Mama has a low blood pressure now, to help her heart.(We were unaware of this at first) She is going to be moved onto the main heart floor this afternoon!!  Praise the Lord! 

I kept hearing the song - "Oh that will be-- Glory for me-- Glory for me-- Glory for me"   -- and I kept wondering if this was Mama's song for the day!  My uncle says the song for the end of it all was - "To God be the Glory, great things He hath done"!   Isn't it wonderful how music can be a part of such a time of trial?

Thank you for your prayers lifted to our Father for our family today.  Mother is in CCU and is resting well this evening. She will be there at least 24 hours. The doctor told her that she should see a big difference once she is up and around. She won't be soooo tired anymore, and should feel more energetic.  We just hope she will not push things too fast! - and remember that she has just been through surgery.

She was taken up this morning to have the cauterization done. They were planning to put a stint in if the blockage would allow it.  They found the one artery on the lower section of her heart to be blocked 100%. They brought her out and reduced some of the fluid that had built up in her body, and scheduled her back for 1:30 PM.  Her primary care physician was in the operating room with the surgeon. They worked for what we felt was a LONG time before they returned and said that they were unable to get through the blockage, and a by-pass was not an option (even if we would want one)! 

Daddy knew at that point that we were in some serious trouble.  Everyone with him at the hospital, along with Melvene and I on the phone, lifted our hearts and desires to our Heavenly Father.  We again asked a few prayer chains to pray especially during the next hour.

Mama's primary physician was such an encourager to the surgeon. Several times the surgeon would just about give up the fight to get through the blockage, and he would be encouraged to try just a little more! They cleaned a lot of stuff out once they broke through, and installed the stint.

We are all aware again of the way God cares for us. What a great God we serve.

Mother has been admitted to the hospital in Thomasville, GA. She will have a heart cauterization done tomorrow morning. She has agreed to stints if they are needed, but will not accept a by-pass surgery. Neither does she want to be put on "life support" machines.  The family understands her wishes and supports her in them.

We were told that there has been some damage done to the heart, probably from a heart attack that she had a week ago on Sunday.  She told my sister that she had had pain between her shoulder blades and down her left arm. She also began to feel like she was sick to her stomach and started to sweat, especially above the waist.  She said her hair had gotten very wet from the sweating.  BUT!  she told no one of her pain!  She also had a couple more experiences (lighter) during last week, and again said nothing about it.

It was not until this morning that she shared anything with us about not feeling good.  Let this be a lesson to us all -- share with your spouse, child or someone you can trust to have your best interest at heart the hurts that you have. These not only include the physical ones, but the ones of our souls as well.

Please continue to pray for us as a family, and especially for Mother tomorrow as she goes into "twilight zone" for a little while.We know she is in God's hands and perfect will.

I know that God cares about everything, big or small in our lives.  Today I am again being made aware of the "ways of the Lord", and am sure that He still cares for us.

This morning while I was talking with my mother, she mentioned that she has not felt well during the night. After our phone call ended, I called my sister that lives close to her and requested that she take Mom's blood pressure. They are now at the doctor's office, with all of us believing that she had a heart attack LAST Sunday night.  She had not told anyone of that - or the pain she felt several times since - until this morning.

We ask for your prayers that God may see fit to allow her to be with us - and yet in the same breath - that we would know that we are cared for if He chooses to take her with him.

Thanks for your prayers, and we will keep you updated!

I was tagged several days ago to tell seven things about me that you may find interesting.  Here goes ---

1. "Christmas at Home - I feel it all year through. Though I roam, my heart returns ever new - to Christmas at Home"  That song is just how I feel.  I LOVE Christmas, and would like to have that atmosphere around me all year long. I realize that part of that "atmosphere" relies on my attitude with/to those around me.

2. I enjoy sewing - just about anything! To create something new, and see it worn or used is a real pleasure to me.

3. Photography - film or digital. Never thought I would get away from film, but it is sooo nice to take pictures, see what is ok, or delete the bad. It also gives me the opportunity to take pictures of things that I would not have "wasted" film on before, and enjoy them.

4. Travel - I'll go just about anywhere - just give me a map! Would love to travel to Europe sometime. Love the country in Colorado, but have not seen much of the West.

5. Believe that nonresistance is a part of a Christian's life, not a term used to keep one out of the armed services.

6. Believe that "change" is the only permanent thing in life!  God has the most amusing things for us -- if we allow Him to direct our path.  Example - The company we were working for a few years ago, closed their doors and left us without work. I would have NEVER thought the next job would be daily getting me up earlier than any other had.  4:30 AM!! -but I really enjoy taking care of Tom.  He is a real blessing to our family at home.

7. Cooking and watching people enjoy the results is a favorite pastime.  Maybe it is a "past" time!  My kitchen seldom sees me except for the weekends - Tuesday through Saturday has my breakfast and lunch provided. By the time for supper -- who wants any?  Merle most of the time picks up a sandwich on the way home (gets here around 8 PM) and Elizabeth is often out of town or working late.

If anyone would care to write seven things about me - please do.  It would be interesting to hear your ideas or impressions!

