Psalm 91:11

Christmas Beckons as Fall subsides

Acorns tap dance on the neighbor’s tin roof

Leaves of red and gold waltz against a blue sky

Autumn’s dance contest is always a winner

 

Bon fire smoke drifts through the air

Pumpkin pie spice is everywhere

Autumn scents create wondrous perfumery

 

Crows caucus in the nearby field

Mocking birds mimic the current hits

Autumn jingles serenade waiting fans

 

Hope’s lullaby gives comfort to loss

Faith’s sonnet lends contentment to mourners

Autumn concludes a season of grief

a prayer

Use me Lord.

Give me your guidance.

Show me what I do wrong, gently.

Help me know what you expect of me.

Bless my life and family to be together for a long time.

Create a purpose for me to live out my days.

Allow me to bless others and inspire a better world.

Amen.

 

 

 

latest ART blessing

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Begin with a grateful heart

Every day should be a ThanksLiving day. We should never stop counting our blessings. We should never stop showing our gratefulness. We should never forget our Gratitude Attitude. I have so many things to give thanks for. I forget sometimes. I fail to take the time. I find myself ignoring the fact that I am fortunate. I really want to be grateful in Much and grateful in Little. I want to be happy with what I have. I want to be content. I want to want what I have and ignore what I don’t need. I will find a way to be all God wants me to be. I want to share my blessings. I want to help others realize their blessings. Using the word I is overdone but it sure does make sense when trying to improve myself.

 

Twenty-four days till Christmas.

Thirty days till a brand new year.

Three hundred and ninety-five days to work harder for the Lord, to give of yourself to others, and to be closer to your Maker. It’s time to realize that in my life. It’s time for the world to realize this. It’s time to have a strong voice. If we as Christians don’t speak up now it will be too late for so many. It is overwhelming to realize how many people do not know God, believe there is a God. I really want to see a world centered in Christ living faith based lives. If you look at any news source you hear about all the horrible things people do to each other. This is not the world God created. He created a world of balanced beauty. He gave us amazing things to see, experience and enjoy. Gradually, the enemy is trying to trick people into ignoring, forgetting and destroying this gift. I challenge you to pray harder, believe stronger, and do what God intended. Live for Christ. Lead someone to Christ. Believe in the power of Christ’s love.

grief is different for everyone

I miss mom and feel like she’s up the road at Carillon or home. She is home but not in Caroleen. She’s in heaven, her real home, her place of eternal rest, peace, joy, worship and praise. I don’t have to worry about her. Missing her is easier for me than all the worry I had over her. As stated so many times I grieved long before the day she died. I grieved even before she developed Alzheimers.  I grieved every time she worried over family drama and situations. I grieved every time she lost joy to those same situations. I grieved every time she lost her temper at what she thought others were thinking and saying about family members. I grieved every time she was sick or hurt. I grieved every time she let life circumstances rob her of peace. I grieved when I learned she and dad still had financial issues in their later years. I grieved when she did show first signs of dementia. I grieved when she couldn’t remember what we just discussed. I grieved when she couldn’t use the phone. I grieved when she didn’t know her own reflection and became angry at someone wearing her clothes. I grieved when she could no longer call my name. I grieved when she could no longer control her thoughts and emotions. I grieved when she could no longer eat solid food. I grieved when she could no longer feed herself. I grieved when she no longer had any enjoyment in life except for a brief moment when she first saw me come in.

 

So, you see, I have grieved lots for years. I am out of grief. My tears have dried up. My pain has subsided. My loss is over. She’s in heaven with dad, her parents, siblings, and God. Yes, I will miss her till I’m there too but I will no longer grieve. She is where she should be.

Prayer Plea for Healing our World's ills

Dear Lord,
                       You are the God of all things POSSIBLE. Heal our world. Every day the news gets more difficult to hear. I think Sodom and Gomorrah are growing rampantly across the world. Life is hard on good days but all the anti-Christ issues, the Biblical neglect and the mainstream religions being inclusive to the point of breaking God's sacred word is, well, a very scary thing. I think it's time we all get on our knees, pray, cry out and plead with You to handle this mess we've created.
                         God, you are the divine answer to the world's ills. I pray Christians will believe this as well and do all they POSSIBLY can to support the Ten Commandments, Scripture and Christ centered churches.
                                                                              In your Son, Christ's name,
                                                                               Amen

God can help!

 

God can:

Eradicate sin and replace with goodness

Eliminate fear and increase faith

Stop dread and allow looking forward

Remove darkness and unleash light

Release strongholds and replace with fresh mercies

Restore faith and fortify life

Replenish blessings with unbelievable grace

Cultivate love and grow empathy

Teach compassion and demonstrate caring

Encourage forgiveness and promote charity

Blessed beyond belief

courage to fight and influence a better world

 

 

 

Now is what we have.

Yesterday is gone.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Live joyfully.

Drink in all of life.

Share life with those who matter.

Be grateful.

Take care of yourself, body, mind and soul.

Talk to God.

Keep things simple.

Get enough rest.

Never stop learning.

Breathe deeply.

Give to others.

Say thank you and please and forgive me.

 

Fight for a better world!

Make every day Thanks Living!

reflections of MOM

Mom was broken and only a few people knew. Most outsiders saw her as privileged and having it all. She had a loving husband, a good daughter, a nice home and a good paying but hard job. She spent too much time working when she was sick. She took time off for her parents. She worried. She slept. She could always sleep, thank goodness. I never sleep if I’m worried or sick.

 

Mom also let other people get to her. Whether they spoke purposely or unknowingly, mom always thought certain people flouted her, insulted her, played her or picked at her and she was totally undone by it. Thus, she (and dad and I) missed good times with family and friends. Mom missed much good and happiness by letting these things bother her. As a young person, I often asked why she let it get to her. Ignore it. Let it go. Forget it.  Shoot it back at them. All these things I told her and she tried none of it.

 

Mom died recently. I know now mom is no longer upset, frustrated or worried. That gives me great comfort. It also gives me great advice. Waste no time, energy or sleep over things that don’t mean a hill of beans, yep, one of those great old southern clichés.  I must admit. I have but not in the same way she wasted so much of her life. Things that don’t matter once we are dead also don’t mean anything when we are alive.

 

Long story short, life is short. Spend it well. Love. Laugh. Give. Be grateful.

still getting back to myself

slowly but surely with God's help

Angels are around us everywhere all the time!

life is funny but sometimes it works

I'm 62 today and I thank my sweet mom for my life, all she taught me to be and all she sacrificed for me. I love you Mom!

 

 

been working on this a couple days

guess it's as good a time as any to share

 

I walked through raining leaves of rust and gold.

Memories ran down my face.

                                                                   I hummed an old hymn.                                                                     

The melody danced around my heart.

I felt God’s grace in my broken soul.

Psalms restored me.

I finally felt whole in my life.

God’s faithfulness put me back together.

 

thoughts of never again

never again will I get bad news about my parents
never again will I cringe at a certain phone number
never again will I worry over my parents' health
never again will I doubt they are happy
never again will I wonder what they need
never again will I wonder if I'm doing enough for them
never again will I feel life is unfair to them
never again will I be sad for their limited life
never again will I ask why they had to age

some never-agains are good

take the leap of faith needed

release and receive

 

releasing your mom is necessary to receive her as you angel mom

Happiness is contagious

light

 

 

 

Life weary

I am tired but

God holds me and I rest in his embrace if only to the end of this sentence

 

Lost and broken

I need repair but

God glues the pieces of my life together again with his super glue of divine love

 

Hurt and questioning

I still feel confused but

God has the balm and the answers to both

 

Dark and scared

I tremble but

God is my light and protection

to my favorite veterans

 

Broadus Lee Quinn, Korean War

 

Harry Sims Tessnear, WWII

 

thanks guys

the Army made you who you are

she lives in my heart

 

and always will

tiny step by tiny step

I try to walk by faith

inch by inch

I try to move by trust

grace by grace

I try to shift by hope

 

 

God can

God can:

Eradicate sin and replace with goodness

Eliminate fear and increase faith

Stop dread and allow looking forward

Remove darkness and unleash light

Release strongholds and replace with fresh mercies

Restore faith and fortify life

Replenish blessings with unbelievable grace

Cultivate love and grow empathy

Teach compassion and demonstrate caring

Encourage forgiveness and promote charity

i am ok but it's time to educate people about Alzheimers Disease

Everyone keeps checking in to see if I’m okay. Is it weird that I am okay? I don’t think I’m too broken because I was already broken from the past years dealing with her health, mind, decline and so forth. I had already lost my mother. She wasn’t dead but she could no longer really communicate, respond or participate in life with me.

Yes, I miss her terribly but I have for quite some time. I did not have a mother for the last six years or so. She was already with Alzheimer when dad had his stroke. The decline sped up after dad died and the last couple years.

 

I read somewhere today that once you have Alzheimer you continue to decline until death. That’s exactly what happened. It’s a sad cruel disease. It sneaks up on you stealing little thoughts and memories. Then it begins to steal days and eventually people, even your own family and best friends. Then it removes your abilities to dress yourself, feed yourself and at some point interest in food is gone completely. What surprises many people, is why Alzheimer kills; it is the simple reason that the brain is the computer of a body. It tells the body how to move, the lungs to breathe, the tongue and throat how to chew and swallow and for heart to pump blood through the body. We take our bodies for granted. God is a masterful artist, scientist, designer, and creator.

If only God could tell us how to cure it. For years my family was terrified of cancer. They wouldn’t even say the word. Now, every time someone forgets something, they say, “It’s not that. I don’t have it.”  Sadly, one of mom’s two remaining sisters is following the same pattern. She can’t see it. She doesn’t want to start the medicine. She doesn’t want to think about it, if she can.

 

This is the many faces of Alzheimer.

