I recieved and urgent prayer request in my email today. A fellow homesteadblogger friend at Faith Acre Farms has updates. I am placing a copy of her posts here, to update as many as I can, and to ask for everyone who reads this to please pray for Jillian, Katie, and her family!
A dear friend of mine through an internet message board has just recently found out that her 4 year old daughter Jillian has a large tumor in her chest. They took little Jillian to the hospital a couple days ago thinking she had pnuemonia. After a few tests had been run, they concluded that there was a large tumor in her chest, pushing on her lung and heart.
As of right now, a biopsy has been taken and they are waiting on the results. Jillian is on oxygen, as her breathing capacity has been reduced by the tumor. They are just waiting to see the size & complexity of this tumor for the next move. A snippet from a friend on the message board:
""surgeon says is one of 3 things, rhabdomyosarcoma, pleuropulmonary blastoma or germ cell tumor. surgeon said last night that she doubts if it would be benign, but we are praying for that""
It IS cancer. The tumor is huge - football size, according to updates on the message board. Jillian is having a very difficult time breathing, her unaffected lung is filling with liquid. The Dr's are waiting to see if anything has spread and will start Chemo on Monday.
Pray for this little sweetie, Pray for this family! PLEASE!
UPDATE 02/10/07 ~ Friday PM / Saturday Early AM
The medical team working with Jillian has realized that something needs to be done now. No waiting until Monday. Katie is thinking they may go in and drain some fluid from the tumor, hopefully it is fluid enough to make a difference. She is on Morphine now, sitting up a bit, drinking and eliminating.
I'll keep you posted...
UPDATE 02/11/07 ~ Sunday
They administered the first round of Chemo yesterday. She is hanging on and her momma is one tough lady, who will NOT allow bad care for her children. You have to know Katie to know this is how she is....she will FIGHT!
Keep praying please!
UPDATE 02/12/07 ~ Monday AM.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!
Jillian has been on a ventilator to help her breathe. Her lung capacity is growing and she is breathing some on her own, so the plan for today is to try and get her off the vent. Jeff & Katie have been taking turns watching her 24/7..she needs to be constantly attended to because of all the tubes...she can't move much as it would disturb them. Her heart appears to be moving back into the correct postition, it had been moved into the center of her chest. So, if they can get her off this vent the plan is to get her home soon!
We serve such a loving, awesome God!
If you also visit the Homeschoolblogger, you may know Katie, as she has a blog there: Team Bettendorf. Katie is a great Christian mama to 11 wonderful children. Jillian, has lots of family support. Let's cover this family in a thick blanket of prayer!
For some time, I have been the sounding board for one of my closest friends. Not just for the day to day issues, but for an issue all too common these days, marriage.
She and her husband have been married for many years and they have children. Over the years the Lord called to them to follow His principals and live by His word. Last year they made a decision to make a move across the country to a more simple life. Now, a year later, things have fallen apart. My friend is seeing more clearly than ever before, but pain is still predominant.
What could have caused such a drastic change in a year? Veering away from the Word.
Before they left, my friend and her husband purchased a complex phone system that would allow them to call in and participate in our Bible studies. While my friend continued to use this tool to further her walk with the Lord, her husband did not. Looking back, it appears that the impersonal side of the phone was the crack Satan needed.
In falling away from the study, her husband also fell from the Word. In short, Satan has used this to his advantage and in most ways taken over this man. While this has been building over the course of a year, my friend just confided in me a few weeks ago, as to the severity of the situation. In discussing it with my husband, we have admitted that we are floored with the whole situation. This man was one of the core group of our church.
After many long discussions with my friend, I have seen, second hand, the ways of Satan. Both my husband and I have come away with a very valuable lesson: without your willingness to keep in the Word daily and let God guide you through life, life crumbles. Satan is waiting right there at the back door.
Please, Dear Lord, protect my friend and her children. Keep them close to your heart and help them through this very difficult time. Let his heart be softened, that he might see Your Truth before it is too late, Lord. A hedge of protection for all involved. Amen.
Today, was a glorious day! The weather was perfect and we had the opportunity to glorify the Lord for the wonderful gift of everlasting life in the death and resurrection of His son. What a beautiful feeling. In that I was lead to pray about this scripture to begin my week. I thought I would share it with you, so you, too can be renewed.
I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. ~Psalm 71:14-16
I read a post on Spunky's blog and Patricia's blog about a young floridian named Candace. She and her family need your prayers. Tears, emotions, and prayers flow from me each time I go to her website to read an update of her condition. This little girl has more bravery than I have. You can read the details on her website. This little girl and her family need your prayers. They are asking you to sign in to Candace's Prayer Calendar to let her family know you are praying.
My very good friend, Julie, has just received some difficult news. Please read her blog for details and say a prayer for her and her entire family.
Also, if you can offer any help or support in their efforts to get their family across the country to be with her fil, please contact her directly through her blog. Perhaps you have had similar experiences and can offer ideas of contacts for discount travel. You may have a connection, discount coupon, or "award" points from a credit card that you would be willing to donate towards a rental car. Do you have any restaurant or hotel coupons that you would be willing to send to help with food costs? Maybe you have a few extra bucks that you would like to donate. Any and all help will be much appreciated. Just drop by and give her a word of encouragement.
PLEASE visit her blog and pray for her fil and her family. God will get them through this time and place others in their path to answer this call. Thanks to all who are reading here.
By praying for each other, strongholds are formed that no earthly thing can break down.
Last night my sil called to tell us that she has taken a tunr for the worse. During her visit she was both lucid and delusional. She flows between the 2 states of conciousness. Also, she had been rejecting her meds and refusing food or drink, until my sil got there. Then she ate soup, 1/2 a grilled cheese sandwhich, and drank 4 apple juices.
Today she refused her breakfast. She refused her meds. She fought with the nurses over her IV, which she has pulled out 3 times now. She has bitten them, hit, kicked, spit on them. It took 4 of them to control her early today. When we arrived they were bringing in lunch. She ate 2 pieces of cake 4 apple juices and a container of milk. (mind you she is diabetic) Thomas was also able to get her to take her blood pressure meds, but it is the first time in 2 days. So they laid it on the line for us. We need to make a decsion by tomorrow about having her admitted to the hospital to rehydrate and treat her or hospice.
While in the hospital, if she does anything like she did with the nurses today, they will strap her down. Procedures will be invasive and drastic measures will be taken to keep her alive. Hospice will not force her to take anything or treatments, they will just keep her as comfortable as possible. They didn't tell us what they would do if she became hostile. I guess that depends on the facility and we will have to ask that of the staff. They asked us to decide what she would want to be done.
In the past she has consistently refused to sign a DNR when admitted to the hospital. That tells me she wants them to keep her alive. I am just not sure she would want it if she knew she would be strapped down. Since she is mostly in a state of dementia we can't get an answer from her, but we know she isn't being mean on purpose. This is such a hard palce to be in. Not knowing what her wishes are.
Has anyone reading been through this? Does anyone have any words of wisdom or scripture to share?
I know I have been requesting so much prayer lately. Yet, I find myself having to ask again. Please pray for our family and my mil (Barbra). Let God's desires in this situation be clearly placed upon all the hearts involved.
I do not have time to elaborate, now, but have had a teen crisis in our home with our son. No medical emergency. Spiritual, mental, and emotional life or death. Please pray for him and for my husband and I in caring for the situation. Please pray for God's immediate assistance, guidance, and love for our family. Thank you very much. <><
Hi all! I would like to ask for immediate prayer. We have had a call from a local couple who could be a potential match for our home. They are coming for a showing tomorrow @ 3;30 pm, It iwll mostly come down to floor plan for them. At any rate if you could pray for God's will and ask one other person to pray for us as well, we would GREATLY appreciate the prayer!!!
Merry Day after CHRISTmas to all! Our day was very pleasant and much fun family time was shared. It was one of our most relaxed Christmas'. As it were, I was I chose not to run around and get the items being shipped for Kelsey. I picked up the one CD and decide that at least she will have that, and the package of socks she needs to unwrap. Thomas is out getting the last of the track to finish the table for Evan when he decided to purchase a game Kelsey had had her eye on for family game night. She was more than satisfied with her treasures.
I must share my wonderful, and most thoughtful gift from Eric, who is growing into such a thoughtful young man. In my stocking, I found a heavy, yet small gift from him. He has been planning, and plotting for months. When I unwrap that last bit of paper, I find a glass slipper. A real glass slipper! I was so touched. For you see my poor children have had to endure an emabarrassment their entire lives. I am Cinderella. Or at least I suffer under that delusion. Anything they have said to prove me wrong (which they have been trying to do since they were old enough to figure out that I had committed identity theft) has been unfrutiful at best. I remain, the one true Cinderella. As such Eric decided that in light of the goings on in the last several months, a reminder of who I am might would bring joy to my heart. I admit, the acknowledgement of my identity, as well as finally having the other slipper back, was wonderful. But not nearly as wonderful as the joy I felt from the heart my son put into the gift itself. This was truly fun!
Ok, so back to the beginning of the end. That is where we are. We officially have 5 days to find a buyer and sign a contract. No one has walked the house. Thomas and I will be needing to make some serious decisions this week. We have asked for an extension on the contract, and are hopeful to hear back today. However, we need to re-evaluate our selling plan. With nothing gained doing everything we could possibly do, we haven't had interest on the house. Some say it was teh holidays and to wait it out. However, if we get a 30-45 extension, we won't have much wiggle room in time. If we drop the price of our home or contract a full service realtor, we will be forced to take on a large chucnk of debt. In addition, we are both uncomfortable rasing the cost of our home, which is passed on to another family, simply to pay the salary of a realtor, all of whom in this area have been completely un-ethical in our dealings.
So here is the end...we must pray for God's guidance onhow to proceed and to clearly show us His will in this. I have butterflies in my stomach, but mostly, just because I want resolution. Half of our stuff is packed away in boxes. I can't get school stuff and some essentials. Like yesterday I had to ask my parents to bring their coffee maker amongst other things, because ours are all packed for the move. I want to be packing to move or unpacking to stay. At any rate, anyone looking for a someone and something else to add to their prayer list.
Father God, we thank you for all that this house selling expereience has brought us. We thank you for the opportunity to meet the Springers and visit their farm. We thank you for their faithfulness to You. Our thanks goes to Beth, who has been helping make this as smooth as possible for everyone concerned. I come before you now, to ask that you give Thomas and I clear guidance on Your will for our lives. Please give us the tools with which to make our decision. Place peace and calmness upon my heart to be patient for Your answer. Help me to be submissive to Thomas, especially at times when my ideas are strongly opposed to his own. Give me the ability to be the bst mother I can, through this time. Allow me to use this next week to re-group and prepare as we switch to a new curriculum. Help me to keep my stress undercontrol and to remember to keep everything at Your feet. I give it all to You Lord, the good and the bad. I know that all of it, is in Your divine plan. Amen~
Hello to all my wonderufl friends. I just wanted to let all know we have decided to take some time and get away from the house. We haven't had any action. I am suffering serious depression at the thought of losing the dream of the farm. We will be leaving to camp in Orlando in the morning. Disney is our main intinerrary, while our passes are still good. However we are considering a train museum on Evan's BDay. We will have internet access while we are away, but I am unsure how much I will be wanting to be here. However, I will at least try to get on and let all know how I am doing.
Today I actually wished I could take the Christmas stuff down and go back to bed until the new year. I would appreciate your prayers for me and my family. While I am suffering outwardly teh most, my heart breaks everynight when Evan asks God to help us get to a farm. God Bless all...and have a great weekend!
We need all the prayers we can get. Please pray for our Open House this weekend. It will be Sat & Sun. We need a buyer fast! Our window of opportunity is closing fast for the farm. Please pray the God bring s a buyer this weekend. Thank you so much to all of you who care and have been praying for us. It means a lot to me!
It isn't easy right now. The night before last our water system went kaplooey. Suffice it to say we haven't had a drop of water in 2 days. So all the paint equipment is dried and ruined. Our house smells like excrement, since we have no way to flush, and one of us has had diarrhea. No one has bathed or brushed teeth so our smell is pretty gross as well. The carpet cleaner I rented hasn't been touched, and we are being charged the exorbitent late fee. Then there is the fact that I don't have convenience food, so we have nothing to cook that doesn't require water for cooking or clean-up, so we have racked up another $50 in food so far. Luckily, I had some plastic cups from an old project. So far we have spent over $100 and the water guy hasn't even show up to give us an estimate of the work yet! We called several times yesterday. They kept telling us they were coming, but int he end we got an apology call. Thomas emphasized that there are 6 of us here without any water, not including the baby who is diapers of which we cannot wash our hands after changing. They said they would be here first thing in the morning. Well,, it's almos 9 and no one has come or called. The girls have Dr appts today. It will be a real smelly treat for our family to walk in today. Even Thomas had to call off for work because he is stinky. (My hubby is a stinky man! ) Hey, that means we are also losing wages. I am losing my mind, I want to cry, we are behind on the work we need to accomplish before the open house and frankly I just want to go back to bed and pretend it isn't happening.
I feel like one of y children whining about life and what isn't going my way. I guess its ok here, as long I don't do it aloud. But if its in my heart what does it matter? The truth is I am aggravated, feeling frustrated & defeated, and down right melancholy.
Dear Lord, I need you right now. Please come into my heart and cleanse it of all of the bad and negative feelings. I want to over flow with your love. I want to be an excellent example of your love and faith. I cannot do this without you. Please come.
I am such a work in progress. The recent change in our lives has been a true testimony to God's hand in growing me up. The more time I spend in worship and study, the closer He draws me to Him. The more He draws me near Him, the more calm I seem to feel on the inside. This has really been true as of the last few days.
Although we only have a short time to sell our home in order to keep the contract on the farm, I feel content. We all really have our hearts set on that farm, but if it isn't God's plan, I feel a great confidence in Him showing us where He wants us. However, we really feel His hand in all of this. So much so that my husband and I were talking about the list price of our home. We talked about our financial goals with the move.
Originally, we had talked about how much our house could bring in the market, as well as our 2 very sought after pieces of property. However, God has really worked on us. Now, we are only looking to get what we need to accomplish our goal of being debt free. While we will still have some debt, being willing to accept less than market to be able to move to TN to that farm is worth us needing to take extra time to pay down the remaining debt. With that plan, it will take us only one more year to be debt free. We can live with that.
The incredulous part of all that, is Thomas and I having willing hearts to "settle" in order to be obedient to God's plan. We know He will take care of us whatever twists and turns life may bring. Now that's motivated sellers! tee hee. We have had such a growth spurt in recent months.
Looking back just last month, when Thomas was still standing firm that he needed to stay with his current employer and thus we had to stay in state is a testimony to His works in our lives. He took my husband's heart and remodeled it. Just before that he "dropped" the dream farm in our view. We went to visit and got to know the owners, an abundant blessing in this whole process. They are a great christian family. Eric's heart changing about moving after having visited the farm was a great spurt of growth. Then there are my wonderful lessons on faithfulness and patience. I just don't understand how people can not dig Christ.
I know I have so much more to learn, but I really feel its important to take a moment to step outside yourself and observe His workings in your life. We are nothing without Him. He is faithful when I am not. He is the best guidance counselor. He is the greatest physician. He spends so much time carrying me, when I am too weak to do so, even though He has so many other children to care for as well. For some reason that childhood song, He's Still Working on Me, has been running through my mind this evening. I am tired, with a list full of things to accomplish in a very short amount of time, but He will see that I accomplish all. Just as He has kept my eyelids open long enough for me to post here.
Again, I want to thank everyone who is praying for our family and the sale of our home. It means so much to me! So many of you know that I am praying for specific needs in your lives as well. If anyone else reads this blog, who I don't know yet, let me know your needs, so I can lift them for you. God's family proves that big families are great.
If anyone reads this today (sunday) I'd like to request prayer for our family. We will be making our official offer on the farm tomorrow or Tuesday (whichever works best for the realtor), Thomas will be meeting with a head hunter Tuesday to discuss job openings in the area, and we will all be spending much time cleaning, packing, and readying our house for sale. We would appreciate all the intercessory prayers we can get.
Daily scribblings, views, stories, opinions, reviews, inspiration, basic journaling, whatever flies from my heart to my brain to my fingertips. May God guide each and every word. =)
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Blessings Leslie
) Hey, that means we are also losing wages. I am losing my mind, I want to cry, we are behind on the work we need to accomplish before the open house and frankly I just want to go back to bed and pretend it isn't happening. 
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