Chocolate Dip Cones and a Lawn Mower for Mama

" O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIM...a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." Ps. 34:8,19

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

You have been so very gracious to pray for my dear friend Catherine and her baby Josie. Thank you so very much. I haven't heard an update today but here's the last word from yesterday Catherine posted on FB:

Catherine Denson Smith
Josie has lost a little bit more weight since yesterday, most likely secondary to the diuretic and fluid coming off her lungs, which has made her work of breathing easier today. Otherwise not much change and is still on the antibiotics. She's up to just about 5 tsp milk
every 3 hours, is tolerating it very well, and should begin to start putting some weight on soon. She's just a little above 3 lbs now, which is small for her gestational age, but not really of concern right now.

Thank you, prayer warriors for your continued prayers for this dear little one and her Mom. Catherine stayed home yesterday, and she and her Mom took her other 3 little ones for a picnic. She was planning to return today to the hospital today, driving herself for the first time since her C Section and taking her 6 year old to visit baby sister, Josie.

Please remember my son's finals, this afternoon, through the middle of next week...and my housekeeper who had surgery this morning on her foot for staff infection. Maybe you should pray for HB and me would will be cleaning the house now:).

Well, this week, i want to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. I know that through Josie's sickness, i have been reminded of when HB was sick as an infant and all i wanted to be able to do was be by her side. Since i was sick too, it was very difficult at times, but GOD somehow helped me put one foot in front of the other, and be able to be with her when she was in Children's Hospital in B'ham at 3 months and at 5 months. I have seen in Catherine, throughout Josie's sickness, her determination to be with her, even though she has not felt well herself. It is a Mother's heart and instinct that GOD puts in us that wants to be with our children and care for them even when we are sick ourselves.
I have had a wonderful example of that in my own life and through my dear Mother's example who got sick when she was carrying me, her 5th child. Though she has suffered from chronic sickness all my life, and not felt well, GOD has helped her to endure, and persevere, and show HIS love to us through her, the best that she could. Mother always had hot meals on the table at night for supper when i was growing up, cooked a big lunch on Sundays, washed oodles and oodles of clothes, made sure we were ready for our tests and took time to review with us, typed our papers on an old manual Royal typewriter, and took us on picnics in the woods and swimming at the "boat harbor," when she felt like it, and even when she didn't. We had snacks of peanut butter and cracker, and drank Kool-Aid, when we went to the boat harbor for swimming. Probably not the best environmental conditions swimming in the Tenn. River where there are several factories located, but my Momma loved us and though she did not feel well, she poured out her life and did the best she could. GOD is so very faithful when HE promised Paul, and HE promises us, "MY grace is sufficient and MY power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore i will gladly boast of my weaknesses that the power of CHRIST may rest on me." II Cor. 12:9-10. GOD blessed my Mama with a strong husband, and Daddy did what many men don't, and helped out with things around the house, like mopping, cooking, and canning, as well as working at Monsanto, and raising a big garden each year to feed his family. This Mother's Day, i am so very grateful to the LORD for my dear Mother, and for her example of loving me in the midst of her own suffering.

We have already celebrated Mother's Day for the most part around here this week...when you're in the restaurant business, Mother's Day weekend keeps my family hopping. HB bought me a double knock out pink rose bush, which i planted late Tues evening and i am so proud of it. She and I shared a special blessing from the LORD this week after we cleaned up the dishes Weds. night after supper. I told her if she would go with me to see our house cleaner in the hospital, we'd stop at Kreme Delight afterwards and I'd buy her a "chocolate dip cone." Didn't have to do too much bribing to get her to go, and after we went to see Mrs. Kelly, we stopped at an old walk up ice cream joint in our town. You don't go in...you just walk up to the window and order. There was quiet a line there when we got there, and finally it was our turn to order. Now to you this may seem "common," but this was my first time to order a chocolate dip cone in maybe 20 years? My Daddy used to buy us chocolate dip cones at Dairy Queen when we were growing up. I don't ever remember eating one with my kids but i probably did when they were little ...but it was pretty special to me, sitting there on the wooden picnic table outside the Kreme Delight eating a chocolate dip cone with my daughter. See, i have been allergic to sugar and chocolate for a long, long time, and GOD has recently given me back the ability to enjoy things like that through some allergy treatments i'm receiving. "O taste and see that the LORD is good...blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIM." Thinking about my daughter going away to college in the fall makes these times all the more special with her and what a blessing it was to share a "chocolate dip cone," on a warm May night in Athens, Al. As we left, Hannah Beth pointed to two water fountains on the side of the building. She said that's for when they used separate fountains for segregation. You could tell those fountains hadn't been used in a long, long time, but it took you back to another time when folks used to eat ice cream there. My doctor this morning said they don't serve "chocolate" flavored ice cream there until April...she stops by there on her way to see patients at the nursing home where she doctors the folks there and has such a love for them. Go figure why they don't serve chocolate ice cream until April...we couldn't understand the rationale behind that, except life in small town America.
HB is chomping at the bits to leave our small town, and i remember several years ago, when I felt the same way. It took moving away to a big city, Ft. Worth, to realize what a treasure we have in our town that has a courthouse square where we stood on the east side yesterday for the National Day of Prayer. What a wonderful service it was as the color guard presented the flag and we said the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem was sang and almost everyone had their hand over their hearts like they used to when it was sang. The pastor of First Baptist prayed, and the head of the Veteran's museum prayed, and the Probate Judge, who coached the Ardmore girls basketball team when i was in high school, prayed. Lee Marshall, who used to co-anchor Channel 48 news in Huntsville, shared about the power of prayer in her own life. It was very inspiring. I was and am so thankful to be a part of a small town that had a service like that in the middle of the day on the courthouse square..."GOD bless America, land that i love..."
Well, getting back to Mother's Day, i said we had already celebrated for the most part. I celebrate just being here, at home for Mother's Day...i have spent two, maybe three Mother's Day, away from my small children at the time, receiving treatment from the Environmental Health Clinic. I am very grateful for the help the LORD gave me there, but it was very difficult being away from my family, especially on Mother's Day. I remember the first time i was out there for 6 and a half weeks, John Mac and i had drilled him all year for Bible drill. The drill took place while i was away, and it killed me not to be there with him. But GOD was gracious and he did well, and i got better, and got to come home in a few weeks. It was very hard though not getting to be with my family. I am so very grateful for the new allergy treatments and the improvement to my health this year. Usually April and May are killers for me...and though i've had some bumps, i've done so much better and I praise the LORD for HIS graciousness and faithfulness to keep HIS promises..."A righteous man may have many troubles but the LORD delivers him from them all..." Psalm 34:19. I memorized Psalm 34 when i first became sick...and it's amazing to me now, how GOD has worked in my life to make that Psalm be who I am and show me WHO HE IS and how very faithful HE is to keep HIS promises.
Earlier this week, my dear husband picked me up from the car place where i was waiting on our car to be serviced, and we went by "Chic- Fil-A" to get me a chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread, with sugar free Lemonade. Man, was that a treat. I was starving and it was soooo good. We road down to "Catfish Inn," the restaurant our family operated for years. I helped Johnny get some chairs out of the empty restaurant, and he had another errand at the storage buildings across the street. On our way back in to town, we stopped at Dixie Auto Parts where Johnny said he needed to get a new belt for our riding lawn mower. I jokingly asked him if was going to get me a new push mower, and he didn't say anything. I stayed in the truck, and it wasn't long before i saw him in the showroom with the salesman. I made a bee line inside to see what he was up to. He was up to buying me a new lawn mower! I was so thrilled. You see, i haven't been able to cut the grass in many, many years, and this spring I have been able to cut our yard. That may not be a big deal to you, but for me who has been so sick, with all different kinds of issues through the years, it is such a blessing in my life to become our "Yard Boy." The salesman suggested an orange Honda lawnmower. I didn't even know Honda made lawnmowers. I asked Johnny about the self propelled...and he would have gotten it for me, but it just looked bulky to me, and i told him he could get me that in about 10 years from now:). So, we came home with a new "Lawn Mower for Mama," and i feel like i'm pushing a cadillac now when i cut the grass...it is smooth, real smooth! I told him he could give it to me for Mother's Day, and it caused quiet a stir on FB when i shared that "I couldn't wait to try out the new lawnmower my husband gave me for Mother's Day," on my status yesterday. A dear friend said she would be "wailing" if her husband gave her a lawn mower for Mother's Day:). Not this old gal...i am very thankful and very blessed to have the health to cut our grass this year. I don't know how long i'll be able to do that...but i am thankful for today and for GOD being faithful to HIS promises..."The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; HE delivers them from all their troubles, the LORD is close to the broken hearted and save those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17,18. I have found the LORD JESUS to be wholly true and HE has answered my cries, and HE has been close to me when my heart has been broken and crushed. "I see HIM most when my room is darkened."
When i was a sophomore in college, i cut grass for our junior college that spring. Though it was the most physically demanding job i've ever had, it was also such a sweet time of fellowship with the LORD. The LORD JESUS saved me from my sins April 3, 1982, and my lawnmower became a place that i could pray and think about what GOD was doing in my life. HE gave me a song one day on the lawnmower...not very long, but it has been very true for my life. It goes:

"Teach me how to be a worker for you, JESUS,
Teach me how to be a servant for you, LORD.
Close my lips to idle gossip, open my eyes that i may see,'
LORD, teach me how to be a worker just for THEE."

I want you to know, HE has used my sufferings to teach me how to be a servant for HIM, and i praise HIM for it. This selfish girl didn't have much of a servant's heart, but GOD knows how to take a selfish heart, and fill it with HIS love and compassion and mercy to help others. HE knows how to take us through things and comfort us so that we might be able to comfort others. Sometimes it takes a lot of pounding as it has in my life...but i praise HIM for that too, though it sure does hurt when i'm going through it. I can look back and see my MASTER knew what HE was doing, when i was crying out in pain, as HE was making something beautiful that i couldn't see.

Well, i have one more thing i want to praise HIM for before i close. I went to my doctor here this morning and she told me that my thyroid report was very nearly perfect! Now, that may not mean much to you...but for me and my doctor in Texas who has diligently worked with me for years trying to get my thyroid levels corrected, well, i just stand in awe and thank the LORD, "A righteous man may have many trouble but the LORD delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19. Through these new allergy treatments, i have been able to take a medicine that i haven't before, and it's agreeing with me very well. Thank you, JESUS.

I hope you know that when i share that verse above, the only righteousness that i claim is the blood of my precious LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. HE wooed me to HIM, and i surrendered my life to HIM at Central Baptist Church, where immediately i felt the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders, and i received a joy that continues with me and increases "The Longer I serve HIM the Sweeter HE Grows." I pray for you dear ones, that you know our precious LORD and SAVIOR intimately and personally. HE gave HIS life that you and I might be freed from our sins, and rule and reign with HIM through all eternity. HE loves us, HE loves HIS Bride the Church with a special love that HE has set upon us, but HE also loves those who haven't come to know HIM yet. HE has left us here to tell others the good news that "GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16, so that they might repent of their sins, and come to know the ONE who gave HIS life for them.
He also wants to display HIS glory through our lives, through our obedience to HIM, through HIS love that overflows through us to others, and through our weaknesses. I am so happy, this Mother's Day, to be HIS child, and for HIS loving ways in my life. "O taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIM." Psalm 34:8.

This week for the song, the LORD brought to my mind, "If You Only Knew All I Have Been Through, " by the Crabb Family...then you would know why I love HIM so." I couldn't find it on You Tube, but i did find the lyrics, and it's on their CD, "The Walk," i believe. These words are my testimony and I love HIM and Praise HIM for saving me from my sins, and all that HE has brought me through since. I love HIM so and I pray you do too.

"If You Only Knew" Crabb Family

Verse 1:
I noticed you staring as I raised my hands in praise.
There must be some questions in your mind I have raised.
But, I'll try to help you with your understanding.
When you learn of this man Jesus, you will be amazed

Chorus:
If you only knew, All I've been through
Then, you would understand why I love him so.
If you could only see, Just where HE found me.
If you'd been there when HE found me, then you would know.

Verse 2:
I was the lost one that had drifted far away.
I walked away from God, abusing His grace.
Then I slipped and stumbled beneath my transgressions.
I called out for His help and mercy, Now today I am saved





I love you all dear ones, and "I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you." Phil.1:3. Thank you so much for your prayers for me and my family, thank you for your prayers and encouragement to Catherine these past couple of weeks. It means so much to the both of us. I told her now she can see why i write these Friday emails...you are such a dear blessing and encouragement to me and to her! GOD bless you, dear ones!

I love you and Happy Mother's Day,
mitzi

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"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." - E. M. Bounds

"...Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve HIM faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things HE has done for you." I Samuel 12:23-24.