You know it's going to be an interesting day when...

Cleaning the cat litter is not my favorite chore. (and I'm thinking that sentence is probably totally unnecessary because why would it be any one's favorite chore?)

Anyhow, I was cleaning the cat litter, putting everything in the little baggy thing, daydreaming about whatever else I would rather be doing, not paying any attention to the odd little thumping noise that I normally don't hear when I do this delightful task.

So, when I'm finished, I look down and what do I see?

All the cat "contributions" all over the floor.

Because the baggy thing has a hole in it the size of my head! (not that I measured. Because it did have cat contributions that passed through it. Besides, we all know that plastic bags are not toys.)

Hrumpf.

So here's to what promises to be an interesting day.

May yours be one as well. (Without cat whatnots all over the floor, of course.)

Waiting...

We are now trusting our Sovereign God to reveal whatever path He would have my family take.

The biopsy is done...Daddy is doing "okay" (he was less than thrilled with the three needles and Novocain. I don't guess I blame him. And being a diabetic, mom can't even take him for ice cream for being a "good patient."). Now we are awaiting results. His appointment is next Wednesday so hopefully it will be a peaceful week of waiting. (Dad is still a little bummed because the surgeon is still telling him he has to have surgery regardless. Those pesky gallstones.)

I so appreciated your prayers for him and I know he does too.

I'm asking...

***Updated***
We just received news that Molly is a Trisomy 18 baby. The doctors have told Brianna and Garrick to enjoy her to the fullest over the next few days as they believe this is all the time she has left. Please lift Brianna and Garrick up as they face this most difficult time.



You all are so faithful to pray...so I am asking once again for specific requests. My father (his name is John) will be going to have a biopsy tomorrow and I'm asking for prayer for his healing. In a perfect world, I would prefer that the mass be completely gone. However, I know that only God's will is perfect so I'm also asking for peace over whatever the outcome is. (We are supposed to have to wait a week for the results. I'm thinking this is a patience test. Sigh. I don't do very well with patience tests.)

Also, the assistant manager at one of our LifeWay stores has a prayer request as well. Her daughter, Molly, was born last Wednesday weighing in at a little over 2 pounds. Because of some other health issues that she has, the doctors suspect that she may have a chromosomal abnormality that is, in the doctor's words, "incompatible with life." I cannot imagine ever hearing those words coming out of a doctor's mouth. (And I'm thinking he needs some lessons in tact but that's just me.) Anyway, they're praying for a "Molly sized miracle." Would you lift them up in prayer today as well?



Thank you so much. You are much appreciated!

Cover to Cover: Me Too!

My thoughts are a bit scattered but I am going to try and see if I can get this point across. If you're still confused at the end, just nod your head and say, "uh huh." I get that a lot. Then pop on over to Bev's and get some clarity there.

I have lots of moments where I am reading something or hearing someone speak about something and a lightening bolt strikes, and I think, "me, too!"

Sometimes the Me Too realization isn't a pleasant one. During the sermon today, when Kyle was talking about a certain "idol" behavior, I had a Me Too moment. These moments are usually followed by an "uh oh" moment. And hopefully a "I'm not going to do that anymore" moment.

Sometimes my Me Too moments are a moment of shared kinship. A positive thing. A feeling of, "oh yeah, I get that. I do that too. I totally know where you are coming from." And I had one of those this weekend.

Beth taught about the parable of the seed this weekend. During the last session, she talked a little about her life and the abuse that she'd suffered and how she didn't know at one point how she was going to survive it.

Friends, I can totally relate to that.

And not in a good way.

But that wasn't my real Me Too moment.

She went on to talk about how she began really reading her Bible. As she read, she fell in love with the Word. And my heart started shouting, Me Too! Me Too! Because I am loving my Bible. I can't describe how much JOY the Word brings to my heart. I am fascinated by the Words that He put there for me. (and you!)

Beth went on to say that she didn't realize it, but as she read, God began to heal her heart.

And this time, my heart was asking "Me Too? Could this happen to Me Too?" Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit."

And I believe it!

When I got home yesterday and began reading through my chronological list, I came across this: When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16

I had to smile...and my heart was shouting...Me Too!

True Confessions...

I am not a fan of pictures...of me. For some reason, I seem to think that I cannot possibly be that "fluffy", old, wrinkled, tired, grey, or insert any other adjective here. However, at the LPL event, Tracy told me that she would have never guessed that it was me from the picture of the back of my head. (I did turn around so that she could see the back of my head. She still didn't recognize me.) She thought that the picture of the back of my head made me look older than I do in person. (Thank you, Tracy.) And Ang wanted to see a picture of my eyes. (They are green. More or less.) So, this is what you get. At least until I can photo shop my person and make me a little less fluffy, old, wrinkled, tired grey and insert adjective here.

I was around eight days old in the above picture. I came to live with my parents about that time. I think this is the first picture they ever took of me. I did not have hair. Sigh.

This was my first Easter. Love the plastic kitty. Drool proof. I was six months old or so. Still no hair. (Which is why my mom was forced to put bows in Keith's hair when he was little. Somehow she knew she would have a hairless daughter. Is that anything like a hairless Chihuahua?)

Ah, finally, we have hair. (I don't know why hair is so important to me. I guess I got tired of being bald.) Anyhow, I was three-ish here. Loving my grandma, sitting on her front porch swing. Hmmm...I just noticed how chubby my cheeks were. It's nice to know that I am returning to my childhood shape. Just as long as I don't go bald.

How about you? Did you have hair when you were a baby? I promise I won't be jealous if you did. (After all, Jessi had tons of hair when she was born. Curly, brown hair. Jonathan was bald but that's okay. He's a boy. Boys don't have to have hair when they are babies.)

Sunday Scripture

Rain and snow fall from the sky and don't return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seeds for the farmer and bread for the people.

The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do.

So you will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:10-12

more adventures with Frank

Frank and I got up early this morning. Actually, Frank and I did not sleep much last night. Frank is not a comfortable sleeping companion. Anyway, we decided that we needed an early start to the day because we had errands to run outdoors. In the heat. Which isn't much fun when several unmentionable body parts are covered with adhesive tape.

We decided to make pancakes for breakfast.

Notice Frank has a new look. He decided to jazz up his floral look with some hearts and "hello kitty" stickers. What a classy guy.

Safety first. Even Frank buckles up.

Our first stop was Lowe's. Frank was impressed with all the gadgets and tools. I didn't think I'd ever get him out of the dangly hooky wires department.

Our next stop was LifeWay. Frank wanted to check out the book "No Other Gods" as companion reading to the bible study. I think he's afraid that I might be missing something. Or that reading might reinforce some of God's ideas. We also picked up our copy of Third Day's new CD. Frank is a big Mac Powell fan.

I also introduced Frank to Mary Jane and Helen. (Helen is the one on the left.) They were excited to meet him since they'd heard so much about him. Frank thought they were pretty cool too.

Our next stop was Wal-mart. Neither Frank nor I particularly care for grocery shopping but it's a necessary evil. Josh would go if I asked him too but then who would get my impulse snacks? You know...the ones that leap off the shelf and into your cart. Frank and I did pretty good today though. The only extra thing we got was a new nail file. (We even said "no" to the chocolate covered almonds...which happen to be someone's newest snack obsession. And that someone is regretting saying no.)

Then we were off to the library. We had some books to return. We finished A Vineyard in Tuscany. Frank and I both really liked it. Of course, we are Ferenc fans. We're ready to rush off and buy an abandoned friary right now!

Alas, it's finally time for Frank to go back home. To be perfectly honest, as much fun as Frank and I have had, I'm not sorry to see him go. (but don't tell him I said so.) Once Frank spills his guts about everything he knows about me, I should meet with the doctor sometime next week and get the scoop. I'll let you know how it goes.

Have a blessed evening!