A GOLDEN FAIRY TALE

 A GOLDEN FAIRY TALE

10/31/1959 ~ 10/31/2009

Once upon a time, so the fairy tale goes-

Started just about fifty years ago.

No tiara or crowns as the story unfolds

Just young love, two hearts and rings of gold.

The bride and groom became husband and wife,

Together they couldn’t wait to start their new life.

The castle was small and the prince worked a lot,

but to wait on having babies? They simply would not.

Now mother and father: their first born son had arrived,

That very moment the princess’ heart doubled in size.

And that was the start of the next twenty years,

Five sons and a daughter they would both hold so dear.

Many friends they would meet and invite to their homes-

No matter where in the country they’d roam.

So loving and generous straight from their hearts,

Any stranger met was a friend from the start.

Royal food from the kitchen was prepared in delight,

For the princess loved cooking, baking and serving it right.

Some dragons were slain all through the years; bringing sadness and heartache and too many tears.

But the prince and the princess showed themselves true, 

To their faith and the Lord and all the things that they knew.

Called to be servants, but heirs to the King,

God’s blessings upon them-His praises they sing.

Days turned to years and the castle was bare

They had no idea how they found themselves there.

Their dear little babies now grown on their own,

Brought the greatest of blessings they ever had known.

When voices call out these names, they sure stop:

Nanna and Pappa or Grandma and Pop.

All the inhabitants of the kingdom ~far and near,

Are so thankful for their presence here.

Happy 50th Anniversary; may the best be yet to come,

We love you and thank you for who you are and all you have done. 

Now we all know that fairy tales never end: 

So~Happily ever after!

(on that we depend)

  ~TJH~

10-22-09

A GOLDEN FAIRY TALE

 A GOLDEN FAIRY TALE

10/31/1959 ~ 10/31/2009

Once upon a time, so the fairy tale goes-

Started just about fifty years ago.

No tiara or crowns as the story unfolds

Just young love, two hearts and rings of gold.

The bride and groom became husband and wife,

Together they couldn’t wait to start their new life.

The castle was small and the prince worked a lot,

but to wait on having babies? They simply would not.

Now mother and father: their first born son had arrived,

That very moment the princess’ heart doubled in size.

And that was the start of the next twenty years,

Five sons and a daughter they would both hold so dear.

Many friends they would meet and invite to their homes-

No matter where in the country they’d roam.

So loving and generous straight from their hearts,

Any stranger met was a friend from the start.

Royal food from the kitchen was prepared in delight,

For the princess loved cooking, baking and serving it right.

Some dragons were slain all through the years; bringing sadness and heartache and too many tears.

But the prince and the princess showed themselves true, 

To their faith and the Lord and all the things that they knew.

Called to be servants, but heirs to the King,

God’s blessings upon them-His praises they sing.

Days turned to years and the castle was bare

They had no idea how they found themselves there.

Their dear little babies now grown on their own,

Brought the greatest of blessings they ever had known.

When voices call out these names, they sure stop:

Nanna and Pappa or Grandma and Pop.

All the inhabitants of the kingdom ~far and near,

Are so thankful for their presence here.

Happy 50th Anniversary; may the best be yet to come,

We love you and thank you for who you are and all you have done. 

Now we all know that fairy tales never end: 

So~Happily ever after!

(on that we depend)

  ~TJH~

10-22-09

Go Rest High on that Mountain

Autumn. With every leaf that dances from its branch to the ground below, I see God waving to me. If spring signals new birth, does that make fall a season of impending death? Why then would I look forward to all it has to offer: autumnal hues filling the horizon, cooler days, crisp nights, warm fires, simmering stews and pumpkin spice candles filling the room with pleasant aroma. No hints of doom. And here I sit waiting for the phone to ring with news of my mother in law's drawing nearer death. I've always wondered how God's goodness causes an unspoken request for a child to wish his or her parent absent from this world. At times, the thought seems  severe and inconceivable but right now it only seems gracious. And necessary.  Not my choice, as my brother would remind me, but life is over for her though her body waits in rest before the doctors can call time. Absent from the body and present with the Lord. I've heard it and I've read it. So tonight I read it some more. I know the Lord waits for us to be in His presence and for an eternity. After attending many funerals, I assuredly realize that the body is void of any life.   Often it's void of any semblance of ever living because the missing spirit leaves such a deep emptiness behind. However, I am not too convinced that though no death decree has been made, our loved ones haven't been ushered into heaven already.  Heart still beating, yet filled will the joy of angels singing. For us the symphony falls only on deaf ears as we anticipate our loved one's passing.  This earthly life is sure to break our hearts,  but our journey ends (and begins) in the Promised Land...all hurting then abandoned.

 Go rest high on that mountain, Ma-we'll see you there.

John 13:36

Simon Peter said to Him, 

"Lord, where are You going?" 

Jesus answered,

 "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."
 12/31/1915-9/29/2009

Go Rest High on that Mountain

Autumn. With every leaf that dances from its branch to the ground below, I see God waving to me. If spring signals new birth, does that make fall a season of impending death? Why then would I look forward to all it has to offer: autumnal hues filling the horizon, cooler days, crisp nights, warm fires, simmering stews and pumpkin spice candles filling the room with pleasant aroma. No hints of doom. And here I sit waiting for the phone to ring with news of my mother in law's drawing nearer death. I've always wondered how God's goodness causes an unspoken request for a child to wish his or her parent absent from this world. At times, the thought seems  severe and inconceivable but right now it only seems gracious. And necessary.  Not my choice, as my brother would remind me, but life is over for her though her body waits in rest before the doctors can call time. Absent from the body and present with the Lord. I've heard it and I've read it. So tonight I read it some more. I know the Lord waits for us to be in His presence and for an eternity. After attending many funerals, I assuredly realize that the body is void of any life.   Often it's void of any semblance of ever living because the missing spirit leaves such a deep emptiness behind. However, I am not too convinced that though no death decree has been made, our loved ones haven't been ushered into heaven already.  Heart still beating, yet filled will the joy of angels singing. For us the symphony falls only on deaf ears as we anticipate our loved one's passing.  This earthly life is sure to break our hearts,  but our journey ends (and begins) in the Promised Land...all hurting then abandoned.

 Go rest high on that mountain, Ma-we'll see you there.

John 13:36

Simon Peter said to Him, 

"Lord, where are You going?" 

Jesus answered,

 "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."
 12/31/1915-9/29/2009

Weekly Schedule that didn't make my planner

 * Insomnia persists *wondering how many more straws before this camel's back breaks* Finally- our getaway is planned*Mom's still sick*Sister-in-law's sister died suddenly*School starts*Wood bat league schedule begins*Mother in law's dementia unveils in a big way* Baby begins kindergarten*Husband is traveling*Brothers are hurting*Mary put in hospital and on hospice*Friend's Sweet little girl diagnosed with diabetes*Mom's still sick*Getaway is cancelled*Meetings never-ending at hospital*Boys home alone all week*7 days of laundry undone*Library books late $13 fine*  

Exodus 14:14 

 **The LORD shall fight for you, 

and you shall hold your peace.**

Weekly Schedule that didn't make my planner

 * Insomnia persists *wondering how many more straws before this camel's back breaks* Finally- our getaway is planned*Mom's still sick*Sister-in-law's sister died suddenly*School starts*Wood bat league schedule begins*Mother in law's dementia unveils in a big way* Baby begins kindergarten*Husband is traveling*Brothers are hurting*Mary put in hospital and on hospice*Friend's Sweet little girl diagnosed with diabetes*Mom's still sick*Getaway is cancelled*Meetings never-ending at hospital*Boys home alone all week*7 days of laundry undone*Library books late $13 fine*  

Exodus 14:14 

 **The LORD shall fight for you, 

and you shall hold your peace.**

Though I walk through the valley...

Overwhelmed. 

This week has been spent walking through the shadow of the valley.

 I will fear no evil.

 Uncertainty brushes with hypothesis and confounding thoughts with every step.

 My Father walks with me; His presence is comforting. 

My path grows increasingly dark.  

The Lord graciously guides me along, His light glowing ever brighter. 

Wishing to turn back, I trod forward.

  I know that His goodness will follow me and His love is sure.

 Staying by the Lord's side as I wade through this muck, I realize it's all going to be ok. 

I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

 Amen.

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.Ps 33:20-22

Though I walk through the valley...

Overwhelmed. 

This week has been spent walking through the shadow of the valley.

 I will fear no evil.

 Uncertainty brushes with hypothesis and confounding thoughts with every step.

 My Father walks with me; His presence is comforting. 

My path grows increasingly dark.  

The Lord graciously guides me along, His light glowing ever brighter. 

Wishing to turn back, I trod forward.

  I know that His goodness will follow me and His love is sure.

 Staying by the Lord's side as I wade through this muck, I realize it's all going to be ok. 

I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

 Amen.

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.Ps 33:20-22

Hallucinations, Hospitals, Hospice and Headaches, oh my!

Thanking the Lord for His faithfulness as we embark and some tough seas.
I'll be back to blog about it soon.

Hallucinations, Hospitals, Hospice and Headaches, oh my!

Thanking the Lord for His faithfulness as we embark and some tough seas.
I'll be back to blog about it soon.