My sister's kids with mine at the Memphis zoo, May 2007

Labels: Family, Prayer

Just yesterday, on my way to pick the kids up from school, I was thinking about how uncertain life can be. I could name a dozen people off the top of my head who have died way before their time--people in their 30s and 40s--people like my own mother and daughter. We make plans, and we think that we are going to spend the rest of our lives with a certain person or doing a certain thing--and then some tragedy strikes--a car wreck or cancer or something equally as horrible--and it's all over. The plans we made were not the plans God had for us. I have become so aware over the past 12 years or so how very much our ways are just not God's ways--our thoughts are not His. I was thinking how we can not afford to take one moment with our loved ones for granted--not one. single. moment. I just received an email from my good high school friend, Jodi. (We've recently been in contact again--after 20 years--thanks to Classmates.com) She had received an email from another of our classmates who still lives and teaches in our tiny hometown and wanted to let me know. Anyway, Rick and Larissa were classmates of ours who were married right when Larissa got out of high school (Rick's a little older than us, and Larissa's a little younger). Shortly after they were married, Rick had a heart attack, and they have gone on to face many hard circumstances: rheumatoid arthritis, a benign brain tumor, a cat scratch that almost took Rick's life (really) and now the worst of all. Rick (41 years old or so) and his oldest daughter (9th grade) were on their way to pick up the youngest daughter (7th grade) from cheerleading practice and had a terrible wreck on the way and were instantly killed. I just can't imagine the horror of it all. Please join me in praying for this precious family whose lives have been drastically changed forever. It really just makes me sick to think about it. May God grant them the measure of peace that they need to get through each day. And may we never take the gift of life for granted.

Labels: Prayer

I have been following Amy Wilhoite's blog for many, many months now. I have prayed for her, and I have believed with them for her healing. I am so sad that she passed away yesterday afternoon. Five years ago one of my husband's dearest friends, ever, died from this very disease. I was so hoping to see a different outcome for sweet Amy. She was a very young wife and mother. Please say a prayer for her loved ones during this difficult time.

Labels: Prayer

• UPDATE- B. is on his way to the emergency room with A. now. His cough is getting continually worse. Your prayers are appreciated.

Would you please join me in praying for our son. He has cough-variant asthma which is almost only induced by having had a cold. He had a cold last week, and by Wednesday was showing signs that his asthma was being triggered. We started his inhaler, but by Thursday evening he was miserable from the coughing, and it was obvious that we were going to have to bring in bigger guns. We pulled out the nebulizer, which hasn't been out for a year and a half, and started him on Pulmi-Cort (a corticosteroid) and albuterol. He was some better by Saturday, and even a bit better on Sunday. He was still coughing quite a bit,though, so it was obvious by Sunday night that a trip to the doctor would be necessary. We went Monday morning, and she started him on the real big guns, Prednisone--which I knew would happen--I have nearly 11 years of experience with this now. He started the pred right away and he took his second dose at lunch today. He is still coughing. He has a follow-up tomorrow morning, and I am sure they will be doing x-rays to check for pneumonia. I am thinking he is developing it. We would most definitely appreciate your prayers for his healing, and that he will get rest tonight. Please pray that I am completely wrong and that he will be well soon. And just so you know about how his asthma came to be... The twins contracted RSV when they were three months old. RSV is a respiratory virus that is rarely serious in children or adults, but is usually very serious in infants, especially those who were born early. A. was hospitalized for several days (over their first Christmas) because he had developed double pneumonia, and was severely ill. It was a scary and hard time for us to see that precious tiny boy lying in an oxygen tent. Anyway, the RSV reoccurred (symptomatically) many times over the years until finally turning to asthma in A. (The doctors wouldn't officially call it asthma until he was three). Our daughter outgrew all the effects of it by the time she was 3. So, please be aware of this terrible virus if you have an infant. If I had it to do all over again, and if it had been available, I would have kept them home during that first RSV season of their lives, and I would have had the shots that are now available. *Note that this virus mostly strikes in temperate or tropical climates.* Thank you for your prayers. Much love, *B. is home from the ER and A. has bronchitis to go along with his asthma attack. They also said that the prednisone wasn't doing it for him and gave him a shot in his sweet little bootie of a much stronger steroid. He also has to take robitussin with codeine for his cough. He has a follow-up appt. in the morning at 1015. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Labels: Prayer

We have just heard from B.'s parents and they have told us that B.'s grandmother has fallen and broken her hip. She is a precious 90 year old woman. Please, keep her in your prayers as she faces a complete hip replacement. She is doing as well as can be expected right now. Thanks a bunch, my blogging friends. **Grandmother came through surgery very well. She will be hospitalized for three days and then moved to a rehab facility for a short time. Her spirits are good and we are feeling pretty good about things. Thank you so much for your concern and prayers.**

Labels: Family, Prayer

I wanted to ask you all to please pray for Addison. She is Sarah's little girl. She was diagnosed with RSV a few days ago and needs our prayers. If you don't know, RSV is a very serious respiratory virus-- can be especially serious with babies. Both of my twins had it when they were 3 months old and one was hospitalized and still suffers with asthma because of it to this day. You can go here for more information on Addison. The link is to her grandmother's blog. Addison has already had her share of troubles and we need to pray for this precious child! Thanks again.

Labels: Prayer

Thank y'all so much for your prayers for our nephew. We have heard this morning that the doctors are pretty sure he had a stroke. He was finally able to speak in the middle of the night (although it was still difficult for him to form words) and let everyone know what had happened. He said that he lost his hearing and eyesight on one side and was having trouble talking. This scared him, so he went to the nurses office. By the time he got there he was completely unable to speak coherently, so no one knew what was going on. He is having an MRI today to see if they can find out why this happened. It does not seem that he will have any lasting effects from this stroke. We are just praying that this was a one time "fluke" thing and he will never have to deal with it again. Thanks, again, for your prayers and concern. We appreciate it!

Labels: Family, Prayer

Our nephew, who is 14, has been med-evacuated to a children's hospital three hours from his home. We are not sure what is wrong at this point but he is speaking incoherently and has other strange symptoms. His symptoms started shortly after lunch while he was at school. He has had a cat scan and spinal tap and they have not shown anything wrong. Please pray that we will find out what it going on and that it will be treatable and not serious. And please pray that his parents will have peace and that this might be used to bring them to the Lord. (This is my hubby's brother's step-son) Thank you so much!

Labels: Family, Prayer

I know not many are reading this but if you are, please say a prayer for my friend's son. He's had chemotherapy for the past two years for leukemia. The majority of the time he looks and feels perfectly healthy but he was admitted today to St. Jude's because of a fever-causing virus. His counts are low and this could potentially be serious. We serve a miracle-working God, though, and I know he will heal this 15 year old boy. Thank you!

Labels: Prayer