Greetings from the scenic Smoky Mountains of Tennessee! The temps are quickly rising to 90 plus degrees. It has been a beautiful cool spring but now the summer Tennessee weather is moving in which means HOT!
I can’t believe it has been over a year since we officially sent out our last monthly newsletter and supposedly “officially retired”. I chuckle at that statement. We are busier now than ever; it is just that we are not “on the road” and are ministering out of our Tennessee home.
Today, I am having “one of those days”. I am lonesome for our ministry family that we have connected with for years. All of you are and were family to us. We communicated through our newsletters, notes, phone calls and emails. We also had the special privilege of connecting through Coffee and Connect Live and our ministry rallies. Then---BOOM—June of 2024 everything changed. We were on the road for nearly 60 years. Little did we know how much change would take place. At times, I feel like we have a missing limb…LOL. We miss hearing about your families, celebrations, victories, praying with you and walking through the valleys of life with you. A friend once told us, “Gloria, life is change.” How true that is. We just didn’t know how much change it would actually be.
In this past year, Larry and I both had another birthday—Larry turned 82 (or will the end of this month) and I turned 81. Through the years, I have always joked, "I don’t mind growing older if I don’t have to grow up!” It seems like when we hit the Tennessee border, our lives changed, ready or not. It was like we knew the rules of the old game and then the game changed. With health changing challenges, my resume now includes care-giver for Larry (Note-I did not say caretaker.) Since Larry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s—his and my lifestyle has changed. He struggles with his balance and is in extreme pain. Tomorrow (June 13)—Larry is scheduled to have a nerve block procedure and we ask that you pray with us that it will be successful and will aid in relieving his exhausting pain. He remains upbeat and happy and wants to do what he CAN and CAN’T do---it’s like taking care of a 2 years old on steroids…HA! I am glad that I am able to care for him. We just need your prayers for strength. In a couple of weeks, he will have another procedure which is basically having a plug placed near his heart. This is to stop the clotting of blood (a possible effect of Parkinsons) that would cause stroke/heart attack. Like they say, after 60, it is patch, patch, patch.
Many of you have asked how I am doing…I am breathing! God is good! I had two stents put in my heart in January with a coupel of setbacks, but God is faithful. We are incredibly thankful for our three children who are truly our protectors and help us with everything. We could never truly express our gratitude to them!
Here are a few photos we thought you might like to just help you catch up with family.
Thank you for letting us connect through this “On the Road” report. God is good. I love the verse that says, “He is our refuge and strength in our time of need.” (Psalm 46:1) He is faithful!
God bless you until we chat again!
Gloria
definitely a new journey for both of us. We saw it coming about five years ago as his mother was bedridden for 17 years with it and his brother, Lowell, had it along with his uncle. It is very difficult to watch Larry who has always been so active, energetic and strong struggling with balance , walking and everything that goes with it. We trust God every day to give us strength. I am now honored to be his caregiver. I am thankful that we are settled here in Nashville where the children are able to help us. They are so good to us. Now my main ministry is taking care of my husband. He’s as sweet as ever, and oh yes, continues to have a great attitude and of course a plethora of crazy jokes. We do therapy walks at Home Depot or Lowe’s where he can push a high cart. Everyone knows him and greets him. They act like they’ve been friends forever, and of course, he cannot miss the opportunity to tell a crazy joke or witness or make them laugh. They always ask him, “Larry do you have a new joke today?" Needless to say if he doesn’t have one, he makes one up on the spot. I know that does not surprise you or me. Then when we are leaving, they say, “Thank you, thank you for making my day and giving us a smile.” He does the same on his business phone calls and almost every time they’ll finish a conversation saying, “Mr Larry-thank you for making my day. Call me every Friday or call me every Monday to brighten my day." Larry is allowing his pain to become a new pulpit to encourage and touch other lives. His joy is contagious!
Greetings from Tennessee! As I’m writing this, we are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Francine which made its way along the Gulf Coast. We are praying for them. We are grateful just to get some heavy rain and high winds.
thought you would do. It's terrific!" -Mike K.
August greetings from the beautiful smoky mountains of Tennessee! It’s an unusual, low humidity day, and we are savoring it as tomorrow the heat index and the humidity will go sky again reaching 105 with the humidity. It’s hard to believe it’s mid-August already. Our neighbor asked, “How do you like retirement?" And I responded, "I’m still trying to close down everything that I’ve been doing for many, many, many years, and we still have ministry out of our home." I continued to share with her that there are so many people hurting who need prayer, comfort, advice, counseling, and to just know that someone cares". And the truth of the matter is.....when you care about people, you never retire from ministering. 
friends. She’s full of life. She will definitely keep everybody busy! LOL! She said to me on the phone yesterday morning, "Do you remember being in second grade?" I said, “Yes." And then she asked, "Do you remember your teacher's name?" I responded, "Yes, Miss Johnson." She continued to question, “What do you remember about her?" I told her, "She was very pretty, sweet and when we all got her spelling words correctly, she would give us a butter--a yellow Butterman for reward-- and yummy was it ever good!" She giggled, "Wow! You remembered a lot!" The quiz was good for me---I think I passed my senior moment! Nova is full energy, and she told this grandma that she loves all school and school projects. She has no lack for words and brings excitement to any situation. 
eather has definitely warmed up here in Tennessee. I am hearing Larry use his favorite summertime joke that it is so hot that the birds are using potholders to get the worms out of the ground! That's Larry and I am so grateful for him! As we come to celebrating Father's Day, I am grateful for the great father, grandfather and great-grandfather he is. He adores his family and it is his deepest desire that he is leaving a legacy that always points them to knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior each and every day of his life.
