The Gall and the Good

Last Tuesday I got my gallbladder removed.  I had discovered after a rare high fat intake day that the mild pain that I occasionally got was not so mild.  The pain killers didn't work so well and I was up again a 3AM for more.  An ultrasound revealed gall stones.  It wasn't urgent, but there was an opening, so I elected to get this over with.  The surgery was later in the day, so I wasn't quite ready to leave the same day as was the hope.  My Mom was with me all day and my girls came up in the evening after they got off work.  As the service in the hospital was slow, it was wonderful to have them there to wait on me.  I am so happy to still have my Mom with me since she has been through so much and survived cancer 3 times.  The girls helped me walk around the floor and we judged all the art in the hallway.  That and some special prayers saved me from enduring one of those many unpleasant procedures they do to you in the hospital.  I have no doubts about the love they all have for me, but there is special about seeing it acted out for me.  I got a great number of prayers, well wishes, calls, texts and cards.  Though I was up and down all night, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the good procedure and the great care and compassion that I received.  How blessed and happy I am to have such family, friends and brothers & sisters in Christ!!!  One sweet sister brought me this beautify teapot of flowers and chocolates.  My girls have waited on me all week.  They are incredibly good, kind and fun.  The only problem was it hurt when they made me laugh.  My life is so much richer with them.  I am not too sore now, however my energy level is still pretty low.  I can't wait to get these tapes off at the Dr. tomorrow, they are itchy and annoying.  The stitches are supposed to dissolve.  In closing, I just want to say how grateful I am & a big thank you to all those people and my to Lord!!!

Awesome video by David Crowder Band.  We will miss you guys!

Butterfly Project Entry

This is a colored pencil drawing of the concept I submitted for the Butterfly Project. If accepted I will get a 3 ft aluminum butterfly to paint with this design and a stipend for materials. The finished piece would be displayed somewhere in Colorado Springs. At the end of the summer they are auctioned off and the proceeds benefit Art & Music in schools. I will find out next week. I'm not sure if I stand a chance, but it was fun to submit and a great cause.

A Brightside in My Life

My oldest daughter Sarah just had a birthday. I am so thankful to God for the gift of her. She was born just in time to be my first Mother’s Day present. I am very proud of her and the person she has become. She loves the Lord and is seeking to grow in her faith. He has gifted her with wonderful creative talent. She has worked hard and has gotten an Associate’s Degree in Visual Communications and her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in photography. She can find and capture beauty in places where we would never imagine. You have to see her work to understand. You can start by looking at her blog at thebrightsidestudio, then her website, Etsy shop and Flickr site. She loves to find, capture and enjoy simple pleasures. Sarah is an inspiration to me and an encouragement to appreciate life and many blessings. It is awesome how God makes each of us and what we can do for each other. I was reminded of the day she was born. We were in a nice birthing room with lots of big windows. It was a cloudy day. Just after she was born the sun came out and she squinted at the brightness. Her late Grandma Moore affectionately called her “My Sunshine”. Now isn’t it amazing how things turn out. I love her so much and pray that she will have many opportunities to use her talents.

Counting Blessings

I estimate this to be a great way to start a new year. Here is my list –

Jesus – My savior and lord. He is the lover of my soul, friend and constant help in times of need. I can’t imagine living without Him.
Mom & Dad – Always loving and caring for me, our family and many others. They have always been great examples of patience, love and commitment in their marriage.
Sarah – My oldest and college student. She loves Jesus and tries to live for Him. She inspires me to appreciate the beauty that God has given us and the special and unique abilities that he has given every person. She is a great cook and servant to our family.
Stephen – My only son. He has renewed his commitment to the Lord and is in pursuit of God’s will in his life. He has always had a kind heart. He enjoys good clean fun and making others happy.
Sandi – My youngest. She loves Jesus and has compassion for those in need, especially children. She is has a dramatic personality. She can tell a story in such a way that will keep you in stitches. She also has the greatest hugs.
Family – They are all unique and very special to me. They are a lot of fun to be around.
Friends – Over the years I have had many friends. I may not always get to see them often, but I know they would be there for me if I needed them.
Church – My brothers and sisters in Christ. There are many serving the Lord and each of us with their gifts and abilities. Though we all make our mistakes, it is wonderful to know their care and prayers. I have seen many dear people come and go over the last 28 years. It is good to know that if I never saw them again in this life, I would in our eternal lives.
Other – A great (but difficult) job that God has blessed me with enough brains to manage to do and not too much that I stay humble. My home, a beautiful state to live in, awesome Contemporary Christian music, great Christian radio programs, art (to see and create), games and good times with friends & family, great food, good health, etc., etc….

I hope that everyone has a long list like mine that they can make, even in difficult times. We all have times of trials, losses and hurts, but we can still find the good if we look. Like my Aunt Suellen always says “There is always someone worse off than me”, and she is getting ready to start Chemo again.

God Bless,
Sherri

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I hope that all had a good Christmas and pray for the coming year. We had a great Christmas. Stephen went together with me and we got our family a Wii. We totally surprised Sarah and Sandi, so that was really cool. It is a lot of fun for the whole family. Sarah, Stephen and Sandi also went together and got me a leather jacket that I really liked. They made me cry, nothing new there though. My Dad made Donnie and I both wooden tool boxes. And my Mom made me a new nightgown. We were all together and had a great time of food and fun. I am so very blessed to have such great family.
This year, before opening our gifts, the kids and I thanked God for all that he gave us, especially for the gift of His Son and eternal life. That is what Christmas is all about!! I hope that our love and giving is a reflection of God's love and the greatest gift ever given in Jesus. I am setting some goals for the new year. I hope to grow in my relationship with the Lord and others. I hope that this new blog and my web site will help to better connect me with others, share the joys I have and encourage & help others.
God Bless,
Sherri