wild melody

photo of mum's parents, right before their wedding 54 years ago. (as of friday). Today is Grandma's birthday. I thought I'd post the story of their engagement in honor of her. Because it's not mushy. Unfortunately, I never wrote it down when she told it. She always laughed at the end over Great-Aunt Shirley's face when she showed that ring. {and shook her head over how competitive they were.} But this is how I remember. It's close to how Grandpa told it when Ericka and I showed him 'the ring' we found in Grandma's jewelry box. In the 1940-50's there were two best friends named Elizabeth (Betty) and Shirley. They roamed rural upstate New York with their friends, brothers named Richard and Ben. The girls were very competitive between themselves. When Betty was in 10th grade, she and Ben began "going steady." {Richard & Shirley were also dating} Then Ben went into the Air Force. He was stationed in Denver, Co. but stayed in touch with

O Lord God Thou art my protecting arm, fortress, refuge, shield, buckler . Fight for me and my foes must flee ; uphold me and I cannot fall ; Strengthen me and I stand unmoved, unmovable ; Equip me and I shall receive no wound Stand by me and Satan will depart , anoint my lips with a song of salvation and I shall shout thy victory ; Give me abhorrence of all evil, as a vile monster that defies thy law, casts off thy yoke... Teach me to look to Jesus on his cross and so to know sin's loathsomeness in they sight. There is no pardon but through thy Son's death, no cleansing but in his precious blood... Show me the shame, the agony, the bruises of incarnate God, that I may read boundless guilt in the boundless price; May I discern the deadly viper in its real malignity... Blessed Lord Jesus, at they cross may I be taught the awful miseries from which I am saved, ponder what the word "lost" implies, see the fires of eternal destruction; Then I may cling more closely to t

photosbybeks. there are lots of things i'd like to say. about my 'little' brother. {{who is now many inches taller than me}. but the words get in the way. so i think i will just. proclaim. i love this kid. he's a super*brother. and my friend. happy birthday. *super n . "first-rate, excellent," 1837, from prefix in superfine (1682), denoting "highest grade of goods," from L. super "above, over, beyond" (see super- ).

photobybeks. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might . Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood , but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God , that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm ." {eph 6.10-12} it is amazing how God can give grace. really. how one can feel utterly beaten down and exhausted; yet have peace and a knowledge that He will supply just the amount of strength needed. amazing. that's what my life has looked like since wednesday. it's pretty much the same as it was before wednesday, except God's grace has been poured out in greater amounts. if i am making sense... anyway these verses go along with a prayer from Valley of Vi