Sorry, it has been over a Month

Oct. 24-Dec 2, 2017

Oct 24th, I drove Sarah and her Mom back to Chichester, PA.  We had a good trip, it was supposed to rain all day but we didn't get a drop, Praise the Lord!  We stayed awhile and had lunch before we headed back.  I went to Bible Study after we got back.  It was life changing, as always!

Oct 25

Took my grandson, Tyrone to his storage, he took everything out of his, consolidated it and put a few things in mine.

Oct. 28

I attended a Jail and Prison Banquet put on by the Good News Jail and Prison Ministries.  They are a world wide Christian Organization with the purpose of Ministering to inmates and their families.  My Host an Hostess are in the Ministry and he was honored with a wonderful plaque.  

Nov 3

Gwen, a lady from the neighborhood saw the Shaklee sign on my car and called me to ask about health.  We had an appointment and she joined as a preferred Member and purchased the starter kit and two other products.

Nov 4

I attended my Nephew, Clark & Becky's Wedding.  It was wonderful and I got to see so many relatives and friends that I hadn't seen for years.  Becky is a singer and I didn't know that the pianist from our Church plays for her Singing Group!  Small world.

Nov. 5

Sarah, my hostess, was not able to go to Church so we streamed the Church service, awesome! Later we went to the Nautalis Diner for her Daughter,

 Monique's, Birthday party.  We had a good time.

 Nov 6

Picked up Sis Toye from Airport, returning from the FTHCM Women's retreat.  Then went to Bible Study, Awesome!

Nov. 8, 2017

We went to the Seniors Lunch with Bishop, 570 Seniors were in attendance, we felt so appreciated.  Bishop gave us a charge which fell right in line with Flourishing to the finish.  He also ask us some thought provoking questions.  He talked about things we need to do Spiritually and Naturally.  One of the questions that I had not considered, was "Where do you want to die? Hospital, Nursing Home, or Home?"  It is good to consider it, and let those you trust, know about your desires.

I received a call from Ronnie's son at about 11:30PM.  My best friend for 50 years, Ronnie, went home to be with Jesus.  She had suffered, trapped in her body for a long time and now she is free.  I will miss her greatly, we shared everything.  

Nov 9

I attended the Initial sermons of Sis Rampersaud & Sis Sampson, they will be licensed soon.

Nov. 10

I attended the Initial sermon of Bro Young & Bro Battle, they also will be licensed soon.

Nov 11-14  Our Church had a 4 day expo called the Galleria where Business owners could exhibit and sell.  I participated with a Shaklee booth, it was fun and very fruitful.  The Chestons, Murray's and Tyrone participated with me.

Nov. 15

I got the CRV(my car) detailed

I spoke at Ronnie's wake.  I had no idea what I would say.  Gail, her daughter, asked me to represent Shaklee with remarks.   Then at the Wake, she asked me to read something I wrote called, "My Rich Friend".  I was the last on the program after all of the proclamations, plaques and honoring of her life. 

Veronica Coates, My Rich Friend.

Veronica Coates was the richest person I could call my friend. 

She was rich in love, caring and concern for others. 

She was very rich in courage and seemed to turn every challenge into a victory. 

She was a rich friend to everyone she knew and managed to maintain the friendships that others would have given up on years before. 

She was rich in loyalty to Jesus, family, friends, Shaklee family, associates, and her church.

She was rich in intelligence but would never flaunt it or make anyone feel less because of it. 

She was rich in goals and loves a challenge and all the while she was moving forward, you would think she was going backwards and then one day she will surprise everyone with the goal in hand.

 She was rich in forward thinking and always tried to make things better, not just for herself and her family but for everyone around her.

 She was a rich giver and never accounted for her giving and it usually met the very need the person had either expressed or not. 

She was rich in the ability to listen when a person speaks and could make people feel better, just to have been in her presence. 

She was rich in leadership skills, but always wanted to be in the background while constantly being an example to follow. 

She was rich in love and careded deeply for everyone she met and she never met a stranger.

She was rich in devotion to her God, her husband, her family and her friends.

She was rich in travel, always managing to go where and when she wanted to.

She was also the most financially rich person that I could call my friend, but I suspect she got there because she was already rich as a person.

With love and rich friendship,

Lonna Swann 

Nov. 16

Attended Ronnie's repast with Sarah.  I got to see a lot of friends I knew.

Nov. 17 went to AAA to get my tire, which had a slow leak.  They checked it and couldn't find the leak.

Adopted three grandsons.

Nov 18

Sick all day vomited 5 times, felt good, better the next day.  What was that about?

Nov 19 Church and lunch with the Penn's at the Chart house.

Received the bill from hospital for $90,000+, interesting, talked to my Insurance Lady, she says she can fix it. Yipee, Praise the Lord!

Nov 20

Took Sarah to and from Dialysis.

went shopping at Aldi's and got gas

Gwen got her products and likes the Coco shake

Reminder invites to Tyrone's Birthday

Nov 25 Met Petra for Health Insurance. got a good deal.

Tyrone's Birthday Fellowship, WOW.  A room full of powerful Godly men, walking in integrity and honor, honoring my adopted grandson, Tyrone!  What a great Fellowship.  Lot's of word gifts, this was mine:

My Grandson, you have grown so fast,

In four years of your adoption,

Already you're 30 years old!

And for Jesus, you are so bold!

When I look back to the year 2013,

Meeting you at Thanksgiving,

You were still rough on the outside,

But, inside pure and yielded and tried.

I see God using you so mightily,

To birth others into God's Kingdom.

You care so much for each of us,

Even boldly preaching on the City Bus.

I see your love abounding to freely,
God's grace is multiplying in you.

Everyday your walk becomes clearer,

I see God getting nearer and nearer.

I watched grow spiritually,

Like a real Grandma, I am so proud.

 Deep in God's word is  your daily search

And we can always find you somewhere in church!

Thank you for helping me grow in the Lord,

This Grandma has learned so much from you.

It is exciting for me that we can talk,

And mostly about our Christian walk.

Each road trip, we took, God made it a Mission,

I expect the next adventure will be the same.

White-water rafting, jet-skiing and more.

We don't know what God has in store.

We're not what you would expect,

With forty five years between us,

And so much in the midst of that span,

God still knitted us together in His plan.

Thank you for putting up with me,

I was on your case, corrected, fussed,

And I badgered you incessantly

And you tolerated every Grammy Whammy

What's coming for the next 30 years?

Prayerfully, I will trust Him, to be here.

What he has done in you, will never fade,

You are truly fearfully and wonderfully made!

I love you so much, only God knows the rest.

Our hearts will always be knitted so tightly.

Thank God, "all things work together for good,..."

For this Grandma from Oregon, & Grandson from the hood!

Happy 30th Birthday, Tyrone

Love, Grandma Swann

11/25/17

Nov 26

Church, then Lunch with Tyrone & Kevn at Grace Manderin's, at National Harbor.

Monday, Nov 27

Took Sarah to Dialysis.

Realized my Debitt card was missing, called the Nautalis, where we had the fellowship on Saturday, it was there!  Praise the Lord!

I met Tony the Greek owner.  He told me how he got started as a bus boy in London, England, moved up to waiter, by serving a pound of beans, one bean at a time picking them up with two forks together in one hand.  When he could do it within 20 minutes, he moved up to waiter, then to America and ownership.

Nov 28

Took Sarah to hair appt, ate at Greek resturant, met with my Step Daughter LaVonne for dinner(she cooked),then on to Bible Study.

Nov 29

Got up at 2:30 AM met Tyrone at 4 AM took me to airport

Fly to Oregon, missed plane in SF., met William from Spain.

Met Lance, adopted him.  Met Claire, a Afro-American woman from Eugene who had lived there since 1964! Wow

Arrived Eugene 6:45 PM

Stopped for a salad and drove to Myrtle Point, arrived 10:30PM, no heat or electricity in my RV so stayed in the house, got to bed at 12:30PM, I was up for 25 hours, felt pretty good, and I got a good nights sleep.

Nov 30

Woke up in Oregon in my Sister's house. Checked the laptop which I had to check in my luggage, and it had a broken screen (touch screen), The laptop  still works, but sometimes the surser has a fit and takes on a life of it's own. I put clear tape over it to keep the fine particles of glass from flaking off.  I am trying to get this blog off before I deal with it, because it has been so long.

Dec 1, 2017

Still trying to get the electricity to stay on.  I helped my Sister and Brother-in-law to put up some of their Christmas decorations.  Went to get my nails done and adopted Rita, who is sold out to Jesus, too.  She taught me a lot.  When I got back to the RV, the electricity was working!  Praise the Lord!

Dec 2

Had a wonderful night's sleep in my own bed after 4 months!  It is raining, what it normally does in Oregon.  It sounds great on the roof!  I will be going to a Music contert and dinner at my Sister's Church tonight.  

What kind of impact will you make on others?

Oct. 19-23, 2017

My Step daughter took me to Georgetown hospital to get the MRI. as a baseline for next yeas follow-up appointment.  I met the technician who was from Ethiopia.  He told me he worked at Georgetown Hospital for 7-8 hours and then went to work at his full-time job at another hospital.  I asked him what was the drive, that caused him to do that.  He said he sends his money home to family in Ethiopia for their schooling.  He was about to have a baby and wanted the Mother to be able stay home with the baby, to bond with her after the baby was born.  He looked like he was about 30 years old and seemed to really appreciate the opportunity to work.  WOW!

I enjoyed visiting with my Step Daughter.  She had just returned from a visit with her son and his wife in Virginia Beach.  They are also with child, and excited about being new parents for the first time, in March.  They are in a Christian parenting class to prepare. 

She also returned from a Women's retreat that she helped to organize.  She said it was awesome and God blessed in amazing ways.

Parking spots are hard to find, especially free ones, but we got a spot, on the street, right outside the entrance!  Praise the Lord!

Oct 20, 2017

 I came back and went to pick up my Hostess's Mother from her Son's house and brought her here.  Then I picked up Sarah, my Hostess from dialysis and brought her back here.  Then I went to my Church to help decorate for a "Pink" banquet they were having on Saturday.  It was a banquet to celebrate the more than 60 Breast Cancer Survivors in the Church.  Wow!  It was amazing to see what was planned.  I worked from 5:30 to 9 PM and they were not finished when I left.  There must have been at least 50 volunteers working like bees to set the place up for a sit down luncheon for over 600 attendees.  I can't wait to see pictures!  Pink drapes in swags, hanging from the ceiling, with lighted chrystal beads cascading down at intervals throughout the hall.  pink spotlights lit up the walls from the floor to the ceiling every 20 feet.  At the entrance was a pink carpet with pink feather boas, draped on each side, leading into the hall.  The center pieces for the tables were pink rose balls about a foot in diameter with chrystals hanging in the center of a 3 foot tall crystal vase.  Awesome!  I didn't see everything as it was not all set up when I left.

Saturday Oct 21, 2017

I went to Waldorf to pick up 2 Shaklee orders that I had shipped there.  Then I came back to pick up Sarah and her Mom from the house and we went to lunch at the Silver Diner.  It is a nice place that has organic food. 

Sunday Oct 22, 2017

I went to church and as soon as I got to my seat, I was presented with a bouquet of flowers in a gift bag by my newest adopted Grandson.  Wow, was that unexpected and so special.  He is so special!  After church, he introduced me to his Father, who I had seen, but not met before.  I invited him to lunch but he was spending the day with his parents, so he couldn't go. I ended up spending a delightful day with Tyrone, another Grandson.  We went back to the Chart House, where I went with Kevin and his Mom, last Sunday.

It was a spectacular day, sunny, warm, with a nice breeze.  We found a free parking spot in Old Alexandria, and walked a bit to the restaurant. Had a wonderful meal outside overlooking the Alexandria Harbor, watching sail boats and the water taxies come and go.  We walked toward the Torpedo Factory (An old Torpedo factory from WWII that has been converted into Artist studios).  On the way were street entertainers.  One we stopped to watch was a thin young man that was double-jointed.  He actually threaded his body through a tennis racket (without strings), it was amazing.  We then strolled around the waterside in the park and then drove to Mt Vernon, just to see where it was.  It was a nice scenic drive.  All in all, a wonderful day!

Oct 23, 2017

Today I took Sarah's Mom to a Memorial Service of a friend of mine, and member of the Church who went home to Jesus at age 86.  She was such a remarkable Woman.  She in a very short time became a "Mother" in the Church, so loving and such an example.  She also gave "Grammy whammies"!

Every time I go to a Service, Celebrating a life, I reflect on how I want my Service to be.  I want my life to make an impact, a difference, cause someone else to maximize their life because of my example.  Our Bishop said at the service, "Are we following her example?  An example is only good, if we follow it."  

How we live our lives, from now on will impact others...how do we want that impact to be?

Tomorrow I plan to take Sarah's Mom back to Pennsylvania.  She has stayed in "my suite" since Friday and I slept on the wonderful couch in the room next door, we shared a bathroom.  She is such a joy and so full of life, I love her!

Are you ready for growth and change?

October 12-18, 2017

Once again I have neglected to keep you up to date with the happenings, Oh, well, here goes.

Oct 14, 2017

I was invited to a Wedding of two remarkable young people.  The bride is the daughter of one of the Ministers at my Church and the Groom is a long-time Member.  They presented themselves to God and each other, Holy and Chaste.  It is so common at our Church to attend Weddings like that, but I realize that in the World, it isn't like that.  It was a beautiful wedding and reception.  Instead of a toast, the Bride's parents presented a "Marriage formula of success", presenting phrases that every successful Marriage should include.  I didn't have my note pad, but some of them I remember.

"I'm sorry", "Please forgive me", "I love you", "Let's pray about that together".  It was well done and well received.

After the Wedding, I was abel to spend some fellowship time with my Grandson.

Sunday, Oct 15, 2017

Went to Church and heard another awesome message.  God is putting the Church in position for what He will do next.  He is growing us up Spiritually so that our relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ is stable, settled and unshakable, and that we can hear from God for ourselves and know what His plan is for our lives. 

After Church, I had planned to take one of the Retiring Pastors from Cincinnati to lunch but they weren't at Church .  I ask one of my adopted daughters and her 38 year old son (my Grandson), if they wanted to go to lunch.  They did, we did and it was wonderful.  We went to the Chart House in Alexandria, Va. right on the water.  We could watch the water taxies, and boats come and go.  There were two wedding receptions there, one on a boat, so it was fun to watch.  But the greatest thing was the fellowship.  I had not been able to spend much time with them before and we are knitted together more closely than ever.  They are incredible and God is not finished with us.  

Oct 16, 2017

I had a follow-up appointment with a Doctor at the liver center in Georgetown Hospital.  I had blood work done and a check up to see how I was doing.  The Doctor said she specialized in the Liver, because usually liver issues made very sick people and she wanted to make a difference.  She also said I was probably the healthiest patient she had ever seen.  All my blood work was good, and I am to have an MRI on Thursday to use as a base line for next year's check-up.

Oct 26, 2017

I drove my Hostess to Pennsylvania to pick up her 86 year old Mom and bring her back to the area for a week.  Her Mom has two Son's she will be visiting with.  I was so impressed with her, she worked her way from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane and can navigate steps without a problem.  We left at 9:30 AM and got back at 6 PM, after stopping for lunch at Timbuktu for crab cakes.   We arrived back with just enough time to get ready for Bible Study.  Bible Study was actually the opening session of the Pastors Conference of our Church.  All of the Pastors from all over the world were there and I got to greet most of them.  It was good to see those that I stayed with and visited their Churches on my journeys.

The direction that God has for us, as a Church, is becoming clearer.  The Episcopal Pastor gave us a charge and shared how important we all are in the plan of God.  He talked about how down through the Bible, God had a plan for each dispensation of time.  He has a dispensation for each of our lives to do His will.  It is already planned out, we must be sensitive to it, not be distracted by the things that distract us and move when it is time to move.  Growth doesn't happen unless change takes place, are we ready for change and growth?

I sat by a young man I had not met before, although he had been at our Church for eight years.  I asked him if he needed a Grandma, and that, I was up for adoption, he said YES!  He was so excited because he didn't have a Grandma.  We connected and exchanged information and it was official!

What would you have done in my place?

Oct 1-Oct 12, 2017

I guess I don't have to report everything in my life, but I have been doing a lot of self examination and self development in order to be the best that I can be as a Christian, a Mother/Grandma, a Friend, a Leader, an Example and an Influence.  I want so much, to make a difference to others in my lifetime.  I want others to know the peace, comfort and Joy that a close intimate relationship with Jesus brings.  I also want others to know that this World's system doesn't work, only Gods system works and it always has and always will and that Love never fails.

Oct 6, 2017

Meeting of "Grandson", Bertrand at Aldi's, this is his version that he placed on facebook.

So, I'm in Aldi's GROCERY (Waldorf) and this nice lady ( looking like Paula Dean) says to me, "I know that look" you go ahead of me because you are a man with a plan and I don't want to get in the way (jokingly). I actually went in for 2 food items to cook for Ashley Adams, so the lady was right, I had a plan.lol! 

She began to talk to me and asked the cashier if he knew Jesus? And he didn't claim it but explained he was raised in a Christian home. The lady didn't like his answer but I respected his answer and shine some light on the subject. The lady then turned to me and asked if I would help her pick up the heavy water bottles and Of course I did and the cashier was like cool he got you ma'am. I did more than just handled her water, I did all the groceries. My motto in life and still is, was to help any mother or daughter without expecting anything in return in hope that if my mom (R.I.P) or sisters Tammy Lee Cassie Spann Miller would ever need help some young man would and not expect anything in return. I truly believe you get back what you put out... I say and share all this to say, the lady asked if she could adopt me as her Grandson and I was amazed with a smile on my face because she made my day when I was only trying to make her day. She sent me this text today:

***Hi Grandson, Thank you so much for helping me with my groceries yesterday. You are so special. Our meeting was not accidental.  God has something in mind. We will just have to play it out. I have a question for you. (Grandma's  can ask, it's a rule I made up 

Q. On a scale of one to ten, what is your stress level?  Are you trusting God for/with everything?  You don't have to respond to me, I don't think the Q. was from me.

