To God be the Glory

"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous fall."---Psalm 55:22

"But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning,
and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice."--Ps. 55:16-17

"Two things have I heard: that you, o God, are strong, and that
you, o God, are loving." --Psalm 61:11-12


How true and comforting are the Words of our God. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness, love, and mercy. I am so weak and frail. Help my unbelief as you already have a thousand times and even now are doing so. Help my son in His time of pain. How can I explain how a lizard's death can shake the depths of one's soul? We cried again yesterday and last night. Sarah said she could hear him cry while in her bathroom (above his room) washing her face for bed. Kato was his friend. He has been in his room since he moved into it. He was his favorite lizard. He could hold him, talk to him, watch him. He was probably the source of his herpetologist dreams--working with and studying reptiles in some fashion when he is an adult. He planned to have lots of reptiles; he had drawings and plans for outside environs for iguanas and other lizards who could sun themselves; he was always talking of new plans for terrariums and how he could better design them for the good of his pets, always checking out new books on lizards, surfing the Net, learning more about care and keeping. Now all that has changed. Doubt has come. These are pets that have a great risk with them. Dogs, cats, gerbils, and even ferrets, the vets know how to treat. Lizards are very specialized and as far as we know, there is no one nearby who would know how to treat a sick one. We probably could not afford it anyway. The internet does not offer very much info either in treating one once it is sick. So if one invests time and money and yes, one's heart, in one of these creatures, one takes a huge risk. Now we know. Maybe God is using this to direct him elsewhere. Maybe, no, I KNOW He will use it to be able to understand and comfort others who face loss. He now knows loss, real loss. How do I as a mother help him? I can hardly stand the pain of his crying out, "WHY? why? why did he have to die? why didn't I take him sooner? I loved him so much. I miss him so much. I keep thinking he isn't really gone. What did I do wrong? What did Kato do wrong? Why did God kill him?" I cry with him. I say yes, death is horrible. It is so final. You will never see or hold him again. It is like a nightmare. It is like a punch to the gut. It does feel like a knife has been inserted and is being twisted in your stomach, your very soul. I had to flee to God's Word. Some of the verses he showed me are above. His word is so true, so comforting, so real, so cutting to bone and marrow. How I thank Him for it. We must look to Him; we must confess His truth, whether we FEEL it or not. I have really been praying for my hurting friends. May God make Himself real to all of them--imagine the pain of losing a son with his life ahead of him! Talk about dashed hopes. Think of the possibility of losing a beloved husband or father, of watching him suffer the very depths of hell on earth as the illness and medicine to treat it ravages his body. How do we cope? Only God can carry us. Help my sisters and brothers who have lost spouses, soul-mates. Only God can give us hope to get up and go on. These loved ones lost may only have meaning to those who know them, but they HAVE meaning; they have affected the universe just by being. Help us all, O LORD, to confess how great thou art, to comfort one another (II Corinthians 1 :4+), and to live lives that count. Sorry to be so heavy, but I knew this was a place to reflect openly, and I am a person that that helps tremendously. To Him be the glory both now and forever! Amen. (II Peter 3:18)

I know this will sound stupid, but yesterday was one of the saddest, or part of the saddest, days I have experienced, and all because of a little lizard named Kato. I know there are absolutely horrendous events (cancer in family member, loss of home/loved in disasters and war, loss of spouse, loss of child...) happening to thousands of people right now, and some of these people affected are even close to me--and I hurt terribly for all of them--much worse than the death of a pet. You must say: "A LIZARD?! A STUPID REPTILE?" "Get a life!" or "It's not even a pet you could hold and cuddle..." and maybe you are right. But when that little lizard died yesterday, suffering horribly, and my son is crying out to God not to let him die, saying he is sorry to Kato, sobbing, pleading that he be healed, stroking his heaving body and telling him it's ok, my heart felt like it was ripped out and stomped on. I cried and cried, too. I felt so helpless. I cannot stand it when my children hurt. I want to make the pain go away. I and Luke know God the Almighty and all-caring and all-compassionate has reasons for it all. I could probably name some. But all we felt then was raw pain. As my husband so aptly put it, "Death is horrible." It separates us from those we care about. Everything associated with that being reminds you of your loss. You can't see or touch or laugh with or talk to them again. You never will see them as they were, alive and vibrant. Many times the last we see of them is sick or in pain. The whole family loved Kato. How can we explain the affection we had for a lizard? That sentence even sounds dumb. Oh well. It brought us pleasure. He was a noble being, actually very regal. Luke took utmost care of him, constantly seeking information on how to better his terrarium and make his life more pleasant. We even took him to the vet ( a very, very, very rare occurrence in our home with a father who was brought up on a farm) two times. I think part of the extreme grief may be due to having just had a very long week of 15 people living in our house and constant comings and goings (most very pleasant). We were worn out, and emotionally, we were a bit ragged. Anyway, obviously, life goes on. It's "just a lizard," but as Tim said, "As lizards go, he was one of the good ones." Let us cherish all life, every day. Let us remember the impact we leave on people day to day. What impression do we leave? Are we the aroma of Christ? Will others know and mourn our loss because we affected them for eternity? And how can we help comfort those who are grieving and hurting? Just something to ponder. (I'm sure some of you will be commenting on the morbidity of my post, but death is a part of life!) I encourage you to be a life-giver today!

Hodgepodge of Monday thoughts

I love blogging. I knew I would. I will struggle with not spending too much time on here. I think it is just the coolest way to communicate with everybody. Life is so busy, we are all in different places, with different people, and yet we can all connect this way. The human connection! I also feel at least at times that I communicate better in writing than I do verbally. I feel so dumb talking to people some times, the words won't come out like I want, my feeble brain can't get the neurons to function properly and I feel like those cartoon characters standing there with their mouths open, "DUH?" (which, by the way, is not an allowed expression in our household; used against someone else, it is one of the most disrespectful terms on earth). Oh, boy, this is random thoughts day. Anyway, after nodding through a chapter of The Boxcars' Houseboat Mystery with Hope the other night, she went to sleep, and woke up fine! I was so happy. Her good friend Katelyn came over and they decorated for Sarah and "Mr. Mike" (their birthdays) while I cleaned the house, baked, washed clothes, and other assorted tasks. It kept them busy and was actually quite a help. Then the Maddoxes, McMahans, and Katelyn and we went to the Balls' for the bonfire. What fun! Jay and Joan really rock on the bonfire/hayride party end of things--even to the DELUXE (flushing, with a sink, decorated (painting & candles) Port-o-Potty!! Awesome. Who would have thought? I wouldn't. Sunday was church--greeters, Anna and Luke joining, Tim teaching Sunday school (is he an incredible teacher or what? And handsome, too...for the fellow saps in my blogging audience), Jr. high snack (which Mrs. Franklin thoughtfully suggested they use leftovers from the bonfire--thanks!!She is a gem!)...a delightful afternoon walk with Mike and Robin, and back to pm worship--a superb Sabbath. Oh, and the church and elders praying for Damien was moving beyond words. I started crying as soon as Damien stood up, before anyone even said anything. I pray Damien and the family see that God is already using this for His glory--even within our church family--how united we were, and are, as we pray for this precious family. May God tangibly show them His real-ness and love and give them strength and wisdom, and lots of hugs and encouragement. Well, enough rambling on for now; I really do have responsibilities to take care of ! May you all have God-glorifying and fun days!

Middle of the Night (or morning?) Blog

First of all--Happy, happy happy birthday to Sarah! 18 years old! Wow! What a special age. Hope you have the best of days.

Secondly, I am going to go read to Hope because she just threw up, and I need to be a good mother and not just stay on here and write my blog. I think it is just the remnants of her cough and cold. Please pray that it is not some sort of stomach virus--not the most convenient time of year for that, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I thought I had all kinds of profound thoughts to type in here but I think my mind and heart are elsewhere right now. See you later!

Busy Holiday Thanks

Well, (do I start every sentence with that word?) it is a beautiful, crisp, fall day, perfect for leading up to a week of preparation for the Day of Thanks. I read on Linnea's blog about giving thanks and I think that is a superb idea. If anyone happens onto my blog, I would like to see some comments on what you are thankful for. And I do not think we should limit to just this time of year. Help us, Lord, to cultivate thankful hearts ALL the time! I sure need it. So apt to murmur like the Israelites.

We heard from our Ecudorian missionary friends, Mike and Robin McMahan. They will be arriving tomorrow afternoon to spend Thanksgiving with us! Woohoo! (Am I allowed to use that word or am I too old?) We should have a great week. I am also looking forward to the bonfire/hayride tomorrow night at the Balls' home. Perfect weather! Lots of fun and fellowship! What a wonderful time of the year! Luke and I cannot wait for him to put up the Christmas lights and the big polar bear--I hope it still works! And the Christmas tree....Yes, I know it is all about JESUS, but I love the other celebratory events, too--all warm and fuzzy! I don't think Jesus minds, as long as we don't get caught up in SELF and "I want" and all that devilish stuff. He likes us to be happy and loving and giving. And don't forget I Peter: Always be ready to give an answer for the Hope you have within! And by the way, I think we should wish all the store attendants who aren't allowed to mention Christmas this year, a blessed Christ-mas!

What am I thankful for? Of course there is not enough room to list it all and I need to get going on other endeavors....I want to be original in my thanking, but right now I can only list the obvious ones. I am sure some of you will have wonderful thoughts! I am thankful for grace, for my super family (a recurring theme), my Godly, handsome, loving, patient, funny, strong, excellent husband, (sappy? oh well! get over it! : > ) , a warm home, physically and spiritually, my best friend Suzanne and her great family, and all my other God-given fantastic friends! Health, of course. The opportunity to travel to MS--I can never thank God or those who made it possible and who went with me; it was an amazing experience! I want to go again if God wills! Let's see; the Word of God, good books and movies, delicious food ( of which I partake WAY too much), ( I need to feed on the Word more and chocolate less!), super sermons and Sunday school lessons (isn't the Sunday school teacher awesome? : >) , good Godly friends for my children.....ok I know there is more but I really have to go.

May you all have a very merry Thanksgiving with your friends and family!

Well, I'm Here

Ok, I could not stand it any longer. I read all your wonderful blogs and I intensely want to comment. A couple of you have suggested I start one but I do not think I really have time and I have this uncanny way of wasting time. I could see this becoming a major time waster, not reading yours, but creating one of my own. Anyway, now I can at least say something once in awhile if I think of anything to say! Maybe Sarah has the right idea and doesn't show her blog to anyone....this may be the only time I post on mine. We'll see! My family knows I like to write and talk, so who knows? So to end this on a positive note--I have a WONDERFUL family and super friends and God has blessed me beyond belief just by choosing me to be His own, regardless of the infinite ways he has blessed me here on earth. Love you all!