Call to Prayer...

Hey Everyone!

I know I seem to start off every blog post with an apology... I don't want to disappoint, so... sorry for the lack of posts. We're sort of at a stand still. We've been working on a few projects around the house... but most of all we've been tackling the leaves. That's been a full time job! Leaves, leaves, and more leaves. I think we've spent at least 10 hours taking care of leaves in our yard. Last I checked, our yard was still covered. In fact, it didn't even look like we did any. Hehehe

Anyway, as the title suggests... I'd like to ask for prayer. There is a lot going on here and there. Great things, exciting things... but still it would be great to know that there are people out there praying for us.

Hopefully the next blog post will have more updates, and more excitement. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a snow globe and someone just keeps shaking the heck out of it. Hehe...

Thanks for praying everyone!

Where where you September 2, 2005??

The week of August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina Rocked our nation.

On September 1, 2005 my beloved "future" mother-in-law drove 9 hours one way to pick up Jeremy in Wisconsin, only to turn immediately around and drive 9 hours home... through the night, arriving in Cleveland about 5AM.

On September 2, 2005 at 8am Jeremy and I got our marriage license, got his tux, had a crash course "pre-marriage counseling," and promptly at 7:30 pm I walked down the isle to commit myself forever to my best friend. Since then... we haven't turned back!

We have had one heck of a roller coaster ride so far... but I wouldn't change it for the world! I can't wait to see what the next 5, 10, or 100 years bring. And, thank you to our family and friends for all your love and support over the years!

I love you, Jeremy!!

Surgery Update:

I would first like to thank everyone for praying for me. In just a second I will update you about how the surgery went and what's ahead of me. I also want to "publicly" let everyone know how appreciative I am to have such a wonderful husband to take care of me during the time of my recovery. Jeremy did a spectacular job. I was impressed! He still continues to take care of me reminding me to take my medicine, putting drops in my ear, or putting ointment on my incision still. I have been truly blessed by his compassion and willingness to care for me at this time.

Anyway...

On Thursday, August 12 I went into the Cleveland Clinic for an outpatient procedure. I knew I had a cholesteatoma that they needed to remove, but there wasn't much I knew about it other than that. We got there around 10:30. Checked in. They took me back around 11. They did the standard pre-op things (weight, blood pressure, IV etc..). The doctors were phenomenal by the way. I told them of my awful fear of anything needle-like or medical. So, they gave me some wonderful calming medicine. WoooooHOOOO!! That was great. I mellowed out pretty quickly.
Around 11:45 or so they I walked back to the OR.

I don't remember much back there except for answering a few questions and such. I don't remember counting, or being told to close my eyes... I just remember laying down, talking about missing my massage that I had scheduled... and then waking up in recovery.

The surgery that was supposed to take 1- 1 1/2 hours ended up taking between 2 1/2-3 hours. Apparently the "extensive cholesteatoma" was more extensive than they first thought. In fact, when I went to my post op appointment... the dr. said that it was the largest inner ear cholesteatoma he has ever removed in his 40 years of practice. It was almost 2 centimeters. Which is apparently very large for an inner ear.

Praise the Lord that I went in when I did. The cholesteatoma had all ready started to eat into my mastoid (bone in the inner ear). It did NOT cause permanent hearing loss, or damage to my ear.

So God has been good. I praise Him for taking me through this with minimal pain. The doctor believes it was a successful surgery. I have an appointment September 1 to follow up and to have a CT scan (or MRI, he wasn't sure which he would have ordered) to make sure that all of the cholesteatoma was removed (if not, it could act as a "seed" and grow right back.) I also have yearly visits to look forward to for the years to come. Soooo... I will keep you posted on the situation.

Thanks again for the prayers!

Going out with a.... bang??

Well everyone, this is definitely no the way I pictured my summer going. I've been working a ton, not working at my house enough... and finishing the whole thing with an ear surgery to boot!

