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

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

Dusting off the digital cover of my e- albums

This blog has started out several times and has had several themes that did not make the 'cut'.

Recently I have been trying to organize better some 17,000 pics I have;  here, there, and everywhere! You could say I've been 'dustin off' some of my photo albums...electronically.

my mom--isn' t she so pretty?

This post started when I saw this sweet picture of my mom taken in 2008 on a plane to New Jersey to visit a friend with Parkinson's and her family.  And then there is another picture or two that I just wanted to show you and think back on the fond memories they  bring to mind.

Just the fact that my mom got on that plane was a miracle. She did it for just for me.  I know this because she was so afraid of planes .  I teased her when I asked her about going with me on the plan,  that if we died, at least we would die together and get to see Jesus together.  I am happy to see we both made it there and back in one piece. I figured that mom would be very nervous on her first plane ride, but she did great.  Even weathered through some bad turbulence on the way home.  When she got off the plane in Tennessee she said, "OK, that was my first and last time on a plane, but it wasn't too bad."

While we were in New Jersey, she was a tropper.  Even though Annie and I both have Parkinsons's Disease ,we were on the go.  And as we went a mile-a-minute,  we tried to show mom as much as we could of her newly found 'Jerzee family's favorite places.  We wore her out trying to show her so many things.

Mary, mom, Annie, me.....in  NEW jERZEEEE

And she really loved hanging out with Annie's family.  A picture with me and my mom and Annie and hers is really special to me.  Very remarkable moms if I do say so myself!!! And I think we even got my mom to meet Joe's mom as well (Joe is Annie's husband).

One of mom's fav flavs

Just as that picture brought back memories of mom, so does seeing a box of Banana popsicles.  Not that mom ate them every day, she didn't; but I cannot ever remember her eating another flavor of popsicles.  If you had some other flavors and no banana, she would just quint up her noise at the suggestion of other flavors and kindly say "No, thank you."  Isn't it weird how you brain lets you recall some funny things, and funny associations?  Every time I hear "Ivory Soap" I can smell it and it always makes me think of my mom's mom whom we referred to as "Mammaw".  The only thing with the memory of Mammaw and Ivory Soap is how really good she used to wash my ears and i could not stand that!!!!


The last memory I will share as I dusted off some of my digital albums  is this one below.  It was a picture I took of my daughter, Carol, Mom, and my sister Karen.   I don't know where Joey was --it was rare that he was not with us on most trips.  This one was to Savannah, GA.  I absolutely loved any 'girl times'  we got to share.  Now (as of Mar 2016)  just Karen and I have 'girl time."  When we get a chance to do something, little or big, it is good.  You see in 2002 my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer.  She had some good years and some bad. and finally Jesus called her home on May 20, 2010. Carol got to know the greatest Mammaw in the world for 17 years.  And then suddenly, at the age f 19, Carol was called to spend the rest of her days in heaven on Feb. 27, 2013.  She is with  Mom and others who claim the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and although I miss them both so much, I cannot think that they are having the time of their lives and would think each of us crazy for wishing them to give up Heaven just to hang out with us.

Carol Mom Karen in Savannah GA

Wow, just a few pages from my digital album, but what amazing  memories that flood my heart and mind of special people God blessed into my  life to make it incredible!  I hope if you can you can look back and have special memories and smile.  Some memories will  be of those gone ahead but their impact on us cannot be denied.  They helped shape us and mold into who we are.   I know I am better because He blessed my life with many more than you have seen here.  And i am grateful for all of them and more.

I can't wait to see them in heaven again some day.
judy
mar 30, 2016

A great friend of Carol and Cooper--in Memory of Jack Blevins

I had started writing this when Jack passed but didn't get it posted.  Please read to find out about this man who truely embodied a "Christ-like attitude" in all he did.  Jack helped coach (basketball) Carol and Cooper while they were at TCCS and was an amazing example for all of his love of the LORD!!!  JACK BLEVINS RIP (1/27/2015 530AM)  Jack was 30 years old (and if you don't read anything else, read under the part titled "what Jack would want us to know".

Much of the following is taken from a Caring Bridge online site for Jack Blevins.  I think it is worth sharing with you.  I knew Jack for just a short time, one basketball season  as he helped coach my daughter, Carol at Tri Cities Christian school.  We knew then that he was battling cancer and he still had a great faith in the LORD which he shared with those young ladies on Carol's team.

My name is Jack Blevins. I am a Christian first , and also a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. I was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors (DSRCT) on June 16, 2010 at age 26.  
I am a believer, a fighter and a Survivor. 
I Will Fight, and I Will WIN!
My life and my cancer are in GOD'S Hands.
Semper Fidelis

His wife Cheri wrote in an online journal (1/27/2015 at 12:05am-- early the morning that  Jack passed) 

We have been shocked at how quickly his health has turned this week. Last Sunday, he was at church. On Wednesday, we had dear friends over to our home and while he was a little weaker, he was still doing well. Partway thru Thursday, he lost his strength and began having pain management issues,.......... he continues to grow more weary and weak. Today he has had few moments of clarity and alertness but the moments he has had have been very special. Even in his weakest and toughest moments here, he continues to be the most selfless man I know. I can tell he just wants to make sure I am okay. Today, after what was a very rough and troublesome night for me, I went to him and told him I loved him, to which his eyes snapped open and he said in a soft and weak voice, I love you too. He then somehow managed to lift his arm up around me so he could hug me and gave me biggest smile ever. He is still trying to protect and comfort me. Another moment of clarity was when our church ministers came to pray for Jack and he was able it muster up the energy to give them a thumbs up and tell them he loved them. Between these far and few moments of clarity, Jack is asleep. I believe we are to the point where he can no longer verbally communicate with us, but I know he can still hear us.......... 

While our hearts are heavy as we watch him slowly slip away, we are at peace with his passing. God is preparing a room for him (I imagine duke-themed) and we know it will be ready soon. While it is hard and devastating to let him go and I will miss him so very much, we know in that moment he will suffer no more. Jack and I have talked about his arrival to the pearly gates many times and we often wondered what his heavenly body will be like. We wondered if it would be much like our earthy bodies, but perfected. Jack liked to think that he would be restored to the strong body he had in  his prime during his time in the marine corps, and I can't tell you how much that excited him to know he would be able to walk and run again and no longer be in pain.  (CONTINUED BELOW)

********HERE IS WHAT I THINK JACK WANTS EACH OF US TO KNOW:    

Cheri's continued remarks:As today has passed by, my heart aches to watch him slowly fade away from us. It pains me to see him struggle and fight for his life, and you can't help but wonder why God would allow us and jack to experience such heartache. And then I think about how God sent his own son to die for our sins and how much it pained Him to watch his son suffer. He could have saved His son from that pain and he chose not to intervene. Why? Because his plan for our eternal salvation was the bigger picture and more important and Jesus knew and accepted that too. I can't help but wonder if there is a bigger picture here as well but we just don't know what it is yet? One thing I do know is that thru the story of Jack's life, he would want his fight against cancer and the testimony of his life to bring you closer to Jesus. I know this because several years ago when jack had his surgery to hopefully eradicate the cancer in his body, we found out it didn't work. I went thru a season of anger with God and became so angry I began to question his existence. It took me a while to tell jack that and when I did it broke his heart. The last thing he wanted was for this journey to put distance between me and God and I know he wouldn't want that for any of you either. I know he will be looking forward to the day of seeing us all again in Heaven and i can only imagine he will greet us with a big ole smile and hug. 

Jack passed within 6 hours of his wife writing this.  Carol always admired Jack...all the girls on her team did..and I can see why.  Thank you Jack for sharing your love of God through the opportunity to help coach some young adults at Tri Cities Christian School.  You did good.....REAL GOOD!

