BETH

Two years ago yesterday Beth is removed from Life Support. Within minutes her heart stops. It is still hard to realize that she is not a phone call away.

She is such a big part of our lives for several years. I still miss the times when she and Lara are at the house getting ready for this or that event or simply laying around watching TV, talking or playing games. She spends more time at our house than she does at her own.

She comes to my house before her Jr. Prom

Lara & Beth graduate high school.

Beth goes to Community College locally & Lara goes to Western Kentucky University. Beth brings her friends over even though Lara is away at college or she comes over alone to play games.

Beth & her pals at our house.

Lara & Beth at her graduation from Vol State.

She fixes my hair when I am going to the Heart Gala (a fancy smancy deal). It looks great. One day she decides to wash & wax my car, it doesn't look so great, lol. I think it still has some of the wax on it when it is sold years later. She has to be doing something all the time. I suppose you could say she is hyper.

Lara & Beth decide to go to MTSU and share an apt. This lasts one semester & Beth drops out & comes back to live with her daddy & step-mother. She meets Troy, whom she ultimately marries, and moves to a bordering county. Lara is maid-of-honor at their wedding.

Lara is with her when Megan is born. The nurse says only family is allowed and Beth says she is my sister.

Lara, Baby Megan, & Beth

(soon after they were released from hospital)

Troy & Beth at Lara's MTSU graduation reception

Lee, Beth, Mekesha, Heather and Lara @ Lara's TN. wedding reception

.

Lara & Beth @ their 10 year class reunion

Then there are three. Beth loves being a mommy. The photo is taken not long before Beth leaves this world.

Dallas, Beth, Baby Ella, Megan

I am at her mother's funeral, I am at her graduation from high school (of course, Lara graduates, too), her community college graduation, her wedding, the hospital soon after the birth of her 1st child, the hospital the night before she is taken off life support and at her funeral.

Yes, Beth has been a huge part of my life. I loved her then, I love her now, and I miss her daily.

Studying The Word

I make a commitment to myself, the beginning of 2008, that I will read the entire Bible in a year. I print out a calendar, that gives the daily readings, in order to accomplish this mission. I have never read straight through before. I read a book, chapter, or verse here and there but have never disciplined myself to read it cover to cover. I am currently ahead of schedule.

I am enjoying it tremendously!!! I realize now how interesting the OT is. There is definitely a ton I do not understand and it is comforting when I hear people, that I hold in high esteem as Bible scholars, readers, leaders, teachers, say each time they read, they find something new or have a different understanding of this verse or that verse.

Our congregation is doing a forty day study of the Psalms. The same time we start this study, my DH decides he wants to read Purpose Driven Life (PDL), which is also a forty day study. We decide to do them together. When he is out of town, we each do our personal Psalms study and then discuss it over the phone and then he reads PDL to me and we discuss that. On the days he is home, we usually read the Psalms together, each fill out our workbooks, discuss our feelings and opinions, then read and discuss PDL. We each have our lessons from our Bible Study groups that we do, also.

I last night realize we are nearing the end of May. This means we will be completing the Psalms and PDL. We are trying to decide what study we will do next. Any suggestions???

New Life in Christ

After reading the Bible for the past few years, my DH Jerry has made the decision that his baptism as an infant is not sufficient to save his soul. On February 17, 2008, after expressing his belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he was buried in Baptism. This begins a new life for us.

We have been reading and praying and discussing our views on Christianity for quite a while now. We have been desiring to become active in a church home. The congregation at Old Hickory Church of Christ is welcoming us with open arms and loving hearts.

I ask that any one who reads this pray for us as we continue this journey separately and together.

Feeling Blessed, Once More!!!

Tuesday evening the area around us is devastated by tornadoes. According to the radar that is on the TV a cell is passing right over our house. Many people in the county lose power but we don't. Homes, barns, businesses, schools, etc are destroyed and many lives lost in Tennessee and surrounding states. It has been reported that there were 60 tractor-trailers and personal vehicles destroyed on a ten mile stretch of I-40. Jerry frequently travels that corridor. Thankfully, he is not in that area Tuesday night.

This is not the first time God has spared me. There have been so many times that tornadoes have touched down so close to me and have passed over without touching down right there each time.

I do not know why God has chosen to let me go unscathed, except for some occasional nervousness. Actually, for the most part the past few times, I have felt calm when they say, "Get in your safe place". I get in my safe place, or what I think is, and it feels a bit silly because I feel everything is going to be okay. I think it is better to feel silly by being careful than to be careless and have something happen.

This is a part of choice. You can feel safe but not be safe. I remember years ago, a friend and I had our children (they were young then) and we were trying to find a furniture store. It started storming. She was determined to keep going because "the Lord will take care of us". I admire her faith in the Lord and I have faith, too, but I tell her that God does take care of people but God also gives people common sense. Common sense to get out of the storm if you do not have to be in it. I finally convinced her & we went home. To me having my babies in a safer place outweighs going to look around in a furniture store, just because you want to.

Back to why God has spared me. I think it is because He has a lot of work to do on me. He is working on me every second of every day, and I am feeling better and better, happier and happier. When He is done, He will call me to my heavenly home.