It's been awhile since I've posted anything.  Much has happened since December, many blessings and some disappointments, but all good for growth and experience.  We were able to go to Alabama the week after Christmas.  Our friends and extended family, the Harrells, live there in Butler and our daughter Cristin and family were going to join them.  We drove a car that was lent to us, to make the trip and we were offered a home to stay over in Nashville.  These gifts were unexpected and greatly appreciated.  We saw some country we have never seen before and the weather was great the entire time except some rain on our way home. We had a wonderful visit, and stayed in a fantastic little mini hotel just down the street.  It was so comfortable and convenient, and not expensive at all.  Another blessing.  We were able to watch our grandsons play and enjoy the time with their cousins from Texas and catch up with Scott, Susan and their kids!

On the way back to Kentucky, we went a different route, through Mississippi.  We drove through Ol' Miss then up to Memphis and we had dinner with friends relocated from San Diego.  Again more beautiful country to see and places to revisit. 

In January, Jim was able to go to Uganda again with a different group from California.  It was a growth experience for all, a time of challenge and ministry for the team and the pastors and leaders who attended the conference.  They were able to visit a well known young lady in Christian circles, Katie Davis, there at her home in Uganda, very close to Jenja where the team went.  Her ministry is to the children in the area who were orphaned.  She has adopted 13 girls of all ages, and feeds the community's children weekly.  Katie is only in her early 20's, but she has been there since she was 18.  Pretty amazing!

Cay and I were here in Kentucky while Jim was gone for two weeks.  We did some little mother-daughter things and enjoyed doing some things that we knew Dad doesn't really like to do.  Birthdays came and went, and then we found out that our friend staying in our home could no longer afford to stay.  So we made arrangements for Caylynn to go back to CA.  She left March and started looking for a job and make plans to get back into school this fall.  She is presently providing child care for some friends from church with a small income.  She is looking at it as a ministry and also looking for other jobs to provide adequate income.

In April my mom and sister came for a visit after Easter.  We stayed pretty close to home, but saw some of the areas best and historical places.  The morning they left, we drove to CA by way of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  Wow, in three days we saw some pretty places and a lot of desert.  I got sick along the way and poor Jim drove pretty much the whole trip.  We spent the trip cleaning up, fixing up and clearing out.  We did make it to the coast to see the family and then back to Kentucky.

Here it is May and the church is getting very close to calling a pastor.  We will be here until the new pastor comes and then head back home.  Please pray for us as we don't know where the Lord will lead Jim next.  Since his heart surgery I have committed to go with him to the interim locations, near or far.  I personally love the country back here.  There's so much history and we want to see more of it before we head home.  It's been a challenge for Jim and it tires him emotionally and physically.  He would like to find a permanent location and position, but so far nothing has opened up.  Again, please continue to pray for him and our family.

So, even though there are uncertainties in our future, we know we are in His hands and we know He has a plan. We trust Him and we know He is always with us and will never leave us.  Here's a great song to remind us of those promises...

Light Up the Sky!  

Everything is Yours (revised)

Back in October I put a video together in honor of our little Ruby Jean.  At that time we didn't know what the outcome would be for her life and so as an act of obedience I posted the song "Everything is Yours"  Since then, she left us to be with our Creator and Father of the Universe!  So small and perfect in our sight, she is whole in Heaven a lovely work of art.  Jim encouraged me to change the ending to fit our story so I am posting my revision.  If you know someone in the midst of losing a child whether unborn or years old, please have them listen to the words of this song, it has truly helped me get through some sad times.

It's Sunday morning 5:15 am,(EST) Jim left for church (yes I know) and I couldn't go back to sleep.  I thought of the song on Ruby's blog so I got up to listen and found Cristin's post. She shared details I hadn't heard and the pictures we weren't in. God's timing is best, His plans perfect. But I still wish I could have been there.  I love Ruby's little picture, but I too look forward to meeting her in Heaven.  To see the light in her eyes, the joy and laughter of a sweet girl who is, as Cristin so said so perfectly, a sinless and wise soul.  She will always be with us and someday she will greet us with those who have gone before us.  Hand in hand I will picture her approaching with my Grandpa, my Dad, skipping along with Grandma...I will keep these pictures in my heart and hold tight to the peace God has given me and our family through this season.  My favorite season of the year, fall, so rich and warm in color, so full of the scents of home and crisp air, Ruby will forever be my "Little Pumpkin" She will forever be a part of my autumns in the future.

I am so grateful for my girls, for the testimony of Cristin and John's life, the compassion of friends, and the grace of God to strengthen and comfort Cristin and John in a way that has touched so many.  Their continued and growing faith has and will forever change lives to further God's Kingdom.  They are amazing and courageous beyond their years as well as mine.  I love you guys so much!!! Thank you for sharing your heart in your post. Momma Nessa

If you would like to read about their journey these last five weeks, you can read their blog for Ruby at  rarerubyjean.blogspot.com   Be sure to read in September's list "If You Want Her To"  and if music touches you like it does me there is a family blog posting of some timely songs called harrellology.blogspot.com the posting is called "Music that Heals" on Sept. 17th  John and Cristin are wonderful writers that express their hearts and lives so honestly. It will touch you deeply, get a box of tissues...I know I'm a little partial, but let me know and them if impacted your life, your walk as a believer in Jesus Christ...it sure helped me get through this knowing their faith was strong and that they have been surrounded by His peace and comfort.

Well the call came this morning, Ruby is gone.  Her life so brief, yet so precious and meaningful.  There is loss and grief, but we trust the Lord with His plan for her and our lives on this journey.  He planned her, He created her for a time and purpose and we are grateful for the growth and experience.  He never wastes pain and suffering, He has a plan we can't always see, yet we trust in Him.  Please pray for John and Cristin and the boys as they go through this season.  This Grandma's teary and sad, but I know that I will come out on the side stronger and richer in my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father.  He has taught us all so much through this and will continue to do so. 

Here is a picture of a little pumpkin I bought a couple of weeks ago.  I bought it because it is a pretty Ruby red pumpkin it is a reminder of this October's journey with our little Ruby Jean.  It is about the size she is, it is a soft velvet texture, it represents her name and it's stem is broken, which is like our little Ruby, beautiful but broken in this world.  But now with her Savior she is whole, perfect and surrounded by love.  We will have to wait to see her perfect little face, to hold her little hand and to meet the sweet little creation she is.  I will hold to the picture of my Grandpa bringing her by hand to meet me for the first time when I reach Heaven. I picture with her Daddy's large eyes, green like her Mommy's and with her Mama's big dimples and freckles.  I see her playing baseball with Daddy and rolling in the grass with her brothers.  I see her reading and crafting with her Mommy and singing at the top of her lungs with the family..."He loves us, oh how He loves us...."  I know I may never see these images for real, but I will cling to them until get home....

New Video

Well, I've been feeling a little uncreative lately so I felt like doing another video.  Today at church the choir sang a new arrangement of For the Beauty of the Earth and had asked me to do a power point for it.  It was ok, but the lighting was washed out a few times.  I'll need to use lighter pictures next time.  But thought I'd try posting my new video "T'll I See You" a song by Hillsong, let me know if you like it!

So Much Change

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything, and so much has changed.  We are in Kentucky and we are enjoying the area-beautiful, and the people-fun and gracious.

My heart is torn to be here too.  On September 12, I received a  call I was so not expecting.  Cristin, 21 weeks pregnant, went in for an ultrasound and it was her first so she took sister, Corban and her boys.  While taking a look, the technician found an irregular heart beat that resulted in another appointment that afternoon at another facility.  There seemed to some problems with the baby that needed further tests and a consult with a geneticist and a cardiologist.  Well, two days later she and John were at another appointment that included an amniocentesis and talking to a top infant cardiologist from UCLA and they determined that their "Baby Girl" may have a chromosome issue called Trisomy 18 or 13 which in layman's terms...she may not survive the pregnancy and if she does she wouldn't last longer than a year.  Tears...we were so wanting a girl this time and as most Grandma's I looked forward to a healthy baby no matter the sex.    

God is good all the time.  This has happened to many families before, it will happen again.  God can do a miracle and that's what we are asking for Him to do.  But His plans are best and we will accept whatever that might be for our sweet Ruby Jean.  Accept and give Him praise no matter how broken we feel.  It's not a question of why, but why not.  When there seems to be no hope is when God can show Himself to the world.  So if only through our response in all this, Ruby's life will make a difference. We all have dreams, hopes, things we hold tightly too, or expectations for futures...we may never see these come to fruition, I am learning to let go, these things may never have fit into His plan for my life, because everything is His.  Here's my latest video.  One for my little Ruby, and our family.