HAPPY EASTER to everyone!

Sorry I have not been around recently. I have just caught up with reading all your posts...great piccies, Gary! Nice to see what you actually look like at last!!

Things have been SO awful here over the last month or so.
About 4 weeks and 2 days ago I fell over in the middle of the night (02:00hrs) and really badly sprained my left ankle. It was SO bad and painful I wondered whether I had broken it or at least cracked it. Unfortunately I couldn't get out of the house let alone to my doctor's surgery until the injury was about 10 days old ...and I only managed to go then 'cos my wonderful neighbour took me. Well he sent me to A & E where it was x-rayed. Thank the Lord there was no bony injury found so it was pronounced to be a very bad sprain and I got a pair of crutches to hobble around on for a couple of weeks. It took an absolute age to start healing but in the meantime my regular blood tests (every 3 weeks for my heart condition) showed up some abnormalities in my kidney functions. So I had an ultra-sound and more blood tests and it was found that the cardiac drugs were contra-indicated with the anti-inflammatories I was taking. Goodness knows why because I have been taking both drug groups for about 5 years now. And so I have had to come off the anti-inflamm's and boy oh boy is my body complaining. Every bit of arthritis has flared up mercilessly especially in my back and my feet. I just don't know how to settle it at all and it is driving me round the proverbial bend. So lfe has been rather miserable here and I have had a bad bout of depression. I am afriad I have taken the odd anti-inflammatory drug when the pain has been so awful I have almost been unable to get out of bed but I have not taken them regularly by any stretch of the imagination.
I really don't know how to combat this at all.
I confess that my church, with the exeption of 1 person who is a friend of mine, has not been of any help at all and I am trying not to feel bitter about this. I actually live about 6 moles from the church so it is a 15 minute drive and I really feel as though I might as well be on the other side of the moon for all the contact there has been. I have only been to church once since Christmas but no-one seems worried apart from D. my friend.

Oh enough misery from me!
Sorry to read people's worrying news . Hope things and life gets better for everyone. Spring has sprung!!!

Love and God Bless from Teel.

teel, so sorry you've had such a hard time of it lately. We'll have to send healing prayers your way too. Sorry too about your church family. Sometimes they don't know or they don't realize you need them. I know you shouldn't have to but maybe you could call your pastor for a talk, maybe then they'd realize that you need their help and prayer? Just a suggestion.

Teel...Please read the following and where they talk about marriage...just put in there, you life situation. My heart and prayers are with you!

The Pressure Place
by Lou Lotz
Read: Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. (v. 36)

Gethsemane. The word means "oil press." And somewhere in the blue shadows of the garden of Gethsemane that contrivance stood - two massive round stones which pressed the olives, crushing them to pulp, causing the rich oil to dribble out and drain into earthenware basins.

Gethsemane is the pressure place; it's the place in life where you are crushed, squeezed. As Jesus in Gethsemane was pressed between self-preservation and the cross, between the easy thing and the right thing, so we some-times find ourselves pressed between weighty options.

For some, their marriage is Gethsemane. You made a promise. You tried to keep it. But now your relationship has turned malignant. You can't bear to remain married, but you don't dare seek a divorce. You can't stay, you can't leave. For some people their career is Gethsemane - your job is squeezing the life out of you, but you have nowhere else to go. Gethsemane is the place where these two granite-like options are crushing you, and like Jesus, you pray for a way out: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me." But in the end we discover, as Jesus did, that there really is only one option for the believer - to trust God, and go where he leads.


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Prayer: Father, not my will, but thy will be done.
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Hello again to all, sorry I've missed posting for awhile. My computer has absolutely been giving me fits, locking up, not connecting, etc. Run anti-virus software, compressed, decompressed, midasized, you name it, I think I've done it, so I'm posting for a minute now while I can get on-line.

Weather here has warmed up, 50's but VERY cloudy and overcast, rain most days and through the Easter weekend. Suppose to be off tomorrow but now have to work, have state audit coming on our Homeland Security Grants (yuck, last thing I want before starting vacation! ) But I guess the upside would be that they'll be over and I won't have that facing me when I come back!

Mitchypoo - Coming your way, be there on Monday, are we going to try to meet at MOA? Need to know the weather forecast too, I know you guys still have snow on the ground but hopefully I'm not driving into a blizzard!! Understand from EZ's postings that you and he are Randy Moss fans??? He went to college here where I live (Marshall University), great football player, ummmmm let's not comment on his morals & personal life, let's just say EZ 'you can have him' and all his troubles too, good luck!

EZ - Glad your back, good to see the pics and see what you look like. Thanks for the bracelet info. will check out the website. I have a nephew, Adam, now in Baghdad. His unit saw some gunfire a few days ago, went to assist another unit. His unit came out alright but unfortunately the other unit had to fly some injured out and I understand 1 was killed. Wish the 'powers that be' could get this war over with and our guys/gals home! P.S. Good luck with Moss, the Raiders deserve him! (As you can probably tell, I'm not a Raiders fan!)

PapillonLady - Brenda - glad you joined us. I haven't been here very long myself but this is a very sharing/caring bunch. You'll find an easy ear and soft shoulder here to help with your needs. I agree with you that the dieting stuff is a lifelong journey.

MKAY - Continued prayers on your hubby's recovery (and your patience), men are such babies! Will also continue to remember you on the job front, change is difficult but at least you will still have a job. Thanks for "The Pressure Place", I think we've all been there in some form or another.

MNewton - GREAT NEWS ON CHANNON, will continue prayers for her chemo and continued recovery. This baby is going to be such a blessing for you and your family, - and a tough little cookie to boot!! Keep us posted.

Teel - HI, so sorry to hear about the fall and depression and problems going on in your life. We'll lift these up that the Lord will show you a blessing from them. I agree with Mitchypoo on contacting the Pastor, maybe they just don't realize how much you need them and they need you, a phone call wouldn't hurt.

SUNNY D - You must be REALLY busy, you haven't put one of your good, long posts on for a while and I miss them. I did enjoy your Easter picture with the bear and bunny, so cute and reminds us that Spring is here! It's my favorite time of the year, bulbs are up (trying to bloom) and birds are out, now if we could get a little sunshine it would be good for the soul! Hope all is going well with you.

That's all for now, I had a dispatcher call-off for tonight so I need to get call-out done and see if I can get his shift filled, the stomach virus/flu is going around here again (3x for some people) and also need to post next month's work schedule so lots to do.

Hugs & prayers, Margie

HI GALS

To let all of you know...the GI Bracelets I ordered yesterday (HOW? I have no idea!) but they are awesome! Just like the Lance Armstrong one I have but deep purple. Just shaing the news.

TEEL Prayers~Prayers~Prayers for you!! I am so sorry you are so sad right now. I can't speak for your church....but just wondering, have you expressed to them what is happening in your life? Our church has over 1,000 members...our average week-end attendance is around 500...but in today's "world"...we tend to go about our own business and don't "observe" some of the others....we/I "assume" that the needs of the others are being met. Did you ever get going on that scooter? Spring has sprung as you said..here is praying and hoping that YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT SPRING THAT IT CHANGES YOUR LIFE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MARGIE B Glad to see you back! Right now every time I see my Pastor he laughs at me...he is a VIKINGS fan...and glad to be rid of Randy Moss...not sure I want him but that is the price you have to pay being a RAIDERS fan!! We are not the sharpest tools in the shed I will pray for your nephew. My friend that was killed in Iraq was in a hummer with 3 other men scouting...all perished in the bombing. I was in Washington for his funeral but I understand it was quite awesome...his dad is a retired fire chief so the church was filled with fireman, the young man was an explorer scout in high school for the sherrifs and was one before he enlisted after 911..so they were there in force....plus a great turn-out from our church...he was buried at a military site about 60 miles from our church and at every off ramp along the way there were firemen and officers saluting the family vehicle!! Quie a site and honor to an outstanding young man. Hope the sun shines on your Easter...we are expecting gorgeous weather in southern California for Sunday.

MKAY Great devotion! Hang in there girl. Happy Easter.

SUE I am sooooo sorry! Isn't ANY of the sun I am sending getting to you? eerrrr....well, actually it has been pretty rainy here all winter...guess there hasn't been that much sun to go around! Have a great Easter with the youth and neice and nephew!

MICHELE Glad to see you checking in...now go get SUNNY~~SAMI~~~SPROUT~~~and WILMA~~

Outta here............

Hello so sorry I have be LOA............ I have had a full plate. My Bosses brother died and I made her take the week off and then she was already scheduled for Vac the next week. So I had to step up and make sure everything was taken care of because I didn't want her to come back to a lot of stress. I have been busy working out................... I am now down 33 lbs. So I am going to one of the best looking Grandma's when my DD has my Grandson in 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!! We just had her shower and almost the whole church showed up. We started going to that Church when she was 7 months old. So a lot of people have known her all her life. I am going to try to be better about posting. I have just been so focused trying to stay OP. I pray all of you have a blessed Easter. I will try to get caught up and post to each of you!

