Today my mother-in-law, Joyce (Trail) Holmes, turns 80. She has relayed to us that she was born about
3am after her mother and father arrived at the hospital on their motorbike. Because it was so early in the morning, they pushed the motorbike away from the neighbor homes before starting it so they would not awaken any unnecessarily that early in the morning.
Joyce was born in New Zealand and the best I can recollect, she was born in Wanganui which is about a 3-4 hour drive north of Wellington. I know that she has 3 sisters; Nola, who lives in Atlanta; Rose, who lives in New Zealand; and Betty, who is lives in Guatemala. There was a brother, Jack, who died in an accident when he was pretty young.
She married a boy named Bernard (Bernie) Holmes who ended up bringing her to the US via Canada. I have to admit that seeing home movies a few years ago of their move to North America via ship with a stop in Hawaii showed a much less developed Honolulu. It was pretty awesome to see.
Joyce is known by many as Bernard's wife, but what she is known for is her incredible, gracious service to Bernard and so many others. When Bernard became ill, Joyce assumed the primary care-giving role and continued to serve not only Bernard much more intentionally but served at her church, her neighbors,
countless college/university students who were in Bernard's missions and discipleship groups. Bernard was intentional in discipling students and they would come to their house early in the mornings for study but I am convinced that a major reason they wanted to be in Bernard's discipleship groups, were for Joyce's home cooked breakfasts.
Joyce is the Proverbs 31 woman. She has faithfully served Christ. She has sacrificially given her time and health to serve Bernard, her girls, and countless friends. She has a few aches and pains. (I am probably one of the biggest in her life - pains that is) She is a wonderful woman who just loves. She has spunk and one of the things that I love about her the most and scares me the most about her is her desire to prove that she can do it. Whatever it is, she believes she can do it.
A couple of years ago I had the privilege of spending a couple of days with her by myself in her home. She had a few things to do around the house like some light painting and just general clean up. It may have not seemed like much to her, but the time we spent together painting the bottom part of her back porch was just sweet time to me. She is a wonderful lady and I love her so. What a privilege to be a part of her family and legacy.
Happy 80th Birthday sweet lady! I love you.
Joyce was born in New Zealand and the best I can recollect, she was born in Wanganui which is about a 3-4 hour drive north of Wellington. I know that she has 3 sisters; Nola, who lives in Atlanta; Rose, who lives in New Zealand; and Betty, who is lives in Guatemala. There was a brother, Jack, who died in an accident when he was pretty young.
She married a boy named Bernard (Bernie) Holmes who ended up bringing her to the US via Canada. I have to admit that seeing home movies a few years ago of their move to North America via ship with a stop in Hawaii showed a much less developed Honolulu. It was pretty awesome to see.
countless college/university students who were in Bernard's missions and discipleship groups. Bernard was intentional in discipling students and they would come to their house early in the mornings for study but I am convinced that a major reason they wanted to be in Bernard's discipleship groups, were for Joyce's home cooked breakfasts.
A couple of years ago I had the privilege of spending a couple of days with her by myself in her home. She had a few things to do around the house like some light painting and just general clean up. It may have not seemed like much to her, but the time we spent together painting the bottom part of her back porch was just sweet time to me. She is a wonderful lady and I love her so. What a privilege to be a part of her family and legacy.
Happy 80th Birthday sweet lady! I love you.
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