Zemek's Updates

A Thanksgiving To Remember (Writer's Workshop)

Karen & gerard — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:40:28 GMT

We had many wonderful Thanksgivings. My mom always made a great meal and we helped. I remember helping with the pumpkin pie one year but mostly my job was to do the instant mashed potatoes using Potato Buds and chop up the nuts for the Waldorf salad. I also remember going to visit my grandmas and aunts growing up.

When it got to be just me and my parents, we started going out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. My most memorable Thanksgiving though was the last one with both my mom and dad. My mom was quite weak and had been in and out of the hospital but was doing better. Following is an excerpt from "My Funny Dad, Harry" which is about our last Thanksgiving with mom. God was so gracious to allow us to have this happy day with her just a week before she died of congestive heart failure.

Cooking Thanksgiving Day Dinner (November 25, 1999)

   My mom had been quite ill that month. She was in and out of the hospital but was having a good day. We all knew it meant a lot to her to have a nice Thanksgiving so my dad, me and Gerard all decided to pitch in and make it a good day. Mom had made Waldorf salad and the turkey roll was in the oven when Gerard and I arrived. (I thought about bringing the camcorder, but didn’t because I knew mom wouldn’t want me to take her picture. She was always camera shy, especially when she didn‘t think she looked good enough. This was the last time Harry‘s oven was used--as an oven, that is.)

   Mom supervised the dinner preparations from her favorite comfortable chair in the living room, telling dad and me what to do next. (I am deficient in cooking unless it’s heating up frozen dinners.) We were going to put the stuffing in the oven next to the turkey roll and the rolls on top, but dad had the cookie sheet with the turkey roll turned the wrong way so he had to spin it around. Then the lid on the stuffing was too high, so dad had to make the rack lower. Mom’s wondering what’s going on because I am laughing by now. Instead of taking the turkey out, dad tried doing it leaving it in and just lifting the rack. The turkey started sliding into the oven! Gerard was back from CVS by then, so he was laughing too. I caught it with the potholders in time before it fell into the oven. Dinner was good.

    Mom was feeling good and seemed back to normal like before she went to the hospital, recovering nicely. She ate good too. It was a nice Thanksgiving and, as it turned out, was a very good last memory of our time with mom. I really wish I had brought my camcorder that day!

For more interesting posts or to choose a prompt and participate yourself, go to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. This post prompt was "A Thanksgiving To Be Remembered."

My Other Writer's Workshop Posts this week:

Our Dog's Most Destructive Behavior

Did I Really Want To Change My Life Forever?

I’m So Happy I’m Not Her --Or Him (Writer’s Workshop)

Karen & gerard — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:20:53 GMT

Looking at her in the embrace of her husband’s arms as the church leaders prayed for them at a special Tuesday night meeting to deal with a sensitive issue, my heart went out to her. Her husband was the youth Pastor in the church who had just finished explaining how his adulterous relationship happened and asking for forgiveness. He said he ended the relationship Saturday but it was going on for two and a half months. He was confronted about it on Sunday and confessed that it was true and so was relieved of his duties

I felt very sad for his wife but also for him because he had been very effective in his youth ministry for years, doing a fantastic job with them. I was in shock that he cheated on his wife with another married woman who assisted voluntarily with the youth, ending his ministry with the youth at least in this church. He certainly knew better and so did the other woman but I understood how it happened as he described the distance he was feeling in his marriage and the hectic summer schedule of youth ministry. He was getting burned out which is exactly when Satan will attack when he sees an opening, a weakness, an opportunity. (A word of caution: Don’t allow yourself to get too tired, too lonely, or too hungry because then your are weak and more susceptible to give in to temptation.).

He and his wife have two little girls. His wife has forgiven him and they are going to counseling in the hopes of restoring their marriage. I hope they can. Only God knows what his future holds. It is good to know God is forgiving and can restore and heal broken lives. The congregation is forgiving too and is supporting all parties involved by prayer and words of encouragement. We should have supported our youth Pastor more in prayer during those busy days of the summer so he didn’t get burned out. Shame on me.

It is very sobering to see that this can happen to anybody. We have to always guard against temptation and cling to our mate. If we feel distance, we need to communicate more and seek ways to put that spark back in our marriage. I am currently reading “The Love Dare” book to strengthen my marriage. Marriage takes work, a good marriage doesn’t just happen—it’s a constant work in progress that should be a high priority!

Galatians 6:1 If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

This is part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop where you can find other interesting posts or accept an assignment and participate too. The prompt for this post was to Tell a story about a moment in time when you were so happy you were you and not someone else in the room.

Cancer Journey Update--All Is Well!

Karen & gerard — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:22:45 GMT

I am now having radiation treatments which really are nothing. I am in and out under 15 minutes and it's only a ten-minute drive from my home which I am very thankful for. All I do is lay on a narrow table very still while a big round thing first aims from one side and then the other. I hear a buzzing noise for 30 seconds on the one side and then 15 seconds on the other and I'm done. The only slightly uncomfortable thing is that I have to raise my right arm above my head and grab on to something but it's only a short time and I'm out of there.

I have started back to work part-time. I just go in the mornings, leave at 12:30, have a bite to eat for lunch and go for my treatment. Then I come back home while it's still light and have three hours to enjoy my pets and go on the computer. Some days I'll run an errand.

I feel good so far and have 18 treatments to go yet. I haven't really experienced any side effects from the radiation but have been using the special cream I was given to help prevent redness and burning.

I give praise and thanks to God and to those who prayed for me and are continuing to pray for my full recovery because I truly believe that is why things are going along so smoothly.

No Chemo--Thank God!

Karen & gerard — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:30:19 GMT

For about two weeks I've been waiting for the results of the Oncotype DX test which gives a cancer recurrence score that determines if one needs Chemo or not. With some, Chemo helps lower the risk of recurrence but not with all. If the score is low, Chemo is not recommended because it's been proven not to make any difference in that situation; however, if the score is high, then Chemo is recommended because it has been proven to help lower the risk of the Cancer returning.

My medical oncologist went ahead and made arrangements with the radiation oncologist on the assumption that I would not need Chemo. So, when I got a call from her office that she wanted me to come in to discuss my treatment plan, I was pretty sure it would be bad news. I was very relieved when I found out that I don't need Chemo after all. Even though my score wasn't in the lowest range, it missed by only a little bit which put me into the intermediate range where it really hasn't been proven if chemo helps or not in that range. My recurrence was 12% but with radiation and the 5-year follow-up pill, that cuts it in half. The doctor told me that MAYBE with Chemo, it could lower the risk by an addition 3-4%. She let the decision up to me.

Of course, I chose not to have the Chemo. A possible 3-4% benefit didn't sound like it was worth it to me so on to my radiation treatments! Why did she scare me like that?

Got My Wish!

Karen & gerard — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:02:56 GMT

With work so slow I was often wishing I could be at home because there's so much I would like to be doing instead of just trying to look busy. Well, now I got my wish! Because there was some Cancer found in my right breast, I had to have a lumpectomy done and now I am off work for at least 6 weeks to recover from the surgery.

I am fortunate that I have medical insurance and that my company is very nice about me taking whatever time off I need to recover and heal. After trying to go back to work and becoming completely exhausted, I have decided to follow the doctor's recommendation and take the time off to heal. I am enjoying this time off very much. I love being with my cats through the day and walking my dog now and then, and being able to lay down whenver I feel tired.

I really thought I'd get more blogging in but haven't felt up to it too much. I've cut way down on the number of blogs I read but am commenting on a higher percentage since I'm reading less. I am hoping to blog more often as I regain more strength.

The Lord has given me enough strength to be able to return to teaching my 5th grade boys Sunday School class which I absolutely love doing. It gets me pumped up and is usually fun to do. The last two weeks I also had the 6th grade boys while they tried to find another teacher. Although it made for a bigger class, the boys were well behaved so it was a joy teaching! Starting this Sunday, the class will be split because one of the boy's dads volunteered to teach the 6th graders.

I'll be going to see the medial and radiation oncocolgists this week to find out what further treatment will be needed. I'm praying I won't need chemo.

Surgery Success!

Karen & gerard — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:45:24 GMT

After church on Sunday, I had the deacons of our church pray for my healing and anoint me with oil as instructed in James 5. I believe God is the great physician who does the healing. The doctors are tools he sometimes uses. God gave me peace going into surgery and continue to trust him throughout my treatments, whatever comes. The really nice thing is having paid time off from work to take it easy and recover completely. I am thankful I have a job at such a great place of employment and that I have medical insurance at this time.

After spending the whole day at the hospital on Tuesday, I finally had a lumpectomy done and was told they were able to get all the Cancer out and did not have to remove all the lymph nodes. The surgeon only removed the first two to test to see if the Cancer spread and they didn't find any in them. I was glad to wake up and get to come home the same day!

However, they have to examine the lymph nodes they removed more closely as well as two other tests that will determine if I'll need Chemo or not. I will find out the final results next Wednesday but am very hopeful. I thank everyone who is praying for my complete healing and quick recovery.

I did not experience any pain during surgery or afterward. So far I have not had any swelling or redness either which I praise the Lord for. I feel good and have gone to the zoo, walked with my husband on the dog walks and today went to the park with our dog. I am resting on and off through the day and went back to bed this morning after being on the computer from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.

I thank all who are praying for me and ask that you continue to remember me in your prayers. God is good and I want to give Him the glory.

Mammograms are a nuisance, but they certainly are useful in catching Cancer early while it can be treated fairly easily. I would have had no clue at all that I had Cancer in my breast had it not shown something "suspicious" on the mammogram.

For a detailed account from my husband's viewpoint of my surgery day, check out my other blog post: I'm Alive and Well--Praise The Lord!

I Just Found Out I Have Cancer

Karen & gerard — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:00:32 GMT

How One Phone Call Ruined My Day

While on vacation the day after I had my ultrasound done I was enjoying my day with the pets and blogging when I got a call from my doctor’s office right before I’m ready to eat lunch. I’m thinking this cannot be good—they NEVER call me. The receptionist told me my doctor needs to see me right away. I get there in 20 minutes and am referred to a surgeon because the ultrasound place recommended a biopsy be done on “something suspicious” that showed up. I’m thinking, okay, I’m not going to worry that it’s cancer until I hear it is. I went right away to find the surgeon’s office and make an appointment to see him.

When Gerard got home I went with him when he walked Abby to tell him about my strange afternoon. We both tried to stay positive and hope it was nothing.

Well, It Was Something

Gerard and I were both off work for our annual doctor appointment so he came with me to

my follow-up appointment with the surgeon to get my biopsy results. My doctor hadn’t received the results yet! I called the hospital and asked them to fax them over. Why don’t doctors communicate with each other? I feel like I’m a “doctor coordinator” here. They came through and I could tell they weren’t good. If they were, he would have told me. Is it any wonder my blood pressure was up?

When I got to the surgeon, I had to wait an hour before I got to see him. Finally, he told me I had some cancer in my right breast which by this time I already figured out. Still, it wasn’t the results I was hoping for and I kind of went into shock as he quickly explained my alternatives and the risks. The next day, I made an appointment for a lumpectomy on September 1.

I am so appreciative of all the prayer support I’ve received from my blogger friends! I just let a few know through personal emails the day after I found out and Mountain Woman at Red Pine Mountain have both posted about my need for prayers (with permission). I know I’m in good hands and God will see me through this. Many people have had this experience so now I figure it’s my turn. I am looking at this as just another life experience and know that God knows all about me and my body and I’m His child.

The blogging community has really been wonderful to me! Thanks so much for your prayers and well wishes! I can’t thank you enough!

Should We Pray For Healing?

Karen & gerard — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:23:49 GMT

Should We Pray For Healing?

In my prior post about divine healing, I pointed out that even when we pray in faith, God sometimes does not heal the sick person. This leads me to today’s question then, If God may not answer my prayer for healing, why bother to pray for it? The answer again is found in the scripture and is a definite “YES.” I base this on the following verses and the fact that no where do I find a verse saying we should not pray for healing:

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:13-16)

Casting ALL your care upon Him, for He careth for you. (I Peter 5:7—EMPHASIS ADDED)

It’s always right to pray about everything—even our health.

Why Doesn't God Heal Immediately?

Karen & gerard — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:47:11 GMT

Why doesn’t God heal immediately when we ask in faith like He did in Bible times?

This is the first tough question Pastor Dan addressed at Parma Heights Baptist Church on July 5th.

Sometimes God does heal immediately, but it seems as though most of the time, he does not. First of all, Jesus didn’t heal everyone back then either. Why does God answer the prayers of some for healing and not others? The answer Pastor Dan gave was that God is sovereign and that it just isn’t God’s will to heal everyone today, just as it wasn’t in Bible times. There were many people who weren’t healed such as those around the pool of Bethesda when Jesus chose to heal the paralyzed man.

We often pray for the sick and I can think of times when the sick were healed as well as when they weren’t, even though many people were praying for them. I’m sure you can too. Although physical healing is often what we seek, God is more concerned with forgiving sin and spiritual growth. Also God is merciful and perhaps he wants to spare the individual from additional pain or harm. Perhaps God wants to accomplish some plan through the death of someone.

God never promised anywhere in the Bible that Christians would have a life free of problems or pain. In fact, just the opposite is stated that Christians should expect suffering. The promise is that our suffering is small compared to the future reward:

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:17 & 18)

I think of King Hezekiah who prayed for healing and God granted his request, giving him an additional 15 years. During this time his son, Manasseh, was born who was a very bad person. In my opinion, it would have been better for Hezekiah not to have lived that extra 15 years and Manasseh would not have been born. Yet, God created Manasseh in the womb. I question why God would do this when he knows everything including the future.

The bottom line is that God’s ways are mysterious and higher than our ways:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The fact remains that God is the almighty, all-powerful and sovereign God who is ultimately in control of everything and who am I to question Him. We must learn to surrender to His will as Jesus surrendered his will to the Father’s and look for what he wants to teach us through the experiences He allows into our lives.

God is not like a Santa Claus, giving Christians whatever they ask for if they follow His ways and are “good little children.” He does love us and gave His only Son to die to pay the price for our sins that we can be in heaven one day with Him. I John 4:19 is why we love God, because He first loved us! Not because he is like Santa or a Genie who grants our every wish.

Part 2 on healing coming soon: So Then Should We Pray For The Sick?

(Scripture is from the King James Version.)

Will God Forgive Abortion?

Karen & gerard — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:26:31 GMT

One of the tough questions that was submitted to Pastor Dan was “I had an abortion. Can God forgive me?” My initial quick response was “Yes, how is he going to have a whole sermon on that?”

He invited two women who have had abortions to come and share their story of how they found forgiveness and it was very interesting! First though, he made the point that in God’s eyes, sin is sin and all sin separates us from God, whether it’s just a lie or a murder. This is based on lists of sins found in Galatians 5:19 and also in Proverbs 6:16-19.

Pastor Dan pointed out that abortion is a sin because life begins in the womb as indicated in Psalm 139:13-14. “Do not kill” is one of the commandments (Exodus 20:13). The penalty for sin is death, eternal separation from God but the gift of God is life through God’s Son, Jesus. (Romans 6:23) Jesus died for everyone while we were still sinners and paid that price. If we accept Christ death on the cross was for us and repent of our sin, we can be forgiven!

These women shared that they felt guilty after the abortion and participated in self-destructive behavior such as drugs, alcohol, divorce and even attempted suicide which are all common among women who have abortions. The one woman got actively involved in pro choice in order to help herself feel better. Both these women had a hard time forgiving themselves for aborting their babies. Both had different reasons. One did it because after her first baby, she just didn’t want to go through the pain of having another so aborted her second child. The other woman who shared was from a troubled home and looked for love in the wrong places. When she got pregnant with a man’s child who she did not love, she did not want to keep the baby because she didn’t think she could love it.

Both these women shared that they found a workshop called Healing Effects of Abortion Related Trauma connection with The Cleveland Pregnancy Center. Through this 7-week confidential, Christ-centered workshop designed for those who have experienced abortion, they found forgiveness. I John 1:9 says that, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” No exceptions! It doesn’t say, “except for abortion or murder or lying.”

By thinking God would not forgive them, they were told that they were ascribing more power to the sin than to Christ’s shed blood which really got their attention. "Christ died once for all, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." --I Peter 3:18

These women explained that most keep the fact they had an abortion to as few people as possible and really don’t want anyone to find out about it. That is why this workshop is strictly confidential. If you had an abortion and feel your life is messed up and there’s no hope, give the Cleveland Pregnancy Center a call at 440-243-2520 and just ask about the HEART workshop. There is forgiveness and help for you available. I hope this post will help someone find it.

From Angry To Thankful and Back to Angry

Karen & gerard — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:42:01 GMT

I really dislike having to go for medical checkups, appointments and anything having to do with doctors. It interferes with my life. This past week when I was on vacation doing Sports Camp at church, I had to schedule a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound on Thursday afternoon which meant I wouldn't be able to do the afternoon session. I wore my "Stressed Out" cat shirt, but went to the appointment with a good attitude realizing it wasn't the technical assistants' fault I had to go.

First thing I get called pretty quick but when I told them why I was there, they said they couldn't do the ultrasound because my primary doctor only ordered the mammogram. This just got me angry because I didn't want to use anymore of my time of for work to fuss around with this medical stuff that was supposed to have all been done in this visit. They called my doctor's office but it was already closed. They asked if I wanted to reschedule then or wait until the doctor had a chance to review the mammogram results. I didn't have a calendar with me and I was so mad over this that I just said let's just wait and see what the results are first. I don't want to schedule an ultrasound if it's not necessary.

Don't these medical offices handle appointments all the time? I know I had told my primary doctor that the place that did the mammogram recommended both a mammogram and ultrasound to follow up. When I called my doctor's office, they told me that the mamogram place said since it was a follow-up, an order for another mammogram was all they needed so that's what was faxed. I did get back to the church early enough to help set up for the evening picnic and it did occur to me to just pray to express to God that it sure would be nice if I didn't need another ultrasound after all.

Anyhow, the good news was that my doctor's office said they would call to see if the ultrasound was necessry and give me a call back. I was very thankful and relieved that I don't need an ultrasound after all! Yippee! Also saved some money there too because of the miscommunication . . . or is it that God is looking out for me?

UPDATED 6/29/09: Oops, today I got a call from my doctor's office now saying that after seeing the mammogram results, an ultrasound is recommended. Arrrrgh! I guess I'll have to go again now and waste more of my vacation time--boo! I know God is still watching over me so maybe He just wanted me to get back in time to help set up and have some pizza with the staff.

Disappointment Turned To Joy

Karen & gerard — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:12:59 GMT

We met this sweet 10 yr. old Beagle-Basset Hound mix dog, Pearl, at the "Meet Your Best Friend Day' at the zoo and couldn't get her out of our minds and couldn't really enjoy the rest of the zoo. She was the sweetest dog I ever met. We went back to ask some questions, cost was $125. This is the picture we took right before we left, feeling bad that we couldn't bring her home because we were going to wait for retirement before getting a dog.

Then after we thought it over, we decided to go for it and if she was still available even though she was a bit smaller dog than what we had in mind. The next day we called the rescue group that she was associated with and filled out the online adoption application and anxiously waited for a call from them. Unfortunately, Pearl has an incontinence problem so that just wouldn't work out for us since Gerard and I both work. The woman told us to try looking on Pet Finder because there are many dogs available and she knew the perfect dog for us is out there, we just need to find it. We were disappointed.

The next morning when we prayed together, I told God how disappointing it was and asked that if we were meant to have a dog at this time, that we would find the right one that would be perfect for us. Thanks to Pearl, I decided to actually look and see if we could find the perfect dog for us. I went on Pet Finder and found two I thought may be possibilities and showed Gerard. He said he'd like the one named Gabby so I emailed Barb, the contact person.

As it turned out, we could have her on a trial period for a week to see if we thought it would work. She said she'd bring it over to our house Saturday morning and Gerard and I were so excited to meet her. The description said she gets along well with other dogs AND cats which is a must for us. She is 5 years old and about 10 lbs. overweight so needs a home that will take her for plenty walks to give her the exercise she needs to get down to a healthy weight. This is no problem for us--Gerard loves to walk!

We fell in love with this dog right away and knew the second day that we wanted to keep her! I am just amazed at how well-haved she is and how smart and eager to please she is. I look forward to training her. She is housebroken and we can leave her alone all day with the cats without any problem. She had been in a shelter but it got overcrowded so was moved to a foster home to give her more time to get adopted. Good thing--what a shame it would have been to have euthanized this great dog! Barb only had her a week before I contacted her and said she just put her up on Pet Finder and that we were the first to express an interest.

Some people may think this is just a coincidence, but I believe God is always working in our lives and as we delight in Him, he gives us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4). When we have disappointments, we must remember that God knows best, is in control, and continue to trust Him. Oh, did I mention that this dog is only $70 and that she is exactly the size we've always had in mind of getting? God is so good all the time!

Be sure to visit Abby's blog at (Abby--Woof Woof tab above). Spunky and Manny share their reactions to Abby as well at their blog (Cat Corner-Meow tab above). Be sure to take a look at "The Intruder" video where Manny and Spunky are discussing Abby. Maybe you should check out Pet Finder too! It's not just for dogs. They have all kinds of pets available.

Aggravating Phone Call Results In Answered Prayer

Karen & gerard — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:19:53 GMT

At my Bible Study on "The Excellent Wife," the leader gave us a card that listed specific things that we can pray for our husbands. I started using this last month and one of the things was that he would take the spiritual lead in our household. Gerard and I used to pray together after every date before we were married and continued praying together when we first were married but then we stopped. I miss that but prayed that he would be the one to decide we should do it again.

Yesterday we get a call saying a certain amount is still pending for some magazines Gerard supposedly ordered on some 5 yr. conract which he doesn't recall doing and which we don't recall seeing any invoice for. Anyhow, it was very upsetting to both of us because this is the second time it's happened. Six months ago we paid after being harrassed and threatened.

Gerard can't remember ever entering into such a contract and was very worried that I would leave him because he "just makes trouble for me." (That's not true.) The thought of leaving Gerard never enters my mind, we are partners as long as we both live for better or worse and that's it. No matter what, we are now one and there is no leaving. After looking for my old folder from last time and not being able to find it, we both called it a day and went to bed holding each other in our arms. During the night, neither of us slept well and he says "We're going to start praying together again. I don't know why we stopped, but we're going to pray together starting today."

This morning we took a little time to pray before he ate breakfast. I'm so happy he came to this decision and hope we can continue to do this every day for the rest of our lives. It brings us closer and helps us know the other's concerns and feelings about things that we don't always discuss.

Don't Tell Me God Doesn't Exist

Karen & gerard — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:48:25 GMT

God is so good! The morning I discovered my dad was dead on my way to work two years ago today, I had a very special devotional time that morning. Both my cats joined me which was very unusual. Usually, it would just be Spunky Doodle up on the table while I would read my Bible but that day, Gerard brought Moe up too and Moe stayed on my lap and let me pet him as well which NEVER happened before! At that point, I was expecting a nice happy Friday donut at work but then just an hour later, my world crashed.

I used to always stop by my dad's on the way to work, to visit a little bit with him and his cats. He'd be up and have the door unlocked for me. When it got there, the door was locked which triggered a bad feeling. I used my key and went in and all the lights were out. I looked for dad. I found him on the bathroom floor in front of the toilet with his head on the tub, dead. It was awful. It was the day I knew would come some time, not then! Not this soon! He was 89 and had lived a very good life, and died on his terms--at home, on his own. That's the way he wanted it.

When I went upstairs to feed and take care of his cats for him that day, they too acted strangely, as though they knew something was wrong. Normally, they came running to the kitchen and couldn't get the Whiskas fast enough. That morning, they just laid in their beds under the table. I cried with his cats. We shared our sorrow. Then everything got really crazy. It's a morning I'll probably never forget--the worst day of my life!

I wrote a little more about the other things that happened that day on my other blog, "My Funny Dad, Harry" which I won't repeat here. If you'd like to hear more, check out . Just a week later, during my quiet time, I decided to write a book about him in his memory. This is a excerpt from my journal just a week later:

I know this is all coming from the Lord, because I never planned on doing anything like this, but boy, I know I can do it. First thing I did was look up the reference of that verse in Micah that I want to include in my book. It is Micah 6:8, but as I was trying to find Micah, a verse in Nahum just “popped” out at me. Nahum 1:7: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in Him.

Through the next few months, God was strengthening me and helping me through the difficult tasks that had to be done. I saw first hand how good God is. I took off that whole week from work and after that, only went in two days a week for about six weeks so I could focus on getting the house cleaned out and began my book right away. How God helped me through this time is included in my book as well.

I wanted to write it while everything was fresh so the emotions would come through and I believe they did. I wrote from my heart and was determined to get it published before the end of the year, which I did. I don't generally promote my book on this blog, but today is the second anniversary of my dad's death so this is naturally on my mind. He was a wonderful father and husband, a truly amazing man who I want the world to know. Here is the link if you'd like to order it: www.outskirtspress.com/myfunnydadharry. By the way, if you are a blogger and read my book, please let me know and I'll add your blog link to my list of readers.

God Is Working In Our Lives

Karen & gerard — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:18:41 GMT

WEDNESDAY: NO BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT

This has been one unusual week for us. I was looking forward to starting my new Bible Study at church on "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace when the snow came at rush hour. My husband called when he got home 20 minutes later than usual to tell me how bad the roads were. I knew he didn't want me going out to church. He told me it would probably be canceled and I should call the church to make sure they were still having it before going.

Having started reading the book, I read about how our husbands should be our first ministry. That's right, even above Bible studies! I also had just finished reading how important it is to show respect for our husbands by being submissive to them and that being submissive is a good thing. God has placed the husband over the wife for the wife's protection. So, naturally, when I was talking with Gerard on the phone, in the back of my mind, these words kept coming up.

I called the church as he suggested and found that it was still on. I asked the church secretary to give Nora the message that I wouldn't be there tonight because my husband didn't want me to go and I was being an "excellent wife." I knew she'd understand. As it turned out, my bus was very late and running very slow. I got home at 7:15 and the Bible Study started at 7 p.m. It took me two hours and 15 minutes to get home from work. Even though I felt bad I missed the first discussion on this book, I had peace about it because I knew in my heart that I honored my husband and did the right thing. Getting home that late just made it much easier to accept. God is good!

THURSDAY: WHEN THE LENS POPS OUT, IT'S TIME FOR NEW GLASSES

It was in single digits today, extremely cold out with snow all over. When I was having my morning devotions, I heard my husband yell, "Oh NO!" I came down to find that his lens popped out of his glasses. He stuck it back in. However, after taking the garbage out and scraping the ice off his car, he noticed it was out again when he came inside. He was very upset and was determined to go to work anyway.

Again, what I had just read in "The Excellent Wife" popped into my head. Be a "Suitable helper" to your husband. Tha is my calling. So, I gently begged him not do drive with only one lens and said I'd go look for it at least. He ate while I took the flashlight and looked in the snow where he had walked while asking God to please help me find it. Well, I didnt find it.

I gave Gerard to options: (1) I would take off work too and we would go get him new glasses today and he could go in later if he wanted to; or (2) he could ride to work with his boss who lives just a few house up the street and wear his sunglasses all day and go get new ones for him that evening. I was glad he had calmed down enough to choose the first option.

He got new glasses and I didn't have to wait for the bus on this frigid cold day. We both went to workout during the afternoon rather than having to go out at night. He didn't go into work because it was well into the afternoon before the glasses were ready. At least he got them the same day though and said he can see better now. Things seem bigger!

Perhaps this was God's way of getting us to finally spend the money for his new glasses. Fortunately, he had the prescription he got just last summer so he didn't need an eye appointment. I thank God that it happened at the beginning of the day rather than when he was at work or driving. What a blessing!

FRIDAY: FROZEN PIPES

When I went to give the cats fresh water from our bathroom off the den, no cold water came out, just the hot. This happened before and after a few tries it worked, so I tried again . . . and again . . . and again. Ooops, I'm thinking, oh no. It must be frozen. I hope our pipes don't break. I called our regular plumber (we seem to have plumbing problems often) and he confirmed my fear. He said there's nothing he can do until someone gets home, but he would come tonight if it still wasn't working.

When Gerard got home from work, he called the plumber and he arrived just after I got in. The bad news is that we need to get our attic which contains our upstairs pipes insulated this spring, but the good news is that our pipes didn't break. He just turned off the water going up there so it wouldn't happen again and said when we want it back on to call him and he'd come over and get it back on for us. We can easily manage without using that bathroom for a couple months.

Praise God he watches out for us and for once, I did something right!