Hi, friends!
Well, I finally finished the Feb. Handmaidens
http://ionanet.com/women/200
I hope you will find time to visit and enjoy the webzine.

Here's an excerpt from one of the pages which kind of fills you in on
how I'm doing...
http://www.ionanet.com/women/200/christ.htm

Make My Day!
A friend from church visited the other day and commented that she
couldn't understand how I could be so "up" all the time. "Don't you feel
depressed going through all these physical problems you've been having?"
she asked. "Aren't you lonely since your husband had to be gone all week
while you are ill?"

I thought about that and realized that I wasn't depressed or lonely
because I didn't WANT to be depressed or lonely. Feeling depressed would
only make my health problems worse and wallowing in loneliness wouldn't
bring my husband home sooner, so why would I choose either of those
negative mindsets?

Later, Carol Skipper (of Apron Strings) came by with all sorts of food
and goodies. "You're enjoying this aren't you?" she commented knowingly
as I told her how I'd spent most of the day delving into the Sermon on
the Mount and watching a Veggie Tales video she had brought the day
before.

Hmmmm... was I actually enjoying being sick and alone? Yes! Pretty
weird, huh? But you see, I couldn't change my health situation, so I
turned convalescing into a mini vacation. I was too dizzy to trust
myself with housework or even web work, so I read, prayed and watched
Veggie Tales (you should see them!) and generally had a great time
lolling around on the couch. As for being alone, I love my husband
deeply, passionately and totally, yet both he and I have always enjoyed
some time in serene solitude.

"Go ahead; make my day!" This became a popular saying from a hit movie
filled with violence and worse, but I find myself using it in a
different way. I say it to the Lord. I say it to myself. My day will be
good or bad based not on what happens but rather on what choices I make
and how well I listen to the Holy Spirit as I make them.

Blessings upon you!

Iona Hoeppner
ionanet http://ionanet.com
Handmaidens http://ionanet.com/women
Jesus http://ionanet.com/jesus

He who laughs, lasts.
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