Free To Be Me...

It's So Good To Know

2012-01-18T17:38:00.004-05:00

I've written two posts on church attire and didn't plan to writing any more...but today I read an article in Christianity Today that blessed my soul! I'm not alone! I'm not crazy, stubborn and old fashioned...!
Clothing Matters: What We Wear to Church

Why what we put on may be more important than we think.

Duane Litfin

I don't have permission to copy parts of the article or I would. I just hope some more folks will read this and take it to heart. It's a little long but it's easy reading, especially when you agree with the author! I do. It's so good to know I'm not alone. Oh I know I'm not. I had a couple printed comments agreeing with me. I've also had some folks agree in person, so I know I'm not alone but we're in the minority.

Lord, I praise You because You are worthy. Help me to live my life in a way pleasing to You.

Dress Part II

2011-12-11T17:20:00.001-05:00

In my last entry I wrote my feelings about dress today in the church. No, I only wrote about weekdays not Sundays! That's a whole nutter subject! I received one comment. One. It was in my favor, except I think he was writing about Sundays. So what does that mean? Well, it means I can write another blog on the subject. This will probably be my last one.

The main point was why does the business world maintain a dress code and the church doesn't. I don't know what good it is for me to get back on my wooden crate and present my feelings again though because I'm sure none of my pastor's read my blog anyway. But this is my blog and I'll write what I want! So there!!!

The pastoral staff is an educated bunch of people. The business world is an educated bunch of people. So where is the difference here? A dress code versus no dress code. I just don't get it.

I know I'm not alone here but few folks are willing to speak out. I was chatting, with a long time friend, on the phone one day. We had a good time reminiscing. We hadn't been in contact for years. Just before we hung up he asked me a question. "Does your pastor dress up for Sunday morning?" I told him honestly, "Sometimes, but not always." He proceeded to tell me how his pastor dresses - jeans, t-shirt, etc. Thank goodness my pastor doesn't dress like that. In fact yesterday he had on a white shirt and tie! He looked very professional! "Thank you, Pastor."

Pastors claim they want the people to accept them as regular folks. Of course they are regular folk but they are also called of God to a position of teaching, instructing, performing sacred rites: weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc. It is a privileged position.

Have you read in the Old Testament how God clothed the High Priests? Exodus 28 and 29. God gave specific guide lines on what they were to wear. Now I know that was thousands of years ago and we certainly don't expect our pastors to dress like that. But the fact remains, the priests were called of God and our pastors today are called of God. They are set apart. So why don't they dress like a professional person called of God? Instead they want to dress like any other person. But they're not any other person...they are called of God.

We had the next highest person, in our denomination, come to our church to speak one Sunday a few years ago. We arrived at church a few minutes early, as usual. I greeted the guest speaker and then smiling, said, "I see you've joined the ranks of those who now dress down on Sundays." He was wearing slacks and a tight polo shirt. He replied, "Yes, I tried to think how the people here in your church would be dressed and I came dressed accordingly. Oh, I have a sweater in my car I could put on." Before I could even reply he was on his way out to get his sweater which he put on, but truthfully, it didn't help his appearance in the least.

Don't pastors know they are looked up to? Or don't they want to admit they are looked up to? Yes, they are human, they make mistakes, they put their pants on like every other person. But they have been called, set apart, by God. It's time we lay people stand up and say: dress the part. It matters.

Lord, I rest my case. I praise You because You are all knowing. You know my heart. Help me to accept what I can't change. Thank You for our wonderful pastoral staff. Help them to see how much more effective they would be if they were completely obedient to You and dressed according to their calling. Yes, I believe it does matter. Help me to live pleasing to you. Help me now to move on and do what I can to be supportive of our pastors.

Dress

2011-12-03T09:46:00.001-05:00

I'm so confused... Why is it that newsmen, coaches, businesses, etc. all have dress codes but pastors and their wives and newswomen don't. I just don't get it. In fact, why don't they want to dress nicely?

I look and feel so much better when I dress for an occasion. I used to work in schools, homes and businesses as an ESL tutor. I would never go wearing old clothes that look like I've been working out in the yard. I didn't dress up but I looked decent.

When I walk into the church office on a week day and see pastor's dressed like they've been working out in the yard, I'm surprised, disappointed and disgusted. What's wrong with wearing a pair of khaki pants and casual shirt? I don't get it.

On Sundays the worship team look like they're up there for rehearsal not for Sunday worship. But what can we do? Nothing. If we complain it does no good.

Businesses have dress codes. We, as laymen, pay our pastoral staff so why can't we impose a dress code? Well, we just can't. But I don't understand any of this. Am I alone here in my disappointed thinking?

Lord, I praise You because You are All Knowing. Forgive me if I'm being picky here and have the wrong attitude. Thank You for our wonderful pastoral staff. Help me to understand. Help me to accept these new ideas about dressing...if I'm wrong. Help them to see the error in their thinking...if they're wrong. I love You, Lord, because You are Sovereign.

My Heart Hurts

2011-12-01T18:57:00.001-05:00

Today I heard of another friend dying of cancer. Her husband will be getting help from hospice very soon. She started out with breast cancer a few years ago and despite treatment it spread. Her own mother died of breast cancer 46 years ago today. She was a dear friend of mine. She left a husband and three young daughters. Now the oldest of the three girls is dying of breast cancer. She and her husband will soon be celebrating their 31st anniversary, but Cheryl only has a few months or less to live.

It's only been a couple of months ago that another friend of mine died of cancer. He and I had served closely on a conference committee. His wife and I are friends but because of working together on the committee Jim and I became close friends. We first met when we were both students at Spring Arbor College. He was a couple of years younger than I am.

Another young woman I know died just a few weeks ago, also of cancer. I knew her mother and dad more than I knew her. She's the age of some of my children and was in the Teens For Christ choir with them. Lisa was a young wife and mother.

In 1958 I met two young guys under an Oak Tree on a campground. My dad was the guest speaker at a camp and I had accompanied him and my mother and brother. One of those two young guys became my husband 52 years ago. The other one was a good friend over the years. Last spring Bob died of a stroke!

Yes, my heart hurts today. Yet, each of these four has and had a personal relationship with Jesus. I'll see them again some day, along with my dad and many more friends and relatives. It's very hard when we lose loved ones, but...we have hope...

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, John 3:16 & 17

A New Name

2011-11-29T20:21:00.001-05:00

We went around the dining room table, on Thanksgiving Day, each telling something we were thankful for. I was thankful for God, for my family and friends. Most were similar but in their own words. But one was a surprise to me and to everyone. Elmise, adopted daughter from Haiti, with a smile and a clear voice, said, "I'm thankful for my new name."

Surprise! We applauded. I'm still in awe. She's a nine year old granddaughter of mine. She lives next door. She's loving and kind. She's pretty. She's smart. She can also be a little sassy at times. She can be a little disobedient at times. But mostly she's a sweet, loving, young girl. She now has the same name the rest of our family has! On July 27, 2011 she was given the name Elmise Sarah ------. I just didn't know it meant so much to her. I take my name for granted. My name was written on my birth certificate when I was born.

My name is also written in the Book of Life! Someday that book will be opened and my name will be read! But it wasn't always there. It was written down when I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. Will yours be read when the Book is opened?

Tomorrow I'm Going To Collapse

2011-11-20T21:09:00.001-05:00

Today was a very productive day, I think. First of all I put steak and gravy in the oven to cook while we went to church. Oh boy, did it smell good when we got out of the car in the garage! Dinner was almost ready. But let me tell about that in a few minutes.

Have you ever gotten the urge to check something out even if it's out of your character? I noticed a couple had left the sanctuary while we were still singing. I suddenly had the urge to go check on them... Was something wrong? Did they have a problem? It really wasn't my business. Yet, I found myself telling Jerry I needed to go out. He moved out of my way and I went looking for the couple. I went clear to the back where the children were. They weren't in sight. I walked back to the foyer and there I saw them at the other end, sitting, looking very downhearted. Again...very out of character for me, I walked to them and asked, "Is everything okay?" (It really was none of my business)

The man shook his head no. Then the woman followed, no. They began to tell me how their morning had gone. Oh dear. I suddenly felt the urge to pray with them. They both agreed to it. I put my arms around them and prayed with them and for them.

The pastor's sermon this morning was so good...as always. Afterward the young man went to the front and I saw several men and the pastor praying and talking with him.

Dinner was almost ready when Rob, Jessica, Haleigh, Elmise and Armon came over. Yes, I had invited them! We had a good time visiting, hearing about their cruise and seeing their beautiful tans!
The kids all hugged us like they hadn't seen us in a while! They had just spent their first night at home after staying with us for a week! Grandchildren are so wonderful!

They left and Jerry and I both laid down for a nap. The table was cleared but I insisted I would take care of the kitchen after I woke up from a much needed nap.

Tim skyped us! What a treat! We visited for quite a while! It's so great. Skyping is a wonderful gift.

After we said goodbye I hurried to the kitchen. I had all the clean-up still to do and company was coming at 6:00. Our small group met this evening. I was just finishing up when the first two arrived... We always have a wonderful discussion of the mornings sermon and how it applies to ourselves. Then we have a time of prayer for each other and any requests we know about.

So tomorrow I'm going to collaspe!

Lord, thank You for this beautiful day when we gathered together to worship You. Thank You for meeting the young couple at their point of need. Please continue to be with them. Thank You for the wonderful fellowship we had with both family and friends. Thank You for the technology so we can visit with family far away. I love You, Father.

Santa Parade Before Thanksgiving!

2011-11-19T20:21:00.001-05:00

I love a parade! Santa parade before Thanksgiving? Today when folks shouted "Merry Christmas!" I shouted back "Happy Thanksgiving!"

I don't think I've ever waited so long for a parade to start. We thought we were dressed warmly enough but we waited about an hour and a half in the cold for the parade to come down to where we were waiting, not so patiently any more! We were so cold. We all had winter jackets on and some had hoods but not all. Mine didn't. I was ready with my camera to take some good pictures. I did get a few, but not enough.

A group of good-hearted folks from my church go every year armed with buckets of hot cocoa! They offer it to anyone who would like to be warmed up with a good hot drink. We were close enough to be offered drinks. It was so good.

We watched the parade with some new friends, Josh, Heather and Kayden. Kayden is four and is a delightful boy. Another child is on the way.

This afternoon Josh and Kayden came over for several hours. Kayden and Armon had a good time playing. Josh worked on my computer all afternoon! It works much quicker now, etc! Thanks so much, Josh!

I thank You, Lord, for my very good friends. The ones who passed out hot cocoa and Josh for working on my computer. Help me to be a good friend to them and to others who need a friend.

Hello

2011-11-11T20:01:00.001-05:00

I haven't been on here in a while. I was thinking I'd quit this blog. But then just the other day I looked in on it and was amazed at nice it looked! It even asked, in so many words, to please write something new! I have another new blog at word press called allinthedayofme.wordpress.com

So, here goes. I have such a fear of hitting a deer with my car in the evenings that I don't drive after supper except when I have to. I'm on a committee that meets once a month in the evening...I go to that. I go to a few other events similar to that one. Otherwise I stay home after supper.

Two times in the same year I did hit a deer. Excuse me, the deer hit me, both times. Once was a few miles down the road from home. The other was way north of Midland on the expressway with a couple of friends. I was driving.

Now when I go out in evening I pray from the time I leave our driveway to where ever I'm going and then back home again. But I've been thinking about this. You see, I'm very paranoid about hitting a deer. I'm sitting very stiff, looking this way and that, sure one is about to pounce on my car.

I'm also begging God to keep deer from jumping out of the woods into my car. But wait a minute. Yes, I'm begging Him to keep deer away but am I really trusting Him to keep them away?

I used to be terribly afraid to drive through a storm. My former brother-in-law asked me an interesting question when we were discussing my fear. He suggested that I may have been just intensifying my fear... not really trusting God to protect us or to stop the storm.

