Yesterday we buried Janice. I don't know how anyone else felt. I can only say how I felt. I vowed to myself that for Danny's sake, and the girl sake, that I would hold it together. And I believe that I did pretty well. And I was thinking as we all stood at the graveside how devastated my brother Danny, and my nieces Angela and Stacy must be at that moment. Danny, after all the company has gone and the house empty, except for the echoes from the past. That's when it's going to really hit my brother. And my nieces, Angela and Stacy, who often talk to their mother about the problems that they had in their life, or tell her the exciting news of the day's event's. They will miss her so very much. It's going to be hard the next few days and months for the three of them. And I pray that God will be there to comfort them when they need it. A mother is a loss one never gets over. My mother died quite a few years ago, and I still miss her as if it were yesterday. I still cry often because I miss her so much. And you who have lost your mother know exactly what I'm talking about.

I want to say to my brother Danny, and to my nieces, Angela and Stacy. I believe with every fiber of my being that Janice is safe in the arms of Jesus.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ stated these words. I believe these words. I believe there is no death. I believe that Janice left her earthly body just as she took her last breath. And I believe that she was welcomed into heaven with angel’s harps, and Angel choirs. I believe that there were so many hallelujahs, and so many welcome home shouts that to us earthly beings it would have been deafening. I believe that as Janice walked through the Valley of the shadow of death, that she laughed at it shadows knowing there was no such thing for Christians as death. For she knew that a shadow can't harm you. I believe that Janice looked into the face of Jesus Christ and said, please don't let them be sad for me. Please let them have a happy life. Please let them know that I'm okay. Because Janice always did care more for others, then she did herself.

And here's to Janice, I'll see you when I get there. I love you.

Until next time I wish you all health and happiness, may God bless and may God save.

My niece Angela just wrote on Facebook that she was finishing the flower ordering for her mother's funeral, today. My heart is breaking for her, her sister Stacy and her dad, Danny, my brother. It's hard saying goodbye, especially to such a sweet woman. Janice was an inspiration to all that knew her. She was strong in faith, and she lived her faith every day. She had a kindness about her, and people could not help but love her. She never lost hope, in the five years that she was fighting stage IV breast cancer. She had a strength within herself that can only come from God. No matter what the conditions, she always had hope for tomorrow. When I was up there at St. Francis hospital the other week visiting her, she was making a list for what would be the Christmas Day meal. And as she was making the list she would stop at each item and laugh and smile and have something to say about the item. She would say an item, for example, cherry pie. Then she’d say something like, ”yea we gotta have that, because so-and-so loves cherry pie. It was a joy just watching her. She had joy in her heart just thinking about what a wonderful Christmas this would be.

Sadly, she didn't survive to have Christmas this year. If I were much younger, and more healthier, I'd get the list and have it framed, and each Christmas I would have that meal in remembrance of her. To celebrate her life, and remember her laughter and her smile.
Janice, was a giving person. She wanted to give something to each person that she loved. Willard will never forget how she had nothing to give him but a cookie. Now Willard didn't want to take the cookie, but she insisted. I don't think that he will ever forget it.
Each person that loves Janice will hold her deeply in their hearts, and although we mourn her passing, we celebrate her life.

Merry Christmas Janice.

Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

When forgiveness is hard.

Sometimes forgiveness is the very hardest thing in the world to do. But if we are truly Christians then we as followers of Christ have to forgive the man who killed those little angels in Connecticut.
Maybe you're thinking, there's no way I can forgive such a man, because he did such a heinous thing. It's going to be a hard thing for all of us to do. But if we truly want to be as Jesus, then we must freely, yes freely forgive even this man.
Can we not remember that even as Jesus Himself was being beaten, stripped naked and hung on the cross of Calvary to die a very cruel death.

Isa 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

  He prayed a prayer of forgiveness for the people who had done all that to Him.

Lu 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

According to my study of the Bible, that was the only time that Jesus spoke, from the time of his arrest until He said those final words" it is finished ". I believe that Jesus wanted us to know that if we dig deep enough within our hearts there is forgiveness there. And we must do that, we must reach deep in our hearts and somehow find forgiveness for the man who murdered all those children. Even though it seems like an impossible thing.
And too, I think this is a warning to each and every one of us. If we do not carry Jesus in our hearts. Then we leave our hearts wide open for evil to enter in.
Recall the Israelites, when they were serving God, God gave them anything that they would need. He gave them spiritual blessings, and he gave them earthly riches. Then when they would turn their backs on God, He would take all things away from them until finally there was nothing left but God to hold on to. The United States was serving God, but little by little we have turned our backs on God. We have taken him out of our schools out of our government, and many people have taken him out of their lives. God is now, slowly but surely taking all things away from us. It would be nice if He would only take it a way from those that did not serve him. But as the Bible states, when it rains on the ungodly it also rains on the Godly..
The young man that killed those children had turned his back on God. His heart was empty which left plenty of room for Satan to enter in. If you want someone to hate let it be Satan.
Many people are being controlled by evil, and they don't even know it. The hate that each one of us has in our hearts for that man is evil also. Think about it.
Heavenly father, I pray that You will be with the families and loved ones of those who died in Connecticut. I pray that you will be with the students and teachers that have to reenter the school building next week. I pray that you comfort each and every heart. Especially the parents of those little children who died before their time. Heavenly Father bless them, comfort them, and ease their pain. Heavenly father deliver us from evil such as the evil that had entered in to that young man. Heavenly father I pray for that young man's family also. The pain that is in their hearts from what their own family member has done, must be unbareable for them. Lord I know that in your word it is written. Romans 8: 28 –And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. But Lord, I'm finding it very hard, very hard indeed to find any good in what has happened in Connecticut. Heavenly father, We all have hurting hearts because what one man did. Help us all as a nation heal. Heavenly father, we love you and we need you in our lives. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all. Amen
until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, may God bless and God save.

I ran across this in one of my old post. It struck me as so funny, I decided to repost it.

Jesus is watching.
A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said,'Jesus knows you're here.'He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.When he heard nothing more , after a bit, he shook his head and continued.Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard'Jesus is watching you.'Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot.'Yep', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm just trying to warn you that he is watching you.'The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?''Moses,' replied the bird.'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of people would name a bird Moses?''The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.'

Hope you enjoyed. Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, may God bless and may God save the lost.

A Facebook friend of mine Kim Bullard Beasley, put this on today. It reminded me that no matter what your need may be, God has already provided and put it in place for you. You see, God knows what your needs will be on any given day, and He places it there for you to find. Sometimes He will put it in some very unusual places.

