Great Expectations......

Merry Christmas everyone! I can't believe I haven't written in my blog for almost two months, but it's been a crazy time for me health wise, so it really doesn't surprise me. I had a great vacations in August with wonderful memories to last me for a lifetime and paid for it with an MS flareup to follow in September and October. My first one since February 2009, so that's not bad.

Just part of the reality of living with a chronic, debilitating disease like MS.. The good news is that I survived the new high dose oral steroid treatment the doctors up at USF put me on, have been in physical therapy for the past 6 weeks and am feeling stronger as we head into this glorious season. Thank you Lord!

Today, one of my Facebook friends posted this question on her page.

Is it wrong to have expectations?

Boy, that's a loaded question, right? She got a myriad of answers, along with mine, the gist of it went something like this: Hope and expectations are what keep us going! Definitely hope! Jesus wants us to have hope for each day and hope for the future so He can use us in the world. We have to look forward so we can shine for Him in the world.

I really thought about that question a lot today and went back to read some of the answers her friends gave her. Most of them were positive but there was also another friend of mine who said" we live in a fallen world. Expectations for a Currier and Ives or Martha Stewart Christmas just aren't realistic. We aren't perfect and striving for perfection and having too high of expectations can set you up for a fall and a tremendous amount of disappointment."

She's right in a lot of ways, BUT, and this is a big BUT..... we have the Greatest Expectation in the History of Mankind coming up in a little over a week.

Jesus Christ, the long awaited Messiah, born of a simple virgin and the Holy Spirit, changed the expectations of the entire universe on that one silent night. Hope sprung eternal when Jesus entered the world and changed the expectations of humanity for all time.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

He and His glorious birth are the Great Expectation the people had hoped for,celebrated and we continue to celebrate over 2,000 years after his entrance onto the world scene. He alone is our Hope. He alone is our Great Expectation.

As we look forward to celebrating Jesus birth next week, I encourage you to stop and think about what your hope and dreams are for the future. What do your Great Expectations look like? Health and happiness for yourself and your family members? Peace in our increasingly violent and decadent world? A new job? A new house? A new church? There are a thousand dreams that can be ours because of that sweet baby born in Bethlehem all those years ago. He has brought Great Expectations to the world.

For me, one of my biggest is the promise of a bright future for our beautiful new granddaughter,Grace Natalie, I may feel broken down and worn out many days from this disease that has ravaged my body, but God can still use me to reach out to this precious child and teach her about Him and His Kingdom. I plan to take a considerable amount of my energies toward that end.

Steve and I with our little Gracie. She's such a doll!

Isn't that what we're here for anyway? To reach out and help and love those in our little universe and those we love dearest? Isn't that what Jesus brought into the world when He came?

Hope and Great Expectations for the future of mankind! Rejoice and Celebrate in that amazing truth. Merry Christmas everyone. May the Peace of our Lord be with you now and in the every day in the New Year!

                    "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." 
                                                                                   Isaiah 26:3

My verses for today are above in red.

My prayer for today:

Dearest Heavenly Father:

Thank you for sending your son to save us! Thank you for having come into the world, fully God and fully man, born of a simple virgin teenager who had not known a man. Your miraculous birth gives us hope for the future of all mankind! All of our greatest expectations and hope lie in your hands. We commit ourselves to you and we love you Lord.

Amen and Amen. 

Through it all... God's Grace Abounds....

My head is full of thoughts to release, but my cognitive function has been greatly challenged of late. How can I relay my absolute delight in this last month's events? I'll try, and if I'm not making much sense you'll know why.

My Jordy and I went on a wonderful 12 day vacation in August. Back to my roots, back to my birthplace and where I grew up for the first 18 years of my life. Back for my 40th High School Reunion for TC Williams High School (Remember the Titans fame). Back to see some of my old friends from those band and drill corp days, remembering those fun times we spent at band camp. riding around on those buses to the games, those hours of long practices to get everything just right before the Friday Night performance. I haven't attended any of those reunions, so this one for extra special for me. Extra special because of my health, I'm not sure I'll be able to make another one. Extra special because I could spend those precious days with my son. To have that long drive time was hard, but so much fun. Lots of laughter, arguing, talking, giggling, I messed up the route, we went the wrong way, and laughed and laughed. Only a disabled Mom, like me, could get away with that and not have my kid go ballistic. I had the paperwork to prove the way, but it was still all wrong the GPS sent us the wrong way too, but instead of going nuts, my sweet son rolled with the punches. Here are just a few shots from the reunion.

Me, my friend Craig Caldwell and Jordy

Me, friend Lori Burnett Bassford (I went to slumber parties at her house when I was a kid), 

and Carolyn Weeder, another friend from 1974. 

Me and friends Christine Kennedy and Lucelle OFlaherty

both were in the drill corp with me.

Me with buds Andy Seligman and Roxanne Romani Brooks (another drill corp friend)

It was so great to see everybody. I'll never forget it!

I know he must have been frustrated with me, more times than not, but Jordy never showed it. He kept laughing and encouraging me to enjoy myself. We had a great time in Alexandria and Washington, sightseeing and enjoying seeing our nations capitol. Jordy loved seeing our Washington, and I held up pretty well, tootling along in my scooter along the National Mall and seeing many of the highlights of Washington: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WWI and WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, (probably my favorite) and of course Arlington National Cemetery, which is always a highlight of a visit to Washington.The weather, which could have been stifling in Augusts, was perfect...definitely a God-Thing - thank you Lord!

                                         If you are ever in the DC area, you have to go to Arlington
                                         National Cemetery. The enormity of the sacrifice that our
                                         soldier made and continue to make is overwhelming.

We made the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and Jordy made the capitol tour on Saturday while I slept and recuperated so I could make the reunion. Of course, I wish we'd had more time, cause there is so much to see up there. We also took the Metro which was an adventure, cause none of that was built when I lived there.

Jordy in front of the Museum of Natural History

I was able to have dinner with my cousin Leslie and her husband David. That was a special highlight of the trip. Leslie and I pretty much grew up as sisters more than cousins, she was either at my house or I was at her house. That was pretty much the deal for many years. Also, my dearest and closest friend through high school was Mollie McCauley, who couldn't make the reunion, but did come in and have lunch with me. Mollie stood up with me at my wedding. It was so great to see her too!

                                               My cousin Leslie and her husband David

                                    Me and Mollie - she hasn't changed a bit! Loved seeing her.

I had Jordy driving all over Alexandria, while I remembered places from my childhood; the house where I grew up, my elementary, middle and high schools, where my grandparents lived, even the Baskin Robbins Ice Cream store that was in my neighborhood. I couldn't believe it was still there in the same exact place, 40 years later! Of course I had to take pictures of everything, which drove him crazy, but again we had alot of fun.

I couldn't believe the things that did not change in my old neighborhood, 

it was really uncanny because down here in Florida everything changes constantly!

I was running on energy I hadn't had in years. I knew I would most likely pay for it in the end, but it was so worth it so me,

 

The house I grew up in on Crestwood Drive in Alexandria, pink shutters?Really?

After Washington, we ventured to our home in Waynesville, NC for a visit with our first son, Biff and his wife Jessi. Our first grandchild was overdue to be born, and we were praying, that maybe, just maybe Jordy and I could meet the little one before we headed home. Turns out that my sweet grandchild had a mind of her own and was born 3 days after we left. We did have a wonderful visit with the kids though and I got to see Jessi pregnant, which was fun. Boy, I really wanted to be there for the birth of that little girl, but it wasn't part of God's plan. 

                                           Me with Jessi, waiting the birth, and me with my two boys!

This is me, two months later and after a massive oral steroid treatment to counteract an MS attack, probably brought on by our trip. But so worth it. I'm clearer in my thinking, able to walk a little again and with physical therapy I know I'll get better and better. So here we go, I will continue on with my story.

So, the last night we are on the mountain, we go out to dinner with Biff, Jessi, Jordy and I. Let me back up just a little. Jessi had told me that she liked the name Grace for their daughter, but she said "we have to convince Biff. " I said Grace is the perfect name for the little angel. Jessi had lost a baby before she got pregnant with this child and had an ectopic pregnant, losing one of her ovaries. They weren't 100 percent sure trying again was going to be successful and then they had a scare with this child too, so I said "Jessi, Grace is the perfect name for her, because she is surely here because of God's amazing Grace."

About two weeks before we went on our trip, God put it on my heart that they were going to name the baby Grace Natalie (Natalie is my given name). I told God - No way, they aren't going to use my name in that child's name, it will never happen. The Lord kept whispering to my heart, that is gonna be the name, I don't care what you say. Of course, I kept not believing, no way God I told Him.

When we were out to dinner that last night, in the parking lot, the kids said they wanted to tell me the babies name. I said ok, it better not be Devin (that was one of the names that Biff liked - I told him no way, sounds too much like devil!!!), Anyway, Biff said now Mom don't cry, we've decided to name her Grace Natalie Watts.

