The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read,
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down,
And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With it’s petals all warn down-not enough rain, or to little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side,
And placed the flower to his nose and declared
with overacted surprise,
“It smells pretty and it’s beautiful too.
That’s why I picked it; here it’s for you!”

The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower and replied, “Just what I need.”

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time,
That the weed-toting boy could not see, he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun,
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
“You’re welcome” he smiled and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he’s had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see,
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know about my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see,
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, & appreciate
Every second that’s mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose.
And I smiled as I watched that young boy,
Another weed in his hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

~By Cheryl Costello- Forshey~



I know that 2008 has been a very difficult year for many of us. Many times when problems come our way, it is so easy to lose focus. We get wrapped up in the situation that is plaguing us and we can’t seem to see anything else around us. Before you know it, we have lost sight of what is really important and that is doing God’s work, winning souls, and pressing towards the mark, which is Heaven. We must remind ourselves that it is the devil’s business to turn our minds away from the things of God and what better way of doing this than through affliction? We, as the children of God need to learn that when problems come our way, we don’t focus on the problems, but we focus on the problem solver, which is JESUS.

As we leave 2008 behind and move forward into 2009 I would like to leave you with something I read…

When affliction refuses to let up, perseverance refuses to give up.
When perseverance refuses to give up, character continues to build up.
When character continues to build up, hope begins to rise up.
When hope begins to rise up, disappointment can no longer speak up.
When disappointment can no longer speak up, vision begins to grow up.

Remember, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!


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Merry Christmas Everyone

I pray we never forget the true reason for the season. May you have a wonderful day full of joy, laughter, peace and love. God bless you and your families and keep you all safe through out this holiday season and the up coming year. Merry Christmas everyone!

Caleb's Gingerbread House

My daughter's class made Gingerbread houses at school today and there was enough supplies left over for her to bring home for Caleb to make one. As you can see he enjoyed that task very much. It's amazing how the simple things in life brings joy to the heart and a smile to the face of a child. We could learn so much from these children if we would let ourselves.

Christmas Banquet 2008

There is nothing like getting together with friends and family to enjoy the special occasion of celebrating Christmas. Christmas is the most joyous season of the year. It seems everyone is full of joy, laughter, a giving spirit, and love towards others. It's to bad that people won't let that spirit carry over through out the entire year.

When I attended this Christmas banquet, just being with my children and my church family, friends, and the presence of the Lord did so much to lift my spirit. I enjoyed the laughter, the singing, the conversations, every one's smiles, the FOOD, and just being in good, clean, Godly fellowship. I went home that night refreshed. I love my family, my church family and most of all, my God. I couldn't make it without them.

Happy Birthday!

Myspace Happy Birthday Comments
I Love You!!! Your #1 Daughter - Kerrie





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I Love You!!! Your grandson, Caleb





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We love you Mom! Mark, Amalia, Abelardo, and Evelardo





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Love you Mom! Your #2 Daughter - Kellie


Thank you my precious family! Because of you, today is a Happy Birthday! I love you ALL so very, very much. :o)

Trusting In Him

I know I haven't posted in a while but I have taken much needed time to be alone with my God. Time to just focus on my relationship with HIM. Time to make sure that all is well with my soul. Time to just walk hand in hand with HIM. To talk to HIM and let HIM know just how much I love HIM and need HIM in my life. To let HIM know that HE is my EVERYTHING. Time to make sure that the path that I am taking is the right one. That I am walking in step with my Lord. Time to make sure that I am following after HIS will and not mine.

All of this has not been in vain. God in turn has spoken to my heart. HE has let me know that HE loves me too. Oh, I knew this already but there are times that it is nice to be reassured. It is beautiful when I feel HIS loving arms wrap around me and comfort me and let me know that HE is there right by my side and that HE will never leave me nor forsake me. In the midnight hour I can rest assured that MY GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME.

I want to say thank you to my Pastor, Brian Allard for a beautiful message a week ago this past Sunday Morning. I have heard the story of Job many times but the way you presented it that morning, was a way like I had never heard before. It was just what my soul needed. I know my son and Amalia were very touched by it as well. Thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Ghost and letting God use you in such a beautiful way.

Bryce, I love you! That same Sunday, in the evening, you ministered to my soul in song. This path I have been traveling on for the past two months have been a rough one. At times I have been a little fearful of taking the wrong steps. Only because I was afraid that I was leading and not God. But the words you spoke before you sang and then the song that you sang were from God to me. I had just told God that afternoon that I needed an answer. I needed to hear from Him. He used you to speak to me and calm my weary soul. Bryce, do me a favor please. Don't ever get weary in well doing. When it seems as though others are mocking or laughing at what you are saying or doing, rest assured you are in the will of God. That when this is happening, there is someone out there that you are ministering to. The devil knows this and that is why he is trying to discourage you by using others to make you lose focus. Shut them out and keep on doing the will of God in your life because there are those of us who are definitely being blessed by what God is doing through you.

Here is the song that Bryce sang that evening. I just wish I had a way to play it instead of just putting the words down. It may not do that much for you but it did so much for my soul and for that I thank God and Bryce for letting God use him to speak to my soul.


In this life we live
Sometimes the storm clouds gather,
And they hide the sun,
My heart’s as dark as the weather,
But if I can look through the eyes of faith,
I’ll follow where He leads,
I’ve gotta keep trustin in Him
To take me where he wants me to be

I’ll just keep trusting in Him,
When I’m blinded by all the confusion,
I’ll just keep trusting in Him
To see what I cannot see,
Through every choice I make,
The direction I take,
He knows what’s best for me,
I’ve gotta keep trusting in Him
To take me where He wants me to be

I know the wisdom of God,
He can see tomorrow,
And he knows every turn
And curve in the road that I follow,
He knows what it takes
To help me make it through
And He’ll give me what I need
I’ve gotta keep trusting in Him
To take me where He wants me to be

I’ll just keep trusting in Him,
When I’m blinded by all the confusion,
I’ll just keep trusting in Him
To see what I cannot see,
Through every choice I make,
The direction I take,
He knows what’s best for me,
I’ve gotta keep trusting in Him
To take me where He wants me to be

If I have child-like faith,
To trust in the Father’s wisdom,
I know I’ll never fail to walk
The path he’s chosen

I’ll just keep trusting in Him,
When I’m blinded by all the confusion,
I’ll just keep trusting in Him
To see what I cannot see,
Through every choice I make,
The direction I take,
He knows what’s best for me,
I’ve gotta keep trusting in Him
To take me where He wants me to be

Here is the part where God spoke to me:

If I have child-like faith,
To trust in the Father’s wisdom,
I know I’ll never fail to walk
The path he’s chosen

I know now that I am not leading but I am walking hand in hand with God and He is guiding my steps. I have nothing to fear for I have His word to stand upon and "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105 And He knows what's best for me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

The Journey

While walking this road of life, the journey is sometimes GREAT! We are traveling along the path and we can see far ahead. The way looks clear and bright. There is beauty all around us on every side. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, children are laughing, and a song is burning deep within our soul. But wait! In the distance we can see dark clouds begin to roll in and cover up the sun. A heavy fog starts to lay across the horizon just enough to cloud up our view. The birds are no longer singing. We can not hear the children laughing and it seems as though the song in our heart has faded. Before you know it we have come to a bend in the road and we can not see what lays ahead. Things look dark and dreary and we fear to take another step.

We have been hit with trials and tribulations and it is as though our whole world has been turned upside down. Dear God in Heaven, do I really have to take the turn in this road? I am not sure what lies around the corner. I can not see what is up ahead. Things are not as they should be and I do not like this trial that I am in. What if it turns out the way I don't want it too? My mind is cluttered! Too much is going on inside. I can't think clearly. I am afraid to take another step. What if I make the wrong decision? I am a total mess.

Pastor calls a 15 day fast for those who would like to join him. I feel God calling me to join this fast. Yes, I will do it. I NEED ANSWERS! Can I make it through a 15 day fast? We were all anointed for and prayed for. During the fast, two songs are laid on my heart that I listen to over and over. The first one is "Daystar" and the chorus really got to me.

LEAD ME LORD I’LL FOLLOW
ANYWHERE YOU OPEN UP THE DOOR
LET YOUR WORD SPEAK TO ME
SHOW ME WHAT I’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
LORD I WANT TO BE A WITNESS
YOU CAN TAKE WHAT’S WRONG AND MAKE IT RIGHT
DAYSTAR SHINE DOWN ON ME
LET YOUR LOVE SHINE THROUGH ME IN THE NIGHT

Through this I got my mind off of my problems and back onto doing a work for the Lord. In doing this, He is better able in taking care of my problems because I am no longer holding onto them. I have let them go.

The other song that touched my heart during this fast is "Different" by Mollye Reese with Jamie Slocum. That is what I want to be. Different just like Jesus is.

I wanna be different Jesus just like you
I wanna be tender with mercy guiding all I do
So when others talk about me
Let it be because I am different
Let the difference be love

I made it through the 15 day fast. It really was not hard at all, Thanks be to God. I feel as though I have received some direction in my life for this trial I have been going through. Do I have all the answers? NO! But I will take it one day at a time and I am no longer afraid to take the turn at the bend of the road for I know that He will be by my side and that Mercy and Grace will follow me.

This one thing I must always remember, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

No matter what the outcome is, I will rest assured that I am in the will of God. I will no longer fear what lay ahead for I know that He has all things under control and that He cares for me and has my best interest at heart. I will say, Not my will, but thy will be done, Oh Lord!

It's In The Attitude!

"The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's
attitude in any given set of circumstances."
— Victor Frankl

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

Caleb's 1st Bible Notes

This past Sunday night while Pastor Allard was preaching, Caleb was doing his usual picture drawing and scribbling in his notebook that he takes to church, nothing unusual. Then over half way through the message I noticed Sis. Paula sort of leaning over the pew making a comment to my daughter. My daughter was looking down at what my grandson was writing and Kerrie then, with excitement and almost in tears looked up at me and mouthed these words: "He is taking notes about what Pastor is preaching!" I could hardly wait until service was over to read what he had written. What Sis. Paula had said to my daughter was, "He really knows how to take notes doesn't he!" Well I guess he does unbeknown to us for this is what he wrote:


In case you are having trouble making out his spelling, this is what he has written:

like or don't like
one or the other
good or bad
care or not care
saved or not saved

The amazing thing is, Caleb got it right. Pastor said something about Acts 38 and I guess Caleb thought he said Acts 30:8 LOL!!! Pastor preached out of Rev. 3:14-20

That's right right Caleb, we are either going to be saved or not saved. We either like Jesus or we don't. It's one or the other. We are either good or bad. We either care about Jesus or we don't care about Him.

These are the verses that Pastor was expounding on when Caleb began to take notes: verses 15-16

" I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."

Pastor was expounding on how God wants us to either be cold where He can gather us into His arms and warm us into loving Him again. He can revive, restore us when we are cold. When we are hot, we are on fire for Him. Yet, when we are lukewarm we have that I just don't care anymore attitude and when we get to that point, that is when God is unable to reach us. We don't respond to His touch anymore. We brush Him off when He reaches out to us. We just don't care if God even comes around. When He tries to embrace us with His Love, we reject Him and that is when He says I will spew you out of My mouth because thou art lukewarm.

It thrills my soul to know that even though Caleb is only 7, he does understand the Anointed Word of God that is coming across the pulpit. My prayer is that it will take root deep in his heart and grow strong. That he will become a mighty warrior for the cause of Christ.

Parents and grandparents, don't hesitate to take notes of what the preacher is preaching in church. This is another way to be an example to your children and grandchildren on how to listen to the preacher and to study the Word of God. This will also help them to hide God's Word in their heart that they might not sin against Him. When they run into a trial they can go back to their notes and say "What was it that Pastor or Bro. So and So said in their message about that?" And they can draw strength from their notes from those messages they have heard. They can go back to those scriptures they have written down and look them up again and re-read them and re-enforce the Word of God in their life.

Our children are watching every move we make. How are we teaching them to behave in the house of God? Are we teaching them to sit there with their arms folded and watch their watches and wish the pastor would hurry up so they can go home? Are we teaching them how to pass notes to one another, or write a list of things they need to do, or eat candy, or talk and carry on during the preaching? It is so important for us, as parents and grandparents to be the example we need to be to our children and young people not only in praise, worship, and prayer, but also on how to glean from the preached Word of God.

(Prov 22:6 KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Blessed Be Your Name

"We can let circumstances rule us, or we can
take charge and rule our lives from within."
— Earl Nightingale

The news my husband and I received this past Friday was not anything we wanted to hear. I tried to act as though it didn't bother me but it did a little bit. Did I say a little bit? No, it bothered me A LOT!!! As the day went on, my nerves became shot. No matter how much I tried to ignore the situation it was there. It plagued me, taunted me, burdened me. Next thing I knew I had a tremendous migraine. "NO STRESS WHATSOEVER" is what my neurologist keeps telling me. Stay away from stress at all cost or you are headed for a major stroke. Well how in the world do you do that in this life, stay away from stress? Well my goodness silly girl, TAKE IT TO JESUS IN PRAYER!!! Don't worry, be happy, He has everything under control. When will I ever learn that? I should have fallen on my knees IMMEDIATELY and given it ALL to Him.

On Saturday night I was suppose to go to the Jr. Conquerors' Rally with my daughter and grandson in Strathmore. Oh, I was so tired. I just wanted to stay home and nurse my migraine. I didn't want to be around anyone or any noise. Yet, I promised Caleb I would go with him, so go, I must.

I went and I had a wonderful time. My daughter sat in front of me with the children. I sat with two other parents and another grandparent. We were laughing and having just as much fun as the Jr. Conquerors were. Sis Marie, Sis Charlene, thank you for making me laugh so hard. I really needed the laughter. Sis. Mae Mae, Girlfriend YOU ARE A RIOT!!! and like SIS. WILSON, you pinned ALL the blame on me for causing disruption in service. How dare you! LOL! It is a good thing you sit on the other side of the Sanctuary at our home church. If you and Paula were to sit next to me, Sis. Wilson, and Brett during service I am afraid we all would be called up to the front row immediately and then to the Pastor's office after service. I am so thankful for the family of God and for the Spirit of the Lord. My burdens were lifted and I found peace in the midst of my storm. There is no place like the arms of God when you are troubled and heavy laden. My God is Soooooo GOOD! He knows just what we need and just when we need it. He is always right on time.

The theme was "Don't Be Clowning Around With Jesus". The games were fun, the young lady who led us in worship with songs did an outstanding job. The object lessons were great. I was so blessed just being there to support our children. They need to know that we are behind them all the way. That they are important to us. They are the future church of tomorrow. The choir from Delano, YOU ROCK!!! Blake, Tony, you guys did awesome on your solos.

Then there was the message by Bro. Josh Tredway. You've all heard the story of the "Three Little Pigs?" Well, He preached on "The Three Little Jr. Conquerors" and let me tell you, it was Outstanding! I enjoyed it as much as the young ones did and I'm 54. Go Figure! He had 3 Jr. Conquerors each playing a part and a house made of straw, sticks, and one of bricks. Then there was the big bad wolf. Everyone played their part as he preached.

The first two Jr. Conquerors got their house blown down by the wolf because they didn't get serious with serving God. They were busy clowning around. When they went to church they didn't pray and worship as they should. They didn't listen to the preaching like they should have. They were to busy writing notes or clowning around during that time. They didn't build their house on a firm foundation. So when the wolf (devil) came along he was able to huff and puff and blow their house down. They ran to the brick house and their they found safety. That Jr. Conqueror built his house on a firm foundation. He prayed and praised and worship God like he should. He listens when the preacher is preaching. So when the wolf (satan) tries to blow down his house it's not going to happen. No clowning around for this Jr. Conqueror. He knows where his safe harbor is. It is in the Lord.

I know now that through this situation the devil tried to knock me down. Oh he huffed and he puffed. He blew and he blew. He tried hard to take me out. He really did his best to keep me home from church Saturday night. Oh but my heart was fixed on Jesus and I had made a promise to my grandson and I can not lie to him. I couldn't let him down. So, try as hard as he did, the devil couldn't take down my house. It is built upon a firm foundation. It is the Word of God and this House is a House of safety and there I find refuge for my soul.

It's Sunday Morning and I am refreshed spiritually from Saturday night's service in Strathmore. Bro. Bryce is leading song service and he begins to sing "Blessed Be Your Name" I love this song and we sing it often but this morning it really touches me when we get to verse two.

Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name on the road's marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name

But because of the news my husband and I received on Friday, this is where the song really gets ahold of me...

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

"There can only be one solution to any problem:
a change in attitude and in consciousness."
— Gregg Braden

However God chooses to work out this situation, whether
He gives or takes away,
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name!

"Mirror Mirror On The Wall"

*******************************************************
Shrek, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were all having lunch together.

Shrek said, 'I have always thought that I'm the strongest man in the world, but how can I be sure?'

Angelina Jolie agreed. 'I'm told I'm the most gorgeous of them all, but sometimes I wonder.'

Brad Pitt said, 'I'm pretty sure I'm the sexiest man alive but I've never had it confirmed.'

They all decided that the best way to find out if their beliefs were true was to ask the famed talking 'mirror, mirror on the wall' to confirm for them whether Shrek was the strongest, Angelina Jolie was the most gorgeous and Brad Pitt was the sexiest.

They agreed to meet again the next day for lunch to discuss their findings.

The next day Shrek walked up with a smile. 'Well, it's true.
The mirror told me that I am the strongest man in the world.'

Brad Pitt perked up and said: 'And I know for sure that I'm the most sexist of them all.'

But Angelina Jolie lifted her sad, pretty face and said...









'Who in the world is Jolene Mendoza ?????"


I Know, I Know....
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2


NOW, on a more serious note*****

Proverbs 31:30...Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised. (Bible In Basic English)

Isaiah 61:3...He gives beauty for ashes...

Psalms 149:4...He will beautify the meek with salvation.

1 Peter 3:3-4...Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self (KJV, let it be the hidden man of the heart), the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Girlie Wisdom!

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... she has 14 kids but doesn't really care.

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9. I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my shorts.

10. Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!

11. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

12. The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

13. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

Is this the kind of tolerance we can expect if Prop 8 loses?

Below is an e-mail I received from American Family Association. Check it out! And the "NO VOTERS" say they are the voice of tolerance and moderation? No! They are trying to FORCE their way down our throats and into the minds of OUR CHILDREN and make it to where we have no say so in OUR CHILDREN'S upbringing whatsoever. We need to make sure we vote "YES ON PROPOSITION 8".



American Family Association
Donald E. Wildmon
Founder and
Chairman

Prop. 8 Supporter Violently Attacked for Distributing Lawn Signs

Last update: 6:42 p.m. EDT Oct. 13, 2008
MODESTO, Calif., Oct 13, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In a violent display of intolerance, an opponent of Proposition 8 attacked and seriously injured a man who was volunteering on Sunday for the initiative to define marriage as between and a man and a woman.

Prop. 8 supporter, Jose Nunez, 37, was brutally assaulted while waiting to distribute yard signs to other supporters of the initiative after church services at the St. Stanislaus Parish in Modesto.

The assailant grabbed about 75 signs and yelled at Nunez accusingly, "What do you have against gays!" Although Nunez replied that he had nothing against gays, he was attacked anyway. The assailant punched Nunez in the left eye and ran off with the signs.

Nunez, his eye dripping with blood, walked into a building on church grounds where a fellow parishioner called 911. Police and paramedics responded to the scene.

Nunez, who suffered a bloody eye, serious wounds to his face, and a scratch to his knee, was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital where he received 16 stitches under his eye.

According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the attack shows that their opponents are not as tolerant and open-minded as they would like voters to believe.

"It's outrageous that the No campaign calls themselves the voice of tolerance and moderation and wants people to feel bad for supporting Prop. 8. There was nothing tolerant or moderate about beating up Jose," said ProtectMarriage.com-Yes on 8 press secretary Chip White. "Clearly the man who attacked Jose is intolerant of those who support traditional marriage," White added.

Ironically, Nunez, a native of Mexico, became an American citizen two months ago and plans to vote for the first time in November. Nunez, who is recovering and in good spirits, said the attack only strengthens his resolve to help ensure that Prop. 8 passes.

"The other side wants to intimidate us, but we can't stop standing up for traditional marriage. I may be bloody and bruised, but I'm not giving up. Protecting traditional marriage is just too important for our kids," said Nunez, the father of three children, ages 9, 5, and 3. "I don't want my kids taught in public school that same sex-marriage is the same as traditional marriage," Nunez added.

Nunez has been forced to take time off work to recover. It was not immediately clear how much Nunez will suffer in medical expenses and lost wages.

Anyone who is interested in contributing funds toward Nunez's medical expenses or lost wages may contact the campaign at info@protectmarriage.com.

The campaign asks those who have been attacked, threatened, or had yard signs stolen to file a police report and to email the campaign.

SOURCE ProtectMarriage.com

Thank You from Jared Doran

Below is a Thank you e-mail I received from Jared to everyone who has prayed for him and the family during this time of loss in their lives. I am posting it so that those of you who have prayed for them can read his expression of appreciation. I too, want to say thank you for your prayers on their behalf. God Bless you each and everyone.


To everyone,

October 2nd I had a delivery just 15min away from Mena, AR. Well, what’s a guy in love supposed to do, the woman of his dreams was getting off work in just a little bit. I, of course, drove the fifteen minutes out of my way to surprise her as she was walking out of the bank. I was in my unmarked delivery van so she had no idea it was me. In fact, she told me she was thinking, who is this moron, don’t they know we are closed? When she saw me she got the biggest grin on her face and asked, “what are you doing here?” We got to spend a little over an hour together that day, which was the last time I would ever see her conscious.

God is so merciful. It feels weird to say that when I just lost the most precious and dearest person in my life. I feel lost, but at the same time, I feel like I am full of purpose.

On October 5th at 7:20am I was startled awake by the phone ringing. Kayla doesn’t usually call me quite that early and it scared me. I sat right up in bed and grabbed the phone. It was Krista, Kayla’s sister. She said that Kayla had woken up in pain and when she went to use the restroom she had collapsed and started having seizures. When they had called an ambulance Kayla stopped breathing. They ended up having to resuscitate her twice in Mena. I ran into my parent’s bedroom yelling that Kayla was in trouble and bad sick and we needed to go. It’s a 2-½ hour drive and I was impatient. Dad jumped on the computer and sent out some emails for prayer while mom was in the shower. We left and only got about 45 minutes down the road when Bob, Kayla’s dad, called and said her condition was bad enough that they were moving her to Little Rock. They where just waiting on the fog to clear up so they could fly. We got to the hospital around 10am and her helicopter got to the hospital around 1pm. I sat in the emergency room with her for an hour or so praying and they told us they were moving her up to ICU. They told us she had 2 huge blood clots in her lungs that had blocked both of her main arteries. She had, had 3 heart attacks and had to be resuscitated 3 times, that they were scared of brain damage. I sat with her for as many hours as family would let me. I held her hand in to the wee hours of the morning talking, singing, praying, and hoping that God would do the miraculous in the way I thought He should.

By Wednesday night I had only 3 or fours of sleep, and most of that was sitting by Kayla or in a recliner. I was exhausted to say the least. But I didn’t want to leave the hospital for more than just a few hours. She just wasn’t responding the way the doctors said that she should. Well, when the nurse that night was cleaning out her lungs Kayla made 4 attempts to cough, which she hadn’t done up to this time. This was a big deal that put lots of hope in my heart and gave me a kind of peace. Mom talked me into going home to get some sleep so I went home earlier than I had, and slept about 10 hours or so and got back to the hospital around noon. She hadn’t tried to cough again, and that scared me. When I went into her room at 12:30pm or so I put my hand on hers and it was cool, I felt her arm and it was also cool, as was her shoulders and forehead. Even her feet were cold. I felt her feet and they were cold so I put a blanket on her and sat down next to her knowing that this was probably the last day or two we would get to spend together.

I had shed a ‘boat load’ of tears up to this point and was sitting there in shock. I couldn’t believe that my life was lying there on that bed slipping out of my grasp. I had prayed so many prayers and hoped beyond hope that this would change. While I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God could raise her up and heal her, I really felt like he wasn’t going to. At the same time I was so scared to feel that way, I thought it lessened my faith. I just had to trust God that he was doing what was in our best interest.

The doctors had told Bob and Sharon they were going to have to make a decision in the next few days if they wanted her to be on life support or not and we were all in agreement that no one wanted to make that decision. We started to pray that God would make that decision for us. If He were going to give her back to us that He would raise her up, if He weren’t that He would take her. It was Thursday now and the doctors said they were running one more test. It would take about 2 hours to conduct and for us to get something to eat or just relax. We all went down to the Cafeteria and everyone was pretty solemn. We came back up and sat around a while when the nurse came out and said the doctor wanted to speak to the whole family and for us to gather in one room. He then told us that there was no increase in brain activity and what he feared was true. She had actually declined quite a bit in the last 48 hours and there was only a small part of her brain working. He told us that as of 4:40 on October the 9th 2008 the state of Arkansas was declaring her brain dead, which is the same as death. We were all so shocked, we felt as if some one had let the air out of the room. Most of us started crying and when I left the room it really started hitting me again. We walked in her room to say goodbye and I could hardly stand. I don’t know how to express the pain I felt. I’m not going to even try.

Bob and Sharon, Krista, Mom and Dad, Pastor and Sister White, and myself were in the room that afternoon weeping. We weren’t just crying we were weeping. All of us, no one was trying to be strong we just wept!!!

Her funeral was today, Monday, October 13th, and it was so beautiful. There was so much pink, Kayla’s favorite color. There were around 450 people there, and Pastor White and my dad did such an awesome job. They had a slide show that everyone cried and laughed through. It is amazingly hard to look, what you thought was your future, in the face and say “I’ll see you up there.”

Kayla was the most amazing woman I have ever met. She was very giving, loving, selfless, and just incredible.

When I was about 17 I started praying for my future wife. I prayed very specifically. I mean very specific. She literally filled every, and I mean every, area that I had prayed about. She was perfect for me!!! She kept me in line. Our love seemed unusually strong we felt like we could go through anything together. We had already come through some tough situations and felt like God had given us the victory over those; we had fought some spiritual battles that only our parents know about.

It’s hard to say goodbye, but then again, I didn’t, I never told her goodbye, and I won’t. I will do exactly what she wanted me to do. I’ll preach, and I will see people get the Holy Ghost under my ministry.

Kayla lived her life so she didn’t have to ‘get right with God’ before she died, she STAYED right with God. She lived her life as a testimony. She literally affected the city of Mena. The mayor and his wife were there. There were so many different kinds of people there at the funeral. Don’t wait getting yourself right with God. DO IT NOW!!! She didn’t have time to ‘pray through’.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and for Kayla and her family. You will never know this side of eternity what that has meant to us. Most of you have received thank you emails from my dad and sister but I wanted to thank you personally. There is no way I could respond, individually, to the MASSIVE amounts of support and prayers we have received. I had to take a week and a half off of work, so thank you for the offerings. I love you all, and please don’t stop praying now.


Jared C Doran

Update On Kayla

I received word that Kayla Pack has gone home to be with the Lord. Thank you to those who have sent up prayers on her behalf. Please continue to keep her fiancee and family in prayer at this difficult time of loss. Their hearts are broken, especially Jared's. He is really taking it hard. They will need the peace and comfort of the Lord at this time in their lives more than ever before.

Blessings to you all for your prayers,
Jolene

Prayer Request

Please pray for Kayla Pack who is only 21 years old. If you don't know her situation she is engaged to Jared Doran who is the son of Don and Melinda Doran of Arkansas. Kayla collapsed on Sunday morning and quit breathing. It was because of blood clots in her lungs. She stopped breathing three times and this caused a lack of oxygen to the brain which has caused brain damage. The doctors told the family that there is no upper brain activity. The lower brain is what makes us do things we don't have to think about, like the heart beat and breathing. The upper brain is what makes us who we are. The Doctor's told Kayla's parents they need to get ready to make a decision in the next few days. The doctors have declared Kayla brain dead. They are going to be removing her from the machine here in the next few hours. Please pray for God to intervene on behalf of Kayla Pack, her family and fiancee', Jared Doran. The Doctors aren't giving them a lot of hope for her recovery but we are all believing God for a miracle.

Our Parental Rights

Please check out the following link. We as parents and grandparents must make a stand in maintaining OUR PARENTAL RIGHTS. If we don't we will lose our children to whatever the world wishes to impose upon the minds and hearts of our children. Even more so, we MUST make a stand for what is right as a Christian based upon the Word of God and hold fast to our Godly values and not let anyone twist those values and try to impose their thoughts upon OUR children.

Mmmmmm, Carrot Cake

Now don't cheat. Go with the first dessert you choose. If all the eight desserts listed below were sitting in front of you, which would you choose (sorry, you can only pick one)? Pick your dessert and then look to see what psychiatrists think about you. They say it's pretty accurate!

Here are your choices:

1. Angel Food Cake

2. Brownies

3. Lemon Meringue Pie

4. Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Icing

5. Strawberry Short Cake

6. Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing

7. Ice Cream

8. Carrot Cake

No, you can't change your mind once you scroll down, so think carefully what your choice will be.

OK - Now that you've made your choice, this is what the researchers say about you... SCROLL DOWN. No Cheating.

1. ANGEL FOOD CAKE -- Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all warm and fuzzy items. A little nutty at times. Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day. Others perceive you as being childlike and immature at times.

2. BROWNIES -- You are adventurous, love new ideas, and are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up you whip out your saber. You are always the oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction. You tend to be very loyal.

3. LEMON MERINGUE -- Smooth, sexy, & articulate with your hands, you are an excellent caregiver and a good teacher. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, you set your own style because you do your own thing. You shine when it comes to helping others and have many friends.

4. VANILLA CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING -- Fun-loving, sassy, humorous, not very grounded in life; very indecisive and lacking motivation. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker. Others should be cautious in making you mad. However, you are a friend for life.

5. STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE -- Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people, can be counted on in a pinch and expect the same in return. Intuitively keen. You can be emotional at times but a true person in every way. You like to do things yourself: not asking for help. You help others learn about themselves.

6. CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING - Sweet; always ready to give and receive. Very creative, adventurous, ambitious, and passionate. You can appear to have a cold exterior but are warm on the inside. Not afraid to take chances. Will not settle for anything average in life. Love to laugh.

7. ICE CREAM -- You like sports, whether it be baseball, football, basketball, or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but you also enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control. You tend to be self-centered and high maintenance.

8. CARROT CAKE -- You are a very fun loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warm-hearted person and a little quirky at times. You have many loyal friends. You were meant to lead and teach others. A wonderful role model.

I guess you can tell I chose the carrot cake. It does pretty much describe me. I do like to laugh and I think I am fun to be with. I mean, at least people seam to enjoy hanging out with me, either that or they are Great Pretenders. LOL!

I know for sure that I am quirky. I looked that word up and it means idosyncratic, original, unusual, odd, strange, eccentric, distinctive and last but not least PECULIAR. Yep, that's me. I am a peculiar people. :D

I do have loyal friends and for that I am thankful. Now, about leading and teaching others, I can see that as long as it is leading them to and teaching them about Jesus Christ. I can only hope and pray that I am a wonderful role model. A role model for how a true Christian should live, that's my desire.

Tag You're It!

Tag! You're It!
Another blog game!Jana Allard tagged me, so here we go.

Here are six unspectacular things about me:
1. I would rather detail my bathroom than go grocery shopping!
2. I LOVE the smell of a freshly bathed baby.
3. I love to walk barefoot in the sand on the beach.
4. Nothing is more precious to me than those special moments with my grandson.
5. I can not tolerate anything cluttering up my dinning room table.
6. Spring and Fall are my most favorite Seasonal bulletin boards to create.

Meme terms & conditions
1. link the person who tagged you
2. mention the rules on your blog
3. list 6 unspectacular things about you
4. tag 6 other bloggers

I Tag: Yvonne, Alice, Catherine, Janet, Miss Noel, Loretta

Caleb's 1st Roller Coaster Ride

Last Saturday on September the 20th, my daughters, grandson and I went to the Kern County Fair for the entire day. We had a wonderful time. Caleb rode his very first Roller Coaster ride. It took his mother a little over 15 minutes to convince him to give it a try. He was so scared but once the ride started he was ecstatic. He was ready to go again when the ride was over.

As I have posted before, Caleb suffers from Sensory disorder and Dyspraxia disorder. He has an extreme fear of heights and water. A while back Sis. Karen Harding came to our church and she said if anyone needed prayer to come up front. My daughter took my grandson up front to be prayed for. Since then, God has worked many miracles in Caleb's life. Before Sis. Harding had prayed for Caleb, we could not get him to take a bath in a tub that had the plug in it and where the water came over the top of his feet because of his fear of water. He never played in a swimming pool due to his fear of water. Since she has prayed for him, Caleb now plays in the tub and plays in a swimming pool. Praise God! Now we see him on a roller coaster conquering his fear of heights as well. My God is a prayer answering God. He is doing wonderful things in Caleb's life and for that I am forever thankful.

God Keeps His Promises!

The above plaque is a gift that I received from a dear friend, Carla Giovannetti, in Eureka, CA. She gave this to me about 12 years ago. It now hangs on my wall in my computer room. It's a sweet reminder that God keeps His promises.

Twenty-nine years ago when I came to the Lord, I went through a very trying time in my life. My marriage was destroyed, I had 3 small children and an enemy that was out to destroy me at all cost. The situation was so bad that I did not know which way to turn. I remember Pastor and Sis. David Downing telling me that the best thing to do was take it to the Lord in prayer and fast. They told me that when I saw this individual the best thing to do was SMILE. Was that ever a hard pill to swallow. However, Proverbs 15:1 does read "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." So I guess a gentle smile is just as good as a soft answer. So that is just what I did. Every day I smiled at her and every day she literally flew into a rage because of it and continued to say more evil things against me.

About two months later she approached me and said "We need to talk." I was shocked and said "OK". She then began to ask me to forgive her of all that she had said and done against me. She then told everyone that she had lied against me and that the stories she had told were all untrue. This lady said that every time I smiled at her it convicted her and she could not sleep at night. She wanted to know how I could even consider smiling at someone who would do such evil things to me. I told her that it wasn't really her doing these things but it was the enemy of my soul that was using her against me to try and trip me up so that I would fall and I could not be a testimony to those around me about how good my God is and the change He has made in my life.

Oh it wasn't easy to keep smiling day after day. I cried many tears and prayed many prayers but through it all God made Himself very real to me. I began to REALLY KNOW HIM. His Word came alive and He gave me a chapter, Isaiah 54:4-17. You have to really know the situation and what went on in my life at that time to know why this particular chapter means so much to me. But I won't go into that. This is MY Chapter. It holds a special place in my heart. I return to it often. This chapter got me through my first battle. I treasure it dearly. It holds my hand. It is my safe haven. When I feel that I am getting weak and weary I return here and say, He did it before, He can do it again. This chapter has walked with me for 29 years now and will continue to walk with me.

I recently shared the story of how this chapter came to me with my girls. I told my daughters that they need to get a chapter that will sustain them in the Lord. A chapter that will be their shelter in the time of storm, a rock to stand on. A passage that they will forever cling to through out their walk with Him. A chapter that will only come from God during a time of trial and tribulation. This chapter will let you know that everything will be alright, for you are a child of the KING! It will bring you peace in the midst of your storm.

Two weeks ago at prayer meeting I was praying for my son who is gone astray from the Lord. At one point all 3 of my children were gone astray. You know, Proverbs 22:6 reads "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." There is no guarantee that our children will not backslide. We must train them in the way they should go. If, for some reason they do choose to be a prodigal child, there is the hope that they will come to themselves and return to their Father's house. For the verse says "when they are old, he will not depart from it." This lets me know that the prodigal child will return. Five years ago my youngest daughter prayed through. Recently my oldest daughter prayed through. Now I am believing God for my son as well. While in prayer the Lord led me back to MY CHAPTER, Isaiah 54. But this time I went straight to verse 13 "And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." This is a promise the Lord gave me 29 years ago. The only way my children can have this great peace is if they are serving Him. Therefore, this tells me one thing, my son too, shall return to the House of the Lord! My son will also pray through just like my daughters have. My son WILL once again live for the Lord. Then the last part of verse 13 will be fulfilled "...great shall be the peace of thy children."

Oh Yes, GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!

Happy 7th Birthday Caleb!

"The Importance Of Rest"

My doctor has been stressing the point to me about how important it is for me to get the proper rest I need at night. So important in fact that he wants me to take a small dose of sleeping pills to help me rest at night (which I refuse to do). Dr. L says that while we are sleeping that is when the body sends out signals and the repair agents go in search of areas in the body that needs repairs. Then it begins the process of repairing any damage it finds.

I thought about what my doctor said so I looked up some info online and found the following:

Sleep is essential to the immune system. Without adequate sleep, the immune system becomes weak, and the body becomes more vulnerable to infection and disease. Sleep is also a time of rest and repair to neurons. Neurons are the freeways of the nervous system that carry out both voluntary commands, like moving your arm, and involuntary commands, like breathing and digestive processes. Sleep repairs cellular damage caused by our busy metabolism, and even grows new nerve cells in the brain. Many hormones, substances produced to trigger or regulate particular body functions, are timed to release during sleep or right before sleep. Growth hormones, for example, are released during sleep, vital to growing children but also for restorative processes like muscle repair.

Sleep helps to organize memories, solidify learning, and improve concentration. Proper sleep, especially sleep where you are actively dreaming (REM sleep), regulates mood as well. Lack of sleep can make you irritable and cranky, affecting your emotions, social interaction, and decision making. Sleep deprivation also affects motor skills, enough to be similar to driving while drunk if seriously sleep deprived. Driver fatigue, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, causes over 100,000 accidents and 1500 deaths each year.

After reading this I woke up the next morning and this was on my mind again. Instantly I thought to myself this is so much like the importance of the "REST IN THE LORD". If we do not refill our souls on a daily basis and attend church regularly then we are depriving our spirits of the much needed rest that it needs to survive. Isaiah 28:12 reads; "...This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing." When we enter into the house of the Lord or when we are at home, and our spirit is low and our hearts are heavy all we have to do is enter in to His presence and drink from the fountain of Living Waters, refresh our souls and get that rest that we need to heal our weary land.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28; "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". This is how we survive. This is how we repair our spirits when things from the world attach themselves to us and try to drag us down and pull us under. We go to Him and He will heal us by giving us the rest that we need for our soul. He will go in and make the necessary repairs to our spirits that we need in order to survive.

There are signs that one may be suffering from sleep deprivation. Some of these signs could also be used as signs of not enough spiritual rest as well. For instance:

a) increased clumsiness

Now is not the time to become clumsy in serving God. Hebrews 10:25 says; "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." We need to attend the house of God.

b) difficulty making the right decisions

We need to hear the Word of God to help us make the right decisions, Romans 10: 17; "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

c) feeling especially moody or irritated

The Word of God will also help us have the right spirit and attitude and we won't be so moody and irritated. Let's portray The Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12

D) Sleep deprivation can be dangerous not only to you but others around you

Let's not be sleep deprived spiritually. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

Scientific American provides a detailed description of brain activity during the stages of sleep and wakefulness. The sleep stages and brain activity are:

Stage 1 (Drowsiness) - It last about five or ten minutes. Eyes move slowly under the eyelids, muscle activity slows down, and you are easily awakened.

Stage 2 (Light Sleep) - Eye movements stop, heart rate slows, and body temperature decreases.

Stages 3 & 4 (Deep Sleep) - You’re difficult to awaken, and if you are awakened, you do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes. Deep sleep allows the brain to go on a little vacation needed to restore the energy we expend during our waking hours. Blood flow decreases to the brain in this stage, and redirects itself towards the muscles, restoring physical energy. Research also shows that immune functions increase during deep sleep.

REM sleep (Dream Sleep) – At about 70 to 90 minutes into your sleep cycle, you enter REM sleep. You usually have three to five REM episodes per night. This stage is associated with processing emotions, retaining memories and relieving stress. Breathing is rapid, irregular and shallow, the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises.

There are stages of rest in the spirit as well.

Stage 1) You come into His presence and you just sit there. You don't praise or worship. You just soak up the splash over of the blessings of what others receive from their praises and worship.

Stage 2) You praise Him a little, sing, but you don't put your whole heart into it, just enough to feel Him but don't over indulge.

Stage 3 & 4) You come into His presence with praise and Thanksgiving. You start out with praise. You give it your all. You sing, shout, dance, or cry tears of joy before the Lord. But before long you are WORSHIPING Him with everything you've got. You are in DEEP. Then before you know it, in comes the refreshing and the REST that you need.

Let's enter into his courts with praise and into his gates with thanksgiving. Let us get that refreshing that we need to go on. It's time to enter into His presence and bask in the beauty of the Rest that only He can give. When your spirit is refreshed in the Lord then you will find that your mind will also be at peace, your body will find rest, and your soul will find joy.

Happy Birthday Kellie!

Help! I'm Turning Into My Mother!

My niece sent me the following article via e-mail and I was quite intrigued by it.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/27/lw.help.im.turning.into.my.mom/index.html

http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=66453 (scroll down on this page and read what others have to say about resembling their mothers)

After reading these articles and more, I began to ponder on what these women were saying. I thought to myself, Lord, do my girls fear being like me? Are there things about my life that make them cringe to think, "OH NO! I"M TURNING OUT TO BE JUST LIKE MY MOM!" Do they harbor secret agitations about things that they find they have in common with me? Do they look in the mirror and ask "How did this happen?" or are they happy to say they are like me?

Oh I am sure there are some annoying little habits that they have picked up along the way that they wish they could have let slip by. However, I do hope and pray that I have lived a Holy and Godly life before them that they want to emulate more than anything else. I have tried to teach them that no matter what comes their way, and that no matter how hard the trial, how high the mountain, how wide the river, how deep the valley, or how dry the desert, God will see them through. I know I have not been perfect but I have told them that if and when they should fall don't stay down. Get up! By all means GET UP! Brush yourself off and go on. God is still on your side and He will see you through and sometimes even carry you through whatever battle you are facing.

I pray that my life has been what it should have been before the Lord. That whatever battles I have gone through, I was the kind of example I was suppose to be to my children, to show them that they too can make it. I want my children to be able to do as Proverbs 31:28 says; "Her children arise and call her blessed."

If my children must say "I'm Just Like My Mom" I want them to be proud of it in the Lord. I have been walking with the Lord for 29 years and 8 days now and I want my children to know that God has NEVER failed me yet. Though I have failed and made mistakes, He has never failed me. He is a faithful, just, and forgiving God. He is my FRIEND and He will be and do the same for you.

Kerrie, Kellie, and Mark, Proverbs 14:12 reads; "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." That is why David said in Psalm 119:11; "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Do as it says in 2 Timothy 2:15 and "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

My precious children, hear me when I say obey Proverbs 23:23 which reads; "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." For John 8:32 says: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

I love you, Mom

SPAM!

And I'm not talking about the kind you eat...YUK!!!

If anyone has sent me a comment concerning any of my posts of late and they have not been posted to my comment section, I am sorry. They must have been sent straight to my spam folder and I did not see them before they were deleted. Yesterday I pulled a comment from Carol Connell from my spam folder. Last week I pulled two comments from there. One was from Karen and one from Catherine. Why the comments are going to spam is beyond me. I promise to check my spam folder closely on a daily basis. Hopefully I won't miss any one's comments again.

If you have made a comment and it was not posted and would like to try again please feel free to do so. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Have a great day!!!

Prayer Request

I received a request from Sis Noel asking prayer for little Luke Fernando who is only 6 months old and he is suffering from liver cancer. I too, would like to ask you to put him and his family on your prayer list if you have not already done so. He is such a beautiful child and needs the hand of God to come down in a mighty way and do a miracle in his precious little life. Together as the family of God we can bind together and build our faith and believe God for a miracle on behalf of little Luke.

You can visit his mother's blog and leave her an encouraging word here: http://jenfernando.blogspot.com/

God Bless

Save Our Children Awards

Just before service was to start, a table was set up on the platform and medals were laid out on the tables then trophies were set out. Immediately Caleb turns to me and says; "Trophies! Oh, grandma, I hope one of those are mine. I ain't never had a trophy before." From that moment on he sat staring at the trophies in great anticipation until it was time to announce the winners of the fund raisers for the "Save Our Children". He did ask his mom if she would go up with him to receive his trophy if he was a winner. Caleb does not like to stand in front of a crowd. When he graduated from kindergarten, he did so with his eyes closed through the entire ceremony. His teacher had to lead him on and off stage. This is due to his dyspraxia which causes him not to deal with being in large crowds to well.

Caleb really wanted a trophy but he didn't want to go up alone to receive one. So he had asked his mother to go up with him if he won a trophy. I began to talk to him and explain to him that he needed to go up alone and receive the trophy if he was a winner. Wrong move!!! He immediately began to freak out and said, they can keep that trophy because he was not going up there by himself but he sure did keep his eyes upon the trophies until it was time to announce the winners.

The girls went first. I'm sorry but I don't remember exactly the order of the winners for the girls. So I will leave that for Sis. Allard to post when she gets home from Sr. Camp and finds the time to post all the winners and the correct order they are in.

When the girls were finished there were only 2 medals and 3 trophies left. As each trophy was passed out Caleb's eyes would get bigger and bigger. I had told him that if he did not win a trophy and if he received a medal that he needed to receive it with a smile and say thank you. He said OK but I hope I get a trophy. So as they started passing out the medals he really started fidgeting. Then when they started passing out the trophies there were only 3 left on the table. By this time Caleb was really antsy. He would look from me to the trophies then to his mother and to the trophies and that is how it went on and on. The first trophy was given to Johnathon. Caleb almost lost his breath. He didn't really know what to think. He didn't understand that Johnathon just received 3rd place. Then Sis. Allard says; "When I call the next name then you will know who the winner is. Second place is Blake Allard." Well, that leaves one trophy and one child. Caleb turns to his mom and says in a panicky voice; "Am I the winner Mom, am I?" She no more than got, "Yes Caleb, you're the winner" out of her mouth and he had jump over her lap and into the isle. Kerrie had to grab him to keep him from running up to the platform to get that last trophy before his name was even called. Forget taking mom with him. He was so excited and wanted that trophy so bad that when they called his name and Kerrie let loose of him, off he went to receive his prize. He was so excited that he was shaking.

Caleb raised $600.00 in getting sponsors for the Jump-A-Thon. Then he raised $205.00 selling fresh baked cookies and rice crispy treats. Then he received a $60.00 donation. That gave him a total of $865.00 grand total for his fund raising for Save Our Children making him the grand prize winner.

This was Caleb's first year being involved in the Save Our Children Fund Raiser and I am so proud of him. He is the one who asked his sponsors for pledges. I took him and encouraged him to do the talking and he did it. I took him to places like the Police department and he came away with a hunk of money there and even got to go on a tour of the department and received a bag of goodies. The same with the fire department. This was a good experience for him. I believe it also helped him overcome some areas of his disabilities as well. It taught him to communicate with others. GOD IS GOOD!

When he was presented his trophy Sis Allard had all the children sitting on the platform and Caleb was caressing his trophy from top to bottom. He must have touched every inch of that thing. He was a sight to watch that's for sure. I thought to myself, that's how excited we will be to receive our "Crown of Life". Such enthusiasm!

When church was over and we were on our way home, Caleb informed me that his mom was going to have to get a new home because they needed a special place for his "trophies". I asked what do you mean "trophies" You only have one? His reply was, "Oh grandma this is only my first one. I'll be getting more of these. Just you wait and see. I gotta help save our children again next year." Now I like that spirit. You go Caleb. You do me proud.