Till There Was You -- Happy Anniversary, My Love!

Bear with me again, please as I reflect on this day, July 8th. I will always post about this special, picture-perfect day when my sweet man and I became husband and wife. We held strong for this day -- for over five years -- and then, the wait was over. What took us so long? I needed to graduate high school before we got married. LOL! My Mom had to consent and sign for me as I was still a minor, at age 17. Some said, "It will never last!" I'm pleased to say we proved them wrong.

It was a wedding-on-a-budget. My precious mother somehow managed to have just enough for us to have everything we needed. My uncle walked me down the aisle (my dad was in heaven) and my brother sang our song, "Till There Was You". I wore my sister's wedding dress. My bridesmaids paid for their own dresses. The ceremony was officiated by my father-in-law in the church he pastored. The two items that cost the most for our wedding were the flowers and the cake. Our honeymoon wasn't at an exclusive 5-Star location -- it was Lake Texoma Lodge.

And, as I type this post, I assure you.....it didn't take big expense, extravagance, explosive fanfare, or perfection to create these precious memories that I still have today. I'm remembering what mattered most on this day. Two kids who knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they were meant to be -- that they were tying a knot that would last through eternity -- that they were in true love that would stand the test of time.

What is it that causes "until death do us part" to be the deciding factor that creates an unquenchable, inseparable, unwavering and unrelenting love that knows no end? I'm not saying that there were never hiccups along the way or many times having reasons to walk away from the pressure and strain of "making it work". But our vows said, "For better or worse" (and, believe you me....we had some "worst of times") and "For richer or poorer" (Lord have mercy -- we had some mighty poor seasons) and "In sickness and health" (we both knew "sickness") and "Until death do us part". Those were our promises to each other and our vows before God.....and they stuck in the good times and the bad times. I am saying.....tough times don't last...but tough people who have God as NUMERO UNO in the mix of literally everything that concerns them.....is what sustains, equips, and remains forever true.

My Sweetheart isn't here with me today, but those "Till There Was You" song words hold true. The bells are still ringing, the birds are still winging, and the music is still singing in this heart of mine. What was it that mattered most then? What is it that matters most today? The ONE common denominator -- God, Who blessed us with 44 years together on earth, and these 52 years, is still the ONE who blesses me today. He is the ONE who continues to "ring my bells", causes me to see birds winging and each day causes my heart to sing". Spending FOREVER with Him AND my Sweetheart will be awesome.....and FOREVER is a long, long time.

He loves me. He loves me not.

Remember taking a flower and “playing the game “He loves me; He loves me not”, while picking one petal off a flower (usually a daisy or a rose) for each phrase? The phrase we said at the last petal represented the truth between whether that cute boy loved us or not. I don’t know if you guys played that game like we girls did, but I just know we were motivated by our longing that they would like us and that little flower game gave us hope.

In my case, when that cute black haired, brown eyed boy paid me some attention, I started saying “He loves me; He loves me lots!” LOL!

Last week I heard Amy Groeschel speak about how to really know God’s love – a much bigger deal than that cute boy we were attracted to. The fact is God is crazy in love with us. Proof-positive is found in John 3:16 “For GOD SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (that’s YOU and ME) believes in Him, would never perish but have eternal life.” And to emphasize His love even more, in Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever!” Wow – how’s that for a FOREVER love?

Back to that flower game. How often do we play it with God’s love – when we doubt Him and we question His plans for us. It’s like this:
I get a flat tire – He loves me not.
I get a job promotion – He loves me.
I sprain my ankle – He loves me not.
I get a check in the mail I wasn’t expecting – He loves me.
I drop my cell phone and the screen cracks -- He loves me not.
I am given a new cell phone – He loves me.

Bottom line, no matter how our day goes – no matter the ups and downs – the sweet surprises or the disappointments -- no matter whether we feel sad or glad – God’s love is unconditional (unlike those cute boys who were here today and gone tomorrow). God is with us. God is for us. He has plans for us beyond our greatest imaginations. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Let’s throw away those flowers and emphatically believe and know how deep, how wide and long is the love of Christ” Ephesians 3:18. HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME!

The Yellow Rose of Texas Still Blooms

Day 123 of Photo Inspirations -- The Yellow Rose of Texas Still Blooms
To my joy, yesterday morning, after having been away for 20 days, I stepped out on my patio and there were my fragrant and beautiful yellow roses in bloom.  To some that would be "no big deal", but as in every year since we were married, the yellow roses represented our favorite color -- yellow (my Honey always called me his "Yellow Rose of Texas") and yellow were the colors in our wedding.   Every home we lived in thereafter, we always planted a yellow rose bush.  This photo is the bush I planted at my new home.  I'm carrying on the tradition we began almost 50 years ago.  And, of course, when I see it, I'm reminded of my first love.  I even go so far as to conjure up the idea that, perhaps, it was he that made sure I had yellow roses in bloom when I returned home.

While I was away, two special men graduated to heaven -- Uncle Hugo Litke, who was a mentor and favorite uncle of my husband.  He lived a full and long life. And, also graduating to heaven was a dear friend, Ray Elston.  Both of these precious men went to heaven in advance of their wives -- each of whom knew the love that my Honey and I shared.  They also had a "forever love".  The good news is we'll all be back together again for a joyous celebration of being "home" together forever.

When I think about those three men, I like to think they are laughing and celebrating being home.  Heaven is a wonderful place.....and, best of all, as Rick Warren says, "We were made for it."

Unfortunately, so many people see in death nothing but a cruel separation from loved ones.  But, it is so much more than that.  We are born for heaven and we end this life of tears to begin our life of endless happiness.  Death has not destroyed our loved ones, nor carried them away.  Rather it is has given them life -- a life with power to know fully and to love perfectly.

The tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning, are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones.  But it is we who are away from home, not they!  Death has been for them a doorway to an eternal home.  They are still with us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we, too, will enter the doorway of our eternal home.  For us who believe, death is a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in the peace and joy of heaven.   We were made for heaven. We were made to last forever.

But, in the meantime, while we are still on this side of heaven.....we continue to finish our assignments well and also, along the way -- to stop and smell the roses!  I assure you, that's the way this "Yellow Rose of Texas" lives each day enroute to my heavenly home....and by the way, there....our yellow roses will never fade.