In August, JUNE HASH CURRY sent me the following photos when her granddaughter Karen gave birth to JUNE's 8th great-grandchild! The great-grandfather is the late Grady Curry. (BHS Class of '56)
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| Finland Peter Sanders |
"Finland's parents are Karen and Erik Sanders; and Londyn and Scotlyn are his big sisters. They now live in Salt Lake City where their father is starting his junior year at the University of Utah, and his mother has this week begun her Master's degree online from the University of Alabama. They moved there from Flower Mound, Texas with Karen 8-1/2 months pregnant. She received her BA degree two weeks before they moved from North Texas State. They are an incredible young couple with lots of parental assistance from my daughter, Martha, and her husband, Kerry. Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of them all."
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| Finland with big sisters Londyn and Scotlyn |
JUNE has been full of good news in her family. Her grandson Braden (son of Scott and Staci Curry) has been a joy to her with his participation in his church. This morning she sent me the following that was published in his church paper. Braden is now a junior in college, and I see great things in his future.
Finding Jesus in Music City
By Rod Costner, Crossings Volunteer Writing Team
"What do you say to a brokenhearted thirteen-year-old whose brother is going to prison for 20 years? What do you do when a child tells you he could not afford to eat breakfast that morning? Braden Curry has faced both of these questions.
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| Braden Curry High School Sr. Photo |
Braden has been a part of Crossings since he was ten years old, but entering his junior year at Edmond Santa Fe High School he drifted and became less involved in church. In the summer of 2011, Braden signed up for a mission trip to Nashville, Tennessee. His sole intent was to have a great time with his friends, but God had other plans. Upon their arrival in Nashville, the sixty people on the trip were divided into small groups. Braden recalls being a little bitter when he was put in a group with total strangers.
During the week, the groups made daily trips to a YMCA and worked with inner-city kids. The activities included games followed by Bible study. During the afternoon, the groups worked on service projects like painting homes, cleaning churches, or helping out at a homeless shelter or food bank. Each night, the groups would return to the old church building where they were staying and have worship services. One night early in the week, Braden felt a pulling on his heart, 'I felt like I just needed to go and talk to God one-on-one. I was emotional and couldn’t get words out. I felt like in that moment God said, "Wake up! You’re not where you need to be. I have so much more planned for you, but you are so set on this one path."' There had been previous times when Braden said the prayer, but that night he truly gave his life to Christ and said, 'I’m here for You, and I want to live for You.'
That same week, Braden met a boy named Anthony. Their friendship grew. One day Anthony shared that his brother was facing 20-25 years in prison. When they were alone, Braden told Anthony he would be praying for him and his family. Up until that point, Braden would never have said that to another person, 'If you had seen me on the street, you would not have thought I was a Christian. So to have that conversation was a big deal, and it stuck with me. It was almost my first experience talking to someone about God, when I didn’t know him that well in the first place.'
In Nashville, Braden discovered a passion to serve God by serving others. His favorite verse is Mark 10:45: 'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.' After Nashville, Braden began an internship at Crossings and has spent the past few years mentoring the same group of high school boys. In this ministry, he is able to speak from his own experience into the lives of these young men. Braden is humbled and deeply thankful for all of God’s blessings, 'Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get this kind of opportunity. God opening that door for me makes me appreciate life more and shows me God has a plan for me.'”*
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Probably most of you could share your grandparent "bragging rights" with us. If you'd like to, just send me their photos and information and I'll be happy to tell their tales as well. I recently did one on my personal blog about my seven grandchildren (no "greats" yet!). If you are interested, the site is I've been around awhile.... After all, these are the citizens of our future. And we give thanks for them this Thanksgiving.
May good stuff be happening in your life!
Peace and love,
Marilyn
*P.S.
Braden is going into Youth Ministry and already serves as a paid intern in his church in that division.
*P.S.
Braden is going into Youth Ministry and already serves as a paid intern in his church in that division.
