Author: Anna Lee

Sunday Evening

June Russell (Chesbrough)

We passed by David’s Aunt June’s house this morning as we were taking a friend to North Oaks and saw an ambulance in the yard. Aunt June was taken to North Oaks and admitted due to complication of the hip surgery she had a few months ago. David got to see three first cousins he doesn’t see very often. Please pray for them and others as they care for Aunt June.

Jimmy and Retia Dukes

Well this time I will apologize on the front of the update. I said I was sorry for being tardy before about 8oclock, before i hit save and was told I had no connection.

It was a good post but I will try to reconfigure. I also apologized for the length of the post, stating that this may be my only chance to write since my almost published really good writer brother is returning today. Did I mention jason has a book coming out soon. Remember, I am not a wordsmith for my job. I could write you a perscription, not an essay. For sure I am neanderthalic when it comes to tech as my post would not save and I am not on Facebook and don’t have an iphone. I am writing it over so it will look even more tardy.

I was worried that this weekend would be real hard for my wife. I am glad she and Erik Daniel came with me but I was concerned. But this has been a weekend filled with praise, a wonderful weekend with my parents. On friday as you remember, mom mouthed i love you to jase after opening her eyes and their transfers happened to Ochsner elmwood off clearview for dad and west jefferson hospital room number 7103 for mom, this is off barataria on the west bank. They settled into their rooms and have some wonderful nurses and doctors caring for them. Mom’s nurse yesterday stated that her doctor was very caring and attentive and thorough. I have not met dad’s but it is providence that got him to ochsners, so i will not worry.

Friday i was disappointed, jealous, and little hurt that she did not show me the same courtesy and open her eyes and tell me she loved me. However, on saturday, I had been there talking to her and singing and praying over her and she would do nothing but some straining attempts to open her eyes, then i went to talk to her nurse they paged her to mom’s room. I returned to the room to wait on her and as I entered I noticed mom was staring at the ceiling. I leaned over and said “were you playing possum with me before” and she mouthed “erik”. I cant explain the feeling of praise, and excitement that overcame me, we talked some more and I assured her that I loved her and told her about all who are praying. We also told her she had a bud on the tomato plant at home in orlando. Last night Erin and I went back to tell her good night and I did not think she would respond as she is not a early morning or late night person. But she did, she opened her eyes after much prompting, I did all but drop an elbow off the top rope, and then I called her “brown eyes” and she opened them and Erin got to witness an awakening. I asked her to respond with a blink if she understood me as I told her some things, and she did. We talked to her some more and she opened and closed her eyes off and on and I assured her she was a vardaman sweet potato but she was a tough one. We said good night.

I saw my first NBA playoff game with my wife yesterday. The Hornets one! Thanks Uncle Danny for the escape. Thanks to all of you who have given us a place to stay, washed our clothes, kept our children, bought airline tickets, bought us food, and put cold hard cash in our hands (jasons favorite). We have been overwhelmed with your kindness, and love and the sheer volume of prayers being spoken to the Father. Thank you so much

We all must keep praying, this journey is far from over and this is an important time to pray. Pray for dad to heal, bones and all and for strength if they do the surgery on his lower arm. Pray for patience and peace for him as the Father’s spirit fills him with those. Pray for mom that she will continue to progress and heal up and that no further skin breakdown will take place. Pray for the people caring for them that they will do so as if they are their own parents.

We go back today and my excellent writer/preacher brother will be back so he will post later today. He had a great visit with his kids and mickey and saw a great football game. He is not only a great writer, did I tell you he has a book coming out and I expect all of you will want to buy it, but a great father son brother and friend. He has done a great job taking care of mom and dad and handling all of the logistics last week. So continue to enjoy with me his scribing of this journey and buy his book. It is about living sent, since you asked. He has gotten some hard research done these last few weeks as we have watched God’s church living sent as they have cared for and prayed for our family.

I have learned or been reminded of a few things during the last three weeks. As one of my wisest friends told me once, all manner of things are well. Live today: yesterday is gone, tomorrow may or may not come, today is all we have. Live with Him as he lives in you and through you for he is not always safe but He is always good.

Sunday

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower

and bread for food

will also supply and increase

your store of seed

and will enlarge the harvest

of your righteousness.”

~2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV~


Kathy Jo Thompson

Today has been an adventure. My back is doing ok. It mainly hurts when I first get up and when I’m going to bed. Of course imagine that haha. The rest of the day it is just uncomfortab

le and my ribs hurt so I keep ice on it all the time. I can still remember not wanting to go to see Doc Lewis the time I sprained my ankle because he would just tell me to put ICE on it and go home. ahh I hated that! Now as I am in the medical field I understand how important ice is and how it works! It has been a life saver today. I got up and walked a little more today. I’m begining to not need mom and dad for every little movement, which I’m sure they are glad about. Dr. Asthagiri came to visit today and said that we may not be going home as scheduled, it just depends how my body responds to things. The surgery went well but my body is healing slowly. I’m not eating much nor do I have an appetite. Mom has to make me eat. (the parents like it cause what I don’t eat they get to eat.) My body is really weak and unstable. I think I will go see the physical therapist tomorrow to help with the balance and stability. Dr. Sweet said she didn’t want me to have to walk out of here with a walker. She also said that I couldn’t leave without having regular bowel movements (which has always been a problem for me but especially now with all the pain meds.) The doctors come check on me about twice a day and there are always nurses which is a good thing cause if not i would probably drive mom and dad crazy.Tonight Mrs. Sandra’s family came to visit and talk with me. Her husband David, her dad Frank, her mom Janice, and their preacher Bro. Jerry came. I talked with Mr. David and showed him my National Championship pictures, he is a BIG LSU fan. He talked about how he had heard so much about me before he even got there and met me. No one really understands how much of an effect that you may have on others. I know that I don’t. I’m just going through life dealing with what God has set before me. I’m making the best of it and giving him all the glory. As of around 8 pm eastern time, Mrs. Sandra was doing ok and stable but her family still can’t go in and be with her. God is doing miracles in her life and in others and I just pray that she will be ok.

