Fun With Numbers

1 + 1 + 1 = ONE
Called the Trinity Formula
Father + Jesus + Holy Spirit = ONE GOD

21
The assigned age that entitles one to buy their own booze.
You can serve in the armed forces and sign a contract at 18.
You can't legally act stupid until 3 years later.

6
As in six straight hours of sleep without awakening nor any movement.
Amazing considering the two naps taken that day.

Almost 10
As in almost 10 hours of being in bed mostly sleeping.
I'd say this body was fighting off something.

50
Fifty days until the first day of spring.

1
One day - this is the one day that I know God has given me.
How I spend it is my choice. And I choose to sit in the sun.
I choose to listen for Him. I choose to trust....to wait & see.

Late Date Night

Well, maybe it wasn't a late date night. More like a middle of the night date. And when I told my husband about it, he wasn't jealous at all. In fact, he was very supportive of my late night affair. And yes, I did use the word affair. It wasn't in the romantic, passionate sense of affair but it was an affair of the heart. You see, God has this way of waking me up in the middle of the night. For years I told him the same thing I would have told anyone waking me up, "not now - go away." What a blessing it has become to agree to hear Him out when He has something to share with me. And face it, during most of the day, I don't have enough discipline to be quiet to hear Him and as with all of us, there is always an abundance of distractions during our waking hours. So, back to the point of this post - last night's date. Since it was an affair of the heart, the details of the date might not be as interesting to others as it was to me. In fact, to summarize the event would be to say He revealed greater understanding of His truth and I was able to grasp it, put the pieces together, find and study scriptures and could even reiterate it for others. Too often I feel 'dull of mind' in that I can kinda get a grasp on something but am never able to spit it back out for others. I'm a thinking, hoping and praying that the 'dull mind' has been made at least opaque and maybe will even get better - :). Glory, but it was wonderful.
Then the sun rises and the local news team shows up in my neighborhood. How ugly our world can be and how close it is getting to home. A father sexually abused his daughter for the last 6 years, she has birthed 4 babies, two were buried on the property near us, one is dead but location unknown for sure and the other child is in foster care now. How much more of these horrific stories will we see before our Lord returns? Too many for sure. May He equip us to handle these events around us that demonstrate His grace and mercy.

No Museums on Monday

I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that most museums aren't open on Mondays since they have longer weekend hours to accommodate visitors. Nevertheless I was disappointed yesterday when on his day off my husband suggested going to an art museum and there wasn't one open in the whole metro city area. So we did the next thing we do well anyway and that was go out to eat. Seriously while we are trying to be more aware of what we eat and what we spend eating out, it seems to be our downfall anyway. A good reuben sandwhich makes for a fun outing though.

Praises!! The test results have returned from J's mole removal and they were benign. To understand the significance of this, first: this time I prayed it wouldn't be melanoma and that she will not ever have it again; second: each one of her previous tests (with the exception of the melanoma case) has returned as displatia nevux (sp?) which is abnormal cells with the propensity to become cancerous. So a test result of "benign" is a wonderful sign of His grace and mercy in answering prayers and giving testimony to faith. Now to remember that with the other concerns I'm dialoguing with my Lord about...

So the next major health concern in my family is that of my older brother who is dealing with a re-occurence of lymphoma. It was just decided that he is going to undergo a stem cell transplant in February using his own stem cells. This is pretty intense but it is a process that has been improved and with some excellent results lasting longer term. He was cancer free for six years (time flew by) before it returned but they say it will continue to return on a shortening cycle each time. However, with this treatment, the statistics are showing 85% have not had a reoccurence after 8 years. I must say I admire him for his strength and outlook as he approaches this battle fully ready for victory. There is one important aspect I'm not sure he is taking into battle with him....will continue to pray for the assurance of his life in heaven's eternity.

It is so frustrating when I realize my son is communicating with me (or not communicating with me) much like his dad does with his own mother. Makes me sorry for not working to improve that line of communciation between my mother in-law and my husband. Now I'm getting the same treatment. So, wives, listen up. Encourage your husband to treat his mother like you want your son to treat you some day. Maybe you will have better results than I have at this point. Now I understand that this is partly that process of him outgrowing the need to touch base with the parental units at every turn and for that I will celebrate his independence. But mono syllables and grunting do not make for conversation! :)

Today is a big day in our nation. President Obama, may God work in you and through you as well as the individuals that make up this country. May we show brotherly love to one another that creates a unified front to the world regardless of gender, race or social class. I've always teared up at the words in the song "Let There Be Peace" ....and let it begin with me. If each one embraced that mantra what would our world look like? Oh, time for my melancholy self to move on for now....

Novice Blogger

After being a lurking blogpost reader, my daughter decided that she would create a blog of my own. I don't have a lot of time but here is a quick insight to an earlier part of my day:

As we pulled on the door to enter the building, the alarms blared obnoxiously loud causing the residents fright and great embarrassment to Martha and myself. Of course, I am reading the sign that tells you about the alarm as I am opening the door. I should have remembered that nursing homes have those alarms. It's probably that I am quite uncomfortable going to hospitals and nursing homes anyway that my brain is disengaged....that is until the alarm system wakes every cell in my body. Well, at this point, we have our foot in the door as they say so onward we go to Annie's room. Annie is a lady in her 40s who has had a life that most of us wouldn't believe if it was made into a movie. She is a recovering heroine addict who found the Lord a few years ago. I must say I have much admiration and respect for the people of the church who adopted and ministered to her over these last years. Sadly, Annie's body has had so much trauma (short list: drugs, beating, shooting, abuse, seizures) that her last surgery has taken a toll leaving her on a ventilator with limited movement. As we visited with her, she seemed to know us and could acknowledge our questions by moving her feet. Now that is an interesting way to have a conversation. Look into someone's eyes as you speak to them then glance down at their feet to watch for a reaction. A new meaning to looking a "person up and down". My hope is that in our visit with Annie, we were able to remind her of a few of the Lord's promises. Her life has been full of broken promises and expectations. As she lies there alone and disabled in body, may her thoughts be on the One who is faithful to His promises. There is always something to learn from each person we meet in life. From Annie I've witnessed a tremendous spirit to survive - even through the most unspeakable horrible events of her life. Right now, and this is probably more honest than I should admit in a first-time blogpost, my desire would be for Annie to embrace her future in eternity with a perfect Father and that she would relinquish the fight to continue surviving in her hurt body. If that is wrong thinking, I'm sorry for it. Yet to imagine her in a new body, in heaven praising her Savior....what a glorious vision.

I love you momma

Your blog is so bare without a post. So...I'm just gonna post for you until you get that new monitor and blog lady! You can delete this post when you add your own. But now you know what it looks like!


I love you.

Love,
Jody