We left Leavenworth, Kansas, for a couple of weeks of vacation time, to visit our families before we headed to Germany. Lovely time – family is best!
We arrived in Heidelberg, West Germany for Fred’s next assignment. Again, there wasn’t any housing available just at that moment, so we stayed in the “Q” – officers temporary quarters. It was mostly like a hotel room, but no kitchen or kitchenette, so all our meals were eaten out.
Guest quarters – Patrick Henry Village
Within a week – after we had gotten over our jet lag – we started looking for the Baptist church there in Heidelberg. When we had been in Wiesbaden, our church there had dealings with other Baptist churches throughout Europe, and knew there was a church there in Heidelberg. Neither Fred nor I can remember how we found out that the Sunday School part was not meeting at the church building, but were holding classes in a school nearby, then walking to worship service in the church building. In any case, we went to the Sunday School one Sunday morning, then walked to the worship service in the church building.
We did join that body of believers – Grace Baptist Church. Neither Fred nor I can remember the name of the pastor who was there at that time. But perhaps that’s because he and his family were getting ready to rotate back to the States. His three-year tour was up. More to come on how we called another pastor.
In Heidelberg, the German congregation of believers had built a building, where they met for services.
Grace Baptist Church, Heidelberg, West Germany
The pulpit and baptistry cross
Inside the church building for a service
Inside the church building for a service – this is where the adult choir sat for worship services
But as with the church in Wiesbaden, the German congregation shared the building with the American congregation. I’m sure we paid a rental fee to the German group, but that was okay. It was a lovely building, with a basement, where we held our choir practice, and special events.
When we were in Wiesbaden, the American and German congregations did a lot of “joint” events together. Not only did we share the building, but we had dinners and outings together. It was a wonderful time together. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the same cooperative feeling in the church in Heidelberg. We did “cooperate” with them, but had little-to-no events together. That was the only down side of that church.
However, I do remember early one December, the German congregation had a sort-of “bazaar” of hand-crafted Christmas decorations, and had them set out for us to look at and purchase if we wanted. I found several items that I wanted, and have kept them all these years. Some are a little “worst for the wear” but I still use them. Not only do I like them, but they remind me of Germany, and the time we spent there. They were lovely people, and we did try to incorporate them into our worship time together.
While the American congregation wasn’t too large, we were a great group. We found a family from Canada; there was a young lady from New Zealand
Stacy from New Zealand and Judy
who was touring Germany and found she loved Heidelberg, and so stayed and worked as a chamber maid in a hotel, who just wanted some time with English speaking people, and found our church. There was a school teacher who is still a good friend of ours.
One thing I especially loved about this church was that, while most of the members were military people and their families – when they walked through the doors of the church – the “rank” came off – we were all the same in God’s eyes. No one ever pulled rank or tried to be more than anyone else. It was great. Wish the American schools had the same policy.
WE….ARE THE CHURCH!
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
First Baptist Church San Antonio, TX, Sanctuary – from a post card
until it was time for Fred to be transferred. He was given orders to go to Tyndall AFB, Florida (in Panama City), and so we moved there.
Photo credit WJHG.com Credit Google search
We did one stop along the way, to stay and visit with one of my Dad’s brothers, Uncle Ed and his wife, Aunt Joecilla, in Louisiana. They were special people to us.
Karen was reading quite well by this time, having finished second grade. Uncle Ed wasn’t in good health then, and one day, when looking for Karen, I found her at Uncle Ed’s side (he was reclining on the couch), sitting on a foot stool, reading to him. He was enthralled, and she was in her element. It’s a memory I cherish.
We finally made it to Tyndall AFB, but there was essentially no guest quarters for us to stay in, so we were put up in a motel outside the base. We were there about two or three weeks, much to our regret. At night, the roaches came out to play, and we always heard them. The room had a kitchenette, and we had some paper plates and cups that we heard the roaches frolicking around. Yuck!!
We started looking for a church home, and there were quite a few Baptist Churches around the area. There was one church we really liked – Fred and I liked our Sunday School class, the girls both liked their Sunday School class, the preacher was good…but the choir was just about half-a-pitch off in everything they sang. Talk about fingernails on the blackboard! Nope nope nope – we couldn’t endure that.
We had decided long before, that we could be happy in whatever size church God placed us. We had been in large, small, and smaller churches. We finally visited the First Baptist Church in downtown Panama City. While FBC Panama City wasn’t as large as FBC San Antonio, it was still one of the largest churches in Panama City.
