Even through all of this I am HELD

I go in for surgery tomorrow - please pray

I had to go see the doctor this morning and he went ahead and scheduled me for a D&C tomorrow since the medicine didn't work.  I had to go to the hospital and do all my pre-op stuff today and then I have to be there in the morning at 7:15.  It is day-surgery so I will be put under anesthesia but once I am awake and all that they will let me come home.  The doctor said it would be a total of about 4-5 hours.  I really have a lot of peace with this because I am ready for the physical part to be over with so that I can start healing emotionally. 

 

And I can't thank you all enough for all the thoughts and prayers you have sent my way.  I have received so many wonderful comments and messages, that it just makes my heart overflow.  I really do appreciate your thoughts and prayers and I thank you with all my heart.  I give all glory to God of course, because without Him nothing would be possible.  I know He will make a way...

 

.....and as the song says:

 

"IN SPITE OF THE STORM, I FEEL HIS HAND ON THE WHEEL,
SO I'LL KEEP THIS OLD BOAT AFLOAT, TIL HE WHISPERS BE STILL,
AND IF I HAVE TO HOLD ON TO RIDE OUT THESE WAVES,
THOUGH I'M BATTERED, AND WEATHERED AND WORN,
UNTIL I DROP ANCHOR IN PARADISE BAY,
I'M STILL SAILING IN SPITE OF THE STORM"

 

So please continue to remember me and my family in prayer until we completely weather this storm.  My husband is having just as hard a time as I am and even had a slight wreck in the car the other morning because his mind is so clouded with everything.  He wasn't hurt, but only because God had His hand on him.  So continue to pray for Bo too, because he is grieving as well.  God is in control and will take care of it all.  God bless you all and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for being such wonderful friends.  I love you all. 

The latest info.....

Thank you all for your prayers.  With God's help I will get through this.  The medicine didn't work so I have to go to the OB/GYN tomorrow morning at 9:15 for them to check me and decide what they are going to do next.  So please continue to remember me in prayer.  God bless you all.

 

Love,
Stephanie

Update on Stephanie - I still need your prayers

After going back to the doctor yesterday, they have determined that the baby is definitely no longer alive. I have to take some medicine later today that induces labor so that I can pass everything and empty my uterus. Of course the next 48 hours are going to be extremely difficult for me. So please continue to remember me and my family in your prayers. I don't know how long it will be before I am back online and checking messages, so if you send me an email or something and I don't get back to you over the next few days please try to understand that I am not ignoring you. I very much appreciate all the beautiful comments and messages that have been sent to me. And above all, I thank you for all your prayers. God is still good.....and He will bring me through this! I love you all. God bless.

Love,
Stephanie

P.S. - If you have a few moments and wouldn't mind, I would appreciate any prayer requests put out for me (via email or on internet boards, etc.) so that others can be praying for me as well. I need all the prayer I can get right now.

Thank you all! Please keep praying!!

I just want to thank you all for the beautiful comments and words of sympathy and encouragement. It really helps to know there are so many of you who care about me and are praying for me.

I am hanging in there. I am so heartbroken, but I know God is with me and He is comforting me. My husband and children have been wonderful as well, even though they are having a hard time dealing with everything themselves. And just so you guys know...I haven't given up! I am not CLAIMING anything! I am trying to be realistic and brace myself for the worst, but at the same time I know that GOD IS ABLE!!! I know that if it is His will then I could go tomorrow and be told that everything is fine. I STILL BELIEVE IN MIRACLES. No, I am not deluding myself, I know that (realistically) since they didn't find the heartbeat on the ultrasound then my baby is in Heaven. But don't count God out just yet! He raised Lazarus from the dead and I believe He can do it again. If not, then I am prepared to accept whatever God chooses for me. Just please continue to pray that God would give me and my family the strength and comfort that we need to get through this. And again, I thank you all so much for being there for me when I need it most. I love you all!

God Bless.

Love,
Stephanie

IMPORTANT ---- Please pray for me

As you all know I am almost 9 weeks pregnant.  Last night I started having some bleeding and went to the Emergency Room.  They did 3 ultrasounds and found that the baby's heart wasn't beating.  I have not actually miscarried yet, but the baby is no longer alive.  I have to go back to the dr in 2 days for them to decide how they are going to remove the baby.  I am asking all of you to please pray for me.  My heart is truly broken and I am having a real hard time with this.  Bo isn't taking it well either.  We haven't told Whitney and Dylan yet.  We are waiting until this afternoon when they get out of school.  So just please be much in prayer for us.  We really need it.  Obviously, I won't be online much over the next few days, so if you have to get in touch with me, just call me.  I love you all and I know God will bring me through this.  I just desperately need your prayers.  Thank you.

