THIS IS WHO WE ARE

This is what we do for the joy of the King,
For His peaceable Kingdom,
For a world in despair.
And this is why we bring any hope we can give,
Any bread from the table,
Any touch of His hand.
This is what we do.
This is where we go.
This is why we sing.
This is how we live.
This is who we are.


Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Pictures of My Mother . . .

I posted this on Mother's Day...a picture
of my mom, Kathryn Pearl Isenberg Sewell
taken when she was a young woman

The first anniversary of my mother's passing was 2 weeks ago.  That day (September 12), I posted pictures of my hometown that reminded me of my mother. This morning I received some pictures that Laura Plank, our graphics artist scanned for me. I thought I'd share some here.
This is a casual portrait a family friend took of
my mother.  She always had that big, welcoming smile.


Yep, that's little Donnie with my mom and
dad (Curtis) when I was 4 or 5.  Wish it were
a better picture so you could see how freakin' cute
I was back then.  (Just kidding!)

Ah, the back steps at 1904 W. Sunny St. in
Kissimmee, FL.  I wish I had a nickel for every
time Mother stood at that door and called me in
for supper.  Just like the hokey old gospel song,
"Come home, come home it's supper time...the
shadows lengthen fast."
I heard her sing that song many, many times.

Curt and Kate relaxing in friends' living
room many years ago

Mother and Kristi on the porch of our home
at Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, TN

Mother holding Jennifer; Kristi is holding 
a bottle or something for Jen.  Very similar to
Haley and Lexi, I think!

These two pictures were scanned together.  The top
one is of K & J having fun with Grandma.

The lower picture is of Mom and Dad "doing communion."
She prepared communion for over 25 years for our 
church in Kissimmee.  Only took off 3 or 4 times a year.  
Most of that time she washed the glass communion cups
by hand.  It was a labor of love for her.  (Plus, she
directed the church choir!)


We had silhouettes made of the girls one summer and
presented them to our mothers for Christmas.
  Mother loved these.  After her death, 
I brought the silhouettes home.  They're now
displayed in our guest room.

This is Mom relaxing at a friend's home.
That's me over to the left.

When we were at Johnson Bible College, we
often went to "Silver Dollar City" (now "Dollywood")
in Pigeon Forge, TN, at the foot of the
Smoky Mountains.  Mom and Dad loved going there.

Before Brian and Jennifer were married, Mom came
out for a visit.

This was taken during Mom's last trip to CA


Mom loved riding her 3-wheeler around the
neighborhood.  She did this until just a couple
years prior to her death.

Love this picture, even if it is fuzzy and blurry.
Mom loved the simple things.  Picking wildflowers
was more meaningful than receiving a $100 bouquet
from the florist.  She loved life at the grass roots
and never minded getting her hands dirty.  She was
a remarkable woman.

7 comments:

Diane Davis said...

I love these pictures. Thank you for sharing. When did your father pass away? She was a very beautiful woman!

Heidi said...

What an awesome post. The pictures are incredible - thank you for sharing with us!

johnsonandjohnson said...

I haven't seen a lot of those pictures....that was fun to see.....and to think she wouldn't let you ride a bike! The pictures are great!

Don said...

Diane, my dad passed on in 1992....he was 13 years older than my mother. Interestingly, he was 87 when he passed; she was 88 at her death.

The Craftypigs said...

I feel honored to have just experienced such a wonderful display of affection. I know you must miss her terribly. Thank you for sharing. LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics of KT.

Stacey said...

Don, Thank You for sharing those beautiful pictures of your mom & family. Just today I came across a picture of my dad holding Annie. Earlier this week I saw a Grandpa pushing his grandchild in a stroller. Both gave me such a wave of melancholy for my dad. I think the changing of the seasons also is a time that brings back sweet memories. Thanks for sharing some of your special times with your mom. How blessed we are to have been given such wonderful parents. Love ya!

Kristi said...

So very sweet. I miss her.

And also, it amazes me how much me & Jen look like Haze & Lex.