I just had to wish you all a Merry Christmas

As we read the words below and contemplate what they really mean, it is overwhelming!  Wish I had the ability to have the song play along with it, but alas, that is something I have not learned to do.
   
   



Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?


Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?


Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?


This child that you've delivered
 Will soon deliver you.



Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?


Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?


Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?


And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God.




The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb





Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?


Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?


Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the Great I Am


   
   
   

May the true joy of Christmas
be with you throughout the year.

I'm feeling my age, ladies.....

On the tenth, the morning we left for our cruise, I tripped and had a terrible fall.  I proceeded on to the airport and caught my plane.  As the day progressed, my misery intensified and consequently, I spent most of my week in my stateroom---first on ice and then on heat.  Needless to say it was a very long week, and I longed for home. 

I have been home now for eleven days and last night was the first night I was able to sleep on my side, so I'm so thankful for that!  (I don't sleep well on my back)

Anyway, these last eighteen days have been a time of reflection for me as I have sat and endured the very slow process of healing.  I have made some decisions that will make me sad, but I have come to believe that they are best for me.

I am leaving this blog, but will be keep my card blog open.  Believe me, when I say, that the friendships I have gathered through you, dear fellow bloggers, have been precious to my soul.  I plan to continue to follow all of your blogs.  I may not always comment, but rest assured, I am reading your posts and am being blessed by them!

I hope that you will feel free to email me or call anytime.  Please do. 

I didn't finish writing my spiritual journey in depth,  as I had planned, but much of the end of the story is here.  If you skip down about half way, you will learn the "rest of the story"!

This has been a great "ride" and I've gleaned so much through blogging, but it is time to spend more time in the things I have often neglected in the past few years.

So I say good-bye from blog land, but hope to continue the friendships which I have with so many of you.

I'm off to see the world!!!!

I interrupt the saga of telling my spiritual journey to let you know that I'm on my way to the Mexican Rivera for a week on a cruise with three ports of call.  I've been there at least five times, but always enjoy the ship, visiting the towns, and just relaxing.


This is a small group this time--my daughter Tammy, by brother and his wife, and me.  We'll have a great time.  We're all game players, so I know we will be having fun with that.  I always have books to read along, and Tammy and I are both in different Bible Studies, so we will have to carve out daily time to work on that so we don't fall behind.  I enjoy sitting by one of the huge windows in any of the lounges and just drinking in the greatness of the ocean when we are on the high seas.  Those times alone are wonderful for reflecting, praying and praising!!




Thanks to all of you who have been praying specifically for my back to hold up.  It has and it is!!  I'm praising the Lord for that!!  I'm really looking forward to the sunshine, not cooking any meals, and having all of my temporal needs met--even having my room cleaned daily and my bed made for me!!  Awwwww--I tell you, its the life!!!  : )


Two years ago for Thanksgiving we did this same cruise, only with our kids and the grandchildren and we had a great time.  I will leave you with a few scenes from same area, 2007!

I'll miss visiting your sites!  Until later.......

My Spiritual Journey, part 3--a taste of Heaven!

“We write to taste life twice, 

in the moment and in retrospection” 
~Anais Nin

FAll 1950

Westmont bound

healing begins

I left for Westmont in Santa Barbara that September, glad to escape the terrible grief and sadness which permeated our home after our little David's early Home going.

Arriving on campus was a little like a foretaste of Heaven.  True healing began as I found myself in the arms of a wonderful Christian atmosphere, which bathed me in love, prayer, God's righteousness, and so many blessings.

The friendships I formed at Westmont were deep and still strong today.

One of the things we did at Westmont was sing.  We sang in dinner lines, we gathered in the lounge after dinner and sang, we had 'sings', we went to the beach and ended up singing.  I learned that year that music is a 'balm' to the soul.

Our freshman class song was "Living for Jesus".

As I sang that song again and again throughout that year, the Spirit softened my heart, and I learned to rejoice, again, in who I was in Christ.  I have no words to explain the heights and depths of my emotions that year as I fell in love with Jesus Christ with so much more depth than I had ever experienced!

How could I sing the chorus from my heart

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

without life changing happenings in my heart and life?
 

...and then, there was the first verse which I soon could honestly sing and mean every breath of what I was singing!

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

It was a year of 

beautiful experiences,

beautiful friendships,

beautiful memories,

amazing healing,

and

life changes which have been with me through out my life!

*******
a postscript--today's Daily Bread had this quote at the bottom
"A heart in tune with God can't help but sing His praise."

My Spiritual Journey--through the summer of 1950

You might want to read part 1 of my spiritual journey if you missed it. 

********

Beaverton Union High School graduation

Deadly Accident

Rebellion

Bitterness

Anger

Agony

Grief

My childhood Bible

Its tattered and torn, but it served me well during those 'tween years before college.  The King James Version was the only version I had seen as a young person.  I found it laborious to read, hard to understand, at times, and often struggled with consistency in being in the Word.  During my teen years I look back and see that I was a fairly "pompous" Christian, priding myself on what I did not do, rather than Whom I served!!  I realize now, with hindsight, that I knew very little about a 'gut-level' relationship with the Lord, nor did I have a grasp of what it meant to grieve the Holy Spirit.

I was outwardly pious, but inwardly I was something of a rebel.  I had two vices--one was dragging Broadway in downtown Portland on Saturday nights, and the other was an addiction to roller skating!!

I had a good friend (Christian family) who had no limits put on her and she had the use of a car.  So....I often spent the night with her  where there were no curfews...and we were on the wild side--nothing terrible, but I would have embarrassed my mother if she had seen me yelling out of the car windows on Broadway!!

I graduated from high school in 1950 and  I had my acceptance letter from Westmont College in Santa Barbara.  I was elated over going away to college and excited about planning all I would need to take with me, shopping for clothes, and all the things that go with going out of state for school.  Little did I know what lay ahead that summer....

During the summer of 1950, my adored uncle (my mom's youngest brother), in a terrible accident, backed over and killed his own little four year son.  This had happened at a southern Oregon beach town, so it was the next day that a friend drove them to our home where they stayed for many weeks.  It was the darkest time I had ever experienced.  I remember standing in my bedroom and shaking my fist at God and yelling. "Why? Why? Why?" and feeling such anger at God.  I scared myself!

Until that day, I had never seen my Father cry.  Family gathered at our home waiting for my Uncle and family to arrive.  I saw my big, strong, farmer Uncle (Mom's oldest brother), who came with his family, walk in and stretch out on my parents' bed and sob like a baby.  Later in the day we all received the grieving family into our home, our hearts,  and into our arms.  

Family--what an all encompassing word!  

We huddled close, we wept, we planned a funeral, we viewed the remains of a beautiful little golden-haired child.....and we wept some more.

It was terrible to see my handsome young uncle, who stood 6 feet, 6 inches, reduced to a sobbing confused, childlike man, who had just turned 40!  Even as I write this, almost sixty years later, my heart wrenches in remembrance!  We actually spoon fed him, for in his grief, he could not eat without help.  (My Uncle lived another forty years, had two more sons, but the twinkle in his eye, died with his little David!)

A root of bitterness welled up in me that summer against God, and I was overwhelmed, watching my aunt and uncle trying to mend their shattered lives, as they dealt with grief in a way that I had had yet to experience.

This was my first "valley" experience.  There were to be many more, but none have been quite so raw as this one was.

coming--the college years and healing

My Spiritual Journey, part 1

1932

A Swiss Miss is born

1941

The High Calling

Good News

Born Again

Finding a Well of Peace

Certainty in an Uncertain World

I was the first child of my parents, Bud and Grace. Dad was a grocery store manager and mother was the head of an obstetrics hospital here in Portland. My mother was a Christian, but my father was not. They had married without her parents' full blessing.

