Father's Day

I know I am late with this Father's Day post, but it really could not be helped. I decided to post it anyway, because loving our fathers should not be something we do only one day a year.

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For me, Father's Day is a day to tell my dad I love him, but even more then that it is a reminder for me to respect and love him every day. Father's Day is like sticking a sticky note on your bathroom mirror to remind you to do that thing you know you will forget. Except I never forget my dad. I never forget to love him, that is like breathing to me. What I do forget is to always respect his wishes (because God asks me to do so [Exodus 20:12]), even if I do not agree with him. I also forget to take those little opportunities every day to show him how much I care. In short, I take my dad for granted much of the time.

So, this Father's Day I remembered all these things, and promised myself to try harder in the coming year to love my dad more and to not take him for granted.

I thank God for giving me a godly father who has taught me so much about what is really important in life.

I love you Daddy! And happy Father's Day to all the fathers in the whole world. May God bless each of you.

Kaomi

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
Is not provoked, thinks no evil:
Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
Endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Popsicles Produce Patience?

It is so hot these days that something cool is always welcome. Yesterday we decided to have frozen Kool-Aid Bursts for a snack. Which is a nice way to cool down on a summer afternoon, right? Only we got more then we bargained for.

My youngest sister was the first to complain that she could not get anything to come out. Next thing you know, we are all sitting around the living and dinning rooms with frozen Kool-Aid Bursts hanging out of our mouths, yet no one was having any success. Nothing was coming out! Where we usually have a problem with popsicles melting too fast, we now had the problem of popsicles not melting at all.

Some of us decided that if we went outside where it was hot, surely they would melt faster. It helped a little, but not much. Others decided to cut the tops off and eat the icy sweetness instead of waiting, only to find that cutting the tops off only made different kinds of problems like sticky messes.

I laughed over it all and said I never would have imagined when I bought the popsicles that they would be such a good lesson on patience. Sure you could cut the plastic tops off and eat them more quickly, but then you did not get to enjoy the cool sweetness as long, not to mention the mess. For those who waited, they got to enjoy the taste and coolness much longer and not worry about an extra mess to clean up.

The moral of this story is, if you freeze Kool-Aid Bursts, do not eat them unless you know you have plenty of time to wait, and wait, and wait. Or, you can do what I am thinking of doing the next time I feel like a Kool-Aid Burst. Stick it in the fridge to cool it down and then just drinking it. It would be much faster, taste just as good, and not tie up my hands for an hour. It is not that hot anyway.

So, did I learn a lesson in patience? Not really, I just learned that eating frozen Kool-Aid Bursts is not my favorite pastime, and that I do not enjoy having frozen hands. For more tips on how and how not to stay cool this summer; keep your eye on my future posts.


~Kaomi is doing her best to stay cool throughout the summer months. She would like to thank you for taking the time to read her blog, and hopes that you will have a wonderful summer.

BEYOND THE BLUES

Sometimes this world gets me down
With all its struggles
But soon I’m gonna say
Goodbye to trouble
When the trumpet sounds
Oh, my spirit will fly
~~~
Oh, and like an eagle I’ll soar
On wings of morning
‘Till I get to the place
I’m going to
Where there’ll be streets of gold
Jasper walls
A crystal sea awaiting me
Way beyond the blues

~~~

Into Heaven’s sweet fold
I’ll go a walking
Like I’ve never once had a care
With all the riches untold
Come on, we’re talking
I’ll be a million times a millionaire
Million times a millionaire
Oh, what a rich man am I
Blessed beyond measure
With my family down here
And Heaven too
Well there’ll be streets of gold
Jasper walls
A crystal sea awaiting me
Way beyond the blues

Words and Music by Jeff Silvey and Joel Lindsey

This song has a way of making your "bad" days good.

I love to sing it along with Signature Sound whenever

someone plays it. May God wipe away your blues.

Kaomi

God Is Good!

