Looking back...

Just wanted to take a few minutes and wish everyone a Happy New Year! My prayer is that God will wrap His loving arms around you this next year and give you peace and that feeling that you know He is there. I pray if you do not know Jesus as your personal savior that this will be the year that He becomes real to you. Trust me there is no feeling quite like it.

Looking back over the year, what a year it was. We had our good times and our not so good times. As most of you know Family means everything to me. My Hubby, grandkids and daughter are my world. We enjoy the time we get to spend with the kids.

We enjoyed a week in Panama City Beach in a condo right on the beach thanks to a cousin and her husband! Our original plans were to spend it with my daughter and her family but as we know at times plans do get changed. Due to Janice’s health her and Clint did not get to join us, but being the wonderful grandparents we are (or maybe a better word is crazy…lol) we enjoyed the week with Eden Jade and Cain. We had a wonderful time, laughed a lot, and cried a little, made memories we will never forget. What more can you ask for? I have to admit Granny and Papa Stan were exhausted when we made it home.

As I said Janice and Clint could not join us due to her health. The first episode she had she thought she was having a heart attack, so off to the ER they went. They could not find anything so they requested that she see a cardiologist. This began a long 4 months of tests, and diet changes and medicines. She was scheduled to have a pacemaker put in, actually was at the hospital, with IV’s in all prepped for surgery when the doctor came in and said he could not do it. She had not passed out completely so the insurance would not pay for it. Yes we were upset, disappointed, agitated, all of the above, but what we did not realize was prayers were being answered. We had been praying that whatever it took please help her to get back her much needed energy and health. After that roadblock she decided to start from scratch and found her a regular doctor. The doctor took a full blood panel and started from square one. From there she did a glucose test… guess what Jan is hypoglycemic and low on Vitamin D. Thank you Lord! With diet change and taking Vitamin D supplements she is feeling so much better. Granted she has a bad day once in awhile but we all do. It is so great to see the spring back in her step and the sparkle in her eye and I have to tell you this momma is smiling a lot. Yes, she still has a problem with her heart, but a lot of people do and never even realize it. If she would have had the pacemaker it would not of made a difference in the way she was feeling. Thank you Lord for always watching out for us.

These last few weeks of the year have been tough, I lost my Aunt Maxine. She was my mom’s youngest sister, the only one that was left. She was like my 2nd mom. She lived at Appleton, where we have our little house (used to be my mom’s); it is our home away from home. She always knew when she passed if the porch light was on we were in town and we would be visiting in a day or two. We had such a good time visiting with her; I already miss that! She was 86 years old, still lived alone and still drove herself wherever she wanted to go. Her mind was sharp, she answered so many questions I had about family history and gave me names for pictures that were mom’s so I could write them on the back. I hope and pray when I am 86 I am as sharp as she was.
When they had the viewing at the funeral home, 130 people signed the book, and we are sure there were several who did not. What a testimony that is, Aunt Maxine was a kind good-hearted woman who loved her family and friends more than anything else. Her husband Doyle Dean passed away in 1985 on December 19, the day before their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Aunt Maxine passed away 26 years later on December 19th. At the cemetery her kids and grandkids gathered to pay their respect and there was not a dry eye anywhere, she will be missed because everyone loved her and she loved everyone.

Don’t you know there was some kind of Reunion going on in Heaven on the 19th!

until next time... nel