FRIENDSHIP/KINSHIP

Mary Lee Glassburn

God works in marvelous ways in the lives of His own.

Such is the story of our friendship and connection with Mary Lee. In September,2012 our California son was flying Mickey & I to San Francisco for a visit with him.  I asked if we could first fly into Phoenix for a few days to visit a dear couple, Danny & Kathy Wright, and their children, Bethany & Daniel.  Our son David was agreeable and the flights were booked.

I wanted to SURPRISE Kathy with this visit so contacted Danny privately and told him our plans and could we pull it off.  Danny was agreeable and connected us with Mary Lee, who I knew a little bit, via blogland, to work out the details. 

During the following weeks, through e-mails back & forth, Mary Lee took care of locating the motel for us to stay in that was close to The Wright's home.  We had planned to fly in, rent a car and proceed to said motel, but Mary Lee insisted we did not need to rent a car, she would pick us up at the airport!!!

When our plane landed on Saturday here was Mary Lee, not only picking us up but informing us that she had taken off work on Monday and would be our "wheels and chauffeur" the entire weekend and take us to the airport on Monday to fly on to San Francisco. She and Danny had also devised the "cover-up" of Danny suggesting that he and Kathy go garage selling that morning so Mary Lee could get us to their home.  Danny & Kathy entered the house via their garage and the children detained Kathy in the kitchen as Danny joined us for the grand SURPRISE.  

THIS is what Kathy saw, a few minutes later, as she made her way into their living room.

Talk about surprised.  Yes, Kathy was VERY surprised!!  

The 7 of us spent all day Saturday visiting and talking, and TALKING, and visiting some more.  

Mickey & I wanted to treat us all to a nice dinner so they selected a wonderful Italian place that was quiet and the food was delicious.  We had our waiter take this picture of our group.

By now it was almost bedtime, after a full, busy day so Mary Lee took us to our motel, and she went home.  The next morning Mary Lee, Bethany & Daniel picked us up and we joined Kathy & Danny at their church, Covenant Grace, and we had the joy of participating in Worship lead by Kathy with Danny on the drums.

Back to The Wrights lovely home after church and a delightful meal prepared by Kathy.  Another wonderful afternoon with the 7 of us talking, sharing and sharing some more.

Monday morning Mary Lee in her vehicle, and all the Wrights in theirs, are picking us up at the motel.  We check out and all go out to breakfast before saying our goodbyes and Mary Lee driving us to the airport for our departure.

These 3 days with Mary Lee and getting to know her developed a very deep kinship and a place in our hearts for her that was deep.  

When her journey with her illness began we were in constant contact with Kathy, praying daily and holding her in our thoughts and sending Mary Lee a few cards of encouragement.

From our physical distance of many miles and several states away we held Mary Lee close to our hearts and always in our thoughts. Yes, God had cemented a connection between our Spirits and hers. Although we weren't there we are fully aware of the GOOD fight of Faith that Mary Lee fought.

We have shed many tears over the last 4 days after hearing Hospice had been called in and her family was with her.  Mary Lee's fight with the dreaded CANCER (how I hate that word!!) was very similar to that of our beloved Suzette so it hit Mickey & I especially hard.  Yes, they both fought such galant fights of good faith and ready to go HOME where there is no sorrow and no tears. 

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Sharing a few pictures that I got via Kathy to show the many reasons why we loved her and who she REALLY is.

Putting one over (or trying to)on Kathy.  Instigated by Mary Lee I'm sure!!

 The love and patience she had for Bethany & Daniel. I love this picture because it shows how long she has been an important part of their family.

Her beloved Sunday School class

Always the beloved cut-up.

Mary Lee's Memorial Services

today, June 28, 2014 at 11 a.m.

Covenant Grace Church

Phoenix, Arizona

We are there in Spirit and in our Hearts!!!

Tell our Suzette "hi" and give her a BIG HUG

you're going to get to see and meet her before we do.

We love you, Mary Lee,

         Mickey & Susan 

FATHER'S DAY 2014

Father's Day 2014 found just the 4 of us celebrating.  Daughter Jacque was visiting in Missouri and of course son, David was in Florida.  Both Jacque & David called Mickey and wished him Happy Father's Day. 

Marc & Aric surprised Mickey by showing up for church service which was the best gift EVER, but in addition Jacque & Marc got him a pair of blue Sperry Top-sider's.  His favorite!

My "guys" want an old fashioned Pot Roast dinner so that's what I prepared.  Roast, carrots, onions and FRESH NEW POTATO'S from Mickey's own garden.  Of course, the BIG tossed salad, and doughnuts for dessert.  

Had enough left over that I was able to cut it all up in small bit size and mix together for another great meal for the 4 of us in Monday, when Marc brought Aric and the dog over to stay with us while he went to OKC for 2 days on business. 

