August 21, 2013
A note from a precious friend Pam Smith:
I met Ted and Jonell about 7 years ago. The first time I saw them, I thought what a beautiful couple. After my many years of being their friend I saw just what a beautiful, God loving, God fearing couple they are.
Ted was blessed by God. You can see it in his family and see how his walk with God impacted their very being. He left a legacy with his kids, his grandkids and all of us who were fortunate to KNOW him. It is a legacy of godliness, faithfulness, goodness and hope. He made many memories with his family and not only did he teach them, he showed them and walked beside them.
He had faith in the future and he trusted God to be assured of the promise he was given that his home in the kingdom was real.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
My last visit with Ted and Jonell was a trip that I made home to be with them. I must admit it was a selfish one. He was having difficulty with nausea and vomiting. I came to find avenues to help him be rid of the nausea and vomiting and get stronger so he could have quality of life as the end was nearing, also to help Jonell with the difficulty of caring for him knowing that his time with us was limited.
I could tell that Ted being the strong man the ONE in CONTROL already knew how to walk these last few weeks. He didn’t need me. But he knew how very much I loved him and Jonell. While I was there he completed his funeral arrangements, making sure Jonell would have everything she needed without complicating her life, clearing up paperwork and then he was at peace knowing he had done what he needed to do.
Hebrews 11:16 says, “But now they desire a better place that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Ted sought that better place and he has gone home to that heavenly city.
Ted not only showed us how to walk with God, he showed us how to die with dignity always in control. Even to saying that it was time to call Bob. What a role model. He not only knew how to live well, but how to die well, surrounded by his beautiful, loving family who were so blessed to share those last moments with him.
I know when he busted those doors to heaven wide open God said, Well done good and faithful servant……Come and share your master’s happiness. Matthew 25:23
*Pam Smith
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August 30, 2013
Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell
For you are [wonderful], I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
For you are wonderful, I have loved you dearly
[you have loved me dearly]
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
[These are words from a Roger Whitaker song]
The "My cup runneth over " lyrics are an old ED Ames song..I blended the two songs together [ accidentally ] Beautiful words anyway!
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August 30, 2013
7 a. m> '"This is Another Day the Lord has made...I will CONTINUE to rejoice and be glad in it!"
September 4, 2013
Psalm 92: 1-2>It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,...
September 11, 2013
I know satan would want to defeat today remembering that 9-11 was/is Ted's birthday- so I am thinking the best way to find victory in that would be to turn it around by focusing on OTHERS...beginning with Others who have the same Birthday.. Psalm 48:1 Great is the Lord,& most worthy of praise!
September 30, 2013
Still trying to ORDER MY DAYS..in a world so new and different. A new week..new start...maybe I can do better THIS WEEK!
November 12, 2013
Sitting on our front porch in the early morning I am asking boldly w expectation "Lord God, just show me how to do this" then give me the spirit, the will, the heart to wait, listen and hear from YOU." I am not aiming for a super woman title; I just want to be USABLE.
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Life can at times be so difficult EVEN as we "walk with Christ" and lean on him...HOW CAN PEOPLE HANDLE IT WITHOUT that Security we have knowing where it's all leading and how/where we will spend ETERNITY !!!
I am trying to compose a one liner I would want to share with someone I love and fear they don't know Christ; HEAVEN IS REAL - HELL IS REAL-Come to Him while you can!
November 12, 2013
Sitting on our front porch in the early morning I am asking boldly w expectation "Lord God, just show me how to do this" then give me the spirit, the will, the heart to wait, listen and hear from YOU." I am not aiming for a super woman title; I just want to be USABLE.
November 13, 2013
We invest our ALL in our Children-Our energy, resources, heart -When done well we've GIVEN AWAY our selves and with the right heart never considered it a sacrifice until looking backward. Parenting just like MARRIAGE, when done well is in retrospect a life of sacrificial Choices. [not in sync w what our culture is SELLING at all]
My [Obligatory] Thanksgiving Post
No the hollow, emptiness that washes over me so many times each day has not gone. No the sick inside feelings that turn to nausea have not stopped. At this point I cannot even imagine a time when tears will not be a normal part of days and nights. I don't have a clue about what's ahead.
BUT DON'T interpret that to mean I am a hopeless mess WITHOUT A THANKFUL HEART here at Thanksgiving. How could... I not be full of thankfulness when I have the security of my Savior-a lifetime of God's provision & mercy-mORE THAN HALF A CENTURY of being loved, cherished & protected by ONE devoted husband and this Ahmazing family he left behind...for a time. Just as we can have PEACE IN A STORM..we can still be so thankful while surrounded, even awash with sadness and emptiness...God is Good..Still~ Grab hold of that and don't let go ESPECIALLY if you too are [still] hurting in this Season of Thanks Giving —
December 6, 2013
Such a rainy morning as this can be dreary or depressing I suppose but I react to it as another incredible part of Creation God put in place for us. The heavy almost pounding downpour gets my attention totally and then when it slows to various tempos of pitter patting it kinda slows me down within..So many weather moments like this found us on the front porch taking it all in..wondering why we we...re the only humans stirring about, sharing prayer and devotion time talking about our family..the Grands and we usually remained there until the wind began to blow sharing too much of the wet stuff with us. As rain would set in it usually seemed like just the time for a fresh cup of perked Coffee. Ah, Yes- those were THE DAYS!
December 11, 2013
Such a Beautiful Sunny Cold morning outside-As I slowly awakened and lay in bed thanking God AGAIN for Life, Breath & Salvation & asking Him for another day to Show Me How to Do This- I bumped into this thought: "He knew/knows from the beginning what we would do /or not do with this LIFE....and He gave /gives it to us ANYWAY" hold that thought I think there's some precious food for thought worth pondering here.
Ahhhhhhhh, What a God we serve!
December 2013
Such a time for reflecting and considering all the challenges of this season, 2013 for our family-it COULD be overwhelming
-so I'm choosing to rejoice and dwell on the sweet family gathering and Sunday worship with a son, our daughter and a grand dau and an unselfish gift of lunch on Sunday with one son. A treasured moment in time to hold dear.
If you walked in our house right now w only me here you would wonder at the Christmas music TOTALLY FILLING THE HOUSE [yes LOUD] LOL
... perhaps to drown out & drive away any small flicker of a discouraging spirit ???
Oh lord God fill our spaces, our hearts and minds w so much of YOURSELF that there is no room for defeat, discouragement only for tender hearts filled w HOPE...and where hearts may not be tender we pray for BROKENESS..and submission -and where there could be blindness to TRUTH open eyes to see truth....Ahhhhhhhhhh after that a willingness to act upon that truth ...THEN - VICTORY [in YOU]
Keep in mind my purpose for this blog and record of a time I could accurately describe as The Most Awful of Days and The Most Wonderful of Days. This
Like Gramma's House blog's intent has always been to be placed in the hands of our Children and Grands for a time when we are no longer a physical presence in their lives. Jonell Harrison
