Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there will be no loneliness for you.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you;
Go now to your dwelling place to enter
into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long together.
Especially like the picture between the columns....and noticed he has great eyes!! :) May the Lord bless you with many years together serving Him. Did you know Jared is engaged and planning a June wedding? Morgan is so sweet. Know this new year will bring lots of adjustments, but loads of joy. Our love and best wishes to you.
I couldn't be happier for you and Tarry AND the kids. Everytime I think of ya'll, I can't help but smile. My love to you all. Drop by CEI sometime so I can give you a great big CONGRATULATIONS! HUG!
Just want to tell people that your pictures have scrolled off your Pleo page...If they want to view them, they will have to go up to read the comments linked just below your last post...Hope ya'll had a wonderful honeymoon!!
Hey B. I heard everything went well. I can't wait to get to Know Tarry, and I'll have to get used to your new last name. I'm sure after about 5-10 years I will get used to it. I still have trouble calling Holly - Holly Johnson, and Fallon's maiden name was on here student id badge all 4 years of pharmacy school.
His name means "to stay longer" (I like that...:) )
He is kind.
He is fun!
He has the heart of a servant.
He loves the Lord.
He loves my children.(and I love his children!)
He loves me. (And I love him!)
He asked me to marry him.
While in Colorado, I met someone you knew at FC -- Denisa Houchen, she was then -- and she was absolutely delighted to hear your news. Wanted me to pass her congratulations along. She worships where Jenn and Ben are attending.
I guess I didn't get the Outline of Scriptures. Do I need to ask one of my parents about that? We are all doing good. My mom and dad have a rough week this week. My dad is having surgery and my mom is having her cast taken off and putting a walking boot on. Neither one can drive for several weeks. However, these medical procedures will hopefully relieve them of so much of the pain that they have endured for many years. So we are all very hopeful. Please keep them in your prayers.
What a blessing to read this post! The journey you've been through surely hasn't been easy. I've been so impressed with your spirit. You've just kept plugging along spiritually being the kind of mom your kids needed. I'm so happy to hear of these rich, rich blessings for you all.
Yep...there was a couple of ice slides...one for the little tikes that couldn't go down the big ones. Which was a joke...if you're a light weight like Emma, she could hardly go down the big slide, kept coming to a stop cause she has no lead in her backside. :-)
YOu need to download David's sermon this morning. It was on having a family mission statement. Alot of good points for families to have their destination as a family, a roadmap and determination to get to your destination. You get the family together and make a family mission statement with everyone participating. I know you are getting excited. It will be here before you know it!!
HEY back at ya! Jacob is helping roof a house this weekend, so I'll probably be rubbing liniment (sp?) on his achin' muscles by the time you all are tuning up. Thanks for the invite though.
It was great to spend time today at lunch with you guys! We'd love to have you all as a perm. thing at Westview! We just love having Bill too! His sermons and presentation are so uplifting! I just read your post below about Bruce! I remember attending a meeting he preached, not sure if it was in Hartselle, Sumiton(Walker Co.) or elsewhere when Jonathan and I dated. It was very touching to remember him through your words. love Sarah
You really do need to go see it. Barry even liked it. We went with the Maxson's and we were saying how we wished everyone would take the time to go see it. I am thinking about coming to the meeting at Elkton. Not sure yet. Things are crazy here.
It was great to meet you too!.. Thank you again for the encouraging bible study you led! :) I wish I would have been able to go to the rest of the studies that week.
Miss keeping up with your summer fun. Hope you had a pleasant one and that ya'll have a great school year. Would love to see you if you get a chance to come this way.
ya...california...it just sorta happend. i had applied for a job with the department of defense back in march. they offered me a job. there's still a bunch of stuff that needs to happen before i end up out there. ill enjoy hanging out with my parents until i get the word.
I just "met" Rosie... she sent me here, after reading my blog post. Your story (below), and the one that I experienced today, remind me of what I went through with MY husband, only I was with him. It was six years ago, this past May. In my husband's case, it was a brain tumor, and we had known he had one for four months, but I was not prepared for him to die when he did.
My heart goes out to you. My details were different, but the aftermath is probably similar. I am sorry for your loss, but grateful that you have good memories to carry you and strengthen you!
C'mon up!!!!!!!!!!!! It would have been way cooler to say, "Come on down..." but that sorta doesn't work. You really should come for a visit. Are you in school yet?
It was a Sunday like most of the others we had experienced in Toronto. We only had one service on Sundays which took some getting used to - and it wasn't until 2:00. As our usual practice we dropped by and picked up some of our members on the way to services. We got to our place of worship early so we could set up the room and classroom. All of the children had class in the classroom while the adults stayed in the "auditorium" class. The church there rented this space in a Chinese office building. There were usually crumbs or the smell of food left over from the "church" that met there before us.
Bruce preached a wonderful sermon. I cant remember exactly the topic. I could find it if I took the time, b/c I put it in his Bible. I do remember some of us commenting how good the lesson was. Of course, I thought that almost every lesson he presented was great. I thought he knew everything about everything pretty much.
After services, we went in different directions. Bruce had a class with non-Christians that he taught in their home on Sunday nights. We were especially anxious about this one b/c of what happened the week before: The week before was Father's day so we went along with Bruce to his class and and waited around for him until his class was over. We wanted to go to the NEW KRISPY KREME with him for Father's day. When he came out, it was obvious that he was mad. Hallie still remembers this b/c she had never seen her dad get that mad. There was a man visiting in the class that was pretty much sabatoging the class. Bruce could tell from questions they were asking that someone had been teaching them false doctrine. The man sat there quietly until the end of the lesson, and then he spoke up. "Everything you are teaching them is wrong", he said. Bruce said, "Really, would you like to show me in the Bible where I am wrong?" The man told him "no" that this was not his class. But Bruce insisted, "No, if you are going to speak up in this class and make a statement like that, you are going to back it up with the Bible. Everything I have taught, we have turned to look at in God's word." I don't remember the exact words, but Bruce was shaking when he told the kids and I what had happened. He told the man to come back the next Sunday prepared to back up his statements from scripture. Bruce rarely lost his temper. In fact, as I said, this is the only time Hallie had seen him like that. What a lesson for her to see that THIS was the kind of thing that made her father mad.
While Bruce was attending that class the next Sunday, I had an unpleasant task. Well, not really. The kids and I were to go to a "block party" in a neighborhood where we were about to be moving. One of our member's husband was being transferred to the states and we were going to rent their house for a year while they were gone. Our member wanted us to come so we could meet all the neighbors before we moved in. I had a GRAND entrance. Andrew was asleep so I had carried him from the car. When he awoke, he of course wanted to run around with the other kids. I went on meeting the neighbors until my friend informed me that my top two buttons were unbuttoned from carrying Andrew! I was mortified!
As we left the party, I decided to call Bruce to see how his class went. We had just gotten new cell phones. Bruce had explained to me that I could only call within certain city limits or it would be roaming. I dialed his number and then hung up after a few rings b/c I wasn't sure if I was within range or not. Fortunately, it had rang through and Bruce called back in just a minute.
He told me that he was out riding his bike. I asked about the class. The man had not shown up again. I then told him about my embarrassing experience. We chatted about a few things. Talked about what we were going to do for supper. He said he would cut his ride short and just meet us at the house. As we were winding up the conversation, Bruce said, "Well B.J., you have done something tonight that I wouldn't want to have to do." (referring to having to go to the neighborhood party) I responded jokingly, "What? Show up at a party with your shirt hanging open?!"
Bruce didn't laugh which I thought was odd. I said, "Bruce?" But he didn't answer. Then I could faintly hear him making a groaning sound. It was like no sound I had ever heard him make. I started screaming into the phone. I didn't know if a car had hit him or what was happening. Then another person picked up the phone: "Hello? Do you know this man?" "Yes!" I said, "He is my husband" "Does he have some kind of health condition?" "No!" I responded. I can't remember what else the man said, but I told him to call 911. After I hung up with that man I realized that I had no idea where Bruce was. If I had been thinking clearly, I would have just called Bruce's cell phone back, but in my mind that man was needing that phone to call 911 for Bruce. I began calling 911 myself to ask if anyone had called in about a man on a bike that was injured. The operator was rude, that is all I can remember, but I kept calling. Finally, he told me that a call had come in about a man on Tom Edwards street. I was trying to pray and drive. Hallie, at 5years old, said, "Mom, I'll pray. You drive."
When we got to the street, the ambulance was there and there were people crowded all around. I jumped out and an ambulance worker came over to me. He took the keys from my hand as he told me that they were "working on him". That his heart had stopped, but they were "working on him." I told him to go back and help. I started calling everyone I knew to pray for him. The Halls weren't home, so I called one of our elders from Pepper rd. I told him to have everyone pray for Bruce. In my mind, I kept thinking that this would turn out like my brother, David. That he would be okay, we just needed people praying for him.
A lady police officer brought a little stuffed koala bear over for the kids to hug and then she drove us to the hospital in our van. I remember wishing that she would please drive faster. We got to the hopital and one of the ER men came out and asked me again what kind of heart condition Bruce had. (I had told the first ambulance worker earlier) I begged him to please go back in and help Bruce. He said that they were "working on him".
They sat me in a room and asked if I had any family here. I told them that we had moved up here from Alabama. The lady officer said, "oh, she is all alone..." I told them I had some friends I could call. They said to make any calls I wanted - long distance if I wanted. Again, another worker came and asked if I had anyone coming to be with us. I asked her how Bruce was doing. Again, they were "working on him". Finally my friend whose house we were going to rent came. They asked her to walk the kids around for a while. As soon as she did, the doctor came in and told me that Bruce had died. I begged him to go back and keep trying. He said that was not an option. Later, I found out that he had already died before the ambulance had gotten there. The ambulance had gotten there in 4 minutes I was told.
There was a lady chaplain hovering around me saying her trite little phrases, "Time will help" "God knows what is best". I looked at her and probably rudely stated that I didn't need her right now. I wanted to tell her that women chaplains offend me, but fortunately I held my tongue.
After the funeral, Mr Hall took me back to the street where Bruce had died. We knocked on a few doors to see if we could find the person who had helped us. Finally, we rang one doorbell and a man came to the door. Just as I started to speak, he said, "I know who you are!" He told me that his wife and a man that was a good friend of theirs had seen Bruce. I came back later and spoke with his wife. We actually kind of kept in touch for a while. She said that she was getting ready for company and saw Bruce sitting on the curb, with his bike leaned against the tree, talking on the phone. She told me that she saw him fall back and she and the friend had gone over to see if he was okay. Their friend is the one who had picked up the phone and talked to me. She said that she just held Bruce's hand. She said when other neighbors came up, she told them to back away if they didn't know him. (she was kind of feisty like that). She told me that she and her husband both had stated that they knew that they had "lost a brother in Christ" that day. I let them know that he was indeed a godly man and about the work that he was doing for the Lord there.
On another visit, she said to me, "I know that you think I am saying this b/c it is what you would want to hear, but his death was the most peaceful thing I have ever witnessed." I pray that that is true. I'm so thankful that I was able to be talking to him at the moment he died. What a blessing. And what a blessing he was to our lives. Even now in our prayers, we thank God for him and his good example.
I never knew the details of Bruce's death, or what you went through afterward that day. Thank you for bringing us into that part of your life, and for letting us know what kind of man Bruce was. It took evil men who sought to turn others from the truth to make Jesus angry, too. I'm glad you had Bruce for the time that you did.
BJ, I remember that evening like it was yesterday. Chris Nicholson and I were fishing that evening and our wives called us to come home. We got the news and Chris and I just sat on that back stoop at the Jordan church building and prayed together. I had only met Bruce once or twice but knew that we shared a unique situation in that we were in 'strange lands' preaching the gospel. You are a strong godly woman and your faith is evident. The DeGarmo's are here to serve anytime. - DD
Oh, BJ... when I first started reading this, I thought you were sharing another wonderful story about Bruce. I guess in a way, you are? My heart hurts for you. I wish so much to have words to offer consolation. But I don't have them. Are there any words with the power to console?
I recognize this pain. Richard's death broke me. I lost my foundation, my faith, my security. The one thing I wanted the most was just to die with him. I just couldn't see a way forward without him. And yet, here I am. We struggle onward, and sometimes manage to do so with success. It never stops being hard, but sometimes it is now bearable.
You are doing much better, I think.
