Like a Frog...Spring comes bouncing in....

I am getting excited about SPRINGTIME...I need the refreshing change. I have loved the last few days of UNseasonably beautiful sunshine....can you believe...almost 100 degrees yesterday and this is still February in Central Texas?

We had the joy of traveling a couple of weekends ago (on Valentines Day) to see our son & daughter-in-law and 3 little energy boxes, often referred to as kiddoes. ha ha Oh, how my BODY in it's old age and medicated world... wanted to borrow some of their energy & power.

We had a blast. They were the very GREATEST of host & hostesses...each and all. Wonderful awesome 'steaks by son' and over all yummy foods and decorations!!!

We had the greatest pleasure of going for an awesome mornings drive...perfect day...clear skies/sunshine...to see the great Indian territory of Buffalo Gap--where BOTH the Indians and our early pioneering Texans drove herds of buffalo BETWEEN two mountains in order to slaughter. Sadly...the Indians did so for FOOD...and the early cowboys did it 'just for the MONEY that the buffalo hides would bring.


Then we traveled on--up and down valleys---at an awesome speed of 90 mph---no other traffic ANYWHERE folks....(this Grama had a blast teaching her grandkids...how to FLY and sing as we raced DOWN each empty valley...and then to 'groan' as we climbed UP the next mountain. The Kids adored it...as my OWN used to do when they were little). Then the JOY of seeing the beauty of the awesome flat top mountain and eventually to see the massive WIND FARMS of gigantic wind turbines/mills...as tall as buildings---covering every mountain, for as far as you could see---which seemed like FOREVER. So neat.... Remarkable site...remarkable science.

Above is family on top of a mountain viewing the wind turbines...awesome sight and hard to visualize the vastness of it all.

Additionally another fun venture we did with the kids....was VISIT ....Prairie Dog Town!!! This is something that I have always loved since our own kids were little. We often visited the one south of San Marcos. These little animals are so cute and so entertaining! It was all such fun that it was hard to come back home...to the every day things of life. And yes, I AM very, very grateful for LIFE...but isn't fun to just 'break away' and do something different once in a while. We had such fun.

There is only one drawback from having a wonderful time....the OLDER you are..the MORE you get JET LAG....even when you weren't on a jet. hahaha Well, just like clockwork...after the nice venture....my body WENT into Jet Lag mode....just like this frog!!! Pain was my reward for being up and enjoying life....and pain likes to bring along it's buddy...negative thinking and depression...grrr...regardless how you try. And like a FROG...these are waters that I swim in almost daily ---ha ha So, you can see why I sort of enjoy the little frogs world. ha ha


After our wonderful adventure...I simply went 'Kaputttt'. So, I was grateful that my daughter in law chose to write a wonderful blog about our great weekend. Her pictures helped me 'get through' the jet lag and swim in the "froggie" water of medications & hurting physically. ha ha

I have written poetry since Jr high about animals/bugs and loved to watch people reaction as they read. Sometimes poetry....like songs/music.... are funny...sometimes wise...and sometimes sad or lonely. The last two ....come much too often for people who have pain---

(and isn't it so doggone hard to 'fake it' and when somebody ask you, 'how are you doing'... and you know darn well they really don't want to hear the truth...so you don't tell the truth and simply say "oh fine" Sic joke.. hahahaha We humans are so 'off-the-wall' in some things. But at least its fun to be able to laugh at ourselves.


Amuzingly...I read once that a Cynic is a person who smells 'flowers' and quickly looks around the room for the 'casket'. ha ha

Mercy...that's the last thing I want to be...but sometimes---I AM...I have to admit...I see more caskets than I smell the awesome flowers of life. ha ha Esp. when I hurt. And from talking to a jillion people from all walks of life....who trust me and tell me their problems ....& ask for my advise or prayers....often both---I know...for sure--- that I'm not alone. ha ha


A couple of months ago the doctors tv show said 'that it takes us 70 HOURS to physically overcome just one NEGATIVE thought. Whew...that's tough. I have some friends who could 'certainly... use a TIME OUT. HA HA....(they are the type of people that make ME count my blessings really quick...ha ha) And I can honestly say that I am thankful that most of my real friends are not like that---it helps me Not to be, as well.

They also went on to say that it takes us at least 21 days to stop an old bad habit and to start a new one. (why can't these two things be a little more BALANCED. HA HA) ---I'm sure that I stretch those numbers to the max---- it takes me years...not days...since I still....know my bad habits...I just can't seem to get to the... 21 days. ha ha)


So this morning, when I found the following poem about two little FROGs and I loved it's wisdom that it so cutely reflects.....and I couldn't help but think...'thanks Lord...I need this one today!


I love cute graphics and little animals...and poetry. (maybe this will brighten your day as well...with a cute closing: ....burr-ribbet, burribet....)

Once upon a time....

Two little frogs fell into a can of cream,
Or...at least...so it was told.
The sides of the can were shiny and steep,
The cream was deep and very, very cold.

"Oh, what's the Use?" said frog number one,
"Tis Fate...there's certainly no help around.
Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye sad world!''
And while weeping loudly....the little frog drowned.

Frog number two...of sterner stuff...
Began to 'dog paddle'...with vigor and surprise,
Then wiped away his Creamy face...
and he tried to dry his Creamy eyes...

He thought "At least I will swim for a while"
Or so the story went and so it was said...
"After all it really wouldn't help the world much...
If one more FROG was dead!" ***

For hours the frog kicked and swam,
And not once did he stop to mutter....
But he kicked and swam...and kicked and swam...
Then quickly he HOPPED right OUT....via the BUTTER!

