Kathryn Spurgeon – Page 15 – Kathryn Spurgeon

Awesome addition to “The House”

05/19/201512/15/2015 by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in International

“The House” near the University of Central Oklahoma on Hurd Street is open for college students to gather, eat and fellowship together. Some generous people from Henderson Hills Baptist Church donated the funds to expand “The House.”

In between the old building where girls live upstairs, and the garage apartments where guys live used to be an empty lot, where we had parties, music fests, and outdoor movies! The old house now opens up into the new building, which expanded the living area downstairs. Three new bedrooms and bath are upstairs.

Whoever planned this, did a great job. God is good. The new area of The House has been full of students from the first day it opened!

When children are taken away from their country

01/29/201512/15/2015 by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in International

Should children be removed from their culture, adopted, and taken to another country, thereby losing their heritage? ry=480[3] (3) I recently encountered this question and wanted to add my tidbit, because, certainly, there are plus and minuses.

I lived in an orphanage in South Korea when I was twenty-one and adopted two baby girls. In the 1970’s I brought them back to Oklahoma, USA, where they grew up.

My daughters lost the ability to speak (or write) their native language; even if they learned it, they would have an accent. They never heard the stories that cultures pass down to the next generation; and they lost their history, their biological families, and a proud devotion to their country. They lost the taste for their native food – although it was acquired, it won’t be eaten on a daily basis. They lost so much. So, the question is: should we uproot children and take them away from their bloodlines?

Let’s look at the other side. What did the children gain?

Mixed race children were not accepted in Korea, so some children would be outcasts. Ten girls were abandoned to every boy, leaving many abandoned girls. Many of the abandoned boys were handicapped in some way. Adoption was not accepted in Korean culture. Admittedly, the culture should be changed, but at that time, South Korea was unable to take care of all the children being abandoned. Simply put, the orphanages were full. And the same can be true of babies in other cultures at different times throughout their history. Nations go through difficult days when they can’t care for their own. Should we ignore that?

So, should a child be left to grow up in an orphanage, or placed with a family who will treat them as their own? You know my opinion. I adopted the babies, rather than leave them to lie on the floor and cry without parents around them. For me, it was not a choice I considered. Babies in need touched my maternal instinct and I responded without considering what they were losing. I only knew that they needed love. Would it have been right to close my heart, neglect the innocent ones, and walk away from sorrow and suffering when I could do something? Would Christ like that response? My only regret is that I could not adopt more babies at the time, because I tried.

I agree that every effort should be made to tell adopted children their story, introduce them to their native culture, help them learn the language if possible (for us it was not), and teach them to be secure with the beautiful way God made them. But if the question is whether to bring a child home to love him, or let him languish in an orphanage, then I have no alternative but to love them.

Cancer free for two years!

01/13/201512/15/2015 by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in My Thoughts

It has been two years since my last radiation or chemotherapy treatment! For two years now, I have been cancer free.

It hasn’t always been easy. I had some effects to deal with but that too, has subsided. Trying to eat healthy. And I am back up to my normal before-cancer weight! (I had hoped to keep off some excess fat but unfortunately, it came back too.)

My husband, Bill, read an internet article to me last night about aging, and how older people had done some amazing things. (Not that I’m old or anything!) What quote I remember most, is something like, I am the youngest today that I will ever be. Meaning, I will never be this young again, so I should make the most of it.

I recently realized that my life goal is not to live a long life, but to live a good life. One in which I can honor God and show his love to others, no matter how many days on this earth I live. Yes, there are still a lot of things I want to do, a lot of things I want to write, but God is in control of that. He will not take me to heaven until all my work is done. This verse helped me see that.

Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. I Chronicles 28:19-20

He promises that I will not leave this world until all my work has been accomplished. In the meantime, I have a lot of living to do! And a lot of people to share God’s love with! I am so thankful for the many people who supported me through the tough times. Mostly, I am grateful to God, my greatest encourager.

You are loved, Kathryn

My Christmas Miracle

12/25/201412/25/2014 by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in My Thoughts

I am a recovering humbug; I always start the Christmas season as a scrooge. Right around Thanksgiving, I get the shakes, the tension, and the stressful headaches. Too much to do: shopping for presents for six kids, in-laws, distant relatives, and twelve remarkable grandkids, cards to address and mail to loved ones around the word, and my famous Shutterfly picture books to finish. Not to mention the decorating and the parties. Depression takes over. I’m so daunted by December 1st that my Christmas spirit is at an all-time low.

Then something happens in the middle of the season. I start to enjoy the Christmas lights, the trip to the Christmas tree farm, and the traditional hallowed music.

Then I get well-wishers sending me greetings from Japan, China, and Korea and well, how can a person stay down in the dumps with all these warm greetings? I love these international friends! They are so gracious and kind. And then I spent time with my mother and siblings—a treasure to remember.

And the food! I never eat this much sweet, tasty morsels any other time during the year. I save my sweet tooth for Christmas delicacies. Plus the honey-baked ham, smoked turkey, sweet potatoes….

Then my family gathering: my favorite people and the most awesome group ever found together in one room. We celebrated on Christmas Eve, and I could taste the joy, the excitement, the warmth and kindness. We talked about the many miracles in our family before reading the story of Christ’s birth, the greatest miracle of all. All the headaches were worth it.

My miracle, though, is the blessing of so many lovely people in my life. God has been so good. His mercy lifts my head far above the humbug status and leaves me breathless. I anticipate the great celebration when I see Jesus one day. I can’t stay in a funk when I look ahead to see the end of the season. I just tasted a sample. What a wonderful Christmas day we’ll have in heaven when we get together!

Merry Christmas to you! May you find joy through this season because you are loved!

Military service traced through history

11/13/201411/13/2014 by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in My Thoughts

Our family military history can be traced back at least thirteen generations! No wonder our family whole-heartedly supports the soldiers. I am very proud of them all!

Here’s my Dad.
And some interesting facts:
Twelve and thirteen generations ago, my grandfathers, Colonel Thomas Ligon, born in 1609, and Major William Ligon, served in England. A little later Colonel Benjamine Marshall, born 1681, served in Ireland.

We know of at least three American Revolution warriors in our family: Andrew Baskin, “Soldier John” Grigsby, and Captain William Castleman.

War Between the States: We had many direct descendants on both sides.
Several Coffey’s and then David Coffey, born 1839, who was a physician and Presbyterian minister and fought a few miles from his home and took care of Confederate soldiers. Alexander Valentine, born 1832, died in a Union prison in Illinois and was buried there. James Pope was killed at the Battle of Pea Ridge. John Iva Pope entered the war as a 14-year-old drummer boy, and came home four years later. His mother did not recognize him. James Tol Thomas fought with the Confederates and the Texas Rangers and died in 1910 returning from a veteran’s reunion.

WWI soldiers include my grandfather, Thomas Elisha Akin, who received an honorable discharge in 1919 due to Dependents and Distress in the Family. (Okay, I need to do a little more research on that one.)

WWII soldiers include several relatives in the US Army, Air Corps, or Navy. Jerry Akin was 18 when he went through training. He weighed 148 pounds when he left and 98 pounds when he came home. He was stationed in the Philippines. His mother probably didn’t recognize him either!

Korean War period soldiers include relatives Larry Wynns, Judson Pope, Richard Pope, Gene Anglin, and Ted Akin.

Soldiers during the Vietnam era include both of my brothers, Jimmy David Akin and Fredrick Akin.

Iraq War time period service was done by Lieutenant Jamin Miser. My dad was in the military for 33 years through several wars. Here are my nephews saluting at my dad’s 12 gun salute funeral.

This is not even the whole list of military people in our family. Many of our family members are serving in the military now, and I am proud of each one of them! If you are checking out your ancestry, it might be interesting to see who served in the military.