Fifteen Years ago Today...

My beautiful Marie was born.

I will never forget the difficulties surrounding us while I was pregnant with her. We went into labor over 2 1/2 months early and fought daily to keep her inside my womb. The Dr's tried med after med and they would work for a little while then stop.

When my body could hold her no longer the fears of delivering a preemie 5 1/2 weeks early hit full force. I was not able to be moved to a hospital with preemie care and if Marie had problems they would have to rush her to a local German hospital which did not have a NICU either, but had better care than the little ARMY hospital I was in.

The delivery went well, but when she came out I was able to see her for only a few minutes before they whisked her away from me and put her under oxygen. I remember watching the nurses and Doctors working on her, shaking her and me begging God to make her strong. The cheers when she she started breathing well and her color improved are memories I will always cherish! Her screaming cries were a blessing to my ears. God is so good.


Fifteen years later it is hard to believe how fast time has gone. She is such a beautiful person inside and out. She loves Jesus and is seeking His will in her life. At the moment she is preparing for a career as a Pediatric Surgeon. She is taking courses for High school students that the local Medical College gives. She amazes us as she walks up to a cadaver, picks up a heart and calmly points out the different parts! Yup, that's Marie! Strong and determined.
She loves kids and is fun to be around. She is fought over by neighbors she babysits for because she is that good with kids. I'm told by many that she is a good friend.

Marie, I am so thankful you are in my life. Being your mother has taught me so much. You and your brother will always be the best gifts your father and I have been blessed with.

I can't wait to see how the next 15 years will shape you.

Love you sweetie!

A Few Updates

Hi All, Sorry I have not posted lately. Some weeks just seem to rush by!

Have you ever felt like you are constantly putting out fires? Some weeks -like this past week- I get singed!

My aunt is recouping nicely. There are many hurdles for her to jump in recovery. The surgery was a miracle all in it's own. The info can be found on the right side under the Maniac4Missions blog. Please keep her in your prayers.

Little Kate McRae is healing but still has a very long road to travel. The Dr's were only able to remove 50% of the brain tumor. It is the aggressive malignant type and the future is unknown at the moment. She is still having difficulties moving her right side and words are not easily obtained. Please follow her progress on www.PrayforKate.com

For those of you who know about the trial we are involved in, it is on hold until Aug 31st. The state of Virginia has decided to prosecute a man who verbally assaulted my child. It is so interesting how this man keeps getting his way. He is out on bail AND now the trial is continued. I know God is attempting to teach us patience and more, but we had placed our lives on PAUSE waiting for this to be over and the continuance really threw me for a loop. I am being reminded daily that I have no control over this.

With all of the above I just want to throw my hands in the air and cry for Mercy. It makes me wonder if that is part of the lesson I'm supposed to learn through these trials. I am unable to handle this alone, but God has provided His peace, friends and loved ones to help. I cherish you more than you can imagine.

Thank You to those who are praying for the above issues. In a few months or years I know we will look back and see the hand of God through it all. I am praying that I can get out of the way and just allow God to work.

Please Continue to Pray!

Kate is out of surgery but things aren't looking good. She has not moved her right side and needs our prayer!
They are talking about taking her into another MRI ASAP.

Updates can be found here

Her parents are asking for your prayers. See them here

I just found out that even Dr. Phil has requested prayer for her and the McRae family. Amazing how the prayer net is growing in leaps and bounds!

Mercy...

God, Today we are begging for your mercy.

Not for ourselves but for a wonderful little girl named Kate.

Lord, she is only 5 and I know you know her well.

She sings beautiful songs to you daily and her smile holds all the promise of a child's faith.

Her mother and father dedicated her to you as an infant; knowing that You are the great Father who loves her more than any human.

Please have mercy on her now. The Doctors have said the tumor in her brain is malignant and aggressive.

Lord, really? Malignant, aggressive- in your child? In Kate?

Please touch her with your healing power. Remove this horrible growth and make her whole again.

We ask you to show the thousands praying for her your power. We believe you still preform Miracles. Lord we're waiting. Lord we're watching. Lord we are gathered and know you are here.

Be with her parents, sister and brother. Grant them your peace that passes all understanding.

Lord please heal Kate. Grant her your mercy.

Please Pray

Hi All,
I am preparing for our vacation and am so happy that we found someone to care for our home and our pets.

Our vacation plans have changed drastically over the past 4 days.

My Aunt (the one I blogged about who is a missionary in So. Africa- her Maniac 4 Missions blog can be found on the right.) has been diagnosed with cancer. The severity is not known but spots were found on her kidneys, lungs, and other places. She will be traveling to AZ while we are there and we will be blessed to spend time with her.

The same day we found out about my Aunt, my sister got news that her SIL has severe cervical cancer. She is only 23 and has two small children.

Our family is sitting in a state of shock and asking God to show us His plans.

I am amazed at His timing and that for the first time in years, I will be able to be with my family and help out where needed.

I intend to blog while I am gone, but not sure how often.

Please keep these wonderful women and their families in your prayers.

God has a plan in all of this and I can’t wait to see and share with you the brilliance of it.

45 Lessons Life Teaches

I just got this from my Mother-in-law. Each and every lesson is monumental!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland,
Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught
me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once
more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your=2
0friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one
is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no
for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ
is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years,
will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time - time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of "who God is", not because of anything you
did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd
grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Entering an Audio Book Contest

A fellow blogger is giving away an audio book that I would LOVE to have for my trip to AZ! Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/p43r72

Did you see my comment? Hahaha!