Carol,

Hody, stranger.  It's been a long time since i've heard from you, and I'm 
glad you are back on the list.

I'm doing well, but I'm having to retire lear a week from tomorrow.  HE wil 
not be living with me but with his puppy raisers.  I talked to them 
yesterday, adn it sounds like a very goo d situation for Lear.

More later.



JulieMelton
visit me at
www.heart-and-music.com
Keep smiling!





>From: Carol Pearson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Guess Who Is Back?
>Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 08:52:11 +0100
>
>Hi there to everyone!  <Smiles>
>
>Nobody was more surprised than I was when I took the plunge to return to 
>ECHURCH-USA.  I started to feel a real longing in my heart to share 
>fellowship with you all again (friends old and new) and then, a couple of 
>months back,  dear Charles sent me a day's worth of reading from the list!  
>(That caught me up a little with some things and made me feel even more 
>"homesick" and want to return and I've finally got round to it.)
>
>The thing is, I've been ill now for months, have very little energy, have 
>considerable restrictions even on reading too much email and even more on 
>writing, currently only using a BrailleNote and having much pain and little 
>arm movement, so God has to be in this one!
>
>First, for those who don't yet know me, I'm Carol from the UK.  I spent 
>several years on the USA list and have been back once or twice since then.  
>We also now have a UK list running, but I dare to say that most of my 
>deeper sharing and encouragement comes from across the Atlantic!
>
>I'm married to the most wonderful husband there is called Mike.  He works 
>full time, then comes home and does many of the things that I cannot!  Our 
>story of when we first met and then later as he became a Christian is worth 
>the reading, if only I could get round to writing it!
>
>I have a retired guide dog called Fabian who is now almost 12 and getting 
>pretty arthritic.  He's also deaf, usually by choice and has learned, in 
>his retirement, what all good dogs learn and that is how to say "I want and 
>if you don't mind I'll have it now!"
>
>Because of my physical limitations, Mike and I have been allowed to share 
>working his guide, Roxy.  She's a real character and we love her, despite 
>the fact she is very active and always wants the last word!  She's doing 
>very well for us both and I just take her once or twice a week for the very 
>short routes, but she loves it and knows without being told when I'm going 
>to be taking her!
>
>Our church life is much better than many blind people have.  At least we do 
>have some very good teaching, a fairly minimum amount of help and we have 
>good friends.  However, like so many churches, many are afraid of 
>disability, some feel they don't want to make the necessary effort to 
>include us and some refuse to change their ways, so I still feel like 
>tearing my hair out from time to time as I'm refused yet another offer of a 
>service I may be able to give!  Well, I know this, God wants our 
>willingness and whether or not we do the job does not count against that 
>initial "Yes, I'm willing", but so often I long to share in the more active 
>tasks as "workers together with HIM"!
>
>I've been a Christian now for over 40 years and feel I've been much like 
>those Israelites wandering around in the desert, falling away, losing sight 
>of Him etc, but He has just always been wonderfully faithful and has seen 
>me through some really tough times!  (You'll find just one or two insights 
>into what He has done for me on Phil's SAFEPLACE web site.)  There are many 
>more unwritten at this stage and I long to have the energy to write a book!
>
>To those of you who I know so well, "Hello" and big hugs and lovings are 
>extended!  Please, any of you, catch me up with your news personally if 
>more appropriate.
>
>Vicki, naughty girl for being so sneaky.  You knew I was around!  <Haw>
>
>Pat, I was sorry to learn of your mum and you know I'll pray on.  Have you 
>the latest news on Charles?  I am going to try to call him.
>
>Kathy, I still pray regularly for Chris and would like more up to date news 
>if you can write me.
>
>Sharon I thought your Easter egg idea was great but don't have time or 
>energy to do it myself.  If you haven't got enough Scriptures or want to 
>share with me what you have so far and need more, contact me off list.
>
>Peggy, it's been good to see you around on the BN list, along with others 
>here that I don't yet know so well.
>
>Rhonda I've always appreciated your messages, even when I haven't been able 
>to respond.
>
>Dave and Rachchel, it's good to have you here also.  (You'll find 
>yourselves speaking American nonsensical English before long if you listen 
>to that Philip too much!)  <More smiles>
>
>I'm in danger of leaving some out, though I haven't yet looked at a full 
>list to see who's there, so speak up, please, as I have and let's party 
>together!
>
>Love in Jesus Christ our Lord:
>
>CAROL
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