Our May Newsletter

We are very pleased and blessed to welcome a new grandchild.  Lucy Mae was born April 29th to our son and daughter in law Rachel and big sister Lyra.  Lyra is excited to have everyone look at her baby and has been very sweet and gentle with her.  We are planning on taking a road trip to Fort Worth to go visit them and meet little Lucy and marvel at how much Lyra has changed over the last year.  To say that we are excited would definitely be an understatement.  Please keep us in your prayers as we start our grand adventure soon.  Be on the lookout for blog posts along the way and lots of pictures of our Texans.

Last October I spent 5 days in the hospital to learn that I have atrial fibrillation.  I have been on medication but my stubborn heart refuses to convert back into normal rhythm.  I have been teased repeatedly about being a missionary with an unconverted heart!  Since that time I have seen many specialists and even went through Electrical Cardio-Version where they restart the heart to see if it would return to normal rhythm.  Charlie says it is like a computer reboot. It did reboot but only for 24 hours and returned back to afib.  I have good days and some really bad days where it is difficult for me to breathe, my BP is high, my heart rate races, and I have no energy, but on a good note....my prayer life has never been better!

Remember that old Sunday School song "Be careful little mouth what you speak?"  We have taken on a 31 day challenge based on Philippians 4: 8-9.  We call it the What So Ever Challenge.  "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  "  Too often we find ourselves using careless talk that hurts our partner in a lame attempt to be funny or flippant.  We say things to each other that we would never say to anyone else.  Words can hurt and are hard to let go.  Also non-verbal communication, tone of voice, and attitudes sneak into our  speech that are hurtful.  Our signal word to each other when we feel attacked by hurtful words or careless jesting is to look at the other person and say, "Ok, whatever!"  I tend to over embellish so I am learning how to let my Yes mean Yes, and my No mean No.  

Thank you for your love, prayer support and financial support during this time of sickness and extra stress.  I am struggling with wondering if my current state of health is "my new normal."  With God, all things are possible so I am learning how to be content in whatever state of health I'm in.