Bro. Jerry was my pastor when I was a young adult, and I was saved under his ministry on July 23, 1972. Later, on September 29, 1973, he sang two of our wedding songs and officiated our wedding until such time as my Dad gave me away and did our vows. Anyway, these are pics from our wedding nearly 34 years ago with Bro. Jerry in them. Now you can look below to catch up a bit.......
How fun it is to be back in contact with Bro. Jerry and Carol Ann. I was saved under Bro. Jerry's pastorate way back in the 70's. I was dating Richard at the time and THOUGHT I was saved but was convicted during Bro. Jerry's message that Sunday night that I had prayed the prayer but had not committed my life to Jesus Christ. I went forward and accepted Christ that night: July 23, 1972. He helped to officiate our wedding in September '73. I had already joined the FWB church where my Dad was pastoring and which was Richard's home church. When Bro. Jerry left Eastside as Pastor, that's when my Dad was called to pastor there and eventually we lost contact with Bro. Jerry and his family in the mid 70's.
Fast forward to 1986: I vaguley remember that Jerry and Carol Ann came to Mom's house during the time of Dad's death 21 years ago. Everything about that is kind of a blur in my memory, but I know we haven't seen them since that day in 1986 Somehow in recent months, I got their email address and contacted them and we have occasionally emailed back and forth. A couple of days ago, they shared with me the URL for their daughter KK's blog. KK is an excellent writer and it has been amazing to catch up on some of the family doings through her writings. KK shared with me this picture of Bro. Jerry and Carol Ann. It was a blessing to receive this pic of them from their daughter, KK. May God richly bless Jerry and Carol Ann as they enjoy their grown kids and precious grandkids.
I love this picture of Karen and me. The next post is all about my older sister......
Karen... what can I say about her? She has always been there for me.
She is 6-1/2 years older than me because Dad and Mom lost 2 babies in-between us... a brother and a sister that we have never known. I imagine that Karen was pretty excited when her mommy brought home a baby girl in July 1951. I know that I have always felt loved and cherished by Karen. She always did special things for Nonie and me... her little sisters. Nonie and I have talked together so many times and have commented on how much we admire her, love her, and look up to her.
Karen is a STRONG Christian woman and has always been my mentor in the faith. She and Paul have three fine sons and two precious granddaughters. One more thing... I favor Karen a lot. When I still lived in our hometown (until 5-1/2 years ago) it occasionally happened that when I was out shopping, etc. that someone who knew Karen would come up to me and say, "You have GOT to be Karen's sister." I was always proud to answer, "Yes, I am!" Paul and Karen, I love you both and pray your retirement years are full of God's best blessings. Come when you can! ~~Susan
This sweet girl is from our past. Her Dad, Dr. E, was our pastor back in the 80's at our home church. Jo Anna is the youngest of the E's four children. We so much loved Bro. Ron, Brenda, and the family. My dad served as assistant pastor under Dr. E, and it was during that ministry that my dad became ill, found out it was leukemia, and he died three weeks later. Dr. English especially endeared himself to us as he ministered to my dad during those three weeks as well as to my mom and us three girls then and afterwards.. It was just a year or so after Dad's death when Dr. English felt the call to move on and left our church. We were devastated to lose him but God was faithful during that time and sent us a good man. Jo Anna was a young teen when they left our church. It was through the wonderful world of cyber space that I reconnected with Dr. E, Brenda, and Jo Anna after many years. She had grown up and is now a lovely wife and the sweet mom to her three boys.... Dakota, Dillon, and Jasper. When Dr. E's mother died 3 years ago, Richard and I went to the funeral in Georgia. Jo Anna was expecting Jasper at the time and we were blessed to meet Doug and well as Dakota and Dillon. They are a fine family!!
Having Mom on my mind on this 8th anniversary of her death naturally brings loving thoughts and precious memories of my two sisters. Having enjoyed living in the same town for 50 years as we married and raised our families, Richard and I moved away in December 2001 and then Nonie moved away in early 2002. Karen remains in our home town and is our "home base" so to speak. What a blessing it is to be the middle girl and to have an older sister and a younger sister. All three of us are so very different in our temperaments and personalities, but the bond of sisterhood has withstood some pretty big challenges over the years and our love has endured. Truly Karen and Nonie grow more precious to me with each passing year. With Karen 6-1/2 years my senior and Nonie just 15 months my junior, we all realize that life is passing by pretty quickly. Karen and Nonie, I want you both to know how much I love you and miss you. You girls are so dear to me, your families are dear to me, and I thank God for the love that binds our hearts together forever. ~~Sister Susan
Down below, I posted that it was 8 years ago today that my precious mother took off for heaven. Here is my favorite pic of mom in her later years. It was made probably some 12-15 months before her death.
Mom was so proud of her three girls, her seven grandchildren, and her two great-grandchildren (Ashley and Zach.) I love this pic of mom made with Granny Nonie, Mommy Dee, and Baby Zach. How I wish Mom could have lived to have seen her other great grands: Jarrett, Isabella, Joshua, Tayler, Jaden, Kayleigh, and Jackson! Of course, with Dad's homegoing way back in 1986, he missed out on all of the great-grands. It is my prayer that all of our family members come to know Christ (if they haven't already made that decision) so that we can have a wonderful FAMILY REUNION in Heaven for all of eternity!
WHEW!!! Blogger thought I was spamming and closed my blog for nearly 24 hours. I was glad to get home from being gone all day to find this email from them and to know I am back in business and that my name is cleared. :) ~~Susan
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For my sisters and me, July 13, 1999 was a terribly shocking and sad day. We each received a call from the nursing home where Mom resided letting us know that she had passed away early that morning. I received my call at just minutes after 8:00 a.m. I remember exactly where I was standing and exactly what I was doing when the phone rang. It's amazing how a phone call can forever change your life. Mom had been placed in the nursing home less than a week earlier after weeks of hospitalization with her congestive heart failure. We didn't expect her to leave us that soon, but GOD WAS GRACIOUS to take her on home to Heaven. She survived 13 years following Dad's death in June 1986. I know I speak for Karen and Nonie, too, when I say how much I miss my parents. Though the raw pain of the deep grief no longer resides in my heart, there are so many times when I wish I could talk to Mom about this or that or ask my Dad something about the Bible or living the Christian life. Our joy is in knowing that they are safely arrived at home in Heaven and that we will see them again. Dad & Mom~~~ thank you for loving me, raising me, and for showing me by example how to live the abundant life. Enjoy the wonders of being with Jesus, and I'll see you soon. ~~Love, Susan
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