A Love Story

One of the ladies my husband knows from work husband recently died. Of course, she has gone the range of emotion that any woman would face after loosing her soul mate. Her birthday was this week. Someone sent her a bouquet of flowers. No, she didn't have a secret admirer, they were not from a friend, not even from her children. They were from her late husband. Her husband knew that her birthday would be soon after his death, so he gave money to a friend and he signed the card that comes with the flowers. The friend made sure that she got exactly what he had asked for. I had never heard of this before. I got chill bumps all over and my eyes began to tear up as I thought wow, even in death she knows how much he loved her. He loved her through his pain. He loved her in their happiness. He loved her even when times got rough. He loved her passionately. He just loved her. He loved her even as Christ loved the Church! You know, his love mirrored that of Christ. Because even in death, you can find out just how much Christ loves you. He loved you through His pain. He loves you if you are happy, or if your just having a rough spot in life. In fact, like her husband, Christ loves you passionately. HE JUST LOVES YOU! Sometimes, we need little reminders of how we should treat others. Their story reminded me this week that I am supposed to love passionately and to remember that no matter what I just need to love. After all, everyone is someone whom Christ died for.

J-U-L-Y... That's why I love summertime! Growing up July was always a fun month for me. July meant lots of things like going to stay at my aunt's house, watching my cousin play on the all star baseball team, Canada Day + 4th of July= Freedom Fest, hanging out at Elizabeth Park. Pretty much July always meant I was never home! I love to travel and while growing up and as a young adult I did a lot of it. The first time I went to Dallas it was July- and it was smokin HOT! Most things I did in July as a kid involved getting to see my Dad. Most of the time as a kid I only saw him once a year... A lot of memories were made in this month... Stuff like ordering bacon in a Canadian Restraunt and getting Canadian bacon instead of the crispy delight we eat here; Having breakfast in New York City and the waitress looking at me like I was from space or something asking me"What is a grit?"; Sunrise in Virginia Beach; train rides from Windsor to Toronto, Seeing oil wells in Oklahoma thinking they looked like dinosaurs; Rice fields in Louisiana; the big barges sailing the Mississppi River, camping at Lake Erie, Watching the tides change on the Great Lakes and being amazed that the lakes had tides just like the ocean, Watching a guy fall of the banana boat in the Port of Tampa, having a surprise trip to Toronto to see The Phantom Of The Opera at Pantages Theater, having dinner at the Winter Palace (french Restraunt), professional baseball games, yes, I would say July was always so awesome as a kid /adult. But one thing that I have filed in my mind as the most spectacular thing to ever happen in July was on July 23,1994! That was a fantastic day. I remember the details like they just happened yesterday. I remember all the pretty flowers and plants, the emerald green gowns the brides maid wore and the pretty little dresses the flower girls wore, The beautiful brocade satin dress that was made from 3 different patterns especially for me, the only time I have ever seen my husband in a tux. And one of the very few times I have seen him cry! Yes folks it was our wedding day! We had a small wedding consisting of about 40 guests.We were married at the Holiday Inn in Lakeland and enjoyed our honeymoon in Daytona Beach! You know, that was the best day of my life--- I married my best friend! (my second best was giving birth to our daughter) Looking back at our wedding pictures, boy were we young! YIKES! The last 14 years have been filled with good times mostly and a few bumpy times. I thank God every day that He put the two of us together. I am convinced that even though we were not serving the Lord at the time we dated, were engaged, married and the first few years of marriage, God had a plan for us... It has been my pleasure to be call Mrs. Bobby W. McCue. Gee, I still think I just may be the luckiest girl in the wide world!