Gold Star Program

Hmm... (don't freak out, but..) I've been thinking!

Did your Mom ever make a chart or something with all the things she wanted you to do? You know like brush your teeth, make your bed, take out the trash, ect. Then when you would do it you would get a gold star and then when there were "x" number of stars you would get a prize. She was trying to develop good habits for you. Growing up in church I've always heard about having stars in your crown. Turns out God and Mom kinda sorta have the same reward system! Only His gifts are way, way better. Wouldn't it be great if your J-O-B had a system like this? Maybe, call 5 customers - get a star. Or, file this huge stack of papers - get a star. Or, even solve a problem or land an account - get a star.

I've been thinking of coming up with my own star program. I've thought of some habits I need to make and some I need to break. For example: drink more water, complain less, exercise more, pick up my shoes out of the living room, etc. When I get 1000 stars I may go to San Antonio shopping, or go get a massage, or ???

My questions for discussion are these: If you had your own star program, what would you be able to earn stars for doing or not doing? And what would your reward be?

What I learned...

Well, when you spend time with family you always learn more about who you are and where you come from. Sometimes that can be scary...Seriously, though, here is what I learned this year:

We learned from James that when someone says "get a camera, the fish is big", we should listen.

We learned from Scott Mc that when you catch a fish that big, it's hard to keep from grinning.

We learned from Randall that stunt driving is not a good profession or hobby.

We learned from Sharon that "happy hour" is a happy, happy time.

We learned that Scott G was brave enough to pass the "new husband" test and we are glad to have him in the bunch.

We learned from Frank & Judy that the distance from Whitney to Dumas is just a phone call and a lot of cell minutes away.

We learned that kids really do grow and change a lot in a year's time.

We learned from Aunt Ruby that splashing in the lake is fun at any age.

We learned that Jared and Peyton are not completely sane (night time cliff jumping) and why Kelly and Kandy must develop nerves of steel.

We learned from the son-in-laws that even though it's like a thousand degress outside meat cooked on the grill is worth the sweat!

And most importantly we were reminded that as different as we all are - it's great to have family!! Love you guys!

Family

This weekend is my family reunion. We are looking forward to a fun time even though in the last 2-3 weeks one has had a major heart attack, one has had a stroke, and one was in a car wreck and has a broken neck. None of these should have survived, but by God's grace all are on the mend. We also have two new husbands to break in- uh, I mean welcome to the family. Basically, we have a whole lot to be thankful for! A little while back I wrote a poem about my Granny. She is not well enough to attend the reunion this year, so I thought I'd share it with y'all.

My Granny

My Granny has a servant’s heart
It’s the legacy she’ll leave
Many stars adorn her crown
On that you can believe.

Her life of serving started,
When she was still quiet young
Her mom was sick an in the bed
Leaving chores and little ones.

So my Granny had to grow up fast
Be strong and take the lead
Of ironing, washing, cooking
For the family she must feed

Then there came September
Of Nineteen Forty-One
When she said “I do”, she knew
Exactly what she’d done.

JW joined the Army
As the men did in that day
When he left to serve they knew
A child was on the way.

Next they moved to Dallas
To partake of city life
President of P.T.A.
Good mother, loving wife.

Life was kind of hectic
She was almost forty-one
And that is when she found out
God’s blessings were not done.

I guess things are different now
From how they were back then
But if family needed help,
Sometimes they just moved in.

And if they couldn’t come to her
Then she would go and stay,
Take care of them ‘til they were strong
And then be on her way.

After sixty years of marriage
Bad health put him to bed
My Granny held on dearly
To the vows she once had said.

So when he needed constant care
My Granny went along
The thought of living someplace else
To her, it just seemed wrong.

I know it seems that work, work, work
Was all she had to do,
But my Granny knew a secret
That I will share with you.

It’s really very simple,
You don’t have to be too smart
The secret to a happy life
Is to be a child at heart

So she’d play with you for hours
Cross-legged on the floor
Pretty dolls and plastic men
Great fun you can be sure

That’s why the kids a walking
In the from-school-to-home parade
Would often stop and have a snack
Or glass of lemonade

I know I won’t inherit
Fancy cars or diamond rings
But I’ve come to see
The best things in life aren’t things

Of all the gifts she gave to us
The best we could receive
Is a servant’s heart like Granny’s
That’s the legacy she’ll leave.