Looking Forward.

I am looking forward...to more years of being Breast Cancer FREE!

All is well!

This lovely sewn portrait is an applique on a Breast Cancer Quilt in one of my doctor's offices that I visited today. It was too lovely to pass up, so with permission I took a pic of the quilt and focused on this one for my post tonight. I wish I knew who did this to give her due credit for her lovely work. I added the white printing.

It says what I felt today...Looking forward...

Day by Day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here,
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear,
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best
Lovingly it's part of pain and pleasure
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Day By Day Oscar Ahnflet, 1813-1882

My wonderful husband accompanied me on to my follow up today. We both anticipated GOOD NEWS...but were prepared. I was so happy to have him along..a comforting friend...and my dinner date!

We celebrated the good news at Longhorn Steakhouse. I was LOOKING FORWARD to this nice meal with him. A FREE one at that! We used a gift card we have saved for this occasion..so making it that much more fun!

To yell... FREE ...FREE of Cancer...FREE dinner!!!

I really like the Western decor of this restaurant. Notice the saddle and the lassos and the sculpture cowboy... and of course on the back wall a LONGHORN!!

Look at the lighting...love the cut out cows and the horseshoe..and the antlers on the smaller light.

Our dinner was a nice peaceful moment to reflect on the goodness of GOD towards us this day.

Thank you to those who have kept me in prayer!!!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence
cometh my help. Psalm 120:1

HOPE

THE CALL...

January 25, 1983 Stephen went to be with the LORD

The call came at 4 a.m.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
I Thessalonians 4:13

Just four days after my 28th birthday. My husband was still in Spain…and I was alone.

The phone rang awakening me out of my sleep. The early morning hour was very quiet and still. I anticipated some kind of news.

Was Stephen okay?...

Was it my husband calling from Spain…was he alright? He was due home: a delay…the trip extended?

The voice on the other end was a nurse who asked who I was and said a doctor wanted to speak with me. My heart began to beat like a drum as I waited for the doctor to come to the phone.

“Madame…………………..Stephen is dead.”

“Oh..my”

Just like that! News of this sort.. so blunt and so blank?

Once again REALITY set in… not only the news..but the fact that these people could not speak good English and thus…a very blunt to the point .. fact.

He asked if I could come immediately to the hospital. I froze.

“My…husband is not here and I have other small children, I will have to make some arrangements. I’ll…I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I hung up the phone and dropped to my knees.

“I’m all alone…what am I going to do? “

Stunned…my thoughts were frozen and then I cried out to the LORD.

The one who had sustained me through the past nine months: the one who provided all my needs, answered all my prayers, gave comfort, hope and encouraged me with even his creation; that beautiful white mountain.

I thanked him for his loving kindness and for the soul of Kathryn..saved! I cried with thanksgivings of praise to my God who had performed all things according to his will and according to his good pleasure. I thanked him that my sweet son…

Was with Him.

I cried for help. I needed my LORD. I was afraid …afraid of what I was about to face. I pleaded for the grace to get through this time.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Psalm 121:1-3

While the children continued in quiet sleep. I called long distance to family and friends…to hear familiar voices. I needed prayer and I needed them to know.

I called Kathryn but got no answer.

I called Claudine… she had a house fire during the night. I had no idea.
She expressed her sorrow of the news and not being able to come over to help me.

I told her I would be okay. I’d call Helen.

Helen….no answer. It was 5 a.m. no one was up yet!

I’ll have to wait till at least 7 a.m.

I called the hospital and told them it was impossible for me to be there and that I’d try to be there by 7 or so.

I then went to my room and searched my closet.

What do I wear? Oh, Lord..I don’t even know what to wear?

I changed my clothes a couple of times. The weather was still very cold and I knew I would not be back home for some time. I’d have to pack things for the children…get them up and ready to leave!

I awoke the children and gave them the news. We prayed together and I explained as they already knew. Their little brother was now in heaven.

They could dress themselves and be ready to go.

I let little Charlie remain asleep.

Finally 7 a.m. I tried Helen and she answered…

“Oh dear! Yes, come straight way! I will watch the children for you”

I was also able to reach Kathryn. She would meet me at Helen’s.

I went in to awaken little Charlie and hugged him with tears. I held him tight, as I thought upon his little brother. How thankful I was to have Charlie.
Thankful for the precious children I was blessed to call mine.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born….
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

Chapter I...peace, and at such a time...part 1

The above title to this post is found in Ezra chpt. 7 verse 12. The verse actually says PERFECT, peace. And so with this....as I write this account of my journey of HOPE...I indeed was graced with Perfect peace...at such a time. (quite often)

Knowing this will be a lengthy continuing post..I will have to break it up into segments. My post on WHY GOD as my introduction. "peace, and at such a time" I will list as part I etc. so you can follow in order.

This journey of HOPE... began in 1982. My husband and I had been praying for some time to go to Europe as missionaries, ever since his graduation from Bible School. It had been a couple of years and then one day a door opened for him to accept a job in Switzerland. It wasn't to be missionaries...but, it was an opportunity to get to Europe and perhaps be used of the LORD while there. (little did we know this was God's plan).

The amazing thing about this..is that I was pregnant with TWINS and already the mother of 4 children under the age of 6! ...and I had peace about this. ( I want to add here...that I was still a young Christian in my faith, and that this peace was something I can't fully explain...except that GOD did give a measure of faith at such a time!)

So that I can get to the heart of my journey, I will quickly go over some preparations we had to make in order to go to Switzerland. First, we had only 3 months to arrive there, this was the middle of December. We had a house to sell (and the market was not good at this time)... sell our belongings/decide what to take...and get passports.

The company my husband was going to work for was not going to move our belongings; so we decided we would take 4 trunks and suitcases. I had the arduous task of picking and choosing the most important things to take. Yes, one trunk was toys! The household items sold in one day with a yard sale...a man came by at the end of the day and offered to purchase the remaining items left on the table! What a blessing! Now,the house needed to sell. (Little did I know, my husband asked the LORD to further show his will for us, by closing on the house Jan. 31) We closed on the house...January 31st. Our passports were to take up to 6 weeks...they arrived in two. We were all set to depart. February 14, 1982...7 months pregnant with twins.

Upon our arrival to a foreign country in which we knew no one familiar, had no family and no church. We would rely on God for his continued care and guidance. We also did not have time to learn French, the language for the area we would live in. Through the providence of God (too lengthy here to cover) we found ourselves living in a small mountain village of 200 people; in a home not usually given to strangers( Americans).

In God's great care, we were befriended by a neighbor who would be used of God many many times to help us. She only spoke a little English and through time, we would communicate in three languages..well four..one would be charades! My husband some how (GOD?) was able to learn French quite quickly on the job..and already familiar with German. NOTE: Switzerland borders several countries..thus they speak all the languages surrounding the country..and have their own dialects (even each village!).

This dear lady would help me find a doctor...the nearby tiny grocer...the dairy...and comforts of her own home. I would honor her here by just saying her name is Claudine. (forever in my heart). She is/was a farmer's wife and had two children of her own and always always busy..but never to busy to help in time of need; even with our language barrier.

Before I begin the next post... I would like to say that in sharing this...I know there are many who have suffered loss and some greater than mine. There are those who are still suffering with sorrow, or the trial is existing. I, as my name entitles...HOPE, that through this account of a Christian's journey; some would be encouraged in their faith, some would find faith, and others would rejoice with me in thankfulness for God's work of Grace.

I Peter chpt. 1 verse 6-8 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more preious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...

copyright 2007 Hope