I am deeply concerned about the division in the US. The statue of liberty has always been a symbol of our welcome to those from other countries My own grandfather came through the St. Lawrence Seaway to get a job with Allis Charmers in WI. He built a prosperous life and fathered my dad and his brother and sister. Where is our welcoming mat? What is happening to our divided country? “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him as yourself, for you were once an alien in Egypt. God is speaking to the Jewish nation in Leviticus 19:34. Some that I have met at the Care Center where I volunteer have come here from horrific circumstances. Where is our merccy? Where is our love for others? Where is the hand reaching out to us from the Statue of Liberty?

When Larry and I first met at a dance at Northern Illinois University, we knew there was something different about each other than other dates we had had. We had actually seen one another the day before. i saw his picture in the NIU newspaper and he saw me walking with his friend. Little did we know that the next night, we would meet. We danced to a Beatles medely at the end of the dance. Then he asked if he could walk me home. We stood on the steps since he was much taller and he gave me a gentle kiss. I was instantly in love.

After three years as I was working on my degree and he was finishing his miliatry Marine training, we were married. We made a vow to one another which included “in sickness and in health”. Most of our married lives has been “in health”. But now after 55 years of marriage, we are having health issues.

He had a UTI that has required him to have daily infusions for the next twelve days and I have to have a shot for a back/hip problem. But we still laugh a lot and try to help each other and others..

To Be Continued.

Chi

We heard the weather report around January 17/25 of arctic weather coming into Chicagoland so we decided to do a road trip to Dallas where it’s still around 28 degrees. We support an organization called Mercy Ships and thought we’d visit their facility for a couple days. Mercy Ships send help to impoverished areas mainly in Africa and India. The ship has doctors and nurses on it to help those who need surgeries and other medical help. We just passed a town called Pocahontas in Arkansas! We enjoy road trips since it’s a good time to help us plan the rest of the year and to look out the window on a sunny day even though it’s quite chilly. I will post more when we get into the Dallas area and send some pictures. Have a good day. Yeah we are driving and it’s now 30 degrees Going through Little Rock, Arkansas right now, which is Sunday afternoon at 2 PM! We now have been in Dallas for a couple days. We visited Dallas aquarium today. A post pictures later!

What a beautiful sunny morning with a blanket of snow covering the ground. Let’s look at the good around us and praise God for another opportunity to breath fresh air. Love those around you and greet a stranger with a warm smile. I had a cup of coffee with a friend this morning. Becoming a good listener is the key to good friendship. I am healing and so thankful for life. I often reach up and grasp my Savior’s hand and say “What do you want for me to do this day.” See Psalm 68 today. You may not see God but He knows every hair on your head-even those that fell out on your pillow last night.

What a beautiful morning with a blanket of snow covering the ground. Let’s look at the good around us and praise God for another opportunity to breath fresh air. Love those around you and greet a stranger with a warm smile. I had a cup of coffee with a friend this morning. Becoming a good listener is the key to good friendship. I am healing and so thankful for life. I often reach up and grasp my Savior’s hand and say “What do you want for me to do this day.” See Psalm 68 today. You may not see God but–He knows every hair on our head-even those that fell out on your pillow last night

I was shopping for a few Christmas items at Walgreens and my mind was on how this Christmas would be different from any other. It would be just Larry and me. I was a little sad about that fact. Since in Christmases past we have had the Dickinsons, the Grams and once in awhile part of the Fay family. But not this Christmas. I wanted to have some of our refugee friends join us but that wasn’t going to happen until December 28th when our friends from Ukriane were scheduled to join us for dinner. As those thoughts were swirling in my mind, I crossed the street toward the Fox River Grove post office and did not see a car coming from the North. It slammed into me and the bags explosed but not the one by the steering wheel. I was in semi shock when I realized what had happened.

Soon a very kind FRG police officer came to the window and as I reached for the glove compartment to get my insurance information he said, “Don’t bother with that now.” The next thing I knew, I was on a stretcher going into the ambulance. Now I go to Good Shepherd hospital once a week to play piano and I have even volunteered at other times so I was familiar with the location of the Emergency room. What I didn’t realize is that my rather new Apple phone sent three messages to those who I had put as contacts in case of emergency. Cleora called and Michele came to the hospital all dressed up for her Christmas party that night. It took awhile to get in touch with my husband Larry since his phone was off. But soon he showed up at the hospital also. I told Michele<“Go to your party,” and I told Larry to go get a cup of coffee at the Starbucks in the hospital. After an hour or so, the nurse wheeled us into a room where they prepared me for an MRI which showed that I had a tear in my sternum.

Finally, we were dismissed to go home with a prescription for pain. I developed a cough which exasperated the pain in my already damaged chest. Lemon and honey were my most soothing drinks. I dreaded getting a coughing spell so the Dr. gave me a pill to supress the coughing. it was not a Merry Christmas but I was so thankful for the friends who came by with flowers and food. I’m so blessed to have support. We got the news that the car was totaled and now we have another vehicle, but I have not driven it yet. I want to stay away from cars for awhile.

Larry drove me to Good Shepherd hospital for my Thursday afternoon piano playing session. The Bensons and Hitts, who are wonderful friends, came to the hospital with their grandchildren, and Lindsey, the Hitt’s adult daughter, sang beautiful Christmas songs with her angelic voice. After exploring the lobby, the children gathered around the piano to sing Santa and Rudolph songs. It helped me to forget the pain.

I woke up today and the pain was more intense especially in my back. So after taking care of business with a new car and insurance, I rested on the couch. I felt like the elf on the shelf. I’m normally a high energy person.

I am so blessed to have Larry as my husband. He has helped me in so many ways. Most of the time, I am taking care of Larry who has had numerous surgeries in the past.

i have lived a relatively blessed life with very few bumps in the road. But this one was the worst. I will now remember to have more compassion for those going through difficult times. Fortunately, I will get a little better each day whereas my dear friend, who has had MS for 45 years, only gets steadily worse. Thanks for those who have been praying for my emotional and physical healing. The pain will pass but the lessons I have learned will be with me for the rest of my life. They are to seize the day and to hold on to our loved ones with joy and forgiveness. “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15.

Happy New Year 2025

If you have never read the Bible, I would begin by reading the Psalms and Proverbs. Take it like a vitamin pill, one of each every day. You will find that your life has more focus and meaning then in the past. In a world where who knows anymore what is right or wrong, reading the Bible will help direct your steps. Psalms and Proverbs are part of the Old Testament. Then read the Book of Luke in the New Testament. It combines the Old and the New Testament speaking of Jesus on the road to Emmaus. It was after his resurrection when he was walking with a couple of his disciples. He was incognito as he shared with them on their walk about the Messiah and how we could know the Messaih. See Luke 24:13-34.

Jesus, after his resurrection, appeared to his disciples many times. Once was on the road to Emmaus when he opend up the scriptures to them. At first they did not recognize him but later their eyes were opened up. They said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the on the road and opening the scripture to us.” Luke 24-13.

You too could know the living Lord of life and have your heart burning within you. Begin reading Luke 1 and continue reading. Luke was a physician in his day. He begins by saying, “Many have undertaken to write about the things that have taken place among us….I myself have carefully looked into everything from the beginning. So I also decided to write down an orderly report of exactly what happened.” Luke 1;2. You also can know the exciting events that will help you make sense of your life and why you are here. You are unique and gifted to know your Savior, who died and rose from the dead for you. If you want to understand life and its meaning for your life personally begin reading this what some call antiquated book that will fill your lungs with fresh new air.

I began my journey of faith as a college freshman looking at the clouds and asking God if he existed or not. He showed me He was there and heard my prayers but I had to give up my life for His first.

I have quoted this verse in 11 Timothy many times and used it for others. But never did I realize how important it would be in my future while visiting my daughter, son, and his family in Bozeman/Livingston MT. We drove with our trailer behind us to Bozeman where we parked our trailer at Bear Canyon, a local campground, between our daughter and son’s homes.   

It’s just wonderful to connect with our Montana family who warmly greeted us. Our son, Aaron, cooked up a wonderful Middle Eastern dish using meat from his fall hunt while his wife, Lynelle, baked a pie often like lemon meringue. We all gathered around their newly landscaped yard with daughter, Deborah, and grandsons, August, Jasper and Isaak. My heart was full of love for all of them as we laughed and shared stories in person instead of texts and phone calls.

Before we left Chicago for Montana, Larry said, “I want to do something different this year.”  What,” I said. “I want to float down the Gallatin Valley,” Aaron told us it’s June which will mean it’s fast moving and very cold. The day finally came for our river trip. I tried to see if Aaron or one of the boys wanted to take my spot, but Larry wanted me to have the experience with him.

We had to put on a water proof outfit. Mine was so tight I couldn’t pull it over my breasts and the crotch was close to my knees, but it would be just fine I was told.  I looked around to see that most of those floating the river were young people, not a grandma like me.

Finally, we were on our raft with our guide behind us and an Asian man, Dave, with his wife and daughter on the side of us. We paddled along as the guide gave us commands, “Two forward, one backwards.” We were doing well as a team and my fears dissipated as I was engulfed by the beautiful mountains and hills in their spring garb. We drifted along for about an hour when it was time to disembark. As the guide made the abrupt turn, he accidentally flipped over our raft and the next thing I knew, I was in the frigid water under the raft looking up. I thought of an incident at a Christian camp where something similar happened to a raft and there had been a causality. Needless to say, my heart raced as I swam away from the raft. The next thing I knew, David grabbed me along with his wife and held onto the raft so we didn’t float rapidly down the stream. Now fear was pumping through every fiber of my being as I prayed for us. Along the shore was our team who threw out a rope for us to grab and we were finally pulled to shore. I was shivering and shaking like a leaf on a tree in a turbulent storm.  When I finally calmed down, I said, “Where’s my husband, Larry? For a short time, I worried that he may have drowned or hit a rock on the river.  I just didn’t know until sometime later when he joined us on the beach. He was catapulted ahead when the raft flipped. It took the shore team awhile to pull him in since he is 6’2” and over 220 lbs. Finally, we were together and all I wanted to do was to get to our truck where I had a change of clothes. I couldn’t stop shivering with cold and fear still steaming through me. Later, I found out that if we hadn’t been rescued by the team, we could have been greeted by boulders and faster moving water. But until we flipped, it was a beautiful and fun float down the Gallatin and the pleasant memories still fill my memory. Larry recalls the experience as a wonderful adventure. I thanked God who finally calmed my fears by getting both us safely to our truck.  “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” 2 timothy 1:7.

On July 21st we flew to Budapest where we were greeted by two young people from Viking. We were driven to the ship where we entered a beautiful world with around 200 people. We had a small room with a comfortable bed and a hot shower. Daniela was the woman who cleaned our room and gave us our tickets for the day and brochures with our daily itinerary. We walked upstairs to a wonderful breakfast surrounded by views on the Rhine river. After breakfast we wandered to the top of the ship where we could get daily walking exercise or just lough in the sun.

Why Viking? Well over the years we have spent a lot of money helping others and Larry said, “It’s time to do something for just us.” We are super seniors now and right now we are still healthy and fit.