tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65490865532128141382024-03-13T14:41:46.950-07:00Day to DayO sing unto the Lord a new song: Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. sing unto the lord, bless His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:1-2Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-29286384116099442862014-05-27T20:21:00.001-07:002014-05-27T20:21:25.869-07:00Night Time At the Hospital: Saturday night-Sunday morningThis next section includes the most emotional events for me so far. Fair warning for any of you prone to cry.<br />
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The doctor told me somewhere around midnight that the decision had been made to put Wayne on ECMO. He went through all the dangers of it. The most likely and threatening was brain bleeds or bleeds anywhere. Because the blood is run through plastic tubes on the outside of his body the likelihood of clotting is very high. To keep the blood from clotting in the tubes, and make sure he has a steady blood flow, high doses of Heparin were used. While it is necessary for the tubes it also means he is getting all of that in his body which makes his blood thin and unable to clot. He also explained that almost every baby, even babies born Cesarean, are born with head injuries from the trauma of birth. In almost any case those small injuries don't ever show up. However, if there was any slight bleed in his head or anywhere the Heparin could cause him to hemorrhage. Even without any sort of injury, spontaneous bleeding is still a possibility.<br />
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Just before 1:00 A.M. the surgical team had gathered outside the room. More nurses were beginning to prepare things in the room. I was still holding on to his leg and foot for as long as I could. I had to step away for a minute while someone was doing something to him. I choked down the lump in my throat threatening to choke me long enough to ask if I could say good bye before I walked out. If I thought leaving him for the PICC line procedure was rough this was a hundred times worse. I couldn't stop the tears and didn't really care if I did. I had no idea what would happen in the 1-4 hours the doctor had estimated it would take. They were getting ready to cut into the neck of a very sick baby boy and place tubes in his jugular vein. And I had to walk away.<br />
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I gathered all my stuff quickly and walk out before anyone had to ask me to. I thought it might be easier that way. The walk back to the waiting room was exceptionally long. Not that it is a short distance at any time. My sheet, blanket and pillow were still in the floor so I was able to just go lay down. Praise the Lord I was actually able to sleep. I had been afraid between everything going on and the fact that I was laying on a hard floor I would not be able to sleep. I slept solid for two hours which I thought was absolutely amazing.<br />
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When I awakened I decided to go back and see if they were done. The walk back was about as long as the walk out. When I woke up I knew there was a possibility that he hadn't made it through the surgery. Walking down the hall I could see the bright surgical lights in his room and lots of people still milling around. I just stood in the hall until someone noticed me and told me they were still working. I went back and laid down and slept nearly an other hour. Upon arriving back again I was told it would just be a few more minutes so I just waited in the hall. The good news was the procedure went well.<br />
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The bright lights were on for quite a while and the room was very busy. I just sat in my little space, the couch. Every once in a while I would ask someone a question or someone would say something to me. Before too long, I think it was 6:15 I started getting sleepy again. Bright lights were on still but I didn't even care. I laid down, put a sweatshirt over my eyes, and fell asleep. About an hour later I woke up, rolled over, and thought about what a funny thing it was to awaken to a room full of strangers. I smiled at a couple of the nurses and they smiled back.<br />
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There was conversation between everyone. Sometimes I joined in and sometimes I just listened. I tried to decipher some of there medical talk but didn't understand 99% of it. I could usually tell pretty easily when something was good or bad though.<br />
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I decided to wander down to the first floor and find some breakfast. I didn't want to go as far as the cafeteria on the other side of the wing so I just went into one of the shops along the "blue line" hallway. One of the things that amazed me about the hospital was the prices of things. The shops along the walkways remind me of airports so I expected the prices to be like that. No! Everything is so inexpensive. I got a bagel with cream cheese and a large coffee for $2.09. I am sure no one cares about my breakfast, but as I said, I am writing this all down for myself as much as anyone. I want to remember details. Oh! And just as a random added bonus detail I discovered I like Starbucks Blonde Roast coffee. I don't really like Starbucks but that shop sold it. I tried it out and it was really good!<br />
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The doctor arrived somewhere between 8-9 I think. The lights had been lowered again and I was just sitting there slowly eating my bagel and drinking my coffee. He was examining Wayne when he turned to me and said "He is awake." I was very surprised so I jumped up to look at him. The Doctor said he was responding to touch and had opened his eyes. The doctor touched him again and he opened his eyes and began to look around. he look at me and I about melted. This time it was sweet. Later on it was one of the three hardest things that happened during those hours I was there.<br />
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The morning passed relatively quickly, as had the night. I had gone into it expecting it to be the longest and hardest of my life. I am sure it was the hardest, I can't think of anything even close to match it, but the time went by quickly since I was able to sleep nearly four hours.<br />
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Sometime mid morning I was standing over him again holding his foot and talking to him. The nurse was standing on the other side and noticed a tube or wire wasn't quite where it should be and started to adjust it. Wayne didn't like that at all. He jerked and opened his eyes. He began to stiffen his arms and move them around what little he could in jerking motions. He started trying to cry but no noise would come out with the tubes down his throat. I just about collapsed into a puddle. I began to try to talk to him to see if that would calm him any but it didn't do any good. Soon I had to go back to the couch so both nurses could work. I wanted to leave the room so badly because part of me was saying I couldn't take it. The other part of my said "Don't you dare leave him."* Thankfully it didn't last long and he was calm again. After that they had to keep him a little more sedated. Moving the tubes, especially the ECMO tubes can be very dangerous so him jerking around could be very bad. The other reason was he was breathing over his ventilator and it was messing with the ECMO circuit. (I won't even try to explain that one. It was too complicated)<br />
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Sometime in the morning, I am not sure I am getting all these events in order, the doctor was discussing with one of the nurses that the site on his neck were the tubes were was seeping. He said he wanted gauze over it so the amount could be monitored. He went on to say that no one had noticed it before because it was running down behind his head. I had in mind a few drops of blood and didn't pay much attention. A few minutes later I went and looked at him again and noticed the whole back of his head was laying in blood.<br />
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When it came time for the nurses to take the cooling blanket out from under him (ECMO was doing the cooling now) and replacing it with a different kind of mattress it was unbelievable. It took *six* of them. Five nurses lifted and one nurse moved the stuff out and the mattress back in. I am not sure how long it took. I think about 20-30 minutes. It seemed like forever. The ECMO tubes are so touchy that the numbers would begin to drop as soon as it was slightly moved. They had to figure out how to get him in the air and keep the blood flowing as it should. Up and down it went like a yo-yo. The number was supposed to be around 100 or above and in a matter of a couple of seconds it could be down below ten. They eventually got him all settled onto his comfy new mattress and his numbers back to being steadily where they belong.<br />
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I was there a few more hours before anyone else was about to come back. I can't think of anything else note worthy right now about the morning so this seems like a good breaking point,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" /></a><br />
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*I have gone over it and over it in my mind and I cannot remember if the struggle of wanting to leave was then or when they were changing the pad and the monitors were all going crazy. I am sure it was some of both. I wanted to include it so I just put it in one place.Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-24257447000654584602014-05-27T09:46:00.000-07:002014-05-27T09:47:32.478-07:00Part 2: Saturday Afternoon and EveningTodd, Mom, and I arrived at Children's hospital somewhere around 3:30 I believe. Todd was able to register without any trouble. The worker told Todd that he would have to go to the NICU and fill out some paperwork before Mom and I would be allowed onto the floor. He went up and we began to wait, and wait. There wasn't even a waiting room for us to stay in. We heard from Todd about 45 minutes - an hour into our wait. He said he hadn't been able to see Wayne yet because he was told they were running tests so he couldn't go into the room. Mom and I got very tired of waiting on backless wooden benches so we finally went outside for a while. About three hours after we got there I decided to ask the receptionist (at a different location than the first one we talked to) a question that I don't even remember now what it was. She answered and then asked why we had been sitting there so long. I told her we had been told we had to wait to be able to go upstairs. She got a puzzled look on her face and asked who had told me that. I told her the woman at the first desk. She said there was no reason we had to wait down there. She got our ID and made up our badges and let us go to the waiting room upstairs where Todd was.<br />
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When we arrived on the 4th floor Todd had just finally gotten to see the baby. He took Mom back to Wayne's room immediately. Todd's sister in law arrived with the other kids about that time. I cannot remember who went back next but I suppose it doesn't matter. I think Todd took each of the kids back one at a time. Mom went back with Kristi (Todd's sister in law) and me.<br />
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As I had expected everything hadn't really sunk in until I saw him. He hadn't quite been real nor had his terrible sickness. When I saw him I fell in love immediately. I had been told at the other hospital that I wouldn't get to touch him but when we got here they said we could. That was quite a wonderful surprise. His little leg was so soft and new born feeling. I just played and played with his leg and toe. I am pretty sure that was when my heart began to break.<br />
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When I had to walk away from him it was rough. The details of this next part are pretty fuzzy. I am struggling to remember what happened next. I know there was some more waiting in the waiting room. I am pretty sure mom and Todd spent some time with the doctor while he told them they were considering doing ECMO and explained what that was. <br />
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Later in the evening it was decided that Todd was going to go back to the other hospital to stay the night with Monica and I would stay here at Children's with Wayne. Parents are the only one allowed to stay the night so the nurses went to bat for me and got permission from all the people. When they came in to tell me I was allowed to stay they said they weren't allowed by law to tell me anything. She said even though being in the room I was going to be able to tell if something was wrong and hear them talk they couldn't answer any questions. I wasn't thrilled with that idea but I wasn't about to argue with them. I was thankful just to be allowed to stay.<br />
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Mom left with Kristi and the kids at 9:30. Todd stayed in the room until well after 10:00 while the doctor went through more about ECMO.<br />
After Todd left I stayed by the baby for a while. The doctor came in and did something then asked me if I had any questions. The nurse looked at him and said "We told her we couldn't tell her anything. Don't make liars out of us." Dr. S. said "She has bedside permission which means she can know anything there is to know." I was yelling "YES!" on the inside. :)<br />
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Not long after that I was told they were going to have to put a PICC line in so I would have to leave the room for about 20-30 minutes. Leaving him was incredibly hard. Each time I left the room that night I didn't know what would happen and if he would still be there when I came back.<br />
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I couldn't help but cry all the way down the the long hallways. When I was walking past the last station before leaving NICU the receptionist (or what ever she was) asked me if I was okay. She came around the desk and ask if she could give me a hug. She talked with me for a minute and was so sweet.<br />
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I tried to rest in the waiting room but could't get comfortable on the love seat. I just decided to lay the blanket they gave me on the floor and sleep there. I also had a sheet and pillow they gave me. Not long after I laid down a security guard came in and asked to see my badge. He told me that he had been told who I was and that I was staying but I had to go downstairs and have my badge initialed. When I got downstairs they told me one of the parents had seen me and noticed my badge had a V and not a P (visitor not parent) on it and had "turned me in" asking if I was allowed to be up there. It ended up working out nicely because they gave me a pass card so I could go through the NICU door ways without having to have the nurses stations buzz me in. With as many times as I had to go back and forth through the night it was NICE to have. I probably would have gotten on peoples nerves. I was planning to just stay in the room but that didn't happen.<br />
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Until Next time -<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-17863816447442229462014-05-26T18:48:00.002-07:002014-05-26T18:48:47.448-07:00Baby Wayne's Eventful ArrivalI am going to attempt to journal some of the events in this journey with Baby Wayne in the hospital. It is times like this that I really wish I was better at writing down thoughts. I will do my best.<br />
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This first part I am going to rush through details. Mom and I got to Todd and Monica's house about 10:00 Friday night. She was in full labor. I left around 11:30 to go stay the night at Todd's brother and sister in law's house. In the middle of the night I woke up and saw a message Monica had posted in a private thread on FB that she had been transported to the hospital. I assumed that it was because she wasn't progressing and labor had been so hard from the very beginning. Later that morning Mom told me that the reason she had been taken to the hospital was because the midwife had checked the baby's heart rate and it was very low.<br />
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About 10:00 I was getting ready to head back over to Todd and Monica's to pick up mom and take her to the hospital when Mom called. She said it was a boy and he had a collapsed lung and was on a ventilator.<br />
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When we got to the hospital we went back to the room to see Monica. The midwives went in with us at the same time. We all sat around waiting to see Baby for quite a while. Monica filled us in with the detail of the night and morning. Most of the time for the next couple hours was spent trying to let Monica rest. We were all, of course, very anxious to see the baby.<br />
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I think it was around 1:30 the doctor came in and gave us an update. It totally blew us away. We had no idea things were where they were. He started by telling us that they needed to transport him to the Children's hospital. He then told us Wayne had inhaled meconium in the womb. When he was delivered he tried to breath but his lungs were stuck together because of the meconium. He actually ripped a hole in his lungs trying to get air. That is what caused the lung to collapse. At this point I still didn't realize just how severe the issues were. He said "He is a sick, sick boy." At that point I think I started to get a slight hint of what was to come. He told us that they would bring Wayne in before he was transported so Monica could at least see him a minute before they left since she hadn't seen him yet at all.<br />
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We waited a little longer. I have absolutely no idea how long it was. The doctor came back in and told us that they weren't going to be able to bring him in. Things were too severe and they had to get him to the hospital as soon as possible. He continued to say how sick he was then told us that he might not make it through the day. I was totally not prepared for that at all. It blew me away. Everyone in the room just sat there and looked at him.<br />
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Things started to move. Papers had to be signed for them to take the baby. Phone calls had to be made to set up permission for Mom and me to go see him. Probably a lot more things went on then that I don't remember. They told us to wait about an hour I think before we headed to Children's.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-39955100019788079542013-12-31T21:05:00.000-08:002013-12-31T21:05:13.264-08:002013 Book List<div style="text-align: left;">
I read some amazing books this year. Some that I would highly recommend. Just Do Something, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, No Graven Images, Tortured For Christ, and Early Would I Seek Thee are probably at the top of the list.</div>
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<i><u>Absolute Surrender</u> Andrew Murray</i></div>
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<i><u>Trusting God in a Twisted World </u> Elisabeth Elliot</i></div>
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<i style="text-decoration: underline;">Just Do Something </i><i>Kevin De Young</i></div>
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<i><u>Treasures We Leave Behind</u> Joy Gage</i></div>
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<i><u>Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert</u> Rosaria Champagne Butterfield</i></div>
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<i><u>Family Gatherings</u> Helen Kay Polaski</i></div>
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<i>T<u>he Goo</u></i><i><u>d and Bad of Ninety Plus Years</u> Bob Jones (Grandpa)</i></div>
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<i><u>When God says Go</u> Lorry Lutz</i></div>
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<i><u>The Pursuit of Holiness J</u>erry Bridges</i></div>
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<i><u>No Graven Image</u> Elisabeth Elliot</i></div>
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<i><u>Sex Isn't the Problem (Lust is)</u> Joshua Harris</i></div>
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<i><u>The Autogiography of George Muller</u></i></div>
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<i><u>Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die</u> John Piper</i></div>
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<i><u>Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer</u> (Abridged)</i></div>
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<i><u>The Faith of Helen Keller</u></i></div>
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<i><u>Not I, But Christ</u> Corrie ten Boom</i></div>
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<i><u>Maria</u> Eugenia Price</i></div>
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<i><u>Tortured For Christ</u> Richard Wurmbrand</i></div>
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<i><u>The Lighthouse</u> Eugenia Price</i></div>
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<i><u>New Moon Rising</u> Eugenia Price</i></div>
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<i><u>Early Will I seek Thee</u> Eugenia Price</i></div>
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<i><u>A Step Further</u> Joni Eareckson and Steve Estes</i></div>
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<i><u>The Waiting Time</u> Eugenia Price</i></div>
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<i><u>When I don't Desire</u> God John Piper *</i></div>
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<i><u>To Live is Christ To Die is Gain</u> Matt Chandler *</i></div>
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<i><u>Respectable Sins</u> Jerry Brides *</i></div>
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<i><u>God's Smuggler</u> Brother Andrew</i></div>
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<i><u>Slave</u> John MacArthur</i></div>
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<i>*audio books</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-66435439771438272642013-10-06T16:39:00.001-07:002013-10-06T16:43:56.137-07:00Perks of Singleness <br />
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Last week I posted a status message about my mental list of the perks of singleness. While the stat was written totally being silly I received requests to share my "list". We will see how well it goes to write it down.<br />
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I will start out with a disclaimer: This is meant to be lighthearted. I do not mean to demean the blessing of children or even of marriage. These are just things I enjoy in this stage of my life.<br />
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There will be no particular order. They definitely aren't in order of importance. Just as they pop into my mind.<br />
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1. Travel: I love to travel. Single I am much freer to pick up and go than if I was a wife and mother.<br />
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2. Sleep: I like sleep. Who doesn't? Whenever I am really tired and I watch a mother having to get up very early, or in the night it makes me thankful for my freedom to sleep.<br />
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3. Clothes/Fashion: Some guys (not all) are very particular about what their women wear. I bought a pretty winter hat a few weeks ago. I know a lot of guys don't like hats but since I don't have a man to please I wear what I want. :)<br />
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4. Freedom to give: Singleness means more time and money (usually) to be able to help others.<br />
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5. Reading: Anyone who has known me more than five minutes knows I love to read. There are times I don't think I could have a conversation of any depth without referencing books. A family would greatly diminish the amount of time I get to spend in books.<br />
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6. No husband = no pregnancy = no labor! Enough said on that one! :)<br />
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7. Parenting: I am not sure what to say about this one. The older I get the scarier parenting looks. Parenting is an awesome (and I mean that in the deepest sense of the word) responsibility. I am in no hurry to rush into it.<br />
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8. Singleness means more time with my parents. Though I am gone five days a week now, I still get to go home every weekend and I love it.<br />
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So there you have it, Ladies. There are many, many little things I am always finding that belong on this list but most of the things fit in these categories. Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-40415240873821880632013-01-31T19:04:00.000-08:002013-01-31T19:07:45.994-08:00Passage from What is the Gospel<br />
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I read the book <i>What is the Gospel </i>by Greg Gilbert a few months back. One section at the end jumped out at me. It pretty much slapped me across the face. Just thought I would share. <br />
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<i> Also, Christian, the gospel should drive you to a deeper and livelier love for God's people, the church. Not one of us Christians has earned his or her way into the inheritance God has stored up for us. We are not "self-made" citizens of the kingdom. We are included in God's promises only because we know that we are dependent on Jesus Christ to save us, and we are united to him by faith. But here's the kicker. Do you realize that the same thing is true of that brother or sister in your church who annoys you? He or she believes in and loves the same Lord Jesus that you do, and even more, he or she has been saved and forgiven by the same Lord who saved and forgave you. Think about that brother or sister you've not really taken the time to get to know because you just don't think you'd click. Think about that person with whom you have broken relationship that you've refused to repair. Now consider that he or she loves and trust in the same Lord you do. Consider that the same Lord who died for you, also died for him, for her.</i><br />
<i> I wonder if your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news that Jesus saved you even though you didn't deserve it - is deep enough to swallow up that little criticism you have of your brothers and sisters. I wonder if it's deep enough to sink the offenses they've committed against you, even the most painful ones, and lead you to forgive them and love them just as Jesus himself has done for both of you.</i><br />
<i> I wonder if the vastness of God's love for you has increased your love for others.</i>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-29132529602580325822013-01-02T19:07:00.002-08:002013-01-02T19:07:52.892-08:00Book List for 2012<br />
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A few years ago I started keeping track of the books I read. When I finish a book I write down the title, author, and date I finish it. It has been so much fun to be able to look back and remember each one. Here is my 2012 list.</div>
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If: What do We Know of Calvory Love - Amy Carmichael </div>
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Call the Sabbath a Delight - Walter Chantry</div>
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The Radical Cross - A.W. Tozer</div>
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Loneliness - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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Discipline: The Glad Surrender - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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Don't Waste Your life - John Piper</div>
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These Strange Ashes - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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Future Grace - John Piper</div>
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L'Abri - Edith Schaeffer</div>
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Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right and lived to take all (or Almost All) of It Back - Frank Schaeffer</div>
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What is a Healthy Church - Mark Dever</div>
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Let's Just be Friends - H. Norman Wright</div>
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Secure in the Everlasting Arms - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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Outrageous Forgiveness - Larry Lilly</div>
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Treasures of the Snow - Patricia St. John</div>
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Worldliness - C.J. Mahaney</div>
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Winning Him Without Words - L. Donovan & D. Miller</div>
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I Will Carry You - Angie Smith</div>
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The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis</div>
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Surrender - Nancy Leigh DeMoss</div>
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Around the World in 80 Days -Jules Verne</div>
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Love Has a Price Tag - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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Let Me Be a Woman - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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The Explicit Gospel - Matt Chandler</div>
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Mistaken Identity - Cerak, VanRyn</div>
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The Prayer Matrix - David Jeremiah</div>
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WHat is the Gospel - Greg Gilvert</div>
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Radical Hospitality - David and Ruth Rupperecht </div>
<img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" />Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-48724569581283614332012-12-31T11:15:00.000-08:002012-12-31T11:15:43.338-08:002012It has been quite a while since I have blogged. Being the last day of 2012 I just wanted to write a couple of things down for my memory.<br />
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Perspective is an interesting thing. At the end of 2011 many people said that it was an unusually hard year. For me it was a year of great excitement. Now, here we are at the end of 2012. It has help its share of exciting and happy things but over all it has been a very rough year. Many tears and heartache. But in that it has been a good year. C.S. Lewis liked to say that "Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world." (quoting from memory so that might not be exact) This year I have heard His megaphone.<br />
Looking back over the year I think there are two main lessons that have been drilled into me. I don't know which order to put them in. One isn't necessarily more important than the other.<br />
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I became keenly aware of Micah 6:8. <span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-KJV-22657">He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?</span><br />
<span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-KJV-22657">When I have struggled through different issues this verse has been brought up over and over. That is what God requires of us. That is what is important. </span><br />
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<span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-KJV-22657">Secondly, God doesn't allow His children to hold things as idols. When we place something as more valuable than Him He will take it from us. He will conform us to the image of Christ through whatever it takes.</span><br />
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<span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-KJV-22657">So, I will have to say at the end of this year that it has been very good. </span>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-84058812456962529552011-09-15T05:10:00.000-07:002011-09-15T05:50:42.223-07:00Lamentations 3<span style="font-style: italic;">I am thankful for mornings</span>, even though I have never considered myself a 'morning person.' When I get super tired I just feel so overwhelmed.<br />Last night was one of those nights.<br />I opened by Bible to read Psalms last night. The first passage I read was so encouraging. As I was going to sleep last night I got to thinking about this passage in Lamentations. The first two verses here are so well known. Just about every Christian could quote them. The next few verses are not quite as well known. I think they were more powerful to me this morning as the first two verses.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. </span><p style="font-style: italic;">They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. </p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. </span><br /></p><p>Friends, God is so good. No matter what the circumstances we are in, He is always faithful and his mercies are never ending.<br /></p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-12001955341079194312011-08-11T16:08:00.000-07:002011-08-11T16:21:51.177-07:00HopeI read this last night. It was very timely for me. I thought I would share it.
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<br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Christians look forward with hope to the joy of being with Christ in glory forever. Faith is defined as "the assurance of things hoped for" (Heb. 11:1) because the invisible things hoped for in the future are grasped through faith. Hope is certain; it is "a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Heb. 6:18-19). According to the Bible, Christ is "our hope" (1Tim. 1:1), and our God is called "the God of hope" (Rom. 15:13)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> An ethic of hope pervades the New Testament. It is an ethic of pilgrimage for strangers on their way home (Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11). It is an ethic of purity, as the one who hopes to be like Jesus when He appears "purifies himself as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). It is an ethic of preparedness, since we should be ready to leave this world at any time (2 Cor. 5:6-8; Phil. 1:21-24; cf. 5:1-5). Hope gives strength and confidence for running the race, fighting the good fight, and enduring the tribulations that continue in this life (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom. 8:18; 2 Tim. 4:7,8).</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Though the Christian life is marked more by suffering than by triumph (Acts 14:22; 1 Cor. 4:8-13; 2 Cor. 4:7-18), our hope is sure and our mood should be free from despair (1 John 4:18).</span>
<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-90842627967376521502011-06-02T04:52:00.001-07:002011-06-02T05:23:17.110-07:00Happy Birthday, Courtney<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_V0eL391NsiinkNzk94GLjxMixuTM6cmkPhcUNgr5v88ke8UK3UimezQC9gh2vEuUu_QbtJlw4pU10Yup8q5rHZVLudaersPXnWTM76Gfg59ljyeCdKPcIDrDiZLtgCeNjzu4rkk_Fn5/s1600/44726_463553935539_694900539_6895535_7324790_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_V0eL391NsiinkNzk94GLjxMixuTM6cmkPhcUNgr5v88ke8UK3UimezQC9gh2vEuUu_QbtJlw4pU10Yup8q5rHZVLudaersPXnWTM76Gfg59ljyeCdKPcIDrDiZLtgCeNjzu4rkk_Fn5/s400/44726_463553935539_694900539_6895535_7324790_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613596913280614914" border="0" /></a><br />Just about four years ago God brought a new person into my life. Little did I know that day what God had in store for us. At that point in time she was not a believer. We basically held nothing in common which made conversation difficult at times. :)<br />Suddenly several months later. I saw a drastic difference in her. She had been born again. The Spirit of God now indwells her.<br />Over the last years it has been my wonderful blessing to watch her grow in the Lord like no one I have ever seen.<br />In four I have watched as she has gone from a person I couldn't carry on a conversation with, to my closest friend. She is my peer, yet at many times my teacher. God continues to sanctify each of us through each others lives. I cannot begin to write down what a blessing she is to me!<br />Happiest of birthdays, Courtney. I love you so very much!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-19459509918841071582011-05-06T20:28:00.000-07:002011-05-06T20:39:07.060-07:00Randomness - Just because I feel like itThis is just going to be a very random post. I am just giving your warning.<br />First of all I didn't do well with my posts for the end of April, but thank you everyone that joined me in prayer for each thing.<br /><br />Second: I do not particularly like sewing sleeves in. I never have and probably never will. When I have to put a sleeve from one pattern in a bodice from an other.... YUCK! I have put four different sleeves in since yesterday and none of them look right. I might be bald if I don't figure this thing out tomorrow. I have to get this pattern all together so we can start making the real bridesmaid dresses. All I have to say is we had better look good!<br /><br />My family played music for a mother daughter banquet tonight. I am sure this was our last musical program before Beckisue gets married. Kind of sad in a way.<br />The banquet was beautiful. Old fashioned tea was the theme. I got a lot of ideas for Beckisue's tea luncheon bridal shower.<br /><br />Never go shopping with someone when you are wearing heals and they are wearing flip flops. Just not a good idea. I was wearing the most uncomfortable pair of shoes I think I have ever owned (and also one of the cutest) and Beckisue decided to stop on the way home from the banquet tonight and finish registering. After standing a LOT for the whole banquet thing my feet HURT!<br /><br /> Courtney is coming tomorrow and I am excited.<br /><br />The End<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-18045388553911838102011-04-25T05:43:00.000-07:002011-04-25T06:15:30.168-07:00April 25 - The TruittsMy friend Anna had a prayer request she asked that I share with you all.<br />As I am sure you all know there were many, many tornadoes last week across the country. One of the hardest places hit was North Carolina. Anna's dad is a insurance adjuster and a contractor. He was asked to go to North Carolina for the summer and left on Saturday.<br />He will be spending many hours traveling as he plans to come home every other weekend if possible. He will also be spending time on scaffolding and roofs.<br />So, Anna and I ask that you pray for him as he works and travels, and for Anna and her mom as they are without him for the summer.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-13540040582713763412011-04-21T04:26:00.000-07:002011-04-21T04:34:58.788-07:00April 21 - Skyler's Family<div>One night toward the end of February, Stephanie got a phone call from one of her best friends. It was the horrible type of phone call. The kind with news you never want to hear. This girl's sister, Becky, and her nine year old son, Skyler, had slid on ice across the road into an oncoming truck. Skyler was killed immediately. </div><div>Today would have been Skyler's tenth birthday and it was two months ago today that he died. Please pray for Becky and the whole Hartman family today that they would be given peace today.</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-85178509149166897522011-04-20T06:09:00.000-07:002011-04-20T06:39:53.111-07:00April 20 - Photography for the wedding<div>Over the last two months since my sister, Beckisue, got engaged we have watched God provide time and again for her wedding. She was given an absolutely beautiful wedding dress by a total stranger. It was not only given to her but it had the three elements that she had decided were most important to her when she had gone to try on dresses. I will refrain from saying what those three things are in case Andy where to see this. He plugs his ears whenever the dress is mentioned. He doesn't want to know anything about it. Monica keeps telling him it is purple with black polka dots. :)</div><div>The reception hall was also provided wonderfully. We looked and looked for a reception hall. Reception halls big enough in our little town are very scarce. In stead of finding one here went went ten miles north to a town about a 1/8 of the size. :) Not only did we find a very nice place, we also were able to barter for the rent. When Beckisue went to look at it they told her they were wanting to get the carpet cleaned before they rented it out again. Well, it 'just so happens' that Monica and I have been cleaning carpets together for sever months now with her Aerus-Electrolux equipment. :) What a HUGE blessing.</div><div>I could go on and on with the list of things that God has provided. </div><div>- A friend that we haven't seen in 12+ years sent Beckisue a message and told her she does wedding cakes professionally now and would like to do one as a gift. </div><div>- There was some mixup with sale dates at Jo-Ann's and we ended up getting $35 EXTRA off of the bridesmaids fabric that we were already getting on sale. </div><div>-A friend is doing the dinner for a very low price. etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now we get to the point. We have a friend who is a professional photographer. He shot both of my brothers weddings. He always told my sisters and me that he would do our weddings someday. Well, he and his family moved to Arizona last year. :( The plan was that he would just come back to attend the wedding but he is unable to because he cannot leave his oldest son who is severely autistic. </div><div>Plan B: A friend of my dads offered to shoot the wedding. We do not know anything about his skills though. He met with Beckisue and Andy on Sunday evening to take some engagement pictures so they could get an idea of what he is like. His camera is film and not digital so they haven't been able to see the pictures yet to see their quality and his skill level.</div><div>Andy kept saying Sunday night that he really wanted to make a matter of prayer this week that God would direct them in their decision making and He would show them just what they are to do.</div><div>Wow! That was a long post for a short prayer request! </div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-28561211995654347272011-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-19T05:11:26.359-07:00April 19 - Jared's Surgery<div>My apologies in advance that we are back to writings by me this morning. We will try to have guest blogger Courtney back very soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I was in my last couple of years of high school we attended monthly youth rallies. There were several church who participated around central/north central Indiana.</div><div>One of the main pastors was a man named Tim Boyd. Pastor Boyd's son, Jared (I think he is 19 but am not completely sure), was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago. The cancer was in remission for a while but is back again. Jared's sister, Katie, said over the weekend that Jared was having surgery this morning to remove the largest tumor. She asked for specific prayer for this so I thought I would share it with my little prayer group that has been joining me these last couple of weeks.</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-57093247839405526602011-04-17T20:22:00.000-07:002011-04-18T07:00:07.053-07:00April 18 - Jonathan's mission trip<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Today’s prayer request is brought to you by the authorship of Rhonda’s amazingly awesome friend, Courtney (who is also girlfriend of the subject of this post)…</span></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><b><i><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...” [Matthew 28:18-20]</span></span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Jonathan (as I’m sure all readers know to be Rhonda’s brother) is leaving for a trip to a far away country (sniffle) in almost exactly one month with a team of friends from college.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">He will be sharing the gospel and exploring the land.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">The area he is heading to is not very welcoming to Christianity so some details must remain untold to all readers on the world wide web.</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Please pray for him as he prepares for this trip, that the Lord would work out all of the details.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">He currently is working to reach his financial goal so that he is able to share the good news with lost souls. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">He is also making connections with people in preparation, learning to speak the language and hoping to have a few faces to meet after he sails the seas, opening up more doors of opportunity to speak about the love of Jesus Christ.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">We also ask for prayer for protection both during travel and as he shares Christ in an area of persecution.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Prayer for strength and wisdom for Jonathan is also needed.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Although Jonathan isn’t easily intimidated by talking to strangers, sharing news that can forever change an individual is pretty nerve-racking in itself, but adding the difficulty of sharing it in an foreign land that happens to hate Christianity makes it just a little bit more so.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Please pray also that if the Lord wills, that he would be able to see the fruits of his labor, that he would be encouraged, while he is there being used as a vessel.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Above all, pray that God’s will would be done and his kingdom would be furthered; that lives would be eternally surrendered to serve the Lord.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">“The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock in heaven by which Christ carries on his great work upon earth.” (Quoted from E.M. Bounds in </span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Purpose in Prayer.</span></b></i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">)</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">(All of these prayers also apply to the other individuals traveling with him.</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">I believe there are 10 in all on the team.)</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">P.S. Courtney, you ought to feel very special. You got to write the 200th post on my blog. What an honor! ;)</span></b></span></p></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-25660393992720514812011-04-15T05:20:00.000-07:002011-04-15T05:33:51.259-07:00April 15 - KaylynnKaylynn just called with an update on Shayne. There is good news and very bad news. The good news is that physically Shayne is fine. The bad news is they are taking him back to jail today for violating his work release. They said that though whatever he took was not an illegal drug/controlled substance he was trying to get the same affect. That totally doesn't make sense to me.<br />Shayne goes to court on Monday. Kaylynn said he could either go to prison for four years (!!) or they might send him to rehab. Obviously they are hoping for the rehab.<br />All that being said, my request today is for Kaylynn. She has put up with more in the last two years than almost any girl I know would. She just turned 20 a couple of weeks ago so she is still very young. She has been more loyal to her husband than many girls I have known who have been raised in Christian homes and taught well.<br />Pray first of all for her spiritual growth through all this. Also she needs prayer for physical strength. She has been working about 70 hours a week. She had finally decided she could cut back and with all this she can't now. She will have Shayne's new hospital and court bills.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-16816525447751692502011-04-14T10:49:00.000-07:002011-04-14T11:15:40.732-07:00April 14 - ShayneFirst of all, Summer was released from the hospital last night. Praise the Lord for that!<br /><br />My dad has been working with a young man named Shayne for about four years in his jail ministry. I won't go in to all his story right now because it is rather long. He had problems with drugs for a while. He has been doing well. He has had a job and working hard and making progress with his life. Kaylynn, Shayne's wife, called this morning and said Shayne was in the ER.<br />Dad went to the hospital and when he got there Shayne was in the ICU. I guess what happened was he has been drinking 5 Hour Energy at work. Then one of his coworkers offered him something. I have no idea what it was. Dad said it wasn't a controlled substance. Whatever it was was legal. Whoever gave it to him told him to snort it. People, just don't snort stuff! It's just stupid... Okay, back to my story.<br />I guess the energy drink and the Unknown-Snorted-Substance didn't have a good reaction when mixed. Dad said it almost killed him and he isn't out of the woods yet.<br />Please pray for both Shayne and Kaylynn.<br />Sorry this post sounds so jumbled. I don't have much time and want to get it posted.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-31497145630332447282011-04-13T05:15:00.000-07:002011-04-13T05:21:36.965-07:00April 13 - SummerMy new little niece, Summer, had to be admitted into the hospital last night. Her bilirubin count was high. We found out last night that it is very common in babies born early. It is easily treated and shouldn't cause any problems. If it does get too high it can cause serious problems.<br />We're praying that she will be fine this morning and get to go back home!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-46466630813353416852011-04-12T05:47:00.000-07:002011-04-12T05:53:04.804-07:00April 12 - Courtney's tripI have been unable to post for the last two days. I am going to try to get back on track today.<br /><br />Courtney is going to be traveling back today from Northland by herself. It is kind of a long story how it all came about. Jonathan and some friends came home last weekend and she ended up having to take them back. There wasn't room for anyone to ride along with them so she wouldn't have to come back alone.<br />Please pray God gives her safety and that she stayed alert as she drives.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-60522652370599243882011-04-09T09:05:00.000-07:002011-04-09T09:10:19.566-07:00April 9 - Thankfulness<div>I am late with posting this morning. I have been trying to decide what to post. Not that there is ever a lack of things to pray for but there are a lot of things that shouldn't be posted for the whole world. </div><div>Today my request is that everyone just pour out thankfulness to God in your prayer. Sometimes we need to stop and really think about being thankful for so many more things than we normally just thank God for in passing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Blessings as your heart of thankfulness grows!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-6767474544902232752011-04-08T20:59:00.000-07:002011-04-08T21:05:23.272-07:00Summer Nicole CosbyI have a beautiful new niece that was born this morning. Her name is Summer Nicole. She is a little tiny thing weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz. and I think she was 20 inches long.<br />We got to go hold her this afternoon. She slept the whole time, of course, seems babies always do. :) We played with her very long fingers and toes and kissed her all over.<br />We're so thankful to our God for our new little family member!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TY-V3FNcY8PB4ZYMKn8pQXo-5v4VDfDO-n8HwzscPWKrePMmURnRfmO70Ssrrz8gtRFlKoZ7FZw5EuZJv1fJ5uRG6FEoFXnghiqwPRIw44P4JTthkA-qG22-5yhqRi0uHTZps6DJWmXG/s1600/220362_207767509242216_110754972276804_731752_1537390_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TY-V3FNcY8PB4ZYMKn8pQXo-5v4VDfDO-n8HwzscPWKrePMmURnRfmO70Ssrrz8gtRFlKoZ7FZw5EuZJv1fJ5uRG6FEoFXnghiqwPRIw44P4JTthkA-qG22-5yhqRi0uHTZps6DJWmXG/s400/220362_207767509242216_110754972276804_731752_1537390_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593429692422839698" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-5538215747247030512011-04-07T21:01:00.000-07:002011-04-07T21:05:07.645-07:00April 8 - Beckisue's and Andy's house.Beckisue and Andy are having the inspection on their new house today. Praying that all goes well and if there is anything serious to find that it will be found! If all goes well they are to close on the house the end of April.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6549086553212814138.post-37473754847599158692011-04-07T06:13:00.000-07:002011-04-07T06:16:27.497-07:00April 7 - Michelle and baby SummerMy sister in law, Michelle, is in the hospital. Her labor was induced this morning. We found out she has toxemia again yesterday morning. We're praying for a safe labor and delivery and that she won't wind up with a c-section. Since the baby is obviously not ready to come (this is three weeks early) the chance for a c-section are very high.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85705/cre8ivegrl/b350878e55d5f2b671992125fb13b3cb.png" border="0" /></a>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538767985204135865noreply@blogger.com0