The Remedy Was Fire

In six weeks I will be speaking at a retreat on the topic of prayer.

I don't mind telling you that I feel a little-bit overwhelmed by this topic, and A LOT-a-bit under-qualified.

Its not that I don't pray. I do.

Its just... well... prayer is such a huge topic and it often involves pain. Of course, pain is a problem I like to avoid.

And yet, I know that prayer is one of the ways I can communicate with my Creator. Its foundational in a dynamic relationship with God. I know that not all of my prayers will be answered the way I would like them to unfold - often providing hope and help from places I didn't even know existed. I know that my prayers have been unequivocally answered "Yes!", and some, "No!". But with 20/20 vision I can look back and see that God used all things for His glory and my good.

I know these things.

My problem is in the practical application. In convincing my heart of a Holy practice that my mind can't fully comprehend.

I find that I waiver between two courses when I pray: I pray that God would spare me (or others) from pain, or, in my pain I ask Him to take it away...and please, make the process as painless as possible.

I've been through just enough discomfort in this life to know it isn't all bad, and that pain is also purposeful - if we choose not to waste it. Still, as most people do, I often dance around it. It reminds me about a situation I was in about 8 years ago....

My daughter was about three-years old and woke up one bright Texas morning with a flat, light-brown spot on the left side of her face. I thought she was getting a freckle but a couple weeks later that little spot got bigger... and had babies.

Within a month that little spot was about the size of a grain of rice, and the other spots ranged from the size of a pin-point to large freckles.

I was concerned.

So I took her to the doctor who said it wasn't contagious, but she didn't know what it was.

I took her to a dermatologist who said he had never seen anything like it and perhaps it was a wart (although they didn't look like warts). He said removing it would cause scarring so to try some over-the-counter wart remover. He then sort of flippantly told us that there was an old wives-tale regarding warts: if you cut a potato and rub it on the wart, then bury the potato in you back yard, your warts would go away.

I tried it.

It didn't work.

I took her to a dear friend who is a medical professional but also knowledgeable in natural medicine. She told me to try Tea-tree oil. So I plunked down some hard cash and put nasty smelling oil on my baby's cheek for a couple of months.

Nothing. And it was getting worse.

As a last ditch effort, I took her to a family friend and well-known plastic surgeon in my hometown. He also wasn't sure what it was (he didn't think it was warts) and told me to wait it out. He asked me if it was causing her pain or if it bothered her in any way.

The answer was no.

He said that he could take it off, but that the in-office procedure would be tough on a three-year old. Not to mention the difficulties of keeping the post-surgery wound on a pre-schooler's face clean. He said to leave it alone and if, when she was 12 or 13, she didn't like the way it looked, he would take care of it.

All these appointments and ointments (and sadly, potatoes) took place over the course of a year. I'm not sure when it occurred to me that I should pray about these marks on her face, it was certainly after I had tried everything I knew to do...but then I prayed.

And then I asked my mom's group to pray.

And then I asked my small group at church to pray.

And then I asked the women's ministry team to pray.

And I prayed some more.

And then, The Girl got very sick.

She had a ridiculously high fever. She complained of nothing else. There were no ear infections, throat issues...nothing.  For two days she was poorly. It wasn't easy for her.

Life went on and she got better. About a week later, as we all sat around the table and I looked at her with unbelief. I don't know when it happened but, her spots were gone.

I'm talkin', completely, totally, absolutely, not there. There wasn't a scar or spot or any sort of sign. Just a pink, healthy looking face.


I spent over a year trying to get rid of a blemish that the Lord removed nearly overnight.

As The Mister and I talked about it we think The Girl did in fact have some sort of virus. A virus that only a fever could cure.

We prayed for restoration, the remedy was fire.

There is mercy in fire.

There is purpose in pain.

If we can hang on, until we can see the goodness that comes from the heat of life, we receive the privilege to see the hand of God in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

As Christians we practice prayer because its communion with our God and Father. It helps us to remember that He is in control. Prayer is a gift - sometimes a gift that is pleasurable, and yes, sometimes painful...but all for our good.

Ticker Trouble

Its been quiet here on the blog as I have been focused on thoughts elsewhere. 

We've had an adventure and it will continue on through the coming weeks.

If you are inclined to prayer, I would love you to lift up my mom and dad (Karen and Fil.)

My mom found out last week that she will need open-heart surgery. 

Through a series of events this surgery will most likely happened sooner than originally scheduled.

We are still awaiting news on the specifics. The good news is that at the moment she is in a top-rate hospital; she is in a really good place.

I am scheduled (based on original surgery dates) to fly out on Saturday, so in the meantime I am planning and cooking and cleaning and preparing things so The Mister can hold-the-fort while I'm away. Its likely the blog will be quiet this week...but I'll update through the comments on this post for those who have asked to be in-the-know.  

I know she is going to pull through like a champ, but I also know that she appreciates all who are praying on her behalf. 

xoxo

The Divine Appointment I Nearly Missed

Last weekend I had a moment I couldn't have planned or prepared for.

I was at a large aquatic center and the place was buzzing with excited swimmers getting ready to compete in our Championship meet.

According to the Swim League website there were  over 1000 swimmers registered to compete. Just swimmers. Add a parent (or two) and you could say the place was crowded.

The competition had been in full swing for a couple of hours when The Girl told me she needed to use the restroom. I asked her to find a friend and go, after-all I was socializing with a couple of moms. But she was insistent that I take her.

 I (begrudgingly) did.

While I was there I decided I should go ahead and use the facility as well, and when I came out of the stall to wash my hands I noticed a gal about my age doing her best to stop crying.

Our eyes met.

I gently asked if she was OK.

She told me she was "just trying to get it together" and then added "its just that single-parenting is sometimes really hard."

Her tone wasn't whiny or full of pity, she was just stating a fact: Sometimes life is hard.

Before I knew what I was doing I walked over and threw my arms around her, which she readily accepted.

In that bustling bathroom I whispered short encouragements to her: Hang in there. You can do this.

We held each other tight and after a short time I let her go and walked out of the room into the masses of people.

I've been thinking and praying for her all week. Simply cannot get her, and those like her, off my mind.

I wish I had had the courage (or thought) to pray over her, right there in that bathroom...to encourage her in a more tangible way.

But I've been praying ever since...

Praying for those in my life who - be it by choice or circumstance - walk this arduous and beautiful road of parenthood all by themselves.

I'm praying that I would not underestimate being ready to encourage others with a Love that never fails, and that I would be ready in season and out. I pray that I wouldn't allow selfish desires to get in the way of moments and opportunities to comfort those in trouble with the comfort I've received.

Sometimes life is hard.

May I never be too busy, never be too blinded by the sights and sounds of life, or by things that clamor for my attention, to be an encouragement to those around me...Lord, may it be so.

Good Morning Bloggerville

I've had a difficult time getting on the computer this week.  

I have a large sewing project I have been working on. My friend's daughter is getting married in October and I am elbow deep in the making of a chuppah.

This project has been fun, but also very challenging. 

This chuppah will be made of 100% family fabric. The only materials that are "new" is the purple embroidery floss and the light weight fusible webbing that I have had to add to the back of the satin where I am using embroidery. (Apparently 40 year old satin thinks it should shred when you run a needle an floss through it hundred times. )

The crocheted blanket was made years ago by one of the grandmothers; the satin is the mother-of-the-bride's 40 year old wedding dress. (The first picture is of the dress before I cut into it. The satin border on the crocheted blanket is what it looks like now.) 

The paper-pieced quilted hexagon is made from the brides favorite childhood Holly Hobbie bed sheets. As soon as I get the groom's favorite baby blanket, his quilted piece will be ready too. 

I have been prayerful, as I hack into fabrics that are family heirlooms, that I can put them back together in some sort of fashion that this family can be proud of...only when I spend too much time thinking about it do I feel the pressure....so let's move on.

Remember that little tomato in my garden I wrote about it about before our trip to AZ.

He didn't ripen until after we got home...

He was beautiful,

 ...and oh-so-delicious.

Now we wait on the ripening of these babies....

A few mornings ago, after The Boy had watered our garden, he ran inside, grabbed my camera, and said he needed to "assuage his inner photographer." He wanted to capture the new crop. I was so amazed by his photog skillz that I thought I would share them. 

This week has been FULL. The Mister has been on-call all week, and will be all weekend. As a result he's been working weird hours and long days, and receiving middle-of-the-night phone calls. 

This week has also carried a huge lesson in the power of prayer.

I want to write about it, but I'm going to wait another week or so before I share...I do feel the need to say this:

God cares about the littlest of things in our lives. He is invested in the minutia of our day to day lives, as much as the "big" things that plague us. 

He will work in mysterious ways.

From weddings to tomatoes, God is in the details. What ever it is that you are praying for, it is important to Him. 

Just wanted you to know...

Happy Weekend!

Need More Prayer **Updated**

Update:

Sweet Leah went home to be with the Lord on April 4th. Please keep her mom, Barbara, and her family in your prayers over the coming months. 

With love,

Kellie

Hey friends.

My heart just hasn't been into blogging in the last 36 hours. 

A dear friend of ours was in a car accident on Sunday night coming home from a weekend away. I still don't know the details, but her 3 year old Leah, although buckled in a car seat, was gravely injured and lies in a coma in a Virginian hospital with a broken neck.

Please pray for the healing of this child. For her mother, Barbara, and their entire family. 

Lots of stuff I want you to know

Happy Thursday friends!

It will be a busy day today. We have a field trip tomorrow, so we are going to accomplish two school days into one. Which is totally do-able...we just may have to do school until (gasp!) 3 o'clock! Like every one else in the world.

I just want to share a few things with you this morning! First, and most importantly, will you pray for my friend Charity today. I am certain that our prayers are going to be what carries her as she goes back to her first graders today. I am praying for God's peace and comfort to be with her, not only strength in spirit, but strength in body. If you do pray for her today, click the link above and tell her you have done so...I know that will be such a blessing to her. AS a matter of fact, you can skip commenting here and go over there instead!

Second, I really enjoyed this post by Mer's hubby. The Mister and I read the post and both shouted AMEN!

I am saying "no" this Lenten season to computers on Fridays, and will be going "dark" for Holy Week. Anyone want to join me?

Last (ly?), and very certainly least....I have a door on my office/nest/craft room! Or what I like to call The Nest.

Here is a before picture:

And here is the glorious after:

And now for some reality...

As you know I am the clean counter queen. I like things streamlined, efficient and most importantly, clutter free. 

Of course if you looked inside my min-van, or The Nest , you would wonder why I sound so brag-idocious. Clearly, I have very selective needs for control, that are not hard fast rules in every area of my life. This is what it looks like just left of the door...

And this is what it looks like when you stand at the door looking in...

I never said I didn't have issues.

When we moved here six months ago, The Nest in many ways has become the room that everything gets put into until we know what to do with it. It is also the room that I can be creative in, and (now) can shut the door when in the middle of a project, or when I need a moment to be blessedly alone.

I use this room to study in, to read my bible in, and The Girl and I spend most Friday nights in this room snuggled up on that one chair watching movies (I am actually looking for a couch or love seat to replace it...we are outgrowing the ability to sit in that one!)

Anyway, this room is next on my Attention List. I want to reorganize it to get it streamlined, efficient and clutter free. This summer I am going to paint it, girlify it, and make it completely my own. 

After pictures to come!

Oh! I forgot that there is one more thing!

Yesterday I didn't post, and there was a very good reason. I had to skip the internet party in favor of a party in honor of my K sisters (and birthday girls!), K1 and K2. 

Aren't they cute? See how happy they are? They are about to cruise together to the Cayman Islands...no wonder they look happy!

Happy birthday friends! And happy sailing!

Prayer

My post When Life is Hard, was intentionally vague. I didn't want to bring attention to my friend's (or their blog) before they were ready.

But Tony and Charity have posted asking for prayer. Please pray for them today and whenever the Lord might bring them to your mind. 

This weekend, and the days ahead, are sure to be difficult.

Snow Day!!

The kids and I prayed for a white Christmas since the day we drove into the North Carolinian border.

Imagine my surprise when the snow fell in Arizona over the holiday. 

Had I not known better, I would've thought that maybe the Lord hadn't received our forwarding address...

No, there wasn't a white Christmas in this neck of the woods. 

Still, I didn't stop praying.

This morning I got my answer. A glorious, resounding (although magnificently peaceful)

 answer.

We already have about two inches, with more falling as I type. 

I am sipping piping hot coffee. The kids have come in for some hot chocolate. The Mister is upstairs tucked warmly in bed.  

Later we will all sit and watch history unfold, and pray for our new President. We will give thanks for the privilege of living in a country that is free. 

Its going to be a great day.

I just know it.