Back on blog

It has been a month since I have written. With the ending of the school semester, things get really busy and I have not had time for much. All the presents for my ex-students, current students and colleges have been prepared and given out. All the December school activities have come and gone and I am on Christmas/Winter break.

During this week, I have worked on finishing the decorations of the house. We have made plans to have friends over after Christmas for fellowship so have gotten invitations sent out and a few more to go.

The exiting part of our Christmas season is that we get to witness the marriage of our niece Jennifer to Josh on the 27th. Jennifer and Josh are honoring their aunts and uncles and the longevity of marriages in our families by having Jay and me read scripture. We are so honored!

Tonight Jay and I are honored by getting to light the Christ candle during the Christmas Eve service. Let me wish all of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sick

Well, just a quick note to say I have been sick. It is allergy related, sinusitis and bronchitis. I was going to go help at church with the Fall Festival on Friday, but ended up going to CareNow to see a Dr. I'm so thankful for CareNow! The Dr. was very nice and gave me 3 meds. Once I got home, I started running a fever, but after getting all the meds in my body, I began to feel a little better. Yesterday I felt OK and then today I just really relaxed in order to be at 100 % for work on Monday. Interesting that I felt dizzy today. Well, all is well that ends well and at this point I'm feeling much better and have gotten things ready for work tomorrow. It seems so much later since we have had the time change. Oh well, we will all adjust.

Wealth

My cousin sent me this article from the My San Antonio news. Her son enjoyed many summer camps at the H-E-B camp. This blesses me to see people of wealth using the money God has given them for the betterment of all. The Butts are a living testimony of how God can use their wealth for many. I thank the Butt family and God for entrusting this to them.

H-E-B camp aims to make difference for youths*

God's peace that surpases all understanding

When I heard the phone ringing during school this morning, I knew who it was and why she was calling. Like so many have commented, my heart broke with yours. My mind and heart were just flooded with all the emotions Jay and I experienced thru our infertility journey. I prayed: God help them to grieve and then help them to lift themselves up by the boot straps and be able to look ahead to the next step. I thank the Lord that they have experienced His peace. I pray
they can continue to experience His love and presence in their hearts and mind. God, please guide and fulfill their desire for Baby Sheldon.

A Great Servant of God's

Tonight, I learned of the death of one of God's greatest servants, Mrs. Alma Reid. She, along with her husband, Orvile, served God for many years in Mexico. Her husband, Orvile, was the first person to use strong feats in evangelism. He taught many about physical, mental and spiritual health. Up to a few weeks prior to his death, he would hold and gently swing a sledge hammer back and forth to keep his upper body strong.

Mrs. Reid, or A. Alma as I called her, (because she was a missionary and I a missionary kid, and that is how we referred and refer to other missionaries) always sat on the 2nd pew, left side of the church. Every Sunday, as I would come to my seat on the 3rd pew right side, she would say: "Naomi, is that you? (She was legally blind. Could only see shadows and occasionally, if the light was just right, she could see people's faces.) To which I would respond: "Yes, A. Alma this is me." She would say: "I want to get an 'abraso' from my niece." and we would hug. She always asked about Jay and how he was doing. (He sits in choir so she did not get to see him every Sunday.) If there was someone seated close by me, she would ask who it was so she could speak to them. She would get sooooo elated if the sun light shone just right for her to see someone's face, especially that of our pastor. Mrs. Reid, up until she went into a coma last week, was a very upbeat, positive, always smiling lady. It is amazing to me how she could be so positive and upbeat all the time. Her life had not been without sorrow. Her husband's son (She was his 2nd wife.) and their daughter both died at early ages. She is survived by a granddaughter and some great grandchildren. Even thru all her sorrow, God was her sustainer. Her joy came from Him. She and Orvile impacted many people for Christ during their years of service to Mexico. She often had people from Mexico in all walks of life stop by to see and visit with her. She and Orvile were so loved! I know God is happy to have her home.

I thank God that He allowed me to walk beside her thru this last part of her life.

The Party - prep and the party

Norma did a fabulous job as usual. She was totally organized having been to Sam's to purchase the food for the party. She had already gotten the decorations, so..... when I arrived, all I had to do was make sure the pictures she and Mom had chosen were in frames. This meant washing them to get them ready for the pictures. I was able to accomplish my task Monday. On Tuesday, we went to the church with the plastic gold table clothes and pictures. We got the fellowship room set up with the table clothes, pictures and setting up the tables, chairs, etc. Elaine, Norma and I got this task accomplished by 1 pm when we went to eat lunch. After this, we were able to go get the cake, which we took up to the church. We went to the house and started cutting the fruit - melon, cantaloupe, grapes; the cheese blocks and making the pigs in the blanket. Norma left to go get the flowers a lady from her church who grows them was giving us. She decided that she would also stop and get a dozen red roses. We went back to the church and set up the trays on the tables with notes as to what should go in each, Elaine did an extraordinary job on the flowers, setting them out all over the room. By 5 we were back at Mom's eating supper, getting our showers and back to the church to put out the food and get ready to receive the guest.

An aside was when a young man with a red tailed hawk came up to ask permission to work with his bird in the large soccer fields of the church. Mom gave him permission and also invited him to come for their special services with the Power Teams who will be at their church for the Fall Festival.

We had a wonderful time at the party. Several people spoke about Mom and what she meant to them. I'm so glad to hear from her church members. I'm grateful for a Mom who Loves the Lord and is faithful.

Mom's 80th Birthday!

We presented Mom with a scrapbook of letters and cards from family and friends on her birthday on the 14th. (Elaine did a fabulous job on it.) Here is what I wrote to Mom.

Dear Mom,
I thank God that He placed me in a family of women of grit, tenacity, and stamina. I admire you for trusting God as you accepted Dad’s marriage proposal and moved to Brazil; living in a country where you did not know the language; traveling by bus to the church Dad was pastoring, staying at the house of a member while Dad would go make visits, etc. and having a smile as your only means of communication; living in someone else’s house and delivering your first born in a town where you were the only American woman; having Dr. Spock to teach you how to care for a new born child; having an audience for the first time you were bathing me (using Dr. Spock’s method of holding a child like a football on your arm); moving to yet another small town where all thought you were German; being left with no car while Dad travelled the state visiting churches; making sure I was safe at home when you ventured out on a stormy day in the station wagon taking a group to minister in another town, ending in an accident, when Dad was laid up in bed with a body cast for his broken leg after being hit by a car in Porto Alegre; strategically placing umbrellas, buckets, etc inside the house to keep things dry after a hail storm; walking from the house to the church pushing a stroller with from 1 child to 4 children (since our family grew from me to the 4 of us while we lived in Rio Grande) being walked, carried and pushed home; finding solace in a book while we were playing; living in a hotel with 4 little children; making grilled cheese sandwiches for Sunday night supper at the hotel; allowing me to go by train to GA camp on my 9th birthday with my GA group; moving to Porto Alegre where Dad would take you out driving at night to help you get used to large town driving; teaching Bible in the Baptist School we attended; hosting many people in our home, especially the choir from São Paulo who sang the Hallelujah Chorus in our living room; moving thru the Leroy’s 10 year old daughter, Rebecca’s death with them and me, also 10; moving thru 3 to 4 robbers attempting to enter our homes while we were in them (usually when Dad was away); knowing when I needed additional sleep to be emotionally sweet and kind; listening to the 4 of us as we did not want to go to Brasilia and then hearing and knowing God’s plan for our move to Goiania; seeing me thru my 12th birthday living in a hotel and my having hepatitis; Granddaddy and Grandmother retiring to the US; Granddaddy’s death; seeing the Fite’s and us thru Charlie’s death (8 years old); becoming WMU executive secretary of Goias; holding me after I had pitched a temper tantrum, soothing my emotions; studying with me as I cried every night during furlough when we came for my 2nd semester sophomore year in High School; sending Norma and me off to Escola Bandeirante for boarding school; continuing to be in tune with our needs even when we were so far away and coming to care for us even before we knew we needed you; helping me work thru A. Kathryn (boarding school teacher) telling me that I would not make it in college; preparing me for my move to the US for college; the wonderful note you wrote me thanking me for being the child you learned on; the Bible verse promises you sent me to the US with; the pants suit outfit you made for me to wear on my trip to the US; becoming an author for the Brazilian WMU magazines; your constant prayers for me as I moved thru a relationship you knew was not in God’s plan; your support for me when we told you Jay and I were planning to be married; moving thru the wedding of your first born, a move to a new field of service and experiencing an empty nest with Jack’s move to the US for college all within the summer of 1977; crying with me during the hardest times of my life thru God’s process of healing Jay’s depression; being spared your lives as you flew to Brazil in an airplane with a bomb aboard; being supportive thru our infertility treatment and attempt to adopt a Brazilian child; your confidence in God’s continued plan for your life after Dad’s death; studying computer science at the age of 59; moving to Rio and computerizing the Brazilian National WMU making it possible for them to type, edit and print their own magazines; retiring and caring for your Mom, relieving the burden your sister carried during your time of service in Brazil; moving to Florida and diving into service at your church, association and state WMU with special work with the Brazilian women of the State.
Mom, I can just imagine the sheer determination it must have taken to move thru just a few of these, and you have moved thru all of these with true grit, tenacity and above all faith in the Lord to see you thru each of the phases of your life. I love you and “stand up and call you blessed.”
Naomi

Just thinking about .....

Yesterday I went to a memorial service at an Episcopal Church. This is what a person speaking about the deceased said "..... I don't know where he is." The Minister said: "...... he is in heaven...... where ever he is."

How sad not to know where someone goes to after life on earth. The word of God is specific: TITUS 2 11 For the grace of God that bringeth SALVATION hath appeared to all men, HEBREWS 5 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal SALVATION unto all them that obey him; 1 PETER 1 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the SALVATION of your souls. If we believe in the sacrafice of Jesus Christ and accept the salvation given to us freely by God, then we know LUKE 23 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in PARADISE.

We have the assurance that upon death we will be with Jesus Christ in heaven. I'm so thankful for that assurance.

Pray for Two Sheldon's

Today my dear niece and her husband found out that they are probably not pregnant this month. Please pray for them as they move thru this faze in their lives. They have learned allot from the Lord during this infertility time. Pray that they will be able to stand on the blessed assurance that God's grace is sufficient for our lives all the time. This is one of the lessons they have learned this time.

God bring peace and steadfastness as they move on to Cycle 4 in their infertility journey.

Comments

Hi guys,

Well, once again, I have been wondering where the comments were from at least Norma and sure enough, today I saw where they were and published about 10. If you ask me again to find them, I will tell you I have no idea where they are, sooooooooo, I'm going to try to change my setting so that they get published immediately without my having to OK them. Wish me luck!

Day surgery

I had an interesting experience yesterday, Friday. Since I had this fatty tumor on my left rib cage, and it was bothering me some, we, (Dr.s and I) decided to take it out. The surgeon, asked me if I thought I could handle a local anesthesia for the excision of this tumor, to which I said: "Yes!" I was really exited that I would not have to have an IV nor general anesthesia, which makes me sick to my stomach.

Anyway, it was really interesting being awake in the operating room. The nurses got me ready for the surgery. First, they and the Dr. decided how I should be positioned. Originally I was on my back and then the Dr. asked that I turn over on my side to make the tumor more accessible to him. When I tried to turn, I could not because I was strapped down. They undid the strap and helped me turn on my side. They put a blue sheet over me making a tent so that I could not see what they were doing. They, Dr., operation nurse and the nurse watching my vitals, went thru the formalities, ID'ing the patient, me, and what I was in for. One of the nurses washed my skin, with something cold. He then gave me my local anesthesia shots. That did not bother me very much. I thought they had cut me when I felt liquid running down my skin, but they told me it was the sterilization solution. Anyway, I could only feel an occasional tug until I heard a zap and I yelled: "Oooouchhhh" They asked if I felt that to which I said: "Yes!" They gave me another shot of anesthesia and another zap which I still felt, but not as much. (They were cauterizing the area.) It occurred to me that they might staple me closed. That would have grossed me out! sooooooo, I asked how they would close me up. He told me they would do sutures inside with stery strips on the outside. I was MUCH relieved! He asked if I would like to see the tumor. "YES", was my answer. It looked like a little marble with other skin hanging around it. Of course they sent it off just to make sure it is not cancerous. (Based on what he saw, the Doc does not think it looks cancerous.)

That was quite a Friday! Thanks to Jerry for taking me and staying with me while I went thru this procedure.

This and that

I keep coming by to see if anything new has been posted, but if I do not post something it will not get posted. Silly me! Today was my Uncle Jim's 81st B-Day and his great grandson Seagann's 9th B-Day. I certainly hope they had a great day.

Pollen, especially ragweed has been very high today. Since I am extremely allergic to ragweed, I have suffered with my allergies today. It certainly will be good to have either wind or rain to clear the air.

Jerry shared a newspaper story with me today. It was about a cat named Dewey, who lived in a library for 19 years. He looked like my cat Tiger. He was abandoned at the library's return box. He was really loved by all the patrons. There is talk that they will do a movie about this cat. They have already written a book about him.

Adding photos

Well, the picture was not a part of the post, so I had to get Norma's help. THANKS SISTER! ...and with her help I was able to get the 4 pictures in.

OK, that is it from me tonight.

"Good night, sleep tight and pleasant dreams to you
Here's a wish and a prayer that every dream comes true
And now 'til we meet again
Adios, au revior, auf weidersehen.....Good Night!"

My A. Helen loves to watch the Lawrence Welk show. When I came to college I started watching it with her and became a fan. They always end the show with this song. When my older nieces and nephews were little, I would sing this song to them before they went to sleep.

Here in lies the question: "Does a human walk a cat or a cat walk a human?"

I really want the picture of Buster walking with his leash to be inbetween post. This is a test to see if it will work. If not, I will have to talk to Norma and edit this another day.

Trusting in God

God,

I am praying and trusting in YOU, that You will perform a miracle and see fit to form little baby Sheldon this month. God, Elaine and Dave wish to give you all the glory thru this entire process. Please be Elaine's strength as she is prodded, poked and is placed in unnatural positions. Also be with Dave as he is also assisting Elaine and supporting her during this human attempt to assist conception. Thank you for the medical staff that is assisting. Continue to give them wisdom and guide their hands, needles and knowledge. God, our hope and trust is in YOU. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Ike

For us, Ike was rather harmless. We got rain and some wind, but nothing too strong. The reports are showing allot of devastation in Galveston and Houston. Friends and family who live in these cities have been in our prayers today.

Andrew and I IM'ed and he said they were getting heavy rains and strong wind in Denton. I'm glad he was OK though.

David

Well, Norma's mother's heart will be calmed to know that David did not cry once this week. He did a GREAT job of coming in and working. You will also be glad to know that he joined the other children in playing during recess.

I'm back

Well, it has been about a month since I have blogged. The change is that school has started and I am working hard at understanding the new adoptions, mentoring my new mentee, assisting last years mentee, and getting used to the new students and them to me. The children are a sweet group of children. Norma posted some pictures of them on her blog http://blessednorma.blogspot.com/

Another reason is that I tried to make a new post, but could not get into my blog. (I must not have been signed in. :) Oh my, silly me!)

Hopefully I will have some time to write a little more often.

Family Communication

Norma commented on my Monday Nights' blog, that we started talking on Monday's when I came to the US for college in 1972. She posed a question of what did we do after Dad's death in 1986? Well, I think that we continued talking thru Mom as a Ham and I think that sometimes she was over at Jerry and Johnnie's apartment and they talked to us. Do you all remember that at all? Am I right?

You know, A. Helen has been writing the family on Monday's ever since she left Brasil (Brazil) for college. (Would that have been in 1936?) I wonder if it was Granddaddy Cowsert who started the tradition of family communication on Monday's?

Monday nights

Monday nights are special because I get to talk to my Mom and my sisters. We have been gathering once a week to talk for quite some time now. It is fun to catch up on the activities of the families and find out what is going on. Allot of the time we share specific prayer request, but some times we just laugh at the funny things we do. I really love Monday night!

Anniversary

Jay and I had a great time celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary. We went to Gainesville, TX. They have an outlet mall there. We shopped till we dropped and then went to the hotel - adjoining parking lots. Jay said it was "Christmas in August". After resting up, we drove around town and found a quaint Mexican Restaurant - El Tapatio. The food was really good and we had a nice time. Back to the hotel, watched one of the Back to the Future movies and then on to sleep. This morning, we got up leisurely, had breakfast at the hotel and then back to FW so Jay could go to his dental appt.

Thanks to all who sent anniversary greetings!

Sad

Yesterday we got the news that Elaine and Dave were NOT wanting to get. They are not expecting at this time. That made all of us sad. I know that Dave and Elaine know that we have been praying for them and will continue to lift them up to the Lord as they continue to face this challenge in their lives. I know that the Lord is faithful and His mercies are beyond our comprehension. God wants the best for us. I know that is what He wants for Dave and Elaine. We pray God's continued presence with them.

Great Joy!

How exiting to receive comments from family all over the country and in Central America! I love my family and am especially proud of my nephews and nieces. I have embarked on blogging, and facebook, all within one week. I'm so thankful to my nieces, nephews and sisters who have plunged me into these worlds. I just want to take a moment to thank God for each and every one of you and especially for Kathryn as she celebrated her Birthday on Saturday. I love you all very much and as U. Jay always says: "We are so very proud of each one of you!"

Misunderstanding

Hi, well, it turns out that Norma only wanted me to get an email account. But here I am with a blog. We will see what comes of this. See you later.

My first post

Not sure of the purpose of my blog at this time, other than Norma needs me to have one set up so she can teach me how to work on the blog she is responsible for. See you some other day!