May 16, 2011

What do you say about a lady who was strong, courageous, loving, and full of faith? Berneele Ione Hill Daniels was extracted from her earthly body and transcended to the eternal life at 9:40 pm on May 16, 2011.

Her gentle demeanor was always present. Her steadfastness was always a part of her being. Her faith was a trademark of who she was. "MeeMaw", as the grandchildren called her, was a "pistol" at times also.

I can think of the times of sacrifice that Mom and Dad made for Jeanie and I. I know there were times that they gave to us when they could not afford to. While Jeanie and I were adopted in their later lives, we NEVER felt anything other than "they were mom and dad."

Mom loved her grandchildren.... Melissa, Brent, Bobby, Lindsey, Chris, Eliana (great-grandchild), Lauren, Corby, Harper (great-grandchild), Leah and Mike. Mom loved her son-in-law-Paul and daughter-in-law-Kay.

I will never forget about her driving excursions. She was in her middle to late eighties and many of her dear friends had already past on, but, she was driving her 70 year old friends to the doctor because they were too old to drive. Hilarious!

Mom loved a new car. Even after we "suggested" that she not drive anymore and sold her vehicle, I would come to town and she would talk about getting a new car. She loved a new vehicle.

Mom's Bible is a treasured book.

Some "Fall" thoughts....

Fall is my favorite time of the year.  The air is crisp (sometimes) and when the leaves begin to turn to the magnificent shades of yellow and orange, the hillsides just become breathtaking.  Fall has always been a "new beginning".  I think I feel this way because of the work I do for the school system.  There is always a sense of excitement when a new school year begins.

There were times in years past where as we readied ourselves for a new school year there was a sense of anticipation...a sense of coming-together...a sense of pride and cooperativeness as a team.  I don't know if I'm just getting older and more cynical, but those days of excitement have long since left me.  It seems the biggest talk in my office is "when are you retiring?"  And, I must say, if I could, I would retire today.  For several months now, I have felt like a man on an island by himself with nothing but stormy seas splashing on the shore.  Have you ever been the "go-to" guy and now you are not?  Have you ever been the "problem-solver" and now you are not? 

Fall is a time of new beginnings.  My new beginning is to find contentment in whatever state I find myself.  It may take the form of retirement.  It may take the form of continued work for the school district.  It may take the form of helping the less fortunate.  I drive by the less fortunate every morning and afternoon as I leave my home and return in the evenings.  For so many years, I lived in West Little Rock where poverty really does not exist.  Downtown Little Rock is a much different story.  I literally see people who have slept on the street with a raggedy blanket around them to keep them warm.  I'm driving my Jeep Wrangler, stopping for morning coffee at Starbucks, and, yet, within a stone's throw, there is a homeless man who proably does not have even food to eat.

So many people need help.  I'm just one person, but, I am willing to do what I can to make the underpriveleged lives' better.

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008.........
While all of my family gathered in the home I provide on Elizabeth Court, I was traveling to Oklahoma City to be with my mom and my sister and her family. The Christmases on Elizabeth Court have held deep meaning and fun for all of us. This year in particular would have been a wonderful time to experience due to this being Eliana Hope Wheeler's first Christmas in America with her loving parents, Chris and Lindsey Wheeler. What joy! What incredible joy! The first Christmas of my first grandchild and I am not there. You might ask "why?" I wish I only knew. There is much emotion that is conjured up in my being over all of this. It is somewhat like being a leper and no one wanting to be around you.

It is sad that you have receive an invitation to the very home that you have provided for so many years and continue to provide. But, be that as it may, it is what it is. And, yes, I'm not so stupid that I don't realize that there are consequences to actions that were wrong, but, on the holiday one would have thought that some things could have been put aside, and, I could have been included.

With all that said, my Christmas is blest nonetheless. An absolute blessing to be with my 92 year old mom... to be with my sister and husband and their two children.... all are blessings. Christmas eve... Brent (my nephew) and Melissa (my neice) and I went to the Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. The structure of the church is massive greystone and built in Gothic architecture. We arrived during the instrumental prelude which included flute and harp. People from all walks of life entered the huge doors of the Sanctuary... the very rich with the ladies in their expensive furs... the middle class in sweaters and jeans... and the poor, dressed in whatever they had, but, nonetheless, very glad to be in the house of the Lord. The minister began the service with "we are all here from many varied walks of life. We are here to worship the One who gives us the very life we have. I invite you to experience the Christ child." With that the processional began... "O come all ye faithful" I could but ask myself... have I been faithful? have I been joyful and triumphant? have I adored Him? have I sung in exultation? have I given Jesus the glory He so deserves? Truthfully answering these questions was difficult. The true answer was "NO". I have wallowed in self-pity. I have felt sorry for myself.

The service continued with exhortations to be bold in our faith...to cast all of our cares on Him who came as a Baby. By the time we reached the end of the 9 page order of worship it was 12:27 am in the morning, and, we all had experienced something that would make us different from now on.

I'm grateful for that 2 hours and 27 minutes.... I will not be the same.

Merry Christmas,
Greg