Welcome to Blogsville, Melissa

Melissa and Dave Hendricks now have a blog, and we're so excited to welcome them to the community. Now we can read all about their exciting life in Montana and their kids and how all our friends and church family are up in their neck of the woods. www.daveandmelissa4.blogspot.com

Jehovah Rapha--The Lord that Heals

Got the call from the doctor's office. Everything is benign. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Almighty God, for your healing touch. I praise your Holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
~from Psalm 103

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like ....

. . . . Christmas

Well, here's our tree and you can see part of our table decorated. We're not quite finished with either one. The table needs a few finishing touches. It's a new one and there are a few things I want to add to complete the look. Then there's the tree. I'm sure you noticed it's missing a topper. I've been looking for a topper for a few months now to no avail. I even went to a HUGE arts and crafts show a couple weeks ago with a Christmas tree topper my only mission, but only a few of the booths had tree toppers, and the ones that did only had a few each. I didn't like any of them either. It's got to be just right, you know. If anyone is considering starting a career in arts and crafts, I think a booth with Christmas tree toppers would sell like hot cakes, and it's apparently something no one does because this show was spread out in five different convention center-type buildings; I mean, it was huge. There were vendors there from all over the country and I looked at probably 70% of the booths. I was really shocked that no one sold tree toppers.

As for the Jackson-with-the-Amish-hat pictures, I've been trying to transfer them from the camera onto the computer, but something keeps goofing it up. I thought I had the problem solved, but I think Becky's evil computer dwarf decided to pay our place a visit. I tell ya, the little twerp better watch it because I'm probably not as nice as Becky is. :-)

Back in the Saddle Again

Well, I'm officially recouperated and back in the saddle!!! The surgery went well and we're awaiting lab results, but I'm not worried because I just feel God's everloving protection and care.

The light at the end of this cave I've been thrust in to is just beginning to twinkle and I am sooo ready for Christmas break. My house is almost back in order after my few days of repose and I'm working on getting caught up with my school work. It'll happen soon. I can feel it.

Despite my pleas with the Lord not to allow this day to come and my attempts to shut myself up in denial about the fact that my baby's growing up, Jackson turns two today. He's such a "corker," as our pastor calls him. He's the happiest child and such a little ham, well, show-off might be a better descriptor. Any time we're out in public, be it store, restaurant, or park, he always finds someone who will give him his full attention and he goes all out to put on a no-holds-barred entertainment session for as long as he can keep an audience. It's really embarrassing, and we do try to keep it to a minimum, but he just has this magnetic personality people are drawn to. We're scared he might want to be a politician when he grows up or, worse, some kind of showman on Broadway here in Branson or something. Tonight we went out to eat (had a long workday; didn't get home until quarter to six) and he had this elderly couple in stitches. He would turn his head slightly and slowly roll his eyes to look at them and then just giggle, and then he'd spend time "talking" to them with such expressive chatter and gestures with not just his hands, but his entire little body. They were eating it up and egging him on. I tell ya', we've got quite a challenge on our hands for the next sixteen years.

We're having his birthday party this Saturday. That's why I've got to get my house back in order. But like I said, it's coming along ... slowly, but surely. He loves Mickey Mouse, so that's going to be the theme decorations and cake. We're looking forward to that; he'll get to play with his cousins, so that'll be fun.

Our church was supposed to have a revival last week, but it was cancelled because of the snow storm. We need a revival desperately, so please pray for us that it'll come soon. It's not been rescheduled yet because the evangelist didn't know when he'd be able to come, but hopefully it won't be too much longer. I'm trying to plan a time for the ABM service; Anthony's the ABM leader. We're going to try to have one at our house soon, which is another reason I've got to get this house ship-shape fast. Oh, pray for me, ladies. Between work and regular chores at home, it's hard to get to those "back-burner" jobs. It'll happen, though. I'm optimistic.

Well, I guess I'd better get off here and go to bed. I have an evaluation tomorrow by my principal in one of my classes and need to do well on it. Take care, all. Good night and God bless.

By the way, I do have pictures of our tree and of Jackson in his Amish hat; I'm just having a little trouble right now with our camera uploading onto the computer. I'll try to get Anthony on it soon--he's the techie at our house--and try to get those pics on here. :-)