Updates

Sorry it's been so long, alot's been going on. Here's the short version:
Dad got the last of the radiation on his lung, and the doctor said he was very optimistic that the cancer was not gone, but arrested (which means that the tumor is isolated with no chance of growth, kinda smothered if you will). He had a few good weeks with that, then he started forgetting alot of stuff, long term, and short term. It would take him forever to finish a sentence. Well then he started falling all the time. Mostly at night was the hardest b/c mom didn't know he would get up, he wouldn't remember where he was, and would ultimately fall back asleep on the floor until she woke up to find him. We took him to the doctor (hospital) and the neurologist diagnosed him with demintia (we feel like it was induced from the radiation to the brain). Mom still felt she could handle the illness at home. He started falling more and more often, almost nightly. The last time, mom called me up at 5:30 in the morning, and said she and my brother had tried to get him up for the last hour, and couldn't do it. She called 911, and they came and got him up, took him to the ER, and made sure he broke nothing. There in the ER, mom finally came to the realization that she couldn't keep him safe any longer, so we (mom, my sister and I) came to the conclusion to put him in a nursing home. He has been there for 2 weeks now, and on the days he knows what's going on, he's ok with it. He says they treat him like a king. But on the days where he is confused, he don't want to be there. He gets lonely, even though my sister, mom and I visit him daily. So pray. We don't know if he's going to have to be there the rest of his life, or if this is temporary.......The doctors are also worried that the cancer may be back, based on his xrays from the last fall. They aren't going to scan anymore b/c they said even if it is back, there is nothing they can medically do for the cancer, as we have exhausted all our treatment options already. So I guess in this case, ignorance may be bliss......

Gustav

Thank you Jesus that you spared our lives, our house, and our business from the hands of Gustav! Please help those not so fortunate, and please help us to remember the blessings You gave us!

Busy summer.....

Sorry about not blogging so much, my summer has been JAM PACKED! I'm sure you can understand that with 5 kids, I didn't have much time to breathe, let alone blog! More to come later!

What Nick said when asked about his trip to Honduras

"I learned that if you want something, you can't sit back and wait for it to be handed to you, go get it, and when you do get it, don't hold onto it, give it away."

Wow, how do I even try and follow that with anything but WOW!

All is Well

God is so faithful, even in the smallest things, my husband, my rock, my soulmate, my partner, my best friend sent me this just a second ago, it is awesome! Thank you babe, I needed that!
All Is Well
Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped into the next room.
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household world that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.


We will spend more time in eternity than we do in this flash of an instance of our so called life.

Life

You know what sucks? The end. The end of movies, the end of relationships, the end of a favorite piece of candy, the end of a loved ones life. My dad got his results back from his last scan. The news was not good. I'm slowly losing my daddy. I hate this for me, mom, my siblings, but most of all, my kids. Emma broke down for the first time since he was diagnosed on the way home last night. I can't fix this hurt because I have it too. I wish I could. I hate that I'm now talking funeral arrangements with my dad instead of vacation plans. I hate that Michael won't know him, learn from him, love him like I do. I need your prayers, I know this won't go away, so now I ask that you pray for it to become easier to handle. Right now, not so much. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

coming home

This is so bittersweet. We come home today. I've met some amazing people from Ms that came with us, and I hate to part from them. They are so great, and feel like a part of my family now. It's also sad because Nick don't want to come home. He feels such a connection with the kids here that he was so put out yesterday everytime he thought of coming home. Oh well, who knows, maybe God is working on him for his calling? All I can do is trust that if God wants him here, he'll make Jope and I alright with it when the time comes (50-60 years from now LOL)! Anyway, I cant wait to come home. I love u babe, and miss my kids!

so tired

I'm so tired. I find it that on the end of a trip like this, you tend to lose focus. You wake up, hit the ground running, and don't stop until you pass out at night. That's when the enemy sneaks in. Let's not forget to stay in the word, and on our knees during our most tired times, because that's when we are going to need the armor of God the most! Will blog more later, but for now, a little light reading in my fav book, and then some much needed siesta! I love you!

the innocence of youth, and the boldness of God

Yeah!!!!!!!! !God is so faithful, even in the little things! I didn't have a camera to bring down here, so I've had to use my phone as a camera. I've so bad wanted to share pics with you, but had no way of transferring them to the laptop. I went to pull out the laptop charger when wrapped up in the cord was the usb cord for my phone, thank you Jesus! So tonight since it's so late, I share with you Nick. He is so focused on the children of this country, it's amazing! He has no problem wrapping his arms around the children and sharing God with them, even if it's through a "paleta" (sucker) which he says very well! BTW, the child on the right is only 20 days younger than Nick, funny huh?

Babies everywhere!

Everywhere I go, I get babies! Had the same great day as yesterday, I can't even tell you how many commitments were made today, but the one that stuck out the most was the 14 year old that gave birth 6 weeks ago to a baby 1 month early. There was definitely something wrong with the baby, b/c as I held him, he kept twitching. My heart went out for that family! I asked the abuela (grandmother) what the little boys name was, and she said that they don't name him until his first birthday. I've heard of that in Africa b/c the mortality rate being what it is, but hadn't heard of it around here. I can't imagine the last year of my life, having Michael & not giving him a name. Pray for that family, they are on the right track, abuela & mom both got saved, but I have a feeling they are in for a long road with the baby. I just wanted to take him home with me!

what a day!

OK, got a whole day under my belt, and what a day it was! We left at 9 am, went house to house, telling the locals about our night we had planned for them with eating contests, music, dramas, money give a ways, etc. As we told them that, we also witnessed to them. Throughout the day, we in our group had 3 commitments to Christ. Our service/contest started @ 6:30, and we were an hour plus away from our hotel, so needless to say, we didn't get back until right at 10 oclock (11 oclock BR time). I'm exhausted, and we do the same thing tomorrow! I just need a good night sleep, and all will be well! I love you bubba, Emma, Jacob, Cam man, and Michael! Nick is doing awesome!

On our way....

We definintely are going to step me out of my box!!! In a few, we are leaving and splitting up into 3 groups (there are 42 of us, 6 spanish speakers) and going into 3 small villages to go house to house to talk to people about Jesus. I was always taught not to go to strangers houses, so this is well beyond my box!!!! Should be fun! I have alot of pics, but no way to download them until I get home, so you'll have to wait!! I love you Jope!!!!

I love God!

Even when you don't speak the language, the point still gets across. As we were wrapping up our first night of evangelizing, then eating contests, preaching & salvations, I went into the crowd (after Jimbo told us to in english-you tune it out until you understand it) and saw this lady holding a baby around 6-8 months old, and I could tell that she was broken. I took the baby from her, and as I was holding the baby, praying in english for this lady who only spoke spanish, I felt it. God don't care what language you speak, He only cares if it's from the heart. I am so humbled that I have the oportunity to bring Nick here, and let him witness God in action, and witness about God in action. His heart is children, and they loved him! I know I'm prejudice about my kids good looks, but lemme tell ya, the latinos love a light skin, light haired boy, especially one with such a great heart! They flocked to him (especially the young girls), what can I say, he's his father's child!

I have internet!

I got to the hotel just long enough to see that I have internet! We go evangelizing today, and tonight we have eating contests to involve the village people. Pray for our turnout, and for God's presence! I love yall!

Back on the Field

OK, so it's not Africa, but this might even be better, because I'm taking Nick. We leave in 20 minutes to go to Honduras until next Monday. So please pray that we have a safe, sick free trip. Pray also that we have internet in the hotel, b/c I'm bringing my laptop, and hope to blog while there. If not, I'll fill you in when I get back! PRAY!!!!!

Recovering

OK, so having a hysterectomy is NOT the same as having a baby! I figured how easily I bounced back after my 5 kids, I wouldn't have a problem bouncing back after a simple hyserectomy! That's funny! I feel good, then get up and do too much. I called the nurse to tell her that I popped a stitch, and her reply for me was "you know that the only reason you are to get out of bed for the next week is to go to the restroom right?", my response was "maybe", so I am now bedridden. I hate the bed! I want to get back to life! Any advice?

Boys birthday fun!

Saturday we had Jacob & Cam's birthday party. We had a great time, and was missing a few key family members (you know who you are), so there was a bit of sad throughout the day. All in all, it was a sucess!(what Pursifull party isn't?)

"Not now" is not "no"

You know, God is faithful even in the little things! He sends people into our lives that will tell you how it is, and love you while doing it. My best friend didn't want to tell me God woke her up to tell me that it's not time for me to go to Africa right now. Thank God that she came to me, b/c she didn't want to. Thank God that I listened, b/c I didn't want to. Thank God for Joel A'bell (idk if I spelled his name right?) for speaking on "Not now" is not "no" this Sunday @ church to confirm what God was saying to me. Come to find out that the reason I shouldn't go to Africa (besides the obvious-my young kids & Jope) is that I have to have a hysterectomy! So, I won't be going now, but who knows, a few years from now, not only might I be going, but Nick also (he's been begging me to go!). Pray for me, I will let you know when I schedule it!

Back to Africa!

Just to let you in on my world, I'm headed back to Africa. We leave on July 20, and I'm sooooo excited to be going back! I'll let you know more when I find out more!

Back to Africa!