I have really missed all your support!
Sandra

Hey All!

Sami: Yeah, Congrats, Yipee! 33 lbs GONE...WIPED AWAY, ZIPPO, DISAPPPEARED...VANISHED...ok...how did you do it? I'm sure more that just I want to know.

EZ...I am having fun playing nurse to DH. If he does not feel my love and compassion...then I married a rock. I am praying that he sees how love and compassion for the sick and unfortunate is done.

Michele...I have stones picked out but I am struggling with Gary laying on the couch all the time. I keep thinking that I should be with him so nothing and I mean nothing is getting done. Today, I have to get a grip and clean and get stuff done around the house. Bills to pay, letters to generate for his business, floors to mop, a dog to bathe, etc. How are you doing? Much snow left? Still cold here but I believe in my heart that the warmer air is just a breath away.

Sunny...You disappeared! Come back woman...give us a graphic...a springy one. Pleeeeeeease!

Teel...I am imagining God holding and hugging you and as He does, his warmth is comforting the pain and taking the pressure off.

Margie...Thank you for prayers for DH's recovery. He has not his that wall of pain and I don't believe he will. I know that all the prayers that have been said over him and for him have helped. Have fun at MOA.


Wilma, Sprout, and everyone else...Where are you?

Have a Blessed Easter and Praise God for He Has Risen! Without Him we are NOTHING!

Hugs,

I am having a really busy weekend, so wanted to stop by and say Happy Easter! We are having an overnight fondue party with our teens, and another youth group from about an hour away. The two pastors have came up with activities, bible challenges, games ect. So that should be alot of fun, then after they leave in the morning I am helping clean up and set up for Sonrise service, we do a pancake breakfast after the 1st service as an outreach to the community. It goes well every year. Then I amoff to get fitted for a dress for my brother's wedding, getting married in August. Then I get to crash, before Sunday morning starts.
Teel-So sorry to hear things are not going well for you, and that you are feeling depressed ect. Prayers for healing coming your way. I agree witht he others you need to let the pastor know how things are going and how much you would enjoy some company.
M-kay- I liked the analogy with gethsemane, so true.
Margie- Computer problems I hear ya, this morning I tried to copy a picture and kept getting microsoft warnings, and had to re-boot to accomplish it, then I got here and it won't let me put any colors in, so guess its gonna be black. Blessing are the same anyway.
E.Z.- Hey bud, the sun arrived by afternoon, and melted most of that snow, we are suppose to hit the 50's on Sunday, I should have got ya going early, could be camping by now, ha ha ha.
Sami- Wow! Awesome job down 33lbs way to go! What a sweetie, insisting your boss take the time off, it is hard loosing a sibling, is work going better. How's the IBS, over all are your feeling good grandma!
Sunny- you posted the same time I did, glad things are looking up, yes I got the bullitin done I will share the poem I put in it for sunday. Promise to save me a piece of pecan pie, it my favorite.
Sprout- pray all is well with you, your family and koko.
Hi to all other MIA's! God Bless! Happy Easter, a time to reflect on the price our Savior paid.

Checking posts before I head into work a little late for a short day.

Have a GREAT GOOD FRIDAY....worship HIM!

Prayers for all your concerns.

Gary

E.Z. and Mitchy - Hi you guys must have been posting at the same time I was. So sad an amber alert just came up for a girl missing taken by a neighbor, in Ceder Rapids. The guy that took her is on a sexual predator list.
He went right into her house, so sad. Kids aren't even safe at home.

This is the poem I put in the bullitin for Easter.


HE HAS RISEN

He was crucified and buried, but today the whole world knows.
The resurrection story of how Jesus Christ arose.

Some may question it and doubt it, but they can't explain or say.
Why after countless centuries, men still follow Christ today.

And they miss the peace and comfort that the Easter story brings.
The promise of eternal life and the hope of better things.

For just to know the Savior died to redeem and save all men,
and that because He gave His life, we, too, shall live again.

Makes all this world's uncertainties, it's burdens, care and strife,
seem meaningless when they're compared to God's eternal life.

And Easter, as it comes each year to wake the sleeping earth,
assures mankind that Jesus Christ has promised us rebirth

Helen Steiner Rice

Happy Easter to all!