ACCEPTING YOURSELF

'LOVE OTHERS AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF."

Matthew 22:39 CEV

Only by loving yourself in a healthy way can you love others the way God intended. When you don't love yourself you live with insecurity, and you keep looking to others for approval. When you don't get it, your self-worth shrivels. As a result, you live far beneath your potential. You are the only person you can't get away from, so unless you learn to accept yourself, you'll be miserable. Stop, and think about the last time you were around somebody you didn't enjoy being with - how did it feel?

Whether good or bad you project onto others the thoughts and feelings you have about yourself. So if you want people to think well of you, have a good opinion of yourself - one that's based on God's Word and nurtured by the right relationships. No question, the Bible cautions us about having an overinflated opinion of ourselves. But don't go to the other extreme! Living with continual self-rejection is an open invitation to Satan, who is always "sneaking around to find someone to attack" (1 Peter 5:8 CEV) Don't play into his hands!

Paul writes: "Nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature." (Romans 7:18 NIV) That means the good qualities you do possess are evidence that God is at work in your life. So be sure to acknowledge them. The Bible says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7). Instead of focusing on your flaws and feeling bad about yourself, recognize the "treasure" of God's presence, power, and potential that lives within you, and build on it.

From The WORD for you TODAY - Sept-Oct-Nov.

A CUP OF FRIENDSHIP AWARD -

I got this blog award from Danielle! It's so cute I had to do it and pass it on.

To claim my fabulous prize of four cyber coffee cups full of mysterious liquid, I must answer the following questions and provide links to my unsuspecting victims:

1. Do you have the same friends since childhood? Not friend(s) but friend. My forever friend, Joan, who I have written much about. I do keep up with some of my fellow classmates via e-mail forwards and updates, etc. I also have to list our wonderful friends, Don & Barbara. We meet them 32 years ago.......that is equal to a lifetime for many of you!!!

2. What do you value most about your friends? Truthfulness & honesty is #1 with me, loyality, understanding, acceptance, sharing our belief in Christ so "Iron Sharpeneth Iron", people of their word. All of my close, personal friends exhibit ALL of these qualities and MORE!!!

3. Are your friends your sounding boards? Very much so. Of course my dearest & closest friend of all is my beloved husband, Mickey. He is REALLY my sounding board!!!

4. What is your favorite activity to share with your friends? Anything and everything, with lots of fun and laughter thrown in the mix.

Since there are 4 cups of liquid, I'm keeping one for myself and passing the others along to....

for this I'm giving it to the 2 blog friends I just met and the one I had planned and hoped to meet.

1. Kitty

2. Brenda

3. Jen

(I'm wondering what this liquid is, too.) I'll bet its to grow these friendships even stronger!!! What do you think?

THE HEART OF THE MATTER - Family and Friends

This picture of Mickey was taken just as we were leaving our home in Coweta to go to Oklahoma City for his Double Bi-pass Heart Surgery the next day.

A RECAP OF THE SURGERY & HOSPITAL STAY

October 8, Wednesday - We headed for Oklahoma City and checked into our motel room. Shortly after our daughters, Suzette & Jacque arrived. Next came our son, Marc, and granddaughter, Oksana, and grandson, Aric. We had gotten 2 rooms, Mickey, Marc, Aric & I shared one room, and Suzette, Jacque, & Oksana shared a room.

Last came our dear wonderful friends, Don & Barbara. You know what good friends they truly are when they travel over 100 miles, and pay for a motel room, so that they can be there to support Mickey & me!!

After getting all settled in we went to Ch*ilis to eat. The following were taken as we were deciding on what we wanted to eat.

Barbara & Don

Aric with Aunt Jacque
Marc, Mickey & I

Oksana with Aunt Suzette

We had a wonderful, fun time, delicious food and a great waiter.

Mickey slept really well!!!! Marc & I hardly slept. We were so glad Mickey could, and did sleep. I think he was just so relieved that the surgery had been moved up and was going to get done and over with.

October 9, Thursday - We arose really early because Mickey had to be at the VA Hospital by 6 a.m. It was decided that only Marc & I would accompany him at that hour and the others would come over later because only 2 of us could go into the check-in portion of the procedure with Mickey. After Mickey had gotten into the famous hospital gown and his clothing was placed in bags for us to take with us, the assisting Physician, Dr. Sand*erw*ich, came in and talked to the 3 of us. He described in detail the upcoming procedure and the time frame that we could expect (4 to 6 hours) . About 6:30 they came to take Mickey to the surgical prep area and Marc & I had to kiss him good-bye and retreat to the general 7th floor waiting room.

Our wonderful Pastor Gary and his wife, Paula, came all the way from Coweta!! Because of being a Pastor they were allowed to go in and spend some time with Mickey, visit and pray for him. These were the last people that Mickey saw. How blessed we are to have a Pastor of a large church who would do that!!!!

One of the nurses was wonderful to call out to the waiting room several times during the procedure. They called right after 8:15 to tell me the cut of the breast bone had been made and the surgery was beginning. Then they called once to tell me everything was going well and no problems. Then they called to tell me the surgery had been completed by Dr. Trot*ter and the Dr. Sand-er-wich was closing him up. This was around noon. They also said to wait about 25-30 minutes and 2 of us could go to the SICU waiting room and the Dr. would come out and talk to us personally.

Here are Marc, Barbara & Don as they waited in the general waiting area. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to take a picture of all the others, Pastor Gary & Paula, Suzette, Jacque, Oksana & Aric but I didn't. I'm thankful to at least have this picture.

Marc & I waited until 12:30 and moved to that area. This was the longest time of waiting. After what seemed a long time another Dr., who we had not seen, or meet, came out and spoke with us telling us everything had gone well and that Dr. Trot*ter would be out shortly to talk to us. After what seemed like forever Dr. Trot*ter did come out and explained exactly what they had done and that it had been a very routine, easy & successful surgery. He told us to continue to wait in the SICU area and they would call us when we could go in and see him.

We waited.....and waited. Everyone, even the booklet I had been given, tried to tell me to be prepared for how awful he would look, very pale, etc. Finally, and I can't even remember the time for sure, the phone call came and Marc & I walked into the first room on the right in SICU of the 7th floor of the VA hospital. He was totally out but he looked WONDERFUL. Marc & I looked at each other and mouthed "he looks great!".

Next Pastor Gary then went in and Paula visited with Marc & I. Pastor Gary came out saying how wonderful he looked!! Then Don went in to see him, again saying how great he looked. He was still totally sedated as the 4 of us saw him.

Suzette, Jacque & Oksana decided they wanted to wait until the following day, when he was awake to see him. Aric was too young to go into the SICU room.

At one point another nurse came into the room and asked if I was his wife. When I said, "Yes", she said I had a long distance call from South Africa. WHAT!!!! It was Retha, one of the bloggers on Hearts In "1" Accord Prayer Blog. What an unexpected blessing and what a sweet, gentle voice Retha has. This call was both exciting and very soothing to me. Thank you again Retha.

Marc & I continued to wait in the SICU waiting room and then saw him after he was gaining conciousness. The nurse suggested the best thing for us to do was go back to the motel and get some rest and return the next morning. We decided to go ahead & leave.

All of us, Don, Barbara, Marc, Oksana, Aric, Suzette, Jacque & I went to Red Rob*in for dinner. We all ate WAY too much and Aric & I even shared a malt. We were just all so relieved the surgery was over and that he is doing well.

After dinner Don & Barbara headed back to Tulsa, as so did Suzette & Jacque as Jacque had to work Friday. They had all checked out of the motel earlier and had moved Oksana to our room.

Mickey has wonderful nurses the entire stay, but the main nurse assigned to him was a male nurse named Arvin. We came to fall in love with Arvin and he was such a help to us.

October 10, Friday - When Marc & I walked in that morning he was sitting up in bed eating breakfast!!! We spent basically the entire day at the hospital. Suzette, Jacque & Oksana all came later to see him. A couple from our church, fairly new friends who live in our neighborhood, Kathy & David came from Coweta to see him. I was totally shocked and blown away when they walked into that SICU waiting room!!! Later that evening, after we had left and gone to the motel, yet another couple from our church, John & Phyllis came to see him. Mickey told me of their visit when I got there Saturday morning. What a wonderful Church the Lord has placed us in and what a wonderful Church family we have.

Mickey asked me to bring the booklet "Going for Heart Surgery...what you need to know" to the hospital so he could have the Dr. actually draw, on the heart picture in the book, where his 2 heart bi-passes had been made.

Marc, the kids & I stayed pretty late at the hospital and on our way back to the motel we stopped at Gr*and*ys to eat Chicken Fried Steak.

October 11, Saturday - When I walk into Mickey's room this morning he ask for the booklet.......I had forgotten it :o( I did get it there the next day!!! Another morning of Marc, Oksana, Aric & I being together and spending time visiting Mickey. Still just 2 of us at a time in his room. Marc had planned to stay until Sunday but since Mickey was doing so extremely well I told him to go on home which he did. He is going to come back, when Mickey is released to go home.

Marc & the grands had barely left when Don and Barbara came again. They visited awhile with Mickey. This is the first time Barbara had seen Mickey post surgery. Barbara had massive heart surgery a few years ago so she knows what it is like. After visiting they took me to dinner at The Ele*phant Bar. It is one of their favorite restaurants and they have closed the one in Tulsa. After lunch, they took me back to the hospital and they returned to Tulsa. WONDERFUL friends!!!!

I stayed with Mickey until almost dark and went back to the motel room by myself that night but slept very well. They have been having Mickey walk and I actually got to walk with him and Arvin as they made their way around the SICU ward and even a little way in the hall. Oh my, walking by the other rooms where there were such desperately ill patients almost broke our hearts.

Arvan let me stay in the room the entire time today. No waiting off and on in the waiting room. Just before I leave Mickey asks me to bring him his shaving kit so he can shave and clean up a bit more.

October 12, Sunday - I arrive at the hospital at 8 a.m. The first thing Mickey says is "Did you bring my shaving kit?" No, I forgot. Oh my, he is going to give up on me about remembering his requests. Really very unlike me but two days in a row I have forgotten!!! The nurse got him a razor, shaving cream, everything he needed to shave.

Suzette & Dave arrived, from Tulsa, about 11 and visited for about an hour. Then they took me out to a wonderful Italian cafe we had seen near our motel. It was soooo nice. We'll have to go back there again on one of these trips we'll be making to OKC. After lunch they dropped me off at the hospital and they went back home to Tulsa. I stayed at the hospital until just before dark and went back to my room alone again. I called Marc that night and said it looks like they may be letting Dad come home Tuesday or Wednesday, but he is doing so well there is no need for you to come over. I have no concern at all about getting him home. One of my main concerns in the beginning was getting him the 130 miles back to Tulsa post surgery.

October 13, Monday - I Arrive at the hospital at 7 a.m. Dr. Trot*ter comes in. Ask's Mickey, "How are you feeling?" Mickey says, "Great!" Dr. T says, "Do you want to go home?" Mickey says, "You better believe I do." Dr. T says, "Get out of here." They proceed with the removal of the final tube and all the preparations for him to leave. I ran back and checked out of the motel. They order all his take home meds, which I pick up at the pharmacy area after I get back, and we are out of there by 10:30 a.m.!!!

Now, for one of the fun blessings that The Lord always seems to give us, no matter what situations we find ourselves in..........

If any of you know anything about Heart Surgery one of the main "recovery" items is a pillow. The patient holds the pillow against their chest incission and especially if there is any pain, or they have to cough. Mickey & I always take our pillows when we travel. We had had them on the trip to Flagstaff, but the day I home I washed the pillow slips and when we left for OKC the next day we forgot our pillows.

