Saturday, January 26, 2008
Catching Up!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOLLY!!
I'm a day late, but I hope I can be forgiven.I decided this was a good subject for my first post
after a longer-than-I-planned-for blogging break!
Holly is my daughter-in-law. I love her dearly! She is a creative, talented, intelligent, hard-working, generous, and, godly woman. I believe that God chose her to be my son's wife. Their two sons, Joshua and Spoony, are 10 and 6. They are an active and precious family.
Holly's birthday is the first one of the year for our family. For the adults she is the youngest; Lee is the oldest. Our birthdays march through the year from hers in January to Lee's in July in order of age. I won't tell the ages, but just know that none of us will get younger this year! :-)
Lee and I are so glad Holly is a part of our family. Happy Birthday, Girl!
Holly's birthday is the first one of the year for our family. For the adults she is the youngest; Lee is the oldest. Our birthdays march through the year from hers in January to Lee's in July in order of age. I won't tell the ages, but just know that none of us will get younger this year! :-)
Lee and I are so glad Holly is a part of our family. Happy Birthday, Girl!
Lee
Richard is a good friend and former business colleague. In fact, he was Lee's "boss" for several years. He has been a true friend during Lee's illness. He sat with me for hours the day Lee was admitted to the hospital almost three years ago. Since then he has been faithful about visiting. He comes to our home on a regular basis and often brings other friends with him. We treasure his friendship!
So! Ok!
I'm back from my little blogging vacation.
I'll be seeing you around Bloggityville.
I have a lot of catching up to do!
Lee is doing somewhat better now than he was a couple of weeks ago. This week he had a couple of medical procedures here at home. His nurse is one of our favorite people! She comes twice a week and takes such good care of him. This week she saved him a trip to the hospital by being able to take care of a procedure at home She and another nurse worked together to save him a trip that he did not want to make. He is recovering from all that quite well. Energy is still a concern and he is having some trouble with his voice.
However, today he was able to have a phone conversation with a friend in Texas who is also a part of the ministry that Lee writes for--Christ to the World. Lee has been able to do a little work this week on some scripts for that broadcast ministry.
The highlight of his week was probably a
Monday visit from two good friends--
Richard and Aria. they had a good visit reliving past adventures and experiences. As you can see, Lee gave Aria a Tennessee Titans cap. Aria brought Lee a book of maps of Israel.
However, today he was able to have a phone conversation with a friend in Texas who is also a part of the ministry that Lee writes for--Christ to the World. Lee has been able to do a little work this week on some scripts for that broadcast ministry.
The highlight of his week was probably a
Monday visit from two good friends--
Richard and Aria. they had a good visit reliving past adventures and experiences. As you can see, Lee gave Aria a Tennessee Titans cap. Aria brought Lee a book of maps of Israel.
Aria is from Israel. He served as a guide and consultant on a trip we were on in Israel in 2000 and again on a trip to Greece in 2002. We enjoy visiting with him when he is in our country on business. What a treat to have a good visit with him!
Richard is a good friend and former business colleague. In fact, he was Lee's "boss" for several years. He has been a true friend during Lee's illness. He sat with me for hours the day Lee was admitted to the hospital almost three years ago. Since then he has been faithful about visiting. He comes to our home on a regular basis and often brings other friends with him. We treasure his friendship!
So! Ok!
I'm back from my little blogging vacation.
I'll be seeing you around Bloggityville.
I have a lot of catching up to do!
Labels: Family, Friendships, Precious Husband
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Lee
A Lee Update
I'll soon be back with my regular
random nonsense! :-)
I'll soon be back with my regular
random nonsense! :-)
Lee is doing better! He seems to have improved a little from whatever was going on a few days ago. That's the way it goes around here. He will give me a scare an
d then something happens to change things!
This time, I believe the "something" was Lee needed to do a task for the mission organization he does volunteer writing for--Christ to the World Ministries. This organization has an amazing story and ministry! It supplies the gospel message--primarily to Asian countries--through radio broadcasts. There is also an Internet connection--www.christtotheworld.com/. Lee's involvement involves developing and writing radio scripts.
After a particularly rough day during this past week, we got a call asking for Lee to resubmit some of the work he had done. Seems there was a glitch of some kind and they needed new copies. I told our friend who called that I would probably need to do it because I didn't think Lee would be up to it. I had visions of having to search his computer to find what was needed. I should have known better!
Lee insisted he would take care of the task! I think it helped him have something to focus on and gave him the purpose he so eagerly seeks. I told you in my last post that Lee and God make a good team. God lets Lee know when He has a job for him; Lee always responds! This was a relatively small task. However, I think it was just what Lee needed to get over a bump in the road.
I don't want to misrepresent Lee's condition. It is still serious and will continue to be. Although we believe anything is possible with God, we also understand the physical/medical realities of Lee's condition. We feel God has given us more than one miracle on this journey. We are grateful.
Thank you, family and friends, for your continuing prayers. It means so much to know there are people who care for us--quite literally all over the world. What a blessing!
Of course, there are football games to be watched this weekend, so Lee is "busy"!! (The Titans are out of the race now, so today we supported Peyton's team! The Colts lost anyway!)
We continue to be amazed at God's grace and mercy in our very unique daily walk.
d then something happens to change things!This time, I believe the "something" was Lee needed to do a task for the mission organization he does volunteer writing for--Christ to the World Ministries. This organization has an amazing story and ministry! It supplies the gospel message--primarily to Asian countries--through radio broadcasts. There is also an Internet connection--www.christtotheworld.com/. Lee's involvement involves developing and writing radio scripts.
After a particularly rough day during this past week, we got a call asking for Lee to resubmit some of the work he had done. Seems there was a glitch of some kind and they needed new copies. I told our friend who called that I would probably need to do it because I didn't think Lee would be up to it. I had visions of having to search his computer to find what was needed. I should have known better!
Lee insisted he would take care of the task! I think it helped him have something to focus on and gave him the purpose he so eagerly seeks. I told you in my last post that Lee and God make a good team. God lets Lee know when He has a job for him; Lee always responds! This was a relatively small task. However, I think it was just what Lee needed to get over a bump in the road.
I don't want to misrepresent Lee's condition. It is still serious and will continue to be. Although we believe anything is possible with God, we also understand the physical/medical realities of Lee's condition. We feel God has given us more than one miracle on this journey. We are grateful.
Thank you, family and friends, for your continuing prayers. It means so much to know there are people who care for us--quite literally all over the world. What a blessing!
Of course, there are football games to be watched this weekend, so Lee is "busy"!! (The Titans are out of the race now, so today we supported Peyton's team! The Colts lost anyway!)
We continue to be amazed at God's grace and mercy in our very unique daily walk.
Labels: Precious Husband
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Dear Friends and Family
This is a sticky post.
I will leave up for several days.
Please scroll below other posts.
I will be trying to do some regular writing
as I have time and energy for it.
Dear Friends and Family,I will leave up for several days.
Please scroll below other posts.
I will be trying to do some regular writing
as I have time and energy for it.
You may have noticed that I am not posting as often as I normally do. We are going through some difficult times right now. I will be around a little and may take time to read and comment some, but right now I don't really have time or heart to do a lot of posting.
Most of you are aware that Lee has been seriously ill for quite some time.The last few days have brought some changes in his condition. Those of you who know his story are aware that the last two+ years have been a miracle. Lee has always been a man of great, purpose-driven dignity. Therefore, to respect his privacy, I do not normally go into great detail when discussing his condition. It is neuromuscular related with other system complications.
Lee has been through a lot, but feels very certain that the Lord has purpose during this "bonus time" of his life. We continue to trust that God's plan will be accomplished and that He will be glorified. Please pray for Lee and our family as we deal with this phase of Lee's illness.
I will give you updates as I can. Our journey has taught me to not second guess God--or Lee. (Well, I really already knew that--but the last two years have certainly confirmed it). They are an amazing team and we never know what to expect!
I will be popping in and out as I have time.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Who Am I?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Hello to the New Year!
WELCOME
2008!
I'm glad to see the old year go! It brought challenges and sadness. It also brought joy and rewards.
In our family we saw the passing of three very dear people that we loved. My brother, Charles; my husband's mother, Emma; and my dil Audre's mother, Rita all went home. We rejoice that they are with the Lord, but miss them all dearly.
My husband's illness has progressed and given us several challenges. He suffered cardiac arrest in February and, as a result, spent several days in ICU. He is now under care with Alive Hospice. We are extremely happy with the care he receives from his Hospice team. As always, Lee continues to search for God's plan for him. Since his illness took over life in 2005, he has been writing for a volunteer mission project which provides the gospel to many people, primarily in Asia countries. He has not been able to write much lately, but still believes that God has a reason for him being here.
We have also had good things happen in 2007. I discovered the world of blogging. I cannot express my joy in finding a community of women who have blessed me in so many ways. Because of Lee's illness, I retired from a career in education in 2006. It was difficult leaving my job as elementary school principal with busy interaction with hundreds of people every day. I was searching for ways to have interaction with other people while being pretty much confined to home. One day I very innocently wandered into the world of blogging . I found my answer to needing daily interaction with other people! Thank you, God, for the sweet women I have met through this amazing world.
Additionally, I had the great privilege of hosting a Bible study on Monday nights in the fall. That was my solution to missing Bible study at church--bring it to me. What a blessing those women were during those weeks. My attempt to share that on my blog did not work as I intended. It was really a mistake on several levels--I learned from the attempt and will try again sometime. I will be hosting another home Bible study starting in just a few weeks. I look forward to seeing what God does with the group as some of us gather again on Monday nights.
Our children and grandchildren have brought us great joy this year. We love watching all of the grands grow and learn. What an amazing foursome! We love their parents also! I consider all eight of them a blessing. I'm not sure what we did to deserve them, but we thank God for them continually!
I am not a resolution person. I don't make them because there are too many possibilities for not following through. However, I do like having a plan. I learned a long time ago that most plans are better if they are flexible! The last two years have certainly confirmed that. About the time I think I have a good plan going for something, we have a surprise, a challenge, or a roadblock. So, my plans for 2008 are VERY flexible! But here are a few of the things I am exploring for this year.
1. Bible Study--I am planing to get a little more discipline into my Bible study. As a part of that plan, today I started a new devotional book. I look forward to spending a few minutes each day with Jonie Eareckson Tada in her book, Pearls of Great Price.
Joni has quite a phenomenal personal story of overcoming difficulties in life. I'm sure I can learn from her. Joni and my husband worked together several years ago when he produced her video-based bible study, Heaven, Your Real Home. I have never had the opportunity to meet Joni, but Lee has a great admiration and love for her and her ministry. I have some other ideas in mind for discipline in study--I'll be sharing as I go along.
2. Bible Study and Interaction--I am going to facilitate a Beth Moore Bible study at my home. We will begin in just a few weeks, using the recently released study, Stepping Up. I had the pleasure of going to part of the taping for this study in late summer, 2006. I'm looking forward to studying with Beth once again via video.
3. Home decor--I'm planning to "freshen up" some of the decor in our house. We have a couple of rooms that need some work. I think I will start with one of the extra bedrooms. I want to make it into a room for the grands to enjoy. They need a place to hang out with games, videos, and--of course--Ella's dolls. I'm thinking of getting rid of the bed and bringing in a sleeper sofa, painting, new curtains, etc. I'll keep you posted on my progress. If I get this project finished, I may tackle some other rooms.
4. Organization--If I were making resolutions I would have my hands full just
promising to get more organized! I'm not promising that. However, I do have plans to address some specific organizational tasks; namely family pictures and the garage. Believe me--It may take me all year if I do this right!
4. Knitting--I am teaching myself to knit. Actually I did some knitting back in the day--not much, but enough to know some of the basics. I have been practicing for awhile. I hope to actually choose a project before long. I also am considering dusting off the long dormant, minimal crochet skills I once had. We'll see how this goes. Again--I'll keep you posted!
5. Sewing--I plan to sew a little--I also have dormant skills here. I'm not at all interested in making clothes, but there are some home decor and crafty things I may tackle. This is in the same category as knitting. I have to give it a try to see if I really want to do it. Flexibility!
5. Reading--Of course I plan to READ! That is a must for any year. I always have a book or two in progress.
6. Blogging and Technology--I plan to blog and, at the same time, sharpen some computer skills. There are still some things I would like to be able to do that I have not mastered yet. Most of these tasks involve the every pesky html! ARGHH!
7. Family--Perhaps my most important plan is to ENJOY MY FAMILY. I love having the grands around and doing things with them. I plan to find more time to enjoy being with those precious little people--and their parents are
welcome to come along for the fun!
8. Husband--Caring for my husband is my priority during this season of our lives. All these other possibilities and plans must fit around what he needs and our time together. We have shared over thirty-eight years of marriage. I have not forgotten that my vow was to love, honor, and cherish. My plans for doing just that come before all others.
So, as you can see, I want to stay busy and occupied with a variety of useful/productive activities this year! Of course others needs and interests will come along during the year, but for now this should keep me busy. What are you planning to accomplish and enjoy in this brand new year. I look forward to hearing about it as we share via blogs.
Let's remember to take a break for fun occasionally. Here's a little puzzle to get you started.
In our family we saw the passing of three very dear people that we loved. My brother, Charles; my husband's mother, Emma; and my dil Audre's mother, Rita all went home. We rejoice that they are with the Lord, but miss them all dearly.
My husband's illness has progressed and given us several challenges. He suffered cardiac arrest in February and, as a result, spent several days in ICU. He is now under care with Alive Hospice. We are extremely happy with the care he receives from his Hospice team. As always, Lee continues to search for God's plan for him. Since his illness took over life in 2005, he has been writing for a volunteer mission project which provides the gospel to many people, primarily in Asia countries. He has not been able to write much lately, but still believes that God has a reason for him being here.
