New Beginnings

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could create a blog all by myself...but I did. There's been so much talk, lately, about blogging, that I felt I had to join the club and keep in touch with you, myself. It's a privilege to read what so many of you are writing. I hope you enjoy Teresa's Treasures as much as I've enjoyed reading yours. Treasures is what life is all about.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:21

Let me tell you where my heart is right now. I treasure my granddaughter, Bella, for being my first grandchild. I treasure my son and daughter-in-law for being such great parents. I treasure my husband for staying with me for almost 33 years when the ratio of what he gave and what I gave was definitely not 50/50. I treasure my friends "who have stuck closer to me than a brother" and there are many.

Every night, before I go to bed, I right down five things that I am thankful for that day. It has made me realize what I treasure. On August 1, 2007 this is what I wrote: 1) peace in the storm 2) saying what matters 3) time alone on a little bed 4) knowing God is in control and 5) knowing God. This night was the night before my husband, Phil, went into open heart surgery. It was possibly the last night that Phil and I could have "time alone on a little bed." I was determined to stay beside him as long as I could. I believe what we said to each other reflected the tenor of our marriage. We said precious little, but this is what I learned: I realized that if our marriage had been bad, we would have had so much more to say than if our marriage had been good. I told him that I was in a win/win situation... that if he lived he would be with me and that if he died, he would be with God in Heaven.

Having to write what I was thankful for on August 1st and August 2nd not only made me see the good when I could have easily seen the bad, it made me realize what I treasured. Saying what matters and time alone on a little bed seem so trivial, so unimportant, when, in reality, they were what I treasured that day. They are what I should treasure everyday. On August 2, the day of Phil's surgery, this is what I wrote: 1) Dr. Carter and Dr. Moore 2) a very skilled surgeon 3) waking up 4) great nurses 5) modern medicine and 6) hearing the words "It was a success."

Phil has my heart but more importantly, Phil has a new heart...one that flows freely now. I pray that the greatest treasure that I own comes from the God who treasures me...the One who gave me a new heart from the Son He treasured. I cannot wait to hear Him say one day, "It was a success" in a land where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain and no more need for triple bi-passes. These things I treasure.