KRISTY WOULD BE PROUD OF ME

Milton, here for Kristy:

There is no telling how many eating events Kristy and I hosted through the years. It would be into the thousands I am quite sure. My gal knew how to make it happen, and make it happen with pizzazz. She knew how to put the extra touch on a common meal and make it shine. 

So, why would she be so proud of me today?Well, believe it or not I hosted my first ever eating event without Kristy. Tuesday night I had the staff over for a cookout, fellowship, and singing. My secretary helped work out the menu and off to the grocery store I ran Tuesday afternoon and prepared for 15 people. 

The house was already clean, not spotless like Kristy would have it, but it was clean and ready for guests. So guess who guided that for me?Well, Kristy, that's who. I helped her all these years get the house ready to entertain so my mind just followed her cues to make sure the event came off as good as a helpless guy can do it. I got a dessert, and baked beans, and Cole slaw, 

appetizers, and drinks, and hamburger meat, and buns, and the right condiments. 

Thirty minuets before they all arrived I was ready and sitting in my recliner waiting for them. Can you believe it? Now it wasn't a gourmet meal, but it was a meal and everyone seemed to have a good time.

It was obvious that someone was missing. Every gathering will have that feel. How could it not feel that someone was missing? But she wanted me to go forward in life and life is today. 

I am not denying the grieving process. It is real and grieving will happen when there is true love and sharp separation. The grieving process is more than I can bear sometimes. It is overwhelming. It is beyond human understanding. But I am not grieving without hope or alone for that matter. 

I feel the prayers of people I have never met as well as the prayers of those so dear and close. I am not alone. Jesus is walking with me.

I suspect Jesus was proud of my hamburger effort. You have to start somewhere in this cooking business. I am learning out of self defense what all those kitchen drawers hold and where all those trays, and pots, and dishes are placed. There is more to a kitchen than I ever dreamed. Why can't my kitchen just continue to be a hallway like I have always known it to be? I guess the answer is really easy. It is cook or starve! 

I think I will eat out tomorrow. This is just too overwhelming. Maybe I can cook one meal every three days? Maybe I can't. We will see.

Now, let's go eat a Twinkie and celebrate success.