A BOY ANGEL FOR ANDREW AND JORDEN AND GIRL ANGELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS CELEBRATING THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN

MERRY CHRISTMAS AMY DAWN.

DADDY, ME, RICHIE, MEGAN, GRANNY AND POPS, UNCLE TEDDY, LEILA AND KORBI

AUNT SHERRY AND UNCLE TONY, AND ALL YOUR SMITH COUSINS, AND AUNT SUSIE

AND UNCLE MILT, LAURA AND JACKSON, AND JORDAN, THE HOARDS, BETTY JO

AND JOHN, GRANDMOTHER AND PAPA, AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS AT K MART THAT

LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH AND A HOST OF BEAUTIFUL BLOGGERS WHO WERE SO

KIND TO SEND YOU SUCH BEAUTIFUL CARDS, GIFTS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE

MILLIONS OF PRAYERS THAT WAS OFFERED UP TO THE THRONE ROOM OF MERCY AND

GRACE. I MISS YOU SO MUCH MY LITTLE BUTTERFLY, I CAN HARDLY STAND THE

PAIN BUT JESUS IS KEEPING ME TOGETHER AND I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING OVER

ALL OF US AND PRAYING FOR RESTORATION TO COME. ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT

I TOLD YOU SO MANY TIMES.....IF I HAD GONE TO HEAVEN MYSELF I WOULD

HAVE PICKED YOU AND YOUR BROTHER IMMEDIATELY. YOU WERE ALWAYS MY

FAVORITE DAUGHTER AND RICHIE MY FAVORITE SON. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

PRECIOUS AND YOU ARE ALIVE IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS.....I SO WISH WE

COULD TALK AND YOU COULD TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND MEETING

JESUS, THE KING OF KINGS.

THERE IS A DEAR FRIEND OF BARBARA'S THAT HER HUSBAND PASSED JUST A

COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU. HE IS GREEK AND VERY FUNNY AND HE IS

CHEERING HIS WIFE ON EVERY DAY.

I WILL KEEP A LIGHT BURNING FOR YOU IN THE WINDOW. YOU WERE THE

LIGHT OF MY LIFE AND STILL ARE. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. YOUR

COUSIN TJ WROTE YOU A VERY SWEET, HEART-FELT COMMENT THAT HE WILL

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR SPIRIT ALIVE AND TELL HIS CHILDREN ALWAYS ABOUT

YOU. DESTINY AND ISABEL LOVE YOU ALSO VERY MUCH.

DADDY FOUND YOUR PAINTINGS...IT WAS AS EXCITING AS WINNING A MILLION

DOLLARS......SO VERY BEAUTIFUL PRECIOUS AND I HAD FORGOT ALL ABOUT

YOUR NUMEROUS PAINTINGS.....I AM GOING TO TALK TO THE ART STUDIO HERE

ABOUT DOING A SHOWING OF ALL YOUR WORK AND SHARE WHAT A BRAVE

SOLDIER YOU WERE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I FIND OUT PRECIOUS.

YOU WERE SO TALENTED PUMPKIN. I'M SURE YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF

ALL THE ANIMALS, AND PAINTING EVERY WHERE THAT JESUS ALLOWS YOU.

YOU WERE/WAS/ AND ARE STILL AN AWESOME DAUGHTER. NO WONDER JESUS

WANTED YOU TO COME HOME AND ALL THE OTHER PRECIOUS CHILDREN THAT

ARE SPENDING THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN AND OUR FIRST

CHRISTMAS WITHOUT OUR CHILDREN.

GRANNY ALREADY HAS YOUR CHAIR FIXED UP FOR DINNER TOMORROW.

YOUR RED COWGIRL BOOTS ARE HANGING FROM THE BACK OF YOUR CHAIR

THAT YOU ALWAYS SET IN..........IT IS HANGING FROM A BEAUTIFUL BOW.

THE LADY THAT MADE THE BOW ASK GRANNY WHAT THE BOW WAS FOR.....

GRANNY BEGAN TO CRY AS SHE TOLD ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY....THE LADY

GRABBED GRANNY AND SAID HER MOTHER, WHO IS 60 YEARS OLD IS BATTLING

THE SAME KIND OF CANCER.....SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE SLICED AND DICED

THE WAY DR. MEDINA WANTS TO DO, EXCEPT FOR YOU IN AUGUST, AND HER

MOTHER REFUSED CHEMO AND DID JUST 30 RADIATION TREATMENTS....MY

HEART BLEEDS FOR THE BOTH OF THEM, AMY, AS YOUR JOURNEY WAS SO

VERY PAINFUL. SHE SAID SHE JUST HOPED THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND

CHRISTMAS TOGETHER. IT IS SO VERY SAD......THEN WE MET A YOUNG GUY

WHO BATTLED THE SAME CANCER AND HE WENT TO MD ANDERSON AFTER

DR. MEDINA WANTED TO CUT HIS FACE APART.....HE HAS SEVERE RADIATION

SCARS AND HIS NECK IS SUNK IN BUT HE MADE IT....HE SAID YOU HAD TO BE

ONE AWESOME LADY TO GO THROUGH WHAT HE HAD BEEN THROUGH.....250

POUND GUY AND HE LOST DOWN TO 98 POUNDS......I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH,

AMY DAWN HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU. I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I AM HUGGING YOU REAL TIGHT.

THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL LADY WHO GAVE PERMISSION TO USE THIS INVITATION.




I AM SO VERY SORRY I DON'T REMEMBER YOUR NAME...PLEASE LET ME KNOW




SO I CAN GIVE YOU CREDIT. I WAS LOOKING THROUGH MY GRAPHICS AND THERE WAS




THIS BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY CARD WITH A BUTTERFLY. IT IS THE BIRTHDAY




OF JESUS AND HE WANTS US TO COME UNTO HIM. A LITTLE BABY THAT WOULD




CHANGE HISTORY FOREVER....AND SUFFERED UNBELIEVABLE PAIN THAT WOULD




GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM FOREVER AND EVER.....A FREE CHRISTMAS




PRESENT, IF I MAY USE SOME CREATIVE WRITING HERE, 24 HOURS A DAY/ 7




DAYS A WEEK......YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE. IF YOU ARE READING MY BLOG




AND YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, JUST E MAIL ME AND I WILL PRAY




WITH YOU AND INTRODUCE YOU TO CHRIST. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS




VERY PRIVATE....IT IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST ON A




DAILY BASIS.




HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS.



I LOVE YOU AND CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTH. WITHOUT YOU DEAR JESUS AND YOUR




WORD I WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN MADE IT TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU FOR




SENDING YOUR PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. THANK YOU LORD




FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE AND NEVER TURNING YOUR BACK ON ME.




I THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THE PRECIOUS BLOGGERS THAT HAVE VISITED MY




BLOG AND I AM OVER WHELMED THAT ANYONE IS EVEN INTERESTED IN WHAT I




HAVE TO SAY.

I WAS SOOOOOO VERY EXCITED TO FIND THIS BOY ANGEL. IT IS A MEMORIAL FOR




JORDEN AND ANDREW AND ANY OTHER MALE THAT PASSED THIS YEAR.




JORDEN IS BECKY'S SON FROM SWEET COTTAGE DREAMS. SHE IS JUST THE SWEETEST




LADY YOU WILL EVER MEET AND BLOG WITH....SHE IS SO TALENTED AND WAS




RECENTLY A GUEST AT DAISY COTTAGE. A BEAUTIFUL ARTICLE.




ANDREW WAS JUST 12 YEARS OLD WHEN HE PASSED, ON DECEMBER 15, 2009.




MELANIE IS HIS MOTHER AND SHE HAS A BLOG THAT IS FULL OF INSPIRATION




AND FAITH. I PRAY FOR HER AND HER FAMILY...SHE WAS/IS A WONDERFUL MOTHER.




I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU ALL THIS CHRISTMAS MORNING AS OUR CHILDREN





ARE CELEBRATING IN HEAVEN, JESUS'S BIRTHDAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME AND OUR




HEARTS ARE SO BROKEN.





DID YOU EVER RIDE YOUR BICYCLE IN THE SNOW?

AMY WILL HAVE A WHITE MEMORIAL TREE THIS YEAR. IT WILL STAY UP FOR A

YEAR AND MAYBE LONGER WITH ALL HER FAVORITE THINGS HANGING FROM IT.

I CALL IT THE PEACE TREE AS THAT IS WHAT WE SO NEED AND IT IS SO HARD

TO FIND SOME TIMES. IT IS A WHITE TREE AND MY MOTHER BOUGHT IT AT

THE THRIFT STORE.

MOTHER'S TREE, (WHICH ISN'T LIKE THIS ONE), THIS YEAR IS CALLED THE HOPE

TREE BECAUSE EVERY ORNAMENT ON IT WAS BOUGHT FROM HOPE OUTREACH

COMMUNITY THRIFT SHOP....MY MOTHER HAS BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS FROM

YEARS PAST BUT THIS YEAR SHE NEEDED A HOPE TREE...WITHOUT HOPE YOU

HAVE NOTHING.

WHEN MY CAMERA DECIDES TO WORK AGAIN, I WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME

AWESOME PICTURES.

THANK GOD FOR MOTHERS.

I LOVE YOU MOTHER AND DADDY BUT YOU, MOTHER ARE THE HEART OF

CHRISTMAS.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT/FLAME WILL BURN CONTIOUSLY FOR.....

1. AMY DAWN

2. JORDEN

3. STACEY......JUDY IN WEST VIRGINIA

4. AMBER...DONNA FROM SUGAR AND SPICE/ SOUTHERN LIFE

5. ANDREW...A VERY BRAVE SOLDIER WHO WON HIS BATTLE AND THE LORD

CALLED HIM HOME...NOW HE IS SKATEBOARDING IN HEAVEN.

6. SAM, I PRAY IS THE RIGHT NAME WHO WON HER BATTLE AND WAS CALLED

HOME.....SHE IS THE LITTLE NIECE OF EDITH MARIES/SHERRY'S BLOG. SO PRECIOUS.

7. ALL THOSE ON THE BLOG WHO HAVE HAD LOVED ONES PASS....WE SHALL REMEMBER

THEM ALWAYS AND NEVER FORGET WHAT A BRIGHT AND SHINING STAR THEY ARE.

AFTER CHRISTMAS I WILL PUT THEIR NAMES ON MY RIGHT SIDE BAR......BELOW A

CANDLE WHERE THEIR FAMILY WILL BE PRAYED FOR DAILY....IF YOU HAVE HAD A

LOVED ONE PASS AND WANT TO ADD THEIR NAME JUST LET ME KNOW

SUCH A WELCOME WHEN JESUS SAYS, WELL DONE MY FAITHFUL SERVANT.

I JUST LOOK AT THIS PICTURE AND CRY WITH JOY THAT ALL OUR CHILDREN

ARE SAFE WITH JESUS WITH NO PAIN, NO SADNESS, NO MORE TESTS, NO MORE

SAD NEWS OR TEARS.....THAT IS A WONDERFUL PRESENT TO A MOTHER.

I'VE LOST MY MITTENS...YOU NAUGHTY KITTEN

THIS IS THE NEWEST MEMBER TO OUR FAMILY. WE ONLY HAD TO BOTTLE FEED HIM

FOR A FEW DAYS. HIS NAME IS WALKER BECAUSE MY HUSBAND LITERALLY

PULLED HIM OFF OUR BRICK ON THE HOUSE AS OUR DOGS WERE BARKING AT HIM.

THEY GET ALONG SO WELL NOW THAT HE IS INSIDE. HE IS PRECIOUS AND SUCH A

JOY TO HAVE...EVERY TIME HE WAKES UP HE IS WIDE EYED AND READY TO EXPLORE

THE DAY. I AM TRYING TO TAKE LESSONS FROM HIM.

EACH DAY IS TRULY NEW AND A BLESSING BUT I STILL CRY FOR THE LONGING OF

MY DAUGHTER.

I TRULY WISH GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON EACH OF YOUR LIVES.




I THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME AND MY FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.




I TREASURE EVERY ONE OF YOU.

CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIZZARD WITH 57 MPH WIND GUSTS....

I WAS ONE OF THE IDIOTS THAT WENT SHOPPING AT THE LAST MINUTE

I SAID I WOULD NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. ( BRRRRRRBRRRRRRRBRRRRRR IT MADE

YOUR TEETH RATTLE.) BUT MORE THIS CHRISTMAS EVE

THAN ANY OTHER TIME I NOTICED THE ANGRY FACES AND SOME WOULD SCARE

YOU TO DEATH.....THE WORKERS, THE SHOPPERS....GRABBING AND PUSHING

AND HUFFING AND PUFFING. IT WAS RIDICULOUS HOW ADULT PEOPLE

WERE ACTING. BUT WE NEVER KNOW THE JOURNEY THEY ARE WALKING.

I KNOW IT WILL BE HORRID THE 26TH OF DECEMBER....PROBABLY DOWN RIGHT

SCAREY TO PARTLY DEADLY....LOL.

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK LYNN FROM PAINTING THYME

NEEDFULS FOR THE GORGEOUS MEMORIAL ORNAMENT SHE SENT TO ME FOR

AMY. IT IS A SNOW LADY SHE CREATED AND SHE IS JUST MAGICAL. I CRIED

OVER HOW KIND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO ME. THANK YOU DEAR LYNN SO VERY

MUCH...I WILL TREASURE IT FOREVER.

I WILL SEND PICTURES WHEN I CAN...MY CAMERA IS GIVING ME FITS.








MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I HOPE THIS





CHRISTMAS SEASON BRINGS YOU THE MIRACLE YOU NEED, GOOD HEALTH,





AND RESTORATION OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I PRAY ALL BROKEN HEARTS ARE

HEALED BUT THE NEED TO STAY CLOSE TO JESUS CONTINUES.

ANGEL HUGS

PLEASE PRAY FOR MELANIE

I LOVE YOU AMY!

ANDREW GRADUATED TO HEAVEN ON

DECEMBER 15, 2009, AFTER A VALIANT BATTLE

WITH THE cowardly disease called cancer.

HE WAS AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN. I DID NOT

KNOW HIM OR HIS MOM, MELANIE, IN PERSON,

BUT I GREW TO LOVE HIM AND MELANIE

THROUGH HER BLOG. HE WAS ONLY TWELVE YEARS OLD AND HE LOVED TO SKATEBOARD.

I AM SURE HE IS SKATEBOARDING ON GOLDEN STREETS NOW AND I HOPE HE HAS MET AMY.

THE ABOVE PICTURE IS OF HIS DAD, MOM, AND ANDREW. IT WAS TAKEN AT CHURCH.

MELANIE'S BLOG IS: http://bellamella-melanie.blogspot.com

THERE YOU CAN MEET THIS AMAZING YOUNG MAN THROUGH HIS MOTHER'S HEART.

WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU MELANIE AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL "FAMILY OF FIVE."

ANGEL HUGS

DEBBIE

SANTA CLAUS AND A GIRL NAMED HOLLY

I LOVE YOU MY AMY BUTTERFLY. I MISS YOU VERY MUCH.

I KNOW JESUS HAS YOU VERY BUSY AND I KNOW YOU ARE HAPPY.

THIS IS ONE OF MY STORIES THAT I WOULD JUST MAKE UP AND AMUSE

MYSELF...SOMETIMES I WOULD TELL THE KIDS MY STORY AND SOMETIMES I

JUST PUT THEM AWAY IN MY "DRAWER OF DREAMS." EVERYONE KNOWS THAT

MOST WRITERS ARE NEVER REALLY DISCOVERED UNTIL THEY DIE AND SOMEONE

DIGGING THROUGH THE JUNK DEEMED, "NO VALUE" BEGINS TO READ SOME OF

THE PAGES...........................THIS IS A REAL STORY, I WROTE, AND IS IN MY

"DRAWER OF DREAMS."

SANTA CLAUS KEPT A SECRET DEEP WITHIN HIS HEART. IT WAS PACKED SO

DEEP THAT HIS HEART WOULD SURELY EXPLODE IF HE WAS TO DWELL ON

IT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

IT WAS NOT EASY FOR HIM TO PUT ON THAT RED SUIT EVERY DAY.

HIS ABDOMINAL GIRTH HAD BECOME SO LARGE HE LOOKED LIKE A SUMO

WRESTLER AS HE TRIED IN VAIN TO PULL ON HIS BLACK BOOTS. BY THE TIME HE

HAD FINISHED HE DID NOT NEED TO BLUSH HIS CHEEKS. HIS FACE LOOKED

LIKE IT HAD BEEN DIPPED IN CHERRY JELLO BEFORE IT HAD JELLED.

SANTA AKA JOSEPH MARTIN LOVED BECOMING SANTA CLAUS EVERY YEAR.

HE ENJOYED ALL THE CHILDREN WHETHER THEY WERE SCREAMING OR

LAUGHING, CRYING OR SMILING, SELFISH OR SAD.

JOSEPH MARTIN WAS RETIRED FROM THE POLICE FORCE. HE LIVED ALONE IN

A CABIN THAT OVER LOOKED TABLE ROCK LAKE. HE LIVED ALONE BY CHOICE.

THIRTY YEARS ON THE FORCE MADE HIM JUMPY.

ON HIS DESK WAS A 5 X 7 WEATHERED PICTURE THAT HAD THE NAME

HOLLY WRITTEN IN PENCIL. MANY A FRIEND THAT HAD BEEN WELCOMED

INTO JOSEPH'S CABIN SAW THE PICTURE AND WHEN THEY STARTED TO

ASK, HE BEAT THEM TO THE QUESTION, AND SAID,

"IT IS PERSONAL. DON'T ASK ME AGAIN."

RUMORS SWIRLED FOR YEARS AMONG HIS FRIENDS, AS TO WHO HOLLY

WAS.....A LONG AGO LOVER...A RELATIVE...AN EX-WIFE...SOMEONE HE

SAVED ON THE FORCE. SHE WAS TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BE ON THE BAD

SIDE OF THE LAW AND THEY KNEW JOSEPH WOULD NOT KEEP THE

PICTURE OF A CROOK ON HIS DESK WHERE HE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK

AT HER DAY AFTER DAY FOR THE REST OF HIS RETIRED LIFE.

THIS YEAR SANTA CLAUS WAS STATIONED INSIDE A LITTLE RED BARN

THAT RESEMBLED A SMALL TOY SHOP. IT WAS VERY STUFFY.

THE BIG CLOCK READ 8:55 PM AND SANTA WOULD BE CLOSING HIS

TOY SHOP IN 5 MINUTES. SANTA DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE WITH ALL THE

COMPANY RULES...CLOCKING IN AND CLOCKING OUT AND THEY STRESSED THEY

WOULD NOT PAY HIM A MINUTE BEFORE OR A MINUTE AFTER HIS SHIFT. THE

COMPANY DID NOT TAKE THEIR ORDERS FROM THE NORTH POLE WHERE

ETHICS AND QUALITY "ALWAYS" MEAN SOMETHING.

HIS MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD HIM, "ONLY THE ONES THAT TRULY BELIEVE

IN SANTA CLAUS SEE THE MAGIC OF THE MIRACLE."

A MIRACLE...THAT IS WHAT HE SO WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

HE WAITED AND WAITED...LOOKED AND LOOKED...WATCHED ALL THE FACES

OF THE CHILDREN AND LOOKED AT THE PARENTS...WISHING...HOPING

YEAR AFTER YEAR......HE DID NOT SEE THE MAGIC OF THE MIRACLE.

HE TURNED AROUND, WHEN HE HEARD A SWEET VOICE COMING FROM

THE DOOR. "EXCUSE ME SANTA CLAUS," SHE GIGGLED. "I WAS WONDERING IF

YOU COULD HELP ME."

JOSEPH GRABBED HIS CHEST AND BEGGED THE PAIN TO LEAVE. "NOT NOW,"

HE TOLD HIMSELF. HE SO WANTED TO REACH OUT TO THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL........

"SIR! ARE YOU OKAY?" OH MY GOODNESS. YOU ARE PERSPIRING SIR.

I READ ABOUT THIS IN MY MEDICAL BOOKS, CHAPTER SIX ON THE HEART. JOSEPH

FELT HE HAD SURELY DIED AND

WAS STARING AT AN ANGEL. SHE SCREAMED FOR HELP AND WAS HEARD

BY SOME FRIENDS OF JOSEPH.

AS THEY ENTERED THE TOY SHOP, BEACON, A GOOD FRIEND, SAID,

"RELAX JOSEPH. THE AMBULANCE IS ON ITS' WAY.

THE PRETTY LADY FELT UNEASY AS BEACON STARED AT HER.

FINALLY SHE SAID, "SIR, DO I KNOW YOU?" BEACON CLEARED HIS

THROAT AND IN A LOW VOICE SAID, "YOU LOOK SO FAMILIAR." HE KNEW

SHE LOOKED MORE THAN FAMILIAR....SHE WAS THE SPITTING IMAGE OF

THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE THAT JOSEPH KEPT ON HIS DESK THAT HAD

THE NAME HOLLY WRITTEN ON THE BACK .

THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND THEY WERE HAVING A TIME GETTING

JOSEPH ONTO THE GURNEY.

BEACON AND THIS GIRL WATCHED AS THE AMBULANCE SPED OFF WITH

JOSEPH. NOW BEACON COULD CONCENTRATE FULLY ON HOW SHE LOOKED.

"WERE YOU TALKING TO JOSEPH ABOUT SOMETHING?" HE ASKED THIS

HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY.

SHE SET DOWN ON A CHAIR AND TOOK OFF HER WHITE HAT ADORNED

WITH BEAUTIFUL GREEN HOLLY LEAVES AND VIBRANT RED BERRIES.

"WELL SIR," SHE BEGAN, "I AM LOOKING FOR A SANTA CLAUS

NAMED JOSEPH MARTIN." "JOSEPH MARTIN," BEACON STUTTERED,

"WHO IS JOSEPH MARTIN TO YOU AND WHAT BUSINESS DO YOU

HAVE WITH HIM?" "DO YOU KNOW HIM," HER VOICE HIT HIGH NOTES

AS IF IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER.

"WAIT JUST A MINUTE! YOU JUST CALLED THAT SANTA CLAUS JOSEPH

AND YOU HAVE BEEN STARIN' AT ME MIGHT-A-LY FUNNY," HER VOICE

HUMMED. "IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO FIND JOSEPH MARTIN."

SHE BEGAN TO CRY AND TOLD BEACON THE MOST AMAZING STORY.

BEACON SAID, "WELL WHAT ARE WE WAITIN' FOR. LET'S GET TO THE HOSPITAL

AND CHECK ON JOSEPH."

BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL JOSEPH WAS IN SURGERY.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE HIS GALLBLADDER AND NOT HIS HEART.

THE DR. CAME OUT AND REPORTED THAT THE SURGERY WENT WELL BUT

SANTA CLAUS WAS GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE HIS WAY OF EATING.

HOLLY WALKED SLOWLY TO HIS BEDSIDE. BOTH HAD WAITED A LIFE

TIME IT SEEMED FOR JUST THIS MOMENT.

"MOTHER DIED 5 YEARS AGO OF PNEUMONIA. SHE TOLD ME I DIDN'T HAVE

A FATHER. SHE SAID MY FATHER DIED IN THE WAR.

HOLLY SMILED AT HOW DEEP BLUE JOSEPH'S EYES WERE AND THEY

TWINKLED LIKE THE STARS IN THE SKY...SO FULL OF KINDNESS.

I ALWAYS LIKED TO PLAY IN HER CLOSET AND ONE EVENING, WHEN I

WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND SHE WENT OUT, I FOUND A BOX. IT HAD MY

BIRTH CERTIFICATE, PASSPORT AND SOME LETTERS THAT HAD BEEN

SENT TO HER BY YOU. I BEGGED MAWMA TO TELL ME THE TRUTH.

SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD BUT THAT I MUST KEEP IT A SECRET OR MOTHER

WOULD MOVE ME AWAY FROM HER.