When Barbara left the hospital in Tulsa, after her heart surgery, they had given her a heart shaped pillow. I had asked Arvan the day before if they would give us a pillow for him to make the trip home with. You sure didn't want him strapped into a seat belt in the car without a pillow on his chest. Arvin said, "A woman's group use to make those to give the patients but I haven't seen any of them lately." So we are so happy he is going home.......but we have no pillow. It was Columbus day and everything at the VA hospital closes on the week-end and holidays, like the cafeteria, the gift shop. etc.

I said to Arvan, "What am I going to do about a pillow? I don't have one and I have to have a pillow for that 110 mile trip to Coweta." Arvan says, "We'll let you have a pillow, in fact I'll get you a box to put it in as you walk out of the hospital." Then he says, "Better yet, go steal one from the motel room!" I said, "I'm not stealing a pillow from anyone!" Now the young Dr. San*der*wich, who was very serious and didn't ever say a lot, was taking the last tube out of Mickey while this conversation was going on. At this point, he turned around, laughing and said, "Oh, you're not going to steal a pillow." So Mickey is the proud owner of a very soft blue pillow, with a white pillow slip that is stamped, "Property of - VA Medical Center - Oklahoma City, OK - March, 2004".

At 10:30 we pulled out of the parking lot of the VA Hospital, and Mickey had his pillow!!! We were HOME by 12:30.

Here he is hugging that infamour pillow!!

Here he is wearing his wounds.

I have to end by saying........we have a wonderful opinion of the hospitals and medical services in this United States. We were in 3 different hospitals, in 3 different states, within 6 days. We had nothing but the most perfessional, kind, wonderful care and service imaginable. Especially the VA hospital. I NEVER had the slightest concern that Mickey would have wonderful, good care and be made whole. The entire staff were wonderful and the care superb.

I am, and will be, eternally grateful to GOD for the FAMILY, FRIENDS and PROFESSIONALS he surrounded us with during this entire 10 days from Flagstaff, to Grants, to Oklahoma City and home.

More tomorrow on how our time at home has gone.

OBAMA VIDEO

I know there is a better way to post a u-tube video, but since I don't know how I'm just posting this link because it is so IMPORTANT.

Please take the time to view this and give it some thought and consideration before you cast your vote.

http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2008/02/27/obama-plans-to-disarm-america

THE TRIP TO CELEBRATE #7 - What we missed!!

This post is to share with our blog friends the parts of our trip to celebrate that had to be cut out.

As I blogged yesterday, we went into Sedona on Saturday evening, October 4th, and couldn't find a room so we drove back and stayed at Flagstaff.

Our plans and intentions, "The well laid plans of mice & men!", was to arise early Sunday morning and go back to Sedona and truly get to "see" it. As I showed in the pictures yesterday it is sitting in the most beautiful, natural setting. We had also learned that it is really a center of N*ew A*ge, Ac*cu*lt*ism, and actual Sat*an*ic worship. Brenda & Sunny had told us we would actually "feel" the oppr*ession when we got there. They also said when they visited they liked to walk the streets praying in tongues. We thought that was a wonderful idea and that is what we planned to do!!!! We were going to spend the day in Sedona and drive on to Phoenix to spend Sunday night.

Prior to our trip we had made plans to spend Tuesday and Wednesday, October 7 & 8, with some dear friends, Ray & Jody. We had met Ray & Jody at an RV park in Nevada back in September of 1997. It was one of those instant friends connections. Ray & Jody lived in Washington State but were planning on building a winter home outside of Tucson. In January, 2004 we visited them in their beautiful new winter Tucson home. In the fall of 2005 Ray & Jody came to visit us at our Coweta home, which was their first trip to Oklahoma. They had contacted us earlier this year and suggested we come visit them this winter in Tucson. At the time I thought, "There is no way we will be making it out that directions." Well, when Mickey said let's go to Falstaff to celebrate we instantly knew we would want to stop and see Ray & Jody!!! When we contacted them they were still in Washington but planning to be back in Tucson on October 5th!!!! Talk about timing. We are so sad that we didn't get to see them :o( They are going to be making a trip Southeast next fall and they will be coming to spend some time with us then. Hurrah!!! We have that to look forward.

Last, but certainly not least, I had contacted Jen, of Pen of Jen, & Double Nickle Farm and made arrangements to take their family out to dinner the evening of Thursday, Otober 9th. Jen immediately answered my e-mail and invited us to come to the Double Nickle Farm for not only an authentic Mexican dinner but it was also the 13th birthday of their youngest child, and only daughter. We were so honored and excited to be included in a family celebration like this!!!!!

Jen and I have become close friends during my time of blogging and I have so much respect for her and her entire family, for their Christian stand and their wonderful Double Nickle Farm and life style that they are pursuing. We were all so excited about this visit. What a huge disappointment to all of us that we did not make it. We are all believing that we are going to get to meet and visit in the future!!!!

So a LOT went on good and bad in those 8 days!!!!! Even though there was a lot of concerning times with Mickey in two different hospitals, in two states, and the disappointment of not getting to share time with wonderful friends and "meet" in real life other wonderful friends we still are grateful for the 50th Wedding Anniversary we shared and will never forget.

Thanks for letting me share these 7 posts about this entire experience with you!

THE END!

THE TRIP TO CELEBRATE #6 - What happened next

Post #5 of this trip ended with me taking Mickey to the emergency room at Flagstaff

Medical Center at 9 p.m. on the night of our 50th Wedding Anniversary......after a wonderful day of remembering and retracing.

Mickey started getting really sick about 7:30 and it wasn't until 9 that he finally agreed that yes, I should get him to the hospital. I love my husband dearly, but like most men he can be very stubborn and head strong!!

When we walked into the emergency room the waiting room was about 3/4 full but when I told them the situation they rushed us right in and past everyone else. When they took his blood pressure it was 212. He was shivering and his stomach was upset. It wasn't until I heard him tell the Doctors and nurses that I learned he had 3 little pains in the heart area. Around midnight they are going to move him into an ICU room and I am told to go back to the motel & try and get some rest. By this time they had already contacted the Oklahoma City VA Hospital and all his information had been faxed to them. How wonderful our modern day systems are!

I am in a strange city, by myself at midnight, and I lost my way trying to get back to the motel. Flagstaff is divided by a railroad track between north & south and somehow I got over the railroad track and ended up on the south side of I40 and the motel was just off of I40 on the north . It was so dark, and so lonely but I just kept praying and saying, "Lord, you've got to help me find my way." He did and at 12:30 I got back to the motel.

The next morning when I arrived at the hospital at 7 they talked to us about having the surgery there in Flagstaff or going on home to Oklahoma. Mickey did not want to have the surgery that far from home and I was very concerned as to how I would get him home, on that long a road trip, post surgery. The Doctor said it was a risk either way. We opted to start to Oklahoma. I was eager to get on the road, so I could make as many miles as possible before dark. They were adamant they would not release him until they had completed 3 blood tests, spaced over a period of time, to be sure he had not had a slight heart attack and that no heart damage had occurred.

He was still shivering and having stomach pain. They were baffled as to why this was occurring. As they were preparing to release him I asked the nurse if there was not something they could give him for the upset stomach. She called the Doctor and they administered a shot, which helped immediately, and had me go to a pharmacy for a prescription for some pills. The third blood test came back showing no heart attack or damage and he was finally released at 1:55 p.m.

It was 318 miles to Albuquerque and we decided that was too far to try and drive. I do not do well, with my eye sight, driving at night. We decided to go to Gallup, N.M. and spend the night there. We got to Gallup at 5:30 and Mickey was feeling better, as we were dropping from the 7000' altitude to about 6000'. It had been raining off and on on us ever since we left Flagstaff but we decided to go ahead and drive 60 more miles into Grants, N.M. We were trying to get as close to home as possible.

