No Challenge Too Great

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

I was doing something this past week which wouldn’t have been a big deal sixteen months ago. But as you know, since April 1 of last year, I have been defeated and broken in more ways than one.

But there I was that day last week, wondering if I was up to the physical challenge that I put in front of me, when the above verse came into my head. I knew this verse, I’d heard it many times and in many places. So where was it over the past sixteen months? I don’t know. But suddenly there it was and there I was meeting what should have been a minor task, had I been as physically fit as I had been in the past.

God is good and it is only through the strength of Jesus Christ that I have made it this far.

More next week about this teeny challenge. For today, I look at that picture above, and think, was that really me? Talk about a challenge, climbing and hiking miles through Hell’s Gate in Kenya, seven years ago. I couldn’t do that now. Or could I?  

 

Oh, Glorious Day

 

I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: “Now God's home is with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.” (Revelation 21:3-4, Good News Translation)

I think it’s been a while since I’ve given you any updates on my chronic pain. I feel like that affliction itself is pretty much gone. Oh, sure, I still get the quirky pains in random places. I’d been doing well for a week, and then my left hip jerked me around, and I couldn’t bend for a few hours. But it loosened up, and life went on.

Mostly, my body is constantly stiff and achy. I stretch out my back throughout the day, but it only helps to a certain extent. My neck isn’t too painful anymore, but it is exceptionally stiff, so I can’t turn my head to check traffic while driving. Thank You, God, for the safety features in my car, like the backup camera and warning lights when someone is in my blind spot.

I can live with what’s been going on in my body, even my old nemesis – the kidney stone, which came out of nowhere Monday night.

The Bible passage above was yesterday's verse on the Bible Gateway website. It reminds me that someday I’ll no longer have any pain; I won’t even have the stiffness and achiness. Oh, what a glorious day that will be!

And then there was one

As you may recall, a year ago last January we made the tough decision to put down our Dino. He had lived with us for over fifteen years and had made friends with all the cats who came and went in our household. But his best buddy was the Cheshire Cat, or Ches for short.

Last summer Ches was diagnosed with diabetes. He continued to go downhill, and we knew that eventually we would have to make a decision.

Over the weekend, his breathing got much worse, and he wasn’t interested in his food. When I called the vet on Tuesday, they were able to get him in that day.

He is once again with his best buddy, Dino.

Ches was by far our most photogenic pet.

And sadly, poor little Emma is all we have left. 

Some Place I Know

A year ago, we sold my mom’s land to another relative of ours. On Memorial Day, Hubby and I had the honor of being invited out to visit that piece of property with its new owners. I was so happy to see them enjoying it – getting outdoors with the kids and getting them away from their cell phones and video games.

I couldn’t remember exactly where I had taken pictures of before, but I gave it my best shot.

May 2024

July 2017

May 2024

July 2017

May 2024

August 2018

May 2024

Aug 2018

They said they were going to put everyone’s hand prints on this rock. I thought it was a cool idea, until I saw the face on the rock. Hmm? Maybe a paint job would cheer him up. 

Someone I Do Know

 On Friday, I wrote about the last words that my parents said to me. My dad's words, I thought, were especially profound. "You are someone I should know."

Here's the really cool thing - when I die and go to heaven, all my loved ones who have gone before me will greet me and my dad will say, "You ARE someone I know."

And then you know what Jesus will say to me? "I know you; I have called you by name." Jesus more than just knows me as someone in passing, He knows me as someone He loves and was willing to die for. 

The Lord who created you says, “Do not be afraid—I will save you.  I have called you by name—you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you. I will give up Egypt to set you free. I will give up whole nations to save your life, because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honor. Do not be afraid—I am with you!" (Isaiah 43:1-5a, Good News Translation) 

Some of my husband's family - grandparents, aunts, uncles and his mom.
Five of them have been called home to Jesus. 

Last Words

 
My mom would have been 97 years old today. Hard to believe. But she passed away in February of 2017, a few months shy of her 90th birthday.

The doctor had admitted her to the hospital that afternoon because she was declining so much. I helped the nurse tuck her in bed before returning to work at the clinic just down the hall. I’m pretty sure the last words I said to her were something like, “I love you, and I’ll be back when I finish with work.”

I’m pretty sure she answered with something like, “I love you, too. Thank you for everything you do for me.” As if she hadn’t done more for me as my mother.

Two hours later, her doctor – the one I worked for – came out of his office to tell me the hospital had just called him to say my mom had passed away.

Quite the surprise, but I knew she was ready.

A few weeks ago, I watched an old episode of a TV sitcom where the character’s dad had died, and he couldn’t remember what his dad’s last words were to him. His dad’s death was even less expected than my mom’s, so why would he say something loving and meaningful?

My dad had Alzheimer’s, and it was getting more and more challenging to keep him at home. Mom finally admitted him to the nursing home on a Friday morning, and I went to see him that afternoon. He was happily pacing the hall, along with several other residents who didn’t know what they were doing.

When I walked up to him, his face lit up. “You’re someone I should know.”

I answered, “Yes, Dad, it’s me, Chris.”

He smiled, nodded, and then kept walking down the hall.

He ended up in the hospital with pneumonia on that Sunday and passed away on Thursday.

I feel blessed that both my parents had gentle words to say to me just before they left their earthly bodies. If any of your loved ones had less than kindness to share with you before their passing, please don’t sweat it. It’s life. But you might want to remember to say something loving to those you care about whenever you see them.

(The picture is of my mom and my sister Pat at my first wedding in 1985. I always liked this picture - they both look so happy. I can't remember what Pat's last words were.)

Turtles, turtles and more turtles

Last Wednesday, when we had that rare day of beautiful weather in the Northwoods, I took a walk with a friend through a local park, and we saw a few turtles.

Okay, it seemed like more than just a few. How many can you see in the picture above?

But I did manage to take pictures of things other than turtles.

And as nice as those shots were, I kept coming back to the turtles. How many can there be on three different small bodies of water within a quarter mile of each other?