Things I learned from Daddy

My dad is 83 and in the final chapter of his life on earth. I didn’t make it home to see him on Father’s day this year, but I was there a few days after. It didn’t really matter since he doesn’t know one day from another anymore, and it’s sad. Father’s day was the one day he had an excuse to brag about his 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 8 (and counting) great-grand children. He never waited for an excuse, but he always used Father’s day to its fullest. He is very proud of all of them.

After spending a week at his bedside watching for the brief and far-between twinkles of recognition in his eyes I am resolved to the truth that I will soon be separated from him for a while. It’s just one more reason to look forward to eternity. In the meantime I decided to collect some thoughts of things he taught me, either in word or by example (both good and bad).

• God sets the best example for good parenting.
• Loving kindness is an effective discipline technique.
• Parents need to be fully present with their family when they are home.
• Burping at the table is polite in some cultures, as is, drinking from your soup bowl.
• There is nothing more precious than a child’s smile.
• Women are beautiful.
• Take time to learn for yourself the things you are being taught.
• For every problem there is a solution.
• God takes care of his children.
• Everyone needs to hear the Gospel.
• The best way to serve God is to serve people.
• Use any ability or opportunity to share God’s love.
• You don’t have to be a preacher to change people’s lives.
• Churches can reach families by loving their children.
• Never sneak up on a man that is under the hood of a car.
• Cultural differences should be appreciated.

Of course there are all those little practical things Dad’s teach like how to change a tire, basic auto mechanics (my brothers got more of that than I did), how to handle tools and Boy Psychology 101. We were blessed with parents who believed in teaching their children as much of what they knew as they could. We didn’t always listen, we were typical kids, but a lot of it sunk in eventually. I just pray that when my kids are grown they will be able to look back and pull out some little pearls of wisdom they gained from my life, maybe even some of those I got from my parents; and I hope most of them are from my successes instead of my errors. Either way to God be the glory, because, like most parents, I am VERY human.

I'm a FRAUD!

Okay, I admit it! I am a fraud! I call myself the crazy kat lady (thecrazykatlady@gmail.com) or (thekatladys.blogspot) but I don’t ACtually have any cats! But my nickname has been Kat for most of my life (courtesy of my brothers), so I’m not stretching the truth too much…

I’m sorry; I know you’re disappointed in me. Let’s just say its wishful thinking; someday I hope to truly be the crazy cat lady. In the meantime I did something to cause my daughter to say I need to take the word kat/cat out of the phrase altogether.

I asked myself, if my family were cats what kind of cat would they be?….Here are my answers, minus names…see if you can guess.

The first one is a calico and I think I’d name him Sir. He is VERY affectionate and loves to be in my lap and is nearly always in the same room with me. He is a very social creature and will curl up next to any of the other cats to sleep when I’m not around. He’s not high-energy or playful except when given the chance to hunt birds outside in the yard.

This one is a Orange Tabby. I would call him Buzz. He frequently goes from one extreme to the other and is either ALL energy or NO energy. When he is full of energy he loves to pounce on all the other cats, pretty much anything that moves, and when he has no energy he will plop down anywhere. He is a joker, and loves to play games, get into mischief, and make messes. Buzz is also very affectionate and lovable and takes every opportunity to get your attention.

This would be Darling, she is the baby of the family and doted on by all the other cats. They bathe her, protect her and all of them act as if they are her mother/father. There never was such a spoiled kitten in all the world as this one. Even with all the attention from the other cats she is a mamma’s girl and stays close to me most of the time.

This elegant little lady is the queen of the castle. And she makes sure everyone knows it too. She comes when she wants, goes when she wants and usually gets what she wants. I think I would call her Mulan (Lani) She is kind and gentle and loving (when she wants to be) she rarely finds Buzz amusing but occasionally will condescend to rough housing with him, but frequently taunts him, you can almost see her laugh and smirk at him. She has a unique way of communicating and “talks” to us, with several different tones, in a way we always seem to know what she means.

Last, but not least, is this sexy little devil, I would call him Apollo. Yes, he is very god-like. He doesn’t walk, he struts, it seems as if he thinks he’s a panther instead of a house cat. He’s large and muscular and loves to be outside catting around the neighborhood. He’s smart and sassy and loves to wrestle with Buzz and act silly with Lani. He’s very fatherly to Darling and what I like most is that he will spontaneously come out of nowhere and snuggle for a bit then disappear as suddenly as he appeared.

Hmm…I think I have an over-active imagination….sigh…..or……meow.

Silver and Gold

Acts 3:6 "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you…”

What do you have to give? What has God made abundant in your life? Share it with those in need.

Needs come in all forms; some may need comfort, security, laughter, love, hope, faith, understanding, knowledge or wisdom. God gives each of us an abundance of something that we can share with others. What do you have? Time, energy, strength, sympathy, experience, knowledge, hope, love, compassion?

Don’t be fooled to thinking that if you don’t have money, you don’t have anything to give. Give from what God has given you, there are people all around you, today, that need what you have…

Jesus.