A New Little Friend

I brought home a puppy on Monday. He is a little morkie. Landen would be so incredibly happy for me. He always wanted me to have a dog because he loved dogs so much. He thought it was "just what I needed". I’ve held off so long because I guess I am so selfish but I feel like God would use this to take me to a greater level of maturity... so here we go...I may be starting yet another blog!

I was blessed to find the little guy. I have yet to name him…thinking of Martin, Luther, Bently, Franklin or Duncan…soon to come. I remember our first puppy was a Skipper. Dad named him. Landen and I came home from staying at our grandparents in Nebraska. I was 5 and Landen 3. Dad thought it was time for us kids to have a dog to learn some responsibility. A family had just moved to our town from Louisianna bringing a cocker spaniel and several little puppies and he got one for us! Skipper was nothing but a black fur ball. He grew and grew. Skipper chased us around the yard. He played house and church with us. He drug us on walks. Then a few years down the road we added to our family a black schnauzer. We named him Spritz. Spritz was very hyper but fun for us kids because he was much smaller and after 5 years ran out in front of car and was ran over. Our little hearts were crushed. 2 years passed. We continued to care for Skipper but our hearts missed Spritz and for Landen’s 13th birthday mom and dad took us to Henry, Nebraska (almost in Wyoming) to pick out a little schnauzer fro, m a litter. We came home with a tiny salt and pepper puppy who would be the best dog we ever had. We had the most terrible time coming up with a name for the little guy. We had thought about Duncan for him…Pepsi, Sherlock and Rascal but ended up with Colonel MacDuff and nicknamed him Duffy. In fact we had decided on Pepsi and went away for the weekend with out cousins. When we returned our mom called for “Duffy, come see who is home.”
“Duffy?”
“Well, your Dad and I thought he looked more like a Duff.”
So his name became Colonel MacDuff.
McDuff was actually more Landen’s dog than anyone’s...but I loved caring for our dogs with my brother. I'll have to locate some more pics.

District Council June 1-2, 2010

At Distirct Council this week. I remember a good many councils which we attended with our parents in the Nebraska district. I remember the services were always super and I enjoyed getting to see my cousins whose parents also were pastors and meeting people. During the morning sessions our mom would take us shopping or swimming then in the afternoon or evening we would attend the services.
This has been a great council. The James River Assembly team spoke. This moring we had a dear time in communion and they led out in the old song "The Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power". Wonderful song but also brought me back to singing with my family and also attending such valuable meetings with my family. I have never enjoyed ministering with anyone more than my brother. What a blessing and honor to minister with such a talented man of God.

Memorial Day May 31, 2010

Two years ago TODAY I met Landen and Joyanna in Baltimore where we stayed the night at the Hilton Garden Inn and spent the entire next day exploring good old Baltimore. We sang, “Good Morning Baltimore” all throughout the day!

Vacation May 30,2010

Vacation. Nothing like it. My friends Angie and Asa are coming for a visit today. This morning I awoke and went out for breakfast with a friend. On my way to pick her up on this bright summer morning I saw a gentleman wearing shorts and a “vacation shirt” crossing the asphalt lot! My heartbeat sped up a bit and I smiled because it was simply from the excitement of the thought of vacation.

Every year our family tried to take a break from everyday life whether it be a simple little get a way like a camping trip or a great vacation to Disney World. Landen and I loved vacation! A lot of times the smell of asphalt…fried foods or sun screen would excite us. We would say, “It smells like vacation!”.
Many times we would have countdowns. One year I remember a countdown starting 72 days out! I believe that was the year we took our foster brother and sister camping in Missouri! It really was one of our best vacation memories and most anticipated. We camped for about a week and went in and out of Silver Dollar City all week because we all had season passes. In the evenings we would miniature golf, swim or just hang out by the campfire roasting marshmallows, talking and joking. Of course we walked the Branson strip and went shopping.
My sophomore year of college our cousin Karlyn came down to Missouri and we showed her all around. Such warm memories…our favorite jokes of that week was that we were looking so forward to discovering Rockaway Beach. We had heard that is where the movie stars used to vacation. Once we arrived at the rundown resort and it was raining we were thoroughly disappointed but couldn’t keep from laughing and it has become a life long joke when faced with disappointments. This vacation was before everyone had debit cards. Landen and I had checking accounts but no one took checks! So we made many trips to walmart buying 25 cent packs of gum and writing the check for $20 over so we could have change! Praise God for Debit cards!!!
My senior year of High School we went to Disney World on frequent flyer miles. It was a dream fulfilled for my parents because they had always wanted to take us but never worked out until then. We had the time of our lives!
My favorite vacation of all was probably visiting our friend Itsuko Tiara in Okinawa, Japan. Just Landen and I went but we had such a memorable time. I wouldn’t have gone with anyone else!
I wish Landen was here to go on another vacation or I could take his little kids to Disney or visit them but I can’t…however someday I am going to take an eternal vacation.

My Haitian brother John wrote a song about that:
I’m gonna take a vacation
Past the moon and stars
I’m walk on those golden streets
No Traffic No cars
I’m gonna lay in the Sonshine
I’m gonna drink from the River of Life
I’m going home for vacation
I won’t be coming back!
So everytime you get a thrill of vacation coming…whether it be a scent or sound or feeling…keep in mind of the eternal vacation ahead! I’d be thrilled to have you join us!!!