in a nut shell

sorry to have been MIA but it's been a long hard week

A Few Days


It really began three years ago but it exponentially increased last weekend. Dad decided to go for one of his solo drives. Four hours later he was in Boone ( a hundred miles from home). I was sick and had to let family and Mom go get him and his truck. He was admitted to Watauga Medical overnight. He checked out fine but we were all wrecks. I went up Monday after feeling some better. Took care of getting medical records and follow up appointments. Came home then, hoping to have some rest and go back to do truck recall maintenance but found Mom sick. A huge mess to clean up. Then Dad caught it. Started seeking help from aunt, Home Health Care and hopefully financial aid from Veterans Financial. Maybe enough for three days a week plus another sitter possibility. After much prayer this became a comforting solution.

Next steps

What a weekend and “weekbegin.” I had a virus. Dad took a ride to BOONE, NC! Yes. That’s what I said.


Told mom he was going Christmas shopping. Ended up on 321N. 100 miles from home.

Cop stopped him. Admitted to hospital overnight. No injuries or further stroke evidence. Just mixed up on details. Mom (who can’t do it alone), her sister, brother-in-law, nephew and his wife came to her rescue. Paid for an overnight room and clean clothes and my cousin and his wife drove dad’s truck home. They no longer have keys at their house and mom is most upset. They know it’s the next step to losing all independence.

There are not enough thanks for things not being worse than they were. There are not enough tears to shed for what is.

What do you do without family?

How do you get enough help without hiring, when money is so tight?

How do people get through these things?

GRACE OF GOD! Pure and simple.

AND after reading Guideposts....
I realize God can fix everything.
He mends broken hearts.
He fills empty spirits.
He gathers all souls close.
He never forsakes us.
The old saying goes "if God isn't close, guess who moved" is true.
Never, ever forsake HIM!

to all my faithful

I have created a new blog to help my parents who are aging rapidly, in debt and needing help and hope.
Please check it out at http://www.helptheparents.blogspot.com/
Thanks and blessings!

dark and light

My body is dead weight.

Walking in water

Sinking fast

No one sees me

No one hears me

No one senses me

I feel lost and alone

What do I do

I should get out of this bed where I find no sleep

I should get out of this house where comfort eludes me

I should get out of this life where I feel little of anything

Is this selfish

No

So why do I feel so guilty

What’s next

Is it depression when you keep doing what you must

But fall apart when you stop and should rest

I need answers no one can give me but me

Feeling hopeless

Tears dried up

Empty inside

I am losing , have lost, so much

I can barely see, hear or sense myself anymore

a new season?

Trees bud and flowers blossom.

The morning is awesome.

Spring is nearly birthed

and hopefully my soul will be unearthed;

but gray skies above me hang

as my heart sang

drowning in grief

finding little relief.

Few words of hope

as I try to cope

or live in peace

all my cares release.

Facing the sun

I pray my fears reduce to none.

Maybe a warmer season getaway

will take my troubles away.

Prayers are repeated

as each morning is greeted

and tucked in again at night

keeping life a bit more light.

to be or not to be

be the light to someone's darkness

be the joy for someone's sadness

be the hope in someone's doubt

be the love no one feels

be the color on someone's gray day

be the peace when none is found by anyone

questions

Will I finally choose to be full of joy no matter what?

Will I finally live in the present and be a “this moment” person?

Will I grow a faith of great measure?

Will I find a hope that is real?

Will I believe in the power of prayer?

Will I trust and accept life as it comes?

Will I release all that bothers me?

Will I find balance in my life?

Will I allow clarity to lead me daily?

Will I go the distance no matter the cost?

Will I let the journey be my own?

Will I learn will-power?

Will I live fearlessly?

Will I find answers and cease questioning everything?

 

a simple prayer

O Lord,

Wrap me in Your warmth.

Sustain me with Your love.

Guard me with Your hope.

Protect me with Your peace.

Strengthen me with Your faith.

Fill me with Your joy.

Amen

Three Moons

There are three moons of Corinth.

