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For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:12-26

If you're looking for a new kind of vacation destination, Reuters reports that a Russian company wants to launch a hotel in orbit 217 miles above Earth by 2016. A five-day stay in the space hotel, including the exciting ride to get there, is estimated at a cool $1 million.¹

Temporary lodging, a billion dollar industry today, has been around for centuries. It's the wonderful word that New Testament Christians used to describe the temporary place where they buried their loved ones. The believer's body was placed into a koimateriam, Greek for hotel or inn. The word choice reflected the believers' firm expectation in the resurrection. If a believer dies before the Rapture, Christ will come to the hotel where their body is and reunite it with their spirit--which has been with Him.

The Rapture assures us the cemetery is only a motel for the body of the believer. Our hope is in the resurrection--that glorious moment when all believers are suddenly caught up into glory and hope bursts into reality. If you're missing a loved one whose spirit is with Jesus, fix your hope on the Resurrection (John 11:25).

"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime."
Martin Luther

¹travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/08/russia-space-hotel-plan-room-with-a-view-217-miles-above-earth/416165/1 accessed November 29, 2011.

I thought I'd already posted this, but now I can't find it, so maybe I didn't.  I'm back in the skilled nursing center.  When I got home, they got me a "hospital bed."  It was like a slab.  And it was also the only place I could get my feet up so that the legs wouldn't swell.  But, after about half the night, I couldn't stand to stay on it, so I had to get up.  With legs swollen too, I had to do something, so went to ER again, was admitted, remained a few days, and was sent over here.  They've got me on antibiotic via IV, so I'll be here until that's finished.  Please continue to pray.  Thanks.
-Al

Jeanne Thank you

Yes you did AL.  You posted it in last weeks thread.  I am praying you recover quickly and get back home.  Did they say what was wrong with the bed?

I am up again, the temperature is up to +10C or 47F really nice and I can see spring is on its way.

Woke up with a hymn on my mind...I will see if I can find it.

It isn't in the hymn list we have perhaps Larry could add it?  Anyway here are the words,

    Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
    Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
    See if there be some wicked way in me;
    Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

    I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
    Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
    Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
    Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

    Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
    Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
    Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
    I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.

    O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
    Send a revival, start the work in me;
    Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
    For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

I will post another hymn with music a little later on.

Al, I'm glad you were wise enough to go back to the ER.  I hope you get the mattress replaced on that bed at home with a more comfortable one so that you can continue your progress there.

Judy, a lovely hymn again, even without the music.  As for spring - yes it's on the way, but from years of experience in this area, I'm sure it will take a detour or two before it gets here.   

It's cool and cloudy here today.  We have been to church, took Beth, now are home and thinking about lunch. 

I was able to get the confrontation at the rest home out of my mind and get a couple hours' sleep on Friday night, but was really tired by the time I got home from painting.  So I went to bed and slept until 7, got up for a while and went back to bed at 9:30---or 10:30, after the clock was changed.  I feel pretty good today!

Beth's young friend, Adonus, visited her yesterday.  He is such a special young man.  He was telling me this morning that he had thought the Holy Spirit couldn't move in certain kinds of Christian music, but found that when he concentrated on praising the Lord, Holy Spirit showed up!  There is a lot of depth to that kid!

The nurses at the home talked to Beth's doctor about giving her MORE muscle relaxers (her muscles are totally flaccid!) and he said NO!  She needs to go to a rehab doctor!  And since there aren't any close to here, he wants to send her to Wichita to one.  I don't know if that will mean she needs to stay there for a while or what, but it will be discussed tomorrow.  Something has to be don, as she is so stiff her legs are like logs, and the girls have a lot of trouble getting her dressed, etc.  Sigh.....

Al!  So good to see your posts!  Sorry they sent you a slab for a bed.  You need one of those air beds that constantly change the pressure, to prevent pressure sores.  That's what Beth has.  She complained a lot at first, but doesn't say anything about it now.  The regular mattresses on those hospital beds are really sorry, sad to say, very cheap construction and they weigh hardly anything.  I \can pick up one with one hand!  When they get that infection cleared up, you will need something like that, or a good memory foam pad on top of the mattress, or something!!  Prayers that you get things arranged so you can be home again.

I need to call and check on my friend Paula again.  I hope the news is better than the last time I called.

I may be repeating this one.....Tis a good one to repeat.

You're right, Judy.  That's always a good one to repeat.  Thanks.

For persons who don't know the music for the first song, Judy, we can suggest they sing it to an old pop song. Right now, I don't remember the name, but someone here can tell us, I'm certain. (Oh, I believe the name of the pop song is "Now is the Hour." If I'm incorrect, please set me straight. )

The words to that song mean SO much to me. When my father was preparing to administer communion to his congregation, he strongly urged us to search our hearts to determine if there's anything that would keep us from being in close daily communion with our Lord. The words to this song ask us to think on the same things. Thank you for putting it in for us to consider.

Al, I'm so sorry about your physical difficulties. I'll continue praying for your health and also your spirits as well as the same for your wife.

Larry, may God bless Stacey and each of you.

Well, the headache did seem to go away. So, today has been so much better. And, of course, having a brief little visit with my son and my new "grand-kitty" made the day brighter, too.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

I thought we were late this morning and then realized that the state of Arizona never makes a time change.  Now to remember to change when we leave here in a few weeks. 

A cousin & wife came to visit all day - I fixed meals and was running out of food in the fridge when they left.  Toast & peanut butter for supper?  Sometimes that is my meal.  There is leftover lemon cake for anyone - really good chilled.  They so enjoyed the vintage car show that happens on a big parking area here every Sunday afternoon.  Don saw the identical aqua blue '55 Chevy  to the one his grandmother owned.  It looked beautiful.

Al: It sounds like you surely were not ready for that hard mattress.  so sorry for your episode and do hope and pray all goes much better this go around with the hospital bed. 

Prayers for all who need a prayer and actually prayers for everyone! 

Good very early morning to you all!  I have to work today, so am up and ready to meet the day.  I will work Mondays all this month, filling in for someone who had a hysterectomy.  If my boss wasn't so nice to me, I wouldn't even consider it!

Did you all see my post about the times I will be on the radio?  I will repeat, just in case.  I know a couple of you wanted to listen, so here is the info:  This Thursday, March 15, KJIL  991 FM at 9:00 A.M.
Thursday, March 22, KULY 1420 AM at 8:30 A.M.   I am hoping my friend, prayer partner and book signing buddy, Pat, can go along with me to Meade this week.  I haven't talked to her about it yet.  I have never done this before, but where God leads, I will follow!

I learned on Friday (part of that big mess!) that they have only been washing Beth's hands and face THREE TIMES A WEEK, only when they shower her!  YUCK.    I was a little hot about that!  Her hands stank like they were rotting!  Their response?  "Well, that needs to be addressed."  Really?  Seriously?  Duh!  Okay, I promised myself I won't keep thinking about all that............   So I choose today to think on the goodness of the Lord!

See you after work-----oh!  I got a book order last night from New Zealand!!  I wonder what the postage to there will be?  Guess Curtis should have made arrangements on the web page for international orders!  But I am happy to send it, anyway.  Main thing is to get the story out there!

Hi everyone.  The good news from yesterday was that I did get to pick Stacey up at the hospital a little after 5 pm and got her back safely to her apartment.  She is looking so much better than when we took her to the hospital on Tuesday.  Now it is a matter of rest for a week or so before she tries striking out.  With daylight savings time I was able to get home by 7:30 before it got dark.  Today the housekeepers will be here this morning and probably the lawn people.  Pat has a medical appointment and I have my men's luncheon at 1 pm at a Mexican restaurant and then a meeting this evening so it will be a busy day.

Jeanne, thanks for the fine devotional thought for this week.  That is interesting and I had never heard that before about the hotel or inn.

Al, I did see your posting from yesterday about being back in rehab.  A person needs a comfortable bed when using a hospital bed whether in the ER, hospital, rehab or home.  Some of the most uncomfortable ones I have found have been in the ERs where they are not much more than slabs.

