Remembering Gus

I met the Doriot family on March 12, 2006, in the NICU/PICU waiting room at ETCH. Mom and I were sitting there talking and waiting to see if they would show sweet Baby Emma again on the WBIR telethon. While mom and I were sitting there we struck up a conversation with the sweetest lady who was working on a scrapbook for her little Gus while waiting to see Gus make his second appearance on the telethon. Gus had been in the NICU the year before when the telethon was broadcast and this year he was in the PICU. This year Gus's dad was the designated spokesperson for the family. When the TV finally broadcast Gus it was the sweetest moment. He was such a cute little baby and having met his mom you just feel in love with him over the T.V. God called Gus home to be with him 1 year ago today. After his passing, his parents started a ministry called GUS's Gang. They used the word Gus to stand for God Understands Suffering. This ministry is for families of chronically ill children. Jenny (Gus's mom) keeps track of their progress and posts it on the Gus's Gang blog. It was always so encouraging to read her sweet reports of Emma during her last few months with us as well. Pete, Jenny, and Belle made the trek to see us when we lost Emma. I feel so blessed to have met these people and that out of such sadness so much was gained. Please pray for this family today as they grieve on the anniversary of losing their child, but praise knowing that he is where we all want to be.

Mercy Me - Homesick

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Update on Baby A

Mom spoke to Andee on Friday and the baby is still not having BMs. Andee turns 30 on Tuesday and I know she had hoped the baby would be home or near coming home by this date, but it doesn't look like it will happen. Mom is going to try to come down tomorrow so we'll go see Andee. Keep praying for this little one and that God will continue to work in her life. Also, pray for Andee as she juggles being in Knoxville with the baby while she has 3 little ones at home in Morristown. Pray for strength for Andee as she battles through this.

The Random Events of My So-Call Life

Well, it's been an exciting couple of weeks around here. It may not read so on this blog, but it has been fun. Mom and Dad F came into town for J's graduation. It was so exciting to see her graduate with her master's. Now she, like I, has to find a job. It's not fun, but God will provide for both of us. She had an interview last Wednesday with a company she worked for last summer so hopefully that will turn into something for her.

Cousin J left for her summer of study across the pond. She will be in Austria until mid-June studying music history and the history of Austria. I am so excited for her as she takes this journey. She will be creating memories that will never leave her.

I was able to spend this weekend at home with good friends and family. My bff from high school and I had a yard sale on Saturday. I never make a ton of money because I don't have good junk, but the time she and I get to spend together is priceless. She is having baby #2 this summer and so we won't be able to do much more together for a few months as she adjusts to have 2 little ones to care for. Her oldest, a daughter, is becoming one of my favorite little ones. She has such a sweet smile and is at the state of life where she will repeat anything you say. She has also taken to calling her dad "honey" which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. After the yard sale I went to Mom and Dad's to spend the night. They replaced their cedar shake roof with a red tin roof. It looks awesome! I can't wait to go home and spend the night sleeping under the tin when there is a nice steady rain. Or sitting on the front porch swing as it rains. I'll have to take a nap in that swing for sure! The doodlebug came up and we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows on Sat night then she came back up on Sunday after church to help us gather the cedar shakes and tie them into bundles for kindling. She wasn't allowed near the piles for fear she would step on a nail, so we had to put nails and certain boards where she could pick them up and contribute. It is always such a pleasure to be around her. Dad and I keep picking her up and carrying her around even though her mom and nana say not to because she can walk, but we will only be able to hold her for a few more years and so we are taking advantage of it while we can. She is really loving, and gives the best hugs. I can't imagine our lives without her.

Well, this week is the season finale of LOST so they better make it good. I'm leaving this weekend for a short trip to Charleston. It will be a lot of driving, but worth the two days away from home. It's always nice to get away for a few days and just renew yourself. Be praying for safety as we drive down on Saturday and home on Tuesday.

Statistically Inaccurate?

I saw an article yesterday on CNN but didn't have time to read it. The headline was "U.S. Divorce Rate Lowest Since 1970." I again heard this headline on the news this morning. My first thought was "that's really cool." But then I realized it isn't a true statement. Yes, I'm sure that the statistics will show you that there were fewer divorces. But I wonder if the statistics are also lower for marriages as well. As a twenty-something I attend a lot of weddings. However, I also see a lot of people who decide that rather than commit to someone "to have and to hold from this day forward," they will just live together and "have and hold until things get rough." They may even do it for several years. Then when things get rough, they just break-up and find their own place. There was no marriage so there was no divorce. It breaks my heart to see this happening over and over again.

Mark 10:6-9

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female'. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife; And the two will become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

The End Is In Sight

LOST has announced its end date. The series will end after 3 more 16 episode seasons. Hopefully with this direction they will start wrapping up some loose ends. It would have been nice to have 2 seasons with 24 episodes (which is normal) but that is not how it works. It will be sad to watch it go, but I think by then it will definitely have run its course. Now, that being said, Sawyer better make it off that island alive!!!!!

Baby Update

I just spoke to Andee and the baby is doing good! She had her first poopy diaper which is HUGE considering she had a bowel blockage. God is sooooo good. Andee said she knows that it because of all the prayers going up for this little one. Please continue to keep this family in your prayers as we all know it is still a long journey to normalcy.

Update on Andee

I spoke to Andee this afternoon and the baby was out of surgery and in the NICU. She is on a ventilator to help her breathe but everything else was going well. They are feeding her and will be watching her bowels to make sure they work properly and don't become blocked again. Andee seemed to be in good spirits though so I hope to go visit soon. Pray for my mom and I as we gather the strength to go to the NICU for the first time since last July. I'm sure the memories will come rushing back, but I feel it will be a healing process for both of us.

Pray for Andee

Please pray for my friend Andee today. She is being induced becuase her baby has known intestinal and bowel problems. Intially there was not a large concern because of what was going on, but this week the doctors discovered the baby has a bowel blockage so they want to get the baby out ASAP so they can operate. I will post more details and updates later.

The Best Things In Life Are Free

1) Salvation (it doesn't get any better than that!)
2) Blue Bell Icecream

Blue Bell ice cream is doing an ice cream tour celebrating their 100 years of being an ice cream company. Today they stopped on Market Square and gave away free samples of their vanilla ice cream. Nothing is better on a hot Spring day than FREE ice cream!