39

39.  Today the number represents 39 years since The Husband and I took each other for better or for worse.  It seems like yesterday.  Well, sort of.

This year I have again reflected.  I would like to tell you that marriage is sunshine and roses all the time but, by golly, it's just not.  (see blog post, Hearts and Flowers, 2/13/14)  I think I can describe marriage as REAL life.  I was thinking of the marriage vows that so many repeat....for better or for worse (that's the truth), for richer or for poorer (if you're thinking of $, mostly we experience poorer to moderate but moderate is not a choice so it's a definite poorer as opposed to richer), in sickness and in health (man, The Husband has gotten the worse end of that deal), to love and to cherish (in this we are both rich), till death do us part (I hope that's at least 30 years from now).

We have experienced together so many blessings along with a decent number of times of sadness and sorrow.  I think as we continue on in our marriage, we grow more and more alike.   I'm beginning to like Storage Wars and American Pickers and he can enjoy several Hallmark movies.  We have equally comfortable recliners that allow us both to fall asleep during these programs.  A fun night at home is wearing pajamas as we sit in these recliners watching these programs.  Yes, we evolve into ourselves as we grow older and honestly, we think alike and can read each others' thoughts.  This can be good or bad.

Through all our lives, we have been able to laugh and that is very important.  We can laugh at ourselves and we can laugh at each other and nobody gets mad.  I can truthfully say we have argued and disagreed very little in these 39 years.  Believe it or not.  It's the truth.  We compliment each other--he's the calm one, I'm the stress-er.  It eventually balances out.

I have learned that plans can go awry, but if one trusts the Lord and put HIM first, His plans are perfect.

I got up this morning thinking of the verses in Romans 5:3-4 and as I read it yet again, I was reminded that it not only applies spiritually but can apply to marriage.  In my Bible, the subtitle says, "Joy in Tribulation".  It goes like this:

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope..."

Little did that young bride know 39 years ago today where she would be today, but she couldn't have planned it better if she tried.  Yes, God supplies and provides and that girl, now older and wiser is so very thankful.

Real life......I love it!

AN EMPTY TANK

The gas hand on my car approached empty.  I only realized this as I just happened to glance down as I drove into my carport.  Evidently, looking at my gas hand on my dashboard is not a priority to me.  It was so close to empty, I became afraid that I didn't have enough gas to make it to the gas station.  Normally, I pay a bit more attention to these things.  A car won't run without gas, you know?

Luckily, I have never totally run out of gas and got stranded on the side of the road.  I "insure" this possibility by being a long time member of AAA as they would bring me gas as would The Husband. That could have easily changed yesterday as I drove to the gas station....almost on empty.

As I cruised into a spot by the gas pump, I excitedly got out to pump the gas, breathing a sign of relief that I had made it without running out.  I really was concerned.  When I had the gas pumped and paid for, the feeling I had as I got back in the car was so very different from the feeling I had when I got in my car at my house.  It was at that point that this post idea was planted.

I was thinking of how often I run on empty.  I keep going and going and going, not paying attention to my "gauge".  Life seems to demand so very much from me...but wait!  Is it life or is it me that demands too much?  Slowing down a bit and "refilling my tank" would be helpful to me.  This was so very clear as I drove away from the gas pump.

I don't know about you but I find myself so busy that I miss those things that are most important.  Sure, in my life I have learned already that a clean house is not a priority.  I have learned that exceptionally prepared meals in my kitchen is not a priority.  I have learned that trying to keep up with EVERYTHING is not necessary.  Yet, I often run on empty.

My health has been a bit of a setback and through that I have learned what is important.  Yet, I still often run on empty.

The sermon on Sunday was that Christians should be joyful.  That is so true and struck me hard.  I want to be more joyful.  I recognize that it's the little things that fill my tank.  Attending worship service has always been important in my life and a top priority as is my relationship with the Lord.  Still, I don't do devotions as I should and I don't keep as close as I could to HIM.  I hope to improve in this area.   Time with The Grandbaby is a priority as is with The Husband, The Girl, and The Son-In-Law.  I do enjoy every bit of that.  I am also learning that rest for me is important.  All these can lead to joy and a filling of my tank.

I want to be pumped and run on a full tank of joy!  What about your tank?

Consider..........

HALLELUJAH! IT'S JUNE 21!

Today is THE day.  June 21.  The day that always gets a post on my blog.   It's the anniversary of my very first post.  (See Celebration, 6/21/12.)

For all of you faithful blog readers, you might recall that I also post this day to recognize the date, June 21, 1991. That day is the day that totally changed life as my family knew it.  It was on that day around 11:00 a.m. that The Girl, then age 10, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes.  The type that has no cure.  The type that requires insulin for one to survive.  I remember that all the signs were there....frequent urination, excessive thirst, weight loss.

My family still sees that wise doctor who diagnosed The Girl that day.  That doctor is a keeper.  I remember the fear that was in me when the blood sugar monitor registered 258.  The wise doctor immediately gave me that don't-fall-apart-on-me-here look and calmly told The Girl the diagnosis and that she would need to go for a stay at the local children's hospital.  Then she turned to me and said, "You go in my office, shut the door, and get control of everything and I will sit here with The Girl."  I did just that.  I don't remember praying in my numbness but I know that deep in the deepest part of me, my heart sought strength and courage.  I never fell apart that I can remember even though in that deepest part of me, there was a flood of tears flowing.  The strength was there to endure what life had given.

Today, 27 years later, that strength to endure is still there.  Each day is lived with thankfulness for the help and strength to endure, not only living with diabetes, but just plain living.  Diabetes is only one of the diseases that can rack one's body.  And then there's all those other things that can demand courage and endurance.  All the time, MY God is there to supply all the strength, endurance and courage needed.  I can't imagine enduring without HIM.

I, too, will give credit to The Girl.  Amid all the finger sticks and injections and now pump infusion sets and insulin pumps, she has endured the most.  To say I am proud of her would be a gross understatement.  It ain't easy.  But life is worth it.  Every. Single. Day.    I'm grateful for a husband for her who has learned about diabetes, knows the negative signs, and pays attention to that one he loves.    Maybe I say this often in my blog and writings, but I will say it again--I am filled with gratitude that both of them know the one who can help them overcome.   And I am filled with joy and gratitude at the blessing of The Grandbaby, a blessing beyond measure to all of us.

So here's to the precious girl I am blessed to call mine.  Celebrate this day!  Celebrate the one who helps you endure!  Celebrate the joys that life brings!

EXPERIENCED

On Father's Day, our church has traditionally recognized the most experienced dad (a nice way for saying the oldest), the dad with the most children present, and the "newest" dad in our Sunday School joint assembly time.  They do the same thing on Mother's Day, of course, for equal time for the parents.

Yesterday, since the dad who usually gets the honor was out sick, my dad was named the most experienced dad--meaning he was the oldest.  I had to think a bit to consider what that made me exactly and came to the conclusion that I, too, was somewhat experienced.

Last week, one of my elementary school friends passed away.  She was a tiny bit younger than me but we, along with her brother, were in the same class all during elementary school.  At the funeral home visitation I asked about her brother as, surprisingly with my faulty memory, I remembered his name.  Sadly, I did not remember his face as he was standing there fairly close by.  50+ years does change our looks.  He said that he remembered me and since he called me by name, I had to believe him.  What does that say for my memory?  Yeah, right, I thought so too.

He and I shared memories from our school days and teachers.  I found myself remembering teachers and how they looked when I was in those elementary grades.  Let me tell you, they looked old.  I was going to say mature, but let's be honest.  They looked old.  When I calculated the math, they were probably younger then than I am now.   I found myself pondering the fact that my elementary friend went on to be with the Lord at a time that we all might consider "too soon".

The week before last, The Husband and I had to have our air conditioner replaced.  Granted, it was like me and pretty old.  I was told the replacement was a very high efficiency model, unlike the old one.  I told The Husband that depending on how efficient it was, it might last longer than us.  It's kind of funny (and not funny funny but funny otherwise) that we consider this and puts our age in perspective yet again.

As I considered this experience and age thing, I found myself being reminded that there's something to be said for experience.   I get to "experience" the joy that being a "Neema" brings.  I used to enjoy getting the senior discount at my local grocery stores until they decided they would do away with that.  Bad idea on their part, in my opinion.  In a couple of weeks, I will experience 39 years of being married to a wonderful man.  Experience has taught me that big weddings are not that spectacularly big and necessary.  Experience has taught me that people are more important than things.  Experience has taught me that the good health of a diabetic child, be that child a child or an adult child, is something to be soooo grateful for.  Experience has taught me that the good health of "self" is something to be grateful for as well.  Experience has taught me to value this day as I am not promised any more.  Experience has taught me that my salvation and relationship with my Heavenly Father is the greatest joy of all.  "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."  And experience has taught me much more than I have time or effort to share.

Experience has taught me that no matter what the future holds, God is already there.  And in that, I can be confident in whatever life dishes out to me.

Consider........

WITHOUT CEASING

In life we are blessed to gather friends from various places.  One of my friends, The Pray Without Ceasing Friend, is one that I met years ago at a sorority weekend at the college of The Girl and Her Girl.  Both of our girls were friends there and have remained so, and even closer still since Her Girl lives near us.  I am pleased that both girls have children about the same age and keep a close weekly relationship, allowing the young children to be friends as well.

The Pray Without Ceasing Friend became named that in my blog because we have had conversations about prayer, many times needing the prayers of each other for various concerns in our life.  She refers often to praying without ceasing.  I have learned from her and I love her so much.  In fact it was in the last week or so we had the prayer conversation yet again and she sent me a devotion that obviously the Lord sends at the appropriate times.  In this devotion, it talks about praying without ceasing.  It talks about praying while ones does their hair.  It talks about praying in the car.  It talks about praying EVERYWHERE.  It talks about praying as soon as you hear a need--that way you don't forget.

I want to be like that.   I REALLY want to be like that.

I have learned that when I talk to the Lord during the day, just as if He was right here so I could see Him, I become stronger and stronger.  After all, HE IS HERE.  I just can't see Him with my physical eyes but I can see Him with the eyes of my heart.

This morning the devotion in my inbox talked about "What If I Truly Believed?"  (https://proverbs31.org/read/devotion).  A couple of things the writer says (among so many things the writer says that hit me) is "if we don't believe God is able, we won't pray as if He is".   She says if you believe he is able, "that's the magnificent place where hope begins to grow wild".

Oh...I LOVE that!  Can you imagine praying without ceasing, believing he is able, and a hope that grows WILD?

I want that.  Every.  Single.  Day.  I WANT THAT.

I am so thankful that I have a heavenly Father who WILL provide that just because He loves me so.  What a love!

Consider......

HA

So I was in a conversation yesterday with a very close friend.  In our conversation we were speaking of various things and she made a statement that I think I will remember forever.  It's a good way to put what we all at one time or another have felt, done, and experienced.   See if you agree.

She simply said, "I know Stupid."

Consider.....