Faith to circumnavigate life.

Hope to balance on our axis.

Love to create faith and hope.

Such is living daily.

A body among the stars fighting self-persecution in a galaxy of fears.

Doubting my orbit.

Wondering if gravity can help me now.

Journey of a Lifetime

Life MUST be a spiritual journey:

Shaping my vision

Increasing my faith

Quieting my spirit

Following my heart

Extending my soul

Accessing my beliefs

Believing my God

Knowing my Savior

Accepting my hope

Trusting my Guide

Traveling my path

Giving my resources

Expressing my gratitude

Choosing my grace

Praying my mercy

Loving my life

Living my journey

seek

I will paint a life of blessings.

I will sketch a year of hope.

I will collage a month of peace.

I will create a day of joy

Art can be great therapy of mind.

Leap Day Devotion

It is Leap Day and God has given us an extra day of life…how will we use it?

For worry

For good

For expecting

For serving

For doubt

For hope

For sadness

For joy

For fear

For faith

For hate

For love

Choose wisely!

My prayers have become vacant, rote and stiff. Today, I simple close my eyes and open my sprit.

I settle my mind and relax my heart.

I release my soul and untense my nerves.

I wait to hear Your guidance…to feel your love…to know your peace…that I may share it with all.

I hand you all the cares of my heart this day and ask that you relieve each with the power that only You can use.

In your precious Son’s name, Christ Jesus, who was the releaser of all sin, Amen.

God is everything!

God fills the empty hollows of my heart with His love and I am free from hatred and anger.

He illuminates the dark caverns of my soul with His compassion and mercy.

He knows all my sins and failures but loves me still.

I have hope and peace.

Let God

God fills the empty hollows of my heart

with His love and I am free from hate and anger.

He illuminates the dark caverns of my soul and

I am blessed with answers and direction.

He knows all my sin and failures but loves me still,

I have hope and peace.

from any direction...she is who she is

believe

The earth crumbles below my feet

I cling to the rock, my God

The sky disintegrates about me

I hide in the cove of God

The walls of life shake around me

I find safety in the arms of God

The windows crack and shatter

I am protected by God’s shadow

Art and Life

I will paint a life of blessings.

I will sketch a year of hope.

I will collage a month of peace.

I will create a day of joy

Art can be great therapy of mind.

if

If I feel abandoned it’s my own doing.

If I feel sick it’s my own unhealthy habits.

If I am lonely it’s my own choice.

If I am sad it’s my own lack of creating joy.

If I am angry it’s because I don’t forgive.

If I am confused it is because I have forgotten understanding.

If I am broken its’ because I have ignored my spirit.

If I am not happy it’s because I have not allowed myself to be happy (and there’s always something to be happy about.

all things bright and gray

A bright blue bird

Perches on a cold gray day.

A cold gray soul

Hovers in a weakened being.

A weakened spirit barely

Exists in a fading body.

A fading heart

Loses its power in a weary life.

A weary woman is ready to give up.

God warms that cold soul.

God strengthens that weak being.

God brightens that fading heart.

God relieves that weary woman.

God is my fortress when life comes at me.

Christ if my anchor when the stormy seas rise.

The Holy Spirit is my safe have when demons taunt me.

Lenten Thoughts

This Lenten season:

Give up chocolate if you must

but better to assist the unjust.

Give up coffee if helpful

but maybe consider being more prayerful.

Give up sugar for your physical good

or rev up your relationship with God for spiritual good.

Give up TV finding more time to waste on other vices

or rather give up more time to help others fight their own vices.

Give up if you choose, tangible stuff

or give up weakness and become Christ tough.

God relieves the weary!

A bright blue bird

Perches on a cold gray day.

A cold gray soul

Hovers in a weakened being.

A weakened spirit barely

Exists in a fading body.

A fading heart

Loses its power in a weary life.

A weary woman is ready to give up.

God warms that cold soul.

God strengthens that weak being.

God brightens that fading heart.

God relieves that weary woman.