Lynna Clark

By Lynna Clark

I started physical therapy at home this week. My trainer comes online and tells me what to do. I say “trainer” like I’m Rocky Balboa. Oh! Or Livvy Dunne, the beautiful gymnast. It might take a few more sessions but… Truth is, ‘trainer’ just sounds better than “professional dude in a lab coat.” A girl’s gotta protect her image. But really, there’s no need. The fact that I am NOT a physically fit person is an understatement. [See previous article “The Cure.] But I like this guy. His name is Chuck and he’s old enough to know stuff. Plus, and this is a big bonus, he makes me laugh. I stood behind a straight back chair as he instructed. “Now put your right foot out to the side.”

I looked into my laptop camera and asked. “Are we doing the Hokey Pokey?” He nodded. “You know, I used to be addicted to the Hokey Pokey.” I gasped at his serious confession. “What did you do?” I asked.

He beamed proudly. “I turned myself around.”

I laughed at his “confession” then added. “I guess you found out that the Hokey Pokey is really NOT what it’s all about.” Like the polite person he is, he chuckled at my sad attempt at humor.

Later as we finished up, he explained that he’d be sending an email with instructions on simple exercises I could do to get my strength back. Because he mentioned he was calling from Morganton, but he and his wife normally live in Asheville, I asked how bad the recent flooding was near his home. He sighed.

“We were without power for nine days. But I hate to even say that out loud as I think of all that my neighbors have been through. So many have lost everything, even the land their homes were built on. Whole towns are just no more.” He mentioned places that David and I have visited before that were swept completely away. “BUT!” He brightened. “You cannot imagine the huge outpouring of kindness from complete strangers. Folks have been so good. It renews my faith in mankind.”

And that dear reader, is truly what it’s all about.

Let’s love the Lord our God with all our heart, and our neighbors as ourselves.

By Lynna Clark

Back in the day, when blogs were new-ish, my techno savvy daughter Stephanie helped set me up in WordPress to tell about our crazy family. It never occurred to me that Lynna’s Wonderful Life would be such a tongue twister, or that the following 14 years would include so many ups and downs. Together we’ve witnessed miraculous answers to prayers for babies, the loss of both our beloved mothers, the foreclosure of our “forever home,” bankruptcy, job loss, healing from breast cancer, and many regular days where we’ve considered the Lord’s amazing care. Whoever decided that living for the Lord would make the path smooth was sadly mistaken. Actually life became so difficult at times that I could not write at all. Because if I cannot be honest with you, it’s better to stay silent. So I have for a while. Chemo brain kept me a bit foggy too. At least that’s what we’re going with.

In June of this year, David and I celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss. Well, you know. A blissful-ish situation. Nice meal at home, many well wishes… it was good. In July, my beloved David was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He began treatment a few weeks later. At the end of September, we had to call an ambulance, this time for me. Apparently my colon ruptured. Emergency surgery was done that Monday night. Eight days later I was finally allowed to go home and today, I’m rejoicing in the shower from Heaven. OH! Lynna’s life is wonderful again. But I have to say, last week I thought I might die and wished I’d hurry up.

While I was in the hospital, storms hit our beautiful NC mountains. I couldn’t help but realize: At least I knew where I’d be sleeping. A cozy hospital bed with caring staff answering a call bell sure beat the heck out of a gym floor… or worse. I’ll take it. Those poor dear folks. I love how so many have stepped up to help in their time of need.

Just like you have helped us by your many prayers.

Thank you. All these years… just thank you. Much love from the crazy place we call Clarkville. Like the Lord, your love and care has been amazing. I’ll try to keep you updated. But I have no doubt that all will be well. Though David has had to skip his treatments, he’ll resume those next week. Our daughters are taking sweet care of us, each one filling a vital role; much like you, the body of Christ.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing!” -1 Thess. 5:11

Oh how we truly appreciate you all!

By Lynna Clark

In spite of the weird vibes sent out by the “universe” (aka technology and the devil), some of you saw the previous post where I asked for prayer for David. I’ll include it below in case you didn’t. Thank you so much for praying! He started chemo, which is a three day process, every other week, on August 19. The Lord graciously kept him from nausea and a great deal of the terrible side-effects. During that week he was tired and droopy as his mother would say, but was able to function fairly well. The following week he felt much better and was even able to do his normal stuff. Just wanted to let you know how well he’s doing, especially for someone with stage four colon cancer. He’ll have his second round of chemo starting this Wednesday, and finishing on Friday. Oh how we appreciate all your prayers!

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer!.” -Psalm 19:14

PS:

The following is the post sent out previously. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong, but before that a different one also went missing. Hope this one sticks. From August 20-

Dear Praying Friends, Just wanted to let you know that my beloved David has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He started chemo yesterday and so far has done well. Would you make a special effort to pray for him? It would mean so much to us both. I had a whole blog written about how good the Lord is in the time of trouble, but it disappeared. The gist of it was that bad things happen to everyone, whether we serve Jesus or not. But the Lord is wise and has a plan to love us well.

But I bet you know that. So anyway, pray for strength for us both. In the meantime, we will “go in the strength that we have.” from Judges 6:14.

By the way, I’m not on Facebook, but you can leave a message in the comments below, or on his Facebook page. It feels good to know folks are praying.

In His care, Lynna

By Lynna Clark

Just wanted to let you know that my beloved David has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He started chemo yesterday and so far has done well. Would you make a special effort to pray for him? It would mean so much to us both. I had a whole blog written about how good the Lord is in the time of trouble, but it disappeared. The gist of it was that bad things happen to everyone, whether we serve Jesus or not. But the Lord is wise and has a plan to love us well.

But I bet you know that. So anyway, pray for strength for us both. In the meantime, we will “go in the strength that we have.” from Judges 6:14.

By the way, I’m not on Facebook, but you can leave a message in the comments below. It feels good to know folks are praying.

In His care,

Lynna

By Lynna Clark

I got a call from my granddaughter Kianna the other day. In the midst of delivering pizza to NAPA, the auto parts store, she was verbally attacked by a customer. It seems because Kianna was wearing a mask the lady in line decided that my granddaughter was in need of enlightenment. She accused her of being brain washed by the media, questioned her heritage and political persuasion, then proceeded to tie everything together with a sound cussing.

Sorry. I exaggerated a bit when I used the term “lady.” The strange overheated woman leaned in close and coughed on my granddaughter in hopes that she would realize a mask could not protect her. Never mind the fact that Pizza Hut requires masks on all their personnel. So I did what any Godly grandmother would do. I tossed several shovels into the back of the truck and headed to NAPA. As Kianna and I continued to talk I asked her how big the woman was.

“I think we can take her,” my lovely granddaughter replied.

“Alright honey. Here’s the plan. I’ll whack her in the head with my shovel. You hit her again for good measure. I’ll take her arms, you grab her legs and we’ll drag her into the woods. Between the two of us we can dig a hole deep enough to cover her crazy. Then I’ll explain to her that germs, politics, and brain washing are not the only dangers in our society.” I imagined pointing my finger in her face to drive my point home. “Now you lay there and think about what you’ve done!”

Kianna seemed pleased with the plan. The only problem is that she lives in Illinois and I live in NC; approximately seven hundred and twenty one miles apart. Even as fast as I drive the woman would likely be gone by the time I got there. Oh how I wish I could shake her ‘til her teeth rattle and explain the futility of a life lived in anger. I mean really! What the heck? What she doesn’t know is that my granddaughter just graduated high school in a year that was less than ideal. The child works two jobs and saves every penny toward college. When she is not delivering pizza she takes care of a beautiful little girl with severe autism. Instead of answering her attacker, Kianna took a step back and celebrated the $5 pity tip the guy who ordered the pizza gave her.

I couldn’t get there in time to make good use of my shovel, so I offered a bit of wisdom instead. Since she is headed to New York for college I reminded Kianna that the Lord is preparing her for big city life. “He’s promised to equip us for the things He asks us to do. Maybe He knows you need to get used to all those swear words.” She nodded and laughed. “Then I should be good to go for a while.”

I don’t have any idea how to end this story. Maybe the moral is as mentioned earlier: Living a life filled with anger is futile. Perhaps we should all leave our sharp words and shovels at home. Maybe we could even tip folks extra good to help make up for some of the ignorance going around. Or maybe we could just take a step back and hope to God that crazy is not contagious.

My Kiannagirl and me having tea about 8 years ago. Seems like yesterday.