Is that what I'm guilty of now? Instead of trusting God to keep deer away from my car, am I intensifying my fear that one is going to jump out in front of me? Hmmmm...food for thought.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him
and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

Happy Belated Birthday Sept 24

2011-09-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

Happy Belated Birthday, Max! We sent you a card but I was gone on your birthday so I couldn't post a birthday greeting like I always do. You've gotten so tall and are so good looking. It's been over a year since I've seen you and my, how you've grown. You're so busy with school and Lacrosse. I'm very proud of you. I do hope you had a wonderful birthday. Please forgive me for being so behind with my birthday blog. I love you.
Thank You, Lord, for Max. It seems like yesterday he was just a small boy. Now he's in high school, playing Lacrosse, driving, working. Please watch over him. Please keep him safe as he studies, works, plays. He's a good young man. Help him with the friends he makes. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Happy Birthday Sept 23

2011-09-22T02:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Armon! I know this is a couple days early but I'll be out of town and no access to my computer on your birthday. It was so fun celebrating with you early. You asked for a 'horse with an Indian sitting on him' kind of cake! So that's what you got! It's hard to think that you're seven years old already! You're a fine boy! I'm proud to be your grandma! I hope you have a wonderful true birthday on Sept. 23.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Armon. Please be with him as he's growing up. Guide him, protect him, keep him healthy, help him as he learns, give him good friends. He's very active so please help him to use his energy in constructive ways. Please guide his mom and dad as they raise him, give them wisdom and patience. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Happy Anniversary Sept 18

2011-09-18T20:39:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary, Christy and Sean! My, how the years have flown by. Is this 18? Wow, what the last 18 years have brought! Among other things: five beautiful children! I don't have a recent photo of the two of you so your wedding picture is here! I love it! You are so young and beautiful...both of you. Actually...you still are! I love you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Christy and Sean. Bless them together as parents to their five beautiful children. What a responsibility. They are precious in Your Sight. Please keep Christy and Sean safe and well. Guard their marriage. Draw them to Yourself. I love them so much and so do You.

Happy Birthday September 7

2011-09-07T09:24:00.000-04:00

Richard at the Pirate Radio station.

Happy Happy Birthday, Richard! My big brother! 77 years old and still working! I'm proud of you. I loved going to the radio station with you last spring and seeing and hearing you in action. Last year we had your Big Birthday Bash. This year all you get from me is a blog honoring you. Oh well, I still love you. I hope you have a wonderful day today.
Lord, thank You for Richard. Please be with him in a special way. Bless him as husband, father, son, brother, radio announcer, writer, friend and neighbor. Please touch his body and keep him well. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Happy Birthday September 2

2011-09-02T09:05:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday, Katie! I haven't seen you since your wedding but I think of you often and I pray for you. I especially prayed when Irene was passing over the east coast. South Carolina was at the southern tip, it looked like, but I still prayed. I wonder how your studies are going. I wish for you today a wonderful, relaxing day with Andrew. I love you and hope to hear from you soon.

Lord, thank You for Katie. She's a wonderful, intelligent, perfect wife for Andrew! Please watch over her as she studies and works with sharks! Keep her well, safe, happy and content. Bless her with Your Presence. I love her so much, Lord, and You love her even more.

Happy Birthday August 30

2011-08-30T09:57:00.000-04:00

Happy Happy Birthday, Cookie. I love this picture I took of you last year at Richard's birthday party. I think this old guy is proud to have his picture taken with you! Well, okay, I think he would be if he were alive...he looks real. You're such a good sport and you love fun. You're a wonderful sister-in-law. I'm hoping to see you next month when I come out to visit Mother and all the rest of the family in Colorado. I wish for you a great day today.
Lord, thank You for Cookie. She's a good sister-in-law. Please watch over her as she works, drives, plays, etc. Bless her with Your Presence in all the roles she has: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend. I love her, Lord, and You love her even more.

Happy Birthday August 25

2011-08-25T08:54:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Bill! I know you received a wonderful surprise visit from son, Chris, and grandsons, I'm assuming it was for your birthday! What a wonderful surprise! So your whole family is probably celebrating your big day and I hope our Mother is included in the celebration. I wish I could be there too. I wish for you a wonderful, fun, fabulous, great day today.
Lord, thank You for Bill. He's my little brother. Please touch his body and give him relief from pain. Keep him close to You. Give the family a wonderful time of closeness this week. Thank You for giving them this time together. I love Bill and You love him even more.

Journal 8/25/11

2011-08-25T06:59:00.003-04:00

Well, a couple of days have gone by since my frustrating blog so I need to update my journal now.
I went to the missions board meeting, two evenings ago, ready to resign. I told Jerry before I left this would be my last meeting to attend.
There was a good turnout at the meeting. Even Toby, representing the pastor's cabinet, was there. We began with prayer. Then we went into discussing our frustrations, with folks not going through the proper channels when doing what is actually good work. I gave my feelings and that I would be resigning. Toby is a gift to the missions board. He understood our frustrations, took notes and will be reporting to the pastor's cabinet.
We moved on to the business at hand. My mind calmed down and I felt myself moving along and getting excited and involved in the business. I was at peace.
No, I didn't resign.
I may even be going to a special weekend promoting a project close to my heart and certainly close to the Heart of God! It's very exciting!!!
Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are Sovereign, You are Omnipresent. Thank You for how You are working around the world. Please help me to know Your Will.

Journal 8/23/11

2011-08-23T12:46:00.001-04:00

Whoa! Where is the summer going? September and autumn will soon be here. Autumn is actually my favorite season but I would like it to hold off a little longer. Okay...a lot longer!

We're keeping busy here. I'm always working on the newsletter I write and am editor of.

This evening I have a board meeting to go to. It's bitter/sweet. I've been on the missions board for years and years. We've seen changes come and go. But it seems that boards are a thing of the past. So this may be the last meeting for all of us or at least for me.
Everything has changed in the church. There are no boards any more at all, except the missions board. We've held on because we believe in what we're doing. We're excited about what the Lord is doing around the world and we love promoting it throughout the church so everyone is aware of God's love in a hurting world. But we're being ignored and made to feel like we're in the way. It's time for a change. This is very difficult and hurts clear to the core of me but it's not worth the resentment I feel when I see and hear others promoting projects without the board's knowledge ahead of time. It's not control...it is not being included on the ground work. I never expected it to end like this but, I guess, life goes on.

We've gone through many changes in the church and we've survived. In fact we're growing! I'll name a few changes here.
Pews have been exchanged for chairs. The pulpit has been exchanged for a little table to hold a computer. Pastors sit on a stool to deliver the sermon.
We've gone from one pastor to four. Our senior pastor is so anointed by God. His sermons reflect this so there is no doubt that God is with him. Our other pastors are gifted men that God is using. We're blessed with our pastoral staff.
We have no organ or choir or song leader and very seldom have special music in our services. We have a band and two or three singers to lead us. We seldom sing hymns, mainly choruses. We have no hymnals, the words are on screens up on the platform.
We have no Sunday School, except for the Young at Heart class because they refused to quit! It's held during 1st service, the folks attend 2nd service. Our children are not lacking in instructions. We have children's church and a Wednesday evening program that is outstanding.
We have no evening service, except once in a while for a special occasion. We do have small groups who supposedly meet on the first and third Sunday evenings, some have changed the times to better meet their needs.
I grew up respecting God's House, dressing in a respectful way, not prideful but respectful. There is no respect today. Some folks look like they've been out working in the yard and at the last minute decided to come to church. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, low cut shirts, very short skirts, etc. are common attire. Even pastors seldom dress up. Once in a while they will come wearing a tie but it's seldom. I think the pastor should set the example for dressing up, in respect for God's House, but what I think doesn't matter.
We have no committees except for the missions board who will soon be disbanding, I fear.
Most of these changes have taken place over the last ten years or so. I have prided myself in that I've not resisted the changes. I've moved along with them. Jerry and I read a book together that helped us tremendously, Who Stole My Church by Gordon MacDonald. But I must admit I'm struggling with this last change. Missions has been a part of my life, my entire life! I've been a part of the missions board my whole married life, which is 52 years!
God is good, God is sovereign, God is in-control, God is love, God is omnipresent. God is King, God is the good Shepard, God is three in one: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. God is all knowing, all seeing, all hearing. God is compassionate and kind. "For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Journal 7/18/11

2011-08-18T05:29:00.003-04:00

Oh where to begin...

Grandma's School. Success! Armon and I worked all summer studying to bring him up to where he could be moved up to 1st grade. We made it! He was tested one day and he passed the test! We've ended for the summer but I'll continue helping him after school each day with his homework.

Plaid. He was the little Shih Tzu next door. I loved him and he loved me. I was the dog sitter whenever Rob's family went away (almost every time). Grandma S. kept him while we all went to family camp. The last time I was with him was one afternoon when Rob asked if I'd let him out about noon for a little while. They'd be back about 5:00. I did go over. Instead of tying him outside, I took him for a walk. On the way back it started sprinkling so we stopped at our house instead of continuing over to their house. He stayed all afternoon. It was delightful! He loved to sit in a chair or on a foot stool in the sun room and just look out the windows, usually falling asleep for a nap. I held him part of the time and just petted him and talked to him. It was a sweet time. I took him back home about 4:30. Little did we know that would be our last time together. This last Sunday evening he, somehow, slipped outside and no one realized it. He ran down the road and was hit by a car. I miss him so much...

Visitors. I've had two visitors recently that were very special. Philipp was a student of mine back when he was in 1st grade to about 3rd grade! Now he's a man. He wrote to me saying he was in our town working for the summer and asked if we could get together! It was great! We visited and reminisced over an American supper! He's very International! He brought pictures of his sister's wedding. She had also been my student all those years ago.
Then this week Philipp's mother came for coffee! She and Philipp's dad were here visiting Philipp for a few days. What a delightful visit we had! I got out the Bone China for coffee and cookies!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of working with Armon. He's a bright little boy, he just needed some help getting started. Please guide him through life. Help him as he begins 1st grade.
Thank You for Plaid and for giving me that last afternoon with him. I loved him so much and even though he was a dog You cared for him.
Thank You for my friends, Philipp and Gabi. Please watch over them with all the traveling they do all over the world. They are so special to me and even more so to You.

Happy Silver Anniversary Aug 16, 1986

2011-08-16T19:14:00.000-04:00

Happy Happy Anniversary, Tim and Shauna! Your silver anniversary! Can you believe it? I can't. God has blessed you. This picture is from the wedding, last summer, of Andrew and Katie. I wish we could have been to the celebration Annie and Kaleb had for you at the lake. We thought of you and even talked about you with each other and with the Lord! We're very proud of you and wish you many, many more happy years.
Lord, thank You for blessing Tim and Shauna with 25 years of marriage. Please continue to bless them. Watch over them, guard their marriage, give them good health. I love them so much and You love them even more.

Happy Birthday August 12

2011-08-12T15:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Andrew! I miss you so much. I know you're very busy now as a new husband and career man, but I still miss you! I have so many wonderful memories of you as a little boy and then growing up.

You were our very first grandchild! Oh, what a wonderful feeling came over us when you were born! Our daughter gave birth to this precious little boy who would call us Grandma and Grandpa.

I hope you are having a wonderful day today! I wish for you the very best that life has to offer. You and Katie are a wonderful couple and I can't wait to see you again!

Dear Lord, thank You for Andrew! He's always been a delightful boy and now he's a man. A married man. Please watch over him. Help him to love and honor and worship You. Bless him and Katie together. Please keep them safe and well. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Happy Birthday August 10

2011-08-10T11:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Tyler! No, you can't be 19 already! Okay, this picture is of you at your high school graduation open house! That's the cake I made for you like a mortar board! You had another one made like a legos! Boys will be boys. It was a great open house. Now you'll soon be off to college. I can't believe that either. You have so much potential and I know you can make it! I wish for you a super great day today.

Lord, thank You for Tyler. He's a good boy and a good grandson. Please be with him as he goes off to college. He'll be a long way from home. Please keep homesickness away. Help him to do his best at his studies. Help him to make good friends. Keep him true to his commitment to You. I love him, Lord, and You love him even more.

Happy Birthday August 6

2011-08-06T14:02:00.003-04:00

Matthew, as I prefer pictures of him!

Matthew, as he prefers pictures of him!

Happy Happy Birthday, Matthew! We only see you once in a while now that you're all grown up. We have lots of good memories though of you staying with us, camping with us, etc. I took these pictures this summer when we were at your house helping your mom and dad build their new shed.
I'm impressed with the man you've become! You're respectful, kind, thoughtful... just the kind of man I like! I wish for you a wonderful day today. I wish we could celebrate with you!
Lord, thank You for Matthew. He's a fine young man and a grandson I'm proud of. Help him to love and honor You. Please keep him safe in whatever he does. I love him so much and You love him even more!

Journal August 5, 2011

2011-08-05T13:47:00.000-04:00

This morning I had a procedure done at my doctor's office. I've had a growth on my tongue for a few months now so today was d-day. Doctor removed it and sent it in for a biopsy. I have a very sore tongue now but it's not bleeding badly at all. He warned me that it might. I was very nervous about it but it's all over and I'm feeling like I have a big head with a very sore tongue but otherwise, I'm okay. It's a relief to have it over. I just ate a Popsicle!

This week has flown by. Tomorrow is my grandson's birthday, Matthew, and it crept up on me without me realizing it. Oh dear.

I'm keeping busy this summer with Grandma's School for grandson, Armon. You can read about it on my new blog allinthedayof.wordpress.com if you're interested. I've written a daily log on our progress. We're mainly working on reading to help him be ready for first grade. The encouragement I get from friends is so encouraging. My sister, Lorraine, has sent a couple of books for us to use. I appreciate her interest, suggestions, books, etc. so much.

Okay, I'm going to lay down again for a bit. Thanks for reading.

Lord, Thank You for helping my doctor this morning. Please heal my tongue quickly. I praise You because You are my Healer.

Journal July 29, 2011

2011-07-29T22:43:00.001-04:00

So much has happened in my life and other's lives over the last little while I must take time to journal.
We were at family camp for a week. That was so good. Every part of it...well...not the music so much. But the speakers were excellent. It was very hot all week, in the 90's. We only had one storm blow up for being so hot.
Wednesday of this week, July 27, 2011 is a day to be remembered forever. A-Day, adoption day, finally. The court house was pretty packed with people. The judge said it had never been so packed for an adoption! She was very nice, even sweet! She had been so stubborn for so long but Wednesday she was sweet! I think we could even be friends!!!
The lawyer talked first, Rob was given a time to talk and he did a good job, explaining how loved they have been since before they were even born, by God who had a plan for their lives. They were loved by their mother and that's why she took them to the orphanage because she couldn't provide for them. Now they are loved by he and Jessica and the rest of the family and even all their friends. Then he thanked the judge for finalizing the adoption. He did very well. I was proud of him.

Judge Allen, Jessica, Rob, Elmise, Armon

Judge Allen then explained everything and signed the documents. Elmise and Armon and Rob and Jessica all went up with the judge. She gave the kids each a special pen to keep. Rob got to bang the gavel!

Armon signing the quilt.

In the hallway there's a quilt hanging that all adoptive kids sign their names to. Elmise and Armon both signed their names. I want to look at that quilt some time when the hallway isn't jammed with people!
After the adoption proceedings we all gathered on the hillside behind the courthouse and had a group picture taken.
Then we made our way to Pizza Sam's about a block away for supper together.

At 6:30 at our church we had some guest speakers, so we went right to the church. I needed to help set up, since I'm on the board for this. It was a very interesting evening. When it was over the two speakers came to our house for the night! Becca, a missionary from Asia and Pakep, a man also from Asia, came home with us. They are both lovely people, not a couple. She's older than he is. He has a wife and four children back home waiting for him. We had a room for each of them. It was so fun getting to know them. Pakep was so interested in our house and our clocks and our Dutch shoes! They were here until just before lunch time on Thursday. We had a good time with them.

Tomorrow Rob and Jessica are renewing their wedding vows, on the beach! They've been married for 151/2 years and now have four children. Ty is 18, Haleigh - 14, Elmise - nine and Armon - six, so it's actually a family day, all committing to each other. I'll report on it later, after the fact.

I'm getting sleepy and think I'll go to bed now. So good night...

Lord, how I praise You for love, joy, grace, mercy, peace. Please forgive me for being neglectful of Your promises. Thank You for all Your blessings. Thank You for families. Please be with us all tomorrow, especially Rob and Jessica as they vow to love, honor and cherish each other and the children. I love them so much and You love them even more.

Happy Birthday July 25

2011-07-25T14:01:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Jessica! I think this will be known as the week that was! Today is your birthday and you're working! Wednesday is the Final Adoption Day, finally! Just think you'll be a forever family forever! Saturday is your wedding renewal vows day! What a week! What a day today is! I hope you know you're loved. You're a special daughter-in-law. We do love you and wish for you a very happy, happy birthday. You're a very special mom to your kids...all four of them.
Lord, thank You for Jessica. Thank You for the person that she is. Watch over her and bless her as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, nurse, friend and neighbor. I love her and You love her even more.

Happy Birthday June 11

2011-07-11T17:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Gene! 7/11/11 Hmmm! I wonder if you celebrated yesterday, on the weekend, or today, on your actual birthday. You're a good son-in-law. We have some good memories with you, like going to Malaysia, helping build your shed in the back yard, the wedding last summer, and lots more. Thanks for being a good husband to our daughter and a good father to two of our grandsons. I wish for you a wonderful day today and many more years.
Lord, thank You for Gene. He's a good husband to Pam, good father to Matthew, Andrew and now, Katie. He's a good son-in-law, husband, father, brother, son, nephew, friend, neighbor, and an all-around good man. I love him, Lord, and You love him even more.

Journal July 7, 2011

2011-07-07T16:07:00.001-04:00

Time to write again. So much has taken place since I last wrote. I'm still working with Armon every morning. This morning after class we went to the library with Elmise and Rob. This picture is of the kids beside two darling sculptures in the library. Armon and Elmise got their own library cards today. They're quite proud. They each got to pick out a book and a DVD movie. I also checked out an I Spy book that had been recommended to me as a helping book for Armon. He is learning but it's slow.
Last weekend Ted, Sydney and Bella came to stay. We enjoy it so much when they come. We're kept busy but it's a good busy. We watched fire works, went swim suit shopping, went swimming and to MacDonald's, had a cook out, played ladder ball, walked Plaid, went to church, talked, etc.
Jerry and Ted worked on the MG. It has a problem, in fact, when they went for a ride it stalled and they couldn't get it going. A young guy pulled them all the way home! They had driven up to Wixom Lake and were on their way home when it stalled. The good part was they had already been to the ice cream cone shop so they didn't have to miss out on that! That would have been horrible. They think it might be the fuel pump.
Today when I was at the library I had an interesting conversation with the librarian. She was waiting while Armon signed his name and looked at me and asked, "Do you all attend Midland Free Methodist Church?" My instant silent reaction was, what does this have to do with getting a library card? I didn't ask but said, "Well, yes, we do." Then she said she does too! I asked her name and said I'm sorry I didn't recognize her. When she said her name she also said they've been attending for about a year! I smiled and said she must go to first service. No, she said they go to second service. I was embarrassed to say I didn't recognize her. Then she said she recognized our name from the Prime Time News newsletter! I said it was good to know she reads it because I'm the editor! What a surprising conversation! We're going to look for each other on Sunday.
Lord, I praise You because You are Omnipresent, Sovereign, Love. Forgive me for taking You for granted and for trying to do things on my own. Thank You for watching over us. Thank You for family and friends. Please help me as I work with Armon each morning. Help me to make a difference. Help him to make an effort to learn and to focus on letters and words. He's an intelligent little boy but he needs help getting started.

Happy Birthday July 1

2011-07-01T08:24:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday, Vel! Another year... Can you believe it? You're a good sister-in-law to me! Thanks for all you do for my mom. Thanks for putting up with me when I come out to visit Mother, you and Bill, Lisa, Doug and Justin. I appreciate you more than you know. I hope you have a great day today, you deserve it. Just putting up with my younger brother, Bill, says you deserve it!!!
(Jerry says, "Happy birthday, Wilma!")

Lord, thank You for Vel. She's a good sister-in-law, wife, mother, grandma, daughter-in-law, aunt, sister, friend, neighbor, etc. Please keep her safe and well. Keep her trusting in You. I love her and You love her even more.

Journal 6/30/11

2011-06-30T20:24:00.002-04:00

So much has been going on around here I've got to stop and journal. I'm tutoring Armon every morning for an hour, trying to get him ready for first grade. He's an intelligent little boy but he's very active and has a hard time focusing on the subject at hand. I do think he's improving. I just hope there'll be a difference in him when school starts.

We have two dogs who go through our property on a regular basis now. We don't like it, but what can we do? Most people, now days,
keep their dogs tied or in a kennel. I think I know where these dogs live but I've never met the people. I love dogs, don't get me wrong. I just don't think they should be allowed to run free and make regular jaunts through our property. But what to do???

We're having beautiful weather right now. It's almost perfect! I had a doctor appointment yesterday. I'm well and fine. I do have a problem on my tongue. It's strange and I'll go back to have it looked at next month.

Here's something so funny that happened today with the grand kids. I took them (3) to the fun zone to use up some energy. They were off playing when I saw three young black boys come running up to play. They climbed into a model truck. Armon came running to me to tell me something and noticed the three boys. When he came to me he asked why those boys were staring at him. I said something like maybe because you look like they do. He looked down at his shirt and said, "No, I don't. My shirt is different then theirs!" Ah, kids, I'm so glad color apparently means nothing to him. Me either.

A former neighbor of ours received a new heart yesterday! I wasn't even aware she needed one until I saw on facebook one day about her being in the hospital waiting for a new heart! That meant some one had to die. Well, yesterday someone did and Ruth was given her heart. So far Ruth is doing well, although it's too soon to know too much.

Lord, I praise You. Please help Armon and me with Grandma's School. Help him to be learning. Help me to be patient with him.
You know about my tongue. I praise You because You are My Healer. Please touch me. Please be with my friend, Ruth. You know all about her. Please help her to gain strength both physically and spiritually. Thank You for the new technology and capability of doctors today.

Happy Anniversary June 27

2011-06-27T08:32:00.002-04:00

Happy Anniversary, Andrew and Katie! It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by since your beautiful wedding. We haven't seen you since then but we know you're very busy with work and studies. I love you very much and wish for you a wonderful day of celebrating your first year together as husband and wife.
Lord, I praise You because You are the Creator. You created marriage. Thank You for Andrew and Katie. Please be with them on this special day and every day. I love them so much and You love them even more.

Happy Birthday June 24

2011-06-24T13:15:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday, Miller! Fourteen years ago I flew to Birmingham, Alabama to stay with your older brother and sister for when you were born! How time flies! I'd sure like to have an ice cream cone with you! I like going for ice cream cones with you! It's sort of our thing, isn't it? I wonder how tall are you now? You were over six feet when you were here last summer! You're a fine boy and a fine grandson. I wish for you a very happy birthday, Miller.

Lord, Miller is growing up so quickly. Thank You for him. Please watch over him. Help him to develop good habits, good friends, a respect for others and a love for You. Please keep Your Hand of protection over him. I love him so much, Lord, and You love him even more.

Awesome Good News

2011-06-20T17:51:00.000-04:00

Armon and Elmise are about to become family...my grandchildren! They'll soon be official. Rob and Jessica got a call this morning that the adoption will be finalized within the month! It's been over a year since they arrived in the USA! They have bloomed and blossomed!
Thank You, Lord, for answered prayer. Thank You for these two beautiful children. Thank You for Rob, Jessica, Tyler and Haleigh who have opened their hearts and their home.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T15:07:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day, Jerry! You've been a good daddy to our five children and a good grandpa to our sixteen grandchildren!
This morning we enjoyed breakfast with Rob and Jessica, Haleigh, Elmise and Armon. Sausage and pancakes and fruit. It was very good. Elmise proudly made the pancakes!
For dinner I made pork loin, baked potatoes, green bean casserole, celery with peanut butter. Watermelon later... We ate dinner outside on the deck.
It's a beautiful day! In the afternoon we went for a walk through Dow Gardens. It was very relaxing.

Lord, how I thank You for a Christian husband. His love of You shines through. As a father he was and is a shining example of what a Christian man is. Thank You.

Journal 6/19/11

2011-06-19T10:06:00.001-04:00

Today is Father's Day. We just came home from next door where we had breakfast with son, Rob, Jessica, Haleigh, Elmise and Armon. Elmise was making pancakes when we arrived! She's a good cook! We also had sausage and lots of fruit. It was very good. They gave Dad - Grandpa candy and a picture of the four grandkids, next door. It's very nice. Pam called Jerry while we were over there. Her timing was perfect because he had just finished eating so he left the room for a few minutes to talk to her. It's a beautiful day today.

I miss my dad. He died six years ago and I still miss him like it was yesterday.

I was asked by a friend, just the other day, if I ever think about quitting writing the newsletter I'm editor of. This is my fifth year of writing it. I told her, when I do a bad job according to my brother, then I think maybe I should step down. But otherwise no, I'm not ready to quit yet. But, this morning, I suddenly remembered something for the newsletter, that comes out today...I never mentioned Father's Day! What on earth was wrong with me? Old age? It has to be. I always highlight any special day or holiday. Oh the poor fathers... I wonder how many folks will notice. I usually get comments when something is wrong. I wonder how many I'll get today?

Lord, thank You for my dad and my husband. They were and are special men and special dads. Thank You for creating families. Help me to know when the time is right for me to step down as editor of Prime Time News.

Helping Grandpa

2011-06-18T18:40:00.000-04:00

Elmise is a good worker. She wanted to help wash our outside chairs. We were having company for supper and the evening. So she came over to help Grandpa scrub the lawn chairs. They were clean and dry when the first guests arrived. Click on the picture to see it close up.

Lord, thank You for good weather for our cookout with friends. Thank You for willing grandchildren to help out with big jobs.

Journal 6/15/11

2011-06-15T19:37:00.001-04:00

I got up at 5:30 this morning, enjoyed some quiet time reading in Exodus and then Charles Swindolls remarks about it. My prayer time is mainly spent in praise because I have so many requests I don't know where to begin! I am praying for certain friends and family. A young friend wrote asking me how to know when and if God is calling him to be a missionary. I asked him some questions in return, among them: is he educationally prepared? (I know he's taking some classes) Is he a missionary where he lives and works now? (my guess is yes but I don't really know) My siblings all need prayer and my children and grandchildren. My mom...

Today Jerry and I went to the funeral of a friend who died last Friday at 91 years. It was in another town so most of our day was taken with the trip. It was near where we met 53 years ago at a camp ground. After the funeral we drove out into the country to find the old campground and we couldn't find it. We drove down several gravel roads looking for a woods with a big oak tree that looked like it could have been a camp ground but we never found it. That was a little disappointing.

I tutored Armon this afternoon instead of this morning so we could go to the funeral. It wasn't quite the same. We need to get back to our routine. First thing in the morning is best while we're both fresh.

So tomorrow will be a new day with a new start. I can't wait.

Lord, thank You for this day. It was off kilter but still it was a day to live for You. Help me tomorrow to wake up praising You because You are In Control...even when it doesn't look like it!

Happy Anniversary June 13

2011-06-13T17:15:00.004-04:00

Happy Anniversary to Jerry and me! 52 years! I can't believe it! We had a good day today. We went to our favorite resturant for breakfast, Lanny's. We came home and I had Grandma's School for Armon. Then we drove to Frankenmuth to meet friends, Barb & Tim, at Zehnder's for dinner at noon. Barb & Tim celebrated their fourth anniversary today! Jerry had beef tips over noodles, I had crab cakes. Very, very good. Zehnder's is known for chicken but ... oh well. Then we walked all over town looking in shops. We even went to Bronner's Christmas Shop. It's open 361 days a year! We watched the German Glockenspiel, I got some good pictures of it. I'm not sure what I'll do with them though, it's such a sad story of revenge.
Thank You, Lord, for 52 golden years! I'm so thankful for a good Christian husband. I have so much to be thankful for...my heritage, my children, my grandchildren, my extended family, my friends, most of all my personal experience with Jesus. Thank You, thank You, thank You.

Journal 5-12-11

2011-06-11T16:21:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I've written here so today is a good day. This morning I went for a manicure and a pedicure, compliments of Pam! This makes me feel so good, so clean, so special!

I had a super Mother's Day! We had breakfast with Rob's family, Rob, Jessica, Haleigh, Elmise and Armon - Tyler. Puff pancakes with sausage and peaches! Very good! We had dinner with Ted's family, Ted, Sydney and Bella . Cornish hen and salads! A surprise and so good! Supper with Pam's family, Pam, Gene and Matthew. Chinese! So delicious! All so special and all my favorites! The best part was being with three of my five children and six of my 16 grandchildren all on Mother's Day. Then I had telephone conversations with Mother, daughter, Christy, sister, Lorraine, sister-in-law Vel, and very special friend, Ramses. What a wonderful day! Thanks to all who made it special.

I mustn't leave Tim's family out. They live in Canada so we skype and I received a beautiful card from his family.

Oh my, God is so faithful. I have had three friends on death's door this past week. Today they are all showing a little bit of improvement! All three are out of ICU. Esther is in Washington, Gerry is in Indiana and Judy is in Michigan. God is everywhere!

I praise You, Lord, because You are All Knowing and You are Omnipresent. Thank You for family and friends.

Journal June 9, 2011

2011-06-09T20:28:00.001-04:00

I'm tutoring Armon every morning for an hour Monday through Friday, this summer. This is to help him be ready for first grade in the fall. He's a very intelligent little boy but has a difficult time concentrating on learning to read. We brought in an old school desk we've had since our own kids were kids. After cleaning it up it looks great and he's pleased to have his own special place for learning. He's here every morning right on time, sitting at his desk, ready to study. I love it.

I have two things that are really bugging me right now. One is that we had baby robins in a nest beside our front porch we were keeping track of and today... Jerry saw a lot of activity, adult robins flying in the tree and out, etc. He went out to see what the problem was...a large bird was after the babies. I don't know what the bird was, I only got a glimpse. He won. The babies are on the ground now...dead. It's so sad.
The other thing that's bugging me...the yellow Marigolds on Eastman Avenue. We have a program of beautifying our city. A Saturday morning in May one lane is blocked off and people plant flowers all along the curb of Eastman Avenue. The city provides the flowers. Most years Petunias are planted. They are so pretty and they fill in so nicely. All summer we have beautiful colorful flowers lining the street all the way from the expressway to downtown. This year we have yellow Marigolds. I suppose they're cheaper, I don't know of any other reason to plant these in place of Petunias. I'm the only one I've heard complain about it. Do other folks really like these yellow flowers in place of the beautiful multicolored flowers?

Well, enough complaining. Let's see...there is this work in nature of keeping a balance in nature. Animals and birds living off each other. I don't like it but it's not up to me. God is our Creator and He knows best. He also created the Marigold's as well as the Petunia's. But I also have the belief that if we're going to do something, do it well. So, City of Midland, you disappointed me. But, I say, who asked me?

Lord, I praise You because You are All Knowing. Please forgive me for complaining. Thank You for the flowers and the birds. Please be with the Robins who lost their babies today. Please help those Marigolds to bloom and blossom all summer and provide beauty along Eastman Avenue. Help me to adjust my attitude and be thankful for the flowers.

Keeping Cool

2011-06-08T08:49:00.001-04:00

Temps in the 90's but the kids know how to keep cool. Squirt guns don't look like the squirt guns we had when I was a kid! This is Haleigh, Elmise and Armon having fun! Be sure to click on the picture to bring it up close.
Lord, thank You for fun! I love You, Lord!

Journal June 2, 2011

2011-06-02T19:23:00.001-04:00

I'll try writing again. I got really discouraged with blogspot when I was told I couldn't put more pictures on. Why didn't they tell me there was a limit to the number of pictures? I would have been more careful to only put the best on and not so many.
Well, I've had some things happen to me I'd like to write about. I'll start with today...would you believe I left my purse in my shopping basket at Meijer's! I didn't miss it until I got home and was unloading the car...no purse. I ran inside to tell Jerry, then ran back out and started to back out of the garage.
Oh no. I forgot the back door of our mini van was still up...! It hit the garage door! I stopped quickly and in time before I did any major damage! Then I drove like mad to get back to Meijer's before someone found my cart out in the parking lot with my purse in it. I could have gotten a ticket, I'm sure, but I didn't. I got to the parking lot...on no, my cart was gone. I hurried inside and was told to go to the service desk. I did.
The girl asked for my name and got a smile on her face. "Is this your purse?" she asked, as she held up a small black purse with a little fuzzy monkey dangling from the zipper!
" Oh yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you." Whoever had found it had turned it in.
I drove home slowly, thanking God all the way for taking care of me and my purse.
Thank You, Lord, for taking care of us..of me. I realize I was careless and never should have left my purse in the shopping cart. I didn't mean to. I praise You for Your Constant Abiding Presence and Peace.

Happy Birthday 21 of May

2011-05-21T22:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Sydney! Twelve years old. This is a big day. I had to wait until this evening to write this to you so I wouldn't spoil the big surprise! Well, Grandpa and I showed up...that was the first surprise! But there was more to come! You are now the owner of your own horse, Kay! There is a lot of responsibility to owning a horse but I know you can do it! The horse was a gift from your former and now again, trainer! She knew how you loved Kay! It's also from your Dad because he has to put out the money until you're old enough to help! What a big day today was! I love you, Sydney!
Lord, thank You for Sydney. She's a wonderful granddaughter. Please help her as she enters these often difficult years. Keep her close to You, help her to always live for You. Help her with her horse, Kay, that she will learn the responsibility of caring for her and also how to ride her expertly. Help her to share the fun and responsibility with Bella. It's not always easy to share but it's a necessary part of life. Please help Sydney and Bella to become and remain the very best of friends. I love Sydney and You love her even more!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T23:17:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mother! The day is almost over and I'm just now finding time to write this. I want to tell you how much you mean to me. Life wasn't easy when I was a child. Money was scarce, Dad was gone a lot, we moved often.
Let me explain some of this. Money was scarce back in the 40s and 50s, when I was a child. But you were so innovative! You sewed most of the clothes for Lorraine and me and for yourself! Material for dresses was often feed sacks. We, girls, would get to pick the most colorful or the best design on the feed sacks! You raised chickens and rabbits so we'd have meat to eat!
Dad was gone a lot because for several years he was an evangelist. He traveled all over the US and Canada.
We moved a lot. I didn't live longer than three years in any house until after I was married! I attended nine schools before I graduated from high school!
But you were a trooper. You were behind Dad, encouraging him and helping him any way you could. I love you and am so thankful for you.
Lord, please bless my mom. How I thank You for her. Please continue to give her good health. Keep her close to You. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Daffodils

2011-05-07T12:33:00.001-04:00

I love Daffodils. Of course they are among the earliest spring flowers
to bloom. There are so many variations, I have at least four different ones in my yard.
Lord, thank You for the beautiful Daffodils.

Happy Birthday May 6

2011-05-06T16:38:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday, Tim! Oh my, when I think back to this day in 1964 I can only remember how happy and relieved I was. You were three weeks late! You were very very welcome! You were my only baby who slept through the night! Every night! Every mother needs one baby who sleeps through the night!
Now you're a man, a husband, a father, a brother, a Christian, a business owner. What more can I say? I'm very proud of you. I hope you have a super day today. I love you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Tim! Please bless him as a husband and father. Keep him safe as he drives and works. Thank You for the personal relationship he has with You. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Happy Birthday May 5

2011-05-05T08:55:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Kaleb! I can't believe it...you're 20? When did that happen? You've always been a delightful grandson! You probably don't like reading that! But it's true. I wish we lived closer so I could be with you more often. Oh, I know, you're closer than you were when you were in Malaysia! But you're still too far away to just get in the car and drive to your house. Thank goodness for computers and the modern technology. I hope you have a great day today and everyday. I love you.
Lord, thank You for Kaleb. He's a great person and a very good grandson. Please keep Your Hand upon him and upon his life. Watch over him as he drives. Help him with his friends. Help him to only live for You. Thank You for the plan You have for his life. Please help him to let You work out the plan You have just for him. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Happy Birthday April 29

2011-04-29T10:19:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Mason! You are our sportsman! I'm glad you like to play baseball and football and... I wish we lived closer so we could watch some of your games! When we come to visit we'll be sure to watch you. I can't believe you're nine years old already! I hope you have a really special day today. I love you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Mason. He's a fine boy, named after Grandpa. Please keep Your Hand upon him, keep him safe and well. Help him to make good friends. Help him to love You. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Journal

2011-04-25T15:28:00.001-04:00

   Yesterday was Easter. It was so nice to see some folks dressed up for church! Men were more dressy than women! That's a switch... Some came in suits, some came in dress shirts and ties.
   This is one of the things that frustrates me today. How folks dress for church. Most wear blue jeans, almost all women wear jeans or slacks. Very few of us wear skirts or dresses.
   I've yet to wear pants to church on Sunday mornings. It doesn't make me any more spiritual than the next one but it does make me feel good about how I look.
   Even our three pastors each dressed up for church yesterday! Now days that's rare...I don't get it.
   A friend of ours lost his job here and eventually was hired in another state. He is an educated man with an executive position. I looked up the company on-line to see where our friend was going. I was surprised to see that that company has a dress code! Maybe all companies do.
   News reporters and weathermen wear suits and ties. I wonder if that's going to change...I hope not.
   I'm been wondering why there isn't a dress code for pastors. They work for us, don't they? Oh but, I forgot I'm one of the few who dresses up for church so I'm probably also the only one who cares how the pastors dress. That's sad.
   A few years ago the top man in our church conference came here to speak on Sunday. He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt. As he shook hands with me before service, I boldly said to him, "I see you've joined the younger set in dressing down."
   He replied, "Oh, should I be dressed up? I try to dress the way I think the folks in the congregation will be dressed. I have a sweater in the car, I'll go get it."
   I don't get it... He should have been the leader here, not the follower. We look up to our leaders. This is backwards. So he did go get his sweater, but it didn't help his appearance one bit. He needed a dress shirt and tie, at least.
   It all boils down to a lack of respect. There is little respect in our society today. We wonder about and talk about the lack of respect of our teenagers and children. Adults have also lost respect in so many ways. This is one of them. Dressing up for church simply shows respect for God's House. Nothing more, nothing less.
   I wonder if I'll get any comments to this post. I welcome them. Let me know how you feel.

   Lord, I praise You because of Who You Are. Forgive me if I've offended some folks here. Thank You for my church where we can freely worship You. Please help me to live my life pleasing to You.

Happy Birthday April 23

2011-04-23T10:10:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Bella! If we look closely we can see a butterfly on your finger! Click on the picture to see it closer. Just think: you're nine years old today! I can't believe it! You're a very special girl and granddaughter! I'm so glad you're learning to ride horses! That was my dream all through my growing up years! Now you and Sydney are living my dream! I hope you have a really wonderful birthday. I wish we could be with you. I love you very much.

Lord, thank You for Bella. She's a wonderful person and granddaughter. Please be with her in school, play, riding, studying, resting. Keep Your Hand of protection upon her. Help her to make good friends. Help her to learn of you and to always live for you. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Journal

2011-04-13T20:03:00.001-04:00

   We're all alone. It's so quiet. No grandchildren, no dogs. Just Jerry and me. I worked on cleaning, changing sheets, washing and drying laundry, scrubbing floors. Jerry raked flower beds, did some plowing in the driveway to fill in holes, blew leaves and dirt off the cement driveway. We worked...it seemed good. Jerry did more work today than he has in a long time! In the middle of the afternoon he came in and asked if I'd join him outside for a cup of coffee! We sat in a couple of lawn chairs with the sun on our backs and simply enjoyed the out of doors. We have a good life...

   I've been reflecting on the past 11 days with five of our grandchildren. It was a busy but good time. I'm tired but it's a good tired. We didn't even do all the things we had written down on a list. We didn't go skating, have a tea party, or put up the Easter egg tree. But we did go to the Butterfly House twice, went to the nature center and to the Cook farm, went swimming and for an airplane ride, bought material and sewed, read a book and much more.
   Some things we started and didn't get finished. Sydney and I started making her an outfit but I'll have it finished soon. We also started and almost finished reading For This Cross I'll Kill You by Bruce Olson. A later title is Bruchko. It's a great book about a young man who obeyed God, I recommend it to you. It was recommended to me by my son, Ted, years ago. I read it to two of my grandsons, Andrew and Matthew, when they were boys. So Sydney and I will pick it up, review it, and continue reading and finish it next time she comes. I think we have four chapters left.
   Bella went to school with Elmise twice and loved it! The cousins had two sleepovers!
   It was a little different when Sydney and Bella went home and Elmise and Armon were here because they had school so they were gone all day. When they came home we worked on home work and then went outside to burn off some energy! After supper we watched a movie and then...bedtime!
   Each one is tucked in and prayed for...a special time. Then hugs and kisses, "Good-night...sleep tight!"
   Five grandchildren over the past 11 days. Fifteen grandchildren, one granddaughter-in-law, all together and each one is so uniquely special and different...each one is loved and cherished.
   Heavenly Father, I praise You. You are the Creator! You are All Knowing! You promised to be with us yesterday, today and tomorrow! You are In Control (even when it doesn't look like it)! Please watch over my grandchildren, keep them safe and healthy. Help them to make good friends and to stay away from harmful habits. Help them to know that You are Real and Alive. Please reveal Yourself to them. I love each one of them so much and You love each one of them even more!

New Blog

2011-04-11T21:46:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm disappointed but sometimes a new start is a good thing.
I've started a new blog with Word Press called all in the day of... The address is: allinthedayof.wordpress.com
I've run out of space for pictures on blogspot. I didn't know that could happen...!
I do hope you'll check it out and that at least some of you will write a comment so I know how I'm doing. This will be a little more thought provoking. Freetobeme was more of a journal. So please indulge me and check it out.

Loons Opening Parade

2011-04-08T13:15:00.001-04:00

I took the grand kids to the Loon's Parade yesterday. The got balloons, balls and candy! I only took a few pictures and I'm posting them here. Click on any to see them bigger. Lou E. Loon is the mascot for the Loons! He was the Grand Marshall for the parade!

I have a love for camels since I rode one up Mt Sinai!

Lord, thank You for the little pleasures in life.

Happy Birthday April 7

2011-04-07T22:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday, Shauna! It's nice having you closer to home although we don't see you any oftener! I hope you had a nice day today. I'm writing this late at night because my days are very busy this week with grandchildren here. I hope you know how much we appreciate you. With your job, we never know where you are, but we do know you're a good wife and mother. I hope they gave you a wonderful day.
Lord, thank You for Shauna. Bless her in her work. Use her. Please keep her safe as she travels. I love her, Lord, and You love her even more.

Cook's Farm

2011-04-04T19:33:00.004-04:00

Libby

Sydney

This afternoon Syd, Bella and I went to the Cook's farm to see their kids that have been born over the last few days. 13 in all...so far! Libby took us to the barn and introduced us to all the goats! They all have names and she knows them by name! It was a fun time.

Bella

Sydney

Bella

Back to the Butterfly House

2011-04-04T18:42:00.000-04:00

Sydney, Bella and I went back to the Butterfly House this morning. The other kids had spring break last week. There is a picturesque water fall on the way to the butterfly House. I took Sydney's picture.

This unique bridge is on the way.

The first thing in the butterfly house is a large bird cage. You can't miss it!

This Blue Morpho just came out of the cocoon

Syd has a pretty one.

Bella

Syd

Butterfly on a blooming Lily Pad.

We had a great morning. Sydney with a Blue Morpho. Thank You Lord for another great time with the butterflies.

Humming Bird Puzzle

2011-04-03T16:25:00.000-04:00

Humming Bird puzzle...finished! It's so beautiful and was a challenge to put together. But I love a good challenge! You can click on the picture to make it bigger to see all the details.
Thank You, Lord, for fun relaxing but challenging projects.

More Fun

2011-04-02T22:17:00.001-04:00

When the five grandchildren came over this evening for a game time here was the pile of shoes by the front door!

Our old game of Sorry was really getting sorry! Only three people could play at a time and it was in bad shape. Well, since it's a favorite game around here I bought a new one. Today we played with both games. Sydney and Haleigh played the old game, Elmise, Bella, Armon and I played the new game. Then the winners of both games played each other. Sydney and Armon won and played the winner game with Sydney winning! It was fun and they are learning to be good sports.
Thank You, Lord, for good times.

After the Butterfly House!

2011-04-02T21:04:00.002-04:00

Haleigh, Syd, Bella

After we left the butterfly house we went to the handicraft barn. There they had fun hands-on things to do. We ended the afternoon at McDonalds!
Thank You, Lord, for the good day we had together.

Sydney & Bella

Armon

Elmise wore butterfly wings!

Afterward we went to McDonalds!

The Butterfly House

2011-04-02T17:33:00.003-04:00

Sydney with a
beautiful butterfly!

On our way to the
Butterfly House!
Haleigh, Elmise,
Sydney, Armon, Bella.

Elmise

Bella

One even landed on me!

Armon

Haleigh

Close up of Haleigh's butterfly!

Each one is holding a butterfly but some are hard to see.

Heavenly Father, You are Creator and I Praise You! Thank You for the beautiful butterflies and for the super, great day I had today
with five of my grandchildren!

Ladies Only Celebration

2011-03-29T10:13:00.001-04:00

Dianne smelling a
beautiful rose,
gift from Laura.
Last evening the women from our small group had supper together as a surprise to Dianne for her birthday! We all had a good time and she was surprised to see all of us there! She thought she was only meeting Donna after work for supper...wrong! We each gave her a small gift.

Dianne, Sharon, Laura

We all had a very good time. We met at Applebee's. Rose made a cake and brought. It was very good! (I do wish pictures would go where I want them to go...)

A pretty scarf,
gift from Rose. She's modeling it here!

Dianne sharing
her cake made
by Rose.

Donna smelling a
candle gift.

Donna, Rose, Dianne
Lord, thank You for the friendship of the ladies in our small group. Thank You for the men also. Together we make up a super group who are all growing closer to You.

More fun times on my trip

2011-03-28T09:52:00.001-04:00

Niece: Lisa and Doug

Great nephew: Justin

We were told we could order a meal from a restaurant in the area and have it delivered to the nursing home. Then we could eat together in the small dining room by reserving it ahead of time.

Brother: Bill and Vel

So we did...Chinese. We know now where not to go for Chinese! It was less than satisfactory.

But we still had a good time together. I don't have a picture of Mother here, sorry. She and I were both here too.

Myself and Janice

Bill and Vel

On Saturday, my best friend from 8th grade through 10th grade, Janice, came to visit.

Janice and Wayne

Wayne was a good sport and came along too. Then it was decided they should go out to dinner with Bill and Vel and me! We had a really nice time and good food!
Thank You, Lord, for good times and good friends.

Pirate Radio

2011-03-27T16:07:00.000-04:00

This is my older brother, Richard or Dick, as most folks know him. He's been Richard to me all my life and I'm not about to change now! He has a radio program every Sunday evening from 5:30 to 11:30! It's an oldies program and is very good! I've listened to it on my computer clear out here in Michigan! He took me to work with him while I was visiting him last week. It was so good to see him at work. Now I can picture him talking to his radio audience.

   The first hour of the show Richard and his friend, Abe, discuss old songs and recording artists, mainly from the 40's and 50's. Then Richard plays them for the radio listeners. It was so interesting to see and hear them talking to each other, over the radio! It's very easy listening!
   I'm very proud of my big brother!
   Lord, thank You for radio, good friends, music, brothers. Thank you for Richard. He's very talented in so many ways. I love him and You love him even more.

Happy Anniversary March 26

2011-03-26T13:05:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary, Richard and Cookie!

   The years keep flying by. I guess you know that when you see how your grandchildren are growing! This picture is a couple years old but I don't think you've changed too much since then.
   I was just out visiting you last week, except, Cookie, you were gone! It's okay, your dad's 93rd birthday was very important and I'm glad you got to go to celebrate with him. (I think it was his 93rd). I enjoyed myself very much, Richard was the perfect host!
   So enjoy your special day...Richard, take Cookie out for supper and buy her roses!
   Lord, thank You for Richard and Cookie. Bless their marriage. Please keep Your Hand upon them. Keep them close to each other and close to You. I love them and You love them even more!

I Wonder Why

2011-03-24T18:07:00.001-04:00

   You know how it is...sometimes things happen and you just can't figure why it happened the way it did! That happened to me on my way home from Colorado.
   Here's the story:
   I wanted to take the shuttle from Greeley to the Denver International airport so before I left home, March 14, I got on line to schedule it. A message popped up saying, for some reason the site was down and to please try again later. Well, later became the day before I left for home, March 21. Too late, shuttles were all filled. Oh...that's too bad, Richard would have to drive me down to the airport. My plane was to depart at 6:00 AM so we'd have to leave at 4:00 AM.
   We set our clocks for 3:15 AM and were in the car at 4:00 sharp! There wasn't hardly any traffic so we made good time. We were almost there. I was helping watch the signs so we'd make the right turns. Suddenly a sign for United showed an arrow going right. We didn't see it soon enough and couldn't suddenly go right! There should have been a sign back farther telling us to merge right! So we missed the turn and had to keep going. We wanted to turn around somewhere but it's all one way so, of course, we couldn't. Another car a head of us was apparently having the same problem! We lost a lot of time here in our frustration. Finally we made our way back and then took the turn to the right. Checking my clock I thought I was still fine as far as my schedule went.
   Richard and I said our good-byes and he went on his way back home. I prayed he wouldn't fall asleep driving. It was now about 5:00 AM.
   I had printed my ticket out the evening before and I only had carry-on luggage so I only needed to go through security. At 5:00 AM it couldn't be that bad... Oh, yes, it was! The lines were soooo long! It seemed to take forever to get through there.
   I finally took the train to F gates, of course going down two flights and then back up two flights! My gate was very close, thank goodness.
   I could see my plane out the window and it was time to depart. I hurried to the lady who looked at me a little perturbed and said, "I think you're too late." I told her I had hurried as fast as I could. She made a phone call to the pilot and said, "Anita -- is here now." She looked back at me and said, "I'm sorry, you're too late. They can't open the door now."
   The woman did some checking and got me on a plane to Chicago at 9:00 AM. I must have gotten the last seat available because it was the middle seat in the last row. (I hate sitting between two strangers.) I even had to check my carry-on bag through because there wasn't any more room in the overhead bins.
   Well, thank goodness Denver airport has wi fi so I was able to get on-line while I sat waiting for three hours for my plane to depart. On the flight to Chicago I sat between two men, neither of whom, said one word to me! One read a book and the other had ear phones on.
   On my original schedule I had a four hour layover in Chicago on my way home. Now I barely made my flight! But it was the same flight as was on my original schedule. So I arrived at home at the same time Jerry was expecting me.
   He was there waiting for me and I was waiting for him! Home sweet home!
   Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are the Creator. You created the skies I flew through to visit my mom and others and You created the skies I flew through to go back home. I don't understand the glitches I had to go through but... Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Journal

2011-03-23T20:42:00.001-04:00

   I'm home from a week in Colorado. I went for my mother's 97th birthday. It was a great week. I'll try to tell about it here.
   I stayed with my brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Vel in their beautiful home. Neither one of them are well so I didn't want to be a burden on them. I found a shuttle to take me from the Denver airport to the town where they live! It was perfect and didn't cost too much! I asked Bill if he could take me to the nursing home about 7:45 each morning and pick me after 5:00 each afternoon. He was glad too.
   This was so great. I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with my mom every day! We had our own little table in a separate room from all the other residents. It was like eating in a restaurant! We were waited on like we were special!
   I should add here that this is the best nursing home I've ever been in! It's so clean and odor free, loving and friendly, I can't say enough good about it!
       My mom went ahead with her daily schedule of exercising, Bible study, resting, etc. and I either read a book or worked on my lap top computer while she was busy. They have wireless internet so I was able to get on line most of the time, when I wanted to. We, my mom and I, were just happy being in the same place all day for almost a week. It was so hard to say good-bye but the time ended.
   Sunday morning my older brother, Richard, came down to get me so we ate breakfast with Mother and then left to go north to his town.
   Heavenly Father, I love You. Thank You for the good week I just had with Mother! Thank You for Mother! Thank You for her good health and her sharp mind. Please be with her, keep her well, safe and close to You. I love her so much and You love her even more.

More Games

2011-03-22T19:53:00.002-04:00

Richard, my brother, and I watched Heidi's kids while she gave piano lessons. They were such good kids and played games the whole time she was gone. Here are Jenna and Braden playing hang man! Jenna is four, Braden is six or seven, I forget. He has a twin sister, Courtney. She had gone with some friends this day.

Jenna playing hang man again.

Kimberlyn and I played Banana. It's a really fun game something like Scrabble. Kimberlyn is nine.
Jenna is full of fun!
Kimberlyn and Braden playing hang man. These kids love to play games. They were so good! Thank You, Lord, for these precious kids, nieces and nephew, of mine.

2011-03-22T19:38:00.001-04:00

Richard (Grandpa) playing a game with Braden. We were in a restaurant for lunch, and we were all busy until the food arrived.
Richard is my older brother. Heidi is his daughter and my niece.

Kimberlyn and me. Isn't she pretty?

Heidi (Mama) and Jenna playing a game.
Thank You, Lord, for this part of my family. I love them all and You love them even more!

St Patrick's Day (One day late)

2011-03-18T12:21:00.001-04:00

These were the Celtic Dancers that performed at the nursing home where my mother lives. They were excellent. They have such energy!

Even little girls performed!

Lord, thank You for the wonderful performance for these older folks. Thank You for this wonderful home where my mother lives and is taken such good care of.

Birthday Dinner

2011-03-16T16:33:00.001-04:00

The nursing home gave her a stuffed dog, three balloons and a beautiful lap size quilt! Everyone else gave her money so she could go shopping! That's what she wanted!

Vel, Lisa, Mother, Bill

Me, Mother, Bill

Beautiful big balloon for Mothers Birthday!

Mother's birthday cake!
click on the pictures to make them come up bigger.

Mother had a very nice birthday, I think. Everyone has told her Happy Birthday.
She also got phone calls from Pam, Richard and Lorraine.
Lord, thank You for the wonderful 97th birthday Mother has had.

Happy Birthday March 16, 1914

2011-03-16T08:38:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday, Mother! You are a young 97! I'm so excited to be here with you. You are so beautiful, inside and outside! You've been a wonderful mother to me. Oh, I know you've made a few mistakes, but haven't we all... You have shown me, my entire life, how to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Life for you, was not easy when I was a child, Dad was traveling a lot leaving the four of us children in your care, but if you were ever discouraged spiritually, I didn't know it. Money was scarce but you were so innovative, you raised chickens and rabbits for meat, you sewed all the clothes for Lorraine and me and yourself. There's so much I could write here but I'm going to stop and just say, "I love you, Mother."
Lord, thank You for my mother. When You made her You made a masterpiece! You've been with her as her Personal Saviour for 70 years! Please be with her now in her later years. Please watch over her, keep her healthy and safe. Thank You for giving me this week to be with her. I love her so much and You love her even more!
Remember: you can click on the picture to bring it up close.

Grandkids

2011-03-12T21:57:00.001-05:00

Making cookies

   Elmise and Armon are here this evening. At the moment they're both sound asleep sprawled out in the living room. Elmise is on the sofa and Armon is in Jerry's Lazy Boy chair. He didn't know it would go back so far. It was funny. But first we made chocolate chip cookies! That was fun! Rob and Jessica should be home soon. Jerry's in bed too. So I'm on the computer. I guess there's no surprise there!
   Jerry made a ham and cabbage soup today. He's hoping to have that to eat next week, along with the chili he already made, and the fried chicken he's ordered me to fix on Monday! for while I'm gone to visit my mom. I'm leaving on Tuesday. The soup turned out really good. Elmise and Armon love it too. It must remind them of something they used to eat in Haiti. They each ate a full bowl of it even though they had already had supper before they came over here. It's so funny to watch them. Most kids wouldn't touch it...
     Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are the Giver of Life.

Grandkids and Basketball

2011-03-12T11:39:00.001-05:00

Basketball Coach and Elmise

Elmise and her friend

   I went to the Community Center to Elmise's basketball game this morning. This is only the second game I've gone to. I've got to do better. She was very happy to see me.
   These games are a learning experience for the girls. The coaches get to be on the floor giving them advice and instructions. There is no keeping of scores. It's a fun way for the girls to learn the game and to learn sportsmanship.
   Thank You, Lord, for learning experiences for kids today. Thank You for Elmise and her friends.

Chinese Family

2011-03-10T20:09:00.002-05:00

Vincy, Koko, Andrew

We invited our Chinese kids over for an all American dinner on Tuesday of this week. I worked all day preparing swiss steak baked in gravy with potatoes, carrots and onions, green bean casserole, tossed salad, clover leaf dinner rolls and apple pie.
They appreciated my work even though their taste buds are not quite up to American

Vincy, Anita, Koko, Andrew

food yet. I understand that. I have a hard time with foreign food no matter where we go in the world.

Anita, Vincy, Koko, Jerry

   Andrew loved the green bean casserole! Vincy and Koko loved the dinner rolls. They each ate some meat, potatoes and carrots. The apple pie was a little too sweet for their taste buds.
   We had a very nice visit. This was their first time in our home. They wandered all over checking it out. I think it was probably their first time in a log home. I think they liked it.
   We're looking forward to getting together again soon. (I can hardly wait!)
   Heavenly Father, thank You for our new Chinese friends. Thank You that we are even more than just friends, we are now family. Help them to see Christ in our lives and in our home. Please be with them in their studies, and in new situations they find themselves in. Help them to know we are their American family. We love them and You love them even more!

Happy Birthday Mar 9

2011-03-09T06:36:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Pam! My first born! You were such a beautiful baby and you are still beautiful today! I wish we could celebrate this day with you and I wonder what you are doing today. Your boys are grown and so life is a little different for you and Gene now. I wish for you a very happy, happy birthday. Are you working today? Are you taking the day off to relax and have fun? You are a very special daughter and I love you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Pamela. She's a very special daughter, so loving and caring. Please be with her as she travels to downtown Chicago each day to work, keep her safe. Bless her with Your Presence. Help her to lean upon You for her strength each day. Please bless her as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, co-worker. I love her so much and You love her even more.

Happy Birthday March 2

2011-03-02T19:21:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Marion! I can't believe another year has gone by! The older we get the faster time seems to be moving on. This is the time of year I feel guilty for not spending a little time with you. We are just so busy with grandchildren and other things we don't take time for each other. Something's got to change here. I always look for you on Sunday at church. Thank goodness we have that in common. I wish for you a wonderful, fun filled birthday with your children and grandchildren.

Lord, thank You for Marion. Please be near her. Keep her close to You. Bless her with Your Presence. I love her, Lord, and You love her even more.

Winter Wonderland

2011-02-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist taking these pictures this morning! It's so beautiful!

Heavenly Father I praise You!
You are the Creator!

New International Friends

2011-02-26T22:22:00.000-05:00

I'm now sponsoring three students from Northwood University. They are all from China. Vincy, myself, Koko, Andrew (American name).
This is through International Friends Organization. We had a really nice time this evening at a photography exhibition reception. We looked at pictures by a photographer who happens to be a friend of Jerry and me. We just visited and got better acquainted. They gave me a gift (typical), a beautiful plate from China! I'm holding it in the picture. I'll put it in a very special place in my dining room.
This second picture is of Kelly with Vincy, Koko, and Andrew. Kelly is a friend from Haiti. They had never met before but they hit it off. We all had a really good visit.
Lord, thank You for my new friends. Help us to grow close in friendship.

Journal

2011-02-25T18:45:00.002-05:00

Well, we, Jerry and I, have just gone through an experience I hope we don't have to repeat ever. It was a very interesting, stressful experience, a tough time. Here's the story:

Jerry was scheduled for a colonoscopy Thursday. He had to prep himself Wednesday and early Thursday morning. The prepping is the worst part of a colonoscopy, if you've never had one. Anyway, he ate his last meal Tuesday at supper time. Wednesday all day he only ate jello, pop sicles, beef bouillon, water, etc. Then he had to drink 32 ounces of Gatorade mixed with some kind of powder. He also had some pills he had to take three different times of the day.

After taking the last two pills about 8:00 PM Wednesday he began to feel sick so he went to bed. About nine he had to get up to go to the bathroom...again. But he didn't make it. He was in the doorway reaching for the light switch when he suddenly passed out and then collapsed. I was scared to death. I couldn't do anything with him or for him so I called 911, also Rob & Jessica. They were all here in no time! About 10 men and two woman! They checked him over very good. He was throwing up and in really bad shape so they took him to the hospital in an ambulance. Rob and I followed in our car. They ran all kinds of tests, etc. We were actually in emergency from about 9 something PM to 3 something AM! Then he was admitted into the hospital and taken upstairs to F floor.
That's the floor Jessica works on! He wasn't assigned to Jessica but he was to one of her very good friends. Jessica stopped in his room every chance she had to see how he was.

The doctors were thinking they would skip the colonoscopy. I told them no way...after going through the prepping he had to have it done! So...

The surgeon went ahead and did the colonascopy Thursday morning. NO CANCER! Yeah! Thank You, Lord. They ran all kinds of tests to figure out why he passed out and didn't really come up with a reason other than he was dehydrated.
Haleigh, Elmise and Armon each made a get well card for Grandpa. They are really well done and very sweet.

We got home a little after 7:00 last evening. We have to sleep downstairs for a few nights, Jerry isn't to climb stairs for a few days and he's to rest.

About an hour after we got home, there was a knock at the door. Haleigh, Elmise and Armon all wanted to give Grandpa a hug! Rob came with them through the woods to Grandpa's house! They stayed about 10 minutes then gave another round of hugs, said good-bye, and trekked back through the woods to their house. Armon had so many questions about the ambulance, staying at the hospital, being sick, and ... He's a very normal and sweet six year old boy. It was a sweet visit and meant a lot to both Jerry and me.
Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are our Healer. Thank You for being with Jerry. Thank You for the report of no cancer. Thank You for good doctors, nurses, and ambulance people. Please continue to be with Jerry and help him to get his strength back. I love Jerry so much and You love him even more!

Happy Birthday Feb 21

2011-02-21T20:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Sean! I'm sorry I don't have a good picture of you this year. You're a good son in law. You and Christy have given Jerry and me five beautiful grandchildren! Thank you very much! I do wish we lived closer but I'm happy for you living where it's warm, with a good job to support your family. I hope we can get together soon. I wish for you a very Happy Birthday.
Lord, watch over Sean each day as he works to support his family. Please keep Sean and the whole family safe and well. Give them good times together. Reveal Yourself to him. I love him, Lord, and I know that You love him even more.

New Friends

2011-02-19T07:14:00.002-05:00

Last evening I had an amazing evening! I was invited to a Chinese supper at some friend's house, Bob and Consi. There were 10 Chinese students there cooking our supper in a hot pot! Have you ever had this? The pot is electric, there is a divider in the center so hot spicy is on one side and mild is on the other. More foods are added into the hot broth as they are taken out to eat. It's so hot even the meat cooked in a very few minutes!

These four girls are all preparing food to go into the hot pot. My friend, Consi, didn't have to do anything except set the table! Be sure to click on the pictures to see them up closer.

Here's most of the whole gang! Ten Chinese students, plus Consi and Bob and their daughter and son-in-law. You can see all the dishes of foods that went into the hot pot! We ate from the little individual bowls at each place. Everyone ate with chop sticks...I was handed a fork! It was a very fun time! I made new friends!

After supper I saw three of the students playing Candy Land with Dana, granddaughter of Consi and Bob!

Happy Birthday, Bing!

Andrew and his girlfriend! My two special friends. We had a very nice visit.

Heavenly Father, thank You for my new friends. Thank You for the wonderful evening I had yesterday. It was a lovely evening. Thank You for the friendships Consi and Bob have made with these Chinese students. Thank You for giving me the privilege of being invited.

Journal

2011-02-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

   What to write...? What do I feel...? Do I trust God...? Is God in control...even when it doesn't look like it...?
   Our two newest grandchildren, Elmise and Armon, have been here over a year now. They have adjusted amazingly well. How can there be such a glitch in the adoption process?
   The judge, here in our county, is refusing to sign the final adoption papers. Thousands of dollars have been paid out already for this. Now new forms are having to be made out...so the kids won't have to be sent back to Haiti! Almost a thousand dollars for each one has to be paid again! They have to file for green cards in order to stay in the US!
   So many folks are praying for a miracle but nothing is changing. Where is God in all this? I keep maintaining that He is in control but...
   I'm being very frank here in my doubting. Lord, help my unbelief. We need a miracle here. You've been with Rob and Jessica and all of us through this whole process. Where are You now? Please, help my unbelief! Give me a new sense of Your Power. I do believe...I do believe...

Journal

2011-02-15T11:30:00.002-05:00

   Oh no, I wrote in Lorraine's birthday blog that we never argued or got mad at each other as children. But I've suddenly remembered one time! We weren't children any more. She was a young teenager and I was close behind. We were in the growing up phase of our young lives.
   We were living in our new house in Elk Run Heights, (Waterloo) Iowa. It was a small house. Lorraine and I shared a bedroom with a bunk bed. Lorraine had a nice dressing table with a pretty skirt tacked around the edge and a glass top, which fit the rounded edge perfectly. She usually slept on the top bunk but some reason I was on the top this particular night. Maybe I got to have a week on the top bunk...I really don't remember.
   In the night or early in the morning, I had to get up and go to the bathroom. We had a way of climbing up to the top bunk but somehow in my sleepiness I stepped down onto her dressing table! It toppled over, the glass top breaking into several pieces!
   I felt so badly. She was very upset and angry with me. I didn't mean to do it, but that didn't seem to matter. It was hers and I broke it.
   This is the only time I remember there being a bad feeling between us.
   Lord, I thank You for my childhood, for my sister, for our very good relationship. Thank You for keeping me from getting badly cut and hurt from falling. I love You, Lord.

Happy Birthday Feb 15

2011-02-15T09:28:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Lorraine! You are so relaxed in this picture! What a great smile! I surely wish we lived closer to each other. I enjoy our phone conversations so much. In reminiscing we've both realized that as children...sisters, we never fought, got mad at each other, argued, etc. I wonder how many sisters can say that honestly. I'm so glad we can! We've always respected each other, respected our differences. Neither of us is perfect, believe it or not. But that's one good trait for each of us, we always got along. We loved playing together as children, yet we both had our own friends. I wrote a story about us as children (I know you've read it, Lorraine). It's posted on mylife-experieces.blogspot.com in case anyone else would like to read it. (Experiences is misspelled, I know. I can't seem to fix it so readers also have to misspell it!)
Lord, thank You for Lorraine. Life isn't always easy so please be with her in a very real way. Keep her well and safe. Bless her with Your Presence. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Party Time!

2011-02-12T22:51:00.004-05:00

For Elmise's party we went to the Community Center to the pool. The kids and Rob had so much fun! It's a great pool. Jessica and I were there and another friend but we didn't go in the water. After a couple hours of swimming we all went to Pizza Hut. I took the Humming Bird Cake with candles in it. So the picture here is Elmise blowing out her candles. Sydney and Bella were here for the party too. Click on the pictures to see them closer.
Lord, thank You for good times with family and friends.

Humming Bird Birthday Cake

2011-02-12T12:21:00.001-05:00

Elmise ordered a humming bird cake for her birthday party! Oh boy. I used a picture of one from a puzzle, in fact, that's where she got the idea for the cake! It wasn't easy and it's far from perfect... But she came over so I let her see it... She said, "Oh Grandma, it's perfect!" In the picture she's touching the eye. It's a piece of black licorice. By the way, this is a Ruby Throated Humming Bird, in case you can't tell.

Puzzle and cake.

Lord, thank You for Elmise. Thank You for helping me with the cake and for her liking it. (You know, I was very nervous) Thank You for birthdays.

Happy Birthday

2011-02-11T14:03:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Elmise! You've been a part of our family now for a little over a year! I can't believe how well you have adjusted to life here. You're nine years old today. You don't have to sit in a booster seat in the car any more! This picture was taken last week on the day you had your hair braided. You are so beautiful...to me!!! These are the words to a song and they came to my mind when I saw this picture! You were a flower girl in a wedding for the person who led you and all the other children to safety after the earthquake in Haiti. How exciting is that!
Lord, how I thank You for Elmise! She's a beautiful young girl. Please keep your hands upon her life, keep her safe and well and happy. Please help her to learn more about You and to always love You and want to live for You. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Shoveling the Roof

2011-02-07T15:35:00.002-05:00

Rob is pulling the snow off the sun room roof before we get any leaks in there! We have about 18 inches of snow on the roof! We appreciate his help so much. We need even more done so maybe tomorrow...
Rob is snow blowing the path between our yard and his! This is necessary with all the trips we all make back and forth! Lord, how I thank You for willing helpers. Even John, who plows for us helped out. Thank You for Larry's help and for Rob coming and lending a hand. Please give Jerry more strength and also the ability to say that he needs help. It's more than he can do, now days. I love You and thank You for all Your blessings to us.

A Friend Indeed

2011-02-07T12:52:00.001-05:00

Larry & Jerry

A friend, Larry, came over to help Jerry pull the snow off the porch roof. It had really built up and is shaded all day so even on warmer days it didn't melt off. Now the roof is leaking! Thank goodness it's only the porch roof leaking and not the house roof!
I tried to get more pictures but my camera batteries went dead. We have no more in the drawer. But this is a pretty good picture. Click on it! Now this afternoon I get to shovel the steps off!
Lord, I thank You for the snow...anyway!

Winter Wonderland

2011-02-07T10:24:00.003-05:00

These two pictures, of our back yard, I took this morning from our deck. Everything is covered with beautiful snow.

I took this picture from our front porch. It's really beautiful this morning. Snow is covering everything. I hope you remember to click on the pictures.
I praise You, Heavenly Father, because You are the Creator.

Small Group, Chili Supper, Super Bowl

2011-02-07T07:24:00.000-05:00

Jerry, Rose, Larry, Creston.

Sharon, Dianne, Laurie, Donna.

Anita & Jerry.

Last evening we had a good time with our small group friends. We started out the evening with eating our supper of chili, salad, veggies, corn bread, cookies & coffee cake. It was all so good. We didn't really have a deep discussion on the content of the sermon, preached by Supt. Dan, although it was very good. Then we had a great prayer time. The guys went to the living room to watch the football game and we, women, sat around the table chatting. It was a good time.
Thank You, Lord, for good friends, good fellowship, good discussions, good prayer times with our focus on You.

Dining Room

2011-02-05T15:47:00.001-05:00

This is my dining room after moving some things around. In the first picture, the china cabinet used to be on the wall where the two clocks are now. It just fit beside the window. So then I wanted the other China cabinet moved closer to the window on the other side. I think you can see what I mean in the last picture. To move the dark cabinet I had to remove all the china. I couldn't take the chance of a shelf falling. I have too many Bone China and precious cut glass. A lot of the Bone China came from my mother, but not all of it. The cut glass is true cut glass from a factory in Indiana. They were all given to us as wedding presents. So everything is changed in it. I took a picture of just the china. If you click on it you can see details.

This shows the two china cabinets on either side of the window. It gives the room a whole new look!

Lord, thank You for my precious china and other valued pieces in my dining room. Thank You for all my blessings.

Journal

2011-02-05T09:51:00.002-05:00

Here I am again...just thoughts going through my head.
   I'm dog sitting this weekend. Rob's family has gone out of town to a wedding. Elmise is the flower girl! The bride is the person who led the children, after the Haiti earthquake, away from the orphanage to a safe place. Our Haitian friend, Magdala, braided Elmise's hair so she looked beautiful when they left here yesterday morning. Her hair should stay beautiful for several weeks! I don't quite get it...
   I covered our new sofa and chair so Plaid can't lay on our new furniture. I hope he's not offended! Rob's family will be back tomorrow afternoon. I take him for walks about four times a day so I'm getting good exercise and so is he. It's very cold out but I bundle up so it's not bad. This morning the air was so crisp and cold, it was invigorating! I loved it! It was just beginning to get light out, I took a cup of hot coffee with me... It was a good start to my day!
   Jerry has helped me rearrange the dining room! I like it, we're not quite finished but almost. We'll finish today.
   Jerry's not feeling real good for some reason. I hope he gets over this real soon. It's not exactly fun for me either! Just kidding...
   Our snow plow man, John, is back from his vacation so with the next snow he'll plow us right out. He feels bad to have missed the big storm of the year! His wallet misses it too!
   A friend of mine suggested I save all my stories on my other blog, Anita's Adventures. Yesterday afternoon I copied and pasted and then printed out all the stories! It took several hours, but they are now in a nice neat notebook! I've written 32 and have lots more stories to write! It's nice to know she thought they were worth saving!
   Tomorrow we're having a super bowl, small group, chili supper! We're starting early so hopefully we can still have our discussion. It's a meaningful time so I'm sure we will if we can. It's going to be a fun evening. Jerry is going to make his delicious chili in the morning so it'll simmer all day, everyone will bring veggies, corn bread, desserts, etc. Hopefully we won't lose our cable like we did a couple of weeks ago when it was also a very big football day!
   I must get busy now. So until next time...
   Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are always with us. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Forgive me for taking You for granted. Thank You for this day. Please touch Jerry so he'll feel better. Help me as I take care of Plaid and also finish my cleaning and rearranging. I love You, Father.

Journal

2011-02-02T13:20:00.003-05:00

   The big snowstorm of 2011! We're snowed in but we knew it was coming so we're prepared. We have no reason to go anywhere. John, who plows our driveway, went to Jamaica for vacation and was due back yesterday...his flights were cancelled. No surprise there!
   Jessica (daughter-in-law), is a nurse at the hospital, she made it on time this morning by leaving way early. Three people had to help push her across the main street she had to cross at 6:30 this morning!
   I was praying off and on all night for Rob (son). He drives all night delivering meds all over the state. I was so worried about him in this awful snow storm. He made it safely and got stuck in the drive of where he works! He had to wait three hours to be plowed out!!!
   No school today, of course. The kids are here so Rob can sleep in a quiet house. At lunch time I thought I'd fix them grilled cheese sandwiches and chips...Haleigh wanted breakfast for lunch! Okay, bacon, scrambled eggs and a bowl of cereal! Elmise and Armon saw the boiled dinner Jerry made for us yesterday and wanted to try it. Ham, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, etc. They loved it and each ate a whole bowl! Wonders will never cease!

   I have a new feature on the right side of my blog. It's a nutritional site! Try it out...it's very good. So much good information and you can look up anything.

   We're supposed to get another snow storm tonight. I love snow storms...but not when I have a son out driving across the state.

   I'm loving our new furniture. Yesterday afternoon I rearranged our living room and love it even more. I have an old treadle sewing machine that I really have no room for. I really don't even know if it works, I've never tried to sew with it. It's not a family heirloom, it's just an old sewing machine. I offered it to Haiti but I guess it wasn't needed. If someone would like it, call me and come and get it...

   Heavenly Father, I praise You. Your Love falls on me like the pure white snow flakes that come silently floating down through the sky. Thank You for watching over us during this snow storm. Thank You for keeping Rob safe and for helping Jessica drive to work early this morning. I love You. Thank You for our precious grandchildren.

New Furniture

2011-02-01T10:36:00.003-05:00

   Here is my new sofa! It looks really nice in the living room. We're used to very light furniture, now we have very dark...it's going to take some getting used to. But it's very comfortable to sit on. The pillows that came with it are beautiful and we only expected two. There are four pillows!
   This is my new platform rocker with a matching ottoman. It's so comfortable...I fell asleep last night watching a movie on the Hallmark channel and missed the ending. :( Oh well, it was just a movie.
   My computer desk and printer are behind the rocker so it looks messy back there...sorry. I don't know how to have a computer desk orderly. I try...
   Remember, you can click on the pictures to bring them up closer.
   Thank You, Lord, for our new furniture. We are so blessed.

Family Wall

2011-01-29T15:17:00.004-05:00

This is my Our Family wall in the dining room. I bought the stencil when I was in Colorado. I went to an Upper Case party with Cookie. I love all the stencils. I've had this now for about a year but wanted to paint the room first. While Tim was here he painted the wall and there we are! You can click on the picture to bring it up bigger. I guess I should identify the pictures.
1. Jerry and me. 2. Tyler, Jessica, Rob, Haleigh, Elmise, Armon. 3. Matthew, Katie, Andrew, Pam, Gene. Andrew's marriage to Katie. 4. Shauna, Annie, Kaleb, Tim. 5. Megan, Max, Miller, Christy, Sean, Maddie, Mason. 6. Isabella, Ted, Sydney.
Lord, thank You for my family. There is a lot of love on this wall, thank You.

Happy Birthday January 29

2011-01-29T12:09:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Megan! I can't believe you're 15 years old! My, how the years are running by! You're very pretty and sweet, I'm very proud of you! I don't get to see you very often because of the miles between us but you are in my thoughts and prayers every day. I'm sure you're probably celebrating your birthday today, since it's Saturday. I do hope you're having fun with family and friends. I love you.
Dear Lord, please bless Megan on her birthday. Please keep Your Hand of protection upon her as she's growing up and into her teen years now. Help her to make the right kind of friends, to keep her body pure. Please keep her safe. Help her to grow in Your Love. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Journal

2011-01-28T19:48:00.002-05:00

   We just made a major purchase today and that always makes me nervous. We bought a new sofa and a platform rocker with a matching ottoman.
   Our old sofa was purchased about 15 or even 16 years ago and has served us well. It's time for a new one. Today was a big sale day at a furniture store here in town, so we went to look... We came home with a platform rocker and matching ottoman. Tuesday the sofa will be delivered.
It's very exciting but also scary. Did we do the right thing? Did we spend too much money? Will it look right in our living room?

   Another improvement today was putting the "Our Family" stencil on the dining room wall above the family pictures! It looks good! Jessica came over and helped me put it on. I've been waiting to paint the wall before I put the stencil on and Tim painted the wall when he was here so now I had no excuse. It's looks really good! This is from the Upper Case Living party that I went to with my sister-in-law, Cookie, when I was visiting in Colorado. It's about time I get it put on the wall. Now I have another one that Cookie gave to me as a gift. Jessica and I are thinking about where to put it...

   I had my first full body massage yesterday! It was a Christmas gift from Jerry! I loved it and hope to have another one some time.

   Today my church printed the newsletter, that I'm editor of, for the first time ever! This is my fifth year of writing Prime Time News, I've always printed it out at home. Readers give me money to pay for the color ink cartridges. But now, the church is doing the printing for me! What a relief this is! I had to have it ready by 11:00 am today and that wasn't easy to do but I did it. It comes out bi-weekly.
   My brother, Richard, has helped me immensely in putting out the newsletter. He's a writer and knows the business. I'm an amateur but love writing it. He has helped me put out a newsletter that I'm proud to say: I'm the editor! Thanks again, Richard.

   Well, it's time for me to sit in my new rocker with my feet up! It's very nice.
   Lord, how can I say thanks for all You have given me? The first thing is eternal life. Then comes my personal relationship with Jesus. My family is next: Jerry, my mother, my children, my grandchildren, my extended family, friends, church, home. I could go on and on. You have blessed me beyond measure and I don't deserve it. Please help me to live my life pleasing to You.

Work...Work...Work

2011-01-25T22:27:00.002-05:00

Tim working on upstairs sink.

Jerry filling holes in dining room.

Tim came for a week visit and he has worked from day 1! The first thing he did was reload the logs on the front porch. Here he is replacing the faucets, etc., in the upstairs bathroom. He put new faucets in the shower, upstairs sink, downstairs sink. He painted the dining room ceiling and inside wall, also the living room wall to match the dining room ceiling. He put up new motion lights outside the garage.

Tim is starting the dining room wall. It's a green we hoped would match the green in the Lord's Supper picture. You can see we matched it pretty good!

Lord, thank You for hard working children!
Thank You for this good visit we've had with Tim, and with Pam and Gene over the weekend, and with Rob and Jessica and kids when they came over. Please give Tim a safe trip back home tomorrow.

A Great Football Day

2011-01-24T13:05:00.001-05:00

Pam & Gene ready for football!

Sunday was a great football day. Pam and Gene really get into the spirit of it. You can see they even dress for the games! Yesterday the Chicago Bears played the Green Bay Packers. Being from Chicago, of course they wanted the Bears! After that game the New York Jets played the Pittsburgh Steelers. They used to live in Pittsburgh, so of course they were for the Steelers!
It was really going to be a great football day! Would you believe we lost our cable during the first game - Bears & Packers?! So they left to watch the game at Dammon's. Jerry and Tim stuck it out here and kept track of what was going on, on the internet. It wasn't the same but during the second half the cable came back on.

Well, sadly, the Bears lost to the Packers.
But, happily, the Steelers won over the Jets!
So...the Packers and the Steelers will be playing in the Super Bowl! That will be another great football day.
Thank You, Lord, for great sports and entertainment.

A Great Day

2011-01-22T20:20:00.002-05:00

Gene and Tim burning the brush pile.

It was 15 degrees out and Tim, son, and Gene, son-in-law, decided to burn the brush pile for Jerry. Boys will be boys is all I can say. They seemed to enjoy themselves!

Pam showing a pillow.

Pam and I were making pillows and curtains. My sewing machine started giving me problems so, in the picture, Tim is oiling it for me. Pam is showing one of the pillows we're working on. This was a favorite shirt of Matthew, grandson. She hated to throw it away but the shirt shrunk when she washed it and the lining didn't. So we left the pockets on it, buttoned the front down, cut the sleeves off and made a nice pillow! We're not finished yet but it's coming. You can click on the picture to see the details better. We made two other pillows and curtains for the family room.

Paula Deen Signature Pans.

   Gene took me shopping! He helped me pick out a set of pans. He's a good shopper and because he's employed at a department store in Chicago, his employer discount was good here too! So I have a new set of Paula Deen Signature pans.
   When we came home from shopping he fixed our supper! Chicken, pasta, and steamed veggies. Pam said it's called, Healthy Food for You! It was very tasty!
   Lord, thank You for family, for children, for help from our children, for loving care.