Happy Birthday, Sister!

My sister is a woman of many talents and amazing strength. I guess she inherited those gifts from our mother, well . . . except for the athletic ability, that is. Quite frankly, I'm not sure where she got that gift. I was six years old when she was born, and I still remember the day.

We have traveled the western hemisphere together, living on two continents, four countries, and countless houses. We even shared our first passport. (Now that's a picture I'll have to find.) Through thick and thin we have always been close.

I know in all the hoopla on my blog surrounding Nathan, it may seem like my sister doesn't get as much attention, but I will never forget that without her I never would have become Nathan's Uncle.

This is a poem I wrote for Carla on her birthday six years ago. Since I haven't written a new one, and this one has never appeared on the blog, I thought this would be a good time to share it.

SISTER

She’s a lady
A classic work of art
She’s a singer and a worshiper
Anointed, set apart

She’s an athlete
It all stands to reason
Volleyball, basketball, soccer
Voted MVP every season

She’s a teacher
Imparting what she knows
Science was her craft
The first career she chose

She’s a lover
Of God, her family, and friends
And they love her in return
With a love that never ends

She’s a servant
A caregiver and a nurse
A gifted, broken vessel
Putting others first

She’s a daughter
Roland and Evelyn’s heir
She’s a wife
The answer to Todd’s prayer

She’s a mother
As if she always knew
Diapers, bottles, and lullabies
Her dream at last came true

She’s a giver
Of Nathan, my nephew
Since once was not enough
Soon she’ll be a mother times two

She’s a friend
When others walk away
A confidant who knows me
Yet loves me anyway

She’s my sister
The world’s best indeed
The only one I have
And the only one I need

—For Carla
June 14, 2002

Happy birthday, Carla! You know I love you so . . . .

Sunday Dinner

It was a big eating weekend! Layna's birthday Friday, Kelsey's birthday on Saturday, and on Sunday Mama cooked dinner to thank Jerry for painting her wheel covers and to thank John for the many times he has helped them with their car. Jerry made it, but John had to work, so April willingly took his place. The menu included tater-baked chicken, chicken & dumplings, potato salad, Fordhook limas, sweet potato casserole, and Mama's delicious oil & vinegar salad. For dessert Mama tried out Holli's layered chocolate caramel ice cream sandwich recipe.

Thanks, Mama!

New Year's Eve at Kendra's House

Kelsey, Emily & Nathan

My cousin Kendra and her sweet girls, Kelsey and Emily, invited our family over for New Year's Eve. She prepared a wonderful meal of roast beef and vegetables, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, and apple dumplings a la mode. After we stuffed ourselves we watched the kids play Nintendo Wii. Nathan, my favorite video gamehead, played hard, but I think Emily was the best-all-around player of all the games including bowling and boxing. I think she may have even beat Todd at golf!

Nathan boxing.

Later in the evening we went outside so the kids could light sparklers. I think it was Nathan's first time. By midnight, I believe we were all home in bed. Thanks for a wonderful evening, DeeDah!

After Christmas Party at Jeff & Tonya's

For more years than I can remember, a small group of friends who sang together in the group Alafia and the East Hillsborough Community Mass Choir have been getting together each Christmas for a small dinner party and an after-dinner sing-a-long. This year it didn't work out for us to get together before Christmas, so we got together the Friday after Christmas at Jeff & Tonya's house.

The food was amazing as always. We had grilled steaks, April's artichoke dip, Lisa's potato salad, Tonya's oatmeal cookies, Carla's eggplant casserole, and more delicacies than I can remember. But the highlight of the meal was Jeff's unending supply of lobster tails. Needless to say, we stuffed ourselves that night.

Todd, T.R., and Jeff

Tonya and Tootie, Mandy's new puppy

The Girls: Tonya, Carla, April & Lisa

John joins the girls in the kitchen.

Our singing this year was less than spectacular. For one, we missed Shellie and her strong soprano, and of course we were way out of practice on most of our songs from the past. Under extreme pressure from the girls, I sang "Light of a Million Mornings." But the highlight of the evening was Tonya singing our perennial favorite "Breath of Heaven." I love Amy Grant's version of the song, but I believe the song was written for Tonya. It fits her voice so perfectly and we are always moved emotionally each time we hear it, even when Tonya turns her back on us!

