Thursday, April 22, 2010
Pictoria....
My love for photography has a name....Pictoria! These are just some pictures I love that I have recently taken...
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Peace that passes all understanding...
Today I was trying to think of a one-liner to update my status on my Facebook page that would accurately describe how amazing it is to feel a peace like I feel with all that is going on. Just after I had that thought the song you are listening to now started playing. I pray that one day everyone can experience a peace like this. It's even hard for me to grasp at times how I can be so peaceful in the middle of a storm. Thank you all for your prayers....with a thankful and overflowing heart.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Update on Braydon
We got back from Houston last night. Everything went well overall. We were going for two different sets of testing. One for his eyes because his Neurologist noticed some time ago that his left pupil was larger than his right pupil. This could be serious or not at all serious. All of Braydon's eye tests came back clear with no sign of an enlarged pupil any longer after it had been enlarged for over two months. Praise the Lord for healing!
The other testing we were there for was to do an EEG to check for seizure activity. For some time Braydon has been having "episodes" of dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and just looking out of it. This happens 1 to 5 times a day and last 5 to 15 minutes each time. The EEG did show seizure activity and he has been diagnosed with Petit Mal Epileptic seizures. These are mild and can go away on their own during the teenage years but there are no guarantees that they will. There are also know guarantees that they won't become serious but it would be rare. So be praying that they do go away on their own and that they don't become serious!
We go back to the hospital in 10 days to repeat and EEG to see if the medicine is working and to discuss effects of the medicine on Braydon. At that time his Leukemia doc wants us to have a Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to check spinal fluid for signs of Leukemia which would mean a Leukemia relapse in the Central Nervous System. THIS IS ONLY A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AND HE FEELS AS SURE AS WE DO THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE BUT SINCE BRAYDON IS HAVING SOME "NEW STUFF" GOING ON RIGHT NOW WE JUST WANT TO LOOK AND MAKE SURE! WE ARE LEAVING NO STONES UNTURNED.
PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PRAYER REQUESTS AND FOR THE SPINAL FLUID TO BE CLEAR OF ALL SIGNS OF CANCER. WE KNOW IT WILL BE!!!!
Thanks for all the prayers....they are working...keep it up!!!
The other testing we were there for was to do an EEG to check for seizure activity. For some time Braydon has been having "episodes" of dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and just looking out of it. This happens 1 to 5 times a day and last 5 to 15 minutes each time. The EEG did show seizure activity and he has been diagnosed with Petit Mal Epileptic seizures. These are mild and can go away on their own during the teenage years but there are no guarantees that they will. There are also know guarantees that they won't become serious but it would be rare. So be praying that they do go away on their own and that they don't become serious!
We go back to the hospital in 10 days to repeat and EEG to see if the medicine is working and to discuss effects of the medicine on Braydon. At that time his Leukemia doc wants us to have a Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to check spinal fluid for signs of Leukemia which would mean a Leukemia relapse in the Central Nervous System. THIS IS ONLY A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AND HE FEELS AS SURE AS WE DO THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE BUT SINCE BRAYDON IS HAVING SOME "NEW STUFF" GOING ON RIGHT NOW WE JUST WANT TO LOOK AND MAKE SURE! WE ARE LEAVING NO STONES UNTURNED.
PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PRAYER REQUESTS AND FOR THE SPINAL FLUID TO BE CLEAR OF ALL SIGNS OF CANCER. WE KNOW IT WILL BE!!!!
Thanks for all the prayers....they are working...keep it up!!!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Prayer Request/Update on Braydon
This week we head to MD Anderson for some additional testing to find out what is going on with Braydon's eyes. I haven't told many people but he has had the oddest "spells" in the last few months. The first one we ever saw him have was on January 1st of this year. Since then, they have become regular, more frequent, and more severe. It started with his eyes doing like a really hard double blink, like he was trying to refocus. As weeks went on he began to also have dizzy spells with this, now he is also experiencing disorientation and exhaustion with these spells. He is having them as many as 5 times a day and they last from 5 to 15 minutes. I have explained these "episodes" to 4 different doctors. None of them know exactly what is going on but we have been doing some different test trying to rule out the most severe possibilities while trying to find the exact problem. His neurologist at MDA suspected seizures over a month ago and that is one of the test that is being run this week is an EEG to check for seizure activity. This morning he was having such a severe episode that I grabbed the movie camera and just filmed it. I knew I needed a doctor to SEE what was happening. So we made a trip to see Dr. Conner today and he watched the video. He said based on what he saw if definitely looked like a seizure to him, but he wants us to still see Dr. Slopis at MDA this week and let him do some more testing and have the final say. This is just disheartening. To know that Braydon has been through so much and is still dealing with so many issues outside of cancer. We have faith in the Lord that all will be alright no matter what. But it is difficult not to get weary in these times. Please be praying for GREAT test results and a safe trip for us and most importantly HEALING....we don't even care about answers that much....we just want healing and for Braydon to be well.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Overcoming Rejection...
