Author: Anna Lee

Friday

“The Lord is far from the wicked,

but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

~Proverbs 15:29~

Beth G. Lee sent this birth announcement and the Kentwood connections.

After over 24 hours of labor, Jeremy and Sarah Purvis are the proud parents of Kendra Nicole Purvis. She weighed 8 lbs 12 oz, 21.5 in long. Jeremy is currently Student Minister @ Hixson First Baptist Church, Hixson, Tennessee. The proud paternal grandparents are Rusty and Becky Purvis. Kendra’s Great-grandparents are the late Edsel and Mary Ann Graham and the late Dr. Ben Purvis.

Jimmy and Retia Dukes

We were late to the Zephyrs game Tuesday night. I forgot to mention it in yesterday’s post. I bring it back up, simply to share with you something Caleb said that meant a lot to me. I thought it would mean a lot to you.

This happened Tuesday night. We had ordered Dad’s supper after taking him for a walk, and Uncle Danny was going to pick it up. Both Caleb and I wanted to see Mom again before we went to the game. We were also hungry. Smoothie King sounded good. The Peanut Power Plus is always a good meal replacement. Or a good snack. Or a good dessert. It’s just plain good.

Anyway, we were turning into Smoothie King, and I told Caleb that we were going to be late for the game, but I really wanted to drive back over to see Mom before we went. Here was his response:

“That’s okay, Daddy. Moms are more important than games anyway.”

I love that kid.

Well, speaking of moms, yesterday afternoon (Wednesday), after I had posted the last post on Caring Bridge, Caleb and I went to see Mom. She was very interactive. I helped the nurse change her bed dressing, and then we just talked with her. Caleb and I tried to keep it to shake-the-head and nod-the-head questions or multiple choice. It was fun.

We were about to go in order to get back over and take Dad some supper, so we closed our time with what has become our normal routine. We washed our hands thoroughly, and then leaned over Mom and told her how much we loved her. When we did, she looked straight at Caleb and mouthed, “Bye, I love you.”

Only thing is that this time she did more than mouth. She has been wearing that valve that is supposed to help her begin to get used to air going up through her vocal cords again. I told you she made some coughing noises through it, but no talking yet. Until last night. She didn’t just mouth “Bye, I love you.” She said it. Air was translated into speech and noise was shaped into words through the valve!!!

We were elated. I leaned down over her and said, “You just said that, Mom! Like, you really talked!!! Do it again! Do it again!!!”

She had a big half-smile and a proud look in her eye like, “Yeah. I did that.”

Caleb had a HUGE grin. We tried to get her to say more stuff. She really tried. She struggled to form words again, but she didn’t. We didn’t care. She “spoke.” We were thankful. It was awesome!!!

That was the great news. Now, the not-so-great news. The BIRC in Orlando won’t accept Mom until her infection resolves. We anticipated that. It is totally understandable. It just means we have to wait a bit longer to see when it resolves. The doctors have Mom on two different antibiotics, and their gut feeling is that within the next two weeks she should either be over it or show signs of being over it. Please pray it will be so. With Dad about to be shifted from in-patient rehab to out-patient rehab, being in Orlando would be best for him to have his own bed and his own bathroom and his own focus on being with Mom as we walk through this long journey together.

Don’t get me wrong. Being here has been amazing. The love poured out by family and friends here in New Orleans has been way beyond anything we could have ever imagined. Thank you so much to all of you from the Seminary and the surrounding church families. We can’t ever thank you enough. It has been such a joy to hear all of the stories from all of you of the many ways Mom and Dad touched your lives in their 30 plus years of being in this area. We’re not trying to rush away from this.

We are just trying to get Mom into a center that has been highly recommended to us that we believe will be the best for her health and recovery. In fact, we have in our church family in Orlando a young woman who has been through that very center and has recovered from a traumatic brain injury. She has been a huge encouragement to us, along with so many others. So, we are not trying to rush out of New Orleans. Just trying to get Mom toward her next step and the best care possible.

Besides, there is no Copeland’s or Praline Connection or an abundance of scallops (whatever they are) in Orlando. There is Mickey Mouse. Mom and Dad’s home. That brain center. Four of Mom and Dad’s grandkids. And my wife and kids. I miss them a lot. Mom and Dad do, too.

They miss time with Bill and Brenda. They miss eating out together and then chilling on the couch, laughing at some of those outlandish sit-coms Mom likes. Dad misses his shower head. It’s actually pretty cool – like a rain shower. Most importantly, they simply miss each other.

When we were trying to get Mom to talk, I asked her to tell me what she wanted me to tell Dad. She didn’t “speak” it, but she mouthed, “Tell him I love him.”

Dad could get discharged Monday. If he does, it will change a lot schedule-wise and need-wise. It will definitely be a positive, though, at least in one very significant way. Dad will get to see that woman who told me to tell him she loves him. Almost everyday if not everyday. That’d be special.

One thing I wanted to comment on and get some feedback from y’all. Many of you have left comments about the med-flight stuff for Mom. Erik and I really appreciate it. Here’s what we have found out from your comments and from some research over the last few weeks.

Angel Med-Flight is a free air-transportation service for patients who need high-quality medical care that they can’t get to easily. However, from what we understand, patients are required to be able to walk onto the plane and buckle themselves up. We were told by several sources that there is currently not a free flight service for patients who cannot get themselves on and off the plane without significant help. For example, Mom would need to be transported in a bed or stretcher. She would not be able to sit up that long and withstand the inertia of flying.

There are companies who offer this service and try to do so affordably. In fact, we are looking deeply into two options. The case worker from one of those companies is communicating with Mom’s case worker at the hospital, trying to get Mom and Dad’s insurance to pay for it. Also, we are working with an extended family member who has a friend in the med-flight industry. This is a promising situation, and they are offering the service at a fairly low cost. We are looking into both and trying to fully understand each option.

Please pray for us to have wisdom. And, pray for Mom to get remarkably better between now and when her infection resolves. That’s when she would be ready for the med-flight transfer to Orlando.

Thanks again to everyone who has been looking into this stuff with us and for us. It really means a lot. Please comment back with suggestions and helpful thoughts if you have them.

This afternoon will be fun. Dad’s facility gave us a pass again so that I can load him up in the Civic with Caleb and me and take him over to see Mom. I can’t wait!

He is in therapy right now. Two sessions were before lunch. Then a quick lunch. Then two more sessions. He will be tuckered out for sure. We are planning on making an afternoon and evening of it -seeing Mom, then grabbing supper with some family and friends before we bring him back.

Please pray for safety of travel and transfer in and out of the car as we go. Also, please pray that Mom would “say” something to Dad. That would rock the house!!!

By the way, Jen and I were talking last night on the phone about her day yesterday with the girls. She mentioned something that really grabbed me. I am sharing it with you in case it might encourage you, as well. I blogged about it on my blog. Even made a video about it for the girls. If you get a chance, click here to check it out. (http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com/) Maybe enjoy the pictures, and then watch it again to especially listen to the words of the song. Please pass it on, also, to young women whom you think it might encourage.

I love and appreciate you. Post at you later.
-jason

KOMpray

http://www.imb.org/main/pray/page.asp?StoryID=6686&LanguageID=1709

Be sure to notice the age of the last MK.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
FOR THE FIRST time in your life, Western Oregon University’s Sara Tucholsky not only hit a home run in a game against Central Washington University, but she hit it over the fence…
She had passed first base and was on her way to second base when she collapsed. Something had happened to her knee and she couldn’t run. No one on her team could help her around the bases because if they touched her, she’d be out. That’s when her opponents from Central Washington picked her up and carried her around the bases and across the home plate. “My whole team was crying. It touched a lot of people,” says Tucholsky.

This devotional will be shared with co-workers who helped me with a big project at school yesterday. I know they touched me when they shouldered some of my “burden”!
Anna Lee

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2


Eugene N. Strong
(December 15, 1919 – May 12, 2009)


Eugene N. Strong

The picture was not available when I posted Mr. Strong’s obituary.


Thursday

“‘Teacher,’ he asked,

‘Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’

Jesus answered, ”Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

This is the greatest and the most important commandment.

The second most important commandment is like it: ‘

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.””

~Matthew 22:36-39 TEV~



It’s graduation time! Pray for the graduates as important decisions are made in their lives.


Mr. Walter Green Harper had heart surgery yesterday in Lacombe. Pray for him as he recovers and his family as they stay by his side.






Don Denton

Good news! Don will get to go home on Thursday. We have a good rapore with our neurologist. She really is doing everything to help Don. I like her ability to see the big picture for us.

So, Joshua and I will go home earlier and open up the house.

And we will settle in and start to celebrate Don coming home and then of course Joshua’s birthday.

Don home on Thursday and Joshua’s birthday Friday. Joshua’s party will actually be on Saturday. That is cutting it a little close don’t you think. Hey, it is what we prayed for that Don would be able to be home for this.

It means so much to Don to be home for this. WE have allot going on with doctor appointments next week. We are excited that this new drug may work. We will know within the next three weeks.

I will update soon.

Diane




Jimmy and Retia Dukes

It’s amazing what you celebrate when expectations transform into expectancy. It’s true in every relationship and every situation. I admit, that thought is not original to me. The author of The Shack communicated it during one of the conversations between Sarayu and Mack. The relational and circumstantial implications are significant, especially with regard to a very driven man, driving a walker, with a drive to walk again.

Expectancy to see Dad walking again leads to celebration, even when he walks only 286 feet. Expectation to walk two miles would allow someone to be disappointed with a fraction of a mile. Much like our normally inflated, selfish expectations of God and our spouses and friends and our circumstances. But oh to celebrate instead of being disappointed. To approach each relationship and circumstance with selflessness and expectancy. Expectant of what might happen in the next session. On the next date. As a result of the next resolved argument. When the next difficulty comes.

286 feet matter a lot more when there’s expectancy rather than expectation.

That’s how far Dad walked with his walker Monday afternoon. As Caleb declared that evening, “That’s a record, Pop!!!” And it was.

Dad only had one PT session yesterday (Tuesday). Caleb and Dad and I were picked up at 12:30 by the wheelchair van and taken to a Neurology appointment for Dad’s neck. Caleb really enjoyed the van ride, especially when it stopped, and he got to ride on the wheelchair ramp with Pop. When we got delivered back to Dad’s facility, the driver even let Caleb control the ramp with the push-buttons. Pretty cool.

The news delivered by neurology was not exactly what Dad was wanting to hear. One more month in the neck collar. Erik told me why last night. Dad’s records were sent to Erik’s clinic, and he got to look at the CT of Dad’s neck from when Dad was at University. Not good. Pretty much fractured the column in his neck. Like “why wasn’t Dad in a coma or battling paralysis” kind of fracture. For real. Erik wasn’t surprised they said one more month. I saw the XRay yesterday, and it made a lot of sense.

Speaking of XRays, they wanted him to do more of his neck while we were there, too. They will compare them with the ones later when he comes back for the follow-up.

We got back to his facility, and we found out they are expecting to discharge Dad Monday. We were a bit disappointed to hear that. See what expectation does to you. But, we are working on either changing that or making an alternate plan. We are working hard on getting Mom transferred to Orlando. Dad would obviously transfer, as well. We’ll see what the timing of all that is.

Speaking of Mom, she had a really busy day Tuesday. They used a lifting mechanism to safely lift her out of bed and into a special, reclining wheelchair. They wheeled her down to the PT room to enjoy the view and do some exercises. They asked her to do some leg kicks while sitting in the wheelchair. SHE DID TWO SETS OF FIVE!!! The therapists said she did really well. She started sweating a lot, and the nurse asked them to return her to bed. Mom didn’t want to, but she didn’t have much choice. She can’t put up a fight right yet. She doesn’t like to sweat anyway.

She is wearing the Passy Muir Valve full-time now. It partially redirects the air back up through her vocal cords, helping her to get ready to do that all the time. They put the order in for speech therapy, too. I will let you know how that goes. She still hasn’t “said” anything to us. She has been mouthing things, but not “saying” stuff.

She was super tired last night, asleep when we stopped by.

This morning, we got there early enough to see both her ortho doctor and her internal medicine doctor there at the hospital. The ortho doctor told Caleb and me that they would take off her arm cast today. He said she would wear a splint for a little while. The internal med doctor said she is getting better and better, small progressions, but better nonetheless. He is hopeful and wants neurology to give us an idea of the timeline for putting Mom’s skull piece back on her head. He agreed that she would transfer much more safely with it on than without it on. We will let you know.

The infectious disease doctor came by, too. He told me that Mom has an infection in her blood, her urine, and the stuff she is coughing up. Not cool. He did say, though, it is not MRSA. It is something like it, but not as bad – coagulate negative staph. Still sounds negative to me. I’d like to beat it with a staff, and whatever germ caused it. He assured me that the two drugs they are using to treat it should be effective.

The wound care specialist informed me that Mom’s bedsore on her head is getting better. They are not sure hair will grow there ever again. It is about 3 inches by 3 inches on the lower left backside of her head. I am thankful it is getting better. I would rather better with no hair than out-of-control infection.

The news on the bedsore on her bottom is not good. It is deep enough now to expose the bone. It has been excavated (not something you want done on your body, unless you are in Israel), and the wound care specialist began a vacuum treatment on it this morning. Supposed to be the utmost of care – the best thing they can do. She described the bedsore as stage 4. I was hoping that was 4 out of 444. It wasn’t. 4 out of 4. “Very serious,” she stated. Please pray that the vacuum treatment will promote rapid healing. She believes it will. We have been very impressed with the wound care specialist. She has taken great care of Mom.

Please pray for the technicians to be faithful to turn Mom at least every two hours as they have been instructed to. The wound care specialist does not believe they have been. Erik and I do not believe so, either. We have all called it to the staff’s attention. Please pray for the techs and nurses to make it a priority.

We have connected the case worker from Mom’s hospital with the brain center in Orlando, as well as with a MedFlight group. We may not go with that group, because a friend may have another group willing to help us. We are looking into it. It’s great that the case workers are in dialogue, though. It is the next step. Pray for them to have wisdom as they review all the files. Mom’s chart is now very large, so it will take some time for them to give us their answer. We are praying for favor for sure!

Mom and Dad both now have 7 inch digital frames in their rooms. We loaded 71 images of all eight grandkids and our families for them to enjoy five seconds at a time. They both seem to really appreciate it. It is fun to watch them scroll through. Lots of memories.

Caleb and I enjoyed the baseball game last night. The Zephyrs lost 9 to 7 to the Tacoma Rainiers. I am figuring they are from Washington state, or from some place here in Louisiana on the bayou that rains a lot. One of those. Great game, though. Caleb even got to meet Boudreaux, the Zephyrs mascot. And, the catcher threw him a ball coming back into the dugout at the end of a half-inning. He was super excited!

You can view two pictures of Caleb at the game along with several pictures of Dad in therapy on my blog. Click here to see them.

Thanks for your continued prayers and letters and facebook messages and twitters and emails and so much more. We really, really appreciate your love and support.

I will post at you later.
-jason




Edna Strickland Hughes
(January 4, 1920 – May 13, 2009)

Edna Strickland Hughes

Died on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at her home during her sleep. She was a native of Pike County, MS and a resident of Greensburg, LA. Age 89 years. She was a homemaker and was active in genealogy. She loved her family and found “relatives” at every turn.

Visitation will be at Bluff Springs Baptist Church from 10 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2009. Interment Bluff Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, Magnolia, MS.

She is survived by her son and granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, J. C. Hughes.



Eugene N. Strong
(December 15, 1919 – May 12, 2009)

U.S. Veteran Died at 1:55 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at St. Helena Parish Hospital in Greensburg. He was a native of Roseland and a resident of Hillsdale. Age 89 years. He was a U. S. Navy Veteran of World War II and a member of Kedron Baptist Church. Visitation at Kedron Baptist Church, Amite, from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. David Cutrer. Interment Kedron Cemetery, Amite. He is survived by his 2 daughters, Ann Holcombe Brooks and husband, John, Jackson, Sonya Newcomb, Greensburg; 2 sons, Ronald Strong and wife, Faye, Albany and Michael Strong and wife, Penny, Amite; sister, Carrie Desplas, Metairie; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mable Sharkey Strong; daughter, Pam Easley; 2 infant sons, Claude Earl Strong and David Emmitt Strong; 2 grandsons, Scott Holcombe and Timothy Easley; parents, James Nelson Strong and Carrie Jackson Strong; brother, John H. Strong; 2 sisters, Laura S. Durnin and Margaret S. Marquette.



Baptist Press
May 13, 2009

WASHINGTON–White House responds to abstinence uproar. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30483

WASHINGTON–In personal letter, Obama says he wants to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30484

GEORGIA–God ‘responded’ for Rick Gage crusade. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30485

MISSOURI–Lay Renewal Weekends lift churches to higher level. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30486

TENNESSEE–RESOURCE: Couple recounts parenting ‘adventure.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30487

KANSAS–FIRST-PERSON (Phil Boatwright): A solution to block TV profanity? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30488




===== Wednesday’s Thought For The Day (May 13, 2009) =====

SEEKING THE LOST

A golfer, playing a round by himself, is about to tee off, and a greasy little salesman runs up to him, and yells, “Wait! Before you tee off, I have something really amazing to show you!”

The golfer, annoyed, says, “What is it?”

“It’s a special golf ball,” says the salesman. “You can never lose it!”

“Whattaya mean,” scoffs the golfer, “you can never lose it? What if you hit it into the water?”

“No problem,” says the salesman. “It floats, and it detects where the shore is, and spins towards it.”

“Well, what if you hit it into the woods?”

“Easy,” says the salesman. “It emits a beeping sound, and you can find it with your eyes closed.”

“Okay,” says the golfer, impressed. “But what if your round goes late and it gets dark?”

“No problem, sir, this golf ball glows in the dark! I’m telling you, you can never lose this golf ball!”

The golfer buys it at once. “Just one question,” he says to the salesman. “Where did you get it?”

“I found it!”

Maybe someday someone will invent a golf ball that can never be lost, but until then we will all have to deal with losing things — golf balls, car keys, glasses, etc. We also have to deal with a lost humanity. I find it interesting that the one term Jesus used most often to describe those who are outside of Christ is the word “lost”.

In Luke 15, Jesus elaborated on this idea by telling three parables — the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the lost (prodigal) son. The point has often been made that those three parables demonstrate three different ways of being lost — through unintentional wandering (the sheep), through the negligence of someone else (the coin), or through willful disobedience (the son).

However, the point of those three parables is not so much about our lostness as they are about the fact that our God is willing to search for us and bring us back into a relationship with Him. If we will truly see the world around us as “lost”, it will change our perspective as well. Think about the last time you knew of a child that was missing. When a child is lost, we don’t ask what race the child is. It doesn’t matter — the child is lost! We don’t ask the child’s economic status. It doesn’t matter — the child is lost! We don’t ask what the child may or may not have done wrong. It doesn’t matter — the child is lost! All that matters is that we find that child and bring him/her home safely.

Seeing a world around us as “lost” will change the way we see them. The scribes and Pharisees looked at the tax collectors and sinners and saw terrible, ugly people. Jesus saw people who were lost. All that mattered to him was that he bring them home safely.

“For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Father, thank you for diligently searching for me and for bringing me home to you. Fill me with your love so that I may care enough to seek out those around me who are lost. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina




“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see!”
Anna Lee

Wednesday

“Now may the God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace in believing,

that you may abound in hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

~Romans 15:13, NKJV~

Sarabeth Simpson’s surgery went well yesterday. She was home and resting yesterday afternoon. Marty and Gretchen thank you for your prayers and your concern.



Noah Williams and mom are home and doing well. Pray for Jacob and Kelsey as they make the adjustment to being parents.


Dakota Brooke continues to improve at home. Please remember the family in your prayers as this premie grows.


Don Denton

Well, we were hoping to be home by today. Now it looks like Thursday or Friday they will release Don. We won’t know until tomorrow.

Don is eating better. He looks better. I found out that the tests they are doing now are more for use as marker for future tests. Don’s heart MRI was for that reason because he is currently on a medication that can affect the heart.

The doctors are very cautious and we like that. We are hopeful that these new medications will have good results. Don’s neurologist is very good. She feels good about getting Don to a place where he can function at life again.

She said it may take some tweaking with medications, but she is really positive and hopeful.

As we are winding down our stay here in St. Louis, I find myself reflecting back on our Mayo experience meaning the boarding house for Joshua and I. And our experience here in St. Louis. Tomorrow will be 18 days here.

This experience for Joshua has been a “place of healing for us”. It was painful as a mother to watch our son go through so much regarding seperation, strangers, and a place that did not feel safe to him at that boarding house in Rochester. The good things that came out of that experience was our new found friendships that we will have forever. And of course Mayo was good for us too.

There are times during this long journey with Don’s illness that I have felt that God has left us. I have struggled with the suffering I have seen Josh and Don go through along with my own. AS you know there have been days that I did not know how I was going to make another day.

God has spoken to us loud and clear this 18 day hospital stay.

God has poured out his love on Joshua, Don and I saying to us..”I delight in you my child”.

That is the strong message we have received from Anne and Frank. This precious family has ministered to us in so many ways. I have said I am thankful for the roof over our head and a peaceful place to stay, but so much more than this, the friendship that has blossomed is dear to me. And I again, find myself a changed person. I have learned so much from Anne and Frank about God’s unconditional love. They have poured themselves into our lives in ways that has changed us.

I can see in Joshua an acceptance and understanding of God’s love that he did not know before. This home and family has been a “safe” place for Joshua. Yesterday he said to me on the way to the hospital….”mom I believe in God”.

This family has been a vessel of love to us. They have been an oasis in the desert. They will tell you that this is truly God and not them.

So I am compelled to share with you all how God has blessed us in the midst of some of our most difficult days with Don’s illness. It has been a very rough and scarey part of Don’s illness for us. In the midst of all of this we have been ministered to and loved in a way that only God could have known what we needed.

We will be coming home tired again. We are ready to sleep in our own beds again, and resume life again. But this time coming home, our spirits are lifted. Our hearts are full. We have been loved in a way that has given us strength that we need to continue on the journey with Don’s recovery.

I hope one day that I can be to a family what Anne and Frank have been to us. Wow! How exciting to see our God work. We are so grateful to God for each one of you! I am so grateful to God that you all have reached out to us in such a tangible way. And you need to know that each one of you are part of what God is doing in my life.

Bless you our family and friends for who you are.
Diane

Baptist Press

May 12, 2009

CALIFORNIA–Trump lets Miss. Calif. Keep crown, says media ‘should be ashamed.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30476

GEORGIA–‘Great Commission Resurgence’ fueled by relationship, Blackaby says. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30477

ILLINOIS–Chicago’s diversity is his mission field. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30478

KENTUCKY–Ky. leader to be 1st VP nominee. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30480

TEXAS–EDUCATION BRIEFS: Dallas Baptist Univ., Anderson Univ. and Okla. Baptist Univ. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30481

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Jason Cruise): The church’s message for men. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30482

KneEmail

By Mike Benson

Price

WHEN I WAS a boy, I had a bike that I had grown tired of…

There wasn’t anything wrong with it, I just wanted something better…a 10-speed. So I took my fire-engine red, Huffy bicycle, with a white banana seat, and slick back tire to my friend’s house and asked him if he wanted to buy it. He said, “Sure, I’ll give you $5.00 for it.” The bike was worth 10 times that, but I took it. Needless to say, after my parents discovered what I had done, I realized the “error of my way” and regretted my decision, but it was too late. My bike was gone and all I had to show for it was a meager $5.00.

Long ago, Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for just a bowl of soup. After Esau’s hunger subsided, he regretted his bargain, but it was too late to change what had been done. Esau’s birthright was gone and all he had to show for it was an empty bowl.

Then possibly, there’s our story. The God of heaven has called us His children through our obedience to the gospel, and yet, we fail to cherish such a standing and relationship and choose to sell it for what…? The contents of a liquor bottle? A moment of illicit passion? A grade on a test? A grudge that we won’t let go of? Hurtful gossip? And if we engage in this sort of “bargain,” what will we have to show for it in eternity? Such choices lead only to regret.

My bike was worth more than $5.00, and your soul is worth more than anything this world might offer you. Give it some thought. (Steve Higginbotham)

“What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

Plan to have a wonderful Wednesday!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

Camash (12)


Hi, my oldest child is a diabetic. She was diagnosed at the age of three. She is currently 12. I would like to ask for a prayer request on her due to her sugar not being stable like it needs to be. We are going to see her doctors at Childrens Hospital on Firday, May 15th. Camash has told me and her grandmother that she is ready for the insulin pump. There is alot of step into getting the pump. Please pray that when we go, that the doctor will be kind enough to get us started on the steps to getting it for her. We have been told by many unstable diabetics that the pump has made a big difference in thier lives. I just hope that it will have the same effect with Camash.

Thanks for your time,
Toni
Camash’s Mom

Jimmy and Retia Dukes & Caleb

It’s amazing what a little Caleb can do. If you meet my son, you typically and immediately know two things: he is a focused, pensive kid and he is a confident kid.

Probably could throw a third in there, too – he likes NASCAR. He has gotten Dad into it, BIG TIME. In fact, Caleb created a book (seriously – a book with like 32 pages in it) he sent to Dad early on after the accident about a NASCAR race at Talladega that he imagined. He illustrated the book all by himself, with the story in his head. Then, he dictated the story for each page to his mommy, who penned the words beneath his pictures in her A+ penmanship. Did I mention he is 7? Oh, wait…7 and a half. Did I mention I am proud of him?

My dad is proud of Caleb, too. And proud of the book. He shows it to everyone who comes into the room. Everyone! Visitors, nurses, doctors, techs, therapists, cockroaches, pain-medicine-induced ferries who visit him during the night, people who wander off of Jefferson Hwy asking for directions. Everyone. And why not? Dad has always loved talking about the people who mean so much to him.

You should have seen him smile when Caleb walked into his room Sunday night.

Caleb flew back with me Sunday evening to see his Ammaw and Pop and hang out with me for the week. His teacher gave me his school work, which we began doing yesterday afternoon at Starbucks. I have really missed him and his sisters and his mommy while I’ve been here. It is great to have him here. After we take supper to Pop tonight, I am surprising him with a New Orleans Zephyrs game. They are the AAA minor league team of the Florida Marlins, and their stadium is about a mile from Dad’s hospital. Tickets were $10 for me and $9 for him. The lady said we would be resting our feet on the top of the dugout. I can’t wait to see his face! Maybe we’ll catch a foul ball to bring back to Pop.

We flew in Sunday evening, in time to cross the river and wish Mom a Happy Mother’s Day. She smiled so big when she saw Caleb. She didn’t notice him at first when I walked in, but then she did. Her smile is so beautiful. Half-smile that is. I asked her to wink at him. She did. He smiled. It was very obvious he was thankful to see his Ammaw, and she was thankful to see him. We couldn’t stay long, because visiting hours end at 8:30. We stayed until the clock read that exactly, and headed real quick to stop and see Pop. We had to grab the key to the apartment, too, which Erik had left there in Pop’s room.

I wish I had taken a picture of Pop when he saw Caleb. He gave Caleb as big of a hug as someone can give with a neck collar and a broken arm and a wheelchair.

We stayed for a minute, grabbed the key, and headed toward the apartment. Since we had not eaten supper yet (it was 9:00), we stopped for a quick bite at Serrano’s. Caleb wanted some cheese quesadillas. We ate and watched the end of the Celtics-Magic game. It didn’t end like I wanted, but Caleb actually cheers for both of those teams – the Magic cause they are in Orlando, and Boston cause they are green (his favorite color).

After a short but restful night’s sleep, we hit the ground running yesterday (Monday). A Tall Decaf was delivered to Dad. He had already eaten breakfast. We helped him take a bath and change clothes. Then, we watched him do his therapy.

Caleb was so interested. You can see from the picture that he was excited to see Pop upright. And Dad did so well. He walked with his walker 106 feet in his morning session and 150 feet in his afternoon session. You should see him. Pretty amazing watching him utilize that walker to keep the weight off of his left leg, while using his right leg as tolerated.

Then, the therapist brought out the game Connect 4. She wanted Pop to play Caleb in it while standing up. She raised a table up, and the competition began. These are two competitive dudes, now. Pop won three straight games. Then Caleb won. I think Pop let him win, though. I don’t remember him ever doing that to me. Grandchildren are special.

The last part of therapy was Caleb and Pop throwing a soft, cushy, orange ball back and forth to each other. Caleb really liked that.

When therapy was over, Caleb and I crossed the river to see Mom. We hung with her for a while. She nodded and shook her head at stuff. Still has the tracheotomy. Still can’t talk. Still not moving her arms, although one of them has a big heavy cast on it. We are hoping that they will remove the cast this week. It should be healed by now for the type of fracture that was in her wrist. Now the therapy begins – physical, respiratory, and speech. We are not sure they have started speech therapy yet. I am trying to get that going for her today. Some friends of ours who do that told us that it is important to get that going and get her weaned off the tracheotomy as soon as we can.

Thanks to the people who have made suggestions. And, thanks to the people who are trying to help us get Mom and Dad transferred back to Orlando. Lots of logistics have to line up for that to happen. Please pray for “The BIRC” (Brain Injury Rehab Center) there to accept Mom. Please pray for the neurologist here to communicate with us about Mom’s latest condition and to give us a plan for when they will put the skull piece back on. Please pray for logistics to move forward and work out for Mom to be flown by “med-flight” to Orlando. She will need trained folks and a plane that is equipped to hold a hospital bed or at least an ambulance-type of stretcher. Please pray for her bedsores to heal. Please pray for her infection to be controlled and eradicated.

MRSA is a big deal. I am taking big precautions with Caleb seeing her. He is wearing med gloves (which look funny on him they are so big). He is washing his hands before we leave. He is using anti-bacterial wipes when we get in the car. He is not touching anything in the whole hospital where Mom is. Please pray for that MRSA to go away. It’s not good for anyone.

Please pray for Pop to be conscious of when he has taken his pain meds. I ask all the time, but we are not there all the time, either, going back and forth. He really needs to stay ahead of the pain now that he is doing such hard therapy. Please pray for him to continue to be patient with this long process. Pray that his mind will be active on the things he is dreaming of and working on with work. Pray for his left leg in particular. It has a lot of healing to do. And, most of all, please pray for his heart not getting to see Mom. We are hoping to take him back over soon. We will see.

Well, I really can’t say it enough, but THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN AND FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. You all have been so significant in this process. We really do have a long way to go. Especially with Mom. Please keep praying.

Thanks for your love. We love you and appreciate you.
-jason

Tuesday

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.

It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times,

and willing to yield to others.

It is full of mercy and good deeds.

It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

And those who are peacemakers

will plant seeds of peace

and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

~James 3:17-18 NLT~



Pray for Sarabeth Simpson as she has surgery today at North Oaks.


Mrs. Faye Price got to go home for a while on Mother’s Day. Pray for her as she continues to work to improve.

Don Denton

Don is still continuing to do better. The doctors are calling his disease an “Inflamatory Process”. He does not have any other dignosis at this point.

They feel good about treatment. The doctor is also saying that they feel they can help with the dizziness.

Don will have an MRI of the heart. They want to make sure all is OK there.

It looks now that they will not release him until the end of the week.

Joshua’s birthday is Friday and we are still planning his party for Saturday.

I had an amazing surprise for Mothers Day. My brother Roger and his wife flew in from New York to surprise me for Mothers’ Day. It was soooooo precious to have them here.

Back to Don, the doctors are saying they feel that he will get better. It will take some more time and a tweaking of his meds to make this happen.

We are so hopeful. Don has not been given a diagnosis that is not treatable. And we are past ready to be home again.
It has now been 16 days here.

We really like our doctors here. We have a neurologist who is agressive with her looking at what is going to work in ways of treatment.


I will update you soon. I have not had access to a computer, so hopefully it will be soon.

Diane


Carl Leo Bruce
(March 25, 1951 – May 9, 2009)


Carl Leo Bruce

U.S. Veteran Carl Leo Bruce was born March 25, 1951 and passed away at 11:38 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Hood Memorial Hospital, Amite. He was 58, a native of Ecorse, MI and a resident of Amite, LA. Carl was a U.S. Veteran having served our country during the Vietnam era.

Carl is survived by his companion, Joyce Davis, Amite, LA; a daughter, Lori Bruce, Ecorse, MI; a son, Preston Bruce, Ecorse, MI; 4 sisters, Patricia McCrary, Detroit, MI, Sandra Bruce, Ecorse, MI, Jeanette Butler, Detroit, MI & Michele Sanders, Ecorse, MI; a grandson, Jaylen Bruce; a host of nieces, nephews & great nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nelson & Sophie Byczenski Bruce; and a brother, Thomas Bruce.

A Memorial Service will be held at his residence, 10096 Mary Brown Road, Amite, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Jackie McCain officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in Ecorse, MI.

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

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

KneEmail

Listen

abear4.jpgTHERE ARE AT least three levels of listening:

1. No listening or nonlistening: This person has no awareness of the need to listen or to use a set of skills related to listening. He is not hearing impaired, so he believes he is a listener.

2. Focused listening: This listener is the type you do in polite conversation. The listener looks at the speaker with interest and doesn’t interrupt him. Most people prefer to speak, so focused listening is greatly valued and appreciated.

3. Active listening: This type of listener will paraphrase or summarize what the other is speaking and it helps the speaker feel more deeply connected. This type of listening fosters trust, communicates caring, and invites open dialogue. Also it can clarify miscommunication and resolve conflict. (Dallas and Nancy Demmitt)

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19

Posted by Mike Benson


Have a terrific Tuesday!

Anna Lee

Monday

“But to You I have cried out, O Lord,

and in the morning my prayer comes before You.”

~Psalm 88:13~


Jacob and Kelsey Williams are the proud parents of a Mother’s Day arrival. Noah Eugene Williams weighed in at 7 lb. 15 oz. and was 20 in. long. Two sets of first-time grandparents are George and Janet Pike and Jimmy and Millie Williams.


We have been requested to pray for Sarabeth Simpson, young daughter of Marty and Gretchen Simspon. She will have some surgery tomorrow at North Oaks.


Closet

aac.jpgHOW DO YOU build a “sanctuary” in your busy life; a place where you can meet with God…?

Build a “closet.”

Isaac’s closet was in a field ( Genesis 24:63). Peter’s closet was on a housetop ( Acts 10:9).

You must fashion your own.

It may mean leaving the kids with your spouse, while you sit out on the back porch with a cup of coffee and your Bible for fifteen minutes.

It may mean snatching a few minutes when your baby is taking his or her afternoon nap.

For those who have a long drive to work, your sanctuary may be in your car with a CD player. It may mean posting a passage of Scripture near your steering wheel, where you can meditate and pray about it during the time that you drive.

It may mean reading your Bible during your lunch break at work.

It may mean taking the first ten minutes to read and pray in your office each morning.

It may mean putting your tennis shoes on and going for a walk with your Bible in hand.

It may mean sitting in your garage or workshop with a CD player to listen to sermons.

It’s not what the sanctuary looks like or where it is that matters. It’s what you do there that makes it a meaningful place. The sanctuary does not provide rest. What takes place there in the desert is what refreshes the inner man. (Steve Farrar)

“But you, when you pray, go into your room,

and when you have shut your door,

pray to your Father who is in the secret place;

and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Matthew 6:6

Posted by Mike Benson

May your Monday be the best one you’ve had in a while.

Anna Lee

Sunday



“Strength and honor are her clothing,

and she can laugh at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and loving instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the activities of her household

and is never idle.

Her sons rise up and call her blessed.

Her husband also praises her:

‘Many women are capable,

but you surpass them all!’”

~Proverbs 31:25-29, HCSB~



KneEmail

By Mike Benson


Unconditional

TWO-YEAR-OLD Samantha is a doll…

Her smile brightens the room. Her big, brown eyes sparkle with life. Samantha was visiting her grandparents for the holidays. One afternoon she was tottering through the house with her “sippy cup” in hand. Those of you with young children know that a sippy cup doesn’t leak…unless, of course, it’s held upside-down! As you might guess, without realizing it, Samantha trailed red kool-aid throughout her grandparents house. The bright, red, sticky stains were especially evident on the tan carpet. When her grandmother discovered the trail, needless to say, she wasn’t exactly “tickled.” Question: Did grandmother stop loving Samantha because of speckled carpet? Of course not. Why? Because the child was more important than floor covering.

Some of us need to learn that lesson. Unconditional love says, “I love you” — period. It says people are more important than things. It says relationships are more important than objects. It says red kool-aid can be cleaned up, but two-year-old hearts are too precious to be broken. I’m thankful grandmothers, like Samantha’s, who knew this. (Mike Benson)

“Love suffers long and is kind,

love…is not provoked,

[it] bears all things…endures all things”

~1 Cor. 13:4, 5, 7~

…even red kool-aid.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday Evening

Continue to pray for Robbie Lynn C. Kirby as she contiues to work her way through back issues.

Dukes Family

77 steps forward One step back

It is saturday about 7 pm and dad and I are pulling for the mavericks as we eat copeland’s Catfish Acadiana and Broccoli balls, we have to get our veggies and what better way than to mix a heart healthy veggie and cheeze and bacon and fry it, yeah that is what i am talking about. One thing i can say about my father that has always and always will be true: he is firm just and he knows how to eat and better yet where to eat. I know that is four J Taylor. He is getting stronger i am getting fatter. Dad took 33 feet of steps yesterday and not to be outdone today he walked 77 feet. Then he wheeled himself to bathroom door and walked with his walker to bathtub and got in and out and walked back to his wheelchair, which totaled about another 30 feet, plus the getting up and down. He has had some pain both boney and muscularly this evening. But that will only get worse the next week or two. Superman is ready though. He told his nurse today he was ready, to “bring it”. He is getting cooler by the second, i mean he is even tweeting. I ask him why they did not call it twiting but he just said it was tweeting. Anyway, i digress, he is getting stronger. He probably will be healthier when he leaves than before he got hit.

Mom on the other hand has had a step back. Not really back, but she has a mrsa infection in her blood to go with the two decubiti on her sacrum and head. She is breathing well and heart is doing good. She is still alert and even winked at me a bunch today. I think she loves me? She will move her feet still. But as we have said for a week this is the important time to pray HARD!! We must pray for her body to fight: to fight infection, to fight to gain strength and mobility, to fight to gain ability in speaking and swallowing. Pray that the techs will be diligent to turn mom every 2 hours so that she will not get another bedsore. I talked to friend from med school who was consulted to see mom for neurology. They thought she had a L sided ischemic stroke that was extending. The neurogist thought this was all old from the trauma and was from the contusion and inflamation around those contusions. He reassured my thought that she was a good rehab candidate and would probably have some residual disuse in her L arm and hand. Otherwise she should do well in rehab as we progress to that point. We will not really know what she is going to be able to do or not do until 2 years from now. Just keep praying for her.

Pray for logistics for insurance, the legal stuff, for transfer of mom to Orlando to Brain Center there, not only that we can get in but that we can get someone to fly her there. Pray for dad to have strength, peace, and joy as he gains strength and mobility. Pray for their nurses techs and doctors to take care of them as if they were their own and to communicate with jason and me.

We cherish and covet all of your prayers and could never thank you enough for all you have done and are doing. Thanks.