Remember in Exodus chapter 15, where the water was bitter, and of course the Israelites were murmuring as usual. Well, in verse

25 we can read where God had already placed the solution for the bitter water. And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them. And then again in 2nd Kings

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. You see, the Army with the horses and chariots were already in place. All God did was open the young man eyes where he could see them. I truly believe that there are things around us each and every day that if our eyes were opened, we would be amazed. I don't have to prove the point, I just have to have faith, and believe in God's unseen miracles. And to believe that no matter what my need may be today, God has already provided the answer for that need. And I will say this to any that are unsaved. Over 2000 years ago God provided salvation. He provided it when Jesus died on the cross and paid our sin debt. God provided eternal life for us, over 2000 years ago. Because when Jesus rose from the tomb, He defeated death! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is all we'll ever need. I know that you're getting tired of me saying this over and over again. But please, if you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I ask you to give it serious thought. Your very soul depends upon the decision that you make. I cry every night for the unsaved. I cry every night for you if you're unsaved. Jesus is calling for you. Answer that call , Please. Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

I was in the kitchen just a few minutes ago. I opened one of the sliced potatoes that Willard and I had canned last summer, so I could make potatoes au gratin. I needed the can opener to remove the sealed cap on the jar. Removing the opener from the drawer, I noticed that it just did not look the way it did when I bought it. You see, one side had the pointed opener to open juice cans etc. the other side was smooth to remove caps from jars etc. I inspected the thing to see what was looking so different to me. The opener had been pulled so hard that the pointed side had been straightened and was pressing against the smooth side. Usually they would swivel apart, but not anymore. You see my husband Willard is very strong, and does not know his own strength. And if things don't move as he wants them to the first time, he puts all his strength into it, and many times breaks things. I told him one day a few years ago, that he could not take an egg in his hand and squeeze upon it, and a break. Well, I was wrong, I had to get egg from my kitchen floor. The thing I love about Willard is he's just a strong in character as he is in muscle strength. Oh, I'm not saying he's perfect, but he's close enough. What I like about Willard is that he's the same no matter if he's home alone or in public. He doesn't curse at home, and he doesn't curse in public. He's kind at home and to anyone else he meets. I see many people put on airs and public, but at home their different. I'm glad I've got a husband who is honest with me, as well as to everyone else. In fact many people have made statements about his honesty. But most of all I thank God that I have someone that I can trust.
You know many people go about their lives thinking that the lies they tell are believed by the person or people that they tell it to. But I do want to say this, just because people don't confront you about your lies, doesn't mean that they don't know you're lying. So think about that the next time your mouth opens to tell what you know is not true.
Remember the story in Acts chapter 5 about Ananias and Sapphira. They paid dearly for their lies.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

I was watching Channel 11 news this morning, and they were showing about Black Friday sales at Walmart. These shoppers were pushing and shoving each other in a very vicious way to get to an item that was on sale. And I thought to myself if these people would fight over a sales item, what if there was a true disaster and people would have to fight for survival. What if one of those TV movies that show humanity in the future were to really come true. According to what I saw on Channel 11 news, there will be fighting and killing all around us.
But what really confuses me about human nature is this. When hurricane Sandy hit the jersey/ New York area, people were helping their neighbors. People were risking their own lives trying to save others. We humans are very hard creatures to understand. Some fight and claw to get a sales item, not caring who they hurt in their endeavor to save a few dollars. While the same ones, would risk their own lives trying to save someone in a disaster. As I say again, human nature just confuses me.
I think any of us could say, all but for the grace of God go I. I guess it's the circumstances that we put ourselves in, or we fall into. And I guess too, it's the state of mind that we are in at any given moment as to how we act. I know myself, all in all I'm a pleasant enough person. But hit me wrong when I'm having a bad day, and my pleasant personality can flip from nice to nasty. And when it does I always feel so embarrassed and so guilty. So, like I said, I guess it's the state of mind that we're in at any given moment.
And you know too, if we would keep Christ on our minds more, just maybe we would be nicer people more often. But still, fighting over sales items. Hurting other people to save a few dollars, is just beyond my understanding.

Romans Ro 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I guess God does understand humanity. Thats why Christ came. huh, To save us from ourselves.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

I saw on Facebook where people are stating what they are grateful for. And many of these are very sweet thank you's. Most of us are thankful for our families and our children. And I assure you, other than thankful for Christ, being thankful for our families and friends is most important. There are many people around this time of year, Thanksgiving and Christmas those minds are on loved ones they have lost. One of which is my brother-in-law JC.  Joyce who was Willard's sister, passed away a little over a year ago. JC is still having a very hard time without her. And I know that this Thanksgiving and Christmas is going to be very hard for him. I have a Facebook friend, Kathy Spriggs, who lost her son, what seems to me was a couple of Years ago, but I'm really not sure about the amount of time that has passed. I cannot imagine what she, and many other parents who have lost their children go through on a daily basis. And I am sure that this time of year brings much sadness to their hearts. And I do want Kathy and any other parent, spouse, or slibling, in any situation to know that I may not know your name, and I may not know the circumstances, but I do pray for you every day.
While trying to come up with a thank you for the many blessings that God has given me. I have discovered that there are no words in the English language nor in any other language that could express the thank you that comes from my heart, to God for all the many blessings so rich with His love for all of us His children. I mean, each second of every day of my life He has been with me. He has protected me, lead me in the right way, whispered in my ear comforting words when I needed them, throughout my lifetime. He has healed me when I was sick. Chasten me when I needed it. He has provided an angel to guard my way, and keep me safe. But most of all, He has given His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for me. No words can come close to saying thank you to Him for such a wonderful gift. Because with that gift I now have eternal life. I now have hope that although this human body may die, my soul and spirit remain alive to join my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So thank you Lord God for Your many blessings and thank You for salvation that only comes through Your Son Christ the Lord.
Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, And we'd like to say to each of you, Happy Thanksgiving. May your day be very blessed.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

Like Paul, I have a thorn in my flesh. Now we don't know what Paul's affliction was, we only know that Paul prayed to be healed of it. One of my afflictions is chronic pain from fibromyalgia which I've had ever since I was in my 20s, and now, – – – cancer – – –.
2nd Corinthians 12:7, and lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2nd Corinthians 12:8,For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 2nd Corinthians 12:9 and he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for the: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I gather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2nd Corinthians 12:10 therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.But as Paul did, so I did. And what that was when I received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, I became crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

You can't jump on a wooden cross without receiving a few thorns in your flesh. Therefore as Paul states in 2nd Corinthians 12:10, I take pleasure in my infirmities, knowing that it is God's will.  For I believe what Romans 8: 28 states.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I heard very sweet, tender, still voice off Jesus Christ call me. I answered that call, repented of my sins and was reborn into the family of God. I praise God each day for the wonderful gift of salvation and the mercy and grace that comes with it.
Until next time Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

