IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Remember the old Michael W. Smith song "Friends"

And friends are friends forever, If the Lords the Lord of them.

It has always been one of my favorite songs.
This past Saturday night, one of those kind of friends got married.
This was a friend that I have known for 30 years, a prayer partner for as long as I can remember, one I don't see often enough, though we live in the same town. We both have busy lives. She has been single and I am married with kids and grandkids. But through the years, both of us have known the faithfulness of God. Saturday night just happened to be a night his faithfulness was on special display. And it was BEAUTIFUL!

When I first met Suzanne, she had been in a long, very difficult marriage. She had stayed married because that was the thing to do. Eventually she got a divorce. It was not something she took lightly, but it happened. And then she met Bill, the love of her life. I remember the glow on her face, the love in her eyes. Happiness was no longer a hope. She WAS!!!!

These two people were meant for each other. Fast forward two short years and she was a widow. Bill had a heart attack and died in her arms, as she waited on the EMT's. That glow left and she was left all alone, no children and not yet 40. Life did not seem fair. I can remember so many talks we had about the faithfulness of God.


Over the next twenty years she had many dates (can I tell you this is one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever known, both inside and out!) and yet she felt like she would spend the rest of her years alone. And then it happened !

About a year ago, she met a man who had lost his wife to cancer a few years earlier. In her words to me, she had met another Bill. They dated for a year, he took her to New York City, took her on a church trip to the Holy Land, she even got to go to the Republican convention last summer, as he was a delegate from Arkansas ...and yes, he gave her a ROCK. I wish I had a picture of it.

I know how many times she had prayed for a man who loved God, loved family and would love her.
I attended their wedding on Saturday night and could not hold back the tears as she walked down the aisle, glowing. As I looked around in that beautiful cathedral, I realized everyone had a few tears. They are both 60 and super healthy (when you see her picture you will not believe she is a day over 40) so I see them having many happy years. He has two married daughters that have welcomed her into their family, so I bet she will get to be a grandmother someday. She never had children and would have been a wonderful Mom. She has always been one of my kids very favorite people.


So the next years of her life will bring some new experiences that she has only dreamed of. They are going to Paris for a week in April. Life is good. God is faithful! And as the saying goes, "It is never too late to live happily ever after"!
Suzanne and John are a testimony to that. So cheers to the newlyweds. May you have many happy years together.

Not a Tag, Just a Little Information

I have found that when I read blogs, I want to know about the writer.
For a year, I have found myself going back and reading old posts on certain blogs, just to get to know more about the blogger. I am either addicted or I just have an inquiring mind!
But what I find more than anything else is that we all have many of the same likes, many of the same problems, and many of the same fears.
So this is not a tag, just some random facts, in no particular order. Hopefully you will know me a little better.

1. I have been married to the greatest husband in the world for 37 years.

2. I have a son 35, and a daughter 28 and I am so thankful that they love and honor their parents, but am equally proud that they adore each other.

3. The best job I have ever had is "Grammy"! Hands down...I love it! I am Grammy to Parker, Austin, Jack and new little man arriving in June.

4. My husband was the high school football coach when I was a cheerleader. I am 10 years younger than him. My kids love to hear that story. Hey, its lasted 37 years. Another post for another day.

5. Disney World is my favorite place on earth, especially with the grandkids. Nothing compares!

6. Parker is 9 and we have taken him to Disney World and Disneyland 7 times. Grandparents will travel. Those trips are some of the sweetest days of my life.

7. I have decorated homes for Christmas for the past 17 years. I just did a quick calculation and I have probably decorated at least 1200 Christmas trees in my life.

8. Dancing With The Stars is my very favorite TV show! With American Idol a close second.

9. I am a HUGE BRETT FARVE fan! I love football and actually feel depressed each year, as the season comes to an end. I cannot imagine football without Brett.

10. I think massages are about as close to heaven as we get on this earth. I try to have one every week. And tomorrow I have an all day spa day from my husband...my favorite Valentine gift!

11. I love cold weather and am miserable in the summer.

12. My appendix ruptured on vacation, when I was 5 months pregnant with Amanda. That was 28 years ago, but one of those vivid MEMORIES.

13. I love to read blogs. I love people's stories.

14. My parents died 2 years ago, 3 months to the day of each other. They had been married 59 years and were very healthy until their last six months of life.

15. I love Diet Coke and I love coffee....so I think caffeine is my friend.

16. I love my son-in-law and my daughter-in-law. They are both wonderful parents. They are a perfect fit for our family.

17. My daughter had a baby at 18 and and senior in high school. She has been the most awesome Mom to Parker. No little guy loves his Mom anymore than Parker loves her. This will be a future post...a beautiful story of God's grace.

18. My favorite way to travel is with my entire family. Our kids and their kids. We have a blast.

19. I am very much a night person. My normal bedtime is between 1 and 2 AM and many nights I look up and its 3. Fortunately my shop is at my house, so I can make my own work hours. What a blessing. I am not a morning person AT ALL!

20. I hate going to the doctor, hate medical tests, and am rarely sick!

21. I love going to the movies. We try to see at least one movie a week.

22. I love Le Madeline's Potato Soup! It is one of my most favorite places to eat.

23. I love Faith Hill and Tim McGraw...maybe Tim McGraw a tad more!

24. I am a news junky...Fox News is almost always on at least one of our TV's!

25. I like to get a new laptop at least once a year.

26. I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church, but all my adult life have attended an nondenominational church.

7. I love to send notes and cards the old fashioned way...not email, but with a postage stamp.

28. I love to read the newspaper, especially USA TODAY.

29. I cannot resist buying books and magazines... I may not read them, just want them.....near me...I never leave home without a book or magazine. I have a fear of having to sit somewhere with nothing to read.

30. I do not cook! At all!

31. I love to play cards and have played with the same girls for 15 years. Hand and Foot is our game.

32. I wish I had more confidence in the stock market rebounding. The reports each day bring fear.

33. My husband treats me like a queen and my friends remind me of that constantly.

34. I LOVE BETH MOORE BIBLE STUDIES

35. I love reconnecting with old friends....Thank you God for FACEBOOK!

That's plenty to start with with. Probably each of those will lead to a post in the future. Thank you to all the new friends that have stopped by my blog.