"Happy Birthday Kraig"

Reverend Kraig Lowell Pullam

On August 13th, 31 years ago on a Sunday night around 11:20 p.m. I was placed in a wheelchair and taken to the labor unit at Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. I was accompanied by my husband William and my mother-in-law, Arlena. My husband had just started a brand new job with the IBM Corporation, so I sent him home to go back to sleep, so he could go in to work the next day THEN come to the hospital to be with me. This left me alone with my mother-in-law sitting quietly in a dimly lite room. I was in terrific pain. My Mother-in-law couldn't stand to watch. After about an hour, she went to sit in the waiting room. This left my baby and I all alone trying to get the job done. In the 70's you wouldn't know what gender your baby would be until after the birth of the child. Unless the doctor order a test for a particular reason or for high risk issues, you would remain in suspense, hoping and wishing for your preference. I would lay there between each contraction rubbing my belly, talking gently to my anticipated little girl. We already had two sons, and my husband (having had no sisters) desperately wanted a baby girl. All through the pregnancy, I hoped for a girl for his sake.

Off and on during my first two hours there, my nurse would come in to do a physical examination. Being that I was an employee of this same facility, I knew that this wasn't normal procedure at this stage in labor. I became alarmed and started asking pertinent questions. After the staff finally came to the conclusion they couldn't put one over on "one of their own", they decided to tell me their's and my doctor's concern. Being that my baby girl was two weeks early, she had not yet turned completely, and settled into the birth canal. They were trying to assess whether to take me to surgery to do a C section and/or halt my contractions. Before that determination, I asked to have a little more time because I didn't want to have a C section. After turning me on my right side for 45 minuets, the next exam resulted in my baby being in the right position, but it would take time, pain and a lot of pushing to settle her down far enough to be born naturally.

Three hours after that, around 6:30 a.m. My baby's father walked into the room and I was SO glad to see him. He had called his Supervisor and told him, his wife was in labor and wouldn't be in. My Mother-in-law wasn't seen again after she left the room earlier, and had returned home once William had arrived. Shortly after his arrival it was time to PUSH. My back was hurting and seems like every place else was out of joint. I got angry when my husband wasn't saying anything to help me. When he did say something, it was the WRONG thing, so I wanted him to shut up. After telling him hundreds of times that this was all his fault, and a few other kind words, it was time to wheel me into the delivery room. For some reason during that time, this particular hospital would not allow the father to join in the delivery room. So, he kissed my forehead and said he loved me, and walked down to the father's waiting area.

Before they knocked me out under general anesthesia, I was again upset when a doctor came in all dressed in OR attire and I found out that he wasn't MY doctor. It was another doctor taking the calls of my doctor while he was out of town for the weekend. It was a physician I was use to working with all the time, but for some reason didn't get along with very well. I was in smothering pain, so I didn't take much time to care about that. GIVE ME DRUGS PLEASE! NOW!!! Then on to some serious pushing....

As I was coming out of my deep sleep, I heard the sweet voice of my little baby girl, crying at the top of her voice. Then I heard voices of the doctor and attending nurse telling me to open my eyes, take deep breathes, and that I had a big, beautiful, healthy, baby........... B-O-Y !!!... What?... Again? I felt a mega second disappointment (mostly for my husband), glanced to my left where my precious baby was placed, and instantaneously fell in DEEP unspeakable

L-O-V-E !

Kraig Lowell Pullam was born Monday, August 14, 1978 at 7:40 a.m. After 10 hours of labor. Weighing 6lbs. 14oz. and 21in. in length. He was a breast feed baby for 10 months. From the begining he loved kisses from his mommy. I had a visit from an Angel regarding him at age 4 days old (another story).

I love you Kraig. I have not once regreted that you where not a girl. You have been a joy to my heart all your life. You were an easy child to raise. You have never been any trouble to us. I consider you as one of three of my greatest accomplishments in this life. Although, you have done most of the work becoming who you are today. I am grateful to God and feel privileged to have played a major part in bringing forth, nurturing, and raising one of His chosen men of God. I PRAY to God for you daily. Have a wonderful and happy birthday.

I love you very much,
With my Whole Heart!

Momma


I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!

p.s. Today is also the one year anniversary of my entrance into Blogging.

Used -vs- Loved

I came across this little story and I was holding on to it so I could post on Father's Day. I was ill on that day, and didn't feel much like doing anything but staying in bed and taking my medication. So, it is a wee bit late for the holiday but it's appropriate anytime. Something to think about.

To whom it may concern.....

Used -vs- Loved

While a man was polishing his new car, his 4 yr old son picked up a stone and scratched lines in the side of the car. in anger, the man took the child's hand and hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father.....with painful eyes he asked, "Dad when will my fingers grow back?"

The man was so hurt and speechless, he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions.....sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches the child had written....

"I LOVE YOU DAD"

The next day that man committed suicide....Anger and love have no limits; choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely life...

Things are to be used and people are to be loved. But the problem in today's world is that, People are used and things are loved.

Be Watchful

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions,

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits they become character,

Watch your character it becomes your destiny.

Stay Faithful and Be Grateful.

Happy Birthday!! William/Pops/Bebop/Melvin

As a young girl and for as long as I can remember my ambition was to become a wife, a mother and a Nurse. I thank God that I have accomplished all three.

My dreams of being a wife brought about pre-conceived notions and expectations. In my little girl mind, the relationship was always going to be exclusively mine and his. We would love each other deeply and forever, have perfect children (two boys and a girl) Have fabulous vacations and picnics, build a huge home where everybody would have their own space. We would send our children to the best colleges and they each would become doctors and lawyers in addition to playing an instrument in the church. Ultimately becoming grandparents to six perfect grandchildren that we could afford to spoil all the time.

In all of my little girl dreams, I would accomplish a perfect marriage, children and grandchildren. I would become an awesome nurse. I never once intertained the thought of "growing old" I just could never visualized ii in my mind. A husband over the age of 25 was really getting old.

On to my Reality:

I did get married, I did have children, and, I became a nurse. But, We also aged. Who knew? Today I have become the wife of a Sixty year old man. Didn't ever think we would get THAT old. Use to think aging was awefully bad. I have come to know it is such a blessing to see our lives mature and live these many life's experiences together. We can truly say We're not getting older, we're getting BETTER. I love every gray hair on his head, the lines across his forehead, and when his knee acts up. It all tell the story of a man of wisdom that has provided through hard work. I am blessed to have watched the transformation as I transformed along side of him.

Today is the 60th Birthday of my Husband and Pastor, Dr. William Lanier Pullam. I have been with him for 41 of those years and seen him go from one stage in life to another. He did it with dignity and great integrity through the good and the bad. I am so proud to be his wife. I wish him many more wonderful years, to live life to it's fullest and in the will of our Father and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for your love and devotion and being my best friend and most precious gift from God. Thank you for teaching me many things along our journey togther.

I love you Melvin.

Happy Birthday !!

Anita

Sleeping on the Job??

"Sleeping
on
the
Job"






Hello My Blog Family,

Thought I would drop in and let you all hear from me. I am well and blessed. I have really been busy lately and very shackled to my new vice...."facebook" A great communication's tool and a wonderful way to renew friendships, find new ones, and learn many exciting things. I thank God for a whole new network of friends and new discovered family members.

Today was a great day. I slept in because of a wonderful and streneous Mother's Day weekend in Houston, Texas, with parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, in-laws, and the Cornerstone Baptist Church family in which my son, Rev. Kraig Lowell Pullam is Pastor. After waking up and going through my morning rituals, I finally got around to replying to 20 Mother's Day text I received the day before. I returned a phone call to my Nephew, Mark Pullam in Denton Texas, then I spoke briefly with my brother, Rev. Monty Francis, in Dallas Texas. My husband invited me to see an afternoon movie, " The Soloist" starring Jamie Foxx. I ate a small lunch, and then we were off to the 4:00 p.m. matinee.

