Christmas 2005

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!!!


What a fun time. We all enjoyed time together with the WHOLE family. We got to have Shawn and Shannon and Ryan and Maleah over on Thursday night for supper. Then on Saturday night, we ate Christmas Dinner at Maleah's house and opened presents. The biggest surprise was the gift from the kids of a trip to Florida for Mike and I. I can't wait to do that. Mike is willing to fly for the first time in his life and that will be so much fun.

On Sunday, I was so happy to have ALL of my children and their spouses in church with us. God has blessed us richly.



Poor Chewy was cold in Maleah's house!



Now there he is! Our first Granddog! Chewie Cozart



Grandpa loved him too!



Florida bound!

He Still Reigns

God is on His throne and all is well with the world.

Bus 5 was the #1 bus again this Sunday with 47 and 2 first time riders. That was a much more manageable group than the 78 from last week.

I want to make a New Year's resolution. I am not much for making these as I never seem to finish my year with the same great resolve with which I started. It is very defeating, but on the other hand, if I never set any goals, I seem to stay in the same rut. My resolution needs to be thought out and made definite instead of just making a blanket statement.

My concerns for the bus are that while it is no trouble to get children on the bus, I continue to run across more adults who rode the busses to Second Baptist Church as a child and are now living in sin. I have asked a few what they got from church but have never been convinced that they got much of anything. In fact, it seems to be of no significance in their lives at all. How do we make a difference, or is that any of my business? Is it the Lord's business only to work in the lives of these children? Do I have a part in that?

I try to be a "mother" to these children and as long as the numbers stay low enough that I can talk with each one on one, I feel I can have some influence on each. As our numbers grow, it becomes unmanageable.

For instance, we have a family group that comes and several different parts of the family make up approximately 8-10 children. This does not include the 5-6 other children that come as a result of the family group. There are a number of young teen girls in this group. They are very respectful but now that they have been riding a while, they are beginning to get out of hand. Being young teens, the hormones are raging and now I am getting some comments and actions that are not appropriate for the church bus.

This post was started awhile back and I just found that I had not finished it. It is now December 31st and very appropriately I saw it again.

As I visited today I was struck by several young teen girls who have had panic attacks. I can not help but want to mother these children. My work is to try to be there and be an adult that they can respect and look up to and confide in if needed.

Yes 2006 looks to be a promising year.

Things I Know

I know that God is aware of every aspect of my life.
I know that though my physical body aches, I have a new body that I will inherit for eternity.
I know that my God shall supply ALL my need.
I know my sins are forgiven.
I know that God's word is true.
I know that joy comes from the Lord.
"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him." Ecclesiastes 3:14
"I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods." Ps 135:5
" For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Romans 7:18
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" Job 19:25

Wild and Wonderful Weekend

I'm tired!! The weekend is over and I feel like a big fluffy pillow with all the feathers taken out!

I did my bus visitation SAturday and got home around 3. Maleah and Ryan were here and we enjoyed fellowship with them. I cooked Chicken Carbonara much to Grandma's dismay.

Grandma is feeling much better after a trip to the hospital and a round of very strong antibiotic. She was on a liquid/soft diet for over a week. She is gradually coming back around.

Sunday was the kind of day that I dread. It was "Skating Sunday". Our church does this usually about twice a year. They take all the bus kids to the skating rink and treat them to hot dogs and drinks and let them skate an hour for free. I dislike this time because the children tend to be very excited. There are those that lose shoes and those that fall and hurt themselves and those that are so tired when they get on the bus that they are uncontrollable. As long as you have a reasonable crowd it can be fun but yesterday we ended up with a total of 78 on our bus. We had 10 first time visitors. So, things were a bit hectic.

I had a part in our children's choir Christmas play and had not practiced with them but once since they practice during adult choir practice; therefore, I was spared the trip to the skating rink and the crowded ride home. The Children's choir director kept them after church and made sure they ate and had plenty of time to practice. We went home and ate and then came back to practice at 2:00. Mike was playing the piano for them so he was involved too.

We practiced on that until 5:00 and then practiced on the mixed ensemble until 5:30 and then on the adult choir until 6:30. Then we had church which included the childrens play and then a short message.

There is so much about yesterday that was wonderful but to be honest I was lost in paper work and making sure that the bus workers had lists of who was on the bus and who got candy bars(first time visitors and the people that invited them get Snickers candy bars). It was a lot of work and kept me out of Sunday School and church. After I got my records straightened, I then helped them put together the almost 500 hot dogs.

There were a couple of visitors on the bus that I can't wait to visit with this next Saturday.

Only eternity will tell what was really happening on "Skating Sunday"! By the way, my hat is off to Bro. Odom, our bus driver and Buddy and David and Mrs. Primo who stepped in to help out in my absence. It takes a village to run a bus route, you know!!!

II Corinthians 9:8
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."

Go Tell It On The Mountain

I don't know about you, but I get over-extended every Christmas season. I struggle to keep my mind in the proper place. It is so easy to become involved in every aspect of celebration and forget the reason that we do what we do. I don't want to do that.

I remember the many Christmases we had with the children at home. For many years it was very fullfilling because you could spend a small amount of money on each and they loved the excitement of opening the smallest present and seeing the Christmas tree and lights. We were filled with the wonder of seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child.

I tried hard to impress the fact that we were celebrating Jesus' birthday and bought a manger scene. I remember especially that my oldest would spend time just looking at for long periods of time. I always wondered what was going through his head.

This Christmas will be different. All of the children are out of the house. Grandma is in the house. No one here really feels like putting up the Christmas tree. Since the entrance of Grandma and some of her furniture in my living room, there is no place for a tree without a very big moving operation. My back doesn't feel like doing it.

Shawn and Shannon will be traveling by car from Florida so will be limited in their time with us. They will be staying at the in-laws house where they have much more room and better accomodations.

Maleah and Casey have their own new home now and they will get to decorate and experience the fun of cooking and serving Christmas dinner in their home. I will be staying overnight with them to help in the kitchen.

Ryan is living with Maleah and Casey so he will be comfortably situated there.

Our biggest problem will be getting Grandma out of her chair and getting her to Villa Ridge and up the Watson's driveway for Christmas dinner.

I'm sure it will be all memorable and I hope this year we will form stronger bonds with family and friends and will be able to remember that we have this time because that one small little boy came to free us from our sin.

Had to stop and blog!

Have you ever heard something that just drew your mind to purity, peace and thankfulness? Well, I have been privileged to MANY times in my years. Thank you, Lord, for your grace in allowing me to be exposed to such an uplifting environment!

Recently, my brother who lives in Anchorage with his wife and four children, sent out an email(which he does almost daily) to tell about the Wednesday night service they had at the Anchorage Baptist Temple. I believe it was Wednesday, November 30.



They had special musical visitors, The Collingsworth Family. In his report he included a website where we could hear them. Actually, it was to one song.
http://sogospelnews.com/index/mp3/more/4687/
That song was such a blessing to me. I listened to it over and over. I then pursued looking at their personal website. www.collingsworthfamily.com I was pleasantly surprised to find lots of music able to be listened to there.

This is such a beautiful family with godly principles. They are very talented! I don't know whenever I have enjoyed any music better than I have enjoyed theirs.



It has brought me to think back to all the blessings that I have experienced in my life. There are so many.

One of the songs I listened to is "I'm Too Far". Isn't that message so true. Why, after all these years would I turn to the "husks" of the world for my spiritual sustenance.

I remember when I was younger and the temptations of the world were so prevalent. Most of the time I was able to be victorious in spiritual warfare but shamefully, I can not say that it always worked that way. I wish I could go back to some of the decisions I made and undo them but that is not the way it works. I am glad that sins are forgiven and God's forgiveness is complete.

Thank you, Collingsworth Family, for reminding me how far I've come and how close the goal is. Your music has uplifted me over and over for the last week.

Bus 5 Leads The Pack AGAIN!

This was a fun day on the bus! We ended up with 32 and 2 first time visitors.

The most important thing that happened was that Lesalie got saved. She is 8 years old and very sweet. She has two little brothers that are so cute.

We are maintaining a large group of younger teens and so far they are obeying my instructions.

I become very depressed when I think about some of the situations they deal with at home. Most of them have no idea what godly living is. Some of them have accepted Jesus as their Savior but do not understand how to live the Christian life.

Lord, please help me have a good sense of what to say and do around these children.

Someone Was 26 today!

We are very lucky. I remember that when Mike and I married, my family knew absolutely NOTHING about he or his family except the little I told them. I knew very little myself, only that I was deeply in love!

Our two in-laws have been people that we have, to some extent, seen grow up. Casey is no exception. I suppose the first I knew of him he must have been about 11. His family moved into the area where Papa Johnny was pastoring and they were very supportive of him in a time when he really needed the support.

Casey was an only child which, of course, made him spoiled! (That's what my mother told me years ago...."Never marry an only child because they are spoiled!" This was spoken because her father had been an only child and had displayed a lot of selfishness as she and her 7 siblings were growing up. She was sure Mike was spoiled too.)

Back to the subject at hand! When Maleah and Shawn and Ryan would go to the country to stay with Grandma and Papa in the summers, they would usually get together with Casey.

We all remember the stories of the soda that he sprayed all over the kitchen! (Don't worry, Cas! We all know that some people tend to exaggerate!) There was also the story about how Casey tempted Shawn to swim when Grandma did NOT want him near the pool....and the way she found out about it. And then the one about how Papa had to make him go back to bed in the morning because he was up early and wouldn't leave the kids alone. I think I even heard that he went and got in bed with Maleah and Aimee (this was when they were very young!) one morning.

Then the time for college came and Casey came to Missouri Baptist and he and Shawn became suitemates and eventually roomates. (Yes, Cas! I will never forget the apartment computer screen saver, that you both accused the other roomate of putting on to be funny!!! NOT WHAT A MOTHER WANTS TO SEE!!! And then there were the two apartments that I helped clean up at the end of the school year....can I forget the smell of soured pizza....yes,yes, yes, I know it was Shawn!!!)

I think you can tell by reading this that there weren't many things we heard about Casey that endeared him to us. Frankly, we were just a little scared about the pending marriage.

I have to say that he has proven us wrong. He and Maleah have had a good marriage so far and I am very pleased at how he treats her. I wish them many years of happiness together. AND Casey, happy birthday!!! Thanks for being such a good husband, brother-in-law and son-in-law.

Birthday Thanks

Just wanted to take to time acknowledge all the birthday wishes I received.

Of course, I have already thanked my pal Mal for the shopping trip! Ryan and Shawn called me and wished me a happy birthday. That is always a blessing. I love hearing from my kiddos anytime.

Ed, your ecard was very nice. Maleah sent me a birthday shout-out in the form of an ecard also. Then there was the very nice ecard with special music on it from Jim and Edie Smith. http://www.lvbeethoven.com/_Sons/RandallLCollins/BonAnniversaire_PourElise_WoO59.mid
Try this to hear Fur Elise and Happy Birthday combined. Very Cool!

I think that was all that I needed to thank. Shawn said he put something in the mail but it hasn't gotten here yet so I can't say a thing about that.

Mike told me he was taking me out to eat tonight but I think I will save that for another day.

I am officially 60 years old now!! MANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN That sounds really old and gray and wrinkled.

Pr 16:31 (KJV) The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Lord, keep me there, please!!

How Does It Feel To Be Sixty?

I awoke about four o'clock this morning to the worst leg cramps I have ever had!! If that is any indication, and I fear it is, the sixth decade of life is marked by pain.

I spent yesterday at St. Luke's Hospital with Grandma. She had some stomach cramps the night before which took her to the emergency room and a CT Scan. They found that she had a diverticuli infected and began administering intravaneously two bags of anti-biotic. This meant she needed to stay overnight for observation.

I really do look forward to the next few years with anticipation. I would like to do some deeper studying of the Bible and would love to get that counseling degree but I doubt that will happen.