On the First Day..... 

On the first day God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I'll give you back the other ten." So God agreed.

On the second day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty-year life  span."

The monkey said, "How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?" And God agreed.

On the third day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty  years."

The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty and I'll give back the other forty." And God agreed again.

On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. I'll give you twenty years."

Man said, "What? Only twenty years! Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty the cow gave back and the ten the monkey gave back and the ten the dog gave back, that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You've got a deal."

So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and for the last ten years......  we sit on the front porch and  bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

Hi All!

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the warmth of the sun today without the wind.  On Monday, surgery went well.  Dr. Trenhaille said it was the worst frozen shoulder he had ever seen and he spent 3 hrs trying to meticulously free it up.  Everything else looked good.  Post- op pain control was not optimal, but the pain specialist that I saw was not taking calls and we had to deal with a partner who was on call, and he was not very empathetic.  I spent the night totally awake, pushing my pain pump button every 6 minutes to try and get some relief.   Pharmacy also could not seem to find any of my medications and things that were ordered at 5:30 am finally arrived at 10 PM.  They sent the PT folks right after me and they had no trouble finding me.  I had 2 treatments Monday after surgery and 2 again on Tuesday prior to being discharged and I have had daily PT since.  Pain control has been pretty good at home and I am on the same pain meds that I was on preoperatively and I think that is pretty good.  I can already move it better than I could preoperatively and the PT people are very enthusiastic... so I am trying to be hopeful.  Thank you to all of you who have prayed, helped, or have been supportive in any way.  It has been a great help and I could feel the Lord's presence as they put me to sleep and woke me up.  Pain was nothing like the first time and I thank Him and all of you for that.  Now I have to just keep chugging along with PT and get range of motion and strength back.  I am weak as a kitten at this time.  Tami sent me this today and I thought that I would pass it on.  I know where I am sitting...  I think the first line in the 3rd paragraph says it all.  I think you all for loving me.

A little something to put things in perspective...  An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree . Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live. "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge."  (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different  because of it. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.  To realize the value of a friend...lose one.  The origin of this letter is unknown.

Again, I thank all of you.  Continue to remember me in your prayers if you can and I will remember all of you in mine.

God Bless You All!

"7 Second Prayer"

"The 7 Second Prayer" Just repeat this prayer and see how God moves!!

"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen."

Please let God bless you.

THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ANGEL TO ME

A POEM

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away,

"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Remember to always say what you mean.  If you love someone, tell them.  Don't be afraid to express yourself.  Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.

Because when you decide that it is the right time it might be too late.  Seize the day. Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today.

SMILE, even through your tears!!!!