The Year in review.....goodbye 2007

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand............Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand! Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians: 6: 10, 13-18


This year, the Lord has taught us many things......and if anything He has taught us to STAND! To stand with the full armor of God and with that I make this end of the year prayer.

Oh, Dear Lord,

When this year began, we thought Russell's dad would be gone by now....he's here. We saw our brother in law retire, a few motorhome trips, many, many doctor trips, a scare with Russell's lungs, faced breast cancer with Russell's mom, watched our children grow and change....Paul started seeing his children more (our grandchildren), David doing well with his job, an anniversary for Tommy and Claudia, Matt's pharmacy school coating.

March a brother had a birthday. Thank you for brothers and sisters.

May brought a family wedding, births in our church. A sister's birthday...

June saw papa and mema's 59th anniversary! You allowed them another year together. A nephew turned 21. Ashley turned 15 and Adam 11....thank you for allowing me to be their nana....

July you allowed us a wonderful visit with Ashley and Adam and I turned 55! A brother had a birthday too!

August came and Russell turned 56 and I was ever so thankful for another year of life for my dear husband. Paul and David and Maria all had birthdays this month, along with a niece. Another brother's birthday.

September saw Katie's engagement, oh such joy! And always, there is sadness mingled with joy. Mama began to have a few problems and calls started coming in from the retirement center. Even one as I was in Disney Word with my sister, cousin and friends. But you comforted us through all. Another sister's birthday....Debbie turns 51!

October brought such sadness. Our dear friend and the mother of my dear friend, Carol, went to be with the Lord after a long struggle with illness. We stood together, many of us, to feel your comfort with that family. Mama started some regular doctor appointments that were not so much fun for her or me.

November brought two weddings! Both close friends! Also a very special 12th anniversary for Russell and me, and a Thanksgiving trip to Russell's sister's in North Carolina......one we never really expected papa to make! Thank you! Then a sudden shock, mama fell and was in the hospital, then rehab. Finally back home! Thank you!

December brought news that papa's cancer had not grown since July and that he's stable. We had another Christmas with him and he continues to do well. Thank you!
After the sadness of death, my friend's grandson was engaged! Thank you so much for mingling sadness with joy. Tears with laughter.....and most of all for the birth
of a baby in Bethlehem, long prophesied to come.....our Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you that you are Truth, that your Son laid aside His glory to come to earth and die for us......for the Grace you gave at such a high cost.

Oh, Lord you taught us that we know nothing....that you hold our lives in the palm of your hand and our names are engraved there! You taught us to believe you in Scripture when you said "I know the plans I have for you." We thought we knew what the year 2007 would bring, we didn't.

We had as many emotions as there were days in 2007. And so we thank you and say, in 2008 we will do our best, with Your help, to STAND! And to remember that You know what 2008 holds and there are no surprises for you. Thank you for being our God.

Thank you for 2007.....and in advance for the adventures to come with You in 2008.

Because He lives, we can face tomorrow and 2008!

Oh, I almost forgot the scary!

I guess that's because it turned out to be not all that scary after all.....Praise God!

My mama lives in an assisted living center....which means she has her own two bedroom apartment with her own furniture so it is just like home, but not..:) She has been so happy there for the last few years.



During this past year, she has had more physical problems, especially with her shoulders, which makes getting around hard on her. Then she had that bad fall and since returning to her home, she has had to have round the clock sitters. This has been such an awful eye opener! If any of you need a job and want to make pretty good money, be a CNA and do private sitting! The ladies that sit are wonderful, but mama is paying a LOT of rent, plus a LOT of money per week for the sitters.

Now for the scary part. I know you're thinking that was scary enough thinking about all that money draining out of her account that needs to fund her for life! We were called for a meeting with the head nurse, 2 facility nurses and one of mama's sitters. Of course, I got all crazy, thinking they were going to tell us she had to move. But as it turned out, they were just making sure they (and we) are doing everything to help mama get better so that she won't have to continue having round the clock sitters.

Of course, as you can imagine, she HATES having people in her house all the time. She is used to her privacy and likes it! But for now, we don't know what else to do to keep her safe and able to continue to live there.

I feel like this has been the most rambling post I've ever written.

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of the year 2007! I'm looking for a great 2008.

The good, the bad and the scary!

SURPRISE!!!!! My good friend Carol, our good friend Mary Grace, Carol's son, Aaron, his brand new fiance, Nicole, Russell and Matt and I all went to supper at our favorite little Mexican place. While we were there Aaron broke the news that he had asked Nicole to marry him and she said yes! There were tears and excitement all around! It was also Aaron's birthday so there was much celebrating! They plan a long engagement. So congratulations and many blessings on this happy time!




All six of us siblings at my brother's home on Christmas day! Mama, how did you put up with this crazy lot of kids?? From left youngest brother Steve, me, next to youngest Michael, big sister Cathy, little sister Debbie and the oldest Tommy. We are all very different, but all alike in our love for each other and for our family!



The three sisters with our mama and Debbie's mother in law. Taking pictures in such a big group is NOT easy!



Mary Grace came and spent a couple of days with us. We always have such fun with her and laugh like crazy! Or should that be crazy people??? She had to go home today....:( We miss her already!



Russell, his Uncle Hugh, me and Matt at Russell's mama's house on Christmas Eve, right before leaving to go to our church's candlelight service.




The two princes......on Christmas morning Russell cooked breakfast and we all had Christmas poppers and they all came with crowns. We thought it would be fun to have our pictures in our royal attire!



The princess and the queen mother!



The queen and her king!

That was the good! Last nite, Carol, Mary Grace and I were watching an old movie and just relaxing when I got a call from Paul saying he was at the courthouse for his court appearance saying he might go to jail and didn't want to be on bad terms with me if he did go. I told him I was so sorry and would be praying. I was thankful that he sounded like he really meant it......I went immediately into my bedroom then into my bathroom knelt and prayed for him....no, I don't usually pray in the bathroom floor, but I was upset and had company and it made sense at the moment.

Later, he called back and said he wasn't going to jail, but has another court appearance next month...all this is a big mess that started because of anger, alcohol and drugs and a girlfriend. I guess all those don't go together. When he called the second time he was in a drugstore purchasing blood pressure medication and his attitude had drastically changed for the worse! It wasn't long before I had to hang up due to the cursing!

I think I'll have to talk about the scary tomorrow because it is late and I'm so tired! It's good to read everybody's Christmas stories!

And to all.........a good nite!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day! We enjoyed the day, starting with our traditional Christmas breakfast. I picked up mama and Russell's parents came and David and Matt were here. Russell cooks every breakfast thing you could want! I always have bacon and pancakes because I don't eat them any other time....o.k. unless I happen to be at a Cracker Barrel. But not often! We had a great breakfast. I got mama settled in the recliner, Russell's parents and David went home and Russell and I took a short nap.

We then cooked our dishes to take to our family Christmas dinner at my brother's home. All 6 of us brothers and sisters, our spouses, some of our children and some of their children, along with friends, parents in law, and just for good measure, the Roto Rooter man! Yes, just as everyone arrived for Christmas dinner, the septic tank decided it had had all it could take, literally! Luckily, my brother's inlaws live right next door, so we could troop over and use their bathroom.

We had a wonderful dinner and good visiting! Finally, the roto rooter man got there, fixed all "that" and when he started to leave, his dog (this is a true story I promise) had locked himself in the truck! After a lot of deliberating, my brother took him to his house to get another key! I know he had a great Christmas! Full of, well,let's just say probably not good cheer!

After dinner, we came home and I put on my pj's and went straight to bed for a long nap.

I talked to the grandchildren :) I didn't talk to Paul, however, I text messaged him Merry Christmas. He did the same back! That was nice. I just felt with all the tension between us, that maybe we didn't need to actually talk. I'm too tired of the fighting and anger.

But, reading someone Else's blog, this scripture was brought to mind.......

Ephesians 6:13 talking about putting on the whole armor of God. "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand!" So tonight, Paul, if you read this, I'm standing on the promises of God! He will bring you back whole and healed. I love you.

I hope you all had a good day, and now, really, to all a good nite.

And Mary Pondered all these things in her heart.....

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed....
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky look down where He lay,
The Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.....


One of my favorite songs. I sang this often when my children were little at church and at home during this season. I love the thought of what marvelous grace Jesus gave to us who are so undeserving. He set aside His glory and came to earth to dwell among us and to live a perfect life so that He could be our atonement for sin. He didn't have to do it! He loved us that much.

I didn't do the 12 random things about me and Christmas....but I just want to share one.

In the Bible when it says "and Mary pondered all these things in her heart", have you ever stopped to wonder what she pondered? I have. She had just given birth to her own savior.....what things must have been going through her mind? But in everything, she was obedient and simply trusted the One she knew to be Truth.

The first time I heard "Mary did you know?" I cried. Mary was just a humble girl who received an incredible blessing. Can you imagine raising God??? :) Maybe it was easier since He was perfect! Our minds just can't wrap themselves around such as that.

This Christmas I am so thankful that He picked me up and brushed the sin off and said you are my daughter. I don't deserve it, I can do nothing to earn it, I am just thankful for that salvation.

If you are reading this and you don't know Jesus, hurry to meet Him in God's Word, the only infallible source of truth and life.

Merry Christmas to you all and we will see you in a few days. Turn your sound up and listen to these sweet lyrics. http://www.andiesisle.com/didsheknow.html

It looks like you'll have to copy and paste it to listen but I assure you, it is worth it!

No, this is not just a picture to show everyone how "thick" my waist has gotten. Due to me having the crud, I missed the two other parties we were going to.....including my husband's office dinner which is one I love! But, by last nite I was feeling so much better and so I dressed up and we went to a friend's open house party. It was really fun and we saw so many people that we only see at these kinds of functions.

No, it wasn't until I downloaded this picture that I said to the husband "Dear, we have to go on a serious diet, but I just don't think we can do it until after Christmas!" He just nodded!

I hope all of my dear blog friends are having a wonderful time leading up to Christmas! Our church service today just lifted me up so.....but all of you who are praying for my son, please don't stop! This is the worst crisis he's had for a long time. I truly, truly appreciate your prayers. I know I won't meet some of you until we meet in heaven, but I will know you immediately! I just know I will!

On a more reason for Christmas note!

For several years Russell and I have done the Angel Tree Project. This year I took a family, I must confess more out of guilt than love.

Yesterday was not a great day! I'm trying to shake this cough, upset about the son and then got rear ended at the bank! But it was the sweetest little woman, and she was so upset. She and her husband are missionaries in Honduras where he is now, so she is alone with her child. She had all her insurance forms and we got them together and got a police report. Then she walked over to me with a pen and handed it to me and said, "I have nothing else to give you for my sorrow (at hitting my car!) so please take this pen." I tried and tried to tell her she didn't need to give me anything, but she got more and more upset so finally I just said thank you and please don't worry about this. Later in the day I picked up the pen and saw that in small writing it said "we serve the Lord". I cried. I thought, that is Christmas.

So.....I went out and bought my Angel gifts and even spruced the basket up a little with candy canes and a small gift for the mother and did it with a grateful heart knowing that some have so little, and yet are so blessed by the love of Christ.

I delivered the gift to the mother's work place and she just hugged me and thanked me and said "Be blessed"......and I thought through trouble, trials and tribulations of all kinds, I am blessed. I am blessed that the one who created the world with his Word chose to love me!!!