Some thoughts for the 3 E's--Things that made Carol frown

I want to apologize to my E gals about not posing more this summer.  I guess I have had my mind thinking on other life events and just didn't feel like writing at all, but here is another thing for you to think on wth mom and dad.

My daughter Carol died at age 19 a little over 5 years ago.   One of our friends who took her wedding pictures, now has 3 daughters and 2 of them knew Carol.   She asked it I would write some things about Carol so they could speak of her still and teach some things to them from hearing of Carol's life or how she approached life.

Many people always comment on what a lovely smile Carol always seemed to have on her face.  She lived life to the fullest but at times there was not a smile but a frown that she had for certain things that happened around her.  So this is "List of Things that made Carol Frown" 

The first  thing was if you were not loyal to a friend.  So if you told Carol
she was your friend then she expected you to support her no matter what and she for sure would be there for her friends  (even those friends she might not have seen alot). She often discussed some kind of drama going on at school between others (mostly girls) and how it made her sad that they could not get along better.  She truly valued a loyal friend.  And even she had some friends that she would have to continue to put up with their on again off again ways of friendship.these friends were great to be with most days, but on other days she just had to put up with their foolishness.  Yet she was always looking for those who she could offer a kind word to or invite them over to our house.

One thing  Carol did not like at all was dishonesty.  And I think she became more aware of this after she got out of school.  She saw how other people just could  lie so easy to her and to others. And how some people did not value other's hard work and would  steal from their Carol and Cooper's business.  She had  asked me several times "How do you know who you can trust and who you can't in life, and how do you know who will take advantage of your kindness?"  The best thing i could tell her was you just have to ask God to guide you in those decisions. And sometimes when you feel like God has not answered your prayers He may have answered themS in a way that you may not have expected but He will show you how it is for your betterment.   It may be to teach you a life lesson.  Life lessons can be hard, but know this: If you place every bit of your trust in God, He will be there with you in every situation to guide you and to let you know He loves you more than anything.  

Speaking of people who love you, like your sisters and your mom and dad...don't they make you frowm sometimes?  I know I did to Carol, but it is only because she took it the wrong way.  I mean, I never did intend to ask so many people to wear that crazy coat.   She hated it with a passion.  It made me smile though  to see her go crazy when i pulled the coat out.  But even though she did not like that coat, I know she knew that I loved her as much  That's what good moms and dads do.  And that is all that really matters.  

The guy who wrote about Carol in the newspaper had never met her but he talked with many people whom she knew and he described her in the first parqgraph as a frown flipper .  I think that is pretty neat, don't you.  And i think that would be a great way to honor God, is to share his love by wearing a smile and not a frown.  

Hugs from
judy

That song...."I can only imagine"...whew!

The reason I am bring this old post back up today is the movie about the man who wrote  the song "I can only imagine" which became a megahit, is premiering tonight March 16th.  I hope to see it and would encourage you to if you get a chance. ...

The picture below was taken during a break in a play we did several years at Antioch Baptist Johnson City and the dramatists in the heaven scene of the production of "Judgement House" in the fall of 2001. they would put on every year around Halloween. The heaven scene was often the culmination of the play and if you were a person in the scenes or a guide, you could tell that it got peoples attention. This play swas one the audience walked from scene to scene and the 'actors' in the scenes may have performed the same part around 30 times an evening. A typical night ran 3 hours long, 3 times a week for 3 weeks. It was a huge commitment but it had a great impact.

 I am not sure but this may have been the year in the heaven scene when the song "I can only imagine" was a hit. My daughter Carol told me that she and the others inthe heaven scene would often sing that song as they waited until the next group to "come to heaven". I think Sal Cicirello played Jesus in the heaven scene every year we did this and did an amazing job. He made chills run down your spine as he shook each person's hand who was there for the drama and this scene. He would also look into each person's eyes and you just knew what he was saying without even saying it.."do you know you will be here someday?:" My daughter, Carol is standing right in front of Sal in this picture, and I know ...no, I KNOW that she is THERE---> in HEAVEN and I can only imagine how big a smile she has on her face and she tells me "it's true --you just have to believe, OH HOW HE LOVES YOU ...can't wait to see you!: And I say i wish I had put this in the book I wrote about her: "Carol's Smile". 

 I know that song was also helpful when I had my first brain surgery for my electrodes in my head, and it was stressful, and they asked what kind of music i liked and I told them Christian music...it wasn't long and I heard "I can only imagine"and I thought about Carol being in heaven and everything seemed OK from there on out.  (Yes I was awake when they were operating on my brain in order for the doc to tell if the implant is in the right spot.  So I had to give them some feedback verbally and with some hand signals).

So go and see why the man wrote this song that became so popular and is so very descriptive of how we will all feel when we meet Jesus!  So many special people in this picture.  Thank you for making my daughter's smile even bigger because of your love!  Judy 3/16/18

Thoughts from the past 5/3/2008

A very special book, written by a person with Parkinson's contains a poem entitled "From Whom All Blessings Flow" in which the author states in the last section "God is at work all around us;  looking back we will see, it's through trials, He helps us live more faithfully. I praise God for each moment of life that He gives,each one molding my heart, into one more like His."   by Tamara Cantore

I recently attended a women's conference and the speaker spoke of praising God
even in the midst of trials. Now that is so very hard to do, but i am learning that when I can do this, my whole outlook on life changes.  When I can get out of the way and put God in the middle of my life, things change.  God desires the praise of his people.

One familiar doxology comes to mind...
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures, here and below,
Praise Him above yea heavenly hosts,
Praise Father , Son, and  Holy Ghost.  amen

I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name
I will lift up my hands.  Psalm 63:4

slight modification 
3/6/2008
Judy