Howard and Peace - From A Friend

This was sent to us by email by a friend

Hello Paula, I stopped by Mount de Sales this morning on my way to work to see the Peace Pole that Howard created and gave to the school. What a wonderfully crafted monument to peace!

It was about 6:20 or so, and in the cool morning air, in those few moments left before daylight takes over from night, I climbed the hill and took some time to reflect on what his creation means. Peace is in short supply in this world. Yes, a lot of us are fortunate to have peace in our lives to varying degrees. But to think of those who don't should give those of us who do pause to consider what having peace in our lives on a daily basis means for us. Quite introspective, don't you think?!?

One thing that always amazed me about Howard was the casual elegance he always seemed to have; the easy-going way about himself that shone through in everything he did, even in the busiest times that I was privileged to be near him. I fondly remember him coming over to the Carlton Way house to hang that art deco light fixture you so graciously relinquished from your home so that we could add it to ours. It hangs in our dining room today. We needed a few parts to be able to hang and wire it properly, and Howard and I made a quick trip to the hardware store to get them.

Off we went, Howard driving, and sparing no time in getting us there! I remember him saying he had some other things to do that day, and I was grateful for the assistance he provided in hanging the fixture so I was cognizant of his time, not wanting to take any more than was necessary so he could get about the rest of his day. Even then, he was meticulous in taking care
of the smallest of details to make sure we had everything we needed to do the job. That was my first time being around Howard when it was just him and I, and recall enjoying the time I spent with him, the conversations we had along the way, and learning from him as we hung the light. To be like Howard means you have peace in your life. I hope we all can be as fortunate.

Paul Midkiff's invitation to stop by and see the peace pole is one I'm glad I accepted and I hope everyone who was at Howard's memorial takes time to do the same. I will always think of Howard when I think of peace.

Peace be with you!

Love and Prayers,

Joe

Bumba's Song

bumbas song...
bumbaaa yeah - bumbaaa your eyes like the stars at night your smile like an upside down rainbow yeah, rainbow with your pretty wife honey you'r the luckiest man in the world. you are like the fairies above lifting you up from the ground . they sprinkle the dust all over your head which makes you special and unique. bumbaaa yeah bumbaaa you are the luckiest man in the worldddddd. you make me smile just thinking of you. when the days go byyyyyyy I like the way that you don't care because you have us. bumbaaa yeah bumbaaaaaaaaaaaaa we love you.

By katie Meitz

dear bumba,
we will always remember you by a strong tough hardworking man and no matter what, we will never forget you. You were a kind lovin man. You were like the flowers that bloom, the horses when they win a contest but most of all i think you were a cat because when i saw you smile i thought i could hear you puurr and how you loved us all and lastly how you would snuggle up with the luckiest woman in the world yours and always will be honey but probably most of you know her as Paula. I love you and I will always remember you. ps if resurrect I'm positive you and honey will meet again as.....CATS Read by Katie at Howard's Celebration

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy, Did I ever tell you enough how thankful I am that you and Momma chose me to be your daughter out of pure unconditional love, the luckiest little girl in the world
Dear Daddy, Did I ever tell you the times you were working so hard to give us everything we needed that I missed you
Dear Daddy, The times you spent driving , simply to allow me a mere glimpse of a horse because you knew the love I felt for them, I never forgot.
Dear Daddy, You always said my first words besides Paul was 'I want a horse" and at the age of 3 you and Momma made it a reality which began my life long passion of horses
Dear Daddy, Did I ever say enough the about the impact your love for Momma and hers for you touch every breath I take
Dear Daddy, You and Momma allowed my friends to call you their other parents and friends and that has always made me soooo proud
Dear Daddy, Did I ever tell you that when I hert the two of you, my heart broke and I am sorry
Dear Daddy, Did I ever tell you enough the depths of my appreciation for the gifts you gave me that allowed me to be the person I am today
Dear Daddy, Did I ever tell you I would have traded my life for yours in an instant because the world still needs your love and spirit for life
Dear Daddy, Did I ever say to you that of all the people in the world, you should have never had to suffer one econd
Dear Daddy Did I ever say enough thank you and thank God for having blessed me having you as my father
Dear Daddy, Did I ever say enough, I love you with all my heart
Dear Daddy, I called on you for so many things and now as I call to you in Heaven please continue to give me strenght and your guidence
Dear Daddy, I envy you now because you ar in heaven beside Our Father on streets of goldwith angels singing
Dear Daddy, I will be by your side again God promises and until that glorious day I pray you finally realize the depths of the love, respect and pride I have for you. Worldly words were merely not sufficent
Dear Daddy, Try not to shake up heaven too much as you reunite with your buddies
Dear Daddy, I have also learned that we must live each and everyday with no regrets
Dear Daddy, Did I ever say enough?
Thank youCandi

Howard Knight's published obit. More to come...

Howard Blewster Knight, 76, died at High Noon on Easter Sunday after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born in Eatonton, GA on September 7th, 1932 to the late Rev. Blewster Knight and Sallie Perry Knight. Survivors include beloved wife of over 51 years, Paula Pullen Knight, son, Paul Howard (Delise) Knight, Daughters, Claudia Candice (Jay) Lapointe, Cheri Rebecca (Jeff) Meitz, Grandchildren, Karlene Lapointe, Austin Meitz, Katie Meitz, and great-granddaughter, Ella Grace Lewis. Also, brother, Perry Knight, of Lakeland, Florida and sister, Nelle Howell, of Dublin, Georgia along with nieces, nephews, and extended family.

After growing up in Dublin, Georgia, Howard attended Mercer University, where he received his degree in Chemistry. Following his service in the U.S. Military as an air traffic controller, Howard became plant manager of the Mrs. Filbert’s Foods, The Charles Miller Company (maker of Mary Jane Candies), then owner of Southeastern Silver Company until his retirement.

Join us for a Celebration of Howard’s life to be held in his Gardens of Overlook at the family home, 3855 Overlook Avenue, Macon, Georgia, on Friday April 17th from 5 till 8 pm with an open tribute service at 6pm.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Make-A-Wish Foundation or The Children’s Hospital of Macon.
More life details and stories at our website: www.howardandpaula.com
Hart’s Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

This is a small obit for the paper. More stories coming soon.

The rebirth of our Knight

Today, Easter Sunday at high noon our Knight found perfect healing.
Peace and Love to all of you who've so faithfully stayed with us through this journey.

More stories of life coming soon.

Update

Just a quick update for everyone. Howard is resting comfortably today after spending Monday at the Medical Center to have 1600 cc's of fluid removed from his chest. The pressure from the fluid made breathing difficult over the weekend. Our next appointment is scheduled for Friday with a new oncologist at the same center we have been going to.
We are putting together a list of questions that Howard will have for him so he can decide which path to take.
We are keeping things pretty quiet around the house and Paula is staying by Howards side.
Please continue to send prayers and good thoughts our way.
Love from all of the Knights

The Crossroads

Dear Friends,
This is a letter to all of you who have so faithfully followed our journey thus far. Still and always we thank you with all our hearts and are forever grateful every day of our lives that you are there. Time has been short for writing of late as each new day seemed to bring challenges and surprises for us.
We will try to describe a bit of where our journey has taken us over the past two weeks. We have long ago begun to feel that we should've had more medical expertise to deal with this particular disease and the treacherous decisions which must be made. After the the fourth chemo treatment things seemed to go steadily downhill until the WBC dropped impressively and the infection developed. (They later referred to the infection as a pneumonia and we were given a very powerful antibiotic which seemed to have many pronounced side effects...everything seeming a "swap-off" though this drug was obviously the right one for the job.)
Following the CT that we had spoken to you about earlier it was revealed yet another pleural effusion which needed prompt attention. We were scheduled immediately after release from the Center to go to Coliseum Northside where large amounts of fluid were withdrawn. The chemotherapy treatment had been cancelled, of course. Following the fluid reduction the breathing difficulties still did not diminish as we had anticipated. While the blood levels showed the results were much more positive, (no longer the low WBC,), the lungs this week showed another large pleural effusion. We soon learned there would there be no chemotherapy ... the doctors and nurses came to us with the very unsettling news that perhaps this combination of chemicals was not working for shrinking of the fluid which continued to accumulate around the lung. We were told in some detail which other chemotherapy treatments could be used and what the percentages of success on lung cancer could be expected.
The doctor ordered immediately another procedure for the removal of the fluid ...this time done at the Georgia Heart Center. This was the priority of the day. We returned home last night relieved by the success of the procedure....but heartbroken as we realized we have truly come to The Crossroads of this journey. Our Knight must soon choose which of the roads he should now take.As we face these decisions and wonder which direction to take we know that we are in the flow of things as they must be meant to be. We consider now what we "should have - could have - would have" done had we known the outcome thus far, as we humans do upon such occasions. We trust that this time will be a time of even greater connection to God's healing powers without the chemical intervention....and we pray that this TIME is a "gift" in its' own special way as we know it to be within our hearts.Howard has been advised to rest for a few days and recover from the latest procedure before returning to the Center to visit our new oncologist. ( Another bitter pill to swallow was learning that our Dr. Linda Hendricks is now on a "Health Break" and has an undetermined date of return to practice. She was actually THE REASON we had chosen this group of oncologists. Learning of her departure caused our Knight and his crew great emotional distress, along with the possibility that there may indeed not be as effective a chemotherapy drug for treatment at this time.)
We pray these days of rest will afford our Knight peace and much needed rest for making his future plan....whether to receive more chemotherapy treatments or to choose to rely solely on God's healing powers. And on this night and all those to come PLEASE continue your vigil to see him "though." Our next scheduled visit with our newly assigned oncologist is on April 10....a date that right now seems such a long way away.
Peace...Love to All