When blogging, or sharing information in any form, it's always a delicate line to walk knowing how much information and detail to share. Especially when it concerns family - and even more so with your kids. It is important that they be able to trust you - a safe place to share their fears, to whisper their dreams, scream their pain and confide their hopes.
So know that when I share this blog, I have asked Ashley's permission first.
We are in a tough place. Tough as a mom and daughter. Me letting go some. Her finding independence while still needing mom and dad so much. Tough as a pre-teen who wants to look and act and walk and talk like her friends. Tough as a mom who sees her struggle. Tough as a student who hates to take the extra steps to learn. Tough as a teacher who requires those steps. Tough as a human being in pain. Tough as a mom who can't take the pain away.
Yeah, we have our "come to Jesus" moments.
Literally.
We have fought. We have "discussed." And then we have prayed. Prayed alot.
Sometimes there are tears. Sometimes just alot of sighs.
Basically we are left with this decision: Do we let what satan has meant for evil destroy us or do we allow God to turn it to good?
Destruction is easy. We can give up. Sit in our corners. Do nothing.
Good takes work. It's painful. It takes molding and finishing. Scrubbing, polishing, knocking off rough spots.
Recently, one of our little friends had to take a trip to Children's Hospital in Denver. She has suffered for a year with abdominal pain and it was time to seek a specialist. Her greatest fear was having cancer. To her little mind, a children's hospital meant cancer because of a little boy at school who was diagnosed with cancer last year. Ashley was able to sit with her, take her on-line to the hospital's web-site and talk to her about how great the hospital was at helping all sorts of children. Ashley told her how they helped her walk better. How nice the doctor's were. How great the gelato was at the coffee shop. By the end of the evening, our little friend was feeling comfortable, if not a little excited, to go to Denver!
Good from evil.
I guess you are wondering where the title for this post came from. Today while driving into town, Ashley and I discussed writing a book together. A book to guide parents and children through the difficulties of disabilities; through visiting hospitals; through "come to Jesus" meetings. I said we could name it, "Making Lemonade" from the saying, "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
But I don't like Lemonade, and I suggested that as a title: "I Don't Like Lemonade." It gives me indigestion.
Just the thought of making lemonade is bad. It means something is cut, squeezed; syrup is added to boiling water to create a syrup then the whole mess is poured over ice. A shock to anyone's system. Not a great perspective. The end product is nice, but getting there is tough!
"Lemonade Gives Me Indigestion" - we both laughed at the thought.
Now a new era of blogging begins. Lemonade with Indigestion. Writings on how we are coping as a family with this adventure called life.
Tonight, all I can say is: Bring me a Diet Coke!!!!!
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Friday, December 3, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Here we go again!
Next week, Denver's Children's Hospital will be blessed with the presence of two great gals from Durango, CO! On April 30th, Ashley will be having the screws removed from the growth plate of her right knee and our friends daughter will be having surgery as well - the same day! Okay, we are actually neighbors and I would much rather hang with them at our house or theirs, but we're going to Denver. And no, it wasn't planned.
You can read about our friends and their daughter at: http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/
Please keep these gals in your prayers. And their families!
Ashley doesn't always come out of anesthesia well. Actually never. She screams and cries for Chris, pushes people away and sometimes they must give her lots of meds for pain control. Then, we get to travel home with her.
On Thursday, she is attending two clinics - neurology and orthopaedic. They evaluate her progress and she how they might be able to help her further. We have some friends living in Denver now (boo-hoo!) and we will be staying with them. And, going to the American Girl store! Oh, yeah. And Kohl's. And maybe a real mall! And eating out! Just hanging with friends will be great.
When we get home, Ashley wants her screws welded into the shape of a cross for a necklace.
A cross. At the cross. That's where we live. Beneath the shadow of the cross, covered in love and forgiveness. Showered with grace and fed on mercy from the Father.
Hmmm. What a nice place.
You can read about our friends and their daughter at: http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/
Please keep these gals in your prayers. And their families!
Ashley doesn't always come out of anesthesia well. Actually never. She screams and cries for Chris, pushes people away and sometimes they must give her lots of meds for pain control. Then, we get to travel home with her.
On Thursday, she is attending two clinics - neurology and orthopaedic. They evaluate her progress and she how they might be able to help her further. We have some friends living in Denver now (boo-hoo!) and we will be staying with them. And, going to the American Girl store! Oh, yeah. And Kohl's. And maybe a real mall! And eating out! Just hanging with friends will be great.
When we get home, Ashley wants her screws welded into the shape of a cross for a necklace.
A cross. At the cross. That's where we live. Beneath the shadow of the cross, covered in love and forgiveness. Showered with grace and fed on mercy from the Father.
Hmmm. What a nice place.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
We Remember Wednesday / Thankful Thursday
January 27, 1999
A little baby girl was asleep in her room down the hall. At about 1:00 am, a horrific scream sent chills up her Mommy and Daddy's spine and sent them running down the hall, falling over each other as they went. Her Mommy picked her up and tried to calm the screaming child, but the 6 month old, 15 pound baby writhed in her arms and would not be comforted. She just wimpered and squirmed. After 30 minutes, she finally fell asleep. It must have been a tummy ache, her parents surmised, and they laid her back in her bed.
Not long after, the sound of retching sent them back down the hall. Their little girl lay on her side, projecting vomit across the room through the bed slats, her eyes closed. Yes, they thought. A stomach virus. Mommy stays up the rest of the night while she vomits and then falls into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning, Mommy places her on pillows in the middle of a queen-sized bed so she could see her baby while getting dressed. They have a doctor appointment right after lunch. Mommy calls Gran and Papa - please come to our house. If one child has a virus, so will the other soon. Papa says he will bring Gran to meet us at the doctor's office at 1:00 pm in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mommy looks at her baby girl. She is sitting very still. Mommy thinks to herself, her eyes look blank. Mommy doesn't think she can see anymore. And mommy prays.
The doctor agrees. Stomach virus. But her arms keep shaking, mommy says. The doctor says it's because she's dehydrated and to keep giving her sips of water. Mommy lets the doctor know that the day before she had rolled off the bed but hadn't hit her head. Mommy had even called the doctor's office but the office said since she showed on marks on her head, she had probably slid and was fine. The doctor sends them home with tummy medicine.
At 5:30 that evening, Mommy goes to teach a music lesson at church. The saxophonist kept playing a favorite song: I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now/ I've got to make to heaven some how/ Through the devil tempts me and he tries to turn me around.
