Saying Grace In A Restaurant

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.

My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.

As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for
the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for
dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman
remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even
know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong?

Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God
was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that
was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked.

"Cross my heart," the man replied
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose
remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for
ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal.

My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will
remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it
in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for
you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good
already."
THE END

I loved this story!
Please keep it moving.
Sometimes, we all need some ice cream.
I hope God sends you some Ice Cream today

Today I was a little frantic. When my Nana woke up her eye looked ulcerated, like the lower eyelid had flipped inside out. It looked very similar to when my Grammy had shingles and they had told us if we had waited any longer to get her to the dr. she would have went blind in that eye. So like I said freaked out. I tried to get ahold of my mom a couple of times because she usually handles Dr. appointments but wasn’t able to get her. So I called the urgent care and explained it and they said to bring her in. I called my brother to see if he could meet me and help me with getting Nana in and out of the car. And we set about getting ready to go. My mom finally called and asked me to pick her up so she could go with us.
As we are heading to the Dr office I asked my mom to call her Eye Dr and see if he could meet us there. When he got the page he called us back and explained that he was in route to his other office which meant we had just passed him. This Dr deserves a medal…he asked if we would just turn around and he would wait for us in the parking lot of the Big Foot! So we did just that and he examined my Nana’s eye right in the gas station parking lot!!
He explained that it was a hemorrhage in her eye which could have been caused by a cough or a sneeze or some sort of strain that burst a blood vessel in her eye. I was grateful to find it wasn’t so serious and then felt a little foolish for having rounded everyone up in such a panic. But I suppose better to be safe than sorry. We have to go tomorrow so Nana can get a proper exam in the office. In the mean time I feel much better knowing that Nana’s eye isn’t going to fall out which is basically what it looks like.

Have a great week all!!
Much love,
Kwick

When I run into acquaintances from my past I am often asked are you who I think you are? I suppose my appearances have changed a great deal. But more than that I have remade myself inside and out many times over. If it were someone who I had a real relationship with they would know me and they would know that No, in fact I am not who they thought I was then. I usually reply something like I think you knew an older version of me, please don’t hold it against me. I have these conversations sparingly because I have several years of my life that are complete blurs and several more that I simply wish were blurs!
Occasionally I will happen upon someone who in fact did know me and still cares to know me now. I have had a few such occasions recently and with different outcomes. One such occasion has been a complete joy. A close high school friend who had moved away and lost contact because well I lost reality…found me through the magic of internet. We have been corresponding and I have actually recalled happy moments of my teen years! It was truly fun!
Others who I have attempted to contact have simply ignored my emails or maybe are too busy with current affairs to respond.
I find myself pondering the outcome if all versions of me tried to coexist at one moment. No I don’t have multiple personalities well I guess actually I do but I am full aware of all of them. They don’t really hide in dark spaces in my mind waiting for their turn to exist. They have all simply had their time and have taken their rightful place in my shadow box of a brain. But sometimes painfully and other times gratefully they can be recalled at will.
I heard a song today on some country radio station about some young boys finding out about Momma before she was Momma. It was a cute little song about finding a box of pictures in a closet. Mom was drinking and smoking and flipping the bird while setting on a motorcycle. I was seriously amused!
There are parts of my life that I suppose a sane person would regret and I do get sad if I play the What If game…but I do realize that all of those parts made me the semi whole being I am today! Each version of me, however embarrassing, taught me something about life and about my role in it. I shouldn’t be surprised that even if someone left footprints on my sole I may not have left any on theirs. I also shouldn’t be surprised that even if I left footprints it may be best to just let the memories prevail. I know that when I visit these different versions of my life it can be dangerous territory because I often found myself in very bad neighborhoods metaphorically and in reality!
I just hope that one day I have peace about all of it really. Not just in my head but in my heart. I do believe that over the last few years I have been heading there. I just can’t wait for the day that I don’t get that lump in my throat when someone calls me by my maiden name. Or recalls something that I just don’t. It is my reality and I am truly beginning to like the newer version of me. I simply must remind myself that without the older versions of me the newer version might not exist!

Grateful blessings all!
Much love,
Kwick

Tears don’t fall
I cannot let them
There is work to do
Time for crying will come
You have been my strength
You have been my crutch
Today you are bruised
I support you while you walk
You have always been ageless
Today time seems to have caught up with you
You show no fear
No remorse or tears
Denial does no good
I want to hide
You never failed me
And I could never repay all that you did
So for you I will be strong
I will be your strength
I will be your crutch
I will not hide
I will stay by your side

There were very few people in my childhood that I knew I could trust. There were very few places that I could feel no fear. In the country stands a house that my grandmother (Grammy) and her sister (Nana) grew up in. It was a refuge for my mother, brother and me on many occasions. I first felt free enough to write my heart’s words in a bedroom upstairs in that house. I explored a million and one times and never reached the end of its mysteries. I knew that I would never grow cold or hungry as long as my Grammy and Nana were right there in that house. On December 20, 2006 my Grammy passed away and I suddenly felt all security pass away. My mother and I have spent many more nights in the last year in that house with my Nana. She never seemed frail before now. She still fed the cows, collected eggs everyday, has more kittens than the local pound, and kept a garden big enough to feed the neighborhood.
Tonight the house sits empty. My Nana sleeps in my bedroom and is walking with a walker for fear that she will fall. While I was celebrating the New Year with my mother, husband and my children my Nana laid in a stairwell she had fallen down until she got the strength to get to the phone. I have never seen her afraid before now. My brother’s father would come to the house drunk and threaten her if she didn’t get out of his way and she would just tell him how it was but today she is here. It is my turn to take care of her. I am certain that no one can take away what she gave to me. Her strength is a big part of me and probably why I stayed so strong in the midst of all the madness. She and my Grammy were my stability and now I get to be hers. Once again of course I feel all the humility. Who will be my stability when she is gone? Have I gained enough strength of my own to make it? I do know that I won’t leave her alone as long as she lets me be there I will be right by her side!!! Never let a moment pass to tell them you love them and how grateful you are!

Much love and grateful blessings,
Kwick

Take twelve whole months. Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate,
and jealousy.

Make them just as fresh and clean as possible. Now cut each month into
twenty-eight, thirty, or thirty-one different parts, but don't make up the whole
batch at once.

Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients. Mix well into each day
one part of faith, one part of patience, one part of courage, and one part of
work.

Add to each day one part of hope, faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.

Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation, and one good deed.

Season the whole with a dash of good spirits, a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of
play, and a cup full of good humor.

Pour all of this into a vessel of love. Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile, and serve with quietness, unselfishness, and
cheerfulness.

You're bound to have a Happy New Year!

Author Unknown