People don’t relize it but what you do does effect someone else so act like it.


Sarah LaRocca LaMarca
(October 20, 1914 – April 24, 2009)


Sarah LaRocca LaMarca

Sarah LaRocca LaMarca, a resident of Independence, LA, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2009. She was 94. She is survived by her four children, Jeanette McCahill and husband, Winfield, Convent, LA, Josie Heughan and husband, Lawton, Baton Rouge, Anthony LaMarca and wife, Beverly, Independence and Pasquale LaMarca and wife, Gail, Independence; twelve grandchildren, Judy Waldron and husband, Kelly, William McCahill, all of Convent, Patrick Heughan and wife, Kimberly, Independence, Erin O’Mart and husband, Bo, Oklahoma, Chet Heughan and wife, Michelle, Baton Rouge, Brigitte Bankston and husband, Barry, Independence, Daphne LeBlanc and husband, David, Sorrento, Anthony LaMarca, Independence, Robin Davis and husband, Randy, Dana Angelette and husband, Richard, Tara DiVittorio and husband, Danny, and Jason LaMarca, all of Independence; and 23 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Kate and Marla Gravois, Dane McCahill, Ashely Clement, Brandy and Sarah Heughan, Lawton Guzzardo, Makaley, Makenzey, and McCord Heughan, Baileigh and Brenleigh Bankston, David and Dillon LeBlanc, Samantha, Joshua, and Justin Davis, Koty Stein, Jace and Brett Angelette, and Dane and Gage DiVittorio; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pasquale T. LaMarca. Pallbearers will be Patrick and Chet Heughan, Jason LaMarca, Danny DiVittorio, Joshua Davis, and William McCahill. Visitation will be at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, from 9 a.m. Monday until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m Monday. Interment will be in the Colonial Mausoleum, Independence.




FROM BAD TO WORSE

Have you ever have one of those days when, no matter how hard you try, things just seem to go from bad to worse?

The story is told of two cowboys who were working cattle one day. One of them discovered he was in trouble when a wild bull, with his head down and nostrils flaring, came charging toward him. The cowboy saw a deep hole in the ground and quickly jumped in it. As soon as the bull passed over him, he jumped out of the hole.

The bull, madder than ever, came charging back again, and the cowboy jumped back down into the hole. When the bull passed, the cowboy jumped out of the hole again. He did this several times.

Finally, the other cowboy, who was watching it all from a distance yelled out, “Why don’t you just stay in the hole?”

The cowboy yelled back, “I would, but there’s a bear in the hole!”

Maybe some of you feel like every day is like that! If ever there was someone who must have felt that way, it was the apostle Paul, though. Listen to him describing his life as a Christian:

“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…” (2 Cor. 11:24-27)

Sounds a man who ought to be miserable, doesn’t it? I mean, how much can one man take? How much worse can it possibly get? It convicts me to read through that list as I think of the minor problems in my life that I allow to create a dark cloud over my life. If I had to deal with the problems on Paul’s list on a daily basis, then I’d really have reason to moan and whine, “Why, me Lord? Why does life have to be so hard?”

The funny thing is, though, that wasn’t Paul’s reaction at all. He didn’t list all those problems to garner sympathy. In fact, he finishes out this section by writing:

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake…..” (2 Cor. 12:10).

Taking pleasure in distresses? When is the last time you took pleasure in locking your keys in your car? When is the last time you took pleasure in running your cell phone through the washing machine (don’t laugh! I actually did that this week)? When is the last time you took pleasure is hearing the news that you’re getting laid off, the biopsy came back positive, or there was a terrible auto accident?

The “pleasure” in such things is not the ability to laugh and joke. The “pleasure” is found in the last half of 2 Cor 12:10, “…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Everything that happens to me in life is a reminder that I am not in control, but I am a child of the One who is. It is a reminder that I don’t have the power to fix everything that breaks in life, but I serve the one who does have that power. It is reminder that I sometimes don’t know how I’m going to have the strength to cope, but I rest in the arms of the One who has promised to be there with me no matter what. And it is during those moments when life throws its worst at me that I feel closest to God.

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10)

Whatever trials you are facing this day, may you find your strength in God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina


I needed that reminder today! How about you?

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday Afternoon


Don Denton’s Update

This is Anne, Diane’s friend in St. Louis. Don arrived last night via ambulance about 8:30. Diane & Josh came in about 11:30pm (after she’d have a few hours of needed sleep.) Don is stable this morning, but having extreme headache pain, nausea, vomiting, & intermittent fever: signs of relapse . He & Diane met with the whole Neurology Team this morning. They have decided to keep him off steroids and do intensive testing over the next 3 days to look for diseases outside of Steroid Responsive Diseases. The Biopsy of the Brain will be a very last resort because it is so risky and invasive.

Diane expresses her gratefulness to everyone for their help and what a blessing you friends have been.

She asks for prayer that they will be able to manage Don’s awful headache pain (even IV Morphine isn’t helping), and that they will find something that is treatable in the next 3 days.



Jesse James Hayden
(February 22, 1918 – April 24, 2009)

Died at 1:15PM on Friday, April 24, 2009 at Tangi-Pines Nursing Home in Amite, LA. He was a native and resident of Amite, LA. Age 91 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Bro. Kenneth Istre and Bro. Don McGee. Interment Hayden Grove Cemetery, Amite, LA. Survived by daughter, Debra Hayden Santora and husband, Charles, Amite, 2 sons, Micheal James Hayden and wife, Brenda, Baton Rouge, Dale W. Hayden, Junction City, AR, niece, Kathy Howard Currier and husband, Tommy, Amite, 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife, Louise Trowbridge Hayden , 2 grandsons, Chris and Sam Santora, 2 sisters, Clausel H. Cutrer, Donice Jean H. Sceroler, brother, Roy A. Hayden. Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Saturday

                                   Then Jesus said,

‘Let’s get away from the crowds

for a while and rest.’

There were so many people coming and going

that Jesus and His apostles

didn’t even have time to eat.”

~Mark 6:31 NLT~

Thank you for praying for my mother this past week.  What a difference a week, good nursing care, and lots of prayers make.  Momma said she is back to “normal”. The family has appreciated all the concern shown by family and friends.


Jacob Dakato Brooke

My oldest son Lewis and his wife Racheal’s baby was born Tuesday, April 21, four weeks premature. He is in the NICU at North Oaks on a ventilator. We almost lost him Thursday until many, many churches started circulating prayers and by 8 p.m. Thursday night, he was still in critical condition and not as unstable. Please have everyone lift prayers up for Dakota and our family. We know Jesus is the great physician and we are claiming victory in this trial.

Carol Brooke



Susie Sharkey asks us to pray for Kathy Jo Thomspson.

I was diagnosed with NF2 in February 2009. Since then I have been to several doctors and had numerous test run. The MRIs showed tumors in my brain and spine. I am scheduled to have surgery on one of the tumors in my thoracic spine that is covering 80% of my spinal canal next week (April 21).

It is 6:40pm Kathy Jo has taken 3 nice long walks down the hall and back. She is not on her own yet and needs one of us to steady her balance. We have another walk to go later and things should start to improve in the next few days. She ask me to log this in because she is very upset. I just returned from praying with a family in need who has become very close to us. Their daughter (who has been in our room praying with us) has colin cancer and is the 1st in the United States to try a procedure where they removed her blood and grow a vaccine with her cells, then inject it back into the body. She looked the best we’ve seen her yesterday and today had the procedure. Her family sent word for me to come down for prayer and when I got there they told me they had sent for her husband. She is in the critical care unit and the procedure has been stopped. It seems it was too strong for her and her lungs are filling with fluid. They have started her on strong steriods (which unfortunate

ly will kill all the cells injected} but at the present time she is fighting for her life.
Kathy Jo has ask that everyone please pray for her. Her name is Sandra Anglin from Lakeland Florida, where she is a member of Crossroads Baptist Church. This procedure was looking so promising and she was so excited yesterday sharing all she had learned about the procedure with us.
We have been so amazed at all the friends that have left messages and to heip others know where your at please add your town and state.
Thanks,  De

Please pray for Heloise Morgan, wife of Jeff Morgan.  She has been having a liver problem and just came out of the hospital in Covington.  Prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Bethany Simmons, wife of Stan Simmons, is experiencing some issues related to her pregnancy.  Please be in prayer for Stan, Bthany, and their unborn baby.
Julia Webster Brown
(November 6, 1931 – April 22, 2009)

Julia Webster Brown

A native of Savannah, GA and a resident of Easleyville passed from this life at 2:14 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA as a result of respiratory failure at the age of 77 years. She was a very loving and generous wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother who dedicated herself to serving others. She was a caregiver to many elderly members of her community, but most of all she had a deep devotion to her family. The family she leaves behind includes her 2 daughters, Julie B. Phares and fiance’, Ronnie Harvin, Easleyville and Kimberly B. Guillory, Greensburg; 3 sons, Jonathan Dean Brown and wife, Sherleen, Morgan City, Floyd R. Brown, Jr. and wife, Mary, Morgan City and Earl D. Brown and wife, Caslyn, Elizabeth; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 4 sisters, Mary Diaz, Austin, TX, Margaret Lyckman and husband, Al, Austin, TX, Bobbie Fernandez, Austin, TX and Debbie Carter and husband, Cliff, Tucson, AZ. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Floyd R. Brown, Sr.; parents, Earl and Margaret Webster; brother-in-law, Joe Diaz. Pallbearers will be Timothy Marcus, Gregory Marcus, Chad Sampey, Jason Sampey, Benjamin Brown, Charles Brown, Matthew Brown and Jonathan Brown, Jr. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment Brown Family Cemetery, Easleyville, LA.

