ThinMint

A Convoy for Freedom in Adelanto, California 🇺🇸 People are gathering food, donations, and helping one another, which is exactly what those in power fear. @VigilantFox

"... Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

There is beauty in our humanity. The establishment wants you to forget that. They do this by devaluing the life of the unborn, the infirm, and those in their golden years. They do this by stoking anger, envy and fear. Your enemy wants you focused inward not outward, eyes averted not heavenward. We were not created to be categorized and catalogued for their system that cannot handle our capabilities. We have immeasurable value!

We had a little family reunion this past weekend. Our 5 year-old has been saying for weeks that she wants to kiss his lungs and heart. She got to do so. EDIT TO ADD: Felix is still at the inpatient rehab. We’re hoping in 2-3 weeks he’ll come home and start outpatient rehab 🙂

Good News Friday! February 11th - February 18th, 2022 Typically I will post the good news that has accumulated for the week (after researching the stories). However, because of my current circumstances I’m enlisting your help. I’ll post some stuff as well, however please know I haven’t vetted any of it. Just wanted to pass it along 🙂 Please share all the good news that has occurred over the last week -even personal tidbits!

You are the best. Nothing like a cheese burger to lift a spirit.

QUICK FELIX UPDATE - The inpatient rehab is full, but there might be a bed opening tomorrow. Waiting on that and for the insurance to approve the admission. Felix continues to experience dizziness, especially while sitting. This of course, makes for a rough go when trying to work on his standing and walking. Speaking of walking, yesterday he was able to walk and when he needed to stop and rest, he was able to do so while standing (he usually rests in the wheelchair). I got to see the trach hole yesterday and it's already started to close. It looks like a droopy belly-button 😃 Please allow me to clarify (sorry for the confusion!): the feeding tube must stay in place until he is discharged from the inpatient rehab. This is in case there is an emergency and he needs meds or nutrition administered quickly. He's been eating solids for the last 3 weeks. And he received a surprise visit from his amazingly young looking wife yesterday who may or may not have brought him a cheeseburger.

The Red Sea – part 3 The more I read and reflect upon this Red Sea moment, the more layers get gently peeled away. Those moments that despair blankets and hope is quieted, are the circumstances that call down heaven-led miracles. The latest layer that peeled away for me revealed something that just struck me in quite a profound way. We know that there is a spiritual realm, however since this physical realm is what we know so keenly, the spiritual side of events can be easily overlooked. (We get a glimpse of this duality in the book of Job and in Daniel 10.) While the Red Sea crossing was a heavenly miracle for the Israelites, it was also an earthly judgement of Egypt. But, here’s where it gets interesting: it was a manifestation of the victorious outcome in the spiritual realm! For us, in the unseen world judgement has already been declared and God’s victory is realized. We are waiting on this fulfillment to be seen in the earthly realm. There are lessons to be learned from the Israelites who complained, who rebelled, who cast aspersions on God’s chosen leaders, doubting God every step of the way. It wasn’t a curious mind, it wasn’t those who pursued God’s truth, it wasn’t those who had some apprehension who missed out on The Promised Land. It was those who ignored God’s beckoning, those who deliberately disobeyed God’s instructions, those who mocked, sowed discord and those who didn’t trust Him who missed out. No matter how disastrous it looks in the rearview, no matter how unknown it looks ahead, no matter how our hearts grieve, no matter what –trust God.

The Red Sea – part 2 One of the points we can take away from the Red Sea crossing is that we’re not meant to face backward –where our enemies are in the throes of being destroyed. It’s about moving forward to a bright future promised by God. It might be a future that appears opaque to our eyes, yet we are called to trust. Like the Israelites, God is taking us places that are unfamiliar, often frightening. These trails may seem like we’re meandering without purpose through darkness, through storms, through repetitive tests. Still we should know He is in control. So when we feel downtrodden what should we do? Acknowledge that our help comes from the Lord, and believe that the same God Who delivered Job, Noah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Esther, Daniel, Ruth, Jonah (and so many others!) from adversity will also be faithful to shepherd us. We see God’s hand in who He picks to lead. Moses, a man with well-known shortcomings, was called to be the leader for such a time. Trump, a man with well-known shortcomings, has been called to lead for such a time as this. I don’t think it was in spite of; I think it’s because of their imperfections they were chosen. God delights in those who acknowledge they need Him –even when at first glimpse they appear to rebuff His plan. Our faith would be misplaced if we look to man to lead us; we must trust Him to use others for His purposes, and that includes commissioning us.

The Red Sea – part 1 I suspect many of us have been reflecting over the Red Sea crossing lately because one cannot ignore the parallels between that beautiful history, to what we are facing today. Like the Israelites, we find ourselves in a situation that is beyond our individual capabilities to solve. Like them, we are surrounded by an enemy who is bound to a dark force. We are facing seemingly insurmountable odds of breaking free from a corrupt system. Would this not be a moment that belongs to God? And do we not have a portion in this phase of history? We have been given an opportunity to crush an evil that stretches back thousands of years. I don’t know if our ancestors were presented with the possibility that we have, but without a doubt, all of it has culminated to this point. We are called to confront evil. Are you as deeply flattered and humbled as I am that God wants us here for these circumstances? We were made for such a time as this. We have been given divine distinction! Of course, we cannot do this alone. Seeking Him, understanding and submitting to His will, praying, believing and living for Him, will see us hand delivered by God. Unfortunately, some share the same laments as some of the Israelites. Like our spiritual ancestors, some have allowed their fear to blind them from truths, from God’s miracles. They refuse to believe that God is moved by the plight of His followers, assuming that we have somehow been abandoned, forgotten. Are we in danger of being contemptuous towards God? Yes, some folks are dangerously flirting with showing God disdain for what He’s working out for our good.

Hope you'll forgive me for doing a little bit of "cheating" here and there. I need to spend some time reconciling insurance bills against the processed claims. I am also woefully behind on handling all the thank you acknowledgements that need to be taken care of. And of course, my mind is busy, busy, busy (!) thinking about what to write regarding our journey. So while I work on those things and more, I thought I would forward some stuff I've already posted on the channel...

~ and still a little more LOVE ~ I still don’t know how God will use our experience to help others, but I told Him to send me. Yesterday I started capturing my thoughts, typing about our journey one clickety-click at a time. There is no love greater than His. When there are so many channels who post morbid, obscene, joy-stealing stuff ad nauseam, it attracts a lot of negative commentary. It’s beyond tiring. Y’all are amazing with your generous compliments and edifying comments to one another. You’ve made this a precious community with your class, affability, excellence and good-heartedness. I love y’all. Yesterday the kids and I celebrated Valentine’s Day a little early. When we finished eating the Chinese food, my daughter handed me a fortune cookie. My insert was: “Your sense of humor allows you to glide through these difficult times.” 😃 So much to love. So very much. Happy Valentine’s Day 💕

~ some more LOVE ~ I need to keep spreading the love 😊 Thank you to the admins who have done an amazing job when they were suddenly cast in to the role. Well, except for Fark. He’s been with me since the beginning. We meet via a channel neither one of us no longer follow. He had replied that one of my comments was funny. So I had to like him on that principle alone! When I mentioned starting a channel, he encouraged me. He’s been a good ear, he’s sharp, witty and has a deep love for God’s animals. Tracy is the one who helped with the attorney’s retainer when our families told me they didn’t agree with me securing a health advocate for Felix. She also helped me understand his chest X-rays and the accompanying medical lingo. She’s been a constant ray of sunshine finding it’s way through the dark clouds. Thirza has been great -doing double duty as she is also an admin over on the Patriot Homeschoolers Chat. She’s never complained to me, she’s always encouraging me and I appreciate her willingness to share her life experiences to help others. Paula is from the channel @CallToBattle I recommended. She’s down-to-earth, pure sweetness and so desirous to follow God’s plans for her life. She’s truly inspiring with her humor, gentleness and helpfulness. Thank you, Admins, for jumping into the chaos when this hard journey started to bring some calm and direction. You kept the trollish posts away from my weepy eyes and worked so hard to uplift me. I love you! And thank you to The Patriot Voice and Lin Wood for your willingness to share about what was happening in my neck of the woods. Because you posted about us, our family was (is!) blessed with prayer support from your own followers. I love y’all for that act of kindness!

~ LOVE ~ When we were first married, Felix had to travel for his job. He came back home before midnight exhausted, but he settled down with me, insisting that I finish watching the BBC version (or rather, the Colin Firth version) of Pride and Prejudice. He stayed up with me until it ended at 2 am. That’s love. A couple of years later, my hair was being deliberately antagonistic and not for the first time I threatened it with scissors. Felix stepped in, gently brushing my hair then braiding it. This was the first time he had done something like that for me. That’s love. The twins, our firstborn, were born via caesarean. It was a pretty hard recovery, and by the time we would crawl into bed I would be shaking from the low grade fevers. And fear. I laid next to him, quietly crying, gripping his hand. He knew I didn’t need words from him; just his presence. It was as if he was soaking up my distress. That’s love. When I learned my estranged non-bio Dad was terminally ill, Felix made the arrangements for us to travel to see him one last time. That’s love. Shortly after giving birth to Number Four I developed a rare MRSA breast infection. He helped me with the breastfeeding so I could capture as much milk as possible. A week later when I required emergency surgery for it he was there to help bathe me through it all -when taking a shower terrified me (the pain was so excruciating). That’s love. For my December 2021 birthday (3 days after he was admitted to the hospital) he ordered a custom cake for me: a Lord of the Rings/Star Wars/Jane Austen theme. The bakery is keeping the order on hold for us. His birthday is next month and I told him I’ll have them change the order for his birthday. He insists that we get the cake he originally ordered. That’s love. This is the man you are praying for, cheering on, graciously giving to, steadfastly supporting. My Beloved.

Hello Dear and Precious Friends! Felix is making improvements each day though it is pestiferous* that one has to stop the momentum of progress because of... the weekend! The doctors said they plan to remove the trach/tube Monday or Tuesday. And the plan is to move to inpatient rehabilitation by the end of the week. Or the beginning of next week because everything shuts down for... the weekend! He’s frustrated with the neuropathy in his hands and feet. I’ve read that improves with movement and with stabilized glucose (his numbers have been out of whack since his admission and he is not diabetic). He also is ready to have the feeding tube removed but apparently that is one of the last things addressed -usually as an outpatient. Felix needs better nutrition and I’m doing my best to help out with that. He weighed 180 went he went in; it shot up to 194 a few weeks later; and now he’s 146. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself, he’s not angry or resentful. However, he desperately misses our kids and very much wishes to have his dexterity return. We talk about this miracle quite a bit and it’s a struggle for both of us to find the right words to describe what we’re walking through. He has so much to process, so much to accept, so much to be grateful about. It’s a lot to sort through. I showed him pictures of the cards you’ve sent. The fireplace is full now so I started hanging them from the second floor balcony rail -which is almost full as well. He can’t believe y’all did that for him. Or made donations to bless our family. Or sent the thoughtful gifts, especially for our kids. Thank you seems so inadequate for the compassion and support you’ve bestowed to our family. * Y’all know what this means: big, grownup words deserve a cookie 😃