This a preview of Hannah's memorial bench that will be placed at the place where the bus picks up the special needs kids at the school in Hillsboro, TX where Hannah went. School was one of her favorite things in life. In summer months, my wife had to conduct class in Hannah's room similar to the routine she enjoyed at school. She loved to play the memory game, numbers, colors, and most of all singing.

I can't believe its been over 8 months since my little darling went home to be with the Lord. Some days I miss her really bad. But like her, I try to find consolation in music and singing. I ran across an old Paul Simon song right after Hannah passed that deals with this very subject. It's called "Mother & Child Reunion". Paul Simon wrote it back in the early 70's when friends of his lost their child in an accident.

Lyrics from the song...

"I cant for the life of me

Remember a sadder day

I know they say let it be

But it just dont work out that way

And the course of a lifetime runs

Over and over again..."

-----

"Oh, little darling of mine.

I just cant believe its so,

And though it seems strange to say

I never been laid so low

In such a mysterious way

And the course of a lifetime runs

Over and over again..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5KnsjODaUw

This is an eye opener... Some probably never thought nor looked at this
Psalm in this way, even though they say it over and over again.

The Lord is my Shepherd
That's Relationship!

I shall not want
That's Supply

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters.
That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul
That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
That's Guidance!

For His name sake
That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
That's Testing!

I will fear no evil.
That's Protection!

For Thou art with me
That's Faithfulness

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,
That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil,
That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over.
That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.
That's Security!

Forever.
That's Eternity!

Face it; the Lord thinks you are special.
What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives; but WHO we have in our lives.

Psalm 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Great chapter in the Bible. When you need to be reminded of why we are here. Praise The LORD!

Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'

I went to visit and observe a Rosh Hashanah service on Thursday evening. It was a very moving and uplifting experience. The very first song the congregation sang was called "baruch haba b'shem adonai" which was taken from Psalm 118:26 and reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 23:39.
Christians and Jews alike are looking for Messiah to come and bring peace to this tumultuous & chaotic world. The difference of course is one is looking for His 1st coming and the other His 2nd.

The rabbi's message to the congregation was to take inventory of your own heart, your own life and be prepared for the coming of Messiah. When He does return He will come to judge the wicked & unrighteous.

Psalm 24:v7 Lift up your heads you gates (of the city). Lift up your very old doors. Then the king of glory will come in. v8 Who is the king of glory? The LORD that is strong and mighty. The LORD that is powerful in war. v9 Lift up your heads you gates of the city. Lift up its very old doors. Then the king of glory will come in. v10 Who is the king of glory? The LORD Almighty. He is the king of glory!

He also encouraged us all to be a light in our darkened world. Don't let prejudice, racism, and hatred skew our vision and perception of humanity that God loves. God loves us all. Jew, Arab, American, Iranian, etc. In Isaiah 60 we are told by God that His people will be "a light unto the nations". Darkness will cover the earth and a thick darkness the nations, BUT God will shine upon you (His people), then nations will be led to the LIGHT and guided by it. Its time for us, God's people to "rise & shine" & let the "glory of the Lord" shine upon us. AMEN.
Thougts & Prayers, DLC

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 have now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." Proverb

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

... House on the Rock

Built a house by my friend. Him on the rock and me on the sand.
I stood outside in the pouring rain, my house fell down, I started over again.
I was living a dream, Oh I was on top.
But storms were coming, Lord they don't stop.
That's why its wise to build your house on the rock.

Up and down that road Jesus wore out shoes.
Talking the Kingdom and teaching the Jews.
You went with Jesus but I stayed behind.
But you both knew it was just a matter of time.
I was living a dream, Oh I was on top.
But storms were coming, Lord they don't stop.
That's why its wise to build your house on the rock.

Not a waste of time, I'm alive today.
But learning from mistakes, there's an easier way.
Doing God's word has a means to an end.
Living for God is really living my friend.
Your living a dream, Oh your on top.
But storms are coming, Lord they don't stop.
That's why its wise to build your house on the rock.
That's why its wise to build your house on the rock.
That's why its wise to build your house on the rock.

I penned these words over a year ago. I was reading my Sunday School lesson and it covered this passage of scripture. Me & Hannah were listening to a Stevie Ray Vaughn CD.
"Life by the Drop" came over the speakers and these words just flowed out of me to the tune of that song. Hannah loved it and we sang it over and over again. She loved to sing. She liked to sing old blues songs with me. Jimmy Reed, SRV, and Albert King.
Yesterday was Labor Day. I really missed her, playing music, singing with her, playing "box" in her room as she watched and repeated every word I said.
Sept. 10th is the death anniversary of my brother. He passed away at the age of 39 in 1996.
Mom always reminded me every year. She & I would sit & talk about him, reflect on memories of him.
Sometimes our family has to really try hard to be happy around holidays.
Grandfather passed away on Valentine's Day (heart attack)
Mother passed away on 18th of Feb. (heart attack)
Brother passed away on Labor Day weekend (cancer)
Grandmother passed away on Memorial Day weekend
Daughter suffered the seizure that eventually took her life on my 47th birthday (epilepsy)
Of course @ Christmas & Thanksgiving we miss them terribly and its just not the same.

I stood at my patio door and looked up in the sky through the trees, crying, missing my girl, my mother & brother. I know one day we'll all be together again.
Thoughts & prayers,
DLC

"... in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquillity will return again." - Anne Frank