Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Happy Birthday Steve


Happy Birthday Steve :)

This week we celebrated another sweet year.
Steve's sister, her husband and Steve's sister-in-law
came over.
I baked a cake and ordered pizza.

Steve said that he was not in the mood for a party.
So, we called it a birthday lunch . . .
and he was okay with that :)


 He is not doing well,
and it took me several tries before I could get a smile. 


Our last two weeks have been filled with
hospice visits.
Now that we are all signed up
he will be getting two scheduled nurse visits a week. 


He has been on a Wendy burgers kick and 
malted milks from a local drive through.
I want him to have whatever brings him pleasure.
So we drive for one or the other and sometimes
both almost every afternoon.

 Me, I hate wasting money and I don't really like 
fast food, but i've been eating the leftovers
and fitting myself with unneeded crap.

Are any of you like that ?
I'm so unsettled and I use food for comfort . . .
it never works, but I do it anyway.

I have nervous energy and would love to burn
it off working in the yard and getting some needed
spring jobs done,
but I don't want to leave him.
Every minute counts :)

 Enough about that . . .
this lovely note and small purse size note pad
handmade by Marilyn of 
Pink Paper Cottage
arrived in the mail this week.
Thank you Marilyn. 


If you are into paper crafts,
Marilyn has many wonderful ideas 
to share with you on her blog.
She is certainly a paper artist :)

My quilting is slowing down as Steve needs more help,
but I have reached the boarder
and should soon be ready to add the binding.

Well, that's our lives at the moment.
They are hard, but Jesus is walking beside us.
He is our strength and our comfort.

I need a  sign on the frig that says
"you won't find comfort in here . . .
go to the true source with praise and thanksgiving"

I know the truth in this . . . it's an area where 
I need discipline.

God bless you all.
Your blogging sister,
Connie :) 
 

44 comments:

  1. Keeping you in prayer....this is such a very hard time in life....warm hugs Connie!

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  2. Oh Connie - I was saddened to read your post but pleased to see the lovely smile that Steve managed. Yes I find comfort in food too my friend. I wish I was one of those people that didn't eat when under stress, but unfortunately I am not. I pray for you both dear Connie & send love & warmest wishes your way. I have not been on here much as have an unwell Mum & just have had no time for the internet but I do love to stop by your blog xxx

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  3. Connie, my heart goes out to you. i continue to pray.
    I know all about the fridge and its contents, but I think it is just a form of comfort eating.

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  4. I hope you had a lovely birthday lunch. You and Steve are so often in my thoughts and in my prayers. I cannot imagine how it is to be in your situation. All I can do is keep praying for both of you.

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  5. Birthday Blessings on your sweet husband! You are both in my prayers. That cake looks delicious. I eat for comfort, too. Very hard not to when you're stressed. Be kind to yourself, Connie. Take care!

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  6. Ahhh... comfort food. Yes, I am quite familiar. I am keeping you and your Steve in my prayers!!

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  7. Happy Birthday, Steve! Thinking of you both often, Connie and sending you prayers.

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  8. Your posts always touch me with gentle inspiration. Every moment does indeed count. I love Marilyn’s little notebooks with her sweet words inscribed therein. I’ve been interested in making some, even tried one but it got too big and out of hand. I must try again. Marilyn’s inspire me. Much peace to you...

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  9. Aww Connie. I'm so sorry your dear Steve is having further declines in health. I'm glad you celebrated him, in the way he wanted with a lunch.
    Praying for you both.

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  10. Bless you both, and so glad that you could celebrate another birthday together, no matter how low key. My sweet hubby was on a chocolate milk shake kick for 2-3 weeks before hospice began. I groused about having to go after them every night, and of course now I regret that. So you're precious in your love and patience with this trial. Just grab up all the love you can share with him now.

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  11. Happy Birthday to Steve! So lovely to see him smile. Your cake looks delicious.
    You're right. Every moment in life counts with loved ones. Only the essential is important. All thoughts to you both.

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  12. Happy birthday to your Steve! That smile is wonderful, and the picture is great! Our thoughts and prayers are always with you.

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  13. Dear Connie, God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in time of trouble. Pray for you and Steve every day. A belated Happy Birthday to Steve! Such a hard thing to go through but may God wrap you and Steve in his arms each and every day. What a lovely little gift you received to cheer your day. Always fun to find things in our mailbox. Hugs, Nancy

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  14. My dear sweet Connie, my heart aches for you. I can tell each word was difficult for you to write. I do want to wish Steve a most blessed birthday and I'm overjoyed you were all able to celebrate another year together. Hospice is so wonderful. Would it be terrible to say I both love the wonderful workers and caregivers and their beautiful hearts full of love and compassion, and yet I hate the need for their professional specialty. I am glad that they are there for both of you.
    Marilyn sent you such a beautiful card and gift. You and Steve are in so many people's hearts and prayers. I pray for you both every morning when I wake and every evening when I say my prayers at bedtime. Often, your names pop into my head during the day too and I know it's the Lord prompting me to pray yet again. I'm specifically asking for peace, comfort and the feeling of His arms around you both right now. At this moment in time.
    Wishing you both a good night my friend.
    Blessings and love,
    Betsy

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  15. I don't like junk food but Wendy's has free senior soft drinks so that is a consolation. My husband is a cheeseburger addict.

    Best wishes to Steve. Your cake looks great!

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  16. Happy Birthday to Steve. I am at a loss of what to say right now. I can only sending loving thoughts and prayers to help you both through this difficult time.
    As for the food, I do the same thing. It is such a hard habit to break too.

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  17. God bless you too sweet friend. You remain in my prayers.

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  18. Dear, dear Connie ~ yes, every moment counts in your time together. Being there for Steve at all times is something you will never regret. I pray that you will feel God's continuing love and strength as you go through this time, and comfort as only He can give, for the both of you. Love, hugs & prayers ~ FlowerLady

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  19. Hi Connie - So good to see Steve there on his Birthday- I wish you both well. It will be the first day of Autumn here the day after tomorrow (Sunday)- looking forwards to the cooler days- though the nights now can be a bit cold. We had a visitor to-day- a 'Blue Tounge Lizard' - normally they are in the bush and not suburbia- Chris took some photos and he is a beut! Thinking of you both. Best Wishes. KEV. (Australia).

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  20. Your sweet Steve still has the sparkle in his eyes. I'm sure it's so hard for you to take good care of yourself when you're so busy taking care of Steve (eating fast food yourself, etc). I wish I lived close to you so that I could drop off a big container of homemade soup. What a lovely gift you received in the mail! Happy birthday to Steve and love and blessings to both of you.

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  21. Hello Connie. I look with pleasure for your colorful blog entries. I am so sorry you and your Steve are suffering so. You appear to have such strength through your faith. The picture you share of Steve is lovely and I'm glad you celebrated his special day with special people. I agree with you, indulge him in whatever he wants that brings him comfort. I hope you are taking care of yourself as well. By the way, Wendys does offer baked potatoes that are supposedly healthy, but theirs tastes like cardboard! Just someone who enjoys your blog. God Bless.

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  22. I have been following your blog for awhile and have been aware of your husband's declining health, but I have not commented. I am sure there are many others praying for you and your husband but not posting. Please know that I am continuing to pray for you and Steve. Prayers of comfort, peace and wisdom.
    Sincerely,
    Bekah

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  23. Oh Connie, there is so much love and pain in your post. I am thinking of you both xx

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  24. All your readers are sending you other love and support, know that you are both in our thoughts.

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  25. My heart is saddened, Connie, to hear of Steve's decline in health. With everyones' prayers, I was hoping (and praying) for a miracle of healing. It is so good that Steve can still eat and wants to eat, so do indulge him! And indulge yourself too.. at this time, comfort food can be a very good thing, for both of you. I love the picture of him with the smile.... and so glad you got to celebrate his birthday with his sister and her husband, and Steve's sister-in-law. I think company at this time is hard for the one who is not feeling well. So much I want to say... just know my heart hurts for you.... I continue to pray and bless you both. Hugs... Marilyn

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  26. Happy Birthday to your dear Steve!God bless you both!Sending prayers...Thank you for your sweet posts,full of strength,faith and love!

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  27. Happy Birthday to Steve and prayers and thoughts for you both.

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  28. Wishing Steve a belated Happy Birthday, hope you all enjoyed the birthday lunch. Thoughts and prayers are with you both. xx

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  29. Happy birthday to Steve. How nice that you could have a little celebration. You and Steve are in my thoughts and prayers so often.

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  30. Happy Birthday to Steve. So sorry to hear he isn't doing so good. You both are still in my prayers.
    When I'm upset I tend NOT to eat.
    I actually like Wendy's burgers!

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  31. Happy Birthday to your Steve, Connie. Such a lovely photo of Steve! Thinking and praying for you both constantly♥

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  32. I am glad that Steve agreed with a birthday lunch and you were able to get a smile on his face. I understand that at this point you want to keep him happy with what he wants to eat, it is hard to eat well when going out but some places like Wendy's you can get a salad and baked potato instead of a burger and fries. It does get quite expensive to eat out daily. I too use food for comfort or for celebrating.
    maybe when the nurse comes you can take some of that time to get outside and do some yard work, just to give you some you time a few times a week.
    You both continue to be in my prayers, so good to hear from you, May God bring strength, peace and guidance!

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  33. Dear Connie,
    Reading this post was like looking inside your heart...That's such a nice picture of Steve and I wish him a very Happy (belated) Birthday.
    May God bless you both.
    Linda

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  34. A belated birthday wish to Steve. Thank you for the updated photo of Steve as it helps to see what is going on with him. Strength and peace for you, Connie, as you care for your beloved Steve. It isn't easy.

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  35. Dearest Connie, Sorry to be so late seeing this. Happy (belated) Birthday to Steve. You and Steve are in my thoughts daily. I too understand about the comfort food. I'm the world's worst and have just about eaten us out of house and home just getting through February. :) Love you Connie. Wish I could give you and Steve both a big hug. Still praying for you.

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  36. What a tough time you are living through Connie. I am so sorry.
    The nurse visits sghould help a little bit and take some strain off you.
    Went thru this when my parents became ill and frail. So many of us can empathise and send you loving wishes.

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  37. Dear Connie, thank you for taking the time for an update. And for the photo of Steve. God bless you both and supply you with the strength needed for each day and fill your hearts with His peace. You remain in my prayers.

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  38. I love your attitude Connie.

    You are doing exactly what you need to do for Steve and seeing him happy is what's important.

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  39. I'm thinking about you Connie and sending you and Steve prayers and good thoughts. Don't worry about the food - take comfort where you can.

    Debra

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  40. Co9nnie, I missed this post, so sorry. I sat here and cried. I exactly what you mean. Happy birthday to your handsome man Steve. I know that man is your life's love. I pray for in the night when I wake up . Blessings and love to you both, xoxo, Susie

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  41. Hey Connie, Happy birthday to Steve. You are the most bravehearted soul I know of! Being the source of hope is one thing that this world as we know it collectively lacks and you are a beacon, feeling so proud to have stumbled onto your blog. Keep doing what you do best and do keep sharing your life experiences, it is a joy to go through your elusive writing skill.

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  42. What a sweet way to celebrate his birthday, and you both are certainly in my prayers, such a tough time to walk through. Thankful that your hope and trust is in the Lord, and praying that Hospice brings comfort to you during this time. I continue to pray for a healing for him, but trust in our Lord's perfect plan. You are an inspiration to us all sweet friend! Much love and prayers!

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