THE SEAHAWKS AND CHRISTMAS

 

Our Nativity Scene

 Every year when the Seahawks begin spring training Chris remarks, "Well, it is Christmas."  In other words the year goes so fast from then that Christmas is here already.  

So this year we are studying Advent in relation to the second coming of Christ in our Bible study here at our senior apartment.  This is one way to slow down the season as we have to wait for a week between each lesson.  

Another way to slow the season is to read a book for children called 

The Littlest Watchman: Watching and Waiting for the Very First Christmas 

Benjamin is a Watchman. It's his job to watch for the sign that all God's promises are coming true. It's his job to watch a stump.

Trouble is, it's hard just waiting. And one night, Benjamin finally gives in and stops watching. But that same night, as he sits outside Bethlehem, he gets to watch something wonderful.

Kids will be gripped by what Benjamin saw, and will be excited by the Christmas story all over again.

And now we are waiting for the second coming of Christ.  It is easy to get discouraged and to stop watching for Him.  But Jesus will do what He promised and will be here sooner than we know.

John 14: 1“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also..."

THE DIGITAL AGE

 

Me on rotary telephone

I was a terrible typist--  typing 23 words a minute, with 23 mistakes proves it. (Grandma Isabel was Grandpa Claude's secretary before they were married so she must have been a good typist.)   But now I can type on a computer or even talk to a computer. My spelling and typos will be corrected easily.  No longer do I have to type a report or an article over several times.  No memorizing telephone numbers or addresses needed.  They are all in my contacts list on my phone.  No broken or damaged tapes to deal with on a recorder or video camera.  So because of my interest I decided to publish this discussion Chris had with Heather and Jes.  I thought you would enjoy it too:

Here is what Chris said:

"I have wondered about our dependence on digital. Both of you were born when digital was starting, more so for Heather. I was quite happy back in the day before digital anything, well electronic digital anyway. Got along just fine with my slide rule and rotary dial phone. Now I am online seemingly all the time, and then, if not one of my computers I am watching digital TV or reading my Kindle. Or when I cook I use the digital microwave or get out my digital cooking thermometer. I have resisted getting a digital kitchen scale as the 80-year-old (give or take 20 years) inheritance from Grandma Grace works just fine (although we do have a digital scale in our bathroom).

I do remember the joy I had when Texas Instrument came out with the digital calculator in the late 1960s as it could calculate third roots and that is something I did all the time actually. Then in the early 1970s the programable HP calculator (I actually took a day off work to mess with it). And then, when I was working at HP in Santa Rosa I read an engineering document about the soon to be implemented GPS and the excitement I felt with that. I was given one of the first Magellan marine units in the early 1990s. I took it on a flight to Japan.

I had it in the window of the 747 (I was careful to select a seat facing south as there were more satellites). One of the flight attendants stopped and asked me what I was doing and I told her I was making sure the airline captain didn't get lost. 15 minutes later the captain came to my seat and wanted to see it. I was flying in the business class on the upper deck and the seat next to me was actually vacant. I let him have the window seat and he played with the GPS for a good 30 minutes and kept exclaiming how cool it was. 

Of course, my grandparents and for certain my great grandparents wondered why we'd want an automobile or want to fly across the country. Horses were just fine and the train would get you across the country or a ship across an ocean."

So I'm thankful for all the brains God has given innovators and inventors to come up with this stuff.

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

WHAT I THANK GOD FOR ON THANKSGIVING---FAMILY

 

Our new grandson Noah with mom and dad Jes and Jessica 2021

Christmas 2019 Chris, Jennifer, Samantha, Jessie, Andrew, Natalie, Heather

2021 Wayne and Mary proud parents at Grace and Andrew's wedding

                                            Andrew and Grace 2021

Washington cousins Dorothy, Dan, Kathy, Charlie 2021

Washington and California cousins Dan, Joanne, Dick, Charlie, Kathy 2021

California cousins Becky and Chris 2014

California cousins

Cousin Ryan

Washington cousins 2009?

Washington cousins 2009

Central California cousins and aunt

2009 in Oregon -- Cousins Kit, Laurie, Mike, Aurora, Luke

50th anniversary party 2015 Mary, Wayne, Ron, Rinda, Chris, me, Kit, Trixie, Richard, Mary Anne, Dan, Dorothy

                                                        Davy, Jay, Sue, and Sarah-- 1992

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

A BIG WIND STORM--WE ARE FINE

 

Woodley Hills Trailer Park, Alexandria, VA after Hurricane Hazel 1955

I believe my Uncle Ernest, Aunt Emily, cousins Kit, and Rinda stayed here one time when the park flooded in the 50's

Guest blog by Chris:

I guess I am not a good observer of storms anymore. Might be the building we live in as we rarely lose power and the storms don't bash us in our apt. However, it was raining pretty hard and that was noticeable as the windows were being pounded. 

I had a Zoom meeting last night with the Power Squadron (now called America's Boating Club) and a couple of folks texted that they had been without power for a day or more. One lives in Lake Stevens and the other in Stanwood. Also, one active boater said the storm at the Everett Marina was severe enough to have cleats pulled from the docks by one of the larger boats (he said this was because the boater doesn't know how to tie his boat up properly). And another said that four hours after the high tide the docks at Dagmars were almost floating off the pilings. Swollen rivers and a high tide are a big problem.

British Columbia was slammed with flooding high enough to cover many cars. Mount Vernon had significant flooding as did the east and south sound areas. One man was swept away after he drove around a road-closed barricade and his car was swept into a field that was totally under water. He did get out of his car, but then was swept away. He was able to make a phone call asking for help, but then the line went dead.

So, while we were blissfully unaware of the storm, it was pretty bad I guess. If I still had a boat at the marina I would have been down there to take care of it. Nice not to have to worry about another thing and to stay warm and dry.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

 

Fort George Wright

Today I am wishing everybody a happy veterans day and thanking those who served.  A big THANK YOU!!  

My dad served in the military from before WW II until he retired from the reserves in the 60's.  I don't have a complete account of the scenario.  Somehow he started out in Spokane, WA.  I think maybe at Fort George Wright.  Then he served in California.  Then in Alaska during WW II.  Here are a few pictures.

Alaska -- Dave on the left

Palmer, Alaska I think Dave is third from the left

Apparently they did some fishing.  I know he wrote bedtime stories while he served in Alaska for my older brother Jay, and me.   He mailed them to us in California.  Many years later we found them in my mom's keepsakes.  Jay typed them in and we posted them on a MSN page but they have disappeared.  My brother, Davy, thinks he may have downloaded them.  

My Uncle Brad also served in the military in Alaska during WW II.  He worked two jobs.  He had his job with the military and he loaded white fish for shipping at another job.

Brad--  Seattle, WA

We won WW II by the grace of God.

Psalm 33: 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE JESUS'S APPEARING

In the 70's, when "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsy came out, I read it with excitement.  I had never studied much about end times.  Since then I have read through the Bible several times and have studied the Bible for almost 50 years.  I'm not an expert on anything in the Bible. But I enjoy listening to what Amir Tsarfati has to say--it rings true to me.  Above is his address at a prophecy conference held in California on September 11, 2021.  I recommend it to you.  Let me know what you think.  

WHO IS YOUR GOD?

 

Grandpa Roy and Grandma Grace wedding picture

As far as I know my grandparents had no Social Security or Medicare.  They saved their money and invested in real estate.  They lived on what they earned.  I think both grandmothers had only 2 or 3 dresses.  Both grandfathers had one suit and maybe 2 sets of work clothes.  I had a psychology prof in college who wore the same suit every day.  Back in the day there were no credit cards.  When my grandfather on my mother’s side passed away, my great aunt moved in with my grandmother, and they shared the expenses.  Of course the house was paid for.  

I would say that both sets of grandparents were God fearing people.  They depended on God to provide-- not the government.  

On Whom do you depend?  By God's grace we have never missed a meal!

II Kings 4:1-7 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

THE WIND

 

Cousins visiting us on our H.R 39' Chula Vista, CA photo by Ron

I don't understand the wind.  Many years ago when Chris and I sailed our 21' sailboat on Coeur d' alene Lake, I learned the wind is unpredictable.  As we sailed, Chris decided to go forward to adjust the spinnaker, jib, boom, or something.  He asked me to take the tiller.  Suddenly the wind came up and we accidentally jibbed not once, not twice, but three time.  Chris was almost knocked off the boat.  He accused me of doing that on purpose.  Of course I had no control over the wind.  The wind does whatever it wants to do.  We did have a telltale which showed the direction of the wind but it changed so quickly I couldn't keep track of it.

Many years later we moved to Western Washington.  We were able to purchase a 39' H.R. in the Seattle area where we kept it until we sailed to Mexico in 1997.  The picture above was taken on our trip south.

So this week in our Bible study at the apartment where we live now, we are studying the Holy Spirit.  One of my favorite verses is John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  

I don’t understand the wind at all.  It is reasonable to assume there would also be difficulty in understanding the Holy Spirit.  He comes to those who believe. 

MY FIRST JOB

 

Me with Davy 1953

When my mom was pregnant with me she wanted a boy.  Here is the telegram my dad sent to his parents:

But soon after my birth my mom was glad I was a girl.  She began to make plans for me.  Unfortunately I decided I wanted to be a boy.  My older brother, Jay, being the first born grandchild, was fawned over by the entire family, and became the center of attention.  I wanted to have the same status.  So I wore Jay's hand me downs and refused to wear girl's clothes.  If he went shirtless I went shirtless.  Being the smart woman my mom was she signed me up for dance lessons.  Maybe it was the costumes--  but finally I embraced being a girl. 

 

I'm third from the left

I was eight when Davy was born.  My mom put this eight pound, red haired, blue eyed little human into my arms.  I was his babysitter from then until I was 15.  When Wayne was born Mom put this 9 pound, light brown haired, blue eyed, hunk of humanity into Evy's arms.  Mom was glad she had girls.  She said she could have never brought the boys up without the girls help.

Evy standing guard duty for Wayne

One time, when babysitting, I had allowed Davy and Wayne the freedom to take apart the Baby Ben Alarm Clock. Because of my "anything goes attitude" when I babysat, I lost that job.  I was no longer asked to babysit my brothers.  At that point Evy took over the babysitting. I babysat for a few neighbors successfully as none complained.

At eighteen it was time to get a job to help pay for college.  After some lame attempts on my part at the local library to seek employment Mom decided I should go to Massanetta Resort Church Retreat https://massanettasprings.org/and work for tips.  I had the choice to wait on tables or to clean rooms.  Now as I look back I should have chosen to clean rooms as I was a lousy waitress.  Who knew that people needed their coffee as soon as they sat down at the table!

What was your first job?

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO LISA BEAMER?

 

Lisa Beamer, widow of Todd Beamer, and author of "Let's Roll," is a '91 graduate of Wheaton College.  She was asked to speak in the chapel service on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.  Click on the You Tube above to listen.

SEPTEMBER 11 , 2001

 

Nancy, Bobbi, Chris, Charlie

GUEST BLOG BY CHRIS:

September 11, 2001 is a day most us will never forget. Bobbi and I were in Alexandria, VA for Bobbi’s high school reunion. We decided to stay an extra few days. We were sightseeing  with Bobbi’s best friend from high school Nancy Pavey and her husband Charlie. We were all staying in the Alexandria Hampton Inn.

During breakfast we saw the news feed in the restaurant that a plane had crashed into tower one of the World Trade center. At the time it was thought to be a small plane as no one really knew what was happening or was to happen that day. So, we went about our day planning to take the Metro light rail train into Washington D.C. with plans to visit one of the Smithsonian museums. We finished breakfast and went back to our rooms to get ready for our day.

I remember vividly standing in our hotel room while Bobbi was finishing up in the bathroom. Of course the TV was on and I watched the live feed as the second plane was crashing into tower two. I yelled out “another plane just hit the World Trade Center.” At that time the other two plane that crashed subsequently weren’t being reported on, so we all went down to the Metro station and boarded the train for the city.

As were were approaching Metro’s Pentagon stop, I overheard another passenger say “I can’t believe they bombed the Pentagon.”  I told everyone to look out the window where there was a plume of black smoke rising.  Charlie said, “Today isn’t a good day to go into the city.” We exited the train at that stop and crossed over to the other side and caught the Metro back to Alexandria (we later learned that this was the last train to stop at the Pentagon Metro station).

When we got back to the hotel we learned that all the flights in the region were grounded (later in the day the entire air travel in the country, and much of the world were also grounded).  Our problem was that we were to fly out of Reagan National airport the next day and to compound that I was scheduled to take pictures of a large wedding at Ft. Lewis the following Saturday, the 15th. We started considering our options as it quickly became apparent we wouldn’t be leaving the next day. We thought of taking the train, but that travel was stopped initially. We thought about renting a car, but that was impossible as none were available. We even thought about buying a car, but we had just bought a new car and that didn’t seem like a good idea. So we stared calling the airlines.

We were told that we could probably fly out the next day,  Thursday. We had a flight booked and  arrived at Reagan National that morning only to find out that all flights were canceled. We had checked out of the Hampton Inn, but we managed to get a room at one of the airport hotels. As an aside, one of the other passengers on the plane was a United Airlines pilot and while talking he said the plane he was supposed to fly that day was stranded in Germany. He went on to say planes are stranded all over the world and he had no idea how the airlines would sort that all out.

Anyway, we called and called and we managed to get booked on a flight out of Dulles airport the following evening, Friday. We weren’t all that confident and starting to panic about the wedding shoot. So I called our daughter Heather and told her that she might have to shoot the wedding by herself; she has assisted me at other weddings but never shot one solo. To compound that I had purchased new equipment that she wasn’t familiar with so I arranged for a friend at Kenmore Camera to go over the new cameras with her. I could tell she was uncomfortable with the idea (maybe even terrified as it was big military wedding that normally took both of us to shoot).

Friday we arrived at Dulles only to be told that our flight was canceled as they didn’t have a crew to fly it. But we were able to get booked on a flight early Saturday morning and with the time difference we could still make the wedding. So we found another hotel near Dulles. Saturday morning we went to the airport and stood in a long line only to be told by the Delta ticket agent that our flight to Atlanta (where we were to connect to a flight to Seatac) had been canceled, but she said no worry as she could book us on a flight and have us home in Atlanta that evening. (We were flying on frequent flyer miles by the way.) I told her that wouldn’t work as we had to be in Seattle for a wedding I was to shoot that afternoon. She said just a minute and when she came back she said that a small airline (I don’t even remember the name) had a plane flying through Minneapolis, directly to Seattle. We moved to their counter and the agent said she only had first class available and I said we’d take it. Then she said they couldn’t honor our frequent flyer miles and I handed her my credit card and I said, “book it.” She said, “don’t you want to know the cost”, I said “whatever the cost we’ll take it, just book it.” We went to the gate. The gate agent finally called for first class boarding and proceeded to board the plane.

I called Heather before the plane doors closed (this was probably about 7 AM local time, 4 AM in Seattle). I remember this vividly: a very groggy sounding Heather answered on the first ring. “Heather we are on a plane.” “You are on a plane” she replied sounding far more perky but sounding almost in disbelief. “We land at Seatac at 11AM. So you and Jes (our son) need to go to our house and load all the equipment into the Lincoln LS” we had just purchased.  “Yes I almost yelled.” I also gave her instructions to have Jes get me a change of clothes for the wedding (Bobbi had one long dress with her in her carry on) and to pick us up at the airport. I also told her I’d call when we stopped in Minneapolis with a better arrival time (fortunately we could stay on the plane).

Well, to make the rest of the story short, we arrived at Seatac at about our scheduled time. Heather and Jes were waiting and I had never seen a happier young woman in my life. We went to the car and Heather drove to the Ft. Lewis chapel as I changed clothes in the back seat. And, we made it to the wedding before the bride arrived. The wedding was beautiful and the reception was a lot of fun. But, Bobbi and I were totally wiped out as Heather drove us home. The pictures turned out well. 

Grandmother, Groom, Bride, Mother of the Bride, Father of the Bride

Wedding Party

OVERCOMING OUR DNA

 

One year, when she was in high school, Heather was the art director for our Christmas card shoot.  She thought we were an eccentric family and tried to depict that in the picture.  She sported a cast as she had an inflamed metatarsal that wouldn't heal. In the picture Chris was attacking his computer, I was a strict teacher, and Jes was a wild soccer player.  The huge white bear had been a gift from Grandma and Grandpa to Jes.  Needless to say we didn't use the picture for our Christmas greeting that year.  No sense in advertising our failings! 

 Some of these quirks may have been caused because of our DNA.  I recently was gifted with a 23 and me DNA test kit.  It revealed some interesting results like-- no fear of heights, can taste bitter foods, like sweet more than salty foods, have freckles, and have blue or green eyes.  But it also revealed some not so good things-- tend to sweat during a workout, can develop bunions, about equal chances of being able or unable to match a musical pitch.

As I age I learn that many of my relatives have or are dealing with some strange physical things caused either by heredity or just the fallen nature of this world and our bodies.  As I started my lesson for Precepts Bible study in Mark I was delighted to read again that Jesus went about healing people as He was preaching in the synagogues.  So I'm looking forward to that day when He will be with us on earth. In Revelation 21:4 The Bible says,  "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” I'm looking forward to That Day--  I hope you are too.

DO THE NEXT THING

 

"Mrs. Miniver" a 1942 movie-- see video above-- answers some of the questions that we may have in this season of pandemic, wars, floods, fires, earthquakes, and loss.  I recommend this movie as I found it helpful for inspiration to keep doing what is right.  I recalled Elizabeth Elliot's advice to do the next thing when going through a tough time.  Below is the poem that inspired her.

Do it immediately;

Do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly,
casting all care;
Do it with reverence,
Tracing His Hand,
Who placed it before thee with
Earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence,
Safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all resultings,
DO THE NEXT THING.

