Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Special Blessings

On Thursday, July 13th our new little grandson made his debut. Mark ANdrew Stachowicz was born at 2:34 AM at Winter Park Hopsital. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 12 ozs. and was 19 1/2 inches long. At first glance he reminded all of us of his big brother Blake and Blake of course is beaming at that news!
As I write this he is asleep in the pack and play in our family room oblivious to everything. Jen, Mark, Blake and Mark Andrew came over yesterday afternoon in the midst of a storm because the septic system has backed up in their house. Mark has gone over there this morning to meet the men who will fix it.
It was a very emotional week for me as the baby needed to have 2 sonograms of his kidney area and then an abdominal x-ray as they did not know if he has a csyt on his kidney or a mass. Thank God it appears to be a cyst and the Doctors feel that it will dissolve. And then of course Bob does not have a job and we are putting the house on the market tomorrow... so it all caught up with me.
I look at this baby and want to be able to offer him what I was able to offer his big brother... a Gram who can take care of him instead of a daycare... and I don't know if that will happen. I look at Mark Andrew and understand from a mother's perspective how difficult it is at times to love a child. You love them so much and give them all the love that you have in your heart and then sometimes when they are adults they hurt you deeply. I know that is how I sometimes treat my Heavenly Father who has lavished so much love on me.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Blessed Be Your Name

The Bible tells us to give thanks in all things. It's so easy to praise God and to give thanks when everything is going according to "our plans" but certainly we all seem to struggle with giving thanks in the midst of the painful times. God's word teaches us that He uses those times for good... He grows us and teaches us to become more dependent on Him. To trust as we maybe never have before.

On Sunday we went to church and one of the songs that we sang was the song "Blessed Be Your Name". I love that song and it is such a reminder of how we need to praise our God.

We are still in the "desert place" as Bob has not found a job yet, but I can honestly say I feel God's peace in the midst of it all. I think that in some ways it actually has been a "Good" time for Bob and I. We haven't spent this much time together since I was pregnant with Robert some 35 years ago. I think that it has brought us closer and helped us both to remember God's faithfulness at other low points in our lives.

So I will say .... Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name... Blessed be the name of the Lord...Blessed be Your glorious name.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Happy 4th of July 2006
Well, I have had lots of time to practice my patience and just waiting on God. Bob lost his job about 7 weeks ago (it seems longer) due to downsizing at his company. We have been sending out resumes and so far he does not have a job. We are even looking outside of Florida, but so far nothing has turned up. We are doing our part... the networking and sending out resumes and talking to Recruiters and trusting that our God who shut this door will soon open another.

In the interim we are getting lots of home improvement work done. We spent this past weekend weeding, planting flowers in the spots of those which succumbed to the heat and mulching. We are both sore, but the yard looks happy :)

I have also finished 2 quilts that had been on the chair for a while, caught Blake's personal Scrapbook up and started working on some craft ideas. My creative brain has kicked in once again. I think it has been asleep for a bit.

I also started facilitating a Pathway to Purpose Book Study at my church. It's a small group of women, most of whom are my Morning Glory friends, but I am looking forward to seeing how god will move each of us during this study.

God is so good. Everyday He gives me glimpses of His great faithfulness. Despite the fact that Bob isn't working and our cash reserves are dwindling it many ways it has been good as it has brought us closer once again. It has been a reminder to me as I sit here and write this morning of the early days in our marriage. I got pregnant with Robert 3 months after we married and the day the Doctor confirmed my pregnancy Bob lost his job. And then... to make matters worse I had to quit working because my blood pressure was so low that I needed to be off my feet. So there we were, no money in the bank, a mortgage and bills to pay and no income except for a small check every week from unemployment. Gosh, were we scared!

Bob's uncle put him to work doing carpentry for him and that kept us afloat and allowed us to pay bills. God was faithful then and He has been in so many instances in our lives.

He is the Shepherd who walks with us through all of the valleys.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Musings from the Gram: January 2006: "Thank God It's Friday
I love Fridays ... even though I no longer work in the corporate world because after Friday comes the weekend. Saturdays and Sundays we can usually sleep a little later and the pace slows down.
This morning I got up and met my friend, Jerry at Einsteins for a bagel and coffee. Then, we were off to the quilt show at the Central Florida Fairgrounds.
We checked out all of the vendors first, but amazingly enough we did not buy anything the first time around!
Then, we viewed the quilts. One in particular really stood out as it was a portrait of a young girl and the quilting and detail were outstanding!
After we viewed the quilts, bought raffle tickets for a doll house that will be raffled off we went back to our favorite booths.
Good Homes had some wonderful fabrics and Jerry just wanted to stuff 2 of the suitcases that they housed their fabric in in her bag. I bought 4 fat quarters in the pink family in case my unborn grandchild is a girl.
After that it was off to lunch... we eat and shop well.
Then, I had a had a pro bono client to coach and after that homework with my partner.
Now, I am waiting for my son and his family to come in from South Florida. They have been skiing for 1 week and I can't wait to hear all about their trip and to smother them with hugs and kisses."
Musings from the Gram: January 2006: "January 15, 2005

I am embarking on a new journey in that I am training to become a Certified Life Coach and having a blog site is something that was suggested for us to be able to share thoughts with others.

I am half way through the first Level and I am really enjoying it and excited to see how God is working in my life. Everyday I feel that I am learning something new and realize that each step of my journey thus far, has brought me to this point.

I have loved being a Mom and the absolute best is being a Gram, but I know that I am a story in progress as we all are and the Lord needs more from me. He needs me to step out of my comfort zone and to reach out to other women who have stories that they also need to tell.

So, please pray for me as I begin this new chapter and help me to be all that the Lord needs me to be for His kingdom and His greater glory.

Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"
Musings from the Gram

Today was my Morning Glories' Day. I am so blessed to have such wonderful sisters in Christ. We share our lives, have lots of fun and get to rejoice with one another as well as comfort one another.

This morning we met at church and Diane is our lively girl and she was telling a story and we all began to laugh... our Pastor came in and said that we were having way too much fun and that they could here us out on the main road. Of course, he was joking (I hope) and I could tell that he was pleased that we all loved being together.

This afternoon I have been getting caught up with Ministry details and working at clearing off my desk area. I designed a brochure for my Coaching and Life Facilitation Ministry and that came out pretty good.

I love what I am doing and just pray that God will continue to grow me in His image and help me to be all that He designed me to be.

I wrote the other day about my granddaughter Emma and her favorite song right now is "My Redeemer Lives" ... I forgot to mention that she also asked her Mom if Jesus was coming back on Sunday because if He was she wanted to be at home.
Childlike faith ... it is what we all need to have.

Monday, June 12, 2006

My Redeemer Lives

Last week my daughter-in-law Susan called to tell me that Emma's new favorite song is "My Redeemer Lives" by Nicole C. Mullen. How wonderful it is to see these precious little ones already enjoying Christian music. The words to this song are so special because our Redeemer does live... He is alive and is with us through all the confusion in our lives. What hope for these little ones to have to hang onto and what assurance it gives to all of us.

We have had lots of celebrations in our family this weekend. Our daughter Jenny is pregnant and due in 5 weeks. She and her husband, Mark who celebrates his 36th birthday today are the parents of Blake and will now have a new little son, Harrison on or about July 13th. Happy Birthday Mark.

Our "adopted" child Kendra flew in from Massachusetts for the Baby Shower which we had on Saturday and so that was very special. Kendra is actually Bob's cousins daughter and she grew up with our children when we lived in Massachusetts.
We have remained close despite the miles and she is such a blessing to us.

Yesterday we spent the day at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee as Ryan and Mark have to be there for a conference. We were able to have a lazy afternoon watching the little ones swim ands slide in the kiddie pool. Then we all went out to dinner in the tourist trap where we clebrated Mark's birthday.

It was a very full weekend, but we always walk away rejoicing in family. It is the best gift God has ever given us.
June 12, 2006

Well it is my son-in-law Mark's birthday today... so Happy Birthday Mark. He is a great guy and married to our daughter, Jennifer who is expecting a little boy in about 5 weeks. We had a Baby Shower for her on Saturday. It was wonderful and I think that they got everything they needed and more!

It was funny Mark's Mom and I were talking and wondered how any of our children survived without all of the safety itemsa that they have today. We didn't even have car seats for our precious children!

We had lots of family time this weekend our favorite "adopted" child even flew in from New England. Kendra is the daughter of Bob's cousin Tony who lives in Massachusetts. She and her siblings were very close to our 3 children growing up and we have kept the lines of communication open and have a very special relationship with this sweet young woman. She has blessed our lives so very much and we are grateful that despite the miles we have been able to remain close.

Last week my daughter-in-law Susan called to tell me that Emma's new favorite song is "My Redeemer Lives." I love that song because it is such a vivid reminder for all of us that He does live. In the midst of the choas He is there; in the midst of our pain He is there; in the midst of our joys, He is there. He never leaves us and He cares about every aspect of our lives. I am so blessed by being able to see these precious little ones grwoing up loving Jesus. There is nothing better.