I've lost track of time and my Thoughts

Well, can you believe it? Another month has past and I am just now getting around to blogging. This post comes to you from Phoenix, AZ. Popa and I are here to say our good-byes to Grandma Mary, as we call her, she is Popa's step-Mom. She is a wonderful lady who has loved us and been a blessing in our lives. Her heart is failing and she is on her third regiment of chemo, the cancer has come back with a vengeance. The truly wonderful news is that heaven awaits her and that is a reality for her and for us. Thank God for the blessed assurance of life eternal spent with HIM! We were privileged this week to spend time on the campus of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. It is a truly amazing testimony of God's faithfulness. The other news is that my Mom has not adjusted well to life without her husband. The dementia has advanced quickly and we are facing what looks like another move for her. I believe with all of my heart it is a season to simply TRUST God, HE alone knows the details and we get to surrender and let HIM work in our lives. A good friend once told me "if we work, HE rests, but if we rest HE works" I am endeavoring to rest in HIM, the true author of life. If you don't know HIM, simply say God reveal yourself to me, help me to know you and HE will respond. More later from this Nona, the question is: how much later?

What Thoughts?

It has been a whole month since I posted on "Nonasthoughts"; where did this past month go? My Mother's husband, Joe, passed away on October 2; God was so merciful, his passing was peaceful and quick. My Mom has had a very difficult time remembering Joe is gone and that she no longer lives in her house. I had to have her declared legally incompetent and that was a paramount emotional cliff-hanger for me. Thank Heaven for Popa and his unwavering devotion to me, he has driven me up and back from Portland twenty-four times in the last thirteen weeks. We are tired emotionally and having to deal with lots of little details in seeing to the ongoing care of my Mom. There is her house to sell, her assets to be complied and her ongoing care at the assisted living to be provided for. In all of this, I can truthfully say "I know God has a plan" and I take great comfort in knowing HE is still in control. Life is not so much about what is happening around us as it is about our staying tuned in the ONE who controls the universe. I am so glad I am on a first name basis with HIM. My best advise for everyone is try Jesus, HE never fails. I hope to be able to blog a little more regularly but I am not making any promises. More when I can from a Nona with all to many thoughts!

Are these really my thoughts?

Today I am tired...physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I know the scriptures says he will not put on us more then we are able to bear. Ugh! Do we have to be taxed to the limit?  Joe, Mom's husband, was in the ER for 7 hours on Sunday night with more bad news, the cancer has spread to his abdomen.  He looks so sick already, I cannot imagine how much more his poor body can endure.  We got home at 3:30 a.m. Now, we need a wheel chair and a hospital bed.   More moving on the horizon, not our favorite thing to do. Popa and I have made 19 trips to Portland in the last ten weeks and this week promises to be at least two trips also; yet God's grace never wears thin. God is ever faithful and HIS strength is imparted at just the right moment in time.  We marvel at the ways of the Lord and then are able to look back and see how much He has grown us in the process.  Nothing we are going through is for naught, HE has a plan to make us into his likeness.  Whatever situation you find yourself in, don't despair; the light of God wants to shine through you.  Be willing to be conformed.  I wish that you might prosper even as your soul prospers!  

Can we say stressed out NONA?

Yes, we are still parent-watching!  My hope is in God and HIS never ending grace.

a Nona who is marvelling?

I am always amazed at how things come around.  While Popa and I were pastoring we had a young lady in our church that we really tried to sow into emotionally.  She had come to our church with a very dysfunctional background and we knew God alone would be able to heal and bind up her woundedness.  That young lady graduated from the University of Oregon and went to Korea to teach English as a second language.  She has blossomed and learned how to navigate life very well.  She knows how to take personal responsibility for her actions and also how to hear from God.  She emails me from time to time and I am always encouraged and reminded that God is more interested in HIS own creation than we even imagine.  It has been my pure joy this week to read her emails and to marvel at her personal growth and development.  I am very grateful for the small part God let our church play in her journey.  Don't loose heart, hope in God!  HE is always faithful and HE will repay your service to HIM and for HIM!

Tired NONA~

Well! Life has certainly been challenging. My Mom has digressed in her dementia and her husband is really sick with the cancer that has spread to his brain and lungs. I decided this morning that the best thing I could do was to turn them over to God. Everyday has enough troubles of its own and so I do not need to go looking for more. I am enjoying a few days at home in my own bed before I go back to Portland to drive to yet another doctor's appointment. Next week-end I will be flying to California to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday! While it is not the best of timing I am looking forward to a respite from the parent watching in Portland. Popa will be doing the parent watching while I am gone. Our middle daughter will be returning to Tennessee on Saturday after a two week visit. Life is always moving, just not always in the fashion we would choose. I am sure our Heavenly Father must look at our lives and think they are always moving just not in the direction HE had planned. Dear Lord, help me to follow hard after thee. May I find myself in the center of Your will for my life. You are worthy to be praised, worshipped, and adored not matter what life is like for us here on earth. We are not here forever, but only aliens passing through. Help me to keep my eyes focused on YOU!

??? Nona!

On the day I made my last entry, my step-Dad (J) had a stroke and life changed.  We were in Phoenix with Popa's Dad; who was recovering from a 5 unit blood transfusion and having 1 1/2 litres of fluid drained from his lungs - his wife was recovering from a 6 veterbrae fusion.  Needless to say we left them in capable hands and headed toward Oregon.  We left at 4 am on July 7 from Bull Head City Arizona to Vegas on to Reno, Susanville, and Mt. Shasta before crossing into the state of Oregon.  I must say the ride from Susanville was freezing, temperatures in the 30's without our leather gear and we were on the Harley.  We made it home safely and having been parent-watching in cooperation with my sister ever since.  The stroke left (J) with a paralyzed left arm and my mother with the problem of even recalling he has cancer that has spread to his brain and lungs.  I have since learned that my Dad's wife (N) has breast cancer and will face surgery this week.  Popa spent 4 days last week in Idaho seeing his mother who is very frail following several strokes.  Our parents have been relatively healthy up until this summer.  Popa and I are home on a 3 month furlough which is quickly vanishing, I had planned to spend the time with my girls and the grandchildren.  I must however submit to the God and HIS divine plan. HE says HIS thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and his ways above finding out, so I bow my life to HIS will.  It is not easy this dying to self, especially if your beloved momma has dementia and has angry outbursts, but it is necessary.  Our hearts are in Sri Lanka and the new 5 year visa is such an awesome provision of God that we know HE has plans that will unfold in HIS timing.  My prayer is that HE, the God of all mercy, be merciful to all.... (J), my momma, (N) my dad, Popa's Dad and wife, & Popa's Mom and husband.   The absolute good news is that all are ready for heaven.  We have that assurance and know God will never allow us to be tried beyond that which we are able to bear.  Pray for this Nona, that she would continue to willfully submit to God and HIS ways and that she would find her confidence and rest in HIM!  More from the parent watching Nona later!