Thursday Thirteen #65

A List of 13 Random Thoughts

1. I have a lot to do before next Thursday when we leave for Venezuela. HELP!!!!

2. I must get caught up on my Thursday Thirteen responsibilities such as adding people to the blogroll. I have been a bad girl!

3. My friend Daisy has been trying to learn to jump hurdles but someone needs to tell her that jumping moving cars is NOT the way to do it. (Read about it on her blog!)

4. I have been trying to think of a way to have a gathering of all the Blogging Sistahs of the South! I'm not really an organizer but I just think it would be SO much fun to get together for a weekend and just get to know each other. Ideas???

5. Today, after physical therapy, I went to Wal-Mart and actually WALKED all over the store. I didn't have to drive a cart. YEA!!!

6. Did you ever just have one of those days when you just can't think of a thing to say? I am having that problem now!

7. I talked to our son and he said that he and our DIL have a peace about their baby. They have an appointment next week with a specialist and we are just trusting that the heartbeat will be regular by then. (see post below!)

8. As I am writing my T13 I am watching the "Idol" finale. It has been a SUPER show. The music has been wonderful (for the most part) and they have done some fun things. Now they are about to announce the winner..........and it is JORDIN SPARKS!!!!!

9. Can you imagine being 17 years old and being where she is???? Unbelievable!

10. I actually heard a person being interviewed on Fox News today who said that if Jordin Sparks won it would not be a good thing for teenage girls because (in her words) "she is the poster child for overweight kids". I was appalled. 

11. We are out of Venezuelan coffee.......YIKES! It's a good thing we are going next week. I will be bringing back my supply.

12. I am going to dinner and a movie with a friend on Friday night. I am looking forward to it. We do this every couple of months and we have a ball.

13. My DIL's parents will be moving here from Venezuela the middle of June. We are all so excited. They are wonderful people and will be pastoring a church here. Our DIL is counting the days!!

Pray With Us Please!

This morning our son and DIL had their regular pre-natal appointment with their doctor. During the examination they heard baby Zoe's heart skipping a beat. 

The doctor told them she had heard this before and most of the time it corrects itself. She gave them two choices: wait for their next appointment and see if it works out or see a specialist. They opted for the specialist. The doctor is going to make an appointment for them to see the specialist and get back to them.

Please join us in praying that little Zoe's heart will begin to beat as it should and that her mommy and daddy will have a peace about her. We know the Great Physician and we put our trust in Him. We thank you for joining us in prayer. Bless you all.

Special Delivery!

Danny Glover - Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has approved $20 million (US) financing to back two movies by Danny Glover who is a big buddy of Chavez. One is about the South American liberator, Simon Bolivar and the other is about Haitian revolutionary, Toussaint Louverture.

Mr. Glover has visited with President Chavez on several occasions and seems to be totally infatuated with him. Glover touts himself as an activist who wants his movies to "move people and help them understand what is happening in the world". 

Mr. Glover has NO idea what is happening in Venezuela. He is treated like royalty when he visits. He has not been out in the barrios and seen the abject poverty that many of the people live in. He stays in a luxury hotel and is served the best food and is squired around by the President.

On one of our trips to Venezuela we were about to board the plane when we were asked to step aside. A group of very stern looking men approached and in the middle of the group was Danny Glover. We had to wait while he was ushered on the plane and seated. Once that happened we were allowed to board. Mr. Glover was sitting in first class (as expected) and tried not to make eye contact with anyone as they boarded. I understand that, he just wanted to left alone. But, the reason I share this is because HE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE what the average Venezuelan has to deal with. He doesn't mingle with the average person......anywhere!

When he visits he isn't aware that the average Venezuelan cannot get chicken or sugar. He is not aware that in order to get these things you have to shop in the "government" grocery stores, where the sugar is full of ants and the stores are very dirty, rather than the independent ones. The sugar on his table is free of ants and if he wants chicken.....he gets chicken.

Maybe Mr. Glover needs to get out into the country, on his own, and get to know the REAL Venezuela. He will find a people who are extremely proud of their country and their heritage. A people who want to work and provide for their families. A people who want a living wage. He has only seen what Chavez has wanted him to see but he is too foolish to know that.

I will not see either of these movies when they are released. I urge you to do the same.

Sunday Seven #16

A weekly meme for giving thanks and/or for noting important events in our lives. If you want to join in click here.

1. What a wonderful Saturday we had. We sat on the porch with our son and DIL and enjoyed the beautiful weather together. It was great. Then we had lunch together. Can't beat that! 

2. We had dinner with friends on Friday night at a wonderful restaurant, Pasta Bella. The food was FABULOUS and the laughter and visit with friends was even better. 

3. As you can read in the previous post, I was honored to be a part of a very special ceremony for a dear person. What a blessing it was for me. I will never forget it. 

4. Hubby and I watch "The Pursuit of Happyness" the other day. What a great movie. Will Smith's performance was amazing and his little boy was SUCH a cutie. We enjoyed watching it together in the comfort of our own home.

5. I am extremely thankful for air-conditioning. Since I have "my own private summers" it is a very welcome and necessary device!!!

6. My sweet husband gave me some money for Mother's Day and told me to have fun......and I have. I have bought a few pieces of clothing for the summer. What a sweetheart! 

7. I was in the grocery store the other day and I was standing in the check out line and thinking about how sore my knees were after walking all over the store. Just then a gentleman in a wheel chair powered with a mouth control stick came by me. He smiled at me and I returned the smile. Suddenly, my knees didn't hurt quite as badly as before. I have much for which to be thankful.

Joy and Sadness

Tonight my husband and I were part of something that I can only call holy. One of the ministers my husband supervises is Ana. She is the pastor of a Brazilian congregation in his district. She has a wonderful, supportive husband and a beautiful teenage daughter. She has been very effective in her ministry here and has done much to further the Kingdom.

Ana was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago while in Brazil on a mission trip. She was so sick they did not think she would come home, but she did. She was determined to beat this. She fought hard and continued to be in ministry.

Ana has already received her Master of Divinity degree since coming to the US and was to be commissioned as a Probationary member of our conference in June, which is the precursor to being ordained. However, today Ana was moved into hospice care. My husband asked our Bishop if he would commission her now and he agreed.

Tonight we gathered in the chapel of the Hospice facility. The Bishop of Brazil just "happened" to be in town this week and was able to be in attendance as well as Ana's pastor from Brazil. God is so good. About 25 of us sat and watched as Ana answered the questions she was asked. Her response...."I will, with God's help". There were tears in our eyes.

As I sat there I was reminded, once again, how much God cares for us. Ana is gravely ill and yet the desire of her heart, to be recognized for her work and receive her commission, was met. She smiled and greeted each one of us. There was such joy on her face and there was joy in the room as we rejoiced with her. But, of course, there was great sadness. Sadness for the pain she is experiencing, for the pain her family is going through and for the pain those of us who love her are feeling.

This was a Holy moment. God was there. It was an honor to be a part of it. It was a glimpse of the divine.

WHAT???

I was not at home last night and, as a matter of fact, just got home a little while ago. I did not see any TV last night so I am just now seeing the results from Idol.

I can NOT believe Melinda was eliminated. She consistently gave wonderful performances. There is no doubt she will have a wonderful career. Talent oozes from her every pore. But I was convinced she was going to be the next American Idol.

I have had a pretty poor track record in predicting who would leave and when. So, since I now think it will be Jordin, it will be Blake!