.................................................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!!!
Log-in Name & Password?

....................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."

______________Good Guide and Skin Deep

Frank and I watch Bill Moyers Journal on PBS (KOCE HD, ch. 409 here in Ventura County, CA!) Awhile back he had a program about how we can make a difference by the choices we make when we shop! This first site I am listing is so cool because it not only tells you if the product is good for you, but if it is good for the environment--therefore, how its production impacts our world! It has categories like food (things like levels of baby food based upon their age and weight), personal care (things like baby care, hair care, and makeup, household chemicals(air fresheners and detergents), and toys(baby and young children, sports equipment, and learning toys). It makes companies more accountable not just for the quality of their products, but for the quality of the way they do business! I know we are all not going to make a grocery list and then go to this website to check the entire list, but if we just would go to this site occasionally and look up ONE THING we buy regularly, it can make a real impact upon companies and the choices they make to produce that product. I know it is a small step, but if everyone does it, we can make a difference! I always love the example of Lady Bird Johnson, first lady from 1963 to 1969. She started a campaign called "Beautify America". It was mostly a grassroots effort to clean up our communities. But it worked! All of the sudden, people were out in groups picking up trash along the streets and highways. She also lead an effort and was instumental in Congress passing an act to stop huge billboards from blocking our view of nature! Again, there was a real impact: many signs were taken down and many, many new signs were denied access to our Interstate and Highway roadsides. Don't ever become overwhelmed with the information explosion, but embrace your little piece of it. http://www.goodguide.com/ MamaL &PDaddy's friend has a similar blog too: http://green-lemonade.com/

The other website they talked about that day was http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ . It has safety guides to cosmetics and a link to things like the 2009 guide to sunscreen www.ewg.org/whichsunscreensarebest/2009report . Again I know we are all "bargain shoppers" but sometimes we are willing to spend a little more if we know for sure the product we are buying is worth the extra pennies or dollars!







On a personal note, I have purchased 5 of the cloth bags (3 from Albertson's Grocery store and 2 from Walmart, and none from Trader Joes, although I look at them everytime I shop there and think they look so cool with their surfboards and wine bottles on them! --but I am too cheap! lol I mean, I got the 3 from Albertson's for free because I bought the Disney movie Wall-E for $19.95 and they gave me 3 bags--what a deal, right? and I got the 2 from Wally world because they were on sale for $.50! But the Trader Joe's are $1.99 and up, so I am holding out!) Now the true confession is that I remember to take these bags out of the trunk of my car about 1/2 the time I enter a store! Half the plastic bags or paper ones, is 1/2 as much, right? Oh well, I do use the plastic bags to clean up doggie poop when I walk Pete and kitty poop when I clean Shadows litter. (But that is a whole other environmental issue, in my opinion! I mean, what are we thinking? I know no ones want the little deposits or big deposits stinking up our living areas but by picking it up, we are placing in containers that are tough for nature to break down, whereas the poop would break down very quickly and actually fertilize the area! If you care to read my further ideas on this subject and away to turn it around and actually create a new energy source, then read my http://grandmasgottablog.blogspot.com/2008/11/not-drill-baby-but-scoop-baby-scoop.html . )

..................GRANBECKS' CALIFORNIA CHICKEN AND RICE

OKAY, so I failed my music challenge! But, hey, so did you all! I asked for songs, but I think that would have required for you to have visited and read my blog! It's okay, I do not hold grudges...I mean, just because I went to all the trouble...oh, wait, that sounds grudging! Really, I am over it and moving on to...FOOD!

I just read a funny mystery entitled, Carrot Cake Murder. The author is Joanne Fluke and her main character, Hannah owns and operates her own cookie store where people stop in for a cup of coffee and a cookie! Of course, the mysteries come in, when Hannah finds a dead body! (I've read three of her books now and there have been 3 dead bodies!! All in the little town of Lake Eden, Minnesota! Hmmmm...very mysterious that Hannah always finds those dead bodies, isn't it?) Anyway, they are funny and light--if you can get over the dead body parts--not body parts--but the part of the book that deals with a dead body--oh, well, you get the idea, right? Good summer reads to put on your Kindle I, II, or III, or to do it the old fashioned way and buy the book!

