1) This has been the longest week of my life. Its taken me a bit of time to get my thoughts together to even begin this post.2) Thank you so much to all of you who sent us messages, cards, called us on the phone and visited us in person. I can't begin to tell you how much this meant to my family, especially my husband.
3) I am still amazed by your generosity. As Marc stated on Friday....our refrigerator was (and still is) overflowing with food. The joke around the house is that we would be clucking by the end of the week! LOL.
4) We knew that the day would come when Marc's dad would pass away. Alzheimer's is one of those diseases that you just have to prepare for the worst. But knowing all of that and even knowing that he is in a better place, did not prepare us for his death.
5) Marc did a wonderful job delivering the eulogy for his dad's homegoing celebration. I worried that he might fall apart at the last minute because he had spent most of the week making arrangements and receiving family and friends. He didn't miss a beat and by the end of the day I stopped worrying about him. It helped that their were a number of prayer warriors out in the crowd that were praying hard before he got up to speak.
6) The one lesson I learned from this week was that yes prayer changes things, but prayer also can give you strength and power when you don't know what else to do. It also gives you peace. Sweet peace that you can't explain unless you have had that connection with our father God.
7) I also did not know at the time but the WOF Conference was preparing me for the upcoming week. I can't tell you how many times I turned on my Mandisa and the WOF Worship Team music on my ipod. It helped me to sleep at night and to calm me in the morning light. Its amazing to me how God can prepare you in advance for an upcoming storm.
8) There are four special ladies who got me through the week that I will never be able to thank enough. Without their support I think I would have lost it a couple of times. Two of them came to help me clean up the house to receive guest (one literally down on her hands and knees scrubbing my floor), one talked to me on the phone whenever I needed her (even when I interrupted her during her women's church lock in). One friend brought me a ton of food (thankfully not chicken...lol) which in itself was wonderful, but the greatest gift she gave me was a shoulder to lean on after a extremely difficult and frustrating day.
9) Although our vacation had to be canceled we have now come to the conclusion that it just was not our time to go. When I called my friend in Alabama she informed me that they had been at the hospital that week with her uncle who had cancer. The day after Marc's dad passed away, her uncle also passed away. God in his infinite wisdom! Wow!!!!
10) Marc's dad was a veteran of the Korean war and a purple heart recipient. When Marc's bestfriend from high school heard about his passing he made arrangements to be the soldier who would present the family with the American Flag. Its a moment I won't soon forget. And although it was originally given to his oldest sister she placed it in Marc's hands at the end of the day. It will hold a prominent place in my home, forever.
11) There are so many people we still have to thank but I had to mention our home churches and especially our present church family. Woodland Ave Baptist Church is an amazing little church (watch out world they are going to make an big impact in this universe and it won't have anything to do with Marc and I). And even though its been nearly 10 years since we left Mount Bethel Baptist Church, they showed up and showed out this week! Then there is our mother church....Greater Mount Zion. I'm so glad I got to speak too so many of you on Friday. Thank you so much for the love you have shown my family (especially during our difficult times).
12) I have to thank my WIT sisters, Dress Sale Buddies, and last (but not least) my family. Without your support and love I would have not had made it through the week. I love each and every one of you. Marc and I are still amazed by the support system that God has placed in our lives. Thank you DisneyScrap addicts, Scrap Etc Gals in Alabama and to all of my on-line friends who have sent messages. Your love and support has been overwhelming but is greatly appreciated.
13) Next week I hope to get back on track with my Sunday Mind Dump. I have a lot of things on my plate right now as we begin preparing for fall events. I am especially excited about attending Pastor McBath's leadership conference in the fall, planning our Women's winter tea (in which I will speak for the first time), and getting back to being involved with the local Ministers Wives and Widows Association in our area. For the first time in the four years that I have been a member I will actually be able to host one of the meetings at our church.
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