It Is Well With My Soul

Last week began in a fog of glory after winning the gold ball. Then on Tuesday, we received a call that Kirk's grandmother had passed away. She had enjoyed her weekend, even driving with her daughter from Prague to Shawnee to watch the championship game on TV. She was such an avid fan of her grandkids and great grandkids, that it was special that she got to watch her grandson Kirk and great grandson Kyle win their first gold ball together. (Although, she was mad that the players poured Powerade on Kirk because it was so cold!) Today would have been her 92nd birthday. She truly lived every minute of her life and loved her family dearly.

While getting ready for school on Thursday morning and planning to leave that afternoon after school for the visitation/funeral, I received another call. My grandmother had passed away. After a long battle with Alzheimer's, Marjorie Elaine Chitty Ferrell Shumate opened her eyes and went home to be with her Lord.

My sisters and I flew to Mississippi on Sunday and the funeral was Monday. My dad did part of the service and did an amazing job honoring my "Mar". Throughout the service and the time spent with my extended family before and after, I realized this...my memories of my grandmother are not immature or idealized. If anything, they were confirmed and enriched. My memories of my grandmother are of a true Southern lady. She had class and integrity. She dressed sassy, did not have any gray hair, and talked with a drawl that made you smile every time she said, "Hello, Darlin'". She wasn't like other grandmothers...she didn't bake cookies, she boiled shrimp and made crab etoufee' (no idea how to spell that!). She loved "Co-Cola" (Coke) on ice and long walks on the beach looking for shells. She was very smart and a voracious reader. She was an independent woman with great business sense, but dearly loved my grandfather and waited on him hand and foot out of love. She always did her quiet time and was serious about her walk with the Lord.

Over and over, friends, coworkers, class members, and family told countless stories of her passion for missions and diligence in reaching the lost for Christ. She taught a Sunday School class for years until the disease began to confuse her. She did not just believe in God, she believed God. She loved her Lord and she loved people. Isn't that what life is all about?

I have such a legacy. What I thought about my Mar is true and even more so. On Dec. 11th, that little lady not only got to see my grandaddy, but most importantly her heavenly Father, who I believe said, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

"And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul."

I love you, my Mar. I miss you. I WILL see you again.

This picture was taken the last time I saw Mar. My mom and I took Joshua to see her (and her husband, Jim) in October of 2002. She fell in love with him!

It's a GREAT day to be a Redskin!

Getting ready for the big night (Redskin/Christmas spirit!)

In the stands, before the game.--We had great seats, thanks to Miss Micki!:)

After the win (UHS 34-JHS20)--The media loves him!

"The Gang" (Rus and Morgan had to leave early and Nana was home with strep throat!)

After 18 years of coaching, it was pretty special to finally get that gold ball! We are so proud of him and his boys!:)

"The day after".--It was Saturday and Daddy was home! (Look closely at the sign!)

Got Me Some Cute Goin' On!

Ok, can I just say that My. Sister. Rocks! All of the new cuteness that you see before you was a surprise from her. And if you think my blog's new look is cute...hop on over to zumthemum.blogspot.com and look at Karson and Campbell.--Now that's some cuteness! Love you, Lucy!:)

"Sunday School Answers"

Above pic is of Joshua and his teacher after his "program". It was "Bedlam Day" at school and he and Mrs. Coleman matched! (All of the children had on turkey hats, not just mine!)


As I took a shower tonight, I thought back over something that happened at Joshua's little Thanksgiving songfest at his classroom this afternoon. It wasn't really a program per say, just a chance for the parents to come and see their kiddos sing a few Thanksgiving songs. It lasted all of 10 minutes and then we got to take our children home early! (Yea for the teacher!) Anyway, after about the third song, the kiddos reached down and picked up little signs and held them by their sides. One by one they each held up their sign and read off what they were thankful for. (I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition!--"...for which they were thankful" sounds so formal!)Family, friends, my dog, etc., etc. were some of the answers. Eventually it came to Joshua's turn and he says in a clear voice, "I'm thankful for Jesus." Well, I just stood there in the back of the room feeling so proud that MY child had such a good answer and was not worried about saying it.--How awful am I?

When I was thinking over that tonight, it made me remember something that happened earlier in the week with John Thomas that I found humorous. It was time to pick up Bubba from school, and I went upstairs to wake JT up from his nap. I got him out of his crib and set him on his changing table to put on his shoes so we could leave. He had been sound asleep, so his hair was crazy and his little eyes were still all scrunched up. He just looked so snuggly! I squeezed him and said, "OOH, who made you so cute?" He looked at me and in a monotone voice said, "God did and he made my tennis shoes too." I almost burst out laughing because it was like a flashback to my elementary Sunday School classes where if you answered "Jesus" to any question, you were almost guaranteed to get it right!

