It's A Wonderful Life

Is that what I'll write at the end of mine?? Every day of my life I am again reminded of how short life is and how brittle our health can be. Last week we had to take my Mom to the hospital because she had been sick and throwing up and just losing everything that she ate. This continued for a few days and she finally gave in to go to the emergency room, where they admitted her to the hospital for 'infection'. As it turned out, Dr. Stout called it a 'stomach virus' altho it could be that it was her gallbladder, which they determined, was full of gall stones. We went in on Wednseday and home on Friday but it took her several more days and is just now getting to feeling a bit better. And we are still looking at a possible surgery on her gall bladder in the near future.
And then this week, on Tuesday a friend who has been like a second Mother to me for many years, Mary Belle Mesiemore had to go to the hospital as well, ands they had to remove her gall bladder. It was a series of events that only our Father could have orchestrated for me to even be involved with. Mary Belle was suffering from low blood pressure and low blood sugar levels as well and it was a Blessing to get her admitted in to the hospital and get her some relief.
I guess that my reason for bringing this up is that we are absolutely dependent on our health and in many instances we are oblivious to what are usually facts on the matter. Health--good health--is the one thing that we humans seem to take for granted, much like life itself!
I am reminded every day of the joys and difficulties that we are constantly faced with every day, every breath! So many things in life are 'not fair'...so many situations that we endure are totally out of our hands--one example is the issues facing our country...the moral decline of our leaders, the issues facing the family, our world-view or lack-there-of...there was a time when we were a God-fearing nation and now we don't even acknowledge His presence at all in our government!
It IS a wonderful life, even with all it's ups and downs, twists and turns, highs and lows...it's what we make of it in all those times and how we act and react to situations and difficulties. I've heard it said that character in not made in the good times but during our bad times and how we respond to them!

A Dog's Life

We got Meggie in a funny way....we traded a cat for her! We had this kitten that we were going to take to the pet store that used to be on Hwy. 21 between Troutman and Statesville. When we went into the store they had this little puppy that was sooooooo cute....looked just like a small Britney Spaniel...brown and white...she was in a little cage and I got her out and was playing with her. (We had called before and they said that they would take the kitten).

We wound up bringing her home and Christening her "Meggie" ....after the girl in "The Thorn Birds" mini-series. Thus began life with a 'inside dog'....which Denise said we would never have but she soon fell in love with her and soon began the task of house-breaking her and getting her used to living in a kennel (at night).

She quickly became a part of the family and even traveled with us on a trip to the beach to stay a few days at a beachhouse with Chris & Regina and both of our families. (Never took a dog on vacation before....). I guess it was fitting considering that we got Meggie on Regina's birthday (July 13th) in 1996. Of course they, and everyone who ever met Meggie just fell in love with her and she seemed to love everyone too!

She got her name 'Fuzzy' from Josh (she looked like a little fuzz ball) and was just a part of the family. She would play with her toys and enjoy Christmas morning just like a person or a kid would...opening her present and ripping in to it!! She was always funny to watch when she would get one of her toys and shake it back and forth in her mouth like she was killing an enemy or something. We could have made some good $$$ had we video-taped her playing with them too!!

As she got older she lost her eyesight but not her zest for life until recently when she just got sluggish and she was hurting and didn't even want to get up or eat or move around at all. That dreadful day that you never want to realize came to pass yesterday as we had to have her put to sleep.

There'll never be another Meggie...she lived a good life and not necessarily a 'dog's life'. We'll miss you Meggie!!!

Play Ball!!!

Well, it's "that time" again, the time when you can smell it in the air: BASEBALL! What a longggg winter it has been since that last pitch made the Phillies World Champs last October! Now, all the teams start out even 0-0...expectations run high and all the teams think they have a chance for success! And in the end, only the elite will make the October dance!

I'm excited about the new season, altho I was given a sad blow a couple of weeks ago when my sister changed from Directv to Dish Network--a I LOST my beloved MLB Network! All Baseball-24/7! Well...easy come, easy go...at least there's still ESPN! ESPN's Baseball Tonite lasts for 1 hour, MLB's Baseball Tonite lasts for 6 hours!!!

But, my beloved Cardinals will start the season with Mr. Carpenter on the active roster and they have hopes of making the post season...the Red Sox look pretty strong again in the AL East...the Braves may be a couple of players away from contending with the powerful Mets and returning Phillies... but all-in-all it looks to be a GREAT season!! It'll be the first year in 20 seasons that the fantastic John Smoltz will not be with the Braves but he moves over to the Red Sox and hopes to make a June/July return to the mound!!

Hey--I'm even excited about the New Yankee Stadium--the one where a ticket will cost you more than most people's car payment! But a monster of a new park!!

You know, I am starting my 43rd Baseball Season as a fan--42 years of baseball memories--with many more from the past and those to be built this year as well!

LOVE me some baseball!!! If only I could see my Lou Brock start in left field one more time....:O)

My 'Scratch'

Today we went to the funeral-life celebration of our friend Lois McDowell which was held at GCC in Cornelius. Pastor Greg gave this analogy of our life: Place an imaginary cable right in front of your eyes going from left to right for infinity. Now place a scratch on the cable, which indicates the length of your life. As compared to the total length of the cable, which is endless, this small 'scratch' is very short in comparison with our life here on earth. God created each of us to live forever...and we will, either with Him in heaven when we die or being punished in hell for all eternity, if we reject the offer of His Son's payment for our sins, which He made on Calvary's Cross.
But either way, our time here on earth is illustrated by the 'scratch' on the cable!

So, after stealing Pastor Greg's illustration today...what will I do with my 'scratch'?? Does my life make a difference in the grand scheme of things going on in the world today?? Will I be remembered for some great accomplishment that I make while living in this 'tent' of a body that we call human?? Have I made some great discovery that will influence millions after I have passed thru the door of death into life?? Am I serving my Master as well as He would have me to do??

Or am I an 'ant' in a world filled with ants which go thru life with a daily task, moving my piece of sand from place to place...digging a hole one day and re-filling it the next??

Windshield Or Rear-View Mirror

I was listening to the radio the other day and heard this statment and decided it would make a great topic. How do I live my life...do I live it looking thru the 'windshield' of life or do I spend it looking thru the 'rear-view mirror'??

To be honest, I'm afraid that I spend wayyyy too much time looking back than ahead! Is it because there is safety in looking back, in that it's already done and not 'risky'?? Was it really all that great that I don't want to let it go?? How many times...hundreds of times have I wished that I could just go back to 'those days when...'?? I would honestly be ashamed to say, for myself.

I have some wonderful memories of times spent at Grace, when we were at the YMCA and times were difficult but it was a very pleasant and pleasing time. And to be honest, I miss those days terribly. Simple times, growing times, times of great friendships and great expectations for myself and for those around me. Days when everything was fresh and new and well...exciting!

I had a time while I worked at Palliser...and at Eagle that were days that built wonderful memories and friendships that I truly wish were still active. My friend Tony was still alive and he taught me so much about what it is to be a friend and to be funny and kind and creative and...but Tony is gone. He took his own life and I still wrestle with the 'what ifs'...

And going back some more we had days with Christy and Josh and Ricky and all the crazy things that we did together and the memories that we built. And also Betsy, Genie and Kim and we watched them grow up as well. Lots of memories, lots of regrets, lots of joy, lots of not-so-much joy, but none-the-less days that can only be seen thru the rear-view mirror!

What lies ahead?? What is in the windshield of life?? My Mom and Denise's Mom are both in questionable health, as are my Dad and Step-Mom. All are in their 70's-80's...of course none of us are promised another breath, much-less tomorrow. Thankfully, they are all a part of the "Family" so either tomorrow we will see them here on earth or we'll see them in Heaven on another day!

Our future as a country...a free country with freedoms that were bought with the blood of many brave men and women becomes less and less likely in the days and years ahead. A part of me knows that in the end times the likelihood of a powerful America is questionable at best and it makes me sad to think of this... but I believe it to be true and with the current chaos that is prominent in our government leaders is a terrifying thought. Their leadership skills mirror the stupid, idiotic, anti-God ideals that have been a part of liberal agendas for decades! Pro-life and pro-family ideals and a Biblical world view is being attacked more and more every day--HERE in America! Not just around the world!!

And me? I'm 51 and as I grow older each day, I feel a certain drain of the years gone by and the hopes and fears in my own mind are enough to repell the 'windshield' view of life. I do however look forward to spending Eternity with my Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit and all those saints that have gone on before me and those whom I know--or at least surmise are headed there as well! I am also excited about meeting some of the 'giants' of the faith that come from my own era-- like Dr. James Kennedy, Bill Bright, Cassie Bernall and a host of others as well as some who are still with us, but that I will never meet in person like Dr. Billy Graham, Chuck Swindoll, Greg Laurie, Dr. James Dobson, Mylon LeFevre and many, many more!

Windshield....Or Rear-View Mirror???? Which will it be??

A Perfect World

What would a "Perfect World" be? As I finished a conversation with a friend today, I considered this question...what made me do so was that I was reflecting on our relationship over the years and it made me realize that very question. We have had a sorof "love/hate relationship" but honestly I have a great deal of love and respect for him!

Here's my thing....in MY perfect world, everyone would be like me...think like me...act like me...process others JUST like me...do things my way...live out life like I think they should...say yes and say no to the same things that I say yes and no to...

How many times have I said to myself "I sure wish _____ would do that differently!" "How can _____ do that???" "Why can't he just ______ that the right way!??" "I don't understand why _____ can't just figure out how that's supposed to be....That's the way we USED to do it!!!"

UNdeniably, I must live in a DREAM world--and NOT a 'Perfect World'! My perfect world...

You know, in my perfect world, I would gather all these friends and explain my 'perfect world' scenario for them and help them to understand that they MUST play together and LIKE it...and thus make my "Perfect World" possible!

Actually, I really DO like people and I think that has a two-edged sword for me because I tend to withdraw from making 'new friends' because of the craziness that goes on inside my head! I have some....many friends who refuse to fit inside my 'perfect world' and have the gall to go ahead and search for their OWN perfect world!!!

If only they KNEW what my "Perfect World" could offer them...

Good day! :O)

Michael Vick's Defense

First of all, let me say that I'm NOT a Michael Vick fan, altho I do admit that he is a great athlete! (I'm a Panther fan, which disqualifies me as a MV fan-- aka x-Atlanta Falcon)। His crime of fighting and betting on dogs (in MY opinion is far less harmful than many other maladies in our culture today!) has been and is being exaggerated--as much as believing that sir Barack Hussein Obama has any experience to run for President of the United States, which is probably the highest postion in the entire world!
Is dog fighting any worse than murdering babies?? In the world-view, 'abortion' is not only OK, it is what they like to call "A woman's CHOICE"...and is protected by The Supreme Court! Is betting on dogs worse than same-sex 'marriage'?? God says that is "an obomination" but the world-view, which the Deomcrats agree is their 'right'! Oh really?? They're BORN that way??? By whom, two gay men??? Genetic??


मर। Vick, I'm sorry but me thinks you have been made an example of and sorry to say, your career in the NFL is probably over...even AFTER you 'pay your debt to society'। Some society!