I always plant sunflowers in my garden. Eva likes them, bees like them, and they are beautiful to look at. Over years, many people (both old and young) have gotten pleasure from these beautiful flowers.

When Eva graduated from high school in 1997, I wanted her to spot me in crowd of proud parents, relatives, and friends. I went to garden, found biggest, brightest sunflower, cut it, and brought it with me. It was about twice as big as a dinner plate. The stem was as thick as a woman's wrist. Well, as graduates marched out, I held that big old bright yellow sunflower in front of me and was rewarded by Eva with a corresponding smile.

Eva worked two or three jobs for awhile and went to modeling school. She then decided she wanted to be a nurse. She went to nursing school and graduated with honors, as president of her class.

Eva was involved in two other wrecks: totaled one car and heavily damaged another. I was right behind her in my truck when I said, "Lord, she's going to pull right in path of that truck; protect her I pray." He did! The truck at last minute swerved and hit left front of car instead of plowing into driver's door.

One evening, Lord spoke to me and said, "Pray for Eva, right now!" I did and asked God to send angels to protect her. About twenty minutes later, she came home all shook up. I asked, "What's wrong Beaver?" She replied, "I lost control of my car, it hydroplaned and I ended up turned around in a circle and in other lane." I said, "I know baby, that's when I was praying for you. God sent his angels to protect you."

The first day of Eva's nursing school, she went to class and bought all those expensive books. It came a hard rain in Waycross; about five inches in an hour. Eva drove through that but went under an underpass; her car drowned out and current washed her car deeper in water. She had to climb out of window to escape. When I arrived where she was, all you could see was top of that pretty Monte Carlo. The car was totally flood damaged, all her books were destroyed. Eva was back in class next day. She didn't let that stop her. God gave her strength and ability to make it through school.

There is so much to write about how God has protected Eva, her brother and sister, and how he has cared for them. Fathers, greatest gift you can give to your children is to pray for them!

In summer of 2001, Eva took a job as a nurse at a children's summer camp in Hyannis, Massachusetts. She called me one night; she was so homesick. I told her I would go up there to see her and carry her some of my homegrown sweet south Georgia watermelons and some boiled peanuts. I loaded up my 1997 Chevrolet King Cab Silverado, which Lord had blessed me with, and began 1300 mile drive.

I remember driving through New York City and seeing towering Twin Towers on skyline. This was a month before 911. Eva was sure glad to see me. I was even happier to see her! We had a nice two day visit, and I drove back home. On way back, I drove another route other than Interstate 95. I remember driving through Hershey, Pennsylvania and smelling a whiff of chocolate. I love Hershey bars. I'll take one of small milk chocolate ones, place a fresh pecan half on it, pop it in my mouth, and enjoy! A marriage made in heaven---the Hershey bar and pecan.

I arrived back in Blackshear and thanked God for his protection on my trip. I also thanked him for allowing me to live in a town with only five red lights. That 50 mile long bumper to bumper traffic in New York City area is something to behold.

Eva is still working as a nurse. She is a kind, beautiful and compassionate young lady!

Deuteronomy 5.16 "Honour thy father and thy mother, as Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in land which Lord thy God giveth thee."

I wrote above in May 2003. It is now March 4, 2005. Eva married Jack, a fine young man, in May 2004. They live in Waycross. She is working part time as a Licensed Practical Nurse, and is going to college full time to be a Registered Nurse.

Irvin L. Rozier

7. Make sure you are informed about every planned field trip and outing. Never give organization general permission to take your child off premises.

8. Make sure that facility has you sign a release to publish your child’s picture in any local newspapers. And it is definitely O.K. if you don’t what to have your child’s picture in paper for their safety.

9. Prohibit, in writing, release of your child to anyone without your explicit consent. Make sure program knows who will pick up your child on any given day.

10. Ask facility what their policy is on strangers or unauthorized persons that might come into facility. Do they have any type of safety measures when someone who does not have custody or right to a child, show up. What is their protocol? What would they do?

You want your child to have an enjoyable and fun experience in their first learning facility. By asking questions and doing some investigating, you can rest assure that they will be in a safe environment as well.