good day all

to hear the sadness of a
woman i know of because
no escaping the Kennedy name
Mary a woman of my age who left
this behind
4 four 4 children
experiencing such
an act my father
i pray forgiveness for
feeling so hopeless
you chose to take your
own life and a bit of
each of your children
Mary Kennedy's
hopelessness
no SPIRIT in her being
GOD watch over them all
thank you

my blessings for the day

my God wants me here
i woke up
thank you
i want to be here
thank you for another day
thank you God
thank you Jesus
thank you for allowing
me acceptance
is what i am praying for
i am doing what is asked of me
hold me up dear Lord
till i can hold myself up
as i pray for all

have a blessed beautiful day

your friend
someone who cares
love around the world

Oh....how angry the"deceiver" becomes when we accept God's will that we stay here and do what He asks of us.

Praying with you Eva.....dear God hold us up. We stay to do Your Will.

(Gerry)

friend mark

you bet
along with a bond
never forgotten
i can remember times
my babies would drink
so much and so fast
it would trickle out their
beautiful little noses
getting the best
you bet

so happy for all
a feeling that never fades

oh GOD thank you the for
ability too do the same
and was able to help
my daughter when Eva
was born
and even for that short
time she was happy
to have given her the
breast that produced
what was her to begin
with

thrilled i am
you go
Samson

thank you God
for your son Jesus
Mary his mother
and forever
the Holy Spirit
AMEN

happy
so happy
to be here
with your company
along with others
a chain that continues
on with just enough
love and hope
for everyone

your friend
someone who cares
Amen

Blessed here as well, having another day in which to BE God's worker among the world He created. Oh how I thank our blessed Lord for calling me to be with the tremendous gathering who all reach out to live Matthew 28. Such a blessing it is.

While we are on the point, Eva, the image was inspired of Mother Mary feeding infant Jesus. Be there in that moment yourself, for all are able to focus on a moment such as that and realize the Supreme Lord was fed by His Mama. WOW! The image thus realized is at once endearing, precious, a visage of unconditional love.

I texted our son, the new papa, telling him I love him unconditionally. He texted back of his love for me. A keeper, that. Despite the deceiver attempting to rip joy from grasp last week, love overwhelms. HAH!! So there!

Love abounds in me today,
May it also be thus with you all,
I love each of you in a special agape way,
Mark56

So, here we are.... an early Saturday morning, you know the type of day, it was four, and my body in some high pitched little voice said "wake up little guy...." I musta been shocked at the error, because I am far from being a "little guy." Nevertheless, here am I, all full of vim and vigor [vinegar???? Nah, not me..] for the day.

So, am I blessed? If so, well, how am I so blessed? What is it like to feel blessed? Is there a noticeable feeling to being blessed?

Oh what fun.

Can you hardly wait?

Yeah, me too.

Blessed. I take note of all which is going on around me and seek out God's fingerprints on people, occurrences, the workaday bit of life, and feel grateful. You know the bit, people among whom I work, who were at one point when I joined the firm, seemed a bit humdrum, and functioning, now many months later as I take an emotional barometric reading are sharing joy, smiling, laughing at the rise of the business flow for our revenues have been WAY on the upswing since God called me to join them. Yesterday a co-executive shared "Mark, I don't know if you realize it, but it is as though you are our lucky penny, because we have progressively gone through the roof since you came a few months ago!" I shared the joy of the increase and the certainty I felt God had led me to them. God fills our workspace and it is good.

While my darling Cleo has now been a month away with the NC young family blessed by Samson, I took the four of us who are here to dinner the other evening. Bear in mind, this is me, two sons, and our daughter...... We had a BALL!!! Dim Sum, Asian fingerfood hors d'ourvre type small items such as a variety of dumplings, chopsticks used, the whole kit and kaboodle, and not ONE sour note was sounded in our chorus of enjoying one another!! Laughter was rampant at our table. Our server, very familiar with our family sat us at a large table to accommodate the many selections she knew we would take. We sample this... commented on how that was GOOD, and tasted that, MMMM, dipped in hot mustard, or a bit of spicy chili sauce. All of us enjoyed chrysanthemum tea, and smiles were all around the table!! We EVEN all travelled in the same car! Ahhhhhh so nice!

Today, my blessing of a wife returns on a flight touching down at 6:30. Glee is manifest in the house she is returning from the "babysitting" she has done in North Carolina. She has missed us as well, and we all want to be home together again, so the order of the day is Clean the House, Pick up some flowers, head to the airport, and "jump up and down in excitement" as she emerges from the secure airport area.... Yup.

It has so warmed the heart to feel the joy of one whom I have mentored gain success.... and they are many. In my office a few, one who used to move through the day EEYORE fashion, down, in the dumps...... you know what? She was celebrated this week at the office as having done a wonderful job with a particular file, and ATTAGIRLzzz were flying aournd the office. My friend has lost her downcast countenance and it is fully replaced with a beautiful smile!! Another, who bombed an interview with the company and was going to be passed over, took my advice and just showed up to work and help the company through a PINCH of business rush..... for free as an intern, AND she Got the Job, receiving praise ever since!! Smiles are very common in that blessed house of business! Thank you God!!

Samson, what can I possibly write about Samson...... after the passing of his older sister a year ago the 15th, HE came by the grace of the Almighty to bless that little family and our greater family as a whole with his vigorous health, his cooing, laid back "I am fine" demeanor, and has shown the miracle of life come to be enjoyed yet again!!! Besides Cleo and I are now Grandparents....... [can you see the smile on my face?].

Gonna sing for the wedding of a childhood friend high in the Colorado Mountains where beauty is abundant and God's glory is all around. He is a Christian Counsellor, working to help others in need, such a blessed peace of joy hooking up with him once again. That in early June. Gonna sing Ave Maria which I arranged to begin and end with Jesus Loves Me, and it touches the souls of those who hear. God's hope for our joy abounds in it.

Nick, our son who is now Daddy has let me know since last week despite the goings on as I was present in NC with them, the love he has for me cannot be broken, and I replied with the acknowledgment he is loved unconditionally,,,,a demonstration of God's example of love shared for us? I believe so, and I feel blessed.

Had a followup appointment with my blessing of a pain specialist this week. We reviewed findings and talked. The gout, yes, it is real, and may be a mild case, and is responding to revision in diet on my part, to meds prescribed, to the point now that for over two weeks I have not had to place my feet on those blue frozen gel packs.... the initial flare up of gout is abating.... whew.

The right arm, he believes it to be [in his gut feeling that is] RSD. Yes, I know the popular nomenclatura uses other initials, but this was what doc said. Still, it is possible it could be a cervical spine issue which would be potentially correctable with surgery. So, being cut off from MRI [we all know that drill] CT scan and another Nuclear Medicine study to view specifically the cervical spine and the right arm, but preceded with a surgery which will explore and provide answers.... number 30 being scheduled. So how can one possibly feel blessed by this? Well, you are aware from other posts of the prediction by EMG my major nerves all ..... dying in the right arm. God's blessing, presenting the possibility of a means to treat a condition which is capable......capable mind you, of arresting the loss of nerves IF it is truly a cervical spine problem. Sure that would mean even more surgery..... and I am woefully tired of surgery, BUT, blessings are found in the reality with current medical technology and practice to treat problems such as we present. Stop a moment, take account of what our grandparents would have faced in their times with problems akin to ours......pitifully not much. Thus, I am blessed.

Inspri, our blessing from God which has helped many many people all over the world has languished these past seven months because the very new Generation II design which will help far more people because we incorporate a private recipe style memory type foam nearly was the death of our company, as the adhesive manufacturer had suffered trouble with the formula and lamination was not working. All materials are present here in Denver waiting lamination. Only yesterday, God's eyes shown through the clouds as the mystery of the adhesive was demonstrated to my satisfaction to be resolved........ RESOLVED. This means we may have product to fill orders around the world within three weeks!!! I have been urging my family to have faith, as God would not inspire an invention only to see it fade and die when it helps so many people. Yesterday, I was convinced He was demonstrating his faithfulness to us once again. It will be so exciting to show it to Cleo tonight after she is home! And, only last night I was writing to a Veteran's organization leader we had not forgotten, we had stayed the course, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Another Whew, alongside prayer demonstrating the Way.

AND I am so looking forward to welcoming my dear darling wife of 39 years home tonight after helping with our son and DIL this past entire month. She has been sorely missed and will be greatly praised and joyfully received among us again complete with flowers. I honor her in this home, for she is spirit, light, laughter, truth, wisdom, the completion of my being for we have been united for many years, she is my helpmate, my confidant, my best friend alongside Jesus, she has stood by me through all of the torture of pain after the wreck without losing heart, she blesses us all, she is a rock and a glue which binds our family. I was so blessed by God when by his divine presence He guided us together those years ago when we were in college [yes we were youngsters]. Fulfillment of my life here on this place enhanced by her. Thankful.

How blessed am I to feel a heart full of joy because of those relationships written about above, and to life in relationship with all of you, for you, as well, are a completion of the picture puzzle which forms my life. So, I relate one final story at this moment of retrospection. When my maternal Grandfatehr lay in the hospital seriously ill with cancer, he spoke to my Mom of a dream about having been unable to work a puzzle.....he could not just could not find the final piece.... you see, the puzzle picture he was forming was that image which was the sum of my Grandfather's life. Never a religious man in his years and raising twelve children with Grandma, he had not voiced one word regarding faith such that anyone knew. Mom had been concerned for him. Finally, his body having been limited by stroke, he was able to verbalize to Mom he had finally found that last missing piece for which he had so long searched..... the image of Christ. His puzzle complete, Grandfather was at peace, his stuggle at an end, and he closed his eyes and fell into the slumber of passing to the next place, Heaven. Thank you oh my Lord Jesus.

Amen for this prayer of Thanksgiving,
Mark56, in awe at the abundance,

dear friends

my blessing for the day

blessed to have another day
thank you
blessed too be a GAMMAW
yes i am blessed
she knows me
and when i see her
scarcely get to
we connected our eyes
and mind
and i have her full
attention when i sing
to her
blessed my children grown
living life and believe
i am here today God saw
to that
blessed and trying to
be patient to get the
report of my cat-scan
of cervical spine and
right arm
blessed to be able
and have meds to do
its work while the pay
off is constant nausea
and vomit at times
something i try to keep
at bay
the strain on my neck
and ripple effect that
comes along when at
that stage
i will have the opportunity
to smoke my nausea away
we'll see
blessed i still have desire
to not throw in the towel
summer is here
the idea of my body in
cool waters on a beautiful
sunny day is getting nearer
next week is the weekend
blessed to see for myself
as i have the disc of cat-scan
i am no doctor
but as what my eyes could see
extreme difference in neck to shoulder
there is other stuff not in still form
frames are in movement
starting it and watching
not understanding it but i
did it next get report
and off to the BIG APPLE NYC
to see a new neurosurgeon
blessed my insurance still in
effect
time is not on my side
come
September insurance i
will have to fight for
again
blessed to have health insurance
my job offers BCBS of NJ
blessed that i still have
the will to take charge if
need be which is most of the time
blessed yes i am in more ways
that would be never ending
my life my life is not at a place
that imagined it as a little girl
but then again i was a little girl
on the outside forced to grow up
in other ways it was what it was
until i left and life on my own since
i want to be upbeat but today's pain
speaks louder
my meds barely making a difference
dear Lord can you put a smile in my
belly i will live on that today
so much that needs to be done
focus i must trying so hard to
keep depression at bay
just got a call from my sis
my ex-brother-in-law suffered
a heart attack
it was only 3 weeks ago
he suffered triple bypass
and now this
for my nephew
their only child
spare him GOD
he is a good father
to his boy
praying
i will keep this place
close to me
i have to go now
be well all

someone who cares

This weekend has brought happiness and joy in to my life . Friday my husband planned a short get away. We drove up the coast to the central Ca to enjoy a wine festival having tapas and wine tasting in a small barrel room with a wine maker and live music. Came back home to celebrate with friends the graduation of their son from the police academy. Sunday afternoon we are spending time with friends we haven't seen in a few years.

Even though I hurt my back on mother's day and am having a difficult time moving around I am blessed to be able to celebrate the gift of friendship with friends who are near and far.

Thank you all for your postings celebrating life. Whether there are good days or bad God has showed His love in so many wonderful ways. Hoping you feel His love surrounding you. Just look around.

Sandy Kay

dear friends

blessings for the day

are my lessons in the day

thank you Lord for yet another day

certainly nothing by chance
only two days ago
as challenging i have
been with my Lord
he has come back in
a way i can tell you
for it is the truth
and it happened
too me

i needed to make
a phone call to a 1-800 #
to rectify a problem
of an order that has
been placed
now before i get
to meet Quantis
the automated system
says it could randomly be
taping the conversation
as the process is
going on
every 30 seconds
it seemed
Quantis would
say
thank you for
holding
well
i says
Quantis
thank you
it isn't necessary
i'll be happy to hold
just as long as he need
to fix the problem

turns out
we get into a
beautiful spirit filled
conversation went on to
tell me he went
to college to study psych major
and stopped went into ministry
i said to myself
HI GOD
interesting way of showing yourself
had the most spirit filled conversation
in the end he said
eva
it isn't about you
it's what you bring to others
CAN I GET AN AMEN!

I WILL NOT LIE

most days are so bad
i still wake up every morning
and say
so i see you had me wake up again
what is it you need me to do today
and can you do me a favor
ease up on the PAIN a little
i would really appreciate it

i want to live
only the pain
continues to increase
my whole body HURTS
and i truly mean that
into my fingers down
too my toes

did my Sunday morning meeting
it was good but oh the pain
i decided to do some work
around the house not
surface cleaning i'm talking
rearranging all closets
addressing the bedroom area
i took 45 mg of oxycontin rather
than 30 so i could do moore
second dose the same
third back to 30mg

i had flooring put down
before i moved in
should have gone hardwood
but chose to do laminate
nothing like the real thing
when it comes to that

dear God
only you know the pain
i suffer physically mentally
but most importantly
Spiritually

my hunger to always do
what naturally needs done
my passion for cooking gone
my love of being physical
is what i was all about
all gone

loved my jobs i worked
in my lifetime
my job is there
i just am not able
to do anything
without pain

but never fulfilled my
dream
i had a short lived deli
in a town called Hoboken a place
of brownstone homes beautiful people
walking the streets with kids a dog or two
where Frank Sanatra grew up

my life is filled
with many beautiful
wonderful people
most from afar
i have trouble with
trusting

the rug seems to
always be pulled
from under me
or a wound never
getting a chance
to heal only
to be opened up again

dear God
i trust you
JESUS you walked
this earth
only for your mother
watch you hang from a
cross
a cross you carried
so i will carry mine
and do what you want
with me

thank you God
for all you have
blessed me with

love one another
and make the world sing
it can change
simplicity
what a beautiful
thing

AMEN

thank you for
letting me
share

Last night I called a number I thought may be my oldest daughter Jessica but I wasn't so certain I hung up before the notorious message beeep! Five minutes later my phone rang and it was indeed her #,.."sorry I missed your call dad" "how have you been?" Wow! So we talked for a few minutes and then she asked me if I wanted to talk to Randy and Katie,..it was a real blessing for me I just got so lucky as to call when my son and 2 of my daughters were gathered at Jessys' house.It's been a while since I got a chance to hear from them and our conversation brought out some of the nicest memories for all of us. I cried a little last night not from pain but rejoice,..and hope,.it really does spring forever! Thanks