I scanned old photos today ... this is more time consuming than I thought it would be, but will be worth the work as I plan on giving CD's to my husband's family as gifts.

This is my husband and his Mom.

My Fred & his Dad

Anybody remember these baptisms? This is my husband's Uncle being baptized in a river in Kentucky. My folks were baptized this way also.

I felt well enough today to tackle some cleaning ... my desk to be exact. Not much effort involved, just time and patience and it feels good to have it done and in order again. My grand girls sometimes use my desk when they're here ... they play 'office' or 'beauty shop' and write notes about anything they can think of. They know they have access to just two drawers and are good about not using the others. I found notes they had written and finger prints on the wood, and thought how blessed I am that they are in my life.

I also took time to walk around our back yard and throw away some things that were too worn to use out there any longer. I buy things at the thrift stores so it wasn't a big deal to throw them away. We have a privacy fence and I decorate it as I would a wall in our home. When the stuff falls off then I know it's time to toss it. If only house cleaning were that easy.

It felt so good to be active for just a little while today. Slowly but surely strength will return and I am grateful for the lessons I'm learning. It feels so good to just rest and not have to rush. Wonder if that's how heaven will be?

Thanks to the good Lord, we seem to be recovering. Both of us being sick at the same time has been interesting. Humbling too. We are both still having pain and fatigue and the coughing seems to come and go at will. I remind myself that it takes me longer to recoup than it would someone with 'normal' lungs and so give myself time to rest regardless of what is going on around me.

I have been reading in Romans 1 this week ... and these verses have made me stop and do some thinking and investigating:

Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

And these excerpts from Enduring Word Commentary:

(http://www.enduringwordcommentaries.com/)

a. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven: The idea is simple but sobering - God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against the human race, and the human race deserves the wrath of God.

b. We sometimes object to the idea of the wrath of God because we equate it with human anger, which is motivated by selfish personal reasons or by a desire for revenge. We must not forget that the wrath of God is completely righteous in character.

i. The wrath of God is not revealed in the gospel, but in the facts of human experience.

Again, this “freedom” to disobey should be seen as God’s judgment, not His kindness; those who engage in such acts are receiving in themselves the penalty of their error.

It is this sentence that has stayed with me all day ... 'freedom to disobey should be seen as God's judgment, not His kindness'

From what I've read in these verses, no man will ever stand before God and say "I didn't know about You". There are no excuses, no plan B, no other way but Jesus. And it is by God's grace that we submit to His will for our lives. Those who chose to do it their way and persist in sin, are heaping judgment upon themselves.

I believe that once you come to living faith in Christ, nothing will separate us from Him. (Romans 8:38, 39) But I find myself wondering how much I forfeit by trying to do things my way? I know there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, (Romans 8:1) but there may be a price to pay for our waywardness when we stray. He disciplines His children. (Hebrews 12:6)

We know the story in the Bible of Mary & Martha. Mary sat at Jesus' feet; Martha worked and stewed and fretted ... that's who I've been of late. A Martha. Maybe that's one reason I've had to slow down and sit and rest and be still and quiet.

Whatever it takes Lord. Just don't leave me as You found me.

Meet Louis...our new Grandpup. Louis is about 11 months old and the kids found him on a Boxer rescue sight. He was in a dog pound and about to be sold for $6.00 to a medical research facility. One of the ladies who run the Boxer rescue was there to pick up another dog and overheard the conversation that Louis would be sold. She quickly paid the $6.00 and took him with her. Our kids had been looking at dogs on the rescue sight and saw him. After the paperwork was filled out and a home inspection done, he was theirs (ours).

There have been four Boxers in our families. Louis is #5 and is the most well-behaved, mild-mannered Boxer we've ever known. He looks like Sam and the fawn coloring reminds us of our Casey. Our granddaughter Stephanie said "Maybe God gave them back to us in Louis".

I'm not sure about that, but I know Louis is a gift. A beautiful, pouty-faced Boxer who is ours to love and spoil. Don't ya just love that face?

“Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose
and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in His sight is what
you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave
this earth, you can take nothing that you have received…
but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by
honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”
Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226
“Letters to Rulers of People”

How often do we keep a clear eye to our life's end? How often do we forget our purpose and destiny as God's creature? Too often I think, far too often. We become so entrenched in this place that we lose sight of what lies ahead. This isn't all there is. We know that, but we often fail to live as if we believed it.

I think perhaps that's one reason I've dealt with health issues as I have. They take my eyes off of the here and now and put them where they need to be ... on Jesus alone. In times like these He's the only One who fully understands what I'm dealing with. He alone holds the remedy and cure for what ails me. This week I have thought to myself that I will either recover or I'll go Home. We only have two options when sickness comes ... recovery or leaving.

