A Preemie Post

Goodness, it feels like I have been gone for such a long time! But it has been pretty busy around here. Early in March, my daughter was admitted to the hospital for preeclampsia and had an emergency c-section on the 16th. We welcomed Zach, our 2 lbs. 13 oz. grandson who was briefly shown to my daughter before being whisked away to NICU.

They injected her with steroids beforehand which helped with his lung development. He never needed special breathing aids. The tube in his nose is for breastmilk to go directly to his tummy. Mostly he had the occasional apnea, (scary!) a touch of jaundice, and learning how to suck and breath at the same time.

Here is me holding Zach with Elizabeth standing by me. The thing stuck to his head measures for jaundice, in case it comes back.

Today he is going home at last. We have seen blessings and God's love everywhere from Zach's amazing condition for his tiny size, to the wonderful NICU staff, to my daughter's love for her new son. What an exhausting, amazing journey it was.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.

Prov. 17:6

Happy New Year!

I was trying to think of a hymn that described the new year for me. I thought of ones on hope, faith, our eternal home. But really the new year is about Jesus. He is my hope, my faith, my friend. He is with me in trials, temptations, and when I don't deserve His love and grace. He loves people and I love this picture of Him blessing these children. This year is about Jesus.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to
Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there
will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
will be our sweet portion there.

Happy New Year!

Morning Sickness

Poor Elizabeth. She has it bad. Yesterday when I picked her up she got car sick on the way back to our house. We had to pull over suddenly and she threw up in the gutter. Not pretty. Then she took a 5 hour nap on our bed, got up, said she was starving, and ate two bites of dinner. It's so bad that she says she never wants to have another baby. I didn't say anything because she is suffering so much.

I googled "morning sickness" and found the Wikipedia article on it. It's pretty informative but the solutions are the same as ever. I think she will just have to ride it out. She is very close to the three month mark although that is no guarantee it will stop then. I hope and pray it will. This is not turning out to be a beautiful, special time for her. I pray that the verse below will hold true. I believe it will.

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come;
but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish
because of her joy that a child is born into the world."John 16:21

---

The Simple Woman's Daybook - October 18

Outside my window the early morning fog is just lifting. I can see patches of pink sky.

I am thinking about taking a shower.

I am thankful that my husband is at work. This is his second day at his new job!

From the kitchen I can smell coffee just brewed. I need to finish my cup.

I am wearing pajamas and robe. I wore brightly striped, fuzzy socks to bed last night and they are still on.
I am creating a beautiful cross stitch and will be working on that this morning.

I am going to stay home this morning because the lady is coming to tune my piano. Finally!

I am reading Lo Michael by Grace Livingston Hill. She wrote over 100 Christian romance books from 1900 to 1946. I love to pick them up periodically and reread her lovely stories.
I am hoping to get some rest now that the real estate agent, landlord, and house inspectors have done their thing. After the piano tuner leaves I will have the house (practically) to myself.

I am hearing the sound of furnace. I can't believe how much the temperature has dropped.
Around the house I am happy to say it is clean.

One of my favorite things is to play the piano. We found a beautiful and good sounding one on Craigslist for 300 dollars. Wow, God is good!
A few plans for the rest of the week: I will be playing my newly tuned piano, cross stitching, taking the dogs out in this crisp fall weather, and enjoying my last week with my hubby. He has a meeting this morning than comes home for the rest of the week to do some more online classes, this time for his company. So much training! He starts working in earnest next week.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

The New Copernican Revolution

The Ptolemaic Model of the Universe before the Copernican Revolution

We all remember Copernicus, right? He was the one who first postulated that the Earth revolves around the sun. Up until that time it was assumed that the Earth was the center of the universe. His theory was called the "heliocentric theory" and initiated a powerful shift in the way people thought and how they viewed the universe. Ever since, this has been known as the first Copernican Revolution.

The new Copernican Revolution would be this: instead of seeing ourselves at the center of everything with God revolving around us, we would take a different view of things. We are invited to see God as the center of our lives. Just as the earth receives life from the sun, we receive everything from God. He is our life, our energy, the very source of our existence. He is not someone or something "out there." He calls us to change our our way of thinking, to experience a new Copernican Revolution.

The second book of Kings gives us the story of Naaman, a pagan military general. Though he commanded an army and was used to getting his way, all the gods he thought he had at his beck and call could not cure the skin disease he had. In desperation he asked Elisha to help him. Elisha told him that in order to get healed he had to acknowledge that the God of Israel was the one true God. At first Naaman was reluctant, even indignant, but as his leprosy threatened to consume him he decided to do something courageous. He swallowed his pride and praised God - and his affliction left him. Naaman then said, "Now I know there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel."

Naaman experienced something like a Copernican Revolution. He realized that he was not the center of the universe, though he commanded many men. God the God of Israel, the one true God, is the center of all.

"Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth,
who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains."Psalm 147:8

Hot Chocolate Mix

Hot Chocolate Mix

6 1/2 cups powdered milk

1 (5 ounce) package non-instant chocolate pudding mix

1 cup powdered chocolate drink mix (Nesquik)

1/3 cup powdered non-dairy creamer

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Place ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Pour in large container.

To make: Out 1/3 mixture into a cup or mug and add hot to boiling water. Mix well. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream.

She Stretcheth Out Her Hands to the Poor

yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Prov 31:20

Our church has been doing a series on The Dignity of the Human Person. It encompasses many challenges from crises pregnancies, end of life decisions, and the poor. For Catholics, pro-life is not just for unborn babies. It is a seemless garment of life that reaches from conception to natural death.

The poor are always included because during life, they have the least amount of dignity. That is why we have what is called a "preferential option for the poor". This means that the Christian faithful, through words, prayers, and deeds one must show solidarity with and compassion for the poor.

Although it can seem overwhelming, we have an obligation to help the poor. This is one of the many ways a Proverbs 31 woman shows her mettle.


The Cry of the Poor
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times,
with praise ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

Let the lowly hear and be glad:
the Lord listens to their pleas;
and to hearts broken, God is near,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

Ev’ry spirit crushed, God will save;
will be ransom for their lives;
will be safe shelter for their fears,
and will hear the cry of the poor.

We proclaim your greatness, O God,
your praise ever in our mouth;
ev’ry face brightened in your light,
for you hear the cry of the poor.

As often as you did it to one of the least of My brothers and sisters, you did it to me.
Matt 25:40