Things I wanted to say

     It has been a while since my last post, and I apologize for that. I went to UCSF last week and my MELD score has gone from 15 to 16, meaning my liver disease has gotten a little worse. I didn't like what I have been hearing from the Doctors since. If I have the gastric bypass (Banana Surgery) they will do an angiogram and put a shunt in my Portal Vein. A friend of mine had that exploratory procedure and died on the table. The Shunt can bring on encephalopathy, which can mean I lose my memory. I am already struggling with this when my ammonia levels rise. My blood cell count is bad enough that if I have any procedures, I must take a transfusion of plasma.
     Well, enough of that, it really doesn't bother me until I am face to face with it. It has inspired me to join WeightWatchers and I am doing well with it so far. the food is good & tasty and it is enough to satisfy. My good friend Libby Sweiger in MN. said she will be my partner, and will be there for me should I slip, or feel like slipping. She has a heart of Gold.
     My youngest son Will is coming home for a visit and I am excited, It seems like forever since we were last together. Next week should be great, we will probably argue and stuff like we used to, but love will win out every time. I wish I could take him to a Giants game, but I won't have the money this time around. We can watch one together on TV. That means no fresh chowder, Johnny Rockets or Soup Nazi, but that's ok too.
     I have started playing my guitar in church again and it feels good. I love the people, my pastor & his wife are so dear to my heart I can't express that well enough. Does being in church fill you with Joy ? It should! If not you have a problem or you are in the wrong place. My wife is an alternate piano player, sometimes Tim has to work at service times, and she plays in his stead. We strive to please God so he will cover our service with his Holy Spirit.
     The times we are living in are so crazy, there is a movement to eliminate Christianity, and at the same time a push to cater to Islam. separating church & state is the excuse they give, but they are allowing full access to muslims. The King of England decided what everyone would believe. freedom to worship God was the separation. not the elimination of Christianity. The New Testament was quoted by all of the founding fathers many times over using it as a base for moral behavior, fair judgement, and the foundation of our government.
     I hope you all understand my beliefs, and consider. I will try to post much sooner next time.
This is Tim our piano player, I have known him since he was a baby, he is now a husband a father to 2 sons & a servant filled with the Holy Spirit. I am so proud of him.

Music and Life: New EP, Press and I am still me ....

Music and Life: New EP, Press and I am still me ....: So much has happened lately.. however, I think I always say that here - because I always forget to blog!  Anyhow, I have released a...

The Empty Nest Syndrome

     The time has come, my youngest son is leaving. He is beginning a new life in Aurora ILL. And this coming week we will say our goodbyes. I will miss him and worry about him and wonder when I will  ever see him again (my eyes are tearing up) it is hard even though we have gotten on each others nerves, and disappointed one another at times I still remember the child's eyes that looked up to me like I had all of the answers and the world at my feet.
     If only that belief in Daddy could have lasted a lifetime, but the day came when I could hold on to that status no longer. He came home from school one day and said, "Mom, could you help me with my homework" and she said,"I'm cooking dinner, ask your father" and he replied, "I'm not asking him anything, all of his information is old and out of date" That dart shot into me like a fire arrow. But there was a plus side I didn't have to do anymore homework.
     My oldest son Sam lives here in town, but doesn't bring our grandson over near as often as we would like. (all of you grandma's and grandpa's know) But it is in the Bible that this is the way of our species, so be it! It's depressing at times, but, So Be It! My youngest said he will set me up with Skype before he goes, so we can talk, no telling what he will say once he realizes he is out of my reach ;^)

     Please pray for him and for me I know it will be a difficult transition for me. Love is so powerful, sometimes the joy is so great it can't be explained and sometimes it hurts so much that you don't think you will survive it, and everywhere in between. God is so good to his children.

My Caring Friend, Susan Willis

    I have known Susan since we were kids. I didn't pay much attention to her then but when I was in High School, she was in Jr. High,  and one day we were playing football at the park across from her house and I was going out for a pass and saw Susan sitting on a blanket and tripped, I thought I was going to break my neck, she was beautiful. I never hit on her because there were good reasons, her brothers Ron and Chuck, they were not known for peaceful attitudes, on the contrary.....
     So we were always two kids from the neighborhood. Years passed and she hooked up with my friend Terry, and we all went to church together, those were wonderful times, there were so many good people working together, and sharing their love for Jesus, and caring for one another. But offenses come, and people divide, and go different directions.
     If I could, I would bring everyone back together again. I have always seen the congregation as a bread mixture, before the bread can be used every lump of leaven must be removed from the mix and when I would look out at the congregation and someone wasn't there it was like a portion of the mix was missing, and there wouldn't be enough to make the loaf. I would be speaking amiss if I said I have never been offended, I have. But my vision is overcoming, Jesus is saying come on over. There is a door in the wall called the eye of a needle, in order to enter through that door you must unpack your load  and go through it leaving all personal baggage behind, and hunker down to make yourself smaller.
     I will never give up on anyone who has walked through the doors of that church. They are all precious stones to me. Jesus adds to the church those He wants saved. So my desire is to see Susan and Terry, Charlene, Jon and Cindy, our dear brother Nash and his family and many more over the years that have gone away come back in the fold. If we all leave the personal baggage behind we can reunite and be strong and bold, we can resist the wiles that influence our carnal minds. Walk in the Spirit each day, without ceasing to pray and abide in the narrow way and we will be blessed. (the last line was for you Susan.

Feel free to comment.
 

Irene - Another Special FB Friend

     When I was first friended by Irene I was impressed with how accomplished she is. She did Air Search & Rescue, shoots in SASS competitions , plays guitar, does stained glass, Works as a medical statistician for the VA, She is an outdoor person that Hikes, rides horses etc. I get tired just thinking about her active life and what I have mentioned is probably just scratching the surface of  her activities.
     Once I hitchhiked up into the hills, a forest ranger stopped me and said myself and everyone else in the hills would be better off if I wasn't there and threw me out of the hills. He took me to a police station and told them to make sure I headed back to the valley. I had to hitch a ride home.
     Irene has the most beautiful set of six-shooters I've seen, chromed with intricate engraving all over. Pretty like Gene & Roy's guns. (Mental Note: don't mess with Irene) she knows how to use those guns! 
     She takes beautiful pictures, I had trouble with them for a while, the captions would say " with Hwy Peter Collie " but I never saw the guy, I figured he was the one taking the pictures, then I saw this ol cowboy, aha I thought but nope that was Kid Sopris, the mystery continued then I saw something, Hwy Peter Collie was a white poodle that wore a red wild rag around his neck. I was so happy. You know, I think Peter runs the show.
     I've found Irene to be one of the nicest people I talk to on FB. She posts positive quotes that lift up and inspire, she loves the Lord. we share some FB friends Libby, Mike aka Steamboat Willy, Heather, Linda & Lori all wonderful people that love God.
     I would love to hear your comments on this or anything else on my blog.
     

My friend of many years - Beverly

After many years ( over 40 ) I was reunited with a very special friend on FB, Beverly. Back in the 60's we were boyfriend-girlfriend I was so in love with her. We saw things pretty much the same, the times I wasn't with her seemed like such a long, long time. Well, wouldn't you know it, fate stuck it's head in the door and we were as a couple no more. I will admit that I was crushed, it knocked me flat and I was down for the count for quite a long time ( as in a few years ) I was tired of losing people close to me. This was the final straw, I was going to be alone then no one could hurt me anymore. Thank God she found me, I'm much older and I believe Friends should be friends forever. I missed her no matter how hard I tried to fool myself.
I would like to hear your comments on this post.

The Grasshopper was a sluggard and was caught unprepared

      My dear friends, people have relied on this world far to long, to the point that survival knowledge handed down from generation to generation has been left behind by most in favor of a system of script that can be traded for the things that used to take preparation, to things ready to go from a box, almost anything you desire.
     What will be the result of intentional ignorance that prevails today. If we are hit with a major natural catastrophe, how many will know or even have made preparation for disaster.  Do you know how to make drinking water safe enough to consume without fear of disease? Do you know how to forage, what plants are edible and which are poison.
Do you know how to use weapons like a .22 caliber rifle for hunting small game or protect your family? Or use a bow and arrows to hunt game silently, so as not to draw attention,
Do you own these weapons, if not how do you intend to feed your family and protect them.
     With the world markets failing everyday, and government's toppling all around. Do you think your staples are going to appear out of a magical place. Or are you storing things now, that can be quickly gathered in an emergency.                                            
     Do you have a place that your family can gather to see who is safe and who is missing
     Do you know how to can food, or dehydrate fruits and veggies and preserve them ? Our government offices are so slow, you need to be able to hold out  for a very long time.
     By now you realize this will be a major undertaking, when you see hundreds of people rush a department store at Christmas breaking doors off of their hinges to get at Michael Jordan retro-shoes, what do you think they will do when they are hungry, and hear that you have food.
     Study the behavior of the people and government when disaster struck New Orleans,   it was pathetic from the start. National Government drug it's feet, had no clue, wasted so much precious time. People drowned, people starved, people were left homeless and all personal belongings destroyed. What it would have cost to secure that city from taking a hit from nature like that would have been a drop in the bucket compared to what the disaster cost them.
     This is no laughing matter, The day is coming! Not maybe it is,  it is coming.
So will you prepare for that day or will you be a victim. Will you provide extra to share with unfortunate people, or extra to barter with for needs that slipped your mind. There are books available that can teach you how to get prepared and stay prepared. I suggest you go to a library if you have a very limited income like myself or go to a Barnes & Noble and look through a few books and decide which one would be the best purchase.
                    Here is wishing you all, the very best in Christ Jesus
P.S. I would love to hear your comments on this blog