We are now at the beginning of April, and so much has changed. Every change forces some degree of growth as one passes through it. Be it a good thing or a not-so-good thing. I have attended a couple of memorials for some truly wonderful people I have been fortunate enough to share my life with. I have taken from them lessons that will make my life better.

My dad, a very intelligent man, taught me to be a survivor. He was a key factor in my being able to learn from things and move forward. He read constantly and never stopped learning. With age he rededicated his life to God and went back to Bible studies..always learning.

My husband's cousin's husband, Richard Wiedenheft (google the name). Accomplished writer for his faith as well as Minister of the Word. Visiting with him while he was under hospice care was an amazing thing. He was very pale and slight, but his spirit held strong and often soared. He ministered to his visitors while waiting to discover the next thing that God had planned for him. His faith NEVER waivered. A true lesson for us all.

My husband's grandson, Harley, today had surgery for a burst appendix. He struggled with stomach issues during the week, but a trip to the ER showed his appendix had indeed burst. The surgery went well and he is heading home tomorrow as far as we know right now. But the gift of youth and good health, let it not be wasted nor taken for granted. We do have the important job of maintaining our heatlh so we may become all that God wants us to be.

Everyday brings small lessons. Occasionally there are bigger ones to be learned.

   I have just returned from Tennessee and my father's memorial service. Or should I say the celebration of his life. My father died suddenly on Jan 29 this year. He wanted no big funeral, and always spoke of cremation. He wanted no one sobbing into his casket.. but for people to remember him and all the times spent with him. To celebrate his shining moments and let the others fall to the wayside.

  This was the day he had last Sunday. Family that could get to Tennessee attended. Those who could not physically make the trip did so in spirit. It was a wonderful thing.. to celebrate and not mourn as we came together to remember him.

This has been a rough year for me. My father died suddenly and very unexpectedly in January. There was no immediate closure for me, my brother or my sisters as his wife kept things very much to herself. He died 2 weeks before his 79th birthday. I will travel this weekend to TN for his memorial. He had heart issues that I did know about and my mother has recently had a pacemaker put in.

In January at my routine physical, my EKG did not match the baseline one done a few years ago. I was scheduled for tests so we'd all knew what might be going on. I had an echocardiogram and a stress test last week. Results were very encouraging and yet I will next be going in for a CT scan. I always want things to be checked routinely so they can be caught and corrected immediately.

I am very lucky to have my health. That my parents lived basically healthy lives for so many years. That my siblings, all 6, are all very healthy people and trust me, we're not kids anymore..lol. I anticipate a long life but the stress that comes with trying to stay that way can be overwhelming sometimes. To keep both our bodies and spirits healthy and strong can be juggling act to be sure.

  As I sit and write this I have just finished submitting a couple pictures to the local newspaper. These are pictures I took in church this morning, as I try to do every Sunday. I look to find something that I can write a caption to, hoping to peak the curiousity of the readers. I want to make them want to be a part of our church. I want to find the activity, speaker or mission that will bring people into our church. People who are touched by something we're doing.

 I believe that my church is filled with wonderful Christians. They warmly greet and welcome everyone into their extended family. They are constant examples of God working through others. I want to share these people with the community. I believe we all have ways of putting forth the Good News. Mine is through the pictures. Many are on my church's page. Each one is precious to me, for they are of the people and place I hold in my heart.

  I like the way this site works to connect people to one another regardless of distance between them. I received a lovely email with comments on my first attempt at a blog. She asked to be added to my friends but the security she chose for herself doesn't allow me to reply to her email. I tried to add as friend but without a last name or an email address, I cannot connect to her.

  I am hoping she'll read this and hit to "add me" as her friend or send another message so I have the information needed to add her. I like the idea that we can share our thought process and brainstorm whether or not we are in the same room.

Cascadeofwater please feel free to add me to your friends and know how much I appreciated your taking the time to send such nice comments.