Archive | Judy Wills-Sunday Memories RSS feed for this section

Hey Cuz

23 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

                                                    

As I’ve said before, my Father was one of 13 children.  So there were lots and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.  Whenever we would head to Louisiana for a summer visit, we would “disperse” – my parents would stay in Grandmother’s house, my brother stayed with one boy cousin, and I would stay with a girl cousin.  Lots of fun memories with those outings.

One of those cousins, Milton, is the one my brother stayed with most of the time.  They were fairly close in age, and just seemed to hit it off.  I’m sure Bill could tell of some great times they had together.

Cousin Milton

Cousin Milton

So it was a bit surprising to find Milton and his wife at the seminary, when Fred and I landed there for Fred’s study.  While not terribly close – he was several years ahead of Fred – we still managed to get together with them a few times. Time went on – many years, in fact.  We knew that Milton and his wife had gone to the mission field as “music missionaries” to Taiwan.

Milton
Milton with parents Ray and Estelle Lites

And then we found ourselves in Orlando, and I became the church secretary for our church.  Our pastor asked at one point, that I look up the missionaries that were having their birthday each week, and publish their names and birth date, so our congregation could pray for them.  We had heard from so many missionaries that they felt especially blessed on their birthdays, since they knew people across the USA were praying for them on that day.

In the process of looking for those missionary’s names, I suddenly remember – Hey! I have a cousin who is/was a missionary!  Milton!  So I researched his name, and low-and-behold, he was on furlough from the mission field!  He had gone from Taiwan to the seminary in Columbia to teach.  So I found his e-mail address and sent off a message – “do you remember me?  Your cousin?”   He wrote back right away, and we re-established our connection after 30 years!   Amazing!

But that’s not the end of the story.  This same pastor loved to have a “Missions Conference” at our church each year.  We would have missionaries from the international field, the USA field, the Florida field, and the Orange County field come and speak to us on different Sundays.  After I had re-established connection with Milton, I asked the pastor if he would like Milton to come as the international missionary speaker one year.  He agreed, and I contacted Milton again.  He came that time, spoke in the worship services, and stayed a few days with us.  We even had Bill and DiVoran meet us for a meal, so we could connect again as a family.  It was such fun!

Milton and his wife went back to the mission field, but to Shanghai.  While we continued to e-mail each other, we had to be very careful in the wording of our messages.  We couldn’t talk about church  God.  As a matter of fact, once Milton mentioned that they had about five people “go swimming” for the first time that week.  We understood that to mean they had been baptized!  And when I had been diagnosed with cancer, and I wrote that information to him, he wrote back that he had “talked to Daddy, and everything is going to be okay!”  Daddy being God.

Milton has retired now, but we are on facebook with each other, and continue to be in touch.  I love the ways God has brought us back into each other’s lives.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Optical Illusion

16 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

 

 

I’ve always been fascinated by optical illusions.  Not that I can always “pick them apart” and figure them out, but I try.  There are several that I really enjoy.  Here is one of them.

1

Can you see the THREE faces in there?  Look again – there really are three.

1.  The young girl is facing away from you.

2.  The old woman is in the middle – her eye is the young girl’s ear, and her nose is the young girl’s chin – with a “wart” on it (the young girl’s nose).

3.   The man’s eye is also the young girl’s ear, and his mustache is the young girl’s fur collar, with his long nose coming down over his mustache.

The hat fits all three.  Such fun!

And then there’s the one with the elephant.  Does this beastie have three or four legs?  Perhaps five legs?

2

And then there’s the one with the faces in the vase.

3

One of my favorite artists, other than my sister-in-law, DiVoran, is Bev Doolittle.  She paints a lot of outdoor scenes, but there are usually “hidden” faces or things within her paintings.  One of the best examples is below.  How many hidden faces can you find?

4

But one of my all-time favorite illusions is a painting in the rotunda of the American Adventure at EPCOT.  If you are ever there – either waiting for the Voices Of Liberty to sing, or the American Adventure show – then check out the painting of the airplane on the wall.  Start at the left side of the painting, then move toward the opposite wall – toward the right side of the painting.  The airplane moves with you!!  Absolutely amazing!  (Sorry – I don’t have a copy of that picture to insert here)  How did the artist do that?  Whenever we are in that place, and we usually strike up a conversation with the people around us, we always point out that painting to them.  They are amazed, as well.

Some people are so talented, and I’m so glad that God made us all with different skills.  These kinds of things really delight me.  I feel like God just gives them to us to lift our hearts and let us laugh a little bit.

