A BITTER SWEET MOTHERS DAY & PRAYER SHAWL #8

It was a wonderful Mother's Day for me in the fact that when both son, Marc, and daughter, Jacque, asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day I told them nothing would please me more, or make me happier than for them to attend church with us.  They readily agreed and met us at our house at 10:30 so we could all arrive at the same time together.

The bitter part was just prior to 10:30 Dave and Suzette had driven the 26 miles from their house over here to surprise me with them also attending church with us but by the time they got here Suzette was feeling so badly, her right arm was really swollen, and she was in much pain.  There was no way she could attend the services, even in her wheelchair.  It touched ALL of our hearts so much that they tried to surprise me in this way.  It is the hardest thing I have every had to endure, seeing our daughter suffer so much and not get to enjoy today with her family.

The sweet part, it was wonderful to have Marc & Aric, Jacque & Benny in church with us.  

After church Marc treated all 6 of us to a wonderful buffet lunch at The King's Palace.  Such a nice place with linen napkins, nice china & silverware and a very pleasant setting.  Our meal was delicious and the company UNBEATABLE.

I had completed my 8th prayer shawl for Grandson Aric in April and had planned to give it to him on Easter Sunday when we all got together.  Because Suzette was in the hospital it was not the pleasant surrounding that I wanted to give it to him so I waited for a more appropriate time.

Mother's Day seemed like a wonderful time so between Church and going out for lunch we stopped by the house and I presented him with his prayer shawl.

I told him, "Joseph had a coat of many colors, but you now have a prayer shawl, made by your Grandmother, of many colors."  He was very delighted and appreciative of it.  The scripture references on the attached note for him are Hebrews 11:1 - Philippians 4:6&7 and Psalm 37:4.  I love our grandson.  Aric is truly a gentle, innocent young boy.  One of my prayers is that he retains that wonderful spirit.

Susan, Jacque, Benny, Aric & Marc.

Mickey, Jacque, Benny, Aric & Marc.

We will rejoice at ALL times because our God is good and faithful even when occasions are bitter-sweet.

Our Church services, as always, were powerful and wonderful!!

THIS & THAT - Good & Bad

 This is the last picture I will be showing of our February 1st blizzard and our additional 5" of snow on February 8th.  This picture, of Mickey's truck was taken on February 12th.  As you can see much of the snow had melted.  It is now completely gone and only a memory of this event in our lives.  ALL the schools in Coweta, Tulsa and the surrounding area ended up being closed for 9 days and are having to make up time for these "snow days" which were NOT built into their calendar.

After having made 7, and currently working on #8, Prayer Shawls I made my first scarf for our granddaughter's 16th birthday.  It measures 4' by 8 1/2".  I must say it was so easy after working on the big shawls.  I started with the left over yarn from the Prayer Shawl I had made her, but had to go buy another skein of yard to complete it. 

This morning we finished this, our 3rd book so far this year.  My friend, Carmel, gave me a big box of books last year and we are gradually reading through them, in addition to new books that come up that catch our eye and attention.  This book is one from that box and was written in 1976.  It contained 14 chapters and we totally agreed with everything he wrote in 12 of them but did not agree with chapters 12 & 13 where he takes the stand that the Gifts of the Spirit passed away with the Apostles.  We knew, going into this book, that Dr. Van Gorder would take this position, as he was the associate teacher of the Radio Bible Class with Richard De Haan. 

The main reason I am commenting on this book is not because of our disagreement with him on this one point.  I was raised in that type teaching and many years ago settled that issue for myself.  What struck me the most was that all the positions he pointed out 35 years ago that needed correction within the Church are still the same issues, but of course MANY times worse as pertains to our life styles and commitments.  It was a good read and well worth the 2 weeks we spent reading it.

BAD - but, I trust with good results .  I spent yesterday afternoon in the dentist chair having a root canal on a tooth that a permanent bridge was attached to.  Not only was it a gruelling experience during the procedure but it cost me $768.  OUCH!!!!  That hurt almost as much as the root canal.

That's my "news" for today.

A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOUSE

Christmas 2010 was one of the nicest yet!!!!

We went lighter on all the Christmas decorating this year. We put up no outside lights or the Santa climbing up the roof or the Manger scene. Inside, we had it looking festive and nice, but did not drag our everything as usual. The shopping for gifts did not seem so hectic. I used a lot of gift bags, which made the wrapping easier. I wrapped as I purchased and avoided the rush at the end. It was just plain calmer.

The table settings for the 11 of us.

Mickey & I made these little snowmen for each place setting. They did not stand up to well so we ended up placing them in the center of each plate. Thanks to Oklahoma Granny for the idea.

I fixed a Mexican Christmas meal this year consisting of 3 Cheese Chicken Enchilada's, 30 with green & 10 with red chili - a large pot of Pasole - a large pot of Pinto Beans. Jacque & Bennie brought a case of red & white Sparkling Grape Juice and Deann (our official family dessert maker - YEAH) brought a yummy Rum Cake and a plate of Chocolate Peanut candy.

THE FAMILY

Father/Grandfather - Mickey, Granddaughter #1 - Jessica, 2nd Daughter - Jacque, 1st Daughter - Suzette.

Suzette - Dave - Bennie

2nd Son - Marc (youngest child still "acting up"!!) with Wife - Deann.

#1 Grandson - Aric, 2nd Granddaughter - Oksana.
Me, in tears as usual, as I read the touching, sweet Birthday cards from my son Marc and husband Mickey.

The 4 December birthday girls in our BELIEVE shirts (my gift to us) and our FAMILY FIGHTS TOGETHER necklaces, Jessica's gift to us.

I had made Prayer Shawls for each the family.

Jacque, with her turquoise shawl.

Marc with his variegated green and Deann with her variegated blue.

Oksana with her variegated purple.

Suzette's solid red Prayer Shawl was given to her on September 28th when we got her cancer diagnosis. I had been making these, starting in March, for the kids for Christmas........BUT God knew I would need this red one in September.

David was given his solid blue Prayer Shawl when he flew in to be with us October 17th-24th.

Due to the above happenings Jessica's did not get finished on time :o( !!!!!!

So she didn't get to "unwrap" her Prayer Shawl, but was shown it in this stage!!!

I'm working diligently to get it finished.

Because it was so touching and because my blog is a history for my children and grandchildren, after we are gone, I am quoting the words of Marc's wonderful birthday card to me.

"Mom, Yours was the first face I ever saw, the first hands I ever felt, the first voice I ever heard, and the first love I ever knew. I feel that love still. I hope you feel mine. Happy Birthday - Love, Marc"

PRAYER SHAWL #4

Here is my 4th Prayer Shawl. This variegated green one, prayed for as I made it, is for our youngest son, Marc.

These are the hands of the 7 of us at the 3rd Day Sister's Tuesday night bible study class as it was being prayer over there.

The gals at the Monday morning bible study I attend have also joined in this Prayer Shawl Ministry so this one for Marc was also prayed over by the 7 woman who attend it. Double blessed!!!

It took me only 29 days to complete this 4th Shawl. I've certainly gotten faster at them :o)

I am already working on #5 which will be a purple one for my 15th year old granddaughter. I had failed to put one of the earlier ones I was working on up when she came over and seeing it she said, "Grandma, if you're making one of those for ALL of us I want a purple one!" So!!!!!! Who's NOT going to fulfill that request?

I'm curious if any others of you out there are making these? If so, please be sure and let me know.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY 2010 #8 - Prayer Shawl #3 & Book

Is this the absolutely fastest year in history? It is certainly being so in my life!! The last time I posted on Spiritual Sunday was 2 1/2 months ago on May 15th. Seems like I just did!!

At that time I talked about a new Prayer Shawl Ministry my friend had started and showed you the first shawl I had made for my second daughter. Then I completed my second shawl, a red one for my older daughter. Today I am showing my 3rd completed shawl for my oldest son, David.

TThis pretty blue one. It has not been prayed over by my Tuesday night Bible Study group yet but I assure you it will be. It took me 4 weeks & 2 days to complete this one. I'm getting faster!!



Yesterday I started on my 4th: a variegated green for my younger son. Is any one else out there in blogland making the prayer shawls?

I wanted to share the 12th book I've read so far this year with you. Most of the information, and views that Grant Jeffrey shared are ones I am very familiar with. If you have not read a book on heaven, in my opinion this one would be worth your time and effort.


To view other Spiritual Sunday posts or to join in with one of your own please visit Charlotte's website here. Thanks again Charlotte for this lovely venue.

PRAYER SHAWL #2

This is the second prayer shawl I have completed and I made it for my oldest daughter, Suzette. Like the first one I made, for my second daughter, Jacque, it took me almost 2 months to finish. I am hoping the third one, I am currently working on, will not take me quite as long to complete.

My Tuesday night Bible Study group prayed over this one at our meeting on June 29th.

The card that is tucked under the cord reads: "This Prayer Shawl was handmade and prayed over by your mother, Susan Errett Joyce, in 2010. It represents tangible evidence of my prayer and love for you, my child. I ask my Lord Jesus for you to receive His healing, His love, and His hope. As you wrap yourself in this shawl, may you find His comfort as it represents His arms around you.

Jeremiah 31:16-17 - Psalma 33:11 - Proverbs 22:6"

Our church has a Prayer Shawl Ministry that I first posted about here if you missed it and care to read about it.