WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LET GO?

Posted on July 31, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The idea of wrestling with God seems pointless to me. The results are obvious. We can’t win that battle, no matter how hard we try. Every struggle in life has a connection to that very subject. When we come into the world, we take our first breath and scream our lungs out in protest. When we learn to walk, rather than crawl, we tend to fall a few times before mastering the craft. When we fall in love the first time and our love is rejected, it might take us down a slippery slope. When we take our first job, responsibility is now a must, and we have to learn fast that the world doesn’t revolve around us. When we marry and have a family, we continue to see that it isn’t about us anymore. When we approach our final days and long to be in heaven, the wars of life seem hopeless. We cry out to God to bring us home. Each of those little battles – those wrestling matches – those losses – disappointments – ups and downs – are all like playing tug of war with the Creator of the universe. We know the outcome. He wins.

Life takes us on a journey of growth – not just physically, but spiritually – if we let it. If we surrender to God’s will for our lives, we’re not saying, “uncle,” we’re simply submitting to the plan He has already designed for us. With each stage, we are being refined, molded, shaped, pounded at times, crushed and come close to caving in. If we consider each of these steps as a path to heaven, we can see the real end result. We win.

The spiritual walk to heaven is never an easy one. Some may think that’s true, but once you recognize that the victory has already been won by Jesus, the wrestling turns into a perfect win for all those who believe. Everyone wins!

Posted in aging, armor of God, Uncategorized, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SUMMER VACATION – FAMILY STYLE

Posted on July 30, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART BY PAUL BOECHER

Summer vacations – ah, the days of swimming at the lake, long walks, lazy days, fun times with family. I remember one family vacation in particular when our two oldest were in high school and our youngest just entering her tweens. We looked forward to that trip and planned it for months. We were going out west to take a ride on the Road to the Sun.

The sun didn’t show up for more than a few minutes on that whole trip. Everyone got very tired of being together in a van that was on a quest to the west coast and a first look at the ocean. No more singing camp songs. Tensions were mounting fast and to tell you the truth fun times with family just weren’t happening. When we finally reached Washington state we never actually got to see the ocean. It was fogged in.

Sometimes the things we plan for in life don’t turn out the way we want them to. Our expectations are high in the beginning, then we fall prey to disappointment. Our natural tendency is to feel sorry for ourselves and try to plan things that won’t discourage us. Instead, God tells us not to be discouraged. He has wonderful things in store for us. The truth is, we aren’t going to have smooth sailing in this world, but our future life in eternity will be a breeze!

Posted in America, Family, summer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FIRST & LAST LOVE

Posted on July 29, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

My husband, Paul, studied Northwest Coast Indian Art when he was at the Chicago Institute of Art many years ago. Much of this style has carried into his paintings and sculptures over the years. His love of nature and the outdoors is also reflected in his art. This post today, written in 2021, honors a greater love than we can even begin to understand – God’s love for us.

His love is like none we have ever experienced here on earth.

His love is beauty beyond our wildest dreams.

His love is precious, merciful, compassionate.

His love is given freely without question.

His love doesn’t look at our past mistakes.

He is blind to our transgressions.

He loves in times of anger, hatred, self-pity, depression.

He loves it when we love each other.

His love is a gift – more precious than diamonds or gold.

His love is the greatest love ever known or experienced by man.

No kiss or caress can compare with the touch of our Savior, God.

He cuddles us in His strong protective arms.  He shields us with His strong wings.

He lifts us up when we fail.

He encourages us when we think we can’t go on.

He inspires us to go the extra mile.

He walks with us through all the joy, bliss and excitement of life.

He carries us through all the trials, burdens, hassles, fears and frustrations.

His love is like no other – it endures forever and ever!

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Faith, God's plans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE?

Posted on July 28, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

This week has been filled with re-runs of past posts. I often use this process to regroup – to heed my own advice – to find a topic of interest. This post was written at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At that time, we had no idea of the vastness of that disease or the repercussions and loss that would result. Since then, people have become more cautious about washing hands, wearing masks when necessary and general sanitary ways of avoiding the spread of any disease. How has COVID changed your life? Many of my friends lost their sense of smell or taste. Many succumbed to isolation and became social hermits. Entertaining friends is finally coming back into being. Gathering of any kind has lessened. The biggest change for many has been the loss of a loved one. When faced with any alteration to our lives, we are called upon to respond. Our emotions play an important role in this, but our relationships often take a hit and need to heal. As we look back on this horrible time, let’s never forget that God was always there in the midst of it – watching over those most affected by it – healing some and taking some home to heaven – using man’s intellect and science to find a vaccine – listening to our prayers. Though time has changed a lot of things in the past three years, our God remains the same. With that in mind, here’s my post from April 2020.

The thousand-mile checkups and replacement parts are getting more and more intense as time marches on. We come to a point in life when we resemble the six-million-dollar man from the 1970s TV series.  Change is inevitable, but why does it happen so fast? As we grow older, everything is in a state of flux. We do have an indoor bathroom, but now we need an extra-large toilet seat. Our bodies are in a constant race to the end of our lives. We lose inches from our height and add girth to our middles. I like to tell people I used to be six feet tall, but gravity has caused everything to fall down to my hips. Our arms resemble tree trunks with fingers.

When our homes start to show wear, we give them a facelift with paint, or we might add something new to dress them up. When we get old, everything we try to do to improve our health, our looks, our outlook, our daily living, seems to be just a cover up for what’s really going on within. We take our cars in for oil changes. We buy new appliances when the old ones fall apart. We upgrade our electronics when new ones become available. There is a lot to be said about planned obsolescence, but when it comes to our end game on this planet, we need to know that there is a final upgrade that will never change.

When we start looking at the dark side of things, there’s nowhere to go but downhill.  The aging process includes ponderance on our demise.  We tend to feel sorry for ourselves.  We sometimes feel left out, lonely and useless.  When we start slipping down that slippery slope it’s time to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and move on.  There’s nothing funny about being in a state of depression for your final years.  We need to put things in perspective again and put on a happy face – even when we don’t necessarily feel that way.

Over my lifetime I’ve seen massive changes in the way things are done.  I’ve witnessed a change in things designed to make our lives easier. The way we come up with solutions, how we live, the family unit, the networks of communication and how we worship have changed, but the Word of God remains the same.  It has survived for all these centuries, because it is the truth directly from God. When our final breath is taken, we can be sure that God will carry us to paradise. 

Posted in aging, anxiety, change | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

GOOD GRIEF!

Posted on July 27, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Poor, old Charlie Brown – never could cut a break. One of the world’s most favorite cartoon characters, created by Charles M. Schulz had a daily struggle with the same kinds of problems we often face. If it wasn’t being chosen last on the baseball team, it was trying to get his kite to soar in the air. In these cute comic strips, we can often see ourselves and some of the difficulties we encounter in our daily walk.

God doesn’t promise us a perfect life. There will be problems and they could easily overwhelm us. In a way we should look at these interruptions as “good grief.” They keep us on a steady track with our Creator. When things are going well with us, we often forget to communicate with Him. When the path is cluttered, we don’t waste any time reaching out to God for answers.

Lord, I need to be reminded to pray when I am thankful as well as when I need your help. Sometimes I can’t even find the right words to say. When that happens, I know you will still hear what is in my heart. Thanks for placing good grief in my way. I know that it soon will pass. I know that you will provide a way to deal with it. It reminds me that you are in charge of my life. Please, Lord, let me know that you are with me through all situations I face each day – good or bad. Amen!

Posted in aging, grace, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

IS AGING REALLY LIKE FINE WINE & CHEESE?

Posted on July 26, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The idea of growing old never occurred to me until I became part of the silver haired generation.  It still doesn’t hold much interest.  In fact I’m trying to avoid it completely.  Age isn’t particularly where anyone in our society wants to be.  Youth is everything, right?

We’re fed with the notion that we can achieve higher cheekbones, supple skin, bodies that never sag.  We’re told  that once you get old your life is over.  NOT!  For one thing, you have earned the right to express your opinion and not really care if anyone listens to you or not.  You can do anything you want as long as you can pull your aching body out of bed.  Your mind is filled with so much information, but you often shut down or repeat the same things over and over.

Unfortunately, our society is so focused on youth that they have forgotten or dismissed old age.  It’s one of those things we don’t talk about much until we become old ourselves.

I am in my eighties and I don’t really consider myself old.  I still get out of bed at 6 AM.  I continue to work.  I put my make up on each morning, fix my hair and get dressed.  I can still tie my shoes, but it’s harder to reach them.  I have acquired a lot of knowledge over the years, but I often forget it.  I don’t look as good as I used to, but I can still see a sparkle in my eyes.  I love to listen to the rain falling on the roof but can’t always hear it.  My body sags, my face is wrinkled, my senses have become dull, but I don’t consider myself one of those old fogies I remember from my youth.  I know that God has a plan for me and someday, all you young whippersnappers are going to be walking in my shoes.

1 Timothy 5:1-2  “Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity”

Every living human being has value in this world – from the very young to the very old.  Let’s never forget our place in the scheme of things.  Getting older is just bringing us that much closer to heaven.

Posted in aging, anxiety, Humor, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Posted on July 25, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’ve posted this article many times but keep hoping that someday I will be a great-grandmother. The post was submitted to “Chicken Soup for the Soul” a few years ago and appears in their book, “My Crazy Family.” Hope you enjoy going back in time with me.

Her hands were gnarled and disfigured from years of arthritis – a hefty woman of less than five feet tall. Her swollen legs were encased in stretchy elastic bandages. Though her short body was bent and disabled, her mind was as sharp as a tack. I don’t recall her wearing anything but a black dress with a dainty crocheted lace collar. Her slightly peppered white hair was always braided into a bun.

Her six-foot husband towered over this diminutive character. Her face was almost always stoic and sullen. I rarely saw her smile and when I did it was ever so slight. She wasn’t one to show her emotions – until her children bought her one of the first televisions purchased in the small town. She thought it a frivolous gift and a total waste of money – until she discovered what it had to offer.

There wasn’t much on the tube in those early years except local news shows, some children’s programming and WRESTLING. It didn’t take the woman long to become addicted to these staged events. She was convinced that it was absolutely true.

She would wring her lace handkerchief tightly around her twisted fingers. Her wrinkles seemed to deepen as she became involved in the “contest.” Chairs would fly across the mat along with one person and then another. When it was over, she ranted on and on about the savage behavior of the two wrestlers. She didn’t miss an opportunity to tell anyone about what she had witnessed and how vulgar it was. With each of her own narratives, the story grew more and more intense.

The next Saturday, she would plant herself in front of the TV and go through the same excruciating thing all over again.

Posted in aging, Humor, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

SON DAY

Posted on July 23, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

Buttery, soft petals explode across the western plain,

Flowing gently downward or rising up again,

A plethora of seeds it holds, for waiting birds to eat,

They soon will fill the ground once more, when spring once more we greet,

The Son of God once rose for all, He took away our sins,

He conquered death on that bright day, for us the victory wins,

On a quiet Sunday morning, He showed His face once more,

His followers were doubtful yet, they soon knew it was sure,

He showed His wounds and they believed, but still He said to wait,

For the great and Holy Spirit to seal their coming fate,

These men would be prepared to go, and share God’s perfect love,

They’d plant the seeds of victory, a gift from up above,

The seeds spread all across the land, they burrowed in men’s hearts,

Those little seeds bore healthy fruit and this is how it starts.

Posted in Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher, Faith, Inspiration, resurrection | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

OUR WEEK IN REVIEW – WORKING THROUGH ANOTHER CHALLENGE

Posted on July 22, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

We grew up together. We explored life together. We raised a family. We loved each other. We grew up some more. We got lost in each other’s arms. We made mistakes. We danced and held hands. We supported each other’s decisions. We prayed together. We grew up some more. We went through loss – trials, and successes together. We laughed and cried when it was called for. We grew old together. We will reach heaven and we will continue through eternity – together.

Cancer is an ugly word, that can work its way into your daily vocabulary in a matter of seconds. It’s a word we try to avoid saying. It’s something no one wants to deal with. It can break relationships, seal them, cause them to infect every aspect of everything you experience in life. Each day of last week was a blessing. When the sun rose each morning, the man I love was there beside me. Still breathing. Sleeping peacefully. As I watched his chest go up and down with each breath, I thanked God for another day for us – together. Ours is just another love story filled with amazing joy, sadness, frustrations, rebuilding, stressing out, disagreeing, giving in, compromise, patience and God at the center.

  • Sunday we went to church – a habit that we are happy to be back into. This is our only clue to what day of the week it actually is, but it is also a time to connect with friends, to pray for answers, to thank God for His blessings – all of which are desperately needed right now. Both of us felt somewhat overwhelmed from the previous week, but we weren’t broken. Life still is available to us. Our prayers are going to be answered and many of them already have been. We’re using this time to share with each other.
  • Monday – no appointments, so we decided to take a little road trip. These short getaways are just what the doctor ordered for. They allow us time together. It gives us time away from all the noise of construction in our neighborhood. We get to see some beautiful areas within a short distance from our home. Paul’s happy place has always been in nature and the outdoors. Most of his paintings are produced from memories of them. I love looking at the majesty of God’s creation and the lines upon lines of forests, filled with staunch pine trees, like an army of soldiers in perfect formation.
  • Tuesday was another free day, but we slept a little longer than usual and didn’t get much done in the morning. A friend from our past called to talk to Paul and it was like a light going off in his face when he realized who it was. A blast from the past, renewed his smile and brought back some wonderful memories. A good friend of mine also called and she and I had lunch. We talked about our husbands. Hers had passed away a few years ago. We talked about life and death – we laughed – we shed a few tears and we ate a lot. In times of overwhelming information, sadness, fear of the future it’s just good to escape to another place. We’ve never denied each other from doing things that we enjoy doing apart from each other. I believe that has solidified our marriage in a very special way.
  • Wednesday brought another road trip after a lot of frustration with technology, setting new appointments and getting “scram” calls. Paul has always professed to being an 1800s guy and is averse to anything computer oriented. Because of that, I decided to have his health information sent to me rather than him. That way I could monitor things for him and save him the anxiety. Little things like that seem so important right now. Our little journey this day took us to Taylor’s Falls on the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The bluffs are always breathtaking. The falls and the river are equally beautiful, but in a car it’s quite difficult to capture those hidden spots. Not to mention, as you drive along it’s difficult to get a picture that doesn’t move along with the car. It was a lovely diversion. We returned home to find a survey from our insurance company regarding gender identity. The numbers astounded me. The world is changing so much. It makes us long for heaven in these difficult times. Just another chink in the armor, I guess.
  • Thursday was grocery shopping day for me. This is becoming less and less fun, yet I don’t want to order online. I like to feel the tomatoes and squeeze the melon. I enjoy choosing my own meat from the butcher and selecting bakery items that we especially like. With that being said, I still bag my own groceries and load them in and out of the car. My legs were yelling obscenities at me when I finally completed the dastardly deed. The afternoon was spent at the funeral of a dear lady of 95 who was a member of our church. A funeral for those of us who know death holds no sting, is more like a victory celebration, because we know what’s on the other side.
  • Friday – Much needed rain finally fell this past +week. The garden flowers are getting close to their peak. I marvel at how they survive in times of drought or too much water. God is always caring for His creatures as well as His creation. If we had more patience, we’d see that He is always faithful. Since it was an uneven day, I was able to give them an additional drink, but God’s water is so much more refreshing for everything. Our son came over and spend the afternoon simply visiting. This is really important for us right now. Our family has always been close. We miss these times of one-on-one with them. Just sharing our thoughts, our prayers, our simple goals for each day, our love, our partnership, our lives, gives us strength – even when we feel helpless or hopeless. We are blessed to have each other to lean on as well as our God, who changes not. I thank God that He has given us each other to lean on as well.
  • Saturday – Today we will share another fun day with close friends. We are truly blessed.

Next week is going to be crazy with appointments. Is this how we will spend the days allotted to us? Trying to find a balance is difficult, because the appointments are important in Paul’s decision making regarding his health care. Balance does come, however. We will be sharing time with that old friend and his wife that surprised Paul with a phone call. We will attend the 60th anniversary celebration with another couple we’ve known for years. A Pet Scan is scheduled for July 31st, which should give even more information to absorb.

Posted in cancer, death, hope, life after death, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

SATURDAY SERENITY

Posted on July 22, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Chaos, turbulence, indecisiveness

Stilled with One calming voice.

Turning rolling seas into calm glass,

Raising life from the frozen ground.

One voice calls, and all creation listens.

His voice is in the wind, the rain, the sound of a child’s cry.

With His breath He chooses to turn water into frozen steel.

With His tender touch He fashions molten lava into fertile ground.

He lays the boundaries for the oceans and uses His finger to draw their limits.

He tends to the need of every living thing no matter how great or small.

How great is the Lord, God – the King of Creation.

He not only made everything, He made it for you and me.

 

Posted in aging, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, courage, peace | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FRIDAY FUNNIES FOR OLD FOGIES

Posted on July 21, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Fridays are for fun, so here are a few funnies for those of us who have turned the corner – so to speak. It’s also National Junk Food Day, so get yourself a greasy hamburger, some fries and anything over 500 calories. Don’t feel guilty. It’s National Junk Food Day. Just keep some Pepto Bismol around. Have a great weekend.

Posted in aging, America, Friendship, humor, retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

GENDER BLENDER

Posted on July 21, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’m certain to get a reaction from my post today. It is not my intention to judge. I am a sinner, just like everyone else on this planet. Everyone I know, knows I believe in God. I trust everything in His Holy Word, the Bible, to be truth. I grew up in a Christian home, with values and morals that fell into that category. I’ve been aware of all the information being fed to our current society about gender identity and I can’t not express my opinion on the situation. When I was a child – which was a long time ago – gender was identified as Male or Female. There was no “other” choice. When God created the world, He made a man. There was something good about everything He created, but something was lacking. The man needed a companion, a helper, a person who would be close to his heart. So, God removed one of Adam’s ribs and created Eve, a woman who would help, advise, stand beside, work together with, share in his labors and the fruits which resulted.

There has been a surge in gender identity in the last several years. Did you know there are at least 72 known genders in the world today? 72 and counting. What really brought this home to me was a recent survey from our insurance company which addressed this very issue. It listed many of the known genders of today and asked which one we claimed for our own. Male and Female were at the bottom of the list. I became curious to know what each of them were and how they came about. I will not state my exact feelings on the numbers, but I am stunned by the issues that result from them. Most of them stem from sexual orientation, though some of them have nothing to do with sex at all. Words like non-binary, trans gender are more concerned with physical traits and changes to alter them. The survey was kind of an assortment of choices which would make filling out health forms gender appropriate.

I realize this is a touchy subject, but I would be remiss if I didn’t express my opinion. Lately, we’ve been filling out a lot of health forms. I’ve actually been thinking about making copies of each one and bringing them to each appointment, so we don’t have to go through this each time. I also wonder why all this supposed “on file” information within the computer network is, but that’s a whole other post. It also affects our relationships with each other. How do we address each other? It used to be a matter of he or she – now there’s a whole new vocabulary assigned to humanity. The list is endless.

God knew what He was doing when He created male and female. They were meant to complement one another – not to be slaves, underlings, insignificants, but joined together as one, to create more human beings and share life together under God’s perfect plan for humanity. It might be a better idea to return to God’s original design. I wish not to offend anyone with my words. I simply want to express my feelings. We still have that right in our country and I thank God for that too.

Posted in aging, America, change, depression | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

GOD SHATTERS THE DARKNESS

Posted on July 20, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The opaque murkiness of an impenetrable sky surrounds you.  Your mind swirls with empty thoughts. You feel alone, lost, unapproachable, frightened.  There is nothing but darkness.  There is the apprehension of mystery when you’re in complete blackness – a somberness that encumbers you – shrouds you yet causes you to scream for just a tiny glimmer of light. Your heart pounds within your chest – beating like the sound of a dusty old grandfather clock.  Your ears listen attentively to each and every sound with anticipation, fear, insufficiency, helplessness.  You grope frantically for one beam – one lonely beam of light to free you from the grip of this umbrage.

Your eyes plead for just a small glimpse of light and then it happens.  A small star in the distant empty sky slowly moves towards you.  The light that shines from it reflects to other heavenly bodies and they too come to life.  This one glimmer of light now encompasses the entire sky and it’s as if someone turned on the switch. Your eyes open wide.  You breathe it all in.  You feel its warmth.  Every sense is enlivened by the glory of it.  You are released from the mantle of uncertainty.  The pall has been lifted.  God is in His heaven, and He has shattered the darkness.

Posted in aging, fear, hope, light | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS

Posted on July 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

We daily walk through the wilderness of life.

We are tested at every turn – surrounded by danger and fear –

Swallowed up by loneliness – devoured by doubt.

We are on a pilgrimage towards our final destination.

Days are numbered, time is running out.   Are we ready?

The path is filled with unknowns.  

Our minds refuse to grasp the simplicity of the trek.

We try to manage things on our own.

He won’t let us walk alone.

He walks beside us and when things get too tough He carries us.

He clears the weeds, the sand burrs, the entanglements that choke the life from us.

He provides our physical and spiritual bread.  He quenches our parched throats.

He delivers.

He leads.

He carries our burdens.

He lifts us out of the pit and renews our spirit.

He died and rose again so we will never die.

Jesus is the only One we can fully trust.

He will never leave us. He loves us with a perfect, undefiled love.

He is our best friend forever.

He is our God, our brother, our friend.

Posted in aging, Faith, Jesus, trust | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

THE PAST OR NOW?

Posted on July 18, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I wonder what it was like to live in the 1800s.  The ideas and inventions of that time were countless and changed the way Americans lived until the dawn of the current age of technology. It’s fun to think of how things might have been during Mark Twain’s lifetime.  An easier, carefree existence where you could lay on a raft in the middle of the river and contemplate the clouds as you floated along, but was it?

Even Mark Twain complained of the lack of action in Congress and the foolishness of any who entered the political arena.  I wonder how he would have reacted to our current political sideshow.  Maybe things don’t really change much.  We continue to have flaws, we achieve greatness through various processes, we love, we deceive, philander, cheat and lie.  We sin. We aren’t much different than the characters God tells us about in the Bible. He uses those examples of real-life situations to show us that we are all flawed, but we have One who will rescue us from all of the perils on this side of eternity. In spite of our sins – in spite of our wanderings – in spite of it all – God never changes. His love never fails.

Times of turmoil and anguish will live with us until we die, but we can rest in God’s promise of an eternal life of untarnished bliss when we reach heaven.

Revelation 21:4  “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Posted in aging, change, sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

WHAT IS YOUR POWER SOURCE?

Posted on July 17, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The world has had electricity for some time now. Soon we’ll be plugging everything in, including our cars, our bodies, technology and artificial intelligence. Power comes from somewhere. Many things are used to create it – things like oil, coal and other natural resources. As Ben Franklin was flying his kite one day, he was in for a big shock. Harnessing that power was another thing altogether. Names like Westinghouse and Tesla come to mind.

I’m not an expert on electricity. I’m not an expert on much, but I do know it’s unwise to plug a hair dryer in while you’re in the bathtub. I know I’ll get a shock in the winter when the heat turns on and the air is dryer. I know that static electricity makes my hair do weird things. Most of us, unless we’re electrical engineers, don’t know what makes electricity happen. We know how to use it, but we don’t know all the ins and outs of it. I wonder about stuff like plugging in a car to an electrical outlet and how long that car will stay charged. I get confused when I think about how long that power source will last. I wonder if we’re just exchanging one thing for another to alter our environment. I wonder if somewhere down the road the power will eventually dry up and there will be no more. I wonder why I wonder about such things.

When I think about how this world was created in the first place, there must’ve been all kinds of signs pointing to an amazing amount of power. It’s from that source that all things were created in six days. Impossible? Nothing is impossible with God. What is your power source? Do you rely on scientists and experts to figure things out for you? Do you trust their judgement? Do you take advantage of all the power that’s available to each of us today? Are you dependent on that power to make it through each day? With God as your source of power, you are placing complete trust in Him alone to give you the strength to get through anything. You can plug into Him anytime, night or day. You really don’t even need to plug Him in – He’s there right now, with you. Each day, I’m learning to depend on His power. With each trial, I know that I’m not alone. With every challenge, I know my strength will come from Him. Who needs electricity when you have access to the greatest power source ever?

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WHAT IS THAT ONE THING?

Posted on July 16, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

When days seem endless – when the world seems to come tumbling down upon you – when you think you can go no further – when tears overtake you – when prayers seem to go unanswered – when death seems imminent. Those are just a few examples that we face as we go through life. We might even wonder why we must endure these things or that it would be better to have that life snuffed out and forgotten. We go into a dark place. We think things that we never would otherwise. We feel hemmed in, helpless and at times hopeless.

In my case, I have been on a long journey towards my Savior. I grew up in a church going family. I went to Christian schools. I met and fell in love with the love of my life. We raised a family together. We shared pain, suffering, loss, joy, peace, contentment, success and failure, but each of those things were just part of the growing up process. It’s taken a lifetime for me to really understand the One Thing that’s important to get us through this journey. I may never fully grasp complete understanding, but this I know. Without God, life is pointless.

He is the One Thing that will never waiver. He will always lead, guide, protect and shield me from whatever comes my way. He has a plan for every human being He places upon His earth. He nurtures that life – gives it meaning – tests it – pursues it – restores it and saves it. What is the one thing that gives your life purpose? Learn about your Creator. He loves you more than you can possibly imagine and His love endures forever.

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OUR WEEK IN REVIEW – LOOKING BACK & FORWARD

Posted on July 15, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’ve decided to keep track of some of the lessons we’re learning as we enter this challenging part of our life’s journey together. Some of you may get tired of hearing our story. Some may learn along with us. Some might even benefit. God has a plan for each of us. He wrote the blueprint before we ever came into being. He knew the number of our days. He knew who we’d fall in love with, how many children we’d have, how relationships would be formed, how challenges would crush us at times, but through it all, He also knew that we are His children, and He loves us with an unconditional love. I plan to list some of the highlights and lowlights of this expedition and some of the emotions that surface as we walk through them. Bear with me. I’m still in the learning process myself.

For the past two years, my husband Paul has been undergoing serious health issues. One thing leads to another and eventually his last hospital visit revealed several things. He had a small stroke. He has an aneurysm. He has a heart valve that needs replacing. He was anemic and needed three transfusions of blood. He is also dealing with scar tissue from treatment of prostate cancer twelve years ago. In a cat scan of his upper body, a mass was found in his chest. The mass was biopsied two weeks ago and found to be cancer. Last week felt like a barrage of new information, unwanted diagnoses and confusion, tears and prayers.

  • Sunday – We went to church to give thanks, praise and honor our God. Some of the hymns we sang brought a tear or two to my eyes. The message was uplifting and showed the importance of our knowing both the law and Gospel of God. We were joined in fellowship with other believers, who hugged us, listened to us and cried with us. Having a good support system is vital in these situations. Took some photos of my garden. Trying to find beauty in the chaos.
  • Monday – I spent the morning rehearsing with my Jewels of deNial for a performance we had scheduled for Wednesday evening. Time was filled with laughter and some tears. Again, another wonderful support group that keeps me laughing.
  • Tuesday – We spent close to two hours at the oncologist’s office. The first hour was spent filling out forms. These were so repetitive and frustrating for Paul to do alone, so we finally found a system that allowed me to ask and write down the answers while he gave them to me. When we finally got in to see the doctor – who is amazing btw – we were already worn out. She explained all the potential options for treatment of this new cancer. She was very thorough, understanding and compassionate. I couldn’t hear everything she said, because of my hearing issues. My cane kept falling down as we sat there. Paul immediately bonded with her because she’s from Germany. His German heritage is from the same area of the world. By the time we left her office and went back out to finish the forms, both of us were mentally exhausted. I felt more confused than before we met.
  • Wednesday – An appointment was set for Paul to get a Dexa scan. We had to travel to another town to get it. We got slightly diverted, but it turned out to be a lovely drive through some forested areas. The scan took about fifteen minutes, but the trip there and back took almost two hours. During these drives we’re discovering more and more about each other. We’ve been married almost 59 years, but I keep learning new things about this man that I love with all my heart. In the evening, I performed along with my Jewels for a huge crowd. They laughed a lot and it made me happy to make them smile.
  • Thursday – Met with Genetic counselor. This was all new to us as well. It is designed to give you and your family some information for their own health records. In other words it’s basically checking your DNA and determining possible illnesses that could be hereditary. What I learned from that experience is that we know how old our ancestors were when they died, but we certainly didn’t know much about what caused their death. I do know that in my grandparents lifetime, diseases carried a certain stigma and they never wanted to reveal them. The whole process could also affect future generations from getting life insurance, because of their hereditary markers. So that we decided against doing that.
  • Friday – Our heads were swimming with new information – old information and information overload, so we decided it was time for another road trip. Our car is getting lots of use lately. Our time together in that car is precious. We’re sharing our feelings, but I’m praying that the right decisions will be made. When someone has so many things wrong with them, the health care becomes very complicated.
  • Saturday – Today, I’ve been up since five o’clock. I slept well. the skies are again filled with Canadian smoke. Not sure what today will bring, but I’m confident that God is with us.
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WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS . . .

Posted on July 14, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.  

Proverbs 20:1 ESV 

Last night the sounds of thunder crashing and hail falling could be heard outside our window. For a while there, I thought I was going to have to go outside and do a rain dance, but God knew that would not be a pretty sight, so he sent refreshing rain instead. We have not had rain in abundance for several weeks now. Farmers are definitely concerned about their crops. The birds and critters living outside are searching for a place to take a bath or get a refreshing drink. We sometimes feel like we’re living in a desert – alone – with no sight of water – no oasis to refresh – no cool contentment from the heat. Rain is like a balm for withering spirits, for parched emotions and dehydrated souls. In the summer, rain is a welcome relief, especially for our lawns as they’ve all gone back into dormancy.

As I look out at the yard this morning, life has been restored. Leaves that were becoming brown from baking in the sun were now refreshed and alive. As I look out at the expanse, I can’t help but think about God’s timeless tending of His creation. When it seems everything you care about is coming to an end – when you feel dried out and worthless – when your body won’t respond to simple things like getting out of bed or brushing your teeth – when you want to crawl deeper into the hole you’ve created for yourself – that’s when God comes in. He will not give us more than we can handle. When it comes to that point, He provides a way out. He sends the refreshing rain for you to dance in. He gives hope, strength, healing and power to press on. Like the grass, we are precious to HIm.

Thank and praise Him for His wonderful gifts. Trust in HIs unfailing love. Today is a new day. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow will be even better.

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WHY I LOVE MY JOB

Posted on July 13, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The Jewels of deNial performing “Side Window,” at Lord of Life Church in Ramsey for the Ramsey Lions – Viva Howard, Barb Hynes-Tomczyk, Christine Tauer, Kathy Boecher. Dee Moore1

When I was a little girl, I felt it my obligation to entertain. We would often have performances for relatives at family reunions and would even set up a stage in the backyard for neighborhood shows. My middle grandson was compelled to make people laugh. He intended to do that as his job in the future. He also aspired to being a Walmart greeter, but eventually realized that wasn’t his true calling. My neighbors and relatives weren’t always thrilled to be in my “shows,” but that didn’t deter me. I pushed and prodded. I promised them homemade cookies. I bribed them with all sorts of rewards, and it did become my career later in life. I wanted to be a brain surgeon at one point. I longed to be a teacher, a writer, a comedian and was able to do most of those things within my lifetime. The brain surgeon thing kind of fell by the wayside.

I retired six years ago, but didn’t really. The urge to make people laugh, to forget their problems for a little while, to brighten their day was always a goal for me. Last night, the theatre troupe I belong to, had a scheduled performance for the Lions Club. With all the challenges we’ve been dealing with personally, I felt torn about performing. I had obligations that were tugging me in several directions, but my darling husband encouraged me to go on with the show. He reminded me why I do this job. It’s to bring a little sunshine to someone else’s life for a moment. I felt guilty. I felt conflicted. Would I be able to do this without succumbing to a pail full of tears? The time came. I went. The show brought lots of laughs from the audience, and I felt good about that. I am so fortunate to be able to continue doing the things I love to do. I’m blessed to have a wonderful spouse who encourages me every day. We have amazing friends and extended family who care about us. My own family is so much more than I ever dreamed they could be. Not only are they a great support for us, but they believe in God and His will for our lives.

So, as people look at my blog posts each day, they probably wonder what is going on with this woman. Why is she putting herself out there in front of an audience when she should be spending time with her husband? How can she even think about herself at a time like this? I suppose I’d ask the same questions. If I were to say it wasn’t a matter of pride or glory, there would be questions too. This is one of my jobs – to make people laugh – to show them there is another side to living than just feeling sad all the time – to lift them out of the pits and by so doing, I’m lifting myself out as well.

I love my husband with all my heart. He has been my best friend forever. He is going through a decision making process regarding his health – his future treatment and his eventual entrance into heaven. We both know that he’s going there and that I will join him at some point. Maybe I’ll even get there first. Who knows? I’m confident that God knows, and He is directing everything we do here on earth.

Posted in aging, Faith, God, humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments