tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22881135397733981922024-03-13T08:09:56.459-04:00Amy's StoryAmy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-72636717369640559752021-07-04T20:45:00.000-04:002021-07-04T20:45:19.104-04:00Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus<p><span style="font-size: large;">Monday mornings are my day for laundry
and paperwork. Two of the tasks I dislike the most so I get them done
the first of the week. Owning a small family business and being the
one in charge of the finances I consistently tried to do the bookwork
every single week. It was something Daddy taught me throughout the
years, but I believe he did his bookwork on Sunday afternoons because
being a farmer he didn't have any other time to sit in his office.
Farming is a little different now but my memories are from 30- 40
years ago.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I haven't been as faithful the last few
years since my daughter-in-law took over the business paperwork for
me. This past Monday I sat at my desk in my office and glanced at the
calendar. Every week I would faithfully change the little wooden
calendar that Daddy made and Mama painted. (The top of my desk rarely
gets dusted, it is filled with little things that are precious to me,
and the grandchildren know they are not allowed in my office unless they ask
and I am with them.)
</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4ZMAHOX4ps3q35vKrraXm8BD-_-O-h7hUjx3zGr0hPJBluSANwrE9xQxyRhbKQkaNnGwLzOxnumXxdUxuZhqUcYDitbWucfyGITU8yMOI0_99PyzzYUBPzf52FqgSnjKqLpFuQRs6uc/s2016/209579025_245090080512985_1265471871722199098_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4ZMAHOX4ps3q35vKrraXm8BD-_-O-h7hUjx3zGr0hPJBluSANwrE9xQxyRhbKQkaNnGwLzOxnumXxdUxuZhqUcYDitbWucfyGITU8yMOI0_99PyzzYUBPzf52FqgSnjKqLpFuQRs6uc/w396-h297/209579025_245090080512985_1265471871722199098_n.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I looked at it again and the date
jumped out at me. April 12. The day Emily and I left on our three week
adventure together. In some ways I feel like my life just sort of
stopped at that point. I've been busy, but my mind just hasn't been
all in. I've been in undiagnosed pain since January, I even started
using a cane to get around. Sometimes I couldn't even think straight
and would get so discouraged. I felt like I had aged 20 years! But
with pain killers and chiropractic care I was managing. During that
time a new grandbaby was born. She is now 5 months old and such a
beautiful and sweet tempered child. My oldest had a birthday and my
3<sup>rd</sup> grandchild turned 6. We celebrated Amy's Homegoing Day, Easter and a week
later Emily and I packed up and started driving west. The purpose of
our trip was to visit with those who are special to Emily, to share
about her plans and for her to say a “goodbye” for at least the
next 4 years. She leaves for Southeast Asia in September.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We made stops in Illinois, Iowa, South
Dakota and Missouri. Emily was so kind to me as she would help me out
of the car, grab my cane, and even support me if the ground was
slippery. We mostly stayed with friends of Emily, our first stop with
a college friend in Chicago. In Iowa we stayed with my 81 year old
aunt, just a mile away from the farm I grew up on. The young family
who now own and work the farm invited us inside and it touched my
heart to see the place I grew up in and called “home” for 57
years being so loved and cared for. We visited my parents, sister
and grandparents graves and planted flowers. It was hard to say
goodbye to my aunt. She is a wonderful woman, devoted to the Lord and
prayer. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> On to South Dakota where we stayed with friends of mine I
have known since we were both teens. They have a beautiful ranch and
we saw so many baby calves, ate good food, and talked about life. We
also were able to see a few of their children and grandchildren. We
drove farther west and met up with a college friend of Emily's and
played tourist for a few days in the Black Hills and Badlands. Next
to another of Emily's friends who also live on a ranch and we actually
were able to see a calf being born, feed the horses and 100's of
cows. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our last stop was in Kansas City with another of Emily's
friends, but I have known her and her family since she was 3! We were also able to visit much of the extended family who lives nearby. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had
such good times at each of the places we stayed at. As we traveled my
pain started to decrease and now with dieting and exercise I am
finally starting to feel like myself again.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been meaning to write about our
trip and share pictures since we got home, but 2 whole months have
passed and the words just wouldn't come. While we were away I got a
message that my 21 year old niece was missing. A few days later her
body was found. She was the baby cousin of my family, coming 11 years
after my youngest child. She has two older siblings. I was there when
she was born, helping to take care of the older children. Her mom,
my sister, was here 8 years ago helping me when Amy died. Now she is
going through the grief of losing a child also. My heart aches for
her. We don't live close so I can't be there to help her. I pray for her comfort and for healing. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time doesn't stop. It has a way of
continuing, if we want it to or not.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emily leaves in 2 months. As I said, I
have been busy, taking care of the grandkids, gardening, the usual.
But all with the thought of Emily's leaving. God took Amy to live
with Him and gave me eight wonderful years with my youngest daughter for
comfort and companionship. She is my best friend, but it is time for
her to live her own life, the life that God has planned for her.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the time I'm ok. But I do have
my moments! A few weeks ago, as she was singing beside me in church,
I wondered how I would be able to bare her not being here. Then
today, we started the service with “Victory in Jesus” and also
sang “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone”, two of
the songs that were 'Amy's songs', sung at her funeral. There were
people sitting between us and I was holding the new baby, but if our
eyes would have met, she would have understood my gaze.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's what I'm going to miss. The
connection to the grief, the growing, the leaning on the Lord, and
the sharing what we have learned in His word.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pastor Daryl shared the story of Helen Lemmel this morning. She was blind, her husband couldn't deal
with her blindness and left her, and she lost her job. Yet she wrote
this song:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Turn your eyes upon Jesus</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Look full in His wonderful face</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the light of His glory and grace.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The things of earth will grow strangely dim....that's what I want.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm tired of thinking of death and
living in the past. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I want to look to the future. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I want to keep my eyes on Jesus.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I planned to share pictures of cows,
calves, horses, prairie dogs, big horn sheep and bison. Scenery of
the places we saw. But what matters to my heart is the people. The
people that God has put into my life and Emily's life to pray for her
on this wonderful journey ahead that she is about to embark on.
</span></p>
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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTymhoMBjfqgfitLguP3zcvjC7xw7CebKiiHFdpigRHIO8G9jz96L01dvIgKe3mjon0gIAl4fpOvipJWWRiwD3LnpQxckiLQIPhK0C7REcd6866VjYBlOhXWXzU88uyV4foYLja47ZGzI/s1008/213539247_541912253840597_3372864400061349127_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTymhoMBjfqgfitLguP3zcvjC7xw7CebKiiHFdpigRHIO8G9jz96L01dvIgKe3mjon0gIAl4fpOvipJWWRiwD3LnpQxckiLQIPhK0C7REcd6866VjYBlOhXWXzU88uyV4foYLja47ZGzI/s320/213539247_541912253840597_3372864400061349127_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I saw this quote by Lisa Harper "God turns graves into gardens....cemeteries into sanctuaries....weeping into rejoicing. Ultimately He really will work All things together for our good and His glory." </span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I turned my calendar to July 4.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">
<div style="width:235px;"><script src='http://50.56.126.216/banners/FeaturedChildEmbed235x100.php'></script><br/><center><a href='http://www.compassion.com/child-development/children-in-need/default.htm'>Save Children</a></center></div>
</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-65492434372586753652021-01-09T21:45:00.000-05:002021-01-09T21:45:47.150-05:00REMEMBER-DO NOT FORGET<p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What
a year we have all just gone through! My word for 2020 was surrender.
Did anyone ever guess that we all would have to surrender so much in
our lives this past year? It was a good word to have, to dwell on for
the year, to surrender daily to the Lord as He was and still is in
control of everything.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">As
usual I have been giving much thought to the word God wants me to
think upon this year. I had the privilege of doing a Bible study last
fall, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blog/post/edit/2288113539773398192/6549243437258675365#">Jesus
and Women In The First Century and Now by Kristi McLelland</a>. It
was very informative and after I finished my Advent study I decided
to record what I learned in a condensed format in a notebook in case
I ever needed to teach the lessons I had learned. I was surprised to
realize how much I had forgotten in just a month and so I think this
is something I will do as I finish each Bible study that is in a book
format such as this one. So in this study the author teaches a lot of
Hebrew words and their meanings. I decided to use one of them for my
word for 2021, ZAKHAR. It means “to remember.” In the Bible God
issues many commands, but He repeats one of them over and
over—remember—do not forget.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
tend to remember my hurts and the things that have devastated me, but
easily forget all God's little blessings, the beautiful grace filled
moments He has given me. Remembering God's faithfulness in my life is
the way I plan to step forward into the future. Remembering Him will
give me the courage to trust with a renewed faith for this year. He
has never failed me in the past and I know He will not fail me in the
future.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">My
last blog was in July. The last half of last year was just as crazy
as the first half, but we did make some memories. We had what will
become our annual back-to-school sleepover at Grandpa and Grandma's
house. It was just an August sleepover-in-a-tent-in-the-living room
because the two oldest were just starting kindergarten! This year it
will officially be a back-to-school (hopefully) and also possibly an
outside event.</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGkX1T1FYXBynPLlmOeMln392jHXMRTEGFTekd5E9cZ49BHIErBup8tO5ETQLOXx_u-4MVb60EtaBCUBmdD2MMsuC1nTbNEh77e3SnaS7F35oO5EEWxrgaEVXtiKby7J0ucqou7n3ym8/s960/137509592_10157436862615800_4606380926400306355_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGkX1T1FYXBynPLlmOeMln392jHXMRTEGFTekd5E9cZ49BHIErBup8tO5ETQLOXx_u-4MVb60EtaBCUBmdD2MMsuC1nTbNEh77e3SnaS7F35oO5EEWxrgaEVXtiKby7J0ucqou7n3ym8/w640-h480/137509592_10157436862615800_4606380926400306355_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45sXwxVujHy12yRXHseCZaAtTOZS4z2Ky8qSD3LkOshHhVGFLUmt0JuGjq4FfsBRwhGA9jDIvIrBQW_BgVjDjiDuydtWcnnZG1qNbe-GJ6BNk5K2jZP3wummBACumhkBb_gP2BN0P2b0/s960/137547340_10157436862755800_2895109264425223785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45sXwxVujHy12yRXHseCZaAtTOZS4z2Ky8qSD3LkOshHhVGFLUmt0JuGjq4FfsBRwhGA9jDIvIrBQW_BgVjDjiDuydtWcnnZG1qNbe-GJ6BNk5K2jZP3wummBACumhkBb_gP2BN0P2b0/w478-h640/137547340_10157436862755800_2895109264425223785_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXN_XyhLBivV1KBsO-ZJ5uECGfoKt1h_TYGF99Jj2nKWpg8kWc9OzuTckSb1JzA4Who_Tr_8n-xL4QyvZyvj_UVa69BrxzwVlma8bOJUQCC1X1KFMZCiKUUd3buxaSLZ3CJmbyvEKG98/s960/138183641_10157436862725800_7584332570565572078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXN_XyhLBivV1KBsO-ZJ5uECGfoKt1h_TYGF99Jj2nKWpg8kWc9OzuTckSb1JzA4Who_Tr_8n-xL4QyvZyvj_UVa69BrxzwVlma8bOJUQCC1X1KFMZCiKUUd3buxaSLZ3CJmbyvEKG98/w478-h640/138183641_10157436862725800_7584332570565572078_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">In
September Bill and I took a small vacation of epic proportions. We
drove down the Shenandoah Parkway and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The
first four nights we stayed in a tent on an air mattress, until a
hurricane went through, completely soaked us, and our air mattress
got a leak. Both on the same night. God was clearly telling us that
we are more RV people than tent people but once again we made
wonderful memories and we were able to spend some time with Bill's
sister and nephew in SC before we made the drive back home.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl9_3RT000Ixbv3h4AXeRO4IfVJnEyx9MZ3WOe0J7qbAJ01GGlNG9op7MX1NP-zQI3bxnaW3CBVgGkEENG4cZ_2cOjA70V3BPjXLe-kVaWJX4Z-f115kjpdCyeOGjOGL72xoPbcxox34/s960/138059331_10157436862875800_7664742449541569148_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl9_3RT000Ixbv3h4AXeRO4IfVJnEyx9MZ3WOe0J7qbAJ01GGlNG9op7MX1NP-zQI3bxnaW3CBVgGkEENG4cZ_2cOjA70V3BPjXLe-kVaWJX4Z-f115kjpdCyeOGjOGL72xoPbcxox34/w640-h480/138059331_10157436862875800_7664742449541569148_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p align="LEFT"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qPJKMToX0biE-sDfPU0LTJ_MR7kVkQL2glW7LKl9n2rLMIezguZe9JKyTOS0SKZooI4mslbQFFI-UA19GHYC16lOO5akp9YK4GrtFd2QrsHsIhMPitE71zhz3uou8FLR2t66ptpqwm0/s960/137554682_10157436862995800_2458132920215635857_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qPJKMToX0biE-sDfPU0LTJ_MR7kVkQL2glW7LKl9n2rLMIezguZe9JKyTOS0SKZooI4mslbQFFI-UA19GHYC16lOO5akp9YK4GrtFd2QrsHsIhMPitE71zhz3uou8FLR2t66ptpqwm0/w640-h480/137554682_10157436862995800_2458132920215635857_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p align="LEFT"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3i5VoFZYs5O329K_yXZIMnXsxXAW8ILEv071eJiqPv6KZ5Fe9ZeRRMR11IAJoVteuFLFHmqJ6hIoQwPbmCm-KWAOT8cUAMi4JpEJTCHE9Xnsdg1Vuiib2t7zevdYAm0n1PUcRweCN5M/s960/137204902_10157436861905800_6993549251860159263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3i5VoFZYs5O329K_yXZIMnXsxXAW8ILEv071eJiqPv6KZ5Fe9ZeRRMR11IAJoVteuFLFHmqJ6hIoQwPbmCm-KWAOT8cUAMi4JpEJTCHE9Xnsdg1Vuiib2t7zevdYAm0n1PUcRweCN5M/w640-h480/137204902_10157436861905800_6993549251860159263_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Birthdays
were not celebrated all together in October as last year, due to busy
schedules and quarantines. The oldest grandchild turned 6, Bill
turned 70 and our son-in-law had a birthday also.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Emily's
birthday was in November and was bittersweet as has been every event
this past fall. She hopes to be in Southeast Asia by July, serving
the Lord there for the rest of her life, as has been her desire since
she was a little girl. We don't know what our country or the world
situation will be like in the near future, but God holds her in His
hands.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">December
brought the birthday of our youngest grandchild. He turned 3, a
loving little tyke so advanced in his learning, I wonder what great
plans God has for his life? I know it's going to be something very
special. </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY15v7TXHKfQ8dUNR7X5cL9VqinC0m6nn55WqlbkNkP2ThtgswlMwsfd5VjRD4lxB5Gb7jCA9OhAHv_Ye8fgz9Zqx8jLRcvGyeMswC-VyfRdzrjGj7kLzX0vNISt2BVYh9yMFg914ltEE/s960/138028171_10157436862025800_8564055870361327064_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY15v7TXHKfQ8dUNR7X5cL9VqinC0m6nn55WqlbkNkP2ThtgswlMwsfd5VjRD4lxB5Gb7jCA9OhAHv_Ye8fgz9Zqx8jLRcvGyeMswC-VyfRdzrjGj7kLzX0vNISt2BVYh9yMFg914ltEE/w480-h640/138028171_10157436862025800_8564055870361327064_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We
also started another yearly tradition in December—a nativity play
at Christmas with the grandkids. The two oldest had to play double
roles since the younger ones didn't want to be in it! So Will got to
be Joseph and the angel and Mari played Mary and a shepherd. It was a
lot of fun preparing and trying to keep it a secret from their
parents. </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"></p><p align="LEFT"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoT4B65_o7UgYcGcHsfUxeafFXveuLIX5JrwCdZLN9YYvqqyc-aPjpE63o4U0-if1MZ2RcsDBV2aegdJhoIij8Yk7ZGEuZGepGwcUpQH4bsqQRhqCrmoIbH4Kn2VnuCq232R_swLjYGcw/s882/138025212_10157436862230800_4608130981604415799_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoT4B65_o7UgYcGcHsfUxeafFXveuLIX5JrwCdZLN9YYvqqyc-aPjpE63o4U0-if1MZ2RcsDBV2aegdJhoIij8Yk7ZGEuZGepGwcUpQH4bsqQRhqCrmoIbH4Kn2VnuCq232R_swLjYGcw/w540-h640/138025212_10157436862230800_4608130981604415799_n.jpg" width="540" /></a></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QyVi-JNYLEXUCABJCl_eKnKUjvJjKABVd2O82L9GtwU2IoVRy59zBVGwfOHrWaeRfS1Ns8nDWc4HbP3yw-BlI0CiPDr7NjTdOJYlASdz38caM1kVhojJl3mZdDYH4W-FBRi4S-2YrTU/s848/137038262_10157436862450800_5554535187211746285_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QyVi-JNYLEXUCABJCl_eKnKUjvJjKABVd2O82L9GtwU2IoVRy59zBVGwfOHrWaeRfS1Ns8nDWc4HbP3yw-BlI0CiPDr7NjTdOJYlASdz38caM1kVhojJl3mZdDYH4W-FBRi4S-2YrTU/w484-h640/137038262_10157436862450800_5554535187211746285_o.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Christmas
is always a blessed time for me. What can be sweeter than celebrating
the birth of our Savior? I still make a Jesus Birthday Cake, as my
mother did, and we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. I love to see the
light reflecting in the eyes of my grandchildren as we sing to Jesus!
</span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Even
as the year seemed to drag on, looking back it has passed quickly and
now a new year is here. I know for some of you reading this must
think that <u>remember</u> might
seem to be a strange word to focus on when the last year has been so
hard. Actually the last 8 years have been difficult for our family.
