How are you doing during the quarantine?

It has been a while. WOW.

I have been working from home since mid March. I caught a cold right at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and so I worked at home for 2 weeks before the governor's order to stay in place (I live in south Louisiana). Seems like the order will be starting to lift more May 15th but my bosses (I work for a couple of psychologists) are in agreement when I asked if I could for the most part continue working from home.

So what am I doing with my spare time? I had cut my hours back to 4 hours a day as we aren't having the volume of patients we had in the office. I am normally off on Fridays and that has continued.

So I have a granddaughter due June 3rd so I have been sewing and crocheting things for her. I just (last night) finished a bag for the back of my daughter's van to hold diaper changing items.

I am making me one out of different fabrics to use as a project bag. I will do the tabs and handle attachement differently on mine as it was hard to sew through as many layers as I had.  That is only area I had trouble with and the bag went together really quickly and easily. It is a free pattern from Sew Sweetness. https://sewsweetness.com/2018/02/video-oslo-craft-bag.html?v=7516fd43adaa. This is the link to the video and how to get the free pattern. Let me know if you try it. I love her tutorials. She makes things very easy to understand.

I will post pictures of a couple of crochet items I made for the baby. Most of them are already at my daughters and I didn't take pictures. UGH. 

Update on our family

If you have read my blog in the past you know a little about our family. Here is an update if anyone is curious.

Our oldest daughter and her family are doing well. Our 18 year old granddaughter is a freshman in college. She wants to work with sick children and still researching how she wants to do that.  Their 15 year old son is a sophmore in high school.  He hasn't made a decision of what he wants to do after graduation. There is still plenty of time.

Our middle daughter's divorce is final. She is living here for the time being. Our oldest grandson just finished his freshman year in college. He is going to be a vet.  Her youngest son stays here every other week. He is 15 and a sophmore at a stem academy.  He is studying engineering. For now he wants to be an architect.

Our youngest daughter and her husband bought a home a couple months ago. They have 3 lots total so she will get her lifelong wish to have a small homestead. Their 4 year old is getting so big!  He is a country boy at heart and loves all the land.

Our son (our youngest child) and his wife bought a home in December. So far they only have fur babies. Two guinea pigs, two rescue dogs and a rescue cat that he helped raise with a bottle. 

My hubby is doing pretty well. He is able to hunt! We weren't sure with his injuries if he would be able to. Last year he killed a deer and two pigs. A week ago he killed another 2 pigs. He still hasn't had the reverse shoulder replacement. He is trying hard to avoid doing it and as long as he can do the things he loves (fishing and hunting) he won't have it. He has no pain since they cut the muscle that was causing the pain. They would have to cut it during the replacement so the surgeon did it when they tried the repair.  He will always have a limp and numbness down the side of the right leg, but he is dealing with that pretty well. 

I have to have some testing in a couple of weeks to recheck a spot on my liver and then in February I have to recheck a spot on my lung. Prayers, good thoughts, whatever positive you have would be appreciated.

I went back to work in November as the Lord dropped a job in my lap. I love the doctors I work for, they are both awesome. They will retire in about 5 years, and I will be ready to retire too.  So a good fit. 

Our little 5 lb yorkie poo, Ebbie, is spoiled rotten. The bigger dog is with a family with a lot of land. She is loving it and the children that are always around her. The family has 9 children lol.

Well I guess that is all for now. If you have questions I didn't answer please feel free to ask. 

Families

Mal 4:4 Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
:6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

 
Mat 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
:2 Abraham begot Isaac, Issac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.

 
Luke 1:16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
We can find ourselves in circumstances of separation and danger we did not anticipate. Only from our heavenly Father can we find the perfect forgiveness, example, and inner grace we need. He knows we are all fallen children off fallen parents, and even now He offers us the help of His Spirit and the rescue of His Son. It's never too soon to turn back to God.

 
Jer 3:22 "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You for You are the Lord our God."

 
What's the root of our failures? Failure doesn't lie in the strength of the enemy or our own weakness, or God's reluctance to help us overcome. Israel was defeated by a small town after having conquered might Jericho. Their failure, like ours, was the result of unconfessed sin. Sin unacknowledged will keep you defeated, but sin confessed will bring you forgiveness and restoration that leads to victory. Anything we cling to that's contrary to God's word will cause us to fall before our enemies. Whatever God shows you, confess it immediately and by faith receive His forgiveness and cleansing. Then you'll be able to stand victorious before your enemies.

