42 YEARS OF SEASONS

On this day, 42 years ago, The Husband and I joined our two lives in marriage.  We were mere children.  Not as mere children as some but mere children.  

I've heard it said, seasons come and seasons go, and it's the same as life.  If you are a regular reader of this blog, you hear that quite often from me.  As I did some reflecting this morning, I remembered a lot about the past 42 years but there's some things that, with time and numerous anesthesias messing with my memory, that I can't remember.  Luckily, time enjoys messing with my memory more than The Husband's memory so at least one of us remembers.  

Reflection finds us in the same house that maybe looks a little different from 42 years ago.  There's some different furniture, some not.  There's some walls down to make bigger rooms, there's different appliances, some different wall coverings and different window treatments.  There's also the same brown paneling on the walls in the bedroom and there's the same tan flowered wallpaper in the hall bath that The Father-in-Law hung himself.  42 years ago.  The Grandbaby likes it and thinks it's pattern is pretty.  Many folks of this day would call it ugly.  I prefer vintage.

Reflection finds us also in the same church congregation that we were enjoying 42 years ago.  Yes, it's a new building on the same property as the little church building where we were married and yes, the new building is a wonderful blessing for our congregation.   Yes, many of those older faces are gone....the two aged women who sewed The Husband and me a beautiful quilt for our church wedding shower and others who showed us examples of faith and courage.  The quilt remains in my den and I am reminded that now The Husband and I are in THAT season of life and I just pray that he and I can be the same kind of faithful examples to the now younger generation that these precious ones were to us.

So you see, the most important things in life aren't "things".  Not really.  Even though I'm comforted by my vintage wallpaper and my wood paneling, I enjoy the new walk in shower that replaces my old bathtub.  Time dictates that The Husband and I need the handicap access and will need it even more in the not too distant years.  We both have our own personal grabbers now as picking up anything from the floor is a huge challenge.

Constants in the years of seasons are the beauty of faith, family, and love.  Regrets?  Sure, everybody has them.  Perfection?  Nah.  Never is there perfection except in Jesus.  Forgiveness?  Forever and always.  Blessed?  You better believe it!  

I found a few photos that I thought you blog readers might enjoy.  I reflected on the dark hair (gray free) and the bad big hair.  I reflected on my inability to see that curly bangs on the girl were not her best look but I still think my fashion sense is not so bad.  :)  Yeah, right.    And I obviously enjoy fashion in colors of blue and black.  Some things never change.  So enjoy....

I put this one just because of the cool cars in the background....

And now....this is us!

I told someone this morning that knowing all I know now, I would choose him and this life all again!

Simply blessed.

ROUNDABOUTS

Roundabouts.  They seems to be appearing everywhere on the highways.  I did a route yesterday from my house north, then north some more, then east, then south, and then south some more before arriving back home.  Yes, I was gone a bit but accomplished a bit also.  

As I rode along the paths that I had not traveled in a long time, I was surprised to see so many roundabouts that had been put in place.  I can see that roundabouts are helpful in some traffic patterns.  I do recall one near me that, if you don't pay attention, can get you in a real mess.  It is so confusing.  I was almost hit by another car there.  I feel somehow that design is a bit awry.  Yesterday, though, for the most part, the roundabouts did what they were intended to do--help the flow of major traffic.

Since I was traveling alone, that put my mind into some deeper thinking about roundabouts.  You've got to know what direction you are headed and look a bit ahead to that particular road and it's place in the roundabout.  You have to pay attention to oncoming cars so as not to get hit by one of those vehicles.  You have to understand that if by some chance you get in a mess and miss your "exit" from the roundabout, you get another chance.  You just around-about again, paying attention to the yields and the arrows.  It could be time consuming if you are in a hurry but if you pay attention in a hurry, it can benefit your time.   Sometimes I think roundabouts are taking over the traffic world.

Where is she going with this odd thought, you might be asking?  Roundabouts are a lot like life.  We have to know what direction we are headed.  We have to look a bit ahead and travel the right way for that direction.  We have to watch for all those others trying to get ahead of us or hinder us from our goal.  We have to know that if we miss our road, we can keep on trying--even going around in circles--but we can find our way.  