I guess each summer is different. I am certainly not trying to come across as whining either. In fact, I am quite appreciative that the Lord has provided so well for us this summer. God has allowed me to have more work than I know what to do with this summer. I have worked almost non-stop at BV, and half way through the summer I was asked if I could fill in at QDC. It's been great. We are well on our way through the Dave Ramsey plan.

Unfortunately, my plans for getting my house completely finished...well hasn't quite gone on. It started out very well at the beginning of the summer, and then we lost traction. Oh well... I guess we have time, huh?

Finally, the ear surgery bit. When we got home from Disney in June, I woke up one morning with an odd sensation. It felt like my ear was asleep. A little numb.. and hearing out of it, was a little more difficult than normal. Needless to say, I didn't pay much attention to it. It only seemed to happen in the mornings if I slept on that side. So... I tried not to sleep on that side... and carried on with life. Then, we went on vacation with my family in July. (Glorious vacation, I must add.) I woke up one morning, feeling the odd sensation, but the hearing difficulty did not subside. In fact, it was worse! Of course, I did what I do best.... sobbed. (What can I say? I thought Jeremy was watching the tv muted, only to find out he had the sound on, and with the wrong ear up, I couldn't hear it. Who wouldn't sob.) When we got home I made an appointment with my longtime ear specialist. A week later (today) I went to his office, he looked me over, ordered a CT scan, then said that I have what is called a Cholesteatoma. (EWww... good explanation on Wikipedia, gross picture. I'd like to think that my condition doesn't look nearly as awful.) The only way to get rid of it, is surgery. So next Thursday, August 12, I will be undergoing a repeat operation of a surgery from 10 years ago.

Needless to say, I ask for and covet your prayers. I tend to be slightly freakish with surgeries. Jeremy will be with me, so that will help. But, really I do appreciate knowing my readership (though small) is praying for me.

Thanks! I will keep you posted.

K

Writer's Block

So, I've had an extreme case of writers block.

We haven't done much new to the house.... but... last weekend we did rip up the kitchen floor. I will post those pics this weekend (or at least close to this weekend). We're almost finished, so... some sort of update is soon to come.

K

Hannah's heart

As I wait on the Lord, I have relied more and more upon God and His word for encouragement.

Today, I thought I would share that with you. May you be encouraged. Say a prayer for me, my heart pleads...and yet time and again, I keep hearing wait....pray for His leading in my life... and for wisdom in each situation as it arises.

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be Your Name.

Hannah

The first Believer we are going to look at in I Samuel is Hannah. Hannah is married to Elkanah an Ephrathite. Elkanah had two wives Peninnah (her name means pearl) and Hannah (her name means grace). Peninnah was able to bear children and gloated in the fact to Hannah. She became an adversary to Hannah provoking her and making her fret (I Sam 1:6).

Remember that the men of Israel were instructed to come to the ark once a year to offer sacrifices and worship? It is still observed here by Elkanah and the ark is in Shiloh which is not too far away from the town on Mt. Ephraim where they live (north east of the Dead Sea about 20 miles (32 km), possibly a journey of a day or so. Hannah would go also. Elkanah loved her more than Peninnah and would give her a double portion to offer. At this time Peninnah would provoke her so much so that Hannah could no longer eat. Elkanah could understand her trouble; it is a BIG deal to be childless. He tried to make it up to her with his loving attention.

What we are going to see here is Hannah's heart toward God. Actions are one thing but what is in a person's heart is what really matters.

I Samuel 1
:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh,
and after they had drunk.
Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
:10 And she was in bitterness of soul,
and prayed unto the LORD,
and wept sore.
:11 And she vowed a vow, and said,
O LORD of hosts,
if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid,
and remember me,
and not forget thine handmaid,
but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child,
then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life,
and there shall no razor come upon his head. [like Samson; a Nazarite]

Hannah was willing to dedicate her child to God. That meant that she would bare him, raise him until he was 12 (estimated age) and then give him to the house of God for service. She would only see him after that once a year when they came to Shiloh for the offerings. Could you do that? I am a mother-that would be very hard emotionally.

Eli, the priest, sees Hannah praying and comes over to her supposing she is drunk when she is actually in extreme sorrow.

:12 And it came to pass,
as she continued praying before the LORD,
that Eli marked her mouth.
:13 Now Hannah,
she spake in her heart;
only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard:
therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
:14 And Eli said unto her,
How long wilt thou be drunken?
put away thy wine from thee.
:15 And Hannah answered and said,
No, my lord,
I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit:
I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink,
but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial:
for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief
have I spoken hitherto.
:17 Then Eli answered and said,
Go in peace:
and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
:18 And she said,
Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.
So the woman went her way,
and did eat,
and her countenance was no more sad.

God told Eli to let her know that she would have a child. With that knowledge her sorrow lifted-she believed in her heart that what Eli told her would come to pass. Therefore she was not sorrowful any longer.

:19 And they rose up in the morning early,
and worshipped before the LORD,
and returned,
and came to their house to Ramah:
and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife;
and the LORD remembered her.
:20 Wherefore it came to pass,
when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived,
that she bare a son,
and called his name Samuel, saying, [Samuel; asked of God]
Because I have asked him of the LORD.

God saw Hannah's heart and gave her her petition. She followed through on her promise also. Hannah did not go to Shiloh with Elkanah until Samuel was weaned, which is more than a physical weaning from milk. It entails learning and maturity. The year that Samuel was ready to begin his service Hannah returned with Elkanah to Shiloh and offered a bullock and brought the child to Eli. Bear in mind that this is several years after Eli told her she was going to have a child.

:26 And she said,
Oh my lord,
as thy soul liveth, my lord,
I am the woman that stood by thee here,
praying unto the LORD.
:27 For this child I prayed;
and the LORD hath given me my petition
which I asked of him:
:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; [lent: granted]
as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.
And he [Samuel] worshipped the LORD there.

Chapter 2 it a wonderful example of Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving to God.

I Samuel 2
:1 And Hannah prayed, and said,
My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,
mine horn is exalted in the LORD:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
:2 There is none holy as the LORD:
for there is none beside thee:
neither is there any rock like our God.
:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly;
let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken,
and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread;
and they that were hungry ceased:
so that the barren hath born seven;
and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
:6 The LORD killeth,
and maketh alive:
he bringeth down to the grave,
and bringeth up.
:7 The LORD maketh poor,
and maketh rich:
he bringeth low,
and lifteth up. [see The Idiom of Permission]
:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,
and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
to set them among princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of glory:
for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S,
and he hath set the world upon them.
:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, [guard your path]
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness;
for by strength shall no man prevail.
:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:
the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give strength unto his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed.

What a beautiful prayer; full of thanks giving and praise exalting God. God continues to bless Hannah for her great heart toward Him.

:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD,
being a child, girded with a linen ephod. [a simple priests robe]
:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat,
and brought it to him from year to year,
when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said,
The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD.
And they went unto their own home.
:21 And the LORD visited Hannah,
so that she conceived,
and bare three sons and two daughters.
And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

God is well deserving of our prayer and praise for all that he has done for us. For Hannah--God gave her a child and more. For us--we have Christ in us the hope of glory, righteousness, redemption, sanctification, justification and the ministry of reconciliation, the power of God and much more. Let us praise God with the same enthusiasm.

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WE'VE MOVED IN!!

It was pretty much the oddest thing. Jeremy and I went out for Friday Night Date night... we were talking, and low and behold, we just both came to the same conclusion... we should move out and move in to our house. So, last Friday night, we came home to my parents' house (where we had been for the past 22 days), and announced "We're moving out." We came through, like a whirl wind packed up all our things. Friday, January 22 was our first night sleeping at our house. While we're still working on getting the boxes all packed up and a bunch of little projects, all the major projects are done. I just need a little vision, and I a little bit more props in each room.