This last week has truly been one of the most trying weeks I have had in quite some time. I came down with one of those dreaded summer colds. The kind that everyone assured me would last longer and be worst then most. Even though all I wanted to do was sleep, I had to go to work and work eight hours days as though nothing was wrong. Every morning I woke up thinking I would never make it through the day, but I would beg God to give me strength and then push myself off to work. Each day I came home thanking God for the strength He had given and counting another day off my mental calendar. "Not long now until I would have a few days off," I would remind myself. I could hardly wait for two whole days with nothing much to do but rest and recover.

Only, when my days off arrived, our air conditioner went out. I still was still suffering headaches and other symptoms from the cold, add the oppressive Texas heat on top of that, and I felt completely miserable. Yet, God was good. He helped me through each day and reminded me that though today might be rough, someday soon my cold would be gone, our air conditioner would be fixed, and all would be well. I might have to suffer for a short while, but it would not last forever.

Through this whole ordeal, I have been reminded, that even when things do not go as we would like them too, and even in times when our plans lay in ruin at our feet, God is always with us, and He is always looking for ways to turn our hardships into joy. God is good not just sometimes, but He is good all the time.

When things get hard, remember that God is working them out for good. Look for His hand, lean on His strength. He is always there and He will always, always hold you up and help you through. Remember what a mighty God we serve. A God who loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us. Truly, God is good!

New Item

You may have noticed the newest addition to our blog, Family Favorite Recipes. From now on Family Favorite Recipes with be a regular item on our blog. I hope you will try some of the recipes that our families enjoy and that you will enjoy them too. Happy Cooking!

Dad's Baked Fish

Dad's Baked Fish

4 lb. fresh water fish (bass, catfish...)

1/3 c. melted butter

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 small bell peppers, cubed

Cajun Seasoning to taste

Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place fish on the baking sheet and baste with the

melted butter. Spread the onion slices and pepper cubes evenly over the fish, then

sprinkle it all with Cajun. Bake in oven at 450 degrees for 30 minutes or until

onions are tender. Half way through the cooking time you may want to

baste the fish with the butter that has run off into the bottom of the pan.

*Note: My dad came up with the recipe. It is the only way I like baked fish.

Not Alone

At this point in my life, I am hanging between my past and my future. I no longer find interest in my doll family, yet I do not have real children of my own to care for. I no longer have the careless joys of childhood, nor do I have the responsibilities of a married woman, a wife and a mother. I am at a place in between who I was and who I hope to be.

Most days are filled with questions and confusion. Where is God taking me? What is His will for my life? Am I listening for His voice? If He calls, will I hear? Is God who I have been told He is, or is He someone so much more than that? Can I even claim to know Him for myself, or am I walking around on borrowed faith?

In the midst of all these questions, and the confusion of who I am and who God is, I am only completely sure of one thing. God is real, and He does love me. He will never let me go, or even let me travel one step of this life alone. Knowing this is such a great comfort. Knowing I have a Friend who will never leave me... Words fail to describe the peace this knowledge gives me.

How can I be sure? Because, time and time again He has proven Himself. He was there all those nights when I could not sleep for the nightmares. He was there the month I did not get to see my mother after my baby brothers were born and I was so homesick. He was there when my grandma died. He has always been there. When I was a little girl huddled under the blankets shivering with fear as lightening flashed and thunder boomed. When I was beginning my teen years and had such a rocky start and thought no one loved me. And now as I am a young woman looking for direction for the future He is still with me. I know God is who He says He is because I feel His love every day of my life.

In a day and age when we are not sure where we will get the money for next months bills, whether we will have a job by then or not, and when we fear the worst concerning the future of our nation, in an age where fear reigns, it is so comforting to know that we are not alone. God is with us and He will never leave our side. Even in the darkest of nights.

You're not alone for I am here.

Let me wipe away your every fear.

My love I've never left your side.

I have seen you through the darkest night,

And I am the one who has loved

All of your life.

--Meredith Andrews

"You're Not Alone"