Today is Sept. 6,2012
I am sitting at Brighton beach on the shore of Lake Superior, in Duluth.
This beach is one of my favorite spots to come and hang out.
I am here in Duluth because my mom is having a breast biopsy tomorrow.

As I sit at the beach, longing for peace and quite...time to mourn Elias, and time to pray for my mom. Well, this older gentleman comes along, lays on a rock at the water's edge(the rock in the picture above.) to cool his face off with the cold lake water. I found myself irritated at his presence. Then the Lord reminded me of a time when I was a child, that I washed my face off at that very same spot while laying across that very same rock!

I looked at the man, greeted him, then  and told him my rememberance.. He proceeded to share his memories of playing here as a child as well. Then he told me his mom passed away a month ago. He read her journals she left for him. In those journals she shared on how lonely she was iin her grieving after her husband died. How she had allot of friends, but at night and alone the grief overwhelmed her.

The gentelman then asked why I was here. I told him of my mom. I was not able to mention my anguished heart over the loss of Elias and the fear that the end may be near for my mom. I was afraid that the tears would be as deep as the Lake was.

Thank you for using that man to know that our grieving is universal and that You Lord, know my thoughts. I was surprised that the gentleman shared his heart so openly and in just a moments time, he was remembering his dear mom. I know I was there for that moment for that man, and that he was there for me. God knew we both needed to share our grief. I didn't even ask his name, nor did he ask me mine. I pray for this man...Lord make yourself know to him and please comfort him in his grief.

I am reminded of the scripture that says, "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Emotions today are pushing me through the valley of sufferings that I am walking through.
Although I have two little cahrges to care for today(Elle and Nora), I am finding the the tears in my soul are very near the surface.

The trials I am walking through seem overtake me some days....other days I find that my faith in God's ability to get me out of this valley is much stronger than the pain in my heart.

Several years Don painted this water color....

I see this painting every time I walk into my bedroom. I am reminded of Psalm 23, which speaks so beautifully to my soul. Especially because of the death of our grandson Elias and the divorce my son is going through.

The valley seems so long....yet God is with me!



Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

My blog postings have been scattered. I have so much going on in my life, that I have decided that it is time to be more consistent in writing things down.

I also tweaked another blog site I started a few years ago. It is a blog that I will dedicate to being a Pastor's Wife. http://seasonedwisdom.blogspot.com/

These two blog sites will cross paths from time to time.

But this one(Theresa's musings) is more my personal reflections regarding my family life, and such.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1QcMWTFsyauOA&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

here is a link to the Rypstra Family artwork album that I will bring to the first Jelle Rypstra family reunion, in Canada. I compiled this from my photos. This is just a small collection from all of the artistic family members.

http://www.raystedman.org/power/0318.html
This Devotional has encouraged me and is helpful in spurring me on in my Christian walk.

Stress...why?

Stress…..why?
Today is Monday. It seems that Mondays are my day to reflect on the past week and plan for the coming week.

Today I woke up exhausted and feeling like I need a week to just rest and spend time alone in a quiet house! God has other plans!

This is where I tell myself things like;
“God is my strength”,
“In my weakness, He is made strong”,
“The joy of the Lord is my strength”

Here is “some” of what was going on in my life this past week.
Monday-Wednesday we had company from Bemidji, MN. They came to stay with us as one of the them had appointments at Mayo Clinic.

On Tuesday, Don went to the Neurologist for the pain in his neck (which, hopefully, isn’t me!)and down his arm. Then on Wednesday he went in for nerve testing. We will find out today if he needs surgery.

Friday-Saturday Don went and met with a man who was here visiting Mayo Clinic for a condition that the doctors in his hometown, in Illinois, have been unable to diagnose. Then when he got to Mayo he found out that Mayo Clinic would not treat him because his insurance would not cover the cost of the cares. He needed a place to stay until he could fly home.

On Friday, I also found out that my mom is having continued health problems. She is had a biopsy on her uterus and is waiting to find out if it may be cancer. At the same time, she is having problems with her heart and goes this week for a full heart work up.

Then on Friday-Sunday I was responsible for planning and preparing the food for our “Valentine’s Dinner and a Movie”. We planned for 16 couples. It turned out to be a success. I love to do stuff like that, but this time, Don was going to help me out allot, but because of his shoulder injury and the additional company we had, he wasn’t able to. That is why the majority of it fell on my shoulders. I had asked another person to help, but she had stuff come up as well and became unavailable. So I pressed through and enjoyed the cooking and planning. And like I said, it was a successful dinner and everyone had a great time.

On top of all that, I still was responsible all week for watching three of my granddaughters.
I am also in the middle of a “self-imposed” weight loss challenge to lose 10 pounds in the month of February! I wrote my trainer last week asking if she could help me figure out why I have not been able to lose any weight. I think I just figured out why!!! I had been eating well, exercising, and drinking all the water I should. But to no avail.

Oh, I almost forgot…we had two major snow storms in which I had to shovel snow and drive our guest and Don, back and forth to clinic appointments-with dressing and packing up our three toddler grand daughters. Driving in the stuff is stress enough!

Today, we are awaiting information as if we are going to be hosting two other people whom are coming because of Mayo treatment.

WOW…is about all I can say. I really didn’t realize how much has been going on until I have written it down. No wonder I feel like I got run over by a train.

Hopefully this week won’t be as crazy as the last.

I am thankful for the opportunities to serve others. It really does bring me great joy, but some weeks it requires allot from me.

Today’s plan is to clean house, get the guest room ready, play with my grand kids, and get my exercise done!

Unexpected Igredient!

Unexpected ingredient!

Tonight as I was making a dinner that I was so looking forward to. A nice piece of lean black angus steak, string beans and fresh carrot logs with dill. The fresh carrots were cooked, the steak just about done and the string beans ready to go into the microwave to warm up.

As I was lifting up the string beans(that I had placed into my favorite brown glass casserole dish that I received as a wedding gift 27 years ago)into the over-the-stove microwave, my foot slipped out from under me and I went flying into the air as well as the lid to my casserole dish.

My foot went into the air and hit the lip on the bottom drawer of my oven, stopping my leg from flying higher. The lid SHATTERED everywhere! It hit the stove top first, then pieces of the 1/4 inch glass hit my foot. I am very thankful for no cuts! Just a few bruises and few sore muscles.
BUT....glass went into the steak and carrots!

I was so sad, not that my body now ached from flying though the air and my big toe is pounding, but because our wonderful dinner was ruined!

My brilliant husband came to my rescue! He helped me up off the floor and then proclaimed, "Dinner's not ruined. I'll rinse everything!" I think he was desperately hungry!

And so he did.
He proceeded to rinse everything, bring me some tylenol, and then warm up the cold carrots and steak. We sat down to eat dinner, gave thanks that it wasn't worse than it was, and then ate.

The string beans were good, the steak over cooked, and the carrots had and unexpected ingredient! I guess the rinsing didn't take out the glass out.

We only ate one shard of glass each...not too bad!

Never a dull moment in our home!