(an old Saxon poem)

I am comforted because we know that in the end we will see God's glory:

I Peter 4:12  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 

LUKEWARM

 Sermon by Steve Walker fast forward to minute 25

I've been a lukewarm Christian.  I made plans and pushed on with my life without consulting God.  It was when my two year old sent me to my knees that I finally surrendered my life to Jesus.  Today Pastor Steve Walker of Canyon Hills Community church in Bothell, WA started a study on the book of Jude.  We are warned about a lukewarm Christian life. First, we learn how much God loves us, and then we are tasked with preserving purity both in ourselves and in the church.

Many churches have studied Romans this year.  I noticed echos of Romans in Jude.  In Romans 1 we are told to avoid every kind of sexual sin:

 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Then next, because of the sexual sin, God gave them over to even more sin:

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.  

In like manner Jude calls Christians to persevere in these last days.  The last verse of Jude is sung in the You Tube below:

I love singing the last verse of Jude as a  doxology.  It gives glory to God for keeping us from falling.

OLYMPIC GOLD

 

I enjoy second place.  It makes for less pressure and stress.  Unfortunately I've been forced to replace the person who was first place several times.  

In 1964 I was EWU ROTC Sponsor Corps vice commander.  Sadly for me the commander quit school and got married.  I had to take over.  I had no idea what I was doing.  Somehow I muddled through with help from some of the Sponsor Corps members and some of the R.O.T.C. cadets.  

In 1966 when the Spokane School district was desperate for teachers the Dean of  EWU Women talked me into teaching at an elementary school in Spokane.  She happened to be the substitute teacher who needed replacing!  

One time in 1970 I showed up for work at the library in Spokane. I was told that I had to replace a librarian in a movie that was being shot that day. 

I believe that my mom was competitive but my dad was not.  I don't know if that is true.  But if it is true I tend to take after my dad.

I am awestruck every time I see the Olympic athletes put everything they have into their sport.  Maybe if I had been more competitive I would have achieved more with my life.  But then again God will give us the desires of our hearts if we are obedient and follow Him.  My desire was to be second place and spend more time having fun!

I particularly liked this article about the Olympics by John Stonestreet. Click here to read.

Olympic Stories More Lovely Than Silver and More Costly Than Gold

 

 

  

MY TWO UNCLES

 

Left to right Uncle Ernest, Uncle Hollis, Grandma Isabel, my dad David --1977 --photo by Chris

The first story my mom related about Uncle Ernest, (5 November 1916 to 15 January 1980), was that she was on the North Central High School journalism staff with him.  One day he took her books from her and threw them down the school hallway.  She was stunned.  Then he went and picked up her books and gave them to her.  He asked her out on a date.  When she went home and told her family that she had been invited out, her older sister Evelyn, insisted that my mom get dates for her and their friend so that they could go as a group.  When my mom told Ernest that her sister and their friend wanted to be included, Ernest brought his two brothers, Hollis (25 May 1912 to 10 November 1985), and David (22 June 1914 to 11 March 2003), along with him.  From then on my mom and dad were a couple.  Uncle Ernest met is wife Emily when he attended the Pilgrims Club at the Congregational/ United Church of Christ.  Both couples were married in 1939-- Ernest and Emily in September and Dave and Grace in November.  Hollis and Jeanne were married in March of 1940. 

The second story my mom told happened when I was two years old in 1945.  We were enjoying a day at a beach.  My mom loved to swim so she asked my Uncle Ernest if he would watch me.  Ernest assumed that I would be like my brother, Jay, and cousin Kit, and play in the sand.  No such luck.  I took off after my mom and jumped off the dock into the deep water.  Ernest had all of his shoes and clothes on but jumped in after me and brought me to shore.  He assumed I wouldn't do that again.  Unfortunately I took off again and jumped in and he had to rescue me again.

When I was a  senior in high school Uncle Ernest advised me to develop a passion about something, and to choose that as a major in college.  I developed a passion for boys and dated as many as I could!

When I was in college Uncle Hollie gave me a whole bag of candy bars.  I was very popular in the dorm as long as they lasted.  When our daughter, Heather, was born, he built a rocking horse for her.  She still has it and used it with her children.

Hollis photo by Chris

Rocking horse by Hollis

I'm thankful that Uncle Ernest out lived his mother, Isabel,(26 March 1887 to 3 September 1979), by a year.  It is too difficult for a parent to loose a child to death.  

My dad chose II Corinthians 12:9 as his life verse for the grave markers below --  "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."