The Passing

The passing of time, the passing of youth to adulthood, the passing of a loved one all tend to bring out so many mixed emotions and memories.

My childhood growing up in a small town in Texas was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.  It was so easy for my parents to show their love for us kids.  With the little things of everyday life to the big things like family vacations and holidays.  Thanksgiving was tables stretched all the way across the kitchen, so much turkey and food it could feed an army and family that filled the house with love and laughter.  Christmas was always special with the smell of a real tree, presents that flooded out from under the lights and tensile and candy....every kind of homemade candy all over the house....fudge, bonbons, peanut clusters...you name it, my Mom baked it. It was a good time, a good childhood, one that so many kids could only dream about.

When we got older and into junior high and high school, things changed as they do in most houses when the parents grow older and the kids grow more independent and we were no exception.  It was harder for us all to show the love we had, even though the love was still there, we all became more distant.  As the years went by and we went our separate ways our lives got more complicated and it seemed that it was harder and harder to express that love.  We knew it was there it was just hidden by so much clutter.

My Dad was a good man, one that would give the shirt off his back if you needed it.  My Mom was a strong and yep stubborn woman at times.  She got her strength from her Mom, a Matriarch of the family, one who being paralyzed on one side from a stroke raised four daughters on her own till my wonderful granddad came into her life.  She could do anything and was always busy doing something, I know....she had me just as busy.  That strength, stubbornness and love was passed to her girls and yep to us kids as well. 

When my Dad passed in September of 2009, my Mom was alone for the first time in 59 years.  As her mind became more confused and her body became weaker and weaker, her strength kept her going and going.  She was a lady that always spoke her mind whether it was good or bad.  She could be blunt  at times but she could be very sweet and loving as well especially when it came to the staff at the nursing home.  She developed a special relationship with each of them and they knew with her, she would be telling them the way it was one moment then telling them how sweet and pretty they were the next.  She was one of a kind and anyone who had the chance to know her knows exactly what I'm talking about.

The time my parents spent in the nursing home was a hard time for them but it was also a time when we had the chance to reconnect, re communicate and reestablish the special relationship we had as kids.  We had some special moments with my Dad before he passed and with my Mom as well.  Her strength kept her fighting almost a year longer than the doctors expected but God knew what he was doing.  Through those months my sister and I had some really Special Moments with my Mom and we were able to express our love and appreciation in a way we haven't been able to for years and it was good.........

So with the passing of my Mom in February, it starts a new era in our lives, one without our parents, their love, their support and guidance but then again....that love never leaves us as it was embedded in our hearts for years.  The easy going side of my Dad and the strength and yep stubbornness of my Mom will always be a part of who we are.

And Our Journey of Life Continues.........

This Past Month

This past month has been rough indeed but it has also been an eye opener in many ways.  Amongst the ups and downs and sadness there were some life lessons learned as well as human nature lessons exposed.  There was also one unexpected and joy filled adventure.

My next few blogs will give me the chance to share some of each of these.  It's been a month and it's time to let out some of those feelings, experiences and adventures..........

First Up..........The Passing

Time For Some Changes

I took a look in the Mirror this morning and didn't like what I saw.  Sure I've been under the weather but I saw too many frown lines, a body that needs some exercise and the wear and tear of too much stress lately.

Time For Some Changes.

I took a look at the TV and saw so much death, so much tragedy, so much bickering and fighting and so much sadness and I thought I had it bad.

Time For Some Changes.

I took a look at the World around me and saw so many people totally consumed with their life, their wants and needs, their demands, their addictions, their world that is consumed with Me...ism and wondered if this was me and my life as well.

Time For Some Changes.

I took a look at so many people that have lost their joy, their purpose, their hopes and realized that yes Mr. Lin, they've not only forgotten how to Snatch Joy but they've also forgotten how to Enjoy Joy.

Time For Some Changes.

I took a look at my Church and found out that they were there for those on Sunday and Wednesday, but don't be a complainer and if your going through troubles they seem to have forgotten what Ministry is All About.  There are still those who do care but some have truly forgotten what Church is all about.

Time For Some Changes

I took a look at our Politicians and see the same old bickering, the same old partisanship, the same old in the Interest of the People but it's really in the Interest of the Party.

Time For Some Changes

I took a look at so many of my Blog Entries and saw that my world has been consumed by too much negativity and not enough Positivity.

Time For Some Changes

What About You....

Is It........

Time For Some Changes

Sick and Tired

As I've struggled with a dozy of a head cold this weak and am still recovering from a little eye surgery, I've had an epiphany so to speak about what is and is not important in my life. 

Being Sick and Tired and my body feeling about as bad as it can be for too many days has given my mind some time to work over time....but this has been a good thing.  It's amazing when you're at a low point how so many things in your life seem so trivial, so unimportant, so wasteful and as we look deeper we start to see just how much time we've wasted on those things......at least I do.

Yep....I'm Sick....and I'm Tired...and I know that puts my mind in a low place and yep, sometimes a bad mood.  With the new year I've really been working on taking back my life, not letting my circumstances rule my days and not giving excuses any more for the disappointments and lack of achievements in my life.  Yet this week I've caught my self yelling at me, having conversations with other people that aren't there (no I'm not delusional, just sick and tired), telling them what I really think of their insanity and instability and just getting out a lot of grief, frustration and anger which I guess can be a good thing.

I know when the fever is gone and the head is cleared up, I will feel like a new man, happy, refreshed, relieved and back to normal.  It's like having a bad day.... when you Sleep On It.... things seem so much better, calmer and not near as bad as they seemed the day before......something I've learned and am still learning.  So when I'm no longer Sick and Tired .....life will look better....but....I think it will be better as well.  I really have taken a second look at what I do with so much of my time and realized just how senseless, trivial and wasteful those things are.  We wonder sometimes why we have to get sick or why things happen the way they do but I know God is in control and these things happen for a reason.....even getting a head cold.

Hmmmmmmmm....Interesting.....
Maybe next time I get sick....even though I'll feel like crap......I'll look at it with a different attitude.  Instead of why me....maybe I will say.....

Thank You Lord........

Life

Life.......Hmmmmmm
I continue to write on this subject and continue to be blown away by it's complexity.  We say what it is, we say what we want it to be, we say what it should be but what it really boils down to is each moment, each decision, each obstacle, each achievement, each joy, each loss, each disappointment......and the list goes on and on and on.

Life is a Journey.

We like to think we are in control of our destiny and each time we start feeling comfortable about life.....life  throws us a curve.  How we deal with that curve is what shows our Character, What We're Made Of.......at least so I'm told.  We're told that we should look out for numero uno.....we're told we should be there for others, we're told it's OK to try to help but being the care giver can make you co dependent, put you in a cycle that's not healthy for you.  We're told a lot of things.

It seems that what life boils down to is our choices, our decisions, our ability to cope but interestingly enough, every day is a new day and what we chose or decided or how we coped yesterday is hit with a whole lot of new circumstances that seem to change everything we learned the day before.  We think we've found all the answers or maybe at least some of them and find out those answers don't seem to apply today. Hmmmmmmmm

I know, you and I both are trying to figure out what I'm getting at.  Maybe it's that we need to learn to Remember the Past, Learn from the Mistakes but Let Go of the Regrets.  Maybe it's that we need to take this Moment and Expect the Unexpected, Enjoy the Joy, Take a Moment when the Problems come and Don't Panic but Give them Some Time.  Try to Make Changes so that those Problems or People or People's Problem Don't Rule Our Lives.  Remember that This To Shall Pass and What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Stronger.  Don't Take Things So Serious but Seriously Look at the Gift of Life We Are Given.  Maybe we just need to Stop.....and Live for a change....without trying to figure it all out........

I can't leave out the aspect that Life is a Physical Journey as well as a Spiritual Journey.  What we believe Spiritually can influence our Physical Life in a big way.....
So goes.....Let Go and Let God, Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and All These Things Shall Be Added Unto You.  I have learned that people who do have a Spiritual Side, a Relationship With God, With Their Higher Power do have a better sense of Purpose in Life.  I know that with all the things that life has thrown me I would not have made it without the help of My God.

So.....We Live, We Choose.....
and thus........The Journey Continues.......

Why Wait

The last few months it seems like I've been putting my life on hold.  I've been constantly saying that once things calm down I'm going to make some big changes in my life and start living again......

WHAT

It just hit me how stupid that was.  The Past is Gone, We are not Promised Tomorrow, We Only Have Today.....

I've been wasting so many days waiting on circumstances to change so I could finally start living My Life.  Go Figure.......What's stopping me from living My Life Now.......Hmmmmmmmmm

It's sad that it takes so many of us a lifetime to learn how to Live Life, to Snatch Joy, to Seize the Moment.
It's sad that as the New Year rings in, that's when we decide to make some changes in our lives and usually those changes only last for a few days.

I think it's time to put .........WHY WAIT....... on my computer screen saver so every morning I log on I can remember.......REMEMBER......Now Is The Time, Now Is The Moment to Live Life......

WHY WAIT

                                

My Gift To You

I added a video to my page, "Merry Christmas From Nashville"  as a Special Gift for the Season.   It's one of my songs with photos from Opryland Hotel. Hit the play arrow at the bottom right hand of the box.  Hope you enjoy and May Your Christmas be the Best and Brightest..........
Merry Christmas From Nashville to You and Yours