Surprise Dessert

I was experimenting in the kitchen. Originally planning to make my elementary school's version of shepherd's pie (equal parts mashed potatoes, ground beef and cheddar) They used to bake it, but I do stove top.

I changed my mind and decided to use country link sausage. I had some in the freezer in convenient breakfast portions. I put a section in to cook and decided to add more. THESE links were a little different color. When they cooked, they became mushy. A strange scent eminated from the pot. I realized the new portion was frozen bananas.

Quickly, I removed the bananas and put them in a dish, replacing them in the pot with sausage.

I didn't want to waste the bananas, so I added milk, cinnamin and honey. I WOULD have added nutmeg, but I didn't have any.  mixed it up and it was delicious. Who knew? 

I'm Still Here

I thought if that nurse gave me a shot, I wouldn't endure it. She gave it to me. I'm still here.

I thought, if Daddy take those training wheels off, I'm bound to fall and I wouldn't endure it. I fell, skinned my knees and elbow. The mercurichrome hurt something awful. I'm still here.

I thought, if Daddy pulls that tooth, I wouldn't endure it. He pulled it. Yeah, it hurt for a spiit second. I'm still here.

I thought, if they take my tonsils out, it's going to hurt. I fell asleep and when I woke up, my tonsils were gone. My throat was a little sore, but they let me have ICE CREAM and I'm still here.

I thought, if that doctor stitches up my arm, it's going to hurt. I STILL wouldn't let them give me a shot. He poured this clear liquid in my wound, told me I'd get numb, I got numb. He stitched me up. Ten stitches. It didn't hurt. I asked him what the liquid was. Doc said, "Water." I'm still here.

I thought the kid that had me in the headlock would beat me up, if I resisted. I stood up and popped him in the face. He DIDN'T beat me up. We became friends and he began to respect me. I'm still here.

I thought, if I kissed a girl, I'd turn red, she'd say, "Go away, you got cooties!" She kissed ME! I turned a little red, but next day, we spent the afternoon kissing! I'm still here.

I thought if I asked the girl to be my girlfriend, all the kids would laugh at me. Eventually, I asked her (after graduatin high school.) I said, "I want you to be my girl." She said, "Okay!" She said, "Okay!" SHE SAID, "OKAY!" (STILL don't believe that one) I'm still here.

I thought if she broke up with me I'd die. She broke up with me (or I THOUGHT she did.) I'm still here.

I thought if I got fired, I'd be the laughing stock of the world. I got fired. The people who mattered understood and were compassionate. And guess what? I'm still here.

I thought if I gave my heart to Jesus and made Him Lord of my life, He'd make a fool of me. I was a fool, long before I trusted Him. I'm still here, but long to be with Him.

I thought if I went through divorce, my son would die and I'd suck as a single Dad. She divorced me. We're still here!

I thought if my parents died, it would kill me. They died. I miss them, but I have no doubt whatsoever they are in Heaven with Jesus. And I'm stuck here. ;-)

I thought if I became homeless and had to live in my truck, it would kill me. I became homeless for nearly two years, spent only one night in my truck, only missed a few meals toward the end. Now have more space than I've EVER had. I'm still here.

Thought maybe I'd die if I went through heart catheterization. Went through it. Doctor told me to go home. I DO have a major heart blockage, but God did bypass on me--a direct answer to my prayer. For SOME reason, I'm still here.

The "worst thing that can happen" really isnhe end of the age. And He's still here't that scary. If YOU'RE still here, trust me, Someone saw you through it. He promised never to leave you nor forsake you, even till the end of the age. He's still there.

New Age Mentality

If my son were lighting matches near a puddle of spilled gasoline would it be loving to tell him I supported his "light a match" hobby? Some would call me a pyro-phobe for wanting him to stop. Welcome to the New Age.

Labels

The Oxford Dictionary defines a phobia as "An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something: he had a phobia about being under water a phobia of germs a snake phobia."

Extreme or "irrational."  This conjures up an image of someone fearful and running for the border. (Well, maybe not our southern border, for fear of running into ISIS)

A term we often hear now days is "Homophobia."  Now, this is just an observation of how we ALL label one another. I won't remind you of the unkind names for homosexual folk and ANY derogatory depiction is not a good thing, regardless.  The preferred term of this community to describe themselves is "gay" or "lesbian." I HAVE seen a likely irrational fear of homosexuals in people headed to prison, but other than that, I have never seen anyone who thought gays were out to get them, but shouldn't the term be "gayphobe" lor "lesbianphobe?" 

I keep finding myself relating to Rodney King. In a GOOD way. "Can't we all just get along?"

LOVE FROM HEAVEN

As I sit in Heaven and watch you every day
I try to let you know with signs that I never went away

I hear you when you're laughing and watch you as you sleep
I even place my arms around you to call you as you weep

I see you wish the days away begging to have me home
So I Try to send you signs so you know you are not alone

Don't feel guilty that you have life that was denied to me
Heaven is truly beautiful just you wait and see

So live your life, laugh again,enjoy yourself, be free
Then I'll know with every breath that you'll be taking one for me.


Love from Heaven

 Author unknown


This could be from My Diana, Mom, Dad...

When my former boss, Bill Kirby, passed two years ago, a friend of Bill's widow who herself had lost her husband
gave Merle (Mrs Kirby) these words. Now they comfort me when I miss those I love who are in Heaven.

Reflecting on a Dream

The Dream:

I was outside a chain link fence within a concrete building. At first, I could not see inside, but at the far end, I noticed my former wife as she appeared some forty years ago, unaware of my presence, very busy. I didn't wish to startle her, knowing how prone she is to such. "Hello?" I called, continuing a little louder each time, never able to get her attention. Then, I walked back to the long section of the fence, still calling, still unheard. Someone lifted a small toddler, a girl and put her in my arms. I held the little girl, as I wept and talked to her. I woke in pain.

Reflection:

Who knows what dreams mean? Perhaps nothing the majority of the time. But I couldn't help reflecting what a picture this was of my marriage. satan is able sometimes to put fences between us. This was true of my 18 year marriage. he built a wall between my former wife and me and fooled me into treating symptoms rather than the difficulties. It was poor communication-and endictment on ME, as I am a professional communicator. I tried to fix what she SAID was the problem, rather than the real issue.

I believe the little girl represents the "daddy" spirit in me that was in my Dad and is evident in my Son.

She also represents the little girl in my former wife I so despirately wished to reach, but was unable to.

I have been guilty of willingly and at times unwittingly allowing the Enemy to put up fences and even walls between

myself and those I love.

The song I learned as a child is so simple, yet true:

The devil is a sly old fox

If I could catch him, I'd put him in a box,

Lock that box and throw away the key,

For all those tricks he's played on me.

Glad I got converted (x3)

And trusting in the Lord!

From a So Called "Progressive" (who Voted for Obama)

THAT Looks Like Fun!

Admiring Elvis is the first thing I remember. Had something to do with his effect on the female population, initially but later, his amazing voice and talent. But there have been and are more local singers and musicians who have impressed me. Today, Kristen Sayer is a phenominal guitarist and sings very well, Tom Taylor and the guys from Rockzilla, and Alden Smith is living the dream with Blackwood Haze.

In 7th grade a Falls Church band, the Electras made my jaw drop at Charlie Browning's ability to emulate Mick Jagger, Billy Cooksey's spinning drum sticks and the infectious Happy Acosta.

In 8th grade, there was a new band, Ye Bay Rums. I got to know and clown around with George Cotner, who played keyboard but never got to meet the band's singer/guitarist Dave Yarnell. I AM putting his picture in the Amazing People photo album that shows him then, somewhat later and with his band Captain Dave & the Neptunes.
I had the honor of joining another great band, King's Row when the superb vocalist, Dennis DeCreny went off to college. Later, I joined Scarlet Onyx with Lee and John Brennan, "Crew" Pat Murphey, an amazing guitarist, John Doliante on drums, later replaced by Rusty (Bruce) Fuerst.
As Dean Martin sang, Memories are made of this!

Performance - Based Religion

It's all around us. Salvation based on one's performance. Thank God for His amazing grace.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”(Acts 16:31 NKJV Bible)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God..." (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV Bible)

Ah, but the world has a different idea. The Greeks had to invent a new word for God's unconditional love---agape. Our beliefs may not make us better people...right away, but eventually it will.

Maintenance People

     There are all kinds of people in the world. I call these folks "maintenance" people. You've encountered them time and time again. They may also be called "groomers." There are certain foods that are messy to eat but that is part of the enjoyment. Watermelon comes to mind. It's not near as much fun to eat when made into little balls or cubed as it is when eaten a quarter at a time, one's mouth filling with seeds and wet, red goodness all over one's face. And I don't mean these over-priced icebox varieties. I mean the huge, thumpable melons that didn't used to be harvested until late July and August. Maintenance people at such events are party poopers. They expect you to wipe your face with each bite. They need to stay home. Try to avoid being around a maintenance person while eating spaghetti. Part of the joy of pasta is wearing the sauce at LEAST a few seconds. I don't buy the THEORY of evolution but I guarantee those who do would say this behavior is a carry over from our ape ancestry. No doubt you have witnessed these primates going through each other's fur picking insects and eating them.
     I recently had cataract surgery. The drops that I take cause my eyes to manufacture an inordinate amount of "goobers." One of my well meaning maintenance friends is quick to point these out to me, but there is a catch twenty-two here as my eye doctor doesn't want me rubbing my eyes, not even moistening my pinkie finger and removing the speck.
     Update: The doc has cleared me to now GENTLY dab so Maintenance Boy will be more comfortable in my clean-eyed presence.
     I  have a friend who, when eating, constantly asks, "Do I have cheese all in my beard?" Paranoia no doubt brought on from too many encounters with maintenance people.Where would we be without them? The alternative is discovering spinach on your front teeth on a trip to the restroom.
     The entire time you've been reading this, you've had a little something on your cheek. No, right there. Over a little. Let me see. You got it.