Matthew 19:5 & 6 tells us that: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Howdy and I had a beautiful military wedding. We had 6 men in the Marine Dress Blue uniform with crossed swords, as a tunnel as we left the church. It was wonderful and a first at our old Stone Presbyterian Church.

It was a hot and humid, middle of the summer, wedding. It was the 13th of July in 1957. Howdy was a little late for the wedding. I was worried that he was backing out. But…no, he just spent to much time shining his brass buttons on his dress blue uniform. Then as he was driving to the church he started to run out of gas. This does get funny. At the time I was not laughing. Howdy stopped to get gas in his 1956 Ford Convertible with the T-bird engine but had no money. That’s right, this Marine had not planned well. No money, that’s no problem, I’ll hock my watch. He left his watch with the gas station attendant and made it to the church.

As we came out of the church all our friends were throwing rice. Do you know just how hard uncooked rice is when it hits the face. Ugh!  Moving on, we had a delightful wedding. So many of my mother’s friends helped out by making the cake, bringing extra sheet cakes,  finger tip sandwiches, drinks, beer and more.

We spent the afternoon at my mother and father’s house opening gifts. Such a great time. The Marines tried to put Limburger cheese on the motor of Howdy’s car. My step grandmother got wind of the trick so she stood guard.

On our way out of town to the honeymoon, we stopped to get Howdy’s watch. This Marine had no money, no planning but the Lord provided. My grandfather, George Jones gave Howdy some money and my father gave more. Oh, what a way to start a honeymoon in 1957.

More later.

In Matthew  6:24  it says, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

In place of the last word,” money”,  you can put other words in like, cars, fame, beauty, or any word that would take your eyes off of the Lord.

Several weeks ago I was reminded of a story that Howdy used to tell when he was preaching. I think he got it from Pastor Reg Lazell who was the pastor of Glad Tidings Temple in Vancouver, B.C. The story goes like this; There once was a famous Canadian Indian Chief, sort of like Chief Dan George. This Chief was talking to his grandson. One day the grandson asked his grandfather, “why are you happy some days and then sad or angry other days?” The old Chief looked at the child for a long time. He then began to tell the young lad this story.” There are two big dogs within me, one is white and the other is black. Any given day,  one dog will be stronger than the other. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE I FEED THAT DAY.”

Well dear friends, I do not want to feed that black dog. I want to feed the white one, and feed it daily. The Lord has made me a very positive person. Now, I don’t look at the world through rose colored glasses. I know that there is good and bad, right and wrong, black and white, and positive and negative. Each and everyday I have a choice to make. As I get out of bed, I can choose which dog to feed. Which one will you feed today and tomorrow.

Let the Lord help you to make the right choice, the one He wants you to make. Of course He gives you free reign to make whichever choice you want.

Blessings, G

In Jeremiah 29:11 the word of God tells me; “For I know the plans I have for you.” Declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our first date was an all day date. Howdy had had an accident with his 1956 Ford convertible with a T-bird engine, robin egg blue,  and it was in the shop. Being late for our date due to picking up his rag-top.  The first thing we did was go bowling. We went to a small bowling lane in the basement of Seibert’s Restaurant, in Elm Grove, W. Va. We bowled 3 games and I won 2 of the games. Now my Mother never told me to let the man win. Howdy would later say that it was the tight black wool slacks that I was wearing that cause him to lose.  Next we went over to meet Howdy’s brother Bill and his wife Dora. We had a nice lunch and then headed to Howdy’s home for him to change into a suit. On to my home for me to change into a rather nice wool dress, high heels and get to looking good. We then went to a movie. By now I’m thinking “when will he try to kiss me” but even during the movie Howdy didn’t even put his arm around me. Now I’m really getting worried, I had showered, put on perfume, so what was the problem. After the movie we went to a nice bar in Elm Grove. Since I was under age, we went into the side room where there were tables and a jukebox. Here I am 17, head over heels for this guy and he still hasn’t kissed me.

Howdy would only order me a Pepsi, while he was having “boiler makers.” We tried to dance but I kept stepping all over his shoes or he on mine. Neither one of us was an accomplished dancer. We laughed to cover up our embarrassment. Howdy then asked me what I was during after I graduated from Triadelphia. I began telling him of my plans to go to nursing school at WVU,  (West Virginia University) in Morgantown, W.Va.

It was at this point that Howdy said, “Don’t you know what I’m asking?” and I replied, “No.” He then said, “I’m asking you how soon you can marry me?” I replied, “As soon as you want me to.” It was at this point in time that the nice kiss came. Oh, my but it was a sweet kiss.  Howdy said he wanted to tell me about his family before I made any final decision. We drove through the country side of W.Va., He let me drive his convertible. Wow! Howdy told me all about his family and what he wanted to do with his life, the Marine Corps, traveling the country, family, children and more. We talked until after midnight. When I got home my Mother was waiting for me, I told her that Howdy had proposed. She was so happy, I think all along Mother and Bea (Howdy’s mother)  had planned for Howdy and me to get together. But…dear reader, it was the Lord God Himself that brought us together.

My engagement ring came in April, I graduated in May, and we were married on July 13th 1957.  That was the beginning of a life together and a walk with the Lord.

More later.

Being married to a Marine for 40 years has it’s effects. I’m more administrative than poetic. Howdy spent 22 years in the Marine Corps as an administrator. So I also like my ducks in a row, and as Howdy would say, “Quacking in unionson.” Yes, that is what he always said. Saying all of that is to say, I got the horse before the cart. I was telling you about 1968 and how the Lord touched our lives. Let me go back to when Howdy and I first met.

I believe that the Lord ordained our meeting. Looking back I can now see how the Lord put it all together.  I was a 17 year old senior at Triadelphia High School in Wheeling, West Virginia. My parents had a long standing party at their home on New Years Eve. My father came from a large family and we always had his parents, his brothers, sisters and their spouses. My mother was an only child but her father and step mother were there. Then there were the friends, many friends. We always had a house full of family and friends.

It was New Years Eve of 1956 and I was at another party. My mother called and asked me to join the family and bring my friends. My party joined Mother and Dad’s party. We got there about 11:45 pm. I had taken the coats of my friends into my bedroom and was just coming out into the living room. Mother was coming in from the kitchen. Mother said, “Georgia, there is someone I want you to meet.” Now my parents and Bea and Howard Sligar had been friends years ago. In November the Sligar’s dropped by my parents home. I had never met them but as my parents visited, I made hors d’ oeuvres and drinks and then served them. It must have impressed Bea and Howard. Their son, Howdy had just come back from Okinawa and had just reenlisted in the Marines and was working at the Marine Training Center in Warwood. W.Va.

As Mother said that, a young man, with his back towards me, stood up. He turned around and looked at me. He was not in his Marine uniform, he was dressed in a charcoal black wool suit, white shirt and tie but all I could see were stars and hear bells. That’s right, the moment I laid eyes on Howdy Sligar, I saw stars and heard bells. Without a word I was so head over heels in love with this man. We politely said hello.

Then midnight struck. As was our custom we were all hugging and kissing and going out  into the yard to shoot off the rifle and shotguns. (We lived way out in the country) My friends and I were sitting on the couch, Howdy came over and asked my date if he could kiss me to welcome in the New Year. Well, what was the poor guy to say, but yes. Howdy started to bend over, I started to stand up and we met in the middle of a smart nose bump. It was bad but funny at the same time. No retakes, darn.

My friends and I then went back to our party. At 1 am Mother called and said that Howdy wanted to talk to me. I sent my date upstairs for a Pepsi or something. As I talked to this man whom I had just met and knew nothing about, I was still overwhelmed by the sound of his voice.  He asked me if I’d be free to date if he called me in a couple of weeks. I said yes.

Next time I will share  more of the Marine, this young girl, the first date, a proposal and yes, a good kiss.

Later.

I really like the word reflection. It has so many facets. I guess writing this blog is a way for me to look into the depths of “what the Lord has done for me.” Like most, life was not all a bowl of cherries or a bed or roses. Howdy and I were church going folks. We were active in our local church in Havelock, N.C. and more so in Virginia Beach, Va. Howdy was a Capt. in the Marine Corps and we were the ideal couple. The handsome Marine Capt., his lovely wife and three handsome sons.  On the outside we looked good but on the inside we were hurting. Howdy and I came close to divorce at this point. We had been married 11 years and about to call it quits. It was at this time that the Lord Jesus Christ moved upon Howdy. He was at a meeting of the worship committee. During the meeting the Holy Spirit came into the room and everyone was changed. Howdy came home and got on his knees in front of me and told me he had asked God into his life and he wanted us to stay together. Wow! I had no idea what all of this meant but I loved this man so very much. Oh, so very much. This was really the beginning of a journey. A journey of finding who we were as a family, as a couple and as individuals. This was in August of 1968. I have learned so much since then I have also made a lot of mistakes. I hope that I learn a principle of God each and every day. I want to be an example or reflection of the Grace of God. More later.