I AM BLESSED

I wake up every morning wondering just what this day will bring.  I know that I will not sail through it without some rough waters,  but I've learned to look up at God,  smile and say  

" THANK YOU GOD,  that  I'm still here upon the water."  I may have to face troubled seas but I rest in the assurance that I do not face the storms of life alone.

I remind myself everyday that I am Blessed.  If I get out of my bed, I am Blessed. 

 If I hear the sound of my husband stirring then I know I am blessed ( God kept him safe through the night.)

  If I see the face of my little girl getting ready for school,  I am blessed,  no harm came to her the day before.

When I take my first steps out onto MY FRONT PORCH,  I am blessed.  Because I SEE the skies above me.  I FEEL the breeze upon my face.  I HEAR the sound of the birds singing in my trees.  It is then that I fall down on my knees,  and "THANK GOD "  for I am BLESSED  with another day of life,  for however long that time might be.

SNOW KISSES FOR DADDY

I will always remember my Daddy.  He was someone very special to me.  Living in the country brought me much joy.  I especially find the memories of my Daddy comforting to me.  I lost him when I was 10 years old and I never thought I'd ever make it without him...but life goes on after death...it just means you hurt for a long time.  Even now I find myself with tears in my eyes from time to time when I recall a memory of Daddy and ME.

Today I  came across this picture and once again I thought about my Daddy and told myself he had to have a spot upon my page.  So after much thought about what I would say I thought I might catch Daddy up on my life.

Hello Daddy.

  It is August,  the hottest time of the year.  I have moved away from the old homeplace and I no longer get to see snow.  The seasons here all run into one.  The scenery never changes,  and everyone tries to tell me just how lucky I am.  I see sunshine almost everyday.  Although I am thankful for the life I have,  I sure do miss the old times.  On my last trip back to the old homeplace I stopped and gathered a BOTTLE of SNOW.  I crammed it as full as I could get it.  On the way back on the bus I forgot about it.  When I got back to work I showed that bottle of snow to my co-workers and we laughed so hard we cried.  If I had two teasoons of water in that bottle I would be surprised.  It taught me a great lesson.  We can cram as much life as we want to in our little bottle of life,  but here it is only a drop in a bucket as they say. That bottle of life will never be full.

Daddy, as I layed down and made snow angels I thought of us,  and I remembered how sad I was when I had to stand by your casket and tell you good-bye.  But today this picture touched my heart and I wanted you to know that I am blowing you " SNOW KISSES "  all the way to HEAVEN. May they feel cool upon your face,  and may they remind you that you are gone...But you are not forgotten. 

HOW MAMA LOVED ROSES

How Mama loved roses.  Ever since I was a little girl I have loved roses. It began as soon as I could walk in our yard.  Mama always had roses in her yard and they were beautiful.  She had every color you could imagine, in every shade possible,  but her favorite was of course the red ones.  She had one she called a "VELVET CUP ".  I don't know if that was it's given name or if Mama had named it that,  all I know is that it was the most beautiful rose I have ever seen,  even to this day.  It's petals were a perfect layered circle.  It had the sweetest smell of any flower I had ever smelled,  and it felt just like the velvet dresses my Mama made for me at Christmas.  It was a deep red with not one blemish.  Mama would often cut ( NEVER PICK )  them for our table.  The entire house would smell like roses.  My Mama would always place the FIRST one on the plant on our table after she pulled off the outside one to place in my bible.  Mama  said  it was so I could carry her love with me to church.  Everytime a new rose would bloom I would find it in my bible.  What I would give now to have just one of those blooms left,  now that Mama is gone.  But as children we tend to loose things and not think about them much.  Now that I am older I find myself often thinking about things I have lost (since I've moved a million times ) or things that I have thrown away ( Although my little girl will be the first to tell you I don't throw out NOTHING),  I do.

I went back to the old homeplace a few years back and my heart was saddened.  Little remained as it was when I lived at home.  The yard was different.   No one kept it  up anymore.  I'm glad my Mama wasn't with me...because she would have had a heartattack to know that there was a car engine on her front lawn.  As I looked around the place seemed so cold,  not like the warm loving place that I use to come home to everyday.  There were no flowers around the front of the house,  no impatients lining the entire sidewalk around our house, and NO ROSES.  I think that is what bothered me the most. 

