Happy Birthday Aunt Flossie

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Today, my Aunt Flossie would be turning 96.  Up until about a year before she died, she was the fiestiest, most able bodied person I knew.  At 90+ years I would've put her up against ANYONE I know.  She grew up in a day when people truly believed that if you didn't work, you didn't eat.


I have so much respect for this great lady.  She helped raise me when I was young.  When I was in public school she is the one who made me breakfast and met me when I got off the bus.  She taught me most of what I knew about God.  There was no one more faithful than she was.  Of all the good things I am today, she is responsible for a lot of them.


Happy Birthday, Aunt Flossie!!! I miss you more than I thought was possible.  Thank you for all you gave to me - the time and the love you sowed into my life.  I have no doubt that your mansion in glory is spectacular because of all the good you did here on earth. I love you!


Blessings,

Weight Loss Mama

If We Never Meet Again

Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey
And perhaps will never meet anymore
Til we gather in Heaven's bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There's another meeting place somewhere in Heaven
By the beautiful river of life
Where the charming roses bloom forever
And separations come no more
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
I will meet you on that beautiful shore

I love this beautiful old song.  It is a constant reminder that there is something more than this life we live now. It reminds us that even though death may separate us from loved ones we've held so dear, one day we will be reunited - never to part again!  What a precious promise that God gives us.  The suffering of this life is only temporary.  The Bible promises that weeping may endure for the night, but His joy cometh in the morning.


There are certain songs that remind me of  very special people in my life.  My love of gospel music comes from two people, my aunt Flossie and my Mama.  I remember growing up listening to records on Aunt  Flossie's beautiful, wooden record player.  I can close my eyes and instantly be in that moment again.  It's been nearly twenty years since I have been in the house I grew up in.  Each morning we would start our days with breakfast. Once our chores were done, Aunt Flossie would play old records.  I remember listening to the Chuckwagon Gang, The McKameys, The Inspirations, and many more.  Now when I hear those artists sing, I think of her. "If We Never Meet Again" is an "Aunt Flossie" song.


In my teen years, when Mama started getting sick, she and I loved to the Gaithers.  That is where my love for newer southern gospel music came into play.  There are many stories I have through the years of us listening to the Gaithers together.  One story my mind recounts often was one shortly after we moved back to Tennessee right before John and I got married.  We were living in Speedwell in my mother-in-law's house.  We lived out in the middle of nowhere and didn't have any TV service.  Mama would watch Gaither videos all day long.  The only problem is that she would fall asleep shortly after a video started.  One day John, who didn't share our passion for our beloved Gaithers, decided he'd just turn the TV off.  Nope, that didn't work.  Mama would wake up as soon as the music stopped.  When we start talking about our "good old days" we both agree that we'd give anything to go back to that little shack in the woods.  We didn't have a lot of money.  There was nothing to do, but there was so much love that flowed through that little house.


I love my life here, but I long for HOME.  I cannot wait to be reunited with my loved ones.  I can't wait to see my babies, my Mama, Aunt Flossie, Mamaw and Papaw, my Dad's parents.  There are so many friends and family waiting there for me there are too many to count.  I can't wait to introduce my kids to everyone they've yet to meet.  What a day that will be!