Beach Fun

Beach Fun

Leaving a Legacy

I just got home from the funeral of my mom's best friend, Janice Hammond. One week ago tomorrow, she was killed in a plane crash in Lawrenceburg, TN. She and her husband Clay were returning to their home here to spend the weekend with their family. We got the call last Saturday while were were at the beach. I have spent the past week remembering Janice with all of her family and friends, especially my mom. Those two could get into more than anybody I know. Everytime my mom would call and say they were going shoppping together, I knew there would be some wild adventure to tell when she returned. My most favorite was the time they stopped on the side of the road b/c they were convinced that they were having car trouble. Can you imagine two middle aged women on the side of a country road, all dressed up for a day of shopping with their ears down on the hood of a car trying to figure out where this sound was coming from?? I believe at one point Janice even said, "Vonda, I am afraid it is going to blow up!" I wish I could say it didn't take long for them to solve the mystery, but from what I remember this went on for some time; until they finally realized it was a weather siren going off! They had so many good times together. Most recently, they experimented with the effectiveness of giving oneself a shower while also washing your car in the drive through carwash. Throughout all of my mom and Janice's medical issues they have been there for one another. I can't even begin to count the number of trips they have made to Birmingham together. Good times, bad times, births, deaths, they were always there for each other. I can't even begin to imagine how lost my mom will feel over the next weeks, months and years; b/c I know a friend like that only happens once in a lifetime.

Janice's death has caused everyone in our community to think about their lives and their families; and hold those they love the most closer than before. Everyone that knew her was touch in someway by the life that she lived. She was one of those people you just couldn't say anything bad about. She was a giver, a caretaker, a soft place to fall and an ever-present encourager. You would never hear her complain or pitty herself over the heartache life had sent her way, and believe me she had more than her share. She knew what it meant to hurt, but she always seemed to find a way to turn that pain into something productive. Today the church was filled to capacity and even had overflow rooms b/c there wasn't even standing room. What a testament to her life! What a legacy for her children and grandchildren! Although she is gone, her Christlike characteristics will live on in them. She was just that type of person...she was contagious. I know there is fear that she will be forgotten, but I don't think it is possible to forget someone like that. Those are the type of people that you carry those stories around with you and use them to get you through.
What kind of stories will be told when you die? Will they be stories that live on forever? Will your legacy be one for your family to be proud of?

God, wrap your arms around all of those that loved and miss Janice. Give them the strength to get through each day. Help them, Lord, like only you can. May our lives bring glory to you, and, as with Janice, may our deaths do the same.

Beach Time Fun!

Although our beach trip was cut short by the sudden death of Janice, the days leading up to Saturday were wonderful. The girls had SO MUCH fun! All the way to the beach, Abigail kept saying, "I want to go to the beach." Bless her heart, the beach is just too far away. We made sand castles--that they knocked over, caught crabs(the edible kind--lol), caught sting rays and fish--of which, Abigail was scared, and swam in the tiny swimming pool that Grandad so graciously redug every morning in the sand by the ocean. The first night we took the girls to Build a Bear workshop. Abigail was overcome with excitment when she saw all of the clothes and accessories, and Emma tried to carry every bear in the store under 1 arm--Bandit was in the other, of course. She finally settled on a white bear with pink tips, which we named Hannah, b/c we also had to buy the HM t-shirt. Abigail picked a solid pink bear with white hearts. Her name??? Pinky--so original, I know. And as you can see in the pics, she is all ready for a night on the town with her pink tank top with sequins.
Ran's one goal for the trip was to get my dad to parasail with him, and he did. It was great for all of us to be together just relaxing and hanging out by the beach.
We went to Lambert's and Ran had them throw so many rolls over to our table that Abigail finally stood up and raised her hand too! The guy throwing the rolls actually walked over to the table and tossed it so she could catch it! And for her, no big deal, just what you are suppose to do; or at least that is how she acted. The last night we were there we took them to "The Track" where they had small kiddie rides. When Abigail first got on the train Emma refused to ride, but as soon as she took off by herself--she looked so pittiful all alone--Emma decided it looked like fun. From that point on Emma was game for anything. Their favorite was the swings. That was the only smile Abigail gave us, the rest of the time you would have thought she was miserable. But every time she got off of a ride, she would say, "Go again, Again, Again!" She cracks me up. We call that stoic face, the "Uncle Brad" look...my brother never shows emotion. He could be having the best time of his life and you would never know it looking at his face. It was so hard to let them get on those rides by themself. At first I was handing the tickets and helping them get on; but by the end of the night, they were doing everything by themselves and behind my big smile, my heart was breaking. Everyday they get stronger, smarter, and more independent; I am so happy, but as a mother, it is defintely bitter sweet.

Thank you Lord for getting us to and from the beach safely. Thank you for the memories that were made and for blessing this family in such a way that a trip like that was even possible.