The Evil Pencil Cactus

My daughter Kimberly, my husband, and I went to Prairie Gardens a few months ago. We loved going through all the different tents full of flowers! My daughter and her husband just bought a new home, which is contemporary. We were looking for inside plants that would look good in her home. We came across an unusual plant she nor I had ever seen! It had "contemporary" written all over it! It was called a "Pencil Cactus". She and I fell in love with it! When we showed it to my husband, he turned up his nose at it and exclaimed, "You're not buying that thing are you?" My daughter and I said "why not?" He told us it was an evil looking plant! Hmmm, never heard of an evil plant before! His words resounded in my head days later.

I helped my daughter load the plant in the cart, as it was about 3-4 foot tall, and it's pencils very slender. We didn't want to break it! As we put it in the cart, I noticed a sticky milky substance all over my hands. After we left there, we stopped to get a drink, and I went to wash my hands. My hands still felt sticky after washing. We had to get home, and gave our daughter a hug and said goodbye..

After getting home, again I tried to wash my hands. By then my lips felt funny and one eye seemed to be swelling. I just figured it was allergies. Within another hour, my husband and I were sitting on the couch...talking about the wonderful day we had with our daughter. All of a sudden, I felt as if I couldn't get enough oxygen. Before long I was gasping for air, and couldn't breath. My husband wanted to call an ambulance, and I was about to let him! But my first thought was "maybe it's a panic attack", since I do get those sometimes. But this felt different. Plus I wasn't upset about anything. That is the only reason we didn't head to the hospital, I wanted to make sure it wasn't that. My husband got me a pill for anxiety, and I asked him for Benedryl, since my eyes were swelling. I took those, and held onto my husband because I thought seriously I was dying...and if I couldn't breath soon, I was going to let him call an ambulance. I waited about 10 minutes, then my breathing began to get better.

A few days later, I had told my other daughter about the plant Kimberly had found. I was looking for a picture on the Internet to send her...so she could see it. I came across this article:
http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/Pencil_Cactus.htm
I couldn't believe it! What I had had was an allergic reaction to the plant a few days before! The man who wrote the article had ended up at the hospital! I now knew that it wasn't the anxiety pill that had helped me to breath, but the Benedryl. The hospital he went to administered antihistamines. The thing is, if I had gone to the hospital, I wouldn't have even thought it was a reaction to a plant! I'm sure he did, since he owned a plant store...and knew more about plants than I could ever hope to.

Come to find out, Tom and Kimberly put the plant in the garage just after a few days, because it was making their eyes burn. After hearing about my incident, they took it back to the plant place and got a refund. I'm sure many other people have this plant, and have no reactions to it at all. But I do believe that the stores who sell them, should post a sign about the possibilities, and have them in a safe place where children can't accidentally get the white milk on their hands. The substance can not be washed off with soap and water. I do believe this plant can be deadly and the person having the reaction would not even suspect a plant caused this.

Yes, as my daughter Kristie says, "It can only happen to you, Mom". Also my husband will not let me live down the fact that immediately he thought it was an evil plant. On the spiritual side, how many times are we drawn to something different and beautiful, that eventually may harm us? There is almost always "someone" warning us....and we don't see the danger. At least the Holy Spirit doesn't go around saying: I TOLD YOU SO.
(hint to my husband!)  :o)

The Beetle Is Back..No, Not The VW!

The other day I was mowing the lawn on the rider. I was going around a little tree my husband had planted last year. It hadn't been looking too well the past month. As I went around it on the mower, my wheel slightly bumped it, and to my horror HUNDREDS of bugs fell on me! I screamed, jumped off the mower...shook them out of my hair and clothes. I ran around the front yard like a mad woman! I almost took off my shirt! You see, snakes is the first thing that I absolutely hate, and bugs come next!

I knew as soon as I saw them that they were Japanese Beetles. They are kind of pretty for a bug, but still  a BUG! I called Kristie up later that day, and asked her if she could guess what I saw while mowing today? She said, "Mom, this isn't another snake story, is it?" I chuckled and was HAPPY to say no! When I told her about how I had barely nudged the tree with the mower, she said she didn't believe it! She had TRIED to shake one of her trees to get the beetles off of it, and not one fell down! She said something like this COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO ME. Unfortunately, she is right! I'm like an accident waiting to happen at times.

I always thought I would LOVE living in the country. After the last few years of mowing, I may have to rethink this one! A month ago I ran over a snake by accident while mowing....if I had seen it, I would have gone the other way! I love the country, but when it comes right down to it, I'm a city slicker at heart:)

To KRK On The "Subscribe To Post" Comment

I have added a subscribe to post...at the top right side. I have been investigating this since you left your comment on "Subscribe To Post". When I see blogs I like, I just hit the button I told you about at the bottom of their page. Then when I get on line next time, a small window pops up saying they have a new post. I use either Opera or FireFox for my browsers. Perhaps those have an RSS feed built into them that IE doesn't? Anyway, after investigating, I found a way you can subscribe. I signed up for free at  Feed Burner, which does the work for you. I've been confused about this since you asked, and had to find the solution! It has taken me hours of reading, because I don't understand "technical" things at all! But this may be the solution for those who don't have the browsers that I have. Let me know if it works, KRK!
Love ya!

Prayer Requests

*My Grand Daughter Akina has two  friends that went to Africa on a two week mission trip. We prayed for them to return safely. Both are home without incident, however, one has a virus...and they are not sure what it is. She is fainting and can barely move. Her name is Mikayla. Please pray that her doctors will be given knowledge as to what this is, and Mikayla will have a total healing.

*Continue praying for the the boys in the accident that I told you about. Sam is having surgery today again, on the urethra. Schuler may get his catheter out this week, and have his jaw unwired! Tom is doing better after his knee surgery...so that is GREAT news!

*Also for a man who has suffered liver failure. Pray for him and his family.

*Sister Taylor is a dear soul who is 87 years young. She was diagnosed with cancer, had one breast removed. She had another surgery as well, recently. She was given the grim news that she had only two months to live, due to the  cancer. That was way before last Christmas! She is now off all her meds for pain, and asked to be off Hospice. She is now off. In order to get off hospice, she had to meet with the doctor and Hospice. Something I didn't know, while you are on hospice, you no longer can talk to your doctor. You have to go through Hospice, because the doctor has labeled you as "dead", no more that he can do but order you pain meds...which only hospice can talk to him about. She said no one gave her hope, and she believes in hope....and healing.

She walked into a meeting with hospice and her Doctor. Her doctor was bewildered! The last time she had seen her, she was in a wheel chair, unable to walk...had sent her home with heavy duty drugs, and a hospital bed. She informed the doctor she was doing fine, had stopped taking the pain meds months before, and wanted off hospice. The doctor allowed her to be off hospice, and was still bewildered as Sister Taylor told her that she knew God was healing her.

She has ministered to people all through her medical ordeals. She said she is ready to go home anytime, but doesn't feel she needs to go home by being sick:) She wants to pass her mission on before leaving....so that is on her mind as well. She has helped many with food, clothing, prayer, and counseling women through many forms of abuse. Please keep this mighty woman of God in your prayers! She is a dear woman, whom I will always love admire, and treasure:)

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I haven't been writing as much as usual. Please forgive me. Seems like I just haven't been on the computer much lately. As those of you know, who e-mail me! It sometimes takes days for me to get back to you. I think I'm in a computer slump! But I thought I would toss this idea out to you, so you don't have to check back to see if I've written anything...instead just go to the bottom of my page here, above the picture of Zeke as a pup...and click on:
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Most browsers support this. A page will pop up and ask you if you want to subscribe to this post...click "yes". Then whenever you get on your computer, a small pop up will come on at the bottom of your screen saying that I have written something new. It only stays there a second, but usually it is noticed. That way you will know if I have written something new! Don't you love technology? :o) Here lately I feel like these coons...chasing a tail and not getting anywhere!

Happy Fourth Of July!!!!!!

I found this picture on the web. I thought it was so cute! It reminds me of my sisters dolls! By the way, she now has a new blog just about dolls! It's listed on the right hand side under "blogs". I pray that everyone who is traveling has a safe trip, and a blessed time with their loved ones:) We are going to my daughters house for a cook out. My other daughter is going to her husbnad's family picnic! Sure will miss them! But I realize we have to share! Darn the luck! I got to see them yesterday. Kristie and the girls came over and spent the day. I love those days! We actually studied in the Bible. Which always brings up more questions. This is a good thing! Then you have to look further. Sara and Hailey kept us busy too! Just wanted to tell Akina and Rachel to have a great time at camp! I think they're going this week sometime. Love you all so much!

Urgent Prayer Request

Some friends that we went to church with many years ago are in need of prayer. Two very dear families had two sons each, that were traveling together to go to ball practice. They all live in the country, and you know how hazardous it is to drive on those country roads with no visibility at the intersections...or stop signs. The four boys were in a smaller car, and was hit by a large pick up truck....from what we have found out. 

One boy (13 years old), Danny, was killed instantly. The other three are now at home, but not out of the woods yet. All three have under gone many surgeries. Two of the boys are 16 and one 13. I believe they are all in wheel chairs for now. Please keep them in prayer every day for a speedy and total recovery. God is in the business of healing totally:)

My heart and love go out to both of these families. Even though I haven't seen them for years, it is true....your church friends are like family. I have been grieving with them in their loss...as are my husband and daughters. We found out about this.... .weeks after the accident, by chance. Kristie had an old newspaper, that she hadn't read, and by chance saw Danny's obituary. Then she got on the computer, trying to find out what had happened, and found two blogs that the families made to let people know how the other three boys were doing. I have been watching them daily, trying to keep up with their precious recovery. I can see God helping them each day as I read their blogs. I have hesitated to even leave a comment, because I don't know what to say...except that I love them, and am grieving with them. Each day I think, should I comment now? My words do not seem to come. So I read and pray.

I have no doubts that God will turn this all around, and cause good to come out of it. Please keep the boys in prayer:... Tom, Schuyler, and Sam. Keep the parents in prayer, especially Mike and Rhonda., who lost a precious son.

I can't even imagine their pain. May God always bless and keep you all:) To my family, if you want their blog address, I can e-mail it to you. I hesitate to put it here without their permission. If anyone feels the need to help, let me know. I know their expenses must be great.

I would like to print here one thing that I saw on their site:
The strength of the vessel can be demonstrated only by the hurricane, and the power of the Gospel can be fully shown only when the Christian is subjected to some fiery trial. If God would make manifest the fact that "He giveth songs in the night," He must first make it night." William Taylor

I add this with tears. Because a song was made for Danny....as follows:
"We've never seen blue like that"
We’ve seen the gulf side of Florida
And swam in those waters
And North Carolina in the twilight of morning
Just before the sun comes out
And gives out its orders
And the leaves don’t yet know
That they’re green, they’re blue

Born a hot July day
Might as well have been spring time
With the way that the flowers did bloom
And we couldn’t believe when you opened your eyes
And you outdid the sky, yeah it’s true
‘Cause we’d never seen blue like that

Yeah, we’d never seen blue like that
We’d never seen blue like that ‘till we met you

Part lamb and part lion as everyone knows
Built machines made for flying and out grew his clothes
And the girls would line up ‘round the block, I suppose
Just to gaze deeply into your eyes so blue

Yeah, they’d never seen blue like that
Yeah, they’d never seen blue like that
‘Cause they’d never seen blue like that ‘till they met you

Then the storm clouds came rolling in wave after wave
Each displaying it’s own shade of blue
Then the clouds and our eyes both poured out their waters
On the day that we heard we lost you

No, we’d never seen blue like that
No, we’d never seen blue just like that
Though the peace of the Lord hovered over those waters
We’d never seen blue like that
No, we’d never seen blue like that

I can see a boy walking on a beach up in
Heaven With Jesus by and ocean of truth

And he’d never seen blue like that
And he’d never seen blue like that
And the spirit of God hovers over those waters
And he’d never seen blue like that

Someday we'll see blue like that

We've Never Seen Blue Like That©2008 Aaron and Brian Henningsen