Time

I don't want to think about the time in between when I last saw your face or heard your voice. The pain is still in the pit of my stomach. I mask it everyday. Sometimes I just don't allow myself to think and feel too much when it comes to you Daddy because I am scared of my own emotions. One thing I can say for certain is I miss you immeasurably and I wish you were still here happy and healthy sharing life with us. It hurts me a lot to think of you retiring only to face serious health problems a few years later. I am not mad, I am actually grateful (not for your pain and suffering) but for the time God allowed you to continue to stay here apart from your health issues. You survived a Prostate Cancer scare. If I am not mistaken you lived ten years beyond that scare. Then out of the blue came renal failure but then you survived ten years beyond that with the help of dialysis, so see that's 20 extra years God gave us with you. In the end C.O.P.D was another enemy you had to battle. You were tired and we were heartbroken at all you had to endure in the end so much that we didn't want you to suffer any longer but on the flip side we didn't want you to leave us either so we just prayed and left it in God's hands. One of the hardest things ever I had to deal with was you leaving Daddy after having you for the better part of my life. I never wanted to say goodbye. Okay I might have to cut this short because its getting too hard to reflect. I can still see you and I can still hear your voice in my mind and I thank God for that. I thank God I got to spend time with you before you had to leave, see even in the end he gave me another 48 hours with you, the heart attack tried to take you before that but God brought you back so we could see each other and say our silent goodbyes. I am glad we talked about Jesus before you left. I am glad I gave you that cross. I was/am your only child. I just remember things like it was yesterday and I thank God for all you did for me Daddy. You did a lot, your worked hard, you sacrificed, you endured pain but we loved you without measure. Oh and the kids daddy all now grown they love you so much and I know they still deal with missing you as well. We keep Mommy close Daddy. I can't begin to know or describe the depths of how she feels. She spent all her life with you just about. Fifty-four years is a long time. I hoped to have longevity in my marriage like you and Mommy had but God had other plans. I am fine with that because he knew what was going on when I didn't and at the right time he put a stop to my emotional suffering and I am fine Daddy. I just miss you that's all. The kids are fine too and Izaiah will be 10 in eight days, can you believe it "10". He loved his G G Pop. We are keeping your memory alive, who could forget you? You are unforgettable. I try to stay close to Aunt Agnes too. I love her! I hope she can visit us this year. Daddy, I walked in the Breast Cancer Walk last year for Grandma and I am walking this year for her too Lord Willing. I love her Daddy in my own way. Well Daddy, I have to go now. I just gave your blog a face lift so I couldn't leave without typing an entry. Yes, its a new year but no matter what year it is without you its just not the same. Rest Well Daddy, I know you saw Jesus. I love Jesus Daddy and I love you!

Getting Back on Track!

Good Morning,

The one thing we must all realize is that everything works together within the timing of God. Dealing with things in life can take you on a rollercoaster ride and often things that happen can sidetrack or put a temporary halt to other things you were doing. I have been dealing with a lot of things over the past months but now I feel like the clouds are breaking and now I want to refocus on some projects I started and put my heart fully back in them. One of the things I want to continue following through with is the dedicating of prayer blankets to hospitals. After the passing of my Dad back in December of 2013 I decided to start this blanket ministry. On January 3, 2014 I donated my first blanket 4 years ago on the 21st of February. I started this in hopes of giving back a measure of comfort that Pastoral Care gave to us in the last days of my Dad’s life. I remember whispering to my dad I was going to make a blanket and donate it back to the hospital, just as someone had crocheted the one that covered him I would in turn do so. In doing this it helped me with the healing process in the loss of my dear Daddy. In my own way I was keeping his memory alive and his name circulating in the world.

It takes me back that February 21st marked the 4th anniversary of the blanket dedication to Pastoral Care in the chapel of Methodist Hospital. I was already in the process of crocheting a blanket which at first was going to be another baby blanket. I was dissatisfied with the texture of the new yarn I was using and I took all the rows out and reverted back to my old yarn choice and started making another blanket. This one I said to myself would be for the next blanket dedication. God doesn’t put something in our heart to have us start then let it lay dormant. He wants us to follow through and complete what we started. Sorry Lord, I am getting back on track now.

My goal is to finish it and take it Methodist Hospital as soon as I finish it. I am halfway finished already. My plan is to make one every year and donate it February 14 to Methodist Hospital. I will be circulating other blankets that I will either collect or make to other hospitals in my city periodically throughout the year.

On the 20th of February I found out that a friend of mine past away. It was shocking and I cant get her off my mind. I went searching for her and her family on facebook and surprisingly I found them. I talked to her daughter last night and she said although she never met me or spoken to me before her Mom often talked about me. You are my godmother, she said.. When she said that it did something to me and I just cant shake it. I already feel love for her in my heart. God works in mysterious ways, see his ways are not like our ways neither is his timing so I am going to pray and let God lead me. I only wish her mom and I could have been in each others lives more as well as her (my goddaughter) but while we both still draw breath we have time. One day at a time as God leads. Again, Ellen Rice, I love you. RIP

I want everybody to have a blessed day, walk in love and love one another.


