Cry Out To Jesus.

Brother G and I were called out of the house this afternoon. It was the type of call that we would prefer never come. It is one where there are no easy answers or band aids to fix it right up.

Tonight we're crying out to Jesus on behalf of several individuals. We ask that you join us in lifting them up.

Real men don't do that sort of thing. Pray for him too. Pray for him to come to Jesus.

Friday Night Lights N Sounds.

Last night found us at the high school football game. This is out of the ordinary for us given the fact that Austin, our 10th grader, does not attend the only public high school in town. We were there to watch Travis perform with his middle school band during half-time. They do that sort of thing in small town Texas. Pretty darn cool.

Trav had to be there early, so he and his daddy went in his daddy's car. Mom, Park and I went to McD's for dinner and then headed on to the game. As we were walking up to the entrance to the stadium, I ran into a friend I've haven't seen in awhile. She was connected to a ministry I used to be on staff at, but stepped down from when daddy was in the hospital. Her hubby is a police officer and was working another game in a different city. She had an extra ticket, therefore, and gave it to us. My hubby was at the entrance waiting for his girls and his youngest son.

We purposefully sat where we could exit right after half-time. This turned out to be good and bad. Good because we saw so many peeps from church as they came in. Bad because... well, people were coming and going - the concession stand was right behind us too. I couldn't help but have a blast watching people. I'm sort of funny that way. It was our last home game and so they announced the outgoing seniors and their parents/family. Again, more peeps we know. Funny how one can know what individuals are involved with and yet, not really get it until they see them in that context. Hmmmm

Austin's dad and Park had to leave before Trav got to perform. Austin needed to be picked up from work. Park was too cold. (He didn't listen when I said he needed to wear blue jeans. Can you say consequence?) So that left Trav's grandma and his mom to watch him during half-time. What struck us as funny about this is that this is the second time in just a couple of months that she and I have been the only females from our family sitting in the stands at a high school football game on a Friday night. Truth being told here - Boerne made the G look like it was asleep. I had my left hand up as I was waving to some friends when my mom said, "Wow. Aren't your rings beautiful. They don't out shine you though." If you remember.... they were her wedding rings for 44 years before they became mine. We side hugged and then had to laugh. We finally found Trav in the crowd as they came down on the sidelines. He just kept waving to us and pointing us out to his friends, who kept waving in return. What a smile on that kid's face..

Half-time was amazing. Watching Travman along with the high school band and the two middle school bands is something I will never forget. He was in-between the 40 and the 50 yard line, right up front. He struck a pose the whole time he was playing his heart out on his trumpet. Man, can that kid play....... As I was videotaping, my hand was kind of shaking... I was nervous and excited for my son. I wish I could have bottled the look he had on his face. As he was coming off the field, he looked back over at us and waved again.

We met Trav and some of his friends as they came out of the bleachers. They were laughing and high-fiving each other. When they realized we were standing there, Trav came and hugged me and then high-fived me. He then went on with his friends. Yep, that's our seventh grader! We finally got into the van and started driving back to the highly secure gated community on the other side of town. But first, we had to go thru McD's for some fries. Hey! The kid had worked up a hunger. lol

We hadn't been back home long when it was time for hubby and Austin to head to our local church building. We were hosting the 5th quarter. They said there were over 100 kids there. Several who were unchurched. They played video games, drank slushies and ate food from the food court, and just generally hung out. Hubby and Austin returned home at 12:45 a.m. They had a blast. Austin's dad and him had played some games together. Austin, who doesn't attend the only public high school in town, had fun hanging with the kids who do. None of them gave him a hard time about him attending a home school academy at our local church building. (Some of the reasons why they think it's cool, I'll save for another time.) They came home exhausted but with huge smiles on their faces.

Our team lost the game and yet I submit.... there were far more winners on and off the field.

There's A reason. And it's not called a football or a trumpet.

Ut Oh! Challenge!

Park gave away his pocket Bible today to a friend from school who is moving. He kept it at school to have on hand throughout the day.

Ut oh! Challenge!

Would you give away your Bible to a friend? Or to a stranger even?

Think about it. Pray about it. Do it!

Specific Prayer Requests.

1) Spiritual Awakening

2) Spiritual Renewal

3) Marriages

4) Parents/children

5) Singles

6) The young through the old.. whether spiritually, mentally, age-wise.

7) Real compassion, love, and mercy for others

8) Churches: Their staff and the body.

9) Our country

10) The world

And of course.. whatever else is on your heart/mind this moment....

Little Men.

There are two little men whom I have the pleasure of eating lunch with from time to time. Today the conversation was about stocks, Ladies' emotions, and about our local church body.

As I sat there listening and asking various questions, I couldn't help but get engulfed into their world. They would discuss issues and I found myself being in total amazement at their maturity.

Until.... one of them mentioned a cockroach he once found in his food and then I remembered...

They are just 4th graders.

Oh, those little men..... and I got hugs and kisses in the cafeteria with witnesses.

According to Park

Parker and I have been having another fascinating conversation. To quote the redheaded nine-year old:

"Having actually lived through the experience, it came quite naturally for me to write about it."

This has been another According to Park moment.

Question.

Are you a spiritual couch potato?

November 1, 2006 - 2007

I've been asked to reflect upon this day last year and my thoughts on what the Lord has taught me over the time in-between the dash until today. This is about a daddy and his daughter; A brother and a sister. It is from that perspective that I share.

Daddy had been in the hospital since the end of August. Our family, following God's guidance, decided to take him off all the machines and move him to a hospice facility. As the final paperwork was being seen to, I went into his room and walked up to the bed. As I took his hand in mine, I wasn't honestly sure if he even knew I was there or not. He had been all over the place mentally for weeks. I shared with him that I had indeed finished seminary and that he got me out of walking across the stage that very day and that I wouldn't have been anywhere else. He laughed. I then started singing one of his favorite songs, "I Can Only Imagine" and told him it wouldn't be long. He started singing with me and squeezed my hand tight. He then said, "Cam? Thank you for taking care of me. I'm sorry for the times I was wrong. I love you. Take care of your mom and thanks for being my daughter and a great wife and mom." He then went back to talking to various individuals he saw in the room. Honestly? Who I am to say they were or weren't there. That's part of the mystery.

We finally got him moved over to the hospice facility after nearly not having him even leave the hospital. I was told he wouldn't make it through the night by "the experts"... (I'll talk more about that at another time.) I cannot begin to share about all the individuals who were able to make it there to say goodbye to daddy and all the conversations. A couple of hours later, when I realized he had taken his final breath, I walked out into the hallway and threw my hands up in the air in thanksgiving and praise to our God. My daddy.... who was also my brother in Christ was finally free. He had run an amazing race!

Over the last year, there has been tears, memories relived, and new ones created. I wouldn't want my daddy back today if I were granted one wish. For God is my Father and He truly knows best even if we don't understand it all. Grace, mercy, peace that passes all understanding and my Father's love, I know even better today, this moment, than all my years of being daddy's little girl.

When I sing "I Can Only Imagine" as I am right now... it is not my daddy that comes to my mind.... For my daddy was just a man.... and he couldn't save me even when he tried.

Signed,
The Real Daddy's Girl

Festival 31. Brenda.

Heads Up! Festival 31 details:

- If you live in this highly secure gated community, you may drop off your baked goodies at our home no later than 4:30 p.m. Please give your name to whomever answers the door.

- If you are bringing them to the church... no later than 5:15 p.m.

- All volunteers need to be there and in place early for quick training.

- I've smelled some of the Chili... OH MY! You still got time to make it if you forgot.

- Homeschool teens rock! HUGE thanks to those who are blowing up balloons and making posters.

- The food court will have tons of food! Come hungry! Clean up after yourself!

- Come ready to have some FUN! VIVA!

Why did I just say VIVA? Come see us at the Cake Walk to find out.

Brenda:

Don't remember if I've shared here about her or not... I know I have on myspace. Her name is Brenda. She finally let me drive her home today. Thank You, Lord, for the Dollar Store and Festival 31 needing some balloons! Pray for her. If you see her walking down one of the highways, offer her a ride. As our boys can tell you, she is worth the time.

And please.... Save me the lecture on picking up strangers/hitchhikers.

Changing Roles: Taking Care.

There are times when one must be willing to step up to the plate and help make hard decisions for another person's well being. This can include not only taking them to the doctor but actually sitting in on each visit. There are releases now that doctors have where individuals can be added to freely discuss information concerning a patient. There are also times when one must consider the necessity of having a living will and power of attorney. The more decisions a person can make concerning their last days (if possible) the better for all involved. If a person is not mentally able to do so, the decisions become even more difficult with added emotions involved.

When a person has daily medicines to take, it is very helpful to have the meds made up a week at a time for convenience sake. When the meds are time sensitive, there are beepers that can help remind an individual to take them. It is good for the individual, if they are capable, of doing their meds themselves. Yet, when they reach a stage where this is simply not possible, grace and dignity are truly called upon. It is always best not to struggle with a person to get the meds down their throats if at all possible. There can even come stages where liquid meds are better suited for their needs than pills or the pills can be crushed up and put into feeding tubes through ones nose or in their stomachs.

I know one issue that most individuals really struggle with is that of personal hygiene. Having been there and done that myself (read: I've had to be bathed & etc), I know all too well the issues that can and do arise. This is where one can truly feel humiliation and embarrassment. Yet, if handled with care, after the initial shock of needing such is dealt with, it can be a sweet time. Helping someone with the most basic of human care is a form of real love. There came a time when my hubby and I bathed my daddy. I was on the day shift and hubby was at night. His being bathed depended upon how he was each day. At first, daddy wasn't too keen on his daughter and his son-in-law being a part of this. Yet, he was more than any of the nurses could handle on their own; raw honesty being told. If one can bathe their own child or another's - I submit with God's help, they too can bathe a parent or spouse or be bathed themselves.

As always, you've been prayed for.

Stay tuned. More to come.

Thoughts Among The Trees

The last couple of days have been wild. As I sit here listening to "The More I Seek You" while eating Blue Bell's Vanilla Bean ice cream, I cannot help but be at peace. It's funny really how that happens.

There's talk about our extended family going on a trip together in 2008. Destination - more than likely a beach. And while I do not think we (five of us) will be joining them, it has brought back some memories. Trips. Walking in the sand. Being covered from head to toe...

In 2000, the five of us along with my folks spent Thanksgiving in Galveston, Texas. It was a trip my daddy arranged. I had been ill for two years at that point. The purpose of the trip was for us to have the experience of the beach with the boys... walking in the sand... getting their toes wet.... building sand castles. They had so much fun.

I was able to walk in the sand with the use of a cane and either my hubby or daddy holding onto me. I could stand for brief periods by myself but wasn't all that stable in doing so. I had to be covered from head to toe to keep from getting too cold. If you were to see the pictures, I looked more like an old woman than a 32-year old. And yet, a smile still comes across my heart and face even when thinking back to it...

For even though I was covered from head to toe with a coat that was visibly seen on the outside, that wasn't what was really protecting me. And even though I had no guarantee of being well again, my hope was secure. It was not in doctors, hospitals, etc.. It was only in Him.

As I sit here among the trees, my mind goes back to that beach. I am thankful that we had the opportunity to go on that trip with the boys and my parents. And while I know my daddy always thought he arranged it..... Our Father knows better. He always knows what is best.

Remember I said the last couple of days have been wild? And yet, I have peace?

That only happens with Him.