Today

God wants us to move
through this day
with a quiet heart,
an inward asurance that
He is in control,
and a peaceful certainty
that our lives
are in His hands.

Update

Dad is better, but not well enough to come home. He will be placed in the same nursing home my Grandmother was in. It is a really nice one. He is mad at Mom because she is 'putting' him there. He said he would just walk home. My brother Wayne lives next door to my parents, and is keeping a real good eye on her.

The nursing home stay is to try to help him regain his strength, but we all know it could be that he ends up staying there.

That won't be easy on him,

.. .................or Mom,

.. ........................or us kids.

Dad

Monday evening my baby sister called, I cheerfully greeted her with ,"Hi Becky, how are you?" Really didn't care for her response, "Not so good, considering."

"Considering what?"

"We put Dad in the hospital tonight."

It seems he has gotten a nasty virus that has settled in his lungs and has left him very weak. The ER doctor wanted to send him home. Mom called their Dr, who then read the ER Dr the riot act and then some!!!!! The nurses are giving Dad regular treatments to try and clear out his lungs, and he is on oxygen.

Mom says she has given the situation to the Lord. Dad does have prostrate cancer and Alzheimer's. And he is 84. So, I guess Mom is handling it quite well.

I do ask for prayer for the family. Thanks.

Christmas with a Capital C

Here (hear) is a new Christmas song that is now on my favorite list. (Be warned, I am basically a kid--this a kid song by a kid group) you probably will have to copy and paste cuz this kid can't always make things work the way I want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

TIME

Time--I was so sure I had enough. And I probably had more than enough, but thieves came and stold some. My plans for great Christmas gifts are reduced to plans, unfulfilled. Unfinished....

But is it Christmas. The time of celebration of Christ's coming to earth as our Savior. We will still have a great time. Decorations are up, not as many as years past, but they are pretty and make us smile. Cards are coming in the mail, some with newsletters, some with photos to keep us updated and smiling. Visitors are coming, some with treats. All with smiles and good visits leaving us smiling and feeling great. Packages come, surprises await us. Smiles, good feelings, and love.

This the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

Yeah for Son-in-laws

This evening my son-in-law decided that enough was enough. He came loaded with tools and determination to rid my blog of problems. Oh no, not my blog, my sink. He dismantled various joints and ran snakes and bend coat hangers in the pluged pipes. Lots of black, stinking, thick gunk drained out. Unfortunately, he ended up wearing some of it.

But the drain is open. Water descends. Susie & Dwight smile. And how in the world do you thank and repay a young man like our Tim? Can not even begin to imagine. He sure does not fit the stereotype of in-law-kids.

THANKS TIM. You are a terrific.

More $$$$$$

Well, the sink is still clogged. Three failed attempts with very strong drain opener. The last one should have been left at the store. All it did was smell up the house with horrid fumes, had a pan of vanilla water simmering on the stove all evening and asked Aaron to take the kids home early. Yuck!!

I tried running the dishwasher, which runs into the same pipe and it was fine. So the blockage is above. It has a spot where I can remove part of the pipe, but I don't want to do it alone, but since everyone is quite busy when I am free and I am busy when they are free I guess it is time to call in the 'pros'. My checkbook hates that idea.

God is good, all the time, even when we have such frustrations. Things could be worse....we could have no water, or all the pipes could have a problem. Right now it is wash into buckets and dump the buckets. I can handle that for awhile.

Good News, Bad News

Dwight made some calls yesterday and found a registered Maytag repair place. They said that some of the parts of the frig carried a 10 year warranty and we would only pay labor if it was one of them. It wasn't. But it was a part that Maytag has had problems with and the new and improved replaced was right in the truck. So for $180 we are cold again (in the frig). Just in time, as the weather here took an Ohio turn and was heading for 50 when I left for work. We did have to throw some more food away, but we do have some in the newly cleaned and rearranged frig. I changed some of the shelving around and let Dwight put in the frig stuff so he can get to it easier for him. We are thankful to our Great God for the repair, it is alot less than even the least expensive refrigerator that wouldn't have been as nice as the one we have.

BAD NEWS--As I was finishing a comment on my sister's new blog (which it wouldn't let me post) Dwight called from the kitchen that both sides of the sink were plugged.
And after a half hour of work they are still plugged. With foul, dark, yucky water from the pans he was washing. Of course this old house has weird drains. And, of course I have NO Draino in the house. And I am not about to go out at this hour, in this neighborhood to get any, tomorrow will have to do. Hope I can wake myself early enough to do so. My alarm clock quit working Sunday and Dwight sleeps thru his. Boy is getting older interesting. And I have a cold, poor me. They have the heat turned heat down in Jo Ann's and twice last week I got really chilled. And now...

But God is good, I still have a job, contrary to rumors and the latest news; see: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20081205/FREE/812059947/1090/RSS0.

It is Advent, and we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We wonder at the fulfilment of the prophecies. This a time I love to get out my Thompson Chain Reference Bible and reread them all. And the Christmas music. So many styles. So many artists. Our satellite has a CD holiday station and we listen for awhile every night.

Thankful for bitter cold?!?!?!?

Altho it is no secret that I am a lover of snow, bitter cold is not my list of favorites. I really don't like being cold. When we lived in Leetonia and heated with a wood burner during the day I heated at night with an electric blanket and lots of extra blankets.

But Saturday morning I was thankful it was cold, and that it is still cold. You see, I found my refrigerator had died. Like some people, it was only blowing hot air. I quickly found some boxes and loaded up meat and such from the freezer and took it to the garage/shop. While I was at work Dwight tried to find a repair person. Seems they like answer machines on Saturday. All but one gave their hours Monday thur Friday. That one stated that their rate is $92 an hour plus parts. Ouch!

I was prepared to go to Home Depot and pick one out Saturday after work but Dwight thinks we should wait till he talks with a breathing person. I am sure it is the compressor--after all it wasn't blowing cold air! Seems that when we had the compressor replaced on our frig in Leetonia 15-20 years ago it cost about $100.

Tomorrow will be the deciding day. In the mean time - meat is in the garage and a foam cooler is sitting outside the back door and the refrig sits empty. OH--and I have made three trips to the trash can with everything that spoiled or would spoil.

Some people say that they have a black cloud over them--I am tempted to look over my shoulder for mine. I am thankful that I didn't buy alot of the things I had considered at Sam's club--fresh ground beef, frozen fish, a double pack of Velveeta, and other things. Normally I would have, but I must now acknowledge that God was keeping my hands off all that food that probably would have been lost.

But the SNOW is beautiful, soft and light. Could use a little more.

Learning by example...

Today Isaiah and I took a short road trip to Mt Vernon Nazarene University. We had a great trip up thru the country, enjoying farmland and
beautiful homes on the way.
At MVNU we cheered for the Shepherd Naz Quiz team as they (both teams) earned 2nd place trophies. This was Isaiah's first teen quiz and he quickly caught on to the quizzing techniques, especially the scoring.

After a short detour (heading in the wrong direction) we stopped at Wendy's for a frosty and a coffee. (Guess which one I got..)

