Jim is Hospital

for the few of you that read my blog.

took Jim to hospital last night.

he has a partial paralysis of his face (Like when novocained by dentist).

Has VERY high blood pressure, heart beating too fast. Being medicated for that.

also....CAT scan planned on his head to check for small brain bleeds.


Please pray. Much thanks.

Update on Hubby

So Jim has had a set back.
more coughing
more ickiness
more lack of sleep.
more chills and sweats.

He's not a happy camper.

He'll be underfoot all day.
Good thing I love him none-the-less. :)

Our boyo has a cold.
I'm slowly getting better but still have a sore chest.
with interrupted sleep I managed to stay in bed until almost 8 a.m. Unheard of for me.

But life continues.
God continues to bless us and teach us much.

Update to prayer

Chantal is home again.

She's happy to be home but very tired.

Continued prayer appreciated!

thanks!

Prayer for my sis-in-law

My brother John is married to this nice lady named Chantal. They've been married at least 15 years now...possibly longer (I don't track those things well).

Chantal has had on-going health issues for the past year or so.

In May they did surgery, we thought they fixed the problem. She was recovering well though quite tired often yet.

Two days ago she was rushed to hospital with a ruptured cyst on an ovary.

Yesterday (late) they removed that ovary and the tube. And at last report she was recovering well.

Please pray for her continued health and recovery.

Thanks!

prayer that makes sense to a little boy

We searched and searched and searched some more.
Figured he was lost in the leaves outside.
Sent Justin to bed without him....
a very sad boy.

Where Justin's night prayer was....

Dear God.
Help mommy and daddy to find Tagu.
I like him.
I want him.
in Jesus' name amen.

Then after a certain nefarious beast was found hiding with crackers in a MacDonald's bag and delivered to very sad, very sleepy child....

Dear God. (said with a very big smile)
Thank you for helping mommy find Tagu.
In Jesus Name Amen.

have to admit..that made my mommy's heart smile. :)

Request

for regular readers of my blog...

You know that this is where I do the bulk of my devotions.

You may have noticed they've become a bit more sporadic.

Life somehow between toddler, tiredness, and so forth has made it more difficult for me to have my devotions on a daily basis.

I sorely feel the lack. I need that daily grounding in the Lord. I really do.

Please pray that I find more of an equilibrium here.... I need my time with God too.

thank you.

True Woman Conference - Lessons

Okay...can't seem to find right now my book with notes from the first four messages...rather frustrating that. Wish I could I loved the message from John Piper and appreciated the others I heard from. It will show up again! :)

Anyways, ... Mary Kassian (I think is the spelling) and Carolyn McCulley both did talks on feminism and it's roots and how that affects us. Both were excellent. Taught me things I had never known or expected. Knowing the whys of things is good, helps to understand it and therefore hopefully to combat it where it needs to be. Feminism is not all wrong. Being able to vote...I appreciate that very much. This demand that for men and women to be equal meaning that they must be therefore exactly the same. That is not good.

Janet Parshall spoke on Motherhood. She used 1 Samuel as her basis. Talking about Hannah and the things that she needed to go through, and how she kept her promise to give her baby back to God. I thought it a good message, perhaps didn't expound on how Christ and the gospel fits in with all of it. But she used humour well :) and explained the text with some thoughts that I hadn't considered well before.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss did the final message of the weekend. I COULD NOT sit still for this. I was trying and drowsy and I kept walking around. Took some notes. Spoke from Esther. And how Esther was used of God in her time. Spoke a lot on how throughout history there are two stories going on. Man's and God's. We need to pay more attention to God's history.

She closed this message making six points.
1. we are in a battle
2. the weapons and tactics of human kingdom are different than those of the heavenly kingdom.
3. God has a sovereign redemptive plan and his plan won't fail.
4. Through faith and obedience you can be part of God's plan.
5. There is no situation so desperate that God cannot redeem it.
6. Don't judge the outcome of the battle by how things look now.

It was a good message.

I thoroughly enjoyed this conference.

Yes, there were things at it that you only see at a women's conference. (aka the white hankies). Yes, I remain bothered by weepy women as they are convicted of things. Those things I dislike en masse, but one on one...t'is okay. Is this stuff right or wrong? I don't know. All I know is that each individual person has to decide...is this right or wrong for me in my walk with my God? Does it harm anyone? Does it cause anyone to sin?

I had some marvelous conversations with people.
I saw God at work.
I had strangers pray for my safety when they learned I was traveling alone.
I learned that I too, can handle a toll road. :) And that I can ask for directions when lost without melting down first (thanks Jim for that influence!). :)

Met one lady who touched my heart deeply though I don't think she'll ever know that. She found out I was a pastor's wife and the first thing out of her mouth was...write your name down here in my book. I will pray for you until I don't use this book anymore, pastor's wives need prayer. Joan...thank you!

Ah... books I came home with. Some I got free from going to a women director's thing. Some were freebies off tables, and some were in the bag that we got.

Books:

• "for women only". (things about the inner lives of men) - upstairs by my bed so can't say author
• "becoming God's true woman" by nancy leigh demoss - bought one, received one. Gave it away.
• "apples of gold" betty huizenga
  
• - now this is a program that I would like to do. NOT THIS program, but one like it. Teaching women how to cook and then doing a bible lesson at the same time. Really like it, just this program costs $$'s that I don't have and that I don't think women would have who need this type of program.
• "Brokenness, surrender, holiness" - nancy leigh demoss
• "50 Crucial Questions" - john piper and wayne grudem
• "What's the difference" - John Piper

Pamphlets:

• "free at last" by debra fehsenfeld - about eating disorders
• "learn to discern" by revive our hearts ministry

Booklets:

• "the attitude of gratitude" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "Cultivating a pure heart" by nancy leigh deMoss
• "protrait of a woman used by God" - nancy leigh DeMoss
• "the power of words" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "biblical protrait of womanhood" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "the look - does God really care what I wear?" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "heartcry" - life action ministries - 2 journals
• "Today in the word" - devotional by Moody

So some good resources.

Oh..prayer request. Joni Eareckson Tada wanted to come but her health prevented her from doing so. She's having bone pain. not a good time pain wise for her.

Okay...some other blogs I've found on this conference.
Old fashioned lady.
Radical womanhood.

There are more out there, but I'm done searching for now. Need to walk an overly anxious dog while the boy yet sleeps. :) He sleeps! Living the light on helps!

Prayer Request - Jim's friend

A friend of Jim's from college days is not doing well.

As a person with MS he has been up and down in his health for several years but these past couple of years have been particularly difficult for him. He is currently in hospital and not doing well at all.

Your prayers for him and his extended family would be appreciated.

Sadness, prayers needed.

A blogger that I read fairly regularly is New Lumps.
His family is in need of your prayers. Their daughter was murdered.

All I can say is prayers are needed in this time of mourning. Go here to Terry Stauffer's blog.

for those interested, here's the write up in the edmonton sun.

Weekend update and A fire (not ours)

Jim wrote a post here on our past weekend.

We learned this morning via my mom that the church, Riverside ARP, that we worshipped at had a fire!! ACK!!

Clips from the article in THE RECORD.

A passerby saw flames coming from the Riverside Reformed Presbyterian Church on Montrose Street in Cambridge shortly after midnight and called 911, Platoon Chief Bob Laurence said.

Fire crews found a fire in an administrative area of the building.

It took firefighters from three stations about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze, Laurence said.

.....

At least one person reported hearing glass breaking at the time of the fire, Heinzel said.

Police said it's still not clear if the church was targeted. "At this point, there's no indication one way or the other," he said. "We're hoping someone will come forward with information to help us understand the circumstances that led to the fire."....

Pastor John Van Eyk said services were held as usual on Sunday night and the building had been locked up. He was still awake at his home next to the church when he heard the sirens.

