Carol, Welcome back. This list just keeps growing. Isn't it great? Amy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Pearson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 3:52 AM Subject: Re: Guess Who Is Back? > 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 > [log in to unmask]