influences

Yesterday morning I was listening to a local preacher. This particular church broadcasts live their church services. One thing the preacher said really caught my ear. He said, that each individual person influences at least 10,000 people during a lifetime. And if true, and I really think it is, I cringe at the idea of what my influence would be on anyone prior to being saved. Before I was saved, I thought nothing of telling lies, cursing so badly that it would hurt a sailors ears to hear. Truth be known, everything was about Joan. Some people might want to blame the bad childhood years, but you know, there's too much of that going on these days. It's so easy to blame others for our sins. Once a person is saved they realize that they themselves are to blame for their sins. I was at a certain church one a Sunday many years ago, when the preacher ask for testimonials. The man named Alan stood up and testified about his army service and how that his fellow servicemen were to blame for his drug use.You see here was a Christian man, blaming someone else for his sins. With him were his wife, and two very impressionable young son's. Here, he was teaching his young sons to blame other people for any wrong doings that they may do. It's so easy to influence others by our actions. Especially young children. You know I said before, I wish I were a Christian when I raise my first four children. I wish I had taught them according to God's law, using the Bible as a parenting book. To be honest what goodness is in my children came from outside sources. My last son David was raised by me using the Bible as a parenting book. Any time he would do something objectionable, I would use the Bible to explain to him the wrong in what he had done. One day, he said to me,'' why are you always using the Bible against me?'', I gave him a clear and understood answer ''because that's what I'm supposed to do''. Now David may not follow the rules and guidelines laid out to him, but he and God knows I did the best I could. And now it's up to David whether he wants to go by those guidelines will take another path. I know I seem like I'm rambling, but I'm just saying things as they come to mind. Somewhere in all the rambling is a point to be made. And the point being, asking yourself the question. How am I influencing my family members, my friends and my community. I would like to say this to all the young parents out there. Would you please, please and I say please again, stop teaching your children how to curse. I hear some of the most vulgar language come from parents, whose children are standing there learning these awful words. I see parents laughing as their little toddlers repeat these ugly words back. This is saying to that todder that it's something cute to do. Shame on you! I repeat shame on you!

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Now, knowing that we influence so many people, maybe just maybe we'll stop and think about what we do and what we said.
Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

God's precious ones

I guess I told you that for now on I will be having my chemo in the hospital. They call it desensitizing. Anyway let me tell you how my first experience went. First of all, Willard and I had no idea that we would be in the hospital overnight. You see, we were told that the treatment would take all day. So we assumed that we would be going home the afternoon. Well it seems that the treatment has different segments, first being eight hours for the desensitizing, three hours for Taxol, and three hours for the carbo. That's not including the pre-meds which take, depending on how busy the nurse is, anywhere from one to two hours. So we're talking 16 hours approximately. Well as I said, we had no idea at all that we would be spending that many hours in the hospital. We did not bring any medication, we did not bring extra clothes, nor anything else that we should have. I mean finger brushing your teeth may help, but it's nothing like a real tooth brush, LOL. And of course I only brought one extra pair of undies, which we forgot and left in the van. And with chemo comes no control of the bladder. So I was taking my one pair of undies, washing them, and putting paper towels between them and me so they would dry. The hospital provided me with some pads, which helps some. Well Willard who is usually long-suffering, plenty of patients and all in all a pretty nice guy was about to go ballistic. His blood sugar went up to 200+ with no medicine. He did not have his thyroid medication or any other medications with him. Poor thing, he had to sleep on one of those bumpy couches, you know the ones that let out. He finally got up and sat in the chair to sleep some. Needless to say, by the time we were ready to leave the hospital, Willard had a few apologies to make. One to me and more to the many nurses, etc. in the hospital. Which he did do. I think next time, we will be prepared for anything, LOL.
Now on to a subject that just melts my heart. In UNC hospital as with many hospitals across the country , who take care of small children with cancer and other illnesses. You can hardly go through the breezeway without seeing a child who has had brain surgery, heart surgery or wearing that well identifying scarf or hat that says ''chemo''. What really touches my heart, and melts it every time is when you look at one of them, they smile at you. No matter how bad they're feelings or how much they may be hurting, their precious smile will melt your heart every time. And if you're like me, you give them your best smile back, and you say a little silent prayer at that moment for them. You know, I wonder when Jesus said what he did in Matthew 18, if He weren't seeing each and every one of these little angels.
Mt 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
I think every child is precious to our Lord, but I think that just maybe, the ones that are sick, the ones that are hurting, maybe are just a tiny bit more precious.
I ask you to say a prayer for each and every one of these children. You may not know them, but God does. And God does hear your prayer.
Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Any Christian knows that others are supposed to see the light of Jesus in us. And that's exactly what my husband Willard does. My son David has a stone in his gallbladder and will not be able to see a surgeon until November 5. When David went to the emergency room yesterday they gave him prescriptions for pain, nausea etc. Well David did not have the money to buy the prescriptions with, and asked us to help him out. Well Willard, went this morning to take David to the drugstore to get the medications. But first while he was waiting for David to come out of his apartment, he noticed three people outside of the apartment complex. He nodded at a woman and said hello. The woman asked Willard was he a preacher. He gets that question a lot from people. Willard told her no, that he did give Sunday school lessons at Golden Years Nursing Home. The woman said to Willard" I knew you were a Christian because I can see the light of Jesus shining in you''. Then another woman said she also could see Jesus all over Willard, and a man also agreed with the two women. Willard said that it meant a lot to him that these women and the man said what they did. You see, each one of us needs to know that we make a difference in this world. And I guess, God knowing that Willard has been going through so much lately with my cancer and such a heavy load on him. He needed to know that he was making a difference in this world. Through these women and the men, God has led Willard to know that yes indeed he is making a difference, and he is important to all people around him.
That's how every Christian should be. No matter where you are or what you're doing, every person around you should be seeing Jesus in you. If you truly have Jesus in your heart, and you truly are serving God with all your might, that light will shine through.

Mt 13:43

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Until next time,
Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save