Tonya sings with her back to us.

Here's a clip of Tonya's rendition of "Breath of Heaven." Tonya don't kill me!

Christmas Morning 2007

To me, the best part of Christmas is Jesus.

The second best part of Christmas is Nathan. He has been my best gift for six years now, and watching him open his presents and give his personally selected gifts to us was almost more than I could contain. Last year we were amazed at how he hand-picked our gifts from Santa's Workshop at school. I had no idea a 5-year old could select such individually appropriate gifts. He gave me a tiger figurine for my desk at school, the home of the Tomlin Tigers. This year DeeDee took him to the dollar store and let him pick out his gifts for us. My gift was a hugging teddy bear. I keep it at school attached to one of Nathan's pictures for the times I need a hug from Bubby.

I think this was the best Christmas morning so far. Carla made a breakfast casserole, the coffee was perking, and then Nathan started handing out gifts and opening presents of his own. He was so excited and so grateful for his presents. We got hugs and kisses for every gift he opened. I hope we are not spoiling him, but he's the only one we have to spend our money on right now. Hint! Hint!

You know you are truly blessed when your family asks for your Christmas list and you can't think of one thing you need. Okay, at least any affordable thing you need. If I wrote a Christmas list it would go like this:

1. a new roof
2. my house tented and fumigated
3. new ball joints on my car
4. new carpet
5. new blinds

and most of all . . .

6. an iPhone!

No one in my family wanted to spend that big, so I settled for some DVDs and a nice cash gift from Mama and Daddy that has already been put in iPhone savings.

Here are a few snapshots from our wonderful Christmas morning . . . .

Carla & Todd

Nathan gives his daddy golf balls.

"It rhymes with Winnie the Pooh."

It IS Winnie the Pooh!

Nathan gives Uncle Howie a huggable teddy bear and a hug.

DeeDee gets a digital camera.

Mommy opens her scented candle.

A bit of drama induced by a Nintendo DS Mario Kart game from Uncle Howie.

Pokémon chapter books

Pokémon drawing books

After we finished opening presents, Nathan volunteered (can you believe it?) to do the sign language performance he gave at his school program in Jamaica. The song was "Living Word" by Fred Hammond. This anointed song, plus Nathan's sign language brought us to tears. We are such cry-babies!

Bread of Life, sent down from Glory,
Many things You were on Earth,
A Holy King, a carpenter,
You are the Living Word

Bread of Heaven, sent down from Glory
Many things You were on Earth,
A Holy King, a carpenter,
You are the Living Word

Awesome Ruler, Gentle Redeemer,
God With Us, the Living Truth,
And what a Friend we have in You,
You are the Living Word

Jesus, Jesus, that's what we call You,
Manger born, but on a tree,
You died to save humanity
You are the Living Word

And now a first for Nathan's Uncle. Not a YouTube link, but my own uploaded video. I give you my nephew, Nathan . . . .

Part 2 - Dunn's River Falls, Jamaica

My very first blog post on Nathan's Uncle was June 18. In that post I told how Nathan was my favorite subject, but that I hoped to write about many of my favorite things. I included a brainstormed list of many of those things. The first two topics in my list of favorites were mountains and waterfalls. Later, on June 29, I wrote about my trip out West and how Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was the most beautiful place on Earth.

Well, on Friday, November 1, those two posts collided in Ocho Rios (or "Ochy" as the locals call it), Jamaica. Todd, Carla, Nathan, and I visited what may well be the second most beautiful spot on Earth. Dunn's River Falls is the number one tourist destination in Jamaica, as well it should be. Cruise ships haul in visitors by the thousands to climb the falls from bottom to top. Fortunately, we hit it on a day when no cruise ships were in port.

The following photo-sequence tells the story of the amazing day we spent together:

They made me ride in the back seat with Nathan all the way from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. Not only that . . . they forced me to ride with him in the back seat all the way back, including Todd's navigation through the interminable traffic and gridlocks in MoBay. I know . . . sometimes people treat you that way, and you just have to put up with it.

The lush tropical foliage speaks for itself.

Parking is at the top of the falls, and we couldn't resist stopping for some pictures before hiking to the bottom.

My sweet sister, Carla . . . the best brother-in-law ever, Todd . . . and of course the center of my world, Nathan . . . meet the Hoods, missionary associates to Jamaica!

