GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN LET NOTHING YOU DISMAY, REMEMBER CHRIST OUR SAVIOR WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY; TO SAVE US ALL FROM SATAN'S POWER WHEN WE HAD GONE ASTRAY, OH TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.

As I meditated on this wonderful Christmas Hymn written in England in the 1800's I was so encouraged. Yes, it is tempting to be dismayed over circumstances whether it's what we, our kids, our friends our wonderful USA is experiencing, if that is our focus. Yet if we 'fix our eyes on Jesus' we'll know, as the song reminds us we are saved from satan's power (his temptations and his interference in our lives are a reality BUT we are saved from his power) and that brings me great comfort and joy. Sometimes I easily grasp the comfort knowing God is always in control but I forget the joy. And His Word tells us He has come that we might have joy, and have it abundantly.

And now a note from CA...the December trip was very encouraging. While Sue's overall condition has not improved, Sue, Dana and I met with an excellent Physical Therapist who did a 2 hr assessment of Sue and feels therapy can have an impact on her quality of life to a great degree. So that will start in the New Year. We see the Lyme Specialist as well as the Parkinsons docs in January.

Dana is recovering from shoulder surgery which is helping improve his quality of life and the kids are as wonderful as ever. I'm so blessed with building friendships with these 3 fun kids. One day I was driving Alisha to her Spanish Class and as we passed some trees beautiful in their oranges and golds she said "look at those trees, Grandma. They're get prettier each day, that's like Mommie, she gets prettier inside and out all the time."

And finally, God was 'so there' for me all the time. Since American no longer flies into San Luis Obispo I now depend on United. This time they could only get meto Santa Maria, south of SLO, but a car was waiting for me at the SLO airport (thanks to wonderful friends there). As I was trying to decide the best way to overcome this obstacle a lady walked up to me saying she'd overheard my conversation with the United agent and though she couldn't take me to SLO, she could take me as far as Arroyo Grande (where the kids live)! Turned out she lived 3 blocks from them and delivered me to their door.....so what are the odds of meeting someone in Los Angeles International Airport who lives 3 blocks from you and can meet your specific needs?

Confirms the earlier thoughts....about comfort and joy when we know that, in spite of the circumstances, God IS in control.

Merry Christmas,

Maxine

Vacation Time has come and gone for Gene and I and what a week we had in the Pacific Northwest. First stop was Portland for a family wedding held in a beautiful oudoor garden with 'live' music, beautifully catered dinner and enjoying family we rarely see.

While in Portland we also had some sweet fellowship with friends we've had much history with when we lived in the CA Bay Area. One, a pastor I worked with for many years, one, a worship pastor who all 3 of our kids and I had as a choir director and the third, a pastor who was both Dana's Jr. High Youth Pastor and later the Missions Pastor with Dana as one of the first candidates in his outstanding Missions Candidate Program.

At the last minute Dana and Sue decided to join us for the Portland portion and were so blessed by connecting too with these dear friends. That, alone was worth the whole trip. As a dear missionary friend from the past often said: 'God's two greatest gifts this side of heaven are our friends and our memories' and both were in abundance there.

But there was more, we continued to Seattle for time with friends and then spent some time in Victoria B.C....our first visit . We had a great B/B that was a 5 minute walk to the Harbor and lots of opportunity and great weather for walking and exploring, especially the beautiful Butchart Gardens.

An Update from CA: Sue has just begun a water therapy exercise program that we are hopeful will help her at this time. Both the therapist and Sue were encouraged by just one visit. Please pray that time and help in transportaion will allow Sue to continue this on a regular basis. Dana just had shoulder surgery and is recovering so there are still issues to pray for but our God does richly supply as my post above records.

Today Isaiah 40 reminded me once again of how amazing it is to be personally gathered in God's arms and snuggled, like a shepherd with his lamb, and realize this is the same God who stretched out the heavens like a curtain, created the stars and calls them by name and measured the waters in the hollows of His hand.

We are blessed to belong to Him.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

FINISHING WELL

I listened yesterday to the funeral service for Senator Jesse Helms. It was a praise to God with testimonies of many to his kindness, humility and integrity. In both his public and private life he was known and respected for "keeping his promises" and "being willing to compromise on preferences but never on principles."

The scripture verse read that seemed to best fit his life was from Micah 6 and says "He has told you O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you; but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

Reflecting on this man's life caused me to think back a day earlier when Logan, Jordan and I did my Meals on Wheels Route. God has blessed me with a route of mostly 80 and 90 year olds who, even though diabetes, arthritis, and recent loss of immediate family are real in one form or another in their lives, don't dwell on 'these things' but because of their love for the Lord are kind and sweet and full of praise for Him.

Their eyes crinkle with laughter when they tell me stories of past days and look with compassion at me when checking on Sue's condition and love it if I see a need in their lives and pray for them right there. Their life's footprint when God takes them home (and he took a favorite just last month) may not be as large to the world as that of Jesse Helms, yet they have shown to me over and over again in the past 4 years those same qualities mentioned above: justice, kindness, humility, love.

Some months ago a friend and I, in looking at our aging parents as well as our kids coming along behind us determined that for the Lord's sake and then for the sake of our children we not only wanted 'to do life' well now, but to finish it well too.

I'm grateful to God for letting me rub shoulders with these dear, sweet Meals on Wheels friends of Jesus. As I see them monthly they are giving me good instruction on How To Finish Well.

Maxine
Posted by ozzbee at 5:12 AM 0 comments

CAMP OSTBY
This is as good as it gets...our 6 kids along with our 8 grandkids, a beautiful house right on the beach and perfect weather. Sue has done well this week, we girls took 2 long walks on the beach, about a mile each time and she got to get nice and wet as Nicko and Dana took her into the waves.
God truly blessed our week and we've extended it in part because, now back in Wake Forest, we still have Dana, Sue and family here, Mark andTam and family 10 minutes away and Logan and Jordan (Kent and Kradan's kids) for another week. (Just couldn't get Kent to take another week off work!)
Our screened in porch is a perfect place for reading and thinking early in the morning and there's a Carolina Wren who sits on our flagpole and sings to me which definitely adds to the charm.
Yesterday while reading the following from O.Chambers "You can never give another person that which you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have."
my thoughts immediatelly went to Sue. How she is walking through her suffering, I believe, make many 'homesick for what she has', which is a sweet, sweet closeness with Jesus".
And actually, in maybe a less significant way, as believers we should all be making someone 'homesick for what we have', by how we 'do life'...face hardship, react to tough times, have joy in everyday things. A smile at a grouchy clerk in a supermarket, asking your server in a restaurant if they have a prayer request you can add when you pray for your food, there are lots of little ways to show Christ's love...I'm learning more all the time.
Posted

THE PILOT'S HALO

On a CA flight some time ago God reminded of His protection over His people with a beautiful 'visual'. We were flying above solid clouds with the shadow of our plane clearly outlined against them and then, because the sun was evidently shining behind us, it created a 'circular rainbow', completely around the plane. Whether we increased or decreased our speed, whether we gained altitude or flew lower, we remained in that beautiful circle.

I've since learned from a pilot this is referred to as a pilot's halo and doesn't happen often, only when conditions are just right. (In fact, with all the traveling I do, I've only seen it twice and I always look for it.) Yet in God's economy the conditions are always 'just right' for His circle of protection around His own. Cool thought to start off the day knowing He will never leave us or forsake us...that His Holy Spirit encircles us always.

This is beach month for the Ostbys. Please pray for us as we enjoy our wonderful week togther at Topsail; this year Caleb will be in Peru on a Missions Trip..he'll be missed, especially by his cousins..they love the week the most because all of the cousins are together.

Please pray too for Dana and Sue as they travel; technically speaking it would be easier to stay home, and we're glad they don't, but it's challenging for all of them.

Please pray too that Trudi will get off for all or at least most of the week from her job at Starbucks, June is a popular vacation month.

Biggest news from our 4 acres: we now have five huge turtles in our pond and 'have given birth' to two broods of Carolina Wrens (one in a hanging basket on my porch ... had to let the flowers die so I wouldn't drown the babies) and one in Gene's fishing creel in the garage (their favorite spot)....plus one brood of Bluebirds..they're working on their second nest as I write this.

Happy summer,

Maxine

Spring 2008

And what a great spring it's been here in Wake Forest (even though I just picked a tic off) we've had beautiful weather, beautiful flowers blooming and our time is approaching to have our whole family together for the beach..yahoo!

Just returned from a quick week in CA to help Dana, Sue and the kids do some shopping etc and get ready to come.

Sue's condition still declines somewhat, but certainly not her spirit. She blesses us as she walks through each day with a smile on her face and praise on her lips. She was recently given a special award in San Jose for her great contribution as a wife and mother.

A song I often play on my guitar in the mornings reminds me of Sue these days:

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee , thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."

Also had the great fun of doing a 10K with Nicko in CA (he ran with a bud, I walked) and it was right on the beach.

Have a great day in Jesus.

LAST CA VISIT

April 18

I've been home a week now from my last CA visit. It was great because my honey got to go with me.

The highlight of the trip was a surprise 50th birthday party for Dana held at a hundred acre park with families and food galore and he totally surprising him.

It was almost as good for Sue as for Dana because she so wanted to honor him and give him a special day which is hard to do with the physical limits she has. But her great planning and her faithful friends pulled it off.

The next day Sue and I had a visit with her Lyme specialist in Malibu CA and had a great mom-daughter day being together for 14 hours (we were tired when we got home) but it was such fun.

Dr. Harris' new treatment plans for Sue:

• aggressively treat Sue for Babesia (another parasitic infection caused by ticks)
• evaluate treatment in one month, May 13th
• take Sue safely off other rigorous medicines to alleviate the difficult meds schedule
• continue on 3 antibiotics, a few natural supplements and Parkinsons meds

Prayer requests:

• pray Sue will be able to handle side effects and they won't bee too severe. (The treatment can have very bad side effects for 3-4 days. That's one way the doctors can know they are targeting the right infection.)
• continue to pray without ceasing for her healing; that our Sovereign God will answer according to His divine plan
• pray that she will not lose heart, that inwardly she will be renewed day by day, that God will give her songs in the night. 2 Cor 5:16, Ps. 42:8
• like Jabez, pray God will continue to increase her influence for his Kingdom. I Ch 4:10

Thanks for caring and praying. Last night Sue had a bad fall and had to go to ER for 5 stitches. One of her most stressful falls; when I asked Dana how he was doing he replied 'after we saw she was ok and we all quit crying, we're doing well.'

All the above followed after a large group of people prayed and fasted for Sue over a 40 day period and though we'd like to see some different anwers for Sue on His behalf we trust His love and His sovreignty in Sue's life.

Maxine

PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!

I forgot in my eagerness to tell you about the storm and my desire to put Sue's condition at present before you, to yet Praise God for how he continues to bless this family.

As I read Kent's blog a few minutes ago when he talked about our coming year and the great challenges, blessings and heartaches (paraphrased) we can all look forward to in the coming year, I'm still reminded of the lyrics:

His Grace still amazes me...

and that's what I see happening when I think: 'how can Sue continue to have her big smile when she is so challenged to do just a little bit of life'; how can Dana keep up with his schedule and yet so patiently and lovingly serve Sue and the kids; how can the kids remain joyful and cheerful when there is/could be so much stress within their home...and it all comes back to

HIS GRACE

It is working mightily here. Please pray that it continues to and pray especially for Sue that she will do two things that the doctors can't do for her: discipline herself to get more rest (earlier to bed) which helps both her and Dana and work at keeping herself hydrated.

Bye,

Maxine

A NOTE FROM STORMY CALIFORNIA...

Yes, we've had some severe storms, in fact, for those of you who prayed about our trip to Escondido for a wedding...we didn't go. I had to make a decision about the drive and high winds, flash floods and heavy rains were predicted for our exact route down therefore I didn't feel the responsible thing to do was expose the family to those conditions for a 6 hr drive; particularly since Sue has been feeling extremely fatigued since Christmas with no reserves for that kind of a trip.

I felt bad saying no but someone had to make the call...the kids were great. Once the initial disappointment was over they turned it around and decided to 'go camping' in the living room.

Karis wanted to know if we had a tent and I said 'no, but remember when you were little all you needed were chairs and blankets to drape over them.' So the tent has been up for two days; Friday we added 5 high school boys and had a 'full house'. They roasted hot dogs in the fireplace, played cards and other board games and had a great day while it stormed like crazy outside.

We had some blood work drawn for Sue Sat. Dana thinks she's anemic although it may just be post Christmas fatigue. We all push hard during the season and Sue has no reserve to push from but she pushes anyway. She felt much better yesterday with an extra day's rest so hopefully she's on the road to some better days.

Still lots of testing, watching, trying new combinations of meds to work on the Lyme and Bartinella diseases. A friend's physician brother told here over the holidays that the infectious disease partner in their group automatically refers all Lyme cases someplace else because 'it takes such a long time to track and treat it and we just don't have/want to take the time out of our practice to do it.'

Bittersweet because it is an admission that there is lots of it around but also validates the point (made on most Lyme websites) that it isn't fast or easy to treat.

Dana did make it to the wedding so the family was represented; they were sad we couldn't come as we were but I feel it was the right thing to do. Sue said she had bathed it in prayer too and felt relieved when she heard my decision.

I've just dropped the kids off at Sunday School and come back for Sue so we can go to church. One service is what she manages best these days.

She remains active on their Missions Committee and she and Karis worked last evening to creates something special for table decorations for their conference in March; she'll share it at their meeting tomorrow evening.

Thanks for listening and God Bless You.

Maxine