My How Things Change

Lest anyone would think that I'm "superwoman" (lol) in dealing with change, let me assure you I'm not! It's so strange to me how one day you can feel like conquering the world, and everything "new", then something happens that turns your heart inside out.

When my brother passed away in 2000, a friend told me to expect for my emotions to get upset at any given moment. He said, "Don't worry about it if that happens. You'll be "going through life" and it will hit you. It's okay!" I was so glad he told me that, because "it hit me" one day "out of the blue". I'm glad I knew I was normal.

Well, today I was doing just fine. The sun was shining, the flowers blooming, birds singing, my husband smiling at me, and "it hit me"! I'm LONESOME! Where did that come from? I missed my "familiar surroundings", I missed people at "home", I missed my kids and grandkids, I missed my parents, I missed my friends, I missed my sisters. Let me say, I just "missed everything and everybody"! :( It's really strange how you can be "happy and sad" at the same time. Then, on the radio I hear a quartet singing, "You've Got to Walk That Lonesome Road". LOL! Well, you didn't have to tell me THAT! The way I was feeling I ALREADY knew it!

I'm doing much better now that I've sat down and read some blogs, and answered some mail, and wrote a few cards. It's always good to "get out of oneself" and do something that's not focused on "me"! I have found there are so many "lonely" people who "have it together", yet they are wanting someone to just say, "HI". No, I'm not talking about the homeless man or woman on the street, or the cashier that checks you out at the store. I'm not even talking about your neighbor next door. I'm talking about another preacher's wife or preacher you know.

Being a preacher/preacher's wife can be very lonely. I am not talking about myself.....because I am doing fine (now), but there is someone out there who needs you to say, "I'm thinking about you"! My husband has always taught, "Many times God speaks to us in a soft whisper." I have found "His voice is like the touch of a feather brushing your mind" and you feel you need to pray for that person, or call them. You think, "I need to write a card to them." Do it! Be sensitive! Because, you have just heard from God!

A little boy went to bed one night and couldn't go to sleep. His daddy went in to check on him, and seeing he was still awake asked, "Son, why aren't you asleep?" The boy answered, "I'm scared! I want you to stay in here with me." His father told him there was no reason to be afraid, because Jesus was with him. The little boys answer has stayed with me through the years. He said, "But Daddy....I want someone with skin on!"

We all know that Jesus is with us, but there are times we just want "someone with skin on" to reach out and let us know they are near.

I feel much better now. I've talked to a friend tonight. I've received an email from a friend. I've talked to one of my sisters. I've read and enjoyed your lives by reading your blogs. I have been touched by my friends, and I just want to say, THANK YOU!

One of the greatest phrases in scripture is......"and it came to pass"! I'm glad my loneliness passed, but it didn't go away by itself. YOU helped me through it!

Some Thoughts and Hudson, TX

As I have already said in my last post, our life has been very busy, but let me say...we are loving it! Janet, from home, just left a comment saying, "It looks like ya'll are having the time of your life." I will affirm her observation. Let me explain, though. I have made it a point to "live in the NOW". I have enjoyed each stage of life and I continue to do so. My mother was the MOST CONTENTED lady I've ever known, and I have always wanted to be "just like her". I don't believe I have attained her level, and probably never will, but she sure gives me a goal to reach for.

When you're in the "will of God", following His leading, how can you be unhappy? I know there are places I have said I would NEVER want to live, and Lufkin was one of those places. But, I can honestly say that I am really enjoying living here! I am enjoying my husband "going to the office" and returning home around 5:00 each day. When he's through at the office, he locks the door and we have the evening free unless he is preaching someplace. I LOVED being a Pastor's wife to the wonderful people God placed in our lives, but now I am enjoying where God has placed my husband. Why make yourself miserable? I'm just happy being married to the man I'm married to, and wherever God leads him...I will follow. Don't get me wrong! I've had to "die to self" many times in my life. I have cried many tears when leaving those I loved so much. It wasn't fun telling our wonderful saints that we were leaving, because God had chosen it to be so. But, the life I have been given has been wonderful. Why am I saying all of this tonight? :) I really don't know. I just felt like saying it, I guess.

Now, to our weekend service in Hudson, Texas. Hudson is a town that is connected to Lufkin. In fact, you wouldn't know you were leaving Lufkin if you didn't see a sign telling you that you've just entered the City Limits of Hudson. Bro. and Sis. Ron Smith retired a few years ago and really did not plan on pastoring again. They moved to Hudson (Lufkin), bought a little house, fixed it up and moved in. They sold a lot of things when they left their home and church in Huntsville, TX. I don't know all the things that happened that directed them back into pastoring, but they are doing a wonderful work in Hudson.
Sunday morning we decided to visit their church since we were not ministering anyplace else.
We are so glad we went! They were so sweet and welcoming to us and we thoroughly enjoyed being in the Sunday School and Morning Worship with them. Jeff Jones taught the lesson and did a fine job! We were asked to sing, so we did. They seemed to enjoy it. Then, Bro. Smith preached a wonderful, heartfelt message! He made me want to live for God even more. Thank God for preacher's who preach "the message" with love.

After church the Smith's invited us to eat lunch with them. They took us to Ralph and Kacoo's, then took us around town to show us places to live whenever our house sells in Wichita Falls. They drove us by Bro. and Sis. Neely's house and we really enjoyed seeing where they have lived for a long time. We had a wonderful time visiting with them! We even had to stop and get a "DIET COKE" (Bro. Kenny) LOL!

It's amazing how many preachers and their wives we have "known", yet have not "known" through the years!! LOL! That's a little catchy, isn't it? We have talked about how we almost feel like we are in a "brand new district" since moving to Lufkin. We are learning of towns "we have never heard of", and meeting people we have heard of, yet "had never met". Wow! It's quite a change being in the "middle of things" since we've been so far away for about 28 years. Living in Wichita Falls, we were closer to two or three other District Campgrounds, than we were to our own Texas District Campground. Now, we're living ON the Campground! It's exciting and fun...even in our motorhome. Of course, that is another story. Wendell is the one wanting a house! :) Oh well, someday it will happen.

Paul wrote in Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I'm sure I will enjoy a house when I get another one, but until then, we will be content living on the ole' camp ground, enjoying where we have been placed in His Kingdom. What better life can you ask for?

Missing Everyone

If I explained all that has been happening in our life it would take a LOT of your time and mine. I won't bore you with all the details, so let me just say "God has come through for us once again"! Hopefully, I will be able to post again soon. I sure have missed you all. Have a great week!

Not Sleepy!

I'm suppose to be asleep, but can't seem to get sleepy, so I wanted to at least sit down for a minute and say this week has been a good week. Crusaders Camp is going on and I've heard we have about 500 "little" campers here. We're so use to seeing adults on the campground, and my husband said, "It looks like a bunch of little ants running all over the place!" It's so cute to see these "little people" making friends, enjoying fellowship, playing ball, and having the "time of their lives". My favorite time of the day is to drive around in the golf cart and see them headed to church! They are young, but you can tell they have a purpose as they walk toward the tabernacle.

Wendell and I rode over to the tabernacle the other night to see what was happening and when we walked through the door our kids from home spotted us. It was a grand reunion for several minutes! I have to admit that I cried a few tears. It made me a little homesick to see them and to see those who came to help this week. You cannot love people deeply without hurting when you leave them. Some say you shouldn't love people very much because you're going to get hurt. Well, I have to ask, "What is life about if you can't love others?" I have wonderful memories down deep in my heart that no one can take away. Those memories may make me smile, laugh, cry, or just "remember", but when they do I know I am blessed to have known and loved the people in my life.

I will close with what happened to tonight at church. I was sitting, holding our "sleeping Ashlyn" when again a few of the kids from Life Tabernacle spotted Bro. Elms and me. They came back to give us hugs, and after a little time went by I said to them, "Don't ya'll need to go up front and pray?" Howie looked at me and said, "No, I prayed yesterday, and I prayed the day before, so I don't need to pray today!" LOL! I loved it and loved him for being so open! LOL! That's why I love kids. They just "tell it like it is".

I do have a few pictures, but it would take too long to post them tonight. My eyes are getting a little heavy, so I think I will try to go to sleep. I'll be checking back in soon.

God's Ways

HAPPY! EXCITED! THANKFUL!

I cannot go into the "reasons" why I am experiencing these emotions, but at the appropriate time I will! Just let me say, "God has done a GREAT thing!"

I'm thankful! I'm happy! I'm excited!

God definitely has EVERYTHING in HIS hands, and He moves in mysterious ways. When He does one thing "here", he does another thing "there" and He places our lives where He wants them!

I'm EXCITED! I'm HAPPY! I'm THANKFUL!

Maybe you get the picture by now? :) Have a great day!

Busy and Loving It

My dear family and friends,

Just a quick note to say "Hello" and to let you all know we are doing fine! This past weekend we have been BUSY doing the work of God, and having FUN with our family and friends. I will be posting later today, the Lord willing. Texas Board Meetings start today, so I will be doing whatever I'm suppose to do. :) This is a totally different world for us, but we are enjoying it.

I took a lot of pictures over the holiday weekend, so hopefully I will be posting some later. It depends on how long it takes to upload them using the Aircard.

Have a great day! I will "talk" to ya'll later.

What Kind of Day?

I have been a Pastor's wife for many years, and have enjoyed it very much. There were the normal days of taking care of the needs of the church, or phone calls that came in or I needed to make, and usually something to do for the church. All of which was enjoyable. Then, there were the days that you wish would never happen, because someone had a problem too big for them to solve by themselves, and our hearts would ache watching them struggle with "life" and we felt so incapable of "helping" them. Those were the times we just had to "be there". Pastoring, loving people, and being loved by people has been a JOY that only a Pastor and his wife can know. I didn't know how I was going to feel once we resigned our wonderful church, and didn't really know what to expect. I can definitely say..... my life is changing!

It feels strange at times not having a church to "care" for. I find myself wondering how the saints are doing, yet know there is nothing I can do for them now, except pray. (which I have done) I find myself thinking about things I could do if I was at "home", but.....I AM at "home". I find myself wanting to be at church in "my church", but I no longer have "my church". It's just a crazy, mixed up world for me right now, but I am fine! :) How can I say "I'm fine" with all that is happening in my life? Because, I know God has called us to do what we're doing. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that what we have been asked to do in serving the wonderful Texas District, is the "will of God". There is a peace in knowing HE picked us up and moved us to where HE wanted us to be! So, I may sound a little "mixed up" at times...when I write, or there might be a tear-drop that falls, but I really am doing fine.

Today, I've had a "busy, yet quiet day"...... I've been BUSY preparing to speak at a Ladies Tea at The Apostolic Church in Beaumont, and I had to find my way around town to do a little "shopping". I was BUSY "checking on my husband" to see if he was ready to go eat :) I was BUSY "talking" to the office staff for a few minutes. I was also BUSY "visiting" with the realtor I will use when I buy a house. I really liked her and she showed me a home I would like to have. My "BUSY-ness" today has been nice, because it pretty much was a "stress-free, day". That's the reason I can call my day a "BUSY.....Yet Quiet Day".

Update

I first want to say I'm sorry for being gone so long from my blog. I've missed writing and hearing from my friends!!

A lot of you already know that Wendell was voted in as the Texas District Secretary at our District Conference last week in Beaumont, so that is the reason I have not been on the computer. We are looking forward to the new challenge and know, without a doubt, this is the will of God for our lives at this time. We feel very humbled to think the ministers would even consider us for this position! Now, to the SAD part of all of this.

In Texas, the District Secretary job is a full-time position. So, last night Wendell resigned from our AWESOME church, and I will tell you it was so hard seeing our people hurting so badly!! I cannot, nor will I, go into the emotions I feel at this time. I will say, I feel like I did when I buried my parents! When you love deeply, it hurts deeply! Please be in prayer for all of us as we go through this transition. We know that all will be well and that the church will go on in REVIVAL and the promises of God WILL BE fulfilled!!!! Life Tabernacle, I LOVE YOU and will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER forget you and your love for us! You are our "priceless treasures"!!