But, the best part of the day for me was observing the maturing of my grandson and the generous nature he is developing, I am sure, in part, from the example of his parents. After lunch in the cafeteria we stopped at the gift shop with our Quiz team. After a slow trip around the shop, Isaiah shopped for his family, ever so careful to get
the right gift for each one.
And he didn't get a thing for himself.

I was pretty pleased with him, but the best was yet to come.

On the way home he was counting his money and I noticed he had quite a few ones. I asked if I could buy ten from him for Papa's bus trips--no problem. And he threw a few quarters, no I didn't have to buy them. When I got home I gave them to Papa. The dear child had slipped in an extra one
and had given seven quarters.


Children learn what they live.

Kudos to the parents leading by example.

Kudos to Isisah for learning.

Snow, Snow, Snow

Mom called tonight. They have had several small snows so far this year, but Monday morning they woke to 12 inches of new snow. They couldn't even open the back door.
My brother Wayne cleared part of their driveway, but Dad won't let Mom go anywhere, not even to shovel the porch.

They have had some more snow showers, and then today 3 inches of snow and will have 5-6 more over night and up to 10 inches tomorrow.

I don't ever remember this much snow this early in the season as a kid. Bet they don't have school tomorrow.

My sister Becky was driving home Sunday night from visiting her daughter, once she hit Cleveland it was pretty much whiteouts, she drove extremely slow the whole way to Falconer NY, keeping an eye on the tail lights in front of her. Thank you God for your protection.

Doors, gutters and gone...

We have new gutters. And recycled down spouts. One just ends at the corner of the house. I moved a run off to it day. Couldn't find the other one--opps, yes I found it. On the other down spout, with the drain ending up against the foundation wall. Yes, that is exactly what I said, uptight against the wall. I tried to take it off the down spout, but it is not about to come off without removing one of the thing-a-ma-gigs that holds it tight. Hm-m-m---

I went to Lowe's Monday after work and found a side door, my wonderful son-in-law, Tim, came and brought it home for us. the sub installed it Wednesday.

Dwight wanted to talk with general contractor before he finished paying, but of course the Shirey luck was in control again. He came while Dwight was at Pain Management and Aurora and I were flying out the door to pick up Jackson from school.

But, we have have door and gutters and a semi repaired railing. I think I can handle the rest in my free time.

We could have been totally ripped off or charged three or four times as much. Or the house could have suffered more damage. We thank God for his goodness.

Snow, wind, storm doors

Sometimes you just want to scratch your head.
Why?
Is Murphy's Law living at the Shirey's?

We have been waiting, and waiting and waiting for the contractor to come and fix the problems created by the wind storm in September.

And waiting.

He stopped by Wednesday stated he would have a man on the job Thursday. We needed half down to get the job started. Ok. And a check for the storm doors. Ok.

Thursday came and went, no one came.

Friday, about 10 he finally came. He fixed the ramp railing. Mostly. It is loose, it is nailed, but not screwed. And the damaged storm doors were taken off. Additional damage was discovered at the side door. He took off the gutters. The gutter people will be here Saturday, he said. So would he with the new doors.

One of the doors we chose is not available. No where.

Friday night it started raining. No gutters, no storm doors.

Saturday has come and gone....wind and snow have come. But no storm doors. No gutters. And no answers, the phone has been disconnected. Dwight is confident the general contractor is a good guy. I'm not sure about the sub contractor.

And we have no storm doors and no gutters.
But we have drafts and water in the basement.

Am I Famous...

or just another youtube floating around out there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuN4nL_StIU&eurl=http://video.aol.com/video-detail/preview-women-of-faiths-2009-event-a-grand-new-day/2675099946

Better, with new challegnes

Two new drugs have been added to Dwight's menu. One is a bi-weekly shot that is done in the Dr office. It does seem to be helpful, his color is better and he has more energy. Also (Praise the Lord) he isn't as cold as he as been. Last Friday night he had the house at 78 degrees... I found that rather uncomfortable!!!!!!!!!!!!! And he isn't wrapping up in as many blankets.

Thanks to all who have been praying for us. There is just no way to tell you how much that means and how much those prayers have been helpful. There are many times we are aware of the strength that we have that comes from the prayers of others. I have no idea of how many wonderful, faithful people are whispering our names and needs to God, but I ask God to bless you all in His special wonderful ways. We serve a great merciful God.

Good News

Dwight visited the lab on Wednesday to donate more of his blood for science to explore. (Not sure how much more he has left, he donated 20 vials in 3 1/2 days in the hospital--I don't think the fluids they were pumping into him where as much to flush his system as it was to replace blood!)

The results of the blood work was sent to another Dr as Dwight's DR is on vacation. The numbers are looking very good--they are going down faster than they did in the hospital.(They are still above normal) AND that is without the one drug that Dwight is not taking twice a day as prescribed. And he forgets to drink extra water in the afternoon. Praise God.

He is still battling depressed feelings from all this, especially being in the house alone while I am at work. He misses seeing his children and grandchildren and all the friends and interaction he has had in the past. But, he continues to lean on God. And he prays often and much for his family, friends and prayer requests that come his way.

Kidnapped

I turned the corner into Tim & Karin's development just as Isaiah was heading for home. Isaiah was having a great time, laughing and joking with a group of classmates. I quickly pulled over, a smiling Isaiah looked up and climbed into my van. I turned into the first street, turning away from the 'Hennhouse'. I then headed away from development. Repeatedly Isaiah asked where his MOM was and where were we going. There was a moment or two of nervousness, till Karin called. He giggled when I told her I had kidnapped her son and was demanding a ransom. Once he talked to her he was ok, especially when I pulled into his favorite restaurant--Steak 'n Shake.

I'm not sure he stopped talking--he reminded me of my Grandmother, she often was the last one done eating cuz she enjoyed talking to her family.

The greatest part of the kidnapping was when Isaiah walked me out to my van and told
me 'I love you.' Smiling, he returned to the warm, cozy Henn Home.

Hindsight is always clearer

We should have just said no, no he isn't going...

Dwight has been home four days. All the stay did
was lower his calcium from 7.0 to 6.3. He should
be at 2.0. But his is in more pain, more tired, and
now as shingles (the Dr on the phone thinks).
Probably from the stress. He called the Dr's practice
today to try to get in and see a different Dr today, (his
is on vacation this week.)all he got was a recording.

He also needs to give more blood--a long trip down the
hall, up an elevator and another long hall. And reschedule
pain management that he missed last week. And wound
care. And he is always cold.

I could go on and on, but that is depressing. We have
enough of that already. Dwight is having a very hard
time facing all of this, especially the pain. He doesn't
like me going to work, he gets lonely, but I must.

And now the grandkids can't visit for 3-4 weeks cuz of the
shingles.

Coming Home

Dwight called. They have released him to come home.

COTA Mainstream is picking him up at 2:30.

BUT......

they have been successful in reducing his calcium levels, and

therefore the creatainine (sp?) levels are still up.

No, they don't know why.

They have tested for everything: cancer; lung disease;

and everything in between.

-

-

To back up--Tuesday they moved him to a newer building.

Supposedly with a

handicap bathroom. Don't think they understand

what a truly handicap person

needs in a bathroom. Like handicap bars that are

near the toilet. A toilet that

can be accessed from a wheelchair.

-

But they did get Dwight a terrific bed. They had to rent it,

it is unbelievable.

So is the cost--$10,000. Yes, $10,000.

Guess I won't be buying one.

But he is coming home.

I will let you know what is next....

-

-

A HUGE THANK-YOU

to all you wonderful family and friends who have sent

prayers and good wishes to and for us. Dwight and I

and our family

all greatly appreciated it.

Who will make the coffee?

One of my favorite speakers/authors, Margaret Jensen wrote, "Who will wind the clock?" Borrowing from her, I sit in my very silent house, the only sounds being the dripping shower head and the quartz clock on the living room wall.

No sounds from the kitchen of my husband preforming his nightly rituals., First of all, making a pot of coffee for the morning. No mind you, my husband doesn't drink coffee. Not at all. Not even one little sip. But every night he prepares the pot for the morning brew, carefully getting every thing right for me. All I do is plug in the pot, first thing--even before the poor dancing dog gets let out.

Who will make the coffee as my husband lies in a too small, uncomfortable hospital bed?

When I left at midnight they were still getting him prepared for tomorrow. They didn't put the IV in until 11:15PM. We got there at 4:00--long story--mostly, hurry, get here, but we(the hospital) aren't ready.

Guess I'll go make the coffee in my too quiet house.

OFF TO THE HOSPITAL

Latest blood work done today. It was an interesting time just getting there. Dwight uses COTA Mainstream, special transportation for the handicap. He has 'door to door', which means the driver is supposed to push him from our door to the bus, and from the bus to the door of his destination. Our ramp goes out the back door so the bus uses the alley to pick Dwight up. Today the electric company was working on lines on one end of the alley and the phone company was on the other--the bus couldn't get in. So it parked out front of the neighbors and pushed Dwight thru our pea gravel (no small task), down the alley to the neighbors drive, down the drive and to the front street. That is one great driver.

Both Drs called Dwight before I got home about the results. The kidney Dr wasn't too happy that Dwight won't just pack up and check into the hospital, she doesn't seem to understand how Cota mainstream works as far as scheduling going. Dwight told he won't go till Monday, I don't think she is used to someone telling her no. Dwight talked with is regular Dr and she said Monday if fine. But it does need to be done. A super flush, alot of fluids in and out to try and get the calcium out of his system.

But we don't know when a bed will be avaiable so it will still have to be a same day service call, Monday is the busiest for that. But we will just wait and see and trust God to work it all out.

More later...............

Summer?

It isn't Indain Summer, it hasn't frosted.

It's not Fall, it is in the high 70s and low 80s.

The tomatoes are blooming and setting fruit,

the mums are reblooming,

the mint is going to seed and looking puzzled.

The grass still needs mowed.

And it is October 15th,

the windows are open

and the furnace isn't running.

Summer?

Ok, just what is going on?????

Dwight went for his quarterly blood work on Friday morning. It also included some tests as follow up to his kidney biopsy. At supper time his regular Dr called and inquired as to how he was feeling, really stressing that question with the suggestion that if he was feeling really bad maybe he should be in the hospital. Just how did Dwight feel? Other than the constant pain, fine. Just Fine, thank-you. Why? Oh, your numbers are bad again.

Hm-m-m-m.... And we want to retest you on Monday. Of course that didn't happen, you can't schedule a ride Friday night for Monday morning. And he said so. But Monday afternoon the Dr called--why wasn't there any blood work done. Hm-m-m-m...

Off Tuesday morning for repeat blood work.

And now it will be repeated again this Friday.

Why?

The numbers are still the same--high. And the kidney Dr say he should be sick. No appetite (not a problem, Dwight is eating normal -- unlike earlier this summer.) and he should be experiencing a whole list of other problems. The Dr doesn't understand why Dwight is feeling ok. Let me tell you, if he felt like the Dr described she won't know he was sick because he wouldn't have gone in for his blood work. Don't you love how things work?

So now he is flushing his system with excessive liquids and another new RX.

If that doesn't work, then a hospital stay for intense flushing.

Frustration Part III

Another Dr visit, with a Dr Dwight hasn't seen in three years. A review of all the reports of the last three months, results, etc. A comment, (not exact words), I don't think I would have rushed into the kidney biopsy. And alot of your challenges are from the (unnecessary) meds. AND, I don't wonder that you are feeling down, being stuck in the house--alone-- with this would make anyone depressed. The Dr told Dwight that he believes he did the right thing taking himself off the meds that didn't seem to be helping, but rather causing more problems.

I wonder at my husband. I don't know how he keeps going. Don't know how he doesn't totally crack. (Yes, he is a little cracked, always has been, that's him). He doesn't sleep more that a total of two hours at a time, sometimes only an hour. Often it is dozing in the wheelchair, how he doesn't fall out, I don't know. Rarely does he get good, refreshing sleep. When a four hour sleep happens it is time for rejoicing. I know I couldn't handle it. I have proof. Two weeks ago he had a REAL bad night and had me awake every hour, or hour and a half. (Now mind you I don't wake easy after I am asleep--think I was sleep walking part of the time.) Anyhow, the next day wasn't easy for me and those around me. And Dwight does it every day. Any one have a spare crown I can have?

Rather than frustration, we should be thankful for his ability to function close to normal.

Thanks for listening.

A.S.A.P.

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.?

Generally we thing of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives.
Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner,we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.


There's work to do, deadlines to meet:

You've got no time to spare,

But as you hurry and scurry-

ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.



In the midst of family chaos,

"Quality Time" is rare.

Do your best; let God do the rest-

ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER



It may seem like your worries

Are more than you can bear.

Slow down and take a breather-

ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER



God know how stressful life is;

He wants to ease our cares,

And He'll respond to all your needs

ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Frustration, Part II

The new drug to fight the 'bug' messes with the mind and the bladder. As Dwight is constantly tired and drugged, he doesn't always understand or remember what I tell him. And it is so hard to not get angry, after all, most of the time he is a normal male. Dwight decided to stop the super antibiotic and has returned to close to normal. He is still very tired, but who won't be if you only slept an hour or two at time and then were awake for 20-30 minutes? All night, every night? But it takes him so long to do everything that it frustrates both of us, and you know how that can affect a relationship. He hasn't been able to get a hold of the Dr that prescribed the meds, hopefully tomorrow. The infection may still be lurking in there.

But the tree is gone and the insurance company says, "Get the ramp and roof fixed!!!!" (Hey, how about a new tree?)

Jackson and Aurora are spending the night, and their soft breathing on the other side of this room is so sweet. I have five wonderful grandchildren. If you haven't stopped by Karin's blog do so, she has some great pics of my two grandsons playing soccer. They sure to love it and are good at it. Esther Faith loves to walk in the store where I work, making sure I know she is there, and then takes off to 'shop'. Kristen's computer is giving her fits so she hasn't been able to update lately, sorry.

The Tree is Gone

Seven days ago we sat in the day marvelling

at Gods goodness.
He spared our and the neighbors house from our huge pine.
And now our son in law was here, in the dark removing

the branches that were over the ramp.

What was left of the root after they removed all the smaller roots.

The root hole,

Aurora wants it back so she can play in it.

The root that is still in the ground,

just before it goes under the sidewalk.

Roof damage:

not bad, the gutter is gone, and a slight concave in the corner.

Kids will be kids

Kids love to climb, especially trees. And apparently, kids of any age.

Karin stopped by Monday after leaving Esther Faith at Day Care so the boys could see the tree in the day light. And soon all three where in the tree...

Opps, hit the wrong file, but it is cute, so we will leave it in. All the kids think our dog, Deanna, belongs to them. When we acquired Deanna in Sept. 2003, she didn't necessarily like kids, but she (and allot of loving and kids sharing dog biscuits) has changed her mind. She even comes to them if they sit still for more than 10 seconds and gets very, very close.
Tuesday night, when Kristen brought her two to spend the night, they both were fearful of

the tree in the dark. But they quickly changed their minds when they saw it in the

bright September sun. Suddenly it was a new playground.

Altho' cautious, Jackson really enjoyed climbing 'up' the tree.

Aurora was content to sit, no climbing for her.

Still fighting the infection

Last week I had to run a Dwight 'sample' to the lab for testing. Today the Dr called, the infection in the kidney is still there and very, very stubborn. So a new, 14 day, script was sent to the Pharmacy. If Dwight doesn't notice some results in 24-48 hours he is to call the Dr; the next step would be a 'port' and daily visits to the hospital for an infusion of a stronger drug.

Hopefully this will work. He has continued to be weaker and weaker. His sugar levels have been dangerously low in the morning, so one of his pills is being adjusted.

Of course, next Monday is the fall equinox and my husbands weather sensitive body is feeling every inch of the earths change .

Oh, can we add one more thing? The storm has left the plaza where I work without electric till possibly Sunday. So-o-o no work, no pay. I guess we have some more challenges to meet, another opportunity to cry out to God in our weakness and let His strength and wisdom power us. He has , He does and He will. Praise the Lord for His love and care.

Openning up

Landing mostly between the houses, some of the tree is on the upper ramp:

You can barely see the door that is the only exit/entrance for Dwight...

But Tim wasn't going to let that remain, he and the family came over with a pruning saw and a modern version of the coal miners lamp, and expended a huge amount of energy to open up the ramp for his favorite father-in-law:

The boys also put in some muscle and cleared off the limbs as their Dad cut them. I think a couple were used as swords, boys will be boys.

Thanks Tim.

God and The Tree

When we bought this little house in Columbus it came with a huge short needle pine right outside the kitchen window. It is tall, 40 to 50 feet; quite old with a large assortment of dead branches. And squirrels and birds. We decided to place our bird feeders outside that window, a great spot for watching for both Dwight and the grandchildren (who are always calling me to come see the male bird or the female bird that is feeding, they sometimes where right on the gender issue, other times it was simply a brown colored bird they called a female--another story.)

But as with age we all weaken, as has this tree. We have discussed having it removed and planting something else. Discussed. A few times. Then Ike visited town.

I left work early cuz the high winds had played havoc with our electric and the registers refused to work. I drove down our street to view the front door that my husband had reported as flying freely on it's hinges, I noticed half the neighborhood staring at our house. There was our tree with a lean to, not a slight lean, but a rather mean lean. I tried to hurry, but neighbors where flagging me down and our alley was full of trash cans and broken limbs. Three stops and with help from the neighbors I got home. I was warned to move my husband to the right side of the living room. One neighbor told me the tree was pulling up from the ground.

I cautiously walked up the ramp with a eye on the swaying pine.

Inside I couldn't find my husband, panic rose in my throat. I called, he as in the study. I informed him of the outside happenings. (Like he wouldn't know) Ran back to window, peaked out, yea, the ground was swelling with each strong gust. And the tree moved closer and closer to the neighbors house. I ran back to the husband, PRAY!!! I am!! So calm--doesn't he feel my panic?!?! Back to the window, more ground swell. Called the neighbors to tell them to move out of their living room--no answer. Back to my husband--

......and
........I
............miss
.............it.


The Tree Came Down.

I have a cell phone video from a neighbor across the street, if you would like to see it email me at susieshirey@yahoo.com and I forward it to you.

Frustration

The biopsy answered many questions, or so we thought. But problems continue and new ones arise. It is so frustrating. Dwight has called Doctors and waited and is still waiting for responses. He hardly dares leave the house, especially with the terrible service he has had from COTA Mainstream this last month. We sure would like some answers and solutions. It is hard to keep a positive attitude, even for my always smiling and laughing husband. Pain, frustration, new problems, weakness----and lack of sleep. He dozes off anywhere, anytime; even moving from room to room.

I asked him what he would like for his birthday--"To wake up and find this has all been a dream." Not sure what store carries that, would love to fix it all for him.

Thanks to all who ask about him and pray for him, it sure does help. We are very aware of the prayers surrounding us. He received a card yesterday that stated that the sender has been praying extra since the day these new problems arose, and no one outside of our family has been aware of them until Dwight called the Drs. It is wonderful how God works.

Sweet Pears

We, mostly Dwight, have eaten pears from both of our trees. The Bartlett are all off the tree and almost too ripe. No, I didn't get any pie made. Some how when you get older you have fewer hours in the day--or is it energy--or.... Anyhow, they have been greatly enjoyed. This noon Aurora ate a small one, sized just right for her. She was hesitant to bite it, but soon got going. It was so juicy that a loudly protested shower followed. Aurora wasn't overly fond of the pear, but was pleased to be eating Papa's fruit from Papa's tree.

We also have sampled the Moonglow pear, it has a different taste. I enjoyed it more than the Bartlett. Can't wait for next year, hopefully the Ayers tree will also bless us with fruit. Fruit trees: beauty in the spring, shade in the summer and fruit in the fall. (Also, our birds enjoy sitting in them and singing for us.)

And....

....it is still raining.

Guess it is time to go to bed and let it

gently carry me

off to sleep

AH-H-H-H.......

After way too long without a decent rain it is ---raining. Slow and steady, a perfect September rain. It took it all day to get it going, but about 10:30 tonight we could hear the gentle, sweet sound of the steady rain. No starts and stops, no gushes--just slow and steady. Washing the dust off the trees, plants and house. Slowly soaking into the ground. Watering the fruit, veggies, herbs---and, oh yes, that god that is worshiped in the cities of America, the lawn. The air coming in the window is fresh and sweet, refreshing. I will sleep much better night than the nights we have had to run the A/C. (Country girls just have to have fresh air!!)

For this we say, "Thank you God".

