A couple of months ago, when the life of our first grandchild was ebbing, slipping away so that we would not run or walk with her in this life, my mother sent a book for Cleo and me to read. Entitled Heaven is for Real, the story provides glimpses into the experience of a tiny four year old Colton Burpo, who had lain on an emergency operating room table in rural Nebraska although he experienced quite the different episode, a time in the lap of Jesus. He, who like Akiane Kramarik, has been blessed with views to the Heavenly plane brought for me through recollections collected by his parents into the book the crystalline thoughts I have had since we knew our granddaughter would be stillborn...... thoughts of Heaven, God's glory, the peace in the knowledge we will one day see our granddaughter and our unnamed child who miscarried as the twin of our youngest child, our college age daughter.

Blessed? Indeed. Blessed by young messengers who have brought through written word and art beyond understanding glimpses into the glory of God.

Blessed be,
Mark56

Blessings:

My family
my darling rabbits, Luna nd Ben, who I love as much as any human.
My TOOTLE
My ability to still smile
To not be working over the summer, so any days I can enjoy reading in the garden instead of in work ..
My love of books
Love and peace in my life
And all my dear friends on here

Ah that's lovely Karen

Sinead 

Yep, lovely indeed!
Mark56

....to come back after an extended absence and see this thread is very much alive.
It warms my heart to read thru all these testimonies, to see my dear precious friends hang on to Hope and Faith, despite the many uphill battles we face.
We gain such incredible strength from one another.

I hold you all so dear to my heart.

Thank you Mark, for starting this beautiful thread and thank you to everyone who contributes another link to this wonderful chain of BLESSINGS

Rae

So good to see you! HUGZ

The SAME MUST be written as to both of you, Pooh and Rrae!! Yep. : o)

I feel so blessed to be able to be out and about once again, and able to visit my friend Jan from the Job Seekers group I lead in Golden, CO. She suffered a perforated appendix after showing up to the ER complaining mightily of low right side abdominal pain. The triage result...... allow her to sit for 9 hours in ER awaiting her turn in the first come first serve ER, then get to see a doc who says "I suspect gall bladder," then 22 hours after she first arrives FINALLY in surgery for an urgent appendectomy because it was finally discerned as perforated. I have known of those who died from such a situation. Thank God and those who at last cared for her, she was saved.

Yep, I feel blessed to be able to visit her in hospital and bring cheer,
Feels good,
Mark56

As many of you know, I have striven these many months since fully withdrawing from all pain meds to find employment so as to better provide for my family once again. I have been four plus years out of the market, involved in our company I founded, Inspri, for the purpose of helping others with pain such as mine, yes, but still wanting to diversify our revenue flow.

I had written of a small local company which badly wanted me, and it seemed perhaps God had brought them clearly to view, but their abiltiy to help provide for my family was quite limited and would be so for the forseeable future. Then, having stopped my efforts at search, God brought people to me.

Two opportunities have come my way, one resulting in an interview yesterday via phone interview with a company president which went very, very well and, if by miracle selected, I would become an Exec VP with a Fortune 500 company, propelling me once again into a work place at a means of support much closer to what I used to earn. In this, no matter the outcome, I feel blessed at least to have been recognized of significant value though I have been through the valley of pain, all of which I disclosed. So we will learn next week whether I am selected for an on site interview. In the meantime.... we float a bit on air at the mere prospect. God is good.

Feeling blessed,
Mark56

Oh, how the blessings continue with deep gratitude:

1. Irljenn is HOME!!!!

2. My dear friend and member of our Golden Job Seekers group, Jan, is now home after being purposely overlooked in the emergency room of a local hospital since they were performing triage via a take a number scheme. She had severe abdominal pain, was presumed a gall bladder case, and set aside. In the meantime her appendix [the true culprit] perforated [med speak for it burst] and was leaking poison into her body. 24 hours after reception into ER, she was finally in an operating room where the team was trying to save her life. In the meantime, abcesses had formed within her abdominal and chest cavities. Hospital for three weeks, and she was finally allowed home with a drain tube still stitched to her side. So, Jan is HOME!!!

3. Thirty-eight years of blessing by my wife and dear best friend, who brings joy, support, and adventure to my life.

4. A book I heartily recommend for anyone who thinks to read from this thread..... The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason Wright...... and for all of the miracles you participants in this forum have brought to my life.

5. For work opportunity..... and yes, I am still waiting for a call from the president with whom I interviewed last Friday...... No, I am not chewing off my nails yet.

6. For the existence of this place in which we share.

Mark56