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hat’s Inspiring YOU This Week?
Here’s What’s Inspiring Me . . .
I got the text from a friend last night about Bree, a 10 year old girl in our church who has a relapse of leukemia, and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive (will you register??). Oh, such a sickening, sinking feeling. My heart aches not only for Bree, but her mom, dad, sister and brother. As I told my 10 year old daughter about her friend last night, she cried. She asked some of the questions I have in my heart that I did not dare say aloud. How do I answer her when I am asking why as well? Why God? Why this little girl? Why this family? Why, again?
A short time later I saw a post up on Facebook by my friend Anna, and it was as though God whispered to me, “Did you forget about Anna? Oh, you of little faith.” That nudge from God . . . inspiring me.
Anna was 17 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 4B lymphoma cancer, and in the final stages of life. An oncologist said told her she had the most cancer in her body he had ever seen. It was in her bones along with a mass the size of a baseball in her chest. I remember her mom pointing out visible lumps on her body. I helped her single mom make burial arrangements, so it would not have to be done afterwards. My then 10 year old son colored her a picture and wrote on it, “I hope you don’t die. I am praying for you.” I did not know he had done this. I would have wanted to change the words. But it was precious to Anna. And God answered his prayer and that of so many others, even as we doubted – even when we thought she was beyond getting better. God had other plans.
From Anna: I weighed less then 100 lbs and my weight should be 145 for my height. I had seven years worth of chemotherapy given to me in 5 days. My body was blasted I could not eat. I was on life support of TPN and did not make my own blood and had to have blood given daily. My stem-cells were reinjected into my body (they tasted like cream corn and garlic). I cried for 28 days and moaned, and groaned and puked around the clock. I had no lining from my mouth all the way down to my stomach, on top of that I had sores. I am just saying this because God is faithful to bring me through. I did not know if I was going to die but I trusted if I did because of Jesus finished work on the cross for me I wouldn’t be sad to leave this world. I am thankful that He saved my life not only eternally but physically.
Despite the pains and fatigue Anna daily endures as the results of all her body went through, Anna is cancer-free! She was told if she made it, she’d never be able to have children. She is now expecting their fifth child! Her first one she miscarried. Her next two are handsome twin boys and then a little princess daughter. Now she is 34 weeks pregnant and suppose to be on bedrest for a full-term baby this time.
Later I answered my daughter’s questions with positiveness that we know God can heal . . . look at what He did for Anna! God knows precisely where the cancer is in Bree better than any doctor or machine can ever find and of course, how to heal her. And God loves Bree so much more than her parents, her family and all her friends.
We are praying for a match for her bone marrow transplant. It’s easy to register. Will you for our daughter’s friend?
Will you pray for Bree, and her family?
Yup, I still claim them as my kids!
Crazy Hair Night at AWANA.
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hat’s Inspiring YOU This Week?
Here’s What’s Inspiring Me . . .
This past weekend was Missions Emphasis Weekend at our church. Yesterday the praise team sang How Great is Our God, singing different portions of it in English with along with other various languages, including in order, Indonesia, Russian (which was sung by my son-in-law); Spanish, Portuguese, French and Mandarin. You can hear the song below. I wish you could see it too, as a young woman also did it in sign language which was just as beautiful as the music.
The recording does not do it justice to what we heard in church. It was so worshipful, and I was thinking through the song, that it was a glimpse of heaven, when Believers will be united in worshipping Jesus and the sound and praise will be awesome! And then the verses that were read in Revelation emphasized this,
Can you even imagine! Everyone, and everything praising God!
It’s an never ending worship service no one will want to miss!
Absolutely love this picture of my twin daughters.
The one on left a proud aunt, on right, a loving new mama.
Though very different with looks & talents/gifts,
they are very close as twins, sisters & friends.
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FOR TODAY…
Monday, October 28, 2013
Outside my window…
almost barren trees, signaling winter is around the corner
I am thinking …
of the song, Healing Rain
I am thankful that . . .
for a very full house yesterday – 15 of us! All the kids and our grandbaby were home
to celebrate two birthdays and an anniversary!
From the learning rooms..
books still scattered about from schooling this morning
In the kitchen . . .
leftover cake from yesterday,
sugar cookies just out of the oven
I am wearing…
jeans and a cozy top
I am creating…
little stuffed owls for grandbaby’s mobile
I am reading…
to my younger children (& they LOVE this book!)
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
I am hoping…
and praying for two of our kids and their spouses
as they are going through purchasing their first homes
I am looking forward to . . .
to seeing my daddy soon
I am learning . . .
how I am thankful that our children have been protected from
public school – so hating some of the things my 2 children
are having to see/indure in the charter school,
this week being “horror” week in English class. UGH.
Around the House . . .
Hubby dozing off on couch,
kids asleep,
fire glowing in the pellet stove
One of my favorite things…
a new journal ~ blank pages
I am pondering …
if I should answer the giraffe riddle.
(I ended up with a giraffe on my FB page later!)
A favorite quote for today . . .
A few plans for the rest of the week:
helping my daughter wash her cat!
A peek into my day…
schooling, laundry, lunch, more schooling, more laundry,
older kids getting from school, taking two kids to dentist ,
coffee, grocery shopping, dinner, visiting with a friend and sharing our lives,
computer time, bedtime
A picture I am sharing…
two aunts enjoying my grandbaby their niece. 🙂
This is in participation with
The Simple Woman’s Daybook.
I invite you to visit the link and be encourage by other women’s
thoughts on these same thought ideas.
“Weeping Willow”
drawn by my daughter Heather.
See video below of her drawing it.
She also has a new Etsy store.
T
here have been two funerals at our church in the past week, one of a man who died in an accident on his way to church and another of a man who had been battling cancer for some time. Both bring about sadness, especially seeing the widows so filled with sorrow. Though I do not know their specific sorrow in losing a spouse, I know that death sorrow that hurts the heart so much and I ache for them.
Yesterday I helped out at our church with the funeral luncheon and my 19 year old son drove me to church. I had to really get after him to get going, but being the typical always running late,19 year old, he had to spray his Attract-Some-Girls cologne on one more time. Finally we were on our way and he looks at the clock and tells me he can have me there in five minutes. The church is a good 10 minute drive. I just shook my head and braced myself.
He drove decent, most of the way, but when we got on the road our church is on, he sped up. He kept looking at me out the corner of his eyes to see how I was reacting, getting a half-smile smirk on his face. I was watching the speedometer go over 80 mph. I just held on tightly, trying to be non-reactive. He was waiting for me to scold him. But I was also seeing the glimmer in his eyes and that silly smile that did not bring sorrow, but but a sweet reminder to my heart of his older brother, now in heaven. The kids do not always like it if I bring up to them that something of them reminds me of Matthew, but this was good – and I could almost hear Matthew say, “I got you there in time, Mumsie!” where this son said, “Got you here, MotherBob.“
“And God protected us and kept us safe”, I wanted to say, but instead, smiled, and thanked him for the ride and silently prayed he’d drive safely when he left. At least I did not hear his tires squealing out of the church parking lot.
T
oday I am sharing just a couple short devotionals that were of encouragement to me . . . and may be someone who reads this as well.
Dawn writes of how women all need a safe place with a special friend, with all that life hands us, from illnesses, to difficult marriages to broken dreams. And, we need to be a safe places for others.
It would be easier if we wore signs around our necks,
visible testimony to the struggles we face. But we don’t.
So we need to work hard to read other’s signs.
“By day the LORD directs His love,
at night His song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.”
(Psalm 42:8 NIV)
A
week or so ago, I saw this video that is going around Facebook of a young man singing multiple parts to “Lord, I Need Thee”. My kids have loved it, and we have watched it together numerous times. Life can be such a rollercoaster ride, and after quite a rough couple of emotional/heart-wrenching weeks, it was amazing how often this song would come on the radio, even first thing in the morning. Then today, we sang my favorite version of it in church. It’s that song in my heart right now – has inspired and encouraged me – knowing no matter what, God is pursuing me and those I love – and those I don’t always like. 
Maybe it will encourage and inspire someone else as well.
Lyrics to
Lord, I Need You :
[ These are Lord, I Need You Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
W
e are surrounded by many apple orchards. There are numerous orchards that hold yearly carnival attractions at it. So, we eat many apple dishes when it is this time of year. And, we always have to have some type of apple pie. The kids and I had already made caramel apples, and one of them asked about making a Caramel Apple Pie . . . and we did, and it was wonderful! The kids had a lot of fun helping me make it, because we had to unwrap 20 caramels and then split each in half. Needless to say, it was a good thing I had more than 20 caramels!
So while the kids were slicing up 5 cups of apples for me (we did not peel them, like most recipes say to) and then they were unwrapping, eating and accumulating 20 caramels to cut and set aside, I made a taffy sauce that would be poured over the apples:
Melt a 1/4 cup butter and add to it, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup of flour. Wisk together well and set aside.
Then I took those 5 cups of sliced apples and mixed them up in a mixture of: 2/3 cup sugar; 3 Tablespoons flour; and 2 tsp. cinnamon until they were all well coated and put HALF of these coated apples into the apple pie dish (that already had the bottom pie crust in it).
Next we put half of the taffy sauce and half of the cut up caramels over the apples; put another layer of apples over, poured the remaining taffy sauce and put rest of caramels over it; and covering up with the top pie crust.
We baked it first for 30 minutes with the outer rim of the crust covered with aluminum foil; removed and baked for another 20+ minutes at 350.
AND IT WAS GOOD! It definitely is best serving it very warm. We had a bit left over the next day, and the cooled off caramel with it just did not taste as good, but certainly edible!
The pictures here are not the best. I had to use my phone for pictures as my other batteries were dead in my camera. 😦
FOR TODAY…
Monday, October 7, 2013
Outside my window…
cornfield golden from the low sun,
trees leaves turning oranges, reds and yellows
I am thinking …
I am finally ready to put the summer clothes away
and get out all the fall/winter clothes.
I am thankful that . . .
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
From the learning rooms..
two daughter working on vocabulary words;
the others are done.
In the kitchen . . .
All cleaned up for the day; crockpot out as a reminder
for tomorrow’s chicken dinner to go in
I am wearing…
comfortable clothes
I am creating…
Christmas gifts
and Thanksgiving decorations
I am reading…
The Long Awakening: A Memoir
by Lindsey O’Connor
(to write a review of soon)
I am hoping…
for less pain to sleep better tonight
I am looking forward to . . .
babysitting for my granddaughter several times this week,
while my daughter does several photo shoots
I am learning . . .
more about boundaries
Around the House . . .
The house quieting down for the day,
candle burning with fall scents.
One of my favorite things…
the smell of a newborn baby
I am pondering …
on a letter I am writing & rewriting
A favorite quote for today . . .
“In case you need to hear it tonight,
you are absolutely, completely, fully, loved,
and no attempt to wrestle the burden of pleasing God out of Jesus’ hands
will make God love you more.
Because the price has already been paid. So rest.”
Emily Wierenga
One of my favorite things:
music – all sorts
A few plans for the rest of the week:
did I mention I will be babysitting for my granddaughter???!!!
typical mom stuff, homeschooling, writing
A peek into my day…
schooling, laundry, lunch, more schooling, more laundry,
older kids getting home from school, snuggling with my grandbaby,
coffee, grocery shopping, dinner, talking with a friend outside in the
crisp autumn air, computer time, reminding kids it’s bedtime
A picture I am sharing…
This is in participation with
The Simple Woman’s Daybook.
I invite you to visit the link and be encourage by other women’s
thoughts on these same thought ideas.
F
earfully and wonderfully made.
First grandchild
Fifth child’s first baby.
Father God, I am in awe as I count her toes,
Fingers around mine, I kiss her button nose.
Feminine features … petite … so priceless.
Fondly and intently watching for,
Facial expressions that delights us each more.
Funny hiccups … yawns, sneezes and coos.
Fiercely in love, as with each of our children,
Fighting back tears of joy bubbling over again.
Full well do I know, Your works are wonderful.
Writing Canvas 