Friendship Plus

We haven’t been to church in a very long time.  But church, in the actions of some members, has come to us.  And these people, for a large part, have come to this particular church since we haven’t been able to be there.  Beyond friendship, they have shown the brotherhood and sisterhood that is supposed to be among Christians.  As it says in James 2:14a-17:  “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”  (NIV)   So what does this “friendship plus” include?  Here are some personal experiences:

Saturday mornings some men get together for Bible study.  When they have finished their time in study, they help people who have things to be done that they just can’t do.  They’ve cleaned our gutters, put in room air conditioners, some of which are heavy and the windows pretty high off the ground. They came and hung our new upper kitchen cabinets, a job that saved Hubs from injury. [His plan was to do it himself and that he couldn’t was a hard thing to swallow].  They’ve raked leaves and toted them away.  I’m sure there’s more I don’t remember; this has been over a period of a few years.                                                                                                                            

They bring communion (and conversation) when we can’t get to church.   Some of these people, deacons in our church, we hadn’t met before the time in our  living room on these Sundays.  We have no social life anymore so these visits are truly precious.  Almost as precious as the celebration of communion, the reason they are here.

One of the deacons came to visit me when I was in the hospital, another of the people I’d never met until communion visits at home.  Such a blessing.

 Hubs called while my visitor was there and told me about a job he was attempting; putting up molding under a 12’ span of windows.  Our friend talked to him, said he and his son would be there soon and they were.  Three people did the job.

When I have left the hospital, or been sick or injured, some of the women of the church have brought the family meals each day for several in a row, and occasionally after that.  In the case of my ongoing back issue (hopefully it will be resolved tomorrow (9/9) when I see the orthopedic surgeon again) they have still brought meals on occasion. 

And these homemade meals feed our family of three adults at least twice.  This has happened many times over the years.  We didn’t have to ask, we just got a phone call from one woman saying she’d lined up people to bring us dinner every night for ___ nights, always asking what is liked, disliked, if there are allergies.

I’m sure there are more ways these brothers and sisters of the church have shown their love and belief in people like me with invisible disabilities.  I use a power wheelchair but a lot of people in the world out there don’t see why, except I’m very overweight.  Yes, I’ve heard some comment to one another that must be why I have the chair.  There has never been a question from these wonderful brothers and sisters.  When I was well I was one who brought others meals, and I hope to be able to do so again.  I know Hubs feels the same way.

Our adult son who has autism can’t do the things that these men have been able to do unless he is shown how.  He is a visual learner.  These men have taken him with them to do some things that he could be shown how to do and thus contribute himself.  Few things make you feel better than making a difference in another’s life.  He walks to church when weather and light allows.  It’s difficult for both of us parents to drive and in cases it might be unsafe (dark, stormy) someone will give him a ride home.  Thanks to their kindness he has been able to keep as active as he loves to be in the church.

Love,

Janet 

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”  NIV

Sunday Tribute

I knew a teen when he was in youth group at the church we both attended and where I was a volunteer leader.  A funny guy, a fun guy, a Christian guy who lived as an example of what that means.

This is a ministry camp where he went to work alongside his sister, brother-in-law and family.  He is one of the young people in this photo.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.       NIV

He loved too joke around with everyone, including our youth pastor, and children everywhere, living out the verse:

Psalm 14:7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.        NIV

He loved entertaining and teaching kids at the same time, as shown here as he wears a child’s breast plate, a straw hat for a helmet and a homemade sword.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occassions with all kind of prayers and request.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.     NIV

Jose is missed by all who knew him; probably by all who met him.  Outgoing and friendly, he showed those who thought being a Christian meant giving up having fun and always being serious how wrong they were.  He lived his sermon, lighting up every room he entered.  We in his home town in CT were sad and happy when he left here to live and minister at the camp in WI.  We no longer had him among us (except by phone, facebook, etc.) but knew he was doing what he wanted to do, what he loved, working for Christ.  We all loved Jose and now grieve with his family at the same time celebrating his life and love.  Jose’s life on earth was short, but impacted so very many.  Now he worships Jesus face to face.

Love,

Janet

Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been caused according to his purpose.

No surgery!!

I just realized with whom I forgot to share the good news; you guys & gals.  Yes, the imagery I posted last is still correct, but the doctor now thinks, after yet another visit, my symptoms from the 90% compression fracture I suffered ( and from which I lost an inch in height) are improving.  Good, Good, Good.  However, I needed another super x-ray that can only be done in a hospital because of the cost of the machinery, outside facilities don’t spend that much dough, they send people to the hospital out-patient.  So now I wait for those results.  A bone density test showed what we all expected–bad osteoporosis.  No surprise to anyone.  You can’t be on as much daily prednisone and intravenous steroids when I’ve been hospitalized with exacerbation of my asthma and not end up with brittle bones.  So now an endocrinologist is on my list.  As Mom used to say, “Stop the world I want to get off!”  Well, not off the world, just off the medical merry-go-’round.

Bushnell Park Carousel

Bushnell Park Carousel – Lead Horse

This is the merry-go-round (aka carousel ) in Hartford, CT, very near my home.  I’m too tired to remember how to put in video.  I had a perfect one chosen too, darn it!

Have a good one!  As always, I love to hear from you!!  Carousel fans?  I love them; some kids never grow up.

Janet

Anyone Else Have This??

Hi all, at least I hope there’s still someone out there who has hung in.  If so you are undoubtedly shocked to see a post; it’s been a long time.  Wish I could say it’s been a fun time.  What seems like a lifetime ago I wrote about a fall and changed plans.  Well, that fall is still haunting me.

At this point I’ll put in the notice that if medically inspired posts, questions and maybe pictures aren’t your cup of tea, you can go and I understand.  sniff–sniff

I don’t even like the name of the “major surgery” or the description of it that the orthopedic surgeon gave me.  I’m more likely to cry over emotional stuff than physical pain–hey I am a girl (not a young girl but still…)  I know thinking about my son and the impact on him and the hubs made me cry.

I think my bones are much closer to the bottom picture than to the top.  I had major osteoporosis once, had different treatments for years. After the last one they declared I’d moved a good ways up the scale to osteopenia, the yellow section above.  No more medication for that for this girl.  Notice I keep saying “girl” not old woman?  A compression fracture is what I have in my low back.  As it sounds, the bone that is still there compresses the emptiness and results are not pleasant.  I feel like I should stick Sally Fields or Blythe Danner photos here.  Much more charismatic women with osteoporosis.

I’ve always wanted to work in medicine, so I’m interested in these things.  Ironic that instead of being the one doing medical work, I’m on the receiving side way too much.

.spinesurgeon.co.uk/content/lumbarcorp

Well I got more than I wanted, but this was the only place where I could copy and paste.  Anyway this is it in all its glory.  The top picture is me now.  The rest is proposed.  Nice, huh?

So I wonder if anyone has had or knows anyone who has had this wonderful seeming NOT experience.  It’s a big decision.  I’ve been on a lot of rest, no driving (killing me!), lifting, twisting, stretching….you know how automatic those things are?  Today I felt pretty good and I forgot the restrictions.  Being totally sick of looking at the winter stuff (comforters, etc.) and put them into space bags.  You know, the ones you over stuff then vacuum out the air till it’s a little square?  They really work ya know.  so we’ll see what tomorrow brings.  That may make my decision.

Hey, I got in something positive.  Space Bags really work!!   

You’d be amazed how much you can smush into one of these.

So, I’d love to hear from anyone on this, or any topic.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you ..not bring you harm.”

Love.

Janet

Concerning the Paula Deen Scandal….

I was trying to formulate something to write in my wee little head that wouldn’t be over the top and before I did, Laura did. So with her permission, this is a reblog of her post.

Plans and Falls Defeating Plans

Pains briés (Photo credit: zigazou76)I’d LOVE this kind of pain (for the non-French speaking, bread) 

I had all kinds of plans for things I was going to be doing this month.  You know the saying about plans?  “Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans”  Yeah that one.  I fell, tripped on the bedspread in the dark, hit the metal poster bed with my lumbar osteoporotic (did I just make up a word? osteoporosis in is what I mean, but you probably figured that out) lumbar spine before hitting the wall and ultimately the floor.  I won’t bother you with the EMT  and ER story or what’s happened in the frustrating time between then, June 4, and now.  I’ll just say I have a compression fracture and as I was told many years ago they really do have a pain all their own.  I see the spinal orthopedic surgeon Thursday of next week.  So sick of chronic and acute pain and poor health in general.  Sorry for the gloom, but that’s where I am and why I haven’t posted at all.  Now I can sit long enough and I’ve figured how to manage the pain well enough to do this much.

Hugh Owen Thomas (1834-1891), British orthopedic surgeon (center) and Robert Jones (right) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) I’m sure glad HE’s not my doctor!!  That’s downright scary.  Miracle people survived 19th century medicine.

          Janet

Father’s Day plus Sunday Scripture

First, Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads!

