Best Brother Ever

I've used this picture before in my blog. It's my brother, Kevin and his son, Ryan. Kevin looks the same but Ryan is all grown up and a teenager now.

This is the best brother in the world. I hope you have one like him. I am ten years older than he is and, according to my mother, I acted like a little mother to him. I got married when Kevin was 11 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. On my visits home he and I would visit and I found him to be just a nice guy. I mentioned this to my mother who said, "Well of course you like him, he's your brother." Well that's not about liking, that's about loving. You don't always like who you love. She didn't get it.

When I was grieving over Jeff's death I went to visit Kevin and his family. My sister-in-law, Karen, welcomed me in the same loving way as my brother as did his children. I stayed there from the middle of November til late in February. I can't wait to see them again soon when I sell my house and stay with them again for a bit in my transition.

Today I was thinking about Kevin. He just has a servant's heart. I think that when he sees a need he tries to fill it. In December he sent me hard-earned money to fix my car. It's not like he is wealthy. He is sacrificial in his giving and extending himself to others. He gives his time to people. He is compassionate.

Yesterday he sent me an email that said he had been reading my blog and saw that I was wanting the book The Reader so he just ordered me one on Amazon and it would be arriving soon. HOW NICE IS THAT?

It's as nice as being able to stay with him for months on end, as nice as receiving a check to cover my car repair. That's how nice. I cried. Yeah, I'm a crybaby, but you touch me with things like this and it hits my heart and I cry in gratefulness to be close to people such as my brother. A book may seem a small thing, but its huge in its impact.

God kept this brother of mine around much longer than any of us expected and we are all blessed by the gift of Kevin and his life which serves his Master. I'm sure Kevin will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" when he is embraced by Jesus one day.

I love and like my brother - everyone who knows him does! Not hard to figure out why. Can't wait for the book to arrive but if there were no gifts except the gift of being able to sit and talk with Kevin I am blessed beyond measure.

Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega

This is Fernando OrtegaHe is singing the first song on my playlist over there. Give Me Jesus.
I love this song and have put the lyrics in for you. I think he has the greatest voice and I love his spirit. In the late 90s my friend Rose Marie gave me one of his tapes. It really moved me to the core. I've been a fan ever since.

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise,

give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,

Give me Jesus,

You can have all this world,

But give me Jesus

When I am alone

When I am alone

When I am alone,

give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,

Give me Jesus,

You can have all this world,

But give me Jesus

When I come to die

When I come to die

When I come to die,

give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,

Give me Jesus,

You can have all this world,

You can have all this world,

You can have all this world,

But give me Jesus

Wii Fun was Way fun!!!

Wii - Bowling

Okay, over a year ago I did play Guitar Hero at my daughter's house. I didn't do well. I am always astounded by this new technology. As I remember, PONG was the first game in new technology in my day. I didn't do well at that either. But last Sunday I spent the day with my old pals Jim and Donna and their so-very-smart-and-handsome grandson, Max! I had heard that Donna bought Jim a Wii for Christmas and I wanted to bowl for sure! I'm game...it's never a surprise to me if I don't do well, but hey, I'm a great sport! (well not really)...

Donna mentioned that they had been bowling on the Wii and I jumped at the chance to bowl with Max. He was ever ready to take on another opponent, especially one of his grandmothers era! Easy win, right? HA! I didn't get it at first, but boy was this fun! I now want a Wii! Of course it was also the most exercise I have had in about 20 years. My arm hurt after the first game and I had to take a Wii (wee) break. Max won, of course. He had the moves, he knew the game, he's great at these things anyway cuz ... he is 7.5 years old. It would behoove us all to have a young child around 24/7 to help us with the new technology.

One of my friends said her teen can read a book and text message on her cell phone without looking. YIKES

I digress. Back to Wii! Okay, Max; I'm ready!! We were joking around with remarks like "I'll beat you this time!" "Oh yeah, I doubt it" "I'm better than you are" "Just watch"... and I'm not telling who said which line there. So off to game #2....and I WON!!! Yes, I did. 162 to 159 WHEW! He wasn't too happy about that but was a great sport about it. Okay, two out of three..the challenge began (after another break for my arm). We joked and harrassed each other all the way through; it was so much fun. We were laughing and having the best time. He won. He's the champ 2 out of 3. What a hoot it was to play with Max that day. Later he showed me his moves on his scooter (of course he had his helmet on) as he came down the incline on his grandma's street.

I read on AOL today that Wii bowling was dangerous. It could kill a dog! I guess a dog got in the way as his owner was playing Wii bowling and she smacked him in the head and he had to go to the vet unconscious!!!!! It would be best to stay out of the way. I mean when I was bowling I was bowling, like in a real bowling alley. I had to really swing that Wii deal to get the speed I needed to get a strike you know! It was explained to me why there was a cord around my wrist so as to not accidentally fling the wii! It could happen!

My favorite sentence from Max for the day was: "I got some moves from you, Karen" OH BOY from this old gal, he watched (he does that) and saw my perfected swing and release you see!!!! And he put it into practice too!! He beat his Dad 210 to something. YAY MAXXXXXXX - can't wait to see you again at your grandparents and have some more real techno fun!!!!!!

Don't even ask me how I did at baseball Wii, okay? Thanks.

Speaking of Books and movies...

Early on in Oprah's Book Club I bought every book she was highlighting. I love to read and I was thrilled she was doing this on her show because like she pointed out, many women were not ever reading. So I thank Oprah for instilling the love of reading in a new way to the women who watch her show. I didn't ever like the selections she offered up though. I was in a quandry! I tried, I really did. They were all so terribly depressing I finally gave up and stopped buying her book club books.

Evidently The Reader was one of her recommendations at some point. This has now been made into a movie which I saw earlier this week. I am now going to try to find the book at a thrift store because I want to get 'more' of the story.

I can see why Kate Winslet won an award as best actress for her part in this film. She was incredible. Roy Thinnes was also very very good. Kate is the 'star' though. The character she played was so complex yet simple. I had no idea what the movie was about when I went to see it. There's nudity and a lot of it in the early part of the movie so be forewarned. I would have been fine with just 'knowing' they were nude yet not having to see it, if you know what I mean. I'm so old and so not used to this.

But the movie -- oh...I know I will never forget it. It's the kind of movie that stays with you and not the images of the nudity perse (LOL), but the images that really formed the content and meaning of the subject. I don't want to share any of the content of the movie in case you go see it. Just know that this is one thought provoking and moving, very moving film. At one point well into the film, a poignant moment had me swallowing hard so that huge sorrowful noises didn't escape from my throat. I had to gulp them back down I was so moved, and yet little noises escaped...I knew if I let those really go I would have been sobbing.

I don't have a lot of 'favorite movies' - but this one will be high on my list of five.

HOOCHIE BOOK CLUB

I read a lot of blogs..I end up going from one to another by reading their list of blogs they read..and have really found so many wonderful blogging women. So many are young moms, so dedicated, thrifty, talented and really lovely. Somehow I ended up on one today that has a book club. I've always wanted to be in a real life book club, but never had the opportunity so I joined right up to this one on line.

This is the book they just announced and here is the link to the blog so you can join up too if you'd like:

Chattahoochee Mama

Gotta say I LOVE LOVE LOVE the name of the club..suits me..don't you think? NOT! HA!!

Organization

Well, there is something to be said about organization.

I won't tell you what I used to say...

ok, I will:

A clean home is a sign of a wasted life!

It's not original -- I saw it on about 10,000 little

painted plaques in every craft boutique during the 90s.

As I have mentioned before I had to get organized to begin the process of packing up and moving

and preparing the house for sale. Okay, as you also know it's on the market.

So, it's 9:30 in the morning and its spic and span.

I have to get up and clean every morning and I mean clean.

Granted there's just a fine layer of dust from the day before

and the dishes are all put away from the night before.

But there are bathrooms to tidy up, clothes to deal with,

even making the bed right away!!!!

It seems to never end!

I'm now organized!

I could be the original Flylady my sink is so clean!!!!!

I have a viewing today at 10 am so its not in vain

and to tell you the truth I realize that if I indeed lived

this way normally...

WOW!!!

It's 9:30 and I have nothing to do!

Think about the ways the rest of the day could be used for any number of good things!

WOW!

A Revelation

New to someone who used to be

happy with a house that was just picked up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ... NOW RUN!

“Run with endurance the race that God has set before you”

Hebrews 12:1

Don't sprint! We are in it for the long haul!

Surround yourself with others in the race!

Stay in the Word!

Happy New Year and while you are running the race set before us

enjoy the grace given in great measure along the way.