'My Ability to Ruin my Child's Life . . .'

Today is my 39th official Mother's Day.  I was expecting my first child in August, 1981.  Believe it or not, I was at the same church and city where I am today.  Many years and miles have passed and in many ways, I have more regret than anything about my mothering.  The enemy attacks here on a regular basis.

Several days ago, I read a quote by Susan Alexander Yates who is a regular guest on the Moms In Prayer Podcast (for those of you as old as me, this is what was called Moms in Touch).  She said

Your ability ruin your child

is not nearly as great as 

God's power to redeem them.  

That really spoken to me. Hindsight is 20/20 (how appropriate is that?) That is  the clear vision of what I should have done in so many situations over the years.   This morning I heard the Lord speaking to my spirit saying 'Trust me' and then again in this tone 'Trust ME'  How many times have I quoted Proverbs 3:5-6,  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.' I did not even have to look it up to type it out. I know it that well.   

My prayer on this Mother's Day 2020 is help ME to trust YOU!!  I am weary and weak.  Parenting is hard!! That is all.

This picture was taken 15 years ago at my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
It was one of the last official family photos
before we began adding others to our official photos!! 

People love that crap!!

In 1990, I started writing a yearly Christmas letter to be included with a recent photograph of our family.  I never intended for this to be a yearly thing.  One of my favorite sayings to my family is 'people love that crap' (Christmas cards and letters fall into that category)  We had moved to Tennessee from Alabama and had in 12 years of marriage moved 7 times and lived in 4 states.  We had friends from all over.  So, the annual Christmas letter took flight.  This letter was not sent locally, so if you lived in the same area with us, you were not on the Christmas letter list.  When we moved, we added friends that had sent us Christmas cards locally.  My thought was that if you lived in the same area we did, you knew what our life looked like and didn't need an annual recap.  

Over the years, this list has grown to include the married children of our friends, since they are now sending us their Christmas cards.  The annual letter has become my Christmas present to myself.  I love people and sharing our lives through the years. 

This year I did something a little different - instead of filling my letter with the things that Bill & I as well as our kids and grands had been doing, I reflected on letters I had written over the past 28 years and how what I had written in the past looked today.  

Once again, I was reminded of God's faithfulness to me and to my family.  This verse comes to my mind when I think of my plans for myself and my family.

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways. Isaiah 55:8-9

Which then takes my ADHD mind to immediately to my life verse John 15:5 . . . apart from Me, you can do nothing.  I'm so glad to have Him as my advocate, protector, savior, and friend.

With that introduction . . .

I present to you ‘The Overstreet Family Christmas Letter 2018’

I hate to admit it but . . .

 Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite movies!!

The Overstreets @ MetaPC 2018

As I was thinking about what I wanted to say about this past year, I took about 2 hours one morning to read through all my previous Christmas letters.  I started reading last years letter and read back to the first letter I wrote in 1990.  I was trying to think who might have been on that first Christmas letter list.  We were living in Maryville, Tennessee, and did not even know that we would be moving to south Florida the next year. Eight years later, we would be back in Alabama and living there for 15 years before moving to Hendersonville, TN in 2014. Over the years, I have loved addressing and stuffing these Christmas letters.  It gives me a chance to think about the memories we have shared with you and your family. Lots of great memories.  

Another thing that happened while I was reading had to do with what I had written.   Every year I like to pick a theme for my letter.  I have come to realize that this annual letter is really for me not you.  You get the benefit but I have a ‘cliff notes’ journal of where our family has been and what God has done. 

If you have had an opportunity to talk with me this year, you know I have been living by this verse found in Matthew 6:34  ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own’.  The older I get and the more people that come into my family either by marriage or birth, this verse has become more of a reality in my life.

Here are some funny examples of how this verse has played out in my life from some of our previous Christmas letters. 

In 1994, I wrote 'in less than 10 years, our job as full-time parents will be over.’  Why did I say that?  It reminds me of a passage in James 4:13-14 ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.’ You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes . . . 

1997 - ‘We're online. You can e-mail us at BOverst756@aol.com’ (can anyone even remember dial-up AOL)  I remember telling Buddy that I would not put my credit information into my computer.  Things have definitely changed.  Now I do almost all my shopping online - I may be Amazon Prime’s best customer. 

2000 - ‘So in the span of one week, both of our older children left the nest. . . God knew that we would need more than a dog to fill the emptiness in our home—so he provided a 2-year old.  Not a baby—but an always moving, into-everything toddler!'

The more we like to think we control our own destiny, history proves us wrong every time.  No matter how hard we try, we cannot see into the future, and do we really want to?  Hence, the wisdom of Matthew 6:34 - don’t worry about tomorrow . . .

John's Graduation Day-Goodpasture Christian School

As most of you know, we did not become empty nesters in 2004 but that date did arrive on the 37th birthday of my oldest son. August 17, 2018, we moved John into his dorm at Belmont University in Nashville.  He loves college!  Bill and I also celebrated our 40th anniversary in March. Our children officiated a renewal of our vows and many family and friends attended this celebration. 

We had a full year - I love my family and try to see them as often as I can. 

I want to close with another excerpt from a Christmas letter - that letter was written in 2003. We had lived in Tuscaloosa for 5 years and seen Alabama lose many games, most notably to UCF, Tennessee, Auburn, & LSU. Here’s what I wrote 15 years ago in that 2003 letter:  “Buddy is graduating in May with a degree in Entrepreneurship and a minor in communications.  He is still working in the Athletic Department at Alabama.  He was able to go to Hawaii over Thanksgiving with the Alabama football team.  He had a great time.  As for the UA football team, I think the Tuscaloosa News said it perfectly in the Sunday paper—Alabama says ‘Aloha’ to 4-9 season.  Who knew that 15 years later, ‘Aloha’ would be something that would bring a smile to the faces of so many Alabama Football fans!!

This year my prayer is not only will you anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth but also how the Lord is wanting to bless you and your family.  I am enjoying the memories of our yesterdays and trusting my tomorrows to the one who knit me together in my mother’s womb and wrote all the days of my life before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16) 

This past year has been spent day by day making memories and reaching out to those who need to know the love of Christ. Bill continues to pastor Indian Lake Peninsula Church.   Please pray for our church as we continue to move forward in reaching out to our community. Our #hastag this year has been ‘We’re here for Good’  

We are also intentional about getting together as a family.  This is hard to accomplish but this year I have seen my kids and grands more than many previous years.  They will all be here for Christmas this year and I do not take that for granted. I know how hard it is to travel hundreds of miles with small children.   I always tell them that their ‘presence’ is my present!! and it really is.  I think God feels the same about His children.  He just wants to spend time with us.  I pray that this Christmas we will take some time to so just that.  

Thanks for being a part of our story.  You are special to God and to us!!

Merry Christmas, Bill & Allyson 

I'd rather have a baby than a dog!

"A child is someone who passes through your life and disappears into an adult." Tonight, the child I am thinking about is my youngest, John, who moves into his dorm at Belmont University tomorrow.  Ironically, he moves in on the day that my oldest son was born, 
August 17. 

37 years have passed since Bill and I have lived alone.  It is also ironic that we started parenting in Hendersonville and we have come full circle.  We are back at the same church in the same city.  We have owned 10 homes and lived in 4 states in our 40 years of marriage. 

A few days ago I texted a friend about her son and mentioned that John was going to college.  This is the text I got from her 'The empty nest is great . . . just don't make the mistake of getting a dog!  We did & now we are back to using sitters & doggie day camp!'   This was my reply to her 'That is how I got John.  When Buddy and Erin asked for a dog, I said I would rather have another baby than a dog.'  When I found out I was pregnant at 42, I remembered that comment immediately.

I know many people have children that they don't plan and I am always interested in their story.  Well here's mine.  

When Erin was in 4th grade,  I went through a Bible study called Experiencing God.  At that time, I sensed God calling me to homeschool her.  Soon afterward, we started a church and that thought went right out the window.  In 1997, I did the Bible study again at my new church.  One day as I was doing the homework, there was a question that said, 'What has God asked you to do that you have not done?'  Immediately, my mind went back to when she was in 4th grade.  Over the next few weeks, I talked with her and Bill and we decided that I would homeschool her for 8th grade.  It was so far-fetched that when she told people she was going to be homeschooled, people would ask 'Who is going to teach you?' To say the least, I was not a homeschooling mom.  

However, I wanted to be obedient to what the Lord was calling me to do and we began in the fall of 1997.  I decided to buy a journal and use it as a prayer journal of our year together.  Here are the last 2 entries of that journal:

April 15, 1998

Dear Lord, Are you opening our eyes to a new place? Is that place Tuscaloosa or B’ham. Between what I wrote Monday and today we received a call from a new Body in Tuscaloosa.  Is this where you are going to let Bill go to get a rest.  I see Your hand and I trust Your heart. 

Does this time of rest also include a new baby?  The last thing I thought I would ever be dealing with at 41 years old.  I have mixed emotions.  After the year I’ve spent with Erin, I have learned that obedience brings blessing. I know that Your plans for me are perfect and I want to stay in for the long haul.

My commitment to you is firm and I look forward with anticipation to what you have planned for me and my family.  I love You, Amen

April 16, 1998

Dear Lord, When I first started this journal last July, I never dreamed that the last page would be about having a baby.  How unbelievable You are. I bought this book because it was titled ‘Down in the Garden’ and my desire for Erin and I this year was to plant my life in hers.  As the weeks went by, I saw more and more that was Your plan, too.  However, every picture in the book was of babies. 

To say that I am floored is an understatement. To say that I’m excited to see your plans for us is very true.  I know you are working. I know your love and plan for us exceeds our highest expectations.  I can’t wait. I pray that these next months will be time of growing together as a family as we prepare to nurture a new life. I love the way you love me.

Your favorite child, Allyson

----------

It has been almost 20 years since I wrote that journal post.  I have seen 2 of my kids finish college, marry and have their own children. 

I am excited to see what God is going to do as John takes the next step.  This evening has been spent thinking about him and praying for him.  I wrote him a short note and shared these journal entries with him.  I wanted him to know that I was excited when I found out I was pregnant with him and I am still excited to see how God uses his life for His good and His glory.  My mom always said - 'he was the gift you didn't know you needed.'

Parenting never ends but it does change and change is hard. I am beginning a new season of parenting. I'm praying that the Lord continues to show me how to parent from my new position, the sideline.  

Hello darkness, my old friend . . .

I spent Memorial Day weekend at the beach with my son and his wife's family.  My husband was able to lead this family in dedicating their two 2 youngest girls - my granddaughter who is 7 months old and her cousin who is 3 weeks old.  A very fun relaxing time for me.

On the last night my 4 year old granddaughter Mac was riding back from our family dinner with me and my daughter-in-law's mother. I didn’t want her to fall asleep because if she fell asleep, I would have to carry her up a flight of stairs to the beach house.  I told her to sing us a song - This is the song she sang:

Hello darkness, my old friend,  
I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain

Still remains

Within the sound of silence

She had learned this song from the Trolls movie - I remember it from my high school days sung by Simon and Garfunkel.  Bill and I had taken her and her brother and cousins to see the movie while we were in Texas for Thanksgiving.  The movie had such great music I ordered a CD for each family.  My son said they played it in the car all the time. 

I laughed as I heard this very sobering song being sung by a 4 year old.  It spoke to me - as does silence!!

This morning, I'm at home back to my somewhat normal routine - catching up on e-mail and cooking for a church member whose husband passed away while we were gone. I stopped to read a blog post from my sister-in-law.  Her husband, my brother, Brian, died suddenly 5 years ago this summer of a brain bleed.  Her life has taken quite the turn.  She writes a weekly blog.  Many times it is just what I need to hear.  Today was no exception.  I want to share it with you as well.

The Healing Power of Silence--Debi Newman Reisling

          God moved heaven and earth to get me into this wait-listed, 10-day silent retreat.  It had taken me eleven years to arrive. Why do I have to have a lingering cough from a cold that began over a week ago when I am sharing a room with a roommate who needs to sleep, and I must be quiet during prayer?  Why? After waiting all those years to get here, why would I be banished like this?  

I returned to my silent room and sat down in the most comfortable chair you can imagine and began my private session—no one could hear my coughs.  I did okay but mainly I discovered that the God of all comforts had something to show me through this seeming disaster.  It’s not so bad to pray in your room overlooking the beautiful lush green Rockies with snow tipped peaks (this was before the 3-5 inches of snow that began that afternoon).  I wiped my tears and enjoyed my setting.

          Things were looking better as I got back on track with the schedule and walked down to the morning church service.  I spent time in the Guest chapel before the service asking God to help me not cough.  It was a miracle; I did not cough, but I did cry.  I cried a lot.  I cried and cried and I don’t cry.  I’m not a Cryer so I didn’t expect to cry, but I do know I need to cry so I didn’t stop the tears.  But I connected to what the tears were about as the service began.  The monks in their white church robes triggered a painful reality about my son who was on the journey of wondering if he should be a monk when his life took a detour to wearing a white prison uniform.  I needed to talk about this.  There are retreat leaders here.  There are people to talk to.  I’ve been invited to talk, but I need to talk to a monk. It is monk business that is making me cry, at least that is what I think.  So I write a note and don’t expect an immediate response; yet I am told to go down to the bookstore at two and talk to a monk.

          Fr. Charles is sent and I spill out my story, and I show him a picture of Ben and me taken just the Sunday before.   He looks at it and listens; I cry some more.  When I finish my rambling, he tells me, you know this is about you, right.  You are crying for you.  You have been through a lot and you need to cry.  Of course, I have a lot going on; and he doesn’t even know the half of it!  I think my tears are telling me that.  But, no, I don’t automatically think my tears are about me.  I think they are about how I am failing my son somehow, that I wasn’t enough to keep him on track, that there was something else I could do.  I mean I don’t say that to people.  I don’t live that out every day…but when I come to a place like this, and strip away all my normal distractions, that is exactly what I think.  I think I’m crying because my son needs something more from me!  Something I should have been able to give him if I were just a better mother.  There’s some way I can make up for that if I can just figure out what.  I can help him.  He needs my help.

          Well, he does indeed need my help so says Father Charles.  He told me that what Ben needs most of me is to take care of myself and be one with God.  That is how I can heal Ben best—heal me.  I hear him.  I really do.  And as he talks, I know that is true not only  for Ben but also for Rachel, Nate and Lila.  It’s true for Paul and for my ministry.  What the people in my life need most is not more of what I can do but more of God in me (and in all the other places He is in their lives).  It's what Irvin Yalom calls the healing presence.  I know that is what has happened through the years as I have counseled others.  It’s not my training or my brilliance, rather it is God’s healing presence in me that directs people’s souls to a new way of connect to Him that results in their healing.  It’s not whether I do a certain thing, but it is for me to connect more deeply to how God is in me so that God can connect more deeply to all the people in my world.

Psalm 46:10:  Be still, and know that I am God.

If you are interested in reading more of her blogs,  you can find them at 
http://teatimeforyoursoul.com

A Tale of Two Mothers

This is Mother's Day Weekend at my house.  My family is already celebrating me as a mom.  I have received a new lounger for the pool, a bouquet of flowers, cards and a popcorn popper.  They have also given me the opportunity to attend my first ever 'silent retreat.'  I'm at a convent in Nashville with 12 other women.  We are spending 24 hours nurturing our soul in quiet along with 3 classes of (optional) holy yoga. 

Being the planner that I am, I spent much of the day yesterday thinking about what I would 'do' at this retreat.  I had thought about bringing a scrapbook that I have been working on for more than 5 years.  It is a photo journal of my married life.  My goal is for it to be up to date by my 40th wedding anniversary.  I have 10 months to complete it if I'm going to reach my goal.  

I also wanted to complete setting up a prayer journal that my sister had given me 2 years ago for my birthday.  To help with this, I decided to take down my 'War Room' closet.  I liked the idea when I saw the movie and it did help me organize my prayers and visually see who and what I was praying for; but that set up wasn't for me.  I took down all the pictures and prayer cards and put them in an envelope.  I'm going to put them in my prayer journal.  (maybe while I'm here, maybe when I return home)

While thinking about that little project, I decided that I would bring my journals to the retreat.  I'm not a person who writes daily in a journal but over the course of my married life, I have journaled off and on.  I went to a bookshelf and picked up 5 journals and put them in my bag.  

This morning I have been reading through the first one.  I started it in 1986.  As I read through the pages, I began thinking about where our family has been and how God has protected and provided for us.  Between 1986 and 1998, we had moved 8 times and served in 6 different churches.  Much of my journal was about praying for God's guiding and the disciplining of my children.

In 1998, my life changed and I was thrust back into a role

I thought was ending.  I become a mom again at 42.  Today that child is 18 years old and about to enter his senior year of high school.  He has been reared by a mom that has been scattered.  She has helped her husband plant 2 churches, spent 10 years taking care of aging parents as well as becoming a mother-in-law and grandmother to 5 grandchildren.  During this time, a young life was growing up right under her nose.  This child has not had the undivided attention of his mom but has had to share her with so many others who were clamoring for her attention.  This mom tried to be everything to everyone and in doing so has squandered many years that could have been used to disciple and nurture this young soul.  

There are tears in my eyes as I think about the 2 moms that have reared my children.  One mom was very intentional about teaching her children the books of the Bible, as well as memorizing scripture and guarding their hearts.  She did not let them go 'trick or treating' or believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.  She always had Christian music playing in the car and even participated in a campaign called 'Turn off Your TV'  She and her family did that for one month.  Her children grew up, completed college, got jobs, spouses and children.   

The other mom found herself in her 40's with a toddler, aging parents and churches that needed constant care.  This mom has lived in survivor mode for over 15 years.  This mom has hardly had time to take care of herself spiritually much less disciple another child.  She is living with a lot of regret.  She loves this child and is so proud of the young man he is becoming.  She is regretting not giving him the tools he needs to succeed in this ever-changing world.  She did not spend enough time teaching him about God and his Word.  She let the short time he was at church be his main teaching.  She knew that she could not depend on the church to be the religious educator of her children but she allowed that to happen with this child.  She has asked God to forgive her and He has.

She continues to pray daily for this child.  He has struggled finding his place in his family, not to mention his place in his school and in the world.   Even though this has been a very difficult post for me to write, I know it was needed for me to put into words what has been in my heart.

I'm not sure where you are this Mother's Day weekend.  You may be struggling with infertility, death of a child by abortion, a prodigal, or just the everyday disappointments that come with being a mom. 

I am clinging to a verse that is so very special to me - It is Joel 2:25 - 'I wish restore to you the years the swarming locust have eaten.'  This is God's promise to me concerning all the failures and shortcomings I have as a mom.  God has promised to restore and I am resolved to be part of that restoration with the years I have left on this earth.   I am excited to see what lies ahead for this child and his aging mom!!

Never, Never, Never Give Up

This morning I am reflecting on the life of my dad. The famous statement by Winston Churchill, 'Never, never, never give up' reminds me of my dad.  One year ago today, he died.  He died around noon on January 11, 2016.  He died on the day that Alabama was playing for the national championship against Clemson.  My dad was a diehard Auburn fan and somewhat of a trash talker.  I immediately thought to myself - he can't take seeing Alabama win another national championship.  Ironically when I went to the newsstand on Wednesday, January 13, to buy a paper that would have his obituary printed in it, the Birmingham News was filled with articles about Alabama winning the National Championship against Clemson.  As an Alabama fan, it was a win-win for me.  I bought several papers and got what I considered a 2 for 1. 

However, that is not what is on my mind this morning.  After my dad's death, I brought home the contents of the bottom drawer of his dresser.  It contained letters, cards, pictures, all kinds of memorabilia that were important to him.  Some people have a whole house of remembrances; he had one drawer.  My dad was a minimalist.  While looking through the contents of this drawer, I found a testimony he had given at Roebuck Park Baptist Church on March 14, 1992.  It was testimony of God's provision for him and my mom during a time when he had been forced to close his business, Universal Interiors, a flooring company he had owned and operated for over 25 years.  Below is the testimony that he gave.

On Friday, January 5, 1990, I closed the doors to a business I had been in for 26 years. On Monday morning, I went back to the office to do those things you have to do when you have a business failure.  I then realized for the first time in over 41 years, I did not have a job.  I was depressed, dejected and felt a great sense of failure.  I called the church office to see if I could talk to Bro. Doug, Betty Plyman sensed a need for me to talk to him and in a few minutes times we had met to talk it over.  

I cannot remember what we said but he was sympathetic and gave me some assurance of what could be done.  I had acquired a huge money debt during the time I owned the business.  I had good years and made money and bad years and did not.  I supplemented the bad years with loans of money I acquired by personal guarantee of property I owned, namely the business property or my home.  I had always felt through the tough years that I would make it; but after my banker turned down the financial plan to carry on the business I was convinced that it was over.  

The toughest thing I ever had to do was to sit down with Jerry and tell her about it.  Of course, she was crushed and asked me the question, why?  We cried together and had prayer.  She got a job and I began looking.  When you're 60 and ugly, it is real hard to find a good paying job.  I was determined not to get back into the business I knew the best.  To be honest, I was just ticked off at it.  Steve Walker connected me to a man in the office supply business and I started back to work March 1. In May, Amy, my youngest daughter got married.  You can imagine what she was doing through during all of this, as well as the rest of the family.   

On May 16, I had open heart surgery, five big ones.  The good Lord saw fit to let me stay around for a while.  I shall never forget the feeling of His power with me, and I know it was due to you good folks, my family and others who were praying for my recovery.  I recovered and reloaded.  Rich Owens, my good buddy never knew the type of business I was in. He got his fireman friend to give me a job in the business I knew best.  On July 5, I began.  Being on straight commission, I had good and bad months, so I had to supplement my regular work and job with other part-time work.  I also forgot to tell you that Sherry Farrow got Jerry a job at O'Neal Steel that began on January 15.  She saw that we ate and the medical insurance Jerry had through O'Neal paid all of my hospital and doctor bills. Aren't wives great!! Anyway, to cut all of this down, we are now making it.  Not steak yet, just hamburger - and all the way God has been there.  You may have second thoughts about tithing the money that your friends give you or money that comes in unexpectedly, or money you can get from your cash value life insurance.  Jim Mikul, my insurance man, has been so good to get what we needed so quickly.  

Jerry and I were married in 1955 and returning back to God 10% of the money He supplied was no problem.  I confess to you, not one time have we cheated him out of a tithe, during all of this.  

If I have learned one thing, it is this - it is all His.  Maybe this is why I have had my trouble.  I did not use the other 90% he supplied wisely.  One thing the Lord has shown me and shown me well, is that He doesn't need the money He gives.  He just wants us.  I thought I loved Him before January 5, 1990. My love for Him then cannot be compared to the Love I have for Him this morning.

In this envelope is my tithe to God plus a mission gift.  Not long from now, it will be double or more as it was before!

As I read this testimony, I was overwhelmed with the man God had given me to be my father.  His commitment to the Lord in the area of his finances was a testimony that continued until his death last year.  My dad spent the last 25 years of his life paying back all the money that he owed when he shut down his business.  He could have easily declared bankruptcy but he did not believe that was what God wanted him to do.  About 2 years before his death, he had paid back all the money he owed.  During that time, he never stopped giving his tithe to his local church.  In addition to that he supported many other organizations. I spent weeks after his death calling and having his name removed from organizations he had supported over the years. 

Several years ago I was reading Psalm 37.  When I got to verse 23, I stopped and read it over and over.  This was the testimony of my dad's life.  At that time, I wrote the words 'my dad' in my Bible beside these verses.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

 or their children begging bread.

They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be a blessing.

Psalms 37: 23-26

Ten Years Ago . . . 2006

This week I spent some time reading some of the Christmas letters I have written for the past 25 years.   I was especially interested in the letter I wrote 10 years ago.  I was not texting and didn't have a smart phone. In ten years, our family has from 5 to 12. We are now living in 3 different states, non of which is Alabama. My parents and mother-in-law have died. 

The verse that I've been claiming this year has been Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." As I think about what is ahead in the new year, this verse keeps me focusing on today.  It is the only day I have - I do not have tomorrow or yesterday.  I wish I could say I'm inviting you to take a look back with me to simpler time in our family - 2006 - but that is not the case.  2006 had its own trouble just like 2016. 

I'm sure this old hymn was written with this verse in mind.

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live for day to day

I don't borrow from the sunshine, For it's skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand

As you read back over my 2006 Christmas update, I hope you will be encouraged that whatever is happening in your life, the one who knows tomorrow is holding your hand. 

Christmas Update 2006

To borrow a phrase, life comes at you fast!!! 

2006 has been that kind of year for us.

2005 ended with Erin graduating from college and the celebration of my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. 2006 started with Erin looking for a job in the real world. After attending a theatre job fair in Memphis, she took an internship the end of February with Olney Theatre outside Washington DC. She worked January and February substitute teaching at Tuscaloosa County High School. The internship has now turned into a full time job with benefits that she will start January 2. She has spent the last few weeks at home with us and working for my brother. In addition to finding a job, she has also found a relationship with a guy named Dan from Jacksonville, Florida who also works at the theater.

Buddy has continued working for the athletic department at Alabama. Need I say more. The last few weeks in that area have been in turmoil as well. Buddy is also in a relationship. His girlfriend, Haley, is in medical school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She will begin her clinical in Tuscaloosa starting in Sep- tember. I would send a picture of them but I have a rule that until you are officially a part of the family, no official family photos!!

In February, my mom fell one morning while taking her daily 3-mile walk. She was banged up pretty bad. Her shoulder had to have physical therapy and her walking stopped. By April she was just getting back out when she fell while working in the yard and broke her jaw in three places. After surgery, she suffered a stroke that has left her unable to walk. She spent from April until August in the hospital, rehab, a nursing home and back to rehab. She came home the first of August and has had to have round the clock care. While she was in the hospital, her only brother died and she was unable to attend the funeral. The week before she came home, my dad suffered a heart attack and had to have 4 stints put in his heart. When I read back over this, I hope you can even believe it!!

Bill’s mom has had several health problems as well. She has been at the doctor almost every other week and in the hospital twice in the past month. Please pray for our parents. It has been a very difficult year for our family. My mom has been receiving therapy at home for the past 4 months but still cannot walk. I go to Birmingham every Monday while John Andrew is at school. I’m a lot of things but a nurse is not one of them. I usually take a few meals for the week, clean up, and give my mom a manicure.

This past summer, I turned 50. In January, Bill asked me what I wanted for my 50th birthday and I told him I would like for him to take a month off work. He talked with the church leaders and we began planning for a month sabbatical. We spent the 4th of July in Atlanta with John Andrew. We then went to a cabin in north Alabama for a few days of solitude (John Andrew stayed with my sister and her family). We picked him up and headed to Callaway Gardens in south Georgia. Since my mom was still in rehab, we didn’t want to go too far from Alabama. The night we got to Callaway Gardens we learned of my dad’s heart attack. We immedi- ately headed to Birmingham. We stayed a few days and spent our last week at a great resort condo in Orange Beach.

Bill continues to do a great job pastoring Capstone. Several ministries have been started this year that are reaching out to our community. For example, we open our café on Thursdays to feed whoever wants to come. Some of our college students have gotten involved and come and serve and talk to the people that come. Our church is also on the parade route so whenever Tuscaloosa has a parade (ie. Christmas, Home- coming), we open the café once again to serve hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and provide a much needed rest- room. Buddy continues to have concerts on Thursday nights. The University of Alabama chapter of FCA also meets at our church on Wednesday nights as well as the leadership group for Campus Crusade and a non-profit group that teaches music to underprivileged children.

Not only does Bill preach, he also is our main janitor!! We have seen the church grow this year and started 2 services in the fall. God continues to bless us with just what we need to do the work He has called us to do.

John Andrew is in 2nd grade at Verner Elementary. This is actually the more sane part of our family. He had his 8 year old birthday last week and celebrated with a bowling party and sleepover. He had 11 at the party and 8 stayed to sleep over. Our picture this year was taken at the party last week. He wore a shirt that he picked out while at the store with Bill. The shirt says “Parents for Sale—Buy one Get One Free.” When he came home I asked him who was free and he said, ‘You are!!” Was I surprised!!

I have many funny John Andrew stories and his quick wit and happy spirit keep us laughing. While in the CCU waiting room after my dad had his heart attack, he was asked by a young boy pointing to my brother in law, 'Is that your dad?' His response--'No, that's my uncle. The old guy that was sitting over there is my dad!!'

Once again, in spite of us, he is growing in his faith. Miss Amy, our children’s director e-mailed me this little story a few weeks ago—

Ok, so we are talking about what Jesus was like. I was trying to get them to perhaps describe him...if they thought he was friendly, caring, etc....then we read the Bible story and learned that Jesus cared about his people’s praise, his father’s house, etc . . . So, I asked again based on the story what the kids thought he was like . . . All of the sudden, John Andrew breaks into song . . . “Indescribable, In-can-tanable!” It was a great moment! Funny and appropriate, thought you might enjoy, too.

Another song that reminds me of what Jesus is like is a much older one—He Giveth More Grace. The sec- ond verse is actually how we have been able to get through this difficult season in our lives.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance, 

when our strength has failed ‘ere the day is half done, 

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, 

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, 

His power no boundary known unto men; 

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, 

and giveth, and giveth again.

May this Christmas be a time when you have a moment to reflect on just how much his giving has meant in your life. For God so loved the word, he gave . . .

Merry Christmas from the Overstreets 

Bill, Allyson, Buddy, Erin, & John Andrew