"Sin happens," he said with a shrug as he glanced over at the flapping yellow tape around the perimeter of the building. "It's not something we approve of, but it happens . . . We see this as part of the Lord's plan for our lives " ........

Fire officials have pegged the initial damage at about $150,000.

I so enjoyed worshiping with this congregation on Sunday. I felt at home right away. Hearing this news was a bit of a shocker to me. I do know that the Lord will provide for them.

Prayer for this congregation would be appreciated.

Prayer for Justin

He has an owie in a particular area. Please pray that it heals well. Thanks.

Prayer for Neighbours

Found out on Thursday about two prayer needs for neighbours.

1. possibility of skin cancer. had a mole that kept growing despite removal.

2. another who just had a MRI done (at least I think it was that and not a CAT scan). On her head and neck because she's been having knock you off your feet headaches for about a month now, with no real cause as to WHY she should be having them.

Both are sisters.
Neither go to church or see the need to do so.

I figure prayer and continued interest is a way for me to reach out and touch them for God.


As to my dad:

• His thumb and fourth finger are healing well. Just a bit of oozing from the fourth finger. But mostly they are fine. So that is a praise! :) yeah! Hopefully soon those bandages will be off for good and that will give Dad a bit more mobility there.
• The second and third finger will take some time to heal, they were badly mangled and basically have to regrow all the skin on them.
• My mom is able now to change the dressings which reduces their time on the road going to the doctor for that. Mom is happy with less time on the road right now. She is TIRED. My heart just aches for her because I can't help her with this. Some of the care that dad needs right now I can't help him with since I'm his daughter. All I can do is call and pray and let her know I care.

Thanks.

Prayer Request - update dad and uncle dick

My Uncle Dick has passed away. Tante Willy is tired and mourning. Please keep the family in your prayers. One boy (married) three girls (two married, one single), trying to think how many grandkids....10 or 11 I think. Dick was a man with a heart to help people in physical ways. Liked to do mission trips. Worked the church camp for years as a volunteer. As far as I knew he was a man who loved God, he certainly helped raise his children to do so. :) Visitation is today in their town, funeral is at their church on Saturday.

My Dad. He apparently does not need plastic surgery. The surgeon said that the emergency department did such a good job on him that they just want to let it heal up as it is. They want him to come back on Monday for x-rays to see how the bones are doing. Mom says he has no additional pain. It is a bit hard for him though, he's not allowed to put any pressure on it....and this is the hand he uses for his cane. Makes getting around difficult. Please pray for dad to find ways to get rid of excess energy in a safe manner. That he learns to walk safely using his wrong hand for his cane and that while his hand heals that his bad leg stabilizes a bit more. (not sure how to word all that, but argh!!!!!!!! To not be able to get around well because your hand is sore and your bum leg needs more support. to me that would just be ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

As Dad says.....his hand trumps my hand right now. :) My hand incidentally is healing well. Remains a bit sensitive to heat, doesn't like pressure applied to it. I have to use my winter gloves to do many things, but I have good winter gloves that help me do many things, so who cares if my hand gets hot and itchy! :) I can still do stuff (as long as I'm smart about it). :) Praise to God that it is going so well.

Just folks....if you read this blog...pray for my dad, pray for uncle Dick's family.

Prayer Request - Dad

Got a phone call from Mom tonight at 9 p.m.

While she was away shopping in Kitchener my dad thought it behooved him to make another birdhouse.

The Skilsaw thought it behooved it to attack my father's hand!

He ended up not appreciating the skilsaw. But it happened so fast it could have accidentally made a wrong decision. :)

It removed a chunk from his thumb (a piece of flesh). Mangled his index and middle finger and took the first digit off the ring finger. Has stitches in middle finger.

They gave him intravenous pain meds, sent him home with a prescription for Tylenol Three which he hates taking, told him to come back in the morning.

They are hoping to get him in with a plastic surgeon.

He sounds okay. YEAH!

Now for my mom...she's still a bit AHHH!!!!
Here she came home from Kitchener, ready to say hi to dad, no dad to be found. Drops of blood on the floor...no dad. Go to neighbours on both sides...no dad, and they know nothing.
Okay...where could dad be?????
Call the hospital... Was uncle Dick okay? Yep, dad's not there.
Call the emerg....was Dad perhaps there? YES, he's still there.
Relief...mingled with worry. She got there 5ish, they left 8ish.
Dad apparently called the ambulance to come help. YEAH for clear-mindedness. :)
It took them a while to control the bleeding. Happened around 2 p.m.

So, the adrenaline has to stop flowing for mom. Dad seems okay, but the pain meds haven't worn off yet. They'll see how it all goes.

But he's okay.

What to pray for:
1. No infection to set in.
2. No need for plastic surgery (unless can use local anesthetic).
3. Praise that it wasn't any worse.
4. That pain levels remain at a manageable level.

Thank you.

Updates on Prayer

Lydia has the results. The cancer hasn't spread! YEAH!!! :) She still has to undergo chemotherapy because of her age and family history. BUT this is good news! :) She's still weak from surgery but is at home again.

Dad has an ultrasound for the beginning of March to see if more information can be gained to assist a specialist in determining the next step for Dad's care. Something about spurs on his backbone or something or other. Don't quote me as it was a quick conversation with mom last night interspersed with tired silly boy comments on the sidelines.

Update on my Cousin

So was talking with mom last night.

Lydia (cousin from Holland) had her surgery. They sent the tumour off to be tested. They should know more in a week or so.

She'll have to heal up a bit from surgery and then undergo Chemotherapy.

Docs still don't think it looks to good for her, but we have to continue to wait and see.

Thanks for praying.

Update on Prayer List

Here is the promised update on my prayer list.

I haven't heard from Jen how that lady we're praying for is doing.

My Dad. Okay..when dad was in hospital for his hip re-replacement he had some issues with blood clots. It seems that those are haunting him now. Those big clots were replaced with millions of tiny clots which cause swelling in his veins which puts pressure on nerves which cause pain. It could eventually stabilize OR could get worse. Either way, it's been deemed too risky to do anything about it for him. They thought is also that his tummy troubles are due to arthritis and just how nerves are connected in the body. He'll be undergoing some additional tests to see if more answers can be found.

I have heard nothing further of my uncle.

I have heard nothing further on my dutch cousin either. Oh on....she will be undergoing chemotherapy sometime by the end of the week. Her surgery should be today or tomorrow. At least that's what I think was jumbled in the last call I had with mom.

Lots of stuff going on in the family right now. Keeping it all straight can be a challenge.

Prayer Request

Jen has a prayer request.

Prayer request in my family.

• a cousin in the Netherlands, 33 yr old woman, married with two young daughters. Diagnosed with breast cancer. Prognosis is not considered good. Going in for surgery ASAP, with chemo immediately following.
• My Dad has something wrong with his veins. He says it's getting worse. He'll learn more on Friday, but right now it's called something like chronic vein disease, it's a degenerative condition.
• My uncle is in hospital, chronic care ward. Family is hoping to get him into a long term care facility close to home. Doctors say it is just a matter of time before he passes.
  

Thank you for praying.

Prayer Please

One of the things that I wish for is that I could STOP waking up at 200 a.m. Takes me forever to get back to sleep and makes me a bit "tetchy" throughout the day.

Not a good scene, particularly if one also has a hubby who has a crazy busy work-week ahead of him, and is somewhat stressed out about it.

Pray for us this week that we be kind to each other and that we trust that God knows what he is doing in what he has provided for us this week. Thanks. :)

News

Update on Jim
- kidney stone has still not passed. Has times of REALLY bad pain. Was unable to preach today... that's always a good indicator of just how awful he feels because Jim LOVES to preach. :)

Bittersweet news.
- F. Scott Petersen of Ars Theologica lost his battle with cancer and has passed on to glory. A man that I enjoyed how he thought and learned from through his blog. To read more about it all, please visit the blog at Second Reformed Church.