2020 The Year Of Clear Vision?

 Hello everyone, 

How are you? I must say, I have not been a very consistent blog writer. I have been reading my past blogs so I can bring everyone up to speed on where we are now. I am sorry for my lapse.

In 2017 we welcomed little miss Naomi Lin. She has been a blessing and she is the cutest little thing. She had it a little rough for a while but she doesn't let that stop her, she's tough. In her short 3 years she has had surgery on both ears and on both eyes. She is wearing bifocals now that she picked out!  She has a great memory for songs and musical movies/shows and I think I get more enjoyment watching her sing through them, word for word, intonation for intonation and action for action. She would be great for drama club or the theater. She is so fun.

Also in 2017 my mom was diagnosed with her third battle of cancer. This time she has Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and will have to take chemotherapy for the rest of her life. David's mom also continues her battle with metastatic breast cancer. They are strong warriors as they are fueled by their faith and our prayers. 

In 2018 we welcomed another grand-daughter into the world, Miss Evangeline Katherine was born to Rochelle and Steven. Rochelle, Steven, Declan and Evangeline all live in Glasgow, Scotland now. Declan is a very proud big brother and I think his little sister could do anything she wanted and he would not say a word. Her little ginger-haired self has him wrapped around her little finger. Declan goes to school now and he is doing quite well. I get to see them grow up and talk to them via Facebook and Facebook messenger.

Also in 2018 they finally determined that the medicines I was on for my epilepsy were too strong for me and they switched to another type. It took about 6 months for the other one to get out of my system and the new one to settle in but I am once again functional. I am praising God because that was rough to experience but He helped me through. 

In 2019 Jamie had back surgery for a spine slippage. She was one of the youngest patients this surgeon has seen with this degree of slippage. I don't remember the technical term for it or the degree of which it was before surgery but it was very serious. She attends a private e-school in which she is doing very well. She is very smart. She takes piano and art as extracurricular subjects. 

Also in 2019 mom had surgery to replace a heart valve. They didn't know what type of valve she would receive, whether a cow or a pig but in the end, as she says, she moos she doesn't oink.

This year has been tough on everyone, our personal lives, our country, our world. It has seen the arrival of a virus from China that has taken over the world and so much of everyone's lives have changed. Everything we took for granted was taken from us. The freedom to go to our family's homes, shopping, and worst of all, the inability to give care to our ill parents (doctor appointments did not allow anyone but the patient) and the shutdown of our churches. It has been difficult for everyone. Schools were shut down and I have been helping my niece CC do her schoolwork online at my house. After fall break they will once again be attending school 5 days a week.

Just within the past few months we have been able to start going to church again and the first time back on the grounds made me cry. I can even remember the first song we sang, "Here I Am To Worship" It was like a balm to my aching soul...to be able to sing the words of praise: Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you're my God, You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me....How beautiful the words and the ability to praise again!   

In the past month David has had a spell that sent him for several tests. They have determined that the left side of his heart is enlarged and he now has a cardiologist. For about a week he wore a heart monitor and he has an upcoming appointment in mid-October. He still works as a corrections officer. It has been a blessing because in these times of uncertainty God has given him a place to work that did not cause loss of income. With this new health diagnosis though we are not sure if he will be able to continue in his line of work. Only God knows and we put our trust in Him as always. 

Mom has been in a lot of pain for the past few months and they have just determined that she has to have her gall bladder removed because it is not functioning. During the testing they also found that she has some sort of thickening of her right lung. The next few days will hopefully give us answers on what that is. She is in the process of getting scheduled for a scan of her chest and lungs before her gall bladder surgery. We will know where to go from there. 

As for me, I am still kicking. Over the past few years I have put on a lot of weight due to a sedentary lifestyle and I am struggling with the consequences of that. Instead of Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes, I have a new song: finger, shoulder, knee and heel in honor of the places of most pain, but I am once again trying to get my life back together by getting my body back in shape. I have about 110 pounds to lose so please be in prayer for me that I can do this. I have a feeling my health needs to be in order so I can be ready to take care of my loved ones. I hate that I sound gloom and doom but if things don't change I have to face facts and be ready for whatever the Lord has for me. 

One last thing and then I will let you go, please, please, please pray for our country. We stand on the threshold of an election that could bring about a devastating new reality. Our world is no longer a place of those seeking unity, it is in utter chaos. People no longer think for themselves they are cast about on the waves of uncertainty fueled by the media. Horrific things are being done to the youngest of our country, both unborn and children alike and there is no longer a sanctity of human life. So many have killed our little ones and/or taken their innocence and I wish with all my heart that I could stop it all. Nobody should take the choice of those who cannot choose for themselves. As voters we need to wise up because it won't stop there. The fires of lies coming from the media fuel racial hate and have turned back the clock of a nation that wasn't perfect but was trying to sort through all the hardships of the past and they want to silence the voice of the people who are saying what the media is saying is just not right. God help us all. I believe the majority of us have an unlimited amount of goodness in our hearts. If we will stop, think and listen, we can overcome this craziness through following Him but we have to want to be still instead of reactionary. We just need to slow down and pray. If we want to truly have clear vision then we need to open our eyes and trust in Him. 

That's all I have for this time. Please remember Naomi, Jamie, David, our moms in prayer. Thank you. I hope this finds you all happy, healthy and safe. Take care and God bless. ~Vickie

January-mid March 2017

Hello everyone,
I am finally posting a quick update on our family. We have some really good news to tell you! Two things actually. First, Tiffany and Chris are going to have a baby! The baby is due in September 2017 and we look forward to seeing this little blessing. We are giving praise to God for giving her another baby. Please keep her in your prayers so that she and the baby will have no complications.

Second, Rochelle is engaged to a nice gentleman from Scotland. His name is Steven Paterson. Which brings Rochelle's new initials to RAP if she uses her maiden name instead of her middle name, which is ironic since she was never much of a talker.  We look forward to having him as our son-in-law. Declan adores him.

My David is still working for the sheriff's office as a corrections officer. He made a year on the job this past November. It has been a breath of fresh air knowing what his schedule will be.

I  am still struggling with health issues but I will see my neurologist again this Friday and hopefully we can sift through some of the problems from the past 6 months... if not all of them.

Even with the challenges we have faced and are still facing I can still say, God is good. He walks with us through each one, giving a strength we could never find on our own. I can't say everything will be made the way we choose for it to be but any struggle will be made into something good from the abundance of His grace. Simply put, I trust God to be who He says He is.

We have started raising chickens and quails for the eggs (and for the meat too if they don't lay) . I have been babying a quail for almost a year now and she is quite spoiled. We are making a temporary pen for the chickens to go into until we can make a more permanent structure then the pen will be used for the quails.

I don't think I mentioned in the last blog that Heather and David have built a house. They will have been in it for a year now I believe. Jamie is doing well and is enjoying playing soccer (she is great on defense) and homeschooling. She also just began taking Taekwondo lessons.

I think that about sums us up for now except for one last thought.... If today or tomorrow was the last day you have on earth what would your last day be like? I have been thinking on this for a while now. What could I do to make my life or someone else's better? How would I be an example of the love Christ has for them? It's a serious thought. We never know when our tomorrows end, let's live them like every one of them is our very last day.     Every. Last. Day.

I hope this has found you happy, healthy and aware of their blessings. Take care and God bless.
Vickie

June to November 2010 another post that got lost and now found in the publishing shuffle

It never ceases to amaze me how much time can slip away. So much has been packed in these past few months that the computer has had withdrawls from me :) Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes it is not.

There have been too many moms this year (that I know) who have buried their children. It has been a really sad time for many of my friends. I am tired of going to funerals this year. I am glad this year is almost over with.

On the upside, Heather and David found a house to rent and have settled in nicely. I love it, it's over 100 years old and still has the charm of an old house. Jamie loves it for the amount of space she can roam. By the way, she is getting big. She will be a year old next month. She has her first tooth and loads of personality! The other day she was here and Heather told her politely not to touch something (she's teaching Jamie manners young) and Jamie looked up at her and cute as you please repeated..."No Ma'am." I'd like to see her try that one on her daddy, that would be cute! "No ma'am Daddy." Poor David, I love to pick on him.

Tiffany is in the middle of a huge liquidation sale at her store and has been selling lots of appliances. Poor heart comes home worn out. I am sure she will be happy to see the end of the year as well.

Rochelle is working on a new crochet design and it's coming out really nice. She is making a Pepe Le Pew. She is also still babysitting for my friend.

My David is doing well. He is making ready for a trip to Indiana next month. He will be going to preach at a church in Columbia city. We are exicted about this. Whether or not this church is God's will for our lives, God willing, we will have a nice road trip.

It is with great sadness that we found out about the passing of a lovely lady friend of ours. Mrs. Betty Jones, our former pastor's wife passed away of a heart attack. Her love for God and her willingness to do whatever He called her to do was an example to all of us. It is rare in today's world to find a couple who even like each other after a few years of marriage, Bro. Sam and Mrs. Betty were IN LOVE with each other until the day she died. They were married for 58 years! I want to always love my husband like that. God truly blessed them, and us through them. A special memory I have of her is the times at the end of church on Sunday evenings she would sit at the piano with my youngest daughter Rochelle and there they would share their mutual love of Gospel music. She never seemed to tire of it. Please remember Bro. Sam and his family in your prayers.

Thank you all for your prayers for my dad. He is doing much better and is actually walking and riding his bike on his driveway. Please continue in your prayers for him and my mom. Also thanks for your prayers for David's step-dad Jake. He now has a prosthetic leg and recently drove his van for the first time! Please remember him and David's mom Glenna in your prayers.

Another miracle we've seen worked is for the husband of a dear friend in Ohio. Sharon drove here to see us a few months ago. She decided it was time to meet us after 14 years of only knowing us through computer and phone. We had a wonderful visit with her and her dog Emmett. Not too long after she went home though, her husband was in the hospital in serious condition. God has brought him around and he is now home with her and they have more time to cherish with one another. Please keep Sharon and Alan in your prayers.

I am doing well. I am enjoying spending my time "working" at a friend's daycare and also crocheting Christmas presents. I would love to say I have everything done but I don't. I am also creating a keepsake box in my mind to make out of dominoes. I hope it turns out, if it does then I will post a picture of it here. I love to give unique gifts for Christmas. I can't give a better gift than Christ for Christmas so I just gave up buying into the commercialism long ago. The only bad thing about making things is it's addicting and I have new stuff going through my mind before I finish the one I'm making at the time. It makes me work faster :D

The bag mat ministry has taken on a life of it's own. A gentleman in our church has been crocheting them as well and I couldn't even begin to keep up with him. We will be working with a church in New Orleans to distribute them, some blankets, and some coats to the homeless. Please pray that this ministry reaches others for Christ and that they will be the blessing that they were intended to be.

Well, until next time my friends, that is all the news I have. I hope this update finds you all happy, healthy, and safe. Take care and God bless.