Positive Things

I started this blog almost 5 years ago in 2008, but Jimmie and I had been writing newsletters long before that.  When we went to Ghana on our first foreign campaign together in 1983  Jimmie reported to the congregation that sent us.  When Jimmie went back alone in 1985, he reported again.  But after our move to American Samoa in early 1987 we began a monthly newsletter together.  Those newsletters started again when Jimmie and I  joined Truth for the World.  When I became office manager there I also wrote the monthly news blurb on the donation receipts plus started a quarterly newsletter from the TFTW secretaries to our supporters.  Now I provide a portion of the monthly IBTM newsletter, The Seeker.  So in the last 26 years I estimate that I have written more than 500 articles.

And with every one of them there was a constant  rule from Jimmie to always keep it positive.

Positive.  Jimmie always believed that newsletters and blogs were no place to complain.  Therefore, we didn't write about the really hard times unless we could do it with a smile, like when the hurricane in Samoa left us without power for a month and we had to take showers in the rain.  We didn't mention the super scary times - such as when a man stuck a shotgun in Jimmie's face demanding he stop teaching the Gospel - until long after when we could do so calmly.  We didn't talk about the heartache of seeing good works destroyed, or the frustration of dealing with deceitful people.  And we didn't mention the personal attacks that seem to come just because you are trying hard to stay firm on God's Word or the nasty emails even as Jimmie was dying.

Perhaps that is why writing on this blog has been so difficult lately.  Especially today.  Today it has been 6 months since Jimmie died.

But even as hard as these last 6 months have been, there have still been bright spots, things I can be positive about.  I have been able to continue the Internet portion of the mission work with IBTM that Jimmie did not want to die with him, and it continues to grow at an amazing rate.  In the days since his death almost 40,000 visits have been made to the websites for folks to read the materials there.  Approximately 2,500 new students have enrolled in the Bible correspondence courses to study God's Word.  And at least 5 of our students became New Testament Christians.  Per Jimmie's wishes, I am working on relocating closer to my 2 adorable grandsons, and their parents, of course.  And those grandsons continue to be a delight.  Cole is climbing trees and making new friends, while Jasper is crawling and laughing and trying to talk.

I wish Jimmie could enjoy these things with me, but I will have to be content in the knowledge that he is an important reason why they are happening.

Quick Hello!

I can't believe it has been more than a month since I chatted on this blog.  I guess time flies whether you are having fun or not.  Life has been busy, and just getting busier, so I don't have time to stay long today.  The past two weeks I have been enjoying watching my two grandsons get into mischief (Cole) and discovering new things (Jasper) and that is always a joy.  Not so much fun is working on plans to relocate closer to them - the woes of house renovations!

I just posted the latest IBTM newsletter on here, so take a look.

Linda

Happy 2013!

Is it really another year already?  2012 ended with a whirlwind tour of the South since I traveled from Georgia all the way to Texas and back.  I got to spend time with some very special people and learned to appreciate the free Wi-Fi at McDonald's, even if I did get tired of the menu.  I would tell you about it, but I think I need a few pictures.

Of course, there were lots of presents.  Jasper quickly mastered the art of
ripping the gift wrap.

Bronson and Cole practiced their Grinch look before passing out more.

The first few days in Texas was gorgeous so the "kids" enjoyed the playground.

Then on Christmas Day the snow started.

It was Jasper's first.

The playground soon looked quite different.

But the play continued.

And so did the snow.  We soon had 6 inches.

 Naturally, the best part of any holiday is being with family.  It's also nice to have the memories captured for later.  Here are a few of my favorites.

6,000 Students

I mentioned in the December issue of The Seeker (posted under the Newsletter tab) that we now have more than 6,000 students who have enrolled in our online course.  What I did not mention is that more than 4,000 of them have enrolled this year.  That number still just amazes me because we never had that many new students in any year that we were with our previous mission work.  In fact, nowhere even close.  I really don't know what has made the difference, but I'm happy that so many folks are seeking to learn more of God's Word, and that we can help.

Especially since I'm told that the world is due to end today. Why didn't I get that memo?  I asked what time, but apparently the Mayans forgot to include that in their note.

Christmas is already here for many of us (I opened gifts with my grandsons Wednesday night, and get to do it again next week.)  I hope you have a very Happy Holiday wherever you are!

Why?

Do you ever have one of those days where you ask "Why?" a lot?  Mine was yesterday.  Oh, not any deep philosophical meanderings on the meaning of life or anything.  Just those small ponderings when life plagues you.  Questions like -

• Why do I always pick the wrong check-out line?  You know, the one that takes 3 times as long as all the other ones.
• Why am I even out in this mall nightmare when all of my Christmas shopping is done?
• Why did I forget that Julie's birthday comes hot on Santa's heels?  Oh, well, that answers why #2.
• Why is eating alone in a restaurant so depressing?

And then my sister called to tell me that there is now actual medical proof that dark chocolate makes a great cough suppressant.  Suddenly, I felt better . . . but I do feel a cough coming on.

Silly Pictures

Jimmie always loved clowning for the camera.

It. was a talent that he cultivated, often corrupting others.

He especially liked clowning with Cole . . . 

and apparently influenced him greatly.

I think Jasper is going to fit right in!

Holiday

People always say that holidays are the worst after you loose someone.  No doubt that is true which is why I am grateful to my daughter for thinking ahead soon after Jimmie's death.  She quickly made plans for me to spend Halloween in Mississippi, Thanksgiving in Tennessee, and Christmas coming up I am due to be in Texas.  I think it was wonderfully sweet of her.

But there was one big holiday that was not on the calendars this year and no one but me could have remembered.  Sunday, December 2nd marked the 40th anniversary of the day I met Jimmie.

Jimmie always loved to tell the story of how we met, preferably to large crowds because it always got a laugh.  You see, the first time Jimmie saw me I was running to my car in an attempt to AVOID meeting HIM.  Long story short, my sister and brother-in-law had been trying to play matchmaker but I refused to cooperate.  I had passed on meeting Jimmie repeatedly, completely ignoring their urging.

But then, I listened to my 3-year-old nephew, Barry.  Suddenly, he had to comb his hair just like Jimmie.  He had to wear clothes just like Jimmie.  He talked constantly about Jimmie, so I began to think there must be something special about this guy.  Finally, I agreed to the introduction . . . yet kept postponing the meeting.

Then one Saturday morning as I was sitting in my sister's kitchen sipping coffee with her, her husband called.  He and Jimmie were on their way to a construction job and wanted to stop by for Jimmie to meet me.  I grabbed my purse and bolted out the door faster than a streaking cat.  But my sneaky brother-in-law had called from a pay phone half-a-block away, so they had seen my flight from the house and  pulled into the driveway just as I reached my car.  Jimmie thought it was absolutely hilarious that I was trying to escape, and it wasn't long before I thought that it was absolutely wonderful that he caught me.  The rest, they say, is history.

Earlier this year when the cancer treatments began to fail, one after another, I still hoped that Jimmie might be with us for one more holiday, one more Christmas for him to grumble "Bah! Humbug!" in his best Ebeneezer Scrooge.  But mostly I hoped that we might mark this December 2nd together.  Nothing big, just a smile and some shared remembrances.  Sadly, that was not to be.  But I will always be grateful for the incredible blessing of having Jimmie in my life.