A true story

An Amish elder man sat in a public briefing. There were 52 reporters there who wanted to ask questions about all things Amish.

"What makes the Amish different from all other denominations?" one reporter asked.

The elder scratched his beard and asked: "Who in here owns a television?"

52 hands went up.

"Who in here thinks that there are questionable things on television that might erode the family?"

52 hands went up.

"Now, who is going to go home and get rid of their television?"

No hands went up.

"That," the elder said "is the difference."

True story.

And this is exactly the reason I have a problem with those who see wrong, or see sin or see questionable situations and don't change. This is exactly the reason I am a member of Christ's church. Because it's all about changing into, not skating around, Him.

Natural Vanilla Bean

'Beaner . . she not dirty she cleaner'
Not a bone in her that's meaner
She knows a lot, she's not greener
Tell me have you seen her?'

When I got Nellie I was looking for a dog that would breed with Brymer. He was this tiny little guy who needed a girl toy. So I scanned the paper and found a breeder in Canyon Lake. Off I went to check out this 'female, orange toy Pomeranian. Parents on site'

There were about 53 hundred dogs there, all the offspring of this one orange male who looked about him with a sort of benevolence. The master of all he surveyed. I was awed by his looks then crashed to the ground when I saw "Wendy".

She was in that odd 3 month old puppy stage where they have none of the looks or hair of the breed. She kept jumping on the fence, desperate to get attention. The people who had first bought her had to bring her back, so she was a reject. I was not impressed, but she was what I needed, so I wrote a check and took her home. I called her natural vanilla Bean because that was my favorite and I had to have a name that began with a 'B'. (Not sure why.) Everyone who saw her thought she was unimpressive but sweet. Brymer liked her from the get go but he was the only one. Even Robert raised any eyebrow and said; " . . .oh, kay . . ."

She loved me from the second she sat on my chest. I was the center of her world. I was her personal gift from God. Only my hand would do. Only my smile would cause her to rush across the room. Her devotion was without limits, without boundary, with no reservation. She walks in her comma to me. She snores on my lap.

To me, Natural Vanilla Bean by Blue Bell is the absolute best ice cream made. There shouldn't even be room on the shelf for any of those other yellow tubs. There is no substitute, there is no ice cream close. If there is none at the store, I do without.

I named her well.

Gut Punched

Sometimes you realize something, or find out something, or finally accept something that leaves you open mouthed with shock.

It's really not going to get better this time.
It's really happening.
How in the world am I to accept this, Father?
How can I stand with this terrible knowledge?

I cannot, I will not accept it . . It just isn't in me . .

Oh, mothers heart that cannot let go.