Greetings to one and all........
Since last I wrote so much has happened in my life, yet God has sustained me.
In early May we found ourselves dealing with complete loss of house and content of our youngest son's house. We rejoice and praise God that no one was home. Shad has been working in Louisiana and the kids live with their mom in Norwalk. The main thing, the best thing.......no one was home and no one was hurt.
The firemen tell us the house was completely gone within ten to fifteen minutes. That tells us that an accelerant was used and the fire burned hot and quickly.
So many calls had been placed to Shad in Louisiana but God remains in control. Not one of the calls or messages had reached Shad. It was not until 10 am the morning of the fire that Bill was able to reach Shad and tell him what had happened. I find God's hand in that. He was told of his loss by his dad, not a friend, not a stranger. Shad flew home as soon as he could get a flight.
The fire was early on a Tuesday morning. He did not get a good look until Wednesday in the daylight hours. By the time he got here, it was dark and he couldn't see much. He saw plenty on Wednesday.
Everyone asks about the cause of the fire. It pains this mother more than I can ever express that the fire has not been officially ruled yet, but the fire was arson. The fire was purposely set. In the daylight hours on Wednesday, the only piece of a wall standing we saw a message left for our son. It was obscene. It is not something I would care to repeat or share with anyone. The hurt in our hearts knowing that someone purposely done this is beyond explanation. To think someone is so hateful, vicious, and mean to one of your kids is a lot for any parent to handle.
"and the peace of God that passes all understanding will rule in your heart and mind." Philippians 4:7
As investigating continues, I find peace and rest knowing that God knows who has done this horrible thing. If WE never know, God knows and we know God will deal with the guilty person in His time, in His way.
On May 23rd, 2008, at 4:03 p.m. Brock Andrew (Kelii) Sipes was sent to us as a blessing beyond words. Mommy has Hawaiian ancestors and the name Kelii is given to him in honor of that. It means, "Chief." His great grandmother on mommy's side of the family picks the Hawaiian names for the kids. Brock weighs in at 8 lbs. 13 oz and a nice 21 inches long. He has very long fingers and looks so much like his dad, our son, Gerry. Gerry never left the hospital. He stayed thru the labor, the delivery, and came home when mom and baby did. Mommy was allowed to rest while Daddy took care of Brock in the hospital. Mommy was so surprised and so appreciative of Gerry's help. I wasn't at all surprised.........I knew he'd make a good dad and a very helpful one. I give God all praise for this little guy.........he is such a blessing for so many reasons.
My heart continues to ache over my Mom. Mother is not at all well and Mom needs to go on to heaven, but evidently it's not God's time. We had to make a decision about her difibulator......to shut it off or not. It was not an easy decision to make. Unless you have walked in those shoes, you have no idea how difficult a decision that was. Together, the four of Mom's remaining children supported each other and decided it was best for Mom to have it shut off. The electrical current coming from the defibulator was no longer helping her. It was causing her pain. We didn't want that.
Mentally Mom is no longer in existence, at least the Mother we knew and grew up with. Mom is often confused and "way out there." Sister and I stand amazed because she has not forgotten one time who we are. Mom always knows Sister and I and for that we are so grateful. We continue to wait for God to decide it is time. We don't understand. We don't like the waiting and we don't feel any of this is fair to Mom. But, God remains in control. He sees the entire picture and He's just not ready for Mom to go home yet. We pray for His mercy!
Recently I read an interview by Rick Warren, (Purpose Driven Life author), pastor of the Saddleback Church in California. Thru his interview God reminded me that He is far more interested in my character than in my comfort. God is more interested in making my life holy than He is in making my life happy. I was reminded that although I could be reasonably happy here on earth, that's not to be my goal. My goal is to grow in character into the likeness of Christ. It's hard, isn't it? It's hard to remember these things and keep applying these things to our life. My cousin sent me an article the other day that was just awesome. The main subject of the article was to START AGAIN. No matter what it is I don't have quite right in my life, no matter what it is I feel I've failed at and no matter how OFTEN I've failed at the same thing, I am to START AGAIN. In some areas of my life, I feel like all I do is start over. I guess God's still has lots of "character" to build in me, huh!
I continue to fill out applications any place I can to get a different job. The expense of driving 60 miles round trip for a part time job is taking it's toll. I continue to pray that God will open the door for me a job closer to home. I would LOVE to be able to stay at home and work, but I haven't found a trustworthy business safe to take on. I keep praying that God will show me where He needs me and if no other door opens, I have to trust that He still needs me right where I am. I don't understand..........but I trust!