But God.... isn't that always Who we should be looking to? He has
showered us with His faithfulness even in hard times. </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And
we have much to look forward to.....</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Any
day now our new little granddaughter will be making her entrance into
this world.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Thank
you Lord, for Your blessings to us.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Psalm
77:11-14</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
will remember the works of the LORD;</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Surely
I will remember Your wonders of old.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
will also meditate on all Your work,</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
talk of Your deeds.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Your
way, O God, is in the sanctuary;</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who
is so great a God as our God?</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yor
are the God who does wonders,</span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You
have declared Your strength among the peoples</span></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMXY5_pGVii1CbKw1lT-mINXj4cYCJJwdsfzNJKg6uVIGHWU5GWIRDrianhe2BcUKdaITLJcl9qmWmYM4Y6VXVYE3HPqleR7pgfKelD6zPVsxy9ZMF4VIrIf51bdyXeP8BCmeS3y_n-w/s960/138043433_10157436862515800_3307208595553544746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="960" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMXY5_pGVii1CbKw1lT-mINXj4cYCJJwdsfzNJKg6uVIGHWU5GWIRDrianhe2BcUKdaITLJcl9qmWmYM4Y6VXVYE3HPqleR7pgfKelD6zPVsxy9ZMF4VIrIf51bdyXeP8BCmeS3y_n-w/w640-h446/138043433_10157436862515800_3307208595553544746_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-72645409384741613482020-07-04T19:15:00.000-04:002020-07-04T19:15:29.681-04:00My Story<div class="pvc_title_with_frows" style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 10px;">
<div class="paratitle">
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When
I started this blog after Amy died it was mostly about her life and
also about me coping with the loss of a child. As time has passed it
has turned into more my story than Amy's but then I wouldn't be who I
am if I hadn't had Amy in my life.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
imagine some of you reading this already know most of my story, but I
feel compelled to share a little of it on this holiday we call
Independence Day, July 4th.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After
graduating from high school I took a summer job working in the Black
Hills of South Dakota at Mount Rushmore. It was our country's
bicentennial, 1976, a presidential election year and a lot of special
events were planned. The faces (as we called Mt Rushmore) were lit
every night and there were fireworks on special occasions. I don't
remember those as much as I do the people I met and the friends I
made for a lifetime. I would turn 18 that summer and my life would be
forever changed.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My roommate
and I were in each others wedding and we visited over the years as
our families grew, not an easy task as we lived 1500 miles apart. We
still keep in touch, not as often, but the closeness is still there
and will always be.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another
special person that I met that summer was at a street dance in a
little town called Hill City, in a cowboy bar. He asked me to dance
and I said, “Yes.” Then 6 months later he asked me to be his wife
and I said, “Yes.” A little less than 6 months after that I said,
“I do.” That was 43 years ago.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So the Black
Hills of South Dakota have always had a special place in my heart. We
took a few vacations there when I was young and as an adult I've
visited at least 6 times since. We honeymooned, enjoyed family
vacations, and a few years ago it was just the two of us once again.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
follow South Dakota on Instagram and a few days ago I noticed they
were doing a big fireworks show over Mt Rushmore on July 3. I thought
it would be much too late with the time change so I didn't give it a
second thought. </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This week our governor ordered us back to wearing
masks outside the home. This was really a blow to me, as Bill and I
had finally gone back to church last week for the first time and
realized how much we have missed it. Bill and I didn't wear masks and
yes, we sang, loud and with full hearts. Our grandchildren have
really been missing interaction with other children at church and I
feel so bad for them too.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Last
night, for some reason, I was drawn to check out the fireworks. I had
no idea that President Trump was speaking and that it was such a bid
deal. It really lifted my spirits and I enjoyed seeing people
behaving normally for a change. I have missed the patriotic spirit
that this country once had and hearing all the music made me think of
my parents and especially Daddy, a Marine of the Korean War. I'm
actually glad that they are not alive to see how this country has
fallen so far away from God.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2 class="western" style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Early this morning I needed to pick up an order so I decided to stop
in the town square and get some pictures of the memorials there.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="b_topTitle" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcxFVChh2ew6k_TsJi0NR2bPL445z_7kStEv5doI4kE8Q1_gKXkYtzfSaseqc14n6ohyphenhyphenMzzaBydKsxxgwqb_ZVeiO4XR_SnG3eB9MckSNxpgBx6jfiitmx7UcNlqpn6TI_aGlVaxTKZM/s1600/107102992_10157038703350800_46242466531363995_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcxFVChh2ew6k_TsJi0NR2bPL445z_7kStEv5doI4kE8Q1_gKXkYtzfSaseqc14n6ohyphenhyphenMzzaBydKsxxgwqb_ZVeiO4XR_SnG3eB9MckSNxpgBx6jfiitmx7UcNlqpn6TI_aGlVaxTKZM/s640/107102992_10157038703350800_46242466531363995_n.jpg" width="396" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Korean War Memorial</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBdwZScOCBt24AKnRo4tsqEyviBEzh4-rFiFAQS6U9KW4ow5DFbZJI9dVr0IcSOlJ903CC4xH0N0C_ckTxEWqOS7_wN-jkkQuqPz46OQkI1v6zCCrOg1HAcp0S5dlTVc60ejBjQjjMzU/s1600/106913879_10157038703710800_4058417757100157102_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBdwZScOCBt24AKnRo4tsqEyviBEzh4-rFiFAQS6U9KW4ow5DFbZJI9dVr0IcSOlJ903CC4xH0N0C_ckTxEWqOS7_wN-jkkQuqPz46OQkI1v6zCCrOg1HAcp0S5dlTVc60ejBjQjjMzU/s400/106913879_10157038703710800_4058417757100157102_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3ujyHR0NM3EHY53PYalu4aZy4M-m9MOjgYven1Q6wXku6vqmkODVB3eHlmNLjJyzivQto5_f76_YZ7spchHXdLAG1_M3BT7csBHoCmBc-CBN_OP0W7L38-z2hN1g6Nugi2IEywBuWOk/s1600/106715950_10157038703840800_899677277879170142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3ujyHR0NM3EHY53PYalu4aZy4M-m9MOjgYven1Q6wXku6vqmkODVB3eHlmNLjJyzivQto5_f76_YZ7spchHXdLAG1_M3BT7csBHoCmBc-CBN_OP0W7L38-z2hN1g6Nugi2IEywBuWOk/s640/106715950_10157038703840800_899677277879170142_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">World War II Memorial</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fh8fSq9mkTMh5PwPyxPTeYLv9xI8f7fhpt7K5VeqKDuLiazRukgFV4vXlBYElPbV4IoWOr1IOVSHoHycSwYu6dNqA_GuQybSeGNM5qb3T9DeY2FGS43pUa5v2HuvUCew8TUtSP6C-qI/s1600/80246707_10157038703495800_8823249010199441488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fh8fSq9mkTMh5PwPyxPTeYLv9xI8f7fhpt7K5VeqKDuLiazRukgFV4vXlBYElPbV4IoWOr1IOVSHoHycSwYu6dNqA_GuQybSeGNM5qb3T9DeY2FGS43pUa5v2HuvUCew8TUtSP6C-qI/s400/80246707_10157038703495800_8823249010199441488_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hjkU7ArX_VlN80_nloLwdfOp9Z81QOdhpcM9njIxBrEOlZJ7bwi56cYT-0eYpNrCnF6CDuJ_SmHFqQX3QGyhMYFh-oOYuzEYjcGUOzi7FSJM079QGdbaBBmmjfncWrtEWRXlUlFA0oA/s1600/106744953_10157038703980800_1543535008812890643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hjkU7ArX_VlN80_nloLwdfOp9Z81QOdhpcM9njIxBrEOlZJ7bwi56cYT-0eYpNrCnF6CDuJ_SmHFqQX3QGyhMYFh-oOYuzEYjcGUOzi7FSJM079QGdbaBBmmjfncWrtEWRXlUlFA0oA/s400/106744953_10157038703980800_1543535008812890643_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then on the way home I was taken by the beauty of the little valley we live in. The far group of trees right in the middle are next to the cemetery where Amy lies and our farm is down the hill below the mountain, hidden in this picture. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumy0lGOxnqTveNGiW2Ll0NO1L8GxEThOSgw4kM3s3Gfpd98vV07ELH7UGX7pPgJJQoRNkb16e_pj66oXb8sJXETsg0uJOg1GXxC9HH7LqpsIJ6vsoIlE6a1C7q3dYEAFSKYgf2QFUbno/s1600/106982011_10157038705485800_8687512659104258400_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="960" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumy0lGOxnqTveNGiW2Ll0NO1L8GxEThOSgw4kM3s3Gfpd98vV07ELH7UGX7pPgJJQoRNkb16e_pj66oXb8sJXETsg0uJOg1GXxC9HH7LqpsIJ6vsoIlE6a1C7q3dYEAFSKYgf2QFUbno/s640/106982011_10157038705485800_8687512659104258400_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I stopped to take the picture, I remember that Daddy would always take a picture in the cornfield each year on July 4th. So I decided to take a photo of the corn on the other side of the road and then got brave and did my best at a selfie with the sun in my eyes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJyZ3C3hyqUSySZdAz2X9syFQ-aOR9dr-JOz0OR9YUB1Xff7JAX4JKJrgEqial3Pu2v3uU1fMLEPgsADUdN4gdLdd3WWag6V3M9bZOWUBeIJ5Rw_6xrKcjF8cwA43sDnVI4f64c3LmR4/s1600/106735988_10157038705760800_1920524949876627878_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="960" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJyZ3C3hyqUSySZdAz2X9syFQ-aOR9dr-JOz0OR9YUB1Xff7JAX4JKJrgEqial3Pu2v3uU1fMLEPgsADUdN4gdLdd3WWag6V3M9bZOWUBeIJ5Rw_6xrKcjF8cwA43sDnVI4f64c3LmR4/s640/106735988_10157038705760800_1920524949876627878_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Wo_0K8m_OtXw7otT2eFtoPKkvBK_WgIWx6Ev1ZeFhHDrnUl96p9vFsw3obW01Nf5VgKCxQ7Fye8P07oY1tIo0MBu1iOzkV6cuP_-YlOYmYCw-Cof1wNR_kfL02WF221yaYVI3Yz1vbw/s1600/106985792_10157038705605800_8878155682716978156_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Wo_0K8m_OtXw7otT2eFtoPKkvBK_WgIWx6Ev1ZeFhHDrnUl96p9vFsw3obW01Nf5VgKCxQ7Fye8P07oY1tIo0MBu1iOzkV6cuP_-YlOYmYCw-Cof1wNR_kfL02WF221yaYVI3Yz1vbw/s640/106985792_10157038705605800_8878155682716978156_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<h2 class="western" style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So
this is just a piece of "My Story." But my real story
follows this song.</span></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope</span></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love</span></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life</span></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus</span></span></span></h2>
<br />
<h2 class="western" style="border: none; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="border: none; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="border: none; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>My
Story</u></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="b_topTitle" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">If
I told you my story<br />You would hear Hope that wouldn't let go<br />And
if I told you my story<br />You would hear Love that never gave up<br />And
if I told you my story<br />You would hear Life, but it wasn't mine</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">If
I told you my story<br />You would hear victory over the enemy<br />And
if I told you my story<br />You would hear freedom that was won for
me<br />And if I told you my story<br />You would hear Life overcome the
grave</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">If
I should speak then let it be<br />Of the grace that is greater than
all my sin<br />Of when justice was served and where mercy wins<br />Of
the kindness of Jesus that draws me in<br />Oh to tell you my story is
to tell of Him</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">This
is my story, this is my song<br />Praising my savior all the day
long<br />This is my story, this is my song<br />Praising my savior all
the day long</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
</h2>
</div>
</div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-8309602745740422412020-05-10T00:09:00.000-04:002020-05-10T00:09:36.614-04:00FOUR MONTHS<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Four
months. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">That
is how long it has been since I have written my thoughts for this
blog. Many, many times I have wanted to write as I felt the Lord
teaching me things I should share with others and then despair would
set in and I would wait, not wanting to again be sorrowful in my posts. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
decided that I must write, no matter if the tears fall or
not. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Today is Mothers Day. My first without my mother. She left this world and
joined Jesus, Daddy, my sister Erin and my precious daughter Amy on
March 7. She was 89 years old. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">How my world has changed since then. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bill
and I were able to travel to Iowa to attend the funeral, but by that
time the country had partially shut down and it was family only. I'm so
thankful we were at least able to gather as a family and say our
goodbyes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKE7veouynv0QeiY4AbUsinY_B4Ht63c4cAJPwJ6X5lKIQlIYVz2nS6SNziKh2bEbeokTh164w0APm4_8OiKLF2vNClt7ruq43l5_LsFmP6XHJxpE9LdJp2snPO_uZo9KjxEnQcOaO_4/s1600/GRANDMA+%2526+AMY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="587" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKE7veouynv0QeiY4AbUsinY_B4Ht63c4cAJPwJ6X5lKIQlIYVz2nS6SNziKh2bEbeokTh164w0APm4_8OiKLF2vNClt7ruq43l5_LsFmP6XHJxpE9LdJp2snPO_uZo9KjxEnQcOaO_4/s640/GRANDMA+%2526+AMY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Mama and Amy about 28 years ago.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I think this is my favorite picture of my Mama and my daughter together. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I love the joy on their faces.</span> Mama would have been 61 and Amy 10 if this was taken in the summer of 1992. I am 61 now, Amy's been gone 7 years. Time is so fleeting, but yet seems to drag on. Mama went into the hospital in mid February. Amy was in the hospital all of the month of March. Early spring is always such a difficult time for me, but once we celebrate Amy's homegoing on April 8th, I usually start to feel renewed and getting on with my life. This year has been an exception. I'm not babysitting my two grandkids as my daughter is not working due to the shutdown. My days seem to drag at times even though I try to keep busy. We are turning our old bedroom upstairs into a playroom for the kids. Going through all my children's old toys from the attic and using a lot of Amy's pictures from her room, curtains, blankets and stuffed animals brings back memories and tears. What a blessing it is to have kept all those things and to be able to make a space for the little ones to play and make memories of their own in Grandma and Grandpa's home! I hope they have as many good memories of their childhood years as I have had of mine.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My mother was such an amazing woman. God gave her a gift of drawing, painting, and seeing beauty in all things. She shared her love of nature and music and the arts with all who knew her and I have been so blessed over the years to be able to call her my Mama. She had a child like faith. She knew that she "could do all things" and that God's "grace was new every morning." My grief is still too raw to share much right now, so I will share the pictures of my grandkids from the day we gathered to celebrate their Aunt Amy's 7th year with Jesus. <br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The
sky was just perfect that day. It was windy but beautiful. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
was looking over my last blog before I started writing, and I was
reminded how much life has changed since Jan. 2.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
was sharing my word for the year...surrender...and I quoted Ravi
Zacharias who said,<span style="background: #ffffff;"> "It is in
surrendering to God that we win, and it is in dying to self that we
live. For ultimately, we look forward to a destiny where He who
defines love will hold us accountable.” </span></span></span></span></div>
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
closed my blog by saying, "<span style="background: #ffffff;">Can
I possibly do anything but surrender to my Lord's will for everything
He brings daily into my life in 2020?" </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Everything
He brings daily into my life..... Did any of us know what 4 months
would bring and the changes that we would have to make in our lives?</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
still feel the same, though. Surrendering daily, sometimes
hourly even, is the only thing that is getting me through each and
every day. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Only
God knows what the next 4 months will bring. I choose to have faith like my dear Mama. "I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength," and "His compassions never fail, they are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-22231632506723092452020-01-02T21:43:00.003-05:002020-01-02T21:43:54.242-05:00Surrender
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For the
last few years instead of a New Years resolution I have chosen a word
for the year. I pray about what word I will choose because I want it
to be something that God will direct me to be aware of in my everyday
life. I think about my special word all throughout the year. I see
where it is used in scripture and when that word comes up in anything
I read or sing. The words I have chosen over the past 5 years are
mercy, grace, joy, prayer, and community. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, since Christmas, I have
been once again wondering what word the Lord will direct me to. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I just
started studying the book of Proverbs and so I thought about the word <u>listen,</u><span style="text-decoration: none;"> as this word is
used quite often in Proverbs. </span>That is an area of my life I
could really use some work in! So I was thinking that I would choose
that word but God had other plans. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I was really praying during the
worship service last Sunday that somehow He would confirm the word, listen. Pastor Brant preached on the Twenty-third Psalm and my heart
was thinking Shepherd. That kind of defines my job right now as Grandma babysitting my grands and I need to remember that they are
little lambs that need guidance. They have lots of my love, that
comes naturally, but I need to remember the guidance and not so much
the spoiling. Then after the sermon we sang this song. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Surrender</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
need the One who holds tomorrow<br />To give me peace about today<br />You
never said this would be easy<br />God give me faith to say</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
will walk through the flames and I will praise Your name<br />I
surrender, I surrender all<br />I won’t wait for the mountaintop,
I’ll claim You here<br />I surrender all to You</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.06in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So
I won’t worry about tomorrow<br />I will give my all today<br />My life
I live to make a difference<br />God give me strength to say</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.06in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
will walk through the flames and I will praise Your name<br />I
surrender, I surrender all<br />I won’t wait for the mountaintop,
I’ll claim You here<br />I surrender all to You</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.06in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Give
me faith that moves the mountains<br />A perfect love that casts out
fear<br />God I know You'll never leave me<br />You’re here with me to
stay</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
will walk through the flames and I will praise Your name<br />I
surrender, I surrender all</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
surrender all, </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
surrender all</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All
to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.06in; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
can listen to our service with this link. The song is at </span></span></span>1:16:33.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.06in; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://youtu.be/NrGbeeo85t8?list=PLkneAIe-jSIoXLEZTVqpxhUGHOOxGhivT" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church</a></span></span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God
was impressing upon my heart that I should choose the word <u>Surrender</u>.
But I wanted to give it more time. It was still a few days until the
new year, and besides I didn't have to have my word by New Years Day!
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
looked surrender up on Blue Letter Bible. Even using different
versions it isn't used in the Bible but a few times and then it only
refers to surrendering in a battle. The Hebrew and Greek words they
use mean “to deliver, give up, give over, give into the hands of
another.” I wasn't sure. Did I really want to "surrender" every day?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then
I read this article:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.rzim.org/read/rzim-global/hindsight-eyesight-and-insight?fbclid=IwAR2lOIvPykZ6Hlg2kvxkJG2f1VV5cvYVJHgg9Hmdo6wBw-WOLuuP_bumLxE#.Xg6UocGtej0.facebook" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hindsight, Eyesight, and Insight</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and
Ravi Zacharias said,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Twenty-twenty
vision calls for us to see clearly what ultimately matters and not be
blinded by things temporal. A daughter who went all too early and a
diagnosed fatal disease are sobering reminders to love while we have
the opportunity. It is in surrendering to God that we win, and it is
in dying to self that we live. For ultimately, we look forward to a
destiny where He who defines love will hold us accountable.” </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He who defines love will hold us accountable. That sealed it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Surrender is my word for this year. Can I possibly do anything but surrender to my Lord's will for everything He brings daily into my life in 2020? </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-39626034634740809832019-12-26T10:44:00.000-05:002019-12-26T10:44:32.504-05:00Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The year 2019 will soon be over and I almost made it through this holiday season without tears. Almost!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><b></b><b></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So a few updates on the last couople of months first. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Life has been so crazy busy! In September we had a wonderful two week vacation in Nevada, Arizona and Utah, visiting the Grand Canyon and all of the Utah National Parks and a few of the National Monuments and Historic Trails, too. We rented an RV and this year we had a Class B 20 ft. Van. It was perfect for just the two of us. It was great and many memories were made.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAptkMyfFdfs-W7jlqzkjRPlCHezng18Y8rkzJyW2LSqf9YjQtP88ZMUarEqq5jmNuv2mWtZtRBaEbmZSwtvXsQRoEWqgKLdaCZeVa5yFS9o-3vfrGxsbLVCf0qqGIi6WGRLTvS_eB-5I/s1600/20190911_163426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAptkMyfFdfs-W7jlqzkjRPlCHezng18Y8rkzJyW2LSqf9YjQtP88ZMUarEqq5jmNuv2mWtZtRBaEbmZSwtvXsQRoEWqgKLdaCZeVa5yFS9o-3vfrGxsbLVCf0qqGIi6WGRLTvS_eB-5I/s640/20190911_163426.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvLC12P3XmRcKD9zvn163f9nU0O_XaebMK6oGTwwgLFURR_a_Fy8Da3g3MVc34g6FXebdhjKo7Ejl0j5vm3NgZH4jsNKGPTP8vkqqokh28vs3Zv4Tmc7CIGUZKgSTZVsJOXpfzug75pg/s1600/DSCN0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvLC12P3XmRcKD9zvn163f9nU0O_XaebMK6oGTwwgLFURR_a_Fy8Da3g3MVc34g6FXebdhjKo7Ejl0j5vm3NgZH4jsNKGPTP8vkqqokh28vs3Zv4Tmc7CIGUZKgSTZVsJOXpfzug75pg/s640/DSCN0981.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In October Emily and I drove up to Maine to visit my mom and family who live with her up there. It was really good to see them. Mama is 89 years young! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We celebrated Bill's, Brad's, and Will's birthdays in October.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIcxZ3LZ6xQnjUrvXaL87EzLQ-bmKhaxb0dCd0KDGpmGRiX-4Mmzm7Ky-tWrEQDqNv7F7ARp__mzfvuEclK_oGRQvYjbYPfft8YOXR0KMIKl2CwyoLbZs-WrNXkdfSyeZJyX7jaY8eKo/s1600/bills+69th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIcxZ3LZ6xQnjUrvXaL87EzLQ-bmKhaxb0dCd0KDGpmGRiX-4Mmzm7Ky-tWrEQDqNv7F7ARp__mzfvuEclK_oGRQvYjbYPfft8YOXR0KMIKl2CwyoLbZs-WrNXkdfSyeZJyX7jaY8eKo/s640/bills+69th.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bill turned 69.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqJ5gEibXaLjqiZUhVHXixGX1PRqh296bYgnxnTSd19hGndeq1K1T6cVmQg1uKAo66bUoCHhczCzgLeBF_KIfMB1worvrHVwOidq1yLe0VTth2SJxv5dB4Qtvfsc1FnET2KMA98tj5gI/s1600/Brads+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqJ5gEibXaLjqiZUhVHXixGX1PRqh296bYgnxnTSd19hGndeq1K1T6cVmQg1uKAo66bUoCHhczCzgLeBF_KIfMB1worvrHVwOidq1yLe0VTth2SJxv5dB4Qtvfsc1FnET2KMA98tj5gI/s640/Brads+bday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brad turned 38.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Will turned 5, and he blew out his candles so fast that no one got a picture!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Since then, the time has just flown by. We are trying to do some remodeling in this old farmhouse (built in 1912). It's never an easy thing as we completely remodeled it when we were first married and very young. As the years passed we needed more space and so we added on and let others do most of the work. Now we are trying to repair what 42 years has done to some of the upstairs bedrooms. We want to make a kids playroom and a decent guest room. We are trying to do it ourselves and we are a lot older now! We took a break before Thanksgiving, for hunting season, Christmas tree sales, and holiday preparations. Come the first of the year we will start back up again and we'll see what we can accomplish this winter. The grandkids are only getting older and noisier and need a space of their own away from the living room. Actually you all know that it is Grandpa and Grandma who need the quiet and extra space, not the children!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Emily had a birthday and so did the youngest Samuel who is now 2.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We took the boys on the Santa train and out to eat for Emily's birthday.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The train coming in viewed from above. The boys heard it before they saw it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This advent season has been difficult. The first week of <u>HOPE, </u> I started getting sick. A head cold that went to my chest and lingers still. The second week of <u>PEACE, </u> I felt frustration more than anything. I was behind with decorating and making presents. The third week of <u>JOY</u> I was struggling to find it. I was spending time with the Lord in prayer and study of His word every day but I just wanted to <u>feel</u> His ecstatic bubbly joy. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then I read a newsletter by a favorite author, Jane Kirkpatrick. I had forgotten that in her last news she had mentioned that her husband had cancer (he is the same age as Mama) and they were temporarily moving to a different state to be closer to where he was getting his treatments. So here is an excerpt...</span><br />
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"We are blessed... I look at what we brought with us. Art mostly, special works that <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">bring our life from the ranch, ...quilts to hang and cover us, a painting of the Columbia River hills with </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Wait. Trust. Surrender" written below the scene. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">That's now hanging in a place where I can see it every day. Words of wisdom... </span></div>
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This season we invite you to do the same. <u>Wait</u> for the moments when the light of Jesus comes into your day. <u>Trust</u> that God is with you. <u>Surrender</u> to the unknown, to uncertainty and hold close the promise that God is love and love heals either in this life or the next."</div>
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website: jkbooks.com </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Wait for the moments when the light of Jesus comes into your day." I felt these words were written just for me! I realized that I had moments of joy, I just needed to realize that sometimes moments are better than constant joy. Giggles when a baby's tummy is tickled and the silly things that preschoolers say, cards from friends and kittens sitting on top of the nativity by our door. I started to see the joy around me in what God was providing for me. The fourth and final week of Advent is <u>LOVE</u>. God was pouring out His love for me and I was seeing it clearly. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bill and I, each of our kids and spouses and children went to church on Christmas Sunday. Even our "adopted" daughter, Sarah, was home from college. I held the hands of the oldest grands during singing, we all gathered for a photo under the tree, but a part of me still felt like we're not complete. Because a part of me is not here. Amy was always there beside me, I was always holding her hand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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How can my hands be full of these special ones, but yet feel empty? Like someone is missing?</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We celebrated Christmas with the family on Monday and we had a wonderful time. With 4 children under 5 it was a lively time full of laughs and a few melt downs! My table was full of food and people and so was my heart. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tessa is taking the picture.</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">But there was still moments that I felt that Amy should be here. I should see her smiling face. She loved Christmas so much! <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I am happy but I'm beginning to realize that I will always feel like someone is missing. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But I did not shed any tears and I'm starting to believe that maybe time does heal.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then I read this story to Will and Micah before they went home. I had gotten it out with the stack of Christmas books but had yet to read it this year and I don't remember reading it last year either to the kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Inside was this message to James when he was 8 years old from my parents. The tears came, pretty ugly tears for 2 little ones to see. Life is so fleeting! Daddy's gone and Mama will join him sometime soon. My little 8 year old boy is now 30 with boys of his own. Where have the years gone? <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"Everlasting to everlasting." Oh I praise God for the heritage I have been given here on earth and through Jesus Christ for life eternal....everlasting.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then God showed His love for me in yet another amazing way that brought tears.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our Christmas Eve service was very special to me as Emily was singing in the choir. Our first song was an ensemble of drums. Wow! After years of being in a church that frowned on drums this was fantastic! Of course I knew that the music to sing with the drums would be "The Little Drummer Boy." Wrong. Emily glanced at me and once again those tears started because who would have thought you could put Beethoven's 9th and Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee with those drums. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Amy loved listening to Beethoven and this was the first song that was sung at her funeral. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God has given me so very much to be thankful for. I think I will always have times of sadness until I go to my eternal home. But I know He loves me and I know I will have many times of great JOY also. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is a link to the beginning of the song from church.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mgbconline/videos/587441605408525/?t=1" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/mgbconline/videos/587441605408525/?t=1</a><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A Belated Merry Christmas to all and A Blessed New Year!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-3878863102355257332019-09-21T15:58:00.000-04:002019-09-21T15:58:10.836-04:00A New Name<span style="font-size: large;">I've been called by many different names in my 61 years of life. Most people know me as Cheryl. My nickname growing up was Cheri and Mama still calls me that. I've been called daughter, student, wife, and then Mom. First, mom to 3 daughters, then finally a son, mother of a special-needs daughter, home schooling mom, mother-in-law, and then the title no mother ever wants.... this title isn't really given a name, mother who has lost a child, grieving mom, empty arms, a hole in my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Five years ago today, I got a new name. GRANDMA. Five years that have passed so incredibly fast! He will be starting homeschool kindergarten this fall and he is a loving, tender-hearted child. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNSUa4gpmLGvW0KI0ksR5V0eFoRoWQjAP4q_0_zObgVRRGdpCLlHUvZWOfQkqTzy2jKAPcF6KBlDOTpQgLFXsSACAbFAg5pAxVL4ZqE83JLVCMzLxGrR6W2MRoFOCsHtcRrKzo-1RaPQ/s1600/newborn+Will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNSUa4gpmLGvW0KI0ksR5V0eFoRoWQjAP4q_0_zObgVRRGdpCLlHUvZWOfQkqTzy2jKAPcF6KBlDOTpQgLFXsSACAbFAg5pAxVL4ZqE83JLVCMzLxGrR6W2MRoFOCsHtcRrKzo-1RaPQ/s640/newborn+Will.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">He was named after his Grandpa, we call him Will. I didn't know how to be a grandma. I was scared, so scared that something would happen to him. I was still grieving Amy so very much and didn't really even know it. Before Will learned to say Grandma he got a cousin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My oldest daughter had a baby 6 months after Will was born. A little girl named for her Aunt in heaven, Marissa Amy. We call her Mari. I started babysitting her when she was 3 months old. I was not ready to take care of an infant, but God knew I needed her. She will never remember (thankfully) the times, too many to count, that I held her and cried and cried. My heart was still longing to hold Amy, but God gave me two precious little ones to fill my arms at that time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And as time passed two more little boys joined our family. The youngest just started calling me Grandma!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was brushing Mari's hair a few months ago and got out one of Amy's hair barrets to use. It had a tangle of hair in it and I realized that it was Amy's hair and that it was the exact color of Mari's. I knew their hair was similar but it was shocking that it was exactly the same. One of my regrets was that I never cut off a piece of Amy's hair and kept it in a locket. God has given me a little head full of that same hair!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amy lost the ability to say words. Mari never stops talking. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amy used to be very active when she was little but as the years passed she ended up in a wheelchair and depended on us for every need. Mari never stops moving and has always been quite independent! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wonder what Amy would have been like if she hadn't had Rett Syndrome. Would she have been like her little namesake? Mari started dance last year to help with some of that extra energy. Even though I had been sick for almost a month I was able to go to her recital.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaVtl1o2myMLSS8DUxlDr-Vr_AH6O03sqyPFKQipg7v_73jLdxnWJbNGPh9iH_mgeHp87OJafkfyt_sXt-dyFvsHiGcQUzLWNUoYWAg8uYEiMoEVL4ODor_kTmUbqqitOAqWimkH3UYM/s1600/DSCN0319copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaVtl1o2myMLSS8DUxlDr-Vr_AH6O03sqyPFKQipg7v_73jLdxnWJbNGPh9iH_mgeHp87OJafkfyt_sXt-dyFvsHiGcQUzLWNUoYWAg8uYEiMoEVL4ODor_kTmUbqqitOAqWimkH3UYM/s640/DSCN0319copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In July Mari started preschool. I thought my heart would break! I had been teaching her since she was little and she knows all the preschool stuff. But she is a people person and I am not. She needed the interaction with the other children, to learn to share, wait in line, to not talk constantly and not be bossy. She is a typical first born!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAJnAI2BBABnDnvoWcjyHJTKIlS4v_5VdJvryaele4iwCo6I4FpwNTwGXSxUEn3WwxPCPZsLC-EAjjst5q6f8O0wdFuc6LaUKQ0X0DN4RIs2bqxjdxt_kDIa2hwiAT-_3bgpsNZjwp5g/s1600/DSCN0308cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyb1wDpcLMzZwL4QE6C-VEktPCng0b1Rk2ifeAZafoZYwiT1O_AneCbQAq-Dm_XETHHxnjFwEvj31RIppDSjfA0O4YT-BhLDOSpU29LA4wdMRBb-oWyHD6KXqYu9xMFpS3dkm8CZVL7o/s1600/preschool+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyb1wDpcLMzZwL4QE6C-VEktPCng0b1Rk2ifeAZafoZYwiT1O_AneCbQAq-Dm_XETHHxnjFwEvj31RIppDSjfA0O4YT-BhLDOSpU29LA4wdMRBb-oWyHD6KXqYu9xMFpS3dkm8CZVL7o/s640/preschool+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">While Bill and I were on vacation last week, I got a text telling me that Mari had broken her arm, bad enough that it needed surgery! I handled my own children's injuries better than I was coping with this! I might have even shed more tears than Mari did!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a favorite picture of Mari that doesn't even show her face. It shows her excitement, her boundless energy, her joy! We realeased balloons April 8th, the 6th year anniversary of Amy's death, 2 days before Mari turned 4. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqurfphCB0CzvH7hDPd-W5Gc_ZlX68mkaPOh-hHgMF-m2a0b9ZSYzqO6T0A94zcMjrWyK99-d-pzNHi7AFsnuiKyS6bsAY_HtH_QDHgTVSIf4EvARixc25D8Riu0GpTPo-aLA3NmUcbf0/s1600/56533790_1261139427387434_8225337833309601792_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqurfphCB0CzvH7hDPd-W5Gc_ZlX68mkaPOh-hHgMF-m2a0b9ZSYzqO6T0A94zcMjrWyK99-d-pzNHi7AFsnuiKyS6bsAY_HtH_QDHgTVSIf4EvARixc25D8Riu0GpTPo-aLA3NmUcbf0/s640/56533790_1261139427387434_8225337833309601792_n.jpg" width="466" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So.... I like this new name I have now. I love being GRANDMA. Even though the grandchildren can not fill that hole for missing Amy, my heart is getting bigger and it is making the hole seem not as large as it used to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just look at this sweet face! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Will! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My big 5 year old! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first to call me GRANDMA!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY5ACNIaY6k94VV1OWJNREycWyJRlIzPZCIRBqC4aE0boc8onXxq1Y32JcgIgC2zELVQ37uR6_BWUI1Ul94adibV5jREBdUvj8QWLngBWJqLKZjQ-NAFFf3CDyIjpX2XWI85ST24thtI/s1600/will+5+yrs+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY5ACNIaY6k94VV1OWJNREycWyJRlIzPZCIRBqC4aE0boc8onXxq1Y32JcgIgC2zELVQ37uR6_BWUI1Ul94adibV5jREBdUvj8QWLngBWJqLKZjQ-NAFFf3CDyIjpX2XWI85ST24thtI/s640/will+5+yrs+old.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have another name too. It is Daughter of the King. Because of Jesus, I will see my Amy again and she will be dancing and singing. We all will be dancing and singing and praising God together! </span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-5614628002508853352019-05-11T19:37:00.000-04:002019-05-11T19:37:41.759-04:00For My Mama<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHUprR0dpF5tLZsu326WVbTGVL4nMCJEwJaWeSup5CBYtTIhd1VD0RNWIyIsReTqvDWtehkgx0DDWTAvj9fQaIOYjNQBlWceynltJ-W6tJrEwMeIkZEgq5wyXKlUllxfQBqYINuCjMrQ/s1600/ME+AS+A+CHILD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="374" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHUprR0dpF5tLZsu326WVbTGVL4nMCJEwJaWeSup5CBYtTIhd1VD0RNWIyIsReTqvDWtehkgx0DDWTAvj9fQaIOYjNQBlWceynltJ-W6tJrEwMeIkZEgq5wyXKlUllxfQBqYINuCjMrQ/s640/ME+AS+A+CHILD.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Mama </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"For
I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep
that which I have committed unto Him against that day." 2
Timothy 1:12</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />This
was the opening verse for today's reading in a devotion book, written
in 1942, that I have been going through. I've been thinking on it
today so I looked it up and realized that those words are only the
last half of the verse. So why do I have it memorized in exactly
those words in the old King James Version? And why do I say believed
in three syllables instead of two?</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">Because
I had a mama (and daddy) who took my sisters and I to Sunday school
and church. From the time I was very young I heard this old hymn sung
in the Baptist Church in a little town in Iowa.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu-0PnVWuuh5dySNAvHPjAiTkN9aSgSrgit2xgJY8pwBr_IDUGzGHwwYcrxQxLunExiLNCp0cEvL5qr6K4-TAXcf0G4O6kWQfj_9ogxLr1xmo98ws2iirPaw8xOiPTTZs09qPjZ6Ja-M/s1600/ERIN%252C+VALERIE+%2526+CHERYL.jpg+CROPPED+a+lot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="271" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu-0PnVWuuh5dySNAvHPjAiTkN9aSgSrgit2xgJY8pwBr_IDUGzGHwwYcrxQxLunExiLNCp0cEvL5qr6K4-TAXcf0G4O6kWQfj_9ogxLr1xmo98ws2iirPaw8xOiPTTZs09qPjZ6Ja-M/s640/ERIN%252C+VALERIE+%2526+CHERYL.jpg+CROPPED+a+lot.jpg" width="442" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">I'm
the littlest sister in the picture and another sister would join the
family about 6 years later.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
couldn't remember the last time I sang this song, so I looked up the
words today.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
know not why God’s wondrous grace</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">To
me He hath made known,</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Nor
why, unworthy, Christ in love</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Redeemed
me for His own.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
know not how this saving faith</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To
me He did impart,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nor
how believing in His Word</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Wrought
peace within my heart.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
know not how the Spirit moves,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Convincing
men of sin,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Revealing
Jesus through the Word,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Creating
faith in Him.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
know not what of good or ill</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">May
be reserved for me,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of
weary ways or golden days,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Before
His face I see.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
know not when my Lord may come,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At
night or noonday fair,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nor
if I walk the vale with Him,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or
meet Him in the air.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />Refrain:<br /><br />But
“I know Whom I have believed,<br />And am persuaded that He is
able<br />To keep that which I’ve committed</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Unto
Him against that day.”</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />By
Daniel W. Whittle 1883</span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica", "arial", sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">Of
course the refrain was sung after every verse so that is why I have
it memorized. It was much easier to google it so I could post it here
but then I did look it up in our hymnal. The number was circled so I
imagine the last time I sang this song was when I would sing Amy a
hymn every night before bed. It brought tears to my eyes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />Then
I read this article:</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://world.wng.org/2019/05/my_mother_s_tears?fbclid=IwAR14i7krAZ0BqsvJmJLKo9QBJH5tyWFyrpXstZQIdMxfqJ4S4nBbLW9dSsM" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">My Mother's Tears</span></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wow!
More tears.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm
sure my Mama must have shed many tears for me. I was always an
independent and a little rebellious child. I had my first summer job
living away from home at 15 and the next two summers after that also.
Then I was married at 18 and left the farm for a new life over 1000
miles away. I didn't think much about Mama's feelings until I became
a mother myself.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How
life changes. Tears, yes. I think I cried at every birthday of Amy's
until I learned to accept her as God's gift to us just the way she
was and that she would never be independent of me. And I've cried
buckets since He decided to take her Home to Him.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
shed tears for my adult children and now my grandchildren. But I also
pray for them as I'm sure my mama did for her girls and still does.
Mama went through the pain of losing a daughter, too.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now
she has lived for three and a half years without her husband of 61
years!</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHtcJ_3k9YWtMZS1LTHrif3rZxNr3Df0x02zZuXcXFaa4xjylxhMAcLCHfGWZJfd_SbfP73n4bpIQNIioS15alkBrefFq0M1PlOduR3q70cRgmYWHRuvNpTA5uWQ1L_8wfySt6baVuuI/s1600/TOGETHER+1953+cropped+and+fixed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHtcJ_3k9YWtMZS1LTHrif3rZxNr3Df0x02zZuXcXFaa4xjylxhMAcLCHfGWZJfd_SbfP73n4bpIQNIioS15alkBrefFq0M1PlOduR3q70cRgmYWHRuvNpTA5uWQ1L_8wfySt6baVuuI/s640/TOGETHER+1953+cropped+and+fixed.png" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mama and Daddy Around 1953</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not sure I would have the strength for that. The fourth verse of the hymn says:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
know not what of good or ill</span></span><br /><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="background: transparent;">May
be reserved for me,</span></span><br /><span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="background: transparent;">Of
weary ways or golden days,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Before
His face I see.</span></span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div style="background-color: transparent; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope I can be as faithful and loving as my Mama has been throughout the years. Because we both.....</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
"know Who we believe, and are convinced that He is able to guard what we have entrusted to Him until He takes us Home."<br />
I love you, Mama.<br />
Happy Mothers Day!</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDH-70bvd6DBV1CKwIEQ0Xji3g7ZOMqFU9IPMLcwM277pxYkxGHLV6aagmlLUpjM6quQ1kkJtpTAzI-eaA2EcBxba78mlb5maIfiPjFco2sEmYL36PHDhkGf3HeMySQ44YSLFiPbOvMyk/s1600/me+and+mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1600" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDH-70bvd6DBV1CKwIEQ0Xji3g7ZOMqFU9IPMLcwM277pxYkxGHLV6aagmlLUpjM6quQ1kkJtpTAzI-eaA2EcBxba78mlb5maIfiPjFco2sEmYL36PHDhkGf3HeMySQ44YSLFiPbOvMyk/s640/me+and+mama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mama and me, two years ago.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-71003402502050723522019-02-15T22:55:00.000-05:002019-02-15T22:55:07.410-05:00Facebook Memories<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If
you are familiar with Facebook you will know that they have an "On
this day" or "Memories" post to tell you what you
posted on Facebook on that specific day for as long as you have had a
Facebook account.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Many
of my memories bring joy, such as seeing my daughters wedding
pictures and pictures of grandkids but some bring sorrow and pain.
Some of those that cause grief are of loved ones who are no longer
with me or events in my life that has changed, or friendships that
have grown distant. I have been aware for the last 5 years now that
come the end of February Amy's illness, hospitalizations, and death
will be there for me to see. I know that this feature can be "turned
off" for a set amount of time or perhaps permanently but I clung
to them even though they caused me such pain. But each year it gets a
little easier to read and accept what has happened in my life.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Today
I received this along with my other memories of the day:</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">February
15, 2013 9:01PM</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-28867"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-28868"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-28869"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-28870"></a>
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">"But
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing
greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; </span><span style="color: black;"><i>we
are</i></span><span style="color: black;"> afflicted in every way, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;</span><span style="color: black;"><sup>
</sup></span><span style="color: black;">persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the
dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in
our body."</span> 2 Corinthians 4: 7-10</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />That
was all. No comment. Nothing. Just a shared verse. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="background: transparent;">So
I was wondering as to what prompted me to post this verse 6 years
ago.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="background: transparent;">My
first recollection of those verses grabbing ahold of my heart will
take some explanation. In January 2001 my oldest daughter was in
college and she was taking a trip to Israel for college credit. I was
able to go along on the trip with the 30 -40 students, 3 professors
and a few other adults. I had recently just started studying the
Bible, not just a devotion, but actually studying it. One of the
professors I really enjoyed talking to as he was so knowledgeable
about the Bible. I shared about my life with him and about Amy as we
were walking down the hill on the Mount of Beatitudes toward the Sea
of Galilee. He shared about his wife. She was very sick battling
cancer at that time. Yet he went half way around the world to teach
his knowledge of the Holy Land with his college students. He was the
kind of man who radiated God's love. When we got back to the
college and as we were gathering up our stuff the professor's wife
came and they just held each others eyes for the longest time with no
words before they embraced. You know, some memories are
engraved in our minds forever and that is one of them.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-288703"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-288702"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-288701"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="background: transparent;">Soon
after that he started a blog. It really wasn't a blog because there
was no Facebook or blogging back then, but it was an online diary
that he was sharing with others about his wife's illness and how the
Lord was working in their lives. When the time came when his wife
passed away, the verses he posted were 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. I was so
shocked! How could he not feel crushed, or in despair, or forsaken,
or even destroyed? He had such a strong faith. I really admired that
and wanted the same. The rest of the verse says how.. "always
carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus</span></span><span style="background: transparent;">,
so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-288704"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="background: transparent;">So
I kept on studying the Bible, I kept on trying to live my life for
the Lord, taking care of my family and especially my precious Amy. I
never forgot those verses and when Amy died I asked the Pastor to use
those in her service and two days after she passed away I posted
those same verses on Facebook and also added, "Thanks to our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-288705"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="background: transparent;">So
why did I post those verses on Facebook eleven days before Amy was
ill and taken to the hospital? I will never know what was on my mind
then, but this morning it blessed my heart because I know that God was
preparing me six years ago for what I was to face in the weeks ahead.
Through the wisdom and faith of a friend eighteen years ago and
through the strength of God's words I was able to praise Him through
the storm that was to come.</span></span></span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-76567606515028800902019-02-04T23:22:00.000-05:002019-02-04T23:22:21.970-05:00Psalm 139<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got an email from Google saying that they were removing the comments from my bogger account. I didn't know if it was true or not so I decided I needed to back up all my posts so I would have a copy of them just in case. It was something I should have been doing all along, but just didn't take the time to do it. Usually when I finish a blog post, I am pretty drained and don't want to spend any more time on the computer. So yesterday afternoon and evening I copy and paste, copy and paste, all of my posts and pictures. So many tears! Although I didn't take the time to reread them all, I did read some of them. I enjoyed seeing the pictures and it didn't hurt as much as it used to, but the memories still flood back of the last 37 years! </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This led me to my daughter's blog as I had shared hers a few times. That's when the tears really came. Reminding me of the pain she has gone through also. All of my children have grieved the loss of their sister. My son and oldest daughter each have a spouse to share their pain (and joys) with. Emily is still single, still lives at home with us. Even though she was away for five years at college she has been home for six years now. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bill and I moved into Amy's bedroom downstairs, soon after she passed away. Emily had the whole upstairs to herself consisting of three bedrooms, a library room and a bathroom for most of the last six years. In my last post I shared that a young girl was moving in with us. Even though there is 10 years difference in their ages <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">she has been such a blessing to us.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Lately I have heard singing and laughter upstairs again. I have realized how Emily has missed having a sister to share her life with. Even though Amy was older than Emily, in so many ways she was her little sister. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took the time to read all of Emily's blog posts since Amy died. Her next to last post was April in 2016 and this is a portion of what she wrote:</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, quot;"><span style="background: transparent;"><div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>A
acquaintance posted a link yesterday that touched me more than she
will ever know. It was on Psalm 139. Such precious words and
promises! I read it to Amy and the family the last Sunday we spent
together when we sang and worshipped in her bedroom with flowers and
balloons and sunshine all around. The video showed just a part of the
Psalm, but was so beautiful because of the precious people who quoted
it! Here is the link to watch it…</i> </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLiH-J_O_4&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Psalm 139</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, quot;"><i>It
made me miss her so much more. Fearfully and wonderfully made, The
body that made her so unique is no more. Words have come to her lips
and strength to her legs. Yet her eyes still sparkle and her
infectious giggle is probably bringing smiles to all! She was
beautiful and she will continue to be until we see her face to face!</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, quot;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I watched the video and cried so hard, but yet was rejoicing in my heart because God gave us Amy and so I have love for each of those sweet ones in the video. Because God gave us Amy and took her back to Himself each of my children have love for special needs people also. </div>
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A few weeks ago I started a Bible study on Job. I haven't read Job since Amy died, but God knew I needed it now. I am ready to hear the horrible "comforting" of his so-called friends and see through some of his pain and understand it better now that I have had some distance from my own. I wanted to share just a few thoughts from the first chapter of the study book and video. "God didn't remove His hand of protection from Job, He said, "Here he is." What happened to Job wa<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">sn't punitive but a promotion! God wasn't punishing Job but giving him a promotion. It was a position of honor. He knew Job! He knew he wouldn't curse Him no matter what! He knows us too. He knows what's in our hearts.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>Job
1:20-22</i></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-128901"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-12890"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-12891"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><i> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the
ground and worshiped. He said,</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Naked
I came from my mother’s womb,<br />And naked I shall return
there.<br />The </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lord</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
gave and the </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lord</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
has taken away.<br />Blessed be the name of the </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lord</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-12892"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>Through
all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did you catch that Job worshiped? </span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A<span style="color: black;"><span style="background: transparent;">nother thing that was brought out that really blessed me was the authors interpretation of Job's wife. She is never named but is constantly given a bad rap because of one question and one exclamation. The only thing she says in the book.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Job 2:9-10</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">Then
his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse
God and die!”</span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span><span style="background: transparent;">But he said to
her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed
accept good from God and not accept adversity?”</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
</span><span style="color: black;"><div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">"To be fair, Mrs. Job had more than enough reasons to rail against God. Those seven sons and three daughters were her children too. Her grief was surely at least as deep as Job's. Her mother's heart had been shattered into a million , jagged pieces, which had sheared off her joy and every bit of faith she had in the goodness of God.....At that point Mrs. Job just lost it.....Job simply said she was being foolish. And who knows but what he pulled her into his bleeding arms when he said it, because he of all people knew the raw grief that incited her rage. Then he articulated the most brilliant sound theological position one could ever assume in the midst of suffering: "Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?" <span style="font-size: small;">Taken from pages 25, 26 of "JOB, A Story of Unlikely Joy", by Lisa Harper</span></span></i></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Please take the time to watch the video.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLiH-J_O_4&feature=youtu.be" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, quot; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Psalm 139</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Amy would have been the girl in the wheelchair who couldn't speak. She also wouldn't have been able to hold the sign but it would have been pinned to her shirt or someone would have held it for her. But I'm sure in her heart she would have been singing the words!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here is the complete Psalm 139. It is so awesome if you have the time to read and study the whole thing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;">
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
139 1-24</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">O
</span><span style="background: transparent;">Lord</span><span style="background: transparent;">,
You have searched me and known me.<br />You know </span><span style="background: transparent;">when
I sit down and when I rise up;<br />You understand my thought from
afar.<br />You scrutinize my path and my lying down,<br />And are
intimately acquainted with all my ways.<br />Even before there is a
word on my tongue,<br />Behold, O </span><span style="background: transparent;">Lord</span><span style="background: transparent;">,
You know it all.<br />You have enclosed me behind and before,<br />And
laid Your hand upon me.<br />Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;<br />It
is too high, I cannot attain to it.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">Where
can I go from Your Spirit?<br />Or where can I flee from Your
presence?<br />If I ascend to heaven, You are there;<br />If I make my
bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.<br />If I take the wings of the
dawn,<br />If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,<br />Even there
Your hand will lead me,<br />And Your right hand will lay hold of
me.<br />If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,<br />And the
light around me will be night,”<br />Even the darkness is not dark </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">to
You,<br />And the night is as bright as the day.<br />Darkness and light
are alike to You.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">For
You formed my inward parts;<br />You wove me in my mother’s womb.<br />I
will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made;<br />Wonderful are Your works,<br />And my soul knows it very
well.<br />My frame was not hidden from You,<br />When I was made in
secret,<br />And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;<br />Your
eyes have seen my unformed substance;<br />And in Your book were all
written<br />The days that were ordained for me,<br />When as yet there
was not one of them.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">How
precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!<br />How vast is the sum
of them!<br />If I should count them, they would outnumber the
sand.<br />When I awake, I am still with You.</span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">O
that You would slay the wicked, O God;<br />Depart from me, therefore,
men of bloodshed.<br />For they speak </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">against
You wickedly,<br />And Your enemies </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">take
Your name in vain.<br />Do I not hate those who hate You, O </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">Lord</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">?<br />And
do I not loathe those who rise up against You?<br />I hate them with
the utmost hatred;<br />They have become my enemies.</span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.23in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">Search
me, O God, and know my heart;<br />Try me and know my anxious
thoughts;<br />And see if there be any </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: transparent;">hurtful
way in me,<br />And lead me in the everlasting way.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-84161373273962171062019-01-06T20:06:00.000-05:002019-01-06T20:06:25.184-05:00MERCY<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77egh-J1PL7-Q2TTT9AKtQs2X22X8eZJvF0P5Ki4TgeMw_kYyuOY9vwALOyr3AcqNGwtHRFR4c7EtmY213KFTfjjLm-Mq23AcVW3K-agDscn80M65r0hF3GEkhAn02jQlXnP2Tw7ft9Y/s1600/DSCN0159a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77egh-J1PL7-Q2TTT9AKtQs2X22X8eZJvF0P5Ki4TgeMw_kYyuOY9vwALOyr3AcqNGwtHRFR4c7EtmY213KFTfjjLm-Mq23AcVW3K-agDscn80M65r0hF3GEkhAn02jQlXnP2Tw7ft9Y/s640/DSCN0159a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All of my family at church the Sunday before Christmas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My
first Christmas in six years without tears! Oh there were plenty of
tears the weeks before Christmas and even after, but on the day we
celebrated Christmas with our kids and grandkids I had no tears. I
felt no sadness, only joy to be surrounded by my three children and
four grandchildren. Amy was missed, but lovingly remembered.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Decorating
was hard, too many memories of happier times with all my loved ones
present. Forty years of Christmases spent in this house or on the
farm in Iowa as a family. Some of our ornaments and decorations are
that old! So many many memories!</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
had a very busy schedule, so I was tired more, also contributing to
tears. We have had so many overnight guests in the last two months.
This is very unusual for me. I'm not one that is "given to
hospitality." I always thought that I never filled the role of a
"deacons wife" because of this, but Bill was a deacon for
many years. Maybe that is just another of those ideas I have been
taught over the years without seeing and understanding the whole
picture. God made me the way I am, some are "given to
hospitality" and some have other ways of sharing Gods love. For
years I have felt like I don't measure up, but as I study Gods' Word
more and more I discover that there is a freedom and joy that comes
from serving the Lord. Serving in the midst of pain and grief,
serving through tears, and exhaustion.<span style="background: transparent;">
I can serve God as I rock my grandchildren to sleep, run the vacuum,
send cards to others and yes even the "traditional" way of
having others over.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">God
has been preparing my heart for a special way to serve Him over the
last few months. In September a young girl (20) asked me to start
mentoring her. I don't care for that term, so I just prefer to think
of it as a friendship that is spanning a few decades of age! We meet
once a week and talk about what God has showed us in His Word and
pray for each other. A little over a week ago she texted me to ask
for prayer for wisdom because she was in need of a place to stay.
Last Sunday God was very clear to me during our church service. "<i>You
have a room, ask her to stay.</i>" But no Lord, that is Amy's
room now. All her things are in there. I can't. "<i>Yes, you
can. It's time. Pack up Amy's things. Ask her to live with you</i>."</span></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And
so I did. I asked with tears, she accepted with tears.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday
I boxed up all of Amy's stuff. All her things I have </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">kept over 31
years of time, from the tiny t-shirt and booties she wore as a baby
to the obituary notice in the paper and the cards we received after
she passed away. I thought I would make myself sick because I cried
so hard. But as He always does, when we obey, God gave me strength to
do it.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today
Emily helped me move the furniture around and in two days I will have
a new "daughter" living here. I can say this with joy and
peace in my heart and no tears.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each
year I choose a word for the year.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">My
word for this new year is "mercy". God has shown me so much
mercy over the years. He has, in His mercy, showed me how to walk
this path of grief, this path of life as I get older, this path of
mom to adult children and this path of grandma. He has mercifully led
us over the past year to our new church home and new friends we call
family.</span></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
morning we sang, "Multiplied", a fairly new song to me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">"Your
love is like radiant diamonds<br />Bursting inside us we cannot
contain<br />Your love will surely come find us<br />Like blazing wild
fires singing Your name</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">God
of mercy sweet love of mine<br />I have surrendered to Your design<br />May
this offering stretch across the skies<br />And these Halleluiahs be
multiplied"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">There
was that word mercy. I'm sure the first of many times it will jump
out to me as my word, grace, did for me last year.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">Oh
dear Lord, may my Hallelujahs be multiplied.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NASB-293681"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've
been thinking I should change the name of this blog. For the last
year or so it has not seemed like it is Amy's Story anymore, but
mine. Then I heard someone speak about the verse Philippians 1:6 “<i>For
I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in
you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” </i></span></span> </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">Amy's
story didn't end when she died. It continues until Christ comes back.
It continues through my life, and her siblings, even through the
niece and nephews who are learning of her and on down through the
generations.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent;">About
a week before Christmas I was helping my grandsons make crafts for
presents. I told them that I had made this craft with Aunt Amy.
Little Will, who is 4, said, “Mommy has told me about Aunt Amy. She
lives in heaven with Jesus. Did her Mommy and Daddy go to heaven with
her when she died?” Tears were already in my eyes at his words and
now started running down my face. “O Will, I am Aunt Amy's Mommy
and Grandpa is Aunt Amy's Daddy.” His eyes </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">got big and he said, “Do
you miss her?” More tears, “Yes dear boy, I miss her so very
much.” But I was able to smile and said, “She is so happy living
with Jesus, it makes me happy, too, even though I miss her.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few days later we got a
call from this little guy telling us he had given his heart to Jesus.
</span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The angels are rejoicing!
The Hallelujahs are being multiplied!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-6569100098385439502018-10-27T21:25:00.000-04:002018-10-27T21:25:34.616-04:00BREATH<span style="font-size: large;">We had a wonderful trip to Alaska, but I can't write about that yet. I don't have my thoughts in order or even my pictures all edited. I do want to share what happened today and my thoughts about it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I had a list of things I wanted to get done today, a list just in my head. But God had other plans for my life today. But God....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I held a kitten for a few hours and stroked it's fur and gave it comfort while it struggled to breathe and finally died. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We got two female kittens in late spring this year. They were born around Amy's birthday in March. We haven't had kittens for a few summers and I thought it was time to have some kittens again. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhcy4hkdMgdbYrmluxvlvopiii9SVzQqF5iBpxPmMsjkEwjJ0jnLDXGogmhbWT0-eR5pSzzYf-gxJKmynQb1JL_lKBSNKQvXxczclZrXc3dd_VscSNqnEB3T_4q3DnT01bmywLBFZohc/s1600/31166824_10155217890140800_2079698400485290100_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhcy4hkdMgdbYrmluxvlvopiii9SVzQqF5iBpxPmMsjkEwjJ0jnLDXGogmhbWT0-eR5pSzzYf-gxJKmynQb1JL_lKBSNKQvXxczclZrXc3dd_VscSNqnEB3T_4q3DnT01bmywLBFZohc/s640/31166824_10155217890140800_2079698400485290100_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">They were great fun watching them play and grow. Mari looks Siamese (but is not) and Allie is the gray and white one. I naively thought we wouldn't have any more kittens until next spring! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While we were in Alaska my daughter messaged me and said that Marie was pregnant! She had her kittens on Sept 21 just a few days after we got home. She had 5, but one was dead. So we have had 4 little kittens for the last 5 weeks to love on and take care of. They all live outside and call my little garden shed home, as I had fixed up the basket that Mari and Allie slept in when they were first here, hoping Mari would have them in there and she did! She has been a good mommy cat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bill feeds them first thing in the morning and I usually take them extra treats a little later, coaxing the kittens to try to start to eat solids. This morning was busy so it was after lunch until I finally got out. Only three kittens ran to greet me. I gave them their soft food and called but.....nothing. I had made a little tent over a small table that their basket is under, so I couldn't see in right away. I felt around and found the kitten. He was struggling to breath, convulsed a little like a seizure and couldn't stand or open his eyes. I knew there was no hope. Maybe if I had come out earlier or checked them last night I could have saved it. But we can't undo the past. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mari started licking him and I just burst into tears. I decided to bring him in and care for him the best I could. I cried and sobbed like I haven't for a long time. It's been 5 1/2 years since Amy died and it will soon be the third anniversary of Daddy's death. The grief just all came rushing back. So I guess I just needed a good cry once again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I got a little box and put a towel in it and just stroked his fur. He was a gray and white tiger stripe. His fur was beautiful. I had never noticed it so closely before. Every end of the individual hairs were tipped in white. He would take a deep breath and convulse a little and then sleep and breathe so slowly. This continued for a few hours until he was still and I gave him more time to breathe, but I knew he was gone. We hadn't even named any of the kittens yet! We thought we had time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I babysat all the kids for a while and the three oldest</span><span style="font-size: large;"> went outside to play and run off some energy before naptime. After about half an hour Mari came in to use the toilet and I told her she was staying in now to take a nap. Her three year old reasoning said, "But Grandma, I can still breathe." I said, "What????" and she replied, "I still have breath. I still have some breath left to play." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For some reason it cracked me up and then stuck with me. I thought about it again as the poor little un-named kitty was trying to breathe. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We don't know how much breath we have left. But God does. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have had this beautiful song stuck in my head for a few weeks now: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Great Are You Lord</span><br />
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<div class="i4J0ge" style="line-height: 15.99px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; position: static; text-align: left;">
<div class="NFQFxe siXlze yp1CPe mod" data-attrid="kc:/music/recording_cluster:lyrics" data-md="113" lang="en-US" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; clear: none; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div data-hveid="CAAQBg" data-ved="2ahUKEwiG2-y_9KfeAhUumeAKHZviC6QQsEwoATABegQIABAG" style="line-height: 15.99px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; position: static; text-align: left;">
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<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">You give life, You are love</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">You bring light to the darkness</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">You give hope, You restore</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Every heart that is broken</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Great are You, Lord</span></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">It's Your breath in our lungs</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">So we pour out our praise</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">We pour out our praise</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">It's Your breath in our lungs</span><br style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">So we pour out our praise to You only</span></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And all the earth will shout Your praise</span></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Our hearts</span><span class="S0KpLd" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> will cry</span></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span class="S0KpLd" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These bones will sing</span></span></div>
<div class="rGtH5c" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span class="S0KpLd" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Great are You, Lord.</span></span></div>
<div class="rGtH5c" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span class="S0KpLd" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="S0KpLd" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It's Your breath in our lungs</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So we pour out our praise</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We pour out our praise</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It's Your breath in our lungs</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="S0KpLd" style="line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So we pour out our praise to You only</span></span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So I choose to pour out my praise with His breath, if it be in tears or if it be in song or in stroking a dying kitten and listening to God speak to me. </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.52px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
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<div style="width:235px;"><script src='http://50.56.126.216/banners/FeaturedChildEmbed235x100.php'></script><br/><center><a href='http://www.compassion.com/child-development/children-in-need/default.htm'>Save Children</a></center></div>
</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-37036082123277327812018-08-20T15:36:00.000-04:002018-08-20T15:36:29.566-04:00What Are You Seeking?<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Last week in church every song we sang brought tears: "Blessed Assurance", "I Have This Hope", "So Will I", and "Not for A Moment (After All)". Tears of grief, tears of tiredness, tears of false expectations, tears of the unknown future. I had experienced a pretty hard week and I was exhausted. The sermon was from 1 Kings 18 and 19 and I was encouraged by the example of the life of Elijah. After he had seen God do an amazing miracle on Mt Carmel, he still was fearful and depressed. But God allowed Elijah to hear Him speak. God spoke with a gentle whisper, a still small voice. As the service was ending we sang, "Good, Good Father," and a dear friend came up to say she had to leave early and I walked out with her. My problems paled in comparison to her health situation. God touched my heart that day with His words and His people.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Yesterday morning I was determined not to have any tears but the first song we sang was "How Great Thou Art." It has always been a favorite of mine, but I will forever have a memory etched in my mind from Daddy's funeral. We closed his memorial service <span style="font-family: inherit;">with that song and as our family was led out during the last verse. I turned to see if my sister was coming and she had her arms raised in worship to</span> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">"<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And then proclaim</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">, my God h</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ow great Thou art!" Such a sweet but poignant memory....and so once again the tears came. I have learned to accept my tears even though society says I should be ashamed or embarrassed and be done crying by now. Jesus tells me different. Jesus holds me when I weep and I rest in Him.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The last few months have gone by so very fast! In June Emily and I took a long weekend to visit my Mama and sister in Maine. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzapbbKHelVi168joRa1vJ1VDE8J2mrDk3yDgSG9hJA02UFrtJa_zHWhd-9lJeKUcQht2xdPVXTBd34huF2TNFL55BENGA8SITF8-Lw-rRxK4bunWMwLYpnKATR8LI4-XZlmu_UI4oCZ8/s1600/three+generations+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzapbbKHelVi168joRa1vJ1VDE8J2mrDk3yDgSG9hJA02UFrtJa_zHWhd-9lJeKUcQht2xdPVXTBd34huF2TNFL55BENGA8SITF8-Lw-rRxK4bunWMwLYpnKATR8LI4-XZlmu_UI4oCZ8/s640/three+generations+cropped.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three generations, each 28 years apart.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX798fDON8a0ohMgL1UlVV2PJSkzVuNKwAkM9_-7TJKQD_V6dwUBjHtEPNbNDCWlLTH6jejTs4qcVfiTvt9v4gwH12SUZ4rQIGyW-Ak08U5LbgRahgB7jm9_lkHw2wx8CgrKfb_Y4kTu4/s1600/36303250_10156279037060993_6050287543310614528_n+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX798fDON8a0ohMgL1UlVV2PJSkzVuNKwAkM9_-7TJKQD_V6dwUBjHtEPNbNDCWlLTH6jejTs4qcVfiTvt9v4gwH12SUZ4rQIGyW-Ak08U5LbgRahgB7jm9_lkHw2wx8CgrKfb_Y4kTu4/s640/36303250_10156279037060993_6050287543310614528_n+2.jpg" width="590" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Sisters with Iowa roots</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In July Bill and I went away for just two days and a night to a little town nearby to celebrate my 60th birthday. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznZKThFRTHMjrv3_jsGc0OKwRbxrcmeI3gHADiUtNBcN-Hbqomcf0gfpUOqsQ6keDv1HqExNmv_iuHwrLtjc2QzUyC-Hbc_RMCuRvUhKcuFVpb8UZLX_XIhyVFQ4f9V7FVDW-Gfc3YBQ/s1600/DSCN0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznZKThFRTHMjrv3_jsGc0OKwRbxrcmeI3gHADiUtNBcN-Hbqomcf0gfpUOqsQ6keDv1HqExNmv_iuHwrLtjc2QzUyC-Hbc_RMCuRvUhKcuFVpb8UZLX_XIhyVFQ4f9V7FVDW-Gfc3YBQ/s640/DSCN0156.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laurel Summit State Park, the largest ferns Bill has ever seen.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYF8J5fQOUcTVvZO702Y6hyphenhyphenq05Yw2xUInkeIJrdiBjD6VBi7BW89SB_k4hB_ceUQyuJO1BfUEP-N2bk65mUnXGlggM0jAwzkb7gTXAA0qy46m7Eyg50IRL2SxiuhufNYGuYaDV2Q0lc4/s1600/DSCN0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYF8J5fQOUcTVvZO702Y6hyphenhyphenq05Yw2xUInkeIJrdiBjD6VBi7BW89SB_k4hB_ceUQyuJO1BfUEP-N2bk65mUnXGlggM0jAwzkb7gTXAA0qy46m7Eyg50IRL2SxiuhufNYGuYaDV2Q0lc4/s640/DSCN0167.JPG" width="640" /></a><u></u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU_AUWJSBVpbUIV5wAA_ugJvEjERadmxaItuHFCoAk7iqsPzZHFjkCpif7ZwOYk-njle-XwkCtx1kv488x81nZmHJwDAfN8wAOSCvAjRUeWdWfXP7zvhXtFtbXZMWWtTwIn0Xg8tDz3M/s1600/DSCN0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU_AUWJSBVpbUIV5wAA_ugJvEjERadmxaItuHFCoAk7iqsPzZHFjkCpif7ZwOYk-njle-XwkCtx1kv488x81nZmHJwDAfN8wAOSCvAjRUeWdWfXP7zvhXtFtbXZMWWtTwIn0Xg8tDz3M/s640/DSCN0169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Rogers and me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDttadCVNQpvSd7jxVQ-rlCbEDeoyfB5Ei0YFVU3Y5FoVt7GbvORDy_sDAFZ7RwYZxqoJUnEd996EdBcV1Gd6eaaerBW0J7TtzoYGVvQFvMqXeiFn9jCJf0nkXycopx5eMAYTtUMDUHag/s1600/DSCN0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDttadCVNQpvSd7jxVQ-rlCbEDeoyfB5Ei0YFVU3Y5FoVt7GbvORDy_sDAFZ7RwYZxqoJUnEd996EdBcV1Gd6eaaerBW0J7TtzoYGVvQFvMqXeiFn9jCJf0nkXycopx5eMAYTtUMDUHag/s640/DSCN0199.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.5px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Founded in 1846, Saint Vincent Archabbey is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.5px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">United States.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb7pFL00QiikvD9nu_eXGc_6dpJni3riEHjddmNxm1jKCaFaw5vG30yXr-HVnDzVjaBYXrsg1cz0JCzNwBx5lrMvJd_oOWmJW6cpIYcU6wNQF7V81oIzDlTqRDCt1ngFoFnvCATKz41A/s1600/DSCN0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb7pFL00QiikvD9nu_eXGc_6dpJni3riEHjddmNxm1jKCaFaw5vG30yXr-HVnDzVjaBYXrsg1cz0JCzNwBx5lrMvJd_oOWmJW6cpIYcU6wNQF7V81oIzDlTqRDCt1ngFoFnvCATKz41A/s640/DSCN0208.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Buttermilk Falls--Mr. Rogers' Grandparents owned this property and now it is a </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">county park. You can walk over and under the falls.</span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtbFxZRJmzWUprjtWxl7I20_yAAWXcufoK6RymnObu5fhpEGRl9T-Ba7MWwvZLS3TCQpc-W5KIVEB3NRGl0MM7jGK95eLF5ZCrx0i16FNmkvsqS526y3JVQTls7kTHkGhVqZXRNikIG4/s1600/DSCN0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtbFxZRJmzWUprjtWxl7I20_yAAWXcufoK6RymnObu5fhpEGRl9T-Ba7MWwvZLS3TCQpc-W5KIVEB3NRGl0MM7jGK95eLF5ZCrx0i16FNmkvsqS526y3JVQTls7kTHkGhVqZXRNikIG4/s640/DSCN0240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course we say lots of butterflies. Always a reminder of Amy.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I started an online summer study a few weeks ago. It is from Beth Moore entitled "The Quest." It is really different from her other studies as most of her studies you learn more about the Bible and as you study the answers are right there in the Bible. This one is a personal journey as you reflect on your own life (with examples from Scripture) and journal prayers to God. This is not something that comes naturally to me so it has been a challenge, but yet I have learned much in the last few weeks. She emphasizes questions that God asks, and that others ask of God, and that we need to ask of ourselves. The one that has meant the most to me so far is "What are you seeking?" </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">was to think back over my life and write what I have been seeking. As I began doing this I thought how much easier this would be if I was still 20 or even 40! There is a lot of things my young foolish self sought and now<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> at 60 years </span>I know those things will not ever come to be. Ever since I heard about the Appalachian Trail in my teens I wanted to hike it. Then as a young mom I realized there was the Continental Divide Trail! I read stories of people hiking even with small children and dreamed.....but somehow along with some of my other dreams just living life takes over and time passes. There is a business to run, bills to pay, children to teach.....and our dreams start to change. Then there is colleges, weddings, grandchildren and.....loss of loved ones.....and our dreams start to change even more. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Isaiah 46:9-10 says, "<i>Remember the former things long past, For I am God , and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, "My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure."</i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Isa-46-9" id="en-NASB-18596" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: &quot; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; left: -44px; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></sup></span><span class="text Isa-46-10" id="en-NASB-18597" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-weight: 700; left: -44px; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></sup></span><span class="text Isa-46-11" id="en-NASB-18598" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-weight: 700; left: -44px; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></sup></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">God knows my future, my end. He knew it before I was even born, before I even had a beginning. So yes my dreams fade and change, but that's OK, because God knows. He loves me and His will is the best. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daddy loved to travel. It started with relief work after WW2 to Poland when he was 16, and then to Korea with the Marines in the Korean War. We always took family vacations and he and Mama went a lot of places when we all left home. But he always talked about going to Alaska. He bought books about it, looked at maps and dreamed..... </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">I encouraged him to go as the years went by. I wanted him to sell a </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">little of that Iowa land and take his dream trip. He'd always say, "No, that land is for you girls." I remember asking him when he and Mama were here for Amy's funeral about his dream of Alaska. He said they would never travel again. They were too old, too many health problems...but he was content; they'd travelled enough in their life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Two and a half years later he completed his last journey. This one into the arms of Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That Iowa land was sold and divided between Mama and his "girls." </span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Tomorrow Bill and I leave for Alaska. Yes, Alaska!</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It has always been a dream of ours, too, but we really never thought it would come to be. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thank you, Daddy. We will be remembering you every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thank you Lord Jesus, we trust You with each step of our journey. </span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-34689149266502772962018-04-13T21:08:00.000-04:002018-04-13T21:09:49.157-04:00BUT GOD....<span style="font-size: large;">Five years ago today I looked upon the face of my dear Amy for the last time. I kissed her forehead and it wasn't warm but it was cold, I laid my head on her chest and it wasn't soft but so very hard and I held her hand and it didn't feel like her hand anymore. The funeral director asked me if we wanted more time, and I hesitated and then said, "No, close the casket." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The day of her funeral and burial I was so strong. I was depending on God for my strength and He gave it to me. If I knew at that time the deep grief and heartache that would linger so long after... I think I would have just crawled into the casket with her and died too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But God...</span><span style="font-size: large;">God in His mercy gives us what we need for each day. As the days go by and turn into weeks and the weeks into months and the months into years it is getting easier to live without my sweet girl. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday, the 8th, the five year anniversary of Amy's death, we met at the cemetery and released balloons and prayed like we have each year since she has been gone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuf6uYN2WTfLlS27tIgTLkq8tmSxI1XDBF5OVh79GmuTUJ0U3ckD2BpcrHfh88OGT86SNKlX3Lzw2aAJYOr3HABPLDU7ixOzdhaQADP0twyF_rbnUNer0zBlMI9kAxCxsRJcPrkqxTW8/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuf6uYN2WTfLlS27tIgTLkq8tmSxI1XDBF5OVh79GmuTUJ0U3ckD2BpcrHfh88OGT86SNKlX3Lzw2aAJYOr3HABPLDU7ixOzdhaQADP0twyF_rbnUNer0zBlMI9kAxCxsRJcPrkqxTW8/s640/IMG_0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAvNMNozbPPSZqpTNPv-IaUFEyxuEUTZnt6ITYHaaLHqf52icAlNmWNBA5hjOqNC_Xxu4fwTTLY7DmgNT272BUbthCLVJp9B3y2ppWVJCzDYatyjlbO-dLlf8NFkMeIIP9cH7XVJLsas/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAvNMNozbPPSZqpTNPv-IaUFEyxuEUTZnt6ITYHaaLHqf52icAlNmWNBA5hjOqNC_Xxu4fwTTLY7DmgNT272BUbthCLVJp9B3y2ppWVJCzDYatyjlbO-dLlf8NFkMeIIP9cH7XVJLsas/s640/IMG_0719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1BppO4FQzcr4tiQwizK9cZtIF2NaQ4Y-s7KfJGn1rYTg4huy9Gdp9Rt79upNiUqE5eBr0Gkc36_8Oc4NdTwT3-jQziiWem0J-NZQGLwO_v0V4xtixTvo-GtE1RV4XMnK_NY5URPsUGg/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1BppO4FQzcr4tiQwizK9cZtIF2NaQ4Y-s7KfJGn1rYTg4huy9Gdp9Rt79upNiUqE5eBr0Gkc36_8Oc4NdTwT3-jQziiWem0J-NZQGLwO_v0V4xtixTvo-GtE1RV4XMnK_NY5URPsUGg/s640/IMG_0720.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;">This year there were eleven balloons, one for each of us. The grandchildren will probably have no memory of this day except from the pictures they will see. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzJc9msaPV2E7RcwxcygS6NYnQnAugc6TW47nqmGTMKR9NcSow7ic7MEr4mSRPd-A2NPFFgtuyJ7hCZpwSDZXfamtmIU_wnq9Zhlq4dIRpea24pPZecbI3vKGDAeJSkMIyBms24dthMQ/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzJc9msaPV2E7RcwxcygS6NYnQnAugc6TW47nqmGTMKR9NcSow7ic7MEr4mSRPd-A2NPFFgtuyJ7hCZpwSDZXfamtmIU_wnq9Zhlq4dIRpea24pPZecbI3vKGDAeJSkMIyBms24dthMQ/s640/IMG_0726.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But they will in the years to come realize that this is something we do each year to remember their Aunt Amy; whom they never knew but was so very dear to their parents and grandparents and Auntie Em. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have had such a long winter but the daffodils came up early and I was worried they would be all bloomed and gone before April 8th. Not so. We had so much cold weather and snow that they weren't blooming at all! I felt bad that I wouldn't have my flowers to put on her grave. Emily and I went the week before and put a ring of fake flowers around the base and cleaned out the grass and weeds that were starting to grow. I noticed some bulbs just starting to come up that I had planted in the fall. I couldn't remember what they were. But God... He knew and He allowed them to be blooming on Sunday. As I approached her grave I just burst into tears. They were miniature daffodils and they were in full bloom! Yes, only God could have provided those flowers that He knew my heart wanted this year. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDx-cqdLCZ7s1AQfOuwxdgTk5es-me5YhyphenhyphenRf8sYP667VP_vEF6zl7m8Yc4RiXpx6sSwmZY5y_IUjYEtVb5HM4DCGklrH4AEcGU7TA0R9W66om0O4NR7-plVD3RjFT1_KTshPiBKp3jSI/s1600/IMG_0728+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDx-cqdLCZ7s1AQfOuwxdgTk5es-me5YhyphenhyphenRf8sYP667VP_vEF6zl7m8Yc4RiXpx6sSwmZY5y_IUjYEtVb5HM4DCGklrH4AEcGU7TA0R9W66om0O4NR7-plVD3RjFT1_KTshPiBKp3jSI/s640/IMG_0728+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The kids brought whirly birds, pinwheels, and pinecones to decorate Amy's grave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last months have been full. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In February Bill and Emily went to Andros Island to do some ministry work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While they were away I worked on a Christmas tree skirt made out of Amy's Christmas scarves.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrs3xGo3ME6GTegb6gQuOdxhn7Bv-IBICl2n9YH3zuYgAvZEICxcdjOElvxEryy69nLU5jzdcxsURt8gt24fmqsNimeeRVujQFa6fUS7L-ZAeto4zPpR-9fgluIrlKkMaSO6ElWwDg5c/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrs3xGo3ME6GTegb6gQuOdxhn7Bv-IBICl2n9YH3zuYgAvZEICxcdjOElvxEryy69nLU5jzdcxsURt8gt24fmqsNimeeRVujQFa6fUS7L-ZAeto4zPpR-9fgluIrlKkMaSO6ElWwDg5c/s640/IMG_0564.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Amy's birthday weekend, March 9, Bill and I took a few days off and drove east. We wanted to visit some state parks, do a little hiking and maybe see some wildlife. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGZ_QUrunTWHNyIO4sSdkmDPSNSFK351Q6aiMFvqb_rMira3H8HcngjzVO7UjTIVAP2O2LPrNe1Op6vKaQRKFruGrRreiT1_9Ve2932Vd_oXrNHrnVJIMvA4HLg9MD1-h-rfYOYEZz2I/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGZ_QUrunTWHNyIO4sSdkmDPSNSFK351Q6aiMFvqb_rMira3H8HcngjzVO7UjTIVAP2O2LPrNe1Op6vKaQRKFruGrRreiT1_9Ve2932Vd_oXrNHrnVJIMvA4HLg9MD1-h-rfYOYEZz2I/s640/IMG_0568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We drove through the small campus where Bill attended his first two years of college. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We discovered <a href="http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/SusquehannockStatePark" target="_blank">Susquehannock State Park</a>, but it was way too cold and windy for any hiking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We visited <a href="http://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/AboutUs/ContactInformation/Southeast/MiddleCreekWildlifeManagementArea/Pages/default.aspx" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area</a> and saw a lot of cool birds!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thousands of Snow Geese.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Swans</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> And Canada Geese</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we ended our weekend by visiting one of Pennsylvania's landmarks, the town of Hershey and <a href="https://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/en_us.html" target="_blank">Chocolate World</a>. The last time we visited Hershey was about 8 years ago and Amy was with us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Micah turned two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Marissa Amy turned three. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Easter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And....we had our share of snow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the biggest blessings in my life the last few months is that we have decided to keep attending the church we've been going to since December. God has blessed us there and our whole family worships together once again. The first time I held little Samuel at church I cried tears of joy. This was my one fear, I never thought we would all be able to worship together again, But God...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago we sang a song I had never heard before. The Title is:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="pvc_title_with_frows" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="paratitle" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-shadow: none; clear: none; color: #444444; display: block; height: 28.8px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; visibility: visible;">
<h2 aria-label="" class="b_topTitle" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: &quot; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 28.8px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
So Will I </h2>
<div aria-label="" class="b_topTitle" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: &quot; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 28.8px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="color: #767676; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 2px;">
God of creation</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="color: #767676; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 2px;">
There at the start</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="color: #767676; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 2px;">
Before the beginning of time</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="color: #767676; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 2px;">
With no point of reference</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="color: #767676; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 2px;">
You spoke to the dark</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="color: #767676; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 2px;">
And fleshed out the wonder of light</div>
</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And as You speak<br />
A hundred billion galaxies are born<br />
In the vapor of Your breath the planets form<br />
If the stars were made to worship so will I<br />
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made<br />
Every burning star<br />
A signal fire of grace<br />
If creation sings Your praises so will I</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
God of Your promise<br />
You don’t speak in vain<br />
No syllable empty or void<br />
For once You have spoken<br />
All nature and science<br />
Follow the sound of Your voice</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And as You speak<br />
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath<br />
Evolving in pursuit of what You said<br />
If it all reveals Your nature so will I<br />
I can see Your heart in everything You say<br />
Every painted sky<br />
A canvas of Your grace<br />
If creation still obeys You so will I</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
If the stars were made to worship so will I<br />
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I<br />
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I<br />
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I<br />
If the wind goes where You send it so will I<br />
If the rocks cry out in silence so will I<br />
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy<br />
Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
God of salvation<br />
You chased down my heart<br />
Through all of my failure and pride<br />
On a hill You created<br />
The light of the world<br />
Abandoned in darkness to die</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And as You speak<br />
A hundred billion failures disappear<br />
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here<br />
If You left the grave behind You so will I<br />
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done<br />
Every part designed in a work of art called love<br />
If You gladly chose surrender so will I<br />
I can see Your heart<br />
Eight billion different ways<br />
Every precious one<br />
A child You died to save<br />
If You gave Your life to love them so will I</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Like You would again a hundred billion times<br />
But what measure could amount to Your desire<br />
You’re the One who never leaves the one behind </div>
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by Hillsong</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">It's a beautiful song, but this line:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<span style="color: black;">If You left the grave behind You so will I......"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">burned in my heart and I knew God was telling me that it was OK to feel good again. To rejoice in Amy's life that was and to rejoice in the life the God has now given me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">I know this is long. I wanted to share a lot of pictures, though, and to be honest, God has not given me the words to write until today when I was rocking Samuel to sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Thank you for reading my blog. </span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-7252218358327205122018-02-14T22:26:00.001-05:002018-02-14T22:27:56.113-05:00For Now We See Through A Glass, Darkly<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the first of the year Bill and I have been taking a class on grieving at the church we are now attending. We have been reading through the book "Beyond the Broken Heart, A Journey Through Grief" by Julie Yarbrough. It has been a great class and it has helped both of us and also get to know and sympathize with others in the class. The author lost her husband and a few months later her father passed away. As she writes about her father it has brought back so many memories of my own Daddy. I have written about Daddy in other posts so if you have followed my blog you know what a dear man he was to me. He was in fact, my first true love. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day he was an example of the love of God to me. From him I learned discipline, dependability, orderliness, commitment, faithfulness and (most important) love. From him I learned that my Heavenly Father loves me with a steadfast unconditional love, because that is the way Daddy always loved me. I thank God for the extraordinary relationship I had with my earthly father. I will forever cherish the life and memory of the man who I was privileged to call my Daddy. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I came across this picture tonight, looking for something else. It was taken on the farm about 10 or so years ago. We had gone outside to play in the snow and we threw some snowballs at the window where Daddy was sitting watching us. In the reflection of the glass you can see the bare winter trees, the snow on the ground, and if you know where to look, the post and bird feeders that Daddy made. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We are outside in the cold and emptiness </span>but what is so precious to me is what I see inside the glass. Daddy is in the warm, light and life filled home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Instantly this Bible verse came into my head, </span></span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></i><u style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u><sub style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sub><sup style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><strike style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: line-through; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></strike></span>"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face." 1 Corinthians 13:12a. I'm sure the verse is talking about something else, but I thought how wonderful it will be to get to heaven and see Daddy again, face to face, without the pain and sorrow, without the limits of age, in the wonderful light and warmth of our Lord. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I miss him so much. Happy Valentines Day, Daddy, my first true love.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-35138238162727307342017-12-23T21:38:00.000-05:002017-12-23T21:43:55.907-05:00Joy Runs Deeper Than Despair<span style="font-size: large;">Christmas..... Amy loved Christmas, the tree, the celebrations, the gifts, and the lights. Especially the lights and she would look and look at them. We always put up a strand of lights in her room, too. I wonder what kind of lights and colors she is seeing now? What kind of birthday celebration do they have in heaven for the Son of God? The very Reason there is a Christmas. The very Reason that she is now in heaven! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't going to decorate much this year as the new baby was coming. I was busy making presents and we were having our Christmas on the 15th- early, as families were traveling. "Just put up lights and the tree," I told myself, but I got carried away and did a lot! This month has been so crazy with my emotions. One day I'll be crying, remembering the past, and the next day singing along to carols while I go about my work. The Christmas season brings so many memories; my grief is still very great at times. But the joy! Oh, the joy this season has been wonderful! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We welcomed Samuel Bradley into the world on December 8. No longer does the 8th bring pain, but only joy. He was such a tiny little thing but is growing so fast!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgc68QqctjLJtHMLmuwFiNyOOViu9qyjrB7-ggtyFEBeG5Q8TwD2fIbveY3xadsDYceERnLCdOjrHJY5xs3ChVYPWQqNq12ls3OjFvWIs-iFIQ1c9ZqqJR-9nNSRXHHvrvV0XPR78pls/s1600/samuel+newborn+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgc68QqctjLJtHMLmuwFiNyOOViu9qyjrB7-ggtyFEBeG5Q8TwD2fIbveY3xadsDYceERnLCdOjrHJY5xs3ChVYPWQqNq12ls3OjFvWIs-iFIQ1c9ZqqJR-9nNSRXHHvrvV0XPR78pls/s640/samuel+newborn+2.jpg" width="480" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The day before we celebrated Christmas, we woke up to this! So we had a white Christmas this year.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We celebrated with the family when Samuel was only a week old. It was the kids idea to keep things simple since I went all out for Thanksgiving. The first photo is Thanksgiving. The next three are Christmas.<b><i><u><sub><sup><strike></strike></sup></sub></u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u><sub><sup><strike><br /></strike></sup></sub></u></i></b></span><span style="font-size: large;">My flowers bloomed that I forced from October bulbs. We had paper plates and pizza, chips, some fruit, and of course Jesus Birthday Cake (the only baking I did this year) and Laura brought a plate of pretty Christmas cookies. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the fun present I got for the "boys" this years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYSfLSwk0R8Hbkxw74mCiDGXc21x8fTN4NJeKLW5hVAohOb0m-85KyjhPUqPy3yEm1s-EXsKSBU9J3mZo8qy1dc2OigTGYpJm4KStZlh3c3eGAGRxGeuJilDYapGxmmSLwXaFntrRGd0/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYSfLSwk0R8Hbkxw74mCiDGXc21x8fTN4NJeKLW5hVAohOb0m-85KyjhPUqPy3yEm1s-EXsKSBU9J3mZo8qy1dc2OigTGYpJm4KStZlh3c3eGAGRxGeuJilDYapGxmmSLwXaFntrRGd0/s640/IMG_0366.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next Sunday evening we visited a church where our retired pastor and his wife attend. Our associate pastor and his family attend there now also. They had an evening of music for Christmas and I was able to hear <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMxM4cy9deY" target="_blank">"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"</a> one of my favorite Christmas songs. Special memories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our greatest joy this season included Sunday morning worship. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Our children had visited this one church for a few weeks and they kept encouraging us to come. But we had the idea to visit a lot of local churches first and this one is about half an hour away, just over the county line. But Bill and I were getting weary; visiting local churches always brought someone from our past and they'd want to know why we were looking for a new church. We were tired of so many small churches and we just wanted to put the past behind us, be uplifted, and move on. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first Sunday there, before the service started, a man came up shook Bill's hand and said he was Pastor___. Bill said, "So you're the head honcho." The Pastor shook his head and said, "No. I'm part of a team of pastors." Later we found out he was the head pastor, but obviously a very humble man. Even though the church is in the middle of a small town in a farming community, we saw a mixed congregation of ages, abilities, and race. What a joy that was to me! The music was so great as the worship director really feels what he is singing. He has the passion for music that our associate pastor had at our old church and I have missed hearing and seeing that passion for the last 4 months. We've experienced everything from formal choirs with a small orchestra, to a contemporary band with guitars and drums in the three Sundays we have been there. They sing a mixture of hymns and new songs. I was moved to tears last week when I saw two men in front of us raising their hands in worship as they sang. Just a few minutes before the service started they were talking to each other about hunting. The people have been so very friendly to us. Last Sunday the greeter at the door remembered our names, as did others we talked to! This was only our third time there! This is not because it is a small church; they average 400-500 every week. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They have a team of pastors and they take turns preaching. We have heard three different pastors in the three times we have attended. God spoke to my heart each time through His word. The first message we heard was on contentment. "Contentment increases as we view our lives in the light of eternity." The second was on saying yes to God (as Mary did). "For when I am weak, then I am strong." and "I am not my own." Last week the youth pastor spoke. He's younger and so 'real' and funny. "We misinterpret what God says and we say things that God never said and we try to make God in our image. Joseph (Mary's Joseph)obeyed God. It wasn't easy for him, but he did it." So it is for me. Obedience isn't easy and following God is hard, but He is always there to help me because He has walked a harder road than I have or ever will. "We celebrate the baby Jesus to prepare for His second coming. Will Jesus find us obedient when He comes?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They are a church that has an mission/outreach emphasis. This is so important to us to find a church that cares about the community around them and the needs of the whole world. Every Sunday they <span style="font-size: medium;"></span>pray for a different church in the community, two Sundays they shared mission trip reports, and they help an orphanage in a foreign country. I'm sure there is more we don't know about yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have not attended the Adult Bible Fellowship (Sunday School), but</span> <span style="font-size: large;">they are starting a 6 week grief support class the first of the year during ABF and we signed up for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been moved to tears at every single service. It just feels so good to be there. God has given us peace and joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The final closing song we sang last week was one I had been taught quite a few years ago by someone very special to me. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LULK2nZ6sCc" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Before The Throne of God</span></a><br />
Before the throne of God above<br />
I have a strong and perfect plea.<br />
A great high Priest whose Name is Love<br />
Who ever lives and pleads for me.<br />
My name is graven on His hands,<br />
My name is written on His heart.<br />
I know that while in Heaven He stands<br />
No tongue can bid me thence depart.<br />
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When Satan tempts me to despair<br />
And tells me of the guilt within,<br />
Upward I look and see Him there<br />
Who made an end of all my sin.<br />
Because the sinless Savior died<br />
My sinful soul is counted free.<br />
For God the just is satisfied<br />
To look on Him and pardon me.<br />
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Behold Him there the risen Lamb,<br />
My perfect spotless righteousness,<br />
The great unchangeable I AM,<br />
The King of glory and of grace,<br />
One with Himself I cannot die.<br />
My soul is purchased by His blood,<br />
My life is hid with Christ on high,<br />
With Christ my Savior and my God!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I read a quote by Corrie ten Boom that says exactly what my last month and this past year has been like for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>"Joy runs deeper than despair."</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So as we close out this year, my year of joy, I will not fight my tears anymore. Tears are cleansing, despair will come because I'm still mourning the loss of Amy, my Daddy, and my church friends, but I know that my joy runs deeper because of Jesus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy has been gone 4 years. As I write this, the tears come. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God has given me four new little people in that time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My arms aren't empty anymore. Merry Christmas everyone!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcOh5GL_sSikfN3po3R2sUJLj0a9mjef5LFamf9BjGsm9Hk2nMW0U5A0X0vHISzpuauVZb9c_MSMuuznZkcQ5stvc2Rrxf8H5PjHOqJwraWM6sn3qXN-0qKZbfbTaCnymB2YrhU3qZeo/s1600/19075256_10155797231605993_1177311514_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcOh5GL_sSikfN3po3R2sUJLj0a9mjef5LFamf9BjGsm9Hk2nMW0U5A0X0vHISzpuauVZb9c_MSMuuznZkcQ5stvc2Rrxf8H5PjHOqJwraWM6sn3qXN-0qKZbfbTaCnymB2YrhU3qZeo/s640/19075256_10155797231605993_1177311514_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Samuel, yesterday, two weeks old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was sorting through photos this week I came across this one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Daddy and Mama waving goodbye as we drove away in 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our first visit to the farm without Amy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So as 2017 soon comes to a close I won't say,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Happy New Year" because I have learned sometimes happiness </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">is fleeting. I will say, "I hope you are blessed as you walk with the</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lord and find the peace and JOY that only He can bring."</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-997900578021045792017-11-15T21:32:00.000-05:002017-11-15T21:32:17.114-05:00Always Winter But........ Always Christmas<span style="font-size: large;">The last few months have flown by and we have been busy!</span> <span style="font-size: large;">We have had our first snowflakes and our wood burner is running as cold weather has set in, so winter is right around the corner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bill and I were able to get away for a week in early October with some dear friends as we traveled to New England and enjoyed the beautiful colors up there and especially enjoyed their fellowship. We met over 40 years ago and stay in touch across the miles as they live 5 states away to the west. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In late October Bill had a birthday and we surprised him with a side by side. It's kind of like a golf cart with the power of a four wheeler. He had told me that they were for "old" people and that he wouldn't need one until he was in his 80's! Well I think he is enjoying it now, in his 60's! (I need to get a picture in the daylight!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Surprise!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Halloween came and of course I got a few pictures of the boys. Will was a hunter and Micah was a deer. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnBHKGHZabaGd8i9E4hrA6T0MApoz2g0QBRaYVKvGwOLOTyIdXV8QKq6n1RkbBtrUYMI7V1uzLKB05VzomUSJ67W71H0rSy_R-YVh8rHtUOzkBT3Ixc6bn_-Eg65C2kNQoS1Xlj4St94/s1600/IMG_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnBHKGHZabaGd8i9E4hrA6T0MApoz2g0QBRaYVKvGwOLOTyIdXV8QKq6n1RkbBtrUYMI7V1uzLKB05VzomUSJ67W71H0rSy_R-YVh8rHtUOzkBT3Ixc6bn_-Eg65C2kNQoS1Xlj4St94/s640/IMG_0277.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxJXNoQ8tvr4WOL3CYSfG81X0m1CvZquAazr5U4JYna8gWP6eWVECzP5VuJhKcLghuwKqbqTxWRbBSHUBmx84Gxv2e960CCoVRqGcjFZkzlDBnv_WfDTdKLEiM8geA4yZDmIMAyWYSus/s1600/IMG_0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxJXNoQ8tvr4WOL3CYSfG81X0m1CvZquAazr5U4JYna8gWP6eWVECzP5VuJhKcLghuwKqbqTxWRbBSHUBmx84Gxv2e960CCoVRqGcjFZkzlDBnv_WfDTdKLEiM8geA4yZDmIMAyWYSus/s640/IMG_0282.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The little deer riding the Deere!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although I didn't get a picture of Mari in her costume, I did get a picture of her after our little "school" last week. We have been studying creation for about two months and have had a lot of fun. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11FboC31Ukpw-qZUlotOgOEVhkLGrutLCRmn3swzg-NzUHlGNOYF4VvrMkrVOK-84by-UGPUbA0abCm16hHEeKccDy6040e4aHDpbdsan9Q8OYjRgb_d3qj_sRMJthuZHG0trnr_yZgo/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11FboC31Ukpw-qZUlotOgOEVhkLGrutLCRmn3swzg-NzUHlGNOYF4VvrMkrVOK-84by-UGPUbA0abCm16hHEeKccDy6040e4aHDpbdsan9Q8OYjRgb_d3qj_sRMJthuZHG0trnr_yZgo/s640/IMG_0289.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On our last day I allowed her to tell ME the creation story and put on all the pieces by herself. She loves the flannel graph!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2Og2t4JbY0xGggFxCZ0y5DhB0DoIPf6nWcxtIk12gJVYv-bZmpY9goCkk5G8t_Wc5aq_t4BCKxR4xdN6esyAcEHF-74injVS3PwFVdAritwGg3ylZWRVOhdOCDZ3dgAwgufX4yifaQs/s1600/IMG_0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2Og2t4JbY0xGggFxCZ0y5DhB0DoIPf6nWcxtIk12gJVYv-bZmpY9goCkk5G8t_Wc5aq_t4BCKxR4xdN6esyAcEHF-74injVS3PwFVdAritwGg3ylZWRVOhdOCDZ3dgAwgufX4yifaQs/s640/IMG_0283.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We started our Christmas unit this week and I asked her if she knew that there was a very important birthday coming up and she said very excitedly, "Baby Sammy!"</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Yes, that has been the most exciting thing for her right now as she will soon be a big sister to a real live baby. Samuel is expected to arrive in just a few weeks, that's why I started the Christmas stories early with Marissa as Tess will be on maternity leave and I won't be babysitting very much. Although I think I might have to go steal her for a few days now and then! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bill and I have been visiting a different church every week. God has been speaking to us as we hear His word preached and through the music as we worship. We have been to churches of a few hundred down to churches of around 20. We have been to churches that sing only hymns, mixture of hymns and contemporary music, and only contemporary. We have been stretched by churches that do things differently than we have done. Churches with liturgy, prayers that are read with congregation responses, and the cross and Bible displayed, held high and revered (I was in awe). We have felt content, waiting on the Lord to direct us to where He wants us to go. Last week we went to a very small church and the Pastor was so compassionate. He talked to us after the service and said he could tell we were hurting and asked Bill if he could give him a hug. That brought tears to both of us. We were hurting, it had been a hard week. We were told that our family had been kicked off the prayer chain at the church where we had attended for 40 years and are still members of. I always thought prayer was something that was welcomed, but I guess not everyone thinks so. I will continue to pray for those who attend that church. We feel we did what God was telling us to do when we exposed the evil. We did it because we love the people in the church. If we didn't care about them we just would have quietly left a year ago. It has been hard, but is the Christian life supposed to be easy? This past month </span><span style="font-size: large;">God has been teaching me to forgive and to love as I have studied 2 Corinthians. I have never felt a connection with Paul before as I did in this study. It was an affirmation that we did the right thing. I praise God and am so thankful for giving us His words in the Bible to show us how to live. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is the second anniversary of my fathers passing. I remember the details of each day of his last few days like it was just yesterday. His last day on earth I can recall every hour, maybe every minute of that day! I was with my mother-in-law until just a few hours before she died, and I had the privilege of being with Amy and Daddy in their last days, hours, minutes, and the very second they passed from my arms to Jesus' arms. It is a beautiful thing, but yet gut-wrenching at the same time. I miss them both so much. I cry often, but not as much as I used to. The grief comes and goes. There are so many constant reminders of their lives and the holes they each left in my life.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEv0vJIE7FejBh4t7isvld-7OSA7q7ywLIpqu59fRE7twhl8g3BSkk6MdLyysMMFnoPDVSaWapdMhmmzX34bljaWqURJ37OLZUQAB3xfkc6ZhuKeZTSWVCIKW7wQmD7rhc9364le8TLg/s1600/23517741_10154850652870800_8563942507303436426_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="424" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEv0vJIE7FejBh4t7isvld-7OSA7q7ywLIpqu59fRE7twhl8g3BSkk6MdLyysMMFnoPDVSaWapdMhmmzX34bljaWqURJ37OLZUQAB3xfkc6ZhuKeZTSWVCIKW7wQmD7rhc9364le8TLg/s640/23517741_10154850652870800_8563942507303436426_n.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite picture of Daddy and Amy</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">But there are constant blessings also, if I just look for them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My husband, children, and grandchildren. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of nature always takes my breath away. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Music can touch my soul. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A good book, a warm cup of tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The list can go on and on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have always been a fan of CS Lewis and Amy loved listening to the "Chronicles of Narnia" audio tapes from Focus on the Family. She listened to them so many times and was listening to them again the days before she left us. I have not listened to them since.... </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Until a few days ago...... I decided to listen to "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." For years and years Narnia always has winter and never Christmas; until Aslan comes and the snow starts to melt and the birds start to sing and Father Christmas comes with presents. Aslan is a allegory for Christ. It occurred to me that if we truly are following Christ, we will always have winter (trials and sorrow in our life), BUT we will always have Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Savior! Always winter, but the seasons will cycle, spring, summer, fall and winter again. Jesus is with us through each season in our life. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love living in this part of the world that has the different seasons. Fall has always been my favorite. In my last blog I shared about planting bulbs at Amy's grave, in her little garden area in our yard and in a pot inside to force for blooms for Christmas. Well I planted them when the package suggested for our area, but we had an unusual warm fall and a few of the bulbs started to grow and even produced buds. We have had a few nights of frost, but the buds survived. One night last week it was to get down in the teens so I cut off the buds and brought them in. The last few days they have turned into beautiful blooms and smell wonderful! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another blessing to have spring flowers in November.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRGlexXSmpVzGsF_CDHBY1iX8A_-0nB1jMX07Yemo6oV1hP-prnVGIwml_yOQvILO7dnVIrrO6L8-vjZc4NDevdwFMjlrQa-zUYfvQLv4IlGiJc6yWom6OyionRTISxLrwX3BsmUjd2M/s1600/IMG_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRGlexXSmpVzGsF_CDHBY1iX8A_-0nB1jMX07Yemo6oV1hP-prnVGIwml_yOQvILO7dnVIrrO6L8-vjZc4NDevdwFMjlrQa-zUYfvQLv4IlGiJc6yWom6OyionRTISxLrwX3BsmUjd2M/s640/IMG_0295.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-30512563320541949852017-10-03T00:03:00.000-04:002017-10-03T00:03:50.729-04:00Held in His Arms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I planted some paperwhite narcissus bulbs at Amy's grave a few days ago. They are my favorite spring flower. I first became aware of them because we had a few bulbs hidden among the creeping groundcover on the bank beside the road. They bloomed less and less as the years went by and I realized that the ground cover was choking them, instead of letting the bulbs flourish underneath the soil. So I tried to dig them up and transplant them but I must have not done it correctly because they died. About a month ago my sweet daughter in law noticed the bulbs at a garden center and knowing I like them, pointed them out to me. I bought about a dozen and planted a few at Amy's grave, a few in her little garden area outside our bedroom window, and a few in a pot in the fridge to force bloom for Christmas. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTFyq4FcVPqQ_6mM2rj7butZwtc9tPPazwhd9FVu9x2vQVNjmTQU_BZEngQXzHCO43WDk4irrU4hLsAyd5npVPkvaysT2Qe7UrQS6O86vtTKnTETV_TORPbPd9T6wHzpR8DAebuKqgCM/s1600/IMG_9885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTFyq4FcVPqQ_6mM2rj7butZwtc9tPPazwhd9FVu9x2vQVNjmTQU_BZEngQXzHCO43WDk4irrU4hLsAyd5npVPkvaysT2Qe7UrQS6O86vtTKnTETV_TORPbPd9T6wHzpR8DAebuKqgCM/s640/IMG_9885.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Certain flowers have special meaning to me. My wedding was all daisies and baby's breath. Daisies grow wild here, but they are small, so I have some larger varieties planted. I can't seem to grow baby's breath. Lupines remind me of our wonderful times in Maine and mine flourish in my raised garden beds. My sister, Erin, liked nasturtiums, so I always plant them every year in her memory. Even though they aren't the "creeping" variety, they did their best this year to escape the garden bed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Veab2qd80HJV1WF_c01lPkdSu6d8ShtU4tNdphNzpZ9Cu_Gbh4h71JB6XBnn_QI6AW10q0b7kYxf2_sW-myRRBZTINJco4gb6wrUSSNiTbgD0pNgPAq9KHK1GEmHmuGeR8xGUMVyaNc/s1600/IMG_9914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Veab2qd80HJV1WF_c01lPkdSu6d8ShtU4tNdphNzpZ9Cu_Gbh4h71JB6XBnn_QI6AW10q0b7kYxf2_sW-myRRBZTINJco4gb6wrUSSNiTbgD0pNgPAq9KHK1GEmHmuGeR8xGUMVyaNc/s640/IMG_9914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My parents always grew morning glories outside their back door on the farm in Iowa. They would come up every year, which always baffled me because I had to plant mine every year and Iowa winters are more harsh than ours. Then Mama gave me seeds one year from her plants and they grew and they came back on their own the next spring! They must be a special kind of morning glory! I had planted them around the base of the swing set, and each year they would come back and climb up the ladder with some support from me. I would save some seeds and tried planting them in different areas, but they wouldn't grow well and never came back on their own like they did by the swing set. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When Daddy died in 2015 and the farm was to be sold, I knew my chance of ever getting anymore seeds was gone. I saved all the seeds I could that year and planted some for Mama in Maine when Emily and I visited last fall. This past spring we pulled up the old swing set and put in a deluxe 'castle' playset. The area where all the morning glories were was dug up and grass was planted there. I searched for an area that might work for the seeds to be planted and finally decided to plant them around an old garden bench that was used for decoration to hold birdhouses. It took a long time for them to grow, but when they finally started they took over the whole bench!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmcSE6__UhI6jowvl0muRuW2UAkIrm_RJRIBqbVprA6LoFK8kMWSN9wC8XiSqofWwy-Y5ytg3ftVIc13-KoReV4fkMianByckRv5FyTUiTwHJJYlxHzRHBWTAOD5lO6FPyg66KPBBBOM/s1600/IMG_9851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmcSE6__UhI6jowvl0muRuW2UAkIrm_RJRIBqbVprA6LoFK8kMWSN9wC8XiSqofWwy-Y5ytg3ftVIc13-KoReV4fkMianByckRv5FyTUiTwHJJYlxHzRHBWTAOD5lO6FPyg66KPBBBOM/s640/IMG_9851.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There's a bench under there! And below is a close-up of one of the little birdhouses Daddy and Mama made sitting hidden on the bench.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">The little sign Mama painted on the house says, "For Rent."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB0TC61OZ73hlsVorkW7sKl8k1DNyI5nXDNJUjFy1KWzhLKYgduRg_8OigyJ0ExVZ1zWKuqDJ22Vqg4wWwIdDLYNrlybCUOeaa9D4T4ShFkQR-owg6ZQL3UgmGUPJ0BEyxbYBoc74PRQ/s1600/IMG_9860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB0TC61OZ73hlsVorkW7sKl8k1DNyI5nXDNJUjFy1KWzhLKYgduRg_8OigyJ0ExVZ1zWKuqDJ22Vqg4wWwIdDLYNrlybCUOeaa9D4T4ShFkQR-owg6ZQL3UgmGUPJ0BEyxbYBoc74PRQ/s640/IMG_9860.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has been so dry the last few weeks, and fall is now here so I thought I should get some pictures of them soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I planted those seeds around that bench, but God planted others that were such a blessing to me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj0otX5S0wDqkSRFPck8znJCq5LTdeEEV_CSbTlzSjp9l8DOtJ4xnPokxWDmZsJlSqzKuDuu8ZwSR3k43usica-w3cDuipDLOj3tSl9zjqN4hKm3olJ8MgutFiJqlc2LktSyEaT9lI50/s1600/IMG_9845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj0otX5S0wDqkSRFPck8znJCq5LTdeEEV_CSbTlzSjp9l8DOtJ4xnPokxWDmZsJlSqzKuDuu8ZwSR3k43usica-w3cDuipDLOj3tSl9zjqN4hKm3olJ8MgutFiJqlc2LktSyEaT9lI50/s640/IMG_9845.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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By our back door.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSZNuGAlu8fF_qi_y1qINn1BYg_anVCnEAhcUee6Tnf4JBnCIVB3oYoBJoT_JYWb1O5cqhsZ6KEAeP8LZx7CAna8-DYbF4XZGlF6-KIYnRp3_u4r5LR6yZ3SqSmDG9li3Wk-O7nCcSGI/s1600/IMG_9847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSZNuGAlu8fF_qi_y1qINn1BYg_anVCnEAhcUee6Tnf4JBnCIVB3oYoBJoT_JYWb1O5cqhsZ6KEAeP8LZx7CAna8-DYbF4XZGlF6-KIYnRp3_u4r5LR6yZ3SqSmDG9li3Wk-O7nCcSGI/s640/IMG_9847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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By the foundation of my garden shed.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even in a pile of weeds and garden refuse, they are growing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take another look at the first picture I posted of Amy's grave. Do you see the</span> <span style="font-size: large;">little flower on the left side? It is a morning glory. I sprinkled a few seeds in the dirt in the spring and it</span> <span style="font-size: large;">just started growing a few weeks ago. I knew it wouldn't get watered or wouldn't have support to climb but I planted it anyway. And God allowed it to grow. A little flower from a seed, that first came from flowers on our farm in Iowa, growing at my daughter's grave in Pennsylvania. Thank you dear Lord!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy's body rests beside her Grandpa and Grandma to the left.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Our farm is just down the hill in the valley in the background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The beautiful views of the mountains to the north.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The ground to the right of Amy will hold our bodies someday when the Lord calls us home to Him. It is a comfort to me to know this. It doesn't seem unnatural to me to think of death or graveyards or tombstones. It is just a part of my life now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As is swinging. Yes, swinging. My little granddaughter squeals with laughter when I swing beside her as she is in the other swing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love to lay back and look at the sky and...... just be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just be..... held in His arms. </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-50346944240865450112017-09-03T23:03:00.000-04:002017-09-03T23:06:40.061-04:00CONSIDER IT ALL JOY<span style="font-size: large;">I have wanted to blog so many times in the last two and a half months, but the words wouldn't come. After just having a heart wrenching time of crying, and being alone in the house (a rare thing) I decided to sit down here at my computer and see what happens. So I read over my last blog post and the weekend we spent in Canada for our anniversary seems like a very long time ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In my last post I mentioned that we were having problems at our church, but I never imagined the amount of pain we would have to suffer in the weeks to come. Our church is an independent Bible church. It is run by the congregation with a board of deacons, trustees, and the pastors. We do not have a denomination we answer to or get help from. As a congregation we vote on everything of importance. When our pastor of 20 some years chose to retire, the deacons were the ones who searched for a new pastor and then the congregation made the decision by voting. So the pastor we have had for the past year was not appointed to us by a denomination. My husband was a deacon so he was involved in the whole process of choosing him. But soon after he came we saw his true character come to light. My husband tried to address issues we had with him within the confines of the deacon and board meetings, but to no avail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the issues were never told to the congregation we increasingly felt the Lord telling us to speak up at a congregational meeting, to inform them of our concerns. So on July 2, I read a statement we had typed up, expressing our concerns and that we were thinking of leaving our "home" of forty years. It was not received well by the pastor. He verbally used Amy as a weapon against us. He has never visited our house, has never seen her pictures, he has never asked about her life or her death, or even mentioned her name. But that night he said her name to us with malice. He knew where to thrust in the knife and turn it so it would hurt me the most. Bill and I went to the cemetery following church and I just sat on the ground beside Amy's grave and cried and cried. I knew that night that "my" church was lost to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A week later Bill went to a special deacon's meeting and poured out his heart. After hearing the pastor say that he had done nothing wrong, expound on his Bible knowledge, and that Bill was not leading his family correctly by letting me speak up at a meeting, AND when all the other deacons supported the pastor, Bill knew then that we had to leave. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We had already decided that if we would leave the church we would not leave quietly as others have in the past. We spent hours praying over and composing a letter that we sent to almost everyone in the congregation, telling them why we were leaving and when our last Sunday was to be (August 27th). They would have received the letter a few days before that Sunday. There was a congregational meeting following the Sunday service and this is the first time in all our years that the moderator announced that there was to be no discussion during the meeting. Emily and Bill followed the Lords leading and spoke what God had laid on their hearts anyway. They had written up what they wanted to say and spoke calmly and clearly. Others also spoke and in angry tones voiced their support of the pastor and said we were slandering him. We did not reply back and the meeting ended. A few people came to where we were sitting to tell us goodbye, but most just left. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In an email I received from a friend the day she received her letter, she said we had been "chosen" to bring the issues to light. I never looked at it that way before. I just knew we had to do what God was telling us to do, so I guess we did have a "calling" to do this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is amazing how God has led me this summer in what He has wanted me to study in my Bible. In the beginning of the summer I was in the middle of studying Jeremiah when the Beth Moore study came up and I decided to take a break and do that. I mentioned it in my last post; it was called "Entrusted" and was a study of 2 Timothy. I was in the middle of this study when all the heartache happened at church. These are the titles of the chapters to give you an idea of how God'</span><span style="font-size: large;">s Words in Second Timothy encouraged me. Divine Triangulation; Purpose and Grace, Strong in the Grace, Difficult Times, Difficult People; Fulfill Your Ministry; and Face to Face. I felt like we were doing what God called us to do. We were fulfilling our ministry for this time in our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then the week before our last Sunday at church we had a family vacation at a rental house just a little over an hour away from here. It was a much needed break for us and we were able to spend time in prayer, talking about life and enjoying the family times together. I used that week to do an Instagram Study on Psalm 15. It was a short study and I knew that would be perfect for vacation time as "time" always goes by so fast! Again God used this short Psalm to speak to me about what it means to slander someone. Only He knew that in just a few days we would be accused of slander. We were not slandering as we only spoke in love and concern for our family in Christ. This past week I was back to studying Jeremiah. In chapters 42 and 43 Jeremiah was told by God to tell the remnant of the Jewish people to not flee to Egypt. They ignored him and in 43:2 the arrogant men tell Jeremiah he is lying. The words "arrogant men" sure jumped out to me! I felt like God was showing me that we were like Jeremiah in telling the truth as to what God had told us to do. We obeyed. We were hoping for a different response, but God knew what was to happen. We obeyed and that is all that matters! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">God also knows the future. He knows what church we will end up worshipping at. He knows what church all my children and their children will end up at. He knows whether we will all be able to worship together again as a family. He knows if I will be able to hear my girls sing and play the piano in church again. He knows if the cousins will be able to grow up going to the same church. He knows what church will be Emily's "sending" church when she becomes a missionary. He knows. This is what breaks my heart if I let it. I have made peace with the past but I feel that I have lost what I perceived my future to be. But no matter what I pictured for our future, God has so much better in store for us! I am reminded of an old song I learned when I was a child, </span><span style="font-size: large;">"Because He Lives"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because he lives</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can face tomorrow</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because he lives</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All fear is gone</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because I know he holds the future</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And life is worth the living</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just because he lives.</span></div>
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I'm also still working on memorizing the first chapter of James. I have been working on it for over a year now. I have half of it down pretty well so I just sometimes rattle it off in my brain so I can concentrate on getting to the part I'm struggling with. I was working on saying it slowly and really concentrating on the words last week when JOY jumped out to me. My word for this year, JOY!</div>
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"James, a <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30268B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30268B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>bond-servant of God and <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30268C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30268C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>of the Lord Jesus Christ,</div>
<span class="text Jas-1-1">To <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30268D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30268D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30268F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30268F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>Greetings. <u>Consider it all joy</u></span><u><span class="text Jas-1-2" id="en-NASB-30269">, my brethren, when you encounter <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30269H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30269H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>various trials,</span> <span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-NASB-30270">knowing that <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30270I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30270I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>the testing of your <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30270J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30270J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>faith produces endurance.</span></u> <span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-NASB-30271"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup>And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span><span class="text Jas-1-5" id="en-NASB-30272"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup>But if any of you <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30272N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30272N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30272O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30272O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>it will be given to him." James 1:1-5</span><br />
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CONSIDER IT ALL JOY!</div>
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Update: I started this last evening. This morning we visited a church with friends. I thought there would be tears, but there was only joy. Thank you Lord.</div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-42644813497391349742017-06-15T23:00:00.000-04:002017-06-15T23:00:20.685-04:00Forty Years<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This Sunday Bill and I will celebrate the fortieth anniversary of our wedding day. We were married on my daddy's forty-seventh birthday. As it has in the past, this year it falls on Fathers Day also. Sunday will be a day full of memories for us. Both of our fathers are gone. Bill is now the patriarch of our family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How could forty years have passed by so quickly? I was 18, Bill 26. So young and naïve. I have heard that many couples divorce when they have a special needs child as it is such a strain on the marriage. Amy did put more pressure on our marriage and we did have problems. But we worked through them and our marriage grew stronger. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have also heard the same is true when a child dies. Amy's death has only strengthened us, though. Not because she was so precious (she was), not because our family has rallied around us and helped us grieve (they have), and not because our church family was always there for us [they were]. Those things are wonderful and good, but only because we know Who our strength is and Who we go to in times of trials have we become stronger.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I thought that Amy's life and death would have been enough for any family to handle, but Bill and I have both had to struggle with issues in our extended family also. So we go to our Lord and He helps us through and gives us strength, comfort and wisdom on how to handle things. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This past year has brought even more challenges. Our church has always been our life. Our kids were involved in every aspect of it as they were growing up. They have made life long friends their own ages and also older ones who have been godly examples for them and they now are part of our 'family.' My kids all serve in some capacity in our church and so do Bill and I. We always have. It has been our extended family for forty years. Amy was always welcomed, always loved. This past year has been our biggest trial yet. We are trusting in God to give us wisdom, strength and to follow His leading in our lives. Right now we do not know what that will bring. But .......... God does. He knew this was going to happen. He knew the trials we would be facing, He knows what the future will bring to us. We are just called to trust and have faith in His perfect will. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This again has strengthened our marriage more so than the other trials in our life we have gone through. Is that surprising to you? It has been to me. We have been continually drawn to prayer, to study God's Word, and discuss the situations, and drawn to prayer again and again. As I have mentioned before, Bill is a man of few words. We have talked more about spiritual things in the last year than we have in the other 39 of our marriage. Trials always produce something. Even though I do not enjoy going through this time and have many questions of why, I am thankful that He has drawn Bill and I together through this. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I started a new Bible Study today. It is called, "Entrusted, a study of 2 Timothy" by Beth Moore. I have done a few of her studies before and with each one I am amazed at what God teaches me. This verse jumped out to me today. It's from Acts 13 (the first lesson is background to 2 Timothy). So in Acts 13 Paul and Barnabas are being persecuted for preaching the Word and they have been driven out of the city. So what did they do? Verses 51 and 52, "But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconim. And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." They were filled with JOY! JOY? After all their trials? JOY. Yes they were filled with joy. I, too, can be filled with joy even through the trials. Especially through the trials.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So how to handle the memories that will come this weekend? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bill and I are leaving in the morning for Niagara Falls to stay in an inn, a B&B on the shores of Lake Ontario. Our very first vacation with Amy was to Niagara Falls. She was only 3 years and Tessa was 5 years. Emily and James were yet to be born. We had a wonderful time. I have good memories of that vacation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The next four days will, I'm sure, have some tears, but mostly I hope joy. JOY because I know that God is in control of every detail of our lives. From the aches and pains of getting older to the stress that comes from jobs and relationships with others. God is in control. That brings joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The only photo I have of our time 32 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I almost forgot, we're going to be grandparents again. That little 5 year old in the photo is going to have another baby in December. More blessings, more JOY.</span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-62502084832001255472017-04-25T20:49:00.000-04:002017-04-25T20:49:35.021-04:00Dancing In The Rain<span style="font-size: large;">February came and went; we all were sick, even the grandkids. March came in like a lion and Bill flew off to Andros Island in the Bahamas again for a week to do some ministry, working on buildings repairs after the hurricane last fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amy would have been 35 years old on the 9th of March. The 'girls' (my two daughters and daughter-in-law) and I celebrated Amy's birthday with a spa day. We each got a massage, Laura and Tess a pedicure, I got a manicure and Emily got the works- a pedicure, her make up and hair done.</span> <span style="font-size: large;"> It was a nice fun day to remember Amy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the month of March progressed I tried my best to not remember the events of 4 years ago. But my depression deepened and I think I was at my lowest ever on the anniversary of the day Amy died, April 8th. We once again gathered at the cemetery to release a balloon for each of us. Last year newborn Micah stayed in the van because it was so cold. It was a little nippy this year also, but the sun was shining and the flowers were blooming. Although I felt like I was in darkness. I tried to focus on my children faces. And the grandchildren. They were so happy. They wandered around the cemetery. So innocent, unharmed by reality of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After wards I took a drive by myself and went to our local state park and enjoyed nature and prayed. I drove by the fruit orchards and inhaled the fragrance of the blossoms and I prayed. I prayed for wisdom, I prayed for joy. I tried not to dwell on four years ago and tried not to think about the new sorrows and grief I had experienced in the last year and a half since Daddy died. But instead I tried to remember the happy things that had happened this last month.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We celebrated Micah's first birthday and Marissa Amy's second birthday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And...... after a pretty snowless winter, it snowed in early spring<span style="font-size: large;"></span>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I received a few cards, messages and one long letter from friends, telling me they were thinking of me. My mom and sister sent me some butterfly items in memory of Amy. I felt like the darkness had lifted. Then Easter came, just a week later. I made an Easter egg tree. I've made one every year since we were married, except for the last four years. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I discovered that one of the four cacti that my sister potted up for me (that were Daddy's and came from the farm) had sprouted and grown a new shoot. I was about to give up on them as it has been so long. But there was new life in at least one of them. I felt like it was a small miracle, God sending me a message. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made Easter Egg Baskets for the grandkids, and we had an egg hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Matthew 21:15 &16 </span><sup><span style="font-size: large;"> "</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;">But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant</span><span class="text Matt-21-16" id="en-NASB-23843"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></sup><span style="font-size: large;">and said to Him, “Do You hear what these </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">children</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> are saying?” And Jesus said to them, </span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yes; have you never read, ‘</span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23843B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23843B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-size: large;">Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">’?”</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PRAISE. It is the least I can do for my Lord for all He has done for me. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite songs, "In Christ Alone."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Christ alone my hope is found</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He is my light, my strength, my song</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This Cornerstone, this solid ground</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Firm through the fiercest drought and storm</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What heights of love, what depths of peace</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When fears are stilled, when strivings cease</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My Comforter, my All in All</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here in the love of Christ I stand</span></div>
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In Christ alone, who took on flesh<br />
Fullness of God in helpless babe<br />
This gift of love and righteousness<br />
Scorned by the ones He came to save<br />
'Til on that cross as Jesus died</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>The wrath of God was satisfied<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
For every sin on Him was laid<br />
Here in the death of Christ I live</div>
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There in the ground His body lay<br />
Light of the world by darkness slain<br />
Then bursting forth in glorious Day<br />
Up from the grave He rose again<br />
And as He stands in victory<br />
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me<br />
For I am His and He is mine<br />
Bought with the precious blood of Christ</div>
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No guilt in life, no fear in death</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the power of Christ in me<br />From life's first cry to final breath<br />Jesus commands my destiny<br />No power of hell, no scheme of man<br />Can ever pluck me from His hand<br />Till He returns or calls me home<br />Here in the power of Christ I'll stand</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was taking pictures of the cactus, I reread the saying on the stone that Tessa gave to me after Amy died. "Life isn't waiting for the storm to pass, it's learning to dance in the rain." </span></div>
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The darkness in every storm eventually passes but I don't want to feel like I'm drowning anymore. I want to stand in the power of Christ. Till He returns or calls me home. But I want to do more than just stand. I want to dance.</div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-61836454928824295882017-01-11T22:02:00.000-05:002017-01-11T22:02:08.332-05:00JOY<span style="font-size: large;">I only took one picture at Christmas. ONE. I don't have a smart phone and just an old fashioned camera so as the years go by I take less photos. (Except of course if it's on vacation and if I see buffalo!) I rely on my kids to give me pictures of the grands and then I usually complain if I'm in them! But this Christmas as Bill was reading the Bible of the birth of Jesus I had to snap a photo. Ever since I can remember, my Daddy always read the Christmas story before we opened presents. We have carried on this tradition in our own family. As he was reading I was wondering how many times I heard Daddy read the story and how many times I have heard Bill read it. Last year Mama read it, even though it was hard for her to see the words. That was a special moment for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This picture says more than just Bill reading the Christmas story. It shows how our lives have changed in the last two and a half years. There are Duplo Legos on the floor under his chair and an open Easter egg at his feet. ( I have no idea why!) Beside him on the table is a pacifier. It is pink so that means it goes to Marissa's baby doll. Beside him is Tim, Will's stuffed penguin, reading the Christmas story along with him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After a rough month of wondering if anyone remembered Amy, each of my children gave me a memory of her. Emily gave me butterfly earrings, Tessa gave me a bracelet that says Amy on it, and Laura gave me a kitchen towel set with butterflies and a calendar with a different butterfly on each month. A dear friend at church the week before had also shared a memory she had of Amy and how her family remembers her each Christmas because of it. Thank you for speaking her name, even though it brought tears. Thank you for remembering her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a favorite photo of Amy's last Christmas with us. It was taken in the light of our advent candles. We would try to burn a candle every night up till Christmas Eve when all of them were lit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Emily wanted me to put up the candles this year and I just looked at her and said, "What for? I haven't put them up for the last three years." It was a few days before Christmas and I had finally gotten the dining room table cleaned off from craft making and Christmas wrappings. I could tell she was a little upset (a mother can always tell) and so the next day when she was at work I put the table cloth on and set up the advent wreath of candles. I cried many tears with each candle I put in, knowing that the last time I did this Amy was still here. We lit them before the Christmas meal and sometime during dinner I glanced up and this was the view I saw. Marissa Amy and little Micah in the light of the candles. I used Tessa's camera to get the picture so I wasn't focusing right, but it is still dear to my heart. God knew I needed to see it this way. He knew. He was telling me, "Look at the blessings you have! Think on the future, not the past."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I received a few presents, too, in memory of Daddy. Emily made me a cutting board that says "We thank Thee, Lord, for the necessities of life...." When I was little Daddy would always say the same sentence in his prayers and it was about partaking of the necessities of life. I really didn't understand until I was older that he was thankful for the daily necessities that most of us take for granted. It is now a constant reminder in my kitchen to be thankful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">James and Laura commissioned a painting to be done with the artist who painted Amy's closet door with a scene of butterflies, an arbor, flowers and a fairy in her bedroom (our bedroom now). This was what they commissioned.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">This was what I unwrapped. I thought my heart was breaking once again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's my Daddy walking through his beloved fields of corn. Walking into the rays of the sun. Going Home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">O how I miss that mighty man of God. He stood for everything that is true, and honest, and just, and pure, and lovely in this world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started this blog after Amy died as a way to share her life and my process of going through grief. I didn't care who read it as it was a way for me to grieve and almost all of the posts were written with tears streaming down my face. I could be real on here so I could 'pretend' out in public that everything was ok. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I struggle with words. I am not a natural born writer and many of these blogs have taken hours to write as I try to make sure my grammar, spelling and sentence structure are correct. I knew there would be others reading this although I never dreamed I would touch people in foreign countries. Even though I haven't written a post since Oct. in the last 30 days there have been over 100 views from Asia, Europe and South America. I don't say that to brag. I say that to state that what I am writing now is mostly for those out there who don't know me very well and if you are friends or my family, I hope you can see my heart in this and not take offense.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">The last few months have been really hard. After my visit to my Mama in Oct. I seemed to struggle more with grief. Then the first anniversary of my Daddy's death came and I remembered all the details of the last two weeks of his life that I was able to spend with him and the following week of the funeral. There were so many heartaches that week and in the weeks to come with my family that I have tried to forget. But it has put a distance between my sisters and myself. As time has passed and the political climate has changed I decided to remain silent, especially when I read this verse from Amos 5:13, "Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time." Even though we don't agree, I love them and do not hate them or their families. Disagreement is not the same thing as hate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past November, in my own immediate family a horrible misunderstanding occurred. Angry words were spoken, tears were shed, I asked for an apology and it was given but with more hurtful words said, and distance came between us. I was willing to talk- to hash things out- but they chose to not talk about the situation and just move on. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And so we have. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At that same time I fractured a rib and was in a lot of physical pain for a few weeks and the emotional pain just added to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During the last year and especially these last few months God has taught me much. I always thought my family would be there for me. He has taken me through the loss of a sister, mother and father-in-law, a precious daughter and then my sweet Daddy. Someday I may lose others before He decides to take me home to Him. But I have learned that I only need Him. He and He alone is what I need to be complete and whole. My family adds to my joy (and sometimes sorrow) but I cannot live my life for them. I can only live it for Jesus and do what He tells me is best for me, not what others think is best for me. God is writing my story and He isn't revealing that story to others, whether it be my children, sisters, or friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So to all of you out there, I don't know your stories. What I am trying to convey to you is that even if you have no family or don't have a relationship with your family, you can still have joy and be content <u><b>if</b></u> you have Jesus. He is all you need. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">"But as for me, I will <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-22672O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-22672O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>watch expectantly for the </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">; </span><span class="text Mic-7-7"><span style="font-size: large;">I will <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-22672P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-22672P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup>wait for the God of my salvation.</span></span><br /><span class="text Mic-7-7"><span style="font-size: large;">My <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-22672Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-22672Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>God will hear me.</span></span><br /><span class="text Mic-7-8" id="en-NASB-22673"><span style="font-size: large;">Do not rejoice over me, O <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-22673S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-22673S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>my enemy.</span></span><br /><span class="text Mic-7-8"><span style="font-size: large;">Though I fall I will <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-22673T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-22673T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>rise;</span></span><br /><span class="text Mic-7-8"><span style="font-size: large;">Though I dwell in darkness, the </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> is a <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-22673U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-22673U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup>light for me." </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text Mic-7-8"><span style="font-size: large;">Micah 7:7-8</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text Mic-7-8"><span style="font-size: large;">My word for the year is JOY. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Mic-7-8">Thank you for reading my blog. Being able to share God's Word is one way I have joy. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-5830337210459304372016-10-26T19:08:00.002-04:002016-10-26T19:08:27.549-04:00Does Time Heal Grief?<span style="font-size: large;">Does time heal all wounds? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Does time heal grief?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first year I started this blog in 2013 after Amy died I wrote 55 posts. In 2014 I wrote 29 posts. Last year 14 and this year so far only 5. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Does that mean I'm healing, that as time passes my grief isn't as great? Or do I just not feel the need to share details of my life with whoever happens to read this? Does that mean I'm healing if I don't feel like sharing my soul anymore? Or have I just become better in my day to day life with others of concealing my pain? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy died on the 8th. For months and months that day was so hard for me. Then we had new days to remember. A birth on the 10th, a wedding on the 15th, births on the 21st, and 23rd. Too many days to keep track of and somehow the eighth of each month passed and I would realize it didn't hurt as much anymore. This last month on the 8th, I was walking for a cure for Crohn's and Colitis. This was </span><span style="font-size: large;">the third year I walked for my little friend, Chloe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Emily walked with me this year and it was so good to see all the people involved and to hear Chloe's speech as she was the honored hero! Emily and I enjoyed a nice lunch out and shopping afterwards. When I got home I checked Facebook and my memories showed me that I had shared three blogs that day. When Amy had been gone 6 months, 18 months, and 2 and 1/2 years. I realized that this was the 3 1/2 year anniversary of her death and I didn't remember. I didn't remember! I immediately started crying and felt so guilty. But I realized that this meant I was healing and that was a good thing.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last month Bill and I spent two weeks vacationing in the Black Hills. We had a great time, had fun with friends we met there forty years ago, saw a lot of the things we remembered and were amazed at some of the changes, and many, many times I thought of Amy. So many little things bring reminders of her. Although we made plans with our friends to meet there every 5 years, I have a feeling I will never go back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My friend and I met 40 years ago when we were roommates </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">working at </span><span style="font-size: small;">Mount Rushmore for the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two weeks ago, Emily and I flew to Maine to visit my Mama. She lives with my sister, and my niece and her family live nearby. It was so good to see her and the family, but very hard, too. It will soon be the first anniversary of my Daddy's death and to not see him when I visit Mama is really difficult. To see all her 'stuff' that has always been on the farm and now in her new home is comforting but just really hard. Our goodbye was difficult. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> I don't know when the Lord will call her home. This life on earth has no promises. Only God has the promise of eternal life in heaven. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it so strange how one can smile for a camera but feel like they are crying on the inside? Before the tears could start falling, I said my goodbye quickly. Once we were finally in the privacy of our car, after 4 hours of airport waiting, our flight, and finding our car, I wept, wishing I would have hugged Mama one more time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One More Time. Oh to have Amy back for one more hug. Or to have Daddy's arms around me one more time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While Bill and I were in the Black Hills, Emily, Laura and a friend went to a Beth Moore simulcast. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Emily shared with me some of the message and I decided to purchase a pass so I could watch it online. I was able to watch it before we went to Maine and I learned so much. The theme was that we each have a seat in the divine symphony and scripture is our visible concert master. At some point during the day "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" was sung. This was one of Amy's favorite songs and of course it brought tears to my eyes. To close the simulcast, </span><span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 16:11 was shared. </span></span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"</span></span><span class="text Ps-16-11" id="en-NASB-14104"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">You will make known to me <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-14104A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14104A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>the path of life; </span></span><span class="text Ps-16-11"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">In <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-14104B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14104B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>Your presence is fullness of joy; </span></span><span class="text Ps-16-11"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">In Your right hand there are <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-14104C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14104C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>pleasures forever."</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Then</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> the worship team sang a medley of songs. I was so touched with the choice of songs, I knew I had to share these with Mama when we visited. Emily and I were able to sing them with her and she asked us to type up the lyrics for her. Here is a brief account of the songs.</span></div>
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<u>Soon and Very Soon</u></div>
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Soon and very soon we are going to see the King</div>
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Hallelujah, Hallelujah, were going to see the King</div>
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No more crying there, No more dying there,.......</div>
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<u>I'll Fly Away</u></div>
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Some glad morning when this life is over, I'll fly away</div>
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To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away,........</div>
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<u>Unclouded Day</u></div>
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Oh they tell me of a home far beyond the skies </div>
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Oh they tell me of a home far away</div>
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Oh they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise</div>
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Oh they tell me of an unclouded day,........</div>
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<u>Will the Circle be Unbroken</u></div>
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By and by Lord by and by</div>
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There's a better home a waiting</div>
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In the sky Lord in the sky...........</div>
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<u>Do Lord</u></div>
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I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun, </div>
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way beyond the blue............</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then they ended with <u>Victory in Jesus</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another of Amy's favorites that we sang at her funeral.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The promises from the Word of God, shared in these songs sustained me while I was there, as did prayers from others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've been home a week now and I have experienced grief like I haven't for a very long time. I'm not sure what triggers it, so many things will remind me of Amy and Daddy. Yesterday I planted a few flower bulbs on her grave and cried and cried. I miss her so much. I just want this life to be over. The cares of this world seem to weigh me down. I'm so sick of politics and how it has stirred up division between my family. I get so sad that so many Christians can't see the needs in the rest of the world, but only care about America and their own little life. We had a family get together last evening to celebrate Bill's and Brad's birthdays and I had no desire to go. It was difficult, even the little ones didn't seem to lift my despair. But today I have felt better. Working through my feelings of the last months, writing this blog seems to help. And remembering.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Remembering the promises of God. Knowing that I am here for a reason. That God has a plan for my life, for a future and a hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jeremiah 29:11</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So will time heal all my wounds, will time heal my grief? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But not in this life. Only in the life to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll end with one of my favorite authors.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">“And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is<span style="font-size: large;"></span> the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before." C.S. Lewis "The Last Battle"</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
<div style="width:235px;"><script src='http://50.56.126.216/banners/FeaturedChildEmbed235x100.php'></script><br/><center><a href='http://www.compassion.com/child-development/children-in-need/default.htm'>Save Children</a></center></div>
</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-55712899301453039762016-09-03T20:26:00.000-04:002016-09-03T20:26:08.172-04:00Vacations<span style="font-size: large;">Almost every summer since I can remember, we have taken a vacation. Daddy was a hard working farmer, but he loved to travel and spend time with his family so we would try to go somewhere each summer. Sometimes it was to visit family in other states or travel to interesting sights within our own state. The first vacation I can remember was to the Black Hills in South Dakota when I was 4. We stayed in a little camper and I loved it. The summer I turned 18 I was working in the concessions at Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. I had just graduated from high school and was living in a dorm with other girls working there and that was the summer I met my future husband, Bill.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> When Bill and I got married we were too poor to travel much. Our first family vacation was when Amy was about 3 and we took a long weekend and went to Niagara Falls. I'll never forget the raincoats that Tessa and Amy had to wear to go 'under' the waterfalls. Amy's almost touched the ground and the sleeves were rolled up so many times her arms stuck out! Then when Emily was 2 we went to Chincoteague Island in Virginia and we started taking vacations every year after that. Even though we had to save those dollars and sometimes do without the rest of the year we always 'got away' for awhile and Amy was always included. She was very small and easy to carry and we were young and full of energy ourselves. As the years passed it got harder. We took most of our vacations in September as we homeschooled and the crowds weren't as heavy then. Too soon Tessa went to college and we had one less on our family vacations. Then Emily left and then James. Our last 'vacation' as a complete family was to James' wedding in Montana. Although we all made our way there separately we stayed in a rental house for a few days together. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On that trip Bill, Amy, and I started a new chapter in our lives as we journeyed out there together. We took a few more vacations together, just the three of us. We visited Emily in South Carolina when she was in college, a wedding in South Dakota, my sister and her family in Maine, and then Amy died........</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week Bill and I rented a yurt at a local state park for 3 nights. Bill, Emily and I stayed overnight and the rest of the family joined as much as work allowed them to. We were close enough for them to go home to sleep, making it easier for the little ones. We had extended family come one day and dear "like family" friends visit two other days. Our last night there it was just us, Bill and I and our children and their children. But I felt like something was missing. Someone. We were a complete family, but one of my children was not there. It just didn't feel right. James brought his guitar and we sat around the campfire and sang. The little ones started bouncing and dancing to the music and my heart broke......</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was overcome with grief of missing my dear sweet precious Amy. She would have loved to be there with us. My oldest tried to comfort me and tell me she was there. But I couldn't see her or hold her. I miss her so much..... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Whether James planned to sing the song, "I am Free" or if it was just the next one in his book, I don't know. But I do know that God had it planned. This was one of the songs that was sung at Amy's funeral. The Associate Pastor, Laura and I sang it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">"I Am Free"</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span>Through You the blind will see<br /> Through You the mute will sing<br /> Through You the dead will rise<br /> Through You all hearts will praise<br /> Through You the darkness flees<br /> Through You my heart screams<br /> I am free<br /> Yes, I am free</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I AM FREE TO RUN<br /> (I AM FREE TO RUN)<br /> I AM FREE TO DANCE<br /> (I AM FREE TO DANCE)<br /> I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU<br /> (I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU)<br /> I AM FREE<br /> (I AM FREE)<br /> YES I AM FREE<br /> (I AM FREE)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Through You the kingdom comes<br /> Through You the battle's won<br /> Through You I'm not afraid<br /> Through You the price is paid<br /> Through You there's victory<br /> Because of You my heart sings<br /> I am free<br /> Yes, I am free</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I AM FREE TO RUN<br /> (I AM FREE TO RUN)<br /> I AM FREE TO DANCE<br /> (I AM FREE TO DANCE)<br /> I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU<br /> (I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU)<br /> I AM FREE<br /> (I AM FREE)<br /> YES I AM FREE<br /> (I AM FREE)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Amy is free because of the You in this song, she can run and dance and sing. The You is Jesus. He has taken away her limitations of this earth and has truly set her free. I looked around at my husband, my three children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and my three sweet grandchildren. How could I not feel blessed? And because of Jesus, our family will be complete again.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful views of the lake and mountains.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCSIA_EvdmClyBkItkPt1C0JnlDnnhFfN4iqqcuh7lz6eYgPFq-plF3baNXimpjJpHTqsV2CXMuU_r47eij6vMy1lhMeym0rtHbVGRn8_9yULDAyap9Tty4mpmfwRP4qAMlyioVJuHcc/s1600/IMG_8046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCSIA_EvdmClyBkItkPt1C0JnlDnnhFfN4iqqcuh7lz6eYgPFq-plF3baNXimpjJpHTqsV2CXMuU_r47eij6vMy1lhMeym0rtHbVGRn8_9yULDAyap9Tty4mpmfwRP4qAMlyioVJuHcc/s640/IMG_8046.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking up through the ceiling in the yurt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxQ5u6uYDfLSTENEVPsP6vFwho395hg8pQXglPYOsogMSpiy7R_Fohvx9eKB_rPaT8WC6rHFzKsuVcCXNyqMD_gkwjLB024wrP9CV0U1qNHiKF9TDhRLGCJOonKxS07qT0S0CTF8wpWo/s1600/IMG_8032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxQ5u6uYDfLSTENEVPsP6vFwho395hg8pQXglPYOsogMSpiy7R_Fohvx9eKB_rPaT8WC6rHFzKsuVcCXNyqMD_gkwjLB024wrP9CV0U1qNHiKF9TDhRLGCJOonKxS07qT0S0CTF8wpWo/s320/IMG_8032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No running water, but microwave, stove top, and full size fridge.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs-xTUa2k7vJ8VfDTDYUAWnctFVPsrLpUN4hbl3KU2Mfr3Q-kLB0gpnSDEfEAafss8vzBjMVuIYaUebWX0To2ecV3ajgnXEPTR1XHmimNkq0eEyDYg2y86xLtNr74mja3nTNw1HBiDdA/s1600/IMG_8033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs-xTUa2k7vJ8VfDTDYUAWnctFVPsrLpUN4hbl3KU2Mfr3Q-kLB0gpnSDEfEAafss8vzBjMVuIYaUebWX0To2ecV3ajgnXEPTR1XHmimNkq0eEyDYg2y86xLtNr74mja3nTNw1HBiDdA/s400/IMG_8033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Room enough for six at the table, but we always ate outside.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUNvAvxYuhQjTWSpi5GQKPm_yAIgT7h8L8J-mix_ghghoUznJ1MLku2GCf_rwMS7gx24CVV4uDSs3fj1J63kv3swwrn5L0y8HbFrDSckx_yFVA6hUBZ6HduoKSLFl7b-b-dP42hIJlEI/s1600/IMG_8037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUNvAvxYuhQjTWSpi5GQKPm_yAIgT7h8L8J-mix_ghghoUznJ1MLku2GCf_rwMS7gx24CVV4uDSs3fj1J63kv3swwrn5L0y8HbFrDSckx_yFVA6hUBZ6HduoKSLFl7b-b-dP42hIJlEI/s400/IMG_8037.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A double bunk on the bottom and single on the top</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyJjl97TxTCRrN41fKV_g95i_IusowVqRJFbsnvPHSZ_8jgfeRMEJU76Z80Yc8IpJaBWjObdzkRuYgPt5tTspM_3Q_GZRFtQpAl_q4OyWkBCtpg_nzXM32fJU1Ab_fMVtnxtOWStK-SE/s1600/IMG_8034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyJjl97TxTCRrN41fKV_g95i_IusowVqRJFbsnvPHSZ_8jgfeRMEJU76Z80Yc8IpJaBWjObdzkRuYgPt5tTspM_3Q_GZRFtQpAl_q4OyWkBCtpg_nzXM32fJU1Ab_fMVtnxtOWStK-SE/s400/IMG_8034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Single bunk beds</span></td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr-C9jzzo3NwZ5-hamdge1Qo7qTDZ3jdi3YjNsqdiWKYxkVBrZvDqYYTSsxEm3qy7izp6ZmgAZsDBxlspMryEgJu0ntbUZLy8GEkRxqu5obtpF1k2MCXS8tE5ajQZtyfRlGKXjd01avk/s1600/IMG_8038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr-C9jzzo3NwZ5-hamdge1Qo7qTDZ3jdi3YjNsqdiWKYxkVBrZvDqYYTSsxEm3qy7izp6ZmgAZsDBxlspMryEgJu0ntbUZLy8GEkRxqu5obtpF1k2MCXS8tE5ajQZtyfRlGKXjd01avk/s320/IMG_8038.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a huge area for the kids to play.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qKP-iazHC0aA8ggix5KD-NkhtZyL6jvkEhrPn9LInojUc__-RI1QCKKOfCxMbVENyeli5pUUJShyphenhyphenLfbHV9kKyUAjsAZbl1WGaPAIsuBTHExz9XYsyyE9gMl-BieDQg9cRWrO6ajkroo/s1600/IMG_8042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qKP-iazHC0aA8ggix5KD-NkhtZyL6jvkEhrPn9LInojUc__-RI1QCKKOfCxMbVENyeli5pUUJShyphenhyphenLfbHV9kKyUAjsAZbl1WGaPAIsuBTHExz9XYsyyE9gMl-BieDQg9cRWrO6ajkroo/s640/IMG_8042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Yurt</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a little over a week, Bill and I will be taking our own vacation. To the first place I can remember that was 'vacation' to me, where 40 years ago this summer Bill and I met and fell in love. The Black Hills of South Dakota.</span><br />
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</div>Amy Storyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420330564242843149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288113539773398192.post-31108496864600217742016-07-20T21:45:00.000-04:002016-07-20T21:45:38.413-04:00God's Whispers"When He Who was, Who is, and Who is to come sees each one of us, He sees who we were, who we are, and who we will become." from<u> Mercy Triumphs</u>, a study of James by Beth Moore<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today is my 58th birthday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been thinking a lot the past weeks on being a parent and losing a child and being a child and losing a parent and just parenting in general.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA21wn0W9ETxD-GQ7iY-LuS-rrqjq23N0FlwBS5a3W6jcVjwyZBtpITLsZRnl00SASrKKh5JzMRHe24dFqeC-34SWf1urhSy4L2w1BeKjyfnAzEL43raTA-6691jtmPuiFK37_AkC4aZ8/s1600/20160617_094710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;">I have heard it said that when you lose a child you lose your future and when you lose a parent you lose your past. There have been many times I have wanted to ask Daddy something about his past and then I realize that the opportunity to learn anything else about his life is gone. I have my memories but I have no way to access his anymore. He didn't write much down once he married and started a family. That is why I treasure my copy of his journal from his time in Poland when he was 16 and my copies of the letters that he wrote home to his parents from the war in Korea when he was in his early 20's. I have very few letters I kept from him over the years, because I'm not a keeper of "things". I guess I never thought I would miss his words because I thought I would always have him.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA21wn0W9ETxD-GQ7iY-LuS-rrqjq23N0FlwBS5a3W6jcVjwyZBtpITLsZRnl00SASrKKh5JzMRHe24dFqeC-34SWf1urhSy4L2w1BeKjyfnAzEL43raTA-6691jtmPuiFK37_AkC4aZ8/s1600/20160617_094710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;">When I "lost" Amy I didn't feel like I lost my future. Amy would never have gone to college, left home, married, or given me grandchildren. Amy was my present. I lost my present way of life when I lost Amy. And for quite a long time after she died I was lost also.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA21wn0W9ETxD-GQ7iY-LuS-rrqjq23N0FlwBS5a3W6jcVjwyZBtpITLsZRnl00SASrKKh5JzMRHe24dFqeC-34SWf1urhSy4L2w1BeKjyfnAzEL43raTA-6691jtmPuiFK37_AkC4aZ8/s1600/20160617_094710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;">C.S. Lewis said,<b> "</b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God whispers in our pleasures but shouts in our pain."</b> If it wasn't for God shouting at me, I think I would have stayed lost. Recently I have felt His whispers.</span><br />
<br />
We were given Amy's burial plot by Bill's cousins when she died. We were so thankful for it as it is right beside Bill's parent's grave. Daddy had all his funeral and burial plans done ahead of time. He even had the tombstone in the ground. Ever since Daddy died I have wanted to make sure we can get plots in the same cemetery and if possible the empty spot beside Amy. I know it doesn't matter where ones body is put in the ground. But, oh, how it seems important to me to rest beside my daughter until we are raised for all eternity! A few weeks ago we got a letter in the mail from Bill's cousin telling us that the lot that was given to us to bury Amy contained 4 burial plots! I felt God's whisper, "I care about the little things that are important to you."<br />
<br />
I have been watching Marissa Amy for a year now. Anywhere from 2 to 4 days a week (about 8 hours a day) depending on her Mommy's busy schedule. She has grown from a smiley 3 month old to a very energetic, babbling, laughing 15 month old! Around the first of the year I was determined to get Mari to sleep on her own in the crib. I was rocking her to sleep and then holding her while she slept as she would always wake up when I put her down. After a week of failed attempts and many tears (mine and hers), I heard God whisper, "Just hold her, lay down with her, take a nap yourself." So I did and have continued to do so. Just the last few weeks, I have started to lay her on the bed beside me instead of holding her. The first time I did this I couldn't keep the tears in as I realized this is what I would do with Amy and in the very same room that Daddy had built for her 15 years ago. (It is now our bedroom.) I would cuddle up beside Amy in her bed and talk to her, read, just watch her sleep and sometimes fall asleep myself. Another of God's whispers, "I'm restoring some of what you miss most."</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
I always rock Mari to sleep and sing to her. We start off with "Jesus Loves Me" but I change the words to "Jesus loves Mari for the Bible tells Grandma so". Then I usually sing "Trust and Obey" always a good song for little ones to learn. If she's not asleep yet I move on to other old hymns. I grew up singing hymns and the church we have attended since we have been married didn't start singing worship songs until abou t 12-15 years ago. So my mind turns to hymns as I rock her because that is what I sang my babies to sleep with. Lately I have been singing "In The Garden." Last Sunday Tessa played it for offertory, not even knowing that I have been singing it to her daughter almost every day! Another whisper from God, "There are no coincidences. You are my own child."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1cB06dqQkUtw-QESrRI_i3mx27yrbaE6oCrNoFl9mgPXqmRrBCrtAgWCPHOOpMk4fAMklyX6v07okAGn8x6Xbn-V1OXfcA4ODjQ9ncbuCRGCTvO_kHXeahBhpZTP9kbMQ-DgMliM6nc/s1600/Cheryl%2527s+1+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>That same Sunday, Mari wore a dress I made for Amy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdImyzeOHfStZj9L8IQRqCzdytUnwJwhZPT5IJhPlDkbTq_6vlhadbXzF6DDRF7NSd0B7ELkDgyRFnYBgPbcFO1veOGdvBjZL3e6F98uULDF0eFxKIIeiymOMM7zTGxQVoK8lHRme4ZA/s1600/1433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdImyzeOHfStZj9L8IQRqCzdytUnwJwhZPT5IJhPlDkbTq_6vlhadbXzF6DDRF7NSd0B7ELkDgyRFnYBgPbcFO1veOGdvBjZL3e6F98uULDF0eFxKIIeiymOMM7zTGxQVoK8lHRme4ZA/s1600/1433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HuzGgQmBsMbqxW7tGdcr6HEPJqZPpQEI9iEI7VC1vNOOoRaI6qShcpnX0xxaP1oRRA4n2Bm6MkWRqqlkjvhcBlseCnDJZbO9uozJUP4WFpJmj8L_GK31t6VwekHbiPLb8_d16JMTG00/s1600/Cheryl%2527s+1+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HuzGgQmBsMbqxW7tGdcr6HEPJqZPpQEI9iEI7VC1vNOOoRaI6qShcpnX0xxaP1oRRA4n2Bm6MkWRqqlkjvhcBlseCnDJZbO9uozJUP4WFpJmj8L_GK31t6VwekHbiPLb8_d16JMTG00/s640/Cheryl%2527s+1+045.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I made this for Amy when she was three on her first day of preschool.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL8g8Sq-Uica7A9P-OYN23SqQQ__LaBqh8gxbN02KcC7cEOAWviSdSumnjXe7jjAdQxAZE-m1ASShDAzJ-Jxrr9aHZw5U-VBgdmLQaH5_2mlTHSrZ48H7O1rml5QJ20R_GMvKR217o_4/s1600/1433+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL8g8Sq-Uica7A9P-OYN23SqQQ__LaBqh8gxbN02KcC7cEOAWviSdSumnjXe7jjAdQxAZE-m1ASShDAzJ-Jxrr9aHZw5U-VBgdmLQaH5_2mlTHSrZ48H7O1rml5QJ20R_GMvKR217o_4/s640/1433+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tessa likes to wear Mari's dresses longer than I did for Amy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1cB06dqQkUtw-QESrRI_i3mx27yrbaE6oCrNoFl9mgPXqmRrBCrtAgWCPHOOpMk4fAMklyX6v07okAGn8x6Xbn-V1OXfcA4ODjQ9ncbuCRGCTvO_kHXeahBhpZTP9kbMQ-DgMliM6nc/s1600/Cheryl%2527s+1+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God has given me such a gift in caring for Mari. Even though I get tired at times, He gives me strength and He knew I would need this little one to take care of.<br />
<br />
Being a grandma is so much different than being a mom. <br />
My youngest, James, gave me my first grandchild almost 2 years ago. He and his wife are still in their 20's. <br />
My oldest daughter, Tessa, had Mari when she was 35 years old. <br />
I had all my babies in the 1980's so when I was 35 years old Contessa was 13, Amy was 11, Emily was 7 and James was 4. <br />
There are many different ways to parent and raise a child and I have been realizing that my ways might have been right for me at that time but they are not the only way!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
Again God whispers, "Enjoy this time, love on those sweet babies, they will not be babies forever!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the words to "In the Garden." As I reflect on them it has a new meaning for me more than it did in the past. My 'garden' is the time I spend in studying God's Word. I am presently in the middle of a study on the book of James. God is whispering new things to me each passing day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1cB06dqQkUtw-QESrRI_i3mx27yrbaE6oCrNoFl9mgPXqmRrBCrtAgWCPHOOpMk4fAMklyX6v07okAGn8x6Xbn-V1OXfcA4ODjQ9ncbuCRGCTvO_kHXeahBhpZTP9kbMQ-DgMliM6nc/s1600/Cheryl%2527s+1+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div>
In The Garden</div>
<div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I come to the garden alone, <br />While the dew is still on the roses, <br />And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, <br />The Son of God discloses.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chorus:<br />And He walks with me, and He talks with me, <br />And He tells me I am His own, <br />And the joy we share as we tarry there, <br />None other has ever known.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Verse 2<br />He speaks, and the sound of His voice, <br />Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, <br />And the melody that He gave to me, </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Within my heart is ringing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chorus:<br />And He walks with me, and He talks with me, <br />And He tells me I am His own, <br />And the joy we share as we tarry there, <br />None other has ever known</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Verse 3<br />I'd stay in the garden with Him, <br />Tho' the night around me be falling, <br />But He bids me go, thro' the voice of woe, <br />His voice to me is calling.</span><br />
Chorus:<br />
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, <br />
And He tells me I am His own, <br />
And the joy we share as we tarry there, <br />
None other has ever known<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some recent pictures of my family.</span></div>
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