January

Time to get back to routine. Many people are going back to work today and kids are going back to school. The festivities of the holidays are over. 

People sometimes dread the beginning of a new year. There's tax time and getting organized for the new year. People fear what changes might come into their lives in 2013.

I remember when we began 2012. Jerry had just had his transplant. We had no clue to what was ahead for us. We wanted to be full of hope and excited about the new year and prayed everyday that God would heal Jerry and give us some more years together. God already knew what was going to happen in our lives. He knew ahead of time about Jerry's illness and what we would face. With God there are no surprises.

^{Psalm 46:1-3}

 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

 ^{Psalm 46:7}

 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

I tell myself every morning that God is in control of my today, He's in control of my tomorrow and my 2013.

GOD IS ALREADY IN MY TOMORROW.

He already knows what each day is going to bring into my life. He's walking ahead of me and preparing the way. 

2013 is going to be the best year ever!

Maybe 2013 will be the year that the Lord returns.

Welcome 2013

Happy New Year!!!

At midnight we said goodbye to 2012 and welcomed in a fresh new year - 2013. I actually made it until midnight. 

I never make resolutions, but I know I have dreams and hopes for the new year and I always want to thrive to  make improvements in my life.

2012 was a year of so many events and changes. I had planned on growing old with Jerry and sharing a lot of New Years. God had different plans.

I pray that God will give me the strength and courage I need as I start this new chapter of 2013.

And I pray that God will bless each one of you in this New Year! I love you.

The following verse is the verse I am claiming for 2013. I feel like I need God's help and guidance more than ever in my life. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

More Pictures From My Christmas Adventure

 My son, Scott, Lisa, and I stopped at an old soda shop in Blake's Pharmacy in West Union, Ohio. I felt  I had stepped back in time. We ordered a vanilla cream soda, a coke float, and a malt all for the grand total of $3.00.

My grandson, Greg

My Adventure Continues

Yesterday, December 29, was a very hard day for me. I couldn't help but think that a year ago, Jerry and I were at Duke and it was the day of his transplant. We would have been celebrating his one year Birthday. We were so full of hope.  I still have the HOPE of knowing that one day we'll be together again.

I am so thankful to family and friends for helping me make it through this first Christmas. I am so blessed. It was great spending time with everybody.

I continued on my trip today. I headed for the Cincinnati area. I thought I better continue with my journey before I was snowed in again. I told Neal that if the snow continues I would probably see him sometime in the Spring. The snow has been so beautiful. It has also been very cold.

 

One of my favorite movies is "An Affair To Remember". It stars Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I remember a line from the movie - "Winter must be cold for those who have no warm memories."

I'm so thankful for all my warm memories.

 



 

Winter Wonderland

Christmas Eve there was a blizzard watch. On December 26, I woke up to a most beautiful blanket of snow. We were snowed in for the entire day. It was a great and relaxing day.

Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence

of a happy family all wrapped up in each other".

 

 

Even though I have been with family and friends, my heart still longs for Jerry to be sharing Christmas with me and to be a part of all the festivities and events surrounding this most wonderful and magical time of the year. So many memories of Christmases past fill my heart and I am so thankful that the Lord let me share them with Jerry.

 

I am also so thankful for the love of family and friends. Their love is helping me through this first Christmas.

 

My son, Mark, and my Dad

 

Kimberly, Alexis, Gavin, and Mark

My nieces, Olivia and Aleise

Olivia, Steve, Jennifer, and Aleise

Janine and Gary

Julie and Bob



Dave and Gariann, my niece, with their 3 cute silly kids
 

 

Jerry's sisters and brothers
Janine, Norman, Bob, and Jennifer

Norman

 

 

 



Merry Christmas from Indiana

Friday morning I headed out on a Christmas adventure. I headed to beautiful Indiana. It was a good drive. I drove it straight through and enjoyed listening to Christmas music. You can listen to a lot of Christmas songs 13 hours on the road.

I spent today with my Dad. It was a good visit. We ate and talked and tried to straighten out the world. I love my Dad and enjoyed the time I spend with him. He has a fantastic memory for being 89 years old. I think his mind works better than mine. 

I'm excited about seeing family and friends. I had Christmas with Neal and Amy and their 3 girls before I left.

I'm adding new pages and memories to my life.

Jerry is still so much in my heart and a part of me. I'm thankful to a wonderful God whose grace is sufficient and gives me comfort when I need it.

I Love You and Wish Everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

 

 

The Christmas Memory Tree

This year it was hard decorating our Christmas tree. Neal, Amy, and their girls came over and decorated it for me. I was thinking how my Christmas tree is really a memory tree. I will probably never have a designer tree with all the ornaments and bows matching and  everything color coordinated. Instead I have a beautiful memory tree. A tree filled with ornaments that hang on our tree from year to year. So many of our ornaments have been gifts from people we have known through the years who have touched our lives. Each ornament has a memory or a story to tell. I love our tree and the memories that surround it.

This first Christmas without Jerry is hard. I was thinking about Jerry in Heaven. He’s celebrating Christmas with Jesus, the reason that we even have a Christmas day.

I’m so thankful for that little baby, Jesus, that was born over two thousand years ago. Who came to give us love and hope.

Luke 2:10-14

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.