Prayers this week

I have heard so many prayer requests lately of friends and loved ones and also some total strangers. 

My heart was saddened to hear of the tragedy with the fire fighter at the Texas Rangers game last week.  All day Friday I just could not get the family out of my head.  They've really been on my heart as they had the funeral today.  The pictures are very touching. 

I had mixed emotions Thursday night because at the same time I was reading of the awful accident I was also seeing pictures posted on Facebook of a welcome home event for some soldiers who had been in Afghanistan. A man who went to church with us before our move was among those coming home.  I could imagine the emotion and excitement in the room.  I was thankful for his safe arrival back with his wife and infant son and that is an answer to prayers.

Last night I read a Facebook message of a friend that she had had her baby girl.  But Kynsie was taken to NICU.  I got in touch with the grandmother and she told me Kynsie has a heart condition and had to be careflighted to Cooks Children's Hospital.  She is there now and had a procedure done today to try to relieve some of the pressure to her lungs.  I talked with her aunt and she was breathing on her own and is scheduled to have open heart surgery on Thursday.  Please keep the parents, big sister, grandparents, and rest of the family in your prayers if you think about them over the next few days.

Let me know if I could pray for you or your family.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Mixed feelings kind of day

I've had so many thoughts and prayers running through my heart today.

I found out first thing this morning that the Mom of one of my friends was admitted to the hospital last night and in ICU with heart problems. Then when I logged onto Facebook I saw where a young man named Wes from my hometown had passed away last night. He had been in a terrible wreck last Tuesday evening. I never knew him but it made me sad for his family. Also I knew today was the day that one of my little friends fighting a brain tumor was having an important MRI and her parents were very anxious about it.

And at the same time I feel thankful. My husband was coming home last Tuesday night and called to tell me about the delay because of a bad accident. Later I found out that it was Wes' accident. So today I just felt thankful that my husband's timing hadn't been any different. And I wondered could it have been him in that accident? I felt so thankful it wasn't but so sad at the same time because another wife doesn't have her husband tonight.

Today I've been reminded that we are not guaranteed tomorrow or even another breath. Things can be going along as normal and then suddenly everything changes. Please join me in praying for these families. Pray that God will heal and bring His comfort and peace. These are three very different situations but all three families are hurting and need God to help them in their time of difficulty.

Have a day of blessings!

Prayer requests

I have some prayer requests I will be adding to my side bar but wanted to make a separate post for them for you to join with me in praying for these families.

~ a family friend Lesly. This young mother found an enlarged lymph node under her arm. She is going to have tests this week. Pray for her peace because she has had problems previously.

~ Sage's family. Little Sage passed away suddenly, only 8 months old. Pray for this family.

~ Stellan. I know many of you are praying for Stellan but I wanted to share his story for those of you who don't know. There is a group set up on Facebook too if you haven't joined that yet.

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"...Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:17, 18

Checking in.....

We went to the hospital quickly this morning after getting a call that the nurse said it would be soon. The family was gathered around her bed and prayed. I sat in the hall with Caleb instead of in the waiting room so I'd be nearby for my husband. We talked and read books. I enjoy my conversations with that boy so much. :) Well they came out about 11:30 and said they were going to get something to eat. I was very thankful because Caleb had started saying he was hungry and I was feeling hunger pangs myself. We ate a quick lunch in the cafeteria and went back upstairs. The nurses have said they are surprised at how strong Mammaw is and she keeps holding on. She was looking around today and smiling, my husband thought she must be seeing the other side already. The family has all told her their love and that we'll be okay and it's okay for her to go. We've always known how strong she was!

I've enjoyed hearing my husband share stories of his Mammaw. She has been so special to his life, and I told her I was thankful for her and for her being so special to him.

Thank you again for your prayers. I have felt God with us and holding us really to get through. The days are running together. We came home earlier tonight and relaxed (I had a nice hot bath) and Caleb got to play at home a while. We're just going to take this one day at a time.

Update on Mammaw (Monday night)

We've been at the hospital again today. We were able to rest and arrived at the hospital around 11 this morning after a couple errands we needed to do before leaving town.

Mammaw is steadily declining. The hospice doctor told the family this afternoon he would expect her to pass away in the next 24 hours. An encouraging thing was during the conversation something was said and he said oh, is she a Christian? We said oh yes. He said I am also. That takes a little of the sting out because you know it isn't a good bye but a see you later. What a blessing!

Caleb was a big boy again today. I took him downstairs to a little couch in a lobby area for him to rest yesterday and today he marched over to it ready to nap when we got off the elevator. He has cheered so many people. I've really been watching him and it blesses me too to see the smiles he brings to the faces of all those around him if they know him or not. I have some precious Caleb stories I may share as well from this experience.

Let me say thank you to those of you who have encouraged us with your messages here and your prayers for our family. I have missed reading your blogs and being encouraged by you, but you've come here and encouraged us. Thank you.

Sunday evening update

We've spent Saturday evening and most of Sunday up at the hospital with Mammaw and the family. Tonight they have moved her to hospice care. Please remember the family in your prayers as well as Mammaw.

I must say Caleb has been such a great boy through this ordeal. Hospital waiting rooms are not the most fun place for a little boy to be. He has done great though. We keep telling him how proud we are of his excellent behavior. We have activity bags we take and switch out with books and activities for him to occupy his time. One of the waiting rooms has a blocked off area for children with two small tables so we've been in there regularly. He doesn't really understand about Mammaw. I told him we just had to pray for her and whatever God wanted was what we wanted, either to make her better or take her to Heaven.

I appreciate your prayers and concern. Friends are a blessing.

Evening update

Thank you to everyone for your prayers. We spent more time today up at the hospital. It's been a long day it seems. Mammaw was awake this morning when my husband visited. She was talking some but didn't remember last night, one of her grandsons being there, etc. After lunch we went back together and she was about the same. The doctor was talking with the family when we got there. He said he will try to drain the abscess on her back on Monday. I believe in 1996 she had some hardware put into her back (they call it a rod) and it is trying to protrude and it has an infection. She is very weak and her blood is so thin so they're trying to giver her things to thicken her blood over the weekend.

Her daughter called 911 Tuesday a.m. because they found her in bed, not sure she was alive. Her body was apparently full of toxins. I believe they called it septic (or septis? I don't know) shock. She had her dialysis today. Tonight when I went in to see her, she tried to talk to me. She was watching TV. I couldn't make out her words, it was like she had to think of what she was saying. She seems very weak to us and like she is in pain. She's still struggling with her breaths and has irregular heart beat and her blood pressure gets extremely low.

Thank you for your prayers.

Update on Mammaw

We got to the hospital during the visiting hours this afternoon. I waited in the waiting room while my husband went in and then I went back to see her. She tried to talk to me and all her numbers on the monitor got irregular and dropped. My brother in law came down also and Mammaw's brother is planning to come tomorrow. We ate supper with my inlaws and then went back for the evening visiting hours. My husband went in this time and said she was very different from the time before. We are going back now. We came home to get Caleb in his pajamas and let him bathe.

Please pray for this family. Mammaw has been a strong strong lady for her family. She has been a strong fighter for as long as I've known her. Several times we've had scares with her health in the past. We are praying for God's will.

Prayer request

We just received a call from my father-in-law that my husband's Mammaw is in the hospital in ICU. She is a strong lady and has pulled through many times in the past with some tough health issues. She has been on dialysis I think the whole time I've known her and her body is wearing out at this point. We're going with my husband to check on her. I'll post an update later. Please say a prayer for her and the family.

Thankful Thursday is below.

Remember to pray

I received a reminder to pray for President elect Obama in one of my comments (Thanks Amanda!) Also tonight I received an email from Max Lucado urging everyone to take a few minutes to pray on Inauguration Day, January 20. You can visit the link (click above on Max Lucado or in my side bar) to find a prayer guide and more information.
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"But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom.”James 1:5

Prayers and encouragement

I'd like to ask you to visit Kristi at Kiki's Corner and leave her some encouragement. You can read her daughter Rachel's story also. I know some of you already have but wanted to post the link for others too. I believe you will be encouraged as well as you read how they've continued to see God's hand and direction in their circumstances the past couple of weeks. Say a prayer for Rachel and this sweet family I've gotten to "know" lately through blogging the past few months.

How can I pray for you?

Please let me know if you have a prayer request on your heart this week.


I will be praying for:

~ Debbie. This woman is in ICU in California.


~ Liz. This girl is undergoing medical tests.


~ Missy and Ryan. You can read the story of this mother and son battling cancer here.

~ Operation Christmas child.....as everyone prepares their boxes in the coming days.

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"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure." James 3:17

Caleb

Apparently Caleb has a tummy bug. After we quit the juice he was better the rest of Sunday and Monday. Tuesday night in the night he got sick though and this morning he has an upset stomach. The nurse thinks it is probably a virus. Please say a prayer for him. He acts totally fine except for stopping his play to go to the restroom.
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"For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out y Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants." Isaiah 44:3

Check out this blog

I found a link to this blog when I was visiting Charlotte. It is called Power of Prayer. It is focused on prayer for the upcoming election. Just wanted to pass it on to you to check out!


There was a new post about the Presidential Prayer Team link. It has specific prayer requests for each week.

Just wanted to share. I'll write later about our weekend and the Walk.
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"The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him." Proverbs 15:8

Prayer request update

This morning I had an update on the prayer request for Dee, who was hit by a car while jogging.

The email said she had little brain activity last night and were planning to keep her on the respirators till morning. The plan was to take her off the respirators to see how she does and if she isn't any better put her back on to harvest her organs. Please pray for this family.

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"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14

How can I pray for you?

Please send me an email or leave a comment if you have a prayer request this week! Have a blessed week!

This week my prayers include...

~ Baby Bennett. I have asked for prayers for him when he was born. I have checked in on him periodically through his website. He celebrated his first birthday in August. In September he randomly quit drinking from his bottle. The parent's post said it was like he just stopped cold turkey and wouldn't drink. They were dealing with feeding him making sure he was getting enough nutrients and staying hydrated. Saturday I read an update that he was admitted to the hospital. He had a little cold earlier in the week. They put him in the hospital for "potential pneumonia and feeding/hydration problems." Please keep this family in your prayers as they work to help Bennett.

~ Marsha as she travels.

~ friend looking for a job.

~ I am adding another one. Next Saturday, October 4, Emily Chapman (Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter) is getting married to Tanner. Remember the Chapman family as they celebrate this happy event missing little Maria, who was going to be one of Emily's flower girls.

~ Also, I just got a prayer request from a friend at church from one of her friends. Dee was hit by a car whilel jogging and the doctor's have given the family "little hope." Pray for God's hand in this situation.

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"Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises." James 5:13, NLT

How can I pray for you?

Here are the requests I will be praying about this week. Feel free to let me know your prayer requests as well as join me in prayer about these.


~Amanda while her hubby is away.


~those recovering from Hurricane Ike.


~my sweet husband as he travels. Pray for him to have a safe trip, learn a lot in his meetings, and be safe in the city as he learns his way around a new place.


~me and Caleb while he's gone!


Thank you!!

How can I pray for you?

Do you have a need that you'd like to share? I'd be happy to pray for you. Let me know with a comment or email. Here is my prayer list for the week....

~Everyone in Texas/Louisiana whose lives have been turned upside down by Hurricane Ike. Also remember those volunteers who are caring for those who've evacuated. We've had numerous stories in our paper about the people who are in our town.

~A praise.....Baby Cade is now home! I got an email from his Mom late last week that he went home Tuesday. Continue to pray for them as they adjust to a new baby in the home! That is a fun and special time.

~My husband as he prepares for his trip. We have started a to-do list of things we need to get ready before he leaves. Plus he is going to have a really busy week at work dealing with things from Ike.

~Davis family. This is a sweet family from our church. Mr. Davis went to check on his Mom this morning when she didn't answer and found she'd passed away in the night. She was in her 90s.

~Linda's family (http://mochawithlinda.blogspot.com/) Her Mom passed away Saturday.

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"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

How can I pray for you?

I have several requests to share this week. If you have anything you'd like me to pray about with you, please let me know.

~Baby Cade. I know his family is anxious to bring home their sweet boy.

~military spouses and families. Saturday we sat down to eat our lunch. I heard the lady behind me in the next booth talking to her two young girls "looking for the positives about Daddy being in Afghanistan." My heart hurt for her as I thought of myself enjoying a Saturday with my son and husband. One of those positives was the pictures they received of the Afghan children. She was talking to her girls about sending items to Daddy to give to the children. She went on to say how Daddy has already been gone 3 months and would be gone for only 9 more months. As she was clearing her table I got up for a refill. I told her I was sorry but I couldn't help but hear her mention Afghanistan and thanked for her for sacrifice. She thanked me and said they were glad for him to go and were just doing their part. Hearing this conversation made it so real to me what the families at home are going through on a daily basis with their loved ones serving our country.

~Wesley. I believe I've mentioned this young man here previously. He has had numerous brain surgeries this year. The last one was to put in a shunt. At the end of last week he started running a fever so he was taken back to Cook's and last I heard an MRI was scheduled.

~Heather

~Gavin's Mom. I've mentioned her also. She was supposed to have surgery Friday as well.

~Emily. Marsha made me aware of this girl who was run over by a car. This is her blog if you'd like to read her story. http://prayingforemily.blogspot.com/

~Brad. This is the husband of one of my friends. He is having health problems.

~Jennifer

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"A heart at peace gives life to the body." Proverbs 14:30

Another update on prayer requests

I got an email back from Baby Cade's Mom tonight that he has the IV out, and he was able to nurse one time today. Wonderful news! She said that's one step closer to home.

The travelers also arrived back home safely. I look forward to hearing their stories of their adventures. Thanks for praying.

Good night.
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"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9