Edgar Carl Morris
“Build a fence of trust around today; build a space with loving work and therein stay. Look not between the sheltering bars upon tomorrow, but take whatever comes to thee of joy and sorrow.” Edgar Carl Morris, 90, died Wednesday, April 22, 2009. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War II. He was self-employed for many years as a printer. He was also a retired employee of The Advocate, a member of Masonic Lodge 454, A&FM, and a member of Red Oak Baptist Church. He was a resident of Livingston and a native of Osyka, Miss. He was an avid gardener and fisherman. Visitation at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, on Friday, April 24, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Visitation at Red Oak Baptist Church, Livingston, on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. until service at 11 a.m., officiated by the Rev. Don Bassett, the Rev. Paul Taylor and the Rev. David Albin. Message in song will be brought by Terry Phinney and Adam McCluskey on guitar and Jeremy Jones. Burial in New Red Oak Cemetery, Livingston. He is survived by his wife, Athena Broussard Morris; children, Carol Clark and husband Garry, Charles Morris and wife Brenda, Timothy Morris, Linda Balfantz, Lawana Hardy and husband Darold, and Larry Phinney and wife Lisa; grandchildren, Brian Pounds, Heather Morris, Trent Balfantz and wife Denise, Sean Balfantz and wife Melissa, Cole Balfantz and wife Mindy, Kanda Tate and husband Karl, Joel Hardy and wife Charity, Dwayne Phinney, Terry Phinney and wife Meranda, and Wayne Muller; great-grandchildren, Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Ashleigh, Layton, Mayce, Kolton, Kameron, Faith, Corey and Allison; two nephews, and a niece; as well as many other relatives and friends who will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bonnie Mae Lea and William Morris; son, Winston Morris; and sister, Mildred Guy. The pallbearers will be his grandsons.
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
IN THE ACADEMY award-nominated film Traffic, Michael Douglas plays the federal government’s newly appointed drug czar, charged with leading the country’s war on drugs…
In a sad irony, he is so caught up in his rising political career that he is blind to the fact that his own teenage daughter is a drug addict.  Because of his wife’s own previous experimentation with drugs, she is able to see what her husband missed–the clear, unmistakable warning signs that her daughter was involved with drugs.  When Douglas’ character finally realizes that his own daughter has become hooked on illegal drugs, his wife chastises him for not picking up on the warning signs earlier.  The film’s audience feels Douglas’ mix of frustration, self-anger, and helplessness as he realizes that he “should have seen it coming.”
Illicit drug users aren’t the only ones who give warning signs.  Research has shown that a wide variety of destructive social behaviors are preceded by visible early-warning signals.  Many times, people whose spouses have been unfaithful to them say that, in hindsight, there were signs that something was amiss in the marriage.  Similarly, young women suffering from eating disorders often drop clues to their behavior.  And frequently those committing suicide will tip off their intentions ahead of time.  Of course, not everyone in such situations exhibits the signs.  And obviously, not everyone knows how to read the signs properly.  But those who do are, more often than not, able to detect that something is wrong and successfully intervene either to prevent or minimize the negative behavior.
Might the same be true for those falling away from the faith?  Do those abandoning the Lord telegraph their behavior ahead of time?  These are important questions because, if there are some telltale signs that a fellow Christian is drifting away from the faith, keen-eyed believers might be able to act to prevent him or her from falling away.  (Brian Simmons)
“Bear one another’s burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2
Please feel free to share requests so others can pray.  That’s why we are here.
Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Jimmy and Retia Dukes served at Line Creek Baptist Church. He is now associated with New Orleans Baptist Seminary.

Friday, April 24, 2009 1:51 PM, EDT

Huge News! Retia woke up!

Hey everyone, this is Jim Collins, Jason’s co-pastor at Westpoint. He wanted me to share this update with you.

Retia opened her eyes this morning! She was able to interact with Jason and Jimmy. Though she can’t speak because of the tube in her throat, she was able to mouth “I love you” to Jason and Jimmy. Erik and his wife Erin are about to arrive at the hospital, and the family will be able to see her all together.

Please pray that this will be the first of many great reports to come. This is a miracle, for sure. Let’s pray that God continues to bring more!

We’ll keep you updated as we can.

-Jim Collins, on behalf of Jason

Two people have recently asked me to tell who Don Denton is. His family served at FBC, Independence.
My name is Lisa. I am a friend of Diane and Don. Diane asked me to post the following message:

Don’s condition has worsened. He is at Cox South in Springfield. They are stabilizing him, so he can be transported to Barnes Jewish in St. Louis.

Friday

“One handful of peaceful repose is better

than two fistfuls of worried work….”

~Ecclesiastes 4:6 MSG~




My mother, Dot Smith, began physical therapy yesterday. Hopefully, with time, she will be less “wobbly”. Continue to pray for my mom and my dad.


Don Denton

Here we are at Thurday evening and tomorrow Don will tapper down to 2.5mg. I spoke with his neurologist today and he wants Don to continue to taper down.

We knew this was going to be a rough time, but we had no idea what that really meant. At least I did not. I just want this all to go away and we have our life back. And at the same time, I know there are others who are going through so much of a deeper loss. It does not make our suffering less, it just really helps me stay focused with the perspective that I need to have. I get lost in this and want to just “be the victim”. Or for that matter feel really sorry for myself.

I am thankful to God that we have Don. Our anniversary is tomorrow and all I can think of is that I want my precious husband to get well again. I hope to see the day that he can get up in the morning and be free of this awful disease.

His level of headache pain is staying at a steady upper level of pain. He is taking more pain meds. He now has intermittent fever.

In speaking with the doctor, we have decided that if Don’s fever rises to 101 and/or his headache pain or other symptoms get worse, I will take him into the ER in Springfield.

Tonight he had 99.8 fever. These are all signs of what is going on with the inflammation in his brain.

The good thing is that he is able to eat some. And he is taking regular fluids.

I feel numb again. Partly because the last few nights I have been up to 3 and 4am in the morning. One night up with Don and last night up with him and trying to pack just in case.

I am praying for the following:

Don continue to hold his own until Monday. None of our doctors are on call this weekend.

Pray that we won’t have to take him in the middle of the night. That is so hard on him, myself and Josh.

We do have people waiting for when we need them. Thank you God for these precious people who are coming to our aid.

I have been unsucessful with getting Don’s nausea meds approved for him to take on a regular basis.

We are so close to where we need to be for them to do this surgery and Don’s surgeon is back from vacation on Monday.

I am going to do dishes and then go to bed. Thank you so much for who you are to us.

Diane






Jimmy and Retia Dukes

< my God is so big >

Today I bought Mom a Grande Black Iced Tea, sweetened with classic sugar, light on the ice. We have been getting one together at least once a week, if not more, for quite some time now. It is her drink of choice from Starbuck’s and House Blend Cafe (except at House Blend Cafe it is a “bigger” made with English Breakfast tea and sweetened).

I bought her one today, because I wanted to, and because I wanted to tell her it was sitting there in her room waiting for her to wake up and drink it.

She didn’t wake up to drink it…yet. I left it and the straw next to the card that arrived for her today. You open the card and it plays the song “Day by Day.” Good song. I like the DC Talk version better.

When I wheeled Dad down to visit Mom this morning, she didn’t open her eyes at all. She did do something Dad and I thought was remarkable. Jen had called my phone and left a message of the kids singing a song for “Ammaw.” The song is called “My God Is So Big.” I played the message for Mom.

While it was playing, her facial expression was visibly different. Pensive you might say. Intently listening. Especially when Abby, her little Abby (she is pretty much a small version of Mom) blurted out the words to the song when the rest of the kids had finished. She followed her version with this very clear directive: “Love you Ammaw! Wake up!!! Come play!”

Even Ella joined in. She’s so advanced for almost 5 months old. She laughed on cue to be recorded. Seriously, she happened to laugh after Abby said what she said and it was caught on the message. Ammaw definitely, visibly, leaned ever so slightly – like not 3 inches, only about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch or so – but it was a lean toward the sound.

When Drew (a friend who was passing through town) and I visited her at 5, she did open her eyes. Only for about a second, and only about an eighth of an inch, but she did. She didn’t open them again, she didn’t respond to anything else, and she’s still in a coma, but she opened her eyes briefly. The neuro-surgeon again today told us to be hopeful. She is making positive steps. They are small, but they are positive.

A friend of ours bought Mom an iPod Shuffle for me to load with some music and clip to her pillow case and stick in her ears for her to listen to. When Mom would be over at the house with Jen, there would often be a playlist of music playing. Mom really liked it. That’s what I loaded on there – about 60 songs or so. It’s been playing in her ears since about 5 today. Hope she likes it.

Hopefully the hope of each song will echo deep into her bruised head. Hopefully it will remind her of the hope we have because of the God who came near, who was not far away when the accident occurred. He was near. Very near. As He is to us all.

The day was up and down for us. Dad really seemed to appreciate seeing Mom this morning. After getting settled back into his room, several things happened that were kind of downers.

1 – The case worker told me that neither Mom nor Dad got accepted to the long-term care facility we had looked into. Last week, we were disappointed because the one that had been so highly recommended ended up being out of network for their insurance. The next one we looked into, which is in network, denied admittance to both of them this morning. They said Dad had progressed too much to qualify for long term care, and Mom was not a case they wanted to take on. Come one, Dad – quit getting better why don’t you!?

I was bummed. I could tell Dad was, too. They would have shared a room and been well taken care of.

So, we are researching two other options. Referrals have been written already for one of the other two. And, I will tour the other one in the morning at 9am. I pray that one of these will work out. One of them would allow Mom and Dad to be in the same building, but not in the same room. The other one would put them into two different facilities about 15 minutes from each other. We don’t want that, but we may have to go with it. Reason why? Because Mom and Dad’s health issues are very different. Mom needs brain attention. Dad needs bone attention. It’s all good. We just want the best care for each of them.

2 – We found out the insurance will not pay a dime toward transporting them back to Orlando once Dad can walk. We were bummed, cause I think Dad really wants to get them both back there once he is able to bear weight on his legs.

3 – I told Dad about them both getting denied to the facility we thought they would settle in by the end of this week. I think getting into that next facility will bring some evidence for progress to Dad for both Mom and him. That would be good.

They are moving Mom out of ICU some time Friday. They say she is stable enough to step down from ICU. It’s sort of strange to hear that about a person who is in a coma. However, she is breathing on her on. She is handling the food from the feeding tube now. She is not responding to commands at all. But, she would get great treatment there that would move her toward waking up and beginning rehab.

Dad really is doing well. I mean, he can’t bear weight on either leg for another 3 to 5 weeks. He can’t take off his collar for another 3 to 5 weeks. His left wrist (he is left-handed) will have to be re-broken and repaired eventually. But, his ribs are healing. His lung is not collapsed anymore. His upper left arm has been surgically repaired and is healing. His lower legs have been surgically repaired and are healing. And, his “road rash” is healing very, very well. That was a concern to the doctors. If you see him now compared to just a week ago, you can see why they denied him for long-term acute care. He will have to go to a “skilled nursing facility” next. We are looking for one connected with a hospital here.

Mom has not had a fever for over 24 hours. THAT’S HUGE!!! She had really been struggling with one. The doctors thought she was struggling with some infections. So far the one infection they did discover is being attacked and looks like it’s losing. Her one bedsore she had developed is almost gone. And her swelling in her arms and legs has gone way, way down. We are thankful. Still in a coma, but making progress.

While I was out getting Dad his afternoon latte today, a song from the shuffle I was listening to played in the car that really means a lot to me. I heard it the 1st time at a friend’s funeral as a celebration of the great God we serve and the hope we have in His coming. It floored me. Broke me. I wept and wept. I guess the weight of everything and the difficulty with logistics and the emotional high of being home this weekend coupled with the low of not being here with Mom and Dad and Erik all came to a head. It was a moment of pause and a moment of reminder and a moment to cry. Very necessary.

The song is called “Days of Elijah.” Very powerful. At one point, the bridge builds up as Twila Paris and the resounding choir behind her keep repeating, “There is no God like Jehova.” And there isn’t.

Our God is so big. His love is so big. He loved us first and hasn’t stopped. No matter what we face in life, we can trust that He loves us and holds us. After all, the havoc wreaked from what happened in the garden continues today, and it wasn’t his fault. He keeps showing us His love everyday that He so clearly demonstrated when He reaped at the cross what we had sown in the garden.

The promise of abundant life doesn’t mean an abundance of easy. He never promised safety. Our safety is not central to what He is up to. Our security is. We can rest in Him, His strength, His might, His love, no matter what. And we must not let the bigness of circumstances cause us to forget how big He really is.

That’s why the kids’ message on my phone that I played for Mom was so meaningful. For Mom, and for me. The words of the song they sang on that message are:

my God is so big
so strong and so mighty
there‘s nothing my God cannot do

my God is so big
so strong and so mighty
there‘s nothing my God cannot do

the mountains are His
the valleys are His
and everything in between too

my God is so big
so strong and so mighty
there‘s nothing my God cannot do

Thanks for reminding us of that Caleb and Katey and Abby, and even Ella.

I fly home tomorrow afternoon and come back Sunday night. Erik comes in for the weekend. I know he has struggled not being here. I am thankful he has been with his family, though.

Speaking of his family, his sweet wife is an amazing writer and blogs fairly regularly. Click here to read some of her latest posts. Very cool. Erik and I are very thankful for our wives. Erin and Jen are amazing.

Please pray for Mom’s healing and Dad’s continued progress. Please pray for the next step to be clear within the next few days. We know they will be transferred by early next week. Just trying to finalize where.

We love yall. Thanks for doing life with us through all of this.

-jason

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE for controlling our speech is to prevent harm…
But controlling our words also has personal advantages for us. The main advantage is that people will respect us.
Just think of how you react differently to a person who goes on and on and talks in circles and one who chooses her words carefully and is succinct. How much respect do you have for the fast-talking used-car salesman, the wisecracking comedian, the politician who speaks out of both sides of his mouth or even the revivalist who enchants crowds with volume and energy? We put people of many words in the category marked “con artists.” Now, consider people whom you genuinely respect–perhaps a teacher, a counselor, a grandparent. Aren’t they people who speak carefully, using well-chosen words? We put people of few words in the category marked “wise.”
“The fool multiplies words.”
Ecclesiastes 10:14; cf. 10:10; 6:11; Prov. 17:28
I hope you finish you workweek well and move into a great weekend. Thanks for being there to pray!
Anna Lee

Thursday Evening

Update on Don Denton

Yesterday Don was able to eat a little more. Not what he should be eating, but he ate. He is running a fever. He is already on an antibiotic and meds for a fever.

We were both up last night. He is losing his balance more as well. I will keep you posted.

Julia Webster Brown
(November 6, 1931 – April 22, 2009)

A native of Savannah, GA and a resident of Easleyville passed from this life at 2:14 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA as a result of respiratory failure at the age of 77 years. She was a very loving and generous wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother who dedicated herself to serving others. She was a caregiver to many elderly members of her community, but most of all she had a deep devotion to her family. The family she leaves behind includes her 2 daughters, Julie B. Phares and fiance’, Ronnie Harvin, Easleyville and Kimberly B. Guillory, Greensburg; 3 sons, Jonathan Dean Brown and wife, Sherleen, Morgan City, Floyd R. Brown, Jr. and wife, Mary, Morgan City and Earl D. Brown and wife, Caslyn, Elizabeth; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 4 sisters, Mary Diaz, Austin, TX, Margaret Lyckman and husband, Al, Austin, TX, Bobbie Fernandez, Austin, TX and Debbie Carter and husband, Cliff, Tucson, AZ. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Floyd R. Brown, Sr.; parents, Earl and Margaret Webster; brother-in-law, Joe Diaz. Pallbearers will be Timothy Marcus, Gregory Marcus, Chad Sampey, Jason Sampey, Benjamin Brown, Charles Brown, Matthew Brown and Jonathan Brown, Jr. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment Brown Family Cemetery, Easleyville, LA.

Thursday


“God shall bless us,

and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”

~Psalm 67:7~

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Praise the Lord for His perfect timing! A missionary suffered a detached retina requiring emergency surgery. When she encountered this problem, she was attending a conference near a large city. A day and a half earlier, she had been in a town far from a good hospital. The surgery was successful, and her retina is much improved. She is seeing pretty well, although she hopes clearer vision will continue to return to the affected eye. The missionary’s husband, while supporting his wife through her ordeal, went for a routine eye exam in the big city and was diagnosed with glaucoma. By divine providence, the condition was caught early, his eyes have suffered no damage, and treatment was begun. We serve a great God!



AMHARA OF ETHIOPIA (ahm-HAR-ah). “Some of our young women colleagues just had a group of young Ethiopian women over on Saturday night for a meal, fellowship, and sharing of their testimonies. None of the women are believers. Our colleagues wish to continue this Saturday-night time, share the gospel next time, and continue with basic Bible study. Please pray that our Father will open the eyes and hearts of these young women to the truth of the gospel. Pray that each one will become born again and will hunger to learn about God and His Word. Pray that they will grow in our Lord.” http://www.experiencename.com/




SONGHAI OF WEST AFRICA (SONG-high). The Songhai Team writes: “We have asked you to pray for the salvation of the Songhai many times. Now we ask you to join us in praising our Father as we report that 14 Songhai came to know Christ as their personal Savior during the last month! We give thanks that a harvest has been made. Continue to ask God to bring about much fruit from the seeds that have been sown among our people.” http://seekingthesonghai.net/




DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (DER-bun). Please pray for H, a Muslim woman who is seeking to become a medium. Her mother was involved in consulting the dead, so it seems to be a generational problem. She has been visiting L, who has shared the gospel with her and warned her of the destructive and demonic nature of what she is delving into. While she was visiting with L, H began to sway uncontrollably when the midday call to prayer began. Pray for H to be delivered from the stronghold that Satan has in her life, and ask that she will turn to Jesus for salvation.




IRINGA, TANZANIA (ee-RING-uh). Missionary Kay Frost writes: “Thank you for your continuing prayers for our friend, G, a blind woman. We have recently discovered that she has excessively high blood pressure, which may very well have caused her blindness. In February, when missionary Pauline Eardensohn took her to have tests regarding seizures she was having, her blood pressure was 140-plus over 130! She is now on medication to help lower her blood pressure, but the damage to her health may be permanent. Thank the Lord that we found it when we did! She is attending church at Ipogoro again, including the women’s meetings on Tuesdays and the extra church services held on Thursdays. She has also received a ‘talking Bible’ thanks to a church in Texas who visited in October. And it ‘talks’ in Swahili! How great is the technology available these days! Continue to pray for her health and her growth in Christ as she listens to His Word. Pray for her family who may also be listening to the Bible, especially a young male cousin who sometimes attends church with her.” http://cesa.imb.org/

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE YOUNG LADY stopped by the book store to pick up a book, the best-seller of the day…
She hurried home with anticipation of spending a pleasant evening with the book. After arranging the comfortable chair and the reading light, she found the book to be dull and very uninteresting Placing the book on the shelf, she soon forgot about it.
Later, a young journalist moved to the town to work on the local paper, and the two young people fell in love. One evening she remembered the book and exclaimed, “Why, Tom, you have the same name as the author of this dull book!” But he replied, “It is not strange. I wrote the book.”
That evening the young lady rad the book completely, and was amazed to find it was neither dull nor uninteresting. The reason? She had fallen in love with the author.” (Dillard Thurman, in Christian Living Made Simple)
Likewise, so many people today see the Bible as dulle, boring, and outdated. Before we truley appreciate the inspired Word of the Bible, we must love the Author. (Stephen Rogers at http://www.wachurchofchrist.org/aboutus/INDEX.html)
“Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.”
Psalm 119:97
God bless you today!
Anna Lee

Wednesday Evening

Update on Don: He amazingly got out of bed about 6pm yesterday evening and ate some soup and applesauce. His headache pain is somewhat less as well.

I continue to be amazed at Don’s comebacks. We have spoken to neurosurgeon office, and neurologist. We are going to “stay the course”, unless Don takes a turn for the worse.

Don’s nurosurgeon is on vacation until Monday. We want him to do the surgery.

We are taking the taper a little slower. Don will not go down today to 2.5. We are going to keep him on 5mg. a few more days. We don’t want a relapse to happen on the weekend.

Your prayers for Don are incredible with what has happened and Don rebounding some.

He still has symptoms of relapse but they are not to the point where he needs to go to the ER.

We now have a plan in place if Don were to relapse. I have some people ready to help with Joshua.

I have had offers as far as Santa Barbara Ca. to help with childcare and support.

Thank you precious believers of God. for coming to our rescue. Thank you for reaching out to us. Thank you for your love and care.

Here we are at 7 months and feeling pretty weary again. Needing to lean on you all the more. Thank you for continuing to be” Christ” to us. We are so grateful to you!

I will post again later this evening to update you on Don’s condition.

Bless you





Jimmy and Retia Dukes


Just a quick story. I will update on Mom and Dad’s conditions and potential transfer tomorrow, because there is not any new information

at this time. Right now, I wanted to simply share a story with you that gives a good indication that Dad is returning to himself.

The new daily routine since last Friday is as follows:
6:15 / 6:30 – hit snooze.

6:40 – hop in the shower and get ready. Grab a Pop-Tart and some water (oh yeah – take my Juice Plus) and head to the hospital. Stop at Starbuck’s on the way to get Pop some coffee.

7:30 / 8:00 – arrive at the hospital with a tall Decaf for Pop to sip through a straw. Ask the nurse about how he did through the night.

8:30 – mix up Pop’s oatmeal and yogurt and feed him breakfast.

9:00 – therapy comes in to transfer Pop to the potty chair.

9:30 – clean up from the potty chair experience and shift Pop into either the wheel chair or a reclining chair in the room.

10:00 – go down to visit Mom. You can visit in the ICU of University Hospital at 10, 1, 5, and 8 for 30 minutes. I go down, and Pop has been going down about every other day since last Wednesday (a week ago) according to how he feels. I think he appreciates the chance to roll around in the wheelchair. I know he appreciates the chance to see Mom.

11:00 – help Pop get back into bed and get him whatever he needs and chat or answer phone calls for him or meet with people about logistics.

12ish – get Pop ready for a nap, leave to grab lunch, stop to get coffee, update the Caring Bridge site, and iChat with the family when I can.

about 3:00 – arrive back in Pop’s room with a “Double-Tall, Decaf, Non-Fat, No-Whip, One-Splenda Latte.” He sips it through a straw. That still makes me smile every time I write it or think about it. He hates straws. I get him or do for him anything he wants. We chat and are quiet together until about 5. Sometimes I empty his pee bottle.

5:00 – go see Mom again. Each time I visit, I tell her about her husband, her sons, her daughter-in-laws, and her grandchildren. I usually play her some messages I have on my phone from friends and from the kids. I try to sing her a song I know she likes. And I pray over her that God would let me look into her brown eyes again.

5:30 – give Dad a report on Mom. We talk about what his hankering is for supper. Then, I go grab a bite myself and bring him something back before the 8:00 visiting time for Mom.

7:30 / 8:00 – bring Pop food back. Guys hanging with me since we started this routine (and my wife one of the evenings she was here) usually feed Pop supper while I go see Mom.

8:40 – give Pop a report on Mom and get him ready for bed. We recap the day, look ahead at the day tomorrow, and I kiss him on the forehead. I am thankful to look into his brown eyes and tell him how much I love him.

9:30 – walk out to the car and head back to the apartment at Seminary. I usually call Jen on the way back, cause I like to hear her voice. I plop on the couch around 10 and watch Sports Center highlights before hitting the hay.

One night, I watched “Yes Man” – the Jim Carrey movie. Not only did it keep me up too late and make me even more tired the next day, but it just wasn’t that funny. I could have watched the trailer on YouTube. It would have had the same comedic effect. My advice to all of you – say NO-MAN to “Yes Man.”

Anyway – I wrote all that to give you the context for last night’s trip out to the French Quarter to capture Pop’s hankering and provide satisfaction for his particular evening hunger. I am about to, right now, drop off Bruce Young at the airport to return home from being here with me. Thanks, again, Bruce. It meant a lot to have you here.

Well, Bruce and I left Pop to go get a bite ourselves and bring him back what he wanted. We stopped at The Praline Connection. It is my favorite restaurant in the universe. A little hole in the wall on the far east side of the French Quarter just before the Quarter blends back into the urban-sprawl of the city. It is a soul-food restaurant with amazing red beans and rice, sweet tea, and sweet cornbread. And lots of other stuff, including the best pralines anywhere.

Near the end of the meal, I Google-Mapped “scallops” on my phone. About 12 restaurants came up in the downtown area. One call after another, I was told, “We don’t serve scallops right now.”

Now, I have to admit something that I am a bit ashamed to admit. I don’t even know what a scallop is. I couldn’t tell you. That’s really sad isn’t it? Especially considering I grew up here. Nonetheless, it was what Dad specifically requested. Some scallops cooked in lemon-butter. Since he was the one who got hit by an SUV, I thought he deserved whatever he had a hankering for, even if it meant driving to Baton Rouge.

11 phone calls later, Bruce and I weaved our way through the one-way streets of the Quarter trying to find The Pelican Club. They had scallops, and they said it wouldn’t take but a minute to make them.

Bruce circled the block, while I went in. Eventually, he parked cause we were low in gas. I say eventually, because it didn’t take just a minute to fix them.

That’s okay, though. Here’s why. I walked in and walked up to the bar, as I had been instructed to do by the person who answered their phone. Michelle, the bartender, brought me a menu. I told her I simply wanted some scallops to go. She said, “You are the one who called. We don’t normally do to-go orders.”

I interrupted her. I didn’t want the next statement to be, “So sorry. I don’t think we are going to be able to help you.”

I pulled the sob-story card out. I know, shameless right? Seriously, I told her, “I promise I am not trying to give you a sob story. I just want to give you the context for my to-go request for a delicacy like scallops” (whatever they are). “Mom and Dad were visiting town for some meetings, and they were struck by a car while crossing the street. Mom is in a coma. Dad is recovering from multiple fractures.”

As soon as I said it out loud, two thoughts came. One – what was she thinking about what I just said? Two – I just said that – my mom and dad were hit by a car. It is still a bit surreal to me at times. Especially when I step away to write. Writing is how I normally process and express. I am thankful for the chance to do it.

Anyway, she asked, “Are you serious?”

I said, “Yes. I am here, because my Dad just wants some scallops. I need to take them back to him in the hospital.”

Compassion was apparent. She told me she would ask the chef to do something special, since the only scallops they had on the menu was an appetizer with the word “artichoke” in it. I think Dad likes artichoke, but maybe not with scallops (whatever they are). She told me she would ask the chef to do some scallops in lemon-butter, a side of their special corn dish, and some grilled veggies. I really didn’t care about the sides. Pop has not been eating that much food. But, I was very grateful to Michelle for working with me on this one. She placed the order.

About 20 minutes later, I was walking out to meet Bruce and the car with a make-shift to-go sack of scallops (whatever they are), a special corn side, some grilled veggies, and some bread. VICTORY!!!

When I walked into Dad’s room, it smelled like a seafood restaurant. The smile on his face when he looked up at me was all the thanks I needed. Bruce had headed up with the delicacy to feed Pop, while I went in to say good-night to Mom.

It was good to see Pop more like himself. It was good to give him something he wanted right now, rather than the many things that he was dealing with positively but certainly didn’t want.

I will let you know tomorrow what the word is on Mom and Dad’s transfer to a long-term acute care facility. I will hopefully be telling you something about Mom waking up. I hope so. I pray so. She did open her eye briefly again today – her left one again. I am thankful.

Your prayers mean so much.

-jason









Norman Travis is in Lallie Kemp hospital and is in ICU with Poison in his kidney’s and is taking dialisas for this. Also his blood is too thin and they are concerned about this as well.
Norman Travis’ dad was Dennis Travis of Kentwood and His mom Pearl Dykes is from Roseland.

Faye Carney


I’m posting this obituary again because it now includes a photo of Mr. Sanford. I’m sure many of you know him from his years in education and/or church.

William Sanford Hyde
(October 24, 1926 – April 20, 2009)

William Sanford Hyde

U.S. Veteran Died at 12:50 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2009 at his residence in Chesbrough, LA. He was a native of Chesbrough, LA, a retired teacher, and a U. S. Army veteran of WWII. Age 82 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Gary Wieborg. Interment Hyde Cemetery, Chesbrough, LA. Survived by his 4 daughters and 2 sons-in-law, Beverly “Tinker” and Robert Carroll, Erwinville, Brenda Hyde, Chesbrough, Julie and James Holton, Wilmer, Katherine Schultz, Chesbrough, 2 sons and daughters-in-law, William Dale and Carolyn Hyde, Wilmer, John and Leslee Hyde, Chesbrough, 1 sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and J.B. Crain, Roseland, numerous granchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife and mother of their children, Lyra Lawrence Hyde, parents, Frank and Zoe Hyde, daughter, Violet Darlene Hyde, brothers, Huey Hyde and Douglas Hyde, wife, Mary Louise Osborn Hyde.




Julia W. Brown
(November 6, 1931 – April 22, 2009)

Died at 2:14 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. She was a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 77 years. Arrangements are entrusted to McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood.