Here is the latest news about Stacy's mom. She has not yet had the full body scan that will tell us whether or not the cancer is treatable. However, they started chemo yesterday, because no matter what the outcome of the scan, they are going to try and treat it. Diana Bailey's cancer is carcinoma, which is evidently the worst kind it can be. Stacy is coming home today, I don't know for how long. We have a wedding this weekend which will be a good, fun distraction I think. I will continue to update as I know things. I know that my tendency at times is to read through prayer requests and kind of halfway pray, or forget, but I beg you to just take about 30 seconds after reading this to pray fervently for Stacy's mom. Please pray for healing, for encouragement and comfort for the family, and that God will be glorified.
Thanks so much! I love and appreciate you all.
-caty
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
PLEASE PRAY...
I have an urgent prayer request. I know that no one reads this blog, but please, if you do, pray.
My roommate Stacy found out yesterday that her mom has stomach cancer. Her tumor is half the size of her stomach, and it is also in her lymphnodes. She has some tests on Monday that will tell what the next step is. If it's isolated in her stomach and lymphnodes, they will try to surgically remove as much as possible and start chemo. If it's spread outside her stomach, it is basically untreatable. Please pray that God would miraculously heal Diana Bailey. I believe it is possible.
Stacy went from thinking it was stomach pain to finding this out yesterday. It has been very difficult for her family to process, especially her youngest sister Erin, who is 12. She worries herself into throwing up and not being able to sleep. Please pray that her anxiety would go down and that she would feel God's comfort during this time. Stacy's older sister Amanda is 6 months pregnant and they are worried that she is going to go into early labor from the stress of everything.
I know that God is not surprised by this. I know that He is going to be glorified, and His will will be done. But I think that something amazing can happen through this in her family. I am praying for miraculous healing, for comfort that surpasses anything they have ever known, and for peace. Please join me in praying for the Baileys. Thank you.
My roommate Stacy found out yesterday that her mom has stomach cancer. Her tumor is half the size of her stomach, and it is also in her lymphnodes. She has some tests on Monday that will tell what the next step is. If it's isolated in her stomach and lymphnodes, they will try to surgically remove as much as possible and start chemo. If it's spread outside her stomach, it is basically untreatable. Please pray that God would miraculously heal Diana Bailey. I believe it is possible.
Stacy went from thinking it was stomach pain to finding this out yesterday. It has been very difficult for her family to process, especially her youngest sister Erin, who is 12. She worries herself into throwing up and not being able to sleep. Please pray that her anxiety would go down and that she would feel God's comfort during this time. Stacy's older sister Amanda is 6 months pregnant and they are worried that she is going to go into early labor from the stress of everything.
I know that God is not surprised by this. I know that He is going to be glorified, and His will will be done. But I think that something amazing can happen through this in her family. I am praying for miraculous healing, for comfort that surpasses anything they have ever known, and for peace. Please join me in praying for the Baileys. Thank you.
Friday, June 12, 2009
God's Favorite
I went to Iredell yesterday to see family on my mom's side. I can always count on a story coming out of those visits, sometimes fabulous, sometimes hilarious, sometimes frustrating. Now that I am back, I indeed have a story.
My little brother is "special" in every sense of the word. When he arrived in our home as a foster child, he was about 2 months old and weighed less than 10 pounds. Jonathan was so malnourished he couldn't even suck on a bottle. Now he is a full fledged Davis, is 7 1/2 years old, and I see the repercussions of his babyhood. He is labelled as "developmentally delayed" by doctors, and is just missing a few links to the chain. He can communicate, walk, etc., but just is not your typical 7 year old. However, he is my favorite. (Don't tell the others.)
Yesterday, he had climbed into one of those plastic police cars that toddlers scoot around in and was rolling across the room, skinny white legs flailing about as if screaming "Get us outta here!" Suddenly, he stopped the car in front of me. He got very serious. Jonathan said quietly..."I just want ya'll to believe in God." He got emotional, started sniffing, and began to cry, even through the reassurances of "I do!" "We do!" coming from my family and I. He paused, then continued: "Sometimes I cry when I don't believe, because God believes in us.....I forgive you." I was following until the last part..but he just kept repeating himself over and over. Finally, my mom got him out of the car and began to rock him and sing, which always soothes him.
Most members of my family would smile at this, laugh it out, give a little "Oh, Jonathan..." and move along with their day. But this really hit me, especially the last part..."I forgive you." First of all, I don't think my brother understands the alphabet, let alone forgiveness for disbelief. I am working on a theory that I thought I would share. I have always joked and told people that I think Jonathan is God's favorite (which by the way, I believe). However, I want to venture further than that: I think that my brother talks to God. And hears God talk back.
Jonathan is so tender hearted...a very sweet, sensitive little boy. He repeats everything he hears, just like a parrot. He can't handle people being mad at him, loud voices, etc. So the thought of hurting God's feelings breaks his little heart. So why say "I forgive you"? Maybe because he heard his Daddy say it? Just a thought. I often wonder how this little boy can be so happy in a world that tears apart the individuals who are different. I think it is because his best friend, God, is always there with him. I think that Jonathan grasps friendship with Jesus in a way that I hope to one day attain, but am nowhere close to being. My little brother, God's favorite, inspires me.
My little brother is "special" in every sense of the word. When he arrived in our home as a foster child, he was about 2 months old and weighed less than 10 pounds. Jonathan was so malnourished he couldn't even suck on a bottle. Now he is a full fledged Davis, is 7 1/2 years old, and I see the repercussions of his babyhood. He is labelled as "developmentally delayed" by doctors, and is just missing a few links to the chain. He can communicate, walk, etc., but just is not your typical 7 year old. However, he is my favorite. (Don't tell the others.)
Yesterday, he had climbed into one of those plastic police cars that toddlers scoot around in and was rolling across the room, skinny white legs flailing about as if screaming "Get us outta here!" Suddenly, he stopped the car in front of me. He got very serious. Jonathan said quietly..."I just want ya'll to believe in God." He got emotional, started sniffing, and began to cry, even through the reassurances of "I do!" "We do!" coming from my family and I. He paused, then continued: "Sometimes I cry when I don't believe, because God believes in us.....I forgive you." I was following until the last part..but he just kept repeating himself over and over. Finally, my mom got him out of the car and began to rock him and sing, which always soothes him.
Most members of my family would smile at this, laugh it out, give a little "Oh, Jonathan..." and move along with their day. But this really hit me, especially the last part..."I forgive you." First of all, I don't think my brother understands the alphabet, let alone forgiveness for disbelief. I am working on a theory that I thought I would share. I have always joked and told people that I think Jonathan is God's favorite (which by the way, I believe). However, I want to venture further than that: I think that my brother talks to God. And hears God talk back.
Jonathan is so tender hearted...a very sweet, sensitive little boy. He repeats everything he hears, just like a parrot. He can't handle people being mad at him, loud voices, etc. So the thought of hurting God's feelings breaks his little heart. So why say "I forgive you"? Maybe because he heard his Daddy say it? Just a thought. I often wonder how this little boy can be so happy in a world that tears apart the individuals who are different. I think it is because his best friend, God, is always there with him. I think that Jonathan grasps friendship with Jesus in a way that I hope to one day attain, but am nowhere close to being. My little brother, God's favorite, inspires me.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Brownies, Resumes, and Tears
And again, the emotional roller coaster that is my life goes up and down...and I am sitting there, belted in, hands raised, not knowing if I am having fun or scared out of my mind....
I am an English teacher. I teach literary devices, one of which is irony. Let me give you an example: someone who has hated their job, spent countless hours seeking other opportunities, has cried herself to sleep, finally turns in a letter of resignation. A week later, the job starts to get better, and by the end of the job, the person loves it and doesn't want to leave. Ironic? Yep. Me? Right again. On Tuesday, one of my students made me brownies and wrote me a really sweet letter, while another brought me coffee. It was in that moment I asked myself, "What was I thinking?" Then of course, I turned to God: "What am I going to do? I've screwed it up again."
I have applied to a couple of places, and last night applied to 2 different school districts. I am terrified. What am I going to do? How am I going to pay rent? What if I make yet another crucial mistake? Should I be getting my masters? All of this and more is floating in my head. I went to New Community at the Property last night, and it all just came loose. I cried and cried when we were singing the song "Everlasting." The verses really hit me: "...should I stumble again, I'm caught in your grace....the art of losing myself in bringing You praise." Paul and I talked and he really hit the nail on the head. I have this vision of who God is molding me to be, and what He is going to use me for, and I want it to happen now. I keep trying to force it, and again and again He says, "Not yet." I am overcome by how lacsidaisical I am concerning the Word and intercession. In theory, I desire fervently to be intimate with God..but what am I doing to make that happen?
So these are my thoughts...no resolution as of this morning, though it is true that He makes His mercy new every day. I woke up this morning, read some verses, and really meditated on His truth. And that is a start, at least. We shall see...I know that at the end of this rollercoaster I will be glad I rode it.
I am an English teacher. I teach literary devices, one of which is irony. Let me give you an example: someone who has hated their job, spent countless hours seeking other opportunities, has cried herself to sleep, finally turns in a letter of resignation. A week later, the job starts to get better, and by the end of the job, the person loves it and doesn't want to leave. Ironic? Yep. Me? Right again. On Tuesday, one of my students made me brownies and wrote me a really sweet letter, while another brought me coffee. It was in that moment I asked myself, "What was I thinking?" Then of course, I turned to God: "What am I going to do? I've screwed it up again."
I have applied to a couple of places, and last night applied to 2 different school districts. I am terrified. What am I going to do? How am I going to pay rent? What if I make yet another crucial mistake? Should I be getting my masters? All of this and more is floating in my head. I went to New Community at the Property last night, and it all just came loose. I cried and cried when we were singing the song "Everlasting." The verses really hit me: "...should I stumble again, I'm caught in your grace....the art of losing myself in bringing You praise." Paul and I talked and he really hit the nail on the head. I have this vision of who God is molding me to be, and what He is going to use me for, and I want it to happen now. I keep trying to force it, and again and again He says, "Not yet." I am overcome by how lacsidaisical I am concerning the Word and intercession. In theory, I desire fervently to be intimate with God..but what am I doing to make that happen?
So these are my thoughts...no resolution as of this morning, though it is true that He makes His mercy new every day. I woke up this morning, read some verses, and really meditated on His truth. And that is a start, at least. We shall see...I know that at the end of this rollercoaster I will be glad I rode it.
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