Memorial Day Weekend

This first weekend home from CA has been a hazy, lazy weekend..hazy from East Coast humidity, lazy because I was and so glad to be back with my honey poking around the yard, looking at what's blooming in the garden (yum..berries are getting ripe), poppies are through blooming and we need rain for the dry grass and a good book to finish.

Best of all, remembering the sacrifices of our men and women over the years on behalf of their country; when you travel abroad another element of the blessings of this country is added.

We're looking forward to our annual week at the beach, this year ALL OF THE COUSINS will be there...yahoo!

While in CA I had one morning to walk on the beach; besides the great view and exercise there's always something to observe people, their pets, sea critters (sand crabs, sea gulls, pelicans, sand pipers.) This particular morning I watched as a black lab spotted an injured sea gull floating on the waves, unable to fly. The dog didn't actually go in for the final blow and kill it BUT he harassed it by continually barking at it, nipping close to it and overhwhelmingly intimidating the poor gull.

How like Satan's wiles on the Believer; he finds our vulnerability, and then works on us, snapping, chasing, intimidating, to cause fear and immobilize us.

Saw a great movie last night "Facing Giants"; done by a church in GA, with no paid actors; the GA Buldogs coach even has a bit part. It was challenging and amidst lots of high school football presented a great spiritual message/challenge.

Keep praying for energy for Sue for Thursday when they fly. Please pray too for Mark as he bikes 140 miles to the beach while we drive...and that our Ostby week at the beach will be the blessing it usually is.

Maxine

Happy Mothers Day

Belated, Yes! but it's gotta' be this way because I've committed to writing weekly and, had I really done so, I'd have written the day after instead of 2 weeks later. Speaking of Mothers Day I got a great card from one of my kids ... began with "Mom, I know I wasn't always the easiest kid to raise" and on opening the card there sat a 3 year old boy in a highchair with a glass of beer in one hand and a half smoked cigar in the other. I have another son who occasionally calls and wishes me a Happy Mothers Day on his birthday...sound thinking!

My Mothers Days are always great because I can reflect on the goodness of God to me through my kids. I'm here in CA with our kids now helping Dana and Sue get ready to come spend a month on the East Coast.

Sue's health hasn't changed a great deal, lots of challenges with energy, speech, mobility but still much joy in the Lord for all five. Some days are tougher than others, yesterday was one.

Pray for her energy level for the month of June especially as they travel. Also pray for an appt with a Lymes doc, Dr. Harris, who is tops in his field; Sue's current Lymes doc wants her to see him for a one time consultation and I'm having a hard time getting through for an appt. It's one of those places where you never get to talk to a real person. I'm willing to continue being persistent (you know that) but it would free more time for me if they'd just respond!

You moms (and dads) will relate here, one of the toughest things I face is seeing my kids suffer; yet as I was reading in 1st Samuel last week, Hannah made her petetion at the temple for a child and when she left she dried her tears and her face was no longer sad. A good reminder, I can weep with my kids but then if I truly leave them to the Lord, my countenance needs to reflect it.

Meanwhile, I was reminded of a song that a dear missionary, Hubert Mitchell, used to sing at our church:

"He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater,
To every affliction, He addeth His mercy
To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace."

That's one among many prayers I pray for these guys here; as our world is today, they are incredibly busy and I know you can all relate to that.

Thanks for hanging out with me for awhile; my flights were smooth coming and I return Saturday to get ready for our week at the beach.

Maxine

SPRING IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Yesterday I did a quick trip up to D.C. to meet my sister-in-law for lunch and with a few extra hours I re-visited a favorite spot. I'd worked behind the Senate office buildings where there are some beautiful little parks planted with dogwood and azaleas as only D.C. does...over and above.

Just as they were in previous springs it was a picture perfect stroll; a shower the night before had blown most of the petals from the dogwoods in two particular areas so the sidewalk was completely pink...lots of big puffy white clouds overhead and the azaleas in full bloom made it well worth the brisk hike up Capitol Hill. There's a carillon there too and walking around it reading the tributes to men of integrity, wisdom, compassion who had served in the two houses of congress I was convicted to spend my time returning through the Capitol grounds in prayer for those already serving and those who would be elected to serve in the coming elections.

As I continued my walk down Pennsylvania Avenue I was approached by a demonstrator who asked if she could hand me her literature proclaiming we "GET OUT OF GITMO". I told her absolutely not to which she replied "Oh, you're pro-torture"; "no," I said, "I'm pro-American"which earned me a snort of derision as she stomped away.

Well, it didn't ruin my walk but made me grateful for Who walks with me as I saw only anger and bitterness in her countenance and made me very thankful for the hope I have and the fact that Christ not only sees the big picture but, as Colossians says 'holds it all together'.

Sue is still tolerating the antibiotics well but there has been some concern with a possible infection at the source of the PICCLINE so please pray for that to clear up.

Thanks for tuning in.

M.

"Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams"... Ephesians 3:20 Amplified Bible

I was so glad someone shared this verse, in this version at Dana and Sue's Small Group Bible Study the night before our appointment with Sue's Lymes physician. The fact that she isn't yet experiencing relief in her symptoms has been discouraging and Dr. G. affirmed what he'd originally told us, 'it can take a long time of treatment to see change'. He also began a second antibiotic to more aggressively treat the Lymes (this one goes after the cyst form of Lymes) and recommended she have a one-time consultation with another Lymes doctor who is tops in his field, and fortunately, in CA.

Sue is tolerating the heavy doses of antibiotics, the weekly blood tests that monitor her liver prove that and we're grateful that is true and pray that will be the case with the new drug added.

So, back to my opening verse, the gal who shared it with us had an absolutely amazing story to tell of how God had worked 'superabundantly, far over and above all that she had dared ask or think, infinitely beyond her highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams". And that is what we are believing and praying for Sue, regardless of what we see now, we know that God's part of her story isn't finished by far.

It's such a joy to see Sue interact with people; her arms are outstretched in greeting to show how glad she is to see them, her smile is radiant, and her words (even though they are harder for her to speak) are full of love and encouragement. She truly is a blessing to people, even when it's tough going.

So now, I'm back in NC until next month, grateful for the opportunities He gives to go out and be a part of their lives.

Thanks for praying and staying in touch. I actually have decided I need to blog weekly or not at all so I'm going to giveweekly a try til the end of summer. Feel free to hold me accountable if you read this and don't see one in a week.

Maxine

PS The other big news from CA was Alisha assisting as their mama goat, Lilly, gave birth to 2 baby goats; unfortunately a bobcat or coyote got one the next night but the other is fine and thriving.

They're looking forward to being here for a few weeks in June so plan on coming by to see them.

It's Great To Be In Atlanta

It's Great To Be In Atlanta...

because my favorite Saucer Magnolia trees are blooming fully, forsythia too is in full bloom, but BEST OF ALL, I'm here with our kids and grandkids...they're all such an encouragement to me and just plain fun to be with. We've done the typical fun stuff you do with 8 and 11 year olds, baseball practice, quiz bowls, movies, a stop at Chick-Fil-A for milkshakes. Last night was pizza with their small group and Kent leading...it's good to be in the Word with them and see how God leads their lives. SUPER BONUS was getting to read Kent's new book; he's done a great job, I had about 120 pages left to read yesterday and had planned to do it in installments during the day but I was so hooked I stayed in my PJs after everyone was gone to school and work til I finished ...way past lunch time.

In a few days I'll meet my honey in Dallas as we head to CA for a week to see those kids in a drama presentation they've been working on for months. As far as we know, Sue's not had any adverse reaction to the PICC line and meds it contains. We're praying for the meds to really kick in even sooner than is expected and that she will benefit greatly.

Reading today in Joshua I was really set to thinking as I saw Joshua commanded to be strong and very courageous...carefully follow all of the Lord's Word, so that he WOULD BE successful and the Lord WOULD BE with Him. It's repeated to him multiple times in the 1st chapter of Joshua. I then thought of what Joshua's task was and taking that grumbling bunch of Israelites into the Promised Land seemed somehow a much bigger task than my 'to do lists' that send me into such a frenzy so many days of my life. THEN I realized God's instructions are the same for me as they were for Joshua...'look at Me and what I've shown you in my Word and trust Me' , not your list, not yourself but look to Me. A good reminder that I need often.

It's good to be with you all as you read our news,

M.

How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God, all creation sings how great, how great is our God...

those praises and more resounded in our house Tuesday about 11am when we had finally confirmed that Sue's PICC line would go in even though we expected no medication going in for a day or two. BUT GOD gave us a wonderful RN at the hospital and she, along with the person responsible for the gift of Rocephin, worked it out so Sue could have her first dose at the same time....administered by me.

But one of the coolest things was after we got the 11am phone call we all sat us down and talked..and God really ministered to all our hearts about what was going to happen, how it might or might not change life for Sue in the months and maybe years to come and how, much as we love Sue, the bottom line still is HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD. The kids response was wonderful. Why, I thought, when they're such great kids anyway, do they have to be a part of this purifying suffering yet as Dana and Sue both reminded me, we don't want to turn down a chance for God to work in each of our lives.

It has been a hectic time beyond belief. Because of the way the drug is coming to Sue there were a lot of 'puzzle pieces' we had to put together and Sue and I especially felt great spiritual warfare the 24 hrs before the PICC Line went in but each time I just couldn't find another ounce of energy (or sometimes one more tear...one of the rare times I was weepy), God was there. It was a real demonstration of I John 4:4 'greater is He that is in us, than he who is in the world.'

Thank you all so much for your prayers; I was at the point that I didn't even have time to call people for extra prayer and instead was begging God to have people pray for us.

I'm heading home in two days and so looking forward to home..especially seeing my honey.

maxine

Update from California

• Keep Singing
• Be a joyful daughter
• What am I pouring my spiritual energy into...doing or being!
• What defines my day..who I am in Christ..or a problem..a habit..a list
• She smiles at tomorrow (Proverbs 31)
  

I have been seriously delinquent in keeping this blog up and God reminded me the first day I opened my journal here with those little reminders above that Martha had overtaken Mary (painting kitchen cabinets, cleaning cupboards etc etc etc) and was defining my day.

Even more so, on getting here and seeing the needs I was really ready to roll up my sleeves figuratively and forget everything but 'let's work'.

I'm so grateful to my precious Jesus that He had these words jump out and convict my heart so I've really chosen to hang on tight to the Lord during this time here.

WONDERFUL NEWS
A local hospital here is donating six months of the medicine Sue needs to get started with her treatment and 'between the lines' the insurance company will pay for the PICC line to be put in. This happens, hopefully, next Monday and the drug will start probably by Wednesday.

• Prayer Needs: Nurses within the church body here to help out by administering the drug (a 2 gram portion called a 'popsicle' because it is stored and frozen in these units) as needed. This way we won't have to hire a home nurse to do this.
• That she not only can handle the massive dose of antibiotic but that it will WORK EVEN MORE QUICKLY than it has in some past cases. Her speech is so difficult and it would be wonderful to see help, but we know that it usually takes a long time.
  
• Energy and encouragement for Sue; it's hard to see her suffer but she's joyful.

I had an interesting conversation with the R N who installs the PICC line; when I mentioned how it needed to be done and billed she wanted to know Sue's diagnosis and her response was "oh yes, I work with Lymes patients often whose insurance will not pay for their meds."

Blessings to you all. Karis and I were just watching the sun come up and again those beautiful words came to mind:

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning,
And who told the ocean, you can only come this far,
And who told the moon where to hide until morning,
And who alone can catch a falling star

How grateful I am that it is HE who is overseeing all of us..how can we lose?

Maxine

•