September's almost over...

With the end of September coming up, we are hoping for some cooler weather.  Actually it hasn't bothered me so much, but it sure has taken a toll on Don.  He's not alone in that.  Everyone seems to be tired of the heat and humidity.  Are we ever pleased by conditions?  We complain it's too hot, too cold, we complain we have too much rain, not enough rain.  We grumble and complain about the governments (no matter which country we talk about).  Where does praise and thanksgiving come in?  I've had so much time to simply "think" lately.  And a lot of it has been on attitude and circumstances.

For the last 7 weeks I've done almost nothing but lay or sit.  I don't handle that very well.  And I was complaining about it.  Then I felt guilty.  Honestly, WHY was I complaining?  Don and Vero were watching Savanah.  Don doing most of the cooking and between him and Vero the house was cleaned and wash done.  Maybe not just as I would have wanted to do it, but it was done.  I was able to pray and read and yes, heal.  

Then I got to thinking... I was complaining when in the US that all I was doing was looking at 3 walls and a ceiling and I could do that at home.  I should have been praising God that I COULD see.  That I COULD read.  We forget the everyday things when we look at circumstances.  Yes, my foot hurt.  Yes, I didn't like being in a wheelchair.  Yes, I got frustrated when I couldn't DO things I wanted to. But what about what I COULD do?  I was able to talk to my children often.  I was able to rest and relax.  And I was able to go to the store (although it took Don a lot of work for me to do that).  I should have been praising God Don was there to help.  That I was able to talk to my kids.  That I could enjoy talking with friends and co-workers at MFI.  

Then I started thinking and praying... God help me to be more thankful for what I have.  Help me to be thankful that I have a way to get the help for my situation.  Help me to spend time praying for those I love and for those who have situations even a lot worse than mine.  And most of all Lord, help me to be Your light for others.  Help me to stop complaining and to start praising and showing others that there is hope and peace through you.  Then I prayed... LORD USE ME IN MY CIRCUMSTANCES TO BRING GLORY TO YOU!   

Am I feeling better?  Am I healing?  Yes, to both.  But more to the point, I'm letting God use me in His way now, WHERE I'M AT, for Him.  I am so blessed by so many people and by so many things.   I look at the wheelchair I used... I'm out of it now... but there are others who will never leave theirs.  I put the crutches aside and am thankful I don't have to use them... when others would be happy to have the chance to use them.  And the cane...I don't use it often now, but it will be unused soon... when others would be happy to depend on something so simple.  God has blessed me and I want to share that with others.  

I'm actually starting to catch up on my work here.  Not all of it, but it will come.  One huge miracle is that I sat down at my desk top.... remember the one that quit working and no one seemed to be able to get it up and going?  Well, I don't know how (yes, I do, the Lord!!) but I (YES, ME, KAREN) got it working.  I am able to use it now ON THE INTERNET, too!!!  And Don found out (another miracle) that the reason we had so much trouble getting on the internet was not our satellite server, it was our WI FI!!!  A new on is on order and we are praising God for that!!  

Yes, I know, there are those of you out there who thought it was all me... that anything electronic I touched quit... but guess what??  It wasn't ME, it was circumstances again.  God is so good to us and He sure has been working in our lives lately.  

We finally have the papers on the trucks up to date so they can be used.  Then we found out there was no fuel to be purchased at this time.  So, trucks were still sitting.  Don found some fuel he forgot he had and was able to get to town today.  And then one of the stations now has fuel.  We definitely walk by faith, and God has walked before us in that.  

In just one week we have the BIG DAY at the airport here.  On Oct. 2nd, American Airlines will have their first flight into CAP.  We have a plane that day, so we will be there, but it will be a huge celebration for the airport too.  Don and I will both be going, if we can find someone to watch Savanah.  We have been at the airport longer than any other person there. We have seen a lot of changes over the years but this is one of the biggest ones and we are happy to be a part of it.

Well, my "quiet time" has ended.  Savanah has woken up, so I'll close.  We are praying God will work in your lives as He has been doing in ours.  That He opens your eyes to see how blessed you are by all you have and all you can do.  Now we, as well as you, need to start using those blessings to honor Him, and to show others what blessings God has bestowed on us.    

We are finally HOME!

It's with joy and thanksgiving I can say we are finally home.  On my return visit to the doctor, he said I could go back home, if I kept an eye on things.  And he sent me with a month of antibiotics.  We had a good flight back.  Our friend Ray brought us home from the airport.  What a relief to be back home again.  I wanted to share a picture I took on the plane.  It was a great sunrise right after we took off from Fort Pierce.  (I put the photo here, but not sure if it's working.  If not I'll try again in a day or two to post it.)

I will share that my kids had told me to not overdue when I got home.  Well, sad to say, I wasn't able to follow that.  Don had so much work waiting for him when we got here, that I had no choice but to take on Savanah again.  He is still pretty much making meals and doing dishes, though.  And that is a HUGE help.  And he has hired a gal to come and do floors and ironing, too.  He had talked about that before and it's a big help for me. 

I am still having some effects from the virus.  Joint pain and headaches are with me pretty often.  I have started walking as much as possible now, too.  I simply cannot stand sitting here and watching everyone else do the work.  It's been over a month of being in bed or just sitting in a chair.  My foot still has it's moments, too, but that will go away in the near future. 

We were amazed at the way the airport is progressing.  I did get another tour (in a wheelchair) and was happy to see so much accomplished.  On Tuesday, one of our head guys at MFI will be coming in for a couple of days.  We will be trying to figure out exactly what the airport expects of us here, and what MFI will need to meet their expectations.  Harold will also share what MFI would like to see accomplished in the future here in CAP with our airline.  So Wednesday will be my first venture out from the house. 

Don has been working on so many things here.  We do not have either of our vehicles on the road yet.  We need one sticker on each and we seem to be having a bit of a problem getting them.  It is a problem, but yet, Don has been able to get a lot accomplished here because he can't get out yet.  The main thing right now is our electric situation.  Don has the needed items to get it done, but he will need help to finish it up.  And he also brought the needed items to get the tile in Vero's house and get her electric up and going.  She is very anxious to get moved in.  So there are some prayers needed there.

As for the adoption, I haven't been able to talk to anyone yet about where it stands.  First, my phone ran out of time and we had a time getting a card to put in it.  Then the weekend came up and no one is around.  But the Lord knows all of that and is working on it in His way and in His time.  I have to believe that He knows where we are with it and is going to bring it to pass. 

Abbie is back in school and seems to enjoy it again this year.  She loves to learn and is absorbing knowledge like a sponge.  Savanah is .... well, Savanah.  She can be so sweet and loveable, and then she can be a real stinker.  But she is still a sweetheart to us.  And she loves to pray.  She'll take her dolls and sit down with them and pray with them.  She is a joy to watch.  Her favorite DVD's are Turtles (both one and two) and any and all Alvin movies.  She also likes Monsters Inc. 

Well, I had best get some more work done while I can.  Don just made Molassis cookies from his dad's "secret" receipt.  He said they are really good.  I'm not much into cookies, so I just believe him. 

Please keep us in prayer.  For me to get rid of the aftereffects of the virus and to completely heal from the cellulites.  For Don, as he takes on the many challenges and work awaiting him.  For our vehicle papers to be completed.  And for Savanah's adoption.  And pray for Vero.  She has so much on her plate and she is working non stop all the time.

Thanks for being there for us with prayers and support.  We know the Lord is with us and keeping His hands on us.  We pray He is working in your life as well.