I'd like to ask all my fellow homeschool bloggers and readers to pray for my Pastor's family. His wife learned that her sister-in-law was killed in a home invasion yesterday . Her niece was critically injured.  Please remember this in prayer. Thank you.

I just heard from a dear friend of mine--her uncle has cancer, but at least it's treatable leukemia. Another friend of mine--in fact my best friend from school--has cancer in her family. Her father's doctors aren't sure what kind it is. And a lady I love dearly keeps having this mysterious knot appear on her neck. I've urged her to get a needle biospsy done. A knot like this was the first visible symptom of my sweet mother-in-law Shelby's cancer.

A relative gave my Dad a t-shirt that read, "Cancer is Big. God is Bigger." Amen, and amen!

Thanks for all the kind emails, calls, and comments, dear friends, about my Dad.  He is taking chemo now. My brother and I are taking turns helping him and staying with him, and over all he is doing well. We have noticed a definite, positive change in the size of the tumor . His oncologist has noticed visible shrinkage and we are looking forward to detailed tests in a couple of weeks.

Dad tolerates the chemo well. Fourteen years ago, my mother had a very different experience. My, how things have changed. Talking with other people in the "chemo lounge" reveals that they, too, are having milder side-affect symptoms than what my Mom experienced. Of course, everyone reacts to chemo differently, but there is no denying that there are more medicines to combat the nausea for which we are grateful.

We are at a great facility with excellent oncologists and staff. I highly recommend Tennessee Cancer Specialists at Baptist West in Knoxville.  We still have a lot to go through, Dad's not out of the woods yet.  We are trusting the Lord and staying in prayer. 

That's what the last two months have been like. The day after the "frugal friendship" day--which went very well--my computer decided to take a permanent vacation.  But more than the computer is sick.

We found out my Dad has a rare cancer that is very fast growing. It started in his ear and has nearly quadrupled in size in just a month. Long story short, surgery is out and he is doing chemo in the hopes to shrink this thing to an operable size. He's had two surgeries in the last two months--one a corneal transplant and another the mastoidectomy that discovered the cancer.

So far the chemo is going well. He's had two days of chemo this week, but isn't experiencing side effects yet. On the contrary, he's eating like it's going out of style! He's in great spirits and I've gotten to spend a lot of quality time with him. We're trusting Jesus.

So friends, readers, and casual passers by, accept my apologies for irregular posting. It's going to be this way for a while.

A local car dealership has had a long-running radio commercial that features the phrase, "Isn't it time for some good news for a change?"  [By the way, they also feature Christmas commercials that have nothing to with cars, but explain the Christmas story! Gotta love folks like that!]

I've just updated my prayer request section [sidebar].  Some have been there for a while, some have been removed because God answered them, and there are some new ones.  In the spirit of  hearing "some good news for a change" I'd like to list some praises:

• Crystal's breast cancer is responding very well to treatment
• Jim's cancer is responding well to treatment
• Laura's leukemia is responding well to treatment
• my friend Jessi is expecting
• my dear sister in law Lori is expecting
• my friend Cheryl's oral surgery has FINALLY been scheduled
• my friend Jennifer C.  was saved last Sunday!
• My friend Cheryl's son was saved before Christmas!
• my health has been steadily improving since September
• my husband changed jobs inside his company and is loving the challenge it brings
• my uncle Charles had the gastric bypass surgery last year and has lost 97 pounds. I didn't recognize him when I saw him!  He is on less than half the medicine he was on before the surgery. What a blessing!

Each New  Year's Eve  I spend time looking back over prayer requests and recording what has been answered, what still needs to be prayed diligently over, and what new things need to be listed.  Some requests were answered by God taking a loved one on to Heaven. Others, such as salvation for people I love, haven't happened yet.  Others show progress, by that I mean the goals listed from last year for God to help me or the children develop certain qualities. 

Writing these things down have so many benefits. For one, they help me to stay accountable to promises I make to pray about something or for someone. Writing down prayer requests also serve as a vivid illustration of God's hand moving to answer these requests, usually in ways I didn't expect. Taking the time to write them down, read them, and pray over them regularly, and record what God's answers are makes prayer a vital part of my life---especially since these things are the in the front of my organizational/planning notebook.  Sometimes I'll write a verse of Scripture with each request--not as some sort of magic formula, but as a reminder of God's promises, truth, and deliverance.

Adopting this practice has blessed me so much. Recording the ways God has answered prayer is probably the best resolution I've ever made. It's certainly the one I've kept the longest!

Hello dear ones--sorry to not have posted recently, but other things have been demanding my attention more than my blog right now. All the homefolks at Doehill are well, and God is watching over us.

I have had two deaths in my family this week, one expected the other not.  We are circling the wagons, so to speak, for a while to heal and deal with these situations. We are resting in God's grace and the comfort the Holy Spirit  brings. Our Lord Jesus is walking close with us right now. We need Him.

So if you have a chance, please pray for us all, especially my extended family. In Christ--the Risen Lord that gives us hope and peace and eternal life---Gin at Doehill 

My pal Amy sent me an email about a fellow church member who's having lots of health problems right now.  Walter has had two brain surgeries in a little over six months.   A friend has set up a blog about him and his family's situation at    http://letshelpwalter.blogspot.com/   . They appreciate prayers. 

I know there are a lot of prayer warrior readers and friends of Doehill---please add this dear family to your list.

in Christ, Gin

It's not a good week for blogging. It's a time for prayer.  I need God's power to help me get through the coming days.  I'm feeling like a little lady I used know who often started her prayers with, "Lord, send the power now...."

My Uncle is dying--he doesn't have long left. He came home from the hospital a little while ago.  Hospice is going to take over his care. My sweet Aunt just called to tell me what happened before they left.

His physician came in to talk to them before leaving and asked my Uncle, "Can you stand up?" With help, Earnest stood up. The doctor shook his hand and hugged him.   "We've known each other for six years and I want you to know I think a lot of you. I hope you'll do better at home. I'm praying for you. " When the doctor left the room, he was crying but had made sure my Uncle wouldn't see.  The family that was there were very moved.

Earlier this week my Dad had eye surgery. Unfortunately, his eye wasn't completely numb and he felt an intense amount of pain. His blood pressure shot up dangerously high for a man with a heart stent.  His eye is healing, but very slowly.  We're going to have to get Dad to a regular doctor to help get his blood pressure under control. It's not the "under control" part that's difficult. It's merely getting Dad to go to another doctor.

My dear husband has developed a large kidney stone. He's had two doctor appointments, a series of tests, and lots of prescriptions.  Hopefully tomorrow's doctor appointment will bring him some relief. With stones comes nausea and illness and severe pain. His prescriptions aren't curbing the symptoms much at all.

One of my dearest friend's husband was diagnosed with cancer last Thursday. They are devastated.  Another friend of mine is dealing with a messy divorce and custody battle. 

If there's ever been a time when I've wanted to pray Calgon prayers  ("Lord, take me away!"), it's now. But right now it's time to pray for power that only comes from above. Whether  it's for healing for my loved ones, ease at the end of life, answers to the "whys", or just the strength to get through the coming days, it's time to tap into God's power. My own strength is too unreliable and flagging.

This morning in the lobby of the doctor's office, I read Colossians 1:10-11:

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God:

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.

This sounds impossible!  In hard times, I  confess I'm not thinking about being fruitful--I'm thinking about survival. When times are tough I don't want merely to pray that God will strengthen me to bear the trouble. I want it fixed, in a mighty, show-stopping, jaw-dropping way.  Strengthened  to merely have patience and long-suffering? And be joyful at the same time? It's too tall an order for me.

But not for Him.  In the inevitable trouble of life, His purpose is more than simply to be my "fixer". His purpose is to use life and all it throws at me to help me know HIM better---in other words, "Increasing in the knowledge of God."  The show-stopping feat that God wants to accomplish in all this is to help me depend on Him. His strength will help me deal with it, and deal with it all in a way that brings Him glory---because the solutions  will be His, not mine. His will actually work.

I can't answer why. Why my uncle, why my friend's husband, why my husband, why my dad, why me.   Those aren't answers I'm equipped to give. I just have to fall back on what I know is true.  God is good. Jesus saved me. I have an enemy that is never satisfied unless he's deviling me and all those who trust in Jesus. Heaven is my home. One day, weeks like these will be a far distant memory that I'll cry no more tears over.

From the VOM prayer room:  Pray for Christians and all those affected by the terrible quake.

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CHINA
Christians Detained for Helping Quake Victims – China Aid Association

On June 1, Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) police officers disrupted a house church meeting and forcefully detained seven believers during a Sunday service at Taikang county, Henan province. According to China Aid Association (CAA), "Approximately six PSB officials disrupted the house church meeting and forcefully detained seven of the participants. Police officials did not state the reason for the detention. During interrogation, police officials questioned the members as to who would be taking donations to the earthquake disaster area. One woman and her child were released; however the other six remain in detention under a charge of sending money to a disaster area in the name of a house church." According to reports, PSB officials have said they will not release those detained until they paid a fine. Pray for believers in China who are facing difficulties practicing their faith. Ask God to give them boldness to serve Him and for Him to give them the ability to forgive their persecutors. Psalm 34: 17-22

  This was in my email this morning from Mission Network News:

Missionaries are reaching out to the needy in Bangladesh

USA (MNN) -- More than 125 Gospel for Asia workers are helping cyclone victims in Bangladesh. They're distributing food, blankets and other emergency supplies to those affected by the storm. Many GFA families and four churches have been affected. The death toll from Cyclone Sidr has already topped 3,000 and will go higher. The cyclone also wiped out an estimated 95 percent of the rice crop--the main source of food. Pray that God will use GFA workers to help physically and spiritually.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10618

My Uncle Ray just got out of surgery about half an hour ago. They found four blockages and had quite a lot of work to do. The doctor said he did well during surgery, praise the Lord! He's being moved to ICU now and my Dad and other family are there.  The next 24 hours are critical, and

My Uncle Earnest is still in the hospital, but his amonia level has gone down to near normal. His leg is still swellling and his doctor found a suspicious place in his stomach. An oncologist visited with them and said it's soemthing they will keep an eye on, but they don't think it requires any invasive testing now. Hopefully he will be home by Thanksgiving.

That's all for right now. Thank you for your prayers!

My Uncle Ray had a heart test today and the results weren't good. He has 3 bloackages and is being transferred to another larger hospital for open heart surgery today. Please remember him and the doctors in your prayers.

A little girl in my old neighborhood has been diagnosed with leukemia. Her name is Laura.  I went to school and church with her mother.  In their church there have been three people diagnosed with leukemia over the last year and a half, one of them being my cousin David who passed away earlier this year. Please add her to your prayer list.

He and his family have a had a rough few years. He needs a liver transplant, but can't afford the trips back and forth to Vanderbilt  for tests and such. Recently his wife, my sweet Aunt, had her leg amputated due to complications with diabetes.

He became ill Tuesday morning and his son took him to the hospital. He had a fever of 104 degrees and his sugar level kept rising.  Keeping his temperature down has been a challenge--he's even had ice packs under his arms to try to bring the fever down. His sugar level is very high.

His doctor suspects infection, but they aren't sure where it is. He has to be up there alone because his wife can't go--she's still recuperating from her recent surgery, and his sons must be at work.  The doctor has insisted every visitor wear a mask into his hospital room.  Please pray for him and his whole family.

My friend "Elinor" over at Barton Cottage needs prayers for her and her family. Her Dad had some seizures and is in the hospital. He may have to  go to a full-care facility when he leaves the hospital. Please pray for them!

In Christ, Gin

Last night I commented to our pastor's wife that preparing for the IDOP has helped me personally so much. The gossip, silliness, and pettiness that crowds many churches can sometimes cause us to focus on the wrong things [or people].  We forget who the real enemy is, and how we can battle him--on our knees. We lose sight of the larger picture.

This week's featured Random Blogger at the HSB Front Porch is Susan's Life After Homeschooling. i'm so glad they featured her blog, because I 'd like for all my friends--HSB folks, homeschoolers, friends & family---to read a series of posts Susan wrote about South Africa. It's not easy reading, but we aren't called to an easy life, amen?  Read and then pray. Thanks, Susan, for these posts.