As we conversated along the way, we came upon an elementary school that had been let out about 45 minuets earlier (3:00). A school crossing guard is required to stay on duty until, withheld elementary students are released, and the nearby middle school is released for the day (at 4:00), so that those children can also safely cross the street of a busy intersection. My husband noticed the crossing guard first, and alerted me to look to my left to see her sitting in a folding chair, under a shade tree, on the corner of the intersection, by the school. Oh my God! She was fast asleep. She wasn't looking out for any children or the traffic. My husband chuckled at the fact, that he could visualize a child tapping her on the shoulder to wake her and say...."excuse me, can you help me cross the street please?" LOL. She was sleeping on the job. A very important job, that if it is not properly done, can prove to be very fatal.

After we left the movie, we ate at one of our favorite dinner places, Cracker Barrel restaurant. We have several favorite servers that we like. Today we had our 1st choice waiter, Mr. Nathaniel Stewart, who is the son of a preacher. He always share a problem, situation, or ask a question of a spiritual nature, or about raising kids or how to invest, etc. Today, he had a story about a testimony of a Muslim who turned Christian. He told of the resentment of this Muslim's father and a plot to kill him for disgracing the family. One day the Muslim's father ridculed him and gave him an ultimatum to either return to his Muslim religion or drink a poisonous mixture from a cup. He again refused the Muslim faith, then raised the cup high and said to the Lord..."for you I drink this cup". Nathaniel continued to tell us (with other customers waiting) that after drinking the poison, he was ordered to lie down and await his death. The Muslim testified that his body rejected the poison by regurgitation and did NOT die. He was then ordered to leave his home, and as he did, a servant was ordered by the Muslim turned Christian's father, to poison his son as he walked down the path by bow and arrow. With great pain, the Muslim continues his journey. Before the slow acting poison could kill him, natives found him and nursed him back to health, and he is a Christian Missionary today.

The entire time Nathaniel was telling this story, my mind could only think about how just a couple of hours before, we saw an employee sleeping on the job. Now, here is another employee, not only doing the job in which he was hired, but sharing a story of a real testimony of encouragement, to be steadfast and unmovable on our Christian journey.

I wonder if we are just doing what HAS to be done as Christians, or are we striving to go a little over the top for Kingdom building? God forbid that ANY of us, who claim to be a child of the King, is "sleeping on the job"!! Not only will it prove to be dangerous....but fatal.

Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I Corinthians 15:58

Our Server
Mr. Nathaniel Stewart

Not sleeping.
Going beyond the call of duty.

Be Blessed!!

Fellowship during A.W.E. 4/8/09

As many of you know Pastor Kevin Pullam is having a month long revival that takes place each Wednesday of the month of April. I have been in attendance on each night so far. I must say, we have been blessed to hear a mighty word from two very gifted preachers already. It promises to be one of the city's most exciting and beneficial revivals we have had in many years. I know that it had to be God inspired to bring this together for such a time as this. Thank you Pastor Kevin for your step of faith and obedience to except this challenge to render unto God's people a chance to be revived and renewed through this great revival.

The first Wednesday of the month Pastor Lester Gillespie was the Evangelist. He did a marvolous job in his exposition of the word. He is from a long linage of Preachers and singers and he brought a message that brought a clearer understanding of today's issues and misconceptions. Even though, Pastor Gillespie did all of that....little did the congregation know one of MY sons was on the way for the second round of AWE.

Pastor Lance A. Mann was understandably under estimated by most since he had not yet made his debut in this area. It was immediately apparent to ME that the crowd was pleasantly surprised from the moment he began to speak. Oh My God!! We could have opened the doors of the church when he finished singing the song BEFORE he preached. I had heard about Lance's preaching, caught a small glimpse on utube, but... Mann, oh mann, oh mann!! He brought us up to another level. God really blessed him to preach. He is so gifted in all areas of the "art" of preaching. I'm not going to even talk about his tune on the end of the message. I thought he was going to hurt himself, REALLY!! We were all either on our feet or on the edge of our seats. He was Practical yet profound. Masterful exposition of the written word. He taught us, he advised us, he warned us, as well as giving us hope. YES, I'm bias. but, I KNOW preaching, I'm not a liar, I am an honest person, I try to be fair and I call it like I see it. All I can say is God be Praised for such a wonderful worship experience through the "foolishness of preaching" done by Pastor Mann.

Lastly, I would like to express, how honored I was to sit there in the midst of the congregation and beam with pride as his surrogate Mother. I stepped into the role of Lance's late Mother and was moved to tears as I felt what she would have felt if she had been in attendance. I know that kind of pride, because I experience it first hand whenever any one of my gifted, preaching, biological sons stand in John's shoes. We had great fellowship as a family the whole time he was here. Lance met new brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins that he will have for life. Everyone who has inquired about Pastor Mann since he left, addresses him as our son. Of course, it always brings a big smile on my face. Thank you Pastor Lance for coming to Corpus Christi, Texas and leaving it better than when you arrived. I can't wait to see you again.

Lance and I at the airport when he arrived in Corpus.

Pastor Arthur Lane and Pastor Lance Mann at the restaurant after we left the airport

Before Lance preached sitting in Pastor Kevin's church office

Pastors Kraig Pullam, Lance Mann, and Arthur Lane before service

My sons: Pastor Kevin, Pastor Lance, Bro. Keith, Pastor Kraig

Pastor Lance Mann at the Corpus Christi International Airport. On his departure back to Newark, New Jersey

These are just a few photos we took while our son Pastor Lance was in town. If you want to see all of the photos we took while he was here, you can view them on my facebook photo album. We had wonderful fellowship the short time we were together as a family. I look forward to the same experience with the rest of my Blog Sons in the near future.

Have a "Happy Easter" experience in Worship tomorrow! Be blessed.

Tell Me Something...(Altered)

Yeah, it's really this time of the morning and I haven't been to bed yet. Well, I almost have. I signed off facebook around 2:20 a.m. and went straight to the shower and got ready for bed. I brushed my teeth, said my prayers, pulled back the covers and got into bed. I can never fall asleep without my tv on but it was off already because my husband had been asleep for a long while. I didn't want to disturb him so I left the room to sit in my arm chair in the den to watch tv. All of a sudden an earlier conversation came to mind and it bothered me a little. I wondered if I was alone in my thinking, if a man's point of view in this situation was so different from a woman's, or was I alone in my thoughts on the subject. Here's the thing....

......The rest of the original contents of this blog has been removed to protect the integrity of the commentators on my blog's comment page. I DO appreciate every one who helped with my predicament and perplexity with my bewilderment of the mindset of the sexes and/or thinking in general. I did learn a LOT more than I asked for within this particular blog experience, ESPECIALLY about my good and LOYAL friend, Melvin. Love to each of you.


Be blessed
Proverbs 3:5&6

Spring Break

Hello Family,

Well, I finally bite the bullet and crossed over to facebook. Kraig and Tony finally convinced me that I was a missing person over there. I was beginning to feel very lonesome here in blogsville U.S.A. because the majority of you were becoming acquainted with a new vice. Now it has become a vice of mine. I have very quickly learned where some people I haven't seen or heard from in years are located. I've seen some great pictures and glimpsed into a few of the "hanging out" sessions/parties of my freshman grandson and other college students of our congregation ~ lol ~. Very enlightening. Thanks Pastor Kraig and Tony for taking me by the hand and helping this old lady find her way to where the action is. The reaction to most of the young people that know me was... "I didn't think I'd ever see the day, you would be on facebook". Except my grandson, Kory. He knew it was just a matter of time.

I think I will be spending my Spring Break on facebook and a little less time here on the blog. There is a lot I want to see there. But, I didn't want to be AWOL without my blog family knowing why. I'm not sick, I haven't quit, nor am I discouraged. I'm taking some time off to do research. I will be checking on the family though. Behave yourselves. I'll be back soon. Love you.

Take care.