My Journey

I have both a poem and a song for you today. Hope you enjoy.

My Journey
Written by Joan G***** 10/19/2007
As I looked in the mirror that was placed on my heart’s core.
I took a walk down a not often strolled path, to memory shore.
There was a cross at the edge of the path just as I entered in.
It was there for me to empty my large collection of unrepented sin.
Choking vines of sin, that attest to the life once I did live.
But on each leaf the blood stained words were written, I forgive.
And as I strolled along, in that somehow familiar place.
I realized how much that I had used, Jesus’ wonderful grace.
There were delicate flowers on a weary looking tree limb.
On each tiny white petal, the word hope was written on them.
I saw doorways that had written on them the words, lost chances.
I couldn’t see inside them, for they were blocked by many branches.
I noticed at times the path got very stony, it hurt to take another step.
But I heard a familiar voice say to me, I was always there to help.
There was a pool of dark water, that I had to step over to get about.
I didn’t think I could do it, then I saw the name of the pool, it was doubt.
Then as I took my courage and leaped with all my might, I knew I had won.
For I heard that same familiar voice say, my faithful servant well done.
There is a fountain in this place, that pure water flows from.
I’ve never thirsted again, since that first time that I drank some.
As I stand on this path I can see a faint light, always ahead of me.
And as I walk faithfully toward it, the brighter it seems to be.
As I exit the path of memory, and I still see that light brightly burn.
I know that the light is Jesus, and I’m waiting for His return.
The path of life is not always smooth, nor is it always straight.
But I must in fact walk on it, till I reach Heaven’s golden gate.

God Bless, love hugs kisses

Willard and Joan sings

For your enjoyment, Here's a little number by Willard and I.
I will meet you in the morning.

God bless, love hugs kisses

Life

Here's another poem for you , please enjoy
Life
I was thinking just the other day how short my life has been.
And all those that I have loved, I recall in my mind again.
And the thought came to my head and this is what it was.
In fifty years from now would anyone have a cause.
To even remember who I was, or even have a care.
To know the life I led, would any be aware?
Would my life mean anything to those that I leave behind?
Would I have left a mark at all on mankind?
And as I thought of this, a feeling shot through my soul.
Life is just a moment in the fabric of time, just a pinhole.
We live, and in a blink of eternity’s eye we are gone.
To a place where clocks and time just don’t belong.
And a joy beyond all joys just settled all over me.
As I thought of just how long eternity would be.
And to think of how I have worried in this life.
Of all the things that has caused me any strife.
And you know I have to laugh a little, but still the same.
I should be very humble for such is my shame.
I didn’t trust God enough to just enjoy my being.
I thought there was always more life to be seeing.
Never satisfied as I walked through this one chance.
While it was life for me, to God only a glance.
Oh how I failed living in such bitter disgrace.
But thank God for His wonderful, amazing grace.
For He is forgiving and He will lead me on.
And someday to stand before His throne.
And as He sees His own blood that has justified .
Flowing so wonderfully in me inside.
He will welcome me home, through His wondrous love.
And to be with Him in His home above.
And as I think again of what I left, did I succeed?
Why yes, I left you this poem for all to read.
Written by Joan ****** May 2nd 2007


God Bless , love hugs kisses

From Jerry

The picture is of Laurel and her new grand baby, My brother reports on Laurel's health as follows....

Laurel had an appointment in Pittsburgh today to do some test for her Parathyroid. The doctor found that she needs to have one removed and also she has a thyroid that may have cancer due to the radiation she had for her breast cancer. He said it is best to remove it now because the only treatment for it is removal if there is cancer. she will have to take medication the rest of her life when the thyroid is removed. She has an appointment on 2 Sept.

Please say a pray for her

GOD BLESS Love Hugs Kisses

This special place

Hope you all enjoy another one of my poems.

This Special Place
Written by Joan ****** 09/20/2007

The voice I hear so soft and gentle, as the spirit speaks to me.
And the comfort I feel, makes me forget my human frailty.
That’s where I find that wonderful atoning grace, my God in thee.
As I pray to you my God, in the stillness, where no one else can see.
Down on my knees, Where all honor to You Lord, I bestow.
For that price on the cross You paid, some many years ago.
I give You praise and honor Lord, for You deserve it so.
Yes Honor to You dear gracious Lord, is only what I show.
It’s here in the quietness of this place that I begin my day.
Here in this wonderful place that I am taught the way.
Here on my knees, I humble myself to You Lord, and pray.
It’s here Lord that You show me, everything will be okay.
And I thank You Holy Lord, for this time I spend to renew.
And I thank you for this feeling that can come from only You.
And Lord there’s just one more thing, for me that You can do.
Let many others find this special place, Lord let them find it too.

God Bless love hugs kisses

Prayer desperately needed

when you finish reading this, I want you to stop and please say a prayer for a friend of mine . His name is David , he has a wife Gloria , and three beautiful daughters . David has cancer, and is in very bad shape, He is in constant pain. Gloria his wife is staying by his side, and his daughters are there as much as they can be. This family needs our prayers right now so much. And I ask you all, Please write the name David on your prayer list. Write it on a stickup and put it somewhere , where you will see it often. and every time you see it send a prayer up for this family.

If it weren't for people praying for me, in my time of despair , I don't know where I would be today.

I believe in prayer, I believe that the prayers of others avails much.

Thank each and every one of you. May God bless you all,

love hugs kisses

Angie's Birthday 26th of July

Yes, on the 26th, Angie will be another year older. Happy Birthday Angie. Here's a little something for you.

God Bless, love hugs kisses

Family pictures

I thought I would put on a poem that I wrote a few years ago, I hope you enjoy it.
Family Pictures
Looking over family pictures and at peace I come to be.
As I look at the faces of the ones who mean so much to me.

Each face brings back a memory of what once use to be.
Of those now much older, of those from life set free.
I look at the one of my mother and a tear forms in my eye.
As I remember how I miss her, trying so hard not to cry.
I know she was a Christian, and I’ll see her again by and by.
But now I only have her picture, and I turn the page as I sigh.
Here’s the one of my children so many years ago.
All lined up like stair steps and standing straight in a row.
Knobby knees and bony arms and smiles that would glow.
When did they grow into the adults that I now know.
And granny and grandpa, the picture was taken at their farm.
You can see crops in the background and all seemed so calm.
Grandpa, now he’d never smile, standing stiff with folded arm.
By his side stood my sweet granny with all her gentle charm.
Here’s the one of my stepfather, Jerry Koonce was his name.
He treated me as his own child and loved us all the same.
He was there to push the swing or play the baseball game.
He was all the dad us children wanted, he needed no other fame.
Oh and here’s one of me so many years of sunshine and rain.
Before housework, motherhood and just all the daily strain.
And some would say they’d want to go back and be that young again.
But me, I’m happy with my life. I have no more to gain.
There’s someone else except I’ve no picture that I can view.
I have a description, maybe you’ve heard of Him too.
The description is in the Bible the books we all knew.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Romans are a few.
They say He died a young man at the age of thirty-three.
And the reason of His dieing was to save you and me.
I believed and received Him and He set my soul free.
And even with no picture, He’s still a dear friend to me.
His name is wonderful, counselor, a Savior to us all.
He gives me peace and comfort when on my knees I Fall.
And He’s always there for me no matter the times I call.
I only know this wonderful man Jesus, is my all in all.

Written by Joan ******
April 2006

God Bless love hugs kisses

You can't pray for every one.

It was said my David Jeremiah one time that, ''(you can not pray for every one)'', and it's so true . But God knows each person and their burdens. He knows each happiness , each sadness , each hurt that we , as human mortals have . He knows our thoughts before we ever think them . He knows our sins, ever the ones that we have forgotten. And He will bring those sins to remembrance, so we may confess and repent of them.

We have such a great and mighty God, and yet we take our relationship with Him so lightly. We spend hours a day talking to other mortals, either in person or on the phone, but yet most people give God ten minutes a night before we go to sleep, if even that many. I'm ashamed to say that if I don't watch myself I will easily fall into that habit too. Praying is not always easy, nor is it always pleasant especially when you know that you have sinned against God Almighty again and again. It's during those prayers that God talks to us and gives us instructions. He nourishes our very souls, We come away from the prayer refreshed and stronger spiritually, ready to face another day.

So pray for who you can, even though you can't pray for everyone you can pray for a few, and pray for me too.

God Bless love hugs kisses

Pulling my hair out

Have you ever noticed that a business will go out of their way for you before you sign a contract? But after you but your ink stain on that dotted line the service goes from "what can I do for you" to you're just a needle in a pill of hay that no one cares about or wants to look for, metaphorically speaking that is. I had the Directv cut off, due to having to stay in a budget. And as I said when I was signing up for it , they were johnny on the spot, metaphorically speaking again. But when I called to have it cut off and all, they transferred me from person to person, hoping ""I think"" to keep me moving about from department to department until I got tired and just forgot about the whole thing. And when I did "finally" get transferred to the right department, they try all the tricks of the trade to get me to stay. Oh they offered me all kind of goodies, And as I listened to all the good things that they offered, I got more furious by the second. Why could they not have given us all that to start with? And finally once I had the account closed, the same day I get two calls from them, still wanting to reinstate my account.

I really did feel like pulling my hair out. lol

God Bless love hugs kisses

Memories

There is a special person that pops up in my memories quite often. He's my stepfather Jerry. Now Jerry, he was a quite man. I never heard him raise his voice to any one. He was one of those people that you only find every once in a very long while. You know the kind that wants to do for others, and ask nothing in return. He was a dedicated family man, His family's needs came first, he always did put himself at the bottom of the list.

If any of my brother's or my sister Jean should read this I know that one of their favorite memories of Jerry will be Whataburgers on Friday's. He always made sure that we all had one day a week where we could go out and enjoy ourselves together as a family. Even when money was tight, when he got home on Friday's from work, we would all pile in his car and go get a whataburger. I don't know whether it was the burgers or the fact that we as a family were doing something together that made it so special.

He was a giant of a man in my eyes, And I will always miss him.

I really believe that God has a special place for this saint of a man.

God Bless love hugs kisses

Happy belated Birthday Alexis

July 19th was also I have learned today,Jean's granddaughter Laura's, Baby girl Alexis's birthday. I hope that ALexis had a good birthday and I wish her many blessing from Heaven this and each year of her life. May she have joy and love in her life every day.

God Bless love hugs kisses

My favorite verse

My favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The design of God in sending his Son into the world was to redeem us from sin.
We magnify God by just accepting His wonderful gift to us. To have the knowledge that even though I’m not perfect, and make mistakes everyday. Because of God’s wonderful gift of His only begotten Son, and by my faith in him, I am not condemned to suffer for those sins.
Mind you though, I try very hard not to sin, I try hard not to do things that will make God displeased with me. It’s because that I love God so much, that as a daughter would want to please a earthly father because of love, I want to please my Heavenly Father for the same reason. God has been so good to me, how could I not love Him.
He sees into my heart, He knows that I have many, many shortcomings, and yet there is no condemnation because I am in Christ Jesus, His son. And those that are set free from condemnation by Jesus Christ are free indeed.

God Bless

love to the loveless

hugs to the lonely

kisses to the hurting

Fifty dollars

Here's a little something from Frances, It is so funny.
Thanks Frances

Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, And every year Morris would say,'Esther, I'd like to ride in that helicopter.' Esther always replied, 'I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, And fifty dollars is fifty dollars' One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, 'Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.' To this, Esther replied, 'Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.' The pilot overheard the couple and said, 'Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word it's fifty dollars.' Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, But still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, 'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!' Morris replied, 'Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, But you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars!'

God Bless, love hugs kisses

Happy Birthday David

Today is David's Birthday

Happy Birthday son, I wish you Joy and love

God Bless love,hugs,kisses

alert to prank phone calls

There is some people that are trying to get information about peoples ss# and they are trying to get people to say yes or no on the phone so that they may record the voices and use on these automated services. Please be aware of these people. My two calls was a man of foreign decent, that may say things to you like your spouse is running around on you , anything to get you to say yes or no. and again, what sounded like the same man wanting my ss# before he could continue the call.
The strange part and the most disturbing part is there is absolutely nothing showing on caller ID. It's as if no one was calling. whoever they are, knows how to get around caller ID.
So please be very careful.
love, hugs, kisses

Letting go

I have a friend Susan, who has a son that is grown, and she is having the same trouble as I am as far as letting go. You raise a child to maturity and here he is not knowing nearly enough to survive this world. And us parents we have learned so much that "if" our children would listen, we could teach them so much. But they as we all did, want to do everything their own way. It's hard for us as parents to let go, and let them make mistake after mistake. We want to jump in and rescue them out of all their troubles and ills. David will be 24 the 19Th of this month, just three days away. And it has took me this long to realize that by helping him out of all the messes he gets himself in, is just enabling him to repeat again and again the same mistakes. I'm letting go, just as I have with my other four sons, Kenneth, Donald, Bobby & Michael. It's time that David be responsible for David, and Mom and Dad to stand in the background and watch him either succeed or fail. What ever happens, he will know that it was he himself, and he alone will take the credit or the blame.

At sixty years old, I'm finally finished with raising children. hmmm What now? all I've known ever since I was seventeen years old has been taking care of, and raising children.

hmmm.

love hugs kisses

green thumb

My green thumb come from shelling peas all day yesterday, and sore too.

And speaking of green thumbs I have told people many times in the way yonder past and the not so distance past that one could root gardenias simply by putting them in water. I usually get that I've tried it and it doesn't work for me. or the look, ""she doesn't know what she's taking about'''. Well, as they say the proof is in the pudding. As all can see these gardenias have started to root, I placed them in the water two weeks ago.

And as just about everyone knows, gardenias are a fast growing bush. One of these rooted plants will be grown in three years or less if you want to trim and keep them small. So root yourself a gardenia from a neighbor's bush and bring sweet aroma to your yard each spring.

God Bless, love hugs kisses

Happy Birthday Jennifer

I am going to be so busy tomorrow, that I will put Jennifer's Birthday wish on today. Jennifer is Jean's grandaughter. The daughter of Kathy and Mark.

Jennifer I wish you the very happiest birthday.

May God bless your life with joy and love.

God Bless

love hugs kisses

From Frances

This is a little story that Frances, My brother's wife sent me. It will make you think. Please take time to read it. God Bless, love hugs kisses

I wish you Enough !
Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'
The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed.. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'
They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'
Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye'.
'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.
When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'
He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone..' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
He then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.
Take Time To Live..
To all my friends and loved ones, I wish you Enough !

From Jean

Its Saturday July 11 johnny came home today he is in a lot of pain but he has medicine for that and it makes it tolerable. he has still got a long way to go .They said it would take about six months for him to heal so we are going to take one day at the time please keep us in your prayers love you all

Jean, I know that you will be busy taking care of Johnny for a few days, But don't forget to take of yourself too. Love you

God Bless , love hugs kisses

Jesus said to love one another

Jesus said before He ascended up to Heaven that we were to love one another. But I ask you this question, If we are to love each other why, oh why, do we hurt each other so much. Our mouths are the echo of our hearts. And as I see person after person speaking evils against others, I wonder why we all do it. I am just as guilty as the next, for letting my mouth run amok. I've been on the receiving end of other's mouths, and I have been the one that as I said, lets my mouth go uncensored.

I've come to the conclusion that we all do it to make ourselves and our egos feel better. But in reality, we are lowering ourselves to the lowest possible degree.

Every one of us have things that others disagree about. While my home has got that well lived in look, someone else's home is a show place. Is this any reason that the showplace home owner should speak ill of me? What am I hurting the owner of that home? Or should I speak ill of the showplace home owner because of their neatness.

I give you this example because it is a true example, but there are millions on things that we as human beings do differently. Let's not tear each other up by our petty differences.

Friends, let us just follow in Jesus' footsteps and love one another and look over the small stuff.

God Bless love,hugs,kisses

Happy birthday Brooklyn

Yesterday was Brooklynn's birthday, I am so sorry that I missed putting it on yesterday. I was so busy doing things that it got shuffled and then forgotten, Again I am so sorry.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn

Surf City Children's fishing competition

It's good when businesses get the children involved. My great niece Jessie Motley was involved in a fishing contest at Surf City pier last week end. She loves to fish and has caught some right good size fish in her time. This day she wasn't as blessed with the big fish that she would have wanted. But she did catch a flounder. Most of all she was blessed with a good time with her Mom , My niece Debbie. It looks like the big thing caught today was a bonding of mother and daughter, and that's always a blessing.

Prize won.

To see all the pictures taken that day, go to

http://www.surfcityoceanpier.com/

God Bless. Love Hugs Lisses

Jack we will miss you

Well they buried Jack today. It's hard to put the sorrow I feel into words. He was such a kind individual. He always had kind things to say to everyone. Knowing how I feel about my friend, I just can't imagine the the awful hurt that his wife Barbara, his son Jackie , Yvonne and Shawna his two daughters are feeling today.

Jack was one of those that treated people kindly. I can see in my mind's eye, the beam on his face as he smiled that wonderful smile of his. He always had a cheerful disposition when I was around. I don't ever remember seeing a frown on his face.

He was a man that did much for his community. His life's achievements were, National Guard, during which that time he was named Soldier of the Year for North Carolina and Tennessee.
He also served four years in the US Navy.
He was a member of Concord Masonic Lodge since 1962, and served as Master of the Lodge in 1969. He was a member of the York Rite, and was a Shriner. He was a long time member of the Speed Ruritan Club.

Again I want to express to his family my very deepest sympathies.

God Bless, Love,hugs,kisses

From Jean

Just got home from hospital. Johnny is doing good the surgery went well he will be in hospital about 3 or 4 days its according on now well he can get around.I am going back tomorrow and I will not be back to he comes home. i had to come home today to get the swelling out of my feet and legs because they have been hanging down all day but they have a recliner in his room and I will be fine with it love you all

Johnny's surgery tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Johnny's back surgery, so please keep him in your prayers.

Johnny know that you are in our prayers. May God bless the surgeon's hand and all the other's that will be assisting him . And may God bless you with a quick recovery.

God Bless.

When preachers can't preach

I am troubled by what I heard on the radio this morning, very troubled. It seems that there is a vote that will be taking place when the Senate returns from it's vacation that, if voted yes, will change the very freedom that our ministers have to preach against sin. It seems that from what my understanding is of what I heard, It will be against the law for any person, including clergy, to make statements that homosexuals are living in sin and that what they do is unnatural .

You see, the trouble is that the word of God "THE BIBLE"clearly states this over and over again.

So the next thing I guess will be to band the Bible!

My friends it's time to wake up and smell the antichrists. Because they are many and they are doing everything they can to destroy God, and the freedom that we Christians have to worship in this society. If you do nothing else when you read this but pray, then pray my friend. Pray for every Christian that this world is trying to silence, and for the lost souls out there that may never hear the truth.

Let me make this one statement more. In Leviticus 18; 22-30. is just one of the many places in the Bible That CLEARLY defines the unnaturalness of homosexual behavior as an abomination. This passage is more read because it so clearly describes the unnaturalness of such behavior. There are many other places in the Bible that speaks of it as an abomination.
Abomination= something God hates.

God Bless Love,hugs,kisses

Some call it Heaven as sung by Joan

John 14:2 In my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.
Here's for you Jack

A better place for this saint of God.

Willard's sister Barbara's, husband died early this morning. Jack was a saint of a person. I just had his birthday wish on the other day, He turned 80 on June 3oth. How precious he was to so many people. I want to send my deepest sympathy to Barbara his wife, Jacky his son, Yvonne and Shawna his daughters, and also to the many grandchildren that will miss him so much.

I've got a lovely little address book that my son Kenneth's wife, Kim gave me some years back.

But as you can see the years have took their toll on this as it has on many other things, including me. lol It came in a box with the complete stationary kit. It was such a lovely gift. And I have always appreciated it.

Kim has such a knack for buying the perfect gift for people. She's definitely not like me, I buy the same gift for everyone. mostly because I hate to say, unlike Kim I don't have that knack for it.

So Kim if you might see this, Thank you. And you might consider this Christmas getting me at lease another address book, lol. Just kidding.

God Bless Love,hugs,kisses

My Bible, and what it means to me.

My Bible got messed up some how, The first section ""1 out of 20"" of the it fell out this morning when I opened it. Now for Love's sake, I'm not going to point any fingers, Someone else was looking in my Bible yesterday to get some notes. I take notes and either write them directly in my Bible or use post-its if there is more notes than I can write on a page.

Well any way, It's at times like this that we realize what our Bibles mean to us, isn't it? It's like a good companion that has been wounded, or a close friend hurt. I thought about getting me a new one, and then I bowed my head and prayed. I really did! I asked God what to do about my friend and companion that I spend many hours a day with. And when I finished my prayer, I knew that I couldn't part with it. So I got the transparent tape out and started mending. It doesn't look as good as I would like it to look, but you know, It's a story in itself. If by chance, anyone ever ask me about the wound that my Bible suffered, I will tell them how much the word of God means to me, and explain what a good companion my Bible has been to me.

A Strong relationship with the Lord depends on, Prayer and reading His word. The Bible is our map, our guide, our teacher and so much more. I hope that each and every one of you feel about the word of God as strongly as I do

God Bless

Love to the loveless, Hugs to the lonely,kisses to the hurt

James get learning permit

I guess we all remember the day we either got our learning permit, or us older generation our licences.

Well my grandson James stepped a little into manhood the other day. He too has received his learning permit.

James here's saying how proud I am of you. And please son drive careful. The next old lady you miss hitting on the road just may be me. lol

much love to you James, and all your family.

Love,hugs,kisses

Happy 4th everyone

Independence day is a time for me to reflect how we received our freedom, And what the patriarchs of our country started it out to be. What I think is that the United States was began as a Christian nation. And God has blessed us because of it. But now since the country is so rapidly turning away from the word of God to other less culpable teachings, God has also turned away from us. Even our president is for abortion, for same sex unions, Our supreme court makes sure that the law stays in place where any teen can have an abortion without the parents even knowing about it, much less give their opinion to their on minor child.

We won the freedom to live ungodly, didn't we?

Oh well, Any way Happy Independence day.

News from Angela

Here's an update from Angela. It seems that this little family is going through it's share of burdens.
Angela please keep faith sweety, Call on Jesus and know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will never desert you. He's always by your side.
With much love, God bless.

Hi Aunt Joan.

Just wanted to touch base with you and give you an update on what's going on here so that you can update the family. First we got a call from Alanna's doctors in Minnesota telling us that they want to do a surgery called a pancreatectomy and auto islet cell transplant on Alanna in November. November 16th to be exact. During this 10 hour surgery they remove Alanna's pancreas and harvest the islet cells which will be injected into her liver and within time her liver will start to produce insulin much like her pancreas would. However, she will be forced to take enzyme pills with every bite of food she takes for the rest of her life since she will no longer have the pancreas to produce these enzymes to digest her food. She will also be out of school approximately 2 months.

Howard also is to be scheduled very soon to have the nerves cut running to his pancreas in hopes of getting rid of his everyday pain. This surgery which is approximately 2-3 hours long they will collapse his lungs, be put on a ventilator so that the doctors can reach the nerves. He will also be out 4-6 weeks. Our hope is to get him off the narcotics which he must take several times per day. (2 different types of narcotics, 1 every 4-6 hours and the other every 6 hours. The only thing is there is a 50/50 chance the first surgery will work. If they cut the wrong nerves, then they have to go back in and cut more. This procedure unfortunately is not permanent. The nerves will usually regenerate themselves in 2-3 years and this surgery cannot be repeated once all the nerves are cut the first time. After that 2-3 year period we have no idea what the next options are except for a pancreas transplant.

Grandpa Stewart, (Mom's Dad) finished his last "weekly" treatment yesterday for his Bladder Cancer and from what I understand will just have to get one a month from here on out. He seems to be holding up well. But I guess I am much like him by not showing my daily pain and frustration. So if he's hurting he is certainly not telling anyone. But he is stubborn, that's why I love and respect him so much. Proud to be stubborn (I am sure I get a lot of that part from Dad too).