"Am I going to climb this waterfall or not?"

Snapped on our way down. I thought this sign had a vintage Hollywood look.

A bit of history.

Where the falls meet the beach.

Dunn's River flows into the Caribbean Sea.

We begin the ascent alone.

At this point we decide to let an escorted tour group go ahead so we could follow in their steps. This illustrates how large groups navigate the falls by holding hands in single file.

We've only just begun.

I think this image through the jungle foliage has great 3-D composition. Cool shot, Carla!

Another interesting shot. I love the jungle vines in this one. The escorts for the tour group lagged behind to assist us, even though we had not hired them. We tipped them when we reached the top.

He-Man and the Olympic Gold Medalist.

Otherworldly.

Near the top. Almost Heaven.

Carla, thanks for being our official trek photographer. You got some amazing shots, Sister!

Footnote: I still remember the night several years ago when Todd told me they were going to be missionaries to Jamaica. I didn't receive the news well. They would be taking my one and only nephew away from me. Over time, I came to accept the inevitable, and being a missionary's kid myself I knew that Nathan would get to experience many things that the average American kid would never be able to do, and I could never deny him those benefits. Watching Nathan climb Dunn's River Falls and swim near the coral reef at Doctor's Cave confirmed that knowledge for me.

Happy Anniversary, Todd & Carla!

Seven years ago today my only sister married my best friend. It was a Holy Ghost wedding not to be missed. It came close to being the first time a whole wedding party was collectively slain in the Spirit. Of all days for me to be sick . . . . I can honestly say it was the ugliest singing I have ever done. If I wasn't admitting it here, the videotape would easily be blackmail material.

So here's the short version of Todd & Carla's story from my perspective . . . .

Once upon a time Howie was a worship leader at a country church. His sister, Carla, sang on the worship team. Then one day a young man named Todd walked into the church because he was desperately searching for God. Todd was under conviction and actually got saved later at a great-uncle's funeral. Howie and Carla were related to Uncle Lovic on the Blount side of the family, and Todd was related to Uncle Lovic on the Porter side of the family. Although they shared the same cousins, Todd and Carla and Howie were not related to each other and did not know each other. As Howie was leaving the funeral, he passed Todd's truck. Todd said, "Hi," and Howie said, "Hi," back.

Todd started attending church regularly. He and Howie and Carla ultimately became close friends. Their lives revolved around the church. They attended lots of revivals and camp meetings together, sang together in the choir, and went out to eat a LOT! They were basically the Three Musketeers and did everything together.

Then, Carla got a secret crush on Todd, but Todd had no interest in Carla. This continued for a few years. Carla would go to the altar after church and squall a lot. Todd was oblivious. But one day it all changed. God opened Todd's eyes and his feelings changed and he ended up proposing to Carla at the end of church one Sunday morning in front of God and everybody. Everyone was so happy for them, except Howie. Howie wasn't so sure how he felt about it. Eventually, Howie grew to accept the situation and everything was cool. At the time Howie did not know how Todd and Carla getting married would bring him the best gift of his life.

Todd and Carla got married on July 28, 2000. Things were good, but they were about to get a whole lot better, because a year later on July 18, 2001, Todd and Carla made Howie . . . NATHAN'S UNCLE!

Nathan's entry into the world completely reconfigured Uncle Howie's focus. Nathan became the center of the universe, and Uncle Howie's world basically revolved around him. Everything was going just fine until Todd decided to throw a monkey wrench into the mix. One late evening, after a night of fun at the Strawberry Festival, the Three Musketeers got into the truck to head home. It was then that Todd broke the news to Uncle Howie that God had called him to be a missionary to Jamaica. Uncle Howie thought his world was going to fall apart and accused Todd of taking his precious nephew away from him.

It would be a few years before the Jamaica calling would be fulfilled, and although it was hard, Uncle Howie finally accepted that Nathan would be going away. Uncle Howie entrusted Nathan to God's care and Todd and Carla's very capable hands. Todd, Carla, and Nathan left for Jamaica on July 2, 2007, and although it has been an adjustment for everyone, they are getting used to it and looking forward to what God has in store for the next chapter of their lives.

One major event not included in the story will be told in tomorrow's post.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, TODD & CARLA! UNCLE HOWIE LOVES YOU!