Tuesday 31 March 2009

Hand in Hand!

Sara and papa have a very special relationship. How do I know that?? Let me tell the story -

Last Saturday papa met Sara for the very first time. We did fine, but I was concerned, I did not want to scare her and force her to have to be by papa. She smiled, talked and came close, and then it happened ---

All the women of the house headed for the basement to look at something - Sara started to go as well - but turned back, looking at papa sitting in a chair. She came back to papa, said; "Papa come!" and then held out her hand for me to take. I took her hand and we walked hand in hand to the basement stairs, then down the stairs and still hand in hand showed me what she thought was important. Then we got on the floor and just the two of us played together. Papa was blessed and in tears much of the time - I knew then that we were partners.

I pray that today you are walking 'hand in hand' with Jesus. He so much wants you to know He loves you. When He reaches out His hand to you, please take it.

Saturday 28 March 2009

Beautiful! (I am talking about me!)

Heh Heh! Ain't I cute?? This is Sara my little grand daughter from China! She decided that papa needed some lip stick and some eye shadow.

I always thought I was close to perfect but Sara added the final touches! I just wish she could have done something with my hair! Oh well, maybe I should make an appointment with my new beautician.

Friday 27 March 2009

Back in the saddle again!

Well I was back in the saddle again - today, Friday! We were going to go see our new grand daughter today - but kids are having a "sleep over" and birthday party so we will go tomorrow - sooooo, I took Amos for a ride today. I wondered after 4 months if he would remember me - he did. I called his name and he picked up his head over a 100 yards from me - looked, and then trotted to me! Horses never forget!

Last night I prayed for many of you by name, you didn't hear me, but God did. And, He remembers your names. God never forgets!

Saturday 21 March 2009

Write your story well!

Please ! Write your story well!

Last night Crossview & her man and mama and her man (ME!) double dated and went to Swamp Gravy, a local theatrical group at Colquitt, GA. The Name of the play was "Ain't No Tellin!" The four of us were with our church senior group. First we had dinner at the Tarrer Inn then walked around town until the theater opened. Crossview and hub, we love you! The picture is of the cultural museum at the theater.

The performance was superb! If you ever get a chance to go - do it! A very wholesome family event. The play centered around the last depression (the year 1938) - not this current depression! A writer came to town and wanted to write short stories and the play centered around the stories of the lives of people in the community. Lots of humor! However, papa cried off and on as I looked back at the "bones" (skeletons) in my own family's closet. I thought of my great grandmother who died in her 80's after spending the last 50 years of her life in an "Asylum for the insane". She was buried in an unmarked grave. I kind of wrote the very last few lines of her story. In 1997 I found her grave sight and the grave now has a nice marker on it.

If each 20 years of your life was an Act of a four Act play, what Act are you in? I am now in the final Act of mine, I want to have a great ending, with a little humor thrown in. However I hear the Epilogue goes for an eternity.

As mama and I said good bye to Crossview and her hub, I hugged Crossview and with tears in my eyes I told her, "Write your story well!"

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Amaryllis

How is your winter going? Mama and I are doing fine. We are into the flower season here in Florida. The Amaryllis' are starting to bloom - Spring is on its way.

We leave for Michigan a week from today. Brrrr. No flowers up there for a few more weeks. Mama's roses will be just starting to show some new growth. Flowers just always seem to be an encourager for life.

In a few more weeks our favorite fragrant flower will be in bloom. The beautiful Lilac. Mama has several varieties of Lilacs.

I agree, winter can be harsh, but Spring is almost here. You remember that! Have a great day.

Sunday 15 March 2009

A special gift!

Today, Sunday, the 15th of March, 2009 was a special day. This will be one of papa's crying days.

A couple of the ladies who are residents at the shelter where we volunteer at, sat with us at church. After church the three ladies presented mama and I with this beautiful gift basket of snack items for our drive back to Michigan. We were very surprised! This past Friday they gave us a beautiful card signed by the residents and staff. Friday was our last day to volunteer at the shelter for this winter. We head back to Michigan soon.

With very limited source of funds the residents put this basket together at great expense for them. This will be a gift that will always be very close to our hearts.

Another resident, we will call him Tony, after church came up all excited and hugged mama and I. He starts a full time job Monday. He also is able to get a car for transportation! Praise God for answering yours and our prayers! Now pray he finds a place to stay! What did mama say to Tony? "Tony, be sure to give Jesus first place in your heart." Tony smiled, hugged mama again and assured us he would.

A very good day, wouldn't you say? Yep, a very good day.

Thursday 12 March 2009

The barn door

The barn door is missing from this barn. This picture was taken of my brother and I a couple of years ago by a newspaper photographer. You see, my grandfather probably ran and played in this barn as a young boy and probably did chores as a young teen, 140 years ago. Then at the age of 17 came with his father to America. His father returned home leaving him in America to work with his brother in the lumber industry. My brother and I returned to Sweden, the island of Ă–land, to see our roots. The local paper did an article about our story. We walked where grandpa Gus walked.

My search of my roots to get to this doorway took 7 years. But the paper journey was as almost as spectacular as the "barn" itself. The day after this picture was taken we had a family reunion dinner with 60 relatives -relatives that a year before were non-existent.

I wonder, 140 years from now what kind of legacy will I Be remembered for? I guess I had better get to work.

Monday 9 March 2009

I am rejoicing!

Here is the "official" adoption announcement! She is now part of the family! As of February 9th! We are excited and rejoicing!

When was your adoption into the family? You and I are part of God's family! Did you know that heaven rejoiced when you became a part of God's family? (Luke 15:10) Lets have a party!!

Saturday 7 March 2009

Best Friends!

Who is your best friend - earthly friend? Mine is that pretty little girl in the middle of the front row with the long coat on. The picture was probably taken around 1950. Yep, she is now an old friend. But did you know that God had picked us for each other even before that picture was taken ?? I could have picked a different "best friend" but glad I didn't. I am thankful I followed His direction for my life.

The unusual part of our story is that we never met each other until we were in our early 20's! We actually wrote over 300 letters to each other before we met!

Curious, what's something special about your best friend?

Wednesday 4 March 2009

No Thanks for the Memories!

Today Wednesday I went back to the Horse Rescue farm. The two pictures posted were taken last year when I was there - but today I was anxious to see how Magic is doing. He is doing okay - better. But he still clings to his memories. Magic a beautiful 12 year old Arabian Stallion still fears and has little trust of humans. Theresa the manager he trusts - she has never hurt him.

When Magic arrived at the farm in 2007 he was petrified. Not mean, not aggressive, but in a survival mode. He was physically scarred from beatings he had with 2x4's, chains, ropes and leather straps - terrified of humans.

The picture below is of Magic after he was sedated with a dart gun so that we could clean him up, trim his feet, give him shots and do dental work. I am the one in the tan shirt and white hat. I was in charge of the video camera.

Today, a year later I approached Magic from outside the fence - he backed away from the fence and wheezed nervously - staying out of reach - yes, his memories of pain from years past are still there. Even though I have no intentions of hurting him, his memories take charge.

It is a sad day for all of us if we let our bad memories take charge of our future. We need to learn to trust, we need to learn to risk love.

Theresa would never allow anyone to hurt Magic, yet he only trusts a very little. He does not understand that he is now in a safe place, sheltered by the love at Beauty's Haven farm.

Oh Magic - what you are missing - how sad.

Tuesday 3 March 2009

Please Come and Visit!

We really like to have company at our trailer in Florida so please stop by. If you plan to spend the night with mama and papa let us know ahead of time so we can get the hammocks hung out under the trailer. We don't have an elevator to the trailer yet, so if stairs are a problem you may want to stay at the local motel down the road, just a mile from the swamp.

If you come during hurricane season, the winds can get kind of tricky. We lost one guest one day, they panic'd in the weather and tried to go to the basement.

By the way - the view is spectacular!