Passing

It is dark here,

a place of no dreams,

of failed light;

a house built on regret,

on the unrequited

dying desire

consumed by bitter age;

what was once,

faded to shadow,

engulfed in the angry

burning of days,

until the passing

has become complete.

A New National Anthem?

I don't know about anybody else, but I don't see how rewriting the AMERICAN national anthem and singing it another language shows respect for our country. All of the PR around this seems to indicate that the masterminds of this piece of "genious" think they are paying homage, paying respect to the United States with this creation. Without touching on all the issues that surround the topic of immigration, I have to say that the rewrite of our national anthem must have Francis Scott Key rolling in his grave.

Hanging on a rope!

Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, because otherwise they were all going to fall. They weren't able to name that person, until the woman gave a very touching speech.
She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids or for men in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return. As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping.

Why?

I'm not sure exactly why I started I blog, but I felt very satisfied about having done it. But I wonder why any of us blog. It would seem that by putting something in such plain public view that at some level, we feel like we have something to share. But does anyone notice? Are people seeing what we have to say, but just aren't commenting? Or are they not seeing at all? As I've scrolled through some of the other blogs, I notice that there are many out there with few or no comments. Is it that no one finds that they have to say as being interesting or is no one looking? I've dropped a comment or two myself...hoping to fill in some of the immense space that is out there.

Isabella Rose

Here is our beautiful goddaughter.....

Sunset

Both sunrises and sunsets are among God's most wonderful miracles...although I am far more likely to see sunset than sunrise!

It's Funny How....

your tastes can change over time. I remember trying to watch Dr. Who when I was a kid. I was bored and annoyed with it in just a matter of minutes, turned the channel and that was the end of that. Well....until the new Dr. Who came along. I saw the first commercial, was impressed that Christopher Eccleston was starring and decided to give it a try. The worst that could happen was that I would be bored and annoyed and I could just turn the channel, but instead it was Instant Love! The show is silly and cheesy and I love it! It is, as The Doctor would say, "FANTASTIC"! I can't say that the show is for everyone, but if you're feeling a little adventerous, looking for something new and would like an entertaining distraction, give it a try. You might fall in love with it and if not, you know how to work the remote.

The Big Cat

This is one of my favorite pictures of Big Cat! You can see that mischief in his eyes!

The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow,sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

PASHTUNWALI

For an Afghanistan mountain tribe, Pashtunwali is a sacred duty to give shelter and assistance to anyone in need. For a member of that tribe, Mohammad Gulab, that meant giving aid to a U.S. Navy Seal, the lone survivor of a four man commando troup that had been ambushed by the Taliban. Gulab took the man home and eventually moved him to a cave to keep him safe. For two days they took turns guarding the cave while another man traveled to the base in Asadabad to get help from the American soldier at the base.
The price he has paid is more than many of us might be willing to pay. When word of his deed began to spread, Gulab faced death threats that meant he had to abandon his home, his vehicle and all of his possessions and move his entire family in with his brother-in-law near the U.S. base at Asadabad. He tried to return to his home and was met with violence that almost ended the life of his brother-in-law who had gone with him. The man took a bullet to the chest. And the death threats continue to besiege Gulab and his family.
According to Gulab, the solider promised him $200K and the military personnel who came for the wounded soldier promised to relocate him and his family to the United States. But Gulab is still in Afghanstan, living with his brother-in-law and making about $250.00 a month working on the base. Neither money from the solider or relocation assistance from the military has been forthcoming. The military denies the relocation claim is true and says only that they have taken unspecified positive actions toward Gulab and others to show the appreciation of a grateful nation and says that they know nothing about any promises the soldier made. And the solider apparently has nothing to say.
We bring war to their country, placing them between us and the Taliban, give them life in a seemingly perpetual war zone and expect what in return? That they will support us while they struggle to survive scavaging for edible plants?? Have we improved the quality of their life? made them safer? or put them in more danger?
Gulab says that despite everything that he has suffered and endured, he has no regrets about saving the life of another even if there is nothing more in return. A man of conscience, a man of his principles. He can go to sleep tonight with a clean conscience.
Pashtunwali--how many of us could live up to it?

Life Perspective

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Please share this with someone you care about. I JUST DID

Wedding Planning

Nothing is more fun or more challenging than planning a wedding. As my great friend and bridesmaid, Heidi, will tell you, it wouldn't be nearly so challenging if I could just make up my mind (or would quite changing it). I went through my wedding planner today and I'm in better shape than I thought, but there is still so much left to do!
I want it to be an experience that everyone will enjoy and one that will be truly memorable. This would be easier if we had an unlimited budget! Thankfully, I am surrounded by wonderful and creative people who are going to help me get this all done and hopefully, will be able to help me keep ahold of my sanity along the way (bless them--what a tough job they have!).
The four women who are in my wedding party are dear and wonderful people and I don't know what I would do without any of them. I don't get to see all of them nearly as often as I would like, but they are always in my thought and in my heart. I feel truly blessed to have four such wonderful people in my life and willing to stand next to me on this special day.

The Scrapster

Here is our other baby...Scraps. Also know as Scrapples or Scrapple-Doo. She came with our house! She was rescued by my fiance's mom who decided she wanted to move into a condo. We took over the house and got this sweet baby, too. Also spoiled rotten!!

Big Cat

Here is one of our babies! His real name is Laslow. His nicknames include Big Cat, Fat Cat, Baba Bouey among others. He was the runt of a litter of eight and no one wanted him because he was so tiny. But I thought he was adorable and never imagined that he'd end up weighing in at 13 to 15 pounds! He's spoiled rotten, of course!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! As you will immediately see, it is still under construction!