Throwing your burden

I don’t usually blog on the weekend but I feel compelled to today. I’m sure many of you are enjoying a relaxing, memory-making holiday weekend. I get to work a day shift this weekend and tonight my parents are coming for a visit. The kids (and me and Pat) are looking forward to that!

I just wanted to ask you to pray for some friends of ours who just recently joined our couple’s Bible study group. I know many of you know them, Kelsey and Ryan, and are already praying. But many of you don’t know them and so I just ask that you would pray. 

Yesterday Kelsey and Ryan learned that their baby boy Bentley had gone home to be with Jesus. She was just a few weeks away from delivering their precious baby boy.

Kelsey’s mom, Bonnie, is a good friend and mentor to me. She has been for years and has always known exactly what scripture, encouragement and wisdom to share with me.

This morning, by the providence of God, Beth Moore posted about “Throwing Your Burden.”  And so that is my prayer for them. That they could claim Psalm 55:22 during this most difficult time and that they would be able, with God’s strength, to throw this burden.

Thanks for praying.

Ryan and Barbara

Today I wanted to tell you about some friends of ours. Many of you know them. But still I’m going to write.  And take you down memory lane. Because I’m angry and sad and writing brings me comfort. And I’m hoping that if you aren’t already, that you’ll join me in praying for them.

I used to work for my church. I was a ministry assistant to Pastor Paul. He was the Youth Pastor but then transitioned out of that role to become the Pastor of Small Group Ministry.  While he continued to oversee the Youth ministry, the Youth ministry assistant, Ryan, took over the bulk of the work for the Youth.  So the three of us were kind of a team, working together and encouraging and supporting each other.

Every week we would meet in Pastor Paul’s office. Pastor would always ask us how our walk with the Lord was going. Some weeks I hated it when he asked me that because I was really struggling. But he and Ryan’s encouragement and mentoring to me is a blessing I will forever be grateful for.  We also talked alot of life. We became great friends.

I remember the day like it was yesterday when Ryan told us about meeting the girl he was going to marry. Her name was Barbara and he met her at our town’s little ski hill where he worked pt as an instructor. His eyes sparkled as he told us about her and we knew that he was head over heels.

They were married in March of 2008. Pat and I were honored to be asked to be host and hostess for the reception. I remember sitting through the wedding ceremony and thinking about my own marriage and how God had blessed us so abundantly. In fact I wrote about it here.

(Quit reading if intimate personal details of a person’s life offends you.)

I’m almost positive that the night of Ryan and Barbara’s wedding was the night that we conceived Caleb. The reason I know this is because it was the only night we had sex since Angel came home.  Let’s just say one colicky baby plus one tired mama does not equal much lovin’ for the daddy. And for all those people who think that people get pregnant after adopting because they are relaxed, um no, that’s not really the case.

Anyway. Thankfully we’ve continued to stay in touch even though we no longer work together. Princess and Prankster are also good friends with Ryan and Barbara and we’ve managed to schedule a few times to hang out. Barbara was one of the ladies at this shower for Princess, and Ryan preached the message at P & P’s wedding. Even though we don’t hang out as much as we’d like, we love them so much and are so thankful for them in our life!

We were thrilled with joy to learn earlier this year that Ryan and Barbara were expecting identical twin boys! Unfortunately they learned during one of the ultrasounds that the boys were having some problems. Barbara eventually had to go on bed rest and the boys were delivered on April 18th at 31-32 weeks.

I’m not going to share details about how they are all doing because Ryan has been able to share so eloquently on their blog.  All I would like to do – after making you go down memory lane with me - is ask you to please pray for this precious family.

I feel like a complete faith failure because honestly, lately I’ve been so angry when I think about this road they are on. Yes, I realize we live in a fallen world. Yes, I trust and believe in the promises of God’s Word. But still, for some reason, this has really rocked my faith. And I know that’s ok.  Because God can handle my anger and sadness and questions. And so I’ll just keep crying out to Him on their behalf.

I’m not going to tell you they have great faith. I’m not going to tell you they are trusting in God’s plan. While most days I’m sure they are, I’m also sure there are alot of days where the questions speak louder than anything.  And so I just tell you that these two people have inspired us and encouraged us over the years, and they continue to do so. But they are hurting and their precious baby boys really need our prayers right now.

Chase Life Blog

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

These are the prayers I’m praying tonight and will continue to pray tomorrow. Join me?

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Those darn ovaries let me down again

Infertility. Hormonal imbalance. Cysts.

Cancer?

I’m not sure why, but I’ve been hesitant to share some things that we’ve been dealing with lately. I’ve always been one to kinda spew out anything and everything (ya think?) but this time around I don’t want to get myself and everyone else all worked up for nothing.  After letting everything soak in for a day we realize we need some major prayer right now and so we’ve decided to share and ask you to pray.

So anyway, for a while now I’ve been having lower abdominal pain. I’ve always dealt with ovarian cysts and it’s felt similar to that but has gotten worse. I finally went to the doctor and she ordered an ultrasound. I had that last Thursday. The doctor called Friday afternoon (you know it’s bad when the doctor calls!) and said they did find a mass that is not a cyst. They don’t know for sure that it’s cancer and so I’m having a CT scan Monday morning.  Unfortunately I don’t meet with the surgeon until Friday and so I get to wait all week, patiently I hope, until we find out what we’re dealing with.  We of course are praying that it’s benign but either way I’ll have my ovaries removed because of the size of the mass and because of the pain I’m having.

(Side note for those who took part in the Francis Chan Bible study at Abiding. Do we pray that it’s benign or do we just pray for God’s will, whatever that may be? How ’bout we pray that God’s will is that it’s benign! )

It’s really hard not to worry and think about all the “what ifs”. And so that’s where we need some major prayer coverage right now. I don’t want to think about next Friday and what we’re going to hear. I don’t want to think about anything that has to do with cancer. Until we know for sure what’s going on.  I just want to focus on today.

I was supposed to work Saturday night but I was having some major pain. I called in sick and then Pat decided that we needed a distraction. So we packed up the van and took a spontaneous trip to see my parents. One of my favorite places to be is on the boat on the river. The weather was beautiful, temperature of 85 and it’s the most relaxing place in the world. We took the boat out and I just layed there and rested and took tons of pictures and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the beautiful company of my kiddos, husband and parents.

My resting spot…

My dad and Caleb…

My mama and Angel…

I probably won’t be online much this week. Nothing like a cancer scare to really make you realize how short life is. And what’s really important.

I will update when we know more on Friday. Thank you so much for praying!

Don’t take one day for granted

We often say “time goes by so fast,” and yet I think we are all guilty of not treasuring the gifts God has given us.  We take our time, life and loved ones for granted.

I follow quite a few blogs/caringbridges but there are two lately that have had me on my knees.

Sara is a 33 year old mom of two young boys. She has stage IV colon cancer. Her journal is inspiring and heartbreaking all at the same time.  Her latest scans were not good and now she is trying a different treatment that has brought about extremely difficult side effects.

Wren is a young mom of three, including their new baby girl who just came home from the hospital. Wren was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant and fought to keep the baby inside her growing as long as possible. Now her cancer has advanced. Again, such inspiration and heartbreak.

Please pray for these two families.  And hug your family a little tighter and longer tonight. Don’t take one day for granted.