The Journey Continues: Very quick update

Several people have been asking about Richard again.  He seems to be doing very well!!  A few weeks ago his white counts were down and he had to do blood work twice a week again.  The nurse called last Friday and said that his counts were all really good and that he can do blood work once a week and that depending on his counts this week he may be able to go off of two more medicines.  He is walking with Sarah most evenings and  still seems to have energy.

Thanks to everybody praying for Richard!!!

Psalm 54:2

New International Version (NIV)

² Hear my prayer, O God;
   listen to the words of my mouth.

Fund Raiser and Update on Brantley Jacobs

Brantley Jacobs is the baby that was born eight weeks early in December and he was diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay and Cloves Syndrome.  He was in OU Childrens and then Arkansas Childrens before he was able to go home in March.  Since then Brantley and his parents have been to Boston to confer with Doctors there.  They were told that Brantley would have to have his leg amputated but the doctors would like to wait until he is a year old.  Brantley will still have many doctors appointments.  He still will have to endure pain, infections and bleeding.  This family has many expenses and I am doing a fund raiser for Brantley's medical fund, travel and time off from work expenses.

I have two books published and I am taking orders for them.  Three dollars from each book sold will go to Brantley's fund.  I am collecting the money first and then will order the books and will send signed books to those that participate.  For those that live close to Enid I will deliver. Shipping may be added to those that are mailed.  Both books do come with a free audio download.

The books are Jungle Friends, Leo the Lion and the Big Bug Dilemma and Jungle Friends, Mack the Missing Monkey.   Leo is $8.00 and Mack is $9.00 but if you purchase both the price will be $16.00.  You can email me at brendasalladay@sbcglobal.net and I can tell you what your total is and if I have to charge for shipping.  You can pay by for the books by paypal using the mentioned email. You can also pay by checks, cash or money order but I would not recommend sending cash in the mail. 

 This link will take you to my author website if you would like to look at it http://leothelionandthebigbugdilemma.webs.com/mackthemissingmack.htm. 

If you would like to read more about Brantley you can read my blog post the Journey of Brantley Jacobs and A story of Birds and thinking about Brantley Jacobs.  You can also google his name and there should be several stories show up.  He has been written about by CNN, the Oklahoman and Channel 4 and 5 from Oklahoma City has reported his story.

Whether you can participate in the fund raiser or not please keep Brantley and his family in your prayers.  Pray that God will keep His hand on them as they travel this journey.

Ephesians 6:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

                  

Have you ever bombed?

My daughter had her third Seiling Music contest on Friday and she called me after her solo and told me that she had bombed!!  She plays the flute and in the past years had always made a 1 or superior.  I really doubted her words of bombing but she said she stopped in the middle because she forgot where she was, that
she breathed in the wrong spot and just played bad.  She even said the band director said she played terrible.

             



Saturday she told me of her nerves, getting sick to her stomach and of trembling hands when facing the judge.  She talked again of the band directors remarks.  I tried to soothe her and told her that the more she faced these situations the easier it should be.  I told her to just play, to do her best, to remember what she knew.  She found out Monday that she made a 1-.  I believe that she will learn from this experience.  I wish I could bomb that bad! LOL

The talk of bombing made me think of how often I do bomb.  My life as a follower of Jesus Christ is full of bombs.  Sometimes I tremble, am scared and don't want to do what I should.  Sometimes I just know that my actions were bad.  Some may have even called me terrible!!

The difference is my Judge is my Lord and Savior.  He woos me and comforts me when I am wrong or things I have done bombed.  He has me covered! He is my strength and refuge! I hope I learn from my bombs!  Just as the band judges gave written comments that should help Sarah I have words to read that will help me.  The Bible!

Have you ever bombed?  Who is your Judge?

Revelation 1:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

² who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

The Journey Continues: Another quick update!

Several people have been asking me about Richard so I thought I would post a quick update.

Richard seems to be doing well.  He has been able to quit taking his anti-rejection drug in the last week, though there are signs to watch for.  He has had to take a shot for low white blood counts and is back on magnesium.  He is now taking about five medicines, which is down from the twenty he was taking when he first came home from the hospital in June.  He was able to skip the IGG infusion the first of April.  He is gaining strength every day but does still come home from work tired most days.  He still takes some naps in the evening. The 17th of April will be his 11 month birthday for his new immune system.  His next Doctor's appointment is in May.

We still appreciate all the prayers!!  We do thank our God for you and your prayers and support!!

1 Corinthians 1:4

New International Version (NIV)

Thanksgiving

 ⁴ I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

The fall.

This last weekend I had the privilege to be part of the Women's Retreat at First Baptist Church. It was awesome and the main speaker was fantastic!!  I stepped out of my comfort zone at this event and was one of the breakout leaders. Some friends from my hometown of Wellston came to the retreat and it was great to see them.

On Saturday morning I was walking down the steps that led into the area where the kitchen and the fellowship hall is and I twisted or turned my ankle.  I felt pain shoot through the ankle as I realized that I was going down.  In what seemed  like slow motion I fell down the last two steps and landed with a thud.  The good news is that no one saw me or if they did they acted like they didn't.  I was thankful for that!  My hand was scrapped and bleeding and my ankle was sore but other than that I was fine. I still had a great day! I did feel bruised and sore over my entire body by the end of the day and took Tylenol.

I was thinking last night about my fall.  It just happened. It wasn't part of my plan for the weekend.   It happened because somehow I twisted my ankle.  I did probably complain a little bit over the weekend about the soreness to my husband but it is getting better and the Tylenol does help.

What I was thinking about last night though was just how small my pain was compared to what Jesus went through.  He took the fall for us!!  He was beat,spit on and mocked on the way to be nailed to the cross.  He went through this for us and it was planned!  He didn't complain and He didn't take medicine for pain.  He did this for me and He did this for you!  Do you know Him?

1 Peter 2:24

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Ticks, Ticks and More Ticks

Last week I had a great week.  I went to Blackwell Head Start, Drummond Elementary School and then to Woodward Flea Market.  I had a good time reading to the children and talking with the adults.  I made some contacts and the possibility of going to other schools! I also sold some books!!!  I pulled into my drive feeling quite good about the week.

Then there were ticks, ticks and more ticks!!  I hate ticks!!! Our beagle escaped the confines of the fenced yard and into the wilds.  The wilds are outside our fence and has tall grass, overhanging leaves and is ripe with ticks.  She brought them into the house and my mood spiraled down.  There were over 30 ticks, four of which somehow landed on me and invoked the tick dance(kinda like the spider dance).  I was screaming, jumping up and down, tearing at my clothes and threatening to ban Hope from the house.   The fourth tick I didn't find until Monday and it was embedded in my head!!  I had to do a silent scream because I was at work.

Those ticks remind me of sin. Ticks have a creepy, crawly look and they like to suck blood. I think if all sin looked like ticks I would run as fast as I could away from it. Most sin doesn't look like ticks.  It can look and feel good.  It entices and lies and if I give in it will suck away my life.  When I think my life is going good the devil will send something to bring me down.  I need to do the devil dance and always look to Jesus!  When sin woos I need to remember that Jesus is my rock!

Psalm 40:2

New International Version (NIV)

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.

The Journey Continues: A few wins, a few losses for Richard

Yesterday Richard did really well during his IGG infusion. This was his seventh one.  He didn't really get queasy or nauseated though he did do some Lamaze breathing  a few times. When I ask him what he was doing he said that he had pain pulsating down his spine and the breathing helped.  A normal level for this IGG is 700 or above and his was at 246.  They expect he might have to do this for a while.  The 17th of March will be the 10 month birthday of his bone marrow transplant.

His appointment with the bone marrow transplant doctor went well.  Most of his counts were good.  Most of them were normal or almost there. His CMV counts have been negative the last two times that he had blood work and if it is negative from yesterday's blood work he will get to go off of the Valcyte.  That is the antibiotic that messes with his counts.  He did try to negotiate some things.  He won some, he lost some. LOL  He ask if he could garden, mow, lawn work and fish.  He can go fish but not swimming, or gardening, mowing, or lawn work this summer.  There is some fungus in the soil that could kill Richard if he came in contact with it.  The doctor told him that the mortality rate is almost 100% for those with a compromised immune system.  He did negotiate on some of the medicines also.  He is able to go off of three medicines and can stay off of those according to his counts. So his medicines right now are the least he has been on since he was released from the hospital in June.

He is feeling pretty good and seems to be gaining energy!  He actually drove to Oklahoma City and back.  It felt weird!! I have gotten used to driving everywhere!  

Thank-you guys again for the prayers.  WE APPRECIATE THEM SO MUCH!!!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

Praise to the God of All Comfort

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.