Love is scaring away monsters in the middle of the night, then again at 1:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m!
Love is putting peanut butter on anything as long as they’ll eat it!

Love is knowing how to disguise vegetables 30 different ways.
Love is reading the same bedtime story for the 999th time.

Love is a hug around the knees.
Love is watching Mr. Rogers instead of All My Children.

Love is cutting off the crusts.
Love is a refrigerator covered with creative works of art.

Love is not grimacing through the dirtiest of diapers.
Love is trading in the Camero for a station wagon.

Love is the magic kiss that heals all owes.
Love is a cuddly kid in a blanket sleeper.

Love is the first kick, first smile, first laugh, first step, first anything.
Love is your child pointing to a picture of Christie Brinkley and saying “mama”.

Love is your child sound asleep, any child sound asleep.
Love is a macaroni necklace.

Love is wearing the macaroni necklace to church with pride.
Love is a peanut butter kiss, a syrup kiss, a chocolate kiss, any kind of kiss.

Love is when Bert & Ernie replace Robert Redford & Tom Selleck as your most admired men.
Love is not worrying about those few extra pounds cuz they make you more cuddly.

Love is knowing how to get out amoxicillin stains.
Love is a bouquet of dandelions.
Love is the smell of a baby’s neck.

Love is saying no at the right times when it is easier to say yes.
Love is saying yes at the right times when it’s easier to say no.

The soldier stood and faced his God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining bright
Just as brightly as his brass.

“Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you turned the other cheek?
To my Church have you been true?”

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
“No Lord I guess I ain’t
Because those of us who carry guns
can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays
and at times my talk was tough,
But, I never took a thing
That wasn’t mine to keep…

Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t I’ll understand.”

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints often trod
As the soldier waited quietly,
for the judgment of his God,
“Step forward now, soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well,
Come walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in HELL.”

- – - written by Joshua Helterbran

Oh, mothers, so weary, discouraged,
Worn out with the cares of the day,
You often grow cross and impatient,
Complain of the noise and the play.
For the day brings many vexations,
So many things go amiss.
But, mothers, whatever may vex you,
Send the children to bed with a kiss

The dear little feet often wander,
Perhaps from the pathways of right.
The dear little hands find new mischief
To try you from morning ’til night.
But think of the desolate mothers
Who’d give all the world for your bliss.
And as thanks for your infinite blessings,
Send the children to bed with a kiss.

For someday their noise will not vex you.
The silence will hurt you far more.
You will long for the sweet childish voices,
For a sweet childish face at the door.
And to press a child’s face to your bosom,
You’d give all the world just for this.
For the comfort it will give you in sorrow,
Send the children to bed with a kiss.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.