Has the last 15 years truly been the best decade & a half of my life?
The "City of Eternal Spring" Medellín, Colombia is where I met my precious wife!
It
seems appropriate that on the 15th Anniversary of my marriage to Martha Luz
Jaramillo Bustamante that I share how my favorite love song fits us very well!
"How‘Bout Us?" by Champaign has been my favorite love song since I was in Ross Elementary School in Creve Coeur, Missouri.
Some
people are made for each other
Some
people can love one another for life
How
‘bout us?
Some
people can hold it together
Last
through all kinds of weather
Can
we?
The
LORD created me for Martha Luz & Martha Luz for me. It is more than obvious
as in the midst of so many tough times which sometimes made us cry, JESUS
HIMSELF has loved me through Martha Luz & it is even more evident that the
more intense physical pain that I have dealt with over the years, GOD has given me HIS Grace,
Hope, Joy, Love, & Peace through my precious wife Martha Luz.
I
am not ashamed of admitting that I can’t do it alone anymore as I had 31 years
of that & even though I consider myself having done fairly well to make it
through the difficulties that all of us encounter in our lives, I almost feel
like my Sweet Heavenly FATHER knew I needed to be married to Martha Luz so that
I would have that helper to complete me!
Much
of my physical troubles may never be totally known to anyone other than me or
Martha Luz but I can tell you without a doubt that there has been a strange
feeling which never was felt by me when I was single that I desire to be strong
for her when I need her to be strong for me.
Those
of you who are still single, enjoy it but know without any doubts that having
someone who makes up for what you lack is amazing!
A few of my strengths are her weaknesses but there are many areas where I am
weak or still not mature & Martha Luz is strong!
Rod
Tate is an amazing Jazz Musician & his CD "True Love Never Fails"
was playing before our wedding & during our wedding reception at the
Orquideorama in the Jardín Botánico de Medellín, Colombia & if you
click on any of the blue links in any of my blogs, you should go directly to that link
& this last one is the website of the Botanical Garden in
Medellín, Colombia where we got married fifteen years ago!
I
honestly can say that Rod plays the most soothing music I have ever heard. I am
looking forward to getting both of his new CD’s "Blessed" &
"Peace" as I am always blessed when I am filled with peace.
Check
out Rod Tate's Website or enjoy one of Rod's videos "Always & Forever!"
The
beginning of this 16th year of marriage finds us in Key West, Florida as we've now been house parents at the Florida Keys Children's Shelter since the end of June.
I
basically cook, drive the children where they need to go, play with them as long as my energy level allows me as she does most of the cleaning which is a full time job to say the least & has been working so hard to turn the house into a home that is safe & full of joy & peace.
Some of the things our sweet children have experienced are not fit for adults to go through let alone a precious newborn to a 10 year old child & it is a challenge to encourage them to make choices & not let circumstances control how they behave.
"While
we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what
happens inside us." — Benjamin Franklin
I
have come to a point in life where I totally understand what Benjamin Franklin
was talking about. No matter what may come our way we may choose to be filled
with Hope, Joy, Love, and Peace.
What’s
so amazing to me is how I have learned to control what happens inside of me
when everything around me sometimes seems to discourage or frustrate me.
What’s
the secret?
"Love
is kind & patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't
selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal,
hopeful, & trusting. Love never fails!" — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8
"There
is no more lovely, friendly & charming relationship, communion, or company
than a good marriage." — Martin Luther
"It
is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy
marriages." — Friedrich Nietzsche
"Nobody
deserves your tears, but whoever deserves them will not make you cry." —
Gabriel García Márquez
"The
difference between a lady & a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how
she’s treated." — George Bernard Shaw (My Fair Lady)
"A
wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance & tenacity. The order varies for any given year." — Paul Sweeney
"We
love the things we love for what they are." — Robert Frost
"Let
the wife make her husband glad to come home & let him make her sorry to see
him leave." — Martin Luther
Here's what you've missed if you haven't read any of my blogs over the last year!
1/9/2013 — Life's A Journey!
1/25/2013 — Why Smile?
2/2/2013 — A Letter From Your Heavenly FATHER!
Share this blog!
Here's what you've missed if you haven't read any of my blogs over the last year!
1/9/2013 — Life's A Journey!
1/25/2013 — Why Smile?
2/2/2013 — A Letter From Your Heavenly FATHER!
11/24/2013 — Cry!
11/29/2013 — Sleep Tight!
12/1/2013 — Why Not You?
12/7/2013 — Adoption Is Another Word For Love!
11/29/2013 — Sleep Tight!
12/1/2013 — Why Not You?
12/7/2013 — Adoption Is Another Word For Love!
