Snow or no snow

I've been watching the weather closely today - not Florida's weather which varies very little compared to other regions, but the snowy Northeast (and Southeast)where so many of our loved ones live: Brooklyn, Tabernacle, Philly, Christiansburg, Charlotte. I miss the snow - but I miss those loved ones much, much more (and those in CA, too!) Even though the weather here was mid 60s, my internal temperature gage has changed and that felt chilly. I think it felt even more so as I thought all day about the snow experience of the aforementioned. So all of you, enjoy the snow and being snowed in and stay safe! I love you.

Missing Lon Mohundro

Wow, it's been a long time since I blogged. Since I've started a master's program while working fulltime, I've not had much "fun" computer time.

Although Dad died in April, I've missed him more this summer since I've had downtime, off from working for the summer. Mom asked me a while back to send a copy of the remarks I made at his memorial service in Pennsylvania to my aunt who came to the funeral but wasn't able to come to the memorial a month later in May.

While typing those out for her, I decided I'd share them with you, whoever might still check my blog from time to time. Mostly it's for me, to have this "public" record of my love and admiration for him.

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I’m very proud and grateful to be the daughter of Lon Mohundro. He was a wonderful father, as you can imagine. When he planted a rose garden, he allowed me to “help” and I always considered it “our” rose garden. When we were small, Dad built us a play house. When we moved to the other side of Dallas, he loaded up that playhouse and moved it to our new house. He later built a tree house platform above it and we enjoyed many, many hours of pretend play in those houses. When a transgression of mine was great enough that Mom thought Dad needed to handle it, he only had to tell me how disappointed he was . . . and soon we both be in tears, mine of repentance and sorrow that I had disappointed him, his of sympathy and love. On the few occasions that I, as a teen, needed to “pay a price,” the consequence fit the crime. (Jim loves the story about the time I damaged the oil pan by driving over a rock, and Dad had me get under the car to measure all the lowest points.)

Dad made me feel treasured. When I was a senior in high school and old enough to drive, he invited me to drive Cambridge for lunch. After lunch at a nice restaurant, as he walked me to my car, I noticed he made sure to walk on the curb side of the sidewalk, and when I asked about it, he told me that a gentleman always walks on the street side to protect the lady. He took me to a father-daughter event at the Civitan Club. He gave me gifts of jewelry. When I got my ears pierced, he gave me earrings. When he bought my mother an enameled Christmas wreath pin, he bought me one, too. I still have it and treasure it.

Dad always wanted me to be the best I could be, a child of God who glorified God in all I did. That’s what he strove for in himself, and that’s what he wanted for each of you.

The greatest gift Dad gave me was as an example of a Godly, dedicated life. He was a loving husband, father, son (he called and wrote his parents often). The most valuable lessons I learned from Dad are spiritual. Dad’s life was marked by increasing levels of personal commitment.

After “falling away” as a young adult (and young Christian), he and Mom were restored to the church when I was still small. During my childhood, he was a successful businessman and a deacon in a congregation in Dallas.

In 1967, he and Mom stepped up that spiritual commitment again when they left home and family, job and community to move with an Exodus church planting to Massachusetts. He became an elder of the church and traveled throughout New England as he taught other struggling churches about elderships.

He increased his spiritual commitment again in 1974 when he, Mom, and Jim followed me to Lubbock, TX, so that he could study to serve the Lord and Christ’s body full-time as a minister.

Dad has been well-known and loved everywhere they lived. Not only was he tall and handsome, but he was thoughtful and kind, serving others and seeking their best good, especially their spiritual best.

Dad never met a stranger. He’d talk to anyone, and somehow he’d usually quickly bring the conversation to spiritual matters.

There was a lot to admire about him and many attributes I wanted and tried to imitate. (When I went far from home to college at Lubbock Christian, I determined to overcome my shy nature and become outgoing like he was. )I am supremely grateful that I was blessed to be his daughter. Thanks, Mom, for having such great taste in men and for you part in demonstrating a wonderful marriage centered on God.

My brother, Jim, found it comforting immediately following Dad’s death to remind everyone that if anyone is in heaven, certainly Dad is. I agree with that – but Dad would want us to remember that his certain salvation is not because he was such a good man. Dad is a wonderful man because of Christ’s saving grace. He put his faith entirely in that salvation promise, and we all saw that in Him. I look forward to being with Dad again in our heavenly home.

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A little of this and a little of that

I'm glad our week of winter is over (hehe), although a number of our plants took a hit in spite of our covering them with sheets. (Loni said our yard looked like Halloween, with ghosts all over it.)
Going to bed with the windows open. Wearing short sleeves to school tomorrow and no jacket. Hurrah for Florida!
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We were supposed to host SNAC tonight (Sunday Night After Church - for the kids grades 3-6), but only one was there. We were about to head home when the Spirit nudged me - invite his whole family over to enjoy those pizzas! It was a very nice evening.
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Our friend and sister, Dottie, lost her canine companion this week. Her cockerspaniel, Molly, only three years old and the companion she chose when her husband died suddenly, on Friday died of a stroke. Prayers for Dottie in her grief.
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And prayers for Alberta, who walked out during worship this morning thinking she was having a stroke. A blood vessel did burst in her head. She was airlifted to hospital in Orlando. Praying for sweet Alberta.
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Start of a new school week - those 7th and 8th graders. Lord, let me show love, not frustration; give me strength and wisdom to maintain better control in my classroom.
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Self-tagged via Lisa's blog (italics mine) --

1. Started your own blog (duh)

2. Slept under the stars (GanderBrook!)

3. Played in a band (school orchestra count?)

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower (GanderBrook again!)

6. Given more than you can afford to charity (not often enough)

7. Been to Disneyland/world (both!)

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo (thanks to Ramona)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (no, but I thought we were going to be struck by lightening at Gloucester, MA, when our hair suddenly stood up with electric current!)

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (quilting)

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch-hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (an ancestor)

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (snorkeling, just this past year, at age 53!)

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business (not that it lasted, but it was registered and everything)

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (CampFire Girls candy)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job (phew!)

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper (wedding photo)

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury (so close - I did sit in the chair briefly, before being excused)

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (does wading count?)

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee