Tomorrow is going to be a difficult day.  I will attend the funeral/memorial service of my friend, Betty Martin. 

I have known Betty since we first moved to Tulsa - probably met her in January 1992.  We began attending Memorial Bible Church then, and our Jill was just five years old and in "Miss Betty's" Sunday School class.  What a wonderful experience that was for the whole family!  Jill regularly came home with doctrinal lessons from her SS class!  She learned the days of creation, she learned the ten commandments.  She was getting a really wonderful Bible education in Sunday School, instead of just being baby-sat.  We learned to love "Miss Betty" for Jill's sake first, but it wasn't long before we loved her for the friendship we had with her ourselves.  I attended many ladies' Bible studies where I learned to appreciate her understanding of God's Word and her heart for missions.  I remember when she took it upon herself to learn Spanish so that she could be more effective on missions trips.  I remember that she accompanied the youth group to Guatemala the year that Jennie went on her very first missisons trip.  I remember hearing about other missions trips and her desire to share God's Word with other people both there and here at home.  I remember after we started attending Tulsa Bible Church, after her son Phil began preaching there occasionally - we could always tell that Betty was there by her unforgettable and distinctive laugh!  We'd grin at each other, knowing that we could count on a warm hug and some questions of interest after the service as she got updated on what our family was doing presently.

I also will remember for a long time how special it has been for the past ten years or so to have John and Betty be "regulars" at our annual New Year's Eve party.  We gather a few friends and enjoy a great night of snacks, games, Moody Science film and "praying in" the new year.  John and Betty always called to make sure they were invited to join us - it meant a lot that they have continued to enjoy spending time with us.  Betty was always interested to see what new books we might have acquired during the previous year, and she usually went home with one or two that she found interesting and wanted to borrow.  It was a pleasure to have her be so interested in our family and to share our interests with her.

I have watched Betty as she provided good things for her family - always thinking of others.  I remember a long time ago, when Jennie was riding to youth group with Joanie, Betty took me to her family room where she was working on Christmas presents for all her family - months in advance.  She was doing counted cross-stitch things for them that year and she was planning way in advance and getting everything done in time.  I admired that so much.  I have watched her rejoice in her grandchildren and be so proud of them.  She was a good example to me of what a grandmother should be.  I remember at one of our New Year's Eve parties, she spent part of her evening playing chess with a grandson that wasn't really sure he wanted to be at that party.  She made time for him and made sure he felt loved and special.

Betty, you have left a wonderful legacy behind you and we are so grateful!  We are thrilled for you that you are now at the feet of the Saviour you have spent so many years loving and adoring. We are sad for ourselves, because we will surely MISS you, but Heaven seems that much closer now that you are there.  We can \hardly wait for that reunion some day!

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted.  Life has been very busy this fall.  Now it is almost time for Jennie's fourth baby to be born!  We are all so excited!  Babies are so tiny and special.  And before we can blink twice, this new baby will be coming for Grandma Camp along with his/her siblings.  Time flies so quickly.

The end of the year and beginning of another always causes introspection and I see a life that is very satisfying.  I'm so glad to be part of our family - so proud of my girls and excited about their futures. 

I wish many Christmas joys to everyone who reads this note.  May God's wonderful gift to the world become precious to you and show you again how very much He loves you personally.

Merry Christmas!!