First Birthdays and Baptisms

 
We've been going through photos on and off for weeks now.

Luke is a high school senior 
and he has been trying to find
just the right photos for 
all of his senior year things
(yearbook, graduation slideshow, etc.).

It can be a whole blog post about how,

at the very same time,

going through photos is so very hard for me

and so very sweet for me. 

But right now,

I just want to get these posted.

We've had a couple of tornado warnings lately.

I would cry for days and days if I lose all of my photos.

But, at least there are photos posted here

that I would have.

So, I want to get these posted so I'll have those, too,

if anything were ever to happen to my physical copies.

These are the photos from our children's 1st birthdays.

Obviously, since Crystol is my stepdaughter, I don't have

a memory of her first birthday. I didn't know them then.

But, for Anna, Wesley, and Luke, I remember those

days like they were yesterday.

Time really does just fly by.

I also want to post the photos 

of the day Rob baptized

our Anna, Wesley, and Luke.

I honestly cannot remember, 

at the moment, exactly when this was.

I'm pretty sure it was 2005.

It was right after my dad preached the revival service

at the church where Rob was pastoring at the time.

Anna wanted it to be private so we had

a small service right after church that night.

Rob, my mom, my dad, and I were there

with Anna, Wesley, and Luke.

(Of course, I'm not in any of the photos

because I was taking them all!)

It was such a special evening!

First Hug

 

Our first hug in 1 year and 8 days.

It was good to be on this side of the window.

Blurry Family Photo

 

I came across this family photo today.

It's a blurry polaroid photo

but it was clear enough to make me smile.

😊

Sweet family memories.

The photo wasn't dated but I think it was taken around 2005.

Wesley and Luke as Hymn Leaders!

My sons were the hymn leaders at my sister’s church yesterday. 

The church is not gathering in person yet so its congregation watches from home. 

I was proud of my boys. Their Aunt Joan was, too.  

My sister’s chime choir played, too, and we were proud of her!

 

My boys sing at time markers: 11:12; 13:45; 46:50; and 51:40. 

My sister’s chime choir plays at 5:10 and 21:27. 

All of it is beautiful music. 

Also, my sister and her husband, Scot, placed the flowers on the altar 

in honor of Wesley and Luke 

and in memory of their father, Rev. Robert Shelton. 

Thank you, Joan and Scot! 

Hugs To Last A Year (and more)

 

This was one year ago today.

My mama’s nursing home was already on lockdown.

But Mama had an eye surgery scheduled

for two days after its lockdown.

We decided to go ahead with it

since we had no idea

when she would be able to have the surgery

if the whole world shut down.

I’m glad we did.

 For the sake of Mama’s eyesight.

 And because Mama got to spend one more day 
with one of her children.

Because of that surgery day, 

Mama was able to get a few more hugs 

that would end up needing to last her for a long time.

 I’m a very independent person. 

I’ve lived away from my mama 

since I was 18 years old 

and I moved away to attend college. 

I didn’t cry then.

But, on March 12, 2020, 

after the nursing home transport van pulled away 

with my mama in her wheelchair loaded securely in the back, 

I went back to my car and cried.

 I never told my mama that I cried and I still won’t. 

That will just make it worse for her.

 

She feels the absence of her family’s hugs deeply.

 She still talks about how much those last hugs mean to her.

It’s been a year now.

 A whole year.

 Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.

Valentine's

 My Valentine's Day 

started out with 2 of my kids here with me

and ended with 3 of my kids here with me!

I'm not happy that Anna hasn't had power at her house for the last 2 days 

and it is not estimated to be back on for 1 or 2 more days 

but I am happy 

that she came to my house today 

and will be here until her power is back on!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Go Rest High On That Mountain

February 3, 2021

My Luke singing

"Go Rest High On That Mountain"

at the funeral

of someone very important to me.

I haven't asked the family if I could share the story 

so I cannot do that right now.

But I can share that my son sang at the funeral

and he did a great job.

It was a song wanted by the person who died

and by the family.

I am thankful my Luke could provide comfort for them.