Praying for Pop-C

Hello Family and Friends,



I want to take a moment to honor Pop-C. Pop-C is my Dad's dad. He turned 95 years old on Saturday, Halloween Day. Pop-C is one of the sweetest, most caring and nurturing men I have ever known. For several years my Mom-C was in a wheelchair and he happily cared for her and pushed her around well into his 80's. Pop-C is also a highly intelegent man. In fact, he was one of the engineers that created the paint that is used on roads. He helped figure out how to make the paint reflective at the correct angle at night. He would be happy to tell you all about it. What I remember most strongly about Pop-C is that every time we went to visit him he would try to teach us about our ancestors back for generations. My brother and I would sit and listen to him and try our very hardest to act interested. What I appreciate most about Pop-C was his ability to work with his hands. He was a wood worker. He built a kitchen set for me when I was a little girl that Mandie plays with daily now. He could fix anything, anywhere, anytime.



This past Friday night, the day before his 95th birthday, Pop-C was admitted into the emergency room. He is having a lot of trouble taking in oxygen. And the doctors are still unable to get his oxygen levels under control. This afternoon, Pop-C will head back to his house. He is not expected to make it very long. Please say a prayer for my family at this time. Especially for my Aunt LaJean who has been his primary care-giver for the past few years. It is an honor to be the grand daughter of a man like Pop-C. It is a privalege to cary on his legacy. His life will be celebrated and honored, but it is always hard seeing life come to an end. But our great hope, that guides us everyday, is that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us, saved us from our sin, and accepted us into his family. He is teaching us how to live on earth, and he has a room waiting for sweet Pop-C in Heaven. I hope it's close to mine!



I love you Pop-C. Thank you for your righteous life, your wise words, and your steady example!

**Update: Pop-C passed away on Friday afternoon. Funeral services will be held in Lubbock on Monday morning. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, Pop-C's passing was very peaceful.

Ephesians 2:10

While tucking Mandie in tonight I was telling her that her Dad and I had been discussing an allowance for her. I told her, in short, that she would have to do some chores (age appropriate of course), and if she completed her chores she would recieve an allowance. Mandie got the saddest look on her face and started to cry. She said, "No Mommy! I don't want to do any chores! Cinderella had to do chores and she did not like them! ahu ahu ahu ahu ahu . . . " So I giggled at her and explained that we would not be treating her like Cinderella, and I told her that if she did not like the word 'chores' we could pick another word, like 'job', or 'work'. She decided she likes the word 'work'. So she was very happy about that, and as I was getting up to leave the room so she could go to sleep, I heard that precious little girl say, "I am cweated to do good work" as her little eyes shined up at me from under her comforter.

Oh, that just filled my heart in so many ways. I teach Mandie's little Sunday School Class on Sunday mornings, and that is the verse we have been remembering for the past several weeks (Ephesians 2:10). It's nice to know that it's sinking in. And it's nice to see her making some good connections. The Lord is so good to His little children!

Feeling a little crafty!

Well, I don't even want to know how much I've spent on craft projects lately. (The price is probably not as shocking as the sheer volume). But I've decided that I need to do a little less purchasing and a little more crafting. So tonight and tomorrow are official craft days for me! I'm excited. Also, did you check out some of our new family pics!

Man on a Mission

OK, make that woman on a mission. Here's my plan:

Well, let me begin by giving you a little history. For a long time, most of the spring and about half of the summer I had a very distinct prayer that cam from Psalm 51 (NCV). My prayer was, "Lord, make me want to obey you". I needed Him to give me the motivation and clear direction for what he wanted me to do. And, of course, he came through, and here I am working at the King's Academy and feeling like I am in accordance with the will of God for me, the best feeling in the world!

So, back to now. For several weeks my new prayer has been, "Lord, teach me how to live". Meaning, teach me how spend a day the right way. Lately, I have been feeling at the end of every day like I am missing something, and I like I am doing something wrong. So last night I finished up the book of Psalms (which took me about 27 years to complete!), and I moved along to the book of Proverbs. I am reading in 'The Message' version. The intro to the book of proverbs basically said, "this is a book that will teach you how to live your everyday life". So, yet again, the Lord has come through (Big shocker right!!) Why am I always surprised when he does what he always does every time?

Anyway, here's my mission. To gain wisdom, understanding, insight, and 'Fear of God'. Thus yeilding a full life lived without regret, to gain favor with God and man. My plain is to read the book of Proverbs in every version I have available, and to pray diligently for the afore mentioned qualities.

I am pumped! I can't wait to learn what the Lord has to teach me!! I can't wait to see how my life begins to change for the better! Praise be to the God, our Father, who daily bears our burdens!

Sigh . . .

I am one tired chick. I haven't even looked at blogs or checked my email in days. I just read all of the great updates ( I especially enjoyed the story about the Lord in Martin Memoirs on my side bar . . . check it out!!) I'm now very ready to hit the sack! Good night!!

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

You won't believe this!!

I had a doctor's appointment today at the ICAM clinic. I needed to consult with my naturopath about some blood work I had done a couple of weeks ago. At this point I should probably mention, even though you probably know this, I have rheumatoid arthritis. You may not know, however, that the diagnosis for RA is usually nailed in by either a high Rheumatoid Factor or a high C-Reactive Protein in your blood work (in addition to noticably swollen joints symmetrically on the body). I had a very high CRP, and a little high RH Factor. I found out today . . .



OK, this news is very big and exciting. I feel as though I am having a hard time making it big enough and exciting enough in typed words. So please take this moment to feel great anticipation, and excitement. And please pretend that you can see the huge grin on my face.






. . . BOTH OF MY NUMBERS ARE BACK IN THE NORMAL RANGE!

Hooray!! So, even though I still have swollen fingers, and some days are not great, most of my days are great, and the proof is in the pudding that my immune system is chilling out a little!! Hooray!!!

The other interesting thing I found out is that I tested positive for the Epstein Bar Virus (may not have spelled that right). Which a normal person might think was bad news, but I think is great news, because it is now a known, treatable problem that I will soon be able to cross off of my list of things that are contributing to my RA. Hooray again!

I am so happy that my "scarry" numbers are back down to normal, and I am so excited to see how my body continues to improve as time goes on. And I am giving ALL of the glory and credit to Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior! He has saved me from my sins, he will save me from my RA, and He will save me from anything else I need saving from. Because he is faithful, he is good, and I belong to him, and I will worship and praise him and love him and honor him until the day that I die!! AMEN!!

I ADORE . . .

BATHTUB PICTURES!!

The other day M&M were playing really well and cracking up in the tub. So I pulled out my camera to take some pictures. I love 'em, so I thought I'd share 'em. . .

BTW, Matthew has a 'DANGER' pirate tattoo. Scary, huh??