By Lynna Clark

The last time I packed to go to the beach I included clothes and provisions for every possible scenario. If it turned chilly I had a jacket. If it was hot I had sundresses… plural. If the apocalypse broke loose, no problem. We took plenty of water. If they had no grocery stores on Ocean Isle, we certainly would not go hungry. Good gracious at the food we packed! I mean really. One should not go traipsing off to the far reaches of the state all willy-nilly. What if we got a late night hankering for Chex Mix? We made a foot tub of that just in case. After all… we were staying for three whole days.

Why did I do that? I ended up wearing the same thing I wear at home all week: Black capris, white top. David calls it my uniform.

This time we are going with two of our daughters’ families. My goal is to be a fun grandmother. I will play with them until I collapse in my beach chair. It won’t take long. I’m not a spring chicken anymore. It’s hard to admit that. But at least I won’t be worn out from lugging a bunch of stuff I don’t need up the stairs at the beach house. I can’t help but wonder though…

What will I wear if we go out to eat… which we will if I don’t pack food.

What if it turns cold… which it will if I don’t take a jacket.

What if all my hair falls out again because of my new medicine… which it will if I don’t take a hat.

What if my toenail polish gets raggedy in the surf? Who in their right mind would wear flip flops with unkempt nails?

Oh! And we need a fan for optimal sleeping comfort. Plus our bucket o’ drugs because we can’t let our poor ol’ bodies get any more out of whack. Maybe I should pack our blood pressure cuff to make sure David’s doesn’t bottom out in the heat. And my favorite blanket in case the rest of the crew turns the A/C to subzero; Of course I need my own pillow… and cosmetics. Holy cow it takes a lot to keep me this lovely.

Beach chairs… we can’t forget the beach chairs. And the good frying pan; and ginger-ale in case I get fainty-fied. Of course I will need my insulated cup with the lid…

Toilet paper. Those places never have good toilet paper.

Sunscreen! I almost forgot the SPF one hundred forty seven. And an umbrella or maybe a pop-up tent. One cannot be too careful out in the sun these days.

OH! And chocolate milk! We always take chocolate milk on the trip down. It’s our special tradition signifying the beginning of vacation. No need breaking tradition just yet.

While I list the things we need so as not to forget anything vital, David packs a bag. Singular. It holds two pairs of shorts, underwear, swim trunks, a couple t-shirts, flip-flops. Period.

He zipped his bag shut though there was still plenty of room in it. I do not understand the man.

All I’m saying is that if his hair falls out, he is not getting my hat.

Lynna Clark

My sister’s name popped up on my new smart phone. Actually it’s a stupid phone but you won’t hear me complain. Or recite the many ways it aggravates me. No, I am not going to mention how the things that used to be easy on my old dumb phone are nearly impossible on my new smart phone. Like adding my friend Edith to my contacts. Poor gal. Now she has to be Edith because I can’t figure out how to edit her name. Annyyywayyy… my sister called. “Happy Anniversary!” she joyfully proclaimed. “Thanks,” I answered. “But it’s tomorrow.”

“Oh… well happy 50th anniversary tomorrow! It’s a big one!” she exclaimed.

“Actually it’s number 49, but thank you,” I answered.

“Oh… well at least I was the first to congratulate you! Hope y’all have a wonderful day… tomorrow.” “Thanks sweet sistuh,” I replied. I didn’t have the heart to tell her one of our daughters had just stopped by with eggs from her prolific chickens and had already congratulated us. Not sure how people remember these things. I’m not even checking Facebook anymore. But somehow they know that felicitations are in order. Surely they don’t still use a paper calendar like I do. In fact I consider it a fun event to transfer all the important dates to my new paper calendar every January. Yep. I’m still that person.
What’s even better is that my hubba remembered our anniversary and gave me the best gift. He painted our bedroom. Sappy sentimental man. The gift is very special to me because I know how difficult it is for him to get down on his knees to trim around the baseboard. He assured me it wasn’t hard at all. “It’s the getting back up that’s hard,” he smiled that sexy smile and my heart melted. Yep. He’s still got it.

On our actual anniversary we REALLY got hot and bothered. He took me to Rufty’s Garden Shop to pick out flowers for around the mailbox. During the last year or so, I’ve been unable to go anywhere because of chronic pain. Well, except for the doctor’s office. But David suggested that a quick trip from our house over to Innes Street probably wouldn’t overtax me too much; especially if I didn’t wear myself out getting ready. So I threw a summer scarf around my lovely housedress. David pulled into the crowded lot and I was happy to spot the perfect heat tolerant plants. He scurried inside to make our purchase while I waited in the car. After he received a hug from the wife of his youth, he turned the key in the ignition. Nothing. Thus the hot and bothered.

