Like Rolling off a Blog

Prior to the very clear Gospel message giving the reasons why Mary had the hope of heaven, three speakers gave eulogies/memories of their relationship with Mary Alyce (Elfstrand) Wavinak. They all brought laughs and tears. But only one made me have to stifle sobs at the end. The one by her brother Mark.  You can find the video of his remarks HERE .  When we learned of Mary’s stage 4 cancer at the end of October 2023, we did not know she would be gone within 3 months. Please, if you don’t know that you will be in heaven after your last day on earth … talk with someone who knows! 

Who remembers the old TV program, Father Knows Best? Our family watched it from time to time. You just don’t see families like that on TV anymore. Ah, but I digress. It’s been several days since I felt like logging any activity, and frankly I don’t really feel like it right now. But here goes. First off, how can I even begin to enumerate the friends and family who have been praying for me? It is humbling. THANK YOU, each and every one! Secondly, having Mark and Ingrid be my eyes, ears, mouth, during the whole process has been so incredibly helpful. I appreciate them so much! If you are on FB (or perhaps Instagram), you are no doubt up to speed on the happenings of the last five days or so. Thirdly, although they will probably never see this, I want to publicly thank my surgical team and hospital team. God was so good to get me in to a specialty surgeon. This particular surgeon is so well known around the hospital that he has his own set of supplies to treat his patients, lovingly calle...

1. Almighty God knows what I need  2. God has the power to provide peace, comfort, protection, and healing 2. Praying family and friends 3. An expert surgical team 4. A daughter and husband who will give up their time to accompany me before surgery 5.  This stuff … that I’m supposed to start drinking at 5:15 tomorrow morning, and another one at 1 PM … oh my!

Where shall I start? Today has been a gorgeous fall/meteorological winter day! Sunshine. Mild. And God’s hands have been all over my day.  A month or more ago I gathered the Christmas lists for kids and grandkids and had fun pressing links for Christmas presents. Shipping here, there, and everywhere. Then I wrote a short Christmas letter to send to those few with whom we don’t have contact through Facebook. A small group indeed. In that letter, I wrote a line that will probably haunt me for a while: Neither one of us have been hospitalized, praise God! Hmmmmm In early fall, I had begun having discomfort on the right side of my abdomen. No sharp pains, so I wasn’t concerned about appendicitis. But it felt like bloating and pressure, so I started consulting “Dr. Google.” I think we all have a love/hate relationship with Dr. Google. I let it go for a couple of months, and noticed that I could palpably feel a mass deep on my right side. Still no real pain. But right about this time, Ma...

It has been a LONG time, blogging friends! I am more prone to “micro-blog” via Facebook, but this was just too long. Last night was one of those nights I couldn’t stay asleep. Unfortunately, when I’m wide awake in the middle of the night, my default is to check Facebook. I’m sort of glad I did. Although I don’t know the circumstances, I can guess. An acquaintance from long ago had posted that her 30-year-old daughter passed away that day. Crushing. Horrific. No words can help. My first thought was Romans 12:5. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. But then, when I couldn’t sleep, and I had exhausted what I knew to pray for this heartbroken mama, the words of what’s known as “The Lord’s Prayer” just kept playing on repeat in my head.  About the third time around, I started breaking down the parts of Jesus’ prayer. I don’t ever want to take Scripture out of context or make it say something it doesn’t, so I pray that the Spirit will change whatever words are not ...

 If you have seen some previous Facebook posts, you’ve noticed that I’ve been reacquainting myself with this series by Jack Cavanaugh. The series follows a family from 1620 to present day. Wars. Intrigue. Family highs and lows. I have been thoroughly engrossed in the stories and educated at the same time.  Until this one. I don’t mean to say it isn’t well written. It is. The difference is the timeframe. You see, all the previous novels have harkened back to an era in which I had no personal experience. You know … I didn’t live through it.  This story covers the Vietnam era. I DID live through this one. So it is hitting me in a different part of my gut. It is uncomfortable. Both the story and the feelings it dredges up as I think back over those tumultuous years … for me and for this country. A scant year after the assassination of John F Kennedy, my father determined he would take a last ditch opportunity to enter the Air Force as a chaplain. 35 years of age was the cutof...