The truth of Gods love

The truth of God's love means he will be right there with us no matter what happens... When our children fall down and hurt themselves even with us walking right there beside them.. That doesn't mean we allowed it to happen. With our unconditional Love  we will pick them up and carry them, we will try to heal them and We will cry when they cry and will rejoice when they are well!  For all of our lives God is right there beside us .. even when bad things happen.. The Truth of Gods love is not that He allows bad things to happen .. That's His promise .. that He will be right here with us!!!!    (Love comes softly.. Jannette Oke)  

Things worth Remembering !

Before Paw-paw D passed away, he bought mom-mom a box of chocolates like he had bought her since they got married.... he died before Valentines day.. but he made sure (even with his dementia) she had her box of Chocolates from him! she still had that box (no chocolates of course) when she passed away.. I hope who ever had that box knew how extremely precious it was! By the way... Paw-paw's special name for mom-mom was Mom-bo!

Paw-paw had been forgetting who mom-mom was. He kept asking for 'my Ruby' he was wanting a young Ruby... he talked about Ruby like she was the only thing he ever loved or cherished. There were days he'd take off walking to the 'train station' to find his Ruby! But this day it was like he knew he wouldn't be there for Valentines day!


   Granddaddy Foster was a man of total genuine-ness  (is that a word?)   He was like Joseph in my eyes.. Sweet man of integrity full of compassion and love for taking care of his family.   He married my grandmother who in her youth had already been through so much sadness and she was a single mom.  He married my grandmother Ethel and took her son (Harold) to be his own.  He loved being a father and a husband and stood true forever and always.  He was one who encouraged and helped others along the way,  upholding his love for Jesus and showing everyone he met that Jesus was the answer to every situation. 
   He had many jobs and in each job he gave it everything he had. There were some of his superiors that ask for his advice and council on situations although he was not compensated for these helpful hints and corrections.  He was brilliant! His accomplishments weren't outward where the world knew but if his inventions had been awarded to him where he deserved he would have been a rich man. . He would figure out areas that would be better for machines and there would be corrections.  He was wonderful with his hands.. working and keeping busy.
  He loved his grandkids and greatgrandkids, he saw that each and everyone of us knew we were loved... we all felt like we were his favorites!  He had an ability to just speak and we listened!  He was funny and silly and knew when to be there for us in our time of need!  He loved being loved,  he just loved freely! What a precious man he was!  I miss him dearly!   

Both Granddaddy and Paw-paw D grew up without knowing Christ and seeing Christ displayed in the home.  There were people in their lives that followed Christ but until they were married with children did they know the Love of Christ inside themselves.  They Chose to make a difference and Accept Christ as their personal Savior when they were in their early 30's.   They made a huge difference in their homes ...  raising each child to Love God with all their hearts!  Raising their kids to know Who God is and that the Bible is the True Word of God.  I will forever be grateful to them for the heritage I have had because of their choice!  

Sadness has hit again .. like a brick in the stomach.... Its not ' just my life from now on ' its death and its sad and it hurts!

In stead of saying I'm sorry.. Instead of saying you have my sympathy,  I was told "its just your life from now on"  I don't usually take things hard.. but that along with the same person when my grandmother died was the same thing.  "it was a blessing ~  Alzheimer isn't a nice disease and she's better off"  That's not what you want to hear when your grandmother dies. Yes, sadly its true but you want to hear .. I'm sorry she had that horrible disease, I'm sorry it took her life... I'm really sorry you wont be able to talk or chat or visit or hold her hand any more...  even an I'm sorry...  but with Lisa its certainly Not what I needed to hear.. "that's your life from now on... NOOOOO LISA WAS  55 YEARS OLD>>>  UNCLE MARK WAS 67....   NO that's NOT what life is supposed to be...  Can you just say your sorry and leave it at that...

Born: November 13, 1959
Died: March 22, 2015

Lisa Dawn Dillon

November 13, 1959 -March 22, 2015 .Left this earth to join her loved ones who preceded her in death, father Charles Lucas, step-father Ronald “Bojo” Dunaway, and her brother Thomas G Lucas.

She is survived by her soul mate and loving husband of 34 years Matt Dillon and sons Adam (Myranda) and grandson Eli, T.J. (Sondra) and granddaughter Micah. She also leaves behind her mother Nelma Dunaway, brothers Randy (Laberta), Mike (Margaret), John (Donna) and sister Kathy Lucas. Also left to grieve her loss are her many very special nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston for their wonderful care during her last difficult days!

Visitation will be Wednesday March 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Allen Funeral Home in Hurricane. The funeral will be 2:00pm Thursday at Allen Funeral Home, Burial will follow in Culloden Cemetery.

If you wish to make a donation in Lisa’s memory, the family suggests making them to the Hubbard Hospice House or the National MS Society.

  1 week before she died ~ she was showing me how much weight she lost. Precious smile on her face even though fear and sadness was overtaking her life. 

   Lisa My Lisa,  Oh how Im going to miss her!  She was my very first friend and confidant ... she and I grew up closer than sisters and she was more precious to me than just a 'cousin' .   We had a lot of things in common and we understood eachother more than we should have!  The last time I was with her she was in Pittsburgh Hospital (where her doctor sent her up to have the Whipple surgery, for Pancreatic Cancer. but they were unable to do the surgery. Her cancer was too far gone.)    She was alseep and had been for a while.  Matt went to move his truck and Karl and I were in the room with her.   She woke up saying Matt I can't breath ` but didn't seem to be in distress'  she said it again... Matt I can't breath and she looked around... I got up and was going toward her and she saw me.. She said "Kimmy my Kimmy" ...  I helped her sit up and she laid her head on my shoulder and went back to sleep for a few minutes.. I'd love to have those few minutes back.. to be close to her and hold her.  She died 4 days later.  Part of my heart went with her. Lisa My Lisa!    After her graveside service her son came to me and said the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.  In his grief he smiled at me and told me he was so happy I was coming around his mom and his family because I "brought the happiness of Jesus" Im glad I could do that.  Im glad God helps me to love and smile and help where I can.  I pray Adam and his family find Jesus and can keep the happiness of Jesus with them and dont have to find it in others... but I intend to keep them in my life even though Lisa is gone. I want to take happiness to them and everyone when Jesus gives me a chance!   

Uncle Mark Foster 

  Uncle Mark Foster     67 years old He died Feb 4, 2015  Died of Congestive heart failure.   Uncle Mark was precious and sweet!  He made lots of mistakes in his life and he didn't take good care of his body,  Drinking and smoking were his worst enemy.  He lost his family and really messed up lots of areas...  It makes me wonder what he thought about and how he came to do that.   He grew up in the same family 7 other boys and 1 girl grew up.  He wasn't the only one that made bad decisions but in a family of 12 (one brother died as an infant) theres bound to be some who make serious mistakes.   ~God chose to give us free will ~ we were meant to make our own choices and to ask God for direction. ~ What makes people who grew up in the church and knows the Love of God turn from that life.?  I understand addiction... I have an addiction to food... I can't -- no choose -- not to say no to a cookie or chocolate.  But I believe addiction to drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol is different.  These things change your mental thought process~which leads to more poor decisions. (well maybe not cigarettes - but certainly drugs and alcohol- I do believe Uncle Mark accepted Christ in his last days, maybe months or years. But at that point his choices made his body weak and sick.  At that point it was too late to reverse the process of his body disagreeing with his choices.   Nothing can change the fact that Uncle Mark was loved dearly by many of us,  He will certainly be missed.. His beautiful smile will always burn in my heart!    

Another sad day...  this time in Moms side of the family again ..  

Michael J Lucas

Born: May 05, 1951
Died: January 22, 2016

Michael J. Lucas 64 of Milton passed away on Friday January 22, 2016. He was a retired Brick layer with Union Local # 9. He enjoyed all of the outdoors as well as his Grandchildren and family. 
He is survived by Wife Margaret White Lucas, Son Charles Lucas, Daughters Amber Lucas and Heather Lucas Nowalk all of Milton. Grandchildren Gabriel Davison of Costa Rica, Audrey and Garrett Westphal and Thomas Lucas of Milton. Mother Nelma Dunaway of Milton, Brothers Randy Lucas of Hurricane, John Lucas of Foster, Sister Kathy Lucas of Proctorville and Faithful hound Freckles. 
A celebration of Michael's life will be from 6 til 8 Friday January, 29, 2016 at Allen Funeral Home. Please visit allenfuneralhomewv.com to share memories and condolences In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice.

Unfortunately he felt like Life wasn't worth living any more.. He took his own life sitting at the kitchen table with little mementos on the table of the things he loved most...  his kids,  fishing lures,  golf tees, etc.      I'm sorry Mikey Jo  life was too hard!  You will be missed by many! 

REnewing my old love!

Premie Jacket, dress for 3 mo old and a jacket for 6 mo old. 2 newborn caps,  and a Gingerbread Girly hat and leg warmers

Cup cozies for Jordan and Julianne and a new 'bigger' Gingerbread Hat and leg warmers for Josie

Sadness ~ Sweetness ~ Memories

Ronald Ray “Bojo” Dunaway, 63, of Milton, WV, loving husband of Nelma “Bunny” Dunaway, went to be with his Lord on August 4, 2011 after courageously battling cancer for over a year.

Born in Burnwell, West Virginia on July 15, 1948, he was the son of the late Virgil and Madge Dunaway of Hurricane, WV.
Left to cherish his memory are 3 brothers, Virgil, Troy and William “Mobe” Dunaway and 6 sisters, Mary Ellen Fizer, Phyllis Qualls, Nova Jean England, Joann Watts, Maxine Harmon and Helen Dunaway. He was preceded in death by one sister, Janet Paul and one Brother, John Dunaway. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, step-children, grandchildren and great-grand children and a canine companion, Brady.
Bojo enjoyed fishing, hunting and NASCAR and was a unique individual who left all who knew him with entertaining stories and smiles.
Step-grandsons will serve as pall bearers.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2011 At Allen Funeral Home and a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on August 7, 2011, At Allen Funeral Home with Larry Arbogast officiating . Burial will follow in Culloden Cemetery

ROSS, Susan  Parker Ross, 54, of Simpsonville, S.C., passed away Saturday, November 5, 2011, at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Ms. Ross was predeceased by her husband, Donald Ross. She is survived by her parents, Lyle and Mary Ethel Parker, a sister, Brenda, and her husband Curtis Turner, one niece, Regina and her husband, Christopher Stoner, two nephews and their wives, Michael and Jessica Turner, and David and Joelle Turner, five great nieces and nephews, a number of Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins, including her Uncle Harvey, with whom Susan had a very close (Brother/Sister) relationship. Ms. Ross donated her body to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. A memorial service will be held November 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM at First Church of the Nazarene in Greenville, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Children's Ministry of the First Church of the Nazarene, 1201 Haywood Road Greenville, SC 29615.




 No photo  

NOAH DANIEL LOVETT,

12, of Buffalo, W.Va., son of Walt Lovett and Jennifer Stevenson Lovett, died Nov. 29, 2011. Funeral service will be noon Saturday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hurricane, W.Va. Visitation one hour before service Saturday at the church. www.raynesfuneralhome.com. Raynes Funeral Home, Buffalo is in charge of arrangements.

