What I am about to share has little political relevance. It is simply a candid expression of my gratitude and a testimony to how anything can happen in this glorious experiment called America. Posted on 12/25/2009 7:42:36 AM PST by Lloyd Marcus
What I am about to share has little political relevance. It is simply a candid expression of my gratitude and a testimony to how anything can happen in this glorious experiment called America.
Last Christmas, because I was selected by my congressman to decorate an ornament for the White House Christmas tree, my wife Mary and I were invited by Laura Bush to a reception at the White House.
The White House sent me a six by six inch silver plastic ball with specific instructions. The theme of my design must reflect my state (Florida) in a red, white and blue color scheme. Also, the decorated ornament must be returned by a specific date in the same box in which it was delivered to me.
My design was pretty neat, if I do say so myself; stars, palms trees and water all done in thousands of tiny beads. A great bead artist, Jenny Shibona, implement my design.
Artists across America selected to decorate ornaments were invited to the reception hosted by First Lady Bush.
Getting through security took awhile, but not too long. The White House was wonderfully decorated, each room more beautiful and spectacular than the other. The food and desserts were delicious and elegantly presented including a white chocolate replica of the White House.
Mrs. Bush's three hundred or so guests enjoyed Christmas music played by a young soldier on a grand piano. I asked the pianist if she knew “The Christmas Song” and could I sing it? Amazingly this courageous trusting young pianist invited me to sing as she accompanied me. Judging from the applause, we were a hit. Wow, my first unofficial performance at the White House.
Shortly after my performance, Mrs. Bush made her grand entrance. Everyone flocked to her as a chorus of cameras flashed. Laura delivered a charming speech thanking us artists.
The staff photographer took a picture of each artist and their date/guest in front of the official White House Christmas tree which was later mailed to us.
The waiters had a very polite way of informing us when the reception was over. Waiters stood in both entrances of the buffet room. When guests tried to reenter, “Excuse me, this room is closed”.
Mary and I left Washington DC and drove to the hills of West Virginia to visit her parents.
After a lovely few days with her folks, we prepared to fly home to Florida. Mary's mom's computer was broken so we could not download our boarding passes. We were forced to drive10 miles to Mary's sister's office to use a computer.
To get there, Mary's mom instructed, “Take Grassy Lick Road”. As Mary drove the extremely hilly and winding road, we kept losing the radio signal. So, we turned the radio off. We didn't see a single soul; only small farms, horses and black cows eating grass. “Oh honey look, there's a deer” yelled Mary. Then we saw two, and two more, five deer in total.
A slight chill was in the air. We smelled someone using their fireplace. When we finally reached the main highway, we realized that beyond the acknowledged deer sightings, we hadn't spoken our entire cruise down Grassy Lick Road. We rode in silence enjoying the subtle sounds of nature. Mary and I almost simultaneously turned to each other and said, “Wow, was that awesome or what!” That little detour was so beautiful, relaxing and peaceful.
What appeared to be a negative, her mom's broken computer, turned out to be a lovely little gift from God. I'm learning to view more of life's detours in a more faith filled light.
Our years of struggle since quiting my job in 1993 have forced Mary and I to grow up. In our youth, we were ungrateful and arrogant; funny how hardships teach you gratitude. We have acquired a greater awareness of blessings; not just the big blessings, but the small ones like Grassy Lick Road, a supportive phone call when you really need it and winning the bid on eBay for that perfect gift for a friend. We have also learned that true happiness is found in surrendering to God's purpose for our lives.
As we enter this holiday season, Mary and I are extremely mindful of how far we have come thanks to God and being blessed to have been born in the greatest nation on the planet.
I am looking forward to continuing my “Million Handshake March” while on “Tea Party Express III Tour: Just Vote Them Out”, which launches March 27th. I can hardly wait!
Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year!
LloydMarcus.com
Tea Party Express III
Merry CHRISTmas fellow American. You are truly a blessing to all of us.
Merry Christmas Lloyd, Mary and fellow FReepers!
(thanks for sharing your personal experience/testimony Lloyd)
Have a Blessed Merry Christmas....great photo!
On this blessed day, where we celebrate the birth and life of our Savior, and rejoice through giving, let us never forget He who is the author of not only our salvation, but of our mortal and immortal liberty as well.
