Stitches Story

Last Thursday I was making dinner, pasta and sauce were cooking on the stove, when I decided to open a can of peaches. The top rim of the can was dented so I could only get the can opener halfway around. Then I tried to pry it open with a spoon and when that didn't work I just stuck my hand in the can. As I did it I heard my Mama's voice, "Don't do that, you'll cut your hand." I managed to get it opened enough to get the peaches out and it wasn't until I looked down into the bowl, now full of both peaches and blood, that I realized that I had sliced my hand open.

I thought that maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed, maybe there was just going to be a lot of blood at first. But after running my hand under the sink, I realized that I was wrong. That's when I started screaming for Mark to come help me. He jumped out of the shower and ran into the kitchen. I said, "Please look at it. See if it's that bad." He took one glance, ran and grabbed a washcloth for me to apply pressure with, and then told me he was going to put more than a towel on because I needed stitches.

Thankfully we live across from Community South and I was able to get in quickly. After seven stitches, learning that I am in fact allergic to lidocain, and Mark's gift of a cookie I returned home to rest.

I am thankful this week for God's amazing Grace. I am blessed because I cut down to all of the tendons but not through any of them. I am blessed because I missed severing an artery, by less than a millimeter, that would have required emergency hand surgery to fix. I am blessed because God has used Mark this week as an example of His unconditional love. Thanks be to God for my many blessings!

Not moving yet...

Mark and I have been looking into moving. We have truly made our apartment home, however, because of Mark's work we know that a move is in order. We began praying about the prospect of moving and while we knew that we are not able to purchase a home at this point, we began looking at Rent to Own.

A week later, a friend of ours called to say that his house is on the market and that he is willing to do Rent to Own. We looked at the house and property on Thursday evening. The yard was beautiful and had a HUGE deck! We could have hosted many cookouts there! We also liked the large kitchen and two living rooms. Mark was most excited about the giant heated garage which would have become his "Main Lair." However, the dinning room, bedrooms, and bathroom were all scrunched together and didn't feel like exactly what we wanted.

So, in the end, we have decided not to continue to pursue that property. We are thankful that Matt was willing to consider Rent to Own for us and that we were able to spend so much time going over the house. We have decided to stay put for the time being as we work to faithfully pay down our debts as God has commanded us. We are trying to live by Romans 13:8 "Owe no man anything but to love one another."

Creation Museum

All summer I have been begging Mark to take a trip to the Creation Museum. So yesterday we packed up and went. It was incredible! We were so thankful that the museum offers free admission to active duty police officers and half price to their dependents. Because of that we were able to visit with the gas to get there, my admission, and have lunch all for less than what would have been two tickets! Thanks be to God!

It was such a special experience to visit a place that tells history EXACTLY the way that I believe it. No ape men. No big bang. No "it just happened." But a museum that began with "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." It was such a great time, surrounded by other Christian families celebrating what is the true history of our world.

We were also excited that the museum featured beautiful gardens (with waterfalls and a lake filled with fish we could feed) as well as a petting zoo where I touched my first camel. I am so thankful for the blessing of a day away with my husband and for the shared knowledge of what is Truth.

"What Do You See?"

Mark's Grandma Pat was taken Home Sunday, August 16 by our merciful Lord and Savior. I am so thankful for the comfort and peace that He gave to us in our final week with Grandma.

As I was taking care of her daily, I was able to witness so many beautiful moments between Grandma and her family that she loved so much. My favorite was her last words which came on the Thursday before her passing. Kristi (Mark's mom), our friend Jenni, and I were the only ones home with Grandma. She had been gazing into space and reaching up with her arms all morning. Finally Kristi asked, "Mom, what do you see? Do you see Grandma?" (Kristi's grandmother has been gone many years now) And Grandma Pat whispered, "Yes." Kristi asked again, "What else do you see?" And plain as day, for the first time in weeks in a clear voice, Grandma said one beautiful word, "Heaven."

For a tiny instant she was Grandma again, her eyes looked just as they always had and her voice sounded just like her. I am so thankful for that moment of reassurance from Grandma that our Lord was taking her home. Thanks be to God for the incredible, and undeserved, blessing of eternal life.

Half Birthday Surprise! :)

Yesterday was my half birthday!! After a long day at work, Mark took me out for a surprise. He bought me beautiful opal earrings! :) I'm not always a fan of surprises...but this is one I can live with! I am so thankful to have a husband who listens when I say I like things and watches as I point to them in stores. I love him!

July Recap

Mark's Grandma Pat is still home and doing alright. She spends most of her days in bed now and is, sadly, quickly deteriorating. I am thankful that while she is awake God is still giving her joy and positive words to say and that for the most part she has been able to remember her family. My prayer is that she feels little pain and my selfish worldly want is that she will continue to remember her daughter and three grandsons. She can forget the rest of us but I know how very much they need her to remember them. I pray that God continues to make that a reality.

In other news, I have started a new job at the Johnson County Sheriff's Department. (Yes this is where Mark works, no I do not see him) In the mornings I assist the jail nurse. Mostly that means doing all of her paperwork, listening to inmate complaints, and giving/reading TB tests. Then after lunch, I go up front to the Jail Administration Office and I do tax warrants and I help with Sheriff Sales. So far I love it! I am so thankful to be working again and for new friends! God is truly great!

Changes

Mark officially started work this week at the Johnson County Jail. He is loving it and it is wonderful to watch him live out a dream. God has been so amazing in blessing Mark with the talents and desire to do this job and I thank Him for the opportunity He has given Mark.

As our week was filled with the joy of Mark's new career but it was even more so defined by the news that Mark's Grandma Pat has two brain tumors. At the moment, the assumption is brain cancer, although we will not know more until additional tests are run later this week.

It has been such a strange turn of events. Just two weeks ago, Mark's mom and Grandma Pat and I went to the movies. We ate popcorn and laughed at Sandra Bullock and now Pat is a completely different person. Her mind is so changed in that short time. My prayer is that while her mind is going, she holds fast to her faith. She is a woman of God, who has loved Him and served Him with inspiring passion. She is good to everyone, especially those who have never even been good to her. She is patient and an amazing listener. It will be difficult, even just as the granddaughter-in-law, to watch her mind go. My prayers are for peace for those of us who are aware of what's happening, for peace in Grandma Pat's heart, and most of all for the constant reminder of the gift of eternal life. Thanks be to God.