I can't believe all the Lord has done this week.

Your prayers were answered in ways I never imagined.

I have so much to share wth you and tryin to put it into words is not easy.

I love you all so much and know it is your prayers that have me so blessed right now.

physical therapy was easy while I was doing it but so hard once I was home.  I could use prayers on that. pt is mondays and thursdays.

I miss you more than words can say.

(((((((hugs))))))

Well Tomorrow is the Big Day. It seems I have been waiting for this to happen forever. It was nine years ago that the doctor told me I would have to have my knees replaced. I was a runner in High School, a Catcher when we played Softball, I also loved modern dance all which are hard on your knees. When i watch the Olympics my thought is Man are your knees gonna hurt when you are 40!

Mine started hurting In Colorado when I would go hiking with Dede. I love hiking and that is my desire for next year, to go hiking again. By next year I should have two new knees. They got worse in Maryland, everything got worse in Maryland. Tirzah was potty training then and running upstairs to get to the potty on time....It took a while until we brought the potty chair downstairs, but we still had to go dump it upstairs!

Nine years ago they said, Let's get you to the other side of 50 if we can. So here I am absolutely on the otherside of 50 and ready.

You have asked me a few questions, and  I will try to answer them all here. If you look at this Map You will see a few towns. I live in Magalia. There is a hospital in Paradise, I am not going there, there is a hospital in Chico I am not going there. Tirzah goes to UCDavis in Sacremento do you see how far that is? I am not going there. Being retired Military I could go to Marysville/ Yuba City or Oroville. I AM gong to Oroville. God has blessed me with a wonderful Doctor there. So I am going to Oroville Hospital.

If you are praying for my doctor and his team, His Name is Dr Ching. His office is across the street from the hospital. I have also been told my husband's Cousin's Mother-in-law is his nurse. She only works with him, so that may be a blessing too.

I have to wake up at 3:00am and take a shower with a special soap. Then we will have to go pick up Heatherlee for she insists on going with her daddy about 3:45am I have to be there at 5:00am for all the prep stuff (IV's ,shaving, meds. etc)  My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am This is Pacific time so you east coasters, that is 10:30am your time.

There is a reason Heather insists on being with her daddy. When she was five and too little to be with him.,He was alone at the hospital when I had major complications during my hysterectomy. They forgot to seal an artery , closed me up and I bled to death. Because of an attentive nurse I was back in surgery, four pints of blood later.... They fortunately brought me back! God has numbered all our days, He was still counting mine.. But Mike was alone at that time and she doesn't want him to be. I told her, then he did not have Jesus so he was really all alone, now Jesus is with Him so he is not alone. She is a daddy's girl, she is coming.

For all you mama's that had an epidural, I am about to have my first one Tomorrow. They discovered that is a better way to have a speedier recovery. I will not be awake, (Although I did ask cuz I do like watching this stuff!)

I am told it will be about 2-3 hours worth of surgery. Because of The epidural I will have to lay still for eight hours. Then It will be time to begin working and therapy.

I am told I will have to be there 3-5 days. Because I am allergic to so many pain killers, I will be watched carefully. There is a possibility the drugs can hamper my getting up right away. Pray they don't I want to go home. I would like to be home for Mother's day which is Sunday. Coming home Saturday would be great. They say it is up to me, so pray for determination on my part. Endurance is importance.

Oh it is my left knee they are replacing first. Heatherly is going to decorate my right knee and write do not open until Christmas for it! She is so cute!

I think that about covers all I know about what is going to take place. You can pray about the local therapist they are going to give me. I would like the use of a CPM machine so finding a therapist has one.

Do you want Pictures????

I love you all so much and I am so thankful to be living in a time when we can touch each other around the world with a keystroke.

Oh I will have plenty of time on my hands to pray so if you have a prayer request, let me know!

Hugs, lots of hugs.....to all of you

We had a bar-b-que at my FIL's for my birthday and my SIL who loves the hippy I was and is the biggest card around decided I needed to have a Kegger for my Birthday!

This is the Keg!

We tapped that baby right away!

And just like the parties of old...everyone still hangs out by the keg.

It did not take long for the munchies to follow!

Talia had her eyes on the prize. She also put on all the candles.

And I tell you, that Tangerine and Pomegranite Sherbert was amazing.

Eventually pictures get taken that promise to embarrass you the next day, like dancing on a table, wearing lamp shades or licking icing....

