Lessons in Life

This is an e-mail that someone special to us, Robbie Upchurch, who we lovingly and affectionately refer to as "Ma" sent. How true these 50 statements are about life.
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Lessons in Life, By Regina Brett
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I 've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paychec k.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear t he fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doe sn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

• 'May the Lord's face radiate with joy because of you' Numbers 6:24

• Live life to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised!

• 'People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel'

Printer Problems?

This is something everyone that has to deal with computers and encounters problems needs to read and watch. It is a problem that was sent to "GEEK SQUAD" to help resolve.
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Dear Geek Squad,
I recently purchased an HP Printer, and when I am in the room watching it, it works perfectly. However, nearly every time I leave it unattended, the papers come out wrinkled, sometimes even shredded, with blurred ink. If I re-start the print job and babysit it, there are no problems. You can imagine that this has been very frustrating, and I would appreciate one of your technicians coming out to fix whatever the problem is.Thank you,Dave Larson Dave,

THE REPLY -

Thank you for contacting the Geek Squad.
As you know, one of our top technicians was dispatched to investigate your printer problem. His initial findings mirrored your experience, so he set up a hidden camera to document what was causing the paper disruption. Please review the attached video, and thanks again for your business. And for the laughs we all had upon discovering the source of your problem.
Sincerely,
Mark Donaldson
Geek Squad

[WATCH VIDEO]

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed astray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing,and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW

WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT.

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child.How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by sending this to someone else, you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

SUPERMAN & WONDER WOMAN - Metropolis

We were fortunate to go through the city of Metropolis where SUPERMAN lives. Although, on our stop we did not visit the Daily Planet or see Broadway, we were able to get two quick glimpses of SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN at our gas and ice cream stop.

That was a treat to be able to catch them in person! WOW!

Jonah and the Priates of the Mediterranean, part 2

It was a great trip and a wonderful play! We had such a good time and getting to see Mike & Donna and the "Jonah and the Priates of the Mediterranean" was so great!

"So Happy Together"

Jonah and the Priates of the Mediterranean

What a trip! 13 people on a bus headed north to Florissant, Mo and then back. Well not so much the 13 people on a bus but it was the combination of these 13 people that made it such a trip. Our own little pirate crew that included the Burton's, Clymer's, Nash's, Rose's, Wilson's, Robbie "Ma" Upchurch and Inez and I. We worried if there were places they wouldn't let us come in to eat because we would be too loud or too roudy!

Surprise - Surprise - Surprise!


Sunday morning after being with the family at Florissant!
It was so good to see Mike's play and spend a little time seeing Mike & Donna. What a trip!

We are Puppyless!

Curt and I were fortunate enough to find good homes for all 10 of our precious puppies. We had named all 10 of them, some of them in honor of our Small Group! The last 2 little girls left us on Saturday. I'm having 'empty crate syndrome'. Caring for those puppies was such fun. No matter how bad I felt or how bad a day I had at work, when I went out to take care of the puppies, I always started smiling. Watching them run and play and seeing how loving they were, it just made me smile.

The Puppies

Here are the latest picture from this afternoon 5/10/2008 with the 5 remaining puppies.

PUPPIES in MOTION

Well the Puppies were 4 weeks old yesterday.

PUPPIES PROGRESS

April 7, 2008

Cole Johnson with some of the Puppies April 19, 2008

Callie and Puppies April 27, 2008

April 28, 2008

Callie's Puppies

Well, our newly adopted pet was pregnant and had puppies last Sunday. Here are some pictures.

All 10 of them! Get ready, we will have puppies to GIVE away in about 6 weeks.

She adopted us

This is CALLIE. She came up and appeared on our doorstep and adopted us. We don't know her history, but she is quite and sweet and loves to lay around and be rubbed.

We are trying to find her a good home and someone to let her lay her head in their lap and rub and pet on her. We still haven't heard her bark.

PARTNERS for AFRICA

We were so fortunate to enjoy dinner last night with our dear friend, Dorian Flynn. Unfortunately his wife Cheri was not feeling well and not able to join us. Dorian and Cheri have been such good friends since the early 80's and have shared so many of my life events over time.

God has led Dorian and Cheri in a new direction and a new purpose. Dorian has always had such a love for mission work and has spent much of his time in missions in Africa and the Carribean. Now he is being led to focus on work in Africa. Dorian is currently raising money to support this work.

Our Small Group - WinterFlame weekend

Saturday Morning ...
Inez & Ron are cooking breakfast for everyone.
As usual, everyone gets in the act.
Bob is concentrating on something being in his plate for breakfast.
Bob ... still waiting for brreakfast.

Shots of WinterFlame '08

From the balcony of the condo.
Meeting room at The National Park Resort, Pigeon Forge.

Monte Cox and Michael Whittington in a moment of discussion.

"Some Day My Prince Will Come"

During the time we spent in Disney World I saw a t-shirt that had this phrase "Some Day My Prince Will Come". I immediately knew what it was referring to, being in the middle of Disney World. Of course the reference to Snow White and Prince Charming and then the new Schreck movies.

Having just finished Christmas and having the world spend some time on focusing on the birth of Christ I matched this phrase with a different meaning. The one described in Matthew 1:18; Luke chapter 1. We could revise the phrase to say "One Day My Prince Did Come".

What a plan! What a miracle! Our Prince did come and the change that He brought to the world!