Judy, what is the name of the hymn.  If I can find it I will put it together. 

Janet, glad you were feeling better yesterday and had been able to get some sleep.  Nice of the young man to visit Beth and to be so open regarding his faith.  Sorry to hear you and Beth may have another stint in Wichita but know you will do whatever you can to help Beth.  We got my Dad one of those pressure air beds that constantly changed the pressure and he never had another bed sore (after having had a terrible one develop as a result of two or three days in the local hospital where they didn't bother to turn him as they should have).  He suffered terribly with it as it was a stage 4 but after some surgery it finally healed.  After my Dad passed away my sister was able to sell the bed.  I remember my dad asking how much the bed had cost, which was about $4,000 as I recall, and was shocked and seemed concerned until I told him that his dollars in the bank certainly wasn't going to give him any comfort.  He never said anything about it after that.

Judy, I haven't heard that hymn in a long time and it was one that we sang often in the church where I grew up.

Ruth Ann, thanks for the information on the hymn.  Maybe that will help me in identifying the hymn. Glad you were feeling better yesterday.

Carol, the other night Pat made a delicious mac and cheese casserole and was going to fix ham to go with it.  She called me to dinner and we sat down and she realized she had forgotten to cook the ham.  So we had the mac and cheese as the main dish and that was fine along with a vegetable.

Janet, hope you have a light day at work today.  I did make note of the radio interviews and both those stations can be found using the tunein radio website or app on a smartphone.  I even marked them on my calendar.  The last several times I have been in the hospital they never offered me even a wash cloth to wash my hands.  That is neglect on the part of the home.  Do you have an ombudsman for the nursing home?  If that doesn't change a complaint to the state health department would be in order.

Larry the hymn we don't have music for is Search Me Oh God......  I am so glad Stacey is home.  I pray things improve for her.

Janet no wonder you went ballistic!  I would have too!

Marlo How are you today?  Praying sister.

Carol today is a new day, Hopefully you can get to the store to do some shopping!

Ruth Ann I went to sleep singing it in My spirit last night...Love that hymn.

It is another beautiful day here, I think I will start the fire and get rid of the dampness, otherwise it is lovely out.  Even the dogs don't want to come in!

An uncomfortable bed is like ill-fitting shoes.  Just doesn't work!  My bed must be very comfortable to me since I can sleep around the clock.  Now don't get me wrong...it isn't constant sleep.  I can be up and down to the bathroom and all over the bed but I sure can sleep in between those trips and turns!

Ivalou went to eat with us yesterday after church.  There was 4 of us eating at O'Charley's!  That was fun.  And such a nice spring day...in the 60's! 

Last evening the Small Group was as interesting as all of them.  We all are amazed at what we can get out of a few verses in the Bible.  Last evening we covered 4 verses...Romans 2:1-4.  We sometimes get off track but pretty much stay on course. 

Also one man at Small Groups is an EMT for our township.  He was at Jacob's accident and transported him to Methodist Hospital in Indy...driving on the emergency lane since I-69, I-465 and I-70 were parking lots at that time.  He didn't realize Jacob is a bleeder and that explained why he was covered in blood.  He said most of his injuries are on the head, that from his neck down looked all right.  But he thought his head might have hit the tree. 

Ivalou called her daughter-in-law before church yesterday and was told that Jacob is still in a drug induced coma but holding his own...no worse or no better. 

A nurse at Small Group says that the spleen is a clotting and filtering organ.  Since Jacob is a hemophiliac the spleen wasn't working anyway but was a hinderance in stopping the bleeding so that's why they remove the spleens in bleeders. 

Tonight is Photo Guild.  I haven't been since Christmas.  So I am driving and suppose to be at Kitty's by 4:45pm and we will go somewhere to eat, then to Guild.  And I forgot to submit photos for 'show and tell' until 9pm last night.  Too late. 

Larry:    for Pat on forgetting the ham - I used for forget about two items on big meals and finally learned to make fewer dishes.  You were right on telling your dad that money in the bank wouldn't make him comfortable. 

Janet:  How on earth do these places ever pass inspections?  Not washing hands until shower time?  Sounds like that could pass on germs from so many people.   

JudyB:  Thanks for the song!  Yes, we are going this afternoon - I did have frozen chicken I had cut and froze but really we didn't want to go out for a meal because that is one relative who never reaches for his wallet (if you know what I mean & we end up paying).  Love them anyway. 

Etta Sue:  Just thinking of Jacob. 

Someone has written these beautiful words.  Must read and try to understand the deep meaning of it.  They are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time.

1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path.

2. So why is a car's WINDSHILED so large and the REAR view Mirror is so small?  Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE.  So, Look Ahead and Move on.

3. Friendship is like a BOOK.  It takes a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary.  If going well, enjoy it.  They will not last forever.  If going wrong, don't worry.  They can't last long either.

5. Old Friends are Gold!  New Friends are Diamond!  If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold!  Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities: when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8. A blind person asked St. Anthony:  "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?"  He replied:  "Yes, losing your vision!"

9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES.  It takes away today's PEACE.

If you really enjoy this, please pass to others.  It may brighten someone's day...

Etta Sue I have copied them to FB!

It's been so good to come hear the conversation this evening.

I took a friend to the ear doctor and she was devastated to learn she is not comprehending what she hears. Thankfully, they fitted her with plans to order a hearing aid today for one ear.

I think once she gets it, she'll realize how much she really has been missing.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Work wasn't bad today.  Everybody seemed sleepy and lethargic, including all the staff!  That's what "springing forward" does to us!

I was wiped out when I got home, so took a short nap, then Darrel and I made supper for our friends, the ones I have been telling you about that the wife has had to go on dialysis.  They got home from the Wichita hospital last night, and today a nurse from Liberal was  there teaching them how to do the dialysis.  They will have to di it four times a day!    I knew they wouldn't be feeling like cooking!  And they were so thankful for the home cooked food, after 15 days of hospital food!  We will need to do that often during this hard adjustment period.  My heart aches for them.

Nothing was decided about Beth.  I am going to have to call and make an appointment with her doctor, to go in and talk to him about her.  She really, really needs to do this rehab, before she gets even worse.

Tomorrow I get to keep Lexi and Chelsea, my little g-grands for a while.  I have been looking forward to that!

The man from the Liberal newspaper called and wants to interview me on Wednesday afternoon!   YES!!

Larry, so good to read a more positive report re Stacey.  Goodness, the problems our daughters have!  I wonder how Liz' daughter is doing.....

See you lovely people tomorrow!

Hi everyone.  After a rainy evening and a cloudy day yesterday we may have more rain this morning but then should clear off and be warm this afternoon.  I was still trying to recover from last week and was a bit draggy yesterday but a good nights sleep really helps.  Not too much on the schedule today although have a couple of errands to run this morning and a meeting to attend.  I also got about 100 new Golden Games applications to get processed in the next few days.  Stacey spent most of the day sleeping yesterday, which is undoubtedly what she needs to recover.    when I just now got home from coffee Pat told me she had talked with Stacey and she had been up and over across the street to the Shepard Center Cafeteria for breakfast and was planning on seeing the chiropractor later this morning.  So she is obviously feeling better with her hip an her shoulder where the incision was placed.

Etta Sue, I am like you in being amazed how our pastor can take just a few verses of the Bible and turn it into an hours discussion and lesson.  Not good news if the injury to Jacob was his head as brain injuries are so bad and also the possible impact on the spinal cord.  Glad he is holding his own in the coma.  That is a wonderful list with much wisdom involved that you posted.  I have printed it off and will share it with some of my friends and have sent it to others.  It certainly helps focus our perspective. 

Janet, having to do something like dialysis 4 times a day would leave little time for anything else.  It makes those complaints about frequent trips to the bathroom seem sort of petty for me.  Enjoy your little great grands today.  They will certainly brighten your week for you.

It snowed here overnight. there are 3 inches on the lawn and the deck rails. The dogs and Grubby (cat) didn't know what to think of  it. Bebe  looked like she was tiptoeing and shaking off her foot at every step. But she finally found a place to "go".

Happy on the other hand  walked right along the side of the house where there was no snow to "go" under the Rhododendron bushes. Bebe just came back in from going out the slider off the bedroom and found a little grass to "go" on. She didn't want to venture out on the snow again.

Now the cat is another story,  he went along the house in the other direction toward the garage. and disappeared.A little while ago Keith saw him across the street trying to jump across the  ruts the cars left in the snow. I hope it doesn't snow again tonight as I won't be able to take Happy to the vet for his surgery.

It's suppose to get to 74° today!  It keeps this up and I will have to mow in March!  We are never satisfied, are we?

I set the alarm to get up and go to the pool this morning.  My back was telling me it was time for the warm water.  I then ate at Perkins and then went to Best Buy and got me a bean bag to sit on my dash and then suction my GPS to it.  Those suction cups on GPS now, the ones you wet, put up to the window and then twist, are terrible.  Mine fell off about 6 times while in Florida.  Scared me each time!  Now the GPS still suctions to this bean bag but if it falls off, then I will stick it on with two-sided tape!  Didn't want to do that to the dash.

I realized last evening at Photo Guild that my eyes are worse than I thought.  All the pictures looked out of focus and the two critics were seeing so much more than me!  April I can get my eyes examined again! 

Well, another bright and sunny day in Indiana!  Not a cloud in the sky and a slight breeze!  Yay!

The west coast had snow and we had rain.  The snow on the fields is clearing, next will be within the bush.  I have to watch our creek, the melt is fast and we don't need the road washed out.  I may have to alert the township. It is really overcast, looks like more rain.

Marilyn it is funny when the dogs do that shaking motion with their paws!

Looks like difficult decisions again with Beth.  Praying for you both.

Larry Good for Stacey I am glad she is doing better.

John has a trainee with him this week and for about the next 4 weeks.  The young man is fresh out of truck driving school, has the basics and now needs to learn how the "real world" works. 

Now to sing!

I put pictures on Facebook

This certainly has been a different sort of day!  I was sick during the night with that same stomach thing I had recently, missed a lot of sleep, so slept in until 8:00 this morning.  Toni and Curtis were to bring the little girls by at 9:00, as they had a Dr.'s appt.  They were a little late, but when they came, I was so happy to see the kids, and they to see me!  We had a good time playing together.  Both wanted to sit on my lap, and 4-yr-old Lexi elbowed me where it hurt, and I told her, "Ow!  That hurt!"  She patted the spot, then said sympathetically, "It will be all right in a minute."    Those two are such totally different personalities, interesting to watch how they react to things.

We went to lunch at the Sr. Ctr. after the kids left, then later they called and asked me if I would come to the pool and swim with them!  That was certainly not in my plans for the day, but I did go, and had such fun playing with and watching the girls.  After all, how often do we get to go swim with grandkids and two sweet great-grandchildren?  Now I am home again and fighting sleep that threatens to overtake me!

It's so odd! My normal reaction to Daylight Savings Time is to be exhausted, but actually, this time, I'm awakening on my own much earlier than usual, feeling great...hmmmmmm.  Wonder what that says about my circadian rhythm.

Marilyn, I'll go to Facebook after being here.

I have a praise report. My grandson and his wife have earnestly prayed that the Lord would guide their footsteps to his next teaching situation in an area that wouldn't be so far from friends and family.

Well, upon opening my phone this morning, first thing was a message that came through that he had been interviewed and then offered a teaching position about 2 hours from any of us, and only 20 miles or so from the college town where they met. How wonderful when God shows us definitely where it's His will for us to be living.

Also, I praise Him that I was able to attend our Tuesday morning devotions downstairs today and then to visit with a new friend afterwards.

Much love to each of you,
Ruth Ann

God DOES answer prayer....although we become impatient because we don't see the results. 

Glad the answer came for your family.

Please pray that there will be no ice or snow on Hwy 101 or 42  twice tomorrow, when I have to drive that 40  round trip with Happy.