About a month ago, I started thinking about going to visit Huntsville. I guess it was after Erin had been through there and made a comment to me along the lines of "I understand why you and Dad love it so much." The beauty is a big part of it, but that's not the draw to us. It's THE place for us, and when I couldn't get it out of my mind, I should've known something was up.
This morning, one of the first posts I saw on Facebook was from a Bible Chair friend from long ago. She gave the news that Brenda had died.
Brenda and Gary were a "young couple" of the Bible Chair group when we got there in 1973; they'd met there and remained there - Brenda grew up in the church there, so it made sense. Always at their house, even though it was about 15 miles out of town. They'd had one son, and after about a dozen years, were blessed with a second son. Semester after semester, they worked with "BC" kids, remembering how special the place had been for them. Gary grew and became a deacon, and later an elder. Brenda was always there, right beside him.
We laughed years later, long after we'd moved and considered ourselves not "Young Married", that Gary and Brenda remained in the "Young Married" class on Sunday mornings. It's where they belonged; encouraging other young couples. Make no mistake - they had struggles of their own - but they set the example of commitment and love. East Texas through and through, with big, hearty laughs that I hear in my head today.
The receptionist at the church told me that Brenda'd been sick for quite a while; a lot of things evidently went wrong. She'd suffered quite a bit. Gary had to watch that - right there with her all the way.
This weekend, they will bury her on the family ranch in a small Texas town. We'll go and stand in the July Texas heat, and reflect on our years at the Bible Chair. It made me think of "The Big Chill", where college friend meet following the funeral of a friend...
I'm too young for this.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The Fathers in My Life
This morning, as Andy and I ate breakfast, I thought about all the men in my life that have impacted me in their role as "father" - which lead to this post today. So here, in no particular order, are some random and heartfelt thoughts I thought I'd share:
Andrew - duh; of course he'd be first! I fell in love with this city boy, who came to love the Lord and met the items on my "list" of characteristics and qualitites in a man I'd marry. Yes, I really had a list! He wanted us to have time together to "grow" our marriage before kids, and I reluctantly agreed. Now, in our empty nest years, I am grateful for his foresight. His strengths are in his consistency and stability, his commitment to doing all things for a higher purpose, and his ability to deal with me. The girls knew what was what, and they knew he loved them both with all his heart. They still do. I still do, too....
My Dad - Graves Calvin Young. Of the three of us kids, I am most like him - physically and emotionally. He was even tempered, whistled all the time, loved to be with his grandkids, and took pride without being prideful. He smelled of oil, dirt, and roll-your-own cigarettes. He was a quiet giant; I knew without a lot of words and affection that I was one of his most prized blessings here on earth. He died in 1970.
Graves Watson Young - my great-grandfather. Even though I was a toddler when he died, I heard many stories about this big, burly man. He taught my dad to be a hard worker and to live within his means.
My Papaw - "Curly" May, Sr. - A Bohemian by nature. He captured wild animals and made us taste their meat, he chewed tobacco, and he laughed really loudly. As a little child, he scared me - but I still was not afraid to be near him. He died in 1980.
My father-in-law, Frank LaMore. Widowed at a young age with two small boys, he took life as it came and made it into a long, happy life. With Anne by his side, he raised Andy and Bruce (and later Chris and Albert) to be respectful, honest, hard-working and faithful adults. Family comes first to him, and in his latter years, he shows us how to face extreme difficulty and change with character. He has always treated me with respect and love, and has taken pride in his children, grandchildren and now - great grandchildren.
Gregg - my son-in-law extraordinaire. When a mom prays for her daughter's future son, she hopes those prayers are answered. Boy, were they! Not only is Gregg a fine, Christian man who adores my Erin, he is fun, a hard worker, and a super-duper dad in his own right! His patience with the kids amazes me each and every time I am with him. I know my grandbabies are in safe hands with him as their dad!
Lin Johnson -- Gregg's dad. Yes - he makes my list, because he raised Gregg. No person can grow up without that much training and example. You can tell that he and CaLyn took their responsibility seriously by just being around Gregg for 5 minutes.
"Dads of Faith" - so many here!! Either they adopted me as a college student, or influenced my daughters in their early years; I hope they know how much I love them and appreciate their influences. Some of them showed us how to parent by example - some took us under their wings without making it a big deal. It's the "circle of life" thing....
And, of course. God, the Father. Not for one moment of my life have I not been aware of His guidance and love. My heritage and church family taught me that my Father would always be beside me and that my life was His. I hope I have lived it so far to His glory!
Andrew - duh; of course he'd be first! I fell in love with this city boy, who came to love the Lord and met the items on my "list" of characteristics and qualitites in a man I'd marry. Yes, I really had a list! He wanted us to have time together to "grow" our marriage before kids, and I reluctantly agreed. Now, in our empty nest years, I am grateful for his foresight. His strengths are in his consistency and stability, his commitment to doing all things for a higher purpose, and his ability to deal with me. The girls knew what was what, and they knew he loved them both with all his heart. They still do. I still do, too....
My Dad - Graves Calvin Young. Of the three of us kids, I am most like him - physically and emotionally. He was even tempered, whistled all the time, loved to be with his grandkids, and took pride without being prideful. He smelled of oil, dirt, and roll-your-own cigarettes. He was a quiet giant; I knew without a lot of words and affection that I was one of his most prized blessings here on earth. He died in 1970.
Graves Watson Young - my great-grandfather. Even though I was a toddler when he died, I heard many stories about this big, burly man. He taught my dad to be a hard worker and to live within his means.
My Papaw - "Curly" May, Sr. - A Bohemian by nature. He captured wild animals and made us taste their meat, he chewed tobacco, and he laughed really loudly. As a little child, he scared me - but I still was not afraid to be near him. He died in 1980.
My father-in-law, Frank LaMore. Widowed at a young age with two small boys, he took life as it came and made it into a long, happy life. With Anne by his side, he raised Andy and Bruce (and later Chris and Albert) to be respectful, honest, hard-working and faithful adults. Family comes first to him, and in his latter years, he shows us how to face extreme difficulty and change with character. He has always treated me with respect and love, and has taken pride in his children, grandchildren and now - great grandchildren.
Gregg - my son-in-law extraordinaire. When a mom prays for her daughter's future son, she hopes those prayers are answered. Boy, were they! Not only is Gregg a fine, Christian man who adores my Erin, he is fun, a hard worker, and a super-duper dad in his own right! His patience with the kids amazes me each and every time I am with him. I know my grandbabies are in safe hands with him as their dad!
Lin Johnson -- Gregg's dad. Yes - he makes my list, because he raised Gregg. No person can grow up without that much training and example. You can tell that he and CaLyn took their responsibility seriously by just being around Gregg for 5 minutes.
"Dads of Faith" - so many here!! Either they adopted me as a college student, or influenced my daughters in their early years; I hope they know how much I love them and appreciate their influences. Some of them showed us how to parent by example - some took us under their wings without making it a big deal. It's the "circle of life" thing....
And, of course. God, the Father. Not for one moment of my life have I not been aware of His guidance and love. My heritage and church family taught me that my Father would always be beside me and that my life was His. I hope I have lived it so far to His glory!
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