Another Day

Yesterday, I turned another day older. I am now 45 years old. I can't believe how blessed that I am. I have such caring people all around me. My day started with Rocke giving me 2 wonderful cards (one mushy & one funny). I fell back to sleep, then after I awoke, I spent some time with my Lord and read my Bible. My sister Suz sent a text message. My sister Dotty called and talked and talked, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then she calls back about 5 minutes later and said, "I just looked at the calendar and discovered it was your birthday". I also heard from:

-Cody called
-Kitty sent a text
-Amber sent a text and then later called so I could talk to Destiny, Jasmin, & Hailie
-Suz and Katrine sang Happy Birthday
-Vicki and Dixie (Rocke's sisters) sang Happy Birthday on Voice Mail
-Mom & Dad called
-Dotty called again
-My niece Mary Jo sent a text
-Rocke called a couple of times
-My friend Sue B sent an e-mail
-My friend Lori took me out for lunch and then we took her daughter to the park

I also heard from other from my friend Mickey and cousin Tracey. They had no idea it was my birthday, but it was so great to hear from them. I had a lot of laughs and will definitely have good memories of my 45th birthday.

It really doesn't matter that people remembered my birthday or not. I have such wonderful people in my life. Friends, family, church family. The whole lot! It is great to know that I am loved. I want to return the favor when I can. I am so blessed that I can hardly express in writing how I feel. It feels almost all warm & tingly. Kind of like when you have to go pee really bad, It hurts and then when it happens you feel relief. Wow. I describe things weird don't I.

Life is hard, eternal life is better!

I am not sure who sings that song. I should someday try to find out. I will have to add that to my "look up list".

Sometimes it seems as if life is too hard. You just want to give up! There is so much tragedy and heartache all around us.

Kitty and Matt were so excited to have a new life coming into their lives. The joy on their faces just radiated. This baby was so loved. Tragedy struck and Kitty lost him. He was a perfect little boy. Sometimes I get angry thinking about it! She had just been to the emergency room the night before and they sent her home. Just gave her some pain meds and sent her home. The next morning as she prepared to go to the doctor to get more help, he was born. Way too early. He was gone before anything could be done. WHY????? I know all the classic answers: Maybe something was wrong (tests show he was perfect); God wanted a baby in heaven; He is in a better place; too many more to mention.

This is what I do know. God is good. It may not seem like it sometimes, but he is crying right along side of us. He loves babies. I will not falter in my faith. Pastor Peacock once told me that "Faith has questions". I will cling to my faith even though I don't doubt God or faith, I do have questions. But life can sometimes be really hard, but I know whom I believe and that eternal life with him will be GREAT!!

Life in the citty

Wow. I thought I was done living the city life, but Rocke's job has brought him here so here we are! We recieved news about a month ago that Rocke's ABL counts were up slightly. We were surprised due to the fact that results before that showed he was in remission. I decided that I would take a leave of absence from my job so that I could be with him. I cannot imagine my life without this man. He is my "Rock". Christ is number one but Rocke keeps me grounded and stable. I would be more of basket case if it wasn't for him. The Lord tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes I think that I have put Rocke before my GOD. I am working on this. Perhaps that is why GOD is giving me a reality check. Though I cannot imagine my life without Rocke, I really couln't make it through this life without my Lord and redeemer. He is my "fortress and help in times of trouble". I couldn't make it without him to hold me. I pray that my children will see this truth before and if anything happens to their Dad. Prayer keeps me going. I have so many people praying for Rocke and I. I can feel those prayers, they surruond me like a great big hug. Thank you Lord for all you have done and continue to do.

My Savior, My God

Some days are hard without Rocke here. He makes my life complete. It never compares with the feelings I had the day he was diagnosed with luekemia. The day was cloudy when I got the call he was on his way to the hospital. I was rushing to the hospital to be with him, not knowing what the outcome may be. I was listening to WWIB radio out of Eau Claire on my way. As I turned the corner to turn towards the hospital, the tears flowed as I listened to the words of the song, "MY SAVIOR, MY GOD" by Aaron Shust.

I didn't understand what God had planned or what his will was. All I do know is that he chose to keep Rocke alive. He has given Rocke the strength to continue working. He gave me the strength to find my inner strength. He brought us back to him. We were not living our faith. We are now!! Our Lord and Savior is alive and continueing to guide our lives. I praise the Lord for all he has done, including Rocke's illness and allowing him to have the treatable leukemia. Thank you GOD!!

Father's Day

Today was Father's Day and I not only honor my father (Bob Weatherhead) but the Father of my children.

Rocke was born in the Ladysmith hospital on May 4, 1960 to John & Lila Baker. He grew up working on his parent's and grandparent's farm, so he always knew hard work. When he was 21 he met the love of his life (me!). We were married on December 4, 1981. (I just noticed that the 4th is significant for his dates) We had 3 children Amber (who is 25), Kitty (who is 22), Cody (who just turned 21 on the 11th of this month). Amber has 3 little girls whom I mentioned earlier in a blog (Destiny, 7; Jasmin, 6; Hailie, 3). Rocke worked as a farmer, then a A.I. technician, a herdsman, a hamburger flipper @ McDonald's, a foundry worker, a truck driver, and now a pipeline worker. He has never set idle. I have rarely seen a man work so hard and there was no job that "was beneath him". He did whatever he had to do to take care of his family. While he was driving milk truck, he became very ill. He was throwing up and running a high temp. He had been sick for almost a week, but he finally told his boss he was too sick to drive. He was still on his route over by Glen Flora picking up milk. The boss and his wife came to the farm he was at, and Jeanne (the wife) said she was taking him straight to the hospital. I was on my way to church with Amber & the girls when I got the phone call asking me which hospital to take him too. I told them to take him to Rice Lake. Now we are talking about a man who had never been sick other than a cold. I rushed to the hospital beating them there. Once he was admitted, they took all kinds of tests to see what was wrong. He was still throwing up and his temp was 103 degrees. The doctor came and said he didn't really know what was wrong but his blood counts were "out of this world". The next few days were a blur as he continued with tests and was taken by ambulance to Eau Claire. It was there that he was diagnosed with leukemia. There are different types of leukemia. The type he had was treatable but not curable. Hew is now said to be in remission thanks to the daily pill he has to take called Gleevec. Even as battled his disease, he worked if not on a job, he went every day to Mom & Dad's and helped on the beef farm. He is the hardest working, most caring, loving Christian man I know. The thought of losing him caused both of us to turn our focus to our Lord & Savior. We were both Christians before this, but we both have became so much stronger in our faith. I thank God every day for this man. Right now he is off working in Fond Du Lac, WI. Cheers to my man, I am the luckiest girl in the world!!

Beautiful Baptism video

It is so hard to beleive that it will have been 3 years ago that Amber came home with 3 little babies in tow. She was so depressed, angry and felt like she wasn't worth anything. She had been married to a man who abused her for their entire relationship. Then she came home in August of 2005. Then her Grandma died (Rocke's mom) in November. I lost my job in June, then in July Rocke was diagnosed with leukemia. Amber hated the world. She was angry with her ex-husband but more than that she was angry with God for allowing all of this to happen. Her Dad had never been sick. He was strong & tough and was now flat on his back in the hospital. The winter of 2007, she attended ALPHA (a program through church that taught about Jesus in a safe enviroment, where no question was a bad one). I started to go with her, but it was getting to be too late for the grandkids to get up for school, so I volunteered to watch the girls so she could go. She met Nate & Patti Yoder. They helped her through her anger with God. She was baptized in the summer of 2007. That was one of the best day. Rocke & I were so blessed that she has blossomed. I continue to pray for her as she continues to struggle with anger & low self esteem. I want her to know what a beautiful person she is and that I am so proud of her. Some of the choices she continues to make are not the best ones in my opinion, but she is stronger and happier than 3 years ago. This is a tribute to her! I love you Bambi girl!!

Time flies when your'e busy

It really has been a while since I have even wrote in here. Rocke had to go to Fon du Lac on the pipeline. He will be gone until November. Kitty is getting married in July. Cody got a cycle. Amber is making plans to move out.God surrounds me with such great people in my life. And some just flit in when I need them and then flit out again. Yesterday I was just walking around the corner at Wal-Mart and there was Pastor Loretta. She know exactly how I feel, her hubby is gone off working too. Then today, Pastor Heath came by today shopping and I had a nice visit with him. God love us. It reminds of how God shows us little things that can bring a smile to our faces. He is in the friend who stops to say hi while you are at work. It is the e-mail that someone sends you. It is a phone call from your sis just needing someone to talk to and she calls you. Life is Good.