A LONG-TIME FRIEND!!!

[I'm sorry that I didn't write very well, but I tried.  I'll try another month or two just to share re: how the Lord has been so special to and for me.  That's a miracle!!]  
 ===================================================
    Way back in Redwood City, CA, area, I was down from Tacoma, WA, with my former husband who had been born and raised in that direction, and about 4 months after we were married he suddenly took me down.   I was 23 to 28 years old down there.
      I had a friend, through church in Redwood City, Denise, who, for about several months, was babysitting my daughter and son

Her sons and my kids and their dad and me.

way back then, especially when I was working.  Renae was 4-1/2 years old and Steve was 16 months old when I was sent out of that place.  Suddenly,   through an amazing way, she was given a gift of about $600.  When I came for my kids, Monday, May 19th when I was off work, and she asked where I wanted to go sometime. I told her that I wanted to go to Omaha to see a long-time friend.  My friend, Susan, and I hadn't been together for several years, and had been friends at high school in Klickitat, WA.  I hadn't been told about her $600 gift right then, and, when I indicated where I'd like to go, and it would be nearly $200 on the plane for me and my kids, Denise said she'd give ME $300.  WOW!!   Because of Denise's gift of money, I and my kids were on the airplane to Omaha, May 24, '74. Thought I'd be in Omaha for about a couple months and then back to Redwood City.  Renae was going to be in school for the first time and that's what I anticipated.  Well, he indicated through a letter and a phone only a couple months later, that I could not come back.  He did not want to know or see me any more.  WELL, about 1-1/2 years later, a pastor had called me about his spiritual situation, and that husband talked to me and drove out a few weeks later.  He arrived December 5, '75.  Denise had seen him several times for a couple years before I left and about a year when I had left.
      I've lived in Omaha most of the time for 42 years.  I've been in Oklahoma for a couple years, when my former husband had gone down there in '82 to be a roof fixer and he was wonderful at that. Well, we ended up divorced in Oklahoma in Sept., '84, and I was back up in Omaha with my kids, in early September, able to be with lots of friends in that town, and special schools for my kids that they've loved being there.  Suddenly, and surprisingly, I had been married in September, '85. Now it's been 30 years... in September it will be our 31st anniversary ...  and he's been a wonderful person for me and my kids.  My kids and grandkids LOVE him!!
       OK!  This is the amazing situation.  I've always thought about Denise and wondered how to get together.  I was not back living in those western states.  I've driven out or been flown out to see my sisters and friends for about 38 years.            

Renae and Denise at our house

      THEN, Denise was here July 12th.  My husband and I picked her up at the airport and had wonderful time.  We've never known or seen each other in those 42 years.  The amazing piece that it occurred was through Facebook, b/c she connected somehow with me a couple months ago.  She decided to come to Omaha to be with me and to meet my kids.   She got to see Renae and Steve.  [BTW, my husband was a real blessing to and for her, too.] 
      She was here for a week and went back on Tuesday the 19th.  We put her at the airport and gave her lots of hugs!!
     

      Anyhow, it was a blessing to have her here.  She's about a year younger than me.  I'm 71 and she's 70.  
     Now I just wanted to tell how wonderful it has been.

FULL OF JOY! REJOICE!!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4

MY FRIEND, LISA, WHO LIVES HERE IN THE OMAHA AREA, 

HAD BEEN DOING SOME NURSING IN THE

TACOMA AREA.  SINCE I WAS RAISED

IN THAT AREA AS A KID,

AND HAVE SISTERS AND FRIENDS AND

NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND

LOTS OF OTHERS OUT THERE,

I TOOK A PLANE OUT SO

I COULD SPEND HER LAST FEW DAYS THERE WITH HER.

I WANTED TO SHOW HER AROUND 

THE PARKS AND THE PUGET SOUND AREA AND MY FAVORITE DINNER PLACE.  AND MY FAVORITE COUSINS,

MY SISTER AND FRIENDS.

WHAT A WONDERFUL TREAT TO SPEND THOSE 

DAYS LAST AUGUST TO SHOW LISA AROUND.

MY SISTER, BETTY, TOOK THE PICTURE.

 LISA GAVE BETTY, AND

MY COUSIN SHARON,

ALL THE STUFF LEFT FROM HER

LIVING PLACE WHEN SHE WAS HEADING 

TO SEA-TAC GET TO OMAHA. 

HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF FOOD AND MANY OTHER PIECES

WERE SPREAD AROUND AND SHARED.  

IT TRULY WAS A BLESSING.

SO, WHEN THERE, WE WERE FILLED WITH

THE JOY OF THE LORD

AND WE WERE REJOICING,

TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY.

SHE'S BEEN A TREAT TO ME HERE IN OMAHA

AND THEN A TREAT IN TACOMA.

I STAYED ANOTHER 3 DAYS AFTER LISA LEFT

WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS BEFORE HEADING HOME.

MISS IT ALL SO VERY MUCH!!

AND SUDDENLY I GAINED A "GRANDSON".

WE'VE BEEN TALKING OCCASIONALLY.

WANT TO SEE HIM AGAIN WHEN I'M OUT THERE

AND I WANT HIM TO MEET MY HUSBAND, 

HIS "GRANDPA".

HE DELIGHTS IN YOU...

PATTI HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR SO MANY 

IN SO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.

SHE'S BEEN A BLESSING TO ME,

AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.

MISS HER MUCH, VERY MUCH.

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ISAIAH 54... THE BIG TENTS

 

OUTSIDE VIEW; 2 INSIDE

“Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,  do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.
³ For you will spread out to the right and to the left;...
   

OUTSIDE VIEW; FILLS HUNDREDS INSIDE

The Lord laid this on me many months ago to share with you.    And now I am.  It has been part of my life for many, many years.  Isaiah 54 is one of my most important chapters, and I have read it many, many times, and it is underlined nearly entirely.  

Here's the reason.  Now, you saw a small tent that is for a camping situation for my husband and I.  That is it.

THEN, when in Soroti, the car pulling up to the tent  that is shown above, so Jill and I could be introduced to them, and they would know we were coming a few times to interview regarding their abduction by the LRA [Lord's Resistance Army], and a rather bland outside photo was taken.  But walking in was pretty overwhelming.  HUNDREDS of kids were in there.  Here's one of those photos.

So, big tent.  This has been my life.

As a younger lady, I thought I'd have a pile of kids and raise them.  That was all I thought of.  Well, my body refused to have more than two.  I raised them.  And then I learned a little more of the Word connected to most of us.

Years ago, through teaching, writing plays and VBS, my world of kids expanded.  Then involved with those who had difficult issues in their own homes.  I've become a helper, a hugger.  

A son, daughter, granddaughter, but love many more, too.

Then, as my kids had grown up, the door to Uganda opened wide.  I now have children, grandchildren, sons, daughters, and dear adult friends in Uganda.  Needed a bigger tent.  Been spreading it around, adding the cords, strengthening the stakes.

TAMANG FAMILY

Three-and-a-half years ago, while walking up the street when the Lord told me to take the walk, He dropped in two people nearby.  I immediately discovered they were Bhutanese Christians, having been part of a local church nearby,  the fellowship hall is their own service.

I started with two. [Ram and Dawa]. Now, I have hundreds.  And they love me, think I'm special, precious.  Even if I'm cranky, they laugh and say, "Oh, Grandma, you are so funny."  If they don't speak English, they just chuckle and, sometimes, hug me if they see I seem stressed.  My husband is greatly loved by them, too.

So, our "tent" has expanded and expanded and expanded.  And the Lord has given piles of protection, piles of joy, piles of new loverly wonderful family.  We've been able to encourage, teach, and love.

If my/our tent expands and extends, that would be a good God thing.  My husband is a perfect tent fixer, too.  In a truly practical way.  He can rebuild, extend, fix, add very practically.  I am more of a grabber, runner, fixer-upper helper.  Dave is practical; I'm a knee-jerker.

Now, after all these months, I have finally posted what the Lord had been laying on me for so long.  Again, as I said, the whole chapter is filled with personal info re: my future in this world.  And, in preparation for my time in eternity, I hope I will see that even more of my tents were expanded through many family and friend situations during this past 47-1/2 years since I entered the Lord's "tent".

            HIS tents are GOOD!!!  Filled through GOD!!

JOYFUL THOUGHTS ABOUT HIM

MY LORD TRULY IS!

HIS GIFT TO ME OF GODLY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

ADDS TO MY JOYFULNESS... BIG TIME!

FIRST RESPONDERS -- ANDREA

 As many of you know, for the past 5 years I have been involved with a ministry called First Responders.  We go to murder sites.  I've been to at least 100.  Couldn't go all the time... sick, a family/schedule issue, out of town... but usually couldn't NOT go.  One of God-jobs.

Some of the FR meetings have been very heart breaking,

I had met the girl who was murdered last year.

aching.  Young kids killed connected to gangs, others killed connected to drug dealing, others murdered by drive-arounders who was fussing with each other and killed someone just because they were frustrated and this person happened to be on a sidewalk or street.  Yes, I was very heart broken at times.

Then this one happened last week.  Andrea was murdered Wednesday morning.  She left her job at a lounge after midnight, headed home to her husband and 3 kids.  Somehow, on the way home, was gunned down, thrown on the highway.  Her car was taken away, and dumped off several miles away, actually not far from my house.

On Thursday, we met out at the murder site, very much out of our normal area.  I immediately met her grandparents and a cousin who came from Kansas City.  Later, I met the other grandmother and Andrea's mom. 

I saw the mom holding the little ones and helping them put flowers at the site.  Many, MANY family and friends arrived.  Much heartbreaking.

I'm in purple.

Towards the end of our prayers with and for and over the people, laying hands on all of Andrea's dear ones as we asked them to stand in the central area so we could surround them.  THEN, several men laid hands on Andrea's husband, prayed for him.  

 THEN, 4 of us ladies laid hands on the Mom and a Grandmom who were to be given prayer shawls.  They had been dropped into my house the day before, and when this God-job hit us, I couldn't NOT take shawls in case someone would be there.  Even though they would be very hot, we knew that the peace and comfort that was inside the shawls would enter the lives of the ones who were buried in sorrow.  That a real blessing.

When I left, I was still filled with sorrow.  I still am.  I'm not a normal crier, but it's happening over and over again on my heart.

BTW, Andrea's mom attended my daughter's church.  The funeral was today and hundreds were there.  I wanted to be, but instead, stayed home.  BUT they were on my heart all day, and will be for a LONG time.  And, of course, we want the ones who killed her to be caught, or have their heart struck so hard by guilt and truth that they will turn themselves in.

Sharing my heart with you.  Thank you.  

 

STELLA, MY UGANDAN GRANDDAUGHTER

I was asking the Lord, when I was working out in the yard, what I could share.  This was dropped in.

Stella, my dear Ugandan granddaughter, was born July 12, 2001.  We miraculously received baby photos within about 3 weeks, because a pastor who was visiting their working/living place, New Hope Uganda, returned to Texas and mailed them to us.  What a treat.

We were also very happy for Sam and Adhe, our Ugandan son and daughter who married in September, 1999, -- and, of course, some would say daughter-in-law, but we can't pull that off.  Adhe is our daughter.  Period.  

When I arrived in Uganda, November 13, 2003, Sam and Adhe arrived at the Entebbe airport to take me to their place, and Stella greeted me very officially as "Grand Ma".  And she was a little one who was piled with flowers to give them to me.  What a treat.

Off and on, during that next 3 months, when I was back and forth from Soroti, I spent hours with them, although I stayed in another house, because they didn't have room for me.  It was a truly delightful time.






In the summer of 2008, they came here.  Partly to have time with a week-long conference that was kept in Indiana and that organization paid for their airfare and allowed them to land here.  I drove them out to the conference and back a week later.  That summer we were together for several weeks.

Dave and I have missed them terribly.  I have been so blessed to receive emails from Sam, Adhe, and Stella.  She's quite an amazing typist, and from what I've been told, very good with computer-issues.  Who'd a thunk that of a young Ugandan until this new world expanded so far.  Anyhow, she has her dad's skills.  (Dave started teaching him when we were in Uganda in '94/'95, when he was our son over there, and he learned quickly.)

When she turned 12 last month, I felt guilty that I hadn't contacted her.  I was so around-and-about in the Northwest and so on-and-off computers, and I couldn't grab emails since my laptop had died just as I was on the trip.  [When one of my blog "granddaughters", Elise, who is going to Uganda late this month for a 15-month serving term, I'll be sending gifts with her to reach out to my many dear ones.  I certainly want something that will please and bless Stella.  Elise is going to try to reach them during the first month.  YIPPEE!!  Wish I could be in the gift bag.]

This could be a Facebook story; but it's one of MY stories, too.  Love her and her family so very much, SO much!

Anyhow, couldn't not send this out and about. 

 

TACOMA ON MY HEART

MT. RAINIER AND PUGET SOUND, POINT DEFIANCE, TACOMA

Since my arrival from the northern Oregon "sisters" location, I have been hanging out at Point Defiance.  Driving through it, walking on the beach, taking a "million" photos of Mt. Rainier ... much more extremely clear now, but I can't download them until I'm home with a computer, so you're stuck with one from a couple years ago.  Anyhow, watching the waves, the islands, the mountains [both Olympic and Cascade ranges seen from the Tacoma area], the boats, the birds, and millions of flowers and trees. I'm overwhelmed with joy.

God has used me to meet and teach and touch a number of people.  I had no idea when or how it would come to pass.  It has been amazing. For instance, I met a lady at my favorite restaurant, Harbor Lights, yesterday.  As I was leaving from the small outside eating area, Terri and I said, basically, "Bless your day."  Well, I asked where she was from and she said Indianapolis.  I said I was from Omaha.  We talked about much, and when she said her son is a leader of a Teen Challenge, I began rejoicing. Shortly after I was saved, in 1967 the book by David Wilkerson, "The Cross and Switchblade", was dropped into my life and filled me with extreme desire to serve and fight for the Lord.  We talked for quite a while, and are going to be spiritual "forever friends".  I never could have imagined that was the reason the Lord had me stop there for dinner, when, as much as I like it, it ain't cheap.  It was more important to meet Terri than to be concerned about a few bucks.

That's one example.  There are others.  Can hardly wait to share those when I reach home in a couple weeks.

I miss reading so many of your posts... but rarely have time to do more than toss something on for you. When I get home, I'll spend a number of days of posting my things and reading yours.

God truly is using me... and I truly am tired and struggling physically and mentally.  Can I trust ME??? NO!!!  Can I trust HIM??? ABSOLUTELY!!!  HE is "IT"!

[Oh, and a long-time friend of mine with me today ... met when in 4th grade ...and, when sitting in her living room, she said very strongly that she thinks abortion and suicide -- as you are old and are ill -- is perfectly OK.  I can't change her mind and her heart, but, while driving her around and about, I told her more and more re: the Word and some of the Reality I know.  Hope Dorothy will eventually turn to the Lord thoroughly instead of just casually.  I truly hope so.  She and her mother always saw me as a poverty, poor, emotionally-ill kid ... they were, in their way of thinking, much better off than me.  Dorothy has a lot more respect for me now, but she also still somehow thinks I'm "less than".  I want the Lord to break through before she dies.  She's dealing with cancer and other issues now--she's been smoking since her teens and will be 68 this Fall.  Believe me, her house is filled with the nicotine stains on the walls and the odor is pretty overwhelming..  So I'm  tossing her on your hearts.  Can trust you more than I can trust me.]                                                    

MARY MAGDALENE -- SCENE 6

 When the sun was setting, fire dimming, and the men dispersing to do their final night chores, Jesus sought a secluded place to pray...to touch his Father while away from the constant pressure of the people He was called to serve.  He sat in the grass and leaned back against the trunk of a tree.  It wasn't altogether comfortable, but it reminded him of the oneness between creation and God, and, in his exhaustion, he needed a firm reminder of that over-flowing unity.

As he gazed into the heavens, centering himself in the love of God, he heard footsteps.  Turning his head, he saw James approaching.  Love warmed his heart for this older brother of John, this man of tempestuous nature, yet possessing a great capacity for compassion and sympathy.  "One of Father's unique achievements," he chuckled inwardly.  Aloud he said, "James, what brings you here?

"Master," said James, digging at the ground with a sandaled foot, "I need to ask you about Mary."

"What is it?"  Jesus asked gently.

"Well,"... he paused, probing for just the right words.  "People are talking.  They are laughing behind your back, saying that you love Mary, and..." His voice trailed off and he shrugged in helplessness.

"But, James, I DO love her.  Mary is a wonderful, gentle, beautiful woman.  She radiates the love of Father, and it is a pleasure to be with her."

As he watched the shock on James' face, he smiled and continued, "But I love you, too.  And Andrew.  And Thaddeus.  And Joanna.  And John.  Each of you. All of you.”
 
James continued to look a bit surprised, but he seemed less worried.

"James, you must remember, most men have no understanding of the heart of my Father that impels Him, to enjoy what He has created.  He does not see that friendships and caring, such as the ones I have, are sordid or sinful or inappropriate.”