(We gotta keep kicking, gotta keep swimming ---be safe, be happy & be blest

Happy Valentines Day.....

Valentines Day....Wow...the joy of Love, the joy of laughter, a sense of humor, the joy of Falling in Love,.... Being in Love,.... Being married and happy...or simply.... the love life....as Jesus provided as the creator and First love OF LIFE. As our first Valentine....may He bless your Day and you realize the Blessings! May the silly humor of the jokes belows bring you laughter,...a chuckle... or help you overcome some of the situations of life. Although I may not totally agree with all of the following...I do find great humor in creative writing and brain twisting silliness of every day events. So..I hope you will be blest and have a wonderful Valentines day loving and laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Ponderings of Every day life.....

The honeymoon is over when the husband calls home to say he'll be late for dinner and the answering machine says it is in the microwave.

Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage.They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.

How do most men define marriage? A very expensive way to get your laundry done.

A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" And the father replied, "I don't know, son, I'm still paying for it."

A couple was having a discussion about family finances. Finally the husband exploded, "If it weren't for my money, the house wouldn't be here!" The wife replied, "My dear, if it weren't for your money, I wouldn't be here."

A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.

Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener.

The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

Cosmetics: A woman's way of keeping a man from reading between the lines.

Words to live by: Do not argue with a spouse who is packing your parachute or carrying a gun.

Boring husband: Honey, why are you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?
Bored wife: Because I married the wrong man!

First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"
Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive.

Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand.

Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.

When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.

(not so for everyone tho)

Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.

A ladies husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months yet she stayed by his bedside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business fell, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side.

When I think about it now. ....I think you bring me bad luck!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~and life goes on....ha ha ha

Happy Valentines Day.....lots of hearts, flowers and Chocolate hugs & kisses

Cruising the Caribbean...what a way to go?

We be cruisin.........1st day at sea....oh, how sweet it is!!!
THEN WE are HIGH JACKED at Sea...... during evening dinner ......and yes, that is a real pirate with a gun in my face.....and his beard in my eyes.... :-)

These hilarious working girls were meer tourist ...not entertainers...just 3 chubby women who decided it would be fun to come on the ship dressed as '3 FAIRY PIGS'---AND THEY WERE!!!. ugly, funny, yet so darn entertaining. THEY HAD A BLAST and everybody loved them---- (we had a picture taken with them...but I am certainly NOT going to put it on the internet....HAHAHAHAHA

They have a 'talent night' on the ship where anyone can get on stage and 'show their talent'. It was hilarious....and some very, very talented people. One group of ladies dressed up as CLOWNS and put on a show---they do this as hospital volunteers back home. One of our own 93 year old lady from OUR bus group from Waco....played the harmonica....playing the 'Yellow Rose of Texas and The Eyes of Texas are Upon You....awesome/hilariously cute/bounced like rubber ball as she played....and she was the only TALENT that got a STANDING OVATION from the whole audience!!! And her name.... "HarveyLee" ??? never heard that before on a woman. (oh yes, we also went to the Karaoke bar...which is really an awesome theatre---saw the good, bad, pitiful and not so good talents there as well...but fun and posh to say the least)

Picture of our ship... This is a shot of our SISTER CARNIVAL SHIP, Fantasy, in Cozumel, Mexico. We docked side by side, unloaded at the same time. Awesome sight. Our ship the Ecstasy is voted by tourist as the #l, top ship of Carnival's 22 ships---No 1 in service to tourist, best food, best Entertainment and Entertainment Director. Our nightly shows were top rate, tons of color, music and glitz and glitter...talent....and head dresses and costumes from all eras and cultures. (but we couldn't take photos/videos)

INSIDE EVERY MAN....is a little boy.... ha ha

My hubby Just HAD to get a tattoo!!! temporary that is... and 'she was sooo cute''''hahaha He surprised me with his idea of the 'Best Present Ever" for our 50th wedding anniversary~~~~ his tattoo: Gloria & Jim 50 years in blue and a huge red heart outlined in blackwith an arrow! touching..tsk tsk (it really was cute and all our friends LOVED his silliness and reasonings.....jus jim :-)

Then the other arm....naturally....as a real Texan who is not fond of horses or cows....he HAD to have BARBED WIRE tattooed in blue and black. Again...and SHE was sooo cute...ha haha (yall got tha picture. ha ha...I loved it ...soon to be 70 years old and he still likes A touch of the WILD SIDE. HAHAHAHAHA) That's my guy of 52 yrs. :-)

Below: Jim and I are on the top deck of our ship....looking over the side (and yes, we held tightly and securely to the railing)....watching the TWO CARNIVAL SHIPS unload tourist at Coszumel, Mexico where Mayan dances and witch doctors danced and made photos to the entering tourist.

This is just a photo of the two ships Ecstasy and Fantasy both unloading at the same time. Most of the people had already gone through when I took the picture. It had been a massive mess of people...so funny to watch from above...like a fly on the wall.

This is the center Atrium of the ship. Absolutely beautiful and yet hard for the true colors of bluish purple to come through in photo. This was 7 or 8 stories high and the purple lights trimmed the whole Atrium. The gold staircase, trimmed in the awesome lighting was also note worthy; lots of creative art work. They had 12 or 14 elevators but naturally WE took these glass ones as many times as possible....even tho with my rolling walker....it gave me the WILLIES to stand on the outer edge of thing. Like floating in air....or 'falling 7 or 8 stories down' ha hahaha

This was just one portion of the port at Progresso, Yacatan. Huge immigration port complete with very large Mariache (sp) band greeters and gift shops every where....but ....this has been built rather recently.....waaaaay out in the sea....a long, long road built from the island OUT into the sea to a MAN MADE ISLAND in order to meet the huge tourist ships (at the depth...they have to have)
This is now popular because it is the closest port to the majority of Maya numerous pyramids and historical sites of the nation. I went to see the awesome most popular Chicken niza in 1996 and it was one of the most impressive events and sites of my whole life. The scientific technology is beyond and unknown to our scientist today....yet they were destroyed.


Below:

This is OUR LAST NIGHT at dinner in the fanciest of fancy dining areas. Tons of lights ...not behind us but above. But truthfully....hubby was 'begging' to have his FEET ON DIRT by this time. We both...sadly caught AWFUL.... BAD bad COLDS the 2nd day out and felt horrible physically from the coughing...no meds or cough drops anywhere...lots of liquor but it doesn't mix with all my tons of meds and he wouldn't drink if I didn't--dummy...ha ha

but I luv im....ADD all that to the misery/pain galore.... of me having to be on a rolling walker on rolling waters ....pushing through rolling lines and crowds of 1000's of people in sometimes tiny places...like elevators. Yes, we had a blast and loved it all dearly.....but also....THIS PICTURES reflects that we DRY LANDERS were very tired, very sick of hurting and ready to feel grass and dirt beneath our feet.

I am a THREE DAY vacation person anyway....so I knew this would be a long stretch for me...but I didn't think my hubby would be RESTLESS by the 3rd day. ha ha But he was. Below, it was sort of a sad time~~~last evening away....we were pulling out of dock from Cozumel, Mexico...it was about 5 PM and most every one was enjoying the awesome warm top deck swimming pool contests, game, entertainment of Raggai music....sipping from cute Carnival cups of creations...tea and sodas and I looked back to shore.....and saw our sister ships STILL SITTING IN THE THE DOCK....and we were leaving....never to return...again. Yes, the sight of the two ships were truly awesomely beautiful but it did make my heart twist, knowing we had had the greatest of joys and now it was all coming to an end and we would never be able to do this again. So I relish this sight in my mind....us sailing away for home....the awesome sunshine glistening along all the jungled seashore, beaches and city----and yet above us and north of us was this huge BLACK ROLLING STORM CLOUDS rolling for us and us into them! INSTANTLY the winds CHANGED. Very strong, very dark and rain drops.....and COLD COLD COLD...and we could still see the land... that had been so warm, cozy and hot. Needless to say that deck emptied almost immediately and everyone showed up early for the 'last night of our most elegant dining and yummy, yummy foods---with names no one could pronounce properly and yes we all tried and had a blast 'trying to BE what we weren't"!

Yes, our last night to have the most awesome elegant meals....with super neat new friends of 10 table mates and 54 Bus mates (this was the greatest way to travel ever for older people)...and our last but fantastic stage show ever ....with our friends and even with them feeding us cough drops (theirs) treating us like kings and queens when they didn't have to--because we were so sick-we all had the most hilarious good time---all from different walks of life and us at the bottom of the ladder. ha ha but it didn't make any difference---people love your heart and character & everybody loves humor!

So, this is the end of the 50th Anniversary celebration---and my kids are probably glad---but now we have to anchor out and head for new waters, goals and events. The top of our agenda is on Feb 21st we get to see our favorite Christian Comedian and musician....Mark Lowery is coming to our church on tour (Bill Gaithers quartet)...and we also will have the No 1 Christian Ballet coming to my father in laws church as well. So, these are 2 neat events that certainly sound exciting, plus we are having/preparing for a city wide revival with Anne Graham Lotz (Rev. Billy Grahams daughter) leading. All our churches are adopting the motto: "Just Give Me Jesus' to build for the revival.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, hope you enjoyed it and will leave a comment before you leave or give me a call and I pray God's richest of blessings back to you.

Sail on sweet Spirit, sail on...........................

Ships Ahoy...or Bon Voyage

Hubby and I are excited as we and about 50 friends are about to leave together by bus and go to 'what's left of Galveston"...transfer onto a neat Carnival ship for a Caribbean cruise. As our travel agency met with all of us the other day for snacks, snickers and signings---I came across the following cute and almost scary thing below and thought you'd enjoy reading the humor.... to start off your new year. Everybody can use a laugh or two.

For our upcoming cruise, we have a hilarious Hostess (who is ironically, one of my Childhood friends ....all the way back to 4-H competitions in elementary school---isn't that coincidental)---- She BEGAN with greatest sincerity &.... WARNED us all---right off the bat...that."as IN-LANDERS....please, people.... STAY AWAY from the side railings of the ship!!! " I'm taking 53 people and want to return with 53. ha ha And also since the news is filled with the story of the "lady that 'went OVER BOARD"..(unknown presently if by her desire or someone else's design).....but from...ME and Carnival Cruise Line, please know that this is not a requirement of the cruise line or the travel agencies involved. "

(ha you can bet on that part)

This problem. however is not a worry to us...there are tons of things to do/see----(tho this really was a very, very sad/horrible situation). We love to vacation by cruise ships and look forward to this one as well. As most of you know this is part of our 50th wedding anniversary celebration. We were also planning to use up hubby's extra vacation week later on in the Spring ....and FLY on a neat excursion vacation... (that my beloved niece who is an American Airlines Flight Attendant and always gives us offers for 'special deals'). Buuuut...after I picked up this following cutie below... about the top 10 AIRLINE announcements---I am now a wee bit apprehensive. ha ha read on....and YOU might see why.... haha

Top 10 Announcements made on AIRLINES.....