When I was four years old, an evangelist, Charles E. Fuller came to our town, Baker, Oregon, for one night. It was below zero, but Mother persuaded Dad to go. He was truly gloriously changed that night as he found the Lord....and his life was never to be the same again. He was so excited he forgot his overcoat, despite the cold temperature.

Shortly after that, we returned to Portland and were part of a body of believers called Grace and Truth Assembly (Plymouth Brethren). After the mornings of worship and preaching, I used to come home truly disturbed over all of the talk about "eternity". In fact, it was the most disturbing word in my childhood vocabulary! "Forever" just blew my mind and I found it frightening to think about.

************

As the winds of war began to whirl around us, the inner peace was driven further away. After letting these thoughts fester in my inner being for several years, one night, long after I had gone to bed, I couldn't sleep, as the prospect of eternity was so overwhelming to me. It was at that time I knew that I was not a Christian and out of fear of the consequences, I got out of bed, went down to the living room and crawled onto my Dad's lap and spilled out all of my fear and unhappiness. My Daddy led me to the Lord Jesus that night and I asked Him to come into my life. I confessed to God, that night, that I was a sinner and needed the Savior....and I was forgiven. My heart was cleansed and set free. Oh JOY! for that little nine year old girl, who had struggled so long about being "left behind". I HAD BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!!

He has held me with an everlasting love from that night on, even though I have been rebellious, have been cold in my heart toward Him, have drifted and have grieved His precious Spirit within, many times. However I have never doubted His love for me. (I have certainly doubted my love for Him over the years, but I have always been secure in Him, although I had a period in my life when I believed that God had turned his back upon me.)

stay tuned--there's more

What's Happening??

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I've just been flat down for the past twelve days with this dastardly back of mine. Today I am feeling improvement and must get back to blogging!

Some time ago, Joanne, at Blessed, challenged us to tell our Spiritual story. I've thought about it a lot--have vacillated back and forth--and have decided to do mine..... in segments.

I had written it out about ten years ago when I was asked to speak to a group of people. I had made a visual to go with the presentation, but rather than use that, I will preface each post with the words I had highlighted in my visual.



So............the next post will be Part I of my spiritual journey. In places it is brutally honest, and I hope I can share these valleys of my life which I've kept pretty close to my heart over the years.

ANGST (my favorite word right now)

anxiety

fear

apprehension

worry

foreboding

trepidation

malaise

disquiet

disquietude

unease

uneasiness

Have you ever known any of these feeling?????

I spent part of my summer under a dark cloud which I didn't talk about much, but every day life seemed darker and darker. One morning as I faced my day, the weight upon my heart was a black burden bearing my spirit some place I didn't want to go.

I was pretty sure it was situational....so I examined the whole thing, delved into circumstances, and came up with two pretty big situations that were burdening me down.

#1 The Speaker of the House had made an announcement about mid-summer, that any one who did not agree with the proposed health plan was unamerican! I took that statement to heart and let it ruminate within...and it did ruminate!!

I had and still have many questions about the proposed health care plan. I have read large segments of it and it left me frankly, distressed. My biggest concern was the speed which it was being railroaded down our throats, without the leaders having read it all, We need health care reform in this country, but my questions were what is the rush, other than to get it through, regardless of errors and what it truly meant to us as Americans.

But the main thought for me was that I have always felt like a good American. I have tried to live right, to pay what I owe the government, have been law-abiding, and very patriotic! Now, I'm told I am not a good American if I question the health care plan. I began to feel oppressed, loss of freedom of my thoughts and in the ability to express them without censure, and I began to grieve for my America. My fickle mind took me down many trails, and I, for a time, forgot Whose I am, I think!

#2 About this same time, some spokesman from the White House, gave out an email address and asked us to report any negative emails we received about the health plan, and from whom it came.

That almost sent me over the edge!!