 Robert Spradling  June 30, 19   - June 24, 2012


From Erica:  Hello All, I just wanted to properly close this message group. As you all know by now, Dad passed away Saturday June 23, 2012. He was surrounded by all of his women...Mom, Kris, Kati, me and Aunt Sharon. He had a very peaceful and beautiful passing and was conscious and responsive to his last breath. I can only pray that God blesses me in the same way. We have grown closer as a family in these last 7 months and have shared in experiences I never would have imagined. We are all confident in knowing that we gave Dad the very best care...even after his death. Kris, Kati and I had the opportunity (thanks to Kati's schooling) to honor Dad by giving him his last bath and swaddling him before being taken away. We celebrated his birthday the following Tuesday by surf fishing on the beach and sending him birthday cards via helium balloons. Wednesday evening was his memorial service around Kati's pool, a setting that Dad would have chosen himself. Tiki torches, floating candles, lawn chairs, sandals, shorts and illuminated hot air balloon lanterns launched in his honor. Mike gave an excellent eulogy and Ron McCormick presided the service while songs and memories were shared by Jamal Brown. It was not traditional in many ways but every part was sincere and from the heart and absolutely perfect. Thursday morning Kati and I attended Dad's cremation which was absolutely amazing and beautiful. Dad was completely humbled and honored to have you all here praying on his behalf, as he said "I am blessed beyond all measure for the prayer warriors", so I wanted to be sure that each of you know how immensely thankful he was for the support you have shown all of us. Through this entire fight he never ever gave up on God and was continuously thankful for all that God has given him. It has been such a long journey yet it was over in a flash. Thank you all so much for being with us. Now as we move on, I believe we will continue to realize blessings that were not evident to us at the time. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we face all of the "firsts". One thing we all agree on is how the timing of every step has been perfectly orchestrated by God. In keeping with God's blessings and perfect timing I would now like to announce to each of you, Kati is pregnant!  

Time fleets so terribly fast.  Life is so extremely short!   What matters is how you spend your dash as mom-mom said many times.    Yes...  the - is what matters ... We have choices .. we have ideas and thoughts and likes and wants and demands and laws and morals and character and selfishness and sacrifices..and regrets and attitudes..... I could go on.. but I believe you get what I mean... All of us have a choice to make Every day.. Do we live with regrets, frustrations, jealousy, judgmental attitudes.   We all have things we've done we wish we could change...but the choices need to look more like Living each day helping others, being the best you can be, forgive quickly, love much, laugh often ..PUSH through the hard times... "Praying Until Something Happens".....    Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."     Galatians 5:22- 23 ^" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."   God Bless You! 

Me ...simply me

Thinking back on growing up ~ in the 2nd grade Mrs. Beckett asked us all what we wanted to be when we grew up. I thought and I thought... Other kids in the class were saying a doctor, a fireman, a policeman.. All I could think of was a wife and a mommy! What would make me the happiest? What could satisfy my needs and wants... Yup.. it was a mommy .. Of course I was 12 when I stopped taking my doll (Charlie from the age of 2) to church with me. I loved babies and I started working in the nursery at church during Sunday School and during church at the age of 8. Also at the age of 8 I had my first babysitting job watching 1 year old twins! OK yes they lived next door and mom was home if they happened to wake up... and YES I went in and watched them sleep till they Woke up.. who wants to baby sit babies that were asleep!??? =D I just loved Being MOM! As I grew up and into Jr. High school many were saying what they were going to be when they graduated.. What they were going to take in college... Me..I threw around being a vet... because I loved animals, I researched being a teacher because I loved kids, and being a nurse so I can help deliver babies. BUT when it came right down to it.... nothing ever took the place of being a wife and a mother! I just wanted to be married with a family. I dreamed of many babies and a loving husband that went to work everyday while I stayed home with all the kids ~ 8 was my magic number !!! Yup I wanted 8 babies! 8 children to love and run after and chase and play with and take to school and mold into beautiful adults.... My first born to my last would be my pride and joy. Loving God First.... Loving my husband second... and loving the little ones .. loving being a wife and a mother to the fullest! ~ Of course no problems trials or testings was ever in my dreams and certainly not divorce!!! (When Elvis got a divorce I put all my records outside on the roof to melt! and warp.. I couldn't stand not even the word or the act of divorce!) Life sure has a way of throwing us a curve! But never .. never did I change what I wanted to be "when I grow up". 2 divorces later and 2 children later made me realize ~ No matter what, I have my 2 beautiful, perfect children (Yes beautiful and Perfect! ) to give my whole life to! My children were my world and were going to stay that way... and did!!! The wife part was to hard to trust anyone totally and freely. I had put my all into being a mom and the rest into being a wife for the 3rd marriage. .. 22 years into my marriage to Karl and looking back I see that as the kids got older and realizing I wasn't going to be 'mom' in the sense of the word ~ being the one the kids depend on ~ totally trust and need. I started reflecting on the wife part... I knew then things were different than they had been much earlier in the marriage..... I wonder when I started Trusting Karl enough to be the wife I should be ~ I figured out .. early on I never gave him my total ' being a wife' part. Fear triggered this emotion but as months and years went by learned to trust and depend on him ... I love him so!!! He is my total companion, my provider, my friend, my confidant, my husband. I now know I never want to live without him and know he is just he best thing that ever happened to me. ! I am so Blessed!!! Being born in the family I was born in and having my children is the Blessing God Blessed me with. The life I dreamed of has come true but with a total Added Blessing that I prayed for also .... GRANDCHILDREN .. the most amazing Blessing ever! One I had no choice in.. But God Gave to me ... ok, OK .. to their parents .. but they are a gift to me! To their parents - gift by choice! =D My 4 grandchildren I can continue to love, hold, hug, play with , pray for, share! =) ... and most of all I love sharing them with their PA! I am so Blessed!!!


me at 6 months

me (and Erica ) 7 months pregnant Me with the baby doll age 10

GRANDCHILD UPDATE 

I just went back and read this... It was posted way before my fifth Grandbaby...    Josephine Ellen ..   What a Joy she is ...  added to Jordan Riley, Isaac Neil,  Julianne Grace,  Valerie Faw...  I do believe we are now complete unless God has a different story!     Love all around!!! 1

I see a resemblance here .

Moving Memories

As we were packing and going through Every box and rubbermaid tub in the house to get ready to move again, going through the 'box to save - Memories are in here' boxes ... my heart laughed and cried at the same time... laughing at the love I felt remembering but crying for the memories we wish we had back.. Memories from Great grand parents.. Grandparents but also from when my babies were small.. little ones with I LOVE YOU mommy forever and ever cards and pictures... great little pictures with the words written all over them .. I love you mom! The grocery lists and the 'reimbursement checks' in Mom-moms handwriting. The many score sheets from YAHTZEE .. or Canasta... Skipbo ... those I will cherish many many years... The time spent with Mama and Mom-mom playing these games was times they spent with me... we talked many a subjects playing these games... Just being together .. I can almost hear her laughing or calling me a stink pot when I was getting the upper hand.
I remember many times with Lisa my cousin (close as a sister) and I would spend the night with Mama we would play games into the night. Mama would cheat and Lisa and I would snicker across the table... Mama had no idea we were smart enough to know that when we turned our heads she would flip the yahtzee dice over to what she needed... We would play with laughter and fun until we couldn't play any more... Mama would usher us up to the bedroom upstairs after a quick question if we wanted to sleep with her.. Lisa and I were always quick to say no thank you .. I was a bed wetter and she would never reprimand me for the 'accidents' .. she would say something like.. ' I didn't know it rained last night.. that roof must be leaking again! The next morning after getting the sheets off the bed and the breakfast dishes done we would go to work on Mama showing us how to mop the floors and dust the house .. because thats what we loved doing .. being with Mama.. no matter what she needed us to do for her.. There were times Mama would be in the hospital and Lisa and I would get to 'sit' with her.. we would keep her laughing and she would keep us running... She would need things and we'd go get them.. now thinking back on it I think she might have asked us to go get things so she'd have a few minutes to rest.. but all in all ... her laughter and her having us around would always keep her getting well enough to go home... She had an enlarged heart and the doctors never knew when she would go.. as I got older I worried that I would be there when she 'went' so I started staying away. I look back now and grieve for the time I was too fearful to stay with her when I had a wonderful chance to be with my Mama! I loved her so!!! Mom-mom moved into a trailer behind her house when she passed away. I would go to Mom-mom's and get her paper in the morning on my way to work and take it to her front door so she didn't have to go out to the driveway (which was the alley) to get it. In the afternoons Hillary and Jeremy and I would go to her house and we'd clean or mow or play games with her... She was a blessing for us. .. and we were a blessing for her! Jeremy and Hillary grew up knowing and loving Mom-mom like Lisa and I loved Mama! Family is so precious!!! I wish I could put down every memory so no one forgets the love that Mama and Mom-mom had. Paw-paw and Papa were just as loving .. they too were so wonderful to be around! Papa passed away when I was 5 so I don't have a LOT of memories of him... The only memories I have specifically are us running to the car after him when he was pulling in the driveway because no matter how many kids came running he had a small snack bag of cheese puffs or potato chips... He'd hand them out with lots of love and hugs!!! I remember his 'wake' ... his casket in the living room of Mama's house. People were milling around the house talking and being there.. it seemed that nothing was amiss... but there was something terribly wrong... terribly! It just wasn't natural. It didn't dawn on me until later .. that his body was there but he wasn't . I knew they said he had died but only after coming back and he wasn't there .. forever .... then I realized what death really was.
Ok.. sorry to get on that subject.. just my mind pouring over the memories of days gone by.!
Moving and seeing pass me down mementos from past generations just stirs up all those loves and hugs from the past! Some precious and some not so nice. Death.. its something we start doing the minute we are born.. its the only thing that is 100 % guaranteed ... One thing is for sure and certain... Facing Death with dread or joy- fear or faith- the choice is ours... Whoever Believes in Him Shall not perish - Christ makes the offer - We must make a choice !

OK Back to Moving .. making memories NOW!

Making memories are also as important as remembering memories! It was fun letting the Isaac and Valerie help pack up their room to move... it was important that they get involved because I wasn't as doting as a grandparent with getting ready to move as they are used to... but letting them help was a good way to get them involved in the process .... Jordan and Julianne were in on the move by long distance.. reminding them that next time they come up we will live at a new house.... and they did!

What a GREAT family memory day we had...
What usually is a stressful day ended up being the most fabulous day ever!!! Enjoying the family together.. Mom and dad, Hillary and David, Jeremy and Jayme, Jordan, Isaac, Julianne and Valerie were more memory fun than we could ever ask for!! What a GREAT day!!! Jayme helped with the kitchen getting organized, Hillary couldn't do much because of her back but helped earlier in the week making meals as we were getting the house ready... Dad, David and Jeremy were a Godsend because we couldn't have done it without them!!! Mark Daye a friend of ours came and helped move furniture! Our day of moving was just full of wonderful memories! The kids loved it... getting caught up in all the 'stuff' coming in and the toys were all over everything ... playing with the 'cars' in the driveway were the most fun for them.. and Mom and I took them to the playground at the school! And we enjoyed just watching and playing and let the stress fly to another day! The day ended with joy in our hearts... (well except Julianne.. she wanted to ride a toy truck back to Pickerington.. not just take it with her but RIDE it to Pickerington.. and she wasn't a happy camper when she found out she couldn't ) I love her will and her spirit! One day it will be totally useful for what God has for her! Everything she does .. she does it BIG! It was a Good day!! Thank you Jesus Christ for my Family ! My new home! And above ALL ~YOU ! I thank ALL who joined us and helped that day.. especially Jayme for setting up my kitchen!!! I thank you openly every time I put my dishes away and go to and find an item I need!!!