(if you want to read more, I shared some of a conversation Jack and I had just 2 weeks prior to his passing on my facebook page.  IF you are friends with me on Facebook you can see it at https://www.facebook.com/judy.g.hensley/posts/10152702348815028)

Some Days the Pain Just Comes Crashing Through

You may be tired of hearing me talk of Carol.  It has been a year and 5 months and sometimes it seems just like yesterday that she was here.   Last night Bill and I both had a 'moment' as we call it.  The time when missing her is so very very hard.  He was in the kitchen and i turned and looked and he was all choked up.   I of course asked 'what is wrong?' knowing the answer.    He said "I just miss her so bad."  And all I can do is hug him, tell him I am sorry, and that I love him.  And sometimes I can hug and not cry, but last night I could not.   We shared a kleenex box to wipe our tears and some of the pain away.

I went and sat in the rocker that our neighbor gave us before she was born.   When I sit there sometimes I feel her as a weight on my legs and a warm feeling on my chest.  It helps because I hear her say "it is OK momma, really...it won't be long until we are together again.   I told Bill about the feeling I get sitting in the rocker.   He did not sit there...at least not when I could see him.
 
I don't know how long it is supposed to take...maybe never.  I don't want to forget her...ever.  I am trying to write a book about Carol's life.  Some days there  is  progress and some days it is just too hard.  

We still see Cooper on occasion. And he is good to come and visit us on holidays.  I don't even know how hard it is for him.   I just ask the LORD to send him  a beautiful someone...with a spirit more special than Carol's so that the void in Cooper's life will be replaced.   And he will smile that smile of complete contentment again someday.

I got a note from my niece by marriage in Texas.  She is pregnant and expecting a little girl in September.  She said they were going to give her a middle name of Carol.   That made me smile.  And maybe someday, the tears will be gone, but she will live on in our hearts.  I see her everywhere I go.  In a sweet little baby, in a curious toddler, in the innocence of  little child looking for their momma or learning something new.  and in the passion of a young lady running up and down a basketball court, and in the lives of her friends who carry on knowing their lives were somehow made better by knowing  and loving Carol Hensley Singletary.

I love and miss you so very much Carol.  I hope you are proud of me and daddy --we are trying so very hard.   love you always and forever ...MOM.

May I brag about Someone on my blog?

If you have objected to my question in my title, SORRY!   I decided I will brag on so read on...it won't be too bad.  Actually my other purpose for the blog today is to see how well I do putting pictures on here.

Our family had a major significant event occur this year...it was big.  Scratch that --there were 3 major events.  All involved our only child, Carol. Not to be too braggy I will try and briefly describe them and let you see some of the events through picstures.

1.  Our daughter Carol was a senior at Tri Cities Christian School and was playing in her last basketball games since she had decided to forgo sports in college.  She has played basketball since 3rd grade.   She went out on top.  She and her team of the Lady Eagles won their second state conference championship for the second year in  a row!  Her whole starting team was named to the all-tournament team and Carol took home MVP honors for the second time!   And in three year she scored over 1000 points in games against TCCS --she also started every game in those three years.  This happened in late Feb. 2012

2.  Carol graduated with honors and was the recipient of the Christian Leadership award for her class!  She is gonna kill me if she reads this but Baby ! your momma is proud of you! Way to go class of 2012 TCCS!

3.  A few days before July 4th, Carol's boyfriend of 3 + years came over and had a long discussion with us ...yep he wanted to marry our  baby!   I am thinking ..."OK this will take a year or so to come about.  Everything is cool. "  We love Cooper and are so glad that they had thought and prayed about this decision.   Then he told us that they wanted to be married in August this year and move to Gatlinburg where they would start a business.   Can you say "OH MY GOODNESS!"  ????  I don't know how they pulled it off but they did.   Married on August 18, 2012, went on a 4 day cruise, moved in 2 days, Carol  started school a few days later, and on Labor day weekend 2012, Cooper opened "MyPhone Accessories" in Gatlinburg TN. 

Enjoy the pics and I'll sit here as proud as can be of Carol and Cooper Singletary.   Our kids who have started their own life adventure.  I know they will do the best at it.  And maybe in a couple of years,they will decide to take on the greatest job  we can have in this life ..to be parents.  And they will  have a cute little red headed baby that will most undoubtably be the most beautiful baby ever born, because it will be my grandbaby!  I CAN wait, but just be ready for MAJOR braggin' then!

Carol is 22

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cousin Haley & Carol