Act III Sought for Blessings

I’ve been trying to think of some thing, word, thought, any thing to be thankful for.  Sometimes it’s the little things that come across your path and you say, "OH!  Thanks! That was just in time."  I try to keep from grumbling about inconveniences (I can never spell that word correctly!) by reminding myself how different things could be. 

I could grumble about going to work everyday – then I remember friends who are losing their home because the bread-winner can't find a job.  I could complain about the bus being late – then I remember how much gas is and how much money I’m saving.  I could complain that my air conditioning in my home doesn’t work 100% of the time, but then again, I have a home, with shade, and some a/c and heat in the winter. I complain – actually fuss a LOT – when my dog takes food off the counter – but I have food on the counter. 

When I turn my so-called (thankful for spell-check) inconveniences into sought-for blessings, life’s really not all that bad. 

Have a great weekend.  If you care to leave any comments about what you’re thankful for.  J

Act II Thankful for my Daddy

Hey!  Hope you had a great week and are looking forward to Father’s Day.  Its been quite a time at my home.  The pool is finally up!  I truly think my kids think I can do anything.  That was hard work and I don’t think I will ever take that thing down!

I’ve been thinking about what I’m thankful for this week. Since Father’s Day is approaching pretty quickly, I’ve been thinking about my parents. 

My dad was kinda tall with short red hair that was in the same style since I was born, and red freckles all over him!  He had a deep singing voice, was super funny, and a little sarcastic, a bit bossy, full of love for his family, and he was a recovering alcoholic when he died.  He was a helper and very generous with his time and money when he had it to spare.  He loved people and when I was a little girl, I remember him talking to everyone!  He loved to write poems to my mother. 

For the last ten years of his life he lived sober.   This was a special treat for me because I was just beginning my married life and had a little girl.  If he loved you, he’d say it.  If you pissed him off, he’d say it.  He was an in-your-face, tell-it-like-it-is kinda man.  I could also count on him to stand up for me.  Once he told my 2^nd husband, “Jennifer’s mamma met me at the door one day.  She had a lunch box in one hand, and a suitcase in the other. She told me to get a job or get out!”  Now, I know that wasn’t true, but it sure was funny.  He was a smart man with common sense.   

Most people called him Red even though he had a brother with that nickname, too. My grandma (mom’s mom) said, “Your fathers such a great guy when he’s not drinking.”  He was a sponsor in AA and very involved in the program. There were a large number of folks at his memorial service, and I think most were from AA.  I didn’t know until I was about 22 that he was such a great guy.  He died when I was about 31. 

I am thankful that I had 10 years with him while he was sober to watch him love my mom (even though they were divorced 15 years); watched him interact with my daughters, heard him tell his friends he loved them, heard the pleasure in his voice when he heard the name of my 2^nd daughter.  I saw his anguish when my mother died and the way he died with dignity and sobriety. I’m thankful that I had the nickname of “Papa-snoot” when I was little (I never did find out what that meant.)  He was a multi-talented man who valued family, integrity, and good friendships.  Yeah, he was a good guy.  And I miss him terribly.  

Happy Father’s Day

Act 1 - Thankful Thursday ~ Thankful for Kindness

My beautiful friend, Becky, came up with the term, “Thankful Thursday” to counteract a grumbling attitude (to visit her: Becky's Blog ~ she's pretty groovy).  This was a few years ago, and I do my best to remind myself of this day and reflect on the things I have to be thankful for – aka gratitude. 

This week I have encountered kind people. So this Thursday, I’m reflecting on the kindly attitudes of others. 

I wholeheartedly believe that God has us all here for each other.  We are to be an extension of Himself.  To reach out, help, listen to, encourage, and love:

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10:  Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don't need me to tell you what to do. You're God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You're already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it. (MSG)

Its been a work-week after work at my house.  We’re putting up a “ring-pool” and the sand has to be level; 1) without asking, my neighbor came over to help. (it’s still not done or up and its HAUT!)  2) The cashier ran my bag out to the parking lot that I had left behind.  Another lady, that has a wild disability, listed an item on freecycle  that I needed very badly – 3) her kind act was allowing (and trusting) strangers to come to her home when she is unable to defend herself.)  Then, for the finale, 4) a gentleman stopped and offered to help strap the item I got from the lady to my car – he's lent me an expensive tool to strap it down. He’s trusting me to bring it back to him this Saturday.

I don’t know about you, but I just feel loved and cared for when people are kind to me ~ maybe people feel the same when I'm kind as well. 

I think "Thankful Thursday" shall be a regular day or topic for me to blog about.  : )

Now go out and be nice.  

I'm SO excited!!

I'm 'bout to bust!  THIS weekend I get to meet my nephew - not a baby nephew, but a BIG nephew.  Well, actually, I met him back in 1983 when he was bouncing baby boy of 10 months old.  I was 15 and I cried when I left him in Fort Lauderdale because I knew my brother and I didn't like my brother.

Circumstances with my brother caused Raymond's mom to take flight and my mom and I never knew what became of the his mother and the baby.  Well, fast forward to 2010.....

I was IM'ing with a cousin on Facebook last summer, and he asked me about my brother's sons - there are two.  He did a quick search and found Raymond!  (Why didn't I think of that??)  This guy looks just like his daddy, so there was no doubt (in my mind) that he was my nephew!

So, through email, waiting, another email (to his adopted mom), and waiting a little longer, he saw this blog, and saw the video that I posted with my pix in it - in that I had a photo of Alfred Lewis Hasty as my brother.  THEN he knew that I was a link to his past that he knew nothing about.

Through phone conversations since Thanksgiving or so, I have learned that he is a dedicated boyfriend, a great dad (I have 2 great nieces!), a good son, and a hard worker.  He has overcome such obstacles and has come out on the other side of such darkness.  My brother died in 2007 - which was the hardest thing to tell this young man - I didn't, but his mom did.

He is coming to Va this weekend with his fiancée, Courtney.  He's a young man of about 28 and he's meeting family that he didn't even know existed!  Far out, eh?  I couldn't imagine not knowing who or where my family was for 28 years.  I feel like calling the newspaper!  HA! I just might!

Ours is a happy ending.  And I suppose at this season of his life, its the right time for this to happen. I wonder, if my brother had known Ray, if he would still be alive. Depression took a toll on him as well as other major regrets of life.  This isn't about Al though, its about moving forward, family, and drinking in all that life can be.

Pictures will certainly be posted. Does anyone even read this?? I don't care, I'm just writing so I don't explode!

~J

Love of your life....

Well then, Christmas is over - but hopefully, the Spirit of It will continue!

I've been making these photo montage videos this year, and I absolutely love them! I am, by nature (and genetics), an emotional person. So, I really put a lot of effort in the music and placement of the pictures in these videos. Honestly, it's my heart that goes into. If I don't cry while watching the final cut, I didn't do it right! haha

So, one of the songs that I chose this year for a family video was "I Was in His Plans" written by a gentleman in California named Marvin Lane. I found the song on Sound Click, bought it, and added it to the video. I got an email from him thanking me for buying the song. And because the music has to be unlicensed in order for me to use, I showed him the video, and asked if it was ok to use. He gave me permission, and we have been "email-facebook" friends ever since. (Gee, that was a rabbit trail).

(This is the family of Denise - there are 7 kids, and yes, the baby's name is "Seven")  Here is that first video:

So, throughout this year, Marvin had the idea to finally put a couple of songs he wrote for his wife to music (they do that in Nashville), scan a bunch of pictures, and have me make a video for his wife for Christmas.  WOW!  What a wonderful idea!

Through a lot of emails, and snail mail to get his CD to me, the videos were made back in the fall, and he had to SIT on them for 3 months!  I think I may have been more excited for her to see them than he was. (Not really, but I certainly thought about him and his bride every day the past few weeks!)

On Christmas Eve he revealed one to the whole family, and Christmas Day, the other.  He's given me permission to share, now that the cats outta the bag.  

So, I present a man that loves his wife...

And the way I want to be loved.  : )  

in loving color

I heard the first three lines of this song and thought, "Hey! That's me!" The rest of the song...maybe someday. ; ) I created this to reflect the people, pictures, and pets that mean the most to me right now and a few that have past on that still mean a lot to me.

And I Know He Watches......

Being a young, single mom had me frazzled when I was in my 20's. And I only had one kid at that time. My mother was the most humble, meek, and beautiful Christian woman I knew. I, however, was living life fast, without a lot of time for God and Jesus, and didn't appreciate the fine woman she was.

Once, my mother told me that because I was single, I was married to God. WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me? I was much to busy having fun and partying to be married to God. Even during the fun times, however, I would sometimes have panic attacks at the thought of my funds running low, or what I was going to do about this bill or that bill, or food! Momma would say, "God takes care of the birds, and He'll take care of you, too." Yeah OK Mom, whatever. She was such a church lady. Now, I was raised in church and I was God's kid, but like most early 20-somethings, I was eager to find my independence apart from God and my mother. I always remembered her words though.

It wasn't until several years later that she died and I heard, for the first time, "His Eye is on the Sparrow" sung by Ethel Waters on an old Billy Graham program. That was my mom's song. I got it. I finally got it. Through sermons over the years, I found out what my mom was referring to when she told me "...He will take care of you too."

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

She was right. Too bad, it took her dying for me to crawl back in my Father's lap and tell Him I was so sorry for ignoring Him all that time. He HAS shown me that He remembers me - as recent as today! He provides for me through others. It's amazing! Whenever the funds get low - as often they do - I hear my mom's voice, and that is groovy. God loves me and calls me Beautiful, and He provides for me just as His word says. He takes care of me as any good Parent takes care of their child.