Feeling Like a Sandwich

It has been an interesting week.  My (Vicki) Mom was in Seattle visiting my sister.  She fell and broke her back and her foot.  Ouch.  Two days later she flew home.  Brian and I picked her up at the airport (missing a night of bowling with our Neighborhood Group). 

On Wednesday I took her to the doctor.  On the way over she said she was hoping he would have a magic wand to heal her....  How honest, we just want the pain to go away.  As one would expect - that didn't happen! 

Her back is fractured at the T12.  The doctor said it could start feeling better, if that was going to happen within a week she would be 50% better.  He could also send her to a back specialist.  She made the decision to wait a few days to see what would happen.  So far the pain is staying the same....  I do appreciate the doctor making her promise to call him on Monday to tell her what direction she wants to go.

I am sure in the back of her mind is her impending trip to Nepal/India.... 

The Sandwich Generation has new meaning for us.  Checking in several times a day to see how she is doing, monitoring to see she is eating - she is quite blessed as several family members have stepped up to bring her food and friends have offered, just the worry. 

David spent Thursday with her doing "stuff" around her house.  She was refusing to wear her boot and he convinced her to put it on (that would have been great to witness!).  He even ran to McDonalds because she wanted a burger!! 

Then we have our children.  Thank you Jesus David starts a good job on Monday.  But the on-going concern we have for all of our children...we want them to have full productive lives. 

So today I am feeling weary. The pressures of family and work seem to be pretty intense.  But I know where my strength comes from.  Going to let Jesus carry the load while I rest.

We have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends.  God is so good.

Social media hurting people

How many times have you read a post on a social media site and asked yourself what is going on here?

Have you ever wondered if the person posting the post or blog really thought out the words they put on paper to cut at someone?

Recently I have read posts and blogs that appear to be directed at a single individual or a group of people.  The words used are not edifying and certainly the intended party would be hurt by the words posted.   Oh I realize that there are some out there who feel that they have the freedom of speech to say whatever they want to say and to whomever they wish to say it to, however the freedom of speech only goes as far as it offends one.    Yes this very post might be offensive to some reading it with the wrong motives. 

Simply put, I am tired of the selfish posts and blogs that call another out in social media.  If we are adults, why do we continue to act like little ones who have no comprehension of our actions?  Are we so wrapped up in ourselves that we continue to use different standards for different people?  Perhaps we feel a sense of security posting negative thoughts that others can simply chime in with “like” rather than knowing the circumstances surrounding the posts. 

Isn’t it time to really look in the mirror and see where the real problem is?  Instead of posting negative thoughts and hurting the person you are calling out, why not sit face to face like an adult and talk things out?  I have every intention of doing this very thing with the ones who have hurt me recently or hurt those I love. 

America is where it is today because of the continued actions of individuals that have taken their focus off of what and who really matters.  Isn’t it sad that when a great tragedy strikes, we get all wrapped up on how sad the situation is and want to rush to their aid?  Then why not look at the tragedy that is growing in the relationships with those around you and start helping them and lifting them up without expecting something in return?

Life is way too short.  Our family is going through some very difficult times.  I don’t want to see anyone in a position that I am with family and look back and say “Wow, I can’t believe he or she is gone….  If I only had done______________. “  

If these are truly family members and/or friends, then let’s start treating these people as such.  

Eyes on Jesus

The past month has been crazy busy.  There have also been lots of attacks from the evil one on our family....  Guess we must be headed in the right direction!!

While I am reading through the Bible this year chronologically I was missing the New Testament...  okay, I am a dork.  So I decided to play some Holy Hopscotch.  (For those who are unfamiliar with this - it is simply reading random passages with no plan....  not recommended as you will miss so much!).

In Matthew 14, there is the story of Jesus walking on the water during a extremely windy times (a storm??).  As I have been meditating on this it occurred to me Jesus did NOT calm the storm.  He reached out His hand to Peter and said, "Come." 

Peter then was able to choose to obey or disobey.  When Peter choose obedience, he was able to walk toward Jesus. 

But Peter took his eyes off of Jesus in the middle of the storm (how often do I do the same thing??)

Then Peter cries out "JESUS!!"  (yep, I do that too!!)

As He always will - Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter.  There is a part of me that wonders if standing there on the water - Jesus, knowing Peter's fear and wanting to comfort him, gave Peter a great big hug....

When they were back in the boat then the winds died down.  Did they die down because Peter felt safe and knew where his strength was?  Did they die down because Peter was obedient?   Did they die down because every storm runs out of rain?  Storms will end and, at some point, another one will come along.

God NEVER promised us this life would be easy.  He does promise us to walk beside us and there amazing rewards spending eternity with Him.

God is great and He is on the throne.

Time with Forrest

 

Well, we promised pictures of Forrest.  We had so much fun while we had him.  But, he does have A LOT of energy!!!  On Friday we went with David, Sarah and Grace to the RV show.  It was so cute how Forrest kept reaching for Grace wanting to give her kisses.  We hope they will be good friends as well as cousins!!

It was funny how some of the sales people thought they were siblings..... they are pretty opposite in looks - Forrest is blond, blue eyed and fair; Grace is dark, brown eyes with an olive complexion.

 Besides the RV show (and Cracker Barrel for dinner) the only place we went was church - where Forrest charmed everyone.  We did discover that he loves to eat bananas with Papaw!!

At home he enjoyed pulling books off the shelves, dumping his toys onto the floor and playing with Tank.  Pretty sure Tank was glad to see him leave!!

We loved watching him walk around in his jammies - looks like he has bee hanging with Uncle Jay with the sagging!!

We were chatting last night how crazy it is to feel so much love for these grandchildren.   We want to love on them, protect them, laugh with them...

God has truly blessed us.  He is so amazing!!

Forrest

We have had Forrest since Wednesday evening.  We are soooooooooo tired!!  I don't remember one year olds being so much work!!!  But then we were 20 years younger.....

Yesterday we went with David, Sarah and Grace to the RV show.   It was fun to watch Forrest and Grace interact.  Forrest kept wanting to give her kisses.

At some point we will get some pictures - but for now, just trying to keep up!!

God has blessed us with beautiful, intelligent grandchildren.  God is so good.

 Though we normally like to avoid camping on holiday weekends - due to everyone's work schedule we decided to head out for the First Annual Wuerfel Memorial Day Weekend.

Brian and David headed up Wednesday mid-afternoon to ensure we would get a good camping spot.  Sarah, Grace and I went up on Thursday after Sarah got off work.

Brian and David found a marvelous spot in campground 9354.  We were extremely secluded.  In fact, no one ever heard the screams while we were playing corn hole!!

Thursday Brian and David fished - they caught fish and had a great time.


On Friday we weren't sure when Jay and Megan were coming up so we just bummed around, then decided to head over to Woods Canyon Lake.  There were quite a few people and the fish appeared to be sleeping....

Jay and Megan arrived about dinner time. We had a nice evening just sitting around the propane campfire.


On Saturday we headed over to Bear Canyon Lake for more fishing.  As usual - no fish.  We should probably remember that since we have NEVER caught fish there!!

After lunch we headed to the edge of the rim to take pictures then over to Gentry Lookout and Black Canyon Lake. 

The great thing - fishing was decent.  So decent that we ended up there again on Sunday.  David, Jay and Brian had a blast - between them they caught ten fish. 

We went back to camp.  For dinner we had some of the fish and made pizza.  We then played Phase 10 until we were too cold to continue!!

On Monday we headed home.  This was by far one of the best camping trips we have ever had.  It is really cool to hang out with your children.

God is very good!!

Grace's First Trip up North

David's birthday was last weekend and he wanted to go up north.  So we packed a lunch and the five of us - David, Sarah and Grace; Brian and myself piled into the truck. 

Grace was very excited to be going fishing and exploring...  at two months old as long as you are fed and changed life should be good!! 

Brian and David fished Lower Lake Mary for a couple of hours - they caught four but gave them to someone.

After a picnic lunch we decided to go exploring.....  We headed down a road we had been before.  We came to a rapidly running wash, since we weren't sure we were headed the right direction, we turned around to find another road.  This was good for a while....

We were driving along and the road sort of dissolved.  Not to fear - David and Brian examined the situation and found a way to get us through.  All is good (ominous music....)

We round a corner and find it pretty much flooded.  Another examination and determination we could make it through staying to the left.  Praise God!!  The GPS tells us we are less than half a mile from the connecting road.

Over a hill and the worst has happened - no road, in fact it appears to be a pond in the road.  Once again David and Brian get out.  This time they are taking much longer.  David throws a rock into the middle and, yep, it is pretty deep.  Meanwhile Sarah and I are discussing the possibility of being rescued and flown out by a helicopter....

Brian then delivers the news - you have to get out of the vehicle.  Sarah bundles Grace up and we get out.  Now, do we watch or close our eyes??  Of course we watched!!  With David guiding him, Brian maneuvers through the rocks, water and mud, then guns it spraying mud everywhere.  But he is safe on the other side!! 

Being the gentlemen they are they came and helped us walk through.  To celebrate we stopped at Sonic in Camp Verde where David performed a Happy Dance!!

So Grace's First Adventure will not be forgotten soon. 

Praise God for intelligent men and vanilla coke!!

God is amazingly good!!