If you remember, yesterday I called the devil a bully. And it is so true, some people call him the cosmic bully. He has been bullying ever since his fall from heaven. That's right, and the territory he terrorizes is the entire universe. He and his demons bullies each one of us every day. Anything from whispering in your ear, there is no God, God doesn't love you, Jesus is just a profit, there is no heaven etc. etc. Each time he whispers in my ear there is no God. I in turn tell him if there is no God there is no Satan, so get behind me Satan. Each time he tells me Jesus was just a normal man, or just a profit. I asked him why then are you so afraid of him ?  The devil is nothing but a liar and a bully.  Isaiah 41:11 part of the verse reads,  those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Don't it make you feel good that God has you in his hand, and that He will protect you from those who wish you harm.
In Luke chapter 1, versus 10 – 42 we see where Satan even tried to bully Christ. You see, since Christ had been without food or water for so many days, old Satan thought Him weak. So Satan decided to bully Christ into temptation.
There's a lot of bullying going on in our world, on job sites, in our schools, in our military and the list goes on and on. What the bullies don't seem to understand is that when you bully someone, it is like murdering them. The reason being you changed that person mentally so dramatically that they can't be who they are or who they may have become. I was bullied at school myself, and know very well what it does to our mental status. It's something that remains with you the rest of your life. One's self esteem is destroyed, there's no getting it back. A bullied person normally lives their lives with very low self-esteem. Many have an empty hole that they never can fill. Some overeat and become obese, some do drugs or alcohol, trying to fill that hole with something.
I want Each and every bully that should read this blog to know this – that when you bully for what ever reason you do it. God sees it as murder, and well He should! 1st John 3:15 states
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
When you bully, you are in a sense a follower of Satan himself, because you are doing just what he wants you to. Think about it, and pray about it.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Dang it, Dang it, Dang it. Sometimes I want to take that serpent they call satan and stomp the tar out of him.
I had a slight reaction to my chemo today, oh well, might as well tell the truth the Dr. did not think it was slight at all. I will go into the hospital the next time I have chemo, so they can give it at a much slower rate. They will tell me after that, whether I can continue in the chemo room, or continually get it at the hospital, or change my chemo. Ya know, just when I start climbing the hill, satan comes along and keeps trying to be the big bad bully, and he pushes me right back down the hill. But what satan doesn't know is that I have a life line that is fastened and secured to the Solid Rock. Jesus Christ the Solid Rock. You See, God may allow Satan to push me down the mountain. But he cannot push me off the mountain because as I said, I'm connected to the Solid Rock. And old satan pushed me down the mountain again today, and I may be bruised, and I may be battered, but I'm not beaten. I have plenty of fight left in me, so satan leave me alone, get behind me, in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
Philippians 4:13 –I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I'm not saying that I don't get afraid at times, because I do, but when I reach to Jesus He helps. When I am weak, He gives me strength. And when I'm lonely, He gets someone to hug me. I know with all my heart and with all my being, that the love of Jesus surpasses anything we've ever known. Look what all He has done, look at all He is doing, and look what He will do.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Yesterday, I went to Chapel Hill to get magnesium. There was a lady sitting across from me who was getting her chemo, plus some magnesium. If you'll recall in a previous blog about percentages, I said, there has to be someone in that 2% or 3% or else they would not be percentages. The Mayo Clinic states that there's a 2% chance that anyone will develop serious problems with knee replacements. This lady was in that 2%. She being a nurse, knew all the signs to look for. She knew everything there needed to be known about how to take care of her surgical areas. And yet with everything seemingly on her side, she lost her leg to infection. She seemed as if she had adjusted well to her circumstance. She lost her leg in 2011, and has cancer too. I was impressed at her attitude. She too knows the Lord as her friend and as her Savior and Lord. She, like me has faith that God knows what he's doing, and there is a purpose behind it all.
You know, when God test us, Deuteronomy 13:3 for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. He often starts small and gradually makes the tests more difficult each time. I know, sometimes it seems that some people that God just smacks them down with tests so enormous it's hard to stand up to it. But no matter the test, whether small or large, God will never test us beyond our strength. And sometimes too we Christians see what seems to be the most evilest people in the world, never having to go through problems, or troubles of any kind. '''''''''''The devil already has them!'''''''''
In ancient times, many people thought problems and troubles were a sign that you had not been living as God wanted. And that anyone with problems or troubles were getting punished by God for their sinful deeds. In Job, Job's friends constantly accused him of sinning against God. But Job knew in his heart that he had served the Lord in righteousness. In fact Job stated to these men this.

Job 13:15

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
You see, Job knew that he had served the Lord to the best of his ability.
And that's truly the only thing that God wants of us. That we receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as

our Lord and Savior, and that we just do the best we can in serving Him.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Hope you will listen to this and realize that the time is growing short. Are you ready?

http://youtu.be/sG9Mjx-Ca-M

Until next time Willard and I both wish you Health and happiness. God bless and God save.

Ok so I have two more thing to add on Joan's philosophy list .


1. A blouse that you have to unbutton to get off or on is too small.
2. Saying, this is the very last time I'm going to tell you this, when giving a warning to a person is just an idle threat.
3. Giving in is not giving up, it's just knowing the other person is more hardheaded and stubborn than you are. It sure doesn't make you wrong.
4. Watching Jeopardy does not make you smarter, it just enables you to realize just how dumb you are.
5. Eating out means no dishes to wash. Oh happy day. :-).
6. Every time I start feeling sorry for myself, I opened my eyes and see so many, many much worse off than I am.
7. Wearing socks with no shoes can really make your feet dry and rough. Sandpaper please !!
8. When you’re an old woman sitting in a chair, when you get that feeling that you’ve got to pee. It’s already too late to make it. That why they make poise.
9. When you’re wanting someone to call. Just lay down to take a nap. It works every time.
10. There are some people that are going to be sarcastic towards you, for what ever reason. So forgive them, love them and pray for them. And God will work on their hearts.
11. When talking on the phone to a loved one, and they yawn the entire conversation. It's not necessarily that they don't want to talk to you, or they may not think you worthless, or you may not bore them. It just may be habit. So forgive them, love them, and pray for them.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness. God bless and God save.

Paula, I hope you don't mind, but I am going to use what you put on Facebook to show people the truth about how we feel at times.
Here's Paula's comment.
You know, I think the hardest thing about fighting stage IV cancer of any type is the toll it takes on you mentally. People are constantly telling you to "stay positive" and I know they are trying to help, but the reality is the sheer willpower it takes to do that is monumental and exhausting.....which in turn, takes it's own toll on your already run down system. So I'm thinking keeping my chin up isn't as important as letting myself honestly acknowledge how I feel about it all. So.....today I'm not fine.....I'm scared, mad, and genuinely sick of wondering what the next test will reveal about this uninvited guest that's taken up residence in my body. It actually feels good to say that instead of "thinking positive". Sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable....Now Paula is hitting the nail on the preverbal head. People with terminal cancer are not allways in a jolly mood. Sometimes we just want to cry and at times being positive is just more than we can do. It's just not about cancer, it's about the chemo that drains you of your energy. It's about being nausea, and the bone pain etc. etc. I won't bother you with the other more gory things that we cancer victims go through. And too we have to listen to people planning their future lives, while we are wondering just how much life we have left. So these people, when they say that we are in what they call self pitying moods, tell us to be positive. I just wish that some people would just say nothing at all. And too, did they ever think while their on vacation have a marvelous time, cancer patients are trying to get enough energy to take a stroll outside in the yard. And did you know too, how lonely we get. You see people don't want to be around us because it makes them think of their own mortality, and that scares them. But yet they still sat there and tell us to be positive.
I want you to know that what Paula wrote, is not the attitude that Paula is usually in. She has lifted my spirits many times. Just by showing me that she cares. In fact sometimes I don't know how Paula does what she does. She still has children in school we she does as any mother would, put them first. She's a good person with a good heart and right now she's in a bad mood, which I understand completely.
If you would I would appreciate you reaching out and touching the hem of Jesus's garment and say prayer for Paula, and for Janice and for all of us that deal with this thing called cancer every day.
I do know this if I do not know anything. Without Willard's help I don't know what I would do. I have some people do have rallied around me like the people at, Thomas drugstore. While others have turned their backs and walk away.
Well, I guess that's all I've got to say. Until next time Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

I've talked before about people that have influenced my life when I was a child. Today I'd like to talk about a man that lived next door. He, his wife and a son and daughter. Mr. Edward West. Anyone who knew of how my sister Jean and I grew up knew that we did not have what you would say was a good father. I guess it wasn't his fault, because he had mental problems. I guess Mr. West knew that I needed a father figure, so he was there to show me some attention every once in a while. One day while visiting, his daughter Diane was rolling her hair while sitting at the kitchen table. Mr. West was sitting there too, and Diane jokingly told me to curl her daddy's hair. Well of course I had never heard of such a thing, and in my house this would be unthinkable. There was no joking around in my house. Everything was housework, homework, this work or that work. In fact, I never remember laughter in the house unless of course uncle David was there. So curling a man's hair just for laughter sake, was unfamiliar to me. But Mr. West laughed and said (go ahead Joan, let's see what you can do). It was these little things that endeared him to me.
It's the little things, the little moments that a child stores in their hearts and remembers. It's not the beach vacations, nor the expensive gifts. It's the little moments when you pour out your love through a gesture. That moment when a child knows that you truly care about them that is remembered. I hope each and every one can understand that fact. It's just the little things that will be remembered a lifetime. Every time I see one of those sponge hair curlers the door opens to that special place in my heart where Mr. West's memory is kept. Such good memories.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness. God bless and God save.

