Life, is what happens to.......

Community Revival in the town square...

Marianna and Jamie.....

“Life, is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” John Lennon,

We in small town America know exactly what John Lennon meant. Here in Edwards, in less then a two week period, we have had three deaths, three funerals, a wedding, two births, a Friendship club meeting, and a community revival in the town square. . And a good number of the citizens of Edwards were in some way or another were effected by all.

The morning of Sunday May 10, Jimmie Lee Fowler and Sonny Montgomery, life long friends and neighbors died within an hour of each other, both funerals were held on Tuesday, Sonny’s in the morning, Jimmie Lee’s in the afternoon. I saw many of Jimmie Lee’s family members that morning at Sonny’s visitation…they had stopped to pay there respects on their way to Jackson to the services for Jimmie Lee.

That afternoon at the graveside service, Montgomerys were there, respectfully honoring Ms. Jimmie Lee’s passing. My friend, Betty Kemp, over on Long wood Drive, last month she diagnosed with acute leukemia, even though dieing herself, mourned the passing of Sonny and Jimmie Lee. Everyday Betty asked about Jimmie Lee and Sonny.

On with the Plans that had been made.

Saturday, May 16 there was a wedding here at the Presbyterian church Marianna Harpole married Jamie Hilbun. Betty’s grandson Andrew Noble was in the wedding, he was there standing with his friends Marianna and Jamie on the biggest day of their lives. Andrew and Marianna grew up together…much of the time on the same block on Jackson street. Andrew went from the wedding reception to his grandmothers bedside…Where Betty was anxious to hear all about the wedding.

Tuesday Kay Turner entertained the Edwards Fellowship Club out to her house, it was a refreshing time, the was sun shining, the birds singing and flowers blooming. Wednesday in the square there was a community revival. Several pastors of Edwards churches, black and white, participated in the revival. I went away filled with hope for the future of Edwards.

Early Thursday morning, surrounded by a loving family, my friend Betty Kemp passed, Betty was able to stay home through out her illness, with help from Hospice her family was able to care for her in final days and hours.

Betty’s memorial service was Saturday, at same Presbyterian church, where just the week before the wedding had been held. In fact for the memorial service, the father of the bride, Dave Harpole with Betty’s son-in-law, Ronnie Noble sang “Victory in Jesus” .

After the service, the ladies of the church served the Kemp family a meal, at the home of Suzanne and Dave Harpole…Where Just a week and a day ago, had been the location of a crawfish boil…the rehearsal dinner before the wedding.

Love to all and call if you need me…

Oh, the two births, Jennifer Stuart, Sonny Montgomery’s daughter, became a grandmother the day Sonny died. Thursday, the day Betty died, Kay and Lewis Montgomery became grandparents again…Victors wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl in Memphis. Life does go on……….

It is also said, that in a small town, “Everybody gets in everybody else’s business“….I feel it my great honor and privilege to live where that is true.

Gloria Christiansen HCG April 30 2009

Saturday morning, I went to front porch with my second cup of coffee …it was a spectacular morning, the sun was still low in the sky, it was not even bright enough yet to cast shadows. (I get up very early) The air was sweet with the honeysuckle, right now the woods are full of it. Above and beyond , and mixed with the honeysuckle there was another pleasing scent, it was a familiar, but I could not for the life of me figure out from where that wonderful smell was coming. I had nothing in my yard blooming except roses and it was not a rose scent….and it was strong.

Way on after while, it came to me what it was that was perfuming the air…. I fuss, fume and fret about it …I chop, pull and spray it….You all, its the privet hedge that also grows in the woods at the edge of my lawn! It is in full flower right now… And I knew it had a magnificent scent in the spring….but in the summertime I get so mad at it, I forget how lovely it is in the early spring.\

I went to contemplating, “Is there a life lesson to be learned from privet hedge?” “Is God trying to tell me something?” “Could it be, even the most obnoxious (folks, plants, animals, insects) may have sweet qualities, we might would notice,….. if we did not get and stay so angry, that we repeatedly over look the good?” I now have something to ponder over this week…while I do dishes, mow etc.

Later in the morning, I drove the five miles down old 80, out to the Shadows, the home of Peggy McKey, to attend a bridal shower for Marianna Harpole. Along side the road the purple fetch was blooming, the queen’s lace and the clover….. perfection!

The lane going in to Peggy’s is flanked by live oaks, for a moment you are in a tunnel of green…perfection! Then you are in front of the beautiful home, brick with white column that rise to support a second floor porch Lovely! A story book setting.….

At the front door was Marianna, she was just lovely, she was wearing a spectacular sundress, all white and she was wearing high heeled shoes, the color of ripe persimmons….Perfection!!!!.

Ordinarily Marianna is extraordinary shy and very quiet, but for this occasion she was able to overcome her shyness, and was at the door smiling and greeting the arriving guests….Marianna is a honey…she is beautiful ….She is appreciative, she is respectful , and she is gracious… the mark of a carefully raised young lady born to the South.

Love to all, call if you need me