Parents and Hymns

DH and I were invited to share the anniversary dinner with my dad and stepmom. What a treat! They have been married for 27 years now...which means I was 12 when they married. How hard was that!?!?!?

Anyway, we were treated to Ipanema in Ocala, and was it a treat!! It's a Brazilian steakhouse and it was just wonderful. More than anything though, I loved seeing my parents laughing and having a good time. They have worked so hard for so so so many years and it warms my heart to know that they are happy, well taken care of, financially secure and enjoying life. We have one live to live...live it!

My mother is going to the Panama Canal tomorrow. Older one heard me on the phone today and asked me who was going where now? He said, it seems like all your parents do is travel all through their retirement! I love that! He has only known them for a short time and recognized how much they love to live. I told him they could travel all the time I would be so happy for them. They worked so hard all their lives, all my parents, and now have the resources to be able to do the things they always said they would do. I said...spend it all! He thought that was strange and asked me what that meant. He'll understand one day.

My friend "Blessed by your Name" blogged about a song at his church this past weekend. That started me thinking about my favorite....here is perhaps my favorite contemporary song. How Great Is Our God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xf_rh2Qsg

One of my most favorite traditional hymns was always a favorite, but really became a favorite after the funeral of DH's beloved grandmother. "Because He Lives". I have many, but this one has a special meaning....

I'd love to hear your favorites.....

Take care of yourself and Don't Blink!

Why God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat

DH posts on several blogs, one of which is for the diversity class he teaches at University. While most of the higher education system teaches from the left, DH teaches from the right. Here is a copy of a post from his blog, http://trulydiverse.blogspot.com/ You should check it out . .

AS TRUE TODAY AS IT WAS IN 1991

Why God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat
Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts To Explain The Entire U. S. Government | 1991 | P. J. O'Rourke

I have only one firm belief about the American political system, and that is this: God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.

God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations. He holds men accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God's heavenly country club.

Santa Claus is another matter. He's cute. He's nonthreatening. He's always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who's been naughty and who's been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without the thought of quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he's famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus.

The people you love . . .

Today, I was reading the blog that Misty Lawton keeps. I just love Bill and though I do not know Misty very well, I can tell she is a good person just from the stories she tells. One of her latest entries is very similar to this blog....she talks about the to-do and life lists that we all have and our full lives. ....and watching the birds and trees and listening to the life around you. I need to tell the people I love, that I love them more often. I made that mistake 13 years ago when a friend died from liver cancer before I could tell her...before I could recognize that about me. I corrected that mistake before my first husband died. I am glad of that. Guilt is a terrible thing..... so, I need to tell the people I love, that I love them. I will do that. You can drive yourself crazy with 'what-if's. I had that conversation with someone a few years back. What if this...what if that. You can only make good decisions with the information you have at the time you make said decision. I think I talked about that before.

Anyway, their blog is http://billandmisty.blogspot.com/ You should check it out! I need to tell her I enjoy her blog because I really do.

I have jumped on the Facebook wagon. Mostly I have 'friends' that are family or friends from school. I love seeing the lives everyone is leading and how everyone has changed...mostly for the better. Some people from high school peaked in high school and then it all went so wrong. Who knows the reasons but that person. And, I don't mean how someone looks, or what they do for a living, or their family. I mean the decisions they make in their lives.

Then there are those that just blossomed after they left school and took off on their own. Kids can be so cruel in school. At what point do we outgrow that? When you see photos or hear stories of the people you knew a long time ago, do you judge their life or compare it to yours? Why? There is one girl who was just average in school...much like most of us I guess. But, to see her photo now.....she is absolutely stunning and beautiful. I never would have guessed how beautiful she would become. She is a thoughtful and successful woman. Why did I not recognize her then? And, I always liked her in school...so why didn't I notice her more?

I am rambling, but I guess my point is to not wait on your life. Take each day as it comes, be a good person, love those around you, and recognize your blessings before you lose them.