Just In Case...

...some of you don't often read David's blog, take a look at the entry for Monday, August 25. He wrote a beautiful tribute to Diana. You'll love it. It's at http://davidwike.blogspot.com/.

One of Those Days

Today is just one of those days. I don't have them often but today is just one of those days. Maybe it's because it's raining or maybe it's because I drove to Slater this morning. Maybe it's because I thought about the "whoa, whoa, whoas" this morning as I had to drive in the inside lane of Geer Highway since the outside lane was knee deep with water. Maybe it's because I glanced out Webster Street as I passed by but today is just one of those days.


Today, I miss my mama and daddy. It doesn't happen as often anymore but when the days come, they come hard. I wish I could drive to Slater before I come to work and take Daddy a gravy biscuit. I wish I could drop him off at the barber shop to get his haircut. I'd like just one more time to hear those "whoa, whoa, whoas" as I meet an oncoming car or drive in the outside lane. I wish I could go to Bi-lo and pick up Mama's groceries. I'd like to go on Saturday morning to roll her hair. I'd like just one more day of making salmon patties and mashed potatoes. I'd love to pick up the phone and call her just to talk.



I know that Mama and Daddy are in heaven...with whole bodies, not hurting...feasting around the table of the Lord. I know if they could choose, they wouldn't choose to be back here. And truth be known, I wouldn't want them to be back in their hurting earthly bodies. But, that doesn't help my missing them. I'll miss them everyday until I meet them again. But today, I miss them and little more deeply...plain and simple longing in my heart for just one more time talking about nothing and everything; that's how it was with us.

I don't know what brings on these feelings/longings. I think it's different for each person who has lost a parent. They just come out of the blue, with no warning. If you have experienced such emotions, you understand. If you haven't experienced such...pick up the phone, go by to take a gravy biscuit or roll her hair. Talk about everything...and nothing. No matter how busy you are...time is short.

Happy Birthday, David

You know, as the world looks at people it ranks them usually according to their job or position within a company. One of the people I most admire (and love) in the world is my son-in-law, David. David had a great job as a computer programmer and was rapidly advancing within the company. He knew what he was doing and was being rewarded for a job well done.

THEN, David heard and answered God's call to ministry. Not only did he give up his job but also went back to school to complete his undergraduate degree; get a master's degree; and then complete a doctoral degree. In the beginning, David was a youth minister and to this day, his "kids" are serving God as ministers and lay leaders in churches and living out what David lived before them...a life of sacrifice for God.

In 2001, David was serving as a youth pastor . After the resignation of the senior pastor, David began serving as interim pastor. All the while the committee searched for God's man for the church, David was doing a fantastic job as interim. The pastor search committee followed God's leading and recommended that David be called as Senior Pastor. Under David's leadership, Ebenezer has grown and is now in the midst of a building program.

I am proud of David. He is a wonderful husband to my daughter, Diana; a great dad to Krissy and Drew and servant to Ebenezer BC.

David, I wish you a great birthday and want you to know I am proud to have you as my son-in-law. Happy Birthday!

Cinderella Is Still Dancing

For months, I have prayed for and read every word of any print that pertained to Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman and their family after the death of their precious adopted daughter, Maria Sue. What a wonderful blessing they have been to me but also what a testimony of God's amazing grace they are to a lost world. Today I have crying "hangover" from the tears shed last night watching Larry King Live. It was such a God-honoring and God-blessed interview. The Chapman's boldly proclaimed that without God, the interview would not be possible. Without God to sustain and hold them up these last months, it would not be possible to continue their music ministry. They admitted that their human side wants to shout out "why" but at the same time they have complete confidence that they will see Maria Sue again and that even now, she is dancing in praise to Jesus. It was quite obvious that Larry King "just doesn't get it." We all need to storm the gates of heaven for Larry King. He has had the saving gospel of Jesus Christ spoken many times on his show by James Dobson, Franklin Graham and now the Chapmans among others but He continues to wonder at how these families make it through after the heartache of the death of a child or other trials life may bring. He seemingly just doesn't get it.

