..... well, funny in a ridiculous kind of way.  We're getting ready to leave in the morning for San Antonio, Texas.  Hubby has a business conference there... so we'll be there thru Sunday.  I'm not particularly looking forward to the 8-9 hour drive... but AM looking forward to seeing & visiting with my BFF from high school, Lisa.  I've not seen her since my Jeremey's funeral.  I'm anxious to see her & her hubby, as he's been diagnosed with MS in the last couple of years.   As it turns out, she works for Schlitterbahn Water Parks.  Not sure exactly what she does, but I know she doesn't sell tickets or work in the snack shack.  She's an artist... so I'm thinking it's something to do with art director/ marketing.... something along those lines.  (I'll let you know for sure when we get back).  All I know, is she's offered her office for me to cool off while we're there.

OK... so anyway, I was packing earlier... getting things together.  I was down to my bag that carries my toiletries, make-up, & such.  As it turns out, EVERY TIME we go anywhere that requires strenuous packing (lol) , I find myself cleaning out ALL my make-up & skin care products.  So today I was going thru... & I have enough make-up... LIP GLOSS... to support a small family in some very foreign land.  Keep in mind, I worked for Lancome back when Kennedy was born... & still have TONS of stuff, some still in packaging, & as I was going through it all... I actually found myself thinking 'keep'....'trash'....'oh, I need to keep this'.... 'trash'...etc.  OK... WHY would I keep ANY of it!?!?!  Sure, it's fun to look at, fun to use, fun to just HAVE... but I NEED NONE OF IT!  Let me just tell ya... not only did I throw it ALL away.... but I also threw away the bag it was in!  Why do I think I'll use some makeup I've YET to use.... but I think I'll use it on this jam-packed whirlwind of a trip we're taking?!?? Kennedy's 11 yrs. old... I quit working when she was FIVE MONTHS OLD~!!! You do the math.

You know, after my "What- the- Heck?" moment, I thought about my own life.  The life deep inside... that no one gets to know about but me.  How much am I holding on to that God just wants me to LET GO of?  How much easier could my life be if I 'cleaned out all the clutter'?  "Re-decorated", so to speak.... that's what I think I'll do... & see how much wasted space I clear out.     

The 8th.....    he would of been 84. 

I am thankful for his life.... for all that he gave, for his humility... for his love.   I am thankful for the sacrifice he made when he was 17.. to fight for our country (WWII).  I am thankful the Lord spared his life and that he was my earthly father.... my dad. 

I can still see the wrinkles in his hands.....  his watch....   his wedding band... for 60 yrs of marriage.

I miss him. 

Happy Birthday, Dad.  I love you. 

We talk of you often....  

Papa.... 

This sunday we placed flowers in the church in memory of my Dad.... and in honor of his birthday.  Red, white & blue with a flag in them.   He was a true American.   He was MY hero. 

                   Dad with Dakota 2000

           ~Papa reading to Alyssa~

Papa with my little boys~ Wes 3 wks & Wyatt 18 months

Michael & Papa go fishing~ 1991

I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear
Every once in a while
And even though it's different now
You're still here somehow
My heart won't let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you, sha la la la la
I miss you

You used to call me your dreamer
And now I'm living out my dream
Oh how I wish you could see
Everything that's happening for me
I'm thinking back on the past
It's true that time is flying by too fast


I know you're in a better place, yeah
But I wish that I could see your face, oh
I know you're where you need to be
Even though it's not here with me

~ Michael's high school graduation~ 2003

 me (holding Wesley, 3 wks old), Dad, Michael, mom, Mandi, my sister, Sharon, Alyssa, Dakota, Billy with Wyatt (18 months)

We miss you.... Papa! 

thank you for allowing me to share my heart~

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Doest thou know who made thee,

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?

Doest thou know who made thee?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Little lamb, I'll tell thee;

Little lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For He calls Himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and He is mild,

He became a little child.

I a child, and thou a lamb,

We are called by His name.

Little lamb, God bless thee!

Little lamb, God bless thee!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

William Blake

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May we remember, though they may not always appear as "sweet little lambs", that those entrusted to us are indeed close to God's heart and made in His image. May we love them, hug them closely, and always-always tell them of the first Lamb that was lead to the slaughter for their precious sakes....

Til Next Time,

Lisa

My OLDER sister Coco is visiting me right now.  Isn't she purty?

By the way, that is me on the left and her on the right in case y'all thought we were twinsies.  I commented that I look older than her in this picture and instead of gracefully saying, Oh no dear sister of mine, you look so young and youthful and here I look like an old hag.  But NO!  The brat, she just smugly looked at me and said Yup. 

Okay, we are totally laughing our heads off because she is sitting right next to me as I type this.  I contemplated paying her back by photoshopping her teeth a la Hee Haw style, but then I realized that she has photoshop too.  And probably more incriminating pictures than I have in my personal posession (possession? too lazy to look it up).

I am glad that my sister Coco is visiting with my cutesie wootsy niece Emily and funny little man Benjamin.  I have no idea what we're going to do this week, but I'm sure it will involve coffee, laughing, play with the kidlets and a whole lot of relaxing!

If you get a chance, stop by Coco and my other sister Lele's etsy store where they sell handmade jewelry:  lele+coco  Speaking of my New York City living sister Lele... we could tell some funny stories about her this week.  Hmmm... Maybe we will, maybe we won't.  She doesn't read my blog (I don't think)... but I think she might be able to whoop me... so we'll see.

Love,
Marshie

One of my favorite movies of all time is Facing the Giants.  I was at my friend Mikki's blog and found a Youtube video from this movie.  It looks well worth a date night to the theatre.

The words to this song resonate a lot of Truth to me.

Enjoy!  And thank you Mikki for sharing this gem.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Of her three main interests, art, music and writing, she chose to study English at the University of Colorado and thrived on Creative Writing and Literature classes. She married her husband Jim, and turned her energy to building a family. They have four children whom they have home schooled for all or most of their education. Kristen is a music minister with the ecumenical covenant community People of Praise.

Once she realized the stories in her head were truly a calling from the Lord, she made writing not just a passion, but a ministry. She has written seven historical fiction novels as part of the The Rocky Mountain Legacy series, the Diamond of the Rockies series, and the Christy Award winner Secrets. Most recently, she has written several contemporary fiction novels, including Echoes, Freefall and Unforgotten.

Kristen and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Tessa Young, an up-and-coming landscape architect who specializes in the design and creation of labyrinths, has immersed herself in the mythological, spiritual, and healing aspects of the elaborate structures. She also is searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagued her since childhood.

When Smith Chandler, an estranged colleague--with whom she'd half fallen in love a dozen times before catching herself every time--calls to propose a project he claims is the opportunity of a lifetime, she reluctantly agrees to check it out. Smith is reconstructing a pre-Revolutionary War abbey for wealthy clients. Among its remarkable features is an overgrown labyrinth.

Unable to resist, Tessa accepts his offer to work with him. Soon she is immersed in the project of a lifetime. But one evening, after weeks of work in the labyrinth, Tessa and Smith are attacked. While protecting Tessa, Smith is stabbed, and the nightmare begins...again.


If You would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

My Thoughts:

I haven't had a chance to finish this book, but what I've read has been great.  The book is very well written and the characters are interesting.  I like the story line, labyrinth's have always intrigued me.  The suspense in this book is just right for me, not to much and not to little.