Life In The Key of C

Just as I was going to retire to the bedroom last night, I made the usual trip to the 'nerve center' of my home to put the computer to bed for the night. Before I clicked on that shut down button, I thought I'd better check my e-mail. A person just never knows when very important news will be popping up in that Inbox!

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Well, sure enough, I had some recent pictures of the little darlings who live way off in their magic kingdom in Houstonland! The one posted here is the grandson during his piano recital.

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I went to bed thinking about the music that L is learning to play. As a beginner in the world of music, he is beginning in the Key of C...simple songs with no sharps or flats. I was thinking about the music when I turned out the light. As I was trying my best to get into a sleep mode, I was thinking about the Key of C and how it could relate to life...no sharps (mountain-tops) and no flats (valleys).

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At first my thought was, “Wouldn't it be great if life was this simple?” Yea!! No sharps, no flats...just plain and simple. Then my next thought was, “How dull that would be!” Receiving the pictures of the grandchildren is definitely a sharp; hearing from friends and loved ones is definitely a sharp; all the good things that occur are sharps. Sharps are what gives your life the excitement and makes it worth the living.

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Which brings me to another “sharp” for yesterday. Hubby's family is very large and wide-spread. As the years have gone by, and all the nieces and nephews have grown up and formed their own lives, we've all gotten away from each other. H's only local niece called me and said that she had come across a listing for a book in a little catalog she receives. The author of the book is Gracie Malone.

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J asked, “Could this be OUR Gracie Malone”?

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To make a very long story short, yes...Gracie Malone is the wife of a nephew and cousin to the niece who made the discovery. Through the magical process of the internet, Gracie's website was found.

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And, what a treasure it is! Please visit her website and see what she's about!

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Living my life in the key of C? I think not. I'll take the sharps along with the flats. That's what makes life on earth worth the living!

A Dreary Day Made Bright!

It has been dreary and rainy all day. The floors of my house have a rut in them where I've paced from room to room...looking out first one window, and then another window.

Not only has it been dark and dreary, it has been very cool; cool enough that H lit the little gas heater in the kitchen for me to back up to and feel the warmth on my body.

Isn't it awesome how God can suddenly change a dreary day into a bright sunny one? This happened just about 30 minutes ago!

The telephone rang and it was my sister calling...just to say "hello" and to let me know she loves me! Now, for some people, this might not be so unusual...but, M NEVER calls! especially if there's not specific news she needs to tell me.

So....I'm saying "Thank you, God, for the blessings, large and small, that you give me!"

Don't Argue With Al

I'm sure this will be of interest to all who read this post. Most of you have had a burning desire to know this...I just know you have! There is a viable usage for the word IRREGARDLESS!

For years, our son-in-law has used the word “irregardless”. And, for years, his wife (our dear daughter) has argued that there is no such word in the English language.

This weekend, the subject came to the forefront, once again. The son-in-law called (long distance) and queried, “Is irregardless a legitimate word, or not?” And, I, in all my wisdom, told him “No, I didn't believe so but I would try to find out for sure.”

I checked on dictionary.com, and, sure enough, there are 4 entries for the word...first entry being:

“Irregardless is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir- and -less. It was probably formed on the analogy of such words as irrespective, irrelevant, and irreparable. Those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis. Irregardless first appeared in the early 20th century and was perhaps popularized by its use in a comic radio program of the 1930s.”

Irregardless may be a nonstandard word to most people, but Al will continue using it irregardless of what others may think!!

Through the years (29 that he has been a part of our family) I've learned that Al is more often right than wrong, much to the chagrin of various family members! He has an uncanny knowledge of the most trivial of trivia, dating from decades before his birth.

We all cringe at the thought of being involved in any form of family entertainment that requires guessing games or trivia games. He always comes out the winner! (his specialty is titles/recording artists of the 40's-50's.)

But Glory! We have another son-in-law with the same attributes as Al! How lucky is that?? Can you imagine what it's like at a family gathering with Jeff and Al together? Of all the things you can be thinking of....BORING should not be one of them.

Irregardless, the word irregardless is with us to stay!

Deena

January 14, 1957 - February 10, 2007

The family's sun...the family's joy. Today, Valentine Day 2007, is the first day without her. She has received the greatest valentine of all, the love and admiration of Jesus, resting in His loving arms. She has been an inspiration to the whole family...keeping the faith through 9 years of battling cancer.

Amazing Grace!!

"If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
all filled with tears for me;

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I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

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I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

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But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
that an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,

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And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.

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But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

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I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.

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I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.

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If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.

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But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.

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And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

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But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

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He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you.
"Today your life on earth is past,
but here life starts anew.

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I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
and since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past.

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So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart "