AARP Member
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Background
Name: RaeDi
Birthday: January 31
Gender: Female
Religion:
Christian/Protestant
Location:
Washington
United States
Washington
United States
Hometown(s):
Missouri
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Virginia
South Carolina
Connecticut
Washington State
Missouri
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Virginia
South Carolina
Connecticut
Washington State
Quote:
"Whenever God closes one door He always opens another, even though sometimes it's hell in the hallway" "Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up" "Do everthing to the best of your ability!"
"Whenever God closes one door He always opens another, even though sometimes it's hell in the hallway" "Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up" "Do everthing to the best of your ability!"
Songs For My Friends
A FATHER LOST TONITE"What Are They Up Too"
"Justin (11), Allison (10) and Jeffrey (11)"
"What Are They Up Too"
….RaeDi ~ 2008
It was not often that my twin’s boys were not as one. They were usually together, where one was you would always find the other. One summer when they were 8 years old, they were very busy doing something in the woods directly behind our home. I knew they were building something. They asked if they could use the hammers and have some nails. I said it was okay, no nailing anything to the house or garage or anyone else’s house or garage. They let me know they were not doing anything like that.
Right after breakfast, they flew out the door. They headed straight back to the woods. I could hear them hammering I had wondered what they were up to but promised that I would not peak. They were very busy hammering countless nails and working at it all day for several days it made me wonder several times, about what they were up too. I had to call them in for lunch and again for dinner. After about three days I started to worry, what were they up too? No one had yet to complain to me and I wondered if the peace would be without incidence. No one was saying anything. I just could not imagine what they could be building.
Then on the fourth day, they announced after breakfast that they would be finished by lunch and not to come out, they wanted to surprise me. Informed me they would call me out when it was ready. I wondered when what was ready.
The time came and all I could hear was Momma its ready come out the front door. As I made my way out the front to tell them not to holler so loudly, I could hear you with your softer voices. As I turned the corner around the fenced in patio I saw them standing there holding the weight of the world on their shoulders. I could tell moving this project from the woods to this point had been weighty to say the least. It was all they could do to carry their new project.
I first have to give you a description of what these two boys looked like. They each were maybe three feet tall. I do not think they together weighed 80 pounds. They had what some might call chicken- legs and arms. However, they were very strong for their size. They had come into the world three months early. Jeff weighs just two and a half pounds and Justin tips the scales closer to three pounds. They were in incubators for the first two months of their lives. They both dropped several ounces before they actually started to gain the weight they needed. They were my miracle babies. Not one doctor thought they would make it, I knew they would make it. Make it they did. They grew slowly but were both strong in heart and spirit. Wonderful boys they were, always happy and smiling. You could count on them to put a smile on your face first thing each morning.
Nevertheless, here stood my two chicken-legged boys holding as best that they could the heavy project they had been working so hard on in the woods. I could not believe my eyes. What they had dragged into the yard had left a trail of torn up grass and a path to where it had come to this rest spot for the moment. The burden was heavy and of an awkward size. It was a discomfited size all together. They took two branches they then stripped them of bark. They hand sawed one a little over half the length of the other. They then proceeded in nailing the two pieces of wood together. They had used every nail we had and even used my extra yarn to wrap it on top of all the nails. It was quite a site.
Here these two chicken-legged boys were dragging in the largest cross I had ever seen outside a church. They were so proud of it. They looked like two characters right out of one of the mission pictures. All they needed was the crown of thorns it was all they could do to drag this cross around the house to the front. I told them it was lovely, they had done a perfect job. I did not know what else to say to them. They were standing there beaming from ear to ear. I then asked what are you two are going to do with your eight foot cross. They were so pleased with themselves. They were going to dig a hole in the middle of my front yard and stand it in the hole for all to see. All I could think of, which one of the neighbors was going to set fire to this cross. My next thought was we live in Military housing and I did not think it would meet with the rules and regs about living in housing. I had them lean the cross next to the house out back for now and to come in and wash up for lunch. As they turned the cross around and I watched them walk away, they were leaving another trial of torn turf to the back of the house.
I was making p and j sandwiches and thinking what in the world was I going to say to these two who worked so hard on their special project. They were so proud of it. I did not want to let them down and I did not want to leave the wrong impression. They both on their own had went to our Methodist Pastor just that spring and told him they wanted to be Baptized and they believed in Jesus and why he died on the cross. The Pastor was very impressed with the boys and their understanding of what being Baptized meant. I then wondered where Pastor White was now and what he would do.
The boys came in, washed up, and sat down to their p and j sandwiches. They were so happy and wanted all kinds of accolades’, but I did not know how to tell them that they could not plant that cross in our front yard nor the back yard or even the side yards. After listening to everything, all I could think about was how hard they had worked on this project. No one ask them to make this cross. They did this on their own. I finally came up with an idea. Hoping they would accept it. I told them that living where we did, it was the government’s property, and they would not allow them to share their cross with the neighborhood. They immediately let me know the church on base had a big cross. I explained that was because it was a church and we lived in housing.
I told them that they should use their cross in the woods for a part of their clubhouse. They like that idea. I told them I would help them make a smaller cross that we could put within my lilies, in the front yard. They were actually excited with the whole idea.
We spent the next couple of days getting the lumber we would need to make a cross that would fit in my lilies but that did not overpower anything else. Just fit in, not very noticeable. We got it made and even painted it green. They like that color. Me too it was perfect and I did not think there would be any problems!
They had the cross at their clubhouse for the next few years that we lived there. When it was time to go on our next tour they wanted to know if they could take their cross with us. I told them I thought it a good idea to leave it there for the next family. They would probably like to have it at their clubhouse too. They agreed with me and asked if they could make a cross where we would be living next. I told them we would have to wait and see where we would be living and all the rules. When we arrived they had so many new friends, they did not have time to build another cross. Nevertheless, they did not lose their faith. They still have it to this day.
My wonderful faith filled boys, miracles from the beginning! ....RaeDi
"Allison's Jesus With Angel Wings"
"Jeffrey's Jesus On Cross"
"Justin's Jesus Is Everywhere"
I found these pictures in my box of words. They were always leaving me notes and drawings. These are their own mind’s eye to their vision of Jesus. I love Allison’s Angel Wings on Jesus. Jeffrey knew at this young age that Jesus died on the cross. Justin’s picture is of Jesus being there to help everyone and He is over “Miss Minnie Molly Moo Wigglesworth” our Sheltie that would sit on top of her little cedar doggie house and wait for the kids to come home from school. I ask him what the red on his chest was and he told me it was His spirit, just as we have in our hearts!
These pictures are several years earlier than their home made cross.
rae1tom says:
Thank you Nan, They were always choking me up in one way or another. We lived a livley existence, lots of laughter and we didn't sit still for long. I am so proud of my thoughts of our past, they each were a very special gift to me. I enjoyed being their Mother from the day they came into this world. You couldn't give me enough money for all my thoughts of all we did together. Lots of fun and love. Your Friend....RaeDi
Posted: July 9, 2008 4:18PM EDT
Nan1204 says:
I'm too choked up to comment. Thank you for a wonderful experience. Nan
Posted: July 9, 2008 1:22PM EDT
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Added: Jun 29, 2008
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