The Gospel Hour with Marty and Kathy

Sunday September 6, 1992

We're up early. We will meet Marty and Kathy at 9 a.m. for the gospel program, one hour of church choir, a young black group, and one hour of sing-along church songs. This is my favorite part of the festival. I love to sing the songs. I know most of them by heart from my younger years of attending church regularly. Frank sings too and quite well. Marty and Kathy like it alot.

We spend the day until 11 p.m. taking them to hear all the best groups. They love it and want to go again. We have lunch and dinner outside at the pool, listening to groups play for us. We see Carol a few times.

I felt much better today.

Mom's friend Carol got Mom and Frank hooked on both square dancing and jazz festivals. Now Mom and Frank have got Marty and Kathy hooked on square dancing and now jazz festivals as well. I lost touch with Marty and Kathy after Mom's death, but was happy to receive a Christmas card from them last year with this photo. They look just the same 20 years later! They live in Arizona now.

I can't help wondering why Mom doesn't go to church regularly like she did as a young girl. She always goes to the gospel hour at the jazz festivals in Monterey, Sacramento and Los Angeles, and she talks about how the gospel hour is her favorite part. She believes in the power of prayer and her faith is strong. Wouldn't it help her to be surrounded by other believers all praying for her and for each other? I have been a part of a prayer group at my church for many years where we pray together for our kids. My church also has a prayer group for people battling cancer. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

The Gospel Hour

Sunday May 24, 1992

I am really looking forward to the Gospel Hour of Dixieland Jazz at 10 a.m. There is a big crowd. We're early and get a seat up front. The first song makes me cry "We're Only Here For a Little While". It's a lovely song. I'd like that played at my funeral. There are several songs they sing I'd like at my funeral. One is "What a Wonderful World". I believe it truly is. One song we all stand, hold hands and sing "Down By The Riverside". I'm holding Frank and a Japanese man. It makes me weep I'm so moved. I buy 2 gospel tapes. Frank loves the gospel music too, thank goodness. We spend the rest of the day at seveal locations with Carol and Ed, listening to wonderful Dixieland Jazz.

Thank you Lord for another wonderful, energetic, pain-free day!

Were those gospel tapes played at her funeral the following year? I was so grief-stricken the only song I can remember was my favorite Amazing Grace. I'm so glad that Mom was touched by God at the Gospel Hour, and I'm glad Frank went with her. I feel so close to God when I attend church every weekend, but sadly my husband does not share my faith and I go by myself or with friends, but rarely with Ric.