April 30

No matter how many years pass, the anniversary of one's loved one is generally foremost in one's thoughts.  Earlier this week, my sister-in-law's status on Face Book was one of remembrance.  Their dear baby girl, who had been born with a heart defect, died during a procedure.  She was fifteen months old.  Had she lived she would be 17 today.

April 30 was the day that my husband died, being taken in a horrific traffic accident.  Nine years ago.  The emotions become raw once again as I think of him.  Believing as we do that heaven is real and that he is there is comfort knowing we'll see him again, but it doesn't fill the void that is left with one's leaving.

I watched the Dove awards the other night, something I don't think I've ever done before.  I guess I did because I had recently spent a weekend in Nashville at a Sandi Patty event, and she was being honored at that awards night.  During the evening an award was given to Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife who have helped so many families with adoption.  Mrs. Chapman spoke of their little Maria who was taken suddenly from them, and she said something like this..."we had her for such a short time here, but we'll be together for eternity."  Blessed hope!

A few years ago at a WOF meeting, Kathy Troccoli sang a song that she had written in remembrance of her mother, I think, who had died from cancer.  I believe it speaks for all of us who have lost loved ones.

Men's Thesaurus

Here's another gem from Pastor Tim.  I certainly am not trying to be a male basher here, but these are funny.

"IT'S A GUY THING"
Translated: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."

"CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?"
Translated: "Why isn't it already on the table?"

"UH HUH," "SURE, HONEY," OR "YES, DEAR"
Translated: Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.

"IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN"
Translated: "I have no idea how it works."

"TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD."
Translated: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."

"THAT'S INTERESTING, DEAR."
Translated: "Are you still talking?"

"YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS."
Translated: "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop,' the address of the first girl I ever kissed, and the vehicle identification number of every car I've ever owned... but I forgot your birthday."

"OH, DON'T FUSS -- I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT'S NO BIG DEAL."
Translated: "I have actually severed a limb but will bleed to death before I admit that I'm hurt."

"HEY, I'VE GOT MY REASONS FOR WHAT I'M DOING."
Translated: "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."

"I CAN'T FIND IT."
Translated: "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."

"WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?"
Translated: "What did you catch me at?"

"I HEARD YOU."
Translated: "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next three days yelling at me."

"YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE."
Translated: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse."

"YOU LOOK TERRIFIC."
Translated: "Oh, please don't try on one more outfit. I'm starving."

"I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE."
Translated: "No one will ever see us alive again."

"WE SHARE THE HOUSEWORK."
Translated: "I make the messes; she cleans them up."

Leave it to kids

I read these in Pastor Tim's website this morning...always good for a laugh.

"I teach fourth grade in Ventura County, California. As a fun assignment, I gave the students the beginning of a list of famous sayings and asked them to provide original endings for each one. Here are some examples of what my students submitted.

- The grass is always greener when you leave the sprinkler on.

- A rolling stone plays the guitar.

- The grass is always greener when you remember to water it.

- A bird in the hand is a real mess.

- No news is no newspaper.

- It's better to light one candle than to waste electricity.

- It's always darkest just before I open my eyes.

- You have nothing to fear but homework.

- If you can't stand the heat, don't start the fireplace.

- If you can't stand the heat, go swimming.

- Never put off 'til tomorrow what you should have done yesterday.

- A penny saved is nothing in the real world.

- The squeaking wheel gets annoying.

- We have nothing to fear but our principal.

- To err is human. To eat a muskrat is not.

- I think, therefore I get a headache.

- Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry, and someone yells, "Shut up!"

- Better to light a candle than to light an explosive.

- It's always darkest before 9:30 p.m.

- Early to bed and early to rise is first in the bathroom.

- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a blister.

- There is nothing new under the bed.

- The grass is always greener when you put manure on it.

- Don't count your chickens -- it takes too long."

.

"

Happy Resurrection Day