Everyone needs an attitude adjustment every so often, a change of scenery, a day off, time away, quiet time or time spent with people who make you happy and laugh and forget the worries and stress of life.
On a sort of whim I went to a concert last night, a Christian concert. This was my first Christian concert and honestly I can say, I needed this. No it was not like one of those revivals but it was pretty uplifting and attitude changing. I didn't know every song that was played but having the words to each song up on the big screen was pretty cool-it helped deliver the message. And to be honest hearing all those voices sing along was pretty amazing.
But one of the most amazing parts was when the lead singer from Mercy Me, Bart Millard, ask everyone to sing along to the next song in their set, with no words on the screen. Well hearing several thousand people sing, with no accompaniment, Amazing Grace, was moving to say the least. The volume and feeling of love and unity was very obvious.
If you didn't know the bands and their music that played and didn't know the words to the songs you would have labeled it another rock concert. But it was far more. It was a concert where each song spoke a message, and shared love and was to comfort, or something you could relate to or make you feel good, or all of those.
The song, "I can only imagine" and now movie, both send a powerful message. The song written by Millard after his dad, who was abusive, died from cancer will make you think, appreciate and touch your heart. Hearing it live was an amazing experience as I have wondered what it will be like, when that day comes.
What I'm trying to say here is do something for you. Do something good for your soul. Something that will adjust your attitude and make you happy. Every day is a gift.
And if you want to be happy listen to Mercy Me's Happy Dance song...it will make you want to get up and do a happy dance.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Happy National Siblings Day
I didn't know there was such a day as Happy National Siblings Day but yes there is and here we are.
I've been blessed with four older siblings. And yes I was an unplanned surprise (no comments here, we're just going to go with that)!
My oldest sister was 16 going on 17 and left home before I remembered her very much. I remember her visits as a little girl being a big ordeal. And then my sister, Mary Ann, moved back to our hometown to teach while I was in high school. I got to know my sister and enjoyed our relationship. It wasn't until later looking back that I appreciate the opportunity I had to get to know my oldest sister. Mary Ann reminds me so much of my mom that it brings me a lot of comfort to be around her and I call her when I really miss my mom. She is one of the strongest people I know and calm and level headed are her strongest points.
My second sister was 14 when I was born and again before I realized or remembered she was off to see the world. I remember my sister Carol being fun and coming home to pick me up from school and as she has been many times, been mistaken for my mom. I'm sure she didn't appreciate these times and I was oblivious to it. But I always took it as a compliment as I've always thought Carol to be the good looking one of the bunch! Carol is tenacious and a go-getter. She is a force!
Big brother, Dick, was always a kind and gentle force in my life. He is one of the most easy going people I know and he would do just about anything for anyone. He has one of the kindest hearts I've ever met. He has endured some tough times and I am in awe of his strength. He never minded taking his little sitter along, be it giving me a ride in the little red wagon or along on a date with his future wife. Dick helped set the bar high in how a man should treat a woman in my eyes.
Dean, my younger of two older brothers, he and I have been through a lot. I remember Dean tormenting and knowing how to push my buttons as a kid. And he would take my toys apart and never be able to get them back together correctly when we were kids. But Dean is one of the strongest guys I know. He knows how to work. Our tempers clashed on numerous occasions-it comes from both of us being redheads. But honestly I would not have wanted to go through the tough times that we did with anyone else. Dean is a workaholic but I have no doubt one of the best friends a person could ever ask for.
There they all are, in a nutshell. We've had our disagreements, fights, times of not speaking to one another but when times have been tough we've been there either right behind or silently supporting one another. We were all raised the same but yet turned out differently. Some of us are more like dad, some more like mom and maybe one of us a good mixture of both! Regardless they are my siblings and God put us in the same family and the way we are for a variety of reasons. I love them and wish them each a blessed and happy day.
I've been blessed with four older siblings. And yes I was an unplanned surprise (no comments here, we're just going to go with that)!
My oldest sister was 16 going on 17 and left home before I remembered her very much. I remember her visits as a little girl being a big ordeal. And then my sister, Mary Ann, moved back to our hometown to teach while I was in high school. I got to know my sister and enjoyed our relationship. It wasn't until later looking back that I appreciate the opportunity I had to get to know my oldest sister. Mary Ann reminds me so much of my mom that it brings me a lot of comfort to be around her and I call her when I really miss my mom. She is one of the strongest people I know and calm and level headed are her strongest points.
My second sister was 14 when I was born and again before I realized or remembered she was off to see the world. I remember my sister Carol being fun and coming home to pick me up from school and as she has been many times, been mistaken for my mom. I'm sure she didn't appreciate these times and I was oblivious to it. But I always took it as a compliment as I've always thought Carol to be the good looking one of the bunch! Carol is tenacious and a go-getter. She is a force!
Big brother, Dick, was always a kind and gentle force in my life. He is one of the most easy going people I know and he would do just about anything for anyone. He has one of the kindest hearts I've ever met. He has endured some tough times and I am in awe of his strength. He never minded taking his little sitter along, be it giving me a ride in the little red wagon or along on a date with his future wife. Dick helped set the bar high in how a man should treat a woman in my eyes.
Dean, my younger of two older brothers, he and I have been through a lot. I remember Dean tormenting and knowing how to push my buttons as a kid. And he would take my toys apart and never be able to get them back together correctly when we were kids. But Dean is one of the strongest guys I know. He knows how to work. Our tempers clashed on numerous occasions-it comes from both of us being redheads. But honestly I would not have wanted to go through the tough times that we did with anyone else. Dean is a workaholic but I have no doubt one of the best friends a person could ever ask for.
There they all are, in a nutshell. We've had our disagreements, fights, times of not speaking to one another but when times have been tough we've been there either right behind or silently supporting one another. We were all raised the same but yet turned out differently. Some of us are more like dad, some more like mom and maybe one of us a good mixture of both! Regardless they are my siblings and God put us in the same family and the way we are for a variety of reasons. I love them and wish them each a blessed and happy day.
Monday, April 2, 2018
Happy Birthday in heaven, Mom!
April 2 will always hold a very special place in my heart. It was my mom's birthday! And to tell you the truth my mom, and dad for that matter, really knew how to make their birthday's special. They always made my brother's and sister's birthday's special growing up also.
But as my parent's got older they really made their days, birthday and anniversary, special. They'd celebrate all day long in a variety of ways. From going to church to coffee with friends and relatives. Lunch at a favorite place and a favorite meal for supper, playing cards with family and friends. And of course, birthday cake or pie. It was always a celebration, all day long, or several days sometimes! They set the bar and standards high for celebrating birthday's.
I have a lot of fond memories as a kid of my birthdays. But to be honest I remember more details of my parent's birthday's than mine! And now since they are both gone I celebrate their birth day here on earth. Usually with an extra prayer and a favorite food of theirs. It brings back happy and good memories.
My memories of my mom's birthday brings me back to my first communion back when I was in 2nd grade. I won't mention what year it was, but it was not only my first communion day, but it was my mom's birthday and Easter. The trifecta in celebrations. I know it pleased my mom for me to make my first communion on her birthday, I'm sure that's why I chose the day! This was back in the day when we could choose when to make our first communion rather than at the mass for all 2nd graders. It was a thing at that time. This was a big day. I remember lots of food, a cake and a yellow first communion dress that I'm pretty sure my mom had a big hand in picking out since it was her favorite color! I didn't have the preverbal white first communion dress with a veil like my sisters. Again another trend of the times. This was one of my favorite memories of my mom's birthday.
Then there was the year there was a blizzard that dumped a LOT of snow on April 2. I remember missing several days of school! My parent's always had a saying that the day takes after the person. This was all done in good humor. Some years April 2nd was very spring like, other years it was wintery and cold or the year of the blizzard! Unpredictable was the best way to describe my mom's birthday weather! I did some google research and for what it was worth it was 67-degrees and sunny on the day my mom was born, that seems appropriate!
And in my mom's last years on earth I always took the day off of work and would drive over to spend her day with her. We'd get her favorite food. And we'd have ice cream and there was always some yellow, from what she was wearing that day, to the main color of a lot of her birthday cards to flowers and the icing on her cake. My mom loved yellow!
So this year is the sixth birthday I celebrated without my mom. I miss her everyday and I know the birthday's in heaven have to be pretty special, lots of yellow, strawberries, chicken and smiles and laughter for mom.
Happy Birthday in heaven. If you celebrate as much in heaven as you did on earth I'm sure it one fun and happy day! Love and miss you mom.
But as my parent's got older they really made their days, birthday and anniversary, special. They'd celebrate all day long in a variety of ways. From going to church to coffee with friends and relatives. Lunch at a favorite place and a favorite meal for supper, playing cards with family and friends. And of course, birthday cake or pie. It was always a celebration, all day long, or several days sometimes! They set the bar and standards high for celebrating birthday's.
I have a lot of fond memories as a kid of my birthdays. But to be honest I remember more details of my parent's birthday's than mine! And now since they are both gone I celebrate their birth day here on earth. Usually with an extra prayer and a favorite food of theirs. It brings back happy and good memories.
My memories of my mom's birthday brings me back to my first communion back when I was in 2nd grade. I won't mention what year it was, but it was not only my first communion day, but it was my mom's birthday and Easter. The trifecta in celebrations. I know it pleased my mom for me to make my first communion on her birthday, I'm sure that's why I chose the day! This was back in the day when we could choose when to make our first communion rather than at the mass for all 2nd graders. It was a thing at that time. This was a big day. I remember lots of food, a cake and a yellow first communion dress that I'm pretty sure my mom had a big hand in picking out since it was her favorite color! I didn't have the preverbal white first communion dress with a veil like my sisters. Again another trend of the times. This was one of my favorite memories of my mom's birthday.
Then there was the year there was a blizzard that dumped a LOT of snow on April 2. I remember missing several days of school! My parent's always had a saying that the day takes after the person. This was all done in good humor. Some years April 2nd was very spring like, other years it was wintery and cold or the year of the blizzard! Unpredictable was the best way to describe my mom's birthday weather! I did some google research and for what it was worth it was 67-degrees and sunny on the day my mom was born, that seems appropriate!
And in my mom's last years on earth I always took the day off of work and would drive over to spend her day with her. We'd get her favorite food. And we'd have ice cream and there was always some yellow, from what she was wearing that day, to the main color of a lot of her birthday cards to flowers and the icing on her cake. My mom loved yellow!
So this year is the sixth birthday I celebrated without my mom. I miss her everyday and I know the birthday's in heaven have to be pretty special, lots of yellow, strawberries, chicken and smiles and laughter for mom.
Happy Birthday in heaven. If you celebrate as much in heaven as you did on earth I'm sure it one fun and happy day! Love and miss you mom.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)