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.