Month: June 2009

Thursday

“Moreover, as for me,

far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord

in ceasing to pray for you;

but I will teach you the good and the right way.”

~1 Samuel 12:23~

Tiffany Bankston Currier is progressing well.  She got good medical reports so far this week.  Continue to pray for her and her family.

Robert Brister was stung by a bee yesterday morning.  He is allergic to bee stings and was headed for his medication, but he passed out in the hallway at home and broke his arm.  Pray for him not to have any more bee stings and for his arm to heal properly.

Pray for the students who are completing summer remediation and will soon begin testing.

Pray for the upcoming mission trip to Canada by some members of FBC, Kentwood.  The ten day trip will begin early next Wednesday.  Pray for the teams two of our friends are on mission trips in Romania.  One team is from Mississippi and one from Texas.  Thank God for those who serve around the world each year on a volunteer basis.  One team is doing a sports camp in Prague.  Some of my grandchildren are able to participate with that one – probably as campers and as interpreters!

Pray for Kara Sellers and Wesley Corkern as they parpare for the wedding Saturday.

Pray for Heather Smith who has had one surgery in Jackson, MS this week and will have a second surgery today.

Sherry Simpson called to request prayer for her dad, Mr. Billy Gill of Mt.Hermon.  He will be having an angiogram Friday in LaComb.   If needed, he will have bypass surgery later.  Your prayers will be appreciated.

War

mine.jpg…I HAVE NO alternative but to bluntly call it a war…

The prize is the inner spirit of my children, and the stakes are high. Arrayed against me are those who wish to extract money, loyalty, and the strong creative energy my son or daughter may have to give. In the eternal dimension, the prize is the soul of my children. I am not prepared to compromise or negotiate. Until my children are old and wise enough to distinguish their enemies from their friends, I hold the responsibility to conduct both a defense and an offense on their behalf, demonstrating all the time how and why it is done for their benefit.

It is not a phony war the effective father faces. It is often a jungle conflict fought with the stealth of a modern day “guerrilla” who appears in the day as an innocent friend, only to return in the night as a bitter and exploitative foe. My eyes return to the war photo of the squad’s leader, mine detector in hand, leading the way. Behind him are men; they follow because he has the capacity to discern the safe path. There are no careless steps; mistakes are fatal. Gordon MacDonald

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

Posted by Mike Benson at June 17, 2009 1:57 PM

Please feel free to share requests and updated.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“Nurture, guard, and guide

the flock of God that is your responsibility . . .

Not domineering as arrogant, dictatorial,

and overbearing persons . . .

but being examples, patterns,

and models of Christian living.”

~1 Peter 5:2-3 AMP~

Dukes

That’s My Mama

Well there has not alot happening in the last two days.  Mom had her trach removed on sunday.  She has been in Ochsner LTAC since friday.  She has had a much better experience already than her previous hospital.  Not only in a nonlazy, noncommunicative, nonuniversal precautions, nonagressive with therapy kind of way but just in a trust we have with the Ochsner way.  She will get her skull back on in the next few weeks at Ochsner we think.  She is talking, and swallowing better.  We need to continue to pray for her infection to heal and for her to talk, swallow, move move move.  She is more like my mom in personality and response and I love it.

My dad has done well.  He did therapy today.  He is hurting some but gaining strength.  He will preach sunday again and is looking forward to that.  He enjoyed Charmaine Neville last night.  All the years he has lived here he has never been to snug Harbor.  So last night we went and it was well worth it.  I think we both had a great deal of fun.  There were some good cheeseburgers beforehand too but they are proud of their food.   Just keep praying for us.

Also pray for Justin and Jennifer Taylor and their daughter Caroline.  They are our great friends and Caroline, there beautiful daughter, had spinabifida and hydrocephalus when she was born last monday.  They are walking with God through this difficulty and as their faith is strengthened their example to us is tremendous.  Pray for them to have peace and strength and for the doctors and nurses to care for Caroline.  I pray their little miracle will heal and be made whole as she grows in wisdom and stature in the way God has designed her from before she exited the womb.  They have a caringbridge site Caroline Taylor is who you visit.  The site is www.caringbridge.org/visit/marycarolinetaylor Uncle Jonathan has a great prayer in the guestbook.  May God bless them and continue to bless mom and dad.

We thank and love all of you for the support, prayer, and love you have sent our way.

Mary Caroline Taylor

Background Story

Mary Caroline Taylor is the daughter of Justin and Jennifer Taylor.  She was born on Monday, June 8, 2009.  She weighed 8lbs 1oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  She has a little dimple on her left cheek and a little bit of light brown hair.  She is absolutely beautiful in every way!

Soon after she was born, the doctors noticed a  bulge near the base of her spine.  She was quickly diagnosed with spina bifida.  Her parents, along with friends and family gathered for this joyous occasion, were completely shocked.

At a mere 28 hours old, sweet baby Caroline underwent surgery to correct the part of the spine that did not close properly.  We are so thankful to God that the surgery went well, and Caroline is recovering in the NICU at Huntsville Hospital.

There are so many complications that go along with spina bifida.  It is too early to tell what effect they will have on Caroline.  She is scheduled to undergo surgery again on Tuesday, 6/16/09 to place a shunt to drain the spinal fluid that could not drain properly.

Her entire family truly believes in the power of prayer.  Please pray for Caroline, and her continued improvement from her surgery and all else she will face in the near and not-so-near future.  Please also pray for her parents, Justin and Jennifer, to have the strength they will need for all that is to come.

Justin is the head basketball coach at West Limestone High School and Jennifer is an RN and works for the state of Alabama Home Health.  They are very active members of Round Island Baptist Church in Athens Alabama.  They are a strong Christian family and have been overwhelmed and grateful for all the support they have received from their church, community, friends and family.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Latest Update

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:38 PM, CDT

Surgery is over and the doctor told us that everyting went well.  We are sitting in the NICU waiting room waiting for them to get Caroline situated.   Dr. Pickett was pleased with how well her back is healing.  We dont know when we will be able to take her home, it depends on her healing from both surgeries.

We can’t tell you how much we appreciate all of you.  We will never be able to thank all of you who have stood with us through this.  Our families are amazing, our co-workers have been great,  our church family and friends are unbelievable.

As we got ready to leave for the hospital last Monday morning we were singing Because He Lives.  The second verse says        “but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because he lives.”  We didnt know how true this would be.
He has shown himself perfect.
Thank you.  We love you.

Thanks Debbie for setting up this site.

Continue to pray for the Birch/Lee family as they have services for Sandra today.

Continue to pray for Mrs. Blanch Wheat.

Continue to pray for Judy Easley’s family as they recover from the boat accident and prepare for Kin’s graduation.

Pray for Tiffany Bankston Currier as she has a check-up today that will hopefully show good blood flow in her arm.

Carol Knight Edwards continues to progress nicely following her heart surgery.

Share Group

Feel free to come to the cabin tomorrow at 6:30 for food, fellowship, and a devotional.  If needed, contact me for more information.

Locked

locked up.jpgA WOMAN IN Brooklyn is suing a dental clinic for medical malpractice after she was given anethesia and then inadvertently left in the clinic alone overnight…

Ramona Mercado was expecting to have her wisdom teeth pulled and she was prepped with a dose of anesthesia. But when she came to, she still had her wisdom teeth and discovered that the entire staff at the clinic had locked up and left for the night. She was hysterical, but managed to call the center’s night office service. They called 911 and Mercado was rescued. “The officers had to snip the locks off to get me out,” she says.

It would be frightening, indeed, to find yourself in Mrs. Mercado’s circumstances, but imagine what it would be like to wake up in torment and not be able to escape… Dear reader, are you READY for the Judgment Day ( Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Galatians 3:27)?

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Luke 16:22-26

Posted by Mike Benson at June 9, 2009 2:34 PM

Thanks for praying today.  You mean so much to so many.  You make a difference!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening

Obituaries

Alton Parker Travis, Sr.

(May 17, 1923 – June 15, 2009)

U.S. Veteran Died at 9:30PM on Monday, June 15, 2009 at his residence near Kentwood, LA. He was a native and resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 86 years. Mr. Travis was a U. S. Navy veteran of WWII. Visitation at New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Gibbie McMillian and Rev. Richard Sandberg. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by son, Alton P. Travis, Jr. and his wife, Linda, 6 grandchildren, Carrie Abadie King and husband, Jeff, Ramona Abadie Bacino and husband, Jeff, Elizabeth Hughes Smith and husband, John, Fannie Hughes Allen and husband, David, Sutton Taylor Travis and wife, Stephanie, Cullyn Lea Travis, 7 great-grandchildren, Eli Allen, Samuel Smith, Allie Smith, Savana Allen, Jordan Allen, Sophia Bacino, Joseph Bacino, 2 brothers, Winfred Travis, Kentwood, Billy Travis, Kentwood, 1 sister, Dorothy Hughes, Kentwood. Preceded in death by wife, Eliza Easley Travis, daughter, Diane A. Hughes, parents, Walter and Netty Travis, 3 brothers, Lee, E.D., and Lige Travis, 3 sisters, Ethel Travis, Marie Blades, Rosa Travis. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Jeremy Norman Brescher

(January 29, 1975 – June 14, 2009)

Jeremy Norman Brescher was born January 29, 1975 and passed away at 5:03 p.m., Sunday, June 14, 2009 in Loranger, LA. He was 34, a native of Hammond and a resident of Amite.

