Let's Fall To Pieces Together

I was driving the other day and switching radio stations hoping to find some news to listen to or some good music. A song came on one of the stations that made me laugh and laugh.

I don't know who was singing it or who wrote it, and I don't think I want to know. I didn't even listen to all of the song.

 

It went something like this:

 

You left your tears on the jukebox

And they got mixed in with mine.

From now on let's fall to pieces together.

 

I'm pretty sure it was about two lonely heart broken people hoping to find comfort in one another.

 

Probably everyone has suffered heart break of some kind in this life, especially if you live long enough. I'm so thankful that I have a God who can give comfort when I "fall to pieces."

I can pray to a prayer hearing God, who sees my tears and understands them.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Ooooohh!! My Aching Body!!

Monday morning I started a project. My air conditioner had leaked into my small bathroom and the wood laminate floor had swollen and needed to be replaced.

Well, I thought I can do that !  I helped my husband before. It's not that hard. So I got my pry bar and hammer, pulled the trim off the baseboard and starting pulling up flooring. All went well except for around the toilet. I didn't want to remove the toilet and I could not get that flooring from around the toilet, but I was determined. Finally out it came.

I thought peel and stick tiles would be the easiest. It was a little bathroom, it wouldn't take very many and I could save some money. All went well and this morning I finished laying the floor. I hammered back the trim, painted it and it looked nice, but I didn't think about the toilet. There it was - about a 1/2 inch gap between my toilet and the floor and my toilet is rocking.

I know - the Internet. You can find out how to do everything on the Internet. They said use shims and caulk it. Well it was taking a lot of shims and I figured it would take a lot of tubes of caulking to fix that gap. So I quit for the day!

I try to do things myself. I forget that my body is getting older and isn't as strong as it use to be. When my husband and I did projects, I was probably 25 years younger.

So I got a shower, took two Aleves  and I'm sitting on the couch hoping everything quits hurting.

And I'll think about the bathroom tomorrow - As Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With The Wind would say, "After all, tomorrow is another day."

Because It Was There

Riding an elephant really wasn't on my list of goals or dreams. But there it was. A chance to ride an elephant. I couldn't pass it up. I might never get another chance. It was fun!!!!

 

Elephants are very fascinating. Elephant families bond for life, caring for and protecting one another. They are only separated by death. And God gave them a memory so they could protect themselves from danger.

 

God's creations are so amazing.

September's Almost Gone

I think I'm a little nostalgic tonight. I feel September is a fleeting month soon to be in the past.

I know these moments of time will never come again. It's almost like the past is growing and the future is shrinking.

I know I have a wonderful life full of great friends and a great family and I know that in this life, I couldn't have asked for more.

 

I Couldn't Have Asked For More

I sit here and think of all that I have seen

And the memories I made in places I have been.

I think of every sunrise that wakens up the world

Along with every sunset with colors all a twirl.

I've got to stand on mountain tops and see the world below.

Enjoy the peace and stillness while walking thru' the snow.

I watched the flowers grow as they came alive in spring.

And saw the pretty colors that only fall could bring.

I've held my newborn babes tight within my arms

And wished that I could keep them safe from any harm.

And someday when I'm drawing nearer to heaven's shore

I know that in this life I couldn't have asked for more.

 

- Patricia Rice

I am blessed.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month.


It's been over 2 years now that my husband passed away with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.


Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood that progresses quickly without treatment. It affects mostly cells that aren't fully developed. These cells can't carry out their normal functions. That's one reason why it's important to get care and treatment as soon as possible.
With treatment, people who have AML continue to see improved results. However, AML can be a difficult disease to treat, and researchers are studying new approaches to AML therapy in clinical trials.

AML results from acquired changes in the DNA (genetic material) of a developing marrow cell. Once the marrow cell becomes a leukemic cell, it multiplies into 11 billion or more cells. These cells, called "leukemic blasts," do not function normally. However, they grow and survive better than normal cells.
The presence of the leukemic blasts blocks the production of normal cells. As a result, when AML is diagnosed, the number of healthy blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets) is usually lower than normal.

AML progresses rapidly without treatment.

I'm thankful everyday for the treatment that my husband was able to get. It prolonged the time that my family and I was able to spend with him. Without treatment the doctor said he would only last about 5 months. So thankful that he was able to get a bone marrow transplant from his brother, Bob. The "Leukemic blasts" were just too strong. My husband fought a good fight.
So thankful that I'll get to see him again someday in heaven.

Pray that someday a cure can be found for this and other cancers.

Two Things Cannot Be in One Place

“One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts—just mere thoughts—are as powerful as electric batteries—as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in you may never get over it as long as you live... surprising things can happen to any one who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place.""Where you tend a rose, my lad, A thistle cannot grow.”

―  Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

I love the story of "The Secret Garden."

One of my favorite passages is where they talk about replacing the bad thoughts that enter into your mind with good thoughts.

It is so easy to let our minds be over taken with sad and bad thoughts. Every day we wake up to violence and injustice happening in our world. We face the death of loved ones, health problems, or our hearts are broken over something we have no control over. I know it isn't always easy to replace those thoughts with good and happy thoughts. But if we don't, pretty soon we lose our happiness and purpose in life.

Sometimes ordinary little things can replace my sad thoughts. Maybe the music and words of a song, the smiles and laughter of my grand kids, the innocence of a new born baby, the touch of the wind on my face, the beauty of a flower, a hug, the smell of the rain on a warm summer day, a ripe tomato from the garden, the reddest juiciest watermelon in the world, the changing of the seasons, knowing I have an eternal home in heaven, and a God who is always in control.

The Bible verses that help me to find peace are  Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Whenever a thought enters your mind that shouldn't be there, think on honest, just, pure, lovely things and the God of peace shall be with you. Think on the things that give you happiness and peace.

 

Rejoicing in Heaven

Sunday, August 31, we laid to rest Jerry's brother, Robert L. Rice. 

While we are mourning the loss of Jerry's brother, Bob, I think of all the rejoicing that was going on in heaven that day. Bob had passed from death unto life.

At the funeral we had the joy of seeing family and old friends we hadn't seen in a while. It seems like it takes a sad occasions like a funeral to get family together.

Please continue praying for Bob's wife, Julie, and for the rest of the family. Pray for comfort and peace.

3 of my sons - Aaron, Neal, and Scott

 

 

 

On the way home to North Carolina, we saw the most beautiful rainbow. It reminded me that you can't have a rainbow of promise without a little rain.