 

A post for Alexis

My sweet little girl said she thought I would blog about her accident. So here it is. Some of you already know the story cause I called or emailed you for prayers right when it happened. For the rest of you, here is the story of her accident.

Last Sunday evening we got a call from Keri, Alexis' mom. She was very upset, and said Alexis had fallen and hurt her leg very badly. What hospital was close? See they recently moved back here from North Carolina. They tried to carry her, but she was in sooo much pain, they called the ambulance to pick her up. They took her to the nearest hospital with orthopedic on call. The pediatrician saw her first. He had x-rays taken of her knee and then said they needed more x-rays. He said he knew the knee was dislocated, but he thought from the x-rays the tendon was torn. So we waited for the othropedic to arrive. He looked and said he needed more x-rays, but that he would put the cap back in position before taking them so that he could see the tendon better and access the damage. So he had her put under and when he straightened the leg, the cap slid back into place on its own. He had the x-rays taken to be sure but told us that 98% of the time that happens the tendon is fine. Well God came through and the tendon was intact and no surgery!! She is in a velcro cast and will be for 6 weeks and probably have to have physcial therapy after that to strengthen the muscles, etc, but no surgery is a great thing.

Ok Alexis, here is the post you were waiting to see lol. Hope you are happy with it.

Family

I was challenged by Babblings of Mere to write about what family means to me.

hmmm, that is hard let me tell you. Cause family means so very much to me.

I come from a broken home. My parents divorced when I was 6 years old. So growing up it was mostly my mom and I. I do have an older half brother and half sister. And for a long time we were very close. I haven't spoken to my brother in over 15 years or my sister in about 14 years. sigh. But that is their choice. My parents are both gone now and have been for a long time.

I have always tried to have a close family with my husband and our 4 children. And now with their families. We have 4 grandchildren now and they are such a blessing.

My favorite family time? When we are all sitting around the table eating and chatting. I love that even though our children sometimes don't agree with each other, they will be there for one another if the need arises. That is what family does. They don't look the other way, or refuse cause of a misunderstanding. They love each other no matter what. They help each other no matter what. And they take up for each other no matter what. To me that is family. Unconditional love.

Update on Alexis

For those of you wondering about my granddaughter and the bells palsey... if you go here http://www.lettersfromenfieldland.com/ you can read the latest update and see a new picture. She is 99% healed and it hasn't switched sides !!! We are praising God for His mercy and grace.

link to update for Alexis

please follow the link to Letters from Enfield Land for updated pictures of Alexis. For newbies here Alexis is my 8 year old granddaughter who has bells palsey.

You GOTTA see those pictures. They had me bawling!!!

My youngest daughter is coming home!!

I am so excited. My youngest daughter is coming home. I miss the two that are in other states. It is wonderful being able to go and meet my daughter that lives here for lunch often. Have them here for a meal, or go out to eat with them. I love having them close by, but then I miss the others. So when this daughter gets here tonight or early in the morning, I will just have one living out of state. Now if only they would decide to move here.

And the best thing? All but our oldest will be here for my birthday and our anniversary in a couple of weeks !!!

I am a happy happy camper. Thank you Jesus for bringing them home safely!

New Photos of Alexis

The top photo is from today. I am not sure when the bottom was taken.

Update on Alexis

I just got off the phone with daugher and granddaughter. Alexis (granddaughter) is having faster recovery with the second side of her face then the first. Daughter will send me updated pictures when they return from vacation. Praising God and doing the happy dance.

Praise and Prayers needed

My daughter just called. Alexis (granddaughter with bells palsy ) woke this morning and the side of her face was totally back to normal!!! Problem? the other side is palsy now. :-(

So we are praising and praying at the same time.

Please lift her up if you think of her.

A tribute of sorts to my mom

Since tomorrow is Sunday, I probably won't get online other then to check my email while I drink coffee. I always do this first to check for prayer requests. That way when I have my quiet time with God I have an updated list of who needs prayer. So feel free to email me if you are in need of prayer or know someone who is. Also I appreciate updates so I can give thanks to God for answered prayer.

Now on to why Ps 23. Well as all of you know tomorrow is Mother's Day. I have been thinking of my mom alot lately. She is never to far from my thoughts as I miss her, but as Mother's Day approaches she is even more in my thoughts. Ps 23 was her very favorite passage of scripture so when I opened my bible this morning and that is where it opened I knew this is what I should post on today. So here goes:

Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ps 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein.