The challenges are many.........but the blessings far outweigh the challenges and it is thru these blessings, thru the hugs from God that I am given strength to keep on keeping on. My Aunt Freda will be 90 in July. She is my dad's only living sister and is the oldest of his family. Aunt Freda and I have always been close. When I was younger, I'd go spend weeks with her in the summertime. It was great! We have always written back and forth to each other. I love her dearly!
Aunt Freda has always had this HUGE violet sitting on a table in the kitchen facing the east. It is the biggest violet I've ever seen. A few weeks back she mailed me a start from it. To say I was a little concerned for this dear plant coming thru the mail is an understatement. It arrived in a yellow envelope......not spongy...just yellow. She has gotten a paper towel wet and wrapped the roots in the paper towel and then placed the start and towel in a zip lock bag, stuck it in this envelope and mailed it. I knew not to touch it. I knew that all I should do was get it out of the envelope, place it in the kitchen sink and wait for my green thumb husband, Bill, to rescue it. I did run a little water on the roots because I knew it needed a drink and only the roots.
Bill immediately rescued it and placed it in dirt. He didn't give this violet much of a chance but I knew he'd tried his best.
I pray I never get so caught up in my challenges, my heartaches, my trials in life that I miss out on one of God's hugs. One morning recently I walked into my kitchen to see a beautiful dark purple bloom on this pitiful looking violet! Talk about a hug from God! I gave Him praise for it! Bill was so surprised as well! He thought it'd take a very long time for this violet to grow, let alone bloom!
Below are suggestions from Rick Warren from the interview I read. Read them carefully and absorb them. There is such truth here:
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Although I have nothing but respect for Pastor Warren, I would prefer my own list:
Happy and sad moments, PRAISE GOD!
Difficult moments, SEEK AND PRAISE GOD!
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD LOUDLY!!
Painful moments, TRUST AND THANK GOD!
Every moment of every day, THANK AND PRAISE GOD!
Pray for us folks..............until next time..............
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Is It Well With YOUR Soul?
"Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET your requests be made known to God: and the PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
In early April, our 7 year old grandson fell and broke the femur bone in his left leg right above the knee. He was flown to Toledo Children's Hospital where surgery was performed and he remains in a full body cast at this writing. He will remain in the body cast for several weeks yet and eventually go into a one leg cast. Justin is going to be okay. His healing process and return to normal will be very, very long.
On April 22, 2008, my stepdaughter, Bill's oldest daughter passed away at the age of 42. She had suffered a long, horrible dying process. At her service on Friday, Bill was not recognized at all as her dad, yet our sons were recognized as her stepbrothers.
Work conditions at work remain such a challenge. I know it is the same everywhere. The work load is so heavy and so few to work. It's really hard on my coworkers and I. When you are in constant pain and don't feel good anyway.......well.......working can be a challenge let alone under difficult circumstances.
Early Tuesday morning, May 6, I was called with the news our youngest son's house had burnt to the ground. Shad has been working in Louisiana for weeks. We are so grateful no one was at home. He has lost everything. It was 14 months ago an electrical fire caused substantial damage to this same house. Shad told us he thought someone was trying to tell him he wasn't suppose to have a house there.
Just yesterday,(May 7),I was called and asked to help make a major decision concerning Mom. Mom's heart is trying to stop but the defibulator is not allowing it to. Mom was constantly being shocked by electrical current which causes her a lot of pain. My sister, two brothers, and I had been given two choices.
Mom's life remains in God's hands just as it always has been. I don't care what is done to her or for her here on this earth, God remains in control. Mom will not go home one second sooner than what is God's own timing. The decision was made to have the defibulator disconnected saving Mom from the pain she was having from it. Mom will not go one minute sooner than God intends. I rest in that.
Yesterday as I sat with Mom, we did our own thing just as we have all my life. We laughed, we talked, we hugged. We sang, "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop. In that fair land where we'll never grow old. Then some day yonder we will never more wander, but walk the streets that are pure as gold."
Will I miss Mom? More than anyone will ever be able to understand. But Mom is ready to go and I am ready to let her go. Every breath Mom has taken her entire life has been for her kids. She's fought her fight, she's finished her course. When God's ready for Mom, she'll go. So many loved ones and friends will be waiting for her. Yesterday she spoke often of how good it will be to see "Dad and Mom." Her parents are waiting and so is Dad.
Prayer warriors I don't even know have responded to the requests made for my family and I. I stand amazed in God's presence of how He continues to make sure WE are being taken care. Not just Mom, not just Justin, not just Shad, but the family around these difficulties is being ministered to, hugged, and prayed for by our awesome God in ways I continue to stand amazed at. I must give HIM all praise.
Is it easy? No! Someone suggested to me that I didn't have a "platefull" but rather a "platter." I have to laugh! PLEASE, PLEASE.......do not make any suggestions to our God! The platefull is enough........I don't even want God to think I could handle a platter, and hopefully God did not hear such a suggestion!
I received a HUGE hug from God yesterday when He sent me a writing titled "When Your Hut Is On Fire." I shared it with many. I am confident that it was God's perfect timing to send that article to me just hours after our son lost every material thing he had. What a hug it was!
I am reminded of Habakkuk. Habakkuk stood and looked at all he didn't have. There was no cattle in the fields, no fruit on the vines. Habakkuk had his own platefull just like I do. Yet, Habakkuk was able stand and say, "...even tho......YET I WILL TRUST IN HIM..." Habakkuk 3:17-19
"When peace like a river attendeth the way. When sorrow like sea billiows roll. Whatever my lot it has taught me to say, IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."
Is it well with your soul?
Dea, May 8, 2008
In early April, our 7 year old grandson fell and broke the femur bone in his left leg right above the knee. He was flown to Toledo Children's Hospital where surgery was performed and he remains in a full body cast at this writing. He will remain in the body cast for several weeks yet and eventually go into a one leg cast. Justin is going to be okay. His healing process and return to normal will be very, very long.
On April 22, 2008, my stepdaughter, Bill's oldest daughter passed away at the age of 42. She had suffered a long, horrible dying process. At her service on Friday, Bill was not recognized at all as her dad, yet our sons were recognized as her stepbrothers.
Work conditions at work remain such a challenge. I know it is the same everywhere. The work load is so heavy and so few to work. It's really hard on my coworkers and I. When you are in constant pain and don't feel good anyway.......well.......working can be a challenge let alone under difficult circumstances.
Early Tuesday morning, May 6, I was called with the news our youngest son's house had burnt to the ground. Shad has been working in Louisiana for weeks. We are so grateful no one was at home. He has lost everything. It was 14 months ago an electrical fire caused substantial damage to this same house. Shad told us he thought someone was trying to tell him he wasn't suppose to have a house there.
Just yesterday,(May 7),I was called and asked to help make a major decision concerning Mom. Mom's heart is trying to stop but the defibulator is not allowing it to. Mom was constantly being shocked by electrical current which causes her a lot of pain. My sister, two brothers, and I had been given two choices.
Mom's life remains in God's hands just as it always has been. I don't care what is done to her or for her here on this earth, God remains in control. Mom will not go home one second sooner than what is God's own timing. The decision was made to have the defibulator disconnected saving Mom from the pain she was having from it. Mom will not go one minute sooner than God intends. I rest in that.
Yesterday as I sat with Mom, we did our own thing just as we have all my life. We laughed, we talked, we hugged. We sang, "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop. In that fair land where we'll never grow old. Then some day yonder we will never more wander, but walk the streets that are pure as gold."
Will I miss Mom? More than anyone will ever be able to understand. But Mom is ready to go and I am ready to let her go. Every breath Mom has taken her entire life has been for her kids. She's fought her fight, she's finished her course. When God's ready for Mom, she'll go. So many loved ones and friends will be waiting for her. Yesterday she spoke often of how good it will be to see "Dad and Mom." Her parents are waiting and so is Dad.
Prayer warriors I don't even know have responded to the requests made for my family and I. I stand amazed in God's presence of how He continues to make sure WE are being taken care. Not just Mom, not just Justin, not just Shad, but the family around these difficulties is being ministered to, hugged, and prayed for by our awesome God in ways I continue to stand amazed at. I must give HIM all praise.
Is it easy? No! Someone suggested to me that I didn't have a "platefull" but rather a "platter." I have to laugh! PLEASE, PLEASE.......do not make any suggestions to our God! The platefull is enough........I don't even want God to think I could handle a platter, and hopefully God did not hear such a suggestion!
I received a HUGE hug from God yesterday when He sent me a writing titled "When Your Hut Is On Fire." I shared it with many. I am confident that it was God's perfect timing to send that article to me just hours after our son lost every material thing he had. What a hug it was!
I am reminded of Habakkuk. Habakkuk stood and looked at all he didn't have. There was no cattle in the fields, no fruit on the vines. Habakkuk had his own platefull just like I do. Yet, Habakkuk was able stand and say, "...even tho......YET I WILL TRUST IN HIM..." Habakkuk 3:17-19
"When peace like a river attendeth the way. When sorrow like sea billiows roll. Whatever my lot it has taught me to say, IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."
Is it well with your soul?
Dea, May 8, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)