Again??

I almost feel sorry for Obama. Almost. This past week, he and Michelle attended some function in England with the Queen. He encouraged everybody to lift up their glass for a toast in honor of the Queen. Nobody, I mean nobody lifted up their glass. Not even the Queen. She kept looking at him and suddenly, it hit him. Nobody picks up their glass before the Queen lifts her. He proceeded to set his glass back down. Come on, we have all done something like that where our timing is just a wee bit off. I have stood up in church to sing and realize that I am the only one standing. Or how about when you start clapping and realize that they are not yet finished and yes, you are the ONLY one clapping. You know that feeling where you just want to crawl up under a rock and hide. Luckily, all my social blunders are not documented on tape and put on the nightly news. Okay, so that is where my feeling sorry for him ends.

It was just last year when Michelle put her arm around the queen...another no-no. Come on President Obama and First Lady, even Fergie knew better than that!! Don't get me wrong, I don't get all the royal protocol surrounding the Queen. You don't eat or drink until she does and when she is finished eating, then so are you whether you are still hungry or not. I just hope she is a slow eater. It doesn't matter if you agree with them, but you do have to respect them. To do otherwise, is well, just dis-respectful and looks bad on the USA. The President has a full time person on his staff whose sole job is to brief him on different cultures. So what is the problem? Are they really just social blunder's or are they both so egotistical and just do what they want to do? Of course, the media played it all down by blaming everybody other than Obama. Can you imagine if Bush had made this same blunder. He would have been ripped apart. I do have to admit though, the look on Obama's face at the exact moment when he realized his blunder is PRICELESS!!

Here's a tip to the President and First Lady - Please, please, please study up on royal protocol before you decide to drop back in for a visit to Buckingham Palace. It is simply just too embarrassing to watch.

It couldn't have been easy....

My mom has been on my mind a lot here lately. Truthfully, she is never really far from my thoughts. My dad either for that matter. I lost my mom when I was 32 - too young to lose your mother. Of course, if I was 62, I would probably feel the same way. I have always thought that I had the perfect mother. I know most people feel that way especially after they lose their mother or as they age, but I was one of those that thought she was perfect even when I was younger. My mom never had it easy. She lost her dad to a railroad accident when she was around 5 years old and was placed in an orphanage along with her sisters. I guess times were hard back then and her mother couldn't / wouldn't do the things needed to keep her babies with her. I don't mean to judge, because I really don't know the circumstances. Orphanage life was all my mom knew until she was 18 years old and I guess considered an adult by the orphanage to make it on her own. She met my dad while he was stationed in Charleston and the rest is history. It still couldn't have been easy on her though. She had to leave what little family she knew to move to wherever the Air Force decided they should be stationed. It couldn't have been easy to bring four "doorstep" children in this world with no family around to help you out. It couldn't have been easy to be a "single" mother while her husband was away defending his country. It couldn't have been easy to have little or no contact with your husband while he was away. It couldn't have been easy not knowing how to drive and still making sure we were all in church. For all that though, my mom was one that was easy to please. One thing my dad was most proud of my mom was that she never complained. Never complained when they had to pack up and move once again. Never complained when she was left at home to care for four children while he had to leave. Never complained about the condition of the house he could afford to rent for his family. It just didn't take much for my mom to be happy. What an example she set for her children! Her happiness was not based on her circumstances, it was based on her faith in God. My mom's early childhood would have given her every reason to take the broad path in life, but her faith in God kept her on the straight and narrow. I would not be where I am today without that seeing that in my mama! She was truly a virtuous woman in my eyes!

Her children arise up, and call her blessed.

Proverbs 31:28a

Say it isn't so....

There are certain milestones that you come across in life that are a stark reminder of just how fast time is flying by. They are also a reminder as to how old you are getting. I just experienced one this past week. It was a class reunion and it wasn't even mine. It was Kelly's 10th year class reunion. Seriously, when did that happen??? I remember all too well that it was only yesterday when I was writing check after check for all those senior expenses. Planning the senior cruise. Stressing over her moving out for college. I know it is very cliche, but time really did fly by.

To top it off, the very same day I received a high school graduation from a boy that used to be in my Sunday school class. Seriously, in my head he is only like 12 - surely not old enough to graduate!

I took a few pictures with my youngest daughter this weekend because of Mother's day...and the pictures told the same story. I am indeed getting older and looking my age. Since I am trying to find something to be thankful for in every situation, I guess I am thankful to be on this side of the dirt.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Justice has been served

May 1, 2011 will go down in the history books. Almost 10 years after 9/11, justice was served on Osama Bin Laden, one of the worst terrorists of all times. I will sleep a little better because of it. I am pretty sure that he was highly disappointed when he woke up in hell instead of paradise with 72 virgins. I am extremely proud of our troops and even prouder to be an American.

A lot of the headlines and comments were of people happy that he was "rotting in hell." I have to admit, that while I am happy that he is no longer a threat, I struggled with my feelings on that. I can't be happy that someone went to hell. God sure isn't. He states in Ezekiel 18:23 "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die: saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" Bottom line, God wanted Osama to repent. Right up until his death, he had the opportunity to repent. That is the amazing thing about grace, it is sufficient even for the most hardened of criminals like Bin Laden.

So while I am rejoicing over our victory, it is just that justice was finally served and not because he is in hell. Bottom line, we ALL deserve hell.

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

Proverbs 11:10