DOG TIRED……

Of course, this is our Sookie, but it is how we feel today.

Wow, what a weekend.  Thursday evening started our weekend with Zion’s party.  We went to the park, had hotdogs, played on the playground, had cake.

Friday, was the Wedding Rehearsal of Joey Garcia and Kathryn Joner.  We have been heavily involved in the wedding plans, Mike is giving Kathryn away and it has been a focus of our lives for a few months.  We were excited about the rehearsal, they are always fun.  It lasted from 5:00 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. because there was an accident on the freeway, so it began late.  We laughed and ate pizza and had a great time, and then we all went bowling.  Okay, I am not an athlete by any stretch of anyone’s imagination, but I tried.  My total score was 28, and I fell down the lane.  (Who knew they wax those silly floors?)  WE really laughed alot that night.

Saturday morning was Bruce Smith’s Memorial Service.  There wasn’t any laughing this morning.  We were somber.  There were over 700 people there to celebrate Bruce’s life.  It is hard to explain in mere words what that was like.  This sweet, soft spoken man, sports enthusiast, husband and father of two sons was amazingly involved in that many peoples life.  This, of course was God ordained.  It began with the chorus, “Blessed Be the Name.” It was uplifting and celebratory until it got to the part …”You give and take away, You give and take away”, we have sung that before many times, it really took root this time.  People spoke from his youth, college days and teaching days.  Slides were shown of this youth, high school, college and coaching and teaching days set to appropriate music.  It was wonderful.  There were friends from each aspect of his life speaking, barely making it through , all of which were Christian men with precious words to say about their friend.  Then, Steven, his oldest at 17 spoke.  After seeing slide after slide of him with his boys, cradling them as infants, fishing, hunting, baseball, tennis, golf, Washington D.C. trips, camping, relaxing, playing games it was evident to see, they were his priority.   I remember every summer, Bruce and Gwen were very happy that they were both teachers, they had the entire summer off to spend with the boys, doing anything they wanted.  I now, look at this as the Hand of God.  He knew it would not be forever, so He filled every summer with memories and good times. What a gift….to Bruce, to Gwen and to the boys.  As Steven spoke of the love of his father, he was strong, and then went a little silent…” I miss you, Dad”….  we were all standing, supporting this young man in his emotional tribute to his father.  It was almost more than anyone could stand and yet we felt we wanted to be strong for him.  Timmy, the younger, 13, stayed by his mothers side…it had been Timmy who was laying next to his Dad in the bed when he went home to the Lord.  He was by his side to the very end.  This was an emotional, triumphant day.  We will see Bruce again, until then we are all here for his family.

Next, was the Wedding…yes next.  Pastor Phil only changed his shirt and on to the next thing.  The church was beautiful…this is the couple mentioned in a previous blog “Barbeque and Friends” . We have been with these kids through each aspect of planning this wedding.  We have done marriage counseling, and spent many an hour with them, loving every second.  They are sweet kids that want to really follow the Lord and it has been a privilege to watch them.  The music was great, (Mike sang), Ariel sang with Loren….The kids were happy.  We were able to meet Joey’s sweet family.  Everything went as they had wanted.  The ladies of the church brought pasta, salad and bread for the dinner.  (They are very generous and gracious).

The kids had wanted Swedish Meatballs for Kathryns heritage…Thank you, Lisa, my sister and friend.  I love you.  And we brought Nachos with jalapenos for Joey’s Mexican side.  So there was alot of food, Matt was DJ to some crazy music….and even Pastor Phil got up and danced to some “clap your hands” song that lasted about 8 minutes.  We laughed and sang and had a great time.

Clean-up came about 9 p.m., with Church in the morning.  We were all tired from the day.

When we looked back on the day…Wow, what emotion.  Yet, I  would not have changed a  thing.

God is so good.  When I think that our Lord created the mountains, and oceans and all that we can survey, that He also created our intricate emotions.  It amazes me.  I felt alot of love this weekend.  Love for friends that are home with the Lord, friends who are left.  Love for a new couple, just starting out in this life, following Jesus, a new family with hopes and dreams they haven’t even thought of yet.

We are tired, but fulfilled.  God is good, and kind and generous and we thank Him for the privilege of loving people.  To be able to be involved in others lives is a gift, a precious gift.  “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.”