A Different Valentine's Day

It’s 5 am, Valentine’s Day morning. Nothing new about that. That’s my usual get-up-and-go time to first thing post my blog for this day. But, something’s different about this day.

It’s 28 degrees outside – the coldest morning so far this year here in Frisco. And, I’m all geared up in my husband’s ski-pants, my ski jacket, ski gloves and Alaskan fur hat (all are about 30+ years old). I’m out walking pint-size, Miss Emma, at 5:15 am. She hears me make a tiny noise when I get up and she is raring to go do her business outside. BTW, Miss Emma is my Wallace family’s "super cute", 5-pound Yorkie. Her brother -- burly, hairy, 75-pound Australian Shepherd, Buddy, took to the road in the big truck and RV with the Wallace’s the day before. And, I, who normally have only the responsibility of myself to make it through the day – has this girly-girl Emma for six days until Alexia, my granddaughter, flies back home and resumes Miss Emma's caregiving.

Donna, why don't you just let her out in your back yard to do her business? My backyard is sitting in so much water from all the rain we’ve had recently. My mistake.A bath was called for to get rid of the wet mud. I know you're laughing at this dog saga and me – the one who admits to only being a dog-liker, not a dog lover. At my young, but ripe age – it’s a lot of love for my family that gets me out of my routine for little responsibilities for living beings (including plants). But the walks and having someone to talk to is good medicine on this Valentine’s Day. After all, I could be a wimpy, whiny mess. But, not me! I’m on assignment!

As I’m walking this girl, I think about this “lovers” day. No lover, but a compact, 11-year old, Yorkie (Thankfully, in dog years, she's older than me!). But, I leave her side to re-enact some Valentine's memories when my Sweetheart and I typically enjoyed going out for a movie and dinner together. So, I do on this day. To top it off, I come home to beautiful flowers from the Wuerch's and along with the pooch hand-off, the Wallaces give me a sweet card and a $25 gift card.

I think of the novelty of having my Sweetheart with me in my heart AND little Emma with me. This photo is a cherished one of Emma and Papa snoozing. How could I complain that he got to go to heaven much earlier than we expected? His race was finished on this side of heaven and mine is still ongoing.

I’ve had a love of my own, you see. I would NEVER want to bring him back, but, one thing’s for sure, I am determined to be with him in heaven someday. So, I’m purposing to live each remaining day as if it is my last day on earth. That means I’m endeavoring to spend each day wisely, acknowledging the Lord in prayer, spending time in His Word, worshipping Him, serving Him, loving others, AND loving this 5-pound Yorkie.

I am celebrating love with all of you lovers out there. I urge you to live in the moments and treasure the moments God has given you. Please don’t take those moments for granted. Be brave and faithful and true. Cling very close to each other and make everyday sweeter than the day before. I promise you -- you'll be so glad you did -- especially when your only companion happens to be a 4-legged friend!

Sweetheart, You've Got Your Girl!

My obstetrician was going on a 2-week vacation right when my baby was due, and since he had been my "go-to" doc throughout my pregnancy, I didn't want to take a chance on him not being there for me. Doc told me the baby was "fully cooked" so "Let's help her make her debut on Monday", and that's what we did. Back in those days, most of us were "out" when the baby arrived, while the dads were in the Waiting Room.

When I woke up, my husband said, "Sweetheart, you've got your girl." Oh, the inexpressible joy that I felt. Of course, I would have had that joy if God had blessed us with another boy, but, I loved that God's plan was for this precious baby girl, born today, December 8th.

I'm celebrating that precious girl today because I've seen God's purposes for her life being fulfilled in some of the most miraculous and tremendous ways. For the first months of her life, she was a sick little baby with having many bouts of pneumonia and was eventually diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Not only did the enemy lose that battle, but he lost it in trying to steal our faith. She was ultimately healed, and my husband and our faith grew exponentially. "What the enemy meant for evil, God turned it for good." Genesis 50:20

She was a "Daddy's girl and she became his God-given "project". He understood right from the beginning that she was special, and that God was going to use her life in many ways. He was her sports, voice, stage and life coach. You think a Stage Mom is something. You should have seen the likes of his training and coaching our girl. So many times in tears, she'd come to me asking for my intervention with Daddy who was relentless in pulling out the best in her. "Practice. Practice. Practice" was his philosophy. He succeeded, and that little girl eventually knew no fear to be on the stage, to belt out another song on camera, to speak to huge audiences, and be with high profile people. But more than all of that, her name, Staci Michelle -- "resurrection life" and "close to God" have held true. She has brought so much life to us and so many others. She has led by example in integrity and character in business and life -- sincerely making a difference in so many people's lives.

I spoke at her surprise birthday party with close friends two nights ago and said, “Seedtime and harvest”. Her Daddy and I planted many seeds of faith into her from her very beginning – she knew that the enemy lost his battle on stealing her life at a young age and she has been giving him “hell” ever since with her relentless passion to change the world. Now, more than ever, it seems those seeds are producing a harvest beyond our wildest dreams.

As I'm typing this, I know I must sound like a proud and braggadocios Mom. In a sense, I am, because our greatest investment paid off. The time we invested into her -- through tears and time and finances -- paid off. I tell you this story -- celebrating this day and the precious life God gave us, but mostly to tell you, Moms and Dads, out there -- "INVEST in your kids. Take time to give them the best of you. Cultivate their talents. Speak into them that they can do and be anything that God wants them to be. Teach them about God and His faithfulness and absolutely knowing that "nothing is impossible with Him". What a payback for an investor! The payback of years of growth, rich rewards, paying forward to the next generation (their children and grandchildren) is the greatest reward. And the multiplied blessings of that investment goes way beyond our own family -- it spreads to others -- these seeds bear fruit in so many other people's lives. I promise you....after many, many years of investing into what matters most, it is worth every effort. Just imagine what your investment will reap in rewards.

Happy Anniversary #51

A few days ago, I was with a group of ladies, and in casual conversation, I asked the gal beside me how long she’d been married. She said “44 long years – some days I think ‘That’s enough, already!’” Then she laughed and I knew she was just kidding, but that didn’t stop me from saying “Oh, my dear, I was married 44 years and that’s all I had with my sweetheart – it wasn’t enough!”

A dear Canadian friend of mine was celebrating her 51st anniversary with her husband and she was expressing the joys she had of being married to her wonderful husband. I commented on her post “This would've been our 51st anniversary on July 8th. Keep celebrating those as long as you can. Much love and blessings to you.”

And, to all you sweet married women today, I say “Cherish, embrace, celebrate, and romance the relationship you have with your husbands – and to the men, with your wives.” This life is so short and making every minute count with those we love on this side of heaven is so precious. And it will carry us through to eternity – on that side of heaven!

Of course I’m thinking those thoughts today because 51 years ago today, July 8, 1966 -- I married the love of my life, I was 17; he was 18 -- and that was after a LONG 5 years courtship -- since 12 & 13! And, if I had it to do over again, I’d do it ALL OVER AGAIN! Though many said “It will never last – you’re too young – don't get tied down yet -- you have so much life to live -- you’ll miss out on so much fun", I thought it then and I think it now – “You’re too late with your words of gloom and despair, because this ship has already left dock!” LOL! NEVER did I think "tied down" -- we lived life to its fullest, and had SO MUCH FUN! Yes, we WERE young and immature. We made a LOT of mistakes – but we did so much that was right!! We had a blast living life, and a blast "overcoming" life, and its many surprises and challenges.

When my sweetheart graduated to heaven in 2010 -- I realized how blessed I was to have had him in my life for so many years. This precious man was my cheerleader, coach, counselor, confidante, caring and compassionate friend, and romantic lover. Most importantly, he brought out the best in me – literally, as I was a shy introvert, with so many insecurities, lacking in confidence, yet he saw so much more in me. He urged, coerced, and pushed me to be the best I could be. Because of him, I became a Mom to two truly great children, grandmother to six grandchildren (plus one, my sweet Ruth, wife of Braden) and also, an accomplished organist & pianist, a pilot, a real estate and securities broker, a fisherman (woman), a slalom water skier, a snow skier, a businesswoman, an administrator, a public speaker and, lover of God's Word and fully desiring to serve Him all the days of my life.
I miss him today – more than ever, but because I love him so much, I am overwhelmed with joy that he could be in heaven ahead of me -- he's on his heavenly assignment -- he earned and deserves this. And, of all the beautiful things he gave me, and urged me to become, I absolutely know that the peace, joy and happiness I’m experiencing today, is because of the impact he had on my life – to always look for the good in every circumstance, to be grateful for everything, to be determined to finish this race strong. Happy Anniversary, my Sweetheart! I'm having a blast here.....and I guarantee I'll keep your legacy strong until I BLAST OUT OF HERE to be THERE with you!

I Am My Beloved’s and He Is Mine

Please indulge me as I’m still living in the precious moments of my recent Holy Lands' trip. I spent most of yesterday going through my journal and taking note of God's special blessings. Needless to say, I felt so wrapped up in God’s love because of so many incidents that brought heaven to earth to me. I read the words just before I left on the trip: "I know You are with me -- guiding, directing, keeping my feet on the pathways you are leading me on -- safe and protected! I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE!" Just look at how those words played out!

First of all – just being able to go on this trip with my dear friends, Charles Michie and Sheila Michie, who were my loving guardian angels – yes, I need double-duty from angels (those in the spirit realm and in the natural). LOL! Because they had flown out a couple of days earlier to Rome, I went it alone until I flew into Houston to meet the other travelers. Of course, God, in His loving kindness, provided me with angels there – dear Tony & Ruby Urbina. There was a divine connection the moment we met. It sincerely seemed like a “match made in heaven” for us. They were my Houston to Rome angels. They wouldn’t leave me for a minute. Tony would lead the way and say "Come on, Babies!" What a blessing they were to me, and then we met up with Mick and Sheila in Rome. They looked out for me in so many ways! We had so many laughs -- especially when we decided to go it alone in Rome, apart from our tour group. When Mick told Sheila and I to hide our name tags because we didn't want others to think we were tourists, Sheila and I fell apart laughing so hard. We had our cameras, our handbags and we were looking at a map -- so do you think we DIDN"T look like tourists without those name tags? LOL!

On the way home on Saturday, in the Frankfurt airport, our time was short, considering the long security checks at several different areas. When our last check came up, my carry-ons were held up. One, because I left a water bottle in one bag, and my computer in the other. Oh me. That delay certainly created some anxiety because our flight departure was soon. Mick and Sheila wouldn’t leave me. I told them to go ahead but they refused. They said “If you’re missing your flight – so will we!” Now that’s love. My bags were checked, and of all things, both were detected for explosives! Here came the police with their firearms. This cute policewoman (pictured below) sure eased my concern with her smiles and good English. Eventually I was released with time to spare and my buddies were there to hustle through with me.

Early on in our journeys, I told about the sweet couple that gave me a necklace "from my husband". That was special enough, but "the love" just kept coming. When I walked into a store just outside our hotel in Jerusalem, one of my fellow travelers called me over to look at a necklace he'd found for his wife who had to stay at home. They both are doctors. I was giving him my “two thumbs up” agreement with his decision, when the shopkeeper asked me for my ring size. He came back with this ring, pictured here. It is inscribed, in Hebrew, “I am my beloved’s and he is mine” – the scripture from Song of Solomon 6:3, and the words I wrote in my journal BEFORE leaving home. Of course, the tears flowed like a fountain because my Lord came through for me as I reminded Him in the beginning "I AM YOURS and YOU ARE MINE" and I knew, both He AND my sweetheart were with me on this journey. There were just too many set-ups. Indeed my Father does love the widows so much, that He continues to pour out blessings I can hardly contain. While I thought of the sweet love I had with my husband, I know that this ring represents the many ways that I belong to Jesus. I am my beloved’s by the gift of His purchase of me, paid by His own life; I am His by surrender, because I gave myself to Him. I am His and He is mine now and for all eternity.

You, too, are His beloved and He is yours. Just believe it, give Him your life and receive His love. I promise you, THAT love doesn't disappoint!

Valentine's Day -- "Bah Humbug"

I've been very intentional to post a lot of "love" messages this month. You see, February 14th has been a precious day for me since I was 12 years old. Well, maybe even before that when we decorated shoe boxes for receiving Valentine cards from our schoolmates. Up until February 14th, 1961, the cards I received from boys were slim-pickens. But from 1961 until 2010, Valentine's meant the world to me. My Sweetheart and I had our first chaparoned "date" to a church Valentine's banquet on Valentine's Day (ages 12 & 13) and every year since then, we made it "our" special day. This first photo is our first Valentine's together. Notice I was taller than him so I stood on the step below him. He eventually caught up and went past me! LOL! The next photo here is the charm bracelet he gave me the next year on Valentine's Day -- it was our 1-year "first date" anniversary! He saved up his own money to give it to me. I wear it often and count my blessings.

And, here I am, fifty-six years later, on this February 14, 2017. it's been 6 years and 3 months since my Valentine Sweetheart's graduation to heaven. I'm missing him today…incredibly, but I refuse to be sad on this day. It is not a "Bah Humbug" day for me. I've been defeating those thoughts since my sweetheart went to heaven. Rather than being wimpy, I've purposed to be energized, strong and determined. In fact, I decided to embrace this whole month and call it a Month of Love -- focusing my attention on giving out love daily, expressing my appreciation for friends, family and ESPECIALLY, my Father God -- the greatest LOVER of all.

I am NOT going to fall for the "IF ONLY" lie. You know them, "IF ONLY I had a sweetheart or IF ONLY my sweetheart was still here." "IF ONLY" can do quite a number on our hearts. Can I gently remind you of an important truth? A truth that made all the difference to me? If we are God’s children, we are involved in the greatest love story ever created. God created us, knows us inside and out, and loves us from the top of our heads to the tips of our toes. We can celebrate love this year just like everyone else, knowing that we have a deeper understanding than anything that’s advertised or on the shelves in a store.

That’s why I’m determined to replace my "If onlys" with "I ams". I AM loved by God. I AM so thankful for the people I do have in my life. I AM so happy that I love this LOVE season because I can express love to God and others. 1 John 4:19 explains it this way "We love because He first loved us."

Service With a Smile and Hazelnut Coffee

My BFF, Sheila Michie and I were doing some event brainstorming at Panera Bread yesterday. "Bonus for me" -- I had told Sheila, "I love their Hazelnut coffee, so, a large one, please!" How precious it was when one of their servers, Ein, brought our food to our table. But that wasn't all he brought -- he brought us his gracious heart. There was a connection right away. A few minutes later, he was back -- asking if we needed anything else. The next time around when Ein asked, I asked him if he'd take our photo (thus, the photo here). "Great job, Ein!" -- I responded. And Ein's reply back to me, "Thank you, Cupcake!" LOL! Well, that caused Sheila and I to break into smiles that went from ear to ear. I said, "I think that's the first time I've been called Cupcake since Ron went to heaven!" LOL! Later when I got up to get a coffee refill, Ein saw me and grabbed my cup out of my hand and said, "I'll get it for you!" I replied "Thanks so much! Be sure it's the Hazelnut -- it's my favorite!" He said, "Mine, too!" Sheila and I continued our conversation, and way more than enough time to refill my drink, Ein returned with a big smile on his face, "Here's you're coffee! You're gonna' love it. I fixed it up for you. I added cinnamon and honey to it!" LOL! My first thought -- "Oh no. He's destroyed my Hazelnut coffee and how can I possibly throw it out?" But, it was delicious! I'll remember that next time. Sheila and I were on the brink of outloud laughter when I asked "Ein, could I get a photo with you? You are such a fine man and I'd like to remember you." Ein promptly sat down beside me in the booth, put his arm around me and said, "Sure, Sweetheart!" And, gave the "heart" sign on his chest. And to Sheila he said, "You're Sugar!" I said, "You're a lady's man, aren't you?" His response: "Yes I am!"

Whoohoo! Ein was flirting with us. <3 We loved it. We needed that great time of a "merry heart". It was definitely medicine to us.

I started thinking about this sweet man who exuded love in the purest form -- an unconditional love. A man that earns an honest day's wages for an honest day's work. Just look at all those "good employee" pins on his hat. That's for a reason. He does his job well, and he's learned the art of excellent customer service. The more we complimented him and the great service he was giving us, the more he responded with doing more. We saw a beautiful soul in Ein today. Ein exuded love with no inhibitions. He wasn't sizing us up to see if we were worthy of his attention. He had plenty of love in him to share with others. He thought one thing. "I have love to share and I'm sharing it."

Ein was a perfect example of the art of loving and giving. We do a lot of talking and complaining about how life treats us, then along comes the Eins of the world and they make us realize "the greatest of these is love". Oh, that we had that unconditional, extravagant love that loves and serves so well.

Valentine's Day -- February 14, 2004

Day 14 in this Month of Love -- Valentine's Day -- February 14, 2004
As usual on Valentine’s, my husband, Ron, took my Mom the single rose in a vase and her favorite box of chocolates. Mom had been living at the Grace Living Center in Jenks, OK for four and a half months because of a severe fall, which the doctor said was reason enough for her to not live alone anymore. “With her heart condition, this could happen again,” he told us.

