May 13 2014

May 13 2014

Greetings My Friend,

Owning a computer has taught me to accept the things I can change and change when I have to. We bought a storage drive to save all my posts on. I've been saving to the storage drive and now the drive is not working. So goes saving for down the road.

I'm now writing another blog for the one I can't retrieve. Learning my way around my smart phone and computer is a challenge at best. I have wanted to take a class or have someone step beside me and show me how do things. When we were in MI last month a nephew was kind enough to get me moving. By the time we went home I had learned how to download different applications. I figured out a few more applications on my computer. I am not where I want to be but I am further than I was.

Junior had such a smile on his face the other day as I walked along the country road behind him. He turned around to let me catch up to him and his smile was contagious. Junior has spent decades trying to live a healthy lifestyle. He has taken supplements and exercised mainly for his back but as the years went on for his health. His back is such that I believe he would be wheel chair bound by now except that he has kept at his exercises. Junior is in his late 60's but he looks like he is in his late 50's.

The minute we married Junior started putting supplements near my dinner plate and in my heart I think these have helped work through some of my health struggles. I have always exercised to some extent throughout my adult life. I am in my older years and I am having some issues but in my heart I believe I could be worse had it not been for supplements and keeping in shape the best I could. Most people tend to think I am in my 50's as well. It works.

My body is not the active body of years ago. The computer allows me to use my brain function and I think this helps me stay in tuned to the goings on in life. I push my body as I am able. A few short years ago a half hour walk was a piece of cake. Today it is a challenge and I am content with what I am doing.

I believe by staying fit I am honoring God as well. He gave me this body and I feel that I want to care for this body as a way of saying “Thank you.” I also believe that by taking the best care I can of myself I also will enjoy life more and even longer.

Staying true to Junior is another gift I strive to give back to God. The first time I thought that no one would want me and he was my ticket out of all the abuse I lived through at home. I jumped from the frying pan right into the fire with that marriage. The second time I married I took my desire to God way before we met, when we met and as we married. I strive to ask God daily to teach me to be the wife Junior needs. It works and I've never been happier.

I woke up as Junior was getting up the other day. I marvel at my man. Animals love Junior like no tomorrow. He walked around loving on each animal, one by one. He talked to them tenderly, rubbed them and then went onto the next animal. It was precious since we have 7 dogs and 4 cats. Each one was given a few minutes of love.

Junior also corrects each pet as needed. Right now Bella is learning that we don't want her to potty in the house. I marvel at Junior's patience with her. I hear his tone of disappointment and I watch him carry her to the puppy door each time he finds a mess. The harshest I've seen him get is to use a rolled up magazine and make a loud noise with it more than use it on the animal.

Junior teaches me so much. He is not aware of all the things I have learned living beside him. I see his gentleness with the animals and I also see his gentleness with me. Junior also has a tender heart and as he discerns others in need he will do what he can do.

J was a lonely looking kid walking down the railroad tracks smoking one day. Junior started a conversation with the young man and a little while later he asked him if he wanted a job. Junior needed help with renovating our home. He told the young man that he could not pay a going wage but he set a price and J accepted the offer. It was his first job. J had never worked and more than like would not have found a job. He was going to be another generation living on government assistance. We stepped beside this young man and mentored him. We finally told him we ran out of money to keep paying him. J went home and sat for a while. Then all of a sudden he went off to truck driving school and today he is driving a truck for a living.

There were moments we weren't sure we had gotten through to him. We knew we did what we could. Today to say that we are as proud as punch would be putting it mildly.

God wants us to reach out to others. That part has been hard to learn. At first I said God's name as often as I could when I was in public. As I read my Bible, prayed and walked alongside of other Christians I began to “hear” my direction and calling.

Jesus did not save every person he met. Jesus did not heal every person either. This has sunk in and today I am able to “hear” God directing my steps. One day at a time and one step at a time I walk this journey of faith.

Are you listening to God?

May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you.

Love

Janet