Keepers

Every once in a while I get something I feel I have to share - this is one such e-mail (received from my other dad - Ralph). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Keepers

I grew up with practical parents who had been frightened by the Great Depression in the 1930's. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it.

She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other.

It was the time for fixing things: a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that repairing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear fall night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away - never to return.
So, while we have it… it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken, and heal it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage, and old cars, and children with bad report cards, and dogs and cats with bad hips, and aging parents, and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it - because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important... like people we know who are special… and so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! then I found other people I think of in the same way.
________

Now it's your turn to find the people that are "keepers" in your life!
John

The grass is always greener!

Okay, so the cliche' isn't really fitting, but it's the first thing that came to mind when I went to type a title.

Anyhoo... The picture you see to the right is from Dad's birthday. Tricia Lynn & crew went to visit and Surprise, Surprise (in case you couldn't tell, I wrote that part using my best Gomer Pyle voice) we have grass!

Finally (actually, I'm told there was grass on the ground Fathers Day, but still took 6 months or better)! The picture I took back in April showed dirt and rocks, so I thought passing along one with grass & a birthday flower was nice.

I'm also including a smidge of TL's e-mail. She's been up to visit the site a couple of times recently and I thought her e-mail said a lot about the visits. Since I'm usually baring my soul on these pages, figured it'd be nice to include a bit of insight into someone else's (Hope she doesn't mind... not like she has a choice, huh?).

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I somehow feel closer to Dad while there. I never thought I was the kind of person to get something out of that but when I'm there, I find myself wanting to talk to Dad more than I do elsewhere.

I know he's not there in my rational brain but that doesn't seem to matter when the emotions take over. Never thought that of myself. Anyway, took a pic so all could see it with grass and a flower for his birthday.

Hope you all found some comfort in the memories of Dad today. I love you guys.

Happy Birthday Dad!!
Love, TL
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Have a great day... Go find your 'greener' place!
Johnny:)

One year later!

Actually, by date it would be tomorrow (the 16th) but it was Sunday, so it's a toss-up.

Either way, I went to services at High Pointe this morning.

It marks the first time that I've even attempted to walk through those doors since last year. Lots of tears before and after, but those have become such a regular part of each day, that they don't spoil days anymore.

They've just become a measure of times we're close to Dad and his memory. Seemingly, the closer - the more tears! That being said - I guess today I was really close, which in retrospect made today a pretty GREAT day!

Ron Shepherd (the one Dad called my other brother) was preaching today. He's starting a 3 week series called 'Surpise Endings: When God takes you somewhere unexpected...'.

Today's sermon was 'Staying on the Path to Your Dreams'. The question was asked, "How can I realize my dreams?" The answer? Now, listen close, this is BIG... Learn to respond to detours!

That's when it hit me why I was really there. Yes, I was there honoring the last place (outside of a hospital or rehab facility) that Dad stood, preached, told jokes, hugged, etc. The last place Dad was seen being Dad - before things changed! But I was also there to get a bit of a spiritual smack upside the head from God and (indirectly I guess) Dad.

Quick point recap... my apoligies Ron, if I mess these up.
1.) Recognize the source of your desires (are you listening to God?)
2.) Cooperate with Circumstances (they will prove you or destroy you)
3.) Resolve Conflicts (take charge of internal intruders)
4.) Remain Alert, not afraid (don't become carless to marriage, work, etc)
5.) Finish the Preparation (be a mirror image of HIS preferred future for you)

This past year has definitely been a year of detours. Never in a million years would I have imagined we would be celebrating (I use that term most loosely) the one year anniversary of his aneurysm. I've failed responding to those detours many times over the course of the year. I'm still learning! I know that, with time, I will get better at handling the detours.

In the mean time I acknowledge that those detours are in God's plan to make me stronger, and continue to build me into the man God has planned for me... the man Dad was guiding me to becoming!

For now, I'll just keep striving to become that man. And trying to learn how to handle the highs & lows.

Thanks God, for the spiritual smack. I needed that!
Happy Anniversary!
Johnny:)

For your consideration (part of Ron's Ministry Philosphy from the bulletin).
INVEST in the deserving...
HELP the needy become willing...
LOOK to myself: reenergize!

One more thing. Do you want to listen to those last 2 sermons again? Thanks to HPCC, they're still available (for now at least) on their site or by clicking the links below.

The God of Second Chances Speaker: Buddy Ellis (7-16-06)

Dare to Dream Speaker: Buddy Ellis (7-9-06)

...you look like a monkey & you smell like one too!

Does anyone have the number to heaven - I wanted to call with birthday wishes?

I'd have sent a card but with all of the changes in stamp prices - I have NO idea how much postage that would need!

Yes, it's that time again! Can you believe one year ago today (it's actually still not quite the 12th, so I guess technically I'm talking about tomorrow), I sat with Dad celebrating his birthday over lunch at El Toro's.

A mere 4 days later... he was in the hospital!?! And so began the fateful journey we find ourselves still enduring!

We all know Dad loves a good party! And if there was food involved; even better! I can only imagine how BIG the celebrations are up there. Not that they're celebrating 'birthdays' inparticular (maybe 'rebirthdays'), but we do know that every day in heaven brings so many reasons to celebrate!

I found a poem recently that - while it's written from a childs perspective, speaking to loved ones left behind - it is most definitely appropriate for all ages. "A Birthday in Heaven" is copyrighted & reprinted here with written permission from the author, Kris VanDyke Smith.

This, and other original poems to help soothe a grieving heart, can be found at www.mcadangel.com There you can also order a personalized copy of this and many of her other poems.

A Birthday In Heaven
© 2005 Written by Kris VanDyke Smith

I heard you crying yesterday
And felt your heart-sent love
So I’m sending you this message
Now, from Heaven up above.

You’re wondering if I’ll celebrate
My birthday (way up here)
I know you’re missing me today
I feel your essence near.

God planned a special day for me
He told me with a wink
He’d ordered me a special cake
(It’s Angel food, I think)

I’m getting lots of hugs from God
He’s really good at that
And every time that I walk by
He gives my head a pat

Balloons will fill the streets for me
They float up through the clouds
And we have lots of clowns up here
That make us laugh out loud

There is a birthday carousel
Jeweled horses ride the wind
With music playing oh so sweet…
The magic never ends

I’ve made so many friends, you see
We laugh and play and sing
We ride our bikes and play jump rope
And sleep in Angel’s wings

We’ll have our cake and ice cream
And open gifts, surprise!
But we don’t blow out our candles here
Instead, they light the skies!
Celebrate something today! Sing 'Happy Birthday' a time or two. Imagine Dad dancing one of his infamous jigs down the golden streets of heaven... heading to the party over at God's house.

If you look close & squint your eyes real tight - you can just barely catch the glow from the candles!

Happy Birthday, Dad!
Johnny:)

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

I just read the previous post... it's a good thing I decided to "be brief", as I put it. Lordy, who knows how long I'd have rambled on if I wasn't being brief.

Anyway, in response to that post, I received an e-mail from DG. He apparently wandered by the blog and it reminded him of an 'Old Chinese Proverb' he'd received that seemed to follow the same train of thought...

• If you want happiness for an hour--take a nap.
• If you want happiness for a day-- go fishing.
• If you want happiness for a month--get married.
• If you want happiness for a year--inherit a fortune.
• If you want happiness for a lifetime--help someone else.
  

I agree don't you? Now go out there and help someone else! Whichever way you do it... for an hour or for a lifetime. Find yourself some happiness. And in the process you can help someone else find some, too!

God Bless,
Johnny:)