I had a epidural block yesterday for the herniated discs in my back and discovered that according to the doc are no longer working as they should therefore he has sent me back to the surgeon who I have to call on Monday and schedule an appointment with. He said what the next step for me is surgery, which is several options. A disketcomy (sp?), or various other options which all will have me out of work 4-6 weeks. I am hoping to put it off as long as possible, hoping to get Howard and Alanna's surgeries done and have them home healthy and happy, then do mine, which I hope to wait until after the first of the year. Until then, I have been prescribed 3 different pain medications. One med twice a day, the second 3x a day and the 3rd is 4x per day. I am hoping to get over the side effects of this medication which make me extremely tired.

On a good note, I finished my quarter with straight A's again and will be graduating with my bachelor's in legal studies right after the first of the year and will be graduating (if I keep my grades up) in the top 5% of my class. I have skipped right over the dean's list and jumped right to the president's list which means my GPA is nearly 4.0. After that I considered law school but don't think I have the stamina for that. So I will go on within a year or two after graduation and get my master's degree.

We are hoping to start a cookbook to raise money for Alanna's surgery which will be at the University of Minnesota. With hotel costs, meal costs, plane tickets, etc. Is estimated to cost over $10,000. I am hoping to get recipes together and get Stacy to bind, laminate, etc and sell the cookbook to family and friends.

I thought of an idea which I think is cute, is to gather all the recipes from children who have their own little "recipe" which is easy and written in their own handwriting with a picture that they draw of the finished recipe. I also was thinking about putting the child's picture with the recipe so they can have their own little published cookbook. I am thinking about asking my church along with several other in the area to help me out since I do not know a lot of children that are young enough to help with the project. Just ask family and friends to pray for the family. I know that they say God will not give you anything more in a day that you can't handle but he's really pushing his luck with me lately. LOL. My nerves are shot and all I can do is take is hour by hour. Day by day doesn't seem to be working anymore. So now at least I can say, this last hour was a good one, no bad news then. Just have to digest everything that has been handed to us over the last weeks. I was hospitalized the last week of May for exhaustion. They took my cell phone, laptop, everything so that I would do nothing but rest. Did that for 5 days. Mom and Dad were on vacation so they didn't know anything until they returned. By then of course, they were frantic. But I wanted them to enjoy their time away without worries of me. I am working very hard to get the rest I need to ensure that doesn't happen again. Which isn't hard lately with all the pills, all I do is sleep.

Take care, I hope all is well with the rest of the family. Please tell Aunt Jean happy belated birthday. I wasn't online the day of your post and am just getting to cleaning out my emails this morning. Tell her that Grandma is singing happy birthday to her too. I feel Grandma's presence all around me from time to time and keep remembering what she kept telling me every time I got knocked down as a child. "Just pick yourself up by your bootstraps and keep on going. No need to cry over a skinned knee." So I must say I own a pair of cowboy boots and wear them often, especially on days when I need to pull myself back up again. Her words still ring true to me 30 years later.

Love to all,
Angela

His Amazing Grace

I really haven't got much to say today, and no one has sent me any thing, so......... I've decided to put on a song that I wrote back in June of 2004. Hope you enjoy.

God Bless

love,hugs,kisses

Where's goverment sanity gone?

Okay, I spent the first part of yesterday in the dentist office waiting to get an abscessed tooth pulled. I was a walk in, so it took a while. The dentist that did my work was great, I forgot his name, but he works with Dr. Townsend over in Dunn. The tooth ended up to be a compacted. It was a back one, So you can imagine how the rest of my day went. ouch!

To get to my theme for today, as I was waiting in the waiting room, I picked up a National Geographic magazine and flipped through some pages. What caught my eye was a picture of a military dressed gentleman standing in the military stance at a golf bag with of course the golf clubs neatly arranged it the bag. It looked so official and all that I stopped to read. The words that popped out almost shocked me. Did you know that at Camp David, the Presidents golf bag and clubs are always kept on the ready, just in case the president wants to shoot a quick 9. There is a soldier standing gaurd over the bag at all times.

What a waste of tax payers money!

Just thought I'd let you know where you hard earned tax money is going.

God Bless and Love,Hugs,kisses