He smiled.  "There is nothing inappropriate about my love for you or your brother.  We are brothers.  We are family.  Most people can not understand that.  We do not share a common blood line.  But our holy spirits communicating and focused on serving my Father make us one."

He looked intensely into James’ eyes.  "And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, inappropriate about my love for Mary.  Mary is my sister, my friend, my child.  If my mission was human in origin, that relationship might be different.  But that is not the case.  My mission is for, and to, all men, women, and children. Nothing must stand in the way of what the Father wants me to do.”

Jesus shifted a bit.  Glanced at the sky for a moment.

"James,  when ugly rumors and misstatements are made, who is the author of that ugliness?  Certainly not my Father.  And if not my Father, then whom?"

James answered quickly.  "Satan, the father of lies."

"That's right, James.  If he can discredit or manipulate or create dissension, he will.  Remember the story of the sheep and the shepherd.  How did I describe Satan to you?"

"You said he was a thief and a murderer and that he came to steal, kill and destroy."

"Right again, James.  Now, think.  Does that only mean in the physical realm?  What if part of Satan's scheme is to steal peace, joy, respect, courage?   To kill reputations, and feelings of self-worth?  And what if he came to destroy – not simply the body -- but loving relationships among families and friends?

"People misunderstand because they want to misunderstand.  They enjoy painting pictures of unrighteousness, because it mirrors the unrighteousness of their hearts and helps them deaden the pangs of conscience.”

Jesus nodded firmly at James.  "So, yes, I love Mary.  But I love my Father and my mission first."

James broke into a broad grin.  "I feel better.  I guess I've learned something in spite of myself."

It was a good self assessment, and Jesus smiled back, remembering again James' usual reticence at learning.  Jesus was pleased to see James growing in his understanding through the growth of his own heart and spirit.
 
And, James nodded at Jesus, with a worshipful heart, and, after waving a joyful goodbye, was gone.
 
Jesus turned his gaze and heart heavenward, laughed, spread his hands outward in a gesture of openness and affection, and spoke.
 
"Oh, my Father...Thank you.  Thank you for these Little Ones." 

MELTING ROCK

Having shared before, many of you know my "rocky" history. I struggled with life, but now am rejoicing for the strength that my Rock placed in me. And, thinking of others, I'm always trusting that He would eventually be accepted for His kindness.  It usually occurs, just as I thought it would.  But this story will be all out of the norm.  Nothing I ever would have anticipated, for instance, from Maya's mouth.

A Bhutanese "grandma" arrived from Nepal on July 1st, 2010.  The following weekend, the 4th of July, two months after I became involved with the Bhutanese, I was asked to take her to an ER.  I did.  I took her, her 2 youngest sons [early 20s] who had arrived with her, and her grandson, Kharka, their age, who had been here for about a year and was to be our interpreter.  We ended up hanging out there for 5 hours.

When the Dr. was examining her, and the boys stepped out of the room, she covered her face with her shawl, and held my hand.  She was released with no serious effects and I returned them to the family group.

Grandma Maya seems to truly enjoy and love me -- and Dave.  But, overall, she is one very, VERY angry woman.  The reason?  She is a very deeply intense Hindu.  More and more of her kids and grandkids have come to the Lord.  Some want to, according to what I've been told, but because she is so angry and threatening suicide if more become Christians, they are afraid to break from Hinduism. 

I am asked sometimes to go see her at her apartment complex, a couple miles from our house, so her heart might change.  However, it has seldom been possible for me.  The apartments over there are flooded with roaches and bedbugs, and many residents [a variety of international refugees] are heavily involved in alcohol and drugs and theft.  I've gone over for crisis or serious situations, but I can't go over for a simply "fun" time.  I see the roaches falling off the walls and landing on hair, or hitting the table dishes or food and that makes me jump and run.  [Maybe could be less reactive when these things happen, but... EHH!!  Don't think so.]

In July, 2011, her grandson Kharka, who had come to the Lord a few months earlier, was marrying his dear lady who, immediately after arriving, had also become a Christian.  When I was waiting outside Kharka's family home to take a few to the nearby church, Grandma, on their porch, was on a phone, crying.  I was told by one of her grandkids that she was talking to a Hindu family member in Nepal.  She dreaded going to the Christian wedding.  It was a very tough day for her.

One of her granddaughters married the end of May, 2012, to one special man who had been helping the families for a couple years -- Charles and I met almost immediately as we both entered their world in May, '10. I was thrilled that he was marrying my "granddaughter", Sanu.  Grandma Maya seemed to do a little better at that Assembly of God wedding.

Not long ago, while talking to another of her family members, I learned something.  Previously, I had thought Maya was turning to the Lord, stopping the constant battles.  I was wrong.

This is what Maya said regarding her strength in Hinduism:

               A rock can melt; my heart will not.

So, my heart is seeking that her heart WILL melt, that it will soften, that it will recognize the call of our Lord.

                            That is my desire.

G-GIRL BAPTISMS... AMEN!!!

What a blessed morning we had.  Reached Stonebridge Church here in Omaha right before 11:30 and, when walking in, saw my daughter, my grandkids [the girls and others], the girls' friends and some of our family friends arriving.  A pile of neat people.

The baptism began just a few minutes after the service started.  One worship song, announcement time, and then the baptism occurred during worship song #2.  It was wonderful.  Six girls, three of ours, one from another family, and two from another, and all baptized by family or friends.  WOW!  Never seen it quite that flexible.

However, here're the photos.  The Twins, Makayla and Miranda, are 15; Juliana is 10.   [The photos are not good enough, because the action went faster than my camera. "Beautifulness" doesn't count; the watery event DOES.]

Dave and I and all the church attenders ... a few hundred ... rejoiced, clapping, and hollering happily, and glorifying the Lord.

Did I pray publicly?  Of course not!  Did I pray in my heart?  Yes.  Several times. -- This morning before our attendance, during our time there, and after heading home.  And this is what, basically, is my prayer for them:

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I lift up to you 3 of my dear ones.  And I thank you that their hearts are turning more and more in Your direction.

I ask you, Father, to show them what the spiritual gifts of their lives are, that they will come to understand the joyfulness of serving you.

Bless their parents, their step-parents, and family friends, such as Dick, who baptized them, and others who are being placed in their lives to help them grow stronger

 and more solidly in You.

Finally, Dear Lord, now and forever,

 I bless You for Your presence 

in their lives.  

Amen.

GOLDEN DAY IN GOLDENDALE, WA.

What a blessed day it was.  You see, back in 1960 I became friends with Delberta shortly after we moved to Klickitat.

Berta is a couple years younger than I am.  Our parents were friends, too, so I saw her and her family often.

One of the biggest blessings for me in Delberta was her skill in fixing hair.  I WASN'T good at it [still not].  When there was a special event coming up, I would go down the street to her house and she could take a time to curl my straight, straight hair.  What a treat!

I left Klickitat the day after I graduated in May, 1963.  Rarely saw any friends there ever again.  Except Susie.  [And now others who have been dropped back into my life after all these years, which I'll post about soon.]

Through Facebook, Berta and I became "friends" about 3 years ago.  What a blessing to "see" her again and share news and notes.  Even though I had driven out to the northwest a couple times since that FB contact, and was in her general area and we hoped to connect, it wasn't possible . With my timing, she'd always gone somewhere to be with kids or grandkids or great-grandkids.  [BUT I was important enough to be put first, doncha think?]

THEN this time, we arranged a visit.  I could go to Goldendale, WA, which is about 20 miles up from the Columbia River.  

She said I could bring a sister to spend the night.  So,  I took Niki with me.

We had a glorious visiting, sharing time. 

As sad as it is, Berta's husband died of cancer last February.  Of course, we talked about that heart-breaking event, and she always smiled while tearful.  We were able to touch hands and hug, holding hearts.

A guitar was in the living room.  That blessed Niki.  She played it, one of her favorite things to do.  Berta sings beautifully, as does Nik ... and the 3 of us sang hymns and worshiped and shared until about 1 AM.

[And why did I choose this post color, although it doesn't fit in perfectly?  Her living room drapes and lovely vase and flowers.  Couldn't not smile when I saw this.]

 
 Had a lovely night and long blessed morning. Then her mom took this photos before we hit the road.

We reached Niki's house later that Tuesday afternoon, both of us filled with blessing.  One wonderful part is that, in spite of the fact that they had never truly known each other before, Niki and Berta hope to stay in contact, and share music, and be friends.

And, nearly 50 years later, Berta and I have again become good and dear friends.  A true God-blessing.  I couldn't be much happier.