There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays

I'm celebrating Christmas in Indiana again this year. I always feel I should see my Dad on Christmas if I'm able and as long as he's still on this earth.

It was a good drive. When I left Greenville, NC the weather was 71 degrees. Today in Indiana, it's a chilly 21 degrees and sunny. I went for a walk down by the river in Newburgh this morning.  It felt good. Newburgh will probably always be one of my "feel good" places.

On the drive here when I crossed from North Carolina into Tennessee, all my radio stations suddenly became country. I enjoyed listening to my Christmas music accompanied by guitars and banjos with a little country twang to them.

Mountains of Tennessee

Beautiful Tennessee

It was so good seeing my Dad. He had to go to a nursing home a couple of months ago. He seems to be adjusting well, but it was hard for me to see him there. I'm hoping to spend as much time as I can with him. I'm so thankful I still have my Dad.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Last night I received the best present. My son called and said that the doctor was 99% sure he had removed all the cancer and that the spots on his lungs were just shadows, probably some scar tissue. And for right now, Mark will not have to have chemotherapy. He has to have check ups every six months to make sure nothing has shown back up, but I am one happy mama.
So thankful for prayers.

GOD IS SO GOOD.

 

 

 

He's Already There Preparing the Way

This week I was reminded again that GOD IS ALREADY IN OUR TOMORROW.

 

My youngest son, Mark, who lives in San Antonio, Texas had been having some health issues. Tuesday he went to the doctor and of course, they have to wait for test results. Wednesday morning they called him at work and told him the words that strike fear into the strongest of men - "You have cancer." When he called to tell me, I didn't want to believe it. I kept telling Mark, it's not going to happen. It's going to be okay. I have to believe that it's going to be okay. I called his brothers and some other people and asked them to please pray.

 

The doctor acted right away. They sent him to a specialist that day to run more tests and scheduled him for surgery on Thursday. The doctor told Mark that he was afraid the cancer had already spread into his kidneys. The cancer that he has is the most treatable if they catch it in time, but the most rapid spreading cancer if they didn't. It was so hard not being there. Mark asked me please not to come there, because he didn't want to worry about me. It's was hard. I wanted to hold him and love him and pray with him.

They did the surgery late Thursday afternoon. Mark told me that before the doctor operated he had all the people in the operating room hold hands and the doctor prayed. When I got the call from his wife, saying they were pretty sure they had removed it all and it hadn't spread to his kidneys, I had the best Christmas present a mother could ever want.

Mark still has a away to go. He will have to have some chemo and also there were a couple of small places on his lungs.

Please pray for Mark.
Pray for his recovery from the surgery.
Pray for the pathologist reports.
Pray for the doctors to have wisdom.
Pray for Mark to have comfort.
Pray for complete healing.

And also pray for a mother who knows that God loves us and is in control, but still has a lot of fear sometimes.

He goes to the doctor Monday afternoon for all the reports and to find out what the next steps are in his treatment.

I know GOD IS ALREADY IN OUR TOMORROW

I have a Father, the Master of time
He holds the world in His hands
He looks from heaven and sees where you are
Arranging your life in His plans
Preparing you now, unfolding the way
To all your tomorrows and whatever you face.

He's already in your tomorrow
He's walking one step ahead
Whether it's joy or it's sorrow
He'll do just what He said
He'll never leave you lonely
In the land of the great unknown
He's already in your tomorrow
Don't be afraid, keep pressing on.

Often you struggle, looking ahead
Dreading Tomorrow it seems
Embracing the present, forgetting the past
Giving up on your dreams
You're stranded between your faith and your fear
Yet no matter the conflict, the future is clear.

He's already in your tomorrow
He's walking one step ahead
Whether it's joy or it's sorrow
He'll do just what He said
He'll never leave you lonely
In the land of the great unknown
He's already in your tomorrow
Don't be afraid, keep pressing on.

Last Thanksgiving in San Antonio with Mark and his kids, Alexis and Gavin

A Little House Christmas

When our sons were young, I loved to read stories to them. At Christmas I had special stories I would read to them each year. One of them was a chapter from Little House On The Prairie - Santa Comes To Little House.

Laura Ingalls and her sister, Mary, were worried because the creek was swollen and they were afraid Santa Claus wouldn't be able to get to their house and bring them presents.

But to their surprise, there was a knock at the door and there stood Mr. Edwards, frozen from crossing the creek to get to their house. He told the girls he had met Santa Claus in town and Santa was too old and fat to cross the creek, so he asked Mr. Edwards if he knew the Ingalls and if he would mind delivering their presents to them.

And what humble gifts they received. In their stockings was a shiny new tin cup for each of them, a candy cane, a little cake with real sugar on top of it that Ma had made, and at the bottom of their stockings a shiny new penny.

And yet they were so thankful and happy about these few little gifts that they had received.

 

My sons were always worried that one day I would lose my mind and we would have a Little House Christmas and that is all they would receive for Christmas. It was always funny listening to them.

 

Usually at our church, our church families bring in gifts for the children in our church and we have a big Christmas party for the kids and they get to open the presents and they are really nice presents.

 

This year, our church decided to do something different. In Durham, NC is the Durham Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter. It's a wonderful ministry that tries to reach people with the gospel, to give them hope and change their lives.

Our church asked the kids in our church to buy a present for a boy or girl in the Durham Rescue Mission who probably wouldn't even be having a Christmas. You should see our Christmas trees at our church. Piled up underneath are toys and sacks of non perishable items for the Rescue Mission. It is amazing.

 

Most of us couldn't imagine not receiving a Christmas present. We are so blessed.

I think about how sometimes we can be disappointed because we don't receive that present that we thought sure we deserved and had to have. I know I'm the same. I couldn't imagine not having Christmas.

 

This Christmas remember whose Birthday we are celebrating and by giving the gift of love to someone else, we are giving a gift to Jesus.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS"

 

I Want To Be A Steel Magnolia

A steel magnolia is a woman who is strong and independent, yet very feminine and gentle.

 

I never wanted to be one of those helpless women who can't handle situations that come my way.

Today when I went to get in my car at Walmart, my tire was flat. Inside I kept telling myself, this happens all the time to people, I can handle it. So what do I do - I called Neal, trying my best not to start crying.

And of course, I wasn't thinking. Neal said, "Mom, you are at Walmart, they can probably fix it for you." Why hadn't I thought of that on my own. On the inside I wanted to start crying and let someone else worry with it. I didn't want to be responsible for getting a tire fixed.

So I drove around to the service center at Walmart and I needed a new tire. It had a nail in it, plus the tread on one side had wore down and thread was showing. The man showed me how bad it was. I don't know about tires. I know you have to put air in them sometimes and sometimes you have to buy new ones.

And then you always worry about being took advantage of because you are feminine and gentle.

But it all worked out and I have a brand new tire.

 

God was watching over me. That was the amazing thing today.  I will be traveling soon to see family and friends in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. I'm so thankful, that my flat tire happened while I was here in town and at a place where I was able to have it tooken care of. God had kept me safe. What a wonderful God we serve.

Psalm 121

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,

and even for evermore.

 

 

God's promise of His love and care over us.

Christmas Tradition

I always get excited about the first Christmas card I receive for the year. It is like looking forward to something special in the mail and finally it arrives. It says to me, "Christmas is here."

As you know, I am too nostalgic. I still have Christmas cards from family and special friends that I have saved throughout the years. One of my most special Christmas cards is  from my Grandma, "Mammy."  It was mine and Jerry's first Christmas and she had written a three page letter and included it in with the Christmas card that she sent us.  I still have it.

And when I was a little girl, I can still remember Bing Crosby singing, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas with every Christmas card I write."

As I sit here making out Christmas cards, I hope the tradition of sending Christmas cards never fades away.

I love you and hope everyone is enjoying all the many traditions of the Christmas season.

 

And please don't forget the most important part of Christmas - the birth of the Baby Jesus. His birth has changed hearts for over 2000 years with the love and the hope He brought.