 One of our favorite  picture pose's.

Mickey is ALWAYS the cut-up.

 These guys are never serious, especially when they are endeavoring to put one over on me.

They did in this one !!!

 3 generations

Father, Son, Grandson

It was Father's Day but I was one VERY blessed wife, mother & grandmother.

2014 Chamber of Commerce Banquet

We had a very nice evening at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

We presented the 2014 Community Volunteer Award to Helen Richardson & Margaret McDermitt of GOD'S LUNCH BUNCH

of First United Methodist Church.    

 The Invitation

 The inside of the Program 

showing KING'S KITCHEN, 

 winners of the 2013 Community Volunteer Award,

making the presentation of the 2014 Community Volunteer of the Year Award

 Picture that appeared in The Coweta American paper on June 13th with the 2014 winners.

We were seated at Table 2 which was sponsored by Blue Bell Creamery.

Pictures of us prior to leaving the house.

Thank's to Coweta Chamber for honoring it's citizen's each year.  This is a great little city to call "home".

GOOD STUFF !!!

Six weeks since I last blogged.  Time if F-L-Y-I-N-G by this year.  This post is just about many of the blessings and GOOD STUFF God keeps blessing our lives with. 

Aric's other grandmother came to visit Marc & Aric for a few days.  We met them last night at Delta Cafe for a lovely meal & 1 1/2 hour visit.  It was so nice to see Terry and catch up with all the exciting events going on in her life and have a really nice visit.   

Marc, Aric, Grandma Terry

Guess who was the "center" of attention!

First "harvest" from Mickey's garden this morning- leaf lettuce.  Had some for lunch today.

Mickey was given these 2 little wren bird houses.  They we damaged but he glued them all together and added the hooks and hangers on top and they are ready to join his 2 blue bird houses in the back yard.

Yesterday he was given these 2 lovely cedar bird feeders.  They also needed a little minor repair work and will soon be joining his other 4 bird feeders in the back yard.

We were given 11 - yes 11!!! 24 can racks of Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Seven-up and Gator aid drinks, plus the 36 can carton of pepsi.  Thats a total of 300 soda drinks!!!  So far we've shared 4 - 24 can racks with others but still have all these left.

God's blessings flow and overtake us!!  PRAISE & THANK GOD~~~ 

BLESSINGS of DOUGHNUTS

Broadway Bakery & Cafe recently opened downtown Coweta.  They are open for lunch and Mickey, Aric & I visited them recently on a Tuesday after King's Kitchen.  

When the new owner found out we serve 50+ shuts-in's a meal every Tuesday they offered to donate the doughnuts that did not sell each Sunday (they are closed Mondays) for us to use on Tuesday's!!!

 We could not believe all the variety and boxeS (yes plural!!) we picked up.  Here is just a sampling of delicious, appealing variety of doughnuts.
The first week we were able to send out 3 items with each meal.

The quantity we get will, of course, depend on what is left each Sunday. The second week they were completely sold out.  Last week we were able to have 2 a piece for every delivery.  

Mickey, Danny & Robin and the chests and racks they had just emptied for us!!

Today Mickey and I dropped in for lunch.  Mickey had a cheeseburger and I had a BLT and of course fresh made home style fries.  YUM!!!  My BLT was absolutely delicious and will probably become my "regular".  

Everything is delicious so be sure and stop by, get to know this lovely couple and welcome them to our little burg of Coweta.

Just ANOTHER blessing from God for The King's Kitchen.  

A MURDER TRIAL

My feeble attempt to share, mostly by pictures of the people involved, our experience of attending the murder trial of Darren Price.

How did Mickey and I come to get involved in this?  

The parents of one of the victims, Ethan Nichols, is the son of Scott and Teresa Nichols who attend our church.  Scott and Teresa had come over to visit us the evening of Saturday, January 25th.  The jury selection was taking place and Mickey and I offered to attend the trial with them for personal and pray support.  We didn't want them to be alone.  Teresa said they'd like for us to do that, after the jury selection was finished and the trial began. We were set to attend on Monday, February 3rd but the jury selection was not completed on Friday, January 31st, as hoped, so Teresa called and said it would be Tuesday the 4th.  They did actually end up starting mid-day on the 3rd so we missed that.

Mickey was able to attend all of the other 8 trial days, except Tuesday the 11th which was King's Kitchen.  I missed the 5th, due to a previously scheduled eye appointment and also the 11th, due to working at the voting poll at a special school position election.  Scott and Teresa, who only live a few blocks from us, picked us up each and every morning. Others were able to attend on various days:  Sean Westley, Gary and Shirley Smith, Gary Russell, and Dale and Dianne Russell from Coweta Assembly and the Pastors of Destiny Church, where the family attended at the time of the murders, Mike & Renae Goolsbay.  MANY others - their friends and family in Iowa and other at Coweta Assembly were praying.  

We meet the wonderful parents of Carrisa, Susan and Rod; Scott and Teresa's daughter Leeann and son-in-law Shawn (who we had previously met when they came to church),  and Teresa's sister, Laura.  Most days we had to be at the courthouse by 8:30 or 9:00 although one day it was noon.

On Monday, the 10th, the jury found Darren Price guilty on all 5 counts he was charged with:  2 robberies, 2 murders and alluding the police. 

On Tuesday, the 11th, additional information about 2 former convictions were presented and charges filed on them.  The jury's verdict was 15 years for alluding the police and 30 years for carrying a gun as a convicted felon.

On Tuesday, the 12th all 4 parents read their impact statements.  There were few dry eyes, and soft sobbing in that courtroom.  As one TV reporter said, "It was gut wrenching".  
    
The sentencing portion of the trial was finally given to the jury at 2:15 yesterday, February 13th and the verdict came down last night at 8:15 p.m.  The DA had asked for a verdict of Death for the death of Carrisa, and a verdict of Life Imprisonment without parole for the death of Ethan.  The final jury recommendation was Life without parole for both cases.

  Judge William J Musselman, who presided over this case in Court Room #501 set the date for final sentencing on March 27 at 9 a.m. 

Darren Price is the defendant in these murders and other charges.

Jerard Davis, the other defendant involved in these robberies and murders, had previously confessed and is currently serving a life sentence without parole. 

Carissa Horton, 18, and Ethan Nichols, 21

The victims of the double robbery, execution style murder on September 18, 2011.  Carissa was an ORU student from Iowa. 

Tulsa District Attorney Tim Harris

Assistant District Attorney Julie Doss 

I had never been in a court room in my entire long life.  Mickey has served on a jury about 10 years ago.  I was totally awed by the wonder of our fabulous judicial system.  Watching Attorney's Harris and Doss in action was absolutely amazing to me.  Not only were they superb in the courtroom with their presentations and cross  examining but they spent time, and shared lunch with us, both when we were awaiting the initial guilty verdicts on the 5 counts and when we were awaiting the sentencing on those verdicts last night.  They are both strong Christians and Tim Harris' time with us  was spent sharing  his views of the trial events and his strong Christian faith.  Tim's son, Luke, a recent OU student was also seated with our group in the court room and a pure joy.  The 2 assistants assigned to the family:  Heather and Lindsey were absolute jewels and made the experience so much easier on the family and all of us.

An aside:  Last night as the family were all giving interviews, Heather and Lindsey asked Mickey, "Will you be our grandfather?"
Neither of them had grandfathers and wanted to adopt him!!!  I told them they had to also take me as grandmother in the deal.

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(Left to right) Teresa, Ethan's Mother and Susan, Carissa's Mother

Scott, Ethan's Dad

Rod, Carissa's Dad

I do not have a picture of Leeann, Ethan's sister, but she was the real star in the capture, her testimony in this trial, and her interaction with both the reporters and the jurors after the verdicts.

The final jury verdict last night, February 13th,  at 8:15 p.m - the jurors recommended 2 life sentences without parole, plus 45 years.  After the families spent time with reporters and the jury we arrived home at 10:30. Thank you Scott & Teresa for allowing us be with you during this most difficult time.     

The entire details and story of these murders, and all the evidence that came out in this trial, are amazing but they are Teresa and Scott's story to share with everyone.  I know they will and are anxious to do so.  

ARIC'S 15TH BIRTHDAY

How can it be???  The "youngest" member of our family turns 15 on February 3, 2014.

What a joy Aric has been all his life.  We love his wonderful, gentle spirit and kind heart.  He is growing up to be a fine young man like his father, Marc.

As always we celebrate with food!!  The honoree always gets to pick, and Aric's choice was Zio's Italian Restaurant.  It was also a lot of other people's choice as we waited almost an hour for our table. Aric choose to celebrate on Saturday February 1st instead of his actual birthday on Monday. 

 After dinner and opening his gifts with his chocolate birthday sundae.  You can tell Aric & Uncle Benny are having one good laugh.

 Father Marc & Aric ordering their meal.

 Uncle Benny & Aunt Jacque.

Jacque had worked all day and still had her name tag hanging around her neck!!!

 Ever present Grandma & Grandpa

The two "kids" Aric & Jacque acting up!!

A picture of Aric, taken at our home with him in the living room recliner on January 31st.   I love this picture because it shows him, with one of his MANY electronic devices, as his very relaxed and at ease self. 

Yes, this young man is a pure joy in ALL of our lives. 

Happy 15th Son, Nephew, Grandson Aric -- we love you!!!