Bob’s mother passed away this morning. She was 97 years old. I had to tell him the sad news. I went back and told him it was time to get up, opened his curtains and let the light in his room. He got up, helped me make his bed, and sat in his chair with his coffee.
“Pop, I got a phone call from Kentucky this morning,” I said.
“Oh? Was it bad news?” He asked.
“Well, MaMaw passed away this morning around three o’clock. She went in her sleep, and Dave, Lois and Lesa were all with her.” I told him.
He sat in silence. I let him sit for a few moments taking in what I had just told him. No matter how old you are, you never want to hear the words that the one who brought you into this world and loved you unconditionally has passed away.
After awhile I filled him in on details how she went peacefully in her sleep, and the funeral would be fast. I then suggested he call some friends and family to let them know.
I could tell you some funny storied about Bob’s Mother. I could tell you how she made the best snicker doodle cookies and was famous for her pecan pie. I could tell you stories about how Lesa, her granddaughter would find her asleep in her chair with her open Bible across her lap and under the Bible was an open romance novel.
I could tell you how her brother would visit and she would insist that there was orange juice in the house because her brother loved orange juice, but the rest of the family knew the orange juice was spiked. She outlived all of her siblings and she was the eldest of them all.
But the one thing in my opinion that this woman leaves behind is her legacy of faith. She was a woman of great faith. When ever MaMaw came to visit things got cleaned up. It wasn’t just about taking the vacuum out and dusting off the furniture. It went beyond the house; people would start cleaning their own lives out. Language was cleaned up, dress was more conservative, and things you ate and drank were even changed.
How could one small woman have such an impact on such a large group of people? It was her faith in God that mattered. She had such a faith that could never be altered. You could never convince MaMaw that beer was actually good for you in moderation. She would never believe you because the scriptures taught in Ephesians 5:18 “be not drunk in wine”. You couldn’t budge her faith in God’s word.
Because of her strong faith, people would change around her. They acted better, dressed better, and talked better. Her faith reached beyond her small world and influenced other lives. It was her faith in Jesus Christ being the son of God that took her through her daily walk in this world. When she was able to get around, you knew that every Sunday she could be found at the Baptist church because her faith told her to worship.
I am happy to tell you that she died this morning in faith. What a legacy she has left us all with. At the age of 97 she carried her faith with her and there is no doubt that she is right now in the presence of her blessed Lord. Margaret Chipley influence more people than she will ever know. The mere knowledge of her coming visit had an impact on people’s lives. And that impact did not stay within the family circle. If you had someone visit the home while she was there, you would warn them ahead of time to clean up their act.
We need more Margaret Chipley’s in the world. We will miss her dearly; I hope that you all think of her often and remember her faith.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Pie Festival
It was a trip to the Doctor last week. Bob got a very good report. He is physically fine. His weight, blood, and over all physical health is great.
He was assigned a new Doctor. The office has experienced a few set backs and have lost a few doctors. We were having trouble getting some of his medications filled. Everything was resolved and we are currently pleased with his new doctor. Let’s hope it remains this way.
On Sunday, we went to the park to fellowship with some friends. When people started greeting everyone they of course doted over him. They asked him how he was doing and Bob waved his hand side to side to indicate fair. They told him that he looked great and asked him if we were taking good care of him? He replied, “Yeah, for the most part.”
I cracked up laughing. Rob looked at his father and asked, “Did you just say ‘for the most part’?” How funny. Out of the mouths of babes, I believe is the old saying. You just never know what will be said next.
Rob had a gig with weekend in North Florida with Johnny Bulford. He was off to a fantastic county music festival for four days. Sarah and I stayed home with Bob. I took Bob and Sarah to the great American Pie Festival that is held here in Celebration, Florida. I was looking forward to it.
Bob started out with the typical “woe is me” attitude. We stopped for lunch at Denny’s and he wasn’t any better. I fussed like I normally do telling him to embrace life, blah, blah, blah.
We get to the festival and Bob refuses to try any pie and doesn’t want to even look at the pies. The main event is a long road full of booths on both sides of the road. For one price you may go down the road and get free samples of pies. It can’t get much better than that. The thing is you can’t get into the event unless you have a wrist band on.
Bob refused to eat anything. He informed me he didn’t like pie. I told him they had chocolate pie and he still told me no. I told him they had peanut butter pie and he still said no. Well there was no way I was going to pay for him to just be pushed down the isle and so we left and walked around the park there in town.
When we walked back to the car I turned and looked one last time towards the tents holding all the different kinds of pies. I smelled the air and looked towards heaven, “Lord?” I asked, “I know you’re telling me I don’t need the pie, but did I have to drive all the way here for you to tell me that?” Sigh, well at least we had a nice walk around the park.
Give the grumpy one a call this week, and for heavens sake don’t ask him about the pie festival……
He was assigned a new Doctor. The office has experienced a few set backs and have lost a few doctors. We were having trouble getting some of his medications filled. Everything was resolved and we are currently pleased with his new doctor. Let’s hope it remains this way.
On Sunday, we went to the park to fellowship with some friends. When people started greeting everyone they of course doted over him. They asked him how he was doing and Bob waved his hand side to side to indicate fair. They told him that he looked great and asked him if we were taking good care of him? He replied, “Yeah, for the most part.”
I cracked up laughing. Rob looked at his father and asked, “Did you just say ‘for the most part’?” How funny. Out of the mouths of babes, I believe is the old saying. You just never know what will be said next.
Rob had a gig with weekend in North Florida with Johnny Bulford. He was off to a fantastic county music festival for four days. Sarah and I stayed home with Bob. I took Bob and Sarah to the great American Pie Festival that is held here in Celebration, Florida. I was looking forward to it.
Bob started out with the typical “woe is me” attitude. We stopped for lunch at Denny’s and he wasn’t any better. I fussed like I normally do telling him to embrace life, blah, blah, blah.
We get to the festival and Bob refuses to try any pie and doesn’t want to even look at the pies. The main event is a long road full of booths on both sides of the road. For one price you may go down the road and get free samples of pies. It can’t get much better than that. The thing is you can’t get into the event unless you have a wrist band on.
Bob refused to eat anything. He informed me he didn’t like pie. I told him they had chocolate pie and he still told me no. I told him they had peanut butter pie and he still said no. Well there was no way I was going to pay for him to just be pushed down the isle and so we left and walked around the park there in town.
When we walked back to the car I turned and looked one last time towards the tents holding all the different kinds of pies. I smelled the air and looked towards heaven, “Lord?” I asked, “I know you’re telling me I don’t need the pie, but did I have to drive all the way here for you to tell me that?” Sigh, well at least we had a nice walk around the park.
Give the grumpy one a call this week, and for heavens sake don’t ask him about the pie festival……
Thursday, April 9, 2009
What a Week!
Whew! What a week! It started with a special visit from Bob’s granddaughter, Nancie. She was only down for one day, but we were very thankful she came by to see us for a few hours. She came with great news, SHE’S PREGNANT! Bob is going to be a Great-grandfather. How exciting.
There was more news, IT’S A BOY! With all girls in the family it will be nice to spoil a boy for a change. And she is due right around Bob’s birthday in July. Who knows, maybe Bob will get a special birthday gift this year.
Nancie couldn’t stay long and this is the last time she was allowed to travel so we won’t get to see her for a long time. We pray that she has a happy and healthy boy this summer.
Tuesday, we couldn’t let the week go by without more excitement. The neighbor across the street had a very large oak tree in her front yard. Half of it fell and landed in front of our house. What a mess. All the power and cable lines came down. Sarah was great and called 911 to report it. The fire department was there right away. Bob couldn’t figure out what had happened, Sarah told him the tree had fallen.
They called me and told me to bring home dinner since I couldn’t cook anything. When I got home Bob was sitting on the couch watching all the excitement out the window. I knew we would be sitting in the dark soon so I quickly fed everyone. The power company told us we would be without power for quite a while so I had Bob call everyone so he would have something to do.
Bob told everyone we had a storm that made the tree fall. Not really. It didn’t even rain. It was a little windy that day, but not enough to push a large oak down. The tree was just old and had some rot in it. It was just one of those things. After Bob called everyone he kept asking to watch the game on TV. We had to keep telling him over and over that there wasn’t any electricity. He looked out the window and told us that there was a light on across the street because it kept blinking. That was the light on the power truck.
We tried to keep him talking about different things. He told us that Harold told him why he keeps forgetting things. We asked him what Harold had said, and he shared the following story with us.
“When I was young,” he said. “I used to have a blanket that my Mother gave me. I would take that blanket everywhere I went, and when ever I could, I would take it out and use it like a cape. I would yell ‘Shazam’ and pretend that I was Captain Marvel.
One day out on the playground, Harold and I were out playing ball. Harold was up to bat and I was catcher. I had my special cape on. Harold went to hit the ball and I stood up at the same time and he hit me in the head with the bat. He said that I got one step in before I went down, out cold.”
Rob and I laughed and laughed with the image of a small boy with his special blanket tied around his neck. I am sure Bob thought that blanket would protect him from everything. Rob told his dad that he thought that happened too long ago to affect him now. I told him maybe Harold was the one who knocked some sense into his head.
After we talked for a long time, Bob kept asking for the TV to be turned on. I suddenly, realized that we did have a radio and went for the batteries. I turned the ‘magic’ basketball game on and told Bob, he could listen to the game. Rob and I went and laid down, Sarah went to her room, and Bob was sitting on the couch.
Before we knew it, the lights came on. Rob and I had fallen fast asleep. It was way past 9:30 I woke up and jumped out of bed. I looked out in the living room and Bob was still sitting on the couch, in the exact same spot, still listening to the game. I told him it was time for bed and I could turn the TV on for him and he could finish the game in his room. He was very happy to hear that.
Christina got off to Louisiana without any problems on Wednesday. Bob sure is going to miss his grandchildren. He loved it when they would come by and visit him. They will have to call him regularly…hint….hint.....nudge…..nudge…..girls!
There was more news, IT’S A BOY! With all girls in the family it will be nice to spoil a boy for a change. And she is due right around Bob’s birthday in July. Who knows, maybe Bob will get a special birthday gift this year.
Nancie couldn’t stay long and this is the last time she was allowed to travel so we won’t get to see her for a long time. We pray that she has a happy and healthy boy this summer.
Tuesday, we couldn’t let the week go by without more excitement. The neighbor across the street had a very large oak tree in her front yard. Half of it fell and landed in front of our house. What a mess. All the power and cable lines came down. Sarah was great and called 911 to report it. The fire department was there right away. Bob couldn’t figure out what had happened, Sarah told him the tree had fallen.
They called me and told me to bring home dinner since I couldn’t cook anything. When I got home Bob was sitting on the couch watching all the excitement out the window. I knew we would be sitting in the dark soon so I quickly fed everyone. The power company told us we would be without power for quite a while so I had Bob call everyone so he would have something to do.
Bob told everyone we had a storm that made the tree fall. Not really. It didn’t even rain. It was a little windy that day, but not enough to push a large oak down. The tree was just old and had some rot in it. It was just one of those things. After Bob called everyone he kept asking to watch the game on TV. We had to keep telling him over and over that there wasn’t any electricity. He looked out the window and told us that there was a light on across the street because it kept blinking. That was the light on the power truck.
We tried to keep him talking about different things. He told us that Harold told him why he keeps forgetting things. We asked him what Harold had said, and he shared the following story with us.
“When I was young,” he said. “I used to have a blanket that my Mother gave me. I would take that blanket everywhere I went, and when ever I could, I would take it out and use it like a cape. I would yell ‘Shazam’ and pretend that I was Captain Marvel.
One day out on the playground, Harold and I were out playing ball. Harold was up to bat and I was catcher. I had my special cape on. Harold went to hit the ball and I stood up at the same time and he hit me in the head with the bat. He said that I got one step in before I went down, out cold.”
Rob and I laughed and laughed with the image of a small boy with his special blanket tied around his neck. I am sure Bob thought that blanket would protect him from everything. Rob told his dad that he thought that happened too long ago to affect him now. I told him maybe Harold was the one who knocked some sense into his head.
After we talked for a long time, Bob kept asking for the TV to be turned on. I suddenly, realized that we did have a radio and went for the batteries. I turned the ‘magic’ basketball game on and told Bob, he could listen to the game. Rob and I went and laid down, Sarah went to her room, and Bob was sitting on the couch.
Before we knew it, the lights came on. Rob and I had fallen fast asleep. It was way past 9:30 I woke up and jumped out of bed. I looked out in the living room and Bob was still sitting on the couch, in the exact same spot, still listening to the game. I told him it was time for bed and I could turn the TV on for him and he could finish the game in his room. He was very happy to hear that.
Christina got off to Louisiana without any problems on Wednesday. Bob sure is going to miss his grandchildren. He loved it when they would come by and visit him. They will have to call him regularly…hint….hint.....nudge…..nudge…..girls!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Saying Goodbye to a Granddaughter
It really wasn’t a busy week, but it sure felt like it. Bob went to the VA on Friday, and we discovered that his VA doctor is leaving and he will be assigned a new doctor. So we are once again doing the waiting game on getting an appointment with the VA. He saw the podiatrist and he had a good report with no complications.
Saturday, we had the family over for a cook out. Bob’s granddaughter, Christina, is leaving for Louisiana on Wednesday. This cook out was a time for the family to sit, reflect, and cherish the moments we have with one another. It is times like these that we realize how fast time flies, and how we need to really cherish the time we have with friends and family.
Bob once again benefited from the visit of family. We all sat by the lake and enjoyed the great Florida weather. Bob was having a great day and shared stories, had some great comebacks from conversations going on around him. He had everyone laughing.
I think the highlight of the night was when he was tired and was ready for bed. Christina and I went in to give him his nightly medications and chocolate milk. Christiana was sitting on the bed with him, telling him she loved him and she promised to come back and see him soon. Bob looked at his granddaughter and said, “You better, because a Chesnick always keeps his promise.”
Christina and I looked at each other a little confused. I looked at Bob and asked, “What’s a Chesnick?”
He replied, "I am."
I looked confused. "You are?" I said.
Bob tugged at his shirt and said, “Me, Robert Chesnick.”
Christina and I started laughing, “Chipley, silly, your name is Chipley!” I said.
“Oh, yeah, right, Chipley.” he replied.
We had a good laugh.
I was glad Bob had a good day to spend with his granddaughter. I know he will miss her, and we wish her all the best in her new life.
So whether you wish to speak to Mr. Chipley, or Mr. Chisnick, give Bob a call this week, I am sure one of them will be available to talk.
Saturday, we had the family over for a cook out. Bob’s granddaughter, Christina, is leaving for Louisiana on Wednesday. This cook out was a time for the family to sit, reflect, and cherish the moments we have with one another. It is times like these that we realize how fast time flies, and how we need to really cherish the time we have with friends and family.
Bob once again benefited from the visit of family. We all sat by the lake and enjoyed the great Florida weather. Bob was having a great day and shared stories, had some great comebacks from conversations going on around him. He had everyone laughing.
I think the highlight of the night was when he was tired and was ready for bed. Christina and I went in to give him his nightly medications and chocolate milk. Christiana was sitting on the bed with him, telling him she loved him and she promised to come back and see him soon. Bob looked at his granddaughter and said, “You better, because a Chesnick always keeps his promise.”
Christina and I looked at each other a little confused. I looked at Bob and asked, “What’s a Chesnick?”
He replied, "I am."
I looked confused. "You are?" I said.
Bob tugged at his shirt and said, “Me, Robert Chesnick.”
Christina and I started laughing, “Chipley, silly, your name is Chipley!” I said.
“Oh, yeah, right, Chipley.” he replied.
We had a good laugh.
I was glad Bob had a good day to spend with his granddaughter. I know he will miss her, and we wish her all the best in her new life.
So whether you wish to speak to Mr. Chipley, or Mr. Chisnick, give Bob a call this week, I am sure one of them will be available to talk.
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