A Dream Come True

Henry's dream to return to Belarus came true in June when we joined the combined choir from 3 churches in Chattanooga to travel to towns, cities and villages to sing praises to the LORD with the excellent Belarussian choir in a large church in Minsk.

We reconnected with our son -in-love, Andrej Demidenko, who lived in our home many summers through The Chernobyl Children's Program.  He is now a fine, handsome young man!

We sang in a children's camp and they sang back to us!

We sang in house churches in several villages.

"May (the LORD) give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed!" Psalm 20:4

Celebrating Through Poetry

Our daughter, Kira lives up to her name.  Her name is Scandinavian and means poem or song. She is teaching high school English in West Seattle, Washington.   Her great grandfather loved to compose poetry, her father and siblings enjoy writing.  She delighted us with this ode several years ago.

A little doggerel and memories on your 60th
                                  from Kira

Here's to a dad
who's really not bad...on your birthday

YOU ARE...
a shiny-headed reader and thinker who is a soft spoken, gentle healer with a bit of wit and dry humor-

a mandolin player, dog walker, cat feeder,marathon runner, anchor of the boat kind of family guy-

foster dad adoptive dad- early riser, endless worker, master of ethics and aches-

king of paperwork stacks on your desk in the afternoons-

geriatric whiz (knowing the difference between the Oh and the Q tongue positions

in the nursing homes), prescription-writer-

who knows when to "take the rest of the day off"...and go get "horizontal,"-

the deep knee-bending kind of dad on family vacations who shrugs off the day with a loud "shoo"-

a doggerel writer, poeeem penner at weddings or other events-

a singer-songwriter who knows the right notes-

round-maker, left-over eater, bio-ethical lecturer and author,

(who put my ninth grade health class to sleep with an enthusiastic euthanasia speech)

YOU ARE
THAT KIND OF DAD
ONE of a KIND
VERY KIND
and very much loved by all those around you!

Dr. R. Henry Williams M.D., F.A.S.C.P.M.A.X.Y.Z.

Thank Heaven for Little Boys

In the year of our LORD, 2013, God has blessed our extended family with a boatload of BOYS!

In February, our nephew, Ben had a son named William.
In April, our nephew, Christopher had a son named Liam.
In early June, our nephew, Micah had a son named Everette.
In late June, our nephew, Matthew had a son named Jude.
Is this beginning to sound like a begat chapter from the Bible?

We truly believe each of these little ones are a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father, made in His image!

Henry and I are pleased to announce the arrival of our grandson, Anders Eliot.
 He was born August 5,2013 at 2:30 a.m.  He was 7lbs 7oz and has brown hair like his dad.
His parents, Tacy and Stephen and their three daughters rejoiced in his safe delivery.
We all welcomed him with lots of kisses and look forward to him meeting his cousin Ivey, when she visits at Christmas time!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; and called you by your name, You are mine.
...you are precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you..." from Isaiah 43.

Anders is the 25th great grandchild of my mother, Evelyn Johnson.  His name reminds her of her father, Andrew from Sweden and her sister, Esther Anderson.  We look forward to the seeing each of these babies grow into men that will seek to serve the LORD.

Celebrating Family on Homecoming Sunday

In the South, there is a tradition to have a Sunday that encourages a church family reunion...which makes it especially nice when your own family members gather together.
Last Sunday, on Labor Day weekend we had just such a celebration at the Little Brown Church on Signal Mountain.  (It's official name is Union Chapel on Walden's Ridge, founded in 1908.)
My husband, Henry, grew up attending this quaint, wooden church in the woods on Signal Mountain.

Henry is playing the mandolin, Sally and Ben Clark played guitar and banjo.  Anna Clower, a cousin is singing"We went down to River to pray, studying about that good old way, and who shall wear the Crown, oh LORD, show me The Way!"

Cousins reuniting and

Henry with his sisters and brother-in-laws back at the old home place that had three names.
1.Grandfather's name - Chigger Hill
2. The handy man's name - T'aint Plumb
3. Grandmother's name - Kalmia (my favorite) in honor of the laurel bushes


"The reward for humility and fear of the LORD
is riches and honor and life."  Proverbs 22:4

There is a joy to life to be able to come together to worship our LORD!