Personal Loss and Mother Nature's Devastation

One of my greatest blessings from God went home on Thursday evening, May 8th at 9:45 p.m. My dear, sweet, friend and grandmother, whom most knew as "Memomer.

Helen W. Maynard at age 17

God answered our prayers and took her peacefully and quickly as I was holding her hand and humming to her. God is so good! I am working on a post dedicated to her but it may take me a few days to get through it. I can't work on it too long without breaking down, so please be patient. I want to thank everyone for their support and prayers. They mean so much.

Stephanie and I heard a song on the radio as we were coming home that truly touched us. The song is by Mark Harris and is called "Wish You Were Here".

"Wish You Were Here" I wanted to tell you how closely I've kept the memories of you in my heart And all of the lifetimes that we had to share Live even though we're apart But don't cry for me 'Cause I'm finally free (Chorus) To run with the angels On streets made of gold To listen to stories of saints new and old To worship our Maker That's where I'll be When you finally find me No don't you be weary ‘cause waiting for you Are wonders that you've never known Just hold on to Jesus, reach out for his hands And one day They'll welcome you home And that's when you'll be Finally free Finally free (Chorus) I wish you were here, I wish you were here And all of the dreams that you treasure Will soon come together And that's when your sorrow will find tomorrow And you will rise again (Chorus) We'll run with the angels on streets made of gold We'll listen to stories of saints new and old We'll worship our maker that's where we'll be When you finally find me I wish you were here

The thought of my PRECIOUS (the name my husband always called her) Memomer having a new body and being able to run with the angels brings the biggest smile to my face!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to add that Macon is suffering devastating damage from the storm this weekend. I found out today that 11 tornadoes were confirmed in Georgia. Here are some pictures that I took when Stephanie and I went to Macon on Monday.

The tornado just snapped off the tops of these trees all over Macon and the surrounding area.

This McDonald's sign just couldn't hold up to the strong winds that were over 110 mph.

This was on the road in front of us.

Please keep the families in this area in your prayers. There are many who do not have power or water and may be without it for a couple of weeks. It's easy to take these every day conveniences for granted until we lose them. We heard today that one of our good friends from church lost part of their house and 2 of their vehicles. There are trees down all over their yard. Some volunteers are going over tomorrow to see what they can do to help them.

Hugs & Blessings ~ Kim

Every time I think of you, I thank God for you. - I Corinthians 1:4

Three G's! GA bound, Gutters & God and your Bod!

I've already e-mailed several of you about Ashley's exciting news but for those who haven't heard, Ashley is going to be a Georgia Bulldog in the fall! Ashley will graduate with HONORS with her Associates Degree in Math Education June 14th.

We are hoping to get signed up for the June 20th orientation at UGA. She is so-o-o-o excited.

Rob purchased a home and is working on getting it fixed up to move in. In the mean time he asked if he could move back home for a couple of months while he gets it fixed up. He's also been helping us get some much needed work done on our home while he is here. He and Wayne pulled off some rotten gutters the other day. He certainly has youth and strength that Wayne and I are now lacking! He has been, as always, a godsend.

He's also helped straighten the garage, get all of the pine straw off the roof of the pool house and clean those gutters. He is pretty amazing...he works full time, works out at the gym at least 3 times a week, has his own business buying and fixing up houses, works on those houses on the weekends AND somehow finds time to help us, spend time with the family and his sweet girlfriend. They have both been attending church with us and we have really enjoyed them being there.

We've had some awesome series of messages at church lately. Our last series was amazing. Joe talked about the many questions we have about God and about life for God. He made it clear that no matter how long we have been believers we will probably always have questions and it's okay! It was clear that though we have questions we can still walk in a wonderful relationship with christ. I love how Joe can make his messages so relevant to our everyday life.

Our latest series started today and it is called, "God and your bod".

This first message of the series focused on extremes. Joe asked the question,

"Are you a worshipper or a neglector?"

A worshipper could be someone who is obsessed with going to the gym and a healthfood fanatic where a neglector is an issue is someone who never exercises and eats with no regard to what is healthy. A worshipper can also be someone who worships clothes and is obsessed on how they look. Both of these extremes are issues of self-centeredness and affect the relationships in our lives. It is better to be balanced or more accurately perspective, GOD'S PERSPECTIVE. We learned that the bible talks a LOT about our body. We talked some about fitness and how we are instructed to treat our body as a temple and take care of it but he also talked about how our life is not our own. The creation (us) is owned by the creator (God) and since we are all created by God, we are His. It sounds like a great series and I can't wait until next week to see what else God has to say through Joe.

