A Special Thanks....

Jackie and I had the previlige to DJ a going away party for a Marine friend Saturday, and it's been on my mind ever since. I think we all take our freedom for granted in the day to day hustle and bustle we get caught up in. Or at least I know I do. I just want to say a great big "thank you" to all these precious men and women.

I remember one Sunday going to church when Joey's mother came to me with a worried face and said, Joey got his driving permit last week....then a few minutes later a young, proud "kid" came driving up in a big 4 wheel drive "monster truck", beaming from ear to ear. We've watched this "kid" develop into a responsible mature adult. And even at the tender age of 20, already serving one tour in Iraq, getting ready to go to Afghanistan, he has it "together" more than many 50 year olds I know.

As we went mud boggin' that night....yes I went muddin'.....I noticed something in Donny, also a 20 year old Marine and our "mud" driver, that I've also noticed in Joey and his brothers Randy and Tim (also fellow Marines that served a few years back). These are some of the most loyal, respectful young men I've ever seen in my life. We had just met Donny Saturday night, and I've never been treated with such respect as he showed us.

Although war is a very sad, tragic thing, God's word says:

Ecclesiastes 3:8
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

I am truly thankful for all these young men and women who have been called to serve our country. Thank you Robbie Anderson. Even tho you've gone on to a better place, you were a true friend and you raised your sons well. We miss you sooooo much. Thanks to our great TRUE friends Randy and Tim Anderson who have served in the past. Thank you Grant. And Thanks to Joey Anderson and Donny who are serving now. May God be with you and keep you safe.

Sound Familiar??

WHY I LOVE MOM

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed"

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches.
Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button
She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.
She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.
She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed."

And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?

CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL..... (and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

~author unknown~

Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

~Author Unknown~