And it shall, Lord willing, it shall. That's how I'm feeling about my voice problems ... they shall pass and they're here for a reason. I'm still studying in James chapter 1 and that makes all this more bearable.

I went to the Dr. this afternoon and she was a bit baffled by whatever is going on with my voice.
After many questions and an exam, she decided it best for right now to put me on an antibiotic and if I've not improved in 10 days, I will call her & she'll do an immediate referral to a throat specialist.

When all this began it was relatively easy to 'count it all joy' ... because after all, how long can laryngitis last? When days go into weeks then you begin to wonder and yet, I know that I know there IS a reason and in God's good and perfect time, this shall pass.

I'm takin' me to bed shortly; may you all be blessed. My love to you all.

Hi Friends,

Just a note to let you know I'm alive and relatively well. I will see my Dr. tomorrow about the voice issue. At times, I can speak so that it's kind of understandable, then it's right back to squeaking and / or silence. And I'm very tired today ... so tired in fact, that I laid on the couch "just to rest" and woke up over an hour later.

We did have a good Christmas ... our youngest son & his family came for dinner & gifts. I took lots of photos, as usual. Our older son & his family came the day after Christmas as he was dealing with bronchitis and frankly, I didn't want to be around anyone who was sick.

Yesterday afternoon we did an informal gathering for those in my family who wanted to come. I had a great time with my sisters Kay & Rita. It's sad, but I don't see either of them often and one just lives in Dearborn Hgts! She's busy caring for Grand-children and has a place on a lake west of here that takes time. My youngest sister lives about an hour and a half north of us. Still, no excuse for not getting together more often. We ordered Mexican food, ate way too much, took some photos, talked and sat up way too late. Hmmm...maybe that's why I'm tired today.

I've checked on all of you and was thankful you're all well. Pat, I understand Fibro ... I was diagnosed with it years ago and you're right...you can go for periods of time feeling just fine, than out of the blue, there it is in all it's painful fogginess. Thankfully mine isn't near as bad as it was when I worked.

Shall go for now. My love to you all.

Mary did you know that your baby boy
will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy
will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered,
will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy
will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy
will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby,
you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak,
the praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy
is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy
will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
is the great I Am.

As quietly as it entered, Christmas 2008 is nearly gone. We spent the afternoon with our youngest son Shawn & his family here at the house. I baked bread & cupcakes this morning and my hubby fixed dinner for us. He's such a good cook and I'm so very thankful he enjoys creating meals and cooking. I'd rather houseclean and bake any day, so there's a good balance for us.

My Mother-in-law spent the day at her apartment with her granddaughter & great-grandson. The older she gets the less she wants to get out and I can understand that. We hope to have dinner with her tomorrow, either bring her here or we'll take dinner to her apartment. We shall see.

Our electricity went out for four hours last night. We were spending a quiet evening at home, puppy-sitting our Grand-dog Louis, and it ended up being a very peaceful time. We had the fireplace on and candles lit and a battery operated radio played Christmas carols. It is good to be still and those four hours gave me opportunity to think about James, chapter 1 and also, to really think about Christmas and what it means. Sara's post was most fitting in explaining it I think. If you've not read it yet, please go to her blog and do so. She gives us her heart through her words, as Deb said, and I wholeheartedly agree.

I am blessed with my blog friends .. some I've known personally for years and others I most likely won't meet til we all get to heaven, but you all mean a great deal to me. You're my safe place to share thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, joys and laughter. Thank you all for being a part of my life.

This evening is drawing to a close and Lord willing, we shall all see a brand new day in just a few hours. May tomorrow be as meaningful for you as today was. And may each of our tomorrow's bring us closer to the One who was born to be our All in All.

Blessings to you all.

Here it is, the day before the day before Christmas, 2008. It's hard to believe this year is almost gone. Time is certainly moving quicker and quicker, or so it seems to me. All in all, this has been a blessed year, challenging at times, but blessed in the midst of those times.

I am still reading in James chapter 1. I've been there for well over a week .. since the laryngitis started as a matter of fact, and that was 11 days ago. I still haven't regained my voice, but my whispering seems stronger and that's a good indication full voice recovery will take place.

In looking back over this time span I can see that I've learned things, important things, that I would not have learned had I been able to speak and carry on with so-called 'normal' daily activities. I've learned the importance of a voice and more importantly, how we use that voice. It can do much good or much harm. It depends on our words and the tone we use when we speak them. I can say "I love you" but if my heart isn't in it, you'll know.

"Count it all joy" has become a daily habit for me now...rather than complain, albeit to myself 'cause who could hear me?, I'll say "I count this all joy" and go on. Being voice-less has given me opportunity to listen, to really listen to what people aren't saying when they talk. We do that you know, say a whole lot with what we're not saying.

In my journal this morning I wrote: "I thank You so much God for these days of having no voice. I would not have learned these precious truths had I been able to speak and carry on with my scheduled plans. Thank You for this blessed interruption of silence and learning. Let me not forget what You have taught me ... make these lessons a part of my being ... weave them into the very fiber of who I am. Any strength I have comes from You. Any giftings I possess come from the Author and Creator of all that is. Let me use them for Your glory and the benefit of others. Use my words to bring life and hope to those who read them. Order my steps and direct my path this day. May I walk closely to You and be quick to obey."

So you see, all is well with my soul and I look forward to tomorrow to see what it may hold. And I'll keep counting, as long as the good Lord gives me breath, I'll keep counting it ALL joy.

Blessings!

Day 16 - The Names of God

VINE......................................John 15:5

WAY........................................John 14:6
WISDOM OF GOD..............................1 Cor. 1:24
WITNESS....................................Isaiah 55:4
WONDERFUL..................................Isaiah 9:6
WORD.......................................John 1:1
WORD OF GOD................................Revelation 19:13

This concludes the Names of God.

I had much help from the Internet and for that I am thankful

Day 15 - The Names of God

TEACHER...................................John 13:13
TRUE LIGHT................................John 1:9
TRUE WITNESS..............................Revelation 3:14
TRUTH.....................................John 14:6