It Certainly is Golden....

This beautiful couple is my Mom & Dad...seen here at a luncheon given by the Cheektowaga Senior Center in celebration of all the couples in the town celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries. At this particular luncheon, there were 34 couples all gathered with family & friends to celebrate this milestone in their lives. That's quite amazing, don't you think? Especially in this day & age, and culture, where statistically every 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce. How awesome it was to be a part of this event celebrating Harry & Dottie Smith's 50 years together...known to me simply as Mom & Dad.

Take a look at them on day one....(gorgeous aren't they??!!)

So, 50 years, 4 children and 6 grandchildren later, we will gather family & friends for a private celebration of their golden event. This is my tribute to them. Their love, their life.

I love you Mom & Dad!!

Congratulations....you are a true inspiration.

Cars...Love to Hate Em...

This is not Alex's car. But I'm pretty sure its the twin sister... I just wonder if the owner of this particular car has had as much fun with their car as we have had with his?? Hmmm....I doubt it. Allow me to elaborate....

As most of you know, I flew down to West Palm Beach, FL, in order to spend a few days with my son & then jump into his "new" 1996 Volvo & drive the 1,500 miles back home to Buffalo. What is the saying about the best laid plans...??? One night after a late night hockey game, we come out of the rink & the new/old car won't start. Thank God we bought the oh so smart (if not fun) gift of AAA for him when he bought it. So, left standing in a parking lot at 12:30 in the morning, we watched it get towed away. The greatest thing was just prior to its ultimate removal, macho hockey players now turned Budweiser drinkers, all stood around grunting & speculating as to what might be the problem. Even with their apparent lack of expertise, they managed to accurately make the diagnosis...fuel pump. Twenty-four hours & $620 later (they did a few other repairs as well...hey, as long as we were at it!), the car now runs great! Yippee!! Our question now, is it do we trust it to make the trip all the way up the east coast? We've opted for no.

After much discussion between Alex & I, not to mention conference calls with Norm back home, coupled with escalating gasoline prices and the fear of breaking down in Backwoods, Georgia, we are now flying home courtesy of Jet Blue. This decision, albeit something that we are all at peace with now, leaves my son home in Buffalo for a month & a half without a car. Four drivers, two cars...should make for an interesting summer.

I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cost of repairs & final registrations for Alex's new/old car has completely tapped him out, and has taken a pretty big chunk of mom's money as well. Dad...he took care of the plane tickets. I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I'm staying a few extra days...in a house with 6 college guys...I'm sure they're thrilled. The upside...I'm staying a few extra days in 85 degree, beautiful sunshine with an ocean about 5 minutes away. Not a bad place to sit & lick your wounds. Of course, its Burger King or PB&J's for us for the next few days...but hey...we've got an ocean.

I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!!!! But did I mention the ocean??? See ya'll when we land.

Courage...

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God

will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

I can imagine that Joshua & the Israelites were feeling all of those things that God commanded against. They had just lost Moses and knew that they would now have to cross into the Promised Land without him. Moses was their leader and now he was gone & they had to figure out how to carry on without him. Sure, they had Joshua, but wasn't he like the #2 guy?? Could they trust him?? And what exactly would they find in this Promised Land? Would it fulfill all the hopes & dreams they had been holding out for in their many years of waiting? I'm sure they felt terrified, discouraged and anything but strong.

I was reminded of this scripture this past week while attending a church service at Christ Crusaders church on the East Side of Buffalo. You know those moments when the person preaching points out something from God's Word, usually something you've heard maybe 1,000 times, but all of the sudden, WHAM! It speaks to you... Its interesting to me that in this particular piece of scripture, God actually commands them to be strong & courageous. That's how well He knows His people. That's how in tune He is with their emotions, thoughts & hearts. As their Father, He knew that what lie ahead was going to be amazing, but they could not be afraid to take the steps forward necessary to grab hold of it. In essence, they had to trust God. So, He commands them to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS and to not be TERRIFIED or DISCOURAGED. To be perfectly honest, those last two words describe me more these days than the prior two. And that really makes me angry with myself! I want to be strong & I most definitely want to be courageous. In the face of where we still are in the financial world, things are looking grim. But like the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan, I have no idea what's lying ahead. I only know to hold fast to God's promises.

What we also see is that God makes the promise that HE would be with them wherever they would go. That alone gives me strength, and in that small bit of God's Words, I do find courage. Its a scripture that I have come back to over the last few days over & over again. I'm sure that's no accident. Sitting in the pew of Christ Crusaders Church, God allowed those words, His Words, to sink into my heart & mind. That was no accident. He knew that this week would be hard. He knew that I would be terrified of what lies ahead. He knew that that overwhelming feeling of discouragement would rear its ugly head and wash over me over & over this week. Its a daily battle, I'm not going to lie or sugar-coat it. But He commands my strength & courage...therefore He will provide it. He commands that I not be terrified nor discouraged..and then promises to be with me wherever I go. Because He also knows, that I cannot go it alone. And by stating it here, amongst His commands, He is letting us know that He never intended us to take the next step without him.

(Jordan River)

AAA or Jesus???

This is how cool God is...

My son calls us from Florida today because his new (to him anyway) car broke down on his way to work. He's pretty upset, says he drove over a speed bump on a side street & the car literally just stopped. Car won't turn over, no lights, no radio...essentially, no power. When he bought the car a few months back, Norm & I decided we would purchase a AAA membership for him...just in case. However, due to extreme busyness in the AAA offices, they never forwarded his membership card. So, naturally, he has to call his dad. Norm gives him the AAA number, gets on the phone with AAA himself, gets Alex's membership number...Alex sits & waits for the truck to arrive.

Here's where it gets cool. While Alex is sitting & stewing in his broken-down car, now already late for work, his really good friend Todd pulls up. Alex was shocked! Surprised, he asks Todd, "What are you doing here. " Todd simply replies..."I don't know. I just had this strange feeling that you needed help and so I decided to get in my car & go look for you." Isn't that incredible?? What's particularly cool about this is, while Norm is calling AAA & doing all his dad things, mom is praying. I'm praying that God would send Alex some help. Also prayed that whatever was wrong with the car would be able to be fixed and that it wouldn't be expensive..because NONE of us have much money right now. So, not only does Todd find Alex, when Alex tells him what happened, Todd lifts the hood, wiggles some wires attached the battery and moved the battery around, got in the car & presto...it starts!! Alex's response to this is..."Todd!!!! What are you JESUS??!!!!" He excitedly calls to tell us this story & its at this point that I tell him that I had been praying for him. He's like, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!!" Hey, I'm his mom...that's what I do. He was so thrilled that he would be able to get himself to work & will, naturally, have someone take a look at the car so it doesn't happen again.

In my mind what's pretty cool too is that I KNOW it was killing Norm that he couldn't rush to his son's aid. So, isn't it really awesome that Alex's Father could? And bottom line, God got there faster than AAA ever could!

And as we were saying our good-byes with Alex on the phone, just before Norm clicked his phone shut...we overheard Alex say..."thank you Jesus". My sentiments exactly...

Fredonia it is....

Decision made... My daughter has agonized over the school choice for the past probably 7-8 months. After many discussions, walks around the internet as well as walks around campuses, she has chosen SUNY Fredonia as her college of choice. It really is a great campus, with a pretty awesome reputation. It suits her because its small (approximately 5,500 students), a low student/teacher ratio (approximately 25-1) and is only about 1 hour from home. She made the mature decision knowing that she will be starting school as a 17-year old, not knowing how she would handle being really far from home. This school fits her needs beautifully, has an awesome music program, which is something she would love to continue, and has a great reputation for its psychology department. And, as we all know, nothing has to be permanent. Should she decide to venture further from home down the road, that option will always be available to her. But for now, she is celebrating that monkey off her back, and is happy to know where her journey will be taking her this fall.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for my girl. Much appreciated! Check out some sweet pics of the campus....

Fredonia basketball...
















Music programs...















Library...













Kings Hall Auditorium...























I just wonder where my room is..... ;)

Hope....in Odd Places

So, we are at the 3 1/2 month mark here & still no job for my husband. Seems impossible!! What's even MORE impossible, is that we paid all our bills this month, once again, all on time. But it is possible. Its possible because God loves us! He loves us enough to bring miracles & blessings in our lives, every day. Maybe its something we have always received, but perhaps our comfort and trust in our own efforts did not allow us to really see what was in front of our faces. The truth is, He always cares for us. But the intensity to which it now shines right before our eyes takes my breath away. I have had the privilege of receiving work from people who are really in need. It is a complete "win/win" situation. I LOVE the fact that I can be a blessing to someone in need, whether its looking after their home & bills while out of the country, or cleaning a friend's newly built home, or babysitting a child who's parents have had some unexpected family issues to focus on. Its not just a job, you know? Its the wonderful gift of loving another. And sometimes, I even get paid. Not the reason I do it, mind you, but God knows my need as well, and I think I've made more money in the last 2-3 months then I ever did working in my last "real". Crazy huh? I then get the great privilege of being home pretty regularly for my teenage daugther, which Norm & I think is incredibly important. God is creative and lavish in His blessings...and in God's economy, its always a "win/win"! Its being blessed while being a blessing.

Life for my family remains to be challenging, frustrating, overwhelming...you name it. From our own financial concerns, to trying to help our daugther choose a college to attend in the fall while also trying to help out our son already in college. We also have some pretty serious family issues in our extended family as well as serious illnesses in the families of dear friends. It is the kind of stuff that can "rock your world", as the saying goes. But only if we let it. I'll admit it...some days, I do let it. But THANK GOD FOR GOD!! Because I know that I will not stay there. I know that I am not someone without hope. I am His child, and therefore, I always have hope for what's ahead. Its the basis of my faith, my foundation. So, when the storms of life come, and believe me, they do, we cower inside our 4 walls for a bit, but we know our foundation is strong. Our foundation is the living Saviour, Jesus Christ. He promises to never leave us, nor forsake us. So, even as life presents its challenges, sometimes new ones every day, I never feel He has left me or my family. We get knocked down sometimes, but we have the ability to get back on our feet, dust ourselves off, and continue on. He gives us a future. He gives us hope. This is our testimony. This is why we are followers of Christ. I can see how sometimes people turn to drugs, alcohol or contemplate suicide at times. These are people who face these harsh storms of life, but have no foundation. It makes me so sad! Because that's MY job to share with these people the hope that is their Saviour. That there is a way out. You see, He doesn't just belong to me. He died for ALL OF US. He has no favoritism, but wants to love & care for us all. All he asks is that we commit our hearts & souls to Him. Not a bad trade off, huh? Seems too easy. Actually, it is too easy...for us. But for Him, it cost Him His life. He endured ridicule, repeated beatings & and a horrific death in the form of crucifixion to insure that we all will have a place at His table one day. All we have to do is accept His gift, turn from our sin. Sweet deal huh? That's the love of our Lord.

He cares for me & my family each day of our lives. One day at a time is how we are living. But that's okay. Because I know that I will have all eternity to thank Him for the gift of life & for the love He brings to it. How do I describe God then? Miracles, life, hope, joy, strength, courage, forgiveness, patience, integrity, love....these are also the gifts that He has for us. I can live in these gifts every day of my life, no matter what the storms of life bring my way. That's the best gift of all.

College Road Trip...

The search continues to discover which school my daughter will spend the next 4 years of her life. Presuming, of course, that she stays at her first location. To be honest, her first choice of schools was SUNY Geneseo. Now wouldn't you know it...she gets accepted to 6 other schools, but NOT the one that is her first choice. Bummer. Yeah, we know, it "wasn't meant to be" and "God always has a plan", but in that moment of opening the letter that she had been anticipating for months only to find a denial, was crushing. Not just for her, but for her parents who hate to see their daughter disappointed. There were tears, and a few days of complete frustration, but she's coming around. Praise God, she has options. Many options. Like I said, she's been accepted to 6 other universities. Now comes the challenge of deciding which will suit her best & where she feels she'll be comfortable enough to tackle the arduous task of living on her own for the first time while accomplishing success in her chosen major of psychology. No small task. So, one day a few weeks ago we all took the trek to University of Pittsburgh to check out the campus. Had the tour, etc. She likes it, but it just might be a tiny bit too far from home (4 hours) for my 17 year old. Time will tell & God knows...so here are some shots from the day....

Norm getting serious about the college road trip with his 2 girls!











Did I mention the flat tire we got on our way down?? Contrary to the above picture, I was driving at the time. So at roughly 70 mph & we get a flat on some highway, somewhere in the middle of PA. Took a whole hour off our schedule!











Yeah, we had to call AAA & this dude changed it for us. He thought we were nuts for taking his picture...but I just couldn't resist. All part of the experience of the day!

What you see as you drive onto campus. Pitt actually sits right in the middle of the city of Oakland. So why is it University of Pittsburgh??

This is an old cathedral that sits in the middle of campus and has been converted to classrooms. The next couple shots are of the inside. Beautiful...






























An upstairs view of the student union.











The Heinz Memorial Chapel. Gorgeous...these are some of the inside...

A campus ballroom. Everything has so much history to it (just a fancy way of saying its an old campus! But beautiful...)

Main road leading through campus.

So, bottom line, I think our girl liked what she saw. Its a busy campus, in a very urban setting (very unlike Geneseo), but so much happening there. Again, time will tell...

This is just one choice....we'll see where the next college road trip leads....

(Oh....and not only did our day begin with a flat tire...it ended with a parking ticket. If I was someone who believed in "signs"...these may not bode well.)