Urgent Prayer Requests

It's been a hard year for my grandfather. We lost Granny last January. It was profoundly hard for Grandad - in one devastating event he lost his love, his partner in life and his "job" as he had cared for her during her several years of illness.

Despite the loss, Grandad has done remarkably well this past year. So much so that we were even able to convince him to allow us to purchase a plane ticket for him so that he could spend Christmas here in Texas with my family, my parents, my sister and nephew. We anticipated this holiday together for many months.

Right before Thanksgiving Grandad had some medical tests completed by his doctor and again with some outstanding physicians at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The diagnosis was both good and bad. The bad? Lung cancer. The dreaded "C" word. The good? It was caught very early and despite years of smoking when he was younger (no longer, thankfully!) and his age (85 years in December!), he is expected to make a full recovery following the removal of one lobe of his lung and shouldn't need any follow up treatments like chemo or radiation!

The doctors gave him the "all clear" to travel to Texas for Christmas. We enjoyed his time with us so much and are already talking about a return trip. Soon, we hope.

His surgery scheduled for Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Tomorrow.

Grandad caught a respiratory virus while traveling so we won't know for sure that the surgery will really happen until a final check in the morning. As of right now, though, it appears that it is a go. The surgery will take place sometime in the morning and is anticipated to last about four hours.

Unfortunately, my mom also caught the same bug. She needs to be well to help care for Grandad when he's released from the hospital.

So, here are my prayer requests:

• Wisdom for the doctors and medical staff attending Grandad. Especially for discernment regarding whether or not to proceed tomorrow.
  
  
• Concentration, knowledge and skill as the surgery is performed. Supernatural concentration, knowledge and skill!
  
  
• Compassion toward my grandfather and my family members as they are in the hospital.
  
  
• Healing for Mom before Grandad is released to her care.
  
  
• And, Lord willing, for a complete recovery and healing for Grandad following the surgery.

I'll keep you posted so that you can rejoice in the answers to our prayers.

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

I believe!!!

Happy New Year!

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

(An Irish Blessing)

Confessions: I wasn't even there when it happened!

It's been such a busy fall that blogging has fallen by the wayside. I will get back to it. Soon. I promise!

In the meantime, please allow me to tell you what I have not been up to lately. I have not been taking golf lessons from Elin Nordegren, wife of Tiger Woods.

Bud was helping a friend move into a new apartment. He had his arms loaded with boxes, tripped on curb and took a direct header into a stucco column. Knocked himself silly, literally. In his words, "The column won." You think?!

And just for the record... I wasn't even there when it happened.

So, what haven't you been up to lately???

Fall to Keep and Give

Thankfully, central Texas has finally experienced a reprieve from the 100+ degree days that we thought would never end. With this drop in temperatures comes a longing for the fall days I enjoyed when we lived in the Midwest. I've pulled out my fall decor, started burning my spicy scented candles, and have begun cooking my favorite cool weather recipes.

One of my favorite recipes is pumpkin bread. I found this recipe years ago and love it because it's not only delicious, but the recipe makes three loaves of bread - one to keep and two to give away to neighbors and friends.

I keep a supply of new, cotton tea towels on hand that I use to wrap up the still-warm bread for delivery. (Ikea sells these towels for less than fifty cents a piece! If you don't have an Ikea near you, you can also pick them up at the dollar store.) Or, if the bread can't be delivered warm from the oven, I wrap it in plastic wrap and then tie it with raffia or a pretty fall colored ribbon.

Pumpkin Bread

2 2/3 cups sugar

2/3 cup butter flavored shortening

1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

2/3 cup water

4 eggs

3 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 teasp. baking soda

1 1/2 teasp. salt

1 1/2 teasp. ground cinnamon

1/2 teasp. ground nutmeg

2 teasp. vanilla

1/2 teasp. baking powder
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (I prefer pecans)

1 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 3 loaf pans, 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2 inches.

Mix sugar and shortening in mixing bowl. Stir in pumpkin, water, eggs and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour evenly into three pans. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 60-70 minutes; cool in pan 5 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans. Cool completely before slicing.

Notes:

• Nuts and raisins are optional.
• Other "extras," such as chocolate chips or dried cranberries, may be added.
• Extra rich touch: Pour half the batter into the three pans. Drop small chunks of cream cheese on top of the batter in the pans. Add remaining batter to the three pans and bake as directed.
• I have a heavy-duty stand mixer that I use to prepare this recipe. I doubt that a hand mixer could handle the volume and consistency of this batter.

This recipe works for me! For more Works For Me Wednesday ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Sabbath Blessings

Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end,
you are God.
Psalm 90:2 (NLT)

9/11 - Never Forget

"Will it happen again?"

"Would they do it today since it's September 11th again?"

Wow.

How do I answer these questions with the honesty my teens deserve? We've talked about this subject a lot lately.

Our conclusion?

The best way to make sure it never happens again is to never forget that it happened in the first place.

30 years and counting!

Exactly 30 years ago on this day, we met.

I'll apologize to you romantics right now... because I'm not talking about my Prince Charming.

Nope... I'm talking about my best friend, Stephanie. I've told you about her before and bored many of you to tears with stories of our adventures. Indulge me on this special day and let me tell you again about our story.

Stephanie and I met on the first day of 9th grade. We rode the same bus and were the two "new kids" in a very, very small private school, which meant "blending in" was not possible. Maybe we became friends out of that desperate situation. (Hey, it was high school and we were girls - that makes it a desperate situation!) Or, maybe it was because we just truly liked each other. Either way, I believe God intended for the paths of our lives to cross and we've been best friends ever since.

Together we've been through high school, college, boyfriends, break ups, engagements and weddings, trying to have babies, having babies, raising families... and all the highs and lows of life. We know each other intimately and love each other deeply. We started using the acronym "YBFA&F" (Your Best Friend Always & Forever) somewhere along the way and still use it even now to close letters and emails. It's even been engraved on jewelry. Apparently our hearts beat on the same frequency as it is uncanny how many times we'll be thinking of the other, only to have the phone ring and hear a voice on the other end of the line saying, "Hey, you - you've been on my mind!"

Today, I am celebrating my BFA&F and thanking God for the very special blessing of our friendship. I love you, Steph!

In honor of today, tell me about your best girl friend. Who is she? How did you meet? How long have you been friends?