Jill played this game on her blog, and offered to provide us a letter if we wanted to play along. (Of course, that was back in February…but, I just get to things when I can…you understand.) I did, and she chose the letter ‘F’. So, here 10 things I love that start with the letter ‘F’.
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1.FAMILY…there is no greater earthly blessing than a family who loves and cares for one another. I am blessed beyond measure by each member. My husband, my Mom and Pop…my sister, Joy and husband, Tommy…their daughters, Tara and Lori and husbands, Will,and in May, Ben. My boys and DIL, Suzanne. My husband’s family…his parents live with Jesus…and his sisters, Beth and June. And, of course the 4 legged member…Scooter.

2.FRIENDS…oh how blessed I am with friends. I can honestly say that there are people I know who I could call on for anything at any time for any reason. It would be taken care of…no questions asked. My friends show me unconditional love…the truest kind.

3.FUN…I do not think you ever get too old to have fun! And fun, and joy is contagious! One of my favorite quotes is: “ACT OLD LATER”.

4. FALL…one of the most beautiful times of the year. I love the colors of fall, the smell of fall, the foods of fall, the activities of fall, the clothes of fall.

5. FLOWERS…OH, MY! Is there anything as lovely as a flower growing in soil? Whether it is in a formal garden, or in an open meadow, in a huge container garden, or just a single bloom in a simple clay pot. Big or little. One bloom or many. Spectacular prize roses, elegant calla lilies. or the humble daisy. The intricacies it took to create each flower so different in looks, and in fragrance, speaks to the great art of God. Even the weeds that produce little yellow flowers almost overnight in an open area around our school…are most special when presented to the teacher by a grubby little hand. Take time to see them…and smell them…and be thankful for them.

6. FOOD…”O, taste and see that the Lord is good…” Psalms 34:8. In my opinion, though, He did some of his best work with chocolate and fruits. And, I think the world would be just as well off without turnips, beets, or asparagus. I’m just saying…

7. FASHION…Now, there have been times in my life when I have cared more about fashion than I do right at this time. I think it has something to do with the fact that my new closet has caused all my clothes to shrink.!!! But, I love to watch the fashion shows, and see the newest collections. Not that I would ever wear them, But it is interesting to see how the trends play out when they make it down to us ‘real folk’. I especially love fashion accessories…shoes, bags, jewelry, etc. Even, if your clothes have shrunk…these can give you quite a lift.

8. FABRIC…I’m not a ‘sewer’…that looks like ‘sewer’…but it is supposed to be ‘sew-er’…as in ‘one who sews’…I’m not that, nor am I a sewer..and obviously, not a very good speller. ANYWAY…
I love fabric and use it a lot. One of my favorite things to design is tablescapes. And I like to use fabric for this, as a bottom layer. I also use fabric to tie around almost everything. I use it in place of ribbon. When, I see a beautiful piece of fabric, it can start my imagination running wild. I just like to take my stash out and look at it. Actually, I do have a sewing machine. I got it several years ago. I got pretty good on those straight stitch seams. Made a whole bunch of cloth napkins…a whole bunch! But, the bobbin thing is just a nuisance…and frustrating…and hard. And the threading the little loops through the maze at the top and down to the needle just seems an unnecessary bother. If someone made a machine that just did that automatically…with very little input from me…I think I could probably be a pretty good sewer…I mean seamstress!

9. FREEDOM…I am so thankful, and so blessed to live in America. I am blessed to live where I can be what I want, say what I want, live like I want. Even with all the discontent and uneasiness in the government right now…I still believe America is the greatest country in the world. We know that with the financial situation like it is…as bad as it is…will not last forever. We are Americans! I say that with pride. I also know that freedom did not come cheap. It has been bought with blood…the blood of many young lives who also loved this country. Loved it enough to fight for it…and die for it. “God bless all our fighting forces. Give them wisdom and protection and bring them home safely. Give them rest and food and proper equipment. Clear the paths in front of them as they travel. Put your army of angels around our army to keep them safe. AMEN”. AMERICA…Home of the free…BECAUSE of the brave.

10.FOREIGN SOIL…I love to travel. And, it is wonderful to visit far away lands and different cultures. There is so much to learn from others…and so much to see that is different from what we know. We have been fortunate to do much travelling in the US…but we have spent several vacations in Mexico…and not always in the touristy spots. We have also travelled to Japan twice. What a place. Fascinating. I think they could teach us much about many things. The people were open and friendly and very helpful. But, even there, with all the history and beauty…there is still no place like home.
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This was fun. And, it really made me think. If you would like to play along…let me know and I will send you a letter, too. And, it’s just fine with me if you take a month or two to get around to playing. 🙂

The director of our school, BW, is a beautiful, godly woman. She has such a heart for our children and has amassed years of experience and wisdom is dealing with them. Not that she’s ‘old’ enough to have amassed years of wisdom or anything…she’s younger than I. But, she has worked with children for many years…and I’d better stop right there before I get myself in trouble.

On Fridays, our school has a chapel program for all the children. BW does all the teaching, and I do the music. We privately call it the B and Tonja show. 🙂 And yes, we stand in front of all the children and 20 teachers and dance and sing just like we were professionals. It’s not always pretty, but it is always fun! Then BW tells the Bible story and we sing some more and they leave to go back to their classes.

Last week, we began a series of teaching about the parables that Jesus taught. Now, you and I know that Jesus told stories to illustrate a lesson He wanted to teach. In fact, the song we teach the children about parables, states, “…a parable is a story that show God’s ways to you.” But, when you are explaining to a preschooler about parables, it must be explained very carefully. They are beginning to learn that ‘telling a story’ could mean a lie. And telling a lie is wrong. Of course, we can understand this, but to a 3 or a 4 or a 5 or a 6, it could be a different matter. Preschoolers are literal minded. They have not learned all the ways teaching takes place. BW is very aware of this and is extremely careful in all the things she says to be sure there is no misunderstanding. And, as she taught yesterday about the parable of the sower, she explained carefully that Jesus was trying to help the people understand his lesson.

After school, another teacher gathered some of us together to tell us about a conversation that took place in her room at the end of the day.

Mary: (whining)…”Teacher, Jim says he doesn’t want to marry me and have children.”

Teacher: “That’s OK, Mary, you’ll meet lots of other boys before it is time to think about things like that.”

Mary: (still whining)… “Well, Emily says he is in love with her and going to marry her. But, that’s just a lie…or a parable.” 🙂

I’ve often heard it said, “there is no rest for the weary.” I feel that way today. I’m weary. Weary of illness. Weary of sickness. Weary of pain. Weary of those I love and myself as well, continually going from one illness to another.

Now, I know that God has all of this in His control…and I do rest in that. But, sometimes, it seems that He has just chosen our family to have one medical issue after another. And, sisters, we do it up right!

My brother in law is having some serious health problems, my sister needs to have some tests run, too. Their oldest daughter and her hubby are going through some testing, and, their youngest is getting married in 2 months.

Mom and Pop have gone from a ruptured colon with colostomy-him to a severe colon problem-her, to colostomy repair-him, to another surgery-her, to hernia surgery-him, to her current female and stomach issues.

My health has been pretty bad for the last few months…I have arthritis, bursitis, and fibromyalgia…along with a little lupus thrown in for good measure. Many days all I can do is rest. Ian had surgery to enlarge his sinus cavities which never formed correctly, a month ago, and he had lasik procedure on his eyes Friday. He has another operation scheduled on his palate in the next few months.

Alex continues to be a very sick young man. He has had some very bad days lately, with little relief from his pain. It takes all he can do to just make it through. He suffers greatly.

And, now…on top of all of this…Scooter, his companion…his best friend…his lifeline…his sleeping buddy…has cancer. He is devastated. We all are. This dog has been like an angel so many times. He has always been a very high strung, active dog. And, he still is. But, when Alex has needed him, he calms down and becomes a warm, comforting blanket for his boy. And, now he is very sick.

Our vet called today with the results of the biopsy. The type he has responds well to treatment, and sometimes goes into remission. We have made no decisions yet, and we are going to meet with the vet on Thursday. These decisions will be Alex’s to make.

So, I am going to ask you again for your prayer support. Alex is so sick himself, it really takes all his willpower to deal with the pain he faces constantly. And, now his best bud is dying. He is going to have to pull the strength from somewhere to deal with this. Alex loves the Lord, and knows He will guide him.

Honestly, I am feeling really bummed out. I am feeling angry. I am feeling sad. I am feeling that this is so not fair. I am just wanting not to have to feel this at all. It seems to me that in the grand scheme of things…would it be too much to ask for my boy to just have his dog and be able to get what pleasure he can from him? I know people are sick everywhere with much worse things than our troubles…but, sometimes it is overwhelming!

Without a doubt, the Lord sent this dog to Alex. We have seen evidence of this time and time again. I also know that God is the creator of the animals we love and adopt into our lives as family members. I believe that it saddens Him that Scooter is sick…and I believe that it saddens Him more that this is causing Alex such grief. So, I will ask Him to spare Scooter’s life. Or at least to allow the treatments to give him some quality of life for a while. I will ask that He give Alex the strength to make wise decisions…and to be able to live in peace with those decisions.

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“Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both. As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animals. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth? Ecclesiastes 3: 19-21.

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears attentive to their cry.”
“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34: 15, 16.

“How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom, you made them all,the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24

We returned from Birmingham late Wednesday evening. The Lord blessed us with great weather. It would have been hard to believe it had snowed there on Sunday, if we had not seen a few piles of the white stuff scattered around town. It was sunny and in the 60s. Just beautiful!

We went straight to the doctor when we arrived on Tuesday. We were very pleased with his report. The surgery that was done last year is still working well. He was very thorough. Mom has had some severe infections and they have left her with some nerve damage. The infection has completely cleared up and he thinks he can help her with the nerve pain she is having. He prescribed some medication which may take up to 2 weeks to start working. But, it should be a big help. So, we are happy that we have something to try. We are believing that this will be an answer to some of her discomfort. We are trusting God to work all this out in her body and heal her. She deserves nothing less.

SO…then Mom was really tired from the trip up and the doctor visit…and we took her to the motel to rest. Since Joy and I wanted her to get the best rest possible, we decided to vacate the premises…so she could rest better. We got in the car to drive around, and do you know what we discovered?!? We ‘just happened’ to be in a motel located right next to the Summit!!!!(That’s the best outdoor shopping mall in B’ham, for those of you not from the South). Can you believe our luck??? And, since we did not have any place to be for the next few hours (since we wanted Mom to get some good rest), we just drove up there to ‘look around’. It was such a pretty day, we got out of the car to walk around and enjoy the beautiful flowers and statues. We may have walked into a few of the stores here and there, I forget. But, I do seem to remember trying on some clothes, so I’m sure we must have gone inside somewhere! We were able to while away a few hours there…then (as luck would have it) there happened to be a PFChang’s…right there in the shopping center. There was also a Cheesecake Factory…but, Joy was just whining for some Chinese food. Being the kind-hearted sister, that I am…I gave in to her wishes. That…and SHE was the one driving…and she said the car would not go in the direction of TCF. We went in and ordered TONS of food…to go. Because it would not have looked too ladylike to try to eat all that in public!!! And, we wanted to eat with Mom. When we got back to the motel, Mom was waking up. So, here’s a picture of our feast! I won’t show you the one I made of ‘someone’ eating chocolate cake after the chicken fried rice, and egg rolls, and sweet and sour chicken.

We all had a good night’s sleep, and leisurely got ready for the day. We packed up and loaded the car, and headed out in search of breakfast. Here are Mom and Joy, ready to go!

Mom looked so pretty, I just wanted to give her a hug and a kiss. Well…she was having none of that! She always did like Joy best.

Finally! She knew if she didn’t act right we would not be going to Talbot’s for her dress!

We went to Panera Bread for breakfast. ATTENTION ‘B’ CLUB GIRLS….the same one we all met in…I thought of y’all! Then to Talbot’s. While in the dressing room, Joy noticed her diamond earring was missing! So (being the good, kind, and loving servant of a sister that I am, Mom and I went back to the motel to search the room, since she UNWISELY laid them on the bench at the end of the bed!!! I searched on my hands and knees…but no earring. She had stayed at Talbot’s to finish her shopping…and called me as I was walking out of the door of the motel…she found it in the garbage can in the dressing room!! Oh, she’s so lucky to have me! We then went into Pottery Barn and another store or 2, and decided to head home! We all wanted to make one more stop at a place (Sikes and Kohns) full of jeans and shoes, and lots of other things we needed. Here, Joy and I are leaving with our treasures. 3 pairs of shoes don’t take up nearly as much room…or look so suspicious… if you leave the boxes in the store…I’m just saying! We made it back to Dothan before dark, unpacked the car, and went to bed early.

We always have so much fun when we are together. And, this time was no exception…other than the fact that Mom wasn’t feeling quite as perky as usual. We laughed and talked and laughed and played and talked and sang and laughed some more. One of the things we discussed was how blessed we are to have the relationship we do. I know there are some families that do not get along with one another. Things go wrong and bad feelings are harbored, and there is no forgiveness. Years pass and things go unsaid, and those precious times are lost. There is never a way to get those missed times back. Thankfully, we have forgiven each other when necessary, and forgotten things that may have caused us upsets, and just ignored others. Few things are as important of enjoying your family. As Pop says, “we squeeze every moment to get all the good out of it we can!” I am so thankful that we 3 had these 2 days together. In the midst of our fun, we made plans for our next trip together. And, that’s the way it should be…enjoying the good times we have with one another…helping each other when needed…going the extra mile if necessary…and looking forward to doing it all over again! (I’m not sure that leaving the shopping center to go search for your sister’s earring while she stays there shopping her heart out…while you are on your hands and knees on a yuck carpeted motel floor exactly qualifies as one of these times…Maybe I just need to let that experience ‘slip my mind’!:))

Thank-you for all your comments and prayers for Mom. Please continue to remember her when you pray! You bloggy friends are the best!
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NOTE: I am VERY behind on my blog reading, but will try to catch up this weekend!

On Tuesday morning, Joy and I will be leaving to take Mom to the doctor in Birmingham. We are so in hopes that he will be able to give us some insight into why Mom is feeling so bad and in so much pain. If not, maybe he can point us in the direction of who can help her. I love my Mama and just want her to feel good.

I checked the weather, since there is snow on the ground there now! Freaky weather! But, it is supposed to be sunny and in the 50’s and 60’s there, so that will not be so bad on her. She wants to try to get to Talbot’s and find a new dress…so that is also on our list. A new frock will always make a body feel better, don’t you agree?

We covet your prayers for travelling safety and for medical wisdom.