THE KIDS WHO CALL ME MOM

314998_2315034252366_408561122_nMy children Joy, Amy & Bob

I have been blessed by God with three wonderful kids.  Each of them is unique in their own special way.  This picture was taken several years ago.  Hair color has changed somewhat, time has caught up with them, but this is the only one I could find that shows them all together at the same time.

To say they come from good stock would probably sound like any proud mother, but I’ll say it anyway.  They were born into a Christian home, loved to the moon and back by Christian parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc.  They knew Jesus the minute they came into the world, because both mom and dad prayed with extremely grateful hearts when they were born.  The prayers continue every day.

It always amazes me how quickly they’re aging.  I don’t feel as though I’ve aged a bit. Somehow my oldest daughter is going to be 53 this year, our son is 51 and our baby girl will be 47.  How did that happen?

Our prayers for our children have not stopped.  Even though they’re all self sufficient, we continue to ask for God’s presence in their lives.  We confidently pray that the things they learned as children still remains in their hearts.

I could go into great detail about the successes these wonderful human beings have achieved.  I could use fancy words to describe how much they mean to me.  I could wax arrogantly (how’s that for fancy words?) as to their good looks, their sparkling smiles, their wit and charm, but no one would believe me. I tend to wax too much when it comes to my kids.

I’ll just say this.  I am proud to be a mother.  I was never really prepared for all the things that came along with parenting, but God was with me through the journey.  It’s been exciting, frustrating, worrisome, wonderful, nerve wracking and the best thing I ever did. I thank God for the honor of allowing me to be a mom.

 

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PULL ANCHOR – RAISE THE SAILS

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Morning air, crisp – fresh –  invigorating,

Sun dapples the still water with sparkling, glittering diamonds,

Soon the solitude is broken, as sails are released from their sleep,

As the sound of starched, white canvas tickles the ear,

You hope for a hint or more of wind, enough to fill the sails.

And carry the vessels swiftly across the great expanse.

 

As more sails rise, the sun soaks up the dew on the shoreline,

Sleep is wiped from the eyes,  tired muscles are flexed,

Thoughts turn to second chances and fresh starts as you welcome the day,

Life is renewed with the refreshment of rest, but  now is the time for recreation,

Seagulls soar above, knowing there soon will be a tiny morsel of tasty fish.

The anchor is lifted, nothing holds you back, you are free,

Sails catch the wind and vessels gather.

 

Anxious hearts begin to race, excitement surges through muscular arms,

The sound of a single shot sets things in motion,

Freedom is yours as you glide unfettered upon a lake of glass,

The race won’t be easy, there will be obstacles and spills,

You will return home a winner or not, but always exhilarated,

Anchored again in a safe harbor,

Ready for another day, another contest another challenge.

 

REGATTA!

 

 

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WALLY’S FRIDAY FRYDADDY FUNNY

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

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PROUD GRANDMA YODA IS OF BABY NEW.  YODA MAYOR SURE IS NOT.

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DAYS IN THE LIFE OF A MOTHER

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Every mom has a few funny stories she drags up once in a while to amuse her friends or remind her kids of how much fun it is to parent.  Our kids usually aren’t amused at the retelling, but that doesn’t deter us from doing so over and over and over again.  It’s a mother thing.

I’ve shared many incidents involving my youngest daughter, much to her chagrin.  I didn’t have time to think much about the silly things my first two did.  They were born 20 months apart and kept me busy thinking about other things – like staying awake, changing diapers, washing diapers, potty training, managing a household and hanging on to my sanity by a thread.

When the third came along, I was a seasoned mother.  At least I thought I was. She arrived five years after the second one.  The first two were in school so I had her all to myself.  She was a very good baby.  I’m sure it was because I was a much calmer mom by then.

Since she’s usually the recipient of my funniest memories of motherhood, I’ll give her a break today.  You won’t be hearing about the dog she spray painted blue or the chewed gum she stole from a little boy in church – right from his mouth.  I won’t talk about the fact that she designed a little closet for all her Barbie clothes on the wall of her bedroom.  She saw me pounding nails to hang pictures and did the same to display her doll’s wardrobe.  I will not mention art project that I ate.  I won’t say a word about all the boys she gave her phone number to.

Instead I’ll talk about all of their joint adventures as they were growing up.  There were the funerals for dead critters – like grasshoppers, baby birds and a duck called Yacky Doodle.  There were a few dogs buried on our property.  There were the family vacations.  On second thought, you don’t want to hear about those.  There were the trips to the local creek to find leeches and suckers for fishing.  Our niece went along once and thought they were looking for peaches and suckers.

There were the countless sporting events when we’d cheer them on, even if they were running the wrong way on the basketball court.  We applauded as they performed in school plays or musical performances.  Since I was also their drama instructor for all their years in high school, there were lots of challenges in that area.  More drama than I was prepared for.

I remember the tears shed when the girls walked down the aisle – the pride as each of them had children of their own – the worry when they didn’t come home at the usual time – the hours spent sewing little matching outfits for them to wear at Christmas. That ended when they turned five and it wasn’t cool anymore.  Their confirmation days and expression of faith brought more tears.  To see them develop that faith and become reliant on God to help them through their difficult times as well as the good.

All the highs and lows of parenting eventually smooth out. Those times are helping to form a person who will be prepared for the future.  The foundation we lay for our children will affect them beyond our wildest dreams.

Now I’m hearing stories about their childhood that I was never aware of.  Maybe some of them are best left untold.

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BIG MUDDY

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The muddy waters are stirred by the giant paddle wheel,

Steam pours from the smoke stack,

The craft easily cuts through the river,

Gliding, coasting, dancing across the glasslike surface,

Encroaching on music from a choir of croaking frogs,

Standing firm within the winds of a summer storm,

Ever staunch,

Yet pouring out great effort,

Within this workhorse, inside its protected cabins,

Are stories yet untold,

Gamblers, wayfarers, moguls, those in hope of a future,

The best and worst of society,

This belle of the water is a symbol of another time,

A quieter, more peaceful time,

A time when the sound of the paddle,

Gave way only to the sounds of nature,

Oh for those long lost days.

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MOTHER OF MANY

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“He that raises a large family does, indeed, while he lives to observe them, stand a broader mark for sorrow; but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure too.”  Benjamin Franklin

Well, Benjamin Franklin only had three children that we know of – so easy for him to say right?  What about large families?  My mother came from a brood of eight.  She was the second born, so became one of the caretakers of the youngers when she was old enough to change a diaper.  Large families are not as popular today, but I still know a few and they seem to function amazingly well.  In a way it’s like having a built in assembly line at times.

As times change and mother’s responsibilities reach beyond the walls of the home, women are choosing to have smaller families. It’s pretty much a balancing act when it’s necessary to add bread winner to the list of motherly duties.

When I thumb through old, old photographs of long gone ancestors, they usually contain large families.  In those times it was as necessary to produce offspring as it was to make hay or milk cows.  Those children would help in the running of the family business.  Same was true for city folks who were just getting by.  For the poor, large families would bring in more income.  For the wealthy, the size of a man’s family was a status symbol of sorts.

Large families today are not as common.  Being a stay at home mom is somewhat unusual, yet many women choose to do so and in addition are home schooling their children.  I say, hats off to these women.  I commend them especially because I know I could never done that myself.  That doesn’t mean you should feel less of a mother for not staying home.

Whether you have one child or ten of them, you are a mother.  A mother is required to love her children, care for them, provide for their needs, to nurture, nourish and nurse them.  There are no rules for being a good mom, but once you hold that precious, new life in your hands, you know that this is a gift that only God can give.  The responsibilities that come along with it are huge, but God chose women to birth children because He knew we were the ones with the tender hearts, the soft,gentle compassion and the built in need to nurture.

 

 

 

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I WANT MY MOMMIE!

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Don’t you just love it when there’s a little voice trailing behind you saying, “Mom – mom, mommie, mother, ma, mom, mom, mom?  Little ones are constant sources of questions, needs, demands and wants.  “I want a cookie,” “I want a new dress for prom,” “Can’t you just write a check for it? “I need a cookie,” “Where are my socks?” “Why don’t you answer me?”  “You never listen!”  “Where’s my cookie?” “Can you drive me to gymnastics?” “Do we have any cookies?”

Most of the time you don’t even get a full question.  All you receive is the word MAAAAAHHHHM!!!  The reiteration of that word a thousand times a day can become like a constant dripping.

Kids are born in need of the warmth of your body, the sense of love and belonging, the comfort of your touch.  They also need your protection, your guidance, your discipline, your rules, but more than anything they need YOU.

We learn at an early age how children come to be, but unfortunately they don’t include an instruction manual.  You can buy hundreds of books on child rearing and dealing with the problems and joys of parenting.  You can get advice from most people about how to raise a child – but many of them have never had one of their own.  Parenting comes with its own set of rules.

When you’re a young mom you deal with bruises, scuffed egos, falling down, getting back up, teaching as much as they can absorb and praying that you’re doing it right.    Most of the time it’s a fly by the seat of your pants experience.

Being a mom includes cleaning spit up off your nice, new black dress.  It means getting up in the middle of the night to calm a child who has had a bad dream or a fever.  It includes dirty diapers, vomit, blood, sweat and a whole lot of tears.  It requires patience, a loving spirit, time, sleepless nights, support, coffee and the knowledge that you are not alone.

Giving your children a firm foundation through the Word of God will give them the only handbook you or they will ever need.

The Bible won’t tell you how to potty train your child, but you’ll gain the patience to do so.  It won’t tell you how to react when your son comes home with a ten foot snake that has just devoured his lunch, but it will allow you to maintain your calm as you point him to the door to return it back into nature.  It won’t tell you how to keep your children from the wrong people, but it will prepare them to walk away from situations that are questionable.

We as moms should always realize that our children are on loan to us.  It is not our job to be their friend, to coddle them, to create an aura of entitlement or to reward them when they don’t deserve it.  Moms are nurturers – providers – teachers – motivators – examples for their children.  Under your watch you’re responsible for their spiritual welfare along with their physical needs.   Give them the tools they need to protect them from bullies, those who would lead them down a dark path – something to hold onto for the rest of their lives.

When I have an ache or a cold or a need for a hug, my thought always go to my mom.  When I have a problem that she could help with, I long to have her help.  When our moms are no longer in our lives there is an emptiness beyond compare.  I still want my Mommie.

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ON BEING A MOM

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This time of year there are many platitudes floating around regarding motherhood and the fact that these wonderful people should be exalted to a pedestal. Being a mom is a life-changing, life-lasting and life-giving experience. It doesn’t end with the labor in the delivery room. The work just begins there.

Moms will soon find they are no longer the center of their own universe. Once that new life enters yours, you become totally committed to it. A mother puts her child first. A mother’s love is unconditional. It can be inspiring. She can cause mountains to move with her encouragement. She can take pride in a job well done. She can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Wait – wrong super hero. Sounds fabulous, right? Anyone would want the job, right? What you don’t always hear about may have you thinking twice before entering into this facet of life.

Moms must be available 24/7. An appointment to the spa is out of the question. Your life will now consist of changing diapers and wiping little bottoms. You will be expected to listen to every word they have to say and every demand they make. You will transport them to every sporting event, concert, dance recital, or drama class until they are old enough to drive themselves. Then you will pray incessantly until they return home.

You will stay up once they’re tucked in bed so you can make a dent in the laundry – only to fall asleep before the spin cycle is completed. You will shop for their clothes until they tell you that you don’t have any style. You will provide nutritious meals, unless time forces you into a drive through. You will train them to be outstanding students, citizens and members of the community. You will cry every time they get hurt. You will defend them if anyone says a negative thing about them. You will put them before anything you need or do. You will give up and clean their rooms after you’ve asked them to do it at least a hundred times. You will discover things that may surprise you.  You will support them, encourage them, believe in them.

You will get angry with them. You will be discouraged with their behavior. You will wait your turn to use the bathroom only to be joined by them during that precious quiet time, because they want to be with you. You will read to them, sing to them, teach them, praise them, thank them, be proud of them even when they don’t succeed. You will discipline them even when you don’t want to. You will set rules for them even when they don’t want them.

What are the benefits? You will see sparkles in their eyes when they understand things. You will get goose bumps when they score their first goal. You’ll watch a life develop and become more than you ever dreamed it would. You will melt when they put their arms around you and say, “I love you, mom.” You will be proud, joyful, amazed and extremely gratified for a job well done. You will be thankful for the blessed opportunity to help create a life and watch it grow into an adult who may go through the same satisfying experience. You will always love them and they will love you back – because you are a mom.

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MY WRITING JOURNEY

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Just a little less than 3000 words to go.  Then it’s time to edit.  Spell check has been known to be my worst enemy, so I’m praying that each word is the right one.  As far as grammar and all the rules, I’m certain I’ve stepped outside of most of them.  Is it OK to have run on sentences?  Will I be executed for using a dash rather than a semi-colon?  Where do I go with my finished epic to have it published?  Should I choose Christian Fiction, Addiction, Contradiction or Confliction Fiction?  Should I have an agent?  Should I self-publish or is that just tacky?

This whole novel writing experience has been sapping me of time which I should be enjoying outdoors in the budding luxury of spring.  There is something compelling about this kind of writing.  I’m discovering that I must continue to create a semblance of order to my story.  Otherwise I have to reread the few chapters before a new one so I keep the flow going.  The ideas don’t stop when I’m away from my writing instrument of choice.  My dreams, my thoughts, the daily tasks of life all relate to what’s going on in the formulation process.

Roget’s Thesaurus has become my best friend.

Last week I talked about getting to know my characters and actually feeling compassion for them.  They have become a part of me in a way.  Dialogue is challenging for me, even though the majority of my writings for over thirty years were stage plays.  In that genre, I was able to rely on my actors to bring the characters to life.  Writing fiction means creating the actual voice on the written page.  If someone has a particular dialect, it really should be written into the story.  If someone is old, has a speech impediment or a peculiar kind of voice, that also needs to be crafted into the conversation.

Words – words – words!  It seems everything is about words.  There’s a particular number to achieve.  They should be descriptive, sensory, uplifting, inspirational and like a painted masterpiece on a canvas.  They should spur the reader’s hunger for  the next page.  As a wordsmith, you have a responsibility to use words that people understand, yet lavish enough to create interest.

I have finally determined how to end the story.  Now I need to fill in some of the details of each chapter.  That should give me the WORDS I require to get that part of the job done.  Since this is probably the first and last novel I will write (maybe) I am hoping to get it right.  It took Victor Hugo seventeen years to complete “Les Miserables.”  If it takes me that long, I’ll be 94!

“Each of our passions, even love, has a stomach that must not be overloaded. We must in everything write the word ‘finis’ in time; we must restrain ourselves, when it becomes urgent; we must draw the bolt on the appetite, play a fantasia on the violin, then break the strings with our own hand. The Wise man is he who knows when and how to stop.”

 

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DO I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

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“If in my youth I had realized that the sustaining splendour of beauty of with which I was in love would one day flood back into my heart, there to ignite a flame that would torture me without end, how gladly would I have put out the light in my eyes.” Michelangelo

When you’re in the prime of life, you’ve probably come close to achieving masterpiece status.  Your body is in pretty good condition.  Your life is on the right track.  Your finances are in decent shape.  Your relationships have been established and if you’re fortunate, you’ve come to grips with who God is and the plan He has for your life.

When you go beyond those years, things start to fall apart.  Your aging body requires more help to get out of bed..  Your memory fails and so do many of your senses.  You are probably close to, or in retirement.  Your finances have shrunk and that small nest egg you had is dwindling by the second.  Your friends are passing you by on the way to heaven.  Your goals have all been achieved and you may even begin to wonder why you’re still here.

God has a purpose for each and every one of us – regardless of our physical age.  He created each one with unique talents, abilities, strengths, dreams and more. We are not merely clones, cookie cutter pressed out and sent through an assembly line.  Finding out what those qualities are sometimes takes some longer to figure out than others.

When we reach our elder years, we have more time.  We can use that time to wallow in self-pity or put it to positive energy instead.  If we’re still capable of working, we should.  If we find ourselves on a track to no where, its time to find something to fill our lives by making ourselves useful.  We can’t give up simply because our bodies are aging.

I really believe that the older generation has so much to offer this world.  Our years of life experience can’t be measured by college degrees.  We have attained a lifetime of knowledge, real life training and ups and downs which can be shared with those younger than us.  We’ve suffered through many of the things those younger ones are suffering right now.  We can be of more service than we realize when it comes to encouraging others.

Putting things in perspective – we only have a short time left to make a difference in this world.  Every waking moment should be spent in giving back in one way or another.  God’s work is always good and you are one of His masterpieces.

Isaiah 64:8  “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

 

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WALLY’S FRYDADDY FRIDAY FUNNY

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

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BIRTHDAY HAPPY TO GRANDCHILD OF YODA !

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WORLD PASSWORD DAY

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There are so many weird holidays.  You can even make up you own if you want to.  Today happens to be World Password Day.  How do you feel about them?  For me, if I don’t write them down, I forget every time.  If I write them down, I am putting my identity at risk.  Who knows when someone will look through my desk to find my list?  I may encounter someone from another part of the world, sitting in an igloo collecting passwords or trying to decipher them – an over weight , disheveled, person with a foreign accent will go crazy when he tries to find my passwords.

I have visions of having all my accounts hacked at some time and the $2.49 left in my checkbook will become pocket change for some thief.  When you don’t have a lot of dough, no one seems to bother you too much.

Many people choose to make their password something that only they could know about.  For example:  Grandmaknowsbest/3, or kathy’sFat@5 or Authorwannabe#1.  Those would be difficult to hack.  Now I personally have not used these passwords.  I’ve come up with my own way of keeping track of those difficult yet important codes.

Since I’m getting old and memory often fails me, the only thing for me to do is change my password every time I log on to a favorite site.  You know that little sentence under the place where you’re supposed enter your password?  It says, “Forget your password?”  That way I never have to remember them.

I can imagine those in charge of changing passwords at Facebook, WordPress, Yahoo, Pinterest and Amazon going a little nutso over my constant changing.  It does keep me on the ball.  Not only does it clear out some of the memory in my brain’s data bank, but it’s fun to come up with new and creative ones.

So today on this World Password Day, how do you intend to celebrate?  I think I’ll change all of mine today . . . AGAIN!

 

 

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MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

I once in poverty did lay, my heart was full of need,

You came and took my sins away and now I’m rich indeed,

You gave your richest treasure – your one and only Son.

You are my greatest pleasure. With you I now am one.

 

Though troubles cling and still remain, my guilt has been set free,

My life will never be the same, I’ll get down on my knees,

And thank my Lord for saving me, from Satan’s grip and hold,

My walk will now with Jesus be, more valuable than gold.

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THE FLOWERS OF MAY

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Today is May Day.  My fondest memories of this day are hand making May baskets filled with flowers and treats and placing them at the door of a friend and running away before they opened the door.  It also included celebrating the Queen of the May and welcoming spring by dancing around the maypole.

It was another beginning of sorts as we all so looked forward to the end of school, the start of summer and lazy, crazy days without a care in the world.  Ha!  Kids have cares too, but I digress.

May Day was also designated as International Workers’ Day by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International (A spinoff of the First International which was an organization of socialist and labor parties begun in Paris.) to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago.  It basically was a rebellion of workers of industry, mostly German and Bohemian immigrants, demanding shorter hours and no change in pay.  It took place on May 4, 1886, shortly after the Civil War ended and industry was beginning to go strong.

The immigrants became united and took up a battle for their cause by going on strike..  During that time of peaceful demonstration, a bomb was thrown into the crowd, killing twelve police and mortally wounding six others.  Shooting ensued by other police officers who actually killed many of their fellow officers in the melee.

After that incident, the people of Chicago sided with law enforcement.  Suspicion fell upon the German and Bohemian communities.  Homes of suspected anarchists were raided in search of the perpetrators.  Eventually eight were convicted of conspiracy.

The Haymaker Affair was the origin of  International Workers Day held on May 1.  A sculpture was dedicated at the site in 2004.  Another piece of history we don’t hear a lot about anymore.

 

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RUNNING A MARATHON

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Don’t worry.  I’m not thinking about running a marathon.  I’m not thinking about taking up running.  In fact, if I did, I would look more like Tim Conway doing his old man routine.  I’m thinking about walking.  For me that would be like the average person training for a marathon.  There would be major amounts of sweat involved – copious tubes of Ben Gay – a heating pad and ice pack designed to cover my entire body – a heart monitor, IV filled with an energy drink and someone behind me equipped with resuscitating equipment.

When you get to my age, any kind of exercise is a challenge.  Frankly getting out of bed is huge.  Lately I’ve been stuck to a chair, writing all day, with a body that’s beginning to look like a combination of Jabba the Hutt and the hunchback of Notre Dame.  Still I press on as if I were in a race against time.  As a matter of fact, that’s what it is.  My book may be my last opportunity at success.

When I was a young girl of 13, I thought anyone over 30 was ancient.  When I became 30, I still had a certain amount of resilience, but I thought anyone over 50 was ready for the glue factory.  Don’t ask.  When I turned 50 I was becoming a bit sympathetic with those in their 70’s.  Now that I’m in my 70s I wonder how I ever made it.

Maybe  if I’d been more athletic as a young person I wouldn’t be in this condition today, or if I had been very athletic I may be in worse shape now.  Most of my friends who were cheerleaders or sports nuts are now suffering with bad knees and hips.

My doctor believes I’m an active senior, but the truth is most of my exercise consists of simply standing up, sitting and laying down.  With any amount of exertion I find myself short of breath and exhausted.  Thus I’ve decided to start walking again.  I even have some spiffy athletic shoes.  I can put my arch supports in those things and I should be able to make it to the end of the driveway and back.

I’ll start slow and maybe by the end of summer I can finish a block or two. It will be like learning how to walk all over again – starting with baby steps.  Wish me luck!

 

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RISING WITH THE SON

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

He died that I could live. He suffered pain and loss.  He gave all He could give, upon that rugged cross.
But on that awesome day, so many years ago,  The price for sin He’d pay, so freedom I   would know. 

He crushed the devils head.  He paid our ransom too.  Though we were all once dead, We’re promised life anew.

The story didn’t end there. He came to life once more.  To show me that I too will live beyond His heavenly door.

It’s been only a week since we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus., but still we should be bathing in the afterglow.  That feeling shouldn’t last for only a day or even a week.  It should be imbedded in our souls forever.  When He conquered death, He fulfilled His Father’s covenant with humanity.

May the joy of that wondrous message warm our hearts and give us the confidence and assurance of life everlasting.  He is indeed risen from the dead and because of that, we too will rise.

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GRATITUDE

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The afterglow of Easter has all but disappeared in the world around us.  The memories contained in that Sunday should’ve filled our hearts and minds with overwhelming gratitude, but instead we heard another story of death and destruction in another part of the world.

How quickly our joy can be tarnished by evil.  We almost become dumbed down by events like the bombings at Sri Lanka.  These every day acts of evil become so common place, we’ve grown to expect them.  Have our minds and hearts witnessed so much evil that we are numb to it?

The day of resurrection means so much to those of us who believe that Jesus rose from death.  He overcame the devil. He limited the time Satan had left and the work he could do.  Jesus made it possible for us to look forward to eternal life in paradise. Because He lives, we know that we will also live with Him some day.

The actions of Satan’s minions are everywhere.  They continue to infest the world, looking to devour us.  Our joy, our hope and our gratitude should not be killed by an incident like this. Death came to those Christians on such a holy day.  Certainly it was a senseless act.  Of course it was perpetrated by an evil force.  The promise of resurrection was fulfilled for them as they died in their faith.  That doesn’t make the act any less horrific for those left behind.

Even in adversity, we should be grateful.  Like Piglet, our hearts may be small, but they can hold a whole lot of gratitude.  The old adage of counting our blessings applies. When our world is caving around us – when the politics of every day consume us – when financial disaster leads to ruin – when relationships fail – when even our lives are threatened by evil – we can be so grateful for what we still have and what is yet to come.

Easter cannot be destroyed by evil.  Easter destroyed evil forever.  He is arisen!  He is risen indeed!!

 

 

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WALLY’S FRYDADDY FRIDAY FUNNY

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NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE

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