My Treasure

The only thing that is decorated for Christmas is this blog! Behind again! Always behind when it comes to Christmas. I love this season though! Love the shopping. Love trying to figure out the perfect gifts for everyone! But most of all I love the "reason" for the season! Thank you, Sweet Jesus, for all the gifts you give to me...everyday....You are my treasure!

Us With The Granddaughters

Me and My Sweet Mama

My Mom

It's almost Mother's Day. I don't often put into words the love and affection I have for my Mom. When I was growing up - it was just me, my sister and my Mom. She raised us single handed. She was fragile and strong at the same time. Often, while I was drifting off to sleep at night, I would hear her in her own room, crying. That sound broke my heart. I knew she was lonely and at times scared but when morning came, she was again that strong Mom who sheltered and protected us the best she could from everything that life threw at us. We were close. We only had each other. Even though those were hard years - we were together and I am thankful for them. We laughed alot and spent many hours singing together gathered around the organ or traveling down the road while on some sort of road trip! Good times!

My Mom's not perfect. I know she's made plenty of mistakes but she has not wallowed in them. She has just found her way back to the right path and kept moving forward.

Sometimes she says the wrong things at the wrong times. Sometimes she may quietly disapprove of my decisions or my actions. But I know she's proud of me. That's a really good feeling. I've never accomplished any earth shaking feats but Mom thinks I have! I know she brags on me to her friends when I'm not around! I know she is interested in everything I do as if I was single-handedly changing the world!

The older I get, the more I appreciate the sacrifices my Mom made for me and the more I cherish her prayers because I know she prays for me daily. Sometimes I wonder, "when she is gone, who will pray for me?" What a heritage she has given me of faith and courage, of godliness and perserverance! She is my hero and I rise up and call her "blessed"!

Thanks, Mom!

My Heart's In My Throat

My hearts in my throat
Lord, what should I say?
One moment in time
Then he'll walk away
Don't let me miss it
Opportunity lost
My silence - expensive
Too great the cost…….

A poor soul so lost
Stumbling and dazed
Finding his way….
In humanity's maze
I have directions
I could show him the way
If only the words come
Lord, what should I say?

The broken of heart
Lost in their grief
A life full of promise
Cut so brief
Lamenting…weeping
Dreams crushed today
A loved one just died
Lord, what should I say?

Suddenly it comes…
Confident! Bold!
It comes like a fire
Shut up in my bones
It's His words, not mine
I know what to say!
"I have the answer!
I know the way!"

Life words from heaven
Out of me flow
Strumming the heart strings
Touching the soul
Life words from heaven
Not mine, just His…….
I am His mouthpiece
For a time such as this………………

~Dawn Benson
June 20, 2008

Esther 4:14 "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Jury Duty Is Finally Over

Well, it's over. After 5 days in court it is finally finished! This morning we found the lady guilty of theft ($151,000) against a mentally handicaped man, age 58. This afternoon we finished the sentencing part of the trial where we sent her to jail on two different counts for 5 years each and also fined her $10,000. That was a very difficult and emotional thing for me. I was heartbroken for both the victim and the defendant. Call me an old softy but I couldn't help it. Haven't slept much for the last couple of nights... just keep running everything over in my head. I can only pray for her now but I was so sad when they took her away to jail. (Can't get that picture out of my head.)

It is a fearful thing to hold someone's future in your hands...........

I Won!! (Ahhh ...I guess......)

You've gotta be kidding! I never win anything!! But this time I did! I couldn't believe it when they called my name. There were 60 others sitting there with me but it was my name that I heard! I had been sitting there ALL day long. We had answered questions, listened intently, fought to stay awake at times and squirmed in our seats. Finally, it was time for the verdict! They would call 12 names...mine was the first! "Mrs B---, would you please take your seat in the jury box." So I did and that is where I have sat for the past 2 days. It's a criminal case and I will be in that seat for some time to come. Possibly for a couple of weeks. I'm not allowed to talk about the case at all...to anyone... but I will say that it is interesting. I am a bit stressed because I am putting everything else on hold. Next week is our big annual ladies event. There is still much to do and I am being forced to delegate, delegate! That could actually be a good thing.... but it's really tough on me. Well, I'm off to bed cause I am exhausted after a long day in court! :-0