A 35 year note of inspiration...

Great Grandma and my brother

Recently some family memorabilia has been uncovered. A stack of Sympathy cards given to my Grandparents when my grandfathers mother passed away, 1975. Cards from family and friends and those in Foursquare Leadership at the time, many who like my grandfather has passed on themselves. One card in particular stood out to us and I'd like to share it with you. It was a typed note inside a card from my grandfather's secretary, Minnie Klein.
Here is the note in its entirety.

Dear Fred and Betty
Well, you will have some very strong and tender memories.  The things your Mother believed and lived that gave shape and substance to your Spiritual life and the principals you have lived by.
I remember your telling us once that your Mother said "remember we came out of the Baptist Church, we are not Baptist. . preach the Foursquare Gospel" and how she told you never to fail to look people in the eye and throw your shoulders back and lift your head up. How your folks practiced divine healing and lived by their faith. . what a tremendous heritage, which you in turn will pass on to your children and have already. . which is evident in their lives too.

God is so gracious and good to give us these great and strong family relationships, which also make our relationship with the Father that much more significant.

Now you are both orphans, like I have been for many years.  You do not grieve, but you do FEEL it when these close earthly ties are broken, and the Resurrection takes on fresh meaning and anticipation.

I just wanted to tell you I am thinking of you and knowing what these experiences mean to each of us.
"He that believeth in ME . . SHALL NEVER DIE . "
bless God!

(she signs her name)  Love, Minnie
then types her initials) mk

This blessed me and encouraged me to keep the fire and faith alive that was practiced by my Great Grandmother, My grandparents, my parents and now me. I don't know if I will ever 'preach' but my i want my life to 'preach the Foursquare Gospel" that Jesus Saves, Jesus Heals, Jesus Baptizes us in the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is Coming Soon!

My Great Grandmother, Jessie Helsley Wymore and father, Frederick Ambrose Wymore were a man and woman of faith. Through the inspiration and teachings of Aimme Semple Mcpherson and Lillian Yoeman, there were NO medications found in the Wymore household. Once grandpa's friend stepped on a rusty nail. The two boys didn't think nothing of it. Well by evening time his leg was showing signs of poison with redness showing on his skin that looked like flames going up his leg. They went to show my GGrandmother his wound and she laid hands on it and by nightfall he was totally healed. I heard this story first hand by the boy. Now an old man, and he told it as if it had just happened. My Grandmother raised cattle and they never had a vet bill. If she saw that some of them were getting sick she would go out into the barn and lay hands on them and pray the prayer of faith over them and those cattle would be healed. My mother tells that story of how a certain disease came into their area that attacked cattle and not one of the Wymore's cattle were affected, but their neighbors cattle were.

My Great Grandparents

You could call my G-Grandparents radicals. But Jesus and His Holy Spirit was real to them, and in some instances more real than the circumstances around them. This Faith was not without persecution. Family on both sides, hers and his, rejected them when they left the Baptist Church. Unfortunately the family broke ties with them and would never talk or be apart of their live again. GGrandma would tell my mother of the times she would go to them to bring to them jars of food she had canned knowing they needed help. As she would walk to back to her car the jars would be thrown back at her, reminding her that she was not welcome and neither was her faith.

GGrandma in her later years died with Dementia. She lost a lot of her memories and there would be times my folks would go to visit and she wouldn't know them. BUT when they would get ready to leave they would always pray together (its kind of a Wymore tradition) GGrandma would begin to pray and she would become the woman they knew. She would pray in the Spirit as she always did.

l-r Fred Wymore, Jessie Wymore, Florence Macclean
mom and her two children

I met a distant cousin not to recently who carried the same last name as my grandmother, Helsley. He spoke to me about the heritage of the Helsley family. You see the family came to the Americas in the 1600's to escape persecution. They were Lutherans and he has found that our family were followers of Martin Luther. Then he said this, the Helsleys have always been on the cutting edge of what God is doing. They didn't stay Lutherans, they became followers of Wesley, Methodists, then one branch of the family had the audacity to become Baptists! (this was my family line my GGrandmother's father and family) he was excited to know that that branch of the family has kept the fire of faith alive in becoming Foursquare. He himself had become saved and baptized in the HS under Kenneth Copeland's ministry and today attends a Charismatic Catholic Church somewhere in PA.
We are living Psalm 128. I also like to think that we are apart of this scripture somewhere in the timeline of this 1000 generation.
Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9.

New Life

In April we said goodbye to our pet...see previuos blog. Since then in my home we have brought into our home two new little fellas. Meet Kobe and Dash. These guys are half brothers they have the same father. They are full of life and are enjoying it. They were 5months old when we got them. They love to wrestle and chase each other around the house. They have become in love with my wife. She is thier main squeeze. Kobe is the lover and Dash is the hyper one but he wants to be near you and in the same room as you and he will snuggle with you when he is sleepy.

