What is Thankfulness?

I have decided that I just really want to focus for this next several days on being thankful. I know that an attitude of thankfulness is pleasing to the Lord. I have so much to be thankful for! I found some quotes that seem to express it better than I can.

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
(Henry Ward Beecher)

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart, as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.
(Theodore Roosevelt)

If I have enjoyed the hospitality of the Host of this universe, Who daily spreads a table in my sight, surely I cannot do less than acknowledge my dependence. (G. A. Johnston Ross)

Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings that I enjoy on a daily basis!

The "Eyes" Have It!

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 141:8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch...

Sunday evening I began experiencing visual disturbances in my right eye. At first I just thought I had some hairs hanging down over my glasses, but I didn't think my hair was that long! I tried to brush them away, but they continued to be there, floating in front of my eye. Then that night, when the house was dark I started seeing a flashing light in my peripheral vision, moving in an arc vertically. Well, of course when I mentioned these things to Lynn, he said "Call Dr. Walker tomorrow!"

I have had Macular Degeneration in that eye for almost 3 years, and now get frequent injections to keep my eyesight in that eye at about 20/50. However, I had never experienced anything like this.

I was able to get in to Dr. Walker on Tuesday. When I told him what was going on, he said "Well this could be nothing, or it could be something really not good". Well, of course, this did nothing to relieve my concerns!

After a thorough exam, he said, Well you do have a problem, but fortunately we can treat it. He went on to explain that I have a retinal tear. In normal aging, the jelly inside the eye starts to pull away from the retinal wall and shrink. However, in my case, a piece of the jelly stuck to the wall and caused a tear in the retina. He did a laser treatment, which he said will seal it off and fix the tear. However, he said that the visual symptoms I'm having will not go away for about 2-3 months. (As a side note, this had nothing to do with my previous condition--it is a separate issue).

So, if you see me trying to brush the bangs out of my eyes, just realize that it has become sort of a natural instinct to try to get rid of the "floating" hairs that are now my constant companion.

I am so thankful for doctors who have the knowledge and expertise to take care of these things, and I'm especially grateful to the Lord that I continue to have good enough eyesight to do all the things I love to do--read, computer, drive, etc. I am indeed blessed.

Christmas Thoughts

The tree is up, the Christmas poem written and ready to mail, and a few decorations here and there. Also, I have found some great CD's of Christmas music, some that I had and a couple new ones I bought. The music is probably one of my favorite things about the Christmas season.

I've probably said this before, but I want to try to focus this year on the true spirit of giving; looking for opportunities to do something for those less fortunate. I have been so blessed, and I am so thankful. I provided a couple shoe boxes for inner city kids, a project that our church does every year. Our class is trying to provide a good Christmas for a single mom and her 3 children that go to our church. But beyond that, I need to be sensitive to ways that I can be an encouragement to those who are going through hard times right now, and those who have a hard time at this season because of the loss of loved ones.

I found some quotes about Christmas and wanted to share just a few:

There has been only one Christmas--the rest are anniversaries. (W. J. Cameron)

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. (Roy. L. Smith)

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

( Attributed to a 7-year-old boy named Bobby)

This last one is one I found by Oren Arnold, but I liked it so well, I added some of my own. So a few of these are his, and the majority are mine.

Christmas Gift Suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness; To a customer, good service;

To a friend, faithfulness; To a child, a good example;

To those down-trodden in spirit, encouragement; To your employer, honesty;

To your spouse, your heart; To everyone, love & kindness;

To the Lord, deep gratitude for His gift of Salvation.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Heart-felt Gratitude

I know, I know! Thanksgiving is almost a month away. But I've been thinking a lot lately about how blessed I am at this point in my life. God has blessed me in so many ways and I am so thankful.

One of the things that prompted me to write this post at this time was a little article I read; it was written by the editor-in-chief of Guidepost magazine, Edward Grinnan. I trust it will be OK to quote him in my post, as you could also read it in the November issue of the magazine.

He said: "One of the pleasures of growing older is the perspective it brings to the store of blessings that multiply in your life; growing older means growing more grateful. Of course there is loss and heartache and disappointment too. But it is against these adversities that our blessings stand in high relief, the joy of family and friends and faith and work, and gratitude for the gifts each new day holds. These are the things that make us whole, and with which, as I daily remind myself, I am so richly and undeservedly blessed. Even in these dark and troubled times I find more to be thankful for than not--much more. Gratitude is a practice of the soul that helps us live happier lives and grow closer to God, and our blessings are the living evidence of His grace."

PSALM 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us and we are His, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Down Memory Lane--45 Years Ago!

I can't believe I haven't posted for so long! I've had things I wanted to share, or at least make a part of this journal, but life has gotten in the way.

Speaking of life, how do you catch up on 45 years of living with 31 other women? We made a valiant attempt, and were actually quite successful.

This past Friday and Saturday my West Sub nursing class met for our 45-year reunion. Apparently we've only had 2 other reunions--one at 5 years and 10 years--and I wasn't able to attend those. So how do you go about meeting and greeting and relating to women you haven't seen in 45 years?

Above are the 2 girls who were my roommate/suite mate our senior year. Judy (in the center) and I were roommates and Mary was in a single room with a shared bathroom between us. Judy and I stayed with Mary, instead of at the hotel, since she lived close, and it gave us a chance to really catch up on families, joys, sorrows, etc.

(We had small groups or "rotations" that went to different areas together. This was my rotation. There were 8 of us, and 7 of us were here. We called ourselves the "great eight"!)

I need not have worried about relating with these women. It was as if we had seen each other yesterday. West Sub was a christian school, affiliated with Wheaton College at the time that we were in school. However, that does not necessarily mean that everyone is a christian.

But as I listened to each of these women speak several things were evident:

1) We had all worked at our nursing careers, some more than others. Many, like me, are retired; more that I would have thought are still working; and some only worked a few years in nursing, because of husband's careers, mission work, etc.

2) We have all had many joys and blessings in our lives--family, grandkids, etc.

3) We have all had heartaches and trials--chronic illness, cancer, death of spouses and/or children, challenges and heartache with our children, etc.

4) BUT, as I listened, every one of them gave God the praise and glory for His love, His grace, His guidance and direction and His faithfulness. It was truly amazing.

We graduated with 63 class members. Six of them are deceased. So out of a possible 57 classmates, 32 of us were there. We felt like it was an amazing turnout. And what a spiritually uplifting and encouraging time it was!

We ended the reunion by singing our class song, which was based on Isaiah 26: 3 You will keep in perfect peace him (her) whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.

A Special Visit

I have been trying to arrange a visit for Nichole's kids for a long time. It seemed like every time I tried to set a date, something would come up that they couldn't go. I was beginning to think that the aunt who is keeping them didn't want them to go for some reason.

Nichole's counselor really wanted her to have a visit from the kids to see how they respond to her, before she gets released. So I finally had a "comin-to-Jesus" talk with the aunt and with the kids dad, and said Nichole really needs to see her kids. Do you have any conflict on July 6th? They said they had no conflict and we arranged for me to take the kids and their dad to see Nichole.

She had not seen her kids for almost one year; at that time they were 1 y/o and 2 y/o. (in the picture above)

They are now 2 and 3 years old, and as you can see from the pictures, have really changed.

I thought this was so adorable. Nyla has a look that says, "Do we really have to do this?"

We had a great visit, and the kids did warm up to Nichole, although it took them a little time, especially Nyla. As you can possibly tell, R.J. is very out-going and responded well to her. But Nlya did sit on Nichole's lap while we attempted to play Candy Land.

We visited for 2 hours (which is the limit) and then started home. It's a 3 hour drive from the kids home to the prison, so I knew they were getting a little tired. We stopped as soon as we left the prison and ate lunch; it was about 2:30pm and we hadn't eaten lunch, although we had some snacks at the prison. At the Burger King, Nyla wanted me to hold her. I think it might have just been a little overwhelming for her.

They slept for most of the way home, but were restless and a little grumpy the last 50 miles. I'm not used to being around little kids that much, but gave them some books, animal crackers and drinks in sippy cups, and we did very well. (I had seen them several different times, so they kind of know me).

I was so pleased that I was finally able to take the kids. I know Nichole was so excited and loved every minute of it. (She e-mailed me and said, 'after you left I felt kind of sad and overwhelmed, and I had to sit down and cry a minute'.) But she was so, so grateful that I was finally able to bring the kids to see her.

Matthew 25: 34-40 Then the King will say...For I was hungry...I was thirsty...Iwas a stranger and you took me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we ...see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, yu did for me'.

Clear Vision

For months now--yes I do mean several months!--my glasses have seemed cloudy to me. I kept thinking they just needed to be cleaned, but they would never really get better. My sweet husband kept telling me I needed to go get new ones. I knew it had been over two years since my last opthomologist appointment. ( I see my retinal surgeon every month for my macular degeneration, but he doesn't deal with eye glasses.). I knew if I took them in asking for new glasses they would want me to see the Dr. so I made an appointment.

My actual prescription didn't change much--they did improve it just very slightly.

When I went to order my glasses, she said the reason they were cloudy is because the anti-reflective coating was coming off. She said that can happen after 2 years, although she assured me the coating they now have is much better and more scratch resistant.

When I went to pick up my new glasses I couldn't believe the difference! I could actually see so much better, and the lenses were so clear. When I got home and started working on my computer I told my hubby, "Oh my goodness! My computer screen is so clear and bright--it's amazing!" He was very happy for me, but couldn't resist adding "I've been telling you to get those taken care of".

I couldn't help but think about that verse in I Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

I'm very excited that my physical sight is so much clearer. And although we now can only get a glimpse of our Savior through descriptions in His Word, I know it will be so thrilling and wonderful when we are able to see our Lord and Savior face to face!