The Faith of a Family

Faith.  Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  Faith, Love & Hope, The Stephens Family.  This family is very dear to my heart.  I met Donna 22 years ago when we first moved to Texas.  She worked out at the facility where I was employed.  Her daughter and Tyler were the same age.  They went to elementary school together, junior high, and high school.  We lived just a few blocks from each other.  We really became closer when we both worked at our Church's school program. 

The perfect family.  Beautiful, kind, giving, and obviously in love!  Bill, Donna's husband, became very ill about 16 years ago, throat cancer.  He wasn't suppose to live.  HE DID!  He beat all odds.  The faith of their family was too strong.  Donna has endured many battles with her health over the years, RA and Lupus, among other things.  2008 Bill was diagnosed with a serious lung infection and almost died, again.  HE DIDN'T.  Shortly after, he was diagnosed with cancer again, lung cancer.  HE BEAT IT AGAIN!  The Faith of their family was too strong.  He now lives in daily pain.  He can't work, has a hard time breathing, will never be able to eat/drink again, gets nourishment from a feeding tube.  Donna was recently diagnosed with Melanoma and had surgery.  We're waiting for pathology results on lymph nodes.  Donna's RA and Lupus has caused her not to be able to do many things she once was able to do.  Her fingers are stiff and won't bend, but she never complains.  How can this beautiful family have endured so much pain and suffering?  The Faith of their family is the only answer I have.  Their beautiful daughter, Hailey, who was a gift from God, keeps them going! 

I help them as much as I can with whatever they need.  They're always thanking me.  But they don't realize that they are a blessing to me.  They keep me going.  If they can fight for their lives over and over and still have faith, my problems often seem trivial.  When I'm not feeling well, I think of their daily struggle.  When I'm in a bad mood, I think of their positive outlook.  When I'm over whelmed, I think of their patience and their endurance.  I may do things for them, but they truly do more for my heart & soul.  God commands that we help others in need.  He truly has blessed me with having this family in my life, a true family of faith.

I love you Bill, Donna & Hailey!

Sweet Childhood Memories

It's funny, the older we get, the more we think about things from our past.  I have many childhood memories that I think about often.

Playing in the "hole".  The "hole" was exactly that, a hole made by a breach in the bank of the pond at my Grandparent's home.  We would play for hours, days on end, in the "hole".  On the rare occasion we had enough rain, the hole would fill up with water, clear water, unlike the pond, and we would wade in it, make mudpies, and I'm sure things I don't remember.

Rolling out dough for chicken and dumplings with my Grandmother.  She would let me eat the raw dough!

Picking blackberries!  We would spend hours in the woods picking blackberries.  They were so yummy, but the inevitable "red bugs" afterwards was not so much fun.

Family lunch at my Grandparents home.  Their house was tiny, but some how, we all managed to find a spot and enjoy family time. 

Dinner on the ground after church.  Oh, my, the good home country cooking!

Making ice cream with an old fashioned ice cream maker, the kind you cranked by hand.  When the electric ones came out, we thought we were high class!

Making fudge with my Mom at Christmas time.

Rolling down the hill in an old tractor tire and the home made slip 'n slides!

Sitting on the porch either making butter or shelling beans!  I'm sure when I was a child I hated it, but now looking back, those were precious times.

The all day shopping excursions with my Mom and my aunts.

Playing on the roots and limbs of the old Oak Trees!

These were just a few of my favorite memories.  I often wonder what my boys will one day say are their favorite memories!

"Childhood isn't given a thought, that is until adulthood!"

Back in my day

"Back in my day", we've all heard it from our elders.  We even laughed at the things they told us, and even found some of them hard to believe.  It's now my turn to tell my kids "back in my day".

Back in my day we didn't have cable television.
Back in my day we only had one TV.
Back in my day we only had a corded house phone, and we were on a "party" line at that.
Back in my day we didn't have cell phones.
Back in my day we didn't have computers, (Skype, facebook, games).
Back in my day we didn't have video games.
Back in my day we didn't have Ipods, Ipads, or Iphones.
Back in my day we didn't have digital cameras.
Back in my day we didn't have a swimming pool.
Back in my day we didn't eat out.
Back in my day we didn't have water bottles.

Back in my day the only TV in the house was in the living room, and we only had 3 channels.
Back in my day, the phone was in the kitchen, if it rang once it was for us, twice for the neighbor down the road.
Back in my day, we actually talked with our friends, face to face.
Back in my day we listened to the radio or 8 track tapes.
Back in my day we played board games or played outside.
Back in my day the cameras came with film, which had to be developed.
Back in my day we swam in the creek or river.
Back in my day we ate from the garden and/or the freezer.
Back in my day we drank from the water hose.

This was our photos, on film "back in my day"!

The telephone "back in my day"

I laugh as I write these, wondering what my kids will one day say about their "back in my day"!

48 years young!

Happy Birthday to the best husband a girl could ask for, and the best father my kids could have!  48 years old today!

 

 

We love you Brian and I hope your birthday

was as special to you as you are to us!

Finally, a relaxing day!

Today was the 4th of July.  It was one of the quietest holidays I can ever remember.  I so needed a day of relaxation, and that's just what I got!  We slept til we got up, enjoyed the pool, grilled burgers, ate watermelon, and watched the fireworks.  Tyler was in Gulfport, MS with Crystal, so it was just Brian, Jake, Marlee & I.  Ross & Rayna joined us for the fireworks.  Here's a few pictures.

Happy Birthday America! 

Happy Birthday America!

 

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.  So, today is The United States of America's 237th birthday!  This holiday is often celebrated by fireworks, backyard BBQs, parades, etc.  But, let us not forget that today is the day we became a free nation, and to remember those who fought so we would have our independence!

4th of July pictures from previous years ...

 

 

 

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July, 2013! 

 

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.

Christmas in July

Christmas in July, well, sort of, I found this letter that Tyler wrote to Santa when he was eight years old.  We actually mailed it, and "Santa's Helper" sent it back to us to have as a keepsake.  So sweet! 

Not bad handwriting for an 8 year old!

Can you see the postmark date?  October 30, 1999

Notice the postage stamp...33 cents!

We actually mailed it, someone at the post office

opened it and sent it back to us for a keepsake!

I love finding these treasures that I forgot we had!!

Merry Christmas! (only 5 months & 23 days away!!)

BOX cutter, not HAND cutter!

My boys, including Brian, are keeping me (and the emergency room) busy! 

Brian went to Lowes on his 1st day of vacation, came home with a battery operated weed eater for me, since I can't handle the gas one.  He was cutting the plastic ties off of the box, and in the process sliced his hand.  It was spewing blood.  Off to the ER we went.

This was after they sutured up the artery he cut which was spewing blood.  I usually don't get sick from seeing blood, but when it was spewing, I became dizzy and weak, had to leave the room.

Artery sutured, and 6 stitches later, he's all better!  Tetnus shot and antibiotic!  I sure hope we've seen the ER for the last time any time soon!

Gotta love living with boys!  :)