Kathy's Notes

Monday, June 3, 2019

May Days

Granddaughters Graduate from 6th Grade

Izzy (in pink) and Maddy (in navy blue)

Beautiful Sunsets around 11 pm in early May

Celebrated Mother's Day a day early with Geoff, Nicole and Maddy at Food Factory, a favorite place of mine to get chicken strips (and popcorn shrimp).

Celebrated with Jami, Matt, Kaiden, Izzy and Dave on Mother's Day at our house with fine chinet plates and plastic cups. (Don't disown me cousin Mary.)

We missed Andrew who is working out of town.

The traditional basketball game on Mother's Day continues.....I only watch!

Maddy and Izzy Sun Bathing on Chena River

May is the time for flowers, green trees, hammocks and FLIP FLOPS

I've dealt with SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) for ten to fifteen years and after years of medication that didn't control it, I decided to go with an ablation.

(An SVT ablation is a procedure to create scar tissue within the heart in order to block abnormal electrical signals and restore a normal heart rhythm.)

Sunday (19th): We drove to Anchorage. The 350 mile drive was beautiful.

Mt. McKinley in the background.

It's hard to see in this photo, but believe me it's there.

Mountains in Anchorage

Beautiful blooming bushes

(some type of cherry blossoms??)

DQ Treat

(We don't have DQ in Fairbanks)

Monday (19th): First appointment with my Surgeon, Dr. Wu. (Earlier I had worn a heart monitor for about a week and was referred to Anchorage.)

After the morning appointment, we had a late lunch with the Graham's at Applebee's (mmm, oriental chicken salad).
Later that evening we met with the Garry's.
Good times, GOOD FRIENDS!

Tuesday (20th): My ablation was scheduled for 10:30 am, but it didn't happen until around 11:30 am.

While I waited I read a couple more chapters of "Love Does" by Bob Goff. An excellent book about living a life of love.
Patricia Graham arrived just as they were taking me back to surgery and I was able to see her and talk to her for a few minutes. It was so nice of her to wait with Dave. She brought him a Starbucks iced coffee. He tried it, but didn't like it. Pat didn't let it go to waste. :)
Surgery lasted just under two hours.
I was in recovery four hours before I was allowed to get up, and then I was released to leave. I walked out on my own....no pain, no pain meds. It's so amazing what can be done these days. (When I was born, 1946, my Mom was in the hospital for two weeks.)

After we got back to the hotel, Dave and I were hungry but didn't know what we wanted to eat other than I wanted mashed potatoes. We wound up at the Golden Corral, knowing they would have lots of choices. The mashed potatoes were delicious....among lots of other good choices.

Wednesday (21st): We headed back to Fairbanks, but made a stop at Krispy Kreme first.....and Arby's to take donuts and beef sandwiches home with us. (We have neither one of these places in Fairbanks.)

It took a little longer than usual to get home because the doctor wanted us to stop every couple hours so I could walk around and keep the circulation going.
Beautiful flowers were waiting for me when we got home.
Before, during and after the ablation I received so many expressions of love.....texts, emails, cards, flowers, visits, prayers, and encouraging words. My heart is full of thanks and appreciation. ❤️❤️

I'm continuing to feel great!!

Geoff (our son) celebrated his 43rd birthday traveling home from Kauai.

We did celebrate with him once he got home.

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Priscilla Shirer Simulcast - Notes

I attended a Priscilla Shirer Simulcast, April 6, 2019, at the Corinthian Church in Fairbanks, AK.

Here are my notes from the simulcast.

God created the universe so why do we worry - He’s got us in the palm of His hand.
God is preparing us for our future. He reminds me who I am (daughter of the King), no matter what labels I live under.
PRAYER is the key to unleash heaven on earth.

The impossible is where God starts.
Expect the unexpected

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ASK or THINK according to the power that works in us - TO HIM BE GLORY in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen Eph 3:20-21

(Ask God to preserve that teenager so satan cannot touch them…continue in prayer. )
There’s no other hope I know

Going Beyond - John 15

ABIDE in the vine (Jesus)….

Align, hang out with, enjoy the company of, stay, remain, be immersed in.

Don’t be a dipper (tea bag). Strength comes with remaining (leave tea bag in cup). 🙂

We can’t shortcut this principle of abiding.

Before going to the garden of Gethsemane (sorrow & death, bad times), Jesus took his disciples through a vineyard (grapes a place of prosperity and good times).

Grapes don’t grow in Gethsemane
When in Gethsemane it aligns us to God.
When times are good (enjoy the grapes NOW). Learn how to see God’s fingerprints in your life.
Life can be hard - Life happens
We’re either in the storm, going into the storm or coming out of the storm.

Choose to remain in the vine - stay focused. “I am the vine, you are the branches” John 15:1
Stay connected and receive from the vine. A place of resting and receiving

Be sure you’re connected to the TRUE vine
Everything that comes into our lives has gone through God. He’s ordained it or has allowed it.

The Holy Spirit: When Jesus left the disciples (ascended into heaven), He didn’t leave them alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to reside in them (in us). He will never leave us or forsake us.

He is IN us.
He gives fruit in our lives

internal fruit, external fruit and gifts

We are pruned for more fruit. Not more popularity, not more wealth, but FRUIT!

Fruit is the only thing that will last John 15:16

It’s visible/tangible
Identifiable with the source
has a purpose to be enjoyed by others, to build up others.

Submit to pruning

God positions us to thrive
We can be flourishing (impressive) but not fruitful.
Seek the applause of heaven more than people.

The Word

God speaks to us through the Word.
We need the Word hidden in our hearts and in our mouths.

Speak to things not as they are but as they should be (will be).

Watch your words. Satan attacks what we say: negativity, complaining, criticism.

There’s a bird that makes a squawking sound which attracts the eagles (eagles would kill the birds). As these birds matured they learned to take a rock in their mouths which would stop them from squawking….hence they were not attacked by the eagles. We need to put The Word in our mouths to stop complaining, etc….to stop satan from attacking our words.

The 5 P’s of Bible Study

Position yourself to hear from God. Expect to hear from God
Pore over and paraphrase major point.
Pull out spiritual principles

What is this showing me about God. Know God so you won’t be deceived by satan.

Pose the question.

Am I living what I’m reading in the Word?
When you start asking questions, the Holy Spirit will start giving you answers.

Plan obedience and pin down a date.

God speaks to be obeyed.
Set a date to obey rather than saying “someday I will"
1 Cor 15:58

“Set the Table” for meeting God. I love this thought….setting a beautiful table, being prepared, excellence in our church services, and in sharing with others.
Stay and weather the storms. Remain steadfast. Stand our ground until Jesus returns. Remain faithful.

1 John 2:12-14, 28
Be steadfast - not perfect
As little children, have a relationship with the Father, know the Father
As young men, overcome the evil one. Resist evil.
As parents we’re in a position of influence. Impart the Word.
Older women, teach the younger.
In all the different stages of growth.....

Remain
Stay
Align
Be consistent
Be faithful
A-B-I-D-E

Priscilla Shirer Simulcast

I attended a Priscilla Shirer Simulcast at the Corinthian Baptist church here in town. It was excellent - I love Priscilla Shirer. I'll be sharing my notes of this simulcast in a separate blog.

Party for Andrew

We gave Andrew (oldest grandson) a going away party because he left on the 16th to work in Craig, Alaska (southeast) with a hunting guide. He'll be gone most of the summer and fall. His first hunts are for bear.

Here's a couple pictures Andrew took on the water out of Craig.

Kaiden's 16th Birthday

Kaiden, our grandson, celebrated his 16th birthday!! He got his driver's license on his birthday and a few days later bought a truck. I've yet to get a ride in it.

Krispy Kreme Surprise

We woke up one morning and found Krispy Kreme donuts on our front porch. We had friends go to Anchorage and they brought us back a nice surprise. Thank you, Benavides!

Crazy April Weather

The beginning of April was beautiful and I was able to sit out and enjoy the sun and warm weather,

THEN it snowed again.....twice. Finally all the snow is gone again... Now waiting for it to green up.

April 1st - 50 degrees

April 30th - 67 degrees

April 30th - Sunrise 5:21 a.m., Sunset 10:17 pm,

a total of 16:56 hours of daylight

Anchorage Visitors

We enjoyed a visit from the Garry's.

We kept up our tradition of eating breakfast together at The Cookie Jar.

We celebrated Easter at church - He is Risen, and

Easter lunch with the family.

(Card made by Nancy Welch-Rodman)

New Flip Flops this Year

When we were in San Diego in January I left my Crocs flip flops in the trash because they were so worn out. I knew if I brought them home I would continue wearing them. My first order of business this spring was to order another pair. After our winters, my feet love being out of socks and shoes!!!

Dave Visits Florida

Husband Dave went to Florida solo to visit his Dad and family in Deland. He had a good visit and thanks to Rick and Joy for letting him stay with them. He was able to work on some projects that needed attention at his Dad's house, take care of some business for his Dad, and enjoy the heat and humidity 😓. He was gone about ten days. It's good to have him home.

While Dave was gone, I put this puzzle together all by myself. I'm not much for puzzles, but this one was fun to do with all the different birds. However, I doubt that I'll want to do another one anytime soon...or maybe never.