In pondering these two times with my boys, I am so glad that they know the "right" answers to say. At least that let's me know that they are HEARING. But are they SEEING? I so want to be a vessel through which they see and feel God's love demonstrated for them. My greatest desire and prayer for them is that one day they will not only know ABOUT Him, but KNOW Him. I have gotten to witness and be a part of so many milestones in their short lives, but nothing could compare to that day!

I Got "Punk'd"!

I don't know if I spelled the above term correctly in the title (I'm not so hip if you haven't noticed thus far!), but it definitely describes what happened to me (all except for the fact that there was no tv crew or host, Ashton Kutcher!).

I digress...Anyway, last week I was so proud of myself because for the first time in FOREVER I was going to the doctor for a check-up! I know that doesn't sound like something fun and surely not anything to be proud of, but I am NEVER sick and, therefore, NEVER go to the doctor. It is so bad that on any paperwork where it asks for my primary care doctor, I feel guiltly writing someone because I bet if they saw that they'd say, "Who? I don't have a patient named Mary Fried-rich." (That, of course is the way they'd say it!--And "Mary"...well, that's a whole other story.)

I digress further...All of that to say, I called, made an appointment, went and had my bloodwork done in advance, and the day finally arrived for my appointment. Well, I sat and sat and sat in the waiting room and then the exam room, but eventually had my appointment and everything was ok! Leaving the examroom, I head to check out. At this point, I am frustrated at the amount of time it took, but glad to know that my health is good. Since I had gotten my flu shot, I was having to write another check.--While doing so, my cell phone rings. It is a number I don't recognize, so I answer and the ensuing conversation takes place:

Caller: Mrs Fridrich?
Me: Yes?
Caller: This is Judy from "the preschool" (should have been a clue to me!)
Me: Yes? Is John Thomas okay?! (feeling panicked)
Caller: Well, he is just having a really hard time today.
Me: Is it his behavior or is he not feeling well?! (getting a little more panicked)
Caller: Well, he has been hitting all the other children and...(I interrupt)
Me: Oh, my goodness!
Caller: He is just being really bad and...(I interrupt)
Me: Oh, my goodness...That's just not like...Well, should I come and get him?
Caller: Teen? (pause) It's me!
Me: Oh, you've got to be kidding me! Bull!!!!!!! Oh, you are so evil!

My heart is still racing typing this! My sister got me good. I've officially been "punk'd"! (But she IS evil and must be destroyed.--Just wait, Lucy, when you least expect it..!)

Let the playoffs begin!!!!!!!

Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet!

Halloween takes on new meaning when you have children of your own. I have very vivid and fond memories of my childhood Halloweens, but I do not recall being hyped up already at the beginning of September!! Joshua and therefore, John Thomas (monkey see monkey do!) have been anxious and at a fevered pitch for weeks! Between the dust collecting decorations, the sugar high from all of the candy corn (Why can't I leave that alone? It's really not that good!), remembering to unplug the inflatable scarecrow when the winds were too high, the numerous (and I do mean numerous!) pieces of school art work that must be displayed, having to go down the costume aisle EVERY time we go to Wal-Mart or Target, and the keeping tabs of Joshua's behavior in order to earn his costume back (yes, he FINALLY did earn all $40 with a few days to spare!), I am worn out!!!!!!!!!!

Even Kirk was relieved when he came home from work Sunday night to find all of the decorations put away! HOWEVER, the boys will only be 2 and 7 this one time and they had a blast...the whole month!.--Which I guess is the most important thing anyway!

With Halloween falling on "game night" this year, it made things a little different. Kirk doesn't come home on Friday's before a game, so I got the boys ready and took them out to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. (He called from the stadium to check on us; I think he was sad he was missing it!) We timed it out perfectly with our route ending just in time to hop in the van and head to the stadium. Still in our costumes, we got there just as the National Anthem was being sung, and we flew into the Red Zone for dinner. The kids so hated everyone oohhing and ahhhing over the cute little fireman and Jango Fett (sp?--I just say Star Wars)! After dinner we hurried into a classroom in the UMAC to set up for a Halloween party for all of the coaches' kids. We had bowling, a cake walk, pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, bean bag toss, football toss, tons of food and prizes too! Since the clock ran continually the second half of the game, the dads were able to come up and enjoy the chaos for a little while afterwards. A great time was had by all! (The only negative of the night, was the thought that we had an 8 AM basketball game the next morning!)

Here are a few pics of the evening: