Sorry, ladies... he's all mine!

Even after all these years... Bud will surprise me with a random, romantic act.

I finally booted the PC this afternoon to find this "sticky note" on the desktop.

I love you, too, Larry!

Sabbath Blessings

Confessions: God is not finished with me yet!

It's nearly the end of January. The year is still young.

Yet...

In many aspects of my life, I feel I've experienced a full year's worth of living already. And, I have a feeling that God is not finished with me yet. (Not that I expect to reach the "finished" stage here on this earth.) I'm still pondering how to put this experience, this learning, this awareness into words.

I heard a quote last week that really struck a chord with me:

"God's love is not a pampering love - it is a perfecting love." (James MacDonald)

Hmmm...

Am I guilty of associating a comfortable life (pampering?) with being loved by God?

Do I recognize God's perfecting in my life? Even when it means discomfort?

(Ouch.) If I'm honest, I know the answers to those questions.

I'll be pondering this awhile longer.

So, what about you? What are you pondering these days???

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. (I John 4:16-18, NLT)

The Gift of Words

A message from my dad on my Facebook page:

Hi, Dawn. Wish we could be there with you today. 45 years ago today, Mom was in Ohio having you. As usual, I wasn't home. I was in Colorado Springs flying the Air Force Academy Cadets to Washington D.C. for LBJ's inauguration. I took emergency leave and was home the next day. What a darling, beautiful surprise when I got there. Happy Birthday. Hope you're having a special day.....Love You, Dad and Mom

I've always known my dad was away with the Air Force when I was born and that he had to get emergency leave to come home. But, I'd never known what he was doing at that point in his military career.

Words to treasure!

Belated Birthday Gifts

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we have to wait for and I suppose that's the way it will be for me this birthday.

Grandad's surgery has been postponed... again. His kidney function is better but still not where the surgeon wants it to be and his potassium levels are still elevated. So, the doctor has ordered some changes to his medicine along with dietary changes and encouragement to drink more water.

That just gives us more time to pray for him!

A Call From Grandad and My Birthday Request

Grandad called me tonight! On his cell phone, no less. That's only the second time in my life that he has ever called me. Granny was always the one to call or I would call them. I guess with her gone, he just assumes (correctly!) that I'll continue to call him. Anyway, his call made me smile from ear to ear!

Good news and good news!

He is back at home now and the situation with his kidneys appears to be correcting itself after getting him hydrated. So, they will continue to monitor him for two weeks. If everything continues to look good, they will do the surgery on his lung on January 20th.

January 20th - my birthday!

Guess what I want for my birthday this year?

"And we are confident that [God] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for." (I John 5:14-15)

Prayer Request: Update On Grandad (10:30 AM)

I just spoke to my parents and they said that Grandad's final blood work done in pre-op revealed that his potassium levels were elevated indicating that his kidneys are only functioning at half capacity. So, the cancer surgery has been postponed.

The surgeon has admitted Grandad to the Cleveland Clinic and plans to have a specialist evaluate what is going on with his kidneys. Grandad has had some issues before that were resolved through giving him intravenous fluids and required Grandad to be more aware of keeping himself hydrated. It is hoped that this is the situation and that his surgery on his lung can be rescheduled in a few weeks.

We believe the postponement of today's surgery was an answer to our prayers for wisdom for the physicians. So, thank you for all of you who were praying!

Please continue to pray for Grandad (Charles) with this new turn of events...

• That the situation with his kidneys will be minor and quickly resolved.
  
  
• For his peace of mind as he once again "plays the waiting game." And, for my parents who are now waiting with him.
  
  
• Compassion from the medical personnel who are in contact with Grandad.
  
  
• Continued wisdom for the physicians and medical staff who are on Grandad's team.
  
  
• Rescheduling of the lung surgery... at the right time.
  
  
• Healing.

I'll let you know as soon as I have another update.