1. "Welcome aboard Southwest Airlines. In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, and place it over your face!"

2. "Please use caution when opening the overhead bin. After a horrible landing like this, you can be certain your luggage has shifted."

3. "Thanks for choosing TWA. We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

4. "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business, as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride!"

5. "Thank you for flying the friendly skies of United. Last one off the plane cleans it!"

6. "Please remember your cushion can be used for flotation. In the event of an emergency water landing, please take the cushion----compliments of Reno Airways.

7. ...after a high-speed landing in Phoenix, Arizona---"Whoa, Big Fella, Whoa!"

8. "This is a NONsmoking flight. If you MUST smoke, please step out on the wing and watch our in-flight movie, "Gone with the Wind".

9. "As you exit, please remember----there are 50 ways to leave your lover---but only 4 ways out of this airplane!"

10. "At American Airlines, we are pleased to have some of the very best fight attendants in the industry...Unfortunately, none are on this flight!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would this NOT make a person think twice. ha ha Have a happy day and may your next flight be the greatest and safest ever! We'll be 'cruising' for a while and let ya know later on if we had any interesting encounters of the unknown! Be blessed. Areeeba, Areeeba!

(ariva)

Looking Backwards to 2008..& Forward to 2009...

Happy New Year, may all of God's Richest of Blessings be yours for good health, success and happiness in all your endeavors.

This is an exciting time of the year...a time to reflect...maybe regret... but also one to celebrate the good, the joy and even with bad things happening to everyone at some point or another. We are still so blessed...because it could have certainly been so much worse. ---America look to the war fronts and poverty all over this earth!

Today, as I personally look backwards, I know this was one of my greatest years of blessings....but through the experience, I also have to quickly say that it has also been one of the MOST PHYSICALLY PAINFUL years of my life. Awful, and a large amount of that time feeling alone and very insignificant. Pain does that to people very quickly, especially if hope depletes. Daily I try to joke and use humor, just for the fun of making other people laugh...but also for the selfish feeling of having fun inspite of the pain. Thus, people like me, create their own 'circle of woe' because when you laugh---other people disregard your hurts, your suffering when you really need them the most. Isn't that a crazy cycle and yet I am not alone in doing this coverup, ha ha.

As seen on my previous blogs...I've had an awesome year of celebrating our wonderful 50th wedding anniversary, a marvelous Thanksgiving and absolutely wonderful Christmas with family and friends. It simply could NOT have been ANY BETTER ...except for the physical pain. However the pain DOES make a person LOVE the JOY far, far more than they would have...if it had not been there! Good memories help to bring hope to the hopeless.

Yesterday, January 1st, 2009, hubby and I went to see the movie "Marley & Me" and tears upon tears....as parts of this cute movie brought back memories of our childhood and years of raising our kids and all our tons of precious beloved pets along the way. After the movie we were talking about the difference in the world back in our childhood & today. We agreed that Pets...are the bestest (haha) and neatest little 'side-effect' gift that God gives to mankind. they can be wonderful and they CAN BE AWFUL sometimes---but for the most part they are one of the BEAUTIFUL part of life and make great memories. My hubby laughed when I said it was sort of like my analysis of last year, America 2008 --(top dogs down to dirty dogs)-as I shared that ...like Marley & me movie was funny, touching and sad all at the same time...and like our Country---- it is totally AMAZING to me that...

We really ARE such A GREAT, GREAT NATION....but...

Today..."Gay" people fight in the courts to "GET MARRIED" (not God's choice)"

Straight'' people NO LONGER believe in marriage... (prefer sin & it's OK)

Girls (teenagers esp.) have numerous illegitimate babies, records breaking ABORTIONS & unwanted births, thus eventual records of numerous ABUSED little children, turned on to drugs, historically filling every prison systems in our nation... with children (as young as 8 years old) and adult parents (who SHOULD be working and providing for their children)----

Meanwhile---even sadder to say--- thousands of heartbroken, CHILDLESS, educated, WORKING COUPLES......BEG to ADOPT... but CANNOT ....due to ridiculous COST, FEES, RACKETEERING AND GOVERNMENTAL LAWS AND STUPIDITY THEREOF!

Equally as crazy is that everyday, in our wonderful country---home of the FREE---protesters continue to block roadways, work places; wasting millions of dollars and MAN hours SCREAMING discontent and lies---ignoring the fact that constantly--(while they protests---) morally corrupt TERRORISTIC plots are being stopped and defused BY wonderful leaders (known and unknown CIA/soldiers---working all over this earth--- American who LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES for Our freedom, for us....FOR THEM--- (totally UNKNOWN to John & Mary PUBLIC--who sit down to a warm table of food, pretty homes of safety...that are protected, with latest of modern technology, science, medicines...appliances, vehicles, fuel, and clothes on our backs---) PROTESTERS INCLUDED.

These BRAVE, DEDICATED people lay down their lives daily so that "dung for brains protesters" can have the freedom to SPEAK and WRITE...lies or criticism AGAINST our leaders, our Generals, soldiers). No America is not perfect but it IS the GREATEST and most charitable NATION on Earth....and yes, it GIVES away to other nations triple all other nations...and that EXcludes our mission charity groups gifts to feed, clothe, water, medicine... other starving nations by 10 fold. Not to overlook all the world earth/weather DISASTERS.

So....Do these critics ever stop to think....that IF it were not for these leaders....that

AMERICA could/would BE the WAR front of blood shed, pain, suffering, death and destruction and FEAR beyond human belief!

So, for 2009.... THANK YOU, DEAR GOD...for every leader, soldier, construction worker, missionary and liberator ...(at home or abroad)...who TRIES!!! And Lord, forgive the Fruitcakes that are filled with more nuts than a pecan tree...for truly....'they know not what they do'....and Lord if they do, ---please help/convict/convert hearts that refuse to see YOUR HAND . (We still love 'em anyway...warts & all. : ) ~~

However, I cannot say the above without also saying that as most of my co-hearts express, 'let us all pray this new year for our new president and new staff, our nation, little children, the hungry, hurting, helpless and homeless---where ever they are on this earth. This is my resolution for the New Year 2009. This I CAN do.

I have been blessed....and if by praying...I would like to BE a blessing.

And if I can actively DO something to help another....I pray that God will give the strength, physical & mental ability to carry it out.

I would hope that in 2009 that....

I can be THANKFUL for Everything...

I can be fearful of NOTHING....

I can be PRAYFUL about All Things....

and through Jesus Christ....I CAN DO (all) ANYTHING!!!

Happy New Year ....2009

All is Gonna Be FINE!!!

Smile and be blessed!

Have a Merry, Merry Christmas...2008

A Christmas Version of

1 Corinthians 13

(thanks Jana for the pic... :D

If I decorate my house perfectly with big, red Christmas bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, lots of tinsels and glitter....but do not show love to my family and other people,

I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, candies and pies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, ....but do not show love to my family and other people, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity,..... but do not show love to my family and others, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails....but people do. God's Love is Perfect!

Video games will break,

pearl necklaces will be lost,

golf clubs will rust,

but giving the gift of love and kindness....will endure and is the reflection of Christ.

Help the world remember that....Forever, Jesus is the reason...
for this beautiful season.

Because of His grace...

we always have 'someone to turn to' when trouble hits.

Because HE LIVES...
we can live forever.

May you Celebrate, laugh & enjoy every fiber of His goodness. gifts and graces....of this wonderful holiday season of remembering the Birth of our Lord and Savior.... and may we all Bless others along the way!

with hugs....Merry Christmas!!!

Ring those Golden Bells...loud & clear!

Golden Wedding Bells that is....

Yes, this is OUR FAMILY PHOTO as we celebrated this past weekend our wonderful Golden Wedding Anniversary--what fun! What a treasure.

Front row: Matthew, Zoe, Josh

Second row: Kori, Papa & Grama GG (me)

Back row: Wayne & Jana; Kelleye & Dewayne, Eston

via~~~~ Jana's new awesome Cannon digital action camera

As most of you know, Music & Laughter is the very soul of my being and my life. Thus both come from wonderful PEOPLE!!! Times like this in life are sort of like... our Lord is up there in the Heavens and He sprinkles down billions of sparkling little stars of laughter, giggles, smiles and tiny little moonbeams that have sounds of musical notes.... floating freely about the skies above us all, then it suddenly gravitates ...to giant earth shaking, vibrating musical bells, like the ones in church bell towers...as if they are shouting out to everyone to listen: join the laughter, join in the song, sing with every fiber of your being. God is closer than ever!!! It's Christmas time! Celebrate Christ. Celebrate life. Celebrate Jesus!

Yes, this WAS the neat feeling of this weekend of celebration. Not just a 'moment to remember' but a lifetime of treasures...all shared with any and all. I am so thankful and humbly grateful to everyone that touched my life...our lives....not just the last 50 years for our lifetime.

However, now it is time for CHANGE. Change is not always easy to do. For most of us...it is somehow a lot easier to stay in our own little comfort zone. I have totally spent the past year preparing for this last weekend. I did this out of need to overcome....the physically & mental destruction caused by cancer and it's required treatments---each & all is very painful, very hard and often days get 'darker' than the night. No one knows until they wear the shoes...and every pair of shoes fit differently for each person.

So, to start off my CHANGE...today, I decided to WRITE. (or maybe it was God's choice???) I would hope that my honesty in self writing would be to bring some one HOPE,,,encouragement and/or possibly....identity of like situations to others.

Naturally, the freshest thing on my mind is 'Memories'. What is better than that? The GOOD stuff, makes us feel good....and then that bad/not so good stuff....well, that was usually horrible but THAT IS our most 'learning time' of life.,,and sad to say.... you're darn sure NOT going to Forget it all that easy! ha ha

So, in looking back at the last 50 years...I have fully determined that it has actually been like a "County Fair"...a carnival...3 ring circus...all combined. ha ha

First let me say, "I love the Fair". I served as an executive board officer for eleven years for the huge Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo and loved being referred to... officially as a "My Fair Lady". The position had plenty of ups and downs and it wasn't always on the "Midway".ha ha Now today, I see my life actually BEING sort of like those awesome years---at the County Fair. ha ha

As a little girl, we always went to the County Fair. All my teen years I was fascinated by the 'barkers' out front of the entrance gates. They used to yell out ''Come, Come to the Fair. Everybody listen up! Laaaadies & Geeeentlemen Come see the Greatest events of the World, Come see the 2 headed pig! Come see the Lady with the 5 ft. beard. Come see the man cut in half by a sword and walks again. Don't miss the world Fattest man! Come see the lady that was cut out of the belly of a Boa Constrictor and lived...True stories, yes, yes ...True events....THINGS YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE and will never see again, Come to the Fair! Get your tickets right here. Popcorn, Peanuts...feed the giant elephant. Come see our beautiful Grand Champion livestock. Come TASTE the world's greatest pies. Come, come, come to the County Fair, Don't miss it."

Yes, all my young life, I heard THE CALL to 'go through the gates'...enter the awesome 'County Fair", see and live the 'greatest SHOW ON EARTH....(you know: love & marriage, go together like a horse & carriage....and 9 months later the baby carriage stuff)...come one, come all, join in, don't miss out!!!

So, as a 16 year old teenage girl and my love, a 17 year old, we wandered around OUTSIDE the gates of the county fair for two years. With starry eyes, sparkling smiles, laughter & giggles and tons of sweet, sweet kisses and few chocolate malts and burgers... in our 'hottest little rod car' in town...we WATCHED...from OUTSIDE the gates of the fair grounds. Two YEARS in fact.

Then on my 18th birthday and after graduating High School, my beloved gave me a tiny but beautiful little engagement ring! Oh, how I adored it. After alll...we NOW had TICKETS to go to the COUNTY FAIR....tickets to see the shows...tickets to get to DO and BE a part of this awesome exciting event that EVERYBODY had talked about alllllll of our lives. (MARRIAGE) Wow, It Can't Be any better that having a 'ticket to the County Fair". Wow, how blessed we were---or at least in our youth...this is what we thought!

Well, we stood in line for our tickets...it seemed to be sooo long....took so long....but FINALLY on December 6, 1958 at 8 PM, in our largest community church...all our family came together and we all had such fun as we 'entered the huge golden gates" of the beautiful COUNTY FAIR...(marriage) church bells rang, music everywhere, friends cheered, we quickly grabbed a bite of a beautiful wedding cake at the entrance and took a sip of their strawberry/pineapple Baptist punch and then we RAN as fast as we could....... to SEE it all....everything that the County Fair had to offer----to experience every part...to try our LUCK...to ride every ride on the Midway, to see the awesome animals...and even the freaky SIDE SHOWS....WE RAN as fast as we could ...yes, TO DO IT ALL. (in the distance all our family and friends bid us farewell, blessings and friendly waves for success in our venture.)

Off we went. First, at the County Fair, we jumped from the beautiful sunlight of day, into the deep, lush, warm darkness of the 'Tunnel of Love'. The air had the scent of sweet sweet flowers and ferns. The darkness closed around us...sealing us away from the world...tiny little sparkling lights glittered here and there along the way & in the reflections of the smooth waters surrounding our Boat of Love" We clung together. And together we tasted the sweetest gift that God gives... as we traveled very slowly through that long, long tunnel of love.....magic and secret voices of two ....as one.

With joking humor...The World said we stayed in the tunnel much too long...but we...disagreed with the world and felt it was far too short a visit. Finally...yes, we are required to exit that precious warm tunnel and suddenly STEP OUT in the blinding brightness of sun rays...of change...of new events....new things to see and new things to experience ...all as part of the County Fair! We would jerk our heads to the left...to the right...we saw all sorts of wonderful...inviting things at the smorgasbord of events served at the COUNTY FAIR! It alllll looked so exciting and enticing. We wanted IT ALL!!! We stopped to taste the awesome pies, cakes, peaches and preserves at the baking contest...wow, everything tasted so good and boy did we love to eat--- at each and every display. The County Fair was such fun! And wow---We LOVED the music! The jazz, the Hobbyhorses Calliope, the noise...the excitement--bells, drums, horns & zingers-- on every corner and in every crevice. We loved it all. We tried to do almost everything.

THEN we saw the animals... We ran to them. ----Oh, how sweet, especially all the 'little baby animals'. How could anything BE any cuter? We watched and laughed at them all. They were so cute. We were especially drawn to the beautiful little red and white Texas Hereford bull calves. Blue ribbons around their necks. Champions! Their little white faces and turned up pink noses---truly tugged at our hearts. So precious...innocent...lovable and adorable!

Then suddenly the MASTER of ceremonies of the whole COUNTY FAIR...saw us watching the cute calves and He kindly walked over and said, "May you both be blessed, for I am here to bestow a very special gift to you. I have been watching you....as you watch all these little cute animals----I am here to 'present you a Free little calf of your choice to raise for the next 18 years because I know you will do your very best to take good care of this beautiful little thing.'

Quickly as we could, we chose the cutest one, took his little rope and led him away as "our own little precious Gift from the Master!

Sometimes our cute little calf loved to jump around dancing, always laughing, putting on a show....always the 'center of attention' everywhere we went. He loved to perform. He loved the cheering. Together my love and I laughed, hugged and kissed our precious gift as we watched every dance he made and treasured everything he did.

It seems like about 8 minutes passed and then in the other end of the barn of the County Fair we all three came across a pen of beautiful little tiny fluffy SNOW WHITE baby LAMBS that had tiny pink noses---just like the little calf----and I ran back to the MASTER and begged him to allow us to have just one of the little darlings. Much to my surprise...and my love....the Master said "oh sure...I KNOW you will give your best to take care of her and give her a good home"

Oh my, could life be any better? Two little gifts, both so cute...both so good...both the greatest of gifts from Thee MASTER of the County Fair. We were sooo blest!

Oh life was beautiful. The County Fair simply Could Not BE ANY BETTER! Then we saw the FERRIS WHEEL. The gigantic wheel twirled gracefully...up into the sky...into the floating white clouds. Could anything 'look' more beautiful. Absolutely not! The awesome music played the beautiful Vienna Waltz. Dreamy thoughts crowd the human mind as you look up to see the gentle swinging baskets of laughing riders....soft clouds float leisurely nearby as birds dip down to see the excitement below.

Oh WE MUST RIDE, too!

We safely tied our two little GIFTS, they were our treasures & special gifts from the Master ...so...after they are secured in safety, taken cared of---we joyfully climbed aboard the huge Ferris wheel at the County Fair!!! At first, our basket rocked a little in a fun sort of way. We quickly locked our steel bar for protection. The attendant stepped over and double checked our bar for safety.

The music starts, we begin to rise. Our hearts are racing. We look at each other. We laugh. We hold hands gently. I lean closer as we rise higher into the air. Somehow my chest seems to be about to burst in anticipation of the unknown---only fun and laughter can lie ahead. We have watched all the others before us. Around and around we gently flow. The soft gentle winds whisk past our faces, it feels so neat. Oh, this ride is so delightful...much BETTER than I even believed it was going to be! Wow, what fun. I lay my head over on his shoulders...he nussels his head back down upon my mine--we are lost in this sweet dreamland of fantasy. So sweet, so blessed.

BONK! We HEAR a loud clonk. We feel ourselves thrust forward! We hit the brace bar of protection and fly back against the now VERY HARD seat...that once seemed soft. The music has stopped. People are screaming! We are AT THE VERY TIP TOP OF THE FERRIS WHEEL...rocking precariously back and forth! We look down at the attendant. He looks up at us and yells...."everything is Okay, don't be afraid...we have a little malfunction...but all is okay, I'll have you going in just one moment."

Wow, that was good to hear. Our hearts were pounding...but once again we began to laugh because we trusted the man below to know that all was okay. We liked trusting people. Life was a blast. There we sat at the top of Ferris Wheel...sitting quietly....WATCHING the whole world below us.... we then looked to the east.... and saw the glorious horizon of beautiful trees, a distant city, the sun made the world glisten. How beautiful it is up here!!!

To the north we turned & saw the beauty of the awesome open prairies, crisp neatness of fields of grain....beauty that only God could create.

To the west were awesome gigantic purple mountains...we saw the beautiful snow caps...great ski lifts and rustic winter cabins, evergreens beyond belief...places where we had skied as a family, we saw amusement parks, forest, flowers, gardens, oil derricks, windmills, thousands of cattle, horses and to the south we saw beautiful oceans and seas where many ships and giant sails, majestic resorts, motor coaches, traveling friends and where we had walked the beautiful beaches, vacationed on massive cruise ships on the open waters of grace with its beautiful dancing porpoise and fish of every color, kind and shape.

Above us...from our view of the world on this Ferris wheel at the County Fair...were birds of every kind and sort, all gliding silently through the air, seagulls to cardinals, eagles to buzzards and falcons. There were also the giant recreational aircrafts (of family members and close friends)... floating liesurely through the clouds. It was awesome to view the world from the top of a broken Ferris wheel....on a 50 cent ticket.

Watching the County Fair from the top of the Ferris wheel was an absolutely unexpected thrill...even sometimes when things got to be very, very scary when we thought we would fall to our death----but true to his earlier words---as the attendant called out "here we go, folks, got it fixed, enjoy the ride!" The music started up again and we gently rocked and rolled, around and around; it was so wonderful then slowly we then found our way back down to the bottom...to the ground ...to safety...thrilled to have had the awesome VIEW of the world...even tho it was rather scary at times.

Quickly we grabbed up our two little GIFTS...so thrilled that all was safe and secure, laughing and chatting...we made our way around the rest of the awesome Fair grounds. Lots of sights to see. Lots of things to Do. We saw the crazy man who 'ate the fiery swords'. We viewed the two headed pig...the pig that could count coins, the chicken that sang and counted. We saw the Fat man sitting behind the wind blown curtain. We bypassed the Beer Garden , the Strip booths and Girlie peep shows. Our Gifts didn't need that! (smile)

We saw the man cut in half; a lady get her head cut off and put back on, we listened to every type of music that was presented all around the Fair. We rode every ride that seemed safe. We tried every thing that seemed wise. We laughed, we cried, we fell down lots of time, we always got up and tried again. We travelled to every booth that we could. We played most of the games along the way. We played the games of luck---we lost some--we won a lot. We were encouraged. We were disappointed.

Then we came upon the 'Tilt-a-Whirl" ride. In my youth---I loved the speed of this machine, so when we heard it's music in the distance...we ran. We quickly bought our ticket. It cost a little more but we thought it would certainly BE WORTH IT...it will bring us the 'best time ever'. A friend walked by and called to us, 'you two please be careful...you don't want to get hurt.'' We yelled back, "okay' thanks, it's going to be fun."

Together, eagerly, we looked each other in the eyes and jumped right in, jerked down that protection bar...banged it shut...to make sure it was latched properly. The attendant did the same. Laughing our heads off---the motor reves up---just like a real live 500 lap race---we are tide in and READY TO GO!!!

We are laughing our heads off....knowing we are about to be beaten from side to side...but in reality that we wouldn't be hurt! The motor roars louder.....and louder! We spin and we spin....faster & faster...faster....suddenly wham---the machines slides us to one side...then the other...back and forth--twirling--- as we RISE HIGHER UP INTO THE SKY. We are twirling....we are sliding. We are laughing....screaming...holding on for dear life. We grip the safety bar with every muscle of our bodies. Swirling, laughing.....

SUDDENLY the safety bar Pops..... It flies out.... away from us. I grip it with all my strength. I cannot see my love anywhere. I am spinning through the air. I know death is below. I know that pain is coming. Instantly I Hit. then zero, blank, silence, alone, the unknown.

Finally I begin to awaken and feel nothing but pain. Pain from the top of my head to the tip of my toes....my heart hurts worst of all. I can't see my love anywhere--- but I can hear his voice, his moaning, his cry for help,. I open my eyes. My vision is so blurry...I can't make out anything at first. Finally I am able to see that he is right beside me. He is rolling in pain, groaning and calling my name. All I could do is whisper to him "I'm here".

We lay there ....together...in the dirt...people walked around us....over us...ON us.....no one stopped...no one cared... I could hear the laughter of others. I could hear the music but it wasn't playing for me anymore. I could feel the earth shake around me...as the people rushed by me and my love---- as we tried to dodge their huge feet ...their cutting shoes....each one that stepped on...crushing our broken bodies.

We saw old friends come and go,.... many actually stepped right on us and never looked back.... or even seemed to realize that they had actually stepped on a dying human being. Yet, there we were...someone no different from them--and no one would stop or reach down; they did not see.

We lay there together alone....hurting...as we had never, ever hurt before, undeserved pain but yet ours to bear, alone. We kept staring into each others pain filled eyes, knowing each others pain filled bodies... and yet helplessness to change our situation---as the world passed us by. We each dug our fingers deep into the earth around us..grabbing for anything....trying to get up...trying to raise our heads up---to find hope.

Without strength, we often fell back down into the dirt, feeling unwanted trash drifting near us and deeper we sank into the hardened ground around us. Dirt built up upon us as the people above quickly walked past throwing dirt into our painfilled faces. The dust filled our teeth...our noses...our mouths. We could not understand. We began to grip each others hand. Tighter & tighter we clung to each other. Slowly....very slowly....Strength began to imerge. We were soon able to gather both of our hands together until we could sit up in the dust of that dirty County Fair grounds that had once been our greatest JOY.

We now held both hands...we drew ourselves up to our knees in that filth and trash left behind by people who didn't stop or care. We prayed. All we could hear was Carnival Noise in return. All we could smell was burnt stuff, stale beer and bad breath of other people walking past us.

We still did not have enough strength to rise. We stayed on our knees, holding hands together---we continued to pray. We whispered prayers...we cried together, we cried our prayers even and held each other close but we still didn't have the strength to 'get up' and walk with the crowd.

We closed our eyes; praying on.... in each others arms.... and gradually from the unknown,..... the Master of the County Fair appeared. Gently He reached down ...and like two feathers...He lifted us to our feet. He quietly brushed away the dust that had gathered upon our clothes & broken bodies and with the sweetest, warmest voice.... whispered to us that "No, dear ones, I am here...I saw what happened and I am sorry.... because... I know... that you did not deserve what happened to you ...but I allowed it to happened so that YOU will help other people.... who might also be innocent and yet trampled beneath the feet of others. Innocent people get trampled everyday and no one knows what it is like until they too suffer. You see, I, too, was done this way and just like you I loved them, I trusted them and yet they turned on me too. Like you, I gave my all and I was spit upon and called names...but You now will find knowledge, compassion, understanding and wisdom from all of this.... and you will eagerly FORGIVE THEM...just I did a long time ago. Then, you will know the real meaning of JOY, Happiness and eternal peace---for you ARE MY creation and I love you".

As Jim and I celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary.... with lots of bumps and bruises.... we most dearly treasure all the good that has happened to us as we trodded year by years around this little 'County Fair'.... with 1000's of experiences, both good and not so good but mostly we KNOW we are blest and that we were CHOSEN.... and equally...that we have also earned many Degrees of Knowledge & wisdom (from the Master) from the hurts and pains of life.....that most people cannot know or have...until they are 'down in the dirt', helpless , hurting and hopeless.

It can be physical illnesses, financially brokenness, mentally depleted or spiritually wounded---a million forms of pain...never created by the Master of the County Fair---but He watches silently and steps in and brings back the sonshine, the smiles, the laughter, the joy of life...humbly,

forever and forever....to both the worthy AND the unworthy. God is Still God...Thee Master is Forever Thee Master!

I can easily say, "I LOVE the COUNTY FAIR; it is never dull, there is always something new happening and each new change will be a rewarding challenge to conquer. I do not plan to return to the SAME old Fair Grounds. My future goals are for newer adventures, greater experiences achieved by a weaker aging body but a heart that is determined to be all that I can be....see all that I can see, learn all I can and laugh and sing through every event....even my failures.

May you have a very Merry Christ'mas...as we all face changes for New things in our New Year to come....this being our #51.... hugs & blessings.

Thanks for an awesome 50th Golden Wedding Celebration...the unbelievable beautiful Professionally Perfect Golden Wedding Book of Memories and photos from & of all of the kids...Thanks a million. for all the compliments, gifts, phone calls, cards---we love you all----

& as Santa says "and to all a Good Night"....ha ha Be blest!!!

(this is me and our 4 grandkids decorating our Christmas tree at Thanksgiving....so dedicated!!!