sharing

i am always amazed at how God prepares "helps" for us ... tailor made ahead of time, for this present time ... exactly what is needed for the difficult seasons of life ...

my morning help has been Streams in the Desert ... by mrs. cowman ... i can't even begin to share the multiple times that the reading spoke exactly to my need ... then gave encouragement ... it was just like a whispered, loving message from my Heavenly Father ...

even the books that leo and i read together ... again, tailor made for the time ...

at the moment we are reading max lucado's Just like Jesus ... it has interesting chapter titles like "loving the people you are stuck with" ... *grinning* ... i wonder if anyone can relate to that? ... *tongue firmly in cheek* ...

yup - this past 4 months has really been emotion packed ... yet, we have not walked it alone ... always the Lord has prepared the path before us ...

which brings me to a maria update ... i saw her yesterday ... which was super! ... we had a really great visit ... she is looking so well ... yet the bad news continues with low hemoglobin and also questions re how to treat that second virus in her heart ... ... she is being such a trooper ... and she continues to be so very kind to all those who help her (even tho' the help may hurt physically - those yucky tests!) ... there is always a please and thank you ... plus a smile ... maybe a little chuckle ... the poor thing has had a very long 4 months in the hospital ...

through all of this - i pray that we are all being molded to be "Just like Jesus" ... so that these lessons aren't lost ... and that the lost might see the light ...

UPDATE: i just talked to maria ... the heart specialist had been by last night and he said that the virus in her heart is STERILE now ... YAY! ... for 2 weeks, they had been giving maria antibiotics during her dialysis (the dr. said they wanted to do SOMETHING - they couldn't just stand by and watch this thing grow) ... and the anitbiotics worked! that bad virus had already attached itself to one of her heart valves - so the fact that it is sterile now is extremely good news! in fact, they are talking about sending her home again ... possibly at the end of this week or next week ... maria was so overjoyed to hear this ... one step at a time ... she has come such a long way from that very very sick girl at Christmas ...

a week without blogging? yikes!

a week has gone by! already! and i haven't had a chance to be in blogland ... *sigh* ... i do miss you all ...

my plate has been full ... and it has overflowed (not in a good way either) at times ... so i've needed to take a step back ... breath deeply ... and regroup!

atleast my library job is now done! and i may not go back in the fall, because homelife does need to be #1 ... and God supplies the strength for things i need to do - not the things i add on myself ...

my sister maria's battle to regain her health continues ... a new virus was detected in her heart a week ago ... they don't know what to do about it yet ... then she almost died during dialysis last week, her blood pressure went under 30 - extreme chest pains, doctors & nurses running to get her stabalized ... however, her spirits remain high and the many visitors and caring hospital personnel -are a real blessing to her ...

in all things, the Lord has been my very Present help ...

maybe life will settle soon ? ? i hope!!! ... like i said - i miss you all! blessings sent your way!

thank you Lord, for Easter Sunday!

Up from the grave He arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

visit with maria ...

picture of maria taken at her L.P.N. (licensed practical nurse) grad, back in the early 90's ... a proud moment for her, since nursing is what she always wanted to do ...

i just got back from the city today ... i spent 2 days there ... half work (taking a course for the library) and half pleasure ... one of the pleasure moments was when i got to visit with maria ... it was just lovely to see her ... she has gotten so much stronger since that open heart surgery 3 weeks ago ...

the surgeon who performed the mitral valve replacement had come by to see her last week ... he said that no one on the team really thought she would make it ... she was so frail ... and this particular surgeon only does the cases that other doctors are too afraid to touch ...

the hospital that maria is in, is a catholic hospital ... they read scripture in the mornings (via the hallway speakers), included with an encouraging thought and then close with the Lord's prayer ... everything there is so different from the mega hospital she was first at ... she said that the scriptures are always so uplifting!


on thursday, maria will have to undergo another procedure ... they will be putting in a permanent dialysis line (chest area) ... so more owie's on the way ... however, she is thrilled to hear that there are folks praying for her, who have never met her ... i know it encourages her along ...


blessings sent your way!!!