Celebrating the Yarnell's and Seeing Old Friends

We've had such a busy, fun and FULL weekend.

When our kids were little, we had weekends where we were on the GO the entire time. Not gonna lie...some days I miss it.

I'll write more about our weekend later...maybe tomorrow. Tonight, I wanted to record about today.

We were invited to a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for Mr. Albert and Mrs. Doris Yarnell. As much as we wanted to spend the day napping and watching football, this couple has been a huge part of our family. We knew that we wanted to go and honor them.

Some of their family hosted their celebration at First Baptist Church in Searcy. When we got there, the line was out-the-door. It was so great to see them. Mr. Albert and Mrs. Doris are great testaments to hard work and commitment. They were both quick to tell us that, yes, they had been married to each other for 50 years...but it was also their "second time around."

Quick to acknowledge the past...quick to give thanks for the present.

When we lived in Searcy and went to FBC, the Yarnell's were very involved in the church. Mrs. Doris worked in the nursery, and she rocked our babies and loved on them. She and Mr. Albert visited all of the newborns, and brought Yarnell ice-cream to the families.

If you don't know about Yarnell's Ice-Cream, then you probably aren't from Arkansas. It was a small family-owned company and then some things went down that aren't my business to talk about...and the company sold, but kept the same name.

When our Joshua had surgery...when our Clark was born, and later when he had cancer...the Yarnell's were a constant source of encouragement to Jim and me. It's been a long time since we've seen them, so when I finally got up to greet them, I reminded them of my name...and they said, "oh, OF COURSE, we know who you are, Marty."

And then I cried.

We were about the youngest ones at the party...and that's not saying much, BELIEVE ME. And those sweet little women and sweet little men...they were THRILLED to see us. And they were THRILLED that we brought Joshua with us. And they hugged us and kissed us and hugged us some more.

And what we thought might bless someone else...attending this celebration party...ended up blessing us all the more.

Most of these people walked through some tough days in our family...navigating the waters of Joshua and school and all of that. And they walked with us during Clark's premature birth...and his cancer diagnosis and treatment. One couple at the party, Tim and Claire, kept Clark in the nursery...and I remember them coming by the house right after Clark's first chemo treatment. The doctor told us that Clark would begin to lose his hair, and he did. And his hair was beautiful...white-blond, long and silky. One morning, he woke up with his hair all over his pillow...and we knew what was happening. That was the day Jim took him to the barber shop to get it "buzzed." I couldn't go. I could hardly stand it. When Jim brought him home, his beautiful long hair was gone...and he had a "buzz cut."

I went on and on in front of Clark about how CUTE he looked! And then I went in my bathroom and cried.

And in about a week, the little hair he had left on his head was gone. His eye-brows were gone. His beautiful eye-lashes...gone.

And this sweet couple came by...and we talked and prayed and cried. They just couldn't believe that this baby they had cared for and loved in the nursery...now was so sick. And they were WITH us...like, feeling our shock, and walking in the trenches and storming the gates of Heaven...FOR US.

And they weren't the only ones.

This church is full of people like that.

We saw Joshua's best friend from school, Lindsey Walker. She was probably THE youngest one there! I've written about her before. Joshua would not have made it through school without her friendship. His face LIT UP when he saw her!

One gentleman, Mr. Coy, is a sweet and precious friend to our family. He has a special bond with all of our kids...but especially with our 3 boys. Today, he told how he came to know and love our family. It was all because of Joshua! He said that when Joshua was in Kindergarten, the pastor made a plea from the pulpit about needing a MAN to volunteer in the Kindergarten Sunday School department. And he didn't say it was because of my wild man sweet Joshua...but it was. And Mr. Coy...he said that he answered that plea, and he was never so glad he did! He got to know Joshua, and all of us...and they have been precious encouragers to our family. Cool how the LORD works, huh?

We saw person after person like that today. And it was so encouraging to us. Not only a reminder of where we've been...but also of the ones who walked with us during those hard times.

It also challenged us to try and be that type of friend and church member to others...because it has meant so much to us.

We were so blessed to honor the Yarnell's today. Their influence over our family has been immeasurable.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The Blessing of Friendship

We have had the best week! Before I post about our weekend...Ouachita Baptist University's Homecoming and Clark's college visit to OBU...I have to tell you about last week.

We went to dinner with some friends...OLD friends. Like, young-married-life-and-having-our-babies-together friends.

The kind of friendships that I PRAY my children and their spouses will get to have one day.

Back in the day, we went to Little Rock's First Baptist Church. We were members of a large, vibrant Sunday School class. Our director and his wife pursued us and brought us into this group. They fed us spiritually. They taught us, mentored us, became our friends. They showed us how to have a godly marriage, how to be good parents...and all about tithing and giving generously to others. They taught us the importance of friendship and the body of Christ.

The influence they had on our lives is immeasurable.

And the bonds of friendship that started way back when...are still there today. It's changed, evolved and grown...for the most part. In some cases, with some of them, there have been difficult seasons of friendship.

But not with us. 

We've moved 4 times since those early days. We've kept in touch with this group...with some more than others. Now that we are back living closer, we get to see them more...and it's great! And, one thing that is really cool is that our daughter and one of the other couples' daughter...are really good friends. They were in the baby nursery together...and then we moved and they moved...and we moved again...then they moved back...and we moved again. And then our girls both went to OBU, but they didn't know each other. And me and the other mom BEGGED them to meet and they said that would be awkward.

And then they both went through RUSH...and they both joined the same sorority...and they became pledge sisters and the best of friends. And they were in each other's weddings.

So, I would say that the MOMMIES knew a thing or two.

ANYWAY, on Wednesday night, we met our friends for dinner. We almost didn't go. Wednesdays are hard for our family. I have choir and Clark has Youth...and we have Joshua. But we worked it out to where Joshua stayed home with Clark...and when it was time for Youth, Clark dropped him off in choir with Holly. After choir, Holly took him home with her, and then Clark went over there after Youth and hung out until we got home. Whew!

And no, we don't leave Joshua home alone. The last time I did, I got out of the shower, got dressed and walked into my living room to find a strange man standing there. He was dressed up like a policeman...well, like a policeman in the YMCA group. He was selling his cds door-to-door. Joshua knew not to open the door to strangers, but policemen aren't strangers, right?

I've never recovered from that. Joshua is so sweet and trusting.

ANYWAY, there were 4 other couples for dinner...and us. We met at one of their houses, and it was potluck. It was kind of funny because one friend is the "take charge" person and she decided that we needed to eat out on the patio so that we could all be together. When we got out there with our food, all the girls sat at one table...and all of our guys sat at one table.

Just like 7th grade.

And then the talking began. Of course, as girls, we keep in touch a LOT better and more often than the guys...so we were pretty much on top of everything that was going on with everyone else. The "take charge" friend took charge of asking the questions...she would say, "tell us about..." and then that person would share and we would all laugh...or cry.

At one point, I noticed that something was different. That we seemed to be talking REALLY LOUD...and the guys didn't seem to be talking at all. I strained to hear and that's when I realized...they were praying.

We have some issues in our group. One couple has two children who each bear the consequences of their early childhood, physical and emotional scars from a life before they joined their family. Two couples in our group have young adults struggling with addiction. One seems to have come out the other side...thanking God and living life with a renewed sense of commitment. The other? It's not good. He's married...separated, actually...and has a young son. His parents are grieved. GRIEVED. I mean, what do you do? How do you watch your precious son go down such a dark path? How can he leave everything he knows and has been taught?

The enticement of sin is great. And, in this case, the first step down that path is always your choice...but the steps after that may be ones out of your control, because the addiction takes over.

I could hear the father praying...his voice cracking.

And then, one by one, these sweet, godly men...hands clasped together...lifted up this family in prayer.

It was a sacred moment.

Because in the midst of the laughter and the tears and the chicken and the bread...God met us there. 

"For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20

Joshua the Baptist

This from my son, Joshua. When he was born, we prayed that we would be witnesses to God's faithfulness...and that God would use Joshua for His glory.

We are not worth this calling. Help us, Lord, and find us faithful.

"These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Tiger Tunes 2014

So, last night, I totally forgot to post on my blog!

I know...shocking. Because for the past year, I've tried to write SOMETHING every day. It was one of my New Year's resolutions. One of the rare ones I have ever actually done.

SO. Yesterday (and today) was Clark's 3rd college visit...and I could not have been more excited about it.

He went to visit Ouachita Baptist University. And I was like a little kid at Christmas.

I can write freely because he doesn't read my blog! And I can say how excited I am and how much I would LOVE for him to choose Ouachita...without him knowing. I'm trying to be very cool and unbiased about the whole thing, so that he doesn't feel pressure in any way. And ultimately, I want God's will for Clark's life...whatever that is and wherever that takes him.

OBU has a program in the fall for prospective students called GROW. It stands for Getting Ready for Ouachita's World. Or something like that. And Clark has never gotten to go because of football. The event is always on a Thursday night and part of Friday. If you are playing football, you can't miss school and spend the night AND then be gone for part of your game day...on a campus visit. This year, because he chose not to play football, he was able to go.

Prospective students meet on Thursday night, have dinner together and get a little bit of orientation...and then they all go to an event called "Tiger Tunes." TT is a 3 day event where all of the social clubs (think sororities/fraternities) and campus organizations compete against each other with choreographed, musical acts. They award points and announce winners each night, and then the overall winners are announced on the last night! IT.IS.SO.AWESOME!

No, seriously.

I don't think I can explain the awesomeness.

Holly and I had looked forward to it since the summer. She was up at 4:30 and had to be at the hospital in LR for six hours. Then, she picked up Joshua for me at his Therapeutic Recreation and brought him home. She got changed and rested a minute, and then I came to get her. It takes almost 2 hours for us to get to OBU from where we live. I kept trying to get her to, as my mother-in-law would say: "sleep a nap" on the way, but we were both too excited.

Oh wait! This post was supposed to be about CLARK's campus visit.

Oh yeah.

He was there, too.

heeheeheeheeheehee

He and his girlfriend, Faith, headed down there in his car...so they could meet up with the other GROWers. Holly and I left about 15-20 minutes later...and we STILL beat Clark and Faith to Arkadelphia. I know that Clark drives like a 100 year old man, and that we did not pass them on the way...so how does that even happen?

I AM thankful to have a slow and careful driver, and there was a TON of traffic.

But they finally made it and we know that because we saw them standing outside of one of the buildings with their big group. At the time, Holly and I may or may not have been cruising through campus stalking them casually looking around. 

See? TOtally keeping it cool and unbiased.

SIDE NOTE: I remember cruising through campus with my roommate wayyyyy back in the day. She had a small, red convertible and she had a horn that played a few bars of a fight song REAL LOUD. I loved driving through campus with her because she was so fun and everyone loved looking at her car! I had a blue, 4 door Chevy Nova. Not so cool.

Anyway, Tiger Tunes was WONderful. There was only one thing that made me go "whaaaaaaat?" and that was when they had someone dressed up like Jesus walk across the stage during a song...and he looked more like a hippy from the 60's than, you know...JESUS. To quote one of Jim's friends: "don't BLEEVE I'd 'a done that."

Holly had a great time. She got to see several of her friends, and seeing her BEST FRIEND and former roommate, Anna, nearly brought her to tears.

We never saw Clark and Faith after the show was over. I hope they enjoyed it. They were heading to a college worship service called "Refuge." It started at 10:40 p.m.. Even when Holly was there, I couldn't wrap my head around that because I like to be in bed by then!

This morning, the GROW group was meeting for breakfast and then they were getting the opportunity to sit in on a class of their choice. Later, they were going to have a time where they could meet and talk with some of the professors at OBU.

Wherever God leads Clark next year, I hope that, last night, he got a small taste of the family that is OBU...and can maybe understand why we love that place so much.

"In everything give thanks..." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Links For You 10.1.14

Hi! :) Y'all are gonna LOVVVVVVE me! So many good reads for you!

This made big tears well up in my eyes...why kids stop asking.

I have been reading Kelly's blog since the day Harper was born. They got some hard news this week. They're gonna be fine...when you read this post, you will see that they are giving God the glory in this trial. There will likely be some hard days ahead, and they want to do the very best for Harper. If God brings them to your mind, would you pray for them? For peace, wisdom, discernment.

This is another blog that I've been reading for years. I am AMAZED at what GOD can do in a life...if one person will just say "YES."

LOVE this post by Annie Downs. She is so good with words.

This post by Edie encapsulates so much of what I feel about being a mom...wishing you could take some things back, maybe do things differently, have a little more patience, love a little more.

Linking this post from Kelly Stamps. I didn't go to DOT MOM, but in this post, Kelly talks about hearing Karen Alexander-Doyel speak. Karen is a sweet friend of mine. Wise, wise, wise. She and her husband, Doug Alexander, lived in Little Rock and he was on staff at our church...back in the day. Back in our early days.

They taught Masterlife...remember that? And several different studies on marriage and parenting. I learned so much from Karen on how to be a wife and mom...how to love and lead my kids to Christ, how to create a HOME that reflects Christ, how to teach my children to see God in the ordinary. She was one of the first people who came to visit me in my home after I had Joshua. I remember her sitting on my couch, holding Joshua and praying over him. I remember her looking at me and saying, "JUST.LOVE.HIM." I've never forgotten her words.

Karen has an amazing testimony of love and loss (when Doug died in a tragic accident) and love (again with a new husband) and illness. If you ever get a chance to hear her speak, GO.

And this. I used to get asked a lot, "what do you do?" And I could say that I was a stay-at-home Mom because I was and because I still had kids at home. And then they all went to school, and I got asked "all of your kids are in school, right?"

Then, one went to college...and graduated...and married. And another one went to college...and graduated...and married. And we have one in his last year of high school...fixin' to leave the nest. And I am still at home.

I "technically" have a "child" at home...my man-child, Joshua. Sometimes when people ask if I work, I say that I work for him, because I kind of do: Running him around, teaching him to cook, clean...and about life; encouraging him and Clark...and the other two kids who are technically "out of the home;" supporting Jim while he's at work, running our home well.

I don't know when we all got to be so bossy...like we know what's best for another person or family. WE DON'T. This was a great post.

"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11