Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead...

...bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. - Ephesians 6:4

I can honestly say, and I think I speak for my sister here as well, but I never doubted the love my parents had for us, but more importantly, for the Lord. They also have loved people, especially ones that they worshiped with. This love has also been instilled in us, and we are very appreciative.

Sunday, our whole family had the opportunity of returning to Cisco Church of Christ where we spent 1978-87 as members for its 90th Anniversary celebration. I would venture to say that is really our "home" church and means a lot to us. We stayed in Cisco longer than we did anywhere else, at least while I was growing up. Tami graduated from there and was baptized at the camp, and Jami was baptized the Sunday before we moved to Mabank.

After morning worship and lunch, afterall, it was a big church get-together so there had to be food, they had a singing and time for reminiscing. Dad got up and proved the above statement of loving others because emotion showed when he talked about the faces he was getting to reunite with and the faces he missed seeing because they have passed from this life. Then he led a song.

I got up and mentioned how the last time most of them saw me I was about waiste-high. I also mentioned how I remembered always getting to lead singing on the last Sunday evening while standing on the stage. And how I wondered if they knew exactly how many times I led singing and preached sermons during the daytime while mom was the church secretary. I told the congregation thanks for helping raise "good stock" and that my sisters and I truly appreciate it. Then I led a song, one of my favorites, the C of C national anthem, Our God, He is Alive.

Then i tried to think of some of my favorite memories on the way home after I drove Leslye by our old house on Pershing and the lake cabin my grandparents built and owned until it was sold in 2001. I do miss that lake cabin.


Memories:
- I remember the many games of hide-and-seek played in the building, especially on the third floor in the rooms that had no windows and was pitch black. That was fun!

- I remember the Halloween parties we used to have at the Lee's house. And the football after-game parties at the fellowship hall.

- I remember VBS, and the time I won the Bible for inviting the most friends (I still have that Bible by the way which was given to me by then-preacher Jim Hatcher).

- I remember the many, many activities out at the camp... I used to know Lake Cisco Christian Camp like the back of my hand with all the trails and such.

There are several more memories that really stick out, but I will spare you from taking up too much more of your time.

I would say the moments my sisters got baptized were probably two of my most favorite, and watching the joy on dad's face yesterday when he was up there leading singing is a new one. And getting to show off my lovely wife and my nephews was great as well; as was getting to lead singing as a grown-up.

My mom said she was happy to get to show off her family to the people who meant so much to her in the past. Of course, I was glad to get to show off my parents.

I know they are proud of us, but we are proud of them too. I thank God for them every day.

Afterall, outside of God, the way they brought us up is why we were all there in the first place.