Enjoy the Music

Her surgery went very well this week.  She is up and walking - recently going on a scavanger hunt since her brother hid her crutches!

Our friend Marilyn had flown in from Big Spring, TX and driven to surgery with us.  We walked Ashley into the operating room, getting dressed in our Blue Evening Gowns.

As they began giving her oxygen,   I sang her the same hymn I sang to her each night as a baby. And each time she goes under anesthesia or has a procedure. 

Onlyy hhis time the whole operating room was quiet as they listened to her testimony in song - 

This is my Father's world

And to my listening ear

All nature sings and 'round me rings

The beauty of the sphere.

This is my Fathers world.

I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees and skies and seas.

His hand the wonders wrought.  

He is our Father. In His hand we dwell.

In His hand he holds each wonder, each miracle,

each breath we breathe.

All Creation Sings His Majesty!

We must rest in His peace and enjoy the Music!

# 7

This is prep week.

Housecleaning.  Cooking.  Packing.  Finding insurance forms.  Flu shots.  Arguing with wheelchair companies.  Scheduling follow-ups.  Soccer Game.  Dance class.

We leave for Denver on Thursday AM.  Surgery is Friday at 2:45.

Her best li'l Buddy Katrina is having the same surgery on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I know two girls and two families who'd love your prayers!

Plan, Occupy and Go Where He Leads

The best laid plans are just jokes to God!

This week did not go as I had planned.

Proverbs 16:9 tells us, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Lately, there have been many posts on FB about the imminent return of Christ.  And I believe it's closer than we can imagine while further away than we would want.  We keep planning our course in this life and God will keep directing our steps towards Him.  Towards the day he returns.

But now it's Thursday, so I can breathe a bit.  I'm just plannin', God's directing.

Luke 19:13 reminds us to stay busy at the Lord's work.  "Engage in business until I come."  One version says "occupy."  That means be about the business the Lord has laid for you.  Marry.  Raise children.  Love one another.  Make disciples.  Train for the future.  Prepare your hearts for today.  Plan your way!

God showed another miracle of his today - it snowed!   I love that!  The earth becomes covered in a warm blanket of grace that hides our confusion and covers us with peace.  Peace - he's got it all under control.

We were all tucked in together.  Watched a movie and did school later in the day.  Chris is getting ready for soccer and we're getting the house ready for my Dad and Mama Mike to visit for the weekend.  And it's peaceful in our house.

Love it.

No.

The hardest word for us to hear.

The words of diagnosis may not be understandable.  The words of a prognosis fall on deaf ears.

But when we ask a question, with a heart full of hope and expectation and the answer comes back in the form of two little letters, we are overwhelmed.

God sometimes says No.

That's the truth of it.

This side of Heaven, we may never know why.

And that's the hard part.

That's where our Faith meets the road.

No.

Yes, He Hears - And Answers!

Ever doubt God hears our prayers?

That he answers?

Our little friend went to San Fran for surgery this week.  Two tumors - one behind each year.

Quite a serious situation.  The CT showed tumors that needed to come out, like, yesterday.

Folks all over the world have been praying - the right doctors, the right hospital, divine healing.

Operated today - NO TUMORS!

Only God.

Read more -

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

Survivor

Have you ever looked into the eyes of Hero?

Have you ever shared the smile of a Survivor?

Now you have.

July 24, 2011

13 years old

Stroke Survivor - 12 1/2 years

Great is thy Faithfulness

Yesterday was Ashley's 13th Birthday!  (pictures to come)

We celebrated by attending church together and then dinner with friends last night.

Our friend is the worship Pastor.  Great voice, great talent but most importantly, a Great Heart for God.   During worship, the band sang Great is thy Faithfulness.  I told him at dinner, that song was for me.  I love the hymns - their testimony.  And on her birthday, I needed to remember once again, how faithful my God is to me.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning in thee
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been, thy forever will be


Great is thy Faithfulness
Great is thy Faithfulness
Great is thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!