Elizabeth Dianne: October 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Weekend Worship

Psalm 111

Praise the LORD.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever — holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.To him belongs eternal praise.

Dianne

Photographs taken today at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Friday, October 30, 2009

still here--just a little numb!

I. broke. for. a. few. minutes. this. afternoon. God has lifted me up on eagles' wings for the past week--a week today since we first knew that there was something seriously wrong with Jeff.

As I cried hot tears that wracked my body, especially my heart, with actual physical pain, I couldn't help but think how good God has been to us through the years--His faithfulness astounds me.

I especially have on my heart all of those mothers and dads who are now in intensive care units all around the world with gravely ill sons and daughters.

I remember the first morning when I took Jeff to kindergarten, drove through the portico and dropped him off (that was standard procedure). I wrote a "post"--journal entry that day in his baby book. The VietNam war was raging and I remember writing that I might as well be sending him off to VietNam. And that is the way I felt. I had always been the one to kiss his "boo-boos" when he stumbled and fell--, the one to rejoice with him when he accomplished something new and now some strange woman would be taking my place. It ripped my insides apart just to think about it.

I just got through talking to my precious daughter-in-law on the phone. That was the start of my meltdown. She in no way was lamenting-- but just telling me about her morning of looking up recipes, making grocery lists and grocery shopping, getting all of his prescriptions assorted--this on top of a full time job, raising two teen-agers, etc. The overwhelming love I felt for her at that moment cannot be described. That someone loves my son that much--it was just too much to take in and. I. broke. For you see this woman is not a stranger and it is not ripping my heart out--she is my beloved daughter.

Ironic--I posted last week how I thank God for my DILs. I never dreamed that this week I would be even more thankful--really beyond comparison to last week. How ironic!

May God give you a harvest of blessings as He has us this Thanksgiving Season.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

jeff got to go home

Jeff's blood sugar got down to 240 late today so they let him come home. I researched www.dlife.com and shopped off and on most of the day. I took dinner to them and hopefully helped fill their cupboards with some good stuff that will help them in their quest to tackle this diabetes head on.

I can never thank you enough for all your prayers and sentiments. God bless you richly and maybe I will get back to regular posting here in a day or so. At any rate, God is faithful and has so lovingly extended mercy to our family one more time. Thank you, God.

update on jeff

NEW UPDATE: Jeff's blood sugar continues to be around 350 so they have not released him yet--don't know if he will go home today or not.

And speaking of precious sons, if you have never read MCKMAMA, please pray for her son who is 1 year old today. He is in the hospital--very gravely ill. You can click on Mckmama above to read their story.

Just wanted to give you a quick update on our son, Jeff.

They went in to do the stents yesterday. They could not complete the first and worst one they were after. There was 100% blockage and the heart muscle at that point had died. Thank God, it was a very small portion of the heart and they don't think it will affect the overall performance of the heart. They were able to place stents in the next two and they are working properly. Jeff is feeling much better today and is headed home.

He does have diabetes which highly complicates all of this. His blood sugar was still 300 yesterday. He is on insulin shots and pills. They hope someday that he will be able to go off of the insulin shots. His triglycerides when he went in on Monday night were over 2,000. Yes, 2,000--that is not a typo. Hard to believe. They said some of that was triggered by the diabetes being so out of control.

Please help us pray that Jeff will have the discipline to get all of this under control. In a fast-paced life with fast foods all around, it can be a challenge. I, myself, greatly need to improve my overall eating habits and exercise regimen (Yea, like start one).

Please pray for all of us. Thank you for caring.

Monday, October 26, 2009

the hand of god

My husband and I were out of town this weekend visiting our youngest son in another city. We were scheduled to come home later today or tomorrow--(I am writing this late Monday). We found out this morning that our oldest son had suffered a mild heart attack (only 43 years old).

As we were praying in a circle-- my husband, youngest son, his wife, and 2 young daughters, I shed some tears. While others were still praying, I felt the small finger of a five-year old angel softly brush away one tear, then one on the other side and another. Of course, she had to announce to everyone after the prayer that "Mimi was crying."

I said, "Yes, I was crying and for as long as I live I will remember the hand of God brushing my tears away. She held up her hands real high and yelled, "We are the hands of God. God uses our hands."

Later today we found out that Jeff has 5 blockages of 75% or more--the doctor wants to try stints and balloons because of his young age but we may be looking at bypasses. We KNOW that God is in control and give HIM glory through this difficult situation. God is faithful and so, so good to us.

So today I am thankful for family once again

thankful for little hands that brush away tears

heart hospitals

doctors and nurses who are so skilled

technology that blows me away

faithful friends and prayer chains everywhere who are supporting us and lifting us to God in prayer.

faithful gratitude community readers who I know will pray for us--

I love you all. Thank you for your prayers.

If you would like to see a picture of Jeff, scroll down just a few posts--his picture was featured on my gifts list last Monday.

Posted in thanksgiving with the Gratitude Community at:

Friday, October 23, 2009

Weekend Worship at Beautiful St. Boniface

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young — a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah

Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Amen

and Amen.

Lord Jesus, bless all who worship here this weekend.

May Psalm 85 be the psalm of our hearts.

And may we truly desire to be in your courts

more than anywhere else in the world. Amen

A few years ago my husband and I were driving one of the back roads to a nearby town. Imagine our delight when we happened upon this beautiful, old Catholic church founded in the late 1800's. I was very disppointed that I didn't have my camera with me that day but I made up for it last Sunday. This beautiful country church out in the middle of nowhere is truly a sight to behold. I hope you have a worshipful experience while enjoying these pictures.

Dianne

Seems