Hard Times

I used to LOVE chinese food. I can't remember how long it's been, maybe 2 yrs, I just can't eat it anymore. I am convinced that most of it is cat and rat. I know, I know, sounds crazy but come on, you all know you've eaten at a Chinese place that was a little questionable. Denson and Bailey still love it so on occasion we'll get it and I will only eat a shrimp dish because I don't know that you could make rat or cat look like shrimp :) Anywho, I said all that so you will know this last Friday's events were not the norm.

Denson and I spent the day together and I thought it would make his day to eat Chinese for lunch. We go to the place in Trussville by the movie theatre (can't think of the name of it), which is pretty good and I've not heard any bad stories about it. If you know any, please don't tell me! As we pull in the parking lot, we see a couple standing by their car with a sign saying they were living in their car and needed help. Immediatley Denson wanted to stop but we agreed we would eat and think on what we were going to do. Sometimes I need a hearing aid to hear God's voice and usually go home kicking myself for not doing or saying something I know I should have done. This time, I wanted to get it right.

We walked to our car and at first I didn't see them, and I thought, oh great another missed opportunity..........but then I saw them. We drove over and I got out of the car. The lady had a very warm smile but you could also see the hurt. She said they were from Tennesee and were making their way to Pensacola for work. Her husband had to have 4 eye surgeries and they had lost everything. In his face, I saw a man that wasn't proud of holding up this sign but had to do something. I told her that we were not in that area during that time of day ever and that today was not a coincidence, but God puts people in the paths of others at the perfect time. I also told her God had a plan and we would be praying for them. We gave them some money and the lady and I hugged. I cried as we pulled out of the parking lot. I just couldn't imagine being in their place. Where was their family? Then you start thinking, what decisions did they make to get where they were? Are they really homeless and jobless? But, you know, it's not for me to judge and it's not about ME or what I've done. It's about Him, Jesus. It's about having compassion, and seeing people through His eyes. He knows their situation and He will provide. They could have needed exactly what we gave them. Just to have a little hope in a bad circumstance.

Here recently you hear of all of these companies laying off lots of people. My dear friends at Compass were told Friday layoffs would be made, they just didn't know who yet. In this day and time nobody is exempt from looking the unthinkable in the face.

We need to pray for this economy, the people who have and will lose their jobs. We also need to look for God in all of this mess. He will continue to provide in miraculous ways. Denson and I have seen it time and time again. But we also have to realize that sometimes our prayers aren't answered in the ways that we want them answered, we just have to TRUST that we are going to be ok.

Lastly Philippians 4: 12-13 says " I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Scarfs!

I know this is exciting news and everyone will really want to know this but I am now a fan of THE SCARF. I am always so far behind on fashion. I usually say "I will never wear that!" and then when it's about to go out of style, I then start liking it and get in on it at the end of the trip. I think I may be in the middle of this one, we'll see.

One of the blogs I follow, Big Mama, and is to the right of my page (check it out when you have time)made a video on different ways to wear a scarf. Christine happen to be staying the night that night and so she got her scarf (yeah, she is already on board with the fashion) and demonstrated in person the proper ways to wear it. LOVED IT!! I vowed that very night I would become a scarf person. So, after reading another blog I learned that WalMart had scarfs for $5.00!! I happened to have a 25.00 gift card to WalMart so guess who got 4 new scarfs.....yep me!!

Every shirt I own is black, gray, or white. Now I can have a different look and still wear ole trusty black! Can you tell I'm excited?

I really didn't think I would get THIS addicted to the blogging world. There are some really good blogs out there and I am hooked for sure!

Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling clementine!

Do I really even need to explain? I guess I do. This is Reese with the clementine's I bought ON SALE! You can't even find them year round, so I love it when they are in season and on sale.

I was folding clothes in peace and quiet........clue number one something was wrong. I even finished folding them AND put them away.........still quiet........I should've known trouble was brewing. I walk into the dining room and he had the clementines with forks in them walking around. He was quite proud and entertained.

I couldn't even get mad. I had NO idea the trouble little boys could get into. I'm sure I will still be suprised at the trouble he will get into in years to come. If ruining my oranges is the worst of it I'll be happy!!

Hodge Podge

I wasn't sure what Hodge Podge meant so I looked up the meaning: any jumbled mixture;mess;medley. Yep, that's what I'm writing about tonight, a mixture of things. Usually when I hear that word I think of my grandmother. She was always making things and I can remember her buying tons of hodge podge! Can't remember how or what she used it for but I sure remember she had lots of it.

First, I want to commend Denson on how much he has grown this past year! He is so humble and would never toot his own horn but I'll help in out.
1. He went to family gatherings, way more than one, and was happy about it. We didn't even leave early!!
2.Since I am helping at church more, he has had to go into worship by himself. Normally, he would just stay home.
3. He agreed to lead our Community Group this last week since our "leader" was out of town. Even though only 1 couple showed we had a great time.
4. He knows when God is speaking to him.
5. Oh, and he helped me teach the 2 yr old class at church every other Sunday.
6. He is a great dad and takes care of the kids gladly when needed.
7. He is a wonderful step-dad and takes time to spend time with JUST Bailey.

This last week he went shopping for jeans with me. Now that may not be a big deal to some but for me......shopping for jeans is a BIG ordeal. Not once did he say "How much longer?" After that we had lunch together. THEN we get home and I realized I had lost my cell phone!!! This is the 3rd phone I've had to replace in less than a year. He didn't say a word, we just got in the car and got a new phone. That is love right there. He never said one cross word. Can't say that I would have handled it that well.


Here is another Bailey story. We were doing one of her devotionals and it was about Hezekiah. We talked about how you have to get advice/counsel from wise people. I asked her who was a wise person she could talk to......she thought for a moment and said "I don't know any wise people." Wow, the parents already aren't wise? I thought we had a few years for that. But, I explained a little more and gave her an example and then she understood. So, for now, I am "the wise person" she can talk to.

...........How do you say goodbye..........A friend of mine told me about a friend of hers a few months ago that had cancer. I had been following her story on caring bridge. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 6 months pregnant with her 2nd child. Very, Very sad story. She is a believer. Her story was even featured on Fox 6 news. She had been going to MD Anderson in Houston for experimental treatment. After Christmas she took a turn for the worse and is expected to pass away at any moment. Having 2 kids under 5........how do you say goodbye to them and how do they say goodbye to her? I've wondered if I would want to know when I would die or not know at all.........How hard would goodbye be and how hard would it be for your loved to not get that goodbye. Luckily this place is not our eternal home. How awesome will it be to be in heaven and have no worries, fears, or tears! I watched a Barbar Walter's special the other night about Patrick Swayze. He is dying of cancer too. You know, it is so true that God won't bring you to something that you can't handle. It always seems that people dying have such a peace and calmness to them. To be able to love God and not be angry at Him the entire time they are suffering. God is great all the time and all the time God is great! What would we do without Him?!?!?

Ok, for a more uplifting story........sorry if this is too long!!! I am absolutely addicted to Facebook. It is just too neat. Any who, one of my teachers from high school added me as a friend. I looked at his profile and he and his family are missionaries in Washington on an indian reservation. His blog is http://www.sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com/, check it out when you can. They are doing an amazing job there. They are planting a church so be in prayer for them. It's cool that we attend a church that was planted 2 yrs ago. This world needs God more than ever and we don't have to leave the country to share the gospel. There are hurting people everywhere. I pray the lord will give us oppurtunities to share His love with the hurting. Give us his eyes, and open our hearts to his word and voice.

Romans 12:2

God is always teaching us things. Some lessons are easier than others. There are times that he has to teach me the same lessons more than once. Thank God for my friend Kona who is always quick to tell me I know the answer and know what to do. I guess we all like a little pity party sometimes, but what good does that do? God has given us the Bible, and places people in our life's at just the right time to help us with our journey.

Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Then enemy loves to attack our minds. The world loves to tell us what is right and that we can compromise our beliefs when we feel like it. But, the word of God says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." When you feel tempted, think of what your life was like before Jesus. Is it worth it......not at all.

I know 2009 will be a great year. We should always be striving to learn more, step up our game and become a threat to satan. Be a light to a world that needs it now more than ever!!

Christine's Story

I knew that I wanted to write about Christine's story but wasn't sure when the right time would be. I should have known that all I had to do was wait for God to lay it on my heart and he did. As I was reading a blog I follow, I read another heart breaking story of an unborn baby going to heaven. Also, with Christmas being this last week, I've really prayed for all the families that have lost loved ones this year. I know this was not an easy time for them and my thoughts always seems to turn towards those that are hurting. I pray for God's comfort and peace and know that only He can heal the broken hearted.

My younger sister Christine became pregnant in 2005. We were all so excited! She was and still is petite so her little baby bump poked on out. We talked about her pregnancy and the way she was feeling a good bit. I remember her saying that she felt alot of pressure and asked if that was normal. I didn't experience that but every pregnancy is different. She mentioned the pressure to her doctor, who in turn told her it was normal.

Around 19 weeks......her water broke. She went to the hospital and was told there wasn't anything they could do and that she would have to deliver the baby. The baby's lung were not developed at this point so there would be no chance of survival. We were all devastated. How could this happen? What was wrong and could this have been prevented??

I got the call between 11:00 and 12:00 that night she had delivered. The next morning I was so sad and I cried out to God, "Please if there is something I need to read PLEASE show it to me!" I opened my bible and it opened to I Samuel. I had only been a Christian about 10 months so in no way was I familiar with this story. As I read this wonderful story I could not believe what I was reading!! I cried tears of joy because I knew Christine would have a baby one day. I shared this with Christine a few weeks later.

There was nothing the doctors could tell Christine as far as why this had happened. I looked up PROM (Premature Rupture of the Membranes) online. I was shocked at how often this happened. I read so many stories of Mom's that experienced the same thing. Why couldn't anyone give these grieving Moms an answer? At that time she was going to a doctor in Cullman. We talked alot and she decided she thought it would be best to find another doctor in Birmingham. My friend and coworker suggested her doctor, Dr. Banks. She called Dr. Banks office and spoke to a nurse right away. They were very caring and wanted to help. They actually had a cancellation and was able to see Christine that week. This was the first sign she was where she needed to be.

A few months after losing the baby, Christine started bleeding pretty bad. So bad that it scared her enough to call the paramedics. Her vitals were ok and they suggested she go to the ER in Bham. Everything checked out so she went home. She did call the doctor to make an appointment to have this situation checked out. The day of the appointment, she was eating lunch and the bleeding happened again. Her clothes were soaked so when she got to the doctors office they had to get a wheelchair to get her in.

Dr. Banks did alot of research and finally determined what the problem was. Now, between him and another doctor in his practice they had only seen this in ONE other patient. Sign number 2 she was in the right place. She was diagnosed with AVM ( arterio vascular malformation). She had an artery in her uterus that was feeding ALOT of blood. When the mass of blood got to a certain point, it caused her to hemmorhage, thus the large amount of blood loss.

Luckily, the uterus has more than one source of blood flow. Dr. Banks would be able to perform surgery that would cut off the blood flow of that artery. He had not performed this surgery before but was confident. The risk would be that if he couldn't get the artery to quit bleeding they would have to take her uterus out completely. The day of the surgery, most of the family was there. I remember going to the chapel at the hospital and praying as hard as I'd ever prayed before.

The surgery was a success!!! Since this surgery was rare, her surgery was put in the New England Medical journal. How cool is that?!?!?

Had Christine not lost the baby, and with this medical condition, both she and the baby could have died. We could see maybe why this happened and could be thankful.

After healing from surgery, Christine became pregant again. Dr. Banks kept a close eye on her. He sewed her cervix shut at 13 weeks and was pretty much on bed rest from that point on. On September 20th, 2007 Christine gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Charli Nicole Roberson. Thank you lord!

I want to also add that during the time Christine was being diagnosed with AVM I kept hearing the story in Luke 8: 43-50. This was about the woman with a bleeding problem that was healed just by touching Jesus' cloak. I had a friend that knew about the problem and called me one evening with this same scripture. I knew again, that God would heal her and he did.

God's timing is perfect.

Miracle Baby - Charli

Christmas

Happy Birthday Jesus!

This is Christmas morning, the kids had birthday cake for breakfast.

Bailey and Reese making the cake.

Bailey and Reese

I thought I would post a picture of the cake we made. The kids really enjoyed having cake for breakfast! The Christmas Eve service was nice. Poor Denson only got to see about 2 minutes of it. Reese didn't last long at all!!

Bailey got up around 5:30 and luckily I was able to talk her into waiting another hour. I thought for sure Reese would be up by then but he wasn't! We went ahead and let her open her gifts. As soon as she was done Reese got up. It worked out better that way so we could video tape each of them. My Mom and Step-dad, and Denson's Dad and step-mom came over that morning. We had lots of fun and everyone seem to enjoy all the gifts they received!!