Christmas started off on a great note. Carol-Ann had called me in the morning to wish me a Merry Christmas, we made plans to exchange gifts on boxing day. We then headed to my dad's, everyone showed up, it was quite a houseful,but it was a lot of fun. Dinner was perfect, there was a lot of laughter and joking around by the kids. We left my dad around 7pm, all I wanted to do was go home and relax. The day was perfect, around 10:pm the phone rang, I looked at the caller I.D. and wondered why Carol-Ann would be phoning at such a late hour. I picked up the phone and said "What's up?" it was Brian ( her husband) on the other end not Carol-Ann. He asked me if I was sitting down? I said "yes", he then told me that Carol-Ann had passed away at his mother's. I didn't believe him, after all I had just talked to Carol-Ann that morning. And she sounded great, and she told me she felt great also. She can't be gone, I kept saying to him, "No" this can't be true. Brian finally convinced me it was true. I've been crying off and on since that phone call. Carol-ann and I had been best friends for 35 plus yrs. We had done everything together, I was always there for her and she has always been there for me. But now she's gone, life is going to be different without her. I am going to miss her each and every day. I'm not going to ask the question "Why"? I know that she will not be suffering anymore. I'm mad at her in a way, we had made plans to grow old and to have fun while we did it. Brian is going to call me again today to let me know about the arrangements. I know how hard it's been for me, so I can only imagine what her family is going through. This was so sudden, so unexpected, but carol is not suffering anymore. She won't have to go to dialysis anymore. She won't have doctrs or nurses poking her anymore with needles. She's at peace now, I just wish I could talk to her one more time.

Carol-Ann I love you and I will miss you each and every day.

I spent most of my day cleaning my house and listening to AC/DC at full volume. Which the dog did not appreciate at all, guess my rotty isn't an Ac/Dc lover like her owners are. I then switch to letting my CD just shuffle the tunes so I could listen to a little bit of everything this evening that I loved...And a "certain" song came on that made me automatically think of my daughter "Becca", or as she is known on here as "Becky". It was a song by Hall & Oates "Everytime You Go Away", now this song came out when Becca was about 4 or 5, and I use to play their music constantly, so often in fact Becca learned the words to this song. Well, it was her version, which I preferred and would sing with her. The words to the chorus are...
"And everytime you go away
You take a piece of me with you.
And everytime you go away.You take a piece of me with you, you"
But Becca would sing and (she could belt out this song like a pro)
Everytime you go away you take a piece of me with you....
Everytime you go away don't forget your kids today.....
I never had the heart to correct her, after all it became "our" song to sing together. I have no idea why I am writing about this in my "Blog"...For some reason it just seemed fitting, Becca was at work today and called me a couple of times. And she will probably have a few words to say to me after she reads this "Blog"......But I know she will have a little smirk on her face when she thinks back to the days when she and I use to sing her version of the song.

Hi Babe..
Have I told you lately that I love you?......Well if not let me say it now..I Love You!!! Every minute that I spend with you I cherish...
Every glance..every touch..every smile that you give me I cherish...
You have become my world..my sanity and my sanctuary..I only dreamt that I could meet someone like you..and I truly believed that you only exist in my thoughts..But then you came along and all my dreams and prayers were answered..And now I am at peace and happy..my life is complete with you in it.I do not want for anything more in my life,except to spend it with you...Have a great day at work...and a great night teaching school.
All My Love
Jewels

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, Let It Be
And in my hour of darkness, she is standing, right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, Let It BeLet It Be, Let It Be, Let It Be, Let it Be
There will be an answer, Let It Be

Written and performed by The Beatles

One of the more classic and timeless songs of the Beatles is Let It Be. As I was busy trying to upload all my Beatles CD collection into my computer into WMA (Windows Music Audio) format, I came across this great classic song and listening to it once again in a tumultuous time in my life gave it a new and different meaning as it offered great consolation.

When it was such a huge hit in my teen years, I memorized the lyrics and sang the song perfectly in tune with Paul. Now as I listen to it once more, I realized that this magnificent song is so therapeutically powerful with its timeless message and offered good spiritual advice to the disheartened soul.

