If I Had My Life to Live Over

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck?
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).?

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it...... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us!

It's a Boy!

After three years of enjoying an empty nest…of eating dinner when we want…of staying inside where it’s warm instead of running a hundred errands for an active teenager…of watching what I want on TV…of no dirty socks on the floor…of cold Pepsi in the fridge I don’t have to share, we are taking the plunge into surrogate parenthood again.

Earlier in the week our friend from the International Student Exchange called and asked if we would be interested in hosting another exchange student. She told us first about a boy from Japan but then said a girl from Austria also needed placed. Once I got used to the idea, I started looking forward to taking the girl.

You see I have no experience with a girl. We have a son of our own and have hosted four boys from around the world—five if you count the boy from China who stayed 10 days while waiting for a flight back home. Then I got to thinking about all the things I’ve missed by not having a girl. Prom and homecoming would take on a whole new meaning. Finally someone who understood the importance of shoe and purse shopping. I might even get some advice on what to do with my hair.

I was ready to paint over the tired old blue in my son’s room and buy new linens for the bed when my friend called back. The boy from Japan will be sharing our home for the next five months.

Sigh. Another boy.

But I’m beginning to look forward to the adventure. Even though I love my peace and quiet in the afternoons and never having to tell a teenager to turn off MTV, I miss being a MOM. A teeny tiny part of me even misses the dirty socks on the floor. One of the truly exciting parts is that the boy has never attended church but is open to the experience. I would’ve enjoyed hosting a girl, but I believe God put this young man in our lives for a reason. I pray this experience will have a positive impact on his life. An impact far outreaching anything I can imagine.

I know it will impact mine.