Update

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month! Where has the time gone?!?!?

Here is a quick updated on my life. . .and I will post pictures after this!

While I'm Waiting. . . Patiently I will wait. . . I will move ahead bold and confident, Taking Every step in obedience. . .
While I'm waiting I will serve you. While I'm waiting I will worship. While I'm waiting I will not fail. I'll be running the race even while I wait.. . .

I have always felt that song described many areas of my life, but especially in the last few weeks. I am actually at home with the FLU. So, we are hopeful for a speedy recovery! I am going to do three updates in the email/post, so have decided to divide it into sections to make it a bit easier. Some may not care about the first section but have an interest in the second, or third. . . and vice versa.

Update on Belize:

Well, Man plans and God says, "Wait a minute!" As many of you know, we had to postpone our trip to Belize the day before we flew out. Many things have come into place since then that have clearly stated to us, we needed to wait. I love that I have a father protecting me daily. The hardest part of canceling Belize was walking back into my office after lunch on the day we canceled. . .and the last bit of money we needed was sitting on my desk. I prayed a lot that day and felt God was saying to wait. We desire to be good stewards of the money people gave for this journey and know that God has a plan for our time. It became evident to change my area of practice at the last minute was not going to be feasible. Anyway, after a lot of prayer, I am heading to Belize over Thanksgiving. This is a big deal as Thanksgiving is HUGE for my family. . . but, serving God must be higher on my list. . . I will go alone to take supplies and to serve in a nursing role at the camp site. My plan is do educational sessions within the community and to take many of our supplies. We will go together in April to serve in the clinic and schools. This will allow us to bring even more to the community. Please be in prayer as I begin to finalize my trip plans for November. If anyone would like a refund on money donated, please contact me via email.

Update on My Parents:
We are expecting to hear about two important decisions this week. . .I am honestly waiting and anticipating to hear GOOD NEWS!! I am ready to see some light. . and I know my God has been and will be faithful. Please pray for these decisions, pray for wisdom. I can't wait until I can openly share the details with everyone. . .You will be so amazed at how good God Has been through this journey.

Update on My Great Aunt:
There are many issues with this situation and I ask that you be in prayer about it with us. I believe that God has a plan and we are seeking him daily. She is doing better than anticipated but has a long road ahead. There are many family issues with her situation and we pray daily for wisdom. Please also be in prayer for our current situation on Tuesday.

Loving the Beach!!

Update on Prayer Requests

I hope that everyone is doing well! :o) It is always hard to believe when July hits that we are past the 1/2 way point of the year. This summer been busy but it has been a great blessing.

My parents are doing well considering all that has happened. Some days, I am just amazed at how steadfast they are in their ability to "keep on, keeping on." My dad is still waiting on surgery. It is frustrating, and we pray daily (some days it seems hourly) that he will be able to have surgery soon. Please continue to pray for their situation. He was really down tonight, yet I know God's timing is not our own.

My ankle/foot is doing well. We are in the process of completing my rehab (YEAH!!) and I have more range of motion than prior to the surgery. What a blessing and I am grateful to have improvement. I still have a journey ahead of me, but am pleased with the process. I am back to the gym and hope to return to running soon.

I am in the process of some changes at work. For those that do not know, my 1/2 day is being moved. It is not ideal for my family as my parents had many appointments scheduled based on my day off and my grandmother was coming to stay with me several weeks (starting on Wed. afternoon). My new 1/2 day is on Monday afternoon. Please pray for my family as we make many adjustments due to this change. I firmly believe God does have a reason for it, but it is adding more stress to our current situation. I see daily how God continues to be faithful and I will trust him.

I am also asking for prayer as our Women's Group begins a new bible study this Thursday night. I am excited as we "clean out our thought closets!" Please pray that God will help me as I facilitate this study. Please pray for the ladies God has place in this group.

To give you a quick update on Belize: We need/want folks to go with us!! So, let me know if you would like to come ASAP!! We are looking for medical folks and any other people who feel God calling them to serve in this capacity. Your life will be changed forever!! We leave September 30 and we would love to have you going with us. We will be working in a local medical clinic that is actually ran by people from the United States.

Thank you for praying!

Updates. . .

I hope you are all well. I apologize for not sending a few updates. Life has been very busy. . . BUT, several folks have emailed or called, so I thought I would finally return a few messages. Please note, that if you contacted me on my birthday last week, I had over 20 voice mail messages as well as multiple emails, and am finally returning phone calls.

My parents had another appointment on Wednesday. My sister and I both were able to go as I was on vacation for my birthday. I turned the big 3-0 last Thursday and had decided months ago to take some time off. Anyway, over the past week and a half we have had to make some tough decisions as a family. I believe that through prayer and seeking God's will, we have made the best choices. And, I see God building a wall! (A reference from a friend).

I ask for prayer regarding my job. Long story short, some schedule changes are going to take place at work that will impact my ability to be off for my parents. I know that God has a plan for this change and I am seeking his guidance concerning this issue. And, I am not worried or concerned. It will all work out- God had this all planned long ago!

One of my bible study gals asked me this past week, how did I deal with the fact that I pray and pray and pray and God "has not answered" my prayer requests. WOW. Talk about a deep discussion. I responded by saying, that I continue to pray, knowing he is answering me. My timing is not God's timing. And, he continues to show me HE IS IN THIS situation. On June 2, I asked for prayer for my parents. . . God allowed me to have over 30 minutes to go to my office, close the door and pray. I had asked God to give me amble time that morning to be in prayer. He answered that request as only a few patients came to our normally steady walk-in clinic. God is good! He will answer my other requests as well.

I am pleased to report that I am walking with just a boot- crutch free! Yeah!! I have been driving for the past week. Although it takes me additional time in the morning, I am so blessed to be able to do it. God continues to walk with me daily and I praise HIM for that!

Thank you again for praying! God is amazing and I am so amazed by HIS GRACE!

Prayer Request/Update on me

I have a prayer request for my parents. My dad has an appointment on June 2 at 9AM. . . Please join us in praying around that time. . Pray for the folks involved in making decisions, pray for guidance and wisdom. I will update you on this next week. I believe God is in control and good things are to come at this appointment. And, should the Lord decide that my desires, my requests are not in HIS plan I WILL TRUST HIM!

Work went well last week. . .I am a bit tired at the end of the day, but it is going well. I am in need of people to drive me to and from work next week, so if anyone is able to assist with that, it would be appreciated. I need to leave my house around 7:30AM and can leave work around 5pm-5:30pm. . . Wednesday afternoon I am in need of someone to take me to the surgeon's office as well as PT for follow-ups.

Usually, I can find someone to take me home, just not always to take me in the mornings. So, the mornings and Wednesday appointments are more of my concern.

Thank you to all who have helped!

I am blessed to be healing and doing well!

My folks

My parents had a long day today. . .It was my dad's birthday as well. . . Basically, we are in a cycle of sit, wait, rescheduled appointments, and trust God to place people in our lives to handle the details. . . My dad is in a lot of pain, but we know that WE MUST WAIT and TRUST. I know that your prayers really went through today. . . God spoke very clearly to me and gave me quite a smile. After receiving the phone call from my sister today, I was very upset. Anyway, I went to the local Christian Bookstore while running errands to purchase a birthday gift. I was looking at the children's section and came across a book entitled, "God is in control!" I had to laugh and enjoyed reading it. . . God is in control of this situation.

Also, I received an email from the surgeon who did the surgery on my left foot in 2007. I had sent him all of the information for my upcoming foot surgery (MRIs, CT scans, etc.) and asked for his opinion. He agreed to review the records and suggest a plan. . . He agreed that surgery is my best option. What a confirmation for me to know the right decision was made! I feel at peace about the decision and I know God has a reason for all of this. . . I am looking forward to a week off to rest and spend time with HIM. I am actually going to be doing a Beth Moore 10 week study during that week. I am longing to spend time in HIS WORD and felt led to complete this study! :o)

Details are starting to come together for Belize and I am feeling God's presence with that trip!

In a Nightmare. . .

I am writing this in shock. . . I can't share details right now, but I humbly ask for prayers for my family. I told someone the other day, I feel as I am living in a nightmare and just wish we would all wake up. However, it is very real.

No matter my thoughts, my doubts, my fears. . . I know one thing for certain. MY GOD IS IN CONTROL! HE IS SOVEREIGN! OUR GOD REIGNS!

Prayer Request

I hope each of you is enjoying a great new start to 2009! I plan to update you later on my start to 2009. I am slowly recovering from my surgery and subsequent bought with a GI bug.

I am asking that you be in prayer for my parents on January 5. Ironically, this is the day before my mom's birthday.
Anyway, I am not sure I am meant to share a lot of details, but God knows the situation.

I am committed to praying and fasting for my parents/family that day. I am asking those who are able (and feel led to do so) to commit to praying and fasting along with me.

GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

I have posted Psalm 126 throughout several emails, it has become my "claimed" verse the past month. I am posting it again as it speaks so well!

Thank you in advance for your prayers and fasting!

Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to [a] Zion,
we were like men who dreamed. [b]
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, [c] O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

Surgery Went Well

Praising God at this moment!! Surgery went well. I am still having a lot of nausea. But, I did much better than before. I had the same CRNA who has done my anesthesia in the past. So, praising God for her expertise! She always does a good job and I typically do not "get sick" after anesthesia. I am still feeling really yucky, but am going back to resting in a few. I was moved up on the schedule, so I had my procedure at 0830 vs. at 1130. The surgeon was able to do the procedure laparoscopic vs. having to make a large incision. I have 5 small incisions. I have one to two weeks off from work to heal, so look out for more postings to catch up on the past few months, soon!

I was there really early and my best friend, Eugenia, took me as my sister has been helping with my mom. For those that don't know, my mom is having some health problems. They think she had a TIA. So, we keep praying! :o)

Praising God for his faithfulness!
Psalm 126 is the scripture I am hanging on to during this time. :o)
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING

I am on a roller coaster ride the past few hours. . . After being told things "were ok," yesterday. We have not learned that things are much worse then expected. I WILL TRUST HIM. I worship a God who is faithful, who is in control, and who LOVES us ALL so much! I worship an amazing God!

Please please please keep my family in your prayers.
I am thankful that I know God and his loving arms are surrounding my family tonight!

I will update you more later. THANK YOU for praying!

URGENT PRAYER!!!

Man, I have several posts to catch up on. . . my days of Thankfulness and I would like to start my 12 Days of Christmas soon as well. So, I will update/post those soon.

Tonight, I have a very specific request. I need urgent prayer for my dad. It is a long story, but I truly know that God is faithful. I am asking for specific prayer- especially this morning. I am concentrating on Psalm 123 and praying it aloud tonight. I am doing Beth Moore's Psalms of Ascent with a friend, Rachel. This is my one on one study while I am leading another study. This Psalm came to mind tonight.

Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you whose throne is in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us,
for we have endured much contempt.
4 We have endured much ridicule from the proud,
much contempt from the arrogant.

Thank you for praying for my daddy. I will update you with more details in the morning.