August Anniversaries

In August we celebrated the anniversary of several things in our lives. I’ll start with the “youngest” and move upward.  We marked, rather than celebrated the first Birthday of Sadie!  I know there are a lot of dog lovers out there and I would not describe myself that way, but Sadie would never believe that!  She is pretty spoiled!  And I did actually think about throwing a party for all the doggy lovers in our community, I just had a time crunch!  We really enjoy having Sadie…except for her barking!  We’re working on that though.  She has a fun personality and never ending limit of play!  She has been welcomed by the residents of Polo Club North…we’re pretty sure they like her better than us!  She has been given countless toys and stuffed animals, one woman ordered her a leather collar with a brass plate that has her name engraved on it, people drop by the office and ask to take her on a walk and whenever we go outside, she heads for the guard house for a treat!  She definitely has it made! 

August 13 was our third anniversary of coming to work here at Polo Club North.  I cannot believe it has been three years!  I still remember the exact moment that Wally phoned me to tell me we had been given the job.  We had already been through the application process and another couple was chosen.  And I was so relieved!!  A week later us girls were at our annual Tea outing and we were taking the photo below when the phone in my pocket rang.  Wally asked if I were sitting down, because the other couple backed out and we were being offered the job.  I responded with “I’ll have to call you back in a minute, I need to smile for this picture!”  That is a true story!

It has taken me every bit of the past three years to settle into our new lifestyle.  There have been so many changes and so many difficulties and so many evidences of God’s grace.  It is those evidences of God’s grace that actually confirms for me that this is exactly where we are supposed to be.  When I walk down the stairs in the morning and enter the office, I no longer have the feeling that I am entering the Twilight Zone, so that’s progress!  But Wally and I do keep saying that we need to start writing a book because many of our experiences seem like they are an episode from the “Twilight Zone!”

Over Labor Day, Wally and I went to Oklahoma to visit his Mom.  It was a nice visit…despite the humidity.  We did nothing really but chat, a little shopping, and I think we got Grams hooked on Downton Abbey.  We went to church together, which we had not done in a long time.  On the way to church, we went to the graveyard to visit Pop’s grave.  August 25 was the fourth anniversary of his passing from this life to his eternal home.
 

August 14 Wally and I celebrated thirty-three years of marriage.  I cannot even believe that it has been thirty three years!  I mean, that makes me seem like, so old!!  On the inside, I still feel like the young thing that said “I do” to a motorcycle ride about thirty-four-ish years ago.  I always consider that our first date.  Wally and I had been exchanging letters for a couple of months.  The high light of the week was when the phone rang late at night, (you know, when the long distance rates dropped.) and Wally was on the other end.  Then one day he just drives up on his motorcycle and surprises me!   He had gone home to Indiana and was riding his bike out to California where he was stationed with the Air Force. 

We rode up to Estes Park and over Trail Ridge Road.  We got to the visitor’s center at the top, and that was as far as we could go because there was a wall of snow that needed to be cleared from the road.  So we had our picture taken and rode on home. 

This past spring Wally wanted to take that same ride again…a “then and now”experience.  I kind of think of it as “we were so skinny then and we are getting old now!”  But then I guess that was the idea, to grow old together!

Recently I saw this little quote and jotted it down…”Love isn’t found, it is built.”  I think I can agree with that.  Because long after the thrill of a long distance romance has worn off, what would I have?  But building something together, that lasts as long as we last! 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Sweet Sunday

One of the things that I miss about having my kids grown and out on their own, is being in church together. I was anticipating getting to do that while we were in FL.  An added bonus was having Wally’s Mom with us.  A double added bonus was that Ben and Andrea would be presenting their ministry to Kenny’s church.  So my heart was already full. 

Wesley and Grams

Ben and Andrea’s display table

This is Elaine.  Right after Children’s Church was over, she came dashing into the auditorium and grabbed a pile of prayer cards off their table.  It is her “job” to hand them out to people.  She takes that job pretty serious…not one person left with out a prayer card for the Hamiltons!  Some might have even received two! 

Here’s Kenny leading his choir.  My daughter elbowed me for taking pictures in church, but I did it anyway!  I just don’t get to be part of their lives in this way very often. Becky played the piano but I don’t know what happened to that picture…maybe Andrea deleted it!  Anyway,  I took a picture of Andrea too when she played the second piano Sunday night!

This Sunday was a special  day and sweet in another realm…the spiritual realm.  On Friday when we returned from the Everglades and entered into cell phone service again, Kenny discovered he had about 20 voice mails and text messages from the members of his church.  Earlier that morning Mark Brown, Kenny’s Pastor had collapsed during his morning working out.  Kenny and Becky were thrown into a flurry of activity on Friday evening and Saturday…visiting at the hospital several times, organizing a prayer meetings, and preparing for a very different Sunday service.  I was impressed with how many times that church family came together to pray for their Pastor.  Many things were being done for him medically but also spiritually.  Though we did not know it at the time, Pastor Brown would never regain consciousness.  After we returned home, the family made the difficult decision to remove all life support. 

So on this Sunday, I watched my little boy whom I knew was hurting, step up and lead his church.  Becky, also hurting, stepped in beside Kenny with her quiet strength.  I watched Ben and Andrea come along-side and support the ministry that day.  While Kenny led the teens as he usually did during Sunday School, Ben taught he adult class that Pastor Brown would have taught.  Then Kenny led the church service, choir, preaching and special music.  Becky organized the ladies to bring a basket of things for the family of Pastor Brown while they sat at the hospital.  There were meetings with the deacons and trustees, and more prayer meetings.  I know that it was only the enabling of the Holy Spirit that any of this was accomplished.  He promises to come along side us and help us in our times of need.  He is the Great Enabler!  Kenny and Becky sang a song together, “God Makes No Mistakes!”  They were living that testimony!  And it was indeed a sweet Sunday!

My life I give to You, O Lord.
Use me, I pray.
May I glorify Your precious name
In all I do and say.
Let me trust You in the valley dark
As well as in the light,
Knowing You will always lead me;
Your will is always right.

I know God makes no mistakes.
He leads in every path I take
Along the way that's leading me to home.
Tho' at times my heart would break,
There's a purpose in every change He makes:
That others would see my life and know
That God makes no mistakes.

And when some day in heav'n above
I see His dear face,
May I then be counted faithful
As a runner in this race.
But now I'm trusting in the Savior
To show me the way.
In His righteousness He guides me,
As I seek to please Him day by day.

Made for Life

Tomorrow it will be three years that Wally’s Dad stepped into eternity.  It’s hard to believe it has been that long.  I was thinking about him this week as the anniversary day approached.  It’s hard when death rears its ugly head into our lives.  Even if it is somewhat expected, it is hardly ever invited.  It is a reminder to me of what sin has brought into each of our lives.  Yesterday in my devotional book, At the Feet of Jesus, I was very much encouraged.  The first sentence on the page was a reminder to me of God’s perspective…”Death was not a part of God’s original plan. You and I were made for life-life eternal.”

This is Wally’s Mom and Dad before Andrea’s wedding in 2006.  Pop was not yet diagnosed with hepatitis C or stage four cirrhosis of the liver.   He did not know in four years his life on earth would be over.  But his life on earth was just a stepping stone into eternity, real life! 

Earlier this week a friend who has lived many years with physical struggles and pain was set free from those struggles and pain.  Also this week, another friend tragically ended his life.  As I was thinking on the circumstances of each of these lives, this paragraph brought peace and understanding.

“God’s mercy and grace marked our lives here on earth with a finish line.  And with sweet irony, our loving Father took the very thing we’d feared the most-the threat of death-and turned it on its head.  Transforming tombs into into doorways and our endings into new beginnings.  Turning hearses into glistening carriages to carry us to a glorious mansion being prepared as we speak-the eternal home for which we were made.”

I Corinthians 15:54
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

 

Don’t you just love God’s perspective!

Thankful Thursday

 

Today I am thankful for thirty-two years of marriage to Wally.  He has been a faithful husband to me over the years and loves me in all my good, bad, and ugly!  He has demonstrated his love for me and our kids in countless ways and I have no doubt that we are the most important people in his life and that there is nothing he would not do for us.  I am so very blessed to be his wife.

 

Oh my goodness, we were so young when Pastor Cox pronounced us husband and wife, all those years ago!  He introduced us for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Wally Godby.  I have often thought how difficult it must have been for my Mom to let me go.  We were awfully naïve and inexperienced.  Wally already had overseas orders for England and right after the short honeymoon we packed up the wedding gifts and headed to California.  There would be a lot of growing up pretty fast, but I think we did okay.  I have very happy memories of some of the dumb stuff we did because we didn’t have that experience!

There are are certainly a lot dreams come true when you fall in love and decide to bring two lives together into one new life.  You think nothing can go wrong or spoil your happiness.  You cannot see into the future and imagine the difficulties that will come.  Weddings are easy but marriage is hard.  I think I have felt this way for a long time…that being married has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I have felt it but been afraid to say it because some people might think I have big marriage issues.  Well I do…it’s called Fleshwoman! Marriage makes you put self aside in order to serve the one you are married to.  And when you are selfish, that is hard work. 

 

When Wally and I took our road trip in July I was listening to my iPod to a series called Marriage Through Gospel Eyes with Jani Ortlund.  It was excellent!  I have listened to it now about three times and I finally jotted down a few things that summed up marriage for me.  First,  “Marriage is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person.”  Elisabeth Elliot used to say something similar…you are a sinner marrying a sinner!  Oh how often I forget that! 

Another  statement I wrote down was “Marriage makes two people become what they never could be alone.”  That was so encouraging to me.  I often hear women say how they are married to their best friend and I feel a bit guilty because I did not marry my best friend.  Wally and I are about as opposite as opposite can get.  We certainly would never have hooked up on eHarmony.com!  But we have become best friends.  I could never be the person I am today without Wally.

(By the way that cute little flower girl in the picture is my niece Cassi who has a blog called Along the Trail.  She and her family work alongside my brother in a Camp Ministry called Whisper Mountain.  That cute little Ring bearer is my nephew Brian who is a Dad of four cutie girls and a youth Pastor in Ohio.  And there is just the sleeve of another nephew, Kyle who was supposed to escort the flower girl down the aisle.  But she put on a big pout and wouldn’t go without a firm hand  from her Dad so her escort was a few feet ahead of her!  A lot changes in 32 years!)

Want to peek in my Wedding Album for a minute?

Both of my parents walked me down the aisle.  I loved that!

I wore my sister’s wedding gown. It had a big hoop. I had already bought some satin white pumps to wear but it made the dress too short. So I wore ballet slippers instead.

Wedding photos seem all the rage right now.I sometimes wonder if couples will put as much effort into the marriage as they do all those poses…but that could be another blog post on its own. When I got married I really wanted the double exposure effect of the photo below and it was kind of a new thing. Our photographer, Bob Babcock, wasn’t sure if he could do it. But he did pretty good.

Another big photo must do was of the rings.  I always liked my ring.  Not big and showy, but unique.  Wally went and selected it on his own and that made me happy!

Wally told me the other day that he likes holding my hand.  I like looking at this photo and thinking that he has held my hand for 32 years now!  My pretty, soft-looking, wedding day hands are kind of getting achy in the joints now and I don’t get my nails polished much.  Wally’s fingers are swollen with the years of hard work and his hands are kind of rough.  But I like that…I like the work, the ability and the commitment that they hold.  It has been a wonderful thirty two years of living with the man I love.  I’ll leave you with the third thing that I wrote down on that piece of paper. 

“The best days in a marriage are always ahead!”

Thankful Thursday

It is the Fourth of July and this is just a quick post to say how thankful I am to be an American and to live in the United States of America!!  I know we get a lot of criticism, have many issues, and have wandered from our godly bearings and foundation.  But we still have many freedoms and we are still blessed to worship God freely…that which the pilgrims came to America to do in the first place!  Sunday we had a lot of Patriotic music at church including the hand bells, love that.  We had a video presentation along with the choir singing a song about the Statue of Liberty and America the Beautiful!  And I always love it when we sing our National Anthem.  Like our hymns, our patriotic music has rich truths buried in the verses we seldom sing.  I was particularly struck by the words to the last verse…

                             O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
                             Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
                             Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
                             Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
                             Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
                             And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
                             O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

I am thankful for the lives of the many men and women who have sacrificed their lives over the years to secure my freedom.  I am thankful most of all for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which brings true freedom.  The shedding of His blood has the power to remove all sin and leave in its place His righteousness!  I am thankful that having that relationship with Him brings a confidence that regardless of what occurs in America, good and bad, is in the hands of Sovereign God!  Knowing His character and and knowing He is trustworthy, brings another kind of freedom.  Freedom from worry…it brings peace. 

Happy Fourth of July
and
may God continue to bless America!

Happy Birthday Kenny Boy

Happy Birthday Kenny.  I know you are off somewhere taking your teens to camp…a second week of camp already this summer!  You are a busy youth pastor and settling into your new church and ministry.  We are so proud of you…the good kind of pride.  We are so blessed to have you in our family and to hold all those memories of your growing up years in our hearts!!

When you were born, Dad and I were living “in-between” a lot of things.  We had returned from a three year hitch in England and Dad was now in training for a new career in the Air Force, weather forecasting.  Which meant a lot of school and a lot of moving.  He was stationed at McChord AFB in Tacoma but would only be there a couple of months  and then at school for three months at Chanute AFB in Illinois.  The Air Force was not going to move a family around for that short time, so Andrea and I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in Colorado while Dad spent his time in WA. Then we moved in with Grams and Gramps for three months in Kendallville, IN.  Dad was five hours away and came home on the weekends and the idea was that he would be there for your birth.  But, you were taking your time getting here.  In fact we were down to just two weeks when Dad’s school would be completed and he was to return to WA and still no baby.  And you were two weeks past your due date.  So it was all arranged for Mom to be induced.  I remember Grams and Gramps were going to be away and when they returned the big event would take place.  But when I went to the Doctor he sped things up a bit.  He performed a procedure that I still remember as very painful, in hopes of starting labor.  I was told to report to the hospital the next morning to follow up with the inducement. I called Dad around midnight to say I think things were starting to happen.  He was able to get a 24 hour leave and come right away.

So then the labor stopped.  Dad made it home and he slept about an hour.  We were to be at the hospital at 9:00 and I remember being a little late because we went uptown to main street Kendallville and Dad had breakfast on the way to the hospital!  I seem to remember your Dad always getting something to eat when I was in labor, and always driving fast to get to the hospital!  Well, you were born at 2:15 pm, weighing 8lbs. 6oz. It kind of looks like you didn’t really want to be here.  I think they were a little rough on both of us!

Eleven days later our little family was all packed up and headed west.  We stopped in Colorado so all the Paul’s could meet you and then headed on to Puyallup, WA where we set up a new home, new job, and new family. 

You certainly added a lot of smiles to our family, a lot of activity and a lot of adventure!  The best way to describe that is through the eyes of your siblings…who know best and probably a little more than your parents might know!

Andrea

Well, KB – it’s your birthday!  It’s hard to decide what to write about…I have lots of good memories, crazy stories, and sweet times to choose from.  Twenty-eight years is a long time, and I have a lot of ammo I could pull out!  But the first memory that popped into my head was a very long time ago…on the top of a big hill in Colorado.

There were four bikers up there, looking down at the bike trail below.  The wisest biker, let’s call him “Dad,” said to ride your brakes all the way down, or get off and walk it.  The smartest biker would be called “Sis” because she listened to “Dad’s” instruction and chose to walk her bike all the way down the big hill.  The third biker should be called “Mom”.  Since she is a mom, she probably anticipated the actions of the fourth biker, “Hot Shot.”  Because Hot Shot took off with 2 or 3 good hard pedals before he decided to hit the brakes, and he tumbled the rest of the way down that hill!

I will always be grateful that I got to share my college experience with you and travel in a quartet with you.  I saw God change your direction from one year of Bible training, to three years of Bible training, to a full-blown bachelor degree in Bible and music. Now you are a music & youth pastor in south Florida…who would have guessed where the Lord would take you!

I’m glad that you listened to Pastor Camp and let him fix you up with a spouse too.  He has very good taste, and Becky is a blessing to have in the family!

My wish for you this coming year is very simple… my kids would like a cousin!

Happy Birthday, Kenny-Boy!
Love,
Sis

Wesley

Well "little" bro it's your 28th bday! Just 12 away from being old! Well, mom wanted me to put some memories together for your birthday so here we go.

I remember a lot of good times together. You were always the one to either be mischievous with me, do that daring adrenaline rush, or tell me that's stupid! Then you’d hold the video camera for me to try it—haha!  

• I remember it was always my goal to block your shot in basketball, and I felt about ten feet tall when it finally happened.
• You almost killed me in a car accident when you decided to take a nap and ramp your truck off the road while elk hunting.
• When everyone else wanted to quit, I could always count on you to get one more run in on the slopes. Or two or three, and you always found the good cliffs with me.
• I could always count on you to stay up late and watch a movie with me after work.
• In high school you got the job striping parking lots and I went with you a lot to help. I found a Phantom of the Opera tape that we played in Fred.
• We had a lot of long talks during college over a cold glass of milk, and either regular or peanut butter Oreos and spoons.
• We had good times with you taking shots on me at the soccer field during college at Ambassador, and driving back and forth between NC and CO without stopping.

We had a lot of good times and memories together, and so many more that I could go on and on…

It's kinda weird to give a "charge" to your older brother!   And without sounding really cliché. But keep following God. Your testimony and walk and faith have  made a huge impact on my life. Seeing how you handled things in NC and how you were rewarded for your trust, and faithfulness. Your leadership will always go further then you think, and I'll always "look up" to you haha. Continue to lead Bex(and Bella) in godliness.  And no matter what, always stay true to Christ. Thanks for all you have taught me, even from a distance. I look forward  to continuing to learn from you, and spending time with you. Especially since you live in Miami now, I have to come visit right? Keep working on those soccer skills so we can tear it up next time! Happy birthday bro, I love you!
Sola Fide!
Wes

We all love you Kenny.  I hate that you are so far away and we miss a lot now.  Florida has never been my favorite place, but I think you’ve been prepared for it through a lot of your likes and experiences.  Best of all, it is where the Lord has led you.

Colossians 1:10-11
…that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Father’s Day

Yesterday we had a nice time with the family at my Mom and Dad’s house…grilling steaks and lots of other good stuff!  Here’s the Dads of the day.

Wally, loving his picture taken as always,  Dad, Terry, Kyle, and Scott.  If you are wondering if you missed something this year about Kyle becoming a Dad, you did.  He and Krista have chosen foster parenting in hopes of adopting the precious little guy their hearts are already wrapped around.  We got some nice family pictures yesterday but because of the foster care thing, I can’t share them.  Sadness…he is a cutie!  But here’s a shot of Scott and his daughter, Nicole, with my parents.

And a nice shot of Mom and Dad!

I scrapped my little fingers to the bone this year for Father’s Day and I think the gifts turned out really cute!  I did like my cards.  I saw this card on Pinterest~

~and I did this with the layout. 

The shoe made me think about steps and it was easy to find some nice scriptures to add for my sentiment.

This is the card I sent to Ben.  I found the instructions here.

Another idea on Pinterest was taking a regular, lined, white envelope, snipping off the top, cutting in an inch form the end on one side, and folding it down for the collar.  An instant candy bar holder!  Funny, Robin saw the same idea and made one for each of the Dads too.  Hers was in a business sized envelope and she filled it with various candy.  Add a necktie, and you are done!

I added a post it note holder to my candy bars and tossed them a brown sack with tissue paper.  Simple gift!   Making these post it note holders is super easy and Chic’n scratch has a lot of cute variations on her blog. 

I covered a little notebook for my Dad…I don’t think he uses too many post its.

Lastly, here’s my card and gift for Wally.