The Good, The Bad, and The Blessed

Last weekend was the graduation of my niece, Angela, from Abilene Christian University. I can't believe that four years have come and gone!!! She has grown so much and is a lovely Christian woman and I am so proud of her!!

She has a special friend, "Paulie", that graduated in May and they seem to be very close!! :) "Paulie's" mother and sister drove all the way from Tennessee to see Angela graduate. Because Ken and I have 3 guest rooms, they were invited to say with us. I really didn't mind but I had so much to do on Saturday that I told my sister-in-law that there was no way I was going to be able to entertain them and that they would be on their own. They were all good with that.

On Saturday morning, my plan was to get up.....make a light breakfast.....visit just a little to be polite....then go and get all my shopping done and errands run. WELL.....that isn't exactly what happened. Once I sat down and visited with "Paulie's" mom and sister....I fell in love with them. They were so kind and we had a lot in common. We sat around, my brother and his family and Cindy and Katelyn, "Paulie's" mother and sister. We shared old Christmas stories, talked about our families and extended families. It was as if we had been friends for ever.

                                                           My new friends....Katelyn, Cindy, Angela and Paul ("Paulie")

Before they came, I had been freaking out about the house and how I hadn't been able to get it all cleaned the way I wanted.....stressing about them being there while I had so much to do to get ready for Christmas. But as we were sitting around visiting, all of my stress and anxiety over getting everything done on my list just didn't seem matter. 

The Sunday before, Jarrod our pulpit minister, talked about Peace as part of Advent. Jesus was born to give us peace.....not to cause all the stress we feel this time of year. Christmas isn't about rushing around to make sure everything is done and all the presents are wrapped and delivered. We celebrate Jesus' birth and the great gift God has given to us. Jarrod encouraged us to slow down and spend more time sharing our hearts with others rather than buying the perfect gift. This is what it felt like visiting with Cindy and Katelyn!! I stayed with them all day and it was one of the best days I have had in a long time. I feel blessed to know them and to call them true friends of mine.

Saturday night we gathered to celebrate Angela and her completion of College!!! It was a lot of fun and maybe a little emotional for her parents but we made a few jokes and they were laughing and smiling again.

On Tuesday, December 16th, I celebrated a birthday. It was a really great day and I felt extremely blessed by all the calls, texts and Facebook messages and posts. I got to spend the night watching my youngest granddaughter in her Christmas program.

                                 Addison was very excited that both Memaw and Granny got to be there to watch

Over the days following my birthday, I felt extremely blessed.....All of our children are happy and in good places in their lives. Our grandchildren are strong and healthy. I was feeling just overwhelmed with the blessings God has bestowed upon me and so very thankful.

I shared my feelings with Ken and we said a prayer of thanksgiving for all that God has blessed us with. But I made the statement that as good as things were, "life" was going to happen again. We live in a fallen world and bad things are going to happen to "blessed" people. God never promised that we would be sorrow free and that we wouldn't have any difficulties. God just promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. 

Now for the bad news....Yesterday Ken and I found out that the biopsy's done on his prostate last week came back positive....Ken has prostate Cancer. Totally caught me off guard....I never expected them to be positive!!! I was very emotional last night and I am really scared of losing Ken to this dreaded disease. Today I am feeling a little numb, still scared, but fearful that the Cancer is other places in his body. I mean.....how can you tell that you have Cancer when you feel so good?? 

On January 8th, Ken will have a bone scan and a CAT scan. This will let the doctor know if the Cancer is contained in his prostrate of if we are dealing with more Cancer spots. We will go back to see the doctor on the 12th to get the results of the tests and hopefully make plans to have his prostate removed the end of January first of February. I ask that you keep us in your prayers and that the Cancer is contained and doesn't show up anywhere else in Ken's body.

As hard as this is, I believe with all my heart that God will take care of this and that He can heal Ken. I believe that God has plans for Ken and for myself and this is just a bump in our journey here on earth.

Until we find out the results of the scans.....I choose to count my blessings......EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! I choose to praise God through this difficult time.....I choose to give thanks for the things God is doing in the lives of our kids and loved ones.....and most of all I choose to love the Lord with all my heart and keep my eyes on Him.

From my corner of the world.....choosing to have a thankful heart!!

FROM DUCKS TO TURKEY

 

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while.....I have been rather down and out.....well......not really.....sort of.......out of routine......well like.....not being connected.....honestly I don't what I have been.....just no ME!!!

I haven't been working since around the 21st of October and I have spent that time....looking for a job.....and spending lots of time reflecting on me, my life, priorities, commitments, my relationship with God.....kind of like a sabbatical of sorts. It has been good and it has been bad....probably more good than bad but there were struggles as I reflected on God's will in my life. 

 

I am happy to say I now have a job....starting on Monday I will be working at Prosperity Bank as a Floater. I will be working as a teller and working in new accounts. I will be traveling to area branch offices working when they have people out. I am looking forward to meeting lots of people and being back in the banking world. Most of all I am looking forward to seeing what God has in-store for this new journey.

 

Those of you that have read my blog for very long know that I am a huge fan of Ducky Dynasty and the Robertsons. I have read all their books. I appreciate their commitment to the Lord and to their family.....two things that I hold dear to my heart.....striving to keep Lord the center of my life and being there for my family.

 

On November 1st Ken and I met our youngest daughter and her friend at Chuy's in Fort Worth. After dinner we went downtown to the Convention Center to hear Phil Robertson and his son Alan speak. We were surprised to see Miss Kay, as she came along on the trip to Fort Worth and made a brief appearance.

 

                                                       

 

Alan spoke first and I was a little disappointed that his time as well as Phil's was controlled by an emcee that asked questions. Miss Kay came on stage between Alan's time and Phil's time. It was a lot of fun to see and hear them speak.

 

 

I realized that when listening to Phil and Alan answer questions, they took every opportunity to speak of God and His saving grace. Phil particularly spoke of God's love and His sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.It was like they couldn't wait to talk about their love for God......something that I really need to work on. It was evident in everything they said and referred to.

 

After the Ducks spoke, Matthew West performed. It was really a great night!!!

For Thanksgiving my brother and his family came to our house and all four of our kids and their families where at our house on Thanksgiving Day. We made lots of memories and ate way more than we should have. 

 

 

After the Cowboy game, Linley, Lukas, Cooper, Kamryn and myself went to see Penguins of Madagascar. Cute movie and we had so much fun!!

Well this brings me up to date. Even though over the last six weeks I have struggled while taking a step back and looking at who I was and was my will inline with God's will, I feel extremely blessed!!!

From my corner of the world....feeling thankful!!!!