I hate you.
I hate you; you dirty dog, I detest even your name.
When it comes to destroying lives, why you're totally to blame.
You were never welcomed; you pushed right through my door.
And I can honestly say, I don't want you around anymore.
You have murdered, many that I have called friend.
And now with your evil, you're right back here again.
I'm going to fight you, with all the strength that I possess.
And some how with God's help, I will win even this test.
In God Almighty, where all my strength is found.
I'm going to beat you; I'm going to put you down.
Somehow I'll get rid of you; I'll make you go away.
And when I do this time, I hope you're gone to stay.
I have a magic mustard seed; that I'm not afraid to use.
And now that I have planted it; CANCER, YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE.

Until next time Willard and I wish you Health and happiness. God bless and God save.

cancer can't

"Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
Cancer CAN'T take away the song in my heart.
Cancer cannot take away the words from my lips that praises God.
Cancer can't take away my sense of humor UNLESS I let it.
Cancer can't rob me of laughter.
Until next time God bless and God save.

Yesterday I went to Chapel Hill to get a CAT scan. It wasn't a very pleasant trip. You see I've had diarrhea ever since the day after my chemo. I asked the Lord for help getting me through the day. He did not fail me. Each time I needed to be close to the bathroom, there was one just feet from me. I could not have done it without the Lord's help. I've been in the Valley for a long time now. And if there's one thing that I have learned. Even in the Valley God is always close by your side, ready to lift you up in the more difficult times.
I actually had to stop writing to answer the phone. It was Dr. Gehrig with the results of my scan. She told me that some of my lymph nodes were not showing cancerous now and that the ones that still were the cancer has reduced by half. She says there was no change in my cervical cancer, and that she would be performing a really complete checkup when I went back for chemo. The tumor on my adrenal gland shows the same. Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. Now on to the story.
On our way home, Willard stopped by IGA to get a few needed items. While he was in the store, I watched as a man in his 40s walked out to his car and sat down in the drivers seat. He did not crank the car when he got in, but seemed to be waiting for something. Out of the door came an elderly man hardly able to walk. He seemed to be staggering as if Dizzy, holding on to anything he could grasp. I knew the feeling, because many times while walking I get dizzy and feel as if I will pass out if I don't set down. It's not a good feeling. I got so angry at what appeared to be the old man's son. He sat in the car and almost looked angered that the old man was taking so long to get to the car. If I had been able I would have got out myself and helped him. But then there would be two people walking around dizzy. I really wanted to say something to the man sitting in the car. How dare he treat any human being like that.
It just seems to me that many of the younger generation treat the elderly as if they're not human. I guess we're just in the way like an old piece of furniture that needs to be thrown out. Every time I think of the old man, I want to cry. Where there should be love and compassion, there's intolerability. You could tell that the younger man was chauffeuring the older man out of responsibility, but surely not love nor compassion. I pray for the old man and all like him, who have children that could care less about them.
I wonder what God will say to those children when they stand before Him? The children who have cursed their parents, mistreated their parents or have totally ignored their parents. Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, May God bless and God save.

Okay so, let me begin with Tuesday, chemo day. The chemo clinic had Monday's patients plus Tuesday's patients. And of course they were two nurses short, one out sick and the other on vacation. My chemo took about two hours longer than normal. The beepers on those machines with the IV's were going off one right after the other all day. The nurses just had too many patients and they could not get to each one of us in time. We left home at 5:30 AM and got home around 530 in the afternoon. It was a long day. After getting home I noticed that the light was blinking on the phone, so I checked my messages, to see one from Dr. Vyas's office. Well I kind of already knew what it was about, the message was that I was to come into the office to see Dr. Vyas as soon as possible. Well Willard had already checked his blood sugar while I was listening to the message, and I asked him while he was doing it would he mind checking mine, because my chemo nurse had already asked me was I a diabetic. I told her no, then she explained that my blood test had come back with a high sugar level. So after receiving the phone call from Dr. Vyas's, I asked Willard to also check my level. Well, it was 400+. Checking it again Tuesday morning it was 275. So I get my butt dressed, and off to Dr. Vyas's office I go. It was not only about my blood sugar, my iron was also very low. It seemed that my iron had dropped another point so off to the IV room I go for four hours. The doctor also put me on a pill for type II diabetes plus a sliding scale Novolog flexpen. According to what my blood sugar is 15 min. before a meal I am to take a shot with the adequate amount of insulin. So here I go off to the drugstore to get the essential things I need and get the prescriptions filled. Well as usual Dr. Vyas's did not write the prescriptions out correctly, and neglected to write me a prescription for the monitor and the strips that I would need to test my blood sugar level. Anyone knows when dealing with Dr. Vyas's office, if you call, even as a pharmacist most likely it will be the next day before you hear anything from them. So Willard and I head back to the doctors office to get the prescriptions that we needed and to correct the one that I had in my hand. But I got the other prescription that I needed, and still when the prescription was written again was still wrong. So somehow Sylvia got it straightened out and I came home finally with the right monitor the right prescription. We had left home for Dr. Vyas's is office that morning at eight and did not return home until well after three o'clock. It was another long day. My blood sugar level stayed in the 400+ all of yesterday. Thank God this morning it was down to 147 which I know is still a little high but 147 looked a whole lot better to me than 400+.
I'll tell you something, between chemo brain and high blood sugar brain, I could not even remember how to say things yesterday. I would try to say something to Sylvia at the drugstore, and she'd have to say it for me where it made sense. I kind of got frustrated and started stamping my foot saying over and over again take this old satan take this, LOL. It was a wild and long day for me. I saw Sheila Strickland there at the drugstore, she really looked good, I haven't seen her for a while. It was really nice seeing her. I'd like to apologize to all the sweet girls up at Thomas drug store for all the trouble, LOL, that I continually put them through. They are all the highest quality of people you would ever want to meet. They are sincere when it comes to helping each customer. They take their time and do not rush a customer through as almost every other business does. They genuinely care for each customer that walks in the doors. I would like to thank them again for all that they do for me and all the other customers. While showing me how to use the meter they tested my blood sugar level at the store. It was 444. Sylvia and the girl which I don't remember her name, would not let me leave until I have a shot to bring my blood sugar down. Thank you again Thomas drugstore, I love all of you.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