 

 

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

December

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." - James Matthew Barrie   December, the last month of the year and most celebrated month of the year. You can see and feel the excitement of the children. I still remember my first Christmas after I was saved and understood why we celebrated Christmas. I'm so thankful for Jesus and His love to me. I know it's a busy month, sometimes stressful. It can be a lonely month full of memories from the past. I always pray that I'll always remember the reason for the celebration. Because of that little baby born on Christmas day, I know I have a hope that only comes from Jesus and the miracle of that first Christmas.   December   December slips in all covered in snow, And enjoys her stay while the cold winds blow. December is a month that we hold dear. And as she departs, we begin a new year.   We cherish each memory that she leaves behind Memories that are part of our hearts and mind. December gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow And erases hurts and banishes sorrow.   And all the joy and comfort she brings As we echo the words to the songs that we sing. For December is the month of a great celebration. For it's the birthday of a baby who would give us salvation.   - Patricia Rice

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The other day I felt like I needed just to get out a little bit. I drove over to Kohl's looking for clearance and sales. Instead of finding any good clearance, I had walked into a Christmas Wonderland.

I thought maybe this Christmas wouldn't be as hard on my emotions. But it seemed like every Christmas ornament and decoration caused so many memories and nostalgia to enter my heart and mind. And to add to all of that Christmas music was playing - Bing Crosby singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." That's all it took. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and I went home without buying anything.

Kohl's wins the award for knowing how to pull on your Christmas heart strings.

 

I do love Christmas. I love every Christmas song that's played, every Christmas movie, the lights, the Christmas trees, ornaments, the food of Christmas, family getting together, celebrating Jesus' Birthday, and the spirit of Christmas.

 

The best part of the holidays are the children. I see their faces and hear their laughter and watch their excitement and wonder what is going through those little minds.

 

When my youngest son was around 3 years old, one Christmas he put a bow on top of his head and climbed under our tree and said  he was our present. I still remember thinking that if I never received another gift in my whole life, him and his 3 brothers were the best gifts I could have ever been blessed with.

 

And during this month of Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for all the many blessings that God has given me, especially my salvation.

 

 

Psalm 86:12

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart:

and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

 

When I Get To Heaven...

One of my favorite things is helping every Sunday in Children's Church. I love singing the songs, listening to the preaching, and being with the boys and girls.

One of the songs we sing is -

 

When I get to Heaven, gonna walk with Jesus.

When I get to Heaven, gonna see His face.

When I get to Heaven, gonna talk with Jesus.

Saved by His wonderful grace.

Because I'm saved, saved, wonderfully saved.

Washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Saved, saved, wonderfully saved.

And I'M SO GLAD I AM.

HALLELUJAH!

Every time we sing this song, I think of a Bearing Precious Seed missionary by the name of Carlos Demarest who is now in Heaven. On our first missionary trip to Mexico, we went down into Mexico on a bus with over 20 other missionaries, preachers, Bible students, etc. Carlos Demarest was in charge of the trip.

It was amazing watching him and his love for the souls of lost people. I'm sure there our  countless people in Heaven, because of Bro. Demarest's testimony, witnessing, passing out tracts and Bibles, and preaching.

 

The reason this song always brings back memories is when we were on the trip and stopped to eat somewhere, we would sing this song in the restaurant before we prayed and ordered our food.

 

Also, one of Bro. Demarest's favorite sayings was "Praise God! and shame on the devil!" He was a great influence in my husband becoming a Bearing Precious Seed missionary. I'm sure Bro. Demarest and my husband had a great reunion in Heaven.

El Paso, Texas 1986
Getting ready to go into Mexico on our first mission trip. Jerry and I are the
"young" looking couple on the front row on the left.
Behind us is the old bus we traveled on down into Mexico. We would stay
down in the country for about 3 nights and 4 days. The women would
sleep on the bus and the men would have to sleep anywhere they could find.
Also we had one toilet on the bus and we were in a country
where you couldn't use the water or eat the food.  Carlos Demarest's wife, Martha, would cook our meals on the bus.

But what a blessing!!
We would go into the little villages where maybe one building would have electricity. We would run an extension and show "The Burning Hell" in Spanish.
So many people would come forward at the end and give their hearts to Jesus.
Great Memories.
 

Moving Day

After a lot of prayers, I decided I needed to move to a new home.

I knew that financially it would be a good decision, but I also  felt I needed new surroundings.

Moving is always hard. Especially the older I get. My body isn't as strong as it use to be. In my mind I can do anything, but physically, I didn't know my body could hurt so many ways.

 

As with each home we lived in, there were so many memories. As I said good-bye to the old house, I thought of the last couple of years. I always try to think of the good times. I remember laughter from grandchildren, Sunday night parties, having friends and relatives visit. I remember the special time that Jerry and I shared together before his home going.

 

I am so thankful for all of God's wonderful blessings and for all the people who helped me move.

 

This was the 19th time to move in my lifetime. That's a lot of moves.

 

One day I'm going to move and I'm not going to have to pack or worry about getting rid of anything.

I'm going to leave that job for my family, because I'm going to be moving on up.

 

My forwarding address will be Hallelujah Square. What a great moving day that will be.

God Leads Us Along

I have always loved the song, "God Leads Us Along."

In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Some thru the waters, some thru the flood,
Some thru the fire, but all thru the blood;
Some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season, and all the day long.

This song was written by George Young, a carpenter. Him and his wife dedicated their lives to serving God and going where He would lead them. They sometimes would travel from church to church preaching the gospel in revival services. Sometimes their finances were tight, but Mrs. Young would say, "We never went hungry!" She said we didn't have many worldly goods, but we always had much of Jesus.

They finally had saved enough to buy a small piece of land where George built them a little cottage. While they were away on a ministry trip, a person who had been offended by George's preaching set the house on fire. When they returned all they found were a heap of ashes.

While standing there they recounted all their wonderful possessions that fire could never destroy - their family, their relationship with Christ, their eternal home.

That is when the words for this song came to his mind.

 

Years later, a preacher was trying to find George's widow. He found her in a small town in Kansas where she was living in a run-down Poor House.

She told the preacher that one day God took her husband home and how much she missed him because they had served the Lord together.

She said, "I wondered where God would lead me after my husband's death". She said she was so thankful that He bought her to this place. About every month she said someone new comes to spend the rest of their days in this place and so many of them don't know Jesus. She told him she was having a great time introducing them to Jesus!  "Isn't it wonderful how God leads?"

 

At different times in our life, we didn't always understand why God was leading us to certain places or closing doors and opening other doors. And sometimes we didn't understand why God bought trials into our life. I have to admit that sometimes my faith would waver.

But to have that faith that no matter what happens or wherever God leads, He loves me and is in control.

 

Since Jerry's homegoing, I have struggled with making decisions and trying to figure out where I need to be. Pray that my heart will always be open to God's leading.

 

Psalm 23:2

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

September is National Leukemia Awareness Month

September Is National Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month

As the month of September brings leukemia and lymphoma into focus, it’s time to increase public understanding of these diseases, including their prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options, and resources that offer updated leukemia and lymphoma information throughout the year.

What is acute myeloid leukemia?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has many names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal in a few months. “Myeloid” refers to the type of cell the leukemia starts from.

AML is a cancer that starts in cells that would normally develop into different types of blood cells. Most cases of AML develop from cells that would turn into white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), but some cases of AML develop in other types of blood-forming cells.

AML starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are made), but in most cases it quickly moves into the blood. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles.

Other types of cancer can start in these organs and then spread to the bone marrow. But these cancers that start elsewhere and then spread to the bone marrow are not leukemia.

 

It is estimated that 14,590 men and women (7,820 men and 6,770 women) will be diagnosed with and 10,370 men and women will die of acute myeloid leukemia in 2013.

 

 

In June of 2011, my husband was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He had gone for an annual checkup and received a bad report about his blood count. The year before it had been normal. Within a year he had developed leukemia.  The doctors do not know when it came upon him, but it was sometime doing that year. I encourage people to have regular check-ups. We had no idea that he was even sick at the time of the check-up.

 

I am still thankful to everyone for the support, love, encouragement, and prayers as we went through the battle. I believe he received the best medical treatment that was possible at the time of his illness. The leukemia was too aggressive even after a bone marrow transplant. My husband went to sleep in my arms on July 24, 2012 and woke in the arms of Jesus.

 

Please be aware of this cancer and pray that through research they can someday find a cure.

 

I love you.

 

 

 

 

X Close
Table I-1 (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/ 1975_2010/results_single/ sect_01_table.01.pdf)

 

 

Back In Greenville

After being away for two months and putting over 4500 miles on my car, I arrived back in Greenville, North Carolina last night around 10:00. 

It felt a little strange coming home after being gone that long. The house felt empty and a little lonely. I had gotten use to grand kids and family always being around.

It was hard leaving  family and friends back in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Texas; but it was great seeing Neal, Amy, Kyla, Hayden, and Brylee again. I was afraid my grand daughters had forgotten their Grandma Rice.

It is always hard saying "good-bye." I always tell everyone, "Until I see you again. And you never know when the wind might blow me your way again."

 

Now to get settled back in and get unpacked. It's going to be nice to unpack my bags for a while or at least until that wind starts blowing me away on another adventure.  

I also want to thank the Lord for His mercies, and giving me safety as I traveled,  and His love to me.

 

Happy 90th Birthday, Dad!!!!

 

I am so thankful that I was able to be with my Dad to celebrate his 90th Birthday.  It was a great day. I was able to see family I hadn't seen for a while and old friends.  I'm so blessed to still have my Dad. I always told him that he would probably outlive me. 

He was born July 29, 1923. He has seen a lot of history and has a lot of stories to tell.

I love you, Dad!!!

 

 

My brother, Jerry, and my Dad

Back Home Again In Indiana

BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA

by Ballard MacDonald and James F. Hanley

Back home again in Indiana oh it seems that I can see
That gleaming candlelight still burning bright
Through the sycamores for me
That new mown hay sends all it's fragrance
From the fields I used to roam
Oh I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
Then I long for my Indiana home.

 

As I traveled to Indiana from Ohio Friday, I thought I would just take my time and stop a few places along the way.

I love Indiana. As you drive through it, all you see for miles and miles are farms and green fields. 

I pulled off the main interstate 64 and stopped at Lincoln State Park. It had always been one of my favorite places. I can remember all the times Jerry and I would walk through the woods and enjoy the nature and solitude. It is full of deer and it seems like if you listen, you can hear every bird in the woods.

Lincoln State Park is where Abraham Lincoln grew up. There's a cabin and working farm which is a replica of where Abraham Lincoln might have lived. It is where his mother is buried. They also have a memorial of Lincoln's original cabin site. It's just a beautiful and peaceful place to visit.

A Year Gone By

It's been a year since my husband fell asleep in my arms and woke in the arms of Jesus. I'll admit, it hasn't been the easiest of years.  I still miss my husband so very much. I still wish he was sitting in his recliner looking over at me and saying, "I love you."  I miss his teasing, his compliments, his input into my life, the times we shared together.

I miss drinking my cup of coffee with him every morning and the hugs, especially when he would hug me for no reason, but just to let me know that he loved me.

I miss his hunting stories, attending church with him (it's still hard going to church by myself), sharing conversation, going to a restaurant together.

I sometimes feel like a little girl still so very lost, trying to find my way in this new and different time in my life. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm suppose to do with myself. I know the answers will come as I pray and seek God's will.

I still appreciate all the prayers and support I have received from friends and family.

Over this year, I have learned also.  I have learned that the love of family is very important. Also, try not to have regrets. A person will always have some regrets, but it's best if you do every thing possible so that you don't.

Always remember the good times, forget the bad.

Don't argue over little things that really don't matter.

You don't always have to be right and win each time.

Watch your words, you can never take them back.

Laugh a lot.

Hug often and say the words "I love you" often.

God's grace is amazing. Every day I feel His blessings in my life.

And always try to enjoy every moment that you have together. 

I'm still not sure what God has planned for me and what my future holds, but I do know that God is Already in My Tomorrow, preparing the way.

In The Good Ol' Summertime

Gavin

Alexis and Gavin

Newport on the Levee

Scott and Lisa

The Purple People Bridge

 

 

 

                                        

Emma

Playing Baseball

Ethan

Jackie, Aaron, Evan, Emma, and Elena

Catching Lightning Bugs

Elena

Jennifer and Steve

Simon and Evan

Alexis, Gavin, and Mark