Counting God's Blessings!

God is Good~ all the time and life is full ~ all the time:

Please pray as Philipp and Sarah and sweet Eleonora ( 7.5 pounds now!) transition into their new home ( apt on Campus) and life in CHICAGO!
I am about to leave to pick up Elizabeth who has been with them this past week helping pack and drive and babysit her special ( and only) niece!!!!

Elizabeth says Eleaonora is the smilingest baby in the world except when she is hungry~ then she wants to suck and can not because of the damaged vocal cord which causes her to choke. PLEASE PRAY GOD HEALS THIS SOON!!!!

OTHER PRAYER REQUESTS:
MY DEAR UNCLE CHUCK AND AUNT GLADYS ( WELL THEY FEEL LIKE RELATIVES ANYWAY) BOTH HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH CHALLENGES INCLUDING HER CANCER AND HIS NEED FOR A KNEE REPLACEMENT REPAIR JOB....

MIRACLES OF HEALING IN MANY FAMILIES I KNOW~ RELATIONSHIPS ESP.....AND HEALTH FOR US ALL!!!

BE PROACTIVE AND TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH.
LOVE TO YOU ALL

STP

This is what I did this weekend: ( what about you?)
STP
Stopped alot just to ENJOY where I was ....( to listen for GOD'S voice and see HIS love all around)
Took time to finish a goal ( with much prayer and GOD'S strength and power!)
Praised GOD for EVERYTHING that happened ( even and perhaps especially the thorns of
life.... and in tires!!!)


Actually...
the STP this weekend also stood for the SEATTLE To PORTLAND's 30th annual Bike Classic that Elizabeth , Joshua and Caleb all completed by GOD's grace and protection and Andrew and I enjoyed some of too!!!

I hope to write more soon but until then...

Remember to count your blessings ~ naming them one by one and do....

...Keep stopping to smell the roses and being grateful for even the " thorns" in life remembering that they have a purpose too and learning to accept and be thankful for them.
Wish I could tell you about all the miracles and amazing stories that happened on our way to Seattle by VAN fulls and by bike all the way down to Portland ~ especially the " angel" wing recumbants on LOVEJOY ST, the blessings of a flat tire the first mile into the ride, the " miracle of wind~ power we prayed for and finally the SHOFAR horn blast at BAJA FRESH....ask me sometime....

Love Ya all!!!
A very tired and sore STP start and finisher ( with quite a few detours along the VERY BLESS~ED Way!!!
Ruthie
Joyful and grateful daugther of the KING OF KINGS,
wife of a most amazing man , momie to some of the dearest children, gran~momie to a miracle and joy beyond compare, and friend to the most beautiful flowers in the garden of life and blessed by all who come my way!!!!

MAY JESUS CHRIST BE PRAISED ~~~ God is my strength and my power and HE maketh my way PERFECT....II Samuel 22/ Psalm 18 A new song God gave me during my bike ride!

Consider the Lilies...and Roses too!

Dear dear, Hearts!
Have you been slowing down to smell the roses in your life~ the flowers and the blessings and THANKING GOD????
I sure have!!!!
It has been a most lovely week! My best birthday gift was knowing Eleonora was home and the Gollner family could all be together every night! Every time I hear Sarah's voice there is such joy and gratefulness to be home enjoying Eleonora and being with Philipp again. Eleonora is quite content and continues to make little noises encouraging us all !
Do pray as now they will prepare to move to Chicago at the end of next month for a year and we hope Elizabeth can fly back to help with the drive.
The above picture is our sweet smelling " Cecil Brunner" Rose Arbor into our garden. This was another gift from GOD this week and a surprise since this was only made and planted 3 years ago with a dear friend. This week I had a special surprise luncheon with my own dear family ( whom I am EVER GRATEFUL FOR!!!!) and separate surprise visits from friends far and near ( thank you Dana Lee, Cynthia Jean and Tammy Lynn ~ ALL a joy and delight!) and was able to have tea at both arbors in the front and back among the roses.
Wish you all could come for tea and "smell the roses " with me here. I actually had the same rose bush in my back yard as a child and it has always been my favorite~~ the smell is truly heavenly and one little bloom will fragrance a whole room!
Let me share with you a poem from one of my favorite devotional books, Daily Strength for Daily Needs:

"THEY do not toil:
CONTENT with their allotted task
They do but grow, they do not ask
A richer lot, a higher sphere,
But in their loveliness appear.

And GROW and SMILE, and DO THEIR BEST,
And unto GOD they leave the rest." Marianne Farmingham

Lovingly,
Ruthie
growing hopefully in GRACE , smiling, and doing my best
and leaving GOD with the rest
How about you?
Do STOP and smell the roses with me...TODAY!!!!

Home~ what a lovely word!

Yes, all went smoothly and joyfully as Philipp and Sarah left the hospital with Eleonora last night and took her HOME for the first time! She slept peacefully in her car seat for the 30 minute drive and the night went well with no monitors going off. Sarah does need to feed her every 3 hrs around the clock with with the electric feeding tube and also do her pumping at the same time so do pray for strength and rest for this dear family who has been through so much since the birth on Feb 23rd. We are so thankful for all the LORD has done and continues to do and appreciate your prayers and trust they will continue as you think of them. THAT is the BEST of all gifts~ PRAYER!!!!
Blessings and Love to all!
Ruthie
Lately I have been thinking a lot about my forever HOME in heaven~ how about you?It sure sounds wonderful to me ( The book of Revelations in the Bible tells all about it , especially chapters 21 and 22!!! ..."and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain...Behold I make all things new...and (we) they shall see HIS face... ( can't wait for that HOME ~going!)
and the last verse in the Bible says this..Revelations 22.21
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!" and AMEN!

Hopefully Tomorrow!

Yes, If all goes well ( and there is A LOT to do!) Philipp and Sarah get to bring their sweet angel home. Eleonora is doing well and we are all excited for her homecoming. It will surely be soon if not on Friday the 5th. ( Extra special because it is our Elizabeth's 26th birthday!!!)

Do pray for this huge transition.
Thanks and blessings from,
the Granmomie Ruthie

All Good News!!!

Eleonora is gaining and doing well at 4 pounds 14 ounces and one week to original due date! AND.....there is talk she might go home this week or next!!!! AND....

Sarah has been hearing little noises come from Eleonora this week!!!!!May God completely heal her vocal cord for HIS GLORY and may she praise Him always with her voice and precious life!!!!
Sarah has also asked for prayer for the equipment rental to go smoothly especially since there are complications since they will be moving to Chicago this summer for Philipp's teaching job there, as he works on his Doctorate.

Joshua did well at the State Meet for Track in the 1 and 2 mile events. He did not feel great during either race but still beat his Personal Record ( PR) by 12 seconds in the 2 mile coming in 10th at 10 min 17 seconds! It was in the 90's and it was a great learning experience for us all and the trip was lovely all-in-all!

Anyone else putting in a garden this year ? Gardening and bike ride training for the STP ( a Seattle to Portland bike ride) will be our focus for the next 6 weeks ~ 5 of us are signed up and I hope to use it to get back in shape. I am praying this will be our family's healthiest year ever ( body , mind and especially SPIRIT)!!! yours too!!! ( 3 john 2 ) and that we all will WALK IN TRUTH ( 3 john 4)!!!!

What are you doing and how can I pray for you ???

Could you please pray for a speedy recovery for one of the Bikers who had a bad accident last Saturday ~ we are praying he will not lose the 4 teeth that he landed on!!!!OUCH!!! His name is Steven.
lovingly and prayerfully
Ruthie
Tim's Rose

Eleonora's Surgery went well...

Hello and Greetings Dears!
How are you? I AM BLESSED!!!
This will have to be real quick because I am literally unpacking and repacking to leave tomorrow with Tim for 3 days to Eastern Washington ( 6 hr drive) for Joshua's 2 day State Track Meet for the 1 and 2 mile events! Do pray for us as we travel and Joshua's races, and the rest of the family at home with Elizabeth.

Eleonora's surgery went great with no complications and she is still sedated~ so as far as we know all is well. Do pray for speedy recovery so this little family can be together at home soon. Philipp and Sarah will need to learn how to use some monitors for her and it could all happen within the next few weeks if all goes well.

Thank you for your prayers for my last trip ~ GOD did amazing things and I can not start to tell you or I would not be able to stop but basically IT WAS A HUGE BLESSING and also a growing experience and I had a major healing crisis ( if you know what that is)....ask me sometime but basically in body , mind and spirit I FEEL GREAT and REJUVENATED!!!!


LOVE AND BLESSINGS to YOU ALL!!!!! and many tears of JOY !!!
yours,
Ruthie
Keep REJOICING and Trusting GOD NO MATTER WHAT !!!