Praying for Kate MaCrae

When I started blogging I think it was 3 years ago, I blogged for my inlaws so they could watch their grandchildren grow up and be a part of their lives some 700 miles away.

Then I started reading blogs and being introduced to blogs .. and met this beautiful little girl .. and my whole family started praying for her.

Won't you join us?

prayingforkate.com

Recovering Well ....

#1 son and Dr. Weprin ... smiles all around!

We had our two week follow up appt and #1 son is recovering VERY WELL! It almost seems like he was never in the hospital! God is SO good. (God was good even when things didn't feel great too).



Praising God for His mighty miracle and a VERY healthy son!

Praying for Ethan (Jordan)

With all that will be going on in a few weeks, we decided to create a CaringBridge website to keep you informed on son #1 progress. I am almost positive I won't feel like making phone calls are sending a lot of emails .. but D and I want to be able to provide updates for all of you who have been praying for our son and our family

I am feeling better than I was last week and finding peace from Christ in the midst of the storm. #1 son is doing well and has adjusted better than any of us. Children. They ARE a blessing.

Please join me in prayer ...

I have been following Gavin's story for almost a year now .... please join this family ...

The timeframe has been set .. January 2010

I spoke to the surgeon today and my son's surgery will be scheduled for January 2010. The details are being worked out as we speak.

Thank you for your prayers for our family .. you can't know how much it means to us. I cannot tell you how much peace I have about this journey we are on .. and it IS a journey ... God has grown me up indeed. :) I am concerned about and for my baby (even @ 13 yrs. old), but I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, God holds my son IN HIS HANDS!!!

He WILL again get the glory out of this and DH and I will continue to shout from the rooftops about the goodness of the Lord and how He is weaving my son's testimony!

Names of the surgery team & departments will be forthcoming for prayers.

Love to you.

No News ...

The tumor board at the hospital was to have met last week about Ethan's case, but they were not able to get to it. We were told that they would try again yesterday and call us afterwards, but still no call.

Hopefully, today we WILL hear some news, but I have already turned it over to Jesus and I am resting safely, comfortably in His arms.

I AM praying though not only for my son, but for the MANY, MANY children who are being diagnosed with tumors and receive various treatments throughout the country. It is simply amazing to me how many children are sick.

Just when you think ..

you have the right to complain about the things going on in your life, have your own pity party, groan, mumble and get down right mad about things going on in your life .. God allows you to hear about families REALLY going through it like this ... and it makes you fall to your knees and thank God for what He has given you and your family. It makes you pray for other people (which we would should be doing more of anyway) and it makes you realize, that YES things in my life ARE crazy, BUT there is ALWAYS someone else who has it so much more worse than you.

BTW .. Jennifer's faith IS amazing and the way she is handling what is going on is indeed amazing. That is the strength only provided by the Lord in my opinion.

I am NOT saying my issues and problems are not a concern of my great God, because they are and I WILL continue to pray about them, but SMACK DAB right in front of me is a reason to stop all the junk and pray, be thankful and pray some more. Especially after looking at my husband and 3 sons and knowing where we all could be.

Thankful, truly thankful.

Prayer Time ....

Click the photo and get the complete testimony as told by his mom and then PRAY!

Harper's Going Home!!! Whohoo!

Thanks for your prayers for this precious little baby! I have never met nor do I know her mother, but the past 20 days have given me one more reason to talk to God.

Special children in a special place ....

Angie says it better than I EVER could ... today IS an important day to many women around the country.

Please join us .... I am praying for you too!


THANK YOU!

They ARE listening ...

We allowed our children to have their own little family sleepover this weekend (just our boys), because they have been doing such a great job being our kids :)

We let them eat junk food (with some goodness hidden inside), stay up later than normal, and watch movies.

As they tucked themselves in tonite (in the den), I was in the office and overheard the 3 year old tell the 11 year old .. "hey we need to pray BEFORE we go to sleep."

I couldn't resist, so I tiptoed closer to the den where I could hear them start their prayers without any prompting from me (they couldn't see me) and they prayed one by one. (21 months old included)

This wonderful moment, just warmed my heart and lets me know that after all these years of nighttime prayers and letting the boys there is NOTHING we can do without God and we must talk to him everyday .. they get it .. they see the importance of praising and praying to our great God!

Thank you Lord for this gift tonite. Thank you.

It's only morning ....

and I have 30 things to do today ... aren't there only 24 hours in my day? 5 of them I should be sleeping, 2 in church this evening, so that leaves 17 hours to get these tasks completed and whatever else may be added later ... :(

Lord give me strength and please help me make the most of the hours you have given me today!

Praying for Joseph

**Updated***

Joseph lives with Jesus now ........ He went home with our Lord Thursday afternoon. Please pray for his family.

I "met" this precious little boy through the blogworld, but I don't remember how. All I know is his story has caused me to pray for him throughout his journey with a brain tumor, especially after what we went through with Ethan.

