Happy Birthday, Mom

Today would've been my mother's 80th birthday. She's celebrating today in that land where birthdays don't matter and time is no more. All is light around her and she is reunited with those she loved and those who loved her. Thank you Lord for the gift of a godly mom and the certain hope that we will meet again.

Shirley L. Poag, a resident of Irving, Texas died on Friday, June 4, 2004 at Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Pleasant Valley, Iowa.
Her husband, Samuel died Thursday, April 1, 2004 at their daughter’s home in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Shirley was born August 11, 1929 in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Forrest & Lucy (Kinsolving) Dudley.
Samuel was born August 16, 1927 in Waxahachie, Texas, the son of Samuel L. & Dimples (Chalmers) Poag Sr.
Shirley & Samuel were united in marriage on November 19, 1949 in Dallas.

Shirley was a devoted & loving wife & mother. She was an active volunteer of the Democratic Party and taught 1st Grade Sunday School at the McArthur Blvd. Baptist Church in Irving for many years.
Among the other things she enjoyed were gardening, raising & caring for her roses and bowling.

Samuel was employed as a supervisor at the Dallas Power & Light Company for 38 years and was also the business manager of the IBEW, Local #69 of Dallas. He was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer and enjoyed bowling. During World War II, he served in the Merchant Marine and in the U.S. Marine Corps as well.

Those left to honor their memories include their daughters & sons-in-law, Gail & Rev. Rick Smith of Bettendorf and Sammie & Stan Jones of Houston, Texas; their son, Craig Poag of Irving, Texas; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by their son, Mark; and their grandson, Jason.

Dogwood, by Chris Fabry

Karin-a sleepless preacher's wife, Will--a prisoner, Bobby Ray--the cop, Danny Boyd--the irresponsible brother, Ruthie--the seer, these are the people whose stories are told in Dogwood, by Chris Fabry.

Stories of love and loss, romance and prison, truth and fiction, I found this a fascinating tale of life in a small town after tragedy strikes.

Chris Fabry's characters are real people, not cardboard Christians, who face life's worst the best way they can, some with courage, some with resentment and rage and some in denial. There is a mystery at the heart of this love story and a love story at the heart of this mystery.

Chris Fabry's writing is fast-paced, tight and yet elegant too. To give you an example of what I mean here's part of a passage describing how a son relates to his father.
"Talk to me of a father's love, and I will tell you of baseball. Tell me of a tender touch or a hug that lasts in your memory, and I will kiss you with stories of our game. Walk with me in moonlight and I will tell you of pitchouts, squeeze bunts, and called third strikes...
In the cool of evening, when his work was done, my father and I played catch to the voices of Al Michaels and Joe Nuxhall. We groaned together through the 1971 season and rejoiced at the next and all the way to Oakland...
Baseball cast a spell that drew us together. Baseball was the closeness we shared. We were never able to express ourselves and enjoy each other fuly, without reservation, except with baseball."

Great story, great writing, great read.