A March Update ~ March 11, 2017

We are expecting SNOW!  They keep lowering the amounts, but we are a little bit excited.  We kind of cannot expect spring until we see some, so we hope we get some!  We have our sleds and hot chocolate ready just in case!

Pete just got back from a long Israel trip on Wednesday.  Long is 12 days!  We were so ready to see him.  Once I dropped him off at the airport on a Friday afternoon, we set out to clean and get rid of a ton of stuff.  I had some help, but the boys were pretty busy; so I got a lot done.  They did help some and haul stuff away.  I have a lot more to do, but I am happy with what I got done.  My next big job is Sam's room - the ceiling and trim.  And then we hope to tackle our front stairs and hallway.

When Pete is gone, I have his responsibilities.  I did not preach, but I did his cleaning jobs.  And I miss him being here to help me and talk me through the day.  We got along really well until the very last couple of days.  Andrew got really sick, and I found myself very pulled and juggling a lot of different things.  And before anyone fusses at me for not asking for help, I did what I needed to do when I could do it.  That meant putting Sam in charge at home a couple of times for a couple of hours.  He really stepped up.  And I have had so many offers of help and lunch brought to me and people checking on me that I had to stop and tell God thank you for giving me the very best people to help me.  He really does.  And I am so very thankful.

Andrew seems better.  He told me Tuesday morning that he did not remember ever feeling that terrible.  He was sick later Monday night, and I got up some to check on him.  But Tuesday morning was very rough on him.  He ended up getting 2 1/2 bags of IV fluids.  His hemoglobin was up, so we will check that again in a week or so.  He was so dehydrated, and I was so worried about him.  But he is much better now.  My dad came over and took  him to class (because he has to go to class!), while Sam and I went to the airport for Pete.  Dad got him lunch, so he was able to eat for the first time in really over a day and a half.

Sam had been sick the week before with a fever off and on, which he never has!  He took flu meds just in case, since he is so high risk.  With no snow days, the flu and strep have been awful here.  Another reason to wish for some snow!  ASU is on spring break, so hopefully that will help them with their germs!

We had two really great preachers come while Pete was gone.  They talked about sharing Jesus.  One talked more about international missions and trips, and the other talked about local people who have not heard the Good News.  Both sermons were different, but they both brought the reminder that we are to share with others.  I just saw an ad with Ron Reagan (Ronald Reagan's son) who said he is an atheist and not afraid to burn in hell.  It literally made me sick.  He took on an air of someone trying to tell us what we need to do but began and ended the ad with his own personal beliefs.  It should have made me mad, but it made me feel so sick.  I did not think, "Well, he will find out one day."  I have added him to my own prayer list.  He cannot be happy living a life without hope.  And he is not the only one.  I know some people look at me and other Christians and church goers and think they would rather take their chances than be like me or associate with me.  But it's not about me.  It's about Jesus and what He did.  My job is to share and try to stay out of the way.  I have to share the truth while showing love.  But my job is not to tell you no matter what you think or believe that all will be well when this life ends.  It won't, and I don't wish that on anyone.  I think it's a burden we should have, because we can pray to be obedient while we are praying for those who have no hope while giving it all to Jesus.  It is just so overwhelming.

Have you seen the ad where the two boys are in a car wreck?  And they are standing in line somewhere.  And the line is getting split.  It hits one boy that the people in the lines are going different places, and his friend is in the good line.  And it's heartbreaking when he asks his friend in a most desperate voice, "Did you know about this?  Why didn't you tell me?????"  It's so powerful and should shake me up to share more.  I worry too much about the wrong things - offending someone or being awkward.  But we should tell our story as second nature and let God do the rest.  I have not felt compelled to shake my finger in anyone's face, but I have stepped up a few times over the years and told someone I did something to help them because I thought God wanted me to.  And it really is pitiful to see how few times that was.

Peter is in his senior year and probably will graduate in December.  Will is still working every day and was able to haul off quite a bit in his long bed truck.  It is loud, but I just thank God when I hear him coming home.  Andrew has at least another year of classes and internships with his added nutrition major.  He finished indoor track and is done with running for Appalachian.  He is sad but ready to move on to marathons or whatever is next.  He got to run at conference in Birmingham and did not have the best races.  He had a couple of good races, so we were happy that he could run.  And he was the top fundraiser in Laps for Apps ~ which some of you know about, because you were so generous!!!  Sam is reading a little bit, and we will certainly take that.

One sweet time today was that Sam decided to run track.  So Andrew started "coaching" him today.  He went out again later with me to walk.  We took both dogs which was an equivalent of a 10 mile workout for me - they were so excited and running and pulling me on the leashes.  It was just so sweet to see Sam excited about training for track.  This will serve him and his health well in the future too.

Thanks for reading this.  I have a new song!  It's Mercy Me's "Even If" ~ and I have played it over and over.  I have a new worship CD ~ Hillsong's "Let There Be Light".  "Even If" talks about praising God and talking about Him even when He does not answer  us in the time or way we want.  We still know He is there and in control.

"Even If"  Mercy Me

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through…