Now I have to share with you the most wonderful experience the Lord gave us during this horrendous time. As we were driving from Gallup to Grants we saw a Rainbow. We commented on it and were happy to see it. Then it disappeared. Shortly it reappeared and this time there was another faint double rainbow to the left. We talked about how God brought the rainbow back to us. Then suddenly the second, fainter one, disappeared and the brightest, widest rainbow either Mickey & I have ever seen in our entire lives appeared before us. It lasted and lasted and it looked like we were going to drive right into it. Then suddenly the full bright arc appeared across the sky. Mickey & I knew this was God's way of telling us we were safe, and we were going to make it home. This all started around 5:30 and ended at 6:49. We were so struck by it that Mickey wrote down the times. I cannot tell you what a blessing this experience was to us!!!

We arrived in Grants at 7:30 and check into the motel. Mickey is so-so. I call Marc & report how far we have gotten and leave for a few minutes to run to the Walmart, right near the motel, to get us some milk and cereal to eat and I had already gotten some bananas and a large muffin that day. Mickey takes just a few bites and starts getting sick again. I do not even think Grants has a hospital but I call the front desk at 8:10 and ask if they have an emergency service. She asks me if I don't want the hospital, to come to the front desk and she will draw me a map how to get there. Thank goodness both Flagstaff and Grants were small towns!!! I return to the room and put Mickey into the car and immediately head for the emergency room. Again we get excellent care and attention.

At 10 o'clock I return to the motel to try and get some sleep. I am near exhaustion. I slept until 4 a.m. 6 hours YEAH!! I called the hospital and am told the cardiologist will not be in until 9 a.m. He is resting and they are beginning the series of the 3 blood tests, like they had done in Flagstaff, to see if there is any heart damage.

6:20 our wonderful son, Marc, called to tell me he was booking a flight to Albuquerque, NM to meet us which would arrive at 1:00 p.m. I just had to drive the 90 miles to get us there. I kept reminding the hospital that I needed to leave to make the drive to Albuquerque to pick up our son but again the hospital was adamant about not letting us leave until the last of the 3 blood tests had been completed. He got a good report of no heart damage and we pulled out of the Cibola General Hospital parking lot at 11:25.

At 1:01 we were sitting in a parking lane waiting for Marc at the Albuquerque Sunport. He called just a few minutes later to say he had landed. We picked him up at 1:09. Now this had to be God again, putting this all together for us as only He can and does.

I must tell you.......I was never so happy as I was when Marc climbed behind the drivers seat of our HHR Chevy and I was able to climb in the back seat and know that I had additional help and we were, for sure on our way home!!!

We drove hard and steady. Stopped only to fuel up and grab a soda and snack. Marc & my plan initially was to drive straight to emergency at the VA Hospital in Oklahoma City. We arrived in OKC and Mickey wanted to just keep on for home. He was feeling pretty good now that we were down to below 1000' altitude. We decided to check into a motel in OKC which we did at 10:40. We were all exhausted and slept well.

When we awoke we told Mickey we were going to VA to report to them which we did at 7 a.m. They decided to move Mickey's pre-scheduled surgery date of October 16th up one week to October 9th. They went ahead and did all the pre-surgery tests while we were there and we were finished by 1:50 and got HOME at 3:45. I don't know if I have ever been so glad to be home. It was nice to have the one day to get some business taken care of and sleep in our own bed before returning to OKC and the VA Hospital on Wednesday night, in preparation for Mickey's 6 a.m. appointment for double bi-pass surgery

I have to admit that during this entire episode I was afraid and terrified in the natural (flesh) but I had total, complete peace in my Spirit that we were going to make it and that Mickey was going to be okay. The rainbow God sent us and the timing of making the flight connection of Marc flying to Albuquerque from Tulsa, via Dallas, and our driving from Grants to Albuquerque and making almost instant connection just was a God Thing.

Praise to our God and Savior, Jesus!!!!!

THE TRIP TO CELEBRATE #5 - Our day of reliving precious memories and making new ones

As you know from yesterday's post the first thing we did on our 50th was to locate the church where we had been married and take a similar picture in front on the doors. Here are a couple more.

(click on all pictures to enlarge)


Next we found the Old Court House where we got out marriage license. They had built a new addition onto it but we weren't the least interested in it!

Then we went into the Hotel Monte Vista
To the coffee shop on the corner where we ordered 2 Hot Chocolates. When Sonja found out we were celebrating out 50th Anniversary she offered to "buy" us a treat....either Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing or Mint Cheese Cake topped with Chocolate & fresh Mint.
We chose a piece of cheese cake to share and sat at this window as we enjoyed our yummy Hot Chocolate & Cheese Cake. Sonja was so impressed that we had been married 50 years and right here in Flagstaff that she told EVERYONE who came into the coffee shop!

Another picture of my beloved clinging to this street clock and saying, "No, no I don't want to get married".

At 10 a.m. we started the 80 mile drive to The Grand Canyon. About 20 minutes into our travel it began sprinkling and rained lightly the entire journey. We could not see any of the canyon at the lookout sites due to the heavy clouds and mist, but we still enjoyed the ride among the tall pines and up the mountain.

At noon we had arrived at the famous El Tovar hotel where we had spend out wedding night. This time they were all sold out and "there was no room in the inn".

We put our name on the waiting list for the dining hall and spent our time enjoying this old 100 room hotel which opened January 14, 1905. It was named El Tovar in honor of the Spanish explorer Pedro de Tobar who had led the first expedition to Hopi Indian country in 1540. This hotel was built by Fred Harvey who also built the famous La Fonda in my home town of Santa Fe, NM in 1876.

We asked our sweet waitress to take a picture of us eating our lovely lunch in the El Tovar. The building is built of native boulders and these darkly stained Oregon Pine throughout the entire interior.

As Mickey prayed over our lunch he added "And please God, lift the clouds from the canyon so we can see the beauty of your handiwork."

As we walked out of the El Tovar and toward the rim of the canyon to the look-out these are the scene's and views that God blessed our eyes with!!!!!

God indeed answered Mickey's prayer above & beyond what we had hoped for.
Such beauty. If any of you have never seen The Grand Canyon it is absolutely one of the things to put on your "Must see & do" list. Pictures never can capture the beauty and grandeur of this place. This is my 4th time to be dazzled by the beauty.

This little cabin has nothing to do with memories of our marriage anniversary but we took a picture of it because it holds fond memories of a trip we made to Grand Canyon in October, 1966 with our daughters, Suzette, age 12, & Jacque, age 11. My forever friend, Joan, was keeping 2 year old David for us. We stayed in one of these little cabins and roasted hot dogs & marshmallows on the open fireplace. The next morning we awoke to about 4" of snow. Happy family memories.

By the way, it snowed on this mountain this night, too!!!

Our plans were to spend Saturday night at The Grand Canyon at the El Tovar Inn. Then we were going on to Sedona for Sunday & Monday. We have been in Arizona numerous times but had never been to Sedona. We'd heard, over and over, how very beautiful it was so decided to add it in to this trip. We are totally flexible people and so we decided to just drive the 70 miles on down to Sedona for the night.

These are post cards I bought (because our camera charge was done for the day) of the stupendous beauty we beheld driving down the long winding road into Sedona. When we got there it was jammed pack. There was some motorcycle rally going on and the only room we could find was $275 + tax a night!!!! What???? We might consider paying $275 for a week!!! You know we are Frugal people. So the alternate plan was to drive back the 35 miles to Flagstaff and spend the night and return to Sedona the next morning to enjoy it.

Little did we know how much our "plans" were about to change. We got back to Flagstaff at 5:30 and I could tell Mickey was really worn out and tired. We got the very last room at the motel there in Flagstaff. We were just watching TV and about 7:30 Mickey said, "I'm going to go on to bed. I don't feel very well." He got sicker and sicker and I kept wanting to call 911. Finally he agreed I should take him to the emergency room at the hospital which he had noticed where it was that day as we were touring around Flagstaff.

At 9 p.m I checked Mickey into the Flagstaff Medical Center.

Even with this change of events we could see the hand of God. Had we found a room at either Grand Canyon or Sedona he would have had to be flown by ambulance plane to Flagstaff. We are so thankful we were in Flagstaff.