Monday, September 30, 2013
A Dream Come True
Thursday, September 19, 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
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.
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!
...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.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
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!
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.
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!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Discovering Scotland Together
Henry went to Scotland as a medical student. I went to Scotland many years later as a chaperone to my daughter's high school trip.
This time we were blessed to enjoy this beautiful country together!This is Loch Ness, the lake of the monster. "Nessie" didn't appear, but the sun did!
This is my cousin,Carmen and husband Chuck. We are in The Orkney Islands at the top of Scotland!
Here's my sweet brother laughing as I surprise him with "holy sludge" to remember his baptism.
Abundant joy is having vacation time to spend with those you love!
This time we were blessed to enjoy this beautiful country together!This is Loch Ness, the lake of the monster. "Nessie" didn't appear, but the sun did!
Back from Across the Sea
We have been traveling!!!
Henry and I joined my brother and my cousin Carmen and her husband, along with a larger group from my brother's church to take a cruise around the British Isles. It was LOVELY and RELAXING!
 |
| On famous green bridge |
Friday, April 19, 2013
A Note of Significance
This is an article I wrote in 1988.
Our youngest daughter loves to sing. Not softly, but in a strong, clear warble that carries down escalators, across lobbies and along aisles of supermarkets. She is a blonde, petite four year old who is far from shy. Many are fascinated by this tiny tot belting out several verses of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" while perched in a speeding shopping cart pushed by an embarrassed mother. Inevitably, someone stops us and comments, "She knows all the words and is right on key!" Then they usually pat her on the head and say, "That's very nice, little girl, what's your name?"
She smiles and replies, "Tacy."
"Tracy, that's a pretty name" they reply.
"Tacy," she repeats.
"Stacey?" they question.
"No, Tacy," she begins to get louder.
"Oh,... Casey??" they begin to look puzzled.
"TACY!!! "she shouts. "Tacy Jane Williams..T..A..C..Y," she spells.
Yes, it is an unusual name, but we feel it suits our special, little girl. Once in a while there is a glimmer of recognition from someone who's familiar with the Betsy and Tacy series of children's books, written by Maud Lovelace and set in Deep Valley, Minnesota. Yet, it wasn't just because they are favorites of mine that we chose her name.
My husband, Henry and I are always glad to offer another explanation. The middle name is easy to understand since it comes from her paternal grandmother and her aunt. Tacy is a nickname for Anastasia, which reminds us of another special person.
Sister Anastasia was a Catholic nun who was admitted to one of Vanderbilt's teaching hospitals with a heart attack several years ago. At that time, Henry, a now a practicing internist, was a lowly intern assigned to a cardiology rotation. He became her "in house" doctor. He saw her daily until she recovered and returned to the Mother House of her convent. She soon returned to her job as a music teacher at a parochial school nearby.
That was a tough year for us. We struggled to balance our schedules. I was teaching and Henry moved from one specialty to another. The grueling requirement of his internship had him on call for thirty six hours, then off only twelve. It gave us no quality time to nurture our relationship as newlyweds.
Spring arrived, discouragement set in, pressures seemed insurmountable! As energy faded, stress seemed to win the battle and a crisis resulted. Every door seemed closed. Calling a halt to a medical career seemed to loom over us as the only answer.
We turned to friends in a medical Bible study that we attended and asked for their prayers. Then a short, handwritten note arrived in the mail.
"Doctor Williams,
I want to thank you for the excellent care you gave me while I was in the hospital.
I felt the love of Christ in your kind manner.
Sincerely, Sister Anastasia "
That simple thank you was the glorious shaft of sunlight breaking through our dark clouds of discouragement. Throwing in the towel was no longer a temptation. Medicine still looked promising and a new direction was considered. We felt a door had opened up; it was possible to serve the Lord Jesus while pursuing a career in medicine.
I wrote Sister Anastasia to tell her how much we appreciated her timely note of encouragement. Thus began a warm correspondence that reminded us often of Sister Anastasia's daily prayers for Henry's practice and our growing family.
And so it seemed appropriate to chose this special name for our daughter. Not because she loves to sing and Sister Anastasia was a music teacher, but because her names reminds us of God's demonstration of His personal concern for our lives in a time of crisis. All because a humble woman took the time to write a simple but profound thank you note.
Our youngest daughter loves to sing. Not softly, but in a strong, clear warble that carries down escalators, across lobbies and along aisles of supermarkets. She is a blonde, petite four year old who is far from shy. Many are fascinated by this tiny tot belting out several verses of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" while perched in a speeding shopping cart pushed by an embarrassed mother. Inevitably, someone stops us and comments, "She knows all the words and is right on key!" Then they usually pat her on the head and say, "That's very nice, little girl, what's your name?"
She smiles and replies, "Tacy."
"Tracy, that's a pretty name" they reply.
"Tacy," she repeats.
"Stacey?" they question.
"No, Tacy," she begins to get louder.
"Oh,... Casey??" they begin to look puzzled.
"TACY!!! "she shouts. "Tacy Jane Williams..T..A..C..Y," she spells.
Yes, it is an unusual name, but we feel it suits our special, little girl. Once in a while there is a glimmer of recognition from someone who's familiar with the Betsy and Tacy series of children's books, written by Maud Lovelace and set in Deep Valley, Minnesota. Yet, it wasn't just because they are favorites of mine that we chose her name.
My husband, Henry and I are always glad to offer another explanation. The middle name is easy to understand since it comes from her paternal grandmother and her aunt. Tacy is a nickname for Anastasia, which reminds us of another special person.
Sister Anastasia was a Catholic nun who was admitted to one of Vanderbilt's teaching hospitals with a heart attack several years ago. At that time, Henry, a now a practicing internist, was a lowly intern assigned to a cardiology rotation. He became her "in house" doctor. He saw her daily until she recovered and returned to the Mother House of her convent. She soon returned to her job as a music teacher at a parochial school nearby.
That was a tough year for us. We struggled to balance our schedules. I was teaching and Henry moved from one specialty to another. The grueling requirement of his internship had him on call for thirty six hours, then off only twelve. It gave us no quality time to nurture our relationship as newlyweds.
Spring arrived, discouragement set in, pressures seemed insurmountable! As energy faded, stress seemed to win the battle and a crisis resulted. Every door seemed closed. Calling a halt to a medical career seemed to loom over us as the only answer.
We turned to friends in a medical Bible study that we attended and asked for their prayers. Then a short, handwritten note arrived in the mail.
I want to thank you for the excellent care you gave me while I was in the hospital.
I felt the love of Christ in your kind manner.
Sincerely, Sister Anastasia "
That simple thank you was the glorious shaft of sunlight breaking through our dark clouds of discouragement. Throwing in the towel was no longer a temptation. Medicine still looked promising and a new direction was considered. We felt a door had opened up; it was possible to serve the Lord Jesus while pursuing a career in medicine.
I wrote Sister Anastasia to tell her how much we appreciated her timely note of encouragement. Thus began a warm correspondence that reminded us often of Sister Anastasia's daily prayers for Henry's practice and our growing family.
And so it seemed appropriate to chose this special name for our daughter. Not because she loves to sing and Sister Anastasia was a music teacher, but because her names reminds us of God's demonstration of His personal concern for our lives in a time of crisis. All because a humble woman took the time to write a simple but profound thank you note.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)