I have been thinking about these things for a very long time, and I'm ready to share a few thoughts with you. I know that I share thoughts that are not new to you, but as for me it is thoughts that I remind myself of daily. These thoughts have been working their way out of this brain onto the computer for months now.

I love pleonast, I have a myspace, facebook, cafemom, mamasource and with each it is to keep in touch with friends and family. Each have their favorites, so to keep in touch with our family & friends I'm on one or the other. For months now I have been observing the people I now know or have met as new friends (some are Christians some are not) on each of these websites, I realized how much I LOVE pleonast! Though I visit each of the websites and put articles on most all of them, I know for sure that only on pleonast will I not find: Horrible words, God's name used in vain, talk of affairs, worldly views, pictures that should not be public, people who bad mouth others, liberal worldly views, spouses who don't support one another & some of the things that people do to each other when they are supposed to love each other. (Well lets just say I'd hate to see what they do to each other if they didn't love each other.)

I love the format of MySpace, I see so many Christians there, then so many Christians prefer facebook, which for me is so much more time consuming to post pictures or articles on. But I will do each of these just to watch our friends kids & grandkids grow physically & spiritually! And when you spend the greatest part of your time in your house in a recliner, being able to reach out and touch someone with just the stroke of a key on the keyboard is both encouraging & comforting. And it fills many long hours during the day & long nights. To be able to read post about what everyone is doing & how they are physically, and see comments made about spiritual topics, well it is, in this womans mind beyond description!

I thank God for the Internet, I have been able to request prayer for individuals who are critical, I have raised money for those in need in a manner that took me hours on the phone in years past. I don't raise money for individuals often, but when the need has been urgent and time limited, the Internet has been such a blessing.

I also know that the Internet can be a tool for Satan. Mankind choses to use it for the glory of God in building oneself up spiritually or the downfall of the soul. We can chose to look at the Good or the bad. We can be encouraged by those things that are spiritually good. Or we can destroy any happiness in our life by reading those things that rob us of spiritual purity. We can be spiritual leaders in chat rooms by encouraging others to do what is moral and good in their given situations, or we can become part of their worldly influence on us. We can chose to state in our "About Me" spaces to proclaim our spiritual standing or remain silent. We can chose to ask individuals who are not Christians to please not use bad words or the abbreviated letters of bad words in their comments to us, or we can not say anything and let others be exposed to those words on our pages. It shocks me to see how many Christian kids just leave those comments on their pages. And on the other hand it is delightful to see how many Christian kids who proclaim their being a child of God! I have actually seen them remove comments with bad words & ask their friends not to use bad words!

We as parents can check out our kids websites & that of those they call friends to see what our kids are being exposed to. If a child has nothing to hide there should be no problem with a parent or for that matter a spouse having each others password. Joe & I know each others passwords to everything. Do you know exactly what your kids see & say on the Internet? Helping one another be accountable for his or her actions should be an act of kindness, and a active effort of helping one another reach our goal of Eternal life with God.

It really does come down to completely making our choices with Christ as the foundation. I find these scriptures help me in choices. And these are just the beginning of those I use to guide me through this life. Those who really know me, know that I quote these verses especially verse 8 often to myself!

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.

Php 4:5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Php 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Php 4:9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Hi I wanted all of you to know that I always wait till I hear from a person or family member before I put out prayer request. So if you see that a person who needs prayer request is not on here it is because they or a family member have not requested or given an ok to put out the request. I do this to respect the wishes of individuals. The absence of their name doesn't mean that I'm not praying for them. My thoughts and prayers go out to many who are suffering & those who have lost loved ones.

I told you about Wally Orr weeks ago and his struggle with cancer. Kay his wife sent me this email on Wed. I wanted to share with you. Please keep Kay in your prayers.

Wally is at peace. He departed this life at 6:45 this morning with a nurse at his side. I had been called but didn't make it to the nursing home in time.

Memorial services will be next week, probably on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Kay

I can promise you that Wally's bible study on Wed. was one that we all desire to attend. What knowledge he has already obtained. We rejoice with Wally's soul finding it's final resting place, His crown of life has been won. I think of my own hubby's words in sermons where he describes some of the first things he wants to learn when he gets to heaven. And for Wally to pass away on the day we all worship God through a study of His word. Well it just touched my heart and mind in a way that brought so many memories of words spoken by Wally himself and my hubby & his dad over the years. My prayer is that God will touch Kay's heart in the days and months to come in a way that only He can. Here is Kay's email address if you would like to send her an e-card. wallynkay@msn.com

Elaine has not been able to get her chemo completed as of Sun. She is still having problems with her kidneys working properly, her levels are still high but not as high as it was. Please keep Elaine in your prayers. Doug her hubby is still researching and seeking pain relief for his neck and upper back pain. My heart goes out to both of them. If you want to send Elaine & Doug, a quick note, just send it to me and put note to Elaine & Doug on the subject line. I'll print it out and take it to Elaine & Doug on Sunday! They do need all the encouragement

Also Barbara Wiseman who had open heart surgery a few weeks ago is gaining strength and feeling better each day. Thank God for her care.

It has been a couple of weeks since the last update because there has not been any significant changes that we were aware of. However, that has changed as of today. We have now moved to a new hospital (same building, different floor). Barbara is now in room number 5206 of Select Speciality Hospital. The address is:
Barbara Baughn

6161 South Yale Avenue

5 South

Tulsa, OK 74136

Her direct telephone number is: 918-494-5206, but the telephone is not hooked up at this writing. Barbara will probably be in this hospital for about 4 more weeks while her vertebrae fuse naturally. The neurosurgeon, Dr. Fell, told us that the process is progressing, but it will take some time for L3 & L4 to totally fuse. She is still taking three high powered antibiotics that must be working, since the vertebrae are fusing. The nasty little bugs never identified themselves, but hopefully they are gone for good. The infectious disease doctor, Dr. Murray, has recommended keeping her on these antibiotics until at least October 15th.Please continue your prayers on Barb's behalf.IN CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US,Barbara & Mack

Just talked to Chuck and the doctor is letting him go home, with the medications to finish at home. He got so much better with the IV & IV Levaquin that it is probably the Salmonella. He calls back in on Fri. to get his results on the test they did on Tues. He sounds so much better and we are so thankful for his fast recovery. There may be some visits to a specialist later if problems arise.

Here is Chuck's email address if you want to send him a e-card or just note of encouragement. roadhawk87@gmail.com

Also Chuck's wife Holly asked me to request prayers for her dad. He has a bad heart and has been sick, and she asked for prayers for him. I know how much she loves her dad and hubby, it has to be difficult for her to have them both sick. Thank God her hubby is much better. You can send a note to Holly along with your notes to Chuck.

I wanted to tell all of you again, how wonderful your words of encouragement and prayers were during a time that I was fearful of breast cancer. And to our very long time friends you are amazing and your gifts are greatly appreciated. To think of the friends that we have had from a few months to almost 34 yrs. is so amazing to us and considered a gift from God!

God is an awesome God! And all of you know that even if I had the cancer screen to be positive, I would have still continued to say that we serve an awesome God. I am still waiting for surgery on the back and hand and ears. It is so difficult for some to continue to serve God when His answer to us is no, and we still have to go through trials be it physical, mental or financial and above all the spiritual warfare we wage on a daily basis. It is puzzling to me how people really believe that if you are a Christian then nothing bad should ever happen. Or if God is a God of compassion how can bad things happen. You know what is Amazing to see? It's the strength and comfort that God gives to each one of us as we go through the "bad" things in this life. He gives us what we need as we need it & before we know we need it! We all see people who don't serve God and what it is like when they suffer with this world. And then we see what God gives to all of us who serve him, we see how we "trust completely" what a wonderful, awesome God we do serve. As one dear friend always says, "Nuff Said"!!!

Love & Prayers & Much Gratitude

I got up this morning and went to the hospital because I had so many questions on the way they were treating Chuck for a supposed blockage in his intestine. The doctor came in and admitted that they are not sure what is going on. I asked if they normally did a regular x-ray to determine a blockage? He said no, which really relieved me. He said they can see some patterns of air & bowel. I asked also about the Levaquin and the reason they have him on it is for the risk of Salmonella, the doctor said they are covering Chuck for that risk. In talking with one of our elders who is a veterinarian, he was telling Joe that Salmonella will also cause the intestines to swell, twist and give the illusion on x-ray of blockage. The doctor said they would not get the results of that test back until maybe Thur. morn.

The plan is to slowly introduce solids back today and see how the intestine relates to that. And if all goes well, he will be sent home on Thur. sometime with Levaquin by mouth. They may end up doing a colonoscopy or sending him to a gastro specialist. So this mom has had all her concerns answered and feels much better about how they are treating her child. You know they never cease being your child. They become dad's & mom's, but they are still our children.

And this child of mine and hubby to his very supportive wife Holly is feeling much better and I thank God that He watches over Chuck. May we always give God the glory for prayers answered. And thankfulness that His hand guides all that care for our loved ones when they are sick.

Hi

Chuck went to the doctor this morning and they have admitted him to the hospital. They are saying they see a mass in his intestines that looks to be a blockage. They did some test and have put him on IV and no food for a couple of days to see how things go. He has lost 20 pounds since Sun. afternoon. We thought at first he ate something that made him sick. So we will see. We watched the girls so Holly could be with him. Please keep Chuck in your prayers and I'll let you know how he is doing. I've never seen anyone lose 20 pounds from going to the bathroom and have a blockage so we will see what happens. Joe is on his way down to check on him.

Joe got home and said that the IV was helping to make him feel better. After all that weight loss, fluids probably felt great. They have given him Levaquin. I'll let you know more later. Please keep him in your prayers

While praying one day a little girl asked,

'Who are you, Lord?'

He answered, 'I Am'

But, Who is I Am?' she said.

And He replied...'I Am Love, I Am Peace,

I Am Grace, I Am Joy,

I Am the Way, Truth, and the Light

I Am the Comforter,

I Am Strength, I Am Safety

I Am Shelter, I Am Power

I Am the Creator;

I Am the Beginning and the End

I Am the Most High.'

The girl with tears in her eyes looked

Toward heaven and said,

Now I understand, but Lord, Who Am I ?'

Then God tenderly wiped the tears From her eyes and whispered,

'YOU ARE MINE'

-- Author Unknown

My thoughts after reading these words: Simply stated, Wonderfully made, Eternally blessed, I am His!