Where would I be?

Another week down, just a few to go until summer vacation. I just never seem to get caught up. My lists of things to do never gets any smaller. My piles of things to get to never seem to dwindle, my filing does not get completed, my yard does not get cleaned up. I am running many late nights to track meets. I really do enjoy watching my "little" girl run with the big dogs, and she holds her own very well. I have just a 45 minute free period at school and instead of tackling the piles, doing the filing, and end of year reports and busy work....I paint. I have spent the last couple days painting in the library, and just finished today. I think this one is really beautiful and it looks like summer is right around the corner. It was 90 degrees yesterday, 60 degrees today and it is supposed to rain like crazy for the prom this weekend....and this wind.....IOWA!

Now, could I ask you to send up some prayers for me? My oldest sister, Linda, struggles with a cyst issue on her spine and they have done some major surgery and placed a shunt 2 times to keep this cyst drained, but she fears it is plugged up again as she is experienceing some loss of feeling in her legs. She will have an MRI this week to find out. It may mean a 3rd major surery to her spine. Her daughter, my niece, Missy, lives in constant speculation of what is around the corner. She had cancer and beat it over 5 years ago, but little things are popping up and lots of tests are being done. My friend, Stephanie has breast cancer, and is undergoing chemo, so has had spells of tiredness, nausea and now has lost her hair. She is amazing and talks about wigs and hats and all of her wonderful friends and family, and lifts all of us up on her caring bridge site each day. Another friend is going though cancer with his father, Rod, and Rod is beginning a very strong treatment of chemo and radiation. And then, there is Mary Jane, who has been so faithful and listening to God and believing and trusting....her tumors are growing...and for her daughter, my friend, Jennifer as she travels down the road still fresh in my mind and heart, and as she wishes to sell her home and then purchase a new home so she can move closer to mom. For Candi, my best college roommate...her sister, Michelle lost her husband, Joe, in a drunk driving accident, leaving her and 15 year old daughter, Anna Jolyn struggling with why and how and why him and what about Anna's first prom and her future wedding day with no daddy? And then there is Marcia, losing her dear husband Bill, and becoming first time Grandma within a few days....Wow!!! With all of these prayer requests, I want to add my thanks to God for my health, my friends and family, my wonderful job, and the gifts He has bestowed upon me. And, I ask Him to make me a friend, a helper, a support and strength to all of these people who need us to lean upon. I leaned, and I leaned HARD on my family and friends when I was going through my fire, and in the times I forgot or failed to lean on God, he never let me fall.

"Where would I be if not for His grace?"

Enjoy the scenery and the music! Have a wonderful weekend! Oh, and thank God for weekends!!!!!