Happy New 2008

Just wanted to wish all of you a very blessed, safe, healthy and fruitful new year!

A few thoughts on this past year: 2007 was not a bad year - just a difficult one. In the midst of the suffering were many blessings. Both of my children were wed, my beloved wife made it to heaven, and the diseased portion of my colon was removed and the pain and discomfort I had there for several years is gone. I've learned a lot and grown a lot and pray God will use it all for His glory in 2008.

Continuing in His Arm's,

Pat

The Day After Christmas

Well it's Wednesday morning, 12-26, and Christmas 2007 has come and gone. It was my first Christmas without Joyce and God saw my family and I through. We all had a really good time together - a very busy last few days - and I know Joyce would have been blessed by the love and closeness of the family. The grandkids were beyond over-stimulation and as they usually do, brought a level of energy that helped make our gatherings a lot of fun.

Now things are very quiet and it's time to refocus on what God is calling you and I to for the coming year. 2008 will have it's own unique challenges for all of us and it will be essential that we are walking close to the Lord, staying in His Word, and letting Him direct and use us as He desires. 

I still have a few medical challenges ahead for the next two or three months. Hopefully in February I'll be having another surgery to reconnect my colon - they tell me the recovery time from that surgery is much quicker than the one I recently went thru. While I'm waiting for that to be scheduled I'll be back in the pulpit thru most of January and early Feb. As always, I deeply appreciate and need your prayers. May we all press on to know and serve our Lord!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Good week

Just a short update. This week has been my best week pain wise since the surgery. I'm feeling stronger, less fatigued, and tho I'm still on the mend I'm overall feeling a lot better. Even weathered a slight cold without it getting worse. I've been talking with the Lord a lot as well about my present situation and feel assured that He has a plan and is holding me - even tho most of the time it feels like I'm in free fall - not so - He is ever present and ever holding!

I pray your Christmas gatherings with family and friends will be tremendously blessed with His joy and peace!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Pictures!

My granddaughter, Kaylee's, 5th birthday party at my house on Saturday.

My daughter, Noelle, and my new son-in-law, Paul, helping me put up our Christmas tree.

Blessings!

Pat

ups and downs

Well since a week ago Friday, my days have been alternating between active and nearly comatose! Several days I was able to get out and visit with folks, enjoy some meals together, do some shopping, and even get down to the church a few times. Other days were home all day days where some mornings I just could not move til noon. Usually after an active day I pay for it the next. My wounds on the outside are healing up pretty good but the stuff inside is taking a lot longer then expected - fatigue is a frequent visitor. My appetite is improving some as evidenced by my scarffing down a Pesky's combo at Rubio's after church today with friends from the worship team.

This past week I had an appointment with my ostomy nurse and received some different product for my colostomy. That's probably the most uncomfortable and inconvenient part of my recovery so far. But I'm learning to deal with it and, God willing, I'll only have it for a couple more months.

During this time I've been crying out to the Lord a lot. Especially on those down days when I think this trial will never end; those days when I'm missing Joyce so intensely. The wounds were opened again as I spoke with the wife of a pastor friend of mine from Buhl, Idaho, Brent Huether, who passed away last week after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. It was the anguish all over again - and hers stirred up mine. Merrily and her kids and the church in Buhl are just starting on that journey of grief - please keep them in prayer too.

Thru all of this, I have to say that the Lord is faithful and continues to hold me and speak to me thru His Word. I am so grateful for how He has held me and guarded my heart the past 5 months. Thru my grieving and my healing He is always my ever present help.

In His arm's,

Pat

Friday update

I wanted to just check in briefly for those of you following my blog. It's a rather boring blog at this time since my days are mostly filled with resting and trying to heal up. I've gotten out a few more times this past week and have had a few spurts of energy where I felt for a moment almost normal! Last night I was able to drive up to Murietta to watch my granddaughter's first Christmas production and meet her preschool teacher. I was beaming all the way thru. Today I'm paying for it tho - just slammed with fatigue.

Overall, I think I'm on the mend - it's just a lot slower than I expected. Church wise I am planning to participate in the Christmas eve eve services at the Center for the Arts on Dec. 23. I'm hoping to be back in the pulpit for a few Sundays in January before my next surgery in February. The pastor's and I will be meeting next week to lay out the teaching schedule for the first few months of 08 including Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings and the school of Discipleship classes - pray for us for wisdom - to hear and heed the Lord's direction.

Also, tomorrow morning I meet with our church elders to discuss the current financial condition of the church and to pray for wisdom in setting next years budget. Please pray along with us.

That's about it for now. Stay walking close to Jesus!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Getting out more

Got thru a pretty rough week. Healing has been slow and missing Joyce has been more intense than ever. But, as I said, I got thru it by His grace. Sunday I was able to get over to the church and see lots of friends. Also got to share my thanks for everyone's prayers and encouragement from the pulpit at both services. But the cut up ab muscles and incision really started barking after a couple of hours and I had to get home. Later in the afternoon, my friends Mike and Pam Rozelle came over for a late lunch and some sweet conversation and fellowship.

So the days roll on. This week I'm trying to get out a while each day. Got a couple of meetings involving  the police chaplaincy on Tues and Wed and on Thurs. eve, My 5 year old grandaughter will be in her first preschool Christmas production. Really looking forward to that!

My appetite is slowing improving and the pain is a little less every day if I don't try and do too much. I also have to start getting out all our Christmas decorations and lights - my daughter and son in law will be over this weekend to help me brighten the house up. Joyce so loved Christmas and I want to do it up in her memory - and not get to depressed she not here to tell me where everything is supposed to go.

Well it's late and my head is fuzzy so Good night all and God bless and use you for His glory this Christmas season.

In His Arm's,

Pat