Tuesday's Thoughts!

Hopefully they are not my own! My mother had a heart stress test today; she was in nuclear medicene for over two hours. She desperately wants to go home from the hospital and so we anxiously await answers. Hooray for me, my mother was a real mother like the one Dr. Laura actually approves of. She has loved me unconditionally over the years and still voices her approval of my choices when they are wise. She never fails to tell me she loves me and that she is proud of me. She encourages me to live out my faith on a daily basis, therefore painting a picture of my relationship with God rather than merely talking about it. I am sad that my mother has faced hardships that have left her wounded and scarred but grateful she found my step-dad to love her and care for her. I still find comfort in her warm carress and smiling face. Today will end with the only surety we can hold on to...God is God and HE will be with us. HIS promise is sure, HE never leaves us or forsakes us. I am sure I will have more thoughts before the day ends. NONA

Thoughts?

I just read my oldest daughter's blog and found out my grandson is again having problems with his feet. You can find her link on my blog page under swimming in laundry. I am at the hospital with my mom, Herbie is home waiting for more tests on Wednesday and I am in ernest search of God's thoughts. I am back to this ... God is God! Help me Lord be willing to accept your perfect plan for my life. Grant me hope and peace!

Do our thoughts really even matter?

Since I blogged last....grandson is doing well. The typical three years old is reappearing. Thanksgiving came and went with two turkey meals, one with middle daughter in Portland and one with our entire family at our home on Saturday. Middle daughter in Portland set a beautiful table and with the help of an awesome mother-in-law fixed a fabulous meal. Due to the medication I was taking I hear I was a looney woman. I have had a viral infection and have not quite been myself, I am feeling better and looking forward to being pain free wthout medication that affects my sanity. I have come to a few realizations lately....our thoughts are just that, our thoughts, and they may not be shared by anyone else. So....the fact that God's thoughts are above our own is profoundly significant. God help me to follow your ways, and to pursue finding your thoughts. The holiday season is upon us and the best news for me is that my shopping is all done. I will still have to write the annual Christmas letter and do some end of the year bookkeeping, but life should be less stressful. Finding some simple stocking stuffers is an option I may or may not engage in. I am looking forward to warm cozy nights in front of the fireplace with good friends and family. My prayer for each of you is that you find yourself tuned into God thoughts.

A Vareity of Thoughts!

Popa and I were visiting a friend in Sheridan, Oregon, when we got a call that our grandson was in the ER in Mayberry with some very disturbing news. It appears that an x-ray showed a suspicious spot on his hip...add that to his inability to walk and well he was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Portland. Stress, stress, and more stress! Popa and I were devestated as we drove to ER trying to reach our little guy so we could kiss him and pray over him before the ambulance took him north. We prayed every selfish prayer a grandparent can pray when their off-spring is sick. IT is very difficult to pray "if it be your will" when the outlook is dismal. We did get to see our little prince and pray over him...it was very comforting to see him with our own eyes, to see his shy little grin and to hear his little boy phrases. I must say this little guy loves his Popa and was delighted to see him. It was very hard on Popa and I to see our daughter and her good husband suffer through this experience. What do people do in crisis without God? After a lot of blood test and exams by specialists our little guy was sent home without a diagnosis. The doctors don't know, one doctor said on Tuesday he was not the same little boy he had seen on Monday evening. Prayer does work! At his check up on Thursday they think it is synovitis caused from post viral trauma, it causes arthiritis type symptoms and is self limiting. Providing the symptoms abate in the next couple of weeks and our grandson has no more problems walking the ordeal will be part of his history. On Monday night at the hospital I began to feel like my back was "going out" and sure enough by Wednesday morning I was almost unable to stand up. After two days in bed I went to the doctor today and found out I have severe muscle spasm and needed two prescriptions and physical therapy. I did have a revelation this week in the middle of life as it was swirling around me. I tried to bargain with God, HE doesn't bargain, Popa offered his life for the life of our grandson, God doesn't make trades, I tried to pray "if it be possible let this cup pass", God is not detoured in HIS plans, I did pray "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" hoping against all hope HIS plan did not entail the loss of my grandson....and then smack in the middle of my I need to pray frenzy...I asked God to heal not because our family has been through enough, not because we would serve HIM no matter what...but simply because HE IS GOD...HE IS IN CONTROL....and because HE CAN! My thoughts all boiled down to one thought...GOD is GOD, there is no other, HE alone hold the keys to life and death. So, for all of you who are facing difficult days, God is God, HE is more than able to accomplish what concerns us today. More later, Nona

Some thoughts that might make me think I am older than I realized!

What does all that mean? I've forgotten! Could that possible be a thought that age is upon me? I do know that I do not have the stamina I had as a younger woman. Notice I did not say young? I said "younger" because it was not all that many years ago that I could leap over a tall building with ease. Now I can hardly see the tall buildings. It has been an eventful week. I have not been feeling well and then we had a young couple get married this week-end and my daughter and I helped with the bouquets and setting up(and tearing down) the reception hall. Thank you Linda and Sharon for the extra hands and transportation. Let's just say, not long ago this would have been a piece of cake, at midnight last night however, my back was screaming and my feet were swollen. Today, I am almost back into the state of denial and believing yesterday was just a fluke, I really am 29 with the energy to conquer the world. One thing age has taught me is this: life is fleeting and it only what we do for Jesus that counts. Eternity is just that e t e r n i t y....forever without end. I have come to realize I want to make this life count for Christ down through the ages. Lord, help me to dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening and love to love like you are keeping track. Help me to worship you with my feet, my voice, and my whole heart. The grandsons were here tonight and we all played computer games, ate popcorn, and signed onto lego mission.com. More later from an almost young Nona.

God help me to have your thoughts!

This morning as I read my bible (Acts 16:14) I was struck with some thoughts regarding Lydia, the scripture says God opened her heart. What an awesome thought....God can actually open our hearts to HIS Kingdom. 26 verses later, after Paul and Silas have been released from prison, it says they returned to Lydia's home where they were comforted and refreshed. Lord, my prayer is that you would open my heart and cause me to be an oasis to your people in whatever state I encounter them. God has been speaking to me about "Kingdom" and how different it is than church. Doing church does not build HIS Kingdom, but doing Kingdom does build HIS church. Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) The essentail evidence that one is experiencing God's Kingdom is a life of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Righteousness is right standing with God and with mankind; peace is the ability to rest in the knowledge of the ONE who is able to lead us and guide us - it is born out of total obedience to God; and finally joy is found when our emotional well being is based solely on the fact that our names are written in the lambs book of life. Paul and Silas rejoiced and praised in prison and their restraints were removed. No matter what circumstances you are facing...praise the ONLY ONE WHO IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE and you will find yourselves released and in a place where you can be strengthened and refreshed. God is asking me to get my stuff together....in other words "focus on Kingdom". God's thoughts about us are all that really matter and I know that my God loves me, is plentiful in mercy, and HIS grace never comes to an end. The good news is HE feels just the same about you. So, begin to live out HIS kingdom right where you are. Much love and grace to you in Christ Jesus. The Nona of FIVE adorable grandchildren. Thanks girls for blessing me with your offspring.

Just a simple thought from Nona

Life is full, but is it meaningful? Busyness does not equate with effectiveness, usefulness, or satisfaction! I have been busy, but is it a life that is satisfying? I am forever changed by the events of our trip to China and realize that what really matters in life is what we are storing up for the next life. My children and grandchildren are the primary reasons for my life here in Oregon. I love the fact that we as a family have been able to traverse the often difficult transition in adult relationships with our daughters and their husbands, Well now, the grandkids are easy....who doesn't love adorable little people? I do ramble on don't I? I have been gone this week for a couple of days, spent some time with the grandchildren in Mayberry, as my daughter likes to call the little city where they live. I realized why we have children when we are young, they have tons of energy and creativeness that I can hardly keep up with. My friend found herself in Federal Court this week, sometimes one must ask??????where is justice oh God? I trust God will deal with people who think they are above righteous decisions! It is hard to keep up with all that is going on around me and yet not hear the cry within for a life that brings glory to God. I am ruined by being in God's presence and I long for it on a 24/7 basis. Please do keep reading my blog, I will get my head on straight here shortly and return to a good blog of sorts. More later! A Nona with not many thoughts for today.