Hope you all had a Merry Christmas

We are back from our travels and settling back in. What is everyone doing for New Years Eve? We are going to watch the Twilight Zone marathon, like always. lol

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Update on my friend Dawn

Press Release from Burnaby RCMP

Elena Schlener is with the Lord

Hey guys - I spoke with Jess at 5:30 this morning(2:30 their time). Elena had just passed away. They are trying to finalize all the plans, but just please lift up Philip and especially the kids today as they absorb it. They were all around her singing praise/worship songs as they "handed her to Jesus" was how Jess described it. Thanks for continuing to lift them up!!!!!

Fetal echo tomorrow

I have a fetal echo tomorrow. Just pray the baby's heart is still functioning as it should.

Praise and Prayer

I was suffering with a massive toothache and finally was able to get it fixed yesterday. I cried in the dentist's chair because I was so happy I would sleep without pain that night.

However I'm dealing with another bought of sickness. Now I have body aches, and nausea/vomiting. Please pray it will pass swiftly and that i will wake up in the morning feeling better.

Some of you may have heard me talk about this

My friend Dawn and her 10 year old son Gabe lost EVERYTHING they own in a house fire last night (in Burnaby, BC).

The fire was caused by her landlady's cigarette. Luckily they were able to escape unharmed but at the moment all they have is their car and the clothes they were wearing when they escaped into the night (in Dawn's case that's just a bathrobe). Two weeks before Christmas they have lost everything and unfortunately didn't have tenant insurance.

Dawn is a single parent and was concerned about Christmas to begin with. Now she and Gabe have much bigger things to worry about.

Dawn passed on this information:

Gabe...
He is a size 7 or 8 in pants (adjustable waists required).
He wears a size 4 shoe. Shirts he can wear a 9 or 10.
He loves all things hockey, and airplanes. The loss of the xbox is going to kill him, but that can come another day. Lucky for him, his PS2 is at the neighbours, but all the games are gone.

Me...
A 10 or 12 in pants. I prefer large shirts. I wear a size 10 shoe.

For now she's staying with a friend. If you can help, let me know and I'll give you the address where Dawn and Gabe are staying, and/or her Paypal address.

Van Gogh goes all Jerry Mcguire on us

This is his version of the “You complete me” scene …

Perhaps it will seem to you that the sunshine is brighter and that everything has a new charm. At least, I believe this is always the result of a deep love, and it is a beautiful thing. And I believe people who think love prevents one from thinking clearly are wrong; for then one thinks very clearly and is more active than before. And love is something eternal--the aspect may change, but not the essence. There is the same difference in a person before and after he is in love as there is in an unlighted lamp and one that is burning. The lamp was there and it was a good lamp, but now it is shedding light too, and that is its real function. And love makes one calmer about many things, and in that way, one is more fit for one's work.

When I read this, I thought ... we'll to be honest, I first thought about how whacked in the head this cracker must have been to cut off his ear; then I thought about some of his painting I’ve seen at the national gallery downtown, dude could paint; then I thought about the fine line between genius and insanity; then I briefly thought of Neo in the Matrix (don’t ask why); then I began to considered the word love. God is love. Consider that and read it again.

Prayers for my little brother James

He isn't exactly little at 6'4" and 300 lbs, and when he had his blood pressure taken this week it was 180/110, which is scary high. I'm going to take it before I come tonight to see if was an anomaly. Please lift him up in prayer that he will get control of his weight and health issues.

NIC (nat'l interpreter certification)

In about 24 hours I will be taking the written NIC exam (fri 9:30a.m.). Pls pray i remember all that i've studied and fill in the right bubbles =)

Amen Amen to Leighann's prayer!

Prayer for your Thursday

Dear Holy God,
We praise you for who you are, for what you've done for us, and for your faithfulness. We thank you for this week's victories (yeah Maggie) and thank you that we can cast all our cares upon You (Jea, Ed and the kids, Barbara and Christine, Ken and Sarah). We thank you that with every temptation, you make a way of escape, whether it is from addiction, illusion, or idolatry. We ask your blessing on today. We ask you to protect our thoughts and our marriages. We ask you to bless our husbands as they go out and provide for our families; and for our wives who nurture those around them, both in various careers and in their homes. We ask you to shine your light through us today that we might cause others to seek your face. And we ask you for your grace as we stumble through this life; that we would seek to be more like your Son, our Savior. Great is your faithfulness, oh God. We don't deserve it and we thank you for it.
In the name of your Son's matchless name, Jesus.
Amen.

Christine

So they found out today that she does have breast cancer. She is pretty shaken up right now, especially after taking care of her mother from her masectomy two weeks ago. My dad and Christine are not believers, so I pray that this draws them close to the Lord.

Big Congrats and Praise for Maggie

Just a big praise and congrats to Maggie (& Kim) tonight.  Maggie finished her class tonight - WAY TO GO, Maggie!!!!!! 

Breakfast w/ 2 giants and a GSE ninja

Had a good time with Chad and Kevin at breakfast this morning. Mexican breakfast, yummy. Mexican coffee, terrible. Eating breakfast with a real life ninja and a fellow giant, priceless.

Chad: I owe you 10 bucks. I'll pay that back as soon as Fannie Mae's stock recovers.

Christine and Barbara

Hey, today, my dad's wife Christine finds out if her biopsy for the lump in her breast is cancerous. Her mother, Barbara starts Chemo this week for her breast cancer. So please pray that they learn to lean on the Lord for their hope and understanding and strength.

Let's remember to pray for Jea as her radiation starts today and that the kids have fun with their grandma and don't miss and worry about mom too much.

Jason, is that you?!

I see you've checked the blog through your Blackberry. I'm quite impressed!

what up

Katie is clueless

More on Jea

Jea's doctors are recommending radiation treatment for Jea. She is scheduled to have her radiation treatment next Tuesday. She will need to spend one night in the hospital and then need to stay away from our children for 5 days. She is planning to stay at her parents during this time. She was feeling pretty down yesterday but is in better spirits today. Please pray that Jea and I would continue to seek the Lord thoughout all of this. Pray for Jea since she won't be able to be around people for almost a week. Pray for our children since they won't be able to see their Mom, while knowing she is receiving medical treatment. Thanks, guys.

Prayer for Jea

Jea and I went to Washington Hospital Center today and she had her scan. The good news is that it doesn't look like the cancer spread anywhere. The bad news is that her doctors are still contemplating radiation treatment for Jea. We're waiting on some lab tests to come back before a decision is made. Unfortunately, she needs to stay on the low iodine diet for now. She's feeling pretty down today, so please pray that she would be able to keep the big picture and put her hope in God. Pray also that He would give her doctors wisdom as they decide what to recommend. Thanks.

Return to the land of the living

First - J - we are so excited about your vocal chords being responsive!!! Great!!!

Also, thanks for the "lifting up".  My fever finally broke this morning(after 48 hours of antibiotics for strep, sinus infection and ear infection). It was a doosy and I was miserable!!! Jason should be the one lifted up. A huge blessing that my mom was here as I was unable to stay out of bed for more that 10 minutes at a time until late last night. All is well now. Our house is officially fever free and no one is contagious with anything!!!! We're really looking forward to seeing you all on Friday

Update

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to update you guys on my week. I went to Washington Hospital Center for my injections and tests on Monday and Tuesday. I will get my radiation dose tomorrow and then my scan on Thursday. Please pray that the scan would be negative. I am so looking forward to eating regular food on Thursday!! ;)

Lifting up Bridgette

Bridgette is down and out today with fever and feeling bad. Thankfully her mom is there to take care of the munchkins. Being prego, mom of 5 and sick can't be a fun combo.

Happy Monday. I added the Calendar to this

I hope all is well. Any Thanksgiving day drama?

I would be interested in knowing how everyone perceives the blog approach in contrast to the spreadsheet. I hope you all have a good week. I have my last deployment here at work on Friday but I am hoping to join you.