What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Some Thankful Musings

First of all, let me say that we are praying for folks everywhere in the path of Hurricane Michael. It is still in progress as I write, wreaking havoc on the northern panhandle/Gulf coast of Florida and beyond. Thankfully, our home is situated pretty far south and east of this storm, but even so we have had a few wind gusts and spotty rain showers. Our county is under a tornado watch now, but all in all we are very thankful that we are safely away from the "eye of the storm".  May God spare those who remain in this storm and keep them safe from harm.

 This Red Shouldered Hawk was keeping a Hawk's eye on the eye of the storm...


 Next, I would like to thank all those who prayed for our daughter in law Rose, who had some serious surgery on her foot yesterday.  I may not have mentioned it here in the blog, but did share with our Facebook friends.  She came through the surgery just fine, and is resting and recuperating at home. She will have to be totally off her foot for at least six weeks, which will be challenging for this active young lady. But thankfully, our son works from home and is able to be there to help her.


More good news! I heard today that my brother Russell is in remission from his leukemia, and that he may be looking toward a bone marrow transplant in the future if things continue to do so well.  Each of us siblings were tested to see who would be a good match for him, and my other brother Clifford happens to be a perfect match! So we praise God for this news, and are thankful for the hope that should a bone marrow transplant be needed, a match has already been provided! God is so good. By the way, my brother Russell just celebrated his 75th birthday this past weekend, and my brother Cliff is celebrating his 74th birthday today!!
This picture was taken about 4 years ago, my siblings left to right: Russell, Cliff, Doris, and me. Isn't it funny that the guys are dressed in similar colors, and my sister and I are also dressed in the same color? We didn't plan that, I promise you...I guess that is why it was so easy for them to find a "perfect match" for my brother's bone marrow!

On another note, I told you HERE last week that we had listed our house for sale...well, I wish I could say we've already had lots of people looking and interested...but no one at all so far...however, hubby and I found it interesting that since we have put this sign in our yard...

several people in our neighborhood have stopped to ask us where we are going who have never spoken to us the whole time we've been here...total strangers have stopped their car alongside us as we walked to ask us where we're moving to, and to say that they'll miss us!  We just had to laugh! We've lived here seven years, and mostly we've had to dodge these people in their cars as they drive down the road to keep from getting run over (or choked to death in the road dust)...and have never seen their faces outside of their cars, and now they notice we are moving and say they will miss us! Maybe they will miss us being an obstacle in the road for them to maneuver around?  Not sure...but even though we have always tried to be friendly and courteous and waved at people as they flew by, we've never had the chance to find out just who these people are!  Our house is the first one that everyone passes on their way to their homes. There is not another house on our road for over two miles...just woods and lots of curves and a long, dusty, wildlife- filled - road. So these people are not exactly "neighbors"...they live about 2 miles away...but pass our house every day.
Well, it's nice to know that we'll be missed...but it would have been nice to know who they were and to have maybe even been friends!   However, I will say that when we've had bad storms in the past and trees were blown down in the road near our house, many of the neighbors from down the road came with chain saws to cut up the trees and get them out of the way.  We had brief encounters as we helped clear the road together, so that they could get in and out and on their way to work or home again.  We are hoping that in our next neighborhood we will actually get to know a few more people. I know it takes an effort on our part to do that, and so we will perhaps have to try a little harder.

Here's some thoughts from God's Word on this subject:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
"Two are better than one,
because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
for he has no one to help him up."


Proverbs 17:17
"A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity."


John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down one's life for his friends."
(This wind spinner was blowing fiercely in the wind during the passing of the hurricane...
it was a gift given to me by my sister Doris in memory of our son Matthew after he passed away in 2014)

Again, we pray for those who may be still in the path of Hurricane Michael. May God watch over you and yours, 
and may we always be able to give thanks to the Lord, even in the midst of the storms of life.

24 comments:

  1. Hi there Pamela! So thankful to read that you are not in the eye of the storm! Enjoyed seeing the picture of your red shouldered hawk! Just glad he is there with you and not anywhere close to my chickens :) I did not know that you had decided to move, will be praying with you that the Lord opens the right doors for you, and blesses all you endeavor to do! So sorry that your neighbors were not kind enough to get to know you better, that is just so sad! It seems people are so terribly busy these days. I do hope and pray with you that your new home will bring wonderful neighbors. Blessings and hugs to you today!

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    1. Thank you, Marilyn. We are thankful to know that God has always been our best "neighbor and friend", and that He has seen to it that we were well taken care of, even by the assistance of some of the unknown neighbors from down the road. Yes, people are too busy to take the time to get to know their neighbors these days, and that is a sad commentary on our lives. But, I'm guilty as well. Now that we are retired I do hope to do better. God bless you and thank you for visiting! I know you would be a wonderful neighbor!!!

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  2. Lots to pray about here. May God heal those in your family and comfort and bless them. May He watch over all in the midst of the hurricane and keep them safe.

    It is so sweet that many are stopping by your house to ask where you are moving, and to say they will miss you. I hope you find a lovely new home!


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    1. Thank you, Mrs. White, and welcome to my blog! I just went over to your place and enjoyed reading more about you and where you come from! New England...I love it. We lived in NH and Maine...such a lovely place. But now we are in Florida where it is much nicer in the winter, but we do miss the autumn and summer in New England.

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  3. Pamela, so glad Rose is doing so well. I love the roses by the picture of your son and Rose. Now, I am very excited to hear the news about your brother. That is wonderful and I look forward to hearing his progress in future.
    You're moving? Do you know where? Wow. I had no idea. That makes me laugh about your neighbors asking about you moving and saying they will miss you. One thing I know in our neighborhood is that if somebody moves, I'm always sorry to see them go even if I don't know them because it changes the neighborhood and hopefully, it's for good, but you never know what the new neighbors will be like.

    My husband came through his surgery today very well and is resting now. So very thankful.

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    1. So glad to hear that your hubby came through surgery so well. praying for his recovery. Yes, I announced in last Friday's blog that we have put our house up for sale and are moving to the community where our son and his wife live, and also where the little church is that we are enjoying so much. It is about 30 miles north of where we currently live. We are already making new friends there and look forward to moving there, but have to sell this house first. All in God's good time. It will be a positive move for us, even though we do love our house here. We just don't have the fellowship here that we will have there. We are just too remote here from everything as we get older... Thank you for visiting. Thank you for your kind comments. Always love to hear from you.

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  4. Catholics bury a small statue of St. Joseph in their yards when they want to sell their home. I've heard it works!! https://www.st-josephstatue.com/how-to-bury-st-joseph-statue/ I'm so glad Rose is home and healing! Did they give her one of those knee scooters to use? They look so much more comfortable than crutches.

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    1. Interesting idea about the St. Joseph statue...not sure it is something we would try, but still and interesting idea! Thank you! Rose has issues with her knee after compensating so long for the hurt heel in the way she walked, and she can't really bend her knee. They hope it will heal itself when the heel is better. So no, she can't use the scooter, and is using a wheelchair instead for now. Maybe she can graduate to the scooter if the knee starts feeling better. She doesn't want to use crutches. One day at a time...she's got a great attitude and is determined to get well soon!

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  5. Glad health issues are looking up for Rose and your brother. Good to know he has a match, that's the hard part I think.
    Maybe neighbors don't speak because they don't want to bother people. Anyway it could be a reason. I hope you find a nice house. I dont want a smaller home, I already live in a tiny house and find it impossible. If you become disabled in any way, small homes are a disaster. There is no room to move etc.
    I would love to have a bigger place to live but, that won't happen.
    Hope you have a lovely Thursday :).

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    1. I am sorry your "tiny home" is so difficult to maneuver. No, I do not want a really small house either...but it will be smaller than this one, still having the space where I need it. I want a large open area for dining and living connected to kitchen. Right now we have a large dining and kitchen, but it is a long walk to the living room and I feel isolated when in the kitchen by myself...and hubby can't hear me from the living room. We tried an intercom, but that was a pain, so didn't really work for us. This house is just too big for us old folks...LOL. I hope your day is lovely as well. Thank you for your kind words. Always a delight to hear from you.

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  6. PS.. what a great photo of your brothers and sister!!

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    1. Thank you! That was in 2014, actually when we were all gathered for my son's memorial service...it seems that either weddings or funerals are the only time we can ALL get together these days...but we are hoping to change that and try to see each other more often than that. It's just difficult when the brothers live in Ga. and N.C., and my sister and I both live in Florida, about 2 hours apart. Even that 2 hours is becoming more difficult to do it seems. When we move that will become 2 1/2 hours!

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  7. My son just talked about the storm in your country. He saw it on his phone, (news message)here in The Netherlands. Fine the surgery went well. Something to be thankful for. We are so vulnerable.

    About leukemia, it is a serious disease. My old uncle has leukemia for years. He has new leukemia medicines from Canada (he is a kind of test subject) and they help him to keep good blood levels.

    So nice Clifford can help his brother...

    Here it is morning now. I think it is night in your area. So, I am praying a bit for you while you are sleeping :-) I love to see your windspinner.

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    1. Thank you, Aritha, for your prayers during the night. That must be why I finally drifted off to sleep peacefully...the time I see posted is 3:43 a.m...and yes, I was up and down most of the night unable to sleep until about that time! your prayers worked! So glad to know that your Uncle is maintaining his good blood levels with the new medicines. Praying that will continue. We are optimistic that my brother Russell will continue to improve now, and if the bone marrow transplant works, that would be a real blessing. Thank you again for your kind thoughts and prayers today and in the night! That is very comforting.

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  8. "well, I wish I could say we've already had lots of people looking and interested...but no one at all so far..."

    That's because only one person is needed to buy the house. They'll be along shortly. ;-)

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    1. Oh, Sandi, I do hope you are correct in that! Of course, if they do come along shortly, we will have to really get "moving" in all directions...finding the right house and packing and cleaning up this house...but that is what we want to do, so bring it on! You are very encouraging...and I know God has that special person out there who will show up at just the right time to fall in love with this house and make it their own home. That is what I am praying for. Thank you!!

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    2. Yes yes yes...someone is looking for that house! The Lord has made it a home. :)

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  9. So glad to hear that Russell is doing much better, and that Rose's foot surgery was successful. I'll definitely keep both of them in my prayers for continued healing.
    And you're moving??? Where to? I would think it would be so difficult to leave your precious Secret Garden, but I imagine you'll recreate it no matter where your next home is.
    Blessings, Pamela!

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    1. I told about our move in last Friday's post https://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2018/10/friday-foto-friends-moving-right-along.html We are moving to the little town where our kids live about 30 miles north of here, where we are now going to church. We have to sell this house first before we can do anything, so praying for God's timing to be perfect. You can bet that I will be looking for a home where I can set up some kind of "Secret Garden" area, even if I have to plant the trees/plants to create it! I know God knows just what we need and what will make us happy, so I am expecting Him to surprise us with exactly what we need. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers for our family. We are so thankful.

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  10. Pam: I am thrilled that Russell is in remission. I am ecstatic that Rose is able to be at home and that Benton is able to be there to help her. We live in an older section of town and all of our neighbors are strangers to us. The houses along the street are mostly rentals (I believe). The one neighbor who we know actually stays at his daughter's across town due to his health. One of the neighbors, well, let's say I know too much about her to cultivate a friendship. I pray for our neighbors as best I can. So, don't be concerned about the sudden interest of those you don't really know. It seems to be a universal issue.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia. God has been hard at work on our family's behalf, and we are very thankful. Regarding neighbors, I should say that we do have some good neighbors living on the little side streets back behind ours, but some of them are winter visitors so aren't here all the time. I know people are busy and lifestyles are not the same, so it is difficult to get to know people. That is why we are excited about our move, as we have already made some good friends in our little church there and are enjoying sweet fellowship with them even though we don't even live there yet. So we know God has a special plan for us there. We just need to be patient and wait on God to work out all the details.

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  11. You will be missed if for no other reason than the fact that you are good neighbors, not causing any problems for anybody. You and I might take that for granted and desire more out of a neighborhood, but we also know that quiet, peaceful people cannot be taken for granted. Not anymore. Not in this world.

    That bench with the green metal inset is so very pretty!

    I enjoyed the picture of you with your brothers and sister. Thanking the Lord that Russell is doing better.

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  12. I'm thankful that you are okay. My first cousin lives in Panama City near the beach and is okay. He took shelter in Alabama until it passed.

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