JUNE MOMENTS

Yes, it's almost exactly the middle of this year.  Unbelieveable!  Does time pass faster now or what? Where DOES it go?

And June....what a month of events around here!  The Mother's birthday along with birthdays of other extended family members, The Husband and my anniversary along with anniversaries of other family members,  VBS week, vacations,  and oh, so much more.  And how about this oppressive heat wave? Nor can we forget the reason I'm even doing this blog--the anniversary of The Gir's diabetes diagnosis hence the birthday of this blog.  Right.  A month of events.

Even with all those events, I have chosen today to focus on happy/sad events.  Sad because June is also the month of the time of passage on to heaven of The Parents-In-Law.  Happy because...duh...they're in heaven and out of the pain of the lung cancer that lived with them.  Happy, too, because we are left with many happy memories.

The Father-In-Law passed on June 12, six years ago if I do math correctly.   The Husband and I always find ourselves remembering the strength it took at the end to help him be comfortable and happy amid such a sickness.  We also remember him in the good times.  He always loved to build.  He always liked to see people working, too.  People didn't always LIKE to work, but he enjoyed working and watching anyways.

The Mother-In-Law passed on June 28, ten years ago in a few days.  I can't believe it's been ten years. Ah, many things to remember about The Mother-In-Law.  Odd things like the fact that she loved wearing the flat thong metallic colored sandals and that her little toe sat on top of the one next to it.   She would love the styles of today.  She was a very hard worker and got much enjoyment from her kitchen work.  Man, she loved to cook and loved to have folks come and eat.  With five children, she cooked a lot.  I can remember she taught me, as a young bride in her family, to use White Lily flour and Martha White cornmeal if I wanted the best results.  I always have since that day just because she said so.  The Mother-In-Law was a very good whiz at math...am thinking The Husband and The Girl inherited that skill.  Most of all, though, she did love cooking.  In honor of that love and this month, I wanted to share her Pecan Pie recipe.  Another tidbit of trivia is that when she made desserts, she rarely ever used an electric mixer.  She just stirred.  And stirred.  And stirred.  Amazing.

Happy June!

They're baacckkk......

My love of and joy in watching the birds intensifies daily.  Yes, I do love watching these creatures.   It is so amazing to me how God has instilled in them all that they need to survive and care for their own.  (See my previous post of BIRDS on July 2012.)

Back the week prior to Mother's Day of this year, I sat at my kitchen table for almost an hour and watched as a batch of bird siblings took their first flight.  Ahhh...be still my heart.  I watched as the mama wren brought in the food and little wren mouths opened as they were near the door of the wren house.  I watched as the first little wren made it's appearance in the door of my wren house.  It stood there just a second and courageously flapped it's wings and flew away.  Just like that...here, then gone.  The mother wren kept bringing in worms to feed the other little ones.   It wasn't long until the second little wren sibling appeared at the door.   This little one was not so brave as it stood there and was absolutely shaking all over....like me sometimes when fear gets a hold.   After what seemed like a very long time, the little bird flew, only to land on the porch floor.  My heart sank.  Deep.  The little one seemed to have some trouble flapping one of it's wings.  Finally, it managed to get both working and it, too, flew off into the green sunny world.  The third made it's way to the house door and like it's first sibling, flew away. Amazing.  The next day, I took the wren house off the wall of the porch and cleaned it out.  Let me tell you there was a lot of twigs, dirt, and bird nest building things in that wren house.  I cleaned it out and hung it back up.  According to my math, that was about a month ago.

Here's the wren house as it is located on my porch, slightly above the center on the edge wall of the porch above the swing:

It wasn't but a few days that I noticed more twigs and such in the wren house.  I didn't see the birds doing the building, but it was full.  Amazing that a little bird can find the strength to find, move, and build such a nest.  It.  Is.  Amazing.  

I have been noticing that I hear the wrens again.   Their sound is so distinct and loud, I can hear it if I am in the back of the house.  Every time I hear that sound, my heart gets joy.    Last night, The Husband came through the house and said, "The wrens have babies again.  They are bringing food."   I mean now really, can you believe that?  In that short amount of time, these birds have been miracles again.  And just look at that cozy nest.  Rebuilt for the little ones.  I watched even this morning as the mama wren flew off the porch rail to the tree and walked, pecking, up the tree looking for more food.  Diligent in her efforts for her little ones.

I wish you all had a wren house like mine and that you could feel my sense of excitement, amazement, and delight.   And yes, this blog post is full of sermons I don't even have to explain to you.

Most of all, I am grateful for the assurance that I feel from The Heavenly Father as He speaks peace to my heart through these amazing little wrens.  Granted the song talks about sparrows, but I have to mention the lines from one of my favorite songs:

"I worry about tomorrow until I hear the sparrow.
And I'm reminded of the promise--He'll take care of me."

So be encouraged and know that HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND ALL OF HIS CHILDREN.
He promised.  

MEMORIAL DAY

Remembering today all those who have fought for and those who have died for my freedom that I enjoy on this day and each day....those who left home and loved ones and fought and died for us all.  Even if I imagine how it must have been, my imaginations can never scratch the surface.  A heartfelt thanks to all these brave souls.

HE Knows....

Wow, two new posts in two days.....

I'm thinking that you, my six faithful blog readers, are probably wearying of the medical posts lately.   I find that my mind works with what I have and lately that's been it.  Feels like all I've done is go to the doctor....last Monday, Tuesday, and then Thursday before ending at the emergency room in the early evening.  Yes, I was admitted and left the hospital late Sunday morning.

This time I had an intestinal obstruction.  Not fun.  In all my medical business through the years, I have never had that.  I never want it again.  I don't like a diet of "nothing by mouth".  When they say that, they mean NOTHING.  I don't like IV's but I like a tube in the nose pumping out the stomach for two days even less.  I like none of it.  But you know, you gotta take what life dishes to you.  And yes, attitude makes a world of difference  as that wise rheumatologist told me years ago.  I tried.  I REALLY tried but have to confess that by Saturday afternoon, my nerves were not happy.  I just want to love Jesus and love people and on Saturday afternoon, I just loved Jesus.  Luckily, I got over it and loved people again.

The Husband is really good to me during these "sickness and health" times of the wedding vows.  I'm going to owe him big.  He brought everything I asked for to me to make my hospital stay easier.  Even as we sat waiting for discharge on Sunday morning and I told him I felt compelled to go to the Sunday service at church, he didn't bat an eye but said, "We won't get out of here till after lunch."  See we have learned that life in the medical world moves slowly.  I replied that if we did get out in time, maybe we could stop by church on the way home.  We could be late--which we never are--but this time it would be okay.

Now understand that I was still kind of weak but much better than I was Thursday and Friday and at least things were not blocked anymore.  Well, lo and behold, we drove out of that hospital parking lot at 10:30 and arrived at church at ll:02 a.m.  I somehow knew the Lord had something for me.  It was just one of those things that I KNEW because God let me know.  HE KNOWS.  I will admit here that I would have discouraged this action fresh out of the hospital in others that I love but I did it anyway.  It didn't matter that I hadn't washed my hair in 4 days nor used deodorant in 4 days (somehow it was not in my travel toiletry bag and I was sickly and it didn't register that I needed it).  It didn't matter that I was wearing a homemade tshirt dress that had a spot on the front nor that I had no jewelry or makeup on.  Shucks, I didn't even know where The Husband had stored my pocketbook at home.  (I've learned a girl is lost without her pocketbook.)  We went to church.  As we were getting out of the car, I asked The Husband to put a couple of kleenex and my chapstick in his pocket.  As we walked in the foyer, The Husband said that I was wearing the evidence (as if the look of me wasn't evidence enough) and I looked down at my two hospital bracelets.  I asked him if he had a knife (you know those things don't just tear off), he didn't.  Then I asked The Son-In-Law in the sound booth if he had scissors.  He didn't.  So I just used the hospital bracelets as my jewelry.

The service was good and from a different view sitting with The Husband on the back row.  I noticed three young people there I had not seen in a long time so I wondered if maybe the Lord just wanted me to see them again.  Then during the song service, someone led "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine" and my tears began so The Husband pulled out a kleenex.  The rest of the service was good, but I think maybe the Lord wanted me to be encouraged by "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine....filled with His goodness, lost in His love."  That's where I want to be....filled with His goodness, lost in His love.  What a blessing!

I'm still a bit weak-eyed but feeling better....learning to take a bit more care of myself rather than pushing as I've been accustomed to.  I do have another doctor's appointment on Friday morning with an endocrinologist as three thyroid nodules have been found a couple of weeks ago and recommendation is to needle biopsy the large one in the right.  This doctor will consult and then do the biopsy in his office...a one-stop shop.  I'm not excited, I won't lie, but am assured that HE KNOWS.

Aren't we blessed that through all things, HE KNOWS exactly what we need and will work that together for our good?  Where would we be without that blessed assurance?  All I've heard the past couple of days over and over in my spirit is "Trust me".  "Trust me".  So that's where I'm going, blog friends.  I'm going to trust him with all my life because HE KNOWS.  In all of life things are best when I realize He IS all I need!

And all God's people said, "Amen!"

A WAY

Well,  in my Bible time this morning I read a scripture that was index card worthy.  Yes, I took Beth Moore's advice and began writing some scriptures I want to remember on index cards.  I will have a large file as time goes on.  Anyways, the one this morning goes like this:

"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations."....Deuteronomy 7:9

That was such a blessing and then as if that wasn't enough, The Girl sent me an email with three songs to hear.   I liked all three but I wanted to share the words of the last one.  Yes, today I have been doubly blessed.  Coincidence?  Nah.

"God Will Make A Way"

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

---lyrics by Don Moen

                       

ARTIFICIAL

The "Free Dictionary" online defines "artificial" as "Made by humans, especially in imitation of something natural".

Artificial.  Artificial flowers.  Artificial sweeteners.  Artificial limbs.  And now....the artificial pancreas.  Or can I say, "And NOW, the ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS!!!"

Face it, I'm human just like all the rest.  I get excited about a lot of things but especially about things that affect me and those I love.  There was a much publicized news program last night about a new breakthrough for Type l diabetics....the artificial pancreas.  The Husband and I listened intently.  Often we have heard of various "things" that research in the world of diabetes was "discovering".  Almost 25 years ago as our family was at the local children's hospital learning to live with Type 1 diabetes, the big deal was a new blood sugar monitor that was greater and more advanced.  Well, since that day, there have been many even more and more advanced.  Even I, a Type 2 diabetic, have a new monitor that my insurance recommended and supplied that can do far and above what I know how to do with it.

The artificial pancreas is so much more.  The thoughts of The Girl being able to live a "normal" life without adjusting insulin doses and counting carbs and such of everything that goes in her mouth seems like a miracle.  Yes, one of those miracles that we think we don't see often.  In fact, the news program says it is the biggest breakthrough in diabetes research since the discovery of insulin in the 1920's.....even bigger than the wonderful insulin pump The Girl wears all the time now.  The Girl calls it her "pancreas" in a box.  This new breakthrough would be a artificially "real" pancreas in a box.  BIG DEAL for sure.  It could be FDA approved as early as next year!

So we continue to carry on as we look forward to the day this becomes a reality for so many millions of young and old alike.     And can I recognize the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) for their efforts?  Yep, I can.  And can I say thanks to the Lord for giving the knowledge to those who research?  Without a doubt, I can.

If you want to read the story or see the news clip, you can to to www.wsbtv.com (search for artificial pancreas) or find it here (will have to type in browser as I don't have mental technology to make it a link on my blog):

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/medical-breakthrough-could-help-millions-diabetes-/nmDYw/

Happy, happy, happy.

A FIND

I found this treasure yesterday in my Bible study time....in an Old Testament book that I NEVER read.  Imagine that!  From Nahum 2:7 and it goes like this:

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."  

I like it and thought I would share.  Just because. 

As I age....

...I realize I have learned a lot.  About life.  About others.  About myself.

I was looking over some of my posts lately and I realize that so many of them tend to lean toward the religious.  I certainly won't apologize to you, my faithful blog readers, about that.  God, the Son, and the Spirit are HUGE in my life.  How can my posts not reflect that?

Speaking of reflecting, I sit here typing on my office computer while I listen to the rain POURING on this metal roof.  Yes, on a normal day, I guess I should be working; however, it is near the end of the day and my work is done.  The problem is that I am in this office in a metal building with rain POURING on the roof and my raincoat and umbrella are both in my car.  Outside of the building.  I will be soaked totally if I leave now.  So I decided to "reflect" a bit and hope the rain stops soon.

Age seems to be a big part of conversations these days.  This will be my birthday year of entering a new decade of life.  I won't say which one, not that it matters.  I don't mind your knowing.  I'll give a hint.  It begins with a 6.  I thought it might be interesting if I really consider what I have learned as I have aged.  So here goes...

I have learned that it's harder to remember certain things.  Things such as "why did I come into this room" or "where did I put my keys"?  I fear this will get worse.

I have learned that I can't remember what I did yesterday but I can remember what I played when I was eight years old.  Go figure.

I have learned that there are aches and pains pretty much daily.  Knees, backs, wrists, and other parts just hurt.

I have learned that I don't see quite as well at night as I "usetakud" and especially if it's a rainy night.

I have learned that I will never be rich.  Never have been, never will be.  And that's okay.

I have learned that I could have been richer than I am if I had been more careful with my spending in the younger days.  Couldn't we all?

I have learned that knowing love of my Savior, my family, and my friends is a priceless treasure.

I have learned that as the hairs gray up and the steps get slower, the love still grows and grows.

I have learned that it's okay if I go to the grocery store wearing very, very, very casual clothes and no makeup.

I have learned that the world is going to keep turning whether I am happy about something or not.

I have learned that emotional heartache and pain are two of the worst things to experience.

I have learned that even with those heartaches and pains, the world doesn't stop turning.

I have learned that through everything, the sun will shine again.

I have learned to play dominoes!  The Girl's Parents-in-Law got me some for Christmas.  They are beautiful ivory-ish looking and I am thrilled!

I have learned that excitement over a simple thing like dominoes is a wonderful feeling.  

I have learned that life can dish out some doozies and that life is not always fair, but life is life.

I have learned that my old saying that I would always make to The Girl is the truth--"This, too, shall pass."

I have learned that my desire to cook dwindles as I age.

I have learned that watching shows like Andy Griffith, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, American Pickers, and Chopped is (or should it be "are"?) some of the most entertaining of entertainments ever.

I have learned that if you watch these in your pajamas, life is sooo good.

I have learned that if you doze off during these shows, that's pretty good, too.

Most of all, I've learned some of the most important things...
....life is short....I should enjoy each day because I am not promised any more than that.

I will, of course, have to close with a scripture (since it's just my thing to do) that is one of my favorites from Micah 6:8 and it goes like this:

 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

I have learned that I AM BLESSED!

CROSSES

My favorite time of the year is again almost here!  Yes, Easter is one week away.  The blessing of the week before Easter begins tomorrow.  How I love Easter and what it represents in the most important area of MY life and the lives of other believers in my Lord and Savior!

Because of a youth Sunday tomorrow and Easter the next Sunday, I had my Easter lessons with my little two and three year old Sunday School kids during the last two weeks.  I struggled a bit as I tried to think of how to explain to little minds the wonder of the cross and the joy of the resurrection.  I mean, really some days my mind can't comprehend such love.  How was I to explain to these young ones?

As the cross lesson began that particular Sunday, I explained shortly (everything with twos and threes is short).  Then one of the little ones piped in, "There's a cross on top of the church."  Well duh, of course there is....where was my mind?  The Lord set off a light bulb as it occurred to me the cross was a simple lesson.   I simply knew just to tell them that EVERY time they see a cross, think Jesus.  Every time.  I then took the children on a "tour" of sorts of the outdoors and indoors and we found crosses.  For every one we found, I asked them what it meant.  They learned and said, "Jesus".  Jesus.  JESUS.

You can imagine my delight the next Sunday when we arrived in class.  One of the children picked up the foam cross on the table, the other one said, "Jesus."  Yep, I was pleased but more than that, I know that my Lord was pleased.  Maybe those little ones "got" it enough to relate the cross and Jesus.  As they grow and come to the age of accepting Christ as Savior, I have faith they will know more about Him.

With tomorrow being Palm Sunday, I again encourage you, my blog readers, to take God's Word every day and read what happened as the week led up to crucifixion and resurrection.  If you like, you can revisit my  blog entry group for May 22, 2013 (My Favorite Time of the Year) daily through April 1, 2013 (Up) and last year's April 12, 2014 (Rejoice) for the week's scripture list.

Enjoy the spring and the sunshine.  More than that, watch for those crosses everywhere and enjoy the celebration of the Jesus and the RESURRECTION!  

REMEMBER

"remember":  to recall to the mind an act or effort of memory, to retain in the memory, keep in mind, remain aware of....

Uh huh, that's what it means and uh huh, as I age, the remembering process becomes a bit harder.  The past couple of weeks or so has caused me to consider the importance of remembering.  In my Beth Moore "Believing God" Bible study that I can happily say I have been doing every single day for the past weeks, the last few days have been on remembering life, God, His works, and His goodness.  It's been a good Bible study that has opened my eyes to many things.

In fact, it was one of those Godstops for me when I studied the session on my life and it's happenings between the ages of birth to twelve years of age.  I visited revival this past Sunday night at the church where I was saved as a child....the place where my walk with the Lord officially began....and I was blessed as I sat there and remembered that time.  Odd that it was 50 years ago that walk began and that I was there on the first night of their spring revival, just as my salvation began 50 years ago on the first night of their spring revival?  I think not odd at all, but God sent so I could be blessed by remembering.

For the past couple of weeks or so, I just haven't felt so perky.  Fatigue and such have been present.  One seems to just get accustomed to it but as I think back, it's been much more prevalent.  Even before I went to Sunday night's revival, I took a three hour nap.  Physically, I just didn't feel good somehow.  The next day I still didn't feel perky.  In fact for the first time ever as I stood for a couple of minutes watching something on my kitchen TV, I had the thought of being so very sleepy.  The next thing I knew, I was catching myself as I began to fall asleep and topple over.  Uh huh.  Standing straight up.

I won't bore you with the specific details but  later that night after testing and finding high blood pressures, I found myself at urgent care as I just felt something was not quite right.  Let me tell you, when one goes to urgent care and the complaints are that my blood pressure is too high for my norm, my heart rate is too fast for my norm, and I don't "feel quite right', this particular urgent care's doctor will look at you like you are not so smart and wasting their time.  Really.  Seems that doctor's attitude changed when she brought in the result of the EKG and said, "Don't be upset but this shows you might have had or are having a posterior infarction."  Okay, I'm smarter than she thinks and reply, "A heart attack?"  To which she (in a kinder attitude) says, "Yes."  She then instructs me that I will need to go somewhere else to have more testing that she is not equipped for....she's urgent care and not a cardiac unit.  I ask if that means next week, or tomorrow, or now....she replies, "Now. Can I call an ambulance for you?"  Still at that point I am not upset, thankfully.  If one is have an infarction, being upset doesn't help.  The Husband is sitting there quietly in his mask (his cold is horrible but he's a great husband).   I reply that he can drive me.  She gets four baby aspirin and instructs me to take them all at once, then we head to the local hospital south.

When I got in the car, I thought, "Man God, I hope you're not done with me.  I've not been as good as I could but I'm willing to keep on trying if you'll give me that opportunity.  Plus, my carport's not clean yet."  (Joke around here is that I've asked the Lord to let me get everything cleaned up and out before he takes me so my family don't have to mess with it.  The Husband says don't worry about it and don't be in a hurry.  Guess he likes me around.)  As The Husband drove quickly, I found myself calmed as I knew that the Lord had this in control.

I'll condense here.  You probably would enjoy the whole story but it would be long.  The hospital south took me in immediately when I handed them the EKG results.  I was admitted to the hospital for observation finally in a real room at l:30 a.m.  I did send The Girl and The Son-In-Law home at midnight when I knew I was staying.  They insisted on coming so the four of us enjoyed each other's company in that small ER room for a few hours.  (I told the nurse they could not sit in the germ filled waiting area.  He agreed.)   The next morning after a nuclear stress test, numerous enzyme labs, and other testing that showed no posterior infarction and  happily no infarction at all, I was released around lunchtime.  I had slept only half an hour, The Husband had came home and slept only about two hours so we were totally zonked and in bed early last night.  It will take us old folks a night or two to catch back up.

Yes, the blood pressure remains high for some unknown reason and I am increasing medicines and the heart rate remains high as well but I will continue to monitor and pay a lot of attention to my lifestyle, stress level, and diet.  I see a bit more rest in my future which I shouldn't argue about.   I was glad I had lost over forty pounds, can't imagine being that much heavier and being in the hospital with a possible infarction.  And yes, I will continue to pay attention to the feelings of "not quite right" even when I can't explain.  As my family doctor said it is good that angina can alert us to blood pressure and heart rate problems.  Now I know to call it angina and I know that those feelings I have had off and on the past few weeks have been angina.  I will remember that and what that feeling means. I hope I don't have it often.

Now to finalize my thoughts on the subject of remembering.  As I lay in that hospital bed in the emergency room, I was praying and remembering scriptures that had been brought to my mind.  Scriptures such as "...when I am weak, He is strong...".  Scriptures like "My God will supply all your need...".  One of my favorites "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid...the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" and so many more.  As I lay in my observation room bed in the quiet of the 3:30 a.m. hour, I found myself wishing I had my Bible.  No there was not one in that room.  I looked.  I promised right then, I would do even more Bible study so I can have more of these precious promises in my mind and heart.  I used my remembering and thought of the hour earlier when the non-English nurse was asking those personal questions as I was lying there and she was typing answers in her computer.  She asked me if I had a "religion".  Without hesitation, I so happily told her that I have a Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who I love more than any other.   She, at first, sat there a minute, then she smiled a slight smile and kept typing.  The answer obviously was enough.  I found my heart, infarction or not, so thrilled the He is with me!  And that Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is ALWAYS enough.  Oh how I love HIM!  I will forever REMEMBER that!

You can join me as we all say, "AMEN"!