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(dated 8/9/2004)
At the end of a fabulous first day of school, Cotter had this to say:
“I sure wish I could sleep in tomorrow.”
(dated 5/27/2003)
Cotter definitely has my carpentry genes.
He was walking around with my measuring tape today, charting various items in our home.
At each one he’d stop, measure, and proudly announce:
This one is…..11 (or 8 or 18, but never anything else)….pounds long.”
I tell you, it’s tricky converting from standard to metric. I still haven’t got it figured out, and obviously, there’s little hope for him.
(dated May 19, 2003)
Kaylyn: Uh Oh.
Kelli: what’s wrong?
Kaylyn: I can’t use these Crayons.
Kelli: why not?
Kaylyn: Well, on the box, it says for children ages 3-5. I’m six.
Kelli: I think it’ll be okay.
Kaylyn: are you sure?
Kelli: I’m sure.
(Originally written September 2, 2003)
It was a year ago on August 28, that my uncle Gene died unexpectedly from a brain aneurism. Over the weekend, my aunt Nancy spread his ashes atop a mountain at Elk Run Ranch, where he was the ranch manager for several years, after a long career at the helm at Saddle Mountain Ranch (both of which are just outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado). Joining her were my mom and dad, my grandma Marge, and several members of Nancy’s family. My aunt Marcella was unable to attend because she is still recovering from the West Nile Virus, and my uncle Loyd was also unable to be there.
I’ve been praying that this will bring some closure to Nancy, in what had to be the most difficult year of her life. I don’t have a memory of my uncle Gene that does not include Nancy. They really were a very special couple. Gene, as I may have mentioned a time or two, is easily the closest person I’ve ever lost. Many times a week, I’ll find myself thinking of him. Whether it be a joke he told (and there were many), hearing a story that he had retold 800 times (as is habitual in our family, especially legends of the hunt), or sometimes even the way I’ll notice something that he would have appreciated.
Watching my uncle die was difficult because it was the first time easily-taken-for-granted expectations of his presence suddenly taken away from me. And the reasons for which I mourn have little to do with me any more. I cherish those precious memories that remain. The warmth of his laughter can still bring a smile to my face, and venture it will for all my days to come. But I mourn for my father, in losing his brother and best friend. I mourn for my grandmother, in having to witness the death of her son. I mourn for my aunt, whose entire world must be recreated. I mourn for my children, who will never know first-hand the joy of spending time with Gene. I fear that even my oldest daughter Kaylyn will possess but hazy recollections of a man who was so very special to so very many people.
I had the honor and privelege to be with my uncle in his final moments of his life. After the doctors failed in their effort to repair the aneurism, he suffered several debilitating strokes. He was unable to speak or acknowledge us. Yet, each time I prayed for him and each time I read the Scriptures in his presence, tears flowed freely from his eyes. My fervent prayer was that the Holy Spirit would communicate with him and he would be able to respond. My uncle Gene would never be confused for a religious man, so I wouldn’t want to mislead anyone with that type of representation. But on that final day, I received the most tremendous peace that the Lord had answered my prayer.
Gene, like many of us in the McAnally clan, was known most popularly as “Mac.” To some, he was “The Marlboro Man.” To others, he was the living definition of a cowboy. But to those of us who were closest to him, he was a husband, a brother, a son, an uncle, and a friend. And our lives are better for having been for a time connected to his.
Our cousin Jay wrote a song commemorating Gene. While the theology isn’t real solid, the sentiment is sincere and sweet:
Mac’s Song
I’ll be here in ColoradoKelli will be the first to tell you that she’s not perfect. And my aim here is not to discuss her imperfections because i’m no more perfect than is she. but I’ll tell this, with each passing day I fall more and more in love with her as I realize what a blessing she is to me and our family.
Year after year, especially during that time known as “Mother’s Day,” we hear sermons on “The Proverbs 31 woman.” We’ve heard some excellent messages on this theme, and others that are, well, not so excellent. Regardless of the quality of the message, I hear some common themes on these messages: she’s industrious, she’s committed, she’s innovative, she’s reverent. And while I love Proverbs 31, and believe that my bride exemplifies the very definition of a godly wife by these standards, I want to just share a “point of order.”
I believe the real litmus test of what makes a godly spouse is the indwelling presence of the Lord in that spouse. My love, honor, respect, desire, affection, and attention for my bride is not, nor should ever be, based upon who she is or even how she is. My love for her is not established on her performance. If God’s love for me is not established on my performance, it would be extremely hypocritical of me to operate within a different set of standards. My wife is a godly spouse not because of who she is, but who she is in Christ.
When you evaluate the vows that are exchanged, you have two ways to interpret them. One way (the most common way) is to look at vows as a series of actions, duties and responsibilities. If you determine that your commitments to love, honor, respect, and even obey your spouse are a series of actions, you’ll never fulfill them. The other way, however, is to determine that your vows are a code of attitude around which to orient your life. This is only possible to understand and fulfill when one has a reborn, renewed spiritual life given by God through faith in the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. Why? Because Jesus Himself modeled the marriage vows to His Bride, the church, when He gave Himself sacrificially on the cross to redeem and restore her for eternal union in heaven.
My bride is a gift from God and a joy to my life not because of how she blesses me. it’s not because i can count on well-mannered, well-educated, well-attended children (which i can). It’s not because i can count on a clean home, great meals, honest interest, and intelligent conversation (again, which i can). It’s not because i can count on a desire to excel, a commitment to persevere, or even her deep love of God (which I do). My bride is a gift from God because the resurrected Christ lives within her. He reveals Himself and reproduces Himself through Her. He glorifies Himself through her and by virtue of being in her company, I too am blessed.
The components of Proverbs 31 are exemplified in a Christ-like woman of God. Kelli is a woman after God’s own heart.
March 26, 2003
Once upon a time a little berd
levd in the forist. The forist was
very cam becus not so much
anamals. The kide of berd
was a robin. Robins are red.
Wen berds flie in the skie it is
good exersis for them.
The berd levs in the tree.
The berd hads baby.
The berds best friend is
a fox. This fox is nice
to berds. Wen the fox coms
to see oether berd they
are a fade. But some berds
are not a fade of hem.
One day the fox came over
to vesit the berd.
And the next day the berd
weit to vesit th fox.
Once upon a time a little bird lived in the forest. The forest was very calm because not so much animals. The kind of bird was a robin. Robins are red. When birds fly in the sky it is good exercise for them. The bird lives in the tree. The bird had babies. The bird’s best friend is a fox. This fox is nice to birds. When the fox comes to see other birds, they are afraid. But some birds are not afraid of him. One day the fox came over to visit the bird. And the next day the bird went to visit the fox.
March 19, 2003
Wen Jesus was boren in a
little barn a gerate big Shining
star sind upon the little barn.
Jesus is the moste seshel
persien in the wereld becus
we love him becus he fers
loved us. Mery and Josuf
had to travel to bethahem.
Now Jesus is in heven.
When Jesus was born in a
little barn, a great big shining
star shined upon the little barn.
Jesus is the most special
person in the world because
we love Him because He first
loved us. Mary and Joseph
had to travel to Bethlehem.
Now Jesus is in heaven.
March 18, 2003
Once upon a time in the
forist in the trees there levd
a Mother eating lesderd.
The Mather was a bedrd.
One day the Mather berd and
her baby berd wet out to
eat. Thy foud a lesderd a spesh-
el lesderd too. The lesderd ran
away becus he was afurad
of berds. And they levd happule
ever after.
Once upon a time in the
forest in the trees thre lived
a mother eating lizard.
The mother was a bird
One day the mother bird and
her baby bird went out to
eat. They found a lizard; a spec-
ial lizard, too. The lizard ran
away because he was afraid
of birds. And they lived happily
ever after.
March 12, 2003
My scoool is cool becuss I
have lost of freeiends. They are
veree nice to me. My scool
culers are blue and yellow. There
is a big egel is in the scool.
The egel is a big pesher.
I like my scool.
My school is cool because I
have lots of friends. They are
very nice to me. My school
colors are blue and yellow. There
is a big eagle in the school.
The eagle is a big picture.
I like my school.
March 11, 2003
Last nint I had sam freds
com over to my hous. Gayle
hlpt me with my kit. Today
I brot my kit for shoentel.
My kit had pekshers on it.
I hope that kit can fli.
Last night, I had some friends
come over to my house. Gayle
helped me with my kite. Today
I brought my kit for show-and-tell.
My kite had pictures on it.
I hope that kite can fly.
