our Damon was promoted to Glory...if only i'd known, if only i'd have known.

1 month ago today, all of our lives changed. for the better having known him, having loved him, one month ago today...

we decided to have mcdonald's for breakfast, Damon got his usual sausage biscuit and this time orange juice to help break up the congestion

growth....LOL...it was just going to be another fun day, with all of us together. another fun day to enjoy one anothers company

show me the growth, it was damon...LOL. he had his arms wrapped around her, they were walking in unison..he said with a big grin, that he was her

day, i was so proud oh him for that. kasey called from the back bedroom that she had a growth, this concerned me some, she come walking out front to

Wood, i was in the living room, reading Damon's Bible, he had the VLB pamplet, where you read your bible through in a year, he hadn't missed a single

i tried to post tonite, but blogger wouldn't let me, title was 1 month ago today, we were getting up and getting around, we had decided to go to Dolly

Don't give up.....
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God."God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"His answer surprised me..."Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?""Yes", I replied."When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care ofthem.I gave them light.I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.Its brilliant green covered the floor.Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said."In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.But I would not quit.In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I wouldnot quit." He said."Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Comparedto the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong andgave it what it needed to survive.I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"."I would not quit on the bamboo.I will never quit on you.""Don't compare yourself to others."He said."The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.Yet they both make the forest beautiful.""Your time will come", God said to me."You will rise high""How high should I rise?"I asked."How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return."As high as it can?" I questioned."Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."I left the forest and brought back this story.I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.Never, Never, Never Give up.For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

Thank you

Hello All,

I do not know how many still read my blog, but to whomever....it is a surreal time in our lives. As a mother, I cannot fix this, I cannot kiss this and make it better. As a mother in law, I have never been more proud, my son in law, in my eyes was perfect...as a tribute to his character and his love of his Lord. He would call me and visit, he would tell me about his work, his side jobs, the daily things going on with him. I have such treasured memories of him. His love for our daughter was like none other I have ever witnessed. His love for his family, was phenomenal. He never let anything stop him. He fought the good fight of faith until the very end. His legacy of love and determination, will live on in the lives of those he has touched forever. Words cannot express how I feel about this remarkable young man. I will surely miss him. I know he has gone ahead of us to make sure that all of our mansions are painted just right.
I wish to express my heart felt thanks to all of you who are praying for Kasey, Yvonne and Andy, Judy and the boys and Fancy. I want to thank you for all of your out pouring of love, in your thoughts and prayers, in your time spent and the food prepared and the monetary gifts as well. Your love and your time are very much appreciated. THANK YOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU. May God richly bless you for your giving....your sister in Christ.

YOU are Special, a Reminder.

$20.00

Sometimes we just need to be reminded!

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.
"Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.
You are special!!
Don't EVER forget that!
Count your blessings, not your problems.
And remember: amateurs built the ark ... professionals built the Titanic.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it!

love and prayers, one and all, you are special to me and to HIM.

Just P.U.S.H.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filledwith light, and God appeared.
The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.
The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all hismight...So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun-up to sun-down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!
Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling thathis whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)! You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn'tmoved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough. "That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matterof Prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to The Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What iswrong? Why am I failing? "The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.
Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.
And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be Obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My Wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.
"At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He Wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.
By all means, exercise the Faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God Who moves The Mountains.
When everything seems to go wrong.........................Just P.U.S.H.
When the job gets you down................................Just P.U.S.H.
When people don't do as you think they should.............Just P.U.S.H.
When your money is "gone" and the bills are due...........Just P.U.S.H.
When people just don't understand you.....................Just P.U.S.H.
P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens

The Duck and the devil

> > There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He> > was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the> > woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged > > > > he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet> > duck.> > > > > > Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square i n> > the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!> > > > In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his > > sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing> > > > > > After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the> > dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in > > the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny> > did the dishes.> > > > Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing> > and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." > > > > Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny> > told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"> > So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. > > > > After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he> > finally couldn't stand it any longer.> > > > He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.> > Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. > > > > You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but> > because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you> > would let Sally make a slave of you." > > > > Thought for the day and every day thereafter?> > Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil> > keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad> > habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is...You need to > > know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He> > has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and> > that you are forgiven.> > > > He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of > > you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He> > not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy> > that we are saved.> > > > Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this > > with a friend and always remember: God is at the window!

Cell Phone vs Bible

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency.
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities?"
And no dropped calls!

The Value of Disaster

For ten years Thomas Edison attempted to invent a storage battery. His efforts greatly strained his finances and, in Dec 1914, nearly brought him to ruin when a spontaneous combustion broke out in his film room. Within minutes all the packing
Compounds, celluloid for records and film, and other flammable goods were ablaze. Though fire depts. came from surrounding towns, the intense heat and low water pressure made attempts to douse the flames futile. Everything was destroyed.
While the damage exceeded $2 million, the concrete bldgs, thought to be fireproof, were insured for barely a tenth of that amount. The inventor’s twenty-four-year old son, Charles, searched frantically for his father, afraid that his spirit would be broken. Charles finally found him, calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, white hair blowing in the wind.
“My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “he was sixty-seven, no longer a young man, and everything was going up in flames”.
“When he saw me he shouted, “Charles, where’s your mother?” When I told him I
didn’t know, he said, “find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.”
The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver the first phonograph.
With each new day, we have the opportunity to start again, to start fresh…no matter what our circumstances. Let the Lord show you how to salvage hope from debris. You never know what joys lie ahead.
HOPE IS LIKE THE SUN, WHICH, AS WE JOURNEY TOWARDS IT, CASTS A SHADOW OF OUR BURDEN BEHIND US.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

>The Stranger
>
>A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to
>our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with
>this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family.
>The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.
>
>As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind,
>he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors:
>
>
>
>
>Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But
>the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for
>hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.
>
>If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always
>knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed
>able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league
>ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped
>talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
>
>Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each
>other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for
>peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to
>leave.)
>
>Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the
>stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was
>not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors.
>Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that
>burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.
>
>My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the
>stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes
>look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too
> freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant,
>sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.
>
>I now know that my early concepts about relationships were
>influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values
>of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.
>
>More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with
>our family. He has blended right in and is
>not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into
>my parents' den today, you
>would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone
>to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?....
>
>We just call him, "TV."
>

>
>He has a wife now....We call her "Computer."

Something to think about....be blessed....sis katie.

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors andthe holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding-spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they couldnot get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seenHell."They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holyman's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand." "It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves." When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of you!

God's Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got to talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups, porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite bone china - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... and then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. "God brews the coffee, not the cups...
Enjoy your coffee! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Spend time with God over your coffee.

Sixty Seconds

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin. ....... . Keep your eyes and heart on the Lord, HE will keep your feet on the path.

How To Forgive

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right he thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, You have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.
He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked?
The man answered- "yes, Lord."
"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"
The man answered - " yes. Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.
"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked?
And the man answered - "yes, Lord."
"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain? "
The man, crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the Blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.
Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."
It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.
Read the following line slowly and let it sink in....
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!