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.

FRIENDS

I've been back from CA for approximately 10 days now and life has been full of friends.

Shortly after my return we hosted our friends from our small group bible study here for a non-traditional Mexican dinner complete with candle light, linen tablecloths, china and silver, Christmas music softly playing in the background (with the kids at another house munching pizza with a baby sitter.)

The rest of Christmas week was filled with other friends in and out as well as some of our family...and family at this house rates as some of our best friends. Turkey and the trimmings too made their appearance along with the traditional excitement of gifts etc, and now with the New Year approaching we're hosting New Years Eve, again non-traditionally (unless you live in the South), this time with a Low Country Boil. LCB begins with a BIG pot of steaming water laced with Crab Boil and contains corn on the cob, red potatoes, shrimp, kielbasa. It's drained and spread out over butcher paper covered tablecloths, no silverware, individual paper saucebowls filled with melted butter and cocktail sauce and loaves of french bread.

The common denominator in it all ... FRIENDS. I'm so grateful for all of you whether I've seen you this Christmas season or not. You are a treasure to me.

One of the last scenes in the Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life contains a note written to George which says 'a man with friends will never be poor'. and a dear missionary friend of ours, now at home with the Lord, often said: God's two greatest gifts to us this side of heaven are our friends and our memories.

I'm looking forward to time spent with friends in the coming year; cultivating them, encouraging and being encouraged by them and adding some new ones along the way.

M.

The Hopes and Fears Of All The Years

Are you enjoying Christmas Carols as much as I am: in the stores, your radio, around the table (here at Sue and Dana's). I love them, am bringing home 3 new CD's of them, one I purchased at the Vineyard in Atlanta, one here in AG and one as a gift. A few years ago I began to really pay attention to the words of these beautiful carols and "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" has become a favorite in that respect. Just think about that line and how true it is "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight." How many hopes has he brought to pass in how many lives; how many fears has he stilled in so many lives!

And speaking of home tomorrow, Saturday, the 16th is when I fly home and the flights are crowded with paying holiday passengers plus a few hitchhikers like myself. Please pray that there'll be seats for me and I'll really get home Saturday.

Sue has had no negative symptoms from the spinal tap. Thanks for praying for her.

M.

Flu Bug Is Visiting

Hi

In the joy of my previous post, I forgot to ask for prayer for Dana who brought the flu back from CO..so that the rest of the family is spared. Have a blessed day; we have a great opportunity for joy based on the choices we make today.

M.

PERSPECTIVE

Thanks for praying for Sue yesterday, she's doing well even though the first 24 hrs aren't up yet we're trusting she'll be fine. Had a great doctor (the technician said we had the 'best of the best') and the whole experience was positive but made a long day for Sue and I.

An extra blessing at the hospital: we were in a 4 bed ward for outpatient surgery...quite close quarters when all four beds were in use and not as much privacy as preferred..conversations could be overheard etc. Anyway, I noticed a lady about my age (probably younger as I don't think of how old I am very often) had come in alone; a friend had dropped her off and was going shopping and then going to pick her up after her procedure. So she had no one to sit with her either before or after. Just as they were ready to wheel her out to OR I walked over and said a few words to her and ended with God Bless You while you're in there. (For those of you who know me, definitely out of my comfort zone.) She returned sometime I believe before or after Sue's LP but we had no further contact; she was being cared for post op etc. I did hear her tell the nurse how surprised she was at how well she felt.

When her friend came to pick her up she walked over to me and said good bye and with a smile said ' thank you, I feel good, it was the blessing that did it' to which I replied, 'yes, when God blesses, He does it well. That's why my title of Perspective. I was so grateful to see God lifted up in that Outpatient Room; it made me realize with all the 'stuff' I'm thinking and praying about these days HE IS!