Mommy likes this song. The lady singer of this song had once prayed for Gran and God strengthened Gran so that she could pray for mommy when she was a little girl and was hurt. God healed mommy, but that's another story.
The song continues: He's offered everything that's got a name/ all the wealth I"d want and world fame/ If I could, still I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.
Soon Mommy comes home where Daddy and brother are playing on the computer and Gran is watching baby girl. Mommy goes to have brother a bath and is not long in the room before Daddy and Gran burst into the room. Gran is handing the baby girl to Mommy and Daddy is handing Mommy the phone. She has had a seizure, Gran says.
Mommy calls the doctor. God directs the call and a Christian nurse listens to the problem. The nurse calls the doctor - and starts praying for this baby girl he doesn't even know. The doctor says to give some medicine and wait 5 minutes and call back. Baby girl is not better. They leave for the emergency room. Gran and brother stay home. They begin to pray and call others to pray.
That prayer becomes the shield of protection for Mommy, Daddy and the baby girl.
At the hospital, the nurses call the police. This baby girl must have been abused. But God is working. Their doctor finds out and tells the hospital to make the police go home. This baby is not abused, she is very sick. The police go home and no one tells Mommy and Daddy they were even there. It takes over an hour to get into an exam room.
Then it happens. The tiny baby girl, laying on a gurney, has a grand mal seizure. This is a very bad siezure. All the muscles in her body contract at once. She is jerking, her head pulled to the right. Mommy tells Daddy to get the nurse but Daddy can't move. His baby girl is jerking uncontrollably and he can't help her. Mommy runs to the door and yells for the nurses. Here they come! They move Mommy and Daddy to the side of the room. The siezure finally stops.
The doctor tells Mommy and Daddy, we are going to do some tests. First, they lay baby girl on her side and roll her into a ball. Baby girl doesn't cry or fight them. She is so tired. The doctor sticks a long needle into her back to remove spinal fluid for testing. Then they take baby girl to a room for a CT scan.
Soon, they bring baby girl back. Mommy and Daddy weren't able to go with her and are so glad to hold her again. She is very still. The doctor comes back and takes baby girl for another test in the CT scan room. This time Mommy is allowed to go with her. Daddy stays and prays.
Mommy lays her precious pink baby girl on a long table. They nurses tell Mommy to go sit in a chair in the corner. They put her baby's head in box to keep her from moving. Then a needle is put into baby girl's hand and she is slid into a long white tube for a test. But the needle slips out of the vein in her hand. It's called and infusion - all the fluid went into her hand instead of in her blood and her hand is now very big and it must hurt because baby girl is crying. They let Mommy quieten her down and start the test again. Mommy is told to go back and sit down.
Mommy is sitting in her chair, watching baby girl and singing: I wouldn't take nothin for my journey now/ I've got to make it to heaven somehow. . .
Here comes a doctor. He asks if she is the Mommy. Yes, she says. He begins, your baby girl has one of three things: meningitis/encephalitis, herpes on the brain or she has had a stroke. Mommy can't breathe. How could this happen? Simple, the doctor says. Someone with an infection can push a basket through a grocery story. A baby sits in the same basket later and licks the hand rest. An infection goes to her brain and she is now sick. And a stroke? Shaken baby syndrome.
That's why the nurses had called the police. But Mommy and Daddy don't know that for months.
Baby girl and Mommy go back to the little room with Daddy and wait for the doctors. Here he comes. Very serious. With a nurse. He says, your baby girl has had a stroke. They won't know how serious it is til more tests are run. Baby girl is going to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She will be there a long, long time.
Pastor Rick arrives. He had been out of town and as soon as his plane had landed, his wife called him and told him, go to St. John's Hospital. Baby girl is very sick. Mommy and Daddy are so glad to see Pastor Rick. He prays with them. They all cry. What will happen to this baby?
Pastor Rick must go home. And so must Daddy. He wans to be with brother when he wakes up in the morning and tell him their baby girl is sick but the doctors, and God, are taking care of her. Mommy watches Daddy leave from baby girl's ICU window. It's raining. And cold. And mommy has never felt so alone.
The night drags on. And on. Early in the morning baby girls doctor arrives and takes Mommy to see the tests. She tells mommy that the doctor who saw the stroke wasn't supposed to be in the hospital last night. He as there for another patient. He was working on another computer. He had turned around to ask a question of someone and saw the stroke. The other doctors had not seen it. They had missed it. But God sent this man and used him to save baby girl.
Upstairs, the doctors tell Mommy that she cannot be in the room with baby girl today. She must sit in the waiting room. Once an hour, she can go to the window and look at her. A special machine has been hooked to baby girl. It records all of her seizures. It video tapes her while they are happening too. If Mommy and Daddy are in the room during the first day of the tests, the doctors won't know if baby girl is responding to their voice or if she is having seizures.
Mommy and Daddy's arms hurt. They just want to hold their baby. Papa is home with Gran and brother. Grandma and Grandpa are making plans to come. Aunt and Uncle are praying and come and visit Mommy. Auntie comes and stays awhile too. Daddy's heart is breaking for his baby girl.
The next day, the doctors let Mommy and Daddy in the room with baby girl but they cannot hold her and must limit how much they touch her. Baby girl lays in a big metal crib. She is so tiny. Mommy counts 38 wires off of her baby girl's body - 36 of them on her head! There's a needle in her tiny arm to give her food. The doctor's have given her a big, big dose of medicine and she sleeps.
The third day, Mommy and Daddy can hold baby girl. A new doctor, one who just studies the brains of little children comes in the room. He is the best doctor, baby girl's regular doctor says. You can trust him. This new doctor is G. Steve Miller. He tell them, this baby girl has had a massive mid-cerebral arterial stroke. She will not walk. She will not talk. She will not develop past the age of 18 months. He says they have stopped the seizues for now but will need medicine for a long time.
Daddy asks when he can take his baby girl home. The doctor says not for months. Baby girl will be in PICU for a very long time and then in the hospital for weeks longer in a regular room. Mommy can't breathe again. Baby girl's doctor makes the brain doctor leave. She shuts the door and throws the curtain shut. When she turns around she is crying. She holds Daddy and they cry together. Mommy is standing by the bed starring at her baby girl. Baby girl's doctor says, okay we can do this. This means we will see each other alot. We are going to make it through this.
Papa, Gran and brother are in they waiting room. THey had take Chris to buy new cowboy boots and to the boat show. He loves his Papa and Gran. He feels safe with them. But brother is sad he cannot see his baby sister. Some friends are in the waiting room too. Mommy and Daddy go tell them what the doctor said. They all pray together. Gran and Papa are staying the night with baby girl. Mommy and Daddy take brother home.
Brother and Daddy go play games. They love to play together and although Daddy is crying for his baby girl inside, his son needs him right now.
Mommy goes her baby girl's room. She closes the door behind her. Then she walks to the crib where baby girl slept just a few nights ago and picks up her blanket. Then her baby doll. Then every doll she can hold. She cannot hold her baby girl and her arms need to hold something. Her knees buckle and she falls to the floor sobbing. For the first time she can cry. Alone. And she begs God, please heal my baby girl! She lays there for a long time as peace wraps her in a blanket. Then she goes downstairs to be mommy to her big boy.
The next day the nurses say that big brother can see baby girl if he can be at the hospital very soon. Aunt and Uncle grab him up, put clothes on him and drive fast to the hospital. The nurses take all the wires off of baby girl and let Mommy put some clothes on her - and the cowgirl boots brother had picked for her. He is glad to see her. She is still sleeping. He slips his little arm through the metal hospital slats and pats her. It's okay, sister. I'm here, he tells her. He is a good big brother.
Grandma and Grandpa have come. They have been helping Papa and Gran. Taking care of Chris and the house. The decision is made that they will take big brother home with them for a few days. He does not want to go and cries for his Mommy and Daddy as they put him in the car. Mommy and Daddy say they love him and he will have fun and then wave good-bye. They turn to go back in the hospital and cry.
After only 5 days in the PICU, the doctors say that baby girl can go into a regular room. God is so good! And two days later, Mommy and Daddy take her home. Only our God can make that happen!
The brain doctor doesn't give much hope for baby girl and her life. But she does talk. And later she walks. And she goes to school. And her seizures stop after several years. And Daddy and Mommy and Big Brother; Papa and Gran and Grandma and Grandpa; Nana and Papa J; Aunt and Uncle and Auntie and New Uncle keep praising God!
And everyone believed John 11:4, "Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."
Mommy, Daddy and Baby Girl and Big Brother give God the glory! He is marvelous! His hand is strong and mighty! Baby girl still has some struggles. She still has some surgeries to go through. She still must find adaptions to accomplish little tasks. But God is so faithful.
What caused the stroke? The doctors do not know for certain. Most think that when baby girl rolled off the bed, her neck jerked and her aortic artery in her neck was torn. Because of a cold medicine she was taking at the same time, the tear formed a clot which went to her brain. The think this because of the timing after the stroke. The CT technician should have scanned her neck two more inches to know for certain. But the cause doesn't really matter anymore. God's hand in the outcome is the important thing!
Mommy says, Thank you Father God for this baby girl. Thank you for her beautiful life. Thank you for the beautiful young lady everyone sees. Her eyes shine your love!
Baby Girl Skiing at Durango Mtn. Resort
Four-wheeling in the San Juan National Forest
A little baby girl was asleep in her room down the hall. At about 1:00 am, a horrific scream sent chills up her Mommy and Daddy's spine and sent them running down the hall, falling over each other as they went. Her Mommy picked her up and tried to calm the screaming child, but the 6 month old, 15 pound baby writhed in her arms and would not be comforted. She just wimpered and squirmed. After 30 minutes, she finally fell asleep. It must have been a tummy ache, her parents surmised, and they laid her back in her bed.
Not long after, the sound of retching sent them back down the hall. Their little girl lay on her side, projecting vomit across the room through the bed slats, her eyes closed. Yes, they thought. A stomach virus. Mommy stays up the rest of the night while she vomits and then falls into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning, Mommy places her on pillows in the middle of a queen-sized bed so she could see her baby while getting dressed. They have a doctor appointment right after lunch. Mommy calls Gran and Papa - please come to our house. If one child has a virus, so will the other soon. Papa says he will bring Gran to meet us at the doctor's office at 1:00 pm in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mommy looks at her baby girl. She is sitting very still. Mommy thinks to herself, her eyes look blank. Mommy doesn't think she can see anymore. And mommy prays.
The doctor agrees. Stomach virus. But her arms keep shaking, mommy says. The doctor says it's because she's dehydrated and to keep giving her sips of water. Mommy lets the doctor know that the day before she had rolled off the bed but hadn't hit her head. Mommy had even called the doctor's office but the office said since she showed on marks on her head, she had probably slid and was fine. The doctor sends them home with tummy medicine.
At 5:30 that evening, Mommy goes to teach a music lesson at church. The saxophonist kept playing a favorite song: I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now/ I've got to make to heaven some how/ Through the devil tempts me and he tries to turn me around.
Mommy likes this song. The lady singer of this song had once prayed for Gran and God strengthened Gran so that she could pray for mommy when she was a little girl and was hurt. God healed mommy, but that's another story.
The song continues: He's offered everything that's got a name/ all the wealth I"d want and world fame/ If I could, still I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.
Soon Mommy comes home where Daddy and brother are playing on the computer and Gran is watching baby girl. Mommy goes to have brother a bath and is not long in the room before Daddy and Gran burst into the room. Gran is handing the baby girl to Mommy and Daddy is handing Mommy the phone. She has had a seizure, Gran says.
Mommy calls the doctor. God directs the call and a Christian nurse listens to the problem. The nurse calls the doctor - and starts praying for this baby girl he doesn't even know. The doctor says to give some medicine and wait 5 minutes and call back. Baby girl is not better. They leave for the emergency room. Gran and brother stay home. They begin to pray and call others to pray.
That prayer becomes the shield of protection for Mommy, Daddy and the baby girl.
At the hospital, the nurses call the police. This baby girl must have been abused. But God is working. Their doctor finds out and tells the hospital to make the police go home. This baby is not abused, she is very sick. The police go home and no one tells Mommy and Daddy they were even there. It takes over an hour to get into an exam room.
Then it happens. The tiny baby girl, laying on a gurney, has a grand mal seizure. This is a very bad siezure. All the muscles in her body contract at once. She is jerking, her head pulled to the right. Mommy tells Daddy to get the nurse but Daddy can't move. His baby girl is jerking uncontrollably and he can't help her. Mommy runs to the door and yells for the nurses. Here they come! They move Mommy and Daddy to the side of the room. The siezure finally stops.
The doctor tells Mommy and Daddy, we are going to do some tests. First, they lay baby girl on her side and roll her into a ball. Baby girl doesn't cry or fight them. She is so tired. The doctor sticks a long needle into her back to remove spinal fluid for testing. Then they take baby girl to a room for a CT scan.
Soon, they bring baby girl back. Mommy and Daddy weren't able to go with her and are so glad to hold her again. She is very still. The doctor comes back and takes baby girl for another test in the CT scan room. This time Mommy is allowed to go with her. Daddy stays and prays.
Mommy lays her precious pink baby girl on a long table. They nurses tell Mommy to go sit in a chair in the corner. They put her baby's head in box to keep her from moving. Then a needle is put into baby girl's hand and she is slid into a long white tube for a test. But the needle slips out of the vein in her hand. It's called and infusion - all the fluid went into her hand instead of in her blood and her hand is now very big and it must hurt because baby girl is crying. They let Mommy quieten her down and start the test again. Mommy is told to go back and sit down.
Mommy is sitting in her chair, watching baby girl and singing: I wouldn't take nothin for my journey now/ I've got to make it to heaven somehow. . .
Here comes a doctor. He asks if she is the Mommy. Yes, she says. He begins, your baby girl has one of three things: meningitis/encephalitis, herpes on the brain or she has had a stroke. Mommy can't breathe. How could this happen? Simple, the doctor says. Someone with an infection can push a basket through a grocery story. A baby sits in the same basket later and licks the hand rest. An infection goes to her brain and she is now sick. And a stroke? Shaken baby syndrome.
That's why the nurses had called the police. But Mommy and Daddy don't know that for months.
Baby girl and Mommy go back to the little room with Daddy and wait for the doctors. Here he comes. Very serious. With a nurse. He says, your baby girl has had a stroke. They won't know how serious it is til more tests are run. Baby girl is going to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She will be there a long, long time.
Pastor Rick arrives. He had been out of town and as soon as his plane had landed, his wife called him and told him, go to St. John's Hospital. Baby girl is very sick. Mommy and Daddy are so glad to see Pastor Rick. He prays with them. They all cry. What will happen to this baby?
Pastor Rick must go home. And so must Daddy. He wans to be with brother when he wakes up in the morning and tell him their baby girl is sick but the doctors, and God, are taking care of her. Mommy watches Daddy leave from baby girl's ICU window. It's raining. And cold. And mommy has never felt so alone.
The night drags on. And on. Early in the morning baby girls doctor arrives and takes Mommy to see the tests. She tells mommy that the doctor who saw the stroke wasn't supposed to be in the hospital last night. He as there for another patient. He was working on another computer. He had turned around to ask a question of someone and saw the stroke. The other doctors had not seen it. They had missed it. But God sent this man and used him to save baby girl.
Upstairs, the doctors tell Mommy that she cannot be in the room with baby girl today. She must sit in the waiting room. Once an hour, she can go to the window and look at her. A special machine has been hooked to baby girl. It records all of her seizures. It video tapes her while they are happening too. If Mommy and Daddy are in the room during the first day of the tests, the doctors won't know if baby girl is responding to their voice or if she is having seizures.
Mommy and Daddy's arms hurt. They just want to hold their baby. Papa is home with Gran and brother. Grandma and Grandpa are making plans to come. Aunt and Uncle are praying and come and visit Mommy. Auntie comes and stays awhile too. Daddy's heart is breaking for his baby girl.
The next day, the doctors let Mommy and Daddy in the room with baby girl but they cannot hold her and must limit how much they touch her. Baby girl lays in a big metal crib. She is so tiny. Mommy counts 38 wires off of her baby girl's body - 36 of them on her head! There's a needle in her tiny arm to give her food. The doctor's have given her a big, big dose of medicine and she sleeps.
The third day, Mommy and Daddy can hold baby girl. A new doctor, one who just studies the brains of little children comes in the room. He is the best doctor, baby girl's regular doctor says. You can trust him. This new doctor is G. Steve Miller. He tell them, this baby girl has had a massive mid-cerebral arterial stroke. She will not walk. She will not talk. She will not develop past the age of 18 months. He says they have stopped the seizues for now but will need medicine for a long time.
Daddy asks when he can take his baby girl home. The doctor says not for months. Baby girl will be in PICU for a very long time and then in the hospital for weeks longer in a regular room. Mommy can't breathe again. Baby girl's doctor makes the brain doctor leave. She shuts the door and throws the curtain shut. When she turns around she is crying. She holds Daddy and they cry together. Mommy is standing by the bed starring at her baby girl. Baby girl's doctor says, okay we can do this. This means we will see each other alot. We are going to make it through this.
Papa, Gran and brother are in they waiting room. THey had take Chris to buy new cowboy boots and to the boat show. He loves his Papa and Gran. He feels safe with them. But brother is sad he cannot see his baby sister. Some friends are in the waiting room too. Mommy and Daddy go tell them what the doctor said. They all pray together. Gran and Papa are staying the night with baby girl. Mommy and Daddy take brother home.
Brother and Daddy go play games. They love to play together and although Daddy is crying for his baby girl inside, his son needs him right now.
Mommy goes her baby girl's room. She closes the door behind her. Then she walks to the crib where baby girl slept just a few nights ago and picks up her blanket. Then her baby doll. Then every doll she can hold. She cannot hold her baby girl and her arms need to hold something. Her knees buckle and she falls to the floor sobbing. For the first time she can cry. Alone. And she begs God, please heal my baby girl! She lays there for a long time as peace wraps her in a blanket. Then she goes downstairs to be mommy to her big boy.
The next day the nurses say that big brother can see baby girl if he can be at the hospital very soon. Aunt and Uncle grab him up, put clothes on him and drive fast to the hospital. The nurses take all the wires off of baby girl and let Mommy put some clothes on her - and the cowgirl boots brother had picked for her. He is glad to see her. She is still sleeping. He slips his little arm through the metal hospital slats and pats her. It's okay, sister. I'm here, he tells her. He is a good big brother.
Grandma and Grandpa have come. They have been helping Papa and Gran. Taking care of Chris and the house. The decision is made that they will take big brother home with them for a few days. He does not want to go and cries for his Mommy and Daddy as they put him in the car. Mommy and Daddy say they love him and he will have fun and then wave good-bye. They turn to go back in the hospital and cry.
After only 5 days in the PICU, the doctors say that baby girl can go into a regular room. God is so good! And two days later, Mommy and Daddy take her home. Only our God can make that happen!
The brain doctor doesn't give much hope for baby girl and her life. But she does talk. And later she walks. And she goes to school. And her seizures stop after several years. And Daddy and Mommy and Big Brother; Papa and Gran and Grandma and Grandpa; Nana and Papa J; Aunt and Uncle and Auntie and New Uncle keep praising God!
And everyone believed John 11:4, "Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."
