Friday fragments....

Linking up with Mrs. 4444 today for....

The last several weeks I haven't participated in Friday Fragments even though I was fragmenting my way through the whole time, I was just way too busy having fun with grands to type a lot.

So today here are some very random thoughts for your reading pleasure.

As of today, I have officially lost 25 lbs.  People it was hard, hard work and took more will power than I thought I possessed.  I feel better and I think I look better.  So this is a little bit of advice......
Never, ever, ever say to a person who has been working hard to lose weight "you don't need to lose anymore weight!  You are starting to look too thin and old".....now when I was gaining weight.......and was quite the pro at it I might add......not one single, solitary person EVER said....."you don't need to gain any more weight, you are starting to look FAT!"  Just a little observation.  


***************************


Having lots of family visit is wonderful.......except for the washing sheets and towels in between.  Also, when everyone is gone, you have a few days of let down.


**********************


We have a great walking/biking path near our home and while walking yesterday, someone coming up behind me on the road yelled "stop" and of course got the desired result when I jumped and almost had a heart attack!  Not nice!


********************


I've had a very sick husband, and also discovered how to get served quickly in a very crowded lab.  We walked in and looked around......I then said to the lady at the desk  "I'm pretty sure he's very contagious".......he got his tests within five minutes.  Win!


********************


I hope you all have a great weekend!  
Because quite frankly?


I'm all fragged out!  

It's a mixed bag.....

June has been a mixed bag of joy for our family.  We started the month off with these two joys...

I've been taking a picture of them on my bed since they were little and I'm sort of bribing having to ask sweetly these days.  I think they may be quite over this tradition.

They both have birthdays in June and even though they weren't here on their actual birthdays, we had a party.......cause we just love to party!

Those two bundles of joy left and a day later we got more joy!  Grandson number two and his parents came for the weekend.  

It was also Charley's birthday weekend so we partied some more!  He got a tricycle for his birthday and here is daddy showing him how it's done.......

Next it's Charley's turn.

Charley much preferred the push rather than pedal method.  Oh, and that cast?  A little thing like a broken arm didn't slow him down a little bit!

This wasn't just any weekend, it was my sweet MIL's 85th birthday weekend and talk about a party!

Here is Mary Catherine with her cake which was not only beautiful but delicious!

Mary Catherine with children, Russell and Sue and their spouses....Johnny and me.

Some of our children and grandchildren.....

Some of Sue's children ......

Grandchildren Patrick and Kristen.....

And grandson Christopher  

**************************************

Charley and Mary Catherine have the same birthday so, the next day, we had a little birthday party for Charley.

Playing with presents with daddy and mommy....

Uncle Matt and Charley.....

The cake!

Sharing a bite with Mema....

Yesterday, the last of the company went home and today we woke up to silence again.  I'm sure the sounds of children and laughter will fill our home again soon.  Maybe I could get some laundry done first???


June's been a wonderful month around here and it's fast drawing to an end.


We dodged the worst of Tropical Storm Debby, but got some much needed rain.


July is closing in and it is the dreaded month I'll be turning the awful, terribly bad sixty.   


I will think about that tomorrow.

The sound of silence....

You grow used to whatever sounds are in your home.....laughter or music.....the sound of voices you love in the background as you drift off to sleep or wake.  This morning, I woke up to silence.  

Ashley flew away home yesterday and got safely to the beautiful San Diego and it's quiet around here!  Really quiet.


But no worries, more company is on the way!  Grandson Charley and his parents will be here tomorrow today.......I didn't finish this yesterday.....for a big birthday weekend for my MIL and Charley.  So maybe I'll savor the silence a little while then prepare for the laughter and loving sounds of my next visitors!


More later!  Have a great weekend all!

In between......

When I'm talking to people about being divorced, I ALWAYS warn remind them that when you have children and are divorced, you will share those children for a lifetime.

Well, that also goes for grandchildren.  Have you figured it out yet?  Ashley and Adam are with their grandfather and his family for a few days and I miss them like crazy!  Please don't get me wrong......I really want them to spend time with all of their Florida family, I just wish that didn't mean we were separated during those times.  Ah, as my grandmother always said "if wishes were horses, we'd all be a riding"......

Enough whining.....these are a few of the moments that I miss.  These while I'm in between....

Lounging

Posing

Gathering

Talking.....the cook is tired!

Horsing around

Loving

Going to church

And lots of other stuff!

We'll have lots more fun when they get back to Nana's house and they're having lots of fun at Grandpa's house.  So look forward to more fun pictures!

Just a tease....

I have been so blessed in my life to have grandchildren!  If you don't have any, I suggest you start working on it right away cause they are so delightful and bring such joy!

Two of our older grands are with us for a few days and I'm having a great time with them.  They are at their other grandfather's today for a while so here is a sneak preview of things to come.

For your viewing pleasure

Why yes no, she doesn't get her physical attributes from her grandmother.

Adam is a little more shy about the pictures than his sister......but look how he's grown!

I wanted sunset pictures, but alas the clouds got in the way

Which didn't stop us.  And how classy is the trash can on the left!?

Carefree 

and carefree two

Notice the great bench the Superhero built since our insurance carrier had us remove the diving board...and no matter what you think, that is NOT a diving platform!  

They're here, they're great and we're having fun!

When the water bottle isn't in the box....

Not my usually lighthearted post today.  


Today in Sunday School we were talking about how God works in our lives.  Our Sunday School teacher had some things that needed straightening out and had been working on them diligently getting no results.  Wednesday night at church he asked for prayer concerning these issues and Sunday morning relayed the story of how things worked out at the very last possible minute, something that could have only been done by divine intervention.  He then related to us the story of Helen Roseveare, doctor/missionary to Zaire, Africa.  

Story typed mostly from article
She delivered a premature baby ........the mother died and they were left with a tiny baby and a two year old daughter.  She knew it would be difficult keeping the baby alive as they had no incubator and no special feeding facilities and that they would need to keep the baby warm.  There was only one hot water bottle in their box of supplies and it burst when it was being filled with hot water.  Helen instructed the student mid wife to put the baby as near the fire as would be safe and to sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free of drafts.  

The following day, she had prayer time with the orphans as she regularly did and explained to them the situation with the baby and the water bottle and how grieved the two year old sister was.  A ten year old girl asked if she could pray for the two and prayed this prayer....."please God, send us a water bottle.  It'll be no good tomorrow, God, the baby will be dead; so please send it this afternoon.....and please send a dolly for the little girl so she will know You love her."  Helen did not know what to say, as she really didn't think it was possible for these requests to be filled.....a parcel would have to arrive from her homeland that day and it would have to contain a hot water bottle!  As they lived on the equator she doubted that would happen.

Halfway through the afternoon, she got a message that there was a car at her front door.  By the time she reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large parcel!  She sent for the orphanage children.  Together they pulled off the string and unwrapped the package.  All eyes were focused on the large box.  Helen lifted out several items that were much needed.  As she got close to the bottom, she felt .......could it be?.....yes, a hot water bottle!  Helen cried.....she had not truly believed and she had not asked God to send it.  But the little ten year old girl rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!"  And from the bottom of the box she pulled out a small doll.  The little girl's eyes shone.  She had never doubted that God would answer her prayer.

That parcel had been on the way for five months, packed by Helen's former Sunday School class,  someone had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.  One of the girls had put in a dolly.......five months earlier in answer to the believing prayer of a ten year old to bring it "that afternoon".  

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

This is a truly wonderful story about the faith of a child and how God is faithful to answer prayers.


But sometimes there is no hot water bottle in the box......


and my question is what do we do then?  What if the child we love so much dies?  What if the sick person or loved one we have prayed to be healed dies?  What if our wayward child doesn't change, but we see other's children changing all around?  What if the marriage actually does fail?  What if our businesses fail or our jobs go away?  What if terrible tragedies happen?  What then?  

Is God still answering prayers?  Is He still the same sovereign God we proclaim when times are good?  Will we accept whatever He sends and remain faithful to Him?

King David was greatly loved by God, but when he sinned with Bathsheba and killed her husband to cover up that sin, God did not spare the child from that union.  While the child was lying sick and dying, David mourned and prayed diligently for God to heal him......not eating or drinking but only praying and weeping.  The child died.  When the servants came in to tell the king that his child had died, King David got up bathed, changed his clothes and went into the house of God and worshipped, then he ate.  The servants were shocked and asked how this could be.  King David's answer was this....."while the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead.  Why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."  Even though David knew that God had chosen to take his child, he worshipped.  He grieved as one who has hope, because he knew that he would one day be reunited with his son.  His faith in the God he loved and trusted was still the same and God's love for David was still the same.  


I hope I will remain faithful even when the "box" doesn't have what I need or want.  I hope I will pray as Habakkuk did........
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines, 
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my
salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength


Oh, Lord keep us faithful when we can't see the why's of things.  Give us patience to wait on Your timing and give us wisdom to know Your ways are perfect.


Just some thoughts from a great lesson.  
Because really,  the hot water bottle is not always in the box and really?????  I'm most likely not to have faith as big as a mustard seed.  Sometimes I'm praying for an outcome that I don't think will come.  That is a true confession.

Oh, Friday!

Yes, it's Friday again and time to link up with Mrs. 4444 for Friday Fragments.

Usually, by Friday my brain is all tuckered out and I have nothing much left.......but this Friday I have two important announcements to make, so listen up you don't want to miss either one!


Melynda has yet another book coming out tomorrow!!!!!  If you haven't read the first one, Just Nonsense, then you have missed an opportunity to laugh yourself silly and you all know that laughter is the best medicine!  Now you have another opportunity!  

Her new book More Nonsense comes out today!  Buy it on Amazon and trust me you won't be sorry!  

Head on over to Amazon and purchase the book.  Go on......what are you waiting for???  Then come back and read my other announcement.









********************************************


Exciting announcement number two!


We at Mercy Uganda are having our annual yard sale this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.  Check our Facebook page for details and be sure to get in on some really good deals!  Check out the website to see exciting things going on in Uganda.


***************************
This beautiful garden was planted by one of the residents at the assisted living facility where my mama lives.  He's done so much work and his plants are flourishing!
Shortly before I took this picture, the sweet man who planted this garden was out with his walker working.........as you can imagine, it wasn't easy for him to bend and plant all these flowers and vegetables.

The garden is now huge and there are tomatoes on the vines!  His son or maybe grandson faithfully comes and helps him water and keep the weeds out.  It's very hard for aging parents to give up things they have always done and I commend this man for bringing his love with him and making this parking lot garden his own!


**********************
And now.........last, but in no way least, I am revealing the guests I referred to in an earlier post.  You may have already guessed.......my oldest grands are going to wing their way to visit next week!  The excitement around here is building and there will be pictures to show how old I am grown up they have gotten!  So stay tuned!


**********************


That's it, that's all I've got.  I'm all fragged out!