Weepy Wednesday

Wow, it's been quite a while since I last blogged... sorta got out of the blogging flow 'cuz I've been feeling down off and on for a few weeks. I've been contemplating what to do with the 2nd half of my life and just don't have a clear picture of what, how, where, or when. I do know the why... because I want to follow my Lord and walk in His will for my life. I guess that's why I'm struggling with the next step -- I want it to be right. I'm just finding that difficult to figure out right now. Lots of paths are swirling in my head... going back to work (and if so, where?), going on the mission field, staying at home to be available for my family, something else??? What is it Lord that You want from me, what do you want with me?

In the meantime, I've been cleaning and organizing our home because I feel the Lord telling me, 'Get your house in order.' Doing that is easier now than ever because our oldest son, his wife and daughter have settled into their own beautiful home and we have a lot of empty space since we cleared out a lot of old stuff when they moved in with us last April. Our younger son really doesn't stay here much and is planning to move out sometime this month or next. So, we'll be empty nesters again.

We built our home 15 years ago so its now at the repair and renovation stage. We scheduled to have new hardwood floors installed the end of next week in the family room and master bedroom, but have just received an estimate for the A/C & Heater repairs we need to have done soon, so we're reconsidering the timing for new wood floors downstairs and new carpet upstairs. My husband and I both want to complete all the updates on our home soon so we can host visiting missionaries and other Christian workers passing through. We would love to host a Life Group again. It has always been an honor to open our home and spend time in worship, studying the Word, breaking bread and fellowshipping with fellow Christians.

I'm missing my hubby, Jim -- he has been in California this week on a business pleasure trip. He is actually playing golf at Pebble Beach which has been a lifelong dream of his. I'm so happy that he's been blessed with this trip and can't wait for him to be home tonight to tell me all about it and to show me his photos. He was away at a men's retreat last weekend where he was a speaker sharing about Studying the Word. Studying the Word is a passion of his and when he shares his passion it makes me so proud to be his wife and I feel so blessed to be married to him.

Another passion of Jim's is music. He is so gifted in playing the guitar and singing! God gave him a real talent for music; his mother recognized it when he was just 18 months old. Jim's mother was the organist at the church we grew up in and says that she could play one note on the piano and he would sing, 'Jesus loves me' in that key and with perfect pitch and then again in a different key... over and over, in whatever key she would play for the first note. Jim doesn't get to practice as much as he would like to, but when he does it is a blessing for so many, especially for me when he sings for me and sings over me.

This reminds me of my second trip to Russia... I had a crown fall out during dinner on our first night. It was painful and scary because we had to find a dentist. Our Russian friends and co-labors in Christ said they would find a good dentist for me and told me not to worry, but I was worried and scared! (You know, the whole growing up in the 1960's propaganda stuff about the USSR being so evil... it all came rushing back into my brain!!!) Well, Jim takes his guitar with us to Russia to lead worship with the kids at the orphanage, so he pulled it out and began to play and sing over me. He must have done so for more than an hour before I finally fell asleep, which must have been so tiring because it was our first night there and we hadn't laid down horizontally for close to 30 hours. I'll never forget how unselfish he was to sing me to sleep when he was so exhausted himself. That's just the way he is and it's amazing to share life with him!

Okay, I'm feeling better now. :)
God is so good! And so good all the time!!! Praise His Holy Name!

Fabulous Friday!!!

Praise the Lord, our younger son, J passed his Real Estate Exam today! He has taken it a couple of times before and missed passing it by 1 question each time. We knew he could pass the exam, what we're most proud of him for is just sticking to it until he passed. Now, hopefully he can get the job that was offered to him a year ago as a junior realtor listing property for a particular broker in the DFW area. J has had a several rough years since graduating high school after his junior year, then going off to college a year early. J has great potential and many God-given talents but he just hasn't funneled his passion into any one thing yet... he's been spreading his passion and his attention around too much. We're praying that J will seek God for His plan for his life because when we each find God's plan for our lives then it all starts to fall into place easily and correctly. God has seen J and us through some really rough times -- and we are so very thankful that He has blessed us with an ongoing good relationship with our son because sometimes troubled times can put a wedge in relationships. Our God has been so good to us!!! We will never stop praising His Name!
Our housekeeper has been here today and she's been able to clean the upstairs pretty well since R,R & P have mostly moved out. They still have a couple of loads of boxes and loose ends to get moved over to their new home... it'll probably get done this weekend. Then next Friday, the housekeeper will be able to do a thorough cleaning of all the blinds, the shutters, the baseboards, cabinets, etc. Then we'll be ready to start renovating the upstairs bathrooms with new fixtures and new floors and get new carpet for the whole 2nd floor.
My right shoulder has been hurting off and on for several months and has hurt the worst ever this week. After visiting my doctor on Wednesday and taking the Rx's he prescribed for 2 days now, it is starting to feel some better. But it still hurts. God is good and faithful -- He will heal me. Praise His Holy Name!!!

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!

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!

It was a long week

Whew! Time flies by when there’s much to do and Nona gets sick. Last Friday, my daughter-in-love and I spray painted 2 sets of patio chairs & tables outside in the heat. Then our #2 Godson and his wife from northwest Arkansas came to stay with us for the weekend. We enjoyed having them here – they went to see our oldest son, daughter and granddaughter’s new home that is nearing completion, then they attended a college friend’s wedding in town and joined us at church on Sunday morning before heading off to another north Texas city to see a cousin before heading home. I came down with some sort of sore throat and fever virus that settled down in my chest and caused a rash on both my cheeks. I think the rash may have come from an overdose of vitamin c; it’s finally looking some and I’m feeling better today too. Thank you Lord!
My hubby left Tuesday morning on a 6am flight to Boston, then flew to Toronto on Wednesday morning for a Real Estate Conference. He is due home Friday night after our son & daughter leave on Friday morning for Mexico with friends to celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversaries. We get the honor of keeping our precious granddaughter, “P” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then her other grandmother will keep her Monday through Wednesday. We’ll be tending to the big dogs for the whole 6 days; usually it’s a pretty easy job, but we’re not letting them outside in the back yard until the new landscaping takes hold so we’ll be walking them both two times a day. Walking two 80+ lbs dogs that are not used to being walked on leashes isn’t as much fun as walking our little 14 pounder, Sydney. Oh, well it’s another Nona & Papa thing that we do because we love serving our family.

I’m keeping “P” today while her mother is getting a manicure & pedicure and running last minute errands getting ready for their Mexico trip. This will be our daughter-in-love’s first time to see the ocean up close (she and our son flew over the Atlantic on the way to Italy for their honeymoon in 2005).

“P” and I may be going to my niece’s Grandparents Day Luncheon tomorrow if she and I are feeling up the hour drive, hour luncheon and hour drive back home. My niece’s three grandparents all have prior commitments, so she invited me because, “You’re a grandmother, Aunt Susan.” Dear Lord, please help us to feel well and be able to attend.

Laundry is calling my name while “P” is taking a nap… Nona duties never cease!