Passions

My grandma always had a song in her head. Everything that happened brought a song to her mind. She literally sang her way through life! Don't know if it is true or not, but I imagine that if she was upset at grandpa, she probably had the song, "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair" on a continual loop until they kissed and made up.

When I was a girl, I would mention something and she would begin to sing about it.

My grandma was such a joyful, delightful, incredible person. She had a beautiful, contagious smile, which she always displayed. I believe those songs in her heart empowered her to wear that smile from day to day.

I don't always have a song in my head ... but I always seem to have a story brewing in my heart. I am just not sure how to get it down on paper.

My grandma was not a great singer ... she never would have been selected for the Hollywood musicals that she loved so much ... but she was a singer all the same. She had a passion for it like no other.

I am not a great writer ... I will probably never write a book that will be listed on the New York City bestseller list ... but I am a writer all the same. I have a passion for it.

Our passions empower us ... they also affect others ... if only on a very tiny scale.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds..." Deuteronomy 11:18a

Reward

"Behold children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:4-5

Josiah's Senior Prom

Josiah wasn't going to prom this year.

Saturday was prom. Josiah went.

Last Wednesday the flower shop called. They said,

"There is a new girl in town. Today is her second day in school. Your son, Josiah, is taking her to prom."

There was an unexpected move. She already had her red prom dress. She wasn't going to get to go. Josiah decided to take her. Last minute!

The problem, Josiah was out of town for two days ...

He was on a bus on his way to Kansas City when the flower shop called to fill me in on the details.

"What size does he wear, shoes, jacket, shirt, pants?"

I dug around in his closet and returned a call to the flower shop, hoping I had found the correct measurements.

We overnighted the tux, ordering the sizes we thought would work.

May I say, $$$$$$! Yikes!

Scotty and I left for a seminar before Josiah returned home from his trip. The tux was waiting for him, hanging in our kitchen for him to try on when he got home. All was taken care of when we left, or so I thought.

Saturday morning, I was in Springfield, MO when I got a text from Josiah, "The tux does not fit me at all!"

Prom was that night! What would you do?

I called him.

"Go to the flower shop right now and plead for help! Use those baby blue eyes of yours." (I didn't really tell him that, but I am sure they helped!)

He did go to the flower shop.

Bless, Tracie's heart! She found a tux that would fit him, as she stripped down her mannequins to fix him up.

I owe her big time!

He and Caitlyn had a great time at the prom. He looked debonair, she lovely! Josiah was the best looking guy there! My mom said so. I was out of town but the pictures reveal success.

It was a ride, friends! A wild ride. I felt like I was in a kayak on troubled, rushing water. There was grace to ride it out. We, Tracie and I,rode it out, laughing our way through the whole thing!

Thank the Lord that Josiah is of the male gender! I do not think it would have been fun at all if he had been the girl!

I don't think we will be remember what Josiah wore to prom last Saturday night. Well, I might.

Behaviors are not easily forgotten. Impressions were made last week. I will always remember Tracie's helpful attitude. She was such a blessing! She might remember me. We had a great time.

Does this verse fit at all? Just wondering. It is the verse hanging around my mind as I write this.

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage .. with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

Life is an adventure!

(Smile!)

Just for Fun

I have never really thought of myself as an obsessive person.

Okay, maybe over a couple of things, but I am a woman who has raised five
children and some of my obsessions have just had to relax.

A spring fever bug bit me in February. I became convinced that if I would just sort, straighten, and scour around my house, snow would finally melt and flowers would begin to bloom. My little formula did not work, winter decided to linger.

I have many deep and wide kitchen cabinets. They are more like storage trunks for many a trinket, many an object. As I sorted and cleaned, I was constantly getting reaquainted with my old things. There was one surprise or another behind every door and drawer. Reorganizing became treasure hunting.

There was one surprise that I will never forget.

A few years ago, I had a really hard time finding, chopped green chilies at the store. I like to use them in several recipes, so it was very discouraging when I couldn't find them.

I must have started picking up cans of green chilies every time I shopped, because when I cleaned out my canned food cabinet, I found twenty-one cans of green chilies. I could not believe it! Twenty-one! I had obsessed over green chilies and I didn't even know it!

I laughed so hard as I pulled out another can ... and another one ... and another one ... They were hidden everywhere in my unorganized pantry.

I was so embarrassed I did not want to tell anyone! Now I am telling all of you!

I guess I don't always realize when I am out of control.

Is anyone in need of a can or two of green chilies?

Beautiful Things

I must repeat one of my favorite stories.

There once was a city that was divided by a great wall. The people on one side of the
wall hated the people on the other side of the wall with a great hatred. One night those that harbored hate
threw all of their trash over the wall leaving a huge heap for those they despised. The people on the other
side of the wall had an idea ... that night they threw flowers and many other beautiful things
over the wall leaving a mounding heap of beauty for those on the opposite side of the wall to
discover when they rose in the morning. Above the mound of beautiful things hung a note that read, "Each one gives
what he has."

Proverbs 19:11
"The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression." NKJV

I am looking for opportunities to give away some of His beauty today. Do you know of anyone who could use some beauty? Let's tell them about the cross, the resurrection, and the promise of the return of Christ. That is a beautiful promise to leave with folks.

I am so thankful for the cross! And His resurrection! And the promise of His return!

Happy Easter, friends!

~Cheri