Meet "Buster"

I'd like you to meet the oldest of our grand-dogs, Buster, or B-boy as I call him. He'll be 13 in February and he's one of sweetest animals I've had the privilege to know. He is kind and gentle and loving and he has also been the 'worrier' and protector among our grand-pups.

We had a scare with him yesterday. Fred & I arrived home from church and soon after our son Shawn was at the house, telling us B-boy might have to be put down. B was having trouble walking and standing and wasn't eating well. I immediately walked down the street to see my old friend. I am so thankful the kids live just down the street from us. Jane & the girls were crying, thinking this might be our last day with him. I found my friend lying in the family room floor, looking so tired and sad. I sat next to him and gently patted his head, drawing close to his face to tell him I loved him. After a bit, Fred & I brought the girls to our home and Shawn & Jane took B-boy to the emergency vet. We were thinking we'd never see him again this side of heaven.

After a long afternoon of waiting, Shawn called to tell us that ex-rays showed no damage to B's spine and most likely, he had a pinched nerve that caused the inability to walk. Med's were given and he was brought home. The girls were so excited to learn their boy was coming home. At one point they both realized they had lived their whole lives with this dog. He & Sam had been there when Stef & Erica came home from the hospital as new-borns. Buster is the over-seer of the children and would literally step in-between anyone trying to get to the girls. In his younger years he went through a screen door to protect my niece from someone he thought would hurt her.

I am relieved and happy to report that B-boy is up and walking and eating today. He's moving slowly, but hey, aren't we all? He met Fred at the back door earlier this evening. I thank God for giving us just a bit more time with this loving dog.

Fred told Shawn yesterday to enjoy and make the most of each day with our friend, because at his age, he's living on borrowed time. Then I realized, most humans are too.

So to you I say, make the most of each day. If you are a child of God, you could be called Home or Jesus could return at any time. Don't leave important things unfinished if at all possible. As I did with B-boy, get close and tell people you love 'em. Write an email, make a phone call, send a card. Smile! Don't frown at folks unless you're sure a smile is not to be found. I'm amazed at the power of a smile to lighten some one's day. Slow down and enjoy the little bitty things that seem so mundane we do them without thinking. Be grateful for what you can do and don't fret over what you can't. Laugh with friends and be there when they need to cry. Just do your darned best to LIVE the precious life God has given to each of us!

Blessings to you all. Thanks for reading. Thanks for being my friends. You are special people in my life and I appreciate each one of you. Those I don't know yet, just think of the reunion we'll have in heaven if we never meet here!

Who is He?

Who is He... The mightiest of all.

Who is He... Creation trembles at His call.

Who is He... The lowly sacrifice,

Who paid a victims price.

His name is Jesus.Jesus...

From the Father's own right hand.

Jesus... Son of God and son of man.

Jesus... Who died and rose again.

Jesus... He's the Lion and the Lamb.

Who is He...With the power none can tame.

Who is He... That every foe would fear His name.

Who is He... Who was humbly led away,

To suffer that dark day.

His name is Jesus.

Jesus... From the Father's own right hand.

Jesus... Son of God and son of man.

Jesus... Who died and rose again.

Jesus... He's the Lion and the Lamb.

He's the Lamb that was slain.

He's the Lion that reigns.

My Savior and King both the same.

Who is He... With the eyes that burn like fire.

Who is He... Oh the wonder He inspires.

Who is He... Who bore the guilt and shame,

For the ones who'd gone astray.

His name is Jesus.

Jesus... From the Father's own right hand.

Jesus... Son of God and son of man.

Jesus... Who died and rose again.

Jesus... He's the Lion and the Lamb.

(Crystal Lewis, The Lion and the Lamb)

Making memories

Forget the lists, today was a day to make memories. Stef & Erica spent the night with us last night and today was filled with things they wanted to do. I was awakened at 8:00 to the sound of two little girls playing with Care Bears ... bears who talk. I quietly went into their room & shushed them because their Papa was still sleeping. We three then headed downstairs for Cheerios, the breakfast of champions, and Grandma's who have no other cereal in the house. Erica volunteered to wash the dishes and then volunteered Stef to dry them. Good girl. They got their baths, got dressed and after a few minutes of HGTV we went to the basement for crafts and sewing.

They painted on the saucers we're going to use to make wind-chimes. We got the idea at the Wyandotte street fair this summer and while ours won't look exactly like the ones we saw, they will be excellent none-the-less because they are the creative works of two of our girls. I did some alterations on Erica's Halloween costume...she's a mermaid this year. After learning that my sewing machine did not like the fabric, I ended up finishing it by hand. I am very glad I know how to sew and the girls have told me more than once "Gramma, you can fix anything."

We had lunch and the girls attempted to 'teach' their Papa some things pertaining to school lessons and he was not a good student. "Bad" as Stef said, he was just 'bad'. They helped him pull up tomato plants to put in the compost and then we had a snack on the front porch. They went with me to take Miss Oma to her sister's in Lincoln Park and once we got home, it was time for them to go home. Their Mama works tonight and wanted to spend time with them too.

Indeed, today was a day to forget all the lists. There just might come a day when our girls won't want to spend this much time with us and as Fred said "let's enjoy them while we can." Housework and all my to-do lists will wait. Little girls grow up. Play with them as long as you can. Sing silly songs and tell stories and eat grilled cheese sandwiches and have fudge-covered cookies for dessert as often as they want to. Relax and enjoy the trip and the people God has given us to travel with.

Thank you girls for making Gramma's day a wonder-filled one!

How quiet is your soul?

Psalm 131:2 is one that our teacher in ladies Bible study shared with us last night and it says


"Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Others were: Mark 6:31 "And He said to them, Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat." Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

After the busyness of this week, every verse Sandy shared spoke directly to me and I was thankful I was there to hear them. Yesterday proved to be almost as busy as the day before. Catching up from Tuesday's list only added to yesterday's but I found myself taking the time to bring troubling thoughts to Christ, asking Him to devour the enemy for His name's sake over my thoughts. What a difference it makes to stop, quiet ourselves and seek Him.

As I was doing housework today my mind began to run and ramble again. Rather than allow it to take charge however, I stopped and quieted myself and remembered the verses from last night. I walked outside and took a deep breath of air and looked at the beautiful sunshine before coming back inside to mopping and vacuuming. The precious Lord brought two specific thoughts to my mind as I worked today:

#1. Do what you can the best you can and don't fret about what you can't do

#1. You cannot get everything done in one day

Simple little thoughts but so needful for me. I cannot work as I used to. I was born into a family where women washed their clothes on washboards; mopped on their hands & knees; ironed nearly every stitch of clothing the family had; grew gardens and canned food for the winter. I helped my Mom work from the time I was old enough to hold a broom or a sibling on one hip. Sometimes we did both! Being the oldest of 8 meant you worked the best you could to help your Mom. Coming from that to a place in life where it's difficult to push a vacuum and use a mop is challenging to me. I want to do what I used to do but I physically can't. It is at those times that my mind begins running to and fro, seeking to devour me with 'what if's and why not's'; should's, could's, & oughta's.'

It is at these times I must remember what Sandy asked at the beginning of class last night:

"How quiet is your soul?" It is at these times I must make time to come away, if only for a minute or two and remember whose I am and who is in charge of absolutely everything. It is our undoing when we rush and hurry, thinking we're accomplishing something of importance.

I am taling to me as I write these words. I am again telling myself that I need to become more like Mary and release the Martha that holds on so tightly at times.

May each one reading this find time to 'come away' and be still and know that He is God.

Good reports

Darly Fred had a good report yesterday at the cardiologist's. His heart is still in rhythm and beating at 54 beats per minute. He still gets tired but the concern has lessened a bit and that helps. He's not to over-extend himself and will see the doctor in 6 weeks. Thank You.

I had a phlebotomy yesterday as my hemoglobin, hematocrit and red cells were all elevated. Thankfully the nurse, Lori, got the 500cc from one vein. What a blessing. She said she prays before she does these procedures. Thank You.

Uncle is doing better according to the lung doctor. He is however, one stubborn man. It's basically his way or no way in much of his daily activities. I've learned that's how we all are ... selfish, self-centered, prideful, stubborn, hard-to-get-along-with, sinful people ... and that God in His infinite mercy chose to love us anyway. However, if we are truly His, He will not leave us as He found us. He doesn't need our permission to come in and do some housecleaning and rearranging of our thoughts, actions and attitudes. May I see my own faults as clearly as I think I see the faults of others. May I know of a certainty that it is by Your grace I am who I am and where I am. May I show mercy and grace and patience when faced with someone just like me.

Thank You Father

DArly Fred did well with both procedures this morning. D & S were with us. Thank You that they care about us. Many parents don't have that relationship with their children. The doctor said there were no blood clots, his heart is functioning at almost 100% and the heart rhythm is normal. We were home by noon, made a few phone calls, had lunch and rested. Fred slept for nearly 4 hours. I napped a bit, then did some laundry, ironing, watered flowers out front, picked grapes & peppers and made dinner for us.

J & the girly girls left today to spend a week with her folks. Keep them safe dear Lord, please. Keep all our grand-girls and our children safe.

Fred ... what's next

My Darly Fred learned yesterday that he has lost 40-45% of his heart function. And, he'll go Fri. morning for a TEE and a Cardioversion. They'll do electric shock in hopes of getting his heart back into rhythm. He's concerned and with good reason. We never know what might happen during a procedure such as this one. I do know Father that You know ... You've known about this since the beginning of time and You will get him through all this for his good and Your glory. Let him rest in You Lord. Give him Your peace and comfort. Guide the doctor's hands. Guide the technician's and nurses as they help him go through this. Be with him. Draw him into an even closer relationship with You.