While I'm Waiting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7TSGptd3Y If this link comes through it is a beautiful video of a wonderful song entitled While I'm Waiting performed by John Waller. The song is heard on the movie FIREPROOF; however, this is a different video to the same exact song. It (the song and this particular video version) ministered to me in many ways as I listened to the lyrics and the music is so beautiful and moving. For my specific needs it reassured me that as we hope and pray for a miracle to pull together for a new type of residential setting for young adults like Clay we are to wait and worship and serve. So I post this more so in a manner of hearing WHILE WE'RE WAITING......not always peacefully and calmly perhaps as we should wait, but that we are to continue to worship and to serve Him while we wait for our answers as we put our trust in Him in all things.

Blessings in Difficult Times

Just a quick note to thank God for blessings during difficult times.........too many to explain at this time of night for a gal short on sleep, but I will try to make it back here soon and be more explanatory. We lost a family member on Sunday evening...my paternal uncle's wife. That means my parents are the only ones still together of the four brothers all still here with us. We are blessed that my dad still has my mom and that we still have them both. So many blessings mixed in with so many sorrows and difficult circumstances. Longevity.........94, just under 92, and quickly following 90 and 88........four amazing Monts boys who fought for our country against evil. Amazing stories. Amazing grace. Amazing sufficiency. Amazing provision. Amazing family. Yes, despite the harsh nature of life for many of us in different ways, there are indeed blessings in difficult times. God bless and keep us in His care.

Chocolates and Valentine's Day

It is Valentine's Day, 2009 PM

This was something written and reshared via emails recently, and on facebook that occured last year just days before Valentine's.....since it was written, Patricia's mom, Ms Elizabeth did pass away...a month or so later and was buried on the Saturday before Psalm Sunday. We attended the services; it was a blessing! Sunrise, Sunset.......and an incredible witness of singing......especially "I'll Fly Away"........the following from last year so close in nature to this year in circumstance and other things....but all that is another story sometime perhaps.....

written last year Feb 11, 2008...........very similar to the same type of week, this week, minus the chocolates.... Feb 2009........very, very strange, but true:

I hope you enjoy.....Here it is nearing 10:30 and I wanted to give an update. Fred is out of town this week. Around an hour ago, I went in to give Clay his last meds and feeding, change him for bed and such. I could not find Clay. Unbeknownst to me, he had managed to open a cellophane wrapped heart shaped box of chocolates and in delightful mischief, covered himself in attempts to eat them. His bed looked like Gracie and Kleckley had decorated with cat poop scratched from the litter box.......tiny ones, big ones, in between ones. Chocolate smeared upon the headboard and sides that surround him. Chocolate all melted and smeared into his sheet, into his clothes, into his hair and all over his person. At least chocolate smells much better than kitty poop.........thank you Lord for little things......of course, he is smiling all over like a Cheshire cat that ate the yellow canary. Oh how I wish I had remembered Clay's camera and gotten proof........Claude (neighbor & friend) is an eyewitness! Clay should have seen what he looked like.Patricia (care attendant, now with us for 2 years) told us this morning that her mother looked really bad yesterday. She was worried about her while she helped with Clay, and Clay did his best to cheer her up and make her laugh. He asked for a church bulletin which she finally found in our van while he was working on the computer. He was taking scripture and combining things into a 'sermon'......to which she just could not help but laugh at his creativity. She left to work her shift at Midland Center. Clay and I decided to call her cell and cheer her with the chocolate story. It cheered her, but her family had all been called to her mother's side.........I am not certain if she said her mother had already passed or was about to. Her voice broke up and I did not want to distract her once I realized what she was relaying. Please include Patricia in prayers as this moment has been anticipated for over a year now. In one of my prior mailings, I detailed more about Patricia and the stresses she is enduring. The passing brings resolution but that does not make it easy. Realizing that Clay would need cleaning up and bedding and clothing switched, I called upon Claude to assist me. When the news was on earlier I had gotten Clay in his lift only for the battery to die..........when the battery dies it will lower but it will not pick up, so he had to remain in his room. He did not get upset with me, but you could see he really wanted to be in his recliner on the computer. I appeased him and hooked up the battery charger to the lift. I promised before learning about her mom, that Patricia and I would get him to his recliner first thing tomorrow morning and set up his computer. He watched TV and then requested I switch over to FM country 92. He had been given the box of chocolates at church yesterday..........it never crossed our thoughts that he could manage to tear the cellophane, open the box and eat the chocolates lying down without my having a clue. He was laughing and 'chatting' from his room, in perfect listening range as I watched TV. I had no reason to expect something like that and was relieved that he wasn't upset and cranky with just mom around. So imagine the shock when I decided it was time for the two of us to quiet down for bed.............never a dull moment.With Claude's kind assistance, we were able to roll him from one area to another and remove / change his sheet. We changed his clothing and of course, he was just delighting in the entire scene. So I finally got his meds and feeding accomplished. I've prayed that he not get diarrhea or throw up sick from particles of cellophane and sugar loaded chocolate that he managed to ingest. I came out here to catch my breath and pray that he and I both sleep peacefully without further comedic or dramatic pursuit. If we are lucky Kleckley will decide not to prowl during the night singing his most romantic songs......he is deaf but he sure can sing. The last several nights have been rehearsal for some Valentine rendezvous he has playing in his cat brain. The subject always an article of my clothing...........never any one else's; mine he manages to pull out of the closet or the bathroom floor. Fred should be back late Thursday...........I'm not very pleased that he is less than two hours away and resting peacefully in a motel room, snoring away with no threats of interruption. I won't pretend to be that cooperative just now. Hopefully you all will understand my reasons. I ask that you lift those prayers for Patricia and her family. I ask that you lift prayers for Clay and I to get through without her assistance. I ask that you remember Fred's job and also Brandon's success in securing one with dependable, regularly paid compensation. I ask any other additional things you may include for progress and perseverance with great 'peace' to follow.I will now get ready for shut eye and change out of my chocolate clothing. I will be thankful that snoring will not be a problem while Fred is away......there are perks........gotta dig deep sometimes, but quiet is a perk. I wish all of you sweet dreams with love and hugs, Annette

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~follow up, next day……………..

these can't come close to the actual event, there was much more scattered about and smeared.......sheet has already been laundered for the next change necessity, but they provide clues..............he is extremely subdued today........hope it is not cellophane stomach......... visualize him on his tummy, face down upon the candy, licking it up like a dog long denied.........the 'poops' untouched as recovered..............

Valentine's Day 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

led to this scripture:

from Galatians 5; 22 & 23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The Blessings of Spring

Who cares about what the groundhog saw? It is coming with blessings...it is just around the bend. The winter is ending and spring will be inventing:

The Blessings of Spring

The familiar scent of rain that comes after the winter snow,

The whistle of the wind that with fury may blow,

The glorious worth of much welcomed sunshine,

The first taste of berries picked fresh from the vine.

Fluffy and white clouds against a brilliant blue sky,

A child's colorful kite that dances way up on high,

The courtship of songbirds getting ready to nest,

Assurance of new life that stretches east and west.

The steady whir of the hummingbird's wings,

The beautiful sound of the dove who sings,

The kaleidoscope of color from the butterfly's flight,

The wonder of lightening bugs that twinkle at night.

The splendor of flowers fresh in the morning hue,

Wet glistening droplets of evening dew,

The crisp, clean smell of just cut grass,

The lake that sparkles like diamonds and glass.

The caress of cool breezes that tickle the skin,

The chirping of crickets that signal day's end,

A melody of whippoorwills calling 'round the bend,

'Tis taste of God's sweetness encouraging me then,

Words of praise and thanksgiving to send.

Thank you LORD for all these things,

Reminders of endless and beautiful gifts you bring,

For sight, and taste, and touch and smell,

and sounds of nature in glory that ring,

We offer this song, in praise we sing,

Great are Thy beautiful blessings of spring!

words given August 8, 2003

Annette Monts Falls

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

TO REALIZE THE VALUE

To realize The value of a sister/brother: Ask someone who doesn't have one. To realize The value of ten years: Ask a newly divorced couple. To realize The value of four years: Ask a graduate. To realize The value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam! To realize The value of nine months: Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn. To realize The value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realize The value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize The value of one minute: Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane. To realize The value of one-second: Ask a person who has survived an accident. Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE. The origin of this letter is unknown, Remember... Hold on tight to the ones you love! Peace, love and prosperity to all!

I can't take any credit in this except that it touched my heart and I wanted to post it here.....this is the only sentence I can claim, but I value the time spent here.

Facing Giants

Wednesday has come and gone..........I realize it is already Thursday, rapidly approaching 2 AM. It has been just the Clay bug and me tonight.........his caregiver left around 2 and he has been so gracious and patient with me. I think he just drifted into slumber after 'chattering' in his room, in the dark with the light up stars on his ceiling......you know the ones you hold light to and then they glow for a while.......so very pretty. I just realized he has stars for his ceiling and water for his resting. We cuddled on his water bed and watched Facing the Giants video together. I looked around his room for the eagles that are posted and keeping watch. I realized a very small eagle was embroidered on his shirt.......he found it amusing. Clay finds so many things amusing; his wit keen and quick. The scripture just outside his door from Isaiah 40 and the eagle flying confident and free. He noticed tears in my eyes as the movie ended and he simply gave me that all knowing grin and gazed at me with eyes that seem as deep as the ocean and as vast in wisdom. The if onlys .... if only Clay could talk, if only Clay could sit up, if only Clay could walk........if onlys. If only Clay could express the depths of his understanding and love of Jesus. We know it is in him......we know it is him......the journeys angels carried him safely as a newborn to overcome the pain and to face the giants of severe medical obstacles and death. He remembers and it shines through his countenance, his jubilant spirit, his humor. How I wish he could 'explain' it to me in a greater manner yet I also know that God only allows Clay to teach us certain things at certain times to certain extents. Just now I try to find words to express my gratitude for tonight's time out for this tired mama and enlightened adult, totally dependent son. I try to find words to thank God for the might of the eagle in the face of giants.

On a Lighter Note

Clay's, KLECKLEY, a deaf blue eyed white cat is crying out loud for his 'bread' to be given to him and served with a fresh bowl of water........of course I'm not filling his cup with wine! I miss our three legged Golden Retriever named Ashley......she now runs on four in Heaven. I suppose our handicap accessible home I worked so hard to 'design' fifteen years ago has been a huge success.......not just for Clay and his wheelchair, but for pets, for aging parents and friends needing ~ appreciating easy ins and outs.........for planning our own senior needs....are we really approaching that milestone so soon that striking our foot on a stone is more realistic to instead strike our wheels against stones? Occasionally I remember and give thanks for ideas for posting a lighter note.

Stealing Bread Crumbs

It is said that when one draws closer to God, Satan pulls greater distractions, greater attempts to foil our plan to be with our Father of fathers. In just these past few days, I've been hitting one speed bump after another placed by the devil to thwart my progress to a greater place, to greater peace, to greater worship. Satan is doing his best to steal my bread crumbs and sour the wine. My energy level is dropping as a large, heavy rain comes down in a storm. As the energy is depleted so is the emotional, spiritual, mental state of mind. The rather short lived respite from what is leading to a greater possibility to be related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, has returned before I wanted it to. The 'relief' of medical consults and justifications of how I've felt for quite some time helps me to understand it, but it also makes it difficult to learn to live with things and cope with unexpected bad days. These are times my emotions seem to go up and down like a gigantic roller coaster at the huge 'get away' 'have some fun' type of distraction. The bread crumbs get trampled, eaten up by something, someone else. Constant phone calls concerning care coordination for my parents and for Clay, scheduling my own medical followups and new referrals, finding some me time outside of home with limited in home care for Clay.........I'm losing sight of my bread crumbs.........the devil is devouring a large portion of God's fuel for me. Some days it seems Satan has taken each and every little crumb of bread and sip of wine that God intended me to find and be nourished by. I despise the devil and his ploys. Lord, help me to cling to you and not give in to one who hates my love of my Father. I will always be his child and I will find ways to overcome the continual stumbling blocks that are thrown at me that tempt me to fall and forget how to get back up. I will always be hungry for bread and wine.