The View from the Mountain's

2011- A Year of Learning..Mostly the Hard Way

2012-01-02T01:30:00.002-05:00

I could go into detail here...why not, it is my blog of course, but honestly nothing good would come of it. This year has been a whirlwind of learning...and as the title says, most of what I learned, I learned the hard way. The saying is true, it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a second to ruin it. My goal in 2012 is to focus on building that reputation back by focusing solely on what it takes to glorify the Lord...not Laura. I pray for peace, love, grace, and mercy. I pray that I can love people the way that God loves me. I pray that I can truly learn to forgive the way I know my God has forgiven me. I pray God will make me the wife, mother, and friend that God has called me to be. And I pray that others will forgive me the way the Lord has forgiven them. And lastly I pray that I can walk to the altar in peace as I give my gift to the Lord....

Welcome 2012...it's nice to see you :)

Laura

One Act of Obedience

2010-10-30T22:15:00.002-04:00

To be honest, my knowledge of the bible is very little. I have never taken the time to dive in and really learn. You can't grow if you don't learn, so that's what I did this week and this is what I learned....

I started in Galatians 1 and 2 and then moved over to Acts 9....here's what I've got so far....

My opinion of Paul, before this week, was that he was like Jesus's right hand man....you know, was "there", had reached the mark...and even though I knew he had a former life that was not so great, I still thought Paul was "special"....not like us normal people that have to work and strive so hard to grow in our relationship with Christ. I thought it was easy for Paul.

(It's amazing what a little reading and little studying will do for your perceptions and knowledge)

So in Acts 9, Saul is out to destroy christians. Then the Lord shows up, throws Saul to his knees, blinds him, and sends him to the city to wait. (I am dying to know what is going through his mind during this time)

Then there is this unknown, insignificant (by the world's standards) disciple named Ananias. The Lord, in a vision...not in person, but in a vision tells Ananias to go to Saul, touch him, and restore his sight. Now, I am really dying to know what's going through this guy's mind....how about, "YEAH RIGHT LORD, the second he sees me he's going to want to kill me!!" The Lord says, "GO!" So Ananias obeyed....not fully knowing that this ONE simple act of obedience would change the world. ---sidenote--- How many times as christians do we look at people and think they are way to dangerous, or way to lost, or way to "not like us" for us to obey God and reach out to them. We don't do it because we are scared, or uncomfortable, or whatever the reason may be....one simple act of obedience can change EVERYTHING....and the worst person out there could possibly be the future of God's plan...but we don't know until we obey.

Fortunately for Ananias it all worked out, he obeyed, and Saul was restored and conformed...forever. Nothing else is mentioned of Ananias (which is driving me crazy, because I would love to know if he ever found out exactly how God used Saul..now known as Paul.

Why did God choose Paul? Why not choose someone who wanted to do the Lord's work? Because...WOW...if God can use someone like Paul...who hated him, hated christians, arrested christians, murdered christians...then think of how he can use me, or us! THIS is what God's grace can do!

So then I ask myself, well how long did it take for Paul to start preaching and spreading the gospel? I mean, did he sit and dwell on all the horrible things he did, and have a pity party for himself b/c God is so Holy and he is so unworthy? I don't know if the bible discusses that anywhere, but what it does say is that AT ONCE Paul started preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20) That right there is how it should be done. You sin, God forgives, God restores, You GO!

So what about Paul's past? I mean how in the world did he move forward preaching God's Word with such a reputation of hating and killing christians? Obviously he had to show by example, people had to see the fruit. But he also talked. He had to share his testimony repeatedly so they would believe him and follow Christ. Paul gave his testimony to a crowd of angry Jews (Acts 22:1-2), to the Roman governor Felix (24: 10-21), to King Agrippa (26:1-23), and to multitudes of people who questioned him in Rome (28: 17-29). I realized here that yes, once Christ changes your life, people want to see your actions, they have to see your fruit(Gal 5:22), but they also have to HEAR what Christ has done to fully understand what is going on.

Now my last observation on Paul this week is that he was Saul as a Jew and then became Paul once he was converted to Christianity. My question was why. My first thought was because the name Saul was distracting people from hearing the gospel. So many people knew of his past and knew what he had done, that they seemed more interested in hating him and wanting to kill him than they were in listening to what he had to say (Acts. 9:29) Maybe if he started going by Paul, people would hear the gospel before they had time to realize who he was. Now my bible says in the sidebar, "Like many Jews, Paul had two names, one Jewish (Saul) and the other Graeco-Roman (Paul). Just as immigrants today sometimes change their names to assimilate with their new land, so Paul began to use his Graeco-Roman name as his missionary team moved into Gentile territory." I would like more information on this topic.

So it's been a deep week! LOL My opinion of Paul is not the same.... Yes, he was special....but so are we...and there's no way it was easy for him...but he knew that was his calling and nothing else mattered, so he persevered and set his mind on the goal. What a testimony!

Dancing with the Angels....

2009-05-01T20:18:00.006-04:00

I was driving to my Mom's house the other night when I started feeling very sad and emotional. I hate feeling this way before I get to Mom's because I don't want to upset her. I decided to sit in the car for a minute to collect myself, when this song came on the radio (Praise God for Christian Radio). The song was Dancing with the Angels by Monk and Neagle and as I sat and listened to it, instead of continuing to cry, I actually began smiling and rejoicing for my Dad. I decided at that moment that I wanted to make this video. I hope you enjoy. The bridges in the video are in Destin where my Dad LOVED to fish from....they are special.

Thank You

2009-02-16T13:34:00.003-05:00

I have said it before, and I will say it again....there are not enough words to completely express the magnitude of what I feel towards my church family and to my friends. The utter selflessness and generosity given to my family over the last few weeks has been breathtaking. We are truly blessed to know each and every person that has stepped in to help us. I pray God's blessings on each person and their families. People have babysat, cooked, run errands, provided meals, cleaned our homes, washed clothes, sat with us, cried with us, talked with us, prayed with us and most importantly loved us. After the funeral and burial so many people brought food for our family to the church and then several people were there to help serve us. What we witnessed then and throughout is God's love through His people. I wish there was more I could do or say, but for now all I know to do is say THANK YOU!!!!!!

I am completely humbled!

Laura

Dad's Funeral Arrangements

2009-02-09T02:22:00.005-05:00

Dad's visitation will be Monday 2/9/09 at Grissom Funeral Home from 2-4pm and 6-9pm. The funeral will be at First Baptist Church of Cleveland at 11 am on Tuesday the 10th. Dad will lie instate at the church from 10-11 for viewing. The burial will be at Sunset. All Dad's family is invited back to my church (The Church at Grace Point) following the burial.

After the burial we will all drive back to First Baptist and then then drive together over to my church.

If you have questions email or call me.