If you didn't see the segment on the Chapmans Wednesday morning on GMA, you can view the YouTube video here. I will continue to pray for the Chapmans but will also remember to pray for those who don't know of the hope that sustains them.

It's all Behind Me

Well, it's all behind me (pun intended) and there was no pollen.

Beginning Sunday at 3 p.m., I was prepping for a colonoscopy which I had yesterday morning at 7 a.m. If you've ever had a colonoscopy, you know that the prep is worse than the actual procedure. I ABSOLUTELY HATE the prep, as I'm sure most people do. I get so nauseated but cannot lie down because of the running back and forth to the potty. Oh my goodness, it's awful. I hope by the time my young readers (Kristy, Diana, Amy, Missy) get to be 50 years old, there is a new and improved way to screen for colon cancer. It ain't fun and is certainly no walk in the park.

Now for the good stuff...I didn't have any pollen (polyps) as Maggie told Diana on the phone. The previous colonoscopy (before yesterday) I did have a polyp removed and since I had it, I had to be screened again in 3 years. This time, because there were no polyps, I don't have to have another for 5 years. YEA!!! I am grateful...no, I'm overjoyed. Maybe the rapture will occur in the next five years and I won't ever have to have another.

This morning, I feel a little shaky and have a headache but thank goodness there's no pollen because my allergies would really be acting up and I'd be sneezing from you know where :). I'm grateful for small blessings and large ones too :).

I've BeenTagged

Schotzy, a friend from Mitford bb, tagged me on her Wings of Eagles blog. I'm to write about five things I love most. Some of you might guess what these will be but I'll put it down in black and white anyway.

1. My salvation through the shed blood of my Savior, Jesus Christ. What a blessing He has given us to enter His throne room through praise of Him. I love singing to Him and about Him.

2. My family, including husband, children, grandchildren, sisters and their families. I love them with my whole heart and know that I can count on them the same way they can count on me. What a blessing it is to have a family who loves each other.

3. I love my church and church family. Having come from a horrible church situation several years ago, I fully understand and appreciate what we have in our church. Our first Sunday there, I walked in, sat down and just took a deep breath. I felt as if I were breathing the exhale of the Holy Spirit and to this day, I feel the same way. I can't imagine going to church anywhere else and won't unless God calls me to somewhere else.

4. I love flowers...I LOVE flowers. I love digging in the dirt and then seeing the flowers of my labor in a few weeks. What a gift God gave us in the beauty of a bloom.

5. I love Saturday morning breakfast at Tommy's Country Ham House in Greenville, SC. I don't know when we got in the habit of having breakfast out on Saturday morning but Tim knows I love it and yes, he spoils me, so I go to The Ham House almost every Saturday that we are in town. What a generous portion of grits... two homemade sausage patties...two scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast with blackberry preserves and a hot cup of coffee to wash it down. No breakfast anywhere compares to Tommy's Country Ham House.

Now I have to tag 5 people:

Diana, my daughter (maybe this will inspire her to REALLY blog)

Kathy, my sis

Amy, my niece

Missy, my niece

Sherry, a new friend


Happy blogging everyone. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do...Martha

A Great Time was Had by All!

Well, the GREAT FAMILY VACATION 2008 was wonderful. We ate and swam and ate and played in the sand/sun and ate and shopped and ate and played Wii! What fun it was to all be together at Surfside.

At the last minute, Maggie decided to stay home and Charlie couldn't make the long trek from Oklahoma City so it was Diana and her family, Kristy and her family and Tim and I. We laughed until we cried and even shed a sad tear or two.

Kate, our 4 year-old extra extrovert was enamored with the 5 year old and 6 year old little girls staying next door to us. The first day there, she wanted to invite them over to swim with her. Made it to the second day and Kristy told Kate it would be fine if the girl's mom and dad said OK. They came over and the first words out of Kate's mouth were, "Look, I can roll my tongue" as she proceeded to show them her trick of rolling her tongue. I thought I would die laughing. Later, as you can see from the pic, Kristy showed us her trick also :).

Family is soooooooo fun to be with. I am so glad that we are a close family and that we enjoy each other's company. We are content to do our own thing and content to be together doing the same things. I love you, family, and hope it won't be long before we can do it again!