You all know I tend to sermonize the common into the spiritual so I guess I will go there with the roundabouts.  With all that said, the Lord will guide us in that right way looking for that right road in the right direction.  We have a to pay attention to the yield to the spirit and the arrows pointing the right direction.  If we somehow get hindered and mess up or the "design is a bit awry", all is not lost....HE is always there to help guide the right direction and forgive.   So there you go...

Consider....

30 YEARS - PART 2

30 years ago.  There we were, our little family of three driving to that big city children's hospital.  We were quiet in the car, each of us involved in our own thoughts.  Scared.  Uncertain.  The Husband and I were younger than The Girl is now.  I even think at that point I was not even considering that our friends were praying for us.  I was in a bit of a shock.  

I do remember there was another little girl a bit younger than The Girl who was newly diagnosed about the same time.  She was from a city much more north of us and I'm certain her family felt pretty much like ours.  There were classes to do from meeting with dieticians, social workers, exercise folks, and others who wanted to "teach" us how to live with diabetes.  It was decided that I would stay the whole time while The Husband would drive back and forth.  I can remember going into the shower every morning to shower, cry while I did, and come out of there smiling.  It seemed important that I be confident.  Isn't that how mamas still feel?  

I can remember that The Girl and the newly diagnosed girl became acquainted with another little girl patient who was in a wheelchair and had only one leg.  The three of them would often roam the halls with the two new diabetics pushing the wheelchair anywhere and everywhere around that hospital.  Alone.  The three of them.  I'm pretty sure that would not be allowed now, and maybe rightly so, but then it was a much needed activity.  Not only did they find friendship in each other, those two little diabetic girls got their exercise to lower those blood sugars.  See, we were told to bring pajamas only to wear at night so The Girl, even though an admitted patient, looked like any normal child in those halls.  

That week we learned words like hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glucagon, ketoacidosis, diabetic retinopathy, food exchanges, and so much more.  We were taught what to do should a low blood sugar occur.  Rules, guidelines, insulins--they were all discussed.  It seemed some days unending and overwhelming.  The good news is pretty soon, it became a normal.  

The Girl's recommended doctor was with a pediatric endocrinologist group and thankfully, the doctor in the group she saw mostly was excellent and became our favorite.  Somehow the other night as I lay awake in the middle of the night, I remembered the nurses and an experience.  Early on in the first day or so, The Girl had a nurse who was quite matter-of-fact to the point of being almost hateful.  Maybe our feelings were very tender, but I think if I remember correctly she was just almost hateful.  She was the first or one of the first to introduce the insulin injection and how to do it to The Girl and to me.  The Girl had a problem with it and the process and the nurse raised her voice to say that The Girl would HAVE to learn this.  I was just a young mama and I knew that to be the truth but I still couldn't feel good about the approach.  We only had that particular nurse that once.  She was replaced with a nurse who was patient, kind, caring, and just exactly what both The Girl and I needed.  She knew how to recognize the fear of new patients.  If I recall correctly, she was the day nurse who taught so much for three or four days.  When her time off was about to come, she came in to say goodbye and wish The Girl well.  At that time, I remember what she said.  She relayed that a day after admittance, The Kind Endocrinologist had gathered the nurses together and told them that The Girl looked older than she was and that each of them should not forget that she was only a scared little girl and to deal with her accordingly.   I was grateful that he had said that to them and The Girl was sent a "good" nurse who made a difference.  More so, I was appreciative that The Kind Endocrinologist recognized fear in a little girl's eyes and respected that fear.  

As I look back these 30 years today, really, some days we haven't changed much.  The fear still comes in certain forms but with that fear is the confidence in The Great Physician that HE can treat us with kindness, concern, and compassion and that HE can make a difference.  I can tell you with certainty that this mama has learned to trust Him more for those needs during the past 30 years and I know that He holds us in the palm of His hand.  

Is this experience of a diagnosis the worst thing that could ever happen?  Shucks no, but it was the experience that moulded our lives as a family.  While it caused fear often, it helped to strengthen us for the future.  I think if we look at it closely, we realize that experiences such as these can do that--strengthen for the future.  Would I love to repeat the experience?  Uh, no thank you.  

Whatever your experience today might be that is causing you turmoil, concern, or even fear, know that things will be okay.  The Lord has it and us in the palm of HIS hand.  Do your best every day.  Don't beat yourself up when you wish you had done something different.  As I recall something else from that week, we were taught that every day won't be perfect, but that each day begins anew with new opportunities.  I will close with a favorite Bible verse that comes to my mind that fits life for us all.

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."    Lamentations 3:22-24 KJV

Thanks for enduring my reflections, however odd it has seemed.  Sometimes a body just needs to remember where you were and how far you have come.  Now let's move on with life and the future!

30 YEARS CELEBRATION (Part 1)

 Thirty years.  Three decades.  Yes today is the day we remember always as it was June 21, 1991 that The Girl was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes.  It began as a normal day but by 11 a.m. it became a day that would forever change the lives of our family.    Thirty years.  

"Back then" one spent a week in the children's hospital learning all the ins and outs of diabetes.  Let me rephrase that, TRYING to learn the important things one would need to do to live with Juvenile Diabetes.  My mind has been wrapped around so much from that particular week and time lately.

I am so proud of The Girl and the fine woman she has become.  I'm proud of her for many reasons too great to number but I am proud of her diligence to try to do things right.  Has she always?  No, certainly not.  Has she failed?  No, certainly not.  

I am filled with gratitude for advancements in the research for a cure for diabetes.  The Girl herself has done several research trials in the last few years, wearing multiple blood sugar sensors in both arms for a period of time while following the research rules.  I'm grateful for insulin pumps, insulin, a super endocrinologist, the ability to count carbs and do basal and bolus formulas by The Girl, and so much more.  Many days it seems quite "over my head".  

I am so very thankful for The Son-in-Law and his love and care of The Girl.  I'm thankful that The Grandbaby knows about her mommy's "medicine box" that she wears.  My thankfulness for so many things has no bounds.  

Most of all I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who guides, provides, and loves.  Our Sunday School lesson today was again excellent and fit this post so well with the scriptures about the provision of the Lord and the peace and comfort HE sends to us in our times of need.  The faith in HIM I have talked about lately in these posts never fails.   So super thankful am I?  YES!  

I have some thoughts I want to share from that week 30 years ago but I think I will do those tomorrow so tune back in then.  

Oh, and one more thing.....Happy Birthday to this blog!  It was formed in 2012 on this day in celebration of this diagnosis I still remember!  

I will end with simply thanks, thanks, and more thanks for decade celebrations!

SHOWERS

Last week in my 'hood, we saw showers every day.  Some days slight showers, other days heavy showers but showers that watered my zinnias and the grounds around our house.  

My thoughts today are thinking of next week.  Just an FYI, next week is a big deal to my family as a remembrance.  I invite you to check back on this blog on Monday morning.  I may even have posts on Monday and Tuesday mornings.  That would be a novelty and miracle for me, huh?

In the meantime, life carries on.  Life can be hard, I'm not gonna lie to you and you know that to be the truth as life is just not easy for anyone.   Things come and things go.   Decisions have to be made and you want them to be right.   Fears are real in the young, the old, and all those in between.  Regrets of the past happen but we move on.  Yes, life can be hard.

I'm here to encourage you, however, that in the midst of the hard there is joy.  We find things that remind us of the love of Jesus.  Yes, you know the love of Jesus is so important to me as is my ongoing and forever relationship with HIM.  I trust Him to guide.  I trust Him to provide.  I trust Him to forgive when I err which is often.  On the same token, I believe that He trusts me to BELIEVE Him.  And that's what makes the difference in the "hard".

All these thoughts came to me, however random they might seem, as I sat and read the scriptures this morning in the lineup of the book where I am trying to read the Bible through.  It's not a straight through Genesis to Revelation effort, but I'm being guided in my reading by a book written by three local women who are friends of a good friend of mine.  The readings come in different parts with a bit of history commentary thrown in.  I ordered it from the good "A" store that delivers to my home regularly.  The title is "Every Word, A Readers's 90-day Guide to the Bible" and it is written by Susan Goodwin, Jennifer Peterson, and Molly Sawyer.  It's quite a huge effort on their behalf to do such a wonderful guide and be led by the Lord.  It's affordable on the "A" store if you want one and don't be deterred by the 90 day thing.  It's hard for a "normal" life person to do in 90 days so you should do as I do and do in order when you can if you are feeling concerned that it's too much for you.

Now, back to the scripture today which led to my thoughts.  Yes, as I age my distractions in writing get worse.  I apologize.  Here's the scripture:

"And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing."           Ezekiel 34:26 KJV

Being a Baptist girl, I am familiar with the song, "Showers of Blessings" and I love it.  However, I obviously was not familiar with this particular verse and it spoke to me.  Amidst the hard, amidst the fears, amidst the uncertainties, yes, there are showers of blessing.  

Consider....

 

FLOWERS IN MY "FAITH FLOWER GARDEN"

This post follows the one yesterday, Friday June 11, titled "The Substance of Faith".  In that post I said I would post photos of my zinnias and wildflowers grown from seeds so I am happily doing that in this post.  Enjoy...

THE SUBSTANCE OF FAITH

The online dictionary defines "faith" as "complete confidence in someone or something and strong belief in God or in the doctrines of religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof."  Of course this definition led me to look up the word apprehension as it applies in the definition.  The dictionary says "apprehension" means "understanding, grasp".  

My Bible defines "faith" in the famous faith chapter of Hebrews 11 in the very first verse that

 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Hebrews ll:l

If you have not read that chapter ever, not read it in a while, or read it yesterday, I encourage you to read it again.  It gives short accounts of all these people from the scriptures who trusted and lived by faith.  I often wonder what the verse would say in that chapter if it said, "By faith, this blog writer _____".  Most of time I'm realistic and realize that my faith doesn't measure up.  No, I come up WAY short.  

My thoughts lately have been so scattered and therefore I have not written any new posts in a while.  Nobody likes to read scattered....or at least more scattered than usual.

Today I'm writing a praise of sorts for the substance of faith that keeps one holding on to these confidences and strong beliefs.  In fact the sermon on Sunday was about confidence and maybe that got me thinking more about it.  It was a great strong sermon, much needed by my spirit.  You "faithful" blog readers might recall in my writing in the past that I've been believing the Lord for something for the past five years.  Many times along the way my faith would falter because of "roadblocks" but a couple of weeks ago, that faith became sight.  My heart rejoiced.

Another experience of faith is one that I've prayed for the Lord's will to be evident for quite a while now.  I'm hearing reasons for praise in that situation, too.   My heart rejoices.

It's in those times of fear and such when we are praying and longing for such results to come swifter that we falter.  It's easy to smile when you have no cavities but harder when you have to have that root canal.  (Not that I know root canals and hope to never know them but I have friends who know root canals.)  Life and the things it can throw one can be hard.  Really hard.  I've said, though, that you can always find someone having a harder time than you.  And I believe that.

A few weeks ago, I bought several packs of zinnia and wildflower seeds.  My intent was for The Grandbaby and me to plant these in the one spot near the road that The Husband/The Poppa would not mow.  Yes, he's a mower-downer of everything in the yard.  He can't help it, I accept it, and we happily move on.  So we went up to the little spot on the edge of the woods by the road and dug a little (my digging skills suffer), The Grandbaby put the seeds in (not one at a time but piled), we covered a slight bit, and I thought, "Hmm.  I really hope these grow, at least a little."  Being as my flower spot near the road is a LONG way from my house, watering this area was hard.  I finally loaded up a big trash can, 2 gallon jugs, a watering can, and a plastic ice cream container in my wagon, pulled them to the water hose in the grass, filled them up with water, and pulled with much effort the heavy wagon up to the road.  It was really hard.   You may wonder what the ice cream pail was for, being so small.  It was perfect for scooping the water from the heavy unliftable trash can to get the water to put in the sprinkler can to water the flowers.  It was a process, kind of like faith.   I would do this about three times a week if it didn't rain--watering ground that showed no signs of anything growing.  Finally, I began to see little snippets of green coming through that dirt. My excitement was HUGE.   Today, people driving by my house can see zinnias growing up by the road.  Pink, yellow, red, orange, white, purple.....small, but beautiful zinnias. Plus, there's a few wildflowers growing as well.   The rains of the week have been great and lessened my load of watering and I have again rejoiced about that.  This little makeshift flower garden is giving us great joy.  I will take some pictures and post to another post later on.  Maybe I will call it my FAITH flower garden.

With that in mind, let us not forget what the scriptures say by that smart Apostle Paul:

"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planted any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase."  1 Corinthians 3:6,7

So for whatever reason this post is for today, hang on to the faith.  The day will come when your faith will become sight.  I don't know when, I don't know how, but I do know the one in whom I can trust by faith.  And isn't that who it's all about?

The wise apostle Paul said it well:

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."    2 Corinthians 5:7

Consider.....