Walking in Valleys

 Have you ever found yourself in one of life’s valleys and wondered when you were finally going to see the sunshine again?

The truth is, none of us are promised a life without hardships. There will be days filled with joy and laughter, and there will be days that leave us tired, discouraged, and wondering why the road has become so difficult.

The past few weeks our valley seems to growing and getting deeper and deeper.... I might could even say the past few months.......Yes, most of this year has been a valley.  

Sam has been sick, and for several weeks now, I have not felt well....not felt myself....and have had little energy.   It’s been one of those times when simply getting through the day has taken all the energy I could find.

On Thursday I guess my body had decided on it's own that if I wasn't going to slow down, then it would slow down for me.  Around 9;20 on Thursday morning, things got bad for me.  I had broke out in a full sweat.. sweat dripping from my head and neck, along with feeling clammy all over.  I was nauseous and felt faint.

Suddenly, the room was spinning and I could barely move...My calf muscles were aching and I  did not know what was happening...I made it to the bed, but I couldn't lie back, couldn't stand up and was just frozen still.  Shanda had already gone to the store for me to get me some liquid IV because I felt a little weak, and I knew she would be here soon....when she came in, she could see that I was having problems.  Sam came in and Shanda phoned Trista to come home.

 

They ended up calling an ambulance for me and I did go to the ER..  The doctor was very thorough in making sure I wasn't having a stroke or heart issues.  He did test and ordered a lot of blood work.. I also took in two bags of fluids, some nausea meds and something for the vertigo.

 I was dehydrated, I had a bad UTI and I was having vertigo.  After a day at the hospital and some meds, I came home and have been resting ever since... Hopefully the UTI will get better soon.... I've been drinking lots of water and juice to help with the dehydration.....and the vertigo is better.

If you’ve stopped by my blog lately, you’ve probably noticed something unusual. I haven’t even changed my blog page! Now, if you know me at all, you know that is so unlike me. I love changing it up and making it inviting, but I just haven’t felt well enough to do it.  Could it be STRESS?  You know, stress can do so much harm to our bodies...

I also haven’t had the strength to read your wonderful blogs or leave the comments that I enjoy so much. If I’ve missed your posts or haven’t responded, please know it wasn’t intentional. I just haven't felt well enough to do so.  I truly miss visiting each of you, and I hope you’ll accept my sincere apology. I can’t wait to get back to reading your stories and reconnecting.

As I sat here, God has gently reminded me of a simple but powerful truth.

We all walk through valleys.

Some valleys are caused by illness. Others come through loss, disappointment, worry, or circumstances beyond our control. None of us are exempt.

But here’s what brings me peace: God doesn’t ask us to walk through those valleys alone.

He goes before us.

He walks beside us.

He stays behind us.

There has never been a single moment when God has abandoned one of His children.

Sometimes He calms the storm.

Sometimes He calms His child while the storm continues.

Either way, He is faithful.

I’ve learned that the deepest valleys often become the places where our faith grows the strongest. It’s where we discover that His grace truly is sufficient and that His strength really is made perfect in our weakness.

If you’re in a valley today, don’t give up.

Keep trusting.

Keep praying.

Keep taking one step at a time.

The valley isn’t where your story ends. It’s simply a chapter that God is using to draw you closer to Him.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” — Psalm 23:4

Thank you for your prayers, your friendship, and your grace during this season. I hope to be back in full blogging mode real soon....For right now, I'll do what I can in posting and in catching up with you all..  One thing that I can say is that even when I feel bad, joy comes to me through my blogging...

Until then, remember this: The God who meets us on the mountaintops is the very same God who walks beside us in the valleys. And He has never failed us yet.

Shug......

Story of Zeke

 A short story about Zeke.

Zeke is our great nephew and was adopted by our niece some 10 years ago.  He also has a sister who was adopted by another local family and her name is Bertie.  They both were adopted from Zoey's Place in Malawi, Africa.

Here is how Zoey's place was born. 

