Johnnie Jump-Up

Flowers like these that Rosie grew in a little pot are some of my favorites. The purple reminds me of the dark times; the white of God's purpose in everything; and the yellow of the joy and the sunshine that God wants for us no matter what happens.

 

Once again our family is grateful for God's touch on my dad. When the doctor came in after a long Memorial Day weekend, he asked, "Why didn't they discharge him two days ago?" The creatin numbers for his kidneys had come down amazingly. From being almost at death's door, with his kidney numbers being around 9 (with 10 meaning he was dead), the numbers are down to a little over three! So my dad was promptly discharged on Tuesday. My nephew Peter, Dorcas's son, took this photo of the nurse helping my Dad leaving the hospital. Peter had driven all the way from Vermont to Illinois to be a help to my folks for several days. He left today to go back home, leaving a very grateful Grandma and pa.

I have to admit it was a different feeling to see a picture of my dad in a wheelchair. But we have so much to thank God for. Dad is sleeping better than he has in years, and God is giving a healing touch. Pray for my mom and him. They are home but very exhausted! They will probably need to find a place to move in PA where they can be near sons and families.

 

                                                    Sometimes life takes you by surprise!

Sammy and his cousin Kenny are boosted over Steve Cunningham's shoulders while Timmy enjoys watching. 

Not all of life is pansies and roses. Some of it is just plain old scrubbing! Carrie and Rose are scrubbing the goat milkstand before expecting company--the Doug Smith family from Alberton, Montana. 

And sometimes, life just requires that you

take a deep breath!

Because you just don't know when you might have to blow out some candles!

Lucas's 50th Wedding Anniversary

On May 28th, Jonathan's parents, John and Helen Lucas, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all five children and their spouses and children.

L-R in the above picture by families: Rob and Julie with Cassady and Danielle; Barb and Chad; Jon and Esther with Stacy, Vanessa, Rebecca and Ryan; Jonathan's dad and mom (in her original wedding dress and veil from 50 years ago); our family; Dave and Ruth with Bryan and Emily (Cheryl was the only grandchild not present).

Below, Esther is finishing decorating the three-tiered cake with yellow roses. Esther was in charge of the cake while Barbara and Ruth decorated the tables for the formal dinner. About 70 guests were present, including about 27 of the Lucas clan. 

Our family arrived in late afternoon to help with preparing food. Many hands made work light for the dinner. Below dear Sis. Gault is allowing the children to help with making delightful fruit salads.

Carrie learned to spoon watermelon balls out of the watermelon (while hungry children looking on snacked on the extra pieces! Mmm.) 

Crystal and I made lots of stuffed eggs on lettuce beds. 

Paula sat patiently by the oven watching the rolls. Hannah is waiting for her hair to be made!

The beautiful cake with home made mints and nuts. 

And we could hardly wait to get started eating!

Grandpa and Grandma greet guests. Behind Grandma is the lady who had been her bridesmaid 50 years ago, Lois Echols.

Getting ready to feed each other cake!

Three cousins (Emily, Rebecca, and Danielle) ready to serve out the plates of cake and icecream.

Timmy has just served Grandma her plate. 

Janet McVey and Sis. Gault help with mixing and serving the punch with the cake.

There was a short program after the dinner. Ruth Lucas (Dave's wife) and Julie Lucas (Rob's wife) sang "Jesus, Rose of Sharon," which had been sung at Grandma and pa's reception 50 years ago.

This photo got mixed up. At the end of the program, our family sang words Anna wrote to the tune "When You and I Were Young, Maggie," only Maggie became Helen, and the words were about Grandma and Grandpa.  Crystal played for us.

Stacy and Vanessa played "Silver Threads Among the Gold."

Congratulations to Grandma and Grandpa!

Life's Twists and Turns

A plaque hanging on our wall says,

"Life is strange with its twists and turns

As everyone of us sometimes learns..."

 

Yes, life is not always a bed of roses!

However, even as adults we must do what we teach our unhappy daughter to do--

dry your tears and go on!

Don't Quit!

After running tests, the doctor found that my dad does have prostate cancer, but it is only on 30% of one side, which is good news. It is the aggressive kind, which is bad news. They are considering various treatments and began one treatment already. The doctor is concerned that one kind of surgery could wreck his kidneys. My dad and family is very much into natural products and so he will be using as much natural as possible, but also considering his options otherwise. Right now the biggest concern is that the internal bleeding stop which began when the doctor drained all the fluid backup. When the bladder deflated, it caused it to crack and bleed.  As soon as that is under control, they hope to send Dad home. Dad's blood pressure has been back down to normal, the first in many years. Also the numbers for his kidneys are going down by the day from the "life-threatening" status.  Fain has flown into IL to help Mom and Dad with decisions. Elon's family was supposed to have arrived in New York today from Estonia. Gabriel was to pick Elon's family up at the airport, and I believe they plan to soon travel to Illinois. Hoshea is planning to travel down to IL from North Dakota as well soon. My dad is praising the Lord for His goodness. Mom writes that she feels loved and supported by prayer. She has been staying with Craig and Joella's family about 1/2 hour from the hospital during this time. We are thankful that Fain's daughter Candace has been there in IL with my sister Kezia for a few weeks and is being a help to my sisters. My sister Dorcas's oldest son, Peter, is driving from Vermont to spend a while helping at my folks' property and making himself useful.  It's just about going to be a family reunion again!

Below is a quick photo a friend took Sunday evening outside church after missionary service with the sweet Dickinson family who have been ministering in Colombia and Argentina. To all fit in, we wives managed seats on our wonderful hubbies' knees! It was a privilege to hear the Dickinsons share about God's working in Columbia and Argentina. 

Carrie's birthday with Iva's family while Jonathan and I were gone to Ft. Myers, in FL. 

They made some luscious homemade icecream.

This is what happens when Mom  has forgotten to buy new birthday plates enough to match.

And this is what happens when the cows get out!!

(or did someone forget to close the gate?)

Thank God for the grace that goes hunting for the lost--and leads them home.

And may we be careful and wise about what gates we leave open, lest more valuable than a couple steers stray from the pasture, and from God's fold, and from the safety of a Christian home.

 

I always thought there was something peaceful about chickens pecking about in the yard.

...and couldn't resist the above picture of Carrie, who is feeding ours out of her hand.

Below, the girls took a photo of the cute dresses they have made for their tiny dolls. 

and an outfit Carrie made for a baby boy--with knitted booties.

Praising the Lord!

For those who are following the blog and praying for my dad, we had a wonderful surprise of good news today from Craig who called Joella from the emergency room--and then she emailed the family. A few weeks ago, Dad went to the doctor, who put him on asthma med for his breathing issues, only to find out a few weeks later that wasn't the problem at all! Dad ran the gamut of a doctor visit, then tests at the hospital yesterday, then a blood test this morning which told the doctor that Dad had acute kidney failure. However, after being sent to the ER, the doctor there found out that Dad's prostate had a blockage that was causing all this backup of fluid. The doc said he had never seen such an enlarged bladder in his life, and that everybody else he has seen in this condition has been in extreme pain. They were going to drain the fluid, and the doc said that in a couple of days Dad should feel like a new man. It appears that really it is not his heart or his kidneys at this point, although everything was under severe stress because of the blockage.  More info processing I'm sure later.   We are rejoicing in the goodness of God. All of us believe Dad and Mom's careful, healthy diet and relying on natural remedies has helped Dad make it thus far as well as he has--especially being in this condition without pain. God is good to those who obey and trust Him. Many people think we can eat whatever we want and however much we want, but God said that whatever we eat or drink, that we do it to the glory of God. Do we ask, "Is eating this second or third plate of junk food to the glory of God?" or do we just follow our flesh and our appetites and do what we please, giving the excuse that the Bible says that "The kingdom of God is not in meat or in drink, but in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost"? Eating good food, without trust in Christ, will never get us to heaven, but eating bad food might get us into a lot of unnecessary trouble! Sorry I don't have time to post some kind of photo to go along with this post!!  :))

Let Everything That Hath Breath...

I am not sure how this little clip ended up in with my photos,  (let's hope it isn't copyrighted)  but it is perfect for today, after finding out that my dad is experiencing quite a number of the classic symptoms of congestive heart failure.  He had a very bad night, feeling that he only made it because of oxygen. It has been hard for me to concentrate today, while Mom and Dad were going to the doctor and then being sent to the hospital for an EKO and two or three other tests. Dad went to the doctor a few weeks ago, only to be sent home with asthma medications--which didn't work, of course, because asthma was not the issue.

So Dad struggles to breathe.

And I must breathe, too.

Must keep up with the needs of the day with my own family while making phone calls to parents and siblings and discussing and crying and emailing back and forth,

must pray and trust God,

take a walk in the sunshine,

thank God that He first took away a huge burden from my life before allowing this one.

Because I have breath, I praise Him!

Pray, if it's God's will,  for breath for my Dad.

And may we remember to take it slow,

 

to smell the flowers while we may,

and to give the flowers to others while they are still alive...

to remember in all things to give thanks!

Sometimes meds can help people with heart failure continue to live for quite a while.

Mom and Dad are having to make significant decisions right now, especially about where to live now that Dad is not able to function well, and since he seems to be worse at home, perhaps allergic to something in the house. I'd appreciate prayer for them.

Craig, Joella's husband, is being such a loving and strong support to my folks right now. What would we all do without him?

He surprised my mom by showing up at the hospital for her while Dad had his tests done.  Thank You, Craig!

In Estonia, Elon is anxiously trying to decide whether to go ahead with plans to go on to Mongolia this summer, or are these events with my Dad signaling that he should return to the States for now?

Please pray for our family. 

Carrie's Pinata Bashing

Carrie got to celebrate her birthday about four times since her dad and mom were gone over her actual birthday. Grandma made a cake for her on Sunday, Iva's family had a party for her on Wednesday, then on Thursday when Mom and Dad got home from Fort Myers Rescue Mission, they brought her a pinata to bash--a monkey!!

 

Sammy's turn to bash that pinata!

And of course the children had gifts for Mom, too! The girls had this beautiful basket of gardening gloves, hand-knitted dishclothes; home-sewed, lace-edged place mats, etc.

They had the house cleaned up so nicely--even the boys' bedroom!

Name Written in Heaven!

This photo is of Sunday evening inside the chapel at Fort Myers Rescue Mission, during the youth revival for the Spanish group there. The rescue mission swapped chapel meeting places with the Spanish church, which usually meets in the little old chapel on the first floor of the dorm.

 

On Wednesday, the chapel was again back to the rescue mission. The highlight of our time at Fort Myers Rescue Mission was Wednesday evening when two of the homeless men responded to the invitation Bro. Phil Ledger gave. Bro. Wooten, assistant director of the mission, said that it had been a long time since he had seen any of the men so broken and weeping so hard like that. One of them was a big, burly black man who had a heart attack two weeks earlier while on the mission grounds. In the hospital he confessed to Bro. Wooten that this was a wake-up call, and that when he got back to the mission, he was going to pray! And pray he did! A puddle from weeping had to be wiped off the altar as all around him the rest of us were shouting and praising God as a new name was written down in glory! God was near in a powerful way!

A frightening moment happened when Jonathan was standing near the edge of the roof two stories up and the roof edging piece slipped under his foot because the tar was melted in the hot sun. If Tim Lynch had not been right there in the lift to catch his foot, Jonathan may have fallen off the roof. How we praised God that night during worship time for His mercy to us!