Our Day....Whew!!!

Well, actually, our "day" started last night with Whitney crying when it was dinner time. (that was weird!) She told me that her head hurt and that she was so sick!!! (she was right!) She rested during dinner and perked up a bit when her Tylenol kicked in. I had a shopping trip to Costco planned with my friend, Beth, so we left to go and shop for a bit. When I got home, I was happy to see that John had gotten everyone to bed (except for Little Bit...long story) Whitney was sleeping in Blayne's bed, and Blayne was sleeping with Savannah....thus starting our night of musical beds!!!! I got Reagan to bed and settled in to watch the overview of LOST with John...we love that show. After a nice hot bath and some reading I was off to dreamland....well, until 2 am when Whitney came and asked me for a drink. She was burning hot with fever. I got her a drink, and gave her 2 TEASPOONS of her medicine. She wanted to sleep in my bed, so I put her in bed next to a soundly sleeping John and I went to Blayne's bed where she had been sleeping! At 4:30, Blayne came and found me and slithered into the TWIN bed with me. He was coughing like a maniac, so I got up and sleepily went and got him a "dose" of his medicine. He took the medicine in his sleep, only to wake me up at 5 to tell me that I was squishing him!!! So, I headed to the game room to the couch...the cold, cold, couch! By 5:15 Blayne was there with me snuggled in on the couch with me. At 6:30, I got up to get Savannah's stuff ready for school and I was sooo tired. I put Blayne in his bed and asked John to take over with the school prep. I couldn't see straight. I had arranged for a carpool for Savannah, and with Whitney resting on the couch watching tv, Blayne and Reagan sleeping, I decided to catch a few more winks. Reagan who ALWAYS sleeps in when she can awoke at 7:30!!!! I got up and started her day. As I was moving about the house, I started thinking about my night. I thought about what a good medicine taker Blayne is, and then it hit me, I had given him a FULL syringe of medicine and I KNOW that prescription cough medicine is for 1/2 a tsp. I quickly went to his room where he was sleeping soundly (and BREATHING!) I went to the kitchen and found TWO 2 teaspoon syringes....had I given him TWO teaspoons??? I ended up calling Poison Control, who are very kind and helpful BTW, and told the nice lady what I had done. She sounded VERY concerned at the dosage that I had given and she had me wake him immediately. He groggily aroused and started asking me questions and was very much okay. I got him started on some juice. The PC lady told me that she would call me in one hour and that I needed to keep him right with me and monitor him....I was just kicking myself....argh....well, much to my surprise and relief, when I went to make Blayne's bed, I found the ONE tsp dropper there on his night stand on a paper towel. Obviously, it was the one that I had used for him....whew, I had only DOUBLED the dose, not QUADRUPLED it!!!! When the PC lady called back, she was relieved to hear that my mistake was not as bad as I had originally thought! I took Whitney to the doctor (she had fever all night and morning WITH Tylenol in her system!) She was tested for Strep (which was negative) and she was diagnosed with a sinus infection. The pharmacy tech was very rude to me when I went to get her prescriptions and he sure didn't know that he was messing with Momma who was functioning on little sleep!!!!! I finally got her heavy duty antibiotic this afternoon and as soon as I gave it to her, she threw up all over the place!!!!! Now, you must understand, I can handle smells, diarrhea, mucus gross stuff, but John does vomit duty around here. Poor Whitney she felt so bad as I was gagging and cleaning and my eyes were pouring tears as I held back my own desire to vomit!!! So, here we are waiting for her stomach to settle so we can attempt the medicine again! This time, I will make sure that we have John nearby in case we blow!!!! I don't think I can do it again. So, no school tomorrow for her, but hopefully better sleep for ALL of us tonight! Whew. I need a nap after writing this one!

Jump Rope for Heart

Okay, my ESP must have been on overdrive today. I was just getting you prepared for the UPCOMING event....I didn't think that the packet would come home TODAY! I just remembered that last year, the packet came home and it was a FAST turn around, and somewhere in there, my kids got the Flu! The picture of them in their Valentine's get up on this page was from last year when all the big kids had the Flu!!! So, I was trying to be on top of things...didn't know how on top of it I was! So, some of you got e-mails tonight. Savannah came up with the list herself and finally I sent her to bed and told her that she could think some more tomorrow about it. She dictated and edited everything that I was writing. Some days, I miss when she couldn't read and didn't really have an opinion!!!! Ah, those days are gone, she is really growing up. Okay, I am going to attempt to put a link to her home page for the Jump Rope for Heart Site. She picked out the background and the wording...I just had to put it up there. That is so hard for me not to add my two cents...and withing minutes of getting the thing registered, my brother "Uncle Jerral" had made a donation! WOW! The great advantage of modern day technology!
Okay here we go:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=248914&lis=0&kntae248914=ED

Thanks for supporting her in this. She doesn't get real excited about much (NOTHING like her sister, but she is VERY excited about this and wants to raise lots of money!)

Get Pocketbooks Ready

Get Your Pocketbooks Ready...

Savannah will again be participating in "Jump Rope for Heart" this year. She will again be jumping in honor of Libby Packwood and hopefully raising lots of money toward congenital heart defects. This year, Savannah has gotten to see first hand what it is like for someone to have a heart defect and to travel down the road of surgery and recovery. Savannah is a sweet and sensitive girl and she desires to "help" anyway she can. This is one way that she feels she can make a difference. So, get ready, we will be hitting you up for donations! Watch the slide show...it is for a great cause!!!!

The Packwoods Can't Get a Break!!!!!

Well, I guess they CAN get a break....a broken arm for Mason!!!! Yep, Gracie called yesterday in route to the hospital with Mason. He had been roller blading and he fell and his arm was broken. She didn't say "I think that Mason broke his arm" She said "Mason has broken his arm". There was a neighbor out there with him when it happened and she HEARD it snap! The neighbors were with Libby and Camden and Gracie needed me to go over to stay with the kids. She thought she would be gone for just a few hours. After getting to the hospital and taking away the blanket that Mason had his arm propped on, they found out that there was blood and in fact it was a COMPOUND fracture!!! This meant that he had to have surgery. So, another night for the Packwoods in the hospital. Both Eric and Gracie agreed that they would take one night anytime over the NINE weeks that they spent in Houston after Libby's heart surgery! They were so calm. I would have been freaking out! Mason called Whitney today and I heard her saying "I have been thinking about you all day, I just wanted to cry yesterday when I heard you broke you arm...well, you take good care of that arm and I want to sign that cast tomorrow!" They are like a little old couple in how they communicate! It is funny. Libby was at the hospital today and she almost sounded hyper when she was talking to me telling me that MASON was in the bed at the "hostital". She was probably breathing a sigh of relief that it was someone else this time! I dropped off gifts a while ago and Gracie called when they got home. There was drama going on in the background, so she is probably in for a LONG night. She kept apologizing for having to ask us to help out...she's the one who will check my kids' ears at the drop of a hat for an ear infection, she's made runs to the store when I have sick kids here, she has brought us dinner MORE than once....she seems to forget the things that she does for us!!!!
Well, pray for them. To top if off Gracie feels sick tonight, like stomach bug sick...so pray for good health at their home....she doesn't need that right now!

I killed Nemo!!!!

We have had a Beta fish for over two years. He has lived through non-frequent water changes, over feeding, forgetting to feed...he was a hearty fish...well, so I thought.
Today, I was cleaning the bathroom where he LIVED and I was using a lot of chemicals, so I thought that it would be nice for me to move him out of the fumy(is that a word?) room. So, I put him outside to enjoy some fresh air....fresh COLD air...he seemed to like being outside as he briskly swam around in his bowl. I went back to clean the bathroom, and then on to pick-up Blayne at pre-school...when I returned and went to get Nemo and bring him back in the house, I found him stiffly laying at the bottom of the bowl! I froze NEMO!!!! Oh no! I dipped him out into a smaller container, because I knew that my kids would want to see the dead fish. I told the kids on the way to piano lessons that I had accidentally KILLED their fish....they sat silently and then replied, "mom, can we have a hamster now?"....WHAT???????

Another Funeral Pondering....

I have had some people ask me about some of the funeral details from Coach Miller's service. The music was very worshipful and I found myself in a bit of awe as to who was leading it! My old youth director's daughter, Laney, led the music. She sang a couple of songs. Her back up was a childhood friend and neighbor of hers. Now the nostalgia set in at this point. She was a little girl that I babysat and she hung out with me on a lot of our youth trips. Whitney reminds me a lot of Laney as far as PERSONALTY!!! The childhood friend who backed her up was also a little boy that I babysat. He is all grown up now. He spent a semester at Hillsong in Australia! His name is Logan. Another significant piece of information is that Logan was our ring bearer in our wedding and Laney was one of our candle lighters. We have literally watched these "kids" grow up before our eyes. It was like a proud mommy moment seeing them on stage serving the Lord in this way! They were in a band together before Logan moved in Australia, so I am sure that they enjoyed singing together. Both of these kids grew up on the street where Coach Miller lived. They spent many a day running from one house to another. It was a very unique place to raise children and something that a young mom could only dream of! When I would babysit, it would be a packaged deal. Usually, the entire street of children would end up with me at whatever house I was babysitting for! Fun times....great memories...I considered these people family.
I have gotten a video off of youtube of Laney singing with her band. This is one song that she sang at the funeral, obviously it was much more toned down than it is in the video of her concert!!! Logan is the one that is playing the piano and comes in and sings with her on the chorus. I think that the camera pans over to him at the end!!! They're pretty good...I must say!

Our Expensive Doctor's Visit Today

Well, as I have mentioned before, we don't have good medical insurance. Well, it is what one would consider catastrophic insurance; meaning that IF we were in an accident and ALL six of us were injured, it would cover our expenses AFTER our huge deductible, so the sick visits to the doctor run me around $100 for just walking in the door! Last night, Blayne started running a high fever. He woke up yesterday with a gooey eye so after the fever, I thought that I had better take him in today to the doctor. Our pediatrician is out of town on vacation, so I chose to take him to a private emergency room that is nearby. They did a strep test which was negative, and the doctor diagnosed him with pharyngitis. I guess that is what you have when your throat is sore and red but you don't have Strep! So, off to the pharmacy we went with our prescription for the $4 antibiotic (I was proud that I got one on the Wal-Mart $4 list!) Well, the saving that I had made were negated when I opened my door and the wind gusted and banged it into the car parked next to me! The door hit the car just right (or I might say WRONG) and it cracked the rear tail light! ARGHH!!! So, I called my sweet husband and told him of my latest deed....he was nice and told me to put HIS work number on the note that I was writing for the car owner. I left the note on the windshield and Blayne and I hurried in out of the cold! When we returned with our $4 medicine, the lady was getting her groceries into her car. I walked over to personally apologize. She told me that the car was a rental and that the company had called her to let her know what had happened. I was a bit puzzled, and then realized that my savvy husband had used the license plate number that I had given him to track down the car (WHICH WAS A RENTAL!!!!) and find out where is was rented from. He had already talked to the manager and had things in place to get the car fixed! What a guy!!!! So, my quick trip to the doctor with Blayne is costing me HUNDREDS of dollars....oh, well, it is JUST money, right????

Great Wolf Lodge

We spent the last two nights at the Grapevine Great Wolf Lodge. We had a wonderful little get-a-way and it was a really neat place to stay. They kids really liked the log cabin suite that we were in that had their own little room with flat screen tv. Whitney and Blayne took turns sleeping the top bunk and Savannah went for the individual day bed in the cabin. The kids had a blast at the indoor waterpark and Savannah and I will head back up there after her basketball game this afternoon to enjoy the rest of the day at the waterpark. I am exhausted, but she really wants to go back, and so , here we go! The people next to us were up past midnight playing BINGO!!! Then, at 3 am, someone was yelling for a baby to be quiet that had been up screaming. Fortunately, my kids (and John I think) sleep through all of that, but it woke me up. Needless to say, I will enjoy the comforts of my OWN bed tonight. I have some pictures on this post of the hotel and I will post our pictures soon. We took a lot of them in the water, so hopefully some of them will turn out. We got the girls to be a little more adventurous and ride some waterslides that stretched them a bit...it was great. Reagan's favorite thing was probably the hot tub and Blayne really liked the pretend jet skis that sprayed water at people....he liked to shoot other kids with it!

Tommy Miller's Funeral Service

The funeral service for Coach Miller was amazing. It was a real honor to him as a person and really glorified the Lord. The choir loft was full end to end of football players and the track team. They had a wonderful slide show for us to watch was we waited for the service to begin. We got there an hour and fifteen minutes before the service started. The place was packed...more than 1300 people. A couple of coaches spoke. One was young and really admired and respected Coach Miller. His talk was sweet. The other, has known Tommy for years and has worked with him and been his neighbor. He told lots of fun stories and talked about who Tommy really was. It was sweet. But, to me, the best part was a video about 10 minutes long. It was of Coach Miller telling the athletes about having cancer and that he was going to be going to MD Anderson. He wanted to share with them about the hope that he has in Christ. He was so good to hear him share the gospel and encourage all of those boys. He told them that he trusted God and that whatever the outcome he was okay with it. He told the boys not to get angry with God, and that the Lord is the only thing that they should live for. It was very powerful and a bit overwhelming to see live video of the deceased sharing of his love of the Lord and his family and all of those boys. What a testimony! The music was good. Two "kids" that I used to babysit that lived down the street from the Millers did the music and a lady who has an amazing TENOR voice sang a song that rattles your soul! It was a special service and one that I will never forget. We went to the graveside service and sang a couple of hymns and after the short service we said our good byes. I saw people that I have not seen in years...some I didn't even recognize because they are all grown up now! Debbie, his wife, whispered in my ear when I hugged her "oh, Jen I am gonna miss him!" I know that she is. They were married 30 years and have spent lots of time together and were truly the loves of each other's lives...a sweet marriage. Cory and Courtney looked good, but I know that this is hard on all of them. As they come to mind, please pray for them and for their comfort at this time.

Savannah's Basketball Game

There has been so much going on around here that I have not mentioned Savannah's game on Saturday. John was concerned about how they would do. They have only practiced twice. When I got to the game, the other team had some tall girls and an aggressive coach. I heard him reviewing "plays" with them before the game started. Well, the game started and I was so impressed. The team (Savannah's) plays really well together. They have a great ball handler, and it seemed that they all can shoot! They picked up on the "plays" and started cutting them off on their screens. I didn't expect girls at this age to play as well as they did especially this early in the season. John is a quiet coach, so I have to be careful because I want to coach from the stands...I used to coach a little girls team years ago. Anyway, John is doing a good job and the girls seemed to have a good time and, well, this year they keep score and they won!!! I took pictures, but of course I don't have them yet. I will post when I do.

More to pray about...

There is a dear lady that we know that collapsed yesterday. Her husband had to do CPR on her and and she was rushed to the hospital. Because of her critical condition, they are not able to do tests on her at this point really. They have pretty much ruled out at heart attack, but they don't know what caused it. She has two children and is just a sweet, sweet lady. She was Savannah's Sunday school teacher a couple of years ago, and was so sweet when Savannah accepted Christ. She sent her the most precious card. Her name is Karen Bowling, so keep her and her family in your prayers. It is times like this when you've lost someone you know and love and you have a dear person critical in the hospital that you reflect on your relationships with the people around you. You really know to appreciate those family members and friends that love you unconditionally and that support you in times of need. You also think of the people around you that don't treat you well and just realize, life is too short and too precious to worry with keeping everyone around you happy at all times. Your true friends are there no matter what and will always hold a special place in your heart.

I leave tomorrow to go say my goodbyes to coach miller and hug and love on his family. John is so sweet and willing for me to do whatever I need to do to be there. I wish that he could go too, but with the kids and work he will need to stay behind.

On a happier note, we went "fimmin" today with Libby for the first time since she returned from her heart surgery. She was all over the place. I can tell that her Fontan surgery has allowed her a lot more energy and stamina! It is such a joy to see.

Absent from the Body....Present with the Lord

Coach Miller got his reward this morning as he went to meet his Lord and Savior at 6:30 am. His services will be on Tuesday. I am planning to go and attend the funeral. I am trying to work out all of the details with my kids so that I can go. I have lots of fond memories of Tommy Miller and I look forward to celebrating his life and hearing the testimony of what the Lord has done through his illness. I looked back and saw today that he was diagnosed with cancer on August 24th. Wow, that time has gone by so fast. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers. Thanks.

The Lord Gives and the Lord Takes Away

Mr. Tommy is hanging in there, but this is the latest note from his wife.

As He who began a good work in Tommy is bringing that to completion, we are rejoicing that He has begun a new work in Courtney and Shane's life with the gift of a baby to be born in the fall! Yes, He still gives even though He takes away! They were able to share that precious news with Tommy. And as we wondered if he understood, he confirmed that the next morning as he told his nurse in his weakened voice "Hey, look at me", my daughter told me last night I am going to be a Pawpaw!" To God be the glory!

Tommy's fighting spirit still remains...he has been off oxygen going on the second day, and he is still taking one breath at a time...and of course we are counting each one of them. He is resting peacefully - Oh the mercy of the LORD! Each day we receive the "manna" of strength we need to face the challenges of the day! As heavy and even selfish as our hearts are, we know God has got a new song for each one of us - Tommy's will be in the heavenly realm and ours will continue here as we strive to continue to do the work He has planned for us, for His word says "For I know the plans I have for you..."

In this valley of suffering we have been and continue to be blessed beyond measure - to overflowing degrees!

In His Love and Grace!

Texas Trivia

Everyone keeps e-mailing this to me, so I guess that they are trying to prove to me that we needed to stay here!!!!

If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Texas;

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas;

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas;

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas;

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas;

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas;

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas;

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Texas;

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas;

If you find 60 degrees "a little chilly," you may live in Texas;

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas.

Need to be cheered up?

Happy, Texas 79042
Pep, Texas 79353
Smiley, Texas 78159
Paradise, Texas 76073
Rainbow, Texas 76077
Sweet Home, Texas 77987
Comfort, Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530

Love the Sun?

Sun City, Texas 78628
Sunrise, Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray, Texas 79086
Sunny Side, Texas 77423

Want something to eat?

Bacon, Texas 76301
Noodle, Texas 79536
Oatmeal, Texas 78605
Turkey, Texas 79261
Trout, Texas 75789
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice, Texas 75155
And top it off with:
Sweetwater, Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!

Detroit, Texas 75436
Colorado City, Texas 79512
Denver City, Texas 79323
Klondike, Texas 75448
Nevada, Texas 75173
Memphis, Texas 79245
Miami, Texas 79059
Boston, Texas 75570
Santa Fe, Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony, Texas 75861
Reno, Texas 75462

Feel like traveling outside the country? Don't bother buying a plane ticket!

Athens, Texas 75751
Canadian, Texas 79014
China, Texas 77613
Egypt, Texas 77436
Ireland, Texas 76538
Turkey, Texas 79261
London, Texas 76854
New London, Texas 75682
Paris, Texas 75460
Rhome, Texas 76078

No need to travel to Washington D.C.

Whitehouse, Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!

Earth, Texas 79031

And a city named after our State!

Texas City, Texas 77590

Exhausted?

Energy, Texas 76452

Cold?

Blanket, Texas 76432

Winters, Texas

Like to read about History?

Santa Anna, Texas

Goliad, Texas

Alamo, Texas

Gun Barrel City, Texas

Robert lee, Texas

Need Office Supplies?

Staples, Texas 78670

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, Texas 76084

You guessed it..it's on the state line..

Texline, Texas 79087

For the kids...

Kermit, Texas 79745
Elmo, Texas 75118
Nemo, Texas 76070
Tarzan, Texas 79783
Winnie, Texas 77665
Sylvester, Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas , to make you smile.....

Frognot, Texas 75424
Bigfoot, Texas 78005
Hogeye, Texas 75423
Cactus, Texas 79013
Notrees, Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest, Texas 76886
Kickapoo, Texas 75763
Dime Box, Texas 77853
Old Dime Box, Texas 77853
Telephone, Texas 75488
Telegraph, Texas 76883
Whiteface, Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079

And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City

Kilgore, Texas 75662

And our favorites...

Cut n Shoot, Texas
Gun Barrell City, Texas
Hoop And Holler, Texas
Ding Dong, Texas and, of course,
Muleshoe , Texas

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .

1. Beaumont to El Paso: 742 miles

2. Beaumont to Chicago: 770 miles

3. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas

4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos, July 4, 1883.

5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water.

6. The Heisman Trophy ws named after John William Heisman who was the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston.

7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America.

8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.

9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.

10. The worst natural disaster in U.S . history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane, in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island.

11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was " Houston."

12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island.

13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43" in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July of 1979.

14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to enter the Union) instead of by annexation. This allows the Texas Flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. Flag, and may divide into 5 states.

15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.

16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper.

18. Texas has had six capital cities: Washington-on- the Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, West Columbia and Austin.

19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington DC (by 7 feet).

20. The name "Texas" comes from the Hasini Indian word "tejas" meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas.

21. The State Mascot is the Armadillo (an interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four, and they either have four males or four females.).

22. The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston.

Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, Texas:

(1) Just one God.

(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.

(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.

(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.

(5) Put nothin' before God.

(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.

(7) No killin'.

(8) Watch yer mouth.

(9) Don't take what ain't yers.

(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Keeping Libby

Libby came over today while Gracie took Camden up to the office to do a Strep test....it was positive...poor guy. Libby was so cute. She took inventory at my house and she recognized new toys and that I had moved some things. She hasn't been here since before her surgery!!!! Kind of hard to believe. She hung out with Blayne and watched a show he REALLY wanted her to see. Reagan was ready for bed when she got here, so Libby didn't get to see much of her. I had to go to the grocery store today and I was asking Blayne what we needed. Libby chimed in and gave me a complete list of things to get! She has so much personality. She is doing really well. She wanted to check the "puter" but it was time for her to go, so I told her that next time she could do that....I took some pictures of her and Blayne being goofy...you will have to wait to see them when I get them developed...soon(!) But you can enjoy this picture of them being goofy last September. They have a sweet relationship!

More Christmas...

You know that I haven't switched to digital yet, so it takes me a while to get some things posted...This is SOME of our pictures from The Stonecipher Christmas at John's parents' house. When I get the rest developed, I will probably make this into a slide show, but for now, this will do.


BLAYNE MADE WILL SHARE PAPPAW'S LAP THIS YEAR FOR THE CHRISTMAS STORY READING.



LOOKS LIKE CHERYL IS TOO TIRED FOR THE CHRISTMAS STORY...HA..HA...



UNCLE KEN ENJOYS SITTING AND EATING THE YUMMY FOOD!


MAMMAW AND KATIE BETH DISCUSS THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE.


THE BOY TABLE!!!!


SAVANNAH AND REAGAN SHARING DADDY'S LAP


POPPA BEING A GOOD SPORT


WHITNEY AND SAVANNAH, READY TO EAT AND DISPLAYING THEIR HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD HOUSE!

Prayer for some friends...

If you are following this blog from my Christmas letter, you might remember that I wrote about a family friend that is fighting lung cancer. This man is from the town that I grew up in. His family is very special to me. I babysat for his kids in the summers and just spent some great time with all of them. He is a coach and well respected in the community. His family attends the church that I grew up in. I remember visiting his home when his daughter (who is now married) was born. I was with my parents out for church visitation (now you know that I grew up in the Baptist church!) Anyway, please pray for this family. The following is the latest update that I received. This is how all of the updates have been...giving God the glory in it all!!!

We did hear a report from the Dr. and our heart's weigh heavy at the report. The cancer has spread to the abdominal area. Chemo is not really an option at this point. When I ask the question you want to know the answer to, but really don't, the Dr.'s response was 2 to 3 months. Medically speaking yes, but we know ultimately we are on our Creator's time line - that time frame could be less or greater - we just know it's Perfect because He is perfect.

I can't tell you the peace that flooded our hearts and minds while I gave Tommy the news. It was so evident God was near. He told me he was getting the best end of the deal - his precious sister would be waiting for him and he would see his Savior face to face. To God be the glory! Has he stopped fighting, no....it's just in a different format now - when all you've got is God, there is no greater armor! He is our Deliverer regardless of the coutcome.

Romans 8: 18-20 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creations was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creations itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Amen and amen!

Oh my friend, it has not, is not, and will not be in vain! For He who begain a good work in us will see it through to completion! He is the Master Potter and we are the clay! Oh that each of our lives will never be the same! You are loved and lifted up!


WOW...I hope that I could be in the same mindset if the Lord were to put me to a trial such as this. I just sent them a card yesterday...it was a funny hang in there card and I enclosed a gift card to Sonic. Coach Miller's latest enjoyment is sucking on Sonic ice. He can't swallow at this point, so he sucks on it and gets suctioned, but it has been good! If I were there, I would bring dinner or something, so I thought a Sonic giftcard would be good, and it would support his new addiction...Sonic Ice!!! Please pray for them and their sweet young adult children (cory and courtney)
Thanks..