Love It Out

Karen Hancock - May 31, 2014 - 4:28 pm

I love you both! I have grown up always loving and respecting joni and hoping to be spiritually half the woman she is. I really look up to joni alot. She means alot to me and nate does too.

I Can Laugh Whether I’m Glad, Sad, or Mad

Having a great sense of humor is one of Aunt Sue’s many wonderful characteristics. Sue is Tony’s aunt (his Dad’s mom’s sister) and at age 96 she stays busy with church and family activities, tending to her garden, ceramics class, and quilting. She is an inspiration. We all hope to age as beautifully as Aunt Sue!

A few months ago we asked Sue’s daughter, Glenda, to let us know when the garden gets growing so we can take some pictures. This week we had an opportunity to visit Sue, and her brother Floyd too. We walked through the garden and talked about the younger years. Tony remembers as a kid visiting Aunt Sue and her husband, Robert, at their grocery store in the Five Points area. They moved to Huntsville in 1947. Well she was actually from this area, a graduate of Riverton High School — Class of 1935, but Robert was in the Air Force so they had traveled. Sue shared one story of riding to Fresno, California on the troup train while pregnant with Glenda. She road for 3 nights, 4 days and “took a cold but that’s about all.” They married when she was 22 and enjoyed 57 years together.

Sue’s ability to stay strong in hard times was demonstrated at a younger age as she told us about caring for her mom when doctors performed treatments (that I won’t detail here) for fluid around the heart. Her mom passed away in March of 1942, just a month short of turning 52. She described her parents as hard workers. Her dad was a sharecropper and passed away at age 65.

When we asked Sue her secrets to a longer life she said, “Eat right, exercise, live right, love the Lord, and try to have a positive attitude.” She continued, “There is much to do in a day and I thank the Lord for leaving me here until I get through.”

Floyd is Sue’s brother, the youngest of four and the only boy. He has a military background, both Navy and Army, and proudly shared that he served our country through two wars. His wife is Dot. After losing both their spouses to cancer, they found each other. They met at the Senior Center dancing. Dot shared that she liked the Jitterbug and the Cha-cha the best. They also liked bowling and going fishing. Laughing she shared that while fishing, Floyd fell in. He laughed and exclaimed, “Last time I went!”

Uncle Floyd and Aunt Sue actually live close with a path from her backyard to his where they said they pass food over the shrubs.

Here are few more questions Tony asked…

What is the greatest invention?
They agreed it is the computer. They mentioned the phone too and remember when they used to have to go into town to make a call.

What have been your favorite age?
Sue shared that she enjoyed all of them and chuckled as she continued, “I didn’t fall apart until 90.”

What is your favorite music?
They like country music. Or “real country” as Sue added. Like Jimmie Rodgers and Loretta Lynn. Sue told us that Dolly Parton’s sister used to live down the street.

Do you have a favorite verse?
Sue finds strength in these two: Romans 8:28 and John 3:16

What does our motto ‘love it out’ mean to you?
Sue responded, “It means staying with the same one for 100 years.” (Which Tony of course believes we will accomplish :))

What a blessing you are Aunt Sue. Thanks for sharing your stories and laughter.

YOUR life is beautiful when you love it out!

Post comments below so we can pass them on to Aunt Sue. The computer is the greatest invention, but she doesn’t have time for that.

5 comments

Gretchen - May 26, 2014 - 2:29 pm

Sue is one of my favorite people! I have never seen her without a smile on her face. I hope I can be like her when I grow up!

Nina Greene - May 26, 2014 - 3:31 pm

You are a very special lady. You told your secret for staying young. Now tell me your secret for getting younger. You somehow manage to get younger each birthday. It has been a pleasure having you and you wonderful daughter in my life. Love you very much!!!!

Holly campbell - May 26, 2014 - 9:10 pm

Tony, what an incredible tribute you have made to Sue both visually and In lovely words. This is just spectacular and something the family will treasure forever. I feel blessed to have her for a mother in law. She is an inspiration and I admire her in every way.
You have such talent and what a special gift you have given the family,

Thanks, holly.

ps: she is actually 96!!

Suzi - May 26, 2014 - 9:37 pm

Thanks Nina and Gretchen for your kind words – we will be sure to pass them on to Sue!

joni alexander - May 27, 2014 - 9:25 am

This just made my day. Aunt Sue is such a beautiful example of life at it’s fullest. I laugh and joke that I want to be like Aunt Sue when I grow up but in reality I do. What an inspiration! Thank you Aunt Sue, your love for the Lord and family is so encouraging to all of us. We love you! Thank you to Glenda also (and the gang)for encouraging us to be a part of the cousin breakfast each month. It’s true, the older I get the more I cherish my family. Aunt Sue, I’m praying that God will continue to bless you with joy, peace, sound mind, strength and compassion as you continue your journey here on earth. Suzi and Tony, great job once again.

Follow Your Dream | Makarios Events

Following his natural talent to organize and customize, Chad recently launched Makarios Events. It was no surprise that his Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was beautifully decorated. We stopped by to capture the awesome atmosphere he created. From the use of whites and blues in the furniture and accents to the unique table pieces (of course I always loooove trees – especially ones that glimmer in the light), the rooms were classy and unique.

Yes, I think this is just a small glimpse of greatness ahead! A quick dictionary search revealed the meaning of makarios to be “blessed, happy” and that sure is the way to be when you are following your dream! Blessings Chad as you add to the awesomeness of special events for your clients!

Visit the Makarios Events website to learn more about the tailored experience they offer: http://makariosevents.com

YOUR life is beautiful when you love it out!

2 comments

Patrick Burns - May 12, 2014 - 7:35 am

Tony and Suzi, great job on the pictures I’ve seen so far of the ‘Follow Your Dream | Makarios Events’ posting. Chad raved so much about your work prior to you coming out. Beautiful work! I look forward to him showing me other pictures and how well you were able to hide my yellow pants :>)

Patrick

Suzi - May 12, 2014 - 7:47 pm

Thanks for your kind words Patrick! It was great meeting you – our favorite people are those not afraid to shine in their own way (even in yellow pants!).

Robby & Tammie | Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After Project: Featuring Robby & Tammie Perry

Our easy friends. This is how Tammie’s mom described our friendship one time when they were talking about the fun we had hanging out together. It is always easy to just be ourselves when we are out with Robby & Tammie. Easy to laugh. Easy to treasure the time together. Easy to love. We were young couples doing life together and raising our babies. Much has happened and we can go awhile without seeing them, but when we come back together, we are still the same. We simply couldn’t imagine our journey without them. And we are inspired always by their love for each other – protective, nurturing and strong.

Love Notes from TAMMIE:

How we met, what attracted me…
Robby and I knew of each other in grade school. After high school, we saw each other at a mutual friend’s memorial service and just said “hi”. A few months later, we happened to be stopped at the same red light in Five Points. He blew the horn at me and I waved back. He called me a month later and asked me out. Of course, my parents had to meet him first before I was allowed to see him. After the first date, my mother asked me if I had a good time. My answer was, “If I don’t marry him, I’ll marry someone just like him!” We were married 6 months later. I’ve always laughed and told him and the kids that what first attracted me to him was his cowboy boots, but in all honesty, it was his kind, gentle spirit that won me over.

Describe a memorable story of the two of you…
I think our entire marriage has been one memorable story with chapters still unwritten. There are very special moments within our story and one of them that I cherish is a trip we took to Cades Cove. We took an old quilt, spread it on the ground out in a beautiful field and shared a simple Subway lunch. It stands out to me because it seemed like time just stood still.

Key ingredient to your success as a couple, biggest challenge to overcome…
Key ingredient…first, I believe in the covenant of marriage and that it is a gift from God. He is the one who joined us together. The words love, commitment, communication, and trust all come to mind when I think of key ingredients too but the one most important aspect of our marriage that stands out to me is that Robby is my very best friend.

Our biggest challenge would have to be when our daughter, Savannah, was called home. We allowed each other to grieve in our own way but also chose to stand strong in our faith and turn to each other instead of others for the support, comfort and love that we each needed.

Favorite quote or verse…
Isaiah 40:31 is my favorite verse. Those who wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.

Best gift ever…
So many gifts have been given through the years. Robby is a very giving person but he also knows that jewelry, flowers and all the things a girl loves are just that, things. The best gift Robby has ever given me is his time. Time is something that can never be taken back and can only be spent once, and he chooses to spend it with me. I will never take that for granted.

Something he does very well…
Robby is great at anything he chooses to do. But if I had to pick one, it would be his craftsmanship skills. Thru our 30 years of marriage, the same house has been our home for 27 of them. As time changes us all, our taste has changed too and every change, redesign, addition, etc. that we have made to our house he has taken on himself and has mastered with great success. There is not one room in our home that does not have his personal touch in the construction of it. Needless to say, it will always be home to me.

Favorite food, favorite color…
Robby’s favorite food would have to be a good grilled steak. I think he would even prefer to grill it himself. His favorite color is blue although he may tell you something different depending on what day you ask.

Something you still dream about doing…
Robby and I have always talked about traveling together when the kids moved out. There are so many places in the United States we would love to see. Now that Jonathan has joined the Army, I’m sure we will begin by visiting him wherever his career takes him.

Love Notes from ROBBY:

How we met, what attracted me…
I first saw Tammie in grade school. I thought she was very pretty but I was a couple of years older than her. A few years later, I was working with my dad, he was doing some work for her dad at their house. I didn’t know it at the time, but she tells me that she was watching me from her window. We didn’t really see each other again, for several more years until a mutual friend’s memorial service and then we just said hi to each. A few months after that, we were stopped at the same red light. I waved at her and she waved back. I thought, “I need to see if she is dating anyone.” I asked a friend of mine who knew her to find out for me. It turns out she was not so I got up the courage to call her and we went out. Two months later, I asked her to marry me. Four months after that we were married. It’s been 31 years and still going strong.

What attracted me most to Tammie was her height and dark complexion, her pretty eyes and the fact that I felt comfortable with her right from the moment we met.

Describe a memorable story of the two of you…
The time we took trip to Crossville, TN in the fall and the leaves were so pretty. We had a great weekend.

Key ingredient to your success as a couple, biggest challenge to overcome…
The key ingredient for our marriage thus far has to be our ability to rely on each other.

Our biggest challenge has been the loss of our daughter, Savannah.

Favorite quote or verse…
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Best gift ever…
My children.

Something she does very well…
Tammie is very good at loving and caring for her family. She is also a great organizer and her financial abilities are outstanding.

Favorite food, favorite color…
Tammie’s favorite food would have to be Mexican. When Savannah was born, she had really black hair. A friend of Tammie’s told her it had to be from eating so much Mexican food.

Her favorite color is blue.

Something you still dream about doing… 
I dream of possibly having grand kids one day.

We just have include a few family images too… remembering Savannah and celebrating Jonathan’s recent acceptance to Officer Candidate School.

We love you Tammie & Robbie – our easy friends…

View their Happily Ever After video:

YOUR life is beautiful when you love it out!

4 comments

Carolyn Sammons - May 1, 2014 - 8:57 am

Tammie & Robby, I absolutely loved your pictures and most of all the story of your lives. Beautiful! I mean it, you are both beautiful through and through. God bless.
Carolyn

Debbie Kizer - May 2, 2014 - 8:47 pm

Beautiful!

Wendy Fox - May 29, 2014 - 6:25 pm

You two are amazing! Beautiful story. So glad to call you friends

Phyllis Cox - June 18, 2015 - 5:55 pm

Just wonderful!! I loved your story. Thank you for sharing!!

A God Thing… Reading to Wildon Neely

Sometimes when you get a God thing, it’s a good reason to really listen. Our sweet Aunt Carole Swinford had one of those God’s tugs at her heart and sent me this message.

