tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120413144658449092024-03-24T02:10:00.425-05:00Macy MemoirsJanet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-28184370276297607732012-05-12T17:05:00.000-05:002012-05-15T09:50:08.438-05:00Happy Mother's Day<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Last
year I wrote about the “other side of mothers day”. The fact that for many of us this is a day of
struggle, remorse, and grief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">If
you didn’t read it, I suggest that you do. Don’t read it for me. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Read
it for your family, friends, and co-workers who need you to read this for them. Click </span><a href="http://macymemoirs.blogspot.com/2011/06/other-side-of-mothers-day.html?utm_source=BP_recent" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">HERE</a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">This
year I want to share something very UPBEAT.
Very POSITIVE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">It
is a collection of my memories from my years with my parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">It is just simply a list of ‘thank yous’.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">This is taken from a booklet that I made them for Valentine's Day 1995</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I've only included here what applies to my Mom. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">As
you read these, I hope it will remind you of some things for which you can be
thankful. It's so easy to forget.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">As
I wrote, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I laughed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I
cried!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I
felt like my ‘heart grew 3 sizes that day’ with love for my parents. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Even
though this tends to be a sad day for me, this shows what a blessed life I’ve
had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">What a wonderful mother I have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">How blessed I am that both my parents are still living and still blessing me and still
upholding me in their prayers every day.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank
you Mom for :</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lpq4WD1gtc/T67cYvIpOvI/AAAAAAAABqI/vy9eDeC5J5A/s1600/janet+sled+with+dog..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lpq4WD1gtc/T67cYvIpOvI/AAAAAAAABqI/vy9eDeC5J5A/s320/janet+sled+with+dog..jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Taking
all those wonderful pictures of me in Berrytown, PA, so that I can
still remember my first home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">planting
pansies along the cellar door, making them one of my favorite flower to this
very day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
minding, when I was a baby, singing and humming myself to sleep – during church!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
holding it against me when I hid my shoes at age 3 and you couldn’t find
them. Ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">going
with Dad where God told you to go. A
Free Methodist orphanage and “old people’s
home”! Exposing me to parentless and struggling
children and the lonely elderly. Helping
to equip me for a career in nursing.
Helping to create in me a spirit of compassion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">you
and Aunt Mame teaching me how to shop for “just a few little things”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">helping
me realize that ‘things’ are NOT important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">helping
me realize that God and people ARE important.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">showing
me how there is always room for 1 more (or 2 & sometimes more) at the dinner
table at the last minute. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">always
being concerned for others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">caring, praying, loving and taking a real interest in
the ‘boys’ from the ‘Homes’ (orphanage).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">letting
us ‘adopt’ Grandpa and Grandma Wilmart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">showing
us how important it is to spend time with those who are alone by taking us to
see them on a regular basis. Mr.
Harodine, Miss Cheney, Miss Schantz, the man up the bank on the
Falconer-Kimball Stand Rd and others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">My
brother and sister, Marty and Mel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">letting
Grandpa Maynard live with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
allowed to play checkers, chess, and Clue by the hour with my Grandpa Maynard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
smacking me when you found out where the grit on the donuts really came
from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">for
loving and caring for my Dad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
thankful for and proud of all the handiwork that Dad did around house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">loving
me, even though I was and still am far from perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">crocheting
butterflies for my sweater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">crocheted
butterflies and pineapples all over my house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">finding
the funds to let me take piano lessons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">letting
us always have a dog and cat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">praying
for me. Always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">living
by the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">making
me memorize scripture verses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">teaching
and showing us to treat everyone with respect; not to stare; and to never make
fun of anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">teaching
me that life and people are often not fair - but that didn’t give me a reason to
be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
discussing or ridiculing other people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">always
being there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
aborting me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
abandoning me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">never
calling me names, never telling me I was stupid. Never saying ‘shut up” or “Why don’t you just
go jump in a lake”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
believing me when I was angry at you and said “I don’t like you anymore” or “I
wish I’d never been born”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">my
inability to really comprehend what a dysfunctional family would be like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">calmly
answering or trying to answer all the ‘whys’, ‘how comes’, ‘what fors’ and ‘WHY NOT!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">putting
your arm around me on the back porch and telling me you were sorry that you had
hurt my feelings. Thus teaching me not
to be afraid to say “I’m sorry”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">acknowledging
that even adults are wrong sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">proving
it by your disastrous decision to boil the maple sap into syrup right there in
our very own kitchen!! Thus causing the
wallpaper to sag uncontrollably, and the paint to bubble & peel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">proving
that Christians do not have to be sad, somber, sullen, and glum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">popcorn
and fudge on Sunday evenings after church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">drilling
us on our ‘parts’ for the Christmas program – when we sitteth down, when we
riseth up, and when we walketh along the way – until we had it perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">climbing
millions of stairs during my ‘elevator phobia’ stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
patient and non-condemning during my ‘irritable sarcastic’ stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">putting
up with me when I would kick you under the table, when I thought you were
eating something you should NOT during my ‘know-it-all’ stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">fixing
refrigerator cookie dough for my birthdays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">eating
my green applesauce, green mashed potatoes, and green cottage cheese on St
Patrick’s Day. Once! When you left for awhile and I was in charge
of lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">letting
me believe that mothers have eyes in the back of their heads and can see around
corners. It was very useful 20 years
later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">having
ears that could hear a bird three miles away, yet able to ignore your children’s
squabbles so we could work it out ourselves.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">getting
silly instead of grouchy when you are very tired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">walks
in the woods, watching the birds, collecting the wildflowers, wading in the
creek and watching meteor shows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">letting
me climb trees and run through the fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">having
faith that I would grow up to be a lady even though I much preferred fields,
creeks, trees, woods, rocks, butterflies, birds, and stars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">your
gift of reading to us with all the appropriate and sometimes hilarious facial
expressions, sound effects, and hand
motions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">giving
me a love for books, reading, and learning.
Always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">allowing
us to leave our “fly beds” on the window sills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">allowing
us to have pollywogs on the window sills so we could watch their legs
grow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Letting
us bring worms into the house for the pollywogs after we had seen them eating
worms in the stream behind the barn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">agreeing
that snow really does look like “spider legs’ when you are riding in the car
after dark and the snow is coming straight at the car lights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">apricot
jam sandwiches in my lunch bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">honey-drop
cookies with apricot jam filling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">trying
to teach me to be very careful about the words I said, and reminding me that if
not, I might have to go and ask forgiveness.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">lovingly
calling me your ‘little pepper pot’, when I was upset and spouting off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
being angry when I called you from Kansas and told you that we had just gotten
married – without you. I realize now
that it must have hurt, but you have never said a word about it to this
day. And you have loved this farmer I
married with all your heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
understanding and patient when I would call home from Kansas and could only
cry, because I was so homesick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">coming
to see us often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">not
washing your full-length mirror for weeks – maybe even months – because Terry
or Tammy had left their hand prints there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">cooking
that approximately 2000# turkey that one Thanksgiving even though you don’t
like turkey, but because your grandchildren had given him to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">spending
all that quality time together in the middle of the night when that above said turkey
pan started leaking. Throwing salt into
the oven and then over your shoulder.
When I asked why you did that, you said (in your tired silly voice), “I
don’t know. I heard it helps! It can’t hurt!”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">the
life-changing experience of riding with you when we took off from a
green-light, just to have our front seat sail backwards, jerking your foot off
the accelerator, causing the car to dramatically slow down, causing our heads
to careen backward then forward then backward, causing you to start laughing
uncontrollably. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
a fun grandma<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">interceding
and praying for your family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and
those to come. Continually<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> letting me quietly know one Thanksgiving (with
tears in your eyes), when the grandkids
were all trying to recreate a childhood photo of all of them on the staircase,
that the picture could NEVER be recreated because Terry was no longer here and
it was NOT fair. I so needed for someone
to say it to me THAT day. Sometimes it
felt that people had forgotten that he had ever existed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">spending
hours and months researching and creating my “Terry” book. Extracting everything and anything about
Terry from every letter that I had send, that you had sent, from every source
possible. There were so many things that
I had forgotten and so much that Tammy had not known. A priceless gift. The best gift I have ever received. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7qiSsrjKdo/T67eQoLZjeI/AAAAAAAABqQ/4zyPoUi_dvg/s1600/2010+Dads+birthday+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7qiSsrjKdo/T67eQoLZjeI/AAAAAAAABqQ/4zyPoUi_dvg/s320/2010+Dads+birthday+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 89 (almost 90) year old Mom. Sitting at her organ. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">giving
me such wonderful memories that I could create this “Thank You” book for
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">a
happy childhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
my cheering section <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
my biggest fan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">being
MY mom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I
love you forever and forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">To
the moon and back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Happy
Mother’s Day to the best Mom in the entire world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-39583949695512073772012-04-21T22:13:00.000-05:002012-04-24T11:53:34.777-05:00message from the bulletin board (1)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9I7yKP7QbM/T5NtZfCzEGI/AAAAAAAABqA/DX_z4WgJ868/s1600/Don't+fear+tomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9I7yKP7QbM/T5NtZfCzEGI/AAAAAAAABqA/DX_z4WgJ868/s320/Don't+fear+tomorrow.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What does your office space look like? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What does your office say about you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What message does your office portray? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What kind of impression would another person glean about you just by seeing your office space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My office space happens to be in a hospital. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just down the hall east from the Emergency Room, the ambulance entrance and the helicopter pad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just a few steps in the opposite direction from the Medical-Surgical nurses station. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> It can be a little noisy with all the traffic past my little office. There are a lot of troubling sounds and cries that reach my office. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I NEED reminders of God's love and presence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every Friday or Saturday, I will be sharing a message from my bulletin board. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You see, I collect quotes. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I print them onto colored paper and place them all over my bulletin board as reminders to myself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm a very visual person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I need to SEE reminders. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They need to be IN FRONT of me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right over the top of my computer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today I'm sharing the first reminder that I hung over my computer when I started my current job over 5 years ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a little plaque that I found years ago </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You probably know it well</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But . . . I need to be reminded </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">EVERY DAY.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I forget!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do Not Fear tomorrow</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">God is already there!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Such a simple statement</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Such a great vast promise</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our God is not limited by time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our God is not limited by space</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He is always there in our tomorrow </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He is always there in our hospital room;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or on the airplane headed for home after an urgent phone call </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Waiting </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Waiting for us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Be careful that you do not forget the Lord . . Deut 6:12; Deut 8:11; </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-26496145798806494592012-04-14T12:14:00.001-05:002012-04-24T11:53:54.046-05:00Second chances<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit: <span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers</span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">"Don't be alarmed, the angel said. </span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">He is risen! </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">He is not here. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">See the place where they laid him. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">But go, tell his disciples . . <span style="font-size: large;"><u>and</u></span><u><span style="font-size: large;"> PETER</span></u>, </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">He is going ahead of you into Galilee. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">There you will see him, just as he told you. " </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mark 16:6-7</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Did you catch those two words?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">those 2 'hope-filled' words? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">. . . . "and PETER." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Why were the women at the tomb told to "go tell his disciples . . AND PETER?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">He WAS one of the disciples, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">so . . . why did the angel single-out Peter?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I think Jesus knew that Peter was really hating himself right then. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I think Jesus knew Peter would wonder if he was<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>really</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>included in the invitation to meet Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Peter probably couldn't even sleep without hearing that rooster crowing over </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and over in his mind</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Couldn't sleep without hearing himself saying "I do not know this man"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After all, he HAD denied that he knew Jesus . . three times to be exact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">He even cursed the third time he denied Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Remember that other passage?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
The passage where Peter repeated told Jesus that he would NEVER deny Him?</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">But [Peter] said more vehemently <i>and</i> repeatedly, [Even] if it should be necessary for me to die with You, I will not deny <i>or</i> disown You! Mark 14:31 (AMP)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Wow! Did you see that? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Peter had even said he would die for Jesus before he would deny Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Can you imagine how Peter felt? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">How would WE have felt if we had promised and then fell flat on our faces?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I don't know about you</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But we all have a Peter within us from time to time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We all have said the wrong things</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Laid awake at night with our own words running circles around in our minds</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's the exciting thing about the passage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's the <b>HOPE</b> in this passage and in this story.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Here's my hope from this verse </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Jesus wanted Peter to know that he wanted to see him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Jesus wanted to make sure that Peter received the message. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Jesus knew that Peter was dust.</span><br />
Peter had denied Jesus three times, but Jesus was not turning His back on Peter. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Jesus knows that all of us are 'but dust' and so prone to mistakes, saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our God is a God of second chances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">a God of third and fourth chances. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The next time you are feeling ‘down’ over something</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The next time you don't like yourself very much</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">or maybe even despise yourself</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Just take this scripture and </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Insert your own name on the line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">But go, tell his disciples . . . AND<u> </u> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">God wants us to know that He wants to see us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He doesn't care what we've done or where we've been. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">He is just waiting for us to reach out and put our trembling tear-covered hands into his almighty right hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">He wants us to get up again and keep going</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He wants us to keep getting up when we fall down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">His hand is ALWAYS reaching out to us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He wants to see us !</span><br />
He wants to hear us !<br />
He wants us !</div>
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</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-7301289218984868932012-04-07T19:25:00.001-05:002012-04-07T19:26:14.752-05:00He has risen!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9Sw4ZS-Kxg/T4DacpJamiI/AAAAAAAABpk/CsaxmGr_euE/s1600/Women+at+tomb+by+Wm+Bouguereau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9Sw4ZS-Kxg/T4DacpJamiI/AAAAAAAABpk/CsaxmGr_euE/s320/Women+at+tomb+by+Wm+Bouguereau.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Don't be alarmed," the angel said. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was
crucified. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>HE HAS RISEN!</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He is not here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">See the place where they laid him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But
go, tell his disciples and Peter, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There
you will see him, just as he told you.' " </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mark 16:6-7</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-65477935803411470052012-03-31T13:39:00.000-05:002012-04-07T19:46:50.511-05:00the story<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6NPAxfHD3I/T3dQ5iyuYfI/AAAAAAAABpc/3rQdSc6cBF0/s1600/elderly+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6NPAxfHD3I/T3dQ5iyuYfI/AAAAAAAABpc/3rQdSc6cBF0/s200/elderly+women.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Have you ever gone to a funeral of a person you knew and learned large parts of their life </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that you NEVER knew? </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> I have - and over and over during the service I'd think,</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>" I didn't know she
did that." "Why didn't I know that?" </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Over and over. </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Why hadn't I taken the time
to listen for the story?</b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why hadn't they shared their story?</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
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</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>When I was Discharge Planning at our small rural hospital and as a nurse, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>it was my
opportunity to visit with every patient. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I found if I sat down on the patient's
level and just asked them about themselves, I could hear their stories. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>One day I heard the horrific story about our patient struggling in the hills of
Italy during WWII where most of his buddies died. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I heard several stories from
the South Pacific and Europe during WWII. Or about the effects of Agent Orange
during Vietnam </b></span><b>and how no one would listen to their symptoms. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I've listen to woman after woman tell me about their child - the one(s) who died, who left them so early. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Every woman wanted to tell me about their child, that child's specific traits, their special laugh, - just wanted me to know that they had lived.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I happen to know that in their hearts they were really </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>saying 'don't forget'. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I know!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I also have the fear that everyone will forget my child</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>But I can't forget all those good and happy stories about raising children, enjoying grandchildren, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I've heard so many stories that I wish I'd
written them down. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Everyone has a story. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>We all have a story. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>We help people to heal by listening</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Just listening. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>This cab driver in the story below allowed this dear lady to
remember her story - her life. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I hope that I've learned to slow down enough to
listen.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>To hear the stories that have changed and
shaped lives. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I pray that this story will touch your heart like it did mine.</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May we all learn to just sit down</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>May we all learn to stay quiet and listen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>May we all learn to give 'moments of joy'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Janet Macy</span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
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<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>the Last Cab Ride</b></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: right;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: right;"><b>by Kent Nerbum (adapted from "Make Me an instrument of Your Peace")</b></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">I arrived at the address and honked
the horn. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">After waiting a few minutes I honked again.<br />
Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just
driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and
knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">I could hear something being dragged
across the floor.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">After a long pause, the door opened. A
small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and
a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">By her side was a small nylon
suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had<br />
lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">There were no clocks on the walls, no
knickknacks or utensils<br />
on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and
glassware.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'Would you carry my bag out to the
car?' she said.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">I took the suitcase to the cab, then
returned to assist the woman.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">She took my arm and we walked slowly
toward the curb.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">She kept thanking me for my kindness.
'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would
want my mother to be treated.'</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave<br />
me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'It's not the shortest way,' I
answered quickly..</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in
no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her
eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft</span></b> <b><span style="color: maroon;">voice..' <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">The doctor says I don't have very
long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'What route would you like me to
take?' I asked.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">For the next two hours, we drove
through the city. She showed me<br />
the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">We drove through the neighborhood
where she and her husband had lived when they were</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">newlyweds She had me pull up in front
of a furniture warehouse that</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">had once been a ballroom where she had
gone dancing as a girl.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">Sometimes she'd ask me to slow
in front of a particular building or corner and<br />
would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">As the first hint of sun was<br />
creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">We drove in silence to the address she
had given me. It was a low building,</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">like a small convalescent home, with a
driveway that passed under a portico.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">Two orderlies came out to<br />
the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were<br />
solicitous and intent, watching her every move.<br />
They must have been expecting her.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">I opened the trunk and took the small
suitcase to<br />
the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'How much do I owe you?' She asked,
reaching into her purse.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'Nothing,' I said</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'You have to make a living,' she
answered.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'There are other passengers,' I responded.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">Almost without thinking, I bent and
gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">'You gave an old woman a little moment
of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">I squeezed her hand, and then walked
into the dim morning<br />
light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I didn't pick up any more passengers
that shift. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I drove aimlessly lost in
thought. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the rest of that day, I could
hardly talk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">What if that woman had gotten an
angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had
refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">On a quick review, I don't think that
I have done anything more important in my life.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">We're conditioned to think that our
lives revolve around great moments.</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: maroon;">But great moments often catch us
unaware-beautifully<br />
wrapped in what others may consider a small one.</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<br />
<h2 style="font-family: Arial, verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">"There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation." <span style="background-color: white;">James Nathan Miller</span></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." Turkish Proverb</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-52089659821904485672011-12-23T11:36:00.000-06:002012-02-26T21:59:39.701-06:00the irony of the Christmas story - the wise men<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but as
one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The
hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And were
it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Max Lucado </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Only two groups of folks were notified of Jesus' birth other than Mary and Joseph's families.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the shepherds - unclean </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the Magi - unclean because they were Gentiles.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ironic. God had to take his message to the unclean. </div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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Neither group was welcomed in the Temple courts. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They didn't meet the requirements for entering. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They didn't follow all the tedious man-made rules of the day. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They were from the wrong tribe. <br />
Their lineage was not acceptable. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They weren't good enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that's just the beginning of all the reasons they weren't worthy. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On the other hand, have you noticed who did NOT receive the announcement of Jesus' birth?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the religious</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the high priests in the temple</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the people who were allowed and welcomed into the temple courts </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Why? Why didn't the "church folks" know?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Why didn't the "clean" know?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Were they too busy?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Were they too consumed with the following of all their self-made strict religious rituals?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Were they too occupied with standing on the street corners offering up their prayers in public so they would appear pious and then most worthy of praise?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Were they too busy protecting the traditions? Saying "we've always done it this way? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Were they not approachable?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's my question to you and to myself this Christmas season. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If Jesus were born today who would hear the angels?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>who would see (be looking for) the star and follow? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>who would take the time to listen? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>who would God find faithful?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I've learned anything in my 64 years, it has been that God goes to those who have time to hear him. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">To those who are 'still and know that He is God'.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">For 2012, I want to learn to 'be still". </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to learn to listen.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be approachable.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be less judgmental</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be known by my love for others regardless</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be willing to get messy, if it means I can give 'the message'</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be willing to take some risks as Mary and Joseph did</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the shepherds and the wise men did </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be found faithful.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to be found faithful!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>This is Part 2 of "the irony of Christmas". Part 1 is here <a href="http://macymemoirs.blogspot.com/2011/12/wonder-of-christmas-story-shepherds.html">Click here</a> if you missed it on Wednesday</div>
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</div>
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</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-49744114933176445712011-12-21T22:16:00.000-06:002012-02-26T22:00:24.897-06:00the irony of the Christmas story ~ the shepherds<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">I want to share two (2) thoughts with you
that I find rather ironic, surprising if you will, about the shepherds and the Christmas story. I love God’s sense of humor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Did
you know that Bethlehem was right ‘under the nose’ of King Herod? I didn’t,
until a few years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">The
Herodian, the largest fortress-palace of the ancient world was built on the
highest point of the Judean Desert. It
literally looked down on Bethlehem. The
Herodian could be seen from anywhere in Bethlehem. It would have been a rather formidable symbol
of King Herod’s power hanging over the city.
It has been said that the shadow of the Herodian moves across Bethlehem as
the sun sets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">What
do you think these the shepherds thought as they passed this palace of King
Herod to find “the king” in a manger in a dirty cattle stall? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">I
wonder if they were afraid? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Afraid
of Herod if he should find out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">The
angels had certainly frightened them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">I
like to think they were so fill with excitement (and an adrenalin rush) that
they didn’t have any fear of Herod that night.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">We
do not know if Herod was in that palace that night, but I like to think that as
Herod slept overlooking Bethlehem, the Savior of the world was being born below
him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">“The contrast
between Herod and Jesus is nowhere clearer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">than in the contrast
between the fortress and the stable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">It reminds us that
God uses weakness, lack of status, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">and even things that
appear foolish <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">to show that it is
HIS strength that accomplishes His purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">Even though evil may
be strong, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">God has the ultimate
power and authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">The real power was
found in the manger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">Trust that power and
you cannot fail.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book;">Ray Vander Laan “That The World May Know”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">The
next thing that I find ironic about the shepherds is that they were in the
place with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
Yet in that culture they were considered ‘unclean’. They would not have been allowed in the
temple to worship God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">They
worked with animals. They took care of
sick animals, cared for their open sores, and sometimes handled dead carcasses
of other animals. Because of this they
were ‘unclean’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">And
yet – here we see the shepherds rushing into town in all their excitement and
going right up to the baby Jesus - the King of Kings. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">They
wouldn’t have been allowed into the temple, but I like to think they were
holding Jesus. Touching Jesus. The son of the God they were not allowed to go worship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">I
smile every time I think of that. The
lowest of the low are the ones that God chose to first hear the news of the birth
of his son. And yet - according to the religious of the day they were not fit to enter the temple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Do
you know what that means? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">He
came for the lowly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">He
came for the poor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">He came for those that the "religious" of the day may not think are fit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">He
came for everyone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Even
the shepherds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Jesus
came for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Jesus
came for you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: LuzSans-Book; font-size: 13pt;">Friday
I will share two (2) more thoughts about the Christmas story that I find ironic
and surprising. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-17027759982526116452011-12-15T12:57:00.001-06:002012-02-26T22:01:09.289-06:00"Let there be light<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.
. . and there was light. </span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b> G</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">od
saw that the light was good" (Genesis
1:3-4)</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
put up the tree last evening and as I plugged in the lights, I said <b>“Let there
be light”</b>! </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KwO874ksgGI/Tu52Ek2_XAI/AAAAAAAABjg/czXiTDUIEss/s1600/blog+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KwO874ksgGI/Tu52Ek2_XAI/AAAAAAAABjg/czXiTDUIEss/s320/blog+%25282%2529.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Soothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">peaceful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All
the lights of the holidays </span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
lights on the tree</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
star on the top of the tree</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
candles flickering</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
twinkling beams radiating from the wreaths</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the glow from the garlands</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the radiance from the candles of the menorahs</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">remind me that it was our God who created <span style="color: #990000;"><b>LIGHT</b></span></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Have
you ever noticed how many times or ways that <span style="color: #990000;">LIGHT</span> is involved in the Christmas
story? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">t<b>he
foretelling of Jesus in John 1:6-9 </b></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“There
was a man sent from God, whose name </span><i style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">was</i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> John. . . </span><b style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><sup>8</sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
was not that Light, but </span><i style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">was sent</i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> to bear witness of that </span><b style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.
</span><b style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><sup>9</sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That was the </span><i style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>true
</u></i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><u style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">which gives <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>
to every man coming into the world.</u><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>the
announcement to the shepherds</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“And
in that vicinity there were shepherds living in the
field, watching over their flock by night. </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; position: relative; top: -3pt;">9</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> And
behold<i>,</i> an angel of the
Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and [<i>light </i>] <b><u><span style="color: #c00000;">SHONE all
about</span></u></b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span>them, and they were
terribly frightened.” Luke 2:8-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>the
guidance of the Magi</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif;">Matthew
2:2,9 </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; position: relative; top: -3pt;">2</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Where is He
Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His <b><span style="color: #c00000;">STAR</span></b> in the east at its rising
and have come to worship Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When they had
listened to the king, they went their way, and behold, the <b><span style="color: #c00000;">STAR</span></b> which had been seen in the
east in its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place
where the young Child was. </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">10</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> When
they saw the <b><span style="color: #c00000;">STAR</span></b>,
they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.” (Matt
2:2,9 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>When Jesus was taken to the temple for
dedication:</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Simeon
took him in his arms and praised God, saying: </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">29</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> "Sovereign
Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">30</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For my eyes have seen your salvation, </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">31</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">which you have prepared in the sight of
all people, </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">32</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> a <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>
for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:28-32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He created <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He was <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He sent His only son
as the<b> <span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He asked that we be <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>
in our own worlds. That we share His <span style="color: #990000;"><b>LIGHT</b></span> of the gospel with others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Am I? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m not sure. I need to ponder this. Am I doing all that I can to be a <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>
to others? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Paul’s letter to Philippian
church reminds us again that we are to be <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>s.
He said: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Do
all you have to do without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be God's
children, blameless, sincere and wholesome, living in a warped and diseased
world, and <b><span style="color: #c00000;">SHINING</span></b>
there like <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHTS</span></b>
in a dark place. For you hold in your hands the very word of life.” Phil 2:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Did
you catch the end of that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
says that we hold in our hands the very word of life to a dying warped diseased
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
hold LIFE – which is the <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Would
you withhold life from someone if it was in your power to give it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
I sit here reflecting, I wonder <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What
can we do to share <b><span style="color: #c00000;">LIGHT</span></b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are
we <b><span style="color: #c00000;">SHINING</span></b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are
we <b><span style="color: #c00000;">FLICKERING
</span></b>in the pitch black darkness
to help make someone else’s way a little easier, a little brighter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What can we do this
season to bring </span><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIGHT</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">, hope and joy? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A simple sincere smile that </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIGHTS</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> up our face as we meet someone, which in turn </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIGHTS</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> up their face and then maybe even their heart.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A card</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A phone call</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A flower</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A gift certificate to their favorite place to dine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A hug</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A visit to a nursing home</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A visit to those who mourn an empty space at the table this year. Don't forget to mention their loved one's name. They need to hear it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A gift certificate to their favorite place</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">The beauty shop</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">The grocery store</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">The gas station</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Anything that will help them realize that someone is thinking of them.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to be </span><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIGHT</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> breaking through the
darkness to others this season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This season of </span><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIGHTS</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Just as last evening,
the star on the top of my Christmas tree and the lights reminded me that this
is a season of hope, of joy, of life, of </span><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIGHT</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s about time I packed
away my sorrows, trauma, and sad memories and put up that tree last night. I even stopped on my way home from work last
evening and bought a beautiful star to put on top of my tree. For some reason, I HAD to have a star. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I reasoned that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The One who provided the star to guide the Wise Men would help guide me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Would help me find
hope, joy, and <span style="color: #990000;"><b>LIGHT</b></span> <i>this</i> Christmas
season 2011. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see – I haven’t
had a Christmas tree for years. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This has
always been a depressing and lonely season for me. It’s been a <b>DARK </b>season for me for years. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until last night, when I put up the tree, </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: large;">plugged in
the lights and announced:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: large;">“LET THERE BE LIGHT!” <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: large;">And there was LIGHT</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it was so so GOOD</span></b></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-40088615221655080182011-12-11T20:53:00.001-06:002012-02-26T22:01:50.284-06:00I've been blessed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was so excited and blessed today when I discovered that I had been awarded the neat Liebster award from Grace InAz. Thank you, Grace. You made my day. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She had stopped by my blog recently and liked it. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Check our Grace's blog at: <a href="http://growing-old-with-grace.blogspot.com/">Growing-old-with-grace</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know you will like it as much as I do. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqKsy5VkSO8/TuVsigldYYI/AAAAAAAABhk/XNQlLmCjR7A/s1600/Liebsterblog-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqKsy5VkSO8/TuVsigldYYI/AAAAAAAABhk/XNQlLmCjR7A/s1600/Liebsterblog-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Liebster award
("Liebster" is the German word for friend or love) originated in
Germany. The aim of the award is to bring attention to blogs </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">with fewer than
200 to 300 followers.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am now passing this Liebster award on to the following blogs that I've discovered in my reviewing and reading of blogs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://soaringandstillness.blogspot.com/">Soaring and Stillness</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://thebrokenquill.com/">The Broken Quill</a></div>
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<a href="http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/">Spiritual Memoirs 101</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.findingpurposeinthepain.com/">Finding Purpose In The Pain.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://survivingthelossofachild-lisa.blogspot.com/">Surviving the Loss of a Child</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please <strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">stop by</span></strong> and say <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;">"Hello"</span></strong> to the above bloggers. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
Here are the guidelines for accepting the award:<br />
</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Show your <span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><strong>thanks to the blogger</strong></span> who gave you the award by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">linking back to them.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: medium;"><strong>Reveal your top five picks</strong></span> and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;"><strong>Post the award</strong></span> on your blog.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have fun and <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><strong>share the blessings</strong></span>!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;">Save the Liebster image</span></strong> to your computer and upload it to your blog.</span></li>
</ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
While you are out there hopping from blog to blog, be sure you take a
minute to become a follower and to leave a comment of encouragement. Make their day!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can't
begin to count all of the blessings I have received from fellow blog
writers and readers </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">since I began blogging a couple years ago. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It just makes
my day and fills my heart with joy when I read your notes and laugh with
your comments</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-31102997885238361802011-11-06T12:21:00.002-06:002012-02-26T22:02:43.922-06:00Let us remember<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">"Our faith would be stronger if we would </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">remember </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">what </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">God </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">has done for us in the past. </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">For some reason, as humans, we seem to remember </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">all the hurts </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">and tragedies
of our past, </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">but <u>forget</u> the good that has happened. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">“Some saints have very short memories. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">It has been well said that we write our benefits in
dust </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">and our injuries in marble,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;"> and it is
equally true that we generally inscribe </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">our afflictions upon brass, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">while the records of the deliverances </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;">of God are
written in water."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">C. H. Spurgeon (from "The Lion & the Bear") </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Memory</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">is our ability to store, retain, and recall information</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="float: none; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and
experiences.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> - the
power of our mind to remember things.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But - why do the negative memories seem bigger and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">seem to carry more weight
than the good?? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Is Satan fighting us by causing us to forget what God has done?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Did you know that scientists now think there are specific neural circuits for
specific memories? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Whatever the reason, <b>God recognized our inclination to forget.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In the Old Testament, God is
constantly warning the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">children of Israel to “remember” or “do not forget”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He instructed them numerous times to take stones and stack then on
top of each other so that “when your children and children’s children ask why
these stones are here, you can tell them what God has done”. (Joshua 4:2-9)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AacPNFmmKLs/TrbsotB-4nI/AAAAAAAABcA/i7t69VI9Xsw/s1600/pile_of_rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AacPNFmmKLs/TrbsotB-4nI/AAAAAAAABcA/i7t69VI9Xsw/s200/pile_of_rocks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">These were monuments of remembrance. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God knew they would forget</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">What
do YOU do so that you will NOT forget what God has done for you?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Because you <u>will</u> forget, you know? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">For
those times when you were distraught and His presence came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> For
those times when you were all alone and he comforted you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> For when the situation was impossible and the finances came through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> For when the situation was impossible and someone came and held you. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It’s
important for us to devise our own method of remembering </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">because - we WILL forget. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I have a friend who literally has an altar in her house of rocks. Dates written on them as reminders of what God had done. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Another family with small children has a bowl on their dining room table with smooth river stones in them. They are dated with a word to remind them. They occasionally go through the bowl and discuss the events and how God came. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I keep a 'joy journal' as a reminder. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Sometimes I even enter a brief description on my recurring Outlook calendar. That way, each year on the very date, it pops up as a reminder. I love that. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>So what are your monuments of remembrance?</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>What do you do, so that you won't forget?</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">So when the tough times come again - and they will - you can look back and be encouraged. </b><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">helped us." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1 Sam 7:12 (NIV)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>“...Be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the
Lord your God” (Deu 8:11b). </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>“Do not become proud...and forget the
Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery” (Deu 8:14).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>“If you
ever forget the Lord your God...you will certainly be destroyed” (Deu 8:19).</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-77071055033898510252011-10-01T15:46:00.020-05:002012-02-26T22:04:55.630-06:00The ONE who's gone astray<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The farmer searches for his calf, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">when he finds him, he carries him out</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BeS6AE9jm9s/TodyYOQhbTI/AAAAAAAABPA/IAhKGMLL5-8/s1600/the+Shepherd+finds+the+sheep+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="538px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BeS6AE9jm9s/TodyYOQhbTI/AAAAAAAABPA/IAhKGMLL5-8/s640/the+Shepherd+finds+the+sheep+for+blog.jpg" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i>(Look closely behind all the cattle </i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>(in the very center of the picture </i><b>above</b><i>) </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>you can see the good farmer coming out from behind the bush, carrying his calf.) </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Even though the farmer may own 100, he will leave the 99, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">to go in search of the </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">one who has gone astray. Matthew 18:12 </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqNmh9j10fQ/TodqR80sNgI/AAAAAAAABO0/1FI4cS4P2yw/s1600/Farmer+carrying+his+calf+Oct+1%252C+2011+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqNmh9j10fQ/TodqR80sNgI/AAAAAAAABO0/1FI4cS4P2yw/s320/Farmer+carrying+his+calf+Oct+1%252C+2011+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He gathers the lambs (calves) in his arms and <u><b>carries them </b></u><b><u>close to his heart</u></b>; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjhc7hD62ng/TodtA7GzjVI/AAAAAAAABO8/pdbmbBhOD9E/s1600/Feeding+newborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjhc7hD62ng/TodtA7GzjVI/AAAAAAAABO8/pdbmbBhOD9E/s320/Feeding+newborn.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">He gently tends (feeds) his flock - Isaiah 40:11a</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">He sets a table before him Ps 23</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He knows his cattle and his cattle know him - John 10:14</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today I've witnessed a profound picture of our Heavenly Father</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The good farmer has gently and lovingly; sought, found, and carried-out his lost.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the harvesting of soybeans has been stopped</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the planting of wheat has been stopped</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Everything has ceased, while he searches </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the farmer's wife has even been summoned</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The lost is found frightened and bawling,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He willing goes with the farmer who gently cradles him</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He even wags his tail, making soft bleating noises as he noisily eats his feast</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This calf will now follow the farmer anywhere and everywhere</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When the farmer drives up in his pick-up, the calf will coming running to him.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What an awesome man I married</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But more importantly, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">what an awesome Heavenly Father we have! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He is continually searching for us, our hearts and our lives</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He has so much good planned for us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He knows us and knows that we are but dust - so human and forgetful</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He loves us anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">He longs to have us run to Him</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">where he will gently hold us close to His heart.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Never forget - God is NOT through with any of us yet.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He will pursue us relentlessly</span><br />
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</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-27487477702896104432011-09-27T22:39:00.028-05:002012-02-26T22:04:01.364-06:00An "Ordinary" Day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As I pull out of the hospital parking lot, all the errands that need done this late afternoon are rushing around in my head. Which do I do first? If I do such-an-such first, then the other place <i>might</i> be closed. Oh my! I'm running late. Why was today like today? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I hate running errands after work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love going straight home to the comfort and solitude of my house. I need a time of quiet - of rest. You know - hit the couch and put my feet up before I face the evening. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A block from the hospital there he is . . . . . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="color: black;">Squirrel</b>: (<i style="color: black;">in the middle of the street, frantically and fearfully darting here and there</i>) <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">“Help. I need to cross the street. I think? Don’t I? Please!”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCZ5w2WCYtg/ToSEJCzI9PI/AAAAAAAABMQ/qGSJW-ycVrA/s1600/squirrel5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCZ5w2WCYtg/ToSEJCzI9PI/AAAAAAAABMQ/qGSJW-ycVrA/s200/squirrel5a.jpg" width="192" /></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me:</b> <i>I slow down - literally almost to a stop - since it’s obvious HE can’t decide which way to go. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Besides, I’ve had a rough long day and I somehow understand how he must feel. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="color: black;">Squirrel</b>: <span style="color: #660000;">“</span><b style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Maybe this way? No – that side’s closer. No – this side.</span> “</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="color: black;">Me</b>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">“Oh for Pete sake! Just make a decision and go for it!!” </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="color: black;">Squirrel</b>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> <b><span style="color: #660000;">“Whew. I made it”</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b>: Poor thing. HE’s just diligently preparing for what’s coming. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hmmm! Am I as diligently preparing for what’s coming? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tomorrow, for next week, for the rest of my life.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>or am I frantically and fearfully running here & there?</b></span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Girl number 1</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"> –</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b>: “for Marvin Macy. I need 30 bags of whatever he wrote here. I'm sorry, I can’t read it”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl1</b> <i>immediately starting to peck at the computer keys in front of her</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b> (astonished) “You can read it . . . . . . ? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl1</b>: “Yes. . . . . . . here, do you want this note back.” (<i>smiling, she continues</i> <i>with a twinkle in her eye)</i> “The one you can’t read?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Me:</b> “Naw”. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">( I wished I’d kept it and scanned it into this writing. You’d see what I have to put up with.) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl1</b>: (<i>suddenly, startling me, yelling loudly back into the dark hole)</i> “<b>30 bags of cattle creep feed, please</b>!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Creep man in dark hole</b>: “WHAT??? 30 bags??” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl1</b>: <b>“YES!!”</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I see him shrugging and heading further into the dark hole to the depths where they apparently keep the ‘creep’ stuff. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me:</b> “Do I back up around the corner there?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl1</b>: “<i><b>Wherever. It doesn’t matter</b></i>”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">**</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Girl number 2</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> – </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;">Me</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">walking around the extended cab pick-up of Marvin’s that </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’ve only driven</span><u> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">twice</span></u></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) “How do I get the back doors open. There has to be a latch, doesn’t there?”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl2</b>: <i>standing there calmly with $134/worth of groceries, obviously enjoying being outside in the 80 degrees. Looking up toward the sun, closing her eyes, soaking up the sun. She knows I'm just talking to myself. Problem solving out loud, as I usually do. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me:</b> (<i>walking around the truck again</i>) “Suppose we should just put the groceries in the back with the feed?” <i> ( I really want to say "with the creep feed" and freak her out, just for the fun of it)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl2</b>: “Should I tie all the bags shut so nothing blows out?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b>: (<i>walking around the truck for the 3rd time now and attempting to open everything I can see. Trying to pull seats forward.)</i> “Do you have any idea how to open the little door back here? Which side opens, do you suppose?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl2</b>: <i>in a little sing-song voice</i> – “W-e l-l-l . . . . . I don’t touch trucks, but - there is usually a little button to push that opens those doors”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b>: “Really? Where?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl2</b>: “W e l- l -l . . . . let’s see. OH! <giggle> there it is.” (<i>as she points with one arched manicured finger)</i> “Right there. See where it says “U” - for unlock. Press it. I don’t touch trucks”. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b>: “You’re kidding? There? Why there?” as I press it. <i>(Click – the back door on the <u>passenger</u> side opens.)</i> “Why can’t the door open on this side? Why on the other side?” <i>(talking to myself again)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me:</b> (<i>As I’m forced to walk around the truck for the 4<sup>th</sup> time – and she walks around it for the first)</i><i> </i> “That’s weird. Wouldn’t you think I should be able to open the passenger door with the keyless remote?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Girl2</b>: “Do you want the heavy stuff on the floor?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Me</b>: (<i>Totally flustered about having made a scene in </i><b>the</b><i> parking space closest to the store. I’m thinking ‘I never get to park this close any other time. Why now?’ </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I calmly respond: “<i><b>Wherever. It doesn’t matter</b></i>”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">**</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">What a long and interesting day. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">There has been some profound sadness today as there often is in the healthcare field.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">There has been some laughter as someone reminds me; "the last time you wore that shirt to work you had it on wrong-side out." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Weighing on my mind is one of my blogger friends, Sara Frankl – who I’ve followed for a year or so. She died this week at the age of 38. Her blogs have been such an inspiration to me. Why, Lord? Why? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, is the fact that a friend is in surgery - right now. At least 2 cardiologists have told her she could not possibly survive this surgery. She's younger than me!! Her only chance of survival WAS surgery. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNe_mB9k0Og/ToKR21sgAUI/AAAAAAAABMM/GYHJBcfpa80/s1600/2010+Dads+birthday+203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNe_mB9k0Og/ToKR21sgAUI/AAAAAAAABMM/GYHJBcfpa80/s320/2010+Dads+birthday+203.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So many emotions. I'm exhausted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I want is to get in that truck (that I no longer want to touch) and let the country roads take me 18 miles away. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the answer this time is NOT :</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “Wherever. It doesn’t matter.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This time it does matter! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want to go home. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I need to concentrate & think about what God - through Sara Frankl - has been trying to teach me these last few years of her blogging life. Forced to leave her journalistic career, due to illness, and confined to her home (literally unable to leave her own house for the last 3 years), her message has always been: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">"Choose Joy" </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a link to the blogger that I had been following and enjoying for a year:<a href="http://m.wcfcourier.com/news/local/sara-s-web-dying-cedar-falls-woman-inspired-thousands-with/article_dcec6fba-3fd2-5366-b40c-67d88cda3864.html">http://m.wcfcourier.com/news/local/sara-s-web-dying-cedar-falls-woman-inspired-thousands-with/article_dcec6fba-3fd2-5366-b40c-67d88cda3864.html</a></span></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-28471122639831142182011-09-21T19:03:00.012-05:002011-12-04T17:16:24.000-06:00He Knows My Name<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">At 10:16 on a rainy Sunday morning, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Many years ago TODAY, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I made a squalling entrance into this world</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Mom reminded me this morning!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There have been a few </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">unexpected and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">unwanted paths.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There have been many joyous and welcomed retreats. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">All I really needed to know was, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">“He Knows my name” </span><br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hXsiWoyjw60?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe> <br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Remember that</span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Life is short !!</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Hug your children<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Tell your family and friends that you love them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Laugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Love fully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Forgive quickly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Count your blessings. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And . . . do not forget:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He Knows <u>Your </u>Name!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He knows YOU!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He will bring you out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He will bring you through.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>He calls his own sheep <u>by name</u> and leads them out. John 10:3</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><b></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you <u>by name</u>; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-9801563660492617632011-09-11T19:59:00.016-05:002011-11-08T13:10:54.072-06:00The day the planes fell . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jQTG068mHyw/Tm1Wf7pbsGI/AAAAAAAABIU/LyzA-K3KZmY/s1600/TT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326px" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jQTG068mHyw/Tm1Wf7pbsGI/AAAAAAAABIU/LyzA-K3KZmY/s400/TT.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">"One day everything changed. </span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I met neighbors I had never met before. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Strangers spoke openly and freely to one another. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">People were unusually courteous and thoughtful. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Famlies hugged each other and walked to church holding hands. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Strangers greeted each other with kindness and generosity. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">No one cared about the color of anyone's skin, </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">the clothes they wore, </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">or their station in life. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I thought I had stepped into Heaven. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It was September 11, 2001." </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">~ John Welshons</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a profound observation of those days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the anniversary of the day that changed our lives forever, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">we post it on our blogs and in our newspapers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We announce it in our synagogues and places of worship.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We watch the continuous news loop of the events of that notorious day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our American flags are hanging from our front porches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We vow to NEVER forget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then tomorrow comes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we are off - on to whatever is important to us now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to our politics and finger pointing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to putting ourselves first and others second. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm afraid <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">America</country-region></place> has a short memory. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm afraid we ALL have short memories.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I fear we've forgotten the tremendous unity and love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">that was felt in those immediate ‘post 9/11 days’. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even in the middle of this vast country, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">thousands of miles from the crash sites,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">strangers were talking to each other. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We stopped our co-workers in the halls,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We called our family members all over the country</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">just to ask, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"How are you doing?" - and we meant it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We said "I love you" - and we meant it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It didn't matter the religious affiliations we had - or didn't have. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It didn't matter the political affiliations we had - or didn't. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It didn't matter the differences in philosophy we had - or didn't.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For a brief few months, we loved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We truly loved and cared!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And oh . . . . . it felt so grand,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">so impressive, and comforting. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why should it take a tragedy to bring us together? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why DOES it take a tragedy to bring us together?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why can’t we remember the feelings we had that day,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">and continue the loving and caring? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Janet B Macy 09-11-2011</span><br />
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<br /></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-59687900210494292812011-08-30T15:15:00.011-05:002011-11-08T13:18:11.291-06:00Memories . . .<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVz4JZipib4/TmFTWDG7PpI/AAAAAAAABH8/2AAOGp8QJ8Q/s1600/Terry+1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVz4JZipib4/TmFTWDG7PpI/AAAAAAAABH8/2AAOGp8QJ8Q/s200/Terry+1978.jpg" width="138px" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I never cry, but here I am;</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Sitting . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surprised . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">tears filling my eyes,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">threatening to spill down my cheeks. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Why?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A small crop-duster plane just flew by outside my window. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That's weird, you say!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why would an airplane cause someone to cry?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In grief and loss, we never know when something - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> a sound</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> a smell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> a picture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> or anything - will trigger a memory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It just suddenly overwhelms and engulfs us </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">with deep sadness, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">unannounced, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">unpredictably,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">rudely </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">with no warning. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And - I was immediately overwhelmed with a deep sadness,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. . . . then all these memories started to flow over me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">LOTS of bittersweet memories.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bitter, because he died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sweet, because he lived. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It was a brilliant yellow crop duster with a bright<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> blue tail. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It was beautiful. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It was flying lower than the house, just across the road,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">spraying those pesky destructive head worms/bugs on the milo. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fFQzYv43AXo/TmFbslmscBI/AAAAAAAABIQ/yF9lNpf2c_U/s1600/yellow+airplane+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fFQzYv43AXo/TmFbslmscBI/AAAAAAAABIQ/yF9lNpf2c_U/s200/yellow+airplane+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">When I heard it, my first thought was "TERRY! Terry needs to see this!" </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Immediately I remembered a time, before Tammy was born, when a crop duster was going to be spraying a field just down the road from our house. Marvin said I could take Terry out to watch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It was the first time Terry had ever seen a crop duster. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He would have been a preschooler at that time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In his excitement he clapped his hands and laughed and laughed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. . . . <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and fell in love with airplanes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">All kinds of planes</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">and jets and</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">rockets and</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">the B1 & B2</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">especially the Space Shuttle</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">anything that would or could fly. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Or anything that would put air & space between his feet and the ground. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Which would later include tying a bath towel to his shoulders</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">standing on the arm of the couch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">and flying off into space.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">and onto the cushions he had piled on the floor. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJuzGcjyW8I/TmFTpBW2CeI/AAAAAAAABIA/LMqf9gaJ1rg/s1600/Terry+1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJuzGcjyW8I/TmFTpBW2CeI/AAAAAAAABIA/LMqf9gaJ1rg/s200/Terry+1976.jpg" width="145px" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Over and over and over.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">His next flying endeavor would be leaping from the upper hay loft in his grandparents’ barn to the lower loft. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">while screaming “Out of the way!!!”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Tammy, in terror, moved 'out of the way' –</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">just to be knocked flat, with the wind knocked out of her. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Later flying would include his dirt bike that he would fly off mounds of dirt</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">so he could be airborne for a bit. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Without his mother’s knowledge, I might add.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">About the same time flying included jumping out his 2<sup>nd</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>floor bedroom window.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">To impress his younger cousins.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Telling them this was a fire drill,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">just in case there should be a fire.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He could tell you everything you NEVER wanted to know – about airplanes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Even before he was old enough to go to kindergarten he was drawing airplanes . . </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Lots of airplanes</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And, of course, tractors and combines. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Friday, this week September 2<sup>nd</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is his birthday.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He should be 42 years old. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I think that's why the memories & tears overwhelmed me just now. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4efrHA-fUbQ/TmFU2Z150rI/AAAAAAAABII/9QPHlAh3dAM/s1600/Terry+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4efrHA-fUbQ/TmFU2Z150rI/AAAAAAAABII/9QPHlAh3dAM/s200/Terry+001.jpg" width="135px" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">How I miss his laughter</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">his ability to make me laugh. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">His instant wit and ability to come up with the funniest ‘off the wall’ comments in any situation.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">his ability to make lots of people to laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">How thankful I am for memories. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Lots of funny & happy memories. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Thanks, Terry</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Thanks for all the memories.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Thanks for your inquisitive mind and always asking "why" and meaning it.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Thanks for all the trips to the library to find the answers to your “whys and whats”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> You know - for example; "what do starfish eat?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mean - who really cared? Huh! You did!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Pretty interesting question for a preschooler who would not give up until he found out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Where was Google back then in the 70's?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Thanks for all the life lessons you have taught me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">You have made my life so much better.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. . . . later, Alligator ! ! !</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I love you</span></div>
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</blockquote>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-60698371122575993682011-06-19T18:59:00.007-05:002011-12-06T14:23:14.966-06:00the other side of Mother's & Father's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4-gmKK1LL4s/Tf6P67qN8kI/AAAAAAAABFU/7LhGvGxtksw/s1600/jan+tam+terry+-+mothers+day+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4-gmKK1LL4s/Tf6P67qN8kI/AAAAAAAABFU/7LhGvGxtksw/s200/jan+tam+terry+-+mothers+day+2011.jpg" width="150px" /></a></div>
Mother's & Father's Day is a day of: struggle, remorse, and grief for :<br />
<ul>
<li>the parent who has lost a child, whether by miscarriage, as a young child or as an adult. </li>
<li>the person who wanted to be a mother or father, but could not; </li>
<li>the parent who feels they should have been a better parent; </li>
<li>the parent whose child is in jail or prison;</li>
<li>the parent who is estranged from their children; </li>
<li>the person who gave up her child and wonders where that child is today.</li>
<li>the woman who aborted her child and wonders how they would look today.</li>
<li>any person who has lost their loving mother or father. </li>
<li>any person who had an emotionally detached or abusive mother and/or father. </li>
</ul>
<br />
For my husband and I, Mother's Day & Father's Day have been a bittersweet day.<br />
For almost 26 years. <br />
<br />
Why Mother's Day? Why Father's Day? <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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Yes, I know it's a day to celebrate our mothers & fathers. <br />
<br />
Yes! I have the best mother & father in the entire world. <br />
They both are still living and still my heros. <br />
Not only that - they are my biggest fans.<br />
My encourager and cheerleaders.<br />
<br />
So - what's the problem? <br />
I have the best of the best. <br />
the creme de la creme!<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6g7xoibHExc/Tf6QRpttTxI/AAAAAAAABFY/pOOqq32hhso/s1600/Eli+Michael+2+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6g7xoibHExc/Tf6QRpttTxI/AAAAAAAABFY/pOOqq32hhso/s200/Eli+Michael+2+042.jpg" width="200px" /></a>The problem is "ME"</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I'm only part of a mother. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Actually I feel like I'm only 1/2 a mother.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I had two children. </div>
One is alive and has just made me a grandmother. <br />
My first Mother's Day as a grandmother! <br />
Yeah! <br />
<br />
My other child died at 16 y/o.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
Since my son died -almost 26 years ago,- I've not felt whole. <br />
A part of me is missing.<br />
A part will always be missing.<br />
It's impossible to have someone within our bodies or lives and then try to forget them.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Trying to forget is as easy as trying to remember something that never happened</span>. <br />
<br />
Mother's Day always reminds me of that missing part. <br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
I know; I know!<br />
I should be grateful for what I have and not be thinking about what I have not.<br />
Usually I am grateful for what I have.<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
But somehow - Mother's Day just sneaks up on me and slaps me in the face.<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
On Mother's & Father's Day remember your mother & father.<br />
The fun and good times. <br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
Just don't forget all those mothers & fathers out there who have lost their child and children; <br />
Who feel they may have failed; <br />
Who have craved motherhood & fatherhood, but have been denied;<br />
Who have lost their loving parents. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
They are struggling today.<br />
Thousands are struggling today.<br />
I'm not alone.<br />
I know about this.<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<strong>We've just all been keeping silent</strong><br />
<strong>For way too long.</strong><br />
<strong>. . . . . . . . </strong>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-24087378209036654342011-04-28T06:57:00.153-05:002011-09-16T22:42:33.545-05:00Letter to my daughter<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBCSmVhMpAE/TdMHDN8u94I/AAAAAAAABDE/gW_tXXhjXFQ/s1600/Tam+Eli+April+15%252C+2011+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBCSmVhMpAE/TdMHDN8u94I/AAAAAAAABDE/gW_tXXhjXFQ/s200/Tam+Eli+April+15%252C+2011+%25282%2529.jpg" width="135px" /></a></div>Today is my daughter's birthday.<br />
Today is her <strong>first</strong> birthday since becoming a mother.<br />
Today she understands, for the first time, a mother's love for her child.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Below is a letter that I wrote to her on her 21st birthday.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I feel the same today as I did on the day I originally wrote it. </div></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>Dearest Tammy Sue, </em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>Once upon a time, exactly 21 years ago today, at 10:30am on a Sunday morning, a darling little dark-eyed girl was born. It was a day of great excitement at the hospital because never had so many little cherubs arrived in their midst at about the same time. </em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>The reason being, of course, that this was the best day of the entire year to be born. All the babies wanted to arrive on this special day, since it meant that they would be an extra special blessing to their parents. </em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>And . . what a blessing that brown-eyed little baby has been to her mom and dad. She has filled their hearts and minds with such wonderful memories. Memories are of a little girl:</em></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>sitting on the top step of the combine, swinging her legs back and forth with skinned-up knees, face and finger smudged with combine grease - in a dress ! - saying "Daddy, when I get big can I be the boss?"</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>asking, "Grandma, isn't your lap lonely?" - because you wanted her to stop and hold you.</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>announcing, "when I get big, i'm going to have grandma take care of my kids when I go to work".</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>begging to stay home from grade school because it was so boring and they wasted a lot of time there. </em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>exclaiming, after being sick and having just completed 2 days of school work in just 2 hours, "See, there is no reason to keep us there all day"</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>trying to sneak into her mom and dad's bed in the middle of the night and saying, "here comes a little girl who loves you."</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>having a "headache in my leg" when her legs hurt. </em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>singing continuously</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>getting all excited on Election Day, going to the polls with her mom or dad - or both. Collecting copies of all the ballots, quizzing her parents as to how they had voted, (sometimes inadvertently making them realize that they had voted the opposite on some issues), marking her ballos carefull, and then sitting in front of the television late into the night watching the returns. And getting genuinely excited when "her" candidate won.</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>Voting for "Ronnie" at school, because "I sure wasn't going to vote for Jimmy".</em></span></li>
<li><em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>snuggling under the warm electric blanket and saying, "Ahhh. It's so nice to be safe from sound".</em></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>Then one day she grew up into a very pretty lady and instead of sitting on top of combines and climbing trees, she was on top of the Singing Christmas Tree and at the top of her class. </em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>And as far as her parents are concerned, regardless of how far away she goes or what she does with her life, she WILL always be the top. Even when she doesn't feel on top of anything and even when she may feel she has failed, there isn't a daughter anywhere that can top her.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em>Because, once upon a time, exactly 21 years ago today, God blessed them with a little dark-eyed girl - on the very best day of the entire year. </em></span><br />
<em><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Mom & Dad</span></em><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">You go girl !!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We love you</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">PS: </span> the hospital set a record for the number of births in one day - on the day of Tammy's birth.<br />
<br />
<div align="right"></div><em><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></em>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-32058249495950001052011-04-12T17:00:00.094-05:002011-04-18T20:58:49.733-05:00Hope - No Winter Lasts forever! Today I've calmly (and, I might add - <strong>fearlessly</strong>) wandered around my yard looking for signs of spring. Snapping a picture here and a picture there<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. (see pics below)</span> I always did need proof of everything. It's most annoying sometimes.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Once again I'm reminded of the promise of spring - the hope of spring. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The hope of better things, better times and better seasons to come,<br />
and especially of an eternal home <br />
with no tears, no pain, no sickness,<br />
no death, <br />
no night.<br />
<br />
<br />
But . . . right now I have work to do.<br />
A life to live purposefully, as long as I live! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKDxhImV7v4/TaTIX0Y-zUI/AAAAAAAAA_0/ZUflsBHq5Mo/s1600/purple+violets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKDxhImV7v4/TaTIX0Y-zUI/AAAAAAAAA_0/ZUflsBHq5Mo/s200/purple+violets.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Out of the ashes and dust we WILL rise. If we allow it!</span></strong><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif";">I tell you the past is a bucket of ashes, so live not in your yesterdays, no just for tomorrow, but in the here and now. Keep moving and forget the post mortems; and remember, no one can get the jump on the future.</span> </span></span></strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/carlsandbu156025.html"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Carl Sandburg</strong></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;"><strong> </strong></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9HtodS5iJ8/TaTJDoNoAKI/AAAAAAAAA_4/o_a9H8k-i-Y/s1600/Hosta+rising+from+the+dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9HtodS5iJ8/TaTJDoNoAKI/AAAAAAAAA_4/o_a9H8k-i-Y/s200/Hosta+rising+from+the+dead.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The barren times are coming to an end!</span></strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The dry seasons in life do not last. </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>spring</b></span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> rains will come again.</span></b></span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Sarah Ban Breathnach</strong></span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D86-ISgHcwo/TaTUSZHreOI/AAAAAAAABAI/7q29T8IJqOM/s1600/the+old+is+becoming+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D86-ISgHcwo/TaTUSZHreOI/AAAAAAAABAI/7q29T8IJqOM/s200/the+old+is+becoming+new.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The old will become new! </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Because of His great love we are not consumed, for His compassions</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">never fail. They are NEW every morning. Lam 3:21-23</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Q4eZ0qHaUA/TaTRAAm4v0I/AAAAAAAABAE/1U1ZBzUsw_k/s1600/redbuds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Q4eZ0qHaUA/TaTRAAm4v0I/AAAAAAAABAE/1U1ZBzUsw_k/s200/redbuds.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">A new day is coming!</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Fling off thy sadness!<br />
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth.</strong></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Thomas Blackburn</strong></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUyqlIqTFrc/Tanhy55GhxI/AAAAAAAABBE/Qdlba9hfO5w/s1600/false+indigo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUyqlIqTFrc/Tanhy55GhxI/AAAAAAAABBE/Qdlba9hfO5w/s200/false+indigo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">No winter lasts forever</span></strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"></span> <br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">No Springs skips its turn</span></strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"></span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: 10pt;">Hal Borland</span></strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><pre><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong> The birds will sing again!</strong></span></pre><pre> <span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>For, when the cheerless night passed by,
The sun would wink his golden eye,
And birds would sing again.</strong></span></pre><pre><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">John O'Brien</span></span></pre></div></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She saw The Helper standing near<br />
When grief and, care oppressed;<br />
"A Great, Big God," Who wiped the tear,<br />
And soothed the aching breast.<br />
So, in the stress of sorrows piled,<br />
The gloom was lifted when<br />
She pointed up and sweetly smiled<br />
"A Great, Big God; be brave, my child,<br />
<strong> The birds will sing again."</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
And always some soft silver ray<br />
Athwart the gloom would burst<br />
To chase the heavy clouds away,<br />
When things were at their worst.<br />
Her "Great, Big God" would justify<br />
The trembling trust of men;<br />
For, when the cheerless night passed by,<br />
The sun would wink his golden eye,<br />
<strong> And birds would sing again.</strong><br />
<br />
When dark misfortune, hovering o'er,<br />
Brought woes on every hand;<br />
And care was camping by the door,<br />
And drought was on the land;<br />
When lingering hope in rags was clad,<br />
Her faith shone brightest then -<br />
"A Great, Big God; so cheer up, Dad.<br />
Don't mope about and take it bad,<br />
<strong> The birds will sing again."</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by John O'Brien</span></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-46143938418649376592011-04-10T14:57:00.022-05:002011-09-12T21:27:13.376-05:00The Wind Sings ! !<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><strong>Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><strong>Psalms 96:12</strong></span></span></span><br />
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<div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>There's music in the sighing of a reed;</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>There's music in the gushing of a rill;</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>There's music in all things, </strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>if men had ears.</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>There earth is but an echo of the spheres</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Lord Byron</strong></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nzsT5b8jKvI/TaSSiugg5TI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/X2mj_70M1z8/s1600/Cedar+tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nzsT5b8jKvI/TaSSiugg5TI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/X2mj_70M1z8/s320/Cedar+tree+2.jpg" width="299px" /></a>Really? The wind sings? </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Of course it does! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm sitting here right now</div>listening to the wind, <br />
singing in the cedar tree<br />
outside window<br />
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Reminds me of my teenage years. <br />
There was a very tall evergreen or pine tree<br />
of some sort outside my upstairs bedroom window. </div>The tree was taller than the house.<br />
I loved to go to sleep when the wind was blowing through that evergreen.<br />
when the wind was singing through MY evergreen tree.<br />
It would literally sing me to sleep. <br />
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“My singing evergreen” still stands today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
I stand under it every time I go home to upstate NY.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I usually pick up its pine cones</div>and sometimes find myself stuffing a couple into my suitcase. <br />
Memories . . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>such soothing calming memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I never dreamed back then that I would again hear the wind singing in an evergreen outside my home. <br />
My husband planted this cedar when our 16 y/o son - our only son - died. <br />
Not sure why he did that. I often wondered. <br />
<br />
25 years later it is now much taller than our 2 story farmhouse. <br />
Today it's providing me with soothing calming music.<br />
I hadn't noticed the song - the singing - until today. <br />
<br />
I think God knew that some day I would need to hear the singing in the trees again. <br />
Thank you, Lord. <br />
I hear YOU loud and clear!<br />
<br />
<br />
The wind has been blowing more than usual this spring.<br />
Quite frankly, it’s been rather annoying.<br />
I mean it's not one of those "merry little breezes" that Thornton Burgess wrote <br />
about in several of my favorite books. <br />
This is a 20-30 mph blast!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIgIjGv6Ezs/TaSSrMWq6jI/AAAAAAAAA_c/0LpZDUSEZ4g/s1600/chimes+and+cedar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIgIjGv6Ezs/TaSSrMWq6jI/AAAAAAAAA_c/0LpZDUSEZ4g/s320/chimes+and+cedar+2.jpg" width="289px" /></a><br />
<br />
I was wondering how to turn the negative <br />
into something positive. <br />
I found it!<br />
<strong>Wind chimes ! !</strong><br />
<br />
I love wind chimes.<br />
I already have two hanging in separate <br />
parts of the yard. However, they are too far from the house for me to hear inside. <br />
<br />
I hung these right outside my living room door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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I can hear the wind singing in the chimes now. <br />
What a soothing sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
As you can see in this picture, <br />
they’re close to the singing cedar tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I hadn't expected this, but . . . . <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">they are actually creating a melodious harmony together.</span><br />
The wind singing in the cedar and the wind singing in the chimes. <br />
<br />
Wow! What a delightful surprise. <br />
<br />
I think I’m going to take a nap.<br />
The chimes and cedar will sing me to sleep. <br />
<br />
But first . . . . another thought.<br />
The singing only comes because of an obstacle<br />
Because of a hindrance. <br />
Right?<br />
<br />
The tree and the chimes are an obstacle to the wind. <br />
Without that annoying wind, there would be no singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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Interesting!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
I didn’t change the wind<br />
It’s still blowing and it's still annoying<br />
I just put something in the way of the wind,<br />
It sings, <br />
and makes me smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Oh look! <br />
The whirly-gig outside my window is spinning like crazy.<br />
I wish you could see how it looks whirling with the sun glancing off of it. <br />
The wind is creating a beautiful sight here. <br />
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</div>Just another reminder for me to look at my obstacles and difficulties in a different way.<br />
. . . . and allow them to help me sing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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Another reminder - as Lord Byron pointed out - that there is music all around us.<br />
If we have ears to hear.<br />
There is a new song everywhere,<br />
<strong>If we are listening for it. </strong><br />
<br />
I've been doing a lot more time listening lately.<br />
Time looking for the 'new song' - the joys and unexpected pleasures of the day. <br />
Each and every day.<br />
<br />
Amazing how much more at peace I am since I started doing this for 2011. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><strong><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Isaiah 55:12 (NLT)</span></span></span></strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life</span>.</span></span></span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Berthold Auerbach</span></span></strong></span><br />
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</div></div></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-46436134380039239782011-03-26T09:23:00.116-05:002012-03-26T11:50:47.397-05:00Happy Birthday to My Sister - 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IYVD6VMT0Bk/TY4WFze5G1I/AAAAAAAAA9c/YnObqgFR1ds/s1600/mel+mel+and+Melanie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IYVD6VMT0Bk/TY4WFze5G1I/AAAAAAAAA9c/YnObqgFR1ds/s200/mel+mel+and+Melanie.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VvRP3gbCCnw/TY4WS7YdEqI/AAAAAAAAA9o/on4nrti9PHo/s1600/Mel+and+her+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VvRP3gbCCnw/TY4WS7YdEqI/AAAAAAAAA9o/on4nrti9PHo/s200/Mel+and+her+girls.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first memory I have of you - the little <s style="text-line-through: double;">burden</s> bundle of joy - was hearing your little cry from somewhere . . . . far off in the distance. I do not remember seeing you – just hearing your cry. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well . . . . . . . . . I think it was you. Mom and Dad told me it was you. But, they could have told me anything. I was only 4 years old, had the mumps, was feverish, and was still extremely gullible. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Mom & Dad’s behalf, I suppose that I wasn’t allowed to see you because I was contagious. In fact, we all had the mumps except Dad and you. </span></b><br />
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<shape id="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 45.9pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 52.55pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 56.95pt; z-index: 251654144;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="7389 354 5968 708 2842 4603 2842 6020 0 7790 0 8498 2558 11685 -284 15226 -284 17351 6253 17351 8526 20892 8811 20892 11368 20892 11937 20892 11653 17351 16484 11331 15632 9561 12505 6020 12789 4249 11653 708 10516 354 7389 354"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> You must have been a good baby because, boy, look at you now! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, you really must have been a good baby because I don’t remember you again until one time when you were really very ill. I think if you had been a fussy baby I would have remembered something earlier. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess I could have repressed it all these years – or maybe Marty and I were busy outside developing our strategy for when you would be old enough to join us – in the BACKYARD! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought you were going to die that time. We lived on Damon Hill on the farm. Mom & Dad were very calm and quiet with worried expressions on their faces. Mom kept sponging you with cool water to try and get your fever down. It seems like the doctor even came – or maybe the nurse from the Homes. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember asking Mom if you were going to live and she quietly somberly answered that she didn’t know. I quietly left the room, shut the door, went to my room and asked God to save you. There were times later that I would wonder about the wisdom of that request but what was done was done.</span></b></div>
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<shape id="_x0000_s1040" style="height: 36.4pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 34.5pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 36.4pt; z-index: 251665408;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="9257 0 3086 3527 -441 5731 -441 9257 1322 14106 1763 18073 5731 20718 11020 20718 16310 20718 19837 19396 20718 16751 19396 14106 21600 9698 20718 4849 15429 441 11461 0 9257 0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata o:title="pe02280_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next . . . close your eyes. We're going to our next adventure! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take a d-e-e-p breath. Now blow it out s-l-o-w-l-y. Tense all your muscles and then relax them starting down at your toes and working up to your forehead. Now . . . concentrate real hard and try to imagine this scenario. Far-fetched as it may seem:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are living on a wonderful farm with huge lawns and <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">rolling meadows</city></place>. It is sunny and warm. The grass is cool on your feet and the blue sky is filled with fluffy clouds. The cows are smiling at you over the fence. The birds are singing. All is right with your world . . . . . . . . . </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>But wait! The kitchen door has just slammed. Oh no! The</b><b><span style="font-family: Chiller;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">dreaded monster</span><span style="font-family: Chiller;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Chiller;">is <span style="font-size: large;">on</span></span></b><b> </b><b>her </b></span></div>
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<shape id="_x0000_s1030" style="height: 51.45pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 11.8pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 47.45pt; z-index: 251655168;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-343 313 -343 21287 21257 21287 21257 313 -343 313"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata o:title="pe03204_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>way out to the backyard. <i>Run, run! </i>Move those little legs up and down! Pant, pant! Slip! fall! Doom fills you as </b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">Her shadow</span><b> covers you . . . . then - </b><b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">“</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">Melanie Ann! Didn’t</span><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';"> I </span><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">tell you to stay out of the backyard?<b>“ </b></span><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I'm sure you were again thinking "What!? Just Melanie Ann? Where are </b><b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">“</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">Martin Ellis”</span><b> and </b><b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">“</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Matisse ITC';">Janet Eileen<b>”</b></span><b>? </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the rest is history. To be repeated and repeated and repeated. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember <u>ALWAYS</u> playing in the <u>front yard</u> and pushing you over & over & over on the swing. What a wonderful swing. We had all the grass worn off under it. The wind would blow through our hair. It was great.</span></b></div>
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<shape id="_x0000_s1032" style="height: 49.85pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 26.95pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 36.4pt; z-index: 251657216;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="14547 0 12784 327 5290 5564 7053 10473 0 11782 0 15382 882 18655 12784 20945 15869 20945 15869 20945 21159 18982 21159 16036 12784 15709 17633 14073 16751 10473 20718 10473 20718 4582 16751 0 14547 0"><imagedata o:title="pe02173_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image013.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></shape><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Marty and I tried to help you learn to ride the bicycle. We would run along beside you and hold the bicycle up while you tried to pedal. I used to get hit in the legs by the stupid pedal as it came around. You know, It’s<shape id="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 50.65pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 41.15pt; z-index: 251656192;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="3927 1271 0 8259 393 10165 2356 11435 5498 16518 5498 17471 10211 20965 11389 20965 13745 20965 20815 20647 21207 19376 16102 16518 16495 15247 15316 9212 13353 6353 13745 4765 10211 2224 5498 1271 3927 1271"><imagedata o:title="pe02702_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></shape> hard to stand close to the bike without getting it on the ankle. Then we would get brave and shove you from the barn floor, down that little hill and then scream, “Pedal, pedal!” And then hoped you would figure out how to stop before you reached the road. I suppose you still have scars from those lessons. Physical scars! Not psychological ones. The psychological scars came from the backyard escapades.</span></b><br />
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<shape id="_x0000_s1039" style="height: 36.4pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 338.25pt; margin-top: 37.05pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 22.15pt; z-index: 251664384;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="12240 0 5760 1322 2160 3967 0 14106 7920 21159 8640 21159 12960 21159 13680 21159 20880 14547 21600 12343 20880 7053 17280 2204 15120 0 12240 0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata o:title="PE03021_[1]" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was a junior in High School you were in the same school in the Jr. High part of the building. That was new for me to have you in the same school as mine. Actually, all three of us were there. You were this dorky looking spindly little girl AND you were always so-o-o-o glad to see me in the halls with a huge smile while holding hands with a girlfriend.</span></strong></div>
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<shape id="_x0000_s1034" o:bullet="t" style="height: 19pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 43.85pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 29.25pt; z-index: 251659264;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="8308 864 -554 1728 -554 10368 15508 14688 14400 15552 11077 20736 13292 20736 14400 20736 19938 15552 21600 12960 21600 5184 16062 864 8308 864"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata o:title="an04337_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image019.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You were probably about 15 when Marvin and I married. You had grown up and were </b><b>much more</b><b> mature by then. :-)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Curlz MT';"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Marvin remembers all those letters that Abigail the Alligator used to write to him. You would put all these little curls on all the letters. Supposedly it was Abigail your stuffed Alligator writing letters to Marvin. It was a kill. We really enjoyed it. It actually helped keep me connected to home in a wonderful silly way. </strong></span></span></span></div>
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<shape id="_x0000_s1035" style="height: 34pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 43.3pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 20.55pt; z-index: 251660288;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="2400 960 -800 3360 2400 8640 1600 9600 1600 21120 16800 21120 16000 8640 21600 5760 21600 3360 13600 960 2400 960"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata o:title="hh02166_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image021.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, you always had to send letters to remind us that your birthday was coming. Sometimes several letters to remind us that your birthday was coming. Which led me, years later, to start reminding you that your birthday was coming – with weird notices written on the OUTSIDE of the envelopes. So the mailman would know how old you were going to be. "Happy Birthday to my favorite sis on her 50th BD". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, this was when you did NOT want to be reminded that your birthday was coming. And, of course, I always INFLATED your age by several years on the outside of the envelope. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was so much fun. I would chuckle for days thinking of the envelope making its way thro the mail and then to your porch with the wrong age promptly displayed on the front and on the back for all the world to see. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YhJjCw44WYA/TY4WJr6Q48I/AAAAAAAAA9g/vkF4xFerKYM/s1600/Keep+Right+sign+for+Melanie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YhJjCw44WYA/TY4WJr6Q48I/AAAAAAAAA9g/vkF4xFerKYM/s200/Keep+Right+sign+for+Melanie.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>
I won't even mention the fact that we both have ADD - acute directional disorder. No one needs to know the adventures that have happened as a result of ADD. Or how we both drive our families crazy. Or how sometimes - when we are together - we MIGHT even have problems getting out of a parking lot. Mostly because we are laughing hysterically. Hehehe! <br />
<br />
Today - I won't even attempt to try to remember what birthday this is. I've distorted it for so many years how could I remember. I'd first have to remember how old I am and then work back from there. Don't want to go there!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"></span></b></div>
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<shape id="_x0000_s1038" style="height: 53pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 23.1pt; mso-wrap-edited: f; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 52.2pt; z-index: 251663360;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 304 -309 10039 -309 21296 14503 21296 15737 21296 20057 21296 21600 20992 21600 304 0 304"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><imagedata blacklevel="-1966f" gain="74473f" o:title="pe02273_" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Janet\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image026.wmz"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seriously though. Thanks for being my sister. I know you didn't have a choice. I mean you could have abandoned me along the way.</span> </strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m glad YOU are MY sister. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for being silly, and fun, and serious, and creative, and smart. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For having great kids who have given me 5 wonderful beautiful great nieces and 1 miracle great-nephew. </span></strong><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGxcADJQ9Us/TY_iA43JHfI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/_VilW7C6izc/s1600/Mel%2527s+kids+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGxcADJQ9Us/TY_iA43JHfI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/_VilW7C6izc/s200/Mel%2527s+kids+jpg.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for sharing them with me when I’m home. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for sometimes calling me to cry, sometimes to laugh, sometimes for advice, sometimes to give advice, and sometimes just to say ‘hi’. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God brightened up the world when he made you. And don’t ever forget that regardless of what happens in your life, God loves you and loves being your friend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I love you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I will always love you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Jan</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></b></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-22252332495193797002011-03-20T17:00:00.013-05:002011-04-13T19:39:51.937-05:00Spring<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i5okUyABazg/TaUQFw2VV9I/AAAAAAAABAw/BUCUwIPEnsc/s1600/flower+quince+March+23%252C+1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i5okUyABazg/TaUQFw2VV9I/AAAAAAAABAw/BUCUwIPEnsc/s200/flower+quince+March+23%252C+1022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The year's at the spring<br />
And day's at the morn;<br />
Morning's at seven;<br />
The hillside's dew-pearled;<br />
The lark's on the wing;<br />
The snail's on the thorn;<br />
God's in His heaven -<br />
All's right with the world!<br />
~Robert Browning</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A kind word is like a spring day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Russian Proverb</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Awake, thou wintry earth -<br />
Fling off thy sadness!<br />
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth<br />
Your ancient gladness!<br />
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spring is a wonderful time of the year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The green springs forth from the ground. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The daffodils and tulips are already showing their heads. </span></div></div></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-15825597637158048252011-02-27T11:56:00.084-06:002011-09-12T21:29:10.092-05:00I'm A Gonna Sing !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n1j_rtx3llQ/TW1atWDsbeI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/6gOalkCeZEU/s1600/singing.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n1j_rtx3llQ/TW1atWDsbeI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/6gOalkCeZEU/s320/singing.bmp" width="320px" /></a></div>I woke up this morning at 6 am!! <br />
Wide awake!<br />
I'm never wide awake at 6 am. <br />
<br />
I am NOT a morning person!<br />
In my humble opinion, mornings should<br />
NOT begin before 10 am!<br />
<br />
More amazing though, I awoke with a song. <br />
Over and over the words were playing in my mind. <br />
I could not get rid of them. <br />
<br />
I grabbed my laptop and found the song<br />
<strong>What a surprise!!</strong><br />
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<br />
The song in my playlist was NOT just the song running around in my head, <br />
it was, instead, included in a medley along with three (3) other songs.<br />
A couple of them were 'new songs' to me.<br />
Upbeat <br />
Uplifting<br />
<br />
<br />
It's fitting since this year I'm looking for the 'new song' - the joys, blessings, the good<br />
that comes my way <u>EVERY</u> day. <br />
<br />
The fun and good each day that I had not been looking for, <br />
but had been there all along. <br />
If only I'd been paying attention. <br />
<br />
Today, however, it was literally a new song.<br />
Well . . . . two new songs, as a matter of fact.<br />
Delightful and touching songs<br />
<br />
I wish I could figure out how to insert the medley into this post. <br />
But alas - I haven't been able to figure it out<br />
<br />
This is what I learned from the new songs. <br />
<br />
When there is nothing else that I can do, <br />
I CAN still sing.<br />
Just throw my head back and sing. <br />
<br />
Why? Because I've tasted of freedom.<br />
The shackles of fear will hold me no more. <br />
Regardless of the circumstances or the day. <br />
<br />
Just like the robins this month that sang anyway; <br />
even when the ground was completely covered with snow. <br />
<br />
I'm a gonna sing!!!<br />
From a laughing heart.<br />
Even through the darkest night.<br />
<br />
And you or NOTHING can stop me!<br />
<br />
Because TODAY, God gave me a new song!<br />
A sense of peace.<br />
A sense of freedom.<br />
A gift.<br />
<br />
<br />
Below are some of the words to the four (4) songs. <br />
It's nothing like hearing it, but maybe you can imagine. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><strong><u>This Is the Time I Must Sing</u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Words & music by William J. and Gloria Gaither</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Arranged by Camp Kirkland</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I have tasted of freedom, I can go where He’s leading</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">For shackles can hold me no more;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I have learned of life’s essence, for I stand in His presence,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">And sing with my heart: “He is Lord.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">There are days filled with sorrow and plans for tomorrow,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">But this is the time I must sing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">And I know there’s a reason why in His own season</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">God gives me a song I can sing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Keep silent ye mountains, ye fields and ye fountains,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">For this is the time I must sing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">It’s the time to sing praises to the Rock of the Ages,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">For this is the time I must sing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Keep silent ye mountains, ye fields and ye fountains,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">For this is the time I must sing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">It’s the time to sing praises to the Rock of the Ages,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">For this is the time I must sing.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm Gonna Sing</span></u></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm gonna sing just as long as it takes for a song <br />
To make a sad, heavy spirits free <br />
I'm gonna keep making music that carries the secret <br />
That Jesus is liberty <br />
I'm gonna turn off the sounds that would drag people down <br />
To the pit of despondency <br />
With the sweet happy tune <br />
He is coming soon <br />
For His children like you and me <br />
<br />
It's a song that'll carry a message along <br />
Through the darkest of foggy nights <br />
And a tune is the rope <br />
That can throw a man hope <br />
When he's going down for the third time <br />
It's a sweet melody that can cut your heart free <br />
From the chains of a past defeat <br />
You can suddenly see through the sweet harmony <br />
A path for your wond'ring (wandering) feet </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And, With the sweet happy tune <br />
He is coming soon <br />
For His children like you and me</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><strong><u>Hope</u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The hope that is within us erupting from the sand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Is clear and pure refreshment </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In dry and barren land</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">No scorching circumstances can stop that eager flow </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of hope that springs eternal </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There’s joy that floods my soul </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oh Jesus, blessed Jesus, my wellspring in the sand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oh Jesus, blessed Jesus my strong and saving hand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oh Jesus, blessed Jesus my anchor tether roll.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The voice that stills all rages, by shouting whispering hope</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The voice that stills all rages,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by shouting whispering hope</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><strong><u>Then He said, Sing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></u></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then He said Sing, from a laughing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heart </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just Sing when the night is darkest</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sing that your joy explode<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and let music fill the air</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You can sing when there is nothing else to do </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sing when something deep inside of you </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tells you the life is still a wonder, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just throw back your head and sing <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1388336173"></span><span id="goog_1388336174"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-53809090367459083512011-02-18T20:28:00.350-06:002012-03-04T18:42:30.862-06:00Honk Honk!<div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: black;">This </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">morning on the way to work, I saw a flock of geese.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They were the most disorganized, bunched-up, pathetic looking flock </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of geese I've ever seen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Flocks of geese have been flying north for a couple weeks now. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love to listen to their honking as they fly overhead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can hear them long before you can see them. </span> <br />
It seems rather soothing to me.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wonder why they make all that noise ?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seems like it would take up too much energy to honk while </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">flapping </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">their wings? </span><br />
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Heaven knows I can't even walk fast and talk at the same time. <br />
I'm too busy gasping for breath.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEYv0npLgkU/TWAwKOx69YI/AAAAAAAAA3g/CdZXXh1itCQ/s1600/mixed+up+geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134px" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEYv0npLgkU/TWAwKOx69YI/AAAAAAAAA3g/CdZXXh1itCQ/s200/mixed+up+geese.jpg" width="200px" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know if THIS flock lacked leadership or if a few </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">were </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">suffering from an oppositional or cynical attitude.</span></div>
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You know . . . . refusing to listen to their leader. <br />
Or maybe several wanted to BE the leader. <br />
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Or maybe, one of the juveniles said "Mommy, I was <br />
in back of you last time. It's MY turn to be in front this time!"<br />
Or maybe a couple young ones were dragging their <br />
feet/wings saying; "Dad, do we really have to get up now? Are we almost there?"<br />
You know how kids are??</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Didn't they know they're supposed to be flying in formation? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone knows geese fly in a V formation. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBWVDj0E4Es/TV8qbq8HYJI/AAAAAAAAA28/pAE1JJAoX5Q/s1600/geese+flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBWVDj0E4Es/TV8qbq8HYJI/AAAAAAAAA28/pAE1JJAoX5Q/s320/geese+flying.jpg" width="244px" /></a> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Not these geese!! </b></span></div>
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I wished I'd had my camera out of my bag. </div>
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It was the funniest tangled up mess I've seen. <br />
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They were flying very low.</div>
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In hindsight, I've now decided they had just taken off from a near-by pond and hadn't had time to get into formation yet. <br />
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It takes time and disciple to do the right thing in the right way, you know? <br />
To get into the correct position. <br />
Maybe I was expecting too much. <br />
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As I watched the disarray in bewilderment, they gradually and slowly started to make a few changes.<br />
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Just little changes. </div>
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Not major changes. </div>
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A few sped up, </div>
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A few slowed down.</div>
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A few shifted right</div>
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A few shifted left <br />
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And right before my eyes, with little noticeabe movement, they worked themselves </div>
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into a perfect V. It was amazing. I was shocked.<br />
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In his book "<b>Seismic Shifts"</b>, Kevin Harney talks about how <span style="font-size: x-small;">little iitty-bitty </span>changes can make</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">huge</span> differences in our lives.<br />
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<span style="color: black;">That is exactly what was happening in this flock, as I watched. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Scientific studies show that geese in a formation </span><span style="color: black;">are able to fly 70% further than if they would have tried </span><span style="color: black;">to fly alone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> <b>MEANING: </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Those little 'shifts' that each goose was willing to make, </span></b></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: black;"><b>as </b></span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: black;"><b>I </b></span></b></span></em><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: black;"><b><em>watched</em>, </b></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: black;"><b>made all the difference </b></span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: black;"><b>in </b></span></b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>how </b></span>far this flock would fly <u><i>TODAY</i></u>.</span> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">What an awesome lesson in what can be accomplished if we'd work as a team. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Did you know that geese make noise as encouragement for each other?. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; text-align: -webkit-auto;">They make noise so their family members know where they are? </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>The flock of geese ability to travel vast distances is based on:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>teamwork</strong></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">the ability to recognize their family's voice. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">the ability to know where each other is located in the formation</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">the encouragement they receive from each other</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><b>After getting home from work & doing a little study on geese I am overwhelmed. </b></span></span></b></div>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I tried to do 'it' alone and ended up with just a lot of feathers floating around and then overwhelmed by fatigue?</span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I impatiently thought someone should get into "it" NOW?</span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I not "honked" some important message to my co-workers, my familt, and friends? </span><span style="color: black;"> </span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I expected too much too soon?</span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I remained silent when I should have spoken? </span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times could I have encouraged and didn't? </span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times should I have 'shifted' a little, which </span><span style="color: black;">could have made ALL the difference? </span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I been too busy to even recognize the voices of my own family, co-workers, & </span><span style="color: black;">friends in their time of need? </span></li>
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<li style="color: #305275;"><span style="color: black;">How many times have I been too busy to 'recognize' the voice of God </span><span style="color: black;">or have not even been listening for the still small voice?</span></li>
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<span style="color: black;">Most of us are just so independent.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">We are just so busy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Actually, now that I think about it; </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">we are often busy making our own noise, </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">not for someone else, </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">not to help someone else find their way,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">but only for ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We think we can do it ALL by ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In reality, we are not an island unto ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We need each other. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We need God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Just like the goose that is in the lead. He's preparing the way for the rest of the flock.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">God is preparing the way for us. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“the Lord himself goes before me - preparing the way - and will be with me. Do not be afraid”.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Deut 31:8; </span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>Here is more information on geese- JM</strong></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Flying in a V formation conserves their energy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Each goose behind the leader has reduced wind resistance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This reduced drag means the geese behind do not have to flap their wings </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">as much and don't tire as quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">We've watched this technique in auto racing when a race </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">gets close behind another race car and use the 'drag effect' to conserve gas.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Of course, this means the leader tires fastest, because he is literally "breaking the way" - </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">or "making the way" - for the rest </span><span style="color: black;">of the geese in the V. </span> </b><br />
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<span style="color: black;">When the leader tires they fall back farther into the middle of the V and another </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">goose </span><span style="color: black;">moves up to take the lead position. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This rotation takes place throughout their entire migration, </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">thus allowing the </span><span style="color: black;">flock to fly great distances. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">This V formation and their honking allows the geese to communicate more </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">easily and </span><span style="color: black;">provides them with good visual contact of each other - </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">so they can keep the flock together. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Did you know that, next to humans, geese are one of the most talkative animals?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">They each have their own distinctive honk, </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">j</span><span style="color: black;">ust as we each have our own </span><span style="color: black;">distinctive voices. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">By honking and voice recognition, a temporarily lost goose can easily locate</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">and rejoin its family members among a great flock. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">How? Because they recognize each other's voice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">They recognize their father's and mother's 'honk'.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Because they ARE <u><b>listening </b></u>for those familiar voices. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Several references referred to the fact that the honking is also a way of encouraging </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">the leader and </span><span style="color: black;">each other to keep going. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The honking also tells each goose where each other are within the formation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The honking helps keep them from running into each other.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Helps them stay in the right position in the formation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>The flock of geese ability to travel vast distances is based on:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>teamwork </strong></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">the ability to recognize their family's voice. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">the ability to know where each other is located in the formation</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">the encouragement they receive from each other</span></b></div>
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</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-68997623571926028082011-02-17T10:00:00.014-06:002011-04-13T19:43:46.445-05:00Hope Springs Eternal<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The day the Lord created HOPE was probably the same day he created SPRING</span><span style="color: #351c75; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. ~ Bern Williams</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> "If we had no winter, </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the spring would not be so pleasant;</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">prosperity would not be so welcome"</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anne Bradstreet</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No winter lasts forever</span><span style="color: purple; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; ~ </span><span style="color: purple; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hal Borland</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The dry seasons in life do not last. </span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/2009/03/great-quotes-and-sayings-about-spring" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">spring</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: #351c75; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> rains will come again.</span></b><b><span style="color: #351c75; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah Ban Breathnach</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a difference 10 days make!</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10 days ago it was wind chill of 15 degrees <u>below </u>zero</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yesterday it was a heat index of 70 degrees <u>above</u> zero.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's up with that???</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh - it's a reminder that Spring is coming, </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whether it looks </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">like it TODAY or not. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few nice days to give us hope;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saying - "Hang in there</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Winter won't last forever" </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-cA-wkh-hk/TWp-QR4znyI/AAAAAAAAA5U/ghWpMahg2A8/s1600/Spring+Robin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="151" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-cA-wkh-hk/TWp-QR4znyI/AAAAAAAAA5U/ghWpMahg2A8/s200/Spring+Robin1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The robins are back! </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They arrived a week ago to find lawns & fields </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">covered in snow.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They sang anyway. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did you hear that?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THEY SANG ANYWAY!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love their song.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In fact, this morning I woke up to a robin singing. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ahhhhh! Spring is almost here. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just wanted to stay in bed and listen. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-67NNdoV7zy8/TWp83xYP75I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/dwBMfHzklCw/s1600/meadowlark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-67NNdoV7zy8/TWp83xYP75I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/dwBMfHzklCw/s1600/meadowlark.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three days ago I saw my first meadowlarks. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were sitting proudly on their fence posts singing, </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">staking out their territory along the fields. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It suddenly dawned on me that I've never seen 2 or 3 meadowlarks together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are always alone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wonder why?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I found out they are very territorial birds</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They don't like to mingle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They do, however, winter in flocks. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you suppose they are ready to get away from the crowds of family and friends?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They’ve 'HAD IT' with all the gossip and cabin-fever of winter?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They're more than ready to get to their own place - their own space?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where they can sing their own song? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Isn't that just like us?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our need to get away from the hub-bub of life to be alone for awhile?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To just stop; in our need for peace and quiet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where we can think.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where we can sing our own song.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now I'm waiting for the arrival of red-winged blackbirds </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E6rEGGVPEnQ/TWp8Qay2BkI/AAAAAAAAA5M/eVPWW9139so/s1600/yellow-headed+blackbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm also keeping my eyes open for a glimpse of the </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">stunning yellow-headed blackbirds as they pass through.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love the striking yellow head again the shiny black body </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why couldn't they stay? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Why won't they stay?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E6rEGGVPEnQ/TWp8Qay2BkI/AAAAAAAAA5M/eVPWW9139so/s1600/yellow-headed+blackbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E6rEGGVPEnQ/TWp8Qay2BkI/AAAAAAAAA5M/eVPWW9139so/s200/yellow-headed+blackbird.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They usually arrive in a noisy unruly flock by the hundreds.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sitting all over the milo stubble and fields. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Flitting here, flitting there,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Looking for food, seeds, and grain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It seems the next day they are gone. Vanished! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They seem to only stop long enough to rest and eat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think it's because they<strong><u> know this isn't their home.</u></strong> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They're only passing through.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their HOPE, their home, lies somewhere else. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's not here in the center of Kansas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They like wetlands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My HOPE lies somewhere else, as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's definitely not here in the center of Kansas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a matter of fact, it's not even on this earth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is NOT my home. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope is in the air.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The song of the birds fills the air. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think their song is:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> - No winter lasts forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> - </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The barren times are coming to an end</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> - A new day is coming.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> - The old will become new. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And best of all: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Don't fear tomorrow, God is already there . . . </strong> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">waiting and preparing it for us. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"But as for me, I watch in HOPE for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me". Micah 7:7</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's a road somewhere</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's an open door</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's a hill where the green grass grows</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's a family feast</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where there's joy and peace</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Going back to a place called HOPE</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312041314465844909.post-42970463879695311342011-02-08T16:44:00.060-06:002011-10-21T21:33:12.845-05:00Spring is Coming !! ?? . . listening for the right voice.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Are we listening to the right voice?</b></span><br />
<br />
I thought Spring was coming! </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Well . . that is what the groundhog said! Didn't he? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
At least Punxsutawney Phil came out of his hole, </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
whispered his groundhogese in the ear of the <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vXSXDg3FHek/TVHGbJtDNHI/AAAAAAAAAsg/QjQA7fVHtaE/s1600/groundhog+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vXSXDg3FHek/TVHGbJtDNHI/AAAAAAAAAsg/QjQA7fVHtaE/s200/groundhog+2011.jpg" width="200px" /></a>President of the Inner Circle - saying so.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The President of the Inner Circle said that's what he said.<br />
But . . . . how would we know? He could have said anything. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
It's been about a week since Phil's prophetic declaration.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Here I sit, wrapped up in a blanket</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Snow is falling</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Wind is blowing</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Roads are drifting</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Temperatures are dropping</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Wait just a minute!! I just looked. <br />
It has finally warmed up a little, </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
all the way up to 6 degrees <u>below</u> zero.<br />
I feel so much better now. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Doesn't sound like Spring to me. </div>
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Whatever made me think I could listen to a beady-eyed rodent? </div>
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<br /></div>
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I was listening to the wrong voice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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How many times do we listen to the wrong voice</div>
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or hear the wrong words?</div>
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Sometimes WE even voice the wrong words</div>
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Sometimes we even tell ourselves the wrong things. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I wonder why?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Afraid to face the truth?</div>
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We don't know the difference?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Maybe we've listened to the wrong words</div>
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and told ourselves the wrong things for so </div>
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long that we now believe them. </div>
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<br /></div>
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How sad! </div>
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<br /></div>
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I'm NOT listening to a pampered groundhog any more. </div>
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What WAS I thinking? </div>
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<br /></div>
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I know an excellent Book that explains the Truth.</div>
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Its words will set you free. </div>
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<br /></div>
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WAIT!!! I don't want you to misunderstand.</div>
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It won't tell you when Spring is coming or when the </div>
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last snow will be.. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But . . . It will show you how to live </div>
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It will show the right way to view life. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It WILL tell you that the Son is coming. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The Inner Circle connected with this Book</div>
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is ALWAYS right. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Jesus answered, "<span class="Highlight">I</span> <span class="Highlight">am</span> <span class="Highlight">the</span> <span class="Highlight">way</span> and <span class="Highlight">the</span> truth and <span class="Highlight">the</span> life. No one comes to <span class="Highlight">the</span> Father except through me. John 14:6</strong></span></div>
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</div>Janet Beckwith Macyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924908060042847348noreply@blogger.com0