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Devotional

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow... I've always loved this song, but it has more meaning for me these past few years.  My daughter sang it as a solo in church after being "diagnosed" with diabetes.  A while later, she learned it was not diabetes, but terminal pancreatic cancer.  Her faith was strong and the words of this song reflected her attitude perfectly.  She passed away on New Years Eve, 1999.  Fifteen years later, her sister has undergone extensive surgery for pancreatic cancer, and is now enduring very aggressive chemotherapy, since it has metastasized to the liver, and is Stage 4.  She, also, has a strong faith and positive attitude, living each day in the knowledge that God is in control and she is at peace. 

So should each one of us live ... we don't know about tomorrow ... look at the recent happenings in our own community.  I'm sure Darrel and Janet could never have anticipated that horrific accident ... yet they live each day with a solid trust in the Lord and He knew.  Neither of my daughters could have known what was ahead for them ... but God knew!  He is not surprised ... we are the ones who tend to panic, at times.  I want to learn to live in the knowledge that, while I have no clue what tomorrow holds, God does ... and He is holding my hand. 

Jane, thank you for the beautiful hymns and thank you especially for your personal testimony.

Yes, we know God loves you...  and we do too! 

Hi everyone on a beautiful Sunday morning.  In a few minutes I will go out to get something for breakfast to bring home to eat.  This helps Pat on Sunday mornings get around in time to go to Sunday School and then Church.  I am pretty sure we will eat out after church today.  It got very hot and humid here yesterday so after getting a haircut and picking up a prescription I was home by 9:45 and stayed inside the rest of the day.  Our son is much better and was able to return to work on Friday and Saturday and will work again this afternoon. 

Janet, so glad to read that your friends are stepping in to help you get where you need to be as you recover.  Also good to see your comments on Darrel returning to his old self as can understand your concern. 

Ruth Ann, nice you could spend enjoyable time with your SIL. 

Carol, glad you and Jenny and families were ok in the severe storms.  I do have a first cousin and several second cousins who live in and around Denver.  My first cousin lives only a few blocks from downtown.  I am going to contact him and see if they missed the terrible hail as I fear they probably did not.

Jane, thanks for the fine devotional.  It is wonderful to know that our Saviour will never let go of our hand if we allow him to hold it.  I am so glad we "Know Who Holds Tomorrow" and to know that our pain, suffering and anguish will be a thing of the past when we leave this earth and go to that promised Heaven.  I am sure both of your daughters have been and that Joy continues to be a blessing to those around them.   Every moment of today is precious since, as you say, we don't know about tomorrow and I, for one, am very glad about that fact.  Thank you for the devotional thoughts for this week and as Jeanne said know that we all love you.

It is always refreshing to come in here and read the uplifting posts - always a remind on how we should live our lives.  In gratitude and love. 

Yes, Gratitude and Love!  Those are uppermost in my mind and heart these days, and may I never drift from that.  How sweet it is to trust in Jesus!  If all else fails, God never will!  He is so loving, and His mercies are new every morning.

Jane, I want to say a big AMEN and thank you for today's devotional.  It means so much to me.  I do love you, and each precious member of our special online CP family.  You are blessings to me.

I am hearing my pillow calling, will take another pain killer and go to meet it. 

The darker the world becomes, the brighter the light of the Lord shines!

Hi everyone.  We are to enjoy a mostly sunny day today.  The yard has been watered while I was still in bed.  We had a very nice day yesterday.  We had planned on picking up our DIL and taking her to lunch after church but she wasn't feeling up to getting out and cancelled.  We went to Pizza Hut and had a nice leisurely lunch and enjoyed being able to talk with our son for a few minutes as he works there and was pulling a double shift.  He looked so much better than the last time I saw him and his blood pressure is back to normal for him.  Today I have several things I want to do as early as possible this morning including getting the car washed.  I also want to stop at Lowe's and get a couple of keys made and see if I can find a nice ceramic flower container and some nice live flowers to put on the little table right outside my office window where I can enjoy them everyday.  At noon I want to attend a meeting and that will be it for today as will stay inside where it is cool this afternoon as it gets to 90 degrees. 

Carol, I have read these message boards for so many years that I my isn't complete until I have read and written on them each day. 

Janet, while not the way you would have chosen to get some probably much needed rest, at least you can now rest as you allow your body to heal.  Do hope that each day finds you feeling better and that Darrel tolerates his physical therapy well and shows progress and healing each day.

Good Monday morning to you!  I did go to bed in the very early afternoon yesterday and slept until after five.  Then I got up for a few hours and went back to bed around 9, and I slept!  I guess that's what my body was needing.  Today my friend Gerty is picking me up about 10:00 to take me to Garden City to see Darrel and spend the day with him, until around five when she will pick me up.  She is such a blessing!  That's 60 miles each way, and I am not feeling up to driving it myself yet.  She attends nursing school there, so it isn't much of an inconvenience for her, and helps me out so much!

When I got up I was feeling weary and weepy, but after spending two hours with the Lord, in prayer, journaling and Bible reading, I feel so much better.  He holds the answers to everything we need, and sometimes we just don't remember to ask.  Ask, that you may receive all that pertains to life and godliness!  Yes, He is good....all the time!.

What the enemy meant for harm, the Lord meant for good in our lives.  He preserved our lives for a reason, and I am determined to know that reason and to fulfill His will in my life.  Praise His name forever!

Thank you Jane for that beautiful song and you personal testimony about your girls.

Janet good to see you posting as well, I continue to pray for  you and Darrel.

I have been pretty busy this morning I did two loads of laundry and backed two loaves of bread, one Rye and one Cracked Wheat. Made lunch for Keith and took three dogs for their walks. I've been baby sitting the dog across the street for a few days. I still need to bake two more loaves of bread. We leave  for Sun river on Thursday and i always make some bread and a cake to leave here with the house/pet sitter. But I will make those three items over the next two day. I have a nail appointment tomorrow and a Chiropractor appointment on Wednesday.

Hi everyone on a cloudy morning.  We did get a little rain last evening.  The yard people will be here this morning and my grass has grown so much it needs the trimming.  They started laying out the foundation of the new house to be built in the lot right next to us so for the next six months I expect we will be seeing a lot of activity.  My schedule is light today.  I will pick up my son at about 9:15 to take him for his PET scan at 10:30.  That will be it for today as far as I know now.

Janet, great that you have a friend who goes to Garden City to classes.  I expect she appreciates your company on the hour or so ride each way.  Glad you were able to get some needed sleep.  I am confident that God will reveal the reasons for sparing you and Darrel in due time.  It is always helpful to me to remember that God will not give us more than we can handle. 

Marilyn, hard to believe that another year has passed and it is time for your annual Sun River trip away for a few days. 

I have slept more in the past three days/nights than in a long time.  Still very tired and sleepy today, so I took a two hour nap this afternoon.  I think i really didn't realize the extent of the trauma and tension.  This morning I went to my wonderful chiropractor, Dr. Saxon.  He found one of my legs was an inch and a half longer than the other, my whole torso inflamed, pelvis and back misaligned and also my neck.  He couldn't do a complete adjustment because I'm too sore; but he adjusted my neck, pulled on my feet some and then used electro-therapy on my ribs for 15 minutes.  I felt better immediately!  Still icing the ribs a lot.
Then I went to our dermatologist's office to meet Beth, as she was having a neurofibroma removed from her side.  It had been bleeding a lot, every time it was touched.  When they get that way, the only cure is to remove them.  So Dr. Byers deadened it and removed it.  It was about an inch long, and pendulous.  She was very kind and gentle to Beth, which I appreciated.  They always need me there to sign all the paperwork.

I apologize for talking about me and mine so much lately.  I hope I will soon be myself again!

Hi everyone on a hazy almost summer morning.  We had a very nice rain late yesterday afternoon.  Our son was able to do the PET scan yesterday but it was a long morning.  They were 30 minutes late in calling him for his appointment, which took an hour, and then he wanted to ask the doctor a question and waited another 30 minutes and finally gave up being able to get his question asked.

Today I will take Pat to the church for an hour of the "Gifts" craft group and will go on to coffee.  After we are finished there we will go out to eat a good lunch and then make a quick trip to Walmart so she can pick up a prescription and get a few items from the grocery section.  I also plan on returning the ceramic flower pot I got as it is not level on the bottom and when the wind blew yesterday I was afraid it was going to topple over.  I do like the flowers that I bought and see there are several new blooms this morning.  They are right outside my office window so see them many times each day.  That will be plenty for today. 

Janet, I am sure the rest is essential to your healing and recovery.  It sounds like you still managed to have a pretty busy day.  Did you drive yourself to meet Beth?  No apologies every required here for speaking about what is happening in our lives.  If I didn't do that I wouldn't have anything to offer to the discussion.  Besides care about your and Beth and Darrel so appreciate the information, both good and bad.  Troubles shared are troubles lessened. 

"Troubles shared are troubles lessened."  Larry, your words brought tears to my eyes, thank you!  I have been feeling emotionally fragile lately, and I know it's because of all the trauma and concern for Darrel, and now Beth, and my pain on top of that.  Every kindness and evidence of caring from my friends is precious to me.

I will drive to town to meet Gerty who is taking me to Garden City again today.  Yes, I did drive to meet Beth yesterday, and also to see Dr. Saxon, whose care lessened my pain so much!  I will see him again on Friday, as the pain is back today, though less than it was before my treatment.  He said one leg was an inch and a half shorter than the other, so no wonder I haven't been able to sit comfortably.  He couldn't do a full adjustment, but did adjust my neck and pulled on my legs some; then did a 15 minute electro therapy treatment.  It really did help!

Darrel said they took off the brace and splint yesterday and washed his leg, finally!  While I was reading my Bible this morning, a piece of glass from the car windshield fell out of it.  It was a good reminder to thank the Lord for his mercy and protection!

If I am repeating what I said yesterday, please forgive me.

Marilyn, have a good time away in Sun River!

Larry, I wish you a very good day, and hope your son gets his question answered.  All the waiting is so frustrating!

I must go; need to drop off Darrel's glasses frames at the eye doc's so they can have them to put in the new lenses as soon as they arrive.

God bless each one of you!

Hi everyone.  We had a very brief shower early this morning and now it is overcast but still not too hot.  It looks like 87 is to be our high for today.  I had a nice time at coffee yesterday and after Pat was finished with her "Gifts" group about 11:30 we went to the Wifesavers and had a great lunch.  We then stopped at Walmart so Pat could pick up her prescriptions and after getting in the car discovered the doctor's office had really fouled up her prescription for the medication she takes for heart palpitations.  It was the right medicine but only enough for 15 days rather than for a month and now the insurance company probably won't pay for anymore until the month is up.  We are going to get a new doctor as our GP.  I didn't do my shopping in Walmart as it was too hot and I was too tired.  So I just got back from a quick trip to Walmart this morning.  It was a good time to go as not many shoppers and I had no trouble getting a riding cart to use and it hasn't gotten warm yet.  I may try to replant my flower today unless I change my mind.  That will be it for today.

Our son got a very good report from the PET scan as talked with the doctor and no new blockages in his heart.  I expect some of his chest pain may be due to anxiety as he lives under a lot of stress with the condition his wife is in. 

Janet, I am sure even a day's relief from the severe pain is very welcomed.  Hope you found Darrel improved and expect he will be happy to have his glasses fixed.  Don't worry about repeating as we all probably do that on occasion (I know that I do).   

This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!

When I took the frames yesterday, they had gotten Darrel's lenses already, so they put them in, put new nose pads on them and I took them to Darrel.  That sure made him smile!

In therapy yesterday, they again removed the brace and splint, and exercised his leg--very carefully, holding and supporting it the whole time.  It's good to let that leg get some air!  he was doing well when I left; but he called me after I had gone to bed and was asleep, and was so upset and agitated, in so much pain, and said they were refusing to give him anything for the pain for two more hours!  He was saying they weren't taking care of him; he wanted me to come get him out of there, etc. etc.  Darrel has a very low tolerance for pain and he was letting the enemy talk to him.  I prayed for him and told him we will find some answers when I get there today.  This morning I spent some hours with the Lord, praying fervently for Darrel and asking how I can best help him through this crisis.  I feel he gave me some practical and biblical answers, and I am praising Him for his love, compassion and care.  Your joining your prayers of agreement with mine will be so appreciated.

Time to get going toward Garden City again.

Hi all, it is me again.  I just had a call from Gordon Brown saying that Noreen's knee replacement operation had gone very well and there was no sign of any remaining infection.  I know we can all rejoice with he and Noreem that this long, long process has finally past and the surgery has been done.

Janet, sorry to read that Darrel was experiencing so much pain last night.  Pain does something to a person that doesn't bring out the best in us.  The two hours to wait for more pain medication probably seemed impossible for him at the time.  Hope you will have found him in better shape today.

Hi, friends, I wondered why I didn't get an update today, but realized that my post never got to CP. Oh, well, it's been some quiet days, and taking folks where they need to go.

Today, I'm the one to be taken! I have 10 teeth removed in a couple of hours and am dreading it. Yet, to get this work done will, in the end, have been worth it.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Prayers for each of you and your loved ones undergoing medical stress and pain.  Gentle hug for Beth.

Another flood warning here as another almost daily thunderstorm is in a huge area.  Snow is melting and now there will be floods - rock slide close #70 near Glenwood Canyon.  We run errands in the mornings and yesterday had an early dinner with oldest son and wife - thankful for decent weather for one day. 

COSTCO run today after we took a long walk - thunderboomers are close so shutting down now.

Glad for the news from Gord Brown concerning Noreen. 

Very happy for Larry's news from his son. 

Hi everyone on a 72 degree morning with 88 percent humidity.  We had a nice but fairly brief shower last evening.  The company was here to fertilize the lawn yesterday so the rain was most welcome as they always want you to water your yard after an application.  I did get my new flowering plant potted into the ceramic container yesterday afternoon.  I also used my new expandable, very light weight garden hose for the first time and it is really neat.  I will use it mainly to water the flowers and little trees in the planters on the porch and to keep the porch clean.  I have a light day planned for today.  I will go to coffee around 10 am and stay in where it is cool the rest of the day. 

Carol, you all sure have had your share of bad weather and storms.  The moisture is welcome but sometimes the results with flooding and landslides can be tough to handle.  The bill goes up fast in that shopping at COSTCO as every item is a fairly good sum due to the sizes things are sold in.  However, they seem to have very good products.  Pat likes their meats and the fruit is good also.  We haven't been for sometimes other than to get gas there. 

Ruth Ann, hope you didn't have a miserable night after having so many teeth pulled.  Will you be getting new dentures?  Hope you wont be too uncomfortable today. 

Ruth Ann:  I didn't realize today was your dental appointment.  My best to you for a pain-free recovery.

Yes, we have had storms that are more normal in the mid-west with even tornado warnings and damage.  Usually, it doesn't happen so close to the foothills and we are already at higher altitude but this is different.  Record-setting rainfall last month and I don't know about the month of June.  Six weeks of fierce weather - it is the same for a lot of other people. 

I put a weather app on my iPhone - it is free and called NOAA - if you are interested search on apps and there is one for a price and the free one is working well - it shows weather right at your location or whatever you put in there. 

Friends from church are trying to find a house in our neighborhood so I have been making phone calls, etc.  They are younger but tired of yardwork.  I finished a wall hanging for Don as a Father's Day gift.  Try to keep a secret here is nearly impossible. 

Hi Everyone...

I'm sorry for my AWOL situation.  Life has been busy for me in the past few weeks.

Paul arrived this morning and he's taking me into Toronto tomorrow night for supper at the Famous People Players Dinner Theatre.  These people/actors are mentally challenged and they both act with black light and also serve the meal.  And all money earned from tickets/food etc. goes to help these people.  So it should be a lot of fun.  Then on Sunday, Janice and Phil are taking me out for supper for my birthday. 

I so enjoyed your devotional thoughts Jane.  Thanks for sharing.

Love to you all,

Pat

Hi, friends,

I'm home after going back to the dentist for a checkup today. She's very pleased with my dental health, particularly with the diabetes. I have a small amount of bruising on my chin, and when I return for the second followup visit on Monday morning, she will remove the lower denture and send it back for adjustment on the righthand side. The sutures look good and there was only one extremely sore place which also will be addressed Monday. So, I'm thankful for a dedicated dentist. She left her teaching dentistry job at Meharry Medical College here in Nashville, picked up your sweet little 2 year old, then came to check me out at the office at 5:30pm. Now, that's dedication!

She said I could eat soft foods now, so went to IHOP and ordered scrambled eggs and pancakes. That's pretty easy to eat.

Carol, hope your surprise for hubby keeps till Fathers Day. Larry, so good to hear from you. You asked how I slept last night. It was truly amazing. My blood sugar only tried to drop low, and I handled that with cottage cheese and sugar free fruit cocktail. And, only needed 2 pain pills, one at 6, right after I returned from the session, and then one at midnight. After that, it was good, sound rest for the remainder of the night. Thank you all for your prayers. Janet, I'm still praying for your situation, and for others who have endured procedures and pain and are still working on recovery. Pat, this next few days should be really good ones. Good to see you here.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on a bright sunny morning.  We are to get up to 96 degrees today so will be staying inside as much as possible.  Nothing of note for yesterday other than my son joined us at coffee yesterday and met some of the men.  Nothing particular on the schedule for today but sure I will find some things to occupy my time.

Carol, I have used the NOAA weather app and also the Weather Channel and Accuweather apps.  I think they all work about the same and expect the information for our areas are all derived from NOAA.  Nice of you to lend a hand in finding a home in your neighborhood for your friends from church. 

Pat, don't think I wished you a Happy Birthday so will do it now.  Hope you and Paul have a great time at the Dinner Theatre tonight.  It sounds like a wonderful example of folks doing what they are able to do to help themselves.  It sounds like you aren't going to have to cook (or at least much) for a couple of days. 

Ruth Ann, glad to read your dental work went well and you got through the first night without too much pain.  I understand that the mouth heals pretty quickly.  It sounds like you have a good dentist that you really like.

Hope all of our folks here have a nice weekend and are able to stay cool as we approach summer. 

Last night we had "severe storm watch", "severe storm warning", "tornado watch" "high wind & hail warning" from around 6 p.m. until almost midnight.  Just south of us there was a tornado warning for about 4 hours, the map showing it moving across several counties before if was finally lifted.  Praise God there was no tornado, but in those alerted counties there were very high winds with a good bit of damage.  No reports, though, of any injuries.  It was a very interesting evening.   

Pat, not everybody can stretch birthday celebrations out for 5 days!    Have fun. 

Jeanne:  We never think of your area of the country having storms from the mid-west. 

Pat:  Start celebrating today and extend those five days - Happy Birthday!

Pat, stretch those days to include my wishes, too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR PAT!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!


And remember, dear heart--you are NINE DAYS older than me! 

Well!  It took only eight tries to get that post the way I was trying to make it! 

I didn't go see Darrel yesterday or today (no ride) but will go tomorrow if someone offers me a ride.  Yes, I can drive, but that's 120 miles RT and I am not functioning on all cylinders yet, still sort of in a brain fog, and thus do not feel safe driving that far.  I am driving around here, to appointments, etc.  I think next week I will probably be okay to do it, carefully, of course!  My pain is less each day, so I have been cutting back on the pain meds.

I call Darrel every day, and he calls me if he thinks of something he wants me to bring him.  He has been blessed with visits from church friends, and last evening Jeff, Diane and Abby were there, that sure brightened his day.  He said Abby showed him pictures on her phone of the "flooding" in Hugoton.  They got 4 1/2 inches of rain!  We got the half-inch here.

The enemy is running rampant, but we know he is a defeated foe.  A really sad situation here is that a lovely, christian lady in her 40s contracted a form of mad cow disease (they have no idea how or where!) and is dying, and nothing can be done for her.  She and her husband have been sweethearts since they were 16, have such a close and loving relationship, and it is really tearing Monte's heart out.  She took a turn for the worse overnight and may not make it till morning.  They are members of our church, and Darrel installed all their alarm systems at the business (Teeter Irrigation) so has known them for years.  They are so loved and respected by everyone.    Her mother, sister, both her kids and all her grandkids are there with them, and of course are all distressed beyond imagining.

I came home from town this morning (had to get a few things), baked a potato for my lunch, and it tasted wonderful!  I haven't been doing any cooking, just eating stuff from the refrigerator or skipping eating.  I must take better care of myself as I need to be very strong in order to help Darrel when he comes home.  There!  I know that, so you don't have to tell me.     But knowing and doing are not the same, are they?

I had a message from Gord on my phone when I got home today, and he left a number to call, but we went way over our minutes last month, so I didn't call  him back.  If any of you are in touch, you might tell him about our car crash, as I don't think he has read about it on here.  I did call the cell phone company and increase our minutes, so hope we won't run over again.  I forgot to check on that before it happened.    We are with Consumer Cellular now and they are good to work with you.  When Darrel gets home or when things settle a little, we are going to discontinue the land line and go cellular only.  But we have some questions first.

I didn't start out to write a book here.  Sorry!

Ruth Ann I was so concerned about your teeth extractions!  So I am glad to hear it is going as well as can be expected.  I will continue to pray for a pain-free recovery for you!

Love to you all!

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