Grandma Update

I just wanted to let everyone know what is going on with my Mom's Mom...my Grandma.

Monday evening she had gone to my aunts house. My aunts driveway has some awful ruts that they can not figure out why they are there. When Grandma got there, it was daylight , so she wasn't worried about parking to not hit the ruts because she thought that she would be able to see them when she went out. She ended up leaving when it was dark. She was walking to the car to drive home and she fell into one of the big ruts. She got herself back up enough to throw rocks at the door of the house to get someone's attention to help her. They took her to Memorial in Springfield. She has some bruises and scrapes on her face from her glasses. Her legs are very sore and one knee is bruised, scraped and pretty swelled.

Now, for her arm. Her shoulder was dislocated, and she had a couple of breaks. Therefore, the Orthapedic Surgeon went in yesterday to set the bone back into place. His plan was to be able to put the bone back into place and it would all heal back together the way that it should. Unfortunately, when he went to put the bone back, the "ball" of the shoulder broke off from the rest of the bone. So, now she has 2 pieces of bone broke off and the shaft of the bone in the middle. This did help the pain somewhat because the pressure was no longer on the fracture between the "ball" and the rest of the bone.

So, she has been scheduled to be at St. Johns at 9 on Friday morning to have a shoulder replacemement.

She may be coming home today. They have been trying to find an oral pain medication that would help her, and we think that they have found it. She will be staying at my aunts house.

She is in so much pain and she is scared. Please pray that she is given peace and strength to get through this. She is 78 years old. We are all doing the best that we can to help her. I am doing my best to be strong and help Mom through this too. She is doing very well though.

We would just apprecaite all of your thoughts and prayers! I will keep everyone updated when I can! Love You All!

Judgement

Do you ever just sit and think about the word... judgement..? How are you being judged? Who are you being judged by? To what degree would you go to affect how someone judges you? Do you judge others?

All of these things have been passing through my mind. I know that there are so many people out there who are looking at me and judging me for my physical appearance or for the decisions that I make in my life. The bible tells us in Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." My question for you is, who do you think that the bible is referring to when it says "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged." Who is going to judge you for judging others? Are other people going to judge you worse because you judged them? In our sin driven world, that might be the case. As a Christian, I have ONE and only ONE JUDGE whose opinion matters to me!

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead..." 2 Timothy 4:1

When we judge others, God judges us! We are NO ONE to judge how someone else lives their lives or judge someone by their appearance. They will be judged by God, so why do we need to judge them too? Do we not trust God's judgement? Just remember...all of us are going to be judged...by the ONE AND ONLY! Who are you going to judge?

Another One of God's Blessings

Several years ago, God blessed me to meet the man that would become my husband and the father of my children. I could not ask for anyone better to share my life with! I had the honor almost 4 years ago of standing in front of God and so many of our friends and family and commiting myself to Corey to be his wife and love him no matter what...till death do us part. He is truly my Best Friend.
He grew up in the kind of family that was all talk and no walk when it came to church. They went to church on Sunday because it was what they were "socially" supposed to do. Like everyone does, he had many things going on in his life and he never saw where going to church helped any of his problems. A lot of talk and no walk!
I am so proud to say that by the way that I am growing and learning, Corey is wanting to get in on what I have! He came to church with me this last Sunday and truly enjoyed it! The Praise and Worship scares him a little..lol.. but I think it does everyone until they are used to it! :)
I am so thankful that God has brought him into my life. His parents may not have raised him to be a "walker" in church, but they did an amazing job of raising a man who is full of love and life. He is very quiet. (Opposites must attract!!) Our love for one another grows stronger every day, and now that we are learning to put God at the center, it is amazing how we are being drawn even closer to one another and to Him! I never thought that Corey and I could get much closer than what we already are, but God is letting it happen! We want to raise our daugher to see what it is like to be a Christian and what real marriage and family looks like, with God at the center!
It is amazing the trials that we go through in life, but if we sit back and take a look at who God has blessed us with in our paths, we are shown His Glory! I have been through many things, and then God gives me this man who is so patient and considerate with me. He is a true.."through sickness and health" trooper, let me tell ya! The things that we have come through can only be attributed to God's AMAZING GRACE! How Great Is Our God! :)

Hang It On The Cross

Hang It On The Cross

If you have a secret sorrow, a burden or a loss,

An aching need for healing ... Hang It On The Cross.

If worry steals your sleep and makes you turn and toss,

If your heart is feeling heavy ... Hang It On The Cross.

Every obstacle to faith or doubt you come across,

Every prayer unanswered ... Hang It On The Cross.

For Christ has borne our brokenness and dearly paid the cost

To turn our trials to triumph ... Hanging On The Cross.

--Lisa O. Engelhardt

With so many things going on right now, I see this and think of how this is what I need to do with all of my issues. Jesus truly paid the cost to take all of our worries and anxieties away from us. When we lose someone we love, when we feel betrayed, or broken, Jesus made us whole again a long time ago! It is all a matter of allowing Him to do as He was sent to do! :) I found this poem shortly after my step-father passed away. I wanted to share it because it is very special to me, and so true! :) For anyone in need right now, I believe that this is something that anyone can get some hope and faith from!

My Momma

The above picture is of me and my wonderful mother! God has fully blessed me with such an amazing person to have brought me into this world and have taught me so much! God has always worked wonders in and through this woman! Her strength and faith could have come from nowhere other than God himself!
Her and I had a conversation the other night that really stumped me. We actually we also talking to some of our wonderful church family about it also. She was so confused as to where her fear was coming from. She believes in God wholeheartedly and has always looked to Him for what help she needs. She was very insecure and not sure of what she needed to do. It was very difficult to explain to someone else, but GOD worked through me and He did it! I have offically been used in a way that I have never been used before. (That I was aware of anyways)
My mothers fear came from the Devil. When you do not fully understand some things, it can really affect how you live your life! I have been reading and researching all over the internet and the bible for scriptures that would influence her to understand why she feels the way that she does and how it can be fixed! God is so AWESOME! I told her that the best thing for her to do, and I have also done for her, is pray. Pray that He places peace in her heart and assures her, and gives me what I need to assure her that He is always with us. NO ONE can come between the relationship that we have with our Lord and Savior!
She said that she feels like a ton of bricks have been lifted off of her...
To give an example, my mother would not pray outloud because she thought that the devil would hear. Last night...she prayed outloud!!!! WHOO HOO!!!! It was a whisper..but she did it and felt good about it! YEAH GOD! My heart is bursting at the seams to learn more and grow closer to God. Good times and bad...I PRAISE YOU!!!! I LOVE YOU, FATHER! YOU ARE AMAZING!

Doctors Orders....

WHEW..Where to start! I had a long day today! I went to my Endocrinologist in Springfield to find out where I stand right now with my health! Here is what I have found out...

I am going to be placed on Vitamin D 2 times a week for 10 weeks to try to increase my Vitamin D levels.

We already knew that my Magnesium was low, but it is not going up as they want it to, so the dose of that has been doubled. We found out that the Magnesium defeciency may have been something that I had before my thyroid surgery was done. I may have to be on Magnesium of some sort for the rest of my life!

Another issue that we are getting ruled out is Diabetes. When I was pregnant, I had gestational diabetes. While on the high doeses of steroids this past year, I ended up with Steroid Induced diabetes. So, my chances of diabetes coming back and not going away is pretty good. Although, right now my numbers are pretty good. My pancreas is "sluggish" but it is working!

I learned that the pain and weakness in my legs is probably something that I am going to have for the rest of my life. My body has been so broken an damaged because of the steroids that there is no telling how much damage was really done! I can't push myself or I will end up in a worse of position than what I am in now!

They are also pretty positive that physically, if I were to attempt to have another child, I would not make it. Therefore, we are so unbelivably blessed to even have the little sweetie that we already have! I have lost of problems with headaches and cramps and things like that. The doctor actually told me that she knows of many women who get hysterectomys soon after all that I have been on and been through to eliminate some pain.

What hit me the hardest when I was talking to the doctor was this.....She said that even though there are so many effects from the steroids (which can be adapted and helped), that is what kept me alive! WOW! Without this pill she thought that I would be gone. I have to disagree...God was not finished with me, and that is why I am still here. I am still kind-of weary on what that purpose is, but I am learning more and more all the time that weather I am reading to my daughter or helping a friend in need, God is working through me for His will! What an honor that is! I have had many speedbumps along the road of my life so far, but I am not afraid. I have the Lord on my side and in my life. (physically and mentally) WHEW!!! How AWAMZING!!! I could write all day about what I have gone through in the past 24 years. I look at those things as lessons that God has taught me and I am going to use them to the fullest! Everything happens for a reason!

Passing Time....

As I prepare to head to the church in a little while to attend the Women's Confrence, I can't help but think about what I am wanting to get from this. I am going to go and enjoy the beautiful music and listen and talk to many wonderful women, but more than anything, I want to hear God. I want to know what God has in store for me. I love growing deeper and deeper into a relationship with Christ! I am so excited to learn and grow! I can't wait to see what amazing things are being done all around me that I did not take the time before to stop and watch. God has blessed my life in so many ways. He has literally been "My Rock" in so many situations. I know that my struggles are nowhere near over, but I want to give back to God in even a fraction of what He has given to me. It is so amazing to think that no matter how you feel, there is always that special someone who is there to comfort you when you need it the most, always knowing what is best for you! I love that God knows my heart, because so many times I can't think of exactly how to put what I am feeling or what I am asking for into words. With God I don't have to. He has blessed me with such wonderful people around me to love me and support me in the flesh as well. We need relationships! I know that there are many people at our church that do not know me very well, but I am looking so forward to meeting more and getting to know them better. I feel that it is such an honor and so encouraging to be around others in which God is using for His Will! It always reminds me of why I am here, and what I am going to get from this weekend. I am going to go out and do God's Will to the best of my ability in ALL tasks that I do! So, I will go this weekend, and I know that there will be things that touch my heart! I can only hope that God uses me to touch someone else to feel His love! Thank you to all who have helped to make the confrence possible. God is using us in GREAT ways and I can't wait to experience the cries and laughter of the weekend to come! Thank You, Father for the blessing of your love!