We made it home and the kids only whined about 100 times or so(that might be a bit of an exageration). That van will need a thurough cleaning inside and out and I will need a few days to get things back in order in the house. There is a huge pile of mail to sort through and no milk in the fridge. Sound familier to anyone out there. The cat and dog where glad to us and the kids could hardly contain themselves closer we got and they started to get excited and squeal. I was on the phone with my mom at the time we pulled in the drive and she laughed at how excited they were. On the other hand Alex just told me we were going back to Grandma's tomorrow. He is putting things in a halfway unpacked suitcase. I just don't think I am ready for the drive again this soon. The girls tell me we are never driving to grandma's again(they would rather fly), I guess they will just have to sprout wings because a family of 5 just can't fly that cheaply. I am trying not to feel overwhelmed with all that I have to do, I am going to take it one day at a time and pray that I don't over do it. I know I sound very disorganized in thought, I am, it just makes me feel better to put it down on "paper" and share with others. I have found out that others share many of the same feelings as me but no one ever expresses them because their afraid someone will think there a bit nutty, or odd. Ok, a whole other subject I won't get into.

Have I said how much I love my husband, well I do. He did an excellent job of keeping the house straightened up while I was gone. He even did his dishes and emptied the dishwasher. He's so sweet.

Well I better sign off for now, Alex is trying to stay up until the last is cat is hung( a dadism) and I have never noticed when the last cat is hung so I better start showing some authority and make him go to bed, if I can find the energy. Good night all, Keep God first in your life and remember, he cares about you.

I am heading back home, it is difficult to leave my mom. I know she will be fine but I still worry. I am trying to put my trust in God, I know he will take care of her. She has a wonderful church that will make sure she is doing fine. It is also a reality that we all need to go home and grieve in our own way. I had someone ask if my mom was going to see a grief counselor, but when I think about why would she need a grief counselor when she has the best one there is, free of charge. She has God, she can go to him and talk and yield her burdens to him. He will carry her through this time, on the other hand she does have friends with whom she can share with and talk to. Already he is helping her. His footprints are in the sand sometimes alone because he is carrying her and then when she gains strength he is their beside her holding her hand.

Mom, I love you and I am praying for you. I know God is helping you

We have finally put dad to rest. His memorial sevice was yesterday and today we had the burial service at Bay Pines National Cemetary. Both services were special in there own way. Hearing the kind words of others that really affirmed what we already knew about our Dad. I really don't have much more to say at this time because I am tired and emotionally drained. Please keep us in your prayers. I am trusting God to carry us through.

God has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us, and I believe that is in all things. Even at this time in my life, when I am beginning to really miss my father God is feeding me the truths of his word and affirming what I believe and the Christian, Holiness heritage my father has left me. In attending church with my mom I have been hearing some very old fasioned holiness preaching, and this evening God truly spoke to me and made is presence very real and assured me that I am on the right path. It may be straight and narrow but I have more freedom then I have ever known. I know that the only way to lead a truly victorious life and one that witnesses in truth to others is to follow God's word in every way and giving great attention to its detail. I know that I cannot lean towards the world in any way and the more I trust in God and strive for a closer walk the more joy and peace I have. My prayer is that others may know this peace and would have complete understanding of the light of God's word. I truly love Jesus and would not trade the path I have chosen for anything in the world. My prayer is that you would be truly enlightened to the truth of God's word not by man's understanding but as Jesus speaks to you.

I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart....

Down in my heart to stay.

Give him your whole heart.

Click the above picture to view slideshow.

We are having a nice time with mom, we are trying to keep the kids busy and to wear them out. Ha, ha. I think it is working the other way because their energy is never ending but I am exhausted by evening time and sometimes before. We have been to Fort DeSoto and did some fishing and the kids played in water for a little while until a local highschool decided to have marching band practice right on the beach, well we packed up and left. We then made another beach attempt this past friday(which was successful I might add). We went to Seista Key, and went to Sarasota Beach. It is really a beautiful beach, white, power sand and very big too. When we first arrived we notice it was raining out over the ocean. Well not long after we had our umbrellas set up started having fun we got hit with a huge rain storm. The beach cleared of almost everyone except us. We were determined to wait it out hoping it would be a typical tropical rain strom and only last a little while. In the mean time one of umbrellas started to come loose because of the wind so mom decided to take it out of its hole and put it down only she kind've did it backwards she did not fold it up first, well you might have guessed by now what transpired. Yes, she just about become a modern day Mary Poppins, the wind gusted hard and and it started to lift and pull her along and then next thing we know is mom and the umbrella were on the ground and she is sitting in the umbrella. At first we were worried but then everyone started lauphing and we managed to closed the umbrella. The rain finally did stop and left us cold and drenched until the sun came out again which was quickly. It turned out to be a beautiful day and the kids had alot of fun. Oh, yeah, no marching band showed up that day. We were able to enjoy God's wonder. We are making good memories and the kids are having a great time.

It seems hard to believe that my father has been gone for two weeks. I really miss him, it just not the same with him gone. I keep remembering all the little things he used to say and do. It is such a comfort for to know he was right with God and he is in his heavenly home. Me and the kids are still in Florida. We decided to stay until the funeral, October 25, and burial is the following day. We have had our ups and downs, the kids have had a hard getting to sleep at night and I was really getting frustrated. I finally worked out a solution which seems to be working and we are more rested. Mom is doing well, God is helping her so much. I know that without God we all would be helpless through this time, and the sadness would outweigh the joy, but instead we can look to Jesus and our joy out-weighs the sadness. Please keep praying for us because I know this is just the beginning. I know that when all the family gets here for the services we will be reminded anew of our grief. I keep thinking of the song,

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus

lifes trials will seem so small when we see Christ.

One glimpse of his dear face all sorrow will be erased.

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

I have the hope of Heaven, I pray you do too.

My father, Wilson Holloway, passed away 10/6/07 at 7:00pm with a smile on his face. God's Holy Spirit was with us. There were tears of sorrow and of joy. Sadness due to the loss of a husband, father and grandfather, and joy because he finally made it home. I know there was rejoicing in heaven because another saint had made it home.

Dad was truly blessed in the fact that even though he suffered he was given 7 years after initial diagnosis of his cancer. I also am blessed to have a father like him. He truly was a saint.

Continue to keep us in your prayers for we have a long road to go for I am sure we will grieve his loss for quite some time.

Mom and Dad's church has been such a great support and provided us with food and drinks, but not only that, they supported us with being here during this time and praying for us.

I would like to leave you with my dad's favorite chorus.

Fear thou not for I am with thee
be not dismayed for I am thy God
I will strengthen thee, yeah I will
help thee. Yeah I will uphold thee
with the right hand of my rightousness.

I wanted to share one of God's wonders with you. I have never seen the sky like this before and it comes at a time when we are watching our father leave this world for his heavenly home. To all of us here at my parents it was symbolic in the fact that it looked like God was preparing a roadway for dad to take. The Streaks in the sky went from east to west. You could not see where they started from or where they ended. It was amazing. At this time 1:40 am Friday morning we are all sitting in the living room waiting for the end to come. He is comfortable and peaceful. I know God is going to take him home soon and when he does there will be great rejoicing. I think of John Bunyan's, Pilgrims Progress, and Christian was crossing river and the waves where almost covering his head but he could see the celestial city and then he foot touched the bottom and he realized he was not going to drown and not make journey complete. I feel that is where my father is now. He is crossing over but it is a struggle but soon his feet will feel solid ground underneath and he will make it victorious to the celestial city where the shining ones will welcome him home along with all the saints that have gone on before him. It is bitter sweet, we are losing him here but heaven is gaining one of its own. I will sign off for now.
Please pray for us during this time.