Today Would Have Been My Sister's 49th Birthday

Today would have been my sister Jenny’s birthday.

It has been a hard day in our family for years.

She was with us for only a short time - 16 months.

She drowned just before Easter in 1960.

The below picture -

of her, my brother, and me is our Easter portrait .

Today I went to the funeral of my good friend, Glynis’ 23 year old son Klinton. That can be read about on his blog. Last week I didn’t know how I was going to make it through the service. It being on this day. Through a lot of prayer and pressing into the LORD, His peace filled my heart. And I did my own memorial for my sister during the service. Afterwards I felt a peace about my sister death that I have never known. It is very hard to discribe other then I feel different.

This last week I have thought a lot about life and death. Knowing that GOD is good and He doesn’t play games of meanness. There had to be a reason more than I understood about what we call traumas. This is what I have come to realize.

The joy of the LORD is my strength, period! GOD is a Good Father and He delights in us. He takes great pleasure in watching us enjoy His world. A good Father doesn’t purposely hurt His children. Watching love ones die or live with handicaps is so very hard but I think that even GOD’s heart aches with us. Will we trust Him when we don’t understand and delight in His presence? Or will we grow bitter and angry? His Son Jesus paid the full price for us to be with Him forever and He is worthy of all worship.

Ecclesiastes 3
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (NKJV)

I know that no one wants to talk or even think about death but it happens to us all. I want to give you a hope! When our time is coming to an end - walking in the strength of the LORD keeps us going. In the LORD (I need to add that -in the LORD- is accepting the gift of eternal life through believing in Jesus, who paid the debit we owed. So that we could love GOD and enjoy GOD forever.) our body that is wearing out and dies get put in the ground as a seed but our soul-spirit (who we really are) goes instantly home (heaven). We will be changed as a seed that is planted looks nothing like the plant. All that I know is I am looking forward to the day when I am with GOD. I drink in the beauty here on earth that I can’t even begin to imagine the splendor in the presence of Almighty God.

1 Corinthians 15
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (NKJV)

He paid the price through His death and Resurrection because of His great love and delight in us. We are of more value to Him than we know. Just think in heaven the streets are paved solid gold. The walls of the city are precious gems. People are of the most value and every life precious. I pray that you will see the smile of GOD and feel His intense pleasure in you. Wow am I looking forward to being with my GOD!!!!! Rejoice

Zephaniah 3:17

“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV)

I pray this will touch your heart.

Merry Christmas

It is up again yeah! Enjoy!

http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

IT SNOWED CHRISTMAS DAY!

Jesse & Rebekah didn't make it home for Christmas this year.

They came up for Klinton's Memorial.

It's snowing!

SNEZHINA (snowflake) & JOSEPH

LILY & NAOMI

NICHOLE

Snezhi, Joseph, Jesse, Rebekah & Naomi

December 30,2007

Bear Attack in Churchill. MB

These are pictures of an actual polar bear attack in Churchill, Manitoba & were taken while people watched and did nothing to stop the attack!

Reports from the local newspaper say that the victim will make a full recovery.

This is not for the squeamish...

Merry Christmas! A Reality Check

Being merry at Christmas doesn’t depend on circumstances or most of us would stay in bed crying. Joy is a choice and comes from trusting in the LORD. Happiness sometimes depends on the things happening around us. But joy is from deep within no matter what the storms raging around us bring. This year I choose the LORD and the joy He gives. Yes, our family celebrates Christmas and Hanukkah to me they go hand in hand because Jesus is the victor over all. Hanukkah is mentions in John 10: 22-24 They were celebrating Hanukkah just then in Jerusalem. It was winter. Jesus was strolling in the Temple across Solomon's Porch. The Jews, circling him, said, "How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you're the Messiah, tell us straight out." (The Message) Some other time I can go into more detail or if you want you can ask me.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
On a good day, enjoy yourself;
On a bad day, examine your conscience.
God arranges for both kinds of days
So that we won't take anything for granted.

Today I am crying but it is from emotional overload not the lack of joy or trust. Here are a few things on my plate not for your pity or to make you depressed but to show the LORD IS OUR STRENGTH and to declare the Glory of my GOD and my LORD.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so… a blogspot is worth a zillion. (HA HA HA)

Some of the things:

My Dad back in April was diagnosed with cancer. He is doing okay right now.

My brother’s wife’s father has the same diagnosis.

Tom’s Mom; http://www.anacortesnics.blogspot.com/

My Sister’s Family; http://howsluke.blogspot.com/

My Friend Glynis' Son; http://www.prayforklinton.blogspot.com/

All our relatives and friends in Iraq.

My friend Marion who lives on higher ground within in Chehalis, WA and is surrounded with people in great need.

AND……

Like I said at the beginning - I will rejoice in my GOD and trust HIM fully. Circumstances are always changing but Jesus is always the same and I will praise Him!

Happy Hanukkah

From our house to yours.

Celebrate !

Jesse, Hanukkah 1979 in Eilat, Israel

Joseph lighting the candles 2004

A fun dreidel pattern you can copy, make and play.
I made one for a friend who took it to her class,
She said the kids loved it.

Below the yellow dreidel that I made from the pattern.

Here is a fun song sent to me for the dreidel game

Dreidel Song

CHORUS:
With a twist of the finger and a whisk of the thumb
Away goes my dreidel with a whirl and a hum.
Land on a nun, settle down on a hey
Leap for the gimmel, shoo the shin away

Let’s play the game of dreidel.
I’ll show you how it’s done.
Look at the Hebrew letters
There’s meaning in each one.
The letters on the dreidel,
A lovely tale they bear,
Nes gadol hayah sham ---
A miracle happened there.

CHORUS:
With a twist of the finger and a whisk of the thumb
Away goes my dreidel with a whirl and a hum.
Land on a nun, settle down on a hey
Leap for the gimel, shoo the shin away

To start the game of dreidel,
You put a token in —
A shiny copper penny, a peanut or a pin.
Each player spins the dreidel
To see who shall go first.
Gimmel is high, next hey, then nun, and
Poor old shin’s the worst.

CHORUS:
With a twist of the finger and a whisk of the thumb
Away goes my dreidel with a whirl and a hum.
Land on a nun, settle down on a hey
Leap for the gimel, shoo the shin away

Now sitting in a circle,
We’re ready to begin.
First one and then another ---
Each player gets a spin.
You land on nun, that’s nothing.
A gimmel you take all
Hey gets half the treasure,
Pay up if shin should fall.

CHORUS:
With a twist of the finger and a whisk of the thumb
Away goes my dreidel with a whirl and a hum.
Land on a nun, settle down on a hey
Leap for the gimel, shoo the shin away

And that’s the way we play!

Words © by Roz Grossman. Music © by Gladys Gewirtz

Why Trampolines are so Dangerous in Ohio......

PREGNANT TURKEY

One year at Thanksgiving, my mom went to my sister's house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick.

She told my sister that she needed something from the store. When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, and inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven.

When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird. With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, 'Patricia, you've cooked a pregnant bird!'

At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry. It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs! Yup................SHE'S BLONDE

One night I had a dream:

Everyone was standing before the throne of GOD.
In the order of generations starting from this one,
And going all the way back to Adam and Eve.

When God asks everyone to give an account of their lives,
Everyone turned around at the same time,
And pointed to their parents saying, "It is their fault".
The last ones were of course Adam and Eve.

I woke up.

I thought that is so true but GOD made a way for us
In His Son Jesus to break this chain,
But only a few compared - to the many do break out
And live life to it fullest.

Recently, I was diagnosed with AAADD:

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.
This is how it manifests.

I decided to wash my car.
I started toward the garage;
I spotted the mail on the hall table.

I should go through the mail,
before I wash the car.

I lay the car keys on the table,
put the junk mail in the trash can under the table,
and notice that the trash can is full.

So, I put the bills back on the table,
and take out the trash first.

Since, I’m going to be near the mailbox
when I take out the trash anyways,
I might as well pay the bills first.

I see the checkbook on the table,
but there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study,
so I go to my desk,
where I find the bottle of juice that I had been drinking.

I’m going to look for my checks,
but first I need to push the juice aside,
so that I don’t accidentally knock it over.

But the juice is getting warm,
and should be put in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

Heading towards the kitchen with the juice,
a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye.
They need watered.

I set the juice down on the counter,
fill a container with water,
and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.
Tonight when we sit down to watch TV,
we will be looking for the remote,
but nobody will remember that it is on the kitchen table.

I should put it back in the den where it belongs,
but first I’ll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers,
but most spills on the floor.

So, I put the remote back down on the table,
and get some towels to wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember
what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
The car isn’t washed,
The bills aren’t paid,
There is warm bottle of juice sitting on the counter,
The flowers aren’t watered,
There is still only one check in the checkbook,
I can’t find the remote,
I can’t find my glasses,
And I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.

I’m trying to figure out why nothing got done today;
It’s quite baffling because I know I was busy all day long,
and I’m really tired.

I know this is a serious problem,
and I’ll try to get some help for it,
but first I’ll check my e-mail.

Do me a favor, will you?

Forward this message to whoever you think might enjoy it,
because I don’t remember who I’ve already sent it.

Happy Veteran's Day

A BIG thank you;

To all of you that are serving our country at home and abroad.

Through the years

Granny's Grandpa Whitney during the Civil War.

Granddad in the middle, in France during WWII
He told me lots of stories while I lived with them in Arizona

Granddad the youngest WWI Vet with the oldest.

Granddad, a Cousin and my Father

I remember enjoy going with Granddad and Granny to the VFW meetings.

My son, Jesse in Baghdad. 2003

Some of the boys of Baghdad running out to see Jesse
whom they called Yessid.

Jesse less then a month home and on his wedding day.

The heart of most our soldiers.

