A Certain Woman in Eastern Europe

Yes, I found my camera!! It was in a safe place however not it's usual place :-). Thanks for asking! and the weather - in the 50's, blue sky and sunshine - Yeah!!! Could it be that spring is really on the way?

Deb finally came home on Thursday. She did have to have the surgery and she is on a very strict diet (no fiber) for a week until she has her staples taken out and sees the doctor. She is on complete bed/couch time for now and for maybe 6 weeks. She can not pull or push or lift anything. Jack is doing chores he never had to do before :-). And you can imagine what help I am (not much!) even though I am a near neighbor. Jack and Debbie have a great circle of friends who are lavishing them with cards and flowers and food. Of course, the family is doing all we can. Saturday my cousin and his wife come to stay with mom so I can help out at a bowlingfund raiser for "Team Callery". My sister in law is a "Survivor" of breast cancer and very active in raising awareness and money to research and overcome this disease. Since I started to get a full night's sleep I am starting to feel better and should/maybe/with God's help be more responsive to incoming communique and o...

I arrived home on Monday morning to find the whole family in a flap. Mom had not slept more than 1.5 hours at a stretch for the 3 nights I was away. Some of the family was wanting to push towards a 24/7 facility but some of us are not ready for that, especially me. I got busy on the phone and followed up with some local agencies and found help. A bonus was the woman I found to care for mom from 11pm to 7am was an old friend of mine, so we are getting reaquainted. Also, found someone to help days when I am away. The family is so busy with their lives: upcoming fundraisers for cancer research, planning a city wide summer event, county meetings with various county officials and sometimes the governor plus their full time jobs. We all really need the extra help......and prayers. So, when I am not communicating, e-mailing, blogging or facebooking, I am trying to keep my head above water here so thanks for praying.

While the world was watching the historic Inauguration of our 44th President, (I did, too) I was busy planning for a mini-escape/break - retreat to the Bershire Mountains. My sister Kathi and her husband Mike offered me their time share and off I went! Because I knew that Pastors Marlow D and Paul B were in Myanmar on a mission trip (I was supposed to go with them) I asked their wives and my dear friends Tonya and Sandy to join me. We were so glad to have some time together!! We laughed and cried and prayed and played and of course....... Shopping Therapy at the nearby Outlet Center! We found great buys at Bath and Body. and eating....... - One night we had seared salmon and this spinach, blueberry, walnut salad with lemon poppy dressing - thank you, Sandy We also enjoyed a meal at a very quaint Greek/Italian restaurant in Lee, MA and even got to see a movie - "Marley & me". I arrived back home feeling so refreshed. The Lord so blessed us and spoke to us and I am...

No, but she is AWOW!! ( ABSENT WITHOUT WIFI :-) Well, we are working on solutions for that but the current unusual solution is going to the pub when my sister is at work - they have wireless. Ahhhhhh, internet PLUS it is a really interesting "fishing hole". God continues to give me GREAT grace and joy and fulfillment in being home to take care of mom and see family. Mom's quality of life was improved immeasurably with a full time companion – me. Although mom struggles with physical frailty, and intermittent dementia our days are filled with laughter, visits from family and appointments with doctors. In the midst of this, my family makes sure I have some time out so I have joined a diet and exercise program at the local Curves. In 3 weeks I have lost 6 pounds and 10 inches!! Can you imagine I actually look forward to the exercise routine?! Our God is a transforming God!!

Well, after a very long delay in the flight out of NY, I finally arrived Seattle at about 1.30 am. Since I had missed my 10pm flight to Anchorage I needed to wait until 6am to fly. What would I do now? Window shopping was fun for awhile & no problem not spending. When I arrived at the Market Place - food court which is usually teeming with travelers, I had the place almost to my self - just look at all the free seats! There were some people there, the floor cleaners and security people and 2 lovely ladies washing windows. These are very unusual windows as they are earthquake proof - notice the cabels etc. These ladies wash the lower two sections of the windows three times a week and they really had a good system going. Starbucks was open and Jaimie was on duty. We had a great talk. She spent last year in Indian not in missions or humanitarian aid (as I guessed) but polishing her art of dancing and Indian violin playing. She became interested because her grandfather was from Kashmi...

What a great weekend! Ed & Syble drove down to Szeged on Friday with Edith and I and ministered for ICF. It was a beautiful weekend and we had a lively time in worship, thanks Erik! Syble shared some of her testimony with us, and Ed was so good, as always. We had a really special time of prayer first and the Hoy Spirit was present. In Debrecen on Saturday night , again the presence of God was strong with people responding. On Sunday I was in Budapest for service there and again wonderful worship, teaching and the Holy Spirit's presence. God is on the move in Hungary!!

Today is, according to Ukrainian and Russian tradition, the celebration of the Old New Year. Which reminded me to show you what Tammy and Sherry brought us for Ukrainian Christmas. This gift basket was filled with some very well known and loved Ukranian food and drink items. Not pictured is one of my favorite things from Ukraine - chocolate butter which was in the refrig already. See the yellow can? It is the famous fermented bubbly drink - Kvas - it should be in the refrig. The basket was filled with things that are sweet so you always have sweet things in your life, spicy things to add spice to your life, salty things to season your life and pig fat (and Kvas) to be uniquely Ukrainian. Thanks ladies!

We had a wonderful "Friday at 7". Marlow was able to come to Budapest early to get pages added to his passport and then drove down to Szeged with the Person's. Watch Arden's blog for pictures. (CEO for kids - address is on my blog, left column under certain friends). Meanwhile back in Debrecen Sybles was welcoming ladies from 3 different churches to a candle light Christmas party. Edith was the guest speaker. The theme was "Royal daughters of the king". Saturday morning I fly off to Barcelona to meet my roomate Tammy who will finish up an "Open Bible/INSTE" conference on Sunday. We will then spend the next 4 days enjoying this beautiful town. Wish you were here!! Photos and updates next week. Blessings, Mary Jill

Have you been to London to see the queen? .....No, but it would have been a good time to do that as she is now celebrating 60 years of marriage. Congratulations to her and Prince Phillip on their 60th, Roger and Joyce Bullard on their 50th and LaVere and Beth Soper on their 40th, and today, Rhon and Kit Duke's 37(?)th actually 40!!!. Let's here it for looooooong, faithful successful marriages! Actually, I have been on planes, and trains, and have put many miles/kilometers on the car since last I blogged. Also, have upgraded to a new laptop which is a huge blessing but also slows me down a little with the differences, etc. Life has been full of all good things and many great reports. In Johnstown, mom is doing well after a short stay in the hospital that showed her to be in tip top shape (except for that pain that put her there). In Debrecen church life, we have first hand reports of a miracle healing from severe allergies, and healing from persistent leg pains due to vein probl...