Birthday notes for January, 2011:
Life is messy! It will always be our charge to sort through the rubble to find the rubies.
January 23. For Jimmy (my uncle). He was and still is a flashy, dashing, & funny character. But after the losses of our Mom, his sister, then my husband & best friend David, and then Jake, he stepped up and into our lives in wonderful ways of comfort. Opening his heart, his home, his wallet, he reached out to lend us support. Happy Birthday, Jimmy. You have made a huge difference in my life and Josh’s. I know the others in heaven thank you too.
January 24, Jacqui. My sister. Ten years younger than I am. We have lots in common. She always looked up to me. We now look up to each other. It’s a wonderful, soulful, camaraderie. She has just added the finishing touches to her doctoral dissertation. Too many talents to list, this 50th birthday surely is only the beginning chapters of her contributions and celebrations of life. Love & blessings my sister. Happy Birthday, Jacqui.
January 25, David A. Shadle. Here’s story I remember. We were students at Kent State University. Dave and I were talking on the phone. He was on break as “ref”at a basketball game in Ravena. Two armed robbers entered my bedroom from behind me while Dave & I spoke. Dave heard the commotion & the command the criminals gave me to “hang up the phone.” He was thirty minutes away. He called the police, left the game, drove to his house, grabbed his knife, and headed for my house. He beat the local police to my house. I was never so relieved to hear anyone’s voice from the bottom of the stairs, “Biddle” he called out. My stereo was stolen. Afraid to move, but unharmed, I was terrified I might be shot. I always knew he would give his life for one of us if it came to it. Happy Birthday, Dave (Pop). We miss you. I expect that you are still keeping watch.
Extra credit: January 25- often co-celebrated b-days with Dave is Richard Mahaffey. Thanks for helping Lisa and I in our agonizing task of clean up.
Think on these things: Philippians 4:8 (New International Version, ©2010)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
