Land of Osbourne

God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way, Grace for the trials, help from above,  Unfailing sympathy, undying love. God hath not promised we shall not know Toil and temptation, trouble and woe; He hath not told us we shall not bear Many a burden, many a care. God hath not promised smooth roads and wide, Swift, easy travel, needing no guide; Never a mountain, rocky and steep, Never a river, turbid and deep.

So I work in Roseville, Minnesota. Often in the suburbs and cities one often sees Mallards and Canadian Geese around and occasionally a white goose. This morning, I got to work early as usual and was sitting in my car reading my book.  I heard this sound that sounded like a turkey "gobble gobble". I looked around, didn't see anything. Went on reading my book.  Heard the sound again. Looked up, huge turkey strolling around the grass. Huh.  I got out of the car to go in to work, 5 more turkeys casually walking around the parking lot.  I went into the building, set my purse and keys down, looked up and they were all by the front doors looking in at me.  Turkeys....in Roseville, MN? Weird. 

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,  and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't. When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good-night, and I felt lo...

THEN IT IS WINTER I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL AND WAS  READING  FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER  READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY! You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did myyouth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and thatwinter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully...