"IF" RACHEL & ROSS ...

"IF" by RUDYARD KIPLING

Way back when I graduated from high school, this was & still is a very famous poem written by Rudyard Kipling. It applies still today! I believe we even had to study it in English class along with Simon & Garfunkel's

 

"Bridge over Troubled Waters"

RACHEL & ROSS
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man/Woman

my son/my daughter
--Rudyard Kipling

But back then, there was also a song by Bread called "IF" and it went like this:


The words in this YouTube video are from the poem by Rudyard Kipling and the song by Bread. When I listen to a lot of my "oldies", I can now think about them as IF to my Lord and Savior!

Lyrics to the song being song by Bread!

If a picture paints a thousand words, Then why can't I paint You? 

The words will never show the You I've come to know.

If a face could launch a thousand ships, Then where am I to go? 

There's no one home but You, You're all that's left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry, You come and pour Yourself on me.

If a man could be two places at one time, I'd be with You.

Tomorrow and today, beside You all the way.

If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die, I'd spend the end with You.

And when the world was through,

Then one by one the stars would all go out,

Then You and I would simply fly away.

TOMORROW IS TUESDAY of TRIBUTE to TWINS

RACHEL & ROSS

FAMILY DAY-TRIBUTE to TWINS GRADUATING

RACHEL & ROSS...

WHAT A FANTASTIC FAMILY!

Here's how you and your family looked when I left for Mexico

JACK & JAN have been truly blessed by their children and their children's children

They were faithful to the Lord and the Lord remains faithful and steadfast to them and their offspring:

PAM, JACK, KIM & CARRIE

You are each a GEMSTONE in Your Father's Crown!

THERE IS NO GREATER LEGACY!

...then to pass on the faith of our fathers...

JACK & JAN

You have blessed me greatly

and I love you and thank you!

A FEW YEARS LATER, YOUR MOM, CARRIE(my youngest cousin)

BLESSED ME WITH THIS MEMORY of YOU

AND THE NEXT TIME WE WERE TOGETHER, YOU HAD GROWN EVEN MORE CARRIE BLESSED ME AGAIN WITH "MUCHO" & THIS PHOTO

MY HOW YOU HAVE GROWN IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IN MEXICO!

And now it's almost time for YOUR GRADUATION!

SO

TUESDAY I will write more of my TRIBUTE TO YOU

RACHEL & ROSS

This scripture verse is one of my favorites, and I learned it is one of your favorites!

You were born the year before my youngest brother went home to be with the Lord and he had chosen this verse also for his final departure in his service

In place of him, I was blessed double with you both

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

ISAIAH 40:31

IT IS MY PRAYER FOR YOU AS YOU START OUT ON A NEW PHASE OF YOUR LIFE JOURNEY and A GODLY PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE and DESTINY

LORD, I pray that Rachel and Ross

will daily find strength in the Lord, that their hope will be renewed in only Him!

that Rachel and Ross will soar on wings like eagles,

that Ross and Rachel will run and not grow weary

and they will walk and not grow faint!

Lord, be with them each day so that Rachel and Ross will make all decisions

with Your Wisdom through the Power of Your Word

and the Holy Spirit alive in them!

Light their way and keep them ever close to You!

May their heart seek Your heart as they daily walk

closer to You and Your purpose and plan for their blessed life.

Give them the fruits of Your Spirit and guard them daily with the full armor of God!

We Trust You and thank You for Rachel & Ross!

In Jesus' precious Name.

Amen

Tuesday of TRIBUTE to TWINS(Part One)

I'm setting aside this day to try my best to write a VERY SPECIAL TRIBUTE to TWO!

'CAUSE IT's TWOs DAY!!! TWO for TUES DAY...TWO FOR ONE....TWO, TWO, 2.....

I originally wanted to post this to only one immediately after her mom, one of my favorite cousins, sent me some great news! Then I thought, ." well, this deal ...needs some time to put this together with photos, music, verses, the "whole" works to celebrate this right and do a proper tribute!" [Sounds like procrastination or an excuse to me!]
And along came the 10 days of Global Prayer and no time to do this the justice it merited! So I put it on hold but continued to ponder how I could do my best to show my desire to honor "her" and suddenly I realized it was not just about her but she has a twin brother, who deserves it also. Now that makes this much more complicated...

NOW TWOs DAY has really become TWO: TWINS and not the Minnesota Twins: baseball team
Though they are from MINNESOTA and maybe someday the TWINS will be looking to sign'em!

The problem is that I'm here in Mexico and they(and much of their life history and accomplishments have been there)( while I am here)! In other words, I have missed out
on their entire lives up to this point, since Kindergarten probably...that is until last summer! I was blessed to watch her play in the State Finals of Soccer in Blaine, MN!

TUESDAY's TRIBUTE is to TWO SENIORS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL
RACHEL & ROSS

Daughter and son of Carrie(my cuz) and her husband, Dale

(Proud Parents of these 4)

(due to unforseen technical problems this TRIBUTE will have to be postponed)

but trust me
it's coming soon, perhaps even to a theater near you!

So this is just PART ONE!!!

I will continue on next TUESDAY TRIBUTE!

Meanwhile, ENJOY the YOU TUBE video for all GRADUATES.... and keep watch for the CONTINUATION... of RACHEL and ROSS


Words: Deborah D. Smith
Music: Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus

CAMERA CRITTERS #3 - CHIQUITITA

CHIQUITITA is the littlest pup of CHIMINITO from Camera Critters#2.

She was born January 5th, 2006 in a litter of 6.

Rejected by her real mom, she became my favorite. I had to feed/nurse her because she couldn't keep down her mom's milk, and she was the runt! She's named because of her size and the song from ABBA, "Chiquitita".

[I'd like to say the following photo in the hammock is taken by me of Chiquitita, because it looks so much like her and that's how she sleeps-belly up, but it's not mine! My REAL photos of CHIQUITITA are the ones above and below "Camera Critters".

Join the fun and meet all the CRITTERS over at Misty's Word or Camera Critters

CAMERA CRITTERS - CHIMINITO

Please be sure to see more Critters at http://www.camera-critters.blogspot.com/. Over there, you can click on anyone and see wonderful critters! I think Misty Dawn is the creator of this! She is the foxiest...well, you just have to go and check out the marvelous photos!

 

CHIMINITO

Hi - Hola,

My name is Chiminito. My mom is Mazmagi, better known as "Peggy". I'm a Chihuahua/ Bull Terrier mix. Some say that I look like a Jack Russel. But there's no Jack in me! Oh, that's not entirely true, I jump or leap like a jack rabbit.

Anyways, I was born in 2003. My mom says I'm a miracle baby. I shouldn't have lived. But I did! I'm here and in great health - thanks to my mom! My real mom died and so did my sister! My mom lived on a roof top and no one really took care of her. We were all infested with all kinds of parasites: fleas, ticks "garapatas"...some very small and some very venemous! My body was filled with them.

That is until this mom saw me and tended to me! I even had one in my ear that she got out!

Ouch! I still fight her when she's taking them off me, even though I wear a collar and do all the right things. It just can't be escaped here in Mexico.

Well, my mom cleaned me up, dipped me, cleaned me again, but the day I remember her most was when she sat with me on a curb, at my first owner's house, Lizbeth.

I had been crying night after night because of the little critters all over me. No one even knew how bad! But she did. One by one she picked those little buggers off of me, even the microscopic ones. Then she dipped and bathed me until I was well. She took me to her place to take better care of me. Lizbeth came and visited and stayed once in awhile. Lizbeth loved me so much that she let me stay with my new mom, so I could get well and stay well. I love Lizbeth!

My dad's name was Chimino. I'm named after him. I'm a little piece of Chimino...the -ito in my name is endearing and means little one. I saw many videos of my dad but we don't have any photos.My dad ate something bad and died too! But that's how I ended up with my mom and Bravo.(You'll meet him another time). He became my BIG BROTHER! Kinda surrogate dad. We use to play together.

Years have past, and I have lots of tales to tell but the greatest was 2 years ago when I became the proud father of 6: 5 girls and 1 son. Now, I shouldn't have done that so that's why my mom took me to the vet so it never happens again. Just like Bravo!(the mother had to go, too). But now we live together with 2 of our daughters. One lives in Minnesota. 3 found new homes but sadly 2 of them died; my only son was one of them. I guess that's why my mom kept the others.

That reminds me, I have to tell this GREAT tale of when I was so tiny and my mom left me alone with Bravo! This is why she says I'm a miracle too!

Our home was on the second floor and she thought I was safe on the patio. She had it pretty well blocked off. But curiosity got the best of me. I had to go snooping around, looking for where she went. She hardly ever leaves me alone, so she couldn't have gone too far. Well, I found this tube, I thought I'd check it out. (Mom says it wasn't a tube and it wasn't where I should have gone, it was a rain gutter).

When she came home, I heard her and started crying. She was looking everywhere for me, upstairs in our home. She wasn't even close. So I kept crying!

Finally, she looked over the balcony toward my yelps for help and saw me, down in the basement. It was quite the ride or slide! She was down the stairs, two flights, almost as quick as I got down there. She was loving me, and checking me and so worried, but I was fine. I'M A MIRACLE! The angels were watching over me.

That's a bit of my tales! Hope you noticed that I'm ready to go in my photo! We'll be making a trip home pretty soon to Minnesota. I just want to be sure she doesn't forget me. See the rest of my family in the sidebar! Thanks for visiting!

Oh, my mom's parent's anniversary would have been today. They're celebrating in Heaven with my angel and more. 

Happy 62nd Anniversary! 

My mom told me to be sure and dedicate this to you with love!

CHIMINITO