Handprints in my house and footprints on my heart

I am reminiscing (that’s what you do when you are a grandmother or Nannie).  How wonderful to be a grandma! I am so glad God has allowed me to live long enough to be one. I hope my children and grandchildren feel the same.  I have not been able to entertain and play with them like I imagined I would, but it has been such a blessing to have them close enough to see them frequently. One or two of them spend the night with us several times a week. It is so sweet to look in on them at night and see their sweet faces on my pillows .  I would not have been able to do this if I had not had some very capable helpers.  

Emily Locy was the first person to help me care for my grandchildren. She was so kind and sweet, soft spoken, and a true woman of God. She endeared herself to the grandchildren and me.  She helped me organize my pantry, which was a major undertaking, and her handwritten notes still remain on my pantry shelves.  She and her husband sponsor an orphanage in Uganda that care for several children there. If you are interested in helping them, you can read about their ministry at New Hope of Life Foundation online. Their organization is in New Albany, Ohio.

Crystal Bass followed her.  She was a God Send. She raised four children of her own, 3 under the age of 3.  Needless to say she has the competency to deal with multiple toddlers at once.  She has been such a blessing to me personally, taking care of the children, and any other task I mentioned.  She wiped down walls, cleaned doorknobs regularly, organized cabinets, cleaned and organized the litter of toys weekly.  She helped me with some other projects too; like painting my laundry room and downstairs rooms in preparation for Brant and Elesha and family to move in with us while they build a house big enough for them. Does she sound a little like Wonder Woman?  She was at t time when I could do none of those things myself! Crystal has left us too.  The children are in school part or full time (I still see them most afternoons for a couple of hours). We planned to release Crystal after Christmas, but she got a job this week, so she left us earlier that we had planned.  We miss her terribly  too, but are glad for her good fortune in gaining employment so quickly.  Jude comes in every day and wants to know, “Where is Tystal?”

Emily and Tilly Evans are sisters who have helped intermittently. Every time the children see them drive up they start jumping and yelling because they are so happy to see these sweet girls. I am so thankful that God has provided us with the competent, caring help we have had.

They have all moved on.  This fall Tilly returned to Liberty University to continue her education.  Emily went with her this time and is working.  They don’t yet know, or may be just now realizing, that their lives will be forever changed.  They are shedding their skin and trading it for wings.  I am sure that God has some special purpose for them to fulfill, and I am SO grateful that He allowed us to play some small part in their lives.  More than that, I am thankful that He sent them our way, at a time when we desperately needed them.  They have truly been angels on earth.  Not one day goes by that the  grandchildren don’t ask if Emy and Tilly are coming today.  Since they have moved on, our babysitter is now reduced to MEL.   

I seem to be doing well physically.  If I’m not, I don’t know it.  I used to work with a kindergarten teacher who said that she lived in her own little world, but that was O.K., because everybody there knew her.  I think I now understand what she meant by that.  The Drs. Have dismissed me unless I have some further issues.  I give God all the glory!  I have had some really good doctors, and I appreciate everything they have done. But I know, and they do too, that they cannot heal me.  I believe God has.  I by no means am the person I used to be (my memory, especially short term, is terrible).  I have never been inclined to worry, but I now find myself fretting about things that would have never bothered me before.  They really are not important things, but somehow I manage to make them into something they are not.  My frame of reference now is “before and after” cancer. That is not a terrible place to be.  Some people didn’t make it to after.

I truly, literally have handprints in my house and footprints on my heart from these wonderful, caring, people that God has placed in our lives.  We are who we are now, because of them and what they have done for us.  We and they are living tributes to God’s providential care.  I thank Him and them from the bottom of my hear!!!

I have not posted in awhile. I have had the time, but not the motivation, or vice versa. Gordon has had surgery for hip replacement.  He continues to suffer unmercifully, mostly from pain and nausea.  He kept thinking it was all coming from his back and neck.  His PA at the Pain Center finally decided to investigate and sent him for an X-ray of his hip. The socket was completely worn out.  He is about 3 weeks out from the surgery & his therapy is going pretty well.  He is still in a lot of pain, and nauseated, but thinks it is getting better. I appreciate your prayers for him.

Gordon’s Mom is not doing very well. A hospice nurse is coming a couple of times a week to help with her at the nursing home.  We have not been able to visit her as much as we would like, & it is very difficult to communicate with her because she does not hear well.  I really hate to see her like this and not be able to do more for her. Please keep her in your prayers.

Best Christmas Ever

I cannot believe that it has been 6 mos. since I last blogged. Where has the time gone? I have had opportunity but no inspiration; or I have had inspiration but no opportunity. The grandchildren have kept me busy, but they are not really an excuse for not blogging.

I have to say that I received some really good news from my doctor yesterday (Dec. 3), the best Christmas present ever!  He said my tumor continues to remain “stable”, and I do not need to see him again for a year.  I told him that I appreciate all he has done for me, but he knows that ultimately he cannot heal me.  I do know someone who can and I will receive his report as a divine healing.  Dr. Dang did not disagree with me although I am not sure he really believes.  I have been taken off all my medicines, except heart medicine for A-fib.  No further problems with that either.  

Gordon continues to struggle with his neck and back.  He is in so much pain, especially this week, that I believe he is tempted to OD.  Please pray for him that God will heal him or provide a way that he can get some relief from this.  He really is pitiful!  My brother Bill has had some similar problems with his back.  He is going to Tampa, Fla. next week to see a doctor there who has had some reknowned success with surgeries of this kind.  Please pray for him too that He receives what he needs.

I continue to enjoy taking care of my grandchildren, 3 or 4 of them most of the time; the others as needed or wanted.  We have 1 or 2 of them most nights, just because they want to stay.  The time will come soon enough that they will be busy with other things.  I want to enjoy them while they like to be here.  Of course, they are precious, although not quite perfect; but we are working on that.  Lest you think I have become “super woman” in my old age, I hasten to say that I have some very capable help or I could not do this.  A wonderful girl from Slapout, Ala. (yes that is a real place) helps me with them.  She raised twins and another baby a year later, so we figured she might be qualified.  She has been wonderful and the children really love her. 

The babies are the joy of our lives and truly are a reward “for not killing your own when they were young!”  It is amazing how much wisdom they have.  This week, Sarah (Todd’s almost 7 year old_ quipped that “Mama & Daddy are geniuses.  They know just what to do in case you get a scrape on your knee or something.”  Isn’t it amazing how smart we (adults) are when they are 6, then how ignorant we become @ 13?  Reese agrees that grown-ups “know everything,” and then proceeds to throw a Texas sized temper tantrum when you tell him to, or not to do, something.

As of today Todd has been hired by Huntsville Fire Dept.  He finished his last class today.  We are so proud of him.  He has worked so hard for this.  I am sure he will be a real asset to the fire dept., because he has such a good understanding of mechanical things.  We are very proud of both of our “boys” and so thankful for them and their families.  They both have very dear wives who have blessed us in ways that boys just cannot.  I am so thankful that our families have enjoyed congenial friendships that many families do not have. 

I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a blessed Christmas.  I pray that the real “Reason for the Season” will be part of your celebration this year and always.

A Father's Love

Thinking about Father’s Day, I have reflected on my own precious father who was taken from his family far too soon when he was far too young.  He was a mountain of a man in statue (6’), in spirit, and in character.  Mom called him her Greek God! He was a wonderful husband and a great Dad.  He set the example for us of doing what was right.  He was honest and he expected others to be, including us.  He was never abusive, but he did not spare the rod.  We knew we were loved, because there were boundaries set, and they were enforced. He was strong man, but a humble servant. He set the example of honoring his parents and treating his fellowman with respect and dignity, regardless of race. He died while my sister was expecting his first grandchild. As I interact with my precious grandchildren I often think what it might have been like for him to have experienced the joys of grandchildren.

I have 7 grandchildren that I care for either every day, or occasionally, depending on their age. The older ones have school at home.  Some of the younger ones come to me on weekdays.  I love them all dearly.  They each have their own little personality traits, some more pleasant than others at any given time.  We have one who has been particularly strong-willed, and a real challenge to care for sometimes. But when he is sweet he is SO VERY, VERY sweet, so he has a way of capturing Nannie’s heart.  This week he informed me that I was getting old.  I asked him how he knew that.  He said “your hair is all white, and you sleep a lot,” referring to the fact that I spend a lot of time on the couch! He also informed me that I needed a haircut. I don’t know how he got so smart, or how he learned to stroke my ego!  My granddaughter Sarah (almost 7) quipped, “Mommas & daddies are geniuses because they “know just what to do, you know; if you have a scrape on your knee or something.”  Such wisdom from the mouths of babes!

These babies have been so precious to us, and I do not know how I could love them so much.  I believe God sends them to give parents a second chance to do things better or right. I believe they are a small window into heaven to help us understand how The Father feels about us.  You think when your children come that you could not possibly love anyone as much as you do them, then, here come the GRANDchildren! I thank God for healthy, happy (most of the time) grandchildren and for the blessing they have been to our lives and for the lessons I have learned from them about living and what things are really important in life.

I have never been known as a spotless housekeeper.  I have never had anyone offer to eat off of my floors!!  But since the grandchildren came along, I have learned to become even more relaxed about my house.  I do try to keep my floors clean, but if the children spill something, I don’t go ballistic.  I wipe up as best I can and try to encourage them to have drinks at the table.  Of course, that isn’t always practical.  I have turned my “formal” living room into a toy/play room and moved my living room couch into the den (where Reese says I sleep all the time).  We have toys strewn from one end of the house to the other, in pleasant disarray, but (I think) the children love coming here and they feel free to play as they wish.  I could not be a happier grandma!

And so I think about how our Heavenly Father feels about us.  He is patient and tolerant of our spills and messes.  If we trip up, He picks us up and dusts us off and bandages our wounds if needed.  He doesn’t expect us to do things right the first time, though He is happy when we follow His instructions and do the very best job we can.  He is happy with our successes, patient with our failures, and always willing to give us another chance. I am infinitely grateful for a Father who cares more for me than I do for myself, is happy to give me another chance. He gave me the VERY BEST gift a father could give, redeeming love!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

A Judas Heart

During this season we think about the price our freedom cost our Lord. The costliest gift He gave was the freedom for us to choose, either to accept Him or reject Him, to serve Him or desert him. We know from our American history that freedom is not cheap, but when is freedom really freedom?  In “freedom” we are not really free.  We may have freedom but not the liberty to do as we well please.  There are certain obligations that come with that freedom, be it religious, political, or personal.  God is a perfect gentleman.  He does not force Himself on anyone.  I think the hardest thing we do is to let our loved ones go to try their independent wings, to learn from their own mistakes.  I am sure God has anxiously watched us make wrong choices or mistakes, even sometimes deliberately.  It would be so easy for Him to reach down and redirect our path.  But because He loves us, He allows us to make our own choices, even when they are to our detriment.

When I have read about Judas in the Bible, I think about someone who is sneaky, sinister, a betrayer.  I have been cut to the quick by reading Max Lucado’s comment in his Devotional Bible about Judas.  P.1364  “For all the things we don’t know about Judas, there is one thing we know for sure:  he had no relationship with the master.  He had seen Jesus, but he did not know Him.  He had heard Jesus, but he did not understand Him.  He had religion, but no relationship….Satan needed a special kind of man to betray our Lord.  He needed a man who had seen Jesus, but did not know him.  He had heard Jesus, but had missed out on the mission of Jesus.  Judas was this man.  He knew the empire but had never known the Man. Satan’s best tools of destruction are not from outside the church, they are from within the church.”

When I read this commentary I was cut to the quick! How many times have I treated my Lord so lightly, carelessly, so disrespectfully.  Without realizing it, I have again betrayed Him.  Thank God that He does not hold that against me. Praise God for His love that sent Christ to the cross, that we can indeed be redeemed! He was betrayed for the betrayers.

I have not blogged in awhile, a lot going on.  Gordon has suffered horribly with his back and neck.  Trying to postpone another back surgery, which seems imminent.  I seems we have had one crushing blow after the other.  Of course our business  has not been good, though finally picking up some with this beautiful weather.  His Mom is still in a nursing home, very unhappy there, but we feel there is no other alternative.  I am still able to help with the grandbabies, because I have had some wonderful help. We lost a very dear cousin of Gordon’s, someone He has been close to all his life.  They were such quality people, and he will be sorely missed, at home, at work, in his community and church, and his family.  But our loss is truly heaven’s gain.  Please be in prayer for his family and his wife, Coleen.  My Mom is doing fair.  She does have some breathing issues.  Has curtailed herself from driving after she had a problem with her eye. SO, we are taking turns “Driving Mrs. Gracie.”  Of course, she tries not to impose, and it has been nice to spend some extra time with her that we might not have otherwise.

Todd has been hired to work at Huntsville Fire Department.  He is doing his training now which will be for about 22 wks.  We are so proud of him, but that has added greatly to the problems with the shop.  He is so good with mechanical things, he has really put a dent in our seasonal business. I hasten to say that we hope and pray that he is able to apply himself and take advantage of this opportunity.

We are enjoying Brant & Elesha’s new addition.  She is such a sweet child and seems to have made the adjustment to our family rather easily. She has become Reese’s best buddy.  He needed one!!  More when I have a chance. Thanks for all your prayers.  I believe that is what has made the difference.  I am going on 6 years post op. Praise God!!

A Good Will Offering

My sister-in-law sent this out in her annual Christmas greeting.  It so aptly expresses what God has done for us.  I say Amen and AMEN!

A Good Will Offering

I was listening to a song that caused me to go back and read what the angels said:

"Peace on earth and good will toward men."

I was thinking  we all love good will done toward us. We enjoy giving good will to others. Sometimes words are said in such a way we hear it differently. This morning was one of those times. Our heavenly Father, God of all creation, who watched His holy creation marred by sin, in the fullness of time sent us Messiah, very Son of God, a good will offering. In Jesus, God the Father says, "I have a new life to give you and that life is in my Son. Believe in Him, trust He forgives and cleanses and makes all things new." This is an amazing thing, this reconciliation. For those of us who have believed we take it for granted. We forget to pause and worship and remember how loved we are. We often worry instead of trust. We get busy and forget to bow low and look high. There, seated on a throne no man can overthrow, is Son of God, Savior, Lord of the universe. The One by whom, for whom, and through whom all things were created. There, the One who overcame all was granted a throne with all power and authority. There, where He is proclaimed to have a face shining like the sun at full strength and a voice like the sound of many waters, men fall down. They, with one voice say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was and who is and who is to come." And they cast crowns and proclaim, "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God to receive glory anhonor and power; for Thou did create all things and because of Thy will they existed and were created." For HIS will, and HIS glory ALL things-- us, nature, stars and sky, explain and exalt our God. Praise HIM! Worship HIM! Adore HIM!

Sticks, stones, and words

I have not blogged in awhile. I have been rather busy, but also have not really had the inspiration.  So much has happened since I last blogged.  We have a new granddaughter from Colombia, adopted by Brant and Elesha.  They got home just in time for Christmas.  Elesha did a wonderful job of blogging about their adoption process at www.thebigsthelittles.blogspot.com if you are interested in reading their account.  It is a wonderful testimony of God’s protection and provision and their endeavor to trust in Him.

Gordon is still suffering, & I mean SUFFERING, with back and neck pain.  The surgeries and pain treatment he has had don’t seem to be helping much.  The doctor really wants to do another surgery on his back, but he is reluctant to try again. I know God allows circumstances in our lives that bring us to a place He wants us to be. I am not sure Gordon believes or understands that, but I pray that he will do whatever is required to allow God’s work in his life.  We are not always as interested in the process as we are the outcome.  I believe God is interested in the process.  If God’s own Son suffered as He did, how do we think we will leave this word without some suffering on our part?  I thank God that He loves us enough to allow us to share in Christ’s suffering.

I also Thank God that he gives gifts according to our need.  If you have multiple children, you understand that principal.  Some of us are more “needy” than others.  Thank God that He gives to us according to our need, and not our desserts, or someone else’s!  I have been rather needy myself, lately.  I have fallen into a pattern of fretting about things I can do nothing about.  I have tried to replace this “stinking thinking” with more time in the Word, which has helped.  I have imagined myself securely in the safe lap and arms of a Father who loves me and wants only the best for me.  I must remind myself that I don’t know what is best and I MUST trust Him to provide.  I have a little phrase I tell my grandchildren that I hope teaches them about unconditional love. “I love you when you are good, I love you when you are  not good, and no one will ever, ever take your place.”  I am so glad that I can trust God for that kind of love, and I want to set that kind of example for them.

I am rereading a book by Joyce Landorf called Balcony People.  She also wrote another one called Irregular People.  Balcony People is about people in our lives who affirm us, and how important this is to who we are. I am reminded again that words are important to us.  They can “make us, or break us.”  Our actions can too.  This has been a fresh reminder to me to be kinder, gentler, more in tune to others needs. 

All of us have fragile places in our lives, some more than others. Some of us have been through horrendous circumstances, having been abused by the very people who should have loved us. So how can we understand the unconditional love of God? The wonderful thing is that we don’t have to understand.  All we have to do is receive it.  Who of us, if given a gift, would not reach out and receive it?  It is the same with God’s love.  All we have to do is receive it.  Most who read this have already experienced this, but if you haven’t, I invite you to reach out and receive.  What better way to begin a new year, than to walk hand in Hand with God through Christ?

