Ellen: Friends Who Have Gone On Before Us

This post is in loving memory of my precious friend, Ellen Anderson. I can post her last name for she is no longer a resident of this world but has been enjoying her Heavenly Home since January 11, 2001. Ellen and her family were transplants from Michigan to our lovely southern town. She was a go-getter from the get-go and loved to serve God by serving others. Our dear Ellen was diagnosed with breast cancer some three years before her death. (My "fake" hug in the picture of us was because she couldn't have personal contact during the worst part of her treatments.) Ellen fought valiantly and was convinced until the very end that God was going to heal her. And you know what? Ellen wasn't one bit disappointed when she entered Heaven's portals and realized that she had received the ultimate healing. I miss my friend and look forward to seeing her again.

As I think of Ellen, I know there are so many friends who left our church congregation during our 20 years there to take up residence in Heaven. Let's see.... Elva A, Katrina W, Kae A, Joe C, Ronnie E, Speed and Irene H, Bill H, Irene H, Buddy H, Bill K, George H, Thomas J, Katharine P, Alice P, Arthur and Willie P, Duell and Thelma C, Pete P, Roland H, Ovie S, B.J. and Emma Jean G, Vera G, James H, Wynell H, Minnie K, Maudell L,Bill P, Shirley S, JJ T, Stella E, Minnie G, Mary D, Harold K, Betty J, Pauline B, Fred K, Alice P.......

I know there are many that I am leaving out. Thank God that He never leaves anyone out who has been saved through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hopefully all of these who have gone on before us were saved and are enjoying eternity with God. I am assured of a home in Heaven.... not because I am worthy (I'm not!) but because I have repented of my sins and have received Christ as my Personal Savior. Where will you spend eternity? If you aren't sure, please email me at long4heaven@cox.net. Don't put off salvation, for no one is assured another breath on this earth.

I know a famous author

Well....... I haven't actually met JENNIFER SEEST in person, but I surely feel like I know her. We email back and forth; and I've read her books which share a great part of her heart, so I feel like I know her quite well.

Jennifer's series of books called the BENNETT VIGNETTES are a delightful read, spiritually uplifting, and show God's sovereignty in stories that are quite exciting. (As you know, I have NOT been publishing anyone's last name... not even my own on this blog. BUT since Jennifer is a published author and I would love for you to read her books if you haven't already, I used her last name for otherwise how could anyone look for her books?)

In addition to being a published author, she is first and foremost a dedicated CHRISTIAN, Daniel's wife, and the mother of their two children: Caleb and Lydia. Her children are home schooled and Jennifer recently told me that my daughter Amy will be her Caleb's video teacher this upcoming school year. How cool is that? Jennifer's little Lydia is a cute girl, and I know Jennifer is raising her to be a fine Christian little woman.

I am going to post Jennifer's website URL right here (http://our.homewithGod.com/ewerluvd)
so that you can peruse it to learn more about her, her family, AND her books which can be purchased directly from Jennifer. They are great reads for those who love Christian Fiction, and they make wonderful gifts.

So, I almost know a famous author. We just haven't had the physical meeting face to face to share a hug in person, but we have shared our hearts and desires to serve God in emails. Jennifer has enriched my life, and I am blessed to call her "friend."

Love to you and yours, Jennifer Seest!!!!!!!!!!

~~Your devoted fan, Susan

Steve, Trish, Jordynn and Jaycee

It's so neat how God brings along friends who are much younger than you and, in spite of the age difference, there is a genuine love and compatibility in the LORD. These are friends such as that. We knew Steve and Trish and their darling little girls at our church "back home." Steve was on staff at our church and taught in the Christian school. Trish was his supportive wife, the girls' full-time mom, and was very active in ministry in her own right. We have always thought the world of this young couple and their children.

It is so neat to us that Steve felt led of the LORD to invite our son Chip to work with him in the youth group at our church and it was during that time that Chip answered God's call to the ministry.

Fast Forward to the Present: Steve and Trish live and minister in a large city in our home state. Trish is a stay-at-home wife/mom, and the girls are growing up WAY TOO FAST. I know that Jordynn will be in the 7th grade this fall, and I am guessing that Jaycee might be entering the 4th grade. It's hard to keep up!!! Trish recently emailed me saying that they will be in our area soon and hope we can get together. We hope so, too! May God bless this sweet family as they serve Him. Steve, Trish and girls: we love you guys!! ~~Susan

Josh ~~ Summer 2007

This is our grandson Joshua. He is 8 years old and is a great kid. Josh loves to help and often asks me if there is any work he can do for me. He has a big heart and is a sweet boy. His biggest problem right now is that he loves to annoy Jaden ~~ his baby brother ~~ the old pecking order thing. We love our Joshua and are enjoying watching him grow up right before our eyes.

Jarrett with both of his grandmas --- July 2007

This picture was made on our grandson Jarrett's 14th birthday.
It is a joy to have had Jarrett in our family for the past four years
and to watch him grow from a little Ukrainian boy into an American teenager. He is a sweet kid, and we love him dearly.
Grandma Carol, Jarrett, and Granny Susan. I apologize for the horrible quality of this photo. Somehow a setting got changed on my camera. :(

Jaden ~~ July 2007

Jaden is our little red-headed grandbaby ~~ the youngest of the four. He is 2-1/2, all boy, and a Pistol-Pete. He is always on the go but occasionally stops to give the most unexpected but sweetest hugs. We were out eating with Brian, Amy, and the family when Jaden came around the table and crawled up into my lap for a "grandma" hug. Boy Howdy, that warms a grandma's heart for sure. I have had the precious privilege of keeping him while Amy has taught during the school years since his birth. He will officially leave my "granny school" to go to pre-school on Monday, August 6. He is very ready and will do well, but I surely will miss him. He has enriched and enlivened my days beyond description.

"Friend Luncheon" that Isabella and I hosted

These pics were made by a professional-photographer-in-training, Emily P.
L-R: The table is set and ready; Belle and Grandma in the kitchen; Sarah and Astrid visiting














We hosted a "friend luncheon" to honor some friends of mine. The luncheon was for Sarah P as she is about to move to Virginia for her first teaching position. A teacher from the school in VA was here visiting her parents, so I invited her to come. This gave the two teachers a head start on getting to know each other.

My dear granddaughter, Isabella, spent the day with me on Tuesday and was invaluable in helping me put the meal together. She helped with the prep work, prepare the salad plates, and serve the meal. I love Isabella so much and am thankful that her mommy and daddy are raising such a fine daughter.

Kerry, Robin, Jamie and Josh ~~ Sweet Friends!

God has blessed me with wonderful friends through the years, and I thank Him for them. Here is a family I would like to "spotlight" today. These folks were dear friends during some of our years at our church back home: Kerry and Robin with their children Jamie and Josh.

Kerry and Richard were deacons together and that's where they got to know one another and became friends. Robin was a young mother of young children and me as an older mother of older children, we enjoyed sharing the blessings (and sometimes challenges) of being wives and mothers. It is hard to believe that so many years have passed since we have seen Kerry and Robin. Daughter Jamie is all grown up at 19 years old, and Josh is well on his way to manhood at 15 years old.

They are transplants and no longer reside in our home state either, but it is a joy to keep up with them through emails. It was Robin's beautiful blog that inspired me to start one of my own. Thank you for letting me share my friends with you today!

Amy's Post-Op This Morning

I talked to Amy as she and Brian were leaving from her post-op visit. The doctor said the holes are working. Her iris has flattened back down into normal position and the fluids are moving. Her vision is bad today he said because the "stuff" in her eye was stirred up during the drilling of the four holes yesterday. Her vision should come back to a more normal read as the inside of her eye settles down. Her pupil will remain stuck to the lens of her eye which means it won't be dilating and contracting as light situations change. At some point they will have to do a lens transplant and that is when the pupil will be freed up from it's present condition. She is at work today and is preparing dinner for the family. As I said, "You can't keep a good woman down!" I appreciate everyone's prayers for her and PRAISE GOD that holes drilled in her iris yesterday are working to drain the excess fluid so that the eye pressure doesn't increase. God is good!!!

Pic of Amy Made This Evening

My daughter, Amy... she is such a strong woman not only physically and mentally but emotionally and spiritually as well. She gets that from her Dad for sure. She has suffered with a serious eye condition in her GOOD eye for 5 weeks. She has been in pain a lot of that time, has had numerous doctor appointments, and yet has carried on full-steam ahead as wife and mom and even started her new "principal" job on Monday.

She did have her laser procedure done this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. today. The doctor lasered 4 holes into her iris so that the fluid can move around and do whatever that fluid is supposed to do so that her eye pressure doesn't build up and cause glaucoma. She does have a cataract in that eye but that will be dealt with farther down the road. Her pupil is permanently stuck to her lens, but that will be taken care with a lens replacement as stated above. After her procedure today, she returned to work and then enjoyed her son Jarrett's 14th birthday dinner before we all went to church this evening. (That is her 8-year-old Josh in the picture above.)

I wanted to post this picture so that everyone can SEE that Amy is doing well. She is extremely tired but hopefully a few good nights of deep rest will help with that. We pray that she gets a good post-op report at 8:10 in the morning. Thank you for your prayers today. They were felt by Amy and Brian and by her Dad and me as well. God is so good and we trust that His will is being accomplished in Amy's arthritis situation ~~ which causes this iritis condition. Thanks for caring!! ~~Mama Susan