Stepping Back In

I was goofing off at my computer today, reminiscing, nostalgic and thinking of stepping back in the race.  Until I do, here are some photos from my stash.  Take them if you want to use them and link back to me if you do, please.  Hope your turkey's settled and you're ready to roll.  Mine is and I am.

Home

My sister went home to be with the Lord late last Tuesday night.  It was to the point of being a blessing and her family and sisters were past ready to let her go.  The funeral service was uplifting and comforting and not sad.  We sang her favorite hymns, her favorite Bible verses were read and the pastor delivered the best eulogy I've ever heard.  She will be sorely missed.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  God is good in all things.

Early Morning Moon

I love to see the moon in the early morning when the sun has not obliterated it yet.  I can't get the greatest shot with my little camera but I thought I'd share a bit of God with you today.

Thankful Anyway

November 1 a friend of mine decided that every day of this month she would post things for which she was thankful.  My sister had been put in the hospital just three days before after having a series of cardiac arrests and things didn't look good.  My Thank Tank was very low.  Things have only worsened through this last week but I am praising God anyway.  I thought I would take a look back and remember things for which I was thankful on the first few days of November 2011.
Nov. 1--My sister's vital signs were normal. Praise God.  I was thankful that I was so busy that day and had energy to do the things I had to do.
2--My sister had pneumonia but was still responsive to commands.  I was thankful that I was able to take a friend to therapy and was able to cook for Wednesday night dinner at church
3--My sister's eyes were wide and she smiled today.  I got a hair cut and it was raining--thankful for all. 
4--My sister was much more responsive, actually had physical and occupational therapy, they sat her up on the side of the bed, and her temperature was normal all day. Our spirits were high. I planned a trip to see her.  I was able to take my friend to therapy and go to lunch with her.  I stayed the afternoon at her house and we had coffee and talked.  
5--My sister's tubes were being removed after she proved she could breathe on her own but in so doing, she had another cardiac arrest. Thankfully, CPR brought her back.  I was thankful to have the day to clean and sort the many things that lurk around that I had considered selling on eBay or Etsy but realize that I will never sell.  We're taking them all to the auction.  We made $183 at the last auction.
6--I'm thankful to have the support of my church family and friends.  My sister is back to square one with Therapeutic Hypothermia treatments.  Still praising God anyway.
7--I'm thankful to have had something to do since my sister was not responding as she did last week. It's still too early to tell but I'm thankful all her vitals are good.  I took my friend to her physical therapy session, lunch and coffee. 
8--My sister is the same.  I'm thankful for a day at home.  I'm thankful to do some sorting and cleaning today. 
9--My sister is the same.  I'm thankful to have a full day, 9:00-- meeting about retirement investments, 11:00-- take friend to physical therapy session, lunch and coffee, 5:00 church dinner, 6:00 Early Service rehearsal, 7:00 choir practice--so thankful to be busy. 
10--My sister is the same.  I'm so thankful for friends and family.  9:45-- doctor's visit with friend, 11:00 physical therapy session with said friend (a day earlier than last week--friend to move from wraps on legs to heavy duty stockings.  That's good news.), during her therapy session Bill and I read to children in a Kindergarten class--Book Buddies (we buy books, read them and then give them to the children.  We each have 2 kids.)  My friend and I went to lunch, grocery shopped and had coffee afterward. 
11.11.11--My sister is the same. I'm thankful that her immediate family is coming to grips with the possiblity of loosing her.  I'm there, too.  God is good anyway.  I'm thankful to be home today.  I need the down time and time to do piddly household chores.  I'm going with my "therapy" friend to see Aaron Schock and Condoleezza Rice tonight and I'm thankful for that--another thing to keep me busy.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  

Colossians 2:6-7

Take Heart

I was just thinking a little while ago how I'd love to collect things or pictures of things with a natural heart design.  I was going through some old rusty metal stuff and this was tucked away under it all.  God loves us so much that he surprises us sometimes.  I'm waiting on his surprises for my sister.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart and

wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14



He Gives Flowers

Two weeks ago he brought these to me.  I don't even know the reason why but he does this on occasion--sometimes for no reason.  I love roses and he knows it and these were especially beautiful.  It doesn't take much to please me.  WalMart roses work very well. 
We're back to square one with my sister.  She had another cardiac arrest last weekend.  She was making such progress but when she was trying to breathe on her own, she struggled and arrested.  Not good.  She's under Therapeutic Hypothermia again and we will know more tomorrow about her brain function at this point.  Prayers are welcomed.  I'm needing roses again.....

When A Card Is Not Enough

THE worst photo ever but you get the idea.



Paper side markers




Stickers, rub-ons, cool paper clip



Personal stuff

A card just wouldn't do it.  I had too much to say.  I finished this little book with the scripture from Psalm 118:14-
The Lord is my strength and my song.
but
I found this scripture as I had already sent the book and was researching the correct reference:
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my safe cover.
My heart trusts in him and I am helped.
So my heart is full of joy.
I will thank him with my song.


I used a small black and white cover notebook with sewn pages (my source does not carry these anymore--what will I do?), background papers from ShabbyCottage Studio.com, image from PaperWhimsey.com and cork letters.
I drew  a little eighth note and put the scripture reference in the back of the book.
Every page has either a sticker, a rub-on, a stamped image, a personal drawing, a writing or a scripture.  I hope it brings her some joy.  She's a trooper and is doing better--
Praise the Lord for his wonderful works.
Thank you for your prayers as she recovers from a series of very serious heart attacks that happened a week ago.

Treasuring Life

It's been a while since I posted but life has taken a drastic turn.  My sister had a cardiac arrrest last weekend and is struggling back to existence.  She had to be shocked four times until her heart started beating and that was with her pacemaker inserted two months ago!  She's making progress but it will be slow and I'm not able to make the two-day car trip by myself.  My husband is leaving for an overseas mission trip next week.  I can afford only one plane trip that will probably be when she's allowed to go home so I can help her with her transition back to normalcy.  It's so difficult not being there but she has my other sister (a four-hour trip for her), her son (a day's drive and who had to shorten his Germany trip to see in-laws), her husband (an hour's drive away), and her daughter, who had encouraged her Mom to visit early to enjoy her grandson's first Trick or Treat adventure.  Fortunately, she was not driving, though she was intending to.  Her daughter, with baby in tow in the back seat, was driving when my sister arrested--pretty scary stuff. It brings the thought around again that life is so short and fragile.  All I can do is pray-- and she is improving day by day with God's help.  Sometimes it takes tragedy to make us realize where God wants us and that's in his palm.