Been a Busy Season

It is nearly 11:30 at night and I thought to myself, "Why not try to post a quick blog?" I went into my craft program and found this picture of 4 girls. Since I have 4 daughters I liked it. It is not anyone's birthday here in the Ross household but the picture still felt cute and just right for me. I am not quite there for getting out the camera and doing pictures.

You may wonder just what has kept me so busy. I had a major surgery on February 19th. I am in week 3 of my 6 to 8 weeks of recovery time. I am so blessed to have had so many helping me out during this time. We have had pretty much nonstop meals brought to us since the surgery. My friend from dayz in and dayz out, simply storks sister, arranged meals for my family with many friends from my church and homeschool center. I can not tell you how much meals help to keep a wonderful family balance going.

Each day I am getting a bit stronger and in less pain. I still have a problem that we are looking into to fix. Hoping the fix comes soon but know that I do not walk alone in it if it does not. I have my post op appointment on this Thursday, March 12th. Maybe I will get the go ahead to drive? We'll see! Although I have a big 4 x 4 suburban that is a bit to climb into....so maybe that wish is too soon considering I have a nice size abdominal incision that is healing....getting restless I guess.

I have missed talking to everyone and keeping up on everyone's lives. I hope you all are doing well. Blessings to everyone from me!

A quick post. We have had a sick grandma here at the Ross household over this Christmas break. Her name is Grandma Shirley. She lives with us and is 87. She does not really like to have her picture taken but I do have a few shots of her...just have not time to sort through and find one. Grandma Shirley ended up going to the hospital last week and was diagnosed with pneumonia and atrial fibrillation. She has spent several days in the hospital and today went to the rehab section of our local nursing home. She should be there for 1 to 2 weeks and then gets to come home. Also at the hospital at the same time was another gentleman from our church who is 93. His name is Jim. His diagnosis ended up the same, pneumonia, and also been transferred to the same rehab center. Please keep these 2 in your prayers. The Doctor who treated Grandma said she was his 4Th elderly person checked in with pneumonia this week. That is a lot considering our hospital is only a 23 bed hospital. It has been a hard winter for our elderly.

~A Clear Bethlehem Night~

MERRY CHRISTMAS

~

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas

this year! We had a first here in the Northwest...

a real..I mean real...white Christmas!

We have had loads of snow this month...

Loads is not even an exaggeration!

I had hoped to be able to post a Christmas story

before Christmas but we had the electricity go out

3 different times and also had the Internet go

out ( yes again!). I am going to post one

anyways even if it is December 28Th today!

I hope to post some snow pictures later this week

and also to be able to catch up on saying hi

to you all on your blog sites!

Please enjoy this Christmas story.

I wrote it several months ago for

this years Christmas for my girls.

~~~

"A Clear Bethlehem Night"

It was a clear Bethlehem night and

out from my window I stared.

I could see a lady, on a donkey, great with child

and wondered if for this event of soon would she be prepared.

A man lead her way with concern on his face.

Looking for a spot where she could rest,

in a private space.

~

Tired she looked but also upon her face

was a resting peace.

For soon, very soon, her baby would be

swaddled in a blanket of simple fleece.

~

From place to place they looked

for a room.

For this baby would be coming and coming

quite soon.

~

From place to place no room could be bought.

Till they happened upon a man who

said, "A stable to share is

my only left spot."

~

With the straw and animals this baby

soon would need to lay.

No time to put it too worry,

for this baby would coming

and coming this day.

~

I wondered just why the stars

were shining so big, so bright.

Their glow made the sky an

awe inspiring sight.

~

I thought of this lady

and of this man.

What a special night for a baby's birth,

almost as if to fulfill a great plan.

~

Curious were my thoughts as

I wanted to learn, hoping to

see more.

Down my stairs I decided to step.

heading out to explore.

~

I ended up in a stable, and

stood still in a shadow of dark.

What was it about this night

that seemed as if something

was about to embark.

~

I wondered and wondered and

just for myself had to know.

This baby came and His

presence held a peace to bestow.

~

Just then shepherds from the nearby

fields to town came in.

Professing and sharing the news

of a newborn King.

~

I then knew this night was special

and holy, as this baby in a stable was born.

This birth was the beginning of what would

become the first Christmas morn.

~

To my knees I dropped and gave thanks

for this newborn King.

Thanking God for the plan and provision

of this baby, and all that it is

and will bring.

~

Not knowing just what it all meant was for me OK,

as God's peace held it to a peaceful right.

In my prayer I simply spoke, "Thank you

dear God that you cared and sent to us

a King on this starlit night."

~~

Written by Kimberly Ross

Copyright 2008

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We welcomed our first snow here

in the Northwest this weekend!

It made for some very happy

Ross girls.

The snow is so beautiful.

Our chicken house

Trees lining our yard

Our rocks

The beauty of snow!

Night time sky

~

Our Internet was fixed and on

then it was off again...we found that

one of our dogs had chewed through

the phone line going into the computer.

It took a couple of days or more to discover

that one! I hope everyone is enjoying

this Christmas season....

Don't forget the real

reason for the season....He came as

a babe...something that we can relate

too and understand...a simple baby....

He stayed here for the just right

amount of time and then died for us...

then He rose again, for us...

He is the Reason for the Season.

The greatest Christmas gift ever!

~Season of Simplicity~

I am back on! Just in time for the holiday season. We had a phone

repair guy come and he figured out our Internet problem

...moisture in the phone box, down the road from our home.

He fixed it and now we have Internet back. As for me I have

continued to go to the doctors, we seemed to have pinpointed

the problem and I should be having surgery after the holidays.

It will be 1 surgery covering 2 problems...sort of a 2 for 1!

Do you like my header picture? I have a craft program and

found the picture in it. It reminded me of simplicity

and youthful excitement. The kind that I am sure the

Lord loves to see us in..instead of in a holiday madness

and shopping craze.

Christmas has, for many been, stretched to what it is not

...I hope for you and your family that Christmas

remains what it is meant to be instead.

Jesus' birth had a simplicity about it. No fancy birthing suite

in a big hospital. Now I know most of us would prefer not to

give birth in a stable...but the workability of Jesus' birth

is what made it so simple...it worked out with out all the

big shebang and fanciness we think things need. No fancy car to

get Mary and Joseph to the hospital. No modern wheel chair to

get Mary to her birthing spot. No fancy layette for the baby

to sleep in Just a simple space in a simple space....and yet

it all worked out.

I wonder if Christmas can simply work out if we keep it simple

and not complicated...What would Jesus want my celebration to look

like? A mad rush to get it all right or a simpler memory filled with

simple smiles and happiness. It is something to think about for

sure! I have missed "talking" with everyone online! I hope

everyone is doing well...

Wishing everyone an enjoyable time of Christmas preparation......

Remember to simply enjoy this Holiday Season for what

it really is and not for what it really is not!

MRI Update....And Dr. Update

Hi My computer has been online all day long today!

I am not sure what has been wrong and we did nothing

to fix it but I am glad to see it staying on.

Yesterday ( Tuesday) I had a pain in my upper abdomen

all day long. This is not the pain I had the MRI for.

By days end I called the consulting nurse and she

suggested I head to urgent care (our insurance company's

in between for needed care that is not an emergency).

I went in and it appears I was having gallbladder

troubles ...or perhaps an ulcer. I will be going in next Monday

for an Ultrasound. I went home with

pain pills. After a bit the pain finally settled

down....perhaps it was the 2 pain pills that helped!

I have not been to the Doctor for

years and in the last 2 months I have had several appointments.

I have been examined, poked and prodded all over...

making up for lost time I guess! The Doctor who saw

me last night looked at my chart and saw I was 43

and said "Welcome to the 40's"

During the appointment last night I noticed that my

MRI results were up on the Doctor's computer

screen. I asked her if that was my MRI results and

she said they were. I asked her if she could tell me

what they said. She gladly shared the results with me.

They have came back that the masses appear to be

cysts that are benign.....the "B" word is the good word

to hear and I got to hear it. I will still have to go in for

a consult on December 2nd and we will make decisions

about them. The concern is still the size of the bigger one.

If it is a "functional" cyst then it should go down in size over

the next couple of months. This is what will be watched for.

Also I still have the original pain I went in for so I will be glad

to discuss what can be done to get rid of it.

Thank you all for your prayers. I have felt great measures

of peace over this and know that the Lord is carrying me

leaving His set of footprints in the sand.

I hope to be able to blog with a picture and all real soon!

Bye and have a great day today!

My Internet connection is still messed up this week!

Thank you all for your prayers!

I did well during the MRI. The more you hold

still the sooner you get out of the machine! I had no

intention of spending too long in it so I held still!

I have an appointment on December 2ND to go

over what they find on the MRI test. They will also

discuss treatment options during this appointment.

December 2ND seems far away. The December 2ND appointment

was made before I even had the MRI. It was the soonest they could

get me in. I am thinking that if I don't hear from them and

if no one calls me right away that that is in my favor?

Sounds good to me! They did say that maybe

my doctor could tell me sooner. I will call him at the beginning of

next week to see if he is able..till then patience is going

to have to be the protocol. God has been good with his

provision of peace and patience for me. I appreciate that

so much. I will get this posted before my connection

goes out. I hope I can figure out what is wrong soon!

Bye for now.....Kim

My computer's Internet connection

has been going out over and over lately.

I have been unable to get into blogs and read

or to post. I have managed to get on for this

quick moment so I am going to make a quick

post of a prayer request.

~

I have an MRI on Friday morning at 8 a.m.

Originally I was to have a cat scan on Wednesday

but it has been changed to an MRI.

I have been having some abdominal

pain that needs checking on. They have found a

mass/perhaps cyst that is suspicious and needs checking

on. Please pray for my calm during the test. For some reason

I am calm about it but then when I talk to others it appears

I maybe should be worried about being inside the scanning

machine. I am going to try to place this time in the Lord's hands

and work on not borrowing trouble before the test begins.

Please also prayer for the medical team to be able to

place my IV in me. This has been a struggle in the past

when I have had my babies. The last time I ended up very bruised,

after a long time of digging to get it in. And lastly pray for the

doctor's guidance to be able to see what they need

to see and to decide what is the best next step for me.

~

My Favorite Flower

The Dandelion...

I think I will think about a field full of these

beautiful ( I mean that!) Flowers while

my test is being done!

They always make me smile as they remind me

of my 4 daughters and all the summer and spring time

hours spent picking them.

~On The Way To A Friend's House~

I have been unable to get my pictures to load

from my camera into the computer this month.

Add that in with the school year up and going and

yep...I am behind on all blogging. Overall we are doing fine

at the Ross household. I myself have had to

go in for some testing at the Dr. Office for a problem

I have been having. So I have also been a bit tired.

I should find out probably today about that and

then maybe I can get it taken care of soon!

I decided to look in my older photos and see what I had that I

could post just for fun. These are some pictures I took

on the way to a friend's house, this last summer.

For her I am wondering if she can guess

who she is? For everyone else enjoy the everyday

beauty found in our daily trips to and from places!

Oh yeah the pictures loaded out of order as the driving one

should have been first. I am never just sure how a

computer takes over my efforts to do something, but

somehow they do!!!

Another oh yeah...my 2nd oldest daughter says

she thinks she may have figured out the picture loading

problem...hopefully she's right and I can load some photos!

I love old houses! I always wonder about their histories.

Families growing up within the walls, new babies being born,

a newly married man and woman enjoying their first home.

I would love to enter all old houses and sit and just read about

the history of who lived within it's walls.

A picket fence with lovely flowers.

This fence belongs to someone I know.

There is a certain peace that comes

with a white fence and flowers!

An old dock leading out into a lake. Lots of fun had

here by many I am sure!

Hubby's hands safely driving our family on
this drive!

~Road To No Where~

At times I can be a thinker and a ponderer. I watch myself

and I watch others and I find it interesting to see the many

paths that we people can find ourselves on. Are we , am I , on

the path that the Lord would have me be on or am

I on the path made by my own decisions and choices.

Taking away the lead from the Lord. I know

that it is so easy to stray off the path, that in a quick

moment of time I can be off and planning my own way.

My way never leads in the direction that is best for my steps

to follow. It seems to happen so quickly before I know it

I am on a road to nowhere. Oh I work real hard on this road.

I keep moving, thinking,planning and fixing the path I am on.

...but still I get nowhere.

~~~~

~Road To Nowhere~

What brings out the best

isn't perfection you see.

What makes me the best is those

things that bring me to my knees.

~

In this world when I do

it on my own,

I can leave God out, but His

love of me keeps me never alone.

~

He gently on my shoulder will tap,

He'll be patient as He waits

for me to rest in His arms, taking time

to sit upon His lap.

~

I fight so hard to be all

that I can be.

He waits so patiently for me

to give all my heart to him and for

my eyes to open and clearly see.

~

No pressure does He place

upon me while I on my own stand.

He allows the consequences of my actions

to teach me, but always waits with His

outstretched hand.

~

Am I choosing a road to no where,

not looking to Him above?

Or is what I need to seek is His path,

given to me with His perfect love?

~~~~

A trip through the Psalms shows me a lot about

the Lord's path for me. It is a loving path with many

words of encouragement: He guides me, He restores my soul,

He teaches me, He sets my heart free, His path provides me with

delight, He fills me with joy, He keeps my feet from slipping, Keeps my

ankles from turning, He provides a light to my path. With

all that the Lord provides for me why would I ever think my own

road could ever be better. He loves me and leads me better

then I could ever lead myself!

Where is your road going? Toward God or is it

a road to nowhere? I am so glad that God is who He is.

His path is peaceful and it leads somewhere I want to be.

~

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

~

Psalm 25:4

Show me your ways, O Lord,

Teach me your paths.

~

Psalm 119:32

I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free.

~

Psalm 119:35

Direct me in the path of your commands,

for there I find delight.

~

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

~

Psalm 17:5

My steps have held to your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

~

Psalm 18:36

You broaden the path beneath me,

so that my ankles do not turn.

~

Psalm 119:101

I have kept my feet from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.

~

Psalm 119:105

You word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.