A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.' The father Opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence...
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Take my Son.....
Monday, February 01, 2010
Deputy Do Right & Miss Sunshine 2010
Thursday, January 07, 2010
The gift of LOVE!-How often do we overlook such a priceless opportunity
Five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive
Gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even
More upset when the child used the gold paper to
Decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.
Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to
Her mother the next morning and then said, 'This is for
You, Momma.'
The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction,
But her anger flared again when she opened the box and
Found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh
Manner.
'Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a
Present there's supposed to be something inside the
Package?'
She had tears in her eyes and said, 'Oh, Momma, it's not
Empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full.'
The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put
Her arms around her little girl, and she begged her
Forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.
An accident took the life of the child only a short time
Later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box
By her bed for all the years of her life.
Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems
She would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss
And remember the love of the child who had put it there.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Sometimes it pays to be sick =)
Joey bought me these beautiful flowers when I wasn't feeling well this weekend. When I woke up, there they were on the bed. What a great, thoughtful, the most precious husband ever. I love you babe.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Why there were no gyms in the 50s and 60s!
Who needed 24 hour fitness with this kind of excersise!
Come on Pentecostals, we can't let them out dance us!!!!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Our sweet little home!
Kitchen Before 
After
Master Before
After 
Living Room Before
Cookie Night @ Angel's!!!
This is the first time these girls have ever made cookies, aren't they the cutest?! 
AH Lexi, having fun??!!
COOKIES!!!!
Tam n Lexi
Lexi n DakotaWednesday, September 09, 2009
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
May 21st, 2009, My dream come true~
I haven't posted in so long, life has been so busy, and I don't have a computer ( working on that though) I'll try and post more photos in the near future. Miss everyone so much!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Life, Love, and laughter
Yesterday was my last and final day of Optical School!!!!! I took my final and passed first try!!! Yee Haw! Joey had been in training for the last week and had taken his final and got off early and was already at home and showered when I got there. My teacher had let me leave early, which was nice since they were just watching a movie, and we decided to do something fun and out of the norm. We have been so wrapped up on trying to act like adults and get things done like responsible people, and its been work, work and no play for awhile and it was showing!! We have been up tight and boring to put it simply....Jo had me close my eyes and let him drive, which was so nice....we pulled up to Miwalk Park and I guessed first try =) We had such a blast!! We swung on the swings, ran through the tunnels and slide down ropes, did a few monkey bars which proved more than we wanted to know, and got great shock on the slides we actually fit down! Then after all the excitement we went for a beautiful walk by a small stream and just enjoyed each others company and the excellent weather! It was so nice to just walk and talk with my best friend and make yet another wonderful memory!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
AIN'T....................
He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
A bird's nest in a tree overhead,
A neighbor watched his zig zag course,
'I've been to Bible School ,
'M'm very fine way,' the neighbor said,
Quick as a flash the answer came!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Christmas Eve 2008
Front of locket
Back of Locket
Inside of Locket-I opened it on the ice and the picture dropped
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Signing in from beautiful Canada!!
Yesterday I flew into Calgary, Alberta and was welcomed with -22 degrees C and a warm hug from my butterfly Angie! I was rushed over to Merrily's house by Momma Holmes where we surprised Courtney completely!!!! After moments of her just standing there with her hand rubbing her cheek, she finally wrapped me in a HUGE hug and just sobbed and sobbed....It was the most incredible experience and I am so thankful for "family" that has helped to make this moment possible! 
Ang, Court and I talked Johnny into letting us use his truck=) and we spent the evening freezing at the Festival of Lights walk-crazy person who suggested that one lol...then we headed over to the Chocolate Bar for hot coco and ice cream! lol Ice cream in - 20 weather which is like -1 degree F for you American folks! Crazy as we are!
It was an awesome day and I am having a great time!!!
PS. I MISS YOU JOEY!!! and Jackson!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Purple Iris
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
My Thanksgiving Story
This year at Thanksgiving, my sisters and I went to our mothers house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick. She told my sister that she needed something from the store. When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, and inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird. With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, "Tamsen, you've cooked a pregnant bird!" At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry. It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
My New Baby!
