Happy Mother's Day 2011

.................................................Who Let You In?

Cinderella and Her Step-sisters by Alex

A Poem that my cousin sent to me in an email! My first pastor--Stuermer used to say, "You are probably going to be surprised who you see when you get to Heaven." I think I will be less surprised than him, actually. God's GRACE is real!

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock..
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!!

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more
than standing in your garage makes you a car ..

Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!!!
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....................Happy 5th Anniversary to Mamalouise & PDaddy

Hi Everyone, Long time no BLOG! I just wanted to wish my sweet daughter and son-in-law another Happy Anniversary---number 5!!!! You just keep getting better and better! We all know how hard life can be, but you guys make it look easy! This was a video I did for you last year so it is a rewind! Love you both so much...

.....................August 3, 2003 to August 3, 2009

Six years ago today, my sweet friend and I became husband and wife. It was one of the best days of my life! Actually, because we had flown to Las Vegas and all of our kids were there too, it was one of the best several days of my life. It really was a memorable celebration. And not just our kids showed up! We had 22 family members there. It still brings a joyful tear to my eye when I remember how I felt when the chapel doors opened, I on Michael's arm, looking into that quaint 'Little White Chapel' with all those loving faces looking back at us! Although the plans for this event came together rather quickly, I do not think anyone, including Frank and I felt like it was hectic. I remember having fun and enjoying every minute. Was everything perfect? I do not think so...but it did not seem to matter! We relaxed and let each moment unfold. I thank God everyday that I have a husband who really believes and lives by, "Do not sweat the small stuff!" Has everything been, "Happily Ever After", picture perfect, since that day we both took our vows? Absolutely NOT! And, guess what, we wouldn't have it any other way! As Christians, we believe God when He says in His word that "We all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God." That means that we are not perfect and that the world around us will guarantee only one thing and that is CHANGE! I am so happy that I am married to this wonderful, caring, fallible HUMAN BEING and he chooses to love imperfect me with all my faults, blemishes and flaws! He even tells me how smart, beautiful and wonderful I am almost everyday! He is obviously blinded by my beauty! Oops, I let that slip. The truth is, Love is Blind. Not to say, you should blindly fall in love, but that love covers a multitude of sin! Is that mixing my metaphors? I heard a speaker once say that a married couple fills in the gaps of each other. He said if there is a crack or a faulty part, the love of the mate should actually be a "filler" that augments, fills in the gap or spaces. I think that is what God means when He says that the two shall become one. Two people, not perfect, but two people who are equally enhancing a relationship: "fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears". At our wedding, we had certain Bible verses that we wanted read. Frank wanted to give those to the Minister before our ceremony, but there was not time. Guess what? The minister quoted the VERY VERSES we had wanted! We also asked CMommy (she was just C then --before she became a mommy!) to read a passage from Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet that I am placing here for you all to read. And I put some memories together to one of our favorite songs. (This is taking longer than expected, so it will be here someday!



"You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."