Leavin' on a jet plane. Back in a week. By-bye!!

Arise My Love

Not a word was heard from the tomb that day
Just the soldiers feet as they guarded the grave
One day, two days, three days had past
Could it be that Jesus had breathed His last
Coul it be that the Father had forsaken Him
Turned his back on his Son, despising our sin
All hell seemed to whisper, "Forget Him He's dead"
But the Father looked down on His son and said

Arise My Love, arise My Love
The grave no longer has a hold on You
No more death sting, no more suffering
Arise, arise My Love

The earth trembled and the tomb began to shake
and like lightning from heaven the stone was rolled away
And as dead men, the guards stood there in fright as the
Power of love displayed its might
When suddenly a melody filled the air
Riding wings of wind it was everywhere
The word all creation had been longing to hear
The sweet sound of victory so loud and clear

Sin...where are your shackles
Death...where is your sting
Hell had been defeated
The grave could not hold the King

Arise My Love, arise My Love
The grave no longer has a hold on You
No more death sting, no more suffering
Arise, arise My Love

A house full of people, nothing makes me happier. So tonight I am a very happy woman.To all my "family" here tonight - I love you all.

Tonight I am wondering how I can cry and whine about wanting my son home with me when all over the news is the heart wrenching story of a mom and dad fighting an uphill battle in the media and the courts of law all because they don't want to make their daughter starve to death. Something just isn't right with this picture. Mikey and I were talking about all the things wrong in the world he is in right now and in the world as a whole. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." May my life be, as much as possible, an example of His kingdom here on earth. I really need to do a much better job of that. Because of the truth of this holiday week-end, we have this hope. I'm so thankful He died and oh so thankful He lives. Prayers for a beautiful, hopeful Easter.

A very pleasant evening

We went with our friends that will be traveling to Florida with us and hit some balls. It could really be ugly for me. I decided I'm going to play with nothing but my 7 iron, my pitching wedge and my putter. I can't hit anything as well as my 7 so why keep trying. Then we had dinner and I came home and had a wonderful conversation with my son. He read me a poem they handed out in his S.A.P. meeting. He said it was like it was written just for him. It really helped me understand where he has been. It talked about the laughter and tears that were so much a part of his old lifestyle. It talked about because he is ready to change there is still hope for his future and how he wants to pursue his dreams that were there from childhood but got lost in the alcohol. He has looked around and seen people twice his age that don't think they can have any other kind of life and he is so grateful that he knows better and he has realized it as young as he has. God is really awesome!!!
The b-ball games start again tonight and we'll see who leaves Am. Idol. Should be fun.
Good-night.

Well I finished my Easter candy today. Actually my day was going along very nicely and then late this afternoon I found out my Riley was sick again. It's just so sad to see little ones sick. He's back on an anti-biotic and this time they will check him after 2 weeks to make sure it is completely cleared up. It has really been a bad winter for both boys. I really hope we can get them well and keep them well for Easter. Riley is really looking forward to an Easter egg hunt with Kenna, Cole, Michayla and Sara. (and of course baby Trey) Nothing makes a holiday special like lots of kids. Mike is home tonight, just in time for our weekly American Idol fix. Think I'll relax for the rest of the evening. Sleep tight little Riley and feel better. Nana loves you and my prayers are with you.

I just got through to my friend Maxine. I had been trying all week-end. I don't believe in coincidence. She has nobody to talk to and now she has me. I told her I don't have any answers but I can listen. She cried and told me she loves me. Wow!. We heard a sermon today about seeing things as God does, feeling as He does and moving into that situation to try to help. We sometimes get overwhelmed at the number of hurting people but we can look at them one at a time as God places them in our lives. Maxine has been placed in my life, I pray I don't let her down. She just needs someone to listen to her, I know how that feels.

I haven't had many blog thoughts on my mind lately. I kinda feel like I'm in a waiting mode. waiting for my trip to florida, waiting for the trip to market that I really have to get geared up for and waiting for my son to come home. We had a good visit with him yesterday. We took the little ones to see him. He hadn't really seen Trey walking he had just taken a few wobbly steps when Mikey left. He has cut his hair off and I don't think Trey recognized him but Riley picked up right where they had left off. He looks really good and much more relaxed. However it really made me miss him even more. This seems to be taking a toll on me lately. I'm not feeling like myself. Just a lot of different emotions knocking around inside of me. I'm looking forward to a busy week getting ready for Easter and vacation. Lots to do better get some rest.

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You

Well, another interesting day. You just never know when you wake up in the morning what the day will bring. Kerri was on her way home from an errand with both boys and was involved in a car accident. Her van is probably totaled. Thank God nobody was hurt. I looked at my husband tonight and said, "We are really living life right now." You know some chapters you go through are quiet and almost unreal. But for a while now I have felt knee-deep in life. Nitty-gritty life. Down and dirty life. And that's when you most feel His presence, trust He's going through it with you and falling in love with Him more and more each day just because of the way He takes care of you and your loved ones. I praise God for this time, this night. My son is in re-hab, my grandsons are safe in their beds looking toward another day and my daughter is at home taking care of them. This day could have ended so differently. Thank you God.

Well, Mike and I just returned from Lancaster. We packed Pup's clothes and a few belongings and delivered them. We really didn't think we would be able to see him but surprise - a human being was in charge and said he would be glad to let us see him for a few minutes. What a difference. He must feel like he has died and gone to heaven. He paged him three times before he responded. He had been reading and fell asleep. He really looked tired but I think he is already relaxing and he will probably sleep very well for the next few nights to catch up. Now his work begins. I think he is ready. We are very relieved. I'm looking forward to a day with my boys and Kerri tomorrow. Just getting out and hanging at Mickey D's for a little inside play time. Hope warm weather isn't too far away.
Mikey's new address is below:
CTC
151 E. Hubert Ave
Lancaster, OH 43130

Make sure you address it to Gary, not Mike.

After a very long and disappointing day, we finally have some answers. Someone dropped the ball and didn't get the paperwork into the proper hands for Mikey to be moved to re-hab today. Needless to say this was very upsetting. He had been so anxious he couldn't sleep and he had been packed and ready since 6a.m. It broke my heart to have to tell him it wasn't going to happen today. I just spoke with his attorney and he had in hand the order from the court for his transfer tomorrow. I guess I have learned that when you are dealing with the legal system you can't take anything for granted. They are to pick him up by 9 a.m. tomorrow. Hopefully all will go well.

Go Bucks

I was reading all the articles about the fantastic win for the Buckeye basketball team yesterday. WOW! I haven't had that much fun in a long time. (I'm an avid fan) But while I was reading I stumbled on something I thought was humorous. Under "You Tell Us" the question was as follows:

Now that Iraq has become a democracy, who should join North Korea and Iran in the axis of evil?
a.Syria
b.Cuba
c.France
d.Michigan

I don't know, just gave me a grin to start the week. That approach tends to keep things in perspective for me. Happy Monday! (This is Super Monday for our family!!)

We've almost made it; that first 30 days. Would I want to do it again? NO! But we not only have gotten through it , we have triumphed. I can't go into all that that means but I can say we have seen God's hand. The following really describes how I have felt and what I have experienced.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

There is no life - no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when You come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
And I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to more than I can be.

Not my own strength, but His strength in me.

I just called my new friend Maxine, the woman I met at the jail. We had a really good talk but more than that I got to pray with her. I think she really appreciated it but I can't even put into words what it meant to me. She works two jobs, in-care of an elderly person during the week and as an orthopedic tech at a hospital on Saturday and Sunday. I want so much for her and her son to see God in all of this and I'm praying for miracles in their lives. I have been blessed this morning.I'm going to go see my little ones today and take their Daddy a birthday present. Happy Birthday Eric. Tonight we are going out with a couple that Mike met at his small group. He has really been there for Mikey and I am really anxious to meet him. Thank God for all the different people He brings to our lives.

Spring is just around the corner!

Tyson(my cat) is very excited this morning. We have a new addition to the Pressley household. He let me know by standing at the front door and making his "let me at 'em" noise. Sure enough, I looked out the window and there right before my eyes was a new bird family moving in to the bird house on our porch. We're starting to get spring fever.

I just returned from visiting my son. As I sat across the window I couldn't help noticing a woman that was obviously in so much pain. I recognized that pain and instantly related to it. Sure enough she was visiting her 19 yr. old son and pouring her heart out trying to get him to see that she loved him enough to tell him some things he maybe didn't want to hear. I saw myself in her. As we left, tears were streaming down her face. I reached over and patted her as we were going down on the elevator. I heard myself ask for her sons name so I could pray and her face lit up. She is a single Mom who lost her younger son, he was bludgeoned to death. She kept saying "I'm all alone but I won't turn my back on him. Her name is Maxine and her son's name is Garland. I promised her I would pray and call her. I hope anyone else reading this will breathe their names in prayer when you think of them. There is so much pain and heartache and I have been so sheltered from this all my life. I don't consider that lucky. We walked in and one of the prisoners didn't have a way home. They are not allowed to walk off the premises, they must have a ride. You've got to understand, everytime I have been there someone is looking for a ride. When we left he was still sitting there. My husband gave him a 20 dollar bill for a taxi and you would have thought he had received a million dollars. I got in a warm car, came home, put on clean pajamas, got a cookie out of the pantry and started my fireplace. I pray that I will continue to learn what it means to be blessed to be a blessing. I don't do a very good job. Don't forget Maxine and Garland, I pray I won't.

Thank you Riley for the fun date yesterday. Watching you and listening to you giggle at Winnie the Pooh's Heffalump was wumberful!! It turned a "yucky day outside" into a perfect day. I hope you are feeling better today. You are sooooooooooo special.
Love,
Nana