Kristy Dykes - My Friend

"A great story is life with all the dull parts taken out." —Alfred Hitchcock

Oh, but life is the story with all the parts left in, even the dull parts. Though life in the Dykes home these days is far from dull. Each day is new as loved ones watch Kristy slip closer to her heavenly home.

Christ is still the great physician, He can still heal that precious body. He can still bring strength and wholeness. We can still believe for His miracle touch, and we do. But, He can choose to take Kristy home, and if He does we have to believe that in that He also chose to bring His healing touch. Just for us that’s more painful.

I met Kristy many years ago when I began my first book and she agreed to be a contributor. Thus began our journey of friendship and partnership in two devotional books. She is one special lady. Always smiling, always upbeat, positive, genuine, giving and ready to talk about her hero husband.

My friend, Kristy Dykes, has cancer. A brain tumor. Actually it's gone, but the cancer's not. I read her blog each day (www.christianlovestories.blogspot.com). Actually her husband Milton still keeps it up; Kristy can't anymore.

Kristy is an award-winning author of 10 Christian fiction titles as well as over 600 articles in many publications including two New York Times subsidiaries. Her titles have been on the Christian bestseller list and Top 20 List at christianbook.com, and have won many awards, including second place in the 2007 Barclay Gold, third place in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, and third place in the ACFW 2006 Book of the Year Contest (novella category).

"She will touch your heart with love and laughter.” —FLORENCE LITTAUER. I know her many other friends would have much here to say about her if given the chance.

I read the blog each day with hope that God is strengthening her, bringing healing, giving peace. They are sharing precious memories with us of their grandchildren, blessing them, teaching them, growing them, letting them receive from them all that they can at this time.

Milton may God richly bless you for all that you are doing. May He grant you the strength, the peace, the comfort and the knowledge that whatever this trial may bring that He will be there upholding you, shielding you, carrying you when need be.

Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

It’s a simple verse but it says it all.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Last Thursday evening, Ken and I enjoyed a walk around the small lake near our home. We watched ducks and geese waiting to be fed, a school of sunfish near the bridge, and carp and koi gently finning along the shore's edge.

But things changed dramatically on Friday. Heavy rains transformed the small body of water into a raging torrent that overflowed and flooded the area, closing the nearby road and sending emergency vehicles into action. Three teenagers were caught in the flash flood when the tiny creek that runs out of the lake sent a wall of water their way that forced them to climb trees for safety. A full-scale rescue effort took three hours, but ended successfully.

The next day, I walked around the lake again. The waters had receded and there was the same school of sunfish and the same koi swimming casually in the same places, as if nothing had happened. The ducks and geese were still begging for food; the turtles' heads could once again be seen sticking above the water as they floated along lazily; people were enjoying the trails as if the flood had never happened.

If we had not seen the lake's swollen waters the day before, I would have had no way of knowing the flood had even happened.

Do we let things disappear from our lives in the same way? Important things that we forget about as if they'd never happened? Events that could have shaped our lives or changed our direction. Have we let valuable opportunities for life lessons slip away, virtually forgotten?

What important occurrences have you forgotten or taken for granted? Do you need to take some action? Is there something you need to learn? Has God tried to speak to you through some event and you've not taken the time to stop and listen?

We need to keep our spiritual eyes open and not let valuable learning experiences zoom right by while we go on our merry way thinking, Well, tomorrow things will be back to normal. God wants you to grow because of life's floods.

Don't waste the floods in your life.

Father's Day

Today is the day to remember fathers. I think of mine often. Little things bring him to mind. Also we have been going through photo albums and slides scanning them onto our computers to make CDs and DVDs so that we can enjoy them and share them with others.

My dad was very special to me. He worked long hours while I was growing up but I still have memories of times spent together, and then in his later years, after retirement, of times shared together.

I have especially enjoyed stories told by friends of things he had done for them, or prayers answered after he had prayed. He loved people; we couldn't go to a restaurant without him stopping to talk to several people—many of whom he knew, some he didn't ... but he would remember next time we were there.

He's been gone 14 months and I miss him. I know he's no longer in pain, he's walking without stiffness. He's singing on key! I'm lonely. But I have wonderful memories of a man who loved me and did everything he knew how to do to make me happy and love me the best he knew how. Thank you Daddy. I love you.

It's At the Printer

We got it to the printer. Now we wait and see if they are going to be able to get it printed on time and back to us in time for delivery by the end of the first youth camp that the author wants the book by!

Now it's catch up time again. Getting caught up on all the things I let go while getting the book done. We did get some things accomplished this week though that we had needed done. Computers to the shop, car to the shop, Peggy to the shop, Ken to the shop, Mom to the ... did I mention we finally got that stump pulled!!

Working on the Book

Well we are almost done! Looks like we are going to get 'er done! This one is going to get done in even shorter time than the last one! Of course this one is a shorter book. Ken is doing his edit today and then when he is finished I will do another read through and it should be ready to go to the printer early next week. Whew! Another project, completed, on time, on schedule, lookin' good!

A Game to Play!

Can you find the kitten? I thought you might enjoy a photo I found today!

