An Asa Funny

Asa LOVES it when he gets to wear his belt. I found out why this morning as he was getting ready for church. His usual Sunday attire is a pair of cackies (sp?) and a golf-style shirt (tucked in) with a belt. After I tucked in his shirt and I was buckling his belt, he pulled on his belt and said, "This means Best Buy!" See. . .

Kevin dressed and ready for work, saying goodbye to Asa.


Asa dressed and ready for church last Sunday (Easter).

He loves to be like his daddy. How cool is that?!

Easter

I, like Rachel, had been dreading Easter this year. My memories of last Easter were still so very vivid. It was a little chilly that day, but that didn't hinder us from venturing outside where the kids had a big Easter egg hunt. My friend, Vicki, had hosted the event at her house. She's such a great host. The food was delicious and I remember lots of laughter and sweet moments of watching all the kids play together and love on one another. Adults and kids played together. It was just sweet.

But then, "How do we do it again this year?" I wondered. Uugh. We're missing someone so precious, so vital. I didn't want to do it without him. But we must.

So, we all gathered again. This time at Suzy's house, but much of the same crowd was there. A few more, a few less. I felt myself feeling the same things I felt last year. Sweet memories were being made. Parents playing with children. Kids hunting eggs. Guys and gals "catching up". Laughter and sweetness. This year though, tears were shed, as we remembered Knox. Oh how we miss Knox! He would have been chasing Asa around as Asa chased Jack and Jack chased Ayden.

But this Easter was truly good and sweet too. God was in our midst. He comforted me in my sorrow and he brought laughter through tears. He reminded me that He knows my pain. He will carry me/us through this. While our hearts long for His return, we do what we can to enjoy Him in the now and the here. The pain is still with me, but so is His love. And for that, I am eternally grateful. Our God is good and I love Him with all that I am.

Honey, I'm so disappointed!


Last time I grocery shopped, I picked up some more honey because I had run out, and I like to use honey as my sweetener. I grabbed the one in the little "bear" jar and felt thankful that I had remembered to pick it up. After using about half of it, Austin says to me, "Hey mom, this honey has MSG in it."

I took the bear from him and it was then that I noticed my error. The name of the honey was called "Texas Honey Blend". It was NOT raw honey, just packaged to look like it was. I didn't even know they made such a thing as "honey blend". Immediately I turned over the bear to see what his ingredients were and, to my disappointment, it read: high fructose corn syrup, sugar, honey, corn syrup, natural flavor (which may or may not actually contain MSG-my words, not theirs), caramel color.

The reason I buy honey in the first place is so that I can put one less artificial thing in my body. I was opting for something "God"-made, not man-made. Honey is sweet enough as it is. Why add sugar and all that other goop? Grrrr. I won't make that mistake again.

He has risen.


He has risen indeed!

If you haven't checked out Matt's blog yet, you should!

My friend Katharine brought her camera to church on Sunday night. . .

She took some fun pictures that made me smile. Maybe, you too, could use a smile:)


Gracie Mae & Cara Beth have some fun with the white board.


Anna-Kate


Asa makes goofy faces


Ayden & Jack join in.


Oh, how I love these boys!


Jack gives it the half-grin.


Best buds--Jack & Ayden


Cara Beth gets a boost from. . .


Brian, of course.


Cara Beth gets lovin' from Aunt Hannah and mom (I'm on the left, Marian is on the right, for those of you who couldn't tell ;)


Me and my Asa

I've lost count. . .


So, I don't know what round this is, but Sarah is back in the hospital. She went to a different hospital yesterday evening. They treated her symptoms with some pain medicine and caffeine (why, I don't know) and then sent her home because she was feeling better. Then this evening, all of her symptoms returned, with a vengeance, and she is back in the ER. This time she is at Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. When I spoke to her, she had just gotten into an ER room (after 3 1/2 hours of waiting) and was continuing to wait for a doctor to come see her.

She was tearful when I spoke to her and she sounded tired, tired of this ride. I prayed with her. Will you pray too? Will you pray for my sister's complete healing, for her health to return to her and that she would not suffer any long-term consequences from the meningitis? Also, please keep her husband, Derek, and their children, Elizabeth (17) and Jenna (13) in your prayers too. Ask that God would take away their fears and give them His peace which surpasses understanding.

Thank you.

This is a picture of Jenna with Austin and Joshua. They are more than cousins. They are great friends.


And these are my nieces, Hannah (Wyndi's daughter) and Elizabeth (Sarah's daughter) is on the right.


This is Jenna and Derek:


This is Sarah, doing what she does best. She is a pediatric nurse in labor and delivery. She is actually taking care of her/our nephew, James, in this picture.


We're still praying Sarah. I love you.

Sarah's home!!!!!

She went home yesterday and rested most of the afternoon and evening. Please keep her in your prayers. She and her daughter, Elizabeth, are supposed to go to Albania on Friday for a short-term mission trip. They can cancel as late as Thursday, but she's not sure if she wants to and/or should.

Thanks again to those of you who prayed for my sister and for us during this (meningitis) roller coaster ride.

I love you Sarah.

Thursday's update on Sarah. . .

Sarah went home again yesterday, but after only a few hours, her symptoms returned with a vengence, and she headed back to the hospital. Here's the email that her husband, Derek, sent out today:

Well it's day 9 of Sarah's menengitis experience. Round 3. And I know she's
going for the TKO! Satan must really not want Sarah and Elizabeth to go to
Albania. Sarah came back to the Edmond E.R. Last night after only a few hours
after leaving. She started having back pain and bad headaches the minute we
arrived at home. Sarah started having numbness in her hands and legs again.
They did blood work and a C.T. Scan, and again they all came back normal. We
moved back into the main hospital around 11:30. Room # 312. I am actually
thinking about ordering one of these chair/cots for our house (not!). They will
do a M.R.I. Some time today. We know that menengitis symptoms usually last 10
days, and are greatful that Sarah has had a day here and there, where she has
felt well enough to go home. Sarah is awake and eating breakfast. She still
has that old headache. Pray for Sarah's complete healing and rest. We
love all ya'll. :) Derek

Thank you to all of you who are praying for Sarah. Please don't stop as this is a scary road to walk.

Sarah's Wednesday morning update. . .

Here's the update that Derek sent out this morning:


Good wednesday morning to ya. We love Jeff Berry! Jeff was the
anesthesiologist that came from Lakeside Hospital, where Sarah works, and did
Sarah's blood patch. Edmond Hospital, where Sarah is now, wasn't going to be
able to do the blood patch until today. Jeff came last night and Sarah had
instant relief. Sarah slept better last night than most. This morning she is
having a little pain from the blood patch procedure and a small headache. The
headache pain in only about half what it used to be. She is in good spirits and
thinks the chances of her going home in the next 24 hours is good. Please
continue to pray for Sarah's headaches and for her back to heal quickly. Uncle
John stayed with our girls again last night at our house. Pray for John and our
girls, as I am sure that they need rest and are ready for a normal routine
again. Pray for the Bradley family. Wyndi has missed a week of work to be here
with Sarah and me. They have done SO much that I could not possibly put into
words how to express my gratitude. We have been so blessed with all the support
from all of our family and friends. Well now that i've gone all sappy and am
crying, i'm going to say TTFN. Derek

Thanks D. We're continuing to pray. We love you.

Another Sarah update. . .

Derek sent out this email this morning:

Good Tuesday morning. Just wanted everyone to know that God is good, all the
time! We found out that Morphine gives Sarah a headache. So they changed her
to a different pain med, and for the first time in weeks Sarah had NO headache!
WAH-HOO! She actually slept some lastnight, and ate breakfast. The first meal
she's had in a few days. Naturally when the meds wear off, the headache
returns. We will probably stay another night in the hospital as Sarah really
doesn't want to have to come back anymore, and the doctor wants to see the
results of her thyroid test. Anyway, sorry this is so late in the morning. I
forgot to bring my phone charger and my phone died. I asked the doctor about
Sarah seeing a Neurologist. He said that the Neurologist did Sarah's spinal tap
and is updated with all of Sarah's records. If the Neurologist thought he
needed to any other testing, he would already have been doing them. Anyway,
Sarah is awake now and feeling good as long as she is on pain meds.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed and continue to pray for my sister. We love you Sarah!

I just got a call from Sarah. . .


and Derek. They were on their way back to the ER. She was beginning to feel numb and tingly again and her speech was slurring. They both sounded scared. Please keep them in your prayers. I'll post more when I know more.