Once again I'm in a place of pain and discomfort and once again I learn of mercy and grace that grants the next breath. Each breath is a gift and each one means I'm one breath closer to Heaven than I was yesterday. One of these days my next breath will be my last on this earth.

There was an older gentleman in my former church who had lived with asthma for years. I remember going to the hospital to visit him shortly before he died and as he lay propped up on pillows in the hospital bed, struggling to breathe, we could hear him whisper "There's a reason, there's a reason..."

Yes, Bro. Simcox, there's a reason beyond our knowing here. You lived a Godly life and I never heard you complain. I think of the last time I saw you and your words stay with me ...'there's a reason'.

We all will go through difficult times. Not all will deal with health problems, but trust me, you're surely apt to walk a path you'd never choose for yourself. It's there we need to remind ourselves .... 'there's a reason.'

THE PERFECT MAN

The less we have in our scale, the more He puts in His;
Because His hand the balance holds, level and true it is.

His strength for all our weakness, His courage for our fear,
His love to fill the lonely heart, His voice for silence drear;

His light when darkness deeper grows, His hope for our despair,
His grace for loss and emptiness, for burden and for care;

His full supply for all our need, His comfort for our grief,
His patience for our puzzlements, His faith for unbelief;

His rest for toil and weariness, His joy for heavy hearts,
His wisdom for our ignorance, His balm for all our smarts;

His peace for every anxious thought, His armor for our strife;
The less we have, the more He gives, and so rounds out each life.

Because His hand the balance holds, level and true it is,
Till we shall stand complete in Him, with all the glory His.

Annie Johnson Flint

Thank you Jeanette, for sharing this poem with me.

Chest ex-rays this afternoon show I have some pneumonia in my right lung. That explains the pain I've been having. The Dr. said that if I'm not feeling better within the next couple of days, he will admit me to the hospital for IV antibiotics & chest percussion therapy. Please pray that this medication works.

My husband is up and moving around but you can tell he's ill and my going into the hospital would be so difficult for him.

Thank you.

I will see my lung dr. this afternoon. While I feel a bit better, I'm definitely not where I'd like to be and with my lung issues, the longer I deal with asthma & lung infection, the more likely it will cause increased damage to my lungs.

If you would, please say a prayer for my husband. He had to take a breathing treatment late yesterday and had chills for most of the night. He's running a slight temp this morning, looks flushed, sounds congested, sore throat, etc. and as of one hour ago, told me he didn't want to see a doctor. He's on antibiotics for another issue so we'll see what happens the next few hours with him. If he doesn't improve, I will do my best to get him to agree to see a doctor. Sometimes he just wants to tough it out. However, with the episode he had last month, he must be careful.

Thank you for praying. I'm tired & going to rest a while. I love you and appreciate you.

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth dear friends, I've been busy with doctors appointments and dealing with fatigue the past couple of weeks. Then, I had an asthma attack Saturday evening and today feel like I've been beaten. It is amazing how the body reacts to severe coughing and trying to breathe. I am so very sore from my head to my feet and it hurts to move. I am, thank God, breathing a bit easier this morning. Every little improvement is a major blessing.

What amazes me is how I often discard the way my body feels. Looking back, I see that I should have slowed down two weeks ago. But I didn't. I kept on going, telling myself I would be okay as soon as I could rest. When sleeping 9 hours a night didn't bring that rest, I should have known there was something going on with my health. To be honest, I knew there was something going on, I just thought that since I had gone through Winter unscathed by sickness, I would surely get through this fatigue.

It's hard to come to terms with the fact I am not what I think I am, in more ways than one. It is difficult to admit I am weak and cannot fight off illness as some can. Yes, I've done well this Winter, but reality came to me on Saturday, showing me how frail this body really is.

Lord willing, I shall once again recover. Not sure how long it will take, and that's okay too. My times are in His hands.

Bless you all.

Many thanks to my dear friend Amrita for these two awards. If there be any good found in me, it comes from our Father in heaven. All glory goes to Him.

Hello my friends. It's hard to believe nearly a week has passed since I last posted anything. I find myself wondering where time is going and how does it go so quickly? We're almost at the end of another week and it's the first week in April already.

It's been a relatively normal week for us. (Define 'normal', I dare ya.) I had been more tired than usual and found myself resting and sleeping more than usual. I have learned, the hard way I might add, that I need to heed what my body is telling me and rest when I need to regardless of what time it is. So, I take naps at 1:00pm; 3:30pm; 5:45pm, etc. And I don't feel guilty about it. There was a time when I did. I thought that every minute of the day had to be filled with good and worthwhile endeavors if I my life was to matter at all. I am happy to report I have recovered from that train of thought.

I shall close for tonight. I have been checking all of your blogs daily and even though I don't leave comments each time on each one, you're all in my daily reading.

Blessings to each of you.