Urgent Prayer Request

(I couldn't find a pic of Chaz, but this is from his racing circuit.)

**UPDATE** 8/31/08 11:05 PM: My daughter and I went to the hospital. Chaz has been awake on and off throughout the day. He started out calling his mother "Henry" and saying things like his last name was "Diez" and his father's last name was "Dirtwiggler."
However, this afternoon there was much improvement. He began to recognize and identify his family members and the doctor says that his CT Scans do not look much improved but Chaz physically and cognitively appears to be much improved.

This is a day to day situation still. He could relapse or suffer significant cognitive losses as a result of his injury. He is not in a drug-induced coma, but on heavy medication. He will be in teh hospital at least a week - but to God's glory he was taken to the #1 trauma center in North Texas.

His mom said he is definitely a miracle child. Prayers are working. The next three months are critical - he can do no physical activity AT ALL. Then they will retest and do a cognitive assessment at 6 months and that will be the long term prognosis. So - again, just as oft as you think of it please pray! It is all good news so far. He is on the road to recovery which is a great improvement from Last Night. Mom is concerned about breaking the news to him that they are selling his dirt bike and his motorcross career is officially over. She knows he will not be happy about that - especially with no memory of what has happened to him. His injury is called "Brain Sheering." Parts of his brain has stopped working - apparently.

I am supposed to take my other daughter and her friend back tomorrow. I will keep you all posted.

THANKS AGAIN - SO MUCH. LOVE YA'LL!
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Hey Blog Friends... I'm sending this out on the wire and asking you to pray for the Sims family.



The eldest child, Chaz, who is around 16 years old races motorcross and was involved in a serious accident. He has been hospitalized and is in a drug-induced coma. His injuries are apparently serious and numerous. His parents are Jim and Tami and his brother is Tanner. Please pray for complete healing, restoration and victory for this young man and his family.



After Justin died, Chaz would walk up to me at church and not say one word he would just give me the biggest hug. He and his family were very affected by my son's situation and Chaz has been a good friend to my youngest daughter.



I appreciate all your prayers. I will post an update as soon as I have more information.



Thanks again.

Family Facing Tragedy

Please pray for the Drew Family. Their little boy, Christian, is three and went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday.

You can read more about it here: "Dozer's" Story

Although I did not know the Drew family personally, my heart is grieved for their loss and my prayers go out to them.



Blessings all.

"His Strength is Perfect" by Steven Curtis Chapman from Greatest Hits CD

Tuesday's In Other Words: Little Hands

This week's IOW is being hosted by Nina at "Mama's Little Treasures stop on by and see what others are talking about In Other Words...
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You know... as I weigh the words of this little prayer I am reminded of Hannah and her prayer before the Lord. She wanted no glory of her own - she just wanted the joy of motherhood and the promise of an heir in her life. Samuel received an anointing from birth because of his mother's heart and her heartcry.
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In the book of 1 Samuel, the prophet erects a stone, an Ebenezer stone, and says, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."
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That picture of a stone of remembrance for all the things the Lord has done struck a cord that resonated in my "momma" heart. My son was so troubled during his 17 years. He struggled with father identity issues having been abandoned before he was born by his father. He had bi-polar disorder and a wealth of other social, emotional and mental afflictions. Yet, somehow Justin found Joy in life. He found something to live for each and every day. He wrung life out of every moment he had and often would not settle for anything less.
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One night after Bible study, I returned home and placed a smooth black stone in his no longer tiny hands. I told him that was his "Ebenezer" stone. I shared the story from 1 Samuel with him and then instructed him. "Carry this stone in your pocket and anytime you feel tempted to do the wrong thing or have others encouraging you to do the wrong thing... You just say, "Ebenezer says no."
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A few months later he told me he had lost the stone and I gave him another one. It was a beautiful testimony to the influence a mother has over her child. You know, I often think I did not value him enough, listen to his heart enough or even try to understand him enough. But, I know that indeed - no matter what my shortcomings may have been that I loved him enough. I love him still.
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This past weekend marked the third anniversary of his homegoing and I believe that I received healing this year! The joy returned and caught me almost unaware... Now, I just want to live like Justin did - wringing out every drop of life here on earth while I have it and never settling for anything less than fullness. God is so good.
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Blessings sweet IOW friends. I've missed the meme and am glad to be back. Love Ya'll!
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In Other Words is a writing meme and open to anyone who would like to give it a whirl. Just copy the quote at the top of this post, insert it into one of your own - and get to writing all about it in your very own words. It is fun, it is insightful and it is most of all a way to get those writing juices flowing... Blessings All.

Living Proof...

Beth Moore is living proof that God does amazing things in the lives of women who are 100% sold out to their God, their calling and being the woman God created them to be! She is and He is and that's all I can say about that.

Friday night, she started out by playing Psalm 16: 1-11 up on the screen before us. It is a beautiful testimony to God's faithfulness and His promises as written by King David.


She had us focus in on Psalm 16:5-7 in the English Standard version. Her emphasis - our beautiful inheritance. She shared that God's inheritance always involves three things:

1. Presence - His among us (Genesis 26:23, Joshua 1:9)

2. People.... God loves people (Genesis 12:3, 22; 22:17-18; Deuteronomy 4:20; Psalm 16:3; Revelation 7:9)

3. Property - a material something to possess or have (Numbers 26:52-56, Matthew 25:34)

She shared that Redemption is tied to Inheritance, because Jesus died not only to redeem us but also to make us co-heirs with Himself. To drive the point home - she shared the following 8 points:

1. I am an heir of God. My life is not left to chance. There is not casting of lots or scheming to steal our inheritance. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus and a co-heir with Him in His Father's kingdom. Our entire lives even before we knew Christ or dwelled in a pit of sin --- It all can be tailored to make a beautiful inheritance. (Psalm 16:5)

2. I am an heir of God. I am inheriting a kingdom. (Matthew 25:34, Daniel 7:18, Colossians 1:12) A real, tangible kingdom.... It will nt be boring. Paris Hilton was quoted as saying she is not a boring heiress... As God's heiresses we will not be called to a boring kingdom. It will be a thriving kingdom with life, responibility and possibility all lived in the presence and power of God.

3. I am an heir of God. He is my portion and I am HIS! (1 Peter 2:4-5, Psalm 73:25-26, Psalm 19:57, Lamentations 3:24) Did you get that? We are Christ's inheritance. She took us to Ephesians 1:18 ... Read it and see for yourself. We are the blessed inheritance of our Lord. We inherit Him and all of His kingdom as well.

4. I am a n heir of God. The down payment has been made. (Revelation 22:4, Ephesians 1:14, 2 Timothy 2:13, Romans 8) Christ made a deposit of His own Spirit in us and sealed us in the Spirit for the day of redemption. We bear a mark, His name is written upon our foreheads and all of heaven recognizes us as God's chosen redeemed. The down payment or deposit is our guarantee of the inheritance God has promised.

5. I am an heir of God. My boundary lines form a pleasing place. (1 Peter 1:4, Romans 8:18)

These boundaries represent the what shapes not only our destiny but our inheritance. Our past is the rear boundary - we don't have to live there but it shapes who we are. Our intimacy with God is our top boundary - if we do not grow in our relationship with God our top boundary remains low. Our bottom boundary or the place where we walk out what we are experiencing with God and those around us. And the forward momentum is our Spirituall giftings. Those things, within ourselves we cannot do on our own. If God is occupying all the territory within our boundaries - because if He is not the enemy is standing on our land. We must choose to be with Jesus, allow Him to work through our past, our experiences and our giftings to accomplish the purposes of the kingdom. It is a pleasing place to have our faith and walk it out in the center of God's will. God cannot do you wrong... "He comes to take over only to His glory and only to do you good." He can even use a little dirt in our past to make good soil for planting seeds.

6. I am an heir of God. The will (as in will and testament) has been activated. (Hebrews 9:15-17) In our lives, a persons will cannot be activated unless someone dies. However God's Word assures us that His will has already been activated toward us. Our inheritance is secure. It is ours. Jesus died and came back to life so our inheritance would be secure.

7. I am and heir of god. I can be secure. (I crossed out "can" and inserted "am to.") It is now an affirmation of faith! I am to never live insecurely seeking and desiring the approval of others to establish my identity and my value. Christ established my value by the price He was willing to pay to redeem me. He established my identity in Him when I received Him as my Lord. My identity and my value does not debend on other people's opinions or approval of me. Beth said, "No one draws in people like someone who does not need them." and "Christ's fragrance comes forth as we are broken." (Galatians 3:29-4:? - think I forgot to write that down. Psalm 16:5-6)

One final Bethism from this point: "Our theology has not become our reality until we allow God to deal with our insecurity." Now that is a good, good word.

8. I am an heir of God. I have a beautiful inheritance. (Isaiah 61:7, 2 Timothy 4:6-7)
With this, she pointed out that Joy is the leading emotion of receiving the inheritance - to which I say AMEN! But, also, that we are not just heirs to the kingdom behind Christ as in traditional roles of royalty where the firstborn son inherits the right to the primary inheritance. Biblically speaking the primary inheritance or double portion goes to the firstborn. For God - that firstborn is Jesus Christ. We are not just heirs with Him - we are CO-heirs - equal heirs - we get a double portion. Christ is indeed our very great reward. It's not that He works miracles in circumstances to show off, but that He would reveal His glory by working miracles in people - so that we are the miracle. Let's never ask for an easier life, but instead press on and finish the race well. And there when we come across the line bloodied and bruised... beaten and battle weary - we will receive the Crown of Life and Victory which God has promised and we will cast them at His feet in Glory! In the 2 Timothy passage there is a Greek word, kalas, which means "a beautiful fight." Our lives will be a beautiful fight is one hard fought and that may be hard on us but it brings the victory just the same! A Beautiful Inheritance.

Of course, this is Beth's teaching mixed with my own thoughts in my notes... but I tried to write down as much as possible. She did this other neat diagram that maybe I will conjure up later in my trusty old computer so you can see how beautiful it really is. She brought it and God brought down the house when His Holy Spirit fell.

The meet up was precious and so special. God so blessed us this weekend... I'm almost in tears just thinking about it. To my new BFFs Lora, Nesha and Alexia... I. FLAT. OUT. LOVE. YOU. TO. PIECES. Flat Out. Thank you for yesterday morning and the entire weekend. But, most of all thank you for letting me walk alone in the rain, have some time to myself on Saturday afternoon and allowing me to pray with you, hear your story and walk a mile with you along this road of life. I'll never forget it.

Gayle, Cindy and Amy Beth - WOW! Beautiful women, beautiful hearts, beautiful writers... and Cindy - I should add that bit about housekeeping to my profile... cause a good housekeeper in this body - not so much!

Tiffany... I tend to agree the almost "insane" idea of traveling with someone you absolutely do not know for ten hours and entrusting yourself to them seems a little off, but even before we laid eyes on each other it is like God gave us a "knowing" about one another. A kindred heart you are my friend. A kindred heart and I love you.

Holly, Kim and Patty - Thank you seems inadequate - so YOU. ARE. THE. BOMB... and we're all Beth's "peeps!" I swear! She must have been reading Boo Mama's Blog! HA!

Okay... so a nap is in order... I'll link to blogs later ladies... I'm worn out. I had to tape my eyelids to my forehead to make this post by this hour! Love Ya!

Home again, Home again Jiggety Jig...

Well, I arrived home today from the fabulous Sauna Antonio Living Proof Live Siesta event this weekend and well... I'm two things right now - OVER THE TOP blessed and physically exhausted. It was as they say a whirlwind tour... On Friday evening, while we were waiting to go to our seats at the fiesta, Amanda came out and visted with us. She was so gracious and beautiful. Two things surprised us - how tall she is, and how much more she looks like Mama Siesta than in her pictures. She is a stunningly gorgeous woman with a beautiful and gentle spirit. Her heart to serve the siestas on Saturday was just an absolute blessing to everyone there.

I am still mulling over the message on Inheritance that Beth brought. I will be writing more about my roomies, my ride and the fabulous bloggers of Siestaville in a few days, but for now I am going to shower and get ready for church. You all are blessings and dear to me and now I have precious faces and voices to go with our unique or not so unique bloggy names... You are the BOMB and I love you.

Okay... So I am off the internet for a while...

I'm off to pack, clean my bathroom and fold more laundry - Good Grief, will it ever end?

YES! Tomorrow Morning at 5 AM!

Siesta OUT!

Have You Gotten One of THESE?

Spam in my Comments box!

Immediately after I posted on my Heart to Heart Blog this came up as a comment in my inbox:

green card lottery has left a new comment on your post "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength":

Katon, Goukakyu no jutsu.

Publish this comment.

Reject this comment.

Moderate comments for this blog.

Posted by green card lottery to Heart to Heart - A Place for Grieving Moms at August 21, 2008 9:34 AM

WEIRD... which is Wired with the letters rearranged... Must be all that caffiene. :o)

Non-San Antonio Siesta Stuff...

Here are some pics of what I am planning to bless the Siestas who are with us in spirit but not in body with:

This NASB Thinline Bible I will be carrying this weekend.

I am hoping to note a few nuggets from the conference in the Scriptures... So, you get the feeling you might've just been there!

I bought two Siesta Shirts so I am going to have one signed by the Siestas in San Antonio and give this to Patty and Kim...

I bought this darlin' little bag at the local Lifeway Christian store for the weekend, but found I might need a bigger bag sooo... I'm giving her away, too!

God Bless... Check in over at Siestaville next week to find out how to win these and other great Souvenirs from the Siestas at San Antonio! [This give-a-way will be for our Non-San Antonio Attending Siestas.... Please Keep That In Mind!]

29 Hours and Counting...

What is your first clue this siesta is excited about San Antonio?

This is actually me after one too many Rt. 44 Cokes from Sonic! But please don't tell my daughter she totally gets angry at me...

Apparently I can be pretty embarrasing on a good caffiene buzz!

I was, after all, dancing to some hip hop song in her bedroom earlier and being a total DORK!


Here is the deal... I am totally psyched about San Antonio even if it will feel like a Sauna.


I went and had my nails done today and guess what. I was the first one in the pedicure chair - Oh. Yes. I. Was.
I arrived before the salon opened. My friend, Katie, a young vietnamese Catholic who does my nails arrived a few minutes after my hiney landed in the chair. She is precious and so seeking more and more information about the Lord. We talk about Him everytime I am at her table. Well she came in and saw where I had been playing around with designs on my nails this week. She suggested a very chic and trendy design - Zebra Stripes... I asked her if she would do it with same polish that was already on my toes and she said, YES!

Here are the results:

I Have TOTALLY. COOL. TOES!

She is sooo Talented. These are standard issue acrylics with painted tips and designs!
DON'T. THEY. JUST. SCREAM. FIESTA. FEROCIOUS? And, what's this I see...

Hey Ya'll... This totally looks like a suitcase that is almost packed. OH. And that little flyer to the left is an advertisement for this WORDSearch Preferred Customer... I'm trying to figure a way to buy $180 worth of E-Bible Study Tools and pay for my trip to San Antonio! The WordSearch stuff looks like it is no on hold... But, GLORY. SAN. ANTONIO. IS. ALMOST. HERE!

And here is the garment bag. This is my $8,000 luggage set! Not really - you might note the little "MARY KAY" logo all over the maroon canvas - and well, I bought $8000 worth of inventory and got this luggage as my reward... plus I still have a good bit of that MARY KAY to make my skin look youthfully fresh and renewed! I, by the way, no longer sell MARY KAY!

However, the other day, my precious girl said: "Momma, you know that line in Steele Magnolias where Julia Roberts says, 'I've discovered the early stages of crows feet.' and Truvy says, 'Honey, there's one thing you learn and that is time marches on, and eventually you notice is marching across your face!' Well, you don't have those!" I just love that kid! She does a body good... or at least an ego! I said, "It's all that skin care!" So... of course one of those Mary Kay bags would hold a pleathora of hair and skin care products... though not all are MARY KAY - actually my skin care is now mostly Aveeno and I love love love it!

Decide for Yourself:

Notice the dark tips beside my face...

yes, that would be my very own personal application of LOW LIGHTING!

And then there is the HAIR!

I don't think I do it justice with this camera and my-not-so-swivel arm... but I'm trying! I'm trying! Can you tell it has high and low lights... I get so many compliments on this science experiment that I was convinced was a big mistake til I wore it out in public a few times. Now I think I'll keep it! What do you think... ? Would you believe I did it all myself? Oh. Yes. I. DID!

one wired siesta, anxiously awaiting her trip to San Antonio nearly 28 hours from now!

Oh Lord, I got myself so worked up, now I don't think I will get to sleep for a couple of hours. Please help me to rest this evening and give me patience to endure the next 28 hours... WOO HOO!

SIESTA OUT!

TOMORROW's POST: TOTALLY COOL STUFF I AM DONATING TO THE NON-SAN ANTONIO SIESTA GIVE-A-WAY!

I'm going to be in San Antonio in about 60 hours

Can you believe Siesta Fiesta Week is finally here?

I can't - If you aren't going check out the Siestaville Blog where Patty and Kim have been working feverishly on this weekend's event. There will be a terrific give-a-way for the non-Sauna Antonio Siestas... So tune in, read up and be a Siesta with us.

If you are not a Siesta... well, hop on over to LPM and read Beth Moore's ministry blog and then you will begin to understand what this blog phenom is all about!

Well, my transportation is secure! I will be heading out with my friend (For His Glory) at the wee hour of 5 AM on Friday. We will drive down in her Honda Accord!

A month ago I think I had one roommate... ONE! I had five who dropped out and well, it was looking like a very expensive weekend. When one of my five roomies dropped so did my ride to San Antonio and the rest of this journey has been a real adventure in odyssey with God proving Himself every step of the way.

On Friday, I will meet my first new blog friend T. as we make the ride to Sauna Antonio together. Then I will catch up with L., A., and N. who will be arriving on Thursday probably at the hotel or the Pico de Gallo luncheon that has been set up for the ladies. I did not know any of these women before we connected about this Siesta Event! Which is absolutely exciting to me.

My roomies are coming from the North - A., the South - L., and the East, N.... Then ya' have little ol' me from the west (since I am the Siesta from the western most point on the map in our Siesta Bunch!)

I checked the weather tonight and it is either going to be a gully washer or a sauna in good old San Antone this weekend... So I have taken to calling it Sauna Antonio! I went in December two years ago for a Lifeway Women's Event and sweltered in nearly 70 degree temperatures with about 110% humidity. I ended up at Brookstones buying a small battery-op'd fan and feeling like I was in early menopause. But, God still brought the Word.

OH. MY. I purchased my tickets on 9/21/2007 and the week is finally here.

As for other things in my life... This week has been rough for me the last two years. This last Friday was the anniversary of my son's accident. On that evening I was in the living room of my life group leader's house surrounded by godly women praising and worshipping the Lord. During worship I asked God to show me where He was that night three years ago and He so sweetly showed me His arms holding up mine as I praised Him for delivering Justin through the surgery for internal injuries. He showed me how He ministered to Justin in his hospital bed after the surgery when the nurses encouraged me to leave and get some sleep since we had quite a journey ahead of us. He showed me how He was in the hearts of every person who came to us, took care of us and walked this journey out with us all these months since. He is so good to us. I love Him so.

This year my declaration is the Joy of the Lord is my strength. He is, Oh He is. I have had closure this year and tremendous healing in this area of my life - I'm finally seeking freedom after all these years. TO. HIM. BE. THE. GLORY. who has the POWER to turn curses into BLESSINGS, ashes into BEAUTY, and the despair of the broken into the PRAISE of the REDEEMED! I'm so blessed by His Love, His Grace, His Mercy and His Spirit. May you be blessed by this little praise fest...

If you think of it would you say a little prayer for me on Saturday - It is the third anniversary of my son's homegoing and I miss him even if I am enraptured with my Lord's Joy!

Love Ya'll to Pieces and Bless You even more.

Our Sacred Romance

He is calling to us... Can you hear Him?

He says.... "You are mine, I've paid the Bride's price for you."

He is our Kinsman Redeemer...

He beckons us with His love... "Come to me..."

Dance with me... My Beloved Bride...

Just spend time with me... I am the Bridegroom.

I long to spend time with my Bride.

Did you know He is enthralled with your beauty? (Psalm 45:11)

He loves you lavishly. (1 John 3:1)

Behold the Bridegroom is coming to collect His Bride....

Come Away With Me My Love...

Pour Out Your Love On Him

Yesterday at church we sang this song during worship.

Worship Him with your whole heart as the words penetrate your heart and soul.

God's Girl

Last night I went to a special time of fellowship

and ministry with my Smal Group from Church.

God impressed upon many of us that He sees us as His little girl living in abandon before the Lord. He loves us, delights in us and approves of us. We are His children, he has chosen us as His treasured possession. Take some time to come before Him today and allow Him to minister to You as Daddy's Girl. He is our Daddy, our Abba, and He longs to draw us up into His lap and listen to us giggle and ramble about our day - He longs to hold us close and have us dance with abandon before Him as He offers us acceptance and approval. He says to us, "Come, My child, and spend some time with Me."

I've included some pictures to help you go to a place where He dotes on you - His Daddy's Girl!

And He wants you to know, You are His favorite.

Picture youself in His arms, Him playing with you and making you laugh!

He thinks you are precious, a delight to His heart and His eyes.

You are His girl. He delights to spend His time with you.

He delights to see us playing together, worshipping Him together and enjoying one another. Let's Twirl!

Be abandoned before Him...

Worship Him with your enthusiasm

and allow Him to love you in the jubilation of youth and life!

He longs to teach you to dance to the music of His heart...

To let you get your balance by dancing on His feet.

Life is meant to be enjoyed.

He wants to show You how beautiful He thinks you are.

Feel His arms around you as your loving Father celebrates your victories and soothes your aching heart.

He loves you so... We're swimming in His lavish love.

You are accepted in the Beloved, His child.

His Princess...

When you listen to this song, kick off your shoes,

put on your best dress and join Him in the ballroom of Heaven!

Your Father in Heaven says, "Dance with me, and know that I delight in you..."

It is finished...

Okay... So I have not written anything in OH SO LONG! Well, of course unless you count the 100 or so pages of Bible Study I just completed and the fifty or so more of leader guide to go with it. OH MY! I had no idea what it would take, but I am grateful to say I finished it in a MONTH! Four weeks. It is not the in-depth style of study that Bethie writes, but it is a Session Lesson with four or five activities for the week along with handouts and such to help them along the way! Oh Glory... I can barely stand it - now September 17th must, must, must hurry up and get here! MUST!

And, I have 6 whole days before I converge with 100s of other women in San Antonio for the LPL SIESTA FIESTA! You can read all about us here.

Be sure to pick up one of our Siesta Cookbooks - I think I submitted a recipe or two. ;o)

Well, I will be back later with some fabulous post about what I'll be wearing, how I am traveling and so on but for now - I am just going to bid you adieu and say hasta la vista, baby!

I'm BI-LINGUAL... If only in goodbyes.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN!