PRAISE GOD!

If there was one word I could use to sum up our experience during our week in Texas, it is PRAISE!  GOD showed us in powerful ways that HE wants us to PRAISE HIS NAME!!  No matter what!  And when we do, HIS NAME IS GLORIFIED.  When we do, the enemy of our soul has no power over us!  When we do, life is filled with Peace, not fear...

SATURDAY was good as he pretty much moved past the nausea from the procedure.  We rested a bit during the afternoon so we weren’t quite ready to go to bed.  About  9PM I said, “Why don’t we look at that CD Lee gave me?”  I had been given a CD labeled “How Great Is Our God” about 3 months ago and several times had intention to get it out and see what was on it, but it never happened.  For 3 months that thing rode around in my briefcase! That night I thought we’d slip it in and see just what this dear friend had been encouraging me to look at.  It didn’t take long to see GOD’s perfect timing as we looked in amazement at the heavens and the stars and a little protein molecule called laminin and were reminded in a most powerful way of how GREAT is the GOD we serve.  At the end the LORD spoke very clearly to my heart that HE knew exactly where we were and that HE was right there holding us together.  Please take time to visit this link and see for yourself “How Great Is Our GOD!”  As a matter of fact, don’t "take" time… "MAKE" time!!! ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAzCP8SEKwc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

SUNDAY morning I read the beautiful scripture referenced in the message we heard last night.  Psalm 33. Fred’s night was mostly sleepless, but we were thankful that he had no pain and no nausea!  We went for afternoon church and were also able to be at ACYF that evening. 

MONDAY morning before Fred opened the Word, I offered up a heart prayer to GOD that HE would help us understand what it was that we should be doing…were we to continue holding to HIS direction given to us five months ago, or was it time to switch gears with the therapies HE showed us to use, or was it time to “accept reality” as it “appears”… like the enemy is prevailing.  And then Fred opened to Psalm 67…no, GOD opened the Word to Psalm 67!  Seven verses long.  As I lay there listening to Fred read, I heard him say…”thy saving health”!! I don’t usually interrupt him, but I said “Seriously,!!  Does it really say that”!!? And then “Let the people praise THEE , O GOD” over and over and over!  OK then, my heart spoke back,  we will keep praising THEE, THE GOD of the UNIVERSE and continue to TRUST with unreasoning  TRUST!  Why? Because HE is our GOD, even our own GOD, and it IS in HIS hand to BLESS us, our little part is to offer PRAISE to HIS name!  The rest of Monday was not smooth, pain started up in the afternoon, but so thankful it can be managed with medication.

TUESDAY Fred was able to work for a few hours at the farm office.  I was able to get to a couple places for house plans and in the evening we and some of our kids went into the house to move dirt and gravel around and pick up branches.  We even had a little help from Pennsylvania! Thanks Tyler!

WEDNESDAY we started with an early Dr appt. followed by several mtgs for house plans and then an afternoon appt. with a Urologist.  Dr. said everything looked very good and he would schedule the appt. with Radiology to have the nephrostomy tubes replaced in 6-8 wks. Driving home, that nagging voice of fear was trying to gain a foothold.  Instantly the Spirit was there with a song on my heart “Praise ye the LORD; HE is King over all the creation!” Zion’s Harp #5.  It doesn’t get much better than that! Fred and I sang it together as we drove back to Forrest and indeed, my Peace was restored!  After that appt. we had one last stop, to check in with the plumber.  We should be ready for him after the weekend!  Fred tolerated riding in the van fairly well and only needed a little pain reliever before we headed to church.

THURSDAY, this morning, he said it felt good to wake up feeling refreshed, and without pain!  PRAISE GOD!  We’ve noticed after meals a little fatigue comes over him, but it’s not too long before he’s back out the door, not running, but back at it.  He’s a trooper!!! He worked at the office most of the day and this evening we did a little more gravel work to prep for the plumbing and then met with our flatwork guy. I am sooo blessed!  Thank you JESUS! 

Signs of Spring at our Home in the Country

HOME!

Praise GOD, from whom ALL blessings flow:
Praise HIM, all creatures here below;
Praise HIM above, ye heavenly host;
PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST!

This was the song that came of the Spirit and filled my heart as we journeyed home, and was there this morning as we awoke.  It was not a journey free of concern, as Fred was feeling nauseated as we began, but by the last leg of the trip he began to feel much better!

We both had a good nights sleep! Praise the LORD! And so far this morning he has not had any nausea. Water is staying down without any problem. We'll try more in the line of small amounts of food sometime today.

Kinda shocking to see how Spring has come to our yard since we left!

HIS name be PRAISED for all those who have lifted us up in prayer before the FATHER!

 

Sitting in the Airport

The last 12 hrs have been up and down as Fred has had bouts of nausea.  He's feeling OK at the moment, but please pray for no nausea the duration of the trip...according to HIS will...we're good with HIS will! So thankful to be heading home surrounded with support from family and friends!  Couldn't have done it without them! Thank you JESUS!

Praising HIS name as we remember...HIS thoughts for us are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us an expected end, and when we call upon HIM, HE will hearken unto us and we shall seek HIM and find HIM when we search for HIM with all our heart...Jer 29:11  He's still our LORD and KING and the CAPTAIN of our ship of faith! HE's still the GREAT PHYSICIAN and a GOD OF MIRACLES... just takin a step at a time and trusting with unreasoning trust!

And Even Sooner!!!

Thanking GOD for HIS Divine intercession as we are resting in our hotel room having been dismissed from the hospital about 5PM!!!

Fred's feeling good, moving a little slower, but Oh so glad to be out of the hospital! ;)

Sooner Than We Thought!

Yesterday we prayed for and received a great miracle...today HE has blessed us again as HIS healing hand has been upon Fred's kidneys and improvement has been swift and steady. We praise HIM for this!  So the doc said going home tomorrow will be the plan unless there is a change in his progress! Yippee!!! :) 

GOD has been sooo good to us!  Won't be long and we will be HOME!

Thanks for each one of your prayers, texts and emails... your support has been deeply felt and evidenced by an amazing and abiding Peace from our FATHER, the GOD of the Universe!!

3-21-12 Surgery Number Two and Fred's 55th Birthday

Well the past two weeks have been busy!  We worked on digging and pouring footings last week and then this week we began by celebrating our 28th Anniversary! So thankful for HIS blessings on our years lived as one.

It actually became very real to me how one we were when the Lord laid it on my heart to plan a surprise trip for Fred to commemorate our Anniversary and his 55th Birthday!  It came to me around the latter part of January and I began to move forward pretty timidly, asking each couple as the Lord directed.  Since we visited San Antonio on our honeymoon, I thought that would be a good destination and so purchased tickets on Amtrak for this week.  By the time Monday, March 19th rolled around, I was close to being physically sick and was so ready to get this secret out and be able to share ALL my thoughts with Fred again!  I had no idea I'd be writing about this on here, but neither did I have any idea how GOD was SO orchestrating every detail of a trip that is yet to come to an end!

Sunday night, our 28th, our children took us to Chicago to eat out and then dropped us off at our hotel for the night.  At bedtime, I noticed Fred's feet seemed a little swollen.  The real concern came Monday morning when he got up and his face was noticeably puffy and he hadn't gotten up thru the night as usual.  Well, we headed to the train station and long story short, after many texts and emails and a lot of prayer, we felt the Lord directing us to keep going forward, not cancelling the trip.  After checking with the Dr. and picking up a prescription we boarded the train, Fred's swelling in his face mostly gone, and replaced with a very shocked expression...as he discovered we were going from Bloomington to San Antonio...a thirty hour trip.  We weren't into the trip long and felt HIS Spirit begin to reveal we were part of a bigger picture than any of us had a clue existed.

Thankfully we could call back to the Dr the next morning to discuss what she would advise for the next step, because he was well over 24 hrs without voiding.  Upon arrival we agreed to get to a prompt care/ER and start looking into it. We were stunned when the Dr. came in and told us he needed to admit Fred because his kidneys had failed!  When the shock subsided then came the questions.  We got to our room at 4AM and tried to rest a bit before the day began.  Several Dr.'s later, it was determined that the best approach would be to insert nephrostomy tubes to drain the kidneys, so at 4PM he went into surgery to have that done.  The procedure went really well and within the hour he was voiding!!!  We will be here several days yet.

Kinda exhausted, so I'll sign off.   Our  hearts are filled with thanksgiving and praise for the mighty hand of GOD carrying us thru this very emotional day!

One Week Later

WOW!    Life is feeling sooo good right now!

It's NOT hard to remember how we felt last Thursday but so, so thankful for how it feels in this moment...and we give ALL the glory to the sure mercies of our great GOD! Truly appreciate the many prayers offered for us!

Although nothing was determined to be the actual cause of the pain, it has lessened and we kinda think it will soon be gone! Yesterday, as Fred and I were visiting in the early morning hours, a feeling came over me that our little world was going to become calm again, like we had somehow turned a corner.  PTL!... as HE alone stills the waves!!

The stump grinder fella came yesterday morning and got that huge stump out...thanks, Kenny!
I was able to get the building permit yesterday also soooo... we are good to GO!!! :)  Should be digging footings in the very near future, Lord-willing!

Oh, and not to forget the wedding plans!!...we will be working on finishing Reuben and Krystle's invitations tonight! A few more showers, and the wedding date will be here!  :)

A few months ago Fred signed us up for the 25th Annual HOME SHOW in Bloomington at the Coliseum.  If you're in town, come see us in booth #332 and see what the HyperVibe can do for you! :)

GOD is good!!!

4+ Months, the Waves are Gettin' a Little Higher...but our CAPTAIN is Right Beside Us

We have been blessed in the past five weeks with strength to accomplish our last goal before we start building...taking down the huge chinese elm! That happened on February 11th.

Then Fred had a sudden onset of pain three days ago, early Monday morning. We went to the Dr. yesterday, and they were able to get him scheduled that morning for a scan. The results came back, no new blockage, PTL! But the cancer is still there and some has grown.  Thankful we have something to manage his pain now, the rest we continue to leave with the GOD of the universe!