Busy Schedule: A Month Full!

5/11/2019

This month is filling up with unexpected events as well as already scheduled events. The unexpected ones, thus far have been along the sorrowful and tragic side. Barb had a dear cousin to pass away in Kentucky. She suffered for quite awhile and so, on the one hand she’s at perfect peace now and no longer suffering in her very sick body as before. On the other hand, as is most always the case, she left her grieving husband and children with only memories of her. Hopefully, the good ones.

The other unexpected loss is a grand-nephew of mine, grandson of my oldest brother. He was only 42, way too young to go into eternity. He was a warmhearted individual, played and sang country and gospel music well. His grandmother and mother are mourning his loss, as well as the rest of us in his family will miss him greatly. It’s very hard to lose an offspring or a grandchild. We’re praying for them.

As to the scheduled events, we’re so happy to have our son, Brian visiting with us for a week. He lives a ways away and we usually get to see him once a year. This year we’re looking forward to a second time, maybe even 3 times! He’s here without his lovely wife and we miss her—next visit, perhaps the whole family!

Last night at our other son’s home we enjoyed his “home concert” featuring a soloist/guitarist pretty well known in Alabama. He had several really well written songs about growing up here and things that happened in his life. He’s younger than me, but he remembered in music many of the things I remember about growing up in the 50s/60s.

Next weekend a dual happening, Barb will be going to her Alumni Banquet in Indiana—just up the road about 6-7 miles from mine. She’s looking forward to that and visiting with old friends and schoolmates. 

At the same time here in Alabama, in Mentone, the annual Rhododendron Festival is being held (Saturday and Sunday) and I’ll be helping Sarah and Jason display some new things from Blue Jug. I’ll only be there on Saturday, though. they’ll just have to muddle through without me on Sunday—it’ll be tough on them, don’t ya know.

On next Sunday, I’ll be in Chattanooga for a special treat: Bro. Brian Sipes will be preaching there on Sunday morning. It’ll be great to visit with he and June and also to hear him preach in person. 

Tomorrow and the last Sunday of the month I will be preaching at the Grace Bible Church in Alexandria, AL. Also, on the last Sunday of May is the Mize Reunion in Kentucky where Barb loves to attend. This year she will probably not go to that due to all the rest of the month’s travel activities.

I know you probably didn’t want (and definitely didn’t need) to know our complete itineraries, but I just wanted to show that 76 year olds do not sit around waiting for the last breath. We have things to do, ya know?

As a matter of fact, I feel busier now than I would have thought possible. It is heartening to know some people still tune in to the Monday night Bible lesson online (zoom.us/j/2103785748 on Monday night, 7pm Central) and others subscribe to the YouTube channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart, to pickup that bible lesson each week.

And to you who read what I write here, I thank you for reading, the Elder