Still Here!

My goodness.  I can't believe it's already been three weeks since my last post!  I'm so sorry for leaving you all without notice like that. As you probably guessed, blogging just hasn't been on my list of priorities these past couple of months... :-)

  First off, I thought I would let you all know that my dad is doing much better this year than he was this time last year. Praise the Lord! He's now had a total of four Tysabri treatments (once every four weeks) and each time he seems to do a little better. He hasn't had an exacerbation since the beginning of last November, which is a HUGE blessing from the Lord. His main trouble right now would probably be with his memory/his ability to remember things when he needs to. As far as motor skills go, he is doing extremely well. Sometimes I forget just how far he's come in the last few months. To think about how differently things were last summer-fall honestly gives me the chills. I could never thank God enough for faithfully sustaining my Daddy and my family during that time. :)

Psalm 145

"I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;

they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works—

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love.

The LORD is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.

All your works praise you, LORD;

your faithful people extol you.

They tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might, so that all

people may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through

all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises

and faithful in all he does.

The LORD upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and faithful in all he does.

The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever."



Laughing w/ Dad and being silly on my 18th birthday. :)

Oh-so-very-thankful.

Valentine's Day ♥ with a Purpose

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

1 John 4:7-12

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  

Romans 8:28

This Christmas Eve...

My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.

Luke 1:46:55

I find myself feeling the same way I imagine Mary felt when she first spoke these words.  In many ways this passage says exactly what I'd like to say as the year comes to an end and we celebrate the birth of our Savior!  God has been so good to my family, and I'm so thankful for his constant protection and provision.  Only He knows exactly what each year will bring, and this one has had its fill of surprises for sure. ;-)  Needless to say, He is faithful and has sustained us through it all. 

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Blessed be the Lord, God of heaven and earth, who has done great things for me!

Holy is his name.

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'Tis the Season for Miracles

Yesterday my dad finally got his very first Tysabri infusion!  After three months of trying to get things worked out and approved, God finally made it possible for an appointment to be set up.  Daddy was soooo happy!  It's been about a year and a half since his sickness began and it's steadily progressed since then.  Each time he has more lesions grow, more symptoms come on, and more hospital stays, he says, "I don't want to do it again."  It's heartbreaking, but we find peace in knowing the Lord is watching over him and that He's in complete control.  Needless to say, it's been a loooong year and a half.  So we really are thrilled to finally have some treatment going!

While we're excited, we're also aware of the risks involved.  Basically, this drug will either kill you or 'heal' you.  There's actually no known cure for multiple sclerosis, but this drug has put many people into remission or at least lessened the severity of their exacerbations.  Honestly, either one would be great.  And guess what?  We're already seeing a bit of improvement!  Dad's walking is a little better and he's thinking more clearly too!  Praise Jesus!

Please pray with us that this drug will not cause any harm or damage to his body, and that it will keep him from having any more lesions grow!  We know Dad's healing will ultimately come from the Lord, but we also know God can use this treatment to cure him.  ...And it will be nothing short of a miracle when it does! ;)

"Then Jesus said to them,

'With man this is impossible, but with God

all things are possible.'"

Matthew 26:19
..

----------------------------------------------------

Well, I hope you all are enjoying the first days of December!
It's hard to believe this year is almost over. Christmas will be
here before we know it!!  Until then... let's enjoy what God has
in store for us each day as we celebrate the season of the birth
of Jesus Christ. :)

----------------------------------------------------

...This MIRACLE season! :)

"I will bring health and healing...

I will heal my people and will let them

enjoy abundant peace and security."

Jeremiah 33:6

Lessons from a Fly?

Right now a little fly is buzzing around on my computer screen.

I was sitting here wondering what to write for my next post, but the little guy kept winning my attention.  It's like he was saying, "Me! Me! Me!  Post about me!"  I thought,

Well...

Why not?

*embarassed chuckle*

I mean, have you ever wondered why God made flies? Considering the fact that they were included in His creation of the world, I can only assume they're meant to serve some kind of purpose. (However big or small a purpose that may be!)  Still, I can't help but wonder why God created such pesky little creatures.  It's true that He involved them in some accounts told throughout the Bible.  The biggest and most obvious example being the ten plagues in Exodus:

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them. “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’” And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies." Exodus 8:20-24

Here's another passage I found that refers to 'flies' as well:

"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." 

Ecclesiastes 10:1
.

So... not only does God use these insects to fulfill His purposes, but to demonstrate important truths as well! I never realized He used them as a way to compare things good and wholesome to things which are negative and hindersome--when it comes to living out our faith!  Who'd a thunk it? :)

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Well,

I can honestly say that I never would've thought I

could (or rather, should) write a post about flies! 

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But the truth is, this post isn't meant to be about flies.  It's about the Creator of the flies, who chooses to use seemingly small things (such as flies) to serve an even greater purpose (such as the deliverance of God's people from Egypt!)

It's about a God whose salvation lasts forever, and whose righteousness...

will never fail. :)

 

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

look at the earth beneath;

the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment

and its inhabitants die like flies.

{mental picture -- tee hee!}
.

But my salvation will last forever,

my righteousness will never fail."

Isaiah 51:6

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH.  :)

Confidence in the Name of the Lord

"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." Pr 3:25-26

Well, my dad is in the hospital again.  But this time it's under much better circumstances when compared to his last stay in June/July.  ...Let's consider the blessings, shall we? :)

#1

Mom got to drive him there herself,

instead of having to call 9-1-1.

#2

He's fully responsive,

instead of being totally unresponsive.

#3

Well... I can't think of anything that fits here. 

It just seems like there's always a "number three!" ;-D

Last week (and the week before) Dad started to slowly go downhill again.  We noticed his balance and coordination were off and that he was having more trouble cognitively.  Each day his symptoms seemed to gradually worsen.  Mom ended up calling his MS doctor last Thursday and the doctor said he wanted to do an MRI.  On Monday they got that done, and then yesterday they called and said he needed to be admitted in the hospital!  (Even with all the surprises we've had thrown our way, we honestly weren't expecting to hear this one!) We found out he has a new, large 'enhancing' lesion on his corpus collosum.  He also has a smaller lesion on his medulla, which controls the swallowing.  Thankfully that lesion isn't considered to be enhancing.  They were able to get Dad started on IV steroids last night, which they'll administer every 24 hours through next Sunday.  They are also going to get him started on plasmapheresis treatments, hopefully sometime tomorrow.  That being said, he will probably be in the hospital for a minimum of 10 days. 

I can honestly say I'm feeling quite confident right now.  And while the doctors, nurses, and entire medical staff are awesome at this particular hospital, our confidence does not lie in any one man's ability alone--but solely in God's healing power and provision!  "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh..." Philippians 2:3b 

Like always, God is in complete control of everything and we trust that He will work all things out according to his perfect will.  In the mean time, we will continue to pray, trust, hope, and believe. :)

The fruit of righteousness will be peace;

the effect of righteousness will be quietness

and confidence forever.

Isaiah 32:17

This is the confidence we have

in approaching God: that if we ask anything

according to his will, he hears us.

1 John 5:14

Top 5 Reasons Why I Love This Time of Year

First off, I have to say that the ultimate reason I'm in love with Fall is because of the beautiful weather!  Without the cool, crisp air that actually makes a Texan appreciate the feeling of warm sunshine... this season just wouldn't be the same. :)

Now that we've got that covered... *wink*

#1

The colors... 

I love earth tones.  From the chocolate browns, to the dark greens, to the golden yellows and deep reds -- I love 'em all! 

#2

  The books...

For some reason, this weather puts me in the mood to sit and read a good book outside... and our back porch is the perfect place to do it! ;) 

#3

The jackets...

I'm cold-natured and love a good excuse to wear cute jackets, sweaters, blazers, etc. 

Denim, suade, courdoroy, fleece -- you name it, I'll probably be wearing it. :)

#4

The coke floats?

Okay, our family doesn't typically get the chance to indulge in drinking a good coke float (or in my particular case, a Dr. Pepper float. ;)  But when we were talking the other day and realized Eliza and Samantha had NEVER drank one before, we just *had* to splurge a little bit. :) 

Hey, that was the first time we had gotten sodas in at least 4 months! 

And let me tell you... it was reeaallly gooood.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Okay,

by now you're probably wondering about my "reason number five". 

SoOo, here it is...

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#5

This month (October 23, to be exact!) marks 10 years since the day I was baptized! 

(It's really weird to think that I'm old enough to say that now. lol!  10 years ago???  

I can remember the night like it was yesterday... :)

*Praise the Lord all the earth!*

 

For Emily ...

I wanted to take the time to direct you all over to sweet Emily's blog, as she is undergoing current treatment and preparations for a stem cell transplant in hopes of curing her cancer.  She has such a sweet personality and her faith in the Lord is a true inspiration.   I'm sure she would love to hear from you and know that more people are praying!                 

                                *Also*

As I've been following Emily's story for awhile now, I recently heard about a fast that is being held in her honor called OPERATION: COMBAT.  The idea is to have people fasting and praying for Emily's healing during the duration of her treatment and one-month hospital stay in isolation.  It is scheduled to begin on October 15 and last ideally through November 15.  You can click the COMBAT button for more details. :)

To quote the Blogger heading up this challenge: 

"We're praying and fasting to the One True God, who sent His Son to die on a cross for us (Jesus, who was raised up to life after He died). We believe that Jesus can heal Emily and wipe all traces of cancer from her body. We are praying in faith that He will heal her."

If you feel led, please join us as we fast and pray for Emily! :)

"So we fasted and petitioned our God about this,

and he answered our prayer." 

{Ezra 10:23}

My First Miscellany Monday

I decided today I would join in on some "Miscellany Monday" fun... 

So, here goes!

-----------ll-----------ll-------------ll-------------ll-----------ll----------

# 1.

"Therefore love joy and peace."

Confused?  Well, I was at first. 

Quite a few weeks ago, I came across this Bible verse in Romans and could not make sense of it!  For some reason the wires in my brain must have short-circuited because this sentence just wasn't clicking.  I thought, "Where is the verb here?  This is an incomplete sentence!" 

After re-reading it a couple several times and applying some second grade grammar, I finally found it. :)

      Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration... but it sure was fun! ;)       

        

# 2.

100+ lb. Mama's boy. 

...Enough said. :)

# 3.

Picture of an Orange Car. 

A friend of ours owns this really neat Porsche:

I took a picture of it awhile back, and figured now would be a good time to share! ;)

# 4.

Coke vs. Dr. Pepper

While my family doesn't drink sodas anymore, I still find myself missing the days when I 'd have a yummy Dr. Pepper (along with a king size package of Reeses)... Mmm.  The rest of my family typically preferred drinking a good ole' Coca-Cola. 

Do you drink sodas?  If so,

which do you prefer?

# 5.

I love roller coasters.

From the twisty-twirlies to the loop-the-loops,

the calm, relaxing to the giant thrillers... I love them all!

Okay, maybe there are a few exceptions. :)

(Personal footage below *wink*) 

# 6.

I dislike snakes with a passion.

But they're tolerable when they look like this. :)

# 7.

Random Bible verse...

I just prayed for a verse to share with you all and randomly opened my Bible to Isaiah chapter 12.  Since it's fairly short, I'll just type the entire passage!

In that day you will say: 

"I will praise you, O LORD.

Although you were angry with me,

your anger has turned away

and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation."

In that day you will say:

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done,

and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,

for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." 

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Well, that's a wrap!

I pray you all have a very blessed week. :)

*Jumping for Joy* -- Aspire Photo Challenge

When I saw that this week's theme for  

Hannah's photo challenge was

*Joy*

I couldn't resist entering this picture!

To me, this photo describes Sister #1 perfectly.

Fun,

Energetic,

Outgoing . . .

And always

jumping

for

joy!

Be joyful always...

1 Thessalonians 5:16

and have a blessed weekend, everyone! :)

I'm 6,484 Days Old (Yes, You Read That Right!)

I was thinking the other day about what I should post next on my blog.  I always want to write thought-provoking, encouraging, spiritual things that will benefit those who are reading, yet have fun and make it interesting too. =)  SoOoOo...  as I began thinking and praying about it several verses came to mind that had to do with the concept of "numbering our days".  I felt like I should write a post around those verses with the thought that each and every day is precious and should not be wasted.  Then the Lord gave me the idea to actually calculate how many days have gone by since the day I was born. 

----------------------------
Thus this post begins...
----------------------------

Man's days are determined;

you have decreed the number of his months

and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Job 14:5

Isn't it comforting to know that our days were ordained for us before one of them came to be? (Psalm 139)  The thought that God has pre-determined each and every day we will live out on this earth is mind-blowing for sure!  Nothing can keep us from reaching the very last day He has determined for us.  Nothing will allow us to live a day beyond that date.  Basically, because we serve an infallible God, in a sense our days are infallible!  

Show me, O LORD, my life's end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:4

After reading that verse I can't help but wonder: What kind of situation would prompt such a request?  It sounds to me like David was in need of divine inspiration.  Reading through the entire chapter it becomes obvious that he was a bit unsettled.  Crying out to God, he asked to be shown the number of his days.  Now, I think that if I knew the exact number of my days, I might be motivated to live life a bit differently--with a new perspective and carefully making the most of every opportunity with what I had left!  I have a feeling David needed that kind of inspiration.  Many times, not until someone is given some kind of terminal diagnosis do they realize how fleeting life really is.  It'll make you think twice about things you would have completely overlooked in the past.  Why is that? 

It's so easy to go through a day without taking the time to thank, praise, and worship God for who He is.  With the many distractions this world holds, it's unfortunately become quite easy to forget about Him entirely.  Sadly, we have to make an effort to keep our minds stayed upon Him because that's not something that comes naturally to us.  If we truly realized how significant and holy He is, I don't think we'd have time for anything else!  Think about it.  The only reason you woke up today is because He wanted it to happen.  The only reason you are breathing your next breath is because He's making it happen.  He is 100% responsible for sustaining us through every moment.  Without Him, let's face it, we wouldn't be here right now. 

How great is God—beyond our understanding!

The number of his years is past finding out.

Job 36:26

On the opposite end of the spectrum, God's days are without number.  He is the beginning and the end, eternally existent.  That's not a God we should be able to forget. 

Does a maiden forget her jewelry,

a bride her wedding ornaments?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days without number. 

Jeremiah 2:32

We don't want to be a people remembered for forgetting God. 

So... let's make every day count!

 

Today I am



days old.

It's a brand new day the Lord has made.

I'm rejoicing right now...

and I'm glad in it! :)

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

{Psalm 90:12}

Patient Endurance

As I'm nearing the end of my Bible-in-a-year plan, I'm reading a lot of the book of Revelation. This particular book of the Bible is a mind-boggler for sure. It's amazing how much depth this book contains. It definitely requires reading with a discerning spirit! One phrase that has especially stood out to me these last couple of days is the words "patient endurance". Several times John tells us in the book of Revelation, "This calls for patient endurance." It was an eye-opener that got my mind going as I began to think about the many trials and tribulations that are now present, and those that are soon to come. Obviously, having patient endurance is a real key and plays a significant role in these things because the Lord repeatedly reminds us that we must patiently endure. Here is a quick excerpt from 2 Corinthians that gives an example of that which produces this "patient endurance":

"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer." 2 Corinthians 1:5-7

However great or small, sufferings in this life will come.  Anyone who claims Christ Jesus as their Savior will in some way suffer for His name.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 15:57)

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." Revelation 14:12
 

It's my prayer that the Lord will provide me with the ability to endure patiently through all the things he has planned for my life. Without His help I know it is impossible... but with God ALL things are possible! ;)

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

A Very Happy Fourth of July...

...

Last night my grandparents took my sisters and I to

see the fireworks show in town. It was really neat!

...

...

I decided ahead of time to take my camera along and give its

"fireworks" setting a try. ;) I was so surprised at how well the

pictures turned out! I took a whole bunch of photos, but the

two above are my most favorites. :)

...

Anyway, the best news is that I got to visit my Mom & Dad at the hospital today, and I had such a nice time! (It definitely made for a very happy fourth of July. ;) I was really glad to see Dad happy and talking better, and I noticed a big difference in his ability to understand things and speak with words that made sense. We're hoping he can come home soon, but he may need to have a plasmapheresis treatment (which will help take the swelling in his brain back down) before he can leave the hospital. If so, it will be at least another 10 days before they can leave. Either way, we know He's in the Lord's care and God is in control of just how long he's stays. :)

Well, I hope you all have been enjoying a very blessed Fourth of July.... I know I have! =)

Remember to be thankful for the freedom we share in our country, and to pray for those who continue fighting for that freedom. But more importantly, let's praise God for the freedom we share in Jesus Christ!

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

Romans 8:20, 21

Praise the Lord all the earth!

TO:

Daddy

FROM:

Me :)

-----------------------------

Okay, I know Father's Day was almost a week ago...

but I just couldn't resist posting this picture!

Unfortunately, Dad is still having trouble with being confused and not always understanding what we say. He's also having a hard time communicating with the right words. So... whenever we try to tell him something and he starts getting frustrated because he doesn't understand, we just say,

"I love you!"

And he smiles and says, "I love you."

-------------------------------

Daddy, I can't wait for you to get better. I know you like to take a peek at my blog every now and then, so I'm leaving this here as a surprise for when you are well and come back!

These past few weeks have been tough, and I realize at this point it's not yet over. But I am confident that God will restore you to good health soon. I know He has a purpose and a plan that is being carried out, and we all trust that His will is going to be accomplished. And I pray when that time comes we will all be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Until then... "Press on!" :)

I love you.

And I ALWAYS will.

_____________

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive a crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

James 1:2-4, 12

Happy Birthday, to My Best Friend :)

I couldn't let the day pass without wishing my dear Mommy a happy, happy birthday! She is such a special person to me and she truly is my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without her! :)

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Thank you, Mommy, for all that you do.

You do such a wonderful job at taking care of us girls,

and Daddy too.

I am so grateful to have a loving, godly mother like you.

I love you so very much.

Happy Birthday!

~Love you, Taylor

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My Mom at a birthday party when she was a little girl.

(Pictured front right, with the black socks!)

"This is the day that the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Psalm 118:24

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Hi everyone!

Yes, today marks the end of our one-month fast from electronics... and I have a lot to share. :)

Unfortunately, my dad ended up in the hospital again. For quite a few weeks he had been having some trouble with high blood pressure and extreme fatigue. Other than that, he seemed to be doing pretty well health-wise. Then, last Saturday (June 5) I woke up at 7:00am to my alarm going off. I quickly silenced it and rolled back over to catch some more sleep. Surprisingly, Sister #1 woke up soon after that and left to help Mom with breakfast and making orange juice for everyone. (She's usually the one who sleeps in late!) Next thing I know, it's 8:00am and she comes running in the room saying, "Tay wake up! We need to pray for Daddy; I think something's wrong." I shot right up and asked what was going on. She said, "I don't know. But Mom went in her bedroom to get Daddy up and she never came back. So I went in their room and saw her sitting next to Dad who was lying on the bed. His eyes were just wandering around the room. I sat down next to them and she told me that I needed to leave. I left and shut the door, but stayed close by listening. She was repeating his name over and over but he never would respond. Then she called "___" (who is a nurse) and asked if she needed to call 9-1-1." So, we both prayed and then ran to the kitchen. I won't go into all the details of what took place after that. But Mom did call 9-1-1 and the ambulance eventually arrived. The paramedics came inside, placed Dad on the stretcher, and then my sisters and I watched as they wheeled him out the door and down the ramp with our Mom following closely behind. As she went out the door we were all in tears and as her own tears began rolling down her face she said, "Just pray, okay? Just pray. I love you."

Long story short, after six long days passed... I am happy to report that Mom and Dad are now back home! They got here this afternoon and we are so happy to have them with us again. Our Nana took my sisters and I to see them in the hospital the day after they left, but it wasn't an easy visit. Daddy was lying in the hospital bed confused and unable to communicate with words that made sense. He didn't really acknowledge us or know who we were, and he was suffering from a bad headache. After a couple of hours we left. Needless to say, he still has not completely recovered but he is much, much better! Yesterday Mom called to tell us that Dad was asking about "the girls" and that he wanted to come home. He isn't as confused anymore and he usually makes sense when he talks. :)

As far as the results found on the MRI's go, he now has one very large lesion covering a lot of the left hemisphere of his brain and some other smaller lesions scattered in different places. The doctors are all pushing to do a biopsy on that larger lesion so they can hopefully finally determine a firm diagnosis for him, because they've never been able to give us one. Some of them say they're 100% sure he has MS, but others still aren't willing to rule out lymphoma. We're praying and seeking God's will on what to do about that. We know we still want to follow the diet therapy that we're on, but we're specifically praying for the Lord to show us what to do as far as a decision about the biopsy goes. We know it's all in His hands and we're trusting Him to lead, guide, and direct us--as we know He has been and will continue to do.

~

Now, I'd also like to tell you all how glad I am to be back in Bloggerland. :) I have to admit that I enjoyed the break quite a bit. It was nice to be able to take my focus away from so many electronics for so long. But I also enjoy hearing from each of you and getting to keep up with your posts as well. =) I do want to keep my time on the computer limited, though. (Just to warn you! :D) A lot of times I find myself feeling "obligated" to post something, but I'd really like to make blogging more of a special thing I get to do every now and then--instead of having it be a regular part of my life! I hope you all understand. Right now especially, though, I feel like it is important for me to concentrate my time on my family. (Don't worry I'm not saying that I'm leaving. Just that I'll be blogging in moderation. ;)

SoOoOo...

Anyway, I hope and pray that all of you are doing well (and that I didn't overwhelm you with too many details about my dad! I'm a very detail-oriented kind of person and it's hard for me to leave stuff out. Lol!).

Thank you for all your prayers. God is faithful and we know He continues to watch over our family. ...Have a very blessed weekend, everyone!

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"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Nehemiah 9:5b-6

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PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!