A night at the fair

The fair was in town this week so we decided to take our grandsons. It was fun watching them ride together. Kane the two year old was seemingly not afraid of anything. He rode even if Brett, the five year old, wanted to ride in another car, truck or plane whatever it was.
We had bought the little bracelets which allowed them to ride as many rides as often as they wanted to. Kane was a little under the weather and ended up sleeping for two hours in the stroller which gave Brett the chance to do just what he wanted to. We ended up staying for seven hours, that's right seven. Seven stands for perfection, right?
I did fine that night but boy did I pay for it the next day. My joints were weary. But that is okay, cause we made lots of memories. It was loads of fun and I would do it all over again. Papa and I went back tonight, just the two of us. It was more relaxing but not near as much fun. The kids tend to make us young don't they? I will miss them growing up to go their own way.
I worry about our girls though cause I saw a lot of the older girls with boys there and I have to tell you it concerns me. The boys and girls all over each other, dressed so provocatively. I prayed everywhere I went. As we came out of the gate for the big rides I looked over and told my husband I felt like we had just left Sodom and Gomorrah. I wouldn't be in there at night for all the money in the world. So many temptations for young people and vendors trying to lure them over to take their money and invite them in to partake of the things of the world.
Think I want the kids to stay little and enjoy the simpler things and maintain their innocence for a long time to come. I don't want our little ones to get sucked up into what the world is offeing. So I guess my knees need to be on the ground in prayer for them and their mates. Oh Lord, please protect their little eyes, and ears and body. I want them to love you more than the things the world has to offer. It doesn"t fulfull. Oh Lord help them realize that!

Does God forgive ALL sin?

At our Celebration dinner the other week, a mother asked me, "Do you believe God forgives ALL sin? I answered right away oh yes. His Word tells us He does. Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. God promises to cast our sin as far as the east is from the west to remember no more if we will but confess and seek His forgiveness.
This morning God took me to Acts 13:38-39, "Brothers! Listen! In this man Jesus, there is forgiveness for your sins! Everyone who trusts in him is freed from all guilt and delared righteous...." Isn't that the most comforting Word. Often times we believe that we or our children have committed the one sin that Jesus cannot forgive. That is a lie of the devil, the father of lies.
"No matter how evil our sins, there is pardon for them. God forgave David for his adultery,dishonestly, and murder. He forgave the prodigal his "loose living". Simon Peter's triple denial of our Lord accompanied by profanity was for given. The apostle Paul was forgiven of his preconversion merciless persecution of Christians.
Although there is no unpardonable sin, there is an unpardonable state----the state of unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in unbelief." Taken from Eternal Security by Charles Stanley
Give me some feed back on this and add to these comments if you like! This mother needs to know the Truth.

Life is Good

Well I am almost at the end of my first week of retirement. My husband asked me tonight if I felt like I was really retired. It might take a little longer to sink in but while it is I am enjoying knowing I don't have to go in.
I got up and had my time with the Father, then went for a walk, came home showered, ran errands, got groceries and came home to welcome the plumber over to fix a water leak. Praise the Lord it was an easy fix and now we are back in business.
By that time my husband was up and ready for some food. I got supper cooked and cleaned up early. That left me time to clean out and rearrange more closets while pitching out some things for the trash, some for goodwill and some for an upcoming yard sale.
I decided to take an evening walk and take in nature and the wonderful weather. Then I came home to sit out on the screened in porch with a cup of coffee, write and check my emails. Got thank you notes to get off to my friends and co-workers. Sooooooo as you can see, I had a profitable day. I decided to top the day off with a small bowl of butter pecan ice cream.....now you see why life is good.

Retirement

I had the best time at my retirement dinner a couple of weeks ago. There were about 20 gals there to greet me after a long day at work. So much fun! After the meal we had my favorite....cheesecake. They gave a gift of money to my favorite ministry...On Wings like a Dove. It was great. Can't believe I will soon not be going in to work. Seems strange after 40 some years.

Then last Thursday Medical Park Hospital gave me a reception with the biggest chocolate cake ever. Staff members came in and out for two hours and it was so good to hug on each one and except their best wishes. I had been there for 24 years so it was with mixed emotions that I greeted each one. By the way, all the cake got gone.
I got to sleep in the next morning as long as I wanted....but since then I have gotten up early each morning. Yesterday I attended an all day seminar and had to get up at 5:30 a.m. Our grandson, Kane stayed with us last night and he allowed me to sleep in till 8:00. That was pretty good.
We took Kane and Brett, our other grandson to the fair today. We got there at 1:00 and left at 8:30. Can you tell we had a grand ole time? We ate and let the kids ride the rides and ate some more. I will put pictures on tomorrow. Gotta keep Kane tomorrow so my son and his girls can go to the fair. Then Papa and I may go again....alone.
We had a blast today and made lots of hopefully good memories for those boys. We saw friends we hadn't seen in a while. I have not felt yet like I am retired. Normally I would be going back to work tomorrow till the end of the week. Maybe it will sink in soon. Think I will sleep in tomorrow...what do you think?

Dinner with the Girls

Last Thursday night my co-workers took me out to dinner. I had to work late hours that day, so when I walked in most were already there. I saw a former friend who now works at Baptist first. It was good to see her and nice to know she thought enough of me to come back to join us.
There were plently of nurses from my department and several from the admitting department and the Preop area. We had a blast. I apologized to a couple as they left in hopes they would forgive the noise we were making.
We had a nice dinner and reminised about the years we had worked together. There have been so many changes, some good, some we didn't perceive as good but we always made the best of it. There are young nurses coming in to take the place of those going out. It is hard to believe that I am at the age to retire, I don't FEEL any older than them!! (Most days that is).
This Thursday we will celebrate together with a reception in the board room. I have been to many others and it is surreal that it is now my turn. I look forward to speaking to each one who comes. My family will also be there with me....grandkids and all. I will miss Medical Park Hospital. It has been the best place in the world to work as evident in the fact I have been there 24 years. It has never been hard to tell patients that they would recieve the best care there, cause it is the truth. I can sell anything I really believe in!
I have been so excited because it has been my passion to do ministry full=time. So as I was handed my packet last week I was surprised that I busted out in tears. Now where did that come from? It is hard to invest that much time in a place, meeting the needs of thousands of patients, working side by side with my co-workers, and the Dr.'s and not have a little sense of loss, right?
God seems to be turning the page of my life right now and I can't wait to see what it looks like. I sense that is not only my time to go but His calling me away to do His bidding till He takes me home. Some have asked, "What are you going to do?" Whatever He tells me to do!!!!
First off I think He is saying, Sandra, Why don't you clean up that filthy house before you do anything else. So that is the plan for next week. Clean, pitch out, wash windows, paint, tear down wallpaper, pitch some more then.......Wherever He leads I will follow!!!! Mind you I DON"T have to do those things first Lord, I CAN leave them and continue to follow YOU! Much more my pleasure to do so.
Hope to blog and write more often. So will see you soon.

Happy Birthday to Me!

What a glorious day Jimmy and I spent celebrating my birthday. We are at Lake James so we woke up to an awesome view of God's creation as we overlooked the mountains behind the back drop of the smooth as silk water. And this is what I opened the Word to: "The LORD is over many waters." Psa. 29:3. Also I was given this scripture by a friend for the day: "May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are, and bless you, just as He has promised you!" You can't beat that for an awesome start to your day.
I have so much to be grateful for...A great family with great grandchildren and children who love each other. I am blessed with in laws of my children whom I love and hold dear!
My husband was so good to indulge me for the day by allowing me to do just what pleased me. We had thought that we would either go to Black Mtn. or to Asheville so we headed that way and decided to stop in Black Mtn. and have lunch and shop. Then we decided there was plenty of time to head to Asheville and so we went to the shops there, got a frappicino at Starbucks, and finished the day off with dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. It was awesome. Then we came back to the Lake and just finished watching the Tooth Fairy which our son had told us we would enjoy (he was right). It was cute.
I got so many messages today wishing me Happy Birthday from friends and family. I will head back home tomorrow, have our On Wings board meeting and head home to pack up for a seminar the rest of the week with Sylvia Gunter!!! Life is good.
I have a meeting to discuss my retirement next week and have just 5 more days to work. Now if that is not something to celebrate I don't know what is. I feel like I am opening another chapter in this book of life and it is exciting. I can't wait to see what God brings my way and the experiences He has in store for me. This is a great place to be in life. I look forward to having more time to write on the blog, work on more projects, and do some fun things. I told Jimmy I might take some cooking classes! I love to cook when I have time and I plan to make that time.
I have already signed up to take a writing course in the fall. You might just get tired of me before it's over.
Thank you Lord for a wonderful birthday! They get better and better!!!!!!!!!!!

Joye

After a long battle with cancer my dear friend Joye passed through to glory yesterday. For her it was a glorious awaiting but for the one's who loved her it is a great loss. I am so grateful to have called her my friend and had the time with her on this journey of life.
I met her mother at church a couple of years ago and our spirit's just came together each time we met. Janet now serves on our board at On Wings. She has a lot of wisdom and now after this journey with her daughter I know she has more! God has walked with this very special family for months now as they have loved on and cared for Joye. What have we all gotten in return?......the awesome presence of God each time we entered her room. Her smile always greeted us and her hand stretched out in welcome and come sit down by me look.
I have seen her minister to others in sickness and in health. We sat together a few months ago at a youth detention center sharing with about 15 young men from our hearts as mothers. I will carry that time together with me always as she loved on them and expressed her heart with love.
I have had the chance to sit alone with her as she poured out words of encouragement and hope to me as I yearned for my prodigal to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. He will Ms. Sandra, he will one day soon!
You see Joye had walked the same path but came to our friday night support group and brought others with her. She brought doughnuts and donated a TV cart and shared her struggles with love and understanding with each one present. We have lost two from that group this year and it grieves me but I know where they both are today. I am confident that God used them to bring Him glory in life and in death.
The morning of her death I texted Janet this: "Yahweh takes care of good men (women), and their heritage will last forever!" Psalm 37:18. Her heritage WILL last forever.
Joye we will miss you but we wouldn't want you to come back to this world of suffering. We know God has already said to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant...... I can just close my eyes and see you dancing in the streets and worshipping our Lord with song. Wait on me girl, I'll be there in God's timing. We will sit together and rejoice over how God was so faithful to us. How He loved us and how we longed for Him to sit with us each day. How He provided all our needs and many of our wants. I love you. Sandra