• Heaven bound…

    Over the past two plus years, my sweet brother-in-law Eddie has courageously battled cancer.  Through numerous surgeries and treatments, he persevered.  He did not want to leave my sister Eunice, the love of his life, and his wife of 64 years.  As the days grew closer and the pain grew worse, he acknowledged he was ready to go home to Heaven.  After seventeen days in Hospice care, Eddie went home to be with the Lord late Monday night.

    Eddie was in the United States Army before he met Eunice, stationed in Germany. 

    There are people in this world who leave a big hole when they leave this earthly life.  Eddie is one of those.  A father of three daughters, a grandfather and great-grandfather, he loved his family with all his heart.  He was one of twelve children with six of his brothers and sisters gone before him.  He had such a ready smile, big dimples and an amazing sense of humor.  I’ve thought more than once today about the laughter there is in Heaven now.  He could tell a story and have you laughing deep belly laughs in a heartbeat.

    I can just hear Eddie laughing in this photo!  I’m guessing one of his granddaughters took this photo of him. Those granddaughters are now nurses and spent a lot of the nights with him in Hospice.  

    He loved horses. Over the years, he had several.  He was truly a horse whisperer and could get a horse to do anything.  I firmly believe there are horses in Heaven.  I bet Eddie will find them and have them trained in no time.

    Eddie with Cherokee, his last horse.  He loved all his horses and they loved him.  

    I loved to hear Eddie pray…dearest, sweetest, richest prayers.  By now, Eddie has seen Jesus, face to face.  He has beheld the majesty and glory of Heaven.  He has heard the angels sing.  By now, he has seen his parents and grandparents, mine and Eunice’s parents and sisters…all the loved ones who have gone before.  At one point during Hospice, though sedated, he sat up and exclaimed “Wow!  Wow!” several times.  Personally, I think he was seeing angels waiting to take him home.

  • Birthdays in Heaven…

    I wonder about a lot of things.  I always have.  Thankfully, there is the Bible, the inspired Word of God, to fill in a lot of the blanks.  Maybe with all the things we really  need to know.  I know in Heaven there is no more sorrow, no more crying, no more night, no more illness – no more growing old.  We are young and strong again.  I know we “will know as we are known”.  We will recognize one another!  Since we won’t be growing old, as we do on this earth, then I have to assume we won’t be celebrating birthdays.  Or maybe we will remember the birthday that we had on this earth?  The Bible doesn’t tell us that.

    If my sister Gerry were still on the earth, she would be celebrating her 84th birthday.  But she’s in Heaven and young again.  I dreamed about her last night.  I dreamed about her birthday and everyone was celebrating.  I believe that she is celebrating in Heaven today!  Happy Birthday, Sis!  I miss you more than words can say but I will see you again in Heaven!

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     Above:  boating on Grenada Lake about 1963.  

    Below:  At their house “on the hill” mid 1980’s.  

    She’s probably making a joke in Heaven about her 80’s hair!

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    Gerry

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    August 1st is also the day of celebrating my daughter-in-love Amanda’s birthday.  She really is very much like my sister Gerry – the same heart of gold.  I will always remember when my son brought her home from college to meet us.  His father and I fell in love with Amanda right there on the spot.  I clearly remember telling my son, “you can marry her or I will ADOPT her, but either way, I am KEEPING her!”  I’m so happy to be her second mom.  Happy Birthday, Amanda!  I love you!

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    August 1st is also my daughter and her beloved’s wedding anniversary!  Tonight, I will be babysitting as they go out for dinner to celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary.  Where did the time go?  Thankfully, that time gave me four wonderful grandchildren.  I have two sons and one that I consider my precious son as well!  I am blessed!  Happy Anniversary!  I love you both!

    For more pics and stories of the first day of August, read here.

  • Memories of Bill…

    December 1, 1943 –  April 10, 2006

    We are souls living in bodies.  Our bodies grow old, but our souls never die.  Seven years ago, you went to Heaven.  While you are no longer on this earth, your spirit lingers on in the lives of our three amazing children.  You would be so proud of them.  They are strong, loving, successful.  They are giving and devoted spouses.   They are loving, remarkable, wonderful parents.

    They are happy.

    Our grandchildren are treasures.  I tell them about you often.  I tell them “Granddad stories”.   I wish you could have lived long enough to have met the youngest ones.  They will hear Granddad stories too.  I see so much of you in our children and, now, in the grandchildren.  No doubt, they will have your drive and your competitive streak.  They are all athletic like you.  They’re artistic like both of us.  You would love hearing them play the piano and the violin.

    Our grandchildren are incredible blessings and bring me such joy.

    From time to time, I do see a mischievous grin on their faces and I know just where that came from…

    Love always,

    Dianne

    Matching shirts in the early seventies…
    Our two older children…fifteen & a half months apart.  Joyful, busy days for a young Mom and Dad.  Here they are coloring before bedtime in our son’s “cowboy & Indian” room…
     
    late eighties at Vanderbilt University…our little cowboy grew up
    Glacier National Park and a week of backpacking…

     

    Daddy and Daddy’s girl

     

    Graduation day…Mississippi College
    Wearing her Dad’s Heroes shirt…

     

    Our youngest little bundle of forever joy…

     

    Taking a break from playing frisbee by the street lights…

    Graduation day at Indiana University…

    Our firstborn grandchild helping Granddad paint…

    Granddad talking to our daughter’s oldest two children…
    Granddad and our firstborn grandchild. At Scott and Amy’s wedding in Memphis…

     

    Granddad holding our daughter’s daughter…

     

    2004…Granddad holding our daughter’s baby girl.

     

    Granddad holding our firstborn’s firstborn…

    Playing doll clothes with our older son’s firstborn on a visit to Memphis.

     

    Granddad and our older son’s baby girl…they had been playing doll clothes and dolls in the floor with Granddad. We celebrated her second birthday that week.

     

    GrandDad, Great-Grandmom, our older son and his daughters…

     

    My three sisters and Bill on a visit when we lived in Terre Haute, Indiana. Sad to think that three of them are now in Heaven. My sister (second from right) and I remain behind on this earth…

     

    (L to R) Penny (Bill’s sister), Bobbie (Bill’s late Mom) and Bill. This was taken on one of their fun visits to Terre Haute.
    A fun photo taken at Silver Dollar City in Missouri.
    This is actually my favorite pic of the two of us…