Credit Google search and FBC Panama City website
Despite not having the same home feeling I’d had with FBC San Antonio, it was still a comfortable feeling. As with the FBC in San Antonio, we joined and participated in the Sunday School…the choir…and all things that go along with church, including Fred being asked to serve as a Deacon, which he did. It was a lovely church, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We were members of that church for the five years we lived at Tyndall AFB.
An interesting side note about Tyndall AFB – Fred’s father, a U.S.A.F. Chaplain, had been stationed at Tyndall back in the 1950’s, and was Base Chaplain. The small chapel where he preached was still there, but they had built a newer one by the time we were at Tyndall.
One other side note about living in Panama City: I joined a women’s bowling league, and enjoyed that sport. One bowling morning, I woke up with a pain in my side/back. When I threw the first ball, I knew something was wrong, and stopped playing. I went immediately to the base ER. After xrays were done, they discovered that I had a hairline fracture of one of my ribs! How did THAT happen? No idea. The following Sunday, at church, I was holding the elevator door open with my body, so our girls could come out and go to their Sunday School class. The door started to close – on my back! – and that’s when I realized it had done the same thing the previous week! So THAT’s how that happened! I jokingly told a Deacon that I was going to sue the church, and he said, “all we can give you is the elevator!” Fortunately, I didn’t need an elevator.
I had heard talk at the base that the townspeople really liked the Navy people on the West side of town, but the AF people weren’t held in very good graces. Knowing ourselves, we just turned up our noses at that attitude, and dug in with both feet! And before we left that base and town and church…they were quite sorry to see us go. I like to think we changed the attitude of some of those same townspeople with our willingness to be where and what God wanted us to be, while we were in that place. Of course, that was our attitude with every move we made while Fred was active duty.
WE….ARE THE CHURCH!
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Hubby walked in with groceries, he put them away and got busy on another mystery task.
“Got something for you,” he said. He took my hand and placed them on a crystal vase filled with flowers. He described each, detailing their beautiful colors.
Sweet, isn’t he? Well, me, on the other hand, not so much. I’ve told him, very gently, I might add, that flowers are great, but since I can’t see them, it’s kind of a waste of money.
I have hinted, suggested, and downright told him, instead, to get me an outfit, gift certificate to a spa, dinner out, etc.
But before you shake your head with disbelief at my rude, cold lack of appreciation, you might have expressed similar reactions.
The Lord insists on handing you the gift of confidence, yet traces of insecurity filter through. He hands you His grace, yet you look to please Him by scurrying through tasks. He repeats He’d be your companion, yet you worry about facing tomorrow alone.
He said He’d calm the seas and quiet the storms, yet you tremble at the thought of impending adversity. He hands you the gift of His Word to guide you, yet you follow your own personal GPS for your life, for your plans and desires.
Something we cannot do without.
In all that mess, there’s something we cannot do without. We all need to work in accepting the bouquet of God’s faithfulness. The one that doesn’t change with circumstances, but emphasizes the certainty of His protection.
Nestled in that protection, even when feeling anxious, stressed, or lonely, He’s handing you a bouquet of fragrant, trustworthy, and sweet promises, ones that last and prevail through dark moments.
He arranges them in the crystal vase of His love and adds the same reassurance He promised to Zion: “Provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor (Isaiah 61: 3).”
The splendor He displays didn’t end with any pandemic. It didn’t stop when the economy went down. And it doesn’t diminish its glimmer when bad news echo everywhere. The power of His Word still stands, His joy remains, and His promises for a new tomorrow are still secure in His hands
Let’s Pray
Father, when the odor of adversity wafts into my life, I will receive the flowers of your promises. I will inhale their aroma to delight my soul with confidence for today and reassurance for tomorrow. In Jesus’ name.
What have you done with the gifts God offers you?
Janet
______________________________________
I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.
Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.
Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.
Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.
Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR
Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.
As I mentioned last time, we were in northern Maine only one year – 13 months actually. The day following our daughter’s birth, Fred looked at me and said, “you don’t really want to stay here another year, do you?” I nearly jumped out of the hospital bed, with a resounding “YOU GOT ORDERS!!” And he did. We were to go to San Antonio, Texas, for Fred to teach at the Officer Training School at Lackland AFB.
Credit Google Search and JBSA website
And so we transitioned from Maine to Texas, with some stops along the way. We visited Fred’s parents and family in D.C. and New Jersey;
Fred’s grandmother and family
With Fred’s mother in D.C. (Dad taking the picture)
We visited my brother’s family in Titusville, Florida (my mother had remarried five years after, daddy’s death, and they were on their honeymoon in Florida), a stop at St. Augustine, Florida,
St. Augustine, FL – Judy, Karen and baby Janet
before heading to Texas. I had some family in San Antonio, on my mother’s side, and we were able to stay with Aunt Lillie, while we looked for a house.
Aunt Lillie with Karen and Janet
There was a family stationed at Lackland that we had known in Wiesbaden. They invited us to visit their church, which we did. It was a relatively small church, and the husband led the choir. Since he knew I played the piano, he asked me to play for the Christmas program for his choir…which I did. However, once again, we didn’t feel that church was exactly where God wanted us to be. So we visited some others in the general area.
My mother had spent quite a bit of time growing up in different areas of Texas and Oklahoma, and had been a secretary at the First Baptist Church in downtown San Antonio for many years. During that same time my dad was Associate Sunday School Secretary for the Southern Baptists in Texas, and he made many trips to San Antonio. I believe he told me he was teased quite a bit from his fellow workers about all the trips he “needed” to make to San Antonio after he met mom. In any case, they had quite a few friends from that church.
Daddy
And so, being a good daughter, I called one of mother’s best friends from that church. She was glad to hear from me. After chatting a while, she asked if we had found a church home yet. At my “no,” she quite forcefully said, “don’t you join anywhere until you visit First Baptist Church!” So we agreed that we would meet up with her that following Sunday at FBC.
For the first time in my life, as I walked in that huge church, the feeling was….home. I knew almost instantly that THIS church was where God wanted us to be for the next three years. I don’t believe I’ve had that definite a feeling about any church since. It was a wonderful and warm feeling, and I loved it.
We joined the church…we joined the choir… we joined the Sunday School that was in our age group. It was just a wonderful time in our lives. I was also involved with the Young Women’s Fellowship Group. To find more about that, please refer back to my post of September 19, 2021 “Friendship.” It tells about the church, as well as that group and what we did in the community.
First Baptist Church San Antonio, TX, Sanctuary – from a post card
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in that church. We didn’t much care for the 30-minute drive to-and-back home from downtown, but we learned that we make time for what we want to do. And attending that church was what we wanted to do.
I started this series with a question: “…do you love to GO to church?” Well, this church had us in its hands, and we LOVED to GO to church. It was a fantastic experience.
WE….ARE THE CHURCH!
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~i
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
My mom and dad had matching easy chairs. I inherited one of them. It’s not in the best of shape, but I can’t seem to part with it. A lot of good memories are tethered to the chair. But there is one not so good memory, or so it seemed at the time.
As my mom aged, I lent a hand with the housekeeping. One of the chores I found annoying was dusting their dual level end tables. I think when my parents passed to Glory, we donated them to a local charity. They are now called mid-century collectibles and I found this picture on Etsy. If you like mid-century, check out their store, this one is handmade! The picture below is a modern version.
Back to the annoying part…dusting was easy but moving all the stuff my mom kept scattered all over it was a pain. I frequently murmured internally, “geez mom, can’t you put stuff away?” Hand creams, foot creams, nail files, peanut butter crackers that she called “nabs”, lottery scratch off tickets, a magnifying glass..you get the picture. Some items I would return to their proper places but for the most part, I moved them, dusted and put them back.
I didn’t get then why she was so messy but having just attained septuagenarian status, I am beginning to get it. One, my septuagenarian self tires more easily than my forty-ish self. Why put something away that I am going to have to go back and get. Two and this is the big one for me, if something gets put away, there is a good chance I might not remember where I put it!
I was thinking this week that mom would have gotten a kick out of seeing my messy self now.
One of our friends made up this cool gift for my big 7-0. On each dollar bill she placed a Post-it note with a birthday message on it.
The length of the one dollar bills brought to mind Proverbs 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2022 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn. She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”
How can it happen? Whether we’re in a crowd or in the darkness of a silent room the battle to get rid of loneliness begins.
I was stunned. CNN reported yesterday that among thousands of entries, my hometown, La Paz, Bolivia, where I was born and spent my childhood, was named the No. 1 wonder of the world.
But let me share a native’s point of view.
In La Paz, being the highest capital in the world because of its altitude, visitors can become deathly ill due to the decreased amount of oxygen.
On the other hand, on a sunny day, the vibrant shade of sky blue that canopies over the city is breathtaking.
La Paz is built inside a sort of moon crater. Houses of all kinds dot the mountains that surround the city. And at night, a visitor may seem as if he were inside a gigantic Christmas tree. The lights that splash all the way to the mountain tops seem to blend with the stars in the sky, creating a unique splendor.
But how sad, that closeness is a contrast to the distance we feel from God when loneliness attacks. When we feel abandoned, we can’t help but imagine God to be distant and abstract. We believe the lie that repeats we have no one. God has forgotten us. And we have no way to overcome loneliness.
Here are three not-so-secret ways to wipe out these lies:
In the silence, in the still of the moment God is present because His Word says that “…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39).
If we’re in God’s company, we have already conquered the army—fear, anxiety and depression that equip loneliness. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).
Embracing God’s promise ushers hope that tomorrow new things will come about. He promised: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
The enemies of any loneliness are God’s promises that repeat:
Nothing can come between us and His everlasting, forever-enduring love. Even when rejection sears and disappointment hurts, loneliness can’t come in because God is the perfect companion of our soul. Loneliness has no power, knowing He’s about to bring on something new, something wonderful and beautifully presented in His divine timing.
Let’s Pray
Father, while in the wasteland of loneliness or the desert of despair, I declare that tomorrow You will bring about new ways, new paths, and new open doors. I wait in anticipation for the loneliness that burdens my days to turn to the peace that comes from you. The reassurance that your promises carry. And I will be filled with the joy that doesn’t flow from others but from You. I count on the power of Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
How will you receive God’s comfort to overcome loneliness today?
Janet
______________________________________
I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.
Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.
Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.
Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.
Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR
Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.
Our sister blogger, Louise Gibson began sharing her poetry with us in 2013. She appropriately titled her writings From the Heart. Her offerings were the most popular on the blog and always drew in new subscribers. On August 20, 2022 Louise and her love-filled heart met face to face with the One who loves best. Her Jesus.
I’ve known her since my high school days, the mother of my best friend. Even at age 70 I still call her Mrs. Gibson. In the self-absorbed way of teenagers, she was simply Lynn’s mom. Of course as time went on I realized she was an amazing woman and later learned of her love for poetry. After reading her life story that her daughter shared with me, I realized her life was so much more than I knew. I decided to share her beautiful life story with our readers.
Louise Eleanor Gibson, age 93, of Orlando, Florida, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2022 of natural causes. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Retired Lt. Col Doyle Gene Gibson, her infant son Gary Gibson, her parents Edgar Brown and Clara Swaising Brown, and her brother Edward Brown.
She was born on February 13,1929 in Akron OH, her life shaped by growing up during the Great Depression. Riding her bike was a favorite pastime in her youth, she was always a voracious reader, and she had a lifelong love of writing poetry. As a young teenager, she worked as a hospital volunteer known as a candy striper and she often talked of making coffee for the doctors at Akron City Hospital. Always outgoing, she made friends easily and often reminisced of fun times at Portage Lakes. There were also great stories of dancing the night away with the weekly music of Big Bands at both Meyers Lake and the YMCA. In her high school years, she was fondly nicknamed “Jinx” and “Legs” and the green-eyed, raven-haired beauty was on the May Queen Court. Once graduating business school, she became an executive secretary at Goodyear and was chosen as a model for many of the company’s business ads.
Louise and her husband raised their children while living as an Air Force family. They enjoyed living in Ohio, Florida, Oregon, Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska, and California before finally resettling in Florida. She enjoyed sewing her own elegant clothing, decorating beautiful cakes, making elegant crafts, and loved her cats. Wherever she moved, she immediately made her house a home. Once becoming a grandmother, she enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren each summer. Her great grandchildren were also adored.
Writing poetry became a renewed passion in her later years. Her uplifting, clever, spiritual, and inspirational poems were posted on the Old Things R New blog along with other very talented writers and artists. She touched many people with her awesome words of encouragement.
In all stages of her life, Louise built a legacy of love. She will always be remembered for her kindness and dedication to loving the people God placed in her path. She had a heart of gratitude and encouraged others.
I’m not certain if I will continue to re-post her poems. Her family is planning to create a book for them. Prayers for her family appreciated.
Left to right-Judy Wills, DiVoran Lites, Onisha Ellis, Lynn Shepherd (Louise daughter) Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles, Back row Bill Lites
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