In Montana

Greeting from Christmas wonderland! There is snow, more snow, and lots more snow here, plus icicles hanging from eaves and ice under foot. Incredibly beautiful landscapes surround us, while the local deer add to our enjoyment of the scene.

We began our journey here on Sunday morning, hoping to arrive before the impending death of our son-in-law's mother, but she passed away while we were enroute. I'm so glad she didn't continue to struggle for breath throughout the day. In mid-September (while we here for a visit), she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, stage 4, and given less than a year to live. In the end of September, while Larry was in the hospital, the doctor informed her that she probably had only 2-3 months left to live. In mid-November, that prognosis was upped to only two weeks or less. I began praying that God would take her "home" during the Thanksgiving weekend, before the famly gathering ended, so that her oldest son's family wouldn't have to leave before her time on earth was over. (I'm sure many others were also praying that way.) God graciously answered those prayers, and took her home on Sunday morning. What a way for her to spend Sunday--truly in the House of the Lord!

The memorial service is on Saturday. Our son will arrive on Friday. Our plans are up in the air right now, since Larry doesn't have a job to return to. We will leave here on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

You know the old saying: "When it rains, it pours!" That's how it feels for all of us right now. Fortunately, God's blessings are also being poured out for us, and we will continue to trust and rest in His goodness. Thanks for your prayers!

Two Months

Today marks exactly eight weeks since Larry's heart surgery. He is continuing to do really well!

• His cholesterol level is now done to 118 (previously over 200).


• He is no longer anemic.


• His heart rate is normal and stable.


• His incisions have healed up just fine.


• He now longer has the chills.


• He now longer tires quickly with any exertion of energy.


• Most of his medications have been eliminated or cut in half.

In addition to that, we now have medical insurance with coverage retroactive to September 1st (prior to these enormous medical expenses). This is all in answer to prayer, by you and us, and many others who will probably never read this blog. We thank you and we thank God, more than words can express!

Please continue to pray for employment, just the right job, in just the right place, at just the right time -- all in God's perfect plan. Thanks!

Oh, by the way, Larry is outside working in the yard -- raking and blowing leaves. He is well and we are truly thankfulfor his new lease on life!

Giving Thanks

My "quiet time" reading yesterday:

"We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because You are near.
People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles.

As for me, I will always proclaim what God has done;
I will sing praises to the God of Israel.

You are glorious and more majestic
than the everlasting mountains.

I recall all You have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
[and of the present]They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about them.

O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as You?
You are the God of miracles and wonders!"

(From Psalm 75:1,9; 76:4; 77:11-13)

We are giving thanks today for many wonderful things God has done in our lives -- too many to list. Mostly, we are thankful that we belong to Him, and that we have the assurance that our lives are held in His mighty, protective, loving han

Waiting for . . .

Waiting for dinner? Waiting for fun and games?

This is our neighbor's cat (Razzi) whom we "cat-sit" for occasionally. She provides us with hours of entertainment by trying to catch birds and squirrels in our yard. Here she is sitting on top of my squirrel feeder. She could be waiting for either a bird or a squirrel, since they both use this feeder. I've watched her climb the trees many times, and I've seen her poke her head into this squirrel feeder, but this was the first time to see her just perched here waiting! Apparently, she liked this viewpoint.

We are still waiting on the confirmation of health insurance to cover Larry's medical bills from his recent heart surgery, plus still waiting for the right job to come along for him. There have been phone calls to indicate that our insurance situation is finally being worked out. Twice, in the last week, we have been told that the application was approved, which would provide continuous coverage since September 1st (when he lost his job and insurance coverage), but we are still waiting for something to arrive in the mail that will confirm it all in writing.

The good news we've had is that Larry is returning to really good health! His cholesterol level is now down to 118 (previously was over 200). In the hospital they told him they wanted his cholesterol level under 130. Also, he is no longer anemic. So, now his doctor has cut his cholesterol pill dosage in half, has cut his blood pressure pill dosage in half, has discontinued his pill to keep his heart rate stable, and has discontinued his iron and vitamin C (needed to go with iron). Yea!!! All thanks to God!

Waiting and Trusting

How I wish I had something new to post, but there is nothing new here.

• Larry is continuing to do very well in his recovery process.


• We still have uncertainty regarding insurance coverage. Maybe this week we'll hear . . .


• No good job prospects yet.

We continue to wait on the Lord. In the meantime, we are tired of this waiting period, but continue to trust that God has a good plan for us, and that He will reveal it to us at the right time, according to His knowledge of what's best for us.

Waiting for a very long time on what seems really important to us can be very disheartening. Our lives have been full of uncertainty for almost a year and a half now: first regarding Larry's job situation, next his state of health, and then lack of insurance coverage. However, we have seen God at work in our lives during this time period, and that's really what counts. We want God to develop in us whatever He wants to be seen in us, and we desire to be used by Him in such a way that He gets all the glory and honor. That's really what it's all about -- to be used by Him in whatever circumstances He chooses to place us in or to allow us to go through. It's not easy, but it teaches us to trust Him completely.

We don't know about tomorrow, but we know Who holds our hand.