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!

#TBT – Grateful for Praying Matriarchs

I don’t see as many Throwback Thursday photos as I once did, so I’m reviving it today. Just a few days before celebrating Mother’s Day, I wanted to pay tribute to my praying matriarchs: on the left, my mother-in-law, Lydia Wuerch (still with us and doing so well at 96) and on the right, my angel Mom, Edna Wheat. These two women were my mentors and the greatest influences I could have ever had as Godly women and mothers. Best friends, they were also visionaries. They KNEW that their two kids were meant for each other.

Last week, after I asked a radiology technician if he had a family, he shared: “Oh yes. I’m married with three children. Our marriage was arranged.” I quickly injected “Mine, too! I’ll tell you about mine after you tell me about yours!” He went on. “My parents wanted me to marry this girl I had never met. I told them that I didn’t want an arranged marriage. But, I honored them and flew to her country to meet her. We met. Our love was immediate. We married the next day. She is the love of my life. My parents prayed about it and I prayed about it and I know God gave her to me.”

My "praying" grandmother introduced me to my future husband at age 12. She was the go-between saying “Ronnie Wuerch likes you” and back to him, “Donna Sue likes you”. Between her, my mother, my husband’s mother AND God, our marriage was arranged. I owe so much of who I am to those three powerful, praying women of God. They literally prayed us together -- and those prayers kept us together. We watched their example as they went through tough times, and came through them because of their unwavering faith. They impressed upon us that tough times don't last, but tough people who believe in commitment, keeping their promises and vows -- that they'll be honored for keeping them. How I thank them for their unwavering support and relentless prayers for us. They not only talked the talk -- they walked the walk in their own lives.

I honor these precious matriarchs and all they've stood for, lived for and set the example for us to follow. By their example, I've learned that praying for our children, sharing our years of wisdom-learned with them is part of God’s plan in “Training them up in the ways they should go and when they’re old, they’ll not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

On this #TBT, I must honor the greatest Mother of all -- our Lord’s most blessed-among-women Mother Mary. Just think about the great responsibility she had for raising the Son of God. Her greatest example was “She pondered. She treasured these things in her heart.” I know we mamas do a lot of that, and it wouldn’t hurt at all to amp up the pondering and treasuring instead of speaking our mind so much. I’m quite sure Mary had the same instincts of motherhood that we have – doting, imagining her Son's future, wanting Him to flourish. Luke 2:52 says “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” I imagine that if Jesus were here with us in the flesh today, He would probably talk about His Mama and what she meant to Him. He might say something like this: “It was my Mom’s wisdom, influence, support, and love that molded me into the Man of God I was destined to be! She encouraged me and instilled in me there wasn’t anything I couldn’t accomplish and do. Her unconditional love inspired me to love unconditionally. She always believed in me. She always prayed for me.”

And those are the words I say about my grandmother and my two moms. And those are the desires I have for being that mother and grandmother to my beloveds.

(FYI -- the family photo is from Mother's Day, 1968, and is left to right: My grandmother (the arranger), my mom, my husband's grandparents, my mother and father-in-law, me, Ron and Ryan)

Where You Go, I'll Go -- Where You Stay, I'll Stay

These photo inspirations are near and dear to my heart. This day, 16 years ago, my Sweetheart and I re-said our wedding vows during our 35th year of marriage. I'd like to say it was 35 years of wedded bliss -- all sweet, rosy and delightful times that caused us to want to repeat our vows, and there were plenty of those, but in reality, there were plenty of ups and downs, times we were just not on the same page. There were lots of challenges and struggles. So on this 35th year of marriage, we were celebrating that we were two tough cookies that believed when we said our vows....."To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part", we meant it. We stuck together like glue.....and as the years passed by, the bond we had became more precious.

Some of the vows I said were Ruth's words to her mother-in-law, Naomi, when Naomi told her to return to her roots after her husband, Naomi's son, had been killed. But Ruth said to her, and I said to my husband, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16. Who knew (we sure didn't) that I would follow my Sweetheart as he fell in love with the Catholic Church after having been a Protestant evangelist, pastor and teacher for most of his life and having had parents who were Protestant pastors for over 50 years. Those vows rang true as where he went, I went. His love became my love. The beautiful and loving Catholic people became my dearest friends. The spiritual renewal that ignited the Charismatic Catholic Renewal in the 60s, and continues today, caused our hearts to burn with love for all of God's kids like never before -- wherever they place their love and commitment to Christ. Today I am more active in evangelism and spiritual renewal than ever before. Honestly, leading people to Christ and the abundant life He promises and gives, is my greatest goal in life.

These photos were taken at the "re-saying of our vows" in a lovely Catholic chapel in National City, CA -- where we had just opened a Food Pantry to feed the hurting and broken people in that area. We also had donated a new vehicle to the Food Pantry for their deliveries and pick-ups. So, in celebrating our 35th anniversary, we were also giving out of our gratitude for God’s faithfulness to us. Commitment and resolve to finish what we started paid off in immeasurable ways for us and others.

While we were in that sweet and tender time of recommitting to those beautiful vows we had spoken 35 years before -- this time we did it in full knowledge that the roads could be very bumpy ahead, but it didn't matter because our devotion and love for each other was worth it all.

I shared all this with you, my dear FB friends and family, before this year ends, to share with those of you who are married and are experiencing some tough times -- challenging times, but I urge you to be TOUGH and steadfast to your vows before God, because tough times don't last, but tough people, tough marriages, and taking tough stands on what commitment, love, trust, and devotion are all about, do. It is worth every effort, because the toughest journeys make the sweetest victories -- even greater. Trust me. We proved it!

Centered AND Bordered

We were huge fans of putting together jigsaw puzzles. It started when the kids were little with those easy-to-do wooden puzzles. Putting a jigsaw puzzle together at Christmas was one of our family traditions. The box top would be in a prominent place where ALL EYES could see it, and, strategically, we'd get the border done first. Often, the search to find a certain piece would get tedious, so we’d have to walk away from it, refresh, and come back with a whole new perspective. When we did that, we'd find that piece that ALL eyes couldn’t see before. It can be quite "puzzling" to complete a puzzle.

In many posts, I've shared about making God the CENTER of our lives, then whatever happens – the ups and downs, the frustrations or the celebrations, the highs and lows, with Him as Center, we will always make it through life's variables.

When God is not only our CENTER, but like in puzzles, He is also our BORDER, then we’ll living as His fully devoted followers, making daily decisions from His vantage point. When He is our border, He holds our lives together and we won’t cross the boundaries that would cause a break in our relationship with Him. I never considered being unfaithful to my husband because I loved him too much and never wanted to damage the sweetness of our relationship. I just wouldn’t, not just because I loved him so much, but also because we had borders (vows & promises) before God that we made to each other on our wedding day. They were clear borders: “I take you as my lawfully wedding husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” The same is true for my relationship with God. Matthew 22:37 says “Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' That much love is a clear border for when we're weak and are tempted to do anything that displeases Him. That border should be so clear that if we carelessly cross it, we'll be quick to ask for forgiveness because we want to right the wrong we made.

When He is our border, and the more intent we are to please Him, the more the picture of who He wants us to become and the purpose and destiny He has for us because evident, just like the total picture emerges when we work puzzles.

At the beginning of this season of Lent, we have the opportunity to welcome this time of pondering, meditating, and seeking God for a clean slate and being transformed to who God desires us to be. When we received ashes on our foreheads yesterday in the form of the cross, we were saying “I welcome transformation. I welcome You, Lord, to cleanse and purify me as I approach Good Friday when your Son paid the ultimate price for the sins I’ve committed. I welcome Resurrection Sunday when I rose with Him into the abundant life He promised to give me as I walk faithfully with Him.

Yes, as with the jigsaw puzzle, life can present "puzzling" challenges and "puzzling" situations, but when we submit to His desires for us to be renewed and transformed, our Master Creator steps in and gives us His wisdom for handling the challenges and He'll be sure to help us finish OUR "life" puzzle with all pieces intact -- and it will be JUST as He planned it to be!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Tough Times Don't Last -- But Tough People Do!

These photo inspirations are near and dear to my heart. This day, 15 years ago, my Sweetheart and I resaid our wedding vows during our 35th year of marriage. I'd like to say it was 35 years of wedded bliss -- all sweet, lovey-dovey, and delightful times that prompted us to want to repeat our vows, and there were plenty of those, but in reality, there were plenty of ups and down -- times we were just not on the same page. There were lots of challenges and struggles. So on this 35th year of marriage, we were celebrating that we were two tough cookies that believed when we said our vows....."To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part", we meant it. We stuck together like glue.....and as the years passed by, the bond that held us together....grew so strong that no matter the prevailing winds of illness, circumstances or any other force....we were unshakeable!

Some of the vows I said were the same as on our first wedding day -- Ruth's words to her mother-in-law, Naomi, when Naomi told her to return to her roots after her husband, Naomi's son, had been killed. But Ruth said to her, and I said to my husband, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16. Who knew (we sure didn't) that I would follow my Sweetheart as he fell in love with the Catholic Church after having been a Protestant evangelist, pastor and teacher for most of his life and having had parents who were Protestant pastors for over 50 years. Those vows rang true as where he went, I went. His love became my love. The beautiful and loving Catholic people became my dearest friends. The spiritual renewal that ignited the Charismatic Catholic Renewal in the 60s, and continues today, caused our hearts to burn with love for all of God's kids like never before -- wherever they place their love and commitment to Christ. Today I am more active in evangelism and spiritual renewal than ever before. Honestly, leading people to Christ and the abundant life He promises and gives, is my greatest goal in life.

These photos were taken at the "resaying of our vows" in a lovely Catholic chapel in San Diego, CA -- where we had just opened a Food Pantry to feed the hurting and broken people in that area. The icing on the cake after that, was our sweet and tender time of recommitting to those beautiful vows we had spoken 35 years before -- this time we did it in full knowledge that the roads could be very bumpy ahead, but it didn't matter because our devotion and love for each other was worth it all.

I shared all this with you, my dear FB friends and family, before this year ends, to share and urge those of you who are married and are experiencing some tough and challenging times, to be TOUGH and steadfast to your vows before God, because tough times don't last, but tough people, tough marriages, and taking tough stands on what commitment, love, trust, and devotion are all about, do. It is worth every effort, because the toughest journeys make the sweetest victories....even greater. Trust me. We proved it!

It Was So Good -- We Did It Again!

Day 363 of Photo Inspirations -- It Was So Good -- We Did It Again!
These photo inspirations are near and dear to my heart.  This day, 14 years ago, my Sweetheart and I resaid our wedding vows during our 35th year of marriage.  I'd like to say it was 35 years of wedded bliss -- all sweet, rosy and delightful times that caused us to want to repeat our vows, and there were plenty of those, but in reality, there were plenty of ups and downs, times we were just not on the same page. There were lots of challenges and struggles.  So on this 35th year of marriage, we were celebrating that we were two tough cookies that believed when we said our vows....."To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part", we meant it.  We stuck together like glue.....and as the years passed by, the bond we had became more precious.

Some of the vows I said were Ruth's words to her mother-in-law, Naomi, when Naomi told her to return to her roots after her husband, Naomi's son, had been killed.  But Ruth said to her, and I said to my husband, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16.   Who knew (we sure didn't) that I would follow my Sweetheart as he fell in love with the Catholic Church after having been a Protestant evangelist, pastor and teacher for most of his life and having had parents who were Protestant pastors for over 50 years.  Those vows rang true as  where he went, I went.   His love became my love.  The beautiful and loving Catholic people became my dearest friends.  The spiritual renewal that ignited the Charismatic Catholic Renewal in the 60s, and continues today, caused our hearts to burn with love for all of God's kids like never before -- wherever they place their love and commitment to Christ.  Today I am more active in evangelism and spiritual renewal than ever before.  Honestly, leading people to Christ and the abundant life He promises and gives, is my greatest goal in life.

These photos were taken at the "resaying of our vows" in a lovely Catholic chapel in San Diego, CA -- where we had just opened a Food Pantry to feed the hurting and broken people in that area.  The icing on the cake after that, was our sweet and tender time of recommitting to those beautiful vows we had spoken 35 years before -- this time we did it in full knowledge that the roads could be very bumpy ahead, but it didn't matter because our devotion and love for each other was worth it all.

I shared all this with you, my dear FB friends and family, before this year ends, to share with those of you who are married and are experiencing some tough times -- challenging times, but I urge you to be TOUGH and steadfast to your vows before God, because tough times don't last, but tough people, tough marriages, and taking tough stands on what commitment, love, trust, and devotion are all about, do.  It is worth every effort, because the toughest journeys make the sweetest victories....even greater.   Trust me. We proved it!