The Healing Power of God

December 27^th, 2012. I remember that day well. I had finally gotten Bob, my husband, to the VA to see the doctor. He had been feeling very tired but we figured it was due to a stressful fall.

We had gone to Montana to spend a couple of weeks with my dad in October after Bob’s job was done (seasonal). We had a good time, although it was also difficult because Daddy wanted the plane out of his shop. He and a friend had built it (piper cub, not completed) and he wanted it out! We got Chuck over and his son and they removed the plane. We left the end of October, not knowing when or if we would see Daddy again. He was 96, soon to be 97.

Go forward a week.  I got a call from my niece telling me my sister had passed away in her sleep, unexpectedly. She was only 67. She had suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for years. We took off again to Denver to attend her funeral, spend some time with Roy, her husband, and the kids and grandkids. Her funeral was large, Suzie knew a lot of people and touched each of their lives in some way or another. What a wonderful memorial it was!

From there, we went back to Montana to be with Daddy. He hadn’t been able to travel to the funeral. His traveling days were long gone. He was crushed as this was all unexpected and as everyone knew, this isn’t the way it was supposed to happen. Finally, after spending Thanksgiving with Mary, our sister-in-law and Daddy, we headed home again to Iowa. For three weeks, we hurried to get Christmas together but Bob just wasn’t himself. Some days were better than others, though, which delayed his desire to go to the doctor.  Finally, came December 27^th and the doctor.

They sent him down to the lab three times. They didn’t believe the numbers and we were starting to get scared. What was going on? Finally Dr. Greene told us she thought he had AML – Acute Myloid Leukemia – and sent us down to Dr. Shiomoto, the oncologist. She immediately put him in the VA hospital upstairs with plans on moving him to Mercy Hospital, in Des Moines, for treatment because his dad was living with us. If he hadn’t have been living with us, Bob would have been transferred to Iowa City, two hours from our home.

December 28, at Mercy Hospital, chemotherapy started and continued for a month. Not knowing anything about AML, our heads were in a whirl. And to top it off, the local news ran a story of our softball coach, from our small town. He was losing his battle with AML. That was definitely not what we wanted to see.

The oncologist assigned to us was Dr. Lair. After a bone biopsy and other tests, they determined Bob had AML with a FLT3 chromosome – which meant he would need a bone marrow transplant if he got into remission.

I can remember walking down the hall to the restroom, in the hospital, a week or so later. I still had my mask on. Along side of me was a younger man, with a mask and pushing his IV pole along. We started talking. Brian was also suffering from AML and this was his second consolidation treatment to get him into remission so he could get a bone marrow transplant.  The first did not work. A consolidation treatment is a month long chemotherapy, on and off. Brian talked to me about God and how He must have wanted him there in that hospital for a reason. He told me to pray, have faith, tell Bob to eat even if he couldn’t, and to exercise, even if he couldn’t. And he said he would pray for us! Here was this man, pretty much at death’s door, lifting ME up! I think God DID put him there for a reason!

After that talk with Brian, reminding us that God did answer prayers, it changed our focus. Not if but WHEN and God would take care of the rest.

And He HAS!!!  Even though the chances of relapsing were 90%, we trusted in God to get Bob through. And He HAS!!!  No donor was ever found, even though Bob is still on the donor list. But God has seen to it that Bob stayed in remission, even without the bone marrow transplant. Thanks to all the prayers from people far and wide, God has answered prayers!  And today, 5 years after diagnosis, Bob is still in remission!

No, we didn’t get to see Daddy again. After a month in the hospital and a month in recovery at home, we went to see Dr. Lair in March, thinking we could take off right after the appointment. Daddy was fading fast. I would drive as Bob had absolutely no energy. Dr. Lair said no, Bob had to go back in for a week of chemo starting that day. And that would be the way it would be each month for follow up chemo. I had to choose, stay with Bob facing chemo again or fly home. I had to stay.

Looking back, I think that was the plan. Roy, my sister’s husband, and Mary took care of Daddy during his last days on earth. Daddy died at home, just as he wished so many times. I do believe that God had a reason for everything that happened.

And Brian? I learned from one of the nurses on the oncology floor that he had gone on to Iowa City for a successful bone marrow transplant! Praise the Lord!

Learning of a devastating disease can throw you and your family into turmoil. Remember that God is always there to listen, heal, forgive and answer prayer. And even though He does not always answer the way we want, He does answer prayer.  God knows what needs to happen even if we don’t. Trust in Him and He will get you through anything and everything.

The Horrors of Dealing with eBay from the Buyers Point of View

Well, I did it. I finally closed my account with eBay. Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t sold there for years. Today, I closed the account to all buying activity, too.

Let me go back. I joined eBay in 2005. I didn’t begin selling on eBay until 2008, I believe it was, after I bought four bowls made by Spode in the Indian Tree pattern for $5.00 at a yard sale. One was an oval vegetable bowl with darkened markings as if it had been burnt in the middle and three desert dishes, one of which had a crack that couldn’t be seen or felt but that I could hear when I set the bowl down. Even with the markings and the crack (all very well described in the listings with numerous pictures), the bowls sold for over $100 and that got me hooked.

I had a blast selling things and had quite a nice business going on but was constantly worrying if the prices I was charging would cover the final value fees and numerous listing fees and the original cost of the item. But I clawed my way to the Top Seller Program by the fall of 2009.

Right about that time, eBay started a new thing with a pop-up box that would allow a buyer to bypass all but the listings from Top Sellers. I thought this was unfair to the small, part-time sellers and decided that even though I had made it, someone needed to promote those smaller sellers. So, I put a blurb in my listings explaining the Top Seller Program. I told my viewers that not only was this program dependent on the stars and ratings but also on VOLUME. I told my viewers that if they chose to look only at Top Sellers, they might be missing some great buys from smaller sellers who had 100% feedback but didn’t have to volume to put them in the Top Seller category.

All of a sudden, my listings weren’t automatically relisting! I was getting notices from eBay that I COULD NOT relist my listings because I had mentioned Top Seller Program. Keep in mind, I did not bash the site, I just told my viewers that there were bargains being sold by great sellers that weren’t in the program.

I commiserated with my Dad one evening (long distance) and he asked me how much I made. Well, I hadn’t really figured it out precisely so I took the time to do so for the year-to-date. I was shocked! By time I figured in the listing fees, final value fees, Auctiva fees, PayPal fees, and some mistakes that I had made and refunded for, I had very little to show for it! Yes, I had plenty going out but was mostly just being busy for pennies!

That did it! When I really saw the amount of actual profit I had realized and found that I was being censored, I decided it was time for a change! My husband and I loved to go to garage sales and estate sales but we couldn’t go do that anymore if I couldn’t find a way to move that merchandise along!

I remembered that I had signed up with OnlineAuction.com as a buyer in 2008 and signed in, updated to a seller, pulled my listings from eBay and said goodbye as a seller there! This is what I put under “ebay – My World”:

“We have enjoyed selling to our customers on eBay and on providing Excellent Customer Service. Thank you for your patronage! We are no longer selling on eBay~come see us at ONLINEAUCTION.com under kornkountrytreasures! We still have great things!”

I have sold at OnlineAuction.com since that change over and haven’t regretted it one bit! I began moving everything over in November of 2009. It took me some time to realize that having a store was better than month to month selling at $8 a month. At the time it was $196 the first year and $96 a year after that, for as long as you had your store! Wow! Well, I waited until September when Valerie Fain, co-owner of OnlineAuction.com, announced a special of $96 and I jumped at the opportunity! I got my store! And I love it!

Okay, I quit selling but I was still buying on eBay, things I couldn’t find elsewhere. Not a lot but some. And it isn’t the sellers fault the site is so badly managed, it’s the CEO and board! And I recently joined the FB group, Former eBay Sellers Open Forum.

Anyway, I bought a light shade on the 16th of August for a lamp. I had asked for the measurement and it turned out it was incorrectly stated. When I received it and found it wouldn’t fit due to the error, I contacted the seller but received no reply. I filed a case when I didn’t get a reply.

Within a day, I received a message through eBay that the seller had refunded the entire amount. Shipping included. I told my husband that I would contact the seller to refund the cost of the shade. I’d just resell it, no problem. I didn’t feel that the shipping should be refunded as he was incorrect and I wouldn’t have bought it if he would have given me correct measurements. So I waited to see if the refund hit my Paypal account. It did not. Nor did it get refunded to my bank account (I had used my debit card). So, I waited until today. No refund.

I checked my other email address that I use for eBay. There was the email regarding the refund. And, behold, there was an email from Paypal saying that the seller (and the name of the seller) was issuing a refund of $16.89 so that the package could be returned to the seller at the address on the label via FedEx. There was a button to click “Claim your money now”. Hmmmm . . . . . . . rule of thumb, NEVER click on a link in an email!

Today, I contacted Paypal. They said they did issue a refund but it would take a few days for it to be posted back to my bank. They could NOT address the other email and asked me to send it to Spoof@paypal.com, which I did. It was confirmed to be a spoof.

Now, the rub is this . . . . . . I used two separate emails for eBay and Paypal. The email was addressed to the email address that I use for eBay but was on a Paypal email! It said:

(Paypal logo was here)

XXXXXXXXXXX sent you $16.89 USD
Hello XXXXXXXXXXXXX@yahoo.com,
Just thought you’d like to know XXXXXXXXXXX sent you $16.89 USD.
Note from XXXXXXXXXX:
We have sent you the funds required to return this item via FedEx. Please return the item in the same packaging in which it was sent using the return address on the box. Thanks you.

CLAIM YOUR MONEY NOW

This was addressed to the email I used for my eBay account NOT my Paypal account. It did NOT give my first and last name but only that email. It referred to the correct seller, the approximate amount of shipping (minus handling fees) AND the method of shipment!! Please not the “Thanks you.” Paypal NEVER gives a link.

I then called eBay. The first gentleman, after a good 40 minutes, finally said he would have to talk to his supervisor and call me back. He did so and said he was transferring me to a department that could tell me for sure, if the seller had indeed sent the email or if it was a phishing attempt. (I did wonder how they could determine if the seller actually sent the email but I went with the flow). He transferred me over after another lengthy hold period. The woman I talked to said she could NOT tell me how and where someone would get this information. I told her my account had been compromised if they had the email address I use for eBay, knew the seller AND the method of shipment but did NOT know I didn’t use the same email address for my Paypal account. She could not explain how that information got out to someone! I told her to close my account!!! Imagine my surprise when she stated she would have to send me to another department to do that!

I was finally transferred over to the retention department. I explained why I wanted my account closed. I was informed it would take 7-10 DAYS to close my account! I told her my account was compromised and she stated that it couldn’t happen any sooner!

Now, I KNOW they can suspend accounts at the push of a button! Why can’t they close my account??? Another eBay fiasco!!!!!

This is not a sellers dilemma, this is a BUYERS dilemma! So, it ISN’T just the sellers that are getting screwed! It is the buyers, too!!

Okay, enough of my ranting and wandering all over the place.

I need sellers to start listing in OTHER places!!!  I WANT MORE OPTIONS!!! There are other venues out there . . . . . one I CAN recommend is OnlineAuction.com! I sell there, I don’t work there. I buy there. This is one site where for one flat fee of $96.00 a YEAR (right now it is a lower cost!!) you can list classic auctions, fixed auctions, Dutch auctions, or absolute auctions; whether you sell a postcard or a motorcycle, the final value fees will be the same . . . . . $0, zilch, nada!! The listing fees will be the same . . . . . . .$0, zilch, nada!! You are your own boss.

If you are sick and tired of eBay, as I am, check us out!!

food for thought . . . . .

By today’s standards, none of us were supposed to ever make it past High School.

HIGH SCHOOL — Circa 1957 vs. 2013

Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.
1957 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2013 – School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end
up buddies. 2013 – Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it .

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1957 – Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2013 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2013 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse, Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused (spanked) herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock .
2013 – The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1957 – Ants die.
2013 – ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents – and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2013- Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

This shows how stupid we have become!

The effects of Obamacare

Okay, President Obama has his healthcare, safe and secure.

So, what does this mean to me? 

Well, number one, I don’t have insurance. Haven’t had any for a little over a year. Why? Because I can’t afford it. Fortunately, my husband is a veteran so we are covered for him. But if something happens to me, it’s out of pocket, which can be pretty darn expensive.

Now, I am going to be charged a percentage of my income for a “tax” because I do not have healthcare. It’s not that I CHOOSE to go without but that makes no difference. So, if I pay this “tax” does that mean I suddenly HAVE healthcare?? No, it means I don’t have insurance and I’m going to be further away from having insurance because now I have to pay more in taxes, leaving less money for insurance!! What a run around!!

Oh, wait, and the business that I may work which currently can’t afford health insurance for their employees might have one employee eligible for health insurance so the business will now be taxed a non refundable tax if the don’t carry health insurance for their employees . . . . . . oops, the company now has no choice but to close . . . . how many people just lost their jobs? 

Oh, and the health insurance companies will have another tax tacked on “relative to health insurance premiums collected that year” causing the insurance companies to raise the fees on everyone to pay for the loss in revenue due to the taxes . . . . . causing more people to be unable to afford health insurance . . . . . . causing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .when will it end? 

The one good thing is that the number of jobs will grow . . . . in the insurance industry!! Good going, President Obama. 

Now, when are we going to start forcing people to buy house insurance?? After all, this raises everyones taxes, too, everytime there is a flood, a hurricane, a fire, an earthquake, the disaster funds have to go out, causing more debt and more in taxes. Well, it’s time we made people responsible for themselves, right? So, they should have to have health insurance, life insurance, car insurance (oh, and that includes coverage for the non-insured or under-insured), house insurance, dental insurance, etc, etc, etc, etc. 

The federal government has overstepped it’s limitations far too often. It’s time that the plug is pulled!!

 

Gray Haired Brigade

This was published in our chats and I liked it so much I thought I’d post it for others to read. I am one of these people who belong in the Gray Haired Brigade!! And this member seemed to be reading my thoughts.

“Gray-Haired Brigade

They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs.

Some of us are “Baby Boomers” getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time. We walk a little slower these days and our eyes and hearing are not what they once were.

We have worked hard, raised our children, worshipped our God and grown old together.

Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true.. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

In school we studied English, history, math, and science which enabled us to lead America into the technological age.

Most of us remember what outhouses were, many of us with firsthand experience. We remember the days of telephone party-lines, 25 cent gasoline, and milk and ice being delivered to our homes. For those of you who don’t know what an icebox is, today they are electric and referred to as refrigerators. A few even remember when cars were started with a crank. Yes, we lived those days.

We are probably considered old fashioned and out-dated by many. But there are a few things you need to remember before completely writing us off. We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote The Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We didn’t fight for the Socialist States of America; we fought for the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.” We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag. We know the words to the Star Spangled Banner, America, and America the Beautiful by heart and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing. We have lived what many of you have only read about in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America.

Yes, we are old and slow these days but rest assured, we have at least one good fight left in us. We have loved this country, fought for it, and died for it, and now we are going to save it. It is our country and nobody is going to take it away from us . We took oaths to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that is an oath we plan to keep. There are those who want to destroy this land we love but, like our founders, there is no way we are going to remain silent.

It was the young people of this nation who elected Obama and the Democratic Congress. You fell for the “Hope and Change” which in reality was nothing but “Hype and Lies.” You have tasted socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don’t like it after all. You make a lot of noise, but most are all too interested in their careers or “Climbing the Social Ladder” to be involved in such mundane things as patriotism and voting. Many of those who fell for the “Great Lie” in 2008 are now having buyer’s remorse. With all the education we gave you, you didn’t have sense enough to see through the lies and instead drank the ‘Cool-Aid.’ Now you’re paying the price and complaining about it. No jobs, lost mortgages, higher taxes, and less freedom. This is what you voted for and this is what you got. We entrusted you with the Torch of Liberty and you traded it for a paycheck and a fancy house.

Well, don’t worry youngsters, the Grey Haired Brigade is here, and in 2012 we are going to take back our nation. We may drive a little slower than you would like but we get where we’re going, and in 2012 we’re going to the polls by the millions. This land does not belong to the man in the White House or to the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. It belongs to “We the People” and “We the People” plan to reclaim our land and our freedom . We hope this time you will do a better job of preserving it and passing it along to our grandchildren.

~Author, Anon. Grey-Haired Brigade Member”

May God be with us.

 

I have become a Protester

So, the other night, my hubby and I were traveling back from Billings, Montana to our home in Woodward, Iowa. Well, actually it’s between Madrid and Woodward because we live in the country.

We had started about 10 a.m. CST and had driven straight through, which is our preferred method. Sassy, our pooch was safe in her kennel in the back of the truck. Yes, it does have a topper and we even wrapped the kennel so she wouldn’t get cold. And no, she didn’t utter a peep!

Please keep in mind that we both have grey to white hair, wear glasses, and we have been eating and drinking as we drive so there are a lot of wrappers and tea bottles. The back of the truck was full of suitcases, kennel, dog food, a Sykes rocker that I had my dad re-glue and an office chair. The back seat (extended cab) was full of pillows, coats and a suit hanging over the window.

Now we have been driving with our bright lights on, all the way after it got dark. Considering the pieces of deer that were littering the interstate from Wyoming through Iowa, we were NOT taking any chances. Hardly anyone even noticed!! The interstates today are far apart enough that unless you have those really luminous blue lights, it shouldn’t bother anyone. And most people can adjust the rear view mirror. Anyway, we did NOT want to hit a deer!

We drove through Madrid, our last town before home. Of course, we did not speed (one does NOT speed through Madrid and get away with it). But as we came around the corner, my hubby noticed the deputy sheriff sitting along the side. Thinking that there was no problem, we continued only to see flashing lights behind us. Well, we pulled over.

After several minutes, the deputy got out and approached our window. My hubby already had his license out. The deputy kindly informed us our headlight was out. Well, since we had been using the bright lights, we hadn’t really noticed when we lowered the beams in Madrid. And besides that we were getting pretty bleary eyed. We told him thank you.

He then asked for hubby’s license, our registration, and our insurance form. I dug the stuff out of the glove compartment (digging through the plastic spoons, Wet Ones and napkins). Hubby handed them to the deputy. He took everything back to his vehicle and called it all in. And by the way, this isn’t some big diesel truck that sounds tough, it’s a ’94 Toyota with a topper, bright red!! Rear wheel drive!!

After almost another 15-20 minutes we were allowed to continue on our way. Now, I realize he must have been bored out of his mind but really!! Our license plate even states “VETERAN”!! He had already asked WHERE we had been and WHERE were we going! And we told him . . . . we had been in Montana to see my dad and were driving home (another 4 miles away!!)

Why couldn’t this deputy sheriff look at the paper work, and send us on our way? Were we threatening looking or what? Two grey haired individuals, threatening with a tea bottle that’s plastic, maybe? I just don’t get it . . . . . yet we have illegals all over this part of the state who are NEVER stopped or questioned!!

I am a little bent out of shape and thinking about it doesn’t make it go away. So, I thought perhaps if I tell my story, maybe a police officer will see it and give me an explanation as to why all the rigmarole!!

Thank you for listening to me rant and rave!!!

The Bible

This is such a beautiful piece, I couldn’t help but share it! You will need to save it to your computer. I wasn’t sure how to post it. I have scanned it with my antivirus software. Please enjoy!!

31806-TheBible

It’s getting Spooky at OLA.com!!

For all of you that love the spooky, haunted, fun-loving spirit of Halloween, you just have to come over to OLA.com and take a peek! Hurry! It’s almost the witching hour!!!

And don’t forget to check us out!!

Korn Kountry Treasures

 

 

Vintage Pins Have New Purpose

Have you taken a closer look at old vintage pins and broaches to see what is possible? No, probably not. A lot of people consider them a thing of the past.

I saw a program today about the new hair styles. Guess what some of the suggestions were for hair ornaments? Old vintage pins! That opens a brand new door for those that love unique, beautiful, hair ornaments!

Take a look at these beauties! These are listed on OLA.com! Just type in vintage pin and wah-lah! A whole bevy of gorgeous pins that you can use for fun or to dress up! Prices, of course, vary but you can get some super great deals!!

And speaking of deals, you can also find some great bargains at the Terrific Tuesday Sales!! Just go to OLA.com, click on Community (upper right). You will need to provide a username and password. Then go to Special Sales Events. You will see the Terrific Tuesday Sales!! Doesn’t cost a thing to browse OR if you are a seller, to sell!!! And don’t forget to stop in at Korn Kountry Treasures  and browse!

So, take a peek at these and drool!!! They are available!!