Jeremy is survived by his father, Norman Brescher, Amite; mother, Margaret Davis, Grand Prairie, TX; 2 sisters, Chatta Brescher, Amite and Lindsey Brescher, Hammond; paternal grandmother, Estelle Brescher, Amite; numerous aunts, uncles & extended family.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Korie B. Newman; paternal grandfather, John W. Brescher; maternal grandfather, Louis Davis and maternal grandmother, Margaret Rousseau.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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

Tuesday

“I am He who lives, and was dead,

and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.

And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

~Revelation 1:18, NKJV~

Doctor appointments can help the caregiver as much as the patients.  That’s the way I feel after taking Momma and Daddy to the doctor yesterday.  I know we are one the right track.  Thanks for your continued prayers for my parents, my sisters, and me.

This devotional is the kind of medical treatment we don’t need, but it carries a message that needs to be shared.  Thank you, Mike Benson, so getting across messages in such a special way.

Lazy

cowboy1.jpgTHERE WAS A big, overgrown cow poke named Tall Cotton, whose specialty was going to sleep during duty hours, leaving the rest of the crew to do his share of the work…

The boys took it for a time, but they finally decided that something had to be done about the matter.

Then came the day they found Cotton curled up in a haystack, boots off, sound asleep. They opportunity was golden. The boys rounded up a huge tarantula, killed it, and laid it close to Cotton’s leg. Then they tied a pin on the end of a stick and jabbed the sleeping cowboy a couple of times. Cotton came awake like a wild Comanche doing the snake dance and, at the same time, a cowboy rushed up and smashed the tarantula with his boot heel.

Cotton took one look at the dead tarantula and turned white. He began to get sick, even though the other cowboys did their best to console him with stories of horrible deaths they had seen as a result of tarantula bites. Finally, one of the crew, who laid claim to having read Ten Thousand Things Worth Knowing, as well as Dr. Chase’s Recipe Book, offered to try to save Cotton, even though he admitted it seemed hopeless.

First, the cowboy poured a pint of Castor oil down Cotton. Then he followed it up with a glass of soda, a cup of vinegar, and finally a quart of water in which a plug of tobacco had been soaking. For a while it seemed almost certain that Cotton was going to die from the tarantula bite, but the medicine was potent and, eventually, he was saved.

After that, the crew had very little trouble with him lying down on the job, especially in haystacks! (Stan Hoig, The Humor of the American Cowboy, 26, 27)

“Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.” Proverbs 6:4; cf. 6:9-10, 24:33

Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

Monday Evening


Sandra Birch Lee

(January 31, 1948 – June 14, 2009)

Sandra Birch Lee died Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 5:05 P.M. at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. She was born on January 31, 1948 and is preceded in death by her father, William Clovis Birch, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Zylphla Allen and Hardy Lee, grandparents; Mae Felps and Jule Pierce Needham and Leon and Bernice Birch and Jessie Alford Young; four brothers-in-law, Luther, James and Reuben Lee and Kyle Brabham. Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Leroy Travls “Pete” Lee, daughter Vickie Lee and son Petey Lee, mother, Mildred Needham Birch, 4 sisters, Judy Bridges and husband Maurice J. of Kentwood, Rhonda McGehee and husband Allan, and Sue Lane & husband, Benny, all of Watson, Beth Brabham of Magnolia, MS and brother, Bill Birch and wife Sharon of Kentwood, two grandsons, Lee Aron & Hardy Hayden; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; Georgia Yarborough of Kentwood, Ethel and Neil Felker of Baton Rouge, Sara Lee, Zachary, Patsy Lee, Greensburg, Mary Lou Lee, Amite, aunts and uncles; Helen & Edgar Caston, Baton Rouge, and Lula Will, Kentwood, and an uncle, John Needham from Gainesville, FL, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visiting will be at New Zion Baptist Church on Highway 38 W, Kentwood, LA on Tuesday from 6 p.m. until funeral services at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Clay Spinks. Interment at New Zion Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at the hospital, especially Dr. Harold Clausen, Dr. Paul Waguespack, and Dr. Scott Landry who provided such excellent care. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Betty Bridges Wales

(August 19, 1937 – June 12, 2009)

Died at 7:25 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was a native of Tangipahoa Parish, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 71 years. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. Visitation at Bethel Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. Clay Spinks. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. She is survived by 2 daughters, Mary “Kathy” Burge, Angola, and Billie Johnson, Ethel; son, Richard Wales and wife, Kathy, Walker; 8 grandchildren, Kim Lee, Josh Miller, Shannon McCray, Joseph Johnson, Tyler Wales, Heidi Wales, Clay Wales, and Wyatt Wales; 5 great-grandchildren, Justin Burge, Kristy Allen, Destiny Dover, Bryson Lee, and, Kaliyah McCray; 2 sisters, Monnie McNabb and husband, John, Kentwood and Billie Rae Bullock, Osyka, MS; brother, Maurice Jay Bridges and wife, Judy, Kentwood; numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tena and Willie Bridges; 3 brothers, Rocky, Pud, and Curtis Bridges; sister, Rhonda Bridges. Pallbearers will be Richard Wales, Josh Miller, Clay Wales, Tyler Wales, Byron Bullock, and Cody Bullock. Honorary pallbearer will be Joseph Johnson.

Diana Schexnayder Henry

A resident of Houma, she died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13, 2009. She was 64 and a native of Amite. Visitation on Tuesday, June 16, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Houma, from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Survived by her spouse, Rene J. Henry Sr., Houma; son, Rene J. Henry Jr. and wife Donata, of Abita Springs; daughter, Lisa Henry Hoffman and husband Drew, Kenner; and three grandchildren, Heather R. Hoffman, Kenner, and Ella Rose Henry and Benjamin Roy Henry, both of Abita Springs. Preceded in death by her parents, Roy A. and Mary Adolph Schexnayder. Arrangements by Chauvin Funeral Home Inc., Houma.

Monday

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you . . .

being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

~Philippians 1:3-6~

Please continue to pray for Mrs. Blanch Wheat and her family.  “Miss” Blanch is at home.

Please continue to pray for my parents, Grant and Dot Smith, especially my mom as she continues to recover from her fall.

The share group will meet Thursday at 6:30 at the cabin.  Join us for food, fellowship, and a devotional.

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Sunday Evening – More Additions & Updates

Judy Easley’s son, Joffrey, and son-in-law, Shaun, were in a boating accident yesterday.  Joffrey was bruised, but otherwise okay.  The propellar cut Shaun’s leg, so he had surgery at Ochner’s yesterday.  He also has a fractured vertebrae.  Please pray for the family.  Kim graduates from orthodontist school Friday.  Pray for the family that day and in the coming days as Kim begins her business in Hammond.  Judy said they were all very thankful it was not any worse.

Four people who had surgery in the last week or so were in church.  Logan Sanders, Delanie Dean, Susie Sharkey, and Jesse Dean are all progressing nicely.  Please continue to pray for them.

Mike Lambert will be having a heart procedure tomorrow at Ochsner  Hospital in Baton Rouge.  Please pray for him and his family tomorrow.

Sunday Evening

Sandra Lee passed away a little before 5 P.M. tonight.  Arrangements will be made tomorrow.  Please continue to pray for the Lee and Birch families.

Don Denton

Today Joshua and I were able to attend church.  It is hard to describle what that feeling is like when coming back to church after a lengthy illness has happened.

Don’s illness is considered chronic.  My entire understanding of what “chronic illness” means has changed.  The level of empathy for those suffering from a chronic illness has changed to.

Don will get better.  It has just taken longer than we could have ever imagined.  His goal is to be back at work the fall semester and he is making amazing strides in that direction.  It looks more than ever like a reality that this will happen.

The doctors at “Barnes Jewish” wanted Don to go from there to a full time rehab hospital and Don and I decided not to.  And we are glad we did.

Don is now walking with a cane again back here at home again.  Don has done his own intensive work here at home to get to a place where he can be in “out patient” therapy again.  Don will start that on Monday.

We continue to take “one day” at a time.  And we are learning more of what moving forward looks like and not letting this disease become our life, our idenity.

And of course we have our “set back” days which is normal.  Allowing ourselves the grace to be there is a good thing.

Please pray for us, we have allot to do this week.  Pray for Don’s continued progress.  We are very hopeful.

We give thanks to you all for your continued support of us.  We could not make it without all that you do for us.  I continue to  be humbled by what God does to meet our needs.

Bless you our family and friends.
Diane


Dukes Family

< happy birthday! >
Yesterday was Erik’s 40th birthday. He celebrated it with his wife and kids at Dinosaur World in Bowling Green, KY. I don’t think that was his birthday celebration of choice, though, unless he has become an avid dinosaur guy without me knowing. I think his birthday celebration of choice was to be with his wife and make his boys happy. One of them in particular is quite fond of dinosaurs. He was very happy.

What was probably his best birthday surprise was from Mom. Just a little over a month ago, if you had asked Erik if he thought Mom would ever sing him happy birthday again, he would have probably responded with something like doubtful. But, she did.

She had on her passy muir valve. Dad was on the phone with Erik. Dad asked Mom if she remembered it was Erik’s birthday. She said she did. He asked her if she wanted to tell him happy birthday. She said she did. Dad didn’t say anything about singing, but Mom sang. In keeping with the normal birthday routine, she busted into the tune. She sang Erik the most amazing rendition of happy birthday we had all ever heard, her arrangement including the passy muir valve rasp for effect.

Erik must have smiled. You could almost hear it through the phone.

Another cool birthday thing yesterday. Yesterday evening, Dad and Jen and the kids and I stopped again to see Mom. It was a good visit. At one point, Caleb asked Ammaw if she remembered his birthday. She said September 20th, which is right. Jen then asked Mom if she remembered Katey’s. Without hesitation, she said August 11th, which is right. Abby’s? November…she didn’t remember the exact date, but she got the month. Ella’s? No hesitation again. December 13th was her answer. She was right. Pretty awesome!

Some days it seems like her memory is all there. Other days it’s not quite as clear. But then again, how often do I walk into a room and walk back out hoping to remember what I walked in for in the first place?

Yet another birthday thing. Mom’s 68th birthday is Monday, June 22nd. We are looking forward to a great celebration. Y’all come join us!!!

To say we are pleased with Mom’s new hospital would be an understatement. Right away, they have focused wholistically and proactively on Mom’s health, with the goal in mind to move her to the brain center in Orlando for rehab. Her first day in the new place, they plugged her tracheotomy (which we thought was overdue), sat her up on the edge of the bed (which you can see in the picture), and made advancement in treating her sacral decubitus (the bedsore on her bottom). Pretty amazing.

Today, they already are talking about taking out the tracheotomy, doing another swallow study to get Mom on a full diet, and getting the cranium piece back on. I will keep you posted on the plan ahead. We are very thankful.

Dad and Jen and the kids and I have had a great week. I will post some pics on my blog to give you some highlights. Click here to go there. Erik will be with Dad all of next week. Jen and the kids and I will be back the next.

I hope yall have a great week. Be thankful for your dads. I am very thankful to be typing on a computer next to mine right now.

Oh yeah! Erik didn’t turn 40 yesterday. He turned 39. I like to pick at him since he’s older than me.

I’ll post at you later.
-jason

Sunday

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” ~James 5:16b~

Tiffany Bankston Currier is home (Cedartown, GA), but still has pneumonia, pleurisy, and low oxygen levels.  Please continue to pray for her and her family.  Her parents will stay at least ten more days to help take care of Tiffany and her family.

Mattress

mattress.jpgJERUSALEM — An Israeli woman mistakenly threw out a mattress with $1 million inside, setting off a frantic search through tons of garbage at a number of landfill sites, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

The woman told Army Radio that she bought her elderly mother a new mattress as a surprise on Monday and threw out the old one, only to discover that her mother had hidden her life savings inside. She was identified only as Anat, a resident of Tel Aviv.

When she went to look for the mattress it had already been taken by garbage men, she said. Subsequent searches at three different landfill sites turned up nothing.

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot published a picture of the woman searching through garbage at a dump in southern Israel.

Yitzhak Borba, the dump manager, told the radio station that his staff was helping the woman, saying she appeared “totally desperate.” He said the mattress was hard to find among the 2,500 tons of garbage arriving at the site every day.

He said he increased security at the site to keep would-be treasure hunters at bay.

For her part, Anat said it could be worse. “People have to take everything in proportion and thank God for the good and the bad,” she said.

Loosing a $1M would be bad; loosing your soul would be a lot worse.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,

and loses his own soul?”

Mark 8:36

Posted by Mike Benson at June 11, 2009 10:35 AM


Count your many blessing this Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee