Pray For The Persecuted

Voice of the Martyrs has called all Believers to pray for those who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. More information can be found here. Persecution of Believers occurs on a daily basis and even though it is rarely shown on the secular media. Do not embrace apathy, Liberty is maintained only through vigilance and in the US, Christians face attack in different ways. Pray for the persecuted and the families of the Martyrs and pray for the maintenance of Liberty and the Freedom to share His Word around the globe! A hat tip goes to Amanda who wrote an article at Growing In Grace, an online magazine for Christian young women for making me aware of this important cause.

Please Pray For My Cousins

My cousins' Wife/Mom, Barbara passed away today. I mentioned her earlier in the year as she was fighting brain cancer, the same type that Ted Kennedy has. Last night she went into a semi coma and the Lord granted her sweet sleep this morning and she is gone. Today she is Home. Please pray for Dan who is in Asia and his family and for Ted and Ted Jr who are at home in Alaska. And though he is not one of my favorite people, please pray Ted Kennedy and his family. Money might buy time but not life.

Wellness Wednesday

Well, today started out good at least. I stepped on the scale to find out I had lost a pound - 309#. However, the progression of the day was not very fun.

This afternoon I saw the orthopedic surgeon. The diagnosis of torn meniscus has been confirmed. He gave me the choice of #1 surgery, #2 cortisone injection and physical therapy, #3 physical therapy or #4 choose 2 or 3 and then add #1 later. I chose #3 and hobbled out the door with an xray request, a cane and a knee immobilizer! Sigh...

The day would have been better if the lady at Whole Foods whom I apologized to for my children's behavior running around her, hadn't said, "That's okay, I have three grandchildren too!"

I do NOT have an AARP card. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm just establishing the fact that - I. Am. Not. Eligible. Period!

After being told that I should not be walking at all except to go to the bathroom and to and from the car for THREE MONTHS, I think I went into a small state of shock. This evening I feel like I woke up from a dream only to find out it wasn't a dream. :o( So I had my little pity party and now I am trying to work on not feeling so bad about it. It's not very encouraging to be told that a torn meniscus never heals in a person "your age" and that the only thing to do is alleviate the pain either through PT or surgery, but even with that, it would still remain injured and become arthritis. According to the surgeon, I may never regain full use of my knee, especially if I do not lose weight.

He also said I cannot go shopping. So that's why I had my last hurrah, stocking up on some things I needed from Whole Foods that might be difficult to send Hubby for (since I needed to make decisions and see some things to compare).

I cannot even begin to express my disappointment in not being able to exercise (I'm only allowed to swim, which is not an option right now.)! My body is really craving it. And I refuse to go backwards in this journey for Wholeness and especially physical health.

So, this weekend, Hubby and I are going to regroup. We will figure out how I can do many kitchen tasks at the table sitting down with help from Hubby or D. We will probably work together to make some meals to put in the freezer. And I will go forward on Sunday for annointing and prayer. The mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance is: "We desire to know Jesus Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King and to complete His Great Commission. " I do believe that He heals. Sometimes we see it on earth. Sometimes it comes in Heaven. But I refuse to sit down and give up!

Please, if you have any ideas for me to keep getting healthy while mostly immobile, would you please let me know. Also could you pray for me that after I adjust to this yucky news, that my heart will allign with His and that my attitude will reflect His love?

Hmmm... would spinning constitute exercise?

Last but not least, please pray for Wool Windings (a regular commenter here) and all the others in the path of Hurricane Ike.

Please Pray For Barbara

Please pray for my cousin's wife Barbara. Thursday she had an orange sized glioma tumor removed from the right side of her brain. She is in quite a lot of pain and right now it is in the wait and see stage. We do not know yet if it is cancer. Please pray for her family as they wait and process this information. We sure appreciate the prayers.

Pray for Veterans and Service People

This is a picture of my favorite serviceman, my "brother" Bruce, the one who was just down here with his family. He has been in the Navy since 1992 and I am really proud of the man he has become today.

I am not pro-war (or anti-war), nor am I pro-violence, but I am proud of the people who serve and protect my family, my state and my country, often with the criticism of those they are helping. And I believe strongly in giving them and their families prayer support.

Please pray for the safety of our service men and women. In my own family I am praying for my step brother Jack who is serving in Iraq and my nephew Anthony who is serving at Fort Bragg, NC for the time being but will be deployed soon. I am also praying for Kimberly's husband who is deployed overseas at well. Remember the families, like Kimberly's. She has 5 children, some with special needs, to care for. And remember the families of those who don't come home.

And for the veteran's who come home, having lost their limbs, some bodily function, some brain capacity or some other part of their anatomy that causes them to look, feel and act differently than when they left, they need our prayers for healing - physically and spiritually/emotionally! Recently I read Lee and Bob Woodruff's book, In An Instant, about his recovery from traumatic brain injury in Iraq. He was so touched by his process and what happens to the soldiers and sailors coming home that he began a fund to help them. Last but not least, pray for the soldiers, sailors and marines who have fought in wars and conflicts past.

In an old envelope, my Great Grandfather's sister saved a pressed purple poppy. My Great Grandfather Albin Sven Johnson served in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany during WWI. Perhaps the poppy came from Flanders? I will leave you with this haunting poem. When you see a red poppy, the American flag or hear a political debate, think of these men and women and pray.

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,though poppies grow

In Flanders fields

What Did You Do With An Extra Hour?

Hopefully everyone remembered to turn their clocks back an hour last night so that you got to church on the right time. I don't set an alarm on Sundays and woke up naturally at 7:20AM DST. Much to hubby's chagrin, I poked him and woke him and suggested that we use our hour to get the first coat of Winnie The Pooh yellow (Disney paint) up on the kids' walls. Normally we keep our Sundays as a Sabbath, but our home improvement project had spilled over to today. One coat on before church and one after. The floor was completed on Friday and the bunk beds won't be here until next Friday, so we aren't completely done yet. While we are waiting I can hopefully get the curtains and valances finished and all the new bedding washed up and ready to go.

When we were unloading the room, we had to take out storage too and that is when I found my wedding dress. Sigh... Memories! It was the only day in my life I came even close to feeling beautiful. It is sealed in a box as I had it cleaned and preserved, but there is a window to view, so I took a peek. When I was newly engaged and looking for a gown I asked hubby if he had any opinions on a dress. His response was "Not too frou frou" and "not a lot of lace." Let me tell you, it's not easy to find a wedding dress without lace. That would be easier with today's styles but not in 1998! It was 100* in Seattle, normal for here, but not normal for there, the first time in my then 32 years that I had experienced triple digit heat in western Washington! I'll never forget the day and the fun I had with Mom and Shelley. When I put on "THE" dress, I just knew. Just like I "knew" about hubby, that he was the right one.

While I reminisced over my gown and thought about DST, I remembered Kimberly and Grandma Hopkins. I always remember Grandma when the time changes because she called non DST, "God's Time". She was always happy when we returned to God's Time. I remembered Kimberly because she is spending her extra hour with her hubby and family. Today, he is leaving for one year of deployment. Please pray for Kimberly and her five children and please pray for her husband as he literally enters "enemy territory" both physically and spiritually. Please pray also for my stepbrother Jack who is in Iraq and for all our men and women who are serving and separated from their families.

How did you spend your "extra" hour today?

Home With Him

Please pray for Kathy's family. This morning she went home to be with the Lord after a long struggle with Ovarian cancer. Please especially pray for her husband. This is the second wife he has lost to cancer. Pray that he will feel the Father's presence, comfort and peace as he grieves and that his faith will grow stronger, not weaker. At my Mom's church, they had this song for special music today...I find it poignant and fitting:


Chris Rice - Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Clue 3 Finished and a Prayer Request

This is just loosely stretched enough to take the photo. I think mine is going to be bigger than the pattern calls for but that is okay because so am I! LOL Actually I am not sure whether or not I will keep this for myself or give it to someone in my shawl ministry. I may wait and see when it is done. Usually when I pick out a pattern for someone in the shawl ministry, I see something that "just fits" their personality or style. That is why I am uncertain because it hasn't "struck" me yet!

I thought Clue 3 was the easiest so far. I am looking forward to Clue 4 which is going to be longer because of that book coming out this weekend. Since I am not going to be reading, I will be working on the shawl inbetween socks I am finishing for people and getting ready for my Mom and Jack arriving in 2.5 weeks.

And speaking of my shawl ministry, please pray for Kathy. She is the second person to receive one of my shawls and she is the second woman to succumb to Ovarian Cancer. She has bravely tried every possible treatment but her doctors told her there are no more things to try. Hospice services have been called in and unless the Great Physician heals her on earth, she will be going Home to Him. Please pray for her husband as this is his second wife he has lost. He is a Believer but this is a challenge to one's faith. Kathy is my Mom's neighbor. Please pray that her journey will be bearable if she must go. Thank you.

Pray For Lake Tahoe Fire Victims

I live about 100 miles from South Lake Tahoe where the fires are burning. Tomorrow I am supposed to be going with my church ladies to our annual women's retreat at Zephyr Cove which is near SLT, on the Nevada side. A decision has not been made yet about whether or not we will still be going there or having a retreat here at our own church. I have been praying for our women's ministry team and Pastor Mike as they will need to make a decision today.

Sadly, I have been hearing a lot of comments about "they chose to live there, that's what they get!" Well, you are right...have you ever been to Lake Tahoe? It's absolutely gorgeous in spite of the casinos, cheesy hotels at Stateline and too many people. I wish I could have seen it a couple hundred years ago! But it's still beautiful. And people live there. People work there. They go to church there. They provide necessary services. Sadly this fire started by human causes and now, as I write this 229 houses have burned to the ground. Literally to the ground. Yes, some of these were vacation rentals, but the majority were peoples homes. Everyday people. I have never lost my home in a fire, but I have family and friends who have and it is devastating. Let's lift up these people as they begin a new life, starting over, picking up pieces where there are no pieces to pick up! Praise God that no lives have been lost so far in this fire!

Pray For Amy

I do not know Amy but I have read other peoples' blogs and followed links to her site a few times. She is battling Leukemia and from a human standpoint seems to have reached the end of solutions. She needs a miracle of God. Even though I do not know her I am touched by her story. She is a young Mom, too young to leave her child. She has asked that we "storm" Heaven with prayers! Please pray for a miracle for Amy and her family! You can read about her here.

A True Lady

I am torn between sorrow and joy that Ruth Bell Graham has gone Home to the Lord. What a true lady she was, and what a beautiful woman of God. She wrote fresh, insightful poetry and her children rose up to call her blessed. Ruth was the woman in the adage..."Behind every good man is a good woman." There is a lovely tribute to her here with beautiful piano music of Great Is Thy Faithfulness. If you pray, it would be nice if you prayed for her family as they grieve the loss of this faithful Believer, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Friend.

Prayers Please

Please pray for my SIL Linda and her family. Her sister Sandy died somewhat unexpectedly last week leaving a husband, a 12 yo son and 6 yo daughter as well as her Mom Mary and Bruce and Linda and family. She had been in the hospital a long time, recovered after being in a coma, came home and died the next day. She was battling Rheumatoid Arthritis in her lungs...I didn't even know you could get it there. Bruce, Linda and the girls are driving down to CA as I type, please pray for their safety and for the whole family as they grieve this huge loss.

Silly things to distract you from my lack of posting...

Okay, I am sick and miderable and trying to get better by Sunday so that I can see my son interviewed at church about how he asked Jesus into his heart. If anyone reading this prays, please pray for my asthma. Sometimes these viruses hit me harder than most people because of my asthma and that has been complicated in the last year because of heart reactions I have had to Albuterol and other asthma meds. I just took some mineral supplements which the doctor wants me to take when I take the Albuterol (because Albuterol uses those minerals to open airways but when they are depleted it causes heart rhythm issues), I'm going to go suck on my inhalers and curl up with a good book. Yes, I'm whining! It is hard to be sick with your head about to explode with 3 people in the house who don't know the meaning of the word "quiet"! LOL Praise God for three day weekends and Daddy home to help! :o)

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

Tribute to Richard Stephen Johnson, Sr

Today at 4:15, Uncle Dick went Home. He went peacefully and pain free. He was surrounded by his dear daughter, pictured here, her husband and children and an elder from their church and he went hopeful and expectant and without fear, to meet the Savior he so loved. This was not unexpected, but nonetheless difficult for those of us left behind. Please pray for Jack (my stepdad) and Kris, his sister as they help my cousin Fawnda deal with all that needs to be done. Please remember my Mom and Grandma Doris as they are at home on the other side of the state. I'd like to share a few things of my memories of Uncle Dick.

Uncle Dick is my Uncle by marriage, but I have known him half my life. He is Uncle Dick. When I first met him, he just accepted me, no questions asked. There was always a hug for me whenever we met!

Uncle Dick is generous and giving. As a matter of fact, right up until his hospitalization, I understand he was helping a lady get back on her feet after some tough times. When we visited him this summer he wanted to give something to the kids from what he had and he asked his son-in-law to help us get a discounted hotel room at the upscale hotel he works at.

I remember his gravelly voice and hearing him say to Jack "Hey bro!" They had a bond that has lasted 60+ years and through many crises and joys of life.

He was a direct descendant of Stephen Brewster, the elder of the Mayflower pilgrims. (Grandma, his Mom, is a Brewster) and his middle name is from his Grandpa, Stephen Brewster, who is named after the original. He looked more like Colonel Sanders than a Pilgrim and I have heard more than one relative tease him about his 'fu manchu' beard! LOL

He survived Polio as a child and had many surgeries on his legs. He was left with life long pain. I never heard him complain about his condition.

He slept in his chair with the TV on at night, but would wake up and listen to Gospel singers and Bible teaching on his favorite channel.

He made some poor choices in his life, but he made good ones too and the most important one he made was to give it all to Jesus. He valued his salvation and loved his Savior!

He loved animals and had the biggest green thumb you have ever seen! The plants he grew are amazing.

He loved children. He has some awesome grandkids who will be left with an empty spot that noone else will ever be able to fill. He delighted in their smiles, their accomplishments and their very existence.

He never gave up. He didn't give up on people. He didn't give up on God. And he didn't give up on life...he just lost the earthly battle, but as far as eternity goes...Uncle Dick is a winner!

Thank you everyone who prayed and continues to pray. We appreciate you so much.

Update on Uncle Dick

Well, after making it so far, with so many miracles...we have some very disappointing news today. Uncle Dick is holding his own and we were beginning to have hope, however the doctors have found some type of fungus growing in his body that is *untreatable*! I know life isn't fair, but man that is just not fair to make it through so much and then have that happen!!! I had my little fit of tears and then I prayed. I know God is big enough to heal an untreatable fungus if that is what is best. The doctors will be having a care conference with the family and an elder from Dick's church where they will present what they feel is best, taking him off life support (ventilator and dialysis). I will not give up hope, as the battle is not over, but it's not looking so good.

Miracles and Praises and More Prayers

Wow! What a week! Monday they said Uncle Dick probably wouldn't make it through the night. Tuesday they said he probably wouldn't make it. Wednesday night he had emergency surgery and they said he had a 10% chance to survive! He is alive today! Very sick and still a long ways from being out of the woods but he is alive!

With the surgery they took out part of his colon which they felt was the cause of the secondary infection, gave him a colostomy, 4 units of blood transfused in surgery and 3 more units in the night. He is on a ventilator and dialysis. In a few more days we are hoping that he will start making his own white blood cells again. He is still in the middle of a fight for his life, but at least now with so much of that infection gone, and not waiting to burst inside him, he has a fighting chance to make it. We are so thankful to God and we are continuing to pray for more miracles.

In the mean time my Mom is home alone with a foot of snow and below freezing temperatures. She is fairing well so far. Grandma also has been waiting alone, except for when Mom can get up there. But she has some nice caregivers who have been encouraging and comforting to her (she lives in assisted living).

I went crazy yesterday waiting, antsy all through the surgery. But I did finish another Fun Fur hat and have a third started. The second one is smaller and is multi colored with the turquoise from the big hat, for a trim.

Fighting For Life

L to R (Dick, Kris, Jack with Grandma in front)

If you read this and pray, please pray for my Uncle Dick. He is on the left in the picture above and he is the one I made the navy spiral rib hat for a couple posts ago. On December 22nd he was put in hospital to treat aggressive Leukemia. Bone Marrow aspiration shows that the chemo was 98% effective in killing the Leukemia but he has since gotten a systemic infection and has been moved to ICU. Last night he wasn't given much chance to live through the night as his body was filled with toxins and his organs were shutting down. Basically it would take a miracle to live and praise God he did live through the night. This morning they put a line in his jugular to begin dialysis. They hope this will drain some of the toxins out of his body so that his other organs can begin doing their job. He is not out of the woods yet. We still hope for a miracle. We know that Uncle Dick is a survivor...he survived polio as a child when hundreds in his community did not! If he can recover from this infection, chemo will likely kick the rest of the Leukemia. Thank you for praying!