Maxine's Wisdom on "Train of Thoughts"!

Does this sound familiar to you??!!   LOL!

How to Rekindle Your Inner Light

"A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark".
– Dante Alighieri

Life, with all that it has to offer, can give greatly, and at times, it can also take away. Personal tragedies, whatever the cause, can wear anyone down. Even the strongest among us can find their inner light dimmed by these tough times.
When you find yourself drowning in darkness, take comfort in the simple fact that your light does not die. Light, in fact, is eternal. Believe that you have the power to rekindle it whenever you choose.

Start Your Campfire

Fires give comfort when you feel alone in the darkness of a cold forest. They provide warmth, safety and light. Building an inner fire can provide you with the same comfort. You can rekindle your inner fire and then use the light to find your way back to peace by remembering how a campfire is started when it’s needed most.

• Gather the kindling
  Something cannot come from nothing. If you feel that your inner fire has burned out, it’s up to you to build a new one. Resist the temptation to suffer in the darkness and trust yourself to recover from the tragedy.
  Take it upon yourself to begin your healing and move on with your life. Find things in your life to help you restart your fire. Gather what you need from the woods and take it back with you. Prepare yourself to set a goal and then equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve that goal. Know what you need and then gather these things again.
• Build the fire
  Before you can start the fire, you must first build the base upon which to make the fire.
  In the same manner a campfire is started, restarting your inner fire starts with a spark and some tinder. Setting concrete goals makes it easier to plan practical ways to achieve it. Outlining a plan of action is like stacking the kindling around the tinder. You have to know the kind of fire you need so you can decide how it is to burn. Starting a fire requires patience and perseverance. Don’t just throw a bunch of logs into a pile and hope that they catch fire. The same is true with your goals; start small—start with the tinder. When the tinder catches, move on to the kindling. And when the kindling catches, then you can move on to the larger fuel.
• Feed the fire
  After you start the fire, you need to feed it to keep it burning. Add fuel to the fire. Work towards achieving the goal that you have set. Practice your skills or choose to learn new ones.
  The fire may dip at times, depending on external factors or even internal factors, but you must add fuel to keep it burning. This is the part that might seem tedious, but this is also the part where you remind yourself that you need the fire and that while keeping the fire alive may be troublesome, having to build a new one can be even more tiring.
• Control the fire
  Fire does not produce its own fuel. When the fire is at the point where it’s no longer just a fragile flame, it runs the risk of being uncontrollable. Whether you toss in a block of wood, an old newspaper or a 200-year-old painting, fire does not discriminate and it will burn through what it touches. Take care of your inner fire, but control it so it does not consume you. Use your fire to ignite your passions in life and let your inner light guide you through your path in the world.   
  -Calex Blackwell                               www.thebridgemaker.com 

  
  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~
  
  I'm reminded of the old song "It Only Takes a Spark" we used to sing around the campfire . . .
  
  It only takes a spark
      To get a fire going
      And soon all those around
      Can warm up in the glowing
  
  That’s how it is with God’s love
      Once you’ve experienced it
      You’ll spread His love
      To everyone
      You’ll want to pass it on
  
  What a wondrous time is spring
      When all the trees are budding
      The birds begin to sing
      The flowers start their blooming
  
  That’s how it is with God’s love
      Once you’ve experienced it
      You’ll want to sing
      It’s fresh like spring
      You’ll want to pass it on
  
  I wish for you my friend
      This happiness that I’ve found
      You can depend on Him
      It matters not where you’re bound
  
  I’ll shout it from the mountain top
      I want the world to know
      The Lord of Love
      Has come to me
      I want to pass it on
  
  This is how God's Great Love Works!!

   

Have a Ducky Day (Nice)!

I was going to send someone a note and wanted to close my note by wishing them a "nice" day.  After thinking about that it sounded so . . . shall I plain and generic - "nice".  Sure we all want every day to be "nice".  But I just wanted to wish them an extra "nice" day - not a run of the mill, ho-hum day but something a little more than that.  Have you felt like you wanted to wish someone more than a simple "nice" day, "nice" time, "nice" visit, "nice" lunch, "nice" - but something a little bit more "extraordinaire"!!?? 

