Category: Family

Friday

“If I speak the languages of men and of angels,

but do not have love,

I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

~1 Corinthians 13:1, HCSB~

 

 

My Georgia grandchildren complete two weeks of school today.  They are on a quarter system which gives them a week off after each quarter.  Pray for all the students who have started or will start school soon.  Pray for the teachers, administrators, and support staff in each school.

 

Jadon’s Story: Poem

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 06:20 PM PDT

My mommy is part of an online support group of families that have IS like me. Someone posted this today and she wanted me to share it. She said I’m such a blessing to my family. She just wishes she could get some relief for me from these seizures so I don’t have to suffer. I promise I will update my page with the information from Boston. My neurologist is going to call us tomorrow with the final results and plan. Thanks for praying for me and enjoy the poem.

A Special Child

You weren’t like other children,
And God was well aware,
You’d need a caring family,
With love enough to share.

And so He sent you to us,
And much to our surprise,
You haven’t been a challenge,
But a blessing in disguise.
Your winning smiles and laughter,
The pleasures you impart,
Far outweigh your special needs,
And melt the coldest heart.
We’re proud that we’ve been chosen,
To help you learn and grow,
The job that you have brought us,
Is more than you can know.
A precious gift from Heaven,
A treasure from above,
A child who’s taught us many things,
But most of all- “Real Love”

 

 

CaringBridge:CallieCole

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole

 

Momma has been able to briefly sit in a wheelchair this week.  This is an example of the “baby steps” she is starting to take.  Pray for her as we “walk” along with her on this new journey.

 

  WALKING IN THE LIGHT

A young Marine and his commanding officer board a train headed through the mountains of Switzerland.  They can find no place to sit except for two seats right across the aisle from a young woman and her grandmother.

After a while, it is obvious that the young woman and the young soldier are interested in each because they are giving each other “looks.”  Soon the train passes into a tunnel and it is pitch black. There is a sound of the smack of a kiss followed by the sound of the smack of a slap. When the train emerges from the tunnel, the four sit there without saying a word.

The grandmother is thinking to herself: “It was very brash for that young soldier to kiss my granddaughter, but I’m glad she slapped him.”

The commanding officer is setting there thinking:  “I didn’t think the young Marine was brave enough to kiss the girl, but I sure wish she hadn’t missed him when she slapped and hit me!”

The young woman was sitting and thinking:  “I’m glad the soldier kissed me, but I wish my grandmother had not slapped him!”

The young Marine sat there with a satisfied smile on his face.  He thought to himself:  “Life is good.  When does a fellow have the chance to kiss a beautiful girl and slap his commanding officer all at the same time!”

It is difficult to know exactly what is happening in the dark (as shown by three of the four characters above).  There’s no light by which to gain a proper perspective.  Walking in darkness can be especially dangerous.

It’s not surprising that the apostle John frequently used the images of light and darkness to describe our walk with God.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:5-7)

I pray that your walk today may be in the light of God’s love.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

 

Thanks for your prayers for these and other needs.  You mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Wednesday Addition

This was too good (and appropriate in the life of my family) to not post immediately.  I hope it is meaningful to you too.

Heart to Heart with Holly: You can climb the impossible…

(Posted: 03 Aug 2011 06:57 AM PDT)

The sky stretches endless blue above me. The road whirs beneath the wheels of my bike.

I can see it coming–a hill in the distance. It calls my name, dares me to climb it. I move upwards and feel the effort. Legs beg to stop. Shoulders ask for a break. Mouth reminds me I’m thirsty.

But I’ve learned that sometimes you have to ride through the hurt.

Sometimes you have to push through the hard.

That’s how you get stronger.

That’s how you beat the next hill faster.

Yes, there are seasons when we need to stop and rest or tend to an injury.

But there are other moments when the only way through is to just keep going.

To climb the impossible.

Then look out from the top and say, “I didn’t know I had it in me.”

Oh, yes, you’ve got it in you. Because you’ve got a limitless God in you too. 

That means you can press on, press in, never give up.

You just might be closer than you think.

Go, friend, go. 

{I’m cheering you on as you do. Yes, woo-hoo for YOU!}

Wednesday

“Let your light shine before men

in such a way that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

~Mathew 5:16, NASB~

John Morgan, of Amite, had surgery at North Oaks yesterday.  Please keep John and his family in your prayers.

Jimmy Schwartz is home from North Oaks again.  Please continue to pray for him.

Momma is on that roller coaster ride again and taking all of us with her.  Please pray for our family.

Donnie Eudy, my brother-in-law, will have a cyst removed from his foot/ankle this morning in Hammond.  Pray all goes well today and during his recovery time.

Boyd was blessed to find a cancellation with a neurologist and get in yesterday.  He will be having tests today and tomorrow before seeing a specialist Monday.  Thanks to FBC, New Orleans for stepping in and helping the family with logistics.

Heart to Heart with Holley: Why I can’t compete with you…

(Posted: 01 Aug 2011 06:31 AM PDT)

We’re all running a race.

But it isn’t what you might imagine.

We don’t have the same starting line.

The same distance to go.

The same steps to take.

Our finish lines are even in different places.

You see, my friend, we’re not running on a track–

we’re each running on a one-lane path.

In the Kingdom, there’s no such thing as competition.

It’s impossible.

Because no one else ever has or ever will run your race.

So go for it, my friend, be strong, brave, beautiful YOU all the way to the end.

{Psst, here’s a secret: You’ve already won.}

 

Maybe our “roller coaster ride” I mentioned earlier should have been described as a personal race.  Thanks, Holley, for reminding me we have already won.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

Maggie Lee Henson for Good

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson

Boyd was able to get an appointment for today.  Yeah!  He won’t have to wait until September 27th to get on the road to better/controlled health.  Pray for the process he will be beginning today.

Momma is even better today than yesterday.  I request you pray for her weight.  She has lost about ten pounds.  Pray for her malnutrition and her anemia too.

More later…I’m going to bed now.

Anna Lee

 

Monday

“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision,

‘Do not be afraid,

but go on speaking and do not be silent,

for I am with you,

and no one will attack you to harm you,

for I have many in this city who are my people.’”

~Acts 18: 9-10, ESV~

CaringBridge:KathyJoThompson

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathyjothompson

CaringBridge:LoganWatts

 http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

Momma seems to be a little better.  Hopefully, she will be strong enough to begin some new physical therapy today.  I have her a nice wardrobe of clothing to choose from.  After 32 days of hospital gowns, anything different will be an improvement.  Pray she gets to have new physical therapy experiences.

The Hatchel family headed back to New Orleans a few minutes ago.  Thanks for the way you welcomed them to Kentwood and made them feel so welcome.

Time for a nap.  I’m on the night shift this week, so The Prayer Link will be delayed each day until I get home from the hospital.  Please be patient with my schedule.

Anna Lee

Saturday

“Now he who plants and he who waters are one,

and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

For we are God’s fellow workers.”

~1 Corinthians 3:8-9a~

CaringBridge:CarolineCutrer

photos.jpg

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolinecutrer

 

