SEATTLE'S GOOD AND CHALLENGING

    While on a ferry, this is one of my favorite views of Seattle.  So excited to see the sky scrapers and the Space Needle.  The Space Needle was built in 1962; I arrived in Seattle in Mar, 1964, and walked to and from that area and went up the Needle.  I was 18 the first time.

 

The ferris wheel is new, and draws a lot of attention on the waterfront.  I don't have the courage to go on it.  But looks like fun.

   On Monday, July 8th, we went over from Bremerton and had a great ferry ride.

   Then we went to Space Needle.  The "we" was my daughter, my granddaughters, and me.  The boys had stayed in Bremerton for a couple hours to go to the Navy museum, etc.  They arrived on the waterfront later.

   The problem of the day, in spite of lots of rejoicing, was me.  I was in significant pain of my abdominal area.  I would have to bend over, even when walking.  I could hardly breathe, because of the pain.  So, instead of staying in Seattle for another couple hours and playing, we had to hit the ferry again and head for Tacoma.

   I've been told that we will go to Seattle again next week.  Later that night, in Vancouver, WA, area, I ended up in ER about 11:30.  Was released about 2:30.  Had a signficant bladder infection.  Now, through a variety of pills, etc., I am coming to a place of healing.

   All that to say... it was a blessing to be in Seattle, a blessing to be with my family, a blessing to have non-cloudy times from the Space Needle and able to see Mt.Rainier and some of the Olympic Mts.

 

HOW COULD I COMPLAIN ANY TIME?  OR WHINE???  UH-UH!!!  LOVE IT SO MUCH!

 

WILL SEE IT NEXT WEEK... AND REJOICE!

 [The computer stuff I'm using/doing ain't easy.  I'd love to show more, do more, but can't until I'm home in a couple more weeks and have access to my own computer aspect and photos, etc.  Please put up with me!]

MIRACLE # 5 -- A & B -- STEVE

FYI -- these occurred nearly spontaneously.
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 Miracle “A” --

My son, Steve, began his life miraculously prior to and during his birth.  I was the miracle-forcing person, then, fighting the “authorities”, but truly scared beyond belief.  However, it’s certainly not the same as this next God-giving story.

We lived in Redwood City, California.  Through our Heavenly Father’s intervention, [very serious stuff going on], I left my husband, my kids’ dad.  Renae was 4 years old and Steve was 16 months.  A financial gift, from a Christian sister in our neighborhood, paid for the airplane tickets.  On May 24, 1974, we flew to Omaha to stay with Susie and her family.  We had been invited a few weeks earlier; she had felt the Lord tap her to write me.  I had no idea, when that wonderful letter had arrived, that this would come to pass, if for no other reason than absolute poverty.

Steve had very serious allergies -- all wheat and dairy products.  I could hardly afford ordinary food, let alone specialties necessary for his health.  When arriving here, Susie and her husband blessed us by purchasing what Steve needed and avoiding what he didn’t.

He was better, but not perfect.  Scrawny and skinny.  Cried nearly every night and did not sleep well.  Had never slept well, which made it tough for his mom, believe me.

In August, Susie was visiting her family in Minnesota.  Her husband and I were at home.  One morning, the phone rang.  A friend from church was heading downtown to attend a worship and prayer convention.  She told me she would be in our area in about 20 minutes and if I wanted to go and could be ready by then, she would pick me up.

I DID want to go, believe me.  A teen from down the street agreed to watch my kids and Susie's son.  I grabbed a can of soup out of the cupboard and set it aside for lunch.  Left with a carload of ladies.

After a long time of worshipful music, praising and praying, the morning speaker stepped forward.  Before his preaching began, he said this would be the prayer time for healing.  He told us offering  plates would be passed and we could put in notes re: physical needs. 

While he was giving instruction, suddenly I panicked.   I remembered the soup can I had grabbed without reading the ingredients ... it was vegetable alphabet soup.  The alphabet portion was wheat. 

During my agitation,  trying to figure out what I should do, the Lord spoke to me so clearly.  He said, “Put a note in the plate so they will pray.”

I grabbed a pencil and quickly wrote blunt info.  Basically: boy, 19 mos., allergic to wheat and dairy.   When finishing, I was able to toss it in right on time.

When the piles of notes were delivered to the front of the convention center, the speaker stacked them up and laid hands on them and prayed.  When he finished, I knew Steve was healed.  My heart was totally assured. 


By the time I reached home he had, of course, eaten soup.  Almost immediately, I gave him ice cream.  In the next couple days he had macaroni and cheese, which became one of his favorite foods, and French toast and pancakes and, and, and....

He had absolutely no negative reactions.  And it was wonderful, of course...

... until I panicked again. I thought, “It could still hit him.  He might be vomiting and screaming at night and it will be my fault.”

Do you know God is BIGGER?    My knee-jerk reaction was a “mom” thing.  And the Lord didn’t change this to slap my hand for not trusting Him entirely.  He’s most certainly very kind!

Steve continued to eat and eat some more.   In a few days, he started sleeping, not crying, his stomach pain reduced significantly, and his skinniness was swept away.

I rejoiced ... AGAIN!!!  

How is Steve today?  Well, at 39 he eats what he wants, when he wants it.

As one song says: “God is GOOD all the time.”  Yep, I agree!

NOW -- Miracle “B” --

In August, shortly before the convention, because of his eating dilemma, he was diagnosed with iron deficiency.  They would begin the medication in September. 

A couple weeks after the allergy healing,  he was given another blood test.  Suddenly, the nurse came out, stunned.  She asked what had happened?  I asked what she meant.  She said his iron level had increased well into the normal range and it couldn’t possibly have occurred so quickly.  So, again, she asked, “What happened?!”   I told her that he had been prayed for about his allergies.  I had no idea that not only his eating sources changed, but also his blood iron level.  Hadn’t even thought of it.

But, I rejoiced ... AGAIN!!! [As did Susie’s family,  our church, and many others.]  This time because it was not only a total surprise, and not even slightly anticipated, but, medically speaking, an even more important healing.

The word “HALLELUJAH!!” truly means a lot to me!!!