Unless you want it otherwise, you are officially adopted (I have you in my phone and my life.♥ 🏼 

Grandma Swann.

PS. thanks again for your help.

Oct. 9, 2017

In my pursuit of a better me, I have made some discoveries.

1.  I don't "let sleeping dogs lie".

          One of the meanings of this saying is: " let well enough alone" .

          Many of my friends and my many "Children" and "Grandchildren",      already know that about me.  I don't believe in "well enough" is good enough when excellent and reaching our full potential is better.  God   has made us in His image and His likeness and so our potential is

          far beyond what we have accepted as "well enough".  We have set our          limiting beliefs, and our boundaries, our possibilities, based on       how   we were raised, our experiences and how we perceive things. But    while it seems true to us, and what we believe, we act on, it is not           God's truth about us.  Psalms 139:14, "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well."  We are like fleas in a jar:

         

          Put fleas n a jar with a lid on it, they jump and hit their heads so many      times that, finially, they figure out that if they don't jump quite as high,     they won't bump their heads.  You can then take the lid off the jar,          they have limitless freedom BUT, they don't jump out!

How about you? What is your "lid" in your mind,  that limits yoiu?

2.  You "can't teach an old dog new tricks."

          I am here to tell you, an old "dog" can learn new things!  That is          a limiting belief that stops us "old" folks from continuing to use        our brains, skills, talents and wisdom, just because we have an "old folks" excuse not to do what we can do, because we are        "retired" and we don't have to, any more.  NONSENSE! Do you          think an intellegent God would store up all this stuff over the          years, in us "old folks" to waste it on retirement?

          OK,OK enough ranting for now, but I do want to share this with you.

I have had a cold/flu for a week (over it now) but had scheduled a Zoom meeting (Computer video conferencing presentation) for last Tuesday at 4 PM.  Since it was a new thing for me and I was in charge of it, I had studied, listened to tutorials etc. to be prepared.  I woke up that morning, feeling like(not so good) but "The show must go on".  I did a "dry run" with Sallie at 1 PM to test everything to make sure it worked, it did, but I still felt bad and was coughing.  The miracle was, that at 3:55 PM, I felt great. I did the Meeting although their was no one at the meeting.  I  thought I had recorded it (NOT) and right after I finished the last word, and turned the meeting off, I had a coughing spell. 

          Sallie had called me on my phone while I was doing the presentation, to tell me she had tried to get on the meeting  but couldn't.  I was in the middle of the presentation so I couldn't talk to her, but I put the phone on speaker, so she would know, and she  could listen.  Well, she was the only one who heard me.  I had committed an operator error and gave out the wrong connection number for the meeting, when I sent the invitations!

 What would you have done in my place?

I could have:

                   1.  Cancelled the meeting because I had the flu. (Given up)

                   2.  Given up, or not done my best, during the presentation,                            because no one was attending. (Compromised my standards based on others perceived response)

                   3.   Got hurt and angry because no one "cared enough" to in the meeting. (Assume something, and take it personally)

                   4.  Got upset at the Zoom people because their                                   instructions were unclear. (Blame someone else)

We all have choices as to how we perceive and handle situations.  I believe that with every "failure", there is an opportunity.  And our assumptions are usually wrong, and there is usually another way of looking at it.

                  

          The opportunity:

                   1.  I learned to trust God, even when it appears as if it will                                        not work, (the flu), if you know you are doing the right thing, (In God's will) it will always work to your good.(If you love God and are called according to His purpose

                   2.  I learned how to not make the same mistakes again.

                   3.  I got a more thorough training by experience.

                   4.  I learned that following instructions work!

                   5.  I learned to take responsibility for my mistakes and not                                       blame others.

                   6. I learned that how things turn out immediately does not                                        determine the real outcome, that is to come.

How is your life, on a scale of 1-10?

Sept 29, 2017

Saturday, Sept 23, I attended an outreach training at my Church, which was awesome!  My hostess went with me and she enjoyed it too.  I was reminded that our Ministry, as Christians, is Reconciliation.  That is reconciling others to God, by Christ Jesus.  I learned that our lives should be the example to draw others to Jesus.  That our unconditional love should be the motivation for our encounters and that the Word of God, used appropriately will plant seeds.  Sometimes we plant, sometimes we water, but God gives the increase in His season, in His time.  One thing every Christian believer should know, is the sinners prayer, so that we can lead others to Jesus when they are ready.  If we have eternal life, we should share it with others.  We are God's plan to spread the gospel!  We share other things with people, why not Jesus? 

Example of a Sinners prayer: Romans 10:9

"Dear Lord, I am sorry for my sins, I believe in my heart, that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for my sins, and rose from the dead, so that I may be saved.  Thank you Lord Jesus, for saving me and giving me eternal life.  In Jesus name, Amen."

Sunday, Sept 24th

I attended Church today, it was great to see my church family again.

I am feeling great!  Still no pain, no medications and no issues.  I am moving well but not overdoing as I know I am still healing from the surgery.  I went to church Sunday and had a wonderful lunch at Ruby Tuesday's, with a Rev. and his wife at the church. We had a good fellowship.  I then took my "Grandson's" little girls back to their Grandparents house after they attended church with him.

Monday, Sept 25th

I got the oil changes in my car and they vacuumed and washed the windows which was badly needed. The "Hum" that I got for my car (that tells me what is wrong with it) has let me know that I need the catalytic converter needs replacing but my mechanic said it could wait, 

Tuesday-Wed, Sept 26th-27th

Still feeling great.

Thursday, Sept 28th

My car (CRV) hood latch was broken since this Spring and I went to the "Used Parts" store to get another one.  This Spring they couldn't find one but now they found one and I got it installed.  I could close tthe hood but it wouldn't go all the way down until now.  It cost me $79 for the part and $60 to have it installed.  Not bad for peace of mind and knowing that the hood won't fly up, when I am going lickety-split down the road.

Later, I went to TGIF Friday's, where my Step Granddaughter is the manager to have dinner.  It was good and Vegan, except I succumbed to

an Oreo Cookie Ice Cream desert.  I asked if I could have a candle on it adn if he could sing Happy Birthday to me.  Well, he said they didn't have a candle and he couldn't sing the Happy Birthday song because it was copyrighted.  WHAT?!  So much for justifying my desert.  I ate it anyway, unjustified!

Friday, Sept 29

My Step daughter took me out for my Birthday dinner to a Japanese Restaurant.  We had a great time fellowshipping. 

Saturday, Sept 30

THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE!

I received a call from Eric Worre's Coaching team.  I had signed up last year for a 45 minute Coaching call, as a part of a promotion they had, and now, which is the perfect timing, they called.  WOW!  I now know my next assignment!

Sometimes in life we just go along, go along, go along and suddenly, something happens to make us aware of where we are, what we know, our value, our purpose, our dreams, our possibilities, how we can impact others, God's plan for our lives.  It usually begins with the awareness that we already possess what we need.  We already have the seeds of greatness in us, it is usually not perfected yet.  Just like most of us are born with the ability to walk.  With patience and perseverance and strength, we eventually actualize what was in us all along.  WE CAN DO THIS! 

We often spend (waste) a lot of time, energy and strength comparing ourselves to others, looking at the past, (and judging our future based on it), trusting our "feelings" (which always change), and not trusting God, (who never changes).  We don't trust the Holy Spirit to be our helper and we make a royal mess of our lives, trying to do it ourselves.  THAT CAN CHANGE!

OK, that was the "Grammy Whammy" of the day!!

Getting back to the Coaching call.  I was asked a series of questions that made me realize that I already had the answers.  The Word of God has it all, the answer to every question, every challenge, every issue in our life,  We just need to trust it and walk in it. 

Here were some of the questions I am asking based on their questions.

On a scale of 1-10, (10 being the greatest level)

1.  How would you rate your relationships? _____

2.  How would you rate your level of peace?_____

3.  How would you rate your level of financial balance?_____

4.  How would you rate the level of love you give to others?_____

5.  Rate your level of Contentment?_____ Comfort?____ and Joy?____

6.  How would you rate your level of sacrifice for others?______

7.  How would you rate your level of giving to others?______

8.  How would you rate your time spent helping others?______

9   How would you rate your forgiveness level?______

10.How would you rate your level of gratitude?______

11.What is your level of real productivity?____

12.How would you rate your stress level?_____

13.How would you rate your level of fear?______

14.How would you rate your level of worry?_____

15.How close are you to your goals?____desires?___purpose?_____

16.How satisfied are you with what you are doing?____

17.How would you rate yourself, as a good example to others?_____

18.How well do you control your thoughts?______

19. Rate your level of mental stability_______

20. Rate your physical health._______

Essay questions:

A.  What would you desire to accomplish in your lifetime?

B.  What would you desire to accomplish in the next 10 years?

C.  What are you doing NOW that will make it happen?

D.  What are your hindrances, obstacles, barriers, that keep you from moving ahead?

You can print this out and fill it out for your own personal benefit. 

To be continued...

The last 20 days

Sept 21, 2017

Wow!  God is so good!  I will summarize the last 19 days.  When you are i the midst of it, it seems like so much longer.  But now, I feel like I have been cleared for my next assignment!

Sept 4, Labor Day- Went to Urgent care, & Emergency room, So. MD Hosp.

          with a dull pain in my right side.

Sept 5, Admitted to So. MD Hosp. CAT scan found huge simple cyst in my liver, the size of a melon (8X7 inches)

Sept 5, Transferred by ambulance (first ride in ambulance) to Georgetown     University Hospital, Wash.DC,  Emergency room.

Sept 6, 2AM Admitted to Georgetown U. Hosp.

          They found I was in good health, no medication was given and they     decided to do surgery to take out the "water balloon" but I was too           healthy to keep at the hospital until they could schedule the surgery.

Sept 8, Discharged from the hospital with pending surgery scheduling.

Sept 9, Woke with nausea, in great pain all day, (thought it was gas).

Sept 9, My Step Daughter took me back to Georgetown Emergency room.    They did another CAT scan, my "water balloon" had ruptured and the       fluid spilled into my abdomen, causing the pain.  I agreed to two shots       of morphine, which helped the pain.  It was the first medication I had           taken for over a year.(I'm such a wimp, but I was glad it was      available.)

Sept 10, I was admitted to Georgetown hosp, pending working me into the    surgery schedule ASAP.

Sept. 11th- I was visited by a Minister and his wife from my church, they       prayed with me and as soon as they finished, transportation came to          take me to surgery, at 1 PM.   I returned to my room at 10:30 PM after    recovery.  They had made three incisions, removed the "balloon",           removed the fluid and took out my gall bladder because the cist had     attached itself to it.  They said I didn't need it anyway.

Sept 14th- Discharged from the hospital. On my 75th Birthday!  No pain,       only discomfort with the stitches and staples. A good friend and her        husband invited me to stay with them in their upstairs(17 steps) suite,   with all the recovering equipment I needed. Walked up the stairs with           little assistance. God is so Good!

Sept 18th (Mon) Visiting nurse came to evaluate my needs for Physical          Therapy etc...  Since I was in no pain, had gone up and down the stairs     5 times and taken a shower by myself, that day, she determined that I                 didn't need Physical Therapy or any other aides for recovery. Woopee!     Praise the Lord.

Sept 19th- My grandson brought my car, and we went grocery shopping, he helped get the groceries in the car and then we dropped him off and I     drove my friend and I, to get our nails done, about 20 miles away.

Sept. 20th- Dr. visit, stitches & staples removed.  Walked quite a way, in the hospital to get my medical records etc...(I got pictures!)

Sept, 21, Washed clothes, visited with my friend here and then I drove us to Walmart to get some things for her Grandsons.

Sept 22, It has only been 20 days.  It is amazing that our "suffering" seems like such a long time when we are in the midst of it, but, "It came to pass", and it did.  If we could only see things from God's perspective, our "little" events won't seem like such a big deal. I know I am blessed to come out of this KNOWING, God is Good, KNOWING, His grace is sufficient, KNOWING, He has a plan for my life (yours too!).  KNOWING I am in perfect health, (all the tests proved it).  KNOWING that at age 75, I am in NO PAIN, NO STRESS, NO ANXIETY, NO DEBT, NO MEDICATION.

KNOWING, I am in PERFECT PEACE, even though I don't know what is next for me, I know that God already has the plans in place and I just need to be willing and ready to fit into His plans for me.  I trust Him and ,I will know, when I need to know!  My only restrictions are, that I cannot lift anything over 10lbs. for 11 more weeks.

In these last 20 days I have adopted new Grandchildren, Furthered my mission, to reach 100 million people with a way to independence from this world's systems.  Flurished, by being an example and an influence to the next generation.  Planted lots of Shaklee seeds, and now on to the next amazing adventure!

Getting stronger!

Sept. 15, 2017

The Fist day out of the Hospital after surgery.  I was invited by a Minister friend and her husband, who is Chaplain of the jail here in the county, to stay at their house in their upstairs suite.  I have a bedroom, living room, private bathroom, refrigerator and microwave, and a toilet with bars on the side.  ALL I NEED!  God is so good.  When I got here last night I climbed the stairway by myself, the bed is the perfect height and all is well!  I rested today, answering emails and receiving phone calls.  I will be receiving Physical Therapy here that will start next week(I probably won't need it then). 

The whole time I was in the Hospital, I realized how much of a God thing this experience was.  From start to finish, I could see His hand at work.  It is so good to know when you are in His perfect will, it is safe and comforting.  Even the pain, which was the worst I had ever experienced, helped me to know what others experience.  I thought about how Jesus suffered on the cross for me and He suffered much more pain and for much longer (and He didn't have Morphine). He chose to go to the cross for my sins, so I didn't even have to.  Wow, what love!

I had such wonderful love and care, while in the Hospital, the Lord kept bringing me Children and Grandchildren to adopt and he allowed me to share Shaklee with lots of people. On two occasions I was the subject of an interview for one of their Communication classes.  I guess they are trained for bedside manners.  The interviewer asked questions like, "Where do you live?", and that started a whole line of questions that allowed me to tell them about my Rving, My age, Jesus, Grandma Swann, that I was on no medication,  Shaklee, and most importantly, the Cell presentation. 

There were between 7-12, Dr. Wannabees standing around my bed, I asked them if they agreed, that God made our bodies with trillions of cells?  That those cells only eat food, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats?  That they reproduce after their kind, (healthy kind or unhealthy kind) depending on how healthy they are fed?  That cells can only react to non-foods like artificial stuff, synthetics, (like synthetic vitamins), and toxins, and prescription drugs,(which is why medicine works, if it does and why there are always side effects),  That the quality of the food we eat determines the quality of our cells and the health of our cells determine the health of our bodies?  I also talked about the "Drug system", drug lunches they would receive from drug reps, you get bold when you are old!

Since most Doctors are not taught nutrition in medical school, they heard some from me.  I asked them if they took vitamins.  A couple of Students gingerly raised their hand.  I suggested they be sure that they were food supplements not synthetic vitamins.   I had my Shaklee business cards with my blog at the bottom of it and any who wanted to, could take my card to check out Shaklee or follow my blog.  Several of them got my card.  Woopee. 

Sept 16, 2017

Day two of recovery.  I am feeling stronger; they said I could not lift anything heavier then 10 lbs for 12 weeks.  Wow!  I am getting company today, my adopted family will visit, it will be good to see them.

They came and brought my mail.  I use their address to get my mail.  They will even take pictures of it and text it to me wherever I am and so far they have not had to forward it.  I received a lovely gift of a fragrance infuser from my friend Pam and cards from my Sister with blessings. 

They brought Michael , their teenage son and his friend, William, another adopted grandson.  I have a pool table in the living room, and after a respectful time visiting with me, they played pool while the adults visited.  I was so impressed, that when it was time to go, they had put everything back, better than it was before.  Amazing Teenagers! an example and proof that teenagers can be righteous, responsible and an example to their peers.

We had a great visit, it was so good to see them.  I stayed with them 8 months while my house was being renovated and sold.

Later my host's came home and I was able to wash clothes.  Woopee!  I went down the stairs and visited while I washed and we listened to a CD of a Bible study I missed.  I came back up the steps with no problem.  I am getting stronger, Praise the Lord!  They gave me a "Life Application Study Bible", as a gift, exactly what I needed!

happy 75th Birthday to me, A discharge from the Hospital. Woopee!

September 7, 2017

"Wow"! That's what the Top, Liver transplant surgeon said.  He had never seen such a huge cyst in a Liver before.

I saw the pictures of the CAT scan, and the cyst (like a water balloon) is about 8x 7x 4 inches and it is so large that it has moved my intestines around to make room for it.

On Saturday, Sept Ist, I woke up with a dull pain in my abdomen.  Thinking it was a gas pain, I drove on to West Virginia to visit Shaklee friends, a Mother and daughter, I hadn't seen for about 20 years.  I had a wonderful trip up, even though it was the Friday before the Labor Day Holiday.  They fed me a delicious Vegan lunch and we had such a great visit.  The Mother is 97 years old, getting around real good with her walker and she is in her right mind and she is still beautiful.  She sold real estate until she was 83.  Way to go Flourishing!  Her daughter's husband was in College with me, and he passed away about a year ago, and I hadn't seen her since.   They live in a beautiful historic part of West Virginia in the town of Shepherdstown at the beginning of the C & O canal, near the Civil war battle of Antetiam, with country roads and quaint towns and villages.  My ancestors are buried very near there.  Beautiful!

 I had a good trip back with very little traffic.  When I returned I still had the pain and it hadn't moved.  I decided to rest on Sunday and about noon on Monday, I went to an Urgent Care facility to get it checked out.  They noticed a "mass" in my abdomen and sent me to Southern Maryland Hospital.  My Step Daughter took me and stayed until 2 AM. Her daughter came and I insisted that they go home, since they both had to work the next day.  I spent the night in the emergency room until they could find a bed and admit me.

They did a CAT scan and found the cyst in my Liver.  They said my liver function was PERFECT!  I had a great time there and adopted a daughter. 

I was transferred by ambulance to Georgetown Hospital ( A teaching hospital) in Washington DC.  On the way, I listened to the streaming live broadcast of out church Bible Study, te ambulance attendant listened too and was saying amen to key points,  she was a Christian and she said she enjoyed it.  I stayed in the emergency room there until 2AM and then was admitted.

 I got a wonderful corner room with a large bath and shower, a computer desk and recliner chair and of course, a bed.  The service was awesome!  Anything I needed was supplied even before I knew I needed it.  God is so awesome!  Everyone was so attentive, caring and wonderful!  I had a ball!

Personal:

My pain was only when getting in and out of bed and then it was minimal, and finally turned into just discomfort.

Because I was in a teaching hospital, Dr. "wannabees", were constantly coming to observe.   I don't think they had ever seen such a healthy person (except for the water balloon in my liver).

September 8, 2017

I was discharged yesterday after 2 days because they could not justify my staying.  I had no issues (except for the huge "water balloon" in  my liver. EVERYTHING ON MY BLOODWORK WAS NORMAL,NORMAL, NORMAL...  Chest XRay NORMAL, EKG, NORMALStress test NORMAL  I didn't have my Shaklee supplements for 5 days but I was OK.  They would have allowed me to take them but I didn't have them.  I took no medication the whole time and the only thing I allowed was the contrast for the CAT scan and Stress test.

My blood pressure went up one time to (175/111), because I was so excited, but Jesus and me brought it down within 2 minutes to 120/87! PRAISE THE LORD!  They had to prescribe blood pressure medicine (because that is the system, but when I said no, they couldn't argue).  My Potassium was slightly low one time, (I didn't have Alfalfa) and they wanted to give me a Potassium medicine and I said no, so then they offered me a banana and it came back up! Woopee!

I was on "nothing by mouth" from Monday to Wednesday evening , when I had my first meal (It was Vegan,) YAY.  I had Vegan the whole rest of the time. It was great! ( I have been doing Vegan meals, mostly for the last two months.)

My take on this: 

Our bodies will encapsulate foreign elements in the body to keep the body safe from foreign stuff.  I asked the Dr. about it, she thought it was a good theory. They don't think it is malignant because I am so healthy.

Friday, Sept. 8th

I was discharged today, my step daughter brought me back to Ronnie's son's house but because we would be sitting in traffic, we decided to go to her favorite   "office" at National Harbor. (A McDonalds restaurant that has an out door seating area, overlooking the Potomac River.)  It was a beautiful evening, so we fellowshipped and enjoyed the beautiful sunset on the water as we waited for traffic to die down.

Saturday, Sept 9th

I woke up nauseous, but couldn't bring anything up.  I had the first opportunity to take my Shaklee food supplements in 5 days, it was great.  I began to have severe pain, which I thought was gas pains.  They were so bad that I called my insurance nurse and she suggested we go back to Georgetown U. Hospital's Emergency room, which we did.

I was in such pain by then, that I actually agreed to two shots of Morphine, just to ease the pain.  It did help.  That was the last pain medicine I have had.

They admitted me after a CAT scan revealed that the "balloon" had ruptured and the contents spilled out into my abdominal cavity, causing the great pain.   They also noticed a hernia in my belly button area.  They said they would do surgery on Monday.  Dr. Fishbine, head of the Transplant surgery department would perform the surgery.

Monday, Sept 11, 2017

Just before the transporters came to take me down to surgery ( around 1 PM), a Minister from my church, and his wife came by to pray with me.  He prayed a beautiful prayer, and I was ready to go.

I returned to my room at around 10:30 PM, after a successful surgery,  They started out to do laposcopy surgery ( a tiny hole through my belly button) but had to make a bigger incision to do a "hand assist" to take out most of the "balloon" and remove the fluid from the liver and my abdomen.  Thy also removed my gallbladder (which they said I didn't need.)  The "balloon" was attached to it

After the surgery I have had no pain and only discomfort when I maneuver getting in and out of bed, walking etc..  It gets better every day.  I have been on no medication for pain since Saturday and going home with no medications.  This event has let me know how healthy I really am.  I trusted God through it all, I had no stress (except excitement) and no anxiety or even apprehension.  I knew He had me cared for and  I was looking forward to how He would work it out.

September 14, 2017

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!  I will be discharged today!

Back at the pool again! Woopee!

Sept 1, 2017

Wow, has it been since the 18th of August, since my last blog?  I have been negligent, let's call it a "Summer vacation" and I will feel better.

Currently I am staying at my friend, Ronnie's Son's house, in "my own" basement apartment in Waldorf, Maryland.

August 18, 2017

I left you in Fredericksburg, VA. about to visit a Shaklee friend I hadn't met yet.  She and her husband were wonderful, as I expected.  We visited for a while.  They have a beautiful house that they had built. 

I drove on up to Maryland after stopping to see my Vietnamese "Granddaughter" in Colonial Beach, VA.   I encouraged her to keep writing.  She is taking a road trip this fall and I suggested she write about that trip.

When I arrived in Waldorf, Maryland, I stayed n the same place I am now, for a couple of days and then I was invited to the Cheston's (also in Waldorf) to stay and help them with their Shaklee leadership goals.  They invited their friends and we watched a video documentary movie called "What The Health!"  They also had a "YOUTH" presentation where everyone who came could see how it felt on their hand, and see how it was applied, the response was great.

 It was a wonderful time and we went to the pool in their community, (with another Shaklee Distributor in their group), every day at 630 AM.  It is wonderful because, even though I am not staying with them now, I can still meet them at the pool.  It is only 5 minutes away. WOW, is God good or what?  The last day I was there, they took me out for dinner and blessed me with a beautiful card and with blessings inside!  They are awesome! 

I got my Shaklee "YOUTH" skin care products and started them the same day.  I am VERY pleased with the results so far, I will keep you informed.

Sallie used them about a week before I started and she has received dramatic results.  I will try to send you her before and after pictures.  They really do make you look years younger, (they are guaranteed too) with ingredients. good for your skin!  You can probably tell that I am excited!

It was good to get back to "My home church", (From The Heart Church of Maryland) again.  The messages are so life changing.  You can hear some of them on You Tube Official FTHCM channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF_fYPsHzJk

I am going tomorrow to West Virginia and back (about a 2 hour ride there) to see a long time Shaklee friend and her Mother.  It should be fun.

I am not sure how or when I am going back to Oregon.  The Lord knows and He will let me know in "due time".  What a wonderful life!

Life get's gooder and gooder!

Friday, August 18, 2017

I stayed two nights in Raleigh area with my "Grandchildren" who just moved to a new house.  It is in a new development and they have a "common area" with lots of tall beautiful trees in the back.  The have a lovely screened in back porch, overlooking a nice lawn and the trees.  They are in a very quiet neighborhood.

I left about 1 PM to continue on North.  I contacted a fiend in Fredericksburg, VA who's husband had just died recently.  He was in my Shaklee group and I hadn't seen her for several years.  We had a nice visit.  She looks like she is in her 50's and really good for 75 years old.  She is in very good health but still wanted to use the Shaklee Life Plan to insure her continued good health.  She ordered it last night.  I stayed the night in a wonderful bed with my own bathroom.  She has a beautiful home in a quiet neighborhood

This morning I will visit another Shaklee Member, who moved from New York to Fredericksburg some years ago.  I plan to head up to Maryland to pick up my new "YOUTH" Shaklee skin care products, that I can't wait to try.   I took a before picture in natural light of my naked face.  You won't see it until I have a younger face to show you!(smile)

God is good. Life is good!

God's people are soo good to me!

Wednesday,August 16, 2017

Wow, I am so blessed by God's people! Sunday, I took Rosemary to the Airport at 5:30 AM to catch her plane to Oregon.  When I returned to the "Airbnb" house I had a nice talk with Bianca, and she was adopted!  She is a sweetheart and doesn't have a church home yet.  I invited her to Atlanta FTHCM, she put the notice on her refrigerator. 

After checking out, I went to the FTHCM of Atlanta and adopted two other Grandchildren, Wesley and Salina.  Salina is a Member of the Las Angeles FTHCM church.  She is in Mississippi with her Mother and drove 5 hours to come to the Atlanta church, as it was the closest.  She was so excited to be in Church and we connected.  I gave her some CD's of the FTHCM Parent church; she said she would listen on the way home. 

Wesley, a 22 yr old young man I sat next to during service, was very impressive.  Dressed nicely and seemed very serious about the Lord.  I am looking forward to connecting with him again.

I stayed Sun and Monday night in, "my bed" that I stayed in before conference, it was very peaceful and a good place to "debrief" from conference.

Tuesday, I had finally received the direction I was to go.  I had called people in the North, East and South and I heard from the North and so I left about 9 AM, headed up Rt 85 toward Raleigh, NC.  I stopped to meet a Distributor in Moore, SC that I had talked to on the phone, but hadn't met.  We had a wonderful talk about the Lord, he is an Elder and was about to go to a homeless shelter to Minister.  I then stopped by to see Terry Dawkin's wife near Cow Pens, SC.  I had not seen her since before he passed, she seemed to be doing well.  By this time it was getting late and I thought that it was too late to try to make it to Raleigh.  I checked out several options and nothing was working out, so I kept going  Then I got in touch with my Hosts in Raleigh and they said they would be up and for me to come on.  I arrived at 11:15 PM and they were still up and showed me their new house and it is beautiful!  I had a wonderful bed and bathroom and got a great night's sleep.  I will be here through tonight and they said I could stay as long as I want to.           

They hosted me in their other house when I came through in the RV and are wonderful, loving, giving, people.

"My plan" is to go to Maryland for a bit, then head out West.  We will see.

I can't tell you how good God has been to me.  I will one day. 

I BROKE A WOODEN BOARD WITH MY BARE HAND!

August 14, 2017

I BROKE A BOARD WITH MY BARE HAND!!!  But greater than that, was, all 12 of the members in our group, at the convention, did it too, the first time!  But greater than that was that all but a handful of the 5,000 attendees at the convention did it too.  But greater than that was the breaking through of all of the obstacles, hindrances, bonds, limitations and FEAR.

F E A R

 False

   Evidence

     Appearing

       Real

The top board is the one I broke, the bottom one is an unbroken one, like we all broke.  I used the tea as a reference for size. 

 

We broke through our obstacles (the board) when we focused on the objective, goal, purpose, God's plan for our life, rather than the circumstances, obstacle, limitations, hindrances (the board).  None of us thought we could do it at first, but we all did and it was like it was paper, AMAZING!!!  We already have it in us, we are amazing and our mind is the battle ground.

So now that we know that nothing is impossible, when we focus on the good stuff ahead, rather than the stuff in front of us, designed to take us out.  "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."  So, let's go!!!

Convention is over, I am still in Atlanta,  debriefing and organizing for the next big adventure with Jesus. 

I attended FTHCM Atlanta yesterday and adopted three more Grandchildern.  Heard a wonderful messsage.  "God sees the opportunity of our trials to cause us to grow.   We can't compromise when things get tough, we must remember what God said about our circumstances, and rest in it". (What He said is in the Bible, all of it).  We have everything we need!

Be younger longer

Atlanta, August 10 2017- Shaklee Conference

Today was awesome, I didn't think I would blog until Sunday but this is too BIG!  Shaklee just introduced (8 years in the making) new products in the skin care line that are called "YOUTH", because they are clinically proven give younger looking skin.  They were clinically tested and 100% of the subjects experienced younger looking skin and 2/3rds of them looked at least a decade younger!  They are Vegan, gluten free and non cruelty, and do not contain the 2500 questionable ingredients that other skin care products have. WOW, I can't wait to try them.  Those people we saw at the conference that had used them ahead of time, looked amazing, and these were Shaklee people who had used the Shaklee skin care for years (which I thought was the best).  There are 8 patents and patents pending. 

They also introduced additions to the Sports Nutrition line.  I will talk about that later.  Those of you who are Shaklee Members can go on www.myshaklee.com for more information.