It sure looks like it’s going to rain today, but it may hold off until tomorrow, according to the forecast. My husband and I have been working furiously to finish planting our garden. I’ve had my windows full of plants for several weeks now because it rained nearly everyday. My cucumber plants were already blooming and setting on baby cucumbers. I got them planted yesterday.
We had beautiful weather for Mother’s Day. Everyone seemed to be feeling well and was happy to be able to worship together at Red Bank. Brother Gary Lirley led the early morning song service. Brother Jerry Huff greeted members and guest before Sunday school began. Celebrating a birthday with a mission offering was Adam Moreland. Special music was provided by Les and Eloise Hallmark. Brother Jake Hampton led the congregation in singing hymns before the morning sermon. Alice Lirley presented a short program of special recognition for the Mothers present. Willene Adams was recognized with a gift as the oldest mother present and Niki Moreland received a special gift as the youngest mother present. Every mother in the congregation was also recognized with a small gift of appreciation.
For the morning sermon, Brother Les chose to relate the beautiful story of a mother called, Hannah, who asked God to favor her with a male child because she had been barren throughout her marriage. Her prayer for this child is found in I Samuel 1:11 where she promised the Lord that if he would bless her with a male child she would in return give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and that no razor would come upon his head. One can read her beautiful prayer of worship to the Lord in chapter 2 of I Samuel. God also blessed Hannah with three more sons and two daughters. This book in the Bible not only tells a love story between Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, but also a love story between Hannah and her God.
Guest of Maxine Lirley at the Mother’s Day Tea held at the Heart of the Ozark Healthcare Center was: Mr. and Mrs. Gary Lirley, Jeane Huff and Mr. and Mrs. James Lirley. Maxine had an early morning guest, Jake Hampton, who arrived with flowers and card in hand to present as a Grandmother’s gift for her. She said that after Jake had left, she was looking at the card he gave her and the strangest thing happened. She kept hearing music coming from some where. She noticed that her roommate’s T.V. wasn’t turned on. She didn’t have a radio and she couldn’t find any music being played down the hall from her room. She finally discovered that the card Jake gave her was playing, “You are My Sunshine,” every time she opened it. She said that it sure was a joke on her because she really didn’t realize that the music was coming from the card. She also received many other wonderful cards and gifts from her family during the day. Maxine was honored to be on the speakers list at the Mother’s Day Tea. She read a poem that she had especially written about the duties of Mothers in different eras of life. It’s amazing how time changes things; even the life style of a mother.
Willene Adams was a special Mother’s Day guest in the home of her daughter, Irene Swearingen and her husband, Roger. Willene said that Irene told her that she had some other special house guest that she would be surprised to see. I didn’t get a chance to find out who that guest was, but you can probably find out by reading the Eastern Gate and Around the Mountain news article that Irene writes in this paper. I know that I can’t wait to read it.
None of my children could be with me for Mother’s Day, but I got nice, long phone calls from each of them.
That’s all the news I have for now. Take care.