 My folks also have found a new life to bring home. My sibling and his family moved to NV. While I was there i visited a coffee shop. There was a flier there for Dachshunds. I phone my mother and she said check them out and if you think they look good bring one home. I did just that. The little old couple that was raising them were typical NV cowboy folk. And the litter of pups they had were beautiful. Pie-balds thats the marking similar to a Beagle. They had a white one with blond ears and a wolfs eye. Then there was the little Blonde one. He was a little friendly guy that loved to lick and untie my shoes. He looked like a little Golden Retriever. He has been at his new home for just about a month now. He is getting his shots and has charmed the resident dog, Jabez. He has found a name as Buddy, cause he truly is a buddy to everyone he meets. 

Welcome to the family, Dash, Kobe and Buddy!

Harvest... it's Singing Time!

Meet one of my best patnas! When you think of a christian man think of this guy. He like so many others found his early years in the heart of Watts CA, doing what most boys do in order to survive. To some it is not even a choice. In the midst of this 'life' a course of events happened and my brother landed him self with a 'certain amount of years to life' sentence. He did almost three times the amount given.
In 1997 our paths crossed the changed and direction maybe for us both.
Before I got there the Lord had given me a scripture to stand on. The was Psalm 126. I stood on this script for many months up to the time of meeting my brother. We ended up being in the same building. In Gods way and his timing he moved people situations and circumstances that soon we became good friends. He had given his life to Christ and was on the path of peace. But to live it daily or outside of the chapel or to even make a stand to his 'group'. I feel was challenging,.
Our friendship lead my family (mom and dad, grandma and grandpa) to visit him while they visited me. We became the water for the seed that was already rooted inside. He became a man of the Word and for the next 10 years he began a journey that did bring him peace in his situation and surroundings. Once locked on the Word he never let go. He became and unwavering force for Christ and would not let the enemy shake him. He was attacked physically with ailments. He began to sever ties with his past. He replaced his 'handle' with his given name, and made it quite clear to all that you will refer to me with my given name. The person behind this 'handle' doesn't exist. He took a lot of flack and we put in situations where he could of acted out, the old man would of, but the new recognized where the attacks were coming from and in the midst of these attacks would praise God and stand on the promises of his Word.
Like many men in his situation he took his case to the courts. Within only a couple of years he was released. Ordered by a Judge that said his time has been paid, and we can trust him to lead a good life on the outs. Its been almost two weeks. He is enjoying every moment of his freedom.
I look forward to being apart of what God has in store for my brother as he enters a totally new phase in his life. Free on the outside AND free on the inside! What a great combination.
Back to my scripture. When I left there were a lot of hurts and tears. I couldn't tell all those I loved dearly the whole truth so only portions came out of me. I think only my family new the whole truth. I hurt some dear friends and lost some closeness in relationships developed cause of my lack of honesty with them. So in the 6th verse of Psalm 126 it says (paraphrase), I went forth weeping, yet still planting seed. TODAY I sing to see a harvest of what was planted in tears. A man whose life will never be the same, moving his family in the direction of the Jesus Christ. vs 2b 'what amazing things the Lord has done for them, yes what amazing things the Lord has done for us, and we are GLAD!

Nicknames

 

BRENT, I used to be called that. I think my dad started it. I usually know how long Ive known someone if you still call me that. I have few friends that knows me by that name and it really does bring back memories when I hear it. My dad and brother still calls me by that. My grandparents the three that have passed also called me that!

Brehhhhhhhnt is usually how i remember it...LOL. Matter of fact I just heard it that way on Fathers Day when my dad was calling for me.

 

ICE. Im not even gonna front I spent some time locked up. I was there because of something I had done and had to do the time for it. While I was there Gods hand was on me. I befriended some of the 'brothers' (some black dudes not Christians) there. I worked with a guy named Ice. We worked together and would hang together on the yard. Soon some of his patnas started to call me White Ice. After he went home White Ice stuck. Some would dudes would come up to me and pop their shirt collar and say whats up White Ice, or its the White Ice boi! Eventually the 'White' got dropped and it became Ice. Some folks who call me Ice and only know me as Ice.

 

"B" I have only a few who calls me that. "Bren" I have some that call me
that too. "Brendo" was what a friend in High School called me and still does. "Mr B" is what my dear friend George called me (miss him). "Brenners" went thru for a summer. BUT  please...If you have known me longer than 3 years and you are still calling me Brandon something is wrong with you! Oh and to
that one who calls me "Bran" I am not a flake or some source of ruffage!  There is a Brandon in our office and the dude that calls me Brandon calls him Brendan, not the sharpest tool...

