I spoke to my Mom tonight and she sounds great. The tests came back negative for anything bad (her heart is in good shape, no pneumonia etc.) and the doctor thinks her asthma is allergy-related, so she has to investigate getting allergy shots. The drugs they gave her to help her breathe cleared up her lungs.
I found out that when my sister and I were little, my mom gave up getting allergy shots so my sister could have them. My parents couldn't afford the copays for both my mom and my sister getting the shots so Mom went without! The love of a mother...
Please continue to pray that the doctors will rule EVERYTHING bad out that they can and that she will get excellent treatment for what is actually wrong. It was a blessing of encouragement to be able to talk to her to HEAR that she was OK.
After talking to my Dad, I really started to worry that God was going to take my Mom away from me. I've talked to God about such a situation before, as if I could bargain with Him and I told Him, "OK God. I see you are messing with this stuff in my life over here (taking people away, living through car accidents, the deaths of other people I'm close to, the deaths of pets that are akin to family) and I can live a wounded life, if you will only not take my parents, or my sister etc."
A tape of all the crappy stuff that has happened in my life this last year plays in my head.
(Stream of consciousness....)
(Thinking) It could be cancer (what her Mom died of around her age), etc. GOD IS GOING TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM YOU.
FREAK OUT!
Pray...trust God for the outcome no matter what. Talked to friends, had impromptu dinner at my house. Good things...
Talked to Mom and know she is going to be OK...relief.
(End of stream of consciousness writing)
No matter how much I love my parents, one day I'm going to be separated from them in death and who knows who'll die first. It could be me. The thing is...it's not my job to sustain them, it's the Lord's and they are His and he gets to decide when He wants to bring them home. They're not going to live one day longer than He wills it, just as I won't live past the time of His desire. It's comforting to know that God is in control, though at times disconcerting that I am not.
Our adventurous life after successful infertility treatment...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Prayer for My Mom
I have a prayer request for my Mom, Jeri. She has been having difficulty breathing lately, and the doctors are doing tests to determine if it is symptomatic of her allergies and asthma, or if it's something more ominous. I just called home today to say hello and talk with my parents, and Dad said mom was in the hospital, preparing to be discharged after a 24 hour period of observation. (This was a surprise)
Mom went to the doctor yesterday because her breathing problems were getting more pronounced. He sent her to the hospital and she had a stress test, and they took some imaging and gave her meds to help her breath. After the observation they are sending her home with more medication. I am waiting until she gets home to call her and see how she is doing. By that time, Dad will have left for work.
Please pray that the doctors will have wisdom to correctly diagnose her condition and appropriately medicate her if necessary. Please pray that we will all trust the Lord for his will in these circumstances and that we will honor him in our response.
It's Thursday afternoon as I write.
Greatfully,
Rigel
Mom went to the doctor yesterday because her breathing problems were getting more pronounced. He sent her to the hospital and she had a stress test, and they took some imaging and gave her meds to help her breath. After the observation they are sending her home with more medication. I am waiting until she gets home to call her and see how she is doing. By that time, Dad will have left for work.
Please pray that the doctors will have wisdom to correctly diagnose her condition and appropriately medicate her if necessary. Please pray that we will all trust the Lord for his will in these circumstances and that we will honor him in our response.
It's Thursday afternoon as I write.
Greatfully,
Rigel
Monday, January 28, 2008
School 1967 vs. School 2007
This is an email I received recently.
School 1967 vs. School 2007
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1967 - Vice principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lockdown, the FBI is called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to assist traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1967 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1967 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra state funding because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1967 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1967 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high-school English.
1967 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. US Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Independence Day firecrackers, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1967 - Ants die.
2007 - Homeland Security and the FBI are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1967 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
School 1967 vs. School 2007
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1967 - Vice principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lockdown, the FBI is called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to assist traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1967 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1967 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra state funding because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1967 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1967 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high-school English.
1967 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. US Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Independence Day firecrackers, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1967 - Ants die.
2007 - Homeland Security and the FBI are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1967 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
In the Valley
When you're in the valley, things get pretty dark. I've walked in the valley before, surviving my own losses, walking through desserts, and living through thirsty times in my life. The Lord God will provide, and we are trusting him to do so now.
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family.
That being said...how's life with you and yours?
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family.
That being said...how's life with you and yours?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Rise and Fall of Democracy (Addendum)
My friend Eric sent me a link to snopes on my piece dated January 9, 2008 that was taken from the internet email on the fall of democracy. Follow the link to get the scoop...as we feared, the majority of it is fabricated. http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/tyler.asp
Thanks Bro! I appreciate your feedback and knowledge. Keep it coming!
Thanks Bro! I appreciate your feedback and knowledge. Keep it coming!
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