Continue To Pray

Please continue to pray for Daisy Love Merrick. She has Stage 3 cancer, and will begin chemo/radiation next week. You can get daily updates at www.prayfordaisy.tumblr.com. My heart is so incredibly burdened for her family. Every time I look at her sweet face, I begin to cry. But- God is AWESOME and He can HEAL. Please pray for miracles! Don't quit praying for her!! The Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing!" God's Word tells us to intercede for one another. Please pray that Daisy's parents will have the "peace that passes all understanding."

All I Want For Christmas.....

....is my TWO FRONT TEETH!

Bryson's two front teeth have been loose for quite some time. Tonight, as we were brushing...one became loose enough to pull! We pulled it out easily and he was so excited. Then...Bryson started wiggling the other tooth and before long, it was ready to pull as well. He even yanked it out himself! He kept looking at himself and giggling. I told him to stick his tongue through the hole and he thought that was super fun! He is thrilled about his new smile!

More Praise and More Prayer

I keep checking the site for Daisy's updates! At 4:20 this afternoon, Daisy was already awake and the doctors were "flabbergasted!" Even the unsaved doctors attributed her success to the many prayers! Wow!! That speaks volumes. The tumor was completely removed, but Daisy is going to need chemo. She is only five years old. Please continue to pray for Daisy and the Merrick family!

Prayer Update

Daisy's surgery went well, and last I read....they were closing her up! THEY GOT ALL OF THE TUMOR!!!! Praise Jesus! Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray for Daisy and for the other kiddos that I mentioned in my previous post. God is SO good! He is mighty to save....Praise His holy name!

PRAY

I am asking you all to pray for these families:

*Daisy Love Merrick is in surgery now. You can check out this link, to find out more: www.prayfordaisy.tumblr.com. Daisy has a tumor that is being removed as I write. Pray for her family. She is such a cute, little girl and her dad is pastor Britt Merrick of Reality Carpinteria.

*Please pray for the Davis family. They attend my church and their son, Dylan, has cancer. He is three years old.

*Please pray for Brielle Murray. She has cancer and is 11 years old.

God is good. God is sovereign. God is in control. I keep telling myself these things. I also keep wondering if I'd be able to say those things, if I found out it was one of my kids that had the tumor or the cancer. I know that His grace is sufficient. I know that He does not give us more than we can bear. I know that He has a plan in ALL things. But- I am brought to tears as I look at these precious faces. I am also brought to my face in prayer. Please lift these families up in prayer. Imagine it being your child....Wouldn't you want others to pray for you?! My thoughts are so scattered right now. I apologize for this messy post, but I just wanted to ask you to join me in prayer....and to stand in the gap. We are called to do so, if we are believers.

1 Thess. 5:17- Pray without ceasing.

James 5:16-....The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Is It "H.A.?"

H.A.= Hudson Approved

Correct me if I am wrong, but (I thought) I gave birth to two boys. Two boys who are NOT supposed to care about what they wear (That's a girl thing, isn't it?). I don't remember Bryson giving me grief over clothing choices at age three. Maybe I have just blocked the bad memories? Well....it seems that "the little one" wants to battle with his mama....everyday! I am so exhausted. Everyday, I pick out a shirt and shorts for Hudson to wear....and everyday we go through about three outfits, before he will "agree" to wear something I have pulled out for him. The end result is usually a kicking, screaming fit...on the floor. I begin to threaten things like, "Okay....mommy's leaving and if you don't put your clothes on...then you will have to stay here." I will start to walk out of the room, which results in even more screaming and crying. These are the types of things Hudson tells me about the shirts I pick out for him:

"It's too silly."

"It's too cold."

"It's too hot."

"I don't like poly's and this has a poly."

(A "poly" is a polo, and if it "has a poly"...that means it has a collar.)

And....drumroll, please.....

"It's too dirty!"

(This was said while we were at Target, picking out NEW shirts...and I showed him this cool, Tonka shirt...that said...'I love dirt'...and had a picture of a tractor on it!)

The kid kills me. He really kills me.

So, we have spent the past few days going from store to store....looking together for shirts that Hudson likes (and that mommy will "allow"). We have found about four so far...which is a miracle. Anyhow....I will be doing a lot more laundry around here (as I will have to continuously wash the ones we've purchased)....but we should have alleviated the tantrums and daily battles. Onto the next battle.....the shorts and the shoes....to match the new shirts!

P.S. Praise God....Bryson has to wear a uniform to school!

My Comical Kid

So, Bryson is a pretty funny kid. Always has been....pretty sure he always will be. He is very inquisitive, he's witty, he's sarcastic, and he's observant. He has said some pretty funny things lately, so I thought I would share!

*On our way home from school...

Bryson: Mom, Nathan says that Elizabeth has a crush on him!

Me: Oh yeah? What does that mean....to have a crush?

Bryson: You know, it means that you think he's handsome, or you think she's beautiful! Mom....you mean you don't know what a crush is?!

Me: Yes, I know what a crush is, Bryson. I just wondered what you thought it meant!

*On our way to the optometrist last week...

Bryson: Mom, if I can't read the letters, you just tell me what they are, okay?

Me: No, Bryson....I can't tell you what the letters are. The doctor is checking your eyes.

Bryson: I know, but I really want a good report.

Me: But, Bryson....you just have to do your best. That would be like cheating...if I told you.

Bryson: Well on TV and stuff, girls are more attracted to boys who don't have glasses.

Me: And...you want girls to be attracted to you?

Bryson: Well, yeah.....well, I guess one's enough!

*Bryson also asks some pretty interesting questions:

-"Mom, what made you pick dad for a husband?"

-(As he was praying last week)...."and Lord, thank You for blessing us and blessing us. My cup.....hey mom, what's that verse about my 'cup runs over?' (Me: "Psalm 23")....oh yeah...and Lord, just like You tell us in Psalm 23, my cup runs over because you keep blessing us."

-Bryson just got home from school and I said...."Hey, you forgot to hug me." He said, "Mom....do you really think I would forget that....any day? Any, any, any day?!"

A Girl Named Megan & A God Who Heals

Megan Parrera goes to my church, and was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma back in April. When she got the diagnosis, she was about 28-30 wks. pregnant with a baby girl. Megan already had two year old twins (a boy and a girl). She and her husband were getting ready to move into a new home, when she found a lump on her neck. She was having some physical issues/symptoms as well. Immediately after the diagnosis (stage 4 is what we were told), Megan's chemo treatment began. She was also admitted to the hospital, until after delivering the baby. I remember Pastor Jack praying one Sunday, as the entire congregation held hands. I don't know Megan, and though she is a "friend of some friends"...I have never met her. However, hearing of her trials brought me down to my face in prayer many times. I couldn't imagine being a mom of twins....yet stuck in the hospital- away from them. I couldn't imagine being pregnant with a third baby, wondering if I'd live long enough to hold her. It pained me to think of a hurting husband, trying to make ends meet, while his wife laid in a hospital bed. I was saddened when I thought of two small kids, wondering why they couldn't have their mommy at home. Selfishly, I was thankful that it wasn't me.

The Lord continually put Megan on my heart, and I would occasionally get updates on her condition. A blog was started, so that we could stay current on Megan's condition (www.meganparreraupdates.blogspot.com). I would check the blog every few days to see what, if anything, had changed. During this time, I was doing Beth Moore's Bible study called Believing God. Beth challenged us to write down our "GodStops" each day, and to keep a faith journal. The study was designed to help us grow to KNOW God, and to BELIEVE God and His promises. I'll admit that I felt I had seen lots of "little" miracles, but not any "huge" ones. The study was challenging to me, because I've grown up in the faith....yet I lacked faith. As I started to write things down in my study book, I could see the Lord's hand in all aspects of my life.

Megan's name would come to mind, and it's written all throughout my Bible study book. I felt the Lord telling me....'I am going to heal Megan.' I continued to doubt Him, thinking it was just "me" making it up. I continued to pray. Megan's prognosis, from what I read and heard, continued to sound fatal. However, the baby (Isla) was delivered and she was born healthy. How great is our God!! She was in NICU for several weeks and then got to go home, a week after her mama. There were fundraisers that people from church participated in, and my faith was increased some more. The kids and I took part in one fundraiser. It was held at Bravo Burgers, in Chino Hills. A portion of our order went toward helping in Megan's battle with cancer. As I stood in line, I heard the man behind the counter say, "This is just incredible! I have never seen such community before." My heart was so happy to hear that!

Several months have gone by, and I have continued to get updates on Megan and her family. I feel as though I know her, because I have tried to stay updated on her situation. I have cried many tears for Megan and her family. I have begged the Lord to heal her. I continued to hear Megan was feeling "good," though tired...with the chemo and being a mom to three small kids.

At church on Wednesday night, Pastor Jack told us that MEGAN IS IN REMISSION! Our Lord has healed her! The congregation began to clap and I got teary-eyed. WOW, Lord! I was (and still am) in awe of His goodness. Yesterday, as I was thinking about Megan, I remembered that the Lord had put it on my heart that He was going to heal her. Again, I was humbled...and my faith was increased! This morning, I started looking through my study book, to see if I had written it down anywhere. On page 59 of Believing God, I wrote in the margin...."I keep feeling like the Lord is going to heal Megan P.." On page 62 (in my Faith Journal), I wrote a prayer....

