A refugees story.

Hi, everyone. As you will see below, this was shared w/ me, It really touched my heart and therefore I wanted to share it w/ all of you. Take Care. Love, Kim.

Sis,
I receive many e-mails from our Command Chaplain. I think of you often especially after receiving the emails. The email below is true. He really was a refugee who escaped from a European Country. He has an impressive story. Well, I hope all is well with you. Be good. Bill

I grew up in the 60s with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed plastic bags and reused them. She was the original 'recycle queen', before they had a name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their goal was to raise decent children, - nothing more. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. Most of their relatives have died already either in the war or during the failed revolution. We never ate in a restaurant. We could afford meat once a month, but we thought that was normal. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress , things we keep... It was a way of life, and as I got older, sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating left-overs, hand-down clothes... I wanted -- just once,-- to be wasteful! Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there would always be more. But then a colleague of mine disappeared, and my girlfriend got arrested, beaten, and raped. I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. All the time we have is now; we cannot dwell on the past, and we have no guarantees for the future. So, I left that God-forsaken country to become homeless, stateless, jobless, - a refugee. I lost my family, friends, culture, language, - everything, but I was free! Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... while we have it... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and fix it when it's broken...... and heal it when it's sick. Live each day as it were the last! This is true, for marriage... and old cars.... and children with bad report cards..... and dogs with bad hips.... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.Serving you as I serve Him,Ch. A.P.S.People will forget what you said; they will forget what you did,but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Windows~~ and more Windows

Hi, just wanted to share one of our newer computer toys, not the actual one but similar. It was a gift from a family member and its so cool. At first thought it was a key chain, but its an actual working mouse and we really like using it. As for the computer itself~lets just say PROBLEMS. I can still get to the Internet and the places I want to be~ its the windows itself that's not working. I did some sort of upgrade and didn't register it w/ the 30 days so now I've been informed that version has expired. I accept responsibility but how much money do they think its worth. It came w/ windows vista. I've contacted Microsoft multiply times & have talked to the various departments who then tell me to contact manufacture~ who won't help because the warranty has expired and they are only willing to help for the cost of $60~ all this run around has left one unhappy customer. I'm having my sister in law look at it and from there we will see what to do~ I'd personally prefer to just buy the upgrade through Best Buy if that's what it takes~ but only time will tell~ its not that it matters~we don't use windows often except to download pictures and school reports. It can wait. As we are on the subject of windows~ I have exciting news. Are you ready? I got brand new widows in the front room ~ and get this they can actually be opened & closed~ haven't had that in this room in the 15 years we lived here. Almost unbelievable~ had them opened a couple days ago when it was nice outside. The girls got new windows in their rooms also. It's nice to have ones that are easier to rise and that's a great advantage~ only disadvantage worrying if they are sealed and locked when we leave for long periods of time~ shouldn't be to concerned we live in a pretty safe area but one can't help to be safe~ crimes do happen everywhere. They will take getting used to ~ but when those nice little breezes come floating through during the upcoming days of spring and summer we'll be ready. I've got to be going ~ have a great evening.

Hello!! Blogging buddies. Here to tell ya things are going fair. Last week was our Ladies Conference and I'm so glad I made the decision to go~ I of course proscrinated til the last minute. A little push from my doctor and Karen spending the night~ there would of been no way out. I really liked hearing the ladies give their testimonies~and I'm so proud of Karen~ she accomplished one of her greatest fears or perhaps two~ one being public speaking and to such a large crowd and two being the crowd itself. I was happy & surprised to see the other Kim and Joann. I had the privilege of sharing a table with Kim and getting to know her better and many other ladies as well. But to tell you honestly~ I didn't know if I'd survive the whole day. I had come down w/ the flu the prior Wednesday and was taking meds on a steady schedule b/c I was determined I was going to be there. The only thing I sort of resent~ I didn't really fellowship much as I'd liked~ I had worn Karen's shoes which were a bit tight and had a heal much higher than I'm used too because the new ones I bought were more than a tad bit to big and I didn't feel very comfortable running around in just stocking feet and I was extremely tired~ only slept maybe three hrs~ Matthew ad been up & down with a stomach ache and I was having an anxiety moment~ fearing I wouldn't be up in time to bathe and get ready. You'd think given the fact I knew I needed an outfit - I would of been prepared~ but no not me~ I left that to the very last minute only to discover I'd grown in the midsection and that my nice shirts weren't exactly roomy and flowing as previous years and the only other one that would of perhaps fitted I must of loaned it to my mom b/c its missing in action. Given all these small petty things~ I was was up and ready to go in plenty of time and had a great time. Thank you to all who participated in making it a wonderful day!!