We have all faced it right? Rejection is not fun. As women I think we all have one type of rejection that we share. A lot of times is has to do with body image...even the most beautiful women with great figures experience some type of insecurity and feel rejection where their physical appearances are concerned.
I remember reading an article not that long ago that actress Katherine Heigl (who I think is just so pretty) is insecure about her looks and wishes she could look more like Nicole Richey. WHAT?!?
If we could only view ourselves the way God does. To see us as beautiful creatures with beauty inside and out, even first thing in the morning!!! YIKES!
What got my heart stirred up about this was reading my devotional today and just spending some time trying to "listen" to God instead of being the one who talks most of the conversation (this is hard for me).
My devo referenced Romans 12:2-"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
And I just felt like God was speaking to me about my current struggle with my weight and why I have been unsuccessful so many times at changing it. He spoke to my heart not to be concerned with my appearance by the world's standards, but to seek Him and allow myself be transformed from the inside out. The out will happen but only after I allow Him to work on the inside. He can't fix the outside if I won't let him touch the inside. There are things He is wanting to do with me and I am more focused on the appearance than the experience. And after I let him take me through the experience and transform my inside, He can help me work on the outside. Then I will look at myself and see this: good, pleasing and perfect....JUST LIKE HIS WILL! Just like Romans 12:2 says.
If this is something you have struggled with I just encourage you to press in and ask God to reveal His will to you. To open yourself up to what He wants for you. It won't be the same for all of us, but the answers are in the same place! There is always truth in His word!
I remember reading an article not that long ago that actress Katherine Heigl (who I think is just so pretty) is insecure about her looks and wishes she could look more like Nicole Richey. WHAT?!?
If we could only view ourselves the way God does. To see us as beautiful creatures with beauty inside and out, even first thing in the morning!!! YIKES!
What got my heart stirred up about this was reading my devotional today and just spending some time trying to "listen" to God instead of being the one who talks most of the conversation (this is hard for me).
My devo referenced Romans 12:2-"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
And I just felt like God was speaking to me about my current struggle with my weight and why I have been unsuccessful so many times at changing it. He spoke to my heart not to be concerned with my appearance by the world's standards, but to seek Him and allow myself be transformed from the inside out. The out will happen but only after I allow Him to work on the inside. He can't fix the outside if I won't let him touch the inside. There are things He is wanting to do with me and I am more focused on the appearance than the experience. And after I let him take me through the experience and transform my inside, He can help me work on the outside. Then I will look at myself and see this: good, pleasing and perfect....JUST LIKE HIS WILL! Just like Romans 12:2 says.
If this is something you have struggled with I just encourage you to press in and ask God to reveal His will to you. To open yourself up to what He wants for you. It won't be the same for all of us, but the answers are in the same place! There is always truth in His word!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
"ACTors" Wanted....
ACTors WANTED!!!
Not exactly what you might be thinking...this involves no pretending, no faking, no mustering up emotions based on someone you are "trying" to portray or a story you are trying to tell. This is ALL real, ALL right now, and ALL about a story that's already been told. The role is never filled or already taken, and you are never "not exactly what we are looking for". You don't have to look a certain way or be a certain age. You won't have to speak to an assistant or agent. You can speak directly to the director himself. You don't have to be experienced but you MUST believe in your character! You'll have lots of lines and have to be at work everyday, but you won't be the main character.
Sounds like a job for only the most dedicated actors right? Long hours, lots to do, and no recognition? And no mention of pay!!! Oh but the pay is GOOD! The pay is the most beautiful jewels ever seen and a gorgeous crown. Oh and a mansion, yes you get to live in a mansion.
God calls us to be "act-ors"...FAITH act-ors. People living out daily acts of faith. Not for our good or our glory or so that people will "see" us. But so that people will see Him...see His Son Jesus.
And this can be different for everyone. If there is one thing God DOESN'T want us to do, it's feel the need to act out in our faith the same as the next person. He gives us all a different story...a different testimony. I should say testimonIES because He's given me about 10. When people ask me to share my "testimony" I always say "which one?" He gives me testiments of His goodness and faithfulness all the time. And I try to do the same for Him. If in everyday I can find a way to act out in faith and be a "faith actor" then I have done my job.
Fellow "Faith actors":
This man's name is Tom Helling, he calls himself a refurbished sinner, and his companion was John C. Prosser, a legally blind traveling musician. Helling once lived a sinfull life with no hope. Once he accepted Jesus and learned of His love and forgiveness he felt compelled to act out in faith. He travels all across America carrying an 8 foot cross on his back. If he reaches one person with that message of hope and forgiveness that was given to him-then his journey is accomplished.
Noah-He doesn't call everyone up to build an ark for 90 years while people mock and make fun. This was a HUGE act of faith. Can you imagine telling your family that this is what God had asked you to do and that you needed their help? And to continue to work on it for that long while not seeing one drop of rain?
I don't know that God will ever call me up to do something as big as Noah or Tom Helling. I feel that right now my acts of faith are small but I know they are big to God. He gives us all different "ACTing" jobs, but we all have the same script and the same main character. We don't all have the same pay, but the pay is fair and based on how good of a job we do. I don't know about you...but I'm trying to win an award. I want to be the best "actor" I can be!
ACTors WANTED!!! Job starts TODAY!! What do ya say?
Not exactly what you might be thinking...this involves no pretending, no faking, no mustering up emotions based on someone you are "trying" to portray or a story you are trying to tell. This is ALL real, ALL right now, and ALL about a story that's already been told. The role is never filled or already taken, and you are never "not exactly what we are looking for". You don't have to look a certain way or be a certain age. You won't have to speak to an assistant or agent. You can speak directly to the director himself. You don't have to be experienced but you MUST believe in your character! You'll have lots of lines and have to be at work everyday, but you won't be the main character.
Sounds like a job for only the most dedicated actors right? Long hours, lots to do, and no recognition? And no mention of pay!!! Oh but the pay is GOOD! The pay is the most beautiful jewels ever seen and a gorgeous crown. Oh and a mansion, yes you get to live in a mansion.
God calls us to be "act-ors"...FAITH act-ors. People living out daily acts of faith. Not for our good or our glory or so that people will "see" us. But so that people will see Him...see His Son Jesus.
And this can be different for everyone. If there is one thing God DOESN'T want us to do, it's feel the need to act out in our faith the same as the next person. He gives us all a different story...a different testimony. I should say testimonIES because He's given me about 10. When people ask me to share my "testimony" I always say "which one?" He gives me testiments of His goodness and faithfulness all the time. And I try to do the same for Him. If in everyday I can find a way to act out in faith and be a "faith actor" then I have done my job.
Fellow "Faith actors":
This man's name is Tom Helling, he calls himself a refurbished sinner, and his companion was John C. Prosser, a legally blind traveling musician. Helling once lived a sinfull life with no hope. Once he accepted Jesus and learned of His love and forgiveness he felt compelled to act out in faith. He travels all across America carrying an 8 foot cross on his back. If he reaches one person with that message of hope and forgiveness that was given to him-then his journey is accomplished.
Noah-He doesn't call everyone up to build an ark for 90 years while people mock and make fun. This was a HUGE act of faith. Can you imagine telling your family that this is what God had asked you to do and that you needed their help? And to continue to work on it for that long while not seeing one drop of rain?
I don't know that God will ever call me up to do something as big as Noah or Tom Helling. I feel that right now my acts of faith are small but I know they are big to God. He gives us all different "ACTing" jobs, but we all have the same script and the same main character. We don't all have the same pay, but the pay is fair and based on how good of a job we do. I don't know about you...but I'm trying to win an award. I want to be the best "actor" I can be!
ACTors WANTED!!! Job starts TODAY!! What do ya say?
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