Faithful Friday - "A Glad Reunion"

Today is a day of mixed emotions for our family. It is a sad one because of our loss but a happy one because of the gain in heaven. My Grandma, the one for whom we attended her 94th birthday weekend before last, passed away early this morning. She slipped peacefully from her earthly home to her heavenly one (an answer to prayer).

She was my last living grandparent and she has just been amazing! She still lived at home, even though she was 94 years old. She did have someone that stayed with her some of the day and her kids (the ones that lived close by) took turns staying with her at night for this past year or so.

I’m so glad that we were able to make it to her 94th birthday party two weeks ago. We all were able to visit with her a bit and kiss and hug her. She always especially enjoys the kids. Colt and Amber were able to go as well. All of my kids have gotten to know their great Grandma! I’m just so thankful for all of this!

Even through her loss, God has been so good! I was lying in bed this morning after I got the news and I couldn’t help but think of the glad reunion that was taking place in heaven at that moment. You see we lost Grandpa a little over twenty years ago. I can just imagine him waiting there for her as she slipped from this earth to heaven. He probably asked her , “Corene….what took you so long?”, and then I’m sure he had a good time showing her around. You see I’m sure he probably knows everyone in heaven because he never met a stranger. (I’ve often told Joy that she and Grandpa would have been such good friends because they were so much alike with their socializing!)

I spoke with my mom a little while ago. I asked her how daddy was (it was his mother) and how everyone was doing. Daddy is one of nine children (eight of which are still living). Her answer was “great”. I could hear a lot of talking and even laughing in the background. They were at the nursing home where daddy’s sister, Shirley, lives. She is 72. She has been there for a few years now. She suffered from polio as a child which left her crippled and unable to communicate normally. It became too much for her to be at home with Grandma. Anyway, they were really worried about telling Aunt Shirley that her mama had passed away. She loved her mama and the two of them were very close. My mother said they came in (all of the kids) and told Aunt Shirley that her mama had passed away that morning and she sat up and raised her arms up toward heaven in praise and said, “I know”. She said something about her mama, her daddy, and the baby. The “baby” is the baby Grandma and Grandpa lost at the age of 6 months to pneumonia (twin to daddy’s sister Brenda). So whether, she saw this vision or whether God just revealed it to her in another way, I don’t know. But what I do know is that God is good and he prepared Shirley. He not only prepared Shirley but he gave a blessing to them all through Shirley’s words and actions. They all sang together Amazing Grace. It makes me tear up just visualizing them all together. Grandma and Grandpa would have liked that. I can see them smiling.

Today it is hard to imagine going to Alabama and not seeing Grandma, but it’s hard to be too upset when I think about her life, the love of family, and Grandpa, their baby, and her heavenly home awaiting her. Yes, today there is a glad reunion in heaven! Praise the Lord!

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On another note, which is what I planned to share today, I want to tell you about a movie that is being promoted by the American Family Association. They are asking that we support this movie as Christian families and if any way possible to go see it this weekend, (on opening weekend) to show Hollywood that we want more wholesome movies like this. It is called October Baby. It is a movie about the value of life.

Here is a little more information about it.

Synopsis:
As the curtain rises, Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut in college. Yet before she can utter her first lines, Hannah—unscripted—collapses in front of the stunned audience.

After countless medical tests, all signs point to one underlying factor: Hannah’s difficult birth. This revelation is nothing compared to what she then learns from her parents: she was actually adopted … after a failed abortion attempt.

Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past … and find hope for her unknown future.

In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah finds that life can be so much more than what you have planned.

And the official trailer:



We plan to do so! I hope you will too!

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Because I can’t leave you all hanging after yesterday’s post, I will tell you that the change is what most of you guessed! I’m sure you could see how worn out my furniture is! Don’t you think it is time to get new furniture after 22 years? I've held out for a long time because I wanted what I wanted.  :)  Along with it, will come some changes mostly to the foyer area, which is the staircase area as well. But I am keeping my red. I do love my red walls and never have tired of them. I am a person that has to be surrounded with her color and red makes me happy! So it is staying!

And just to clear things up…….my home has never been in Country Sampler magazine! I wish! But no….. Donna was speaking of the Country Sampler forum, of which a lot of us were all members (and still are). It would, however, be a dream come true if my home were to ever grace the pages of a decorating magazine, but I still have a ways to go! I will share more about the furniture and plans in my next post.

Thanks for stopping by today for Faithful Friday. If you would like to participate, leave Joy a comment on her blog here, letting her know and we’ll come visit! Faithful Fridays was started by Joy as a day set aside to share something from our Christian Walk. Even if you’re not participating, we still thank you for stopping by to read! Have a great weekend!

Be Blessed!
~ Tammy ~