Hebrew 10:14

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Memorize scripture.  Pastor Jim in his sermon yesterday reminded me that even Christ used scripture when combating the enemy.

How I'm planning on attempting to memorize this scripture is:

1) Write it out (maybe on 3 X 5 cards) (maybe put it places I'll look at a lot - the bathroom mirror for example).
2) Practice it often.
3) Maybe read it in context ... as in read the entire chapter, re-reading the specific verse again.
4) Write it out and mark it up- by circling phrases or highlighting words... so that the specific meaning of that verses meaning will stand out to ME.
5) When reading it, maybe say my NAME when it says 'you' 'those'...  So that I'll remember that God's scripture is VERY personal.

Surrounded by Water

In 1972… I guess there were some advantages of growing up at the Strand (Silver Strand Navy Housing Coronado), although I don’t think we saw many when we were growing up.  Let’s see there was the Coronado bay behind us, the Pacific ocean on our other side and lots of free space to roam around in.  Really we were surrounding by water.

Awesome - Wedding Day - 1980

Wedding Day- September 7, 1980

(three days from my 20^th birthday)

Let me remind you briefly that Robin and ‘her former’ had introduced Carl and I some time before.  Robin was my one and only bridesmaid (or maid of honor- can’t remember if she was married at the point), she’s the only one I needed, she’s the only one I wanted. 

Carl and I had little money and hadn’t expected our parents to pitch in much, so whatever we planned we’d need to pay for and carry out on our own.  That didn’t make us bitter or angry that was just life and so we planned.

Our wedding day was full of awesome surprises, but you’ll have to wait a moment for that, first some details…  We got married in a chapel in Balboa Park.  It was small and quaint, Spanish style, wood and plaster and pretty stain glass.  I thought it would be a beautiful setting at sunset all lit up in candle lights- how romantic.  The chapel could hold up to 150 guests or so, sounds do-able.  

For our music, Carl who had enjoyed writing and orchestrating music, had both written and performed our entire wedding music adding track after track after track to complete his original piece.  He had long ago told me he never liked the traditional wedding march and wanted to write his own music.  Hey, I’m not gonna argue, sounds pretty perfect… along with my candles of course…  When Carl wrote the music he counted up all the necessary people walking down the aisle so he could build up the music, both instrumentally and in volume accordingly - timing was key for him.  We had asked my grandmother if she wanted to walk down the aisle and she had declined.  So he factored her out.

For my dress I was fortunate enough to find a friend of my sister’s who would make the dress for me.  Since I didn’t have much money the theme simpler was better was what I went for.  Frankly I wasn’t too thrilled with the results but hey how much does that really matter, I’m getting married and will soon be Carl McKellips’ wife.

The day finally came, Robin and I readied ourselves, with our make-up and hair, at our new apartment in El Cajon.  My brother-in-law, Bob was set to pick us up and take us to the wedding where we’d get dressed and finish up with this or that with plenty of time to sashay a few steps to our pretty little chapel.  Robin and I were done with our preparations fairly early and set out to wait for our chauffeur, Bob, what a guyyyyyy.  In fact Bob was going to be the photographer too!  He had graciously accepted that ‘hat’ too.  Whew let me tell you that sure was a relief.  I mean really who has the money for photographers anyway- yikes!

Well it seemed that we were waiting forEVERRRRRR for Bob.  Time seemed to be ticking away.  Tick tock tick tock.  And soooo we waited and waited and waited.  Aaaaaa it’s driving me crazy.  You have to remember this was far before we had cell phones and only some people had pagers (if you don’t know what this is – google it) and I don’t think he was one of them.  As time kept clicking by I now realized that Bob had misunderstood my instructions I said we needed to be AT Balboa Park by 3pm and he thought he was supposed to pick us up at 3pm.  That was the hope I was holding onto for now.  Otherwise he had forgotten us entirely and I don’t think he’d do that.  Aaaaaaaa.

FINALLY Bob strolled up, quite casually; clearly thinking he was on time.  Robin and I made a mad dash to his car with our dresses and shoes in tow and I’m sure I was frantically barking instructions at him to GET ME TO THAT CHURCH NOW!!!!  I think he thought I had become a bride-zilla.  I can imagine him thinking ‘oh my gosh this is a side of Susan I’ve never seen before’.

As we raced to the chapel, which is at the least 25 minutes away, with no traffic, and no parking problems  (which may be possible in an alternate universe- but not in my reality that day) and clung to my dress I had a horrible realization  - I had forgotten the CANDLES for the CANDELABRAS!  I had forgotten ALL of them.  My candle lit wedding was going to be in the dark – aaaaaaaaaaaa.  I tried not to burst into tears, knowing I couldn’t re-do my make-up in the time we had left.  I felt sick and defeated.  Robin helped how she could, but she knew she couldn’t do anything either.

We got to the park and told Bob to let us out at the chapel- he could find parking without us.  So we picked up our stuff and ran towards the chapel.  Well, by golly, guess who was there to greet us, yep that’s right, most of my guests, smiling sweetly at us…. AWESOME, oh and look what I’m wearing some old military fatigues and a t-shirt- yikes.  I’m thinking by this point I did not put enough deodorant on for this day- another awesome!  And look who I see out of the corner of my eye, oh that’s right it’s Carl, and HE’s seeing me before the wedding too- ok that’s it.  I’ve officially had a bad start to the wedding.  I noticed too that Carl, who sweats profusely without cause, was apparently given a nice wool tux for this nice hot September day, since he got the free tux.  So he’s clearly going to be uncomfortable – oh yay.  Robin and I make a mad dash into the dressing room where I find my ‘mother-in-law to be’ and she seems to be fairly casually primping with her hair or lips or something.  Well all I want to do is throw my dress on and get ready in the next 2 seconds.  I felt like the looney tunes Tasmania devil spinning around to get everything in it’s place…  AAAaaaaaaa.  When I was close to finishing and being able to breath again, my mother-in-law ‘to be’ says something like ‘well it’s not too late’.  As in it’s not too late for me to walk away… not get married to her son…  Really? REALLY??!!!  I know Robin had to hold me back with that one.  Oh my gosh!  I had some visions that weren’t too nice- hair flying (and not mine) was part of it… 

I quickly snapped back to reality when I heard the music begin and so Robin and I got into position.  I listened for Carl’s music queues.  Wait a minute I see my grandmother walking down the aisle- WHAT????  She wasn’t supposed to walk down the aisle- ohhh what is she doing????  I hear from someone that she decided she wanted to walk down the aisle.  OH GREAT, that’s gonna mess up our music.  UGHHHHHH.  Thankfully someone(s) walked quickly and we made up the time enough for me to walk down when Carl had ‘marked’ for me to do so- whew!

Oh as I walk down the aisle I see that the chapel so graciously found some candles for me- Oh thank you Lord!  As I stood with Carl up near the chaplain I forgot everyone but Carl, in fact I know at some point I’m supposed to repeat something – aaaaa I better pay attention.  In a matter of seconds , it seemed, it was all over.  Geish that was quick.

We file out of the chapel in time to take a few pictures because Bob tells me his camera’s flash batteries died and he can’t take any shots except outside.  Awesomeeeee, why not?  Of course… no big deal, no pictures ….  Who needs pictures of their wedding day?

The wedding reception was next.  I remember talking to a few people, the rest was a blur.  I remember, my brother Scott, wasn’t there for my wedding, which was a big disappointment for me, but he had explained that he had a new job that required him to fly out that day.  I remember missing him.

Finally it was time to leave to our honeymoon in Rosarito Beach, Mexico.  Carl and I waived good-bye to the few people who were left.  We went out to our car, Carl’s latest purchase, a white 1960 round-body Mercedes.  He went to start it and NOPE it wouldn’t start.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME????  REALLY?  By this time I had had so many things go wrong with the day that it didn’t even faze me.  I’m thinking ok whatever, let’s find a ride.  We did, we went back to our friends who were still partying and asked for a ride.  They laughed and said they had a truck and that Carl would have to jump in the back- AWESOME.  AND for some reason we were headed to Carl’s mom’s house- ewwwwwww (I’m just saying on my wedding night uh that’s not where I want to be heading).  We got there, quickly changed (to her giggles) and headed back to our apartment, Rosarito Beach can wait I’m exhausted.

I ended up with about 6 pictures from the wedding.  I remember now that my (and robin’s) 6th grade teacher, Mr. McLaughlin and his wife came to my wedding- how sweet of them.  I look back at a lot of those details about the wedding and mostly laugh.  I remember my best friend, Robin, supporting me throughout that day and I have to say she did a great job.  Weddings and all the trappings of a wedding aren’t so important; it’s really that individual you’re signing your life in union to- no back doors- all for God’s glory in His time and How He sees fit.  AWESOME!   In the end I had an AWESOME day because that started my life with Carl Dean McKellips. 

Track/Cross Country CHECK

Coronado High School Track / Cross-Country Team- Ö CHECK

I’d like to mention that YES Robin and I DID ‘manage’ the high school track AND cross country team (I think mostly guys).  Old Coach Sandy Durland had awarded us the job.  Coach Durland was highly feared by most of the students.  He wore a patch over one eye, was sort of old and crotchety, he called all girl runners ‘jelly buns’, uhhh not to their faces just to his coaching staff like Robin and I.  Robin and I found out he was really a big softy, but he sure wouldn’t let his runners know it.  

Sounds pretty awesome right?  Kind of athletic and full of wisdom, planning and maneuvering runners and their heats and all (some might say ‘coaching’) …  We knew some of the runners very well, Dennis, one of Robin’s older brothers, being one of them.  James, Robin’s oldest brother had started the tradition of running in their family, but he had been in and out of high school before Robin & I had gotten our freshmen beanies off. 

Ok ok ok you got me.  ‘Manage’, for Robin and I, really meant sort of riding the bus to the meets {with the team 8^) } and making sure they had their necessary supplies (e.g. water, towel…) then last making sure they were all on the bus when we returned back to school.  It always sounded so much more impressive, “I helped managed the track team…”.  In fact, I have one of my ugliest scars from ‘managing’ track.  Ok briefly here’s how it went… it always was a better story in reverse though. 

At the dispensary, Navy Medical facility, they looked at the wound and said there was no use sewing it up, it’d been too long since I had initially sustained the injury.  The coach had rushed me from the field with blood running down my leg to the team room where he tried to stop the bleeding.  Blood was oozing out of my deep cut on my right leg.  It had be fine seemingly two short seconds before out on the hot sweaty field.  When it happened I was shocked, I had looked down and saw a big deep white gash in my leg.  I remember thinking through the blood and the sweat that ‘I haven’t seen that kind of wound before, MAN that hurt, YEOW’.  I had been out on the field after a long practice and had seen the hurdles up and thought I’d take a few.  I went over a hurdle when a sharp piece of metal ripped through my shin.  Uh did I mention that I was walking over the hurdle?  I mean like casually walking over the hurdle.  Yeh.  It was embarrassing and hilarious at the same time.  I had my biggest worst bloody accident WALKING over a hurdle.  Good grief, I’ll never hear the end of this one.

I don’t remember how many seasons Robin and I managed the team from one sweaty meet to the other, but I know in the end we had a new found respect and adoration for  that scary ol’ Coach Durland- little softy.  

Kind of made you think that teachers were people too- huh, what a concept. 

Robin - 1978 Coronado High- graduation year

jobs

J

obs back in the day…. 

Both Robin and I worked since we were pretty young.  I began babysitting consistently from around 11 or 12 years old; I made pretty good money at it too. Nowwww honestly I don’t remember Robin babysitting so much, she was usually pretty busy with her boyfriend. But I clearly remember that what money she did make that she was very frugal and wise with it.  She always seemed to have more money than I did and I was the one working all the time.  She saved her money well. Partly that may have been because we didn’t have really any place to spend the money down on the ‘Strand’ – but hey still, trust me she was good with her money.

You Ought To Meet Him

Robin @ Wild Animal Park- taken by Susan

My best friend Robin said 'I really like him I think you ought to meet him'. Well that was enough for me.  She's never steered me wrong before- never mind her taste in guys (present boyfriend only).

Robin, at the time was dating, her later to become husband, Jeff Moats.  By this point I knew Jeff well.  He seemed like a nice enough guy - kind of a goober (sorry may sound mean), and I think most of us wondered what Robin saw in him.  But hey she did soooo who are we to tell the girl who she gives her heart to.  Anyway, Jeff was sort of an egotist.  He liked himself a lot and thought much of his own voice.  He was a singer who played the guitar.  He wanted to be the next Neal Diamond.  And thought he'd get there quickly.  He had a very good voice, but for me his material was somewhat lacking.  He seemed to play to an older audience.  His songs were from The Kingston Trio and Neal Diamond - which were not current by any measure.  But he covered their songs well.

Anyway, one day Jeff ends up with a 'gig', but the problem is the venue wanted a duo and not a single.  So apparently he asked this guy he knew from college, Carl McKellips.  Jeff said he was a good musician and all in all it'd help him get the job.

Sooooo one day Robin's tells me that Jeff and Carl had been practicing for a while and that she really like him and thought I ought to meet him.  I'm thinking 'what do I have to lose'.  If he's a dweeb I'll simply meet him today and never see him again.  Easy peasy. 

Well it took one look and one night of listening to them practice to make me a believer- whew-baby!  Carl had talent that Jeff wished he could have AND was humble - WHAT?!  Carl had about four instruments that he had brought to that practice and played each one of them beautifully.  The one thing that I noticed was that he dressed sort of - uh how can I say it?- ummmm - like his momma bought his clothes.  I figured hey I could fix that.  And guess what - his momma DID buy his clothes.

Carl and I were married Sept 7, 1980 a few days before my 20th birthday.  We were married for almost 27 years until he died of heart failure on Easter morning April 2007.

Throughout our marriage I was always so grateful to my friend Robin (and I'd tell her so) who knew me well and thought enough of me to introduce me to the man God had hand picked for ME.  

Good friends are GOOD TO HAVE.  

My children thank you too (Lauren, Chloe & Noah)

Meeting Her

Meeting Her

Robin Elizabeth Rogers

Found this picture on Katie's post.  But guess what I took it- HA!  Robin at Wild Animal Park

Let's see... I was 11 or 12 years old at the time. I was in the 6th grade. We were what were commonly referred to as 'navy brats', which I'd say one of my brothers 'SCOTT' would say I lived up to the name quite well in deed. Ohhhh, what does he know? Anyway, we lived in the 'housing', which was the Silver Strand Navy housing in Coronado, CA. I had lived there since I was 5 years old.

I had seen a lot of people come and go in our housing.  Frankly, I think that was part of the reason people didn't customarily get to know one another too well, they knew one or the other of you are soon to be moving on.  I guess it can be kind of heart wrenching, it hadn't been for me yet.  It was just they way things were.  

A little background on ME, I am the 4th of six kids.  Little fact -all of our initials spell a word, like mine spelled SLY (cool right?).  My dad was career Navy and was originally from New Hampshire (cold weather).  In the housing we lived on Saipan Road, which was the furthest most street from the Strand Highway and closest to our elementary school, Silver Strand Elementary School.  I learned a lot of things living in the 'strand', like my address and my phone number and how to ride skateboards, throw footballs and eventually make a life long friend.

Up until now I'd say I hadn't developed any meaningful friendships in my neighborhood or school.  There were a few kids I hung around with and certainly ones I'd known since kindergarten, but nobody I had as my own pal.  I hadn't thought much about it really until this point.  I was getting older, come on, a girl needs a buddy she can hang with and tell secrets to...  Someone she can spend the night with and talk all night long to.

Well recently I had noticed a new family had moved into our block.  In fact, they moved right across the street from us.  Hmmmm, I wonder what they're like?  I see one real cute guy (later found out this was Dennis) riding his bike, popping wheelies, WOW!  And I notice too that there are some younger boys playing around.  They look a little wild to me (later come to find out that this was Chip and Jon).  Of course I'm not letting them know that I even noticed that they've moved in- that would be a kid faux pas.  Well honestly there isn't much of interest for me there, no girls ugh!  Oh well.

A few days later, I'm sitting in my class, with my great teacher Mr. McLaughlin, hanging on his every word... Ok, maybe not.  And in walk a school aide and a new student.  When she walked in, there were a lot of 'ewwws' being said.  I looked to see what the noise was about and I'm sorry to say it was about Robin, she had a very red bumpy face from a form of acne (it was her body chemicals/hormones going haywire).  I couldn't believe how mean people can be.  I really felt heartache for her.  I determined then that I would make her feel real welcome no matter what I do.  Luckily for me our teacher put her right next to me!  I smiled at her hoping to make her feel better.  Now I wasn't the bravest person meeting strangers and all... and she didn't seem like she was in a very good mood, I mean really who would've been with a class greeting like that?  So I figured I'd give her a little time and 'greet her' later when I could... maybe on the playground.  I realized pretty quickly that she was my new neighbor and that there weren't just boys at that house there was a girl too!

Mr. McLaughlin asked Robin if she had a pencil to do class work, she said no.  I seized the opportunity and gave her one of mine.  I whispered my name and told her she was my neighbor.  I thought she'd maybe be a real fun friend for me.  I was wrong she was a GREAT FRIEND.  We quickly became inseparable.  Her house was my house (whether her dad approved or not - her mom was more generous about my constant appearances).  Her heartaches were mine.  Her music taste was similar - Donnie Osmond and the Osmond Brothers was the rage, but Robin and I really liked Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five better. She clearly had some street smarts and I had none.

We were in 6th grade and just beginning to understand that family isn't always blood.  Sometimes it's that girl across the street     named Robin.