Proud Homemaker

Unfortunately, in our nation today, many women find the term homemaker degrading. To the general public, it seems to bring a mental picture of a passive woman being controlled unkindly by her heavy-handed husband. In our world, women want to be viewed in the same light as men. They can do everything just as well (I really like a point Bro. James has made a few times: When a woman fights for “equality” and receives it, she should get no special treatment on a job. If she gets a job as a UPS delivery person, should she really get help with the heavier packages? Should she have been hired for the job if she’s incapable of dealing with the size of packages?).

I couldn’t disagree with this way of thinking any more than I do! A woman who lives in a truly Christian home, though commanded to be submissive to her husband or obedient to her father, will be treated with the utmost respect, love, and kindness. She won’t be forced into “obedience.” A loving man who is in submission to God proves he is worthy of her trust and reverence (Eph. 5:33).

Now, I don’t say all this thinking that a woman should, in every single circumstance, be at home without work (the term work is very loosely defined in that sentence. Does the work in a home EVER end??). There are times when the husband you are commanded to follow asks you to get a job. There are times when it is financially necessary (though I think many people can do with far less than they think). The Proverbs 31 woman was obviously a very busy lady both inside and outside her home.

All this is a prelude to the following story story: At the bank today, the lady helping David and me was asking about my occupation. When I said I didn’t have a job, she asked me if I am a house wife/homemaker. She looked almost apologetic and said, “That sounds funny, doesn’t it?” I didn’t mean to contradict her, but couldn’t avoid saying, “Not at all.” David and I just looked at each other and smiled. It’s a job I’m very thankful to have! Even when I had a job outside our home, I was a homemaker. It’s much easier to devote all the necessary attention to that task now that I am not working, though!

One last thought for you ladies: The Bible doesn’t ask us to reverence (Eph 5:33) our husbands only if we deem them worthy. There are no conditions. We as wives are simply given the command. Let’s pray for each other that we’ll do just that.

This post is just in case you're wondering...

why I've changed the look of my blog once again.  I really haven't found a background that I'm 100% happy with, and today I got some feedback that said some of my posts were hard to read due to the brown background.  Consequently, I went on a quest for a cute, light-backgrounded background.  This is the one I came up with... I like that fact that it's brown, too!    

Michael Jackson

I was in line at Wal-mart today, and the lady right behind me, out of the blue, said, "Can you believe Michael Jackson died?"  I said that I couldn't, and mentioned something about his only being fifty.  She said she was sad because that's how old her husband is.  I mentioned that we're all going to die and the most important thing is being ready.  So, I just want to encourage you to use this as an opportunity to witness.  If random people mention Michael Jackson to you, give them the gospel!  He probably didn't think he was going to step out into eternity yesterday...  you have no idea when it'll be your turn!  

I'm Thankful For...

When I was at Barnes & Noble the other day, I saw a journal that really caught my eye.  It contained writing prompts for lists!  When I saw it, I immediately thought, "I am so buying this!" but as I flipped through the pages I saw that I would have to leave many of them blank (list of movies you've been to this year, list of bars you frequented in college, etc.).  So, I bought a blank journal and decided to make up my own list book.  I've made lists of list ideas (I'm a dork, I know!), things I'm thankful for, etc.  

Thought I would share what I'm thankful for today:  

• Jamie & Grandma were both saved, and are now in heaven with our Savior!
• My own salvation
• Not having to get up and go to work today after having 25+ people at my house last night and having to clean up from it
• Most of my house is clean
• David and I are going on a date tonight (Thanks to all who gave us the gift card!!!!)
• Got to spend some time with Nana yesterday... talking about Jamie and how good it is that he was saved!
• My dad.  I've been blessed with an amazing dad!  

When you list the things for which you're thankful, it's hard not to be a little bit happier!  

When It Rains, It Pours!

Around 10 p.m. last night, my paternal grandmother went to be with her Savior.  She had been in the hospital since last Tuesday, but everyone, including the surgeon and my aunt who's an RN, expected her to make a full recovery.  She had surgery on Sunday, and was moved to ICU Monday due to some blood pressure complications.  Last night, she started having trouble breathing and was in quite a bit of pain.  David and I went to visit around 9 p.m., and left when she started throwing up, thinking we would go back to see her today or tomorrow.  

Thankfully, both of her children were with her.  I know that was very important to her.  I'm thankful that David and I were able to see her last night and tell her that we love her.  

