WHAT A YEAR!

Today marks the first anniversary of Laurie donating her kidney to Janet.  I was at UAB Wednesday with Charles Hill and we were in the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Unit in Jefferson Towers and I was flooded with memories.  The great memories of the loving kindness of Laurie and how proud we are of her good heart (and kidney, too).  Also I was filled with a great sense of happiness at thinking about how great Janet is doing and how wonderful it has been to grow to have her be a part of our family and to get to be a part of hers too. In less than a year it is so great to see them both with great health and two great Christian ladies who love God and their families.
11 months ago Louise and Dirt brought a great addition to all our lives in precious Ellie.  What a joy it has been to watch her grow and develop. Now in just over a month she'll have her first birthday and they will all come faster for her and her parents, her aunts and her grandparents in the coming year but continue to bring us joy and pride.
Also in less than a year Leigh and Nathan have gotten engaged and in two weeks from right now will be married.  That is a wonderful blessing to our lives as our family expands again with the addition of Nathan.  It has been a great joy to watch them grow as people and as a couple in the last couple of years.  I look forward to seeing them grow in their love for each other and God in coming days. 
A year ago Laurie didn't even know Matt and now in 6 weeks, he too will become part of our family. It was a great source of pride to watch him grow in his interest in Laurie and to watch his increasing interest in studying the Bible culminating with Dirt baptizing him while all the girls were here.  I have never seen Laurie happier and I am so happy that both found the right one in each other.
At church, just about a year ago I was asked to serve on the eldership at Trenton.  I have had a great many things that have been challenges and occasions of joy to me but none have compared to the first year as an elder.  There have been some of the greatest highs and some of the most difficult emotional nights of my life.  It is truly been the greatest honor and the greatest challenge in my life.  It has been a great year at church with some wonderful growth and some great people have become part of our family at Trenton. In over twenty years of preaching it has probably been my most satisfying and peaceful year ever at a congregation.   God has truly blessed us here.
Our work in the Philippines continues to progress as we move into a different area of focus.  Now we are addressing the strengthening of existing congregations in central and eastern Pangasinan.  Our April trip was greatly blessed as we were blessed to be a part of the establishment of a new congregation at Pao and 51 baptisms and some great work with the Binalonan, San Carlos and Urdaneta congregations.  It was a wonderful trip for Chris and I and really continues to show the commitment this congregation has to the work in the Philippines.  Today we met with 21 people and discussed the work and have 3 pretty firm commitments to go with us in April, 2012.  It has truly been a blessed work there.
A year ago, the conventional wisdom in Trenton and Dade County was that tornadoes don't come through here as the mountains keep them out of the valley.  April 27, just 7 days after we had returned from the Philippines, we learned that the conventional wisdom isn't always wise.  4 tornadoes swept over Sand Mountain and devastated areas of our county as the devastation tracked across the South. The work began that night as we cancelled worship services on Wednesday night and then stayed at the building with a number of folks who were seeking shelter in a safe place.  The congregation rallied around and for the next 60 days was immersed in tornado relief.  We did amazing amounts of tree and clean up work, feeding those that were hungry and providing food, cleaning supplies, and clothing to many families in need. We also gave away a lot of gift cards at BI-Lo and provided help in just about anyway that was needed.  I was so proud of the response by the loving Christians at Trenton and the help that came in from churches and brethern around the country.  It was just waht I would have expected out of Christians who have rallied together to help others and glorify God.
Finally how could I reflect on a year without sharing my joy at the progress Jamie has continued to make.  She started about 3 months ago to start to walk every night.  Now she is walking most mornings and evenings and is doing so great.  She has lost about 25 pounds and feels so much better.  She is even running some and continues to feel better and do so much better!  She has been a great joy to me through 32 years and now I am so excited to watch her continue to defy the experts as her recovery from the stroke just continues to amaze me!  She is something special!
Now the next 6 weeks will complete the biggest expansion of our family ever with the addition of Ellie, Nate and Matt.  It also has truly been one of the most blessed years of my life and I look ahead to even greater things to come.  Every day I sure have a lot to give thanks to God for. I also have so many people to thank for all the blessings in my life!  Thanks to you all!  I love you all in a special way!

What a day for grandparents.....excited and waiting

Grand Parent....that sounds a little daunting and old and respectful.
I haven't blogged in 9 months or so and a lot has happened since then. I have left the radio station morning show and really haven't missed it yet (not for any reason, except, it starts at 6:00 in the morning). I am now selling insurance part time and it seems to be off to a good start after training in Montgomery. But the best news is that we learned in January that Louise and Dirt will be parents and that Jamie and I will be grandparents!
Today we got the call and Lousie told us the their first will be Elizabeth Louise and she is slated to arrive in late September! I guess we will need a little practice and work to get ready for Lizzie Lou to arrive. (Early reports are that her mom and dad are going to call her Ellie, but Jamie and I thought Leigh was going to be called Donna, but her GinGin said, "You have a LaLa, LouLou and this is LeighLeigh!" Well the rest is history and LeighLeigh seems to have been the right choice all along.:) SInce Laurie and Leigh aree going with Lizzie Lou, it just might stick!)
This afternoon I have had a lot to do but since 3:45 my mind has been busy remembering how much joy three little girls brought to our house and praying that Ellie/Lizzie Lou will bring as much love and life to the Jones' house as her mother and sisters did to ours. It seems so strange how quickly things have come full circle.
Then as I tried to concentrate on a couple of proposals I have to make tomorrow, I couldn't help but wonder and think ahead about how Lizzie Lou's life will be and the joy her mom and dad will feel. I also am so proud for her to have such wonderful Christian parents. (That is not biased, I am going on what I have read on Facebook:) about those two!) I must too say I have been thinking about how much joy and excitement that she will bring to Jamie and me!
I wonder about the world she will live in and know there are lots of challenges but I am so confident and thankful that she will have the advantages of a godly mom and dad and two wonderful aunts who live near and will at times be a little over the top, but they have learned from great examples about how to love those nieces and two sets of grandparents who will know she is the best baby ever! Most of all I continue to pray for her and be excited about this great step for Louise and Dirt. They have a great responsibility but I am sure they are up to the job and Laurie, Leigh, Jamie and me are really going to enjoy our part in this adventure as I am sure that Dirt's folks and family will too.
Now I'm not really sure that I am old enough, daunting enough but I do feel respectful of the glory that God shows in every birth! But I do look forward to the excitement of the ride as a GRANDFATHER and the benefit to the world that this sweet little girl will bring!
God bless, Lizzie Lou! Arrive safely and thanks for the love you already have brought to the world and will receive!