June 15, 2015

Heritage: The Women in My Life

With the birth of yet another grandchild, I have been thinking of the rich heritage I have been blessed with as a woman. Girls don’t just wake up one day and instinctively know everything there is to know about being a mom and homemaker. They observe it over decades of formative years, watching their mother, grandmothers, aunts, great-aunts…. Well, they do if they are fortunate enough to come from a family like mine.

As I was thinking back about the influence of the women in my family, I first thought of my mom and her steadfast dedication to a near perfect home! It was neat, clean, and organized; we had three homemade meals per day, plus desserts. We were taught how to help and be a part of the daily chores. Mother ironed everything!! It took me a while after I was grown to loosen up on some of those practices. ☺ But the thing I remember besides learning how to DO everything, was just being with my mom…talking about any and everything while we did what we needed to do.

My grandmother, Mamie, could do it all and never really seemed stressed. She always had a full course meal on the stove, even when she wasn’t expecting company! Someone would always drop by, and there would be plenty to eat. She was warm and loving, did not know a stranger, took care of everyone, and mowed her own lawn up until her early 80’s. She was tough and soft all at the same time. I loved sitting on the front steps with her and shelling peas or standing in the kitchen drying dishes while she washed. It makes me cry just remembering those times.

Every one of my aunts had their own influence on my life as well. Some were quiet and sweet wives and mothers who lovingly cared for their families. Others were talkers, like me, and made me laugh and see the lighter side of life even when things were hard. Several worked outside the home and still managed to balance home and family. One enjoyed sharing with me her love of all things beautiful. Another enjoyed sharing the outdoors, the love of plants, and family history.

As I think about all these women and then about the women they produced, I am humbled and grateful. My cousins and I are all so very much alike because we were wrought by the same women. My daughter and her generation of cousins are following in the same steps because of the same. What a beautiful heritage.

Thank you Mamie, Mother, Aunt Maydene, Aunt Essie, Aunt Polly, Aunt Dottie, and countless other aunts, great-aunts, and “aunts” from church who have invested in my life. I love you all more than I can ever say. I hope this at least says a little.


“She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Proverbs 31:26




June 12, 2015

Be Patient, Be Kind

I have a lot on my mind and I’m not quite sure how all of this will flow together, so we’ll just see where the Lord leads.

On the health front, my doctors decided to “watch and wait”...very closely. They will be doing my “restaging” on July 7-8 when they will do another round of extensive labs and a bone marrow biopsy. Before then, the Ortho team will be taking images of my knees and doing a re-evaluation of my joint problems. The T-Cells did a number on my joints!

They have also prescribed aquatic therapy with the hope that it will help me regain not only some strength, comfort, and range of motion in my joints but also regain strength and stamina overall. I am actually looking forward to it! We continue to covet your prayers.

During the last couple of months, we have been to three weddings, had a new grandbaby, and have mourned the loss of several …mostly parents of friends, and one husband of a lifelong friend. The weddings were filled with joy, family and friends, and lots of remembering and stories. The birth of our newest grandson was as well. As I attended the memorial services that I could, I found much of the same thing. While there were tears at all three, for different reasons, there was joy, family and friends, and stories.

There was something else that I found in common. Every one of these had a deep, lifelong, multi-generational relationship with the Lord. It wasn’t a relationship of lip service only. It was one of truth and commitment, grace and forgiveness. It was there to provide peace at a home-going, confidence in marriage, a full heart at the birth of a child.

I watched yesterday as some of my dearest friends made their final tributes to their mother and grandmother. I listened to how her sweet husband loved her as Christ loved the Church, sacrificially, with patient care and kindness, all the days of her life. What a precious testimony.

I was then reminded of my own sweet husband and his tender, kind care, his patient ways, his complete commitment to protect and provide, and my heart begged for many more years to grow old together.

At my appointment earlier in the week, I told my doctor that while I don’t struggle with the fact that I still have cancer, the lack of stamina is what makes me sad or frustrated. I spent my whole life going at a break-neck pace, and now…well let’s just say I take things quite a bit slower. She just smiled and said that it took them a while to get me this way (with all the chemo, cells, drugs, etc…not to mention the disease itself), it’s going to take a while to get better. “Be patient, be kind to yourself.”

That was probably the best advice I’ve gotten in a long time. And if you think about it, it’s really good advice for just about anyone. It can also be turned around. Simply be patient, be kind. My, that would cover quite a lot!

As I again think of Mr. Martin and the years that he loved and cared for Paddy, his patient loving kindness stands out for not only his family but all who knew them to follow.

Be patient, be kind.


“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other,
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you, But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love”
Ephesians 4:2

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant”
1 Corinthians 13:4

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23





June 2, 2015

Pray Hard. Sleep Well.

A couple Sundays ago, Pastor Dean spoke from Acts 12 about the story of Peter when he was in prison. The church was praying earnestly that God would deliver him. All the while, Peter was snoozing away between the guards. While God’s people were still in prayer, an angel appeared to Peter, led him safely out of captivity to the very house where the prayer meeting was being held. The people were so shocked that they almost didn’t let him in! ☺ Peter must have believed a little more than the prayer warriors did!

During these last almost four years, our family, friends, the body of Christ, have prayed for me, for both of us. They have prayed for healing, for strength, for peace. While we are still walking this walk, and it seems that we will be for some time, God has more than answered these prayers! And He continues. He has given me time. He has given us peace.

He has also given me and Paul the opportunity to share our journey, our experiences, our hearts through conversations at MDA, on my blog, and in the lives of dear ones walking the same walk. How God blesses even during challenges!

“But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear….”
Psalm 3:3-6a

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 4:8


From “Jesus Calling”…
“I am with you, watching over you constantly…. Nothing, including the brightest blessing and the darkest trials, can separate you from Me. Go through each day looking for what I have prepared for you. Accept every event as My hand-tailored provision for your needs. When you view your life this way, the most reasonable response is to be thankful.”

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught
and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7


“The peace that I give you transcends your intellect. When most of your mental energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift. I look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round; going nowhere, accomplishing nothing. All the while, My peace hovers over you, searching for a place to land.

Be still in My presence, inviting Me to control your thoughts. Let My light soak into your mind and heart, until you are aglow with My very being. This is the most effective way to receive My peace.”

“Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 4:6-7


“Relax in My healing, holy presence. Let go of cares and worries….”

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10



Pray hard. Sleep well.