Special People

Bryan and I have had a very busy 2 weeks. But we would not exchange our availability for anything. We are blessed to get to be so involved in so much of our families.

Do you ever have times when in the midst of such great great joy, there is some sadness. Yet you know you must use that joy and happiness to overcome that sadness? I have had that this past 2 weeks. I have had abundant joy!! Last week was one of the most joyful weeks I have had !! This week has thrown me a slight curve ball though. But I will overcome!!! How can I not when God is on my side, He is good, He is in control, and He sustains me so often with His word!!



Granny went in for a heart surgery on Tuesday. I didn't have time to blog about it but I know there were a few praying for her and I thank you. It is such a nice thing to know you've mentioned it and someone emails you to tell you they are praying. Her surgery was about 4.5 hours. She did well immediately after the surgery (she was pretty much out of it and sleeping). However, her body temperature dropped to 93 and her blood pressure was about 70-80 over something. Too low. And she had some internal bleeding in her groin at one of the entry points. And she had to have a blood transfusion (by the end of it all she had to have 2). She is 80 years old and this was very scary for me. Until you get to the hospital to see for yourself, you don't know what to expect. While I was there, her pressure increased 10 points and I could see a slight change in her color. Last night she was sitting up in a chair and the bleeding had stopped! And she was bossing me telling me to go take care of my husband!! Praise the Lord, our great Physician!! She was so happy to eat and sit up instead of lying flat on her back for 24 hours! Continue to pray for a smooth recovery.

My Granny is very special to me and several in our family. She has always been a grandmother and a mother to me. I lived with her and Poppy while I was in high school and college until Bryan and I married. She has made sacrifices for me, she has loved me, and she has been genuine to me. She knows what makes me tick. She has always been honest to me! No deceit at all is in her. I don't like deception. We are a lot a like. Bryan has called me "Little Peggy" before!! Poppy instilled a strong work ethic in me and a commitment to God. I saw him many times provide groceries for those in his church. He was a servant. As I sat with Granny in the hospital, I reflected on her and my relationship with my grandparents. She has changed physically since my wedding and Poppy is not with us anymore. But I LOVE this picture. It sits on a table in my hall and I see it everyday. I will never ever be able to communicate what they are to me. And I will stand by them always!! My family has had bumps in the road since Poppy passed and I have wished so many times I could sit on the arm of his chair again and he would listen and tell me what to do. I remember Granny had surprised me by wearing a different dress to our wedding than I thought she was and she looked beautiful. Poppy wore a charcoal grey suit and he was smashing!!! When he passed away Granny allowed me to pick out what suit he would wear. I picked out this same suit, shirt, and tie not realizing he had worn it in my wedding until I looked back on this picture after the funeral!!! But I love that because it was my favorite suit he wore!

One last hiccup in this week was my cousin Eric leaving with the OK Army National Guard. He left Wednesday 9/10 for Ft. Hood, Texas and then will leave in later October for Iraq/Kuwait for 9-10 months. This was a very hard day for Whitney.You know from my earlier posts he and his wife had their little boy last Wednesday 9/3. Whitney and Jesse were able to get to go down into the terminal with him. Please pray for Whitney. This is a very emotional time for her; having a new baby and telling her husband goodbye. Please pray she will have peace of mind. Pray pray pray for Eric's safety and a quick return. Please pray he will be alert. Please pray they will be able to communicate while he is overseas.

Eric, Bryan, and I and now his family are very close! We've experienced a lot together. I was able to tell him bye at the hospital late Tuesday night. I rode the elevator down with he and Whitney and we talked out in the parking lot trying to avoid the goodbye. Of course, I cried buckets. All 3 of us were emotional. I walked back into the hospital crying and headed straight for the bathroom. I just know the receptionist probably thought someone had just died. And I'm so thankful no one was in the other stalls!!!!

I have to place Eric in God's hands and trust God will guide us through whatever this next year brings. God is sovereign. We cannot change God's plan. We must live through it and bring honor to His name in the process.