EASTER 2011 AFTERNOON

This Easter afternoon my wife Cissy and I hosted our children and grandchildren. There were 17 of us present, missing only Evan, who was in Wisconsin with his girlfriend visiting her parents.

We had a delicious lunch, followed by Easter egg hunt, and then playing in the creek and eating dessert by the rope swing.

THANKSGIVING

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)

Thanksgiving Day started early for me as I left home shortly after 7:30 a.m. to help with Cherokee Thanksgiving which our church hosts. The free meal is served to the community and delivered to the elderly, shut-ins, emergency workers and families without transportation.

The all-volunteer effort fed 75 people during its inaugural year in 1992. This year organizers are expecting to feed about 1,650 people. My job was to assist over a dozen people pulling turkey meat off the birds. Others were preparing the side-dishes, setting the tables, putting together delivery boxes, and getting ready to dispatch drivers.

I returned home about 11 a.m. to help Cissy with any last minute preparations for our meal. This year most of our family joined us to eat at noon on Thanksgiving Day. The Thursday group sat around after lunch. Some examined the store sale flyers in the newspaper; there was some wrestling; and a little dancing.

After most everybody had gone home, Cissy had a rest time. Evan and I played some basketball to renew our old rivalry. Each of us tried a little trash talk, trying to psyche out each other.

Seth and Haley and kids arrived on Friday afternoon after being in Texas for the last week. We had a good second round of feasting. The weather was pretty after eating, so we spent some time down by the creek. We played in the sand, tossed a football and frisbee, sailed off to faraway galaxies in the swing, played tag, and even retrieved a football out of the creek by dangling Olivia by her feet (after her mother proved too big to handle).

Cissy and Haley took off to the movie theater, while the rest of us watched a DVD at home. The day ended with a meal at Chic-Fil-A.

GOD'S BUILDING BLOCK

I have made so many mistakes in life. I have erred so many times with family … especially as a son, brother, husband and father. Yet by God’s grace I have hope to redeem my faults and find new opportunities.

This week I read an article about the priority of family. Its truth resonated deeply within me. Here are some quotes:

“The poison of the parents bleeds into the next generation and the cycle of hatred continues to spin and destroy.”

“From being blood brothers to wanting the blood of your brother is an all too common pathway of families.”

“The world in every culture needs to see how to have a family not filled with broken relationships but where there is love, respect, kindness and mercy.”

Below is the complete article. The author is Dr. Al VomSteeg, Senior International Director of International Leadership Institute. http://www.iliteam.org

It seems like each time we teach the core value of Family Priority that God seems to move upon the conference participants with such an impact that almost each person is broken over some part of the teaching. In spite of the fact that each culture views the family in its own particular emphasis there is no doubt “God looks for men and women who are convinced that the family is God’s building block for society”. That makes our challenge to “make family a priority” as the first place in our ministry of ‘developing leaders’.

Some of the saddest stories in the Bible have to do with fathers who can lead a nation but don’t provide true leadership to their families. At times both parents picked their favorites and in the end the brothers turn into bitter enemies. The result is rebellion against their parents. Jealousy and resentment seems to abolish the fact that they have the same parents. The poison of the parents bleeds into the next generation and the cycle of hatred continues to spin and destroy.

We know it started with Cain and Abel and it continued through each generation. Choose your example: Jacob and Esau; Joseph and his brothers, Absalom and Amnon. It seems that once the relationship is broken between brothers it multiplies and spreads to all the family. This tragic truth of the multiplication of hatred was illustrated by Joseph’s brothers when they first wanted to kill their younger brother and instead sold him into slavery to a caravan of Ishmaelites who were passing by.

The members of the Ishmaelites caravan who bought Joseph from his brothers and sold him in Egypt were called Midianites [Gen.37:28, 36]. Midian and Medan were two sons of Abraham by his second wife Keturah [Gen. 25:2]. From them developed a nomadic people who, though blood brothers of the Jews, became their constant enemies [Judges 6:1].

From being blood brothers to wanting the blood of your brother is an all too common pathway of families. Even Christian families are touched by this plague. This is why we teach that the family is a gift from God; a ministry from God and a responsibility from God. We teach that our ministry begins in the home before we go across the street, across the sea or get behind a pulpit to preach. The world in every culture needs to see how to have a family not filled with broken relationships but where there is love, respect, kindness and mercy.

If we go out and attempt to win the world for Christ while at the same time we fail to lead and care for our families as Christ cares for us, then someone will write our sad story right along with those of Abraham and David. It need not be. It should not be.

FAMILY PIGNIC

One week ago one of our city parks was the site of “Cherokee Pignic.” The central event was a BBQ Cook-off divided into two categories -- Professionals ($10,000 Purse) and Amateur Backyard Burners ($1,500 Purse). Besides lots of good eating there was a halloween costume contest, outdoor movie, games, heritage craft demonstrations, music and dancing. www.cherokeepignic.com

Last Sunday afternoon our family had our own version of a pignic. There was lots of food --- barbecue, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, cupcakes, pumpkin cheesecake, and caramel apples.


Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean showed up to battle with Luke Skywalker and a Black Ninja. Tinkerbelle and Ladybug and KittyKat tried to calm the atmosphere. Lots of laughs were provided by everyone who bobbed for apples.

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FAMILY CHRISTMAS

All of the glorious worship celebrations of Christmas with music and plays, was followed by our family time. We planned to have all children and spouses and grandchildren together on Christmas Eve. Yet someone had the flu and others were afraid of being overexposed. So we had two separate meals and gift openings, one on Christmas Eve and another on Christmas Day.

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CHRISTMAS PLAY

Sunday evening New Hope Baptist Church presented their children’s play, “The Christmas Gift.” The Cloud clan was well represented with Will as a shepherd, Aaron as a sheep, Becky as Mary, and Ansley as Baby Jesus. Walker made a cameo appearance as he delivered Baby Jesus to Mary in the stable.

Afterwards there was a humongous spread of food in the fellowship hall. The guest of honor was Santa Claus who held court with all the children.

On the box below the photos click on the arrow to hear a clip of Becky singing “O Holy Night.”

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THANKSGIVING

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! On Thanksgiving Day our family joined millions across our great land of America to give thanks to our gracious and good God. All of our children and grandchildren did not celebrate together this year, but those of us who were nearby and available ate great food on this beautiful day. Tonight baby Ansley is staying with us so her mother Becky can start shopping early tomorrow morning.

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DEDICATION

Last week I felt the “blahs” in my life. Perhaps it was because I had a cold for over a week. Even though I was getting over the cold, I still felt weak due to lack of exercise. But even worse, I was lethargic spiritually. On Wednesday morning I realized I had been neglecting personal and private time alone with God in the Bible for the last week or so.

Later that day when I began preparing to lead our Sunday School class for the coming Sunday, I opened the booklet to find the topic was “Seeking Renewal.” The text was based on 2 Kings, chapters 22 and 23. The book of the Law was rediscovered by King Josiah and he led the people of Judah in a great service of faithful attentiveness and obedience to the Word of God.

How refreshing and providential for God to show me my own need and confirm to me the solution in the scriptures!

During class on Sunday morning I reviewed the events in the life of Josiah. Then I led our class through the basics of inductive bible study so that they could experience personal renewal and growth in their own spiritual lives.

Directly after class Cissy and I went to the church where her son and family are members. We had the delight to see Walker and Becky dedicate themselves to the bringing up their baby daughter, Ansley Mae, in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Big brothers Will and Aaron stood by their side as witnesses to how their parents have been actively keeping such vows already made for them.

CREEK COOKOUT

Last Sunday afternoon Cissy and I invited our five children and six grandchildren to join us for a cookout down by the creek. Everybody made it but Evan, who already had plans to go to Six Flags for its last day of the season.

We cooked hotdogs on the grill with all the fixins’, along with chili, slaw, apple pie, and smores! Yum! It was a gorgeous day to gather outside by the creek before cold weather arrives.

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WILDLIFE

This afternoon Cissy and I took grandsons Will and Aaron on a special outing. First, we had lunch at McDonalds. The Happy Meals included toy cars from the movie “Cars.” It was a treat for me since I have not gone to see the movie yet.

Last week when I took Cissy to the movies she choose “The Lake House” instead of “Cars.” Guys, do whatever you can to avoid the lake house chick flick. Even Cissy had to admit it was not a whole lot to her liking.

Anyhow, after lunch we went to the Canton Arts Center which was hosting the Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary today. Since the Arts Center is in the old Methodist Church, it was interesting that the Wildlife Sanctuary presentation was in a former church sanctuary.

This organization rescues animals that have been injured or orphaned. When possible the animals are restored to the wild. You can visit their website at: http://www.wildliferehabsanctuary.org/

The founder and director of the organization, “Grizzly” Craig Cylke, along with some assistants, presented an interesting and informative program. Critters that we got to see and pet included an owl, opossum, chinchilla, ferret, lynx, and snake. Will and Aaron bought some rubber snake souvenirs to take home and try to scare their mother.

After the wildlife show Cissy had a contest to see who would get to choose where we would go to buy ice cream. Without protest Will won the burping contest with the best and longest sounds. He chose Brusters where we enjoyed dinosaur sundaes, along with black cherry and chocolate raspberry truffle ice cream.

Tonight some friends from Big Canoe joined us at a favorite Mexican restaurant. Cissy was glad I was a good sport after losing the burping contest earlier in the day and did not try to make a second effort.

After we brought our friends to our home for dessert, the ladies conversation mentioned Dottie Tate who is over ninety years old. She is one of the grand dames of Big Canoe, who Cissy has known all of her life. So Cissy pulled out some of her 50 year old movies that showed Dottie and her husband in her prime.

It is good to share old memories and make new memories with friends and family!

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SEAGROVE BEACH

Last week my wife and I joined three of our five children, plus two spouses and five grandchildren, for a great time on the Florida Gulf Coast. We rented a spacious three floor oceanfront home.

Food was great. Each morning from our chef children we were served eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and pancakes. Typical lunch fare was sandwiches. Most nights we ate lots of seafood, with burgers and pizza and spaghetti filling in other nights.

Daytime activities centered on the swimming pool and beach. In the evening after dinner we gathered our nets and flashlights and caught crabs in the surf.

Early in the week it looked like the first tropical storm of the season might affect us negatively. However, the powerful waves cleared out the algae that was discoloring the water close to shore.

Unfortunately I had a bad cold for several days followed by trouble on both ends of my digestive system. Nevertheless, everybody was patient with me and I still managed to gain five pounds.

Most of all we made some marvelous memories together as a family!

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SUMMER TIME

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. I like summer. Yes, sometimes it can be blistering hot. And oh, I have had some painful sunburns, particularly in my childhood before sunscreen came along.

Summer is a time for making memories with family vacations, croquet on the lawn, catching lightning bugs, grilling outside, backyard picnics, and making homemade ice cream.

Remember cranking that ice cream churn and pouring on the salt and wondering if the cream was ever going to freeze?

My generation remembers great songs about summer. Songs like “Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Day of Summer” (Nat King Cole), “Summer Wine” (Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood), “A Summer Song” (Chad & Jeremy), and “Summertime Summertime” (The Jamies).

One of my favorite songs anytime is “Summer Breeze” sung by Seals and Croft.

Of course, there is the old Gershwin song, “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.” Then there is the array of tunes by the Beach Boys.

But for me beach music means sounds like songs from the juke box at places like “The Pad” at Ocean Drive beach on the Carolina coast.

Summertime to me is eating fresh fruit and vegetables. Silver queen corn, squash, green beans, tomatoes, blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries and peaches are just a few of the mouth watering delights of summer for me.

I read in the Bible from beginning to end that God says such food is “good.” The creation story recounts how “the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.”

The last chapter of the Scriptures starts with the words, “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

I am ready for the “good ole summertime.” Our family enjoys playing in the creek behind our home and cooking out. Below are some photos of how we started this summer with Cissy’s children and grandchildren.

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GOOD TIMES

My wife Cissy and I have some good times. I mean really good times. Yes, there are everyday delights and serendipity moments. But the really special and good times seem to be planned and anticipated vacations during the less than four years we have known each other.

One of the first trips we made was a week in Oregon while we visited her brother and his family. We traveled down the coast, then over to Crater Lake and up to Mount Hood. I was constantly awed by the awesome sights, gracious hospitality everywhere, and delicious food.

We spent a week on the North Carolina coast with my brother and sister and their families. At the end of the week my sister gave Cissy a gift that certified her as approved and accepted to become a member of our family.

A mission trip to Nicaragua was an incredible and joyful experience. A highlight was watching Cissy teach childrens’ Bible school without knowing a word of Spanish. She did marvelously well adjusting on her first mission trip to all the demands to be flexible.

The biggest surprise for Cissy in Nicaragua was when we spent a day at the beach. Sitting on a rock at sunset I asked her to marry me. While the rest of the mission team watched from a distance, they finally got the word that Cissy said YES!

On our wedding weekend in the North Georgia mountains, Cissy and I rented a large home on the lake where we hosted all of our children, grandchildren, and my brother and sister and their spouses. Can you imagine spending your wedding night with all your family? They reciprocated by serenading us below our window.

There have been multiple other beach trips to destinations like Hilton Head, Amelia Island, and Costa Rica. One week on the Florida Gulf coast involved our children with spouses and all their children. We are going to repeat that trip next month.

Last year a week in the Swiss Alps was a delightful adventure. We learned how to ride a bobsled and luge … and survive. Next year we anticipate taking a cruise and land adventure to Alaska. ,

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I read in the Bible great heroes of the faith had adventures and experiences far greater than mine. The writer of Hebrews sums up their lives:

“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

I have so many other places on this earth I want to visit. But I am heaven bound, and realize I am a pilgrim passing through this world on my way to my eternal home.

Make sure you have your ticket so you can get on board and go with me!

GREEN GREEN GRASS

The song, “Green Green Grass of Home,” stirs sentiments about seeing the old homeplace of one’s youth. To hear Tom Jones sing and see the lyrics click the link below.

http://www.simplyangel.com/greengreengrassofhome.htm

Last year my brother and sister and I sold our parents’ home. My mother had lived in the home for over 70 years. My parents lived in it all their married life and raised four children there. It had always been the place for me to return from my wanderings.

In more ways than one it seemed like “the still point in a spinning world.”

Before we sold the home I collected some plants from my parents’ yard ---forsythia, lily of the valley, hasta, gardenia, iris, etc. --- and planted them in our yard among all our other plants. Every time I look at them I am reminded of my boyhood home.

But most of all the life of the plants reminds me of the life of my parents. Just as the plants have been transplanted and live on, so do my mother and father live and grow now in a far greener pasture.

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I recall some words from the prophet Isaiah:

“All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Perhaps when he gave the Sermon on the Mount Jesus looked out and saw the fields of grass and flowers. He said,

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ”

Today is grass cutting day for me. I am glad for the season of spring and summer with green and growth. I give thanks to my wife who built a beautiful home that is surrounded by green green grass. I greatly enjoy coming home every day to our little estate named “Mary Land” in her honor.

All praise to God who cares for me!

FAMILY BREAKUP

Yesterday on Mother’s Day I remembered the anniversary of two sad events. I have one more to mark today. I hope there will no more sad anniversaries for me to note for a while.

Twenty years ago today, by court order in a child custody suit over the decision of my then wife to end our marriage, I no longer had my children living in the same home with me. Words could never express how shattering were the days and months and years that followed.

In spite of having the presence of my three sons in my home limited to every other weekend and a few evening hours during the week, we made some very unique memories over the years. There were many frustrations and disappointments mixed with special moments and awesome adventures. Time and space will not permit the sharing of those memories on this page.

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Yet I am gratified that now my three grown sons, though each lives in a different location, all live within a twenty minute drive of my home. It is sort of like those child custody days again … I would be very fortunate to see them every other weekend … but we all know that whenever we so desire we can quickly see each other. And now there are three grandchildren as well.

Life goes on …and on!

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