Waiting Patiently

I know they say the best things in life are worth waiting for. This past year has driven that lesson home. I wish there was I way I could take the families who are hurting, fighting, surviving through the stormy times and show them a glimpse ahead to the future. But, I am painfully aware that is impossible because that would take away the need for faith. All I can offer is prayer; and that is the most precious gift any of us could give them. I came across this Psalm when preparing for my Sunday School lesson last week. It was about King Saul and his refusal to act according to God's time table. I understand that I read this from "victory lane" of Carys race, but I hope it offers hope for all who need to "wait" on HIM to move.

Psalms 40

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"
17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

A Family Moment

I am persuaded to believe that you can’t separate me from the wonderful love of GOD!!
I am so enjoying life right now! God has been so good to me. The more “normal” life I live the more I see the sense of humor that God has. He writes each moment of my life like a comic strip! Here is the scene from 218 Shows Drive yesterday afternoon…

Two children, both in their bare-feet, sliding down the slide. Occasionally, they come over to their dad (seated in the chair in his overalls) for a bite of freshly picked pear. This pear is so sweet and juicy. As dad carves tiny bite-size pieces for the children, the juice drips from his pocket-knife. The conversation includes the minnows they just caught in the creek and released into the horse water trough. “Why was Sawyer afraid of the crawfish, Daddy?” asks Carys Jo. Just then Sawyer drops his piece of pear. Oh, no. we cannot waist such a piece of nature! Never fear, the family pet will eat it. What type of pet, you ask? Why, Flamingo, the family goat! She is just around the corner eating the tops off of all the bushes.

Yes, this is a true story. I wish I had a picture to go along with it! This is why I LOVE my family and living in the country. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful thing, OUR FAMILY!

Saturday 9/27/08

Okay, I admit to being a "picture-holic"! I just cannot help myself when I see these two adorable faces! Thankfuly, they are getting a little better at being photographed. Espically Carys, she is a real "ham" in front of the camera~

Carys and Sawyer in their Auburn Atire! We may not have much on an Offence, but we have the cutest fans!!!

Sawyer is a very photogenic child. Look at those BIG eyes. I love the B&W but you should see how blue they are in color!

I was playing around with the B&W feature on the camera. I guess this is "hear no evil!"

Speaking of Blue Eyes! Look at that hair. Compare to the pics from last week! You cannot see the scalp now!

She looked away at the last second. Still a good shot if you ask me.

What a sweet smile! Enough Said! Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!

Saturday Hair Pics (a little late!)

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I feel kinda silly for posting these on Friday. They were taken last Sat on Carys' birthday. The "God of hope" has filled us with joy and peace so many times since Carys' 3rd birthday. I cannot believe she is FOUR!

I love my husband and kids SO much. I cannot wait to show you pics from this Sat. Her hair is already so much thicker you will not believe it! You cannot even see her scalp now!

Birthday Girl! September 20, 2008

Carys and Sawyer

See that Hair!!



Carys playing on the slide.

September

This month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This month is set aside to spread information about Childhoos Cancer. Most of you know about some parts of it beacuse of Carys' experience. Somethings you might not know...

Childhood Cancer Facts:
Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.

Some of you may think..."Wow, that's bad." and it is! Carys is NOT the only child fighting this battle. Just in the last TWO days, we have LOST TWO Wilms Warriors who have been fighting! I am forever greatful that Carys has done so well in her fight... but that is NOT the case for every child.

Hopefully, when you read this you will NOT just feel bad and click on to another blog. I pray you will take action. You know that we are collecting itemsto donate to the hosptial. This will help ease the course of treatment for many kids. But there is more to be done. RESEARCH!!! I am going to provide some links for you to look at. Please at least look at them to become more informed. Also, consider donating to these reputable groups that help in many areas fo the childhood cancer fight including Research!

To do the most good in my opinoin in the area of research, click here to donate to CARYS' team for CureSearch. They are connected with the Children's Oncology Group (COG) which studies and sets up the protocols for treating/curing Childhood Cancer. http://host.curesearch.org/goto/cure4carys

www.candlelighters.org

www.campsam.org Alabama's camp for Kids with Cancer.

Please stand with us in Honor of Carys' fight! Consider writing a blog about Childhood Cancer (feel free to include information about Carys) and ask others to do the same. This way, we can get the word OUT!!

Saturday 9/13/08

Here are our pictures from LAST Saturday. For those of you keeping up, we take "hair pictures" every Saturday to keep track of Carys hair growth journey

Saturday Morning

Carys in her Flower Girl Dress Sat Morning
So much hair you can almost brush it!

Sawyer at Steven and Des' Wedding. Yes, he wore his boots with his tux!

The Cottingham Boys. Sawyer looks a little out of place with his blonde hair!

Daddy and The Kids...All Dressed UP

Mommy and Carys. She spiked a fever 1 hr before walking down the isle!

Sawyer Getting his Flower on!

Are they cute or WHAT!?!

Waves of Doubt...

From the Book of James:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Today I lack wisdom...want to be fearless. I want to be faithful. And I want to be wise. I want my children to know that they do not have to live in fear because God is on the throne.

I want to believe...Today has been kinda hard. All I can think about is Carys. What is she doing? How does she feel? Is there cancer growing inside her un-chemo body? I know this sounds bad and unfaithful, but it is my heart today.

I felt like I would burst if I did not read God's Word and get these thoughts out.

How sad Christ must be that I made the decision to not think about what He did on Calvary to set me free. Free from fear and doubt. He allowed me to completely comprehend James 1:6. When I allowed fear and doubt to enter my heart, I felt over taken. Even like I was drowning in my pitty. I now know how Peter felt when he walked on water!

I have been so elated for the past few days after hearing the good news about Carys on Friday. The reports were there to confirm what I already knew God had done. As I allowed doubt to enter my heart, I was like Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus! And just the same, I cried out for God to save me from this fear and doubt!

So for now, I vow to tell satan to get out of my head because he will never make it to my heart. That belongs to Jesus!! I vow to claim the power, give to me through Grace, to overcome the heartaches of this world and live for HIM.

That does not mean I will never worry or be sad. But, I will NOT allow those feeling to overcome me and take my focus off of what God has put me here to do! Love Justin, love my kids, and teach them of God's unspeakable love for them!