It's been over two weeks since I had a "paralyzing" (well, feels like it anyway) episode....and I go again tomorrow for another round of therapy. Suffice it to say that every morning that I wake up without searing pain is greeted with thanksgiving to the Lord for His sustaining and healing power. I have gone from being close to tears at all hours of the day to feeling optimistic...that in itself is a great gift! Thank you, Lord!

Enough on that....

Willie just came in from doing some mowing here at the church....he has already been busy...done a lot of work in the flower beds here. Looking good, hon! I am busy working on a brochure for LFI....we have a lot of events and ministry opportunities in the next few months, including the launch of HOPE Singers Puerto Rico and HOPE Singers USA. Don't forget to check out our website!

There isn't a lot of news here at the moment, so I thought I'd share a few photos of "the boys" (Zach and Nathan) from their recent family vacation in Gulf Shores. FYI - this Mimi just LOVES getting pictures of grandkids (yes, that's a hint for some of you out there)!

And this was just the first night.....

Two boys enjoying the surf, sand and sun....I'm almost envious!

Mom (Janelle) and her three boys...well, one is still "in progress"....due later this year!

Two freckle-faced special boys...sharing, no less!

See you in a couple of months, guys! But before then we have to make that trip to Va. Beach to love on some other special guys and gals. Would you believe, that between us, Willie and I have ten grandchildren, with the eleventh one due later this year? YIKES....I could either feel very old or very blessed. I choose BLESSED!

Thank you to all who have been lifting me and my pain up before the Lord! I had an appointment with the neurologist yesterday, and it went pretty well. No real answers, except that there is nothing wrong with my neurological state (some make take exception to that!). He is not ruling out fibromyalgia, but is not inclined toward that diagnosis....instead feels that for some reason I have been experiencing episodes of extreme muscle spasms. I started with focused and intense (and I do mean INTENSE) deep tissue massage yesterday, and start muscle relaxers today, and will continue with the chiro/kinesiologist. The therapist feels that it is all muscle related and possibly has its origins in the shoulder repair I had 35+ years ago...with no physical therapy afterward, and resulting in a definite change in the way I have carried myself over the years. It is hard not to have definitive answers, but I pray that this avenue of treatment will be effective. I continue to covet your prayers through the next days, weeks, and months....the Lord is in control and more than able to heal!

YES, it's time....time to change our neighborhood once again! Our plans had been to go to another SOWER project in Livingston, TN (Cedar Creek), but life has intervened. Instead, we will once again be parked (for 5-6 weeks) beside my brother's church (Covenant Fellowship), in Mt. Juliet, TN. This will allow us to be available to help with my mom and dad and all of the transitions that are occurring. It will also allow me to be in one location long enough (hopefully!) to determine the cause of the back/neck/shoulder pain that I have been dealing with for a number of months now (have an appt. with a neurologist next Thursday).

The project here is complete, and I must say that I wasn't able to do much of the work assigned to the ladies, but Willie really did enjoy the work that he did. He and Emmett did quite a number of things....from building housing for HVAC vents, framing and installing windows, hanging sheet rock, framing doors, while Lee worked on a number of different projects. All in all, a productive three weeks.

The last months have been full of changes and challenges....but isn't life that way? I do know that He and He alone will give strength and wisdom as we seek His will regarding our next steps.

Psalm 145:8 - that's been my verse for a loooooong time....and it is still true today.

Last Friday we arrived at Rose of Sharon in Burlison, TN for our next project. We are working with two of the same couples, Lee and Esther Smith and Emmett and JoAnne White, from our last project....so no "getting acquainted" in our initial meeting! The facility serves as a site for youth camps in the summer and also has an addiction rehab/recovery program. The men have been working on projects in an old off-site school building that is being converted into housing for the men in the rehab program, and the ladies have done several different chores....none of them too strenuous, to be sure!! (Will post some photos of the work next week.)

Thursday night we all enjoyed dinner out at Ryan's, complements of Pastor Rose, who heads the facility here....it was much appreciated.

Yesterday found us making our way to Memphis for a ride on one of the "paddle" boats that cruise the Mississippi there.
The parking area was "paved"with cobblestone....but it all made for an interesting photo, I thought!
Before we even boarded the vessel, some of us were having fun.....I think Esther was enjoying mugging for the camera!
I took lots and lots and lots of pictures...some of them turned out and some of them, well, not so much!!! But I did like this one of on the arches on the I-40 bridge with the decorative ironwork on the boat framing it.
The Memphis skyline......
We had a very informative narrator along for the trip....he kept reminding us that we were in "his" history class!

After our boat ride, we found our way to the much-anticipated dinner at Olive Garden.....and after too much good food, we were on our way "home".

Today is a relaxing day...let's see it has included walks, drives, metal-detecting, scrapbooking, and just plain ole lazin' around! We hope you are enjoying this wonderful world that the Lord has provided for us.....it is a beauty!