A Morning Phone Call with Dad...

I called Dad this morning.

I am in bed resting, not sleeping...
I slept well last night.
I guaranteed I would do what I said I would do...
I feel it is more personal to sit in bed... it feels good.
I am a people lover,
I am doing the best I can do...

I was awake all night long, but rested well.
I had a nice breakfast.
I enjoy relaxing in bed.

His voice sound slurred.

He was hard of hearing.

I called "Lynnie" (my mom) to check on her to see how her back was..

I told him how sweet and considerate it was of him...

What is the name of your town where you live?

I told him it was Henderson, Nevada.

What is the weather like?

I told him it was in the triple digits...

I'm glad I live where I live... there is always a nice breeze... I live in the best place...

I told him every time I call and ask to speak to Dad, everyone tells me how much they love him and tells me how happy he is, how they enjoy his singing and their conversations...

Yes, everyone is so nice and treats me so well here...

I asked about some of his favorites, Doctor-Doctor, Pickles and Laura...

They are always so welcoming and make me feel so good...

Thank you Dear for finding this place for me...

When are you coming to visit me?

I told him I would come to visit soon...

OK, Dear, thank you for calling me...I won't keep you....

I told him my husband and I send our love and Izzy sends a "woof woof and a lick"....

Dad laughed a long belly laugh....

God Bless you Dad...

God Bless you all my Dear....

Notes from Church...What to do when you need a miracle.

Notes taken 4-20-2000 at Faith Bible Church in San Bernardino, CA
Sermon by Rev. Arthur Valadez.

2 Chronicles 20:1-30
1.  Get in tune with god (vs 3-4):  Fast and pray. 
Ask yourself, "What is it Lord? Let me see and understand your will."
Blood will flow to your brain - not your stomach.

2.  Pray about the problem (vs 5-12).  Prayer should not be the last thing you do,
when all else fails, it needs to be the first thing.
         
Remind yourself of who God is (vs 6) He is God in Heaven, He rules over the world,
He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.

Remind yourself of what God has done (vs 7)  He is the one who answers prayers and leads us
out of great trouble.

Ask God to do it again (vs 12)  Ask for a repeat performance and an instant replay.

3.  Admit your need for help. (vs 12b) " We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you."  We   have no power.  Power and might are in Your Hand God.

4.  Focus on God, not your problems. (vs 12c)  when you have problems, you don't need to look   down....look up!!   God responses (vs 15) Problems are like a mattress--on top of it, you rest easy, but underneath, you suffocate.  Focus on God.

The battle is not ours, it is God's but we fight it.  Quit playing God.  Let go and let God handle it.  We don't help God... He helps us.  When we say, "Lord, I let you down, " we are kidding ourselves because we were NEVER holding Him up!  Maybe if God resigns as General Manager of the Universe, then we can take over...

5.  Rest in faith (vs 17)  God is a winner and does not lose.  He has a perfect batting average.
What am I to stand firm on? (vs 20b) Quiet mental attitude with confidence.
If you want to do it alone... He will let you.  He gave you free will, free choice.
If you run away from it, He will bring you back.
The character of God (vs 20)
The word of God
What He brings you to, He will see you through. 
Do what is right and the right feelings will catch up with you.

6.  Thank God in advance. (vs 21)

The results?  He outdoes our expectations. (vs 29-30)


(vs 29-30) It becomes a testimony to others.

Keep it up Dad....

Earlier in the week I called and spoke with the charge nurse at the nursing home, telling her Dad's wrist guard did not sound when taken through the security doors with my sister... She assured me she would check Dad's batteries in his alarm.

I received several phone calls this week about Dad. 

He has gained 5 pounds this month, they remain amazed with his appetite... Despite his weight gain, he is doing well without any swelling in his lower extremities.

The wound care nurse said no biopsy was done last week as the specialist had a sick child.  The biopsy was done today on his left baby toe and I should received the results next week...

Today, the nurse called to inform me Dad would be started on protein drink two times a day and Zinc Sulfate to hopefully help his toe wound to heal.

I was unable to talk with Dad today...he was asleep or busy, and then I fell asleep and took a nap...

The nurse told me Dad has been very alert and less confused lately.  He is happy and very chatty.  I smiled a huge smile when she told me...

Keep it up Dad....

Magic Mirrors...

"Family faces are magic mirrors. 

Looking at the people 

who belong to us 

we see the past, 

the present, 

and the future"

 

 

Author: Gail Lumet Buckley

Notes from Church...The 8 Benefits of Faith.

Today I was cleaning out some files and came upon a notebook of my notes from church...This sermon and hand out was by Rev. Arthur Valadez at Faith Bible Church in San Bernardino, CA...given January 30, 2000.


The 8 Benefits of Faith. What Faith Can Do For You. (printed hand out by Rev. Valadez)

1.  Faith determines what God can do in your life.  Matthew 9:29

2.  Faith can solve impossible problems.  Matthew 17:20

3.  Faith is the key to answered prayer.  Matthew 21:22

4.  Faith is the secret to achievement.  Mark 9:23

5.  Faith is the basis for miracles.  John 14:12

6.  The Bible teaches that lack of faith is a sin.  Romans 14.23

"Having faith, keeps us from sin."

7.  Faith is the way to please God.  Hebrews 11:6

8.  Faith produces success in life.  1 John 5:4

"Faith gives you confidence and eliminates fear."

"When the devil reminds you of your past, you remind him of your future...which is in Heaven!"

"Faith is to a Christian as a mainspring is to a watch."

"There are over 7000 promises in the Bible."

"Achieving is through believing."

"Believe and you shall receive."

"When you wake up in the morning, make it, Good morning Lord....instead of, good lord it's morning."

Hoping Not To Get Fired For His Temper...

My sister Holly went to visit Dad today.  She found him in the Rec room listening to the guitar playing preacher.  He comes every Saturday and Sunday and he and Dad are good friends.  She said Dad looked very content.

Holly took him out front of the nursing home and noted his wrist guard DID NOT SOUND THE ALARM.  (I will call them tomorrow and remind them to change his batteries.)  They sat in the shade and chatted for a bit, then she walked him down the street and back.  Sitting again, in the shade, Dad confided in her how hard he was trying not to get fired.

Holly assured him they would NEVER fire him.  "Some times I do have a temper, " he said...

Again, she assured him we all lose our tempers once in awhile...

Dad, looking happy and content...

The preacher was leaving and stopped to chat with them for awhile...  My sister was not sure what prompted the preacher, but he shared with Holly and Dad that when he was 6 years old, he walked in on his father committing suicide.  He told them he grew up angry and got into a lot of trouble.  He finally found his church and devoted his life to God.  (I am hoping Dad did not understand what he was saying, only that he cared enough about Dad to stop and talk with him...)

After the preacher left, Holly took him to the lunch room to eat his lunch.  Dad wolfed down chicken, celery and rice with scalloped potatoes, wheat bread and a banana.  Doctor-Doctor stopped by to say hello, bringing him a nice fruit plate with cottage cheese, peaches, pineapple and strawberries.  He cleaned that plate too.  Dad dipped his bread into his milk, ate it and then drank his coffee.  Holly could tell he was ready for a nap after that feast!

Holly said Dad's eye looks terrible. The lower lid is very red and his eye watered constantly. She said he kept his hand up by his face (like in the upper picture) to wipe away the tears.  (His eye must be extremely sensitive to the light.)  Holly talked to "Pickles", his care giver for the day, and was told she was treating it.  (I added this to my notes to discuss when I call tomorrow...and Monday...)

My sister bought Dad an Angels shirt.  The Angels are Mom and Dad's favorite baseball team, so he wanted to put it on then and there! "Pickles" said she would dress him in it tomorrow.  Holly reminded him to wear his red hat, as it will go with the shirt nicely..."Good idea!" he smiled...

She told Dad Mom was still having a difficult time with her back, which is why she had not been in to see him.  Dad told Holly to send her his love.  He was certain Dr. B, her doctor, would be able to help her.  Dad used to see Dr. B before he went into the nursing home.  He gave poor Dr. B and his staff HELL while he was a patient those last couple of years... Dr. B and his staff were so very patient...

Holly kissed him good bye, and then blew him their traditional kiss from the hallway as "Pickles" was unlocking his wheel chair, getting ready to take Dad back to his room for a nap.

Holly called Mom and asked if she could bring her anything.  Mom had her pick up some peach yogurt, but Holly also got her some blueberry flavor, cereal and cottage cheese.  She fixed Mom a light snack and stayed to visit awhile...

We are thankful for another good visit...

God is Always With Me...

As you may recall, Mom had a fall coming home from her Retreat last April.  She hurt her shoulder and consequently, her lower back.  I too have been down with a whopper of a backache...so she and I have been commiserating together over the phone lines... I am happy to report, I am doing much better.  Still tender, but better... Mom, on the other hand is having a rough time of it.  The pain is going down her legs now... so she is seeing her doctor next Tuesday...

I called Dad today.  Mom was not feeling up to her weekly visit with Dad, due to her back.  I am waiting to hear if the biopsy was done yesterday, as planned.  Probably won't know the results for another week.  I won't be surprised if it is skin cancer of some kind...Dad was always outdoors and for many years, without skin protection.

Dad sounded in great spirits and I could hear him smile with a chuckle when I greeted him with his pet name, Papa-doots...  He gushed sweet comments about the nurses around him, telling me how well they cared for him and how happy he is.  He told one of the nurses, he called Laura, how much he loved her... he often forgets their names and calls them by names of his choosing...

I asked how his lunch was...he told me it was delicious...I asked what he had... he laughed and said, "whatever it was, it was darn good! "   We laughed together...

I asked if he had his fruit plate and he obviously didn't hear me, because he told me, "I will be busy until tomorrow night, so be sure you call me first so I will know when to expect you...."

I told him Mom was still resting with her back but would hopefully come this weekend with my sister to visit... He was happy to hear about their visit and asked when he would see me...  He didn't remember about Mom's back or mine, and was concerned for us, reminding me to take care of myself...

I gave him love from my husband and he told me to send the love back to him...

Dad thanked me for calling, giving me the hint he was done talking... I told him to have a nice nap and he assured me he was looking forward to it...  I blessed him and told him I loved him and he thanked me and said he loved me too... "You know, God is always with me", he said...

I know Dad, I know... sweet dreams...I love you so much...

It is storming outside...thunder, lightning, roaring wind and pouring rain... a perfect day to be indoors....then again...maybe we may venture out and take in a movie....