David & Becky

If you're a skeptic of a real miracle, too bad 'cause here's a good one. It's a long story but hang on for it! This is my sister and brother-in-law. Becky is Greg's sister and I've known her for 12 years now. She's become a dear friend of mine. David came into the picture almost 10 years ago and that's when their family journey started. From the very beginning of their marriage they knew that they only had a slim chance of having children. Becky had had years of extensive problems and so many surgeries that by the time I met her, she knew the procedures better than me with a nursing degree. And so, from day one of their marriage, they were open (and desperately hoping) for God to bless them with a family.

Their early hopes ran into discouragement after several years and they decided to seek fertility help. That's when the news for them got worse. Finding a problem with David now too, the doctor told them their only chance of ever conceiving was through in-vitro and, even then, the chances of it attaching were not good thanks to all the scar tissue (the word 'hysterectomy' had already been thrown out there once or twice already). Praying for God to use this to bless them with a child or two, they gave it a shot -- and failed. Nothing survived, not even the 'saved' ones for a future attempt.

Last year about this time, they gathered back their broken hearts and resources and decided to try again. Becky had to have one more surgery before and the doctor told her this was the last time he could do it. If the in-vitro failed this time she would soon-after need that hysterectomy. Oh, how we prayed! Many of you remember the urgency. We just knew it would work!

It didn't.

It was a double loss for them as they began planning the permanent removal of her womb. You can imagine the questions asked of the Lord over the sense of this. I remember asking the same questions over far less than what they had struggled with. But they never lost their faith in the LORD. It wasn't necessarily that they had the faith that He would give them a child but that He could, and didn't, and He still loved on them so tenderly and held them through the darkness so carefully. They decided to wait a few months on that procedure.

I'm going to Tulsa tomorrow to wait outside the doors of a hospital room. Becky's having major surgery Friday to have something taken out but it isn't her uterus. It's a healthy, full-term baby girl.

How? God did it. He did it! He is so awesome and so worthy to be praised! He gives Hope when there is no hope, life where there should be none. He IS miraculous! I so look forward to sharing my pictures when I return....!

A Tough Decision

Joshua and I have Bible and prayer time together every morning and this continues to get deeper and richer as his heart grows with his head (I passionately encourage both -- the one is useless without the other). Yesterday we prayed for our Nation and for Christians to be filled with wisdom and discernment concerning elections in November. This led to quite a discussion:

Josh: "Why can't George Bush stay there forever?"
Me: "Because it's not his turn anymore. Eight years is as long as anyone gets."
Josh: "Why?"
Me: Explanation
Josh: "Why does it matter who gets to be President?"
Me: LENGTHY explanation! Hard to do with a short attention span.
Josh: "Can I be President?"
Me: "Of course you could. If that's what God wants you to do then you need to do it. You follow Him and He will help you."

(Keep in mind that a few months ago he was pretty sure God wanted him to fly a rocket ship. He said he would give us a ride and he might let Daddy drive it a bit.)

Josh: "I think God might want me to be President but now I don't know what to do because I think he also wants me to be an inventor. I need to make that remote control car." (He's been lately having a hard time falling asleep at night because of all his design ideas).

He thought awhile and finally decided.

"I guess I need to figure out which one Daddy would want to do with me."

I'm sure I don't have to tell you how Daddy loved that one....

A Perfect Summer Day

Brad & Kristin, my brother and sister-in-law, had us all out yesterday to their cute little cabin right on King's River. They cooked out a delicious steak meal with veggies straight out of their garden and followed it with homemade icecream and fresh fruit toppings! Mmm...MMM!! Between all that we relaxed and cooled off in the water which was almost cold enough to keep the snakes away. Yes, Greg and his Dad found (and chased) one, hoping to show me how nice it was (?!?!?!). Aside from that it really was idyllic. Thank you Owens' for such a memorable afternoon.

Greg's Mom, hostess Kristin, Greg and David

Host and Grillmaster, Brad

Becky & Me

Olivia & Josh

Part II At The Owens

Deciding the count, before the big jump

Learning to skip rocks with PaPa

The giant fish Uncle David caught

Becky's last days of solitude....

Turpentine Creek

Close enough to make me nervous

A tiger named 'Jennifer'. She picks on all the other tigers.

We went to such an interesting place with friends from school yesterday. It's a wildlife refuge in Eureka Springs called Turpentine Creek. They literally have lions, tigers and bears - plus a few other rarely seen animals, all of them rescued from very poor or illegal situations. Remember the Exxon tiger running through the snow? They had him after he retired until he died recently. I figured out that it must be the cool thing to do to be a drug lord and own a puma. I also learned that inbreeding creates cross-eyed tigers. The BEST part was the 2 little tiger cubs they "accidently" got. One of their new rescued females was pregnant and delivered 6 weeks ago. They were so cute! Unfortunately my camera batteries had died and I didn't get a picture of them. What I thought was so funny, though, was how much more fascinating the critters in the grass were to Joshua and his friend Jordan. Of course. Reminds me of 4th of July fireworks. We were watching an awesome display in the sky while Josh ran around catching fireflies. I paid a good bit of money for us to see this place but I guess it's true what they say -- the best things in life really are free.

A Sight For Warm Eyes

It's getting hot here. It's taken this long but this week we have finally made it into the 90's. Our July 4th weekend was unlike anything we've experienced thus far. Saturday evening was so chilly I wished I had a jacket! What do you think of that, Memphis and Orlando people? I am actually enjoying this temperate summer weather. It doesn't take long, though, and I do start to yearn for what's coming - turning leaves, burning wood, haystacks - and eventually, Christmas. Yes, I start to get the yule fever somewhere around now and it builds through Halloween, dropping sharply by Thanksgiving, and is long gone by December 25th. I'm ready for the beach by then. Anyway, when I ran across this picture of our sweet little Olive Branch house, covered in snow, it suited my mood. But it didn't just make me anticipate what's to come, it made me long for what's been left behind. I miss this place. I miss everyone near and dear to Greg & I. It's still hard sometimes, being away, even knowing we are truly in a good place here. I'm so thankful that we still get to rejoice with you in your praises and pray for you in those deep needs. Your life is still welcome into ours! We love you and you can never be replaced....Merry Christmas!

Thank You God

I saved this one because it's about something I love in my son. He sees God in everything. The blessings of nature unfolding are not lost on him. The fascinating function of God's creation is simply thrilling. It is, isn't it? While I watched the birds building their nest I thought, how do they know the safe location, the appropriate materials, the perfect engineering skills for building such an architectural design? They didn't go to school for that, and, far from statistical probability, evolution did not happen to make all those cogs fit together. All the world is spinning with ease on His little finger and there for the wonder and enjoyment of a 7-year-old. I love that about my Keeper. He and Joshua have quite a relationship; God gives caterpillars and Joshua goes to stare and to give his and their Creator a sincere prayer of thanks. So, as I marvel through the eyes of a mother, I too say from the bottom of my heart..."Thank You God".