Here's some pics of NUMPSTER's new place from the inside ~ the big room fireplace, the kitchen, loft office, diningroom, and big room living area ...


fireplace.jpgkitchen.jpgloft office.jpgfull diningroom.jpglivingroom.jpg

I can only put 5 pictures in each post, so here's some of the beautiful outside as well -- the aerial view, the winter view of the house, the lakeviews, and the dock ...

aerial view.jpgcloud 8 winter.jpglake.jpglakeview.jpgthe dock view.jpg

I will be back later but I wanted to post that my sister will have her double mastectomy surgery tomorrow morning at 11:30. Doctors will also remove her gall stones at that time.

Thank you all for your past and present prayers.

Will keep you and your sister in my thoughts and Prayers. Keep us updated.

Rosebud, Thanks for sharing the pictures. I love looking at pictures from everyone. I'm sure they are going to enjoy that so much.

They started pouring the floor on the pool yesterday and should be done with it today. Then it will have to dry before they can put the liner and the coping around the top. But it is getting closer. Will try to post some pictures later.

HI GALS ~

We met for dinner at my house, as a family, last night to be with my sister. There was about 20 of us family and very close friends...family!....I made carnitas which was a big hit

Although I was busy with the food, Angie had made the rice earlier but was off teaching yoga until later, I did get a chance to visit with my sister.

The house was pretty busy and loud....that's my family

I saw my sister, brother in law and ex-wife out in the driveway...my bil and sister still smoke....anyway I went out and had some "quiet" time with her.

She said she was afraid to die. I told her being scared was only natural but a Christian shouldn't be afraid to die...not that we want to go anytime soon! But in death, for a Christian, all the pain is gone.....we will walk in paradise.

She said she would miss all of us...I told her...not possible! That would be painful. When we get to Heaven it will be perfect. If things don't go as we pray for, we will miss her...she won't miss us.

She then told me that people say so many different things about Heaven...I told her it doesn't matter what people say...God says it is PERFECT! We trust in that.

She then told me she is worried she isn't praying as good as I do since she doesn't go to church. I assured her that God hears her prayers and that from all of the people praying for her one of us will get it right

I then asked her if she believed in Christ as her Saviour and that He died for her...has already felt her pain...and that there is nothing she can do except believe that in order to get to Heaven....she said yes....I believe Jesus died for me and is the Son of God.

As the conversation went on more and more family came outside...eventually everyone was out there except Angie and my daughter in law (Angie was showing her some knitting moves )....my ex-wife asked me if I would like to have a family prayer before people left, I sent my niece in to get Angie and dil...we all held hands in a circle out in my driveway and I said prayer.

This morning when my sister called me, to fill me in on the times for tomorrow, I asked her if I offended her in any way...she said oh gosh no...but I just don't understand as well as you Gary...you have always gone to church and study but even when I went I didn't really study...I understood what Pastor said most of the time but I didn't understand all of it.

We had a nice long talk and I feel much better now....I have been able to explain some things to her that she needed to hear.

She really has some issues and even more so her husband...on WHY DOES GOD ALLOW BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN....I think I made her feel better with my answers....

Thank you all for your prayers

GARY ~ Thanks, prayers are going up for Annie, her family, and her doctors ...

KAREN ~ they are all very excited about this new venture; Numpster has been thru so much, but she is a kind, generous human being. This is a dream of theirs -- to have a business where they could semi-retire in the future; and it will be the place where they will take care of our parents as they are aging and have both had ill health. They are going to help them too: it's a win-win situation for everyone. They also will be sharing this place with other Christians as a retreat ... what a blessing it will be for so many people!!! Looking forward to seeing pics of your new pool too ...

We've had a very cold day; went down to 63 F in here today with winds, so we put the heat on for a few minutes and piled the warm clothes on too. Hope you all have a blessed day tomorrow ... ROSEBUD

ROSEBUD ~Great pictures!!!! WOW!!!

KAREN ~Pool just in time for snow

SCOOTER ~ Mother Theresa....amazing!...just flat out amazing!

BOOTSIE ~ Thanks so much for sharing

THANK YOU ALL!

RONNI I keep forgetting to tell you I am so glad the team dinner went well! I remember those days....loved them!

At least living here in MO. I shouldn't have any "FEET" of snow!! I don't know what we will do not having to shovel snow this year!! First time in many years!!!

GARY ~ you and I posted at the same time; and it was interesting to read what ANNIE had to say to you about how she feels. While we all may believe in Jesus and accept him as our Savior -- that doesn't mean that we all have the same understanding of theology, etc. We are all at different levels in our walk with the Lord.

Just as in life, some people go to university, some college, some only high school, some only public school, and some never pass a single grade; but that won't keep them out of heaven, if they believe in and on our Lord Jesus Christ, who grants salvation as a free gift -- it cannot be earned and doesn't require a degree.

She and her husband are not alone in asking that age-old question -- WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE? I have a book here by that very name and it is a good one; and for those who would like to read it, you may be able to get it at your library or at Amazon.com.

I am glad that you were able to pray for Annie, and have such a nice visit and personal talk with her -- I'm sure that she has found having a brother like you by her side, as a great comfort to her during this scary time in her life ...

Rosebud - wonderful pictures. If we ever vacation in that area, we would LOVE to stay there!

Karen, can't wait to see the finished product. I loved the earlier pics!

Gary - prayers continuing for your family, and especially for Annie. What a blessing that she has you and your family for support!

I hope everyone else is well. Crazy busy here - tomorrow is "count day". In a nutshell, it is the day we "count" all of our students, and gather a ton of info to ship on to the state. That is how schools get paid in MI - based upon their student count. I'm responsible for getting all of the mountains of paperwork and electronic files sent in to the state. Thus, lots of overtime getting ready. (unfortunately, I don't get PAID for the overtime).

We are definitely looking forward to our vacation in the UP starting Friday.

I can already feel the crisp air and hear the waterfalls

Prayers continuing for ALL.

Blessings,

Laurie

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great day!

Gary- I just read your post and as I read it...I just thought about how pleased God must be that you made sure you explained Christ's love....I just lost a woman I worked with she was young, had a stroke and died...so out of the blue...in prayer mtg tonight...I thought about all the times I laughed and joked with her...good times...but I can't remember telling her about Christ...I don't know if she knew how much he loved her....I hope she did.....everyone at work knows I'm a christian...but taking that personal time to share...so critical.....to be fishers of men....I'm so glad you told her...no matter what happens....she knows!
Be blessed!

Hi Everyone, Here are some pictures I took of the "pool progress" today. They got all but just a little square of the floor done. They had to stand somewhere!!! But it should be dry in a few days and they will finish that square and smooth out any bumps! I've never had a pool before so it has been pretty exciting to see how it keeps changing. The walls were there when we bought the house but the floor was just sand. I guess they put their liner on the sand... this should be a little better so the vinyl liner won't be shifting around so much. At least that is what I was told. They will be putting up foam on the walls and the coping around the edges for the liner. It shouldn't be too much longer, depending on weather, and it will be done. I have a cover on order too so that it will be coverd through the Winter. But I can hardly wait until May when I can take the cover off!!!

Everybody have a good evening.

Gary, lots of prayers coming your way.. Please keep us updated when you get a minute.

KAREN ~ great pics Karen -- it's coming along. I bet you are tres excited ... I would love to have my own private pool, but I'd have to have one graded so that I could walk in easier. When I was younger, we went to a Spa that had steps build into the right end where yours slopes up. They were wide with a rail that went all the way down the steps to the left and it was very easy getting in and out of that pool; it was probably made that way for those with mobility problems. They also had a sauna and a spa whirlpool there too.

LAURIE ~ where are you going on your holiday that has waterfalls -- Niagara Falls or somewhere more exotic like South America? Gee, too bad you don't get paid for all that overtime; you'd have made a bundle!

Princess CLE ~ you never know that your 'living example' as a Christian may have been a great witness -- I was so surprised when I was told that by a co-worker many years later. Sometimes, we think that we didn't say enuff when actually others are more interested in watching what we do more than what we say we do ... becuz it's one thing to say that you are a Christian; and it's another thing to live like one!

GARY ~ lots of prayers still going up for ANNIE, and all her family ...

Had a busy day too; had to go to doctors; got hung up there for almost 3 hours becuz of meetings. My tests turned out pretty good; blood pressure was down; gonna take a small cholesterol pill to get it in the normal range, but other than that OK. Doc still wants me to investigate the WLS thing; had a big discussion, but we'll see ... DH isn't too keen on it and neither am I. I ran into an old neighbour who told me her sister is having WLS in October and she will have to be on liquid shakes for 6.5 months ... eeks ! It's all so confusing to me; so will have to do a lot of praying and a lot more research.

Anyways, that's all for tonight; may do a bit of shopping tomorrow; ate really well (OP) today; and got in a bit of walking too (kudos for that). Take good care; and have a blessed day tomorrow ... ROSEBUD

Hi Rosebud, I thought about stairs for this one until I found out is would be about a $1,000 more to put them in. I decided that right now the pool ladder will work fine. The shallow end of the pool is 3 feet and the deep end is 6feet 6 inches. They do have steps that can be added later but I think I'll just wait and see how things work out. I'm not one for just jumping in and even though at one time there was a diving board-- my diving days are done!!! Plus the law here now says it has to be at least 8 feet deep for a diving board. I'll just be happy to have it here and be able to get out there and get some "FUN" exercise in this Summer.

Like you Rosebud, I would be skepticle about weight loss surgery. Just get all the info you can on it. And make sure you are totally on board with it. I'll make sure to keep you in my prayers that the right decision for you is made.

Gary, you and your family have been on my mind today. Sending thoughts and prayers your way.