Does anyone listen to their vows now days? Do they take them seriously? I have actually heard young people voice that they can get married and so what if it doesn't work they will divorce. Wow!  Any divorce is heart breaking to me, but I find it less so if both spouses agree that they want to end the marriage. But even then I would pray that both parties have given it all to make it work before throwing in the towel. Then there is the abused spouse and to that I say no one should stay in a situation where they are getting beat up. One of the most heart breaking of the divorces is where a third party comes in and breaks that marriage apart. And by third party I mean an affair or even an in-law that does not like that spouse. That is where forsaking all others may come in. But the most heartbreaking of all is where there are small children involved.  Children are shipped back and forth between ex spouses and the new person. Even if it is intended or not children figure out what has happened with the family. They are torn between loyalty to the wronged parent and the parent who has split their world apart. Income is split between two homes which reduces the children's quality of life. Do children deserve this? I don't understand this. I love my husband and children more than I love myself. My mother taught me this and was reinforced by the sweet old pastor that counseled us before our wedding and then married us.They both said that if you don't love this person more than yourself then don't marry him .  Selfishness is not a pretty quality to bring to a union. My marriage was not, nor is it now perfect. We work at it everyday. I believe what happens in a lot of marriages is that people let their anger get out of control. Anger is a natural response, but what we do with it is our responsibility. I once heard of a divorce because the wife collected unicorns. Hubby hated them and resented the money she spent on them, so he divorced her. That marriage may have worked if that husband had of stopped his anger before it turned to hate and tried come to a compromise with his wife. Nine years ago I found myself in a hospital bed with a life threatening situation and my precious mother had passed away the day before.  I came out of that a changed person. I promised myself that I would try to do what my mother had always done. Try at all cost to salvedge the family she loved so much and do what I always wanted to do which was keep the peace. So much for keeping the peace. I recently decided to offer advise to a much loved nephew.  I only decided to do this because one month before I saw him and his wife sending I love yous on face book. Suddenly he had an affair with someone who knew he was married. (now I am not using names here) But the wife was shocked she didn't know her marriage was in trouble.  She is heartbroken and angry and has every right. But here is the big thing there are two small children in this marriage. But anyway the attacks started from someone in the family who did the same thing. Now I may not have expressed my opinion in the best way. But never the less I feel I have the same right to express my beliefs as anyone else. And by the way this was already advertised all over face book.  I was told my daughters divorce was brought into this. And yes she is divorced and the two of them are Christians and are heart broken that this happened to them.  They are working on resolving the problems that brought them to this point in their lives and may someday revisit the marriage. And the big thing there are no children involved. To any of you that was offended I did not mean to do that. I have and will treat all new spouses with respect. We each answer to God on our own deeds.  I am very passionate about family and offer no apologies for that.  I love you all.

My sweet sister Ruby is having a pacemaker put in this morning. She is such a wonderful person and has always shared freely of everything she has. I remember her  home canning extra every year so she could share with people who needed it. Not just her family but anyone she knows. She loves her husband, children, grandchildren and greats fiercely. She has always been there to help anyone who has needed it. Please pray for her now and after surgery. God Bless, Patty

So much has happened to our family these past few years.  Jessica is 35 now and Joe jr is 33. Jessica married a guy she had dated off and on for 8 years and she was engaged twice. Unfortunately the marraige was filled with problems from the very beginning. Things that neither one of them could do a lot about and they divorced after a year. But they are still trying to work out there problems and perhaps revisit the marraige later on. They both are christians and don't really beleive in divorce (which makes it all the sadder). They also don't beleive in marrying someone else until one or the other are deceased. Oh well with God and time things will prayerfully get better. Our son has a sweet girlfriend in Holland and they someday hope to marry.  God bless, Patty