AM I a Singletary?

Priceless: An Unexpected Blessing!
Last night as i watched 5 young ladies practice basketball for the UPWARD team I try to help at Trinity J'boro, we were almost done, and a lady sitting behind me,tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was a Singletary or related to one. It kind of caught me off guard. I am helping coach (term used very loosely) a girls UPWARD basketball team where my sister and dad go to church in Jonesboro. I attend a church in Johnson City , but had heard that they might need coaches in this program. So I volunteered to help if needed.

Back to this lady's question question of me: I said "My daughter was married to a Singletary" and I proceeded to tell her "My name, is Judy Hensley, and my daughter is Carol Hensley Singletary . I told her that she died in Feb of 2013, and that she loved basketball and actually played in the first UPWARD league at Trinity.

Those of you who know my Carol know that she went on to excel in basketball at the high school level and was twice the State MVP of the conference in which Tri Cities Christian school played.

I asked her name 3 times because of what she told me next: "You don't know me, but when ever the name Singletary comes to my mind, I pray for you." What is even more amazing is I think she didn't know Carol either, but said she knew a friend of Carol's. I thanked her for praying for me and told her that .
February is always rough because Carol died on Feb.27, 2013.

Now you can't tell me that is coincidence, or karma, or a medium who can communicate with my past. This encounter happened by God's spirit moving in a unique and powerful way to let
this child of His know that I and my daughter will not be forgotten any time this side of heaven. Thank you Heather___ for sharing how God uses your prayers to uplift those of us who know Carol Hensley Singletary!

Now please excuses me as I go have a snottin, and crying fit as i try to find a box of Kleenex!
January 2019
Judy Hensley

Story of Da Coat by Judy Hensley--SHARE!!!

Chris Woods of Chris' Twirlettes wanted to wear this coat and hear it's story after hearing of it from  a mutual friend, Tina Lyle.

My name is Judy Hensley and I bought this coat at a local Big Lot around ten years ago to see how many other people thought it would be fun to put it on and have their picture made in it for me.  I found out quite quickly that my own daughter despised the coat.  She actually took it  to youth camp the first year of it's existance.  But she was determined to leave it there.  I actually gave her permission to do so, but what she did not know was that I had found another one and already bought it home to have when she returned from camp.

She was quite appalled that I had done this to her.  And I told her I was coming up with a way to use the coat for good.  And I asked her to please let  me take her picture  wearing the pretty colored coat, and she resisted for several years, but I finally had lots of other people who were wearing the coat.

After several years people started wanting to know about this coat, and why people were letting me take their picture in it.  And it wasn't just local people: there were people in Washington, California, Florida, and even England who were eager to have their picture in the coat.  So the journey of the coat to several states and overseas a time or two began.

 At that time, I had made several friends along the way who had something in common with me.  They had Parkinson's Disease.  So many of my friends with PD helped me boost my volume of pictures with anyone wearing this coat.  

There have only been a handful of people who would not wear the coat.  And I began to add into the story of the coat , the story of what it feels like to have Parkinson's Disease.  I was even so bold to ask a friend who is a great advocate for PD and ALZ (Alzheimer's Disease) if she would take the coat with her to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, and she said she would!  

Some have said I should charge people to wear it, but there are so many who have not paid to wear it, but they graciously gave me a minute of their time to list to the story of the Coat!  Some even started callin it 'Da Coat!   Now, I currently have a bunch of pictures with people in 'Da Coatt that are hardc opiesw, and some electronic copies.  Best I can estimate, I have close to 500 people who have worn  'Da Coat.

The Stamper Clan is at it again....

The Stamper clan is at it again. To make this short enough to read in a couple of minutes, if you are interested in background of how we know Aimee and Brandon Stamper you should read a book I wrote about our daughter, Carol, called "Carol's Smile, the Life and legacy of Carol Hensley Singletary".

I'll start this story from  2/24/19 when I got a message from Aimee saying they were in Johnson City without their 3 boys and wanted to know if they could stop by and see us a few minutes. I said "of course",  I thought they were being kind to see us near the date of  the anniversary of Carol's death (6 yrs).  This is true, but they also had another motive and that was to tell us their tribe would  be increasing by one in July of 2019!   Then Aimee said "It's a girl!".  She went on to tell us she knew it was a girl before she had the first ultrasound.  And Brandon then  revealed  the ultimate reason for their visit.  

They asked for our blessing to name their baby girl "Carol."  I don't know exactly how Bill reacted because I could not see him through my tears.   We of course said, "yes" and felt so honored to know that this little one was named in honor our girl.  One thing I can say will be a sure thing is  this:  Carol Stamper will no doubt blaze a path that will point others to Jesus as the lover of their souls.  And I figure Carol up in heaven is probably thinking "Thank goodness she is being born into a big gang of Tennessee  Volunteer fans! Can I get an AMEN and a GBO?! " GBO - GO BIG ORANGE

I asked Brandon and Aimee if I could write about this special time and they have been so kind to say "yes." This couple is nothing short of remarkable in my mind. The Stampers had formed an amazing bond with our daughter during the time that Brandon coached her in basketball and Carol had the utmost regard for them and their first son whom she met before she died.  You can really tell how much they adored her in their hand-written notes to her in the graduation card they gave to her.  I copied their comments to include them in the book that I wrote about Carol  and her influence  on people.

And I know baby Carol is gonna have the most awesome family to lead her, love her, and show her how to live life to the fullest. I think lil Carol Stamper will be taught well and will light up many places with her smile!

Now a note to baby Carol's brothers:

You big brothers better say a prayer that your sister will by more mild mannered than my Carol was  or you will have your hands full!  Here is what I think your roles will be in her life.....

Big Brother Bready:  since you are oldest you will always be your brothers and sister(s) protector.  I can see you standing with a big shield (you better start looking for an XL one soon) in this role.  And later on when your sister  is growing up and catching the eye of some boy, you better find out their intentions and let them know how heavy your shield is and that you are not afraid to throw it in their direction if need be.   

Big Brother Anderssen:  I think Carol will think of you as her partner in crime.  If she is going to do something that could lead to trouble she will ask you for your opinion and then say "let's do it anyway!"

Big Brother Boone:  Since you two will be close in age, I think you will be her confidant and the one she will take-up with the fastest.  And if you don't keep an eye on her, she will soon take your title of "The BOSS!"

And brothers, all three of you,,,you better get ready.  Baby Carol, your little sister, is gonna be a game changer in big ways!  Hang on for the ride and have lots of love, fun, and laughter  with her!

And to the Stamper's family and friends, please join me in praying that this family will continue looking to God and His faithfulness for their lives.  Pray that baby Carol will be healthy and the best Stamper baby ever, and that Aimee will be healthy the rest of the pregnancy and she will adjust to not being the only princess in the house!

I can't wait to meet this gal!
written by Judy Hensley

3/14/19