Still alive!

Wow, I havn't used my online diary for quite awhile!  Fibro is still me constant companion, but so is Jesus.  Guess which one is my favorite?  My wonderful husband gave my a Kindle Fire for my BD in Dec, and I downloaded a Bible onto it.  So cool to have with me all the time, have read more as a consequence.  I also have spent hours in machine embroidery happiness.  I am so enjoying it! 
Got to mend also, 2 pairs of John's jeans and some stuff around here, and completed several alterations today,  Replaced the zipper in Hailey's winter coat, and altered a dress each for Mindy and Libby.  I love to sew!!!
Still working on the "single crochet chain one" pink blanket, finished one large skein and starting on the other.  Lord, i am most humbly grateful for your loving kindness, and my many blessings.

Graduation

My youngest child, a daughter, is graduating from high school this month.  This week I sorted through 18 years of pictures and the accompanying memories.  She is such a precious girl, always so happy and ,tender, so wise and mature for her age.  College looms on the horizon, and we will miss her everyday chatter and how she brightens our days as she lives at home.  Thank you Lord for texting, and Facebook!  When I went to college I couldn't call home unless it was an emergency, now we can communicate in so many ways!
In two weeks we will have Libbys graduation party the night before graduation.  She is sharing this celebration with her friend Cailey, and preparing for it has been fun mixed with heart-warming moments of memories.   Love you Libby, love watching you grow!

fibromyalgia

Part of the life He gave me deals with fibromyolgia.  I have had fibro since my daughter was in 2nd grade and my son graduated from high school.  That makes 11 years of the fuzzy mind, pain, fatigue and changed lifestyle that fibro brings.  I have had difficulty coming to grips with this condition, for I feel that if I accept it, then I am sort of giving up.  I still hope to wake up someday with energy and vigor, pain-free and clear minded.
God has shown me many things because of the intrusion of fibro into my life. 
* no one is indispensible
* I have a hard time asking for help
* how to prioritize
* not wait till the last minute to finish projects or plans
* how wonderful my family is
* sometime meds are necessary

Well, I will stop there for now, but may add more things later.
My favorite Bible verse is "What has the Lord shown you, O man, but to love kindness, do justice and walk humbly with Thy God".  Micah 6:8

Fibro has certainly humbled me. (see *no one is indispensible) I used to believe that I could do  just about anything and burned the candle at both ends regularly.  Not a healthy lifestyle!  Now that I must plan my days and weeks in advance, and then wait to see how I feel on any given day, I appreciate the days when I can go and do as I please.  Thank you Lord for Your tender mercies and loving care for me and mine each day.

Sweet Life Cafe

Attended a woman's retreat at Calvary Memorial E Free church this evening with my mom.  We  had a great time, and enjoyed the inspiring speaker who challenged us to 'step out' and live lives that reflect Christ to the world around us.  This goes back to my prayer that "in all I say, do, and think, to honor God".  Oh how I fail the thought part so often.!
Tomorrow we return to hear Libby's 8th grade asst. VB coach speak.

On another note, I finished Libby's Giant Granny Square that I have dubbed the "afghan of many colors", since there about 20 different colors of yarn with black being the outline color each round.  I have enjoyed  do 'grannies' again, and am working on a bag using pale pink, cream, and lite tan.  Next I plan to try a cute little bolero for each of my cute little grand daughters!  I am so blessed.

Who I Am

I am going to write about parts of my life which have defined me.  The most defining event in my life was coming to know Jesus as my Savior.  I accepted Him into my heart as an 11 year old.  When I was in college, I made a life-long commitment to give Christ 1st place in my heart.  Every year as i grow older, I see more answered prayer, more beauty in a spiritual life, and experience more thankfulness to the Lord for His tender mercies and His kindness.  In fact, the name of this blog, "The Life He Gave Me" refers to my life in Him. 
Some of His kindness's and tender mercies to me:  my husband, my children (on earth and in heaven), Grandchildren, my dear mother and friends;  the blessedness of everyday life, and the miracle we call nature.  Today the air was crisp and damp, and bits of green livened the grayness of this March day.

"Her Mother's Hope"

I have always loved Francine River's books ever since the Hadassah series.  Every one of her stories have moved me and inspired me.  My friend Deb clutched my arm at a high school speech meet and said, "You have got to read Francine Rivers' lastest.  Deb and I are pretty simpatico on what we enjoy reading, so I wnet home and ordered them from Amazon that night.  Finished one, and half way through the 2nd.  Such a great telling of how families pass down their hurts and how silience can be a devastating solution to pain.  More later.....

Inspired Reading

Just finished reading "As I Have Loved You" by Nicki Arana.  I love her books, she always has such a great and convicting message in her wonderful stories.  About 3/4ths of the way through this book I realized that trying to live the Christian life, and just letting God work through me are two entirely different things!  I used to use the illustration of "I'm a little teapot" to explain to others and myself how to let God work through us; ie, we are the teapots, (vessel) and God will pour into us what He wants us to do and be and say.