God's plan

In the immediate days that followed our son’s diagnosis with a congenital heart condition, I was wrought with worry, overcome with anxiety and debilitated with fear.

Thank God I knew what to do – seek Him!

I had had those awful feelings before (when my ex-husband left me while I was pregnant in 1997; I lost the child and later learned he had been having an affair). During that time in my life I sought Christian counsel, attended church and renewed my faith and commitment that Jesus is my Savior, and those were some of the best days of my life.

As part of God’s plan, I soon met my husband and within two years I had a new family including a new son, whom we named Christian because my husband I are are both Christians. We also have two other sons ages 9 and 11.

Christian, 12, has been a healthy child for the most part. Only for the past five years he has suffered from what initially was believed to be hypoglycemia (ruled out) and what last summer was finally diagnosed as migraine headaches. So last month’s revelation that he has a congenital heart condition came as a great surprise.

All part of God’s plan.

On March 26 I spent the evening in the ER with Christian who had a heart rate of around  200 beats per minute for several hours that day. It was a scary time for me but Christian was cool. The doctor performed what appeared to be a magic trick that involved a breathing exercise and pressure that took the high rhythm down immediately. Diagnosis was supraventricular tachycardia - SVT. And follow up at a children’s hospital was arranged. Normal heart rate for a kid is 80 to 120.

The next day Christian and my husband returned from the children’s hospital with a bigger diagnosis - something he apparently was born with; they confirmed the local ER's diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia but discovered it is SVT using an accessory connection - a tiny piece of muscle, smaller than a hair, that bridges the atria and ventricles.

The condition is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. I will not go into detail here about WPW or its complications but do know that Christian will soon have a procedure to hopefully get rid of the fiber. Please pray for healing and protection for Christian.

On March 28 I sought Christian counsel. I met with a pastor of a local church. I prayed. My family started attending that church, something we’ve done just a few times over the past decade, but never a month of Sundays.

All part of God’s plan.

Thanks to social media, I sought prayer on Facebook as I attempted to lay this burden at His feet, I emailed friends and asked them to place Christian on their church prayer lists. Thank God for the Internet!

We have been blessed. And I know that prayer works and I know that God has a plan. I am not in control. He is.

I also received Scripture from a friend that I want to share because maybe you are experiencing worry, anxiety and fear. Maybe you need to hear God’s Word or maybe you need to read words about God.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is tailor-made and my burden is light."

Another friend shared this with me on Facebook:

God knows exactly where you find yourself, and He is faithful and steadfast. HE also knows Christian's body inside and out and has given doctors great knowledge. I will pray for comfort and peace as you discern the route to take for his complete healing. Be strong and take courage.

Today I have peace even though one month ago I was wrought with worry, overcome with anxiety and debilitated with fear.

All God’s plan. Praise the Lord!

The Amazing Artist

Lee recently turned 9. For at least the past five years he's produced hundreds of drawings on white computer paper. He's entered his artwork in the Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival Student Art Show the past two summers. He's won awards. He's received O's (outstanding marks) in art class at school.

Lee's creativity amazes me. His father, the Old Man, is artistically inclined and still has many drawings from his youth. I am not.

Our oldest son, Christian, 12, was as interested in art as Lee at a young age but sadly he rarely picks up a pencil anymore. Middle son, Will, 11, also likes to draw and exhibits talent but he tends to navigate toward using only wide ruled notebook paper which annoys me to no end.

Lee's artistic ability has surpassed any expectation I ever had for him. I think he's a genius. His imagination is wild. He surprises me every day. And yesterday was another gift.

First we took his Letter to Santa to the post office to mail it.

Then we went to Big Lots to get some big boxes of cereal at big savings and there he asked to buy a cheap set of T-shirt markers - 10 colors for $2. I rarely turn down a request by him to buy art supplies. At the store I told him he could use an old white T-shirt from his pajama drawer on which to draw.

We arrived home and within a half hour he had created a most amazing holiday shirt with a theme of lava and volcanoes.

"don't think about lava

think about Christmas"

***

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The Last Pumpkin

Imagine that you are a pumpkin - the last pumpkin in the field. The nights are getting colder and there is snow in the air. Won't someone come and take you home to a nice warm house? You hear voices and see someone coming toward you ...


I'm in a pumpkin patch. I've been dreaming for this day for months. I see a teen-ager with his dog. The dog is a black lab. He is sniffing me. His nose felt so wet and moist. He walked away. His dog didn't want to go. Then he jerked the leash and the dog went with him. I saw him looking at the other ones. Just then I was getting tired. I tried to keep my eyes open. Then I saw him. He was coming toward me. He picked me up, took me to his house, put me on his porch, and lit me.

Written in October 2010 by Will, 9, as part of a fourth-grade writing assignment.

"L" is for Lisa and First Love

My fifth grade son has a girlfriend. The last week of school, this past May, he announced he was going to kiss her, but that never materialized.

The two did not correspond or see each other over the summer. She lives on the other side of town.

Last week he mentioned her again. School resumed two weeks ago. Apparently they are still “together.” Two nights ago, as he kissed me good-nite, he said he was going to try to hug his girl the next day. Yesterday morning he ate his breakfast and ran upstairs to brush his teeth. That’s when I heard the shower running – 10 minutes before we had to leave for school.

He came downstairs smelling like Axe.

On the way to school he said that not only was he going to try to hug her, but also kiss her and hold her hand. After that I must have lost consciousness because my friend, who was dropping off her child at the school too, said she waved to me but I did not see her.

My son came home from school. He said he did not get a hug, a kiss or a hand-holding session. He said that he and the girl talked at recess. Asked what they talked about, he replied, “Business.”

I believe this girl may be my son’s First Love.

With all of these feelings surfacing from my dear boy, I started thinking about my First Love.

His name was Tim.

Tim and I were classmates. It was the third grade.

I don’t know whose mother made the arrangements but Tim ended up at my house, in my backyard, where we played on my swing set until nearly dark. Then he stayed for dinner. My first “date.” I don’t remember what we ate, all I remember was Tim was at my house and all was good. I don’t know if it was that day but at some point during that school year Tim gave me a present. I’m sure his mother picked it out – it was perfect. The initial “L” on a chain. My initial. Beautiful. I still have that gold necklace. Here it is.

Tim’s mother lives in my town now. Tim lives just down the highway between the town where we grew up and where his mother and I live. My First Love was not a physical relationship. I had feelings. I’ll bet he had feelings too. In third grade we did not act on those feelings.

In fact we never acted on feelings but we continued to be friends. I remember going to my first co-ed party at his house, for his birthday. He lived just on the outskirts of town where his house, located at the base of a cliff, was surrounded by a small wooded area. There were grapevines intertwined among the trees. We swung on those grapevines and I remember this like it was yesterday.

In high school I went to a couple of big parties at his house. We were getting older and the parties were getting more mature. There were no grapevines to swing on then but there were cold beverages consumed. My parents learned about that party and my behavior, and I was grounded for a month.

I see Tim's mother from time to time and we speak – catch up on Tim and his wife, and my husband and three sons. And though I only see him every five years at our class reunion, I remember the boy, my First Love, with fondness.

Fill in the blank

Will, our fourth grader - the one who nearly two years ago decided that "Old Lady" would be a suitable title for me on our blog - recently received an assignment.

I asked him to fill in the blanks and complete these sayings, or idioms as they are commonly referred.

Anyway, here are some keepers.

You may have seen these other places, but never like this.

Remember, I gave him the first part ; Will's answers are underlined.

1. Honesty is the best when in trouble.
2. The grass is always greener when you're good.
3. A penny saved is a penny earned.
4. A woman's place is in the house.
5. It's always darkest before the day.
6. Crime does not solve problems.
7. People who live in glass houses should not break down.
8. You can't teach an old dog how to walk.
9. Where they're smoke there's trouble.
10. Never underestimate the power of God.
11. Love all, trust everyone.
12. Two is company, three is family.
13. Don't bite the hand that helps you.
14. If you lie down with dogs be careful.
15. No news is fun.
16. Fight fire with power.
17. You can lead a horse to water but not a cat.
18. When the cat's away, stay away.
19. Children should be seen and not heard.
20. A fool and his money are funny.

Hopalong Cassidy’s Creed For American Boys and Girls

Two years after I started working at the paper, I came to know William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd. Of all the cowboy memorabilia I've been exposed to, his "Creed For American Boys and Girls" has appealed to me the most.

I couldn't wait to have children to share this with them.

My sons now have a copy of these good words to live by.

1. The highest badge of honor a person can wear is honesty. Be truthful at all times.

2. Your parents are the best friends you have. Listen to them and obey their instructions.

3. If you want to be respected, you must respect others. Show good manners in every way.

4. Only through hard work and study can you succeed. Don’t be lazy.

5. Your good deeds always come to light. So don’t boast or be a show-off.

6. If you waste time or money today, you will regret it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways.

7. Many animals are good and loyal companion. Be friendly and kind to them.

8. A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be neat and clean.

9. Our country’s laws are made for your protection. Observe them carefully.

10. Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate than you. Be glad and proud you are an American.

Organizers are gearing up for the 21st Hopalong Cassidy Reunion this weekend at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge. William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd was born in Hendrysburg, in neighboring Belmont County, and went to school in Cambridge before his family moved West and he took up acting. Area resident Laura Bates, in 1991, set out to honor Boyd and started a Hoppy Fest, which evolved into a fan club that at one time had 500 members. The festival has waned over the years and more recently turned into a reunion held at the local civic center. Events start May 6 and run through May 7. For information, Call Bates, (740) 826-4850.

There will be another event in downtown Cambridge this year organized by former rodeo circuit promoter Art Postlethwait, called "Western Days," in which his newly-purchased authentic stagecoach will be featured in a parade in town on Saturday morning at 10. A western street fair with vendors, games, contests, demonstrations and public horseback riding runs til 5 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the  American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. For information, call Postlethwait, (740) 255-7052.

Giddy up boys and girls!

Meet Maddie

Last summer I met Maddie and her family, and I've never been so touched.

A "button" on a friend's blog has lead me down a path I did not know existed. It's a cross-country relationship with people who do not know me.

Welcome to the world of blogging.

The "are you a friend of Maddie" botton shows a picture of Maddie, a bright-eyed little girl in yellow wearing a grin that reminds me of my son when he was a baby. I probably could find a photograph of Will that mirrors Maddie's expression. After several visits to my friend's blog, I pressed that botton and arrived in California, where I read about Maddie on her website -  http://friendsofmaddie.org/

It is an understatement to say I was shocked to learn she had died.

No one was home but me. For hours I sat right here and read. I read and read and read and I cried and cried and cried. I was stunned. That day and in the weeks that followed I physically mourned the death of Madeline Spohr.

It's been two years exactly since Madeline Spohr died from complications of a severe respiratory illness.
Her mother, Heather Spohr, and father, Mike Spohr, and baby sister, Annabel, live near Los Angeles.

Yes, I met them on the World Wide Web. Me and thousands of other readers daily follow their blog - http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/

The Spohrs were blogging before Maddie died and have continued, sharing their story along the way.

Isn't that why we all blog? To share a story, a piece of advice or an opinion? Theirs is a sad story, one that has affected me deeply. But it is also hopeful.

Daughter Annabel was born on Jan. 22, 2010, and within the past couple of months has started walking. By all accounts Annie appears healthy and is being raised by wonderful parents who just happen to have lost their first daughter ... parents who are trying to hold it together.

I have never commented on their posts but I think about them every day and especially today as they continue to grieve the loss of precious Maddie.

Maddie was born a day shy of 29 weeks on Nov. 11, 2007.
She spent 68 days in intensive care. Her premature condition left her lungs scarred.

In the days that have passed her family has raised money for the March of Dimes and also for "families of critically ill babies in an effort to help ease the transition into NICU life and to be be an ally until the end of their child's hospital stay," according to friendsofmaddie.org.

I invite you to meet the Spohrs.