Shouting Out for Some Amazing People

I am not sure if there is an appropriate way to convey my deepest appreciation to some very special people  in our life so I'm just gonna do like the saying says and give a big Shout out to the special people below. Bill and I are have been truly blessed to be a part of of church here in Johnson City the last 3 years.  It did not take a major life event like our daughter's death to make us realize how special the leadership is at North Ridge Community Church (originally Springbrook and now we are at the West Market St. plant ) but it has made me all the more determined to support them and many others in prayer and help as I may because they have a great job but it can be a hard job many times.  Not only did the leadership at NRCC help us be strong, but many others were here just when we needed them. It was God's strength and mercy delivered via many people around us during the day of Feb. 27 2013 to now and beyond that has enabled us to make it through the hardest thing we have ever experienced.  Our only daughter, Carol Hensley Singletary, died suddenly from a fall into a glass display case in Gatlinburg TN on Feb 27, 2013.  She had married Cooper in Aug of 2012 and they were living a wonderful life together when she may have passed out from an undetermined medical condition that day.  We hope that no one has to ever endure such a tragedy but can only say with God as our anchor and so many wonderful family and friends.. we are still standing.  There is no way I can express my gratitude for the actions of many but want those I list below to know that your support, love and compassion will be a lightpost forever in my life.  I pray that I can be a similiar missionary to those who need such in the future.  From this time on, I will be thanking GOD for placing these people in our lives at this time.  And I will be asking GOD for special blessings on them as well as their families.  Their ministry of compassion, love and encouragement has helped us make it through this time.   Their support along with that from other communities in which our lives were invested created an overpouring of love that we have never seen before now.   I  would just like to say  a huge THANK YOU to  these people for their  selfless dedication to us during this life experience and for  their commitment to the communities they lead:

Jim Richmond-lead pastor at North Ridge Community Church (Springbrook Dr Johnson City TN)- Jim, you and your family have loved us and ministered to us and Cooper in so many ways the last 3 years.  Our girls have played basketball together, been on a mission trip together, and you all have loved us like you've known us much longer.   You counseled Carol & Cooper and then married them. You were not able to come to Sevierville the day of Carol's accident but had an amazing staff who did.  When I called you as we traveled home, you took my call even though you were in a leadership meeting with the deacons.  You and those men prayed for us as we made our way home to face a life without Carol.  Since that fateful day you visited us, advised us, and organized and spoke at the celebration and burial services for Carol.  Your love, compassion, and commitment to us as part of your congregation has been so uplifting to us.

The rest of the pastoral staff at NRCC--Johnny, Brad, Nathan, Jon,  Chris you guys are awesome. Some of you knew Carol well, and some of you just barely knew her, but you cried and laughed with us to help us keep hanging on to God's goodness.

Pete Tackett & wife Lori--Pastor at Antioch Church,  Johnson City where we attended until Carol was about 15.  At the same time of Carol's accident, Pete was  in middle TN with his mom who was having major surgery. But among his many communication talents and compassionate heart, he called a pastor friend in Sevierville who came and prayed for us in his stead.  I have seen Pete and Lori minister in amazing ways while as a youth pastor and now pastor.  Their family was especially gracious to allow some traveling friends to stay in their home.   Your hearts have always pointed to His in true service.  Thank you Pete and Lori,  and the many friends at Antioch, for loving us like crazy through this.

Mark Harrod and Trinity Baptist staff (Jonesboro)--our pastor friend from the church of my parents and sister's family.  Your support through this and other major family events has always been the most wonderful to know and experience. Thank you for loving and caring for us as well as dad, Karen, Joey & Steve!

And to Carol's school at home, TriCities Christian School--to all the teachers and staff, Carol's friends and their many family members...you were like a flock encircling their own to make sure we were ok.   All of your many examples of love and your stories of how Carol's life impacted yours has been a great source of comfort.

It was not long after we arrived at the hospital (100 miles from our home), that many caring folks arrived from home.  Some were in our small group from church-Jerry Day, Sal & Brenda Cicirello, Keith & Audrey Yelen,   Not far behind were these in leadership at North Ridge:   Johnny & Rachelle Byrd,  Jon & Priscilla Oakley, Chris & Kristen Miller, and Brad & Amber Olin.  Your selfless ministry to us was amazing.  Nothing better comes to mind that to say 'Thank you" over and over.  And know that I will be praying for you in the days ahead to continue strong in your ministry because I have experienced it first hand and can never fully express what it has meant to me and Bill  and our family.