The American Adventure

 

To see more of the American Adventure artwork and history click HERE

Tags: , , , ,

The Birds

9 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Judy Wills

I’ve not always been fascinated by birds – they just came with the territory, right?  I don’t especially remember any birds in New Mexico that excited me – perhaps the road runner, but not much of that.

Then Fred and I married and moved to Fort Worth, Texas.  All of a sudden, there were birds chirping everywhere, and I had no clue what they were!  They made all kinds of different sounds.  When a friend said they were Mocking Birds, I was astounded.  Wow! I said – we don’t have those in Albuquerque!  Then SHE was astounded!  Judy!  They are everywhere!  Not in New Mexico!!  (They probably are, but what did I know?)

And so, little by little, I began to notice the birds wherever we went/moved.  Some were just birds, some were more interesting.  I noticed the Blue Jays; I noticed the tiny sparrows; I noticed the Robins.  And on and on.

One funny thing I remember is when Fred and I took our first Disney cruise.  The last port of call of the cruise is their private island, Castaway Cay.  We walked along, and, since it was getting to be lunch time, we began to notice the places where we could grab a bite to eat.  What caught our attention, is that someone had packed out a plate of food, but had left it on the table – probably to get themselves something to drink.  That was NOT the thing to do, as the little Finches are so abundant there, and a mass of them had descended upon that plate of food and were devouring it!  It was hilarious for us to see – no so much for the one wanting to eat the food!  Those little yellow birds were everywhere on the island.  Cute little things.

1

But I guess the birds that fascinate me the most are the Sandhill Cranes.  To me they are elegant.  They are so stately, and walk with such grace.  They have that beautiful triangle of red on their heads.  And the sound they make!  What a croak that is!  I’ve tried to duplicate it for our grandchildren, but have been unable to do so.  They just had to hear it for themselves.

2

We always like to go past a nearby pond in the Spring time, just to see if we can spot a Sandhill Crane family – Mom, Dad, and at least one fuzzball of a baby.  Frequently, we see twin fuzzballs!  Such fun!

When we moved to Florida, DiVoran asked me what we would like for them to give us to help us get “situated.”  I mentioned all the birds we saw there that were unfamiliar to us, so she gave us a bird book.  Once, when we were with Bill and DiVoran, I mentioned that I had learned that cranes fly with their necks and feet/legs straight out from their body – like a crane, while herons fly with their necks crooked and legs tucked.  DiVoran said, “how do you know that?”  I replied, “I learned it from the bird book you gave us!”

Eagles are probably my very favorite bird.  I’m so glad those in charge over-road Benjamin Franklin’s suggestion to make the turkey the American Bird – and chose the eagle.  So much more regal.  Arrogant?  Perhaps.  But to me they just symbolize America.  And to see them soar – and to hear their call – well, what’s not to notice?

3

 Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Daddy

2 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

My Daddy was quite a guy.  As I’ve said before, he was born in 1892, and was 20 years older than my Mother.  But he was a good Daddy, and really was a “Daddy” rather than a stiff “Father.”  I was, occasionally, exasperated with him in my teenage years – I guess as all teenagers are with their parents – but loved him dearly.  He died when I was 25 and pregnant with my first child.  I always regretted that neither of our children got to know their grandpa, and I miss him still.

 

But he could be really funny.  I remember that, when Mother was working in accounting at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, she would quite often invite some of the single, lonely, homesick airmen to church with us on Sundays, then to our house for Sunday dinner.  Around the table, one of Daddy’s favorite things to tell these guys was that he was from a large family.  He would state that there were eight boys, and each of them had five sisters.  Then he would pose the question: “How many of us children were there in the family?”  You could almost see the steam coming out of their ears as the wheels turned as they computed the numbers.  While most got the joke within a reasonable time, I remember one young man staring at Daddy, eyes bulging out, and said “58?!!”  Then Daddy would howl with delight and inform them that all eight boys had the SAME five sisters!  There were only 13 children in the family.

Since Daddy was older when he and Mom married (45), they started their family rather quickly.  When my brother was born, Daddy was so proud that he sent off a telegram to his parents.  Mom told me that his dad sent back a nice, long, newsy letter about everything going on in Louisiana.  Then he ended the letter with:  “Son, we are happy to hear about the birth of your son.  But you must realize – it just RAINS grandchildren down here.”  Mom said Daddy’s balloon just deflated at that!

 

T.J. & Mattie Lites with 10 of their children. Daddy is back row, 4th from left

T.J. & Mattie Lites with 10 of their children.
Daddy is back row, 4th from left

Being the farm boy that he was, he loved to finish the meal with a slice or two of a tomato, rather than dessert.  He loved the desserts, as well, but….

He had some “sayings” that we always enjoyed.  Well, enjoyed MOST of the time.

  •    The traffic will eventually all run by (sometime eventually took longer than others – and Fred always said, “well, Daddy was right again”
  •    This roast is just no good – it just falls off the bone!
  •      As you know, breakfast (lunch/dinner) is one of my three main meals of the dayGranny, Aunt Jessie, Daddy - in his p.j.'s - Mom, Dora Bowers, DiVoran Lites - 1961          Granny, Aunt Jessie, Daddy – in his p.j.’s – Mom, Dora Bowers, DiVoran Lites – 1961 

Once, when Fred and I were visiting Albuquerque, Fred had gone out driving with Daddy.  That evening, Fred related this story of the day, but could hardly get it out for all his giggling.  They were driving along – Fred driving – and Daddy cleared his throat, turned his head, and spit.  Unfortunately, he had forgotten that the window was still closed!  Fred said Daddy cleaned off the window then turned his head back to Fred and sheepishly said, “that’s only the second time in my life I’ve done that.”  Fred said he had to “bite his tongue” to keep from laughing out loud!

Bill Lites in Albuquerque, NM

Bill Lites in Albuquerque, NM

It’s such fun to remember my Daddy.  But the best part is knowing that some day I will be reunited with him and won’t ever have to leave him again.

Bill Lites in the stocks - Williamsburg, VA

Bill Lites in the stocks – Williamsburg, VA

Bill Lites with daughter, Judy Wills, and granddaughter, Charlene Lites

Bill Lites with daughter, Judy Wills, and granddaughter, Charlene Lites

                    

Tags: , , , ,

Surprising Relatives~Part 2

26 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

 

Some years ago, I became interested in genealogy.  I was so excited about it all, and I mentioned to Fred’s Dad that I would love to have their family history.  He rather turned me down flat with a “don’t you know that in five generations you have about a million people?!”  That went no where.  But later, I realized that I wanted something different.  So I approached him again about it, and he started in, again, with the “don’t you know….”  I stopped him and said, “No Dad, I want YOUR childhood memories…and Mom’s childhood memories.”  “Oh.”

And so, they both began writing their memoirs.  Dad would type his up, and e-mail them to me to make whatever typographical corrections that needed to be done.  Mom hand-wrote hers and sent them to me to transcribe.

After they finally said, “we’re finished,” I put them in book-form and made copies for all the family.

I had asked Fred’s parents about pictures of the family, and they both said there just weren’t any.  I was quite disappointed, until one day, on a visit to their home, I stumbled upon four picture albums!  I was so pleased!  I now had pictures that I could add at the appropriate spots to highlight the narration.  And so the scanning process began.  The whole project was a fun thing to do, and definitely a labor of love on my part.  Now all their children, grandchildren, great-grands and on down have not only memories of how these two lovely people grew up, but how life was, back in those days.  I only wish I had started this process when both of my parents were still alive.  I can only go by pictures and what little I gleaned from my Mother before her death.

In any case, during this time, we made a trip to Washington state to visit with Fred’s parents and both of his sisters.  It was just after Emily had told us about making the connection with Walt and Pauline Eby.  While spending a few days with Emily and Ron, they invited Walt and Pauline over to dinner, so we could share family stories.  I had taken the rough draft of Fred’s parent’s Memories book with me, and after dinner, I asked Walt to look through it.  Unbelievably, he had some of the originals of the pictures I had in the book!  Amazing!  He was so happy to read the stories, and know a bit more about this side of the family, and how they “related” to his parents and his Uncle Bob and Aunt Eleanor.

While it shouldn’t be, it’s always surprising to find relatives in the most unusual way.  And God has a way of bringing us together and making that family connection that is so very precious.

 Proverbs 3:6

Kitty and Charles Wills under the Engagement Bell at Wheaton College.
Kitty and Charles Wills 1980

Tags: , , , , ,

Surprising Relatives~Part 1

19 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

                                                     

After meeting Fred – my  husband – and then his parents and siblings, the next part of the Wills family I learned about was his Uncle Bob and Aunt Eleanor Eby.  Such an interesting family.

1

Aunt Eleanor was middle sister to Fred’s Mother.  She and Bob lived in the Pasadena area of California, and were very special to Fred.  On his return trip to the U.S. after high school graduation in Japan, he stayed with them before heading to Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico.  Even though I hadn’t met them, after we were married, they sent us a Christmas gift each year for many years.  Like I said, just special people.

Uncle Bob was not only a great musician/pianist/organist – one of his greatest accomplishments was to build an electronic organ that produced sounds so like an actual pipe organ, you would have thought you were in a great cathedral.  Please notice that there is a tremendous difference between an electric organ and an electronic organ.  We even have a recording of someone playing on his electronic organ – and it sounds exactly like a pipe organ.  Magnificent!

Another interesting fact in all this is that Fred’s parents met at Wheaton College in Chicago.  Bob and Eleanor met at Wheaton College.  Bob’s brother, Dick and his wife, Maybelle, met at Wheaton College.  Oh, and just a small tidbit here – Billy Graham was a graduate of Wheaton College – just a few years after these guys.

2

Billy Graham with Fred’s dad, far right

Okay, all that to say that we all learned about Dick and Maybelle kind of by the “back door” a few years ago.  You see, Fred’s middle sister and her husband live in Washington state, not far from the Oregon border.  For as long as I can remember, they have been fans of square dancing.

Hold on…….I’m getting to the story….it really does all connect.

Fred’s sister (Emily) and her husband (Ron) had been square dancing with a dancing club for many years, and some of their favorite people are a couple named Walt and Pauline Eby.  Emily said that even though Eby isn’t that common of a name, she really didn’t think anything about it.  After having been dancing about 10 years together, they began to talk more about their families.  In passing, Walt mentioned that he had an Uncle Bob.  Emily perked up and announced that she, ALSO, had an Uncle Bob.  Turns out – it’s the SAME Uncle Bob Eby!  Walt is the son of Dick and Maybelle Eby.

3

Pauline and Walt Eby

 Amazing!

Bob & Eleanor Eby, Kitty Wills, Maybelle & Dick Eby

Bob & Eleanor Eby, Kitty Wills, Maybelle & Dick Eby

 **********To Be Continued**********

 

Tags: , , ,

Karen and the Optometrist

12 Jan

 

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

                                                     

Unfortunately, Fred and I both wear glasses – or contact lenses at this point in time.  And also unfortunately, our oldest daughter, Karen, has needed glasses for a very long time – since she was in first grade.

When we were in Germany, and Karen was about 14 years old, the base optometrist thought contacts might slow down the rate of her astigmatism, and suggested contact lenses.  She wasn’t so sure at first, but after she got the hang of it, she was pleased with the results – no more glasses!!

After we returned Stateside, we were living a bit away from the base, but still did most of our “doctor stuff” at the Air Force base nearby.  When it was time to have the girls’ eyes checked, we went to the base optometrist.  Karen went in first for her exam, then sat with me while Janet had her exam.

When Karen came out of the exam room, she sat down and I could tell she was holding something in – she REALLY wanted to break out in laughter.  After Janet left us, she just let it out.  She said the doctor did the exam and told her that she might “eventually need to get glasses or contacts.”  When she told him that, not only did she have contacts already – but that they were in her eyes at the moment – he was dumbfounded!  She said she really had to “bite her tongue” to keep from laughing in his face!

After Janet finished up her exam the doctor came out to talk to me.  He looked really chagrined and said, “she really fooled me there.”  He had the most sheepish look on his face, and it made me grin at him.

I suspect that he was just a touch more careful with his examinations after that!

Just one of those hilarious memories that stay with us – and we laugh about over and over

.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

After Christmas…

5 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

 

Christmas is such a joyous time.  I love the decorations – not only at our house – but also those that the neighbors put up.  Ours is rather tame compared to some of our neighbors, but that’s okay…….we have what WE enjoy!

1

I love the season that reminds us that our Savior was born – to bring us life everlasting in His presence.  I’m sorry that society has made it into something so commercial, that so many people can’t see past the glitter to see God’s handiwork.  We received an e-mail from some friends who are working with Wycliffe Bible Translators, telling of some translators in Nigeria who were working on Luke 2:7, where “She [Mary] gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”  After pondering the word “manger” the locals used a word.  When the Wycliffe translator asked what that word meant, they said it was a “cradle” hung by ropes where the newborn could be laid and it could be swung.

The Wycliffe translator tried to get them to understand that was not what happened – that Jesus came in the lowest possible way, that it wasn’t just a matter of tradition. God expects us to find the words that express the original meaning as accurately as possible. Furthermore, this word tells us something profound about God.  “When He came to live among us and bring salvation to us, He came in the lowliest way possible. He did not come and sleep in a nice rope-hung cradle like every mother wants for her newborn.  Instead, He showed us his unbelievable humility.  So we need to find your best word for an animal feeding trough.”