His parents have been given the news no parent wants to hear. Once again I am and hope you will "Pray for Joseph".

Steven Curtis Chapman

I just read the story.
I don't know him personally, but my heart goes out to him and his family.

Read here and then pray for them.

Jessie

God is up to something and it IS something BIG. This little girl's story brought tears to my eyes, but has also given me the opportunity to PRAY.

Acts 12:5
"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."

Different scenario, but same in that we should pray on behalf of others ...


Read all about what God is doing for JESSIE.

Follow Up

We have celebrated 9 months since Ethan's surgery and healing! Praise God! He has been doing well and is doing better every day. He has NOT had any seizures, but has minor headaches from time to time.

We will check in at the hospital Monday to have an MRI and a meeting with the surgeon to find what the fragments that were left behind are doing anything.

This season has taught me to TRUST GOD! No matter what I feel, no matter what I see, no matter what they say, TRUST GOD! He knows and He IS in my corner!

Did you know that He IS everything I (you) need? He is all I will ever need!

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
In Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Israel’s Guide
Joshua, He’s salvation's choice
Judges, He’s Israel’s Guard
In Ruth, the kinsmen's redeemer
1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles He is Sovereign
In Ezra, He’s the true and faithful scribe
In Nehemiah, the re-builder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms He is our morning song
In Proverbs, He is our wisdom
Ecclesiastes, He's the time and season
In Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
In Isaiah He is Prince of Peace
In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, the call from sin
Daniel, the stranger in the fire
Hosea, the forever faithful
Joel, the spirit’s power
Amos, the strong-arms that carry
Obadiah, the Lord our Savior
Jonah, the great missionary
Micah, the promise of peace
Nahum, our strength and shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's brings revival
In Haggai He restores that which was lost
IN Zachariah, He’s our fountain
And in Malachi, He's the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

AND THAT’S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT

In Matthew Mark Luke and John, He is God and Messiah
In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven
In Romans, He is the grace of God
Corinthians, the power of love
Galatians, freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servant's heart
Colossians, He’s God and the trinity Thessalonians, our calling King
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He's our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting courage
In James, the one who heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd Peter, our faithful shepherd
In John and Jude, He's the lover coming for His bride
AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it’s all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord

HE IS EVERYTHING I (YOU) NEED!

Ethan - Part 11

June was upon us before we knew it. I was all over the map emotionally. I started blogging more and one day wrote this.

June 19 - We were now faced with a very difficult decision, who would perform Ethan's surgery and where would we go? The date had been set by our surgeon, but we wanted to be sure. REAL SURE. We had appealed and consulted with so many. After prayer, speaking to our pastor and more prayer, God revealed and confirmed .... Children's Hospital, Dallas. Dr. Bradley Weprin.

That weekend, God "showed out" and did this.

God also gave us our 72 hour prayer for Ethan. He was prayed for a day before, the day of and the day after every hour for 72 hours by people ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!

Our God IS an awesome God!

Real Love

1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

1 Corinthians 13
Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


More on Ethan Friday .. thank you for the kind comments ...

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for ................

• Jesus Christ
• Eternal life
• Salvation
• The ability to pray
• Devotions
• Time alone with God
• God is all knowing
• God is with me, I am never alone
• Sound mind
• Good health
• A wonderful husband
• Beautiful children
• I'm at home with my children
• Ethan's continued good health
• Ethan's grades for the semester (4 A's 2 B's)
• Austin's sponge like learning
• DeClan's smile (He is so adorable)
• Our home
• My 2 sisters and CRAZY brother
• Life on Life Bible studies at church
• The battle is NOT mine it is the Lord's
• We have victory in Jesus
• Reliable transportation
• Down time w/ hubby
• My inlaws
• A REALLY, REALLY great church
• Weekends
• Friends who really care
• It starting to look like we are going on vacation in the Spring
• We ARE being blessed with a big surprise in June
• Clean water
• Cool weather
• A good hair day
• A choice of 5 always clean grocery stores w/i 5 minutes of my house
• Coupons
• Rebates
• really good food, good fun and laughter
• Movie night
• The 2 of you who read my blog .... ok all 3 of you

I will be praying for things as well, but wanted to give my Father praise ... a lot of these things I have taken for granted and do not want to do that anymore.

If you have a prayer request, email me offline and know that I will pray specifically for you before next Thursday.

On behalf of someone else ...

I knew when we first heard the news that Ethan had a brain tumor that this season of our lives was bigger than us. Prayer began immediately and has not stopped. Ethan has been prayed for ALL OVER THE WORLD. I know that for a fact. When God healed Ethan, I also knew that God did not heal him just for us, but because He wanted others to know of His goodness and what He IS capable of doing. He used us as the vehicle for HIS message and I am glad He allowed us to be used. (I couldn't have said that just a few years ago).

So many people are going through "something" and many people are asking for God's healing power ... Through the blogworld, I've been introduced to one such person recently. My family has been praying and are asking you to pray for Joseph.