olympics BB team. In Canada, women's basketball was not quite there yet, so good-bye basketball. (FYI - the girl's still got game!) 😉🏀

We realized this girl needed grooming after having been a basketball “jock” for many years. On the bench, she would sit with her legs spread apart. I would hand-signal her: "Close those legs!" We put her into modeling school to help with poise and stage presence. Someone noticed this bubbly, outgoing, singing-machine girl and recommended that she try out for the local Miss Teen Winnipeg Pageant. She did and went "all-in"! Within days of the pageant, the directors deemed she would be the sure winner so they disqualified her from the competition. The reason? Her southern drawl just didn't epitimoze a girl from "the Great North". Though she was a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada because of her dad’s Canadian citizenship, the ball dropped on her aspirations...again.

Her daddy (her coach and number one promoter) was steamed at the bias and prejudice against his girl. He was on his way to getting legal counsel when God reminded him of that scripture above. It was heart-wrenching at the time, but “oh the plans God had for her”. Not long after, an aunt called us and recommended that she try out for the David Foster Coca Cola World Chorus that would represent many countries at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Staci was one of 8,500 Canadians chosen by David Foster to represent Canada. She went on to be a soloist at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The next year, at age 18, after training her voice to be less “southern”, she won the Miss Winnipeg Manitoba Pageant and won the talent portion of the Miss Canada Pageant,

I could go on and on about the doors that opened to our girl. Who knew that a huge step of faith would open so many doors? God did. It’s been years since those seven years of “Canadian plenty”, but I often find myself thinking about those years when my plans don’t unfold as I’d hoped. When I’m praying for open doors, yet they remain closed; when I’m pleading for a “yes,” but the answer is “no”; when I’m asking for change, but everything seems to stay the same. I remind myself of the truth that my daughter once learned: A frustrating “no” may be setting the stage for a forthcoming “yes.”

We have a loving Father who knows things we don’t. And sometimes, He needs to “wreck” our agenda in order to render His. It takes faith to believe that promise when life isn’t going as we’d expected. But I’m learning that we don’t need to know all of God’s ways to accept His will. We simply need to trust His heart. God is for us, not against us When we remember who God is, we can better embrace what He’s doing, even if He says “no.” Someday, when we look back at our lives through eternity’s lens, we’ll want to throw our arms around our faithful Father and say, “Thanks for spoiling my plans, Dad. Yours were even better!”