Just Checking In.

I received the below message in an email, and I would like to post it for you to read.

"JUST CHECKING IN"

A minister passing through his church
In the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
And see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
A man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw
The man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kinda shabby
And his coat was worn and frayed,
The man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed,
Each noon time came this chap,
Each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
With robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him,
'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.The minister feeling foolish,
Told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime

Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,
He'd never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
And met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart,
He repeated old Jim's prayer:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.' Past noon one day, the minister noticed
That old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim,
He began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,
Learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious.
Changed people, were his reward.
The head nurse couldn't understand
Why Jim was so glad,
When no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
Up and with a winsome smile;
'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
That he's in here all the while

Everyday at noon He's here,
A dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.

ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Thank You for reading this and I hope it blesses you, as it did me. God bless

Nana

A year ago

It has been a year on the 31 st. of this month that my mom went home to be with the Lord. And her loved ones that went home before her. I been doing alot of thinking this week. And life is so short. We are not guarnteed no certain expiration date. You know when you go to the grocery store and you pick up the product you want to buy there is an expiration date on it. That means it is only guarnteed to that date that is stamped on the product. When God made us, we have no stamp that has an expiration date. We need to always be prepared every day and hour and second. If our name is up in the Lamb's book of life that we are prepared to enter into the kingdom of God.


In the last 2 weeks I have known 4 people who have passed on . Some personally and some by friends or family. But they were related to someone and they had touched someone life. I want to live the rest of my life that I have on this earth . So when I die, people can say I knew her . I miss my mom alot. But I know she is in a much better place. She is in no pain, and emotionally she is at peace.


Today a younglady got ahold of Becca, through facebook. She is my stepson Matthew's daughter she is looking for him to reunite with him. She was told we nor him ever wanted to do with her. She has been so misinformed. Please be praying that when they get to talk . That they can get some things solved. She is 23 has a little boy that will be 1 on Aug. 5th. And Becca 's 1st son Zachariah passed on Aug 5th. in 2002. Wow God is so good.

You know there is nothing more important to me than God and my family.

Only thing I can say is this, Mom I love you the mostest.

God Bless
Nana

IT'S FINISHED

It has been awhile since I have blogged. I was up in northern Illinois with my Mom May and June. She went in the hospital and from there nursing home, last February. I came home June 11th.. My baby daughter renewed her wedding vows in a church setting. That was different but beautiful. Then there was gardening. Then on July 26th I got a phone call that my Mom was in allot of pain, from my brother I told them to get her to the hospital. Then on Monday the 27th they called and said Mom was going to have to have surgery. She had diverticulitis and she had puss bags all in her stomach and then laying on her colon. They scheduled her for surgery for the 30th. Mom wanted to know what we thought. I said what ever she wanted. Mom decided to do the surgery.. I left on that Monday, I got there that evening. Gina took me to Champaign and my brother and his friend picked me up and took me on to Rock Island. I went to the hospital the very next morning, Mom wanted me to get some rest. Well anyway's, I stayed at the hospital most of the day on Tuesday, my sister and my Mom's husband (Grandpa). Then on Wednesday morning Mom called me and said Debbie, they are taking me to ICU, my heart rate and b/p is very low. Well of course you get dressed and you run out the door. They were having problems getting a vein in her. The Dr. had said on Tuesday, she would be a high risk factor if she had that surgery. But on Wednesday he said surgery had been postponed. Well Mom kept getting weaker as the day went on. The nurses and staff in the ICU were excellent. Mom said to her nurse that she was going home , the nurse said where is that, and Mom said she was going to heaven. She wanted us to call her sister, 3 of my girls. My sister's kids were there in and out. She told the girls bye. She asked for a dear friend of hers. It was very hard to understand mom. Around 7 pm. That evening might of been around 8 mom never said another word. Thursday morning the kidney Dr. came in and said Mom's kidney's had shut down. And her DNR stated if the only way she was to be kept alive was by machines then she did not want placed on them. So it was decided by family not to put her on. The bottom part of her heart was the only thing working.
I had my daughter to sing a song that was a Grandma song. I placed the phone up on her shoulder and put it on speaker. Mom had a tear running down her face. I knew she had heard it.Then they took everything away from Mom but her oxygen. On Friday the decision was made to highly sedated mom and to take her off the oxygen. When you are put in these shoes you think about things very closely and wonder if you are doing the right thing. Now let me say this. Many times in the last 4 years MOM had come out of it. So I was still waiting for her to come out of it. So they move Mom up to a different floor, to a step before hospice. The Dr. told us if mother was still hanging on , on Saturday that she would move to full hospice. Well the day progresses and family that was lived in the Quad Cities and some close friends. Were there with us. Other's like my daughter's and my Aunt and Uncles were waiting to hear from us. Do to jobs and such they would not be able to come until. Anyways it had been a long day. I had been outside and such talking to my sister-in-law and others on phone. I went back into the room. And my sister Tammy was up in mom's bed. So someone put the side rail down for me. I laid up on mom's and her and I just laid there. Now let me mention this I left Grandpa out, and didn't mean to. He was holding my Mom's hand. Now we are losing a Mother here. But he was losing his life. We had our families to go home to. He was never going to hear my Mom yell at him again. DOYLE !!!!!!! And I say that with the deepest respect for him and my Mother. For those who knew my mom knows what I am talking about. Well I am jumping around so let me get back to where I said. GO and prepare a place for us. Mom raised her head and her face distorted her eyes fluttered and rolled back in her head. And she laid back down and Mom was gone. I do not know what was going on for those 3 days with Mom only Mom and Jesus know. But I do know this she is at peace. A peace that she has never had before. I have said all this to come to this.
My mom and I had not always had a wonderful relationship. When I became an adult I just drifted away. I had always felt like I never was wanted in the family. I was different I was the shortest, I was the heaviest of all of us. Mom and I argued allot when I became an adult. When I was a kid I tried to do what I was suppose to. I am sure there were times I did not. I was not as outgoing then than now. And still today I have a reserved side to me. Anyways I had anger and bitterness in my heart towards my mom. I felt like I was being put down no matter what I did as an adult. A few years ago I moved to Beaumont Texas. She would harp on me every time I talked to her on the phone. About numerous of things. And how I was wrong. And I said to her one time do you talk to my brother and sister like you do me. And she would say NO . And I just here we are just like when I was a kid. Anyways Let me say this. In 2004 I came back to southern Indiana . I was a mad lady, angry, mad at everyone in my life past and present. Mad at God , mad at my husband who had gone home to be with the Lord in 86. For once in my life I wanted people to step up to the plate and say hey I am sorry I have done you wrong. I am sorry I have hurt you. I am so sorry I love you. But you know what no one would do that . NO ONE at all. Once in a while I would go to my daughter's church and visit. Her husband is a minister at a little country church in Mt. Vernon Indiana. And the people in that church are genuine people, they love the Lord. And every time I went to that Church I would feel their love. And I would get in my car and I would head home and I would cry.

Okay I need to say this. My relationship with my kids had meant more to me than life it's self. But when I got like this I had pushed my kids aside. And everyone else. I mean after all I was hurt. Deeply hurt, and someone was going to have to pay for it. But that didn't work. Cause I would get off phone with them. And cry like a baby, what in this world was wrong with me. It was not their fault, that I hurt so badly. It was not their fault, that people had hurt me. It was not their fault my mom and I never seen eye to eye. It was my fault. Yep I did I said it . It was my fault. I wanted that relationship with my mom, and most of all with my kids. And with my LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS. I wanted it more than I wanted gas in my car. God had brought me through so much as a kid. As an adult, seen me through the lost of my husband, seen me through raising the girls. And boy if he had not I would be in a place going blblblblblbl.

Okay I am about finished. About 2005 I got a call to come home they had put mom on a ventilator. So I go home me and the girls. Mom pulled out. That is when things started changing in me. I wanted a relationship with my mom I had never had before in my life. I wanted that relationship that I had , had with my daughters. When they would pass me by I would put my hands on them. Rub their back or what ever it maybe. 2007 I went home for mother's day. Mom was in nursing home then. I went home to surprise her stayed 3 weeks. She complained she wanted me to come home when she got out. But I wanted to be there then. I went and seen her about everyday. Unless I was not feeling well.
When I went home in May of this year when I would tell my mom by I would go over and put my head on her shoulder. And say mom tell them to pull this bed up to you. And I will just sit in here and lay with you. And we will watch t.v. She would say no I can't afford that. My mom was a cranky lady but, she had a wonderful sense of humor. When Mom came home on June 10th from being gone since February. I knew something was not right with her. She was a different person. More angry and hateful than ever. It was like a vengeful anger. Anyways I came home. And I would call and talk to her everyday. I can say this My mom and I had a wonderful relationship. I had forgiven her. For everything that I thought she had done not right to me. Most of all I forgave myself. I asked God to change me, not for God to change them. But for God to change me. I came to this conclusion. People were still going to act like they wanted to. They did not care if I was mad, upset or angry. That did not bother them. They were going on living their life. The way they wanted to. I was the one still having anger, bitterness, unforgiveness.

There is one part I left out. That is very important. That Wednesday morning, that Mom called me and said Debbie they are taking me to ICU. When I got off the phone. I was sitting on the side of my Mom's bed. Trying to get my bearings together. This is what came to me. It is a song. IT's finished the battle is over , it's finished there will be no more wars. It's finished the end of our conquest it's finished and JESUS IS LORD. I knew my Mom was not coming back. I knew it. But still my flesh wanted her.

Well my mom had a wonderful memorial service. Not a funeral it was all about my mom. She always did like to be doted on. And she was still in her casket. I had found a book like a journal in my mom's room. I gave it to my sister, she carried it with her where she went. She had wrote things in it to my mom. She got up and read it, it was beautiful. The group in her church sang some favorite songs my mom had wanted played and sang at her funeral. Her and my oldest daughter would talk on phone and sing. And she had told her songs she wanted done at her funeral and she gave them to us. Mom loved talking to her granddaughter's on phone. I say the girls cause I do not know that she talked to the grandsons as much as she did some of her granddaughters. My daughter Becca, and Gina sang a song Angels in waiting. My brother sang a couple songs. A gentleman from her church read a passage and spoke of mom. How she had taught him things and she was a great lady. But then he said this, that Doyle, (Grandpa) had taught him patience. And everyone started laughing. Cause it was true, he was a great husband to her. He misses her so. Her niece read a poem. Can't remember the name of it. It was a poem she had heard and she wanted it sang. Gina had heard this Grandma song one time and she called mom and sang it to her. Well mom wanted it sang at her funeral. Gina did it, I am telling you only by God' s love did she do it. I get teary eyed thinking of it. She came off the platform went to the head of my mom's casket and sang that song to my mom. Mom had her finale here on earth.
See I have warm thoughts of my mom now. I am so glad that I asked God to change me.. I had finally in my life had that relationship with my mom. That I had never had. I thought she was a cranky lady, a hateful lady. But most of all I LOVED HER. I do not want to think if I had not asked God to change ME. How I would react today about all of this.

But I am fixing to stop burning this board up. A few weeks ago my daughter Gina gave a testimony in church about my mom. She said this what away to pass away. With both daughter's beside her. When she took her last breathe. And I thought and thought on that. And since she said that things have been better. I am not going to say I do not miss my mom cause I do.But I will say this , It IS FINISHED HER BATTLE IS OVER IT IS FINISHED SHE WILL HAVE NO MORE WARS IT IS FINISHED THE END OF HER CONQUEST IT IS FINISHED AND JESUS IS LORD.
God bless
Nan

Sigh of Love

I received this in an email today. So I copied and pasted here so everyone could see. I thought it was precious. But what I could not copy and paste was pictures of puppies. But read this with an open heart. I really new what it was saying. A few weeks ago my youngest daughter had a wedding that she has always wanted. They had been married for 5 years on June 21st. So they had a wedding, bridesmaids and all the stuff. My oldest daughter was making her a wedding cake and it was melting. The frosting was humid outside and doors opening and shutting. She was getting frustrated, anyone would. Usually when you are trying to make something very special it messes up. She bakes and decorates out of this world. It was a talent from God not inherited. LOL. Anyways she called me to come over if I could. I was at the church, we prayed. And I felt the SIGH. Now read the passage below and you will know what it is talking about.

Love Nan




THIS IS A TERRIFIC STORY, BUT YOU MUST READ IT, DON'T JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!!!
Puppy Size This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you'll want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)! 'Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to This animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this,' the mother told the volunteer. 'What is it she keeps asking for?' the volunteer asked. 'Puppy size!' replied the mother. 'Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.' 'I know... we have seen most of them, ' the mom said in frustration... Just then Danielle came walking into the office 'Well, did you find one?' asked her mom. 'No, not this time,' Danielle said with sadness in her voice. 'Can we come back on the weekend?'
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed 'You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply,' the volunteer said.. Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. 'Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend,' she said. Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. 'It's this weekend or we're not looking anymore,' Dad finally said in frustration.
'We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,' Mom added. Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, 'Sorry, but you're not the one.' It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. 'Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!' She screamed with joy. 'It's the puppy size!'

'But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks,' Mom said. 'No not size... The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she said. 'Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!' The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both. 'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said. Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, 'Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!' Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of God Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. 'Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.'

I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!!

Heavy Heart

My heart has been heavy for awhile now. I look around at the things going on. We are having 70 degree weather in the month that is to be one of the hottest months of the summer. And in May and June it was 90 degree weather. The economy is terrible, everyday we here people losing their jobs. And my heart remains heavy. I have loved one's I know that is not prepared physically and spiritually. I am not judging I know them. My heart hurts for them. I am seeing families with words being between them. Things is not right. I heard our preacher, say today.
We are to much into ourselves, that we don't think about the other people. And I pondered on that in church. And I thought you know he is right. I don't pray like I should. Cause there are some situations in my own family I just need to pray pray pray. Or I pray and instead of letting God take it from there. I think I need to add a comment that is not nice. I need to pray and leave it alone. God does not need my help. Even though there have been times that I think he does. And all I do is just mess things up. I need to see if there is anything I can do. Like go spend the day with them or something.I pray for each of you who read this. And I pray when you say your prayers. That you pray for your loved ones and your neighbors you family and your friends. Thank God for the day that we are in. Do not go to sleep with unforgiveness in your heart. This is so heavy on my heart.

Let's pray Lord God I ask that you minister to each person that reads this passage. I pray that you touch their lives physically, emotionally and in every way that they need it. I pray that you minister to them and let them feel the presence of the Lord from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet. I pray that if they do not know God that they will give their heart to you. Lord I love you and I believe that you are the king of kings and the Lord of Lord's. Lord I thank you for each person in my life I pray you touch them. In the way that they need a blessing. I ask that you send food to the hungry. Lord I ask these things in Jesus name Amen.

God bless
Nana

Strong Like a Pineapple

Well I thought I would get on here for a few minutes and read the blogs. I am so blessed to read some of your blogs. It blesses me what people have to say. I am seeing things getting to turn and look ugly in this world. And that is why we need to rely on our heavenly FATHER. And make sure we have things shored up with him. He is great and mighty and can handle the things in our lives when we can't. A few weeks ago I told someone I had a peace of God that I have not had in years. Well when you make statements like that. You better make sure you know there are waves fixing to come your way. But even though things are coming I still have that peace of GOD. It is like when you have a pineapple and you have to peel the brown tough skin off it. Then you have to half into to then you have to take the core out to get to the good fruit that God has for us to eat. That is how I feel about the peace it is like that core in the pineapple. It is strong and deep in that fruit matter fact that is the length of the pineapple. But it is good just like the peace of God is. You have to lean on the everlasting arms. What a fellowship what a peace of mine leaning on the everlasting arms. I have blessed peace with the Lord Divine leaning on the everlasting arms. There you go how did you like my song.

I pray that God give you a peace in your hearts. I pray for each and everyone of you that come and read this blog. Have a safe weekend. Please keep our family in your prayers.


God bless
Love Nan

Wedding

Well with the Lord's help I survived the last month when I was up north with my Mom. And I survived this past weekend. With my daughter who has been married for 5 years she finally got to have the wedding she has always wanted. And she was absolutley beautiful. And for everyone that had a hand in it from the beginning to the end. I ask that God rain many blessings upon each of you. From the banana muffins to the last person that was sitted in the pew at the church. It really went off well. But I do have to tell a funny story. The bride and her ladies were suppose to get ready at Gina's house here. And we had someone at the church to call for us when it was ready. So here I am the bride's mother just waiting around. And Kris call's for us to come over I said give us 5 minutes. Then I had a brain freeze and I said oh I am not in the wedding party I am the mother of the bride. I need to get over there now. I do not know what I was thinking. LOL. But heck half the time I do not know what I was thinking. Anyways, Everyone did a wonderful job. Please continue to pray for all of us. Cause that is the only thing that is going to get us through these days to come. Prayer prayer and more prayer.

God sustains us when know one else can. Well have a good week and rest in the arms of Jesus.

Love Nan