God's Loving Hand

 This is the beauty of the garden I have the joy of walking through

as I visit the hospital where mom has been for the past 28 days,

such serene beauty that awaits me with every visit.

On July 2nd mom was taken to the nearest Urgent Care

with symptoms of a virus that she caught on her way home from

Arizona while traveling to the Rocky Mountains, where she would spend her summer months,

only to find out that it was a heart attack she was having.

Ladies, if you are not aware of it I would like to inform you that woman experience different symptoms with a heart attack than men do and those symptoms can fool you 

into thinking they are cold symptoms.

Every symptom mom was experiencing was related to the virus that was going around,

but by the time the Doctors caught it her heart had been severely damaged.  

Over these past 28 days mom has jumped and incredible number of hurdles.
Her heart stopped as she was in the Cath-Lab having the balloon pump inserted
just before she was to be flown "flight for life" two and a half hours from our home town.
There were concerns that she may have brain damage due to the amount of
oxygen she was given and the lack of blood flow her heart was putting out,
there appears to be no damage, praise the Lord!
 Her lungs were filling up with fluid due to the leaky valve
 that couldn't be repaired until many other hurdles were jumped.
Mom had internal bleeding that needed attention before the Doctors could move forward
that turned out to be an ulcer in her stomach caused by medications.
And of course so many medications that her body had to adjust to
 that she must be on for the rest of her life.
Mom will live with heart failure, but praise the Lord, she will be in God's loving care.
Psalm 91 speaks of being in God's care and we can find great comfort in His Word.
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in him will I trust."
~Psalm 91:1&2~

 God's loving hand has carried my mom over every hurdle.
Mom has been a trooper!!
My dad would have been so impressed with her and the fight
that she has bravely fought.
Mom has not reached the finish line as of yet, but she is making progress
with baby steps as God in His loving care watches over her
and guides her every baby step of the way.
The Mitral Valve Clip procedure took place this past Tuesday
and as of Saturday afternoon mom was transported to the Rehab center
where she will be looked after as they work to strengthen her frail and weak body. 

 You my dear friends, have been such an encouragement to me
over these past weeks with your prayers, love, concern, comments and personal e-mails.
Thank you from the very bottom of my blessed heart! 
I apologize for not replying to your loving comments,
but please know that you have not been overlooked within my heart and thoughts.
I am truly grateful for each one of you as you faithfully follow along with me.

~~♡♡♡~~

"I have set the Lord always before me:
because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be moved"
~Psalm 16:8~

Glory to God!
~Debbie~

Day Away ♡ Up Date on Mom

 Today is the day which the Lord has made,
I will rejoice and be glad in it!
I took yesterday and rested knowing that mom was doing the same.
My husband and I took the four-wheeler out for a lovely ride and
it felt good to be out in the open air soaking in God's beauty
as we headed up the mountain forgetting about the cares
that remained back home. 
I'm sharing with you some of the beauty we enjoyed, but
of course photos with a cell phone do not do justice of this beauty
so hopefully you can picture the beauty with what I've given you. 
We were up 9,000 feet looking down on the valley.

I've been waiting for the best time to share an up date with you on mom,
but it seems like every time mom makes a little progress
we come across another hurdle to leap over.

The plan is for mom to have the "clip procedure" where they will
go in intravenously and repair her leaky valve as
open heart surgery is not an option for mom and may never be. 
There has been one hurdle after another that prevents the doctors
from moving forward.
Mom is now in A-Fib which is not surprising
 since the bottom of her heart has been damaged and cannot be repaired,
therefore the top and bottom of the heart are not coordinating.
I stand amazed at the power of medications
and all that they are able do...but mom is tired.
The clip procedure was scheduled for last Thursday, 
but at the last minute God intervened and it was cancelled. 
It would be easy to wonder why and walk away discouraged,
but from the onset of mom's illness I have trusted in God and purposed
 that I will rest in that trust and claim the peace which God offers,
knowing and believing that God's ways are absolutely perfect
no matter what the outcome may be.
We were told last Thursday that the procedure would take place today, 
but now due to some other issues it may or may not happen this week. 
Mom is still in ICU with a team of amazing doctors and nurses 
who are doing an awesome job looking after her,
while we, as her family, continue to live out our days moment by moment
grateful for the goodness and grace of God.
You my dear friends, have come along side of our family with your
many prayers, love and concern, and we wish to thank you
from the sincerity of our hearts.
We know that we are not alone, for God has graciously showered us with
His grace and mercy time and time again.

On one of the days as I sat at mom's bedside I read from her book

" Jesus Today" and on one particular day when I opened it up
this message was waiting for the both of us.
Our hearts were greatly encouraged by our loving God,
and my prayer is that you too, will find encouragement in these words.
♡♡♡
I am taking care of you. I know how hard this is to believe

when conditions that are troubling you get worse instead of better. 

It's easy to feel as if I'm letting you down ~ as if I really don't care

about change in your circumstances,  and you can't understand

why I seem to be so unresponsive to your issues. 

But I repeat: I am taking care of you. 

To become aware of my living presence, you need to relax

and stop trying to control things. 

Give up your futile efforts to think your way through your problems. 

Fall back into my strong loving arms and rest with a sigh of trust.

Cease striving and simply enjoy being in My presence. 

Though there are many things you don't understand, 

you can rest in My unfailing love. 

This love is independent of all circumstances, 
and it will never be taken away from you. 

Although My ways may be mysterious, My love is perfect and everlasting. 

Watch in hope for Me, remembering that I am God  your Savior. 

Jesus Today
By
Sarah Young
♡

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Do not look to your how, 

but in Christ, the source of your how

~ Charles Spurgeon ~

Rejoice in God!
~Debbie~

Placing my Blog on Hold ~

Have you ever gone through your day, looked around

and wondered what was going on in the lives 

of those around you?

I often do that, especially when there is something major happening

in my own life and the life of my family.

Like for instance this past Tuesday, the 4th of July

when, instead of having an afternoon barbecue with family members

I was zipping in and out of heavy traffic making my way for the hospital

to see my mother, who had been taken by "flight for life" to a major hospital

not but a few hours earlier.
Mom is, as the Doctors say ~ "stabily critical with a very sick heart."

My three hour drive seemed like an eternity!
Though I was driving with care I'm sure to those other drivers on the road
I appeared to be a crazy women.
I thought to myself  'maybe there are times when drivers zip by me
on the highway because they too have an emergency
and I'm getting upset with their driving.'
We really don't know what people around us may be going through
as we come into contact with them.
Some may be carrying some pretty heavy loads and burdens.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if people would choose to be more sensitive,
caring and understanding rather than cranky, out spoken
or judgmental? Life would sure be a lot sweeter.

I will be placing my blog on hold during this season of our lives.
My mind is finding it hard to function at times
and I need to be focused on the issue at hand without other concerns.
Even though there is a lot of waiting time as the Doctors work first and for most to get mom out of the critical stage, my mind seems elsewhere more times than not.
God has been good and gracious through out this whole ordeal,
and I am praising His Holy Name.
I may take some time and stop in for a visit, 
but should you not see me around please, no worries.
I must apologize to some of you for not responding to your comments 
during my last two posts . 
I so appreciate your sweet visits and lovely comments
and they deserve a reply back, but finding that extra time has been difficult.
Over the last week I have been dealing with a nasty virus on top of everything else
and free time just doesn't seem to be available right now.
I would like to thank each one of you in advance for your prayers,
love and concern. God bless you.
 I asked for prayer weeks ago for my father-in-law with his colon cancer
and his surgery went well.
Praise the Lord!

~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Prayer lays hold of God's plan and becomes the link between His will
and it's accomplishments on earth.
Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege 
of being the channels of the Holy Spirit's prayer.
~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

~♡~♡~♡~♡~

"Ye also helping together by prayer for us,
that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons
thanks may be given by many on our behalf."
~ 2 Corinthians 1:11 ~

With a Grateful Heart!
~ Debbie ~

Two Countries Celebrate ☆

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

With my husband being from Canada, I have had the joy and privilege 

of living in the beautiful country of Canada,

meeting and knowing some of the most wonderful people

and making lasting friendships with memories that I have treasured within my heart.

This  year Canada celebrates Her 150th Birthday,

isn't that exciting!

To you, my dear Canadian friends and followers,

Happy Canada Day!

Enjoy your gatherings as you celebrate 150 years as a country.
From my country next door, I will be celebrating  with you on this special day.
God's blessings be upon you~

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;
only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one another."
(Galatians 5:13)
We were created to reflect God's character
 and love purposes the good of another.
Our Redeemer *Jesus Christ* frees us to serve one another.
We are saved to serve!
True spiritual freedom means that we submit our own desires
to that which is best for others. 
"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; 
all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
Let no one seek His own, but each other's well being."
(1 Corinthians 10:23,24)
This is the way of liberty ~ the way of freedom in Christ.
Love changes things, doesn't it?
No matter what country we may be blessed to live in,
may we walk after the ways and characteristics of God,
looking to the best of others,
 bringing honor and glory to our Great and Majestic God.

~~~~~~

Anyone happen to want to guess where my photo was taken?


To God be the Glory!
~ Debbie ~

It's Good to be Back~

Hello to you, my dear friends!

My husband and I have returned home from our travels
and while we were away we found life quite relaxing
 without the Internet and cell phone.
Yes, we turned off our cell phones while we were away, it was GLORIOUS!

You were missed, and I trust that while I was away you have enjoyed your spring

and now summer as we look ahead to the beauty it affords us?

While we were away, we enjoyed God's glorious sunsets

from the shores of Lake Huron as we spent precious time

with my husband's father in Canada.

The day after we arrived my father-in-law became ill.

We headed to the World Crokinole Championships

~one of the reasons why we were in Canada~

only to find ourselves driving back to the town my father-in-law lives in

to get medical help for him.

Without going into the details, tests show that cancer was found in his colon.

May I ask for your prayers on his behalf please?
"Be careful for nothing , but in every thing by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known unto God" 
(Philippians 4:6)

The first few days of our visit my father-in-law was in the hospital,

and our best laid plans for our vacation turned upside down.

I believe we are to be wise in the planning of our days,

but we must remember that our days belong to God.

I was reminded of Proverbs 27:1

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow;

for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth"

Isn't that so true?

Even though our plans changed
 my husband and I were thankful that we were in Canada

during the time that we were and could be with my father-in-law

during those days when we could be of help to him.

We only wished we could have stayed longer.

♡♡♡♡

This vacation was planned around enjoying the motor home 

that my parents gifted my husband and me with.

This is the motor home that I have been driving (Miss Daisy) my mother in

over the past two years to and from Arizona

since dad passed away. 

Mom has settled into a lovely home and will no longer

stay the winters in her motor home. 

I can't blame her at all for wanting something permanent.

After dad passed away mom said to me, 

"What am I supposed to do with my life now?"
Mom and dad had just gone through an estate sale and the selling of their home.

I told her to continue doing just as she and dad had been doing

until God showed her differently.
God is showing her a new path and looking after her each step of the way.

I'm so thankful God looks after His own and cares about every detail of our lives.
My husband and I are beyond grateful for the gift of this beautiful
and well kept motor home and we are looking forward to many travels
in future days as the Lord directs.
Our desire is to use this motor home for God's glory.

♡♡♡♡

While we were in Canada, daily I would find time alone and 
walk with the Lord in quietness. The boardwalk is one of my favorite 
walking grounds as the sun is rising or setting.

I had hoped that my time away would be a time of deep reflection between God and I,
but my time was used differently not allowing for much of that.
No matter what God brings into our daily lives we can always find the time
to be alone with Him, even if it's not as we planed out.
Again, we can plan our days as we so wish,
but it is God who owns our days and He makes all things work 
together for good no matter what may come our way.
"And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to His purpose"
(Romans 8:28)

♡♡♡♡

It's good to be back, but I will be in and out for the next couple of weeks
visiting with you as we have our oldest three grandsons 
coming for a week and then some dear friends will
be visiting the next week.
All winter long we await the nice weather and then when it arrives
life becomes quite full with family, friends and beautiful sunshine.
Enjoy the days which God so graciously gifts you with
and sing praises unto His Holy Name.
God's blessings be upon you, dear friends. ♡

Be Joyful!
~ Debbie ~