"The story of Zoey’s Place began on a mission trip to Malawi, Africa in the summer of 2013. God lead a team of missionaries from Rock Hill Baptist Church on a very specific journey to help a special orphan named Trinity that was only a few days old. Their encounter with Trinity opened their eyes to the life threatening issues that Malawian orphans face. God began to stir a great vision within the hearts of these willing missionaries. It was a vision that seemed too huge to ever be a real possibility, but with God ALL things are possible.  Zoey’s Place is named after a beautiful baby girl, and though her time here on earth was short, the lives she has impacted are too numerous to count.  We believe that God ordained this moment. While here with us, Zoey and her family showed God’s love and grace to so many. Zoey’s Place will also show God’s love and grace to many hungry children in Africa. Orphans at Zoey’s Place will not only receive food for their physical body but food for their spirit, as they are being taught about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Malawi, Africa is home to over 1,400,000 orphans. Malawi is a small country on the southeastern side of Africa. Year after year it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, typhoid and many other diseases along with unsanitary living conditions and poverty cause the life expectancy of a Malawian to be very low, leaving many children as orphans. These orphans are extremely vulnerable to starvation and disease, especially in remote villages. These orphans are literally “the least of these.” We believe these children matter to God, so Zoey’s Place seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus by intervening in the lives of these precious children."

About Zoey...

 Parents of Zoey.....  Samantha and Mark

Samantha is our niece and her husband is Mark.  Their beautiful baby girl (Zoey) passed away in 2012 from complications that she had had since birth.  Zoey was one year old when she passed in 2013  which was the same year that God began a ministry that had not been named yet...

That very year, the mission in Africa was named after Zoey Kate.  

The mission was quickly built and in no time, the building was filled with orphans.  Zeke and Bertie were two of the little ones at the mission.  Our other niece (Samantha's sister) Jiffy, made a trip to the mission the following year and her heart was led by God to adopt Zeke.  After sharing with her husband what God had placed upon her heart and much prayer, Jiffy and her husband (who is also named Sam) flew back to Africa to begin the process of adopting Zeke.  After several months and several trips they were able to bring their little boy home.  At this same time Zeke's sister was adopted by a very loving family and she now lives here in the same city as her brother Zeke. They both attend the same High School...  

There is so much more to this story...Perhaps some day, Zeke's parents will write a book about how God moved not only in their lives, but in the lives of these orphaned kids.. 

By the way....Zeke's adoptive parents had 3 boys and another one on the way....They are now parents to 5 big boys...

Family is important!!

Shug.....

   

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday:

Shug.....

Celebrating #97

 Celebrating 97 Years of a Life Well Lived

This weekend, we gathered to celebrate a very special milestone—my father-in-law’s 97th birthday! What a blessing it is to celebrate nearly a century of life, love, memories, and family.

There were about 20 of us who were able to be there, even though we missed another 15 or so family members who couldn’t make the trip. While we certainly wished everyone could have been there, we made the most of every moment together.

The facility where he lives has a beautiful private lake, so what better way to celebrate than with a little fishing? And yes… the birthday boy caught a couple of fish! Now, to be completely honest, there may have been a little assistance reeling them in, but in our book, if the fish made it to shore, it absolutely counts! At 97 years old, you’ve earned the right to let someone else do the heavy lifting.

After fishing, we enjoyed a wonderful meal together, followed by gifts, birthday cake, plenty of drinks, and even more laughter. Those are the moments that become treasured memories.

Of course, we couldn’t let the day end without taking family pictures. Looking at the lineup of great-grandchildren made me smile. The boys have definitely taken over the family tree! They outnumber the girls by quite a bit, and to make matters even funnier, those boys are now towering over the family’s two great-granddaughters. I don’t know what they’re feeding those boys, but whatever it is, it’s working!

Our Zeke...(has on the Texas Christian Shirt) was adopted when he was only 3 by Sam's niece and husband.  He was living at Zoey's place which is a ministry orphanage in Malawi Africa.  (More on this story in a later post)

As I watched everyone laughing, fishing, eating cake, and simply enjoying being together, I couldn’t help but think about how precious these days really are. Birthdays like this one isn't just about adding another candle to the cake. This one was about celebrating a legacy.

Ninety-seven years represent countless stories, lessons learned, prayers answered, hardships overcome, and generations influenced. Looking around that lake, I realized that each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild is part of that legacy, and this is what I would call and incredible gift.

Life moves quickly. Children grow taller before we realize it. Parents become grandparents, then great-grandparents. Calendars fill up, and schedules get busy. But days like this remind us to pause, gather, laugh a little louder, take the pictures, tell the stories, and celebrate the people who have helped shape our lives.

One day, these family photos will become priceless treasures. The fish may not have been record-breakers, and the cake will soon be forgotten, but the memories we made together will last far longer.

Happy 97th Birthday to an amazing father-in-law. Thank you for showing us that a life isn’t measured only by years, but by the people who gather around you to celebrate those years.

Here’s to family, fishing, laughter… and to having someone nearby who’s willing to reel in the fish when needed!

Shug....