Jadon’sStory:GettingReady

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We are getting ready to leave for Boston. Our flight leaves Sunday at 1:30. It is a direct flight into Boston..Yay!!! We arrive in Boston at 5:55 which is 4:55 Louisiana time. It’s just me and mommy and mommy is a little nervous about that. Mainly because she will get the results in Boston all by herself. Thank God for cell phones and skpye. We are staying at a hotel this time because family housing is booked. So yes a $60 dollar stay has turned into $400. We have to do what we have to though. There are several others who are in the hospital longer than I’m going to be in that need a place to stay too. We have been very blessed to get to stay in the family housing in the past. We know everything will work out. I’ll keep everyone updated while we are there. I will be admitted on Monday at 1:00 pm. My Pet scan is Tuesday morning and then we will be released sometime Wednesday once we get the results. Please pray that they can find a way to stop these seizures. I really need some relief. Having 100 seizures a day is no fun 😦 I have to leave you with a happy. My PT was playing around yesterday and decided to put tape on my feet. It has made a huge difference. I’m able to feel my feet better and I’m standing straight up while holding on to things. I’ve been doing this for a while but I’ve never stood straight up and been as sturdy as I am now. It’s the little tricks that make a huge difference. We are also going to start trying to increase my lamictal again. So tomorrow morning we will increase it by 5 mg. Please pray that the rash stays away. We don’t want to deal with that again. Thanks for praying for me and my family. If you don’t mind say a little prayer for my brother. He doesn’t like it when we have to leave for the hospital. He really is a great big brother. Just look at the picture 🙂

Heart to Heart with Holley: When you need to get a lot done…

Rush-rush.

Aren’t there ever enough hours in the day?

And it seems a Voice whispers to my heart…

“Not for your agenda–but always for Mine.”

I stop, sigh, smile.

The most important “done” in my life is not the one I hope to write on my list at the end of the day. Instead it’s the one I hope to hear at the end of my life:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Ah, yes, I’m called to relationship not accomplishment.

And I’m loved no matter how many items on my list are left unchecked.

Whew.

I’m so glad.

You too?

 

Boyd and Jennie Hatchel will be speaking at the 10:30 morning worship of FBC, Kentwood tomorrow.  The grandchildren have grown so much.  Come see for yourselves!

Anna Lee

Friday

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; 

do not depend on your own understanding.”

~Proverbs 3:6 NLT~

Jimmy Schwartz is undergoing tests at North Oaks to determine why he is anemic.  He has received two units of blood.  Keep him in your prayers.

Momma is now is room 112 at Specialty Hospital in Hammond.  We hope she will regain some strength while there.

 

Boyd and Jennie Hatchel will be speaking in the morning worship service (10:30) Sunday at First Baptist Church of Kentwood.

 

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886
Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918
Tune: CONVERSE, Meter: 87.87 D

 

1.	What a friend we have in Jesus,
	all our sins and griefs to bear!
	What a privilege to carry
	everything to God in prayer!
	O what peace we often forfeit,
	O what needless pain we bear,
	all because we do not carry
	everything to God in prayer.

2.	Have we trials and temptations?
	Is there trouble anywhere?
	We should never be discouraged;
	take it to the Lord in prayer.
	Can we find a friend so faithful
	who will all our sorrows share?
	Jesus knows our every weakness;
	take it to the Lord in prayer.

3.	Are we weak and heavy laden,
	cumbered with a load of care?
	Precious Savior, still our refuge;
	take it to the Lord in prayer.
	Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
	Take it to the Lord in prayer!
	In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
	thou wilt find a solace there.
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh526.sht


Continue to pray for the families who are grieving.




Anna Lee

	


	





	

		
		
Thursday
	


	
	
	

		
Jimmy Schwartz’s weak spell caused him to spend the night at North Oaks and receive a unit of blood, but he should be home today.  Please continue to pray for the Schwartz family.


 


Momma will be moved to the Specialty Hospital today.  Pray for continued improvements.  She is weak from being in the bed for so long and not having much to eat for the last four weeks.  Keep praying for a good adjustment and continued improvement.


 


CaringBridge:Logan Watts


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts













	


	







	

		
		
Wednesday
	


	
	
	

		
I’m on my way to bed, so this will be short.


 


“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, 


all your soul, 


all your mind,


 and all your strength.” 




CaringBridge:CarolineCutrer


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolinecutrer






Momma is better again today.  If she can eat, drink, sit, and walk a little more, she may be moved to the Specialty Hospital in Hammond tomorrow.  Thanks for the continued prayers.




Don’t forget to pray for the families involved in that tragic accident yesterday.