The next word in the book that my daughter in law, Kim Horton Hicks gave me is………
Afflictions
And don't we all have those? As I was laying in bed last night sleepless, God gave me the message to say about this. He showed me in one of those dreams we all have, where it's some where between sleep and wake. It was all about a mountain climber. You know you've heard the song,'' Lord You gave me a mountain this time''. But climbing the mountain is the easy part. I was given this message. When I was fully awake I understood what the Lord was speaking about. You see climbing the mountain you can examine all the foot holds and know where you can place your hands and feet for the best stability. When you get to the top of the mountain then there's no way off but climbing down, that is unless you have a helicopter awaiting, or parasail. Any experienced mountain climber will tell you that it's far more dangerous descending. As you're climbing down the mountain you can see your handholds, but you cannot see the places for your footholds. Far more climbers have died in their decendsions. And if you really think about something else, at the bottom of the mountain is the valley. It's the valley when we're at our lowest point. As the Bible says" as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil".
Climbing a mountain there's always the hope of better things ahead. And when we get on top of the mountain, we have reached their goal. But each time we reach our goal, there's always another mountain, another decendsion , another valley. They're just the ups and downs of life.
Our afflictions start when we're standing high on the mountain. And sometimes those climbs down or grievous. Sometimes, we lose things that can never be replaced. Sometimes it's co-climbers that have slipped, and has fallen into the valley of death. Sometimes we ourselves slip and are wounded. Sometimes we just get exhausted, and don't think we can make it anymore.
And once we reached the valley of the shadow of death, we know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is walking beside us. Because it's only a shadow! And as long as we realize that fact, then we know that shadows cannot hurt us. It's a trial, to strengthen us yes, because each time we go through trials of afflictions we are stronger. God never gives us more than we can take, nor takes more than we can give! Most afflictions are temporary, but there are some that are not. These afflictions that are not temporary, God has given us all the tools that we need to live with these afflictions.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for GOOD to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Just remember this, throughout each and every one of the afflictions that we go through in life there is a beginning and there is an end. And the important thing to remember is what we let these afflictions make us into. We are either weakened and let these afflictions destroy our faith, or we get stronger and build our faith. My prayer is that as I go through my affliction I get stronger and stronger as I stomp on old satan's head. For it's through Jesus Christ who give me the strength to put on the whole armor of God.
Your comments are always welcomed

until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

I saw this on Facebook just a few minutes ago and it's so true. While raising our children that's what we want for their lives, for them to be happy. That is………… As long as we are happy with the way they're living their lives. LOL. In truth we really want our children to live out the life that we dreamed for them. We want our children to finish school, go to college, and become people that are highly respected in our community. We want our children to be someone we can brag about. And when that doesn't happen, even when they're very happy with their own lives. We are not happy. We try our best to accept the path that our children have chosen for themselves. Sometimes it is easy, but then you get that call where they need something or they're in trouble, then it's hard to accept their lifestyles, because their lifestyles interfere with your own. Being a parent has got to be the hardest never ending job there is on this earth.
Comments always welcome
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Affections

The next word in the book that my daughter-in-law gave me is affections. Now when we think of affections we think of course about our love and caring for others. This is not a Christian monopoly. Every person in the world loves and cares for someone else, sinner or Christian. In fact that's just what this verse in Matthew tells us. Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
In simpler language =If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
All the things that I have ever done for anyone is nothing and never will be anything on this earth. You can't do good things to get God to love you anymore than he already does. You can't buy God's love, nor can you buy redemption by good deeds. Although many Christians believe that their good deeds make them a better Christian, they are fooling themselves, for surely they are not fooling God. And affections is not the act of doing any good deed. Affections is God-given and is imprinted in our genes from birth. It's as natural as breathing. So what is God-given affections, and what is the first priority? In Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. We are taught not only should we love God above all others. We are taught to what degree we should love God in Deuteronomy 6:5 and also in Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. So now we know full well our first love is God. So how are we to love all the rest? Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.12:10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;12:11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;12:12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.12:14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.12:15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.12:17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.12:20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
I know that this was long, but I wanted to get all these verses in to just show that even as Christians we are not living up to what God wants us to be in our Christian affections.
Comments are always welcome.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

My hair started falling out this morning. Oh, I knew it would happen, because my scalp started getting sore yesterday. And from past experience, I knew that when my scalp started to get sore like this, within a day or two my hair would start coming out. It doesn't bother me that much for some reason this time. I guess I'm getting use to all the ups and downs and ins and outs of all the therapies and treatments. I'm getting used to all the side effects and to all the gains and to all the losses. There are some things that I should let go of and not worry that much about. But there are some things that I need to hold on to tightly, and never let go of. The love that I have in my heart for my family and my friends. The faith that guides my whole being. Everything else I can let go of without too much problem. If you really think about it, life is eternal. So when people start talking about dying, I think about death being just the doorway to my existence somewhere else. If life is truly eternal, then there is no death, there is no darkness. Walking through the doorway leaving the light of this world which is the Sun, and seeing the light on the other side of the doorway which is the Son of God. With Jesus Christ as my Lord, there is no darkness. Jesus conquered death when he rose from the grave. Not just for himself, but to all who would receive him as their Lord, as their redeemer, as their Savior, and as their personal friend, he is truly all these to me. Listen to the words of Jesus in Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
We are adopted into the family of God. The very instant that we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. What a wonderful gift God gave us all, free for the taking. Each day, that one gift, keeps blessing us throughout our life. Hallelujah, hallelujah to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
Feel free to comment.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

My daughter-in-law Kim, Bobby's wife, gave me a beautiful book while I was in the hospital. The name is Explore Your Bible. Now in this book it has different references such as Access to God. Then it gives the Bible versus to read on that subject. And I thought that maybe I could talk about each one of these titles on my blog.
Access to God…….Now any Christian knows that access to God, our Heavenly Father is through Jesus Christ.
John 10:7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Also
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
So any Bible reading person whether saved or unsaved has the information they need to communicate with our Heavenly Father,
Okay, so now we have the Information That we need for this blog. I have a question for You. Do you use your access to God, to talk to God as you should. do you use that wonderful gift that was given to each of us when we excepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior? I will be the first one to say that even though I have a pretty good prayer life, It's really not What It Should Be. Do We Have Those Fervent Prayers of which the Bible speaks of? Those Gut Wrenching Prayers, with Tears Running down our Faces, Pleading with God for the Sick, for the Needy, for Lost Souls. Our Spirits within Us Ache to Feel That Closeness to God When We Talk to Him in Prayer. That's What I Mean, When I Say My Prayer Life Is Not what it should be. Sure I pray all though the day, and the prayers that I pray our sincere. And then at night when I lie in bed I pray. It's not funny at all, but sometimes I fall asleep never finishing the prayer I started. I think I alone with many others need to really think about our prayer life. Yes, God hears our prayers when we pray. But let me ask you this. Do you remember when you were a little child and you had asked your mother for a piece of candy, or whatever. If she said no or did not give an answer, you would start pleading from the bottom of your heart, begging for that piece of candy. It would not have been a quite request, it would have been a long, groaning request, that came from deep within you, because you wanted that candy just that bad. And yet, when we pray to our Almighty God, Creator of all, we just do it in a polite prayer. Think about it. Is your prayer life really what it should be, I know mine's not. I'm on my way to correcting that starting now. I hope each and every one of you will do the same. James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Psalms 54:2 Hear my PRAYER, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Your comments are always welcomed.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

