Southern Porch Extension

[forHIM]

WE BOUGHT A HOME . . .

God, had it waiting for us just like He promised. When we drove to go look at homes . . . I had a vision of a long path with trees all around . . . and then all I could think was . . . put this in My hands . . . give this too Me . . . do not worry. . . . I have it all worked out.

We only looked at about 8 homes but it was the second one that we saw that we knew it was . . the one!

We had our Realtor take us back to it and he told us they just reduced their price by $20,000 a week or so ago . . . if they had not done that we would not have even looked at it.

We told him we did not want to see anymore homes and went back and made an offer. Oh, yea when you pass our new home there is a long wooded path!!!!!

God is so good . . Jesus is so comforting . . . I could not have done this without the Holy Spirit constant voice whispering in my ear for the past year for me to give all of this to Him to deal with.

Praise be the holy, awesome, wonderful name of our Lord . . .

Thank You all for your prayers, you do not know how much they have lifted me up when I needed to be . . . you are my ONLY Christian family . . . outside of my family . . . and I so need your friendship and love . . . THANK YOU ... I praise God for your wonderful strength and encouragement . . . I just can not say enough right now I am so overwhelmed with the support and love I have received from all of you.

Love and hugs to you all

[ready2go]

Praise God!!!

I'm so happy for you and your hubby!

Don

[forHIM]

For those who would like to see the house and the area here is the link

http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=2748588

. . . note the colors inside the home are not what they really are. . . they are much warmer . . . this is an ideal retirement area and is only about 15 minutes away from my daughters house instead of 45 minutes . . . just think of the gas money I will save . . .

It turly is a gift from God in which I will use wisely . . . and I will start writing my book (because of your encouragement) in the guest/den room in about 45 days or so

[cdawson41]

Oh your new home is BEAUTIFUL! I especially love the kitchen, but not near as much as I like the lake, WOW! Maybe I need to come visit sometime so we can go fishing. LOL.

The house is just amazing and I'm so glad God found you just what you were looking for. The entire area looks amazing as well.

Just so happy for both of you and how awesome that it is so close to your daughter. I know house nice that can be. I actually live right across the road from my mom and dad. That has been a blessing not only to them but to us as well.

[Green Leaves]

Debby, I am delighted for you and can hardly believe all the amenities God has provided for you. I am truly excited that you found it so quickly and it is just what you wanted. Praise God for His provision! Now will this mean you don't have to find a job?

[forHIM]

It does indeed seem that I will NOT have to find a job....

[Edy]

Another urgent prayer request, this time from my niece Becka (Angie's sister):

Can you pray for my friend Carin and her dad, Mike? I know your prayer network did wonders for Angie recently. He is a pilot and his plane disappeared over Lake Superior--by Two Harbors*--and they had to suspend the arial search for him due to fog. There is nothing she or her mother can do through the night and I have just been praying for peace for them and that her father can be found. It's a theater friend... And many in the theater world are not believers in the power of prayer among other things. I also pray God's power can be revealed through this. There is a big possibility that if [Mike] gets emergency aid, it would come from my dad! I pray they can meet tonight!

*where my brother Joel is on ER duty
Thank you! Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

[forHIM]

Edy, Praying tonight for a miracle, for peace, and for God's power to shine through!

[Green Leaves]

I prayed as soon as I saw this, Edy, and we know what prayer can do!

[Green Leaves]

Debby, I am soooo happy for you! And to find your home so quickly is a blessing!

[Laurie]

Wow, Debby, I can't imagine living in a house so big and fancy. And you're downsizing from what you're used to? Mariane said she saw pics of the inside of the house you're living in. I'd like to see them, too, if you don't mind posting a link or sending me a PM here on the boards with a link.

There's a grief support group here that meets a couple times a month. I told my mom I'd go with her if she wants to go sometime, but she isn't that interested. There are other widows in her neighborhood, so it's been nice she has women to talk to who have been through what she's facing. I am considering going to the support group myself, though. I sure could use someone to talk to sometimes. As far as grieving, I know the things I'm thinking and feeling are normal, and I'm not concerned about the fact that I'm still crying every day. Grief is what it is. But I'd still like a safe place to talk.

Family issues have heated up again. I wasn't there, but I'm still involved/affected. Too much family togetherness in recent months. Once the auction is over, we won't all get together until Christmas time. That will be a nice six month break from seeing certain ones. I'm human, and I have limits. I have enough responsibility on my shoulders with trying to figure out how I'm going to make a living working at home and the many things I'm helping my mom with. I have neither the time nor the patience for childish nonsense right now, but some people never grow up.

[Edy]

True words, Laurie. Some folks fill our tanks, leaving us energized and joyful. Others drain our tanks, leaving us emotionally exhausted and discouraged. Unless we have enough reserves to survive an encounter with the latter, we are well advised to avoid any prolonged interactions. As I learned, we cannot give to others what they want from us; we can only give what we have.

As for grieving, I think adjusting to the shock of loss is a big part of it. Before my own dad was called Home, I had a dream about him. In it, he had curled up on the carpet (something he often did) wearing his fuzzy black coat and was napping like a hibernating bear. Suddenly, he woke calling out "Hey," lifted his arm as if wanting to reach out to someone, and then collapsed. I rushed to his side to check on him and began unbuttoning his top shirt button to help restore circulation. "Dad," I repeated, as color returned to his face. Then something prompted me to ask, "Dad, did you see your mother?" He answered, "Yes."

At that point I woke from the dream. And I found myself left with the thought, if he were being called out of death to Life, why should I want to bring him back from Life to death?

That's something, as a nurse, I pondered. We do what we can, but God has all our days numbered, and since He is ultimately in control, we don't have to carry burdens that we didn't do enough (or etc.) when loved ones (or patients) don't survive all our efforts. We mourn the temporary separation, but we can banish the accuser, who wants to load us down with more grief.

It sounds like you and your mom have such a good relationship - therapeutic for you both, I imagine, as you work through all the changes together. I'm sure she would be quite lost without you.

[Edy]

Latest news from Shanghai about the couple who want to keep their baby, but will need a lot of prayer support to block the pressure being put upon them. Here's the latest from Angie:

Thanks so much Auntie Eda, your prayers and reaching out to those who prayed as well are so much appreciated, I cannot tell you enough how much.

The couple have moved. They are under so much pressure it is unbelievable. Without going into specific details, they will need so much prayer...their journey has just started. Thank you so so much for your prayers, please thank everyone who has and is continuing to pray, they will need so much of it going forward. The other troubling reality is that this is one story amongst millions very similar.

I love you and hope to talk again soon!

In other news, we are almost finally moved in to our permanent apartment here, and it will be a relief when we are completely settled. The kids are beginning to learn quite a bit of Mandarin, maybe they can teach me!

Love,
Angie

"Still no word, yet," from Becka's prayer request. Keeping the lost pilot in prayer.

[Carole L]

Have you ever seen this by Louie Giglio?

Blew my mind when I heard it in church this morning, wanted to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZ ... ture=share

It is
SOOOOOO beautiful!!! Awesome!

[Green Leaves]

Carole, you know how very much I lo e Lou Giglio's messages and I had not heard this! It is simply fantastic. In fact, sometimes I wake with the music from his DVDs in my head. What a mi is try he has! If anyone ever has a problem worshiping God, then they need to see these DVDs and the powerful, creative force of our God....and this same God loves me, every one of us, just a tiny "ink spot" in His creation! And then to send His Son for that "ink spot" ........

The majesty and wonder of God overwhelms me. If He can handle the universe I think my circumstances might not be too hard for Him, you know?

Did any of you get the chance to see his "Indescribable" DVD?