Opportunities around us

I am thankful tonight for the opportunity that we had this evening to again share our story of the miracles that God has done in us and through us. We were able to share with a crowd of about 150 high school students the impact of the past year and a bit on our lives, and that in spite of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual struggles that we have had/are still having, that God is always in control. We shared with them verses that were special to us, scripture that carried us through, and gave God the glory for the way He was and still is in control. Our focus was to help them see that regardless of what they go through, that God can make good come out of it if they give their lives to Him to control. Sharing this is always a good reminder for me not to fall back into complacency or to take any of the many things that I can still do for granted! And I am grateful to be reminded!

After the evening was over, several of the kids came and thanked us for sharing. Some cried, others praised God with us, and a few said that they had been in the line of cars behind us the day of the accident, and that they had prayed for us as they finally passed the scene. They were able now to put a face and a name to the prayer request, and that was also a blessing for us to again see how many God raised up to pray!

And now it is my turn to uphold a friend in prayer. Yesterday I received word through Facebook that a former work colleague of mine was diagnosed with leukemia that day. She is going down to Vancouver today and will be starting intense chemotherapy on Monday. Pam is a young, vibrant Christian mom with a loving husband and 3 young children. Please pray with me for all of them as they struggle with the mountainous task ahead. They know that God will carry them through, but the road ahead may be very rough. We want to uphold them and claim a miracle to happen in her body, and that the cancer will be defeated!! And that they will sense the mighty and powerful work of our Saviour in and through them.

It's good to focus on someone else, and not on myself. Life is too precious to waste on introspection!

I am very joyfully focusing on getting some bridesmaids dresses sewn in the next couple weeks, thanks to some very deeply appreciated help from my mom who has come to be my extra pair of hands! And I get the priviledge AGAIN of being able to go with Corinne and her mom to look at wedding dresses tomorrow!! What joys are mine! In this, it is so easy to be thankful! But then I remember Pam and so many others who are still struggling and know that my task is to now uphold and encourage them. Also, what a joy to be able to do so! I am reminded of the words Paul wrote, "that we may encourage others with the encouragement with which we were encouraged" (paraphrased). Thank you, Jesus, for the strength and opportunity to reach out to others! Open my eyes to even more opportunities to 'pay it forward'!

Blessings galore!

We have just returned from an evening of reminiscing and reconnecting with friends from the past - it is the 50th anniversary celebration for the church we used to attend here in Prince George. Many have moved on, and some have passed away, but so many have returned for this weekend's celebrations! What a joy to see so many familiar faces from years gone by, and to share with a few more about our story from the past year. Many knew of what we have been through, and several mentioned that they had followed our story on this very blog. Again, we are so thankful for the development of it, and that it has been a tool that so many of you used to pray for us and thereby keep us strong throughout our struggle. Once more I was challenged to put the whole story together into book form, and to be honest, I had sort of set that aside, but I think that I may again attempt to put all the memories down on "paper" before I forget the details. I was encouraged by one of these dear friends who has herself been through a "God Journey" and put it down for all to read. (Thanks, Cheryl!) There's so much to learn about how to do this, and it will be another part of the journey, but I think that with the right direction and proper guidance, I'll try again!

Our family has again had more joy to celebrate...our eldest son Christopher proposed to his girlfriend, Corinne, last Sunday! So we are going to have the pleasure of two weddings this year!! And more precious daughters-in-law I couldn't ask for! They both love the Lord with all their hearts, and fit so well with our family! What blessings!

Aaron is doing well in Austria, traveling with a group to Venice this long weekend! His back has been bothering him some, and has kept him from a few activities. For the most part he is fitting in well, and making new friends. Time is passing far too quickly for him, but we look forward to soon having him home again!

We were planning on doing some yardwork, but the weather turned on us this morning (we woke up to a light covering of snow on the lawn!), so plans have changed for now. That's okay - relaxing is also a good thing! Not so sure about the snow, though...!

All in all, more blessings than can be counted are ours to enjoy, regardless of which way we go! I pray that you will also be experiencing God's blessings! Have a great weekend!

Mother's Day

Wow, here I am again, apologizing for having been away so long! Life is just going by too quickly, I guess, which seems to prove that I am indeed doing okay! At least things are getting worked out for the surgery. I still don't know when it will be, but it will happen someday. Aaron is doing well in Austria, and today is his 20th birthday! Wish we were there to celebrate with him, but we got in the party and all before he left. I talked to him the other day (thank goodness for Skype!) and he is adapting and learning what he can and cannot do. Mostly we pray that he will absorb all he can of what he is being taught about the Bible and personal growth. Living in the middle of the Austrian alps is a perk!

Today was also Mother's Day, and I was so blessed to have my other kids here with me, even though we missed Aaron so very much. Jason and Dani made us breakfast, Ben took us out for lunch, and Christopher and Corinne made us dinner!  It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and almost perfect! If only all the good food didn't go straight to one's waist! Sigh! But, always looking for the good in everything, I am SO thankful that I can eat normal food!! And that I can be with my family for this precious day, and all the other days, too! God has been so faithful to us, and kept us together as a family, and is giving us more family to love! Each day is a new joy, even when there are struggles. It's all worth it!

I want to send out a special shout to the creator of this blogsite, Sarah Kesler. When the accident first happened, she took it upon herself to create this tool for all to check how things progressed. She also took care of our home and our dog when Christopher and Jason were traveling back and forth to Edmonton, and gave a huge amount of support. She gave without thought of recognition or recompense, and I can never thank her enough! But now she is moving on to a new chapter and a new adventure in her life. Sarah has been studying radio and television arts, with the goal of becoming involved in Christian ministry through this media. She has recently set up her website www.sarahkesler.com detailing her plans for the coming summer. Sarah has been accepted to be a working volunteer with Focus on the Family Ministries, specifically working with Adventures in Odyssey radio broadcasts! How exciting! Please take the time to check out her site and give her encouragement as well. For all of you that follow this blog, that can be your way of saying thank you to her for starting it all!! We pray God's blessing on you, Sarah, and will keep you in our thoughts this summer!

Carrying on...Judy

A change in plans...

Friday morning Aaron and I flew down to Vancouver and I went to the pre-admission clinic at VGH for an appointment. While there, the anesthesiologist asked about my status as carrier of hemophilia, which led to some phone calls. The outcome is that my surgery on Monday is canceled. Instead I will be having an appointment with a hemotologist, getting looked over for what needs to be done prior to having surgery to treat my condition. So no surgery...for now. I'm disappointed, but for whatever reason this is the way that it is, and I will look for the plans the Lord has through this. At any rate, I will enjoy a good weekend with my family!

Friday evening we went back to the airport and dropped Aaron off - he is on his way to Schladming, Austria for 9 weeks at the Capernwray School. There he will be studying the Bible and taking discipleship classes. It will be a time of learning and growing, and we pray that he will do well with his health. We covet your prayers on his behalf for this.

I have to think of the verse that says that His ways are not our ways, and accept that. Why things happen the way they do is beyond me, but through the frustration I know God can make good result from it. So we carry on!

Another anniversary

So today marks one year since I was flown down from Prince George to Vancouver to begin my rehab program at GF Strong. It was a good flight, even though I was on a stretcher. Today I flew to Vancouver (another appointment!) and did it all on my own! What a difference a year can make! I stopped in at GFS to say hi to a few people, and was again forcefully reminded of the miracle that God allowed to happen in my life and body. Medically speaking I know there is no explanation for the fact that I walked out of there last June. My heart was so full of gratefulness and thanksgiving! I don't deserve this ability any more than any of the other people who will never walk again due to lesser injuries. So why have I been so blessed? I truly don't know the answer to that. But I intend to spend the rest of my days making sure that I tell as many people as I can that God is still in the business of miracles! Especially ones within the heart. Of all the healing that has taken place in my life this past year, I KNOW that this are needed the most work. And I know that I am still a work in progress. Lord, thank you so much for each and every day that you gift me here, so that perhaps one more person might understand exactly who you are and what you want to do in their life!

I am enjoying today and tomorrow here in Vancouver with my sister, and plan to spend the day with her tomorrow celebrating her birthday. I did have another purpose for coming down - I had another appointment with the eye doctors today in preparation for my surgery on the 26th. Everything looks good (pardon the pun!) and will go ahead as scheduled. PTL!!!

Sunday's comin'!

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the greatest victory ever won on this earth, and beyond! It's a day to celebrate what Christ has done in the lives of those who acknowledge him as their Lord and Saviour. It's a day to realize that without his amazing sacrifice, which is far greater than we can ever comprehend, we would be dead ourselves, without hope and without a future! Praise God for the incredible gift, and for the hope that we now can have because of his great love!

It's also been an year since the first time I was able to go to church after the accident. I was wheeled into church last Easter, and this year I'm walking in!! What a glorious day!! I am still so thankful for being allowed to walk, talk, take care of myself and eat (oh, yes, eat!!) and I pray that I will never lose that perspective.

I pray that for each of us, our minds will find that which draws us closer to Jesus, and be thankful for it. Whatever it is that makes you thankful, remember it is a gift from God. And for that which makes you frustrated or angry, remember that it could be worse! You might have a life without hope at all if it wasn't for Christ!

Have a blessed Easter Sunday!

PS - I'm going to try to attach a link to a video clip which gives me cause to think each time I see it. I trust it will encourage and motivate you as well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naajYZSbWdw - that's the link just in case the upload doesn't work!

Forgot the picture again!

Here's a picture of our new puppy, as well as one of Jason and Dani (which was taken last fall). I don't have any pictures of the new glasses yet...soon! Enjoy!