Bible Study is over for the year.

I am completing my fourth year of inductive Bible Study using Kay Arthur’s study guides. I have fallen in love with this method of study, and especially love the marking on our study scripture pages and the note taking on our observation worksheets.

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Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25

Weren’t those wonderful verses with which to close our study of I and II Peter and Jude?

You can double click to see the pages better if you choose.

We learned so much this year--so many reminders of character qualities, warnings of false teachers in the end time, promises of what is to come, and the glorious promise of Who He is Who keeps us and will one day cause us to stand in His very presence.

Indeed, to Him be glory, majesty, dominion and authority in all areas of our lives for now and for eternity!

Enlightened Perspective

NOT by Andy Rooney,

as I was told....Snopes says so--still good, however!

My comments, if any, will be in blue.

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
That's a nice thought....
I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.



I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
There's nothing like an honest affirmation, is there?

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
Especially when he is your first grandchild and only twenty minutes old!(I am sixty pounds lighter today!)

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.as well as the nightly baseball games in the summer with all of the other dads and kids.

Those were the days!!

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I'm learning that day by day!! One week melts into the next!!

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
Amen to that! I know that from experience!

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
That's so true! flowers bursting into bloom, a child running with arms up to be taken, a sudden shaft of sunlight breaking through the clouds, finding a little head on your shoulder for a cuddle when you are reading to him/her...and millions more

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. Sometimes its sure hard to get by the shell....

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds. so true

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am. Well, I think most people around me are smarter than I am, so I must be growing!

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.


I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away. I've thought that thought over and over again in the last eight years......

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I think this is one of life's hardest lessons to learn!


I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life. Oh my, but this one is true. Just breathing the smell of that little head snuggled on your neck starts the addiction!! and you never get over it!

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.


I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
I achieved so much more with my time when I worked full time and had a house full of kids to care for, than I have in the last eighteen years of retirement!

That's it for today, folks!! Have a good one.

Snow at the Beach

This is a sight you don't see very often here in Oregon. Today chains were required to get to the Northern Beaches. This picture was sent to me from a friend, who knows the guy that lives in this house at a Southern Beach.

Our weather has been crazy. Yesterday we had hail storms, thunder, lightening, and torrential down pours of rain.

We Want SUNSHINE!

But then I remember.............

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Sunshine always follows the rain eventually!

Oh, My Achin’ Back!

Having been plagued with upper back pain for the last thirty four years, and since I am just finishing up with a seven day acute phase, its on my mind....so bear with me!!

When it is acute, I suffer. When it is chronic, I am thrilled.

Much of the time I control the pain with a TENS unit which sends electrical shocks to four patches which I place on my back. This is supposed to “scramble” the pain messages to the brain. Well..................sometimes it doesn’t work. I pump it up to level ten, my back and shoulders jump in protest, but, alas, it doesn’t do its job.

This looks like my unit, only I use square patches. I own three of these machines, and sometimes wear two of them (8 patches) when my pain level is past bearable.

The acute phase is awful! I just hunker down in my “nest”, turn up the heating pad with a wet cloth on it,don’t move to avoid the spasms, knock myself out with muscle relaxants and pray for the pain to abate. (Pain meds do not work--doesn’t even phase nerve pain)


I become a little more intimately acquainted with my family room, every time I have a flare-up, My view from the “nest” follows................

 I wish I felt more like reading, better yet, using the cookbooks!

A nice fire would be nice........too much work

I watch too much television during these times--Fortunately a friend brought me the first series of Tale of Avonlea, which turned out to be a great bunch of simple little stories and helped pass the time.

Since 1988 I have been with a pain-management clinic and they have sent me to every kind of specialist, had many tests, x-rays, bone scans, mri’s, cat scans, you name it----I’ve had it.

I’ve had botox injections at the site, facet injections, trying to kill the nerves with radio waves, facet steroid injections, and a trial implant for a spinal cord stimulator. All have failed and I’m through exploring further avenues. Prior to this latest episode, I went six weeks relatively pain free, and had eleven days not wearing my TENS unit which is a record!

Today this latest acute phase is winding down and I am thrilled, looking forward to getting back into “action” and thankful it is a new week beginning. I am learning to “be thankful in all things”, to count my many blessings, and rejoice with pure joy on the days that are pain free.

This week, Lord willing,

Monday, I will have my weekly lunch date with sister, Carol
Tuesday, Bible Study and errands
Wednesday, care for two little boys to give their Mom a break
Thursday, lunch with my sibs and spouses, since brother, Bernie, is in town
Friday, to be announced

So, in the scheme of things, these flair-ups are just blips on the timeline of my life, but I do fret against them when they happen.

Sorry to be sharing my bad back woes, but it is such a big part of who I have become, and it is very much on my mind today and the last few days, so........

Tomorrow will be the beginning of many good days to come, I trust.

The Old Spaghetti Factory on the River

Entrance

On the sixth, we celebrated the three April birthdays, Cristin, Leah, and little Ben all celebrated their birthdays together. We were at a long table together and enjoyed a nice view of the river, as well as the lovely antiques, many from England.

Here we are! I'm the matriarch at the end, working on my iced tea.

Scott, son Tanner, and Ben, the birthday boy.

Ben, who is 10.
Willamette River in the background with Oregon Grape in full bloom.

Afterward, we were all enjoying the sunshine and the view of the river, and a man and a little boy walked by me and said, “How nice to see a family enjoying one another like yours is.” I told him we always celebrate all of the birthdays and holidays, so we see one another pretty often.

This is a marvelous bike/walking path which stretches for miles along the river.

The man's comment started me thinking of the word Family and some of the facets it covers.

relatives--by blood, by marriage, by adoption
nearest and dearest
extended family
informal folks.
• a person or people related to one and so to be treated with a special loyalty or intimacy

Isn’t Family really just a group of people brought together and bound by love?

I think it is.

......on the lighter side

Some people just have too much time on their hands!!

I cannot credit anyone with these. I do not have a clue who did them.

REMEMBERING ERIC--4/8/08

an adoring daddy

a loving husband

a wonderful friend

a beloved son

Eight years ago today, Eric was killed instantly in an accident in which a teen age driver crossed the line on a curve. Eric was thirty nine...

I first met Eric in 1992, when he was thirty two years old, had been a widower for three weeks, and had just ended up with two critically injured boys as a result of an auto accident...

Nicolas, Eric’s little boy, became my little sweetie as I began visiting and spending time with him for months during his hospitalization. During this time, I came to know and love the older son, Charles, also.

I am so thankful that Eric asked me to stay and be part of their lives when the boys finally left the hospital.

Eric’s family became my family of the heart through many tears, lots of laughter, wonderful hugs, yummy meals together, prayers, warm fellowship and endless medical appointments!!

Getting to know Eric's extended family from Wisconsin was a real plus. His french parents are so darling....and so loving to everyone. The day they arrived after the accident, as the three of us stood embracing one another, Jean-Claude, Eric's dad said,
"Oh this is so hard....yet we know that our God makes no mistakes". They have continued to be a tower of strength for Eric's family.

a beloved son

Eric and his parents, Denise and Jean-Claude

For seven years it was my joy and privilege to know and love Eric. There are so many precious memories from the hours we spent together.

an adored daddy
Eric, Nicolas, Baby Paul, Charles

I was able to watch Eric develop from a young man overwhelmed with grief in his life, to a happy, mature man, secure in his circle of family and friends, and rejoicing in the love of Helene, (whom he married three years after the boys’ accident) and their three boys.

a loved husband

a new family is born

Today I remember Eric as a wonderful friend, a young man who had faced tremendous adversity, who amid laughter and tears, was under girded by a deep and abiding faith in Christ. He often spoke to me of his faith.

I remember one evening Eric, Helene and I were in a deep discussion about God and where He fits into the tragedies of our lives--Eric stated so clearly and simply that night,

“I have no bitterness toward God.
My faith is in Him and I do not question why.”

His simple eloquence spoke deeply to my troubled heart that night. Those words took on new meaning in the days that followed as we dealt with Eric’s early home going.

I miss so many things about Eric...

being able to phone him to just chat or get a problem solved

watching his ceaseless perfection in any work that he undertook

stopping by his store with Nicolas after a west side doctor appointment
and seeing Eric's eyes light up when he saw Nick,
drop what he was doing, and come running to swing Nick up in his arms.

his thrill over hamburgers that he had cooked to perfection on his grill

his heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving before we shared a meal together.

listening to the laughing and talking that went on
with son, Charles as the two of them cleaned up the kitchen after dinner

his many affirmations which he so freely gave

and the many conversations we enjoyed as an extended family

But, most of all I miss seeing him enjoy his boys as they continue to grow and mature. He loved each of them deeply and so often said, “Joan, I’ve got the greatest kids in the world!”

Nick, now 17, Charles, now 25, Paul, now 11 and Eric, with the Lord

I shall always be grateful to God that Eric was part of my life. I have been richly blessed because I knew him.

I continue to be blessed because his family remain precious to me.
I am their "Grandma Joan".

I like that.

People are treating me like I’m elderly!

In the last few days, I’ve had several people go out of their way to help me or try to help me.....I know it must somehow appear I need help....but I don’t really. Last night I was in Office Depot and bought two packages of printer paper. The cute little gal who waited on me, asked me if I was sure I could take them to the car. I assured I could and stilll she said, “Can’t I get someone to help you with those?” I graciously declined her offer and made it to my car without incident.

Today I had a test on my leg arteries. I had to sign in at the office for that sort of thing at the hospital. The lady who registered me asked me if I would need a wheelchair as the “vascular lab is a long ways”. I smiled at her and told her I was fine. I assured her I was a pretty “tough old bird!”
I had my map in hand when I got on the elevator. Immediately a volunteer (who really could barely walk himself) kindly asked me if I needed help to find my way to the lab. I thanked him nicely and told him I thought I would be fine. He didn't believe me. He walked me almost half way there to be sure I didn’t get lost!


Arriving at the Lab, I was greeted by a nice nurse who asked me first thing if I would like to have her order a wheel chair for when the test was over in an hour??
I'm thinking, "What is going on here?"

As I was changing for the test, I had a few minutes to take stock of me!! I’m still 5’7”, I walk with a pretty good stride, my outfit is in style, my hair is fixed properly, I have on a little make up, I still know my name.......My hair is white--that’s the reason!! -- but not really -- My hair has been white for ten years!!

I’ve had time to reflect, today, on this gradual phenomenon that is taking place in my life. My body, my stance is certainly changing as the aging process begins eroding. Will I know when I need help? Will I be gracious about accepting help? I trust that I will.

The hardest part of this aging process is still feeling like I’m eighteen in my mind!! Somehow I have to bring the mind and the body into subjection to one another!!

Today I’m more determined to stand a little straighter, to walk a bit each day, and to ride my recumbent bike more regularly. I think there are a lot of miles left in this old girl....but in any case, I know the One with Whom I have walked for sixty five years will be my Guide, my Comforter, my Friend, my Counselor, and my constant Companion!!

When I was eighteen years old, I received a letter of welcome from the Student Body President for the year, 1950-51 at Westmont College. He closed his letter of welcome with the following words which have stayed with me always.

“Remember, we walk hand in hand with the One Who
created the world with a word!” David Needham