Wedding this weekend

I was at a wedding this week end it was quite an unusual experience. It was the first time I attended a Sikh wedding and my friend Kamal gave me a Sari to wear. Many times I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer for the couple to come to know the love of God in full intimacy with Jesus. As I approached the temple I was a little intimidated with the circle of men in black with red hankies wrapped around their heads. Not many wore turbans. Fortunately Kamal had her phone of vibrate and she came to rescue me and guide me in to the boys side (the grooms side) .I was in awe of the dazzling colors, extravagant silks with lots of bling, bling , bling! I starred at young man with a scarlet turban and decorations whom she informed me was the groom and the lady across, was beaming and highly decorated with jewels on her forehead and I took her tattooed hand in mine and thanked her for allowing me to share the celebration with her and continued babbling as I told her she was the first Sikh bride I had ever met! She let me know that she was not the "bride" just a sister in law to the groom and the wedding planner. Blush. Oh well, she really was gorgeous. The room smelled of warm curry and spices as we were ushered on up to the "great hall" where we would sit on the floor in our bare feet waiting for the long ceremony to begin. Children giggled and whined and ran wildly around the room, crossing from the boys side (where all the men sat) to the girls side (where we were) this proved to be a bit of a game with the parents caught in the middle (like Keep a Way)...or catch me if you can! Smile.
Other sights and sounds: arms with bracelets to the elbow, making tinkling sounds every where, sons leaning back sleeping on their proud fathers chests, girls dancing around the room with silk scarfs flowing, strangers and non Indian folk trying to keep the scarf on their head (including men) line up of people paying tribute, and filling a trough at the front with money and gifts. A Bible being fanned with a large white plume, and what seemed like an eerie sad sounding music from strange instruments and drums. Every one seemed so sad. The processional started at last, my back was starting to ache and their are only so may ways to sit with your legs under you until they cramp. We, the non Indian, were out of shape, they sat cross legged and seemed quite comfortable...even the grannies! The brides maids wore gold and green, the bride wore green, and wedding party was followed by large groups of people, family and friends I assume. They couple sat on the floor cross legged and got up and walked in a circle four different times. There was no 'now you may kiss the bride" but she was tenderly passed along by the male attendees from one to the other and to the groom, whom she followed obediently behind holding on to his coat tail, or so it looked. And he carried a red sack, apparently with a coconut in it so that if she wasn't pleasing him he could crack her on the head with it. Seems a little brutal however I am not sure if the person telling me that was kidding or not. I was naive enough to believe it, but now as I think about it no doubt it was probably jewels or money??
The evening celebration and the dinner following the wedding and the other 3 days of celebrating are for another blog! Pictures to follow.#end

Friends and Frogs

My faithful friend who watches our series Maralee Dawn and Friends sent me this e mail today.

How do you rely on God for your every need of life that may come your way of living in today world?  In  my 2 & years  with my  type of  Cancer  Melanoma ''SKIN CANCER'' I have rely on God to help me get through this hard time  of my life and  I trust in God  every day of my life.

In my room I have this stuffed frog and a frog blanket on my bed to comfort me in the rough times. When I go to the hospital for treatments I take my frog and my blanket in my suitcase with me.

Thank you Lord of this reminder today that I have so much to praise you for and teach me to learn to Fully Relay on you...and that takes a big leap, like a frog. Smile. Thank you for the gift of today. My heart is full and I am so blessed. I am learning to rely on you. Forgive me for my petty complaints and forgive me for my trespasses as I learn to forgive others who trespass against me...or whom I feel have moved into a place and challenge what I feel are my "rights". I surrender my "rights to you Jesus". I am a servant of all. Please teach me to see others through your eyes and to serve as you did when you walked among us. Amen. And Lord bless my dear friends, our viewers who are tuned in to our show. Bless them with courage, and love on them please Jesus. Like this letter has blessed me.

It is so Funny I have to LOL!!

OK so I just finished blogging and then realized that last week I already shared that story ! Yikes it must be that menopause thing everyone is talking about! How can it be? I thought I would skip it!
When I was much younger everyone was talking about preparing to go through menopause so I asked my mother in law about it and she said she was busy on the farm planting big gardens (for survival) raising seven children, haying, plucking chickens, canning etc etc. She told me she didn't have time to menopause, in fact their were no pauses in her life, summer, winter spring or fall.  So I determined way back then that I would skip it too, I just don't have time for the "pauses in my life".
Well today I guess I need to pause, reflect and well...perhaps take time for listening prayer. Big blush, big smile.

My Wonderful Family...sigh and a big smile too!

When children choose to focus on the positive things in their family what a  joy it is and how it blesses the hearts of their parents! I recently received this heart warming e-mail from one of my regular viewers of our Maralee Dawn and Friends TV series, I was so delighted I asked permission to share it with you...be blessed!
I cut and pasted it just as it was sent except for the few words that I placed in brackets.
Dear Maralee
I want to tell you about my wonderful family.
Who has been a great part of my life growing up?
I have a wonderful father,mother,brother David and my wonderful sister-in-law, my 3 nieces, one nephew, who has encouraged me to be a great listener,and to tell them about my life,and about Jesus who cares for us. My family is wonderful to be around, they are very understanding,and very helpful to be there for me through my trials of impatience of going down to M D Anderson (for chemo treatments). My family is the best of the best,they are so caring and so understanding to help me get through my rough times of my life.
The reason why my family is great because they know how to love you no matter what happens they can help you to relax and be patient about your situations of your life.
I am so thankful for my family a loving family.