       

                                        terror          dissatisfaction      manic               disinterested

 

 

Emotions change rapidly and caregiving takes love, patience and understanding. The caregiver goes through the same emotions as the afflicted. I don’t think I should share these photos but I must. People need to understand the horror of Alzheimers Disease.

comfort in God's word

 

the family continues to heal and live with loss

the family leans on God and his word

the family prays

the family checks in on each other

the family sticks together

Written for me to share

if you aren't familiar with the ee cummings poem (I carry your heart), please read it.....

reflections after Mom's passing

 

 

Life weary

I am tired but

God hold me and I rest in his embrace if only to the end of this sentence

 

Lost, broken

In need of repair but

God can glue the pieces of my life together with his own super glue

 

Hurt, questioning

I am still confused by life but

God has the balm and answers to every pain and inquiry

 

Dark, scared

I tremble but

God is my light and protector

trying to heal

with the Joy-Fall time of year

through

art,

prayer,

and

faith

How much can the human heart take?

Mom has barely been put to rest. I have barely caught my breath. Another loss, her brother passed this morning after a battle with brain cancer. Had his heart broken? Did he lose his spirit? Was he just tired like mom and no longer able to fight?

God knows all the answers. God has the peace. God has the love.
We must keep the faith.

we are healing

and mom is healed......

 

 

 

the little boy in HEAVEN IS FOR REAL

says everyone is young in heaven........

today

My mom passed today. I was not with her but her sisters were. it was an easy passing. She is now with dad and all the others missed for so long.

 

Vember Christine Allred Quinn

October 11, 1929 - October 20, 2017

 

Rest in peace dear mother

a Mother's light dims

My mother is dying. (We are from the first breath but by this I mean soon.) Mom is now receiving Hospice care at Carillon Assisted Living and Garden Place memory care. I pray this is good especially with me going to Kiawah for a week. I also pray that she doesn’t pass while I’m gone. I’m glad we have this opportunity. This will be good for me going into this last journey with mom. I may get the pre-respite I need for the long haul. Hospice comes in when the person seems to be within 6 months of death. I know this is inevitable. I’ve known it for some time. As I read the Hospice booklet of grief and the end, I now know that some of the things I’ve noticed were not imaginary. When she stares into space she may be seeing a glimpse of heaven, loved ones already there or the proverbial “white light.” I also know that some of her pained looks are the pains of the body shutting down. Her tears are sadness over uncertainty and leaving this world. The smiles are glimpses of the joys still found in this life and the beauty of heaven above.

 

Some may wonder why I did not cancel my trip. Well, only God knows when her last day will be. I do need to find some peace that can carry over to the end. I have also had so much pain and trouble and fear and anger over the past eight years caring for Dad and Mom. God knows what was, what is coming, and what will be. I trust that God. His grace is a gift I have received many times over. His mercy is fresh every day. His love is constant.

 

Mom has had a long life. She has had many wonderful blessings: a loving family (mother and father), two sisters and three brothers, a loving husband for nearly sixty years who preceded her in death, a daughter who cared for her well-being and happiness, and a grandson who adored her and numerous friends who wanted to be close. She worked hard in textiles to care for her family and put her daughter through college. Music was her other great love. She played by ear most of her life but took lessons in later years. She worked in her garden, rooting roses even. She received her high school diploma the same year she retired, a life-long goal.

A faithful believer, she prayed and recited the 23^rd Psalm daily. She taught Sunday school and sang in choirs. She attended women’s ministries. She supported her family with Christian teaching and advice. She was a listener, encourager, and adviser to many. When the light that is a mother dims, the daughter’s dims as well.

 

My beautiful Mother!

She is 88 today. She has Alzheimers. She is still very sweet and always happy to see me which is great comfort to me. She is on the Alz hall at Carillon (a wonderful memory care facility).

 

 

God's already there...all you must do is......

Fall GELLI Fun

God has all our days in his hands!

stay in HIS LIGHT

 

even on dark days!

a friend sticks closer than a brother

anxiety creeps in any crack in your person BE CAREFUL

Fall Bullet List

 

·         We are all invited to sit at Christ’s table.

·         Don’t think you can

·          understand it all this side of heaven.

·         Everything happens according to God’s plans.

·         Trust God with your life and everything will be good. (Not perfect) but very god!

·         Enjoy the blessings of each day.

·         Have hot coffee in the warm sun on a chilly fall day.

·         Stare at the blue sky and marvel. Look straight up. God’s canopy is amazing.

·         Thank God often. (Write him a letter and leave it somewhere.)

·         Express God’s love in simple ways to those in need.

·         Worship God outdoors.

·         Forgive and accept forgiveness.

·         Read the scriptures and find God’s message for your life.

·         PRAY AND PRAY SOME MORE!

·         Expect miracles.

·         Smile at strangers. Especially  those who aren’t smiling.

·         Hug someone and feel a hug from God.

·         Give an unexpected gift for no occasion.

·         Use your super powers for good.

·         Create something from love and give it away.

·         Find life’s meaning in nature.

·         Make technology a sermon. (Send a text that you prayed for them or send them scripture or quote)