I'm Beat and the Day's Hardly Begun!

You know that book project that we said we'd never do another one like! Well, we might just do one more like it. By June 24th! I'm working on the details now! Are those a lot of exclamation marks in my blog? Is that proper, would the technical editor catch those and delete half of them?!

Oh yes we are also starting to work with someone who is marketing our books so I have a project to get information on all our books to him as soon as possible. Who signed me up for this job? It's the weekend I think I'll go fishing, or shopping, or on a cruise...

Perky Helped Peggy with Yardwork Today

Good News! Melba's test results were all negative. Great news. Bummer that she had to wait through the long holiday weekend to hear the results but all news was good, no bad news! Yippee! Perky was tired from hanging out waiting on that too!!

Perky's Waiting

Yeah, Melba. Tests are done. Results to follow but of course we know the news will all be good. Perky is just hanging out waiting to hear the great news. Goooo Melba.

Just for Melba!

Did I say Mother's day?!

I just talked to my mom and will be spending the day with her today. She is having some problems so I have made a doctors appointment which I will be picking her up for in an hour, then because that will cause her to miss lunch...we will have lunch together. Then we will run errands or shop or ... because she has a hair appointment at 3 p.m. that I will take her to and I will run errands while she is there. Then since it will be so close to time for Ken to get off work we will probably go to dinner together and then take her to church! Whew, I'm exhausted and I haven't even left home yet! Have a great day, we will, cause we're doing it together!

I wonder how many of the things from the Anita Renfro video I will hear today?

Change of plan - we all had lunch together which means we skipped dinner and then I took Mom home and she is going to church with her friends Margaret and Leo. The pain she is having is from osteoporosis, so she has a new prescription and can still play dominoes to her hearts content!

A Little Late for Mother's Day

... but you'll be glad I did it!

Birthday Thank You

Thank you everyone for thinking of me on my big day. I got so many wonderful gifts and had a wonderful weekend! Never just spend one day celebrating!

The basket with tea items is from my niece Heidi, Mike and Andrew. The green jacket, necklace, bird and


cheese knife are from Melba and Dick. The blue pants and colorful necklace and yellow earrings are from Pat and many of you sent wonderful cards. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Mother's Day

We went to church with mother this morning and then ate at a restaurant of her choice where she loves the molasses bread! We had to wait until 3 p.m. to eat due to reservations, so we were hungry!
We came to our home after church for pictures and smoothies to tide us over. Mom opened presents. She got a "Mom" bracelet and her bag has wheels so when she goes to Wal-Mart on Friday she can wheel it all home and not have to carry it. The roses are from Heidi, Mike and Andrew. The pretty pink house slippers are from Don and Rita and the picture saying is from Melba and Dick. All in all I think mom had a good day.

Happy Birthday to Me!

As my brother always says, "If I'd of known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself!"

Mom and I went to Lambert's for lunch today and enjoyed a delish lunch! I was even able to catch the rolls! I must not be sooo old after all.

May Flowers?

I decided this was the only way you were going to get "May Flowers" right now from Missouri! We are having "April Showers" and our rivers are flooded. Can't seem to decide what the weather is going to do. We have a day or two of nice weather and then rain and flooding. The people who depend on the tourists are starting to worry that the income is not going to be coming in this year!! Some of the tourist attractions on the river are still under water. They are telling people not to start repairs on their homes down river because they are having to let water out of the dam and it just doesn't seem to have an end in sight.

Well enjoy Ken's photos and keep your heads above water!! Oh yeah, we are high and dry!

Ken Is Headed for Portland

Ken has meetings in Portland, Oregon this week so he's headed that way. He will be attending the Evangelical Press Association Conference. He'll also be holding an International Pentecostal Press Association meeting while there (he's the President).

He returns on Saturday so it will be a lonely week but hopefully he will have a good time and I will have a productive time getting caught up on stuff here at home that I have let go while planning on the garage sale, tax time, etc.

The Garage Sale is Behind Us!

We done good! We got rid of some big items and and the garage looks a lot emptier. We were able to haul the huge and heavy TV stand upstairs from the John Deere room and someone bought it! That was really what we wanted to sell, so when that was gone we were happy! It was HEAVY!!

Now we will start preparing the house for sale and decide exactly what we are going to do with it. Still lots of decisions to make and lots to do. Even though there are lots of things sold there are still lots of things inside that Mom wants to keep. I guess I will be taking things to her apartment storage each time I go visit.

We took Perky over on Friday and she had a ball. She played and ran and she couldn't decide where the best place was to watch all the excitement from. We did finally wear her out and she ended up sleeping in the bushes near the front porch. Today as you can see she's completely worn out and getting a deserved rest!

Garage Sale?!

I think I recall saying I would never do another Garage Sale! Actually I think I have said that several times!!

This weekend we are participating in the neighborhood sale once again. Actually we have made over $500 and we haven't even started! We still have several things from mom and dad's home and that's where the sale is. Plus, I will be hauling things over from our house!

I must be a glutton for punishment!!!

Now if we could just sell the garage and the house with it...