Today Im called by all sorts of names. My niece and nephews like to call me Uncle Penquin. My brother calls me Little Sibling. My daughter calls me Daddy, and I want to give her the world when she does. My wife calls my by Babe. I always wanted to call someone Babe, and now she calls me Babe too. Im a softy that way.

Many names one person. When thinking about all the things in my life and the happenings of my life. I and think of ONE name I want called. And that is my name written in the Lambs Book of Life. For this is the reason I have been named. 

And the other is no matter what you call me....JUST DONT CALL ME LATE TO DINNER!!!

 

Saying Goodbye to a pet...

13 almost 14 years ago my mother and I drove to a little house in Ceres CA to buy a puppy. Our dog had passed earlier in the summer and thought it was time to get another. We arrive and they open the door and bring out the puppies. They were all hugging on each other but one got out and started looking around and hobbled his way down the pathway. He was red with a black stripe down his back, which he kept for the rest of his days. We picked him! We paid our money and got in the car and headed home. He was just a little fella. I could almost hold him in my arm. He didnt like sitting on my lap, so when i put him on my shoulder he loved it and soon he was asleep on my shoulder.
After that every time we got in the car he wanted to be on my shoulder. Basically for the rest of his life he loved sitting our our shoulders. Especially on the couch when he could sit on our shoulder and lay on the top of the couch watching what was going on around  him in and out of the living room and kitchen.

 Sparky is what we ended up calling him. He was an indoor dog. Slept on my fathers side of the bed. As most puppies do he brought a of laughter in to our home. I had got myself into some trouble and was facing prison. He was a good distraction for me during that time. 6years later upon my return home he did remember me. As soon as I got on the couch he ran up my waist and got on my shoulder and started licking me. What a great home coming that was.
He had the best dachshund ears as you can see in the photo. His feet and face turned white around 10 or 11 years old. Another puppy was brought into the house and he was so gracious with the little guy, as the pup would romp around and play and tease Sparky.
When I moved out to get married Spark became my dads dog. He would stay up late with my dad and sometimes have extra treats. As my dad watched TV he would lay beside my dad under a pillow or blanket. Then dad would head to bed and spark would follow. Every evening my folks would have ice cream. And they would let him lick the bowls. Well after I left for prison, my mom began giving him his own. One little scoop in a little bowl, he would lick on that for days savoring every moment. The evenings she forgot he would remind her. He would put his nose under her hand and whine and get fussy (he also taught this to the puppy who now then did this for Sparky). When mom would by ice cream she would buy some for them and then buy a cheap half gallon just for the dogs. The puppy didnt want to savor the goodness of the ice cream so he would gulp it down in one bite. So mom switched to whipped cream. One little squirt out of the can. They both loved it.
Last week Spark has stomach flu like symptoms. And barfed for like the whole day. It wore his little body out. He really didnt come out of it. Mom called me and me and my family came over. He was just laying on his bed in the family room. looking at my mom. she was crying. I got down near  him and started petting him. He never moved. His legs were stiff straight out. He made some convulsion type sounds and then his legs relaxed and his glossy eyes went dull. Our buddy had passed on. He was a good dog. Loyal, even had a sense of repentance when he got into trouble. If he nipped you when he got excited he know right away what he had done and would make up to you. Good ol Sparky was truly one of a kind!

It was Christmas!

It was Christmas just 2 weeks ago!

We had the house all redone for that special day.

We have a mix of old and new decorations. Some from my mom, and grandmas on both sides.

The 56thDepartment Village has been relocated to my home from my moms mother. As well as the Bethlehem Nativity Scene mom and dad got in Bethlehem. One snow globe adorns our table that was from my dads mother. But one has special meaning. Its probably the cheapest both now and when it was new. The Plastic Santa holding a red light. For as long as I can remember the old santa would be standing guard at my Grandma Wymore's house. It was always in the window facing the street. And she would ritually plug him in every night. Sometimes we would arrive at her house and we would be welcomed by the red glow announcing Christmas is here by this little portly plastic man. I looked it up on ebay, I could buy one for about 20 bucks. But when Grandma was downsizing to move into her studio apartment, I made sure my mother got the ol Plastic Santa for me. This is now the third year with him in our home. The Sat after Thanksgiving to the Sat after new years he is posted now on our front window. Proudly announcing Christmas is here. Most nights when I come home from work he has already been plugged in, I see it from the walk as I approach my home I feel the warmth of those Christmas memories. Yet I know as I walk into my home that Christmas is now here.