"IT TURNS OUT SANTA CLAUS, AKA JOSEPH MARTIN AKA FATHER I KNOW

THE TRUTH. I WAS YOUR ONLY CHILD AND MOTHER WAS WICKED TO YOU. SHE

ESCAPED WITH ME AND MAWMA TO ITALY AS SHE KNEW YOU WOULD FIGHT

FOR FULL CUSTODY OR AT LEAST JOINT. HOW SAD IT IS FATHER THAT

SHE WOULD KEEP ME FROM THE LOVE OF A FATHER TO HURT YOU. IT

HURT US BOTH. SO MANY YEARS WE CAN'T GET BACK AND ALL THOSE TIMES

WE WERE CONSTANTLY MOVING AND I WAS HAVING TO ATTEND ONE DIFFERENT

SCHOOL AFTER ANOTHER."

"OH BUT HOLLY, WE HAVE GOTTEN OUR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. WE WILL

SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIFE CATCHING UP AND MAKING NEW MEMORIES."

IT WAS THE DAY AFTER JOSEPHS' FUNERAL AND BEACON TOOK HOLLY

TO JOSEPH'S CABIN. SHE CRIED AS SHE REMEMBERED HIM THROWING HIS

HEAD BACK AND HIS EKG STRAIGHT LINING JUST 15 MINUTES AFTER

TELLING HER THEY WOULD SPEND A LIFETIME CATCHING UP. THE DOCTOR

SAID A BLOOD CLOT HIT HIS LUNGS. HOLLY KNEW ALL TO WELL THAT LIFE

COULD BE SO VERY CRUEL.

BEACON AND HOLLY WERE MARRIED THAT FOLLOWING SPRING.

THEY ARE NOW EXPECTING A LITTLE JOSEPH AND THEY KNOW JOSEPH MARTIN

AKA SANTA CLAUS AKA FATHER AKA GRANDFATHER WAS WATCHING OVER THEM.

~Debbie Ragan

2009

THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.


LET US TAKE THE TIME TO PRAY FOR ALL THE HUSBANDS' AND FATHERS'.

MAY THEY TAKE THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE AS PRIESTS OF THE FAMILY AND

SET AN HOLY EXAMPLE FOR THEIR SONS AND SET THE EXAMPLE TO THEIR

DAUGHTERS AS THE TYPE OF RIGHTEOUS MAN THEY WILL MARRY...TO

KNOW THEY ARE PRINCESSES AND TO NOT SETTLE FOR ANYONE BUT A

MAN WHO LOVES THE LORD...AND WANTS TO SERVE HIM.

WE JUST PRAISE YOU LORD AS YOU ARE WORTHY TO BE PRAISED.

WE THANK YOU FOR MANY MIRACLES, THIS SEASON OF YOUR BIRTH,

WHICH WAS A MIRACLE. THANK YOU FATHER GOD FOR LOVING ME

AND PIECING THE SHATTERED PARTS OF MY HEART BACK TOGETHER.

DON'T KNIT THEM SO TIGHT THAT YOUR LOVE CANNOT SHINE OUT

BECAUSE I WANT TO REMEMBER TO LIVE MY LIFE EVERY DAY AT

YOUR FEET LORD. BLESS EACH PERSON LORD THAT FOLLOWS THIS BLOG

AND ALL THE PEOPLE YOU WILL SEND THIS WAY. LET THIS LITTLE

BLOG, ALWAYS BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN COME FOR

PRAYER. I FALL SHORT EVERY DAY LORD AND I CAN'T THANK YOU

ENOUGH FOR PICKING ME BACK UP. WILL YOU REMIND AMY HOW MUCH

WE LOVE HER. IT CAN'T EVEN COMPARE TO THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR HER

DEAR JESUS, BUT YOU INSTILLED IN US THE LOVE FOR HER AND OUR SON.

AMEN AND AMEN

ANGEL HUGS




THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR SPENDING A PART OF YOUR DAY WITH ME.


I LOVE AND APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU.

A THANK YOU TO THE QUEEN

I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE BUTTERFLY

RECENTLY I WON A GIVE AWAY FROM QUEENMOTHERMAMAW!

MY CAMERA IS ACTING UP OR I WOULD SHOW YOU THE BEAUTIFUL

GIVE AWAY. IT IS A MARIE OSMOND BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY

STITCH KIT. I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET STARTED ON IT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH QUEENMOTHERMAMAW!!!!!!!!!!

WHEN MY CAMERA STOPS ACTING UP, I'LL GET A PICTURE OF IT.

YOU ARE A WOMAN OF WISDOM AND YOUR FAMILY IS BLESSED TO

HAVE YOU AS THE LEADER OF THE FAMILY...YOU HAVE TAUGHT

THEM BY EXAMPLE.

THIS IS AMY'S 32ND CHRISTMAS. SHE WILL BE CELEBRATING HER

33RD CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN! HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT WILL BE!!!!!

HER LAST DAY OF RADIATION WAS DECEMBER 10, 2008.

SHE HAD TERRIBLE RADIATION BURNS ON HER NECK BUT SHE

STILL SMILED.

THIS WAS HER PLACE TO SET FOR UNWRAPPING PRESENTS EVERY

YEAR AT GRANNY AND POP'S HOUSE......AND EVERY YEAR SHE EXPECTED

TO UNWRAP A HOLIDAY BARBIE . SHE HAS EVERY

ONE EVER MADE, ALL THANKS TO HER GRANNY.

IT WAS A BIG THING WITH GRANNY AND AMY TO LOOK EACH ONE

OVER THAT SET ON THE SHELF. THE EYES, HAIR, DRESS AND

BOX MUST BE IN PRISTINE CONDITION. TWO OF THE BARBIES' CAME

FROM STORES IN PHOENIX WHEN MY MOTHER COULD NOT FIND ONE

IN OKLAHOMA. ( MAYBE I'LL START A BARBIE MUSEUM IN AMY'S MEMORY.)

MY MOTHER IS GOING TO PUT A SMALL CROSS ON THE WALL, THAT

AMY ALWAYS SET IN FRONT OF. IT MADE ME VERY HAPPY THAT

MY MOTHER, MY BROTHER, MY DAD, RICHIE, RICHARD, AND I WILL

ALWAYS HAVE HER SPIRIT WITH US AT NOT ONLY CHRISTMAS BUT

YEAR ROUND.

I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE A SAD BUT JOYFUL CHRISTMAS. WE WILL

CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS AND THE LIFE OF AMY.

SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW BUT SATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 2009 AT

4 PM ANDERSON BURRIS HAD THEIR MEMORIAL CELEBRATION FOR

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT PASSED THIS YEAR. A PASTOR SPOKE

ABOUT THE GRIEF HE FELT WHEN HIS GRANDMOTHER DIED.

THERE WERE TWO SONGS, A POEM......AND THEN ONE BY ONE EACH LOVED

ONES' NAME WAS CALLED. I WAS SO INTENSELY HOPING THEY WOULD NOT

CALL AMY'S NAME, THAT I ACTUALLY JUMPED WHEN THEY CALLED

AMY RAGAN. I WANTED TO CRAWL UNDER THE PEW BUT I TOOK

A DEEP BREATH AND WALKED FORWARD WITH MY FAMILY TO

RECEIVE HER ORNAMENT. I THEN KISSED IT AND RICHARD AND

I PLACED THE

ORNAMENT ON THE TREE. ON THE WAY BACK TO OUR SEAT,

EACH PERSON WAS GIVEN A CANDLE. MOTHER AND MY BROTHER

ATTENDED THE SERVICE WITH RICHARD AND ME.

THE CANDLES WERE LIT, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE LIGHTED

CHRISTMAS TREE WITH OUR LOVED ONES MEMORIAL ORNAMENT, SLOWLY

ROTATED ROUND AND ROUND...THERE WAS NOT A DRY EYE IN THE PLACE.

THERE WAS MORE LOVE IN THAT ROOM THAN I HAVE EVER FELT AND

IT WAS RADIATING TO EACH ONE OF US FROM THE GLOWING

MEMORIAL TREE.

THIS SERVICE CONTAINED MORE GRIEF FOR ME THAN HER FUNERAL.

THE FUNERAL, YOU ARE NUMB AND RUSHED, AND SO MANY

THINGS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.

THIS JUST REMINDED ME THAT EVEN WHEN BEAUTIFUL SPRING

COMES, AMY IS NOT "EVER" GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE

LIVING ROOM DOOR "EVER" AGAIN. MY HUSBAND AND I SOME

DAYS SEEM TO JUST EXIST AN HOUR AT A TIME.

I PRAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE THE SERVICE WAS

GOING ON FOR GOD TO JUST LET ME HUG AMY ONE MORE TIME.

THERE WERE REFRESHMENTS AFTER THE SERVICE AND MOTHER

AND I WERE SETTING ON A BENCH IN THE HALLWAY TALKING.

A LADY, VERY NERVOUS ACTING, WALKED UP TO ME....

SHE SAID, "YOU LOOK SO FAMILIAR. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I FEEL

I MUST GIVE YOU A HUG." I KEPT LOOKING AT HER EYES AS THEY

WERE DEEP BLUE LIKE AMY'S. SHE HUGGED ME WITH A WARMTH

I CANNOT DESCRIBE AND SHE SAID, "IT WAS YOUR DAUGHTER!"

(MEANING IT WAS YOUR DAUGHTER THAT DIED.)

SHE THEN IMMEDIATELY WALKED OVER TO MY MOTHER, HUGGED

HER AND, WHISPERED MERRY CHRISTMAS IN HER EAR. AMY ALWAYS

TOLD MOTHER MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HUGGED HER. SHE WAS

ALWAYS THANKFUL FOR HER GRANNY'S CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AND

EVEN THOUGH AMY WAS POOR....EVERY SINGLE YEAR SHE TOOK

PRIDE IN THE NEAT LITTLE GIFTS SHE WOULD FIND FOR

EVERYONE.

ANY WAY, AS THIS LADY THAT HUGGED US, WALKED AWAY,

SHE KEPT LOOKING BACK AT US.

SUNDAY EVENING AT CHURCH, PASTOR MARNEY SAID THAT HUG WAS

A HUG ORDERED FROM GOD.

