Bring on the Cheese!

My 13-year-old grandson is here with us for a few days. I have to share him now. Big cousin Payton gets his time. Quite a comparison between Nana's and Payton’s uptown apartment where the guys have their gaming fun, rooftop lookout, nerf gun wars -- guy stuff! But Bryson was ready for Nana’s “chill-place" where there is my old Nintendo 64 game that we played for hours, then for ice cream at the newly-opened Bruster’s Ice Cream, and not to be overlooked -- taking a trip to Dollar Tree. This time Bryson set the game-rules. He wanted us to pick five items each to make something.

Back at home, we worked on our projects. Twenty minutes later, were our “big reveals”. He purchased socks to make face masks. I purchased play dough, moss, little logs and a page of stickers. Bryson announced: "You win!" Lastly, we watched my favorite reborn TV show, "Extreme Home Makeover”. I get such feel-good feelings, inspired by the families that suffered some down-and-out situations and were completely turned around by the retored or newly built home for them. Bryson’s comment about it? "Cheesy!" LOL!

That “cheesy” comment reminded me of Simon Cowell’s comment when a couple sang and performed a magic act on America’s Got Talent this week. They sang "There were bells on a hill but I never heard them ringing. I never heard them at all, till there was you” while they, out of the air, pulled out red hearts and flowers. Simon buzzed them and said “Too cheesy!”

This day, July 8th, 1966, two "cheesy" kids' favorite song was "Till There Was You" and it was our wedding song this day, 54-years-ago. I am still cheesy about the 13-year-old boy who fell for this 12-year-old girl, got married at 17 and 18 and we lasted until death parted us…..temporarily.

I reminisce about a not-cheesy covenant made before God, this day. I believe those sacred vows and the covenant we made, gave us “sticking power”, when, many times, we could have cut bait and exited the drama and the shaky times when another day with each other seemed almost too much to handle. What was it that caused "until death do us part" to be the deciding factor that created an inseparable and unrelenting love that knew no end? It was that covenant of "For better or worse", for richer or poorer", "in sickness and health" and "until death do us part". Those were our promises to each other and before God. They stuck in the good and the bad times. I am saying.....tough times don't last...but tough people who give God first place in the mix of literally everything that concerns them.....is what sustains, equips, and remains forever true.

I’m sending kisses heavenward today because I know that’s where my Sweetheart is cheering me on to my finish line. What was it that mattered most while he was still on this side of heaven with me? What is it that matters most to me today? The ONE common denominator -- God, Who blessed us with 44 years of marriage on earth, and is still the ONE who blesses me on this side of heaven. God is still the ONE who continues to wake me up each morning with joy in my soul and a song in my heart. That “triangle” covenant: God, Ron and me – had sticking power. It was a signed, sealed and delivered covenant! It may sound a little cheesy -- but bring on that CHEESE!

A Match That Was Literally Made in Heaven

Happy 23rd Anniversary to my two children – Larry and Staci Wallace! I am so grateful for your choices, your commitments and your devotion to God and each other. Today, my blog is dedicated to honor you and your example of a “match made in heaven”. And you followed through by treating it that way from the git-go to this day, 23 years later.

It’s their story that you should hear straight from their hearts, but my attention-to-the-details is what inspires this blog today. I was speaking to a young couple who were talking about getting married. I retold a short version of Larry and Staci’s story to them which included their vow to celibacy until they married. They refrained from kissing until their wedding day because of a covenant Larry made with God. Staci wrote and recorded a song called "Jesus is the Reason" that was played at the wedding. The song explained the significance of how their friendship grew to love and that love was wrapped in purity and unity. So needless to say, when the moment came at the wedding: "Now you may kiss your Bride", the congregation cheered with excitement -- not to mention the two of them, with no holds barred....locked in for the smoochiest KISS ever!

After their wedding, and for many years following, they were asked to share their purity love story at youth conferences, churches and organizations across the country. Thankfully, their wedding, and the marriage they have to today, has continued to touch young people and old, with the sanctity and beauty of a marriage founded and based on God's love being the #1 priority in their lives. It has been one of the greatest gifts they could give their children.

Pictured here is the ring that Larry had made for Staci. It was based on Staci’s words to him at the outset of their relationship. She explained the triangle: at the bottom left corner is Larry; at the bottom right corner is Staci. “As long as we continually pursue Christ individually – in Him we will meet at the top.” The ring has a trilliant cut diamond which signifies their on-going commitment to continue to pursue Christ and the horizontal-cut ruby above it that signifies the blood of the lamb in Revelations 12:11 “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony” and is inscribed inside the ring.

I heard a minister say: “I tell you where you step up your game in your marriage is to recall the day when you said and made your vows before our Holy God and to each other. Your marriage will always be blessed as you recall the promises you made to each other before God. Live your life every day before God. That will guarantee your marriage succeeds." And, that, my friends, is how I know this is a marriage that was made in heaven. They experience heaven on earth together each day. They are proof-positive that lives whose “center” is Christ – are lives that stay centered on each other. Happy Anniversary, my Darlings! You make this Mama so proud!