  I thought about the old homeplace and I could almost feel the sadness that the yard must have felt ( If like Mama said,  the yard liked to be pretty).  I couldn't help but wonder if our yard missed Mama. When Mama was home she made sure the grass was always cut,  ( I hated mowing,  because sometimes she wanted it done twice a week )But today I could hear that old lawn telling me "PLEASE come and cut me...I'm much too tall.  Then I saw all the weeds growing up alongside the house and sidewalk,  and thought how sad...Mama worked so hard to keep the cinderblocks in a fresh coat of paint.  Then I saw the weeds chocking the life out of what was left of the few flowers still growing up our driveway.  I can remember when Mama would say " Gotta get the weeds out of my flowers today before they kill my "babies'. I don't know how they made it this long...maybe they did it for my Mama as  proof that she had lived there,  and had nurtured them for so long.

How Mama loved roses.  But she would have shed tears today to see that the ones she had cared for, and talked to, and given so much of her time to were gone.  I could see the round  rotten roots that was evidence that at one time beautiful rose bushes grew here.

Mama passed away,  and I could not get home to place roses on her grave as I would like to have done. But I know that she is in God's Garden  tending to roses that are more beautiful than any kind we have in this world.

I hope that my little girl will one day want to take care of the roses I have growing in my yard.  Each one is special,  and tells a story about my life.  I hope one day someone will hear her talk about her Mama,  and that she will have good memories to share of us together,  and I hope she'll  be proud to tell others

How Mama Loved Roses.

ANGELS ROUND MY BED

I grew to love all the sick and elderly people I have been blessed to work with.  Each one has touched my life in some way.  I have had to be with family memebers and watch them say good-bye to loved ones. I never got use to it and I usually cried right along with them.  I had one special family who touched my life in ways I never dreamed.  They were a Christian family and very close knit.  The days before the death of their loved one was hard.  I went home one night and couldn't get them off my mind.  I woke up from a dream where my patient had spoken to me and it was so real.  I got straight up and wrote down what she said and I gave it to them the nexy day.  I had to follow my heart that said they needed to hear these words,  they said they found them a comfort.  I never told them where the words came from...but I am most thankful for that very special dream.

                " ANGELS ROUND MY BED"

" I know at this time your heart is sad,  I can't speak but I can see;   I don't want you to worry my loved ones,  God's watching over me. He knows that your heart is  broken and so burdened down with care,  you think that I'm all alone,  But I see God standing there."

" Child, let me assure you that I am not alone as I rest my weary head...you can't see them...but there are angels round my bed. I'm sheltered in a blanket of God's amazing love,  as Angels keep thier watch over me for the master  up above. So do not fret and worry my loved ones,  go rest your weary head,  for I have nothing to fear...there are Angels round my bed."

" They keep good watch over me just as God has planned my dear, and if I should have to leave,  don't grieve ,but be of good cheer. For I'll be at home in heaven,  that's where I'll rest my weary head...and I'll have no more need of  these Angels round my bed."

THE HILLS OF HOME

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REMEMBERING CHILDHOOD

WHAT'S LOVE?

A little boy was born and he made his parents proud.  The two of them had finally become a complete family.  He laughed and giggled and they played with him ,  and life was good.

On his fourth birthday they had him a birthday party with all his friends.  The day was wonderful.  A few days later his mother got the news from across the seas in a foriengn land,  that his Daddy would be coming home in three days.

  She did not decorate with pretty ribbons,  and stream banners of " WELCOME HOME " as she had in previous times.  She did not invite all of his friends to welcome him home...but they were all there.  She did not wear that beautiful print dress that blew softly in the wind,  as she had planned.  She did not go excitely into her son's room to tell him the good news that daddy was coming home.

Today her son would see his father for the last time.  Today she would kiss him on the cheeks for the last time.  Today his friends would sit in silence and remember the times that they had shared with him for the last time.

Many years passed and the boy and his Mama lived on thier own.  She worked hard to give him all the things he needed.  There were many things he did not have...but love wasn't one of them.  He came to his Mama one day and he asked her to tell him something that he needed to know for a class at school.  Mama he asked "  WHAT IS LOVE ? "  His Mama hesitated for a moment and said " Son,  love is when two people find out that thier world would be so much better with the other person in it.  Love is a feeling you have  that you can't explain.  All you know is that it makes you feel complete.  He hesitated a moment and in reply said,  " Mama,  like when I was born and you told me your life was complete?"   " Yes son,  she replied...that is a kind of love that is beyond explaination."

The next day he came home from school and left his bookbag on the counter.  Later as his Mama picked it up a piece of paper fell out.  She did not mean to look but the Title caught her eye.  As she read the piece of paper she began to cry.  The heading on the paper read:  WHAT IS LOVE? and it said:

I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS.

 Love is what my Daddy felt when he went off to war for our country.  He never explained it to me because I was too little but my Mama did and she didn't even know it, she said Love is when two people find out that the world is better with the other person in it .  I believe that love is when you make a difference in the  lives of others because it makes thier world a better place. Daddy loved his country so much he was willing to die for it's cause.

My mama and me missed Daddy when he was laid to rest.  My Mama then became TWO parents,  and although life was hard she never complained.  She tried to see to it that my life was as good as it possibly could be.

 I know about a "MAMA'S LOVE.  It is when someone forgets that they are hungry,  when there is only enough food for ONE.  It is when someone sits by your bed when you're sick,  even though they have had a long, tiring day.  It is when someone sits down with you and asks you about your day without making you feel as though you are troubling them.  It is when someone kisses your forehead with a smile on thier face as if they still see you as 5 years old.

Today I met someone and I feel as though she makes  my world a better place.  She knows how much I love my country and that I will soon leave to make a difference in the lives of others,  and that I am willing to die for that cause.

Today I am writing this in case I do not make it back home to my mother.  I wanted her to know that I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS :

It is  what this young boy feels each time he remembers his childhood.  When the wind blows softly,  I can feel Mama's kiss on my cheek. I know Mama all those times when you went without something to eat so that you could feed this growing boy,  and I thank you.  I know that there were times when you had better things to do than to listen to the tales of a child about his day,  But I learned a lot from you.  I know that when you spent those nights by my bedside when I was sick...that you were praying,  well Mama now  I will be praying for you.  I will pray that God will comfort you in your time of need,  when I am not there to hold you. 

 I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS:

It is this unexplainable pain I feel in my heart, everytime I close my eyes and see your face.  Because I am 5 years old again,  but now I have no need to ask  WHAT'S LOVE...becuase I already know.

 I can't recall all the things you thought I had to do without...I'm too busy remembering that one special thing you made sure I didn't live without.........

                               LOVE

                                                                                        c@

                                                                                      PPD

                                                                                       8/23/07

Pam's Patriotic Page

This page will be for thoughts about America.  It will be a place to pray for any military family or friends you may have in the service of our country. 

http://pamspatrioticpage.seasonal.homepagenow.com/homepage.shtml

 If you have a prayer request please feel free to e-mail me at pampdill@gmail.com. I will try to post prayers for you and for your loved ones.

I LOVE A PARADE

Living in the country was such a joy to me.  As a little girl I experienced so many wonderful things.  As a teenager I was safe and secure in knowing that I knew everyone in our small town.  As a woman I finally understood the true meaning of friendship.  I knew almost everyone in 3 counties.  As a little girl my Mama always took me to every parade that our little town had.  I loved a parade.  When I was a tiny little thing I always had the best seat in the house because some man from town would heist me up on his shouldres and let me see the world passing me by.  My Mama never had to worry about some pervert like we do today. When I became a teenager I would drive my Mama to the parade and I loved to watch her smile as it went passed.  Mama never really acted as  if  life was very good for her,  she was always too busy to enjoy life.  Mama was always raising fruits and vegatables,  canning them, or baking with them.  When she wasn't doing those kinds of jobs she was washing clothes, hanging them on the line,  and ironing everything.  She even starched her sheets.  They were so crisp and clean and I loved getting a fresh set of sheets.  But my Mama always took time out for a Parade.  When I got older I got really involved with my community and then I was riding in the parades.  MY MAMA WAS always PROUD to point me out to athe crowd.  I'd hear her say "  LOOK,  THAT'S MY LITTLE GIRL ". I worked with the Jaycees, because I knew all the women who were Jaycettes.  I helped with the LIONS CLUB,  and became a CHARTER Member of the LIONESS Club where I was Lion Tamer,  and later secretary.  I volunteered at the local firestation.  I then became a member of the Ambulance crew as an EMT.  My life in that little country town was full,  and my Mama never missed coming out to see me in the parade even when she had to drive herself.

