Today was a great day for mom!! She has worried all week about today because she was scheduled to get her hair cut and nails done. She hasn't been able to do that in over a month...
She also started some kind of medicine, but I can't remember what kind. She said that she feels like a new person. Her face still hurts, but she has been able to handle the pain so much better today!!
I think that she looks alot better too!
Please continue to pray over her complete healing!

Eric and I car shopped ALL DAY LONG. We still haven't bought a car. It would be so helpful if we knew what we wanted. We are going to continue the search tomorrow and Monday. Kristen and Kate Bernard were so gracious and babysat Evan and Emily all day long (10 hours)! They went to the Science Place and Chick fil a, and had a blast!

A glimps at my heart...

TODAY: Emily and I went to mom's house tonight for "girl's night!" We watched "Air Bud!" The guys all went to a Rough Rider's game with the boys from Evan's school.
My mom is still hurting and getting very tired of it. I can't imagine being sick this long!! The doctor called and told her that she does have swelling in the top and lower part of her brain (on the left side). She said that luckliy the pain is mainly there as well. (Better than being EVERYWHERE!) They wanted to do a spinal tap of some kind to see about infection, but mom said no -- no yet. She thinks that it will go away. Please continue to pray for swift and complete healing!

Dollie (our dog) we think got wacked by our new electric fence, and we thought that she had a broken shoulder, but found out (after spending many hours and dollars at the dog hospital) that she just spranged it pretty bad...

Eric and I are going car shopping tomorrow, and are in the process of closing on our house... crazy times! Pray that we get the car the Lord wants us to have!

A GLIMPS:
There is so much more going on that I would love to write down. God is so good and is doing great things! You know how you can walk through life, and -- when you are looking for God's finger prints, you can see them? I am so encouraged about what my mom is learning through all of this mess. Knowing WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST is something that you will never fully understand, or maybe even fully grasp, but when you can come to "grips" with that fact that you are HIS, it is so freeing. We are HIS -- GOD'S! There is nothing you can do to change that perfect little fact! I love that, if you have accepted the precious, free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, that no matter how easy, perfect, happy, tough, painful life may get, that we don't have to ask why, or when, or what for. We just have to say, "Father, I am yours, and I trust you no matter how easy, perfect, happy, difficult, tough, and painful each chapter of my life may be. I TRUST YOU!" Never let go of WHO you ARE! Don't forget of the POWER OF GOD IS IN YOU! Never forget that YOU ARE NEVER ALONE, no matter how alone you may feel, or how hopeless a situation may be. Remember that it is not YOU who are in control, and you really need to be greatful for that fact.
I often forget the truth of who I am in christ. It is so easy to forget. Especially with the distractions we have around us.
A question that has been beating in my head lately is, what is your "Kingdom" work? What am I doing to further the Kingdom of God? (Some of my friends are going to think that I have gone off my rocker...) My first calling is to point my children and my husband towards HIM. And, to encourage them so see who they are in Christ. I don't want to live the way I used to -- living up to the expectations of what I thought others had of me. I struggle with that, but I really prefer to be who God naturally made me to be. It scares me to think of who could be without him.
The second thing that the Lord really presses me and pushes me to do (and honestly scares me to death for some reason...) is WORSHIP. Living a life of prayer and worship of our precious Savior. Prayer is easier for me than worship. Worship requires me to surrender something more of myself deep within, and say, "Yes, Lord! YOU are LORD!" I don't really know how to describe how heavily God has placed worship in my heart. Worship is something that happens when you enter HIS HOLY PLACE. Returning to that holy place where it is just you and the Lord. You acknowleging who he is, and him speaking diectly to your heart in a way that is indescribable.

The results are in on Eric's MRI, and he has a minor bulging disc...ouch, but fixable. He needs to exercise, and not sit at his desk all the time.
As far as my mom goes, I personally think that her doctor is SLOW! She should FINALLY hear something tomorrow...Friday.
She is hurting alot, but looks much better. She is SO SICK OF BEING SICK! She's moving around alot, and doing what she can. Pray over her head aches, neck aches, and eyes. Her face still feels like it's on fire.

MRI Day

Eric and mom had MRIs scheduled for Monday at 4 pm. Eric was getting one for his back, and mom on her head. I don't have any updates as far as the outcome. Once I hear something, I will update the blog.
I haven't talked to my mom since Sunday, so I really don't know how she is. I've called, but haven't heard back yet.

Doctor appointment results

Well, they feel that an MRI is needed, so she is going in on Monday. There are concerns, so better to be sure. As far as I can understand and put into words, the nerves that are supposed to be working are not, and she has symptoms of swelling in the brain. Her eye hurts more than anything today. Mom said that four days ago the pain more than doubled, and that it is almost too much to handle. She takes pain meds when she absolutely has to, but doesn't want to risk addiction to anything, so suffers as long as she can. Dad said that every time we come over, she pretty much "crashes" as soon as we're gone. And she can't do anything for hours. I know that she loves company, though, so I keep taking the kids over there to see her, but I go because I really need to see her too. Every time I go there, my dad is there as well, and he's in a three-piece suit witha bow-tie, so I am sure that means that he goes to the office. But, maybe it's been a tattoo all these years...

I did find it funny that my mom for "therapy" the other day, mopped the floor. She said that she needed to do something, and unlike most women who go to the spa for relaxation and therapy, she goes and mops her kitchen floor, and vacuums the den. (Then she slept for several hours)

Just so that you know! She IS NOT CONTAGEOUS AT ALL! So, for those of you who were worried, there is no need to!

In need of prayer

Hey guys! Just a quick update on mom. Apparently they are doing tests on Thursday to see about infection in her brain called Encephalitis. There are signs that they are concerned about, and want to HOPEFULLY rule that out... So, please pray that all is clear! I could say so much more, but... I praise God, the Maker and Creator of all things, who was, who IS, and IS to come! We are so fortunate to have a Savior!
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE!


I love you mom!

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands!

Earlier in this blog I mentioned how I truly do believe that prayer is powerful. Well, I am happy to say that Emily undertands, as well, that prayer works!

Yesterday, we went to see mom before going to the school. I just had a feeling that if we wnt over there and saw her, then we would help her! So, we did. We got there, and had fun seeing mom, "Grammy!" Emily made Grammy a gold medal at church and wanted to give it to her, so she proudly carried it to her Grammy! She then decided that we needed topray over Grammy. So we all bowed our heads (my dad included), and out of her little, three-year-old mouth came these words.
"Dear Jesus, please help Grammy get better. Put a BIG BAND-AID over her head, so that she can feel ALL BETTER! Amen."
All I have to say is that prayer is the only thing that can make her feel better right now, and it sure helped her that morning!

First week at my new job!

Well, as many of you know, I am venturing out, and instead of running Grace Camp (Grace Academy's after school care program), I am now working in the office as their new Development Assistant. I get to help with all the events!!I wasn't really planning on working this week, but gladly went, and had a blast! We are frantically getting everything ready for school to start this coming Thursday! BUT, as a fun surprise, Mr. Clarke, our school's headmaster, kidnapped all of us and took us bowling for "In Service!" We also had a banner contest. We had 6 teams for bowling, adn each team had to come up with a team name and a really cool banner. It was so fun watching every one get really into it!
Once school starts, I am supposed to only be working on Monday, wednesday, adn Friday mornings while Evan and Emily are in school. I think that this is going to be really great for all of us!
I am still doing weddings, but that's my weekend job...

(Mr. Clarke's favorite show is "The Andy Griffith Show")

Fun-filled weekend! (last week)

We had a fun-filled weekend! Ir started off with shoe racing. Evan and Emily wore Eric's shoes, and raced around the house. (Evan won, but don't tell Emily). We also had our friends Brian and Danielle over. We hadn't seen them in a very long time.
We then headed to Harper (close to Fredericksburg, TX) for our neices wedding. Evan and Emily were in it, and they had lots of fun!
Eric's dad surprised us with a hotel room in San Antonio, so we stayed there for a fun evening, and then woke up the next morning to see the Alamo!

Hawaii Pictures (Part 2)

Prayer is such a powerful thing, and it's honestly very contageous. I am not trying to sound "spiritual," or pat my back, but I don't know how not to pray. Yes, I guess there are seasons in my life where prayer is at a dull "lull." But, there is nothing more powerful, more comforting, more convicting than prayer. We may be busy mommies, and busy at work, or doing whatever we can find to do, but even in midst of DOING, you can still PRAY! Even if it's while your folding the families underware, or changing the stinky diaper, you can still pray. I love that no matter how busy we may think we are, God is never too busy to listen with love.
All of that to say, please continue to pray over my mom. You may be getting tired of it, but she really needs it. She took a turn for really bad this weekend, and it isn't getting better. She has fever, her eyes are really swollen again, and the sores constatly burn like fire. Needless to say, she is miserable. And there is nothing worse than being stuck at home, alone (much of the time), and in MISERABLE pain.
And, just so that you know, I am here to pray over you! If you have things that are heavy on your heart, and you don't want to be the only one praying over that certain issue, I am here and would be honored to go before our precious Father with you!

As far as life goes, our niece, Jamie, got married over this past weekend, so we ventured to Harper, TX (close to Fredericksburg) and Evan and Emily were in her wedding. Then, Eric's dad surprised us with a hotel room in San Antonio on the Riverwalk! We had fun and saw the Alamo, and ate yummy mexican food! If was a fun family adventure!

(For those of you who would like to see pictures, they are coming -- perhaps this weekend...)

Thursday - Update on mom

Today was another day of healing! Praise the Lord! God is so good, and is teaching her alot as she just stops and listens to him! She is slowly recovering. The swelling and sores are all about the same as yesterday (from what she says), but she is so grateful for all the love, support, and PRAYER! She really is getting better faster than we thought she would. Prayer is working! I went over there yesterday and read her the mail and hung out for about 2 hours. The kids were with a sitter.
Today, Paula Lively came over and made her some special soup, and Diane came and read to her again! I know that she is loving hearing from her friends through cards, phone calls, and visits!
Yestday, while we were talking, she asked me, "Can you even imagine what people who have cronic pain have to go through?" She has several friends who have learned how to surrive living in constant pain. She then followed her question with, "Those people are amazing."
She is in constant pain. It goes in phases, though. Sometimes it's really bad, and sometimes it's just bad. She can now handle to be on the phone a little more than before. Her ears have the sores and she said that they hurt to hold the phone, so when she hurts really bad, she doesn't chat much.
I must say, I am so proud of her for actually stopping and healing. She is cancelling anything she has to do for the whole month, and is just getting better. She doesn't want nerve damage...
She feels so blessed in so many ways. It's neat, how when you stop, and have nothing else to do other than listen to our Lord, how you become more "in step." That's the only word I can think of. But, all of us, at some point or another, must stop and listen to the music -- the sweet voice of our Savior as he is drawing us closer to knowing who he is. I love that HE is in control of everything! I love that, if He wants to heal her and she have no nerve damage at all, then HE can. I love that my mom trusts that no matter what may come her way, she has a precious Savior who is right there with her, through the good, the bad, the ugly, the painful. I love that she has hidden his Word in her heart, so that even while she can't see, she can still hear Words of Truth. I love that she told me of the hope, the comfort, the peace that we all can have in Jesus! I also love that she is no wimp! She may look delicate, but she's a toughy!
If we can all be in prayer over quick recovery and complete healing in every way. That her eyes and nerves will be fully healed, and that none of the virus will linger in her nerves.
If I were to create a visual picture for you -- as far as her appearance goes, she has moved from looking like a "dead person on CSI," and has graduated to looking like Rocky after he fought the German. But, in honor of the step up to looking like Rocky, I have added the Rocky music to my blog! (I know my dad's gonna love it!)
Prayin' over you mom!

5...4...3...2...1...

Well, i just can't hold this one in any more!!!
Eric, Evan, Emily, and I went to Chick-fil-a a few days ago, and had a wonderful time! While we were there, Emily asked me to take her potty, so I did. We went into the bathroom stall, and she looked up at me with a big frown and said, "Mommy, it won't come out. Let's count!" And so, being the supportive mommy that I am, I started counting, "1...2...3 --"
Then she interrupted and started yelling at the top of her lungs, "No, no, no, MOMMY! It's 5...4...3...2...1...BLAST OUT!!!!" And then squeezed her little face togehter really tight, and turned red.
Chuckles could be heard from the audience we had in the line outside the stall door.
Yet, it wasn't over. She said, I just have to do it five more times mommy!
And then it started all over again...
"5...4...3...2...1... BLAST OUT!
My only question is, why couldn't it have been blast off? Eric says that he didn't teach her that...hmmmm.

Monday - Update on mom

She is still improving! Today is a great day of healing! We just talked on the phone for about 30 minutes, and that may have been too long. It really wore her out, but it was nice to chat! She was up and moving around the house a little. She sounds alot better, so that is such a great thing! She is still sore and swollen, but I think that some of the pain has subsided

Monday - Update on mom

Today is a good day for Marian! My dad needed to go to office for a little while this morning, so my brother-in-law, David, went to the house and spoiled her rotten! She loved it! She said that he can come over every day! My sister came and read to her for a while. Marian has a doctor appointment at 12:45pm today, and I will let you know what is said.
When I talked to her today, she said that she was up and able to endure the sky-light in the living room, and she was able to eat a little today!! The swelling has gone down tremendously. I was told that she can now see a little out of her right eye, but the left eye is still swollen (but not as much) The sores are still all over, but she said that she is feeling much better than before. She even requested her laptop to start working from home soon... (I am thinking NO!) She loves for people to read to her since she can't do anything else. She's tired of feeling yucky, but grateful that she is healing bit by bit. Please continur to pray for her, that she will heal quickly, and not have much pain, and please continue to pray over her eyes that ehre will not be eye damage -- especially tot he left eye.

Sunday

I just chatted with my dad, and found out that her other eye is now swollen. So, obviously the worst isn't over yet. She could be having a reaction to the JELLO she ate. Aparently some foods can encourage the shingles to spread, and peanut products and Jello are a few of those. Her head is currently not hurting which is a praise! She is taking advil and that seems to be helping now. She ate toast this morning and was able to keep it in her! (I hope htat I am not being too graphic...)

Saturday

Today was busy for me, but calm and peaceful for my mom and dad. They stayed at home, and there have not been any side effects to the new meds that they have put her on. She still can't see, but she can breath. She was able to eat a cracker and a few bites of applesauce today, so that is good too!
When I went over there, my dad was doing a great job! He didn't want her to stay in bed, so her got her up and made her a nice dark place to sit in the living room., and had a movie playing in the other room, so that she could listen to it. Earlier today, Diane Kendall came over and read to her, and that was the highlight of my mom's day, she said that she really enjoyed it.
She isn't much for talking because it hurts, but she did say that she is so grateful that this isn't going to last forever.
Her face is still swollen and the left side of her face is still horrible.
Now we just have to wait, and watch her heal. Please continue to pray for her to recover quickly, that she will rest, that the pain and swelling will go down, that there won't be any eye damage, and that she can start eating solid food.

Update on my mom...

I just went to my parents house and saw my mom. There is some kind of peace that comes when you can see your mom -- especially when you know she is sick. I haven't seen or talked to them all day long, so when I received a call from my sister earler telling me that an ambulance had to come because my mom stopped breathing, I needed to see her with my own eyes. I went in and chatted with her and my dad, and learned alot. She has shingles in her head. It has clamped onto 3 nerves in her head. (I am terrible with medical lingo, so I really have NO IDEA what I am talking about...) But, she looks like an injured person on CSI...The left side of her face and scalp is really swollen, she has sores all over and puss is leaking out of them. The doctor said it is sort of like a chemical burn. Her skin can't handle light otherwise she feels like it is on fire. She can't even have the television on because the light from it burns. She can't see except for a little out of her right eye. Her left eye isn't even remotely close to being able to open. Talking hurts, but she is great a listening. She currently is just staying in her room with the lights off and listening to music. She feels very nauseated, and can't eat real food. She tried drinking ensure, but it made her need to throw up. Her eye was looking like it was going to pop out, but the swelling has really gone down -- especially in the last four hours or so. My dad said that four hours ago, he was extremely worried. This is the sickest she has ever been.
She is on a new anti viral medication. The one she was on earlier, she thinks, is what caused her to feel as though she was in cardiac arrest. (Rewind to earlier today)...She apparently got really bad, and couldn't breath,and my dad called 911, and the ambulance came. She thought that she was in cardiac arrest. They checked her out and did stuff (I really don't know what they did...) But, then they went to a different doctor than they had before and my dad insisted that they give her different meds. Reluctantly they did. They also checked her oxygen level to make sure her heart and everyting were okay. Apparently everything is hunky-dory.
Now we just need to be in prayer over the meds she is taking, that she son't have any reaction to them, that she will heal QUICKLY (they say that this can last a month or so), and that she won't have nay eye damage, and that she can REST and eat. I think that we are going to start a meal sign up sheet for people to bring food to my dad. My sister is taking food tomorrow, and Diane is taking food on Sunday, and I will probably do something on Monday, but we will probably do something every other day for a few weeks.
Gary and Diane Kendall came over to see her tonight. She really liked hearing the conversations we were all having. Diane is going to come over and read to her for a little while tomorrow since she can't read (and that is her favorite thing to do...) My mom has been on the phone with her dear friend, Paula, who went through this exact thing not too long ago, so she is sharing secrets with my mom.
My dad was praying over who is supposed to teach on Sunday (he teaches our Young Married Sunday School Class), and he said that the Lord told him that he is supposed to, so Reed will be teaching on Sunday. My brother, Mike, is going to come over and take care of my mom.
There is a great story I should tell about how the Lord provided a great seat for my mom on the plane ride home (I mentioned it a little in a previous blog), but I need to put my kids in bed, so maybe you can hear it later!

The Many Adventures of the Couch Clan!

We love coming to Hawaii! There is something that just makes it feel like home every time we come! This time my Aunt Jerrella and Uncle John came with us for a visit! It was fun! Eric and I had our own villa this time. Usually we share one with my parents, and Christi, David, and Mike all have thier own place, BUT this time we got to be JUST US and the kids! It was fun! The place we were in is bigger than our house, so it was AWESOME! We all rented cars so that we could do our own thing, and it was funny because we all ended up with the exact car in red! (Whenever we caravaned, we looked like the mob in red). We went to one of our favorite restaurants at the Four Seasons for my brother's birthday! It was great! We LOVE eating and watching the sun go sown over the ocean! Christi, David, and Mike all dived, but Eric and I decided to just hang with the kids this year. Diving is my favorite thing to do there (other than laying out!). We went to the Waikoloa Hilton and played in the pool and on the water slides! We love hanging out there!

The night we got there, Christi and David received a call from the girl that was house sitting and said that their upstairs bathroom was flooding and there was also water downstairs. That was a bit of a bummer especially since the week before the bathrooms on the other side of their house had flooded and messed up the wood floors downstairs... But, I am glad that they had someone staying in their house so that the leak could be stopped and no more damage was caused.

Eric, Mike, and my dad all played golf twice. The courses there are spectacular! Some of the holes overlook the ocean! I didn't play this year because I am terrible, so Evan, Emily, and I all went to the beach! We had fun "punching" the waves, digging in the sand, searching for sharks (thank goodness we didn't find any!), and looking for seashells! The only downfall was when we were showering the sand off, and somehow a bee found my foot, and stung the crud out of it! It made my whole leg numb, but luckily no swelling!

We mainly just hung out! My mom started feeling bad on Saturday when they took my aunt and uncle to see the volcano. But, she was a sport and continued doing whatever we all did! Eric and I had a date night one night, and went to the KPC restaurant and watched the sunset, and then laid in a hammock on the beach and watched the stars come out! It was fun! We forgot to give my parents the key to our place, so the kids ended up falling asleep in their bed. Luckily we were neighbors, so it was an easy walk to put them in bed!

As the week progressed my mom's sickness started getting really bad, and sores started appearing inside her eyelid, and then on the outside of her face. Every day she got worse, and we were starting to get very worried. My dad started trying to find an "in network" doctor on the Big Island, but there weren't any, so she kept hanging in there. Then once the pain was getting to be even worse and the thought of having to fly back on a plane seemed dangerous, they started calling their docotrs here. No one could really diagnose anything. At first it was a reaction to meds, then they thought maybe a food reaction, and then the latest was shingles.

The flight home was rough for her. Luckily they had plenty of room in their seats, and were close to the kitchen so that my mom could keep ice on her face, but it was obvious that she was in alot of pain. (She said that I can't post any pictures -- obviously!) By the time we landed in Dallas, her entire left side of her face was completely swollen. Her eye was shut and she said that her other eye was starting to swell as well. That was the last time I spoke with her. Now, my dad says that she has a hard time talking and isn't taking calls at all. Christi and Dave are going over there to check on them later this afternoon.

The kids were perfect on the flight home. Emily slept most of it. Evan watched video games and movies. We landed at 6am, but body time it was 1am. We got home and settled, but made an appointment for Eric to see his Chiropractor because he couldn't walk or do anything due to the amount of pain he was in. (I think that he threw his back out playing golf adn swimming with the kids). He was at the doctors office for almost 5 hours and then the doc brought him home. He is still not very mobile, but the pain is fine as long as he doesn't stand, walk, or move. I have enjoyed having him home anyways. I am just glad that his back is going to get better eventually!

Well, I will update you on my mom as I find things out myself. We are all trying to just leave her alone and let her heal. Please be in prayer over her and Eric adn my dad.
(Christi is having a ton of issues that they are having to slove as well, so pray over everyone!)