Retreating From the World

When we retreat into our inner self who goes with us? Since I believe in the literal translation of the Bible I believe we never walk alone. Our heavenly Father is always with us.

I believe that those times when we think we are walking alone it is because we don’t become still and quiet enough to hear the Voice of God.

Alberta Anne Thomas

QUOTE: Girl Power

Girl Power

Guideposts Encouragement 2013 SCI140-12

It’s no secret that a woman is a formidable force - couple her with a girlfriend or two and you might be looking at an F5 tornado. Women just have an instinct for camaraderie and a talent for collaboration that men often find only on the sports field. Maybe after making men bigger and stronger God felt that women needed a little certain something to equalize the equation. Whatever the case, it’s impossible to deny that “girl - power” changes the fabric of the world every day. Together women are unstoppable!

With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. Ecclesiastes 4:12 MNG

Mother's

"Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself. she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well. She's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you, not time, not space, not even death."

                                  Author: UNKNOWN from SuzanneSommers.com

Anniversaries

I don't think that I really understood what Ms. Alberta was telling me about the feelings that she had about anniversaries. I may be getting a little more understanding.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my father's death; he was buried on the 17th of January. January 17th is also the anniversary of the diagnosis and prognosis we received about the type of cancer Ms. Alberta had.

I can remember when we were first told that Ms. Alberta had cancer thinking to myself that people recovered from cancer every day. I had sat at my computer for hours after the diagnosis searching for everything that I could find about cancer. When Ms. Alberta found out what I was doing she made me promise that no matter, bad or good, that I would tell her what I had found.

On the 17th, after we returned home, I had once more searched for the type of cancer Ms. Alberta had - oat cell carcinoma. It was one of the fastest growing types; it would spread rapidly throughout the body; even going into the cells in the brain. And by the time it was diagnosed it was probably too late for any thing to be done. I did NOT want to tell Ms. Alberta what I had found. I didn't print my research but I did save it.

Ms. Alberta didn't spare me or herself; within hours she asked me what I had found and reminded me of my promise to her. I couldn't tell her; I went to my computer, printed the research and took it to her so she could read it for herself. Ms. Alberta made me read it to her.

Looking back I think Ms. Alberta did that so that I would face what was happening to her. I have never felt that I was as strong as Ms. Alberta; that day she made me become stronger.

I love you Ms. Alberta - mentor, friend, and mother.

Second Year Anniversary

May 4, 2013

Today is the second anniversary of Ms. Alberta's death. I had thought time would help the feeling of loss to abate. This has not been the case. I miss her stories, I miss being able to pick up a phone to ask her advise. Most of all I miss her sense of humor. She had the ability to find laughter in the worst.

My only consolation is the sure knowledge that she is in a better place, free of pain. Praise God for sending His Son for our salvation!

Norman Rockwell Paintings

January 6, 2013, in American Profile (a newspaper insert), on page 10.

There is an article about the Norman Rockwell paintings that Ms Alberta used to give tours on. At the time Ms Alberta was doing the tour guide these paintings were located at the Boy Scout Museum in Murray, Kentucky.

The forty seven paintings are now located at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. The paintings were created for magazine covers and calendars. Mr Rockwell used many of his neighbors for his models.

Words to Think About: DON'T QUIT

Don’t Quit

Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow.

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

it seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

when he might have captured the victor’s cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,

It’s when things seem worse that you must not quit.