WORTH RECOGNITION

If you are a regular blog reader and/or know me well, you know that The Girl was diagnosed 30+ years ago with Type 1 (Juvenile Diabetes).  Our family has always looked forward to a cure in her lifetime and will continue that looking.

Today The Girl sent me a text with a photo and explanation of this day in history.  The Girl told me it made her teary eyed.   As a parent, it gave me chills.  As a parent of a diabetic "child", it gave me chills AND thankfulness.  It's good enough to share.

I remember one of the first things our family learned in our diabetes education in the very beginning was about diabetic ketoacidosis (yes, the word is so common to me, I didn't have to consult Mr. Webster to spell) and how to recognize and get help.  Can you imagine the miracle felt in that room?  Chills.  Chills.  Chills.   I loved the analogy of death and gloom becoming a place of joy and hope.  Reminded me of Jesus.

The Husband, The Girl, and I went on a trip several years ago to Niagara Falls and Canada, going up to Toronto.  In our path was the home of Dr. Banting and we were able to stop there and see where he lived at one time.  He won a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1922 for this wonderful discovery.  He has "won" gratitude from millions more for this discovery.    

I have such gratitude for discoveries in the world of medicine and especially what they mean to my family.  That insulin pump The Girl wears that puts insulin in her body constantly is one of those discoveries.  

We.  Are.  Blessed.

Consider.....

THE "ART" OF A CHILD'S ART

One of the favorite activities of The Grandbaby is art.  She loves to color.  She loves to draw.  She loves "mawkers".  She loves crayons--preferably Cra-Z-Art brand.  She's begun to enjoy painting and cutting and gluing.  I say she has inherited this "art" from me as I love all those things, too.  We can thank The Poppa as she relayed to me the other day what he said, "You should learn to sew by watching Neema."  Uh, Thanks Poppa.  There's a skill for the future as well.

Every time The Grandbaby visits and even other times, she's forever making us art sheets or bringing us art sheets from home.  I was gifted a wooden art holder a few Christmases ago that hangs in my kitchen.  It has 3-4 clips for art hanging and the words that say, "Every child is an artist."  I can truthfully say that for the child in this household, that's so so true.

Learning from children's art is an art as well.   I took a few pictures of The Grandbaby's artwork that hangs on that art holder.  Let's take a look at what I mean.   For the most part, each piece involves a name to the receiver and a name from the giver and artist....just in case we might not know who those folks are. 

In this child's artwork, you can most of the time find a drawing of a heart.  She loves hearts.  Hearts remind me of having a heart full of joy and love.   Even though this one isn't, she often draws rainbow hearts....rainbows are big deals, too.  And when it comes to rainbows, we are so reminded of God's promises like he made to Noah and like he makes to us.

This drawing  has hearts, windows, and happy faces.  I am reminded of a love of a happy home when I see this one and am filled with gratitude that it could easily represent our home.

There is a reminder of Mary and Jesus....those most important of stories of the Bible.

This is a self-portrait.  As I reflected how The Grandbaby sees herself, it made me stop and think about how I actually see myself.  I love that this one is smiling and is dressed so vividly.  The Grandbaby has quite a style.  And long fingers.

And then there's this newer one.  It's just for The Poppa and it's not "to" The Poppa, but "for" The Poppa.  Reckon there is a difference?  This one shows new skills.  Skills of cutting and gluing.  It also shows that she gave much thought to what The Poppa likes--in this case, not only fishing, but BIG fish!

Then we come to the final one in this post and it's my favorite.  The Grandbaby brought us this in a big envelope the other day when she came.  When I realized what it said, I just had all kinds of warm and fuzzy feelings.  You must read it from the bottom line to the top, she's still learning....

What a message is in this one along with heart and happy face!  The spot that got wet on the bottom doesn't even hinder this message.  Yes, I wish she could come to my house more often, too, but life happens that school has to go on and that cuts into the daytime visits we used to have plus this hip replacement has cut into my babysitting time but recovery is on the way.  

When I look at this one, I am boldly reminded that this is how we are with our heavenly Father.  We have wishes and wants that we go to him with.  Maybe not in a handwritten piece of paper but written on the walls of our hearts.  "I wish I could talk to you more, Lord."  "I wish I could be a better person for you, Lord."  "I wish I could come to your house more often, Lord."   Well, duh, I can do all those things and more.  They are readily available to me and my heavenly Father says, "YES!  You can!".  And the mess I might have made in some of my life doesn't even matter anymore.  He wants me to feel about HIM as The Grandbaby feels about me.  YES!  I CAN.    And the beauty of a spiritual life and gracious heavenly Father is that some day when The Grandbaby goes to him and believes on HIM for salvation, HE will say, "YES!  It's yours!"  That's what HE did for me so many years ago and HE has done so much for me in all the time since.  YES!  

I.  Am.  Blessed.

Consider....

2022

 Happy New Year!  

I did what I do best as the new year arrived....slept....which meant I got up at the same regular time between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.  The Husband and I began this day as we begin most others with a cup of coffee as we sit in the recliners either watching the weather forecast or Dragnet.  We have become quite the Dragnet fans.  Yes, retired life at it's finest.

I do awaken often during my nights and I tended to consider the new year and while I don't make resolutions, I have areas of my life I hope to improve.  So, here goes....

I want to be:

Kinder

Quieter (I will always have opinions, I just long to not share them as freely as in the past.  And becoming quieter will be a challenge since I'm a girl of so many words.  But, I will really try.)

More service to the Lord and others  (Of course, I've got to get recovered from this hip to make that happen, but I'm hopeful.)

Wiser 

More grateful

More humble

More prayerful (Yeah, pray without ceasing.)

A friend who will sit in the mud puddle with you  (https://aliciabruxvoort.net/what-a-mud-puddle-can-teach-us-about-friendship)

A better wife, mother, Neema, daughter, sister, friend....

Most of all as always, I want to be a better child of my heavenly Father and if I do that, all these other things will happen as well.

I noticed this morning all the encouragements I have in my kitchen.  Encouragements I read daily.  Many times daily.  I decided I would share those as they are great considerations for a new year as well.

Reminder of new mercy....every single day....

Reminder of the Lord's love for us...

Reminder to keep quieter....  :)  ....

Reminder of choices and joy....

Reminder of blessings and gratefulness....

Reminder to pray....without ceasing....

Reminder that ALL is to be counted as joy....I do love joy....obviously....

Reminder of the strength of the Lord...

Reminder of hope and where it comes from...

Reminder of the love of a child...The Grandbaby has learned to sign with love...most every time...

Reminder of faith....and the smallness of fear....

Reminder to fear not and why....

Reminder that you are made by God, such as you are, or as I say "it is what it is".  Guess there's a good reason...

Reminder to be rid of anxiety as the Lord has got "this"...

Reminder to do your best from Honest Abe...

So there you go....encouragements for 2022.

Consider....