I get an email daily from (in)courage. [(in)courage.me] This is a ministry for women by women, teaching us in the way of the Lord, how it applies to everyday life, to our lives.  Every Sunday the devotion is Sunday Scripture and the scripture is accompanied by a beautiful picture.  Today’s devotion, scripture and photo, were so to touching to me I had to share.

Scripture reference:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

Impress them on your children. 
Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Photo source

 

Our Poodles

Hope this reblog from my new to my old works. I’m quite technologically challenged :-).

My Blog3christiansthriftyfamily

                   Area secure.

Aren’t I just too cute??

As you can see these aren’t the little poodles most people are used to seeing.  Or used to hearing with their little, high-pitched barks that Hubs hated so growing up.  He seriously doubted my sanity when I begged for a standard (45-50 pounds) poodle.  He expected high-strung, nervous , nipping, yippy dogs.  The only reason he  even considered my request, I suspect, is that our son, then 3, acted very much like one with classic autism–inability to relate to others, no words, high activity, and studies showed dogs helped these kinds of people to learn how to have relationships.  Hubs said OK if I could find one that was in a rescue situation or something inexpensive.  I need to mention poodles have hair not fur, and since I’m severely allergic to all things furry…

View original post 202 more words

New Blog Address

Call me crazy.  I don’t do much with this blog and I’m starting another??  Actually, I hope to move the contents of this one to the new and gradually blog just there.  For one thing, this name is just too long.  If it doesn’t prefill for me, I have a hard time remembering it.  How could anyone else be expected to?  How naive I was when I took to heart, literally, the instructions of WP as I thought they were: incorporate in your blog’s name as much as possible of what will be written.  Well, I covered as much as I dared, overstepping as it is.  And it doesn’t cover all.  Especially not now.  Both crafty and thrifty, this Autism Awareness wreath fit the blog name.  Decorating?  Big dreams  not much fruition.  Wife and mom–oh, yeah.  Also covered in the new name.

So this blog, which I hope I can get to move to 3christiansthriftyfamily.wordpress.com, will transition.  Some day I’ll get hubs to scan some vintage wedding pictures into his computer. send them to my laptop and I can post. I’ll prove I have a family mwahahaha.  WindowsXP on a land line connected to a scan/print/fax and Windows 7 on a laptop, such a pain sometimes.  But we count our blessings to have them when so many don’t even have a roof or electricity, or……….. With a little help from my friends and hopefully from WP, the changeover will work.  Anyone who has ideas of how to proceed, please share!  Here or there or email, any are fine.  This blog will be here for some time.  This won’t happen overnight, of that I’m sure.

I’m going to try to re-blog here my first post there, Our Poodles.  I know not everyone could care less about dogs, but they’re family here.  Hubs call them “the grands”.  We have no two-legged grandchildren.

See you on the other side, or this side, or wherever.

Janet

Autism Fundraisers

English: Old State House, Hartford, CT (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here in Hartford, CT there was a fundraising march yesterday for Autism.  They raised $200,000 to go toward research and treatment.  Pretty phenomenal, huh?  So I thought I would repeat something I offered before but I don’t think many saw.

I made a wreath for Autism Awareness and offered, and do again, to make a wreath of the interested party’s and my design (in other words, doesn’t have to be like mine).  I need to keep what I spend on materials and shipping (materials I have on hand don’t count in the cost).  Anything the purchaser wishes to pay above that cost will go to the Autism-related cause of their choice. I will keep 2% for a local support group for parents of adults with autism spectrum disorders.  The wreath I made is below.

Autism spectrum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was very inexpensive to make, I love Dollar Tree!  I bought the floral foam wreath, wrapped it in green felt I had, bought a 24-piece puzzle, of which I used about half, including my trial and error, stencils and paint and flowers I had.  Pretty inexpensive, huh?  I have blue pool noodles, a lot of ribbon, yarn, the rest of the great size puzzle pieces, hot glue (I hardly got any on me, lol), craft store sales and coupons (love). etc.  Your cost for a big wreath with a lot of decoration would be pretty low.  Please reply in comments here if you want to get in touch or to  my email address at the top right corner of this page.  I haven’t been using Twitter. I’ll do a refresher, (we vintage people don’t catch on to this new technology quickly, ya know) but as of now, please don’t use Twitter to reach me, I probably won’t get it.

I have a small group of followers so if anyone is interested in re-blogging this please do!!

I’ve chosen a new, shorter blog name (3christiansthriftyfamily@wordpress.com) which WordPress has approved.  I’ll start using it Monday, June,10 and hopefully all blogs will switch to that address.  I’ll keep both addresses until that occurs.  Thanks.

Janet