thread for middle age to older Christian women.
Comments
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wheatfields, I will continue to pray for your sister and nurse friend who is becoming discouraged. We all know how hard it is to KNOW something isn't right but to be told that nothing is wrong. It is, indeed, discouraging.
I'm looking forward to my MRI tomorrow and hope I can get some answers. But even that is in the Lord's hands, so who am I to fret about that? (Not saying that I won't fret, but at least I have the prayers of friends lifting me up.)
Love to all,
Carol
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TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
This poem was written by a Marine. The
following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is
due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate
these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of
what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and
dead! , who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part
to plant this small seed.
May God Bless You and Have A Great Day0 -
Thank you for posting the poem, Nancy!
It was indeed written by a Marine! Its author is James M. Schmidt. He was a Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C., when he wrote it in 1986. The poem was entitled "Merry Christmas, My Friend" and was published in Leatherneck (Magazine of the Marines) in December 1991.
Source: Leatherneck. "Gyrene Gyngles." December 1991 (p. 79).
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Hershey, thank you for the background info on that poem. Obviously you know about it but I only saw it for the first time today posted on Nextdoor. My Dad was a marine in WW11 and I know well into his senior years he still had nightmares about it and would yell out in a non human sounding voice. It was scary for me hearing it and I can't imagine what he was experiencing in his nightmare. He was engaged in battle but he never talked about it. I think he was only 18 yrs old when he enlisted.
Carol, I have prayed for you for your MRI knowing how upset you have been. I pray you get very quick results and that you can feel God's presence during this very difficult time.
Wheatfields, I have prayed for your sister knowing that she will be moving in less than a week. I am praying for your BIL too as he will need a lot of strength to get through this transition. I am praying for your nurse friend as well that she can get on meds that will work for her and not make her feel bad. My sister has been diagnosed with AFib this year and I am not sure what meds she is on. She is always so busy voluntering that many times I don't hear from her for quite a long time and then like today she will text me a gazillion times when I am in the middle of things. She doesn't talk about it much. I will pray for you as this is hard to watch any family member going through this. I know your nurse friend is a good friend and it is hard seeing your friend struggling.
Teka, I hope you area doing well and getting ready for the holidays. I was so tickled this morning. Yesterday it had occurred to me that all of Cammie's glitter balls had all disappeared. I put out one for her last night and she looked quite intently at it. Then this morning she had eaten so much food in her bowl and there was the glitter ball right in her food bowl. She loves to do this and that tells me she was playing in the night. It was so comforting to me because I have been worried that her new arthritis injections were affecting her appetitie in a bad way. She is jumping up and down from my bed and my chair more easily now so I know the injections are working. Now if she can continue to eat well I will be thrilled. How is Teka? Some may not know that your cat is named Teka.
Chris, I hope you are still feeling well enough to continue your decorating. I am sure it will be beautiful.
I took everything out of my laundry room that was not high up over my cabinets and scrubbed the floor and waxed it. Yes, I have some very old linoleum in there. I washed all the rugs and towels used to catch all the water when trying to pour water down that drain with the grill still on it. The good news is now it smells fresh of lemon which is so wonderful and no more foul odor.
Have a good night dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Carol, I hope you are enjoying the visit with your dad. Your medical team is to be commended for their swift action ordering an MRI, and the scheduler is a gem to find the Saturday morning appointment for you. I pray that you receive useful and good results from the procedure.
Wheatfields, I continue to pray for your family and nurse friend. I hope the specialist can zero in on a solution for your friend's fatigue.
Nancy, your comments about your father's nightmares hit home with me. My father suffered from nightmares due to his service in the Korean War. Like numerous men of that generation, he never discussed wartime things. It must have been so very difficult for him, your father, and other veterans. I am thankful that some resources now exist for veterans who suffer from PTSD.
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Nancy, that poem gave me goosebumps.
The short version of my weekend was my MRI was cancelled because the equipment was down. Next available (as I was told by the receptionist who appeared not to care) is December 17! I will call scheduling directly this morning when they open at 8 am.
It's all good, and DH and I had a long discussion on the ride home yesterday about God's plans and his goodness. Am trying to put it all into words. Nancy, thank you for posting earlier after my needing "peace like a river." I MUST be able to say, "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well with my soul."
DH ended up in urgent care last night. He's OK. An abscess in his armpit. Of course, I'm thinking lymph node = cancer, but it was "just" either a reaction to his deodorant or an ingrown hair. DH said the PA said he had seen three of those cases that night. Glad we went it. Urgent Care was quiet, and we were in and out within an hour.
Will update when I hear more.
Love to all,
Carol
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This is a new song which I have heard on my Christian radio station as I am in the car. It is by Need To Breathe and is called Fall on Me. When I watched the video their interpretation of the lyrics was different than mine but I think you will understand how I was thinking about it. The video is touching and I love the music and lyrics. I know some of you are going through very difficult times and I thought you might be blessed by this.
Have a good night dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, I will come back and listen to it later this afternoon.
Talked with my dad this am and told him we'd be out on Sunday after I finish my MRI. My sister from Utah will also arrive on Sunday and then the fun times will begin. I think she'll stay through the following weekend. Not sure when we'll head back. Probably the Sunday or Monday after Thanksgiving. My dad is planning to leave for Seattle the Monday after Thanksgiving, but that could change.
My schedule is MRI on the 19th, CT and nuc med scans on the 28th, and MO appointment and Zometa infusion on the 29th. Our kids are coming down the following week and will be here from the 7th through the 10th. I'll have to hide all my knitting/crocheting baby stuff that I'm working on for them. Or, maybe not. We shall see.
Not much else going on here. No more appointment this week for me. Yahoo!
Love to all,
Carol
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Nancy, I need to listen later too, but thank you for posting. I am still on the email list for my choir in San Diego so I get the links the director posts so I can listen to them, including the Christmas musical. My guilty pleasure!
I had a rough morning…actually I have not been well since my infusion and shots last Friday. But I am hoping what is happening today is finishing what was started Friday. I finally got a shower (out of necessity!) and have dinner planned for tonight so hopefully I will be up to the challenge. I put a laundry load in the washer although my DH had to load the soap and start it. Part of my problem is I hate sitting here looking at a dirty house. My DH would do whatever I need but he is online right now earning money, teaching an online class, so I hate to ask too much since I don't teach online anymore. I'll get there.
Praying down blessings for everyone here.
Chris
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Carol, you mentioned in a previous post that your MRI was December 17. Was that a mistake or did you get an earlier date ?I hope the later is the case. I hope you have a good time with your family.
Chris, I sure hope you feel much better. I am all too familiar with beating myself up when my house doesn't look like I want but I am not feeling well enough to do what I feel like I need to do. I wish I had an answer to that for you. I would hire a cleaning lady if money were not an issue. I had a cleaning lady the last few years of teaching but with all the cost of taking care of an aging house it is difficult now. If you thought you could swing it I would absolutely recommend maybe having someone come in once a month. You certainly have justification of not feeling up to it and you surely shouldn't feel bad about your DH teaching online and you are not. I am sure he is not expecting you to do some of these things you are not feeling up to. I remember taking a course for teachers on dealing with stress. You can imagine it was well attended as we all know teaching is stressful. It was taught by two nuns who were psychologists. I remember this phrase all of these years later. "You should not SHOULD on yourself". When I am actively doing that I remember that sentence.
Take care dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, after several phone calls to scheduling, I was able to get my MRI moved from December 17 to this Sunday, November. I just heard back from the GI doc and am copying and pasting below:
I’m cross posting because my hands are shaking and it’s hard to write, but I wanted to share:
The GI doc who did the most recent procedure and biopsy called to tell me the cancer has, in fact, spread to my esophagus and lymph nodes in that area. He is going to call my MO and the RO to discuss a treatment plan. He thinks it will probably be IV chemo and radiation. He said if I can’t get enough nutrition/hydration orally I will need a feeding tube. He doesn’t want to put a stent into my esophagus because they can be very uncomfortable and can migrate. I’m still able to eat, so hopefully I can hold off on the feeding tube. Ensure will continue to be my friend.
I am holding off telling my dad and sister until I have a treatment plan in place.
This just sucks and I’m so upset. This is not what I wanted to hear, but in one way, it’s good to know that it’s not just something in my head – although the MRI may show something there – haha.
I’ll share more as I know more.
Love to all,
Carol
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Oh Carol. I am so sorry to hear your report. My hands would be shaking too. We will certainly all be praying for you during this most distressing recent news. I am praying you will NOT need a feeding tube.
Love,
Nancy
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Carol, holding you up to our Heavenly Father in prayer that you can hold off on the feeding tube and the chemo can knock this cancer back. Praying you can drink enough nutritients. May He hold you close. Love, Chris
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Thank you, dear sisters! I have plenty of Ensure and will add protein powder as needed. I won't tell my dad until I have a plan, but please lift up my dear husband. My heart hurts for him.
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Oh Carol, I'm so sorry that you received this report. I pray that IV chemo tames the cancer and a feeding tube is unnecessary. Of course we will all pray for your husband as well. I hope that you find encouragement when you meet with your physicians.
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I am so sorry to hear your news Carol. We're praying that your MO and physicians have a plan to arrest the cancer and that a feeding tube is not necessary. And praying that the Peace like a River never leaves your heart and mind! Also, praying for your DH and family. We heard a good message Sunday about walking through the storm with Jesus and the illustration was of Peter walking on the water. He will walk with you through this storm as he has all the other storms.
I took my nurse friend to emergency Monday evening. She called saying something's not right, I can't think clearly, I need to go to the hospital. So I drove to emergency and I could tell they immediately were checking for signs of a stroke. They took her for some other scans, I was shaking like a leaf, and thought I'm going to need someone here who hears better than I do. So I called a couple that we both know quite well from our church. And she responded to my text. We're on our way. I was so relieved. They let the wife in while the husband had to wait in the lobby. By time she came back from the scans she was talking more clearly but looking to me to remember things and answer questions. They kept her over night for observation and did more tests yesterday and concluded everything looked normal but she may have had a small TIA. It is a real switch for me, I'm used to her knowing the answer to these medical things and knowing what to do. So we never did get to that appointment on Tuesday with a specialist.
It does sound like everything is on schedule for my sister to move into memory care. She was telling me on the phone last night that her son is coming to visit this week.
Chris, also praying that you are feeling better.
Praying for all of you and thank you for your prayers
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Thank you, dear sisters. I’m feeling a bit emotional this morning. I dread telling my dad and my sister and one neighbor in particular. I just re-printed my sheet of “Reminders When I’m Tempted to Worry” since I gave it to a friend recently.
I especially need Proverbs 1:33 – “Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” That’s the end of the verse, but the most fitting. Then there’s 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you…”
Wheatfields, I’m glad you were there for your friend. TIAs are frightening, too. I’m glad they kept her overnight for observation. Prayers for your sister as she moves into Memory Care.
I’m waiting to hear from my MO. Hopefully that will be this morning.
Love to all,
Carol
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Wheatfields, I am sure that was a very scary experience for both of you. I am so glad it worked out with your friends from church coming to help in this situation. I have been praying for your sister and DH as the big move is coming shortly. I am glad her son will be there as well. Praying for strength for you too.
Carol, I have been fervently praying for you. I didn't get to sleep until 4 am so I had a lot of time to pray for you. It is certainly understandable that you are emotional today. God will be with you every step of the way when you tell your family. He will show Himself strong for you. God gives us grace and pace through each season of our lives. He portions out what we need and he wants our pace to be in line with His. I heard this bit of wisdom on the radio recently and it is such a good gem of wisdom. I wish I could give you a big hug but know that we are all surrounding you with prayer.
Love,
Nancy
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Thank you, Nancy. I had my video visit with my MO. She said we're still in the information gathering stage but we are going to move on to the next line of treatment. The jury is out on whether the "new" cancer is ER+ or ER-. She's going to switch me to another med and I have an appointment with the RO on Friday. I will get my regular scans and see her the week after Thanksgiving. I'm feeling a little better and will hopefully be able to share this news in a positive way with my dad. Thank you for your continued prayers!
Carol
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Wheatfields, I hope your nurse friend is feeling better. What a scary experience for the both of you. It's wonderful that the couple from church came to the hospital to support you and your friend. Is today your sister's moving day? I am praying that it is a smooth transition for her and your family.
Carol, I hope the appointment with the RO goes well. Please know that you are in my prayers.
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This is weird. I couldn't get into this thread this morning. Finally did and it took me back to posts from 2020. I think I'm caught up, but I may have missed some posts.
My MO ordered a PET which I was able to schedule for 12/7. MRI still scheduled for this Sunday and will see the RO this afternoon.
A girlfriend is dropping by this morning, our kids are arriving tonight, another friend is dropping by tomorrow, then two friends are dropping by Sunday morning before my MRI.
I'm working on my next blog - "Silver Linings." It's coming along.
Gotta run,
Love to all,
Carol
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Wheatfields, your sister and DH and you have been in my prayers as I know this is moving day. I have asked the Lord to put a protective bubble around your sister to smooth the transition, strength and comfort for her DH and comfort for you as well. Praying that your friend stablizes and starts to feel better.
Carol, I am glad your kids will be coming in and that you have a great support of friends who are coming along side you at this time. Praying all goes according to plan and you can get your MRI in on Sunday.
Teka, we love when you post and love YOU whether you post or not.
Chris, how are you feeling? Praying always for you.
Hershey, do you have plans for Thanksgiving?
GB, what will you and your family be doing for Thanksgiving.
My sister is having the family but I have opted out for Thanksgiving as Cammie needs so much care. The plan is I will go down for a short visit at Christmas. I haven't seen my family since last Christmas.
I am having lunch with a friend today. This is probably the last of our wonderful last few days in the 60's. Today starts the decline in temps back to reality of the fickle weather of the Chicago area.
Take care dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Dear ladies,
Thank you so much for your continued prayers! What a blessing and encouragement! It sounds as though the move now is planned for Monday. It seems as though this is going to be very hard around the holidays. I'm praying to that she will be able to operate her i phone when she is in memory care, for we talk each evening. And I suspect her husband helps her receive a call at times. My nurse friend is feeling better and we are gathering up some new pills (a statin, an acid blocker, etc.). I discovered how to do a voice memo on my phone when we go to doctor appointments, but have yet to figure out how to transcribe them into print. Actually I can get it to print out on my phone but want to have it on sheets of paper.
Carol, I'm praying the MRI will go well on Sunday and there will be a silver lining in this cloud! So glad your family are gathering together!
Chris, we're praying that you are feeling better.
Nancy, I know what you mean about the last days of nice temperatures! It is going down hill! Praying for you and Cammie.
Hershey, we're praying for you and your husband.
Praying that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Love, Wheatfields
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Wheatfields, I'll continue to pray for the postponed move. I can't really say for sure about if they will let her use her Iphone. When I volunteered at an assisted living facility and many of those years were on the lock down floor where the memory care residents were I never saw anyone with any phones.
My Mom did use her cellphone for a while in her assisted living facility but then she forgot how to use it but before that she started calling my sister and I in the middle of the night without realizing what time it was.
I would imagine that they must have some way that the residents can speak to their family. I did remember that one of the really nice CMA's would help my Mom when she started forgetting how to use her phone.
I know that is going to be hard for both of you if you are used to talking every night. I will pray about that too.
Have a good night.
Love,
Nancy
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Hershey, I realized I never responded to your post regarding your Dad having nightmares from his time in the Korean War. I guess it is funny that I never thought of my Dad's nightmares in the context of PTSD. I suppose at that time you didn't hear as much about it as you do now. It didn't seem to affect his waking hours so I guess even later after he died I never thought of it that way but I guess it would be considered PTSD. At any rate the men and women who are in battle cannot unsee so many things. Now that we have these events televised all over the world it is just absolutely horrible seeing it in our living rooms. I can't imagine seeing those things in person. God help our world that at times seems to be spinning off its axis. God is still in control no matter how we feel about things.
Love,
Nancy
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Carol, I heard this on the radio as I was driving tonight. I was able to find it online. The author is Christine Caine. She is a very powerful Christian speaker. I thought of you when I heard this. Praying for you dear sister.
Each one of us can put ourselves in these words and perhaps view our circumstances in a totally different light.
“Nothing about my birth - or yours - was random or accidental. I was born for this time - and so were you. We were each chosen for a particular, cosmically important task that can be done by no one else.”
― Christine Caine, Undaunted: Daring to do what God calls you to do0 -
Nancy, that's beautiful! I'm thankful beyond words that I have a husband who shares my faith and my beliefs.
It is well with my soul…
Carol
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I did something for the first time ever. I got up in the dark and traveled to see the sunrise over this river that I was hoping would have fog. Last night I went out and bought a headlamp and glove warmers because I knew it was going to be cold and dark. All things lined up as I had hoped and I wanted to share my very first sunrise photos. I used to joke (actually stealing a line from someone I heard) LOL that if God wanted me to see a sunrise he would have put it at noon.
This was quite magical and really difficult to actually photograph what I was seeing.
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Carol, praying for you for tomorrow.
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Nancy, your photos are stunning! And to get up before sunrise by yourself is a big deal. I might consider it with DH or with a friend, but not by myself. What a reward!
Thank you for the prayers. Hopefully, the MRI will go as scheduled. Kids are here, which is wonderful. Baby is now the size of a pecan! This is so much fun!
Much love to all,
Carol
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