Just A Word...or Two!

I just wanted to check in here and say hello! To those of you who may stop by while surfing, I want to say thank you for clicking in!
I have a new blog located at http://www.valerieshopechest.blogspot.com/
I do hope you'll check in there. I have posted over 160 times on this blog, so feel free to look around. Also, you can comment here if you like. I still check in to see if anyone has said hello.

Thanks again, and have a great day!

I've Moved!!

I've moved folks! Thanks for checking in here, but why not come on over and visit me at my new site? I'd love to have you! You can bring your coffee, or cappuccino, and sit back and relax. Oh, and don't forget to say hi!

I hope to see you there! :)

Well Guys, What Can I Say?

The only thing that comes to mind to say is "Thank you". Thank you for reading, commenting and at times, enduring, my life in the hill country. It's been great.

My life here has been wonderful. God has blessed us in so many ways. When I was lonely, He gave me blogging, and many faithful readers. I can never thank you enough for being there in cyberspace for me to fellowship with. I send you my heartfelt thanks.

My blogging days began on a slow day in September of '07. I did for fun, for a thrill. I was bored. I never dreamed it would become a passion, something I looked forward to everyday. I've enjoyed spilling my guts online. I figure, why try to hide it? Maybe by sharing my spiritual struggles I can help someone who's facing the same thing. This way, you'll know you're not alone. Every devotional or spiritual entry I've made has been something the Lord has worked me over with. Maybe my next blog, if there is one, should be called "Getting Real with Valerie". (Haha!) At this point, I'm not sure about a future blog. I can only hope. (Pun intended)

Please keep praying for us, and please keep in touch.

Thanks again, and I hope to see you soon! (Man, am I on a roll or what?)

~Valerie

Some Final Photos

Here are some photos of the party the church gave us after church:

The cake has us on it!! How neat!
Some of our people. Yes, that's my back to you there. I'm stuffing my face. It was hard not to! We had BBQ Brisket (Bristow-style) mashed potatoes, Watergate Salad by Lynn, and the list goes on!! It was so very good!
The church presented Terry a granite plague with a heartfelt message on it. Very touching. :[ We will miss them!
Here's Terry with the plaque. Sorry about the glare.
Thought I'd throw this one in too. It was such a beautiful sunset.

Now that you've waded through all those other photos, here's what we did for the Mom's today. Every lady got her picture taken this way. It was a hoot.

Ahhh. This is the life.

See ya soon...

Happy Mother's Day!

I just wanted to wish all of you, my friends, a very happy Mother's Day!
I also wanted to wish the world's best Mom, Carolyn Courtney, a very happy Mother's Day. We can't wait to see you!!
Mom, you make the word "Mother" that much sweeter to me. Thank you for all you have done to rear me for the Lord, and thanks for all you do to help me keep my eyes on Him.
Thank you for taking an interest in my interests by faithfully reading my blog, and commenting, in a way that only a Mom can!

I love you.

~Valerie

PS Check back later to see a photo of how our church honored Moms today!

Saturday Snap Shots: A Tribute

Well, this will be my last Saturday Snap Shots from this blog. I thought it appropriate to dedicate this last edition (here) to the people who made my life in the hill country possible.
I went down to the church last night to gather my materials for Super Church, and it hit me: this would be my last time to do Super Church here! We had just had a thunderstorm and the air was heavy. Lightning sparkled across the distant sky and the smell of rain was very strong. I stepped off the porch of the church and a wave of emotion washed over me. I remembered how we felt on September 11, 2005, the night we were voted in unanimously. How we envisioned being here forever. My children have grown so much since we first unloaded and introduced ourselves to these dear people. And now, while they are not completely grown, they certainly have grown and changed so much. The childhood memories they've made will stay locked away down here for many years, at the least, and maybe forever.
It's time for change, and oh, how I dislike change. I long for security!! But, with security comes laziness (at times) and perhaps I was getting lazy here! I know God is leading us away, and I gladly obey. Yet, I am human. I don't mind telling you I will miss these kind faces. I hope they will miss me, too.
Before I start crying, again, I had better proceed! These photos were taken on Old-Fashioned Day, April 27, 2008.
Scotty and Ann Bristow(pictured with grandkids, Micah and Aspen): The people who make the world's best BBQ brisket! Miss Ann has taught Mitch's Sunday School class the entire time. They are both hard working, faithful and giving people.
Caroline Sanders: One of the sweetest ladies I know! She has baked us everything from homemade rolls to kolaches to cupcakes. She has written us notes of encouragement and given us money every time we go on trips. She prays for us and she loves us. You know what? We love her, too.
Doris Hinds: Lauren's Sunday School teacher the entire time we've been here. She is a great artist! She has drawn our cover for our bulletin and painted a mural for the wall, as well as for the baptistery. She has shown love for Lauren as she faithfully studies and prepares for her class, even though Lauren is her only student.
Randy and Teresa Sanders: Again, these are two faithful, hard working people. Teresa is always offering to help out any way possible. She works in the nursery a lot! Randy is faithful to all our soul winning efforts.
Lynn Nelson (pictured with grandson, Jordan): This lady makes the best Watergate Salad in the world! She made me a whole bowl full at the end of February for no reason!! Well, I guess the reason was she wanted to thrill me, and she did! She is a blessing!

Everyone of these dear people will be missed by my family. It tears my heart out. I will be so glad when the trumpet sounds and we can all be together forever. No more goodbyes. Won't that be wonderful?

Thank you, Northside Baptist Church, for treating me like I was a Texan! ;]

I will miss you.

Something for My "Partner"

I had wanted to post something special in honor of my "partner", my Dad, on his birthday or another special date. However, because I'm not sure as to what my blogging status will be on his birthday, July 2nd, I decided to go ahead with it now. As I was packing up, I came across several cards and notes that friends had sent after his death. I keep them in a box which I avoid. I don't look at them very often, for they cause sadness deep within my soul. The tears start as a gentle trickle and then rapidly increase from there. I decided today, however, I would go through the box again. It's been a while since I've looked through it. Even though I miss him terribly, and it causes sorrow, it's good for me to remember the wonderful Dad I had here- and who is waiting for me on the other shore. I just wanted to share some things with you about my parents while I had the chance.
First let me tell you about my relationship with my parents. To sum it up, it was, and still is, wonderful. My parents were, in my opinion, strict. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie". My parents were giving. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie." My parents enjoyed having a good time and laughing. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie." My parents were forgiving. After being disciplined, I would repent. They forgave me and never brought it up again. This said to me "We love you, Valerie." My parents never humiliated me publicly. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie." My parents read their Bibles daily, lived according to the Scriptures, and backed our preacher. This said to me, "We love the Lord, Valerie." My parents led balanced and disciplined lives themselves. This said to me "Live this way for happiness, Valerie. Follow us as we follow Christ, Valerie." My parents whole heartedly invested in my interests. Whether this was shown by giving of their time, money or by simply listening, they cared about what I cared about. This said to me "You matter to us, Valerie."
My Dad and I had a unique bond. He often referred to me as his "partner". We had similar personalities. We enjoyed doing the same things. We biked together many summer nights. We would lie on the bed with the windows open in the summer and he would tell me all about his childhood...okay, I asked him a lot of questions! He picked me up from school and often bought us milkshakes. (I told you we enjoyed the same things!) Sometimes, I'd go to work with him. He would give me a map of Arkansas with all the counties and some colored pencils. What fun!! We once drew a map of the USA to hang on our mantle at home.(I would give pretend weather forecasts using it.) He read books to me in the summer about the Presidents. We enjoyed being together. This was true of my Mom, as well. We all liked being with each other.
Here are some things I wanted to share with you about my Dad. These were written on 3x5 cards that were handed out at my home church soon after my Dad's homegoing. I hope it will give you a glimpse into the life of this remarkable man.

"Bro. Courtney was such a blessing. He always greeted you with a smile, always had something encouraging to say. I guess the biggest thing that I'll remember about Bro. Courtney is listening to him pray. He will always be in my heart." - Laura Herndon

"I always loved to sit near Bro. Courtney during church because he was always so enthusiastic during the preaching. You could tell by the way he would "amen" the preacher that he lived and believed what he said. I also loved to hear him pray. You could tell he had a close walk with God. He left a wonderful legacy!" - Alisha Samples

"Bro. Ron Courtney - A godly man and great example for the younger fathers in our church. We will greatly miss him at Victory Baptist Church." - Mary Thomas

"When I think of Bro. Ron, I think about his love for his children and grandchildren - but even more, his love for souls. I always loved to hear him play the trumpet."
- Sheila Herndon

"It was very hot outside and we were sitting in the church. [Note: At the time the church met in the gym while they were building their new building.] Bro. Ron got my attention and said "Don't you wish you were in Greenland?" Bro. Ron was an encouragement to us." - Bro. Marty Arnold, Missionary to Greenland

And there were many more! There are so many loving people in my home church. These notes have been such a comfort to me over the past 3 - almost four years.
My Dad was tall, 6'2", and many people thought he resembled Ronald Reagan, especially when Reagan was in office. He would get so tired of complete strangers telling him this. He did not share this opinion! ;]

Here's a poem that a faithful friend of our family wrote. The Payte family, Reggie, Debbie, Jenceson, Jim and Reuben, have been friends of ours for years. We grew in the Lord together first at Hot Springs Baptist Temple under Pastor Glenn Riggs, and later at Victory Baptist. I hope you don't mind this long post, I just wanted to share what Jim wrote.

His wavy white hair
His finely honed wit,
The strength of his handshake
His encouragement to never quit.

The height of his stature
Is just but a mite,
Compared to his example
Of a man who lived right.

And, oh, to hear him pray
That's what I loved most
He seemed as though he were best friends
With the Lord of hosts.

No thee's and thou's
No strain of thought,
Plain spoken words
Not rehearsed or taught.

His head tilted back
As he uttered his prayer
I peeked I suppose
It seemed the Lord was standing there.

The words that he spoke
Still ring in my ear
I want to pray like that
And feel the Lord so near.

Into God's presence
Now he'll abide.
For today he went home
Leaving his children and sweet wife by their side.

But don't worry, don't mourn, fret or despair.
Ron Courtney left a heritage...
He was a man of prayer

Now you can see him in Heaven
As he talks with the Lord.
I picture it quite the same
As it was here before.

His head tilted back
Now Glory in his eye,
Face to face praying and waiting,
For you and me to arrive. - Jim Payte

I sure hope I didn't bore you with all of this. Since I've had a blog, I've written about everyone in my family. Everyone except my Dad. I've said a few things here and there, but I hadn't really told you about him. And to think, I could continue to write about him, and my Mom, for hours! None of my feelings for my parents are a shock to them. I have no regrets about my relationship with my Dad and Mom. To God be the glory!
I'll close with a little quote from my Mom's favorite show, The Andy Griffith Show. (Here's a brief synopsis) This is the episode where Aunt Bea wants a bed jacket for her birthday, but Andy doesn't get it for her. He instead gets her two dozen preserve jars. Aunt Bea is crushed. When he realizes his error, he goes to get the bed jacket, but it's been sold...to the Mayor! Andy agrees to trade the Mayor his prize fishin' rod, Eagle-Eye Annie, for the bed jacket. At the end, when Opie asks his Pa where the rod went, Andy replies to Opie:
"No, I didn't say that [I'd never get rid of it], I said I kept it because it brought me so much pleasure. And ol' Eagle-Eye Annie's doin' just what she's always done. Even right now she's bringin' me pleasure. Real heart-warmin' pleasure."

Pleasure, that's what my family brings to me. Real heart warmin' pleasure.