Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Greetings to ya all from The Grove House here in Plant City Florida! 

Greetings to ya all from The Grove House here in Plant City Florida!

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as One who serves.”

LUKE 22:27

Here we is calling now from the steamy half baked Southland of Plant City Florida. Yelp our rainy season is upon us and I for one welcome it. It cools and dries the air each day giving much wanted relief from the heat and humidity. With that being said it is with the greatest of our hope that our prayer will be answered for each of you that God’s Blessing will abide upon you as you abide with Him. It has been an awesome week filled with His Mercy and Love for which I stand humbled and amazed. The Lord provides his perfect provision and showers His love upon me even as I am the wretch that I am. It is not my love for Him but his love for me. All I have to do is have faith He will provide and confess His Glory in all that He does. I consider you all to be so much greater than I that I have full confidence that He will, and does so much for each of you. Seek His glory and confess it to all and the abundance of His blessings will abound in your life. With that being said let me explain the mess I can make and the perfect work God can do with good servants such as you.

As I reported last I had a ’95 Mercury sitting at Jeff’s house that no one wanted to fool with. Well there was good reason for that. It was well worn and even though it could be fixed it was not believed to be worth the effort. But I have never been discouraged by great obstacles and always take the optimistic view that things can be overcome. I just felt that God had a reason that no one wanted the car. In fact I didn’t even pray much about that and what prayer I did offer I didn’t really wait for His answer. Actually the day I came up with the Mercury idea Sister Mary called and offered me her car for free. I was strongly pulled to accept, as here was a newer car that I knew was well cared for, unlike the Merc., and it was a gift from a Great Christian servant. To be honest about it I turned her down based on no more that my pride. I got to do it my way and that the past few months have gotten me into a lot of trouble with Lou as well. Lou has taken such great care of me sense all this began back in May that her management of my life and Health needs has taken too much control away from me. Instead of being thankful and taking advantage of her commitment to my health management I have become resentful and not the pleasant person I should be towards her. She has been understanding and continues to stand right at my side through it all and I am in my heart deeply thankful. I have been praying about that and the Lord has helped me get my attitude back into proper perspective.

Jeff had a buyer for the Mercury, $300.00, just for the metal, as it is a heavy car. But I played the Indian Giver and took the car back and Jeff was willing to give up his day off and help me get it running. As you know he and I got the car running and he did an excellent job. As you know the car did not even make it the twelve miles to my house before it blew up. It was not what God wanted and when you are away from what God wants you are on you own. “There is away that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”(Proverbs 16.26) It should never be my way, as I will make the wrong choice every time. Jeff even told me in his final analogy of the day that I have to learn patience. I should have waited on the Lord’s confirmed answer. It’s the same problem I am having with Lou and what God is teaching me now, Trust and Obey. So back on my knees in prayer, my strong hold on life, and talked it over with God and then waited for His answer. His answer came at what was the proper time to match other events and now I feel confident again that I am in His will to go forward, I then prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and He even made it so I could receive the car even sooner than before available. An awesome and merciful love so under deserving for such a wretch as I but He has once again blessed me and I know He’ll do the same for you. Seek His path in your life and wait upon the Lord and all things will work towards your good.

All my life I have worked for people who sit at the table and I have become accustomed to serving them for they have become my masters. I have become a table sitter myself under the authority of the one’s I have served and we all have our table. It is the way of the world. God even gives of dominion and a table to be served from. In the Kingdom of God this is not the greatest honor the honor comes in the humility of the servant. Sister Mary giving me her car and Brother Bob making sure I receive it in a timely manner are acts worthy of great honor in which they are living out in God’s Plan not only for me but also for them and mostly for God. Though all I can offer is my thanks and praise to them, as well as God, it is to God’s Glory that I confess to all I can. “When God’s Glory appears, it is not merely a bright light or a glittering cloud, but a visible expression of His absolute reality.” I know God because of His Glory and I express it to others so they may Know Him also. There is no way that I can repay these acts of surpassing kindness of Mary and Bob, lest not in the near future. I just have to remember what Dad Said, “Be just a gracious to receive and you are to give.” But God will both here and abundantly once we reach Heaven, it’s a promise that He will keep, as with all His promise. I praise you Lord, I praise you Mary, I praise you Bob, I praise you Lou and I praise you all from whom with out I would remain a hopeless wretch lost in my own way to destruction.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

1201 Goldfinch Drive  Apt. 2

Plant City, Florida   33563

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Greetings to ya all from way down hear to ya all way up and over there! 

Greetings to ya all from way down hear to ya all way up and over there!

A hey and howdy from the half baked here at the Grove House. Yes sir from right here the center of the sauna we report to you everything that is trivial. And as always it is our hope of Prayer that The Good Lord continues to guide your every step and you don’t miss a one. We also extend a special wish for blessing to each of you Pap’s and Pop’s with a day of honor for the greatness that you are.

Yesterday was a distinct adventure for Jeff and I and we enjoyed each other’s company quite well. As I had mentioned before I had totaled out my PT Curser, which left me vehicle less. The story goes like goes like this when I bought the PT I had the Mercury to dispose of. It had no real trade value so I gave it to the boys and told them to fix it up and then they could sell for profit. So the mercury has been sitting in Jeff’s back yard for the past two years, as no one wanted it. That is a long time for a vehicle to sit but yesterday Jeff and I decided to fix it up and I could use that. We seemed to think it had a water leak but it had been so long we weren’t sure. Now it had been sitting so long the fuel pump inside the fuel tank was froze up. We decided we could handle that so off we went yesterday morning to fix the old car.

Off to the parts store we went and bought all kinds of neat stuff. A new fuel pump motor, eight spark plugs, five quarts of oil, air filter, fuel filter and oil filter. We were going to do it right. Doctor Jeff did a masterful job removing the tank and getting the old fuel pump out. He then replaced the old with the new and we were ready to reassemble. There are two bolted straps that hold the fuel tank on and boy did that give us a fit. We spent four hours trying to get the two bolts that hold those straps to bolt back in. Jeff then came up with an ingenious idea to place a longer bolt over the shorter one and then bolt the straps to that. That worked perfect and we managed to do that in fifteen minutes. With that done we changed the oil and plugs, put all those filters in and fired that puppy up. That car ran as happy as a bird fed cat and to my surprise the A/C chased us right out. So off we went for a ride and it was nice, as I fell in love with that car all over again. When we got back we cleaned up our mess, which is always a first for me, and I packed up to go home, as for me it was a very long day.

The trouble is we forgot all about the water leak, which was the original problem. We did look for leaks we just didn’t look everywhere and certainly not in the right place. It turns out it was not a simple water hose but a rear heater hose beneath the motor. Without any warning the motor locked up about two miles for the house. Yelp that was it! I got to put a whole eight miles on that car before I blew it up. I thought about changing the head gaskets but there might be more to it than that. I don’t really know and don’t have the knowledge to figure it out. Lack of experience and tools would be a problem as well. So as much as I hate it I’m going to have to let it the mercury go

I am sure you all have heard, “These are the best of time and the worst of times.” It is the times we are all in but the past three months I have honestly felt that I am in the best of times, and I still do. I’ve just been become spoiled by the Father because He has cared for my every need so sufficiently. I am winning this battle against cancer, I am well supported thus far with no income, my medications have been provided, I have not been discouraged, dishearten, depressed or failing in proper attitude all thanks to my friend Jesus. But I am taken back a bit that all this effort produced so little affect. I felt sure that the mercury was part of God’s will for a car solution at this time. The fat lady has not sung yet so it may still be. As I was sitting on the porch last night my with my son Jeff, we were admiring the success and failures of the day, patting ourselves on the back and licking the wounds, Jeff said dad just be patient.

Joseph was a blessed man the son of Isaac. Thrown into the slave trade by his brothers. Thrown in to prison by an adulterous woman. He remained in prison even after he had interpreted the dream of the cup holder in spite of his promise to mention him to Pharaoh. I would say Joseph learned to be a patient man, as God did lift him up and fulfill his dream that his brothers would bow before him. It’s not according to my wishes but according to God’s will that things will happen perfectly and in unison. It is His way only and not the way I think it should be that it will work out. I will continue to wait upon the Lord and study His word for me this day. I will seek to give Him the Glory for all the good work He shall honor me with and be ready for every opportunity He calls me into. Through Him all things are possible and there is nothing that will remain undone including my final victory.

Oh Lord this is Father’s Day. I honor you and Praise you for the mighty God you are.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

1201 Goldfinch Drive  Apt. 2

Plant City, Florida   33563

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

“There is more beyond”

If you don’t know Jesus, confess your sins and embrace his death and resurrection on your behalf. If you do not know Him, make your daily decisions in light of your destiny. Ask yourself what you can do today, next week, next year, of decades from now to right the best ending to this volume of your life’s story, a story that will continue gloriously in the new universe. (Randy Alcorn)

June 11 2010—June 15-2010  Moffitt Cancer Center Arm A-2  Complete

“BACK IN THE GRIB TILL 07-02”

May God’s Grace wash you daily with great blessing both for now and may you realize the great abundance He has for you in the coming eternal place that awaits you in the near future. As always, and always, it is our prayer and great hope that His mercy and great love continue to be a presence in your heart constantly throughout you day and into the darkest hour of your night. For He is always with you and never more that a step away when you stumble. This I have learned the past few months for I have stumbled much and fallen far but have not felt abandoned nor forgotten in His perfect providence or care. He has provided all I need and His promises have been true, both now and assuredly in the time to come. I am confident it is the same for you and all His children for our God is a just God who loves His children. Waiting for the promised spiritual blessing while others prosper is a test of patience, faith and perseverance. All this pain of the curse brought on by our fall to sin in the garden will be burned away and we will soon live in the great inheritance that God has set aside for each of us. Then this will be nothing more that the proving ground in preparation for the task that lay before us in Heaven.

Sense completing Arm-B my trials have been many and at time difficult. Arm-B was as they said it would be more physically and mentally demanding. My weight dropped near 100lbs as I could not eat or keep what was eaten in its proper container. I’m back to 127lbs now I’ve been quite a pig this past week. Also last Wednesday I became very disorientated while driving to town and totaled my care. They also took to much spinal fluid out of my spinal column causing my brain to rest on the bottom of my scull tearing the blood vessels from the top of my head. This caused a lot of bleeding and some very sever headaches. Just to stay in line with everything else I just went to the Pharmacy to pick us this months drugs and the bill was $1800.00. So it has been a tough and trying two weeks here at The Grove House.

Am I discouraged, do I feel forsaken or am I lashing out at the God who is supposed to care for every need? Absolutely not! “And because you are sons, God has set forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out “Abba Father”(Galatians 4-6) Through the trials of this present world we are to give God the Glory for leading us through, this is our witness to those who know Him not and through our faith that they will see the truth of who He is. “To God be the Glory great things He will do.” God has solved every trial of the paragraph previous. Through your mighty prayers and His over whelming love and providence everything is being worked out. Fortunately no one was injured and the insurance is going to take care of everything. Even as they totaled the car I own less than the payoff so I wont have to make payments on a car I do not have. (Good-bye PT…I will miss you) The blood mass in my head is drying up remarkably quick so that will be able to start treatment next week, which is surprising them there Doc’s. Moffitt is billing my insurance to meet my deductible so in four days I can get my prescriptions with out an $1800.00 co pay. Today I received a letterform the Social Security Disability folks approving my aid from the Gov. Which is unheard of being approved on the first go-around that starts in November. I am not one to give advise because you all are way ahead of me but if you are having trials in your life and feel the answers difficult and elusive I say this. Go back to our root of youth and “Let Go and Let God”

If anything I am thankful and constantly Praise God for what He is doing in my life right now. These are the best days of my life because I have become closer to my Lord than ever and it gets better each and every day. I have always known God, sought after His Son, and yet have always been a wretch. But know I am learning how great it is going to be when we all gather over on the yonder shore.

“Brother Jim Comes To
Town”

I hope this note finds all well and life moving at a along pleasing pace. As always it is our hope and Prayer that the Lord’s direction in your life is destined for which the rewards are abundant in His richness. That now we find ourselves moving forward towards our home with a worthy God leading us in our devotions.

05-18-10 Moffitt Cancer Center 05-24-10

Thursday, May 27, 2010

With that interruption out of the way it is embarrassing that I nether finish this not prior or sense going to Moffitt. But that is no excuse just me reasoning for my usual procrastination. The big event of this month so far is Brother Jim came to visit for a piece of the day. It was wonderful seeing him and having him to my self. It was astonishing he would travel so far for just a little time. Jim arrived just before noon and stayed till about 5pm returning back to Johnson City. He is so busy now that he is retired and I was very proud to hear of all the things he is involved with. Lou came in shortly after Jim’s arrival and we enjoyed lunch together at the Brick House Café, a nice little sandwich shop on the other side of town that is just plain good eating folks. After that Jeff dropped by and got caught up on all that is going on. When then watched video from Jim’s video camera and it was delightful to see all that is going on in Jim’s family there in those hills. We then decided to go bowling and Jim beat us all by one pen. No we weren’t being polite he just beat us. Before Jim left Jason dropped by and they discussed life on the high seas with stories of Jim’s travels with Reid and the Navy along with Jason’s adventure wielding those big boats together. The day was completed with Jim solving an age-old mystery of our separation in Richmond, Va. from the summer we rode our bikes to Maine and back. It was a very wonderful time and I thank him for the gift, it was one of those that money could never have bought, the best kind.

The scoop on me is with the exception of a little snag the Lord is continuing to bless me with His healing and redemptive power. The numbers continue to come back in not only in acceptable ranges but in exceptional ranges for someone in my shape and stage in life. The only problem I am having is they messed up a spinal tap and my spine is leaking fluid. This causes a constant head and lower backache. It may self-correct and if not there is a procedure they can perform if necessary. Based on past performance I am betting on self-correction.

The only bad news, of course, comes from the government. Even though I have been paying in to Social Security sense 1967 with my money through no choice of my own I am not qualified to receive any assistance. I am waiting for on more denial from them before I write to my Senator’s and Representatives for there help, which would surprise me sense they are the problem in the first place.

“To My”
“Prayer Warriors”

But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
Heb 11:6

For me Prayer is the greatest act of Faith for we are bowing down before an unseen God asking for unseen things holding on to that as if God has answered our petition until He Does. We please God most by prayer, as He is able to Glorify Himself most by answering our Prayer. This is the very essence of Prayer, the very essence of the 23rd Psalm the Good Shepard perfectly providing for His Flock. Let me assure you that I am aware of the many Prayer Warriors who have bent their knee in Prayer on my behalf. There is no greater power than a Christian bending their knee in Spirit and truth for a fallen Christian Brother and I am humbled and honored by your gift each and every day and thank you all each and everyone. I am overwhelmed by His answer and feel the power of your Prayers.
Our God, Yahweh, the Lord! The God of compassion and Mercy! “I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. (Exodus 34:6-7) Yahweh the God of Isreal, is the only God – no other God exists (Deut 4:32-40) Yahweh the God of Isreal, is a God of Grace, is the creator of the heavens and the earth. He deals patiently with sinners saving them and calling them to covenant relationship with himself, revealing His name and His will to them, providing for there needs, and walking with them in fellowship and love.

The Church has three corporate functions of equal importance. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. (Eph 6:12) The Worship service where we join together and worship Him as a church family, Sunday School where we learn His word and receive instruction about His plan for our individual lives, and Prayer meeting where we pray together. Prayer Meeting where we are called together to act upon His word to bring a Christian life to bring a full witness into full view of all who are watching us on a daily bases. It is here that people see and learn through us the full truth of God by our action and His response to our action. It is here that the Church comes alive and God is glorified. I am saddened that most churches find the participation lacking; they are missing a powerful part of Church life. I am so thankful that in your church you attend this meeting for my welfare has depended so much upon that.

I am in constant prayer that God will continue to Bless each and everyone abundantly for the peace and redemption your quite time with God has brought into mine. May Jesus’ Church answer “Yes Lord, Amen”

Thomas N Kirkpatrick
1201 Goldfinch Drive Apt.2
Plant City, Florida 33563

Monday, May 10, 2010

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Greetings from lovely downtown Plant City here in the sunshine state of Florida. The birds awoke early this morning to join together in concert with their morning sing of praise to an Almighty God. It is always our hope and prayer that the Lord continues to bless each one of you as you travel through your day seeking His way.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day and we all gathered to make a special event out of that. The boys, Jason and Jeffery prepared the meal. Jason skewered some shrimp in a buttery garlic sauce, while Jeff cooked Honey Bar B Que’d chicken breast on the grill. Lou made yellow rice, squash and asparagus along with some big flaky biscuits. It was a wonderful meal and as we sat there enjoying together the flavors and family fellowship I realized how wonderful it has been all these years we have been together.

It raises eyebrows when I explain the relationship of Lou and myself. People look in wonder as to how that could work out so well, but it does. Lou and I met in 1977 in Dade City, Florida and started dating shortly after. In 1980 we were married and in 1990 we broke up. In 2005 we divorced and then came back together in 2007. People take pause when I tell them I share an apartment with my X. through it all, the good and the not so good, Lou and I have always been the best of friends. We have watched out for each other for 33 years and I am looking forward to everyday that God allows us to be together.

What I am most proud of is Lou is an excellent Mother. The kids never wore dirty clothes, never went hungry, always had good provision and constant rightful instruction. To this day we see the reward of her attention to the boys. They have grown tall and strong in good moral character because of the lessons that Lou has given them. Now from thankfulness they come over and tend to her needs. They take her where she needs to go, the store or to the library. They make sure that she lacks nothing and if she has a need they will provide it.

It has been an interesting journey with Lou and though there is no romance I have no regret. I feel that we have something far more than a romance we have a companionship of dependency and trust. I could not have survived these past few months or the ones just ahead if it were not for Lou. She is my right hand there providing even before I know the need. I’ve made some bad choices in my life but if there is one that was correct it was my choice to stick with Lou. Say and think what you will but she has always been my Girl.

Friday at noon they released me fro the Moffitt Cancer Center and after 15 days I was ready to get gone. I felt pretty good Friday when Lou’s sister Debbie picked me up and brought me home. We stopped at Lessors on the way to visit and give report. All my boosting about what a resilient person I am by not suffering any side effects from the Chemo went out the window on Saturday. I woke up Saturday feeling way off and thinking I had picked up a bug. I did my chores in the bathroom and drug a comb through my hair only to watch it come out. I could not believe it, why now? Why not when I was taking the Chemo or shortly after? Why did it take so long for the effect? To humble my boost is the answer I think of. It happens all the time when I brag I get put down. Saturday and Sunday were really bad days and I spent most of them in bed. The confusion is the worst part and I was not able to keep up with events. Today is better and I have been able to be out of bed most of it so far. The schedule is now blood work next Tuesday and next Friday and if all is well back into the cancer Center on Friday night to start arm B. Arm B is experimental drugs that are supposed to attack the cancer cells directly instead of the good cells as well. If that works it would speed things up considerably. Right now I am to work on my diet and get my weight back up, I’m a whopping 125 lbs and the doctor is not happy with that.

As I was sitting in Church Sunday trying to understand what was being said, I wondered how I was going to get home. I wasn’t sure I could make it in the car. The question was not how or when but the answer was I will. I will because God led me here to His house and He will lead me home as well. Not just now but also particularly now God has been my strength and my refuge through this present battle. God has been with me all the way, He has sent His angels to keep me lifted and in good spirit. There has not been a moment that I felt lost or unsure of what is to come. I know what is coming, victory, because God has already given it to me. God is a holy worthy God deserving of our praise and thanksgiving. Where else would I place my faith? There is no other worthy of our faith. You can’t please god without faith and you can’t have faith in Him unless you believe He is. Where can’t you see God in His creation that you would know He exists. Yes God will see me home and someday He will see me all the way home where I will worship Him through all the days of eternity.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

1201 Goldfinch Drive apt 2

Plant City, Florida  33563

“I’ve come to the garden alone, while the due is still on the roses, and the voice I hear whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses.”

The words of truth revealed to my sprit fill me with great courage to follow firmly with out waver the path He has set before me. For this is the only path that will lead to the victory He has already given to me. I must resist the spell of naturalism. If I succumb to naturalistic assumptions that what is seen is real and what I can’t see is not, then I will believe in the world and not believe in the Kingdom of the Present Heaven. By God’s Grace I will stomp out the fire of Naturalism so that I may clearly see through faith the liberating truth of Christ the King and the present Heaven His Kingdom.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

21:5 He who was seated on the throne said,

“I am making everything new!”

Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me:

“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually  liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.”

God’s crown of creation and the universe created by the word of God are on a journey together from man’s fall to sin in the Garden Of Eden to his return to the New Garden of Eden located in the new Jerusalem which will be placed on the new Earth after the Great White Throne of Judgment that will remove all sin from God’s Kingdom. God will never relinquish His claim on His creation. God’s Will shall be done on earth as it is in the Present Heaven. It is easy to see we truly are ambassadors of God’s Kingdom for today we reside in the very land once restored by a redemptive Lord will be Heaven and earth joined together where Man and God shall dwell together for ever.

Of the thousands of Prayers that have been prayed  on my behalf allow me in my deepest humility offer my sincerest thanks for the endless good works you all have expressed for my welfare.  Let me assure you all that God has answered each prayer and I have been lifted far above any suffering thus far. Thank you Jesus for your abundant mercy.

I entered Moffitt Cancer Center earlier than expected due to a cantaloupe sized tumor which popped up in my stomach causing great discomfort. The cancer then took front stage and on 4-23 I was admitted at 11am and started chemo that evening at 10pm. Instead of 4 treatments I underwent 8 each 12 hours apart plus 2 chemo treatments in the spine. The only problem I am having due to the chemo is I have yet to regain a white blood cell count. I have not suffered any of the multiple side effects of the drugs that have been poured through me.

It has occurred to me that not only for I but for all of God’s Children there is a wealth of prayers being offered on our behalf from the Saints in Heaven. Because Heavens Saints return with Christ to set up His millennial kingdom (Rev: 19:11-14), it seems unthinkable they would be ignorant of human history taking place on earth. God and His Angels along with the saints of His Church are about to return for the ultimate battle in the history of the universe, after which Christ will be Crowned King of Kings. Those on earth may be ignorant of those in Heaven but those in Heaven are not ignorant of those on earth.

We have a multitude of family in the present Heaven that are engaged in what their members here on earth are involved in. Members we know and members we have never met but they have known us from the beginning. Jesus sets at the right hand of God interceding for us. It only makes sense that the saints that have offered so many Prayers here on earth would continue to do so in Heaven on behalf of their family.

The truth of this is so overwhelmingly powerful that I am here in my hospital room glowing with His peace in my heart. Your Prayers and the Prayers of your members, the Prayer of my interceding Lord and the Prayers of His Saints in Heaven assures me to complete confidence that my future is secure in the hand of a big God. And the Church answered, “Yes Lord, Amen”
 
“I Must Ask”

I have been faced with unmanageable medical bills sense October’s surgery. Instead of making payments I payed off most of that cost only to fall into a bigger battle with cancer. I have not yet completed arm A and even if I get out before Arm B they will not give me a release to work before the total effect of Arm B is known.

I have applied to FLMA, Social Security Disability, The American Cancer Society and have considered Social Security Retirement if I can afford Cobra Payments. All of these if they come through for me is two to three months in coming. My savings is near to the end only allowing two more car payments before I lose that.

Do not worry God will see me through this as well as I have learned to trust Him with a faith that grows stronger every day. But we have not because we ask not. So I must ask if you can comfortably pass any help along it would be greatly appreciated and needed.

Well that is the Good, The Bad and the Miracle of it all. May the Lord continue to bless each of you according to His Plan for you. Remember He sees us as He wants us to be, not as we are. Let us now renew our commitment to being His as He sees us.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

1201 Goldfinch Drive Apt. 2

Plant City, Florida  33563

Saturday, March 20, 2010
Greetings to ya all from way down hear to ya all wherever you may be!

Some Things Don't Change

Greetings to each and every one of you from each and every one of us here at the Grove House. It is our constant prayer and hope that all is well with you and your families as you go about your journeys to the Promised Land. Here we are going about our daily routines within the routed ruts of our habits and learning the lessons of each conclusion we achieve along the way. We travel on in the confidence that each challenge is a piece of God’s Plan and for those of us who are faithful will work for good and the result will be a blessing not only for us but for those whom we are His witness.

The big event at this writing is that Big Bob and Shirley came to visit us here at the Grove House. We had a wonderful time doing pretty much nothing, which is always fun with the right folks. The kids Tibious and T-T, Lou’s mighty cats, enjoyed meeting more of the family and were enthralled by the aroma of different shoes to curl up around. They arrived Friday evening and we enjoyed a country dinner at Buddy Freddie’s before reminiscing over past history we had shared. In the morning we had Momma Lou’s Biscuits and Gravy along with more observations on how familiar folks had faired on their journey through life. Jason was unable to stop by as he was out in the Atlantic repairing structural damage to a ship but Jeff stopped by to visit. Together we had a good grilling of some big burgers along with the trimmings. Big Bob and Shirley then ventured North back to the Mansion and we hope some day soon we will also be able to visit them there.
There is a value here that outweighs the platinum we shall some day walk upon. Friends come and go throughout our whole lives. Some friends hang in there for most of the journey while others only stay for a little time. They all enrich our lives and give us a since of self-worth, warm us in the cold room and cool us when in the desert. A family member is an eternal blessing given to us by the power that created the truth of immortal relationship. One cannot be in the presence of a family member without feeling the presence of all members of the family. For each us bare the mark of all. I can feel the influence and presence of all members in our family when in the presence of anyone of us. I see Grandma Welch, my Father and my Mother, as well as all whom I have never know. There is a power that enforces the confidence of peace, security and love that we will never be alone in life or in death. Family demands our full attention because we have learned the blessing of God’s Gift. I pity those whose family bonds have been broken and know there is pain from the emptiness it has caused in their lives. I cannot imagine a greater blessing in my life than being a member of a family just like ours.

A Word About The Picker

I am not my favorite subject and the subject of the following is difficult for me to share. It is information you all need to know and is better coming from me than by other sources as time passes along. The year past has not been a healthy one for me and I have been busy recovering from a surgery that just seems to not go away. About six weeks ago the wound reopened and began to drain. It was a band-aid size problem and this is all I applied to manage it. Then my sugar levels started dropping into the low twenties un-expectedly and repeatedly. This scared and worried Lou as her only defense was to call the paramedics. I started to let my sugar levels run high than they should thinking this would keep the night visitors away but they would have to come out anyway. Finally Lou and Jason had enough and demanded that I go to the hospital. That is the last thing I want to do and resisted. It was no use Jason made it plain I was going in my car or tied up in the back of his truck. I went in my car with Jason going along to make sure they were aware of what was going on.

I was in the hospital from Tuesday morning till Saturday undergoing several test, biopsies and CAT Scans X-rays and they drained about every available once of blood they could get. Saturday morning they came with their diagnoses, large B-cell lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive, or fast-growing lymphoma. It can arise in lymph nodes or outside of the lymphatic system, in the gastrointestinal tract, testes, thyroid, skin, breast, bone or brain. This coming Thursday I go for a P E T Scan which will nail it down one way or the other. The doctor has already decided the treatment will be chemotherapy. Monday I will return to work for what I think will be one maybe two more weeks before I go to treatment.

My state of mind is this: I am as I have always been, in a win-win situation. I will win this coming battle ahead of me against cancer and if I don’t God will give me victory. I will still be able to provide for my family because God will open the doors for me. I have no fear of death because if I move on from here God will lift me from the grave. I do not see myself as burdened by misfortune but blessed with two faithful sons and the best friend my X girl friend, my X wife and faithful companion Lou. It is not the Kirkpatrick way to allow life to beat us down for we know our patch is assured by His footsteps. It is not the Kirkpatrick way to allow death to overshadow life for He has provided a place for us and we shall dwell in the house of our Father forever.

This is all that can be said, until we once again have a chat may God Bless You and the ones whom you bless.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick
1201 Goldfinch Drive Apt. 2
Plant City, Florida 33566
813-716-5327