Tuesday, December 8, 2009

On The Road Again ...

Tomorrow morning, Amy, the kids, Miranda and I head back to Florida. Miranda and I will be there about a week before flying back home to Oklahoma. It should be a very interesting week considering how like-minded my daughter-in-law and I are. Even more interesting, we will be together without our husbands for that entire week. Can you say, “Please send bail?”

Now that we have finally completed #1 on the list, we are preparing to finish off #2 during our last week together. Amy found a great organization close to the Naval station and her home where we can hopefully connect with a pregnant gal needing a hand up. We have a bag of baby goodies to drop off if nothing else pans out at least. Then we will post #3 and the happenings that ensue. So there is the game plan anyway.

There is one last thing I wanted to say before heading off again. I so appreciate all the kind comments everyone has left on this blog. Just knowing people read the crap I write is amazing in and of itself. To receive a comment is pure sugar icing on the cake. Having said that, I must say I feel a bit ashamed when I read that people think I am good, kind, wonderful, decent and normal. I guess the truth is, I know me. I am rarely any of those things for more than a minute at a time. This isn’t meant to sound like humility from a saint. It is just the truth.

Doing this list is about learning to let God turn those good minutes into longer stretches. It’s also about making my life count after I am gone. Even if it just counts to one homeless guy, one pregnant girl or one prostitute. Doing this list is my gift to my children. Even the ones that don’t get it yet.

I have everything I don’t deserve in this life. I am so thankful that God, in His mercy, has yet to give me what I do deserve. So, that’s my story, until the next chapter is written, at least.

See you in a few days and remember, while I'm gone, "Behave, baby!"



26 comments:

Sarah said...

oh lord i hate that guy and the movie! lol
don't worry - i don't think you're perfect, but you're darn close comparing to me!

Sandra Wilkes said...

Enjoy your trip. Give us a holler when you get back home. Take care.

Lillian Robinson said...

Are you familiar with this line from a song... "Saints are only sinners that fell down, and got up." I believe that saints aren't perfect... they just try.

Marla said...

Sarah ~ He is disgusting, isnt he. lol

JP ~ Thanks! Will do.

Lily ~ Great line. Let's keep trying!

SquirrelQueen said...

I love Lily's line about saints. None of us are perfect, we all have good and bad days. Wait! What am I saying... I am of course perfect...then again maybe not!

Have a wonderful time.

Oklahoma Granny said...

I know you won't see this before you get back but I hope your trip goes/went well.

Maude Lynn said...

Travel safe and have fun!

Sandy said...

Hoped over from a suggestion from Lily. Not sure I'm getting the whole enchilada from reading this, so need to look around futher.

Though I did read homeless, and we've got that in common. Hope you'll pop over for a look around and I'll continue to cruise around your site.

Noticed you ec, I do as well and so dropped while here too. Though I don't have ec on my Bridge and Beyond site, that's my knitting and crocheting for homeless site. The ec's are connected with my traveling suitcase blog. Love to have you swing by both, heck why not hit all 3 for the tri-fecta. lol

How great you and your DIL get along so well you can spend a whole a week together without the men to run interference.

Sandy

plainolebob said...

Marla,
Have a good time in Florida, how are we spose to behave when ever one is making comments, can we at least have a food fight? we promise not to tear the place up while your gone err......stop that...Sarah I'm tellin
BIG HUGS

Anonymous said...

Hey Marla now that you have strangers following and not all family and friends there is so much praise....lol....your loved ones all know you are crazy cuz we r all crazy too! Come by it honestly...right. If you don't thinks so just ride in the car with my dad and by the way how are you doing now that your are not so worthless....and good for nothing. ha ha Hugs to you and drive safe...I know you will enjoy and spoil those babies..Yippy for your new freedom that doesn't cost 300.00 per day. Love ya cuz, Cher

Claudya Martinez said...

You are not just what you think you are, you are also the good that others see in you.

plainolebob said...

CONGRATS and I hope you are pleased to have been chosen.
Bob at http://plainolebob2.blogspot.com/

Jeremy Hansen said...

I don't want you losing sleep at night over the hours a day I put in to thinking how kind and wonderful you are.

All I am thinking about is some poor pregnant woman being chased down the street by a crazy woman and her bag of stuff.

I love you....

MindyBB said...

Bahaha...Marla! Who said you were normal? Do you think you could get them to say I was "normal" too? I love you dearly and you are a wonderful and kindhearted person... Now people she is a little sick and twisted too- only b/c she said it first and I too was cut from that mold. Have fun down south and squeeze some baby cheeks we've got work to do when you get back!

Marla said...

Judy ~ You know it!

Ok Granny ~ Thank you!

Mama Zen ~ Will do!

Sandy ~ Thanks for stopping by! I will be sure to check out your three.

Bob ~ Food fights allowed just make sure you take it out of the can first.

Cher ~ I am absolutely wonderful ... until you get to know me. hahaha So when are you coming back to Okie Dokie, Cousin?

Mami ~ You are awesome but then you already know that! :-)

Bob ~ Pleased doesn't even begin to describe it. Thank you!!

Jeremy Hansen ~ You made me this way! Crazy, I mean. Love you too!!

Mindy ~ Baby cheeks have been squeezed!

Marilyn said...

Marla, I am hooked. You are doing what you need to do...and it isn't about being good or bad.

You are giving of yourself at a time when people are afraid to give.

Thank you for sharing and inspiring others along the way.

WhisperWood Cottage said...

Hope you avoided the need for bail!

Sandra Wilkes said...

Hope your trip is going well!

Marla said...

Marilyn ~ Thank you for getting hooked. I checked out your blogs and am a follower now. Deep stuff, sister!

Marla said...

ALVN ~ So far we have but we are hoping for some mayhem starting Monday. We're sick like that. :-)

JP ~ It is!! I just can't stop sniffing the grandbabies necks. The two year old is now saying, "Do I smell delicious?" lol

Mrs4444 said...

I know how you feel. WON wrote a post that included some very kind words basically saying how noble it was of me to forego an extended family Thanksgiving for a smaller one that included just us and a friend and his mom (who would have otherwise been alone.) Yes, it was a nice thing to do, but sheesh--it's one day of the year; we should be doing it MUCH more often.

You're a sweetheart.

Parsley said...

Don't know why but I didn't notice we're from the same state. Cool!

Marla said...

Mrs4444 ~ I love Mark Twain. He is one of my favorite writers and has been since I could read. Here is one of his quotes which I have taped on my file cabinet: “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” Here's to astonishing as many people as we can, sister!

Marla said...

Parsley ~ Well, we made just need to have a bloggers hoedown one of these days. :-)

Sandy said...

Hi Marla
I started the Bridge just a year ago, in fact our first blog post was Dec 2, 08. The most recent post is #101. Rae and several ladies she knows from church prepare hot meals on Sat mornings, twice a month and hand deliver to those in need. Rae and my SIL are acquainted, and my SIL introduce Rae and I. I thought this would be a good paring. Our hand knit and hand crocheted items are delivered along with the hot food. After we got rolling pretty well on that, we added a bit to our cause (this is where the beyond part comes in to play). Rae volunteers at 2 free clinics and so we supply her with hand knit and crocheted items for the kids and moms at the free clinic.

Everyone mails items to me and I delivery them weekly or more often if I have a good bundle to Rae, through my SIL when Rae and I can't connect because of my work schedule.

Sorry this response is rather long, hope it answers your question.

Sandy

Marla said...

Sandy ~ Thanks for the info. Awesome!! This has me thinking about what we are trying to do and other possibilities. So glad for your input. Thanks again!