Bucket List

Bucket List:



1. Fly on an airplane

2. Have coffee and a nice long chat with Beth Moore

3. Sing “Long Live the King” onstage with Aaron Shust

4. Go to Prince Edward Island in Canada

5. Visit the O’Hara Family in Fresno, California

6. Teach Pre-K

7. Go to the Beach with Justin

8. Become a Mother

9. Adopt and Orphan

10. Get better at playing the Piano and learn to play the Guitar and Cello

11. Sing and share about God

12. Learn to manage the disorder I have well

13. Visit Kristi in Germany for 2 weeks

14. Go on a Cruise

15. Learn to Dance

16. Learn to drive a motorcycle

17. Learn to Knit

18. Teach Music and Dance to children free of charge

19. Learn to Sew

20. Become an Auto Mechanic

21. See “The Phantom of the Opera” from the front row on Broadway

22. Live and serve in another country for a year

23. Swim with a Dolphin

24. Become more disciplined every day. “Discipline is the price of freedom.”

25. Love and serve Jesus Christ and others with everything I’ve got more and more every day!

Oh My Gracious Heavens!

So, our dear friends, Dave & Debby Longacre asked us to take care of their dog Shamus while they are away on vacation this week. They live just down the road from us. All we have to do is walk or drive down to their house and feed and water Shamus every morning. Easy right? HA! I got there later than I planned today, (the morning got away from me a bit.) I finally made it down there at about 9:30am. I am planning to grocery shop today, so I got myself all ready for the day and headed down to take care of good ol' Shamus. In and out, that was the plan. I got him his food first which he immediately started devouring. I then took his water dish into the house to fill in the kitchen sink. After filling it, I noticed that there was a small, yet steady stream of water still flowing from the spigot. I was pretty sure I had turnd the water all the way off. Hmmmm? I decided to take Shamus his water, then come back to try and fix the problem. Boy was I in for a surprise! I checked both the hot and cold water handles and pushed them all the way back to the off position. Still the water flowed. I turned them on and then off again...water still flowing. I realized that the hot water handle was the culprit, so I began fiddling with it to try and make the water stop. BAM! The handle flew off and hot water started spewing EVERYWHERE. Panicking, I tried to get the handle back on to contain the explosion, but to no avail. I tried for the next 5 minutes to stop the water, but my efforts were in vain. I had left my cell phone in the car, so I ran out and quickly dialed my husband's number. He is at school today, so I knew there was a good chance I woudn't catch him in between classes. No answer. Grrrrr! I really did not want to bother Dave and Debby on their vacation, especially not with the news that I was currently flooding their kitchen! Swallowing my pride, I dialed Dave's number. "Hi Dave, it's Melody, how are you? Ummmm, where's the water shut-off for your kitchen sink?" "Under the sink." Dave replied. "DUH MEL!" I thought to myself. EVERYONE knows that. For crying out loud, even I know that, but in my state of panic, I forgot. Thankfully, Dave was very understanding, and I assured him I would clean up the mess. Now, whether or not they will ever ask me to take care of their dog again remains to be seen. :0P I got the water turned off, mopped up the floor, and returned home soaking wet. Now I cannot stop laughing about it! LOL.

What's The Matter With You?

Trials come in our lives and trials go,

Some stay forever, ya know.

You wake each morn with a new day before you,

Yes, full of promise but full of trouble too.



But what's the matter with you?

Is your God dead?Has He forsaken you?

His promise unkept?

Where has He gone in your time of need

and utter helplessness?

Is His Word only true when times are good?

Does His love for you depend on who you are?

or what you've done for Him?



You never know what a day may bring forth

Most times it's better that you don't;

We should learn to take each day just as it comes,

For as our days go, so shall our strength become.



~Sandi Francis 1982

My Mom had just found out she was pregnant w/ me when she wrote this. My two older brothers who are twins were just 1 year old, and had had a rough first year health wise. The Doctor also told her at her/my first ultra sound that there were at least two babies in her womb, possibly 3. (This was based soley on heartbeat, technology has come a LOOOOONG way since 1982 folks! :0) She was feeling slightly overwhelmed with so much going on. I don't know about you, but I can relate to this song on more than one level. :0)



"When my heart is faint within me, when my eyes can't see the way,



when hope seems to elude me and the night becomes my day.



I am overcome with anguish much too heavy to relieve;



He's the only One who stands there close enough for me to reach.



I am tired and I am weary of this journey that I'm on;



It's confusing and it's painful and it's taking much too long.



If I could see through to the ending, if I knew all that would be;



Would I find that I am happier? Would it matter much to me?



Life is never as you plan it, there are turns and curves thrown in;



but the bottom line is KNOWING I am better off WITH Him!"



~ Midnight Musings, Sandi Francis, (aka, my Mom) 1998