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{SFTH} *Plenty of Time* 5/1/01
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Kristi flew out to Las Vegas on Sunday to surprise a friend at his wedding.
That means I have the boys all to myself... I know. I can almost feel all you
moms out there shuddering at the thought of a daddy taking care of his two
boys all by himself for three whole days.
Ye of little faith!
I have set some goals, the first of which is:
Keep the children alive until Mommy returns!
So far so good! My other goals are to go to the park, fly a kite, go hiking,
look for nightcrawlers, and do some fishing!
As we sat down to eat dinner tonight, a thunderstorm rolled through the area.
I had been waiting for this for a long time. Why? Because one of the things
that Caleb and I like to do is take our shirts off and run around in the rain,
but the weather has been so cold that it wasn't possible yet this year.
However, today it was close to 80 degrees. The clouds opened up their
reservoir and the rain came pouring down. I looked at Caleb and Connor
and said, "All right! Everyone to the front door and take your shirts off!"
They both looked at me like I was crazy.
"Let's go! Time's a wasting!" I told them.
I herded my offspring towards the front door, took their shirts off and stated,
"We're going to run around outside in the rain!"
Caleb got a big smile on his face, but Connor gave me the look that said,
"Mommy! Why did you leave me with this crazy man!"
We ran out the front door into the deluge and Caleb took off down the
sidewalk, squealing with delight. However, as soon as the first drops of cold
rain hit Connor's sensitive skin, he tensed his little muscles, started crying,
and headed back towards the house. Now, the look on his face said,
"You just wait until Mommy gets home and I tell her what you did!"
The rain definitely wasn't as warm as I thought it would be, but when Connor
saw the fun we were having, he called out to me from the door, put his chubby
little arms out towards me and shouted, "I wanna run too!"
I told him I would carry him while we chased Caleb around, but that he had to
promise not to tell Mommy on me when she got back... Hee hee!
We played tag, ran through puddles, and made the neighbors think that
Kristi must have left me in charge of the kids again...
When the rain first started, I thought, "We'll wait until we finish dinner
before going out in the rain." But my resolve to quit putting off the things
I say I am going to do with my kids kept whispering me to me to get off
my tushy and do something about it....So we did. When the thunderstorm
moved past our house in about ten minutes, we looked up at the parting
clouds, hugged each other, and headed into the bathroom for a nice
warm bath. And I was so glad I didn't let another opportunity to
spend time with my kids pass me by. Something which
I have really been struggling with lately...
Today I also learned that I have some strange children...which shouldn't
surprise me, considering who their father is. As we were driving in the
car, I looked in the rearview mirror to see them playing tag. Yes, my
5-year-old and my two-year-old were playing tag in the car. Now that
might not seem too unusual to you, but consider that Connor was in
his car seat, and Caleb was exactly two inches away from him, with
his seatbelt on.
"Tag! You're it!" shouted Connor after he smacked Caleb on the back.
"Tag! You're it!" shouted Caleb as he tagged Connor back.
Each would turn their bodies, as if to run, every time they tagged
one another.
Ah yes...my future Valedictorians are off to a good start....
Michael
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PLENTY OF TIME
By Betty Jo Mings
He promised his son they would camp out all night,
Get up very early before it was light,
And go to the lake where the hungry fish bite.
But he put off the trip for the plan wasn't right.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He promised his wife they would soon get away
For a week, or a night, or just part of a day,
To rekindle the love they had let go astray.
But his work for the present left no time for play.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He promised his daughter he'd teach her to ski.
When he bought snow equipment, she shouted with glee.
But each year as she dreamed that the ski slopes she's see,
Her skis gathered dust -- on deaf ears fell her plea.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He vowed to his parents he'd visit them more,
And offer his help with a much needed chore.
They lovingly looked for his face at the door,
And grieved when his absence went on as before.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He thought that one day when his life was more slow,
He'd find a good church where he wanted to go,
And learn from the Bible the things he should know,
While talent and goods on the poor he'd bestow.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
His death came before some folks thought it was due,
And it shocked all his family, and friends that he knew.
So they buried him high on a hill with a view,
To watch through the seasons as life starts anew.
After all -- he has plenty of time.
Betty Jo Mings
bmings@netzero.net
Send Betty Jo an e-mail and let her know what you thought of her poem!
________________________________
I am a Christian Grandmother (married over fifty years) and I live in Garden
Grove, California. I have been writing poems and articles since I was nine
years old. In both High School and College (Biola University) I wrote for
their school papers. I have had many poems and articles published in
books, magazines, newspapers and periodicals, I have a Website that
features my poems and articles. The URL is:
http://members.truepath.com/BettyJoMings/
I greatly appreciate visits and comments in my Guestbook.
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Thought For The Day:
"A person consists of his faith. Whatever is his faith, so is he."
--Indian Proverb
Verse for the Day:
"As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man."
--Proverbs 27:19
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Two little boys were playing together when a cute, curly-haired girl walked
by. One kid said, "You know something? When I stop hating girls, I think
I'll stop hating that one first!"
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"Behold your little ones. Pray with them. Pray for them and bless them. The
world into which they are moving is a complex and difficult world. They will run
into heavy seas of adversity. They will need all the strength and all the faith
you can give them while they are yet near you. While they are young, pray
with them that they may come to know that source of strength which shall
then always be taught of the Lord' and great shall be the peace of thy
children." --Isaiah 54:13 TLB
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"He has the players too happy."
--Red Auerbach, the Boston Celtics' general manager, asked if he had
any criticism of Bill Russell's coaching, 1966
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Crazy people who are productive are geniuses. Crazy people who are rich
are eccentric. But crazy people who are neither productive nor rich are
just crazy."
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REQUESTS:
I am asking for prayers for the Luety family today. Stacey Luety, one of
the sweetest young ladies you'll ever meet, had a grandfather who died in a
farm accident over the weekend. Please keep their family in your thoughts
and prayers this week... Stacey, we love ya...
Michael
*******
Dear Michael,
I just have to write a few words to you about something I saw today! Saddest thing I've ever seen! went to a jewelry store today to have a watch fixed....left the store and was looking into a window of a shop next door........on the window of this shop was a picture of a dead baby....one baby that had been found on a street..thrown out of a window....the poster was asking if anyone knew anything at all about this situation...who might have killed such innocence?? I'm so sad about this and I think of you and your wife....who not only love each other but also love your children sooo much!!...Please Michael...pray for this child! And Please pray for the tortured soul of the one who did this!! You and your site bring me comfort and I felt that I could turn to the people who really care!
Thanks and God Bless!
Heidi
ILuvKlwns@aol.com
*****
My grandbaby that I keep during the week is filled to the brim with allergies right now. He is 9 months old and really having a time of it. Also a little boy (Travis) at the church I attend has a serious problem with his back. He started to get up off the floor Saturday morning and something popped in his back. He has been unable to stand since this happened. They rushed him to the nearest hospital who in turn transferred him to Erlanger in Chattnooga. We don't know the outcome yet. Please pray for these and do let us know about Jen's knee surgery. Thanks again for all that you do. Ann
MommaAnnH@aol.com
Recent update:
The little boy (Travis) from church that I mentioned has some kind of infection in his spine that caused his problem. He is in Children's hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga. We appreciate all the prayers. The grandparents also go to church where I do and some time ago they lost a daughter and two grandchildren in some kind of accident. I've never heard the details of that but they have really been understandably upset about this. Thanks again for your prayers.
Ann
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli-- College Station, TX
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