We have also had good things happen in 2007. I discovered the world of blogging. I cannot express my joy in finding a community of women who have blessed me in so many ways. Because of Lee's illness, I retired from a career in education in 2006. It was difficult leaving my job as elementary school principal with busy interaction with hundreds of people every day. I was searching for ways to have interaction with other people while being pretty much confined to home. One day I very innocently wandered into the world of blogging . I found my answer to needing daily interaction with other people! Thank you, God, for the sweet women I have met through this amazing world.
Additionally, I had the great privilege of hosting a Bible study on Monday nights in the fall. That was my solution to missing Bible study at church--bring it to me. What a blessing those women were during those weeks. My attempt to share that on my blog did not work as I intended. It was really a mistake on several levels--I learned from the attempt and will try again sometime. I will be hosting another home Bible study starting in just a few weeks. I look forward to seeing what God does with the group as some of us gather again on Monday nights.
Our children and grandchildren have brought us great joy this year. We love watching all of the grands grow and learn. What an amazing foursome! We love their parents also! I consider all eight of them a blessing. I'm not sure what we did to deserve them, but we thank God for them continually!
So, goodbye, 2007,
with your surprises, good times,
challenges, and sadness!
Hello, 2008!!
Looking forward to the blessings of this year!
with your surprises, good times,
challenges, and sadness!
Hello, 2008!!
Looking forward to the blessings of this year!
I am not a resolution person. I don't make them because there are too many possibilities for not following through. However, I do like having a plan. I learned a long time ago that most plans are better if they are flexible! The last two years have certainly confirmed that. About the time I think I have a good plan going for something, we have a surprise, a challenge, or a roadblock. So, my plans for 2008 are VERY flexible! But here are a few of the things I am exploring for this year.
1. Bible Study--I am planing to get a little more discipline into my Bible study. As a part of that plan, today I started a new devotional book. I look forward to spending a few minutes each day with Jonie Eareckson Tada in her book, Pearls of Great Price.
Joni has quite a phenomenal personal story of overcoming difficulties in life. I'm sure I can learn from her. Joni and my husband worked together several years ago when he produced her video-based bible study, Heaven, Your Real Home. I have never had the opportunity to meet Joni, but Lee has a great admiration and love for her and her ministry. I have some other ideas in mind for discipline in study--I'll be sharing as I go along.
3. Home decor--I'm planning to "freshen up" some of the decor in our house. We have a couple of rooms that need some work. I think I will start with one of the extra bedrooms. I want to make it into a room for the grands to enjoy. They need a place to hang out with games, videos, and--of course--Ella's dolls. I'm thinking of getting rid of the bed and bringing in a sleeper sofa, painting, new curtains, etc. I'll keep you posted on my progress. If I get this project finished, I may tackle some other rooms.4. Organization--If I were making resolutions I would have my hands full just
promising to get more organized! I'm not promising that. However, I do have plans to address some specific organizational tasks; namely family pictures and the garage. Believe me--It may take me all year if I do this right!
4. Knitting--I am teaching myself to knit. Actually I did some knitting back in the day--not much, but enough to know some of the basics. I have been practicing for awhile. I hope to actually choose a project before long. I also am considering dusting off the long dormant, minimal crochet skills I once had. We'll see how this goes. Again--I'll keep you posted!
5. Sewing--I plan to sew a little--I also have dormant skills here. I'm not at all interested in making clothes, but there are some home decor and crafty things I may tackle. This is in the same category as knitting. I have to give it a try to see if I really want to do it. Flexibility!
5. Reading--Of course I plan to READ! That is a must for any year. I always have a book or two in progress.
6. Blogging and Technology--I plan to blog and, at the same time, sharpen some computer skills. There are still some things I would like to be able to do that I have not mastered yet. Most of these tasks involve the every pesky html! ARGHH!
7. Family--Perhaps my most important plan is to ENJOY MY FAMILY. I love having the grands around and doing things with them. I plan to find more time to enjoy being with those precious little people--and their parents are
8. Husband--Caring for my husband is my priority during this season of our lives. All these other possibilities and plans must fit around what he needs and our time together. We have shared over thirty-eight years of marriage. I have not forgotten that my vow was to love, honor, and cherish. My plans for doing just that come before all others.
So, as you can see, I want to stay busy and occupied with a variety of useful/productive activities this year! Of course others needs and interests will come along during the year, but for now this should keep me busy. What are you planning to accomplish and enjoy in this brand new year. I look forward to hearing about it as we share via blogs.
Let's remember to take a break for fun occasionally. Here's a little puzzle to get you started.
Labels: About Me, Celebrating Holidays