Laura

Dad and Arrangements

2009-02-06T10:26:00.002-05:00

My dear sweet dad went home to be with the Lord at 9:45 p.m. Thursdsay night (2/5/09). He went calmly and peacefully. We thank you for the prayers, cards, phone calls, food, etc. We are truly blessed to have so many friends and family!!

We do not know times, but the visitation will be Monday and the funeral will be on Tuesday.

Praise Jesus for not giving up on my dad!!!

Love,
Laura

Go Ahead and Prepare....

2009-02-05T17:59:00.002-05:00

If you live out of town and are planning on coming to Dad's funeral, go ahead and start packing...this way you aren't rushing around when we call you. Hospice said today Dad could go at any minute. Dad looks very peaceful and is resting. Continue praying for his comfort and quick trip home :)

God Bless!

Love,
Laura

Childcare Situation

2009-02-05T11:12:00.003-05:00

To Family Members:

I wanted to let everyone know that I am working on the childcare situation for the funeral. If you are a family member who is planning on coming in town for the funeral and you have kids, please let me know. My church has graciously agreed to let us use their facilities for not only our central meeting place (because our family is so large) but also their childcare rooms during the funeral. I have people (who I trust dearly) who have agreed to stay and watch our children along with our children's pastor..He said he would be glad to stay and oversee the care. We need a guess on about how many children will be staying. Here's what will happen...we will drop the kids off at the church before the funeral and then we will pick them back up after the burial. My church is approximately 2 miles from mine and Holly's house. Please know that my children and Holly's children will be there and we trust them with all our hearts. Email me at mountainmom721@hotmail.com and let me know if you want to leave your children at the church. As far as the visitation goes, the funeral home will have a room where the kids can play and I will have babysitters there to watch them.

I stated above that we will also use the church as the central meeting place. Because we have such a large family and none of our houses will accomodate everyone, the church has said we can meet there when we want everyone to get together...i.e. after the burial, etc. My church has a nice cafe with lots of seating and a kitchen, so I think we will be comfortable there.

Email me if you want/need directions to the church and my house....email Holly if you need directions to her house....

No one will be staying with Mom once Dad passes, so let me know if you have questions regarding hotels or if you need a place to stay.

We love everyone very much and even though it will be under rough circumstances, we do look forward to seeing our family.

Let us know what we can do to help you!

Love,
Laura

Let Thy Will Be Done.....

2009-02-04T21:54:00.004-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

As much as we hoped that this time would never come, I'm afraid we are nearing the end. Dad has now been asleep for a solid 24 hours. Before this run he was asleep for 18 hours. As much as I would love for my sweet Dad to wake up and look at me or squeeze my hand or say I love you, I know if he's asleep he's not hurting. I know there are many of you who read Holly's and my blog for updates...all I can give you is his status, I choose not to share with you what I see everyday. Remember what he looks like in your mind and treasure that, because if you haven't seen him, trust me you don't want too. With that said, I will tell you this...His breathing is more labored and he is making horrible noises. The noises are apparently from all the secretions he's trying to clear from his throat. Mom is going to put a patch behind his ear tonight or tomorrow that will help dry up the fluid which should calm the noises. Mom, Holly, and I will be going to the funeral home tomorrow to make arrangments. We feel now that we cannot wait any longer. Continue praying for Dad's comfort and Mom's strength and of course as always remember to praise the Lord through this!

We will be seeing you all soon.

Love,

Laura

Family and Friends

2009-02-03T18:38:00.002-05:00

There is good in everything. Sometimes you have to look a little harder to find it, but it's always there. One good thing we have seen so far is the abundance of friends that we have. It has been truly amazing and humbling to watch the outpour of love and support that we have received. We have people showing up to help sit with dad, bringing food, or just calling to see what we need. Two very special ladies sat with my grandmother on numerous occasions when my mom, sister, and I weren't able to do so. I have had several people from my church email and call to see what they could do. I have a long list of people I can call anytime I need babysitters. I could go on and on...but the point is my family feels truly blessed in knowing we are prayed for and loved.

Another thing I am so thankful for is that I feel closer to my sister, Holly, than I ever have. She's a pretty amazing woman and I'm so glad that the Lord has given us this time to really grow close.

We thank you for loving us and for praying for us. We definitely feel them!
On a side note...
We have a thankyou card list growing at an alarmingly fast rate...be patient, they will come :)

12:42

2009-02-02T16:25:00.004-05:00

12:42 p.m. was the time the phone rang. I answered it and my sister was on the other end. She said the hospital had just called and Mom-o, our dear sweet grandmother, was gone.

I had been outside playing in the snow with Emma. Ten minutes earlier Eric had arrived home and we were running around in the snow and having a snowball fight when I stopped with a feeling...a feeling I now know was God speaking to me. I felt Him say, "The time has come." I knew it was about my grandmother. I quickly thought, do I leave now or do I keep playing with Emma and Eric? I desperately wanted to be with my grandmother when the time came and she entered into Heaven's doors. I quickly made a decision....I decided to stay and play with my daughter, who was having the time of her life. Ten minutes later the phone rang. The time had come and she was gone. I am at complete peace at knowing the Lord works everything out the way He wants it done. Eric arrived home a few minutes before the phone call because school had been called off due to snow. My sister actually took the phone call at my parent's house regarding my grandmother. She was there because she is a teacher as well and was off work. Neither of us would have been able to hurry over to the nursing home if it had not snowed. I believe we were where we were supposed to be and I have no regrets!

Thank you Lord for keeping your promises!

Westminster Bells Go Ding Dong, Ding Dong Dong

2009-01-30T09:31:00.005-05:00

Last night Mom, Holly, Mark, Dan, Eric, and I got to go to Chili's for dinner. It was nice to get out and just have time together without having to directly think of everything that's going on. Some of Dad's friends had stopped by and graciously said they would stay and take care of him while we went out. The highlight of the night was when good ol' Dan started singing the song, "The Westminster Bells go ding dong, ding dong dong....." then my mom would start singing and he would say, "No that's not right, here let me do it and then you try again!" :) Aren't children great!!? They always make you smile!

So while we were gone Dad kept wanting to sit up and stand up, so the guys obliged. They got him up so many times while we were gone, it gave him some good exercise, plus it would good to see he had that kind of energy. When we got back the guys left after a while and it was Mom, Teresa, and I. Dad wanted to sit up so I told him he could but to not try and stand up because it wasn't safe. He said ok! In days past he would have kept trying, like he didn't understand. While he was sitting there he said he was hungry so Mom was able to feed him about 3/4 cup of applesauce. I think that's the first thing he had eaten in a couple of days!

Earlier in the day my brother called and I put the phone up to Dad's ear so he could say hi. Well, when I hung up the phone Dad asked for water....so I gave it to him. Well then he started calling for my brother.."Danny, Danny!" I said, "Dad why do you want Danny?" He said, "Because I need someone who is capable of giving me some water!" LOL Apparently I wasn't doing a good job (even though he was getting water and it wasn't spilling!) I thought that was funny, and Dad has definitely shown that he's still got his personality!

Pushing Beyond Your Limits

2009-01-28T08:54:00.006-05:00

There are many things that I have learned through this time in my life and many more things that I am sure I will learn as I press forward, but one thing I know for sure, is that when you walk through a time of difficulty especially one dealing with someone you love so much, you are pushed. I don't mean pushed a little, I mean pushed beyond any limit you thought possible. I never in my wildest dreams thought I could go as far as I have gone..everything I have known, everything I am has been pushed...and even though I'm exhausted, I keeping pressing forward...not because I'm the one pressing, but because God is pushing me, He's right behind me with his body pressed against mine, pushing and pushing and pushing...and when my knees start to give, He picks me up and we press on together.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

During the last two days of helping take care of my Dad, he has gotten visibly angry. He seems to get angry with me, but I know that's not the reality of it. I have always heard people in this condition get angry and somewhat violent. Dad does not want to take his medicine and still wants to get up at times. He has to take his medicine and if I'm by myself then he can't get up because I just not strong enough. So I force him to take his meds and he yells at me and grabs my wrists or whatever he can. I tell him I'm sorry and asks if he still loves me and he says, "No." It stings a little, but I know my Daddy loves me soooo much, this is just the cancer talking. This is one of the ways I am being pushed. I'm glad to be there to help Mom and to take care of Dad. He's done so much for me in my lifetime that I feel honored to help him prepare to leave this Earth and enter into Heaven. He told me I was a pest yesterday and has also said a few other things that I won't repeat. But again, it's not my dad, it's the cancer.

I must be honest...My heart has always hurt for people who have gone through cancer or have had someone close who has gone through it, but I have never really understood cancer. I mean it was almost just like another illness to me. Going through it now, I know it's so much more. It really is hell on earth. However I must also say, that I don't think you ever really get it until you meet it face to face. I pray that none of you ever have to experience it.

The Pearl

2009-01-26T00:24:00.004-05:00

With everything else that happened today I almost forgot to tell you about the pearl. Saturday afternoon Mom told us about her doctor's appointment on Friday where when she was getting out of the car to go in she heard something hit the ground. She didn't think anything of it until later in the day when she realized her earring was missing. Well she asked Eric and I if we would go back to the parking lot and look for it. I, in a moment of selfishness, sighed as I was so tired and knew it would be out of our way when we left to go there. Well, we left, and went to see Mom-o and then without Mom knowing, we made our way across town to the doctor's office. I knew if I didn't go Mom would, and she didn't need to leave Dad. I knew we had a slim chance of finding her earring and even if we did it would probably be crushed. Eric parked the van and we got out. He started on one end and I on the other. I kid you not, I took two steps and looked down and there it was, a beautiful pearl earring, in perfect condition. We quickly drove back to Mom and Dad's and walked inside. I then told Mom, with my fist closed, that I was so sorry for being selfish, because if I had continued in my selfishness I would have missed out on a wonderful blessing! I then opened my fist and showed her the pearl earring that she had lost.

God cares! This rang true last night when I found a tiny pearl in a big mighty parking lot, completely unharmed. That earring represented each one of us...that in a big mighty world, in a big mighty universe, we are but tiny creatures, yet He cares and protects each one of us.

What a Mighty God we serve!

Humbling...

2009-01-25T23:48:00.002-05:00

I'm over at Mom and Dad's house. Mom finally got Dad to sleep. I got on the computer and heard a noise. I ran into their bedroom and Dad was on the floor. I couldn't get him up. Mom called Tim (Dad's best friend) and he ran across the street and was able to get him up. Then we pushed Dad's bed against the wall so he couldn't fall out again. He needed to go to the bathroom, so we decided after that to take him to his hospital bed in the living room. We put him in it and put the rail up. He almost fell 4 times during all of this. He's asleep now.

I've never been so humbled in all my life.

Can I be real for a second?.....
This sucks!

Time is Short, Make the Most of It!

2009-01-24T15:34:00.003-05:00

Looking at my father today, I know that time is short. I truly believe we are no longer looking at months but mere days. I am ok with that, not because I won't miss my Dad, but because he is miserable, in pain, needs help to breath, can barely walk, and can hardly talk. This here is not my Dad. I will gladly give him up if that means all his pain will be taken away. This is hard, the hardest thing I have ever done. But I am making the most of it! He may not be himself, but he's still here for now, which means I want to do and say all I can before that too is gone. I refuse to sit in a bubble and feel sorry for myself. There is nothing to feel sorry for.....I am losing my father yes, but there are so many good days ahead, my life will not be over, and my dad's life will just be starting! Praise God for his faithfulness and goodness, his mercy and grace. God is good and he puts his hand on every situation we go through. He walks with us, and when we can no longer walk, He carries us. What a wonderful, majestic God we serve. I am so thankful that my dad serves him too.

Pics of Dad

2009-01-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

Finally! Some Good News!

2009-01-20T15:08:00.004-05:00

Praise the Lord! I took Luke to see the doctor for his 1 year well check visit and what a great visit it was!!! Quickly for those who weren't aware, I shall recap. Luke has been a tiny baby from the beginning and a few months ago he had completely fallen off the chart in height and weight. We also found out that he was anemic. The more I fed him the more he seemed to spit up so were getting no where. Well through lots of prayers, things are looking up. His blood count is good, so he is no longer anemic and he has gained 2lbs!! He now weighs 16.8, he still is not on the chart in weight but he is getting closer! His height is now back on the chart, he is 28 in. which puts him in the 5th percentile and his head is in the 25th. And to top it all off....he finally got a tooth!!!!! We felt his gums this morning and low and behold there it was popping out of the top! We expected the one on the bottom to come through first so we were a little suprised at the top one, but hey we'll take what we can get! :) Oh Dr. Crabtree also said we didn't have to buy formula anymore, now that's a huge THANK YOU JESUS!! LOL That stuff is expensive. Obviously the formula was not the most important but it was still exciting to hear!

Dr. Crabtree is so thoughtful too, he decided to switch Luke's shots. He gave him his 15 month shots today and will give the ones he would have gotten today at his 15 month check up. The reason he did this was because the vaccines he was supposed to get today carry live viruses and he didn't want to take the chance of Luke giving dad the virus. I would have NEVER thought about that. What a great doctor to think about that!

I took Luke to see Papa after his appointment. Mom told me later that Dad teared up looking at Luke, which of course made me cry, but we'll make sure Luke always remembers his Papa!!!

Not Lost, Just Tired

2009-01-19T11:51:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am not lost, I am just so totally and completely exhausted that I just have not found it in me to write anything lately. My sister has got more details posted on her blog...you will find it on the right side of this page with the blog name DAD and her personal blog is called Incompletely Unrelated News...so check hers out, they're good.

I'm going to make a quick list of the things that I want to write about so that I don't forget.

Mom-o and my week long hospital stay.
Dad and our talks.
My completely wonderful church and their prayers.
My completely wonderful husband and his hard work.

Maybe today I will find energy to want to sit down and write later on today but as for now, thank you for praying for my family.

Article About Dad.....

2009-01-17T14:19:00.002-05:00

(Richard Simms wrote and published this article about Dad on Chattanoogan.com under the Outdoors section...I have copy and pasted it here for you because it is simply too good not to share..Thank you Richard)

A Friend Indeed
Don't wait until your words ring hollow...by Richard Simms
posted January 16, 2009

One of my first trophy cats shared with "A Friend Indeed."A good friend of mine is suffering. Cancer is the culprit and Hospice has been called.I won't say who it is... our mutual friends will know. For those who don't, it doesn't matter.What should matter is that you appreciate your own good friends who have shared special days and special memories.I met this man through another mutual friend who knew that we both had an interest in catfishing. After some encouragement from our mutual friend, and the regular "dance" that people do before sharing their hunting & fishing secrets... he invited me to join him for a day on the water.

It was a revelation. Until that day I only thought I knew how to catfish. For me, at that time, a 5-pound catfish was a behemoth. But this man showed me the ropes... the rigs, the baits and the places where truly big blues call home.The first time my rod tip bowed to the water, and I could barely move the beast from the bottom, I knew I had entered a new and incredible outdoor world. Since that first 30-pound blue was captured many years ago, catfishing has been my passion.My friend went on to teach me much more about fish, about fishing and about life. I relished our days on the water, although they were too few.I'd give a great deal to have some of those days back now... and I wonder if we will ever sit together in a boat again.I know that everyone reading these words has such friends. You think your days ahead will last forever.They will not.Enjoy them while you can... and tell your friends how much you care before the time when your words might ring hollow, or perhaps even go unheard.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. - Anonymous

God is So Cool!

2009-01-15T19:47:00.000-05:00

I stayed with my grandmother here at the hospital until 4:30 this morning. I had to go home because Eric had to go to work and Jack was getting dropped off at 8:00. Mom called me at some point this morning talking about how wonderful Mom-o's nurse is today. Her name is Sonya and she talked and prayed with mom. Mom said she just felt so blessed by this nurse. When Eric and I arrived this evening I was trying to find this Sonya to thank her for being so wonderful to my mom and grandmother. She came into the room and we met and then found out that we go to church together! Her name is Sonya Ownbey. Here's the cool part. I had been emailing our church's prayer link about Mom-o so people could be praying for her. Sonya had been reading these emails and kept thinking...."I wish I knew this little lady's name and whether or not she is at SkyRidge, so I could go pray with her." Little did she know that she had already done so!

What a blessing!!!

I'm Too Tired for a Title....

2009-01-14T12:35:00.002-05:00

It's 12:36 p.m. and Mom, Holly, and I are just sitting here. Mom-o is still fighting. There has been no major change in her status. Her heart rate is still around 130 and her BP was 110/39 at last check. Thanks for all your prayers.

More later....

2:54 a.m. and counting....

2009-01-14T02:54:00.003-05:00

Mom, Holly, and I are really not getting much sleep with IV monitors going off, nurses coming in and out, and listening to Mom-o breathe. Of course I don't think any of us really planned to sleep tonight.

Anyway, they checked Mom-o's blood pressure a little while ago and it had gone up considerably. Pulse rate still around 130. But her breathing is labored and gaspy. She is sound asleep though, so I don't think she is aware of her breathing.

More when it happens......

A Night to Remember

2009-01-14T00:39:00.003-05:00

It's 12:40 a.m. and I'm sitting in my grandmother's hospital room with my mother and sister. Mom is in the glider sound asleep and Holly is on the floor, sound asleep. I am staying up for now watching my grandmother. Dr. Marcum said earlier that he felt like she may not make it through the night or at least through tomorrow. Of course he doesn't get the final say, but that was his experiential guess. Her blood pressure was as low as 88/29 but it has gone up a little as of last check. Her pulse rate has been steady at around 131. The nurses took her off the heart monitor, so if she does go they will not know....which is why I am trying to stay awake. She seems to be sleeping peacefully right now. Please pray that she stays comforted.

It has been an emotional night, but it will definitly be a night to remember. It is very special for my mother, sister, and I to be spending the night together. It really is quite a picture. It almost makes me laugh. There are 3 grown adults sleeping snuggly around a huge oxygen bed where my grandmother is lying. I feel certain that if you could see us, you would chuckle :)

So now that we're all laughing, let me tell you about my dad (you will get more in depth details from my sister's page if you want to go there after you read.) Mom and Dad went to see his doctor today for the CT results. In a nutshell, the doctor said he has 3-6 months barring a miracle from God. That's really all I have in me to say, which is why I am directing you toward my sister's blog. I will say this....PRAISE GOD MY DAD'S A CHRISTIAN!!!!!! :)

I would also like to publicly thank Craig and Lindsay Sluder for keeping our kids tonight. Eric was supposed to pick them up around 9 but then when I realized my grandmother was worse, they told us not to worry about the time. I think Eric finally got there around 10:30. I tell you, we have the most amazing friends any one could ask for. How encouraging to look around and see so many selfless acts being done for you and your family. I don't think I will ever be the same....and I'm glad.

Oh How I Love My Bed!

2009-01-11T18:45:00.002-05:00

After 3 days and 3 nights of staying at the hospital with my grandmother, I finally got to sleep in my bed this afternoon. Let me tell you, I LOVE MY BED!! Thursday night I didn't go to sleep until about 5am and slept for about an hour. Friday night I slept in the recliner pretty much all night, that wasn't too bad. Then last night, Eric stayed there with me and I gave him the recliner and I slept on the wooden glider with my head on my grandmothers bed. My mom came about 9am and we went home and slept from 10am-4pm. I have never been so in love with my bed in my LIFE!!! :)

Mom-o (that's our name for her) has pneumonia and was only given a few days if the fluid was not drained. They were skeptical about performing the procedure because the surgeon was not sure if she could handle the anesthesia. After more fluid was found in her lungs they decided to perform the procedure. She made it through fine but is in a lot of pain still from the chest tube. They started her on morphine last night but have stopped it today because her blood pressure was so low. Holly, Eric, and I were there last night and counted her breaths. She was taking 9 per minute, that was a little worrisome. Today she has just slept. She has not been able to eat but we are praying that she will be able to once the tube is taken out and the pain lessens. I will either go back tonight or wait until tomorrow.

Dad had a ct scan last week and called to get the results as planned on Thursday. The nurse could not give him the results over the phone because the doctor wanted to meet with him instead. We do not think that is a good thing, so we are preparing for bad news. Dad and Mom go on Tuesday at noon for their meeting. Pray for strength for both of them, if the news is bad, mom still has to drive them home from Memorial, so please pray for their safety.

Dad also had 3.7 liters drained from his abdomen on Friday and was so excited about having room to eat and not feeling bloated. However the same day he developed thrush and sores on his tongue, so he still can't eat. Hopefully within a couple of days his tongue will have healed up.

Let me say this again....God is good! There have been several great things already come from this time in our family's life. I don't ever doubt the wonderful things that God is doing and will do through this all. I look forward to where God is taking us!

I also want to say thank you to all the friends that have shown such support during this time. The prayers, and calls, and emails, and food, and visits to see us at the hospital has been graciously overwhelming and I love everyone for it. I thank God for blessing us with such wonderful people.

When it Rains, it Floods....

2009-01-08T13:38:00.008-05:00

Seriously!...

Mom woke up this morning to a real musty smell in the air, she immediately knew. The downstairs was flooded. They rarely go down there, so they had not noticed over the last few days of non stop rain. that water was creeping into the basement. There was no standing water down there, but the carpet was completely soaked. She called me to see if our church at a DryVac she could borrow. (With all the medical bills they are incruing, she was trying to avoid the costs of Stanley Steamer or some other water sucker upper). I called the church, holding it together at first for dear Charlene, but when she transfered me to Matt, I lost it. Upset because when it rains, it pours, and this time it flooded! I explained the situation to Matt and shared with him that there was furniture that needed to be moved and dad obviously can't do it and mom is not strong enough (physically that is, she's proven to be strong enough emotionally!). I asked Matt if there were any men that could come help my parents. Eric would have come, but today was his first day back to school and really didn't need to leave. Matt immediately said, "No problem!" He said he would get some guys and the DryVac and they would take care of it! I hung up the phone and laid my head in my hands and just sobbed. This for several reasons. 1)It's hard to call someone up and ask them to help your parents because it solidifies the fact that dad can't do it. 2) I was completely humbled over the graciousness of the men in my church and 3) During the conversation with Matt, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so completely that I was able to just lay it there on Him.
1 John 3:18-20,24
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but in actions and in truth. This is then how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence....
"Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us."

Matt, Jerry, Tony, and Lawrence would never do or say anything to bring attention to themselves. But I wanted to publicly thank them for being like Christ to my family. I pray blessings on them and their families.

Luke's 1st Birthday Party!

2009-01-05T13:59:00.005-05:00

Luke's first taste of cake!

Luke riding his new buggy that Gammie and Papa bought him.

Emma jumped in at the last minute to complete our family picture :)

The beautiful cupcake arrangement that Lindsay Sluder made for Luke's party!

Kissing's Great......

2009-01-03T11:08:00.010-05:00

Until you get mono!!! :) I'm not sure if I gave it to Eric or if he gave it to me but either way...it stinks!!

I had been aching all over for about two weeks and I finally decided to go to the walk in clinic on Dec. 27th. That was a mistake. The P.A. who came across as a Doctor with the white coat and all and never corrected me when I called him a Doctor, walked in, listened to my chest and told me, "You have a bug, here I'll write you an antibiotic just in case you're contagious." WHAT!!!?? I don't want an antibiotic unless I know what I'm taking it for. The main reason I went in was because I wanted to make sure it was ok for me to be around my dad. But I still would like for someone to tell me what's wrong with me. So I proceeded to ask the "Doctor" if he could do a CBC and a flu swab. He said they could check my blook but that he didn't think they could test for the flu there, then proceeded to turn around and ask the nurse, to which she replied, "Yes we can do that here." What?!! He didn't know the tests they could run? Ok so anyway...the CBC came back negative, as did the flu....so he walked back in and there again told me I had a bug. I was more than a little upset by this point...I walked out with utter distaste.

Two days later, I went in to see Dr. Voytik for my MRI results..which were good! I mentioned my achiness and exhaustion to him, he said I might need to get checked for mono. Since I don't have a regular doctor at the moment and felt like this was something I urgently needed to know b/c of my dad, I went to our kid's doctor and asked if he would test me. Sure enough the tests were POSITIVE! He told me to have Eric come in and get tested as well, and his were positive as well. Ok, so at this point I was irrate at the walk in clinic! This is something they should have known to test for...I could continue on a soap box about this walk in clinic, but I will leave this for your imagination :) Let's just say I hurried back over there...test results in hand!

So as soon as I got the result, my stomach dropped! What if I infected dad somehow? I mean I haven't kissed him or eaten , or drank after him, but what if the kids had gotten it from us and they gave it to him. I did not have the nerve to tell him, so mom did. So far he seems ok but mono has an incubbation period of 4-6 weeks, so we'll just pray that he stays ok!!

As far as Eric and I are concerned, well we still feel achey and tired. Eric was supposed to work with a friend all week and didn't get to do that...we've pretty much just been laying around as much as possible. Hopefully it will lighten up soon.

Ok so back to dad...
Dad had his 2nd round of chemo on Tuesday and seems to be doing well so far. He's had a few good days. He still has trouble eating but at least he has times where he wants to eat. I took him yesterday morning to the hospital to get IVs. It was a special time, that I'm so glad I got. We talked and laughed, and of course I cried. I tried for him to not notice but he finally did and he just held my hand. I looked around at all the people in there. There are so many people affected by cancer. I looked at the wives sitting beside their husbands and the husbands sitting beside their wives and prayed that they would not lose their mate. Then I saw the ones that were in there all alone and thanked God for friends and family who love us. If you are healthy and you have someone who loves you, take time to thank God today.

My grandmother, uncles, and cousin came in this weekend to visit with dad. I think that has perked him up a little...it's nice to see him laugh and smile.

WHY?

2008-12-29T22:45:00.017-05:00

The question is why? But it's not the why you may be thinking. It's not why is this happening? Or why me? No...the why I am referring to is why I am not broken about my dad's cancer and why I have such a peace, and most importantly why I believe what I believe. From the beginning I said I would never ask God why, because this is life and this stuff just happens. God does not want this stuff to happen to us but this is the way the world is from the moment sin entered into the world in the Garden of Eden. So I never will ask why, but I have had some ask me why I've acted the way I've acted. Well let me start by giving my God all the glory and credit. I feel He has prepared me for this and is walking me through this every step of the way...and at moments even carrying me. Now don't get me wrong, I am terribly upset about my daddy being sick. I beg God every day to perform a miracle on him because I do NOT want to lose him. I love my daddy! However, I know the Lord may choose not to heal him on this earth and if that's what happens I am excited for my daddy. Why? Because on Easter Sunday 2001 my daddy finally accepted the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. He walked from the back row of the balcony at First Baptist Church all the way down the steps to the very front of the church where he asked God to forgive him of his sins, and be Lord of his life. Romans 6:22-23 says, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." My dad finally accepted that he was a sinner, that he had made mistakes in life, and that he will forever make mistakes, but that our God is bigger than any mistake he has or will ever make. Romans 3:23, "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." Dad realized that God is a forgiving and loving God. We had told dad over and over for years that he's not in control of fixing his problems, that all he has to do is lay them before God and He will take care of them. That day, that Easter Sunday, that was the greatest day of my life. Prayer after prayer had been lifted up to God about my dad....and on that particular day, I watched my dad's heart walk straight into God's hands. Because of that day I do truly find excitement in knowing that at some point (maybe sooner maybe later) my daddy will also walk straight into God's hands.
Dad has a relationship with God now, and I believe it grows deeper and deeper every day. Why? Because my daddy told my mom that if one person gets saved and comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ through this, then every bit of it will be worth it. Now that's a man who knows God!
I must be honest, I think my dad is praying for some in our family that do not know God as their personal Lord and Savior. I pray that through this they do see what dad has, what he didn't have a short 8 years ago. I pray that they will find faith through dad's strength, and I pray that God will let dad see his witness completed on this earth.
Revelation 4:8 is one of my favorite verses. "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come."

Jesus is coming back and I pray that my family will all get to go with Him when He does. But for now, I know my dad will be going with him, and that's why...that's why I rejoice now.

A Son's Love....

2008-12-28T00:00:00.007-05:00

I shaved Dad's head for him on December 26th, 2008. On the same evening Eric, Danny, Greg, Mark, and Tim shaved their heads for dad. On December 27th, they showed him. He was excited. What a humbling experience for everyone involved. This is the most loving display of empathy I have ever experienced.

Christmas Day 2008

2008-12-27T08:10:00.005-05:00

Luke on his first riding toy.

Luke loves his Papa!

Papa loving on Luke.

This is Luke's first present on his first Christmas. I tried to put the pictures in order but they got reversed, so that's why this is the last picture.

Christmas 2008 was so much fun. We woke up at our house and opened presents, then went to my parent's house for breakfast, then to Eric's parents for lunch, then back to my parent's for dinner.

Dad seemed to enjoy his day but by the evening he was visibly worn out. I won't lie, with as much fun as I had, it was still a very emotional day. But again I must express how wonderful our God is. He helped dad feel well enough to be a part of all the Christmas fun, which is all we really wanted. We have lots of good pictures to remember the day by and lots of good memories.

Christmas Eve with Dad...My Miracle!

2008-12-25T01:04:00.004-05:00

YAY!!! What a great picture above! This pic is the best Christmas present I could have asked for. Praise God for allowing us to get this picture! :)

Emma and Luke are watching Papa eat. Emma desperately wanted a bite of Papa's chili, but she couldn't, so she settled for eating my bowl :( lol

We attempted a photo with all the grandkids. We got the photo, but not everyone was happy about it :)

This ornament says, "BELIEVE". I got this for mom and dad.

Dad wore his mask for a little why to prevent catching anything....he later took it off because it was itchy and uncomfortable.

It's 1:15 A.M., I need to go to bed...but..I had to post something about tonight real quick! My dad DID come tonight for our Christmas Eve party! We had such a great time! Dad seemed in good spirits, the kids, had fun, the food was good, and Holly and I acted like 10 year olds..lol. The night couldn't have been better. Dad still didn't feel great, but he did feel a lot better than the last few days. Praise be to God for that! We got a lot of good pictures with dad and I think he really enjoyed himself. Thank you for your prayers and who knows maybe God will still perform that BIG miracle we are all so hoping for!

Merry Christmas!

Laura

There's Nothing Like a Bald Man....

2008-12-25T00:50:00.003-05:00

My dad started losing his hair on Christmas Eve, so before dad and everyone came over Eric let me shave his head so Dad wouldn't feel alone. We couldn't get the complete bald look, but it's pretty close. Eric said as I was shaving his head that it was a very humbling experience for him. I of course started crying. What an incredible husband I have!

Christmas Miracle :)

2008-12-24T16:13:00.007-05:00

Every Christmas Eve we have a birthday party for Jesus. My parents, Eric's parents, and Holly and her family come over. I was a little down because I wasn't sure if dad was going to be able to make it...but he is!! He was able to leave the hospital this afternoon feeling a little better. I'm very thankful he gets to come tonight and even more thankful that he doesn't have to spend Christmas in the hospital.

Please remember that Christmas is about Jesus...not gifts, or trees, or anything else. The rest of that is fun, but please take time this year to thank God for His son, Jesus. I am so thankful for my loving and mighty Saviour. God is so good, even in times of trial, He is faithful. I believe God is giving us a Christmas miracle. Maybe not the exact kind we asked for, but I think God made daddy feel better today so that he could enjoy Christmas with his family, and that's a miracle I will gladly accept.

Thank you for your prayers and please pray for my siblings as they will be traveling here to spend time with our dad. I pray that God will be with their safety and their spirits.

I Will Praise YOU in This Storm....

2008-12-23T00:52:00.004-05:00

Dad is not doing well...at all. That's really all I can say right now. My stomach is in knots and I feel like I could throw up at any time...but all I keep thinking is that I WILL praise God in this storm because no matter what...my dad IS a Christian!

"I was sure by now God You would have reached down And wiped our tears away Stepped in and saved the day But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining As the thunder rolls I barely hear Your whisper through the rain"I'm with you"And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away And I'll praise You in this storm And I will lift my hands For You are who You are No matter where I am And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand You never left my side And though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm I remember whenI stumbled in the wind You heard my cry to you And you raised me up again My strength is almost gone How can I carry on If I can't find You But as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away I lift my eyes unto the hills Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord The Maker of Heaven and Earth." -Casting Crowns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGPS8sa-bRQ

Today is a Mountain top day!

2008-12-22T12:45:00.005-05:00

God is good...ALL THE TIME! Whether we are in a valley or on the mountains, God is always good. Today is a mountain top day. Eric went to his nephrology appointment this morning and received good news. This is the first time Eric has received positive news since we found out his kidney disease was back in January. The test results today showed that Eric's protein levels had dropped slightly and his kidney function is still normal. Even though the drop was slight, it still dropped! Last time he went, the doctor said his levels had risen and that if there were no change or it had worsened by the next visit (which was today) then Eric would either have to go on a Chemo drug or a Stereoid...both of which have negative side effects. Praise Jesus! Eric will continue on for another month without having to try either of those medications. He will go back for more testing in January and then a follow up a couple of weeks later. With all that is going on right now..today..my spirit is lifted and filled with joy.

Thanks for your prayers!

My Husband....

2008-12-21T13:24:00.005-05:00

For those of you who don't know, my husband is Eric. He is the love of my life. We met in 1998 through a family friend and my heart was his forevermore. We married July 21st, 2005.

Eric had full intention of joining the Marines upon high school graduation. However, he failed his medical test which led him to find out he has a kidney disease, called Glomerulonephritis. It went into remission in 2002 and we discovered it was back in January 2008. He has tried taking two different kinds of blood pressure pills to help reduce the amount of protein leaking into the urine, but they have not worked. Eric goes in tomorrow to discuss the latest results of testing with his doctor. If there has been no change the doctor and him will decide on whether Eric will go on a Chemo drug or a Stereoid. There are definite cons to both, so we are not thrilled to have to choose either, but the most important thing right now is to protect Eric's kidneys. Both medicines will lower his immune system which is not a good thing with him being a teacher.

Please join with me in praying for Eric and for healing on his kidneys. Pray that he will go back into remission.

Thank you!

I Want a Miracle for Christmas!

2008-12-19T09:04:00.007-05:00

Christmas is less than a week away and the closer it gets the more emotional I am seeming to get. The actual thoughts that this could be my last Christmas with my dad is very painful. I love my dad more than you could imagine but the pain is not so much for me as it is for my children. I drove by my parents house the other day and let Emma out to go see Papa for a second. She ran in and straight to her Papa. He picked her up and she just hugged him and then just layed there with her head rested against his chest. Dad and I kinda of looked at each other and I could tell we were both holding back tears. Emma loves and adores her Papa and I long for him to watch her and Luke grow. Wednesday night was our church's Christmas program and as I looked around at all the parents and grandparents taking pictures of the little ones, I again felt the nauseating feeling that dad might never get to see Emma or Luke up there. Then it hit me, after several people had asked what I wanted for Christmas (and me replying nothing b/c presents this year just don't seem to matter) I realized what I do want for Christmas. I want a Christmas miracle! You may say, "Well that only happens in the movies." But Christmas is about Jesus, who walked this Earth performing miracles over and over. So I say it can happen! So this Christmas join me in praying that God will heal my father and perform that miracle that we are so believing in.

Honey-Roasted Nuts and Bolts

2008-12-15T11:14:00.002-05:00

FINALLY!!! "Honey-Roasted Nuts and Bolts" that was the Before and After puzzle on Wheel of Fortune tonight that I finally got (beating dad to get it!) You don't understand, my dad is the Wheel of Fortune CHAMP! Him and mom used to play, seriously play, like it was nobody's business. I would always sit there and just stare at the TV screen thinking, "How does he do that?" There have been many times through the years that I have played, but have never beaten him to the punch...until tonight! :)
What a great night...Eric and I had gone over to mom and dad's tonight to put the tree up and get it decorated. Luke has a runny nose so we asked Jerry and Vickie Chandler if they would watch the kids, and they graciously accepted, and they even came to our house to do so! What a blessing! Well the tree gave us a run for our money, but the time spent with dad made me glad it took so long. I know he didn't feel great, but he sure did act good. We watched Wheel of Fortune and then Charlie Brown's Christmas. It was fun! At one point tonight dad mentioned that this summer he would like for all of us to go to the river and have a picnic :) So new prayer request! Please pray that we will be able to do that!!! He was so sincere in his request! It made me smile, but I also had to hold back the tears. I will be devastated if we don't get to go to the river. But we WILL, because God is going to heal Him. I truly believe this!
Dad has had a few good days. Saturday he went to Ryans to eat, Sunday he went to church, and today he went to IHOP. Tomorrow he is going to Watts Bar with a friend because Unit II is opening. He helped build this before they shut it down. He's wanted to see this for a long time. I'm glad he is going to get too!

So I know I'm just kind of rambling tonight, but I'm just so excited at the good days dad has had and the good time I had with him tonight. I wish Holly had been there, but maybe she can come tomorrow night. Eric and I are going back to finish decorating. So if there is anyone who would like to babysit, please let me know! :) I hate that I can't take the kids, but I don't want to take the chance of them getting dad sick. They aren't sick, but you never know when something is going to pop up!

Thank you for your prayers....remember pray for dad's strength, appetite, and for his picnic plans!

Look at all the Lights!!

2008-12-15T10:59:00.003-05:00

Dinner, Dad, and Damage!

2008-12-13T00:07:00.005-05:00

What a wonderful night! I had looked forward to this night ALL week. My friend Dedra, offered earlier in the week to keep the kids so I could do...well...anything I wanted to do. Well orginally Eric was scheduled to have a wrestling match, but that got canceled which made me all the more excited! We dropped the kids off around 5:30 and Emma was more than excited, she kept saying all day, "I go to my friends house; Josie! Kate! (and Anna of course)."
We then headed off to a free meal (courtesy of the CMS football parents) at Olivers..which by the way was delicious, I recommend the Shrimp Bake!! Eric and I had a nice time talking and eating (ALONE)..lol.
After dinner, I wanted to go spend some time with Dad. We stopped at Chick-Fil-A and got him a cup of vanilla icecream, but when we got there he didn't want it. I hated it for him, but Eric sure did enjoy it for himself :) It was such a nice visit, just to be able to sit and talk without any interruptions. Our neighbor Doris made Dad two different meals that dad had requested. Once he decided he was ready to eat, he only ate 4 or 5 bites, and his hand shook while he ate. That made me sad. He gave the rest to mom and layed back in his chair and pulled the blanket on top of him. He was cold. Don't get me wrong, it was an extremely nice visit, but I don't like seeing my dad like this. My dad is a strong, independent, if you want something done do it yourself kinda man. I held back my emotions tonight; there's no room for emotions when you are trying to breath every minute in. Emotions are for later. It is now later.
On a funny note...all though you may not think it's funny..but if you knew my dad's sense of humor well then you would understand...My dad said he didn't want to die a horrible, painful death, I told him not to worry, if he got to that point, I would just shoot him! He gave me a smile and a thumbs up! ;) Hey I'll do anything for a smile these days! LOL
After we left dad's, we went to Kohl's to attempt to finish our Christmas shopping. We succeeded, which is where the damage part comes in. I do still have dad left to buy for, but I haven't decided what to get him yet. I want something that will be practical for what he is going through. So if you have any ideas I would love to hear them.

All in all tonight was just wonderful!
Tomorrow Eric has class and then we are going to Rock City to see the Enchanted Garden of Lights...this will be the first year Emma actually understands what's going on! I cannot wait to watch her expressions and hear what she has to say. Everytime we see lights she says, "LOOK! Christmas!!"

The Fish are Lonely!

2008-12-10T23:05:00.009-05:00

Tonight I was thinking about my father-in-law and all the great memories I have with him fishing. The early morning stops at krystals and before the sun comes up we are out in the bone chilling freezing river because somebody might beat us to the "spot". By early afternoon we have caught our limit and are on our way home with a cooler full. Once we get home Tim usually comes over to help Doug clean the fish. This is the routine that I would like to experience one more time. I would not care if I did not even catch one fish, but that would be very unlikely because Doug is the best fisherman. I was reading the Bible tonight and I came across something that made me think of him. Mark 1:17 "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." As I continued to read Mark 1 and 2 it talks about how Jesus heals many. I thought this to be ironic that I was thinking of Doug and read the passage about Jesus telling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to lay down their nets and come follow Him and as I continued to read I read about Jesus' ability to heal. God made Doug to be a fisherman! He loves to fish and loves to teach people how to fish like him. I pray I have another chance to learn from the pro! I have a feeling the fish are becoming overpopulated with him on the sidelines. The fish must be lonely and having withdrawals from Doug's frequent visits. God please give Doug many more fishing trips before he has to lay down his net. You are the great Healer!

Mountain Elves

2008-12-10T23:00:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

There's Always Room for Hope....

2008-12-10T22:02:00.011-05:00

So a dear friend of our family sent us an email tonight explaining that her (follow me here) daughter-in-law's friend's dad has the same kind of cancer as my dad! Which is crazy because Cholangiocarcinoma is very rare! Apparently his doctors gave him 6-9 months and that was 4 years ago! Praise Jesus! Now I know that every person and ever cancer is different, but there is always room for hope! Amen?!!

Dad's cancer has not spread outside of the liver so let's just pray specifically for healing there and that the chemo will slow the growth rate. The chemo by the way did make dad throw up today, which makes me sad because dad hates and I emphasize HATES throwing up. I know, really, who likes to throw up?! But still, there are very few times in my life that I have known him to throw up. All in all I think he's doing ok....all things considered.

I went to church tonight...WOW, what a special place for me to be in such a time as this! I go to The Church at Grace Point and I truly believe that it is filled with some of THE most amazing people on this earth. Countless numbers of people stopped as they were passing by and asked me how I was and reminded me of the prayers they were lifting up on my dad's behalf. I have one family who lives in the neighborhood behind us who is willing and waiting to keep the kids if I need them too. I have another friend, well Dedra, who I've written about before, who is planning on keeping the kids Friday night so I can go visit dad and get some things done around the house. Then there's our pastor....my pastor...my friend. His name is Phil and I know he prays for my dad daily. Several friends have written me notes on Facebook and emailed me and that encourages me. It really truly is nice to know so many people care.

Now, as far as hope goes.... 1 Peter 1:13 says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

What better way for Christ to reveal himself to many than through healing my father. That is my hope....

"I Wanna See Papa!"

2008-12-09T22:03:00.005-05:00

"I wanna see Papa," Emma expressed as we drove down the road this evening. We were going home, but I quickly turned the car around and headed to Papa's.
Dad had a friend over so we didn't stay long but the time we were there was still precious. Emma ran in the door and ran straight to hug her Papa! What a beautiful moment.
Dad had his first round of chemotherapy today and tonight he was feeling it. He said he was not feeling well at all. He was still in good spirits, and he joked about how the kids are going to draw on his head with markers once he loses all his har. (Don't worry, when that time comes, there will be pictures!) Eric plans to shave his head too so that Dad won't be alone. I must say, I am not excited about Dad losing his mustache. The ONLY time I have ever seen my father without a mustache was when I was a very young child and he had some great idea to shave it off. I saw him and started screaming, "I want my daddy, where's my daddy!" I did not believe that that was him..lol. I guess I will be prepared this time, but I wander if Emma will take after me and share in my same reaction! :)
When I left tonight, Dad's friend was praying with him. What a glorious sight to see my dad with his head bowed and hands clasped. It doesn't get much better than that!

I'll Bring the Clippers....

2008-12-09T12:09:00.001-05:00

Today's the day! Dad started his chemotherapy this morning at Memorial Hospital. I had a wonderful opportunity to pray with dad on his way to the hospital. That was nice. His appointment was at 9:30 and I called mom around 11:30 and she said dad would be in there for a couple of more hours. Dad seemed to be in good spirits, I asked him if when he goes bald if the kids could grab a marker and color on his head :) He replied, "I hope I'm feisty enough to let them do that!" I also told him I would bring the clippers over and go ahead and shave his hair off if he wanted me too, he said, "We'll see."

I'll update again this afternoon once mom and dad get home and I have a chance to talk to them. Thank you for your prayers. We must believe!

Pics of my Daddy

2008-12-08T17:16:00.000-05:00

Coffee, kids, and good talks....

2008-12-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

I have a friend, her name is Dedra, words are not enough to express what she means to me. We met through church, and we grew slowly (which I have decided is what makes such a dear friend). "Good things come to those who wait!" The Lord has molded our friendship and manicured it, He has taken the time to watch it grow and waited until we were ready to allow us to become what we are now. I treasure her, she is the one I go too, she makes me wiser. This is what friendship is....

Dedra came over today for lunch and brought her three beautiful daughters. Josie, Kate, and Anna. Kate is two weeks younger than Emma and I feel that they will become the greatest of friends as well. The kids played and Dedra and I talked. It was a nice time.

One of the things we discussed was dad....

Dad received the news we all dread two days before Thanksgiving. He has liver cancer. It actually started in the bile duct, it is called Cholangiocarcinoma. He went on December 5th to the Oncologist and they told him there is no cure and that he will probably only live 6-12 more months. Wow! All good things must come to an end..what I mean by that is I have never had to really face death or anything really tragic involving someone I care for and love so deeply. The time has come. I feel the Lord has been preparing me for this for some time. I pray that I make God proud through this.

How do I feel?

I desperately don't want my dad to die. I want my dad to take Luke fishing. I want my kids to remember their Papa and what an incredible man he is. But I will NEVER ask why! This is life, it is what it is...all I can do is pray for God's incredible healing and enjoy every second I have with my dad. I PRAISE GOD through this, He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. I begged God for years to protect dad and to help him get saved. God protected him, he got saved, and so now regardless of what happens, my dad is and WILL be protected. God is good and faithful and mighty to save. All things work for the glory of Him. Dad is going to heaven...whether it be now, 12 months from now, or 12 years from now. How can I complain! I'm excited for him, it will ALL come alive to him, everything we have told him about heaven and God, all the things he understands and all the things he still doesn't understand, it will ALL make sense. Praise God! With that said, God is still in the miracle business, He is still alive, He is still on the throne, the doctors may have said 6-12 months, but God gets the final say. I ask that anyone who reads this will pray for God's healing power on my dad and in his body. I pray that God shows off what He can do. But if He chooses not too, well I will still Praise Him, because my dad will be with Him for eternity! :)

Dedra and so many other of my friends have already been so good to me through this....this is what the body of Christ is about...lifting one another up in love, in prayer, and in fellowship. I am a truly truly blessed woman.

What Am I DOING?!

2008-12-08T08:46:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and follow in suit of several friends who have recently started blogging. There is a lot going on right now in my life so I thought that this would be a good way to get information out plus it may even be a little therapeutic.

Plus I haven't really set down to write in a least 2 years because children take up a lot of time! So I am excited about working on my writing skills as well. I talk a lot so I'm interested to see if I will ramble in writing as I do in speech, lol, most likely!

Well I've taken the first step, I've set up my page (well partially) and I've written my first blog (wahoo!) but now I'm off to fix Emma her milk and breakfast and check on Luke. There will be more later.

Bye