Sun. Update...DONOR-HEART PRAYERS

* UPDATE*

Sunday, morning...Little brother is staying with friends...but celebrating his big sister's courage and her NEW heart!


Little brother celebrating Big Sis's new heart

























Around 1:30pm, Sunday
After the heart was transplanted there was residual blood loss and some new blood clots.  The team of doctors had to re-open her chest and find the problems.
Sunday, 3:55pm
About an hour ago, they completed the repair.  Katie has come through surgery! Prayers answered! I've been a nervous wreck because she was so critical and we didn't hear any update for two hours. Dr. Kogan came and talked to us.

He got the clot and cleaned out some lines. Her vitals are much better and her blood drainage has improved.

We can see her in a few minutes, hopefully. Thank you for the prayers! Keep them coming! --Kerri



We've never seen this before with Katie:
Oxygen levels of 100%. This made us cry. --Kerri

 

 

Saturday night, 9:39pm

My sweet great niece is in surgery now; the doctors will be removing her sick heart soon. 

The transport team has flown out to pick up the donor's graciously-given heart.

Thanks for keeping she and her family in your prayers.
















John 8:31  "If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Blessings,

CITY PRAISE

We had a night-out last night...it was lots of fun as we decided how and where to meet, whether or not we'd eat before we got there, etc.
We pushed the hustle and bustle of this month aside to take a few hours to HEAR "The Story: A Christmas Spectacular".  Have you heard of it coming to your area?

Driving through all the traffic while talking to my friends is much more stressful remembering back to the many years of driving downtown to my full-time job.  


There's much more traffic on the road these days...and it's only been 10 years since I was working full time.  

Driving through the downtown streets, we enjoyed seeing all the lights and decorations up in their towers.  Their decorations certainly are making this time of year a wonderful time to go to an event down among the high rises.

Motorcycle policemen in their 'furry' leather jackets with toboggans sticking out from under their helmets, street musicians pounding their drums and the homeless greeting all walkers for some help during the season... reminding me of people I encountered on lunch breaks during the Christmas season while working throughout the 80's and 90's.

Back in those days, I would skip breaks in the morning and afternoon, so I could add 30 minutes to my normal hour lunch...then I'd grab a girlfriend to join me...running downstairs to the rapid transit train, riding three stops south and jumping off at Peachtree Center then walking to Macy's or Rich's.  


We'd watch out for each others' belongings while paying cashiers and/or bagging our 'finds' then RUN back to the train for our return trips to beat the clock.

Those were fun times...yet, stressful times.  I don't miss all the traffic and the LONG train/bus/driving issues I ran into throughout the years of working 'inner city'.  

Last NIGHT was not stressful though.
We enjoyed Christmas carols from several known musicians
preaching from Max Lucado and
original songs/written by Nicole Nordeman...

(sorry for the blurriness...these are phone pics from about 100 yards from the stage)

MAX LUCADO                             




                 NATALIE GRANT

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN              

                                                                                                     SELAH  

If you get a chance to see this show...go.

Their talent with word/video/song was awesome...and so was time with with my girlfriends as we sang, praised, listened, cried and prayed.

It gave me a 're-awakening' of the true meaning of why Jesus came to this world...why He loves us and intercedes for us...and that ONE DAY, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess "Jesus Christ is Lord!"

Blessings,

I WON...YOU WIN..."Finally rounded the bend, Sister Friend!"

I Won…You Win

My friend was super excited about my winning this last-round sharing of the book, SISTERCHICKS IN WOODEN SHOES; however, I'm sure she didn't envision my being such a reading 'slacker' and my putting it down (and forgetting to pick it back up). 


I've been in a season on 'not wanting to' on many things, not just reading.

Finally I got my:

• 'rear in gear'
• 'chopped chopped lollipopped'
• 'scoot, scoot, bandicooted'
• 'skedaddle, fiddle-faddled'
• 'rounded the bend, sister friend'
• 'shake-n-baked, cupcake'
• ....and finished reading it...and commented on 'many' things.

BeStill&Know will be getting her book back from me shortly.

She will then be able to enjoy reading all the fabulous comments in the margins from all the various readers.

I owe her a cup of java for my:

• 'being such a sluggard'
• 'hitting a bump in the road'
• 'causing a delay in the process'
  
  
  
  
  WHO ELSE HAS HAD TO SAY "I'm sorry" THIS WEEK??  

FLASHBACK FRIDAY...sibling stuff

click the button to see who all joined us today...

MY SIBLING BLESSING FROM GOD: an older, awesomely sweet sister! We shared a double bed in our tiny bedroom...saying our prayers nightly, ending with: 'GOOD NIGHT', 'SLEEP TIGHT', 'PLEASANT DREAMS', 'SAME TO YOU!'.

LATER--watching her graduate; attend local college...each caught m attention, helping me see goals as reachable. I wanted to successfully get through school and make my family proud.

NOT LONG AFTER COLLEGE GRADUATION, I cried myself to sleep every night after she married and moved to Charleston, which was 8 hours away from our hometown.

"What was she thinking?!" I mean, he was cute, and sweet, and in the Navy; but, HEY, He wasn't me!" WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT?! HAHAHAHA!

"OUR ROOM" then became 'my' room and it never seemed right (even after Mother let me be bold and redecorate in smiley faces with orange background).

SHE WAS, IS, QUIETER AND MORE STUDIOUS THAN ME. She studied hard, read a lot (She was a 3-year Latin student) and enjoyed basketball in front of the double oak trees with my Daddy in our back yard.

MY EARLY YEARS were spent hangin on monkey bars, ballerina dancing through the house, and flipping handsprings, walkovers and cartwheels, too many to count. She probably wondered "Where in the world did Mother get HER from?" I wasn't loud necessarily but I, for sure, didn't sit still for very long.

MANY DAYS I REMEMBER her busily helping Mother in the house with chores, cooking, and baby sitting for other families. She did all the cooking and housework when Mother had major back surgery that confined her to the bed for months. I remember my sister never complaining about having to pitch in with all of that work. I was so young and didn't have a clue...looking back on it, I feel guilty for not helping more (or at least I don't remember helping).

FIGHTING WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TOLERATED BY OUR PARENTS...but, I must say, we never wanted to fight. (I'm sure she probably wanted to lock me in a closet whenever I flitted through the house, especially when her boyfriend was there.) But fight?? Nope.

REALLY.

AS AN ADULT LOOKING BACK, I'm sure this had more to do with my sister being an extremely patient person. She was busy giving in to me without my even knowing it. We had a wonderfully peaceful time together.

EVEN WHILE DATING, she and 'cuteness' were often including me on dates and playing games of the day: Operation, Scrabble, and Yahtzee! Remember those fun times still makes me smile.

ONE VERY VIVID MEMORY came after their honeymoon--jumping in the white camaro and "putt putting" until the sun went down on our little town. Surely she would have much preferred staying home and talking 'grown-up' talk with Mother, but my recollection was she wanted to be with me! ;)

BEING A YOUNGER SIBLING gave me a want to "be in on things" so I always wanted to get involved in many groups throughout HIGH SCHOOL. Each class or extra curricular activity challenged me to step up in different ways. Leaving all my friends after graduation caused a big hole in my life for a while...they had temporarily been replacing my 'SIBLING NEED' .

TODAY WE'RE ENJOYING SPENDING TIME TOGETHER WHEN WE CAN. We are especially loving her grand daughter, KATIE, who is growing up with a congenital heart defect. My sister is her primary care giver while my nephew and his wife work to handle their daughter's situation. We are so thankful for today's miracle-working doctors.

...LOOK HOW MUCH SHE'S GROWN!I AM SO GRATEFUL GOD BLESSED ME with 'the best' sister.

YA'LL lost out NOT having her ...nanner nanner...:P HAHAHAHAHA!

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE...FROM ARGENTINA!

IT's HERE!!!!
Kim's (September 13TH giveaway)
...for her second blog-iversary celebration :)

I smiled all the way into the house after I signed for the package...

and I didn't have my READING glasses on so DD read her letter to me while I busily opened each gift

(yes, they were individually wrapped!)

I love surprises...do you?

Come see what she sent:

(FOR A BIGGER VIEW, CLICK THE PIC)

I love the 'fade' feature on Picasa...you can hide things you don't want to show, like addresses, wrinkles, laundry on the table....

the sweetest card...

a LOT of things...wait 'til you see

WOW...she overwhelmed me...she sent me such a sweet fragrance of all the unique things Argentina has to offer...along with her own creativity..the bag is beautiful and wonderfully made. I will indeed enjoy.each.and.every.thing!!

Thank you, JubiSista...it continues to be a jubilee year indeed!

(I have a longer, silver box chain I'll transfer the pendant to later,

but I couldn't help but go ahead and put it on...thinking of you, Kim!)

On another post I'll show what hubby gave me for our 20th

anniversary...I'm busy getting ready to head to senior high retreat

with our youth.

Won't have another chance to blog until Monday...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

THANKFUL THURS.#26, & SOUTHERN-GROWN HAPPINESS

COME SEE OTHERS' CONTRIBUTIONS

JOIN ALONG...click on: TRUTH4THEJOURNEY FOR NUMBER 26

WE'RE SHARING OUR PRAISES...

LAST NIGHT I ENJOYED...
CREAKY HARDWOOD FLOORS
COTTON COUNTRY CRAFTS

YUMMY YEARNINGS AND CALORIE-RICH MENUS
SMELLING SOUTHERN-FRIED, COUNTRY STEAK and
EATING SLOWLY-COOKED VEGETABLES

HEARING TOE-TAPPING MUSIC
AND POLITE, YES-MA'AM SERVERS

SPENDING TIME WITH GOD-GIVEN, TREASURED FRIENDS
SWEET TALK AND SHARED HAPPENINGS

YOUNG, TEEN-AGED, FIRST-CRUSH FEELINGS
SOFT, HAND-HELD BLESSINGS TO OUR LORD

YES,CABBAGE, PINTO BEANS
THEN PEPPER-SAUCED COLLARD GREENS
ALONGSIDE SLOWLY-STEWED TOMATOES
WITH POTLIQUOR-DRENCHED CORNBREAD

EACH NOTE PICKED,
VIBRATING INTO THE EVENING'S SHADOWS

EACH COMMENT SAVORED,
BATHED IN SLOW, SWEET CONVERSATION

EACH FILLING BITE WASHED GINGERLY DOWN
WITH "SPLENDA'd" ICE TEA

THANKFUL FOR HARVESTED FOOD
THANKFUL FOR HARVESTED FRIENDS
THANKFUL FOR HARVESTED, SOUTHERN-GROWN HAPPINESS!

("CLICK THE PIC" & SEE THE OUTDOOR SCENE MORE CLEARLY)

ABCs of the DAY! !

Decided to jump in on the idea from my JubiSista ... my brain's still asleep from my weekend of very little sleep.

A, age: 50, Jub-i-leeeeeee!
B, burger of choice: blue cheese crumbles with crisp onion straws on top, no catsup on mine
C, car driven: red SUV, Chrysler Pacifica
D, dog's name(s): past: Shorty (lab mix), Smokey (beagle/shepherd), Murphy, (peek-a-poo)
E, essential item used daily: microwave
F, favorite television show: NCIS (anybody else have a crush on Mark Harmon?)
G, favorite game: Word Path of Facebook (think I'm addicted)
H, hometown: Doraville, GA
I, instruments played: trumpet, piano, flute, recorder (rusty in all)
J, favorite juice: Tropicana Pure Premium Pure Raspberry Acai
K, like to kick: my backside--when I don’t exercise
L, last restaurant you dined at: Hidalgo’s Mexican Restaurant, taco salad
M, muppet of choice: Beaker, makes me laugh, great hair while “meeping”
N, number of piercings: 2, one each ear and no tats
O, overnight hospital stays: 4 (wisdom teeth, c-section, colon cancer,& the big H)
P, people with today: girlfriend, Be Still and Know
Q, quiet times spent doing: blogging, coffee, crocheting cancer baby bonnets
R, regrets?: gaining back my previous weight loss—(here I go again)!
S, status: Marital? Married; Ascribed? “the baby” of two daughters; Income? retired telecom network mgr.

T, time you woke up today: 9:45am,…catching up from late-night breakfast (french toast sticks, scrambled eggs, pancake/sausage rolls, blonde brownies, nuts) 'til 4am on prom night

U, unique gifts, God-given/-received: encouragement/wonderful Christian girlfriends
V, favorite vegetable: asparagus, especially; close 2nd, orange and yellow bell peppers (eat 'em like apples, can't get enough)
W, worst habit: wanting to FIX everything; should LISTEN better
X, last x-rays: teeth
Y, yummy food eaten today: home-made grilled chicken/veggie salad ...(w/ BeStill&Know after working out together)!
Z, zoo animal adored: otters…so adorable and resourceful (did you know they like to pray too?!

What did you enjoy this wonderful, 1st-weekend-of-Spring?!
What are your or your kidz' ABCs today?

"PEANUT" Blessings

Sweet Mary at "Keep the Light Shining" touched me with the miracles and the "little angels" today. God incidences are wonderful and they can come through your angelic children
(Hebrews 13:3 "...some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!)

One day I'm going to write a much longer version-- but today it will be a quick memory.

A memory about my first child who went to Heaven when I was only 13 weeks pregnant. I called it "peanut"...so little and special because it was my first pregnancy. And you see, my husband believes in his heart it was a girl.

One day while having one of the many "girl talks" with my daughter, I shared with her what happened with "peanut" and how sometimes pregnancies end early--but that I believed in my heart it's soul is with her creator in Heaven.

My child became teary-eyed knowing she really did have a sibling--then God gave me a miracle through my angelic daughter...she asked if she could name her.

Oh, what a sweet blessing, to see her love for her "sister". This had never crossed my mind to name her, but God gave it to my second daughter to give this blessing to me.

I will always cherish the memory of that moment; and I can envision one day, when we get to Heaven, we'll be able to call her by name in front of Jesus...then we'll have her for eternity!