Sunday, March 27, 2011

God is still in the miracle business

I had the wonderful privilege of going to a baby shower of a seminary friend whom I haven't seen in 6.5 years! She and her husband have been through a horrible 2 years (see her blog here.) and were told that they would likely not have any more children.

I'm so thrilled to share that God is still in the miracle business - their little miracle is Micah David, due to arrive a few weeks over 2 years since his big sister went to Heaven. Beyond the joy of seeing my friend and celebrating Micah's life (and I admit, loving to see baby clothes and things!),

I was reminded again that God is able. Able to walk us through what we never imagined we'd face. Able to walk us through daily trials that may not be as hard as some others', but matter to our Heavenly Father just the same. Able to do far beyond what we could imagine. Able to do miracles.

Driving home from the baby shower yesterday, I was thinking about the 6.5 years that have gone by since my friend and I last saw each other at seminary. How much has happened in each of our lives - how faithful the Lord has been to us. She and I were in a small accountability group together in seminary and I know just a little of her past and what the Lord has seen her through.

I know what the Lord has seen me through in these past years of my life. I marveled again at what a good, faithful, compassionate and mighty Heavenly Father we have. One that is still in the business of miracles.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Getting ready...


Starting to accumulate things for my trip...2 months from today, I'll be there! Very excited! :)

Monday, March 21, 2011

CAROL IS GOING HOME!

Praise the Lord - less than a week after her liver transplant, Carol is going home today! You can get sick in the hospital from the germs there so the doctors thought it best for her to do the rest of her recovery at home. Her soldier son is on leave for another few days. Please continue to pray that Carol's body will not reject the liver and that she will continue to progress towards complete healing - thanks!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Carol Update

I'm pleased to report that Carol is doing better - she is much less puffy and there has been no mention of the infection so it must not be an issue. She is enjoying many precious friends and family coming to visit. The docs say all looks good with the liver, praise the Lord! Please pray that things continue to go this smoothly and she won't have any major setbacks. Most of all, pray for wisdom for the doctors and peace and rest for Carol, her husband Jerry and her sons Brandon & Eric. Thank you! Carol says she is a living miracle and will praise the Lord the rest of her days - and to that, I say amen! :)

Friday, March 18, 2011

Update on Carol

Carol got up and sat in a chair yesterday and walked down the hall a bit. Her soldier son was flown home by the Red Cross and her other son came to visit as well. These are all huge praises.

Some requests - she has a bacterial infection so please pray this will go away and not compromise her healing from the trauma of the transplant. She is in a lot of pain which is normal for 48 hours post-op, but please pray that she will get the rest she needs and continue to heal and give the Lord the glory for it all as she has done thus far!

Thanks for praying! No update yet on my friends A&B that need a permanent physical and church home - it's been a long week of waiting. I'm so praying they hear something today.

Have a great weekend! :)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Update on Carol

Praise the Lord - Carol is doing GREAT! She only spent less than 24 hours in ICU. The liver is working and while she's in a lot of pain right now, she is doing better than expected, for which she and her family and friends give the glory to the Lord. Please continue to pray for her and that especially the Red Cross will get her soldier son home so he can be with his Mama as she continues to fight through the hard healing transplant process. Thanks!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Carol is getting a new liver today!

******UPDATED 6:20 PM CST**Carol made it through the surgery and the liver is working. She is headed to ICU. Praise the Lord. She's certainly not out of the woods, but these are answers to the first two items below. Thanks for continuing to pray.******

Here is an update on this prayer request. Carol got a call last night at 8 p.m. that a liver had been found and is being prepped for surgery as I type this.

Please pray:

1) Nothing will come up either with the liver or with Carol herself that would prevent the transplant from happening.

2) The transplant itself will go well and that there will be no complications of any sort and that the surgery (that could last up to 9 hours) would be smooth and the doctors and medical staff will be sharp, focused and skilled in their work.

3) The military can get her oldest son (a soldier) home.

4) For the family of the liver donor, a 21-year-old woman, who are grieving the loss of their daughter.

5) Above all, the Lord would be glorified in all of this. Carol has a sweet, deep faith and this whole process for her family has been bathed in prayer from the beginning. This has been a long and difficult road, and I pray she is finally crossing the threshhold of the "after" part of this story.

Thank you!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Filling up my tank



Friday I had the unexpected pleasure of having lunch with one of my closest friends B and her 2 little girls that call me Aunt Sarah. While they only live on the other side of the metroplex, during the week it's too far for me to go and she's working on the weekends. So I actually hadn't seen her since E's 1st birthday in December.





I know how fast children grow up so each time with them is precious. Seems like just last month the nearly-4-year-old in the pink boots was the size of her baby sister. Each time I see what I call my "nieces of the heart", I try to soak the love in like a sponge, much as I do with my biological niece A. I heard someone once describe that as filling up your love tank. I get so much joy out of B (nearly 4 yrs old) and E (just 1 yr old), and the fact that they know and love me sends me over the moon...and slightly makes up for the fact that my niece A does not know me well yet, since she doesn't see me often. I adore B&E and saw them both in the hospital when they were born and have loved watching them grow and develop.



And, how fun is it to buy matching sister dresses?!!?!? I can't resist. You can only dress them in matching things for so long and then they get an opinion about what they want to wear and the matching sister dreses thing is all over! I'll enjoy every bit of it while it lasts! :)

Friday, March 4, 2011

Calvary's Anthem

"Heavenly Father, thou has led me singing to the cross, where I fling down all my burdens and see them vanish, when my mountains of guilt are levelled to a plain; where my sins disappear, though they are the greatest that exist; and are more in number than the grains of fine sand;

For there is power in the blood of Calvary to destroy sins more than can be counted even by one from the choir of heaven. Thou hast given me a hill-side spring that washes clear and white, and I go as a sinner to its waters, bathing without hinderance in its crystal streams.

At the cross there is free forgivenmess for poor and meek ones, and ample blessings that last for ever; the blood of the Lamb is like a great river of infinite grace with never any diminishing of its fullness as thirsty ones without number drink of it.

O Lord, forever will thy free forgiveness live that was gained on the mount of blood; in the midst of a world of sin it is a subject for priase in every place; a song on earth, an anthem in heaven, its love and virtue knowing no end.

I have a longing for the world above where multitudes sing the great song, for my soul was never created to love the dust of earth. Though here my spiritual state is frail and poor, I shall go on singing Calvary's anthem.

May I always know that a clean heart full of goodness is more beautiful than the lily, that only a clean heart can sing by night and by day, that such a heart is mine when I abide at Calvary."

from The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions


I love this prayer and this book that a friend gave to me in seminary. I think this one is my favorite, though it's hard to choose (I'll post some of my other faves in future posts).

May your heart sing Calvary's anthem today and everyday! Blessed be our God who washes our sins away!