Sweat ran down the back of my lovely house dress. Mama warned us girls to never go out in public without getting “done up.” She always added, “That’s when you’ll run into your old boyfriend for sure!” Well praise God I married my old boyfriend and the last thing on his mind at that point was my attire.

The kind folks at Rufty’s took time in their very busy Friday to help. As they, along with David worked in the heat to jump start the battery, I contemplated removing my scarf. But I didn’t because, you know… house dress. Instead I prayed that the Lord would intervene on our behalf so I wouldn’t have to hitch a ride in all my loveliness. At least I had on my good… flip flops. God heard the prayers of a desperate poorly dressed woman. Eventually we were back on the road for the short trip home to the magical land of Clarkville. It’s a wonderful place, hot at times, but always full of adventure. Laced with sweet surprises like fresh eggs. Plus kind people, and blessings heaped upon blessings. Happy half century to us!

Well… you know… 49.

By Lynna Clark

Fifty years ago this month, I walked down the aisle of the Landis Methodist Church on my daddy’s arm. It didn’t matter that he had on a tux that didn’t match the rest of the men in the wedding party. Besides, it wasn’t his fault. One of our groomsmen showed up in a suit with tails. Outside the bride’s dressing room, I heard the friend exclaim, “Hey! Y’all have on the wrong tux!” Not him of course. That would be too obvious since all the other guys looked alike. Thinking I would panic, Daddy and Chris quietly switched jackets. Thankfully they wore the same size. Hence daddy walked me down the aisle in a tux with tails since he would be sitting next to mama instead of standing down front. I really didn’t care. All I knew was that my sweetheart waited for me to become his wife. We were ready. After all, I was nineteen and David would be too the following month. Okay. So he was eighteen. I’m a cougar and I totally robbed the cradle. But we were plenty old enough to know everything. Or so we thought.

On that beautiful day, our life together officially began. Through the years, God blessed us with three daughters, lots of fun places to raise them, and plenty of joy in the journey. At times we were richer than poor. Other times… not so much. Always we lived on the grace of God and His provision. We called it adventure living. There was also the whole ‘in sickness and in health’ thing. Nobody wants me to rehearse all that. At times, it’s been a very rough ride. David just gently cared for me every step of the way, never once wavering in his kindness and love. When he promised his faithfulness at the ripe old age of eighteen, he meant it. Fifty years later, here we are, upheld by the Lord’s mighty omnipotent hand. How Firm a Foundation could have been our theme song. Either that or Living on a Prayer, by Bon Jovi. Both are pretty accurate. Any way you look at it, God has been very good to us. That is why I’ve hung onto Psalm 90:1. “Through all the generations Lord, You have been our home.” David holds Jeremiah 29:11 close. “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you a future and a hope.” Fifty years together with the Lord. He has been so faithful, so gracious, so wonderfully good. Yet David and I are still learning at His feet. Day by day He teaches us that He really is not mad at us for not always getting it right. He just loves.

If I could give one bit of advice to anyone who seeks wisdom it would be this. Put a tray or a bowl, some kind of vessel, by your door. As you enter, drop your keys there so you can always find them. This will save your marriage and also your mind. God bless you beloved ones. Thank you for your part in making our lives so good.

By Lynna Clark

Do you ever get the impression that the world has gone completely crazy? Wisdom has left the building… the whole planet for that matter. I happened upon a comforting thought yesterday in the little book of Ephesians. Listen to this:

Speaking of Christ Jesus, it says. “Now He is far above any ruler, or authority, or power, or leader, or anything else- not only in this world, but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ.” -from Ephesians 1: 21,22

Apparently, I can rest in His wisdom. HE is in charge. I am not. Neither is anyone else really, no matter their title. This is not a political statement. It’s just a reminder from a Biblical point of view. Jesus Christ is above all earthly authority. Perhaps I should trust Him.

By Lynna Clark

Lynna wrote this for Easter… It comes from the story of the women finding the empty tomb….

Considering what the women had just witnessed, this little side note seems a bit far fetched. Matthew 28:8 says “they were frightened but also filled with great joy.” Yes Lord! I am afraid too. Please fill me with joy so that I can truly rest in You. For Your joy is my strength!