Live Like You Were Dying

We are enjoying spending time with family. My mom brought home some Jack Stack's famous ribs from Kansas City. (Kansas City is known for BBQ among other things) Here is Dad preparing to eat one of them... that's right... one. I told him it looks like a barberian meal.

Here are my sister's two cats. I think it is so cute how they sit together on the couch like buddies.

Today I left Gwen in the nursery for the first time in her life. Fortunately she waited to have her "episode of the bowels" until she came home. I don't use that term lightly people... it goes everywhere. This shirt is my mom's. I realized a few days into my trip that half of my suitcase was filled with clothes for Gwen and I brought about two things for myself. Ah well...

We had a good service at my parent's church. The preacher is doing a series called "Live Like You Were Dying". With all that has happened in the last two weeks we really kind of identified with his speaking. During the service he gave everyone in the congregation an envelope with money in it. He said the church was over budget $10,000 and he wanted us to use the money to bless another person this week. Some people when they opened up their envelope got $5, some $10, some $20, some $50, and some $100. He said the rules were that you couldn't use it for yourself or give it back to the church. Mom, Dad and I all got $5. I gave mine to a man that said he was going to give it to a local school to pay for students struggling to pay for their school lunches. He is going to e-mail me and let me know how it goes. Mom and Dad have got to decide how to use theirs. I thought that was pretty thought provoking and unexpected.

During the sermon today the pastor quoted this song. I thought the words were really neat and I wanted to share them with you all.

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living, Happy songs from the laughter of children at play; Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows, Making mem'ries of what was today.

Chorus: We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand; Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come, But we have this moment today.

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling, For Daddy to hear just what she has to say; And my little son running there by the hillside, May never be quite like today. Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee, And someone who loves me and wants me to stay;

Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow, To look back and wish for today.Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest, And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay; Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn, And weave you a lovely today.