Prayer requests

Please be in prayer for my friends Roberta Dean who lost her mother early this morning and Larry Heckman who lost his father. Thanks!

Something to share

The last two nights have been very restful. I am having trouble with Christmas songs and generally break into crying when I hear them and feel guilty about that because Christmas is about Jesus and I am a Christian. I ask for your prayers on this. I want to go out this weekend and purchase a Christmas present for my niece. I think that will be therapeutic. I got more done today as far as home chores and so I feel a little more accomplished.


The funeral was packed. People had flown in from all over that had known daddy from his trucking stops. Daddy did not know a stranger and loved to just visit. People were given the chance to talk about memories of Daddy and one his high school buddies remembered that when I was born and of course, there were complications, daddy had not left the hospital for two days and his buddies went to check on him and encourage him to get a cup of coffee or something and when they found him, he had fallen asleep with his hands grasping the Bible. Gary had never shared this with anyone until that day. Mom didn't even know. I wanted to share that.

Back from the funeral

We are back home from Parson's. There is so much I want to say about the funeral but we are so exhausted and I want to have a clear head when I do it. I do want to say that because I was not raised there, there were many strange faces and so I mostly knew my siblings and a few people I remembered from childhood. It was comforting to see the familiar faces of Mark's mom and Ike who were there and Mark Bond who was the worship minister at CCC for awhile, came over from Joplin, where he now ministers and my half sister Laurie (we share a mom) took us down and brought us back. More on this after some serious sleep because we have had some very short nights lately. Again, thanks for all the prayer and condolences!!!

Thanks

Kim said...
Helms Family, not sure how you happened to find our blogspot but sooo glad you did! Feeling that the world is a smaller place right now is a very comforting feeling!! I was unsure how to respond to your comment any other way since I don't have a link back to your e-mail but thanks and God bless you!! Thanks to all of you who are praying!!

Daddy's obituary

James D. McLaughlin (May 22, 1943 - November 21, 2007) Sign Guest Book Send Private Condolences
James D. “Jim” McLaughlin, 64, of rural Mound Valley, died at 5:50 a.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2007, from injuries received in an automobile accident near Fredonia, Kansas.
He was born May 22, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, to James Curtis and Velma Lee (Cockrum) McLaughlin. He graduated high school in Breckendridge, Missouri, where he earned All-State football and basketball honors. Following high school graduation, he attended Central College in Fayette, Missouri, for one year.
Through the years, he lived in Kansas City, Missouri, Chillicothe, Missouri, Coffeyville, Kansas, and Mound Valley, Kansas. He worked for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad for 18 years before becoming a professional truck driver.
He and Julie Ann Wilson were married. They later divorced. He and Pamela S. Gillman were married December 22, 1969, in Miami, Oklahoma. She survives.
He loved fishing and the outdoors. He whole-heartedly was devoted to his family and friends. He especially enjoyed making others laugh. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Bass Federation.
SURVIVORS: Mother - Velma Elliott Warsaw, MO One Son - James Curtis McLaughlin Cherryvale, KS Four Daughters – Kim Hubbard St. Joseph, MO Jamie McLaughlin Albuquerque, NM Michelle McLaughlin Spring Hill, TN Sarah McLaughlin Pittsburg, KS One Brother - Harold Covington Warsaw, MO
He was preceded in death by his father and one brother.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 26, 2007, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 25, 2007. The family will hold a private burial service at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested to an educational fund for his grandchildren. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

A song

It is @ 3 in the morning and I am wide awake. I have always found comfort in the words of this song by Kathy Tricolli.

My life is in your hands And though I may not see clearly I will lift my voice and sing Cause your love does amazing things Lord, I know, my life is in your hands
Nothing is for sure Nothing is for keeps All I know is that your love Will live eternally
So I will find my rest, And I will find my peace Knowing that you'll meet my every need My life is in your hands My heart is in your keeping I'm never without hope Not when my future is with you My life is in your hands And though I may not see clearly I will lift my voice and sing Cause your love does amazing things Lord, I know, my life is in your hands When I'm at my weakest Lord You carry me Then I become my strongest Lord In your hands My life is in your hands And though I may not see clearly I will lift my voice and sing Cause your love does amazing things Lord, I know, my life is in your hands I trust you Lord My life is in your hands

My Daddy

It is with great sorrow that I write this blog. My mom got a call from my step-mom last night that my dad had been killed in his semi yesterday morning. He apparently crossed the line and hit the trailer of another semi. His trucking buddy was unharmed as he was in the sleeper and the other semi driver was unharmed. Daddy was not wearing a seat-belt and I was told he was thrown through the windshield. An autopsy is being done and his funeral is Monday at 10:00 A.M. in Parsons Kansas. Please pray for us!