Job Interview

I have an initial job interview on Thursday @ 4:15 PM. Pray for guidance as I take this first step.

Prematurity Awareness Month

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Emma would have been 10 months old yesterday had she lived. However, she is 3 months into her eternal life with Jesus. Amen and Praise God! However, that doesn't stop us from needing to be aware of the fact that hundereds of thousands of babies are born prematurely each year. There are various ways you can help these babies and those who help them as they fight to survive.

1. Pray - Pray for the babies, their families, the doctors and nurses who will be a part of their tiny little lives. Sometimes their stay in the hospital is short. Sometimes it is long. However, the prayers that are lifted up for them mean all the difference.

2. Donate - give to your local Children's Hospital. In Knoxville there are various ways you can donate. You can pledge an amount during their annual fundraiser each Spring. Or for some fun, you can attend the Fantasy of Trees the week of Thanksgiving at the Knoxville Convention Center. Funds from this event help the hospital raise much needed money for purchasing new machines that help in the ever-present fight for the lives of these children.

3. Donate - give to your local Ronald McDonald House. These homes provide a restful atmosphere that feels like home so that families can stay near their little ones while they are in the hospital. You can give by providing funds, cooking meals, and various other volunteer activities.

4. Support the March of Dimes.

5. Support a ministry like Gus's Gang. This was started out of one family's loss of their child, Gus. The family used Gus's name to stand for God Understands Suffering and titled their ministry Gus's Gang. Gus's Gang maintains a blog for families of chronically ill children with updates so others can be praying for the families and rejoice in their steps and pray more fervently with their setbacks. They also reach out to the familes and the other siblings in these families who are also affected by a sick sibling.

** Thanks to JD over at Gus's Mom blog for the idea for this blog today.

My List

So, my friend J wants to know what is on my list. My tangible items are:

1) A Fanklin-Covey organizer.
2) A label maker by Dyno.

However, considering I spent last Christmas sleeeping in a hospital chair next to my sister's bed so my mom could be at home with my dad, I'll be most thankful if we can just have all family members together again. Last Christmas my uncle had passed away only a few weeks prior and my sister was on bedrest in the hospital keeping Baby Emma in the oven for as long as possible. So, even though both the grandparents are not in the best of moods with their current situation (have someone sit with them 24/7), I am just asking for time spent together with my family. If we can manage that with no tirades, I'll consider that the best present ever!

The List

I have read a lot of blogs about Christmas lately. It's less than 2 months away which seems insane. I guess this year has been so full of so many things that it has flown by. I sent my mom my Christmas list a couple of weeks ago. I am the nice daughter though. My list didn't contain anything too outrageous. I am just prayerful that we will be able to spend this Christmas as a family (and NOT in a hospital.) If we can spend it together, then I'll forgo all gifts to be with those I love. It doesn't promise to be an easy Christmas, but my cousin and I are planning our entertainment in the form of Rook and Jeopardy battles.

For some light reading, visit the Gus's Mom link to the right and read her dad's response to her Christmas list (which is posted below the response.) I laughed because I've had the same responses from my dad on lists before...so now they only go to mom.

A New Book Idea

My friend J and I had our girl's date night tonight. During this time she told me she was reading a book on silent rhetoric. I said, "Is it a story about a mime?" So we decided that a mime should title his/her autobiography "Unspoken: My Story." Is that not hilarious and perfect! And maybe it has already been done, but oh well. We thought it was funny. And it was much better than our rendition of Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now." All I can say is that my roommate is much more tolerant of things than most would be. I am blessed.

Lost...

is back! Wahoo!!!! That's the most exciting thing that has happened in weeks. The opening segment was awesome...can't wait to see what is next.

I'm a Card Carrying Member Now

I finally joined the Knox County Library. I was partially inspired by E over at To Blog Is Human when she posted on being able to download audiobooks for free if you are a member. I am all about being able to add something new and exciting to my ever wonderful (and pink!) iPod mini. So, now I'm a member. I think if I could ever live somewhere unconventional I would pick the library. I love to read and am able to neglect important things for hours (or days) when faced with a good book. I'd just start in the A's and read to the Z's. I bet I would learn a lot.

Hmmm... makes me wonder if they have a book on Jack Handy quotes. I think I'll check on that next week.