The 'Perfect' Neighbor

                                      The Perfect Neighbor
                 
                                 Sitting at my neighbor's table
                                 Looking around the room
                                 Everything is in its place
                                 Polished and clean

                                The telephone takes her attention
                                So glancing around the room
                                My eyes linger upon a bowl of apples
                           
                                The apples are red and inviting
                                Envisioning a bite so juicy and crisp
                                I can not be contained

                                Grabbing the shiniest apple
                                And taking a giant bite
                                Laughter overwhelms me as
                                Shattered expectations taste like wax
                                                                               Brenda Salladay

We have all known people like this.  They just seem perfect.  They are dressed with not a thread out of place and if you go to their house every door is open.  If you look in those rooms you only see perfection.  Beds are made and there are no clothes on the floor.  There may even be a bowl of apples shiny and polished inviting you to take a bite.

I am not one of those people.  I always have threads hanging or hair sticking up.  Most of the doors will be closed if you come to my house.  If you open the doors you will not see perfection but you might taste wax.  If I have apples they may be laying on the counter in the sack they were bought in.

There was a couple once that had it all.  They had perfection.  They had food.  All their needs were met.  They walked with God in paradise.  Even with all of this they could not be perfect.  As Adam and Eve left the garden I wonder what the lingering taste of apple tasted like?

None are perfect even if appearances look that way.  There is only one that has ever lived a perfect life.  His Name is JESUS.  He is our way whether we look perfect or whether we are messy. He came to earth because he loves us. He is the one that will take away the taste of wax.

Ephesians 5:2

New International Version (NIV)

² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.






   

Happy Anniversary, Richard!!

This blog is for my husband but you can read it to.  Today is the anniversary of the day we said "I DO".  Richard not only said I do to me but also to my three boys.  He took us all and we became a family.  He became my best friend and bonded with the boys through golf and fishing.   Fourteen months later Sarah joined us and made the family complete.

I remember last year,on our anniversary, Richard was in the hospital and my boss sent me down with money to spend the day with him.  He was very surprised when I walked in the door, Church's fried chicken in hand.  He said it was the best anniversary ever.

I am thinking though that this year may be the best.  I am just thinking back over the last few months and the fact that he is alive makes this day the best.  God gave us at least one more anniversary and I am very thankful!!  I am praying for many more and I know each new year will become the best!!

I love you Richard!!!

The Stain

I remember the day I went to Dandy's house and saw the stain.  There was a big red stain in the middle of her carpet.  When I ask her what happened she told me an incredible tale.  One night she heard a noise and went to investigate.  She encountered a burglar in her front room.  She saw a flash and expected to die but didn't.  Her father took her place.  He stepped in front of her just in time to take a bullet in the chest.  He fell to the floor dying as the intruder ran away.

Dandy was very distraught but she was sure of one thing and that was that she would never wash that stain away.  She walked by that stain with reverence and thanks, always remembering what her father had done for her.  She missed her father and knew that she owed her life to him.

It was several years after the shooting before I saw Dandy again.  She led me to the room where her father had died and led me right across the stain.  The stain had faded and she didn't even seem to remember that this was the place where she was saved.  She walked right across that stain several times with not one mention of what her father had done for her.  She didn't seem to remember that the stain represented the one who died so that she could live.

The above is fiction but I know One who did die for you and me.  He took our place so that we might live.

Do you remember or has the stain faded?

Ephesians 1:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

The Journey Continues: Week 14 after transplant

It doesn't seem that long ago that Richard received his bone marrow transplant.  I know he thinks that time has went in slow motion.  He is tired of low blood counts and not being able to do want he wants but he is thankful that he is alive.  He is tired of going to the Dr.s every week and not hearing what he wants to hear.  Well yesterday he did hear a few things that made him smile.  It was so great to see him smile and he actually let out a small chuckle while at the Dr.s office.

He is 99.5 percent en grafted!!!  The Dr. was very pleased with this. He is going off of one of the medicines today that does mess with his white blood counts.  They think that in a few weeks things will be going much better.  We were told that the en grafting is one of the tough times of the process. Hopefully this process will soon be over.  His white counts were very low and he got a shot.  Will get one today, tomorrow and Monday plus blood work Friday and Monday.

He is tired, cranky, stubborn and bullheaded but he is still amazing.  He has worked every hour that he can and is looking to the future.  He does appreciate all the prayers and so do I!!

Matthew 11:28

New International Version (NIV)

   ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

  

The Easy Button??

Would it not be nice to have an easy button.  Click the easy button and I am back to a healthy weight. Click again and my books are best sellers.  Click and I will always have the right words to say or write.   The world paints a picture of easy buttons.  It wants us to believe that if I take this pill I will lose at least 2 pounds a day.  If I follow a certain person I will know exactly what to do to have abundant wealth. Just takes these algae pills and my health will be restored.

I know that no matter what pill I might want to take there could be side effects.  Some of those side effects could even lead to death.  I could follow a person's teaching that might lead to wealth but there would be certain things I would have to do.  It would not be easy.  It would take time and effort.  Sometimes the road of the world can lead to destruction.  

I have learned that life is not easy.  There is no easy button to push but I have Something in my life that helps me through the toughness of this world.  I only have to whisper and I have Strength.  I only have to cry out and I have Endurance.  Sometimes I don't have to do anything and I sense Comfort.  

What I have in my life is BETTER than an easy button!!  Do you have what I have??

Psalm 28:7  (NIV)

⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
   and with my song I praise him.




  

Good Morning! A new day to do better!!

This weekend was hard.  I wanted so bad to slip back into my old way of eating.  I wanted to forget eating healthy and watching my portions.  It is so easy to slip back into the old way.  Why does the new way of living seem so hard?  I am not saying that I didn't slip a bit and have that chili, cheese coney but I did still stick to that unsweet tea.

I know that when I eat right and exercise I feel so much better.  My arthritic joints thank me when I weigh less and eat right.  Why does eating right have to have such bright green, yellow and white colors??  Why can't they have the lovely colors of fried, salty and chocolate??

A good friend of mine sent me an email recently and it just simply said: I Saw That--- GOD.  She struggles with the eating and exercise and has made that email her screen saver.  It reminds her that yes, GOD does see whatever we put in our mouth or if we exercise.

This is a new day, a new chance and GOD does see us no matter what we do.  GOD also gives us second, third and lots more chances.  Today is a good day for me to start over and and do better.  I will do better with HIS help!!!

Psalm 46

 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.

  

A reminder and my books and future books!!

I have been in the mood to write a lot this last week and thought this might be a good time to remind everybody that sometimes the things I write may not make any sense at all.  Sometimes maybe one sentence might and sometimes maybe one word will.   Thanks though for reading and wading through the words and hopefully there has been at least one word or two that you have understood.  I have looked back at some of the blogs and thought to myself  I am not quite sure what I was trying to say.

I did want to remind everybody that I do have a children's book that I wrote called "Jungle Friends, Leo the Lion and the Big Bug Dilemma".  It is available through any bookstore, amazon, barnesandnoble.com, tate publishing or if you want a signed copy message me.

My second book should be available soon and it is called  "Jungle Friends, Mack the Missing Monkey".  I received an email that the book is heading to marketing.  I also have cute little finger puppets for each character in the book.  Check out my Jungle Friend page on facebook.

I am working on several others.  One of them James and the Wiggle Monster is based on a true story and another that I been stuck for a while is based on a few true fact but mostly fiction is Malachi and the Magic Glasses.

I have an idea for one about raising children but not the way I did and one about growing up in Wellston.  I promise all the names will be changed to protect privacy unless you let me know that you don't mind your name being used.  I have had these ideas for several years and I need to get them written.


Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and prayers.  Your words mean alot to me!!!

1 Corinthians 1:4-5

New International Version (NIV)

Thanksgiving

 ⁴ I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—

Red Light, Green Light, but what about Yellow?

The traffic in this town that I live is crazy.  You have a mix of slow and fast drivers.  I always seem to get behind the slow ones.  Then there are the ones that just stop for no reason. I wonder if they are trying to get hit?  I have seen people turn across traffic and make rolling stops.  Right now my biggest pet peeve is the traffic lights.

Red light means stop, green light means go but what does the yellow light mean?  From observing yellow light behavior in this town it seems to me that most people think it means gun it as fast as you can and get through the light.  I was thinking that the yellow light is a caution light and if you are in the intersection when it turns yellow go on through but if you are coming to a yellow light slow down and stop.  I have seen  many blow  through a yellow light as it turned red.  People have  honked at me because I stopped when the light turned yellow. My daughter has even told me to go on through the yellow lights because everybody else does.
Traffic lights are like rules, green means go, red means stop and yellow is caution.  Sometimes failure to follow these rules can results in a crash or even death.

What about the rules inside us?  The ones that God has given us. The ones in the Bible?  Do we obey when He gives us a green or red light? What about the yellow light?

Luke 11:28

New International Version (NIV)

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”




  

Sacrifices

It seems like everyday now I am hearing more news of soldiers dying.  This is very distressing news. This morning I just heard that there was an eighth soldier from Oklahoma that died.  I am lifting up prayers for the families.

I can only imagine the pain and distress that the families are feeling.  I had a marine, army and national guard but they are out of the service now.  I remember the relief I felt when each one served their last day.

I also remember the day that my army son reached enemy land.  It was  hard and during that first deployment I had many dream and nightmares.  I dreamed of being there with him.  In the dreams I was always trying to protect him but in one vivid dream I remember that as I tried to protect him, he stepped in front of me with his gun drawn.  I realized that was why he was there.  He was serving to protect me and you.

This is a poem I wrote during my sons first deployment.

                                        My Nightmare

                                 Dreams flood my sleep
                                 Tossing and turning like wild waves
                                 My son is tall like the American Flag
                                 Running like a caged rat I look for him

                                 Glimpses of helicopters and desert fatigues
                                 Camels and veiled women float by
                                 Past the convoys and gun fire
                                 I see him giving muffins to little children

                                Yelling I am proud of you
                                 I sense him very close
                                 Reaching out to touch
                                 But instead I awaken to the door bell


Thank-you to all the men and women serving.  Thank-you for your sacrifices and protection.  I am sending up many prayers on your behalf.  Right now I am sending up prayers for the families of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Journey Continues: Week 13 after transplant

This Wednesday was another day of waiting, of course. LOL  Richard has been really tired this week.  He took lots of naps over the weekend.  He has been coughing and throwing up but he says that he is throwing up the phlegm.  He has a rash that has slowly became worse.

Today the PA didn't come in the room to see him until she got the blood work.  I think she also mentioned that she didn't want to give him the news. He needed a shot again for low white counts.  He also will need at least two units of red cells tomorrow.  He was not happy.  They are still saying the low counts, the rash is all part of the host/graft and it will pass. They did say if he didn't use the ointment the rash could get worse and maybe not ever go away.  I think he will be using that ointment.

We left the city after four and stopped by the hospital when back in Enid.  They needed to cross type him again.  We stopped by Walgreens on the way home. We  didn't make church this Wednesday but I know that those there are praying for Richard.  They are praying for his healing and patience.

Psalm 106

 ¹ Praise the LORD.^[a]   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
   his love endures forever.



  

Are you clean??

Have you ever taken a bath or shower without soap?  Did you feel clean?  Be honest.  What about those armpits?  Did you really feel fresh and clean?

Soap has a cleansing power.  It can clean that grime off of you.  Can you feel that cleansing lather as you use soap to wash away a day's worth of work and play.  You feel refreshed and clean!!  You do need the right soap though.  Some brands just don't  have that same cleansing power or they don't smell quite right.

What about your soul?  Does it feel clean.  Have you been to the Cleansing Power and washed in the Purifying Soap?  There is only one Brand!

Psalm 51

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Romans 10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Blessings

       
Just wanted to share this song with you.  I have heard it on the radio several times and I can only say I wish I had written it!!  I love this song!    I know I have had blessings come through raindrops and healing through tears . What are your mercies in disguise??  What does it take to know that God is near??




  Laura Story-Blessings


We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
* It's not our home *

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?




   

The Weigh Of Life

Yesterday as I weighed I heard a Voice in my head say, "Don't weigh again until next Wednesday".   Something dawned on me when I heard that Voice.  I have went from obsessing over eating to obsessing over what the scales might read each morning.

I have been trying to eat healthier, watch my portions and be more active and every since the scales started slowly inching  down I have been weighing every morning.  I have been setting small, attainable goals.  The weigh my mind has been working though I have been waking up with weighing on my mind.

This morning I almost stepped on the scales when  that Voice reminded me not to weigh until Wednesday.  I realized that the Voice was reminding me that my worth is not determined by what a scale might read.  My worth was determined many years ago when my Savior, Jesus Christ died in my place.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Light and no one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)

I am not sure what Wednesday will bring.  I might weigh less, I might weigh the same and hopefully I will not weigh more but even if I do I know that I am loved and I am worthy.  I do know that if I am going to be obsessed I need to obsess on things not of this earth.

Colossians 3

 ¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.


  

The Journey Continues: Week 12 after transplant

This week the visit for check up was an all day affair.  We left at eight and got back to Enid around five.  The new cancer center in Oklahoma City is really nice.  This was the fourth week in the new building.

It started with Richard hooked up to an IV for around two hours to get his immunoglobins.  He did get a free lunch though but then he said it just didn't taste that good.  His taste has been off for a while.  He said nothing taste right and some things just taste bad.

The Dr. did tell him she thought he was doing well.  His white blood counts were low again and he did get a shot for that.  She seemed excited that he was able to receive the A+ blood and said that is why his blood counts had been low.  His kidney function levels were a little high and she lowered the dose on the medicine that causes that to happen.  He has been coughing and hacking up stuff but they didn't say anything when they listened to his chest.

He is really tired of this journey.  He is ready to feel rested and do something he likes, maybe a game of golf or going on short vacation.  I have reminded him that they said it could take up to a year to completely recover and I got a dirty look.  I think that when he is able to do some of these things it will be a sweet victory.

Philippians 4:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Jungle Friends  Learning (Bailey Flanigan Series)Unlocked

 https://charlenewiles.scentsy/. us

The Storm

Yesterday evening a storm passed through Enid.  At our house the lights went out once but came back on within 15 minutes.  The rain came in sheets and the wind blew causing the trees to sway.  Our addition was not much affected though.  I seen a few limbs down but the other parts of town were not so lucky.

Lots of trees were down, fences down and cars hit by those trees.  I went with another teacher to go meet new members for the upcoming Sunday School year in the fifth grade class.  Part of town was not really affected but the farther north we went we could see the damage.  We drove past yards full of trees and people trying to get it cleaned.  It was a mess.

Sometimes we face storms in our own life.  We might have a calm exterior but have storms raging or we may show the storm in our eyes.  We could be experiencing small storms or there could be the tree crushing kind of storms but whatever storm we face, if we have the right anchor, our Anchor will hold.  What storms are you facing?  I hope you know my Anchor!

i have journeyed
through the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet his eyes were watching me

CHORUS
the anchor holds
though the ship is battered
the anchor holds
though the sails are torn
i have fallen on my knees
as i faced the raging seas
the anchor holds
in spite of the storm

i've had visions
i've had dreams
i've even held them in my hand
but i never knew
they would slip right through
like they were only grains of sand

CHORUS

i have been young
but i am older now
and there has been beauty these eyes have seen
but it was in the night
through the storms of my life
ohh thats where God proved his love to me

CHORUS

CHORUS   Ray Boltz
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The Journey Continues: Update on the last Update and 80 days out.

Richard is feeling better since he got his blood yesterday.  He did get 2 units because his counts had dropped below 7.  He also got a shot for his white counts being low.  I guess everything was low including his spirits.  I think that with his counts being that low he just felt bad.  He couldn't understand what was going on since he had been doing well then he started having the low white counts, which they blamed on the medicines. Then this week his red blood counts were low.  The Dr. had stated on Wednesday that what he was going through was normal at this stage in his recovery and that it could mean that his system was in the midst of changing completely over.

He was really discouraged and tired but getting that blood has given him more energy than he has had in several weeks.  What really lifted his spirits though and has changed his mood is the fact that they were able to give him A+ blood.  This means his immune system is changed!!!

Just thought I would let you know what a difference the gift of blood can do.  I know One who not only gave His blood but also His life. He rose again and paved the way for salvation.  His blood will change you and reserve a spot in heaven.  His name is Jesus and He did this for you and for me.

JESUS is the ultimate mood lifter!!  One day those who have chosen Jesus will  completely change over!!

1 Corinthians 15:52

New International Version (NIV)

in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

The Journey Continues: Week 11 and 1 day from transplant.

Today was a tough day for Richard.  This was Wednesday, our day to visit those bone marrow transplant Dr.s.  He will not admit this to you but he has been really tired since last week and today we found out why.  His  red and white blood counts are low and he will receive treatments tomorrow.  His immunglobulins are also low and he will be hooked up to an IV for two hours once a month starting next Wednesday.  The Dr. did say that this is not unusual for where he is at in the process.  It could have to do with his blood system completely converting over.  His blood has been A+, from B-,  for a while but there are some other things that needed to happen before the process is complete and that is what they think could be happening.

The day was tough for Richard because this was not what he wanted to hear.  He thought he might be low on red blood but was hoping that it wasn't bad enough to warrant a blood transfusion.  He also will have to be there early on those Wednesdays he needs the immunglobulin treatments.  This means he will miss more work and he doesn't want to give up those hours.  He may be getting discouraged and ready to get this process over with.

He just doesn't know how amazing and full of fight he has been.   He might just need to be reminded of how far he has come and how far he expects to go.  Sometimes getting to the finish line is full of unexpected delays but that just might make crossing the line even sweeter.

2 Timothy 4:7

New International Version (NIV)

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.