Author: Steven Moore

The Superlatives of Lucky

When the kids were growing up and before they were smart enough to know that hanging out with Mom and Dad wasn’t cool, like many folks, we too would play the game of “I Love You”. And, upon saying so, the second response would be, “No, I Love You More” and, this game would finally conclude with the last person usually stating that “I Love You…The Most” , and then bustling out of earshot so you know you had the last word. You can’t do any better than that. So this little scenario would play out for a moment until the next time. Like Tic-Tac-Toe. Mindless fun, repeated over and again.  In that game, you couldn’t do any better than “most”. Not then. Not even now.

I am a very lucky guy, from before the day I met Debbi, to having the opportunity to raise two great kids. Luckier still, to have been saved by the blood of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in August of 1997. For, it is down this path of “lucky” as I’ve called it, to give it it’s real name Providence.

We’ve been lucky to have the employer that we do.   Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, graced with leadership which allows for the  freedom to express ones  love for Christ and couple that passion with being ‘prayer warriors’, devoted to lifting up those who are sick and or hurting. And,  there are many who are, sick and hurting. Just follow those prayer warriors.  Pretty lucky.

I am still processing all of what occurred on my sabbatical.  True to what I was told, the sabbatical transformed from start to finish.  We can make our plans to our hearts content but God directs our path.  Our prayers and the answers we receive through the Holy Spirit help us to work through all of what we do and become.

I get my joy in doing.  And, tending to Debbi’s needs (which continues but diminishes daily), as well as our 2017 Stillwater United Methodist Church Parking Lot Build were the big rocks of what laid before us.  Praise God for allowing me to accomplish both.  It is with gratitude to FD for the opportunity to have done so.

In conclusion, and, to quote Lou Gehrig on July 4, 1939 ( and I paraphrase) ….”I’m the luckiest guy on the planet’. But, we all know what luck really is, don’t we?  And, just remember, God loves US the most.  You just can’t do any better than that.

Respectfully,

Steven

The Lumber awaits cutting on Friday before the big Saturday

Saturday and the sounds of hammering ensues.

One house frame is erected to allow for people to write prayers, blessings and affirmations on any of the exposed framing.

The Journey Begins For The Selected Families

…grow apple trees, and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.

Yeah, I took liberties with one of the words in the title.  The song actually says to “Buy” the world a home.  But, for the purpose of our Blog, we’ll go with build.

Through the several adversities encountered in the organizing, preparation, execution and delivery of these frames,  God did indeed provide.  Prayers were answered on so many levels.  And, yet we fallen people still wonder how can this ever take place when faced with insurmountable problems.  But,  God was and is present in all of what you see.

Over 300 sets of “boots on the ground” volunteers from several churches, high school and collegiate athletic teams,  and service clubs participated.  I had someone ask why we solicit for the volunteers outside of our church.  And, was it because we couldn’t garner enough support from within.   We had over 100 of our own congregants present and accounted for.  But, the point of all of this was to spread the  project around and give others a chance to shine on a project such as this.  We could have done all of this with the 100+ Stillwater United Methodist Church people.  But others needed to feel engaged in putting a roof over the heads of  two fortunate families.

Lastly and most important the church is responsible for securing the funds to pay for all of this.  And, we do this by soliciting for donations in hopes we can get the $15,000 needed to complete this project.  Many of these resources come in the form of sacrificial giving from within and outside the church.  But, none of this would have been possible without the generous consideration given to “The SUMC Parking Lot Build” by The Director’s Foundation of Funeral Directors Life.  Thanks ever so much Kris Seale and your team of heroes who consider the best places to use the resources that they can provide.  None of what happened on Saturday, September 9, 2017 would have been possible without mutual approval of The Director’s Foundation to do so .

And, as a postscript, I want to be able to add to this blog with some photos of the finished homes and each family selected.    These homes were being used by The Fuller Center out of Americus, GA at a site location in Alabama.  Millard and Linda Fuller were the folks who started Habitat for Humanity.  And, in 2005 the Fullers parted company with Habitat and started anew.  Millard has since passed away, but his legacy continues through the Fuller Center.

Respectfully,

Steven

No, not that Babe….besides, he’s been long gone.  No more plate appearances for him.

Before we go any further, allow me to explain that “The Babe”  is a term of endearment (never before aired to the public) that some years back Debbi approved of allowing me to use.  No, not in the sense of …”Babe, while you’re up would you get me a beer?”..

No, it was born out of watching the occasional round of the PGA on the tube and someone would yell out (as soon as the metal face of the club made it’s resounding thwack upon contact with the ball)…”You Da Maaaaan!   So, what started out as somewhat of a joke, turned into one of those ongoing, although in our case not overused,  pet names couples sometimes have for one another.  Debbi was certainly not “Da Man”,  she was and is quite simply “The Babe”.  In our household, it is considered an honorific.  She has one for me as well. But, perhaps that might come later.

The title was certainly earned after almost 42 years of marriage.  She is one of the sweetest, kindest, toughest, grittiest people I know all wrapped up in  4 foot 10 inch bundle of energy that up until last Monday was operating on two knees that were long overdue as to being replaced.  She refused to do it before now because of her commitment to watching the Grandkids three  days a week.  She did  not want to see them have to go into daycare as good as some of them are.  But, like much of what people endure,  other things started going awry due to compensating for the manner in which she had to walk and move about.

Moving forward, we are now 8 days this side of what is considered a “Simultaneous”  Bi-Lateral Total Knee Replacement or BTKR, and it looks as if Debbi will be heading home from re-hab tomorrow.   She was ready for this in so many ways.  We were advised that the surgery would take upwards of 4 hours to complete.  And when Dr. Welker shared with me 2 hours and 15 minutes later that all went very well, it was clear he was very happy with the results.  He also mentioned that she would probably add back at least a couple inches of height due to the success of what was accomplished.

Just a side note to all of what has happened.  We chose her surgeon because of two good friends who previously needed his orthopedic surgical skills.  Neither of which would be as mobile as they are today had it not been for those skills and gifts.  Tell me referrals don’t mean anything.

Lastly, the Kettering Health System here in SW Ohio is topnotch.  They are aligned with the Seventh Day Adventist Church.  And, in all that they do, they honor God.

Enough for now, “The Babe” will be home tomorrow…I need to fold the laundry.

Steven

“I promise, I’ll be brief”, said the salesman as he stepped across the threshold.

Nothing awesome or profound to report so far. What began as testing the blog waters may just stay on as a first installment.

Monday is day three, and Debbi is in the midst of her double knee replacement procedure. She’s such a trooper with the pain she has endured. She’s been ready for this for a time, and only in the last few days has she allowed her façade to show any cracks regarding her discomfort. We were both up by 3:30 AM to be at the hospital by 5:30 this morning. Immediately following surgery, the doctor came out to brief me on the success of her operation. He was pleased with the outcome and it only took 2 hours and 15 minutes. We were told it would range from 2 1/2 to 4 hours. As I type this she is resting, pain free and sound asleep.  Thanks to all of my FD family for the prayers for Debbi today.  Evidence abounds in God’s grace and mercy as she recovers and heals.

Getting up early for me is nothing new, I am usually up by 4:30 AM most mornings, and this last Saturday was THE first in what I can remember as a Saturday with nowhere to be in the morning. I was abed by 9 PM Friday and didn’t drag myself out of bed until 8 AM Saturday morning. 11 hours….What was that all about? Then yesterday I saw the opportunity to take a quick nap and what was to be maybe 30 minutes turned out to be a 2 ½ hour snooze fest. The rubber band has definitely lost its tension. So, I can see where the resting part of what we are called to do took little effort to achieve.

I started this journey with a short intermittent 24 hour fast coupled with prayers from Friday to Saturday. My good friend Mike, is always game to share in doing one of these, and we hope to perhaps do this a few times in the coming days and maybe one for a more extended period. We always have a purpose for these, but that’ll have to remain private.

Lastly, to bolster the whole experience, I am reading the Andy Stanley book, “Visioneering”, re-reading, “Love Does” by Bob Goff, as well as continuing to make my way through the devotional gift we received at the Summer Sales Meetings, “Book of Mysteries” by Jonathon Cahn.

In closing, for now, probably my biggest challenge over the remaining 27 days will be NOT filling all available time with activities. I need to throttle back a bunch. Nothing new, right?

Steven