My Two Dads

I have two dads. They both live in the same place. I’ve only ever seen one of them, but soon I will eel both. My dad,Lloyd was a quiet, caring man with a temper. When he would get mad he would slam and bang things and use bad language, but not real bad. He was protective of me. I remember one time he witnessed something a neighbor kid did to me and my mom had to hold him back from doing serious damage to the kid. My other dad is the most loving and caring being you could ever meet. Not only is he protective, I am also the apple of his eye I really can’t compare him to Lloyd, that wouldn’t be fair. The one difference between the two of them is my other dad does not have a temper. 

Lloyd was a good provider.  He was a good handy man, could fix a car and do all sorts of stuff around the house. He loved to set out in the front yard and listen to the Cub games on the radio or visit with people who would come by. He was a walker, would walk downtown just to see people. Enjoyed being in the mall watching people go by. Kids loved him, animals were attracted to him. If you needed help, he would be there for you. Though the words were never said, we loved each other.

My other dad, well he loved me more and had I known him better, I probably would have loved him more than Lloyd. No offense. This dad, oh the promises he can and did keep! What an amazing man. He could build and fix things too he was a carpenter by trade. He was also a quiet man. Didn’t have all that many friends. Did a lot of walking like Lloyd did. Unfortunately he died young. He was in his thirties. But the really amazing thing was, three days after he died, he came back to life and after that Is when I got to know him. Oh my gosh what a ride it has been.

To this day I enjoy his quiet nature. I take comfort in his caring words.

I see many similarities n him and Lloyd. I know they see each other quite a bit considering they are in the same place. This dad I can run to and get on his lap and talk to him and he will answer me.

I’m glad my relationship with Lloyd was a loving and caring one. I’m glad my relationship with my other dad continues to grow every day.

I could go on and on about both of them.

I’m sorry if you never had the chance to know Lloyd. He we a good guy. However, if you would like to know my other dad, I can introduce you to him, His name is Jesus and he is so awesome that once he walked on water and he made all sorts of sick people well again. But the most amazing thing he ever did was hang on a cross and die for all of us. Not quite sure if Lloyd would have done that for me. Again, no offense.

Lloyd never really made any promises to me, he might have in his heart but never verbally said them. Jesus however made one that he has kept and will always keep,.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Reflections

Ahhh, let us see what reflection I should start with. Definitely not the one in the mirror yet!

I turn 50 soon. For some people their age is a big problem. I have no problem with it. I am the exact age I'm supposed to be and so are you. Deal with it. :-)

Here are a few past thoughts on my life
!. I once had a huge mess of shelving fall on top of me when I was working at a retail store. It was "clean up" day in the storeroom and I was assigned the big job of making sense out of someones mayhem. The shelving missed my head and grazed my shoulder. I was spared serious injury.
2. While driving my mom's car I was behind a city bus that clipped low hanging branches of a tree sending a huge piece if it into the windshield of the car. I had to swerve to delay injury. Thankfully the city paid for the damage to the car. No damage to me.
3. In 1999 I almost died.
4. My health has been stolen from me.
5. Friends have betrayed me.
6. New friends have entered my life along with old ones I lost track of for some reason or other.

If I sat long enough I could think of a lot more but I'm due for Coffee Hour with friends!

The Story Starts Here

Ok, where to start? A few years ago I presented an idea to my pastor to start a food pantry. A team was formed and the Lord told me to  name the pantry "Community Harvest". The first day we were "open" we served a handful of people. Today we serve over 200 families each week. After helping to form the pantry, I stepped aside from serving. For reasons of my own.

 

Things were happening in my life health wise that I needed to focus on and to be brutally honest I just didn't want to be a part of it.

 

To make a long story short, I know it's too late for that.....we will go back a couple of months.

 

Those who know me know I have been going through some difficult times with health and financial issues. Probably one of the hardest things for me is to not have my own transportation. But I digress.

 

Recently though I have had such a huge desire in my heart to serve the Lord again. There are times I am overwhelmed with the generosity and help from my friends and family. When I need them or when they just call and want to take me somewhere. It blesses me so much yet it also makes me feel sad that I can't return the blessings like I used to.

 

So my prayer has been really simple..."Lord, I want to be able to serve you again, to bless people." Thankfully the Lord answers even the simplest of prayers.

 

Because of a new friend from church who lives in Pekin, I am able to get out and do more and do more church stuff. That was Door Opening Number One from God. Yesterday Door Opening Number Two From God was I served at my first Community Harvest Pantry Day ( which is every Saturday Morning) . I worked in the kitchen. I love kitchen work. I helped make and serve  ham, au gratan potatoes, green beans, fruit salad and dessert to about 40 pantry volunteers. I'm not as fast as I used to be and I sometimes feel as though I'm in the way because of using a cane, I still enjoyed it.

Door Opening Number Three from God.....You will have to return for that one. The story continues. :-)

In the meantime, if you have Facebook, check out Community Harvest Food Pantry Morton, Illinois.

The Pursuit of.....

So I've had some interesting man conversations over the past few weeks. Let's start with man #--well I've lost count.

 

So I ruh into this seemingly nice man online who happens to be from my town. We chat for a couple of days and then decide, "yeah, lets meet for coffee" We are both pleasant enough to look at and he assures me he has all his teeth. So then the day before we are going to meet he says to me, "it doesn't bother you that I'm married?" My jaw dropped open and then I began to laugh. I said back to him, "yes it does bother me, you should have told me sooner, nice knowing you."  Another one bites the dust.

 

On to the next one.....another online meeting. Once again with a guy from my own town. This one may take a little longer to talk about. Maybe I can sum it up quickly. This is a Christian man who wants nothing to do with organized religion because he used to be a deacon and once had to fire a pastor. So? As my former pastor would have said, "build a bridge and get over it." I told him that it is important for me to date a man who is a church goer. I don't compromise my morals and principals for the sake of a date. So then we talk about our health issues. I'll accept his, he accepts mine. However, EVERY conversation he has to talk about how much he likes to kiss and cuddle and snuggle and give back rubs and foot massages and when are we going out for coffee, when are you coming over to play Scrabble and more talk about kissing and holding hands and blah blah blah. Hey I'm sure I like to kiss and snuggle as much as the next person but come on. It's such a turn off to me when a Christian man talks about physical stuff. Especially when he talks about it ALL THE TIME. If I were sitting across the table from him the only thing I would be thinking of is he is probably imagining giving me a foot massage and cuddling with me on the couch. No thank you. I'm not a prude, I'm just not giving my cuddles away to just anyone.

 

So here are two more cases that I can report on in my book, "The Joy of Singleness" :-)

 

I just want a nice Christian man who will go to church with me, open my car door, take my arm as we walk, who has a job, who likes cats,  baseball, movies, dining out, and having nice, wholesome conversation. And it would help if he was good looking too! LOL

The Time Has Come

OK, it happened again. This time it was the last straw. Or maybe next to the last. For several years now I have known of something the good Lord wants me to do. I've tried to do it, but never quite made it. This time I am determined. What the heck is she talking about you ask? Well I'll tell you.

First of all let me say I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with couples. What I have problems with is how couples treat singles. I have spent most of my adult life watching couples go out together after church to dine out. I can count on one hand how many times I have been included. I know, it's just their nature to go and do together. But I have observed I'm not the only single person this happens to. Of course I'm not singled out. But maybe I'm the only one who it bothers. ?

There are other things besides dining out that couples neglect to include us singles in. Trips, movies, Bible studies, Sunday School, retreats, sitting next to us in church. For me the one thing that bugs me the most though is the after church meals. A few weeks ago while I stood talking to someone, their group was trying to decide where to go for lunch. I was told, "one day we'll take you somewhere to eat". HELLO? How about today, I like to eat every day.

I have decided lately that I am going to take those things that make me mad and sad and turn them around.

It is to every one's benefit to include us single people in their activities. Then again, do we single people want to be with all these couples?

I'm tired of not being included in 'mom groups' too. Everyone has a group.

I'm an unmarried, non parent and I want my own group. I want those couples to run into us singles at a restaurant and see how fun we can be. I want them to know we have as much to offer as they do. And we like to eat too.

And when I get my singles ministry up and running, we are going to include couples in some of our activities......some. :-)

I think I'll start a "take a single person out to eat" day.

Definition of single......unmarried, uncoupled, children welcomed....simple as that.

It Suddenly Dawned on Me

Have you ever had an epiphany? Sure you have. I had one this morning. I woke up, yawned, stretched and then laid there quietly for a moment and it suddenly dawned on me why I'm where I am in life. Well, one reason that is.

I got up, got my cup of coffee and got on that ever popular website called Facebook. Two big pictures popped up right in front of my eyes to actually confirm my earlier epiphany.

God has been faithful. He has answered my prayers time and time again. And He has even done things for me without my asking. Now that's the kind of man to have around!

But I noticed when I started to get my mind off myself and started praying more for others, I started to be blessed even more. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful friends, old and new, have been to me.

However, there have been people who have greatly disappointed me too. So what did I used to do when disappointments hit me? Cry, moan, gripe, slam things down. I have to admit sometimes I still do some of that. But actually now I pray for whomever has disappointed me. It actually makes me feel better than moaning and groaning. Gotta admit I still cry though.

So, here I am, where I am. I can't get out and go and do on my own like I used to. Not yet. But I can stay at home and pray. So as you go about your day, your life, just remember there is someone praying for you that you may not know all that well. Or someone you do know. Scary thought? Nah, just be thankful.

The Lord is up to something.

Galations 6:9

Holiday Happenings

I'm sitting here eating the chips and dip I bought for New Years Eve. Guess I'm celebrating a little early this year. So I look back on the Christmas holiday and am so thankful for my oldest sister for without her I probably wouldn't have heard from anyone. Then again did anyone hear from me? I am also thankful to have the true meaning of Christmas within my heart and life. Some of my family had a stinky situation to go through on Christmas day. So none of my complaints matter. This year I had two friends that took me shopping on two seperate occasions. Whatever I saw they put in the cart and said "Merry Christmas". I'm thankful for people who enjoy doing things like that! One day I will be able to do the same thing! Back to the chips and dip, maybe I'll have a sandwich to go with it!