Life goes on! God is with us!

Well it has been almost 13 months since Steve went home to be with our Lord! There have been times that the tears would just flow as we remembered the things we would do together. Today I enjoyed a good breakfast that he would have fixed for me. Corned beef hash and eggs. I even asked him to make it - he couldn't because he was fixing breakfast for "the KING". That's right - life isn't all about me - it IS about HIM!! We all miss him dearly but we KNOW that we will see him again and we WILL be together forever! In fact, this week God reinforced that to me in James 4. Verse 14 says that we don't even know what will happen tomorrow - we are a mist that appears for a while and vanishes. Steve was a GREAT mist - big mist too - that hurricaned into our lives. He certainly left his mark on EVERYONE he met. Even strangers he met on the airplane.

Yesterday I received an anonymous gift postmarked DesMoine, IA. Have any of you been in Iowa lately? Because the person obviously doesn't know that Steve passed away. It was addressed to Steven and Jan Deichert. There was a note inside that read - Thank you for your help when I first graduated from college. No doubt in my mind that Steve had monetarily helped someone out 20 plus years ago. AND no doubt that GOD had this person send this to me yesterday! I recently had to have work done on my 95 Saturn. I was dreaming of a new car but God had said to be content with what I have. GOD provided this money to cover the costs of these repairs!!!

This year has been interesting as our family continues to "go on" without Steve or Dad. I'm grateful that the grandgirls still fondly remember "Poppop". I am glad I can hope on a plane and see them for the weekend like I did Columbus weekend. What a wonderful surprise for the girls and me.

I am excited that the Lord has provided a full time benefit paying job for Kimberly!! It was almost a year to the day that she lost her job God provided this new one. She was working part time in a local hospital and was able to secure another job in the same field. God has intertwined both to give her expertise in her work.

Kevin has applied for a promotion at his job and is working many hours - we are thankful that he does have a job! We have been down that road before as a family - work is good. Brandy is doing a wonderful job as a mom and loves it! And of course I know it is debatable but I do have the best grandchildren in the world! Anna, Ella and Derek! I can't wait to be with them again.

And I am joyful as I work at Joyful Noise Preschool! I love it and the ladies I work with are the VERY BEST!! They are great encourager that love me and most of all love the Lord! They are taking good care of me.

I thank the Lord for HIS word and how it encourages me daily. Now I NEED to lean on HIM - no one else on earth can help me. It's just God and I! He has shown me this year that life is all about HIM - not us - we selfish people! God is sovereign and in control of EVERYTHING! There have been many times that it seems like God is sitting right next to me! I praise the Lord for Christian radio speakers! God uses them to encourage me and keep me going. Greg Laurie is on my radio many times and God is using his messages to confirm that God is REAL!
Feb. 13th (my birthday) Greg said, "Keep on" referring to Philippians 3:13. Kevin called me that day and at the end of the conversation said - "mom - just keep on." Then a few weeks ago when I was feeling a little overwhelmed - Greg said again, "keep on". These words of encouragement keep me "keeping on"! AS Dad Hare always said - "keep on keeping on"!

Keep on my FRIENDS - 1. God is with us! 2. We belong to God! (If we have surrendered our lives to HIM). 3. We should be doing the will of God! 4. We need to believe God! HE knows what is best for us!

Thank you for letting me share my heart. And thank you God for continuing to care for me - even better than Steve!

I love you all -- Mom, Mrs. Steve, Janice

Continuing the "firsts"

Today is February 7th and we continue through the adventure of going through the first special days without Steve. We did pass over his birthday pretty well. It was January 19th. Kevin did not want us to be alone so he came in for the week with the family. He had off for Martin Luthur King's birthday and took off the rest. I made him promise that they would not come if there was any threat of snow. He said that one snowflake falling would keep me indoors - haha. They did arrive and return safely. We had a wonderful time. It was great to be together! The grandchildren really make a difference. Sleeping was a bit to get used too - but what is a leg in the face when we are all family? Poor Derek did not like the pack and play and it made for a long week for Kevin and Brandy. I did LOVE to see him jumping in the doorway with the jumpy thing. Every parent should have one. I am really thankful that God planned that trip even though when they left I had a difficult time saying "see ya later".

That brings us to today. To update you - Kimberly has been placed on perdium with Virtua Hospital. She really likes it. But with perdium she only works every now and then. She is only scheduled for 2 days during the month of February. She was scheduled to work today - she did work with a happy spirit. We went out to Redstone Restaurant this evening and it was very good. Steve would have loved the food and the presentation. The broiled sea scallops were VERY good. Kimberly and the ribs and they were excellent. We figured that Steve would have had a steak - NY Strip or Prime Rib. Any guesses? There were definite times of crying at the table. But it was good to talk and reflect on where we have been and how God's plan has been executed.

Kimberly has an interview doing activity planning at a private school. We'll see what God's plan is. I REALLY hope that God will show her what is next because $$ is getting a bit scarce for her. She has been seeking the Lord and He has been with her. She is CONFIDENT in His plan!

I think we will just skip over the next birthday. Mine on Friday. His morning was hard enough thinking about no daddy to say happy birthday to "half pint". I know this is part of the process but it is hard.

Kimberly is out with her friends watching a movie so I guess I'll just go to bed and read my college testbook and go over my words for the quiz on Tuesday night. Yuk!

Thanks for your continual love for us.

widow Janice and daughter Kimberly