Have a need? Turn it over to God. He can handle it!

Ps 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters:

Ez 34:15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living foundations of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Need food, rest, comfort? God can supply all of these.

Ps 23:3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.

Ps 5:8 Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face.

Need restoring? Follow the way He is leading you. We know the way, but we must CHOSE to follow it.

Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

When my mom died, I was not sure where she stood with God. There had been alot of ups and downs and I just couldn't leave the bedside in the hospital room. As unknowingly I stood on one side of the bed, my sister stood on the other side and both of us were asking for a sign that she had made it to be with Jesus. The Lord gave both of us the same vision at the same time. We both saw mom walking among clouds, with her beautiful, before stroke smile! Her face was lit up with what had to be light from our Savior! We (sister and I) both opened our eyes, smiled at each other through our tears, shared what we had seen, and were able to leave the room, knowing mom was with Jesus. What a comfort that has been to me all these years since. So while I do miss my mom, and I am teary right now, I know she is healed, whole and with the Lord.

Ps 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoinest my head with oil: my cup runneth over.

Not only will He provide for you but He will make your cup overflow.

Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Praise God that is where mom is right now.

In memory of my mom,
Carol 7/14/26 - 8/14/93

A family's journey with Bell's Palsy

When was the last time you walked around the store/school/restaurant and did not judge some one's intelligence by their appearance-physically or by dress? What caused their physical "abnormality"? Genetic? Accident? Seventh Nerve Trauma (Bell's Palsy)?
Until Feb 24, 2007 my daughter Alexis "looked normal", "looked intelligent" had a beautiful smile. Was she the same 8 year old that she was before Feb 24? Yes, yet my biggest fears have been that people would judge her intelligence by her seventh nerve and would the nerve recover. I previously worked for 2 different eye doctors and had seen Bell's Palsy before. I saw patients before, during, and after Bell's Palsy yet I still judged a person's intelligence by their physical appearance. Now as a manager of my father in law's Piggly Wiggly in a very "country" town (you know what that usually means) I still found myself judging people.
Mama would ask my every time we spoke "how is Alexis? Is it getting better? Any improvements?" and I would always answer "no". Then I would say "well the doctor's and Buffy (my good friend) notice a difference but I see her everyday and when she's tired so I guess it is very little improvements."
One afternoon while talking to Mama on the way to pick her up, it hit me (an epiphany?). My fear is Alexis will be judged by her appearance the same way I judged others. If I didn't want my child's intelligence to be judged by others on how her face looked then why was I judging others? People who know her know that she is the same girl. People who don't know her need to know that they are missing out on one terrific girl.
Within a week I noticed MAJOR improvements. The nerve regenerates at a rate of 1-2 millimeters per day. I saw one inch of her right eyebrow move over night. The corner of her mouth went up when she smiled. It's been a few weeks but I still notice improvements everyday (even though they are not as major). If she had to have Bell's Palsy, I'm glad it happened now and not when she is 13 and kids are at their cruelest. I've read that there is a 4-14% chance of recurrence and that they happen about 10 years apart. By that time she'll be 18 and will hopefully have some of the same friends she has now and they'll remember that she is still the smart, sweet, loving girl she always was.
Is she the same girl she was before Feb 24, 2007? I hope not. I hope she has learned not to judge a person by their "beauty" or physical appearance. I know I have.

"Mom" chiming in here. I would always ask how Alexis was doing and if any improvement so that I could update all the people praying for her. Am I sorry this happen to my little sweetheart? Definitely, but you know the word says God will bring beauty from ashes, and because of the changes He is making in my daughter, I know that He is in control. Isn't it amazing that once my daughter saw what He was trying to show her in this that the improvement started? Doesn't that just bless you? It does me! I am posting a picture of what our sweet Alexis looks like now, and as soon as Keri finds and emails me one taken right before the Bells Palsy I will post it. She wants everyone to see the before and after. And of course once the healing is 100% we will post that also.

I hope that if someone is dealing with a situation like this you will find encouragement that God is in control, and He will bring you through whatever you are dealing with right now. Remember He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will change you and sometimes the changes aren't pleasant to go through. But He will be there with you. He isn't finished with any of us yet.

Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

The pictures show her smiling, closing her eyes and smiling, and making funny faces. The final picture with the smile is since the improvements.