Friday

“Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~

Grady Brecheen’s surgery went wll yesterday morning. He will be hospitalized for about a week before he is released to come home. Please keep him in your prayers.

Infant Mary-Margaret Hendry
(May 20, 2009 – May 20, 2009)

Infant Mary-Margaret Hendry was born May 20, 2009 and passed away on May 20, 2009 at 10:23 p.m., May 20, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond.

She is survived by her parents, Travis L. & Hannah Lopinto Travis, Amite; a sister, Emily Hendry, Mt. Hermon; maternal grandparents, Frank & Mary Lopinto, Amite; paternal grandfather, Patrick Hendry, Chesbrough; maternal great-grandmothers, Carolyn Bel, Bolivar, MO & Josie DePhillips, Amite; numerous aunts, uncles, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by paternal grandmother, Margaret Welch Hendry.

Private funeral services will be held at a later date.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Donald Ray “Donnie” Fairburn
(August 10, 1958 – May 21, 2009)

Donald Ray “Donnie” Fairburn was born August 10, 1958 and passed away at 5:30 p.m., May 21, 2009 at his residence in Denham Springs. He was 50, a native of Covington and former resident of Amite. He is the son of Mrs. Evelyn Cox Crawford of Denham Springs the late Bobby Lee Fairburn, Sr.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Friday, May 22, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. until Religious Services in the Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Walter Mixon officiating. Interment in the Allison Cemetery, Folsom, LA.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy-16W behind Grand Prix Car Wash & Bond Eye Clinic.

Joy Forbes Sanders
(June 18, 1925 – May 21, 2009)

Died at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at her residence in the East Fork Community, LA. She was a native of Kentwood, LA Age 83 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Shumock and Rev. Leon Dunn. Interment East Fork Cemetery, East Fork Community, LA. She is survived by her 2 sons, Paul E. Sanders and wife, Ann, Hammond and Roger Dale Sanders, East Fork Community; 4 grandsons, Steve Sanders, Shannon Sanders, Ricky Sanders and Blane Sanders; 10 great-grandchildren, Dale, Danny, Kristopher, Seth, Jesse, Cole, Garrett, Breann, Brayden and Logan Sanders; 3 great-grandchildren, Raelyn, Blaise and Kirsdyn Sanders. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Mack Sanders; parents, Jessie and Nora Dykes Forbes; grandson, Nicholas Sanders; 3 sisters, Juanita Strickland, Vertie Tally and Nelvie Pritchard; brother, Hurlmon Forbes.

Don Denton

If you are not up for a long read, you may want to bypass this one:

I wanted to update you all. Don is getting stronger everyday. He started back with physical therapy. Our physical therapist is Dot H. at SBU. She is helping Don now since our insurance company is no longer paying for much needed physical therapy.

Our insurance company is changing as well and we will have to meet our “out of pocket” all over again this year. This means twice in one year. It is such a hard hit when there is a catastrophic event such as ours.

Now that this is out of the way. We are so glad to be home from the hospital again. Don is making strides. WE are hoping to see changes in the way of his dizziness; the medication he is on will have one more week before we can tell if there is a difference.

Joshua is readjusting to routine again as well. He seems to be doing well with this.

I can’t believe summer is almost here. This first five months of this year have been met with hospital stays each month. We are also praying that this was the last hospital stay for Don. He so wants that too.

Since late winter Don, Joshua and I have been dreaming about this summer and what we would do. We have hoped to go to Texas to see my sister in law Lynn and brother. She herself has battled four occurrences of cancer. She is a special aunt to Joshua. We have dreamed of taking a camping trip and hiking again. All of these are losses we have to work through. Hopes and dreams each of us live for as a family that come to a hault. And my dream of a big vegatable garden this year, which is theraputic for me. All of these dreams are places we are having to “let go”. I have a choice in what I am going to do with this. So a new way of looking at our life has come about and it is a good thing.

Now I find myself talking with Josh about ” our first lemonade stand” in our driveway this summer with Joshua. He is so excited. He can’t wait till he has his first lemonade stand. I just love it. I love the wonder in Joshua eyes and his “happy go lucky” skip he has when he walks. He is a delight to us. God is so good to us. And in the “big picture” this is what life is about. Life with each other and relationships. Not living on what it could have been, but what is right here and now.

And Don, he is an amazing person to watch. He continues to push through the challenges that face him each day. I am amazed at his character and his patience. I have never experienced someone in my life that has the determination to rise above this terrible disease as best as he can to “be present” with Joshua and myself.

As I have said many times, this very hard event in our life has brought the worst and the best out in me. It is a ever present reminder of how I have to “come to and end of myself” each day. Letting go of what was and learning to take on a new way of life for us has it’s challenges.

Loss and waiting are my two least favorite places to be in my life. All I can say is that God is full of grace and mercy. I don’t deserve God’s grace or mercy. Yet, I know it is there for me. I have been faced with more challenges and obstacles than I could have ever imagined.

But the one Constance is that we are a family and God IS with us. We have each other. Don is with us! And in that I give thanks to God! It could be so much worse.

I have to learn to quit complaining. Some days I just feel so sorry for myself. So pray for me in this way.

It is easy to fall into the pattern of “being a victim”. What a test for me. I hate tests! Don’t we all. I was rushing to get in my car this morning…as I am house watching a friends home, taking care of her garden, cat, fish and snail. And it came to me. I don’t like my life right now. And this small voice said….look at what you have! It is everything you ever wanted. It is so true. We have everything we could have ever imagined barring this illness and the unbelieveable medical bills. That part of it we could do without. Perspective helps me to see the big picture.

Well I have rambled on again. As you can see, when I don’t write for days, I then write a book. Sorry for the length of this one.

Thank you dear, dear precious ones in Christ. Thank you for your love and steadfast prayer for Don, Joshua and I. We are most grateful to you.

My email address has changed: dianed4@windstream.net

Bless you
Diane

Thanks to all who purchased tickets for the fish dinner. You’re helping a team go to Canada next month for a mission trip. They will be doing VBS, sports camp, revival, etc.

There is a bloood drive tomorrow at FBC. Call the church office today for more information.

Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee