Hubs is Home!

Yes, after 9 long days and 8 nights my hubby returned home safely late last Friday night. PTL! (For those who might not know - PTL stands for Praise the Lord!) It was a long time away both at home and abroad. After almost 30 years of marriage and almost 5 years of dating before that - it's just no fun without my other half. We're more than used to his traveling for business over the last 26 years; his Platinum status with American Airlines is his traveling badge and reward. We and our family have the privilege of traveling free several times a year from hubs advantage miles. His travel normally consists of 1 - 3 nights away a few times a month within the US. This was the only the 2nd time he's traveled overseas for business. God has given us great trust in each other and more importantly we have trust in Him - He who brought us together and keeps us together. 34 & 1/2 years is long time, but it's not always been easy. Our motto is, "Stay & Pray" because life is hard, but the Lord is our strength and "A Cord of Three is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4.12.

On Saturday & Sunday we pledged to only spend time together & with the Lord. We worshiped together at church on Sunday morning and then hosted our Life Group that evening.

This morning hubs had oral surgery where he never had a permanent tooth. He's had 3 bridges and needed a replacement again, so his dentist recommended a dental implant instead because they can last up to 50 years.  The only real drawback is the cost which is not covered at all under medical / dental insurance and the cost is normally between $6-8K which is pretty steep; however, a bridge typically cost $2-3K and lasts 8 - 10 years; dental insurance covers 50%. So, the long-term costs are about the same, but the implant occurs only once and acts just like a real tooth without all the precautions required of a bridge. Great news is that once the oral surgeon began the surgery this morning he realized that hubs did not require the bone graft that he was expecting; therefore hubs only had a tissue graft today and was able to have the actual dental implant today instead of 4 months later that was going to happen after the bone graft healing. The cost isn't any less, but the healing is much less and the time period will be much less. So, PTL - YAY God!

After resting all day today, the hubs is very antsy and more than ready to go back to work. Doctor says he should rest 2 days, but could go to work if he feels up to it... so we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Tonight we're praising the Lord for His goodness in our lives!  I pray you find the goodness He provides for you even in the storms of life.

Terrific Tuesday

Today started off rough... a migraine woke me up just before 5AM, so I took a prescription that normally causes me to sleep for an hour then relieves the headache pain. This morning, the med caused me to oversleep until 9:45, even sleeping through my alarm that must have played music for an hour from 6 - 7AM; therefore, I missed my 8AM dental appointment. I guess I was really tired and just needed some good sleep... can't believe the dogs let me sleep that long!

Then the best thing happened! A dear friend called me at home. She has 2 daughters who went to school with my sons in elementary school. Dinah and I were really good friends back then; we were on the PTF Board together and went shopping and out to lunch regularly. Dinah and I kept in touch for awhile then as our kids went on to different high schools and college - we lost touch for the most part. Dinah and her oldest daughter, Kristen (who was in Jordan's grade) did come to Ryan & Reggye's wedding 4 years ago so that was the last time we saw each other. Dinah's girls are friends with me on FaceBook so I have known that she has been going through breast cancer. I am ashamed that I haven't called Dinah or even sent a card since she's been battling cancer... of course, I have all sorts of excuses but honestly they're just excuses. Dinah called to visit and to talk about church; she and Rick have been attending a very large church that is close to their home but they're just not comfortable with the music and the impersonalness of such a large church. I've invited them to our church and to our LifeGroup; don't know if they'll actually come but I hope they'll at least visit.

Dinah and I mostly visited about our family lives... catching up on the last 13 years, as much as you can on a 3 hour telephone conversation.  With all that she's going through, Dinah is upbeat and still concerned for other people in her life. Dinah begins chemo this coming Monday. I pray that she'll not be sick and the chemo will do exactly what it's supposed to do so she can begin radiation at the appropriate time.

Visiting with Dinah today really lifted my spirit from feeling lonely while Jim is away across the world. Lord, I pray you protect her through these cancer treatments and return her to complete health. She has so much love and encouragement to share with others; bless her and protect her. Thank you for her daughters who are both there for her. Kristen is there to lift her spirit with funniness and Natalie who is the sweetest angel who encourages her so well. Thank you Lord for Dinah's life and her friendship. Bless Dinah, her husband Rick and their daughters.

Bless and protect my hubby; give him good rest this evening. Please keep him safe and healthy. Bring him home soon. Thank you for so many blessings in my life!

Super Saturday & Sunday

Cold, sunny and beautiful days! Never thought I'd say 30 degrees feels warm, but yesterday & today's highs in the 30's felt great even though it was only 9 degrees early Saturday morning. Having my young friend, Erin stay with me for several days was such a blessing for me and my puppies. After staying home for 2 days during the coldest days, Erin & I ventured out yesterday for lunch at a new hamburger place and then shopped for hours looking for snow boots for Erin to take back to Russia.

I've visited with the hubs 2 - 3 times a day on Skype. He's doing okay, but is very tired and therefore he's a bit grumpy. The work days start late there and meals are much later. He's an early morning guy and needs to eat on a regular schedule and go to bed early. The 9pm dinners and going to bed after midnight is taking a toll on him. This morning when he called me on Skype he had a nice surprise - he'd purchased a camera that he has connected to his older laptop, so I can see him when we visit. He's been able to see me because I have a newer iMac with a built-in camera; now it's nice to see his face when we visit.  ;=)

Today's worship was great! I missed having hubs with me though. The strange customs and personal rules and regulations where he is are wearing on him. I pray that the Lord will give him supernatural wisdom concerning all the meetings that he's having and that he'll have boldness to speak freely with his superiors regarding his concerns.

This afternoon after church was my niece's 10th birthday party. She's growing up so fast!

So back at home, the puppies and I are snuggled in watching a Hallmark movie waiting on hubs to call when he wakes up.  I'm praying for his rest to get caught up and that he'll be in a better mood.

Wow - God is sooooo Good!

After much time in prayer this morning for many, many things. God has answered a long, tiresome prayer request! YAY God!!! Yes, Your mercies are new every morning; I praise You Holy Name! Thank you for lifting the load my hubby has carried at work for so long. This is a great way to start the new year and a fabulous way for the hubs to start his new official position in his career. Thank you Father - God!

Now Lord, please be in every conversation and plan for this (possible) upcoming trip to You know where. I trust in You completely with my hubs - the love of my life; You are his Provider, his Protector and his Salvation.

God is good. Draw near to Him and He will show His Presence and His Faithfulness to you!

Happy New Year 2010!

Wow, it's been over 2 years since I last blogged. I was so into it when I was a new Nona then I guess I lost interest because I got too busy with other things. Well, it's a new year, a new decade and time to get things together. Now that I've been married almost 30 years, perhaps I can share some of the lessons that God has taught me... after all, I am married to a 50 year old man now ;=} Yes, my handsome hubby turned 50 years old a week & a half ago and he's even more handsome now than he was 34 & 1/2 years ago when I first fell in love with him. More importantly, he is more of who God wants him to be and it is my honor to be his wife. We had a great time with family and friends on Dec 30 at my hubs Surprise 50th Birthday Party! I call him hubs, hubby, love of my life etc, so my blog won't show up in any business internet searches because my hubby has an important position at a big public company and when it comes to business, he likes to keep our personal life - well personal.

So, what did I learn from the whole Surprise Party thing? As for me, I'm not into keeping much personal - I'm pretty much an open book and putting on 2 surprise parties for the love of my life was fun, exciting and extremely challenging since I'm terrible at keeping secrets... I do not have a poker face! I felt like I was cheating on my man - I've never kept secrets from him so it was churning my insides to be making so many plans without him. Personally, I am glad it's all over... although we did have a great time.

Today is the 1st Monday of 2010. I slept late (got up at 8AM because I'm trying to catch up on sleep lost while planning & organizing the parties) then I spent much time in prayer and writing a Happy 2010 New Year letter to myself and God. It's not really a New Year's Resolution thing, it's a new beginning encouragement and challenge for myself to get all the relationships in my life right this year. I don't really have any problems in my relationships; I just want to get them where they should be - where God wants them to be. First and foremost is my relationship with my Lord & Savior; I desire to grow deeper in love with Him this year than ever before. Next is my relationship with my hubby and our relationship together with our Lord, our prayer relationship together with the Lord and our financial relationship together with the Lord. We've been blessed to have a great understanding and desire to give lavishly towards His Kingdom - we have no problem there. Our need is to actively take better care of the provision that God provides for us; in other words not just coast but to plan better, to be active and proactive for our retirement and be able to still be active in going on mission trips more than just 2 weeks a year. I don't really know what that will look like... several 2 week trips a year or even months at a time or even moving somewhere the Lord leads us to. I do know that when my hubby and I are ministering together we are closer to each other and closer to the Lord than any other time in our 34 & 1/2 years of life together. So, it's our desire to go into ministry together someday when the time is right.

Well, it's after 11AM and at my house Christmas decorations need to be put away. It's a new year, a new decade... what will we do with the time we're given? Seek the Lord in every aspect of my life is how I desire to spend everyday He gives me.

Thankful Thursday!

This Thursday, I am thankful for...

My Lord & Savior who is the Truth and Light in this dark world

My Father, God -- Abba who is the Creator and my Creator, who blesses me abundantly

The Holy Spirit who comforts me, who gives me wisdom and discernement

Cooler Autumn temperatures

33 minutes on the Gazelle during fabulous prayertime yesterday

Being able to walk today after that much exercise yesterday (even though it is uncomfortable)

Thankful Thursday!

Our kids, R and R along with our Precious P moved into their new beautiful home this past weekend! The 5 1/2 months that they lived with us were joyous and challenging. We will miss seeing them everyday (though not the 2 big dogs so much).
Two wives / mothers living in the same home is certainly a challenge. The two husbands / fathers wasn't a big deal -- I guess because it was a natural father / son relationship and a really good father / son relationship with mutual respect to top it off. The wives / mothers relationship was a daughter-in-love / mother-in-law relationship that is still relatively new -- only 2 years old, so we had a lot of new stuff to deal with... mainly a mothering mother, that's me - Nona and a brand new mother - R who basically raised herself while her single mother worked 2 and 3 jobs in order to provide shelter, food and clothing. R's mother did the best she could with what she had and R loves her very much, but she has never known what it's like to have a mothering mother. This mother / Nona likes everything in its place and orderly while my daughter-in-love likes to pickup right before company comes. I want all dishes to be immediately placed into the dishwasher, not accumulating on the countertop or in the sink to be placed into the dishwasher when someone (?) gets around to it after they are pilled sky high. We eat dinner at the kitchen table most of the time and only occasionally eat in front of the TV while R & R mostly eat in front of the TV. My children were bathed at least every other day while R only bathes P once or twice a week. Six weeks of a runny nose would have never happened before seeing the pediatrician, but R only took P to the pediatrician 1 time that wasn't a scheduled checkup and that was for a cut finger that wouldn't stop bleeding that occurred while clipping P's fingernails.
All of the above mentioned items had to be discussed, respected and accepted. Time and space was encouraged and practiced because my God-fearing husband looked to our Heavenly Father for guidance and shared that guidance with us along with constant encouragement for peace and acceptance. Praise God, we made it through and even came through better than we started. We had wonderful family dinners (mostly at the table), numerous car trips running countless errands, inspiring Bible Study and prayer times. We shared tears, laughter and happiness. I pray that she has known me and will always know me as an encourager, a mentor, a loving mother and grandmother.
Thank you Lord for being our guide, getting us all safely and securely through this recent adventure!
Please bless R, R and P's new home with Your Holy Presence, Your Truth, Your Holy Spirit, Your Protection, Your Guidance, and the Peace and Security that only comes from You. AMEN!

Thankful Thursday!

She's a Big Girl now! P's Grand Celebration in honor of her first birthday was this past Sunday afternoon. 56 guests wished her a very Happy 1st Birthday. She was a gracious hostess, pleasant, happy and a bit sleepy for her 3 hour party. Thankfully her molars started coming in the next day with fever and fussiness.

Thank you Lord for...

1+ year with our precious P

Our kids' new home is just about complete
(they may be closing tomorrow)

Health & Strength

Family & Friends

Blessings beyond measure!

P was officially 1 year old yesterday!

It was a grand day! P woke up earlier than normal so her Dada & Papa were able to tell her "Happy Birthday" and love on her. She could care less, she just wanted her breakfast. The day will filled with errands... P & her mom with her other grandmother and me by myself (scurring around for a last minute care package to Russia). Dada came home early from work and so did Papa. Papa cooked P her very first full big people meal... Grilled Yummy Chicken, Baked Sweet Potatoes & Steamed Fresh Green Beans. After the Birthday Girl finished her dinner -- she had her first bite of cake. It was quite a surprise for her since she's never had any real sugar. At first she didn't really care for it, but she went back for more and found out that the cake part (without icing) was pretty good. After 15 minutes video taping & taking photos of cake comedy, Miss P opened a few little presents. She really got the hang of taking items out of the gift bags, but didn't want to put her new gifts away to open another gift. After her mother hid each new gift she would turn her attention to a new gift. I think she'll have the hang of it by Sunday for her big Grand Celebration. After gift time, Miss P went happily off to bed. It was a grand day!

Thank you Lord for Grand Days!!!

It's almost the "Big ONE" Birthday!

