Busted!

My heart is heavy tonight:

1. Children are dying in wars around the world. Seems like another country erupts into war each week.
2. Mel Gibson's conduct during a drunk driving arrest is more than appalling. I cannot believe that he spewed such hatred. If he made The Passion of the Christ from this chair of bigotry and ignorance, then I am not at all sorry that I wasn't able to watch the film. The pain that I heard about was sure to send me reeling. I am so sensitive to such things and make other's pain my own. I cannot believe that he was so awful. And alcoholism isn't a good enough excuse to act like he did. God doesn't hate Jewish people. How can any hate anyone when claiming to do something in His name? It's absurd.
3. My 19 year old asked my father if he would come to his Naval Academy graduation. My father said, "I don't know. I have to think about it." This is typical of my father. He declined to walk me down the aisle at our wedding without giving me more than, "I don't see how I can do that." No explanation. Nothing. It still hurts ten years later. Yet, it hurts me more that my son reached out to him-my father was a career Marine-for his support and my father..."Captain Father" declined. As near as I can figure it, he declines such things because my great aunt left her house to him. He is fearful that someone will break into it, so they just stay there. Never visiting their children or grandchildren. My father has never met Number One Daughter or Little Big Boy. Never. I don't think it is in the cards either. When I think of taking them to meet him, all I can think of is that if they meet him and my mother, they surely will face rejection from them. So I think, "No, thank you, Sir." I don't want my small children to have to live with the rejection that you inflict on your own children...much less your first generation of grandchildren.
4. I hope that peace reigns in Israel and Lebanon.
5. I pray for peace in the Middle East...Sometimes it seems like no one is listening...

Lucky Seven

Happy birthday, Number One Daughter. I am so very proud of you. I can't believe that it has been seven years since we rushed to the hospital during a severe thunder-storm with tornadoes popping up all over the state!

We were going to have her birthday party tomorrow. I almost cried when everything transpired today....

Her special, best friend from first grade was invited to her party, but can't come. She has an emergency Dr. appt. at Children's Hospital tomorrow. She's been having seizures. Yeah. I thought that, too.

As soon as I told Number One Daughter, she looked at me with her Caribbean blue eyes and said, "I'm not having my birthday until she gets better." That simple. That easy. That IMPORTANT to her heart.

I called her friend's house again and left a message that we are postponing her party until their daughter is better. My voice cracked a bit when I left the message.

Angels talked to my daughter when she was a newborn. We almost lost her, but it is obvious to me that Jesus himself holds her hand. She really does walk in his footprints. She is so loving and generous. How many seven year olds would give up their party? I am so very proud of her. My heart just swelled with pride.

Heart

When Barbaro shattered his rear right leg at the Preakness, it was devastating, but now that he is facing death because of the inflamation in his left rear leg, well it is beyond heart breaking.

The fact that he survived repeated surgery to his shattered leg, infections and replacement of hardware in his broken leg was a testament to his spirit. This new tragedy is stunning.

Trauma Centers around the U.S. operate on devastating injuries daily. Hardware is used repeatedly in injuries to heads and limbs. I am curious why it is so difficult for a horse to recover from similar surgery. In my mind, I wonder if it is because sterile equiment and a sterile surgical suite are not used-Mind you, I have no idea if there was a sterile environment for Barbaro's surgery.

I coordinated the Health Careers Awareness Project when I was in college. I selected the participants and used a grant that was awarded to the local JTPA. It was a fascinating program. We witnessed surgeries, treatments and opportunities in the healthcare arena from nursing homes to veterinary practice and EMTs to hospital ERs.

During the trip to the veterinary office, I was surprised that we watched a surgery with no protection for the cat. It was a sad surgery. The animal was being spayed, but she was already pregnant. I was stunned that the vet performed the feline abortion without emotion. It broke my heart.

Anyway, it would seem to me that all these years later, that there would be a way to save this amazing stallion. Each day I read with great interest about how he is faring in the ICU. He has demonstrated so much heart. There is so much honor in a person or animal with heart. I think that we aspire to have heart. If we go into our lives with the same heart in trying circumstances, we would be a very happy world, indeed.

Adoption Outrage

It has happened again. AGAIN. At the very least, it happens weekly. A story breaks in a newspaper that adoptive parents have abused their adopted children...Or foster parents have abused their foster children.

Yesterday, CNN reported that a couple with four children: three boys and one girl tied the boys up to keep them away from food. The girl wasn't starved, but the boys weighed only a fraction of what they should.

Legislators think that they are doing children a favor by making adoption laws. Yet, these stories are not rare-not in the least. It is a huge knife in my heart because these families are "screened." There are background checks. There are investigations. Then innocence is lost when courts award adoption to a man and woman who proceed to abuse their children.

The very same legislators occupy their time by drafting and submitting bans on gay/lesbian adoption. There are no screenings. There are no background checks. There are no investigations. The legislators have convinced themselves that if you allow gay and lesbians to adopt children, that those very children will be "recruited" into the gay/lesbian life style. This is ignorance at the highest level.

A few weeks ago, a report was released that indicates that there is a difference in the brain of gay/lesbian people. It is not an anomaly or choice, it is a genetic disposition. I have never heard of research into what the brains of abusive parents look like under the microscope.

A child needs love and care. When a child needs a family and prays to God, the child doesn't ask for a heterosexual home. They simply ask for a home. A home, a family and love. These are the things that children need to thrive. Rather than allow children to have a loving home, our government has decreed that it is better to place a child in an abusive home than a gay/lesbian home. Ignorance. Insanity. I cannot find the words to express my outrage over this.

A child who has been abused is a million times more likely to abuse children. Apparently our government thinks that the abusive legacy is preferable to a loving, caring home with two mothers or two fathers. It is a crime to be gay/lesbian, according to our government. I encourage you to watch the case and see how short the prison terms are for this couple. This isn't justice; it is a joke.

Gates of Heaven

I want to whisk my man away for a while. I think he deserves a bit of quiet and pampering. He has the best soul. He truly is the best man that I have ever known.

Great Gma, passed yesterday at 4:55 p.m. G was there by her side. He told her, "Everything is going to be okay. It's okay to go." And then she took a few breaths several minutes apart and she slipped away toward the gates of Heaven.

It meant a lot to him that he was there. I admire him for his strength. I'm amazed that he is as okay with it as he is. He told me, "I've been given a great gift." He told me that he didn't like elderly people before this. You know they are hard of hearing and it is difficult to communicate with them, but now he feels a kinship with them. It is very neat.

He isn't impatient with elderly drivers anymore either. He just waits for them to go. It makes me feel bad.

I think that the United States is the only country in the world where we treat our elderly as a huge inconvenience. Others the world over treat them with respect and awe. Haven't they lived through so much! Can't they teach us so much?

I am determined to take this page from G's book and use it to develop one of my own. It is striking how childlike the elderly are. I think it is the way it is supposed to be. The innocence returns as we reach the end of our lives. Only with that innocence are we allowed to walk in Jesus' presence. It all makes sense in my heart now.

My husband is a great man.

Holy Cow, Batman

What a few weeks this has been! Everything that can happen, has...almost literally....

1. 19 year old's car-the one that I bought for him just two or three months ago; his FIRST car-was parked in the street in front of our home and BAM! CRUNCH!! HOLY TOTALED CAR, BATMAN.
2. On the bright side, no one was injured-a mother was on her cell phone when she ran into the car. Her children were with her...one-seven year old was in the front seat. It is almost miraculous that her children weren't hurt. Thank God.
3. Then 19 yr. old bolstered by the mistaken encouragement of his father decided that he needed a status car. He drove all the way to Georgia to pick up a BMW. My son has a Beemer...it sits parked in the same spot as the Grand Prix...tempting fate and distracted drivers...but you can't tell a teen anything, huh? (I love him anyway.)
4. G's great aunt passed away. In true fashion, the doctor gave her two weeks to live and she lingered for four weeks. No one EVER told her what to do or how to do it:) She lived a good long life.
5. G's 102 yr. old great-grandmother is slipping away fast. She is lovely and was born in 1904. G is heartbroken, but taking it very well. He cares for her most nights as she makes her way to her journey home. He is an amazing man, my G. He is gifted with people who are reaching the end of their lives. Truly gifted.
6. I signed a deal to write a mini-book. I did it. I finally signed a book deal. Even though it is a mini-book, I'm just happy that I achieved this milestone. I have wanted to write a book since I before I won a writing contest when I was in the 5th grade.
7. I am listening to Music Choice-80's music channel right now. Mony Mony by Billy Idol is just starting. Do you know the story of Mony Mony? Tommy James wanted to write a dance craze song. He was in New York in a hotel room and a neon light was flashing: M-O-N-Y: Mutual of New York and music history was made:)
8. I miss radio...does it show?

Bless Us With Peace

"Daddy, where are you?" The little girl asked on this holiday.
In the lines of fire, Honey, so that you can live and play.
"Daddy when are you coming home?"
I miss you and don't like to play alone.

"Dearest Darling, The nights are so long without you by my side.
I am brave in front of the children and know they are your pride.
At night I sprinkle your after shave on your pillow to help me sleep.
I meet you in my dreams and feel my heart leap."

"We are filled with pride by your sacrifices so that we can live free.
And we send God's blessings to you and hugs from the kids and me.
We filled the care package with jerky, toiletries and love
Little snacks and gifts made by little hands with great love."

"How long is a month without you? Or even a single day?
Come home to me soon, my Love, I constantly pray.
Just a moment, Darling, there's a knock at the door..."
I turn the knob and see the uniforms before I crumble to the floor.

"Good night, my Darling," I manage to utter as I lay a rose on your grave.
"Good bye, Daddy," your baby sniffles, "you were so brave."
Just before I leave your grave, I stifle a sob-laden cry...
"Dear God in Heaven bless us with peace every Fourth of July."