THOUGHTS AT THREE A.M.

"YA MAKKA MY WEEKEND",COMING UP THIS WEEK END, IN THE QUAD CITIES!!

It's time for another Ya Makka My Weekend, this Friday, August 18^th through Saturday, August 19th! There wil be  Live Reggae bands, Jamaican foods vendors and arts display, as well as the ever popular beer tent,with folks dressing up in ruffled shirts,and dred-locks, and it's just a really big party,down in The District in Rock Island, Illinois. Don't know how to get there? Call and ask for the singing cowboy cab driver, he knows everything, and you will find yourself saying, this is the best cab ride I ever had!

OUI?

For More Information: 309-788-6311 or http://www.ridistrict.com

CAREER CHOICE: AN OBJECTIVE LOOK INTO ONE CHRISTIAN MAN'S SITUATION!

To begin with, our man has been with the company for more than ten, but less than twenty years. He has always distinguished himself as being a company man, to the derision of some,and the liking of others,but rarely to the notice of those in charge. Until recently, when top figures made mention of the fact that he was the best amongst his peers,usually being top man in bookings, lowest in mileage,and complaints from customers being the least,and most often being requested. While others in the crew most generally have been lackadaisical in their attitude towards the company rules, this man has always striven to dress according to codes, been clean and neat,kept his vehicle clean, and has put forth effort to be polite and even engaging towards his customers. To please the company, he has worked double shifts, done jobs they knew he hated,  gone to work sick, rather than call in,and stayed to work overtime, without extra compensations, when he was needed,and all without complaint, grousing, threats or throwing little hissy fits when others were doing so, and encouraging him to join them. Once, he and the head honcho had a great fondness for each other,and were able to speak comfortably together on many issues,and he was often involved in confabs with the head and the manager. They both even attended his wedding, and brought gifts.

But recently, things have changed. The head honcho has changed since she inherited a large estate, and has been making sweeping changes in the company ranks and policies. She has hinted she might be retiring, and has moved her son into the company dispatching,who in turn has approached our man asking if he would be general manager, should the present manager move on. Then, someone else, who shall not be named, that did move on, approached our man, asking him to go with them. He told both he would think about it,and seek the Lord,and get back to them.

Then, this last week, the whole company was thrown into an uproar, when the manager left for his vacation, and left a letter telling everyone he would not be back, that he has gone on to open his own company. In view of that, our man has formally been offered the managers job, but in light of his time constraints regarding home and family, and his calling of the Lord to be on the front lines to witness to nearly all those he comes in contact with off and on the job,and to be a blessing to all those in need he found, he decided that he could not, in all good conscience take on a job that would require him to be on call any day, any time, as well as be chained to a desk 8 hours a day,pushing papers, and having all the responsibility, and none of the authority of that position. He declined the managers job,much to the consternation of the owners son, who now has to fill that position himself, after having worked at the company for about two months. And, since word gets around in any company, everyone who heard of his decision was shocked. Most, apparently assumed that our man would take the job, since he has always been considered a "company man." But there is more. Even those whose sympathies lay, and ultimate goal is to go with, the previous manager are also shocked, since he has also turned down that offer as well!

Why? Because it was impressed upon him, after much  prayer and supplication, to honor God, rather than men. He was led of the Lord, he believes, to stay just where he is...where God put him,until such time as he is led somewhere else. Such is part of the beauty of being a child of God. When caught on the horns of a dilemma, seeking the wisdom of the Almighty puts a lamp unto your feet,and even if you don't know which way to go, he knows what is coming,and keeps you on the right path.

Now, no one knows yet how all of this is going to play out...whether the company will go on, or if the previous managers company will become a fact, or fizzle out at the planning stages. But of the two, certain people at the existing company had planned to leave,and go with the new "company". Should that happen, the old company may find itself losing so many of their crew, they might shut down. It's all up in the air right now.

But our man knows in whom he has believed,and whatever happens, God's got it covered! And everyone who thought they knew our man, and understood why he toed the mark on the job must now re-assess their view of him!

OUI?

HOME-TIME/VACATION COMES TO A CLOSE!

Well, it's four thirty a.m., and soon, Yon son and his wife will be getting up, and packing her up to go back over the road, after five whole days and nights of total companionship, and tonight, Yon son will be going back to work from his vacation. I am amazed that they were able to time all of this so well. She came home Sunday night, and his vacation, his first he has been able to actually take, in fourteen years, started Monday. Tuesday was her birthday,and don't you know, we had some real surprises for her! Some of them didn't turn out quite like we had planned, but she seemed very pleased by most of it. We had the usual cake and ice cream,and Sherry was here, and surprises just kept popping up all over the place! There was some unpleasantness that we have all been praying about, that all came to a head, and it was all resolved, this week. All of it taken care of by the Lord,and none of us had anything to do with it! What a blessing!

Many of Yon son's plans for his vacation, things he wanted to accomplish, did not materialize, but then, that is the way vacations are for all of us, so his desire to have a vacation, after all these years,will be vastly diminished in the future. It is no different than a day off...it just lasts longer,and you see yourself getting less done. In addition, they had some serious errands that had to be run, and all week it has been so hot, no one wanted to cook, so we have kept to a diet of veggie trays and dips,and chips,and fruit,but with the tomatoes our garden is producing that was hardly a difficulty. In fact, they made it fun. He would go out to work in the garden and water, and she would follow to pick lettuce, chives, and tomatoes,and check on the corn's progress,and before you know it, there are two kids out there in the garden running around chasing each other with the hose,and they both come in dripping wet,and laughing like loons! But, all things considered, they had a grand time just being together,and growing closer,and what more can a sweet couple ask than that? So, last night, knowing how little time they had left to be home together,they brought home DVD's, and we watched movies while they snuggled,and held hands,and whispered and giggled and smooched...and after three years married, that's  a pretty good sign.

As is common, of course, there was a little bit of grousing about certain expectations of more laying about and not doing any work whatever during their vacations, until "Momma" reminded them that a vacation just means they don't have to drive the long hours they normally do, and deal with idiots, strangers,drunks, creeps and dispatchers. They immediately brightened, and agreed that it has been a wonderful break from all those things, and they can go back to work now refreshed,stronger in the Lord, more closely bonded to each other, and with less stress on their minds.

Nevermind the fact that I just know I am going to bawl like a baby when she leaves this morning, and again, when he leaves tonight. Wah!

OUI?

WHEN A SMALL FAMILY REUNION BECOMES CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!

After the events of Wednesday night,Yon son and I were not prepared for what came Thursday! We were all just so relieved that Wifey was alive,and well,and running, we just didn't concern ourselves with anything else. We were up at the normal time, and did all the usual things, and so much more! We got laundry done, and the garden watered and worked in, even though it was hot out, and Yon went to the extra trouble to hang the wash out on the line, so we had the wonderful fresh outdoor smell in our clothes and bedding and towels. Not that I can take any credit at all for the big stuff, like cooking and cleaning...Yon just would not allow that. But in my own little way, I helped. I minimized my requests, and stayed out of his way, basically. I cleaned the mouse, and went on line, and once I found out what had occurred in Typepad on the 12th, got pretty much caught up in that until nap time.

Then, we got the call that Yon's wife was in the area, and was due for a shut down, for a ten-hour break. We tried to call Sherry, so she could be here, since we consider her part of the family, but she was not responding, so we left messages,and went ahead with what last minute straightening we could do, before he went to meet her. When she arrived, she had so much stuff with her, that it took two trips in from the car to unload all that she had brought. There were three campchairs, with canvas covers, built in drink holders in the arms,and they are easily collapsible, in one swift determined motion, meaning, they don't just fall by accident, but it takes no time at all to fold them away,and store them in a small space. I was very impressed by this gift, since we are always shuttling chairs in from the kitchen to the dining room, or vice-versa, when we have more than three people in the house. So, that extra work is a thing of the past,for which I am duely grateful! Then Wifey presented Yon son with the one thing he specifically asked for, postcards from every place she has been. Now, he had expected to get an ongoing stream of postcards in the mail from his darling bride...(imagine! Three years they have been married, and he still calls her that!) But instead, she did exactly what he asked,and brought home, hand delivered, a stack of cards from all over the country, which took us half the evening to go through. They are marvelous! Between them, they go for two things  in regards to such stuff. Beautiful, and cute! Well, I have to say,that she cornered the market on cute and beautiful with these cards,and she says she isn't done yet. However, this time Yon made one more stipulation...that she buy some stamps, and send the cards to him from now on! That way, she can jot down her impressions of the place while it is still fresh in her mind, and won't have to search her memory for what happened,where she was, and spend so much time explaining things, once she is home, and we go through the cards!Then they exchanged gifts with each other, things that they both saw that reminded them of the other one, and when that was done, they both turned to me, with these silly secret grins,and said, Now it's mom's turn. Now, I had already given her some fun, glittery socks,a whole stack of them that I knew she would love, and a purple velvet-suede spiral bound book, for her to keep a journal of her travels in,so I had nothing left to give, and felt a little nervous that I didn't have more, but they waved that aside,and she produced a rather big cardboard box, and started pulling out smaller boxes. The first was a candle holder the size of a Christmas gingerbread house, which is exactly what it looked like, with the exception that this is a spring-to-summer house, covered with ivy twining around on it, and mixed into that, are flowers and butterflies,one of which is placed right on the top of the chimney.The house takes two votive candles, and the heat from those candles makes the butterfly on top of the chimney spin,and rise, floating above the top. In addition, all the windows and doors are very nicely lit with the candles. So cute! So clever! Then, she gave me a clock, with a Madonna and child on the face,and the batteries not only power the clock, but also light up tiny red lights that flash in a series of sequences, on the outline of the head and shoulders, halo's and hands of them both. They are highlighted with what looks to be hand painted gilt trim, and the quartz clock is set off to the side of the picture, so neither interferes with the other, and the whole thing is set in an oval glass encased frame, again, trimmed in gold. It is breath-taking.The kids made several suggestions as to where I could put the clock, but I have already decided that it should go in my room, on my bedside table. My room being the only room in the house that isn't overrun with clocks already. Besides that, it will make for a perfect night-light! Then she gave me a key ring, of the Canine Collection, and mine, of course, is the Shetland Sheepdog, or Collie, with a name tag of the breed of dog,and  an image of a Collie  dangling from it, all of it highly polished, mirror bright, and although it looks to be sterling silver, I am sure it is probably chrome.There is another tag that looks like the breed tag, both of them shaped like slender leaves, but it is blank, and Yon has vowed to have it engraved with my name...which is the only reason I haven't already dug out my set of keys,and attached my new beautiful keyring to it. I'll give him a couple of days to make good on his promise,and then attach it. Once that is done, he will play heck getting it away from me again! Then I was given two cards, and two envelopes. All were blank, and none of them really matched, but oh, they are lovely! One card is a Pegasus, and the other is a unicorn, surrounded by clouds, or fog, and the envelopes were softly rendered native American themes, one was just wolves and the other was an Indian maiden, with wolves. I really can't imagine using them for anything. They are just such works of art, that I shall be scanning them into the computer real soon,and add them to my album.Next, I opened a heavy medium sized box, which turned out to be a huge candle,in a glass jar with a lid scented with English ivy. It is so aromatic, you don't have to light this baby up to smell it's goodness. Just with the lid off, in  a few moments time, the whole room was perfumed. At last I was presented with a long, slim fabric- covered, rose themed jewelry box.

Now, all throughout this gifting session, Yon son and Wifey-poo had been speculating on what to do for dinner. Although we had a round steak thawing in the kitchen, they came to the conclusion that it being about 90 degrees outside,and thank God, comfortable in the house, that it would be a mistake, a real shame, to heat up, even just the kitchen, preparing dinner. I reminded them that they need not consider me in this, since our food budgets are separate and I had all I needed for a nice salad and perhaps cold chicken, or a tuna sandwich for my meal, that they go ahead and please themselves,and get what they wanted for supper.In response, I got a fire-storm of protest, saying they had a right to treat me to dinner occasionally if they wanted. But all conversation stilled,when I picked up this box. I sensed that this was no ordinary present, and I could tell that Yon son had been "in on" everything so far given, so these were presents, jointly conferred and agreed upon via the phone, all throughout Wifey's travels, and that this was the important one. Had I not known my kids as well as I do, I might have been disappointed, pole-vaulting to conclusions that way. But, as I opened the box, Yon and wife traded looks,and then passed around the box of tissues.They each took one,and set the rest by me. I was not disappointed. The inside of the lid was white satin with gold lettering, and said, " My prayer for Mom". I looked down,and two thirds of the interior was a rose edged text, and the rest of the space was taken up by an even smaller jewelry box. My voice betrayed me, and I knew I would not be able to read the words of the prayer aloud, so they sat there staring at me as I read it to myself, and then, I made really good use of the box of tissues,and held my arms out to my kids,and they came and filled them,and we all bawled together. The Jewelery box contained a sterling silver fine chain and rose covered cross. Now, my kids know that I don't wear necklaces, because I hate the feel of anything tight around my neck,so they had intentionally looked and looked for this chain, which is 24" sterling silver, and so light and tiny, that I could wear it with ease. And, once you read the prayer, you will understand why I went ahead and let the kids put it on me. You will find it in my photo album.The actual item did not scan well, and even though it is in my album, the text is all but impossible to read, so here goes:

"Dear Mom,

When I was a child you didn't think twice about what it cost or how you'd sacrifice to show me your love, or just how much you cared; for there was no limits to what you would bear. And somewhat like Jesus, no other would do, for no other mother could quite replace you. Your life makes a difference without any doubt, because you're the mom that I can't do without. And so, to say thank you, for each memory, you know you can count on these prayers from me, because they are placed at the foot of the cross where none of your prayers for me have been lost. So please wear this necklace so you won't forget that your job as Mother is not over  yet. And always remember the cross that you bear, will never be greater than the one that you wear."

Anyway, then they went to the store, ostensibly to get things to fix dinner, but what they did was to go to her ATM, and went and got Chinese food, and when they got back we were all so hungry, we feasted rather than ate, and talked and laughed,and caught up on all that had gone on since the last time we were together. And when we bowed our heads to give thanks, believe me, we weren't just moving our lips,but thanking our Lord and savior for bringing us all back together, safe and sound, and for all the blessings he bestows upon us, each and every day.

And if you have been paying attention to what is going on in the world around us, then you know what a momentous blessing His bringing us back together safely really is! Praise the Lord!

OUI?

WHAT DO THE SYMBOLS OF THE FOURTH OF JULY MEAN?!

Once again this was a question posed by a referrer that I followed back, and frankly, I was taken aback that anyone in this country would ask such a question. But, then I remembered, this is the world wide web, and so, it is not necessarily an American asking. Therefore, I shall endeavor to respond, beginning with the basics. Our flag. The symbol of peace,freedom of religion, freedom of speech and unity of each state bonded together with all other states in the union. We have a pledge of allegiance each school child says every morning in school, that says it best.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America,and to the republic for which it stands, One nation, Under God, indivisible, with liberty and Justice for all." 

The flag itself was first made by Betsy Ross, with 13 red and white stripes,as I recall the story, the red to commemorate the blood we shed, (or our forefathers shed) and we are still willing to shed today to protect our country- to gain our Independence as a nation,and the white,symbolizing the purity and peace of the love of God,and his blessings upon this land. In the upper left hand corner of the flag, we have a field of blue, decorated with white stars, one star for each state in the union. The number 13 is significant, being the number of states we began with, which were placed in a circle on that first flag, and now, with Alaska and Hawaii, we are up to 50 states.

You have only to know the words of our national anthem to understand the fireworks we shoot off every fourth of July, which is the day we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

"Oh, say can you see, by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, or'e the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming! And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night,that our flag was still there! Oh say, does that star spangled banner yet wave, or'e the land of the free? And the home, of the Brave! "

Written by Francis Scott Key, as he stood across the bay on shipboard, watching the shelling of Fort McHenry on Chesapeake bay, one of the forts defending Baltimore against the British.During the night of the bombardment, Key's anxiety was at a high pitch, and when in the morning he discerned the American flag still flying over the fortress he gave vent to his feelings, in " The Star Spangled Banner"!

And finally, the three figures marching along, with drum, fife and flag,also called the spirit of 1776, is just what it says it is. Though we may be injured, limping and bleeding, we will still pull ourselves together and march to defend our homes, lives and liberties,because in the chest of any true American, beats the heart of a Patriot!

And, in the words of Lee Greenwood," I'm proud to be an American,where at least I know I'm free, and I'm proud to remember the men who died, to give that right to me, and I'd gladly stand up next to you, and defend Her still today!'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land! GOD BLESS THE USA!"

OUI?

ANOTHER FANTASTIC WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY PARTY!!

You know, people who think that being spiritual and studying the Bible has to be all grim and long faced, just don't know what they are missing.Sherry and Yon son and his wife and I, all get together every week, on wed. night, to have dinner, and bible study and we have the best time.Sometimes, his wife misses because she is working, or Sherry misses because she is busy or ill, but usually it's the four of us.This week, it was wifey-poo that missed out, and we missed her too, but Yon son did a homemade pizza, that was just out of this world! He had that pizza so loaded down with toppings it was just scrumptious, with green peppers,and pepperoni, and ground beef,and ground pork, and extra cheese,and mushrooms, black olives,and of course the pizza sauce, and the dough was mixed up at home, left to rise perfectly, and came out so delicious, that I actually ate some of it.I love pizza, but the stuff you get from one of those places that deliver, it's either so thick and doughy it's just like tons of bread, with practically no toppings, or the dough is so thin, it's crunchy, and Yon son usually ends up eating my crust. I just scrape the toppings off,and eat them, and leave the crust. We were talking about the difference when we ate.I would love to take one of Yon son's pizza's up to D******"s and show them what extra cheese really looks like, because they just don't seem to know! The last time we ordered out, we were so disappointed, because if we hadn't ordered extra cheese, apparently, we wouldn't have gotten any! So anyway, we had that one ordinary sized pizza, and there were several slices left when we were done, because it was so filled with yummy toppings, we had more than enough to eat, with a slice or two apiece,and the great salad we made, with lettuce, grape tomatoes, celery,green onions, avocado, green olives, fresh chives right out of the garden,green peppers, and choice of dressing.I had french, and Sherry had Ranch,and I don't think Yon son had any dressing on his salad...Unless he opted for the fresh we made last night, with garlic, olive oil,and vinegar. With that, we had sugarless, caffeine free soda, with lots of ice. After that, away we went to the dinning room, and booted up the computer for Bible study. It was Grand! The music and singing was wonderful, and brought us into the presence of the Lord,and then Jimmy preached on Job.1-1-5. As always, he told us things we never knew before,and opened up the word of God in ways that helped us to understand what lessons God used the story of Job to teach us. Poor Job! He was the most righteous man of his day, and yet, God allowed him to go through some pretty tough times, so that he finally came to the end of himself....got self, which is man's major stumbling block to becoming all that God wants him to be, out of the way, until he finally saw himself as God saw him, and when he did, the Lord restored to him all that he had allowed to be taken away from Job. It was a real eye-opener. We really get so into it, that it's over before we realize an hour and a half have gone by, and it's always with a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, peace,and regret when the final prayer and songs are over,and the program is turned off. But, we always watch as long as their camera is on. Sometimes it ends with people on their faces before God, kneeling at the altar,weeping, or with their hands in the air, praising God, or sometimes, Jimmy and Donnie and others are gathered around laying hands on one or more folks, praying for healing...and sometimes, there is no one left there,and a little child is walking around, pretending to preach, or just running across the Dias, after Jimmy,or one of the singers.Then we clear the table of the dishes and empty glasses, and the bibles, and, like tonight, we go on line,and search for things, check up on things, and then we go offline, and put a disc in for a game. Tonight it was a new game Sherry hadn't seen before, that I found. It's called Wild Weather,and it is fun! It has an amazing bonus round that is just wonderful...sometimes, you can hit a bonus in a bonus,and your points can just skyrocket through the roof! So, we played, and talked about family stuff,and caught up with her daughter,and her grandkids, and her next door neighbor,and then we went on to Yon son's wife, and how she's doing since her injury, and when she will be back from this first run after going back to work, and we just joked around and laughed so hard, I had tears in my eyes!Yon son was in one of those moods tonight where everything he said was funny,and Sherry was too, and between the two of them, my stomach hurt from laughing so much! As everyone knows, the time gets away from you when your having that much fun, so it should come as no surprise that I turned around at one point,and realized it was way late for me to run my blood sugar,and take my ten o'clock pills, so we adjourned to the kitchen for that, and I was (thankfully) low, so I had a diet A&W root beer float,Sherry had a float with regular A&W root beer, and a piece of chocolate pie, which I cannot have. We took our pills,and watched part of Jay Leno,while Yon son floated between the kitchen and the dining room, helping us with the ice cream, and playing his game at the same time. We may have dawdled over our snack for a while, because all of a sudden, Yon son was saying goodnight,and giving us a peck on the cheek,and away he went to bed. No surprise there, of course.The man worked from six p.m.yesterday until six a.m. and didn't go to bed until after 8 a.m....was back up at two, did laundry, called and talked to his wife, called a friend,walked to the store, went shopping, brought groceries home, cooked dinner,and now you know the rest, all on five hours sleep.That's his day off.His only day off,and that is how he chooses to spend it.God bless him.Is it any wonder I think he's a great guy?

So after Sherry and I cleaned up from our pill snack, we wandered back into the dining room, and played the Wild weather some more,until it was time for her to call her ride,and we parted company. Next week, Yon son is planning a luau, complete with grass skirts and fresh flower leis,baked ham and pineapple chunks or rings, and tropical drinks.As she stood watching for her car, we were full of ideas on what to wear, and she agreed with me that grass skirts, although they sound like fun, might not go well with my wheelchair. Perhaps I should opt for a muu-muu instead. But one thing is certain. We will eat something,we will wear something,but what we are really looking forward to, is the Bible study!

OUI?

HAVE YOU EVER COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT YOU ARE THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY??

It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, but your just different, and so, for some inexplicable reason, you find yourself treated differently than the rest of the kids. I have known that sensation all too well, from time to time, and I know a dear young woman who is going through that feeling of being excluded, through no fault of her own.Why does this happen? How does a Mother allow her child to feel being less than anyone else? I cannot explain it, and yet,there must be a reason for it.Perhaps we shall never know what goes on in a woman's mind who allows this to continue, even after the child is a grown capable woman, and has proven her worthiness to be loved and cherished,keeping in mind, of course, that no child should have to EARN love,but that they all deserve to be loved, regardless, just as much as any other person in the family.This young woman of whom I speak is very near and dear to me, and it just astounds me that her family is so ignorant, so stupid as to show so little concern for her feelings. To speak to these people, you would never guess they could be so careless in their regard for someone who has moved them into her own home,and provided handsomely for them, while she went out and worked like a Trojan to keep things going, with no demands on them for anything, other than to take as good a care of her pets and property as they possibly could,and  even provided them with her own private vehicle to use, free gratis, while she was out of town! And after all of this, when she came home, with an injury, needing some TLC, and looking forward to an Easter Celebration with said family, what did they do? Did they greet her with open arms,and make much over her, and dance attendance upon her as she deserved? No! When it became clear that she was going to have to recuperate elsewhere other than home, did they make themselves omnipresent and call and come to visit regularly, just to make sure she was not in need? Once again, No! After an initial visit, she was kind and generous enough to have them call out for pizza,and gave them a $50 bill,and didn't even stay to eat, and went to her other home, letting them know they could use the change left for whatever else they wanted, and that, as they say, was the last she heard from them, until she called them! Now, they knew where she was.They had her cell phone number, as well as the number of the home in which she stayed,and in fact have been here dozens of times!

Now, I am going to stop right here,and pose a question to any mother out there. If your daughter was so badly injured that she was sent home from the hospital, and told she could not work, and that the best thing to do would be to rest,and stay off her foot, and leg, wouldn't you trouble your bones around enough to check in on her on a daily basis?  (sniff) excuse me, I think I have something in my eye. Now, don't ask if this girl has done something terrible, for this has been the treatment she has endured for most of her life that she can remember.She's not nasty,or difficult to be around, or filled with malice,envy and hatred.This is a kind, tenderhearted, generous woman with no end of soft spots in her heart for the small, weak, and helpless.Her family has no excuse to behave as though she doesn't matter. If it wasn't for her, they wouldn't have a place to live, for goodness sakes! But I digress.Back to the subject.

Saturday before Easter, she asked her sisters boyfriend (who is also living in her house,and driving her car) to please take her to the hospital, because she was still having problems,and needed a doctor's care.After a great deal of hemming and hawing around and rigmarole, the sisters boyfriend finally came through,when he found time, went and got her,and took her where she needed to go, and then on the return trip, they stopped briefly at her house, so she could pick up a few things she needed, and she runs smack-dab into the one person she had told her mother and all the rest of the family she DID NOT WANT IN HER HOUSE,  in her house.Not only was this man there, but he was  STAYING there! And, he proceeded to insult her, to her face.Her mother was sitting right there,and did not say anything.She did not take up for her daughter, or tell the man off,or insist that he apologize, or even order the man out.She just sat there, in her own little corner, with her bare face hanging out,and not one word passed her lips. Now, personally, I wish I had been there, because I would have had several choice words for him and the whole durned shootin match of them...but I wasn't there,and this dear sweet woman was left to her own devices, with no one to take up for her, and so she said, something, grabbed what she wanted and left. Now how does it happen that a woman will sit there through that sort of confrontation,and not have a sharp word for a man who speaks inappropriately to her own daughter? The  owner of the house! She was also informed, somewhere along the line, that there was going to be a cook-out the next day, Easter Sunday,and this man was going to be there too, because he helped provide some of the food and stuff for said cook-out. Now, they all were told that if this man was there, she would not be there,and no one lifted a finger, or a word of protest in favor of her.They all chose to be on the side of this interloper who was not a welcome guest as far as the woman who owns the house.Easter Sunday came, and went, and the cook-out apparently went off without a hitch, and no one bothered to contact the daughter, whose only desire was to have a nice Easter Sunday dinner, with her family.

Now, I am going to tell  you something that will shock you, if you have any decent sensibilities about you, but it is true, so I am going to say it. The young woman in question, about whom I am blogging tonight is my daughter-in-law, and Yon son and I love her dearly. We were honored to have her in our home, and delighted that she spent the holiday with us, but we knew that she was yearning to be with her own mom and sisters and niece and nephew for Sunday dinner.We tried everything we could think of, to take the sting off the week-end for her, but what can one do, when the situation is so lopsided? You can't MAKE people show love and affection, it has to come naturally.We knew, long ago that all was not as it should be, because this darling girl was shipped off to a "home" when she was very young, and all she wanted, for years was to get her family back together. It took her 17 years for her to make that dream come true...and this is the way she is treated.

I don't have all the answers, but some things I do know.I know that no normal mother would treat her daughter this way, unless there is something wrong, in this woman's head, some sort of secret guilt or regret connected with this child, that she cannot admit to, that keeps her from expressing natural affection for her own flesh and blood.Whatever the crux of the problem is, "Mom" should get over her grudge she bears against her child, and try to overcome this thoughtless cruel streak she constantly shows her baby girl, and attempt to exhibit some affection and interest,or that whole family could lose her permenently.

I really don't think she is the black sheep of the family. I think, what we have here is a whole family of black sheep, who haven't come to a reconciliation with the fact that they have a fluffy pink and white sheep!

OUI?

LET'S TALK ABOUT TELEVISION PROGRAMING,FOR EASTER!!

So, Whaddia think about the EASTER week-end programing, for 2006? Kinda sucks, doesn't it? I mean, I looked at the line up for Friday and Saturday, and, to say the least, I was singularly unimpressed.I mean, to their credit, ABC  did run"The Ten Commandments", um...LAST week-end,but let's face it, at best, that would have just been the preamble for the BIG movie, THIS  week-end,and then...they didn't do ANYTHING! This week-end, spiritually speaking, as far as the BIG THREE NETWORKS, was dead! But Sunday. SUNDAY! When there should have been some spectacular movie programing, recounting the huge, the most important,biggest and best moving and operation of God upon this earth, namely the ultimate Sacrifice made by the LAMB of God, Jesus Christ, and the miracle of his rising from the dead,and not one of the networks saw fit to acknowledge it, or him in any way, shape or form! Now, that is just WRONG! Especially in America, where our whole foundation is based upon the free expression of our faith in God...And those who founded it were CHRISTIANS!

So, NBC,CBS,AND ABC!! What do you have to say for yourselves, particularly since your whole everything was based on the fact that, in your infancy as networks, you built your empires upon Christian Programing,and used to run wonderful movies such as "THE ROBE!" , "BEN-HUR",and"THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD!"as well as"THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!" On Easter!! Then, it was a glorious day for the United States of America,where every American with a Television set could tune in,and be filled with the true meaning of Easter,and get an understanding of what a glorious thing had occurred on this morning 2000 years ago, and that it had nothing to do with chocolate bunnies, or Easter egg hunts,and tons of candy....and now, that is all it is about, according to what you have televised! HUH? Easter egg hunts on the white House Lawn is all very well and good, but that is not the purpose for which God established you and blessed you to make you as large and powerful as you are now,IS it? No! And so, today, I looked at the schedule, and I couldn't believe my eyes.Not one! NO,not one Network chose to honor God, on this most important day. It was all the same old, same old, just another day..which has filtered down to the general population, who are not church goers,and it is your fault that so many have forgotten God, days without number,and YOU have led the parade on this one too.Somewhere along the line, you dropped the "CODE OF GOOD CONDUCT and now a lot of things are slipping through on the air,and no one does anything about it.It's become so all pervasive, that most Christians just turn their heads,and turn their backs,and don't watch anymore, but I am watching YOU, and so is GOD. Now, I am going to stop just short of calling down a curse on your stations, but you know I am not called to do that.Only God can take from you what he has given you, but it's not like you haven't given him plenty of provocation! You may feel perfectly justified in allowing more and more junk to take the place of goodness and honoring God, given the popularity of Cable, and Satellite dishes and things,to do this, but in your hearts,you people who make up the schedules, and CEO'S who make the big decisions,you have got to be called to account for every idle word you allow to be spoken, every opportunity to honor God you let slip by, because HE gave you much,and much is EXPECTED from you,and now, you have dropped the ball, with a great Big  THUD!!!

The way to win the public back from the lure of the, how shall I say it?... VARIETY?  Of cable, is not to go running down that slippery slope,after them,waiving filth and gore and degradation in the air,but with a relief from those things,with truth(Ah, not the tabloid kind of truth either!) but the real truth, beauty and love.

IF!(And that's a big if!)

If you still know what those things are!

OUI?

AND NOW, FOR THE REAL CELEBRATION! AN OPEN LETTER TO NBC, CBS, AND ABC!!

No, I am not still partying over the Olympics.Well, not really. And I have no designs on fat Tuesday,otherwise known as Mardi Gras, which, if you missed my attitude on that, as far as I am concerned, is just silly.No, I have no interest in that colossal  waste of time, energy, and resources. The celebrating to which I refer is the joy and happiness felt by those of us who have suffered through this last two weeks, (honestly, it feels more like two months!) of constant unending coverage of the Olympic games on NBC. But, just as nature does a quick turn around when you think spring is finally here, and gives us a surprise snow storm or something after the Tulips are starting to emerge, After the "closing ceremonies" of the Olympics last night, and the 10:ooP.M. news was over, what did they do? Why, the same thing they did all through the coverage! THEY RAN IT AGAIN! And I am going,"WHAT?!" ( SHOUTING at the t.v. screen)"Hey guys! The closing ceremonies means it's supposed to be OVER!!!" Okay? Okay, I lost my temper, just a little bit.However, I was all alone,and waiting for a usual Sunday night program to come on, like a rerun of CSI or something, anything but the winter games! Because I am so sick of the Olympics, and so glad it's over, that's all I needed to set me off! So, with that feeling fresh in my mind, and looking foreward?...to the summer games,I would like to take this opportunity to put a bug in NBC'S  ear, regarding that coverage.Just as some of us don't much care for most sports...but certain ones do grab our attention, don't do the same thing you did this time.Just as with winter sports, there are some I sort of do like to watch,like skating. In the summer, it is swimming and diving.But I don't want nothing but sports, even the ones I like, day in and day out...or (cringe) 24-7! The fact is, as most regular individuals, I like  VARIETY! Sports not being my dish of tea, I tire of it quickly. I don't even want to watch the ones I like to the exclusion of all else. So, it would be nice, if you could cover the major stuff, just once during a 24 hour period,and maybe mix it up, and throw a good movie in there occasionally,and then go ahead and have your late night updates on all the stuff you think we are all out here just panting to see, ( which a lot of us aren't!) but try to have a decent balance...not just all or nothing! You know, it's bad enough, being stuck in a wheelchair,and being housebound, without benefit of cable, and then to be subjected to nothing but able-bodied youth, out there wasting all this strength and energy and stamina, and musculature power on silly games that do no one any good whatsoever,trying to win a piece of tin to hang around their necks,so they can swagger around and show the world how great they are, while our boys are over there fighting wars, and could use all that strength, that is being wasted for self-aggrandizement! When there are homes to be built, children to be fed, families to be defended and armies to be trained and raised up so our kids can come back home and take care of their own families.Every one of those winners could be teaching others how to build their muscles up and be fit and trim, to live the kind of hard lives they have to live in third world countries. Some say, but they can do that AFTER they win the gold,silver, or bronze! Aha!But will they? No! They won't. Because once they are winners, then they are looking forward to more training, and endorsement deals,and more competition four years from now. They have no interest in giving of their talents and time to improve the world, these games are all about SELF, and how great they are!

Okay.Rant over. I know better than to get all excited,and try to make an impact on the awareness of a world that thinks it is just great to spend every week-end staring at nothing but games on television, winter and summer, and every season in between. I mean, look at our options. Network television on the week-ends consists of golf, basketball, baseball, and football. When baseball finally comes to an end, it's football. When football grinds to it's muddy, bloody stop, baseball starts all over again.Golf and basketball just go on and on, unending, relentless.Stop, for just one brief moment, and try to look at this from the perspective of a person who does not want to be reminded that they are incapable of doing any of those things.What have any of you networks listed for such a person? Nothing.You pre-empt good programs for your play-offs and such, without so much as a thought to anyone who hasn't the wherewithall to avoid your ruthless offerings, completely careless of the disabled and infirmed, with no thought as to whether they might enjoy seeing something beautiful, inspiring or uplifting.I suppose there is something to be said for the networks catering completely to those who work hard all week,and all they ask on the week-end is to watch unending sports, whose sponsors are beer and other beverage producers,so they can gather at one another's houses, drink beer, yell and scream and throw chips and salsa and popcorn at each other, paint their faces, and argue over who did what. While on the sidelines, people sit alone in their wheelchairs, and if they watch television at all, it is to see cute commercials, or flip from channel to channel, looking in vain for something, that for at least a little while, will take them out of their dismal circumstances, allow them to break the bonds of their condition long enough to feel hopeful for the future, or that somewhere somebody at that network cares enough about them to give them a few moments of delightful programing, rather than to leave them sitting there, wrathful and frustrated, that these young, strong, healthy men, and women, are running around, being paid millions of dollars a year to play a stupid Game!

But, the bottom line being always money, I don't suppose such a cry would even be considered, even if it were heard. Week-end programing shall remain, as I have called it for several years now, a vast wasteland,broken up only briefly and momentarily, on Easter, and Christmas,and even then, only because everybody else is doing it. What bugs me to no end, is, since most of the sports fans have cable...(I mean, obviously, they have nothing in their heart for God, so what's the difference?) Why aren't all those sports programs relegated to the ESPN and other like sports dedicated channels, and free up the network channels for things like Sunday morning worship services,(huh, like that's going to happen!) beautiful movies the whole family can watch and enjoy together,or even fun stuff like pet/ animal videos, Pet rescue,Animated movies like Disney or Pixar, or even old, classic movies, like the road shows,or shorts like the thin man,the saint, or Travelogues? Or even COPS?

But, no. I know before I even publish this, that THESE  things will not find their way to NBC, CBS, OR ABC. As much as I would like to believe that you care for human beings, and want to offer a well-rounded bill of fare, I know that next Sunday, my choices will be golf, basketball, and football. Other than that, I can take my choice of quilting or Victory garden on PBS. It is sad, really, that in the greatest country on the face of the earth,the three big television networks have no regard for their audience, beyond how much can you get us to watch you, by appealing to the sports nuts,and leaving the rest of us out. You all like to make a big deal about how much you care for us and our children, but your programing says otherwise.

OUI?

SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY

By now, you are no doubt up to your armpits with red hearts and cards and heart shaped boxes of candy, giving or getting. You may even have been toying with the notion of sending a "Pajama-gram" which is the newest wrinkle in gift-giving for the holiday,which touts a choice of pajama's, in a gift bag, which includes a lavender sachet,candy or flowers or such,and a do-not-disturb sign for the door!And in the ad, they say, she won't be able to get her clothes off fast enough to try on these beautiful creations! Well. Your eyeballs have clouded over with the jewelry and lingerie ads on television and in the newspaper, and the prices of roses have you hyperventilating! I can certainly understand why anyone would be torn as to what to get their sweetheart, if in the position to get anything at all, and so this rumor that is spread by some cynics about all gift and card giving holidays has cropped up once again. You know the one I mean. That it is just another made up holiday, fabricated by the card producers and the candy makers, and the flower industry to make more money.

Well, I am here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. The day is named after an actual man, Saint Valentine,a Roman priest and martyr, a patron saint of lovers, whose loving spirit and kindness to all living things earned him a name honored throughout the ancient world,(c 269) and when he died, everyone who knew him grieved,and the stories told about him, finally inspired this day to commemorate his loving nature.However, the customs practiced on his feast day(Feb. 14) have nothing to do with his life. It seems that in ancient Rome, boys drew girls names from  a love urn on February 15th, and the early Christian church transferred this popular pagan custom to St.Valentine's feast day, rather than abolish it. Paper Valentines, the ritual of sending cards to declare one's love, did not come along until the 16 th century.

Somehow, it seems fitting that this day of sweet displays of affection should be inspired, at least in part by a man whose life was dedicated to purity and innocent behavior, thereby keeping some of the charm of actual courting alive in an age when so little remains of the practice of wooing the one you love.

OUI?