Looking Back to a Family Visit

What a year it has been, we've definitely had our ups and downs. 

My most recent pregnancy had it's downs then praise to the Lord, He healed my baby and made everything beautiful.

The winds were changing in many areas right when Elijah was due to be born, and amidst an exciting birth story, Nathan received news just two weeks after Eli was born that he needed to find a new job.  Praise the Lord, He provided a new job for Nathan without so much as a day missed.

For a couple weeks, since Elijah was born two weeks early, we had time to adjust to becoming a family of 6.

Then the first visitors came at the beginning of April!  We were so excited to have Nathan's mom, his sister Misty and her husband Sean and their little guy Amos come and stay with us for a week to meet Elijah and help out. 

My kids were so excited to have one of their cousins come to their own home and play. 

Everyone had such a wonderful week together and it was such a blessing to have the extra hands to help, and a friend to play with my older kids. 

On the Other Side of the River: A Tribute

M. Jean Messner
1931-2013

 

 

I haven’t been able to write since my Grandma passed away a few months ago.  I miss her so much and don’t know where to begin.  How can I possibly put into words all that she meant to me, to everyone.  When I sit and think about what to write there’s such a big hole in my heart. 

I’ve written this blog for my family, especially for my Grandma who I know was constantly worried and concerned for me and my family, always wanting the best for us and wishing we could be closer.  ( We are the only ones who live far away) Now when I sit to write, I know that my loving and precious Grandma is no longer on the other side of the computer screen catching up on our family 'going ons' and ooing and aweing over the pictures of my sweet kiddos.  Praise the Lord she is with Him in her heavenly home.  But she is greatly missed here.

 My Grandma left a beautiful legacy that will continue on.  We have an incredible family who loves the Lord and loves one another and that came from the wonderful example of my Grandma and Grandpa.  I am truly blessed and thankful to be a part of this family, to have had such an amazing Grandma who loved me and everyone around her unconditionally. 

My Grandma loved the Lord.  She loved life.  And she always looked on the bright side and found true joy no matter what.  My Grandma and Grandpa, like Jesus, loved people just the way they were and that is the best legacy they could have ever left, to live a life of love, of loving others, and 61 years of a beautiful marriage and family.  My Grandma was so very generous, she loved to give though she never had much she gave from her heart and gave of herself.  She was kind and encouraging and always looked on the bright side of things.  And she always had fun and made sure you had fun as well!  There was no way you couldn’t have a smile on your face when you were around her.  She brought the love and joy of Jesus to anyone around her. 

I have the most precious memories that will stay with me always, from camping to Christmas to summers spent at their home, of stories of days gone by and poems to treasure and share.  But most of all we have our family who embody precious bits and pieces of her, of her sweet character.  She will never be forgotten.

I love you and miss you Grandma and I look forward to the day when ‘we’ll meet again on the other side of the river’.

Some of my cousins.

 

My amazing Grandpa who misses her the most.

My Grandma was an extremely talented poet and writer and I want to share with you a few poems she wrote. 

 

FOREVER

We whispered, "Forever" while the candle lights were glowing

As the organ played our wedding song and as we knelt to pray

And as we danced together, we promised we would never

Forget the word "Forever", whispered on our wedding day

 

We remembered "Forever" as our children played around us

As we taught them how to laugh & love & knelt with them to pray

Thru all those lean and teen years, we promised we would never

Forget the word "Forever", whispered on our wedding day

 

On our silver anniversary with our friends & family round us

We renewed our precious wedding vows and bowed our heads to pray

Holding hands we said "Forever, we will always stay together

And I love you more than ever "Forever", every day

 

On our golden anniversary - with our kids & grandkids round us

With our arms around eachother, we bowed our heads to pray

Thanking God we're still together, that we weathered stormy weather

That we meant the word "Forever", whispered on our wedding day

                                                              by: Jean Messner



 

 



I DARE YOU TO BE STRONG

To my family, I dare you to be strong

In a world that's topsy tervy sing a song

Keep a smile on your face

Make your world a happy place

Be a leader, be a friend

Someone strong who will not bend

To the pressures of the crowd

With their voices strong and loud

Keep your head up high and go

Down the straight and narrow road

Dear Family I dare you to be strong

 

To my Grandchildren, I dare you to say no

Be the spark that makes a thousand candles glow

Be the light that leads the way

So your friends don't go astray

Be a leader, be a friend

Someone strong who will not bend

Love yourself and leave no doubt

That no one can buy you out

Stand your ground when the goings rough

Don't give up when life gets tough

I love you and I dare you to say no

 

To all my friends

You were there when I really needed you

You helped me out when I didn't have a clue

I'm so glad you came along

With your laughter and your song

You'll find directions by God's throne

To my eternal heavenly home

And I hope to see you there very soon

But not too soon

                                                       by: Jean Messner

 

 

LIFE IS A WONDERFUL THING

Run, skip and jump down your yellow brick road

Take somebody's hand and carry their load

Smile, laugh and giggle & put on a wiggle

'Cause life is a wonderful thing

 

Soar like an eagle, spread out your wings

Open your heart to whatever life brings

Smile, laugh and giggle & put on a wiggle

'Cause life is a wonderful thing

 

Have a big party- invite all your friends

Dance and enjoy life, before it all ends

Smile, laugh and giggle & put on a wiggle

'Cause life is a wonderful thing

 

God gave you a gift - He called it "today"

Reach out and take it - Don't throw it away

Thank Him and giggle & put on a wiggle

'Cause life is a wonderful thing

 

When you wake up each morning - look up and say

Show me Your plan - Then I'll be on my way

Give me a giggle & put on a wiggle

'Cause life is a wonderful thing

                                                         by: Jean Messner

 

 

 



A 10cm Mass on My Liver & Healing from the Great HEALER!

 

 

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be on my mouth.  My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.  Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. 

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.  This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!  Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!  There is no want to those who fear Him.  The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."

Psalm 34:1-10

 

            

                                   

For those of you who did not know, about three weeks ago I went to the doctor because of pain I was experiencing in my back and upper abdomen (right under my chest).  I had already been to the chiropractor thinking the pain was from something wrong with my back.  Everything was fine for a few weeks after seeing the chiropractor until I had another episode.  So I decided to call my doctor and when I explained my symptoms to her she suggested that I had gallbladder issues and that I should get an ultrasound done to see if I had gallstones. 

 

About 2 weeks ago I went in for an ultrasound and the results came back with some scary news.  I did have gallstones but they had also found a 10 cm mass on my liver.  From what they could tell it seemed like it wasn't too serious, maybe a cyst or hemangioma.  But I needed to get an MRI to find out for sure. 

 

This past Wednesday I went in for the MRI.  During the 30 minute MRI I was able to listen to praise music and I had such a sweet time of worship with my Lord.  A time of prayer and calling out to Him.  A time of turning my heart to Him, putting my trust in Him no matter what the results showed. 

 

Well, today I got the call from my doctor with the results.  The mass was not there! My doctor hardly knew what to say to me.  She commented about how crazy it was that this was happening again, where they had found something wrong and upon further investigation it was gone.  (This happened with this previous pregnancy when the Lord healed baby Elijah from any trouble with his kidneys and moved my placenta out of the way so that I could have a natural birth)  My doctor hardly knew what to say, but I knew.  The LORD HEALED ME!  All I could think to do was praise and thank Him for healing me and in such an incredible way.  The 10 cm mass did not show up at all in the MRI, it was gone.  And the gallstones, she mentioned, were small and quite insignificant, no need for surgery to remove my gallbladder, even though I was going to suggest not having surgery anyway.  Everything looked normal and good!

 

PRAISE THE LORD!!  He heard our prayers and chose to heal me.  I am so thankful!  And thank you for those who prayed.  Know that the Lord preformed a miracle and deserves all the glory!!