Peace and Blessings,
Sherri Catherine

Thinking of you Daddy at Christmastime

Ok, Jesus hold back my tears and still my stomach, here I go. Hi Daddy I love you. Guess what I did today? When I was a young girl it was always a tradition for you and I to go get the Christmas tree. Mommy always had a live one. I cant describe what joy I felt as I walked proudly beside you Dad to get our tree. Christmas was close because mom always got the tree 1-2 weeks before Christmas. Well, today Daddy your grandson Reese and I went to get the tree together and if I can help it every year from this holiday forward for as long as the dear Lord allows we will get the tree together. As I typing this I just got a wif of the pine smell and if not careful it could bring me to tears. I deem that tree your tree daddy because every time I look up at it I think back of holidays shared with you. Pssst, daddy I put a bowl of walnuts out at Thanksgiving in your memory. I am about to run and get one of your picture ornaments from the tree in the dinning room and hang it on your tree here in the living room. Just know Daddy that I love you and not a day goes by nor a holiday passes that I don't think of you and carry you in my spirit. Merry CHRISTmas in Heaven Daddy. I miss you more than words could describe.

Thanksgiving 2017

Another holiday without you daddy is not easy but I have to push on, right? This year Thanksgiving is at my house, my new one. A lot has changed since you been gone Daddy but its all good. God is good! Hard to believe that the last Thanksgiving I shared with you was four years ago. I made two butter cakes Daddy. I am sooo glad you got a piece on Thanksgiving 2013. I have that memory. I love and miss you soooo much Daddy. I know its hard for mom and the kids during this time as it is for me but we celebrate and gather thinking of you and keeping you with us. Each year I set the bowl of Walnuts out in your memory I know you loved them at holiday time. Every time I watch Snoopy and Charlie Brown I think of you and laugh. I know I started collecting Snoopy because of our love for him. Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol hits me the hardest. I watch during holiday time just to close my eyes and recapture that feeling that I had as a child growing up anticipating the arrival of Christmas with you and Mommy. I am so grateful to God for the memories. I am a blessed woman! It is 5:16 am I have been up since 4 am. I woke up thinking about you and making this blog post. You be forgotten, fat chance. I have a part of you in my DNA. I have a part of you in my Spirit. I have a part of you in my Heart. I'm almost certain there are no Christmases in Heaven because you are with Christ. I love you Daddy and I always will. As we gather today for Thanksgiving rest assured you are on our minds and in our hearts. You are with us unseen. We love you!

Happy Daddy Day in Heaven Dad!

Not a day goes by that I don't think about you or miss you Daddy. I love you so much and as the others around the world celebrate their dads today so will I in spirit. Your love and sacrifice is not forgotten and I thank God for the memories I have of the 51 years I had you as my Dad. I can't physically see you other then in pictures. I can only hear your voice in my dreams and on the recordings I have saved to my phone and computer. I can still see you in my mind and feel you in my heart. Mommy, me, your grands, great grand, your sister and all your friends miss you dearly and wish you were still here. #1 Father in Heaven knew what was best and he called you away from here. The legacy of your life will continue with me dear daddy and I will always celebrate and remember you til I am here no more. I will always love you.

Forever in my heart,
your daughter,
Sherri Catherine

Memorial Day Weekend 2017

Its been about a year since my last post and life has changed for me in a few ways but God remains as good as he always is. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my Daddy who left this earth over 3 years ago. Mom, my children, my grandson and my Aunt Agnes are doing well. We miss him so much, oh yes we miss him. Life is continuing for us and we carry him in our hearts every single moment. He is never far from our thoughts. We wish we could see him, hear his voice and share our ups and downs and victories with him. I dream of him every now and then which brings me comfort.

Life will teach you many things but the biggest thing it teaches us is not to take things for granted which we all so often do. We get use to so many things and we think for one reason or another that those people and things will always remain because we really don't entertain them not being there. Fact is not one of us are promised tomorrow so love the ones in your life with all you have in you like tomorrow is not promised. Tell them you love them and show them. A few things I am rededicating my time and energy to today. First, I need to update my blog more often because I just never know when someone will stop through that needs some encouragement and hope.  Second, I need to get back to collecting blankets and distributing them. I cannot and will not let this wonderful idea of the prayer blanket cease, well at least on my part. I want to continue to honor my Dad and spread love in whatever way I can. Many in the world are going through things and need to know that somebody cares and they are not alone. If I can help just one person, mission accomplished. God wants us to share one another's burdens and be there in love. I know I am involved in other ministries besides this one where I reach out and encourage people but I surely don't want to let this one slip through my fingers while I am still able to fulfill it. It is only by God's Grace that I can do anything and I thank him for the energy, wisdom and words that he gives me to carry out all missions I am involved in.

As Memorial day approaches I think of my Dad who served in the military and all the other men and women who have served and gave their lives for our continued freedom. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the service men and women who lost their lives. I pray that God will comfort and keep them and give them peace.

P.S. I also remember my grandfather Nathaniel and my Uncle Buster who served also.

Love in Christ,
Sherri Catherine

Continue to rest Daddy