Author: Corgi Hollows

Remember that old song?

My music was limited to bus rides and church back in those days. Of course I played/practiced my instruments diligently. Very often an old song will come to mind as I piece together the thoughts I’m supposed to be having.

I’m well. I got to go to church yesterday and in the afternoon I had coffee with a very good friend. A very good day.

I am healing. I still get twinges of pain, but I think I feel really good overall. I’m still attempting to limit myself with lifting more than 15 lbs. It’s hard. That is the hardest thing for me. There are always things to be lifted around the house.

I am so grateful for the help I received this past week from two different church families. My yard work was done, and I got a load of wood for the fireplace. I’m so blessed.

Two special ladies prayed for me at church. I am always so moved when someone just says “Let me pray with you!”

It is healing.

When trouble comes I look for the supernatural signs that God is still in the picture.

I know He is, but I just need that extra reassurance to boost my resolve and my faith.

Yes, I am weak. If only I had faith the size of a mustard seed.

God is so gracious. He gave me a marvelous sign. As you know I am not earning any income right now. Living on savings….

(Thankful for medical insurance!)

But I had committed to paying my tithe every month. I was going to just pay that fixed amount out of my savings this month.

A friend that I haven’t kept up with enough over the years sent me an encouraging card with a check for the EXACT amount of my monthly tithe. I’m going to write to her and tell her that she is the biggest ENCOURAGER !! What a splendid, supernatural act! God used her to encourage me in the most wonderful way! My tithe is covered!

All of my needs ARE COVERED!

God WILL provide all your needs! I haven’t had to tap into social security nor retirement yet. God is SO GOOD.

I do hope to get back to subbing in January, maybe in mid December, even. Back in the saddle.

I just wanted to share this lovely gift from God.

Come soon, Lord Jesus! MARANATHA!

Here is a brief summary of what Corgi has been going through these past two months.

Yesterday was the 12th of November. On the 12th of September I had severe pain in my abdomen.

I had a tumor.

The tumor was benign, removed on October 28th. Also removed were ALL unnecessary organs in that part of my body.

In one of those organs I had thyroid cancer. Only 13mm of it, but still, cancer.

Yesterday I visited an endocrinologist. My thyroid is actually working, according to blood work. I used to be on levothyroxin for hypothyroid syndrome. I weaned myself off that medication several years ago.

The type of diagnosis that I have currently is extremely rare.

I will have my thyroid screened tomorrow, to see if there are nodules on it. If so, there will be discussion about the next step. Actually the specialists are in discussion right now, anyway. Rare cases require discussion.

I have been blessed, and I am thankful for:

Timely treatment appointments

A dear friend who has literally walked me through this, she’s got the notebook and she’s asking the questions!

Wonderful and supportive, praying friends and family who encourage me

I feel GREAT after the tumor is out of me (It was 13cm, so I was feeling it!)

All malignant cells were removed from my abdomen

I was happy with the specialist who saw me yesterday

I really liked the surgeon and the provider who treated me

I can drive (a bit) again

I am in a six week recovery period, but I still feel somewhat productive

God is providing, (but I get anxious with all these bills and no income)

I hope to be back substitute teaching a LOT in January

I am blessed with a beautiful autumn, the regular company of my two youngest children

The anticipation of holding my grandson, born in September, more

Did you see the northern lights? We did.

Thanks for praying for me! I don’t know what the future holds, but I know WHO holds the future.

MARANATHA!!!

Another pathological report came through yesterday. I should have held off on the reports about the first one until the complete picture came through.

My surgery went great. Everything was cleanly removed.

The tumor was benign, but it contained thyroid tissue, which was an anomaly. There was thyroid cancer in one of the ovaries. (So Far).

This is unusual, and I will need to see an endocrinologist. The outlook is positive. I will know more after my post-op appointment, but there are still some big unanswered questions.

Life continues peacefully here at Corgi Hollows. I love having Ed working from here more often. Cherie is in and out.

My calligraphy class is the epitome of quiet healing.

If life could be this peaceful all the time it would be a joy, but I might get tired of the perpetual quiet.

For now it is perfect.

As I field another “crisis” in my life I am constantly wondering at the level of faith I have in my heart and spirit.

Spiritual discipline, the daily Bible reading and prayer, are my bread and water. The emotions are all over, worry and gratefulness spike and recede. I must turn to truths from Scripture to field the highs and lows.

God will take care of me.

That is the truth, and I will cling to it.

MARANATHA!

Colossians 3:8-9

But now ye also put off all of these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication from out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.

A post has been brewing in my mind these past weeks, the title above.

Judging people is something we all do in our minds and hearts. It’s what we do.

Judge not lest ye be judged. Jesus warns us that we need to check out our own standards before looking at others.

Lately I’ve seen some mean-spirited judgment among our fellow Christian brotherhood. Whether or not they are RIGHT is beside the point. People make mistakes. It is not our place to shout out judgment to the winds of our current society and its forms of communication.

Whether or not something is provocative is in the eye of the beholder. Gray areas are gray areas. I believe this pertains to people who are going through crisis more. Grief and trauma really mess up normalcy.

God is a God of grace and mercy. He is the supreme judge and He WILL judge. We are accountable to Him, and thankfully He is forgiving, even when we mess up in our trauma or profound grief.

Public figures have, of course, a higher standard to meet, but they are sinners and weak, compromised and trodden down as we all are.

Grace is certainly not a license to sin. I’m sad to see so many stoop to the lows of foul language. I want to shout,”Cut it out!”

I am sad to see people drop judgment on those that are suffering already. Cut it out!

I want to see people acting righteously and uprightly 100 percent of the time, but I know we are all sinners. We all mess up.

Keep your judgment to yourself. I need to cut it out….

I know that I messed up in my trauma and grief, without any intention of doing so. Sometimes it just happened. It may have looked bad to someone watching. It was completely random! I remember at least one specific situation. I still regret it, but it was completely random. I am thankful that I was the one who had the regrets and no one else seemed to witness my failure. I would have been judged.

It’s between me and the Lord. He knows the whole situation, all the angles, all the intent.

May we all be willing to discern right from wrong, watch for a fitting time to teach, refrain from public judgment, and forgive.

The Holy Spirit is a gentle teacher. He is far more gentle than most of us.

May Jesus come soon and save us from ourselves, save us from the judgment of those around us.

MARANATHA!

I had very successful surgery on Tuesday. A large tumor was removed from my abdomen with robotic laparoscopy.

Having had major surgery to remove my gall bladder over 30 years ago I can honestly say that there are major improvements in the medical field!

My recovery is nowhere near as difficult as it was then, despite the comprehensive total hysterectomy and tumor extraction being far more significant.

The big danger is to feel too able, and not give the prescribed six week recovery its due.

I am not symptomless: I feel dizzy, a bit nauseated, some pain, etc… Overall, I am doing just fine. Eating, walking, and general activity is just fine. I am not supposed to lift things, and I have been very sleepy. I should be relatively still. Quiet.

So I sleep.

I am grateful. God is good! It is so nice to have that mass out of me! I was uncomfortable and anxious. That’s over.

The pathology report is still to come. The tumor is not usually the type that is malignant, but the polyps the surgeon found might be suspect.

I admit that despite being overall GRATEFUL, I have struggled with feelings of anxiety and the blues. That’s sort of normal for me, and I assume that with all the stuff going on I am naturally a bit down.

I have really missed my husband during this time of sickness. He was always my “right hand” during medical stuff in the past. It was hard without him.

Ed did his best, and that was wonderful.

Ed and Cherie are both helping me now, so I am really blessed to have them. They are my team!

Anyway, I am still a bit foggy in my brain, (anesthesia!) and I am “lying low”—quietly—-for the near future.

I am probably sleeping if you try to get a hold of me and I don’t respond!

Thank you for praying!

The fish are locked under a thin sheet of ice in the urn this morning. I had assumed that there would be no frost for the time being, but it froze last night.

The new furnace is humming a coziness, but I still like to sit by my gas fire in the morning. These golden days before snow are fleeting, but they are some of the best of the year. I looked out at the hay fields this morning and they were glowing with white frost, lines of silver between the reds of trees and hedges of green.

It’s art.

Today Cherie (who does not have class on Fridays) and I will attempt to restore the library. I can’t lift after my surgery, for six weeks, so this weekend must be productive. I can’t lift much now, because of my growing cyst, but I can do some.

Order is important to productivity.

Having a clear surface to work is vital to the mind.

I love stuff, so my house is rather cluttered. Books are everywhere. Art supplies and yarn, sewing stuff, pet paraphernalia, all take up space.

Musical instruments and toys, games and puzzles, leftovers from decades of homeschooling; these things are hard for me to part with.

But I must be ruthless. Downsizing is normal at my age.

I have a collection of housekeeping books. They are fun to read, especially the one from the 1940’s. Oh how we have progressed! Still, principles of home management are pretty much the same.

Keep things clean and control clutter! Pay your bills in an orderly system. Watch your budget. These simple rules will order your entire life!

As a believer I add the disciplines of a faith walk: read your Bible and pray every morning. Go to church.

I repeat: GO TO CHURCH.

After Covid we all got into habits that go against Christ’s teaching. For some of us it seemed okay to tune in to the ubiquitous online services.

I’m not knocking these! It is a joy to watch a favorite preacher who lives in Hawaii, or California, or Ohio–and an old person or a sick person can feed on excellent spiritual teaching. Still, there is something missing when you don’t show up in person at church.

God commands it for a reason. We need to show up, to care for each other, to commune together.

A friend called to chat yesterday. She remarked that she sees a trend among young folk these days—staying single.

What an interesting trend. I see it too. Some say they are “called” to singleness, and the Apostle Paul would be approving. Some are waiting for the perfect person. Some are caught in their busy careers and their life choices for travel and entertainment.

Some are satisfied with a virtual life.

In a world of 8 billion people it really IS hard to find ONE that is right. The choices are statistically myriad, but the reality is that we are all pretty selfish beings and finding a special person to share life with is difficult.

There will never be a perfect person.

Virtual living ….I’m sorry, but there seems to be something demonic about it. I will just say it.

Career and amusements: one day your body will give out and you will be alone and helpless. You may plan for this, but the emptiness of having no family may be real.

I have had this on my mind as I’ve been medically sidelined from work these days. I need to get my health back so I can WORK!

I’m thinking that young people just don’t think long-term.

Get married! Have kids! Be a responsible citizen! Work hard!

Love someone, even if they don’t deserve it.

I told my friend that I felt sad for people who haven’t experienced one of life’s most wonderful relationships; marriage. It’s like they haven’t fully experienced life itself.

In a traditional world men pursued women as life partners. It’s hard to get out of that mold. Women tend to be passive in initiating relationships. There are always exceptions.

A word to men: you need to pursue, even if we are living in the 21st century. We women are still genetically programmed like Eve, (Adam’s significant other). Get off your computer and ask someone out!

I know several gorgeous young women who are single and fine. Very fine. Find them!

Girls, stop looking for that perfect guy. Marry that nerd. He’s not abusive, he makes a living, and he will probably be a good dad.

Start a family and serve God. Be faithful, to God and to each other.

A chord of three strands is not easily broken.

Brian and I had that printed on our wedding hand-out. Death broke that band for me, but I do not have any regrets for having had it for 30 years. I am grateful to God for my marriage.

I pray that you would find that bond too. It’s a very good thing.

God saw it was good.

MARANATHA!

I can only feel blessed to have “all the time in the world” to enjoy the colors of the season here around Corgi Hollows.

I am purposefully quiet, patient, waiting. I am not having friends over because I feel like I must entertain, (though I know they don’t want me to feel that way!) but I get a bit of a rise in emotions and blood pressure just knowing I SHOULD be hospitable.

So I am being quiet and alone.

I let the dogs out periodically, but they are little cozy companions mostly, all day.

I battle depression this time of year, so that is always an issue, but with the anticipation of surgery and becoming more well I have managed that pretty well.

I see God’s hand in everything.

I am so grateful to Him.

One more week until this procedure, and I am looking forward to a slow recovery afterwards.

Eight weeks without swimming is really too long, but I am doing okay.

I think God is really helping me.

In this world we will have trouble. God has overcome it.

With a thankful heart I say, come Lord Jesus!

MARANATHA!

{PS: The tile was laid in the basement signifying the end to my wet basement problems. I hope to have my children help me restore the library this weekend. Of the problems mentioned last week, your prayers are answered, and I am so glad. Margaret’s MIL is home from hospital, babies are doing well, things continue to hum along. I am managing pain, but I was warned, Supernaturally, last night, that I should be extra careful this week before surgery. I am heeding the warning. No activity. I am so grateful for my kids! Thank you, LORD!}

Dear friends, and I know there are several thousand of you friends that click on here, (including all the spam people) I ran into another trial.

They come in sets.

I had my surgery all scheduled with the new surgeon I’d found, whom I like.

I got a call yesterday that my insurance doesn’t cover the hospital where I’d have the surgery.

Rescheduling must occur. Different hospital.

As my condition worsens the time frame lengthens. Pain is real, even if it is still mild. Discomfort is really real.

What is God doing?

I hide when things don’t go well. I wonder why. What have I done?

I have these perfectly normal thoughts.

My mind assures me that all trouble is to be expected in this life. We live in a fallen world. I still get caught in that trap of seeing trouble as punishment from a sovereign God. What did I do to deserve this trial?

Of course we must examine our own behavior, confess and repent of sin, but that is not how God works. Theologically speaking, God is in control, we are sinners undeserving of any good.

God is merciful to us.

There are those days when I struggle with the hard stuff.

I wrote that last week, and there have been developments.

Corgi Hollows People need your prayers.

Margaret’s MIL is in the hospital. Margaret just had her second baby, so she is not in any shape to be of much help.

We are all very broken people right now.

I had another bad pain spell, ended up in bed for 24 hours.

I need to be extra quiet until surgery. I can’t be of much help.

It’s a confluence of bad events.

Cherie is busy with school, but Ed rose to the occasion and took the afternoon to help us out. My sweet niece is also helping us! I am so thankful for her!

Corgi Hollows People need your prayers. I thank you in advance! I thank you now.

God is our Helper, the one we can trust.

I do.

MARANATHA!

One kingdom is ruled by a benevolent monarch. He is perfect, just, and merciful. He is so great that he defines his subjects as perfect once they acknowledge his lordship.

The second kingdom is ruled by a cheater, a liar, an evil being. He promises to assuage the flesh, give control, and satisfy desire —-for the time being.

He will lose everything in the end. He was created for a different purpose, and he is also living proof of the first king’s mercy. He reigns for now, over a vast kingdom that we see as “the seed of Adam.”

We are the pawns in this conflict. We belong first to the evil being, born in sin, like the prophet said. Our nature follows evil naturally.

But the benevolent monarch wins. His mercy grants us the possibility to enjoy the beautiful kingdom forever.

There must be a transaction to gain entrance to this benevolent kingdom: being born again.

The spirit that once was dead becomes alive again. This is a spiritual transaction that only the king can initiate and perform. He signs the book.

Go to the benevolent king today. Now. Don’t wait.

The evil king is mighty, influential. He will do everything to keep you in his kingdom. The end is dismal and bleak, horrific and torturous. The satisfaction is temporal.

The benevolent king is coming to take his people to his kingdom soon. There he will prepare us for the final onslaught that defeats the evil kingdom.

This is not a fairy tale. This is truth.

Watchers see the signs of the next development in this battle.

Those who inhabit the far reaches of either kingdom may be surprised at the power centralized by the kings.

They live their lives in relative peace.

This will change, though! The kings have allowed their spiritual inactivity until now. Soon each king will claim his subjects.

The benevolent king rejoices in rewarding his people.

The evil king will show his true colors.

Those on the fringes of the kingdom will surely be surprised by their own king.

Choose this day whom you will serve! Be born again into the righteous kingdom. Make this transaction before it is too late. Have the perfect king write you into his book, his book of life.

Yes, the benevolent king created the beautiful kingdom now ruled by the evil king. He will recreate it again, fixing it, restart it.

Things will be placed back in order, as they should be, as any good story would end.

I am watching for this beautiful end.

Two kingdoms. No neutral territory. Are you in the benevolent one?

MARANATHA!

I have a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe that I’ve always loved. It’s simple. I added three things to it on Saturday and I can hardly stop eating them.

2 sticks butter, melted, 2 eggs beaten, a cup of white sugar, a cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 3 cups of flour, 1 package chocolate chips, 1 package milk chocolate stars, 1/3 cup Nutella (swirled in, not completely mixed), and 1 1/2 cups walnut halves.

Mix together. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. I use an ice cream baller/cookie baller to place on baking sheets, about 3 tablespoons dough per cookie.

Delicious warm, tasty cold.

Come for coffee.