November 18, 2006

This is Jamie (Jamie, I had to swipe a pic from you because I did not have one…)

But this time it was a woman. It was around 1:00 Thursday afternoon, when she saw a woman who was not one of their customers (she gets to know her customers, both now, and when she worked at Walmart and CVS). This woman was wearing a hat and sunglasses, and talking on a cell phone. And she was acting nervous.

Beth knew instinctively what was fixing to happen, so she started making a mental note of as much as she could about this woman. The woman put her purse down, and pulled out a note that said this was a robbery, and she had a gun, so not to do anything foolish.

In robbery training (no…not training to be a robber…training on how to respond in a robbery), they are taught not to look the robber in the eye, and not to say anything that would be taken as questioning the person. The woman told her she wanted the cash in both the top and bottom drawers. She repeated the “bottom drawer, too,” so Beth had to tell her she did not have a bottom drawer. The woman accepted that, which strikes me as a little odd. I would think a more experienced robber would not take that statement as fact without question. It’s possible she was being coached on the phone, if she was actually talking to anyone at all.

The woman did not show the gun, for which I am thankful. It would be much scarier to have a gun in your face. She left after taking the money. Beth told her supervisor and good friend, who was eating lunch in their back room, that they had just been robbed, and she began writing her statement immediately. It’s better to write it down while the information is fresh in your mind.

Police and FBI showed up. They reviewed the video and the detective told her she definitely knew she was fixing to be robbed, from her reaction. They also reviewed the videos from the store where the credit union is located. The woman had gone through the store, and exited by the registers, and then entered the credit union.

Bethany is friends with one of the Vice-Presidents of this credit union, and her husband. She met him when she first worked at CVS, and she developed pictures he took. That’s how she got this job. Thursday night, he sent her a message to see how she is, after finding out it was her that was robbed. His wife had called him at work to tell him what had happened. He told her how they all are of how she reacted, just as she had been taught, and that she was not injured. She’s getting praise from the top people in her company.

Every morning when all my family leaves for work (even Brandon and Rachael, who don’t live here anymore), I pray for God to protect them, get them to work safely and get them home safely. Thursday morning when Beth left, I was at the computer, and I turned to look at her as she was going out the door. For some reason, I prayed, “God, please don’t let her die.” It just came to mind, but it’s not normally a part of what I pray. Now I know why God brought that to my mind. He did keep her safe. She knew exactly how to react in the stressful situation, and He did not let her get shot. She doesn’t always react calmly in a stressful situation, so I know God was keeping her calm.

She has been saying for at least a couple of weeks, that she feels like God is preparing her for something. I’ve been thinking all kinds of possibilities…maybe He wants her to go on a particular missions trip, or maybe he is preparing her to meet her future husband. But today, I have to wonder if maybe He was preparing her for this robbery.

We believe that God allows everything that happens to a Christian. It might not be what we would think of as a good thing. It certainly did not seem good to us when our daughter died, but I know that he was preparing me for that, because of the thoughts I kept having for 2 weeks before she was born, and then died within a few hours. Everything is for a reason, because there is no such thing as chance in a life that God controls.

We might not ever know the reason, but God does. And He will get glory and honor in some way.

This credit union branch does not have an armed police officer on duty, but they are discussing it now. I have said before that maybe I should go walk around near the door of the credit union, since I can legally carry a gun. I could be there if anything happened.

So Thursday evening, I was in the kitchen making a new pitcher of iced tea, and thinking about it all. I thought, “Man…I might just have to go to work with her every day now.” That’s when I VERY clearly heard God tell me, “You don’t have to. I’m with her.” Tears rolled down my face. What better protector could she have than God?

There have been many times I have definitely heard God tell me something…not, of course, in an audible voice, but as an instant thought in my mind, that would not be something I would normally think. And it’s usually in the form of someone telling me something…someone speaking directly to me, as in a conversation. Several years ago, someone I loved very much, was sick in the hospital. I was praying for him, thinking that he would get well. That’s when I clearly heard, “D—- isn’t going to get well.” I  remember my knees feeling weak, and my stomach feeling as if I would throw up. I instantly knew, although no person had told me, that he had a particular disease that is always fatal.

I wonder how much we would hear from God if we really listened? Or if we were not afraid to tell people that He speaks to us. I am so surprised by the number of Christians who still will look at another Christian like they’ve lost their minds, if they say they heard God tell them something.

John 10:27….My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. NIV

This is Bethany singing in honor of our friend, Ruthie, who died on October 19. Ruthie would have been 91 on Nov. 2, so Beth sang this Sunday. Ruth thought Bethany just hung the moon. They would laugh and giggle together like a couple of school girls. Ruthie would tell her, “You’re the sweetest young girl I’ve ever known. I think I’ll keep you.”

Sometimes All the time, Ruthie liked to tease Beth. When Beth would go see her, she’d act like she couldn’t imagine what she did wrong, to deserve that. She was a cut-up. She did the same thing last Christmas when several of us from church went to the nursing home to sing Christmas carols to her. The staff and even her family, did not think she knew much of anything. She didn’t talk much, and she slept a lot. But I sat on the edge of her bed as we sang, and I heard her softly say, “What did I do to deserve this?” Some thought she was just grateful that we chose to visit her. I knew better…that was just Ruthie cutting up again.

Closer to me I’m tired and I’m weak
And every breath within me is longing just to be
Closer to You
So I face the road ahead
Cause I know there’s no comparing
To what’s waiting at the end

So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run through this valley
Just to climb to that hill
And if they ask why I’m smiling
After all I’ve been through
It’s cause I’m just a day closer to You

Closer to me I hear You whisper on the wind
You say although my life is ending
A new one will begin
Closer to You
And I know I’m not alone
Cause I can hear You in the distance
Saying, you are nearly home

So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run through this valley
Just to climb to that hill
And if they ask why I’m dancing
Though my days may be few
It’s cause I’m just a day closer to You

Closer to me You’re in the laughter and the tears
Of the ones I leave behind me
Who have prayed me through the years
Closer to You
And I know it won’t be long
Till You’re running down the pathway
Just to take me in Your arms

So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run through this valley
Just to climb to that hill
And if they ask why I’m singing
Though my life’s almost through
It’s cause I’m just a day closer
I’m just a day closer
I’m just a day closer to You

This was Bethany’s comment on Facebook:

It was hard to sing, not only because I’ve been sick but I was forcing myself not to cry and just get through it. Especially at the end, “and if they ask why I’m singing though my life’s almost through;” that was hard because I saw her the day before she died and she couldn’t talk or respond very much, but my mom was singing Amazing Grace to her and she was trying to sing along. She was always praising God. Even at the end. I guess I’ll always remember that with this song, now.

My mom is still not really doing well. She is being told by the doctors she needs heart bypass surgery NOW, but she wants to wait till after Christmas. Only thing is…she very well may not make it till after Christmas. My sisters and I, and our dad, have tried to talk her into it. She has dug her heels in. But Friday I went to their house after the funeral, and she kind of hinted that she might go ahead and schedule the surgery. Maybe.

Actually, it didn’t take much. I asked her if she was going to schedule the surgery as soon as possible after the first of the year, and she said she was thinking right after Christmas. Daddy looked at me and said, “The doctors want her to do it now.” I told him I knew that, and we kind of nodded knowingly at each other. So Mamma said, “Well, maybe I should go ahead.” Really? Was it really that easy?

I know she doesn’t want to. I would not want to, either. But I would do it, if it meant my life. This is life or death. And I can’t have my other knee replaced until after she is well enough that I won’t be needing to go to the hospital every couple of days. If I have my surgery now, I will not be healed enough to help take care of her. And my knee is hurting me so bad all the time now.

So here’s pictures from last year’s air show.

Then Saturday night, we have the Fall Fest at church. It’s the alternative activity we have on Halloween.  Our children (and even young adults) have fun getting together. But Beth stays out of the moonwalk these days. This will be 2 years since she injured her ankle.