A Judas Heart

When I have read about Judas in the Bible, I think about someone who is sneaky, sinister, a betrayer.  I have been cut to the quick by reading Max Lucado’s comment in his Devotional Bible about Judas.  P.1364  “For all the things we don’t know about Judas, there is one thing we know for sure:  he had no relationship with the master.  He had seen Jesus, but he did not know Him.  He had heard Jesus, but he did not understand Him.  He had religion, but no relationship….Satan needed a special kind of man to betray our Lord.  He needed a man who had seen Jesus, but did not know him.  He had heard Jesus, but had missed out on the mission of Jesus.  Judas was this man.  He knew the empire but had never known the Man. Satan’s best tools of destruction are not from outside the church, they are from within the church.”

When I read this commentary I was cut to the quick! How many times have I treated my Lord so lightly, carelessly, so disrespectfully.  Without realizing it, I have again betrayed Him.  Thank God that He does not hold that against me. Praise God for His love that sent Christ to the cross, that we can indeed be redeemed!

A Quiet House

Welcome Little One! AND I sure do miss my babies, who are in Colombia, So. America, getting a new little sister.  If you would like to check them out you may go www.thebigsthelittles.blogspot.com and you can see the story of their adoption.  You can also click on a link that will allow you to shop if you are an Amazon shopper.  If you purchase anything from Amazon from this link, they will receive 10% of your purchase to go toward expenses for their adoption, which will help them immensely.  This has been a labor of love and money!  We would appreciate any investments you are willing to make.

 

Still have Hannah every day.  She does not know what to think with the house so empty and quiet! She is beginning to try to say a few things.  She is such a happy baby, and the apple of her Hap’s eye.

I am going tomorrow to have Thanksgiving lunch with Gordon’s Mom @ the nursing home.  She is still very unhappy there.  She is convinced we “snookered” into going there, but she says it is a nice place, that people there are nice to her, and they have lots of things for her to do.  But she wants to go home L. I am so sorry that we cannot take care of her there (at home).  I took her to see the dentist recently.  What a trip—wheelchair and all!    It was a good reminder to me of why I am not caring for her all the time.  When we returned to So. Hampton, she and I both were completely exhausted!

Since I last blogged, Gordon has had another surgery on his neck.  When they did the previous surgeries, they put titanium hardware in his neck to hold the bone in place until it healed.  They usually just leave the hardware in unless there is a problem.  Gordon kept having so much pain after the discs healed that they checked to see if the hardware was causing the pain.  Sure enough one (or more) of the screws was against one of his nerves.  They did another surgery to remove the hardware.  He is in excruciating pain from the surgery now, but he thinks it will be better.  It is not the same kind of pain as before the surgery.  I do hope and pray that he will get some relief soon.

I had another MRI and dr. visit today.  I am thankful to report that there has again been no change in my tumor.  I thank God for His touch. We saw on the news that there are some new treatments specifically for brain tumors that are in clinical trials.  I asked the doctor about them today.  They of course are not available yet, but maybe not too far away.

Don’t know if I will blog again before Christmas.  I already have my Christmas tree up.J  I would rather enjoy it before Christmas than after.  We wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

Recipe for Happiness

Ps. 5:11-12 : "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For sure, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

I don’t remember where I first heard this scripture, maybe a sermon, or a book.   It most assuredly speaks to us about where real happiness comes from.  As much as I would like to believe that my faith and trust is in God alone, I am afraid there are many times that is not true.  I let the cares of daily life and the troubles of our world creep in and steal my peace.  I would like to blame it on the world, but I know that my peace and happiness depends on me.  Will I choose to trust God in this circumstance, or will I try to work things out on my own? When my grandchildren become a little petulant, I am very quick to remind them that THEY can choose to be happy or unhappy, to obey or disobey.  They have the power to choose.  Then I think about the times I have had the power to choose, but didn’t. 

I love the word refuge  in this passage.  That word conjures up a harbor away from the storms of life. There are so many times in our life when we need that, a place of shelter, protection, a place of peace and safety.  No wonder we can “be glad.”     

There is a “conditional” here.  We must “love His name.”   I was raised in a God fearing home.  We learned early that God was our heavenly father, and Jesus was our savior and friend.  We were taught to revere the names of God and Jesus.  Only as an adult have I understood the importance of not just loving Him, but loving His name.  I have prayed for God’s favor on many occasions, but never considered it as a shield.  Thank God that there is something new that we can learn from His Word every day!

Gordon had another surgery on his neck Wednesday.  They shaved some bone or scar tissue off and took out the hardware they put in before to fuse his vertebra together.  The doctor thinks that might have been the source of some of his pain.  Hopefully he will come home tomorrow (Fri.).   He has been pretty miserable. 

Brant’s family is leaving for Columbia on Nov. 2 to receive their new baby (a little girl with sickle cell anemia).  They have had all kinds of delays which seems to be pretty typical of these adoptions.  It has been very frustrating, but they are going along with their plans.  The latest hurdle is they weren’t able to finalize plans for the trip by the deadline for their hotel, so they are having to take quarters in a less comfortable place.  Please keep them in your prayers.  They will be in Colombia until sometime after Christmas.

 Everyone else is doing well it seems. “ Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

On the Other Side

Our summer has been pleasantly busy, sometimes even hectic.  We’ve had some more wonderful extra helpers that helped keep the pool clean, the water comfortable, and have helped keep the children entertained and safe in the water.  Thank God for them!! At the beginning of summer, I felt like filling the pool with dirt and planting a garden.  Because of these wonderful people, the kids have been able to enjoy a clean, safe summer in the pool.  They all love it!  

I wrote this sometime back, but haven’t posted it. 

“Recently I blogged about hard places, twice actually, so I want to pay homage to the other side.  I want to declare that God is faithful to see us through to the other side of hard places.  I am sure that I have not seen the last hard place, but I am here to say that “God is faithful to complete that which we commit to Him until that day.”

I have really struggled for months with feeling incredibly tired all the time.  Every time I walked by the couch, it reached out and snatched me!  I lost about 35-40 lbs.  I was really concerned that something was really wrong with me! The doctor did some blood work and discovered my thyroid was low.  They put me on medication but nothing changed.  I had  an appt. with an endocrinologist in Mar.   I went to my radiation doctor this week.  He is elated that I have done so well!  He certainly did not expect to see me in this condition now.  I told him that I give God the glory for using competent doctors with gifts that He gave them, to heal my body.  He enthusiastically agreed!  I have said the same thing to my chemo doctor who also agreed with me, but not so enthusiastically.

I have felt so much better recently  that I believe I am truly being healed!!  I have a wonderful friend at church who has prayed for and with me since early on.  She wrote a note that God impressed upon her:  “as if it has never been there.  Don’t know how, don’t know when, but as if it’s never been.”  I believe her prophecy is being fulfilled, PRAISE GOD!   Thanks to ALL of you who have been so faithful to pray for me and encourage me. I was able to keep 3 of my grandchildren at the same time overnight  several times this summer.  I have not been able to do that since my chemo.  Those of you who are grandparents know that there is no greater pleasure than to see them all together laughing & playing during the day, and then see their angelic faces asleep on their pillows at night.  I read somewhere that a little boy was asked about his grandparents.  He said “they were grown-ups who have lots of time to listen to you.”  I pray that God has made me a good listener.

I thank God for His peace in my life.  Jn. 14:27.  When I first received the news that I had a brain tumor, I was shocked.  I have been in perfect health all my life. I never had any serious illness, no major surgeries.  I have always done anything I wanted or needed to do.  I did not know how to be a patient!  I believe God needed to get my attention and slow me down long enough to teach me some things.  I may never know why it happened, but I pray that I have not been a slothful student.”

Gordon is still not doing very well.  He has so much pain that he can hardly walk some days.  He is being treated at  a pain clinic but nothing seems to help very much. They want to do another surgery, but there  is no guarantee that things will be better.  Some days we are both pitiful! I don’t know how much more he can tolerate.  He’s taking more medicine than he needs to, but not as much as the doctor prescribes.  Please pray for him.  I will post an update.

My brother Bill is having the same kinds of problems.  He is scheduled for a procedure that will burn his nerve endings next week.  Please pray for him that this will work.  He has spent much of his life in intensive pain and he NEEDS some relief.

My Mom is still trucking right along.  She had a problem with one of her eyes that has impaired her ability to drive, so we are “driving Mrs. Gracie”, much to her chagrin. She has accepted this gracefully as she has most things in her life, but is SO AFRAID she will inconvenience someone.  We are so thankful we have the privilege of caring for her!

Gordon’s Mom is still doing fairly well.  She is still not satisfied with the facility where she is.  She wants to go back home, but doesn’t understand that there is no way that she can. She just cannot understand that she is there because we cannot take care of her. She is very alert, but has a lot of difficulty with short term memory.  Look who’s talking.J

It is good to hear from those of you who have sent messages to my blog.  We continue to covet your prayers, and thank all of you who have prayed in our behalf.

August 22, 2013

I have been silent for some time, not because it is golden, but because there has been so much clamor at my house that I could not think!  I am glad to say it has been happy clamor for the most part, from my precious lively grandchildren. I have had some or all of them daily, which has taxed my strength as well as my brain, but I have had some wonderful capable helpers who love the children, and the children love them, more than me I am afraid!  We have spent a lot of time in the pool, in spite of the cool temperatures and the rain. I have threatened to fill it with dirt and plant a garden, but it might have redeemed itself this year.

My real reason for posting today is to report that I had a dr. appt. and MRI this week.  In his words, Dr. Dang  ”is very pleased with my report, which shows no change in the tumor.”  It is still there but shows no sign of change.  I will consider this a “good report” and a blessing from God.  I have been dismissed from my radiation doctor, who also is very pleased with my reports.  I do have wonderful doctors who have used their gifts for my benefit.  I praise God for His care through their hands!

Gordon is still suffering unmercifully from his neck and back.  I just do not know if anything can be done to improve his quality of life outside of a miracle.  I am not sure he believes that is a possibility for him. He really is pitiful!  He was going to physical therapy which helped momentarily, but our wonderful insurance company decided it was not really helping.  They dismissed him!  We have been trying to get him to go to Birmingham or Nashville to have someone else take a look, but so far, no cooperation.

His mother is holding her own.  She is resigned to the place she is staying; seems fairly satisfied, but would like to go back to the place she was before. She cannot grasp the concept that she is there because we are not able to take care of her.  She has no concept of the financial part of the situation.  She says South Hampton is a nice place, and everyone is good to her.  It is clean and of course she is happy about that.  She has always been the clean queen! 

MY Mom is not doing as well as she would like.  She is still having some breathing difficulty—is on oxygen at night and daily as needed.  The thing that has her down is that she has an eye problem that is keeping her from driving.  She will be 92 this week and has been VERY independent all her life, not to the degree of being obstinate.  She WILL NOT do ANYTHING that she feels will inconvenience someone else, so many times she stays at home rather than share with us that she might like to do something.  We are trying to make ourselves more available to take her places, Mom’s Taxi in reverse!

We will be getting a new baby from Colombia in October, we think.  Brant’s family will have to travel there and stay 7-8 weeks before they can bring her back here. We are looking forward to our little special needs child.  She has sickle cell anemia and is 2 years old.

Sarah Grace (Todd and Brandy’s oldest) started 1^st grade. Hannah is here with us every day.  They are precious prissy girls, and of course so smart!!

I have the sweetest mother in the world

This is absolute truth! My Mom was raised on a North Carolina tobacco farm during the depression.  Her life there prepared her for the challenges she would face raising a family on Glendale Farm in rural Jackson County,  Alabama.  Her oldest brother was determined that his siblings would go to college.  He came from N.C. to Auburn, AL., to teach Alabama farmers how to grow tobacco.  He brought his sister with him to go to college.  She finished a couple of years of school and in the process met someone she called her “Greek god”.  They dated awhile, then were married. My dad joined the Navy and after the War they moved back to Glendale Farm.  Farm life was hard, demanding, and thankless, not to mention 4 children thrown into the mix.  Growing up during the depression taught my Mom to be a good manager, which served her well living on our farm.   Without describing details, Mom and Dad worked hard  on the farm with my grandparents until I was 12 years old.  Dad had an opportunity to go to work in Huntsville, which ultimately led to a job on Redstone Arsenal.  We bought some property along Hwy. 72, built a house and moved when I was 12 years old, bringing my 3 younger siblings.  This proved  to be a real blessing.

God blessed us during hard times, and during some more prosperous times.  My parents always put God first in everything!  They paid tithe when they didn’t know where the next dollar was coming from.  We never went hungry, never were we without clothes to wear, and always had transportation to get us where we needed to go.  Above all we had friends-- and homemade ice cream!  I never heard my mother complain.  She always reminded us to be thankful for what we had.  She and my dad set the example to entertain strangers, be kind to those who weren’t always kind to us, and to share what we had with those less fortunate.  Sometimes I thought we were the less fortunate (:-)!   We learned early that complaining wouldn’t change anything.

I believe God desires to ordain our circumstances, but He will not do it alone.  We must cooperate.  When we continue to go our own willful way, He allows us to.  Until we are ready to yield ourselves to His direction, we continue going ours!  And we wonder why we find ourselves in such predicaments!

I am SO FORTUNATE to have grown up in my family.  I won the family lottery (see The Last Lecture). Before I read this book, I always told my mom that I was glad I was born into her family instead of some others I know of.  The Last Lecture calls it “winning the family lottery.”  I am so sorry for those who cannot say that about their parents, or family.

I am still getting good reports from the doctor. I had an appointment week before last.  The dr.  says my tumor is still stable.  I will accept that and praise God.  I think God has different ways of healing.  I believe He has used this tumor for several reasons.  First is to bring me closer to Him.  It has reminded me how much I need Him, and that He is the orchestrator of everything in our lives, whether He has our permission or not. I think about how much I love my children and grandchildren; what good I desire for their lives.  Then I think about how much more He wants what is best for us.  He wants to “withhold no good thing from us;” but if we expect to have those “good things”, we need to “line up”! We should also consider that what we think is a “good thing” may not be God’s good thing.  God wants to bless us, but we are the ones who determine whether or not we receive his blessing.

I have not blogged in awhile.  I have had a few health issues that have “wiped me out.”  We have had a lot going on as well.  By the time I had the opportunity to write I was too tired to think!

Gordon is still having problems with his neck and back.  Some days are better than others, but not many.  He is really pitiful, and he continues to try to do more than he should. My Mom is doing well.  She still has some heart and lung issues, but is doing pretty well right now.  She has been on oxygen, especially at night.  She went last week at 92 and had a senior driving evaluation.  They said she could continue driving (a stick shift) as long as she stayed off the interstate.  Yea Grandma Grace!!  Gordon’s Mom is doing pretty well.  She has been to the hospital for a fall recently.  Nothing broken thankfully.  She continues to be more confused about things; everything except her “Stuff’’.  She thinks she is going back to the place she was before.  Cannot understand what the cost of that is vs. the place she is staying.  We are very happy with her quarters.  The people are very kind and attentive (she says so herself), and the place is clean.  Every time I go someone is mopping, cleaning baseboards, doorknobs, handrails, etc.  The place smells really fresh!   She is not happy about having a roommate.   Most of them have been congenial.  If they are not, the staff has made a change as soon as possible.

Please leave me a note if you are still reading this.  I don’t want to assume that people are interested in what I have to say, if they in reality are not.  Blessings to all and praise to our God and Father!!

Emily - Our Blessing

We have had the most precious blessing grace our household and lovingly help me take care of our grandchildren.  She came to stay but God has ordained her path in another direction.  We send her away  reluctantly, because she has been such a blessing to our lives and our grandchildren love her so.  Hannah has learned to say “Emily,” before she has said “Nannie.”  But we know that God has a work for her to do and we are blessed to have been a part of her life for a short time. I would ask you to prayerfully consider being a part of her work in Uganda.  This is her story.

Emily felt called to Africa for the first time in 2007, at the age of 18. As soon as she set foot in Africa, she knew that God has placed a calling on her heart and she was to spend her life serving in Africa. After many exploratory trips to South Africa, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Uganda in the years after that initial trip, Emily felt the Lord calling her to full time ministry with orphans in Uganda. Uganda has over 2 million recorded orphaned children, due in part to the civil war, rebel army activity that was present in the country until 2006, and sicknesses that plague East Africa. On her first exploratory trip to Uganda, Emily met her now husband, David (a Ugandan and ex-child soldier himself), and they became friends. She moved to Uganda in 2011 to work with a U.S. based organization that David also worked for that cared for children in Uganda. Emily and David soon realized that the organization that they worked for was engaging in donor fraud and was mistreating the children in their care, so they left that organization in March 2012. God placed it on their hearts to start their own organization to care for some of the orphaned children that they had grown to love over the years. In April 2012, David and Emily, along with their dear friend, Zechariah, also a Ugandan, founded their NGO (non-governmental organization), Hope of Life Uganda. Hope of Life Uganda aspires to bring hope to the orphans of Uganda by providing for their basic needs. Emily and David married in Uganda in June 2012 and have enjoyed spending their first year of marriage caring for their family of 26 (David, Emily, and the 24 children, age 5 to 18, that they care for in Mbale, Uganda).

In August 2012, Emily came back to the U.S. to finalize the legal paperwork for New Hope of Life Foundation, the U.S. based non-profit corporation that will serve as the fundraising sister organization for their Uganda NGO, Hope of Life Uganda. Emily is an Ohio native but settled here in Huntsville when she came back in August, as her parents were living down here at the time. A week after returning from Uganda, Emily interviewed with Elesha and Brandy to help me provide for the grandchildren, and she has been with our family ever since.  Emily has been caring for the needs of her 24 Ugandan kids with her paycheck every week, as they have very few consistent donors thus far, as she has only been back in the U.S. promoting her organization for just over six months. This has been extremely difficult for her as she also has her own personal expenses to take care of, but she knows that God will bring her help to financially care for the Ugandan children. Emily knows that if she does not provide for the children that no one will, so she invites you to partner with her and help them provide for the children’s needs.

New Hope of Life Foundation funds the needs for the 24 children that David, Emily, and Zech care for. They are still looking for 22 individuals, families, church groups, etc. to partner with New Hope of Life Foundation and become a sponsor for one of the children in their care. For $40 a month you could help bring hope to a Ugandan child in need by providing for their food, housing, medical needs, and education (school is not free in Uganda). Emily, David (who is still in Uganda, awaiting the opportunity to join Emily in the U.S. for a while), and Zechariah (who lives with the children and is their main caregiver) trust that God will touch the hearts of capable people who will be able to partner with their organization and become a monthly sponsor for one of their 24 children. If interested in learning more about becoming a monthly sponsor for one of the Hope of Life kids, please email Emily at newhopeoflifefoundation@gmail.com or by contacting her through their website, www.newhopeoflifefoundation.org. As a 24 year old newlywed, Emily never really imagined that she would become the mother of 24 Ugandan children but she followed where God led and this is where she has ended up. I would encourage you to check out the New Hope of Life Foundation website,www.newhopeoflifefoundation.org, to learn more about the children, their day to day needs, and how you can partner with David, Emily, and Zechariah, as they work to provide for the needs of these 24 very special and loved Ugandan orphans. Once on their website, you can sign up to be on the monthly email newsletter mailing list that Emily sends out with pictures, updates, and partnership opportunities. Donations to New Hope of Life Foundation can be accepted on their website or by check, made payable to New Hope of Life Foundation, and sent to:

New Hope Of Life Foundation

201 Mountain Ridge Drive NE

Huntsville, Alabama 35801

Emily is moving back to Ohio in a couple weeks to be closer to family, friends, and her church community as she awaits David’s arrival in the U.S. They plan to spend the next few years living primarily in the U.S. raising funding and awareness for the needs of New Hope of Life Foundation and the children that they care for. David and Emily plan to move back to Uganda permanently in a few years. It is their hope to have raised enough funding to build a home for their orphans, and a school complex for the community in Uganda, when they move back to Uganda to live. Thank you for prayerfully considering how you may be able to contribute to the New Hope of Life Foundation and the goals they have to bring hope to orphans in Uganda.

It is my desire that you prayerfully consider supporting this organization as they endeavor to serve God by, “looking after orphans and widows in their distress ,” Jamess 1:27.

Happy Heart

I have a happy heart tonight.  All of my adult life, I have encouraged others, especially my children and now my grandchildren, to have a happy heart.  My intention was to teach them that they could choose to be happy in spite of their circumstances.  I wanted them to understand that they might not be able to control the situation, but they could control how they reacted to it. I have one grandchild who has had a particularly difficult time choosing to be happy.  When he comes in the morning I ask him if he brought his “happy heart.” Sometimes he bounces in with a big smile and says “YES!” And sometimes_____ (you fill in the blank)!  But, he is learning that he has the power to choose.  Sadly, that is an important lesson that even some adults never learn.

Elyse Fitzpatrick writes in her book, Idols of the heart,  ”St. Augustine wrote, ’Man’s happiness is God himself…Nothing is better than knowing God. There is nothing sweeter than His love. There is no pleasure greater than worshiping Him.  Nothing is sweeter that His love.  My happiness is found in Him.”  I ask my grandson, “When you are happy, who is happy besides you?”  He is learning that he makes others happy when he is happy, and that Jesus is happy when he is happy too.

I am especially happy tonight because I received another good report from the doctor.  I had another MRI and appointment with the chemo doctor.  He said everything looked good, that I am still very stable.  I will thankfully accept that as the hand of God in my life.  But if I had received a negative report, I would still praise God.  There is no sweeter or more peaceful place to be than in His hands.  We are already there anyway!

On the Other Side

Recently I blogged about hard places, twice actually, so I want to pay homage to the other side. I want to declare that God is faithful to see us through to the other side of hard places. I am sure that I have not seen the last hard place, but I am here to say that “God is faithful to complete that which we commit to Him until that day.”

I have really struggled for months with feeling incredibly tired all the time. Every time I walked by the couch, it reached out and snatched me! I lost about 35-40 lbs. I was really concerned that something was really wrong with me! The doctor did some blood work and discovered my thyroid was low. They put me on medication but nothing changed. I have an appt. with an endocrinologist in Mar. I went to my radiation doctor this week. He is elated that I have done so well! He certainly did not expect to see me in this condition now. I told him that I give God the glory for using competent doctors with gifts that He gave them, to heal my body. He enthusiastically agreed! I have said the same thing to my chemo doctor who also agreed with me.

I have felt so much better this week that I believe I am truly being healed!! I have a wonderful friend at church who has prayed for and with me since early on. She wrote a note that God impressed upon her: “as if it has never been there. Don’t know how, don’t know when, but as if it’s never been.” I believe her prophecy is being fulfilled, PRAISE GOD! Thanks to ALL of you who have been so faithful to pray for me and encourage me. I was able to keep 3 of my grandchildren at the same time overnight Sat. night. I have not been able to do that. Those of you who are grandparents know that there is no greater pleasure than to see them all together laughing & playing during the day, and then see their angelic faces asleep on their pillows at night. I read somewhere that a little boy was asked about his grandparents. He said “they were grown-ups who have lots of time to listen to you.” I pray that God has made me a good listener.

I thank God for His peace in my life. Jn. 14:27. When I first received the news that I had a brain tumor, I was shocked. I have been in perfect health all my life. I never had any serious illness, no major surgeries. I have always done anything I wanted or needed to do. I did not know how to be a patient! I believe God needed to get my attention and slow me down long enough to teach me some things. I may never know why it happened, but I pray that I have not been a slothful student.

Gordon is still not doing very well. He has so much pain that he can hardly walk some days. He is going to the doctor next week to discuss another surgery. Some days we are both pitiful! I don’t know how much more he can tolerate. He’s taking more medicine than he needs to, but not as much as the doctor prescribes. Please pray for him. I will post an update.

Kisses from Katie

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

“Hard places seem unbearable. It is dark and scary, even though I know God said He will never leave or forsake me, sometimes it’s so dark that I just can’t see Him. But the most incredible thing happens: God takes me by the hand and walks me straight out of the hard place and into the beauty on the other side. He whispers to me to be thankful, that even this will be for His glory and good…Always on the other side is something beautiful, because He has used the hard place to increase my sense of urgency and to align my desires with His…The hard places are good because it is there that I gained more wisdom, and though with wisdom comes sorrow, on the other side of sorrow, joy.” I am waiting for the joy!

I have been so disturbed by the Connecticut shootings, as have many others. I feel compelled to blog something I previously wrote in October. I think about the hard place that these families and the students in that school, find themselves in. How in the world can they cope without Christ in their life? I pray that they will be able to say eventually that their sorrow has turned to joy.

I am continuing to get good reports from the doctor. My last MRI was Nov. 26. Dr. Dang says the tumor is stable. I will accept this good report and continue to trust God for my complete healing. I am continuing to care for my grandchildren, with some very competent help, every day. I know of no better activity to fill my day. They are beautiful, of course, and I am not one bit partial!! We have 6 in all now, from 9 mos. to 10 years, and they have been such blessings to us! I am SO thankful for their mothers, my daughters-in-law. They love my boys, in spite of their “warts,” and they have given me these beautiful grandchildren, and been so gracious about sharing them, unlike some who are so reluctant to share their children. I am more sorry for the parents who miss out on the freedom to leave their kids and do something for themselves.

Gordon is still not doing well. He had surgery 5 weeks ago. He has still not recovered. He has horrible pain in his left arm, where they cut through muscle? maybe. He saw the doctor Friday, who said he might have permanent damage. He is also having weakness in one of his legs. He may have to have another surgery before Christmas. This old house is not what it used to be!!

I am not sending Christmas cards this year. Thanks to all of you who have sent them to us. I am not making fruitcakes this year either, the first time in maybe 30 years. Our Christmas tree is 4’ tall and sitting on my end table with one string of lights on it and maybe a dozen ornaments. There is lack of Christmas spirit, but the old grey mare ain’t what she used to be. I remember the year my grandmother didn’t put up a Christmas tree. I could not believe she wouldn’t do it!! She was probably in her late 70’s. I didn’t stop to think that she had probably had been doing it for 60 or more years. Well, I am not that old yet, but my body has been a lot of miles. So consider this our Christmas card to everyone. We hope your Christmas is merry & bright, and that the Joy of our Blessed Jesus will fill your hearts this season.

October 31, 2012

Gordon had surgery on his neck on Mon.  The doctor says everything went well surgically.  He is of course in excruciating pain.  Part of it is from his neck and part from his shoulders.  He is most likely going to have rotator cuff surgery when his neck heals.  Please pray for speedy and complete healing.

PS (from Elesha)  Gordon came home from the hospital today.

Recovering

Gordon is recovering from another back surgery.  He had 2 discs that never healed from the last surgery, and they replaced another disc.  He has had 7 in all replaced.  You could say he’s a “brand new man.” At this point I’m sure he wouldn’t think that was funny.  The doctor says he thinks this surgery will minimize his pain.  We are praying for healing, speedy & complete.  He may get to come home tomorrow.  I’m not at all sure I’m ready for that.  Thanks so much for the prayers you have prayed  I know you will continue.  BLESSINGS TO ALL.

Great news!

I went to have my MRI read today. PRAISE THE LORD! My tumor is still in check. The MRI showed no evidence that it has spread anywhere else. The part that remains is so miniscule that they are not concerned about it. I WILL accept this as an answer to prayer! Thanks to you all form all the kindnesses you have expressed, especially the prayers. Please send extra prayers up for Gordon. He is going to have a 5th neck surgery on Monday. I will have either a lot of time to blog, or not much!

Hard Places

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

“Hard places seem unbearable. It is dark and scary, even though I know God said He will never leave or forsake me, sometimes it’s so dark that I just can’t see Him.  But the most incredible thing happens:  God takes me by the hand and walks me straight out of the hard place and into the beauty on the other side. He whispers to me to be thankful, that even this will be for His glory and good…Always on the other side is something beautiful, because He has used the hard place to increase my sense of urgency and to align my desires with His…The hard places are good because it is there that I gained more wisdom, and though with wisdom comes sorrow, on the other side of sorrow, joy.”  I am waiting for the joy!

I know that I am not the only one in a hard place. I see people all around me suffering financially, physically, emotionally, but most of all spiritually.  It is hard to convince people whose lives are upside down that, if they put their faith and trust in God, things would be different.  It isn’t a rational idea.  It isn’t something that can be easily explained. The Biblical definition of faith is “the substance of things hoped for, but the evidence of things not seen.”  This statement seems to be contradictory.  How can something hoped for be substant?  And how can something evident not be seen?  Faith is something we cannot put our finger on, but it is something we can believe in.  We cannot see it with our eyes, but we can see the results of faith with our eyes.  I do have faith in a God who is big enough to take care of the universe and all of us in it, but I have greater faith that God is in control of my life. He knows what lies ahead, and I trust Him with the outcome.  Really, what can I do to change my circumstances.  I trust Him to lead me in the right path.

Gordon went to the doctor today.  They are going to do surgery on his neck again on Mon.  He will be in the hospital at least two days.  Please pray for a speedy and complete recovery.  PLEASE pray for me TOO!