Mommy, Daddy and Baby Girl and Big Brother give God the glory! He is marvelous! His hand is strong and mighty! Baby girl still has some struggles. She still has some surgeries to go through. She still must find adaptions to accomplish little tasks. But God is so faithful.
What caused the stroke? The doctors do not know for certain. Most think that when baby girl rolled off the bed, her neck jerked and her aortic artery in her neck was torn. Because of a cold medicine she was taking at the same time, the tear formed a clot which went to her brain. The think this because of the timing after the stroke. The CT technician should have scanned her neck two more inches to know for certain. But the cause doesn't really matter anymore. God's hand in the outcome is the important thing!
Mommy says, Thank you Father God for this baby girl. Thank you for her beautiful life. Thank you for the beautiful young lady everyone sees. Her eyes shine your love!
Eleven years - only the beginning of what God is going to do in her life!
Baby Girl Skiing at Durango Mtn. Resort
Four-wheeling in the San Juan National Forest(why write in the third person? So mommy can write and not cry!" I love you, Sis and I write this to remind you: God is faithful! He has never left you. The pain, the problems - God sees them all and He will redeem them in His time! And one day, you will tie your shoes with both hands and beat your brother in a race. I promise!)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sit.
My posts lately have been few and far between and mostly just catching up with pics of the kids and activities for the family.
There's been no great revelations from God.
No thunder in the sky.
Although there is snow on the ground!
We have been busy, though! Helped friends by watching their little ones. Fixed food for folks. Learned that I love Home Schooling my kids. I love their bright minds and the wonderful conversations we have, weaving God into history, math and science. I love their eyes when they "get it!"
However today, I feel like I"m standing at a Dead End Tunnel. It's dark and the only sound is of sick kids coughing. The only thing I can read are posts of friends struggling with illness.
In reading our book for this month, "Sacred Echo", I have found that I see God's love as global. "God loves the world." I see his love as sweet. "Jesus loves the little children." I see his love as transforming others. "God loves orphans."
Yet, I have not seen Him as, "God loves me."
It's like a Goggle Earth map with zooming perspective - God as Creator of the Universe, Savior of the World, Provider for our Nation, King of Colorado, Lord of our City, Redeemer of our Church Body - but I never seem able to zoom into Jesus who loves Kim.
Why? I don't know. Maybe it's the feeling that prayers aren't answered. My family was split. My kids are still sick. My daughter still has a handicap. My son still has asthma. My mother is still ill. My dad still needs a job.
I keep praying and I keep believing. But those things still hang in the air.
God has shown his love for me in many ways - I'm not unaware of His blessings. I wonder, though, if those blessings are out of obligation.
Does God do for me just because I'm one of many who call themselves Christian? Does He really see ME?
Do we all struggle with this?
Does God see me, really see me today, tired, headache, caring for sick kids, worrying over finances and my children's health, praying for so many friends who are hurting; whose dreams are fading; whose marriages are dissolving and their children struggling? Does he see me personally or just one of many with the same problems.
Am I an individual to Him that he would advocate for me, Kim Beach in Durango, Colorado? Would he move the earth for me as He did Samson or Elizabeth? Or am I just one of the many who walked across the desert with the Children of Isreal and God provided for as part of the group? Am I the one sheep He would search for or am I one of the flock who always does what's told and gets left in the pin?
Sit.
That's what I keep hearing.
Be still.
Calm your heart.
God, I'm sitting. Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do you remember me?
I can send you my address.
There's been no great revelations from God.
No thunder in the sky.
Although there is snow on the ground!
We have been busy, though! Helped friends by watching their little ones. Fixed food for folks. Learned that I love Home Schooling my kids. I love their bright minds and the wonderful conversations we have, weaving God into history, math and science. I love their eyes when they "get it!"
However today, I feel like I"m standing at a Dead End Tunnel. It's dark and the only sound is of sick kids coughing. The only thing I can read are posts of friends struggling with illness.
In reading our book for this month, "Sacred Echo", I have found that I see God's love as global. "God loves the world." I see his love as sweet. "Jesus loves the little children." I see his love as transforming others. "God loves orphans."
Yet, I have not seen Him as, "God loves me."
It's like a Goggle Earth map with zooming perspective - God as Creator of the Universe, Savior of the World, Provider for our Nation, King of Colorado, Lord of our City, Redeemer of our Church Body - but I never seem able to zoom into Jesus who loves Kim.
Why? I don't know. Maybe it's the feeling that prayers aren't answered. My family was split. My kids are still sick. My daughter still has a handicap. My son still has asthma. My mother is still ill. My dad still needs a job.
I keep praying and I keep believing. But those things still hang in the air.
God has shown his love for me in many ways - I'm not unaware of His blessings. I wonder, though, if those blessings are out of obligation.
Does God do for me just because I'm one of many who call themselves Christian? Does He really see ME?
Do we all struggle with this?
Does God see me, really see me today, tired, headache, caring for sick kids, worrying over finances and my children's health, praying for so many friends who are hurting; whose dreams are fading; whose marriages are dissolving and their children struggling? Does he see me personally or just one of many with the same problems.
Am I an individual to Him that he would advocate for me, Kim Beach in Durango, Colorado? Would he move the earth for me as He did Samson or Elizabeth? Or am I just one of the many who walked across the desert with the Children of Isreal and God provided for as part of the group? Am I the one sheep He would search for or am I one of the flock who always does what's told and gets left in the pin?
Sit.
That's what I keep hearing.
Be still.
Calm your heart.
God, I'm sitting. Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do you remember me?
I can send you my address.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
What I love . . .
about America -
From differing opinions, points of view and experience, a greater Republic is formed. If those opinions, views and experiences are listened to with an unbiased ear.
I usually have an opinion about most things. And though I tend to be vocal about many things (me? really?), there are still some secrets hidden in my heart :) Okay, I am working on being quieter - in my spirit, in my mind and with mouth! And I'm praying to hear with God's ear!
There are times for quiet. In the past ten years, some working situations have necessitated my being quiet, yet my quietness has not meant agreement. It has, however, meant that I want to hear what other people are thinking. I have seen a new populace in our States that I knew existed but their situations did not touch my life. I have met people whose beliefs are greatly different from mine, yet they treat people with great respect and are wonderful teachers. I have made decisions that would affect whether people had heat in their homes or medications on their shelves. I have seen homes devastated by floods and seen their neighbors run to help. My beliefs have been challenged and in doing so, they have changed in some areas while some convictions have grown stronger.
There are also times to no longer be silent, but to speak in love, choosing words wisely so that all who hear may listen and walk away challenged.
The greatest thing my parents gave me was the ability to think for myself. A gift they have probably wished they could take back on many occassions! I think of Will Rogers who said that to know something you have to look at it from all sides, walk around it, look behind it to see where it came from and ahead to see where it is going. Will Rogers who was very opinionated, ran for President, wrote newspaper articles, starred in movies and believed that people should be in control of their own destiny; their property; and responsible for their own actions and their own beliefs.
It saddens me greatly to ask why a person believes in an issue, be it nationalized healthcare, abortion, gun control, air pollution, national security or any of the other hot topics that have touched our tongues in the past decade and they not know why they hold their beliefs. They may have talking points memorized, but they have not done their own homework or research. They have not read anything for themselves, or worse yet, read only one source, listened to only one person.
We are not a perfect nation. But we are a striving nation, working on our problems. Our great strength lies in our compassion. No other nation has given more, fed more, loved more, freed more, taken in more people than ours. Without monies from the United States, Europe would not have been able to rebuild after the World Wars. Without food from our farms, other nations would have disappeared as their people starved to death. There are entire nationalities that would have been erased from existence without US intervention. And we still take in the tired, the oppressed and the weary.
Yet our compassion grows selective. We mourn for the pregnant mom who doesn't wish to be a mom and yet pass over the "embryo" as a choice. Know what a late term abortion is? Google it. You'll be horrified. We do not wish alienate foreign religions and so Universities are building places of worship for muslims with alumni funds (University of Tulsa, Oklahoma) while Christians are ridiculed for expressing belief in Intelligent Design (Bourbonnois, Illinois). The national seeks to be sensitive to everyone? Right? Hmmm.
So now the spark in our country is Healthcare. Is it a Right? A Privilege? Should we counsel the sick on End of Life choices? Would parents of children with disabilities be counseled to all them to quietly pass? Would members of Congress be forced to use the same healthcare? Is their still dignity in life or in choosing death?
Do you know what you believe? Do you know why you believe it? Have you read documents for yourself? I don't mean relying on NPR or Conservative Talk Radio; CNN or Fox. Find out for yourself!
As a kid, my dad once challenged me: don't take what I say as truth. (He was a minister.) Don't take what you hear any minister or teacher say as infallible - find out for yourself! That's how I learned to study the Bible. That's how I learned to look at politics. Nothing antecdotal - we all "know someone" or "heard someone" and we can balance both sides of EVERY issue with that argument.
I challenge you - Know What You Know and Why You Know It! Teach your kids to search out truth for themselves; to seek Godly counsel and above all else, pray about what you hear and see. Pray that God reveal truth to you. Pray that God open your ears to hear what is really said. Pray that God do the same for your friends and family.
Pray that God reveals the true issue on any topic - sometimes taxation is about personal rights; maybe healthcare is related to gun control; and, sometimes education reform is really just agencies jockeying for more money. There are people involved and therefore, the issues get muddled in personal agendas. Pray, " What is the real issue here?"
Pray for your Leaders. Our President is a man who needs guidance as all men do. We are admonished in God's Word to pray for our leaders! It's your job as a citizen of both America and of Heaven! 1 TImothy 2:1-4
Pray for God's will to be done in our Nation. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
And always pray for the Peace of Isreal - God demands that as well. Psalms 122:6
Then, when you've prayed, you've researched, you've prayed some more - STAND!
"And having done all, Stand!" Ephesians 6:13
From differing opinions, points of view and experience, a greater Republic is formed. If those opinions, views and experiences are listened to with an unbiased ear.
I usually have an opinion about most things. And though I tend to be vocal about many things (me? really?), there are still some secrets hidden in my heart :) Okay, I am working on being quieter - in my spirit, in my mind and with mouth! And I'm praying to hear with God's ear!
There are times for quiet. In the past ten years, some working situations have necessitated my being quiet, yet my quietness has not meant agreement. It has, however, meant that I want to hear what other people are thinking. I have seen a new populace in our States that I knew existed but their situations did not touch my life. I have met people whose beliefs are greatly different from mine, yet they treat people with great respect and are wonderful teachers. I have made decisions that would affect whether people had heat in their homes or medications on their shelves. I have seen homes devastated by floods and seen their neighbors run to help. My beliefs have been challenged and in doing so, they have changed in some areas while some convictions have grown stronger.
There are also times to no longer be silent, but to speak in love, choosing words wisely so that all who hear may listen and walk away challenged.
The greatest thing my parents gave me was the ability to think for myself. A gift they have probably wished they could take back on many occassions! I think of Will Rogers who said that to know something you have to look at it from all sides, walk around it, look behind it to see where it came from and ahead to see where it is going. Will Rogers who was very opinionated, ran for President, wrote newspaper articles, starred in movies and believed that people should be in control of their own destiny; their property; and responsible for their own actions and their own beliefs.
It saddens me greatly to ask why a person believes in an issue, be it nationalized healthcare, abortion, gun control, air pollution, national security or any of the other hot topics that have touched our tongues in the past decade and they not know why they hold their beliefs. They may have talking points memorized, but they have not done their own homework or research. They have not read anything for themselves, or worse yet, read only one source, listened to only one person.
We are not a perfect nation. But we are a striving nation, working on our problems. Our great strength lies in our compassion. No other nation has given more, fed more, loved more, freed more, taken in more people than ours. Without monies from the United States, Europe would not have been able to rebuild after the World Wars. Without food from our farms, other nations would have disappeared as their people starved to death. There are entire nationalities that would have been erased from existence without US intervention. And we still take in the tired, the oppressed and the weary.
Yet our compassion grows selective. We mourn for the pregnant mom who doesn't wish to be a mom and yet pass over the "embryo" as a choice. Know what a late term abortion is? Google it. You'll be horrified. We do not wish alienate foreign religions and so Universities are building places of worship for muslims with alumni funds (University of Tulsa, Oklahoma) while Christians are ridiculed for expressing belief in Intelligent Design (Bourbonnois, Illinois). The national seeks to be sensitive to everyone? Right? Hmmm.
So now the spark in our country is Healthcare. Is it a Right? A Privilege? Should we counsel the sick on End of Life choices? Would parents of children with disabilities be counseled to all them to quietly pass? Would members of Congress be forced to use the same healthcare? Is their still dignity in life or in choosing death?
Do you know what you believe? Do you know why you believe it? Have you read documents for yourself? I don't mean relying on NPR or Conservative Talk Radio; CNN or Fox. Find out for yourself!
As a kid, my dad once challenged me: don't take what I say as truth. (He was a minister.) Don't take what you hear any minister or teacher say as infallible - find out for yourself! That's how I learned to study the Bible. That's how I learned to look at politics. Nothing antecdotal - we all "know someone" or "heard someone" and we can balance both sides of EVERY issue with that argument.
I challenge you - Know What You Know and Why You Know It! Teach your kids to search out truth for themselves; to seek Godly counsel and above all else, pray about what you hear and see. Pray that God reveal truth to you. Pray that God open your ears to hear what is really said. Pray that God do the same for your friends and family.
Pray that God reveals the true issue on any topic - sometimes taxation is about personal rights; maybe healthcare is related to gun control; and, sometimes education reform is really just agencies jockeying for more money. There are people involved and therefore, the issues get muddled in personal agendas. Pray, " What is the real issue here?"
Pray for your Leaders. Our President is a man who needs guidance as all men do. We are admonished in God's Word to pray for our leaders! It's your job as a citizen of both America and of Heaven! 1 TImothy 2:1-4
Pray for God's will to be done in our Nation. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
And always pray for the Peace of Isreal - God demands that as well. Psalms 122:6
Then, when you've prayed, you've researched, you've prayed some more - STAND!
"And having done all, Stand!" Ephesians 6:13
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Miracles Still Happen
Many of you know my son, Chris, has been ill for several weeks now. He even spent 3 days in the hospital having tests and getting rehydrated. The only thing they found was a possible gall bladder problem - although the test may have been askewed by medications. An endoscopy and biopsy showed had an h.pylori infection.
Yeah! Now we know! - or so we thought. Today he completes his two week treatment, but guess what? The pain is back.
During the hospital stay, a CT scan showed a spinal problem - spondylosis /spondylitis. Not good but manageable.
From Web MD:
"What is spondylolisthesis / spondylitis ?
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one bone in your back slides forward over the bone below it. It most often occurs in the lower spine. In some cases, this may lead to your spinal cord or nerve roots being squeezed. This can cause back pain and numbness or weakness in your legs. In rare cases, it can also lead to losing control over your bladder or bowels.
Sometimes when a vertebra slips out of place, you may have no symptoms at all or no symptoms until years later. Then, you may have pain in your low back or buttocks. Muscles in your leg may feel tight or weak. You may even limp."
"Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. The spine's bones (vertebrae) may grow or fuse together, resulting in a rigid spine. These changes may be mild or severe, and may lead to a stooped-over posture. Early diagnosis and treatment helps control pain and stiffness and may reduce or prevent significant deformity. "
Yeah. Sounds great.
So when Chris awoke with pain on Monday, back to the Dr. we went. This is a Dr. who is a seeker. We even talked about God and the Bible and Dinosaurs during the Monday appointment as well as the authenticity of the Word (I had my "The Case for the Real Jesus" with me. We need to teach about intentional witness!). Okay, we went to Mercy, had x-rays. The next day, Dr. calls me. Hmmm, what the CT had shown and what the x-rays were now showing did not coincide.
"Oh, so God healed him," I said.
"What?" the Dr. replied.
"God healed him!" - two more times I said.
"Hmm, that is possible," replied the Dr with a change in his voice.
I mean, if the radiologist saw the spondoyl-thingy and the doctor saw and now no one can see it, don't you think that means there was a healing? Yeah, me too.
Now, the gut pain and upper back pain is still there, but it's not his spine. PTL!!!!! Walking is uncomfortable and running unbearable! Eating makes him sick.
Now I'm waiting to talk to Drs today to see what we are going to do.
Wow, God.
Now, pray for this Dr. God is talking to him!!!
Yeah! Now we know! - or so we thought. Today he completes his two week treatment, but guess what? The pain is back.
During the hospital stay, a CT scan showed a spinal problem - spondylosis /spondylitis. Not good but manageable.
From Web MD:
"What is spondylolisthesis / spondylitis ?
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one bone in your back slides forward over the bone below it. It most often occurs in the lower spine. In some cases, this may lead to your spinal cord or nerve roots being squeezed. This can cause back pain and numbness or weakness in your legs. In rare cases, it can also lead to losing control over your bladder or bowels.
Sometimes when a vertebra slips out of place, you may have no symptoms at all or no symptoms until years later. Then, you may have pain in your low back or buttocks. Muscles in your leg may feel tight or weak. You may even limp."
"Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. The spine's bones (vertebrae) may grow or fuse together, resulting in a rigid spine. These changes may be mild or severe, and may lead to a stooped-over posture. Early diagnosis and treatment helps control pain and stiffness and may reduce or prevent significant deformity. "
Yeah. Sounds great.
So when Chris awoke with pain on Monday, back to the Dr. we went. This is a Dr. who is a seeker. We even talked about God and the Bible and Dinosaurs during the Monday appointment as well as the authenticity of the Word (I had my "The Case for the Real Jesus" with me. We need to teach about intentional witness!). Okay, we went to Mercy, had x-rays. The next day, Dr. calls me. Hmmm, what the CT had shown and what the x-rays were now showing did not coincide.
"Oh, so God healed him," I said.
"What?" the Dr. replied.
"God healed him!" - two more times I said.
"Hmm, that is possible," replied the Dr with a change in his voice.
I mean, if the radiologist saw the spondoyl-thingy and the doctor saw and now no one can see it, don't you think that means there was a healing? Yeah, me too.
Now, the gut pain and upper back pain is still there, but it's not his spine. PTL!!!!! Walking is uncomfortable and running unbearable! Eating makes him sick.
Now I'm waiting to talk to Drs today to see what we are going to do.
Wow, God.
Now, pray for this Dr. God is talking to him!!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Today . . .
Chris has a surgical consultation tomorrow and then we will schedule an endoscopy for probably Wednesday. The doctor, in wisdom, wants to make sure there's no structural abnormalities in his esophagus and stomach before resorting to surgery. Why operate if you don't have to!
Please pray for our patience - with Chris who is a little grumpy with little food and l*rtabs! - with the whole process! with each other! with God.
Thanks for all the notes - and the food! Nice that I haven't had to worry about meals.
Nice to have a family made by the Spirit of Adoption by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" It is the Blood of Christ that binds us into one body.
Please pray for our patience - with Chris who is a little grumpy with little food and l*rtabs! - with the whole process! with each other! with God.
Thanks for all the notes - and the food! Nice that I haven't had to worry about meals.
Nice to have a family made by the Spirit of Adoption by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" It is the Blood of Christ that binds us into one body.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thankful Thursday - with a Request
You may have heard the story of doctors telling us, after years of infertility treatments and a miscarriage, that David and I were "incompatable" (really?) and would never have children. So what a suprise when 4 weeks later, I was pregnant! (yeah, really!)
Chris was the son I prayed for - another David to carry his father's name as well as his grandfather's, a great-great grandfather, several uncles and cousins (it's a Southern thing!)
His birth was a little long! I went in on Tuesday night, he was born on Thursday morning at 2:07 a.m. (Ashley as born on a Thurday at 7 minutes til 2 in the afternoon!) I laughed with extreme, Godly joy was he was born! I've never laughed like that again but I knew in that moment how Sarah felt!
He has been our joy. He is talented. A little stubborn (hmm.) and loves little kids. It was my extreme pleasure to direct him in this year's Passion Play.
On Easter Sunday he woke with a sore throat. By Monday he couldn't talk and was complaining of his stomach hurting. Tuesday to the doctor - no strep just a virus (and yes, Ashley hasit too) but his stomach was hurting - something his sis did not have. Wednesday night we spent at the ER. They thought gall bladder or enlarged spleen from the virus. Nope. Did CT scan, ultrasound, a ton of blood work and still no results. They sent us home around midnight with pain meds and a "hmm, this is a mystery. call your doctor."
With meds he slept last night, but today he is hurting. Badly. We go back to the doc at 1:50 today. We need an answer or a healing. One or the other. Or both! Just a move towards closure. He's in pain, uncomfortable and a little irritable. Hmm, wonder why.
Pray for us to know what to do; how to help him; how to force the doctors if we must.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Broken and Poured Out
I encourage the cast to "leave it all on the stage!" To allow themselves to be broken and poured out as a drink offering to Christ during the Passion Play.
We are not there yet - production is a week away. But I feel broken. In spirit. I am tired and weary and my body hurts. I feel poured out. What do I have left to give?
I pray that God pours into this broken vessel a fresh fire. A fresh wind. An annointing to give more.
I ask for the bloggers to pray for me.
It is hard for me to be transparent and ask for help. Tranparancy in the past has left me bleeding on an altar with wounds afflicted by the "holy." I was more hurt afterwards than before. And I am more than willing to give help but cannot ask for it.
But I need you all. I need healing. My joints and muscles ache. I cannot pick up a coffee cup without my arm hurting. Yet if I have my shoulder fixed, I will be unable to care for Ashley after her next shoulder. My heart is heavy for friends who are hurting and I am caring a feeling of "God you do it for others, why not us?"
Please pray for restoration.
We are not there yet - production is a week away. But I feel broken. In spirit. I am tired and weary and my body hurts. I feel poured out. What do I have left to give?
I pray that God pours into this broken vessel a fresh fire. A fresh wind. An annointing to give more.
I ask for the bloggers to pray for me.
It is hard for me to be transparent and ask for help. Tranparancy in the past has left me bleeding on an altar with wounds afflicted by the "holy." I was more hurt afterwards than before. And I am more than willing to give help but cannot ask for it.
But I need you all. I need healing. My joints and muscles ache. I cannot pick up a coffee cup without my arm hurting. Yet if I have my shoulder fixed, I will be unable to care for Ashley after her next shoulder. My heart is heavy for friends who are hurting and I am caring a feeling of "God you do it for others, why not us?"
Please pray for restoration.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thankful Thursday
I am thankful for. . .
1. My friends who read my blog and post such encouraging words!
2. My friends who read my blog and pray for me.
3. My friends who read my blog.
4. My friends.
5. Peace.
6. Sleep.
7. A place of rest.
8. My hubby.
9. My kids.
10. Cake with buttercream icing.
1. My friends who read my blog and post such encouraging words!
2. My friends who read my blog and pray for me.
3. My friends who read my blog.
4. My friends.
5. Peace.
6. Sleep.
7. A place of rest.
8. My hubby.
9. My kids.
10. Cake with buttercream icing.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Day of Pride
I believe. . .
* No one rules without God's consent
* It is my job to pray for our President
* Our Country is great!
In my parent's lifetime, they have seen segregated drinking fountains, and restaurants. They have heard bus drivers say, "move to the back." The "n" word used in the place of a persons name. They watched MLK march and listend to his Dream.
In my lifetime, the first woman Chief of the Cherokee tribe was elected, Wilma Mankiller. I have seen two African-American heads of state - Collin Powell and Condi Rice. I have seen women hold offices in our nation - myself included, as the youngest woman mayor in Oklahoma history; Phyllis Shlaffley, Hillary Clinton, and again Condi Rice (I like her!!!).
I've also lived through the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11/01. Our country's saddest moment - when our own attacked us; and the thinkinable - someone else attacked us on our own soil.
Though he wasn't my candidate, I still felt pride for Mr. Obama as he looked at where he can from to moving into the White House. I was proud that race could be considered an advantage and not a problem.
And I will pray. Like I always have. For God's grace and protection on this Nation. We are the most generous country. We give to each other, to other peoples, to peoples who ridicule and hate us afterwards. And we still will.
I recommend everyone read "The Light and Glory" to see what our history books leave out of the story of our country. We have been directed by God. We still are.
Father God - thank you for being at the helm. I know in whom my faith resides - You! Lord, I ask for wisdom for our leaders - turn their hearts to Your will. Bend their knees to Your presence. Silence their tongues for Your words.
* No one rules without God's consent
* It is my job to pray for our President
* Our Country is great!
In my parent's lifetime, they have seen segregated drinking fountains, and restaurants. They have heard bus drivers say, "move to the back." The "n" word used in the place of a persons name. They watched MLK march and listend to his Dream.
In my lifetime, the first woman Chief of the Cherokee tribe was elected, Wilma Mankiller. I have seen two African-American heads of state - Collin Powell and Condi Rice. I have seen women hold offices in our nation - myself included, as the youngest woman mayor in Oklahoma history; Phyllis Shlaffley, Hillary Clinton, and again Condi Rice (I like her!!!).
I've also lived through the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11/01. Our country's saddest moment - when our own attacked us; and the thinkinable - someone else attacked us on our own soil.
Though he wasn't my candidate, I still felt pride for Mr. Obama as he looked at where he can from to moving into the White House. I was proud that race could be considered an advantage and not a problem.
And I will pray. Like I always have. For God's grace and protection on this Nation. We are the most generous country. We give to each other, to other peoples, to peoples who ridicule and hate us afterwards. And we still will.
I recommend everyone read "The Light and Glory" to see what our history books leave out of the story of our country. We have been directed by God. We still are.
Father God - thank you for being at the helm. I know in whom my faith resides - You! Lord, I ask for wisdom for our leaders - turn their hearts to Your will. Bend their knees to Your presence. Silence their tongues for Your words.
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