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sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/19/2008 7:05:47 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” some things require a lot of patience

I am not a mother and therefore cannot say for sure but I sometimes think that moms and dads are the ones who really understand the concept of patience. A child can be trying and really test a parent’s patience. I know that because I was one a long time ago.

I worked very hard in school. The problem was one that started in the first grade. I was in two different schools during my first year. The first school taught us by sight and the second taught us by sound. Now that was confusing to a little girl trying to learn words and learning how to read. Some time later I was in the small one room school I have mentioned before. We did not get the education that most larger schools gave. My dad picked up the slack this time and started helping me with arithmetic. I was really bad. I am sure it took every ounce of dad’s patience during this process. Fractions, division, multiplication---oh my! it still makes my head spin to think of it. This is really true. I had to learn my multiplication tables TWICE. That is about as strange as having to learn to ride a bike twice. Dad stuck with me demonstrating a lot of patience while I struggled with learning math. Dad did not have much education but he could compete with anyone in math. With a lot of love and time I finally got it.

In order to keep this blog short, I will just say that there are numerous other times that mom and dad had patience with this child of theirs.

I want to tell you that my husband teased my dad about patience. His line to dad was
“Jerome, you must have a lot of patience because you sure haven’t used any of them.”

Well, I know Dad had enough patience to teach me math when my teacher did not have time to spend with one child. Now the funny part of all of this is—I grew up to be a banker. A little country girl that struggled with math could have the job she wanted because her dad had the patience and did not give up on her.

OMG, I can almost see my dad smiling down from heaven saying “that’s my girl.”

I will leave with one last thought about patience. It is found in:
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/19/2008 2:26:19 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” I am acknowledging--- God rescued me again!

After my first post this morning, I realized I needed to share one more thing today. I want to acknowledge God’s goodness and His love for me. I am a tender hearted woman that gets in trouble because of that very fact. Sometimes my tender heart keeps me from thinking clearly and correcting situations before they get out of control. It is almost like I am in quick sand and sinking rapidly.

I am the kind of person that usually does not hear God the first time He speaks. Yes, that is sad to even put in writing. Without giving the details, I hear Him now. I just want to say “thank you Lord for saving me from myself.” I didn’t realize how deep I had sunk. So many things are so much clearer today.

I will be okay because God has promised to:
“Never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5

I have just experienced PATIENCE from my heavenly Father.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/20/2008 10:12:36 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” my thoughts on labels & categories

The labels and categories that I am speaking about are those put on people.

I am truly troubled by labeling all people the same. God made each of us. There was no mold even though we often tease about it. No one label is appropriate for all people, or groups of people. I hear things like “I wouldn’t belong to that club because all of them…” or “I wouldn’t go to that church because they are all…”or “I won’t let my children play there because all of those parents are…” The list goes on and on. These labels then become judgments and I wonder many times how many labels are on me.

I have heard comments such as "Men…" "Guys…" "Girls…" "Women…" Does that mean ALL? I don’t think so.

I believe this kind of labeling and putting people in categories is hurtful. It causes me to immediately become defensive. Sometimes I am defensive for myself, sometimes for my family, and sometimes for my friends.

Everyone has a choice in this life. We can choose to belong to a church, a service club, the country club, etc. I make my choices according to what I believe is right for me. I believe I have a right to my opinion. I believe everyone does. Because someone does not agree with me does not give me a right to judge them by putting them in a category. I am not in the judging business, and according to the bible should not be.

Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

I have decided that there are positive labels on people, and yet we are still different.
If I am labeled, I would want it to be:

Saved,

Christian,

Heaven Bound!



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/21/2008 9:28:06 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about the phrase “joy of my salvation”

I think the first time I heard that phrase it was in a prayer at my church. The gentleman who used it always ended his prayer with “let me never forget the joy of my salvation.” At the time I did not get the full impact of that statement.

I want to tell you that now I want to pray the same thing. It helps keep me focused. To remember the joy of my salvation is rather exciting to me. It reminds me that God loved me enough to die for even me. It reminds me that I am assured of a heavenly home. I will spend all of eternity with my Lord and my saved loved ones who have gone before me. It reminds me that I am never alone. It reminds me that I have power through prayer. It reminds me to strive to be a better me.

As always, I am excited when the bible speaks to me about my current thoughts.

Psalm 35:9 “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.”

I remember the first time I quoted that phrase. I had posted a comment on the guestbook of Spoken 4 on their website. I said “If anyone wants to feel the joy of your salvation, please attend any concert you can.”

Regardless of what causes me to remember the joy of my salvation, it can only be pleasing to my Savior. This girl is eternally grateful for her salvation.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/23/2008 9:54:10 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” God’s Timing Is Perfect!

There are days when I have the feeling of overwhelming sadness. Recently at the moment I thought I could explode, I received an email from a very special person. As I have told you before---I do not believe that things just happen. This young man could not know how my day was going. This particular email was caring and encouraging. I knew that God was taking care of me through this friend.

Many times in my life I have been detained as I was traveling somewhere. Later I would hear of a terrible accident that I could have been in. Some times I was detained because of the weather. God was the one detaining me. He kept me safe. I have experienced similar times with family members. I have come upon wrecks where my family was involved. I believe my mission was to be the one to assure other family members that our loved ones were okay. I was placed at a specific place for a specific reason.

I have been in places and wondered why I was there. That can be a grocery store on a certain isle. It can be the library. It may even be the cemetery. I believe that if I am a willing vessel God will use me to help someone in need. God places me where I need to be. Many times we are the ones that he uses for his perfect timing. I can think back and say to myself “now I know why I was there.” I pray that the person I was sent to help can say “God is watching over me.” Perfect timing—what an awesome couple of words.

I know without a single doubt that God prepared me for my mother’s death. Dad died first which was almost five years ago. God brought Southern Gospel music into my life in the later part of 2006. He knew the words and music would soothe my soul which it most definitely did. He allowed me to become friends with the quartet that sang those wonderful songs. Jon Charles Taggart sang a song “You’re Not Alone.” I claimed it as my own because it was helping mend a broken heart. What a joy to know that God in his perfect timing took perfect care of me. Perfect timing that demonstrated His love for me.

Only God has perfect timing in ALL things. He is never too early or never too late. He is always right on time just as He will be when He comes again to take us home.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”
Mark 13:32

I am confident that the timing will be perfect.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/26/2008 10:21:22 AM)


Mother is very much on my mind and I will have a post about her on the 29th. Today I just want to share a memory of her.


“I Want To Tell You…” a story about my mom

One day when I went to visit my mom she was quite upset. She was concerned about a lifelong friend. Her name was Mary. She had not seen her for a very long time. With a few phone calls, I found Mary at a nursing home about 30 miles away.

Mom and Mary were the same age. Both of them were in their middle 80’s at this time. They had gone to grade school and high school together. They were roller skating buddies as well. They stayed close through most of their adult years. They were separated sometime after their husbands died.

I took Mom to see Mary one afternoon. Those two just simply beamed when they saw each other. They were hugging and chatting and having a grand time. I left them to their reminiscing and said I would be back in an hour. When I returned, I looked at the two of them and thought what joy they brought each other that day. They walked to the door side by side with their walkers. They hugged good-bye never knowing that that would be their last visit.

Sometime later when mom was in the hospital we discovered that Mary was also admitted. She was on the same floor and only a couple of doors away.

After mom died, Mary died one month later. They are buried only a few feet apart.

Now they are spending all of eternity together. Those two best friends will never be separated again.



Happy Memorial Day to all of our Hero’s and families that have given so much for me!



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/27/2008 7:22:00 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about a little country church


When I was a young girl we attended a small church. It was called New Bethel. It was a Methodist church in the country. We lived on the farm I have mentioned before and our home was right in the middle of the school and church. This happened to be in the 50’s and I can remember as a small child how poor our neighbors seemed. The people were hard-working farmers. They were lucky to have tractors. It never dawned on me that we were probably poor too.

As I have gotten older my memories may not be as clear as the day things happened but I remember the night our little church burned. I was crushed that such a thing could happen. There was no fire department to come put the fire out. Some stranger stopped and helped to remove some of the precious items from our church. I remember one of the items was a large bible. There were other miscellaneous items pulled from the fire---a few small pieces of furniture and some pictures but it was basically a total loss. This stranger disappeared into the night and we never knew who he was.

My dad was a builder and he helped as our new church was being built. I don’t remember a lot about the re-building of our church but I do remember the first time I walked in the door and saw that beautiful sanctuary. Remember, this was a poor community but God supplied everything needed to have our church back. Our new church was better than the old one and had additional rooms. We had our own rooms for Sunday school. Someone donated an organ to replace the piano lost in the fire.

I no longer go to the Methodist church but New Bethel Methodist church is still going strong. It is very close to the highway now. It seems so much smaller than when I was a child.

I often think of my “first love” church. It holds one of my first memories of going to church as a family. I was saved at this church. I remember singing the old hymns that still hold a special place in my heart. Somewhere deep in my heart is the memory of the people that were the church. Many of these people are buried on the grounds of this little church. It is about so much more than a building. Even with the fire, my memories are very sweet ones. So much has changed over the years but I still cherish the memories of the New Bethel Methodist Church.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/29/2008 7:12:02 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” today I will honor my mom

My mother died one year ago today. Even though I miss her terribly, I know she is pain free and happy in heaven. I say---why did you go so soon? Dad would say---what took you so long? God has brought me this far and I know he will see me through this sad day as well.

Psalms 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Every year on my dad’s death anniversary, I go to the cemetery and have my own private memorial for him. I have done that for four years. I will go to the cemetery today. This will be my first memorial for my mom. Mom loved me unconditionally. She had a sweet spirit and a kind and gentle heart. Everyone loved my mom. She was indeed a Godly woman. I want to be like my mom. Today I will thank God for her life on earth and for giving her eternal life as well. I will thank Him for giving me the best mom in the world. When I leave the cemetery I will blow her a kiss just as she always did to me.

I love her. I miss her. I WILL be with her again! I know because God promised!

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”


I know where mom is and I know where I am going.

Proverbs 10:7 “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing”

I love you mom[sm=heart.gif]—always have and always will.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (5/31/2008 12:55:22 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about my best of times, the worst of times

I have been thinking about the adventure my husband Harry and I had when he decided to go to college full time. That would in most cases not be a big deal but my man totally turned our safe world upside down. In fairness to him the decision was made by both of us. Because he was going to school in Ruston Louisiana 500 miles from home, we decided to re-evaluate our situation after six months. As that time approached we both knew without a doubt we could do this.

I would often drive to Louisiana to spend a weekend with Harry. Most of the time everything worked out okay but not always. We never knew when a special assignment would come up and cost us our time together. Well, being the shopper that I am I found a mall in Monroe La. that was within 30 minutes of where Harry lived. Many times I would stay in Ruston. I found my way around this little town and discovered things I had not done before. One of my favorite places was the Book Nook. It was a book store where you could trade in books or buy books. I loved that shop and the people there were very friendly. There was a peach festival every year too. OMG, those were the best peaches I had ever eaten in my life. When Harry actually had the weekend off we would go to Shreveport or even Mississippi. One weekend we toured old homes and mansions. We went for walks and we talked A LOT!

After those weekends, it was back home for me. Back to being alone and trying to keep everything done at home. It was lonely and time seemed to go so slow.

I can remember the pride I felt the day Harry became Dr. Harry. I was allowed to sit in on his dissertation defense. Oh my, how the panel grilled him. I can still see in my mind the picture of him standing tall and straight as a string. He was not intimidated at all. After it was all over, we called our family and let them meet Dr. Harry. We of course went to celebrate. Money was a bit of an issue back then and so we celebrated with a wonderful dinner.

Graduation came and I was there too. We had a great time. All of the long, lonely hours were over for us. We could have our lives back. With all of the challenges and trials of three long years there were so many joyous occasions too. We have discovered that some of our happiest times are when we are working together on a specific goal. We realized that half of the time was exciting and adventuresome. The other half was still exciting but with many challenges. The scale just seems to be well balanced.

During these years, God kept us healthy and he gave us safe travels. He kept our family healthy and blessed us with success in securing our future. With God’s help, we made it. As always as I think on the blessings in my life, they remind me of a scripture. This one came to my mind.

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

As we re-live this time in our life we realize it was truly -----the best of times, the worst of times.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/2/2008 12:06:05 PM)

I Want To Tell You…” about My Experience with Friends or Acquaintances

This is one of the issues in my life that has caused a lot of disappointment.
Are the people in my life a friend or are they an acquaintance?

My opinion is that friends are there in my time of need. Friends listen when I need to share something. Friends talk about themselves and then give me time to talk about myself. Friends can keep a confidence. Friends want to spend time with me just to catch up on “girl things”. Friends trust me with all things. Friends don’t judge me or condemn me without reason. Friends are not jealous or envious.

Many times I have thought about all of the people that I have tried to encourage and help along life’s way. I loved every minute I spent giving of myself. When the storms of life nearly carried me away, I did not find many of those “friends” around. I discovered much to my dismay that they were merely acquaintances meaning someone known slightly rather than intimately. On the other hand a friend is--somebody emotionally close: somebody who trusts and is fond of another.

At one point in my life I decided I could not get involved with any more friends. My psychologist wanted to know if it was worth having them even for a short while. My answer at that time was NO it is not worth the pain of betrayal or departure.

Because of family obligations, I have not had time for friends. I have not found very many true friends. I have a lot of acquaintances. I would so love to have more TRUE friends. Maybe I have made the mistake of thinking friends could fill a desire that only God can fill.

I do not remember where I heard this but it was probably in church—If you put your trust in friends or things, you will be disappointed. Put your trust in God. The bible says:

“Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed” Romans 10:11

Through all of the pain and trials associated with trying to be and to have friends I know that true friends are hard to find and even harder to keep.

My prayer today is that I will be a good friend to whom ever God places in my life. I want to be the kind of friend that I would love to have in my own life.

Maybe it just doesn’t get more basic than this:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”
Matthew 7:12



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/4/2008 3:23:17 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” I am a thankful sister today

My sister shared with me last evening that she was here only by the grace of God.
She found herself in an accident that as she told me the story; it appeared that God had control of her car and not her.
I did not come to my blog to go into her story but to say publicly that God is a very good God.

We are a family of believers and know that God continues to watch over us.

As I was thinking about her story today, it is a heartfelt prayer of gratitude that I pray to my God.

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” Psalm 48:1

I love you sis and am so thankful you are okay.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/6/2008 7:58:34 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” I have been thinking about tears


I think I must be like most people and think of sadness when I think of tears. I have been told that tears are healing. I have been cautioned to not bottle things up inside of myself. I have said at times that “I just can’t quit crying.” Anyone that has ever suffered from depression knows all about tears. Anyone who has lost someone they love knows all about tears. Actually anyone that “loves” knows all about tears. Our Jesus knew all about tears as well. The story that always comes to my mind is of Lazarus and is found in the book of John. Jesus knew tears according to John 11:35.

Any number of emotions can cause tears. Often in these forums I will read very heartwarming stories that bring tears to my eyes. Lovingly called “hanky alerts.”

What about the happy tears? A dream come true can bring happy tears. Overcoming a major hurdle in ones life can bring happy tears. God answering prayer can bring happy tears. One soul being saved can bring happy tears. Sharing in family and friends accomplishments can bring happy tears. Someone loving us just the way we are can bring happy tears.

Today I was thinking of a recent event that was all about happy tears. Someone cared enough for me to speak with me on the phone about a recent conversation. Someone making themselves available if I needed anything. Someone that was not too busy for me. Someone telling me what I meant to them. The act of kindness brought tears to my eyes.

Jesus understands every shed tear.

Tears of joy or tears of sorrow. Jesus knows all about it.


What caused me to think of tears? Recently with all of the storms, many people lost everything they owned, thus, sad tears. Others attended weddings and other happy occasions, thus, happy tears. This contrast caused me to think of tears.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/8/2008 11:39:59 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about my nieces

My nieces are now grown women with children of their own. I wonder where the time has gone. Both of the girls are wonderful mothers and I am so proud of them. I have two great nephews and one great niece. Zack, Nicholas and Abby are their names.

When my nieces were young my sister trusted me enough to let me borrow them several times during the year. We have taken the girls to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Osage beach in Mo where there was a small park with rides including boat rides. We have taken them to St. Louis for an overnight stay. While in St. Louis we took them to a live theater, a puppet show, the arch (630 feet high), the magic house and the zoo. We had so much fun. Children seem to love everything. We couldn’t make a mistake as long as they were entertained. We went to the Science Museum too. That is a great place for children. We took the girls on the Amtrak to Kansas City one afternoon. I think it was their first train ride. It was a round trip and a quick one at that. Oh yes, right here in town we went to the Missouri state fair.

We all attended the same church. The girls would often sit with my husband and I. One day after church one of the older members said “Oh my, your children look just like your sisters children”. I, of course, had to admit they ARE my sisters children.

There are pictures of our different adventures but the memories have a way of fading. My husband and I do the “do you remember when?” thing once in a while to re-live the joy we experienced with the girls.

My nieces were raised in a Christian home with parents that adore them. They have a firm foundation. Several years ago my youngest niece had a group of her cheer leading buddies at her home for a sleep over. As young as she was she wanted to know if they all knew they would go to heaven should they die. She ran upstairs to get her bible and showed them the way.

I have enjoyed them at every age as they were growing up. We have had our share of troubles but our faithful God does not let it go on forever. We have worked though some very difficult times by forgiving and realizing how much we love each other.

I am so thankful for these two beautiful women that are healthy, happy and living lives that are good examples for their children. I am thankful that they still include their aunt and uncle at every holiday or special occasion.

I love you Amy and Ashley. You continue to bring a lot of joy to my life.

Can you tell how much I love being an aunt and now a great aunt?

They are a true blessing to my life---just another wonderful gift from God!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the avatar today are Ashley, Judy, & Amy. We were younger then but you get the idea.

I am changing my avatar as of 6-9-08



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/9/2008 4:16:38 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about one special “caregiver”

One of the most difficult things I have ever done was to turn my Mom over to a care facility. Everything changed when my sisters and I realized that Mom could no longer live alone. The decision was a tough one because we did not want her to loose her social life and we wanted to keep her as independent as possible.

Several years prior to mom entering the care facility called “The Essex”, Mom, Dad, Harry and I toured the then new facility. Dad said he could live there---no problem. That kind of statement sticks with you when you understand that the day may come. Mom remembered touring the Essex and in her mind Dad had already approved. That was important to her because if you saw in another blog of mine, they were two peas in a pod. Dad had always made most of the decisions.

Mom adjusted very well. She had friends to have her meals with. She had someone to clean her rooms and administer her medicines. She had any kind of help needed simply for the asking. She had new friends to visit with. Sometimes the local churches would have someone come and have mini church. Choirs came, both children and adults. Children from different schools would come and bring them little gifts on special occasions such as Easter and Valentine’s Day. Mom was happy and the Essex quickly became home to her. What a blessing for daughters who wanted only the best for their Mom.

My greatest fear had come from all of the horror stories I had heard about care facilities and nursing homes. I didn’t know anyone who was to care for Mom. I was there with eyes and ears open every day. I watched and listened. I told Mom that if anyone ever did anything to hurt her, I wanted to know.

To my great relief and delight I can tell you that my Mom had the BEST caregiver that could ever be found. Her name is Cleota. She has a heart for the seniors and loves every one of them as though they were her own parents. Cleota tolerates only tender loving care by her employees at her facility. She was on call 24/7 and I know that she was available to me anytime I needed anything. She taught me about getting older and what was normal and what might signal something not quite right. She listened when my heart was breaking as I saw Mom forgetting things and knowing it would not get better. My Mom loved Cleota and oh how thankful I was for that.

Again, things don’t “just happen”. God knew this is where Mom would be one day. I had peace about it too. God knew Cleota would be the one to best care for my Mom.

Cleota and I developed a real friendship. We laughed together and we cried together. We shared family stories both good and bad. We also share the love of Southern Gospel music. I have taken her CD’s of my two favorite groups and she loves it. We are friends and I will forever be thankful for such a wonderful administrator for the Essex and such a loving caregiver to my Mom.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/11/2008 1:23:52 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about Juanita & the bank

Years ago I wanted to work in one of our local banks. It was a known fact that it was almost impossible to get a job without someone putting in a good word for you. I did not have anyone to do that for me but it did not stop me. I submitted my application and then would go back once or twice a week asking for a job. I think they got tired of seeing me show up all of the time and finally hired me. Juanita gave me my first break by hiring me and giving me an opportunity to succeed. Juanita was my supervisor. She had the reputation of being tough and very strict. I can still remember her coming down the hall with those high heels of hers clacking on the tile floor. We never knew if she was just in a hurry or if someone was in trouble.

I started in the bookkeeping department. I was so happy to get the job that I set out to prove my worth. In a short time I was given the job of bank teller. Our bank built two motor facilities and I was transferred to the drive in bank.

Juanita treated me well and was always available when I needed anything. I spent a lot of time with her learning about all the details of banking. I respected her and she was more than willing to teach me anything I wanted to know.

I was promoted to an Officer of the bank with the title of Head Teller. I was in charge of all tellers at the drive in facilities as well as the main bank. It seemed funny being a bank officer just like Juanita. In a nut shell that is how my career of almost twenty years at the bank progressed.

Years later, my sisters and I put our mother in a residential care facility.
There she was—Juanita---she was living there. Once again this lady from my past was a part of my present. She watched after mom when I was not there and cared for her just as she had cared about me all of those years ago. We renewed an old friendship.

At times it is indeed a small world.

I called Juanita recently. She is doing so well. She is quite spunky and is reasonably healthy. The mutual respect is still there. Juanita was my supervisor, my teacher, and now my forever friend.

Happy birthday my friend on your day June 13th.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/15/2008 7:20:43 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” Happy Father’s Day

To all the Dad’s who are celebrating today, this is a poem for you.


A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.
He's someone who listens,
suggests, and defends.
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!
He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.
There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.
And each year that passes,
you're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!
Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially, for just being you!
Happy Father's Day


Several years ago on Father’s day I gave Dad a “memory” list of things that applied to just the two of us. I entitled it “Dad, this is our Life.” I did not write stories of our life but put one sentence reminders such as:

5 cent ice cream cones after church on Sunday evenings
Playing Santa at grandma’s house
Pack a picnic lunch and go to the Missouri State Fair all day long
Every payday you brought home a bag of candy---a real treat
Building me a playhouse
Break green beans, pick up walnuts, pick up rocks---oh Dad!
Trip to the country to get leaves from all different kind of trees for school project
Surprising me with a puppy
Buying me a class ring you really could not afford at the time
Getting me a car after I earned my first paycheck
Helping me when I started teaching Sunday school
Building me my first new home.

I ended the list by saying: I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane because I enjoyed sharing it with you on this Father’s Day, June 20, 1993. By the look on my Dad’s face, I think it must have been the best gift I had ever given him. This is just one of the precious memories I have of my Dad.

Today I remember my precious Dad (Jerome), and thank God for all the years we had together.

[sm=heart.gif]I love you Dad[sm=heart.gif] Always have, always will.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/17/2008 11:33:25 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about my love for crafts


Where have all of those wonderful craft shops gone? One of my favorite things is to shop for and buy crafts. I prefer the “country themed”, real wood and hand made items. It is a dying art and that makes me sad. It seems everything is made by a machine and produced in bulk. I can’t find very many original items.

A few years ago, I could go to St. Louis and find all kinds of little craft malls. My husband would take me to as many as I wanted to visit in a day. I never left any of them empty handed. I love the little birdhouses---hand made and painted. I collect bird houses and our office is decorated with bird houses. I love the grapevine wreaths. I have several of those in my home. Some are large and some are very small. I also love gingerbread people. I love those in wood or resin or even the gingerbread dolls. Oh yes, I collect those too and my breakfast nook and kitchen are decorated with the gingerbread theme.

I can’t find any craft shops in Kansas City either. They do have some annual craft shows that I try to attend. Most craft shows are too far away for me to attend.

My last chance for crafts is found in the Branson, Mo. Area. They still have five craft malls that I shop in frequently. My main purchases are items for my front door and my small patio at the back of our home. I love the seasonal crafts. It is almost time to bring out my Uncle Sam pieces. They are some of my favorites. How will I decorate when these shops no longer exist?

I realize that crafters have invested not only their time but have the cost of materials in creating quality products. No wonder we have lost so many craft shops. I am always willing to pay the extra money when I see such beautiful workmanship in a piece.

Why did I share this tidbit of info about myself? Maybe it is because:

Crafts make me happy. I enjoy searching for just the right piece to go in a specific spot in my home.
As long as there are shops around or even the one day craft shows, I will be there, simply because “I love crafts.”



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/18/2008 1:13:54 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…”

I don’t have a title today. I am reflecting on the past few weeks and I suppose it does not matter how old I get there are some things I will never understand. Why are certain incidents allowed to happen in our lives? Are we to dissect the incidents and find the lesson God has for us? Is the devil so alive and well that he gets in the middle of incidents to hurt us?

Today I was thinking of my Mom and Dad and how much they loved summer. I could see my Dad planting his little veggie garden and Mom weeding her flowers. No weed had a chance in her yard. As I thought of them, I knew my Dad would have had some advice for me in my current circumstances. I can still hear him say “well, do something.” I want to do that but do not know what that “something” is. I mentioned some time ago that I have a very tender heart. I believe that is where the devil does his work on me. I certainly don’t want to harden my heart and become unfeeling and uncaring. I am positive that is not what God would want.

As unsure as I am of finding answers today, this I know for sure:

All things work together for good to those who love God. Romans 8:28

I must keep looking up. God loves me and I love Him. God will see me through any and everything that comes my way.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/21/2008 10:03:21 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about fixing it or----letting go and letting God

I have been a willing listener all of my adult life. I have carried others burdens until I was unable to function. I lost a year of my life to depression. It is perfectly clear today that is not the way things should work. I have been a “fixer” and when I cannot fix it, it is quite painful for me. I have taken the “little half” most of my life. Somehow the “love thy neighbor as thyself” did not apply to me.

I always had so much sympathy for people regardless of what their trouble was. The lesson I have had to learn is to have empathy (the ability to understand someone else’s feelings or difficulties) rather than sympathy (sharing someone else’s difficulties). For me the problem is that I tried to fix it rather than share it. I now understand God doesn’t need my help in that regard. He needs me to be a good friend that can share without taking over or trying to take over another’s problems or difficulties.

My husband often teases me about “something on my forehead”. That something being: words that say--“here I am, tell me all about it.” I sometimes think that all the things that my church and pastors taught me through the years just stuck like glue. Now that is not necessarily a bad thing. I simply took it upon myself to “fix it”, whatever it was.

"Bear one another’s burdens" Galatians 6:2

I believe this scripture is exactly what I should do. I don’t see anything there about fixing those burdens. The lesson for me is that I can share another’s burden without trying to fix others lives. That sounds so silly now that I know better. This gets me to one of my favorite lessons I have learned as a Christian. Let go and let God!!!! My shoulders are not strong enough to hold the cares of the world but I know whose is. I have seen miracles happen when I let go. By the way, I am still a work in progress.

Letting go and letting God comes when I take everything to him in prayer and leave it there.
He will take care of the rest!



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/24/2008 11:48:45 AM)

“I Want To Tell You…” a short, “sweet” story

When I was a little girl there were small grocery stores everywhere. They all had a little section of loose candy. Some of my friends (classmates) had tootsie roll pops. They were chocolate with the chocolate fudge center. If I remember correctly, they cost 2 cents. I managed to get the money and made my way to the store. I told the sales clerk that I wanted a tootsie roll pop. Now I did not realize that they came in all flavors. Proud as could be, I left the store. When I opened my candy, it was LEMON.[sm=frown.gif] I was so disappointed and I did not have another 2 cents.

Years later I told my friend, now husband, about that story.
Yes, I still remembered!
One day when I left work and got in my car there was a tootsie roll pop on the seat of my car. It was CHOCOLATE!

Obviously, I cannot look at tootsie roll pops without thinking of this story.

My hubby does this sort of thing. He is a really good listener.

That’s my short, sweet (no pun intended) story.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (6/26/2008 6:07:17 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” It’s just an observation

I have been watching the children in the neighborhood playing.
It amazes me when I see the kind of things they play with.

They have motorized scooters. I had a scooter made with old skates for the wheels.
They have swimming pools in their backyard. We went swimming in the creek.
They play golf and drive the golf cart to the golf course. We played baseball in the backyard.
They have every kind of ball imaginable—baseball, soccer ball, football, tennis ball and golf balls.
We were lucky to have a baseball.

Dad made me stilts from left over lumber from building homes.
We played Cowboy and Indians with little pop guns.
We jumped rope and double rope.
We played hopscotch on the sidewalk.
.
It was fun being a kid back then. Well, at least there were not many toys to put away at the end of the day.
What is the old saying? You can’t miss what you never had.

I wonder what the children of today will put in their blog a few years from now.
What kind of observations will they make?



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (7/1/2008 1:38:23 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about my Grandparents

Most grandparents are really special people. I have noticed in my family that grandchildren can not do very much wrong. Was it that way with my grandparents? If I remember correctly, the answer would be YES.

My maternal grandfather was a wonderful, sweet, kind and very funny man. He loved his grandchildren with his whole heart. It was his greatest joy to entertain us. He spoke in German and would do that just to get a reaction out of us. He would spend endless hours with us doing whatever we wanted to do. I remember making a scrapbook of comics from the Sunday newspaper with grandpa. We would laugh together as we pasted each comic or as we called them back the “funnies” in my book. That book is tucked away with other treasures from my past. We would sit in a two seat glider on the front porch as grandpa would tell me stories. This grandpa only had a first name (Fred) and no middle name. My sweet grandpa died when I was a senior in high school.

My maternal grandmother was a hardworking and tough lady. She loved flowers and I remember her little yard filled with every color and kind of flower imaginable. Grandma always wanted to feed us---you know---like most grandmas. She lived ten years after grandpa died. She still had her own home and died there.

My paternal grandmother was a humble little lady. She had a very difficult life. She loved her children and lived for them. My paternal grandfather was a different story. The pain of remembering him still haunts me today. He was the opposite of my maternal grandfather. That is all I want to say about him.

I was so afraid that I would forget what my grandparents looked like. After all of these years, I have not. I can close my eyes and see them as they were. I feel happy and sad all within a matter of minutes.

A pastor once told us that if we did not have grandparents that we should adopt some. He told us that they were a part of God’s family plan. I remember thinking it would be so sad not to know your grandpa or grandma.

As my family members die one by one, I feel my own mortality. At times like these I can only praise God for the assurance of eternal life when we shall all be together again. I think of my grandparents often but especially my Grandpa Fred. He was so much fun and I truly miss him and his big old heart.

I know that in this past year some of my friends have lost grandparents. It leaves a void in our lives when they die. Things will never be the same. All we can do is cherish those memories and know those can never be taken away from us. Some day we will be reunited. It reminds me of an old hymn-----------

Precious Memories,
how they linger, how they ever flood my soul.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (7/3/2008 8:35:23 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” I am remembering and counting my blessings

In the past few months my husband and I have lost two young friends. Both deaths were due to accidents. These deaths left a wife in one accident and left a husband behind in the other accident. We tried---but we can't---begin to imagine the emptiness that death left in their lives. This is a different loss than a parent or grandparent. Suddenly your spouse is just gone. Your partner is no longer here. We started thinking of all the young father’s from our church who got sick and just died. Most of the deaths were because of an illness. We remembered each one by name and thought how sad and what a terrible thing for the family to go through. We then began to wonder what we would do should one of us suddenly become ill and die. Of course, a hypothetical thought can only come up with a hypothetical answer.

I do count my blessings and thank God for them. BUT, do I really think about each day and how very precious they are? Do I live as though this may be the last one I have with my husband? Life has a way of getting complicated and sometimes I just get too busy. It is good then to think of these friends and remember to slow down and take time to thank God for another day with my spouse.

I know I cannot dwell on the sorrows of this world. Each day is precious and a gift from God. I know I must take one day at a time.

Today I am celebrating my 34th anniversary with the love of my life and I am definitely “counting my blessings.”



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (7/6/2008 5:54:54 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…” about my memory chest

After my Dad died, the funeral was over and Mother then needed care, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I would need to go through all of Dad’s belongings. One of the toughest jobs was going through his desk. Every little clipping from magazines, newspapers and church bulletins was just the beginning of what I was to find in that desk. Every record of his assets for the past ten years was there. Tapes of his favorite comics were there, including Amos and Andy and Red Skelton. I realized that all of the things in that desk were Dad’s life. They were things that he loved and that meant the most to him. How do you just get rid of those things? It was like trashing his life. So, I decided to read everything there and save those items that Dad had shared with me.

The desk was just the beginning. There were his tools in a little building at the back of their home. There were little boxes in the chest of drawers with items that must have meant something to only him. I sorted through all of it. I knew then that I must carefully choose those things that were to be my most precious memories. The first thing I wanted was Dad’s study Bible. It was the Bible he used later in life as he was still teaching Sunday school. It was marked with all kinds of notes. I found notes on little bits of paper in that Bible that concerned my sisters and I and some that were poems to Mom. I made sure we each had those precious hand-written notes from Dad. From his tools, I chose his hammer. He made a living with that hammer.

As the days passed I had my treasures. I had the things that said a lot about my Dad and me. (Now with Mom gone too, I have her Bible and her rolling pin as my favorites of hers.) Everything large or small has a story to it. A few treasures and lots of memories--- all of which I hold dear here on earth.

I needed to have all of my treasures and memories in one spot. I decided to buy a memory chest to place my precious items in. I bought a large chest that holds all of the memories of my parents. When I feel lonely for them (which is often) I visit my memory chest and look through my treasures and remember the wonderful life I had with them.

I have shared the idea of a memory chest with other friends that have lost their loved ones. It has worked well for me and just maybe will help someone else to have that wonderful place for their memories too.



sosing2me -> RE: "I Want To Tell You..." (7/8/2008 4:49:50 PM)

“I Want To Tell You…”

I have been thinking about the new friends I have met on the forums.
It has not taken long to feel the warmth and caring and enjoy the laughter and silliness that goes on here. When someone needs prayer, we all join in to pray for fellow believers. When there is a birthday, birthday wishes are plentiful. When we realize that someone is a little blue, we encourage by our posts or by PM’s. When someone has something to celebrate, I feel their joy and rejoice with them. I have received encouragement by posts and PM’s myself. I have truly been blessed by them.

Today I thought that we don’t really know each other and yet we do. We have not met but we have learned how to give virtual hugs. We have smileys to help say IT better. We have blogs to learn a little more (not all) about each other. There is a thread somewhere for everyone.

There are wonderful moderators that keep the forums decent and a safe place to chat, and give our opinion and just enjoy being here.

As out of character as all of this has been for me, I am so grateful to be a part of this community. Thanks to all of you that have made me feel so welcome. I can’t wait to meet all of you. Hopefully when we get to Dollywood this fall, we can finally do real hugs.



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