JIMMY'S SUPRISE PARTY AND MORE ON MEL'S VISIT

How cute are they?

Getting help, haha

On Friday night while Mel was here we decided to have a SURPRISE birthday party for my youngest son Jimmy. He will be 30 years old on April 7th! I honestly cannot believe my Jimmy Mike is 30 years old. Where oh where did that time go? He had already planned on coming up for the day anyway to see Melody, so it really was a good time. We told him that we had made a plan to have dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory at 6:30 and that John was bringing his new girlfriend to meet everyone. That gave us the excuse to dress a little nicer than we usually would have, haha. Though after we all got ready he did say he felt he was underdressed, haha...His wife Larissa and I had been planning this for a few weeks. It was soo hard for both of us not to say anything to him, though I imagine it was a lot rougher on her. She did manage to get a hold of his two best friends growing up who have remained his friends to this day. We had quite the turn out. I think there were around 40 people. It was such a good time. We had a whole room to ourselves and the kids all ran around and played to their hearts content. I think we really had him fooled and we all got quite the kick out of it.


Melody left early Sat. morning but Jimmy's family had spent the night and decided to just spend all day Sat. over as well. How we enjoyed them. We had not seen this little family since the baby’s birthday's in early Feb. with me being sick and all. How I had missed them. This gave me a VERY pleasant diversion on Sat. to Mel having just left. I always go into a couple of day slump when she does. But like I said, this helped a lot and I was really grateful. Capri and I got some alone time and did a little shopping at Target. How I enjoyed her. JD is his daddy's boy through and through. It's like watching Jimmy grow up all over again. Dontella is just such a sweetie. One look from those big blue eyes and you are just toast, haha. Jeffie had come over on Friday and spent the day as well, so the cousins got lots of playing time together.

Melody and I met Jessie and Danae on Wed. of last week down in Newport and Mel got her hair done by Jess. She was in REAL need of a highlight and cut, and she got herself a Bazillion blowout as well. Sure helps having a cousin in the business, haha Then my mom joined us and Jessie treated us all to lunch. After that we got to see both the bridesmaid’s dresses and Jessie's wedding gown. How fun that was. Jessie looked soo beautiful. And the bridesmaid’s dresses are REALL Y cute. A really pretty shade of light lime green, and they are going to wear fuchsia pink shoes and flowers of fuchsia, orange and yellow in their hair. Soo cute, AND soo Jess. I am really looking forward to that day. We had dinners out and lunches out and a nice long visit with Mike's grandmother. She lost her mate of 53 years a couple of months ago, but is doing pretty well I was happy to see. We watched some of our fav TV shoes together, went to the movies, shopped, and talked and talked and talked.

Well, that's about it I guess. I am not quite as perky yet as I had hoped, but I will get there I am sure. It really just one of her best visits so far. I think maybe it was because she had a whole week instead of just 3 or 4 days. I will take whatever I am offered that is for sure, but those LONG trips are definitely my favorites.

I am posting one of my little videos of the birthday party. Be sure to pause the music on the right hand side of my blog page, and click full screen to view. Click escape on your computer to exist. ENJOY.....

This free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

A couple of my fav. pics of the night so Mel can copy, haha

One for each...

Jim & Mel

FEELING A LITTLE SAD

Well, it is close to 10 on Sunday evening and I am sitting here with a large collection of very different feelings, and I never did get up my Spiritual Sunday post, the first one I missed in several months.   It was a GOOD week, full of fun times, wonderful conversations, and lots of new memories were made. I am happy that the Lord blessed me with this week with my daughter, and yet so very sad that she is gone. Melody living in another state has been such a weird experience for me. I am don't have any doubt that there are many of you who understand how I feel, and sympathize, but I am sure there are at least a few who think to themselves, "move on and get over it". She has grown up, married and moved away and all is as it should be. And this is of course very true. It is just like so many other things that have happened in life. You are just so sure it will never happen to you. And yet, here I am. In the scheme of things sooo many other fates could (and might still someday) befall me that are indeed sooo much worse than your only daughter moving away, that I feel FULL of guilt for even complaining. I honestly do. She is happy with her husband. She is busy finishing her final semester of student teaching and plans on applying soon for a full time teaching job. I am excited for her. I talk to her for at least a few minutes every day, and we of course still occasionally have our long conversations on the phone. But of course I don't have to tell you it is just not the same. I want to see her face. Hug her if I feel like it. Have lunch out with her every couple of weeks or so at least. Shop with her when one of us needs something or just for no reason at all. Have her and Mike a part of our family celebrations and get togethers. Little Donatella and Cody don't even know who she is, and Donatella was even a little afraid of her. She didn't even get to see Annabel, and barely was around Lindsey. I don't know her new friends. Haven't even met them. All things of course that are perfectly normal for people who don't live around each other. A FULL week was good. It gave us a lot of time to REALLY talk. We caught up on our stories. We shopped, lunched out, had her hair done, got to see Jessie's bridal dress and she got measured for her bridesmaid dress. She got to see most of her best friends. She visited with Mike's mom and with his grandmother. And Friday night we had a surprise birthday party for my youngest son Jimmy who will be 30 on April 7th. It was of course a couple of weeks early to accommodate Mel's visit and really helped in surprising him. I will write more about that later. It was soo much fun. Almost everyone was there. Around 38 people counting all the little ones. She got to meet John's new girl friend. Such a nice girl and a good match for him we are thinking. All in all it was just such a good week. I enjoyed every single minute of it, and by the way, felt REALLY good the whole time. Thank you Jesus...So as you can clearly see MOST of my feelings tonight are good ones. Soo many good times to thumb back over in the pages of my mind whenever I want to. And yet I feel overwhelming sad at the same time. I can't explain sometimes how much I miss having her around. BUT....I do know, having a little experience with her leaving now, that I will work out of this mood and move along. (as I tell my kids) I will set my mind on all the good times we had and look forward to seeing that face again and be ever soo grateful that it will probably only be a few months. I know some people have to go years sometimes. They have my deepest sympathy by the way. But tonight I will allow myself to feel sad. But just tonight. Tomorrow with the Lord's help I will be back to my normal "perky" self and get busy with some things that have not had my attention since I was sick for 3 weeks, recovered for another and then had the whole week with her. Lots of things to do. Tomorrow I am hoping to get together the pics of the birthday party. I got some really cute ones. So hopefully this depressing little post won't be up very long. Many thanks to all of you who prayed I'd be healthy for her visit, and were soo happy for me that she was here. God bless you all....

SMILING BIG

I honestly don't know if I am going to be able to express just how "perky" I am! My Melly is here and how I am enjoying her. She arrived about 9:30 Sat. night and the two of us sat up chatting until almost midnight before it occurred to us that we have A WHOLE WEEK to chat, haha. It really is funny how much better a conversation is in person. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the telephone, text messages, and facebook, but they really do pale in comparison. Anyway, we finally headed off to bed. The next day as we were getting ready for Jess & Phil's engagement party, I was reminded how wonderful it is to have her in the house to get ready with. She fixed my hair for me and I modeled all my tops for her to get her opinion. We finally headed off for Long Beach and wonderful time at the party. It was at the Long Beach Yacht Club and it was such a nice day with beautiful surroundings. They had soo many hors douvers that looked sooo wonderful I am not going to lie, it was VERY DIFFICULT for me to resist them. But I am happy to report that I did, sticking to the fresh veggie tray which was really pretty good. It was just such a fun day. The future bride and groom were happy and darling to watch. Jess & Mel were glad to see each other and had a good time together as always. We left the party about 7 and went to have dinner at Kings Fish House. I had a wonderful Salmon, and was quite the happy camper. By the time we got back home we were all pretty tired and headed off to bed. Today Mel & I had the WHOLE day to ourselves. Soo wonderful. We had our breakfast and coffee together chatting away in our chairs like she had never left. Then we headed out for a little shopping. We had a good time as always. She tried on clothes and I sat giving my opinion. We bought nothing but some makeup and then went to get Sushi for lunch. The food was wonderful, but the company was wonderous. We talked and talked. After lunch we decided to see a movie and went and saw Remember Me. It was actually quite depressive, but we both enjoyed it anyway. I loved sitting with her at a movie again while whispering back and forth about what we thought. We were practically alone in the theater (apparently not the popular thing to do on a Mon. afternoon, haha) so don't think our "talking" bothered anyone. After the movie we stopped to get a frozen yogurt before heading back home. Tonight she is having dinner with her 3 good friends and will spend the evening catching up with them. This gave me the opportunity to make up the slide show of the engagement party and post this. I am just soo grateful that I am feeling 100% this week. God is soo good. I know I will probably go into somewhat of a slump when she heads off again in a few days, but I am refusing to not let myself go there and take from any of the good times that still lay ahead. I am just so giddy.

I am going to post a couple of pics that didn't fit very well in the slide show slot, or that I thought were just good enough to get another posting.

Mel & Jess at the party.  They looked soo cute.  It was just beautiful outside.

Just thought they looked soo cute here

My sisters and Mel & Jess

Full length shot

Mel & I and Jess & Danae.  We try to take our pic together at major events in our life.  We have just a few of this "pose" of us together since the girls were really little.

I can't believe I am actually posting this, lol....We call this the Class "lemon face" We have a few of these unformately as well.  Our kids think it's quite funny.  I DEFINITELY have the most lemony look of the group, haha

The girls have been doing this silly pose since they were about 10 years old.  No occasion is complete without it apparently, lol

Ok, now here is the slide show...Remember to turn off my music on the right hand side and click full screen to watch.  Hit the escape key on your computer to exist.  ENJOY....I'll post more pics (I am sure you are all on the tips of your seats, haha) if I get the chance later in the week.  Meanwhile know that this gal over here is smiling big....

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TRUE FRIENDS

ECCLESIASTES 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.


The world we live in can be harsh and unwelcoming, intolerant of our mistakes. God knew we would need friends to encourage us along the way. He knew we would need others to laugh with, sing with, and dream with. He knew we would need comfort and support and loving-kindness. Cherish your friends, hold them close. They are very special people, for they do God's work in your life.

Let's face it, a good friend, can make all the difference in your life. You don't have to have A LOT of friends, just true ones. I can remember telling Melody when she was beginning high school not to fall into the trap of "trying" to be popular. Pleasing people and wanting others to like you is something that while understandable, ends up being a chain around your neck and sure recipe to lose yourself in the process. It might end up finding you with LOTS of people always around, but NO real friends. Find people you can be yourself around, and who think and feel like you do, and then BE a friend to them. Over the course of my life I have been blessed by many "true" friends and kindred spirits and most of whom I have stayed friends with over the course of many, many years. I have two friends in my life who have been my friends since we were just 9 years old. I cherish these women and we have seen each other through all the ups and downs of life. I can count on them to love me unconditionally and that's how I love them. I have 3 sisters who are my very best friends in the world as well, and our connection through the bonds of family makes us truly inseparable. My husband became my very best friend from practically the day I met him, and whatever in the world I would do without I never want to know. When I add on my mother, who’s always been one of my best supporters, my wonderful daughter-in-laws, my sons, and my daughter Melody, you can see how rich my life has always been in the area of friends. I have numerous other women who while they may not play as large a role as the other women I mention here, have also blessed me beyond my wildest hopes. But in this last year I have also added the women I have met here in blogland, and now my cup truly runneth over. I have only actually met a few of you face to face (Kristi, Kris, and Maryrose ~ Genn, I KNOW we will meet soon) but it really doesn't matter. I look forward to reading what is going on in your lives and love to turn on the computer and see your comments to me, encouraging me and feeling your interest and support. I've laughed and cried and prayed with you all. Yes, I thank God for friends, and for His knowledge of just how important they are in our lives. I am so grateful for the many dear women in my life that I can call my friend. What a wonderful way to experience life; full of caring, supportive people who are always there for me. May He richly bless you all.

I love this poem by Helen Steiner Rice which just sums this all up sooo nicely...

Gold is cold and lifeless,
It cannot see nor hear,
And in your times of trouble,
It is powerless to cheer.
It has no ears to listen,
No heart to understand.
It cannot bring you comfort
Or reach out a helping hand.
So when you ask God for a gift,
Be thankful that He sends,
Not diamonds, pearls, or riches,
But the love of a real, true friend

To read the other Spiritual Sunday posts click HERE.

A BLESSED WOMAN

Well this week is flying by and it is already time again for Thankful Thursday. As always, I have MUCH to be thankful for this week.

At the very top of my list is that I am feeling soo much better. I saw my doc yesterday and he said my chest sounds totally clear. YAY....I am still getting tired way too quickly (in my opinion ~ not his) and am not completely back to my usual "perky" self, but compared to how I was I am a new woman. He did say it might take a few weeks to be completely back to normal, but I am still praying that I will be able to do everything I have planned with Melody who will be here Sat. night. Sunday is my niece Jessica's engagement party and we are all looking forward to that. Melody is to be Jess's Matron of Honor and on Wed. we will go down to Newport Beach both to get Melody fitted for her dress and have Jessie do her hair, but we also get to see Jessica's bridal dress. I am soo excited about that, and grateful that I get to have a sneak preview of that as well. On that next Friday Jimmy and Larissa will come up with their kids and spend the day and evening with us, and I am REALLY looking forward to that. I have not seen any of them in quite a while either, and I have missed them so. I am just so grateful that I am to have my daughter here for a full week, that I am almost beside myself, haha...I am also grateful that my son Joe brought the boys over after he picked up Jeffie from school today to have lunch at Grandma's. I have not seen Cody in 3 full weeks and Jeff for 2. I have missed them so. They were both soo darling. Little Cody was not quite sure what to do with himself. He climbed up on my lap and laid his head down on my shoulder and immediately starting humming which is his signal for Grandma to sing to him. I of course indulged him and he just cuddled there quite contented. Every once in a while he would pick his little head up and grin at me and then would quickly lay his head back down. It was if he wanted to say, "Where have you been Grandma?" and then, "Don't stop Grandma, I am not done." It was quite frankly simply adorable and warmed my heart and spirit like you can't imagine. I am also grateful that I was able to go out for an hour or so today and find a top to wear to the engagement party. But what I was REALLY grateful for was that I was able to buy it in the size that I did. I have lost a total of 61 pounds, and am the smallest I have been in almost 10 years. I will NOT dwell on the fact that I still have quite a bit of weight to go. SIGH... It has been VERY difficult I won't lie to you. I know for a fact if it were not for the strength of the Lord and the support of my family I could not have done what I have. I am not even sure I will even end up wearing the new top as I really needed Mel's opinion on how it looked. I will let her make the call between this new one and one I bought around Christmas time that while very pretty and still workable, is actually a little big. Imagine that? haha Before I went to the doc's yesterday afternoon I stopped and got my nails done and had a pedicure as well. I was in sad shape, haha. How wonderfully relaxing it was let me tell you. I had not been in a month and the gals that do me (I have been going there almost 3 years now) were soo glad to see me it really warmed my heart. When they heard that I had been sick they fussed and pampered me and peppered me with questions as to what else has been happening in my life. It amazes me that they never forget who’s who in my life and follow along with such interest. These women are from a very different culture, and honestly think very differently from me when it comes to what life is really all about as they don't even believe in the existence of God at all. But I have come to really love their hearts and their desire to please me, and I pray the Lord might touch their spirits and that they might come to a saving knowledge of Him.

Well as usual my list could go on but I will stop here. I am grateful for all of you who have prayed for my health and for my full recovery for my daughter's visit.  I do covet your continued prayers that I gain all of my stength back quickly.  I am trying soo hard not to over do this week as I prepare for her visit, and yet I do have a couple more things that really need to get done.  I am resting as much as I can, and meanwhile I am so grateful that I really am such a blessed woman.

To join in with the other thankful bloggers you can link up HERE, or get the list to read some others thankful hearts as well.

DRAW NEAR TO HIM

JAMES 4:7 - 8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...

The subject of the devil is one I don't really like to dwell on much...But I do think it is important for us all to know the truth about this mysterious creature sometimes known as Satan or Lucifer. I think sometimes we all may give him far more power than he really has. That is a mistake. On the other hand, I know there are some who discount him altogether, even laughing at the idea of a real devil. They imagine some character with horns that runs around in a red suit with a pitchfork in hand. That of course is not what the Bible teaches. The devil is a magnificently beautiful fallen spirit being, with a well-organized network of demon forces. When we become Christians, we recognize that there is right and wrong, good and evil. There are standards to live by. So the devil begins to tempt us and tries to bring us down. There is a VERY real spiritual battle going on every day rather we are aware of it or not. However, our focus should NEVER be on Satan. We should always be looking to God instead. If we are in a state of humble obedience to God, submitted to Him, we CAN resist the devils temptations. God has put a protective hedge around every Christian and He will not let us be tempted beyond our ability to resist...1 Corinthians 10:13. We should never underestimate our adversary. He is real, and he is dangerous. We would all be wise to flee temptation, and not leave a forwarding address...I personally love the part of the verse where it says, when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us.

These last couple of weeks where I have been soo sick with pneumonia I have at times literally felt the spiritual battle going on around me. I have been weak and vulnerable and Satan as always knows my weaknesses and doesn't miss his opportunities to swoop in and mess with my spirit and heart. My husband prayed with me every morning before he left the house that God would send His mighty angels to do battle for me. How grateful I am that we have the authority in Jesus to do this and that He is our strength, for we are weak. We can put on His whole armor and He then battles for us. How wonderful is this?

I am feeling much better today; stronger, not only physically but spiritually as well. How very grateful I am that when we resist Satan he does flee from us, and when we draw near to God, He does draws near to us! Just doesn't get any better. Have a wonderful week, and may we all remember the power we have in Him.

To join the other Spiritual Sunday posts click HERE. Again, you will be soo blessed if you do.  Many thanks to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this wonderful event.

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

Well it is again time for Thankful Thursday and I have to say I can't believe how quickly the days go by.  Here we are practically to mid March and it seems as if Christmas has barely been put away.  I have many things again to be thankful for and I just can't believe how much joy it really does bring into my heart when this day rolls around and I count them up.   First of all I am grateful for the answered prayers that have been blessing me recently.  The car situation for my son. (see previous post) And then the fact that while it might be a little slower than I would like (I can be soo impatient) I am DEFINITELY starting to feeling better.  Thank God for caring Doctors, medicine, and my family who has helped me out.  The fact that the Lord (as always) has calmed my anxieties, lifted my spirits and left a peace in my heart.  I am so grateful that through the blood of Jesus we DO have power over the enemy.   I am grateful that most of the time I feel as good as I do, and I promise I won't be taking that for granted again.   I am grateful for praise music which I can turn on and listen to whenever I would like and feel my spirit connect with the Lord, and that then drifts through my mind and spirit long after I have turned it off.  I am grateful for all the blogs that I have come to count on for not only my pleasure and enjoyment, but for spiritual learning and growth.   As I have been sick these last couple of weeks and forced to sit still, I can't tell you how much it has blessed me to travel around (be it only in the blogsphere) and visit soo many wonderful women.  What a true wonder that really is.  I would soo love to go through and name each and every blog that blesses me personally and why, haha, but that might take me quite a while as there are soo many of you.  But I do want you to know how special you are to me and how much you make my heart glad.  I have felt your prayers recently and I am soo grateful for that as well.   I am soo grateful that my Melly is coming on the 20th of this month and will be here for a FULL week.  YAY...I am grateful that spring is around the corner and with it warm days, cool breezes and soo many flowers to enjoy and look forward to.  Yes, everywhere you look you can see the Lord at work blessing His people and filling our lives with His care and love, and how grateful I am.   This verse has been soo meaningful to me this week as I have watched the Lord answer prayer in my life. 

Phl 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Because after we do this, we are promised this..

Phl 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

It just doesn't get any better than this...

To visit the other grateful bloggers this week, click HERE, or better yet join in yourself and count your blessings up and share them with all of us.  I'd love to read them all.

A PRAISE REPORT AND A PRAYER REQUEST

This will be a quick post as I just want to let everyone know who have been praying for my son and his car situation just what an awesome God we serve and how He answered this prayer. I just knew that He would handle this, but it was beyond even my wildest hopes. It was a REALLY long story about this car which would take way too long to go into right now and I am not sure I would even explain it correctly anyway. But what the bottom line is due to some mistakes that this dealership made, they are going to absorb the majority of the cost of the expense of the repair. Meaning it will only be 200 dollars to my son. It was to originally be 2200 dollars! How good is God? I am soo relieved and happy for this answered prayer. I thank every one of you who prayed about this, and let you know just how wonderfully God answers prayers.


Also, I wanted to let you know that while I am feeling a twinge better (and I do mean a twinge, haha) on doing another chest x-ray yesterday, it was decided that I do indeed have pneumonia. They have changed my antibiotic and assured me I will be just fine, but I would appreciate your prayers once again that the healing would be total and quickly. I am concerned that the stronger antibiotic will bother my stomach, as this has always been somewhat of a problem in the past. My daughter Melody is due for a week’s visit on the 20 of March and I want to be TOTALLY healthy while she is here. If you remember, when she was here in Dec. I was sick with a stomach flu and it really took away from that visit. We have soo many things planned. I can't tell you how much I have missed her and how excited I am. The Lord has been doing soo much to help me cope with my anxiety and I am very grateful for that. I appreciate all of your prayers soo much. I have felt them all. God's blessings to you all.

Well, this has been a difficult week for me in that I have spent the majority of it sick and running back and forth to the doctor’s office and laying somewhere in a heap. Oh how I hate to be sick. But as I look back at how this week has gone I can see how the Lord has worked in my heart.

Phl 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I have spent a great deal of my life battling anxiety. I have researched this dilemma and spent time (probably too much) trying to figure out just why it is that this particular problem seems to plague me the way it does. Certain things trigger it, (such as an illness that is particularly lengthy or troublesome) and I avoid them when I can. But as with most of life, control is not just something we can claim. Life happens. So I find myself many times like I did this last week, battling this enemy rather I want to or not. My dependency on the Lord for this is the only way I have ever gotten through it. I have discovered that it is not a question about trusting God or my faith in Him. If anything it seems to be quite the opposite. It just seems to be the thing my body does quite literally without my permission. And once the process is in motion, I have no choice but to deal with it the only way I know how, and the only way that is ever successful. I run to Him. I pray. I trust Him to see me though. And He always does. He quite literally again gives me the strength to do something I honestly can't without Him. He battles it for me. So again this week for me it reared its ugly head and I felt myself falling into the familiar patterns of anxiety. It has been QUITE A WHILE since I have dealt with this, but it's memory was all too vivid. But I began to pray and seek Him passionately and asked others to pray as well, and it wasn't long at all and I felt His peace begin to wash over me. How grateful I am. Like Paul I have asked the Lord MANY times to remove this particular affliction away from me, but I feel like the Lord allows it for the same reasons He did with Paul. It keeps me dependent on Him. It reminds me that I CAN do all things through Him who will give me the strength. He is able to show me His abundant love for me IN SPITE of it. So, as much as I would like to think that I have dealt with this problem for the last time, I am pretty certain that it is not the case. But I do know, my God is mighty and powerful and loving and IN TOTAL CONTROL and He alone will see me through. Praise God.

Mar 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

To join the other bloggers who have posted for Spiritual Sundays, please click HERE

WHATEVER WOULD I DO WITHOUT HIM?

Well tomorrow is Thankful Thursday and I am feeling a little behind. I have been quite sick this week. In fact, I would say it is the sickest I have been with anything in quite a while. A BAD BAD cold and a good case of bronchitis as well. The doc was certain I had pneumonia, but I am happy to report he was wrong. My x-rays were clear. However, between the wheezing, coughing, stuffy head and ears, and extreme weakness it has just not been a good week for me. It has also stirred up my anxiety a bit which I fight from time to time as well. But as I was thinking about this post and wondering WHAT am I thankful for this week, I am happy to report several things did come to my mind...


First, I am soo thankful for my husband. Whatever would I do without him I wonder sometimes? He has been working my anxieties for MANY years now and he is such a comfort to me. Plus he cares for me fixing me meals and bringing my meds etc. I am soo grateful for this wonderful man. Ran me to the doc's AGAIN this afternoon missing a meeting at work to do so. And then I am grateful for all of my sons. Joe has run me over a frozen yogurt (low cal and a treat I enjoy on my diet) a couple of days this week as he knew I was too sick to get one. Plus he ran some errands for me and I know how busy he is. But the best thing he did was bring my grandson Jeffie by this afternoon to give his Grandma a hug. Just so you don't think we were crazy exposing him to my bug, he gave it to me in the first place I am quite certain as he was sick last week with this. In fact he said, " Grandma I must have given it to you because I am all better now." lol Yes Jeffie I am afraid you did. But what a bright spot in my day that was. My youngest son Jimmy sat and chatted his lunch break away (for almost an hour) with me today as I know he knew I was feeling "weird" and needed a distraction. Then he prayed with me and I felt a peace wash over me. My other son John shares soo many of my "weirdnesses" that he too is a great one to talk to. And my daughter Melody as always is there for me when I need someone to perk me up and chat and convince me that "Yes, mom this too will pass." My mom and my sisters are always people I can count on as well. So as you can clearly see, the Lord has blessed me with such a comforting supportive family and how very grateful I am for every one of them. But right at the very top of my list as always is my Lord. Truly, where ever would I be without Him when I find myself overwhelmed and weak? A ever present source of comfort and strength. I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt He controlled my second blood pressure reading (the first one was sooo high) today at the docs by washing over me a peace in knowing I am always and forever in His hands. It doesn't matter that I am not the Christian I LONG to be. That I am not always strong. I do NEED Him, and I do NEED my family. I blow it in some way or another every single day and yet He loves me anyway in spite of all my weaknesses and failures. And how grateful I am for that can never be described.

To visit the other grateful hearts and bloggers click HERE...