God is so good and He has blessed us with many, many blessings. One of our greatest blessings is family and enjoying family celebrations. Tomorrow we will have a quiet family dinner and birthday cake for P and then we'll have a great big celebration next Sunday with the whole extended family and very close friends.

Splendid Sunday!

Praise the Lord, sings my soul! It’s a beautiful day; we enjoyed worship service at church and another great day at home with family. As promised, I’ve posted a few more of my favorite photos of our precious P taken yesterday by P’s other grandmother. One day until “P’s Big ONE Birthday.”

Thank you Lord for blessing us with this Precious child one year ago. Father, please bless her with good health, with happiness, and may she come to know you and love you and accept you as her very own personal Savior at a very early age. May she serve you with great joy all her days. Amen and amen!

Thankful Thursday!

Thank you Lord that...

Our kids, P's parents arrived home safe and sound last night from their vacation in Mexico. They had a wonderful time, but were so happy to be home and with P again. Her mother said, "Oh, my goodness! P's looks so different -- she looks older and more mature." P preceeded to show off standing up on her own, right in the middle of the room for her Mama & Dada. Of course, they were both amazed.

P had a great time with her other grandmother and came home healthy and happy.

Our other son, J was working from home yesterday so I was able to have a nice visit with him.

Jim has stayed in town all this week! It's so nice to have him here with us.

My whole family is healthy and happy. PTL!

Cooler temperatures... sitting out on our new back patio reading my Bible and Bible study.

For serving my Lord.

Having His grace and forgiveness every day because I mess up so often, but through Jesus there is always a 'do over' and 'try it again.'

Thank you Lord for so many blessings, more than I can ever count.

You are so amazing and awesome!

Where Did This Week Go?

Wow! This week is flying by with beautiful days and cooler temperatures. We took our P to church with us on Sunday morning because her parents are still in Mexico on vacation. P was happy to play with 3 little friends in Sunday school, but ready to come home for lunch and a long Sunday nap. Her other grandmother came to get her around 4pm and took her to stay with her for 3 days until P’s parents come back home.

Tuesday morning began our Women’s Ministry Tuesday Morning Bible Study. We had almost 100 women there to study, “Going Beyond Yourself” by Beth Moore. It’s a study on the Fruit of the Spirit. It’s been quite a while since I was in a Beth Moore study and I’m so excited to be taking part in this one.

Our kids will be home this evening. We’re looking forward to seeing them and I know they’ll be happy to be back home to P.

Well, I’m off to enjoy the beautiful day while the lawn men plant the remaining bushes and decorative grass.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday! God is good – all the time!

God is so Good!!!

Yeah! Thank you Lord for good health… my good health and my precious P’s good health. We both felt well enough to make the 1 hour trip to attend my niece’s Grandparents Day Luncheon. My niece was so happy and so cute – 2nd graders are just the best! The 4 hour excursion was well worth it. I forgot my camera at home after taking photos of P’s parents leaving early Friday morning for Mexico, but my sister took photos with her camera. As soon as she emails me a couple of pics, I’ll post them.

My hubby arrived home safe and sound yesterday evening in time to take P and me out to dinner at one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants. He was ready for Tex-Mex after being up north for the week. P and Papa got to hang out this morning while I went to church for a Women’s Ministry Fall Kick-off Luncheon. I volunteered to decorate one of the 15 tables with some of our Russian items and had to be there at 9am. We had a special guest speaker, Carrie McDonnall who has written a new book about her mission experiences in the Middle East. Her book title is "FACING TERROR" -The story of how love for the Muslim people cost an American couple the ultimate price. My favorite Bible teacher, Beth Moore wrote the forward for the book. Carrie has a compelling testimony and is still praising our Lord even after losing her husband and enduring years of physical pain and surgeries from her own injuries after they were attacked in Iraq while they were ministering there. Carrie’s testimony was very encouraging and uplifting; she was a huge blessing to the 120 of us today.

Dear Lord, please bless my sister, Carrie McDonnall and the new ministry, 'Carrie On' that you have given to her. Bless her with continued encouragement, with strength and health and with your joy and hope. Amen.

My hubby has started cooking our dinner so I need to go be his sous-chef; I mostly clean up around him (he's a great, but messy cook).

Have a blessed weekend!

Thankful Thursday!

Today I'm thankful...

First of all for my Savior, His grace, and His fogiveness

I'm getting over a sore throat, fever & rash virus

To be spending the day with my precious "P"

That my hubby comes home tomorrow evening after a long week of business travel

That God has provided provision for our family & I'm able to be a stay-at-home Nona!