mostly makoa.... ;D

It is always nice to start the day giving praise to our Lord! So many times I am into asking and asking of Him.... but I wanted to start this beautiful day acknowledging just Who he is!

Ahhhh... Saturday! My favorite day of the week! It is 8:30 a.m. and Papa, Punkin and Toby are asleep still. So it is very quiet and peaceful. We have no plans today. Of course, I am sure Papa will do the usual... mow and clean vehicles. He does it every weekend. ;D I am doing windows. fun. Woke up with bad leg cramps a few times last night. Plus had both animals on the bed almost all night. I might even need a nap today!

Yesterday was a great day! Makoa was such a good boy. He played and played. We played together and read books. I waited until noon to put him down and he fell right to sleep and woke at 2. We played more and his daddy picked him up. Easy day. Here are pictures to share and a video! Some are blurry... here he was trying to put Papa's slippers on and walk in them. I would think there would be an easier way... but who knows?
He was trying to run his car on my tv... so I brought out the car mat. He loved it!
We ate a late breakfast.... he had sausage patty, scrambled eggs with cheese and toast.
And he ate almost all of it!!!! He must have been hungry! Fruit doesn't always fill you up.
Speaking of fruit.... here is Makoa with his favorite book. The only reason he loves it is because it has 7 bananas!
It wouldn't let me upload the video so I will have to try it later!

I hope you all have a great day! I know they will at Ganky's in Georgia... another marine came home from the war safe... and it is celebration time! Praise God!!!! xoxo! Thank you Justin!

ANDREW'S DEVOTION: READ Matthew 6:5-15
Andrew's thoughts...."We all pray differently, but this is how you should pray unto the Lord. Try it out sometime! :)"
My comment.... I love this portion of the Bible... Jesus's words. His guidance. He doesn't mince words... He tells us exactly HOW to pray! Thank you Jesus!!!

Matthew6: ⁵"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ This, then, is how you should pray:

¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

amen

all about doctors and surgeries!

It is so foggy this morning.... feels like fall! But I am sure we will have sun by the afternoon!

The next post below this gives an update on mom and her consultation with the surgeon. It was a long day yesterday. I was already tired... and so was mom because she didn't sleep well. Kapono picked up Koko at lunch time. I got ready and picked up mom and went to the appointment. We waited over an hour before we even got back to a room!!! Then had to wait a while longer. The girls had scheduled mom's appointment in a 10 minute slot.... his new patients take an hour. He was not happy with them. But he still gave mom her hour! By the time we left there it was almost 4:00! Mom was starving! So we stopped at the nearest restaurant and ate dinner. Service was quick! Mom told me to just text everyone about her surgery and I did... so don't get mad at me! During dinner I kept getting texts back and mom actually finished her dinner before me. That never happens. lol! We laughed and had so much fun at dinner. I asked her if she was nervous about the surgery and she said "yes and no". She is concerned just because it IS surgery... but she knew it was coming and she said no matter what happens she is ready. And I believe her. She has a peace no matter what the outcome.

Today I have Makoa and no other plans for the day. That is nice for a Friday! In fact our whole weekend is free.

My memory doesn't match the date today.... but it is a whole memory and leading up to it..
This photo was taken at Fort Flagler 7-15-07..... he started having chest pain... thought it was a pulled muscle from Toby pulling on the leash or heartburn. Hurt all night into the next day when he was admitted to the hospital having a heart attack.
It is from 3 years ago today that Papa had his bypass surgery. It was a frightening time. Those three weeks he had 3 heart attacks, severe heparin allergy reaction which caused his platelet counts to drop down to near death, if they took him off any blood thinner a heart attack would begin, they tried putting in 3 stints that didn't work, he saw more doctors than you can imagine, they had to get all new equipment for surgery that wasn't heparin coated for the surgery... they said he will always be remembered and in the text books. He ended up with two heart surgeons!
Normally they take you off blood thinner 5 days before surgery. But they couldn't with Papa or he would have a heart attack. I remember being there at 3 in the morning because I couldn't sleep. I laid my head next to him on his bed and we slept until they came to take him off the blood thinner. His surgery was scheduled for 10 and he began having chest pains at 7 am while the doctors were all in a meeting discussing him... they hurried him into surgery. He needed two blockages done but they only did one because his heart was so angry.
Here is the picture taken 9-2-07 of us going to church picnic... his first social outing.
And I am so thankful he is alive! It has changed the way we feel about each other drastically. Our love, support and devotion is so strong. There is nothing I wouldn't do for him. I am so glad God gave us more time. We both gained weight after it all... now we are eating healthier and losing it again. We will be together forever... but it would be nice to stretch it out here on earth too.

I have two devotions from Andrew which I will close with. God tends to speak to me through this grandson of mine! Thank you KJ!

ANDREW DEVOTION: READ COLOSSIANS 2:6-10 andrew's thoughts: "Only live through Christ and work for Him, because living any other way will lead to destruction."
ALSO READ : MATTHEW 6:25-34andrew's thoughts:" The Lord has your back, so there is no need to worry about something that is to come when you've already got the day at hand to deal. He will provide all things necessary to live."

Mom Update

I took mom to the doctor today for a consultation with a vascular surgeon, Dr. Walters. He was really nice and explained everything so thoroughly. He took his time with mom.... asked her a lot of personal questions about family and career and husband and history.... made her into a person. I liked that alot. Plus he explained everything about the options she has and the ones she doesn't. Most options she can't have.
Basically she is going to have AV fistula surgery. http://www.fistulafirst.org/ Basically they will be sewing an artery from the upper half of her arm to a vein in the lower part of her arm at the inside elbow area. She will have a couple hours pre-op, surgery will take about 2 hours if there are no complications, and recovery should take about 2 hours. She should be home that evening. The surgery will be this Wednesday. It has to be NOW. So she is going off coumadin tomorrow. It will take approximately 3 months for her body to be ready for the kidney dialysis after her surgery Wednesday. If her kidneys go out before the 3 months.... they will have to put a catheter in her neck.... which is why they are doing the surgery now... to avoid that. This is her only shot... her veins are not good so she needs PRAYER that it goes well with no complications! Thanks!!!

forgiveness and love is daily

My memory picture was taken 4 years ago today of Maddie, Karla and Jared! I think it is an adorable picture!

I am sooo tired. I want to sleep but Makoa is on his way. I woke up and had trouble getting back to sleep. Not good. I only have Koko half the day... then I am taking mom to a doctor consultation. That is my plan for the day. Nothing going on tonight.

Yesterday ended on a higher note than expected. Yank-a-Part (our softball team) won 2 more games last night. We have a great team! Seriously! Except our top 1st baseman won't be there next week and her son had his last game with us. :( My day started out taking Maddie and Dylan to the free movie where we met Karla, Tara and the girls. I decided I didn't want to stay... I really don't like Kungfu Panda. So I went to mom's and she wasn't there! I drove everywhere in town looking for her.... finally went back to her apartment and put away clothes and waited. No mom. So I decided to look at Walmart when I saw her car in the Albertson's parking lot! Went in and helped her finish shopping, followed her home, carried them up and helped her put them away. She had lunch and we visited. Then I stopped at Karla's to drop off kids stuff and visited Karla and Tara... and the kids! Came home and my house smells delightful!!! Pot roast in the crockpot. I was on such a high!
It didn't last but I enjoyed it while I had it. At times you are on a high and then something will set you off or hurt you. But someone wiser than myself said to me "Don't be angry, just forgive them, have patience, pray and GIVE IT TO GOD." Wise counsel.... and I am working on it.

I love this painting.... God protects His children....holds them in His hands when the storm and waves are crashing all around them. Thank you God!I won't be getting Andrew's devotion this morning but I was doing my own study on forgiveness and anger. I have been hurt several times this week.... very hard to understand. Some people feel they have to confront you on something innocent that should never have been brought up. It is so sad and I believe innocent people tend to get hurt. That is why God has so much about forgiveness in His word! There are so many reasons I have to forgive. I went to counseling years ago and learned it is NOT an emotion or feeling.... it is an action. It is so hard to separate the two.... but it is possible. You may not feel like forgiving but once you actually forgive a person and pray for that person... your heart will soften. And you have to do it over and over. Sometimes I know my kids think I let others "off" too easy. But here is why I choose to forgive....
This is what God wants to fill us with!
What a powerful verse... another reason and the biggest reason to forgive... I want God to forgive me! We are told first to forgive others so that God will forgive us!
Once we do that.... despite the people who want to hurt us.... God will show me the path to take.
Some people will never forgive. I am sure we all know someone like this... they don't have the strength in themselves and are too prideful to ask God for help? I know one person that reads this... and I pray the person reads and learns and seeks God and His help.
My strength comes from the Lord!!!
Thank you Father for this new day and for your strength, love and forgiveness! I forgive the people who have hurt me this week. Search my heart and show me my faults Lord! Help me to not treat others the way I have been treated. Help me to think things through and ask myself "who is this benefiting and who is hurt?" "is this of God?" "Is it done in love?" and "Is it glorifying You, God?" before I speak. Thank you for that special person you are using in my life to speak your truth to me in love! I love that person and I love you! In Jesus' name! Amen!

That's about all I have.


This was an important post for myself. Love to my blogger buddies, kids, cousins, friends, and especially my hubby who reads this daily!!!! xoxo

young love.... NOT!

I love this picture of my cat getting a drink of water in the bird bath ... notice she is trying not to touch the water with her paws..... and her little tongue lapping up water. Usually by the time I get the camera she is done and walking away with whatever cute thing she is doing. I love her.

And I love these guys.... here is Maddie loving on Koko!
Dylan trying to get his picture taken (I know... shock, shock) with Makoa but Makoa only wanted to play "Where'd Koko go?" lol!
So Dylan held on to his hands... which I don't think Koko was filled about.
Here we are eating dinner out on the picnic table. My fruit has brought in those nasty fruit flies so we figured there would be less bugs outside.... and there were NO bugs. It was a beautiful evening. Look at all those trees on the hills.
(I put dish soap and vinegar out for those flies and hope to get rid of them! I do not like them!)
Next we have Dylan... being bugged to death! Gregory and Cameron are over playing with Maddie and he hates it! He is SO protective of his sister! Example: Maddie didn't bring her swimsuit and borrowed the one Lauren left here... it is two piece but not revealing (it covers the belly). Dylan threw a fit and he will not let her go over to Gregory's dressed like that... he forbid it. I tried so hard not to laugh! I called Karla to talk to him and she did laugh. Maddie borrowed the swimsuit and had a blast. In this picture he has his tough guy pose watching over them!
Meanwhile.... Maddie and Gregory were making plans to watch the sunset together!!!! Oh my gosh! Maddie said she had to dress up so this was the result. I made her wear pants under her nightgown!!! She brushed her hair and put on lip gloss! I have to admit... she does look very pretty. She said Gregory was going to wear a shirt and tie.
Well... his mom called and said "I told Greg no suit and tie because it wasn't a date!" We laughed about it. His mom told him he is not allowed to date until he is 16. That night when he left Maddie told me they planned to go on a date when he was 16. I told her I didn't think her mom would let her go out because she would only be 14.

Here they are on the swing. Meanwhile Dylan is pacing in the house like a caged Tiger. I keep reminding Dylan it is nothing. Last week she didn't even want to play with him. No worries! (He doesn't like Greg... he doesn't like any boys Maddie likes).
And here they are waiting for the sunset. When I got the camera Maddie moved over and grabbed Greg's hand. oh my gosh. Good luck Karla and Joel... I will be praying for you. Or maybe I should be praying for Dylan! This stresses him out!!!
After Papa got home and Gregory left... Maddie was dancing around singing ... she had a fun day. I don't know if it was more about playing with Greg or bugging Dylan.

Still not sure about Gregory.... last week him and Lauren were playing mom and dad with the stroller in the yard and this week he is watching the sunset with Maddie? Sometimes I see this face when I look at him....
I know Karla wouldn't mind asking for prayer for her husband, Joel. He had an accident at work yesterday which required 6 stitches and 7 staples on the top of his head. He's ok... but I am just praying the Lord heals him quickly.... Joel isn't one to sit around.

I have the day off. It is after 8 and Maddie is having toast, Dylan is reading in bed, and I am finishing up so we can get ready to go to the movies at 10. Going to visit mom too. Game tonight! (I make it sound like I actually play.... lol... but keeping score is important, right?)

Have a wonderful day today!
Andrew's devotion: READ PSALMS 29
"The power of the Lord is mighty.... it thunders and makes the ground shake. Never underestimate the power and the glory of the Lord. Pray against distractions and praise God."

messy faces and laughs....

Yesterday was a great one.... Makoa and I had some company for a few hours. Dylan, Jo and Riley! That was nice! Snack time they had a chocolate cake thingy..... I think Makoa ate all of it but what you see on his face. Why do all kids have to rub their eyes when their hands are covered with gook? Then he looks at the camera like "WHAT?!?!?"
Riley was very good with Makoa.... he loved her!
Jo and Dylan were more concerned about playing a game of Apples to Apples. eating all my cantaloupe and bugging me. lol! They called Andrew, Pat and Parker and bugged them too. Cell phones... they all have them and know how to use them. All have unlimited texting to each other. lol! These cousins love each other. They have such a great bond.

Another sunny and beautiful day here in Paradise! The cat is in the toy room on the pile of sleeping bags sleeping and Toby is out on the front deck sleeping waiting for Makoa. It is going to be a great day! Makoa will be here... and Maddie and Dylan are coming to spend the night! It will be a great day! I am washing the bedding today and on the dark side... I may wash some windows. I am hating to look out them when it is sunny. I think I will get some kids to help!!!

Called my favorite cousin, Bob, yesterday! It was great to talk with him. I rsvp'd to the picnic they are having next month. We went last year and it was great to see cousins I never see. We are taking mom again this year. She is the only auntie left that is lives close. Aunt Lorraine is in South Dakota. Pray she feels good to go. She had so much fun last year.

I am sharing three memory pictures taken the same day... 7-27-05! The first one is a trick I would use... they loved brushing their teeth so I would get them on the counter to brush them while I would fix their hair.... and they stood pretty still for it!The other ones were taken the same day but it was later when mom came over. Lauren and grandma were having such a good time playing with the fake food and Lauren had mom laughing sooooo hard. It is a Kodak moment.Hope this leaves you smiling!

Well... have a wonderful day! I love my friends that leave comments! Thank you! Kind of makes you feel like your posts have a purpose... to make others smile. xoxo

ANDREW'S VERSE FOR MONDAY

READ: Psalm 24

Pay your respects to the King who created this beautiful scenery just for you! If that doesn't show He loves us, idk what does!!!!

Relax and enjoy your day!!!!

Good Monday morning. The beginning of another glorious week! Right?

Yesterday was such a relaxing day. We went no where. Should have went to church... but it is so easy to stay home. Papa got some good rest outside.... with his dog. ;D
It will be a quiet day for Makoa and I. Just watching "Blue's Clues" and eating. lol! (I forgot again... Tara and Karla are bringing the kids over while they go scout out campsites ... so we will have some visitors for awhile this morning! Makoa will get to meet Riley and Jo!) I already cleaned up a bit. It is such a beautiful day outside! Sunny and in the 70's! Love the Pacific Northwest! I was invited tonight to our Bible Study groups potluck. We haven't been to Bible Study in so long. I miss the people and I need to go. I need to see some of my friends. People that love me and are happy and encouraging!

Speaking of an encouraging person.... my facebook friend of the day is very encouraging. Her name is Debbie Wendell Johnston. I went to high school with her! Sadly, I've talked to her more since we got out of school than I did in school. I've missed many opportunities in school and regret not getting to know everyone more... especially Debbie. What a sweetie!
Memory picture: Here are the other two kids... taken 7-26-85 of Karla and Heather in their bedroom!

Here is a Bible Verse to send you on your day .... or to sleep on.... depending on when you read this! xoxo

andrew's back with more devotions! ;D

Andrew's devotional for today: READ ROMANS 6:1-4

" Dead to sin, and Alive in Christ! This verse fills me with so much joy because it tells me that we are not alive in sin, but alive in, and we are free from all sin :) "

Romans 6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

A story, quietness, death of a slipper and camp!

Once upon a time... there were kids that actually loved their picture taken before they grew up and didn't want mom to take them any more. One day.... while playing badminton in the yard... Kevon and Ryan stopped to do their tough guy wrestling poses for the camera... while daughter Tara, riding her bike in the road, waved happily to the camera! What a beautiful life. The end.
7-24-87


no pics... no kids. quiet at the Black household. It is actually kind of nice! I would rather have snugglie, laughing kids around.. but sometimes it is nice just me and my love. Yesterday morning I took mom to WalMart. We got some stuff and when I put her in the van she wasn't feeling well at all. I had bought her a cold water and opened the windows quickly. Loaded the groceries and stopped to get her some food. I think part of it was because she hadn't eaten much breakfast. Once we got to her apartment she was feeling so much better! I was glad... she was really glad.

Came home.... papa washed the van and then we went and bought him shoes and slippers. It went rather quickly and easily. Usually it is awful to go with him... but he found them quickly. He just couldn't wear his old slippers anymore. Maddie laughed when she saw his feet in his slippers! I am hoping his knees, hips, and back feels better with his new shoes.

Got home again and I took a nap. Papa made burgers for dinner and we had such a great night together!!!

Got to get ready for church and that is all we've planned for today. Much different than last weekend! lol!

I know you've been praying, wondering and asking about the boys at camp. Andrew called last night and we talked about camp! He loved it, of course! He learned so much about himself and the Lord. He got closer than ever to Him. So many things touched his heart. Plus they had fun singing, jet skiing and swimming etc... Just got off the phone with Parker... he loved it too and can't wait to go back next year! Parker's idea of fun was different than Andrew's. He made lots of friends from Bayside and CMC that like Pokeman too! His favorite part was swimming and stuff... God is so good! Thank you for praying for these young men!

Guess I will close and get us ready for church! Have a beautiful sunny Sunday! xoxo

all about the breakfast...

We went to breakfast with some of our favorite people yesterday!! Heather, Tara and their kids! It was fun.... papa and I took the middle chairs from the moms so we could be by more grandkids! It was good service, good food, and fun! Jared loved his hot chocolate until he got carried away with the water glass. lol
Joshua just gets carried away period.
Here is our dainty Riley girl...
And Jordy and patrick!
Dylan just drank water.
After breakfast I took a few pictures. I wish Heather lived closer.

When I went to get a decent picture of these people... Tara gets cranky, Lanny gets goofy and Heather does good. I literally yell at Papa! Doesn't help. lol

We picked up mom and took her to her last iron infusion treatment. She seems so fragile to me.
Gotta get off here because I am taking her grocery shopping this morning. Enjoy your day. Please pray for a dear girl, Rachel, who is sooo sick with pnemonia! She needs a divine healing!