A SURPRISE - A GIFT - A TREASURE

WOW-WOW-WOW!!!! Is all I can say!!!!!! I just received a wonderful, Biblical Pandora charm in the mail. I have NO idea who has blessed me with this wonderful item and surprise. Will whom ever it is PLEASE come forwarD? The package is By Design Jewelry in Leominster, MA. I am literally blown away by this. PLEASE!!!! 

I left this post on my fb page Monday after receiving this wonderful Pandora charm in a small package in the mail.  It  was "liked" by 28 of my friends, as of this writing, and this morning I received the following private message:

Ma Susan, it was not meant to be so secretive. Because mail is not safe I did not know what to do. I dó get irritated by them. I thought this a good way to give you something I know you like. The pandora charm. But I also wanted it to be something that you can see come from us. That why I looked for this big 5. It was difficult to write a birthday note and not know if or when the gift will get to you. I must say in my excitement I did not think of how you will know it come from us three. Love and hugs, J, R, & E.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, for the story. ~ ~ ~ Retha, Jason and their son Ethan are from South Africa. I became acquainted with Retha through blogging, shortly after beginning my blogging journey in January, 2007. Over these almost 8 years we have developed a Spiritual, as well as personal, relationship that only GOD, whom we both love and serve, could have and DID put together.

A Spiritual relationship and connection that is a priceless gift to Mickey & I. In October, 2008, it was Retha who placed a long distance telephone call to me in the recovery room right after Mickey had his double bi-pass heart surgery. Over these years Retha and her husband, Jason, have called us on several occasions, written us letters and we have shared small gifts over these years. Although I have sent her several items that have never arrived due to the mail situation in Africa. 

I know we will probably never meet in the flesh in this lifetime but we have met in the Spirit on a level that is truly a priceless gift. She is 29 years younger than I and she is truly like a daughter to me, and I am Ma Susan to her.  

Retha you, Jason & Ethan

are my GIFT from our Father God

and

I LOVE this special token

& SURPRISE

from you three for my 78th Christmas/Birthday.

THANK YOU

from the bottom of my heart.

WORDS - Christmas/Birthday 2014

Heart felt WORDS - Spoken or written - are one of the most wonderful things in life to me.

I have always taken lots of time, and thought, in buying that Perfect Birthday card that speaks my heart.  Consequently,  as parents do, we pass our values on to our Children and Grand-Children.

The box in the bottom of our office closet, filled with Cards of WORDS from our family,  are and will be one of the heirlooms that will be left to our children and grandchildren.  Crammed full WORDS from Mickey, Suzette, Jacque, David & Marc that have spoken their heart to me.

These are my "jewels" for my 78th birthday ~~~~~~

From Daughter Jacque -

Because of you, Mom, I know what love is.

It's sharing joy and keeping faith.

And it's what makes us strong and helps us find our way.

Because of you, Mom, I know what family is.

It's laughing,

It's leaning,

It's being "real"

and being friends.

Ans it will always be there, no matter what.

Because of you, Mom, I know what's at the heart of a good life...

Love and family ~~

those things that are true and lasting.

They make a difference...

I know that because of you.  

Happy Birthday

From Son Marc -

Being "all grown up"

doesn't mean you don't need your Mom.

Even though you raised me to be strong and independent,

I still count on you for your friendship,

your insight

and, most of all

your love and care.

I'll always need that.

And you.

Love you, Mom

Happy Birthday 

--------------

Over the 18 prior years of her life, I've gotten a few Birthday cards from Granddaughter Oksana, but usually it's just been her name, along with her dads and brothers signed at the bottom.

This year I received my first "jewel" from my soon to be 20 year old Okana!!!!

Happy Birthday, Grandma

You're always the first to say how lucky you are to have wonderful grandkids.

But you've done so much to contribute to everything we've done and become.

So on your birthday,

we want to remind you that you're an amazing woman,

full of energy, generosity, and love.

And that means we're the lucky ones...

lucky to have a grandma as wonderful as you.

-------------

YES, 3 beautiful Jewels added to my box of treasure.

MIRACLE ~ DECEMBER 23RD - 2014

The most wonderful Christmas present that we have ever received~~~

At 1:30 we received a phone call from Mickey's Dr's office informing us

the Biopsy, that was preformed on the Lymph Nodes that were removed by the Mediastinoscopy on Mickey last Thursday, the 18th, are

NEGATIVE!!!!!!!

Yes, God already planned this before this journey ever began and

did not CHANGE HIS MIND

and

in the process He taught us again to 

TRUST HIM

and that

PRAYER UNLOCKS ALL DOORS. 

Our thanks to our Pastors Steve & Michelle Lee - our Coweta Assembly of God Body - my home bible study group WOW Women (Women of the Word) - my private fb Prayer Group - Hearts in "1" Accord - and our many friends who have been praying and standing in faith with us.  Not only your prayers, but your caring, kind words, hugs and love are what helped sustain us through this testing. 

The history is this:  Mickey had Double Bi-pass Heart Surgery in October, 2008.  He recovered quickly and has done well these past 6 years.  He was getting where he felt weak, being short of breath and having to rest and sit down a lot so after an appointment with our family Dr. he was referred for a consultation with Cardiologist Dr. Irvin on August 28th. After performing extensive tests on September 9th Aorta Stenosis was discovered and on October 13th referred Mickey to a TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) team of Doctors. 

November 5th - 1st testing Dr. Ensley to evaluate proceeding with TAVR.  Total of 4 tests done.  November 11th - Consultation with Dr. Ensley and Dr. Parmley where Mickey was notified he had a small (size of the upper tip of the little finger) mass in the upper left lob of his lung that was cancer.  All TAVR was put on hold.

November 17th lung biopsy performed.  November 25th referred to Lung Specialist Dr. Nokes.  Dr. Nokes examination cleared Mickey for both removal of the lung cancer and possible TAVR for the Aorta IF pet scan showed no spread of cancer.  November 26th pet scan performed to check for spread of cancer.  December 10th consultation Dr. Parmley - results of pet scan showed possible spread to lymph nodes of breast plate. 

December 18th Dr. Parmley performed Mediastinoscopy of breast plate lymph nodes.

DECEMBER 23rd - 1:30 p.m.  Call from Dr. Parmley's office - Lymph nodes NEGATIVE!!!!!!

Next step - January 7th, 10:30 Pre-op - January 8th  Dr. Parmley - Lung Surgery to remove cancer. 

     

How Big is Our GOD?

I've been thinking a lot lately about two things.  How BIG is our God and how BIG is our Faith?

Within the church body I currently attend, and all I have been exposed to and involved with since Jesus became my SAVIOR in 1958, I hear a lot of TALK about faith.  But, as I look around I observe and witness a lot more FEAR and DOUBT than I do FAITH.

Why do I say this and what do I mean?  I hear "God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory" (Almost a direct quote of Philippians 4:19 kjv  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.) yet I hear these same people worrying about the cost of this or that; how they are going to afford this or that; making money, or the lack thereof, this or that has broken down or won't work.  One of their primary concerns on all levels seems to be voiced in lack, and doubt coming from their mouths and their actions. 

I hear, "By His stripes I am healed."  (From Isaiah 53:5 kjv But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed)yet I hear how this hurts and that hurts and asking for prayer for the same ache or ailment time and time again, running to this or that Dr. and taking this or that medication or treatment.  We must pray, seek the necessary medical advice and then begin to WALK in healing regardless of how we feel, or what is hurting.  

I believe our problem is multi-fold.  #1 We do not see GOD big enough.  We try and put God into an extension of our image or understanding rather than realizing He is soooo BIG we can never describe or understand him.  The issue is not understanding, it is BELIEVING what His Word says....period.  

#2 is summed up in this quote from Creflo Dollar..."If you're not getting results, the issue is not lack of faith, it's the presence of unbelief".  We "say" we believe but in our hearts and minds we really doubt.  James 1:8(KJV)  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. God is a big God, but sadly our doubt is even bigger. 

#3 is disobedience.  We really want to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, how we want to do it, instead of truly obeying God's commandments and instructions. We want Jesus to be our SAVIOR but not our LORD. 

I don't know about you, but I want to truly learn to walk in the bigness of my God and not in the smallness of myself.

AN ANGEL NAMED CATHIE

Angels come in all types and sizes.

One of ours showed up at our home yesterday!!!

Mickey and I returned home from The King's Kitchen yesterday, which was the first Tuesday in a couple of weeks we were back in the Kitchen due to Mickey's Dr. appointments and tests, to this ~~~~~~~

Neighbor, friend and angel extra-ordinare, Cathie Hogate, decorating our ENTIRE front yard for Christmas.  This is the exact position we found her in, decorating the mail box.  I have to add, this was one of the coldest, nippiest days we've had so far this winter.

This lovely arrangement in one of my flower containers. 

T

Christmas wreath sitting on the front porch.

She wasn't finished yet and added a great big bow!

Have you ever had your tree trunk decorated?  Neither had I---but now I have!!

The wreath in place on the front door - with our Angel, and her sweet, precious smile.  

By now I have to tell you the tears are beginning to flow in my eyes.  I cannot tell you how very touched I was with this act of love and kindness from a dear friend and a breast cancer survivor.  

===============

This is not the first time Angel Cathie has shown up --- Last week, after Mickey had his pet scan David, Cathie's husband, had knocked on our door and came in carrying this adorable little basket filled with rice-krispy treats and chocolate mints, a get well card, and a medical magazine with one article highlighted and marked for Mickey to read. 

This gift basket hanging on the left side of the porch.  The little tag, folded like an envelope, reads Mickey's Mail. 

Cathie, who use to do all the decorations at our church, Coweta Assembly of God and in the beginning of The King's Kitchen, before she began her cancer battle, had been on one of the delivery route teams, 

grew some BIG Angel wings 

and brightened Christmas 2014 greatly for us.

Thank You Cathie and may God bless you greatly in the New Year - 2015.  

Thank you Cathie and David for being God's light and our dear friends.