Update On JC's Daddy

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, we spent most of the time over at his parents house. His daddy is resting good and seems to be in very good spirits. He continues to get a little weaker each day, but he is sharp as a tack and is completely aware to what is going on. His comments are still just as funny as ever. And as he sat there this weekend, he still made me smile and laugh.
JC's sister and her family were up and it was nice to spend some time with them. I hate that it takes times like this for you to get to know someone, but it was nice for me to get to know them even more. We pray for a miracle but know that healing will be in heaven and not here. As we know when the time comes that the pain will be hard to bear, we know that he will be in Glory!

Prayer

I received an email from JC this morning and they are calling Alacare, which is Hospice, and they will be taking his daddy home today. Jesse has put up a big fight but it seems that there is nothing else that the doctors can do. They have tried for two days to straighten out his levels but have been unable to.
I am so thankful for the outpouring of love and support we have had so far in all of this from our friends and family. It is my prayer that Jesse will not suffer and that God will bring JC, his sister, his mom, and the extended family comfort and peace during this time. Jesse is a wonderful person who I am glad that I have had the pleasure of knowing the past few years since JC and I have been together. His comments on various things would crack me up all the time. This will be a difficult Thanksgiving for them as they makes him as comfortable as possible and deal with all that is going on. May we take comfort knowing that when the time comes that Jesse is called home, that he will be made well again and that we will no longer suffer.

The right words at the right time

It just amazes me how God can send the right words at the right time. Yesterday morning, we had to take JC's daddy to the emergency room. As we sat there waiting for a few minutes before they took him back, a sermon by Charles Stanley was on the tv. He was talking about a having a thankful heart. Here is the link to the sermon outline: http://www.intouch.org/site/c.dhKHIXPKIuE/b.3876111/.
The words that he was saying were so fitting for the situation that we were in. Here we were, just a few days before Thanksgiving, sitting in the emergency room with JC's dad knowing that the cancer was winning the battle here on earth. He spoke of the impact of a thankful heart:

1. Godliness, because we are aware of His presence
2. Motivation to look for His purpose in our circumstances
3. Submission to His will, even when we don’t understand
4. A reminder of our dependence on Him
5. A stronger witness
6. Attractiveness to others
7. Joy and contentment instead of fear and anxiety
8. Focus on God in difficult times
9. Transformation of our attitude toward others
10. Supernatural energy

Look at point #8 : "Focus on God in difficult times" - as we sat there, we all listened and I realized that God had a message for us. We are to look to him with thanksgiving this year - not only at what He had given us but thankful for who He is and that He will never leave us. We never want to go through what JC and the family are going through, but I can't imagine going through it without depending on God. For we only see right now, but He sees the entire picture - the entire plan.

Will & Cody's Game

Those of you who read my blog may not know but I have twin nephews that played basketball game tonight. It was only the second game of the year so far, the first one that I attended. Let me say that watching my nephews play was a lot different than just watching a simple ballgame. I was fine until they would come into the ballgame and then I would get nervous for them. They are 6'6" and 6'5" seniors who are playing basketball for the first year for the high school. They did pretty good - Cody got his first two points of the season. The whole family was out there and I got some pretty good shots which I will post on my Flickr account. It was the first of many games that we will be attending this year.

Kids will be kids

This afternoon at 3:30 I received a phone call from the school. Josh was still there and they were wondering if someone was suppose to come and pick him up. I said that he was supposed to go on to daycare. But Josh told them that his Poppy was coming to pick him up so he just didn't get on the daycare bus. She asked him if he had a note and he told her no but that his Poppy was coming to get him. So I had to quickly call my daddy to get him to go and get Josh. Thank goodness he was home so that he could get him. I guess next time I need to be sure to ask him where he is going after school and who is picking him up. Guess he was bound to go to his Poppy's and not go to daycare. He loves to go see his Poppy because it is do whatever you want and eat whatever you want.

Parenting

Sometimes I believe that the hardest job in the world is being a parent. It's not something that you can do for a while and then one day just decide that you don't want to do it anymore. There are times when the kids don't want to mind and have a smart mouth, that I just want to throw my hands up and throw in the towel. But I have to remember that being a parent is something that you have to remove diligent. There is too much riding on me getting this parenting thing. I just have to pray and ask God for wisdom in this area, which at times I feel like I am a complete failure in. But it is in times like this, that I grow closer to God by seeking Him daily and trusting Him to show me the way.

Bass Pro Shop

Sunday night we headed to Bass Pro Shop for family night since JC has a part time job there. He is working there mainly for the big discount which will help fund his fishing habit. The amount of people there was incredible - we had to make our own parking space. The kids immediately headed to Santa's Workshop which is the department that JC is working right now. JC is wearing an very interesting hat - an elf hat. It's the so lovely. He on the other hand could do without wearing it. I took some pictures which are posted on my facebook page, but I think that he would kill me if I posted them here too.
We stayed in the store for over 2 hours. We met some friends there and had a great time. This is the 3rd Bass Pro Shop that I have been in, but I was very impressed with the store. I loved the Nascar items around the store and of course all the outdoor stuff. But I believe that the most impressive thing was the grounds around the store. From what I could see in the dark, it looked cool. There is a small lake (pond if you ask me), stone bridges, walking trails, etc around the store. I can't wait to take the kids out there during the day to see everything. Josh just wants to go back to Santa's Wonderland and was rather upset when he found out that after Christmas, it would not be there anymore. They had two shooting stations set up and a place to play with a remote control truck. Let's just say that I found a chair in that department and had a seat while I wanted on the kids. Maggie and her friend Morgan played on the boats.
So the next time you are at Bass Pro Shop, stop by Santa's Wonderland and say hello to my elf.