Prayer Request

I know the power of prayer first hand just because I am surrounded by so many of you who faithfully pray for my parents and have been since this whole ordeal started. I am encouraged by your constant emails, comments on this blog, phone calls, actual cards to Mom and Dad and personal conversations. Your prayers are the hands and feet of God in our lives.

I am blown away by the acts of love you have shown through the food still being brought in even though it is almost 2 months later. And not to even mention the monetary gifts that have been sent to me for my travel expenses and also to my parents.

Since I value your prayers I would like to offer some specifics for us..

Mom-She is constantly improving. I was greatly encouraged last weekend when I saw her. She has more movement in that left arm when it is propped up. She can't lift it herself but once she has it on a pillow in front of her she is able to raise it more than she could when she first got home. She has had some difficulty sleeping at night and I know one restful night would do wonders for her. Continue to pray for her therapy and her therapists as they come into our home and work with her. Allow us to minister to them as well and for us to use this as a chance to be a light if need be or to encourage the body of Christ even more. Also continued prayer for her right arm as it heals. Pray that we will hear good news at the end of February and she can get that cast off.

Dad-Pray that he continues to rest and take time to heal himself. He is back to working full speed ahead and I know he may not say he is exhausted but he must be. Pray that he is able to also sleep through the night as well. I know he helps Mom when she needs help during the night but it would be wonderful if they could both have one undisturbed night. Also continue to lift his spirits and allow him to feel encouraged and to see the progress instead of the road ahead.

Mimi-Thank God for my Mimi! I know she is tired and mentally and emotionally exhausted too but thank goodness she is able to care for her own daughter. Pray that she stays well and strong so she can continue to stay a few more weeks. I know she must be so drained at her age having to be a caretaker but pray that she is encouraged to stay just a few more weeks until Mom can at least feed herself and ease into daily routines.

I will stay home again this weekend. Pray that I take advantage of the hours in the day and rest. I need to do a few things around my apt, run errands, and most importantly buy some new running shoes!! I got a race to run in March.

Philippians 4:6 (New International Version)

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Perseverance 5k

I got to run outside yesterday for the first time in months. I have a love/hate relationship with running but I go crazy when I can't run. It clears my head and helps me stay grounded. It's pretty good therapy too. I can have at least 30 to 40 minutes alone with no cell phone and no one bugging me or asking me any questions. It's my "me" time. It also is my excuse to eat what I want although I don't know if I get a pass when I only run a few miles at a time.

I have ran 2 half marathons and both times my parents have been there. Not to mention the other random races they have been in town to support me for. They have stood in sleet and snow flurries, sunshine, rain and have even driven to Nashville to see me run. I am not a Kenyan. I don't win these races by any means. I usually tell them the same thing. Okay go get some coffee and I'll see you guys in about 2 hours at the finish line.

It is so motivating to know they are somewhere on the course cheering for me or waiting at the finish line with the camera.



This was after my first half marathon in 2007. I have participated in Birmingham's Mercedes marathon weekend for at least 3 years. I did the relay last year and in 2006, both times running a 10k stretch of the course. Then in 2007, me and my best friend both ran the half marathon. My parents were there for 2 of those 3 races, standing on the side lines cheering me on.

The comparisons to my Mom's recovery and training for and running in a marathon are glaringly obvious. It's a long road and path. There are highs and lows. We get encouraged and discouraged. Each day is like a new mile or half mile we have to conquer. There will be set backs, blisters, aches and pains but ultimately at the end of the race, she will find her reward of full health. She will cross the finish line of this journey and be given her medal.

I will not be participating in Mercedes this year. It is in 3 weeks and my body is no where near half marathon condition. I haven't ran longer than 4 miles and I haven't had a weekend to dedicate to a long run since the accident. I am okay with that. It really doesn't make me sad to miss running for over 2 hours for no reason, so don't be upset. However, there is a small little 5k in March at my church-The Perseverance 5K. My Dad has already said him and Mom want to get better in time to come and see me run!

We have a goal and we will continue to press on. I better make sure I start running again!

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (New International Version)

23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Candyland?

Candyland
I loved this game when I was younger. I have a huge sweet tooth and really any spot on the board seemed like a great place to stop. Life was great in Candyland. You had the Candy Cane Forest or Gum Drop Mountain even the Molasses Swamp didn't seem so bad.

I sometimes wish life were like Candyland these days. I want it to be easy and sweet. No troubles and if you land on that card that sends you backwards or gets you stuck on a space, at least it smells and tastes pretty good.

Yet how would we know what our faith looked like if we did not have trials? If my life was all gumdrops and sugarcanes I don't think I would ever really grow. I probably wouldn't even roll the dice to get to the next stop on the board game. I'd be super happy just hanging with Gramma Nut or Mr. Mint and never really worry about how to save the lost King of Candyland.

Thank goodness life is less like Candyland and more like well...the game of LIFE.

James 1:2-3 (New International Version)

Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Mom had a pretty bad day yesterday. Really discouraged and frustrated with the path in front of her. No Gum Drop Mountain just a lot of waiting and therapy and time. She did not want to continue playing. She was tired and wanted the game to be over. I think we all do. But we have to realize how far we have come. How long we have been playing this game. We are close to the 2 month mark and happily we are not in the hospital. Ribs are healing, staples are all out, bruises are gone..but spirits may be a bit damaged.

I am going home tonight and we have big plans-Mamma Mia on DVD! I also brought West Side Story. I remember seeing it with Mom on TV when I was younger. My very first musical and I instantly loved it. Heck, maybe after all the singing and dancing we'll play a round of Candyland.

White As Snow

We don’t get the pretty snow in Alabama. We get flurries with really really cold temperatures and crazy weather men that tell us to get milk and bread and hunker down for the blizzard of ’09! Then you wake up the next day only to discover that it’s just cold and you have to go to work.

North Carolina, on the other hand, has snow and a lot of it. Amy sent photos of the snow from this Tuesday. She said they got over 4 inches and it was the pretty snow. The picture postcard snow.





Snow is one of those things that fascinate me. We rarely see it, so it’s like this magical sparkly gift from heaven. It covers cars, houses, roads, buildings, yards, and makes everything look beautiful and clean. Maybe instead of covering everything it really hides the ugly scratched up cars, houses that need a fresh coat of paint, unsightly buildings, dry, dead front yards. It reminds me that my Creator created something as beautiful and pristine as the snow and that He also is my Savoir who “washed me white as snow.”

I sometimes want to stop and ask God why he has allowed this to happen to my family. Why my Mom had to suffer more injuries on top of other health issues that she deals with? Why my family had to have one more set back occur? But then even though my God allows me to ask the questions, I realize I don’t need to. He already gave me the greatest gift by washing me “white as snow” and overlooking all my ugly bruises and dry, dead spots. All I can do is praise Him and allow Him to be glorified no matter what happens in my life.

Isaiah 1:18 (New International Version)

18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

Inside Out

I like this picture of my parents. They are so darn cute all dressed up on their way to what I imagine would be church or Sunday school. They also have some amazing hair! I mean how perfect is my Mom's bob! Dad's hair isn't too bad either.

Mom has always had great hair. She does a good job of always getting the right cut and color that suits her best. Only a few times she has come home with a look that wasn't quite right-that time in the 80's when she got a perm or the time she went a little too blond for Dad's taste. Other than those hiccups, she has always had fabulous hair.

She taught me the fine art of "going to the salon." We would schedule our appointments on the same day and head over to Old Town Conyers and visit our stylist and friend, Lisa, and spend the day being pampered. I no longer see Lisa anymore simply because of distance reasons but I still know the importance of seeing my stylist on a regular basis. Blake also has learned that this appointment is important and quite a hassle to get rescheduled!

Mom had her hair colored and trimmed the day before the accident. She got a little bit of red in her color and it looked great. Dad may say it was a little "too red!" Whatever the case, her hair looked amazing. She found out they had to shave it a little on her neck for her surgery and I remember telling her in the NCCU that I thought it still looked cute-sort of a stacked bob. She pouted and said, "But I was growing it out!"

Then it seemed like it took them forever to wash it in the hospital. I think it wasn't until the day after Christmas that she actually got a full shower and her hair washed. She went twenty whole days before finally getting a shampoo. I washed her hair again on January 10th, which means she waited again another two weeks.

She got her hair washed yesterday by Lisa. It wasn't by a nurse or me, but by her hair dresser, Lisa. Talk about being pampered. Lisa drove out to our house in Covington, which is basically out in the country, and washed and styled my Mom's hair. She also brought an apple pie for my Dad. Now that is a good stylist!

I know that made Mom feel normal again and back to her old self. She even sounded chipper when I talked to her yesterday. Of course we know that the inside is what matters. The Lord even told Samuel the exact same thing.

1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

It's just that in the midst of this accident we have seen how beautiful people truly are, including my parents. My Mom's spirit is beautiful, my Dad's care for Mom exudes beauty. My Mimi leaving her own house to care for her daughter displays beauty every day. People from the church bringing food, Lisa washing and drying Mom's hair, nurses, doctors, friends, family-each of them are beautiful. They are the hands and feet of Jesus and how beautiful they are to us.

It's the inside peeking out that matters but it also helps to have terrific hair!

Restore My Soul

This is my infamous cat, Kitty Lynn in her new bed she got at Christmas. It is probably a little small for her large 14lb frame. Anyways, I have learned nothing from her except how to sleep. She is special for oh so many reasons and she alone deserves her own blog. However, if there is one thing she has taught me it is that she needs her sleep. I have come home from work and found her in the exact same spot I left her in that morning. I was home for a week with the flu last year and she and I slept all day. That's just what she does.

She has suffered only minimally while I have been going back and forth each weekend but I doubt she lost any sleep over it. I, on the other hand, am exhausted.

As you read earlier, my sister was going to come down but circumstances beyond our control have come into play with Robbie's grandmother and her passing away. Which really is a blessing-she definitely knows her Heavenly Father and can fully remember all her loved ones as they honor her this weekend. Needless to say, if my sister was going home then I was going to take advantage of the weekend off and rest.

I have gone back and forth with the idea of going instead or staying. Every time I think I want to stay I start to get emotional just thinking about not seeing my parents. The very thought that I could have lost either of them in this accident makes me want to spend as much time as possible with them. If it made any sense to quit my job right now and move back to Georgia to be with them and care for them I certainly would.

I finally talked to my Dad and we both thought it best for me to stay in Alabama this weekend and really rest. I am still torn with the thought of not driving to Covington tomorrow but if I want to be worth anything I need to stay.

In fact just this week I stumbled upon a devotional that talked about just that.

The LORD] makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
-Psalm 23:23 (NRSV)

I will take the advice of Kitty Lynn this week and simply rest and allow God to restore my soul.

A special thank you to Anne Spillers for being available to run some much needed items to my Mom today! I don't think it was a coincidence that you at the grocery store when I called, I think it was God! Little moments like that make me realize He is always around us!

Updated Requests

Here are a few requests and a praise!

First and foremost-Mom went to the Neurosurgeon on Tuesday and the appointment went really well. She does not have to wear the hard neck collar in the shower, which makes things easier and she can feel 100% clean. She needs to wear it any other time when she is sitting up and the soft collar at night when she sleeps, until her next appointment in March. She was approved for OT therapy and has already had her first in home session. The doctor seemed to think that the nerve in her arm/bicep area that is connected to her C5 vertebrae will return. However, it may take up to a year and year and half to see any improvement.

I think this is an answer to prayer and also allows us to ask for patience as we wait for the nerve to come back to life!

Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry"

Continue to pray for healing of her broken wrist and overcoming her cough/cold. I think the medicine now makes her stomach a bit unsettled and without going into detail this causes some issue with going to the bathroom and having to rely on others to care for you.

I know both my parents are experiencing all the emotions that go through suffering this kind of injury and incident. Guilt, sadness, humiliation, depression, etc and I am grateful they are together to comfort each other but I also want them to see brighter days ahead.

Dad had his first full day of work yesterday, as always both my sister and I think he pushes himself too much but pray that he gets the needed rest he requires for full healing.

Also my sister was suppose to come home this weekend with her daughter, Maddie, but Robbie's grandmother, Gigi, passed away yesterday. She suffered from Alzheimer's and had her 3rd stroke and her little body just could not recover from it. She is fully restored now! Pray for travel safety for Robbie and his family as they fly to Alabama for the funeral. Amy will now stay in North Carolina with the kids.

I'll update a bit more later.

Philippians 1:3-6 (New International Version)

Thanksgiving and Prayer
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.