|
| 
December 1st marks the first day of our ADVENT ACTIVITIES.
Last year, I made an Advent Poster board using "doors" & "windows" that I cut out from magazines (got the idea from FamilyFun Magazine, but tweaked it by adding doors to make it look more "homey").
This year, while browsing all of the craft web-sites (eighteen25), I came across a site that had snowflakes on the banister rails. Again, I tweaked it & came up with this:
Individual snowflakes with a number on it. I tried to write ONE WORD across the number, but as I'm a lover of English & words, couldn't think of just one word to best describe each day. So instead, LATE LAST NIGHT, I stayed up making cards for the kids. Each day, below the snowflakes on the fireplace, I put a card down. On the outside I drew a picture & on the inside wrote the days activities. I can save these for next year, but not adding a number. Last year, Papaw Tollett died just days before CHRISTmas & in my haste to see him one last time, I didn't grab my calender. I had the ideas on my website, but not all the things that went with the activities (i.e. Jingle Bowling). So this year, I can place whatever card I want down for the day & I'm not tied down to anything ... except the FIRST DAY (which is always read the story of Christ) and Christmas Eve/Day.
I'm very excited about this & the first day was a hit. Grace does the ODD days & Sean the even (turning over the snowflakes & reading the card).
  
DAY 1: THE NATIVITY STORY
Read the account in Matthew & Luke of the birth of Jesus Christ
Watch THE NATIVITY
Make HAYSTACKS & enjoy!
We've made the HAYSTACKS ... just need to watch the movie next. Usually, the day should start with the reading of the Bible, but J is at work & I wanted him to be the one to read it ... so before bed tonight while we do our prayer book, J will read!
It really is "the most wonderful time of the year!" | | |
| It's been a long last few days.
We had the family viewing & visitation on Monday, meals with family both days, funeral on Tuesday, Erin's kids & possibly mine have swine flu & are on tamaflu (besides being up all night with a sick lil' one) and today, John & I went out to help my dad & uncle go thru the rest of Papaw's belongings. That wasn't mentally exhausting, at least. We knew what we wanted & what we didn't (tho, there were a few things I wasn't ready to part with just yet); but physically, that man had a lot of stuff. His library has been paired down from THOUSDANDS to hundreds ... and today, I left with just a few things.
For those of you CBCers, you woulda liked what was said. Even tho you didn't know him, hearing his accomplishments for the Faith was AMAZING! Papaw was a pioneer of LifeWord & CBC. He remained on the board of publishers, CBC & LifeWord for YEARS! It was nice to hear what men such as Bro. Courtney & George Reddin had to say about their long-time friend & mentor. Singing the old songs of faith really touched me, too. I had picked out O, COME ALL YE FAITHFUL & he had picked out HOW GREAT THOU ART & GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS. Jerene sang AMAZING GRACE, which was just beautiful & Judy Johnson (Cliff's mom) played the NAVAL ANTHEM ... which she always looked down at him when she played it in the service on SERVICE HOLIDAYS.
For several days, Grace wanted to see Papaw after he passed. At the family viewing & at the visition, she asked 3 or 4 times each viewing to visit him. And when the line went passed us (we were on the front row with my mom, she between my parents), she had drawn a picture of him & asked if we were going to get to go thru the line, too. We told her yes. She was so excited. And as she stepped up to the beautiful NAVY blue casket, tears streamed down her face. She was so sweet, saying goodbye one last time.
I have memories of him for another day, but looking thru pictures today stirred something in me. When one of the ladies stopped by on Sunday with meals, she asked me how I was doing. It was the first time I had thought abuot it & was sad. I was a bit choked up, so mom answered for me: Megan was really the closest to him. We lived with them while we built this house. She was 7 & 8. He would teach her everything he knew about Gardening & books. And I was reminded of how my bedroom was in his massive library. I would sit on my roll-away bed, while he would prepare lessons for Sunday School or write out bills for his business. And at times, he would take me to work with him. I see in my mind, those pictures of JFK, JR., sitting under his fathers desk and imagine that that is how I looked to passers by & his staff. I would sit at his feet, with my dolls or barbies in hand, and play ... not realizing the importance of this great man, but just seeing a grandfather. He truly was great ... not just for his attendence to the BMA, TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH or LIFEWORD ... but because he was a grandfather who cared about his baby girl, and taught her not just of the world, but of the gospel.
... and many times I have written of the LEGACY that he has passed down to me ... and now I to my children! Grace will KNOW & hear stories of her great-grandfather & all of his mighty works. She will learn of his faith & how it is accessible to her, also. She will be prayed over & loved, just as I was as a child ... b/c this man took the time to care. He told me on many occasions I LOVE YOU, even when it was hard for him to say it to his own children. He was a strong man ... and a rock. Sometimes too much of a rock ... but never to me. He was a constant in my life & my children will know him. He may be gone & his things packed away ... but his books remain. My memories remain. My photos remain ... and his faith lives in me & thru me. His works will not fade, nor will they falter. The men that he taught & mentored still believe in him & his faith. And they teach the gospel because he taught it to them. George Reddin listed him as one of the 3 men in his life who helped to mold him. Many men can say that. And because of his faith & passion that he shared, many will go on & preach the gospel. And so will I. Even if it's only to my children. They will know!
That is all for now. I am exhausted.
| | |
| ... and I still don't feel ready.
When we moved Papaw into Fox Ridge Assisted Living Care 6 years ago (when I pg with Grace), I had started to mentally prepare myself for the death of my grandfather. But even tho you mentally prepare, you can't be emotionally prepared AT ALL for something like this.
