Ben and I are celebrating our 15 year anniversary today. Kind of. In reality? I need to finish planting our garden, put clean clothes away and whoop a clean on this dirty farm house. After school the kids will have homework and maybe ball practice. Ben has to work late, then has a bluegrass gig. Our plans for a romantic steak dinner for two with our traditional white cake and fresh strawberries (just like our wedding cake) will have to wait. A gal could just get mad, but I’m choosing to look at it differently. We’ve come a long way, the two of us.

Shortly after we met we decided we just couldn’t live without each other and had to get married, but waited for three months to tell our parents. MiMi, Ben’s mom, said “Oh-my-God, Ben, you can’t get married!…Oh congratulations! *hugs*…I need a cigarette!” (This outburst is still simply hilarious to me.) Fifteen minutes after my dad met Ben he said, “Hell, his ears ain’t but that big *holding up his encircled fingers*…no bigger than a quarter.” But agreed later to let Ben marry me anyway after he asked, regardless of his ear size. Truth was, Dad probably needed a cigarette too.

Four months later he gave his only daughter away in a tiny Marine Corps chapel in Arlington Cemetery,Virgina. The cherry blossoms were still in bloom and when the sun hit them that day it made the air smell great. I was in a homemade wedding dress and dad in a hand-me-down suit.  Mom read from our old family Bible, and the lady I nannied for stood up with me. The flowers I held were white lilies tied with a piece of fraying fabric from my dress and there was a sprig of baby’s breath in my hair. Ben was in his dress blues. *sigh* Just the thought of it still makes my heart leap. Pictures were snap shots taken by friends and Tim, our best man, another Marine, saluted me with his sword. I felt rich, like a queen, even though my chariot was an old 1987 blue and white Chevy pick-up (with dents in each door and really loud pipes) and our wedding jewels weren’t jewels at all, just plain white-gold bands–paid for from tips I stashed while working at a steakhouse. It was simple, just like our love.

A lot can happen in fifteen years. That song, Remember When by Alan Jackson pretty well sums it up.

I guess when you marry young you’re not quite set in your ways and instead of trying to fit two stoic pieces into the marriage puzzle, young folks can be a little more shape-able. We have became one. A one that is still constantly changing, hopefully for the better, but at least together. Add to that weird mix a couple of boys, a couple of cats, an old farmhouse with issues, some home cooked meals, one homemade G string, some bluegrass music and here we are.

I don’t have any words of wisdom for staying together except read this book. I’ve learned that real love is fragile but resilient. It’s get-your-hands-dirty, messy. It’s gray not black and white. It’s happy and heartbreaking–a true paradox and the closest thing I’ll find to heaven this side of eternity. When I think of Ben, I think of riches untold, from talent to character. I’m sure lots of which I have yet to see in him or discover. It’s been quite a journey, one that I wouldn’t want to be on with anyone else.

There is nothing left to say except…Happy Anniversary, Darlin’, now hand me that pile of laundry…

Simply,

Sis

I’ve sent my tea bags in quiet protest. I’ve cheered for the rallies that common, tax paying Americans have put together across this once great country. I’ve cried for the Seals and other military who protect us and get punished for it. When I see the elected officials going against what we the people want, then making us out to be liars and violent protesters that is the last straw. I’m done cryin’– I’m pissed. I’m calling in the BIG guns, which in my world is simple, like everything else… I’m going to love.

I love this country. I love my neighbors. I love the Constitution. I love our military. I love freedom. I love Israel.

The Bible says God is love, so I’m gonna tell God on them.  I’m gonna pray. So there. In Phillip Yancey’s book Soul Survivor he talks about the effectiveness of love and truth through the eyes of Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King  and others, a great, thought-provoking read.

Throughout history protests aren’t won through violence, they are won through love. Protests should be done decently, in order and with persistants. Revenge isn’t ours to repay, it’s God’s. It is mine to avenge says the Lord. I will repay.

Ben is always reminding me you can get more with honey than you can with vinegar. I hope you’ll join me on your knees for real sweet change.

Simply,

Sis

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 

Faith is different than religion.

Religion, comes with rules.

 When pursuing Faith, you pursue a relationship.

