In Loving Memory

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

On January 2 our dear Mrs. Beeman departed this earth to live eternally with her Savior!

To know Mrs. Beeman was to love her.  As my grandma said so many times, "I don't think there's anyone who doesn't like Suzi!"

Mrs. Beeman had a very special way of interacting with people of all ages; people young and old were drawn to her.  I remember there was always a "line" of friends waiting to talk to her!  She was surrounded by people who considered it an honor to spend a minute with her.  She was a friend to so many; every one of my siblings and both my parents would say that Mrs. Beeman was one of their dearest friends!

One of the things that made a conversation with Mrs. B so prized is that she was a great listener.  She showed that what you had to say was important.  Mrs. Beeman had a lot of wisdom.  She was a great encourager.  She also showed humility; she willingly admitted that she wasn't perfect and there were things she wished she had done differently.  That kind of humility caused me to respect and look up to her even more!

I loved watching the way she lovingly served her husband, the way she loved and sacrificed and gave for him and their children and grandchildren.  She also served her friends.  I remember when she showed up with a big, beautiful, delicious lunch on our busy moving day in 1997; watching her read story after story to my younger siblings, and, in time, her grandchildren; having her help us during busy summers on our farm in Tennessee, snapping green beans and shelling peas for hours.  Her servant's heart was so big!

Mrs. Beeman loved in a way that few people do, but in a way that everyone could feel!  She seemed almost blind to other's faults and always believed the best about people.  Because of this she had friends from many walks of life; whether or not she agreed with you, she respected and loved you, and you knew it!

I think one of the things that made her love so special is how she loved.  She loved by giving.  And isn't that how Christ loves us?  "For God so loved ... that he gave"!  Mrs. B's life was an exemplary picture of the love of God!

When I think about Mrs. Beeman, I think about the beauty and love of Christ, dogwood flowers, old books, peacocks and parakeets, strawberries and grapes, laughing at Mr. Beeman's jokes ... so many memories!  She was surrounded by family and friends who loved her.

So ... as we used to say when the Beeman family was leaving our home in Tennessee to drive back to Texas, "Goodbye not!"  Mrs. B, this is not, "Goodbye!" ... we will see you again someday!

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5b

Our Dear Mrs. Beeman

So many memories are flooding through my mind right now.... 

wonderful, sweet memories of our beloved Mrs. Beeman.

Our families met sometime around 1990 and soon became VERY close friends.

For several years Mrs. Beeman was my Sunday School teacher at Garland Bible Church.

She was a wonderful teacher, and her entire class adored her.

Mrs. Beeman made each one of us feel special and loved!

Mrs. Beeman always chose to think the best about everybody. I can remember her telling my parents that we weren't being naughty, it was just the barometric pressure. 😀 I don't believe Mrs. Beeman ever "told on us". In fact she was the first to help us right our wrongs so we wouldn't get into trouble!  Once, when we were being wild and my little brother threw his favorite blanket into the fan, Mrs. Beeman used a stick horse and helped me unwrap it and get it down.  She had such a positive attitude, and her deep love and compassion made everyone want to be her friend.

Smiths and Beemans 1996

Dinner at the Beemans' house was always such a treat!

Mrs. Beeman was one of the few babysitters I ever got left with as a child. I can remember her reading books to us - especially the book "Miss Suzy", which we claimed was about her, even though the book was about a squirrel.

This picture was taken when we were moving to Tennessee. 

Mrs. Beeman read to us while the guys loaded the moving truck.

Early the morning we left for Tennessee the Beemans were there to say goodbye.

They brought us a special cassette tape with goodbye messages from all our Texas friends. We were so happy to be moving to Tennessee, but we all cried when we heard Mrs. Beeman's goodbye message!  How we would miss her!

500+ miles away, but we couldn't stay apart!!

So many trips were made back and forth from Texas to Tennessee, and, as you can see, we had great fun together!  When they got to Tennessee we would surround the car as soon as they pulled in the driveway. She would call us the "Smith sentinels" because they could never sneak up on us. We were always outside waiting - even if it was 3am!

Picnics, birthday parties, Sunday school parties, late-night talks, bubble gum blowing contests, Sunday evening phone calls with both families on speaker, writing out recipes together, all the VHS tapes we made for each other and sent in the mail, singing at the nursing home together.... way too many memories to count, much less write down!

Thanksgiving Dinner with the Beemans

Thanksgiving Charades

Through the years Mama and Mrs. Beeman were always very close.

And then the grandkids came along, and everything got even more fun!

"Granny Smith" and "Mimi"

I'm so thankful Mrs. Beeman got to meet Caitlyn!  I don't have any pictures of them together, but Caitlyn would smile at Mrs. Beeman and Mrs. Beeman would say "babies always like me", which was very true.

We could talk with Mrs. Beeman for hours and hours!

On January 2, 2018 Mrs. Beeman went to be with the Lord. We all miss her so very much!  Her life was such an example to us of Christ's love!

Will there Be any Stars in my Crown? was Mrs. Beeman's favorite hymn. She was so ready to go be with Christ, worship Him, and lay down crowns at His feet.

Mrs. Beeman's children and grandchildren all adored her, and so did the rest of us - her adopted children.  We will always remember her!!

Mrs. Beeman wrote this message not long before she passed away.

"I have no greater joy than to know that my children hear and follow...maybe not even physical children and grandchildren but whomever God has placed in our sphere of relationship, and in our paths as we follow Him...I share that. I want to follow, and love, and be loved and after sharing this precious legacy, be able to look Jesus right in the eye, without guilt or shame, and say I got it! You loved me in a way that was unfathomable...You were perfect and sufficient in every tiny piece of my life...thank you dear Father, who formed me and was with me all the times I never even knew and bore it all and grasped me...all to give me His love."

I love you, Mrs. Beeman!  I'm so happy I'll see you again someday!

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  Isaiah 9:6&7

The Lewis Edition: Our Fall

In October Russell played a concert in Arkansas

and we got to stay with our friends, the Harbours!

I think the highlight for all of us was jamming together!

We knew a lot of the same tunes, which made it SO fun!!!

"I Saw the Light"

We also did some singing around the piano, went

to church together, and enjoyed some very yummy meals!

Thanks for the picture and video, Ronda, and thank you all

for your hospitality! We had a wonderful time!!!

Russell and I enjoyed having our friends Anna and Lydia

 spend a week with us while their parents went on a trip.

We spent several fun hours like this, visiting while working on

various sewing projects.

Basket of activities to do while the girls were with us.

Lydia's finished project!

Anna crocheted this hat for Lydia.

The girls had their first piano lessons

and enjoyed practicing on our piano.

One day we packed a picnic lunch and went to the park. 

The weather was lovely!

Selfie! (Sorry, Anna!)

Dumpster find! 😂

(Actually, I saw our neighbor carry it out 

and went and retrieved it!)

It doesn't look bad at all with stuff on it! ;)

I got to go hear Mozart's "The Magic Flute,"

and thoroughly enjoyed it!

We weren't allowed to take pictures during the opera,

but I snapped this of the amazing stage set before it started.

(Russell was in the pit ;))

Gift for a friend. I had so much fun stitching these!

We were so happy to be able to celebrate the wedding

of these dear friends!

Congratulations, Andrew and Ruthie!!!

It was wonderful to spend time with my family (who came down

for the wedding), assist with the rehearsal dinner, and get to see

so many friends!

Mel did my hair. :)

We took a 10-day trip to Tennessee over Thanksgiving!

The view from what used to be my bedroom window. :)

I've always loved this view and watching the seasons change.

Celebrating a day of Thanksgiving at Mama Flo's. :)

Fun painting project Sarah brought for the children.  

Anna and Hudson playing a game

Cousin picture!

Mama Flo enjoying her eighth great-grandchild.

Saw this at the gas station as we were leaving my hometown 

and had to snap a picture ... so "country" and cute!

Christmas Decorating

We put our Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving.  The little ones were all eager to help!

Hugh really got into the decorating.

Time for the ornaments!

Even Caitlyn got in on the fun

Katherine is getting sleepy