Laughter

As we go through this life, we find that it is full of hills and valleys that are not always smooth. As we travel these life's roads, God sends us people to help us navigate life in the best way. Proverbs 17: 22 says "A joyful heart is good medicine." I know that we are going to be in situations that we want to laugh or be joyful. Our friends help get us through life by letting us cry on a shoulder or getting us to laugh. We should take time to thank the great friends that God puts in our lives. To all my friends, whether right here or Miles away, thanks and have a God Blessed Day.

Memories

In life, there are moments that you can pinpoint where you were, what you doing, & the sights and sounds around you. These moments (happy or sad) whether it be: your baptism, JFK being shot, the Berlin Wall being torn down, becoming a mother/grandmother, or September 11th... change each of our lives forever. This Sunday, 9/11/11. marks two memorable occasions: Grandparents Day and the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

I never knew either of my grandfathers but I have been blessed to know both grandmothers. My Granny Annie (paternal) died when I was small but my memories of her are larger than life. I savor each and every one of those memories holding them close to my heart. My Granny (maternal) is 95 and staying with us. My memories of her are widespread. They range from being a scared little girl on her lap to a 33 yr. old going shoe shopping. I relish each one of these memories. I hope you take time to tell your grandparents how much you love and cherish them.

This is the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. I remember the moment I heard that a plane had hit a tower of the World Trade Center. I was a teacher at the time and my students were in gym class. When the students arrived back to the classroom, we listened to the events unfold. I remember the children asking why this was happening and I had no answer for them. We let school out early that day so that everyone could be with loved ones. The one thing I remember most about that time is that as a nation we came together as a family. On our money, we have the Latin phrase, E pluris unim, one out of many. Our nation embodied that phrase. That attack was meant to destroy/divide & conquer. Instead, it brought us closer.

Whether the memories are good or bad, they shape each one of us. Our actions based on an event make & mold our character. As you commerate the September 11th, take time to remember both the sweet & bitter/sorrow & happiness because: you can't have the rainbow without the rain.

Prayers

You have heard it said that God answers prayers. I believe that with my whole heart. When I was a small child, I thought that meant if you prayed hard enough God would give you what you prayed for...I was very wrong. When you pray you are making a request and like any request you have three possible answers:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe (Wait/In God's Time)

For me, that was hard to comprehend but hopefully I have a grip on it now. Yesterday, one of my prayers was answered with a yes. God brought back a friend of mine. This friend had been having troubles but now is better than ever. I thank God for that. We don't always get our way or on our time schedule but we need to thank God for all our blessings. He knows what is best for us.

VBS'11-Christmas in July

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Gratitude

I have been having difficulty with finding a topic to write about. I finally found one that seemed reasonable: Gratitude. We all need to take a little time to be grateful for all the things we have. I saw a show that said a "poor" person in the United States has: at least 1 TV, a DVD, and a gaming system. I was amazed by that fact. So I thought I would try to take time to be grateful for things everyday:

1. Heavenly Father who loves me despite my faults.
2. Earthly parents who stand by me and never let me down.
3. A great family.
4. A great church family.
5. A roof over my head, shoes on my feet, clothes on my back, and food on my table.

Hope you take a little time to be grateful everyday!

Today is a special day in my family. My Granny turns 95 today. I try to keep up with all the "special" number birthdays at First Christian. I had better not forget this one. Granny is a memorable lady to a lot of people. She tries to look for the good in everyone. I hope that one day people will talk about me the way they do about Granny. The one thing she would people to know is that she loves them because as she says: "Love is the greatest gift you can give anyone." Trust me as her grandaughter, her family knows we are loved.

So all of you readers know this is a list of her "kids":

Children (6)

Kermit, Edith, Lois, Herman, Charlotte, Colleen,

Grandchildren (8)

Bill, Janella, Shari, Donnie, LuAnn, Amy, Brittany, Kari

Great-Grandchildren (16)

Taylor, Gretchen, MacKenna, Alec, Grant, Bailey, Grayce,Kylie, Bryson, Matthew, Tyler, Brayden, Marah, Kayde, Covan, Coy

What a Bunch! :)

Star Dads

On June 19, 2011, Father's Day, we celebrated by creating a unique craft for our star dads.

Star Dad
I love you, Dad, and want you to know,
I feel your love wherever I go.
Whenever I've problems, you're there to assist,
The ways you have helped me would make quite a list.
Your wisdom and knowledge have shown me the way,
And I'm thankful for you as I live day by day.
I don't tell you enough how important you are,
In my universe you're a bright shining star.
By Karl Fuchs

Father's Love

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Wanda Rizzo

We have lost one of our dear members. On June 6th, Wanda Rizzo lost her valiant fight with cancer. As Wanda took her last breaths, she was surrounded by her family and holding her husband’s hand. She is now with God, her sister, and her mother. She confronted her battle like she did everything in life with a go-to attitude and a smile. Her independence and spirit never wavered. We loved Wanda and she will truly be missed.

Update
Mrs. Wanda Faye Barrett Rizzo, age 61, of Newport, went to be with the Lord and with her family on Monday June 6, 2011. She was a member of First Christian Church of Newport where she was president of “Come Join Us” class and active in Ladies Missionary Meetings. Mrs. Rizzo was also an active participant with Relay for Life. She was employed as a teacher’s assistant at Newport Grammer School. Mrs. Rizzo was preceded in death by her parents John and Ellen Conzatia Barrett, sisters Wilma Valentine, and Charlene Camiola. She is survived by her husband John Rizzo, of the home, and their beloved dogs Buddy and Boomer, who were thought of as their children, daughters and sons-in-law Connie and Bud Goudy of Dresden, TN, and Mellissa (Overholt) and Bob Dean of Newport, grandchildren Brooke Kirk of Clarksville, TN, Shanda Richards, Cyndal Hayes, Leslie Overholt, and Kirsten Overholt, great grandchildren Damien Hayes Tatum and Drake Overholt, all of Newport. Sisters and brothers-in-law Jessie Lou and Billy Roberts of Newport and Nellie, Ben Brewer of Morristown, and Janice and Jack Rogers of Bristol, VA, brothers and sisters-in-law James “Red” and Joyce Barrett and Ronnie and Meschclyn Barrett, all of Newport. Additional survivors include a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends, and her school and church families. Funeral service will be held 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Costner-Maloy Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Martin Stump officiating. Family and friends will meet at 9:00 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2011 at Costner-Maloy Funeral Home to go in procession to Big Hill Cemetery for the 10:00 interment. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday at Costner-Maloy Funeral Home, prior to the service.

The Bible tells us we should be as little children. Little children love because they haven’t been taught otherwise. God is love. My cousin, who just graduated preschool, is a prime example of this fact. She was visiting her Papaw who has been mowing & becoming very tan. She looked at him & asked him why he was changing colors. They tried to explain what a tan was… I don’t think she understood. As they went to leave, she ran to give him a big hug and kiss. She said, “Papaw, I love you even if you are a different color”. Unconditional love. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world. We are all children of God.