It was a daily routine for the Nurse’s Aides to get Mom up each morning, help dress her in one of her coordinated outfits, and take her in her wheelchair to the dining hall for her breakfast, and other meals. But, when we arrived at her room (as was my daily routine anyway, but Ron went with me this morning), Mom was still in bed. Patsy, the South Wing Nurse, was leaning over Mom checking her heart with her stethoscope. Patsy looked up at us and said, “Edna’s not feeling so good today. She threw up quite hard last night. Her false teeth fell out of her mouth and the bottom ones broke!” I immediately replied to Mom, “That’s okay -- I’ll take them on Monday and get them fixed”. Mom didn't want anyone to see her without her dentures, so I knew I would have to make that a “priority” errand on Monday (this was Saturday). I could tell she wasn’t feeling good. She didn’t respond heartily to our greetings, and only gave a “little” smile to Ron as he reached down and kissed her, held out the rose in the vase and said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mom! Here’s my flower and chocolates for my Sweetheart!”

And, as I leaned in close to her, I assured her that she looked beautiful without those dentures, caressing her face and soothing her with words to comfort the fact that she wasn’t feeling good. I hadn’t seen “my smile” from her yet, so I did my usual coaxing, "Where’s 'my smile'?" To which, she gave a half-hearted little smile and mouthed the words, “I’m okay!” I noticed she had on her red plaid pajamas. “I see you’ve got on your Valentine’s PJs!” Ron then said, kiddingly, “Hey, Mom! Come on. Get up. Let’s go shopping at the Mall. I’ll push you in your silver Cadillac (her wheel-chair)” She always knew when Ron was jesting with her and today was no exception. She responded back to him by her typical sticking-out-her-tongue at him.

Everyone who knew her, knew how she loved to “kid” and “be kidded” by Ron. She and Ron had an unusually close relationship for the 40 years we had been married and five years before that. For many years Mom lived with us when our children were young. Ron would tell everyone, “Mom and I have never had a cross word with one another – well, except for the one time I had to scold her for allowing our 10-year old daughter to coax her into doing her chores (i.e., making her bed, emptying the dishwasher, etc.). Our daughter, Staci, would pay her fifty cents from her allowance.”

Ron’s Mom, Lydia, always came by to see my Mom every Saturday after her weekly hair appointment, which was just a couple of blocks away. This morning was no exception. She came in and greeted her dearest friend of over 45 years. It was these two women who diligently “arranged, prayed, and continued to bless” the relationship of Ron and I since I was twelve, and he was thirteen years old. How appropriate for all of us being together on this Valentine’s Day. It was “Mom” Lydia, and her husband, that drove Ron and I to our first date, which was a church Valentine’s Banquet, 45 years ago. While all of us were together this morning, Mom kept trying to tell me something. I just couldn’t make out the words.

Since I had been through many physical “ups and downs” with Mom over the last few years, I assumed that this morning would be like those from before where I had seen her feeling very low, but would bounce right back in just a matter of time. We all were convinced that Mom had nine lives -- she’d been so close to death several times in the last few years, but would recover and be her full-of-life self, spreading her love and joy to everyone around her once again.

Before leaving her this morning, Ron reached out to Mom in his customary way, joined my hand and his Mother’s hand, and said, “Let’s pray.” He prayed his usual prayer of faith and trusting in God for Mom’s healing, rest and peace. We all took turns reaching down and kissing her and telling her "good-bye". I told her I’d be back after a short while to see her. I guess I had a premonition that Mom needed extra TLC today, so I went to the Nurse’s Station and said to Patsy and the Nurses Aides, “I know you check on Mom regularly, but would you keep an even closer eye on her today, and call me if her condition changes?” They assured me that they would.

We had just gone for a Valentine's breakfast with Ron's Mom, when I got a call from Patsy saying, “Donna, I’m sorry to tell you; your Mother passed away.” Oh, the painful emotion I felt and the questioning ensued -- “Why wasn’t I there? Why did we leave her?” When we got back to the Nursing Home, the Nurses Aides were with her. She was still in the same position as when we left. Nadia, one of the dear Nurses Aides from Russia, immediately told us that she had come in to see if Mother wanted lunch. Being Russian Orthodox in her religious beliefs, Nadia asked Mom if she could pray with her. Mother would always accept an offer for prayer. Nadia recounted her last moments with Mom. She said that she had prayed a simple prayer and said that Mother’s eyes followed her gesture of signing her with the cross. Nadia left her room and after just a few minutes, Nadia came back to check on Mom, and she was gone.

After pondering the events of Mom's final moments of life. I came to believe that with Nadia's gesture of signing Mom with the cross, that Mom, like Jesus Christ said in His final moments, said, “It is finished”, and chose to "go home". Her assignment on this earth was finished.

After someone so close leaves us, we let our imaginations and deepest desires come to mind, hoping to relieve the pain of parting. Ron said, “Papa got his Valentine Sweetheart back today!” (Papa, my Dad and Mother’s husband of 34 years, had preceded Mother in death forty years ago.) My dear Mother-in-Law, Lydia, said, “Donna, remember when Edna was trying to tell you something before we left? I know she was saying, 'He’s coming for me.'" For me, having been a part of this beautiful, precious saint’s life for 56 years, (I deemed her Saint Edna Pearl long ago), who, because of her prayers, steadfastness, strength, true unconditional love for me in all of my growing-up years, caused me to be a the woman I am today. Though I miss her so much, just knowing her daily prayers of going home to be with Jesus and my Dad, were answered, causes me great comfort and joy. I think that my Dad and God had a mutual agreement on this Valentine’s Day, “Let’s bring our “Best Girl and Sweetheart” home!” And, they did.

Happy Valentine’s Day in Heaven, Mom, AND to my Sweetheart! I'm quite sure that you two are having a hay day running around heaven. What a sweet picture that is to me. You're healed, whole and celebrating God's overwhelming love! What a day of rejoicing it is for you there, AND me here!

FB Friends, please indulge me as I share these photo memories with my family and you!

It's Special Plate Day For My Sweetheart

Day 251 of Photo Inspirations -- It's Special Plate Day for My Sweetheart!

Our family has always made big deals of birthdays.  After all, it's the day we made our debut on this earth -- straight from heaven's portals.   So, of course, it's a celebration day.  The day always starts with the birthday decorations and birthday breakfast with the "You Are Special" Birthday Plate.  This is the birthday honoree's SPECIAL DAY, and we each tell them how special they are to us.   Each one conveys tender and heartfelt words of love and appreciation.

I've got the "Special Plate" out today because today's birthday honoree is my Sweetheart, and I ask my friends and family to indulge me once again as I reminisce about the life of this precious man and how special he will always be to me.  

"On this day of celebration, I hope you know how much you are loved, honored, respected, and admired by me and all those who know you.  This is indeed a time of celebrating a man that made his mark on so many lives, the least of whom is ME!    I am more today than I could have ever dreamed possible because of you.....your relentless urging, pushing, prodding, and encouraging me to be all I could be.    You have always made me feel beautiful.  When I didn't believe in myself.....you believed in me!  

I am so thankful for the amazing husband, father, and grandfather that you always were.  You always gave yourself so freely to so many.   I will never forget the precious, caring and giving way you treated my mom.  You always made her feel like a queen.   You were so much more than a son-in-law.    And when I wanted to shut the door so many times to some of the dysfunctional, yet needy members of my family.....you not only opened the door to them, but you fed them and clothed them and tolerated them and gave them truly the Father's love.  You really were a "life enhancer" and a replica of Christ's love.    There are so many adjectives for this man named "Ronald Wuerch" and so many reasons why I celebrate your life and the impact you had on so many.   And I'll try here to name just a few.  I love Ronald because.....

• You could play the piano and sing.....like a virtuoso
• You were an amazing carpenter -- building houses and so much more
• You were an awesome pilot
• You could fix anything -- around the house and in people's lives
• You had so much wisdom and creativity
• You were a great fisherman....of fish....and of people -- leading them to Christ
• You were so giving to those in need

• You were my greatest cheerleader
• You saw the good in everyone and you taught our family the key to our greatest joy and happiness was found in God's Word.
• You led our family in the optimistic, positive faith message that caused ultimate success in each of our lives.
• You were my best friend, lover, confidante, and my hero
• And there's not enough room here to continue with all that you were to me......but one thing's for sure.......you received your ultimate reward by getting to go on the fast track to heaven.  My greatest determination is to be there with you someday and to get to have the ultimate in birthday bashes there!  And, to all my FB friends and family -- YOU ARE ALL INVITED!!!

Oh, and by the way, maybe it's time you and your family have special plate days, too! It is sure a confidence builder to those we love!

Happy Birthday, my Sweetheart!