Is this America.....

or pre-war Germany where school children were encouraged to report their parents if they weren't totally for the regime,

or was this Russia where people were encouraged to report any Christian gatherings to the hierarchy.

I could not believe that such a site had been set up for tattling on one another in MY America! (The site has recently been shut down)


From these two situations, I allowed my mind to take me to the darkest places in thinking where this sort of thing could lead.

However, as I pondered all of this that had been ruminating for several weeks, I realized that I had not turned to the Source of healing and peace, and in getting into the Scriptures I found solace and comfort in the following scriptures.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

and last, but not least.....

Psalms 37
look it up...and be blessed

Gradually, the blackness lifted and I began to appreciate that if and when I have to face terrible trials in my own country, I have to believe that the Spirit of God will give me what I need to face whatever it is. In the meantime, I only have to live moment to moment....and not borrow tomorrow's troubles.

A friend reminded me of this truth...

Time is an instant on the line of eternity.
We are not in control!

This is an account of a real spiritual battle I faced this summer. It was not written with any intent to offend anyone whose beliefs are different from mine. This is an account of my reality....and my peace at last.

I wish the Speaker of the House could have known those
who were born and raised in this farm house
where patriotism was taught, right along with the Word of God.
They were the "salt of the earth".
They were my heritage!

God Bless America!!

Finding My Purse Has Gone to My Head!

I'm still rejoicing over finding my purse whole!

My brother and his wife found a good deal for a cruise, so today I signed up to go with them!!

I think yesterday's adventure has gone to my head!

So..........come October, I'll be sailing off to the Mexican Rivera for a little R and R! (Lord willing, that is!)

Let me show you my home away from home for those seven days.......


Anyone else looking for a good deal, contact me and I'll give you the details!
It is basically a two for one price for the cabin.

The Elusve Purse

Today. I. Lost. My. Purse.

My first errand of the day was to run into Michaels and get a punch I have been wanting with my 40% off coupon. I added a few more things, went through check-out, parked my basket, and went to my car where I tossed my sack of purchases onto the passenger seat.

As I pulled up to my second errand of the day, I reached over to grab my purse......and it wasn't there. I searched the car....and nothing.

It was at this point I began imagining that people were already at my home, knowing it was empty, robbing me, etc. I thought about having to replace everything in my wallet--driver's license, my cards, etc. and I panicked!!

I began to pray--I begged the Lord for it to be back at Michaels some place. I prayed earnestly all the way back.

I first checked the carts--not there. I went to one of the checkers and she didn't know anything about a purse being turned in.

She sent me to another checker. I was still praying, but was getting more rattled as the moments passed.

The second checker said yes a purse was found in an empty basket and she asked me to describe it for her. I immediately said, "It is multicolored with polka dots."

She looked at me strangely, but held up my purse.


I thanked her profusely, thanked the Lord over and over and went on my way rejoicing!

I learned that my brain doesn't work too well under pressure...(well, actually it doesn't work too well anytime!!) and how I ever left my purse in that cart, I will never figure out. (I had taken my car keys out of the purse, obviously, since I was able to drive the car to errand two)

The lesson here is for me pay attention more closely to my actions. I still cannot believe that I left my purse in that basket! I am so grateful that the Lord looked after this old lady in my real hour of need!! I'm just praising him with a smile on my face all afternoon! Wonderful ending to
my carelessness! Thank you, Lord!!

A Letter from Iraq

Sarah is the daughter of a friend of mine. Her Mom has shared her letters with me since Sarah was in basic training over two years ago. She was deployed to Iraq in July as a trained paramedic. It is her first love.....however she has a commanding officer who discovered she knows the computer rather well, and she is currently being kept in an office. Understandably, she is upset not to be doing what she has trained for and loves so much.

This letter came and it was so poignant, in the hymn she shares, as well as her expressed affection for her parents, that I wanted to share it. I think every mother's heart will appreciate this girl's heart for the Lord and her desire to serve him with gladness in all she does. I think most mother's hearts would love to receive a letter like this. I have found Sarah's letters to be so open and honest that I am always refreshed when one of her missiles arrives.

Her letters have kept me remembering what our service people go through in these bleak, desert countries and some of the verses to her hymn certainly describe her situation.

With Sarah's permission, I share this letter with you.

8-14-09
My darling mother,

I love you. I don't think I say that enough and I do. You and Dad have
taught me so much about how to live, how to love and what to value. Because
of you I know how precious life is and how to rejoice when it is good and at
least try to be patient and accepting and as as joyful as possible when it's
not. Thank you.

Tonight I went up to the diving board, "my special place" and I was singing
softly to myself and "Blessed Be Your Name" came to mind. Honestly it comes
to mind often here.

Blessed be your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your Name.

Blessed be your Name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your Name.

Chorus:
Every blessing you pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your Name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious Name

Blessed be your Name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your Name.

Blessed be your Name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name.

Chorus

You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your Name!

A fellow in a different company was hit and lost a leg. One of my buddies
was the medic that treated him. I hate not being able to comfort, I hate not
being able to ease the pain, I hate that the world's not as it should be and
never can be until God reigns supreme! What is it you say? Come now Lord
Jesus! I pray fervently that His healing hand would be on that soldier and
that He would also bring comfort and healing to my friend.

I love you and am so thankful for you! Be Strong and Courageous! Know that I
am in the Lord's hand, I am confidant of that, I hope you are as well!

Always, and eternally, His,

Your daughter, Sarah

Since this letter was written, it appears that her desire to tend to the wounded is going happen.

"I got the word today that I will be allowed to go on convoys. I know this
isn't exciting news to you but I have felt distanced from my fellow soldiers
being at the TOC and having the opportunity to be with them is something I
cherish. I'm not assigned to one for over a month and I won't be able to
tell you when I go out but know that I am in the Lord's hand wherever I am!
As are you, for which I'm so thankful."

I'm back....and I'm a year older!!

Some things I learned this summer as I turned 77!

I thought these were true and pretty cute!

Its important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle!

Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

Age is mind over matter...if you don't mind, it doesn't matter!

You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old!

...and having spent the week with my high energy, almost 16 year old grandson, tonight I am definitely feeling old....and a little out of touch, as I watch his fingers flying over the cell phone texting. I have to wonder what happened to conversation?????

Dad

Although its been thirty one years since I've celebrated Father's Day with my Dad,

he lives on in my heart and mind as if it were yesterday.

He was a man who did not know a stranger and befriended many people over the years. Dad was a soul winner and never failed to share the Lord's goodness to those he met. The consummate host, I can safely say that hundreds enjoyed meals around my parents' table! He loved his Lord, his wife, his kids, and his grand kids.

He was simply Bud Thompson,
born December 20, 1902!

number six of fourteen sibs

left home at age fourteen--didn't see his last sister until she was six

by seventeen he was a sheep herder for my grandfather
packing for a summer in the hills with the sheep

catching fish in those mountain streams in eastern Washington

by age nineteen he was in the army
boys will be boys, no matter the generation they are from

still working on the ranch in 1927--check out those boots!

In 1931, by now a manager at Safeway, he married the sheep rancher's daughter, my mother,
who was the love of his life until the day he died.

By 1932, I was born and he immediately wrote to his Mother about this first baby of his...

"Dear Mama and Folks, Well everything is over and we have a dandy girl looks just like Grace only has big blue eyes instead of brown. Grace is feeling fine and happy as can be. She sure is glad its over. I have a dandy family now. I told Grace as we were going in, that I'd just as soon have a girl. Her name is Joan Claire--pretty name, I think don't you? She weighs 9 lb & 6 1/2 oz--just a small baby. Gee, I sure feel funny. Papa Bud?? I could only look thru the window at her. Grace will come home in about 10 days. I sure will be glad. Gee, I love that girl, both of them.............. Gee, Mama, we sure have a nice baby. I sure wish you were here. Grace is getting a lot of attention from everyone as she has so many friends She sure is a dandy....
Well, Bye Bye from Joan & Grace & Papa Bud

At the time I was born, my Dad was not a believer, even though he had the way of salvation explained to him over and over, he just didn't "get it". In a book that my mother wrote of her life, was one special letter she wrote to her grandchildren. It recorded a day in my Dad's life she never forgot and she wanted the grandchildren to know the story.

She wrote:
"This is one thing I should tell. It was the one event that made the greatest change in our lives. Bernie was 18 months old about. It was Armistice night, November 11, 1935. Mr. Charles E. Fuller came to Baker, Oregon for one night. Grandpa went with me, because I wanted him to go. That night Mr. Fuller talked about the Ark, and God shut the door--Grandpa said he knew that he was not inside the Ark. He accepted the Lord that night, asked forgiveness of his sins and Joan and Bernie had a new father, a new man in Christ. What a difference it made in his life...and ours. He had only one desire for each of you, that you would be saved. I do pray for each one of you every day. I do want you to please the Lord, and live for the Lord, if you belong to Him--Always remember what a real man of God your grandfather was. I always wish he could have been with us longer, because of his influence on our lives, but he was here long enough to leave his mark if we think about it. My blessings on you, and remember, "Only one life, twill soon be passed, only what's done for Christ will last. Your grandmother"

mid life was here before we knew it

the unruly curls of his youth settled into a nice wave

The years passed so quickly. Two more babies would be born to this family, Dad opened his own grocery store in Beaverton, Oregon and eventually became a broker for a large gourmet company, from which he retired.

a vital, busy man until the end

and finally the last picture of him, taken that summer at Manzanita Beach

His love for children never ended. I am privileged to have called him 'Dad,' thankful my children called him 'grandpa', and grateful always, that one night, when I was nine years old, I sat on his lap and he gently and firmly led me to the Lord.

I had a good father, not polished as some are, but a diamond in the rough, a vessel through which the love of Christ shone for many years, and a man, who one morning, after Bible reading with my Mother, without warning, simply left us, at age 75, to enter into the arms of the One he adored, his beautiful Saviour!

I rejoice in the father I was given, not perfect, but he loved us..and the older I get, the more I rejoice and am thankful for all that this father I called mine, provided in my life.

I miss my Dad, even after all of these years. I know I shall see him again--what a precious thought!

And with this very long post, I bid you farewell until fall--please don't take me off your lists--just let me drop to the bottom. Lord willing, I shall return with renewed time and energy in September.

Friendship

I'm back.....and I'm older!!

Some things I learned this summer as I acquired the grand old age of 77.

Its

A little "lovey" joined our family today!!

This was a day of blessing, answered prayers, lots of emotions, joy, thanksgiving, and rejoicing as we welcomed this wee little fellow into our hearts and families!

This is Cole Christopher, nestling on his Daddy's chest. He was born at noon today and weighed 7 pounds and 15 ounces! He is 20 inches long and an absolutely beautiful little baby boy!!

Cole and his Daddy.

I have a cute picture of the Mommie, but she looks so weary in it, that I decided not to include it. I will say that she looked beautiful, with wonderful color in her face, and was a sweet picture of new motherhood!

For the ladies who like the details, they got to the hospital, at midnight, (pre-arranged). She was given something to soften things up. She stayed at a 1 throughout the night without contractions. At 6 am her water broke, contractions began at 7 am and by noon baby was here. So I would say that a six hour process was wonderful for her with a first baby.
She never had to have the "pit" drip which was such a blessing!

So....it was a reminder, once again, of the miracle that is called birth.

We rejoice tonight for the goodness of God's hand on this marvelous little boy

and his safe delivery.

His Mommie and Daddy have no idea, yet, what a love affair they are embarking upon!
They are blessed....and so are we!

The Masche Miracles are Turning Two!

On June 11, the Masche sextuplets will turn two. They will also be starring in a new series called Raising Sextuplets on the WE channel. There is a cute web page on the WE channel site with lots of cute pictures, announcements about the new series, and some preview videos of the programs.

This morning the family was on the Today Show. There are some darling pictures, and a video if you explore the site a little. I lifted this picture from the site. (I wonder if that is legal??)
Since Jenny went back to work full time, she has not had time to send pictures like she did for a while. There are plenty of current pictures on the two websites which I highlighted above.

She still e-mails me, tho, with news of the family. They are a dear young couple whose purpose in life is to glorify the Lord Jesus as they raise their little ones in Him. Their reality series will not imitate Jon and Kate! It will be an honest look at two parents raising six little ones in today's world with all of the problems and challenges most young families face.

I am soooo looking forward to watching the series. I've been so impressed with Jenny over the months of cyberspace friendship we have shared. I have fallen in love with those sweet children.
...and for those who know me well, you know there never has been a baby I did not fall in love with!! So.....six of them is pure joy!

Because I did a huge post last year for their first birthday, I get a large number of hits daily on the Masches. So......for all of those looking for news about the sextuplets, I shared this post today so all who are interested can enjoy the new series on the Masche Miracles!!!

I hope the next time I post about these little sweeties, I will have seen them in person, been able to love on them, and enjoy a real face to face time together. ( a trip is in my future, Lord willing.)

Getting ready for summer

For Mother's Day, daughter Tammy gave me a certificate worth five hours of her help! What a gift for me! She did all of the planting for me, which is such a blessing.

A couple of weeks ago and I got my hanging pots at the nursery. They are unusually pretty this year, I think. The first one is from my son and his family for Mother's Day and I loved the pink of the Impatiences and was able to match the colors in the remaining baskets.

The sitting pots are all planted and dispersed around the yard and patio. This one is a sample. I will have to retake this picture in one month and we'll all enjoy how nature will have grown it!
This hanging wall planter is one of my favorites. Here it is close-up!
I have been in the process of organizing, tossing, etc. in my craft room.
It is slowly, but surely, getting done. I do run across things I forgot I had, so I have had to stop and make things along the way.

Below is a box I made, filled with cards, for a friend's birthday.

I had some ladies in for a birthday luncheon for my friend on Sunday, so had the box by her place at the table.
Having this luncheon was a huge boost for me psychologically, as I don't entertain much anymore because of my unpredictable back. I was thrilled to have it go off with very little discomfort and feel ready to try it again.

Always when I use my Mom's china, I feel close to her. I used one of Mom's recipes she often used for the many luncheons she used to have. My friends all knew my Mom well and it seemed right to use her things for this special group of friends!

Update

My doctor's nurse just called me and said that my CT scan showed no nodules present!! Isn't that amazing? I feel like I have had a wonderful answer to prayer. Thank you to all of you who prayed for me. Truly I am rejoicing. I had decided that I probably had the same lung disease that my Mom had, Pulmonary Fibrosis...not for now, at least.

Now on to new posts in the days to come!! ...and continued organizing!! which is coming right along. The trouble is I run into something I forgot about and stop and make a card, or a decorative box, or something which sidetracks me!

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!!

X Rays and other things

You know I am really scraping the bottom of the barrel with today's subject. I often think if I was still teaching and in the middle of raising my kids, I would have so much to write about..but those days are past..and so here I am....living a fairly quiet life without too much happening. (and loving it, I should add.)

For the past two months I have had a dry, involuntary cough, which has been sooooo annoying! After seeing the doctor on Monday, he sent me for a chest x-ray, and put me on a five day antibiotic. I thought I had had a miracle cure, until this morning when I woke up coughing again with a vengeance!

I received a call from the doctor's nurse this morning telling me that the chest X-ray revealed several nodules on my left lung and I need to have a CT scan, so I will have it tomorrow.

You need to know that I am a worrier plus!! In my mind this morning, I have had myself undergoing a lung biopsy, making decisions if I will allow surgery or not, wondering how I will tolerate Chemo, if "this" is what will take me. All borrowing tomorrow's troubles, of course.

My mother used to say, "Sufficient unto the day, is the trouble thereof."

So....I've explored all the options, have laid it to rest, and am waiting for the antibiotic to kick in and cure me of any spots in my lungs! (that is my hope)

These little blips in the road are wonderful faith builders for reminding ourselves of Whose we are and in Him our days are ordered.

So now, with all of this off my chest, I'm off to continue organizing my office/card room. I LOVE to organize!!

Thanks for listening!

Errands and Observations

Yesterday, as I set off to complete my list of things to do, I made my first stop at Radio Shack. I went in for a battery for my phone, my car key 'thingie', and my garage door opener, and a cheap new phone for my bedside. This turned into a twenty minute stop as my clerk wanted to sell me the store!! I nicely turned down the more expensive phone with all the bells and whistle I didn't need, turned down the insurance policies, rejected his suggestion that I get a new phone to replace the phone for which I was getting a replacement battery. We even had a discussion over my cell phone and what he could do for me with one of theirs. I finally thanked him and escaped to get to my second stop.

My favorite scrapping store was next on my list. The owner is always so helpful and always answers my questions and knows exactly where to direct me for some of my favorite papers. As I visited with her and took her ready help, I couldn't help but remember that this dear woman eighteen months ago, held her eleven year old son in her arms as he died, as they were rushing him to the hospital with flu symptoms. I marvel at her grace and sereneness after all of this...and I admire her courage to carry on and her faith in the Lord which surely must be the reason she is able to even breathe!

She shared with me that she has a little grandson whom she adores. I rejoice with her for this child in her life. She showed me an adorable little scrapbook she had made for him. I liked it so much that I bought all of the trappings to make one!

After quick stops at the post office, the library, and Craft Warehouse, I was finally able to reach my final destination of the day---lunch out with my current book!!

And that is when I observed something which I hope isn't a new trend. At a booth across the room from me was a darling young couple. I glanced their way a couple of times when I saw what was occupying them. He had a laptop propped open on the table in front of him and she was totally wrapped up in a conversation on her cell phone! throughout their whole lunch!

Such is the electronic age! I guess I am way more comfortable with my nose in a book....but I don't think I've done that yet....if I have a companion with me!!

..and so my day went--interesting and productive!

Off the subject.....the Roadies are blooming and the sun is shining!

A Triumphant Week comes to a close....for now!

Some things I learned over the past few days...

In the phrase, "the old young people" the operative word is OLD!

Being raised in a marvelous, Godly, extended family was a blessing beyond measure!

I did not know my heart could be so full of love for all of my family.

I did not know the depth of thanksgiving with which my heart overflows .

I did not know the Peruvian flag could make such a beautiful center piece
when interspersed with gorgeous red geraniums!


Perhaps, most of all, I am learning that saying good bye to these precious friends, cousins, saints, and examples of Godly living, will be very, very hard,
as they plan to finish out their lives in their beloved Peru!
(I am hoping we can talk them into one more trip home....)

Saturday, May 2, 2009, Eastgate Bible Chapel, Portland, Oregon

I learned that time goes by so fast.
How did my dear cousin Jane and I get from this picture

to this one???

"Life at best is very brief, like the falling of the leaf....."

I know I have lots more to learn.

I have learned that life is a school with many
lessons and many blessings
along the way!

Here are a few pictures from the Open House on Saturday.

The honorary doctorate degree and the cap and neck piece
which hangs down the front of the gown.

Newlyweds, in 1949!

Interesting articles, pictures, and mementos on a bulletin board.

It was a wonderful afternoon, with a lovely program of remembrance. There was a video made, which I know I will enjoy watching.

...and I, who never allow my picture to be taken, had it taken twice!!