What am I waiting for?

It has been forever since I have blogged, 5 months. Why haven't I written? Too many excuses but the biggest one is nothing major to write about. Is that true? Oh No. There is much to write about.

I often wait on the earthshaking things when all around me God is working. So here goes:

I had an awesome time in Nicaragua. It was a mountain-top experience for me. God allowed me to hand out Bibles on top of a mountain. I got to hand a Bible to a lady who may never have held one before. That was such a thrill to my heart.

I was able to get away for a few days with my husband and just have some time together. I got to sit by some mountain streams and just "be still and know He is God."

I just got to welcome another precious grandchild into this world. Even though this is number 8, each is so dear and special. God has been so gracious to give precious children to my daughters.

I have the privilege of teaching a precious group of ladies in Sunday School. They allow this imperfect teacher to share what God is teaching me and they teach me more than I could ever teach them.

I am blessed with the ability to be able to see and hear, I have more food to eat than I need and I have a car to drive.

I have a family to love, a house to live in but most of all a God to live for.

Today I am thankful.

Time is flying by

When I posted last, I was awaiting the birth of a new grandson. Now he is one month old and I'm sitting here wondering, "Where did the time go?" I

This last week has been such a nice week for me. I love Easter. I told my Sunday School class a few weeks ago not to miss Easter; meaning don't get so caught up with life you miss celebrating our Risen Lord. It is so easy to do that. When I look around and see so many people hurting, it is easy for my thoughts to focus on all the hurts of life that I miss seeing the One who came to heal our hurts and bring peace to our hearts.

This past week I was studying again about the two on the road to Emmanus. They were a sad dejected pair walking back to their home. They felt all was hopeless because their Savior was dead. Jesus joined them on their walk and they didn't even recognize Him. He went home to dinner with them and took the bread, gave thanks and broke it and then they knew - "It's Him, It's Him."

He reveals Himself to me again and again but sometimes I am so focused on the cares, concerns and worries of this world that I miss Him. I don't want to do that. Each day can be a celebration day when I remember He is alive and He is here.

Packed Bags

My bags are packed, my classroom at school is ready, my house is clean but no baby yet so I sit waiting on ready on the East Coast. I think I understand more about the parable that our Lord told about the virgins who had the oil for their lamps and was waiting on the bridegroom's return. I feel like one of those who has everything ready for the phone call that the baby is coming but I just don't know the day or hour.

As I wait, I am enjoying the weather here. After such cold days this week, warm weather certainly makes me feel more alive.

My heart has been heavy the last two weeks for a precious family in the school where I teach. I taught this little boy last year and his mother was my room mother. He has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Boy, does that ever remind me that we live in a fallen world. If you are reading this, please pray for Forester and his family.

Well, that's about all the news I have today. I don't have anything too exciting to write at this point unless you want this grandmother to tell you about her grandchildren. Then I'd have to say, "They're wonderful!" I'm sure I'll soon have some exciting news about our West Coast little grandson. Until then, I wait.

Lessons from Simple Things

Yesterday morning as I got ready for church the Lord used something very simple to speak to my heart. He used toilet paper. (Remember I teach Kindergarten so the I think in simple terms).

My bathroom was out of toilet paper and I walked to our other upstairs bathroom and it to was out of toilet paper. I thought to myself, "There has to be some somewhere in this house." I went downstairs and out into the garage and there was a new package from Costco. In other words, we had tons of toilet paper.

I took it upstairs and distributed it to all the bathrooms and filled each room with plenty of paper. It was then the Lord used this simple thing to remind me of His Truth.

He told me that often my life seemed to be void of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I seem to be running on empty. But the truth is when I was saved the Holy Spirit came into my life. Often I'm afraid I've left Him in the garage of my life and not kept each room of my life filled with His presence.

I left for church after asking that He fill every area of my heart with His presence and to forgive me for often leaving Him in the garage of my life. After doing that, I was ready for worship.

Tagged

I was tagged and with HELP I finally found my fourth picture. This is a picture of Haifa, Israel. I made this picture when we were in Israel. This was a beautiful city on the Mediterranean Sea.

This was a trip of a lifetime and I am thankful that we had the opportunity to go. Well, this is my fourth picture and I did respond to being tagged. Now I don't have a clue who I can tag. If you would like to be tagged, consider it done. You are tagged.

I AM THANKFUL CONTINUED

I knew I would leave out a bunch. I am so thankful for the 3 godly men that the Lord has given to my daughters to be their husbands. Each one of them is such a blessing and God has uniquely gifted each one. I would never want to leave them out of my thankful list because I thank the Lord for them each day.

I AM THANKFUL

Today I really want to focus on all the blessing the Lord has given to me. It helps me to not moan about the things that may not be going like I would like them to.

I am thankful for my husband. Yesterday I was having leg problems and he brought me tylenol and a heating pad and drink and was so attentive. I am so thankful that he cares for me. He is a man who loves the Lord, his family, and his people.

I am thankful for my 3 daughters. I surely love all those girls. They are each unique and gifted - great wives and mothers(Jess almost a mother). They haven't had the perfect mother, that's a fact, but God has certainly blessed all these daughters with His blessings and given them all they need to live for Him.

I am thankful for my church. I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed us to be there for almost 20 years. That is such a blessing. What precious people worship there every Sunday.

I am thankful for friendships. We all need them and the Lord has given me wonderful prayer partners and friends.

I am thankful for my Sunday School class. I love those ladies. They bless my heart and allow me to be their teacher. They help me grow in Christ.

I am thankful to teach K-5 kids. They keep me young.

I am so thankful, last but oh not least, for my grandchildren. They are such a blessing from the Lord. Their warm hugs, when they say, "MIMI", the fact they seem to like to come and see me...They bring joy to my heart. The Lord has certainly blessed us with each precious one from the oldest to the one on his way.

Most of all, I am thankful that a young girl knew she desperately needed a Saviour and for my need, I found one. It is no telling where I would be had Jesus not saved me. None of the blessings that I listed would have been mine without a Saviour. I still need that Saviour today.
For all of these blessings and more....I AM THANKFUL!!

Monday School and Hotdogs

Yestereday was back to school day for me. I must admit, I had to literally push myself out the door. How I yearned for one more day to stop and smell the roses but that was just not to be. But, I found out that the Lord was at school. The children came in with their excited faces ready to share and ready to get back to work. The day went smoothly and at the car pick up I had a parent tell me, "I prayed for your day this morning." What a blessing!! Thank you Lord for praying parents. The Lord was present at school.

Then later that evening my husband and I had a date. We went and did hospital visitation and made a Costco run. We finished our date with a yummy hotdog from Costco. Does it get any better than this?

Goodbyes

I HATE goodbyes. I don't do them well. I just had to say goodbye again to my west coast daughter and son-in-law. On this side, it seems we're always having to say goodbye to someone. I am so thankful for cell phones and modern technology, but it still is hard to say goodbye.

It reminded me again that we're on this side(not that I need a reminder). When we're on that side the Bible says, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." I'm sure this also includes no more goodbyes.

But for now, I'll busy myself, dry my tears and finish getting ready for church. Life goes on for each of us, but a piece of my heart is enroute to the west coast.

A New Post on a New Blog. That seems to be a good way to start the New Year. What a wonderful New Year's Day we had. Even if Clemson got beat, it was still a wonderful day. All of my daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, husband and 2 dear friends were with us to eat and watch the big game. I don't take those times for granted. With a daughter and husband on the west coast, those times are rare. I thank the Lord for days like that.

I haven't made very many resolutions this year. Really, only one. I really, really want to live each day for THAT DAY. That Day is the day I will stand before Christ. I want my life to be used to influence others for Him.

I just read a book called THE LISTERNER. It reminded me again that everywhere I go there are hurting, struggling people. I want to hear their hearts and see their pain and offer them Jesus. It's not easy for me to talk to strangers but as the Lord speaks, I want to listen.

For today, I want to make the most of spending time with my Portland daughter. They fly out on early Sunday. I want to make our minutes together count.

One other thing, I want to do this year(I'm rambling now) is to be on a God watch. Instead of worrying about situations that look difficult(which I am prone to do) I want to watch each day to see how God is going to work out the situation. I know He is faithful to do that. Ok. This is enough for today. God Bless and Happy New Year!!