Please Pray for Stellan

Some of you know about MckMama and her son Stellan. He is a very sick little boy again and needs many prayers going up for him. Please click on the title of this post to go to MckMama's blog to check on Stellan.

Messin' around with photoshop

Uncle Fred's barn watercolored!

I wonder what McKenzie wants for Christmas?

Do ya think....ear rings?

Fall in Kentucky

I quit smoking when my oldest grandson Tyler was born almost 10 years ago. It was hard to do. There is no doubt in my mind that smoking is bad for you and I certainly don't want my grandchildren taking up that habit. But growing tobacco in Kentucky has been a way of life for so many people here. It has fed and clothed many families in this beautiful state and has provided many others with extra money to spend for Christmas. Even though the tobacco farmer is slowly disappearing, I have so much admiration for them. A tobacco farmer must surely have great faith in the God of all creation, to provide the right amount of rain, sunshine and protect the crop from disease. I'm sure they spend much time on their knees.

My pastor, Kenny Davis, recently took some pictures of his uncle's barn showing the beautiful blue sky and the colorful trees of fall....and the tobacco curing in the barn. What a picture! I can almost smell the leaves and the crisp fall air. Who could paint such a picture except our God?!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 2009

A reason for giving

More than 1.5 billion people are missing out on the opportunity to hear the Gospel. They are living in pockets of lostness, hidden behind cultural, physical, political and language barriers to a Gospel witness. The Bible describes them as living in darkness, alienated from God and without hope in the world.

Our obedience will give them hope. God calls every church and every believer to be on mission with Him to break down the barriers. Through prayer, volunteering and strategic partnerships on the field, you and your church can help bring a lost people into God's family.

But could it be that one of the barriers to reaching these pockets is a lack of financial resources? We must also be willing to give sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering so those called to invest their lives sharing the Gospel can go.

Our goal at Bethel is $12,200 this year. Please click on the title of this post to learn more about Lottie Moon.

Some things are natural...some are not...

It is natural for dogs & cats, and brothers & sisters to fight. It is natural when people see a newborn baby to say "Awww..". It is natural for ducks to swim and birds to fly. For rain to fall and smoke to rise.

It is not natural for a mother to bury a child...

Dear Tony,

I can't picture you at 35. You went to Heaven when you were 20, so I'm thinking that even though you are celebrating your birthday there, you're still 20 years old. I watch all of your friends growing up and getting married, having babies and I miss experiencing that with you. But I know without a doubt that your life in Heaven is so much better...God's word says, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1 Cor. 2:9

I'm here on earth celebrating your life in Heaven.

You are missed with tears but remembered with laughter.

Love Mom

Anthony Wayne Gadd

October 19, 1974 ~ March 25, 1995

DONATE A HAT TO A CHILD WITH CANCER

My son Tony has a birthday coming up. On Oct. 19th he will be 35 years old. He is celebrating his birthday in Heaven like he has for the last 14 years. He was 20 years old when he died from a malignant tumor behind his sinus cavity. I can't even tell you what kind of cancer it was because despite the fact that his pathology report was sent many places, the only thing they could tell me was that it was a very quick growing, aggressive type of sarcoma. He was in the hospital for 3 months before he died, having radiation therapy M-F and chemo on weekends. When his hair started coming out, it wasn't as embarrassing as it was aggravating for him. He asked one of his nurses to go ahead and shave his head. He loved Michael Jordan so everyone told him he looked like a "White Mike". He was so sick he couldn't get out of bed and move around so having something on his head never really concerned him. But so many friends and family brought him hats, and "do-rags" and he was so tickled. One of his friends even brought him a shirt that said "Hair by Chemo". Even though Tony was 20 years old when he died, childhood cancer fills my heart with pain and dread. It is almost unbearable to watch anyone you love suffer with cancer, but to see children go through the agony of chemo and all that comes with it is especially hard. Small things like a cute hat to give them a little lift is much appreciated I know. If you would like to donate a hat to a child with cancer, please click on the button on the right side of my blog page. And please pray for childhood cancer victims and their families.

Roger Johnson 1951~2003

Today is the 6th anniversary of my husband's death. Here is the memorial I put in the paper:

"For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Chirst will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17

Waiting for the day we can be together again. If it is God's will, I will be here serving Him, missing you with tears, but remembering you with laughter.

Love Sheila

Addison's first haircut and Dr. Seuss

Last night I stopped by to see Aaron, Addison and Stef. Robbie was at work. I had been on church visitation and was in the neighborhood and all. :-)
Stef had been off work and had been busy all day cleaning, catching up on laundry, taking Aaron to ball practice, and taking Addison for her first haircut! She did so good sitting in that little car! It was bedtime, so while Stef was getting Addison ready for nite-nite, Aaron read some Dr. Seuss to me! I was so proud of his reading! He sounds the words out and knew almost all of them with just a little help from Mamaw. I love spur of the moment memory making with my grandkids!