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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

A BIRTHDAY BLOG TO MY SON-IN-LOVE







Dear John:

Thank you for blessing me, your mother-in-law, with so many special gifts. There are too many to count but I am going to mention 56 in honor of your 56 years.
First … thank you for marrying Debbie and giving me the gift of a wonderful son-in-law.
Second…thank you for my first grand child, Amy, who put laughter back in my heart after losing my dear husband.
Third…thank you for Jonathan, another delightful grand child who treats this gram so special.
Fourth…thank you for sweet Bethany Joy, who definitely has brought joy to my heart by choosing to spend time with me.
Fifth...thank you for teaching your children to be responsible and as you see by the picture of Bethany, you made sure they each carried their share of the load.
Sixth..thank you for always making me feel welcome in your home. I never once felt unwanted or unloved.
Seventh…thank you for taking me on vacations and staying calm when we got stranded out in the middle of lake at low tide.
Eighth..thank you for the many plane tickets you purchased for me.
Ninth…thank you for all the great sermons that I was privileged to hear you preach.
Tenth…thank you for praying for me.
Eleventh…thank you for investing into the lives of my two sons when they had lost their father.
Twelfth…thank you for letting them come to your church and work with you in the ministry.
Thirteen…thank you for all the peaceful nights I have slept knowing that my daughter and her children were well cared for in every area of their lives.
Fourteenth…thank you for the many times you drove all night on Christmas eve. From DesMoines, IA to Adrian so I could have my family on Christmas.
Fifteenth…thank for being a great spiritual leader in our family and seeking God’s direction for every decision.
This is getting a little long so let me say 30 times over and over, which would be 16 through 56…I love you…thank you for being the greatest son-in-law in the world.


The pictures above are of you and the priceless gifts you have given me, including yourself.
Posted by Gram Clay at 2:48 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW...

This blog is just to let you know that if any of you want to purchase one of my books you can email me and let me know. My email address is audclay@gmail.com. I will be happy to see that you get as many as you want. I did recieve on comment on the blog announcing the books and I couldn't find out who it was...so maybe you can let me know if you are the one.
Thank you so much...
Audrey
Posted by Gram Clay at 12:09 PM 1 comments

Sunday, May 18, 2008

OUR BOOK IS FINISHED












"Oh happy day!" After almost two years, our book is finished and printed. It has been an exciting, wonderful journey. You will need to read the book to understand how this all came about. Over 55 years ago, while pastoring the church in Adrian, my husband was driving Madison School bus to supplement our income. He came home and told me about three little girls who rode his bus that were not going to Sunday School. We visited them and invited them to come. They accepted the Lord. They grew up, went to college, married, had children and we lost contact with them. Two years ago God directed us to come together and write this book. These were stories that I had written over a 10 year period of time. Actually they were letters of encouragement that had been sent out while I was in pastoral care. One dear lady, Lois Hymes, kept the letters and literally "bugged" me constantly to have them printed in book form. With the help of Greg Shiparo and the H.O.C. printing company in Toledo, Sheila Bowering, her mother Helen Waggoner (proof readers), Gail Palpant, Jill Breckel, my sister Nonie who did all my housework, I am happy to announce that THE BOOK IS FINISHED!!! In reality there are many people to whom I owe a debt of gratitude. It would be impossible to name them all. But most of all to the Lord Jesus Christ who has helped me through the years to see His story written every day in my life.


Pictured above are...Top: Audrey, Gail, and Jill; Next: Barb Leik and Judy Ackley who came early before we had unpacked the books and bought 10 each. My prayer, "Keep them coming Lord, we need to sell them."


Posted by Gram Clay at 4:25 PM 5 comments

Friday, May 16, 2008

Mother's Day/Baby Dedication






This blog will not be wordy. I flew down to Springfield, MO. to spend time with Debbie and her family. Doug was there and took me out for a lovely Mother's Day dinner and bought me some special gifts. On Friday Debbie, Bethany, and I drove over to Amy and Jeremy's home in Memphis TN. John flew in from Toronto. Jonathan and Heather drove in for the special family get together. Jeremy and Amy's little baby, Grant Andrew was dedicated to the Lord in the service on Sunday. John was able to officiate at his grandson's dedication. It was a beautiful service. Jeremy's family live in Memphis and we were royally entertained in their homes.

