Blessed In So Many Ways....

I've been thinking all weekend about how Blessed I am. This weekend in particular was a revelation. 

I started my week with a liquid diet and some other wonderful prep for a (cough) colonoscopy. I definitely did not feel blessed. I felt hungry. I also felt out of control.. (friends who know me, it's OK to laugh here) they are laughing because I have real issues with being a control freak, but that's another blog post. 

Test day came and I wasn't fearful of the outcome. That was a blessing in itself. I have always been full of fear over tests. For the past year or so I find that I am overwhelmed with calm and trust that God is taking good care of me. I don't have to fear tests. Even when I had to go to ER and was admitted to the hopital; I didn't have a bit of fear, but again a calm (the Peace of God) just filled me.. The results were perfect. No problems. I am Blessed. 

The following few days were busy with the usual day to day things. I had to run to Wal-mart on Saturday to pick up a few things. I was overwhelmed right there with a sense of Joy and Peace so profound that it was difficult to just walk calmly through the store. God just pulled me aside and flooded my with His peace. A peace I can't describe to you. I felt so abundantly blessed. God showed me how blessed I am. I can't even describe it to you. I just saw all that He has done for me and how deeply He loves me. I know my little pee wee human mind can't really know or understand the depth of Love the God who created the universe has for me. But I sure felt and Understood what He showed me. 

Again today during Bible study when we discussed the women who went to the tomb to prepare Jesus' body for burial and found he was not there the sense of wonder at the love that was expressed through that sacrifice flooded my soul. 

To know the Love of my family, my Church family, and friends both near and far overwhelms me. I know that many of you have prayed for me the past couple of weeks. I've felt it. 
I am overjoyed by it, and by the Blessings I have. So richly blessed. 

As we stood and sang " I stand amazed" in Worship this morning. I could really say I stand amazed. Amazed at a full life, amazed at my Savior's love for me. 

The best part is that He loves you like that too. I hope today you feel Blessed.. Richly Blessed...  Loved beyond understanding,  full of Joy and Hope. 

He Made Me Smile...

Hubby and I had a big adventure day a while back. We met an amazing little old man. 

Husband had an appt. at the V.A. hospital about an hour's drive North of here. He'd been dreading it for a while, but you do what ya gotta do, so we went. It was our first trip to that hospital. 

We'd been to the hospital in Detroit and it was a wonderful place, but a nightmare of a drive. If you've never driven in Detroit traffic during afternoon rush hour when 3 hwy's merge and they have every lane closed except for one; you have really missed out..  LOL   6 hours to get home from the trip that should have only taken a little over an hour..  

So we get up to our extra early appt. right on time. We found our way to where hubby needed to report. **This is where I'd like to thank the wonderful folks who volunteer and are greeter/escorts. They were so helpful getting us to the correct floor and clinic. They also made sure we got on the right way home. Construction and detours had us a bit confused. 

As we waited in the hallway to be checked in; a precious little old man in a wheelchair approached. I wish I'd had my camera he was so cute. Anyway he handed husband and I a piece of candy and gave us the biggest most wonderful smile I've seen in a long time. He didn't speak and was quickly on his way. 

We learned that he comes to the hospital everyday and passes out candy to all those waiting for appointments. He will never know how that smile and little piece of candy eased tension and fear. That smile, I wish I could give it to you. It reminds me that sometimes the smallest things give others great joy. 

I know my smile will be a little bigger this week. Someone needs it. 

Be Encouraged.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves; He will take great delight in you; 

in His love he will no longer rebuke you; but will rejoice over you with Singing.

   I don't know about you, but I occasionally suffer from unworthy-itis. It has taken me a while to believe Who I am in Christ and how God see's me. 

The first time I ever saw this verse I immediately thought "this is so great but God could never really love me, delight in me, or rejoice over me with singing." I could tell you all the reasons why this verse did not apply to me.  Then I realized if I was going to believe the Bible was God's word to me. If I was going to believe that God loved me and sent His son to die for me. (Matt 3:16)  Then I needed to believe this too.. 

Wow, God looks at me and takes delight in me. He looks at me and Rejoices. His love for me causes Him to Sing over me. God is so in love with Us, His own Creation, that He is Singing it.. 

He is with you, He is rescuing you, He Delights in You, He loves you, and He Rejoices over you with Singing...How cool is that.  

Whatever the world is calling you today..Be encouraged. The God of the Universe, The God that created it all from Nothing, The God that Created you to have a Relationship with Him, The God who sent His son to die for your Sins, He is telling you who you are in Him..   

Brother Time...

         Hubby and his brother M.T. and his great grandson Kyle.... 

We were delighted to hear that Hubby's brother M.T. was heading up with his grt. grandson Kyle. I love to have company. I really love cooking for them. My favorite thing is when the story telling starts. 

My Ken is the baby so his stories are limited to stories about the "Big Brothers"..  he never talks about the ones that involve him. I hear those from the Brothers..  I love it.. Stories were flying this past week. 

Poor Kyle, I hauled out the old photo albums and made him look at them. That got the brothers both remembering.. Funny how one memory will spark another. Laughter and raised eyebrows all around. 

For a moment things are serious. They talk about the brothers who have passed on to their heavenly homes. they quiet a bit, then Kyle pipes up with questions about the canon Uncle Kenny made and does it shoot and can he play with it. Then the stories about the other brothers begin, the smiles return and we laugh. 

This week I'm so thankful for family and especially for Brothers.. the ones who made sure my Ken had wonderful adventures, his first bike, his first hamburger, and his first toy tractor and road grater. I'm thankful for the stories that keep us connected. 

Hubby, M.T., Charlie, Lennie, Sheri, and Kyle. 

Loving those smiles and that laughter. 

Here Come The Graduates....

Wow, it's been busy around here the last couple of weeks. We have been in the Thick of it. Graduation. 
This is the first time our family has celebrated a graduation since the girls graduated way back in 1900 and something.  LOL  oh there have been graduations to celebrate, but these are the first of the Grandkids to Graduate and it's GRAND... 

Graduate #1  Tim... 

Grandma and Tim

Tim's was the first graduation to be attended. I even teared up on the way into the school. I was just overwhelmed with the sheer Joy of it. Tim has felt God calling him to the Mission field. He has had a desire to make films. I really wondered how God could use that. I don't think outside the box to often. God has led Tim to just the right place. YWAM Kona  ..  Youth with a Mission is the name of the Org. 

He will attend University of the Nations in Hawaii for 3 months and will be focusing on film and video stuff. You'd have to ask him all the particulars. Then he will join others and use that skill on a Mission trip for 3 months. Most likely it will be to Africa. Tim has to raise almost $10,000. We are trusting that if this is God's will for him. That God will provide. Please keep Tim in your prayers..  

Graduate #2 Marisa... 

Grandma and Marisa... 

Marisa will be starting classes at the U of M in the fall.  I'm not really sure what she will be studying.  She has several different ideas on what she would like to pursue. One of the speeches I heard this week quoted a statistic that said 95% of graduates don't know what their major will be the first year. She's in good company. 

The first of the Open House parties will be this weekend. I will be cooking. I love it. I can't wait. I'm so glad the graduates mamas are letting me help. 

I am still trying to figure out how all the grandkids got so old so quickly. It seems like just yesterday I was holding their little hands in mine and walking with them to some adventure. I now find them taking my hand in theirs  to help me down the steps, or to make sure I'm steady on my sassy knee. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of them. My heart is full.  

Be prepared World..  the Graduates are coming... 

Memorial Day... Not just for Parades, Grilling, And Beach Parties....

Every year at this time I start to reflect. I think about the men and women who have given the last best gift to us as a Nation. Their gift is one of Sacrifice and True Patriotism. One of blood and their last breath. 

I am fortunate to be able to support our Troops through a wonderful Troop Support group.  Over the past 10 years I have had an opportunity to adopt 62 + Service members off our group list. I've packed their boxes and written letters to Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors. What a wonderful Blessing. 

One of the boxes I packed for one of my "Special" Soldiers... 

I have also attended the heartwarming Homecomings for several of our Troops. 

A big escort and welcome home for Nathan from the Patriot Guard Riders of Michigan

Homecoming for Cpl. Andrew. Andrew was injured.

 He returned and walked off the plane. 

The greatest most wonderful Homecoming I've had the honor of attending.. 

I've also attended  the funerals for a few of our Troops who made that last and greatest Sacrifice. 

Over 100 flags lined the street and the entrance to the Funeral of 

Marine - L/CPL Brandon J. Webb June 20, 2006

I, like many, look forward to Memorial Day.. The official beginning of summer, family vacations, boating, fishing, beach parties, warm weather, Sun, and a myriad of things we all love about those few precious months of summer. 

I made a promise to myself when my cousin Tommy, Lance Cpl. Thomas Robert Tormanen, died during Operation Dessert Storm in Kuwait in March of 1991. That Promise was to never forget. To say his name and remember the Sacrifice he made not only for me, but for millions of Americans. I will continue to keep that promise to speak their names.. To remember those whose names I know and those I never knew. The sacrifice was the same. 

Lance Cpl. Thomas "Tommy" Tormanen 

I choose on this Memorial Day weekend..

 to do what this holiday was intended for. 

To pause, to remember, to honor. 

 Please take a moment and honor some Heroes 

that have given all for Freedom... 

Say their names and remember.... 

Forever in our Hearts. Never to be Forgotten

Lance Cpl. Thomas Robert Tormanen Gulf war... Love you Tommy, miss you. 

Aaron Ullumm "Doc" 2011 Afghanistan

Benjamin P. Castigilone "Doc Stiggy"  2009 Afghanistan

Joseph M. Lilly 2012 Afghanistan

1st Sgt. Trenton Rhea May 2013 Afghanistan

In Memory of Our Heroes From Genesee County, Michigan.

Who gave their last full measure of love for America in Iraq and Afghanistan .

Army - Sgt Michael F. Pedersen

April 2, 2003

Army - PFC Jason M. Meyer

April 8, 2003

Air Force - Ssgt Scott D. Sather

April 8, 2003

Army - Ssgt Brett J. Petriken

May 26, 2003

Army - SPC Artimus D. Brassfield

October 24, 2003

Army - SPC Richard Kennedy Trevithick

April 14, 2004

Army - SPC Randy Stevens

April 16, 2005

Army - Capt. Lowell Thomas Miller 11

August 31, 2005

Army - MSG Anthony Yost

November 19, 2005

Army - PFC Allan A. Morr

February 22, 2006

Army - Sgt Joshua Youmans

March 1, 2006

Marine - L/CPL Brandon J. Webb

June 20, 2006

Marine - SSgt Raymond Plouhar

June 26, 2006

From Lake Orion Michigan

Genesee County Recruiter for 3 years

Army - Sgt Robert Paul Kassin

July 19, 2006

Flint Native Son

Army – SGT Jeremy DePottey

September 11, 2006

Flint Native Son

Army - Sgt Thomas G. Wright

May 14, 2007

Navy - PO1 Ross L. Toles III

June 18, 2008

Navy - SCPO John W. Marcum

September 12, 2008

Navy - HM3 Ben Castiglione ("Doc Stiggy")

September 3, 2009

Army - Spc Joseph D. Johnson

June 16, 2010

Marine - SSgt Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff

October 28, 2011

Our Country Is In Mourning; A Soldier Died Today.....

Sgt 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea 

I saw a quick RIP post written by one of my "Special" Soldiers today. I immediately posted my prayers for him, those there serving with them and for the family. This was R.'s Squad leader. His first Sargent. The Daddy to group if you ask around. The one who saw that all his "Boys" were taken care of. The one who got down in the dirt and worked right along side. That's how hubby described his first Sgt. or his "First Shirt"..  He would follow him to the end, because he cared about his men. 

Ken told me of a time when the Capt. called a retreat from a position that was being overrun by Vietcong. He was up front and realized he was there by himself. If it hadn't been for his 1st. Sgt. coming back to get him, he would have been over run, and well who knows. 

Today I'm praying for R and the men that were under Sgt. Rhea's leadership. I'm praying for his family and friends who are dealing with the most devastating news that one can hear. I'm praying that God will Strengthen and Comfort Them in the way that Only He can. 

Rest in Peace Sgt. Rhea.  Thank you for your sacrifice.. We will never forget. 

Sgt. 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea, 33, of Oakley, Kan., died May 15, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after drowning while attempting to cross a body of water during combat operations. He was assigned to the 603rd Military Police Company, 530th Military Police Battalion, 300th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command, Belton, Mo. 

Source: DoD
Photo: hutchpost.com

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