IT'S A >>>>>>>>>>

BOY! Cassie had a scan this morning and the Nurse Practitioner was able to tell them they are having a son! So bring on the blue yarn.. I have a lot of crocheting to do! Oh and he is being named after my Dad..David Ray. RW's parents used the initials D.R.R for all of their kids and the after many discussions Cassie said that she would go for that on the first born son only. RW said that worked for him thus..David Ray. Ray also happens to be RW's Dad's middle name.

Prayer Request

As some of you know my Mom has been having trouble since September with what started as surgery on her left shoulder then she called me one day and asked what is means when your turning yellow. Come to find out she had a gallstones backing up into her liver. This started a long line of problems. Her Liver Function Tests (LFT's) were elevated which caused her to become yellow (jaundice). Well, in October she had her gallbladder removed only to find when going in that there were stones that got into her bile duct. This is where we now have a mess! There have been three attempts to remove theses stones. They were able to get two out but there are three left that they cannot get to..they are too big and they can only do these procedures every four to six weeks. Mind you this whole time Mom has tubes coming out of her right side that are very uncomfortable and painful.

So the latest procedure was on Friday. And, once again they were unsuccessful at retrieving them. Now they are talking about DMSO (still trying to get the breakdown of this) which has not been used in twenty years and is very toxic to even those in the room. This also if it gets into Mom's blood stream will kill her.

There have been several things along this journey that my sister and I have not been happy with. But, Mom and Dad have been happy with the doctors to this point. Now we are all on the same page and have some research to do. My parents have a great Primary care Doctor (DR. Tak) and he has mentioned a physician in San Fransisco that we are hoping to talk with soon.

I am asking that you please be praying for us as we delve into this and that we find a physician who has treated this problem before. Pray for my Mom and Dad that they are given some peace as we plow ahead. My Dad has a colleague who lost his wife to the DMSO procedure twenty years ago which you can imagine is weighing heavy on him. My parents know the Lord and are resting in him.

New Life

Two of our friends have just delivered their precious bundles! Tina & Ben Walsh welcomed their first baby..Riley Ann 6 lbs 11 oz, and 19" long on 2/5/09 and Chris & Gabe' Sanders welcomed their second son..Gunnar Scott today he weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz and 19" long. We are so happy for you. God Bless you all!

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; Jeremiah 1:5


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Thankful Thursday

If you have not been reading about A Place Called Simplicity I encourage you to do so. This family is a great example of God's Grace. Linn posts on Thursday's as "Thankful Thursday" and at the end of today asked the question "What are you thankful for this Thankful Thursday"?? So on that note I thought I would blog about that today. I think this is a great habit to get into.

I am thankful....

For Grace and her big heart. Mind you she is nine and gets into her share of mischief. But, she desires a heart after the Lord. I love that she and Ashton have devotion time at school. Not all the time but that they even take the time during recess to spend time in the word is such a blessing. I am also thankful for Ashton these two will be able to hold one another accountable as they grow.

For Jeffrey and his sweetness. I love that he and Grace hug and kiss each other goodbye every morning and hello every afternoon. He is always armed with a hug and kiss for me. I love watching him and Dawson help one another be it Dawson helping him pull his jeans over his boots on Jeffrey's birthday or Jeffrey helping Dawson with his coat. We should all be like this helping one another.

For Cassie that she has continued to stay in church and be an active participant. That Cassie knows that the Lord has got to be the head of she and RW's marriage. For her ever growing belly..a new creation in Christ!

For my health, my family and friends both near and far. I am thankful for where I am today. I see now that the Lord was preparing me all these years to be widowed and lean on him for all things.

So..What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Due Date

The Dr. is going to stick with the due calculated by Cassie's LMP. So the due date will be 8/11/09 not that it matters much as they come when they want anyway. She had an appointment today and all is well and the baby has great heart tones!

Cassie is 23!

My baby girl turned 23 today. It may seem silly to write about this seeings she is 23 and married..and pregnant.. but, she will always be my baby. She was born at 11:30 PM on a Sunday, February 2nd 1986. My favorite memory is of Jeff holding her for the first time. He was crying and patting her buns telling me "look she likes her buns patted". Such a sweet memory. Now Cassie is expecting her first of I hope many. Here is the birthday girl and her baby belly that has really popped in the last week!

I just can't stop!

I don't know what has gotten into me but I can't seem to put down crocheting. It helps that there are so many babies coming that I need a gift for I suppose. Here is my latest..I just love the way it turned out.

Birthday Party

We had Jeffrey's birthday party last night and it was so much fun! Here are some pictures from the event.