Happy Birthday

Today, our niece turns 6! I don't know where the past six years have gone! I am so thankful for the blessing of her smile, her love, her laughter, the way she gives hugs and kisses and makes me laugh, and for everything God has made her to be, which is one very special girl. Happy birthday!!

Manito Park

I spent a couple hours at Manito Park with my friend, who came down to help occupy my mind for a few hours. We had a great time enjoying all the beautiful flowers and intricate details in each plant! It is always so relaxing to go to Manito Park and enjoy the beauty that so many work to keep beautiful for others be able to come and take in the incredible flowers. To all those who work in the gardens, thank you. It's always nice to visit and take in the amazing beauty. Thanks to my dear friend for a few hours of distraction!

Tiny, But Mighty

It measures approximately 10 cm in length and 4 cm in diameter at it's largest, but boy, does that tiny thing cause havoc! It can bring you to tears and keel you over in pain when it's not working correctly. What you ask? The gallbladder. . Evidently, although all tests show 'normal' except for a polyp, mine isn't working correctly so after being together for four decades, my gallbladder and I will soon be parted. If it truly is what is causing all the pain I've had for the past three weeks, or should I say four years, I will not miss it one bit.

I am nervous, scared, a bit apprehensive, and my mind has wondered to many places it shouldn't go. I have had to capture those thoughts as best I can and turn it over to God, knowing that He is in control and with me along the way. I've had to stay as busy as I can, which isn't always the easiest when the pain is flared up but I've been planting flowers and my garden, reading, writing, taking pictures, and going to town just to try to not let my mind wander. I will have to say that it amazes me how everyone I talk to has a gallbladder story, even some of the techs I've visited over the past three weeks. I have heard numerous horror stories about waiting too long to take out the gallbladder, or how someone had such horrible things happen because the doctors didn't think it was the gallbladder. And, 'did you know that can kill you if you wait too long to get it out?' Gee, these are all what a person needs to hear when going through test after test, ER visits, and doctor visits, trying to find out what is wrong with them. Many doctors have suspected gallbladder problems over the past four years, but since every test has come back 'normal' they haven't taken any action. Apparently, the pain level was bad enough this time that my doctor thought I should see a surgeon, and the surgeon, although the tests are 'normal', thought it's probably my gallbladder acting up so I will be having surgery on Friday. I usually don't write too much about my personal life, but your prayers for the medical team, and for a non-eventful surgery, would be very much appreciated! Thank you.

Focus

We spent a lot of time on the lake over the weekend. It was an amazing Memorial day weekend as far as weather was concerned! We also spent a lot of time in the yard, working on projects and planting. Saturday, the majority of the day was spent just relaxing in the boat. We enjoyed watching geese, eagles, ducks, butterflies that followed us all around the lake and swarmed my husband, grebes, and even a beaver. At one point a grebe was chasing a beaver, just a few feet from our boat. It made both of us laugh to watch this bird chase a fairly good size beaver across the bay. The water was so clear in the bays that we could see to the bottom in even seven feet of water. The sunset was amazing as well.

It was nice to just be still and know that God had made all the beauty and nature that we were enjoying, and to know that no matter what is going on, He is still in control. He cares about the little things, He cares about the big things, and He cares about everything in between. It's hard to remember that sometimes when life it out of control, or there is a lot of stressful things going on in life. But, for me, there's nothing like going to the water to refocus and know that God is right there with me, and that He cares about me, and He will help me through.

What helps you to unwind, to focus your thoughts, and to put things into perspective? Is it being in the mountains, walking through a flower garden, sitting under a tree in a meadow? I challenge you to find some time in the next few days to spend some time there, and let your mind relax, refocus, and know that God is in control and that He loves you.

Remembrance and Respect

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom, all Americans owe the a tremendous debt, one that can never be fully repayed. We can, however, honor and respect those who gave their lives for this country and our freedom, and make sure that Memorial Day is not just about picnics, cookouts, yardwork, and fun. We need to take time today to honor and remember those who gave all for this country, for each of our freedoms. We need to take time to thank a veteran, or a current soldier. Give them the proper respect they deserve, and remember to respect the flag for which so many have died. Don't take your freedom for granted! Fight along with our troops to preserve the freedom this country has and don't let our freedoms slip away! There have been too many give their lives for this country to just let that go to waste. Stand up for your country, your freedom, for our troops. Make sure that those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country did not do so in vain. Their duty is done. Our duty, our right, is to honor them for their sacrifice and give them the respect they deserve.

Thank you to all who gave for my freedom, my right to live in a free country. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

New Each Morning

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. ~Lamentations 3:22-23 (New Living Translation)

I needed that verse this morning. God's love never ends!! His mercy, compassion never stops! Every morning they are fresh and new. He is always faithful to us. Always. We are the ones who don't grasp His love and grace and mercy. We start our morning and forget to stop and take time for God. We just rush through our to do list and forget to stop, and take time to be with our Father, our Creator. We can easily get too busy the moment we wake up. Our minds start racing through to do lists, and by the time our feet hit the ground, we are usually running for the day. I don't know about you, but with all life throws at me, I need to take time every morning to take in His love, His mercy, and faithfulness. I need to wake up and say good morning to my Father, and take the time to see what His plans for the day are for me. I need to remember, and I need to live a life with Him at the center of each day. He's always there, just waiting for me to stop and remember.

Sunshiny Day

Yesterday was a gorgeous day! It was in the low 80's. My hubby had the day off because we were supposed to be on vacation, but we didn't make it. He finished our paver patio in the morning, and I planted the garden. In the afternoon, we went for a drive. We headed down the lake, and took some roads we have never been on. We had no idea where we would end up, or if after we drove for an hour, if we would have to turn around and go back. We finally came out to a road we knew and were close to the highway. On our trip, we enjoyed the beautiful lake, we saw a hen turkey, geese, ducks, and as we rounded the corner on one turn, we were blessed to see two bull elk. They didn't stick around long enough for me to switch lenses, so I didn't get a picture. It was a great day, and I enjoyed spending it with my hubby, even if we weren't on the Oregon coast.

Time with Family

We had a great time with family over the weekend. We enjoyed a wonderful day up north to the Refuge. It was special to get to spend time with both our moms, my sis and her family, my dad, and my cousin. We had a great day, and God sent extra blessings our way including watching a pair of eagles at their nest for about an hour, several pairs of Canadian geese and their goslings, numerous ducks, and sunshine! My cousin helped to spare the life of a turtle who seemed to be pretending it was a statue as it sat in the middle of the road. He was moved along safely to the other side. We all relaxed in our own way, I think, which we all needed.

Enjoying the Refuge Headquarters

Mom time

Tulip Day

It's National Tulip Day. I'm always excited when I see my tulips popping through the ground, and usually snow, because it signals that winter is soon coming to an end, and spring is on it's way.

No matter what the weather or where you live, I challenge you to enjoy some tulips today, whether you walk beside them or tiptoe through them, enjoy the beauty in each delicate bloom!

God's Chisel

Happy Mother's Day

A MOTHER...
When you're a child she walks before you, To set an example.
When you're a teenager she walks behind you To be there should you need her.
When you're an adult she walks beside you So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..


Mom's smiles can brighten any moment,
Mom's hugs put joy in all our days,
Mom's love will stay with us forever
and touch our lives in precious ways...
The values you've taught,
the care you've given,
and the wonderful love you've shown,
have enriched my life
in more ways than I can count.
I Love you Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to both of our moms! We love you!

Prayer

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (New Living Translation)

Today is National Day of Prayer. Our president does not want to acknowledge it, but it is a day to come together and pray for our nation. I would say right now that our nation could use prayer more than ever. We are at war, our economy is bad and people are losing their jobs, families are falling apart, we are a nation that is being morally pulled apart in all directions. Do we need to come together and pray and ask God to forgive us as a nation, as a people? Yes!

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 1 Timothy 2:8

I pulled the following information off the National Day of Prayer web site. The ask each person to pray for SEVEN things each day of the week. They are listed below.

Are you willing to commit to pray for our country seven days a week? Are you able to set aside time in your car, during your coffee break, or before bedtime? We want to challenge you make this prayer commitment. 7x7 involves praying for seven centers of power seven days a week: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family. By remembering these specific prayer points, we can cover all Americans with God's power. Together, we will see positive change!

Why We Pray
As American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt called for our nation to unite in prayer. He also offered a prayer to prepare each citizen for the road ahead. "Let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee." The victory that followed on June 6, 1944-also known as D-Day-began the march to Berlin. Eighteen months later, WWII was over and one of the world's greatest evils had been defeated. The prayers of a nation had been a powerful force. Prayer has always been used in this country for guidance, protection and strength-even before we were a nation or a handful of colonies. The Pilgrims at Plymouth relied on prayer during their first and darkest winter. Our founding fathers also called for prayer during the Constitutional Congress. In their eyes, our recently created nation and freedoms were a direct gift from God. And being a gift from God, there was only one way to insure protection-through prayer. President Abraham Lincoln knew this well. It was his belief that, "it is the duty of nations as well as men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God." When it came to the fate of the nation, he practiced what he preached. Before the battle of Gettysburg, he turned to God in prayer. "I went to my room one day and I locked the door and got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed to him mightily for victory at Gettysburg." Won by the Union, Gettysburg was one of the turning points in the war that ended slavery and kept the states united.

Today the need for prayer is as great as ever. Our nation again faces battlefields, along with an epidemic of broken homes, violence, sexual immorality and social strife. As the heroes of our nation did in the past, we must again bow our heads in prayer. We must ask the Lord to bless our leaders with wisdom and protection, and that we will have the fortitude to overcome the challenges at hand. If Roosevelt, the Pilgrims and Lincoln never underestimated the power of prayer, neither should we.It is our goal that you, your family and friends would participate in the National Day of Prayer. We pray that the event impacts your life, and that praying for our nation moves from a one-day event to a lifetime endeavor. So join us and pray with conviction that God would continue to shed His grace on thee.

Need to know what prayer is and how to pray? Go here

http://www.ndptf.org/about/index_2989.cfm

Faith

Faith is exactly what it takes to get through uncertainty.
Faith is not necessary when you know how things are going to work out, - that's knowledge. It's in the time of unknowing that having faith is what sees you through to the other side. Faith is what gives you strength. Faith is that light in your heart that keeps on shining even when it's all darkness outside. Now is the time to keep that faith alive!

Faith...we've used a lot of that over the past few days as we've sat in waiting rooms with family, as my aunt went through surgery. Faith was there. Faith sat beside me and helped me to understand and have peace when things didn't go exactly as planned and many complications arose. Faith is what my aunt had as she went into surgery. My husband and I were in her room the night before her surgery and her faith in God was strong. We talked about how we don't know how people make it through this crazy world without faith. She wondered how people can go day to day with no hope, and we wondered with her. She said it was what kept her going and she knew no matter what the outcome, she was going to be okay because her faith rests in Jesus Christ and if she made it through surgery, great and if not, well, don't worry about her because she would be in Heaven and why be sad for that. My hubby and I smiled and told her we understood since we share her faith but we would all miss her. She just smiled and said well, we will be together again. She said she had no fear of surgery because she had faith that God would protect her. Protect her He did. There were complications before and during surgery, and things were tense for many hours, but yesterday afternoon, my aunt was sitting up in a chair and even joking a little bit. Hard to believe you can have your heart removed from your body and reconstructed and be up in a chair a few hours later. We thank God for the results, and we thank God for our faith, which we clung to in the times where things were not looking so good. He is always there beside us, going through life with us.

What do you cling to today? Do you have faith and hope no matter what?

Surgery Prayers

Today will be a short post. My aunt is having open heart surgery early Monday morning, so I will be with my uncle and cousins, my mom and my sis, and other family and friends, as we wait at the hospital. I was with them most of Friday, when they brought her to the hospital and received the news that she needed the surgery, and was with them part of Sunday. We've shared tears, stories, and laughter. We filled up the entire waiting room at one point today. Fortunately, the staff at KMC is great and they put up with us. So, as you read this, I just ask for prayers for my aunt, her family, and the doctor and staff. Thank you.

Happy May Day

I remember as a kid, we always made May baskets for our neighbors. We would fill them up with flowers and treats and hang them on their doors. The trick was not to get caught hanging them on their door! I'm sure they knew we were there, but since most of them were older and we were little kids, they allowed us to think we surprised them! It is a special memory I have stored up from my childhood, probably because we got to make something with mom, and it was fun to give to others.

Surprise your neighbors today and make up some May baskets. They are a simple gesture, but they can really brighten someone's day, and if you do it with your kids, it can build some special memories.