Dear Mothers,
Yesterday John and his wife Christine and little Romeo, age 4, came over to see me as they are leaving Friday to go back to Missouri. Christine's family lives there. I always make a dinner as I love to cook for them. They are both excellent cooks and enjoy all of my cooking, no matter what I make. Well, I made BBQ beef ribs that Emily had given me. And I had mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. Then yes, of all things, I made an apple pie. Now that I think of it, how did I do all of that with all the children about me? I know someone was prayin' for me -- thanks! Anyway, all the children had gone home at 5:30 and so my family and I had a lovely supper together. Christine cleaned up the house for me after supper as John and Romeo and I sat and visited and laughed.
All the children will be home for Thanksgiving. We will have the grand feast at my Mom's. Everyone will bring things. Alex and Christian Joy will do most of the cooking, I think. But probably Christian Joy and her husband Jason from NYC will stay here at my home and John and his family, too. I know we will have a grand time. I know Mary will be healed by then. By faith I know all is well with her. Dan is moving to Oregon in a few days. He is gonna try to make it home for Thanksgiving. Danny Boy has such a hungry heart for his family. He didn't like NYC. THANK GOD!
We were all laughin' about Dan last night and what a funny kid he was when he was little. Romeo is so full of life and silly as a bed bug. He has the energy like Dan did when he was young. Romeo is a feast to my eye as he runs about he house trying to make us laugh. He swings his head all around and his hair just flies all about. But I am used to boys as I had 4 boys and 2 girls. The children I am blessed to watch are all girls. So I miss seeing the roughness of a little boy. John and Christine are always telling Romeo to settle down and play quietly. But to me, he is just being a normal boy. My Mom and all of the relatives get such a giant kick out of him. We are always trading funny stories about what he has done or said. Christine's father is Armenian. So Romeo has the most handsome brown eyes -- they sparkle like his mom's.
As I said my last farewell to my traveling children last night, we embraced and hugged each other. A hug that will have to keep us until Thanksgiving. My children are like their Dad -- always another mountain to cross. As Christine, my dear daughter-in-law hugged me, she said, "Connie, I miss you already." She has been to me a Ruth to Naomi. She will always be near me in her heart, and my heart. How many times in the past year she has stood with me as an anchor of faith. I had to steal a kiss from Romeo as he don't like kisses from girls. But he got a kiss, anyway. And, oh, John has gotten so tall. I have to reach up to hug him. He reminds me of my dad and Jim, his dad. He has become a Shepard to me.
John was the son I wept for, for seven years. And God delivered him with His mighty hand. The Lord knows how to do what needs to be done. I know the devil has tried to count me out many times. But God's Holy word redeems me each time. I give Him the praise and glory.
My Children
And my aunt will say to me, concerning John and his family, "Well, why do they move so much? And what are they going to do in Missouri that they can't do here?" And on and on and on. And I say "I dunno." I figure they are old enough to figure it all out. And my aunt says, "My gosh, I worry over those kids more then you do." And I think to myself, "You don't know the half of it." And you can imagine what she says about Mary. But I don't care. The whole thing reminds me of a scene in Little Women as the rich aunt was so stingy. And she was always telling the mother that she wasn't raising her older children in a proper way. But their Mother had faith and she was dear to her family.
And I know my older children are more adventuresome then most kids their age. But Jim was adventuresome like that. And I loved that in him. I don't leave the house in my adventures. But I go to other countries with my words. And all of my children will be taught of the Lord and great shall be their peace. They are part me and part Papa. And Papa was a Tom Sawyer. When he was young, he lived in a river town and would swim across the river to go to the Picture Show. He ran away when he was 14 and hitch hiked all over the country. I know my children are travelers, too, but within their families. Christian Joy has been to Finland, Scotland, Italy and France. Germany and England. And to Ireland many times. She has been to countries I have forgotten. She went on a tour to Europe by herself and called me from each country. My aunt had a royal fit and said it was dangerous and all for her to go alone. "To Europe alone. Never heard of such a thing!"
Well, no, I am not always in agreement with my children. But they have to grow up and do what they have to do. I just pray holy protection over them. They are Papa's seeds and I know they will always come home to roost.
Papa was always so boyish, even before he died. He was my Popeye and I was his Olive Oyl. Every time I held him in my arms, I would say, "You feel the same as you did when you were 25." Because he really never gained weight, and he always felt strong to me. I would play on the piano and sing to him, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are blue. You will never know, Dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." Well, Papa is full of light now and full of the SON as he is on another adventure out of this world to heaven. I know he has golden slippers and he walks the streets of Gold. I know he is singing there as Papa loved to sing and dance. I can feel him tell me, "Connie, I love you, just because you are you."
I was looking through some old cards he had given me for Christmas and my birthday. One said, at the bottom in his handwriting, " Connie, my Darling, I love you more with each passing day. I thank our dear Lord for you, my darling wife." Was it worth it not to give up on my Covenant marriage? Oh, yes, a million times over, YES! And I will never give up on my children, either. All of my children are taught of the Lord and great is their peace.
Love,
Connie
