'Twas the Night Before Homecoming

'Twas the night before homecoming and all through the south, 

Moms were up late frantically searching the house

for that one special trinket, and that ribbon they bought,

and the scissors that always seem to be lost. 

Every year we swear that "next year we'll do better!

We'll have this thing finished in early September!"

Though our fingers get burned gluing ribbons and lace,

the pain disappears when we see our daughter's face.

She will smile a sweet smile and say, "it's beautiful, Mom." 

Then we'll fall into bed...our work here is done!

So here's to all mothers making mums with such pride,

Happy Homecoming to all... And to all a Good Night!!!!!

 My beautiful daughter, Maddie,

sporting "the mum."

Marriage Takes Three

September 16, 1989…sometimes it seems so far away, sometimes it seems like only yesterday.  That is the day I married the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on!  He was not only easy on the eyes…he was the kindest, most generous man I had ever met.    We dated for a whole year and never even had one cross word. 

We were so very much in love that we wanted to get married above all else.  So here we were, two eighteen-year-olds with love in our eyes and not one penny between us…starting our journey together. 

As a wedding gift, a lady from our church, Pat Green, gave us a poem.  I hung it on the wall of our bedroom and memorized it because I saw it every day.  The words of that poem spoke such truth into our lives.  The poem was titled “Married Takes Three”…

I once thought marriage,

Took just two to make a go,

But now I am convinced,

It takes the Lord, also

For not one marriage fails

When Christ is asked to enter

As two lovers come together

With Jesus at the center

But marriage seldom thrives,
And homes are incomplete,
Till He is welcomed there
To help avoid defeat.
In homes where Christ is first,
It's obvious to see,
Those unions really work,
For marriage still takes three.

Author Unknown

And that is the secret.  That is why so many marriages fail.  If it had not been for Jesus in our lives, I know we would not be married today.  But against all odds, and ONLY through the grace of God…these two 18-year-old, starry eyed teenagers created a great life together and raised two amazing children.

We had to learn to depend on the Lord and each other because we didn’t have anything else!  I will not tell you it has always been easy…but I will tell you it has always been worth it!  The Lord has blessed us with 24 wonderful years together and I pray He will give us many more!!