The kids & I drove down on Thursday night, arriving in LR around 9:30. The kids were great ... but more on that later. We said our goodbyes & I love yous. And the next day, I took mom up to the hospital & was able to see him one last time, without the kids. It was emotional for me, somewhat, but I knew that he was ready. Mom told me that after I left, she whispered to him that we were all ready and it was up to him. He had been struggling for breath for several days & when we walked into the room, he was reaching for the Heavens.
Erin & I were out when we received the call. Mom said that they shed tears of sorrow & of joy.
Grace told me the next morning that she was sad for me & her, but glad that he was with Mamaw again. I told her that he was spending Christmas with Jesus ... and she said, "Mary & Joseph, too. Just like the first Christmas ... only better." So true.
Visitation is @ Roller-Chenal in LR from 6-8
The funeral is at Temple Baptist Church @ 2pm
This man has filled so many lives with joy ... and it's evident, as we've received phone calls from people in Memphis who never knew him, but know of his legacy; friends from Colorado who are making the trek and Nashville and Mississippi and Missouri. I look forward to hearing stories of how my Grandfather has touched the lives of so many ... and rejoicing in a life that was lived for Christ, his Redeemer! Tears will be shed, I'm sure, but overwhelming tears of joy & peace & comfort are all I've had the last few days. GOD IS WITH US and at this time, Papaw is with God ... and I can rejoice in knowing that with all certainty!
| | |
| Why do people die around the holidays? There always seems to be an abundance of people who die around the holidays. Or maybe it's that people just die all year long (you know what I mean), but it's more "personal" & "aware" when people die b/w Thanksgiving & Christmas. My sister called me yesterday morning. I've dreaded this phone call for years. I've known it was coming and everytime the phone rings before 10am from my mom or sister, I know what they are going to say ... My sister called to tell me that my mom got the call @ 4:30am, saying that my grandfather's blood pressure was down & he was running a high fever. My grandfather will turn 88 on January 4th. He's been going down hill for several years, but that man is as healthy as a HORSE! A very healthy horse with all it's shots & been retired for 20 years, so it's not over-worked, but still in good shape. His doctors are always amazed at how healthy he is ... he just has trouble getting around & his hearing has been gone for nearly 2 decades! His eyes & teeth are failing ... and he has survived by-passes & strokes ... but his heart is still strong! The men in his family live well into their 90s. His own father passed when he was 94, on Christmas Eve. We moved him into an assisted-living facility when I was pg with Grace. Since moving there, he has had numerous dreams about my grandmother, who passed over 15 years ago. He is a very spiritual man. So for him to tell us that "Eloyce" visited him, has made us feel that time is closing in on him. But he hasn't gone anywhere. Is it wrong for us to pray that the Heavenly Father will just allow this Man of God to fall asleep and wake up in Heaven?! That has been my prayer for years. He is a honorable & Godly man. He deserves to pass quietly & quickly. Remember that old song, "THANK YOU", by Ray Boltz? That will be my grandfather when he enters Heaven. All of the Bible studies he served in, Sunday School classes (he was the teacher of a class for 55 years), Bibles he sold & passed out in schools, singing in the choir @ church, serving as a deacon for 75 years, running the largest BMA Bible & Bookshop in the South for 25 years, serving on the committees & charitable works at CBC ... he is so amazing! He was commissioned to write TRACKS back in the 70s & 80s ... and then to translate them into Spanish for distribution in the Latin American community. I just know that when he gets to Heaven, many people will come up to him & say THANK YOU for helping them achieve a life of Eternity in Heaven. I know that I will be one of them! So I hurt for him today, as Hospice cares for him. He must feel so alone, but I know he is not afraid, b/c he knows that with the God of all Creation is his final resting place. But I can't help but feel sad that he will not be in this world much longer. But it is time for him to spend his days with his wife & family, glorying in the presence of God, his Redeemer! He deserves that after all of these years of service ... and I pray that he will be there soon, even tho I will miss him terribly! Our prayer last nite with the kids was that God would be kind to this great man of stature & grant peace to those who are left behind. AMEN! ... now, we just sit & wait to hear from my mom again. | | |
| If you read my last entry, you saw that I made an ADVENT CALENDAR for the kids. I'm quit impressed with myself! 
DAY 1—Read the CHRISTmas story out of Matthew & Luke and compare DAY 2—Go to BRAUM’S for EGGNOG ICE CREAM DAY 3—READ then WATCH the “POLAR EXPRESS” DAY 4—Go SHOPPING & look for presents for your sibling DAY 5—Pancakes for supper DAY 6—Make CLAY ornaments DAY 7—SNOWBALL FIGHT (using rolled up white socks) DAY 8—Read the ABC POP-UP DAY 9—Go look @ LIGHTS & LISTEN to Christmas carols DAY 10—READ & WATCH “CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS” DAY 11—make tags & wrap presents DAY 12—make cookies. delish. DAY 13—make sock snowmen DAY 14—sleep in the living room, under the Christmas lights DAY 15—ELOISE DAY. Talk like her … dress like her … watch … read … DAY 16—caroling & gift giving in NWA DAY 17—“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” (and pasta) DAY 18—1 WEEK: open 1 gift DAY 19—build a fire & roast marshmellows DAY 20—Go to LOVIE & POPS for OPEN HOUSE PARTY DAY 21—jingle bowling DAY 22—read “THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGENT EVER!” DAY 23—watch “A CHRISTMAS STORY” DAY 24—Open PAJAMAS from NANA DAY 25—CHRISTMAS DAY! I like this idea, of making my own calendar, because I can add what I want to it. I can make it very personalized, such as the OPEN HOUSE or PAJAMAS from Nana … and then just fill in the blanks as I go along! I got the idea from a magazine, but I actually like how my turned out better than theirs did. They just used doors & windows from decorator magazines (Lowes, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby). I actually used DECORATED doors & windows, to make it more FESTIVE!   
| | |
|
True