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!

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.

Super Saturday

Wow! What a day... we took 1st Birthday Photos of P today. Her other grandmother is a wonderful photographer and she has a professional camera, so we sat up several baby props and took photos of P in several different outfits in several different settings. Posted is one of my favorites of the ones I took with my little digital camera while P's other grandmother was taking the better photos. I'll post a few of the really good ones in a few days.

After photo time, P's daddy, our oldest son and I powerwashed the front door and front porch area then the back patio to get ready for P's 1st Birthday Party coming up in a week.

It has been a super Saturday!

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!

Completing our Patio

Well the patio workers completed their job late yesterday afternoon. It is amazing how much work was completed in just 2 days! The patio is big, beautiful and roomy -- just what we wanted.
Jim hasn’t seen the completed patio in the daylight yet; he came home around 10pm last night after a business dinner and left at 5:15 this morning for the airport to go look at properties on the west coast.

Today, my daughter-in-love, Reg and precious granddaughter, P are going to look for patio furniture since there are big end of summer sales right now. If we can’t find an incredible deal, then we’ll just spray paint our old patio furniture. We’ll need to get any painting completed before the new grass is delivered this weekend.

So, here we go patio furniture shopping.

Hope you have a great day!

1st Attempt at Blogging

Here I am – here I go… into the world of blogging!

Nona Life. It seems I’ve been working on becoming a Nona all my life.

What is a Nona? Who is a Nona?
You can read About Me on the right and journey with me on my Nona Life Blog.

What does a Nona do?
Well, today I am attempting to set up my 1st ever Blog to a 2nd day of clanking stones and the vibrating of a compactor leveling machine while our new backyard patio is being installed. We’ve tried unsuccessfully for over 14 years to grow grass in our shady backyard, so we finally gave up on grass and decided to ‘grow’ a patio instead. It took us quite a while to decide between a wooden deck or hard surface patio. We decided that the stone patio would last longer with less maintenance. My puppy, Sydney is in her crate (she is crate trained and feels safe there) whining to get out and help take care of her backyard. I’ll spare the patio workers the pleasure of having an adorable red, 14 pound Australian Terrier jumping machine hopping around their ankles.

Well, I guess this enough for one day because I need to get back to being Nona.