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February 27, 2009

Please continue to pray for Sean

I apologize for my lack of true blogging lately...life has been a bit hectic around here, but I wanted to pass this on.

Here is the latest from his sister, Tara. Sean is in the hospital in Ft. Worth, about 60 miles from us and we have simply not found a way to get over there to see him.

Hey Friends - Just a quick update on Sean. He is still in the hospital but out of ICU - Thank you Lord!! If you were to go and see him your first thought would be he is all good but his mind is just not there. He is in need of therapy but w/out insurance the hospital is having difficulty finding a rehab that will accept him unless he is able to pay it up front. Please pray that something will work out soon as he is ready to get out of the hospital. He is struggling w/anger because he is not able to reason. We do know this is normal for brain injury - he needs therapy. For example my gum smacking was bothering him (nothing new), he didn't know how to ask me to stop but instead got angry about it. We are not at all getting upset w/him because we know that he does not know what he's saying. A couple prayer request - pray for healing in his brain - complete restoration. Of course we think we know what's best and exactly what he needs SO could you please pray that no matter what we keep our eyes on the Lord and know that His perfect plan is already in place. MOST IMPORTANTLY the Lord knows EXACTLY what Sean needs. I continue to be blown away at your text, e-mail, encouragement and most importantly prayer throughout this whole process - THANK YOU from all my family!!!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME especially in the things we just don't UNDERSTAND!!

Love - Tara



Please continue to lift up the whole family. Also, please pray that Jehovah Jireh steps in quickly in the case of rehab. Thank you so much.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.....

God's girl, Pamela

February 24, 2009

Fat Tuesday and Lent

HHMMM, interesting title! Are you observing Fat Tuesday or Lent? How do you celebrate the days?

As I'm sure most of you know by now, we absolutely love our new church and are so thankful for the places we have come to find rest there....including my girls in a youth home group. Well, one of the home group leaders has encouraged them to celebrate Lent this year....and one of my daughters will.

Now, in the past, I would have traveled a similar road so that we could do something 'spiritual' together. Not this year, though. I am choosing to not celebrate Lent by giving up anything!

Why?

So glad you asked (>;

There is really nothing God is impressing upon me to give up for 40 days. If I had to absolutely choose something to give up to spend more time with God, it would have to be my blogging (and those I read) or my Facebook. But, these are places where you can share concerns and I can pray for you and you can pray for me, these are the places where I keep an eye on my families electronic world.

So, are you celebrating Lent this year? If so, what are you doing? I will pray for your strength and that you will grow so much closer to our Lord during this time.

Oh, and my jealousy issue...I decided to be a grown-up and contact the lady via a private Facebook message myself. We have started a dialogue and I could actually see us becoming friends in the future. Hubs has still not accepted her 'friendship'...not sure if he will or not but I'm thinking of adding her to my list of Facebook friends! Maybe this Sunday, we will actually see each other at church!

For those of you that partnered with me in prayer, thank you so much. Asking what He would have me to do was the only way to have a fair response for all parties.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela

February 21, 2009

Is this jealousy???

I have shared with y'all before about my precious hubs being a bit unpopular through high school but there was one young girl that had a crush on him for years! She was three grades under him and her sister was in his class and something apparently caught her attention when she was about 7th grade. He did not reciprocate the feelings but she never stopped liking him, even after we had gotten engaged.

I just about watched her heart break 20 yrs ago when I showed off our wedding pics at church a couple of months after the wedding. I remember feeling so empowered that I had proof that he was fully mine!!! It was horrible looking back on it but as a 20 yr old bride, I wanted her to KNOW he was taken and totally off the market!

So, why am I telling you this 20 yrs after the fact, when I have shared how much our marriage has survived and thrived in spite of??? Because this young lady has found his Facebook profile and not only invited him as a friend but left him a private message as well. And since I am such a trusting wife (hahahahahaha! still working on that one!!!), I read the private message since he was still logged in on Facebook on his desktop computer.

It seems that she attends the church that we have recently moved to...do I hear "It's a Small World" being hummed in the background??? Even as big as our little city has grown over the years, we still end up in the same church???

So, I'm not sure exactly what I'm feeling but I really want to let her know that he is still mine and he is not going anywhere! I want her to know that I have stood by him through some really dark parts of life. I want her to know that we have two teenage daughters that we love very much. I want her to know that it is my privilege to be his wife, to walk beside him no matter how rough the path...or smooth for that matter.