I'm going to set my goals this week for our 6 week challenge to get closer to God's perspective and will share that next time.

Hugs ~ Kim

Four wild and crazy guys . . .

Our son, Rob, decided to reward himself for graduating with his Masters Degree a couple of weeks ago with a 4-day cruise to Cozumel (Correction). He got three of his best friends to go with him. He's known all of them for a long time, especially David W. and Billy. I think they've known each other since elementary or middle school! David W. is flying directly to Tampa from Pennsylvania, Bill (I've always known him as Billy!) came down from Atlanta and David S. and Rob live in Macon. A special thanks goes out to my cousin, Rob, for picking up David W. from the Tampa airport and putting up all 4 of these guys for the night. I heard they didn't get in until 3:00 a.m.

(Sorry MB!)

Here are some pictures before they left on Wednesday...This may look like a regular bottle of mouthwash but I have "intel" from a very reliable source that it isn't!!!! He looks pretty proud of himself doesn't he? David S., Bill & Rob Packing it up to leave for Tampa! When these guys get together you just never know what is going to happen. This is a picture of David's wallet that he left at the apartment with his ID that he needs for the ship! Luckily Stephanie found it right after they left and was able to call them to come home and try again! You're a life saver, little sister! ~ I talked to Rob about 2:30 today and he was on the ship with his buddies. They sounded like they didn't waste any time starting the FUN! These are 4 GREAT guys and they are going to have a trip that they will remember the rest of their lives. I just hope the cruiseline doesn't!!!! ~ On a little more serious note, yesterday was a pretty rough day. It started with me breaking my watch then about every hour it was something else. Much of it is too personal to discuss here but I will ask for prayer and any other help you might be able to provide for Steph's fiance', Brian. He was laid off from his job yesterday. Those two have done a fantastic job trying to get some debt paid off before their wedding next March so I hate that this has happened. But, on the bright side, I know from experience that we grow the most when we are enduring trials. I'm sure Steph and Brian would appreciate your prayers. I told Brian that this might open up an opportunity that he may not have gone for if this hadn't happened. ~ God works in mysterious ways. ~ Hugs to all ~ Kim

Does anyone read my blog????

Come on guys and gals...I need some support here. Let me know you are interested in what I'm posting. Leave me some comments...PLEASE! By the way...Wayne and I had our first "date" 32 years ago today. Also, Happy Anniversary to my Mom & Ralph.

Wow! So much to share!!!!

It's been more than a week since I've updated and but I've been REALLY busy! Let's see, I've organized, financed, worshipped, visited, celebrated, fellowshipped, crafted, cried, spectated, & studied since I last posted! ~ ORGANIZED: Steph and I moved my painting, crafting, scrapbooking, card-making, etc. from our former dining room to our old computer room. It's still a mess but it's all downstairs in one room with a very big closet. I don't have any pictures yet but I'll send some when I finish. Stephie & I are really excited about getting it finished. ~ FINANCED: We had a great Financial Peace class on "Buyer Beware". We learned a lot about marketing and the power of CASH! ~ WORSHIPPED: It was again the first Wednesday night of the month and we had church. Boy did we have CHURCH! It was so awesome. I could truly feel the Holy Spirit moving among us. We sang, we prayed, we laughed, we reflected, we WORSHIPPED! We also had a wonderful service on Sunday and shared it with Wayne's Mom who was with us as well as both of the girls and their guys. A friend from work came to worship with us as well and it was wonderful having both of them with us. It was another awesome service! ~ VISITED: My Mom & Ralph came in Thursday evening for Rob's graduation. It was especially wonderful to see her since she was in the hospital due to her stroke the last time I saw here in February. She looked wonderful. I had a great time visiting with them on Friday. (I took another day of vacation!) They met me at work and I got to introduce them to everyone. We then went to Hobby Lobby & met Rob & Ashley at Cheddar's for lunch. We went home and waited for Wayne's Mom to get in then had a short time to visit before the graduation. ~ CELEBRATED: Let me just start off this post by saying that I have the most awesome immediate family as well as extended family anyone could ask for. As I'm sure most of you know by now, our 27-year-old son, Rob, graduated with his Master's Degree in Business Administration from Georgia College & State University on Friday, May 4th @ 7:00 p.m. In attendance for his beautiful Gradate Ceremony were, Wayne, myself, Stephanie, Brian, Ashley, Brandon, Jessica, Bryant and from out of town were my Mom and Ralph and Wayne's Mom. That's 11 people! There were other members of our family who would have loved to have been there in person, like my grandmother, but were there in spirit. The ceremony was very, very nice. It was held outside and though rain was expected the clouds made it just cool enough to be absolutely enjoyable. I've posted several of the 115 pictures (yes, 115) that I took with my digital camera while we were there. I'll post them in order with a brief caption.

The stage was so beautiful. I wasn't real sure about it being outside but am so glad they had it there.

Stephanie, Judy (Kim's Mom) and Kim

Mary Ann (Wayne's Mom) and Wayne

Brian & Stephanie

Brandon & Ashley

Jessica & Steph Here is Rob getting "hooded". I had no idea this was going to happen. It was a very thrilling moment!

Each "school" (Rob's is Business) has their own colors for their hood.

Our proud family! :o)

The kids ~ Brandon, Ashley, Rob, Steph & Brian

Rob with his grandmothers ~ Judy (Kim's Mom) & Mary Ann (Wayne's Mom)

3 Generations ~ Wayne, Rob & Mary Ann (Wayne's Mom)

3 Generations ~ Judy (Kim's Mom), Rob & Kim

Rob & Bryant :o)

Last but certainly not least is cute Stephanie! :o)

I know Rob knows how proud we are of him but I must state it again here. He has worked VERY hard to accomplish this goal. It's been a tough road but he did an outstanding job making school a priority. We love you son!

~ FELLOWSHIPPED: We had a wonderful time of celebration & fellowship with our family at the Olive Garden after graduation. We were all exhausted when we finally made it home but it was such a wonderful day full of memories...and of course...breathless moments ~ CRAFTED: About the middle of last week I was wondering what we could do on Saturday with Wayne's Mom that would be fun and memorable. I called both of the girls and asked them if they'd be up for a painting class with Grandma. I contacted Sandy and she had openings in her 1:00 class and we had our own little party! We painted butterfly bushes and butterflies on tissue boxes. We had a great time thanks to Sandy. (I wish my Mom could have attended but they had to leave Saturday morning.)

This is the box that Sandy painted during class. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL? Sandy had me pick the name in the drawing and I picked Mary Ann, Wayne's Mom! She thought it was rigged but it REALLY wasn't!

Here is the box that Wayne's Mom painted. She told me on the way to Hobby Lobby that she would just walk around HL while we took the class. I told her NO! The whole reason we were doing the class was to spend time with her. She was VERY reluctant and even hid (kiddingly) in the greenery at HL! :o) I think she surprised herself with her beautiful accomplishment. Sandy was a great encouragement to her, as always, and made our afternoon one to remember!

This was only the 2nd class that Ashley has taken. She did a GREAT job on her box!

Here is Steph's beautiful tissue box. She has such a natural talent!

Here is my box. We had such a great time. Thanks, Sandy!

~ CRIED: I had to say good-bye to my Mom and Ralph on Saturday morning which made me so sad then I had to say good-bye again to Wayne's Mom on Sunday when she had to leave. We enjoyed them all so much. I gave my Mom my framed seascape painting and sent my tulip painting home with her for my grandmother all for Mother's Day. I gave my rosebud vase to Wayne's Mom for Mother's Day. ~ SPECTATED: We went to Bryant's soccer game on Sunday afternoon after church. He scored 4 goals. He is such a natural athlete! Great job, buddy! ~ STUDIED: Stephanie, Brian & I started a 3-week class Monday night at Lifepoint called Network. It is a study on spiritual gifts and how to use them to serve others. We had a great first class but LOTS of homework before next week. ~ I don't think this week will be near as exciting as last, which is probably good since I'm exhausted. I hope you all have a blessed week. *****Please keep Sandy and her family in your prayers. Her Dad became very ill and had to have emergency surgery. He is away from home and Sandy's Mom is flying in from Germany today to be with him. I know she and her family would covet your thoughts and prayers. ***** ~ Hugs ~ Kim