Two new musician followers this week. I hope by me sharing your music that you will get more fans to listen to your music. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.
Want You Back by Austin Hafner –
Hollow Man by The Tosspints –
Thanks for all the follows, musicians and non-musicians.
Some other music from non-followers I have listened to this week.
I’ve Got Two Wings by Elton John –
It Is What It Is by Lecrae – ]
Glory by Meredith Andrews –
Like I Do by Brian McKnight –
Oceans by The Coasts –
Romance In The South by Frank Foster –
Only God Knows by Green River Ordinance –
Suppertime by Joey & Rory –
No Kind Words by The Macabees –
Shine , Pray by Manafest –
Take Us Back by Mavis Staples –
Sunrise by Meredith Andrews –
Running Away by Phases –
Neon Blues by Randy Rogers Band –
Never Heard The Music by Rich Mullins –
That One by Rick Springfield –
One More Mistake Made by Vince Gill –
Things That I Lean On by Wynonna & The Big Noise –
and our song:
I Question You by Lily Messer –
On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943
I was looking at our garden to get an idea of what to plant where this year. I didn’t do so well last year. It was the first year I planted the seeds, my wife usually does. I either planted them too deep or we bought a bunch of bad seeds. I can’t imagine all the seeds we bought were bad so I would have to say the former.
The only thing that produced all summer was broccoli. By the end of summer we had a bunch of tomatoes and peppers come up. We finally had lettuce after I reseeded the area. Everything else was pretty much a dud. Unlike the year before when we had abundance and gave a lot away.
Strangely enough we had carrots pop up. I didn’t plant carrots. The wife planted carrot seeds the year before but we didn’t get any. Now two years later, they were here.
I have big plans this year for a big harvest. I ripped out the raised beds and will be tilling the area so wish me luck. I believe, I know, the wife will be planting the seeds. She obviously can do that a lot better than I can.
Isn’t our walk with Jesus a lot like a garden. He who made us gives us a choice to believe in Him or to not believe in Him. We can either plant a garden or not plant a garden. We all have seeds to plant.
If we choose to believe in Him and choose to plant a garden then we have to listen to His words, seeds, to help us grow. We have to believe in His plan for our lives during the rainy difficult seasons and the dry hot seasons. To produce good fruits you need rain and sunshine.
We have to tend to our faith and to our garden. We have to discern what is good in our lives and take care of the good. We have to get rid of the weeds. We have to prune. We have to read the Bible, follow His word. Take out what is bad in our life and cut out the things that get in the way of us moving forward.
I have to protect my garden. I have to keep the rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks out or they will eat it all. They will destroy our garden if not. I have to protect my life. I have to keep the devil and all his minions out. I have to not believe his lies, his tricks, and his schemes or they will destroy my life.
When the time is right to pick the ripe vegetables and fruit, we have to do it then to produce more. Just like when God gives us the opportunity to share our faith we should do it then. Not wait for the next time you see them or the next opportunity. I know I have failed in this area many times and then I never see the person again. I have to quit walking in fear and pick the produce when it is ready to be picked.
Seeds. I plant the seeds and wait for them to grow. Some come up quicker than others. Some are bountiful and others are not. Just like in life we plant seeds and wait to see the results. Some we can see right away, others take months and even years to ripen. Some we may never see ripen. They may not happen in our lifetime. But we, as Christians, have to keep planting the seeds and let God be the gardener. The seeds I plant can be the words I say, my actions, a smile, anything that would show Jesus in me.
I welcome the sun, I welcome the rain. I will look to God to bring a good harvest. I will plant the seeds the best I can and wait for God to bring the seeds to life. Both in my garden and in my words I share with you.
Send The Rain by William McDowell – (the last 2 minutes where he talks) –
I’m the drummer. I sit in the back and you will probably never know my name. I am hardly ever in the spotlight. I am confident in my abilities. I do not need to be in the front. You usually won’t catch me singing. I’m the drummer.
I’m the drummer. I keep the beat going. If I mess up, it messes the entire song up. I can’t mess up. The singer can mess up, get winded and miss a word or two, can even start to sing the wrong lyrics but I can’t mess up. I have to play my best every night. I can’t have an off night.
I am the anchor of the band. I keep the rhythm and time going. I can push the beat faster or slow it down. I don’t do any fills that don’t need to be done. I listen to the rest of the band. I help keep the timing of the song in check. You can feel the power in my arms and legs. You can feel the beat in your heart. You can feel the energy build as I pick up the pace, sweat dripping off my face.
I’m a drummer. I can play anything. Country, rock, pop, hip-hop, gospel, Christian, alternative- you name it, I can play it. I can identify what a song needs and play it with the right sound and feel to make you feel it.
A band with a strong, reliable, confident, dynamic drummer is a band with a strong foundation. Think of me as the engine of a car. All the parts working together but without me, the car won’t go anywhere. Don’t get me started on drum machines. There is nothing like a live drummer. Drum machines will never replace what I can do. What I can bring to the rest of the band.
I have the best seat in the house. I see the rest of my band mates. I pick them up if they are having an off night. I can see you, my audience. I feel your energy bouncing off mine. There is no other feeling like it. Can you feel the bass drum? Can you hear the clash of the cymbals? Can you feel my heartbeat?
Reminds me of someone I have come to know. His name is Jesus. He has the best seat in the house. He is the driving force behind the rest of us, his band. He has perfect time and rhythm. If you turn away from Him, your song will be a mess. If you are having an off night, He can pick you up. He sees us, hears us, watches us. He is our biggest cheerleader. He wants us and loves us.
If your heart and His heart beat in time, you can feel Him. You can hear Him. There is no one else like Him. There are others that try to be like Him but they are only drum machines. They will never ever replace Jesus. Listen to His voice. Listen to his beat. Do you hear it? Can you feel it?
Dedicated to my dad. He could play anything I brought home by ear.
One new musician follower. I hope by me sharing your music that you will get more fans to listen to your music. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.
Remind Me by Conrad Sewell –
Thanks for all the follows, musicians and non-musicians.
Some other music from non-followers and followers I have listened to this week.
Detour Sign by Aoife O’ Donovan –
The Driver by Charles Kelley –
Hide Away by Daya –
Boots On The Ground by Frank Foster –
Keep My Heart Open by Green River Ordinance –
Good Kings Highway by Kevin Max –
Cruising by Lecrae –
Growing Up by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis –
Dedicated by Mavis Staples –
Deeper by Meredith Andrews –
Cooler by Phases –
The Best Damn Thing by Rick Springfield –
If I Stand by Sidewalk Prophets (Rich Mullins cover) –
I’ll Be Waiting On You by Vince Gill –
He Gotcha by Virtue –
Jesus and a Jukebox by Wynonna & The Big Noise –
and our song:
I Question You by Lily Messer –
On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943
The mind is a funny thing. I think it is especially true to runners, at least for me. It seems no matter how many races I run, I always wonder if I will finish this one. Keep in mind I have never not finished a race. Not with a torn meniscus during a marathon. Not with running a half marathon without training for it, after not running for almost 16 months prior because of the torn meniscus. No, I did not have surgery. I believe God healed it because I can run still. You can read about it here: https://mygodmymusicmylife.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/my-running/
The worse part of all of it is my mind is stronger than my body at this point. I get frustrated because I’m not where I think I should be. Of course it seems like it’s one injury after another. All these little nagging things. I wasn’t injured for 43 years then the last 3 years is killing me. I don’t think I will know what it will feel like to run at 100%, if I ever get there. One day I feel good and go out and run 2 miles at 7:18 pace. Next day I go out and do 10 miles at 8:00 pace. I start to think I am almost back to where I was. Then a few days later I go out to run 10 with my wife and can’t do 2 miles without stopping. My mind wanted me to go but my body wasn’t cooperating. Can you say frustrating?
I won’t give up. I may have to stop but I won’t give up. I have to keep telling myself it has only been 3 months since I have been able to run good at 20 miles per week. Rome wasn’t built in a day but my mind says you have done this a million times, why are you struggling?
Part of me says stop until you are 100% and other parts of me say keep going, it will slowly get better.
I have been doing some cross training just to do something on days when I can’t run. Here is another part of how the mind works. I do box jumps and can do all three heights: 20″, 24″ and 30″. No matter how many times I do them, my first attempt I hesitate. At the 20″ height even. It’s like you can do this, you have done this many times but the mind says wait a minute here, think about this, can you do it? Once I get the first jump in the mind switches to how many times can you do it?
Here is another kicker. I try to out-think myself during races. If I say I want to beat a certain time, I usually don’t. If I tell myself I don’t care how I do, I do awesome. My two fastest times are when I didn’t care how I did. So why don’t I go into every race saying I don’t care how I do? Good question.
Then for most of the longer races I run there are pacers. If you are not familiar these are runners that hold up a little sign with the time they will finish. The most comfortable races I have ever felt is when I got with the group I wanted to finish with and stayed there. Until I start to out-think the pacer and tell myself this is too slow. What are they going to do, sprint the last mile to make up the difference? They can’t be right at this pace. Let me tell you, they are right. One half marathon, the first I ran with a pacer, I felt good for 7 miles then decided the pacer was going to slow and I took off, only to have the same group pass me at mile 12 and I finished behind them.
The other time I ran with pacers was the first marathon I did. My wife and I ran with the 3:45 group and we were rocking it. After 15 miles I was telling my wife this feels easy. Then she had to use the bathroom and I tore my meniscus and well, now I am where I am now.
I have found running with a pacer takes my mind out of it, which is a good thing. Why don’t I run with pacers all the time? Another good question.
I know I am mentally strong. I finish what I start. I don’t think a lot of people would be doing what I am doing with the injuries I have. Maybe I am just stupid. If I could just get my mind to heal my body… in God’s time and in His will to do so. I wait patiently, sometimes. Other times, c’mon, heal me so I can run. There is something for me to learn in all this.
It is also like that in my walk with Jesus. Some days the devil take my mind and put thoughts in my head like you will never get back to 100%. Here we go again, another frustrating day, just give it up.
Jesus takes my mind and washes it new. He reminds me He died for me. He tells me I can do it. I can do all things through Him.
Bad things happen, bad days happen. You have to have the mentality to get back up, brush yourself off and get back on the right track. Jesus is with you. Never ever give up.
Disclaimer : This is not a real interview unless you count the voices in my head as being the ones interviewed.
Why isn’t this even being discussed in our political debates. I have read that more than 2/3 of U.S. adults are considered overweight. By eating a more nutritious diet, many diseases related to heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, and cancer can be reduced by $71 billion a year. With rising health insurance rates, the quickest and easiest way to reduce health costs is in our food, and to be more active.
My interview with the FDA : For the first time the FDA has set a daily cap for sugar. The goal is for Americans to limit added sugar to no more than 10 percent of daily calories. That amounts to most people about 12.5 teaspoons, or 50 grams, per day. That is the same as one can of Coke. Add low fat yogurt, granola, whole grain breads , ketchup, pasta sauce etc. Dr. Frank Hu, a member of the dietary guidelines committee, states there is a lot of hidden sugar in our food supply, it’s not just in sweets.
Me: Thanks for meeting me today, and congratulations on setting a limit on what our sugar intake should be.
FDA: Thanks for having me, it was a long time coming, we knew we had to do something.
Me: Let’s get right to the meat of it, what difference will it make if you set the limits of 50 grams per day but no one in the food industry changes the way they make our food.
FDA: It’s about choices and what you eat. You have to see that if you have more than the 50 grams of sugar we recommend it is not healthy for you.
Me: I take a look at my refrigerator and say I eat one Yoplait Yogurt , now with 25% less sugar, 2 pieces of wheat bread- dry, and a glass of 8 oz of cold milk, I am at 36 grams. I haven’t even left my breakfast table and I am one 8 oz glass of milk away from almost being 50 grams. What am we supposed to eat the rest of the day?
FDA: Like I said, it is all about the choices you make. By the way, milk isn’t included because it is not considered an added sugar. Lactose is considered a natural sugar.
Me: (staring at him in disbelief) Thanks for clearing that up. So I am down to 25 grams of added sugar, half way to our “limit” per day and I just finished breakfast. For dinner I have spaghetti with 3/4 cup of sauce, which has an astounding 21 grams of added sugar in spaghetti sauce. Do you not regulate these industries?
FDA: Yes we do.
Me: Then why would you allow companies that make spaghetti sauce to add so much sugar? By The way, I had a salad with my spaghetti with two teaspoons of salad dressing, another 6 grams of added sugar. It was “fat-free” also. Now I am over 50 grams and I didn’t even eat lunch.
FDA: Choices you make as a consumer affect how and what you eat. You have to stay away from processed foods.
Me: (flabbergasted) Stay away from processed foods? 80% of the grocery store is processed foods. The 20% that isn’t is priced where a lot of families can not afford them. They are forced to eat processed foods.
FDA: Is that a question ?
Me: According to my research the FDA :
Protects the public health by assuring that foods (except for meat from livestock, poultry and some egg products which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) are safe, wholesome, sanitary and properly labeled; ensuring that human and veterinary drugs, and vaccines and other biological products and medical devices intended for human use are safe and effective
FDA: That is correct.
Me: I read an article where Michael Taylor, the FDA deputy commissioner for food states: “We simply do not have the information to vouch for the safety of many of these chemicals,” said Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food. At a pace far faster than in previous years, companies are adding secret ingredients to everything from energy drinks to granola bars. But the more widespread concern among food-safety advocates and some federal regulators is the quickening trend of companies opting for an expedited certification process to a degree never intended when it was established 17 years ago to, in part, help businesses. A voluntary certification system has nearly replaced one that relied on a more formal, time-consuming review — where the FDA, rather than companies, made the final determination on what is safe. The result is that consumers have little way of being certain that the food products they buy won’t harm them.
“We aren’t saying we have a public health crisis,” Taylor said. “But we do have questions about whether we can do what people expect of us.”
FDA: I have not read that article nor can I comment on it at this time.
Me: Why not attack the food industry that the FDA has allowed to put so much sugar and other junk in our foods for the benefit of making a dollar instead of recommending unattainable guidelines on how much sugar we should have?
FDA: We are in the process of.. (I rudely interrupt)
Me: What can you tell me about the foods that are banned in other countries but is still allowed in the United States. Foods such as pink slime, that is used as an additive to bulk up cheap meat. Found in: Hot dogs, burgers, chicken nuggets. Health Hazards: This ‘meat’ is more likely to carry pathogens because it’s pulled from the bone. Banned in: European Union.
Genetically Engineered Foods that are modified for insect resistant but cause damages to animals and humans alike. Found in: Papayas, corn, and many other crops. Health Hazards: Animals fed GE foods have suffered intestinal and organ damage, tumors, birth defects, premature death and in some cases, sterility by the third generation. Banned in: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg.
Synthetic hormones that are added to our beef and milk cattle. Health Hazards: Cancer Banned in: European Union, Japan, Australia, and China.
The poison arsenic which is added to chicken to make their veins look pinker and healthier. I don’t know about you but I would rather eat a healthy chicken instead of one given poison to give the appearance of healthy. Health Hazards: Cancer Banned in: European Union.
Ractopamine is a drug that makes its way into most pig and cattle feed. Similar stuff is commonly used in asthma medication and makes animals more muscular while reducing fat and increasing profit margins. Health Hazards: Weight gain, increased heart rate, insomnia, headaches, and tremors. Banned in: This additive has been banned in the European Union, Russia, and even China.
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is an emulsifier – it stops flavouring from separating and floating to the surface of sports drinks. The main ingredient, bromine, is a poisonous chemical used in flame retardant that is considered corrosive and toxic. Health Hazards: Thyroid issues, autoimmune disease, major organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, hearing loss and cancer amongst rats. Banned in: Over 100 countries. Can I repeat that, banned in over 100 countries but still legal in the US.
Shall I continue?
FDA: I believe this interview is over. Have a good day.
Me: Wait, I have more. Color additives such as red 40 and yellow 5 are artificially created from coal tar and petroleum. Research has shown that bland coloured food is far less appealing to customers, so companies pump food full of this stuff. Found in: Pretty much everything we eat, from candy to macaroni and cheese. Health Hazards: Brain cancer, nerve-cell deterioration, and hyperactivity in children. Banned in: Much of the European Union.
Olestra. This fat substitute has been known to cause anal leakage and reduce the amount of vitamins found in the human body. Found in: Fat-free chips Health Hazards: Oily anal leakage and vitamin depletion Banned in: UK and Canada, amongst many others.
Antibiotics are commonly used on US farms to promote animal growth and combat the unnatural and squalid conditions of their pens. Around 80% of all antibiotic use in the US is in cows, salmon and other animals. Found in: Meat Health Hazards: The overuse of antibiotics may be linked to an increase in drug-resistant bacteria that make people sick. Banned in: European Union, Australia and New Zealand.
Where are you going? Don’t the citizens of the United States deserve better food?
I really don’t have any good songs to go with this so..
Mr. Jaws by Dickie Goodman – I remember listening to this on 8 track. It’s funny how some things stick with you. It had the Streak and Camp Grenada on it. Think it was a K-Tel or something.
One new musician follower. I hope by me sharing your music that you will get more fans to listen to your music. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.
Family Adventure Reel by Sean Beeson –
Thanks for all the follows, musicians and non-musicians.
Some other music from non-followers and followers I have listened to this week.
Put Your Hands Up by Boiling Point-
Pawn Shop by Brothers Osborne –
Then There’s You by Charlie Puth –
Where Does The Time Go by A Great Big World –
Simple Life by Green River Ordinance –
You All Are Beautiful by John Anderson –
Run Wild by John Tibbs –
Shine by Joy Enriquez-
Love Come Crashing Down by Kutless –
My Church by Maren Morris –
My Victory by Passion (Crowder) –
I Turn To Christ by Passion (Matt Redman) –
Speechless by Rachel Plattten –
Take It All by Sawyer Fredericks –
Unstoppable by Sia –
Could Have Been Me by The Struts –
Laugh About It by Tedeschi Trucks Band –
I Need You by Tray Michaels –
I Still Believe, Kingdoms by 7eventh Time Down –
and our song:
I Question You by Lily Messer –
On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943
It’s amazing how God works. I was going through some old songs last week and heard the song Somebody Wishes They Were You by Adelitas Way. I instantly thought how could I forget this song, it is a great song. I need to find a way to put it in a post. Then wouldn’t you know it, this appeared in my inbox Monday.
So You Want to Be Someone Different?
“You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
Let’s do something different. Let’s have you pretend you are someone different, someone completely different than whom I have made. You can decide your appearance, your personality, your strengths. You can decide your quirks, your special hidden talents. You can decide what makes you unique, valued, worthy. You can decide what it means to be a woman I am delighted to look on and call precious, adored, daughter.
Do you see her? Do you hear her? Can you grasp the picture you’ve created, this imaginary girl concocted in your head?
Is she all you want her to be? Don’t leave anything out. Write her out. Imagine her. Is she so different from you? Is she like you or the opposite of everything I’ve made you to be?
How is her worth measured? How did you decide to write her eyes the way you did, or make her laugh like that, or have her get things done so quickly, so efficiently, so perfectly? Who is this girl-woman you’ve created whom you worship and think I love more than I could ever, possibly, love you?
Why do you worship this pretend self you wish existed rather than Me?
She needs to be destroyed now, you know. She needs to be thrown into the fire, where all lies need to be sent to be destroyed, for good. This imaginary girl you’ve created in your head is not the daughter I have crafted with my two hands. She is not the woman I have born with my breath and designed, in all your wondrous and perfect beauty, to be.
Throw down this lie you chase that makes you strive towards imaginary perfection. You will not receive my joy, my peace, my life in you that sustains if you continue to chase what is not meant for you to attain. Who are you to decide what it means to be desired, perfected, worthy? Who are you to shun what I’ve made and desire something different?
Let me show you this daughter of mine. Let Me show you the beauty of her, the joy she brings Me, the strength in her to love just the way I’ve made her to love, to work with the passions I’ve given her to use. She is mighty when she knows who and whose she is and abandons all idols that bring distraction to this life I’ve given her, distractions that bring death to her heart.
For I bring life, my daughter. I bring you life. And this life I bring you is in you. I am in you. You are my delight and the one I sing over and never, ever want to leave.
Somebody Wishes They Were You by Adelitas Way –
Be Like That by 3 Doors Down –
Someone Worth Dying For by Mikes Chair –
You Have Searched Me by Citizens & Saints –
Never Surrender by Skillet –
Invisible by Disciple –
Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray –
Scars To Beautiful by Alessia Cara –
Girl Crush by Little Big Town –
Wishing You Were Someone Else by Georgia Faye Steele –
Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) by Ne-Yo –
It was a long, cold, dark winter. One that she didn’t think would ever end. There was snow, rain, and sleet. A couple of times there was enough ice to nearly break the branches on the trees. The little girl held on. She waited for the warmer weather, the better times, the warmth of the sun. She knew it would come, it was just a matter of time. As she waited patiently, she would say her prayers, she would thank God for protecting her and her mommy and daddy during these cold, dark, winter nights.
Finally, the day had come. The first bud of spring appeared out of the ground. The bud peeked out of her shoot and could feel the warmth surround her. She was filled with so much joy that, at first, she didn’t notice she was the only bud sprouting. After basking in the warmth of the sunshine for a few minutes she looked around, startled that she was the only one. Where was everyone else? Was she going to be all alone? Did she come out too soon? Was colder weather coming back and she would die because of her eagerness to sprout? She was filled with fear and doubt but she stayed strong. She knew God had a plan for her. It was then that a little girl saw her and started yelling for her dad to come see the new flower. The little girl was so excited that the bud could not help but smile. Her excitement was contagious.
A little while later another bud awakened. He also took a moment to take in the warmth around him. He then looked to see if the others had awakened and that was when he saw her. She was within inches of him and he knew he would love her. It didn’t take long for her to notice him either, even though it took the help of a little girl yelling “Look, daddy, now there’s two!”
They welcomed the spring with all the other buds that started to awaken. With all the other flowers around them, they knew they were meant for each other. When the rains came, he would lean towards her to cover her petals. When the strong winds came they would lean into it together, holding stems. They were inseparable. When the bees came they opened their petals for them so they could spread their seeds to other lands where there were no flowers. They also knew that the bees relied on their pollen to take back to their hives for food. It was a beneficial relationship. Everything was new and exciting.
Then summer came. It was a scorching summer, one like they had never seen. There was no water. Many flowers died but not our couple. They shared what they had with each other. Every little drop of moisture was shared between them. Luckily, they were also planted where they had shade for part of the day. They counted the hours down together until they were cooled by the shade. Every once in awhile the little girl would come out with a can of water and help keep them alive. They were often too tired to open their petals wide enough for the bees to come but they did their best. They knew the only way to survive this summer was with the help of others. They prayed their prayers for rain, for cooler temperatures but it was not to be. Sometimes in life, God doesn’t answer prayers and there are reasons only He knows why. They had reached a point in their relationship that they were still together, but they didn’t talk much. Too much too worry about, too much life got in the way. When was their next rain drop, how would they make it through another day without food, why couldn’t they be like they were in the spring? Did they waste this whole season of their life? They knew better because they still shared the little water they had, they still protected each other but the excitement was gone.
Before they knew it Autumn was here. They had made it through the difficult summer and were enjoying another season of their life. The rains came again, as well as cooler weather. When he looked at her she was still the most beautiful, most loving, most caring flower in the garden. When she looked at him he was still the bravest, strongest, most handsome flower this side of Eden. They held each other’s petals more each day, knowing that their days were winding down. They reflected on the spring and the summer. Days when their love was new and days when they didn’t know if they would make it. They thought of their seeds spread far and wide, soon to be new flowers that would spread their love and beauty around the world. It wasn’t easy, they had moments of doubt but they fought for each other, they fought for their love. They survived.
Soon the cold winds blew again. They held on for as long as they could but with each passing day, their petals would fall off. They knew it wouldn’t be long now but they held on for each struggling moment. Relying on each other to get by. Praying for just one more second. She was the first to go, as she was the first to sprout. He wasn’t far behind her.
The little girl, all bundled up from the cold, looked at her daddy and said, “Look, daddy, the first two here are they last two to leave. I wonder if they were happy here, I wonder if they were in love.”
“Now, now,” said the daddy, “we know flowers can’t fall in love but if they could, those two would definitely have been like me and your mom. Through all the seasons and all the weather, the rain, the sun, the cold, they were standing right beside each other. Holding petals all the while.”
The little girl giggled. Through the cold, dark, winter nights she was safe as she anxiously waited for the first bud of spring to blossom again.
A great country song title don’t you think? It turned out more like a poem but put in the right hands and with some reworking I think it would make a good country song.
This has been bouncing around in my head for 67 days and this weekend I think it all came together. Do any of you have 37 drafts like I do? I have some as old as 152 days that I hold on to. Sometimes I look at my drafts and say that was 83, or 41, or 152 days ago? Seems like just yesterday that thought was in my head. Sometimes a thought pops in my head, or a title and I write it down to finish later. Sometimes its a few lines and sometimes it’s a couple paragraphs but then it stops, waiting for God to finish it.
Let me know if you like it. Have a great Leap Day. What are you doing with the 24 extra hours this year?
Patching Walls And Scrubbing Floors
Patching walls and scrubbing floors
Replacing broken dishes, replacing doors
What happened to our love?
Yelling words that keep the neighbors awake
Slamming doors hard enough to cause a quake
Why is there so much bad blood?
You’re not the same and neither am I
We stare in disbelief and wonder why
How did we get to this place?
We keep playing these head games
I know we are both to blame
Can we have a heart to heart, face to face?
I pull my hair out, frustration sets in
Halfway through I wonder why did we begin
Are you still here?
Have you checked out, want to be anywhere else
We have our children, quit thinking of your self
This was my worst fear
Can we get to where we were before?
Instead of patching walls and scrubbing floors
Do we walk away or give it one more try?
Were all these years just a mistake?
Was our love for each other fake?
Do we talk it out or say one last goodbye?
Are we just actors in a movie, playing our role
On to the next scene, same ole same ole
I don’t want to be in this movie
I’m here, let’s take that first step
Look to the future and try to forget
Take a good look at you, a good look at me
There is only one way to heal, to make us better
We need to look to the One who brought us together
‘Cause I’m done fighting these wars
I’m done patching walls and scrubbing floors
If We’re Honest by Francesca Battestelli –
House Divided by Josh Wilson –
Restored by Matthew West –
I Don’t Wanna Fight by Westlife –
Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone by Cinderella –
I’m the drummer. I sit in the back and you will probably never know my name. I am hardly ever in the spotlight. I am confident in my abilities. I do not need to be in the front. You usually won’t catch me singing. I’m the drummer.
My God, My Music, My Life 