Affliction, Prayer and Hope

Hello Dear Friends,

I know it has been too long since I have last written. I apologize. I again turn to Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Wednesday, February 3 at 6:15pm my Aunt Steph lost her battle with cancer. She will be missed greatly. My family was able to spend quite a bit of time with her in the days and weeks leading up to her death and that was a blessing. My dad's whole side of the family, all 10 of us, were there to spend Steph's last day on earth with her. Many of us where there when my grandpa passed away in November and didn't know if we were ready to watch yet another loved one leave this world and pass into the next.

There were so many ways that I saw God work, but I will just share one story with you here. The last day my aunt never woke up. She was moved and repositioned and we were all there talking and never once did she move on her own. At one point her husband and sons (my uncle and cousins) left the room to get something to eat quick. The rest of us were still in the room and could see her breathing become even more difficult. As we heard the guys coming back down the hall Steph turned her head all by herself toward the door. Her eyes were still pretty much closed, but she was looking for her boys. Not even two minutes later she was gone. It was amazing. We all cried and said our goodbyes and left the hospital in somewhat of a daze. It had been a very long week and now it was suddenly all over.

I cried. I cried for me and for my uncle and cousins. I did not cry for Steph. Like grandpa, my aunt loved Jesus. She was ready to go to heaven, home, and spend eternity with her Lord. Steph is in a much better place and I rejoice for her. It's those of us who are left behind that I cry for. I long for the day when “He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).” Steph is there! She is no longer suffering and that is a great joy. When we are right with God, when we have given our life to Him and love Him and obey Him and worship Him, death is not something to be feared, it is something to look forward to. We have hope, the hope of a new life, a better life, life everlasting with our Lord and Maker. WOW!

During the week we were in the hospital and went through the visitation and funeral I could feel myself getting sick. If my doctor knew how much time I spent in a hospital I think she would have my head! But some things are more important. So yes, I did get sick. I got that nasty cold that is going around. I have been on antibiotics for a week and a half and am finally getting better. The cough is still sticking around some, but I am so grateful that it didn't turn into pneumonia this time! I spent a week in my house and was starting to go a little nuts (no comments please)! So it has been great to get out of the house this week, go back to work and make some progress on my photography business.

I will be selling my cards and some prints at the Golden Leaf Cafe' (a local coffee shop/cafe') and I am very excited about that! I am now waiting to hear back from a printer so that I can get some cards made up locally. In other business news I will be doing a Spring Expo at an elementary school in March which I am also very excited about! I have made good progress in posting items on my website. If you haven't checked it out for a while take a look at http://www.glorydisplayed.com/ for all the latest. In fact, I added four new cards today and made some major changes to my website earlier this week so check it out!

So my friends, that is what has been going on in my life lately. Thank you so much for your prayers and your support. Please pray for my health. I had increased the dosage of my one medication before I got sick and it seemed to be helping me not be as sore. The problem is I cannot take this medicine when I'm sick or on an antibiotic. I have missed my dosage the past two weeks and will not be able to take it next week either. Three weeks without my medication that makes me not sore...yikes! I have been starting to notice the absence of it, so please pray that I would feel good and be able to accomplish everything that God has for me to accomplish each day. Pray that I would rejoice in the things I am able to do and not get frustrated with the things that I am not able to do. THANK YOU!