Do The Next Thing

I listened for years to "Gateway to Joy", with Elizabeth Elliott. Wife Jim Elliott. She often refereed to poem, "Do The Next Thing". I always liked the poem, but in the last six years have found it to be a necessary boost to my daily living:

Do The Next Thing

*

Well, from an old English parsonage,

down by the sea

There came in the twilight

a message to me;

It's a quaint Saxon legend,

deeply engraven,

Hath, as it seems to me,

teaching from heaven.

And on through the hours

the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration--

"DO THE NEXT THING!"

*

Many a questioning, many fear,

Many a doubt,

hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment,

let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, guidance,

are given.

Fear not tomorrows,

Child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus,

"DO THE NEXT THING!"

-

Do it immediately;

do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care'

Do it with reverence,

tracing His Hand

Who placed it before thee with

earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence,

safe 'neath His wing, Leave all resultings,

"DO THE NEXT THING!"

*

Looking Jesus, ever serener,

(Working or suffering)

be thy demeanor,

In His dear presence,

the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance

be thy psalm, Strong in His faithfulness,

praise and sing,

Then, as He beckons thee,

"DO THE NEXT THING"

*

*

Altho' the English is old, there seems to be an added strength to the meaning, trust it

encourages and lifts someone else along this journey.

Fresh pears

Three years ago I planted three pear trees. The tags have fallen off, and my mind doesn't remember what they are, other than three different kinds, and the one at the front corner of the house is the most colorful. But two of them bloomed and now we have fresh pears. Dwight ate the first one today and was almost speechless...

I will be picking them this week, altho they are alittle green--I have discovered that the ants are rather anxious for them to mature and are sampling them. This isn't Sam's club you know, get lost. Any how, we will have a lot of pears from our first crop. There may be a pear pie, or something of the sort in Dwight's near future.

I am now seriously considering a couple of apple trees to add to our small orchard. Just need to decide on the type, cost and muscle power--oh, and the all elusive, but important ingredient, TIME.

Results

Dwight visited the kidney Dr yesterday. The lining tissues of his kidneys have damage and scaring from several possibilities, topmost to much Advil. He has taken large doses since his first back injury in 1990. True to the warnings, damage can happen. He also a kidney infection. Both of these have contributed to the weakness, loss of appetite and other problems. The infection has caused fever and chills. The paper he was given from the lab was two pages long with a lot of medical words that I have no idea what they are telling us.

We now are doing all we can to eliminate the infection and not cause any more damage. We were encourage to learn that his diabetes has not caused any problems. Praise the Lord.

Thanks again.

My grandkids and kids at the fair

P1000033.jpg (image)

Papa D update

My husband, Dwight has been fighting some extra challenges the past few months. Blood work results that were alittle askew. Not feeling well--a three week long 'virus'. (Is that what we call something when we reallycan't figure out what is going on?) And a real drop in strength. So the kidney Dr ordered a kidney biopsy. Needless to say this has caused our family to wonder and worry. Then we were told that instead of just observing Dwight for a few hours after the biopsy, they wanted to keep him overnight-- till they got the results on Wednesday. This wasn't the most comforting news and did make me consider having an ulcer.

But the nurses in the Radiology Department questioned this and called the Dr. It seems someone in the office didn't understand our transportation needs and 'just decided' to give the order to stay over--it didn't come from the Dr, but sounded like it did. This wonderful, compassionate nurse even call COTA Mainstream and got my dear husband a ride home within the hour. WOW, I am not sure even Dwight could have done that and they know his name and voice at Mainstream dispatch.

We are safely home, Karin stopped by with the grandchildren so that Isaac could see, hug and pray for his PAPA. He is quite a PAPA's boy and was not happy that PAPA was going into the hospital.

Thanks to all who have expressed concern and offered prayers for Dwight.

Fixed

Fixed the link to Greycat Creations, my website showing some of what I have been sewing l lately. Hopr to have prices and shipping on them soon. Haven't had time to get to the post office.

Summer Thoughts

It has been a great summer. The tomatoes are doing great--I have at least a dozen plants, all producing. I only planted three. The rest are volunters--so far only one has ripe tomatoes on it. Two look like romas. Isn't great. I have purple basil. I don't use basil but the plants are beautiful. The cucumbers lived long enough to give several for eating straight from picking--the squash beetles ended their lives before I had enough for pickles. Probably a good thing, won't have time to pickle anyhow. Had a few handfuls of blueberrys. I do believe they are the easist fruit to pick. And the pears, oh the pears. They look wonderful, two are starting to get a blush on them. And we had a wonderful rubarb pie this spring, if we get enough rain or I remember to water it, we may have one more in September.

We have been having a great time with the grandkids coming over. I could bore you silly with proud grandparent stories about how outstanding, talented, beautiful, handsome, great, etc, etc our kids are---and it all is true. But I won't-----you are welcome. (If you really want to know, ask or read the girls blogs)

But--Dwight is having a terrible summer. Pain, weakness, new pains, lack of appetite, and many other things. He has had many extra blood tests and has more tests coming. Would really like to know what is going on. If God prompts you, we would appreciate your prayers. Thanks.

Too Good not to Share

The Power to Tear Down or Build Up

Series: Becoming a Woman of Discretion
Monday, August 4 2008

Leslie Basham: Here’s Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: As we’ve moved now into the 21st century, we find so few models of truly wise women and so many models of foolish women. There’s such a widespread lack of teaching and understanding today.
One of the things that God has really put on my heart is the need for us as women to realize the power of our influence and to ask God to examine our hearts and our lives as Christian women to show us areas where we are foolish though we may have been blind to it or ignorant of it. We need to get wise to where we’ve been foolish.
Leslie: This is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It’s Monday, August 4. You’ve probably seen news reports showing a building being imploded. The tearing down of a building can draw huge crowds as engineers demonstrate their power to reduce a large, stable structure to a pile of rubble.
Today on Revive Our Hearts Nancy Leigh DeMoss will warn us of a similar power we have as women. Now, most of us will never demolish an old building, but we can tear down our families and those around us through our words and actions. Here’s Nancy to explain.
Nancy: Throughout the book of Proverbs we read about two different kinds of people. These people are as different from each other as night is from day. We see over and over again references to people who are wise, and the opposite of wise people are those who are foolish. Wise people and foolish people.
When we speak of somebody being wise or being foolish, we’re talking about the condition of their heart. We’re talking about an inner character, what they’re like at the core of their being.
Now we find through the book of Proverbs that whether a person is wise or is foolish in their heart and in their character will determine everything else about them:
the way that they think
the way that they act
the way that they have relationships
the way that they talk
the way that they dress
everything about their lives
the way they spend money
the way they use their time
This is all going to be determined by whether they are wise or foolish.
A person with a wise heart is going to live wisely. A person who has a foolish heart is going to live foolishly. What’s on the inside is going to come out. What comes out in our way of living in every area of life is invariably going to have an influence on the people around us. So our character, our heart, is going to express itself, it’s going to manifest itself, and who we are in our daily living is not just going to matter to us. It matters to the people around us. The people we live with, the people we work with will be influenced by our wisdom or our foolishness.
Now there’s a verse in Proverbs chapter 14, verse 1, that applies this matter of wisdom and foolishness to women—two kinds of women. There are two kinds of women in this room. And at any given moment in my life, I’m living as one of these two kinds of women. Proverbs 14:1 says, “Every wise woman builds her house, but every foolish woman tears it down with her hands.”
Two kinds of women. There are wise women and there are foolish women. Some days I’m acting very much like a wise woman and some days, more than I care to think about, I’m acting very much like a foolish woman because what’s in my heart at any given moment is what’s going to come out.
We see here that the results or consequences of what’s in our heart are pretty serious. If a woman has a wise heart and she’s living wisely, she’s going to be a builder. She’s going to be building up her home. Now we’re not speaking here of just a literal home, although this certainly applies to our families. If you are a married woman, if you have a husband, if you have children, that’s the first home where this all needs to be applied. That’s where wisdom or foolishness comes out in the first place.
But your home may also be other aspects of your surroundings. Your workplace. Your church environment. Your neighborhood. All that is around you. The sphere of influence that God has given you. If you are a woman of wisdom, your life will be constructive. It will be building up the people around you.
Now we would like to be wise women, but we have a warning here and that is that sometimes we can be foolish women. What happens with the foolish woman? She doesn’t just keep her foolishness in her heart. It comes out and it is highly destructive in its influence. The foolish woman tears her house down with her hands.
Now notice in this passage we’re not really given a middle ground. I’m either building up or I’m tearing down. Now ask yourself, what kind of influence am I having on the people around me? Am I having an influence that’s the result of a heart of wisdom or am I having an influence that’s the result of being a foolish woman?
I think we really underestimate the incredible influence that we have as women—for evil or for good. The influence that we have in our homes, in our churches, in our community and in this nation. Now you may not think of yourself as a very influential woman, but I’m here to say you are, and I am.
John Adams, who was the second president of the United States, pointed that out in relation to women in this quote. He said:
From all that I have read of history and government, of human life and manners, I have drawn this conclusion, that the manners of women were the most infallible barometer to ascertain the degree of morality and virtue of a nation.
Do you hear what he’s saying there? If you want to find out how moral and virtuous a nation is, go and look at the way that the women act. He goes on to say:
The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, the Swiss, the Dutch, all of them lost their public spirit and their republican forms of government when they lost the modesty and domestic virtues of their women.
He’s just affirming what God says in His Word. “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands” (Proverbs 14:1, NASB).
I have a friend who is an older man of God. For many years he’s been a speaker, an author. He told me recently that back in 1985 as he was praying, God pressed upon his heart with a strong sense that we were going to see in the years ahead a widespread increased wickedness and corruption among women. He said this was such a heaviness to him, such a strong sense that he began to make it a matter of earnest prayer.
As we talked about this just within the last several months, he shared this with me now many years later. We began to discuss how true this was. We began to name women and some of the names will come to your mind. Women who are well-known in our nation who just epitomize this widespread evil influence of women.
But it’s not just among the well-known women. Among women broadly there’s been a great increase in these last few decades of corruption and wickedness. In recent years we’ve seen in the highest places in our land the powerful influence of ungodly women. The power these women have had to tear down, to destroy, not just individual men, though they have certainly done that, but also the moral sensitivities and fiber of the whole nation.
Now I’m not saying in all of this that men are blameless, but God didn’t call me to preach to men. God didn’t give me the role of facing men with their need for change. God called me as a woman to challenge us as women to see what is our responsibility in this matter.
Let me go a step further. This problem of widespread wickedness and corruption among women is not just in our secular culture. I think you would probably agree with me that in our evangelical Christian world as well there has been an increase, a great increase in ungodliness and foolishness among women.
In so many ways we have redefined what it means to be a woman or what it means to be a man and what the differences are between the two. It’s not uncommon today in Christian settings and even in ministry settings to hear women and men saying that there really aren’t any differences between men and women—any differences of significance. We’ve lost our moorings. Think of some of these old-fashioned words: modest, chaste, discrete, pure. Many women today, many Christian women don’t even know the meaning of those words.
A few years ago I became involved in a situation where there was a Christian leader who had been involved in inappropriate behavior with a female staff member. When his wife faced him with this information, his response was, “Come on, this is the ’90s.” You see the thinking there? Things have changed. Times have changed. Well times certainly have changed, but truth never changes.
As we’ve moved now into the 21st century, we find so few models of truly wise women and so many models of foolish women. There’s such a widespread lack of teaching and understanding today. One of the things that God has really put on my heart is the need for us as women to realize the power of our influence and to ask God to examine our hearts and our lives as Christian women to show us areas where we are foolish though we may have been blind to it or ignorant of it. We need to get wise to where we’ve been foolish so that we can repent and so that we can begin to model the heart of a wise woman.
Then let me take it a step further. Not only do we need to see where we have been foolish so that we can change by God’s grace, but what a need there is for us to teach our daughters and to teach younger women in this generation what it means to be a wise woman. Now first we teach by our example. But then we teach by our words and our discipleship and our mentoring, taking these younger women under our wings and teaching them what it means to be pure, to be modest, to be chaste, to be a godly woman in a dark and ungodly day.
We not only need to teach our daughters and our younger women, but mothers need to be teaching their sons along with the fathers teaching. But mothers as a part of that, teaching their sons what it means to be a man of God and what qualities to admire in a woman and what qualities to avoid in a woman. What does a foolish woman look like? What does she act like? What are her characteristics?
Proverbs chapter 7, provides for us I think one of the most vivid, thorough descriptions of a foolish woman that you will find anywhere in God’s Word. Now I want to begin reading just the first five verses of this chapter and then in the days ahead we’ll go verse by verse through this entire description of a foolish woman and see if there’s anything in this passage that God exposes to be a need in our own lives.
Now actually the context of this passage is that a father is teaching his son and he’s going to warn his son about foolish women. So we as woman need to look at this description and see, is this the kind of woman that this man was warning his son about.
So beginning in verse 1, the father says:
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live.
Now make note of that word live because when we come down the road to the end of this chapter, we’re going to see that the foolish woman leads a man to death. The end of her pathway is the way of death. In the last verse, verse 27 in this chapter, you’ll see that the conclusion of the foolish woman is death.
But this father is saying to his son if you’ll listen to my words and heed my commandments and look for wise women and avoid foolish women, the result will be life. So that says that we as women can be life givers. If we are wise, we can give life to the men around us and we’ll see, to the contrary, if we are foolish women, we will producing death in others.
So this father says, verses 2-3:
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Don’ forget these things, he’s saying. These are so important. Put reminders everywhere around you so that you can be warned against this foolish kind of woman.
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman” (verse 4).
Look for wisdom. Look for understanding, he’s saying. Get close to them. Get closely related to them. And what will happen? He says to his son if you get close to wisdom, if you walk with people who are wise, and if you stay close to wise people, what will happen? Verse 5,
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
The strange woman. Now perhaps your translation says the word adulteress there. Another translation takes that phrase and says the loose woman. The word strange there really means "literally to turn aside." It’s a woman who is wayward. She has turned aside, and she is the epitome of a foolish woman.
In the book of the Song of Solomon chapter 8, verse 9, there’s a verse that references two different kinds of women and there’s a word picture given there. It says that some women are like a wall and some women are like a door. Now as you think about the women you know, and by the way, this is an important thing to notice even in your young daughters because women have more natural bents one direction or the other to be more of a wall or to be more of a door.
When you think of a wall, you think of something that is firm and unyielding. I can’t walk up to that wall—I can push against it, but the wall isn’t going anywhere. It’s not going to move. It’s settled. It’s established. In the Song of Solomon, we’re seeing that some women are like a wall. When foolish or simple or unwise or ungodly men come against them, those women have lives that are built upon convictions and they’re not going anywhere. They’re not going to be moved by ungodly advances or by inappropriate behavior on the part of men. They’re firm. They’re unyielding in their convictions because they have rooted their lives in the ways of God.
Now when you think of a door, as we have some doors in this room. I can walk up to that door and open the door. I can push against it. I can move it back and forth. It’s not going to stay in just one position. That’s a picture of a girl, a woman who yields easily to ungodly or inappropriate behavior on the part of men. She gives in. Her life is not built on conviction.
You see there the difference between the wise woman—she’s like a wall—and the foolish woman who is like a door? Watch for this in your daughters. Teach your sons to watch for it in other women to find out is this woman more like a wall or like a door. The strange woman is the woman who was like a door. She’s a loose woman. She is turned aside. She doesn’t stay in the straight and narrow and holy path.
Now few, if any, of us in this room would consider ourselves to be immoral women. As we’re going to read through Proverbs chapter 7, over these next days, you’ll see some pretty graphic descriptions. The natural response is, “That woman isn’t me. I don’t act that way.” And you may not in terms of outward behavior. But most of us as women today and all of us in some ways have been influenced so subtly by the world and its ways of thinking.
The ways of the world have infiltrated the lifestyles of those of us who are church women. Those of us who know the Lord and we know more about the ways of God have been more influenced than we realize in most cases by worldly and foolish ways of thinking.
Now I’m not suggesting that all of us women, all of us who have been influenced in some way by the world’s way of thinking are adulteresses or harlots is the word used later in this passage. I’m not suggesting that every woman who has any of these characteristics is an immoral woman. But we do need to ask ourselves as we get into this passage if we have adopted any of the characteristics describing this woman.
It talks about:
her speech
her dress
her demeanor
her attitudes
her ways of thinking
her ways of relating to men
her values that are temporal versus eternal.
You may not be this immoral woman who’s hanging . . . I mean this woman in this passage is a prostitute, in a sense. She’s acting like one. She is knowingly, willingly, intentionally ensnaring a young, foolish man, and we’ll see that as the passage unfolds in the days ahead. You may never have had that kind of behavior, but as I’ve gone through this passage I thank the Lord for having, by His grace and mercy, protected me from those outward expressions of this immoral woman.
But I have to tell you, I’ve been convicted over and over again in this passage that some of those traits have roots in my own heart, that some of those characteristics are ways that I have acted and responded toward men. Not in outward, visible ways, but in matters of the heart.
So we have to ask, “Lord, show me if any of these characteristics that we’re going to look at, characteristics of this strange woman, this loose woman, this turned-aside woman, are any of those characteristics in me? Characteristics that ultimately lead to the ruin and the downfall of the men around us.
Any one of us as women, and I’m speaking to women in this room who have a heart for the Lord. You love God. You want to be a godly woman. That’s why you’re here in this session. But any one of us, and I include myself in this, may unwittingly, unknowingly, unintentionally be causing the men around us to stumble.
I’m not just talking about out there in the world. I’m saying in our church relationships, in our Christian homes, in our Christian schools, in our work places. We may be causing the men around us to stumble in foolish ways and ultimately to go in ways that lead to death and not even realize that that’s what we’ve done.
So we need to learn to recognize the traits, the characteristics of this foolish woman, this strange woman, this loose woman and to open up our hearts and say, “Lord, is that me? Have I in ways that I may not have even realized been a foolish woman and been tearing down the lives of the men around me?”
Leslie: Nancy Leigh DeMoss wants to pray with you and she’ll be right back to do just that, but first let me show you how you can follow up on today’s program and study the differences between a wise and foolish woman for yourself. Nancy’s written a booklet called Becoming a Woman of Discretion that goes into detail about some of the issues we’re dealing with this week on the program. The nice thing about the booklet is you can sit with it quietly during your own Bible study time and take it at a pace that’s comfortable for you. It’s an effective way to learn how to avoid being a foolish woman.
When you donate to Revive Our Hearts, we’ll say thanks by sending the booklet Becoming a Woman of Discretion. Ask for the booklet when you call 1-800-569-5959 or donate online at ReviveOurHearts.com. There’s a place on the site to indicate you’d like a copy of Becoming a Woman of Discretion.
Well, if you ever have trouble keeping track of that type of information, everything I provide here at the end of the program, I hope you’ll sign up for the Revive Our Hearts Daily Connection. It’s an email that lets you keep up with all that’s going on with Revive Our Hearts. You’ll read key quotes from Nancy and then "Quick Links" will allow you to find more information from each day’s program.
In fact, we received an email from a woman who had spent quite a bit of time in China and she used the Daily Connection email to read Nancy’s key quotes, but all the links were blocked. She writes, “Now that we’re home, I’ve been able to enjoy the whole transcript and other resources on a daily basis. I thank you for including what you did on the email as it helped me connect to your ministry for our time abroad.” To subscribe to the Daily Connection yourself, just visit ReviveOurHearts.com.
Tomorrow find out how clothing can reveal the foolishness of a heart. Now let’s pray with Nancy.
Nancy: Let’s just take a moment now and pause and open our hearts to the Lord. You may want to just bow your head there before the Lord and say, Lord, show me any ways that I’ve been a foolish woman. Show me any ways that I’ve been a loose woman and any ways that I’ve never seen. I’ve been blind to it. I haven’t realized it. But I just want to be honest before You. I want You to shine the light of Your Word and Your truth into my heart and expose what I may never have seen.
And Lord, where there are those ways in me may I be quick to confess, to agree with You, to repent, and then would You make me into a wise woman? Would you make me into a woman who builds up the lives of the men around me, that my life may be a godly influence? Thank You, Lord, for Your Word and Your ways that are given to protect us and for our good and for the good of those around us. We pray that Your Word would give insight and light into our lives, that You may be glorified through us as Your women. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss is an outreach of Life Action Ministries.
All Scripture is taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.
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IT'S BEAUTIFUL WOMAN MONTH!

Did You Know July Is Beautiful Women Month?

Well, It Is And That Means You And Me.

Facts On Figures :

There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only eight who do.
Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14.
If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to herproportions.
The average woman weighs 144 lb. and wears between! a 12-14.
One out of every four college aged women has an eating disorder.
The models in the magazines are airbrushed -- not perfect!
A psychological study in 1995 found that three minutes spent looking at afashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty, and shameful.
Models twenty years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman.Today they weigh 23% less.

~Beauty of a Woman~

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, The figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes, Because that is the doorway to her heart, The place where love resides. The beauty of a woman Is not in a facial mole, But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, The passion that she shows. The beauty of a womanWith passing years -- only grows.

All In The Point Of View

An English professor wrote the words, "Woman without her man is nothing," on the blackboard and directed the students to punctuate it correctly.
The men wrote: "Woman, without her man, is nothing."
The women wrote: "Woman! Without her, man is nothing."

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE ~ Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE ~ Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE ~ That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE ~ Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE ~ Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

Summer sounds and sights.

After supper this evening I decided that house work can wait and took a stroll outside. There I found an attempted take over by the weeds, fueled by over six inches of rain this week and extremely hot weather. As I attempted to confine my authority of my domain, sentencing to death a large number of weeds, a neighbor flew by letting the neighborhood know there are lots of ways to entertain ourselves--his chosen toy of the night was a go cart with a motor that produced alot of power. Did I mention he is a father of two daughters? Warm summer evenings and a friend sharing his toy allowed him to enjoy life like a kid. -- I remember many summer days on our go cart as a kids many decades ago.

My cucumber have grown alot this week, as have the tomatoes, including a dozen or more volunteers, some even in the lawn and the neighbor missed them with the lawn mower!! The hanging tomato that neighbor got for Dwight has lots of small tomatoes on it!!! I still have an empty planter that Dwight built that is waiting for soil and veggies to be planted. Still time for zucchini and ????

All the flowers look great. Had five jack-in-the-pulpits this year. A pure white pansy seeded itself and looking wonderful amid the greenery of the violets. Under the pine I have a 'weed' that I have yet to identify. It is some type of fern, flowers are about to bloom. Hope I haven't made a mistake letting grow. It is almost as tall as me.

Looks of blueberries coming on and two of the pear trees have fruit on them.

Guess you can't take to country out of the farm girl.

Children Learn

When we our children were 'children' we had a wall hanging called,

"Children Learn What They Live"

it is great, altho', unfortunately, I was often in too much of a hurry to remember it's teachings. I would love to share it with you and trust that you will allow it to influence you.

(It does shed great insight into ourselves also.)

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

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If children live with CRITICISM

they learn to CONDEMN.

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If children live with HOSTILITY,

they learn to FIGHT.

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If children live with FEAR,

they learn to be APPREHENSIVE.

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If children live with PITY,

they learn to FEEL SORRY FOR THEMSELVES.

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If children live with JEALOUSY,

they learn what ENVY is.

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If children live with SHAME,

they learn to feel GUILTY.

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If children live with TOLERANCE,

they learn to be PATIENT.

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If children live with ENCOURAGEMENT,

they learn to be CONFIDENT.

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If children live with PRAISE,

they learn to APPRECIATE.

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If children live with APPROVAL,

they learn to BE THEMSELVES.

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If children live with ACCEPTANCE,

they learn to FIND LOVE in the world.

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If children live with RECOGNITION,

they learn to have a GOAL.

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If children live with SHARING,

they learn to be GENEROUS.

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If children live with HONESTY and FAIRNESS,

they learn what TRUTH and JUSTICE are.

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If children live with SECURITY,

they learn to have FAITH in themselves

and in those around them.

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If children live with FRIENDLINESS,

they learn that the world is a NICE place

in which to live.

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If children live with SERENITY,

they learn to have PEACE OF MIND.

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WHAT ARE YOUR CHILDREN LIVING WITH?

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Excellent Student

Since we married, 36 years ago, I have forbade my husband to use my Singer sewing machine. I, after all, was the seamstress. Didn't matter that I could run most of his woodworking tools quite well. If it was to be sewn, I would do it. But...things change, like a wheelchair and a new sewing machine. (Purchased, lovingly, by the dear husband.) This sewing machine has lots of super features, like push button start and stop, locking stitchings at the beginning and ending of the seam, and auto thread cutter. Thus, when Dear Dwight asked me to show him how to sew a seam I jumped at it:

I put the machine on it's slowest speed so he could keep all his fingers and sanity.

Ta-da...the first seam. Do I see a look of wonderment?


And then, the true carpenter. It is straight? Now, mind you, this is his first ever, ever seam. And, according to him it is NOT straight. I only saw one small wobble, one--his first seam. I told him that with his skill and perfectionism he could piece all my quilt tops...I haven't convinced him yet.

More Truths

8. The blood of Christ is sufficient to cover all my sin. (2 John 1:7)

9. The cross of Christ is sufficient to conquer my sinful flesh. (Romans 6:67 --I don't have to sin--Romans 6:14

10. My past does not have to plaque me. (1 Cor 6:9-11)
**My past failures can become stepping stones to greater victory and fruitfulness.
**If I will let Him, God will cause everything that has happened to me to work together for
my good and for His glory.

11. God's Word is sufficient to lead me, teach me, and heal me. (Psalms 19:7; 107: 20; 119:105)

12. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, God will enable me to do anything that He commands
me to do. (1Thess. 5:24)
**There is no one that I cannot forgive. Mark 11:25
** There is no one that I cannot love. Matthew 5:44
**I can give thanks in all things. 1 Thess 5:18
** I can be content. Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:11

13. I am responsible before God for my behavior, responses, and choices. (Ez 18:19-22)

14. I will reap whatever I sow. (Galatians 6:7-8)

15. The pathway to true joy is to relinquish control. (Luke 1:38; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 16:25)
**of my life
** of my husband
** of my children
** of my circumstances

16. The greatest freedom I can experience is found through submission to God-ordained
authority. (Ephesians 5:23)
** The husband is the head of the wife Ephesians 5:23
**The wife is to reverence and submit to her husband Ephesians 5:22, 23
**The heart of the king is in the Lord's hand....Proverbs 21:1

17. In the will of God, there is no higher, holier calling than to be a wife and mother.
Titus 2:4-5

18. Personal holiness is more important that temporal happiness. Ephesians 5:26-27
**Happiness is not a right.

19. God is more concerned about changing me and glorifying Himself, than about solving my
problems. Romans 8:29.

20. It is impossible to be godly without suffering.
**Suffering is a tool in the hand of God to conform me to the image of Jesus. 1 Peter 5:10

21. My suffering will not last forever. 2 Cor. 4:17-18, Psalms 30:5

22. "It's not about me. It's all about Him. Colossians 1:16-18

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." John 8:31, 32

From Revive Our Hearts. www.ReviveOurHearts.com

I must say, I did not expect to feel the conviction that I have felt in writing this to share with you. I have been a Christian I long time, and I know (and have taught) that it is a continual, growing process. But I didn't realize how I have drifted and have not been listening to God's voice. I now must spend some time in confession, reading all these scriptures, prayer and allowing God to help me get back on His path. I look forward to any of your comments and sharing's.