LAUGHTER AT DUSK...
Milton, here for Kristy:
Kristy had a sleepy, slow day. She slept until 2 PM, ate a good but late lunch, and then napped the afternoon away.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner with our friends Don and Sandra as well as my sister Norma. Kristy kept sliding down in her wheelchair as she sat with us at the dining room table. The wheelchair is a new one with a head support, but
we're just learning how to make it work for her. We told her she was like Jesus and His disciples who reclined. She agreed as she said with a grin that she was really humble like Him. Then we moved out to the porch and as dusk settled in we pulled out the jokes from all of you. We read them one by one, and Kristy laughed and we all laughed together. They were all very funny.
Kristy has always included humor in our life journey and we have had some hilariously funny times together. The laughter along with God's constant presence is sustaining us.
We continue to believe God for her healing. She has said all along that God would heal her--she said that He would heal her here on earth or He would heal her in heaven. We know He is able to heal today for He answers prayer.
We enjoyed sitting on the screen porch overlooking the newly potted plants on the deck and the flowers in the back yard. I love all the colors and most of all Kristy is cheered by them.
Flowers always cheer chicks.
Did I call her a chick?
***
The day ended with prayer, sweet songs, and a good night kiss.
We sang We Are Christ's Ambassadors and Blessed Assurance.
Everyone knows Blessed Assurance. Who knows the first one? We sang it in our youth groups as teens ending with both hands raised toward God. Our hands are still raised.
posted by Kristy Dykes @ 8:40 AM
20 comments
20 Comments:
Was it back in November, 2007 that Kristy was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer? Because after the dire diagnosis, the harrowing treatments and the pain, Kristy is still laughing and smiling! Glory to our God from Whom all blessings flow!!! Add to that the family and friends who absolutely love Kristy, and the hundreds (thousands?) of believers around the world praying for Kristy, and well...
I've seen others in various stages of cancer, even Christians, but there were no moments of joy and peace. Just sadness and gloom. Kristy's not surrounded by Job's "friends." She's got a chorus of believers around her, singing praises to the King of Kings & Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. The Lord gives us the grace to go through the valley, and either He heals us here or in Heaven.
Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for our sins. In a very short time all of His followers will be living in Heaven with Him eternally. No more sickness, no more sorrow. Joy, joy, joy!!!
His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Love & continued prayers!
Yes, You both are truly Christ Ambassadors and you have unfurled your colors. You have proven that living a life for Christ has benefits beyond comprehension, a deep seated peace and joy that this world knows nothing of.
Yes, all of us Christ Ambassadors, raise our hands in praise with you Kristy and Milton. God Bless!!!!!
Reading this blog is like a sweet devotional each day, Milton.
Whichever side God heals her on, I can absolutely see Kristy kickin' up her heels as she laughs before the Lord.
I believe laughter can also be praise. So I've offering up some giggles as a sacrifice of praise for Kristy to our Father. :)
I don't know the "ambassador" song, but love Blessed Assurance very much. Another oldie that has always ministered to me in hard times is Farther Along. None of the new songs can top the old hymns, in my opinion.
I'm in total agreement about chicks and flowers, at least this chick. I have to plant flowers every year, even if it's just a small patch. I feel more alive and in tune with God in my garden than anywhere else.
Kristy looks great in that photo. Very peaceful and rested. I still have faith and continue to pray for her healing on earth, if God so will it.
Milton, I would appreciate your church's prayers on behalf of a dear friend of mine (Brenda Fuller), who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor about a week ago. Brenda is 46 years old. She and her family stand in need of strength and direction and, of course, we pray for Brenda's healing.
Please tell Kristy an AWSA sister (me!) sends her love and prayers. :)Thanks for keep her readers updated.
Milton and Kristy:
Glad to know some people still remember that song. We remember that song all too well. That's when all our youth groups were called C.A.'s! Christ Ambassadors. Sometimes that seems like decades ago, and other times just like yesterday. So good to hear about the laughter in your home. God is so good to us and knows exactly what we need at the right moment. Blessings on you and praying for health and strength in the days ahead.
Love and Prayers,
Steve and Kathy
I'm glad Kristy enjoyed some good laughs with all the funny jokes. I hope she enjoyed my little story about PJ's Hawaiian greeting. :)
I've been reading your site for many months and praying for all of you. Your marriage reminds me of my own which is an incredible blessing. Would you share this little story with Kristy.....I wrote it for my husband on our anniversary and I think she might like it...
"God Chose This One"
If I close my eyes really tight and lift my face up to the sun, I can still remember how it was that day, all of some forty-five years ago. I can feel the sun, hot on my skin. I can smell the grass and flowering bushes where my sisters and I often hid under the blossoms to play house with our imaginary husbands and baby-dolls. I can hear the breeze rustling through the full tree-tops, a bird whistling in the distance and the sound of my bare feet pounding the pavement over and over again. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot……my breath is heavy in my chest as I jump; my curls are wet with sweat as I count and chant….
Gypsy, gypsy, please tell me,
What my fortune’s going to be.
Rich man? Poor man? Beggar man? Thief?
Doctor? Lawyer? Indian Chief?
Tinker? Tailor? Cowboy? Sailor?
Who will I marry? What will he be?
We will have to wait and see.
One…..two…..three……
Eight years old and jumping rope on the hot pavement I had no idea what my future held, other than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. I couldn’t look much beyond the current pages of the book I was reading, or the branches of the next tree I would climb. At that moment my future consisted of swimming lessons, fights with my sisters, summer afternoon naps and a baseball game with the neighbor boys and ghost runners.
Who will I marry? What will he be?
We will have to wait and see….