I want to tell you a story. And since the joke’s not on me, well it’s pretty funny. Let me start it like this. My stepfather Jerry, loved my mother beyond what any man could possibly love a woman. He would do anything that my mother asked him to. My mother got bored easily and was actually not just moving furniture, but moving whole walls around in the house. One week we would go to visit, to see square doors and one large living room. Two weeks later we would walk into a hall, and there will be two oval doors, one leading to a small living room the other to a formal dining room. This went on for years. One day during the era of the sunken bathtubs, my mother decided she would have herself a sunken tub. Well not being able to afford the real deal, nor the professionals to install such a thing, she instructed my stepfather to just sink their present tub. Now this was one of those iron tubs with the legs that look like a lion's foot. Now my stepfather although moved many walls for my mom, was very inexperienced as far as carpentry work was concerned. He cut out the necessary boards that were in the way of the bathtub going in the hole. My mom enjoyed many baths in her sunken bathtub. Well one day, one of my brothers, who will go unnamed was using the restroom. To his shock while he was sitting on the toilet, the outside wall falls in the yard beside the house. Here he was, sitting on the toilet, where all the world could see. I know the embarrassment he had must have been unbearable, hehehe. After the bathroom incident, my stepfather decided what my mother really needed was a different house with more rooms. So he purchased her a two-story house in a very prominent neighborhood. There was one rule that he laid out to her before he would even sign the papers. There would be no walls moved, no floors cutouts, and that was that. My stepfather lived approximately 5 years after moving into this house. He died of lung cancer. My mother made every payment on the house. She made sure the payments were made. When the mortgage was reduced to where my mother only owed a little over $1000 on the house, my brother Danny offered to pay the mortgage off for my mother. That way she would have a little extra money to spend on herself. She refused my brother's offer. She said she wanted to do it herself. She paid every payment on the due date or as close as possible to it, until every last penny was paid. It was but a few months until she would join my stepfather in heaven. But she showed her respect and love for him though finishing what he started, by paying off the home they shared.
Now really the only lesson that you could possibly learn from this blog would be #1, Love makes people do strange things and #2, hire a professional!
I really wanted to tell the story so my children and their children will have something to giggle at. Plus teach them something about real love. Something they will remember in the years to come.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Being in the hospital bed Thursday afternoon. Looking out the window at a beautiful sky that was painted brilliant hues of reds and pinks, purple and blues. I thought what a beautiful view God has given me for that moment. It's the moments in our lives, the special moments that we remember the most. It's also small moments in our lives, that draw our pathways to the rest of our lives. Decisions in those small moments that can turn our lives completely around. There are many moments in my life that I remember as if they were yesterday. I remember the moments that I saw my children's faces for the first time after they were born. I remember the thoughts I had about them and for them. I remember many moments in the day that Willard and I were married. I remember on the Tuesday before the Thursday that we were married. Willard and I had both gotten our medical papers so we could get the marriage license. I mentioned to Willard that the medical papers were only good for 30 days. We had already planned a date, but the medical papers would run out of date before then. Willard said, and I'll never will forget those words, he said" Well let's get married sooner then". I asked, when. LOL, Willard said how about Thursday. I said okay let's do it. I remember going to Lillington, LOL, we got the license, but there was no magistrate to perform the marriage. We ran around for hours looking for the magistrate. I remember, my son Bobby and his wife Kim were there as witnesses. Also there was Willard's niece Kay. I remember, I was going to wear a pink outfit, but there was something wrong with it so I traded for a pastel blue outfit. I remember Kay had made me a corsage thinking I would be wearing the pink. It didn't matter it was beautiful with the blue one as well. I remember on the ride back home in Kay's van, looking into Willard's eyes, and seeing the same glassy looking eyes that I had saw in the mirror just a few minutes before. We were both so very happy, and so much in love, and it showed in our eyes. I remember thinking as I looked into those eyes how happy I was. And I remember wondering what our future would hold. It's funny, but so many years have gone by since then, and so many moments. But I don't seem to remember them. All the moments, in all the years have just seemed to slip away. I guess it's true what Solomon said,
Ecclesiastics 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Many people misinterpret this verse. As it turns out, this word vanity is actually hevel in the original Hebrew, which means "vapor", or "breath".
Therefore, our lives are not meaningless, but, as Solomon points out, in light of eternity, our lives are but a vapor, a breath. We are here today, and gone tomorrow.
So, so many moments, moments that I cannot even remember have just slipped away. But you know, it's okay. I have an eternity to think about them, when I get on the other side.
Well I guess I have confused, and bored you enough for today. But I will ask you, if you're not saved, please think about your own eternity. Because life is truly, just a breath, and then you're gone.
Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Reach out and touch the hem of his garment's.

I went yesterday with Willard to IGA to do a little grocery shopping. Riding my scooter down each aisle. When we were going through the checkout, I asked Melissa about Terry. Terry was one of the checkout personnel, and when she was working, I tried to go through her register whenever possible. I found out a few months back that Terry had cancer. Hers was lung cancer and kidney cancer. I have been getting such discouraging reports each time I would ask about her. Yesterday Melissa said that they cannot see the cancer in Terry's lungs anymore. The only place they can still see any cancer is in her kidney. I was so pleased and excited for Terry to hear better news about her condition. I hope and pray that her cancer can be 100% cured.
You know, cancer is so unpredictable. I remember six years ago when I was first told that I had cancer. I went through radiation treatments and was told there was only a 3% chance that it would come back. I was in the 3% that it did come back. Dr. Gehrig did surgery, plus chemo after the surgery. I was told that time there was a 12% chance of the cancer returning. Well it did come back, so I was in that 12% group. Some could say that this was just bad luck. But I do not believe in luck neither good nor bad. Now, if, they can get rid of my present cancer, there's 100% chance that it will come back. 100%, I still think sometimes that I can beat those odds. God has his plan. As of yet I really don't know what God's plan is for me. I do know what ever it is, it's going to be grand.
I hope that each one of you will keep Terry in your prayers. She's a single parent, and that's bad enough. But being a single parent with cancer, it's got to be very hard. Again please keep her in your prayers. I'm praying that God will heal her, and make her 100% whole again. I remember the story of the woman who touched the hem of Of Christ's garment.
Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. By faith, she knew, if she could only touch the garment that Jesus wore, she would be made whole.
I'd like to ask you a favor. Close your eyes, and in your minds eye see Jesus standing there. Reach out and touch the hem of his garment. Touch it for Terry, touch it for my sister-in-law Janice Moore, my Facebook friend Paula. Touch it for Roy Norris, and Leslie Jackson. Touch it, for all of us.
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, may God bless and God save.

