Update on Annika ~~ Nita's Granddaughter

We don't understand why these things happen ~~ and especially to little children ~~ but these verses shed some light on God's perspective of suffering... "And as Jesus walked by, he saw a man which was blind (physical difficulty) from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." John 9:1-3

Here is Nita's update on Annika following after this morning's procedure: They did not do the balloon or the stint on Annika, it is still too small for them to try, it had to be 50 percent blocked for them to balloon or put a stint in. It was 40 % last time and is 30% this time which means it has opened up some since they last checked it. But the kidney is no better, and after looking at it, the blockage is not what is causing the problem with the kidney. The don't know what is causing the kidney problem or the blood pressure problems and will have to do some other tests to determine that. The other kidney looks good and healthy. Annika is doing well and will be going to recovery soon.

Prayer Request for Carol in GA

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick..." James 5:15

It is amazing the "avenues" God uses to bring dear friends into our
lives. Richard and I have participated in the "Freshman Hospitality Club" of the college here for the past five years. Each fall, we have had 3 or 4 freshman girls who have become our "campus daughters" for the year and who remain our "daughters" for the duration of their college years. We have found it to be so much fun to open our home and our hearts to each of them. One special blessing of our ministry has been to invite the parents of the girls to stay with us when they come from their out-of-states homes to visit their college kids. Such is the case of our dear daughter, Becky. Her mother (Carol) stayed with us a couple of times during Becky's college years (Becky is now graduated and married!) and we became fast friends. Today, I have heard from Carol in GA asking for prayer for a health concern. I asked Carol if I could share it on my blog and received her permission to do so. May I please thank you in advance for praying for my friend, Carol? Here is her request .....

Please pray for me as I have been having serious headaches. It started with stabbing pain on the right side Saturday evening and kept on intermittently all weekend. I went to the Dr. yesterday as it was still hurting and also started having chest pains. The EKG came out fine and they immediately sent me for a CAT scan. Don't know about the results of that one yet. They put me on 2 medicines (for migraines) and I see the Doctor again next Tuesday. I go back to the ENT tomorrow so I will also tell him what is happening. I notice that it hurts more when I breath in so not sure if there is something on that side. Thankfully it is not so bad today - though if I move my head wrong it gets me. Phew.... I'm at work and just trying not to move wrong.

Prayer Request for Nita's Granddaughter, Annika

"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us." Ps 62:8

This morning, my dear friend Nita shared a prayer request for her granddaughter, Annika. I asked Nita if I could post it on my blog knowing that those who visit here would be willing to pray for Annika. Here is Nita's request for her precious little one...

Annika will have a kidney arteriogram tomorrow morning at UAB. They will try to put a stint in the renal artery where it is narrow. If they can’t get the stint in they will try to balloon it. If neither of these are successful, they will probably schedule her for something more aggressive in the coming months—an auto transplant (removing her kidney, “splicing” the artery with either a cadaver or some sort of artificial, man-made artery replacement) or something else. Please pray for her safety and protection as they do the procedure and that they would be successful. The narrowing is in the bend where the artery branches off to the kidney. There is a significant danger of them puncturing that artery, which would be very serious.

Thank you for your faithful prayers.

Love,

Nita

PS—I am attaching a picture of Poppy, Annika, and Nanny made at a friends wedding a few weeks ago.

Happy Birthday to Louise B....

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Ps 90:12

Have you ever known someone who seems to never age ~~ but stays eternally young? My friend, Louise, seems to be one of those people! She emailed me last week and mentioned that July 23 is her 79th birthday. I couldn't believe it. Louise 79???? No way!! She was the church secretary when I first started volunteering my time at the church when Amy was in first grade and Chip was 4. She taught me a lot and was so much fun to work with.

Through the years, she has remained a dear friend. We saw Louise at the Pierce 50th Wedding Anniversary party in June, and I made this picture of her then. I wish her pretty blue eyes had been open, but click on the picture to enlarge it. Does she look 79 to you???? Me neither!! Happy Birthday to you, Louise!!! And MANY more!!!!!!!!

Love, Susan

Sunday Blessings

"All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto the; they shall sing to thy name." Ps. 66:4

Amy called this morning to tell us that they were singing the special music at the retirement center church service and invited us to go. We always enjoy going when they sing (2 or 3 times a year) so we said, "Sure."

Little did I know the family had a "surprise blessing" in store for me. Amy and I both have worked with Jaden to learn the words of "Amazing Grace" and he can sing 3 verses of it. For their family special this morning, the family (including Jaden!) sang Amazing Grace. I had to shed a tear as I listened to them. I prayed right then and there that Jaden (2-1/2 years old) will TRULY come to UNDERSTAND the AMAZING GRACE of God's plan of salvation for him. Like everyone who hears the Gospel and comes to understand that JESUS CHRIST died on the cross for their sins, Jaden will have to make the personal decision to accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior or to reject him. That was my prayer this morning, that Jaden will be saved at a young age and live for God with his whole heart. Brian, Amy, and kids: Thanks for the wonderful surprise blessing this morning. It truly blessed my heart!! (Note: I didn't take my camera to church but this picture was made at the retirement center at Easter so represents my blessing.)

Conjoined Twins in the Womb ~~ prayer request

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou has covered me in my mother's womb." Ps 139:13

I don't know this couple and perhaps no one reading my blog knows this couple, but GOD knows this couple and their precious babies. Please pray.....

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Craig S
Date: Jul 18, 2007 11:35 PM
Subject: Baby Update / Prayer Request

This afternoon we met with a doctor at the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham. After looking at an ultrasound for a few minutes he was able to confirm what we had already been told - that our babies are indeed conjoined twins. On the ultrasound, he could see two heads, but said that below the heads everything appears as one. It was too early (9.5 weeks) for him to tell much about the organs, other than that he saw only one heartbeat.

Separation would not be an option. He believes that if the babies live until and survive birth, they will be incompatible with life and not live long thereafter. He says there is nothing that doctors could do to help these babies. His recommendation was to terminate the pregnancy.

Believing that all life is in God's hands. we told him that we would continue with the pregnancy. Although for us we didn't really consider this a decision to be made, I must say that I now view the weight of that decision with a different perspective than I have in the past. I suppose we were as prepared for today as we could have been; what he told us was basically consistent with what we had already been told. Nonetheless, this has been a very difficult day.

Please continue to lift us up in your prayers. Without God in our lives and Godly people interceding for us, I can't imagine how we'd make it through the coming months. Paige will be living through the process of being pregnant without the expectation of a happy ending. Please pray that faith in the Lord will guide and sustain us through this process as we move toward whatever conclusion He has planned.

Craig

Ellen: Friends Who Have Gone On Before Us

This post is in loving memory of my precious friend, Ellen Anderson. I can post her last name for she is no longer a resident of this world but has been enjoying her Heavenly Home since January 11, 2001. Ellen and her family were transplants from Michigan to our lovely southern town. She was a go-getter from the get-go and loved to serve God by serving others. Our dear Ellen was diagnosed with breast cancer some three years before her death. (My "fake" hug in the picture of us was because she couldn't have personal contact during the worst part of her treatments.) Ellen fought valiantly and was convinced until the very end that God was going to heal her. And you know what? Ellen wasn't one bit disappointed when she entered Heaven's portals and realized that she had received the ultimate healing. I miss my friend and look forward to seeing her again.

As I think of Ellen, I know there are so many friends who left our church congregation during our 20 years there to take up residence in Heaven. Let's see.... Elva A, Katrina W, Kae A, Joe C, Ronnie E, Speed and Irene H, Bill H, Irene H, Buddy H, Bill K, George H, Thomas J, Katharine P, Alice P, Arthur and Willie P, Duell and Thelma C, Pete P, Roland H, Ovie S, B.J. and Emma Jean G, Vera G, James H, Wynell H, Minnie K, Maudell L,Bill P, Shirley S, JJ T, Stella E, Minnie G, Mary D, Harold K, Betty J, Pauline B, Fred K, Alice P.......

I know there are many that I am leaving out. Thank God that He never leaves anyone out who has been saved through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hopefully all of these who have gone on before us were saved and are enjoying eternity with God. I am assured of a home in Heaven.... not because I am worthy (I'm not!) but because I have repented of my sins and have received Christ as my Personal Savior. Where will you spend eternity? If you aren't sure, please email me at long4heaven@cox.net. Don't put off salvation, for no one is assured another breath on this earth.

I know a famous author

Well....... I haven't actually met JENNIFER SEEST in person, but I surely feel like I know her. We email back and forth; and I've read her books which share a great part of her heart, so I feel like I know her quite well.

Jennifer's series of books called the BENNETT VIGNETTES are a delightful read, spiritually uplifting, and show God's sovereignty in stories that are quite exciting. (As you know, I have NOT been publishing anyone's last name... not even my own on this blog. BUT since Jennifer is a published author and I would love for you to read her books if you haven't already, I used her last name for otherwise how could anyone look for her books?)

In addition to being a published author, she is first and foremost a dedicated CHRISTIAN, Daniel's wife, and the mother of their two children: Caleb and Lydia. Her children are home schooled and Jennifer recently told me that my daughter Amy will be her Caleb's video teacher this upcoming school year. How cool is that? Jennifer's little Lydia is a cute girl, and I know Jennifer is raising her to be a fine Christian little woman.

I am going to post Jennifer's website URL right here (http://our.homewithGod.com/ewerluvd)
so that you can peruse it to learn more about her, her family, AND her books which can be purchased directly from Jennifer. They are great reads for those who love Christian Fiction, and they make wonderful gifts.

So, I almost know a famous author. We just haven't had the physical meeting face to face to share a hug in person, but we have shared our hearts and desires to serve God in emails. Jennifer has enriched my life, and I am blessed to call her "friend."

Love to you and yours, Jennifer Seest!!!!!!!!!!

~~Your devoted fan, Susan

Steve, Trish, Jordynn and Jaycee

It's so neat how God brings along friends who are much younger than you and, in spite of the age difference, there is a genuine love and compatibility in the LORD. These are friends such as that. We knew Steve and Trish and their darling little girls at our church "back home." Steve was on staff at our church and taught in the Christian school. Trish was his supportive wife, the girls' full-time mom, and was very active in ministry in her own right. We have always thought the world of this young couple and their children.

It is so neat to us that Steve felt led of the LORD to invite our son Chip to work with him in the youth group at our church and it was during that time that Chip answered God's call to the ministry.

Fast Forward to the Present: Steve and Trish live and minister in a large city in our home state. Trish is a stay-at-home wife/mom, and the girls are growing up WAY TOO FAST. I know that Jordynn will be in the 7th grade this fall, and I am guessing that Jaycee might be entering the 4th grade. It's hard to keep up!!! Trish recently emailed me saying that they will be in our area soon and hope we can get together. We hope so, too! May God bless this sweet family as they serve Him. Steve, Trish and girls: we love you guys!! ~~Susan

Josh ~~ Summer 2007

This is our grandson Joshua. He is 8 years old and is a great kid. Josh loves to help and often asks me if there is any work he can do for me. He has a big heart and is a sweet boy. His biggest problem right now is that he loves to annoy Jaden ~~ his baby brother ~~ the old pecking order thing. We love our Joshua and are enjoying watching him grow up right before our eyes.