a few things

We visited our friends, the Bowmans, in Tennessee last week. We had a fun time with them as we always do. They are great hosts and go out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable in their home.

On this trip they treated us to a matinee at the local community theater for a musical play called "Smoke On The Mountain." We have history in a small southern Christian church and recognized many aspects of the stereotypical, southern Christian family singing group and the young, exuberant, small church preacher. But this wasn't a poke in the eye kinda play that was mean spirited and derogatory. The play was a warm homey look at some of the funny and poignant things we've experienced in our lives at church. The actors played their parts with empathy for their oh so human characters. We in the congregation, er audience, sang along with the gospel songs they sang and left knowing that, despite all our human frailties, the Lord is good and our brothers and sisters in the Lord are family. I hope I never forget these truths.

We also went on a historical pilgrimage all over the area. Hoyt and Lera were born and raised in the part of Tenn where they now currently live. We were treated to commentary by Hoyt about his and Lera's history in the area. I don't know how he remembers all he does but it was very interesting to be taken back in time with them and to learn of the area's mining history and their youth there. Hoyt would be a perfect source for local historians to ask about how the area has changed over the last 60 or so years. I was amazed at his sharp memory of places and people. I wish I had a small amount of his talent for recall. What a treat for us to be brought along on this journey into his history! We certainly do love them both and look forward to seeing them again when they come home for the winter in Orlando.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is our thirty-ninth wedding anniversary. Yep. August 8, 1970 at eight o'clock p.m., Byron and I were married at the Apopka Church of God. We had a small but pretty wedding with my colors of yellow and green and my white daisies. My best friends, Rose and Alice, and my two sisters, stood up with me as my bridesmaids. Byron had his brothers and a cousin stand with him.

A lot has changed in the 39 years since that night. We have grown daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. My parents, Byron's dad, Uncle Bill, my sister Karla, and my cousin Sondra have died--as well as a host of aunts and uncles. We are definitely showing our age. And time has brought us closer together than ever. He's my best friend and my favorite person in the whole world. I definitely married up. I am so looking forward to each and every new year the Lord allows us to have together.

Happy Anniversary, dear Byron.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Uncle Boonie died yesterday. Although we weren't very close in recent years I do have some fun memories of him as a teen. I remember that he took me for a ride in his really fast car. Don't remember if it was a Firebird or Camaro but I remember him hitting the gas and taking off like crazy. It was a blast! I also remember visiting the family with Byron when the girls were little and he took us up Hwy 429 in Tenn--the Tail of the Dragon. He also showed us Cade's Cove for the very first time. Boonie was a good dad and he will be greatly missed. May you rest in peace, Floyd Sweet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This post is a little bit of this and a little bit of that but that's how the last couple of days have been--first one thing then another. That's life, I suppose. It's always something. And, that's ok because we have a constant. We have our never wavering, sure as a rock, foundation. We have the Lord to keep us grounded and safe and steady. We are not on shifting sand. We are on the solid rock, Jesus, and I'm so glad.

Lord, Thank you for friends, and memories, and the ebb and flow of life. Thank you for your steadfastness. I love you.

Suz

true friends and dear family

I'm very happy to be picking Aunt Margaret up from the airport this morning. She's been in Tennessee for a few weeks and we have really missed her. For the last several years she's spent much of her time in Florida with Aunt Wanda so when she goes home to Tennessee on occasion there's a great void here where she should be!

I love how we find our places in different circles of friends and family. If we communicate with someone regularly or if she comes into the group for any length of time, and then if we don't hear from her or she goes away, we really notice her absence. Although both my Aunts Margaret and Polly have been in Tennessee we've communicated regularly. If I were not to hear from them for a while I'd definitely feel their absence. Same thing with friends on a trip or vacation. Go away with a group of people for a week and when it's home sweet home and same old, same old again we wonder how our friends are getting along and what they're up to!

We've had this "friend connection" experience many times over the last few years with our mission trips and vacations. Go on a missions trip with a group and you experience situations truly unique to this particular group. You enjoy the specific fun things together as well as deal with specific inconveniences and share spiritual blessings and challenges. So when it's back home every hello is enriched by deep layers of shared experiences in the Lord. Go on a vacation together or work on a project at home and it's the same thing. When the trip or work is done, we miss those with whom we've spent so much time.

I love how our hearts intertwine in the Lord and how relationship builds layer upon layer when we communicate, we work or we live together with our family and friends. We need strong friendships. We need strong family ties. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto!

Father, Thank you for true friends and dear family. I am truly blessed. I love you.

Suz