The Grand 'PAW' Visits........

       Grandpa goofs around before Josh's football game.......Celebrating Abi's 18th year ! We all miss Grandma in this year of 'firsts' without her.....but love abounds and God blesses through family as we live out  joy and sorrow together by His strength.

       The Grand PAW always makes us laugh........and gives the best hugs on the planet. Amazing how he can make up games out of nothing and make each of us feel as if we were his very favorite person. We are always sad to see him head back to Florida where his thin blood belongs :)

      Our hearts go with you, Dad.........God be with you, and keep you.

Rainy Day in Ohio

 Raining today. It is soft and quiet. Wish I could be as relaxed as the day looks. Not a season for relaxing it seems. 

   God delights in the fruit he produces in us... but it is born of sorrow and difficulty it seems....certainly far from ease. Praising Him for the rain has become common place as of late. Purposing to focus on His thoughts that are higher than mine...hoping to transform my bursts of human unbelief into lasting faith....by His grace.

 My fervent prayers for my dear sister and friend Melanie are ever before my God....Praying for that season of peace and rest and healing after this long period of difficulty.

 My marathoning parallels much of life. You want to quit at mile 23....haven't we run far enough? Legs burn,  the will breaks down, every step is a painful reminder that you are alive and striving. The finish line does come. It does....and with it a cold drink and a CHAIR!  Perseverence is the key....running when you feel like quitting....striving long after you have the energy or desire to do so.

   "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...." (Rm 12:1-2)

"Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (I Cor 9:26-27)

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;....they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Is 40:31)

God be with us.

Hello and welcome!  I am having desert. Rich, calorie filled, fabulous desert. My rational? I have been in a diet and exercise mode that would make an olympic medalist look wimpish and I cannot seem to lose a pound. I am trying reverse psychology. There.

  BTW......Melanie? You DESERVE E-props. We don't know what they are or why they are here.....but we know they are a good thing. You can count on me, dear.

Yes, Someone does live on this blog site. I enjoy keeping would be readers in suspense.

Currently , I am typing from a terminal flooded with Florida Sunshine.....a far cry from my usual gray sky abode in Ohio. Here, caring for my mother and missing my 4 kids and husband. I will return in two weeks to my 'other life'.

This is the week of the missing persons search. I have had 3 people from the distant past google my name to reestablish contact.....shocking how easy it is to find someone these days. Those who googled came up with our church site where I teach Sunday School and countless marathon race entries and statistics....along with pictures...pictures I never posted..... Sweat and all. How humbling....if not exciting to be reunited with old aquaintances. It will be fun to catch up on all the years that seem to have melted away into the past.

 Peace.