Wedding In St. Louis

Rachel, Abbey and I were in St. Louis two weeks ago celebrating Hannah Stevens wedding (Rachel's sister). Here are a few pictures...we had a blast!

One Reason Why...

One of the many reasons why I love my wife:

She is showing the world what Jesus would look like if He were 32 years old recovering from a severe brain injury and partially blind. 

Instead of being depressed she has chosen to show the world how Jesus would look and act if dealt that hand...I think she's playing her cards very well.

A Letter On Mothers Day

Rachel and I just made it in from St. Louis.  We were there the past few days celebrating Hannah Steven's wedding (Rachel's sister).  After I unpacked the car I checked my email and I had a message in my inbox from my father with an attachment.  The attachment was a letter he wrote yesterday (Mother's Day) to his mother, Ina Pleasant (Granny).  Granny has been gone for over 4 years, but we all miss her very much...especially my Dad.  He gave me permission to share this, and I'm glad he did because I believe it is holy ground.  Enjoy.

Dear Mom,

It was your birthday yesterday and today is Mothers Day.  This morning I was up early and I sat and thought about you for the longest time.  I spoke of you in my sermon today & mentioned the last meal we shared together.  The one where I ordered chicken and chicken livers and you ordered two Coneys’.  You remember the deal I offered you……1/2 my chicken livers and a drum stick for one of your Coney’s.  You didn’t hesitate to take me up on the offer……I don’t know if you really wanted to make the deal or if you just wanted to make you son happy.  It is hard to believe and sometimes to bear the fact that you have been gone over four years.  My pain is somewhat eased thinking of you and dad enjoying and loving each other in heaven.  It was a sobering feeling knowing that after your last breath there was no one on this earth who loves me unconditionally.

 

A lot has happened in the last four years…..some things you would have enjoyed so much and other things make me think that is was probably best you had gone on.  You now have 4 great grandchildren and one on the way.  Palmer is now 6 ½ and is a perfect little gentleman.  He knows no stranger and he still lights up a room when he enters.  Klint and Rachel had a little girl right after you left us.  Her name is Abbey, she is 4 ½ and what a beautiful girl.  She has such beautiful eyes and hair.  Oh how you would have enjoyed braiding her hair into pig tails!  Kim and Randy have a little girl who will be 2 next month.  Her name is Lainey Hope and what a busy little girl she is.  She doesn’t miss a trick and can really hold her own.  She has sandy colored hair and the most beautiful blue eyes.  Johnny and Erin have a little boy, Logan Palmer, who just turned one.  He is adorable….so tiny and so loveable.  Klint and Rachel are expecting their second in November.  I can just see you sitting in the chair and watching them play.  They are precious.

 

Klint, Rachel and Abbey moved back to Michigan the summer after you passed away.  They live in Oxford and are in the same sub as Kim and her family.  Johnny, Erin and Logan don’t live far from us here in Rochester.  About a year after you left us we about lost Rachel.  What we thought was a malignant brain tumor turned out to be a brain abscess and she suffered a mid line brain shift and was thirty minutes from dying when emergency surgery was performed.  God spared her life and we praise him.  A year after your death I failed my physical and had to have stints put in a blocked artery.  Last summer I wasn’t feeling well and had another blockage which required another stint.  I know you would have worried yourself sick.  Ida moved in with us last fall and I think how much you would enjoy just being able to visit with her.  What a Godly lady she is. The basketball team won back to back National championships…….how proud you would have been. Last October I was inducted into the Michigan Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. All the family was there including Paige, Dennis, Nancy, Carol June, Ray, Joel & Dana.  A number of players were there and Coach King and his wife.  What a great evening.  As I sat on stage I couldn’t help but think of you and dad and how much I owed you.  Aunt Katharine died a couple of weeks ago and was buried near you, dad, Grandma  & Grandpa.  Uncle Raymond, Brent and his family came to Michigan and I officiated the service.  Uncle Raymond looked at Paige and said, “That’s my sister.”!! Uncle Raymond is 90 and though his mind is sharp he needs a walker to get around.  All in all our family is so blessed.

 

Can you believe I will be 60 in a couple of months!!!!  Mom, today I couldn’t help think of how indebted I am to you.  How blessed Paige & I were to have had such Godly parents.  My mind is flooded with memories and my eyes are filled with tears as I think of you.  The day you walked me to my first day of kindergarten and how I cried when you left me and little did I know you were crying too.  The life on Gilbert street……..backyard baseball games, playing in the Swamp, the Crooked Tree and working in the Garden…..I would not have changed a thing.  Graham school, Dye school and Ainsworth.  Speaking of Dye…….Mr. Poelstra made a surprised visit at the college one day.  It was so great and he had kind things to say about you & dad.  I told him you thought he was the best teacher I had in school. 

 

Mom, you were always there.  I know I wore you out growing up and you wondered if I would ever make it.  I am indebted to you for always believing in me when others didn’t, for supporting me and encouraging me to be the best I could be.  I am indebted to you for working at Kroger’s and then working so hard at home.  I am indebted to you for teaching me songs like “Jesus Loves Me”, sharing with me Bible stories and for praying for me and sitting on my bed at night teaching me and listening to me pray.  I am indebted to you for making hurts feel better, for making me feel important when I was down on myself and for loving me when I did not deserved to be loved.  I am indebted to you for loving my dad and being an incredible wife to him.  Mom, you were my # 1 fan  & you formed me in so many ways. 

 

Mother’s Day is about over but I want you do know that it is never over in my heart.  Again, please know how indebted I am to you and I can’t imagine having a better “Mom”.  I know you are happy and I know there is a song on your lips and I know how much you are enjoying heaven.

 

As I close I want you to know how much I would enjoy tasting your fried chicken or eating your Potato soup one more time.  I would love to hear you laugh, listen to you talk about the Pistons and oh…. how I would love to hear your beautiful alto voice singing one of the great hymns.  But most of all mom, I would love to hug you neck, give you one more kiss and tell you how much I love you.  Happy Mothers Day.  Love, Garth