Do I even remember how to blog?

It's been about 4 years since I have even been to this site...Fishing Without Worms.
So much has happened...not even sure if I can remember it all.
September 12th, 2007. Kaylee Joy was born and what a joy she is. Brianna made her a little quilt (24"X24") of blue and pink squares and she still has it today and she is almost 4 years old.

In February 2008, I was on my way home to the country, driving through a windy thunder storm, on a warm night. When I arrived home, a huge tree was covering most of our driveway and the whole road. I called John and asked if he would come down and help me move the tree. We couldn't budge it, so he went back up the house to get the chain saw....but after about 15 minutes...I walked up the drive way and found him sitting in a chair...very pale. He said he got lightheaded and so I called the fire department and they cut the tree in pieces so others would not run into it in the dark. He seemed fine after that. At the end of February I went to Spain on a mission trip and came back about a week later. John went to have a stress test and the following week he went to the hospital for another test......and they kept him saying he needed a quadruple by-pass operation. That was Tuesday March and he came home the day after Easter on Monday...weak and sore. Steve Chachula and Jimmy McCarthy brought him home and he sat at the kitchen table for about an hour. The next morning he shaved himself and washed up even though he was so weak and in pain. What a man!!! The next two weeks were very hard on him. After only about 2 months...we was riding his tractor cutting the grass. Wow, I was so amazed at him.
In August we sold our house to a family that wanted no inspections and were paying cash....however we had less than a month to get out. What an amazing time that was. Ladies from our Bible study helped in so many ways. Packing up dishes, pots and pans...cleaning and scrubbing each room including bathrooms....South Hills Movers (Michelle Lee) gave us such a break in price....amazing friends.
We moved to a fixer-upper house in McM and started remodeling. The girls were "in shock" and looking back I can understand why...but at the moment it kind of surprised me. I thought they would be happy we were moving closer to them. It took us over a year...but we had the family over for John's birthday on April 26th 2009. It was a challenge to say the least...but God gave us the strength to get through it. Well...this is as much as I can write for now. I will fill in the blanks next time.

Forgot the subject I wrote last night...when my comp shut off

Forgot the subject I wrote last night...when my comp shut off...

..but I know it was about my first quilt and I lost it all...not once but twice. I should really remember it...but I don't.
Well, here we are two days later...and I remember what this entry was to be: Last January 2006...I started quilting with a group called Sew & Sows...sew with thread and sow the Word. What a wonderful group of ladies with patience you would not believe. Quilting was an area that I knew NOTHING about. Susan helped me in her area of expertise...finding the right fabric. "Find about 8 colors that you like", she told me. So I did. Then she helped me find a few other colors that the pattern called for...blue and red. Excitement was building in my heart and when we met the next week...a number of ladies were.."helping".. me and making suggestions. I went home overwhelmed as I didn't understand anything they were telling me. It seemed I was visiting in a foreign country. The phone rang and Bev ( a S&S), said, "You looked a bit overwhelmed today, and I just wanted to let you know that we all have our different methods and everyone was giving you their method at one time and I just want to encourage you and let you know you can do this thing....one step at a time. Just bring your material again next week and don't be nervous. I must say that was one of the most encouraging phone calls I could have received. Will continue this next time!

Tags: | Edit Tags

Saturday September 8, 2007 - 04:40pm (EDT) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments

Grandparents....NOT EVEN ONE!

Sometimes we think we know someone and really don't KNOW them! This evening I was talking to our sweet Aunt Dee Dee and she mentioned that when she was young, kids in school would talk about going to visit their grandparents...and she would think .."I wish I had one of those". Never did I realize that she didn't have a grandparent..not even one! Her grandparents lived in Oklahoma and had died before she was born. I have told this story before...Grandpap's favorite child was Emma and Grandma's favorite was Ann and then came my mother, Elizabeth......she was the whipping dog and had a very sad and hard childhood. However when her Uncle Joe came to visit..(not often) he seemed to take a shine to her....maybe because he was not a favorite child either.....but for some reason I had not even considered Aunt Dee Dee. Let's see if I remember the correct order of the children? Ann, Emma, Elizabeth, Sugey (like sugar)..he was the first boy and everyone loved him. He was not spoiled and my Mother used to say he was their "Angel"....he died at 5 years old....unexpectedly.
At the same time Grandpap's father in OK died and he was torn between going to see his Father and being with his grief stricken wife at the loss of their son. He stayed home to try and comfort his wife and deal with his own grief. Then came Babe..(spoiled rotten), then Aunt Dee Dee, then Aunt Dolly ....who was also spoiled by everyone ( she told me this just last week)... .....then came Joey. Babe taught Joey everything he knew...that was wrong! So Aunt Dee Dee was the forgotten one. She did marry very young to Uncle Johnny and in her own words to me this evening..."It was wonderful to have someone love me for me". Well...I feel so bad for her and now wonder what other heartaches is she caring. I need to spend more time with her. Lord be with her and draw her to Yourself...soon...please.

Tags: | Edit Tags

Friday September 7, 2007 - 12:44am (EDT) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments

Waiting for the Phone Call!!!

It seems this pregnancy has been a long one...especially for Debbie. September 8th is when our baby girl is supposed to arrive but we thought for sure it would be an August baby. Brianna still has her birthday in August, Jeremy in December, Travis in June, and Corey in February. We are praying for a healthy baby and an easy delivery. I'm packed and ready to go and help where I can. The kiddo's are all excited and Corey thinks the baby is his..."MY baby this and MY baby that...until Travis set him straight saying, "Corey the baby is OUR baby"! Of course Travis didn't convinced Corey. Well...just waiting for the phone call! Lord please give us all strength!

Tags: | Edit Tags

Tuesday September 4, 2007 - 09:09pm (EDT) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments

Love Never Fails!!

"Love Never Fails"...says 1st Cor 13:8.....and that is true. As I watched Brianna pet our neighbor's horse I saw the love in her eyes for horses. We all need love and we all need to give love or we feel disconnected. This includes our family, co-workers, and church family....and even people in general. So what does it take? A smile, note, phone call, email...actually what it really takes is time and communication....from the heart. Sometimes I wonder if the closeness I once had and now feel I don't.....is the way God feels about me. Trusting Him in 1973 for my soul salvation and actually for my life that was in a pit.....put me in communication with Him every minute of every day!!! I wrote a song about Him..."I love You Jesus...more than I can say..." and was constantly talking to Him about all that was happening in my day. Then in the 1990's I slowly drifted from Him...didn't talk as much, didn't ask Him about decisions I needed to make...didn't really rejoice in Him as He was blessing me. My girls used to say..."Mom I'm praying a road for you." Then slam dunk....Oh, I needed that slam dunk in 1995. God did get my attention!
Recently I read a book on Boundaires...but I'm not sure if I agree with it all. I think if someone is "coming at you" and putting demands on your time....it's OK to put up boundaries. I am praying that my communication with God will not be superficial and my conversation will not be in general...but will be heart to heart and out of a heart of love. Thank you Lord for the reminder that "Love Never Fails".

Tags: | Edit Tags

Sunday September 2, 2007 - 08:53pm (EDT) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments

The Take Over!!!!

The year before last, John planted for me in May.....Morning Glorys...however this year he planted them in July! Last week they finally started to bloom, but had so many leaves they covered the Hummingbird feeder (it's underneath all the vines on the right)....so he moved the feeder. Now every evening we try to "protect" our petunias...as the vines are starting to "take over". I'm almost afraid to sit and read on the deck anymore because they might try to entangle me with those long tentacles....... Just had to post this picture!

Tags: | Edit Tags

Monday August 27, 2007 - 03:04pm (EDT) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments

Not a Boring Life!

Brianna said when she was here a few weeks ago, "Grandma, no one could ever say you are boring...you have an exciting life". I do agree that God has blessed me more than I ever thought possible and I'm amazed at His mercy and grace in my life. Since coming to Him with my Bag of Sins (many) in 1973....He not only forgave me and gave me a clean slate...He has blessed me abundantly by putting our family back together...giving us Love, Joy, and Peace in the midst of a world that seems bent on destroying itself. Sometimes though...I forget to count my blessings and take on the thinking of those I might be hanging around....when the Bible clearly says "Proverbs 22:24, 25.....Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul". Sometimes if I'm with a complainer...I start to complain...mostly in my heart, but negative words slide out of my mouth more often than not. So, out of the mouth of babes, (Brianna), God revealed what I needed to hear. Proverbs 23:7a...For as he thinks in his (my) heart, so is he. (so am I). Yes, I choose to have the Joy of the Lord...and He is my strength. I praise You....my God, my Lord and Deliverer.

Tags: | Edit Tags

Friday August 24, 2007 - 06:11pm (EDT) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments