Royal Wedding

I couldn't sleep last night and no, it wasn't because of my husband's snoring. It was the anticipation of the royal wedding. I woke up at 12:00 a.m. and again at 2:00. Finally at 3:15, I decided to go ahead and get up. Why didn't I just set my DVR to record it?? I did...in fact, I set both of my DVR's to tape two different channels with coverage leading up to the wedding. I have always been a celebrity follower, so this was right up my alley. I remember doing the same thing almost 30 years ago with Charles and Diana's wedding. Sure, I could have watched the tape when I got home from work, but there is something about watching something live as history is being made. Plus, I was really excited about seeing Kate's dress.

I caught myself smiling at today's wedding because with all the pomp and circumstance surrounding this royal couple, you could see past that and see a couple that are genuinely in love and excited to be getting married. You could see it in Prince William's face when he saw his bride for the first time. You could see it in her eyes as she looked at her prince charming.

There is a fairytale element when watching a royal wedding. No expense is spared and it is very elaborate. Over the top really. What bride wouldn't love to leave her wedding in a horse drawn carriage to her new home which happens to be a palace? That is the stuff that fairy tales are made of. With that being said, that is about all I would want of this lifestyle. Just today, I heard the media report that she wore too much mascara today. Really?? I thought she looked flawless. I could not stand living in a fishbowl with every mistake I made being broadcast by the media. There will always be the paparazzi hounding her every move and hoping to catch her on a bad day. Unlike Diana, Kate seems to have found a doting and supporting husband that will help her with every step of the way. And that is what makes it a real fairytale.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave until his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Holidays

I heard last week that some school up north was trying to ban the term "Easter Eggs" and was trying to come up with an alternative name. I mean, really? It seems like with every Christian holiday that we celebrate, we have to come up with an additional secular celebration to go along with it. Like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. I am not opposed to participating as long as it does not over shadow the true meaning of these holidays. Santa Claus and the Easter bunny have stopped by my house on numerous occasions as you can tell by the picture above. But, you don't see anybody trying to overshadow the true meaning of Thanksgiving or Memorial Day. What is it about Christian holidays that offends so many people? Why do we so easily change from saying Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays?? I can tell you in one word. Jesus.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:18

30 days to live....

What if you heard those four words today? How differently would you spend the next 30 days? I am sure I would get rid of the things in my life that do nothing but just waste my time. I doubt I would spend as much time working so much OT, and even less time on Facebook. I doubt I would spend one second of my 720 hours to worry over things that do not matter. Things like my weight, how clean my house is, or the latest style. I wouldn't waste one second of my time listening to gossip or backbiting. I would not keep score or waste time on past hurts. I wouldn't waste any time on petty arguments. I would spend more time with my husband and say "yes" the next time he asked me to tag along fishing or to chop wood. I would spend time with my girls and my loved ones. I doubt I would miss the opportunity to let people know what they mean to me. How much I appreciate having them in my life. I would imagine I would spend more time in God's word and in prayer. I would probably speak to the ones closest to me to make sure that they "know that they know" where they are going to be spending eternity. How much more fervently would I pray for my girls or for other's? I would probably have no problem staying away from the sins that so easily beset me. I would attempt to keep my life cleaner knowing the day is drawing near for me to meet my Creator. The thing is we never know when God will take us out of this world. None of us are promised tomorrow, much less 30 days.

Boast not thyself of tomorrow: for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Proverbs 27:1

Being a kid....

A co-worker was telling me how his young son had just learned to ride a bike. The only problem he said was that he wanted to ride it all the time and to do that, a parent needs to be outside to keep an eye on him. I can't even imagine how much fun riding a bike would be if you had to stay in sight of someone. Learning to ride a bike in my day granted you freedom to roam the neighborhood. Wheels at 6 was a close second to wheels at 16. My husband tells me of how he used to get up on Saturdays and get on his bike with a packed lunch and ride all over town. I am sure his mother worried about his safety, but probably more in the way of getting bit by a snake while in the woods rather than getting snatched by someone looking to cause harm. My how things have changed....I can remember when my parents would go grocery shopping, they would ( and could ) leave all four of us kids in the car. We would roll down the window and just wait for their return. Nobody every came close to snatching us. I can't even imagine being able to do that now. When Halloween rolled around, my parents would drop us off across the river and we would walk all over the neighborhood and meet up at a designated time. The only reason a parent would want to go through your candy would be to get a piece of the good stuff. The thought of somebody tampering with the candy was just unheard of. My girls went house to house by way of a car and usually to only houses of people we knew. It saddens me to see the things that my generation had the priviledge to enjoy is becoming so foreign to the younger generation. Things that a kid should be able to enjoy. I remember that my parents did warn us of "bad" people, but not like parents have to instill in kids today. A kid only gets to be a kid once and riding a bike outside of their parents vision should be an option!

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.

II Timothy 3:13a

II Timothy 3:13a