Or maybe a bow on your forehead???? Talia read my cards to me. "sigh...Pa, Bubbe loves you!"  How wonderful to know they really see that!

Zemeria and Talia helped me open all of them. Oh I hope there is always a present helper on my lap!

Our Families favorite game is "Who can make Bubbe Cry" This is not a bad thing, this is a good thing and this year it was My Beloved's card and Talia's interpretation of it.

I am so blessed! Being Bubbe version 5.2 Bionic is Awesome!!!!

Thank you for my Birthday blessings You are all so wonderful. And that Lil Birdie that ran around from blog to blog...man her wings must be tired. I love you all so much.

I have had a wonderful Birthday. First my Bible study group threw me a Surprise Party on Wednesday. They were so sweet and I was so shocked. i had no idea. I want to share my Ladies with you.

These are the women I meet with every Wednesday to share the love of Jesus. They are the ones that know me inside and out and still love me (like you but IRL). Not all are pictured since Susan was fixing drinks , Jennete is holding her little one and Heatherlee is taking pictures. But starting on th eleft is Nancy, Carolyn, Carol, Alice, ME, Dorsey, Michelle and her new baby and Kathey her MIL.

My very sneaky daughter (since I haven'y been out much) managed to make this shawl for me. I am so impressed! This is her very first weaving! Man she is talented!

And these are all my blessings!

I am certain Heatherlee won't mind me sharing my most surprising Birthday gift, since it surprised her as well. You see these women (and some of you) have been praying for my son and his wife. When they called yesterday, I couldn't have been happier (or so I thought) until they told me that this year that have grown closer to the Lord than in all their marriage. That His grace and mercy has been surrounding them. And they told Heatherlee they are studying the book of Romans!

My soul is singing! CanadaGirl asked me to share, and by golly it doesn't get any better than this...

2 John 1:4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.

I have more to share, but I am on my way to Church.

I love you all so much and I am so glad God has put you all in my life and on my heart!

My heart has been aching over the current events in Texas. Especially when I read the poem First they came for....

California made Homeschooling illigal for about 6 weeks . Children are ripped away from their mamas who seem to be victims as well. and with all that going on I get tihs News Story from a dear friend who has family in San Angelo. This is news worth sharing. Sorry the pictures didn't come with the email so ignore refences to them. But rejoice in the kindness of others. And pray for this situation, and all involved. And if you and your homeschooling kids are in teh area, go pick up a needle.

Quilters sew comfort for FLDS children
By Rick Smith
Sunday, May 4, 2008


Standard-Times photo by Patrick Dove

Chris Hunter (left) and Miles Giese, 9, work on one of
the more than 400 quilts that are being made for the
children removed from the ranch near Eldorado owned by
the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints. Several quilting groups in the area are
staging their volunteer effort at the Girl Scouts of
Central Texas El Camino Regional Program Center in San
Angelo. The goal is to make one quilt for each of the
464 sect children in state custody.


Standard-Times photo by Patrick Dove

Judith Lester stands along side a table with cloth
donations for making quilts at the Girl Scouts El
Camino Regional Program Center in San Angelo. Lester
and many local quilters are making quilts for FLDS
compound children.


Standard-Times photo by Patrick Dove

Darlene Good (right) sews together a quilt at the Girl
Scouts of Central Texas El Camino Regional Program
Center. Good and several other local volunteers are
making quilts for the more than 400 children removed
by the state from the FLDS compound near Eldroado.

Volunteers began the cutting and pinning and tying and
sewing a little more than three weeks ago.

Judith Lester, who organized the effort, first figured
they could make 100 quilts in about five days: One
quilt for each of the 100 children removed from the
YFZ Ranch. One piece of soft, fluffy comfort for each
child.

Then, the number of children taken from the compound
near Eldorado doubled. Then, it quadrupled.

Now, the number's well more than 400, but the
volunteers say they intend to meet their goal.

"We will keep making quilts," Judith told me as she
and others worked in the Girl Scouts council's "Little
House" near the downtown river.

The goal hasn't changed: one quilt for every child.

The quilt making has not been easy. Strained eyes,
cramped fingers and sore backs are risks of the job.

But the work also has come with unexpected benefits.

By making quilts for others, the volunteers discovered
they have made something for themselves as well.

"We have made new friends here," Judith said, "and
we've found some old ones.

"It's been a joy. If you could hear our conversations
and the laughter."

They're already talking about a reunion when the job's
finally done.

"Working here with these ladies has been such a
blessing for me," said Ginger Lewright.

"I love to sew, and I've been looking for a way to do
some service for the community.

"I didn't know how to quilt, but Judith has been
trying to show me. I'm doing some pretty basic work
here, but I love having the opportunity to help."

Several women told me they had felt powerless to help
when they first heard children were being removed from
the compound.

Then they learned about the quilts.

About 200 helpers, ranging in age from 2 to more than
90, have helped at times.

RVers have interrupted journeys through San Angelo to
join the quilters. Out-of-state visitors to the city
have stopped by to stitch and cut.

Recently, Judith, Ginger, Wilma Breen, Billie Wunderl,
Pat Wright, Tillie Dickison and Sally Wolfe worked
together in the bright, airy Girl Scout house.

Using an assembly line technique, they could put
together a quilt, start to finish, in about four
hours.

So far, they have completed (or collected from donors)
almost 300 quilts. Of those, 287 have been delivered
to officials for distribution to the children.

Their final goal is 464 quilts. Beginning Monday,
volunteers will gather once a week at Emmanuel
Episcopal Church to continue sewing quilts for the
children.

Even after they reach their goal, they will continue
to meet weekly to make quilts for other children in
need, Judith said.

Why quilts?

"Quilts are comforting," she told me.

"These children have needs we are not even aware of
yet. Maybe we can help make them more comfortable in
some way with our quilts."

Another quilter summed up her reason for the work.

The children have nothing, she told me. The quilts
will give them something they can hold on to.

If you go

What: Quilting group.
When: From 9 a.m. to noon every Monday.
Where: Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 3 S. Randolph St.
Cost: No cost.
What else: For information, leave a message at
944-8797.
Rick Smith is a local news and community affairs
columnist. Contact him at rsmith@sa standardtimes.com
or (325) 659-8248

Posted in Tags

I was wondering what I would share with you today so I decided to share with you one of my favorite things to do.

My youngest granddaughter Talia is 2 1/2 years old and her favorite thing to say is "Bubbe , Can I help you?"  (said without the l sound :) All I have to do is step into the kitchen and she high tails it to the laundry room to grab her stool. Before I can even say yes she is there beside me.

Sometimes she even let's Zemeira help us. Notice who gets the whisk and how get to butter the pan!

This day we were baking brownies. Friends were coming to lunch and they needed to be extra special.

And tehy were. We had hoped they would help our friend Michelle go into Labor ( it is our favorite wives tale) but it didn't.. But she did have baby Jacob a few days later.

I don't know what makes you smile, but this little sneak tasting the brownie mix which has eggs in it ( so her mama says she can't taste it) REALLY makes me smile!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and get a chance to visit all the sites participating. We have so much fun doing Show and Tell with CanadaGirl. I hope you have fun getting to know us too.

Remember!!!! Do not Forget!!!! Pray!!!!

Put a paper Clip on your lapel so people will ask you why it is there!

Here is a great story on Holocaust Remembrance Day

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/166/story_16606_1.html

Sugar in the mouth won't help if you're bitter at heart.

- Yiddish proverb

 Oh and their is no better blog on this day than this one YES I am a very proud mama!

Sometimes things just come together and you know God is in control. Today is such a day. How do I know? Because today is The National Day of prayer and tonight begins Yom HaShoah Holocaust Rememberance Day. Two day's devoted to prayer. Two days set apart to Remember.

We remember to Pray for our nation, to pray for our Leaders, to Pray for those in authority.

We remember a time when a nation abused its authority and tried to extinguish The children of Abraham.

We remember not everyone turned their heads some fought, some died, and because of that, some lived.

We remember My great Grandmother and Great Aunt that were in Concentration camps in Yugoslavia and my Uncle who stormed the beaches of Normandy. I wonder if he knew my husband's grandfather was on the shores with him?

We remember and we Praise the Lord ! And shout never again....

Then we remember Rwanda, and Darfur, Croatia and Serbia, And we pray How did it happen again?

And what can we do now???

And we pray........

2 Chron 6:21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

Luke 23 : 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Jeremiah 33;6-9  "'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.'

And we Remember .......

Consider the poem ascribed to Niemoeller (although its different versions and exact origins are debated), First They Came. The poem describes the passivity of German intellectuals as the Nazis purged group after group of targeted people.

First they came for the Communists,
- but I was not a communist so I did not speak out.
Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists,
- but I was neither, so I did not speak out.
Then they came for the Jews,
- but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out.
And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

We also remember that today is Weblink Wednesday at SoCal Val's and here are the links

http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/holocaust_2000.shtml

http://www.amazon.com/Six-Million-Paper-Clips-Childrens/dp/158013176X

And wear your paperclip proudly all day long! Never Never Nevr Again

It has been a week since I have posted anything on my blog. Boy I am struggling with this once a week blogging schedule I am on right now. The Lord absolutely scheduled my life perfectly around this surgery. But I am finding little time for this passion of mine, YOU! I want you all to know how very much I truly love you. Only a "Blogger" knows how real, deep and heartfelt these relationships are. I do love you and miss you. It seems like ages since I had my Bloglines completely cleared.

I wanted to share some of my retreat with you. I had a wonderful time. The Lord knew exactly what I needed and so did I as I said in my last post....surrender. Surrender is usually the call of my heart as I go on retreat. Many years ago I went to retreat after reading "Hind's Feet on High Places". I have a habit of getting up at "O'dark Thirty" when I am on Retreat. I am up late and up early. I do not want to miss time with friends or time with the Lord. That day while reading Hind's Feet, I found a hugh stone, not really a slab, but large enough I could lay myself across it and surrender. So I did. Over the years I looked for an altar, a place to take all the things I know I am holding onto, sometimes emotionally, sometimes Physically and sometimes Spiritually and lay them and me on the altar.

Here is where I found my sanctuary and my altar this year, the lighting was still dark  and quietly coming over the mountain.

No one can find me here but the Lord and... this little guy as the sun came up about an hour later.

This is what I saw when I looked up to the Lord laying on my altar, lovely Dogwood blossoms.

Later in the afternoon on our walk I met this guy, a few sheep, a couple goats and a llama.

Doesn't this just scream to you "come all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest!"??? or "Can't you just pray with me one hour?"

We almost made it to the Crosses ..At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light and my burdens were all rolled away.... up the backside of the hill...problem is, we were walking to the waterfalls which we never saw (Living Water fill me up)...

Instead of Majestic waters....I saw this....

And this! Did I mention I was walking up a cow trail????Straight UP a Cow trail??? Looking for the water falls?

My companions and map readers Valerie and Dorsey....

and my Daughter Heatherlee who picked up the map

And some how brought me safely down again. Turns out the falls were BEHIND the Hotel, Not Beside the Hotel... (Oh Carol did I mention it is a YWAM hotel??? Richardson's Springs. It doesn't get as much snow as yours if you ever want to transfer.) 'I once was lost but now am found..."

Getting alone with Jesus is amazing in the quiet of the moutains. But the main reason we gathered was to hear what the Lord had to say to us through Carole Wolaver "The Pottery Lady" And did God ever speak!

Carol is a Master story teller! This is the morning session which was my favorite as she told the stories of various Peices of Pottery from the Pots point of view. There was the cracked pot that held water at the Wedding at Cana and the vessel holding Spiknard to be broken at the Masters feet, alas crying out"I would never have been of any use had I not been broken...."

And the beautiful Bowl bought by a fisherman to take to the feast of a King. All the way there visions of grandeur unfold, will I be used as the center piece at the King's table filled with lushious fruit? What do you mean that dirty fisherman is going to put his feet IN ME! "Is this what I was Created for???

And the hard, unyielding lump of clay that has resisted being molded into Anything so many times who finally surrenders completely to the will of the Master craftsman and becomes the cup of the New Covenant.

And all the while she is making vases, and bowls... (did you notice the changing clay in the pictures?)

It was heart molding at it's finest.

Now if any of you need her for your retreat you can find her info here www.Potterylady.com She has talks from the Potter's point of view and dealing with clay that tells you what it should become, this one we saw, and one about Job. If you can't bring her to your retreat or church, you can still bring her to you home for she is also on dvd!

So which vessel am I ??? which vessel are you??? I have been cracked and filled with wine, broken in pieces by someone elses hands, used for ignoble purposes and surrendered to the Master's will ........

We were totally Blessed I hope you were too.

Oh it is now Thursday night...Looks like I have MY Show and Tell done for tomorrow! Hey maybe I can handle this once a week thing til I am no longer cracked, broken and out of commission!

Show and Tell with CandaGirl make sure you check it out.