James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
My 3-1/2-year-old grandson, Jaden, loves doing dot-2-dots. Well, before yesterday, he enjoyed Grandma doing them while he watched. I guess all of those times I "helped" him do a dot-2-dot truly did turn out to be learning sessions, because on yesterday, he did the above dot-2-dot all by himself. He even tried to sign his name. I think I see a "J" and then an "a" and then a backwards sort of an "N." He did say that he "wrote" a cross because "my sins are on the cross." Can you spot it just to the left of that wheel on the right? It's neat to hear that Jaden is learning about God's great love for him that sent His Only Begotten Son to die on the cross for his sins ~~ but that's another story for another day. (But I have to tell you that Jaden was singing "Rolled Away" yesterday when we were outside playing, and it was so sweet to hear him sing that little children's gospel song.)
Back to the dot-2-dot. It was exciting when he brought his completed picture to me. Signed, sealed, and delivered!! Grandma was mighty excited and Jaden was mighty proud. We are a great combination. HA!!
I got to thinking about it last night after church. Jaden's dot-2-dot picture caused me to think about my life (56-3/4 years) and the dot-2-dots that have brought me thus far. Most of them have been God-made and some of them have been Susan-drawn. This thought kind of stayed with me through the night as I pondered my life (I am learning that growing older brings about a lot of reflecting!) as to where I have been and where I am going.
Dot-2-dot....
1. Born on July 8, 1951. The 2nd surviving daughter of Byron and Arlene Meyer. I came home to a precious big sister 6-1/2 years my senior. What a sweet, faithful, and loving sister Karen has been all through my life. I don't know what I would do without her! Mom lost 2 babies in-between Karen and me ~~ hence the age -difference. It intrigues me that I have a sister and a brother in Heaven. I can't wait to meet them someday.
2. My baby sister, Sonja (nicknamed Nonie by me) was born 15 months later. I had to give up the baby-status real early in life. I was too young to be jealous so that was a good thing. Nonie and I were very different in temperament but very close as sisters. I love my little sister dearly and don't know what I would do without her either!!
3. 1961. Our family left my hometown when I was in the 5th grade and moved just 30 miles away. Of course to me, it felt like we moved around the world as I left the only home, school, church and life-long friends I had ever known. We moved there for our folks to buy and operate two restaurants: a cafe as well as a "burger joint." Perhaps food became the focus of our family life.... because for some reason, I found that food was my solace as I made the transition of making new friends, etc. It was during those important years of finishing elementary school and entering junior high that I became overweight. I learned a very bad habit of "emotional" eating that has plagued me for the rest of my life. I believe the name of the little town we moved to (Gordo) means "fat" in Spanish. Oh dear!!
4. 1966. We moved back to T-County (Cottondale) just 5 years later. I entered 10th grade at Brookwood High School and completed school there. I made new friends, was in the band, etc. but knew that something was missing from my life. We had been Methodist all of my life and were active church members. I don't recall EVER hearing the "Gospel in a nutshell" that I was a sinner nor that Christ died on the cross for MY sins. Church was basically a fun place to meet up with my friends.
5. 1968. As a high-schooler, my parents decided to join a different church in town ~~ a Free Will Baptist Church. It was there that I finally heard the Gospel and learned of my need of a Savior. At age 15, I went forward and made a profession of faith and soon baptism followed.
6. It was during this time, that my 50-year-old father answered God's call to preach. All of a sudden, I am a PK ~~ preacher's kid
7. 1969. After graduation from high school, I went to "Trade School" in town and completed the "Secretarial/Stenographer" course. My first job after graduation was with a law firm in town.
8. During those couple of years in school, I made a great friend in Wanda Turner. We decided to get an apartment and live out on our own. That didn't last too long for I think it was our first month in the apartment that she met the love of her life and in a few months got married. I moved back home. In the meantime, I had changed jobs and was a secretary at the "Paper Company" in town.
9. 1971. My dad became the pastor of a little church out in the county, but I stayed at our "home church" near our home as I was very active there. One Sunday, my parents came home from church, and my mom told me about this nice young man who had just come back from his stint in the U.S. Army.
Soon thereafter, my pastor was scheduled to preach a week of revival at my dad's church. Being a faithful church member and a faithful daughter, I attended revival at my dad's church that week. It was that week that I met that "nice young man."
10. Richard proposed in December 1972 and we were wed in September 1973. I was 22 and Richard was 26. He was a fine Christian man and we had a good start to our marriage.
11. April 1974. Richard lands a great job in T-Town. Actually, when we married he had a real good job with Arthur Andersen in Birmingham, but the weekly travels of being an auditor wasn't for us. We were thankful when he got the local job at GSPC.
12. In December 1975, our daughter Amy was born. What a joy to become a mother to a precious baby. Marriage and motherhood. I had found my niche!!
13. In January 1978, our son Charles Richard II (Chip) was born. Two children. A girl and a boy. We were tricked by the devil into believing that our family was complete. I had my tubes tied 2 years later. It is my belief that a Christian couple should have as many children as the Lord sends their way. I wish I had had at least 4 or 5 children!!
14. In 1981, we left the Free Will Baptist Church and joined the Independent Baptist Church where our daughter Amy was in the 1st grade. We grew and grew and grew spiritually in that great ministry and served there for 20 years. I worked in the church office for a number of years and then our last 8 years there, I worked in the office at our Christian school.
15. In June 1986, my precious and beloved Daddy was diagnosed with acute leukemia. Dad lived for 3 weeks and died on June 26, 1986 while undergoing treatment. This was the first true test of my faith, and I found my LORD to be so very faithful even during those days I was so full of grief. I KNOW I shall see my Daddy again ~~ as soon as I arrive in Heaven.
16. Amy graduated high school in 1993 and attended a Christian College. Chip graduated high school in 1996 and attended his freshman year at that same college. His freshman year was Amy's senior year. Our hearts became knit with the college and the ministry connected with it.
17. In August 1997, following her May graduation from college, Amy married her college sweetheart. We gained a fine son-in-law.
18. Chip came back home after his first year of college and attended a local junior college near home. It was during those semesters at home when the Lord called him to full-time ministry. He left us in January 1999 to attend Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA.
19. My beloved Mother grew very ill with congestive heart failure. It finally claimed her life on July 13, 1999, less than one week after we had to put her in a nursing home. It was a very difficult time in losing her, but our hope was in knowing that she was safely arrived in Heaven, reunited with Daddy, and breathing God's best air up there. I know I will see her again and look forward to that glad reunion day!
20. Chip graduated from BBC in May 2001 and moved to Detroit, MI for a year's intern in a church there. Brian and Amy traveled to Ukraine to adopt our first two grandchildren in June 2001. Isabella was 6 and Josh was 26 months. We all know what happened on September 11, 2001.
21. After much prayer and seeking God's will, Richard and I put our house on the market in October 2001. If it sold, we would love "down here." Our house sold miraculously fast and we moved to Florida on December 1, 2002. We lived with Brian, Amy, Isabella, and Josh for 6 months as the house we thought we were buying fell through and we ended up building. We joined a great church year and flourished under the sound preaching.
22. During the early-on of our building process, Brian and Amy decided to sell their house and build next door to us. We moved into our new home on 5/31/02 and they moved in next-door just 6 weeks later.
23. In August 2002, my precious mother-in-law took off for Heaven. We knew she was much better off but grieved for our dear "Daddy Dean" who was blind and left alone in their nursing home room. Daddy Dean's faith was strong and he did his best to carry on.
24. Chip completed his year internship at the church in Detroit during which time he felt the Lord was calling him to attend Seminary in Louisville, KY and get his M-Div. We were thrilled for him and enjoyed our trips there to visit him. He was called to be a part-time youth pastor at a sweet little church in Lanesville, IN.
25. In June 2003, Brian, Amy, Isabella and Josh returned to Ukraine to adopt Isabella's older brother, Jarrett. He was 10 years old at the time of his adoption.
26. In early March of 2004, Brian and Amy announced that they were going to have a baby. That was a very happy day and gave us much anticipation for the next 8 months!!
27. April 19, 2004~~ Richard's Dad passed very unexpectedly. Richard received the call at work and we took off for home. We were heartbroken but knew his Dad had lived a victorious Christian live through Christ and that he was glad to be home with God and with his dear Clara in Heaven for all eternity. In my emotional-way of thinking, I hoped Daddy Dean had caught up my parents on Amy and Chip, on our 3 grandchildren whom he had met, and had told my mom and Richard's mom that Amy was expecting! We were now without any parents, and that was a strange feeling. We had become the oldest generation with a third generation coming on behind us.
28. Amy gave birth to a beautiful red-head boy on November 2, 2004~~ the artist and master dot-to-dot boy as depicted in the picture above.
29. In Spring 2006, I learned that my extra weight had finally caught up with me and that I would now battle high blood pressure and high triglycerides. I am put on long-term medicine for the first time in my 54 years!!
30. November 2007. Chip is called back to "Sweet Home Alabama" and is the Student and College Ministries Pastor at a great church in the Huntsville area. It is a blessing to be able to see him more often!
31. April 2008. After much prayer and seeking God's will, Richard is about to retire for the 2nd time. We will celebrate his May 5th retirement with a 2-week trip to Alaska next month.
Summary of my dot-2-dots thus far... I have had a blessed life with a faithful husband, two great "kids" who are both in full-time Christian service, a precious son-in-law, 4 God-given grandchildren, a loving extended family on both sides, great friends, and a faithful Heavenly Father who has walked with me each step of the way. He has reached down to pick me up many times when I have stumbled, crashed, and even willfully stepped out of His will.
??. What does the future hold? Where will the next "dot" take me? As we get ready for Richard's retirement in two weeks, we know we have to stay anchored and active in the Lord, seek His will, and finish our lives strong in Him. I can't wait to see what the next dots hold for us but realize that some of them may be hard. Aging, health that could fail, siblings that are in their mid-60s, the tumultuous teenage-years for 2 of our grandchildren, the totally unexpected for any of our loved ones.... who knows what all lies out there before us~~ the "good" as well as the "bad?" GOD DOES. I will trust Him day by day and walk with Him along the rest of this life's way. I'm thankful to know what lies at the end of this path: Eternity in Heaven!!!
Rhonda (in the red dress) and her family: Front Row L-R: Daughter Pam holding Baby Ellie, Rhonda, Dawn (expecting Lily) holding Little Luke, Rhonda's mother, Jean. Back Row L-R: Pam's husband Casey, Dawn's husband Josh, Rhonda's husband Dan, and Rhonda's son, Danny. (Double-click on any pic to enlarge for better viewing.) And now from Rhonda.....
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