The Best Thing's In Life Aren't Things.....

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FAMILY

I would give my life for any and all of these dear people...

If you had asked me 30 years ago if I could or would ever love 

one person, let alone 8 people this much I couldn't ever have dreamt it!

High school sweet hearts...we've had our ups and downs and round and rounds....LOL

Then our kiddos started adding to the family!!

and adding and....

and adding!!!

Then came the grand son.....no one ever told me what an AWESOME job that would be!!!

A  Mother's Love

A friend's hands along with her mother's...

Mother Love...

Love this idea!!

 

 

Just breathe...

     Christmas is almost upon us, all the waiting, planning, what food, what gift, running here, running there, lights, trees, decorations, wrappings and boxes. All in the "extra" time we  have so much of! Maybe you have more of it than I do, but I doubt it. When the day finally arrives it seems to fly by so quickly, too quickly. Family has come, unwrapped, ate, played, and visited, then it's done, gone, over for another year.
      I have wondered about Mary and how she traveled on donkey back for days and nights, miles and miles. I can imagine her very anxiously waiting, and wondering. Did she get impatient, (she was human and pregnant)? Did she know what was to come of this child she was carrying, did she wonder how they would care for this child or did she leave it all in God's hands!
     Yes, the waiting and the planning as we still do today! I wonder if her days flew as quickly by as ours do?
Maybe she didn't wonder and worry and plan, because she knew who was in total and complete control, and who had The Plan.
      Take the time to relax, breathe, remember the reason for CHRISTmas, attend CHRISTmas Day church service, join in singing the songs telling the world of our Lord's birth, listen to the carols, enjoy the family that will be leaving again all to soon, slow down, give the hugs, kisses and say the "I love you's"!! Don't get caught up in all the wrappings, food, and planning. 
Remember the reason for the season....  
God's blessings and Merry CHRISTmas!!  
   

The Trees

I've borrowed this but I just had to share! We have our own plans on how life should go but we know who is ultimately in control!  


 Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plan are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

 

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

"FIRSTS"

     It's August and full of new beginnings and firsts for many moms and dads out there. The first day of Kindergarten or the first day of college. I find myself wandering back in my mind to some of our firsts and can feel exactly what these moms are feeling now! Some are shedding tears of joy and sorrow, and others are jumping for JOY!!! I've had my share of both....in fact I still shed those tears of joy when my kids come home for a visit and there are tears of sadness when they leave. I have wondered if they would be a little disappointed if I didn't shed those tears as they drove away and back to their lives? but as I enter my quiet house I sit and enjoy the peace that I have come to accept as home for about 5 minutes, then I start plotting to bless them with a visit from mom!!!!  Nope they can't get rid of me that easily......
     One day they will understand .... in fact my daughter and I were visiting this morning for awhile and she was telling me they had big winds and thunderstorms last night and they were sitting on the couch with the baby upstairs and heard the wind come up. She got up thinking "oh...we need, formula, diapers, diaper bag...etc and possibly the baby from upstairs? I need jeans and socks and shoes" ....and then all of a sudden it dawned on her!!!!
         (Yes we all have that moment) 
      I'VE TURNED INTO MY MOM!!!!!
Oh did she make my day.....so to all the moms out there that are having those "firsts" it's okay to shed those tears, soak up those hugs, smiles and many sticky kisses because they will soon be gone and THEN they will have the day that they have that "MOM or DAD" moment and we can all laugh together!!!  
Have a blessed day!!!   Merv

"Bat Wings"

       The kitchen floor saw a part of a scrub brush that it hasn't seen for awhile....THE BRISTLES!!! Wow... a floor should never be allowed to get so dirty. You'd think we walked on it more than once or twice a day! You should see it sparkle..oh wait, you missed it. While scrubbing the floors I noticed the woodwork and doors and cabinets and walls! UGH..the things you see when down on your hands and knees. So the woodwork, doors, cabinets and walls all got a scrub down too! The whole time I'm scrubbing with sweat running down my face,  I couldn't help but smile and think. If I scrubbed this hard EVERYDAY the "bat wings" might just disappear! Yes, you know what I'm talking about ... the part of the arm that continues to wave goodbye 5 minutes after you quit moving your hand!! ("Bat Wings")  After contemplating this while scrubbing I decided I'm a bit partial to my "Bat Wings", guess I'll have to refrain from wiping down too many walls, doors, cabinets and scrubbing too many floors! It'll be tough but I do believe I can do it!!  May you have a reason to smile today...blessings!         Merv

Heroes

     During a "sleep over" at Aunt Merv's house the other night my 4, soon to be 5 yr old nephew and I were looking at a map of Kansas. Trying to figure out if there were storms coming our direction before going to bed. He pointed to a spot just behind the little "a" at the end of Concordia and said .... "this is where I live"! When I asked him how he knew that he says "My Mommy told me!"  I must have smiled and said something like "Well, you have a smart Mommy!" He looked at me and replied,  "Yeah I know she's AWESOME because she knows EVERYTHING!!" Yes Sis, you are a hero in your little boy's eyes!!! 
     The thing that has been crossing my mind since then is this. How many people are we "heroes" to? How many people can look at us and think "WOW" that person just made my day, week, month or even the whole year by some small  or big gesture? I know there are many days when a smile, unexpected hug, text or calming touch has made my day sooooo much better and yes in my eyes you are my "hero". My kids are AWESOME at being my "heroes"! They always seem to know when I need it the most!  I do believe God knows when and where to place the  little things to make our day! God is ALWAYS my "hero"...because of Him I know for sure I have eternal life, but we can be "heroes" to so many people without even really trying to hard...be the kind word, small smile or tender touch....until next time... Merv

"Dust Monsters"

It's been raining the last several days, even had tornado sirens going off last evening to warn us of the impending danger!  Really doesn't seem like Summer weather yet but school is out and the kids are off to find new adventures, time at the pool, mothers carting them back and forth to ballgames and all the other activities that seem to take  time away from just relaxing. I've spent the morning chasing dust bunnies from the living room carpet, out of corners of the dining room and was lucky enough to even find a few "Dust Monsters"! It's a feeling of contentment to have the room tidy, with candles lit, windows open, listening to the rain hitting the leaves and the birds singing. Makes me thankful for the blessings of birds, rain, a floor with walls where there are corners to hide the "Dust Monsters", sirens to warn us of impending danger, mothers, ballgames and most of all time to just relax and enjoy! May you find time to relax a bit...count the many blessings in your life (even if it's just "Dust Monsters")...and ENJOY!!!  Blessings!