I do know that if you will keep turning to God, He will restore you to Himself. God is our refuge and our strong tower of defense. He walks through this valley with us. He is still God. But it is hard, huh? I am praying for your comfort and your consolation. ~And that you will have joy, abundantly... (((((&hearts)))))
hey! i have been completely out of the loop lately. life is CRAZY BUSY right now. but i'm doing great! how are you? thank you for posting this. i very well remember this day five years ago...i didn't even know you, but my heart ached for you, hallie, and andrew. you are such a great example to so many, i hope you know that! love you :)
Hey, I'm sorry I haven't met you, either, but I do know your parents. I remember hearing about Bruce's death, and although I never met him, I did know his parents. May God continue to comfort you and your family.
BJ, indeed it is Kenny Embry. I'd heard that you were widowed. I am so sorry, but you are just as feisty and vivacious as I ever remember! And those same expressive eyes! We need to catch up. You were always a top notch person. I'm glad to see that you still are.
Well, believe it or not, I'm the director of forensics at Florida College. I've been working on my Ph.D. for a few years now. This is my third year as DOF. It's a lot of fun, although this past year all of our team was sophomores, so next year I'm left high and dry. I married Dan Petty's daughter, katie. I'm her second husband, so I got a couple step kids i nthe process. Long story about the biological father. We just recently had our own. We named him Kent. He's crying right now, which means he's not being held. Life's tough when you're five months old. I've got a ton of pictures at kembry.smugmug.com, which you should feel obligated to look at. What about you? I'm certainly sorry to hear that you became a widow, but it sounds like Bruce was a great guy, and you were blessed to have the time you did with him. What else is going on with you?
I...thank you for... ... the way you express such a miraculous moment in this life/world. I will never again read so wonderful a journal entry, as the one you have forever sealed with your hands on this site. Hallie's statement "you drive, I'll pray" is... so like Hallie. You have two extraordinary kids. Two pieces of Bruce living here with you. I want to get to heaven to meet the man who lived such a life, who shared time with such amazing people, you and the kids. May God continue to bless you all. In brotherly love, Mario Antonio Marin, Jr.
Hi! Yes, I know Connie. Sweet girl. You know the Reaves too I see. I'm actually at their house right now hanging out and having a blast, laughing until we cry. LOL :) Good times.
Hope all is well with you. Maybe we will meet sometime. Ya never know. :) Have a good night.
I was out of town when you wrote this. Steve was telling me whose names were lit up. I asked beejay's???? He started reading it, but didn't notice it was from 2003. He was exhausted, so I told him I would read it when I got home. I just read it this morning. While I knew just a little of what had happened, I had no idea! From the posts above mine, I think it did a lot of us good to hear the story! I am sure it was not easy to write, but thank you for writing it down for us! You are an inspiration!
Very good post. That night will always be so vivid in my mind. He did so much good in the short time he was up there. I'll always remember the time my parents were out of town and I was mad at Jenn for some reason (that was fairly common). He came over to services and I told him about it and he sided with me and told Jenn that I was right. He had good judgement :) I never saw my dad as happy as when you guys were up there and things were going well with the work. He was a great example of what a Godly husband and father should be.
BJ, I will definitely pass the message on to my mom. We love you all and Bruce so much. We're so excited about the New Jersey camp scholarship given in his name. Someday, I'd love to show you some old home movies we have. I was three, and he was teasing me so much and I could NOT stop giggling. can't wait till we're all together in heaven! :)
Hi BJ, This is Rebecca Maxson - yes, I finally joined the pleonast world. THanks to your encouragement. I appreciate so much your sharing this story. I thought I would try and write about the last time that I saw you and Bruce. You were just dating and I saw you both at a christian get together in North Alabama (at least I think that is where we were). Towards the end of the day, we had a singing under a pavillion and Bruce led Our God, He is Alive. Bruce told us to shut our books and just sing with our hearts since we all know the words and music. This song has been my favorite since childhood and singing it outdoors without the distraction of songbooks was just the best way to really connect with God through the words of that song.
This is just so touching, BJ. This journal recap will forever be keepsake for you and your children. Thank you for sharing your memories and heart with all of us. You are such an encouraging person. May God Bless and Keep you and your sweet children. Hugs to all of you ♥
WOW! What a beautiful day for all of you. We can't wait to meet the rest of the family. Caroline is inviting you all to come to Florida to visit! We would love it! Congratulations to you all from the Cabina family.
