Thursday, January 20, 2011
OVERHAULS ~ BY JO JO RIGGS
"Overalls"
The definition of Overalls, Loose fitting garment worn over regular clothes to protect them. That definition makes me laugh, because that reminds me of someone. Not regular, but the protector of the regular.
Overalls are different than other clothes, you don't have to pamper them or put them in a dress bag in your closet or worry about gizzard grease on your sleeve, just clip and zip or sometimes just clip and go about your business. Overalls can hold a lot of things at once, kinda like a sensitive man holding the needs of others above himself.
Overalls are comfortable, relaxing, handy, American.....kinda like a back porch visit on the river.
Overalls can get awkward looks and judgmental words said like redneck, farmer, hillbilly, poor, uneducated. NOT ME, when I see a pair of overalls, I see my uncle dedication, work ethic, devoted husband, loving daddy, I see America! I see my uncle!
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work."- Thomas Edison
So the next time you see someone in overalls don't judge them, consider it an opportunity to change your life.
-I love you uncle Larry
The definition of Overalls, Loose fitting garment worn over regular clothes to protect them. That definition makes me laugh, because that reminds me of someone. Not regular, but the protector of the regular.
Overalls are different than other clothes, you don't have to pamper them or put them in a dress bag in your closet or worry about gizzard grease on your sleeve, just clip and zip or sometimes just clip and go about your business. Overalls can hold a lot of things at once, kinda like a sensitive man holding the needs of others above himself.
Overalls are comfortable, relaxing, handy, American.....kinda like a back porch visit on the river.
Overalls can get awkward looks and judgmental words said like redneck, farmer, hillbilly, poor, uneducated. NOT ME, when I see a pair of overalls, I see my uncle dedication, work ethic, devoted husband, loving daddy, I see America! I see my uncle!
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work."- Thomas Edison
So the next time you see someone in overalls don't judge them, consider it an opportunity to change your life.
-I love you uncle Larry
PASTOR SCOTT'S NOTES ~ UNCLE LARRY'S FUNERAL
Funeral: Uncle Larry Satterwhite
What do we say in a time like this? How do we respond in a time like this? I stand here today as a Pastor, a minister and I realize that you expect me to give some answers today. What now Scottie? How do you explain this?
It would be nice if we could just fit God in this tidy little box, wrapped up with a nice bow and say here is God, he makes perfect sense. We are all witnesses today that you can’t put God in a nice tidy box, stick a bow on it and put him under your tree. God’s ways are indescribable.
Often we look at the world and it just doesn’t make sense, we wonder what’s going on. Today, we obviously find ourselves in one of those moments. We could say, well he is not suffering anymore and that is true but the reality is my Uncle is still gone.
And so we ask the question “Where is God in all of this?” I believe with God, there are no questions that are out of bounds.
There are no easy answers but I do believe a few things. I do believe that God has not abandoned us. I do believe that in the midst of all the pain, God is still here. And I do believe that there is hope.
In John 11 we see sisters grieving over the sickness of their brother. There is nothing they can do. And so they do the only thing that makes sense, they call for Jesus.
When Jesus saw Mary weeping, He was troubled. Where have you laid him Jesus asked? Come and see Lord they replied. Then comes two of the most beautiful words in the entire Bible “Jesus Wept”. Jesus wept. and the words before it? Jesus was deeply troubled.
We have a God who weeps with us. We have a God who is deeply troubled that the world is the way it is. He is not a God who sits on a throne unattached and unmoved by our struggles. But, like he did with Mary and Martha, he sits with us in our darkest hour and weeps along side of us.
Every person in this room carries burdens. We all have days and even weeks that just don’t make sense. Some of us overcome them and some of us are overcome by them.
We also know that life is full of questions. Some of us find answers and some of us have questions that forever go unanswered. We all feel the sting of death today. This day reminds us of how fragile life really is.
Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” Wait for God – He will come through at the appointed Time
Psalm 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” God will bring you through.
Psalm 40:3 says, “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD.” We will again sing because of the victory that God has given us.
Psalm 40:4 says, “Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols.” We will again have joy.
Psalm 40:5 says, “O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” Psalm 40:8 says, “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart." We will see the hand of the Lord in our life.
Psalm 40:6 says, “… Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand...”
God puts us in situations that we have to sit up and take notice. He has lessons for all of us to learn today.
"What is sadder than death?" It is what dies within a man while he is still alive. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
There are three things that can die in a person...
1. TOMORROW…
a) Keep your tomorrow alive.
b) Uncle Larry was fighting a battle, yet he kept tomorrow alive; he was able to spend time with Aunt Dianne and two of his sisters for Thanksgiving. He was able to have invaluable time with his family.
c) You have to have hope for tomorrow. Jesus gives us hope for tomorrow. Don’t let your tomorrow die.
2. TODAY…
a) Enjoy today, do all that you can today, don't let today die.
b) We are here now and if we allow ourselves grief can steal this day.
c) If I could make days last forever If words could make wishes come true I'd save every day like a treasure. But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do Once you find them.
d) Look around; the family, the friends. Some you have not seen each other for some time, some of you will not be together for some time. These moments bring us together. Take that in…
i. James 4:14 says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Proverbs 27:1 reminds us: “Do not boast about tomorrow because we don’t know what a day will bring forth.”
One of these days I’m going to do this. I’ll tackle that later. But later never comes.
ii. This gives us reasons why we should never presume upon the future:
1) Life is unpredictable. We don’t even know what will happen today, much less next week or next year. The truth is that no one can predict the future.
2) Life is brief. Our lives are like a vapor. Life is too unpredictable and too brief to live it not knowing our final destiny. Today we are confronted with the stark reality of death and we have no choice but to think about serious questions: What do I believe? What are the important things in life? What do I believe about death – life after death? What place has God in my life? Do I believe that Jesus died on the cross FOR ME so that I may not fear death?
There is one sure thing that we have, today. The past is behind, the future ahead but we have the present. It is called the present because it is a gift.
3. Yesterday can die…
a) "Pastor, we are not supposed to live in yesterday." That's right, there is no future in the past, but we're not to forget yesterday.
b) Remember Uncle Larry, the conversations, the time we had with him. Even though he is no longer with us physically, he is a part of every single one of us, he is in our DNA.
c) Yesterday is the best teacher you will ever have. Learn from yesterday's mistakes, learn from yesterday's successes.
There are 4 types of people in the world…
1. People living in yesterday's memories.
2. People that are going to do it tomorrow.
3. People that are just existing today.
4. But fourth, there are people who are learning from yesterday, hoping for tomorrow, and giving all they've got today.
John 14:1-6 / 1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go, you know and the way you know…”
He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. That might seem a bit odd. It’s quite natural to be troubled by the death of a family member. Jesus was promising that there is something to fill the empty place left behind.
Then Jesus says to them: “believe in God, believe also in me”. He challenges us to turn to the living God with our sorrow and with our doubts and questions and fears about death. Jesus also says to trust in Him.
He says that He is… Jehovah-Shamma (He is Present, right now)
He is… Jehovah-Jireh (Our Provider)
He is… Jehova-Shalom (Our Peace)
He is… Jehovah-Rapha (Healer)
He’s not just a way, a truth, a life. He is THE way, THE truth, THE life. What will we do with Him? What will we take from this day?
Illustration: A Dad was busy watching an important football game. His little girl kept bothering him to go get a treat at the corner store. Finally, frustrated at her, he reached over and picked up a magazine and quickly thumbing through it found a picture of the world.
Taking his scissors, he cut the picture out, then cut it into a number of much smaller pieces. Handing the pieces to the little girl, along with a roll of scotch tape he said “put this together, and when you have it looking like the world again, I promise you we’ll go get that candy bar.” Thinking he had pulled a fast one and could watch the rest of the game in peace, he sat back down and got absorbed. After about seven or eight minutes the little girl came back in holding up a picture of the world all taped back together nice and neat.
He couldn’t believe it! (HOW?) “Well daddy, I noticed on the back of the picture when you were cutting it up there was a picture of Jesus being put onto the cross. And when I put Him in the right place, the world all came back together. As he turned off the TV and he and his little girl headed out the door, he recalled those words – “when you put Jesus in the right place, the world all comes back together.”
(PRAYER – Tammy’s Letter – “Butterfly Kisses”)
*Graveside
Final Words
In 2nd Corinthians – we see that Paul writing about a “thorn in the flesh” that he was having that wouldn’t go away. Paul says that he prayed three times – imploring God to take it away.
God’s only answer was “my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
God’s promise to Paul is the same promise that we have today – “God’s grace is sufficient for you, His strength is made perfect in weakness.”
He knows your heart, even in grief and sorrow, He hears.
It’s been said that death ends the physical but never the spiritual. Death may be the end of a body, but it can never end the relationship. FAMILY BEING TOGETHER – THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT – MAKING THINGS RIGHT!
What do we say in a time like this? How do we respond in a time like this? I stand here today as a Pastor, a minister and I realize that you expect me to give some answers today. What now Scottie? How do you explain this?
It would be nice if we could just fit God in this tidy little box, wrapped up with a nice bow and say here is God, he makes perfect sense. We are all witnesses today that you can’t put God in a nice tidy box, stick a bow on it and put him under your tree. God’s ways are indescribable.
Often we look at the world and it just doesn’t make sense, we wonder what’s going on. Today, we obviously find ourselves in one of those moments. We could say, well he is not suffering anymore and that is true but the reality is my Uncle is still gone.
And so we ask the question “Where is God in all of this?” I believe with God, there are no questions that are out of bounds.
There are no easy answers but I do believe a few things. I do believe that God has not abandoned us. I do believe that in the midst of all the pain, God is still here. And I do believe that there is hope.
In John 11 we see sisters grieving over the sickness of their brother. There is nothing they can do. And so they do the only thing that makes sense, they call for Jesus.
When Jesus saw Mary weeping, He was troubled. Where have you laid him Jesus asked? Come and see Lord they replied. Then comes two of the most beautiful words in the entire Bible “Jesus Wept”. Jesus wept. and the words before it? Jesus was deeply troubled.
We have a God who weeps with us. We have a God who is deeply troubled that the world is the way it is. He is not a God who sits on a throne unattached and unmoved by our struggles. But, like he did with Mary and Martha, he sits with us in our darkest hour and weeps along side of us.
Every person in this room carries burdens. We all have days and even weeks that just don’t make sense. Some of us overcome them and some of us are overcome by them.
We also know that life is full of questions. Some of us find answers and some of us have questions that forever go unanswered. We all feel the sting of death today. This day reminds us of how fragile life really is.
Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” Wait for God – He will come through at the appointed Time
Psalm 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” God will bring you through.
Psalm 40:3 says, “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD.” We will again sing because of the victory that God has given us.
Psalm 40:4 says, “Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols.” We will again have joy.
Psalm 40:5 says, “O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” Psalm 40:8 says, “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart." We will see the hand of the Lord in our life.
Psalm 40:6 says, “… Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand...”
God puts us in situations that we have to sit up and take notice. He has lessons for all of us to learn today.
"What is sadder than death?" It is what dies within a man while he is still alive. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
There are three things that can die in a person...
1. TOMORROW…
a) Keep your tomorrow alive.
b) Uncle Larry was fighting a battle, yet he kept tomorrow alive; he was able to spend time with Aunt Dianne and two of his sisters for Thanksgiving. He was able to have invaluable time with his family.
c) You have to have hope for tomorrow. Jesus gives us hope for tomorrow. Don’t let your tomorrow die.
2. TODAY…
a) Enjoy today, do all that you can today, don't let today die.
b) We are here now and if we allow ourselves grief can steal this day.
c) If I could make days last forever If words could make wishes come true I'd save every day like a treasure. But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do Once you find them.
d) Look around; the family, the friends. Some you have not seen each other for some time, some of you will not be together for some time. These moments bring us together. Take that in…
i. James 4:14 says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Proverbs 27:1 reminds us: “Do not boast about tomorrow because we don’t know what a day will bring forth.”
One of these days I’m going to do this. I’ll tackle that later. But later never comes.
ii. This gives us reasons why we should never presume upon the future:
1) Life is unpredictable. We don’t even know what will happen today, much less next week or next year. The truth is that no one can predict the future.
2) Life is brief. Our lives are like a vapor. Life is too unpredictable and too brief to live it not knowing our final destiny. Today we are confronted with the stark reality of death and we have no choice but to think about serious questions: What do I believe? What are the important things in life? What do I believe about death – life after death? What place has God in my life? Do I believe that Jesus died on the cross FOR ME so that I may not fear death?
There is one sure thing that we have, today. The past is behind, the future ahead but we have the present. It is called the present because it is a gift.
3. Yesterday can die…
a) "Pastor, we are not supposed to live in yesterday." That's right, there is no future in the past, but we're not to forget yesterday.
b) Remember Uncle Larry, the conversations, the time we had with him. Even though he is no longer with us physically, he is a part of every single one of us, he is in our DNA.
c) Yesterday is the best teacher you will ever have. Learn from yesterday's mistakes, learn from yesterday's successes.
There are 4 types of people in the world…
1. People living in yesterday's memories.
2. People that are going to do it tomorrow.
3. People that are just existing today.
4. But fourth, there are people who are learning from yesterday, hoping for tomorrow, and giving all they've got today.
John 14:1-6 / 1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go, you know and the way you know…”
He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. That might seem a bit odd. It’s quite natural to be troubled by the death of a family member. Jesus was promising that there is something to fill the empty place left behind.
Then Jesus says to them: “believe in God, believe also in me”. He challenges us to turn to the living God with our sorrow and with our doubts and questions and fears about death. Jesus also says to trust in Him.
He says that He is… Jehovah-Shamma (He is Present, right now)
He is… Jehovah-Jireh (Our Provider)
He is… Jehova-Shalom (Our Peace)
He is… Jehovah-Rapha (Healer)
He’s not just a way, a truth, a life. He is THE way, THE truth, THE life. What will we do with Him? What will we take from this day?
Illustration: A Dad was busy watching an important football game. His little girl kept bothering him to go get a treat at the corner store. Finally, frustrated at her, he reached over and picked up a magazine and quickly thumbing through it found a picture of the world.
Taking his scissors, he cut the picture out, then cut it into a number of much smaller pieces. Handing the pieces to the little girl, along with a roll of scotch tape he said “put this together, and when you have it looking like the world again, I promise you we’ll go get that candy bar.” Thinking he had pulled a fast one and could watch the rest of the game in peace, he sat back down and got absorbed. After about seven or eight minutes the little girl came back in holding up a picture of the world all taped back together nice and neat.
He couldn’t believe it! (HOW?) “Well daddy, I noticed on the back of the picture when you were cutting it up there was a picture of Jesus being put onto the cross. And when I put Him in the right place, the world all came back together. As he turned off the TV and he and his little girl headed out the door, he recalled those words – “when you put Jesus in the right place, the world all comes back together.”
(PRAYER – Tammy’s Letter – “Butterfly Kisses”)
*Graveside
Final Words
In 2nd Corinthians – we see that Paul writing about a “thorn in the flesh” that he was having that wouldn’t go away. Paul says that he prayed three times – imploring God to take it away.
God’s only answer was “my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
God’s promise to Paul is the same promise that we have today – “God’s grace is sufficient for you, His strength is made perfect in weakness.”
He knows your heart, even in grief and sorrow, He hears.
It’s been said that death ends the physical but never the spiritual. Death may be the end of a body, but it can never end the relationship. FAMILY BEING TOGETHER – THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT – MAKING THINGS RIGHT!
Monday, December 20, 2010
The "ORIGINAL" message from Sue
As I am busy this Saturday morning, thinking about Uncle Larry and praying for him, my mind is going back to the 1970's & 80's. Who remembers:
~The kick ball games on the hill on John Beers Road in the yard of the Riggs'
~The Christmas Eves at the Rogers
~The Fish Frys at the Ryan's
~The tractor rides at the Perkey's
~The poker games on Saturday nights
~The pool parties and summer time cookouts at the Rogers
~The weekends at Gravel Lake in Lawton with the Morelands/Thornhills & Mosquitoes!
~The guitar playing, cigarette smoke clouds, the group pictures, the discussions of Jesus in one corner and "other discussions" in another corner?
~Fried okra, beans, fried potatos from the Perkey garden
~The beautiful wood creations of the Satterwhite men
~The haircuts & perms by mom
And one of my favorite quotes:
"In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away"
~The kick ball games on the hill on John Beers Road in the yard of the Riggs'
~The Christmas Eves at the Rogers
~The Fish Frys at the Ryan's
~The tractor rides at the Perkey's
~The poker games on Saturday nights
~The pool parties and summer time cookouts at the Rogers
~The weekends at Gravel Lake in Lawton with the Morelands/Thornhills & Mosquitoes!
~The guitar playing, cigarette smoke clouds, the group pictures, the discussions of Jesus in one corner and "other discussions" in another corner?
~Fried okra, beans, fried potatos from the Perkey garden
~The beautiful wood creations of the Satterwhite men
~The haircuts & perms by mom
And one of my favorite quotes:
"In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away"
The "REPLIES"
***
Very touching Sue.. yes I have been thinking of these things as well throughout the night last night and this morning... I also remember picnics outside at U. Larry's and playing croquet and getting together EVERY weekend at a different aunt or uncles house. My cousins seem more like siblings to me. Each aunt and uncle and cousin hold a very special place in our hearts...
Also thinking of little Tam Tam and how precious she is to all of us...Always smiling and laughing... and how much she needs our support right now, as well as Diane who has always stuck like glue to Uncle Larry and won't leave his side.
Thanks so much for sharing these precious memories...
Love you ~
Ging
PS.. I was thinking about those Christmas Eve's at the Rogers when Mom and Dad asked us to come over this year! :)
***
HI SUE:
BOY DID THIS BRING TEARS TO MY EYES AND WHAT KAY AND GINGER WROTE BROUGHT MORE TEARS AS I REMEMBER THOSE GOOD TIMES. I LIKE THAT ONE ABOUT ONE IN ONE ROOM TALKING ABOUT JESUS AND ONES IN THE OTHER ROOMS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WOULD WIN IN THE POKER GAMES. HA HA
I REMEMBER WHEN UNCLE JERRY WENT OFF TO THE KOREAN WAR AND WAS WOUNDED SO BADLY BUT HAD A PRAYING MOTHER TO PRAY HARD THAT HE WOULD LIVE AND NOT LOSE HIS LEG. AND WENT HE CAME HOME FROM THE ARMY, HE HAD NOT PLACE TO GO BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TIME THAT MOTHER TOOK US KIDS TO ST. LOUIS TO LIVE. I THINK AUNT BILLIE COULD TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT. HE WAS A HERO.
REMEMBER WHEN AUNT GLO THREW UNCLE GARY IN THE SWIMMING POOL? AND UNCLE GARY? WELL, HE IS THE BEST COMMUNICATOR IN THE FAMILY ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND LETTING EVERYONE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
YES, YOUR MOM WAS THE BEST HAIR DRESSER THERE WAS AND ALWAYS DOING OUR HAIR. AND THE COOKING SHE DID FOR US AND STILL LOVES TO COOK AND SHARE HER MEALS WITH OTHERS. YOUR DAD IS SO LOYAL TO YOUR MOM AND HAS SOME SERIOUS STRUGGLES IN HIS LIFE BUT KEEPS COMING BACK.
REMEMBER WHEN KAY WAS TEASING UNCLE ED AND HE GOT HIS FILL OF IT AND LOCKED HER IN THE BATHROOM. SHE AS ABOUT 3 AT THE TIME. AND WHEN AUNT GLO WAS ABOUT 4 SHE WAS ALWAYS UP UNDER UNCLE ED'S ARMS SAYING DO ME DO ME. MEANING HIS TWIRLING HER AROUND. KAY AND PAT HAVE STRUGGLED SO MUCH BUT STAYED THE COURSE AND THAT IS AMAZING. REMEMBERING WHEN KAY HAD POLIO AND STILL HAS THE LIMP TO PROVE IT BUT STILL DOING. AND HER MOM HAS SO MANY STRUGGLES IN HER LIFE AND IS STILL PLUGGING ALONG. I REMEMBER SHE AND I MADE THE PLAY HOUSES IN THE WOODS AND I WAS PAULETTE GODDARD AND HAD MS BEEDY AND PALLIDINE WHO PLAYED TEETER TOTTER WITH HER.
THOSE LITTLE ONES, KERRY, GINGER, MARK AND KAY WERE SO CLOSE AND GOT UPON THE FOOTSTOOL AND SANG US A SONG. THEN CAME LONG MATT AND KELLY...THEY WERE CLOSE TOO. MATT WAS A CRY BABY....CRIED AT EVERY THING. GLAD HE IS WHAT HE IS TODAY....A WONDERFUL SON AND HUSBAND AND SO SMART AND HAD TO BE TO GET THE JOB HE HAS. ALWAYS THINK OF GINGER AND RON WHO SO LOVINGLY ADOPTED TO TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS AND RAISED ZAC UP TO BE A LOVING FATHER AND HUSBAND.
THEN SUE AND DEAN AND THEIR WONDERFUL FAMILY AND DEVOTED TO THEIR CHURCH. KERRY AND HER HUSBAND SEEM TO BE CLICKING IT OFF WELL. NOT MEANING TO LEAVE ANYONE OUT AS MOTHER AND DADDY RAISED SOME MIGHTY FINE CHILDREN IN SPITE OF THEMSELVES. OH, YES, A. BILLIE AND U PAUL WITH ADOPTING GREGG AND ALWAYS PLANTING AND GATHERING AND SHARING.
OH, IF WE COULD GO BACK....BUT WE CANNOT BUT MUST GO FORWARD. I GUESS I HAVE EXPRESSED MY FEELINGS ABOUT OUR FAMILIES.
DO APPRECIATE YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO.
ONE MORE THING ABOUT AUNT GLO IS BELOW
AND AUNT GLO....HOLDING UP SO STRONG WITH UNCLE ROYCE PASSED AWAY. SHE HAS STAYED REALLY CLOSE TO JO JO AND HIS FAMILY AND SCOTT AND HIS FAMILY AND BEEN A GOOD GRANDMA.
LOVE YOU,
A WANDA
***
Yes, Ging and Sue....we all remember well....a long time ago off and on through email...I have told each aunt and uncle how I felt about them and thanked them for being part of my cherished memories...each one holds dear memories and has a special place in my heart. Maybe I remember more of the earlier years because I am the oldest.
I can remember living with grandma when aunt Diane and uncle Larry lived in the basement while and after or just after he got out of the service. We use to put on records and me and aunt diane would do the jitter bug...mostly it was a. diane doing the bug and she was just sligging me around, but I loved it...
I remember going with them and aunt clara and aunt glo I think was with us all and we went and got a Christmas tree and another time in the fall....corn out of someone's field.
Remember the flashing strobelight short fat tree at U. Larry's, lol.
I love his laugh!
He was in the service for our country and to keep us free. Thank you for that!
So, while everyone is still here on this earth, tell those you love that you remember and
appreciate!!! I do wish our younger kids could have had the memories of our grandparents and the times we had as kids, and yes, we all felt like brothers and sisters instead of cousins. When I came to the Lord 27 years or so ago....I apologized to my cousins because of leading them in ways that were detrimental. I am so glad we all have the Lord in our lives and that the rest will follow when they choose. It would be great for us all to write down some fun things and we can share them.
Grandma's "Martha, MAARRRRTHHHAAAA!!!"....SCARED US TO DEATH.
I loved spending the night with her...and yes, I loved her thin vegetable soup with her bones she loved...lol, and the yeast rolls and fried chocolate pies...
I can hear her praying at the altar from my childhood and see her dancing around the around as she believed her children and grandchildren WOULD be saved.
So, as we are a "spirit being", trapped temporarily in mortal flesh....preparing to go "somewhere, one way or the other for all eternity", continue in prayer and faith believing!
This is NO HOUR TO DOUBT....
The bible says, exploits will be done in the last days....
We are living in a day when limbs are growing out before peoples eyes and cameras are capturing it!! Tumors fall off and people see it! Nothing is too hard for Jesus!
No telling what kind of prayers have been prayed for all of us....each still going up a sweet savor to the Lord, continually, it will NOT come back void.
So, dear ones, trust today.....learn to lean on Him who made and called you by name.
Can't climb over the prayers any longer. May as well give up....we love you and each has
a special place in our hearts. Thank you for your prayers.....Kay
***
So many great memories. I think I agree that as cousins we were more like brothers and sisters than cousins. I don't know exactly why we have all become so disconnected, I do regret that my girls have not had that same opportunity to know their cousins.I know that is my fault, our family did go to Michigan this past summer for vacation so they could connect with their roots. We saw several of the family and then went to Mackinaw, the girls thought Michigan consisted of Detroit they were surprised by the vineyards and dairy farms. We had a blast and it was a reminder of the great times, I actually miss Michigan quite a bit. We went by Grandmas old house, grandpas house of david apt, Uncle Larry's old place (it used to look so big), pawpaw, the old trailer on John Beers (still there), Aunt Wandas place, farmhouse in baroda. We tried to go everywhere and stayed at aunt billies for a couple of days walking through the vineyards. It was surreal to walk the property early in the morning praying and walking. Here are some of my thoughts on Susie's original list, ENJOY!
~The kick ball games on the hill on John Beers Road in the yard of the Riggs'
My memory of the hill consists of my foot and a broken 44 oz budweiser bottle.
~The Christmas Eves at the Rogers
I can't think of the Rogers estate without thinking about the pines and sneaking over to the drivein to watch from the fence. Also, matt's volkswagon motor in his bedroom, classic...
~The Fish Frys at the Ryan's
Grapes, thats what I think of when I think of that place, running for hours through those orchards.
~The tractor rides at the Perkey's
Volleyball games, kelly having michael jackson's "rock with you" on 45 and of course the pig who ate cigarette butts and tennis balls...
~The poker games on Saturday nights
Good thing they were focused on the game and not what we were doing, I'm just saying...
~The pool parties and summer time cookouts at the Rogers
I learned to swim by being thrown into that pool. Ginger's wedding with those classic brown tuxes (awesome).
~The weekends at Gravel Lake in Lawton with the Morelands/Thornhills & Mosquitoes!
I can't think about that place without thinking of Uncle Bud's amphibian (6 wheeled atv) I really did love Uncle Bud.
~The guitar playing, cigarette smoke clouds, the group pictures, the discussions of Jesus in one corner and "other discussions" in another corner?
The only guitar lesson i ever really got was watching my cousins and now my oldest has a Taylor guitar and leads worship. I am always reminded of Mark and Kay's affinity for Pete Segar and Joan Collins and Matt's affinity for Rush and Yes. Everytime I hear "reminiscing" by the Little River Band I am reminded of all those nights.
~Fried okra, beans, fried potatos from the Perkey garden
Shelling peas and snapping green beans (yes kids we did work)
~The beautiful wood creations of the Satterwhite men
One of the great things was when I worked for a woodworker while going to college and I made Uncle Larry and Uncle Gary trinkets to see if my work measured up. Uncle Larry made me a pulpit not long after I became a minister, Priceless!
~The haircuts & perms by mom
UHHHH Yea, I had the biggest blond afro (perm) in the 4th grade and yes it was a fro not a perm. I lost a pick in it one day.
Some of you may think, "Scottie your a Pastor you shouldn't write some of those things down". Well guys, I lived for a long time trying to pretend everything in my past life was horrible so that would be validate my life now. But what validates my life is none of those things, it is the realization that Christ picked me up out of a mess and set me on a higher place through His love and sacrifice for me through His blood. Even though my life took a drastic, terrible turn doesn't mean that everything in the past was bad. I remember as a little boy hearing grandma praying late at night, trimming the wick on her lamp as I lay on that super hard loveseat, it wasnt big enough to be a couch. I remember walking through the house and looking at all the labeled items she had in the house that would go to the person named on the label. I found a little tea cup with my name on the bottom of it. You know, when you come out of being strung out, borderline divorce with little hope it really doesn't matter as much about being proper and cookie cutter perfect. I am a Pastor, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I have seen eyes open, lame legs walk again, cancer destroyed, aids healed, addicts freed, even the dead revived not through medicine but through the power of God. I do not apologize for that to anyone, but I also love my family and the times we had, it was nobody's fault but my own for where I ended up, I own that. It wasn't my dad, my mom or anyone of you, it was me and Pearl's prayers to the Savior saved me. I love each of you and believe in your divine calling and destiny which doesn't come from people but only comes from the Father. Some of you are the most talented, gifted people I know and I honor those gifts in you. I play guitar, I sing, my daughter uses her gift because of most of you, what you planted in my life. Sorry this is so long but it is rare that I get to share my heart with my family. I love you, have a great day...
Scottie
***
Very touching Sue.. yes I have been thinking of these things as well throughout the night last night and this morning... I also remember picnics outside at U. Larry's and playing croquet and getting together EVERY weekend at a different aunt or uncles house. My cousins seem more like siblings to me. Each aunt and uncle and cousin hold a very special place in our hearts...
Also thinking of little Tam Tam and how precious she is to all of us...Always smiling and laughing... and how much she needs our support right now, as well as Diane who has always stuck like glue to Uncle Larry and won't leave his side.
Thanks so much for sharing these precious memories...
Love you ~
Ging
PS.. I was thinking about those Christmas Eve's at the Rogers when Mom and Dad asked us to come over this year! :)
***
HI SUE:
BOY DID THIS BRING TEARS TO MY EYES AND WHAT KAY AND GINGER WROTE BROUGHT MORE TEARS AS I REMEMBER THOSE GOOD TIMES. I LIKE THAT ONE ABOUT ONE IN ONE ROOM TALKING ABOUT JESUS AND ONES IN THE OTHER ROOMS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WOULD WIN IN THE POKER GAMES. HA HA
I REMEMBER WHEN UNCLE JERRY WENT OFF TO THE KOREAN WAR AND WAS WOUNDED SO BADLY BUT HAD A PRAYING MOTHER TO PRAY HARD THAT HE WOULD LIVE AND NOT LOSE HIS LEG. AND WENT HE CAME HOME FROM THE ARMY, HE HAD NOT PLACE TO GO BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TIME THAT MOTHER TOOK US KIDS TO ST. LOUIS TO LIVE. I THINK AUNT BILLIE COULD TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT. HE WAS A HERO.
REMEMBER WHEN AUNT GLO THREW UNCLE GARY IN THE SWIMMING POOL? AND UNCLE GARY? WELL, HE IS THE BEST COMMUNICATOR IN THE FAMILY ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND LETTING EVERYONE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
YES, YOUR MOM WAS THE BEST HAIR DRESSER THERE WAS AND ALWAYS DOING OUR HAIR. AND THE COOKING SHE DID FOR US AND STILL LOVES TO COOK AND SHARE HER MEALS WITH OTHERS. YOUR DAD IS SO LOYAL TO YOUR MOM AND HAS SOME SERIOUS STRUGGLES IN HIS LIFE BUT KEEPS COMING BACK.
REMEMBER WHEN KAY WAS TEASING UNCLE ED AND HE GOT HIS FILL OF IT AND LOCKED HER IN THE BATHROOM. SHE AS ABOUT 3 AT THE TIME. AND WHEN AUNT GLO WAS ABOUT 4 SHE WAS ALWAYS UP UNDER UNCLE ED'S ARMS SAYING DO ME DO ME. MEANING HIS TWIRLING HER AROUND. KAY AND PAT HAVE STRUGGLED SO MUCH BUT STAYED THE COURSE AND THAT IS AMAZING. REMEMBERING WHEN KAY HAD POLIO AND STILL HAS THE LIMP TO PROVE IT BUT STILL DOING. AND HER MOM HAS SO MANY STRUGGLES IN HER LIFE AND IS STILL PLUGGING ALONG. I REMEMBER SHE AND I MADE THE PLAY HOUSES IN THE WOODS AND I WAS PAULETTE GODDARD AND HAD MS BEEDY AND PALLIDINE WHO PLAYED TEETER TOTTER WITH HER.
THOSE LITTLE ONES, KERRY, GINGER, MARK AND KAY WERE SO CLOSE AND GOT UPON THE FOOTSTOOL AND SANG US A SONG. THEN CAME LONG MATT AND KELLY...THEY WERE CLOSE TOO. MATT WAS A CRY BABY....CRIED AT EVERY THING. GLAD HE IS WHAT HE IS TODAY....A WONDERFUL SON AND HUSBAND AND SO SMART AND HAD TO BE TO GET THE JOB HE HAS. ALWAYS THINK OF GINGER AND RON WHO SO LOVINGLY ADOPTED TO TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS AND RAISED ZAC UP TO BE A LOVING FATHER AND HUSBAND.
THEN SUE AND DEAN AND THEIR WONDERFUL FAMILY AND DEVOTED TO THEIR CHURCH. KERRY AND HER HUSBAND SEEM TO BE CLICKING IT OFF WELL. NOT MEANING TO LEAVE ANYONE OUT AS MOTHER AND DADDY RAISED SOME MIGHTY FINE CHILDREN IN SPITE OF THEMSELVES. OH, YES, A. BILLIE AND U PAUL WITH ADOPTING GREGG AND ALWAYS PLANTING AND GATHERING AND SHARING.
OH, IF WE COULD GO BACK....BUT WE CANNOT BUT MUST GO FORWARD. I GUESS I HAVE EXPRESSED MY FEELINGS ABOUT OUR FAMILIES.
DO APPRECIATE YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO.
ONE MORE THING ABOUT AUNT GLO IS BELOW
AND AUNT GLO....HOLDING UP SO STRONG WITH UNCLE ROYCE PASSED AWAY. SHE HAS STAYED REALLY CLOSE TO JO JO AND HIS FAMILY AND SCOTT AND HIS FAMILY AND BEEN A GOOD GRANDMA.
LOVE YOU,
A WANDA
***
Yes, Ging and Sue....we all remember well....a long time ago off and on through email...I have told each aunt and uncle how I felt about them and thanked them for being part of my cherished memories...each one holds dear memories and has a special place in my heart. Maybe I remember more of the earlier years because I am the oldest.
I can remember living with grandma when aunt Diane and uncle Larry lived in the basement while and after or just after he got out of the service. We use to put on records and me and aunt diane would do the jitter bug...mostly it was a. diane doing the bug and she was just sligging me around, but I loved it...
I remember going with them and aunt clara and aunt glo I think was with us all and we went and got a Christmas tree and another time in the fall....corn out of someone's field.
Remember the flashing strobelight short fat tree at U. Larry's, lol.
I love his laugh!
He was in the service for our country and to keep us free. Thank you for that!
So, while everyone is still here on this earth, tell those you love that you remember and
appreciate!!! I do wish our younger kids could have had the memories of our grandparents and the times we had as kids, and yes, we all felt like brothers and sisters instead of cousins. When I came to the Lord 27 years or so ago....I apologized to my cousins because of leading them in ways that were detrimental. I am so glad we all have the Lord in our lives and that the rest will follow when they choose. It would be great for us all to write down some fun things and we can share them.
Grandma's "Martha, MAARRRRTHHHAAAA!!!"....SCARED US TO DEATH.
I loved spending the night with her...and yes, I loved her thin vegetable soup with her bones she loved...lol, and the yeast rolls and fried chocolate pies...
I can hear her praying at the altar from my childhood and see her dancing around the around as she believed her children and grandchildren WOULD be saved.
So, as we are a "spirit being", trapped temporarily in mortal flesh....preparing to go "somewhere, one way or the other for all eternity", continue in prayer and faith believing!
This is NO HOUR TO DOUBT....
The bible says, exploits will be done in the last days....
We are living in a day when limbs are growing out before peoples eyes and cameras are capturing it!! Tumors fall off and people see it! Nothing is too hard for Jesus!
No telling what kind of prayers have been prayed for all of us....each still going up a sweet savor to the Lord, continually, it will NOT come back void.
So, dear ones, trust today.....learn to lean on Him who made and called you by name.
Can't climb over the prayers any longer. May as well give up....we love you and each has
a special place in our hearts. Thank you for your prayers.....Kay
***
So many great memories. I think I agree that as cousins we were more like brothers and sisters than cousins. I don't know exactly why we have all become so disconnected, I do regret that my girls have not had that same opportunity to know their cousins.I know that is my fault, our family did go to Michigan this past summer for vacation so they could connect with their roots. We saw several of the family and then went to Mackinaw, the girls thought Michigan consisted of Detroit they were surprised by the vineyards and dairy farms. We had a blast and it was a reminder of the great times, I actually miss Michigan quite a bit. We went by Grandmas old house, grandpas house of david apt, Uncle Larry's old place (it used to look so big), pawpaw, the old trailer on John Beers (still there), Aunt Wandas place, farmhouse in baroda. We tried to go everywhere and stayed at aunt billies for a couple of days walking through the vineyards. It was surreal to walk the property early in the morning praying and walking. Here are some of my thoughts on Susie's original list, ENJOY!
~The kick ball games on the hill on John Beers Road in the yard of the Riggs'
My memory of the hill consists of my foot and a broken 44 oz budweiser bottle.
~The Christmas Eves at the Rogers
I can't think of the Rogers estate without thinking about the pines and sneaking over to the drivein to watch from the fence. Also, matt's volkswagon motor in his bedroom, classic...
~The Fish Frys at the Ryan's
Grapes, thats what I think of when I think of that place, running for hours through those orchards.
~The tractor rides at the Perkey's
Volleyball games, kelly having michael jackson's "rock with you" on 45 and of course the pig who ate cigarette butts and tennis balls...
~The poker games on Saturday nights
Good thing they were focused on the game and not what we were doing, I'm just saying...
~The pool parties and summer time cookouts at the Rogers
I learned to swim by being thrown into that pool. Ginger's wedding with those classic brown tuxes (awesome).
~The weekends at Gravel Lake in Lawton with the Morelands/Thornhills & Mosquitoes!
I can't think about that place without thinking of Uncle Bud's amphibian (6 wheeled atv) I really did love Uncle Bud.
~The guitar playing, cigarette smoke clouds, the group pictures, the discussions of Jesus in one corner and "other discussions" in another corner?
The only guitar lesson i ever really got was watching my cousins and now my oldest has a Taylor guitar and leads worship. I am always reminded of Mark and Kay's affinity for Pete Segar and Joan Collins and Matt's affinity for Rush and Yes. Everytime I hear "reminiscing" by the Little River Band I am reminded of all those nights.
~Fried okra, beans, fried potatos from the Perkey garden
Shelling peas and snapping green beans (yes kids we did work)
~The beautiful wood creations of the Satterwhite men
One of the great things was when I worked for a woodworker while going to college and I made Uncle Larry and Uncle Gary trinkets to see if my work measured up. Uncle Larry made me a pulpit not long after I became a minister, Priceless!
~The haircuts & perms by mom
UHHHH Yea, I had the biggest blond afro (perm) in the 4th grade and yes it was a fro not a perm. I lost a pick in it one day.
Some of you may think, "Scottie your a Pastor you shouldn't write some of those things down". Well guys, I lived for a long time trying to pretend everything in my past life was horrible so that would be validate my life now. But what validates my life is none of those things, it is the realization that Christ picked me up out of a mess and set me on a higher place through His love and sacrifice for me through His blood. Even though my life took a drastic, terrible turn doesn't mean that everything in the past was bad. I remember as a little boy hearing grandma praying late at night, trimming the wick on her lamp as I lay on that super hard loveseat, it wasnt big enough to be a couch. I remember walking through the house and looking at all the labeled items she had in the house that would go to the person named on the label. I found a little tea cup with my name on the bottom of it. You know, when you come out of being strung out, borderline divorce with little hope it really doesn't matter as much about being proper and cookie cutter perfect. I am a Pastor, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I have seen eyes open, lame legs walk again, cancer destroyed, aids healed, addicts freed, even the dead revived not through medicine but through the power of God. I do not apologize for that to anyone, but I also love my family and the times we had, it was nobody's fault but my own for where I ended up, I own that. It wasn't my dad, my mom or anyone of you, it was me and Pearl's prayers to the Savior saved me. I love each of you and believe in your divine calling and destiny which doesn't come from people but only comes from the Father. Some of you are the most talented, gifted people I know and I honor those gifts in you. I play guitar, I sing, my daughter uses her gift because of most of you, what you planted in my life. Sorry this is so long but it is rare that I get to share my heart with my family. I love you, have a great day...
Scottie
***
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