As with Jamie, it's so comforting to know that she's in heaven!  Absent from her body, present with her Lord.  I never spoke to Grandma when she wasn't praising the Lord or thanking him for something.  She was a truly sweet lady who was trusting in Jesus Christ.  

Please pray for my dad and aunt during this tough time!  

Update

clipart from Arthur's Clipart.com

Well, here it is again… been too long since I’ve posted on my blog.  Hopefully, I’ll be keeping up better now that it’s summer (not that I love summer or anything)!  For those of you who don’t know, David and I decided that I won’t be going back to teaching in the fall.  We’re hoping (praying) to start a family in the very near future, and both of us want me to be at home when that happens. 

Last week, we had a great “youth” trip (even though the average age was 27) to West Virginia and Virginia.  On Sunday, June 7, we left with 15 people from church.  We set off for Gilbert, WV, to help Bro. Mike Gibson (a missionary in St. Lucia) hold a tent revival in his home town.

We were supposed to have a group of rooms at the Mountain Breeze Motel, but Bro. Mike found us two mobile homes to rent.  That ended up being so much nicer!  We ladies loved being able to keep our distance from the “guy shack,” and I’m pretty sure the guys enjoyed it to.  Whenever we would make our appearance, Matthew S. (14) would say, “Why are you here?  We don’t have any fun when the girls are around?” 

During the day, we went from door to door (and sometimes it was a hike to get to the next door) passing out fliers and tracts and inviting people to the meeting.  At night, we helped in the services whatever way we could.  Two people claimed to trust Jesus as Savior while we were there.  Makes every effort worth it! 

On Friday, we left Gilbert and headed to Lebanon, Virginia, where Spring City Baptist Church has a Seed Line publishing room.  We were able to collate, staple, and cut around 9,000 John/Romans booklets for a family in our church going to Sierra Leone as missionaries.  What a fun, enjoyable way to serve the Lord and help out a brother and sister in Christ!

Unfortunately, at this time I don’t have any pictures to provide.  One chaperone on the trip has a very nice camera, so once I get her disk, I’ll post some.  

Newspaper Article about Jamie

A good life — Nancy and James B. Clayton at a family gathering in December. James Clayton died May 30. The couple would have celebrated their 58th anniversary June 2. "We had a good life," Nancy Clayton said.

At 10:45 p.m. May 30, 2009, headquarters for The Revolution were relocated to heaven.

"Big Jim" Clayton died at age 82 in the way he would have wanted: at home, surrounded by members of his loving family, and entirely free of governmental interference.

A memorial service is planned at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at First United Methodist Church of DeLand, 115 E. Howry Ave.

James Boyd Clayton's "big" nickname was fitting in many ways for the impeccably groomed lawyer. It was practical, to distinguish him from his younger and also locally famous nephew, James R. Clayton, the Circuit Court judge.

But the nickname also spoke to Clayton's unflagging commitment to big ideas: individual responsibility, excellence in education, honesty, integrity, devotion to God, and respect for the U.S. Constitution.

Clayton fondly referred to those few who shared his intensity as "members of The Revolution." Big Jim led their pursuit of elected officials and government bureaucrats, exposing wastefulness, elitism and misdeeds.

"Ow. Volusia County will miss that one," attorney and fellow revolutionary Tanner Andrews said, upon learning of Big Jim's death.

Heart damage that had dogged Clayton since he had rheumatic fever while serving in the Navy during World War II finally ended his life. With characteristic determination and self-discipline, he managed to live 33 years longer than his doctors said would be possible.

"We had a good life," his wife, Nancy, said. The two were close; she often accompanied him, at his request, when he spoke at city and county meetings.

The Claytons have three daughters who are among Big Jim's survivors, along with one sister, sons-in-law, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jim and Nancy Clayton would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary June 2, and James B. would have celebrated his 83rd birthday July 8.

Friends and family told of a family man who could be as fierce in championing civil rights as he was compassionate in privately counseling alcoholics and the Lord's wayward sheep.

L.C. Zimmeron and James B. Clayton formed their friendship at a time when it wasn't all that common in West Volusia for a black tradesman and a prominent white attorney to become close.

But they did, to the point Zimmeron came to regard Clayton as a second father.

"We earned each other's trust, and it just climbed the ladder from there," Zimmeron said. "He didn't see the color; all he saw was the good in my heart."

Big Jim was the youngest of five children; they grew up poor in North Carolina. He joined the Navy at the age of 17.

Longtime friend and former law partner Craig James recalled a man who was formidable in the courtroom, relentless in holding public officials to account, and gentle among friends and family.

Clayton had graduated from Stetson University law school, and began the practice of law in the Conrad Building in Downtown DeLand with his brother, Ralph Clayton. The two often represented the disadvantaged.

Later, James B. Clayton started his own firm. James, just out of law school, partnered with him. They practiced together until Clayton retired in 1977.

"As tough as he was in the public, would you believe he never offered a critical word of anything I did ... no matter what mistake I made," James said. "He was a great guy. He was a good friend."

Clayton, James said, took the practice of law very seriously, and was vigorous in his defense of their criminal clients.

Time and again, Clayton would rail against the tendency of those in authority to take advantage of the powerless.

"Even when we were practicing law, he jumped on the judges for assigning themselves parking spaces," James said.

Son-in-law Kirk Bauer revealed yet another side of James B. Clayton: "He could do anything."

Bauer said Clayton was not only mechanically inclined, but also inclined to research the best way of doing any job he undertook, like helping Bauer install the wood floors in the house he and Martha Clayton Bauer built in 1992.

Bauer is also an attorney. His father-in-law was a curious, lifelong learner, he said.

"Until the last month, he was still interested in how certain cases were going."

Big Jim's namesake, Circuit Court Judge James R. Clayton, said growing up with Uncle Jim as an adviser gave him a healthy respect for the civil rights of all people, regardless of their skin color, income or social standing.

"I was a much better lawyer and I feel I'm a much better judge because of his wisdom and his willingness to help me," Judge Clayton said. "I am really going to miss him."

Like others, Little Jim also remembered the lighter side of James B. Clayton, the man who energetically directed a photographer to document the filthiness of DeLand High School restrooms, or hired videographers to record his confrontations with public officials. He once had his granddaughter (this was me...I'm going to have to dig out a picture of that one) dress as a clown to add punch to his public dressing-down of the Volusia County School Board.

Clayton served briefly on the School Board himself; he left for a reason that puzzled those who knew how hard he fought to keep government open and transparent. Clayton, however, objected to the requirement that School Board members disclose their personal finances, and refused to do so. He said it wouldn't be fair to his family.

It was, perhaps, evidence that the family he cherished and was so proud of was the one thing that could trump his lifelong devotion to civil matters.

"He left some good people behind — his family," friend Zimmeron said.

Wonderful Father, Grandfather, and Friend

It's still so hard to believe that my grandfather (his nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren call him Jamie) passed away on Saturday.  Jamie was an extraordinary person...  we all will miss him!  My uncle and dad did a great job writing about him, and I wanted to share it with you all.  

James Boyd Clayton, 82, of DeLand, Florida went home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on May 30, 2009. Glory to God! He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy, of 58 years, his daughters, Elizabeth (Chris) Riley, Martha (Kirk) Bauer, and Susan Blanchard Hipp, his nine grandchildren, Ashley (Kevin Harvill), Lauren (David Brown), Clayton, Rozier, Boyd, Meredith, Christopher, Katherine and Jeffrey, and his three great grandchildren, Emma, Morgan, and Kaden. Born in Lexington, NC, Jim received God's gift of eternal life by repenting of his sins and believing that Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, came into the world and dwelt in a body of flesh, and that He went to the cross bearing all men's sins, and that He paid for those sins by laying down His sinless life. Jesus was buried, and rose again the third day, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father as the advocate of all those who will trust in His finished work that He accomplished on the cross at Calvary. Throughout his life, Jim encouraged others to trust Jesus Christ, and to live in a way that would be pleasing to God. Jim served in WWII in the U.S. Navy, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. He practiced law for 35 years, often representing the disadvantaged. He was licensed to practice law in all Florida Courts, Federal Courts, and the United States Supreme Court. He was the first president of the West Volusia YMCA, a member of the Volusia County School Board, and served on many local and state non-profit organizations. A true patriot throughout his life, Jim encouraged local, state and Federal government officials to serve the public with integrity. He was a faithful and loving husband, father (and father-in law), grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed until we have a glorious reunion with the Lord. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in DeLand, Florida on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Fellowship Tract League, P.O. Box 164, Lebanon, OH, 45036.