You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.


Eleanor Roosevelt

A Poem

For every hill I had to climb,

For every stone that bruised my feet,

For all the blood and

sweat and grime,

For blinding storms and

burning heat,

My heart sings but a grateful song-

Those were the things

that made me strong.

For all the heartaches and the tears,

For all the anguish and the pain.

For the gloomy days and fruitless years

And for the hopes that lived in vain;

I do give thanks, for now I know,

These were the things

that helped me grow.

'Tis not the softer things of life

Which stimulate our will to strive,

But bleak adversity and strife

Do most to keep our will alive.

Over rose-strewn paths

the weaklings creep,

But brave hearts dare

to climb the steep.

-Author Unknown

Courage

Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 King James Version 1611


Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Cult Help and Information - Leadership in the church

Cult Help and Information - Leadership in the church

PKD Update

Yesterday was my nephrology appointment. Not an encouraging visit.
My blood pressure was way to high for safety. More than likely a result of the pain I have been in for the past two weeks. I have some imaging exams scheduled for Monday.

I got script for pain medication and hopefully that along with my regular blood pressure meds will control the high blood pressure for a while. It seems like a vicious cycle; PKD=high blood pressure, high blood pressure=decreased kidney function; PKD= pain from cysts, pain=high blood pressure.....get the picture?

Still praying for a cure...........................

Updates

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted. My blog has definately been neglected. Alot has been happening and has kept me busy.

My Granny is still in ICU and will be fine one day and on deaths door the next. The doctors are still not sure what exactly is wrong:( I have confindence that she knows the Savior.

My surgeory is scheduled for March 30th. Looks like they will be able to get all the cancer with the surgeory and will hopefully need no further treatments. I will be totally bed ridden for 3 weeks. Can not put any pressure at all on my foot. The surgeory itself will take about 4 hours.

As for the exciting news.....if you remember a while back I mentioned big changes. It is now official our oldest son has started a courtship relationship with a very special young lady. I pray the best for them both. She comes from a nice Christian family. He spent several days with her and her family and it sounds like everyone had a great time. Jaime also started his new job today.

Thanks for stopping by for the latest see ya soon.

Another Winner!

Nicholas' second winning photograph.
Published this month in Image Magazine.
Taken on the bridge overlooking Dow Chemical.

Victoria

My girl:)

Scenery

Happy New Year

2010 Bring it on!!!!!

2009 brought some tremendously good changes to our lives and we are soo excited to see what happens this next year.

Nicholas left for Winter Camp @ 7 this morning. (Pineywoods Baptist Camp) He will be home on Saturday afternoon. We will be ringing in the new year at our Pastor's home with a group of dear friends.

This past year started off like soo many before it; gloomy, suppressed, and almost hopeless. Ever been stuck in a rut? That is how it felt. But...I should have known better just when we were on the brink the Lord led us away from our oppressors.

How, you might ask, can you love people who treated you so terribly. At some point early on, 13 years ago they loved us too. After all, they presented us with the gospel. But somewhere, through time, that love was overtaken by pride. The devil is strong and in this case he won (with them). Ultimately God always wins.

Was is painful? Yes, very.
Was it worth it? God knew His plans. He knows why we were used and manipulated. It is/was all in His plan for us.

I still love the people from our old church and pray that one day they will realize where they are wrong. I am thankful for the firm truths that I learned under that ministry but am now having to start back at square one to discern what is scripture and what was laws/rules instituted by a man.

Wow what a difference a year can make.

So let's get on with it! The devil will not win in my 2010!!!

Christmas was wonderful!!!!

Thursday was tamale day. With the help of lots of friends we made about 30 dozen or so.
We had a beautiful candlelight service at church Thursday night then came back to our house and played Guesstures. Had a BLAST. It was so wonderful to have the complete Cornelio family in our home. It has been many years since they have all been here at the same time.
We stayed up WAY to late. But...the memories are well worth the sacrifice:)

We had Christmas at our house early in the morning on Christmas day and then had Christmas in Bay City later that afternoon. The guys and a group of men/boys are headed to the field to play football. After football it will be airsoft/x-box out in Jones Creek, then a group of us (Cornelio, Sanchez, Solis, Rheams, Wilson, ???) are going to Pastor's home for a gathering to honor Michael and Walter:) Nick is going to the theater later with the Cabrera's to see Sherlock Holmes. Jaime saw it last night with Rachel and they said it was good.

Ok, at least I can say that I posted:)

PKD

Nick had his kidney check up yesterday. Just as we thought the doctor said his blood pressure is still not under control so his medication was raised again. All else looks well.

"The Messiah"

^My God Blessed Family^

^Me and my Best Friend^

^Victoria, Me, Lois (my all weather friend),
Alexandrea, and Alta^

^ 3 of the most special girls God ever created^

Anniversary

17 years ago we vowed to love each other come what may.
Lots have come: heartaches, sorrows, births (5), deaths,
joy, and unexpalainable happiness.
We are committed to one another, but have
both chosen to put God first in our lives.
Thus the blessings untold.

Updates

All is great around here with the PKD status. Nicholas sees his Nephrologist on the 21st. We ask that you keep his blood pressure in your prayers.

As for myself......I have not felt this good in many years.
My doctors say all of my good health news is profoundly based on the fact that stressors have been removed. Stress can really make your body sick.

Recommendation: Remove all stressors possible. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

This children will be singing at Clute's Christmas In The Park tonight. This Sunday is their Christmas play at church. Next Tuesday is 'The Messiah" at the Clarion. I had never even heard of Handel's Messiah until now. We have practised hard and pray to bless all those who attend.

More updates to come.......I am seeing BIG changes in our future:)

Holiday on the Brazos with friends.

This is the kind of thing Isaiah does while we are not looking!!!

Friends