Fatherhood

Fatherhood is not always what you expect it to be. This was an incredible story of a man, whose wife gave him he best and last gift she had to give. Read it ...it is an amazing story about a DAD, who chooses to keep going against amazing heartache. Read more of his story HERE:
Hope you have a great day dear friends!

Extraordinary events stir in the world of medicine. A mother who certainly have died were still able to give birth to tiny baby perfectly. This news was suddenly spread everywhere and became the subject of conversation in the medical world.

Is Mahmoud Soliman, 29. He never imagined could face the sadness and happiness into one. His beloved wife, Jayne Soliman, 41, went for ever. And instead, he got a beautiful baby girl who was born from the womb of his wife.

Touching, Aya Jayne, thus the name of the infant, born two days after Jayne was pronounced dead as a result of his brain could not function anymore. Thanks to Aya medical aid can be delivered safely.

Jayne pregnancy actually not problematic. But at age pregnancy at 25 weeks, he suddenly fainted, after complaining of headaches.

Soon Mahmoud rushed to hospital John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. But a few hours later, the doctors declared brain of former England national skiing ace is already dead.

The team of doctors tried to help the heart throb Jayne to stay with a variety of equipment. This effort is being done so that the baby in the stomach Jayne can be helped. Jayne was given two large doses of steroids so that the baby can grow a heart. And finally, Aya Jayne can be delivered safely by caesarean section.

After removed from the uterus Jayne, Aya was placed on the shoulders of his mother to give a little time for the two to meet.

After that Aya immediately rushed to the intensive care unit. While Mahmoud given the opportunity to say goodbye to his wife, a doctor before turning off his life support equipment.

"The doctor said there was nothing they could do for Jayne. But they need to stay strong for our unborn child, "recalls Mahmoud.

"She's very petite, small fighter like his mother," said Mahmoud who ceaselessly shed tears while holding his daughter.

 

Found this photo and story HERE:

Aya word is derived from Arabic which means miracle. That is the name chosen Jayne while still alive.

"When Aya adult, I would say how much her mother loved her. I will tell you everything. This is Jayne desire to have a baby and be a good mother, "said Mahmoud.

Found the story here:

Homeless

Today as I was coming out of a shopping center, I saw a young homeless girl on the corner. I thought she looked familiar and as I got closer…I realized I did know her. She is the daughter of a dear friend from the past. I just recently saw this friend, after quite a few years.  She shared with me about this daughter. It broke my heart to hear that she was still making bad choices, and had all 3 of her children taken from her. It was a very sad feeling for me to actually know the story behind a Homeless person. Most of the time I don’t know anything about them and I am asking myself questions like…are they really homeless, where is there family, does their family know that they are homeless, are they hungry, do they really have a family, are they an addict, what happened to their life, what could they be thinking…standing there for hours every day? All these questions  go through my head and I never know the answers, yet today I did, and for some reason I felt even worse. I know this girl’s family, they are wonderful people, but they have tried for years to help her and still she makes bad choices. They can’t change that. What a heart break that must be to my friend as a Mother!

I wanted to put her in the car and  ask her about her life and why she was choosing to do this? Still I knew that there wasn’t anything I could really do, so I drove past and said a prayer. I prayed that some day she would have the desire to change and become a healthier and happy person. I also prayed for her children and for her family...that their hearts would be healed. It also made me realize how grateful I am that my children are all safe, happy and making healthy and good choices…that is no small thing!

Good night dear friends!

 

”But I will say that the drugs are much more ferocious then they used to be. There are people wrecking their lives with addiction, which seems much more severe.”   ~Armistead Maupin

“Once you choose hope, anything's possible”.  ~Christopher Reeve

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."   ~Author Unknown

Struggling

 

For some reason the past few weeks I have been struggling with feelings of sadness. I am trying to figure out just what it is and yet even tonight, I still am not sure exactly why I am feeling so sad? I am trying to look at everything and see if anything particular could be contributing to these feelings. I think maybe a few of things that are weighing heavy on my heart might be part of the problem. One is …I have a dear friend who is living in a verbally and emotionally situation, and I know they can’t see a way out . I worry about them and about their kids, who have no choice. I wish there was some way that I could help them see clearly…what type of life they are really living in and a way out of it. So that is maybe some of the sadness.

Also we are remodeling some areas of our home, not a lot or something really big, but enough to have my house in disarray and I am struggling with that a bit. I know that in the long run it is going to be beautiful and we will be so grateful to have a new kitchen floor, carpeting on the steps, beautiful trim work in the hall and new paint too…it’s just that I have a hard time living in a such a mess…which happens when you are remodeling. So I know I need to work on being more patient with this situation.

Plus, for some reason I have been in more pain lately than normal. As I look back at my calendar, it is probably because I am over scheduling myself and I haven’t done that for a long time. It does feel good to have a full day but I am paying the price for it now. So to be in pain all day is something I haven’t had to deal with nearly as much,I know to some degree I am back sliding and that is never a good thing.

So I need to stop and count my blessings tonight…

I have a wonderful home and the means to do some improvements for it…that is a real blessing.

I have my health, it has been good for quite some time now…very much a blessing!

I have a wonderful family and extended family, which I love so much.

I have two sweet granddaughters and one grandson on his way in March!

So you see, I have much to be HAPPY about instead of SADNESS. I will try harder to remember that this week.

Oh yes, I have soooooooooo many wonderful friends that make my life richer…it is true, I really should be Happy!

Good night dear friends!

  “Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets.”

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”   Frederick Douglass

Putting the mask back on.

Another tough day today, constantly I am hitting the wall...emotionally and physically. I am not sure why, but I am struggling and I am desperately trying to get back to my normal bright side of life. I tried to explain to Jeff tonight, how hard I am struggling, I just cried through most of it and he just looked helpless. I wish I could pin point why I am feeling like this? This really isn't like me. I am usually happy just doing what limited things I can, but at least I can still do something! I have been going over and over again in my thoughts why I am hurting so much, I know I am in pain, I am physically tired ( too tired ) but that is part of my normal every day life, and I always seem to wake up excited to have another day, but not today. Everything I had to do, I did the best I could, but it took effort and I had to put my mask back on. You know the one that tries to show the world you are ok and doing well, but underneath you are hurting, scared or frustrated.

I knew I was at a low point today, because my thoughts were out of control. I kept having these questions of why I feel like this, why am I not better or stronger? Then the thoughts that came were...your cancer must have come back. Now I normally DO NOT go there, but for some reason, I can't shake this today. I know that thoughts like that aren't productive or healthy. They are however normal for survivors, some of the time. But ever since my friend lost her battle with Cancer, it has been a reoccurring thought.

Anyway, I am sorry to have been so honest. I don't want my blog to be discouraging or hard on you. Yet at the same time, I feel a big impression to be real and  honest. I am going to bed soon, and I am just going to chalk this whole day up as a BIGGER THAN ME DAY! Thank you for your faith and prayers in my behalf. I am sure that this to will pass...I just hope it doesn't take too long! I need to also remember that Saturday night and Sunday were good days, I know that counting your blessings helps a lot, so I don't want to forget to do that. Good night dear friends!

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one, which has been opened for us.” ~ Helen Keller

“ One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”   ~Lucille Ball

From darkness into light

I have to admit that for some reason the past few days, have seemed very dark for me. I couldn't find much to be happy about and the feelings I had about myself, were very self defeating to say the least. I sorta felt that this darkness, has been creeping up on me for the few weeks now. I cry more than normal, everything seems too big to handle and the worst is, I felt a sadness about myself and my life that really wasn't healthy at all. I was sharing these feelings with a dear friend and her comment was, 'you need to go easy on yourself Lynn, for the past 3 weeks  you and Jeff both have had pneumonia, you had a friend pass away, Lee was sick, your granddaughter got really sick and because of your illnesses, you haven't been able to keep up on the exercises that the PT has given you, so you haven't really had very much improvement on your back, neck and knees. You have had a lot on you.'