I had something very special happen today! A little girl was born. She weighed 6 lbs. and 3 oz. She has been given the name of Emma Grace! Her father said she was named after his grandmother Emma, and after me and an aunt of his wife (also named Grace)! I don't believe there has been another one named because of me before.  Oh -- you want to know who the parents are???  Chad and Angel Hershberger!  He is the son of Ray and Betty Hershberger (Merle's brother)  I get off early tomorrow, and you will probably see my dust on the way to welcome her into the family!  Guess I'll take a gold dollar to start her savings account! and maybe a piggy bank!

The pictures of the wedding in Colorado have not come on the site yet, but soon will.  I was the photographer, and did not feel it right to place pictures here before the bride and groom were able to see them. Thanks for understanding.

We were given the privilege to say something about our mothers this morning in church. I mentioned that I was grateful for the mother that raised me and the mother-in-law that God gave me. There has been so much learned from both of them.

From my mother I learned the "drive" that keeps me going, how to make the best out of a bad time, enjoy what a couple of my nieces call "cheap thrills" (anything that you enjoy that doesn't cost any money is one!), how to prepare and preserve food, sew clothing (and enjoy it!), desire to learn something new, enjoy being hospitable  -- and a myriad of other things!  God knew just the one that would help me through my growing years by allowing me "wings" to grow.  Sometimes those wings were strong and other times they were floundering, but she allowed me to become strong without clipping them too many times!

From my mother-in-law I learned how to take my time - not really patience, but next thing to it! She helped me to not worry about what others thought, but to give to my family all that I could. She showed me how one can accept the unlovely (me at times) and love them in spite of what had happened - forgetting the incident in the process!  She showed me how to become a Grandma - allowing the children to raise their own (just as she allowed us to make our own mistakes!) and enjoy the "moments" we have with them.

What did I leave for my children?  I know of one thing.  If they ever questioned me - "What is wrong with it?"  -- They will tell you that my question in response will be "What is right with it?"   If they could answer that question to our satisfaction, then they would have the privilege to consider doing what they desired.  Interestingly enough, most of the time -  they chose what we had suggested in the first place!  If we as a family can apply that thought to any change that we want to make, then we won't make many major mistakes!

May God bless each one of you Mothers in Xanga Land -  and may you share the blessings with all those around you!

It was told when I was young, and now I know it is true!  -- Time goes faster as one gets older!  Strawberries belong in the Springtime, but one forgets how close to the middle of a year they ripen! Last year we froze some in jars (like my mother-in-law has for years), and we enjoyed them sooo much that I got a few gallon and froze more.  Then I was reminded (after almost all the space in the freezer was used up again) that there was no strawberry jam in the freezer.  We like the frozen jam so much better than canned, tastes so "fresh"!

It has been a long time since I was in Colorado with my inlaws and cousins.  My youngest niece out there has asked me to come take pictures of their wedding - and my plane ticket has been bought months ago!  Wasn't going to miss getting there!  Elizabeth has been asked to be the wedding coordinator and is flying out a few days earlier than me. The wedding is outside and the reception inside near a town about an hour from where they live. Just praying we have lovely weather!

Last year we celebrated our parents 80th birthdays.  This year, Lord willing, we will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary a few days after Christmas!  If you ask them, I am sure they will say that in many ways it seems like only yesterday when they went to church on a Sunday morning and got married during the preaching service! Only those that normally attended morning church service (with the exception of Mama's family) were the guests for them. Family and a few close friends attended the noon/wedding meal at Uncle Elam and Aunt Carrie Peachey's home (where Mama was living).

I left the church auditorium yesterday between devotions and the sermon (seldom done).  When ready to return to my seat, a special little boy was holding my hand, with eyes just sparkling, and a huge smile on his face!  (That sight was one that went straight to my heart - the part where "treasured moments" are kept!) I felt 10 feet tall, and was afraid we were taking attention away from the sermon. (no one probably noticed! We often think people are paying attention when they are not!) Our grandson sat with us during the remainder of the church service! He even shared a Cert with me when Grandpa gave him the pack! We will be remembering that service for many days.

One tends to forget that the season actually begins on the "first" day of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.  For some reason we think that March is spring-- when most of the month is actually the end of winter.  Spring seems to have chased winter away. We are having beautiful weather, warmer during the day, with a bit of nip in the air during the night. The flowers are looking bright, and the leaves on the trees are begining to look like there could be some shade from the warmer sun in the afternoon.  The kind of weather that is just perfect for picnics during the day and a bonfire in the late evening! 

Today is my daughter-in-laws birthday!  She is a treasure, has a earnest desire to live for her Lord, and is the mother to our wonderful grandson that her and our son are raising. I wish so much that the energy she has could spill over and be absorbed into some of my activities!  Age may have something to do with all that!

When my neice introduced me to Xanga, I never realized how nice it would be.  The day is brightened by the "letters" in my "mailbox", and time is not wasted in opening all the envelopes! Some do not understand how nice it is to hear from people we know/don't know, see pictures of them and their families, and have the time to pray over each entry that is in the mailbox that day. May God bless each one of you in a special way that read my "mail" to you!