This is Ian and his roommate for the past 6 years, Houston. He is from Dothan also, but the boys did not really know each other during high school When Ian heard Houston was going to Samford, he called him and asked him to meet him for lunch. They then made plans to room together. At Samford, you have to live on campus unless you are married or your family lives in Birmingham. Somehow, Ian managed to get them assigned to the same room, and their great friendship began. They pledged the same fraternity, Sigma Nu, and managed to stay roommates for all but 1 semester. They moved out after graduation, and into an apt. They then started another 2 years of grad school.

It has been a blessing that these 2 boys have hit it off so well. Houston is quiet…Ian is not. But, they tend to balance each other out. They have the same kind of families and were both brought up going to church and learning important family values and morals. They have looked after each other thru sicknesses these 6 years, and have studied together, played together, partied together, and cleaned house together….but not too much of that last one.

And, so, it has been a BEAUTIFUL THING to watch their friendship grow into a strong and lasting relationship. His Mom and I were talking yesterday and we said that we both felt they would be friends for life. We both agreed that we had been blessed tremendously that they had had each other for 6 years…God worked it out and gave them both a Christian friend to lean on. They are going their separate ways this week. Ian is moving back to Dothan to begin learning more of our family business, which will one day be his. Houston is going to work with a firm in Birmingham. But, they are managing to have 1 last fling. Next week, they are taking a road trip up thru NC, Washington, DC., Boston, New York and Maine…or as long as their money holds out! But, then…they both have to face the real world! And the contribution they make will be significant! May God bless them both as they begin their careers. May they always put Him first.

And, they are both so handsome…that’s a BEAUTIFUL THING, too!

Donald and I with Ian today at Graduation. Do we look proud, or what?

This is my youngest,Ian, who will graduate on Friday with his MBA in Business from The Brock School of Business at Samford University. He has worked hard…played hard…and has met his goal. I am so proud!

I tell you today a sad, sad story of how one woman slid down the slippery slope of pitiful purse use. I’m betting she has a sister in your town.

She bought a purse back in 1995 for $6.99 and 50% off, and she is using it still! And she’s going to use that bag every day of the year…maybe for the rest of her life. In the sweltering heat of summer, the cool fall weather, the snows of winter, and the sunny springtime….she will be clutching this purse. She just ignores the fact that the bottom and one side are no longer the original light tan…they are covered now with car floor dirt, restaurant floor grime, and a little restroom floor yuck! The other side is covered by a large red stain that happened when she tried to open the little ketchup packet at Dairy Queen. Of course, that helps to cover the large cola stain that was left when the baby sneezed with a mouthful of Diet Coke. And even though at one time the shoulder strap was attached with two bright, shiny almost gold rings, a diaper pin works just as well to replace that one that broke. And, to her credit, it does match the other almost gold ring now that it has taken on a dull, gray patina. But, to her credit, she has tried to dress it up a bit with her collection of key rings….including the green rubber frog whose tongue lashes out whenever you squeeze it, and the one that is shaped like granny panties and says ‘put on your big girl panties and deal with it’…along with the replica of the juke box that plays ‘Stand By Your Man’…and my personal favorite…the one designed like a giant nickel, which, when opened, contains 4 lip glosses including Bad Baby Brown, Pink Punk Princess , Rockin’ Rosy Red, and Luscious Lady Lavender. The key chains all jingle and shake as she walks and occasionally, passersby are serenaded by a little Tammy Wynette…but, hey, the kids can always locate her if they get separated. Now, she’s way too busy to take the extra time necessary to change purses, and so it goes with her to work, to church, to her niece’s wedding and to great Aunt Sally’s funeral. Unfortunately, this bag may soon be cited for being a health hazard. She keeps an extra diaper for the baby in there, and just exchanges the good for the bad. There are enough p-nut m&m’s, squashed milk duds, and assorted Mentos to provide a nice little snack for the kids. It’s too bad that the plant Little Johnny potted for Mother’s Day dumped over in it on the way home from school…the candy may taste a little gritty now. And all that soil is going to get under her fingernails when she goes diving for the cell phone. Oh, and that smell? No one has ventured to look, but I’m thinking it may have something to do with that Easter Egg they never found.

If this description matches anyone you know…it is up to you to do the right thing.
Quick! When she’s not looking…grab it…take it home…and burn it! Or it may be safer if you just called the Hazardous Materials Disposal Team!
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DISCLAIMER: It is possible that this almost true story may contain a few exaggerations…but, most facts are presented just as they were seen by a highly reliable witness…who knows a thing or two about purses…and lots of other stuff.

THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS………..

This reminds me of a song I sometimes use with the kids at school. The title escapes me now, but some of the words are…”If you wanna be great in God’s Kingdom…you’ve got to be a servant of all…”. Wise words.