Well, that is good and true but the truth is, that is exactly what most of what my life has been and yet I usually can always find things to be happy and grateful about. I even noticed a week or so ago, that I was jealous of someone, for something! That is really not like me, oh I some times wonder what it would be like to have health, money, resources to go on vacations and so on, but I am truly not jealous. And yet I was, and it felt bad. I noticed that my communication with my Heavenly Father has even been less and that always makes me feel sad too. Probably it also makes Him sad.
So the past couple of days, I have tried to stay off to myself, keep my mouth shut, so some of the discouraging things...didn't come out, and then I just prayed and prayed hard to know what was going on. Last night after another sincere, and heartfelt prayer, I felt a bit of light coming through. I felt hopeful that this darkness that was around me, didn't have to stay forever! Today has been even better and once again, even though I am still in pain, still make the same amount of money, still have the same limitations and restrictions...I feel happy and I am soooooooooooo grateful for that.
Another dear friend of mine spoke in church lately, and her talk was about prayer.  She compared it to light. She was kind enough to share her notes with me so I could use it in my blog. I will only use part of it tonight, but it was exactly what I needed to read again. What a great friend she is to me. So I will leave you with these words, and tell you that I probably did take for granted these last few weeks, my communication with my Heavenly Father. I was too sick, too tired, or whatever, to do what I needed to do...which was  pray for help and strength. Prayer has always been essential in my life, I am not sure why I let that slip?  I now can feel the light, and it is something I need not take for granted anymore! Good night dear friends!

The Power of Prayer

Since 1879, the electric light bulb has changed the way we see the world. Small shacks may be merely lit by a dusty yellow street lamp outside, and lavish mansions are illuminated by great chandeliers. Because of them we can work 24 hours a day, we can perform surgery in the dead of night if we need to, we can illuminate anything, almost anywhere, at the flip of a switch. Think of the hope and joy that comes to one, struggling in a dark cave or well, when finally they see the lights of rescuers coming to save them. Rescuers who will call their name, until they hear a response….

What power is behind that little carbon filament, what power behind that light we take so for granted.

Prayer is something that many of us may take for granted, perhaps we do it, but it has become too routine, mundane. We underestimate the power it can have in our lives. The truth is, sincere, heartfelt prayer has the power to save our souls, our marriages, our families, and enable us to be a light to others.

 

“God knows our needs better than we can state them, but He wants us to approach Him in faith to ask for blessings, safety, and comfort.”   ~ James E. Faust

"The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him."  ~William McGill

"Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things."  ~Samuel M. Shoemaker

Another Bigger Than Me Day!

I really didn't have a reason to have a bigger than me day today but...I did. Maybe because I was home alone a lot while everyone went to church? Maybe it's because it has been a month ago since Lauren left for college ( and she is doing great). I am not hurting too bad, just tired of sitting and not doing much.  I am still downstairs, so it's not like I want a lot of visitors when I haven't even been able to shower since my surgery! ( I do take bathes, so don't get too worried ) But I sit in my big chair here with all my stuff around me, the family calls it my COMMAND CENTER. Ok, so I do ask them to do a few things for me since I am not getting up much. I have a big ice machine beside my chair and so that ties me down too, but it feels good and I think I haven't really had much swelling. I go to the Doctor tomorrow and we will see what the results are? I just feel down, I feel sad to be once again not able to go places with my family and just trying to get my body to heal, seems like I have been doing a lot of that these past 3 years.

My family has taken such good care of me and everyone has been so thoughtful with meals,cards and calls...so I really shouldn't complain, but I still just feel sad. Just another bigger than me day and I knew that I would have some of them and so I will try to keep it in perspective.

Learning from Life....what a good title for me and my blog! It does seem like I am ever learning how to be patient, how to grow, how to develop into the Lynn Woodard that I should be. Thanks for always being there for me, you have made a huge difference in my life and the life of my family.

"ANYONE WHO IMAGINES THAT BLISS IS NORMAL IS GOING TO WASTE A LOT OF TIME RUNNING AROUND SHOUTING THAT HE HAS BEEN ROBBED.

MOST PUTTS DON'T DROP. MOST BEEF IS TOUGH. MOST CHILDREN GROW UP TO BE JUST PEOPLE. MOST SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES REQUIRE A HIGH DEGREE OF MUTUAL TOLERATION. MOST JOBS ARE MORE OFTEN DULL THAN OTHERWISE...

LIFE IS LIKE AN OLD-TIME RAIL JOURNEY-- DELAYS, SIDETRACKS, SMOKE, DUST, CINDERS, AND JOLT, INTERSPERSED ONLY OCCASSIONALLY BY BEAUTIFUL, VISTAS AND THRILLING BURSTS OF SPEED.

THE TRICK IS TO THANK THE LORD FOR LETTING  YOU HAVE THE RIDE!" ~ Jenkins Lloyd

A Hug and a Smile

 

Our newest granddaughter is one month old tomorrow and just a few days ago she began smiling at her mom and dad. I still can't believe the miracle of these little ones, what a blessing they are. This is a photo of her when she was 3 days old and we caught her smiling in her sleep (don't you wish you could know what they were dreaming of?). But now she is more alert and looking around and can respond to us, it is something else. No matter how bad my day has been going, those hugs and smiles can keep you going.

Today was a tough day for me physically. I am sure that I move so much in my chair at church, that people wonder if I have two spirits in this one body. :)  It's just that I can hardly get comfortable in any position. After church I am pretty wiped out for the remainder of the day. Today was another BIGGER THAN ME day. I have had a couple of them close together lately, probably because I am in a lot of pain. I had a pity party for myself and no one was invited except ME, MYSELF and I. Even that was too many, I laid down and cried for an hour, just feeling sorry that I can't do what I would like to do. Upset because I hurt so often and that seems to wear on me and my outlook. Tired of having to hurt for hours after doing something, such as going to church. I am so thankful that I can go to church but, I hate paying the price later. Oh yes, I was a sad case indeed. Then I got a phone call and a dear friend of mine told me that she just had her baby.

So tonight, I decided to go see her and the baby. Her husband went home early with their 2 little girls and so I got to stay and visit with her and hold the baby for 2 hours, what a treat! It made me feel better to hold and hug this new little one. I watched her smile in her sleep and thought, my life is good...not exactly what I would choose, but it is good. I am so grateful that I left my pity party and got to share a neat evening with a dear friend. It certainly helped me a lot.

The Hug

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart;
It welcomes us back home
Makes it easier to part.

A hug's a way to share the joy,
And sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say
They like you 'cause you're you.

Hugs are meant for anyone
For whom we really care,
From grandma to your neighbor,
Or a cuddly teddy bear.

A hug is an amazing thing-
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say.

It's funny how a little hug
Makes everyone feel good;
In every place and language,
It's always understood.

Thanks for sharing my blog with me, your support and encouragement help so much. Good night!

 

"A smile can brighten the darkest day."  ~Author Unknown

"Hugs are the universal medicine"  ~Author Unknown

 

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." 

~Mother Teresa

Joy and Sadness

School officially started for us today like I mentioned, and I also realized that it is the beginning of the Fall sports...especially Football. I read this article from a man who played football and went on to say that many of the lessons that he learned from those days and from his mother. I thought it was a good reminder for me because I am struggling with my pain tonight. I actually had Joy at first, because it was beautiful weather and my granddaughter was over for a visit and I worked on the yard. I don't do that very often and it shows, but I really wanted to do it tonight. We had a wonderful time, she played in the dirt and the Pumpkin patch and I raked leaves and rearranged the flowers on my porch. The sadness didn't take long to replace the joy, because my body started hurting so bad. Now it is an hour or so later and I can hardly stand the pain in my back and neck and the arthritis in my hands are killing me so.......... I really needed to read an uplifting article like this. This isn't the whole article, it was too long. But I just need to keep telling myself ....Come what may and love it!  I am trying hard to not concentrate on all the things I can not do and remember to be grateful for the ones that I can. Good night dear friends, thanks for your continued love and support.

Joy and Sadness for All  by Joseph B. Wirthlin

When I was young I loved playing sports, and I have many fond memories of those days. But not all of them are pleasant. I remember one day after my football team lost a tough game, I came home feeling discouraged. My mother was there. She listened to my sad story. She taught her children to trust in themselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes, and give their best effort in everything they attempted.

When we fell down, she expected us to pick ourselves up and get going again. So the advice my mother gave to me then wasn’t altogether unexpected. It has stayed with me all my life.

“Joseph,” she said, “come what may, and love it.”

I have often reflected on that counsel

"Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."

For me, the Lord has opened the windows of heaven and showered blessings upon my family beyond my ability to express. Yet like everyone else, I have had times in my life when it seemed that the heaviness of my heart might be greater than I could bear. During those times I think back to those tender days of my youth when great sorrows came at the losing end of a football game.

How little I knew then of what awaited me in later years. But whenever my steps led through seasons of sadness and sorrow, my mother’s words often came back to me: “Come what may, and love it.”

How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.

If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness.

Remember..."Come what may, and love it!"