November Count Down To Christmas Give-A-Way

Well, Christmas is just over 30 days away. Seems hard to believe. I hope and pray that you will take the next four weeks to spend time daily reflecting the reason we celebrate Christmas.

I'm not sure I will have another give-a-way before Christmas, BUT I do have one lined up for the New Year and Valentine's Day.This month is a hodge podge of stuff. To enter, simply leave a comment in the "comment section." Instead of leaving just your name and email, how about sharing your favorite Christmas memory or a tradition you or your family have. Make sure you do leave an email address for me to contact you back.

2 Bath Time Body Paints for kids/Coconut Custard

1 Moisture Therapy Intensive lotion/purse size

1 Black Cherry & Nutmeg Moisturizing Shower Gel

1 Sweet Sugar Cookie Bubble Bath/24 oz size

1 Pink Paisley Cosmetic Bag

So, I hope you will enter to win. The kids or grandkids, nieces or nephews are sure to love the body paint and make GREAT stocking stuffers!

I'll announce the winners Monday, November 30th.

Good luck!

Entertaining Angels

You know that scripture in Hebrews, the one that talks about the prisoners and entertaining angels…yes, that’s the one, Hebrews 13:1 – 3.  Eddie Echarri quoted that scripture a lot.  In case you aren’t familiar with it, here’s how it goes.

Hebrews 13: 1 – 3 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Let brotherly love continue.  Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed (entertained) angels as guests without knowing it.  Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.”

Eddie used to stop for everyone.  People joked that as mean as Eddie was, he was one of the most merciful people I have ever known.  Eddie taught me a lot.

I’ve thought of this scripture all day today.  I often pray and ask the Lord to use me, but rarely slow down enough, or pay attention to what the Lord wants to show me.  Today, it took making a U-turn to get to where “I” was trying to get before I realized what was really going on.  I’m not saying I entertained an angel today, but I did get to touch somebody’s life today.

Kayla, Kaitlyn and I were on our way taking some AVON books to a customer.  I had intended on entering the back gate at Governor’s Gate, but thanks to some construction, that gate was locked.  On the way to Governor’s gate, I noticed a senior adult walking in the middle of the road, with a walker, carrying some bags.  I immediately thought, “that doesn’t look right….”  Me, being in the hurry I was, just drove by.  I know, I know….  Because I had to turn around in order to enter the apartment complex from the main entrance, we passed the senior adult again.  He was attempting to cross 4 lanes of moving traffic and 2 turning lanes.  That’s when I knew something was really wrong. 

I watched hundreds of people driving by this helpless old man, who was lost and had no idea how to get back to his home.  He remembered his phone number, he said his wife will answer.  She did just that.

In the mean time, another older gentleman pulled over, helped him to our car and loaded the walker in the back with Kayla and Kaitlyn. 

I don’t share this to boast, but to just be so thankful that I got to be used today to touch some one’s life.  So many times I let opportunities pass me by.  I’m thankful, today, that didn’t happen.

I don’t know that old man’s story, all I know is our local bus system dropped him off and told him to “Go that way….” 

My grandfather has Alzheimer’s.  I hope if he ever gets lost, someone will help him find his way home.

“Thank you, Lord, for letting me touch someone’s life today.  Forgive me for passing by so many opportunities.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

Thanksgiving Count Down

Thanksgiving is one week away.... one of my favorite scriptures is found in Luke 7:36 - 50.  Verse 47 says, "Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much.  BUT, the one who is forgiven little, loves little."  I, and I, know exactly and how much I've been forgiven... this is true for each of us.  We all have something to be thankful for.  For me... I'm thankful for forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love. 

"Thank you Lord for new starts.  I thank you for being constant.  Lord, right now I pray for the one hurting.  I pray for the one who seems to think they have nothing to be thankful for.  Lord, I pray for the one who has no home, I pray for the one that has a home, but no water or electricity, or has holes in the floor, or not enough clothing to keep warm.  Lord I pray that you will meet their needs today.  I pray you will reveal yourself to them in a way that they would stand in awe of you.  I pray for the hurting Lord, the ones who have lost loved ones and don’t understand why, I pray for the ones that have family members dying, I pray for the orphans…. Oh God I pray for the pre-teens and teenagers who think no one wants them because of their age.  Oh God, show me what I can do, what my family can to do love on them.  I pray for my own teenager.  I pray God  you will give me wisdom and knowledge and help me to raise and teach her.  God I pray you will hold my tongue before I open my mouth.  I thank you for loving me.  Thank you for sending ones in my life just over 11 years ago to show me Your way.  I love you Jesus.  Amen."

AVON/Black Friday Sale

Life Living

My Pappow is at the end of his life.  He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 10 or 12 years ago. 

I realize that life is full of many obstacles; but I also realize that life is full of moments, of joys, of memories.

My dad picked Kayla and me up Saturday and took us to Jackson to give us the opportunity to see Pappow, basically before he passed away.  I had yearned for this opportunity, dad made it possible.  For that I am thankful.

Our visit with Pappow was tough.

Our original plans for our return trip home was to drop Mammow off at the hospital this morning, then dad was going to take me to put flowers out at my Granny and Pappow’s grave.  I hadn’t been able to get there in three years; this is something that is very near and dear to my heart.  But, this morning, when I woke up, I had this overwhelming sense that I needed to spend time with the living, and not with what has already passed. 

This morning, I had the joy, the privilege, and honor of cleaning my Pappow’s mouth, cleaning his eyes, giving him a drink and moisturizing his badly chapped arms. While I could never repay my grandfather for all he has done for me, and while he has no clue what little effort was done this morning to make him more comfortable, it was just very humbling. 

Since I found out I would be going to Jackson, I had been praying for this visit.  When I lived in a children’s home during my high school years, I was exposed to Alzheimer’s Disease.  One of the homes on our campus was for Alzheimer’s patients.  I knew what to expect, but I wasn’t sure how my heart would hold up. 

As I have stated before, I am a visual learner.  While typing this I was reminded of Jesus washing feet.  Jesus didn’t wash feet to be glorified.  Hhhhmmm, I wonder if the nurses and nurses aids are doing what they are doing to be glorified.  I would say definitely not.  I have never thought of what nurses have to encounter during a given day, how many bum’s (by that I mean back-side) they have to clean, vomit they clean up, sheets they have to dry and soiled linens they come in contact.  I have a new appreciation for the people that are caring, not only for my Pappow, but for anybody that is not able to care for themselves.  If you are a nurse, and you are reading this, I thank you for your time, for your dedication, for all you endure during a given shift.  Bless You.

Another thing I got to thinking about is how plainly I knew the Lord was telling me to “spend time with the living.”  What does that mean?  For me, as Timon and Pumbah would put it, “Put your past behind you.”  I caught myself just this afternoon fretting over the past all the “wrongs I did towards my Mammow and Pappow.”  As much as I wish I could make it up to them, I know I can’t.  The fact is, I can’t change anything about it, nor would I want to. 

There is a scripture, I think in Luke 7, that says, “She loves much as she was forgiven much.”  While I know this scripture is referring to Christ’s love, grace, mercy and forgiving of sins (which were many), it spoke to my heart today about my grandparents.  I have hurt them much, they have forgiven much, I love them much. 

While just thinking about the passing of my Pappow brings me much pain, I know the special place I had in his heart, I know he loved me much.  I will cherish deeply the precious, precious smiles we were granted on our short visit.  My heart years to spend each day with him, to clean him, to help relieve my Mammow so she can rest.  While I know my immediate family is my first priority, and I know my son needs me now more than ever with EEG’s and MRI’s, I am feeling torn between the two.

I don’t know if this makes any since at all.  I’ve kind of rambled, trying to not let the emotions take control of the keyboard, so to speak, but just needed to shed a few tears, be thankful, and love.

We celebrated my Kaitlyn’s birthday Friday (she turned 4 Saturday).  I find myself treasuring my moments more, maybe that’s an age thing, maybe it’s a maturing thing, maybe I’m just learning about life living….

“Father in life’s moments, please help me to seize, capture every moment, to use my time wisely, to treasure the tiny moments.  Lord I pray for my Mammow.  I pray for the ability to sleep, to rest.  I pray that she is strengthened, empowered and encouraged by some “walking angel” you put in her path today.   I pray for the nurses that come in contact with my Pappow today; I pray they will see him as if they were his own grandfather lying there, with love and gentleness.  I pray for my sister and her husband who are also nurses.  Lord, I pray for my dad, for my Uncle Steve, for my cousins, for my brother and sister…. I ask you to use me to comfort and love, help me be strong.  I love you Jesus.  I am thankful today, very thankful for all you do for me.  I love you Jesus.  Amen.”

Christopher Gets Glasses

I mentioned in my last post that Christopher failed his vision screening at school. We took him to see our eye doctor. Sure enough, he did poorly on his vision test. The doctor seemed stunned that his right and left eye are not talking to each other! For me, it confirmed what the therapist said weeks earlier that his right and left brain are not working together/talking together.

We saw the Pediatric Neurologist. While he found his left side to be a little weaker than his right, he does not feel it is weak enough for something to be wrong; HOWEVER, he is ordering an MRI, EEG and extensive blood work to make sure he is isn't missing something.

My little man has always used both hands for writing, coloring, playing. I'm anxious to see what the results show.

I'm attaching a few pictures of my handsome fella in his new glasses. I still have Halloween pics to post another time.

Christopher getting fitted for glasses video.