 

Love,

Stephanie

Please pray for my son Dylan

Dylan fell off the monkey bars at school yesterday afternoon and kept complaining with his right arm which was a little swollen, so we tried the ice and ibuprofen but as of this morning it still wasn't any better so I took him to the ER and they did X-rays and told us that his wrist is broken.  They put a splint on him and gave him a sling to use and he has to go to the orthopedic doctor next Wednesday to have his cast put on, which he will have to wear for 6-8 weeks.  So please remember Dylan in your prayers.  Thanks and God bless.  I love you all!

 

Much Love,
Stephanie

Urgent Info for those who have children - PLEASE READ!!

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, PLEASE EXPLAIN TO YOUR CHILDREN WHY THEY MUST NEVER TAKE CANDY FROM ANYONE!!!!  BECAUSE IT MAY BE A LOT MORE THAN JUST CANDY!

 

Check it out...it's TRUE! http://www.snopes.com/horrors/drugs/candymeth.asp



-
TO ALL IT MAY CONCERN,

There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that all need to be aware of.
There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop-rocks. It smells like strawberry also and it is being handed out to kids in school yards in AR.
I'm sure it will make its way around the country if it hasn't already. Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the E.R. In dire condition. Please instruct your children to not accept candy that looks like this even from a friend and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc. Please pass this around it could save some family a lot of heartache!

That is what they are calling strawberry meth or strawberry quick.

Thought you'd want to know.

Kathy Johnson, RN
School Nurse, McNeil Elementary
McKinney ISD

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/drugs/candymeth.asp

Continue to pray hard for my friend Brook!

A few days ago I sent out a bulletin asking for prayer for my dear friend Brook.  She has broken her back and really needs your prayers right now.  She goes to the doctor tomorrow and they are going to talk to her about what they are going to do to treat her, so please continue to remember Brook and her family in your prayers.  God can do all things if we will only ASK!!  I love you all - thank you in advance for your fervent prayers!!  I will keep you all updated!  God bless.

 

Much Love,
Stephanie

Urgent Prayers Needed!!!!!

A dear friend of mine that lives in Utah emailed me this evening and said that she desperately needs prayer.  She found out she has 2 fractured vertebrae and 3 crushed disks in her back.  They have put her on medical leave of absence, I guess until they figure out what they are going to do to treat her.  She is a single mother, so the thought of being out of work with no income is definitely weighing on her as well.  Her name is Brook and she greatly needs to be lifted up to God, so please call out a special prayer for her and her family.  I would greatly appreciate you passing this on so others can be praying also.  Thanks so much.  God bless.

 

Love,

Stephanie

Something new I'm trying...check it out!

Fw: Subject: GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU

GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU
Everything that is going wrong in your life today shall be well with you

this year. No matter how much your enemies try this year, " they will
not"
succeed . You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve

all your goals this year. For the remaining months of this year (2007),
all your agonies will be diverted and victory and prosperity will be
incoming in abundance. Today God has confirmed the end of your
sufferings
sorrows and pains because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you.

He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you

down..
I knocked at heaven's door this morning, God asked me... My child! What
can I do for you? And I said, "Father, please protect and bless the
person
reading this message".. God smiled and answered... Request granted ..
 
If you believe this message, send it to seven persons and the one who
sent
it to you.
By doing this you have succeeded in praying for eight people today .

 

 

---

---

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos.

Just an update....

As you all know I am so excited about the new baby, so I thought I would give all of you an update (especially since I don't see all of you in person that often).  I haven't been sick much, and I go back to the doctor on May 17 and they will measure the baby and all that good stuff.  So things are going very well!  Below are some pictures of what the baby looks like right now (at 6 weeks).  Yay!!  I love you all!  God bless!

Love,
Stephanie

Good News everyone!!

I just wanted to share with all of you the latest blessing that the Lord has sent to me!!  I am 4 weeks and 2 days pregnant!!  The baby is due December, 26, 2007.  So please keep me, Bo and the kids in your prayers (including the kid inside of me!!).  I love you all!

Love,
Stephanie

 

Prayer Request for Janice Oliver

I just realized that I sent this out on MySpace, but not to the people on my email list.  My friend Janice Oliver needs your prayers.  She was hospitalized last night for chest pains and her sugar level was over 600 (she is diabetic).  They are running more tests today so please keep Janice and her family in your prayers!  And as always, feel free to pass this along so that more people can be praying!

 

Thanks and God bless.

 

Much Love,
Stephanie

Silent Worship (please check this out!! I am so proud!!)

 

As most of you already know, my daughter Whitney is part of Silent Worship Mime Ministry along with Dustin Perry and Melinda Dickens.  They were invited to perform in Cape Charles, VA this past weekend at a Youth Explosion for Reachout Praise Ministries.  What a wonderful time we had!!  Click the link below to view a video clip from the Youth Explosion.  Silent Worship is the 2nd group shown on the video.  I am so proud of my daughter (and Dustin and Melinda) for doing something so powerful for the Lord.  Just remember that the video clip is nothing compared to the real thing!!  ENJOY!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhWPAjCWslQ&eurl=http%3A

Love,
Stephanie

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for Gina that sings with the Cooke Family.  She went in for surgery and acquired a staph infection and she is in very serious condition.  Doctors are saying it doesn't look good.  But God is still in control!  Please lift her up in prayer!!  And check out the church's prayer request page for other new prayer requests by going to http://lighthousechapel.iscool.net and click on the page that says "Prayer Requests".

 

Also, please remember Silent Worship Mime Ministry...we are leaving today to go to Virginia for a mime convention.  Please pray for a safe trip and a blessed time!  Thanks and God bless!

 

Much Love,

Stephanie

**P.S. - Feel free to pass this on.....the more people we can have praying, the better!  Thanks!

Bee Sting Cure

Maybe this will keep us out of the emergency room! Worth a try!

Bee/Hornet Cure

A couple of weeks ago I was unfortunate enough to get stung by both a
bee and hornet while working in the garden.

My arm swelled up, so off to the doctor I went. The clinic gave me
cream and an antihistamine. The next day the swelling was getting
progressively worse so off to my regular doctor I went.

Infected arm - needed an antibiotic. What was interesting is what the
Dr. told me. The next time you get stung put a penny on the bite for 15
minutes. I thought, wow next time (if there ever is one) I will try it.

Well that night my niece got stung by two bees. When she came
over to swim I looked at the bite and it had already started to swell. So
off I went to get my money. Taped a penny to her arm for 15 minutes. The
next morning, there was no sign of a bite. Wow were we surprised.
Well guess what happened again on Saturday night. I was helping
my sister deadhead her flowers and guess what? You are right I got stung
again
two times by a hornet on my left hand. Was I ticked. I thought, here I go
again having to go to the doctor for yet another antibiotic.

Well I promptly went into the house, again got my money out, and
taped two pennies to my bites and then sat and sulked for 15 minutes. The
penny
took the string out of the bite immediately. I still wasn't sure what was
going to happen. The next morning I could only see the spot where he had
stung me.
No redness, no swelling. Just wanted to share the marvelous information in
case any of you are
experiencing the same problem at home. We need to have a stock of
pennies on hand at school and at home.

The Dr. said somehow the copper in the penny counteracts the bite. I
would never had believed it. But it definitely does work.

So remember this little bit of wisdom and pass it on to your friends,
children, grandchildren-everyone.

The bathtub test (Thanks River)

> >The Bathtub Test...
> >
> >It doesn't hurt to take a hard look at yourself from time to time, and
this
> >should help get you started. During a visit to the mental asylum, a
visitor
> >asked the Director what the criteria was, which defined whether or not a
> >patient should be institutionalized.
> >
> >"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a
teaspoon,
> >a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the
> >bathtub."
> >
> >"Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the
bucket
> >because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
> > "No." said the Director. The teaspoon, teacup and bucket are indicators
> >which define the level of insanity. A normal person would pull the plug.
Do
> >you want a bed near the window?"

jokes that can be told in church

JOKES THAT CAN BE TOLD IN CHURCH

 

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her

mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?"

"Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day

of her life."

The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So why is the

groom wearing black?"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she

could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed,

"Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me

be late!"

 

While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell,

getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed

herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began

to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't

shove me either!"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The

first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he

calls it a poem, they give him $50."

The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on

piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."

The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words

on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to

collect all the money!"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no

male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial

service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I

don't want them to take me out when I'm dead."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you do if you

had to arrest your own mother?"

He answered "Call for backup."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Jose ph and Mary took Jesus

with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied: "They couldn't get a

baby-sitter."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her

five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy

father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches

us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"

Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything,

including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they

told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the

week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she

said, "Johnny, what is the matter?"

Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to

have a wife."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong

preaching on the devil. One said to the other, "What do you think about

all this Satan stuff?"

The other boy replied, "Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out.

It's probably just your Dad."

 

 

You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you

stop laughing!Take heed and pass these along to people who need a laugh.

 

 

Reach for the Stars...

for if you fall...

You'll Land on a Cloud.