Well, that was just what I wanted to do!  So I looked up the synonyms for "nice".  Since my brain surgery in December and my 5 1/2 months of speech therapy, I am fascinated with words and find myself using words that I never used before - interesting isn't it?? Well, in looking up the word "nice" I found multiple synonyms for that simple little four letter word. 

Here is what I found:  admirable, amiable, approved, attractive, becoming, charming, commendable, considerate, cordial, courteous, delightful, ducky, fair, favorable, fine & dandy, friendly, gentle, good, gracious, helpful, inviting, kind, lovely, nifty, obliging, okay, peachy, pleasant, pleasurable, superior, swell, unpresumptuous, welcome, & winsome . . .  did you know there were that many words for "nice"???

Well, now those synonyms gave me something to think about.  Each of these synonyms tend to give the word "nice" a new dimension to its simple meaning. Which word did I really want to use in wishing them a "nice" day?? I could say, "have a lovely, nifty, ducky, delightful, swell, pleasurable and unpresumptuous day"!!! Would that get the real message across to them? Is that too much??!!  . . . or I could just say to them . . . have a "ducky day" and know that all of those synonyms are wrapped up in the word "ducky" floating down the river of life making your day all of those special unique qualities!! LOL! 

Here's me wishing you just that . . . a "ducky day"! 

Holy Cow Cake
Chocolate Cake Mix (your preference), baked as directed
1-14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
8 oz. jar of caramel topping
4-5 Butterfingers candy bars, crushed
1-8 oz. cream cheese, softened
12 oz. Cool Whip

Prepare and bake cake as directed on package. Meanwhile, blend caramel and sweetened condensed milk.

After removing cake from oven, use a skewer or fork to poke holes into the top of the cake. Pour caramel mixture over cake. Crush candy bars and sprinkle half of them over the warm cake. Chill.

Stir cream cheese and Cool Whip together until blended well. Spread over cooled cake. Sprinkle with
remaining candy.

(moo!)      (moo!)      (moo!)

Being the "farm-girl at heart" that I am and the fact that I have a whole herd of Holstein cows in my collection . . . this recipe definitely caught my eye!!!  Holy Cow Cake!  It didn't help that Butterfinger candy bars are my all-time favorite!! Of course, anything with sweetened condensed milk, caramel and cream cheese in it has to be a winner, don't you think??!!!  This one is a "keeper" in this "farm-girl at heart's" cookbook!!  LOL!  It's easy to fix and hits the spot.  All you need is a great cup of coffee to top it off!

Get Service - Looking Through God's Eyes!

These glasses shed a whole new light on our day-to-day activities.  I think "maybe" . . . we should all have a pair of them! 

Maybe . . .  we would be able to "cope" with our little world better. 
Maybe . . . we would "reach out" to others that have needs that we don't even know about. 
Maybe . . .  we would "understand" the people around us and "see" where they are coming from. Why they do what they do!
Maybe . . . we would be better able to "encourage" those we come into contact with.
Maybe . . . we would be able to point those around us to "Jesus" who knows and cares what they are going through and has the answers.
Maybe . . . just . . . "Maybe" . . .

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ". -Gal. 6:2

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not". - Gal. 6:9

 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith".  - Gal. 6:10

9-11 Twelve Years Later

It's hard to believe that it has been 12 years since the terrible 9-11 Tragedy of the attack on the United States.  How time takes it toll and marches on!  I remember so vividly getting ready and heading for work that day.  I was a little stunned as the news flashed over the TV and then the radio in my car and the radio at work as the news began to unfold horrifically.  

Isn't it strange that most of us can remember the time of day, exactly what we were doing, who we were talking to . . . These things make such an impact on our lives and of course on the families and the lives that were lost in this tragedy.  I remember touching base with my daughters who were away from home attending an out-of-state university.  Fear seemed to grip us all as we went through that day experiencing the "unknown" - not knowing what to expect or where to turn.  Not knowing the extent of the casualties, the direction of our country and the military impact of such an attack. The "unknown" can be so fearful and disheartening.  

But when our "trust" is in God the fear dissipates. We may still be somewhat fearful but the bottom line is that the God of the Universe knows all, sees all, hears all, He has "all" under control.  We may not always understand everything about God's control but we can TRUST HIM - "for" - "with" - "in" - "through" - and "above" ALL THINGS"!  So put your trust in the one that can exchange our fears for a peace that fills our very being to overflowing - in spite of our fears!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

How Much does a Miracle Cost?

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even.. The total had to be exactly perfect.. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick....and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money..'

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago.

'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audible.
'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.'

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well-dressed man was Dr.  Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

'That surgery, ' her Mom whispered.  'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost....one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child. 

                                                                                                     -Unknown Author

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.   Why don't we each look around and see if we can be a "miracle" to someone that needs a miracle in their life today!


MY OATH TO YOU...

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.

When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.

When  you are worried......I will give you hope.

When you are confused.....I will help you cope.

And when you are lost...and can't see the light, I shall be your beacon...shining ever so bright.

This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?....Because you're my friend.
                               
                                                                            -Unknown Author

Summer in September!

It's a little warm today - 98 degrees!

Another "Summer Funny"!

 

Today . . .

Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies] [Lyrics]

Today's Joke

A "COOL" joke to cool you off in this 100 degree weather we are having . . . 

Gina got lost in her car in a snow storm. She remembered what her dad had once told her. "If you ever get stuck in a snow storm, wait for a snow plow and follow it". Pretty soon a snow plow came by, and she started to follow it. She followed the plow for about forty-five minutes. Finally the driver of the truck got out and asked her what she was doing. She explained that her dad had told her if she ever got stuck in the snow, to follow a plow. The driver nodded and said, "Well, I'm done with WalMart; now you can follow me over to K-Mart."         LOL!!!

Oatmeal Without lifting a Finger!

Want breakfast tomorrow without lifting a finger?

Place 1/2-3/4 cup of dried cranberries, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/8-1/4 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch salt in the bottom of the crock pot.  Pour in 2 cups of oatmeal, 2 cups of milk and 2 cups water.
Do NOT stir.  Cook overnight for 8 - 9 hours on low.
(Other options: 2 sliced apples, raisins, blueberries, bananas (after cooked), nutmeg, etc. - use your imagination!)
~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Did you ever hear your mother say, "Eat your oatmeal"? As a kid I remember the bowl of basic plain old oatmeal!!  Today that plain old bowl of oatmeal has lots of added goodies!! Cranberries, blueberries, apples, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of brown sugar!   Did you know that just one bowl of oatmeal a day can keep the doctor away. Oatmeal also has many other amazing health benefits worth looking into . . .

so next time you hear the "oatmeal" word . . . try a bowl.  You might just find that your childhood taste of oatmeal has changed and you might decide it is really quite "tasty" to your taste buds and also a healthy benefit.

Three Things . . .

Mustard Seed Faith

Matthew 17:20                           

Mustard seed faith says what God says about any given situation.
- Dr. Danny Diaz

How many mountains could we move? Just think about it a little bit . . .

Do you realize how tiny a mustard seed really is??  Well, a mustard seed is 1.88 mm - not very big at all!!  Actually, it is about the size of the tip of a pencil lead!!

Nothing is really impossible with God . . . even with as little faith as a mustard seed!  Do we stop to realize that?  Do we realize what is really available to us at the end of our "faith"?  Faith the size of a mustard seed . . . that really is not very much faith!  A tiny mustard seed (one of the least of all seeds) when sowed in the field and when grown is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree. A tree that birds of the air come and lodge in!  (Matthew 13:31-32)

I like a little bit of mustard . . . a little on my hot dog and hamburger - but not too much!  I also like mustard on a bologna sandwich! It is good seasoning for potato salad and deviled eggs and many other dishes.  That little seed is very potent and the taste of mustard can be very overpowering!  It doesn't take much mustard for me to get the full robust flavor! 

Isn't that what God's Word tells us about "faith" . . . it doesn't take much faith to feel and see that robust act of trusting in God. A God that nothing is really impossible for!  It really is not "how much" faith we have . . . it is only that we have faith and it can be as tiny as the little mustard seed.  Maybe it is not so much in "how much" but in "how we use that bit of faith"!  Do we really believe God can answer our toughest prayers?  How about the little prayers I whisper to God though out my day to day routine?  Do I believe that He cares, that He wants the very best for me, that He is just waiting for me to exercise my mustard seed-sized faith in a Sovereign God that "nothing is impossible" or too hard for Him? And that He comes into my life and offers me the peace that passeth all understanding and the assurance that everything will be OK?

My faith in a God that knows all, sees all, hears all, and conquers all obstacles in life has been stretched over this last year.  Especially since discovering I had two brain tumors!! Looking back I realize that I was barely existing for the majority of last year.  I really don't know how I was existing - I was there but I really wasn't there.  People come up to me now and tell me that "I'm Back" - "it's me again"! My faith was ever so small - maybe even smaller than the tiny mustard seed! But God, in His goodness and mercy, looked at me and recognized it was ALL I had in my helpless situation. The brain tumors were growing and pressing against my brain limiting my every action from talking, thinking, doing, etc. I was barely existing . . . but God knew all about it!

My mustard seed-sized faith conquered those brain tumors! My recovery was miraculous - from speechless just 8 months ago and not being able to remember when I was born or even my name or my children's names - to talking and remembering, from stumbling on the piano to again playing it and even playing for the praise team at church every week now, from not being able to write or spell words to once again writing on my blog!! Sometimes I still have to slow down and think and say some words over again in my mind every once in a while but my whole being, my whole thought processes are back! As my family and friends say . . .  "Diana, you're back"!!
It was my "mustard seed faith" and the many, many other "mustard seeds" of faithful people that prayed for my healing and my recovery along the way.  This month marked 8 months since discovering the tumors and my surgery.  It has been a remarkable 8 months in so many ways.  I have exercised my "mustard seed faith" in every area of my life and I have seen what, many times, seemed to be totally impossible . . . but I have seen beyond the "impossible" to the "possible" with the help of God Almighty!  I know first hand that "nothing is impossible" with God and a little "mustard seed faith"!!

Hmmmm . . . just what would happen if we had the faith of a watermelon seek, a cucumber seed, an orange seed, an avocado seed . . . or a peach seed???!!!
 
Here are a few "mustard seed faith builders" . . .

Matthew 17:20 says, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

 
Mark 9:23 says everything is possible for him who believes.

 Mark 10:27 says that all things are possible for God.

Romans 12:3 says God gives us the measure of faith.

Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Mark 11:23-24 a prayer of faith. Now notice in verse 22 that it says "Have faith in God".


Hebrew 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God, because everyone who comes to Him
must believe.

 2 Cor. 5:7 says that we must live by faith NOT by sight. Seeing can be very deceiving. Keep your eyes on God.

1 John 5:14 says, that we can have confidence, that if we ask anything according to the Word of God then we will receive what we ask.

1 Cor. 13:2 says that faith has to be proceeded by love.

1 Thes. 5:8 says to put faith and love on as a breastplate. Faith and love go hand in hand, and protect and shield your heart.
 
Heb. 12:2 says Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

So, take a look at your tiny mustard seed and discover the faith within you.  Exercise that faith and look at the power of God at work in your heart and life and go ahead . . . move those mountains that are standing, tall and majestic, in front of you today and remember - "NOTHING" is impossible with God!      

---

---

Quotes to Live By . . .

Goals: “There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them!”   -Jim Rohn

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care:  help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair:  be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream:  work.”  -William Arthur Ward

"It's never too late to live . . . Happily Ever After!" -Unknown

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward.  So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great!  So just focus and keep aiming!!" - Unknown

“Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.”  -Tyron Edwards

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Live today!  Not yesterday.  Not tomorrow.  Just today!!  Inhabit your moments.  Don’t rent them out to tomorrow."  -Jerry Spinelli

“Set out each day believing in your dreams. Know without a doubt that you were made for amazing things.”  -Josh Hinds

"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individuals, you have an obligation to be one."  -Eleanor Roosevelt

"You cannot raise a man up by calling him down."  -William Baeteker

 “Where hope grows, miracles blossom.”  -Elna Rae

Keep Me Together, Lord!

"Though; he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand."   (Psalm 37:24)

"Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely."  (Psalm 131:10)

"The Lord upholds all who fall, And "raises up all who are bowed down." (Psalm 145:14)

Steve Urkel played on the popular TV series, Family Matters.  My children used to watch it and Steve's "catch-phrase" was, "I've fallen and I can't get up"!!! 

Have you ever fallen and could not get up.  The older I get the falls take a greater toll on this aging body of mine. It seems to take me longer to get up!!  The other day I got up early and went out and walked my 3 miles, came back to the house, poured my cup of coffee, took a few minutes to enjoy that and then went to get ready for work.  Took my shower, got dressed and was walking at the end of my bed to get my shoes.  I tripped over my sandal which I thought was under the bed farther than it was.  Long story short . . . my feet stayed tangle up in the sandal and the rest of my body slammed forward into my half open door and then to the floor with a "thud".  I was nearly in tears and just laid there in the doorway . . . "I had fallen and couldn't (or at least didn't want to) get up"!!! My arm and shoulder was throbbing from hitting the door and resulted in a bright purple bruise bigger than my hand, both of my knees were in excruciating pain (knee replacements do that when you fall directly on the knees!!) I hurt all over and I just laid there until some of the pain subsided. Then I slowly but surely got up and stood there!! "I thanked God that He kept me together" no broken bones, I could walk, talk, breathe, and really only suffered a couple huge bruises and sore aching muscles!!

"God, Thank you for keeping me together when I'm falling apart!!"

Maybe you are not prone to falling . . . like I am . . . but you "feel" like you are "falling apart"!!  Your plans have fallen through, your bubble has burst, your dreams are fleeting, your finances are depleted, you lost your job, the "cancer" word has hit home, your friends or family have disappeared - just when you needed them! Things just are not going the way you desired.  Things seem to be falling apart - "you" seem to be falling apart.  Have you been there?  Look around today and you will see people everywhere feeling just like that! Broken, bleeding, hurting . . . falling apart!

But don't despair - God CAN and WILL keep you together when you feel like or even when you "are" falling apart!  He is ready and willing to "uphold you with His hand" (Ps. 37:24)  He is there to help you "escape safely" . . . not just escape but to "escape safely"!!  (Ps. 131:10)  Isn't that just fantastic? And get a load of this - "The Lord upholds ALL WHO FALL, and RAISES UP ALL who are bowed down." (Psalm 145:14)

What assurance and confidence we can have in a God that can and will, a God that is ready and willing to uphold us in His hand and will provide a way of escape so we can escape "safely" and will raise those of us up when we are bowed low. Trust God! 

"God, Thank you for keeping me together when I'm falling apart!!"

Beef Roast

3 Envelope Roast

Ingredients:
3 pound beef roast such as chuck roast
1 envelope of dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 envelope of dry ranch salad dressing mix
1 envelope of dry brown gravy mix
2 cups water

Instructions :
Put the water in a measuring cup that is larger then the amount of water you are using. Now add and mix all three envelopes of dry salad dressings to the water. Mix until blended completely.
Brown the roast (if desired). Add the meat to your cooker. Pour the water, salad dressing mixture over the roast. In the slow cooker cook it on high for about 4 hours on low about 8 hours.

Wa-la - supper is ready!! :)

Maxine Moments!

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

 I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use, Toothpicks?

 

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

 

 If it's true that we are here to help others,
then what exactly are the others here for?
 

Diamond Rio - In God We Still Trust

To listen to this song - Pause the music on my blog playlist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding". – Proverbs 3:5

Have you ever been at a place in your life where you thought you understood what was going on around you? You knew where you were going, what was up ahead, what was around the corner . . . you just knew what was up . . . and you "understood completely"! 

Then right under that umbrella of understanding you slipped and slid totally out of control not knowing or understanding where you were headed at that moment in time.  What do you do in times like this?  Do you try to handle the situation on your own?  Do you retreat into your own little world and separate yourself from all that is out there in this world that you fear will hurt you?  Or do you "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your OWN understanding"? Proverbs 3:5 

God has us in His best interest . . . He knows the plans He has for us . . . His Word tells us this much.  He said it and we can believe it.  We don't have to lean on our own understanding we can trust in the Lord with all of our heart.

IN GOD WE STILL TRUST!

Kindness

We really do not know what other people may be experiencing whether good, bad or somewhere in between.  It may be that extra kindness shown to someone else that keeps them going and gives them the encouragement that they need at that very moment.  Always keep this quote in mind as you pass the people that you come into contact with. Be real, be genuine, be kind.

Brain Surgery to Remove Two Tumors - 12-12-12

Dec. 7, 2012,  I found out that I had to have brain surgery to remove what the MRI stated as a large, fast growing, malignant tumor embedded in my brain.   When they operated they found not one but two tumors the size of two tangerines, they were not malignant, and they were not embedded in the brain but in the lining of the brain tissue and they were fast growing so the urgency of the operation was imperative.  What an answer to all of the prayers that were going up. This was the beginning of the many, many miracles that I have experienced over the last 6 months of this journey through life with God totally in control! 

This MRI from December 7 shows the tumors one at time – there were two actually stacked on each other kind of at an angle. (Don't you just love my eyes?!!)  You can see the tumors pushing against the Optic area and other parts. It is actually hard to believe two tumors the size of two tangerines were inside by skull!!!

My 6 month check-up from my surgery was yesterday and another MRI was taken on June 13, 2013.  This was the first time I saw or I should actually say "remember" seeing either of the MRI films.  They were so interesting for me to finally see what the doctors were talking about.  The cavity where the tumors were is nearly all filled in except for the little space shown in the picture below. This should continue to fill in as time goes on.  And no sign of any new tumors!! 

Praise the Lord!  What a miracle this journey
has been!

Brain Surgery - 6 month MRI Check-up

This afternoon I returned from a doctors appointment with my brain surgeon. It has been 6 months since the two tumors were removed. Time sure does fly when you're having fun!!! LOL! The MRI showed no signs of the tumors return - I will have another MRI in December. The doctor could see a lot of improvement in my speech from 3 months ago at my last visit.  He said the whole healing process with the brain was impressive and he was very pleased with the progress I have made in these last 6 months!! YEAH!! We talked about the surgery itself and some of the things I did not remember around that period of time. It all just amazes me as I look back now and how far I have come in 6 months.  I am actually not even limiting myself in the things I am now able to do and functioning above and beyond my abilities before the tumors were discovered. At 5 months I started walking again and have even lost 12 lbs. (Yeah!)  I wake up at 5:45 am every morning ready to start my day and I can honestly say I feel better than I have felt for a couple of years!! Dr. Music said I looked great, was talking fluently, and had no real side effects from the surgery!  I told him that was because I had such a "good" surgeon and a great big wonderful God!!! 

I can truthfully say, I was given a "new lease-on-life".  God's timing was so perfect in discovering the tumors which could have been fatal at any point in time.  God knows what is best . . . though I would not have chosen 2 tumors each the size of a tangerine, had I been given the choice . . . but for some unknown reason that has become a part of my life.  It has taught me not to take life or people for granted and to live each day to the fullest that I possibly can, to experience life as it comes to me through people, places, and things that really make a difference. Life can be cut short so living it to the max each and every day is important to me!  Making each day count and catching each "Butterfly Blessing"  that God sends my way is so very important to me!  Those blessing come in the form of people, sunrises, sunsets, rippling streams, raging rivers, the warmth of the sun, the rain pitter-patting on my umbrella, the baby laughing, the flowers blooming  . . . I could go on and on. I've learned to ask questions, search and find out what is going on in people's lives and I've learned to reach out to them whenever I am able to.  I sometimes wonder if someone had reached out to me (many did, of course) but would have really pinned me down, and asked me some pointed  questions - would we have realized and found the tumors sooner?  That is a question I will never know but if I sense you are acting different . . . I WILL question you and sit down and talk to you!! LOL!!

I may never know "how" I got to the state of mind I was in before the tumors were discovered and I may never know "why" God chose to let me go through this whole experience but I do know that I am all the more ready to conquer each and every new day whatever it holds for me - whether good or bad - I am better equipped to handle the raging rivers or the quiet streams of life!   "For I know what I have planned for you, says the LORD. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope." Jeremiah 29:11   I have always liked that Bible verse for I do  know God does have a plan for my life and I am trusting Him to lead and guide me in the days ahead. My hope is in Him and Him alone!  He never has failed me yet!!

It has been an amazing journey for me and my family and God has been there each step of the way, miracle after miracle! And you know what? God never changes - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! And it is so exciting to know and see that He is also still in the miracle business - I have seen it first hand - I have lived through it - I am experiencing it . . . and I am expecting it!! Thank God He Never Changes!

Ride em Cowboys!

Whatever happened to those Old Westerns? 

Someone once said, "Every happy Memory Makes happiness happen again!" Here's to some of those Happy Memories!

One look at this film clip and you'll be young and old all over again. It is "brand new" even listing 2010.

Well, this clip has pictures and names -- so after 50 or so years -- say "Howdy" to some of those mini-heroes from your youth.

(Be sure to "mute" my playlist at the top of this page) now just click on the link below, sit back and enjoy . . .  

http://oldfortyfives.com/thoseoldwesterns

Laughter in Crisis

After finishing an out-of-town errand, I discovered that my car wouldn't start because it was out of gas.

A passer-by told me there was a service station a half-mile away, so I took a gas can from the trunk and trudged the distance in the sweltering sun.

The attendant filled my two-gallon can, and I lugged it back and poured the gas into the tank. But when I tried to unlock the car door, it wouldn't open. Just then, I noticed an identical old car parked a short distance away. That was my car; I had filled a stranger's gas tank.

Wearily I walked back to the station.

"You know," the attendant suggested helpfully, "instead of walking back and forth to fill the tank from the can, you could put a couple of gallons in the tank and then drive the car here."

Secret Fruit Salad

This fruit salad is so easy and yet so "yummy"!!  My kind of fix-in!! The secret in this Secret Fruit Salad is 1 dry vanilla pudding mix...so delicious! Try it . . . you will like it, I'm sure!

Power to Turn Life Around

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. 

 -Leo Buscaglia

Rosie the Riveter and Duct Tape!

We managed some rental property for a number of years.  I did a good share of the cleaning, painting and believe it or not a lot of the repairs.  I felt like Rosie the Riveter at times!!  Sometimes I just kept telling myself "I can do it"!  I learned how to repair things I never dreamed I could repair.  One of the quick fixes I used on several occasions was the use of duct tape!  What did we do before duct tape??!! It is amazing how many uses there are for duct tape.  I once used electrical tape to "repair" a pipe under a sink. It stretches around the pipe nicely and works wonders for a quick-fix!  My dad was a plumber by trade.  I had him later come up to one of the apartments and do some work for me.  He opened the cupboard and said, "Diana, WHAT is THIS"?  One look at the black electrical tape and I got the "Diana, you know better than that look" . . . but it held up - it wasn't leaking!!!  LOL!  

I recently went out to my folks home and while doing dishes after dinner I noticed water on the floor.  Mom said she thought it was coming from the dish drainer. I could see that that wasn't where it was coming from.  I looked under the kitchen sink and guess what I found? Yes, I found where the water was coming from . . . it was dripping from a pipe that had soggy "black electrical tape" on it!!!!!  Imagine that - pretty amazing don't you think??!!!  The tape looked like it had been wrapped around there for quite a while and was beginning to loosen and fall off. I immediately asked mom where her "plumber" was!!  After the bad time Dad gave me over my "taped pipe fix", I was tempted to give him a bad time also.  I must have learned that trick from him!!!  At least that is what I told him . . . I had the proof!!!

I was thinking about the many problems that we may experience in this life.  It has been said that everyone has either just experienced a problem, is in the middle of a problem right now or getting ready to deal with a problem in the near future.  Everybody has one problem or another!  It may be sickness, death, financial, family problems, marital, job related problems - so many things bombard us every day.  Problems we may, like Rosie the  Riveter would say, "We Can Do It"!  Some things we really can do it - we can fix them - like I fixed the leaking pipe. I did do it - it quit leaking!  (Yeah!)  No more leaks - at least . . . for a while!  I'm afraid my tape "fix-it" would over time look just like my dad's tape fix-it for his pipe.  With time, the quick tape fix proved not to be a true fix - it only lasts for a time. It was only a "temporary fix".  

Jesus is the answer for whatever problem you and I may be going through.  He knows all about it. He has the answers to the problems we are facing. He is there to help us through them, to encourage us through His Word and His Way. He is willing and ready to meet us where we are right now - today!  He fixes broken people . . . and He never uses Duct Tape or Electrical Tape!!!  His fixes are for real. They are for real problems. They are for real people. They are for you and I today.  Trust your past, present, and future to the God who knows, cares, and loves you. 

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."  I Peter 5:6-7