Learning to Go With the Flow!

We can make our plans,  but the Lord determines our steps.  Proverbs 16:9 NLT

Good Morning Friends & Family! :-)  

It is now 6:36 AM and I am currently on a flight to Newark, NJ.  I booked this Flight just over a month ago, when we found out Scott’s Surgery was scheduled for 5/23 in NYC.  Scott and Debbie arrived in NYC on Thursday Evening.  On Friday, at his Dr. Appt, they found out that Scott’s platelets were too low and that surgery was now cancelled for the 23rd.  They said they would check his platelets again on Monday, and that Thursday, May 26th would be the soonest that he would be able to have the surgery.  My Mom and I had already booked our flights, and I had already booked my non-refundable hotel room thru Priceline.  I wanted to stay for a week after the surgery to help my Sister while Scott begins his recovery, and I would have if Surgery would have been happening on Monday.  However, I have to be at work on Monday, May 31st, as I’m using the rest of my available vacation days for this trip.  So, Mom and I decided to still go to NYC.  Scott and Debbie can use our support and encouragement.  We decided that there must be a reason the Surgery is not happening on Monday.  On the bright side, this gives the 4 of us (Me, Mom, Debbie, & Scott) the opportunity to sightsee and not hang out at the hospital all week.  We are going to make the most of this opportunity and make Memories with each other to last a Lifetime! :-)  I’ll be sure to take and post pics!

I’m a planner.  I hate it when things don’t go as planned.  When plans change, I have a hard time switching gears, and dealing with the change in plans.  However, I’m slowly learning to go with the flow (after a day of freaking out)! :-)  God is giving us this Family time together, free of Hospitals until Thursday.  I’m choosing to see this change of plans as a gift from God.  I can’t control the fact that surgery will happen later then originally expected.  But, I can control how I choose to handle this situation.  I will be in NYC with my Mom, Sis and BIL.  Something that surely would have never happened otherwise!

I’m looking forward to seeing how God will continue to show Himself to us in this situation.  He promises to work all things out for our good.  Yes, even the bad things, like cancer, and major surgeries!  God is always there!  He promises to never leave us or forsake us.  He’s right by our side, and He will carry us thru.  I’m choosing Joy.  I’m choosing to rest in Him!  

We are beginning our descent into Newark, NJ.  I will keep you posted as I know more regarding the surgery.  Thanks for your continued prayers for Scott and our entire Family.   Thanks also for the love, encouragement and support you have given to us.  My Family and I really appreciate it! :-)

Life is tough, but God is Faithful! :-)

Love,

J-La-Sta

Love is.........

 

     As Valentine's Day approaches, naturally, I got to thinking about Love and what it really means.  Real Love goes far deeper than a dozen roses and a mushy card on a Hallmark Holiday. In our 4 years and 7 months of Marriage, I've learned a lot about Love and Marital Love.  It's a daily choice.  It's not something we feel like doing all of the time, but it is for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part, just as we promised each other on July 8th, 2011. 

1.  Real Love sees his wife thru 4 bouts of cellulitis. 
2.  Real Love makes Lifetime health and dietary changes (resulting in substantial weight loss) with his wife, after she is diagnosed with prediabetes. 
3.  Real Love makes sacrifices to work hard to get out of debt just 1 year after we got Married.
4.  Real Love grows stronger, thru the caring of (in addition to becoming his power of attorney) a parent with cancer, in the hospital and nursing home, after only just over a year of  marriage.  Real Love is being there together when that parent breathes his last breath and enters into the arms of Jesus.
5.  Real Love is holding each other up when we felt totally out of control after I was admitted to the hospital the day after we planned his Dad's funeral.  I was hospitalized for 3 nights, and had my dead and gangrenous gallbladder removed.  Jonathan was there for me, even thru his own grief of losing his Dad.  I got released from the hospital, and we went straight to his Dad's memorial service.  That was a very difficult time for us, but God was Faithful and we are stronger together because of it.
6.  Real Love is there for you when you find out your Mom's cancer spread to her brain, and later her lung.
7.  Real Love holds you up when you find out your "little" Sister's 37 year old Husband and Father of 4 of your precious Nieces and Nephews has a rare and aggressive cancer, of which there is no cure.

We've celebrated our 40th Birthdays together, and have seen some amazing places together in our travels, Upper Michigan, Aruba, NYC, Boston, Florida, etc.  We try to live life to the fullest everyday, knowing that we aren't guaranteed tomorrow.  We love to bless others together, which is something else we wouldn't be in a financial position to do if we weren't together.

We have been married just over 4.5 years, but I feel like we've experienced a lifetime of ups and downs in our relatively short time of being married.  We are stronger together.  Our Wedding verse was "God sets the Lonely in Families." ~Psalm 68:6.  God knew what we would have to face in the future, and I'm so thankful he brought us together to support and love each other in the best and worst of times.  Life is tough, but God is Faithful! :-)

Yes.  He did get me a dozen roses and a super sweet card, for which I'm very grateful! :-)  But this pales in comparison to the unconditional love he has shown me in the past 4.5 years. 

Jonathan, I love you so very much, and there is no one else I'd rather experience the highest highs and lowest lows of life with.

Happy Valentine's Day Baby!

Always and Forever Yours,


Your Irish Hills Hottie!  ;-)