GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Today I join my countrymen in remembering and celebrating a most holy day, MEMORIAL DAY. Although not a religious holiday, Memorial Day conjures a spirit of reverence and gratitude that is akin to that of worshipping God. I am grateful for the men and women who serve to protect the US and other countries; for those who have sacrificed so much to serve the right of freedom. Because of their commitment to something greater than themselves, I get to choose how to spend each moment of my life. Today at 3pm you can join other Americans in a National Moment of Remembrance for all those who have fallen.

Jesus said to his disciples,

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Countdown to Remembrance

My Sentiments on 36 Years of Marriage to Sonny Long

Thank you, Sonny, for being by my side for the last wonderful 36 years. Our wedding day is still vivid in my mind and my emotions as if it happened only yesterday. I can still see your face as I came up the aisle to join my life with yours. I would do it all again.

This song is dedicated to you... my brave, strong and steadfast Knight in Shining Armor.

Happy Anniversary
 May 19, 2009

DITTO FOR MAY 19, 2010     Very, very grateful for another year together navigating this thing called "life."

Introducing Kari Jobe...

I am grateful for Kari Jobe and young women like her; young women who have a discovered the joy of singing for the Lord. As Kari says, connecting people to the heart of God through song has been my single highest joy in life. Holding my newborn babies is the only thing that compares to that experience. My daughters are grown now. They are both beautiful women. God has given each of them the gift of song as well with distinctive voices and expressive ability. God give each of us "the gift of song" with which to praise Him. I challenge you sing a song of praise today, even if it's where no one else can hear. God hears and He is present in the praises of His people. Blessings to you, Kari, and to all the young women of faith!

Life Begets Life

My niece, Allison, and her husband, Derek, welcomed the newest member of our family on February 24, 2009. I got to hold him when he was only hours old! What a joy! I haven't held a newborn since my eighteen year-old presented herself.

I find myself envisioning the fun times he will have at his Great-aunt Lisa's house; fishing in the lake, swimming in the pool, jumping on the trampoline, baking cookies, playing the piano just to name a few. Happy Days are here again!! I am grateful for Elliot and tiny fingers and toes, healthy delivery for Allie, amazing support from Derek. I am especially grateful to witness my sister, Tanya, become a grandmother and Allison's dad, Chester, become a grandfather. Oh the years, they come and they go...and life goes on...and life is good!

NOT JUST ANOTHER SEPTEMBER

We've all been blasted from complacency here in Southeast Texas by Hurricane Ike. I, for one, am extremely fortunate to have suffered only minor setbacks because of the storm. My house and property are intact, and we are very comfortable even though we are still without electricity on day 15 of the aftermath. You won't find me complaining about having to camp out in my own home when others have lost their homes and everything they owned including their beloved pets. Of course, there are also those who have lost family members or friends or even their own lives. The distress and anguish of many is beyond any comparison to the inconveniences of being ranked with the "lucky" ones. I am grateful for time spent with dear friends and for generous hospitality given to us for ten days. We love you, Susan. I am grateful for loved ones who cleared our long driveway of fallen trees, limbs and debris so we could reach our house when we returned home. Thank you Derek and Allison for lending your help and strength while Uncle Sonny was recovering from surgery. Also, thanks for letting Abby stay with you for almost a week. It may have preserved her teenage sanity during this time. It is no surprise to anyone who knows my sister, Tanya, that she spared me a great deal of stress by helping me gather the valuables from my house on the day of evacuation. She took an entire carload of things back home with her, including my two dogs, Yeti and Daisy. She picked them both up from the kennel on her way out of town, and they are still with her at my parents home. This is after she spent the entire day before from 5am until 9pm at the hospital with me during my husband's surgery for prostate cancer. My sister seems to always be there when I need her the most. How blessed I am to be her little sister. I'm also grateful to Mom and Dad and my brother, Carl, for their love and support during this difficult time and for helping take care of my dogs. I'll continue this tomorrow because I don't want to leave anything out. I have soooo much to be grateful for. Til then......

THE POWER OF COMMITMENT?

Have you ever noticed how the minute you "commit" to something, like giving up chocolate or coffee, brushing your teeth three times a day, keeping a journal or, of course, the universal "diet and exercise" you not only fall off the wagon immediately, you break both legs in the process! I think the latent willfullness from childhood rises up and says to our subconscious minds, "Nobody is going to make me do anything? Not even ME!" Anyway, this is my current explanation for self-sabotage. Kind of embarrassing now that I've seen it in print; so much for 53-year-old maturity. On the bright side, now that I've figured out the villain behind this mind-boggling phenomenon surely I'll manage to get more than one gratitude entry a week posted to this blog. One can only hope. I am grateful for my sister's and brother's healings from cancer this past year. Our God thinks of everything. Thank you, Father and Our Lord Christ Jesus. I am grateful for Abby and Kate and Sonny who fill so much of who I am. I am grateful for solitude and peaceful, quiet times like now, with no TV. I am grateful for God's provision through my wonderful husband. I am grateful that all of my close family members are still living. I am blessed, truly blessed.

Late Afternoon

Late afternoon has always been a favorite time of day for me. Probably because it has such a "lazy" feel to it. It brings back memories of Mother and Daddy sitting in lawn chairs under the shade of our big old oak trees enjoying a cup of coffee together while us kiddos played in the yard. Depending on the shift Daddy was working, this might be followed by a sit-down dinner at home or a family outing to the burger joint. We would usually drop by my Aunt Bessie's and Uncle Archie's for a short visit before returning home for baths and bedtime. A few things I'm grateful for: lazy afternoons, aluminum lawn chairs, parents, coffee, oak trees, going barefoot, cousins, orange soda with crushed ice, Chevy station wagons with no carpet, Mimosa trees with pink blossoms, no homework, sleeping with the windows open to the sound of crickets.