To our friend Tammy Rowe, who is not officially on any staff but ours as eternal friend of the heart...thank you for being there in so many other situations, always a rock to pull us through and then give us refreshing love and encouragement.  Thank you for loving Carol like your own..how you got us to Sevierville safely and quickly I'll never know and hope to never have to do it again.  You are a blessing and your friendship is a treasure.  Words are not enough, but I hope you know....

And to everyone who sent a prayer or gave a hug ..called, emailed, texted, sent a note or just came to show your love...it was balm for the hurt. We are most blessed and pray God's will for all our lives will be made better by knowing and loving one of HIS finest, Carol Michelle Hensley Singletary.  So as you have read our story I hope you would do a favor for me?  Say a prayer of thanks and protection for your pastors and leaders in church or other closely associated groups you may be involved in.   They deal with so much more than we know about and I am sure they would appreciate your prayers and encouragement!
Much love from Carol's mom
Judy

What My Daughter, Carol, Taught me in 19 Years

My daughter Carol (19 yrs old)

It's been awhile, and I kept hoping the pain of loss would diminish more by now, but I guess there is no timetable for how long our family will find our way out of the fog of Carol's sudden death (2/27/13).   For me ...I'd just like to know in what manner to carry on with my life.  And in asking how to do this, I found that some ways are right inside of me because of my daughters life and love.

Carol's life and death are impacting people in an emphatic way and teaching or reminding us of many things even as we think about her these last couple of months.  When I thought about some significant things in my daughter's life and how they have taught me things, I found that many of them started with the letter L.  How appropriate is it not, since she LOVED to LAUGH, she LOVED her LORD, and she LOOKED to God for  HELP and HOPE in her life?  Here are twelve " L lessons" my daughter, Carol Michelle Hensley Singletary
taught me in a little over 19 years:

1.  LIVE life now with passion along with a passionate hope for an even better eternity.  Believe that what we learn in this temporary home will make for an even better heavenly homecoming.  The reason we have that hope is because of God's passion to make a way for us to be with Him forever.  Since Christ had such a passion/love for us should we not return some to him???  Passion to me means using up every bit of something!  So can I not live my life and use it up every bit and taking in all He has made available for us in this life and even more for all eternity.    Passion also is indicative of intensity.  Intensity is awesome when balanced along with other life events.  And as part of our passion we have to make decisions sometimes of what is worth passionately pursuing or if some things should be deleted from our agenda.  And certainly, having people in your life who share your passion for live and God make this life much more rewarding.

2.  LEARN all you can so that your passionate pursuit of life will be even smoother.  Soak up every morsel of information that will help you live your life with passion for the things that matter most.  Learning always gives us hope, and hope is what helps us hrough many life situations.  We have all experienced that a learning process in life is not always fun.  When we can find ways to make if fun we tend to retain  knowledge from the process that will benefit us sometime in our life.

3.  LOVE with in the right priority--always and unconditionally.   If we love Christ for what he has done for us, we should in turn want to love HIM back so much!!!  And then as we seek to honor him by loving Him then we would also want to "be like HIM!" and  love others more than self.  He  gave a sacrifice of his own son so that we could be restored to himself for all eternity.  We all may struggle with the concept of loving everyone.  But when we finally get good at loving in the right priority (God firsts, others next, ourselves last) then everything else just kind of falls into place without even working at them!!

4.  LAUGH with JOY each day.  You are never promised tomorrow.  Don't put off joy and laughter from today.  Laughter is a way our bodies release stress and tension that can cause numerous health issues if left out of check.  And spreading joy is another way of sharing God's love with other and having a harmonious enviroment in which to live.

5. Be LOYAL to the end.  We should not only be dedicated to our God but to the very important people He places in our lives to help make this journey more joyous.  Loyalty is not an honored trait these days.  We are so often tempted to trade loyalty for smoother times with others not as devoted to us.  God shows his loyalty to us in his response of forgiveness when we fail Him.  His promise of old is still valid today when He says "I will NEVER leave you or FORSAKE you"!

6.  LABOR with purpose.  In everything we do we should be the best representative of God to this world through our actions and witness through our work efforts.  Seek to work obtain what you need and be satisfied in all situations.   And if you have more than you need, share with others out of the goodness of your heart in an act of thankfulness to God for his blessings.

7.  LOCATE your gifts and use them well.  Seek to use your gifts to glorify God and not yourself.  Encourage and show others in the same manner.

