RESPECTING AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR HEROES

Few of us respect or think about the fact that firefighters and law enforcement personnel lay their lives on the line every day for the good and protection of the general public-meaning you and me-we are the general public.

Yesterday I watched the services for firefighter, FAO Daryl Gordon. He had been a firefighter for 30 years, he was a husband, a father and active in his community. 

and

he died in the line of duty in the early morning of Thursday,  March 26, 2015 but in that line of duty he helped save 12 lives that morning. The other firefighters said the smoke was so thick they couldn't see. They had to crawl around to find the residents. FAO Daryl Gordon fell down an elevator shaft in the chaos. 

I had the news on that morning when the announcement was made that a firefighter had been injured but everything stopped short of that till later when it was revealed how critical the situation was.

The tributes yesterday were very fitting for the service of this honorable man. Thousands of people lined the streets of Cincinnati, hundreds of local firefighters were a sea of blue and firefighters from all over the country came to Cincinnati to cover the duties of local firefighters attending the services. 

Then three days after the fire that claimed the life of Daryl Gordon, a video captured another firefighter falling through the roof of a burning building. He is burned over 65% of his body with 3rd degree burns and fighting for his life. 

He is Captain Pete Dern who has served his community for 25 years.  

Many have dedicated their lives to this work, many have lost their lives to this work and this all hits home because my brother, Jim, retired a few years ago from the fire service. He became a firefighter after his stint in the Air Force to then serve as fire chief in several cities and retire from the Roanoke, Virginia department. 

His son, Bobby, followed in his footsteps to also become a fireman. 

In all those years I just never thought about the every day danger that is in this profession. A thought that has run through my mind occasionally is why anyone would choose to go into a job that sometimes in one of the most thankless jobs there is but as someone said about FAO Daryl Gordon yesterday-he loved it and Jim and Bobby love it, too. 

You know, I always wondered about that brother of mine-don't let this cool, distinguished looking photo fool you, I grew up with him: 

  

Jim had a wonderful career and is enjoying retirement to the max and we thank God for that. He is seeing his grandchildren grow and flourish but that is something Daryl Gordon will not be doing and maybe not Captain Pete Dern. 

Won't you join me in praying for these and all our other protectors because that is what they are-protectors-and for their families who are in much grief and pain.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalms 23:1-6

God bless and keep you and all of yours

Carolyn Wainscott

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

These aren't the thoughts I started with this morning, the piece I thought I would be writing today but in looking for photos I came across a poem I have been looking for. I have a way of hiding things from myself and seems spend half my time looking for them. Try as I may, being organized isn't one of my best talents, in fact it isn't a talent of mine at all, especially when it comes to filing information on my computer. 

I put things in folders but then forget how or when or category-whatever! The photo I was looking for didn't appear but my poem jumped out at me from the external hard drive I keep excess files. I have been looking for it in a notebook where poems, clippings, etc. are kept, it wasn't there, on a cd that it was supposed to be on but can't access for some reason and in every other place it could have possibly snuck into. I couldn't remember when I wrote it but my copywright  says 2000.

When I can't find something it niggles me in the back of my mind till I find it so this niggle can go away now and I suppose this is what was to be done today:

SUCCESS

What do you think when you think of success?

Do you think as the world, if you have nothing less

than fast, showy cars and designer dress

and live on the hill so you can impress

all the right folks with your style and finesse.

That you are a failure and filled with distress

because a plain house down the block is all you possess,

a tee time's a luxury for you don't have access

to the country club and your life's empty unless

you're at the top of the heap in your own business?

What do you think when you think of success?

Would you give it some thought and may I suggest

that you think on The Man who gave us His best?

For though He had little just His nearness

gave sight to the blind, hope for the hopeless.

His goal that we may have life at its fullest

meant a sacrifice no one else could accomplish.

Even nailed to the cross bore us no bitterness

was abandoned by most to His own emptiness.

So, what do you think when you think of success?

If you'll think on The Man you'll surely confess

your way of life can be your greatest success,

sharing with those who have so much less,

giving a child a kiss and caress,

treating others with love and fairness,

being content with God's awesomeness. 

Yes

think on The Man who's our LORD, the purest and finest

for when you have Him, you don't need all the rest. 

copywright 2000

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 

May God bless and keep you and all yours

Carolyn Wainscott

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AND YET ANOTHER MIRACLE

This morning as I was waking, my nephew, Keith, was on my mind. You see, he is yet another of our family's miracles. He is a giant of a man but his heart is larger than his body. He is my sister, Shirley's, son.

On Mother's Day weekend 2010 we were having a gathering in honor of our mother for her 90th birthday and of course, Mother's Day which was to be on Sunday. Our brother, Jim, and his wife, Shirley, were coming in from Roanoke, Va. We were having dinner at Shirley's home on Saturday with the family then unbeknownst  to Mom, there was a big party planned for the following day with extended family and friends. 

Len and I were halfway to Shirley's when she called and she said, "Carolyn, there has been a change of plans. Something has happened to Keith. Can you go to the house and take care of things there, Jim and Shirley will be there soon". She is always thinking of someone else and I don't know how in the world she kept as calm as she did. She had just seen her son in a heap on the floor being worked on by the life squad.

Keith had gone down in his home and the life squad was rushing him to Bethesda North Hospital. At that point she couldn't even explain how bad things were. Did she need for me to come to the hospital with her-No, she needed me to go to the house, Larry, her husband would need someone there also even though his nurse was there with him. 

Jim and Shirley arrived, the news kept getting worse about Keith and someone had to go get Mom and tell her-I had to go tell her that her grandson was critical. As Len and I drove to get her, Shirley called, worse news, she had just found her daughter-in-law crumpled on the floor, they had told her Keith probably wouldn't make it. I made it in Mom's door and went down at her knees, finally was coherent enough that she could understand what was going on. We took her to Shirley's, the family was gathering. 

Updates on Keith were not good-he had to be resuscitated on the operating table-surgery is continuing-still in surgery-had to be resuscitated again-this went on for hours. Every time a call came in we gathered in prayer circled in that living room. If he made it through the night, he might live. 

Keith's esophagus and stomach had ruptured spilling the contents throughout his body and that was a big body. He is 6'8" and at the time weighed about 380 lbs.

Yes, Keith is another of our miracles, he told the doctors in the ER that they had to save him, he had his four children he had to live for. 

On Mother's Day we were together again with our original plans since so many were coming for Mom's surprise party but Keith was still our main focus. Thinking about him this morning, the video taken that day came to mind. Of course, none of Shirley's family were there so it seemed half our family was missing. They were all at the hospital for Keith except his dad who has had strokes and was at home in the care of his nurse. 

it is a miracle that he lived initially through the rupture of his stomach

it is a miracle they could get him to the hospital

it is a miracle that a team of the best surgeons in Cincinnati were gathered at the hospital at the time Keith was brought in-on a Saturday

it is a miracle he could be resuscitated at least 3 times during surgery

it is a miracle he lived through the night, then the next day and the next and the next

it is a miracle that instead of being in ICU for 5 to 6 weeks as predicted by the doctors  that Shirley brought him home in 2 weeks.

He has seen his daughters graduate high school and  going to college and now his boys are getting ready to finish school. 

He is able to work but it isn't a cake walk for Keith. He has digestive problems, has to watch everything he eats, his business is not as it was but we are grateful, yes, we are grateful.  

Here he is now with wife, Pam

  

 their children-Kyle, Alysha, Gracen, Kenny

 Keith, Pam and boys, Kenny & Kyle

Shirley with Kenny & Kyle

 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen

Heb 11:1 

We thank God for His care and keeping. When one is on my mind as Keith was this morning, I have to share.

May God bless and keep you and all yours

Carolyn Wainscott

TWO OF OUR MIRACLES

Niece, Debbie, asked me to transfer some vhs tapes to DVD a couple of months ago of her twin girls when they were born.

On my mind sense looking at the tapes as they were transferring were the miracles that were captured and how great it was to be able to see after 15 years how great God is. 

Debbie and her husband, Chris, had to wait 8 years before they became pregnant with their first child. Several months into the pregnancy they were told the baby would not survive but the pregnancy continued for over 3 months.

Baby boy, Ross, lived only 5 hours. That was Spring, 1999. 

Several months later Debbie and Chris found that they would be having another baby and wonder of all wonders, there were two. Complications put Debbie in the hospital 3 months before the due date to keep an eye on the babies then a early delivery had to be done because one of the baby girls was in jeopardy. She was receiving no nourishment and when she was born the umbilical cord literally fell away. 

July 6, 2000-Summer and Sierra came into this world. Sierra weighed 2 lbs. Summer weighed in at a hefty 3+ lbs. 

and here they all are on a recent vacation-Chris, Sierra, Debbie, Summer

The girls will be 15 years old on July 6. They are two of this family's miracles that we thank God for. 

 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Eph 5:20 

May God bless and keep you and all yours

Carolyn Wainscott

LORD, when saw we thee a stranger?

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38  saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39  saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

Yesterday many hearts were touched by a request on one of my online craft sites. A young mother asked for a remembrance to be made of her baby girl she had lost prematurely and she had included photos she would like used. The baby's  name is Harper Lynn. She weighed 14 ozs. and was 10 inches long.  She lives in Oregon. I'm sure the responses came from all over the U.S.

There was a great response including condolences for her loss including my own and still today responses are being posted. In fact, I just checked the request, someone had asked for the baby's name, etc. and they were just posted so have included them.  

Artists and crafters offered paintings, drawings, jewelry, quilts, pillows, sketches-many at no cost. Several shared their own experience of losing their own child.   

This outpouring online to a complete stranger sure beats the continual, heartless news that bombards us daily. 

Watching this generosity yesterday unfold also prompts me to write of other circumstances I have watched via online requests on a local yard sale site that I had the thought of sharing but hadn't gotten around to it. 

During one of our snowstorms, a young [my perception] woman, asked for someone to come get her out of a snow bank, she had no money so couldn't call a tow truck. Several people jumped in with suggestions for her to call but one young [I know, I saw his photo]  man  immediately responded and went to pull her out. A complete stranger-that is wonderful. Several commended him but he just said he was trying to be a good example for his daughter. His facebook page shows him with his daughter. What better example could she have?

Requests for enough formula for their baby to last until some could be purchased on payday, immediate help with a move, a young single mother's need for housing for her and her children, job requests-have all been responded to positively. 

Oh, there were negative responses such as "how did you get in that condition to begin with" but overall strangers stepped in.    

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matt 25:34-40

May God bless and keep you and all yours

Carolyn Wainscott

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JESUS 

Praise Banner-5' x 6'

SHOULDA, COULDA, WOULDA

Several days ago I was wondering what to post here, opened the current journal I'm using and the perfect thought jumped right off the page at me but as the morning passed nothing was written. That happens often, too often. Not getting done what God is leading me to do-sharing my  Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

But I'm not alone, Paul wrote many years ago:

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I

Romans 7:15

Not that that excuses anything. Paul witnessed from a cold, dank prison, in great hardship and here I am in a nice cushy chair, in a nice home, letting things distract me to the point of not using what is available to me when I have been so blessed with so much. 

So, here goes, days later and hours after planned even today:

My current journal was given to me by my sister, Shirley. It is Blessings for a Woman' Heart. It isn't written into every day as has been my habit in the past. That is another thing I need to get back to. I have it dated 3/11/2015-5 days ago, today is the 16th.

The day's title was "A Blessed Example" 

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus 2:2-5   

The day's thoughts were by Fanny Crosby from her "Memories of Eighty Years". She told of her grandmother who was a firm believer in prayer who called her to her old rocking chair in the evening where they kneeled and prayed together. Here is the poem she wrote:

Grandma's Rocking Chair 

There are forms that flit before me,

There are tones I yet recall;

But the voice of gentle Grandma

I remember best of all.

In her loving arms she held me,

And beneath her patient care

I was borne away to dreamland

In her dear old rocking chair. 

"My Hero" is about my Granny @ http://carolynscanvas.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-hero.html. 

I am now a great, grandmother, I have my rocking chairs, in the family room, in my room and on my front porch. I hope when my grandchildren and my great, grandchildren think of me they have the same fond thoughts as I do about my grandmother. 

Many have the opinion that I rode in on a dinosaur and my archaic outlook is not relevant in today's world but I will still stand by Titus 2:2-5. Well, let me back up here a little bit about that "obedient" part-oops just dodged that bolt of lightning. 

 I have been looking for several years for photos but couldn't find any in any of the albums any of us had of Granny's home. Just a few weeks ago by happenstance, I was sent photos of my Granny's front porch with her rocking chairs. The same chairs she sat in and watched us play in her front yard. There was a sense of being protected and watched over-may my younger generations have that same sense as they can look up onto my front porch and see me watching them play in the front yard. 

My Granny's Front Porch

May God bless and keep you and all yours

Carolyn Wainscott

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SAVIOUR

Praise Banner-4'x7'

Hand painted, quilted by Carolyn Wainscott

BIBLE EXPLORER SOFTWARE UPDATE

I received a message concerning my last post, March 9, 2015, on the Bible Explorer software telling me the link kept sending her to what seemed to be a different site. 

I checked it out, even downloaded the program just to make sure and to make sure I wasn't giving wrong information and sure enough it was a different software from the Bible Explorer that I'm using but it does have the same features. It is Word Search Basic. There are also free books you can incorporate if you wish so I chose a few that may come in handy for me-Bible characters, history and maps. 

However, I don't like much change and will be using my Bible Explorer for every day. I thought maybe that wasn't available anymore so searched "Bible Explorer 4" and yippy ky yeh, my old program came up and is available for you to check out. 

6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Psalms 28:6-9 

This morning I was reading back over my last year's journal, same time frame. My supplications were much the same as this morning's, different names but most of them had been answered as asked, some not. It dawned on me that I should bring attention to prayers answered because so many of them seemed to have been forgotten.

May God bless and keep you and yours today and may you have favor in everything you do and everywhere you go

Carolyn Wainscott