Life with Us ~ The Workentins: July 2013

Monday, July 29, 2013

Monday Morning Musings

Can't believe it is Monday once again.

Life just seems to be speeding by.

Had a fun weekend celebrating Ron's birthday.

Had friends stop by the campground

and enjoy coffee and donuts to begin the day.

Had a great visit with Darrell & Patty

brainstorming about ideas for the campground.

Enjoyed dinner and seeing Barbara Fairchild & Roy Morris' show at Golden Corral and visiting with them for a little while afterwards.

Sunday found us helping guests a few times

and painting the apartment.

We cranked up some great Southern Gospel music and painted, painted and painted some more.

All the walls are done and trim work in the bedroom is finished. Today and tomorrow will be more painting of trim work. It is coming together and I can't wait to show it all off.

God is so funny

and I am always amazed how he meets me right where I am.

This morning was no different.

This is what He shared with me as I was contemplating my day:

Yesterday as we painted and sang along with the radio,

I thought about how singing just made the work go faster.

Not sure what radio station we were listening to

but it was playing some of the old great hymns:

Standing on the Promises of God

The Old Rugged Cross

Power in the Blood

and

Jesus Loves Me

...that one made me cry

as I thought of just how much God loves me.

I was sharing with someone earlier in the week about our boys and how we always celebrated Jamie's birthday on August 8th - cause that is the day he was born and we always wanted it to be a happy day.

And that on August 11th we remembered our baby, Jamie's twin,

Royce Alan

on the day he went home to be with Jesus

and that on August 11, 2009

32 years later

God orchestrated the date

Max legally became Brandon's son, and our grandson.

We shared so many happy tears that day.

It was like God took a day that had always been hard for us

(and in some ways it still is as we will never forget Royce

as we wonder what life would have been like if he was still with us here on earth) and made it extra special by adding our first grandson officially into our lives.

And then this morning God's word was

and how as we have worked on the apartment

God's love has

been proved over and over

with the love of friends and family

with words of encouragement,

notes on Facebook,

and helping us paint.

And we look forward with anticipation

to have visitors in our home.

We love to entertain

and even though we have done some entertaining

while living in the rig

it is not always easy to do

so watch out Branson peeps

be ready to have some fun times at the

Wandering Workentins

stationary home!!!

Thank you Jesus for helping us to build

our home on solid rock, with your love

and for encouraging me each and every day.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

God's Blessings & Wise Words

First off,

Spent some time with the Lord this morning before the rush of the day.

He is so Faithful to me and I am so Thankful to Him.

Yesterday we were blessed by one of the couples here in the campground

with a

along with corn-on-the-cob and hush puppies dinner!!!

God is Faithful and provides for us. Dinner was delicious and a special treat as we had been busy in the office and painting in the apartment.

This morning, my scripture came from

and

Immediately my thoughts went to where my life was in the late 80's and 90's when I struggled with such bitterness, anger and hurt done to me by my parents and step-father.

And the lingering pain today that my sister, Joanie chooses not to have anything to do with me or my family. I have tried so hard to find out why she hates me so...but since she won't talk to me, it's kind of hard to find out. The last time I spoke with her was in Laughlin, NV when I saw her when our older sister, Kathy had passed away. I said hello and she said hi. When Ron and I were leaving I said Good-bye and she would not even look at me. Thinking about this makes my heart cry.

The truth of the abuse that was put on me as a child, teenager and even a young adult along with the hatred and hurt feelings that I felt towards my parents and confessing all that hurt to God has definitely set me free. And healed my heart from so much.

I am so thankful for a God who loves me through the thick and thin, who surrounded with me with a wonderful and caring pastor, a good ARNP who knew what combination of medication would get me through the hump of major depression, suicidal thoughts and anger bursting from the seams, along with a friend/counselor who sat with me for many hours, praying and crying with me, just listening and praying some more...who let me yell, cry and scream but most of all loved me through some horrible pain, and the best hubby any girl could ask for, who got way more trouble than he bargained for, two sons who love me and forgave me for the not so nice parenting I put on them at times, and for special friends who stood by me, encouraged me, told me never to hang up the phone on them ever again ~ and I haven't :)

I am so very thankful for the love, forgiveness, care and support...there are not enough words to express my thoughts but there is still some pain when I think of my sister...our parents and grandparents are all gone, our older sister is no longer here either (taken from us at age 54...too young to die) and yet my heart craves for a relationship of friendship with my younger sister. I know she reads my blog, so once again I am reaching out...please tell me what I have done to hurt you so bad, please let's heal this relationship before it is too late, and even if not for me for our sweet niece...we are her family and she needs us both.

I love you Joanie!!! Life is too short to let hurts from over 20, 30, 40 years ago keep us apart.

You know how to get a hold of me...as they say...the ball is in your court and it is time for you to take a shot. You have 2 beautiful nephews, with sweet loving wives and 5 beautiful and sweet great nieces and nephews who would love to be a part of your life and you a part of theirs.