BIRTHDAY BASH BLESSING

(Birthday Boy in Yellow)

Today is my oldest brother's birthday.  So yesterday I hosted a birthday dinner in his honor.

                                             He is 60 + 1

And even though the thought to do this didn't "hit" me until Tuesday, all but one of his family members were able to attend.  My kids & grandkids of course were not here because of distance & church obligations :(     but his were here, and after all it was his party.

As I was cleaning & and cooking for the late afternoon event I thought: "It feels like I'm cooking a Thanksgiving Dinner"----- Little did I know that before the day was over that would be exactly what it was---a Thanksgiving in July- legacy- making- day..

Now I am the oldest of three siblings.....


                           I am 60 + 2 (and proud of it)


First I must give credit to my precious sister -in- law for keeping us together after our parents died.  Thank you, Sis for teaching me-- I think I've finally got it now... For you see, besides the Lord, your family is the most important thing on this earth. Stay as close & connected as miles will allow & heh--today with so many technological ways to communicate, miles are only a small problem.
                                  
           We shared our intimate sorrows & and joys,
                       we reminisced about childhood pranks,
         we posthumously thanked our parents for our "raising",
                       the guys played washers in the back yard
       the gals played dolls--with the real live 9 mo. old doll (granddaughter) in the cool house
We picked, played, and sang some of the old hymns of the faith.                                                                                                                                      

Yes we did all of those things we used to do years ago before we got so techno-advanced.  I guess the only thing that we didn't do of yester-year was sit on the front porch and watch the cars go by and wonder: "where are they going so late in the evening"?... LOL !! What a blessing; but the thanksgiving part came at the end of the evening when my brother said:

"YOU KNOW SIS, IT'S ONLY AFTER IT ALL FELL APART THAT WE ARE FINALLY GETTING IT TOGETHER"


I do not have to go into all of the implications in his life that brought about that statement for some of you to understand exactly what he's talking about.  Most of us have been there.  But it takes courage to say it out loud, especially to your sister, and more especially to your God.

So if you feel that your life has fallen apart or if you are praying for someone whose life has fallen apart..

                            REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD...because God has got you, got them where He can put it back together again His Way.... which is the only way it will work..

No Thanksgiving day in November has been more joyous or more blessed than July 31st 2010 at my brothers 61st Birthday Bash.  I've only been praying for this day 45 years.  So dear ones, whatever you're praying for  ---- DON'T QUIT!!!

God has us all in the palm of His hands and

  "He makes all things beautiful in His time." Ecc. 3:11