God Bless America!

Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie....

Hope you are all having a nice day off, enjoying family & friends!

I'm a little overdue in letting you know Christine is home from the hospital. She came home last Wednesday. She is still feeling a little rough, but we are hoping the medicine changes will make her feel better soon. We are also looking into some other options as far as medical answers, so keep her & Matt in your prayers.

We are blessed to have Kyle home this holiday weekend. He was in a wedding last night, and it was really sweet to watch two of his best friends marry each other. Congratulations to Stephanie & Jeff. It was a beautiful wedding in the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth. We are also blessed to have a little birthday celebration with him, as he will turn 24 on the 28th! Wow! How can that be? It seems like not that many Memorial Days ago he was born, and we were at Harris Hospital looking for the doctor on call! Time does fly by!

Whitney will have finals this week & then school will be out for summer, and she'll officially be a senior! Talk about time flying! She already has a summer job, and has gotten two paychecks already! Go Whit. Tomorrow we will go open up her very own checking account. My baby girl...

Hope you all had a great day, enjoyed your time off, appreciated the freedoms we have in the good old USA, and taken time to thank those who fought and are fighting for them. We love you!

God bless the USA!

Lemonade Anyone?

They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I hope this won't be too tart! I'll try not to forget to add some sweetener!

Today makes one week for this hospital stay for Christine. 8 days if you count the day at the ER. About 10 days, I think, of having trouble keeping anything down & hurting more than anything seems to help. I'm afraid that we still have more questions than answers, and more tests to do. About a year and a half of being in and out of the hospital. Close to 9 months of being in the hospital if you add it all together. I feel so bad for her. Please pray for her. All we want is normal. Just normal. Normal is something to be grateful for, but something we often don't acknowledge until we lose it. Does anyone know anything about the hospital in Florida that specializes in adhesions? I mean more than we can read on the internet. Like know someone who has been there or anything? Good reports, bad reports? It might be something to look into if it is a reputable place.

Pray for Matt, too. It is hard to balance time at the hospital, do a good job at work, be a daddy to some boys who are missing Mommy & Daddy. He has a heavy weight on his shoulders right now.

Pray for the boys. They are seeming a little like I feel after a week's vacation. We've had some fun, but they just miss home. Mommy, Daddy, their own beds & toys. We go over there some during the day, and last night Matt took them home & they enjoyed some Daddy time & slept at home. We make some short hospital visits. After Mommy's bed has had a few adjustments, we've checked out the vending machines, nursery, elevators, etc. that's about time to go.

One thing I always enjoy when the boys are with me are the funny things they say. Well, Jack says, all Sam says is hi dah & holds his hand up. Its very cute. The other night we were reading bedtime stories & Jack was running back and forth to the bedroom to get more books, which are almost out of his reach. He decided to get the bible story book, which was a little heavy as well as a little high. I heard him yell, help, help, help me Giggi. I need help with the true word of God. Paw Paw & I had a good laugh.

Sam is crawling on all fours now. He is amazingly fast. Yes, that little tiny baby can move. He is determined to get to Pokey, who is no longer a puppy but a grouchy old dog, at least as far as hospitality is concerned. Pokey & I are determined Sam will not get to her. How much time can a dog spend in the utility room? Alot.

Sam has learned to operate the walker during this stay, at least on the wood floors. Once again, he is fast. The other night Whitney & Elliot were pushing him back and forth, and jumping around him. I was like, be careful, and Sam was cackling. He thought it was hilarious.

Only a couple more weeks of school. Hooray. This semester has been a booger!!!
After paying tuition since 1990 something, we seem to feel this school stinks. Wow, can we get a refund? Add a good senior year to your prayer list!

Hope I'm not too big of a whiner! I promise to pray for you, too!

"Is anyone among you afflicted? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise." James 5:13 - from the true Word of God.

It's Me, It's Me, It's Me, Oh Lord!

Yes, here we are again standing in the need of prayer! Christine had to go in the hospital again last Wednesday. She is having a really rough time, so please pray for her & that all the tests she is being put through will reveal the answers that lead to wellness!!! I think I have spent a lot of my life taking my health totally for granted! The last 5 or 6 years have shown me what a gift it is to enjoy good health! She has suffered so much & missed out on so much, too. Her grandfather is in the same hospital recovering from major heart surgery last week! And her dad is also struggling with his health & having serious heart problems, too. Needless to say, her whole family needs your prayers! I hate watching everyone struggle so much, and feel so helpless in wanting it to all be OK! But we know God is in control, He knows us inside & out, and is our Great Physician. I pray He will highlight the problem with a neon highlighter to the doctors as they do tests this week on Christine.

I believe God's Word is the best medicine. "They are life to all who find them, and health to all their flesh." Prov. 4:22. One of my favorite healing scriptures is found in Psalm 103:2-5. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness, and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." Wouldn't that be a great testimony!? What are some of your favorite healing scriptures?

Yea Team!

We did it! We walked our five miles, and the last time I checked the website Team Brock and Brody had raised over a $1,ooo for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies. I'm pretty sure we really walked at least 6 miles, because it seemed like an awfully long way when we realized we were just at the starting gate! A 70% chance of rain held off, and we had a cloudy, cool, & breezy walk. Thank you, Lord! We had a wonderful time just being together, and knowing we were helping a good cause at the same time! I am so proud of everyone who walked in spite of obstacles that could've easily held them back. The children did great - in & out of their strollers. Jack and Riley occasionally jogging, Macy, the birthday girl, scootering along, Sam patiently riding & riding & riding even though his naptime had come & gone, Reid taking care of Avery as she took a little nap while strolling along. I worried about Christine walking, and we took a lawn chair hanging on the stroller in case she needed it, but she walked the entire way! It was me with the nauseous migraine on the way home, borrowing her nausea medicine! And thank goodness she had it!!! Even so, it was a great weekend & I'm so glad we were able to join our sweet team captain, Ashley & our first annual? Team Brock & Brody! Thanks to everyone who supported us in any way! You are part of the team, too! Yea team!

My fwiend, Jack

Rock climbing
Spiderman
Ready for the beach!

It was such a beautiful spring day, Jack & I went to try out a new park down the road from my house.

I think three and a half might be the perfect age for the playground and the camera. On the way he said "your my fwiend, Giggi. And PawPaw is my Daddy's fwiend." "Yes" I said "And PawPaw is your daddy's, daddy." He said "mmmm." Deep thoughts for a three year old. We had a great time, the hardest part was getting him to leave, which required the promise of a sonic coke! It's the little things that make a great day!

Go Team Brock & Brody!

Next weekend I am so blessed to be joining my sweet niece, her husband, and precious daughter in the March of Dimes walk in Houston. We walk to honor their precious twins, Brock & Brody, who were born just a little over 4 years ago. They came into this world just a little too soon, and soon were safe in the arms of Jesus. We'll never forget the mark they made on our hearts and on this world in their short time on this earth. We all wish they could be here to play with all of us - but we find enormous comfort knowing they are in Heaven and we will join them there someday. I often think of my Granny Price, who loved babies so much, doting on them there. That would truly be heaven to her! We will have a grand family reunion one day with all of those who have gone before, and introducing them to those who have joined our family since. I look forward to that day, thanks to the blessed assurance offered me in Christ.

I also walk to show my gratitude for the amazing care my own grandsons, who were both born prematurely, received. They are now happy, healthy little boys. Often God answers prayers through doctors, nurses, and medical breakthroughs. We pray that more medical breakthroughs will come through the research done by the March of Dimes, and more and more babies will grow into happy, healthy children.

I'm looking forward to a roadtrip, where I will join my niece's family, my sister, other nieces, & friends. You can read more about the march on their blogs -- Ashley A., Lynn, Christine, & Mindy -- all on the links to the right. They have links, if you want to contribute to the walk, but most of all keep us all in your prayers! God bless the babies!

The Sassy Saga

Well, the girls decided this morning to officially hang up their pom poms. We discussed it from every angle, and prayed and encouraged them to pray, and they just believe this is the right thing to do. I'm a little disappointed that her senior year isn't even here yet, and has started on a sour note. But on the bright side, we should have a happy basketball coach, a few less ads to sell (still have to cover the costs of the uniforms already ordered), and one less camp this summer! Maybe we can go on a vacation! I need one! Thanks for your prayers & encouraging words!