Isaiah 40:28-29
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have not might he increaseth strength.
Ellen
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Silver and Gold
"Make new friends, but keep the old:
one is silver and the other gold."
I have a story to share. Twenty-six years ago, we lived in New Mexico and were good friends with another young couple from our church. The husband was in the Air Force stationed in NM for a couple of years. Besides numerous church activities, we went wilderness camping and hiking together several times. We both had our first babies the same year, and we camped and hiked in the mountains with them too:)
After leaving New Mexico, they lived numerous places, and we moved overseas. We corresponded for several years until the time they were stationed in Saudia Arabia. We could no longer contact them, and we did not hear from them from that point on. We were not sure if they were even alive. For years we tried to find them, but to no avail.
Our daughter has a Facebook account for her business, and she got a message from our "long lost friend". He explained who he was, and that he was trying to contact us - wondering if we were her parents (her unusual name gave him hope). She showed us his request and we soon connected via e-mail.
These friends are from Mississippi and New Mexico and are true Southerners at heart. How surprised we were to hear that they are living just north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota area - about 3 hours from us! Because of my health and surgery, we were not able to get together right away, but I am happy to say, they made the trip over here to visit us recently:) It was amazing. We never expected to see them again. Their children are all grown and moved away so we didn't get to meet them yet, but we shared pictures, stories, life events etc. (Yes, I did have to lie down to rest a couple of times during the visit, but they were gracious and wore no perfumed or chemical products -even their laundry had no fumes and no dryer sheets were used -which helped tremendously) The last time we had seen each other, we were our oldest children's age. What a tremendous blessing it was to reconnect with them. God is amazing!
one is silver and the other gold."
I have a story to share. Twenty-six years ago, we lived in New Mexico and were good friends with another young couple from our church. The husband was in the Air Force stationed in NM for a couple of years. Besides numerous church activities, we went wilderness camping and hiking together several times. We both had our first babies the same year, and we camped and hiked in the mountains with them too:)
After leaving New Mexico, they lived numerous places, and we moved overseas. We corresponded for several years until the time they were stationed in Saudia Arabia. We could no longer contact them, and we did not hear from them from that point on. We were not sure if they were even alive. For years we tried to find them, but to no avail.
These friends are from Mississippi and New Mexico and are true Southerners at heart. How surprised we were to hear that they are living just north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota area - about 3 hours from us! Because of my health and surgery, we were not able to get together right away, but I am happy to say, they made the trip over here to visit us recently:) It was amazing. We never expected to see them again. Their children are all grown and moved away so we didn't get to meet them yet, but we shared pictures, stories, life events etc. (Yes, I did have to lie down to rest a couple of times during the visit, but they were gracious and wore no perfumed or chemical products -even their laundry had no fumes and no dryer sheets were used -which helped tremendously) The last time we had seen each other, we were our oldest children's age. What a tremendous blessing it was to reconnect with them. God is amazing!
Monday, July 23, 2012
OneYear Ago
I am so thankful to be here today instead of where I was (Monday, July 25, 2011) one year ago...hospital, mass, tests, anesthesia, surgery, pain, difficulty breathing, drug side effects...fighting for life.
I thank God for answered prayers both then and now.
I thank God for answered prayers both then and now.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
God's Priorities Are Perfect
Security is not found in safety. Safety is an illusion. Security is doing things God's way...in God's order...and in accepting God's timing. Just some food for thought.
I have had a little more strength the past week - thanks be to God. My pain levels, however, have been HIGH. Headaches continue, mid back and rib pain on the right side are horrible and low back and hip pain are awful. All the muscles in my body feel like I must have climbed Mount Everest this week. The muscle fibers seems to seize up and not let go. I do take extra minerals, but they don't seem to be helping much. I broke my coccyx years ago while delivering one of our babies, and that pain flares up periodically. It has been difficult to deal with lately because it hurts to sit, to walk, to lie down in certain positions etc. It is especially painful to release pressure while getting up from a sitting position.
I will not bore you with the rest of my complaints:)
This is a busy time of year on a homestead. God has also brought some interesting ministry opportunities to our children. He has been changing our plans, often surprising us by what He has planned (that is the way we want it to be - his plans are what we want all of our plans to be). It requires us to be flexible and to allow God's priorities to take presidence. He is wonderful!
Ellen
I will not bore you with the rest of my complaints:)
This is a busy time of year on a homestead. God has also brought some interesting ministry opportunities to our children. He has been changing our plans, often surprising us by what He has planned (that is the way we want it to be - his plans are what we want all of our plans to be). It requires us to be flexible and to allow God's priorities to take presidence. He is wonderful!
Ellen
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Intercession
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:25-26
I did not get a large number of responses from those reading my posts, but I so appreciate those special few of you who read and pray for me! Thank you. I also have written this blog to help my children so that they don't always have to be figuring out how to answer the kind question "How is your Mom doing?".
Today is one of those days I am so thankful for your prayers. I am feeling sad, overwhelmed by several things, isolated, exhausted, frustrated, and wondering what else I should be doing to get stronger (but having no strength to do it), truly wondering if my health will EVER get better. I am tired of working so hard just to survive. I have to do so much just not to get worse, while I am still not getting better. I still have hope in the LORD which is sure. I can't imagine how people get through difficult or impossible circumstances without the LORD. The more unable I become, the more I must learn to trust and rest. That brings a good result, but is not always easy. I have to be content with what each day holds, even if I can't go anywhere or do anything but lie down or sit in my recliner (a loving gift from Gregg's parents that has blessed me immensely). It is especially difficult when this has been going on for weeks and weeks and so much of it for years and years. I think most people think I have "good" or normal days, but honestly, I don't even remember what normal or energy feels like.
I know you each have your own hurts and challenging people and circumstances to deal with. Counting blessings and thanking God is a good way to see life from a better perspective. I pray for you also, that God will conform you to his image (see Romans 8).
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
Loving You Friends,
Ellen
Today is one of those days I am so thankful for your prayers. I am feeling sad, overwhelmed by several things, isolated, exhausted, frustrated, and wondering what else I should be doing to get stronger (but having no strength to do it), truly wondering if my health will EVER get better. I am tired of working so hard just to survive. I have to do so much just not to get worse, while I am still not getting better. I still have hope in the LORD which is sure. I can't imagine how people get through difficult or impossible circumstances without the LORD. The more unable I become, the more I must learn to trust and rest. That brings a good result, but is not always easy. I have to be content with what each day holds, even if I can't go anywhere or do anything but lie down or sit in my recliner (a loving gift from Gregg's parents that has blessed me immensely). It is especially difficult when this has been going on for weeks and weeks and so much of it for years and years. I think most people think I have "good" or normal days, but honestly, I don't even remember what normal or energy feels like.
I know you each have your own hurts and challenging people and circumstances to deal with. Counting blessings and thanking God is a good way to see life from a better perspective. I pray for you also, that God will conform you to his image (see Romans 8).
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
Loving You Friends,
Ellen
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
A Little Addition to Yesterday's Post
These were supposed to be in yesterday's post.
Do you know what these flowers are called? ;)
Ellen
Sunday, June 10, 2012
OVERDID
I way overdid it getting ready for and visiting at the graduation party, and have been paying a big price. I have been so weak and have NO energy to do anything. I have been in bed or in the recliner resting for three weeks. I was having severe blurred vision but that is improving. I have had a TON of pain, headaches, painful bowel troubles, gallbladder attacks, etc. I feel frustrated at being unable to accomplish much of anything. This gets old. It is difficult to decide what to participate in, because afterward I have to suffer and recover. It is difficult to miss out on so many events in life.
Overdoing it is usually not much - talking or sitting up too long, being exposed to chemicals, riding in the car for a half hour or more, being in the sun for more than about 10 minutes, doing the dishes or folding one basket of laundry, taking a shower, making a bed etc. It kind of compares to how you might feel the first day after having the flu with vomiting and fever (except the exhaustion is much deeper). You wear yourself out just getting up to get dressed or eat, and you have to go lie down to recover from that little activity.
So that's my update for those who are still reading this. Speaking of that topic, I am wondering who is even looking at this blog anymore. Several times I have thought about quitting it. If you still read this, would you somehow let me know so I can decide if I should continue to write or not? Thanks.
Ellen
Overdoing it is usually not much - talking or sitting up too long, being exposed to chemicals, riding in the car for a half hour or more, being in the sun for more than about 10 minutes, doing the dishes or folding one basket of laundry, taking a shower, making a bed etc. It kind of compares to how you might feel the first day after having the flu with vomiting and fever (except the exhaustion is much deeper). You wear yourself out just getting up to get dressed or eat, and you have to go lie down to recover from that little activity.
So that's my update for those who are still reading this. Speaking of that topic, I am wondering who is even looking at this blog anymore. Several times I have thought about quitting it. If you still read this, would you somehow let me know so I can decide if I should continue to write or not? Thanks.
Ellen
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