On Saturday evening John made a presentation and we were all teary eyed. As most of you know, one year ago in April, Amy and Jeremy had a little son, Andrew Nicholas. Andrew was born early and went home to be with Jesus. Two families from the DesMoines church each gave $10,000.00 to build a beautiful church in Peru. This church was built in memory of Andrew Nicholas. John had pictures of the church and congregation to give to us. Who knows? Perhaps little Andrew will reach more in his short term than he would have in a life time.
My friend Carol Bleich stopped by and told me she reads this blog all the time and she really likes the pictures...sooo without further adieu...here are some pics.
Keep reading my blog...I have some great news!!!
Posted by Gram Clay at 7:57 PM 2 comments

Friday, May 09, 2008

FIRST MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION IN 90 YEARS!




Upon arriving at the Springfield, MO airport on Monday evening, I was greeted by my son-in-law. He held up a large invisible sign which said, "Welcome, Mom!" He had missed his flight to Toronto and was getting ready to board on the flight that I came in on.

I walked a few more feet on my way to baggage claim and there was my wonderful sister waiting.


Debbie was waiting in the car with our dear friend Donna Liebler. Debbie had planned a surprise "Mother's Day" dinner. Donna knew she was coming to dinner but did not know that it was in her honor. We had a hard time convincing her that even though she had never given birth to a child, she had been a mother to many. She said, "I am 90 years old and have never been honored at a special dinner for mother's day." She kept saying she was overwhelmed. I think she was just as surprised as Abraham's wife Sara was when she found out that she was going to have a baby at age 90.

We had a wonderful evening. Debbie had set the "you are special" red plate for her. We gave her gifts and cards. We sat around the piano, played hymns and sang. Donna has a beautiful voice and it certainly hasn't changed much after all these years. She shared a lot of beautiful memories. Her last words were, "I just can't believe you did this."
Donna was in delivery room with me when my two older children were born. (She worked at the hospital.) She was our baby sitter in the early years of our ministry. She had great wisdom and I learned so much from her. I am thankful for the special people that God has placed in my life through the years. He always seems to know the right time, the right place and the right people for the right circumstances. Thank you reading this blog and being a special person in my life. I love you! Happy Mother's Day!!
Nonie's, husband Roy, helped preserve the evening for us by taking pictures.
Pictures are of Donna, Me, Nonie, Debbie, Bethany and Roy.
Posted by Gram Clay at 1:14 PM 3 comments

Saturday, May 03, 2008

WHAT A GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY!






Ivan Parker, who is featured regularly on the Gaither Net, sings a song I love. In fact I have it on my ipod. It says, "I'm going to have the time of my life when the time of my life is over, I'm going to get carried away when I get carried away...." It's really a foot stompin', hand clappin' song. But I am going on record to say, "we had the time of our life at Marilynn Leach's surprise birthday party last night. Betsy and Leah (daughter and daughter-in-law) planned a most beautiful surprise party for Marilynn's 60th. Ken and Fay Martin drove their van and 7 of us were able to go and help celebrate. It was so much fun! All of us who came from Adrian had been privileged to work with Marilynn in ministry when they served as pastors in Adrian. LOTS AND LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES! All through the evening I noticed a common thread of conversation. We were all sharing about good times in the past. There is an old Japanese Haiku that says, "A memory is never a pleasure until it is full grown." It was an evening filled with full-grown pleasured, treasured memories. Of course my own memory of Marilynn is very special. We worked side by side for 17 years. We both loved ministry and shared in many, many ministry events. We cried together, laughed together, cooked together, cleaned the church together, decorated for Christmas together and on and on the list goes. We had a very special friendship and it was 17 years of pure pleasure. As I pondered this my heart rejoiced in realizing, that these kinds of friendships will go on and on all through eternity. And we are going to "have the time of our life when the time of our life is over." PRAISE THE LORD....I sure hope you will all be partying with me then. (Make sure you RSVP by accepting Jesus as your Savior.) THANKS BETSY AND LEAH FOR A GREAT EVENING AND THANKS MARILYNN FOR TURNING 60!

PS The third picture from top is Leah, Betsy, Betsy's mother-in-law and Marilynn. The fourth picture down is our Adrian group and of course the party would not have been complete without Marilynn's grandson Robert William King! (Betsy and Rob's son.)
Posted by Gram Clay at 7:57 PM 2 comments
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