Cake, Ice Cream, and Memories

Before I get to the meat of this post, I thought I would update you all on what we have been up to for the past month or more. We are in the process of developing a new website that will contain all the stories and blog posts that are here and some other information that will help us promote our books as they are published. We have outgrown this blog site and for the purposes I've mentioned, we feel that we can better serve our friends and customers with a new larger look. When it is complete we will leave word on Facebook, here, and other venues where you might find the site. At that point, all of my postings and stories will be on the website for all to read and enjoy.

I would like to thank all of you that have purchased the first book and for all the kind comments and compliments. It has been a total success and that fact alone has encouraged me to continue on with the other books that I have in the works. Walking down this trail in life has brought me to a greater understanding of how the publishing markets operate and what it really takes to see a book in its form and ready for the public to view. As I travel through this phase of learning, I'm beginning to realize that writing is only 1/3 of the process. There are many other hidden details and people behind the scenes that are responsible for making your words come to life so that people everywhere can enjoy your book. Going forward it should be much easier for the next book to become a reality and I look forward to the day when it will hit the shelves.
   

Saturday I had the pleasure of gathering with family to celebrate my father's birthday. This was not your everyday ordinary surprise party because my dear old dad has reached the summit of his life. I'm not sure how many more birthdays he will see the cake and eat it too. Sitting there watching my father as he enjoyed the festivities, I couldn't help but have a sense of sadness and happiness all in the same feeling. It was a weird feeling. One that I have not had in my life up to this point. I suspect God had that very same feeling when watching his Son as he lay at the hands of his enemies but knowing all well that the plan was nearly complete.
   
I was happy for all the great times in my life when my earthly father held me in his arms and used his beautiful mind to console and strengthen me. For all the memories that we have shared through our common association with one another and the trails we traveled together as I learned my way about. I was happy for his mentoring that was so vital to my being. For the loving hands that guided me through the ups and downs in this life so that I could learn to enjoy the rewards of this earth and it's people. I was happy and content in the fact that I was raised by a loving, caring father that loved my mother as well. This was part of the feeling that welled up in me as I spent time studying my father's face that day.

As this feeling reached a pinnacle of joy in my soul, another feeling crept in that contested the first feeling and that was sadness and sorrow. My dad and I are as close as a father and son could be and the thought of losing him in this life was more than I could take. Thoughts went wild in my mind and the fear of being alone without my father to rely on took hold of my mind and raced through me like a runaway train. Tears formed in my eyes and all I could think of was sorrow. I know everyone has or will go through this feeling in life. I realized that it is my turn on earth to grasp reality and try my best to live through the process.

After the party was over, the weekend continued with a two-fold for me as we were treated to our annual Mother's day celebration. It was a grand day for all the Mother's that are in my life. I have seven mothers in my life right now that all deserve respect in the highest form. My dear mother is the breath that I breathe each day. She gave me birth so that I was able to grow and develop as a man and write these words of thanks and admiration to such a wonderful person. Then there is my better half and all that goes into making me a complete man. My wife is the mother of my children and I have first-hand witness to her selfless devotion to me and her children. She is my rock and without that, I would be less of a person. Then we have my daughters, and daughter-in-law, each one different in their own ways. Mothers to the bone and it still amazes me that they have such energy to raise and nurture our 12 grandchildren like it's another day at the office. And last but not least our newest mother in time that has blessed us with another great-grandson.
   
My hat is off to these valiant women. Their continuous sacrifice and endearing efforts help each and every one of us realize that they are special angels. They were sent here to this particular family with the sole purpose of rearing, raising, and returning us someday with grace and tender loving care to our Father who waits for our return. Humility is a large word and as I grow older I receive more of it sometimes than I would like to swallow. Mothers can bring the humility fact to the forefront in a hurry.

When pondering the facts, we men, for the most part, are aggressive, selfish, greedy beings that could not sustain ourselves if given the chance out right. We have created every method of war and destruction that this earth has seen for the sole purposes of domination and greed. If we were left to our own designs and had it not been for grieving mothers and wives trying to put a stop to the madness, this earth would have long since been consumed by fire and destruction right down to the last man. History has proved this fact out time and again. Our mothers and wives are the only things that have stood between us and designs of evil since the beginning of time. I'm sure God knew that the only way for the preservation of mankind was a soft, loving, sweet voice to whisper in the ears of man as he trod about on this earth and tried in vain to destroy one another. So it is with great reverence and humility that man has been bent low and brought from his bloody throne by the gracious soothing of our mothers. To that, we owe our gratitude and never ending love on the day we celebrate these beautiful human beings and their presence in our midst. On this mother's day, love is all they know and all they will ever want.