Frank's kids just got him a Kindle 2 for his birthday last February and I read it the time! In other words, thanks girls, I love Frank's gift!

Throughout Fluke's books, she puts the recipes for her cookies or any other things that she is cooking. In the Carrot Cake Murder she was helping the Beeseman family with many casseroles for their family reunion out at Eden Lake's cabins. The one that caught my eye and I decided to try last night was called Clara and Marguarite's Mexican Hotdish. I changed it up a little (I get that habit from my mom who could always feed her 7 kids or any army of kids and grandkids that showed up hungry with whatever she had in her fridge and cabinets at the time!). I figured that because it is summer, we should use the slow cooker because it creates less heat in the house. Also, it makes it easy to walk away and do other summer stuff while it is cooking!

The one thing I could not resist, and I am glad I didn't, were the Fritos and cheese melted over the top! I did have to heat my oven, but only for a few minutes to brown the top, verses a couple of hours, which is what the original recipe called for. I love our slow cooker, because the crock is removable and I put it in the oven--I did not even stir the chicken mixture. I just put the stuff on top and baked it for about 10 minutes. Frank even went to the store and bought a bag of Frito Chips and a bag (8 ounces)of Mexican shredded 4-cheese blend. The Fritos were delicious this way, but I do think the tortilla chips and any shredded cheese would be good! I divided the bag of cheese in half and put the first half in the mixture to slow cook and the second half over the top with the chips.

Here is the recipe with my notes added. If you have questions or comments, just put them at the bottom here on my blog comments or on my Facebook page! Bon Apetite!

NOTE: DO NOT DRAIN YOUR CANNED ITEMS! YOU NEED THE LIQUID FOR THE RICE!
1 pound fully cooked chicken, cut or shredded into bite size pieces
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
or if you can find it,1 (10.5 oz.) Enchilada sauce with 1 (14.5 oz.) diced tom.
1 (14.5 oz.) can of chicken broth
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
1 medium onion
1 cup of shredded cheese (the mexican 4 cheese blend is excellent!)
1/2 cup chopped green pepper ---you can use all green or all red if that is what
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper ------you have on hand!
1 cup salsa ---or add a (10.5 oz.) can of diced tomatoes and green chilies and
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies ----skip the salsa and can of green chilies
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning (if you use the enchilada sauce, it may have enough seasoning...just depends on how spicy your family likes their food!)

4 tablespoons of butter Cut into 8 pieces and placed over the top of mixture
NOTE: DO NOT DRAIN YOUR CANNED ITEMS! YOU NEED THE LIQUID FOR THE RICE! If I sound like I am repeating myself, I am! I used this much liquid and my dish was very thick, but perfect, in my opinion. Frank really loved this too and I think he was sceptical at first.

DIRECTIONS
In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients; stir to blend. Put pieces of butter on top so it can drip down into the mixture as it cooks. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high 2-3 hours until rice is tender. You DO NOT have to stir this while it is cooking--just leave it alone! So it is great if you have a busy day!

What really makes this scrumptious is putting it into a baking dish (or using your crock if it will remove from your slow cooker) and sprinkling about 2 cups of Frito or Tortilla Chips on top with the other half of your package of shredded cheese. Place in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned slightly.

Frank made some of his cornbread with a couple tablespoons of chopped jalapenos and sweet corn thrown in. This worked out perfect, because the oven was already on for my dish!

What's in that glass??

Hannah's other recipes in this book were: Viking Cookies, Salmon Cakes, Dill Sauce, Edna's Easy Celery Sauce, Hannah's Special Carrot Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, Raison Drops, Cocoa Fudge Cake, Chocolate Frosting, Neverfail Fudge Frosting, Funeral Hotdish, Sally's Sunny Vegetable Salad, Red Velvet Cookies, Rocky Road Bar Cookies (S'mores), Party Cookies, Lemon Fluff Jell-O, Wanmansita Casserole, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, Scandinavian Almond Cake, Black Forest Brownies.

I guess if you are dieting, it is not a good idea to read one of these novels! But if you are just "letting it all hang out" for summer, then it is an enjoyable light read for the sitting out at the pool or lounging under your shade tree with a large iced tea--Long Island or not! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Love in Any Language

Okay, we went to church, we sang, we prayed, we listened, we shared the wine and the bread....ahhh...refreshed!
Okay, we went to TGIFriday's after church, we prayed, we talked, we drank wine, we ate salads and marinated steaks....ahhh...refreshed!
And feeling contented, I decided to share something "old school" with you. I used to attend the Gaither's Praise Gathering every fall in Indianapolis and actually get to watch all these folks up close and in person, well, me and 10,000 other witnesses!! But it was amazing how accessable all the people were to us. I have spoken to almost all of them through those years, yes, even Sandi Patti!
I hope you listen and enjoy and that it will refresh you this Sunday evening.

________________Did the Music stop?

I know this is weird, but I am in a place where I cannot bring forth the song I want to share. I have started this about 5 different times today and I am still struggling. I am listening to a tribute to Michael Jackson on YouTube and even it is not inspiring me. T-Ma, our daughter in law said the his music "eclipsed his life". Accepting the art as something we felt.

It is a strange feeling that I am having...but real and I am going to try again tomorrow.

_________________Michael Jackson, 1959-2009

I know there are mixed emotions out there about the loss of Michael Jackson yesterday, but I did think it was ironic that I had started these posts about music on the very day we lost such an iconic music figure. His life was controversial and I think sad for the most part. It always amazes me how screwed up money and more importantly, fame can make a person. I do not think we will ever know the whole truth of his life, but I guess the same can be said about any life. But Michael Jackson did contribute so much to so many aspecs of music and dance in my lifetime so this is a "tribute to the music and dance". As for the man, I will let God be the final judge. My prayers do go out to his family, because I know the pain of losing a brother. This is an old tune, because when I first saw the Jackson 5, I was amazed at the talent, especially of the little brother, Michael.

By the way, I was born in 1953, so I was probably about 12 years old when I first saw these guys perform. I think this was about 1972, so I was about 19 years old when this was on Soul Train!

..................................For a Dream

I picture us together, framed in golden leaf

On the mantle with the others-One big, happy family

But that snapshot can't be found, I don't trust my memory,

But it's alright, alright for a dream.

I imagine that we're all gathered, this time not dressed in black

All laughing and smiling, Not stabbing in the back,

But it's too good to be true, And too bad I still recall the screams,

But it's alright, it's alright for a dream.

I keep half the picture mostly in my mind,

Mama dressed in white ripped where she held your hand

Showing no signs of age just slightly frayed along the seam,

But it's alright, it's alright for a dream.

It's alright all that I can claim; It's alright and it will have to do

It's alright better than the pain; It's alright better than the truth

It's alright Alright for a dream; It's alright better than fate & the grand scheme

It's alright ; It's alright

For Christmas and for New Year I wish and I resolve

But I'm disappointed by myself, Jesus, and Santa Claus

I want to believe se's been saved and he's been redeemed

And it's alright it's alright

For a dream

Okay! I know this song is a downer, but when I first heard Tracy Chapman sing it (singer and composer), it did remind me of my family somewhat. In fact, in my mind, I asked, 'Why didn't I write that?' It's because we live in a world where pictures, videos and all kinds of messages bombard us and tell us what is the "perfect family". But with reality TV, it has not taken long to dispell what the media and Hollywood images tried to put forth for many years.

As I said in my last blog, I love music. It takes us to places in our minds where we once were or where we think we should have been or where we someday will be or where we never want to go?

Last month, MamaLouise did 30 blogs to complete 100 in a year!! Kudos to her! I am going to attempt to place 20 songs in 20 days here on my blog. If you read it and it inspires you or reminds you of a favorite tune or you just want me to share your tune with my readers, then send me the name and artist or writer of the song and I will try to post your one of those 20 days!

>>>>>>>>it touches my soul and moves me to tears....

It is music. Always has, always will!

Papa Frank & I first lived just outside Nashville, TN and it was heavenly. We had this amazing deck that overlooked the Cumberland River. And we had music. Everywhere you looked and everywhere you went, there was a spiritual connection between the beauty around us and the sound of music being made somewhere close by.

