Tuesday, July 21, 2015

July-December 2014 - FB Postings

One of these days I'll get up to date but of course, this is for my reference.

Today was another one of those days on the road. Of course, that means a lot of think time. One of the things I thought about was of the great teacher that Mark had been to me. He had the patience that comes with it as well. If you knew Mark, you knew that he had a very logical mind and was was full of wisdom. I am so thankful for all the things I learned from him because now they are coming in so handy. A verse I can say of Mark. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." Phil. 1:3-------Thank you, God, for the blessing of having had Mark in my life to teach and guide me and for all the many lessons I learned from him to help me in my daily living now.
Had a memory filled day which equates to a grace filled day. I was visiting my sister in the hospital where she had a knee manipulation done on the knee she had replaced 3 months ago. Thankfully, the doctor seems this was a success and she was feeling pretty well. My memories come from the fact that this was the same hospital my mom had been in when she had a stroke. My dad has been in this hospital twice as recently as this past December. Both my mom and dad are still living and for that, we thank God. Of course, Mark was right by my side through all those visits there in the past. It was quite different not having him there with me but to see how God gives His grace. The hospital was undergoing some renovations so I had to go in a different way so that did help to make things easier on remembering past visits. As I was traveling down, I was thinking of the song "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms". The chorus- "Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms". That for sure is no better place to be than leaning on Jesus!


Missing my sweet 16 year old dog, Copper. Her health had been declining since the first of June. We knew it was just a matter of time and that time came late yesterday afternoon. She was such a good dog and the grandkids really loved her as well as me. She was unusual in that she had one blue eye and one brown one. She had been such a comfort to me since Mark's passing and had made many trips with me. One as recent as our trip to Kentucky the past weekend ago. She traveled so well and was always ready to go. The hard part of having animals is when the time comes for them to leave us as they depart this world.-------- Thank you, Lord, for the time I had with Copper and all the joy and comfort she brought to us. We will miss her so much but know without a doubt that You will give us all the comfort we need!



 
J
 
" For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Would like to share again with my FB family and friends how much I have seen God's love and grace shown to me since March 17 which was the day of Mark's "homegoing". Of course, God's love and grace have always there before but now I feel it so much more! There have been so many things that God has helped me through. Also, many things HE has helped me do which I would never have done before. It definitely is GOD and not me. I do praise HIM, my gracious Heavenly Father, for all HIS wondrous love and care!!! A special thanks, too, for all who have been praying for me. It definitely means a lot.

Five months ago today my dear hubby woke up in Glory and called it Home. We can only imagine how wondrous that must be but knowing he's with our Saviour brings me comfort and peace.

And he said, The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; The God of my Rock; in Him will I trust: He is my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my high Tower, and my Refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence.---II Sam. 22:2-3

Here we are at another anniversary, 6 months/half a year since my beloved Mark's "Homegoing". I took a trip down memory lane looking at pictures and remembering all the wonderful years we shared together. I miss him so very much but feel so blessed to have been able to share almost 40 years of my life with such a wonderful, Godly man! After his suffering in pain for so many years, it always gives me comfort to know he suffers no more and he's safe in the arms of Jesus. What better place to be!


Prayers appreciated for my family tonight especially my dad. My dear mom entered Heaven tonight. My parents had just celebrated 69 years on October 6 and my mom just had her 87th birthday yesterday. So thankful for her and raising me up in the Christian home I had. I miss her so, but thankful she's with Jesus now. Today also is 7 months since my wonderful husband entered Heaven. I miss him so much, too. I can say without a doubt that God's grace has sustained me and I give Him the glory. Dear Heavenly Father, your plan and timing is always best and I know that I can lean on you and you're always there for me!

"Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine."
This is the chorus of the song "Moment by Moment" written by Daniel Webster Whittle. What a great and wonderful blessing that song is!

 November 17, 2014
In Heaven, but Forever in My Heart! I Miss You So Much! My dear Mark gone eight months and my sweet mom gone one month."When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!"



















Our first Thanksgiving without our beloved Mark. He was so missed by all of us but we rejoice knowing he's with our Saviour and we'll see him again one day soon. This picture is with all our sweet grandchildren as we placed our Christmas arrangement at the graveside. Also wanted to add that even with missing Mark and my mom as well, that we had a blessed Thanksgiving with all our children and grandchildren.

Here it is 9 months since the passing of my sweetie and 2 months since my mom has been gone. I've done a fair amount of thinking of what our loved ones in Heaven are doing. Actually, my mom and I were talking about that just the day before she passed away. Little did we know the next day she would be there. There are so many different thoughts and views on that subject and I guess it really doesn't matter except to those who are left behind. I was thinking that maybe God left it that way so He could minister to each one in the way that was most comforting and best for them. He definitely has done that for me time and again. One thing that has given me comfort since my mom passed are that Mark and her are together rejoicing in our dear Lord's presence. For this we know to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We will miss them so much this Christmas but when I think of how blessed they are to be with our Lord, it will give the comfort I need. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” …... Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for your amazing grace that saved me and your amazing grace that sustains me each day.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

June 2014 - FB Postings

This song kept coming to mind today so wanted to share it with you. I thank you, dear Lord, for bringing things (whether your Word, songs or people) into our lives to bless our hearts. This is one of Fanny Crosby's great songs.
"All The Way My Savior Leads Me"
All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

Had two great visits today which were a blessing. One was with a dear friend and the other was with family. Also, God brought another song to mind that was special and meant a lot. I'm not sure of the title of this song or any other words. I tried a search for it but could only find the following part which I already knew.
I never walk alone, Christ walks beside me.
He is the dearest Friend I’ve ever known;
With such a Friend to comfort and to guide me,
I never, no, I never walk alone..
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

 June 7, 2014

 
 
Lamentations 3:23
"They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy Hand hath provided--"Great is Thy Faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

June 11, 2014 

 

 
Sharing 4 decades with my dear Mark was such a pleasure. All the wonderful memories I'll always treasure. -June 14, 1974



June 15, 2014

 This is a tribute to our wonderful children, Ben, "Alissa Smith-Lawrence", Jessica Smith," Jeremy Smith", in loving memory of your dear dad! He was always so thankful how all of you were serving the Lord and raising our precious grandchildren in the Lord and of course, I am as well! A verse in your honor is 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." It was his prayer that all the grandchildren would be saved. You know that is my desire, too, as well as yours. That would be the best legacy! Love you all very much and praying for you today as this will be a big "first". Happy Father's Day, Ben and Jeremy

June 21, 2014
This week was a tough one, for sure. It's great all the wonderful memories I have of my life with Mark but the "missing him" part can be very hard at times. Can't stress enough how good God has been to lift me up in those difficult times. His lovingkindness and tender mercies are so sweet and get me through time and again! A verse that comes to mind is:
" Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;" Psalms 103:4
There's a song, too, that comes to mind (in particular verse 3 and chorus:
So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through
Cause if I never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them
I wouldn't know what faith in His Word could do
Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to depend upon His Word

June 28, 2014
  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

 

 
 

March 17, 2015 - Post from FB- First Anniversary of Mark's Home Going

I had posted this on my FB time line on March 17, 2015, but somehow it got deleted and I wanted to keep it.  I thought of reposting on FB but thought I would just put it here since it is for my benefit.  I'm also attaching our last picture taken together by one of our granddaughters.  This was for my birthday which little did I know it would be the last one I would have with Mark.



Today is now a year since losing my dear husband. That was the hardest thing I have experienced in my life so far. I had hoped that Mark and I would grow old together but that wasn't part of God's plan. This has been a year of me growing in the Lord and of course, missing Mark. I have felt God's presence in my life and He has been my faithful Guide and Comforter. I know God's way is perfect and my life is in His hands. His grace and mercy have gotten me through this year. I do so appreciate all the prayers on my behalf. One of my FB friends, Steve, had posted this verse a few months back and I thought I would share it.

There is Another Side of Grief

Where the tears still flow
Not as often
Where memories bring smiles
Not just sadness
Where blessings are recognized
Not just struggles
Where joy and peace are present
Not just sorrow
Where you are remembered
Not just mourned.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

May 2014 - FB Postings

I guess I took a little break or should I say a big one.  Just thought I'd continue my diary from FB posts as that is where I have done my postings.  I'll start where I left off which was May.  So here goes:

"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."- Psalm 62:7
Before I lost Mark, I could only imagine what someone was going through when they lost someone dear to them but now I can feel for them and know what the loss really feels like. When you know that special one is in Heaven, it does make it easier to bear. However, when you no longer have them by your side to do all the things you were so used to doing with them, it does make quite the void, to say the least. Keeping busy helps which I've been doing but he's still always right there on my mind. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father who is watching over me and taking care of me. He has given me comfort and peace beyond measure.-"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." II Cor. 1:3-4

I am so blessed to have my mother and mother in love still with us! I'm thankful for their love, prayers and guidance for us throughout the many years. Thankful, too, for my sweet daughter and daughter in love who are wonderful mothers and bringing up our precious grandchildren in the Lord! I had a wonderful day but missed hubby, of course. A mixed feeling regarding him today - wishing he was here but rejoicing he's with Jesus. It's been a busy day so now I can finally say on FB- Happy Mother's Day to all my family and friends who are mothers! Blessings to you all.

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may REST from their labours; and their works do follow them."--------It's been 8 weeks today and this verse gave great comfort that Mark is sweetly resting with our Saviour.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." - Isaiah 26:3

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13.... Thank you, dear Jesus, for your continued strength to me each day.

I heard this song today as I was out driving and what a blessing it was to me. I thought I would share a couple of verses and the chorus.
"My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me"
I trust in God wherever I may be,
Upon the land or on the rolling sea,
For, come what may, from day to day,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

Chorus
I trust in God, I know He cares for me,
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Tho' billows roll, He keeps my soul,
My heavn'ly Father watches over me.
The valley may be dark, the shadows deep
But O, The Shepherd guards His lonely sheep;
And thru the gloom, He'll lead me home
My heav'nly Father watches over me.
Thank you dear Father for Your love and care for me and how You are always there watching out for me and I'm never alone.

A very special thanks to those who gave their lives for serving our country and we wish to thank those who have served and are currently serving.
"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."-Psalms 34:8