Posted at 11:19 AM in Current Affairs, Exciting Events! , Love and Marriage , My Sweet Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Usually the house is decked out and Christmas is in every room. But this year life has been more about ministry and the needs of others for our family. This is the only decoration this year in the whole house.... actually it has felt a little strange, but relaxing..... different but free.
But our traditions of Christmas have remained the same. It's important for a woman to minister to her family in a special way at Christmas. After all.... what are memories made from, but the acts we perform for our family out of the love of our hearts at Christmas time.
This year we have a snowman to decorate and eat as well as the gingerbread house.
Everybody has fun... all of us together around the table... talking and decorating him as wild as we want to.
With cups of hot chocolate.... stirred with spoons made of cinnamon....with lots of icing and laughter all around....we two moms enjoy watching the children and the men work on expressive creations of sugary content!
After it's all completed.... then we get to eat it... take what ever part you want! It's part of the whole experience that the kids love.
A great family dinner.... the chapel service.... a private communion service together.... go home and decorate the gingerbread house... AND a snowman .....while sipping hot chocolate together. We have begun our family Christmas Holiday 2009!!
It's going to be a great Christmas for our family!! Merry Christmas!
Posted at 10:36 AM in My Sweet Family , Precious Memories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Every once in a while I get a surprising email that brings a smile to me. Today was one of those days. After a very full week of plans of decorating for Christmas, Cafe Geva Christmas Menus, countless phone calls and RMA store parades of products plus entertaining guests, somehow I contracted a virus and came down sick. This was certainly not in my plans for the week! to be sick. And on top of that I was to speak at a Ladies Retreat in Dallas too.
Well I survived it all.... the RMA ladies did a fabulous job of decorating without me, all the details of life handled themselves ok for several days.... my sweet husband drove me to the Retreat and took care of me.
And my daughter sends me this picture this morning - just to get THIS week off to a great start. (She was sick too all last week)
I share a smile with you..... there is nothing like a daughter to speak the same language in your heart!!! Just a random picture she took by grabbing me and holding her phone out to capture the two of us in a moment of time.
That's my daughter! One of God's personal blessings to just ME!!
Posted at 04:08 PM in My Sweet Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Family traditions are very important to my daughter and I. And every fall - from the time she was a little girl we have done fun things together in the cooling time of year. Now that she has children we have continued our Autumn memory making trips with them.
We all start the Fall Day with a trip across town to try to find pumpkin doughnuts to start our special day with for breakfast (somehow they are hard to find here in Texas!)
Then a big trip to the Dewberry Farm to enjoy feeding the animals, all sorts of kiddie rides, find a pumpkin, pick wild flowers, get some homemade pickles, enjoy a hay ride in a wagon on a bumpy country road, and have a country style lunch, have some icy cold sloppy slushes, and eat kettle corn all the way home.
Another year slips by..... another strand of memory made in the lives of the 4 of us....and at the end of the day, we are all tired but had a great time together.
We think we may can keep this going till mmmmm maybe 12 years old? I hope we will then find something else to keep our Fall Day going till they are grown.
Posted at 09:08 PM in Current Affairs, My Sweet Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
My darling mother sent me a card that is so special. Just the perfect thing... as my spirit has been a little tired with so much happening recently.
She and I are special tea lovers and she found 'African Autumn Tea' and sent me some to share with her. Africa will forever be in our lives....
Two little bags of fragrant tea in silk bags! I will call her and we will have a cup of tea together over the phone! I love my mom!! It's nice after all these years to have her in the USA, so I can talk to her often.
Posted at 08:00 AM in Food and Drink, My Sweet Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Our Grand daughter's recent birthday makes life seem to be passing so swiftly. Turning 6 is a big deal..... when one becomes an adult the memories of this age remain permanent in the mind.
What do I remember at her age?
We arrived in Liberia West Africa.... I still remember the first impressions of standing on African soil. The sights and sounds and smells. The memory of people.... and buildings.... and clothing.... and food. The types of emotions.... and my own feelings. The way the land looked.... the sea.... and the jungle places we lived in. Being 6 is an important age.
The presents received at 6 can be remembered life long. My birthday present at 6 years old was a doll my mother made for me. A doll named 'Sunbonnet Penny Sue'. Funny how precious that little doll made out of socks was to me.
I intend for my own grand children to remember special pieces of life we share together in life.... long after I am gone. So for this birthday, her gifts are placed inside a animal print case that she can open one by one. She loved it - I knew she would.
It's been a special birthday for all of us in our family. Birthday party with all her friends.... a girls slumber party... shopping trip.... lunch with mommy and me..... fun afternoon doing 'girl things'. Her mommy knows how to celebrate special days!
It's one part of life I know she will never regret making special for her kids! They will remember for life how special we made life for them. From one generation to another, passing on simple joys of living makes for bulding blocks of secure love in a child's heart and mind.
Posted at 08:37 AM in My Sweet Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
In my yearly personal inspection it's important to see what's been read and what area I should be studying next. A variety of books is interesting, educating and so good for mental training. I have 4 books going this summer..... and enjoy reading each of them.
Sharing books is one way to encourage reading in those around me. Pastor's wives often need the impute of other lives to strengthen or educate in important areas of which they are responsible for. Also I find that reading important works is the way to truly grow mentally. Wait, before I show you maybe I should tell you that I am married to one of God's Generals in this generation. Pastors everywhere recognize the extreme spiritual warfare that the church at large is involved in. The intense battles of financial burdens, complicated legal systems, social and political pressures of increasing city and township inspections, rulings and ever encroaching building codes and regulations weighs heavily on Ministers today. They face pressures unlike any other generation before has experienced in ministry. It's complicated, full of pitfalls with sensitive hurting people, and must provide for costly programs of provision in every church and ministry family.
Bishop Gregory L Holley and I stand together working in these minefields, daily carrying out spiritual warfare on behalf of the church both locally and nationally. I hear many conversations my husband has daily with ministers across America who all are under the gun battling for their churches.
We made a decision some years ago to raise up the next generation of Ministry here carefully and well equipped. My husband works hard to raise up and imprint, impress, educate, support and train well ahead of the curve of the full weight of ministry for the young Pastor here. We want his shoulders to be strong, and to see that he is well equipped for the challenges he will face in the coming years.
So how do I handle all of this as a wife? I read. And here is the current book I am studying personally that is fascinating. It's about another great 'war hero' in the earth. Sir Winston Churchill. His battles, pressures and the forces against him are all insights for me as my General also in in a war.....

Winston Churchill CEO - 25 lessons for bold business leaders. For every Bishop and Pastor who provide leadership for the lives of others, this book is a wonderful resource! And for Pastor's wives? Essential reading material!
This is my current study book.... it's a good thing.
Posted at 12:10 PM in Books, Books I Love , Gayla's Tips , My Sweet Family , The Pastor's Wife_ | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
My niece - Summer Joy is a real Role Model and I thought you would like to read one excerpt in her journal about her life. I am very proud of all she does in the earth. Meet Summer....
A brief Bio...
Just a little about
me…I come from an international family. My father and his family were
missionaries to Liberia in the 1960's and served as resident missionaries in
Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in the 1970's. My father married a native Zimbabwean
and I was conceived in the Summer in Zimbabwe and born in the Summer in Texas,
hence the name…Summer. My family continues to have a vested interest in the
continent of Africa and I have had the opportunity to serve in a variety of
ways on different occasions in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt,
Malawi and Mozambique. I am currently
in the first Nurse-Midwife/Doctorate in Nursing Practice program at Baylor
University and I will graduate in May 2010. This past Spring I had the
opportunity to travel with my Graduate Colleagues and Faculty to Ethiopia and
Malawi to serve the indigenous people groups in these developing nations.
My life was forever changed....My primary purpose for choosing to become a
Nurse-Midwife, is to help decrease maternal and infant mortality rates in
developing countries.
My patient's name is
Aina and she was lying on a labor bed with a bright-colored cloth wrapped
around her waist…she is so tiny. She was
dilated to 7-8cm/100%effaced/+1 station upon my initial exam @ 2150. Contractions were coming 3 in 10minutes,
lasting 40-50 seconds and palpating moderate.
Her body is beautiful as she moves with each contraction. I am learning important phrases in Chichewa
(native language in Malawi) i.e. Dulusomepwayah which means "breathe
out" and Ubaysabueno which means "good job." At first, I could tell Aina was anxious and
scared especially with all of the "Mazungus" aka White People in the
room. Nevertheless, as her labor
progressed I continued to remain a constant labor support at the bedside. Her pelvis was small and she began to writhe
in pain while lying on top of a trash bag.
Her body was drenched in sweat and the trash bag clung to her every
move. I fanned her during contractions
and she turned onto her tummy. I was shocked, I had never seen someone labor in
a prone position.
While she was lying in
this position, I was able to massage her lower back and promote counter
pressure to her iliac crests in efforts to increase the AP (anterior-posterior)
diameter so the baby would descend easier. As I laid my hands on her, they
swallowed her hips and I was praying for safe passage and delivery. It was at this moment during the arduous
labor, sweat soaking through my scrubs, beads of perspiration running down my
face and flies swarming around us, that something significant happened…. The
patient was lying on her tummy and she reached around with her left arm and put
it around my waist. This was the most
powerful and beautiful experience I have ever encountered during labor. This was a huge breakthrough, not just for the
labor management process, but this was when the trust-bond was established
between Aina and I. I got chills when
this occurred, and despite the language barrier, cultural differences and the
hot insect-infested environment, I felt the presence of God so strongly….for it
was at this moment a midwife was birthed!
I realized that God had
totally orchestrated this moment, for nothing comes without a price. True
joy…for it was the joy that was set before Him that He endured the cross. I felt that I was in a labor process….as I
had anticipated, longed for and desired birthing new life....I was born. The birthing of a midwife took place on the
very continent where I was created. Oh
Father, You saw my unformed body, all of my days were written in Your book and
planned before a single one of them began. Now was the time! I held back the tears as Aina clung to
me. I could feel the pleasure of God as
I stepped into my true identity as a midwife. WOW!! There are no words to
adequately portray the emotions that I felt or the birthing process that took
place inside of me. For it was at this
very moment, I knew…this is what I was created to do! Here in Malawi (which means Flames of Fire) I
was birthed.
As Mary Ann and
Stephanie looked on, they witnessed this significant event. Later Mary Ann told me she was glad that I
insisted we spend the night again (although she was exhausted) she was glad I
pushed her J She said,
"Summer, tonight I witnessed the birth of a midwife." WOW! I was
overwhelmed for this is exactly what happened….
During the labor, it
was as if I was one with my patient and I could feel exactly what she needed
this was the Holy Spirit guiding my hands, as I truly embraced the heart of midwifery
by being "with women." When
Aina became complete (10cm dilated) @ 0205 we were all a little concerned if
she would be able to deliver vaginally.
There was fetal caput/molding felt on my exam. She began to push with all of her might! No meds, all natural, the veins in her face
and chest were popping out! I've never
seen someone push like she did. Grace
was still skeptical and went to get Aina's family. All of the sudden we heard loud shouting
outside of the labor room and Aina, stopped pushing in order to listen. I was alarmed by this yelling and asked Grace
what was going on. She replied,
"Oh, Summer, you see Aina's family is telling her to push this baby out or
the baby will be born dead." I was
shocked! Shortly after the berating screams, Aina delivered a beautiful baby
girl at 0305 weighing 3000grams with lots of caput/molding. I was able to catch
this beautiful Malawian baby and I was so ECSTATIC!! This was my first
"catch" in Africa, what a life-changing monumental experience and
Aina didn't tear, Praise the Lord!!
As I held this gorgeous African daughter in
my hands, I spoke blessings over her life.