The Elections – In Iraq - 2005

This was written my a young man who is a good friend of my sons. He went over when my son came home. We have had many of our family members and friends in Iraq over the years. They are there to help the country and we have many over there right now. After all it is the country our Father Abraham is originally from. What he wrote -

The Elections:Today’s been a very long day with the election and everything, but I want to tell you all some of the things I saw today. I know that not everyone supports President Bush or what we’re doing here, but I see things here with my own two eyes. Today I saw a people who, despite fears and rumors that insurgents would bomb the voting centers and poison the water, came out in the thousands to vote. Today I saw a people prove to France and Germany and all of the other countries that have tried to put a grim view of the situation here, that yes the Iraqis want democracy and yes the risks are worth it. I wish that the people in the U.S.A. would look at what is happening here and see that we have a wonderful thing in democracy. No, it’s not perfect, but nothing that is man made is. To know that you may be killed just for putting some check marks on a piece of paper is a very humbling thing and when I saw people come out in numbers I have not seen since I’ve been here, it showed me that what I’m doing here is worth it. It is worth the risk of my life because they too are willing to risk theirs for a better future for their children. What is even more humbling is that these people know that there is still a hard road that lies ahead. They know that more people will die and that progress will be slow, yet they still move forward. So to the people that do feel we're doing the wrong thing by being here, I think that you should try living in a state of oppression for 30 to 40 years and see entire families wiped out for being Kurdish or what ever race you may be. For those of you who have supported us and the Iraqi people, thank you. This has been one of the toughest and most rewarding times in my life and one of much spiritual growth and a lesson in appreciation and maturity.

Just one of the many thank yous our soldiers got from the people

who desire freedom the same as us.

And thank you to you serving in other countries

we appreciate YOU!

The Old Dog

A wealthy old lady decides to go on a photo safari in Africa, taking her faithful, elderly poodle named Cuddles, along for the company. One day the old poodle starts chasing butterflies and before long, Cuddles discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch. The old poodle thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap the old poodle exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?"

Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!", says the leopard, "That was close! That old poodle nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he goes, but the old poodle sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up.

The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!

Now, the old poodle sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?", but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old poodle says..."Where's that darn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!

Moral of this story....

Don't mess with the old dogs...age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery! Baloney and brilliance only come with age and experience!

M R DUX

M R DUX
M R not DUX
O S M R
C M wings?
I L B
M R DUX

I use to get the biggest laugh from reading this but lost it for many years until the other day when it appeared again at my sister’s house. I was having a hard time reading it – until Amy read it to me with a southern drawl.

May you enjoy it as much as I do.

Vicks VapoRub

I don’t know if this is true. I got a big laugh when I read this. My family can attest to how much I like Vick. I have been doing this my whole life.

One story before you read article below.

When my son, Jesse was young I put Vicks on his forehead thinking that it would comfort him like it does me. Then I left - Tom came in a few minutes later to hear Jesse yelling ‘take it off - take it off’. At first Tom was confused about why he was yelling. Jesse got his forehead washed off and I have never heard the end of this. This still brings the biggest laugh.

COULD THIS POSSIBLY WORK???

Vicks VapoRub

WOW!! I was raised and raised my kids with Vicks how come I never knew this can't wait for my next cough...amazing!!!! READ IT ALL a believer in Vicks Vaporub !

Sorry, no graphic for this one, and don't laugh, it works 100% of the time although the scientists at the Canada Research council (who discovered it) aren't sure why.

To stop nighttime coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vaporub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks.

Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

I heard the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children as compared to alternative therapies like acupressure. Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs, so, I listened.

It was a surprising finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, and in addition, to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

Lolly tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, ( incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough free for hours every night that she used it.

So, if you have Grandchildren, pass it on, if you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed by the effect.

A Normal Weekday Morning to Noon, Spring-2007

Here is a miracle of God. Luke was dead but the Lord gave him back to us. And I am very thankful for this. You can read his blog -

http://www.howsluke.blogspot.com/

April 20, 2007

Every morning I go over to my sister’s house

through the gate in the back yard, to help with Luke

- getting him ready for the day.Exercising and having fun in the warm water.

He gets massaged,

dressed, and does more exercises.

Lifting his head on his own.

He helps brush his teeth.

He stands on the armchair while I blow dry his hair.

Here he is again lifting his head up. His neck is getting stronger all the time.

We work out on the big ball. This helps him produce a good cough
On the couch we work on - his arms facing down he does the swimming motion, up he does all kinds of songs ‘Wheels on the bus’ and ‘When I’m riding on my bike’ - his legs we do paddling up and down, a walking motion and bending knee – then he sits up this strengthens his back and neck.

We make-believe he is riding a horse.
He is getting to where he can sit up for a very short time on his own.

He is put his swing for his breakfast. Sometimes I stay there until he is done and afterward lay him on the couch to sleep or to watch a video.

Outside in his stander

Have I told you yet how much I love this young man? The goodness of God to me is beyond understanding. That Luke is alive, waking up more and more is a gift straight from God's heart to me. Later I will write about my sister who drowned when I was four, almost five and how God has worked in my life through these tragedies.
2003
Since Luke was four months old he smiled deep into my eyes. This picture is his smile to me before the accident. Before the accident I had this picture enlarged and wrote under it ‘May we look into the face of Jesus as Luke looks into mine.’
Luke has a beautiful smile. April 2007

Doing some school at my house

After working with Luke, I go home and teach Luke's brothers

- Isaiah & Ezekiel -

Reading and Writing