Am I the only one that has ever had these feelings??? Please tell me I'm not alone! I don't think I feel jealous, there is nothing to be jealous of....he has not responded to either the friend invite or the pm....but there is something here causing my heart to race a bit and my blood pressure to rise. I have an increased desire to prove to him and those around us that I still love him tremendously and I'm not going anywhere!!!

Oh, my, is this immature or what??? There have been times during our marriage that he has caught the eye of other ladies but my reaction has never been this strong. Perhaps the fact of knowing this young lady has had feelings for him that pre-date mine. Maybe, I'm still jealous of the fact that she was willing to like him in spite of how others felt in school and it took a bit for me to see the real him and like him. I really do not know.

Does anyone have anything to share on this subject? I would really like to hear how others feel about this quandry I'm in. I think I may look her up in church tomorrow...in case you are wondering, her last name has changed but her relationship status is listed as single. And to think that I pressured dear hubs into signing up on Facebook and he finally did it within the last couple of months!

Okay, I am going to close now because I think I could just ramble on quite a while...and I don't want to do that to anyone! Sorry if I've already rambled too much!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....especially my precious hubs!!!

God's girl, Pamela

Time for a Sean update -
He celebrated his birthday with his family this week! What a b-day celebration that must have been! They have moved him out of ICU and have started taking him off some of the medications. Last I heard, he had grown agitated and a bit confused by all the commotion going on but at least he is doing better and we know that God is still working this miracle in his life!

Thank you so much for your prayers and sweet thoughts. The family is appreciative as well, they know that many saints are praying for him and are thanful for that.

I pray your weekend is safe and awesome!!!

February 18, 2009

I Love My Sissy....



..and I drink a little but ONLY with her! We both like Irish Cream on occasion...like once every other year or so!!! My memory today is about one of those occasions!

It has been a few years back, since I remember that both of my children were in elementary school! My sister also has a daughter and each of our daughters are three years apart, i.e. now they are 15, 18 and 21. We were over at my Sissy's apt. on a Friday night, watching movies and just being together. Sissy and I had shared one glass of Irish Cream and I had started drinking a Sprite when the party started!

Notice...ONLY ONE GLASS!!! I was not even buzzed...but you will never convince my children!

One of our children came into the living room and did or said something funny! I honestly don't even remember what started the laughter, and my family will tell you that my Sissy and I do start spontaneously laughing for NO REASON!!!

Anyway....I started laughing so hard then tried to reel it all in and take another drink of my Sprite. But, alas, I am so female and once I start laughing it is really hard to stop! So, I took a drink and noticed my Sissy snickering beside me, which wells the laughter back up in me - the one with the mouth FULL of drink! Of course, being such a lady, I tried not to spew all over the living room furniture so I tried to swallow some while making it to the kitchen sink! By the time I got to the sink, though, I was choking so badly! So what came out of my mouth was very disturbing..and I won't go into detail, okay?

My children refer back to this night as the only time they have ever seen their Mother drunk!!! I have told them over and over that for me to have such a clear memory of it means I was sober as all get out!!!

Yes, my Sissy and I do like to laugh and most of the time, we don't need anything alcoholic to start with! Take for instance the memorial service! Once again, not sure what we began laughing at but it must have been funny! It was the two of us and a friend of hers that attended the memorial service together. Her friend could not understand what was so funny and the more we were 'shushed' the harder we laughed! Imagine it: Two 30 somethings dressed to the nines for a memorial service but they keep making VERY rude noises trying to reign in the laughter while no one else is laughing! I'm sure from behind us, it did not look polite or professional!

Our children tell us that if we are in a different room from every one else that they simply cannot tell us apart! They can hear us talking but when the laughter begins, all bets are off as to who is who!

I love my big Sissy because she makes me laugh!!! (even if we don't know why!!!)

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this very special person in my life...be sure to drop by Lynnette's blog to read other memories and maybe even add your own.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like my wonderful Sissy!

God's girl, Pamela

February 17, 2009

BYKOTA & a Sean update!

Does anyone else remember this tag word from your teenage years, or maybe young wife/young mom years??? It has been running through my head quite a bit here lately. So, I'm here to confess and ask you to forgive me....for not following BYKOTA - please?

I have been guilty on here as well as on FaceBook of being absolutely cheeky! However, Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Ouch, that hurts!

The problem is that my family and those that know me on a day to day basis are not surprised by my sarcasm, nor are they hurt, usually! It gets a laugh, sometimes, and many times eases tension between parties - I am such a peacemaker! (that middle child thing, I think!) Some of my dear friends on FaceBook and right here at my blog, though, do not know me personally. And then there is the whole 'tone' thing...how I type it may not be how everyone reads it.

Good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. or read! And, folks, I really do desire to serve your needs right here on my blog or through an FB friendship. That is why God has designed us to be a body of believers, to fill each others needs according to His grace.

Now before you shoot me down, I know that Christ is the only fulfiller of ALL our needs but He asks me to be an encourager and a mercy-giver and I have let down my guard here lately and not been much of either. Once again, I am so sorry, please forgive me???

Also, now that this is out on 'paper', would you please hold me accountable? If you see my razor blades start glinting in the SON, please remind me to BYOTA. Cause sometimes, I don't listen....hmmm, could that be my humanity???

So, do you remember BYKOTA?
Ephesians 4:32a

Be
Ye
Kind
One
To
Another
(KJV)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela

Update on Sean
Sweet Friends - Your continued prayers are carrying us through - Thank you!!! I wanted to give you a quick update on the MIRACLE man!!! He is still in ICU wanting to sleep alot and very confused. He does know us and is still his sweet self. The nurse said she wished all her patients were just like him. He does not like to sit up because he feels dizzy and his neck hurts but they want us to make him try. We are still waiting to see when the next CT scan will be, I asked before I left tonight and she said the dr. hasn't given orders for one. I think they feel his swelling is going down because of his progress. He is still in need of your prayers, I continue to tell him how many people are praying for him all over the world. The nurse said the doctor told her he is a MIRACLE - the doctors had already called in the people to meet w/Leticia about donating his organs. WOW - GOD IS GOOD!!! We are so blessed to have each and every one of you praying - he is still in need of much prayer. They are planning to move him out of ICU in the next few days. His b-day is this Thursday so he told me he wanted a white cake w/lots of chocolate frosting. He also requested a GOOD dinner as he gagged on the sweet potatoes my mom tried to make him eat!!! THANK YOU LORD for every day waking up knowing the LOVE of the FATHER would carry us through!!!

My whole family thanks each and every one of you for your prayers.

Love,
Tara

February 15, 2009

Praise the LORD!!!!

Instead of doing all the talking today, I'm just going to post the latest from Sean's sister, Tara:

Sweet Friends - WOW - Sean is a MIRACLE. He is breathing on his own and is off all sedation. He is a little slower in his responding to us but THANK YOU JESUS he is responding. He ate a little lunch today and actually got up to go to the bathroom w/some help. They are going to move him to another floor sometime tomorrow. What a journey, it has truly increased our faith to see how God does answer prayers in such a way that we could have never imagined. I'm so indebted to each and every one of you for all the prayers, calls, texts and e-mails you have shown all of my family. We serve a MIGHTY SAVIOUR who is there through all things and shows us LOVE that we can't even understand. My brother Ratty and I were talking about how we have never experienced a miracle in our lives and how amazing it is that we EXPERIENCED this one. Thank you for walking w/us and showering us w/your love and sweet words and of course they yummy snacks. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!! Sean has a long road ahead of him - I will keep you posted on his recovery. Please continue to pray as we are not sure about the swelling and where he is in regards to the therapy he will need. We love all of you. Thank you that we serve a GOD who is MIGHTY TO SAVE - He is there through the good and bad times. I'm so thankful he has been there for all my family during this hard time - we wouldn't be where we are w/out His steadfast arm holding us up.

Much love,
Tara


Can I hear a HALLELUJAH!!!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela

February 13, 2009

Please Pray!!!

I know y'all, my sweet bloggy friends, are more than willing to pray for others and right now, I am so thankful for that. I am coming to you with a request to pray for someone that means a lot in my life...A LOT!

Talk about memories!!! Sean Leetch is in just about every high school memory I have! And I want more memories of him...at our 25th reunion coming up in just a couple of years, as we become grandparents (he'll be first!), and as we just grow old! He is the closest thing to a big brother that I could ever have! And right now, he is in a fight for his life.



This picture of Sean was in either our Junior or Senior year book...this was taken on Crazy Day during Spirit Week but don't let that fool you...he was crazy!!! He was the epitome of a class clown and always brought laughter with him when he entered a room.

He was also a very sweet friend! If I was having a bad day, he had to make sure I was smiling within just a few minutes because he could not stand to see anyone down or upset! He was the one you could tell anything...especially the secrets, because he never told anyone else! NEVER!!!

My sweetest memory of him, though, is when dear hubs and I had just began dating. See, hubs was not popular in our high school....in middle school we had called him some pretty harsh names and by the time we were in high school, he was totally drawn into a shell that no one could penetrate. He was always hanging around the computer room and knew his computer stuff but had never really matured socially because he had been put down so often. Of course, to think of it now hurts my heart because I now love this man so much and I believe Sean Leetch had a hand in that.

Sean and I were Seniors and future hubs was a Junior when the English teacher asked me to go to the Sports banquet with him. My friends in my class were shocked that I agreed to go! Before the banquet even came, though, I had been having phone conversations with dear hubs for a couple of weeks and I was beginning to see who he really was...and I liked him - a little bit! I had told Sean of these phone conversations and, being such a protector, he always made sure things were going okay between us. Sean would come up as future hubs was carrying my books to my next class and ask him how things were going. They began to talk but my future hubs saw Sean as more of a threat than anything!!!

Future hubs then asked me to the formal Jr/Sr banquet - our Christian school's answer to prom - and I then gladly said yes! And, scandalous, I know, but I decided that I would kiss future hubs for the first time that night! I told Sean of my plan and he did all that he could to make sure that I knew what I was doing!!!

Sure enough, May 2, 1986, dear hubs and I shared our first kiss - before we went into the banquet! He parked the car and turned to me and sweetly asked, "Can I have my kiss now?" How could I say no??? We went into the hotel and I think Sean could tell by the smile on my face that we had already kissed because he hurried over to us and asked how it was!!!

That very night, it appeared Sean let up on my future hubs a bit! He no longer was constantly grilling him, he was actually talking to him and you could tell the difference. By the time we went to school on Monday morn, everyone's attitude toward my future hubs had changed...he was beginning to be accepted, because of Sean Leetch.

We have gone our seperate ways, seeing Sean on occassion at homecoming games and at class reunions. He still brings the laughter even though his own life has not been an easy road. His parents still serve tirelessly at the church where we first met, over 30 yrs ago.

And Sean is now in a fight for his life...literally!

No one is sure what happened, and I will be honest, I am very sketchy on the details. However, I do know that two weeks ago, he was rushed to the hospital having been found with a severe head trauma. The prognosis right now is really unsure. His brain is tremendously swollen, but Sean shows progress when he is allowed to come off of the heavy doses of medicine....like responding to his Mom's touch and his sister's singing!!!

Sean is 41 yrs old!!! He's a terrific Dad! He loves those close to him with all that he has!!! Sean is a true servant and would give you the shirt off your back if he felt you needed it!

I feel it is time for me to do something for Sean and what I can do at this moment is ask that you pray for him and spread the word that a family in Texas needs prayer. Sean is married to Leticia and they have children. He also has two younger sisters and a little brother that now have families of their own.

THANK YOU!

Hopefully, the next time I sit to type up a post, I can say God has begun the healing process! Hopefully!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela

February 11, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day



Don't forget, on Wednesday's you can join in on the memories by visiting Lynnette's blog.

Yes, I know it is early but that is the memory that I have decided to share today - so I am only a few days early!

Hubs and I did not get to share our first Valentine as a married couple together. He was in AIT, training for his permanent 'job' at Ft. Sill, OK and I was here in Dallas with my parents. However, that Valentine's day, he was a sweetheart! He called me a few days before and told me to be looking for a package that I could not open until Valentine's! Wait to open a package from him??? Was he nuts???

The post office came through for him, though, and delivered said package on V-day!

What was inside, you say?

Isn't he adorable??? He has our last name imprinted on his pocket, just like a BDU would have in real life, he has a dog tag that says Ft. Sill and at one point in time, he had a BDU cap....it is somewhere between here and Ft Bragg, probably!!! We were newlyweds so this was a very poignant gift for me! I LOVE HIM!!! (the bear and the hubs!)

The next Valentine's, we were up way too early getting ready for hubs to go to the field and I was 16 wks prego! As I rolled over in bed to give him a kiss, I felt our sweet baby moving and invited him to feel. That was the very first time he had felt our baby move, Feb 14, 1990. He left that morn at 5am and didn't come home until the first week of March. No romantic dinner, no flowers, no time together.

After that, all Valentine's tend to run together. We were parents of small children and finding time and money for such a day just became a burden....physically for him, emotionally for me. I still desired the romance of the day, he didn't! Before too long, romance was totally out of the question...making it through the day became important!

Fast forward a few years, we now had one in elementary school and one still at home but I was falling in love with this man all over again and really wanted to share the day in a special way. I set a lovely table with paper goods, heart shaped balloons and red and white carnations. I was very pleased with myself!

