Blessed Sunday/ Blessed Relief

Today has been especially quiet. David and I cleaned the house, as in mopped floors, vacuumed, dusted, polished and cleaned mirrors or all glass surfaces. Now I am free next week to sew.

I admittedly have not done much lately so the house was in dire need of cleaning.

As you all know I have had bronchitis. I am so much better now, not totally pulled together but still able to issue orders and supervise house cleaning. (just kidding)

I made a great dinner today too. I cooked fresh green beans, chicken and baked potatoes.

The chicken, now that was a treat for the palette. First you use boneless, skinless, chicken breast, rinse off, then pat dry, coat with a little flour, salt and pepper to taste.

Brown in two tablespoons olive oil. (my preference). When chicken is browned, pour a can of fat free chicken broth over chicken, 1 tbsp of fresh rosemary and two cloves crushed garlic. Cover and cook until done. When chicken is done, remove chicken, reduce stock a little, and add, Get this, two cups of seedless grape halves. Reheat and serve over warm chicken breast.
Yummy.

Enjoy!!!

I also made apple dumplings, covered in Rum sauce. A lot of sugar for me but for David went back for seconds. I have not seen him eat like that in ages. He has slowed down on his eating habits lately but I guess this hit the spot. Or maybe he was just hungry for home made food that was not quick or thrown together.

Blessed Relief

As most of you know I have requested prayer for my Son and his family. The past year has been a long trial, but I never lost faith that God would take care of it, in his time, in his way. He may be four days late but he is still on time.

Josh was facing a prison sentence for a crime committed as a young teen. A young teen that made a big mistake and as an adult was facing an even bigger price to pay.

Prison for a nineteen year old is a death sentence. A Nineteen year old that had no idea of the outside world, other than what he saw or heard. Never experienced.

We prayed and we trusted. My son had so many days of doubt, so many days of "God is in control." Only to be dropped into his doubt the next day. He has been on an emotional roller coaster for a year this month. Admittedly we have, as a family all spent many times weeping our hearts out. I would wake to hear my husband in the shower sobbing. He was so hurt. He was in such pain. I would wake, put my arms around him and we would sob together.
I could not get warm, I was so cold I often sat in a warm tub of water. It was my chest taht was so cold. It felt like my heart was cold. Not spiritually but cold weather wise.


On Friday, Our prayers were answered. Josh was given a new lease on life. He has to serve one year in jail then into a rehab program. Thank God, is all we can say or even think. We all know prison can be a detriment to the rehabilitation to most people.

My grandson made a mistake, We admit it. We make no excuses for him. We felt he needed punishment but felt prison was not an answer to this problem.

We spent so many hours talking to our son. We often felt defeated. Like our words were just hanging in the air, not heard by anyone but God. We shook our heads in disbelief as we had trained our son, to be more positive. We wept for his soul. We were worried his family unit was suffering too much.

But God has dealt with our grandson for several years. He knew he broke one of the commandments and He broke family rules. He knew his Mom and Dad could lose all they had to help him. He had no idea how much Love was there for him. (He knew we all loved him He just did not know the sacrifices to be made.)
He was at a loss as to what to do. He had asked God to help him. I had asked God to bring him back to the person I knew before. For years we have watched the changes in his behavior, Changes caused by depression and the act he committed.

I had discussed my own sons sadness with friends, and requested prayer for him and his salvation. This was in 2004, I wondered if God heard my pleas. I had put a petition before God to make my son see the error of his ways.
However I did not mean this way. I had just put it before God,I did not tell him how I wanted it done. Certainly not this way. Not with my Grandsons life on the line. But God had his own way to wake up family. He succeeded.
This year long tragedy has brought us all closer to the throne. It has made each of us stop and realize nothing is forever. Our lives can change with the clink of handcuffs. A clink we never thought we would hear in our family. God knows the truth about our lives and he knows just what it will take to bring us into the fold.
My family believes that is why I have been sick for the last few months. Admittedly I have lost 25 lbs this year, but I am not complaining. I am glad, as long as it is not a health issue.
I adore my children and my grandchildren, This was my first born grandchild, the love of my heart when I held him in my arms. The sunshine in my days.
I could not rationalize the man he grew into with the baby I held. It did not fit.
Today it is a better fit. Friday I believe he lost the weight of the world off his shoulders. Thank you all for whispering a prayer, although you did not know the issues we faced, you were faithful to pray.