LHNM Campout

We had a very nice campout this year with our staff last week. The weather was perfect, the fellowship great and I got to rest whenever I needed to! We were on the shore of Lake Superior and enjoyed watching the changing colors of the lake through the different times of day and weather. The pictures starting on top left are a group game, Merle cooking breakfast, shoreline, and our chairs where we sat to eat breakfast overlooking the lake.
Coming soon...another wedding and grandkid fun!

Bride, con't.

Here Comes The Bride

Yesterday, 02 August was the wedding of Emily Weaver and Kevin Weibe. They had a beautiful setting at Stormer Lake and a gorgeous day for their celebration. Rayne Meekis was the flower girl. Kevin's best man was a good friend and the other 2 guys are his brothers. The bridesmaid on the end is his sister. Emily's maid of honor was her sister Erin and her other sister, Elena was also a bridesmaid.

Nisly Reunion '08

If a picture is worth a thousand words, than I won't say too much this time. I'm feeling pretty good after 2 days of recuperating from the trip.

Yesterday, Today and Next Week

Today is Wednesday, 23 July 2008. If our plans continue we want to drive to the border this afternoon and stay with Sheldon and Darla for the night. Then tomorrow we plan on driving to western IN and spend the night there (about a 12 hour day). That should "only" leave 5 hours to Rosedale where Merle's family reunion is being held this week-end.

I saw the doctor yesterday and he told me he sees no reason why I can't travel. It really shouldn't be any harder on me than the normal activity I'm doing these days. We want to fix a place in the van where I can stretch out whenever I'm tired. He also took me off the blood pressure medication so now I'm down to only taking the aspirin each day. We'll see how that feels!

Last week my special friend, Twila, was in the area visiting and spoiled me a few times! She weeded my garden, cut out p.j.'s for some of my granddaughters, gave me a foot rub and took me to subway for my birthday lunch. Of course the best part of all is just having her sit on my back porch and talk and talk. What fun to have her around again. Then she planned a night on a pontoon boat with 4 couples from the past! Well, most of us still live here, but we're all the same age and were celebrating 2 birthdays, 1 anniversary and years of friendship. It was a very special evening with calm water and perfect temperatures. We grilled chicken breasts and had huge sandwiches with veggies, and chips, etc. and a scrumptious trifle and coffee for dessert.

Thirty-Five and going great

July 13, 1973 was a memorable day for my honey and me. So, yesterday we celebrated not only that wonderful day, but more importantly the 35 years that we've now spent living together. Although we started to plan for a big trip to east coast Canada already last year, it seemed the timing was off and we both agreed to wait for one year. With kids and grandkids coming home in Aug., reunions, weddings, our car wash project and my health (not to mention normal every day responsibilities), we both knew it would be too much.

So, instead of presents, going out to eat type of celebrations we gave each other the gift of time and also wrote love letters to each other. (Sorry, but I'm/we're not as open as our son-in-law, so they probably won't appear on here!) It was a good thing to just relax and not stress out about all that other stuff this year. I did make a yummy delicious fresh strawberry pie (frozen dough...don't worry), and Merle grilled steak. In the evening Archie and Rhoda came for pie and coffee, so that was nice to have friends to share with.

This morning I'm feeling refreshed and ready for a new day and week. I walked for 12 minutes without tiring, so that is encouraging. Hopefully I can do at least one more set like that (these include stretches) plus a bit of light work around the house. We continue to wait on the Lord and the medical people for appointments. God is Good! His ways are perfect!

On Going Prayer Request

Just to let you know I'm doing quite well today, but know it's only my first day for my new medication regimen. Dr. P. called the cardiologist in Winnipeg yesterday and now I am only on aspirin and ramipril. We'll see how it goes. This got changed partly because of side effects and partly because I'm not your normal MI case.

My prayer requests are for the following:
Total healing for my artery
God's perfect timing in future app'ts. (echo cardiograph and heart surgeon)
Continued patience and willingness to leave things undone around here:(

I'm trying not think about the summer plans that we had made before this happened. Will we travel? We don't know. Probably. But, we don't know about these app't.s, and know that we need to do our part to keep them if possible. And, of course, it depends on how I'm doing/feeling when the time comes.

Thanks again to all of you who have let me know you care. It means a lot. I am trying to answer emails that came since all this happened, but there have been loads of them, so it's going to take some time.

Get Well Flowers

My Times Are In Your Hands

One of the verses that kept running through my mind since June 21 has been the first part of Psalm 31: 15, which says, "My times are in your hands...." It seems like with everything that happened or with each new decision that needed to be made there came a peace knowing that all the days ordained for me were written in His book before one of them came to be. (from Ps. 139) Even now, I have so many daily reminders that I'm a frail human but serve an awesome, magnificent Creator who knows each artery by name.

Yesterday Merle went with me to see Dr. A., our family doctor. We were encouraged again by a just a few details that he shared with us. He told us that he will try to get me scheduled for an Echo Cardiogram appointment and also one with a heart surgeon to ask more questions. One thing, he said, that could happen, is that my body should (could?) re-sorb the "stuff" (blood clot?) that had formed (between the inner and outer layers of my artery) due to the dissection, and heal itself. That was exciting news.

He also mentioned that probably the reason emergency surgery wasn't done is because there was still adequate blood flow through that artery. So, I will continue to take my time with life and enjoy this time of waiting on Him as He brings healing to me. I'm glad it's summer and I'm able to enjoy walking around the yard or sitting on the porch in our back yard. It's all I can do to not bend down and pull a weed or two when I walk past them, but so far I haven't given in. I'm not to do much of anything that requires reaching high or bending/squatting low. I love hanging my laundry up outside but haven't done that yet either. I've already increased my 4 walks a day to 6 min. each, but could feel last night that I did the last one a lot slower than I had done the other 3.

God sends his love each day in various ways. On Monday Verna came and washed all the windows, inside and out, on the main floor. That evening the Weaver's stopped by with fresh brownies that Elena had made. Today Meika offered to come help, so she may get to tend my front flower bed. What a joy to be cared for in this way. Some people just come to sit and visit which I like as well!!

Rhonda, maybe I'll post a picture of my flowers that people gave me next time since you asked.

Heart attack, lupines, and God's grace

What do lupine flowers have to do with a heart attack? On June 21, 2008 I developed chest and arm pains while at work. I called Merle and asked him to drive me to ER, which only took us about 15 min. from the time I first felt the pain. They immediately treated me as such but found no medical evidence from the blood work or the cardiogram tests. After 6 hours of waiting they repeated the tests and found a high level of enzymes which told them I would be admitted to the hospital and watched for a few days. I was feeling tired from the medications they put me on, but could get up and walk around just fine (when they let me!). On Tuesday the 24th they put me on the treadmill but I was barely able to be on for 10 min. before they stopped me and pulled out the nitro. The next step was a trip by medi-plane to Winnipeg for an angiogram. God graciously allowed Merle to fly out with me and we had a wonderful nurse along as well. What turned out to be a 2 hour procedure revealed that I have an abnormal inner wall in one of my LAD vessels. It apparently tore a bit which allowed some build up (different than when plaque builds up from bad cholesterol), which caused the mild heart attack. The nurses here had told me I did the right thing to come so soon for treatment and when the cardiologist in Winnipeg told me that there was no damage done to my heart I felt it was reconfirmed. We saw the hand of the Lord in so many amazing ways throughout the whole week. I don't remember ever feeling like it was the end or anything, but at the onset it was deeply frightening to think I may really be having a heart attack. It has taken awhile to get used to the reality of it all, but God's grace has helped with one day and new thing at a time. I'm on aspirin plus 4 other types of medications each day. My energy level continues to go up each day. I do my 4- 5 minute walks around the house each day and take naps like they're going out of style. Actually, today was the first day that I only have taken one nap and I feel fine. My dear husband has been so wonderful, uncomplaining and understanding as he dealt with his normal (and some out of the normal) routines in life along with all of this. He's cooked, hoed the garden, done laundry, ran many errands, and done many more wonderful acts of kindness and love for me. Thanks Honey! And a big thanks to all of you many friends who've prayed, called, came to visit or sent emails. I was often overwhelmed with it all and deeply appreciate every one who cared.

Since my hill full of lupines were just beginning to bloom when this happened I was wondering if I'd be in the hospital long enough to miss them. When I walked into the sun room on Friday evening and looked out the window the sight was breathtaking! It is just magnificent and I've been telling all who stop by to come look at God's welcome home gift to me.

This is all for this time; time to rest now. Thanks for caring enough to read down this far. I'll do my best to update whenever there is more news.

Father's Day '08

To The Wonderful Father of our 4 daughters!
I hope you have a great day today and in the
coming year as you continue to enjoy your role
as Father to our daughters and their families.
Your The Best!! and I LOVE YOU!!







My Dad, Ira Miller, holding me in some of my earliest years.




Dad and I visiting in his living room in April '07

I am so blessed to have the Father I do. And, to still have him here to call up and talk to is a special privilege. He has been a good dad to me and my 4 siblings over many years. His faithfulness to my Mom has played an important part of my life as they learned together about marriage and family. He could have chosen to walk away from his responsibilities as a dad when the going got tough, but he didn't. He could have chosen to turn his back on God after his mama died when he was a little boy, but instead he decided to learn to know God personally and walk closely with Him.
One of my favorite memories of my Dad was Sunday mornings when he would be all ready for church and smell like Wildroot hair lotion!! I liked going with him on errands around the farm or in to town to pick up things. It didn't happen often that I could go alone with him, but when it did, it was special.
I know my daughters treasure having him for their Pappy so many years and now even my granddaughters are getting to know him. Thank-you, Lord, for all the memories we've had together.

Week-end photos

Nice week-end

We had a nice week-end (although short) with Daryl, Robyn and the girls here from Friday night until Sunday afternoon. The weather cooperated enough to allow for a bit of fishing. Olivia caught a 7.5 lb. walleye (same as her own birth weight!). Anna-Christina was my best fish breading helper as we prepared a delicious supper. We had a beautiful Sunday afternoon to play in the yard yet a bit before they had to leave for home.

continued...

In my yard and first fish fry

I've been having fun seeing some wildlife around here but didn't get to take pictures of everything.
On Sat. C. and V. invited K. and I to go fishing with them. Then, we invited K. and D. over to join us 4 for lunch after church yesterday. Were they ever delicious.

Home again

These flowers were the sight that greeted us around midnight when we finally got to Rachel's house. The next day started a flurry of activities--mostly shopping, planning, and finally some actual doing. In between I tried to do some baking and cooking and lots of great babysitting sweet little Hannah to make it easier for the others to keep going. Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone take pictures of me and her, so maybe Jenni or Rachel will post one. She was a great little traveler, but I think she was missing her brothers and daddy at the end!
Dave had arrived the day before Jenni, Hannah and I got there, so we got to know him better. Since I'm home someone asked me what kind of a man Rachel is "getting". So, in case the rest of you are wondering...in my opinion, he has a heart for following God. His personality reminds me a bit of my niece's husband, Kyle and also in seeing him learn about some of the menno.-style of things. Rachel already taught him and what an augashik is and he used it appropriately several times!!
On Sunday we were invited to the girls' Aunt Fran and Uncle Paul's house for lunch. What Rachel and Dave didn't know was that there was a surprise shower as well. It was very small with just a few other relatives and we finished off the shower with the best homemade ice cream I've had in many years. In the 2nd picture their Aunt Rebecca is pinning a corsage on Rachel when we arrived. She has offered to do all of the flowers for the wedding! We left a lot of unfinished projects for the 2 of them to do, but I'm sure they can do it. Jenni's gift of organization will help to keep them on track.

Mom's Day post script

And I'm so pleased to be MOM to these four lovely ladies!!

Mother's Day

As I think about Mother's Day this year I have a lot of thoughts and emotions; so many events that play into what I am thinking and feeling. Today when I read a nice note from Rhonda I was reminded how I long took my own mom for granted and then kept on doing that in my own role as a mom. I know that since I work with less fortunate girls it has really made me more aware than ever of God's grace in my own life. I have a Godly mother and I used to have Godly grandmothers and a special mom-in-law as well. I know they did an amazing job of nurturing and blessing not just me but many people. I finally caught on from hearing some of these girls stories that learning even basic things such as hygiene and manners are things I shouldn't have assumed to be "normal" things that moms pass on. I also know now that kindness, hard work and prayer are not necessarily the norm for moms in todays world either.
How very blessed I am. Partly because, even though we won't be spending the day together, we still have each other and can talk on the phone, which we often do. I had to think of this because on Friday my Aunt Katie Mae buried her only daughter, my cousin Faye, age 42. I'll post of picture of my mom and her 3 sisters taken a year ago when I was in KS. Also, I had taken a picture of Faye, my sister Kath and my mom, which I'll post. My heart is so sad when I try to imagine what Faye's husband and 3 teenagers will go through tomorrow and in the years ahead on Mother's Day. They do have a wonderful hope to meet her again.
Then, as I think about young moms today and the enormity of their roles my thoughts go out to all of them. I have a lot of admiration for all of you moms with young kids because I know how extremely difficult it can be to be consistent day after day modeling the Love of Jesus while working hard to meet their needs and guiding them along.
I also want to salute my friends who foster kids. I'm especially thinking of Shelley who is a single mom that has chosen to foster 3 kids in addition to raising her own daughter. She works very hard to teach them to love Jesus and to do the right things as life comes at them. Way to go Shelley--don't be weary in doing well!