Flowers, riches, and fancy words don’t set my heart on fire. Vacation cruises and a trip around the moon are a waste of time and hard-earned money. And the saying that diamonds are a girl’s best friend doesn’t apply to me. Long walks through the woods, sitting by a campfire, and holding hands while crossing the parking lot are the things that make my heart soar.
Sometimes my husband forgets that about me. But, after 53 years of marriage, my heart still does a jig when he gets up before I do, feeds the dogs, lets them out, and makes coffee.
Listen up, brain! I’m in control now Stop playing those dusty, ragged old tapes Over and over and over You know the ones With the murderous voices That paralyzes and cripples the soul Those thunderous, earth-shaking voices that never shut up I’m sick of it! Look what you’re doing to the heart She cries for days She mopes around the house Too depressed to even pick up the broom She loses interest in everything she loves She stops singing and creating She can’t even put two words together She just sits and stares at a blank screen Day after frustrating day She hates what she sees in the mirror Is it herself she sees? Or is it that tyrant who broke her soul? She can’t tell anymore They both look the same Well, I’m telling you right now It’s going to STOP! She’s a good heart Despite the scars and serrated edges Even when she’s bleeding She still knows how to laugh She still knows how to love She’s broken, but she’s not destroyed You tried to make me hate her And sometimes I do When she rages like a demented monster When she explodes all over the place Making a big, fat mess of everything But I’m on to you, brain I know where you’re coming from I know who orchestrates your ungodly lies And makes the heart believe them It’s over brain! No more! As much as you believe the demented lies The heart believes them less So this is how it’s going to be We’re going to work together as a team No more mud-slinging No more filthy lies No more pulling against one another We work together or we die together Which will it be? Speak up, brain! I can’t hear you! Okay then, smart choice We’ll work together And since we can’t jump out of the skin we’re in We just darn well make the best of it!
Yesterday, my husband received a phone call from Publishing Clearing House. He won 7.5 million dollars. All he had to do to receive it was to pay $1,700.00. Registration fee.
For decades, my husband bought magazines he never read in hopes of winning a million dollars. So, when he received that call yesterday, he lit up like a Christmas Tree! It took my son and me both to convince him that it was a scam.
It made me realize, though, that getting rich was never one of our goals when we got married. Building relationships, spending time with each other, and being there for our son was our greatest investment.
I’m grateful for our growing family, for the fun and laughter we share together, and for the love, peace, and joy that comes through building healthy relationships. Being happy from the inside out is worth more than millions of dollars to me.
It was my husband’s birthday. Rascal, our beloved pet, died a few weeks before, and hubby was having a hard time getting over the loss. I didn’t want another dog to fall in love with; saying goodbye is just too hard. But seeing my husband moping around the house was even worse.
The dog pound is depressing, but here we are, eyes wet with tears, looking for the right dog to take home.
Rascal was special. We didn’t choose him, he chose us. He was the puppy next door; a beautiful Australian Shepherd mix, with tiger stripes and a silky white chest. Before we knew it, he was sleeping on our front porch, and then, living in our house. The grandkids loved him and he loved them. The kids at Pet Smart loved wrapping their arms around his furry neck. He even allowed grownups to pet him. But, on his own turf? Not a chance. He wouldn’t even let them in the house. PERIOD! But children were always safe. He was their dad, their best friend, their best-ever playmate. Always. Any time, any day or night.
After three times around the kennel, we were feeling hopeless about finding the perfect dog. There was one, though; a hound mix. That skinny, brown, short-haired dog with long legs and floppy ears. I didn’t want a hound. Buck didn’t care what kind of dog it was, he just wanted a dog. So, a hound dog is what we got.
She is the strangest dog we’ve ever had. After eight years, she’s still jumpy, as hardheaded as a bull, and as stubborn as a mule. She licks everything, barks at everything, and thinks all babies are hers by pushing their moms away.
She is definitely my husband’s dog. She sleeps with him and wakes him up whenever he stops breathing or has one of his recurring nightmares. She’s never been trained to do that, she just does it. She is an amazing dog. We fell in love with her and her quirky personality. That’s what makes her Bella!
One God One Father One Son One Holy Spirit Only One
One Creator One Garden of Eden One Forbidden Tree One Deadly Bite Only One
One Virgin Mother One Babe in a Manger One Carpenter One Teacher Only One
One Cross One Crown of Thorns One Savior One Resurrection Only One
One Way One Truth One Life One Light Only One
One Government One Leader One Ruler One King Only One
One Life on Earth One Physical Death One Way to Heaven One Way to Hell Only One
John 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 8:12 I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, thatwhoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Revelation 22:12 Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have down. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
As I sit alone in the stillness Beneath the starry sky I release my soul through the darkness In search for the reasons why
Why are hearts so arrogant Why do they starve for love Why do they break so easily Why do they push and shove
Why do they feel so empty Why can’t anything fill the void Why are they ever restless So anxious and annoyed
Why do they burn with anger When another disagrees Why are they never satisfied Why do they lust and greed
My soul returns from the darkness Revealing whispers of the night Of where wayward hearts went wrong And how to make them right
They abandoned their Great Creator And went their separate ways Down a dangerous slippery slope Not counting the price they’d pay.
They surrendered to the Evil One They believed and trusted his lies And followed him through the gates of Hell Where his laughter smothered their cries
The Evil One hates the Creator And all that He has made He prowls about in the darkness Corrupting hearts easily swayed
But there is healing for every heart Broken and tortured by sin When asking the Great Creator To make it whole again
So guard your heart with open eyes Never sleeping on the job And be not fooled by the Evil One He only seeks to rob
Straight From the Heart 