Hope you are well. I would like to ask you to do something but if you are too busy or prefer not to then I will completely understand and still love you forever. I keep telling myself that it’s too much to ask but it keeps nagging me thus I think it’s a God thing. I have a dear friend from my church that was moved to Millennium Health Facility for rehab. His name is Wildon Neely and he is 94 years old. Mr. Neely is the most Godly man I know. I was thinking about something I could do for him, I decided to give him your children’s book, I Love You Sideways. He lost a son a few years ago to cancer and his son Randy Neely is his main caregiver. I believe your book would bless him. Now for the big part of this favor. I hope that you could deliver it and meet him. I believe you would be greatly blessed by the experience. He was to be moved today and Randy said he may in rehab for a couple of weeks.

Carole checked with the family for permission. Late into the night she wrote the following description of Mr. Neely:

With Carole’s heart receiving a God message Suzi and I couldn’t help but respond.

We love Carole. She has always been there for us. She too shines a beautiful light with love and beauty to all who know her. So I told Carole that I would try and visit before the day was over. Well the day came and went and I didn’t get there. But on the second day I too felt that God thing when you need to just stop and listen… God wants us to meet and know this dear man.

Carole had requested I read I Love You Sideways to Mr. Neely. Keep in mind, this is a children’s book that so far I have read to elementary students. Mr. Neely is 94 years old. But Carole thought the book was fitting because it’s a father and son conversation. In it the little boy asks his father the simple question, “Dad when do you love me more?” and ends with a father’s loving response.

We arrived at Millennium on Sunday afternoon. As we entered the facility, we could hear those good old church hymns being sung. Down the long hallway we began our search for Mr. Neely. We step around the yellow caution signs as staff clean and mop the hallways. Finally we reached room 114, Mr. Neely peacefully in his bed. We were warmly greeted by his son, Randy Neely, daughter, Dean West, and son-in-law, Claude West.

Carole had already asked the family if it would be okay if Suzi and I could come by and read to Mr. Neely. We asked if it would be okay to take a few pictures. We wanted to capture a nice one for Carole. After spending a little time meeting Mr. Neely and hearing bits and pieces of his beautiful life and serving in the Navy, I was awestruck at what an incredible man we were honored to be meeting that day. Mr. Neely was married 69 years to his wife Alda Towry Neely. Sadly, his wife Alda, his son Gary Neely, and his grandson Cary West had all passed away within the last three years. His kids spoke highly of their father. It was just a sweet conversation among all of us.

I told Mr. Neely about Carole, of how much he inspired her, and how much she looked up to him as a Godly model. He was truly touched. I explained that Carole purchased one of our books as a get-well gift and she asked me to deliver it in person. I told him, “After hearing what an incredible man you are to so many I couldn’t pass this chance.”

So reading I did, and I was doing pretty good until I got to “Tony’s Teachable Thought” located on the very last page of the book. Suzi knew when my lip started shaking I was going to probably lose it and lose it I did. Sometimes I just get too emotional. Well, most of the time I get too emotional. That’s just me.

As I broke down finishing the book, Mr. Neely with his kind heart and soul comforted me. “God bless you son,” he said and held my hand.

Never did I know that in just six hours Mr. Neely would pass away.

As you look at the pictures I hope you see the heart of a beautiful man. I was honored to meet Mr. Neely.

The following is borrowed from the funeral program:

Daddy left very detailed hand-written instructions concerning his last wishes. On one page of his instructions he wrote:

I want my funeral to be a celebration. See! I have run the race and now I have reached my goal. Praise the Lord! I am now in the Promised Land and I hope to see each of you there some day. I have sent up spiritual material there for more than sixty-two years. My mansion is now complete, so the Good Lord has called me home to see and enjoy my new dwelling place. Revelations 21:4 says, “Go shall wipe away all tears from your eyes; and there shall be no more death; nether sorrow, nor crying. Neither shall there be any more pain.” So! Please prepare yourself to join me there some day. Amen.

What a wonderful legacy he left to us all.

Leave us comment and share your thoughts. Did you know Mr. Neely?
Do you have a special someone like Mr. Neely in your life?

Blessings and remember, your life is beautiful when you love it out.

Tony & Suzi McGehee

5 comments