Of course I started crying and told them the story about what God had put on my heart. Their mouths dropped open. So you see sweet children, God named your child and you just listened to the whispers in your heart and obeyed Him. Talk about a God-Thing. This sweet child will have a high calling upon her, I have no doubt in my mind about that. She is highly favored of God! Of all the meanings of Grace in the dictionary, my favorite is;  

The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God."

And my favorite Grace scripture verse is from 2 Corinthians 12:9\

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Surely,my beautiful new granddaughter Grace will grow up with the arms of Jesus around her, holding her close to Him. I finally get to go up and see her, probably this week! I am so excited to finally hold that sweet child in my arms. Thank you Jesus for this gift from you!!!

My dear sweet Grace Natalie, I love her so!!

My verse for today is above in red.

My prayer for today:

Lord God,

Thank you so much for our beautiful first granddaughter Grace! Thank you for her life.

I pray blessings and your Favor over her as she grows up, may you always keep her close to you.

Thank you for a wonderful, fun and safe trip with Jordy. Thank you for giving me the strength to go, thank you for allowing him to get the time off to spend those 10 days with me. I know it was a big sacrifice for him and I am so thankful that he agreed to go with me. Thank you for Steve, thank you that we could afford this great trip, while he held the fort down here with the three dogs!

Thank you Lord, We are so blessed and we know it!

In Jesus name, 

Amen

i

Why does God allow suffering?

I've been thinking a lot about suffering lately. My dear friend, Russell Solice, has suffered much during his life, becoming a quadriplegic at the tender age of 17 years old. He's especially been suffering during these past 18 months as he's been in and out of the hospital, (mostly in) battling infection after infection. He suffers greatly, but He always smiles. Many ask, "How in the world can he do that everyday?" What's his secret?

I also have a friend on Facebook who is dealing with her cancerous husband (he has stage 4 terminal gastric cancer) and she has MS. That's a lot of hurt for one household. Yet this sweet lady spends her days asking for prayer and Praising God in the middle of her horrendous circumstances through her Caring Bridge blog Site.http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cherylsmith22. Ok, again, who does that? Who in the world can have a thankful heart about anything, when their world is falling apart around them?

I'm sure you know friends who are dealing with a crisis right now? There most likely is suffering involved. How are they handling it?

When life throws you a curve, which can happen to anyone at anytime, you have a choice to make. You can choose to blame the doctors, yourself,  your spouse, your friends and even God for what happens, or you can choose to embrace your new circumstances, get a hold of yourself and let go of all that anger and bitterness. Instead of blaming God, try thanking God! What are you kidding me, "thanking God in the middle of all this?" Yes, you heard me right, "Thank God." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Many unbelievers have the stance that a loving God would not allow all the suffering that goes on in this world. Where is He? Why doesn't He intervene? That is what keeps many of them away from pursuing a relationship with Him, or at least that is what they say.... "Why would I want to hang out with Him, if He allows all this heartbreak and doesn't stop it? "What kind of God is that?"

Some people will say, "You're a Christian and you got real sick, what difference did it make? Your faith didn't help you one bit. Your God didn't protect you." Well, the truth is, my relationship with Jesus has made all the difference in the world. I couldn't have been able to navigate these rocky waters of living with MS if I didn't have a firm foundation to lean on each day, and I don't mean my husband, my kids or my friends. I mean Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

The thing is there will always be suffering in this world we live in. It is not designed to be pain free, never was. It's one giant testing ground from my point of view. Everything you go through in this life is a test, either you pass and grow closer to God, or fail miserably and pull further away from Him. John 16:33 reminds us "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

If you believe God and His Word, then that's all you need to hear. You know that although suffering is a part of life, you can have peace in the middle of the storm if you hold right to His Hand and don't let go. Is is really that simple? I have to tell you dear friends, "Yes, it is that simple." If you are suffering or hurting in anyway, go to the One who can sustain you and gird you up with His strength, not your own.

Just remember, Jesus suffering tremendously. He knows all about it. He feels your pain. He was mocked, ridiculed, spit upon, flogged, beaten and hung on a cross to die. He had to carry His cross through town with a crown of thorns on His Head where people shouted at Him, threw stones at Him and made fun of Him. If the Savior of the World went through all that, what is your suffering in comparison to His? You can handle anything, with Him by your side.

My verses for today is above in red.

My prayer for today:

Lord Jesus:

Suffering is so hard. We don't understand it, but we know that we can get through it with you by our side. We know that with You, anything is possible. We are thanking you and believing you will take care of us through anything that comes our way. Thank you Lord, that you sustain us in the midst of our pain, our uneasiness, our worry, our doubting hearts and our unforgiving souls. 

Thank you Lord for being there through everything.

In Jesus name,

Amen