Funeral for Homeless

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a
funeral director to play at a graveside service for a
homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service
was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back
country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and,
being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally
arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently
gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only
the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.
I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I
went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault
lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so
I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather
around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no
family and friends. I played like I've never played
before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing
Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all
wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and
started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was
full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers
say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been
putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently I'm still lost....

My cousin sent this and I thought it was too funny!!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

28 years ago I had a one day old beautiful baby girl. She was born after an emergency cesaerean section where she and I almost lost our lives. I had heavy anesthesia so the first night she was born Al had to help me hold her. She was a tiny little thing, 6 pounds and 12 ounces but she was perfect in every way! You could see from the beginning her curiosity. She has never been one to just go with the status quo, it has to make sense to her. She is my strong willed child. Even as a toddler she made decisions that were worth a butt whooping to her. During her early toddler years she had to deal with alot of illness from me. One time I told her just wait until your Dad gets home and she said "I don't care." and she didn't, it meant that much to her. She found her place in this world and no one was going to "make" her do anything that she didn't want to or that she felt was incorrect. Al's Grannie became Alanna's second Mom. Alanna would brush her hair, play stewardess for her and generally just have fun. When Al would bring her to the hospital to me she would try to take out my IVs and I could hear her screaming all the way down in the elevator. I would just lay and cry at what I was missing. Alanna is a very loving child and felt like her place in this world was in mine or Al's lap. As much as she was my baby she was just as likely to be found under the school bus with her Dad changing the oil.




She is a very intelligent young lady and decided by second grade that she was going to be Valedictorian in High School. Her second grade teacher thought that would be wonderful and asked her to remember her in her speech. Alanna was valedictorian but at her High school they didn't give a Valedictory Address.
She grew into a beautiful Christian young woman who knows her worth in Christ but I don't think she has ever really realized her earthly beauty. I know I am her mother but the girl is gorgeous and when her eyes light up, everyone melts. Her commitment to her Savior has been evident since she made it. At one time I thought she was called to women's ministry but God uses her everywhere she goes and she is open to His work.
She is now a wife and mother of her own 2 precious girls. I know that she is having some of the same feelings that I had and that warms my heart. She is an awesome mother, wife, and daughter and I thank God for blessing me with her.
I love you Alanna Kelley