Yesterday we buried Janice. I don't know how anyone else felt. I can only say how I felt. I vowed to myself that for Danny's sake, and the girl sake, that I would hold it together. And I believe that I did pretty well. And I was thinking as we all stood at the graveside how devastated my brother Danny, and my nieces Angela and Stacy must be at that moment. Danny, after all the company has gone and the house empty, except for the echoes from the past. That's when it's going to really hit my brother. And my nieces, Angela and Stacy, who often talk to their mother about the problems that they had in their life, or tell her the exciting news of the day's event's. They will miss her so very much. It's going to be hard the next few days and months for the three of them. And I pray that God will be there to comfort them when they need it. A mother is a loss one never gets over. My mother died quite a few years ago, and I still miss her as if it were yesterday. I still cry often because I miss her so much. And you who have lost your mother know exactly what I'm talking about.

I want to say to my brother Danny, and to my nieces, Angela and Stacy. I believe with every fiber of my being that Janice is safe in the arms of Jesus.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ stated these words. I believe these words. I believe there is no death. I believe that Janice left her earthly body just as she took her last breath. And I believe that she was welcomed into heaven with angel’s harps, and Angel choirs. I believe that there were so many hallelujahs, and so many welcome home shouts that to us earthly beings it would have been deafening. I believe that as Janice walked through the Valley of the shadow of death, that she laughed at it shadows knowing there was no such thing for Christians as death. For she knew that a shadow can't harm you. I believe that Janice looked into the face of Jesus Christ and said, please don't let them be sad for me. Please let them have a happy life. Please let them know that I'm okay. Because Janice always did care more for others, then she did herself.

And here's to Janice, I'll see you when I get there. I love you.

Until next time I wish you all health and happiness, may God bless and may God save.

My niece Angela just wrote on Facebook that she was finishing the flower ordering for her mother's funeral, today. My heart is breaking for her, her sister Stacy and her dad, Danny, my brother. It's hard saying goodbye, especially to such a sweet woman. Janice was an inspiration to all that knew her. She was strong in faith, and she lived her faith every day. She had a kindness about her, and people could not help but love her. She never lost hope, in the five years that she was fighting stage IV breast cancer. She had a strength within herself that can only come from God. No matter what the conditions, she always had hope for tomorrow. When I was up there at St. Francis hospital the other week visiting her, she was making a list for what would be the Christmas Day meal. And as she was making the list she would stop at each item and laugh and smile and have something to say about the item. She would say an item, for example, cherry pie. Then she’d say something like, ”yea we gotta have that, because so-and-so loves cherry pie. It was a joy just watching her. She had joy in her heart just thinking about what a wonderful Christmas this would be.

Sadly, she didn't survive to have Christmas this year. If I were much younger, and more healthier, I'd get the list and have it framed, and each Christmas I would have that meal in remembrance of her. To celebrate her life, and remember her laughter and her smile.
Janice, was a giving person. She wanted to give something to each person that she loved. Willard will never forget how she had nothing to give him but a cookie. Now Willard didn't want to take the cookie, but she insisted. I don't think that he will ever forget it.
Each person that loves Janice will hold her deeply in their hearts, and although we mourn her passing, we celebrate her life.

Merry Christmas Janice.

Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

When forgiveness is hard.

Sometimes forgiveness is the very hardest thing in the world to do. But if we are truly Christians then we as followers of Christ have to forgive the man who killed those little angels in Connecticut.
Maybe you're thinking, there's no way I can forgive such a man, because he did such a heinous thing. It's going to be a hard thing for all of us to do. But if we truly want to be as Jesus, then we must freely, yes freely forgive even this man.
Can we not remember that even as Jesus Himself was being beaten, stripped naked and hung on the cross of Calvary to die a very cruel death.

Isa 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

  He prayed a prayer of forgiveness for the people who had done all that to Him.

Lu 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

According to my study of the Bible, that was the only time that Jesus spoke, from the time of his arrest until He said those final words" it is finished ". I believe that Jesus wanted us to know that if we dig deep enough within our hearts there is forgiveness there. And we must do that, we must reach deep in our hearts and somehow find forgiveness for the man who murdered all those children. Even though it seems like an impossible thing.
And too, I think this is a warning to each and every one of us. If we do not carry Jesus in our hearts. Then we leave our hearts wide open for evil to enter in.
Recall the Israelites, when they were serving God, God gave them anything that they would need. He gave them spiritual blessings, and he gave them earthly riches. Then when they would turn their backs on God, He would take all things away from them until finally there was nothing left but God to hold on to. The United States was serving God, but little by little we have turned our backs on God. We have taken him out of our schools out of our government, and many people have taken him out of their lives. God is now, slowly but surely taking all things away from us. It would be nice if He would only take it a way from those that did not serve him. But as the Bible states, when it rains on the ungodly it also rains on the Godly..
The young man that killed those children had turned his back on God. His heart was empty which left plenty of room for Satan to enter in. If you want someone to hate let it be Satan.
Many people are being controlled by evil, and they don't even know it. The hate that each one of us has in our hearts for that man is evil also. Think about it.
Heavenly father, I pray that You will be with the families and loved ones of those who died in Connecticut. I pray that you will be with the students and teachers that have to reenter the school building next week. I pray that you comfort each and every heart. Especially the parents of those little children who died before their time. Heavenly Father bless them, comfort them, and ease their pain. Heavenly father deliver us from evil such as the evil that had entered in to that young man. Heavenly father I pray for that young man's family also. The pain that is in their hearts from what their own family member has done, must be unbareable for them. Lord I know that in your word it is written. Romans 8: 28 –And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. But Lord, I'm finding it very hard, very hard indeed to find any good in what has happened in Connecticut. Heavenly father, We all have hurting hearts because what one man did. Help us all as a nation heal. Heavenly father, we love you and we need you in our lives. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all. Amen
until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, may God bless and God save.

I ran across this in one of my old post. It struck me as so funny, I decided to repost it.

Jesus is watching.
A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said,'Jesus knows you're here.'He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.When he heard nothing more , after a bit, he shook his head and continued.Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard'Jesus is watching you.'Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot.'Yep', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm just trying to warn you that he is watching you.'The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?''Moses,' replied the bird.'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of people would name a bird Moses?''The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.'

Hope you enjoyed. Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, may God bless and may God save the lost.