September 28, 2011

Jill.......and others.


I have a friend called Jill. She lives in Sydney and last week she came to stay for a few days. Jill has been a part of my life for about 10 years, and we have a friendship that is stronger now than at any time during the past decade. As a couple Wayman and I enjoyed being part of a friendship group that included Jill and her husband. At that time we all attended the same church. Before we moved to Sydney I had only lived in Adelaide, and these people helped me to feel at home in a much bigger, faster paced city.

I have a photo of us all, minus one couple.
[with three younger couples, as you will be able to see!]

Now dear friends, you are probably thinking, who on earth would wear an all green outfit?

That's me!

And in case you have missed it, I had matching green shoes!
Quite a feat! I was very proud of them!

Let me introduce these lovely ladies:
From the left:
Ruth J is in the pink blouse: she has a wicked sense of humour, she always enjoyed Wayman's schoolboy pranks. I can still hear her chuckling at his antics.

Gwen is next in the white trousers: This lady is the hostess with the mostess! An invitation to dinner in her home is a coveted thing.

Nitia is standing between Gwen and her [Nitias] daughter-in-law. She took me under her wing and helped me cope with Sydney life, teaching me that many women had moved like me and that if they could do it, so could I!

On the other side of the young couple, is Jill hiding behind her husband, more about her later.

Next is Alison, with the red top, standing between her husband and Wayman. Alison is one of the nicest people I know. She is generous, and kind with a beguiling nature that draws you to her.

Then there is me in the green suit..........what was I thinking?

My friend Berry and her husband didn't come on this weekend so I haven't got a photo of her. She and I were in a book club together and we enjoyed many deep conversations, not always about our books. I miss Berry.

Back to Jill.

The fact that she is hiding behind her man is very interesting. Jill is tall, elegant and confident.
I have come to appreciate her immensely. She is a dream to shop with, everything she puts on looks stunning. I just stand back and watch as the assistants bring in items for her try.

Last week we tried on the same shirt.
I couldn't stop laughing, we looked like Danny Devito and Arnie Swarchenegger in twins!

But she is also very caring. Recently she sent me a package with small individually wrapped gifts for me to open on days when I was feeling a bit down.

Here is an example:


Each one had a verse from the Bible and some special treats to brighten my day.
While I now live in a different place, and my life has changed enormously, I am grateful that God has given me Jill, and special memories of this group of women that have enriched my life.

So thanks Jill, for being my sister in Christ.


Thanks also to the "coffee group" and keep on befriending others as you did me.

September 17, 2011

The adventures of George



My grandchildren have favourite toys, as do children all over the world.

C has Big Ted.

As his name implies, he is big, well bigger then your average teddy bear.
Big Ted came to America with the family when we visited for Christmas 2008.

He added quite a bit to our carry-on luggage, but he was invaluable in helping a little boy to settle in numerous different beds and to sleep on many flights on that trip.

Miss P has Oscar.
I know that Grannies aren't supposed to have favourites, but Oscar is mine.
[I guess it doesn't really matter as it is only a toy!]

Oscar is also quite large, and has a wonderful shape. He has a longish neck, just right for a little girl to put in the crook of her arm to carry him, and a tear shaped body.
His head wobbles around and his body jiggles as she runs.

Then there is George.
He belongs to Jont.

George was given to Jont by Aunty Cass and while he is is much smaller than Big Ted and Oscar, he is just as precious.
He is a monkey, and is a bit like a stick, with long arms and legs and a thin, grey tail.

George came to stay with Grannie when Jont had a sleepover this week.
George got to play in the garden with Jont and Miss P and Oscar, and George went missing.

We searched everywhere for him.
[well, we retraced our steps, and searched the house and as much of my large garden as possible........ there a lot of places a small brown stick like toy could be hiding at my place]

Sadly Jont had to go home without George.
That night he requested Dogga as his bedtime story, the tale of a little boy who looses his stuffed toy called Dogga.
There were many tears.
[As is fitting in a childrens book, there is redemption in the story, Dogga is returned.]

Grannie searched the garden again the next morning without success, only to spy him sitting on a tree stump, as she drove down the driveway on her way out to run some errands.

He had been carefully placed there by his owner, to free up his little hands to collect stones and weeds.

Grannie put George in the car............



and drove him to Jonts house to be re-united with his owner.
[Jont was out so I left George on the doorstep]


The reunion was fittingly excited and affectionate......




and Jont was keen to assure Grannie that he didn't mean to loose him....
and that he will take good care of him....
and can he come and stay again????

[if you know Jont you will understand that he has a lot to say]

The End.

September 9, 2011

10 things I miss about East Nashville

It is good to be home at Elmbrook. Spring is just beginning and I have spent quite a bit of time in the garden trying to get my mind around all the things that need to be done.

Being on my own I spend a lot of time with my thoughts.
Naturally I am thinking about Cassie and Nathan in Nashville, so I have put together a list of things that I miss about East Nashville:

1 French toast on Saturday mornings made by Nathan with bread from Marche.

2 Sitting on the back porch reading, or doing cross words, or cross stitch.

3 Seeing the last few fire-flies of the summer.

4 Watching Nathan chase the neighbours cats out of the yard.

5 City church on a Sunday evening.

6 Watching Downton Abbey with Katherine.

7 New friends Regina and Chrissy, and a "semi" old friend Linda.

8 Hearing Cassie laugh with her friend Keely.

9 Listening to Nathan read to Cassie at breakfast time from a devotional book called
Be still, my soul.

10 Walking to Ugly mugs, for great coffee.

It is not a very profound list, is it?
But when you are recovering from such a great loss, I guess little things become important.





September 1, 2011

Memorial for Jack and Lucy

Cassie and Nathan called their babies Jack and Lucy

The night before I left Nashville they held a memorial service for them.

Their pastor had encouraged them to do this as part of the healing process. Friends Wes and Linda Yoder have a family chapel on their property and they graciously allowed us to use it.



It was the perfect size for the twenty or so people they invited to share in this most intimate of times.


Belinda and Steph had arranged for flowers to be in the chapel from their families.




Aaron read Psalm 34, Nathan spoke of their heartache and hope, Craig encouraged us to mourn well and to look to Jesus, Chrissy read a prayer written by Katherine and we sang Abide with me.


Wes closed our time in prayer his voice resonating through the little building he is constructing for his family to honour God.

And we shed our tears.


The Yoders hosted us all for supper afterward in their home, and the time was well spent as good friends came together continuing to live while acknowledging the presence of death.


In the chapel I sat with a vacant chair beside me. I have spent times this last month questioning God and His purposes. Yet the faith he has given me has sustained me through these most difficult of times.



And that covenant faith has me confident that Wayman and his grandchildren are in glory together worshipping around the throne.