As I read through another "blog", it suddenly dawned on me that there really comes a point in time in everyone’s life why we question the way things are and where it eventually leads us to.
The unavoidable negative forces of frustrations, doubts, struggles, pain, suffering and hurts are part of normal everyday life experiences. Without them, there can be no meaningful purpose in our mundane existence. Irrepressible though they may be, they importantly provide great catalyst for character refinement building and contribute to our soul enrichment process.

When certain things don’t go our way, we start to question everyone including God why these things are happening to us. Why is it that we are quick to find the answers elsewhere, when we actually need to first find the answers within ourselves?

Psychologists say that people undergoing tragic or devastating life experiences go through the five stages of denial, anger, resentment, bargaining and finally acceptance. I myself isn’t an exemption as the more I go about questioning the reason for justification of certain unacceptable events, I realized that I’m only delaying the process of resolute acceptance.

But know this for sure, everything that happens here on earth, surely there is a time and purpose in heaven. Whatever it may be, it is the best it will ever be as God wants it to be.

And so as I reflect on the meaningful lyrics Let It Be, Let It Be, Let It Be, there will be an answer, Let It Be, I’ve come to the realization that the best way to deal with life is to Let Go and Let God work His way in our lives. When we live our life according to His Will, God will take care of it and bless it accordingly.

Faith is your resolution for it is done according to your faith. Hope is your aspiration of things to come, for it is what keeps us going. Most important is love, for it is what defines us, our relationship with God and to others. For only in loving others and God are we able to define the true character that we really are.

Historically, Let It Be was another number one hit song for the Beatles. “Let It Be” conveys a potently powerful and timeless spiritual message in a classic soulful melody. For to let things be done according to God’s will, one must have unwavering faith, eternal hope, defining love and above all complete trust to enable Him to work His miracle in our life.

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me.
Shine until tomorrow, Let It Be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, Let It Be

Yes there will be an answer, Let It Be.

Thank you Mother Mary, thank you Paul and thank you Beatles.

The following is a piece of one of the, many "spam" or "scam" letters I get on a daily basis. I use to just ignore them,but because I am getting so many of them. And "they" are now bringing the "Lord"& "Religion" into them, I am now replying to them with the following letter. If anyone can think of any other way of dealing with this "low life" please let me know.

To Whom It May Concern:

Please don't insult my intelligence by asking me to believe your story, or help you in anyway. This is a scam which is against the law. And please DO NOT tell me that this is on the level. I feel bad for the people that do fall for this "B.S". such as the elderly the poor & the lonely. In fact a lot of the web sites and email sites such as "Hotmail, Yahoo, Explorer,etc...etc ask that if you are getting this type of scam letter to report them. I think you should be reported. And I think I should be the one to report you. So with that said and decided, You have a very nice day!

From Mrs Rebecca Willian.

Greetings in the name of the lord!

Dearest,
My name is Mrs Rebecca Willian a nationality of Kuwait. I am married to late Mr. James Willian who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year Octorber 2003. We were married for twenty years with a child. He died after the illness that lasted for long four days.
Before his death we were both born again Christians. When my late husband was alive we deposited the sum of $18.5 Million USD with one of good banks here in Cote d'Ivoire. Presently, this money is still with the bank. Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to my cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.
I want a person or church that will use this fund to churches, orphanages, research centres and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I have a child that will inherit this money but my son can not carryout this work only because i and my late husband decide to use some of the money to work for God and live some for our son to have a better live. our son is just 17yearold now His name is Jacob and been grow up in africa,he have low manterity and my husband´s relatives are not Christians and I don´t want my family hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers.
I don´t want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going to. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I don´t want any of my husband family relatives to recieve this money, Because of their wicked heart and their ungodly.
With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Finance/bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the new beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I live a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church or Christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here.
My son will be in position to answer your phone calls, because i have been adviced not make phone calls by my doctor, because of my health and my doctor said i can only make phone calls when the atmosphere is very cool so that it will not affect my health condition, I have told my Son Jacob very thing about the fund, He is very obedient child and i know he is a gift from God, He has been on my side all this why encouraging me with all his strenght i love him so much, our
telephone is +22509126307.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Awaiting to hear from you.
Mrs.Rebecca Willian.