Music is important. And I know that it is for everyone. It is why we sing lullabyes to our babies. It is why babies can dance before they can walk. No one has to teach us. It fills our fibers and spills out. I know there is the adage that "white men can't dance". But, you know what, it does not matter if they can or not, because they do! They may not have the same rhythm as their black brothers, but there is that feeling that moves everyone when we hear that song.

One of things Papa F and I discovered a show called Crossroads when we were in Nashville. It takes two different genres of artists and allows them to perform their songs together and there is this blending. Anyway, we have found this amazing station on HD tv channels here in southern CA and they have concert after concert with amazing song videos in between but they also have CROSSROADS!!!! Right this very minute I am watching Tricia Yearwood and Babyface performing. How wonderful!

Now MamaLouise will laugh when she sees that I have finally done a blog entry again, because U just called her and explained that Papa F & I had just finished a dinner out together! Okay, we found this amazing little Italian restaurant run by a little Italian guy who has just moved here from, you guessed it, ITALY! Well, he suggested that we have a 'house cabernet' with our dinner... and who are we to argue? It was the kind of wine that burns the back of your throat and then a warmth envelopes you, then a slight warm breeze is gently blowing.

One glass of this magical potion and I probably should not have driven home, but I did. (And I did pray before I left the parking lot that God was watching over my every move!) Put down the top, perfect CA evening, pop in my Tracy Chapman's newest CD. I wanted to take a roadtrip!! But I drove home (about 5 minute drive). When I got home and turned on the big screen, there was Tricia and Babyface. Just about as good as having a front row seat in a small club, huh?

I know this is not a cataclysmic moment. But it is one of those blessed tiny moments where it just hits you: this life is so short and music should fill as many moments as possible!

Now, I will address my daughter. Mamalouise, you have been blessed with a gift: your voice! I hope and pray that someday soon, you will find an outlet that will allow you to use your talent. I know I am THE MOM. But you have a special ability and I only want you to never doubt it. I know it takes an exeptional energy and vulnerability to put yourself out there. Just be courageous.

....................................................to my belles-filles

My belles-filles! I like that! Happy Mother's Day, Belles-Filles! I just completed a Mother's Day Blog below where I talked about my biological children, grandchild and my own dear, sweet mom. But I did not even mention some of the most important and special people in my life since the day I married my sweetheart, Papa-F! This is in away an apology to his children/grandchildren and to the memory of their their beautiful mother, Jackie. From all that I have heard and all the positive qualities I see in her children's lives, she seemed to be a great wife and MOTHER! They were married for 25 years before cancer took her from their lives. I know to some extent, from losing my own mother how hard this had to have been, however, both of Jackie's children were alot younger when she died. I know too that they loved her and that she was and always will be their mom.

Our families had not even met until we got married, August 3, 2003. They all lived in different areas of the country, so we decided to get married in Las Vegas. We were happy when all of the kids and many of our relatives could attend our ceremony there. There were actually 22 people at our wedding at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas!







That was the beginning of our new "blended family". When the pictures were taken, I tried to explain relationships to the photographer and she said, "You can no longer say 'my children' or 'his children', as of today, they are 'our children'." And it hit me, she was correct! We had discussed how our children would deal with our marriage, but we had pretty much agreed that because they were adults or old enough to make their own decisions, they would be okay with our union. But I also knew that my children have their dad and that our marriage would never interfere or change that. Nor would our union change what Papa F's children had with their mom!


But there is a new relationship that forms. And as with any human relationship, the real tide that binds is time spent with the other person. And with our seperate geographical locations, it is not really something that any of us deal with on a regular basis!


Here is what I am trying to say: I feel so blessed! Papa-F's son is a very loving and caring person and he is married to a lovely young lady. He has a terrific 9 year old son who we have not seen much, but who seems to be a great boy. His daughter is a wonderful woman who has a beautiful 3 year old daughter with her loving spouse. All of them have made me feel very accepted and cared for whenever we are together or talk on the phone. My husband has said the same thing about my kids.



But I do not like labeling these folks "stepchildren" or "stepgrandchildren". I do not like the expressions? So, I have adopted the term "Belles-Filles" on this Mother's Day! Now if I could just find something that works better than "blended family". We are not blended. We are still who we are! But we do respect and care about each other. I have grown to love my belles-filles. They really are special and precious to me.
I also failed to mention our other belles-filles who is married to my daughter. He too is a great guy and I love him.

We are all going to get together and celebrate this Christmas and I can't wait! I look forward to us all getting to know each other better and making memories that we can share and enjoy for many years to come!

So, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to ALL of YOU!

............................................Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, Everyone! TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS--The beginning of motherhood for me! What a great journey began November 11, 2008. She was/is so perfect, so beautiful and full of her own dynamic, sparkling personality.

TWENTY-FOUR YEARS--Another beginning! A great adventure began December 18, 1984. He was/is so perfect, so handsome and full of his own dynamic, charming personality.

You wonder after having your first born, "How can I possibly love any other baby/child as much as I love this one?" But that is the powerful, magical thing about parental LOVE! It is like God's agape love. It is limitless and inclusive. At least for me. That was truly my experience.


These two individuals were as different as night and day, from their sex, to their physical appearance, to their personalities from day one.











Time did fly. How long ago was it that I was holding my babies? It really seems I should be going to coach a softball game for Michelle this spring at Lincoln Park or watching Michael and his dad practicing baseball at the Legion. Was that just yesterday that I watched Michelle perform with the RedCoats or warch Michael play his guitar on the tool box on the back of his dad's truck in our driveway? Or did we go to the Elk's pool and spend our entire day sunning, swimming, picnicing, and visiting with friends?

Fast-forward: September 13, 2007. Another brand new soul, brand new person, brand new personality...minutes old...there in my arms. How could this be? There was my baby glowing as she watched me forming those first seconds of love bonding with her new baby/person! So many emotions passed between the connection of my eyes to his ageless vision. In those eyes I saw her and him. (I am not going to elaborate on her or him because it was a multitude of them.)

SO, I SAY, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY,! Celebrate life on this day and everyday in that energetic, embracing vital way that only you can. Hold your baby for precious moments to build lasting memories that will sustain you when you sit on a day a long way down life's road. And remember, as the song says, "Slow down, 'cause you're going to miss this!"

I cannot let Mom's Day pass without mentioning my mom! I miss you everyday, Mom. You are the example I try to live by and set for my kids.Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch
A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"
But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!
But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.
The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!
But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.
That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.
Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy Mommy you'll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang:
I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.
(This was sent to me but originally taken from book by Robert Munsch.I recommend his books. See: http://www.robertmunsch.com )

Sometimes you just have to:
shovel after the parade.

I heard this recently and exploded into laughter. It was in reference to Suleman who just had octuplets, which is not a laughing matter, but the expression caught me as very funny! It made me think about what you have to do sometimes...

• accept the losses Phrank reflecting
  
• celebrate victories Brother John,b-ball champs, '59
  


• throw the dinner down the disposal



• eat humble pie


• crawl out from under the bar stool


• tread water for awhile


• head for deeper water VP, Channel Islands, CA
  
• sweep up the broken glass
  
• get out vacuumJD vacuuming
  
• join in the pillow fight
  
• take 2 aspirin and call the doctor
  
• get up outta bed
  
• remember the way we were PDad & MLou, Wedding 9/4/4
  
• imagine how we can be
  
• see the possibilities JD with twins at Butler University
• walk before I run
  
• swing for the fences VP
  
• dust off my pants as I head back to the dugout
  
• punt
  
• take the charge
  
• shut my mouth JD with the girls
  
• say the hard thing
  
• forget to omit
  
• ask forgiveness for the things I have not done that I should have done


• ask forgiveness for the things I did do that I should not have done


• forgive someone even though they do not deserve it


• forgive myself even though I do not deserve it
  
• avoid the puddles after a rainstorm



Turtle playing in a fountain in L.A.

• splash in the puddles after a rainstorm


• share your umbrella


• shovel the snow away from my door
• put on my gear and trudge through the mess JD in the snow '09
  
• use my last ounce
  
• let go
  
• hold onTurtle, hanging in there!
  
• use a thicker picker upper
  
• spray some febreeze
  
• share a rideTurtle at Santa Monica Pier
  
• add some a garlic
  
• what's your sometimes you just got to?