Suddenly the one who had argued most loudly for the traditional term offered, “We feed our animals out of an old worn-out basket that is not usable anymore except to feed the animals. We have another word for it.” 

And so they used that word. 

That story reminded me of a man in our church who works on the Jesus film for the Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru).  He said that there was a translator working with the team in Africa going from village to village, and he would translate.  But it wasn’t until they took the film to HIS village, and he heard the story in his heart language that he finally understood the message of Christ!

God has made it so very easy for us to know and find Him.  In the “after-Christmas” we must hang on to the message that God sent his one and only Son to be born in the lowliest way possible, and grow into the man who would die for our sins, so we can live forever in His presence. 

How very great is our God!! 

 Psalm 8:9

Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Tags: , , , ,

Memories of New Year’s Past

29 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

I guess I am just like most people when it comes to New Years – “I AM going to lose those _____ pounds this year!”  “I AM going to get the house in order!”  “I AM going to scan all those pictures and get them in an album!”  etc., etc., etc.

So, resolutions not-with-standing, what are my memories of New Years past?  I guess my favorite memory is of growing up in my church in Albuquerque.

1

For many years, on New Year’s Eve, the church would have a program that started about 6:00 p.m. with a dinner.  Now, this was a fairly large church, and we had a paid staff who made the meals every Wednesday evening, before the regular activities began.  And those ladies made the BEST dinner rolls!!!  Nothing I’ve ever been able to duplicate!

Anyway, dinner started at 6:00 p.m.  After that, I remember either a movie shown on a large screen in the sanctuary, or games.  Perhaps there were games for the smaller children – I just don’t remember.  But then there was a time of “remembrance” or sharing.  Just being thankful for the year that was passing away, and looking forward to the new one approaching.

But the best thing about the entire evening, was that, after the sharing time, we would – literally – ring the outer edges of the sanctuary, holding hands to make a funny-shaped circle, and pray in the New Year.  We could hear the fireworks going off, and people yelling outside the church building.  But inside, we were asking God to bless the New Year, and us in it, and our part of it.  It was an extremely wonderful time.

And then I remember some New Year’s Eve’s in our small church in Virginia.  We would gather for a time of sharing and remembrance, then share the Lord’s Supper together, and then pray in the New Year.  The pastor would try to do the Lord’s Supper differently some times, to make it more meaningful for us.  I remember a time when he had a loaf of bread, and we pinched off our own little piece.  I also remember a time when there was a community cup for each family to share the “wine” (grape juice in the Baptist church!).

2

But in all the memories I have, it always culminated with prayer for the New Year.  And I can’t think of a better way to start any New Year, than asking God’s blessings upon it.

May YOUR New Year be blessed beyond measure.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Christmas Memories

22 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY

 

Christmas memories……..so many……all good.  I remember, as a child, waking up to Christmas morning and rushing into the living room to see what Santa had brought.  And then to opening all the presents from Mom, Dad, Granny and Aunt Jessie.  I suppose my brother had gotten me something as well, but I just dont remember that.

2

3

I remember Daddy sitting us down and reading the Christmas story from the Bible.  He and Mom always made sure that we knew the true meaning of Christmas – why we celebrated the season and all the gifts that came with it.  And why we gave gifts to each other and to those who didn’t have all we had.

I remember one Christmas that we were traveling to San Antonio from Albuquerque to spend the holiday with Granny and Aunt Jessie before they moved to Albuquerque.  We had a car wreck along the way and Aunt Jessie came to pick us up and take us to her home.  We still had Christmas!  We didn’t have a workable car any more, and Bill had a broken arm……….but we still had Christmas!

6

I remember the last Christmas my Daddy was on this earth.  He’d had a very unfortunate accident in the hospital and was really banged up.  Fred and I flew in from California, and Bill and DiVoran, with their two children, flew in from Florida, to celebrate that time together.  I remember the children tearing into their presents under the tree that morning, and DiVoran stepping out of the way to urge Bill to get in the best position to get some good pictures of that. And there was Daddy, with that black eye, just enjoying his grandchildren and children around him.  It was a time to treasure.

I remember traveling from the Florida Panhandle to Titusville to have Christmas with my brother and his family, and then across the peninsula to Clearwater to have another celebration with Fred’s parents.  Being with family at this time of celebration is so very precious, and we cherish each memory.

And now I remember a recent time with the family in Titusville and the significant others that have joined the extended family.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything – no amount of non-Christian beliefs and just the time for partying is nearly as satisfying and delicious as being with family, in the Spirit of God’s blessings.

Nope………Christmas Memories and just too precious.

Tags: , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →