Stephen C. McKinney Memorial Thread (1969-2001)

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:34 pm

Furls Fire wrote:But, what I do fear is this...If I leave now or in the near future...what is to happen to my family? My wonderful husband and my 11 children?

At least you wouldn't be leaving a husband and one child. I mean, 12 people! Heck, you could go an entire week without talking to one person or another!

Furls Fire wrote:

I should probably stop doing posts like that, they upset everyone

Ah, Tracie, what would you have us do? Did you not worry about Stephen before he passed? Even though you shared some powerful beliefs and faith? That doesn't mean you don't celebrate his life.

Whether or not your time is near (*knocks head with knuckles*), I will always celebrate your life, and be profoundly grateful for having known you. And, as I said, since certain kinds of fear aren't a part of you, I'm at ease. But I'll still worry a bit. 'k?

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:29 pm

Truly, if things are not going well, I would rather know that than not know .

Tracie, if the worst happens, you will be in a beautiful saint's house next to a peaceful river, able to live surrounded by loving family and feel peace and love and be happy forever.

But the rest of us will be in world made less without you.

How could we not worry? The worry is for ourselves and for each other, and how our lives would be changed without you. There can be no doubt about your eventual fate, whether is happens sooner or many decades from now.

If they lose you, your family will no doubt feel great pain and loss, and perhaps even the anger at fate that is part of grief. But they will have each other. They will have the endless love that you and Stephen taught them how to feel. And that love -- is it not the answer to all of the pain and hurt in this world?

Do you have any idea how many lives you have touched? How many lives you have made better? How you have embodied the thought that

there is also love in the world

Post by **Furls Fire** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:22 pm

sweet mercy you guys.

words fail me...

God has surely blessed me...such friends

Post by **Furls Fire** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:31 am

So, Christmas is once again upon us. And, as usual, our house is buzzing with activity and joy and excitment. We miss those who have passed on, and rejoice in those who entered our lives. We embrace family and friends and we help those in need. We give thanks to the Father for giving us His Son during this glorious season of love and hope and peace.

Stephen's favorite time of year was Christmas, though I don't believe I need to tell anyone here that.

I was watching some home videos today, and came across one where he and I sang this song together one Christmas Eve...

Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary did you know?
Mary did you know?

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Oh, Mary did you know

That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40

Merry and Blessed Christmas to all my family here on Kevin's Watch. I love you all

Peace of the Lord be with each and everyone of you always

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:12 pm

Merry Christmas to you too, Furls! Reading this thread has been one of the greatest gifts for my creative spirit. As I said a long time ago, when my book on AIDS is published, it will have a dedication to both Stephen and Isaiah.

Christmas is a great time, indeed. There's just a "glowing" feeling--an anticipation. There's a closeness, a warmth. It's so unique to that time; I can only equate it to watching a favorite movie or delving into a beloved book. Have a safe and happy holidays, everyone. You're all on Santa's good list!

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:24 am

Furls Fire wrote:Stephen's favorite time of year was Christmas, though I don't believe I need to tell anyone here that.

Well, color me surprised!

If Stephen glowed throughout the year, I can't imagine how he must have been at Christmas time!

Post by **Furls Fire** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:26 pm

David, this is for you. Tho not a Christmas song perse, it does invoke reflection of past friendships and passed on loved ones. And when I hear it, where ever I hear it, I pause and smile and think of all the people that have meandered in and out of my life...I post it for you, well because, John Lennon is one of your inspirations and mine also. And I consider you a friend of mine. Merry Christmas

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some for ever, not for better
And some have gone, and some remained

All these places had there moments
With lovers and friends that I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
Still no one, compares with you
And these memories loose their meaning,
When I think of love as something new

No I will never, ever loose affection
For people and things that went before
I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I loved you more

I know I'll never ever loose affection
For people and things that went before
I'll often stop to think about them
In my life, I loved you more

In my life, I loved you more

Post by **Furls Fire** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:33 pm

Fist and Faith wrote:If Stephen glowed throughout the year, I can't imagine how he must have been at Christmas time!

There's a song at the end of Ladder 49 that makes me think of Stephen and Isaiah, mostly the chorus part. (that movie always brings me to tears, don't know why I keep watching it...) Anyway, it speaks of Jack's light shining down...and that is how I feel about Stephen and Isaiah, their light is always glowing...

Shine Your Light---Robbie Robertson from the soundtrack Ladder 49

The cry of the city like a siren's song
Wailing over the rooftops the whole night long
Saw a shooting star like a diamond in the sky
Must be someone's soul passing by

These are the streets
Where we used to run where your Papa's from
These are the days
Where you become what you become
These are the streets
Where the story's told
The truth unfolds
Darkness settles in

Shine your light down on me
Lift me up so i can see
Shine your light when you're gone
Give me the strength
To carry on, carry on

Don't wanna be a hero
Just an everyday man
Trying to do the job the very best he can
But now it's like living on borrowed time
Out on the rim, over the line
Always tempting fate like a game of chance
Never wanna stick around to the very last dance
Sometimes i stumble and take a hard fall
Loose(?) hold your grip off the wall

Shine your light down on me
Lift me up so i can see
Shine your light when you're gone
Give me the strength to carry on
Carry on

I thought i saw him walking by the side of the road
Maybe trying to find his way home

He's here but not here
He's gone but not gone
Just hope he knows if I get lost

Shine your light down on me
Lift me up so i can see
Shine your light when you're gone
Give me the strength to carry on
To carry on

Sweet music...

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:36 pm

Thanks so much for that, Furls. Got me listening to it, now!

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some for ever, not for better
And some have gone, and some remained

Those are very poignant words for me:

I feel I've lived many lives (KW, Ultima Online, childhood, schools, etc.) Learning, as well, often gives me a feeling that I've been reborn. Anyway, great times. Christmas is a wonderful, reflective period for all of us, I think. And since you posted that song, I'll have to return the favor:

I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.

For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.

I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:40 pm

HUGGLESSSSSSSSSSS

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:09 pm

Furls Fire wrote:There's a song at the end of Ladder 49 that makes me think of Stephen and Isaiah, mostly the chorus part. (that movie always brings me to tears, don't know why I keep watching it...)

The Lifetime channel is built around the premise that women just love doing that very thing!

But I've never heard of the movie.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:16 pm

You've never heard of Ladder 49???

movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808465690

You HAVE to see this movie Eric!!!

*stunned*

Oh, just a quiet observation...the thread is now at 990 posts, 991 after I post this, which means it will hit 1000 posts soon. I just want to say that I find it so wonderful that people have come here and found peace, hope and love thru my brother's words. I hope the thread continues to grow and that he continues to bring people joy.

God bless

Post by **Furls Fire** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:16 am

hmmm..strangeness here in the thread. The number of pages used to be 64, but now it is only 50. So, it looks as though we have lost 14 pages in here. I'm not sure what is missing, I will have to start at the beginning and go thru it all. The last few look okay, and the first page looks okay, so the missing ones must be in the middle somewhere.

If anyone wishes to help me find what is missing I would really appreciate it!

EDIT: Another oddity...the reply count is still 991 (992 now) which is what it was before the hacking. HMMMMMMMMM...

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:30 am

That's bizarre! But I don't know that I could help. There are pages I haven't read in a looooooooong time, and I wouldn't likely notice if most individual posts were missing. Particularly not my own posts. I couldn't possibly remember everything I say!

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:57 am

Defintely strange. Then again, everything's been strange since this hacking business. Perhaps Vain will know?

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:35 am

Not to worry Furls...before the hack, Vain set the posts per page to 20, instead of 14, or whatever it used to be, to try and clear one of the glitches. As a result, all threads that were multiple pages had their page numbers adjusted. All that could have been lost were any posts in the last week or so, and if the reply count is the same, we didn't lose any.

Hey...after this post, only 5 more replies to make 1000 for this thread.

--Avatar

Post by **matrixman** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:09 am

4 more now until 1000.

Av scored correctly on the buzzer for 100 points. Yes, it was a page re-adjustment by Vain. Nothing to do with the hack.

(C'mon, folks, you're Mods. Don't you check Vain's messages about these things?

)

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:14 am

Matrixman wrote:(C'mon, folks, you're Mods. Don't you check Vain's messages about these things? )

3 more.

And you're right MatrixMan...what do they think they're getting paid for?

--A

Post by **Furls Fire** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:19 am

OH WHEW!!! So it IS all here...and no, I didn't know Vain readjusted the page count, that makes sense. Thanks for answering that! I would have very sad if we had lost some of the discussion in here. I was so worried that some of Isaiah's posts had been lost.

2 more to go!

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:38 am

Glad I could set your mind at ease. I think you should make the 1,000th post to this thread Furls.

--A