I open my eyes now and turn from the sun. The heat felt good on my face for those few minutes and the memory of that day, so sweet. I look back over the years of my life and through hind-sight glasses I can see the hand of God molding me, shaping me, and turning life’s direction in such a way as to bless me. The gypsy held no special fortune in her crystal ball, but God held me tightly in his hand and carved out a beautiful, wonderful life for me.
I turn to look at the man who sits beside me. Strong and upright he sits in our pew; handsome and confident in his blue suit of clothes, with his Bible held tightly under his arm. I look under my lashes to see his tired eyes, the deep furrows in his face; and the gray hair that silently speaks of long nights in prayer. I stroke the hands of a sailor who sailed the seas; the hands of a father who raised three children and the hands of a preacher man who turns the pages to rightly divide the Word of Truth. I look deep into his hazel eyes. The playful boy I once knew is still there and I see a hint of his smile as he rises to the pulpit and as I silently count and chant…...
Who will I marry? What will he be?
God chose this one just for me…..
“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is towards me.” Song of Solomon 7:10
How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?
>Unique Up On It.
How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?
> Tame Way.
How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest ?
> They Take The Psycho Path
What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?
> Polaroid's
What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work?
> A Stick
What Do You Call Cheese That isn't Yours?
> Nacho Cheese.
What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In
Quicksand?
> Quattro Sinko.
What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?
> Spoiled Milk.
What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?
> Frostbite.
What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And
Twitches?
> A Nervous Wreck.
Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs?
> Right Where You Left Him.
Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils?
> Because They Have Big Fingers.
Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?
> Because It Scares The Dog .
What Is The Difference Between a Harley And a
Hoover ?!
> The Location of the Dirt Bag
Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down?
> Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On
Their Hat.
What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver?
> A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang!
> A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.
How Are a Texas Tornado And a Tennessee
Divorce The Same?
> Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer
Hope at least one of these brings a smile.
Donn
Thanks, Donn!
I chuckled all the way thru your post!
Norma
Okay, Donn - now, let's watch those Tennessee jokes, Bud! LOL!
Milton, Kristy... I REMEMBER WELL THAT CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS SONG! I was president of the C.A.'s, way back then and I stood each week and led that song!
....we will wear a spotless robe,
clean and righteous before the world. We will prove we're free from sin, and that Jesus dwells within.....CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS!
Oh, the memories we all can cling to...
YES, EVEN WHEN I HAD THE CATASTROPHE IN CHOIR REHEARSAL & THE ENTIRE CHOIR "FELL OUT" AT MY EXPENSE!!!! I'VE NEVER LIVED IT DOWN!!!!
Love to all,
Cathy (Tennessee) Go Vols!
Hello Milton, Kristy, and all of you in the Dykes & Roberts families. We must be getting old if we're dragging out the old CA song, "Christ's Ambassadors". But it makes me smile that remembering how special those days were and that our generation is still Ambassadors for Christ. I've had to pull out the old hymnal and old timey chorus books to keep up with you all.
This chick just came in from working in the garden and read your blog for today. Yep, it's true, we do like flowers and love watching them grow. There's a verse that talks about being like a "well watered garden" and that's what I want to be.
In closing, love, smiles and prayers and singing old songs for you while I go back to work in the garden. Just don't know how I'll hold the rake and the song book at the same time...
former CA
Annette Barr Grahl
SEBC Class of 1971
Thanks to all for your comments and prayers. Your encouraging words help us. We don't feel like we're in this all alone.
Blessings to ALL,
Milton for Kristy
Praying for you...hoping your Saturday is filled with sunshine and kisses...and Kristy is strong enough to visit with friends and enjoy a meal with them. Sure praying for you Milton and your girls. You are all simply the best. Kristy has been blessed with a godly husband. I have been too but so many today don't know what a godly husband is...you are "living it out" in front of thousands of people reading your blog.
Wow, the Christ's Ambassadors song brings back a lot of old memories. Milton, I can remember your Mom leading us in that song in CA's many Sunday afternoon's back in Anniston on Clydesdale Ave. :)
For the Tennessee fans ROLL TIDE!
Hope Kristy is having a Blessed Day!
Donn
Milton, I could sing the C.A. chorus with you. I would love to hear it again. Peggy and I are praying for Kristy ... and for you.
I really don't want to admit that I know the Christ Ambassadors song. We not that old are we?
We are praying for you Kristy, that God will bless you all the day long.
Russ and Betty Jones
The original joke refers to it is an Arkansas tornado.
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Dear Kristy and your beloved family,
You don't know me at all (I'm a ShoutLife friend of Lauralee Bliss) . . . but I wanted you to know that you have really been on my heart today. And I've been praying for you and for all of your family and loved ones. (And that MUST mean that YOU are ALL on HIS heart!!!)
As I did, some verses really "stood out" to me for you from Colossians: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
I love it how God's word says that as believers we are raised with Christ and that ALL of us who love the Lord have already died!!! Our life is HIDDEN with Christ. And our mind needs to be SET on things above.
I pray for the Lord to sustain and to uphold you. The testimonies on your blog are beautiful and so glorifying to God. I love your focus on worship, and your deep heart of passion for Jesus which is shining . . . even to me, all the way in Oregon (as a stranger you've never met, but a sister in Jesus all the same).
Perfect peace have those whose mind is set on Thee.
May your mind be on things above. And may that be such a testimony and heritage to those who are by your side.
The Lord's most-abundant blessings to you, dear Kristy!
In His Love,
Ann Dunagan
Joining my prayers in agreement with yours! I just keep on asking and knocking and *believing* right along with you in the mighty name of Jesus, with whose stripes we are/were healed!
God bless~
I have never heard either of these songs. I am glad that Kristy is relaxing and happy. I think about Kristy often.
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