Unfortunately, he was not pleased! I never did learn why but when he came in from work and saw the table, he blew a gasket!!! Well, I of course, melted into tears and I'm sure the block could hear the yelling and screaming that ensued...I know my children won't forget that part of it.

A few more years went by, sometimes I asked for flowers or if he would take me out to dinner and sometimes he surprised me by coming home with roses for me and our girls. His take became, "I love you everyday, why should I have to show it on this certain day because Hallmark wants to make money after Christmas?"

But this year, 20 yrs after that first love filled Valentine box arrived at my parents house, he is sharing the love again! Please, meet 'Rett:



And I am feeling very loved!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela

PS - the storms blew through late last night....just moments after DD1 and I walked in the door from picking her up at work! Most of the damage is north of us but our city got hit hard not too far from us, they have not yet confirmed a tornado and more than likely it is straight wind damage but our area has some clean up to do today. Thankfully, our neighborhood was spared. However, our friends north of the border in Oklahoma are dealing with loss of life this morn due to the same storm system. Please pray for them during this time. Thank you.

February 9, 2009

4:32 a.m.

That is what time it started raining at my house this morn.

Downtown Dallas shot.http://www.wfaa.com/cams/victorystudio/

I am a news junkie...or at least that is what my kids will tell you. However, I only watch news a couple of times a day. And since we don't have cable, I am limited on my choices! But, I do watch the local news mainly for the weather!

This is Texas - you never know what you are gonna get!!!

For the past week, they have been predicting rain would come today. For the past week, I didn't believe them! Last night, though, I listened closely and when Steve McCauley said there would be a 90% coverage, I thought maybe we did have a chance....but I never thought it would start so early!

His little graph showed a moderate chance for rain in our area between 3 and 6 am, and a high chance of rain between 6 and 9 am with the system east of us by noon. So, I'm laying there, awake, at 4:30 this morn when I hear a strong gust of wind...about 40 mph....then hear moisture pelting the window! RAIN!

Our area is considered to be in a moderate drought with a strong possibility of being worse as we get closer to summer. We just had a pretty severe drought in 2005, we don't need another one so soon! That is why it was so nice to hear the rain start to fall - even at 4:30 in the morn.

Thank you, Lord, for your rain to wash the earth. Your rain to water our ground. Your rain to replenish our wells (namely our city water supply!). Thank you, Father for your rain that makes all things new!

They are predicting another round in the morning....more severe with the slight chance of a tornado. I will have to say though, that we have lived in this spot for more than 12 yrs now and only had one true tornado scare...THANK YOU, LORD!!!

Well, my girls are ready to head to school so I must close for now.

I pray y'all have a great Monday! And an even better week ahead.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like water from above.

God's girl, Pamela

February 4, 2009

Making Memories



I told you we had a family date to go look at the stars, well we did! Go look at the stars, that is. It was a bit chilly standing up on the hill but beautiful! In fact, we have a few memories from that little hill.

You see, in the Dallas area, they have man-made lakes. This particular one was made in the late 60's and I remember going swimming there with my Mom, sister and little brother way back when. (in the 70's!) On one side of the lake, there is also a Baptist encampment and I have been to that a few times as well. But the little hill is closer to our house than either the swimming beach or the camp, and still close enough to the 'country' to be dark enough to see the stars!

The little hill is close to the dam so water can be at all different levels on the other side of the hill from the road...you really never know how much water you will see till you crest the hill. We went and stood on the hill, surveying just how dry the lake was a few years back during a drought. We went back out a few months later, during a heavy spring rain to see just how full it was getting. We've gone there just to look out at the water during the cold months...dreaming of warmer days ahead yet dreading 100 degree days ahead!

So, Friday night, we went to the little hill to look at the stars! Boy, were they sure bright! There were no clouds in the sky and even though I don't know all the names of the star formations, dear hubs is always willing to share his knowledge with the girls...and we could see lots of formations! Venus was also shining very bright near the western horizon and there was a crescent moon just beginning it's descent.

We didn't stay too long, the wind made it really cold standing out in the open and that close to the water...the shore looked to be about 20 ft from where we were standing.(about normal) Just being together, able to laugh at something funny, to be there to help someone down the little hill, to learn all the different formations that are a very small part of His creation. To think that God knows each star by name, and we could only see a few of them!!! Those are the memories I carry away.

All too soon, my children will leave our home and begin to make their own memories. All too soon. I don't ever want to stop making memories together, just adding people to the group....men who love God and are sold out, children learning from their parents and grand-parents.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...family and memories!

God's girl, Pamela

Don't forget to pop over to Lynnette's blog to view more special memories.