Shortly thereafter, the other patient delivered and I was able to catch
her baby at 0355, the birth of another precious baby girl J
Delaine and Stephanie did a wonderful job tending to the babies, while
Mary Ann and I finished caring for the mothers.
Once we got the mothers
settled under their blue mosquito nets and the babies nestled at their breasts,
we called it a night. I expressed my
deep gratitude to Grace for being such an amazing midwife and for allowing me
to have this opportunity. We all went to
bed at 0500… God you are so faithful!
Posted at 10:41 AM in Dream Jobs , Gayla's Help Others Fund , Gayla's Help Others Fund [1], Mom's Against Hunger , My African Childhood , My Sweet Family , Role Models of America, Travel | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
1. My mother taught me TO
APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
She took pride in how her home looked, how every meal was served and to
complete every project she started with her whole heart.
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
I saw her pray at home not just at church.
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
To wait on God’s Timing not mine.
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
To
love others as I loved myself – that simple truth would cause others to love me
back.
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
To love God first above everything in this world and to put Him as the absolute
wisdom to follow in life.
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
Think before you speak, what do you want others to remember about you.
7. My mother taught me IRONY
‘See…..
I told you God would work this out’.
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
You can’t love others until you love yourself.
9.
My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
I
watched her manage a home( a literal hut in the jungles of Africa, home school
4 kids alone, keep her sanity when Dad crashed and survived 2 plane crashes, keep
smiling while going through countless building programs all over the world, live
in terrible conditions and keep a sense of humor, and most of all keep her
family together no matter what!
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
‘I’m going to pray until this situation changes’. She did, and life did!
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
To smile no matter what was happening in life, because it all changes
constantly. Life’s happenings are not permanent, don’t worry. Enjoy the little things in life in spite of
others, stuff and circumstances.
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
Be who you are, never try to be someone else.
13 My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
She loves everyone and everyone loves her!
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
It
does not matter what others do, it’s only important that we live out our own
personal life in love. If she gets upset
-she expresses it then moves on quickly.
She NEVER has held a grudge against anyone in her life.
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
Her
life is so full of her own enjoyment that she has never considered what others
have or do important in comparison to her own life.
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
She looks forward to EVERYTHING in life, sights, tastes, smells, ordinary days
become special because she plans extra little things in her world to enjoy
daily.
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
|
To be gracious and
accepting, never tried to take revenge or hurt someone. ‘Put yourself in their shoes’ she would
tell me about others. She receives the
love of people from all over the world, everyone who knows her loves her.
She lives each day fully trusting God to handle
the details of life, she does not worry.
Her ESP would be called, ‘Extra Special Presence’ God’s Eyes watching over you. She keeps pictures of our ancestors around the house and mentions
things that they did in life. Always
the positive never the negative. Imprinting me with the good in my bloodline
– not the pessimistic. She valued our past
history and has pictures of our
family’s story all over the house to
remind about the wonderful things that have happened in my family’s
life. Mementos, and treasures from 50+
years fill her home. She has a deep
personal faith, a genuine love for people, an heart that enjoys living, and a
real sense of herself. She is willing
to leave things in God’s hands, has always been a homemaker and has a steady,
loyal character that is known by everyone who knows her. She cannot be quoted by negative
statements, or found being involved in the personal lives of others. These are the wisdom points she has taught
me. Not by what she has said, but by
how I have watched her live her personal life. My Mother …. My
Friend I talk with and share life with every week ! I love you Mom! Thank you for all of your training so I would be prepared to stand beside this man of God and travel the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hurting people. And now I am the responsible one with a adult daughter myself ...... I can only pray that I imprint her with truth, character, a personal walk with God and the abilities of becoming a Godly wife and mother and to handle life well. And the circle of life continues........... Happy Mother's Day my daughter. And to all my spiritual daughters - I love you too and want God's best for you in your life as a woman, wife and mother! Happy Mother's Day to you all!
|
Posted at 09:43 AM in Life Perspectives , My Sweet Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)