Blast from the Past…

Sweet Cyndi, from One Day More, tagged me with a very unique meme 😛 (originally started by Lindsay). Cyndi had asked me to dig into my archives and re-post four posts (boy – I need to go through 400 posts…yikes!) — but with a little twist: one funny (which might pose a problem – since I am not funny), one serious, one ‘ugly’ (aka rant), and one about me…So, here we go…

Funny:

I am too much for some…

You Are Italian Food

Comforting yet overwhelming. People love you, but sometimes you’re just too much.

Okay, so I am ‘hooked’ on these ‘bloggy quizzes’. What can I say? I thought it would be fun to do this one in light of our up-coming carnival. I am comforting, but overwhelming; loved, but can be too much – hm. Well, I better think about that the rest of the day. Maybe I am too much 😕

***Originally posted on February 11th, 2006***

Serious

Different Thankful Thursday ~ A Tribute…

I normally participate in Thankful Thursday’s, but today I will talk about something different. In a way, it still goes with the theme of being thankful. I am thankful for my earthly dad.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of my dad’s death. He passed away on March 23rd, 1991, in the early morning hours in Bremerhaven, Germany, at the age of 52. He had battled cancer since 1978 and he finally lost the fight.

My dad was an awesome father and grandfather ~ although he only met our son; my sister’s children were born after his death. He loved Daniel to pieces. It broke his heart when my Sweetheart and I decided in the fall of 1990 to move from Germany to the States. After my Sweetheart left for the States to build a new home for his family, I lived with my parents for 3 months to save money. My dad was again very sick from the cancer that had attacked his body so many years earlier (we thought he had beaten this decease *sigh*). Some nights I heard him roaming the apartment ( I was a light sleeper – could never sleep well without my hubby). I could hear him being in pain and I prayed that God would heal him soon…

On February 8th, 1991, Daniel and I left Germany to join my Sweetheart in the States. And what a ‘goodbye’ it was. I truly thought that I would see my dad again. I trusted that God would heal him soon. You know, that I didn’t even tell my dad that I loved him. Till this day that is heavy on my heart. I spoke with my dad several times from my new home. He had made plans to visit with my mom the fall of 1991. He wanted me to find a long-term-rental so they wouldn’t be a burden to us. What a guy!!! – Always thinking of others first. He was always positive and happy, even with the disease slowly killing him. He never, ever complained about pain or how unfair it was that he was so sick.

On March 23, 1991, 5:30am I received the worst call in my life (to-date that is). My dad passed away after some painful hours. All I could say to my hubby: ‘No, this must be a mistake. It is not true. I just talked to him the other day making plans to visit us in the fall!!!’ After my Sweetheart confirmed that my dad did pass away, I grew cold, angry and I was hurt. How could God not heal my dad? My dad was a God-fearing man…He trusted God as much as I did. What went wrong? I was so angry, I didn’t pray again or talk to God for six years after my dad had died.

You know what the hardest part was? I wasn’t allowed to leave the country to attend the funeral of my own father. None of the airlines wanted to give me a break. Hello – I still had a return flight!!! But no one wanted to redeem it for me to fly back….I was able to leave the country two months after my dad had died. I also had to be careful leaving the country due to my status as not an ‘official’ resident alien. Regulations, you know….The trip back to Germany in May of 1991 was the hardest trip I’ve ever made across the Atlantic. I finally was able to say ‘goodbye’ and ‘see you later…’

Looking back at how angry I was at God, it makes me angry at myself. God did heal my dad, just not the way I thought He would. I still miss my dad, but he is in a much better place than I am. I am looking forward to the day when we are reunited in heaven…and dance in the streets of golden.

I love you dad….See you soon!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ~ Rev 21:4 (NIV)

***Originally posted on March 22nd, 2006***

Ugly

What did they…

Okay – I do have one pet-peeve…(otherwise I am a very soft-spoken person – ask my Sweetheart and my best friend)…
I can not tolerate/stand people who are talking on their cell phone while driving.

1. Most of them can not combine those two tasks.
2. It is dangerous for other people who share the same road with them.

What did they do before cell phones were such a popular thing? Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have one too, but my rule is: “Don’t answer the phone while driving” (no one usually calls me on that thing anyway – lol).
Today, again, I had someone in front of me who was talking on his cell, and didn’t pay attention to the traffic. He was moving his arms around – looked like he was giving directions to the person on the other end.
You see, where I come from (Germany to be exact – like you couldn’t tell that by my English), you better pull of the road to talk on your cell; otherwise it will cost you 200 Euros and points on your license.
Sometimes I just want to get out of my car, knock on the driver’s window, and ask them to get off their phone and pay attention to the traffic. But then again, I might get shot at (and I am not kidding either)…and that for sure is not worth it.
Well, I guess I just have to live with it…just like I live with women who put on make-up and men shaving, while driving…Dangerous roads we are on…

***Originally posted on October 6th, 2005***

About Me…

My Escape

Well, I am a copy cat – what can I say. But I think this one was so cool, I just had to…I saw it at She Lives and HolyMama! this weekend and it is a great topic. Randi’s “Lets Get Real Monday” how to relax and re-energize.
Although not a busy mom (our son is turning 21 in June), I still stay busy around the house and working. My favorite thing to re-energize is this:

Chilling on the beach in San Carlos with my Sweetheart. There is nothing better to just leave the busy life in AZ behind. Although this is a resort, it is very inexpensive and doesn’t have much too offer. Except a great beach, blue water and not many visitors during the month of June. Too bad that we won’t be going down there this year (well at least not in June). This is truly a place to reflect on God’s creation…

But since this only happens once a year, I relax other ways.

I like to listen to Greg Laurie’s sermons and teachings. I think I would attend the church if we would live in Riverside, California. Okay, so it is not Lutheran, but his teachings are so relevant and always encouraging. Check out their site when you have some time. Also pray for their New Zealand Crusade this up-coming weekend (April 28-30).

I also like to find comfort in the Word when times get stressful. After last week’s LBY Bible session – Psalm 51 has really impacted me.

I enjoy learning new software – oh yeah. I am trying to learn more about photo-editing via the PC. I love taking photos, but sometimes they just don’t come out the way I like them to come out. You can find my on-line collection here (no time to keep another blog). I enjoy blogging – not just writing posts myself, but reading as well (and leaving comments :grin:).

But my favorite relax/re-energize time is to spend time with my hubby. He makes me laugh when I am sad, he holds me when I need a hug, and he encourages me when I am down.

***Originally posted on April 24th, 2006***

I hope you enjoyed my little trip into my archives. Hopefully it didn’t bore you too much. Be thankful I didn’t post my “100-Things-About Me” :wink:. Thank you Cyndi for this fun trip down memory lane. Let’s see who I am tagging here…Carol (I know you have wonderful posts in your archive waiting to be rediscovered)…Robin (I know what I have not dug into your archives) and Beckie (I know you have some treasures hidden too)…

Blessings on your day and as always