Hi everyone! I have been busy lately taking care of my kids, our garden, and general household chores, but lately it seems I have only had a few minutes at a time to sit down at the computer. So, I have been reading but not commenting on your happenings.

This week has been especially difficult for my family. My mother's brother, who was only 55, died of a heart attack. On that side of the family my grandfather, great-aunts, and great-uncles have been plagued with heart troubles often dying early. So, when my uncle began having some trouble he immediately went to the doctor. They agreed he had some blockage but decided to treat it with medicine. Less than 10 days later, he died. He leaves behind a girlfriend (whom his sons dislike) and three sons 37, 21, and 19. None of his affairs were in order, and the boys have their hands full trying to find all those important documents and straighten things out. Please keep them in your prayers. They have many hard days ahead of them.

My uncle was the epitome of the prodigal son. He was saved as a young boy, but he had spent most of his adult life living outside God's will. This is one of those instances where the parable of the prodigal son is so comforting.

It says in scripture "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:20

I know that God saw my uncle and ran to meet him, welcoming him back into his arms. Isn't that a wonderful picture? God running to meet us.

Rosebud - Glad to hear your feeling well. "Don't ever look at bills before going to the doctor" ought to be a general rule for us all. Enjoy the lettuce and other garden produce.

Wilma - I hope the merger went well at work. Enjoy that weekend of relaxation at the cottage. Sometimes I think we forget how much we all need to really quiet our spirit and slow down.

Nemesisclaws - How nice of you to open your home up like that! Having company, even if it is family, for long periods of time can be a trying experience. I am sure you are a gracious host.

Gwyn - I hope you and yours are feeling better by now. It seems that Satan is really hitting you guys hard with illnesses and mishaps. That could be a good thing. Satan hits the hardest when you are getting closer to God. My pastor says that if you aren't facing and fighting Satan on a daily basis you might be headed the same way he is. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you!

EZ - It seems like you are keeping the roads busy as you travel from one place to another. It sounds like fun, but if I were you I think I would be ready to just sit at home for a while.

Sue - I hope you are continuing to get stronger everyday. I've been missing you here.

Youthchick - I hope you are doing fine, too. It is difficult to make a committment to a weightloss / lifestyle change. Remember who we are doing this for. The weightloss isn't for our benefit; it is for HIS glory.

I hope everyone else is doing fine. Talk again soon!

HI GALS ~

I have a few minutes before heading off to church. I came home friday afternoon, from being out of town for work all week. Saw the eye doctor and she said that I am pretty much healed as far as it will go, "maybe" just a little more, but doubtful, on the improvement on the blurriness. She wants me to see the optometrist in a month to see if there is a possibility glasses will improve the issue. It really isn't too bad now and I have improved much from the initial injury. She did say that because the cut was almost through the cornea that I needed to be REAL careful because any other injury "could be"...well...not a good thing!

GYWN ~ Prayers for your health and your husbands. Prayers for your children too. How is that car doing?

NEMESISCLAWS ~ Aren't nephews cool! I just love my 16 year old ....since he finished his first class at summer school with a B.... One more class to go after a week break.

WILMA ~ Tough weather! Poor kids ....but look at the stories to tell their future kids I do have a lot of family and solid friends...you are right...I am a lucky guy!

ROSEBUD ~ What is too old and tired? The car or your DH?

ELLIES MOM ~ It is good to be home, if only for a couple of days. Tomorrow at 4am I leave again...but...will be able to come home Tuesday night for the 4th of July celebration...then who knows? Prayers for you and your uncle's family

AUNT SUE ~ How much camping can one girl do? Prayers that all is well!

Well, I can hear the church bells ringing...later.

WORSHIP WHEN AND WHERE YOU CAN!


I should get back before, but in case I don't ~

HAVE A GREAT 4TH OF JULY WITH YOUR FAMILIES!



Gary

Sorry I have been MIA! But been spending time at home with family, and at hospital with Jim. He is doing better, moved to rehab Monday! continues to improve very slowly. Thanks for all your prayers. I am camping the rest of the week for the 4th of July, should be fun. I am doing well. I had developed an allergic reaction to the iron pill I was taking- they think to the red dye. I broke out in a rash that itched terrible on arms and legs. They put me on atarax, and prednisone, doing much better now. I have hit a plateau I haven't lost anything in just over a week, but all still going well. I still have a T-Tube in the gallbladder bile duct and after a test next week, it should come out, then I will be tube free Yeah! Overall feel good though!
Youthchick- That is so hard loosing someone that you werent expecting to and thinking could I have said something or done something that would have made a difference.
Rosebud- Thanks! Happy to here your garder is doing well despite the strange weather, it has been unsasonably cool here to. Prayers for cars and all.
E.Z.- Thanks! Glad weddings went well, and that you got to visit with old friends always nice.
Gwen- You are doing awesome! sorry to hear you and hubby were sick, happy to hear you are well again, prayers for kids that the Lord will open their hearts, Keeep them in prayer..
Nemesis- Prayers you find the right job, It is always nice spending time with family, I enjoy mine so much.. They are a big part of my life.
Wilma- Prayers for the merger to go well. PTL- that no one was hurt in the tornado- scary though Pray you were able to relax at sisters, and enjoy.
Elliesmom- So sorry to hear of your uncles passing- it is so much easier when we know that a loved one is saved, and have no question were they are going, prayers for family.
Well off to camp in a couple hours! prayers you all have a safe 4th keep our soldiers in prayer, blessings!

HI EVERYONE ~ had some nice rain to cool things off today; good for the garden too. Just did some laundry today besides our daily routine stuff. Fighting a bit of a cold the last few days, but feeling better tonight. Seems everytime we go out where there are lots of people, we catch something.

GARDEN UPDATE: everything is growing very well; hopefully we're now passed all the frost days. DH says the potatoes are trying for a comeback. SALAD GARDEN is fab and can eat all the goodies from it daily (leaf lettuce, radishes & green salad onions).

Had a busy weekend; went to an anniversay party on Saturday night. Very glad there were no junky foods there; only a salad plate with a low-fat dip. Dinner was potluck (my designation was Chinese Rice with veggies). There were two salads (Ceasar and Broccoli) along with a bean pot and two meat dishes. Dessert was small piece of cake with one scoop of vanilla ice cream. My sugars were OK the next day, but I had that as my weekly Sunday night dessert as a sub.

HAPPY JULY 4th to all our American friends! We celebrated Canada Day on the 1st (Sunday) with fireworks, parades, BBQ's, etc.

SUE ~ 93 lbs is a lot of weight to lose; YOU are doing great! Praying for the healing and removal of that last tube soon. Glad that you are able to go out and do such fun things while still recovering. I hope you have a trailer or cabin to stay in; last time DH and I tried to sleep on the ground, we woke up in agony (all the cold went into our bodies).

GARY ~ DH would say "BOTH"; he turned "60" at the end of May and now all he talks about are the aches and pains of someone his age! (Gee, I hope that doesn't last too long ~ LOL!) Glad to hear your eye has healed some; just have to wear goggles for the more dangerous work, right???

ELLIE'S MOM ~ sorry to hear about your uncle; hope the rest of his family are looking after their health now, and getting those hearts checked early. Ya know, only GOD knows what we think and believe in our hearts of hearts. I have known people who have a deep faith (and read their bible and pray daily) who are not the evangelical type; they just prefer to share only if and when asked. I'm just so glad that we have such a loving and forgiving GOD.

Lately, I have been giving out "INVITATION" cards to family, friends, and others. I put them in with special occasion cards and gifts. They can be kept or passed along to someone they think might need it. These are the size of business cards with three hopeful scriptures about God's love and then an INVITATION PRAYER. I purchased mine through a book club, but I suppose they could be made up. It's a very simple, non-intrusive way to share the salvation invitation with people we love and meet.

ANYWAYS, that's about all the news here for now; hope you are all keeping well. Hope everyone has fun on their summer holidays, as July is a very popular month for people to take their holidays in. So, take good care of yourselves ~ your fellow encourger ~ ROSEBUD. ^ PRAYERS ^

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY GALS

Just got back from picking up food for the BBQ today. we are having bacon, cheddar, guacamole burgers and Nathan's hot dogs. Potatoe and macaroni salad, corn on the cob, beans and chips. Just your typical last minute Gary and Angie BBQ! We had told my kids that since they were both newlyweds they could spend the day with their friends at the beach or whatever, that Ron was with his mom camping and Lara was going to her boyfriends house. They didn't need to feel obligated to come here this year. Angie and I were just planning to watch some MONK and TWILIGHT ZONE marathons...well, they called and said they were bringing their friends here, after the beach, for bocce ball and shuffleboard. So a quaint BBQ for two grew to a lively party for about 12...wouldn't want it any other way

Had to work out of town the past few days but got to come home since we had some short days...a few hours of travel each way is way better than a hotel room! Especially since we got to leave the job by noon each day...an advantage of starting at 5am...but oh, those 2:30 alarms!!

ROSEBUD ~ All DH talks about is his aches and pains? hummm....don't you have WEATHER there? I hope you get over your cold soon Love the INVITATION idea.

AUNT SUE ~Continued prayers for you and Jim. Shoulda hollered, Ron is camping with his mom, sister, and his buddy for 6 days...ya coulda joined up

Things sure are slow here...humm...something I said ? my breath ? maybe I should bath more often ?.....

Prayers for all ~ ENJOY YOUR DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Hi, I am so excited to find this thread. I am active right now in the south beach threads, but how thrilling to find a place to share experiences with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is just one more chapter in my up and down rollercoaster diet life of losing and gaining back. Now that I am 40 and my blood pressure is borderline needing meds, I need to admit the lifestyle has to change forever. It is especially hard when my husband and teen son seem to have metabolisms that never stop. I swear when my husband eats a bag of candy he loses weight due to the effort it takes. I can gain 20 pounds just looking at it. My 14 year old son is a bottomless pit who is very fit. NOT FAIR!!!! Anyway, pray for me and I will be praying for all of you.

I'm new to this thread, but not so much this website anymore.
Wow, I feel so much for the ladies who are in such dispair over their weight. I totally understand them too, I know we all do.
I try to minister to them by speaking postive things into their life, and if they sound encouraged then I can tell them about the Lord. But I get no response back from them, I know the Lord will plant the seeds in their heart. When I've gotten a resonse, it's only one, and it's doesn't seem like they get what I'm saying. Does anyone have this problem?
I submitted a thread to the Jewish thread about loving them and wanting to talk, and got no response.
I feel the Lord leading me into this place to minister to those who need Him. How about anyone else, do you sense the same?
I'm also looking for friends to talk to. Everything I read by you all is so encouraging and loving. I see the love of Christ in you all.
Well I got to get ready for work, but I'll be back on again around 7am, Arizona time.
God Bless!

WELCOME FitinTime and Babs1

it has been a little slow around here this week but it should pick up...right gals? ...

RIGHT GALS!?

Hi,Everhyone! I have been a mess lately!
don't worry I am still staying the course.
I honestly don't know where to start this letter....
I have been in a daze every since I got so sick with that strep throat. I thought I was over it, and then for the past week, every time I swallow my throat is hurting still. I am calling the doctor this morning to see what is going on. I feel like someone took a baseball bat to me and I can't seem to recover from it's impact.
1st I couldn't go to Church because we were with out a car for a few weeks, then when I got a car, I went once and then the next week I had the worst sore throat I have ever had in my life! That lasted 2 solid weeks! Then on this Saturday Robert, my grandson Johnny and I were all in the car to go to my Mom's swimming because of the heat here and the car wouldn't start! So we were home stranded again and missed Church again!!! Thank God for my Mom and Gene, they brought us a battery this afternoon in exchange for some yard work we are going over to do for them tomorrow.
I have been staying the course with my eating, I don't know how much I have lost since I weighed last when Robert was in the hospital. I have been feeling pretty blue lately too.
Friday night my Son Adam came into my room and told me that the sheriff was here with a warrant for his arrest and that he would have to go with them. It was so sad to see him go.
It is so painful to see your Son be taken off to jail, because of choices that he has made, and situations that he has created for himself. He just had to many unpaid tickets, and court fines. He said, he thinks he may be there for most of the year!
Adam, my Adam, the boy who could talk in sentences at 9 months old. Who could recite and recognize the whole alphabet at 2 years old! My Adam who in pre-school understood the concept of 100's and 1,000's. Who while in the 3rd grade could do square root in his head. Who had a huge shoe box full of sports cards, and you could pull out any single card out of a thousand and cover the name show him the picture and he would tell you all the stats about that player! And when I say all I mean ALL!~Adam who's every teacher he ever had from pre-school on told me he could be a doctor or great scientist. They all told me over and over that he had great potential. Now at age 26 when he should be graduating from collage, he is going to jail again. It is heart breaking!
Adam who has been diagnosed with post traumatic syndrome, personality disorder, bi-polar disorder and something else.
Is now in jail, on lithium and Only God can help him there.
He needs Jesus so much. I remember when he was also in the 1st or 2nd grade we were at church and Adam got his right index finger caught in between the steel frame and steel door of the men's bathroom. I could hear him scream, I ran through the church and to him, his poor little finger was crushed!!!! It appeared to be held together by pieces of broken skin. Blood was pouring out everywhere.
It was very, bad, I immediately began to get the kids in motion to head to the car so I could rush him to the hospital, when an Elder asked me if he could take him into the restroom and pray for a minute, I agreed, and stood very anxiously out side of the door, crying, traumatized and ready to bolt him off to the hospital. I heard that Adam had stopped crying, and then After about 5 minutes the Elder and Adam came out and the finger was perfectly whole!!!!! God had healed that little finger. I am trusting that the same God who healed that little boys crushed finger, will heal and fix my young mans crushed and broken spirit, heart. This is work that only he can do. I know he loves Adam. I know that he who began that good work in Adam when he was a little boy will be faithful to complete it in him. I am sending along some pictures of Adam. Please help me pray for his salvation, and that he will fulfill all the plans and purposes that God has for his life.
When he was a boy all I did was dream, and dream about what collage he would go to, and what he would accomplish in those endeavors. Now all this Mother wants to see is Her Son's and Daughter saved and loving the Lord God with all of their hearts, with all of their strength, and with all their minds attentions and focus! This is my most earnest desire.
For the whole truth is One's Life Will Soon Be Past...
Only What's Done For Christ... Will Last...
It isn't about us. It isn't about me. It isn't about my children. No it is all about God and His kingdom, and His Glory and His Honor. I pray that we will all bring him the glory and honor he so richly deserves.
Love in Christ, Gwyn L. Ditmars

HI EVERYONE ~ well, we have had a busy and eventful week, just like the rest of you; but JESUS WARNED US OF THAT ~ "I have warned you ahead, that you may have peace. You will have troubles in this world; but be of good cheer, for I HAVE OVERCOME THIS WORLD!" John 16:33

We are also dealing with a finicky car; our rad overheats now and then; but we had to go to the city hospital yesterday, so we prepared well; and before we left, DH and I held hands, and prayed for a peaceful, safe trip; I'm sure that helped us, as we had no problems at all!

AND, there's more good news too; my CAT SCAN says that I have NO BLOOD CLOTS ANYWHERE IN MY BODY ~ yeah and more yeah!!! I had one before; and my mother passed away from that; plus some family members had them too; so DH and I are elated that everything is A-OK!

BARB AND FITINTIME ~ we can use all the positive we can get in this world, I think! I really believe that's what GOD is calling us to do right now; GIVE PEOPLE SOME HOPE via a positive message of LOVE!!! We all need some good news to combat the negativity of the world and there's a lot of that today, esp in the media.

We are very picky what we watch, read, and/or listen to now. We are trying to choose healthier activities; and more positive kinds of people to socialize with personally. We must be available to the world to share our hope with them; but we have to keep well ourselves so that we can be a strong and positive example for them, just like Jesus Christ was and is for us.

GWYN ~ right now, as a mother, you are hurt by watching the choices and consequences in your son's life; but GOD sees the bigger picture. Your son may have to go thru all of this to learn his lessons of life; they are for him, and him alone to learn, so that some day, he will be able to help others in the same kind trouble (just maybe, Gwyn ~ GOD may be preparing him thru the hard-knock school of life for some important work in the far, distant future, that we cannot see today).

In the meanwhile, PRAY HARD FOR HIM; EVERY DAY; THEN TRUST IN YOUR GOD, and FATHER, WHO LOVES ADAM JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE IN THIS WORLD. TRUST HIM, GWYN ~ TRUST HIM. ADAM IS SMART; SMART ENUFF TO KNOW BETTER. GOD IS HIS MASTER; HIS TEACHER; and HIS PAROL OFFICER. AND GOD IS WRAPPING HIS KNUCKLES FOR BEING UNRULY; SO, LET HIM! STEP ASIDE AND GIVE ADAM TO YOUR FATHER, IN HEAVEN. LET GO AND LET GOD!

You need to look after yourself right now, GWYN; to be healthy and happy for your other kiddies. Have you ever heard of a woman named BARBARA JOHNSON (the author)? When you go to your library, get any books of hers you can find. SHE IS FABULOUS & FUNNY; and, they can help you daily, deal with the disappointments of being a parent of a troubled child/adult.

ANYWAYS, DH is home for dinner; I will come back to post again later. I hope all of you are well ~ your fellow encourager ~ ROSEBUD.

Thank you Rosebud.
I needed to hear with my heart every word you wrote!
Thank you so much and I appreciated every line.
I love you all and I have let go. Even if Adam could be bailed out, I would not do it! I consider him to be under arrest of God Almighty. I know he needs him in every way possiable and I am not God. Never have been, never will be.
My friend who has been letting me use this computer is now asking for it back. I get to use it until friday morning and then it is gone.
I just want to tell you all how much I love you.
In Christ, Gwyn L. Ditmars

Prayers to you both Rosebud and Gwyn!

I finally have a moment to post! It's been nuts at work and I'm coming home tired at the end of the day and just don't want to do anything. We have my inlaws staying with us right now too. That's not a problem at all. I love having them here. Yesterday MIL had dinner waiting when I got home. Nice treat!

We had a great time at the cabin last weekend. I did absolutely nothing except help with meals. We read, chatted and relaxed. It was just what I needed. This coming weekend is my 30year high school reunion. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't seen some of my classmates since grad. DH is coming with me reluctantly. He doesn't know many people and is thinking he'll be bored. We are doing fun things like golf, scavenger hunts, etc. so he has no reason to think that.


Rosebud: Thank you for your reminder that God is with us all the time. I have really felt it the last while. Praise HIM!

Gwyn: Hang in there! God is working in your son. I hope you get a computer soon so you can keep in touch. Take care!

Gary: Busy season for you!! We miss your posts but at least you stop in to visit a bit. Be safe as you're out there climbing on houses, etc.

Fitin and Babs: Welcome! It's been kind of slow around here but keep posting. We all eventually come back.

Sue: How are you doing? Starting to look svelte?? We're looking for pics soon!

Have a great day!

HI ~ I'M BACK ... LOL!

I wanted to tell you that I am now using the newer (second-hand) PC that came in June; it took awhile becuz there was no modem in it (took awhile to figure it all out). We save any useful parts from other tossed out PC's; and we took a modem card out of a 2000 IBM and put it in; told Windows to use it; and VOILA ~ it worked right away!

So, now I can come on and post without freezing; and all the moaning and groaning from the stressed hard-drive, cuz it has double the memory and another back-up hard-drive for storage. It's amazingly quiet too!

GWYN ~ I hope I wasn't too harsh; I wrote that message quite quickly, on- the-cuff. I was just soooo concerned for you earlier that you are carrying too much on yourself. You can still go to the library and use their PC's; and watch out in the papers cuz some (wealthy) people sell their older PC's for cheap, when they upgrade to newer ones.

WILMA ~ you said in one sentence what I took two or three paragraphs to say; and more succinctly too, I might add!

GARY ~ thanks for the prayers; they are appreciated, believe me! The good news from the tests are a load off our minds; it has been a concern of mine for some time. Now, I can focus on getting even healthier, stronger, and lighter, too. I want to dance like a fairy ~ LOL!

SUE ~ hope you are doing well; I agree with WILMA; we are all rootin' for ya ^ LOVE & PRAYERS ^

HI TO EVERYONE ELSE ~ have a good week, from your fellow encourager ~ ROSEBUD.

Hi Everybody!
How is everyone this day that the Lord has made!
I just read all the messages and Thank You and a big God Bless You to all!
I'm am praying for you all, and Gwen for your son and I'm believing that God will bless you with your own computer.
Isn't this a good way to minister to people, God opens all kinds of doors for us to use for His glory. It's amazing!
Anyway, I just wanted to say Hi, and I hope everyone is doing well with losing weight. I just lost another pound to make that a total of 5 pounds.
We can do it Ladies!

Love,
Fit