A fun, full week

This past ten days or so have been filled with a plethora of good things, so my warning here is this is a very long post. 

This is from a fire just this week that our son helped fight.

Monday last week, international firefighters day so, of course, I had to honor the firefighters I love.

On Tuesday, I rose early to see this wondrous dawn lighting up the sky so I just have to share it.

 

I think this pic was appropriate for this particular day because of the topic of our Tuesday morning Bible study. We are working through a book by Stormie O'Martian called Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On. It's a very good book guiding us through those struggles when we feel we are groping in the dark, but knowing that if we stay in the light of God's Word, He will always give us just enough light for the step we are on.

"You are the light of life

You're the light that lives in me

You are the Morning Star

and I will follow You

down whatever road You lead.

Now, when darkness comes, it's like the light of dawn. 

'Cause You give just enough light for the step I'm on."*

Wednesday morning I awakened with a sense of excitement and anticipation as I always do when it's my birthday. First thing in front of the coffee maker was my special homemade birthday card from my Sweetheart. He loves to make birthday cards, and they always have a sweet message from him.

It's nice to receive cards in the mail, but the trend
these days is email cards and Facebook greetings. I don't
care how they come to me - it's the THOUGHT that counts!!

This is from an email card!

We had our last Bible Study Fellowship on that day with as many who desired to do so sharing with everyone what they had received from our study these past nine months.  It was emotional and touching to hear from so many how their lives had been touched by the study of the Life of Moses. Hearing all the wisdom from these ladies, both young and old, made me feel quite shallow in my understanding. I did receive much from the study, but these ladies gleaned a lot. Speaking for myself very briefly, my take from this is Trust and Obey, there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. He will never leave or forsake us. Be strong and take courage ... the gift of His Presence is with us and we have a hope for the future.

When I arrived home Kate and Jack came to see me. They had a surprise for me and very eager to present a birthday cake. And I have to say I thought it was a darling cake.

Funny thing was they actually had baked two cakes, but they couldn't wait, so they ate one of them soon after it was cooled and frosted!

(The other amusing thing was that I hadn't known they were bringing a cake, so I had stopped by Nothing Bundt Cake and brought these two sweets home to share with them. Of course, when I saw their cake, these stayed hidden. So, a whole lotta cakin' was goin' on around here today!!!!)

Jay took me out for dinner and it was an enjoyable relaxing time. We have been used to going out with our friends, Fred and Alice, but they are in the midst of remodeling their home here, and will be moving back here very soon from Florida.  I am totally delighted about that!

The following day I had lunch with Susan, an old friend from a law firm many years ago. She is so very dear to me and I like the way our friendship came to be. We worked on opposite sides of the floor in our building and so we didn't see each other that often, but we were friendly to each other. One day she shared with me something her pastor had said at her church. I couldn't believe my ears. After picking my jaw up from the floor, I asked whether she could find that in her Bible, but she just shrugged it off and said that's what he said. Well, I gently scolded her a little telling her that when somebody is teaching you, it is your responsibility to check it out to make sure it lines up with what is in the Bible. I offered to help her do a Bible study and, after some hesitation and some passage of time, she came around to ask if I would help her study the Bible. She wanted to begin at the beginning, so we started in Genesis and so began our journey together through the Bible. Pretty soon, there were others in the office who wanted to join us to meet once a week. Believe me, my friend latched on to the Lord and became a new creature in Christ. I love, absolutely love her testimony of all she had gone through since coming to know the Lord in a real and personal way.

Calla Lillies from Susan

Thursday was the National Day of Prayer at The Hope Center in Plano. A very solemn occasion with color guard, saluting the flag, singing patriotic songs and speeches and prayers. I was so glad to be a part of that. Even the little preschoolers from the church next door got to sing I'm in the Lords Army and Jesus Taught us how to pray. Sweet.

Thursday evening was open house at Kate's school, so we went over to see what Miss Kate has been doing this year at school. Very impressive. Her teacher is a sweetheart and I know Kate will miss her next year.

On Friday the kids came over to spend the night. We took them to a jump/play house called Going Bonkers which they love and had pizza. Next morning ya gotta get those pancakes and bacon ready for them. We were to take them home after breakfast, but the heavy rains caused us to rethink that and decide we should keep them another night. And so we continued with our playing, then went to church, and Chilis after.

The next morning we faced the same dilemma, but decided we better take our chances and get them home. It's been pretty dangerous driving on the roads they are widening, but we made it there and back home again.

We decided to go to a  movie to relax and just after enduring all those obnoxious previews and the first five minutes of the show, the movie stopped and we were told we needed to evacuate the mall. It turned out that there was a transformer on fire and they needed us to get out. Sooooooo, we went home, still munching on popcorn. That was Mother's Day.

Our daughter Sara with her boys on Mother's Day

Brady got a haircut just for Mom!

Monday I met my friend Connie for another birthday lunch and catch up with her since she has moved away. I heard all about her new house, neighborhood and friends. It was good to be with her. That afternoon Jay and I went back to the theater to see the movie Little Boy that we had had to leave the day before so we didn't lose our money. It was a good, inspirational, heartwarming movie, and I'm glad we went back.

Wednesday Jay and I visited a friend who recently learned that his cancer has spread and the doctor says he won't have long. Although it is sad, and we know doctors don't know everything, our friend, Kevin, has a very sweet spirit and is at peace, ready to go to his heavenly home. After leaving him, I had lunch with a friend whose husband recently passed. I guess with getting older, we see face to face the frailty of life more especially as we see our friends passing on from this life.

And yesterday, lunch again with old friends from waaaaaayyyy back - Nancy and Sherri. We have known each other for over forty years and we were sooooooooooooo very young back in the old days. Ha! Here we are at Luby's, our favorite place to meet and catch up with each other.

Time to end this very long catch up post, but not without saying how grateful I am for all the rain we have been receiving this year. Our lakes are filled to overflowing which means we can relax on our use of water (but not too much, I still say in the land of Texas where drought comes frequently, be careful with the conservation of our resources.)

Finally, this past week being Mother's Day, I wish to express my thanks to God for my precious Mom who left us 28 years ago. I am so grateful to Him for her in my life. She taught me to love Him and love others. She taught me how to smile no matter the circumstance or the pain. She taught me by example that if you haven't anything nice to say, don't say it. Mothers! What a gift!

*Michael O'Martian and Stormie O'Martian