WE NEVER KNOW, WHEN WE FEEL LIKE GOD IS TELLING US TO

DO SOMETHING, HOW IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE THAT GESTURE MIGHT

BE. GOD KNOWS WHY, BUT WE MAY NEVER KNOW THIS SIDE OF

HEAVEN HOW MUCH IT MEANT AND IT MADE ME FEEL EVEN

CLOSER TO JESUS WHEN THE LADY HUGGED ME. WHEN YOU

SEEK GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, HE WILL MEET YOU.

RECENTLY I DISCOVERED AN AWESOME BLOG:

http://firefliesandhummingbirds.net

THE OWNER OF THIS BLOG IS AWESOME.

HER NAME IS CHRISSY AND SHE IS A CHRISTIAN WIFE, MOM, PET-

PARENT, DAUGHTER, SISTER, AUNT, ASPIRING WRITER, AMATEUR

PHOTOGRAPHER AND AVID ANIMAL LOVER AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

SUPPORTER.

SHE SEES THE BEAUTY AND THE UGLY OF LIFE. SHE CERTAINLY

IS NOT A WOMAN WHO WEARS ROSE COLORED GLASSES AND KNOWS

ABOUT LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS.

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT AND IS NOT AFRAID TO STAND

UP AND SPEAK OUT FOR JESUS...GLORY TO GOD.

IF YOU HAVE TIME, OR I SHOULD SAY, MAKE TIME PLEASE, TO

VISIT HER BLOG. YOU WILL REALLY BE BLESSED.

THANK YOU CHRISSY FOR THIS AWARD.

THESE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS AWESOME AWARD:

GRAB THE BUTTON

POST IT ON YOUR BLOG

MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS I GAVE YOU THE AWARD

(THIS WOULD SURELY MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT

"FRIENDS")

MAKE SURE YOU SHARE THE AWARD WITH AT LEAST 5 OTHER

"FRIENDS"

YOU ALL DESERVE THE FRIENDSHIP AWARD...YOU ARE AWESOME

SHARE 5 THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO:

1. I LIKE/LOVE TO RUMMAGE THROUGH THRIFT STORES

2. I LIKE TO WORK WITH PLANTS...POTTING, REPOTTING

3. I LIKE/LOVE TO READ MAGAZINES...COUNTRY LIVING,

ROMANTIC HOMES, VICTORIAN BLISS, ANYTHING THAT

CONTAINS SHABBY CHIC, FLOWER GARDENS

4. I LIKE TO BLOG AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

5. I LIKE TO FOSTER NEW BORN KITTENS.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN PRAYER INCLUDING

THE PEOPLE ON MY SIDE BAR:

GINNY'S FRIEND WHO JUST BURIED HER SECOND CHILD, CAROL WHO

HAS SUCH A GIVING HEART IS HAVING A ROUGH TIME--ALSO HER SIL

WHO HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL 8 X'S THIS YEAR WITH S/A OF

DIABETES, ROBBI, JEFF, DORIS AND RICHARD, TAWNA AND MIKE,

PAM, ALEX AND GENEVIEVE, AIRMAN JAMIE BJORK IN IRAQ

AND ALL OUR MILITARY AND THEIR PRECIOUS FAMILIES,

REBECCA'S DAD AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE A LOVED ONE

TORMENTED BY ALZHEIMERS, IRENE-MY MIL AND AJ-MY FIL,

MRS. MARNEY HAVING KNEE SURGERY ON THE 15TH, MIKE WHO

IS RECOVERING FROM SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING BRAIN INJURIES

FROM A CAR ACCIDENT HIS FATHER DIED IN, JEANNE, PATRICIA,

AUNT JEAN, MONTE, JOHN, TOM, VERONICA'S BROTHER, BERNIE,

ANGIE, CINDY, EVERYONE WHO IS SAD AND DREAD THE HOLIDAYS,

ALL THOSE WHO ARE HURTING OVER THE PASSING OF A LOVED ONE,

BECKY, DONNA, JEREMIAH'S WIFE, STACEY, SANDI'S GRANDSON,

SHARON, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, SHERIFF'S, FIREMAN/WOMAN,

AND ALL THE HOMES THAT HAVE VIOLENT ARGUING

IT IS DURING THE HOLIDAYS YOU SEE THE INCREASE OF DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING A PORTION OF YOUR TIME WITH ME.

I AM NOT GOING TO LIE WHEN I TELL YOU, EVEN WITH MY FAITH IT IS

SO DIFFICULT TO GO ON WITHOUT AMY. YOUR SUPPORT AND KINDNESS

MEANS SO VERY MUCH TO ME. I HAVE FOUND THAT EVEN THOUGH WE

CAN'T CHANGE THINGS....IT MEANS A LOT JUST TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE

ARE THINKING AND CARE ABOUT YOU.

BUT HE SAID TO ME, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER

IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS." THEREFORE I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE

GLADLY ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT CHRIST'S POWER MAY REST ON

ME."

~2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

"ANGEL HUGS" TO EACH ONE OF YOU