It's a new year! We've taken down the old calendar & replaced it with the new one. We've celebrated the coming of 2009!....now what??? All the decorations are down, the get-togethers & parties are over, church, work & school are back to "normal", AND we're supposed to DO something right?
I don't know about you, but 2008 was quite a year for me! It started off wonderful. We had started a"Biggest Loser" contest at church. I was doing great. I was committed (maybe I should have been "committed", but that's another blog altogether), dedicated, making great strides. I was feeling good about myself......seeing results!! woo hoo, God is good!
Then came April and my Grandma Lois got sick. She was hospitalized for 3 weeks. I stayed day & night when necessary. My other commitments went by the way-side. (starting to track with me) My days with her on this earth were limited, I knew that. Being with her was where I NEEDED & wanted to be. On April 29th, my Grandma finally got to "go home" (that was her favorite thing to say for the last couple years, "I want to go home"...not that she or we knew what "home" she was talking about). I was BLESSED to have been with her, pleading with her to GO!!, as she took her last breath. God is good!!
After you "shelf" your life for a month, it takes ATLEAST that long to catch-up & get "back in the swing". We fast forward to mid-September. My mom hadn't been feeling quite right. Dr. was treating her for the flu. Then the dreaded phone call. Mom's NOT good. Her blood pressure's 45/17, she's "not totally with us", etc., etc., etc. She was air-lifted to Springfield, the medical personnel not expecting her to make the flight. What was wrong with her? She was in cardiac critical care. She would have "spells" where she would crash...twice her blood pressure was 40/20, and once they had to totally paralyze her just to stabilize her. She spent almost 6 weeks in the hospital....again, being with her was where I NEEDED & wanted to be. God is good!! Commitments again put "on hold".......seeing a pattern here? After she was home, she still needed to be taken to the hospital (this time here in town...God is good!)everyday for a month for antibiotic infusions. Again, trying to play catch-up, but this time, I'm not at the "seeing results" stage......I'm back to before I flipped the calendar.
Ok, I'm into November puttering along with usual activities, commitments, daily living. A few times through out Mom's illness & treatments, I would have to make emergency room visits because Grandpa Myron wasn't "right". Diagnosis, guessed they were mini-strokes. He would never have to spend the night at the hospital & would be back to "normal" sometimes before he returned to nursing home or no more than a week later....God is good!
Ok, now I've started December....Grandpa had a bigger stroke December 1st. The effects were visible. But, with time & therapy he was back to almost "normal". I thanked God again for the MANY blessings & miracles He had allowed me to witness throughout the year. Selfishly I asked Him for a break. I needed time for a total "rejuvenation". My whole being was exhausted. (remember the whole "being committed" comment earlier....I was there)
Then, the morning of December 14th came yet another storm. This time, it involved Mark's side of our family. His dad, and I'm proud to say, my dad too for 27+ years, "went home". I don't think I responded the way people thought I should have. Was I feeling the great loss? Absolutely! Did I wish this wasn't God's plan at this particular time? Yes, YES! But, the overwhelming feeling I was experiencing was complete PEACE! God is good!
Throughout 2008 I witnessed MANY miracles. I also witnessed much suffering to people I loved. Through it all, I thank God!! He is great!! I thank Him for all the storms. He has blesssed me with friends that road the storms out with me. (and they NEVER complained about getting wet either!!!)
Now, back to January 2009.........
again my question: New Year---Now What??
We sooooooo look forward to a new year.......we have all these BIG plans: get healthy, lose weight, spend more time with family, get more sleep, read the Bible more, take up a hobby, la da da da da........
It's January 19th???? What have you done???
Did you tell those you love, "I love you" & mean it??? God knows!!
How about yourself, do you love yourself?? God does!!
Did you thank God for your last breath?? How about the next one?? God is good!!
"Why do you not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:14-15.
I'm publicly sharing my new year's plan. My "life changing" overhaul. I'm taking the "first place 4 health" program. I'm committing a full year to this program. I NEED to re-program me!! I've got to put me 1st or I won't be worth anything to anybody I care about. God is great!!
God loves me and He loves you.....I may have to go through the motions of turning my calendar more often than once a month to experience the "WOW" it's time for new beginnings, but it's ok.............I can do that!!!!
I don't know about you, but 2008 was quite a year for me! It started off wonderful. We had started a"Biggest Loser" contest at church. I was doing great. I was committed (maybe I should have been "committed", but that's another blog altogether), dedicated, making great strides. I was feeling good about myself......seeing results!! woo hoo, God is good!
Then came April and my Grandma Lois got sick. She was hospitalized for 3 weeks. I stayed day & night when necessary. My other commitments went by the way-side. (starting to track with me) My days with her on this earth were limited, I knew that. Being with her was where I NEEDED & wanted to be. On April 29th, my Grandma finally got to "go home" (that was her favorite thing to say for the last couple years, "I want to go home"...not that she or we knew what "home" she was talking about). I was BLESSED to have been with her, pleading with her to GO!!, as she took her last breath. God is good!!
After you "shelf" your life for a month, it takes ATLEAST that long to catch-up & get "back in the swing". We fast forward to mid-September. My mom hadn't been feeling quite right. Dr. was treating her for the flu. Then the dreaded phone call. Mom's NOT good. Her blood pressure's 45/17, she's "not totally with us", etc., etc., etc. She was air-lifted to Springfield, the medical personnel not expecting her to make the flight. What was wrong with her? She was in cardiac critical care. She would have "spells" where she would crash...twice her blood pressure was 40/20, and once they had to totally paralyze her just to stabilize her. She spent almost 6 weeks in the hospital....again, being with her was where I NEEDED & wanted to be. God is good!! Commitments again put "on hold".......seeing a pattern here? After she was home, she still needed to be taken to the hospital (this time here in town...God is good!)everyday for a month for antibiotic infusions. Again, trying to play catch-up, but this time, I'm not at the "seeing results" stage......I'm back to before I flipped the calendar.
Ok, I'm into November puttering along with usual activities, commitments, daily living. A few times through out Mom's illness & treatments, I would have to make emergency room visits because Grandpa Myron wasn't "right". Diagnosis, guessed they were mini-strokes. He would never have to spend the night at the hospital & would be back to "normal" sometimes before he returned to nursing home or no more than a week later....God is good!
Ok, now I've started December....Grandpa had a bigger stroke December 1st. The effects were visible. But, with time & therapy he was back to almost "normal". I thanked God again for the MANY blessings & miracles He had allowed me to witness throughout the year. Selfishly I asked Him for a break. I needed time for a total "rejuvenation". My whole being was exhausted. (remember the whole "being committed" comment earlier....I was there)
Then, the morning of December 14th came yet another storm. This time, it involved Mark's side of our family. His dad, and I'm proud to say, my dad too for 27+ years, "went home". I don't think I responded the way people thought I should have. Was I feeling the great loss? Absolutely! Did I wish this wasn't God's plan at this particular time? Yes, YES! But, the overwhelming feeling I was experiencing was complete PEACE! God is good!
Throughout 2008 I witnessed MANY miracles. I also witnessed much suffering to people I loved. Through it all, I thank God!! He is great!! I thank Him for all the storms. He has blesssed me with friends that road the storms out with me. (and they NEVER complained about getting wet either!!!)
Now, back to January 2009.........
again my question: New Year---Now What??We sooooooo look forward to a new year.......we have all these BIG plans: get healthy, lose weight, spend more time with family, get more sleep, read the Bible more, take up a hobby, la da da da da........
It's January 19th???? What have you done???
Did you tell those you love, "I love you" & mean it??? God knows!!
How about yourself, do you love yourself?? God does!!
Did you thank God for your last breath?? How about the next one?? God is good!!
"Why do you not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:14-15.
I'm publicly sharing my new year's plan. My "life changing" overhaul. I'm taking the "first place 4 health" program. I'm committing a full year to this program. I NEED to re-program me!! I've got to put me 1st or I won't be worth anything to anybody I care about. God is great!!
God loves me and He loves you.....I may have to go through the motions of turning my calendar more often than once a month to experience the "WOW" it's time for new beginnings, but it's ok.............I can do that!!!!
Oh Toni, It has been such a pleasure, ups and downs, to share all of these times in you life with you! Always remember that God is with you and so are all of these people around you who love you very much!!! Thank you for being there for me for all of my ups and downs as well! :) I thank God for you every day! We are all so blessed to have someone who knows exactly WHAT and WHO we need at all times in our lives(including Him of course!!) Thank you for being a part of my family! I love you with all of my heart! Bring on 2009!!! :)
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