Is That a TV Evangelist I See?

Fun Weekend

I had a few visitors over the weekend. My friend, Beth, from KS, her mom, Brenda, cousin Janet, and friend Dorthy came to Branson for a couple days. It was so fun hanging out with them, shopping, swimming 'til 3 in the morning, eating out, and more shopping... The pics are of us at Coldstone Creamery. They serve the best ice cream in the world!

It's A Boy!

My friends, Ahmed & Stacey, are the proud parents of a baby boy named Akram. He was born Sat. morning weighing in at 8lbs 6oz and 21 1/2 inches long.
Congratulations!

What Kind of English Do I Speak?

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

15% Dixie

10% Yankee

5% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Why Visit Branson?

It seems different ones have been asking this question. Click here to read an interesting article on why people are visiting Branson.

Tourist Day

Since we work in the tourism/entertainment industry it helps if we can somehow relate to our client. To do so we named today "Tourist Day" here at the office. Several participated by dressing up like so many of the tourists we see day in and day out. Hope you enjoy the pic.

Left to Right Standing: Pat, Annette, Angie, Monique, Rick, Kelley

In Front: Tia, Igloo Cooler, Dan

Branson Landing

A few nights ago I ventured down to the new Branson Landing. It is much nicer than I expected. I decided to try out the camera feature on my new cell phone. I am fairly pleased with the results.

Motorola RAZR V3c

I am now the proud owner of this sleek, trim, and stylish phone. (Mine is NOT in pink!) My old cell was giving me a lot of problems so I went to trade it in today. It's a long story, and I won't bore you with all the details, but I got an awesome deal!

Company Picnic

A couple weeks ago we had our company picnic at Moonshine Beach on Tablerock Lake here in Branson. The day started off full of sunshine but quickly turned cloudy and then rained. Thankfully we had reserved a very large shelter. Famous Dave's BBQ catered the meal. Every employee was given a goodie bag which included beads, a mask, and other mardi gras accessories. It was fun!

btw... The photo at the top is of Kelley's Baby Hummer. She finally let me drive it!!!

One Liners

A friend of mine sent this to me today. I have seen most of these before, but they are still good the second time around.

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile.
I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?!
A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
He who angers you, controls you!
If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!
Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
We don't change the message, the message changes us.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to..........discourage him.
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

Birthday

Today, when I walked into my place of employment I found a nice surprise at my cubicle. My co-workers had decided to celebrate my birthday(5/13) and had decorated my cubicle. They also showered me with cards, gifts, cupcakes, and even paid for my lunch at the local Thai restaurant. I truly believe I work with the best!

Attitude

My good friend, Kelley G, shares some really good material with me from time to time. I thought I would share with my fellow bloggers as well.
It's amazing how much our attitude can affect the situation we are in. Hope you enjoy the story below

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, hewould reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivater. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don't get it! You can'tbe a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Michael repli ed, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Mike, youhave two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or youcan choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. " Each time something bad happens, I can choose to bea victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learnfrom it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose toaccept their complaining or I can point out the positive side oflife. I choose the positive side of life."Yeah, right . It's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices". When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations.You choose how people will affect your mood.You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.I saw Michael about six months after the accident.When I asked him how he was, he replied. "If I were anybetter, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see hi s wounds, but did ask him whathad gone through his mind as the accident took place."The first thing that went through my mind was the well-beingof my soon to be born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Michael continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action." " What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. " Yes " , I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Gravity." Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operateon me as if I am alive, not dead'."Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but alsobecause of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

Highway Cleanup

It was that time again... Our mile of adopted highway was due a cleanup. Last Thursday was the chosen day for us to put on our prisoner-type clothing, arm ourselves with garbage bags and head to the ditches. Here are some shots of my friends(top to bottom), Misty, Tia, & Kelley.

Gas Prices

Meet Phyllis

This is Phyllis. She is a Bromeliad. She came to live in my office a week ago. She looks lovely in here, but being a tropical plant, the conditions are not suitable for her survival. So...this afternoon she will make her way home with me to take up residence on my patio.

Easter Weekend

Wes and Joy and their three children came to visit me this past weekend. On Friday, we went to Silver Dollar City and spent several hours riding the rides and viewing the sights. Saturday was fun-filled as well with going shopping at the outlet malls, playing mini-golf, going to IMAX, and also seeing the Hamner Barber Variety Show where we purchased the stylish new glasses seen in the photos. It was a wonderful weekend!

Easter Bunny Name

Easter Bunny Name Your Easter Bunny Name is Fuzzy Fluffypaws Get Your Easter Bunny Name at Quizopolis.com

My name turned out to be Fuzzy Fluffypaws...

The Master Is at Work

I recently came across the following illustration. Thought it would be good to share.

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it"
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

An Honest Day's Work...

This week has been one of those weeks. I won't go into detail, but it has been very stressful at my place of employment. Almost everything that could go wrong, has. It could be worse. My friend, Kelley, sent the following story to me. I hope you enjoy reading it.

The story below points out a couple things. First, just when you think things can not get worst, they do. Second, there are a lot of circumstances situations in life which make you ask, was it only by chance.

"An honest Day's Work, Pays Off"

The USS Astoria (C-34)
was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August 1942.
Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon, 9 August.

About 0200 hours a young midwesterner, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was swept overboard by the blast when the Astoria's number one eight-inch gun turret exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, he was kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger mechanism.

At around 0600 hours, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water. It was lunchtime. Picked up again, this time by the USS President Jackson (AP-37), he was one of 500 survivors of the battle who were evacuated to Noumea.

On board the transport Staples, for the first time, closely examined the life belt that had served him so well. It had been manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and bore a registration number.

Given home leave, Staples told his story and asked his mother, who worked for Firestone, about the purpose of the number on the belt. She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector.
Staples remembered everything about the lifebelt, and quoted the number.
It was his mother's personal code and affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.

SOURCE: Commander Eric J. Berryman, U.S. Naval Reserve, Proceedings, U.S.
Naval Institute, vol. 15/6/1036 (June 1989), P. 48.

Immutable Laws of the Natural Universe

Immutable Laws of the Natural Universe

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll need to use the bathroom.
Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of Probability: The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of the Telephone: If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.
Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now.
Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
Law of Bio mechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach of one's "scratching fingers."
Law of the Theatre: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.
Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.
Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
Brown's Law of ladies shoes: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.
Wilson's Law: As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Thanks Annette!

A Visit to Titanic

Yesterday, a few co-workers and I visited the brand new Titanic museum here in Branson. It is awesome!

Florida Biker with His Babe

I thought this was funny. Thanks Misty!

Blogging...

I'm bored with blogging. It has lost its excitement. What should I do?

Weekend Update

It was scary here over the weekend. We had severe thunderstorms and the power was out Fri night. On Sat, it was a beautiful day...sunshine. 75 degrees. until the afternoon....
I had fallen asleep on the sofa, when suddenly, I was awakened to the sound of my front door being banged on. It was my friend, Stacey. There she stood, hair all mussed, clothes unkempt, clutching her Pomeranian. She was scared. Tornadoes, rain, hail, high winds were all headed our way. She had come to hide out at my apt since it is farther down the hill from hers and is also on the first level.
anyway...
The rain came, the hail stoned, the wind shook... but the apt building stood firm. (We lost all power shortly after. It was out for a couple hours.) The hail completely covered the ground until it looked as if it had snowed.(see photos) The temperature dropped from 75 to 58 in thirty minutes or less. The county had to call out the snow plows to clear the roads. The rain was so forceful that it was coming in around the seal on my front door. I found out later that an F2 tornado touched down on the other side of town doing damage to many buildings.
It has been a wild and crazy weekend.

Gospel pianist Anthony Burger dies at 44

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gospel music pianist Anthony Burger, who played for the popular Gaither Homecoming shows and earned Dove Award nominations for his albums of instrumental music, collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack during a show. He was 44. He died Wednesday while performing on a Gaither Homecoming cruise, out of Miami. Burger, who lived near Nashville in Brentwood, Tenn., but toured internationally, including performances in Canada, released many albums and videos of his piano music. His records included renditions of Old Time Religion and Hallelujah Chorus alongside secular classics like Debussy’s Clair de Lune.

How well do you know me?

Take My Quiz - on - QuizYourFriends.com!

President's Day

History of the Holiday
The original version of the holiday was in commemoration of George Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency). Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since at least the mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732. According to the old style calendar in use back then, however, he was born on February 11. At least in 1796, many Americans celebrated his birthday on the 22nd while others marked the occasion on the 11th instead. By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken firm root in the American experience as a bona fide national holiday. Its traditions included Birthnight Balls in various regions, speeches and receptions given by prominent public figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the land. Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered president and fellow February baby (born on the 12th of the month). The first formal observance of his birthday took place in 1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's, it did become a legal holiday in several states. In 1968, legislation (HR 15951) was enacted that affected several federal holidays. One of these was Washington's Birthday, the observation of which was shifted to the third Monday in February each year whether or not it fell on the 22nd. This act, which took effect in 1971, was designed to simplify the yearly calendar of holidays and give federal employees some standard three-day weekends in the process. Apparently, while the holiday in February is still officially known as Washington's Birthday (at least according to the Office of Personnel Management), it has become popularly (and, perhaps in some cases at the state level, legally) known as "President's Day." This has made the third Monday in February a day for honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served as president.

Valentines Day

Today at work we had a contest, and I won second place. My prize was this crazy monkey, dressed in red, silk pants, who swing his hips and sings "I'm Too Sexy for My Shirt".

The Titanic Comes to Branson!

Go here for more information www.titanicbranson.com

You Know You're From Missouri...

Things I've learned from living in Missouri.
Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Missouri.
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Missouri, plus a couple no one's seen before.
Unknown critters love to dig holes under tomato plants.
Raccoons will test your crop of melons and let you know when they are ripe.
If it grows, it sticks --if it crawls; it bites.
A tractor is NOT an all-terrain vehicle. They do get stuck.
Onced and Twiced are words.
It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.
People actually grow and eat okra.
"Fixinto" is one word.
There ain't no such thing as "lunch". There's only dinner and then there's supper.
Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals... and you start drinking it when you're 2.
Backwards and forwards means I know everything about you.
"Jeet?" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.
More about Missourians.... You know you're from Missouri if:
1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You've had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the > same day.
3. You know what a mule is.
4. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
5. You use "fix" as a verb. Example: I am fixin to go to the store.
6. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal. 7. You install security lights on your house and garage .... and leave both of them unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car ... for your OWN car.
9. You know what "cow tipping" is.
10. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, B B Q and ketchup.
11. The local papers cover national and international news on one page but requires 6 pages for local gossip and sports.
12. You think that the first day of deer season and the first day of trout fishing are national holidays.
13. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm." 1
4. You know all four seasons: Almost summer -- Summer -- Still summer --, and Christmas. 15. You know whether another Missourian is from east, west, or middle Missouri as soon as they open their mouth, or by the barbecue they eat.
16. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite pass time (known as "goin wal-martin" or off to "Wally World.")
17. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good pinto-bean weather.
18. Fried Catfish is the other white meat.
19. You know what the phrase "Hunkered Down" means.
20. You understand these jokes and forward them to your friends from MO and those who just wish they were. "A true friend is someone who thinks you're a good egg even though he knows you are slightly cracked

Public Relations Tour

Yesterday, my co-workers and I went on a public relations tour of area hotels and resorts that we use. We also had lunch at McFarlain's restaurant. We had a great time!

Christmas 2005 Update

Well friends, it has been awhile since I have posted anything on here. I guess I had a lost interest or just got too busy over the holidays. anyway...
My last day of work for 2005 was December 17. That weekend I drove to KS and spent a few days with friends there. As always, we had a great time. Sun morning, Dec 19, we awakened to a fresh new blanket of snow on the ground. It just made everything seem a little more like Christmas. On Dec 22, I made my way through the winding roads of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas to middle TN to visit my parents and other family members. I had a pleasant 8 1/2 hour trip and arrived that afternoon. My nephews and niece were excited to see me and couldn't wait to show me everything new that had taken place since my last visit. One of those new things was a passal of puppies. They were already several weeks old, had their eyes open and were running around. The mother of these puppies, however, is part devil, I think. She is a beagle/rat terrior mix, with a hint of demon. Vicious. Evil. Hostile. I don't think she could have really hurt us too badly since we armed ourselves with a rake, broom, and a stick before making our way to the kennel. As we approached ever so cautiously, the mother tried to attack, but in vain. As I tried to keep her snarling jowls at bay, Darren and Missy discovered one of the puppies lying lifeless away from the group. My mom was there and took the puppy inside to try to bring it back to life. After a couple of days, Lazarus, as I call him, was up and running around, playing with the rug in the kitchen and just being a normal puppy again. It's amazing how quickly he recovered from the grip of death. He has become a favorite at the homeplace and I'm sure will be around as part of the family for years to come.
I had a great visit while in TN. It was wonderful being with all the family for Christmas once more. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and an awesome New Year!

Dino - "Somewhere In Christmastime"

Last night I was priviledged to attend Dino's Christmas show here in Branson. I had perfect seating (5th row, left center), with an awesome view of the keyboard on his Austrian-crystal-plate piano. He has a million dollars invested in this show. The music, choreography, costumes, etc are spectactular! I believe it to be one of the best, if not the best show in Branson this time of year. Visit his website www.dinoplayspiano.com.

Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

A Thanksgiving Poem

A Thanksgiving Poem

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned--the dark meat and white,
But I fought the temptation with all of my might.
Tossing and turning with anticipation,
The thought of a snack became infatuation.
So I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey and mashed potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden I rose off the ground.
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
With a mouthful of ice cream and a handful of pie.
But I managed to yell as I soared past the trees,
"Happy eating to all .. pass the cranberries, please.
May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes 'n' gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize.
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs."

Highway Cleanup

Today, I joined several of my co-workers in cleaning up our company's adopted mile of the highway. I never knew a person could have fun picking up trash.

Ozark Bird Dogs

$50 Christmas Tree

Yesterday afternoon, here at work, they had a contest. We each had to take an 8"x12" piece of green paper, hold it behind our backs and rip it into the shape of a Christmas tree. Surprisingly, mine turned out the best, and I won a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart. Some of the others' looked more like deformed maple leaves. It was fun.

Only in Branson...

I just got back from a quick ice cream run to McDonald's where I spotted this hideous vehicle in the parking lot. I can't imagine being seen in something like this.

Family

A co-worker of mine sent this to me. Thought I would share...

F A M I L Y
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the! blue."

FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?

A Thought for the Day

Some people are like slinkies --
not really good for anything
but they bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.