UNDERSTANDING THE PLAN

Today I celebrate a birthday.  Not a big decade birthday but a pretty high number birthday.  I began the day with The Husband for breakfast at the favorite breakfast place, Waffle House.  Then The Husband and I went to eat a br-lunch at 10:39 a.m. with The Grandbaby at her elementary school.  We did not tell her we were coming and to say she was happily surprised doesn't even begin to describe her excitement.  Since I've gotten home, I've carried on with regular life, not even thinking much about a birthday until now.

The past months as I have said in other blog posts have been hard with health issues of my parents and myself.  Today I was recalling how that I have been anticipating my hip replacement in what now counts to be 6 days away.  It was three months away but wow, how that time has flown.  That surgery was even questionable two days ago when my podiatrist put my left foot in a huge boot to keep it "rested".  You see, I dropped a glass tabletop on it ten days ago and a small bone was chipped while the tendons became inflamed.  After wearing a surgical shoe for ten days and this past weekend with massive (did I say MASSIVE) foot pain, it was determined two days ago that I now have severe tendonitis.  I left the podiatrist's office Monday a bit deflated as I was sure with this large boot and a gizmo to raise my right foot to same height, my hip surgery would be postponed.  I contacted the hip people as soon as I got home and was reassured that the hip surgery could go on as planned.  However, my recovery would be slower since the left foot was injured and the right hip was being replaced.  I was told to mentally prepare myself.  So I'm in the process now.  I know with the Lord's help, we can do this.   I can report that this large boot has made a huge positive impact on the pain in my foot.  I should have had it ten days ago.  Does it look nice and does it make it easy to determine what to wear to keep my legs and feet warm?  No, but I'm dealing.

The Husband (aka The Future Hip Recovery Caregiver) and I have discussed at length the changes we are doing before Tuesday comes....taking up rugs, moving cords, stuff that folks do for older folks to avoid falls, etc.  I made the statement that some days I just wish I knew "the plan".  Then, it was clear as a day of blue sky and sunshine.  I don't have to know "the plan" nor do I have to understand "the plan".  

All the things that have happened to me in the past 65+ years have brought me to this point.  I recall things that were horrific in my life, things that were downright scary, things I couldn't control, and so many other "things" that seemed wrong.  Can I say here that they were part of "the plan"?  I am reminded that when I am weak, my Lord is strong.  I am reminded that HE knows all that I need, He's proved that over and over and over.....He knows more than I do.  So I remind myself, I don't have to fret, I just gotta trust.  The good things that are too numerous to name outnumber the bad totally.

My favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life" and I've seen it every single year.  If you are familiar, George Bailey wishes he had never been born.  Things got so bad with him.  In the way that movies can do, George was shown what if he hadn't lived.  Ahhh....that movie touches so much in me.  I'm so glad for all that has brought me to this birthday.  Like George Bailey I recognize the blessings that come in unexpected ways.  And I am again assured of Romans 8:28, one of my very favorite Scriptures....

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".   Romans 8:28

Yes I know, as George Bailey did, that "it's a wonderful life" and I am blessed.

Consider....

ANOTHER SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

Today marks the birthday of The Son-In-Law.  The Son-In-Law entered our lives 10+ years ago via eharmony.  The Husband and I had prayed hard for a mate for The Girl that the Lord would be pleased with.  The Son-In-Law was the answer to that prayer.

The Son-In-Law is a Godly man who leads his home in accordance to the scriptures' teachings and in accordance to the Lord he serves.  He loves his girls big.  He is a great husband.  He is a great dad.  He is a good provider, a wonderful youth leader, and a massive fan of family.  Of course, he's a massive fan of sports, especially Auburn and the Braves.  That's good as well as he does know his priorities and has them in the appropriate order.  Most of all he is a treasured child of Jesus.

The Son-In-Law has great organizational skills and a wonderful senses of humor that shows in his various costumes.  Here is this year's Halloween attire:

Yes, Taco Bell.

The Son-In-Law has a huge sense of adventure and is loved by all.

The Husband and I couldn't have asked for a better one to join our family.  We are blessed.

So Happy Birthday, dearest Son-In-Law.  You make us proud.  We wish you a day of joy and a day of crossing off a mark on your bucket list!

💕

IN MY OWN LANE

Hello faithful blog readers!  Remember me?  I can't believe it's been almost a month since I did a post. The past two months have been busy and quite a bit stressful for me as both parents have battled illnesses. We have spent a lot of bonding time--in medical facilities and in the car on the way to medical facilities.  I looked at my calendar for next week and see only one doctor's appointment and nothing medical on four days of next week.  

My other news from my world is that I will be getting a mechanical hip two days before Thanksgiving.  I believe that's 24 days from this day.  The countdown is on and has been on for two months already.  I can't believe the day is so close.

Over the past two months I have found myself so busy I have a hard time mentally focusing on one thing at a time--the focus seems to boggle all the I-need-to-focus-on-this things in a messy mental wad.  As I feel a bit anxiety about the upcoming surgery, I have been seeking a way to become un-anxious.  Yes, that comes from me, the Queen of Surgeries, about fifteen or so under my belt (well-some over my belt) at last count.  I don't know if it's the fact that what is installed will be mechanical or it lends me to my aging process or some of both.   Either way, I will admit with all the other hoopla going on, I've struggled a bit.  And yes, I have sought the Lord's guidance in this just as I preach to others to do.  That guidance seemed to come in an unexpected way.

That way was a type of role reversal just as I have spent with my parents.  When I was voicing something about this upcoming event for me last Sunday at lunch, The Girl responded, "Just as horses in races wear their blinders to not be distracted by other horses, you have to do the same so you can stay in your own lane, keeping your eyes totally in YOUR lane ahead."  Well duh.  Ain't that the truth?  Here I was thinking of the what if I don't recover as quickly as others?  What if this doesn't go as planned?  Well duh, if those things happen, I still have a Lord and Savior who is still providing for me in my own pace in HIS own way, IN MY OWN LANE.    So there you are....let the countdown continue.  

The Husband (or should I say The Caregiver) and I did pre-op last week and attended the in person class.  He made lots of notes.  I joke around saying he will have me ice cold for three days after with the icing they say to do every half hour. He and I are also working on my learning not to pivot.  That's the big restriction for 6 weeks.  I'm not a basketball player but my every day life has a lot of pivoting.   The Husband says he owes me for caregiving.  Well I say, with my fifteen surgeries, he's certainly had the raw side of that sickness and health vow.  Anyways, we have a Thanksgiving week plan that is filled with gratitude for all that goodness of the Lord.  

Consider.....

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:14

(That Philippians has some good stuff.)

THE BEST FRIEND

 I'm up early this morning, showered and about to eat breakfast to prepare for what promises to be a very long day.  The past month has been very long with many uncertainties and fears.  Through it all, I have been reassured timeless times that my faith is strong even though my physical and mental abilities often are not.

I was riding to my parents' house in the rain yesterday morning to chauffeur to yet another doctor's appointment.  This activity has become a frequent one in life.  In my short drive to my destination, I found myself again with the radio off and in prayerful conversation with the Lord.  I was almost there when I turned the curve and the simple words on a church sign gave me comfort and assurance.  "What a friend we have in Jesus."  That was it.  And it spoke volumes.  Again.

You will even find in another prior blog post my thoughts about this wonderful comforting hymn.  The words and tune make me teary lately especially every time I hear it.  And yesterday was no exception.  I was remembering the lyrics "What a friend we have in Jesus....all our sins and griefs to bear....what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer".  A privilege to carry EVERYTHING to HIM in prayer. Faithful.  True.  Yes, that's MY friend.  Jesus!

Consider..... 

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD

The Grandbaby loves art...or more specifically as she pronounces it, "Awt".  If you give her some paper and colored instruments, she will make you a picture that she expects you to display.  And honestly, I love that kind of "awt" and display it in many places in my home.  Here's the latest that made it to the refrigerator.  It's a treasured one as it's of The Poppa, The Grandbaby, and me.  I especially love that I have knees, multiple fingers, and our eyes and hair are true to our likenesses--yes, true to life awt.

As I paused to consider, I was reminded of many years ago and an older couple who sang in various churches.  I remember one of their songs saying,  "If I could see the world through the eyes of a child, what a wonderful world it would be".  I looked up those lyrics and chose a verse to share.

If I could see the world
Through the eyes of a child
Smiling faces would greet me all the while
Like a lovely work of art
It would warm my weary heart
Just to see through the eyes of a child

So I ask you-- what you see when you think of seeing the world through the eyes of a child?

Consider....

CHANGES? OR NOT?

The Husband and I got in the car Sunday morning and headed to Sunday School and church, much as we have for the past 42 years.  We left about the same time, drove the same route, and parked in the same spot in the parking lot.    Yes, all was pretty much the same as usual.

It was on the ride to church that my thoughts traveled to change.  I put on my lipstick as we pulled out of the driveway as I usually do and I noticed several wrinkles and gray hair in the mirror.  I looked over at The Husband and his hair was whiter and grayer than mine.  Whew!  At least that's good news.  :)

Our road has more houses than it did 42 years ago and it's paved all the way through.  It also has houses that have been on the road longer than ours.  Houses that house friends, sweet neighborhood widows, and those we have known for 42 years.  As we drove on, thought, I began to notice on our route houses that used to house those we know who have now passed on to heaven.  There were several--the one across the street which housed the best neighbors ever, a widow who loved us, a widower who lived to an old age, and even a house where one of my elementary school friends had lived and I had spent much time there in sleepovers and play.  Those parents, too, had passed on to heaven.  Then at the end of the road was the house that had housed my sister's best friend and her family....grown now but parents and brother passed on and the house belonged to others.  So many changes...so many.

I think of our country and the turmoil that change is bringing.  I think of the dreaded covid that is changing so many lives either directly or indirectly. Who ever knew I would wear a mask in public just to try to remain medically safe?  Who ever thought one couldn't go to the hospital with a sick loved one?  Who knew the grocery shelves might be emptier and even bare in spots not even because of the threat of a snowstorm?   Yes, there are so many changes....and not even covid related.

I carried my camera in my purse to church.  I had been told it was Grandparents' Day by The Girl so I decided maybe we would get a photo with The Grandbaby.  We had also taken one when she was just a wee thing so we sort of recreated that photo.  Take a look.

I see some changes in the two photos.  We could play "how many differences can you find"?    My hair is flatter and the glasses are different, The Poppa has hair now even though it's very white,  and The Grandbaby has certainly grown.  Then you notice things that are the same.....the church interior, the white shirt, the same flowers in the sanctuary, and a hair decor for The Grandbaby.  If I had been smart, I would have worn the same dress from five years ago as I still have it and it's a favorite as it has been for the past twenty years but alas, I wasn't smart on Sunday.  The cross in the background on the wall was built by The Husband and represents a crucifixion and a resurrection that changed life for all believers....for me, for The Husband, for The Grandbaby, and for you, too.  

Other things that stand out to me in this photograph are the things that remain the same.  Things that really aren't "things".  Smiles, joy, expressions of love and happiness....those kind of "things".  Those are the important things that never change no matter what.   

Today has been a day of faith building and an answer to a long time prayer.  That answer was exactly what my family had hoped and in a way could be classified as one of those miracle things.  No, it's not my story to tell so you will just have to wonder, but you take my word for it--THE FAITHFULNESS OF MY GOD WILL NEVER CHANGE!  That's not to say if the answer had not been miraculous that the Lord would not have been faithful, He is always faithful,  but for today, I'll take a miracle!

So changes come and then some things never change.....consider....

BOOGERING

Here in the South, especially here in the RURAL South,  people like me just have a different language.  Now I'm thinking that many of you not in the South have become familiar with "redneck" because of a famous redneck entertainer from right here in my area.  And if we all here in the South be honest, when you saw the title of this blog post, your thoughts immediately went to nose activities.  It's okay to admit I could be right.

Now just to do the right thing in my writing, I took the time to look up the word "booger".  Uh huh, I did.  The dictionary says "slang for a piece of dried mucus from your nose.  When you pick dried mucus out of your nose, this is an example of a booger."  I kid you not, blog readers, I'm not making this up.  That's what it says and honestly, that's what I thought it was.  To the dictionary's credit, however, it also says it means a "problematic or difficult thing". 

I was remembering as a child when I would play with the next door neighbors.  The oldest child was a girl slightly younger than me and their second child was a boy slightly younger than their oldest child.  We would enjoy playing at dusky dark and a favorite game was "Ain't (see the redneck language?) no booger men out tonight".   We didn't say, "Ain' any boogeymen out tonight, we called them as they were--boogermen."  We two girls would walk around the yard singing that line over and over and over and the brother would be hiding and jump out to scare us.  We tried to be prepared for him, but somehow in that dusky dark, he would scare us every time.

I was reminded of this game earlier in the week when The Girl and I were talking about problematic and difficult things.  She remarked, "The devil is just boogering up my mind."  You know that stuck with me and I have thought of it often since then because truthfully, he does that to me, too.  And I'm betting, he does it to you, too.  Any time I have much going on and have problematic and difficult things on my mind and heart, here comes the devil to put all kinds of nasty "green mucus" thoughts in my mind.  

After giving this so much thought, I decided I would adhere to what the Scriptures say about it...."resist the devil and he will flee from you".  As many of you regular blog readers know, I think one of the scariest scriptures for a Christian in the Bible is in Luke 22:31 where Jesus tells Peter that "Satan desires to have you and sift you as wheat......but I have prayed for you...."  My mind has tossed that around and around and I have been encouraged that I'm in that number that Jesus has prayed for....and I will not tolerate the devil boogering up my mind.  

My week has been hard...and last week, too.  I will share a personal thing, though this thing was not as hard as a lot of the other "stuff" going on.  Over the holiday weekend, I self-diagnosed a kidney stone, hurt with it for two days, then rejoiced when it passed on Sunday morning at 5:49 a.m.  Uh huh, a jagged almost 3mm stone.  It was boogering with my body, I assure you.  No more time for that either!

So I encourage you via this blog yet again to not let the devil booger your mind.  Keep it clean and healthy and full of Jesus!

Consider....

ANSWERED PRAYERS

 So far in my world, it's been a week of many emotions.  I won't go into everything as it will accomplish nothing more than making words but I will say it's been a week of busyness, of unanswered questions, of medical visits, of trying to process and hold many things mentally.  Sadly, this is only the fifth day of the week.  I will share that The Husband actually tore a ligament in his knee just getting out of the car here at home after church this past Sunday.  We have determined events like these are a product of the dreaded aging process.  He's improving slowly and walking with a cane but we are thankful it was not one of those torn meniscus things.  I don't need my medical knowledge to increase in that, or at least I don't have time for that right now.  

What I did want to say is an observation I got just now this morning as I sat in my quiet den with my cup of coffee in my hands.  One can ponder well with a cup of coffee and quietness.  With all things behind, things in my life now, and unknown things ahead, I can look around and all I can see is answered prayers.  Prayers I have prayed 50 years ago, 30 years ago, 10 years ago, and even prayers I prayed yesterday.  Give it some thought.  How about you?  Surely you have those answered prayers, too.  Be encouraged in the unknown to come and see the works of the Lord in your own life if for no other reason because of the assurance that HE will never leave you and HE is in control.  

As I sit here typing, my eyes are drawn to a card sent to me a long time ago by The Sweet Pray Without Ceasing Friend.  It was so true then and still encourages me daily.  It might encourage you too so here it is:

Consider.....

ENCOURAGEMENT

I sit here finishing up notes for a Sunday School lesson I'm teaching tomorrow.  Odd how I always find the lessons speak to me the most.  This past week has been very eventful with good and not so good things but that's how life can be.  I am happy to say that I have a surgery date after meeting the hip surgeon on Thursday afternoon.  It's slightly less than three months away but I can be patient.  There's lots to do between now and then.

I found encouragement often last week from a couple of quotes that came my way.  This one was via the internet and goes like this:

"Grace is when God gives us good things that we don't deserve.  Mercy is when He spares us from bad things we don't deserve.  Blessings are when He is generous with both.  Truly, we can never run out of reasons to thank Him.  God is good all the time."

Now ain't that the truth?

The other came to me via my pray without ceasing friend.  She and I have had some strong, bold prayers going up together the past couple of weeks.  Her saying goes like this:

"If you're overwhelmed by the fact that there's nothing you can do except pray, then my friend, you undervalue your greatest weapon."

That, too, is truth.  

I also tend to find encouragement from butterflies.  Their beauty and freedom to fly and land on the prettiest flowers just blesses me somehow.  I spent a little time one morning this past week at my almost dead zinnia patch as I watched the most beautiful orange butterfly flit around.  I noticed the beauty of the spots that were practically equal on both wings and the delicate wings that flew them away.

 Hope these words and wings encourage you as they have me!  

Consider....

THIEVES

A thief is defined as "one who steals, especially in secret and without force or violence".  We think of stealing and even some of my readers have experienced stealing of goods.  I can recall a couple of times that The Husband's fishing and hunting supplies were stolen from his truck and boat.  Once the thief did damage to the truck to get in to steal, the other time the thief just easily helped himself to something that wasn't his.  We had insurance that helped with our loss a bit but not totally.  One feels very violated when a physical robbery occurs.  Even when it involves fishing rods.  Trust me.  

I was thinking the other day, though, about other things that are thieves in our lives.  When i considered those things, I decided to make a short list.

Covid is a thief.  It robs us of our health, our physical and mental confidence, and often our friends and family.  I have a friend now that is in ICU on a ventilator.  I know many who have battled this disease just last week.  Yes, Covid is a thief.  Covid has stolen many that I love.

Time is a thief.   Years, months, weeks, days, hours, and minutes seem to be stolen from us daily by whatever it is that makes time go by so fast.  It could be our busy lives or our lack of time management but I still say time is a thief.  It seems like yesterday that I was a youngster.  Today I am far from a youngster.  

Anxiety is a daily thief.  Becoming concerned and worried about things we have no control over (and things we do have control over) can rob us of our joy in the blessings we have already.  Of course I try to rid myself of that thief by remembering that "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:6-7)  I would say, "Enough said."

Insomnia is a thief.  Of course, insomnia is the ability to lie awake for hours when you are supposed to be sleeping.  This happens to me so often as I age.  Goes back to that thief of anxiety in the paragraph above, doesn't it?  Yes, many of us are robbed of sleep and this hinders our physical and emotional well being.

There are so many things that we can consider thieves in our world.  I'm sure your thoughts go to thieves in your own lives.  I am so grateful we can look to Jesus when we feel and are robbed of these things.  HE is the insurance policy we need to recover our losses and move forward.  As a sign in my kitchen that reminds me daily says, "In Christ alone my hope is found."  

Be assured (and insured) that "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:  I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."  Psalm 91:14

There's no greater insurance policy than that!

Consider...