"Lord, You know Megan and I don't, Father. I just know that her prognosis isn't good. But, Lord, You are El Rophe...Healer. You have the power to heal Megan. Lord, please rid her of her disease. Her children need their mommy. Heal her so that thousands can testify of Your glory." On page 72, a prayer includes this: "Thank You in advance for miracles coming...that You have yet to perform!"

There are tons of verses that I'd like to share with you, but I will try to limit them. You see, when God hears our prayers and answers them, when He heals...and saves....it's hard to contain your excitement! This email is much longer than I intended, and for that I apologize! But- my faith and my belief in His promises have grown and I pray that this will touch someone today. If you need a little encouragement to face a "battle" in your life, I hope you will cry out to Him. He is faithful. He is true. He is mighty to save. Nothing is impossible for Him. He desires to be glorified. TO HIM BE THE GLORY! GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE! Praise You, Jesus...

I am reminded that we, as believers, are to intercede on the behalf of others. We are to stand in the gap, and we are to lift one another up. We are to tell of His goodness! We are to shout it from the mountain top! I am reminded that through trials, we need to continue to be a light. Megan has been a light to SO many around her. I am reminded that His grace is sufficient

(2 Cor. 12: 8-10), and that trusting and believing in Him is what we are commanded to do. I am reminded that He is SO good! So, so good....

"But 'he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'"

-2 Cor. 10:17

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

-Heb. 11:1

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

-Heb. 11:6

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

-James 1:6

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise."

-Jer. 17:14

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

-Zeph. 3:17

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' He replied, 'If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

-Luke 17:5-6

THANK YOU, LORD....for healing Megan and for performing miracles. Thank You for Your promises. Thank You for being faithful, even when I am faithless. Thank You for Your mighty hand.....

The Many Faces of Hudson....

This kid is a major ham!

He loves to pose for pictures, he is full of drama...

and tons of facial expressions!

Sad, silly, goofy, messy, happy, bratty.....

You name it....he makes it!

The Lost Get Found

One of my (new) favorite songs is by Britt Nicole, and it's called The Lost Get Found! It has a catchy tune (that you just can't help but sing along to) and awesomely convicting words! How many chances do I pass up, day after day, to share Christ with the lost? I pray that my lights will NOT go down, and that my fire (for the Lord) won't burn out. If we say we are Christ's followers....let's not just pass up opportunities that the Lord gives us to share with those who don't know Him as Lord and Savior, but daily take up our crosses (Matt. 16:24, Mark 8:34, Mark 10:21) and FOLLOW HIM! If you have recently shared Jesus with someone, please increase my faith by sharing it with me!

The Lost Get Found lyrics

(Britt Nicole)

Hello my friend

I remember when tou were

so alive with your wide eyes

Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen

Now you say that it ain't worth stayin'

I'm talkin to me

Don't let your lights go down

Don't let your fire burn out

'cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe

Why don't you rise up now?

Don't be afraid to stand out

That's how the lost get found

The lost get found

So when you get the chance

Are you gonna take it?

There's a reqally big world at your fingertips

And you know you have the chance to change it

There's a girl on the streets, she's cryin'

There's a man whose faith is dyin'

Love is calling you

Don't let your lights go down

Don't let your fire burn out

'cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe

Why don't you rise up now?

That's how the lost get found

The lost get found

Why do we go with the flow

Or take an easier road?

Why are we playin' it safe?

Love came to show us the way

Love is a chance we should take

I'm movin' out of the way

Don't let your lights go down

Don't let your fire burn out

'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason believe

(Stand out)

Don't let your lights go down

Don't let your fire burn out

(Stand out)

'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe

Why don't you rise up now?

Don't be afraid to stand out

That's how the lost get found

The lost get found

So when you get the chance

Are you gonna take it?

There's really big world at your fingertips

And you know you have the chance to change it.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things....

I thought it would be fun to interview my boys and ask them about some of their favorite things! Here are their answers....verbatim!

Hudson Graham, Age 3

Hudson's Favorites:

Hobby: "Be nice!"

Color: Red and black

Place to go: Bass Pro Shop, the movies

Person: Samantha

Cereal: Frosted Flakes

Ice cream flavor: Chocolate and vanilla

Restaurant: Island's and McDonald's

Food: Pizza

Outdoor activity: Play with my doggies and hug my doggies

Toy: Monster truck, Lego Racer

Bible story: God

Drink: Water

About mom: You're beautiful and hugging you!

About dad: Going on the Buzz Lightyear ride....he's cool!

About Bryson: He's cool!

Movie: Up

Bryson Reed, Age 7

Bryson's favorites:

Color: Green and blue

Hobby: Playing DS or Wii with mom and dad

Bible verse: John 3:16...

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Place to go: Disneyland, the movies, Chuck E. Cheese's

Person: God, my parents

Cereal: Frosted Flakes

Ice cream flavor: Rainbow Sherbet

Restaurant: McDonald's, Lazy Dog, Island's, Red Brick Pizza, Rainforest Cafe

Food: Pizza, rice, chicken

Outdoor activity: Play with my dogs and ride my scooter

Bible Stories: David and Goliath, Noah's Ark, Samson

Drink: Horchata, chocolate milk, lemonade

About mom: That you're beautiful....cooking for me...loving me....keeping me alive...giving me rules to keep me safe!

About dad: He can build Legos...he can lift heavy things, help me with everything...and play video games!

About Hudson: That he's always there for me....that he was born from your tummy...he's a great brother...nice...loving....kind....sharing....he's a good kid!

About yourself: I don't really like to say things about me....because I don't want people to think I am saying I am the best.

TV Show: Ironman, Flintstones, Jetsons, Smurfs

Bryson's 7th Birthday

Bryson had a wonderful 7th birthday! We started our day by going to church. Then, it was off to the Lazy Dog Cafe for lunch. We spent the rest of the day at Disneyland, with my sister (Justin and Peyton, too!). Josh's family met up with us at the Rainforest Cafe, to have dinner and sing to Bryson! After dinner, we snuck in a few more rides! And....can you believe that Disneyland had a special fireworks display...in honor of Bryson's birthday?! What a cool way to end the perfect day!

On a side note, Josh and I can't believe that we have a 7 year old. We have talked about how crazy it is that our boy is growing up too quickly. Bryson is such a blessing to us and we thank God everyday for bestowing this gift upon us. What an aweosme responsibility it is to be Bryson's mom. He is so bright and he constantly asks me questions that I don't know the answer to! He challenges me. He is creative, sensitive (sometimes a little too sensitive), funny, witty, charming, friendly, goofy, sweet, kind, and cute! He is also a very good at arguing and negotiating! We aren't sure if he will wind up a lawyer or a politician? I pray over my boy every night...and I pray that the Lord would use him in mighty ways. May he continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ....and may he know how much he is loved by us and by our Savior.

The birthday boy and his proud mom...at Lazy Dog!

Bryson chose buttered spaghetti for his birthday lunch!

(This was my favorite as a kid!)

Big smiles for daddy...who (sadly) is always behind the camera!

"Hmm.....where should we start?"

Kelly, Justin, and Peytie on Small World

Me and my beautiful sis!

(No...I am not really pregnant, even though this shirt makes me look as though I am!)

Bryson's volcano cake, at Rainforest Cafe....

Bryson and Papa Mark

Bryson and Grandma Connie

The mommies and the kiddies....

Uncle J and Bryson

Getting ready to go on Toy Story Mania...

Two cute brothers!

Hudson is always ready to "strike a pose!"

Fireworks....in honor of Bryson's big day! (hee hee)

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward."

-Psalm 127:3

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and comes down from the Father of lights...."

-James 1:17

First Day of First Grade

People always told me that once you have kids, time will pass you by at an incredible speed. I never believed it. Then, I had kids. Our summer flew by, Sunday was Bryson's 7th birthday....and today is his first day of school. We met his teacher (the adorable Mrs. Irwin) yesterday and this morning, it was back to the old grind! Getting up early is not this family's strong suit. "Out the door" by 7:30 is a major challenge! However, I got everything laid out last night...and put the kids to bed at 7 pm. Our morning was still a whirlwind, but Bryson was in good spirits as we headed off to FIRST grade! His best buddies are in his class again this year, and Bryson's teacher seems so sweet and super organized! We are so excited for another year at CCS! I pray that my big boy's first day is going great for him!

My mom used to send me with flowers for my teachers (on the first day of school) and I have vowed to do the same for my boys' teachers!

On our way to school!

....still happy!

Bryson and his "good buddy," Liam!

(Is it just me, or do these two look like they could be brothers?)

Bryson's first desk! (Last year, he was at a table with other kids!)

Mrs. Irwin....asking the kids if they had smiles on their faces

as they brushed their teeth this morning?!

Little Brother was smiling here, but started to get upset soon after!

He did not want Bryson to go back to school!