The Last Decade

The year 2000, the turn of the century, was about here. The Martin family started the decade before January first. Henry’s 70th birthday was on December 12 Th 1999. The house was already decorated for Christmas and ready for company; the extended family planned a big party at our house in Albany. Everybody in his family was invited and most of them who lived close enough came. His sister, Willie Glenn Holmes, who had not been away from the Wewa area in years was his special quest.

One of the boy’s drove her up to Albany the night before so she could go to church with us in Parrot; our son David had been pastor at the Parrot Baptist Church for over twenty year and she had never heard him preach. This was special for Henry and his sister. Henry was proud of David as a preacher and happy that Willie Glenn finally heard him preach. Most of the Martin family from out of town came directly to the church. Sharon’s choir was doing their Christmas cantata that morning and Billy came from Atlanta to Albany so he could welcome everyone who arrived before we got home from church. We had close to thirty people from four states at the house that afternoon.

Almost everybody was at the house before Doug and David; nobody knew where they were. David showed up at the house, followed by Doug in his car, with the biggest surprise of the day. David gave his Dad a new Ford Ranger pickup truck. He told him it was a thank you for the car’s he had given his children over the years. Henry was speechless. Henry drove that pickup the rest of his life. The party lasted most of the afternoon. One of Willie Glenn son’s drove her home; getting her home before dark. This was the way the Martin family started the New Year and the turn of the century.

Christmas was not as big that year as it usually is; after everyone had been home for Henry’s birthday those with families didn’t come at Christmas time. Sharon and Billy were both home for Christmas but had to go back shortly after. Henry and I did go see Andy and his family. Hannah was growing so fast that we wanted to see her as often as we could.

Early in January isn’t the best time of the year to go fishing, but I found a dated picture of a large catch of fish, mostly bream. A tape measure was open showing the largest fish to be over ten inches long. I don’t know how he caught them but that size of a catch was most likely out of fish baskets. Even with basket that was a large catch for winter time.

The next big event in the family was David moving into his new house. He had lived for over ten years in an old high ceiling drafty house next to the church. The church built him a three bedroom, two bath parsonage. Henry was glad that David now had a nice place to live.

We were going to Westminster Presbyterian Church at this time. They had been losing members for over five years. We stayed trying to help keep them together. At this time Westminster was renting part of the unused section of building to a small congregation of Baptist. The Baptist Worship Center worshiped with us every Wednesday night for supper and Bible study lead by Walter Flint. The men of both churches met together once a month for a steak supper and devotions. Henry was one of the main cooks; he grilled the stakes and stewed the onions. February was a special treat for the women; the men invited all the women to free stake supper as a Valentine’s party. The men did all the cooking; those not cooking cleaned up. The fellowship hall was full and the fellowship was wonderful.