COUSINS IN A PUERTO RICAN PARK

Milton, here for Kristy:

A year ago Kristy and I made our last visit together to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to see our daughter and her family. Now I am here alone and it is a bitter-sweet visit. I am so glad to 

here, but it is so obvious someone important is missing. Kristy was our light, our energy, the pizzazz of this show, the enthusiasm to press to the new, the joy that renewed our strength. 

Kristy is missed.

Monday afternoon Jennifer took the kiddies to the park, and I tagged along and enjoyed being with them. But I couldn't help but feel our loss. The silence of her voice was too loud and too obvious. 

This sounds like we will never recover, but we will. I know we will recover from her loss. There will always be a hurt and her pizzazz will never be recovered,  but we will go forward. I know we will.

We did so much together. We traveled all over the Nation and many parts of the world enjoying our partnership in life and ministry. 

I try to fill in the gaps with the kiddies but that is like trying to take a mosquito and turn it into the mighty lion. It ain't gonna happen. So I will not try. I will be the best papa I can be and fill in some of the gaps watching to see where there is hurt and need.

Look at the pics of the grands in the park. Claudia is hugging her cousin Enrique. Lorenzo is looking to Jennifer for food. Jennifer's friend and sister-in-law are there with their kiddies. We spent a couple of hours with the kiddies

running around and getting muddy and having a ball.

See those mud puddles in front of Claudia and her cousin? See the little dolly in Claudia's hand. The mud in front of her got all over that dolly in her hand. 

That is what going to the park is all about. It is about having fun with your cousin, and getting mud all over you.

We miss nana and her helping hands. She would have taken care of all that mud.

Watching Lorenzo and Claudia with their cousins playing brought lots of memories from my childhood long ago. I have lots of cousins and growing up with them was special. Dad is one of nine and mom had five. That made for a big time when family gatherings took place. We all had a blast and many of my cousins are following our journey and are praying me through the toughest time of my life.

Cousins, I know you are out there. In Alabama, and Arizona, and Newfoundland, and Georgia, and Tennessee, and California, and North Carolina,  and Oregon, and Florida, and..... 

You are there, aren't you?

Thank you for all your prayers. 

I need the prayer and you need the practice. 

Please keep it up.