I was watching a sappy Christmas movie the other night and it was about this lady that had died (she thought) and was given another week to see if she could change how she lived. She basically lived for work and put everything and everyone second to work. She began thinking about all the ways she would change her life if she just had another opportunity. In the end, she got to come back to life for a second chance.

In real life, you don’t get that chance. Once you pass, all that you leave to the ones you love is the memory of how you lived your life and the words and wisdom you taught them while you were alive.

The lady in the movie said to herself, if I just had another chance, I would;

I would do things differently

I would have different priorities in my life

I would take the time to make a difference

I would put my family first, not my work

I would take care of my health

When I died I would not wish I had spent more time in the office

I would really look at the things and people around me and listen to the music of life

I would not waste life’s minutes on strife, anger, jealousy and vengeance

I would embrace the talents I have and not lose minuets on the ones I don’t have

I would live each day as though it was my last

I would choose joy, love and peace

We all think we have a lot more life ahead and there will always be time to change our lives. What if you are wrong? What would you change in your life if you knew your time was up?

Merry Christmas. KT

Sunday night I was upstairs in our home turning off the lights because our granddaughters had spent the day with us. I straightened up the rooms a little (very little, ha) and began thinking that these are the same rooms that were my daughter’s rooms when they lived at home.

I was taking a trip down memory lane looking at my oldest daughter’s middle school annual when she was in the 8^th grade. I looked at the writings her friends wrote in her annual and all the items still on her bulletin board from high school. Then I started thinking about my youngest daughter’s room across the hallway and all the stuffed animals she used to have and how I would come up each night and pray with them both before they went to sleep. How I would kiss them good night before bed time and hold their hands and tell them I love them.

I was standing upstairs last night wondering how the years have slipped by without my notice. How it still seemed that my two daughters should be in middle school and high school and how I should see them each morning at breakfast. Then I realized that period in my life has passed.

Life is funny that way. Time doesn’t slow down for anyone and before you know it, a period or cycle in your life has changed. There were times when my daughters were little that I thought they would never get past diapers and be able to walk and dress themselves. Then a few years went by and boys started hanging around our house and I knew our life was changing and would never be same. I also knew there was strong possibility I would go to prison when I saw a couple of the boys they were dating. Ha.

I suppose the first lesson of the day is that all periods in life change and the best we can hope for is to accept change with grace as we all move through life. The second lesson would be to enjoy the moments as they happen and be there mentally and emotionally so you can bank the memories. I don’t care how old my children get, I am going to hug them, kiss them and tell them I love them. When the lord calls me home, they will never have to wonder if their daddy loved them. KT

Today, we as America will elect our next president. While this election cycle has been the most divisive yet, there is good news.

God is still in control of the hearts and minds of America and that includes the Presidency. He is the one that controls the weather, the oceans, the stars, the moon, the sun, the world and the universe. Don’t you think he can handle a little president and the hearts and minds of a country?

I got up this morning and thought about living in a country where I can sleep safely in our home, read the bible, dress as I wish, go to Starbucks, drive my own vehicle and speak as I wish and see my family on a daily basis. I get to go to work and be in a free enterprise environment. I don’t have to worry about the military coming to my home and taking my children, or listening for bombs before my children can go to school. This Sunday I can go to church and worship freely and our children get to go to school every week and my family gets to live in a non-oppressive country. We get to go to movies, eat at our favorite restaurants, go to park with our dogs, celebrate holidays, visit with friends etc. you get the idea.

Don’t ever lose sight of what America is and stands for around the world. It is literally the beacon of hope around the world. The beautiful city built on the hill, the example of a democracy. Today, count it all joy that you get to go and vote freely for the president and leadership of your choice. We get to do that because we live in a free country. So go vote today. KT