Happy Birthday Shenna

This is my sister "Shenna". The baby of the family (and spoiled rotten), she is also my best friend and a very loving, Christian mother. She turns (let's see...I'm 11 years older and I'm 48) 37 today! She hates that her birthday is on a "pagan holiday" but, truthfully God has perfect timing and for whatever reason He chose this day to be the day of her birth!
I'm the one who suggested her middle name and my father heard a beauty queen with the same first name. So, not only was she beautifully and wonderfully made in our mother's womb by God, but He allowed her family to chose her name! Well, her birth name anyway. Her married name is another story. LOL! I love her husband like a brother so I'm just getting a little dig in.
Happy Birthday Sis. May God Bless you today and every day of the coming year.

Surgery Success

Well, Big J had his surgery a week ago. So far, it seems to be a success. He had this funky ice machine apparatus for the first few days on his shoulder to help with swelling. It has a little motor in a cooler that you fill with ice and there are two tubes attached to a specialized bladder that is held by velcro to his shoulder. He's already trying to reduce to the pain medication and only took 2 doses yesterday. I'm believing God assisted the surgeon in repairing the damage so that he's as good or better then new when he's all healed up! The stitches come out Friday, just in time for him to go see his little brother J play a home game for parents night.
By the way, little J's team got stomped last week 48 to 7. BUT, the highlight of the evening was that the one and only touch down was made by wide receiver (you guessed it) JB!!! Caught it on the 30 yard line and ran it in for the TD. Way to go son!!

Pray for Firstborn Son

This is the son J that needs your prayer. He'll be having surgery on Tuesday (we have to go in at 6:15 AM for prep). The doctor will be repairing ligaments to his right shoulder and resetting a dislocated clavical and amion something or other. Please pray that there are no complications before, during and after the surgery. Pray for complete healing so that he can pursue his career in the automotive repair industry.
Heavenly Father, I praise you and adore you. It is your love and guidance that see me through each and every day. Lord, I lift my son to you in prayer. Be with the doctors and staff during his upcoming surgery. Father, stand watch over my boy and guide the procedure and aftercare with your skilled mastery. Diminish his pain so that he needs almost no medication afterward. Lord, draw him close to you and keep him from harm. May you grant a speedy recovery since he has to return to school in December. Place a hedge of protection around him (and all my children) and a hand of guidance upon him. Thank you for the gift of my children. Thank you for my son. I stand firm in the knowledge that you have a hand in all that we experience and good will come of even this injury. Thank you Father. I love you. It is in the sweet name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.

Prayer Warriors

All you prayer warriors come to the rescue. I have an urgent, pressing request. First, my husband and I have been quarreling non-stop for days and it's causing a great deal of strain on our already fragile marriage. Please pray for divine wisdom and intervention for BOTH of us.
Also, my son is requiring surgery for an injury to his shoulder sustained in a fall on October 11th. The surgery is Tuesday. Please pray for the operation to be a total success and for rapid healing.
My spirit is depressed and troubled, and these are not things of God. Please say prayers for me.

Check It Out

Hey, check out my True Confessions blog. Tell me what you think.

Pray for Son

My son J fell down the stairs yesterday and injured his shoulder. He has a grade 3 separation of the clavical from the (I forget the medical term...but basically the ligaments that attach the collar bone to the shoulder may have been torn). He may require surgery. And, he just told me he's leaving back to California in about two weeks.
Needless to say, Mom is concerned about his health (and feeling a little sorry for herself because another one of her chicks is leaving the nest again).
Please say a prayer for his complete healing. He's due to start back at UTI in November. Pray for financial assistance, motivation, direction and for God's will in his life.
Heavenly Father I praise your holy name. I adore all that you are and all you have given us. Right now, I pray for my son J. Touch his injury Father. I pray you would direct the physicians to the best course of action. And for my son Lord, draw the people to him who would support and surround him with Godly love and inspiration, wherever he may live. Let him find a wonderful woman of Christ to be his soulmate and may she be a teammate in the journey to draw many people to Christ with him. Bolster his self-esteem and let him see himself as you see him...perfectly created in my womb. He is smart, funny, sensitive, handsome, and giving. Lord, forgive him of his sins and wrap your arms around him to comfort him with the knowledge that You will never leave him or forsake him. These things I pray in the glorius name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Just Kicking Back

We were just kicking back in warm, sunny Texas the other day and I snapped a quick photo of "my boys" in conversation. From left to right is my youngest son J, my oldest son J, and my stepson B. For the most part, they get along (except the two J's tend to fight more because they are brothers and always have). There are battles of will and debates for power struggles. There are moments of testosterone overload in the midst of my confused, pre-menopausal estrogen surges. But, I thank God for bringing these young men into my life. Despite the struggles and chaos, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Senior Moments

This is my 17 year old son J. Actually, all my kids' names start with J. He is the youngest of my children (not including my stepson) and I'm having a really hard time "letting go." When he graduates, he wants to move back to California. That means ALL of my children will be far away from me. But, he will be an adult and capable of making his own decisions. I pray God has a hand in each of those decisions.
I asked if he was going to go to junior college or technical school and he said, "I'm too stupid for school Mom." It just broke my heart. He has learning disabilities, compounded by the fact that my stepson is a GATE student Gifted and Talented Education so he constantly reminds J how "easy" tests are or how "simple" reading is. My husband doesn't help matters either. He's not a very positive person, he isn't a Christian, and he has always parented in a condescending manner. So, I pray that God (who J has just recently accepted) cements Himself in my son's heart and soul (in ALL my childrens' souls) and speaks softly to him. I pray He shows him the young man He sees and not the one the world sees.
He's handsome, talented, smart, funny and a precious new babe in Christ. I love you J. Have fun your senior year! Don't let life get you down.

Happy Belated Birthday Bro

This is my Bro. His birthday was on the 27th of September. We are calendar twins. In other words, I was born 10 months after he was so for a month and a half every year we are the same age.
I love my brother. I love my sisters too, but brothers are a different flavor. From boys to men, brothers are not only the ones who taunt and irritate you, but also the ones who protect you and love you without condition.
He's had health problems and problems with love, finances, and just about everything else. But God loves him more then I do and I know he has great things in my brother's future. Not the least of which is he just celebrated his grandson's first birthday--the same day as his 49th!
I love ya' Bro. God Bless Ya!