Look what we did at The Rock today!

At the end of Pastor Bryan’s message we wrote the names of people we know that we are praying for to know Jesus as their Savior on the bulkhead wall of the stage!!!   Now when we come to church we will remember the lost and our desire to have a church that new baby believers will be welcomed and supported.

I remember the cringe I felt the first time that I saw a smudge on that wall.  Can’t believe how excited I am to know that I didn’t cringe when I heard what Pastor B. wanted to do today! 

• It will be Easter.
• More people will join us to worship.
• We are doing something really important during the service…details later…
• Our grandsons will have on new duds!
• Our grandsons will be at our house for lunch–and their parents, too!
• I get to enjoy watching the grandsons hunt for eggs filled with yummy candy.
• This is the last Easter without a granddaughter—YEA!!
• Next year Rylee Lyric Printy will join us for Easter lunch.
• We will have lamb chops for lunch–yummmm!
• But, most importantly, we will remember the resurrection of Jesus our Savior.

A few days ago we went to Jacksonville, Florida, to visit with my sister-in-law, Kristy, and my brother, Milton.  Kristy was diagnosed with a serious brain tumor this past November and had surgery to remove some of the tumor the week of Thanksgiving.   Several weeks later she underwent 30 radiation treatments to further shrink the tumor.

To see Kristy you would not know what has happened to her.  She is a beautiful, poised, confident lady.      

         This is Kristy taking pictures of the family.  She always looks great in the pictures taken of her.  Kristy learned to stand just right so that the camera caught her “best side”.  Maybe I should try that….

Recently, we were in Florida visiting family.  We had a family gathering at my sister’s home in the country near to Leesburg, Florida.  After lunch–including mother’s pound cake–we moved outside to visit.  Tricia (my sister) saddled up her beautiful horse and the brave ones took turns riding.

Sooooo….I had a moment of insanity and decided to try something totally out of my comfort zone.  Here is what I did……

Over three years ago I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer which my doctors told me had spread.  Every six months I have had blood work done to check my Thyroglobulin levels which continued to rise.  This was quite worrisome for me and all of my doctors.  Last week I received the results from the latest round of testing and for the first time the levels came down–over 40% less!   Yea!!!!

And, two years ago I had surgery to check on a spot in the left upper lobe of my lung.  This turned out to be a rare carcinoid tumor and resulted in the removal of this entire lobe.  Subsequent tests have not seen any spread of the cancer.  Yea!!!

Then, several months ago a large knot appeared under my right armpit.  When it continued to grow, my oncology surgeon determined that these lymph nodes should be removed.  After extensive pathology testing, his nurse called last night with the news that there was no cancer in the nodes that were removed!  Yea!!!

Thank you Jesus for these reports.  Thank you for completely healing me.  I look forward to recovering my strength and being a healthy 57 year old grandmother of soon to be 5 awesome grandchildren.

So, it’s raining outside, I’m a little under the weather and the M.Stewart show that I taped from yesterday is about Super Bowl stuff.  Thus the reason why Martha is taste testing a whole bunch of different beers.  I guess she’ll be a little tipsy for the rest of the show!

I have taken the time to read several blogs today and catch up on what different people are thinking.  Quite interesting….

Next week is going to be jam packed.  Monday to Duke for a surgical followup, Tuesday and Wednesday catching up the office stuff,  Thursday meetings all day with The Rock’s offsite elders, Friday play with Reagan (#4 grandson) and spend time with our friends from Bulgaria.

Then, Saturday I hope to have some time with Gabriel, Noah and Adam (#1,2,3 grandsons). 

WOW this is going to be quite a week.  Lord, give me strength!

I hope you have a really great week–maybe not this jam packed…

Today was a special day for our country–Martin Luther King Day.  There was a parade here in Wilmington–I hope to be well enough to walk in it next year.  I am so proud of my family that joined with hundreds to remember Dr. King’s legacy.  Three of my grandsons were there along with some of the most wonderful people I know…some of my church family!

I grew up in Alabama in the 50’s and 60’s and remember the way it was….  Thank you, Lord, that so very much has changed. 

Oprah’s show today was in memory of Dr. King’s legacy.  She ended by asking what each viewer has done to honor his memory.  

I hope that I have helped to tear down walls that divide and helped to build bridges that cross lines.   I intend to do so the rest of my life.

I finished my shopping–along with a few things for myself…Now, I have a few more gifts to wrap and I’ll be ready.

Today, I went with my daughter, daughter-in-law and my awesome grandsons to Myrtle Beach to see Polar Express at the IMAX.  We had a blast!  We all enjoyed watching the movie except little Reagan (2 yrs. old) who could not keep the glasses on.  They kept falling off.  So, he watched a very blurry movie.  Even then he watched intently because he loves Polar Express and says the parts along with the actors! 

Monday night our kids will be at our home for our annual Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange.  When our kids were young, we started the tradition and look forward to a special dinner before opening gifts.  Several years ago I served lamb chops and now every year this is what everyone wants.  So, once again the chops are on the menu with chutney, asparagus spears, roasted potato wedges, yeast rolls and special desserts–maybe cheesecake, chocolate cake and pumpkin pie!

Christmas Day we will go to our children’s homes to see the grandsons open gifts from their parents.  Then, a wonderful meal at Bryan and Jen’s where each of us will bring something for the feast.

So, now you can understand why I love this season.  I enjoy finding the gifts, watching the Christmas movies, listening to carols on the radio, Peppermint Mocha Latte at Starbucks, lamb chops, adding a Caroler to my collection and many more holiday traditions.  I also enjoy celebrating the birth of my Savior.  Even though December 25th is not the exact day that Christ was born, it is the day that we celebrate and rejoice that He came to earth.  I am so grateful that God so loved me that He sent His son…..

So, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, Happy New Year!

Norma

I love Christmas!  I have several holiday music channels programmed on my satellite radio and I sing along with the carols….especially Feliz Navidad.  Saturday I bought some more Christmas earrings and Friday night we had our annual grandchildren’s sleepover/decorating party.  This year all four grandsons were here.  What a great time we had.  Friday night we watched polar express, made cinnamon rolls and worked on straightening the tree limbs.  Then, Saturday morning we made gingerbread men and decorated the tree.  Each of the boys have ornaments that are their first Christmas ornaments and others that they have claimed as the ones they put on the tree each year.  This is a tradition that we cherish.  Next year grandchild number five will be born and in a couple of years he or she will join the party….I can’t wait!

Soon it will be time for Imagine Christmas.  So many people are working so very hard on this production.  I believe it will be amazing. 

There was a time a couple of years ago that I wondered if I would live to enjoy very many more Christmas seasons.  I now believe that I will and I look forward to many, many, many more and every year I want to enjoy Grandchildren’s sleepover!

We returned from Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday where we have been with my brother, Milton, and sister in law, Kristy.  Kristy had surgery a week ago for a brain tumor which proved to be an aggressive cancer.  Kristy is home now and will begin radiation treatments soon. 

Kristy began a blog of this journey when the tumor was found and my brother has continued to write while she is recovering.  Their writing is amazing–a glimpse  into the struggles they are facing and the love they share even through the unbelievably hard times.

Please go to Kristy’s site and join the thousands who are praying for her healing.