Praising God for His people everywhere

Sally and I have a favorite (one of many) coffee shop in Plymouth called Kiskadee. We don't get there as often as we would like, but today, Saturday, Jan. 14th, we are able to be here. It took a long time for us to get connected to the internet, so we were here longer than we probably would have been. While we were drinking coffee and waiting, reading "Jesus Calling" and Bible verses,suddenly a group of men entered in, one of them being Kirk Cameron. It was so neat to see him here. Once they all got their coffee and got settled at a table in the back of the shop, I went over to them and told Kirk that I just wanted to say one thing, then I thanked him for all that he is doing for the cause of Christ. He stood up and introduced himself and shook my hand. He told me that they were doing a movie here in Plymouth that would be coming out in March. It is called "Providential". We had a great little talk about what God is doing, and how we are all praying for revival in this land. I want to thank the Lord for the opportunity to connect with believers all over and in every walk of life. God is so great, and greatly to be praised! I am just so excited about what God is doing at such a time as this.

Final post for awhile

Good evening! I am back home once again. It's good to be home, but hard to be away from my mom, dad and sister. I had such a great visit with mom at the nursing home before I came home. We had quiet time together while most of the residents went to the dining room to listen to a man sing and play his guitar. Mom and I had devotions together and read many passages from the Bible. The neatest thing was that sometimes I would start a verse, and then hesitate, and it was amazing how many verses mom was able to complete. She had memorized them in earlier years and God brought them back to her memory! What a precious time we had together. We also sang some songs and shared stories and memories. God is so good.

I won't be able to post for awhile because I have to send my laptop out to be serviced. I imagine it will be at least two weeks before I get it back.

Pondering

Hello everyone. I have been doing alot of pondering lately, about life and all that it entails. I have been with my dad and oldest sister the past few days, and each day we go to visit my mom in the nursing home. So much has changed in the life of our family. Things are not as they used to be. Thanksgivings and Christmases have done a complete turn around. We have no more big family reunions. We are all in a new season of our life. I praise God for my family, with all the amazing things God has done for us, as well as all the hard things that He has helped us through. Presently my dad is still studying the Word of God and preaching each Sunday. That in itself is something amazing! Dad is 85 years old. Not only does he do that, but he is also on a radio program with Bill Dagle one Sunday a month. They have been doing that together for 15 years now! God has given dad the stamina for the journey. It is getting more difficult now though. He has episodes of angina much more often than I would like to see. He also is having problems with his balance, and weakness in his legs. Mom and dad were married 67 years in September, and now to have to be separated like this is a very unsettling thing. Mom does well being there for the most part, and she goes in and out of confusion (and goes back in time to her childhood quite often) but there are times (naturally) when she just wants to go home with dad. My heart aches so much for the two of them, yet God intervenes and gives them (and me) the peace and comfort that we pray for. So many of their friends have already gone home to be with the Lord, and many more are critically ill, yet God still has them here for a reason, or reasons. God is still using my dad to touch lives wherever he goes (including the nursing home) and God is using my mom in a mighty way too. She is a joy to all who come in contact with her, whether the staff, the other residents or the visitors who enter in. My siblings and my dad often begin singing, and mom joins right in. She has not forgotten any lyrics during this time. God has given her the words and music, which we all so much enjoy and treasure. Cheryl and I had a precious time with her this week, reading the Bible together, having devotions, reminiscing, and singing in three-part harmony. Talk about a gift from God; that is what that time was. Tomorrow I will head back home to MA, where I am needed as well, yet I leave part of my heart wherever I go, whether it be the Dominican Republic, my home, my home church, or my folks, pieces of my heart remain. I praise God that He is constantly renewing my spirit, and giving me energy to continue on with my life and ministry. I pray that I will follow Him and glorify Him in all that I do. He is worthy to be praised!

Time

Today is Jan. 7, 2012 My nephew Robert is 42 years old today! Where do the years go? How can we understand time? It baffles me more and more each year! I was only 12 years old when my first nephew (Robert) was born. I remember the excitement and the joy that this baby boy brought into my life. Now, all these years later, I am so very proud of the man that he has become. My heart aches for all that he has had to endure - pain both physically and mentally, not only in his own life, but in the life of his precious wife, as she battles with different types of cancer. He has never left her side. He has been her strength, her advocate, her love; in essence her life support (other than Jesus, of course), but he has been the one with skin on.
I praise God today for Robert. If anyone reads this blog, please add him to your prayer list. Thank you.

My heart aches

Jan. 2, 2012
My heart aches and I am praying for so many who are hurting.
Melinda's friend Rick....horrible car accident, not given much time (salvation)
Rita Silveria...in nursing home, dementia, stopped eating, no more meds except for pain
Betty.. in Canada.. had a fall, broken bones
June Mohan... heart problems, having cardiac cath and tests today
Lily... for adoption
Mom... comfort, clear mind, less pain
Dad... exhaustion, balance is not as it should be
Jay...continued recovery and healing from surgeries
Fran...had toe amputated, still looking to find the origin of infection in his body

A New Year

Today is January 1, 2012....a time for new beginnings. I thought to myself, "Why not start a blog?" What this might consist of, I certainly do not know, but it does seem like something I want to try. So, here I am, beginning something new! I had a wonderful Christmas. Both of our children were home....Heather with her husband Aaron, and their children, Dakota Violet and Calvin Peter, and Kelly was home, along with her boyfriend, David. We are so very blessed beyond measure.