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..