8. LISTEN well!    because few people can do this well.  Wisdom to listen is indeed a rare trait.    With God's example and instruction and by him  placing others in our lives who have done the same for us, we can reciprocate to others when they need a listener and comforter.

9.  LIBERATE the praise in your heart and turn it back to GOD!  Don't hoard it up....share it in song, dance, hyms, musical instruments, drama,..

10.  LINK-UP with others who share your spirit of praise, joy, love, dedication and hope.  Leverage the combined traits of yourself and others who share your faith and trust in God to help make this life better for not just you but others.  Lift them up when they fall; love them when they need it, and lavish on them prasie when they accomplish great things!!

11.  LAVISHLY and LIBERALLY give to others a simple gift that communicates to them without you saying a thing that you wish them well--give em a SMILE!!!  Did you know that it really takes more muscles to frown than to smile??

12.  LOOK around to notice your own blessings, notice how others have blessed you, and long for the day when you can thank God in heaven, in His presence, for all of His goodness and mercy to you!!!

God gives us many things to help us grown and travel this life's journey.  We need to look outward from ourselves to Him and others to accomplish the plan He has for us.  Carol was very good at some of these things, and others she was just starting to "get it" as to how to use them to bless her life and others and bring glory to her Savior. I pray what I have learned from her I can put into practice more and more everyday.  And right after I see GOD in heaven some day, that when I see her that she will be smiling not only because she loves me but because I made her proud.  Cause I know this...she has made me one proud momma.  And I will be that way as long as I live.  I love you Carol...thank you for teaching me some very valuable things. !

Carol and Those Threes

 UPDATE  on 8/1/13   I have found a few more incidences of the number 3 in Carol's life;  in looking at her pictures of their honeymoon cruise, the first night they stopped in Spartenburg SC and their room number was 230, and she also too a pic of their cabin door on the boat 3053.  And I also recalled that before graduation Carol had participated in some acedemic competition for her school and she placed 3rd in the national competition for Christian Schools in accounting!  I have added some pics below.
  NOTE:  I have not blogged recently due to the overwhelming emotions and love we have been recipients of in the aftermath of our daughter's untimely death. Carol Singletary died on Feb 27, 2013 as the result of tragic incident at her workplace.  She was 19 years old and had just been married to Cooper for 6 months.  It was a short life in many respects but it was a life well lived and it has been greatly recognized in recent days and is a testament to her faith and her great ability to be a "frown flipper"  because she smiled so much and made others do the same around her!!

This is almost kind of silly to write about but I keep finding these instances of the number 3 in Carol's life....
I first noticed the prevalence of the number three around Carol's life and death when I read Trey Williams article in the Johnson City Press about Carol.  He mentioned that the TRI Cities Eagles Girls basketball team this year had to play 3 games in 3 days to win their 3rd state basketball championship.  (This is the same team Carol was on that won the 2 prior state championships of the TAACS).  At that I realized that Carol's celebration of life service was on 3/3/2013  at 3pm.  Carol's time of death was at 11:33 on the 3rd day of the week (Weds).  She and Cooper lived on the 3rd floor of their apartment complex and their apt # was 3303.  I was adding up how many days Carol lived and at 19 yrs and 58 days she lived a total of 6,993 days=all these numbers are divisible by 3! she lived for a total of one day shy of  233 months.   And Carol scored over 300 points per year the last 3 years of her basketball playing career (313 10th gr, 331 11th gr, and 387  12th grade, totaling 1,031 pts.  She played 35 games her senior yr, and that yr her points per game avg was 11.1 and she also played in a 3 on 3 league that her team won).  Her phone number had three 3's in it.  When she lived at home there were 3 of us here, and she and Cooper made their home of 3 when they got their dog, Roxy. And now we believe she lives for all eternity in the presence of the ONE who exists as a trinity (3 beings==father/son /Holy spirit)
I can't help it---I liked math.  It is only another crazy thing about my daughter--------------------- CAROL MICHELLE  HENSLEY SINGLETARY (30 LETTERS)...SEE what I mean???!!!!

THREE:  In sacred Scripture the number three represents that which is solid, real, substantial, and something in its completeness.  This number usually indicates something of importance or significance in God’s plan of salvation by identifying an important event in Salvation History.  This number operates as a “sign-post” in Scripture study for the reader to “pay attention” to the significance of the next event. It also can mean intensity and  strength.  Judy Hensley 3/23/13