Family: Good times

   As a kid
growing up, my
grandparents had a camp house at Toledo Bend and at the Neches river. We would go up to lake during spring break and on weekend, I always loved it! I had the best times with my mamaw and papaw. We would fish for perch and white perch, run some trot lines for catfish. There was a local marina where us kids would walk to for a coke and candy bar. It was simple times, but I loved it, it was very peaceful.

As we got older, we started going more and more to the river camp on the Neches river. The whole family would get together to fish, swim, and of course eat some fried fish! Papaw had built a floating dock so you could fish off the bank. Honestly, I miss those times!

Make time for your family, put down the tablet, the phone, turn off the tv, and visit on the front porch. You don't always have your family.

My mamaw, Dora dei Shiftler Parks, was the glue of my family on my mom's side. Yes, she was from Germany. My papaw married her after world war two. The family wasn't too excited about it at first, but she was the type of person that you couldn't dislike. She had sweet personality. People would ask me about her accent, which I never noticed growing up around it. She was, by far, one of the most important people in my life. She was steadfast in her love for Jesus. I can't remember one day that she didn't read her bible.

Anyway, after a long battle with a heart valve issue and a battle with ovarian cancer, she passed away right after Christmas in 1999. I know it is a sad story, but the point is, hold tight to your family. Enjoy being with your family.
We had a lot of great memories. I said earlier,"she was the glue", my family has not been the same since. All my cousins and my brothers and I have grown up. We started families and we don't see each other like we used to.

My church family has filled in where my family has had a hard time being there. Do not get this wrong, I make an effort to get with my family as much as possible, they just work shift work (different shifts) and some live farther away. We still all love each other. Life is not the same, it changes, but that does not mean that we shouldn't strive to be with and bless our families.
The family is the bedrock of a strong church and a strong nation.


I am wistful of those good times, sounds like I'm depressed or something! :-)
Don't worry, I'm alright, I might be feeling a little mellow. Make your life into something sweet, live it to the fullest. Treat every day as a gift from God! Don't fight with your family. Love your family, love your neighbor, love your church! Pray for your family, your church, your leaders, and our nation. It's needed! Life is so sweet!

Next week, Testimony Tuesday is back with Bro. Jake Williams!