In the true conservatives country there are no hyphenated Americans, only Americans.
Thank you Lloyd Marcus for all you do for all Americans.
Merry Christmas to all.
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours, God Bless you all!
Thank You for sharing a moving and lovely experience. You write as beautifully as you sing. May God Bless you,your family,and the U.S.A.in the years to come.
Love your signature, too. Do you know Mason Weaver? He champions your sentiments on that one.
Dashes don't bring ANYthing together - dashes separate people. The ONLY dash ANY of us should care about is the one after the year we were born
A blessed nativity to you and yours.
Thank you Lloyd Marcus! Merry Christmas!
(Just as a parenthetical note, how far away that last Christmas seems from this one...where the WH tree is decorated with Mao ornaments.)
Beautiful christmas ornament Lloyd but not as cool as the chairman Mao or Hedda Lettuce
wonders,eheheheh. God has given you gifts to share with us all in these challenging times. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010.
Merry Christmas. Thank you for your courage and outspoken love of America. Can’t wait to read your book.
“We have also learned that true happiness is found in surrendering to God’s purpose for our lives. “
I spent a long time wondering what my purpose was on this earth...and wandering....
I started sending care packages to soldiers. . Was that the plan for me in the grand scheme of things? To make a small difference in a hellish existence.
I wondered...and decided ..just maybe that was it.
I was at a casino in November and playing on their bonus money they had given me. I said to myself..while playing a slot machine..that whatever I won I would send extra to soldiers. Due to retailer deals at Walgreens and CVS my biggest expense is postage but decided I would get a few extra goodies like Cigars etc.
I had put in about 20 dollars along with my bonus money.
When I was getting ready to walk away with my winnings...I hit for 1000. I didn’t pray to god to let me win. I had just said to myself that is what I would do.
A couple more times the same thing has happened at the blackjack table with a bonus bet.
Is God intervening through gambling???
Well, I wouldn’t go that far..(some would say that is a sacreligous thought) .but it has been an eye opening experience for one who was a bit ambivalent about religion.
I have a better ability to surrender to the plan....all because of that $1000 for the troops that was spent on some soldiers who get no support from home.
Mary Chistmas Lloyd, God has given you as a Gift to US.
Thanks Lloyd, MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and Mary and thanks for being such a great leader of the TEA PARTY.
At Christmas -- a lot of people think about a cute little baby Jesus or a very nice man who said nice things to people, was uplifting, and healed a bunch of people...
What people really need to remember is that there's this "big bad Jewish fellow" out there, who's showing up soon, sorta unexpected, and he's "looking for bear" and is gonna open up "the biggest can of whoop-ass" you've ever seen in your life, on a bunch of people here on earth. LOL...
However, many fail to understand -- but they will "understand" when the Messiah of Israel returns to this earth, sets His feet on the soil of this globe, and sets up the ruling authority -- the one-world government -- that He puts into place over all nations, including the United States.
He's the Messiah of Israel, that He is coming back to earth, to set up a one-world government, with His headquarters in Jerusalem, ruling over all the nations of the world, including the United States and will rule over all who are still alive (from who are living right now today) -- and that He will definitely scrap the Constitution of the United States and make Himself the supreme ruler over all that we do.
The "day of reckoning" is coming for all of those who are trying to take over the world and put it totally under their control in an evil one-world empire. And they do admit that they want a one-world government -- their government, not God's...
When the Messiah of Israel comes back to this earth to set up His one-world government and subject all the nations of the world to His authority and rule -- He'll be making real short work of any of those yahoos...
And you can be sure that He will be utterly destroying anything to do with any of these yahoos, since whatever they say and do is a total perversion of anything to do with the Messiah of Israel.
And for sure -- we all, in this world, need the Messiah of Israel back, here on earth -- to destroy this coming one-world government and to install His own one-world government in its place.
I'm looking forward to the coming Kingdom on earth and the one-world government that the Messiah of Israel will be setting up, after He destroys, by His own hand, the present and evil one-world government that we see forming right now.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born.
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Our oldest son was married today, and that was precisely the subject of his Uncle/Godfather's sermon!
Thanks for sharing those memories! Hope you and Mary had a Blessed Christmas, and will have the very BEST of New Years!
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