Shhhhhhh...

One of my dearest friends and I had the opportunity to just sit and talk the other day. Why is this noteworthy, you ask? Because we, in our busy lives, don't have time to just sit and talk. For that matter, there are many things that get put aside in our lives, just merely because they are further down on the priority list. One main thing that I have very little time for is reading... I LOVE to read, always have. I was going to major in English and Literature... remember? Anyway, we were discussing what we enjoy reading, when time allows. I personally have no interest in "self-help" type books... I just can not get into them. I love to read fiction and the occasional biography. I have many favorite authors such as Robin Cook, Ted Dekker, CS Lewis, etc... I am not one who MUST read a book by a Christan author. (Some of you may have just lowered me on your "Christan-o-meter"... sorry.) I have stacks of unread books on my night stand, in my car, in my closet... all books I think I want to read, but haven't. I recently discovered a way to carve out some time, each day, to read. I leave about 45 minutes early to pick up Jeremiah from school and I read in the car line. Hooray, finally the opportunity to jump into a good book... it worked for a while, but not lately. I finished a book a few weeks ago and since then I have picked up and put down two totally different books... the first one was a secular author, and I just couldn't tolerate it this time. The second one was a Christian author, but it seemed a bit shallow in the story line. I was so frustrated... then I noticed some of my music (again, no it's not all Christan...) I just couldn't tolerate the noise. I started recognizing a trend... I decided I should check in with God "Ummm, are you trying to get my attention? If so, I'm sure not listening very well, am I?" Ahaaa... so that's the problem. He was seeking to speak with me and I was distracted. I turned my radio off, put the books away, sat still and said "Speak Lord, I'm listening." He did.

Now I'm not saying that I don't listen to my music anymore or the radio, and I will still read my books. I just need to be careful of distraction's in my life, that they don't become so loud that they drown out the still small voice of my Savior. Ps. 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..." Ps. 143:8 "Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You." Matt. 11:15 "He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing." He is a jealous God and yearns for our attention, our devotion, our worship... He longs to commune with us, to be close to us... that is pretty cool!

Exciting Answer To Prayer...

I will try to make this short... Background- Two and a half years ago Jason was working for a company that transitioned from company trucks to truck allowances. We had to go buy a truck for him. They required it to be on a short term note (very high payments), and each month they reimbursed us for the payment and insurance. We bought a very nice Expedition. Well, the company became unstable, the economy went down, and Jason found himself looking for a more stable job. God blessed us with a great new job, however, this company did not do car allowances. Being the car was new, we couldn't exactly sell it without being upside down. We had to just pray that God would provide us a way to keep the truck until we paid it down more. We hardly ever use it, because my car is paid off and Jason drives his company car.

Monday- Jason and I actually had time to have one of those in depth planning, budgety, looking out for our future talks. We both felt very strongly that we should try to sell the Expedition.

Tuesday- Jason took it to get all shiny and clean... then took pictures of it.

Wednesday- Jason posted an ad on Cragslist. We priced it just below what most similar vehicles were posted. Five minutes after the post we got a call!! This guy said this was exactly what he and his family were looking for... unbelievable!

Thursday- First thing in the morning the guy sends Jason an email and says they are ready to buy it!!

Friday- The deal is done, the check for our portion of the money is already printed!! We make the exchange tomorrow!!!

This is such an incredible answer to prayer!! Now, with the extra money we made on the deal and the extra money every month, we expect to be out of debt in six months!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!! God is so good and so faithful!!

Saying "Thank You" to a Soldier this Christmas...

I was raised with a strong affection towards our Flag, our Troops and our Veterans. Jason was raised the same way. We both have a very large soft spot for anything and everything patriotic. It is common when our family is out to dinner that Jason will see a man in uniform walk in, and without hesitation anonymously pick up the tab. We have been in grocery stores and the man in front of us will be a man in uniform and Jason will pay his bill. Anytime we are out and about, when my kids see a man/woman in uniform they will go up to them, stick their hand out, shake their hand and say thank you. I tear up every single time.

We have lived in our neighborhood almost 5 years. On our way out of the neighborhood we pass a house that belongs to a soldier and his family. He has two small girls, and a cute little wife. Over the past five years I have seen him leave and many months later return home.(Sign draped over the front of the house and all) I have seen him return home, in full gear, with his huge duffel bag, in his front yard with his girls and his wife draped on his arms fighting for hugs. Yes, I tear up every time... I just can't help it! Just being out and about our paths have crossed many times(in the grocery store or at the pharmacy), and he is one of the kindest, most polite men I have ever met. How do you say thank you to a guy like that... enough. I don't really believe you can, but our family has decided we are going to give it our best shot.

Every year, as I'm sure many of you do, we choose a special place that our family can give something extra special at Christmas. We have done Samaritan's Purse, Secret Santa to a family in need, Christmas dinner for shut ins, etc... This year we are going to make it our goal to say "Thank You", not just to him, but to his wife and sweet girls. They sacrifice as a family, allowing him to do what he does for all of us. We are so excited, and are truly praying for God's guidance in putting this together. We really want to show the love of Christ to this family, and truly bless them in a way that will glorify God... not us. My boys have already had some great ideas, their enthusiasm makes me so proud. If you all think about it, please pray for us as we seek HIS leading in this project. I will keep you all posted on how it all turns out.

Remembering pain makes you stronger.

Many of you know know the miracle story of my little Jeremiah. Some of you do not. In as short of a story as I possibly can I will share what happened... it will be a bit lengthy. In January 2006, Jeremiah was 1 month short of 2 years old. It was a Friday. He woke up totally fine. By 11:30 that afternoon he was having unexplained pain in his left upper thigh area... achy pain. By 2:30 he was in worse pain, and running 102 temperature. We went to the Dr. that evening around 8:00. At this point his fever, even in Ibuprofen and Tylenol, could not be controlled and the pain was even worse. They couldn't find anything wrong. The next morning about 7:00 a.m. He wouldn't even let us touch the leg and the fever was 103. The Dr. that had seen us actually called us because she could not sleep. She told me to go immediately to Texas Children's, they would be waiting for me. We went, poor child was so lethargic with fever and unbearable pain. By that evening we were notified by the chief of infectious disease that he had an insanely massive infection brewing, but they wouldn't know what it was for 48 hours when the cultures from his blood draws grew and they could test it. We were admitted and Jeremiah was started on morphine via IV and the highest dose of the most toxic antibiotics you can imagine. Sunday morning Jeremiah started to have pain in his right shoulder. They had notified us that they were planning to do an MRI on Monday, because they don't do them on the weekends. Well, three hours later Jeremiah's pain in his shoulder was worse, the fever was still not under control and they came to notify us that they called in an MRI team. His pain was so severe that even fully sedated for the MRI he was wincing with pain when they would touch his leg or shoulder. Monday morning we heard that the infection he had was a strain that they had only ever scene in victims of high trauma experiences, for instance those that survived the World Trade Center collapse or the Oklahoma City Bombing. (their words not mine) Out of the last 2000 cases, none had been susceptible to antibiotics and resulted in fatality. Later that evening the pain had spread to his right thigh. During the night they did yet another MRI, at this point they saw the infection had totally eaten away all of his muscle in his left thigh and buttocks, it had penetrated into the bone of his shoulder and was eating away the muscle and buttocks of his right side. Fever still not controlled. Tuesday we hear a great report, his strain of infection WAS susceptible to antibiotics. However, they did not know why it was still spreading through the blood stream after being on the medicine for 3 days. Wednesday same as Tuesday no change. Thursday Jeremiah's heart begins to flutter. The infection is attempting to penetrate his heart. If this happens, there is nothing they can do. They put him on every antibiotic they could without killing him, he was on the maximum dose of morphine, toradol, Ibuprofen and Tylenol. Prayer for him was going around the globe! Pastor David Flanders from England came to visit and started a chain of people in Europe praying for him. Our pastors and church family were incredible, our friends were amazing. This kid was affecting so many thousands of people, bringing them to their knees... even some that hadn't prayed in a very long time showed up to pray over him. Friday was our turnaround day. A week after this all started, we finally saw some improvement. We spent 10 more days in the hospital. He was released with a tube that went straight into his heart through one his major arteries, that we used to administer medication every 4 hours for the next 2 months. We were in total isolation, due to his lack of immune system. He had lost more than 30% of his body weight and he had to re-learn to walk. In April he was released from care by the very doctor who had seen him in the ER. She said there was no reason why this child should still be alive, she never thought he would survive... But God. To this day he is entered into a case study to determine how he could possible have gotten this strain of infection, no reason has ever be determined.

During every second of what happened, not once did we ever think we would lose him. We never "lost" it. That is the one and only time in my life that I can undeniably say that I truly experienced peace beyond my understanding and faith beyond my reason. He is alive because of an undeniable miracle of God. His life has been destined for a greater purpose by God, and no matter how hard the enemy tried to take him, my God is greater! Thank God Jeremiah doesn't remember any of it... but I sure do. The tears are still instant when I tell the story, the pain is still fresh when I dream about it but so is the rush of peace and the surge of faith. Remembering my pain makes me stronger. I pray that it doesn't take something so intense to bring you to a place of such peace or faith... but when you have those times, DO NOT push the feelings down, do not try to forget. Find God in those moments, remember what he showed you in your brokenness, in your desperation... it will make you stronger.

Piano... but no band!

My Aunt Patty gave me her old piano a year and a half ago. I love having it! I use it all the time to figure out what chord songs are in, to aid in transposing charts, checking chart accuracy, writing, etc... I do not "play" exactly, but I am self taught well enough to do what I need to do. I would love to take lessons to improve and I actually have been doing some research. Jeremiah, my youngest, is a very musical child. He can not sit still if he hears music. We say all the time that it runs through his veins. Even if he doesn't realize there is music playing, he is going to tap his foot, dance, sing or hum along. He is constantly sitting at the piano... tinkering with the keys, trying to figure it out. So, I thought I would look into enrolling him in piano lessons. I gathered my information and the other day after picking him up from school I talked to him about it... here is how it went,

"Jeremiah, would you like to take piano lessons?"
"NO!" Without hesitation he reactively said.
"Why not? It would just be you and me in the room with your teacher... no one else."

You see Jeremiah is extremely introverted, no non-sense, matter of fact and a very deep thinking kid... and he hates attention.

"No one else would be in there?"
"Nope"
"What is the teacher's name?"
"Piper"
"Is she old or young?"
"Young"
"Is she nice?"
"I think so."
"Is she pretty?"
"I guess so."
"What does she look like?"
"I can show you a picture of her on her website, when we get home."
"How long do I go to class?"
"Half an hour, once a week... and then you practice at home."

Looooooong pause...

"Well, let me think about it..."
"Ok, you think about it."

Fifteen or twenty minutes passes and it's total silence. I could see him in the back seat... very deep in thought. He finally responds...

"Ok, mom... I want to take piano lessons... But I am NOT playing in a band!"

I busted out laughing!! I said, "Well, ok then... and I won't FORCE you to play in a band."

The way this little kid thinks, cracks me up!!

Now that he has decided he wants to do it, he is so excited about it! He can't wait to start, and he has been telling everyone, "Guess what? I am going to take piano lessons, soon!!" I just love that kid!!