Well hello, all y’all!  I hope you’re enjoying your summer, so far!  Yes, really, finally, it’s me … I am still here =) … and I hope you haven’t forgotten me!  So much has been happening, well, maybe not so much, but at times, life can be downright overwhelming!  Here’s a bit of an update from my last entry, which, whew, has definitely been quite awhile, so I hope you will all remember some of this … if not, check the entry below! I am so sorry I haven’t been over here sooner! =

My computer seems to be doing okay, so far … a few glitches, but for now, it all computes!  =)  For security, though, I did join Carbonite, which has backed up everything that is on my computer, off-line, onto a safe, incrypted site … so, if it crashes, everything can be retrieved, and restored, onto a new hard drive!  There are a few programs out there like that, but this one comes highly recommended by some very knowledgeable people, and by some large companies who use it.  I feel better knowing that I won’t lose my pictures, or, any of our business information! 

Now, for what’s been happening in my corner of the world ….

Mom Betty and O.P. seem to be doing well …. although dad has been quite forgetful of late, and seems a bit more frail.  We continue to pray for them.  It’s hard seeing those we love growing older.  We recently celebrated his 88th birthday … it was a special day for him, with family in from out of town to share in it!

My sister, Pattie, and her husband, Tom, hope to be moving back down our way very soon … the house they are in, is now on the market.  Tom’s brother is overseeing the sale of the home, so they’re just biding time until it sells.  She is so anxious to get moved back down here … the drive is long, and it is a strain on their budget.  I will love having them back … I’ve missed my sister!

Tim, Ian’s friend, is back from Malawi, and doing well!  I’ve helped edit some of the photos from his trip, and they are awesome, and do truly touch the heart!  I’ll try to get the link to some of them … they are over on Facebook, right now.  For those of you who haven’t seen them, I know you’d appreciate them very much.  I’ll be helping him again, soon, and I hope to be helping him on some photography jobs, as well.  I’m anxious to learn more, and he’s a good teacher! =)  When I’m with Tim, I feel close to Ian.  Yes, Ian is still away, and I’m asking you all to remember him in your prayers.  Last week, he fell, and either sprained, or broke his ankle!  Sound familiar?!  I’ve seen photos, and it looks worse than my hubby’s, when he broke his after falling on the ice, the end of December!  We sent a package to Ian, with the boot that hubby wore to stablize it … he said it really helps.  He did go to the hospital for x-rays, but they were unable to take them because of the swelling.  He hasn’t gone back yet, either, so I’m glad he has the ‘boot’!  I’m praying that he does go to the doctor, but right now, he’s also going through some major struggles out there, so please, if you would, do keep him in your prayers … they are so very appreciated!  I’ll eventually be able to share more with you, but for now, God knows!

Wow, time has flown, and it’s been just a little over a year, now, since our Miss Elizabeth had her bone marrow transplant, and she is doing just wonderful!  Praise the Lord!  I’m needing to get some of the many photos, that I have, to her, as she is wanting to make a video of this past year … a sort of ‘closure’ to it all … a time of marking her new beginning … or, moving on!  God is so good!  She’s such a special young lady!

My two cats are doing well … and again, will be keeping me company this weekend, as hubby is on his way out of town to another job … this time in a nursing home.  He’ll enjoy meeting the people there, and, I’m sure, will be sharing his love of the Lord with them!  I’m praying the weather doesn’t get too bad while he’s gone.  I’m hearing inklings of storms that may blow through, along with 90+ degrees!  We just had a bad storm come through this past Tuesday, and early that morning I heard a transformer blow behind the house, and yes, we lost all power for 2 days!  I’m thankful it wasn’t too warm, but it was hard being without water, as we are on a well here.  Some people have those back-up battery operated sump pumps, but our landlord does things as minimally as possible these days!  We had to haul water for a few hours, until a friend loaned us a generator … thank you, Lord!  We also were able to hook our refrigerator up to it, so, thankfully, we didn’t lose any food!  Unfortunately, though, we lost some very large limbs off of the two trees in our front yard!  The shade is virtually gone now, but we are so grateful that they missed the house, by just a few feet!  Our landlord said he was working on getting the ‘mess’ cleaned up, but, how long that will take, we just don’t know.  It could be awhile, if he procrastinates as he has in the past around here.  We’re still having trouble with the electricity not being up to standards.  We don’t think he wants to make any changes in that department right now.  We are continuing to look for a place to move, so if you would, say a prayer about that for us!

Being without power takes away the normal every day distractions … which is what I believe the Lord intended for us at this time.  Lewis was home from work, and we were able to spend that extra time alone with Him, together … reading the Word and praying for needs, our own, and others, to be met … and all that was very good.  When I realized that we could be without power until the weekend …. as the news on our wind-up radio was saying …. I finally just relaxed knowing it all would be okay, and we could cope with things.  Well, just about that time, I started reading in Psalm 37, and when I got to the verse about delighting yourself in the Lord, and He would give you the desires of your heart … that is exactly the moment the power came back on!  I kid you not!  You should have seen me a ‘hoopin’ and a hollarin’, and praising the Lord!! Lol!!  It’s when we finally just release those burdens, and find our rest in Him … that’s when He works on our behalf!  I’m learning to ‘let go, and let God’ with each passing trial!  So, tell me, have you ever had a particular situation like that happen to you?  Like I said, God is so awesomely good … even if we don’t have electricity … His power is what sustains us!  I have to say, that I am so grateful for electricity, though, that’s for sure!  Candlelight was quite nice, but not so good for reading … I so appreciate the invention of the 100 Watt lightbulb! Oh, and running water!  =)

Well, I’ll close for now, but my plan is to be around here more often.  A few have migrated to Facebook, and I am over there every now, and then, but like I said before, I like it here better, and I have missed it!  I also want to change the look a bit around here, but first, I need to do some visiting, and see how you all have been … I do want to apologize, again, for not coming by sooner!  To sum it all up … yes, it has been awhile.  Over the past few months with the loss of my friend, missing my son, life’s ‘seasonal’ changes and the physical challenges that can bring, feeling alone, and a bit ‘lost’, and at times, feeling that distance from the Lord, not to mention all those computer difficulties ……. I realize that regardless of all my shortcomings, and failures, He IS faithful … no matter what we travel through, what struggles, challenges, or trials we face, He knows it ALL!  I know you’ve heard this before, but, ‘He never promised us a rose garden’, or that life would be easy … but, one thing He did promise is that He would never leave us, or forsake us … an ever present help in times of trouble!  I’m realizing more and more, how much adversity … those trials in our lives enable us to grow up in Him … there’s a poem somewhere out there called, ‘It’s in the Valley We Grow’.  I’ll try to find a copy of that … I remember it brought encouragement when I read it!

Grace … thank you Lord, for your ever merciful grace, and loving us in whatever state we’re in!  You know each one of us … from beginning to end … nothing surprises You … You’re never caught off guard, even when our lives are in total turmoil, You are our peace in the midst … our shelter from the storm … our strong and high tower!  Ever faithful!  Thank you, LORD!

You all go and have a fantastic faith-filled Friday!  I’ll be praying that your day is full, and blessed with the joy of His presence, and I’ll be visiting you soon, and catching up with, long overdue, replies to your messages! ;o) And thank you again, for keeping Ian in your thoughts and prayers!

 Love & Hugs,
           ~ Deborah <><