There were few occassions that made my Mama smile....BUT a parade would set her eyes to sparkling,  and her heart to pounding.  My Mama would OH and AHHH at the fireworks at night before the day had come to an end. The next few days Mama would walk around with a smile on her face...I wish everyday had a parade...so Mama could have smiled everyday.

I love a parade and I love fireworks...I guess it comes as no surprise,  since it reminds me of my Mama.

CHECK THIS OUT

GOD has blessed me once again with yet another wonderful site.  I am now BLOGGING on FOX 35 News site.  You can find me at

www.myfoxorlando.com

LOOK FOR  me under..........

 WVALADYBUG . Comment if you would like on that site.

Light House Worship Center, Church of God

If you would like to attend the Lighthouse worship Center in Summerfield Fl.  you can do so with this schedule:

Sunday School...9:45 am.  Morning Worship Service...10:45 am.  Praise and Worship...5:45 pm.  Evening Worship...6pm.  Wednesday Bible Study...7pm.  Youth Meeting...7pm.  Thursday Prayer Meeting 7pm.

When Mama Knelt To Pray

I am reminded of a simplier time that Iknew as a child, when life was full of hard work,  and words from Mama were soft and kind.

I am reminded of all the times Mama made me sit in a church pew...it didn't matter none to her,  what I would like to do.

I am reminded of the many times when food seemed in short supply,  but Mama would bow her head and thank God,  before she passed the food or home baked pie.

I am reminded of all the lessons taught about walking the straight and narrow way, but I learned the greatest lessons when my Mama knelt to pray.

I learned that life is never easy ,  but no one walks alone,  and that if I serve God in my youth,  I'll not forget him when I'm Grown.

I learned that miracles are brought about and God gives us what we need, and we can move a mountain if we have the faith of a little grain of Mustard seed.

I learned many lessons that I've used in my life from day to day,  and I owe it all to a simplier time....

                    When Mama Knelt To Pray

                                               @c2007 P.P.D

WILD FLOWERS FOR MAMA

I can remember so many things about life in the country.  My Mama and I had a special relationship.  I can not tell you that our life was perfect because it wasn't.  I can't tell you that Mama was always pleasant to be around,  because she wasn't.  I can't tell you that Mama  was patient all the time,  because in fact she had a bad temper.  I would not be honest if I didn't say that Mama rulled our house and Daddy knew it, and that Mama's temper was to be feared you can be sure.  What I can tell you is that whatever happened between me and Mama was forgotten within a few minutes.  I understood just when to stay out of Mama's way.  I can remember as a little girl Mama and me walking up the rairoad tracks at home or climbing the hill behind our house.  Mama loved flowers.  She always grew flowers and she would go out early in the morning and pick/cut flowers to grace our table.  Mama grew beautiful flowers but none filled her heart with joy as much as the ones I picked and gave to her.  We had several kinds of flowers that grew wild up on our hill and alongside the tracks.  I would often pick them for her and she would smile brightly as she placed them in a vase and told me how beautiful they were.  She knew how much I loved her because I showed her every chance I could with a small boquet of wildflowers.

Mama has since gone on to be with the LORD and I know that Mama is happy there...becuase up there the flowers bloom forever. 

 Mama I wish I could have picked you one last boquet of wildflowers but I could not. I wish that by going outside and picking that boquet I could bring back those days of my youth,  but I can not.  What I can do is tell you how wonderful it felt each time I held in my hand a boquet of wildflowers,  that I would hand to you,  and how proud it made me feel when you placed them with gentle hands in a vase on our table,  and how my whole world changed each time I saw that smile upon your face.

Mama I look forward to seeing you again one day.  When you come to greet me Mama wear your smile...BECAUSE I'm gonna stop just this side of Heaven to pick you a boquet of wildflowers.  Until then enjoy GOD's Garden...you waited a long time to get there.

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