I’ll choose relationship. 

It’s been said hell is the absence of God.

I’ve lived there.

I don’t like it.

It’s dark.

^“For the wages of sin is death…

…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Which brings light…

I don’t deserve light.

But Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

And that is more than enough.

It’s simple.

Happy Easter!

He is Risen!

You’re bound to meet her at some point, so I may as well just introduce you to SINthia. She’s, me personified. My evil twin. My alter ego. SHE is what happens in Vegas. I can’t stand her, even her name drives me crazy. It certainly fits, though, it sounds like the low down slithery snake she is. I think bushwhack and sabotage must be her middle names. There’s a lot of reasons I don’t like her, but the biggest reason is her behavior. She’s totally irresponsible. It just makes me want to twist off. But, what I really hate about her, she has waaaay more fun than I do.

The Redneck G String

Case in point: a couple years ago she decided she was going to be sexy, like a Victoria Secrets underwear model. So SHE took some of My old Wranglers and made them into daisy dukes with cute little frayed edges. Then she cut the back out into some strange G string looking, uummm I don’t know negligee thingy. That’s just the beginning. THEN she took two red bandannas and made some sort of bikini top out of that (don’t ask me how…) Then I didn’t see her for a while. Thank God!

She showed up later, though, after the kids were in bed, of course. When the work is done, here she comes, taunting me to wear that stupid sexy outfit to bed. And I listened to her. STUPID! I should have known where all this was heading, when 30 minutes later I’m lying on the floor of the bathroom sweating all my carefully applied make-up off trying to get her redneck G string and booger bag bikini top on and Ben knocks at the door. SHOOT! I try to calm myself by at least getting up off the floor and opening the door a crack to assure Ben everything is okay.

“…I just need to brush my teeth and th….what’s in your hair…what have you been doing?”

I slammed the door in his face and glanced into the mirror.

Dust bunnies! DANG IT! So much for my french twist up do with sexy little hangy downs.

I’m gonna kill SINthia when I see her again, I muttered. I’ll be out in a minute…why don’t you just skip your teeth tonight, Honey, I won’t tell the tooth fairy…

“Just let me in.”

I grabbed my robe, put it on and opened the door.

“Was that so hard?”

You’ll think hard, later mister, I thought, and stormed out of the bathroom and hurried into our room to light some candles to make this a night he would never forget.

I was right about THAT, he’s never forgotten…When the robe finally came off, and I struck my sexiest pose. (Oh dear) If you picture Ellie May off the Beverly Hillbillies crossed with a retired nightclub dancer….you might get close. The look on Ben’s face was PRICELESS.

“Is THAT what you have been doing in the bathroom all night?”

[HA HA HA HA HA...Ben actually rolling around on our bed GUT laughing--HA HA HA Ben still laughing--HA HA HA--Ben can't breathe for all the laughing] “What IS that thing? Turn around! Where did you get an idea like THAT?”

SINthia, where do you think?

I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or fall on my sword. Death was sounding better by the minute. But, I just started taking off SINthia’s LOVE costume and sniffed, You don’t like it?

Ben said, “No…I mean…I love it…I love her…It’s just…I didn’t expect it.” [Ha ha ha] “I told you in the beginning, nothing turns me on more than a pair of Wranglers in a pile by the bed…” [Pausing mid thought to wipe more tears out of his eyes]

All I could hear was SINthia’s slimy snickers. And there’s nothing that kills a mood quicker than that.

To make matters worse. I went looking for my redneck G string to take a picture of it to show you. (I’ve come this far…I might as well.) I didn’t find it. I’m pretty sure SINthia gave it to Goodwill after cleaning out my drawers. She probably wrote my name and phone number in them too, that would be just like her. Now I’m really embarrassed.

Simply,

Sis

SINthia

P.S. That’s right, it’s me. I’ve commandeered Sis’s computer for the day. She caught me posting this and took off for much prayer and penance, I guess, the ninny, I don’t know what she does. What a prude. I guess she doesn’t understand grace. After this little stunt, you probably won’t hear from me for a while. But, I’ll be back. Somebody has got to put some spice in her life.  Later!