HELLO

Greetings,

I am back at the computer. AMEN. Do you know how little there is to watch on TV? And when you have taken pain medication, you get really sleepy when you read. And even with that extra padding, my backside is getting tired of being sat on.

Bill has been the best nurse ever and YES I have done exactly what I was told to do. Stitches came out yesterday (the 27th) and the pins come out of my toes May 12. I can walk around more but still have to be very careful not to hit those things sticking out the end of my toes. I am walking in funny shoes that make me walk on my heels and using a walker for balance. I have developed a new level of respect for those that use a walker all the time. There is a knack to using a walker that I have not perfected.

I will post a new blog this Friday, May 1. Can you believe May already?

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!!

Celebrate the day, Mary

Good morning!! My mom asked me to post an update since she is recuperating from her surgery. She is doing wonderful and being a good girl and following the Doctor's orders. We are praising God daily that her pain is going away and that she had no complications during the procedure.

Hopefully she will be back to her blogging self soon. Until then, I hope you enjoy re-reading some of her older posts.

Her loving daughter---Terri

Greetings

I am posting this in case I can not get to the computer this Friday, April 17.  I am having my feet operated on today and am not sure when I will be able to wobble to the computer.

Please check back Friday, the 17, and if there is not a new post, check the 24th.  I am sure by then I will be a bit more mobile.

While I am recuperating, please celebrate each day because each day is a gift. ---- Mary

AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3-4

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." Mark 13:32-33

AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT

I stood by the door watching as they wheeled the gurney into the house across the street. The EMS had been called and now I knew the outcome of that call. In the kitchen, Bill was getting ready to eat his salad as lunch was finishing on the stove. Our son was at work. Our daughter at home. One granddaughter was in New York, with her school's band. Other grandsons were in school. "At any given moment" came to my mind.

"At any given moment" a new life begins and another life ends. "At any given moment" one family learns about instantaneous love and another the first stab of grief.

"At any given moment" friends share a joke and laugh uncontrollably. Or young girls sneak a glance at the good-looking guy walking by. Or boys flex their muscles to show off. Or someone is sitting alone, wishing they were part of a group.

"At any given moment" someone is waking and someone else is going to sleep. One team is winning and one is losing. One person is bowing their head in prayer and another is raising a clinched fist towards heaven.

"At any given moment" - that is the thought that popped into my mind. It was as if, for just a second, I could see this world as God sees it. Every extreme. Every emotion. Every tear. Every smile. Every birth. Every death.

"At any given moment" -- and at every moment. Every beat of the heart. Every breath that is taken. "At every given moment" -- God cares.

"For God so loved the world." "At every given moment." Are you ready for the moment Jesus returns?

QUESTION OF THE DAY 

Are you ready?

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My prayer for each of you is that you have a faith strong enough to get you through each day. A faith that allows you to turn to the cross for forgiveness. A faith that shouts "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." And that you shout this every day!!! Because when we commit our lives, our spirit to God, we are ready for any given moment that comes our way.

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart. Think about this and then tell Jesus how you feel. What you believe.

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus, I do believe you are the Son of God. I believe you gave your life willingly for my sins. When I confess my sins, I believe they are forgiven. I believe … Amen

"MOTHER, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO READ A MAP?"

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 23:20

"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared."

"MOTHER, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO READ A MAP?"

I am not sure what to write. So much has happened in the last couple of weeks. Do I tell you about the amazing flowers in Hawaii? Do I tell you about a VERY long flight? Do I tell you that Terri thinks I tried to kill her? Do I tell you that I am glad to be home? Do I --

Oh, you want to know about me trying to kill Terri? It is not true!!!!!! She is just saying that, but I will tell you my side. She can leave a message with her side, if she chooses.

We were on Maui and decided to go for a drive. With Terri driving, we turned left out of the hotel. The map showed a nice wide road. And it was. A nice four lane. Then a nice two lane. The ocean - all blue, with waves and sun - on one side and rolling hills on the other. A very good road. I looked at the map and saw that this road went all the way around the west side of the island and ended up on the north side. I did see there was one stretch that was marked as steep and narrow, but that was a long way off. On the north side of the island and we were safe on the southwest side. Nothing to fear.

There was one slight problem with my logic. I am used to reading a map (And yes, Terri, I do know how to read a map, even if you doubt my skills.), but I am used to reading a map for big areas, like the whole state of Indiana. Or Alaska. Or Montana. I am used to an inch representing 50 miles. Or even 100 miles. I sorta miscalculated. I failed to realize I was looking at a large map for a small island. And there were no towns or mileposts to mark our progress. Just more ocean. That is my story and I am sticking to it!

Back to our drive -- We were just going along. On that nice, not very wide, but paved road. Enjoying the ocean. Enjoying the sun. Enjoying - oh, what did that sign say. Narrow. Winding. Well, duh. The road we were on was winding and narrow. About then Terri went white. Too late.

This was not narrow and winding. It was one lane. Very winding. Very steep. AND NOWHERE TO TURN AROUND. NO WAY TO STOP. Then we realized there was traffic coming at us. At least we were on the inside. We were not going to fall off.

Okay, I will end the story. Terri really was frightened. She had never been on a road like this. We knew we had to get off somehow. That is when we saw a pull off. Relief - at least for a moment.

Then we found our guardian angel. A man was waiting in a car while his wife took pictures. I got out and asked if they were headed back down. He said yes. I then explained and asked if we could follow him. He said yes. We said, "Thank you Lord."

We did follow him down. As our guardian angel passed each car, he asked if they would allow the car behind him to go through also. Each driver nodded to us as we passed by. As Terri saw our guardian angel's car get by other cars without falling off the edge, she realized she could get through too. Yes, when we safely arrived at the bottom, we thanked our guardian angel!

Sorta like life. Sometimes we start out on a road that is fine. Fun. Pretty. Safe. Then before we realize it, just one miscalculation lands us on a very narrow, very unsafe road. All it takes is one word. One thought. One action. And we have nowhere to go. Nowhere to turn around. We just keep our hands on the steering wheel, afraid to let go. Afraid to go on. Afraid to go back. Afraid until we find our guardian angel.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

When have you been afraid?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Thank you Lord. Thank you for sending guardian angels. I do try so hard to stay out of trouble. To stay safe. How grateful I am to know that I can always turn to you. That no matter where I am you are right there with me. When I am afraid, you can calm my fears. When I feel I cannot go on, you are reaching out your hand to help me with the next step. When I am afraid to go back, I know you will be turning back with me. To help me no longer be afraid. Amen

PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR PRAYER. Tell Jesus what makes you afraid. Tell Him your concerns. Trust Him with every care, concern and worry you have.

Isaiah 41:10 -- So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.