Praises, Requests, & Updates – Page 509

Tuesday Afternoon

Margaret Huber

Just wanted to let you know that I am home from the hospital and recuperating. I was found to have colon cancer but I will go Friday to St. Lukes Surgery Center to have a port put in and then I will go to Baton Rouge next week to see an Oncologist to start treatments. Keep me in your prayers and hopefully soon I will get over this and get back to work. GOD IS SO GOOD!
Lots of prayers have been answered already and I want to thank everyone from praying for me and my family, thank them for the food, phone calls, visits, flowers and gifts. Friends are so special.
Mrgaret Huber

Jimmy and Retia Dukes

Monday was a good day. I had flown back into town Sunday night in time to go and be with Dad for a while. We watched the Red Sox sweep the Yankees, which I didn’t like, and then we watched the highlights of the NASCAR race from Sunday. Caleb, Dad’s NASCAR-loving grandson, has influenced his grandfather and father to pay attention to the sport, especially Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. They didn’t fair as well as we would have like, but the Carl Edwards crash was dangerously entertaining. Dad seemed to enjoy the company and the highlights. I certainly appreciated seeing him again.

I had flown home for the weekend. Erik and Erin had driven down. They helped Mom and Dad settle into their new facilities. We are very pleased and very thankful with both so far. It is such a blessing not only to know my brother as brother, but also to know him as a best friend. And his sweet wife – we both over-married. Jen and I are thankful to be walking through all of this with them, and with all of you.

Monday morning began with “Westbank” traffic. I google-mapped my way to West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero. When I found Mom, she was asleep. Just so you know, she still is doing that more than anything – sleeping, resting, much like when she was in a coma. The difference, thankfully, now is that every now and then when you try to wake her, she actually wakes up. Sometimes for a minute or so. Sometimes for a little longer. I was with her for about 2 hours and 15 minutes yesterday morning. Sum total during that time we interacted approximately 20 minutes.

By “interacted” I mean she opened her eyes and looked into mine. Her expression, while still very much not her usual look, demonstrated that she recognized me, even with my new beard. I asked her if she liked it. She actually nodded. Between periodically slipping back off to sleep and intermittently returning to the conversation, Mom “conversed” (you might say) without saying a word. I tried to ask questions that only required a blink or a nod or a movement of the toes. She did move her toes on her right foot when I asked her to move her feet. Not her left foot. When I asked her to move her hands, she didn’t. Can’t do that yet. Hopefully soon. Hopefully she will again.

What killed me as her son and yet cause me to rejoice objectively all at the same time was when she was listening to Abby on the phone. Our two-year-old and Mom have spent a lot of time together. I called Jen while I was in the room with Mom just to give her an update. I asked Mom if she wanted to “talk” to Jen (that’s code for listen since she is not speaking yet). She nodded her head. Jen spoke to her over the speaker phone. Mom seemed to appreciate it, listening intently. Then I asked Mom if she wanted to “talk” to Abby. She nodded again. Abby got on the phone.

“Hey Ammaw…hey Ammaw!!! Is she derr? You derr Ammaw? I wuv you. Come over, ok!”

I told Jen I would call her back. Upon hearing Abby, Mom began to convulse, as though sobbing uncontrollably. She teared up. I supposed she was crying and gently stroked the left side of her shaved head and tried to calm her down. I told her I was sorry for making her sad. After she calmed, I asked her if that was okay that she “talked” to Abby. She nodded. I quit crying, too, and rejoiced inside that Mom had reacted emotionally like she did. She is still in there, even though her body is not responding yet like we hope it will.

Mom had a very busy day. Not only did she respond to some of the visitors who came and interacted with and sang over and prayed for her, but she also went through a series of procedures. The doctors at her new facility wanted to recheck everything. Mom had another CT on her head. Both arms were x-rayed. A new central IV line was placed. She had respiratory treatment several times during the day. They ordered her a special bed. Her staples were removed from the large incision on the right side of her head. They took blood and urine for cultures and brought “infection control” into the picture to monitor her. The therapists came and worked with her some with range-of-motion exercises. And she got a little morphine. She has had very little pain medicine this whole time since the accident. She has only been sedated for procedures. For her to need pain meds and to be sedated for them to place the central line was actually a positive sign of progression.

We are thankful. Test results on all that stuff should be communicated with us today, tomorrow, and Thursday. I will let you know.

Dad had a really good day. He woke up to breakfast in bed (he’s getting spoiled with that). He fed himself, although with his right hand since his left arm is still healing (he’s left-handed). He put on his “superhero” T-shirt that Erin got him over the weekend (he and mom both are superheroes to us). And the therapists came and got him for therapy.

They worked him hard, he said. For about an hour and a half. He was sore by the afternoon, but happy about it.

I got there to see him close to lunch, Decaf Tall in hand, after I had left Mom’s place. Some friends brought lunch, special for Dad. it was soooooooo good. Yummy country cooking. After lunch, we talked and visited for a while. He shifted back into bed for a nap. I headed to sip some coffee at Starbuck’s (just across the street from his place, which is pretty cool) and bring him back his afternoon latte.

When I returned, we slid him out of bed into his wheelchair, and I took him for a walk. Outside. He said the sun felt good. Clouds rolled in, and rain rhythmed on the tin roof of the awning under which he sat. He likes that a lot. And I so enjoyed seeing him relax and smile the way he did.

“That rain smells and sounds so good,” he said. It was refreshing, for the ground and for Dad.

He said he wanted La Madeleine for supper. Probably because it was in view across the street. But it has always been one of his and mom’s favorites. A “croque monsieur,”, which is a posh way to say ham sandwich. I called it in. I asked him if he wanted to sit there (wheels locked of course) while I went over and picked it up. I trusted him to be good.

He wasn’t.

It was no big deal in the end. I was only gone for like 5 minutes. But while I was acting as his French catering service, he was overcome with Napoleon-Like courage (although a bit taller even sitting down), unlocked his wheels (somehow), and began to wheel himself along the sidewalk with one hand. Thankfully it was level. I know where I get my sense of adventure from, I guess. He is such a determined, stubborn, impatient, gracious, fierce, tender man. I love him.

Two friends arrived and sat with him while he ate and conversed for a while afterward. I headed back over to be with Mom. No response this time. Still sedated from them putting in the central line. So I sat with her for a while and left to let her sleep.

Uncle Danny, who had so kindly given Erik and Erin Hornet’s playoff tickets on Saturday, was able to grab two for me. Dad heavily encouraged me to go. I thought it would be fun and a bit of an escape. I tried asked three friends here to go with me, but all three were busy with family plans. I got there about 7:30 just in time for pre-game announcements. I befriended the two guys sitting next to me. One of them actually had a friend who was starting a church in Orlando near where we did. Small world – crazy. Gonna check in on the guy he told me about when I get back to see if we can connect.

Anyway, right before the tip, someone grabbed me from behind. It was one of my youth ministers from high school growing up here! She and a friend were sitting right behind me and had an empty seat. That was a treat. Then, she introduced me to some people behind us whom she said had been praying for Mom and Dad since the accident. Their compassionate concern overwhelmed me.

I am amazed at all the people who are praying and caring. We can’t thank you enough.

Oh yeah – Hornets actually set a new NBA playoff record last night. I was so happy to be there! They got beat down by 58 points, tying the largest loss margin in playoff history. Great record to hold! Seriously, it was a blast. A great escape. Thanks Uncle Danny and Stan. I really appreciate it.

So, here’s hoping today goes well and all the tests come back showing progression. God has so shown Himself as near and active in all of this. Through all of your love and through awakening Mom and through healing Dad so rapidly.

Please keep praying. Dad is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel with regard to his neck collar and not being able to walk. Mom has a very long road ahead. I pray that she will have complete ability to hold her grandchildren again. I pray that dang SUV didn’t steal that from her. I will be thankful, though, to simply see her do more than “talk” to Abby. I pray we will see Mom smile as she actually talks to Abby. I pray we will see Abby’s beautiful smile that mirrors Mom’s when she tells her face-to-face, “I wuv you, Ammaw.”

Can’t wait…

By the way – I think Erik is an amazing writer. I look forward to reading his next post. I love you, Bub.

OH YEAH – pretty amazing weekend home with my family. If you want to read a post and see a small video about my precious weekend with my family, http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com/. Special visit to EPCOT. Awesome celebration of how “My God Is So Big” at worship gathering. Hope you enjoy it. Love y’all.

Be sure to go to Jason’s blog and watch the video and read the post.

Tuesday Addition

I forgot to include this:

Kolby Blake Simpson was born Friday at 6:01 p.m. and weighed 8 ½ pounds and was 21 ½ inches long. The son of Matthew and Celeste Simpson and grandson of Martha Simpson and the late Randy Simpson.

(I cannot post this picture, but will gladly forward it to those who request me do to so.)

Thank God for this baby born to a family suffering from a loss. May the baby give new meaning to life for the family!

“But as for me, my prayer is to You,

O Lord, in the acceptable time;

O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,

hear me in the truth of Your salvation.”

(Psalm 69:13)

Dakota Brooke is better. Keep praying for this baby. He will be a week old tomorrow.

Please keep the family of Rae Baker in your prayers. She passed away Sunday morning in Salt Lake City Utah with her family by her side. She is survived by her husband Don, daughter Dayna and two sons Bruce and Craig.
Thank you
Pam Sellers

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

MANY OF US indulge at every opportunity…

We gorge ourselves with good, drink, clothes, television, sports, etc. Moderation does not come easily to us. Yet the foundation ethic of talk is self-control. Whoever we are, wherever we are, whatever we do, we must control our talk.

Disciplining our talk may be the ideal place to being disciplining ourselves in other areas. I have heard of desperately obese people having their mouths wired shut to allow them to lose weight. I suppose we could do that to improve our speech ethics too. But such an approach to control would deal only with mechanics. It does not deal with the lack of discipline in our character. (William Baker)

“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3; cf. Matthew 12:33-35; 1 Peter 3:10; Psalm 34:12-13

Don’t dread the week ahead. Look at it as an opportunity to share the Good News by words and deeds.

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)

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

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)