Monday, June 17, 2013

Ants in the desert

It is the heat of summer here. In the heat the water and food supply for those tiny critters dwindles. Like any intelligent creature they are in search of it. Yesterday a few were found in the kitchen, today it was my studio.
As I sat and studied them I was able to see the entry was along an exterior wall along the foundation. In search of food they had a trail across the studio floor toward the kitchen stopping near the dog food bowl and then on to under the refrigerator at the other side of the room.
My son saw me watching them and asked what I was doing.
"studying them I told him."
he asked why?
"to understand what they are after and where they are coming in. Listening to them between the words."
I then explained to him that the ants will tell me what they need and why they are here. They are meeting the need they have. We spoke of the scent trail they make so others can follow. Dash said he should use his finger to interrupt the trail and then the next to follow would not be able to find it. I then explained it would need a much grater interruption.
By mopping with ammonia water the trail was gone and so are the ants. They are entering out by the garden. No longer do they find food or water over there. One day the garden will grow again. For now the ants are desperate. The days are hot. They told me so as I sat and studied them.
Learning to wait and to listen between the lines. That is where the critters speak, that is where God can be heard. There waiting listening between the words.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Dear Old Dusty Blog

Life is GOOD

Days are so full of a good life. After four months I have finished the physical therapy on this right shoulder of mine. Now both shoulders are finished. They each had the labium torn from arm pit to tip of shoulder to the front. The bone was abraded and then screws set and the labium sewn to the screws. Amazingly to all involved I now have a good 95% function in booth arms. Not yet able to tie an apron so asking for help is a good skill I have gained.

Both of my sweet kids finished the school year on honor roll. Dash got the Presidential Academic Excellency award for all A's all year long. Dove got all A's but the one B. So they are set for summer.
Summer is full of time here at home together. We have sleep overs almost every night. Mostly here. So days have extra children who's parents are at work.

We have set to some wonderful new nightly rituals. My Darlin' Daddy Man and I meditate and still our minds in the evening. It is for me a time to stop and tell my loving God how much I love him. We are also learning to use the time to still our minds. It can be more challenging than you might think. It is a wonderful thing to share as man and wife.

Our Lab has had Valley Fever this last month and was VERY ill for a while. He is improving to a good show this week. The coughing and gagging has stopped. You have heard nothing until you hear a 95pound dog cough it is just gut wrenching. It was all day all night for a few weeks. I think he is making a complete recovery.

The IVIG is doing VERY well. My numbers are staying right at target. Labs for gamma counts can now only have to be done every three months. I have stayed consistently well. Antibiotics only twice in the last few months. Except for the surgery on my shoulder. No infections with the surgery either. Lifting my arm is still hard until I move it a while. I am told that if I keep up my home program it will still gain use and range of motion.

I became pretty overwhelmed there for a while. Three major surgeries in a 22 month time was just a bit too much. I guess God had confidence in me. It felt pretty close to the line of too much. It was just 12 months before the knee surgery that I began the ivig. With the monthly infusions becoming more common place that helps. Most IVIG sessions are 6-8 hours now. We have fun almost every month. We go to get our hands and feet done often.

At the salon we go to get our feet done I am now showing my jewelry. If I sell I will use it to cover the cost of pedicure. Pedicure is for me a medical necessity to keep cracked heals from becoming infected heals. I have learned to take better care of my feet and how very important it is. So selling jewelry there is a hope of cost deferred.

This last few months the education of becoming a life coach has captured my interest. Right now though is a time of rest and healing coming to a completion.

Be creative and make the life you long for. It might take a lot to patience and hard work. It is so worth it. My hopes to be able to garden this fall are a little bit of a seed of hope. My strength is low perhaps to return. It may not as much as I hope for the CVID is a critter stealing strength. Got to respect that critter too. Fatigue is a constant for a woman who was once a hamster on a wheel. Some days getting on the wheel is a challenge. I keep trying and never to give up.

Older women likewise teach the younger women...

• how to love their husbands
• how to love their children
• how to be self-controlled
• how to be pure
• how to be keepers at home
• how to be kind and submissive (not subservient) to their own husbands. (See Titus 2:3-5)

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By Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Words have power. Here are a few of my favorite sayings.

  • A warm cup of tea is like a cuddle with a friend.
  • The North American Indians have a more eloquent word for ‘friend’ than we do in English. In their language, the word for friend literally means, “the one who carries my sorrows on his back.”
  • Return with Honor
  • The sage anticipates things that are difficult while they are easy, and does things that would become great while they are small. All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one in which they were small. Therefore the sage, while he never does what is great, is able on that account to accomplish the greatest things."
  • "HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS"
  • “Live so that when your children hear these words they think of you… Fairness Caring Integrity Honesty Love Trust.”
  • "O Lord help my words to be gracious and tender today, for tomarrow I may have to eat them."
  • "No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes"
To The Ends Of The Earth
Sisters by Heart

Click here for all crafts

e patterns My sister told me of this site

Please pray for her parents and family

Please pray for her parents and family
Amy has clicked her heals and flown to her real home. There is no place like home.




This was given to me for the third time in just a few weeks.

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
"For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song."

Thank You Ross

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Thank you all for the kindness you have shown me with every Award. I am embraced. You Are a blessing.

Thank you Michelle

Thank you Michelle








































Thank you Annette they are beautiful
Thank You Annette
neno award from Kat


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