A Love Story

"Do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:16-17

I was on my way to my usual Friday Night dinner with dear friends and I was thinking over the week.  I, of course, was flipping through stations as I was in my dad's truck and not my radio-deprived car when Bruno Mars' song, "Grenade" came on.

I have the song nearly memorized and wasn't thinking much about it until the chorus came,

To give me all your love is all I ever asked,

Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya
I’d jump in front of a train for ya

You know I'd do anything for ya
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya

As a single girl I have certainly thought of what my "prince charming" might be like, and I don't know of a single person who wouldn't feel excited if someone felt the same way the person in the lyrics does.  This got me to thinking about who in my life might have this same sentiment for me.  And like a ton of bricks it hit me: Jesus.

As many know I've been reading Waking the Dead by John Eldredge, and much of the book is focused on the love of Jesus and the powerful Enemy (Satan) who hates us.  So, I wanted to share with you a love story that you might not be aware of, and one that you are fully apart of:

My favorite stories always started with someone who didn't know their worth and the hero who saw it and did everything to rescue the person not only from themselves but from a very powerful enemy.

I think we could all be describing ourselves or someone we know in this scenario.  There are so many who don't know their self worth and understand what an incredible human being they are.  God saw it.  He not only created you but loved you so much he sent a Hero to save you.  You are not bad and horrible, sinful yes, but so worthy of love and of course forgiveness.

Jesus saw you, all of you, and loved you so much that he willingly laid down his life to rescue you.  To bring you back to him and his father so that you could live forever with him. And until you got to them he sent you a guide to help you through the dangerous perils that we all have to fight.

The best stories are not only where there is a hero who fights, but where the main character has to fight and learns that they too are of value and bring something to the story.  That, my beloved is you.  God sent Jesus to rescue, Jesus loved you enough to die for you (and if you were the only one he would have willingly died for just you), and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that you could continue in this world until you are re-united with your savior, hero, and love.

I don't think there is a better story.  And unlike the song that inspired this song, you have the ability to love back and know from you heart outward how much you are loved.  You just have to accept the love.

If you have any questions I'm here.

Much Love,
Kelli

What This Single Really Thinks

Its not that I want to remain single the rest of my life. I do at some point want a husband and children. However, right now, I'm enjoying the freedom that comes with being single. Every life style has its pros and cons, but since I don't know about the married life I can only account for the single and childless one.

With that said, I would like to address some "issues" that come with being single and childless.

1. The I-Know-A-Girl-Who-Got-Married-For-The-First-Time-at-40+ Story.  While I and others realize this story is suppose to make us feel better that we are still single.  That is not always how it is taken. Be careful with this story.
   
2. Any time someone talks about the troubles of being single and you look to the one single person you know.  I enjoy being single.  Yes it has its issues but from what I've gathered so does being married.  Don't make me stare at you every time someone mentions being married.  You won't like the focus.
   
3. Telling a single person it must be nice not to be bogged down with responsibility.  You mean not having to check in with another person and ask their permission before I do it?  Yes it is.  However, please don't take that to mean I'm not responsible.  I've kept my dog alive for over 13 years now and while I did step on his tail a couple of times he has forgiven me and I continue to scratch his belly.
   
4. Assuming I must hate Valentine's Day.  I actually enjoy the day.  It is a day of love.  No matter who you love. 
   
5. Finally asking or implying that I don't like children, men, or family vacations.  Do children who aren't taught to obey and keep their hands and feet to themselves so they can wipe their food and anything else over my outfit and scream and yell and run around places without repercussion annoy me?  Yes.  However, children for the most part are a delight as are babies.  The best part is giving them back to their parents when they're no longer happy and fun.  I like men.  They're awesome.  I know some great ones.  I just haven't found the right one yet.  And family vacations are the best.  I get to get caught up with everyone, I can hang out with whom I please, for any length of time, and my family is cool.

Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.  I hope this helps anyone who wants to interact with a single realize we are people too.

Much Love,
Kelli

The Defense of Cinderella

When I was in the second grade I remember sitting in a large circle with my classmates as our teacher explained that we would be re-enacting Cinderella.  To keep things fair all the girls would be given a number, and a copy of that number was in our teacher's sack.  Whoever had the matching number would be Cinderella.  My number was 23.

It was as if from a dream because that was the number my teacher pulled.  I, Kelli, was going to be Cinderella.  In my second grader female mind I had just won the lottery. Immediately after I had won, one girl, who was considered the prettiest of the class, asked what I would be wearing.  I answered I was going to wear my favorite dress.  She said she had a better dress and I could borrow it.  I politely declined because I wanted to wear my dress.  After all I was Cinderella and I could wear the dress I wanted.

Then as it came out that I had declined the kind offer the suggestion I let this girl be Cinderella started.  I didn't let any of it get to me though (even at that age) because I knew they were jealous of my win.  On the day we were to dress as our characters I had my favorite dress on (wish I had a picture of it), but when I got to school some of my joy was robbed as I realized how much more appropriate for Cinderella that the pretty girl's dress would have been.  She had a beautiful white gown on and mine, well it wasn't a gown.

Other girls started pointing out how I should have let the pretty girl be Cinderella, and even though no matter what I wouldn't have given that spot away, I'll never forget that moment when I thought, perhaps, I should have.  Even by second grade I had though that my outer beauty was more important than the fact that I was Cinderella.  No matter what I looked like I was still Cinderella.

This memory came to me last night as I was praying for healing of my broken heart ( a process to be sure).  Much of the hurt I have faced was always about my outer beauty.  I am a "big" girl.  I was a beautiful child, I look back at old pictures of me and for the life of  me can't figure out where left that sparkling girl at.  She's still here with me, but I have suppressed her because as I was told in the second grade, and believe now, I'm a false Cinderella.

However, because of this prayer to heal my broken heart, and this memory was one that needed to be healed, I have a new perspective.  One I hope will help you.  I still am Cinderella.  In the Bible many decisions were done by casting lots.  It was seen as asking God to write the story and choose the path.  I won that lot.  And I want you to know that you have too.

Cinderella's prize is not that she got to marry the prince (that was a blessing, but it wasn't the prize).  It is that she gets to become the outer princess that she always was on the inside.  Her means of getting there may have been by a ball and prince, but the reason we long for her to win is that she is not just physically beautiful, but gracious, kind, and beautiful on the inside.  Cinderella becomes what she was always meant to be: a princess.

And if you are daughter of the King then that does make you a princess.  You have an incredible, beautiful heart, and the enemy (much like Cinderella's step-family) will to steal, kill, and destroy that heart.  Jesus is healing that one moment in time and showing me that it didn't matter the dress I felt like a princess and I am, and He wants me to tell you that you are too.

Join my friend and sister and ask for the healing (if you haven't) for that broken place deep in your heart.

Much Love,
Kelli

Confessions & Covers

I have a confession to make.  I love covers.  Not covers of books (although some of those are cool) or DVD covers (same as the books), but music covers.  I can't explain it as I used to hate them.  I was always for the original, and some what of a purist, so I didn't like them.  Then, something happened, I don't know when or where, but suddenly I was in love with covers.

Did you know in my family that most of the women married men they didn't like at first?  Of course you wouldn't know that, unless you were in my family, but for the record that is the case.  My Grandma Kansas only dated my grandpa because her best friend was dating his best friend, but after the friends broke up my grandma decided that she did kind of like him.  They were married for 49 years and 364 days before she died.

My Grandma Oklahoma didn't really like my grandpa either, but she thought he was cute.  They've been married for fifty-one years!  When my parents met my dad had left my mom a 23 cent tip, all in pennies too. (Can't forget that detail!)  They went on a date when my mom was 16 and she came home and told my grandma she was going to marry him.  And as you know from yesterday they've been married now 30 years.

All that to tell you the fact that I didn't like covers before and now I love them shows that this affair will probably go on for quite some time.  Maybe forever.  Of course you can't have covers without originals, and I haven't left them behind.  And like the fabulous original a great cover always brings something new to the table.

Wow, that was a long intro for telling you I heard this great cover of Sarah McLachlan's "Possession"  It is by Evan Blue.  Take a listen:

Speaking of Giving Thanks

So today my incredible parents celebrate 30 years of marriage, which is incredible.  I know how blessed I am to have parents that are still happily married and have been such amazing parents.  So, much like a birthday I had to create a Top 5 to celebrate this Big Deal Occasion:




You Never Even Call Me By My Name
by David Allen Coe

Today my parents celebrate 30 years of marriage. So, of course, I needed to dedicate my Top 5 to them. Believe it or not this is "their" song. This starts to explain a few things about me doesn't it? Actually the fact that this is their song shows how cool they are.



Beth
by Kiss

As I stated on my dad's birthday he only likes two slow songs. This is the other. For one it was written by the drummer, which my dad is a drummer. In fact on my the day of my actual birth he was playing a gig in Detroit. So my mom always teases my dad he wants a girl like Beth. I think he found her. :P



Remember When
by Alan Jackson

Finding other songs for this remarkable couple is tough. Beth was for my dad so this one is for my mom. I think it is a very sweet song myself and something I hope to have some day.



Oh How the Years Go By
by Amy Grant

As the daughter, the first born, I chose this song. It reminds me of my childhood and the evenings spent at the dinner table, and the summers spent in California where Dad was working. It reminds me of how great my paretns are, how loving they are to us girls and each other. I was blessed with incredible parents and a remarkable childhood. So Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. Here's to 30 more years!



You Never Even Call Me By My Name
by David Allen Coe

I couldn't decide if I wanted to play this at the beginning or the end of the countdown and then I thought why not both? Besides this is their song. It should be played more than once.

Much love and happiness to you my wonderful parents and to th rest of you out there!

Today 'I LOVE LUCY'

I can't begin to describe how much this show meant to me. I adore Lucille Ball, and my fascination with her started back in the fifth grade. I watched many of her shows, but nothing captured my attention and adoration the way I Love Lucy did. And the best thing about this show is that fifty years later, it is still funny. So today, we celebrate the love of Lucy and Ricky.

This video, which just made me gush the first time I saw it is amazing. She does such a great job with this. Enjoy!



I also have some old wallpapers I made. You can view them for 1024x768 or 800x600

I am taking suggestions for next Thursday. I would like a more modern couple, but all suggestions will be taken and applied as long as they aren't the ones mentioned in yesterday's post.

Love to you all!