What is wrong with me! Monday I made Lemon Cake, Tuesday I created a luscious Lemon Meringue Pie, and today I made Banana Bread! Thankfully, I can share these (or should I say make others take some) so I won't consume it all! Well, I blame it on the weather: Deep snow on Sunday, no church then or Wednesday night, it staying on for days, and today I see icy rain drops on the window!  What else is there to do but eat?

One bright spot in my boredom though, is I have ordered a Past Book! To be delivered in a few days! I love the beautiful pictures of past good times and family gatherings, seeing how kids have grown, Engagement and wedding portraits, and so much more. 

I am particularly excited and touched by seeing glimpses of my dearest husband before his sickness. His birthday came on the same day as a young family member who was celebrating his birthday as well. I love the party caught on video and Howard's surprise of a personal Birthday cake and gifts from friends. I will treasure it in my Past Book!

Another milestone in the family is our Birthday girl turning 18 and getting her driver's license! She passed an early test today and will be driving soon! Maybe she would like some of my oven goodies!

                   

 Having been away for several weeks following the loss of my dear husband, Howard, I was going through some things that had been gathered up by my thoughtful family. Pulling  something from a basket, I realized it was one of Howard's guitar straps! The words, "I AM BLESSED" were professionally stitched along the strap which he wore with his guitar.  How well I remember several years ago when he also had the letters "ONE OF THEM" put on another guitar strap which he enjoyed while singing and making videos.

What a treasure! I had not a dry eye when I found this remembrance he enjoyed so much. Now when I look at his many spiritual videos sharing the Word of God in messages of song and story, I am so glad he made them. It was always a pleasure to be his videographer and assistant in selecting the messages. How I love to look at them now!

All my children's families were so hospitable, taking me into their homes and comforting me in my great loss of 62 years of marriage, not counting the five years of youth and "dating." (As a youth, my friends and I were always waiting until Howard finished praying at the altar so we could run around!) He was always a great example. 

Well, I can only say, "I Am Blessed" for the years the Lord gave us, and in Heaven I am sure Howard is "One of Them"!

By Thelma (Mrs. Howard) Summers

Angels in the Room

 Today I walked into a bedroom of our daughter's house where I have come since the loss of my husband, Howard.  I remembered it was the room where we always stayed when we came to visit, which was only a few months ago. Then it hit me! This is where Howard saw the angel! He told me that as he entered the room, an angel passed by, not speaking, but giving him a warm smile!

"What did he look like?" I questioned, to which Howard described that the angel was wearing ordinary clothes, a tall handsome figure as he walked away.

I was reminded that during Howard's illness when I was so worried and exhausted, I had a beautiful dream. He was standing beside me, tall and youthful in perfect health. I was so happy, then I went back to sleep and had the same dream again! I woke up full of joy and relief, only to find him still in the hospital bed where he slept fitfully.

One night as his time was drawing nearer, some of the family was gathered in his room as we sang hymns accompanied by the strums of a guitar from a grandson. A few minutes later, Howard aroused, and said, "Who is that standing over there?" We looked, seeing no one but the family. He insisted there was someone there.

It reminded me of when our daughter, Julie, was hospitalized from a horrific accident as a teen-ager. She told us someone was standing in the corner of the hospital room and asked who it was. We saw no one, but she insisted there was someone there.

In both incidents, I know there were angels in the room.

In Remembrance of Me

At the close of the pastor's message Sunday, he came down from the platform and picked up a Communion tray from the table in front of the pulpit. It seemed a little different, with no tray for the bread. Then I saw congregants receiving a tiny cup with what looked like a sealed cover which was being pulled open.

I was even more surprised when the neighbor in front of me showed me how to peel back the cover, to discover a small, white disk. The communion bread! Under that was the cup of the covenant! Tasting the paper-like disk, which dissolved quickly, I thought about the broken crackers that had served as bread forever in our churches past.

We followed the communion ritual, as the words of Jesus were being read, Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you,  I will  not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

I read a story of a young girl who was so excited about her First Communion. She was nervous as she sat by her father, awaiting the passing of the communion. Finally, her turn came, and her hands shook as she took the cup, only, to her horror, to drop it and spill it all over her special dress.  Looking at her father, she didn't know what to expect. Then he passed his own communion cup to her, enabling his daughter to have her first communion. No doubt she felt God's love for her, even as her own father loved his daughter.

Outdoor Pleasantries

We were having lunch yesterday at our favorite restaurant in historical downtown Jonesboro. Sitting outside under the protection of patio umbrellas, Howard and I had a perfect view of the street and passersby. Others were served in the bricked alley beside the eatery, courtesy of closed doors due to safety precautions.

Across the street was a historical building, a log cabin moved there many years ago and previously frequented by such illuminaries  as Andrew Jackson and other dignitaries of the age. Anyway, the mortared logs and wood steps made a perfect place for picture-taking.

At first, we noticed random couples getting snapshots as they strolled by, then a veritable entourage floated down the slope to the cabin's lawn. Obviously, it was a wedding party, the bride and groom seated smilingly for photos in in their attire, the groom in dignified coat and tie, and the bride in her array.

I couldn't keep my eyes off the lovely frocks the dozen or so attendants were wearing, none of them the same, but all attractive and appropriate for on outside wedding. Ruffled tops, off-the-shoulder designs, long gowns or short skirts, pastel, summery long sleeves--all were eye-catching and fluttering with the soft breezes that had sprung up after an earlier rain.

And suddenly they were gone, in mass strolling up the hill where we had parked our car, near the church where the wedding obviously took place. We finished our lunch and climbed the hill ourselves, riding home with pleasant memories of a beautiful day.

Tiger by the Tail

Peanuts. That was the name of a large, friendly dog given to us many years ago. Her size, shape and color did look like a peanut with her tan, brindled coat. Peanuts was a pleasant enough bull dog, as she often lay on the porch under a shade, panting and drooling and keeping her eye on activities in the street. Her only enemy and foe was motorcycles! She hated the pop-pop noise when the newspaper boy swooped down our street on his motorcycle, tossing the paper to our porch.

Peanuts was big and pregnant, carrying a litter of little bulldogs. That didn't stop her from rising clumsily, baring her teeth and letting out a ferocious roar, as she chased and barked after the fleeing paper boy.

One day, Peanuts got her prey, sinking her teeth into the back wheel of the motorcycle, causing the paper boy to have a shredded tire! The poor guy shot out like a bullet to avoid Peanuts. The next day I was surprised to see the newspaper carrying the heading,  "Local Newsboy has a Doggone, Deflated Day By Bull Dog."  I was mortified!

Reflecting on this fuzzy memory, I recalled a picture of our then 3-year-old son, Mark, grinning and  firmly holding a bulldog puppy of her litter. I found the photo in an album, baby Julie on a pallet with the puppy between them. Our dog may have looked like a peanut, but  I think she could grab a tiger by the tail!

Our Summer Adventure

"My money was not any good over there," my husband announced when we returned from visiting our four sons and families recently in Texas and Oklahoma.  It was true! They wouldn't let us pay for a thing!

Our youngest son, Jamie and family were here for a few days after visiting the Biltmore mansion. We enjoyed them so much, lunching out, eating at Cracker Barrel, (where they bought Howard a Stetson hat), getting all 20-plus family members together for a Pizza Parlor feast, then they flew with us before we separated at Charlotte, NC.

Our son Mark appeared the moment we were collecting our luggage as we deplaned in Texas. Not only were we treated with home-cooked meals, but shopping in favorite stores for things they insisted we just couldn't do without!

A highlight of our visit there was traveling down the beautiful drive to Marble Falls, where we ate in an outside patio with beautiful wrought iron tables and chairs, chatting with other visitors sight seeing and enjoying the shade of a massive oak near the Colorado River. Sunday worship was amazing, in a gorgeous church and a great message from an elder statesman. Mark would preach the next Sunday.

Son Trevor and Jennifer's lovely home was next, which awaited us with slabs of barbecue prepared and enjoyed beside their pool. What a wonderful, fun evening sitting there reminiscing, laughing, and listening to the tale-spinners until dark.

Same scenario about shopping. These boys were brought up right! Selecting and picking out stuff and not letting us pay! A little excitement occurred when their beloved dog found and ate a pill dropped on the floor, necessitating  an all-day stay at the vet, treatment and a large tab! No doubt worth every penny for a pet they've had for probably 14 years.

Finally, we reached our final destination: Ponca City, Oklahoma, where son Greg and family live. As Howard says, "Say it's good to be back home again." We had moved from there to Tennessee last summer, and it was great going to our former church, seeing old friends, and of course, shopping with family. It was my birthday, so Greg insisted I pick out something at a shop we don't have at home. He also generously got his dad something, too.

The flight home was smooth, except for the crowded local plane, but all was well, with granddaughter Bethany meeting our plane. So thankful for all of our family!


,