Well first of all, I'll give you an update. Chemo went pretty well, I mean I can't say I loved it, LOL. And of course I could do without the nausea, and definitely could do without the bone pain. I think today I went over the top of the hill and on my way back to being normal. I know that each time I have chemo it will get harder and harder for me to get back on my feet, but believe me, I'm going to give it my all.
And another thing I wanted to talk about was how impressed I am with Chick-fil-A and how they stood by their principles, not giving in to this sinful world. I am impressed, because Chick-fil-A knew that it could be detrimental for their company, and yet they stood on the side of God. I have watched while other companies neither utter ya or nay, not wanting to upset customers on either side of the aisle. There's an old song that goes(you got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything). I believe that Chick-fil-A needs to put these words on its front doors where everyone can see when entering. Whether a small business or a giant corporation, or even individuals have to stand for something. Not stand in the middle, afraid they will lose business, or lose a friend because of where they stand. I believe that people need to know what the businesses that they patronize stand for.
And another thing about businesses, people, we really do need to start buying things that are made in America. Sure, it's much cheaper on our pocketbooks to buy stuff from overseas. But unemployment will only increase with every cheaper purchase we buy. Other countries are getting wealthier each day, using slave labor. It's up to each one of us individually. This nation can become a great nation again , With each of its citizens participated in its future. Let's bring back the factories and jobs. It's better to stand in the unemployment line with made in the USA written on our clothes, than to stand in it with Chinese written on the label. At least people will know, that you cared. When I was growing up, God was a very big part of all American lives. But now in many places it's a sin to mention his name. If we truly want our country to be great once more, we need to come back to the very God that made it great to begin with.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Yes, we truly need to come back to God.
Until next time, Willard and I wish you health and happiness, may God bless and God save.

Introducing Betty Anne

My chemotherapy went well yesterday. I sat across from a lady who also had cervical cancer and the cancer is also in her lymph nodes. She has been on chemotherapy since the first week in January. So as many of you could guess she wasn't really doing that well with the chemo at this point. They checked her blood work and found that there would be no chemotherapy. She received two units of blood instead. Her hair hung about 2 inches below her ears. Although it looked as if she had lost two thirds of her hair. Her hair still seemed even about her head. There were no places where hair had come out in large clumps. She spoke with a little northern accent and she was quite an interesting person. She wore a strapless dress, you know the ones with the elastic around the top and then more elastic under the breast area. The dress hung to her feet. She had on those shoes with high heel wedges. Between the soul and the bottom of the shoe was made of cork. The shoes themselves were purple to match the purple flowers in her dress. For whatever reason she had on her very long fingernails, blue polish. She had bracelets, bangles and all sorts of jewelry hanging from every possible arm and leg she had. No makeup whatsoever. But all in all she was a very nice lady. Her husband sat in the chair with a pair Bermuda shorts on, and an old pullover T-shirt. He had on old tennis shoes, his hair looked to be uncombed. He seemed to not care what anybody thought about how he looked. He was quite, hardly spoke a word to anyone.
She had to go have a blood clot on the back of her leg looked at, and I was almost finished with my chemo. So I asked her could Willard and I say a quick prayer for her before she left. Which she said yes. The lady's name is Betty Anne. At her request, I am not using her last name.
I hope that each one of you will also say a quick prayer for her and for all the cancer victims of this world. There are so, so many of them. Starting with little tiny baby's so precious and sweet, dealing with life-threatening circumstances. And the old people, who were so weak and feeble, each one coping in their own way. Some with the help of Jesus Christ. And some blaming him for their circumstances.
But whether or not Christian or non-Christian, we still need to pray for all of them. May God Almighty here our prayers and bring salvation and healing to all cancer patients. Whether it be physical healing that they need or spiritual healing. All need prayer.
Until next time Willard and I both wish you health and happiness God bless and God save.

A simple piece of peppermint candy.

Willard came home yesterday from the nursing home holding a piece of peppermint candy in his hand. One of the residents at the nursing home, Ms. Nelly had given it to him. Willard said that she explained to him that she had been saving that piece of peppermint candy just for him. One would not think that a piece of peppermint candy would mean so much to a person. But it meant a lot to the giver and to the receiver. Willard was tickled to death to get that piece of candy. Because in that one piece of peppermint candy was a lot of love. It reminds me of aunt Naomi, Willard's aunt. No one ever came to see Naomi that she did not give them something before they left. Many, many times it was just a simple piece of peppermint candy. I remember every day before Willard left for work, Naomi would make sure that he had a couple of pieces of peppermint candy in his pocket. Each and every time Naomi gave something it would be from the love that she had in her heart for people. She was a mother to many, including me. I still miss her.
If the world had nothing but people like Naomi in it, what a wonderful world this would be.
2 Peter 1:7
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

If you'll remember, in my last blog I put in verses from second Corinthians the fourth chapter. Willard asked me the next day did I have any suggestions for a Sunday school lesson for him for the nursing home. I told him second Corinthians the fourth chapter. Willard has been studying all week on it. And this morning what was so odd was that Charles Stanley was preaching on second Corinthians chapter 4. So, we both felt very strongly, that it was indeed God's will. God performs his works in mysterious ways. And he made us Christians odd to the world. But I am very happy to be that odd person that the rest of the world just doesn't understand. You see I've never been one who wants to accumulate things of this world. I've never wanted that fine house, because to tell you true, I did not, and still do not want to have to do the work that goes along with keeping such a house. I did not want the expensive fine clothes, because to tell you the truth, I did not want to be careful not to spill or drip anything on them. After all I am a slob. Plus I did not want the dry-cleaning bills that come with such clothes.
You know, I've seen women that take a huge amount of time getting dressed, and putting on their makeup. They care more for what they look like to the world, than what they look like to God. Willard even says, if you scrape the makeup off of many women, and and then saw them on the street, you most likely would not recognize them. The most beautiful women to me are women with good hearts and giving natures. One woman, of many women that I know, is Susan Sanders. Susan had such a giving and loving heart. She doesn't wear the makeup or the fine clothes. She concerned herself with doing what God's will leads her to do. She's beautiful inside and out. Another wonderful person is Diane Jackson of which I've mentioned many times in my blogs. She is a wonderful, thoughtful, giving person. These women and many more that I know shine with the glow of Christ in them. It's a beauty that no kind of makeup or anything else of this world could give them.
They preach what second Corinthians 4:5 states..............
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
A real Christian, a spiritual feel Christian wants to be seen, not of themselves and how good they look. But Jesus who is in them.
The next time you're looking in the mirror getting ready to leave the house, remember this. Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
God doesn't care what you look like on the outside. God will be looking at your heart. Does your inside look as beautiful and your outside?
Until next time Willard and I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.

Well the news don't get any better. Dr. Gehrig called a few minutes ago to give me the results of my scan. The cancer has spread to my lymph nodes. Dr. Gehrig said that she saw where the cancer is still in my cervix 1 centimeter long and half a centimeter wide. She said the scan showed that the cancer can be seen in two of my lymph nodes, but is most likely in more. I will start chemotherapy Monday. And I will start every three weeks. That's just to start with. Then she would take another scan and stay on three weeks, or increase the chemotherapy if needed. I will most likely stay on chemotherapy the rest of my life.
And yes, I am crying even as I write this. But the tears are not because I have lost my faith. It's not because I'm angry at God, because I'm not. I think anyone in the circumstances that I am in would cry no matter what condition your spiritual life would be in. So don't mistake the tears for spiritual failing. I guess this Bible verse conveys my feelings.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
You see I fully believe in the eternal. If I did not have Jesus Christ's walking by my side, there's no way that I could get through this. But even through my tears I have peace in my soul.
Until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.