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Sunday, June 29, 2008

We take it for granted


We take every breath for granted.
Every bite of food.
Every step we take.

We almost have to, or we'd be stymied most of the day. But once in a while, just sit back and thank God that you can do those things. And that the ones you love can do those things. Because not everyone can, you know?

You can read Marshall and Lara's blog (mostly Lara, of course!) about what is going on in their lives. Believe me, they don't take those things for granted.

Last night, at midnight, a nurse friend of theirs came over to alleviate some of the anxiety over Timmy's nourishment by placing an NG tube in. Right now, Timmy can eat strained solids fairly well, but he isn't taking fluids (nursing) very well. He needs to conserve his strength so that what he does take in will help him develop and grow.

Here he is grasping Daddy's finger while drifting off with a full tummy. Praise God for Marshall and Lara. Praise God for their medical friends. And read the blog for even more praises.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Well done, WALL-E!

It's a cute movie, complete with sacrificial love and dominion over the earth - albeit after it was ruined. Which makes for a good allegory based on Noah's Ark.

The structure of the animation, and the thought behind all the "back story" of BnL, is really amazing. As we were first leaving the theater, though, I was just trying to figure out what I'd seen. I wasn't emotionally attached to the characters, but it certainly did make me think.

About what ... ?

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Megaphone

Do you believe God speaks through people?

Eloise is a wonderful woman who works in our food services. Mainly she runs the cash register. So she strikes up conversations with the regulars.

One day I was going through the line and she was talking to a patron in front of me ... saying "wake him up! wake him up!" Hmmm, I wondered. What is she talking about??? She went on to explain that when the disciples were panicking and needed life-giving help, what did they have to do? They had to go to the back of the boat and wake Jesus up so He would do something about the storm. So her advice to this person was "wake Him up!"

Well, this morning I decided that a couple of eggs might be tasty, and as I was going through the register line, Eloise said to me: "When I saw you across the room a song just popped into my head and I had to tell you about it. It was the song that goes, God is God on the mountain, and He's still God in the valley! And I just wanted you to know that's what I thought when I saw you today. Remember that - God is still God in the valley."

Wow! That's all I've got to say about that...

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Praying Pit Bulls

I really got a chuckle out of this one. I shared the challenge of Timmy with Leigh's Disease, and an author friend of mine, Virelle Kidder, said she would call all her friends and have them pray like pit bulls!

In response I told her I'd never seen a pit bull praying, but hey, I'll take it!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Let's Potty! I mean...

Did anyone who doesn't have a preschooler know that Chuck E Cheese actually hands out rewards calendars for potty training? And that you can get tokens to fill in the calendar?

Well tonight we had a potty - party - to celebrate no more diapers for Ashley! Yea, Ashley!

Oh, look!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Daily encouragement

When I was talking (online) with Marshall last evening, I found it very encouraging to know that both he and Lara are taking one day at a time, and enjoying the fact that Timmy is a happy baby right now. That is good news!

In the see-saw of emotions and life situations, we'll need to look back at the encouragements along the way. One such came from a coworker whose daughter has had two bouts with a brain tumor. He has learned to lean on God's grace every step of the way, and that perhaps that very exercise of leaning is what he is to learn in the process. So here is his encouragement for the day. Don't get tripped up by the "old English." You may just have to read it slowly and interpret it as you go...

A quote from The Imitation of Christ that has encouraged us and has helped us to keep a perspective as we pray – “Neither is it any such great thing if a man be devout and fervent when he feeleth no affliction; but if in times of adversity he bear himself patiently, then there is hope of great progress in grace”.

May all of you experience His grace in daily doses.


Thanks, Dave!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Covered

I am really feeling covered in prayer today. Yesterday I could barely hold it together, but after sharing the need and the pain, and being prayed for by many, God has blessed me with some semblance of peace today.

I will probably use this as an actual journal in the coming days, complete with readings and thoughts. Today's comes from Mister Dad/AKA Papa.

"God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain." ~CS Lewis

If you need more information about Leigh's Disease, you can Google it or check the mitochondrial disease page on Facebook.

Timmy and his mommy and daddy are really covered!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Crumbling just a little

Why does the world have to fall apart all at once? Couldn't it just be a little at a time, so maybe I could get used to it? Gain some strength and come back to face the rest of it?

Perhaps it's a lesson in faith, which I scored lowest on in my spiritual gifts test, thank you very much. I have to sink back into the sovereignty of God. Emphasis on the "sink" right now.

Psychologically speaking, misery loves company. Spiritually speaking, misery surrounds us and I need to cling to the only One Who can do anything about it!

I cried when I read about Nicol Sponberg. We were with her while she was pregnant and were rejoicing with her. Oh, Lord, bind up the sorrowful and turn the mourning into dancing in its due season.

Marshall and Lara, we love you so much! Timmy, you are the joy of your Mommy and Daddy. And we wish we could hold you! Soon...Ah, yes, I'm the king of the family room!

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Blinded by the light

Bathed in light

This place was really cool! Literally! Bet Guvrin is better known to English speakers as the Bell Caves. They were limestone quarries for millennia, and the holes used to access from the upper levels cause light shafts to fall on the floor below.

If you get the chance to go to Israel, take it.

What do you know?

Here we are!

I know that I'm not "lagging" as badly as I thought I would upon return from a 12 day trip to Israel!
Here are a few things I learned on the trip...

Drink water, drink water, drink water!
Never pass up a bathroom!
Drink more water
400 years of American history is puny compared to the 6000 years of history under our feet and in front of our eyes every day there in Israel
The city of Jerusalem is like an ice cream cone wedged between hamburger buns ... just ask Walt McCord
I'm sad about the Temple Mount
I sobbed at the children's memorial of Yad Vashem
One and a half hours is only a FRACTION of the time it would take to get through that memorial!
The Dead Sea could kill you if you drink it, but we buy everything we can get our hands on if it is made from Dead Sea mud
I love the Sea of Galilee
100 degrees in the shade is okay, since it is a "dry heat" - wink wink
Don't try to take Tira Misu into a kosher dining room
Tuna is pretty good for breakfast, even with bits of lemon and pickles in it
A tel is a layer cake of civilization
Jesus said everything that was worth saying, in a period of history that pretty much summed up life
Sea Bands really work
You can sleep just about anywhere (like cramped in an airline seat in between two people) if you are exhausted
The Dome of the Rock does not house an area where Abraham was to sacrifice Ishmael (read your Bible)
Information coming at you all day has to be processed somewhere away from people
It takes reflection time to comprehend that God, Who became man, walked this area
Drink more water
Never pass up a bathroom (and make sure you have some tissue with you!)
There are waterfalls in Israel!
Walking is good for you ... they tell me ... but it was really starting to hurt
A good pair of shoes is worth it!
Everything that is brass is not gold
The majority of the people are friendly
It is safer in Israel than in Chicago
You can make some very good friends on a tour bus, as a captive audience of 45 for 12 days
Don't sit on the model of Bet She'an, even if it does seem to have a sitting ledge around it
I wish I'd been an archeologist - Israel is incredible!


Zing, zing, zing... Zebulun!