Details

I have not blogged in a while. Our plates have been pretty full. Brandy's Mom is at home, doing as well as can be expected. Her last bout in the hospital revealed a hietal hernia and diabetic pareses (?sp). Brandy had the stomach bug last week.

Gordon has had a bout with strep throat and Gavin has gone to the dr. today to get his throat checked. Had fever of 104. Gordon has also been in excruciating pain from his back, in his hips and down his legs. MRI revealed he has a disk pinching a nerve. He has more surgery scheduled for Dec. 1. His neck seems to be better. Don't know if it really is or just seems better because of the pain in his back!

Gordon's mom went to the hospital yesterday. She has congestive heart failure and had one of her "episodes". Her doctor is going to keep her a couple of days and monitor her medications. Hopefully she'll come home Wed.

On a more positive note: Brant and Elesha are expecting their little one the end of Dec. She is getting along well for the most part. If she can just keep everyone well!!

I have received GREAT reports from the doctors. I saw my radiation doctor this month whom I have not see in 6 mos. He was elated that I have done so well. No sign of recurrence in the tumor. I have been reduced to 1X mo. visits to my chemo doctor. I will praise the Lord that he has given me such competent doctors, and the medicine is working so well. I have no preference in how He heals me, just that He does. And if not, I trust that He has a purpose in that too. Whatever happens I know that He is intimately concerned with the details of my life; the subject of a devotional in Max Lucado's Study Bible.

"What matters to you matters to God." (I know this, but I need to be reminded of it from time to time.)
"You probably think that's true when it comes to the big stuff (death, disease, sin. disaster)...But what about the smaller things?..Grouchy bosses, flat tires, broken dishes, late flights...Do these matter to God?

He's got a universe to run, planets to keep balanced, presidents (I sure hope so!) and kings to watch over. He's got wars to worry with and famines to fix.

Who am I to tell Him about my ingrown toenail? I'm glad you asked. Let me tell you who you are. You are: an heir of God, eternal, have a crown, a holy priest, were chosen before creation. But more that any of these--more significant than any title or position--is the simple fact that you are God's child. 'The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are His children' (1 Jn. 3:1). I love that phrase! 'We really are his children.' It's as if John knew some of us would shake our heads and say, 'Naw, not me. Mother Teresa, maybe. Billy Graham, all right. But not me.' If those are your feelings, John added that phrase for you. 'We really are his children.'

As a result, if something is important to you, it's important to God. So go ahead. Tell God what hurts. Talk to him. He won't turn you away. He won't think it's silly. 'For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When he lived on earth, he was tempted in every way that we are...(Heb. 4:15-16)'. Does God care about the little things in our lives? You better believe it. If it matters to you, it matters to him."

I am SO THANKFUL for a God who is Intimately concerned about my life. I cannot imagine facing the challenges of life without the promise of His care.