THE JOY OF CHOOSING

I have a (reasonably) new cell phone and each name programmed in has the option of holding three numbers: cell, home and business, in that order. When I make a call it automaticall defaults to the cell number unless I make the choice to change it, which I usually do because I am most often calling someone at home.

How like life that is. I can wake up some/many mornings with a heaviness of what the day holds..or might hold..for me or for someone I treasure and default to gloom or anxiety or both.

Then, as with my cell phone, I have a choice. My glass can be half full or half empty. I can choose to trust God for the day or trust circumstances and live in a state of anxiety for the day.

Do you realize what a blessing it is to just be able to choose; we truly are fearfully and wonderfully made as scripture tells us.

Now, an update on Sue.

As I mentioned previously, insurance has denied paying for the drug to treat Lymes prescribed by Sue's physician. We're still working on an appeal to the drug company that produces the drug needed to defray the cost of it for her treatment and to the insurance company to reconsider their denial of payment for the drug treatment.

Please pray with us for God's intervention.

Maxine

HERE'S A PICTURE OF MY LAST NIGHT IN CA

Three excited teens and one reasonably excited parent, 6 queen sized bedsheets, flashlights, one ten foot bamboo pool 4 in. in diameter, several large blankets and table cloths, squeals and groans, forty icy fingers and toes because of an outside temperature of 34 degrees, and a smudge pot ready to be lit for the dewpoint (coldest) hours of 4am-7am the next day..

So, what were those wild Ostbys up to..I should mention there were 2 saner ones..Sue and I who remained inside watching through the windows.

They were trying to protect two 25 foot tall orange trees loaded with fruit from the coldest weather Arroyo Grande had seen in 30 years.

It took awhile but they got the job done. The last look I had at 5am Saturday morning enroute to the airport, the trees looked good.

It's been a good week here in CA being with everyone and planting a few more roots of my own with the town and its people, some friends from many years ago, some newly discovered friends, all valued.

Unfortunately, Sue's insurance is digging in its heels about paying for the pic line with the antibiotic that her Lymes physician has prescribed. So at this point she's back on another medication while we appeal the process and investigate some other options we've heard of.

I'll leave you with a verse from Psalm 17 that I love; "keep me as the apple of Your eye, Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings." What a precious and absolutely safe place to be in 2007.

M.

NEW YEAR THOUGHTS

NEW YEAR THOUGHTS

The new year does bring us to a time of new commitments for one reason or another; we want to grow in an area, improve a skill, leave behind a bad habit

I have enjoyed so much being challenged these early day of January by godly men and women to think deep thoughts about what really is important to choose for my life for the coming year(s) and what is well worth leaving behind.

Later this morning I'll be doing my Meals on Wheels route in rural Wake County and as I wrote the above words I thought of one of my sweet ladies on my last M/W visit. She is 91, has severe macular degeneration, is very bent over from osteoporosis, walks with the aid of a walker, BUT her best walking has been with her Lord these many years.

So was the visit spent hearing about her struggles with her health and other issues like fixed income, not at all. We talked about what was going on around us and, as I left, she walked me to the door (in her walker), raised both hands and prayed a blessing over me.

I want to make the kinds of choices in my life that will direct me in the path of being that kind of woman regardless of how many years the Lord gives.

PRAYER REQUEST...BIG TIME!

I leave for CA tomorrow, for only a week this time. This will likely be the time Sue has the picline put in for the antibiotic for the Lymes Disease treatment. The insurance company at this point is saying they may not pay for this treatment at all, or if they do it might only be for a month.

Sue's Lyme's doctor has indicated the treatment will be needed for months, possibly years so WE ARE PRAYING THAT during the first month of treatment Sue's response/improvement will be so dramatic that the insurance company will have no problem in seeing this is needed treatment and will cover it.

Of course, He may choose to solve the insurance dilemma another way; it's so good to know that He does know and will act accordingly.

M.