I’ve been here in Georgia almost 2 weeks, driving in 30-45 minutes one way each day (depending on traffic; there are a lot more people here than in McDowell County, WV), to be with my mother first in her hospital room, now I drive a longer distance to stay with her in the rehab facility. I spend about 8 hours a day there, when my brother or sister in law comes in late afternoon to also spend a few hours with her; then I go home for supper and what seems a very short evening. My brother held down the fort for nearly a week before I arrived, spending most of every day with Mom. I am glad I can share the burden of the responsibility in this small way.
Of all my siblings, my schedule is most flexible. I have my computer with me which is already set up for work away from the Mustard Seeds and Mountains’ office since I have needed to work from home more to ease my own work stress, and for when I travel every 6 months to California for cancer follow up visits. Technology is our friend (as long as it works! We won’t talk about when it doesn’t…).
Mom was medically able to be released from hospital, but otherwise she was not ready to be at home. She is still very weak and not able to care for her own personal needs so she is in a skilled nursing/rehab facility so she can gain strength and assume taking charge of caring for herself to a greater degree before going home.
The tables have turned. Whereas my mother cared for us many, many years as we grew up, and me especially when I became weak and often unable to do for myself when I was diagnosed with MG, now we, her children must take care of her. We’ve all read articles, heard the talk about, and perhaps know friends who are assuming care for aging parents. Now it has come to us. It is not easy. It is emotionally stretching; I find myself choking back tears if I let myself think about my sweet mom with her gentle ways. It calls for wisdom and strength from God and His provision as well.
Just the other day I realized what a huge opportunity for ministry the people of God have in the area of serving in various ways those who are elderly or those who have elderly parents in need of varying degrees of assistance from someone caring and capable.
Randy and I are even struggling with the very real need for ministry to those who have serious mental and/or drug problems, as we deal with people in WV; there are those who cannot live alone and safely care for themselves; yet for us, we recognize our limitations to take over such responsibility. We need dedicated, caring people who will serve those in such dire circumstances so they do not end up on the street, sinking more and more into destructive lifestyles. It breaks our hearts to see those we care for in such situations. I thank God for every person and group who reaches out in compassion and wisely cares for our more vulnerable members of society. We, as the people of God, should be in the forefront of such good works.
As typically happens for many people, we can be vaguely aware of different types of needs around us, but until one of those needs touches us personally, we may remain uninvolved, even unconcerned because of the press of our own lives. It is easy to forget. But pain and suffering, either our own or of someone we love, is a harsh teacher. It rudely opens our eyes to not only our needs but the reality that there is a world of hurt out there for many, many others.
For instance, I’ve been aware for some time that as our society ages the need for caring assistance for older people is growing; some people find it hard to afford their prescriptions, food or housing. Some get to the point that it is hard for them to stay in their home alone because they just can’t do certain things like they used to do to remain independent, either physically or mentally or both. Many folks just need a helping hand; others need much more extensive care.
As we contemplated my mother’s discharge from hospital, we realized we were not equipped to bring her home and give her the 24 hour care she needs in her present physical condition. We set in motion getting her into a facility where she will get that kind of care until she can come home. We are asking God, all along the way, to guide us, open the right doors and provide for her care. We are praying her insurance will cover the costs. What if it doesn’t? What if she is released before she can get into a skilled nursing facility? What will we do? Who can help us? How can we afford it? We will cope somehow, but see the fears we are facing? Some of you reading this know these fears intimately too, whether with elderly parents or disabled or ill loved ones, or some other need.
I am so thankful for those people who have a gift for seeing needs and doing “something” to meet them, and those of us like me who try. We can all do “something”, which is better than “nothing”. That’s what Randy teaches our teams who come on Mission as Life trips. It is one of our principles of ministry at Mustard Seeds and Mountains. Within our church families we have a ready-made opportunity to make known and our needs as well as extend ourselves to those in need. Knowing our limitations is important; knowing what we are capable of is too.
God uses His people to meet the needs of His world, both within the church and outside it. How well we know that, and are grateful for those who have sensed God leading them to partner with us in various ways as we work among the needy in McDowell County, WV, and for the many, many people who have given us a helping hand in various ways over the years. Being the “hands and feet of Jesus” is a valid concept and goal for those of us who profess to be His followers; in our homes, churches, communities and world. Let us not grow weary in doing good for others, because we will reap our reward at the right time.
With much love and gratitude,
Jacque
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
I started to put my hand in to my shoe and stopped. My fingers had brushed against something stuffed into my shoe and as I looked in I thought it looked like dark grey dryer lint.
I usually keep my old running shoes on the enclosed porch and will slip them on when I need to go into the yard. I had noticed a few days ago one of my shoes was moved off the little shelf I keep them on. I picked it up and moved it back to the shelf under the bench. Next time I walked through the porch, again the shoe had been moved. Our cats access the porch through the pet door so I figured they had been playing with my shoes. Finally, when this continued to happen, I moved my shoes into the kitchen, just inside the back door. Now, a couple days later, I needed to slip them on to go into the wet grass outside.
Something in the back of my mind held me back from plunging my hand into the mouth of my shoe, though. Grey dryer lint? How could that get into my shoe? And what are those two tiny white dots? I lifted the shoe tongue a bit and horror struck! Agh! Aghhhhh! Aghhhh! “Randy!”, I called from the kitchen. I walked to the front of the house where Randy was sitting in his office, the shoe still in my hand. The dark grey dryer lint in my shoe wasn’t dryer lint. It was a dead mole!!!! Aghhhhh!
I have a need to share moments like this with others, therefore the walk from the back of our house to the front, Randy being the only person around, just to show him the discovery I had made. Needless to say I was very glad I hadn’t stuck my hand into my shoe to remove the “lint”! I went outside and dumped the dead creature out of my shoe. Phew. Yes indeed, that thing had been there, in my house(!), decomposing the last few days. It smelled! Oh yuk.
How did that thing get into my shoe? The joy of owning cats. They hunt and bring their (dead) treasures to the back door, usually, so we can join in their triumph. “See what I got? Aren’t you proud of me?”, they seem to be saying. This time the hunter stuffed it into my shoe! Aghhhhh!
Aside from adventures with four-legged nature, we have been enjoying Spring as it creeps quietly into the yard and mountainsides. The forsythia bushes, with golden yellow branch-arms stretched out in every direction, vying for the glory due the sun, ring our yard in floral light. The daffodils, blossoms fully opened, trumpet mutely, with visual voice, “Spring is here! Rejoice!”. These glorious treasures of spring never fail to bring smiles to my heart and face. Life IS!
Life is. Because God IS. And if and when we recognize we are not the masters of all, but are in need of a savior, confessing and repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of sins, then and only then, we gain Life. His Life. The Life Jesus earned dying on the cross and was signified by His bursting forth in resurrection. That resurrection Life can now be ours by faith in Jesus Christ! It is not a trophy set on a shelf to be gazed at and admired (“see what I have”), but the ability to live a right life, day by day, a life in line with the perspective of God (He’s given us His word to know what that is), the life in communion with Him He meant us to live since the day He created Adam and Eve. This Life is none other than God Himself in us by His Holy Spirit. And this Life won’t end when our bodies die. It is Life that triumphs over the grave and will carry us though all eternity. Life with no end. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:3.
Springtime is a great reminder of life, renewed life. A reminder to give thanks. For the life we have in Jesus Christ gives us a reason to keep getting up in the morning, even when we don’t feel like it. This life gives us a reason to keep praising and thanking God for His lovingkindness to us, shown daily, even when we don’t want to praise and thank God because of the hurt, disappointment or pain in our lives which seem to take up all our vision. We know, even in the midst of pain and struggle in this life, that God is good and worthy of our praise. And we learn that especially when we don’t feel like praising and thanking Him is when we must. We then prove the Life in us.
And so we can be like the Spring blossoms which shout God’s praise and wisdom, even in a world that looks dead and hopeless.
Jacque
I usually keep my old running shoes on the enclosed porch and will slip them on when I need to go into the yard. I had noticed a few days ago one of my shoes was moved off the little shelf I keep them on. I picked it up and moved it back to the shelf under the bench. Next time I walked through the porch, again the shoe had been moved. Our cats access the porch through the pet door so I figured they had been playing with my shoes. Finally, when this continued to happen, I moved my shoes into the kitchen, just inside the back door. Now, a couple days later, I needed to slip them on to go into the wet grass outside.
Something in the back of my mind held me back from plunging my hand into the mouth of my shoe, though. Grey dryer lint? How could that get into my shoe? And what are those two tiny white dots? I lifted the shoe tongue a bit and horror struck! Agh! Aghhhhh! Aghhhh! “Randy!”, I called from the kitchen. I walked to the front of the house where Randy was sitting in his office, the shoe still in my hand. The dark grey dryer lint in my shoe wasn’t dryer lint. It was a dead mole!!!! Aghhhhh!
I have a need to share moments like this with others, therefore the walk from the back of our house to the front, Randy being the only person around, just to show him the discovery I had made. Needless to say I was very glad I hadn’t stuck my hand into my shoe to remove the “lint”! I went outside and dumped the dead creature out of my shoe. Phew. Yes indeed, that thing had been there, in my house(!), decomposing the last few days. It smelled! Oh yuk.
How did that thing get into my shoe? The joy of owning cats. They hunt and bring their (dead) treasures to the back door, usually, so we can join in their triumph. “See what I got? Aren’t you proud of me?”, they seem to be saying. This time the hunter stuffed it into my shoe! Aghhhhh!
Aside from adventures with four-legged nature, we have been enjoying Spring as it creeps quietly into the yard and mountainsides. The forsythia bushes, with golden yellow branch-arms stretched out in every direction, vying for the glory due the sun, ring our yard in floral light. The daffodils, blossoms fully opened, trumpet mutely, with visual voice, “Spring is here! Rejoice!”. These glorious treasures of spring never fail to bring smiles to my heart and face. Life IS!
Life is. Because God IS. And if and when we recognize we are not the masters of all, but are in need of a savior, confessing and repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of sins, then and only then, we gain Life. His Life. The Life Jesus earned dying on the cross and was signified by His bursting forth in resurrection. That resurrection Life can now be ours by faith in Jesus Christ! It is not a trophy set on a shelf to be gazed at and admired (“see what I have”), but the ability to live a right life, day by day, a life in line with the perspective of God (He’s given us His word to know what that is), the life in communion with Him He meant us to live since the day He created Adam and Eve. This Life is none other than God Himself in us by His Holy Spirit. And this Life won’t end when our bodies die. It is Life that triumphs over the grave and will carry us though all eternity. Life with no end. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:3.
Springtime is a great reminder of life, renewed life. A reminder to give thanks. For the life we have in Jesus Christ gives us a reason to keep getting up in the morning, even when we don’t feel like it. This life gives us a reason to keep praising and thanking God for His lovingkindness to us, shown daily, even when we don’t want to praise and thank God because of the hurt, disappointment or pain in our lives which seem to take up all our vision. We know, even in the midst of pain and struggle in this life, that God is good and worthy of our praise. And we learn that especially when we don’t feel like praising and thanking Him is when we must. We then prove the Life in us.
And so we can be like the Spring blossoms which shout God’s praise and wisdom, even in a world that looks dead and hopeless.
Jacque
Saturday, March 13, 2010
It is always nice getting home after being away, isn’t it. After being gone for nearly a month, spending half that time in California and half in Georgia, we arrived home Monday, a beautiful sunny day; it is good to be back home.
Third day back I was finally seeing the top of my dining table where piles of opened mail had taken up residence. It took me an hour to open all that mail on Tuesday! The neat thing is the calm and peace I have while I methodically empty suitcases and go through piles of laundry as well as piles of mail, the rest of the house waiting until I can get to those other chores. And that is just at home! I’ve had to catch up at the Mustard Seeds office as well. Thankfully all is well around here, no unpleasant surprises (our house is still standing, no broken water pipes, etc.).
Well, no surprises arising from home base, but there were a couple from the medical insurance. Some unexpected claim denials which potentially could cost us a lot of money, were in the mail awaiting us. I’ve spent lots of time on the phone this week looking into these issues. I would ask you to pray they will be settled in such a way that either the insurance will cover the costs or the provider (doctor or hospital) will write off the uncovered portion. We already are paying multiple medical bills (they never seem to end…and we aren’t growing younger!).
While in Roswell, GA, I was able to spend many days with my mom, who lives with one of my brothers and sister in law, while Randy drove to the Charleston, SC, area for a week-end missions conference in a supporting church there, and since we stayed the following week in the Atlanta area to attend the mission emphasis Sunday (March 7) at our home church in Roswell, I had those days as well to visit her. Important time. Mom has always been one to serve her family, always “there” for us. Now it is our opportunity to serve her. My brother and his wife have taken on the bulk of that ministry and I know God is blessing them for it. I will try to be there as much as I can, as well. Please pray for mom and the rest of us, too, as we learn the ministry of “being” to our mother.
When I was in GA I began to have facial weakness. I haven’t had any such weakness for over a year. I was wondering if it was a combination of the stress of the sickness which put me in the ICU in Charlotte, NC, in early February, and the travel and being on the go for the past 31/2 weeks following close on the heels of being so sick. Plus I have continued cutting back on the immune system suppressing drug for MG. Will you pray for me to increase in strength and not continue to experience weakness? I am going to the Lord, too.
Hmmm. The end of March my son Seth will celebrate his birthday. I was telling my other daughter-in-law that even though your children grow up and become adults, and you interact with them as adults, as a parent you have all that history of infancy, childhood and adolescence in the back of your consciousness; the pictures in the mind of the cute baby and child he was. An adult child will always be your “child”, to a parent. So when we look at our grown children, even though we relate to them as adults, with all that history, the love we have for them is different when compared to that for other adults we interact with. (Am I making sense here? This is fancier verbal footwork than line dancing, and “you know I can’t dance”!).
Now my son, who has a son himself, is anticipating the entrance into our world of his second child about a month following his own birthday celebration. And I am so happy for that little one (boy or girl, we will announce when we know!) knowing that he or she is part of a loving family, one happily anticipating his or her arrival.
It has been a joy to see our 2 sons and their wives (the daughters I never had before) establish loving, healthy, godly families. “I have no greater joy than this, to see my children walking in the truth.” III John 4. When you pray for Randy and me, won’t you also lift up our children and their children, too? They are fruit of our lives and we thank God for them.
Jacque
Third day back I was finally seeing the top of my dining table where piles of opened mail had taken up residence. It took me an hour to open all that mail on Tuesday! The neat thing is the calm and peace I have while I methodically empty suitcases and go through piles of laundry as well as piles of mail, the rest of the house waiting until I can get to those other chores. And that is just at home! I’ve had to catch up at the Mustard Seeds office as well. Thankfully all is well around here, no unpleasant surprises (our house is still standing, no broken water pipes, etc.).
Well, no surprises arising from home base, but there were a couple from the medical insurance. Some unexpected claim denials which potentially could cost us a lot of money, were in the mail awaiting us. I’ve spent lots of time on the phone this week looking into these issues. I would ask you to pray they will be settled in such a way that either the insurance will cover the costs or the provider (doctor or hospital) will write off the uncovered portion. We already are paying multiple medical bills (they never seem to end…and we aren’t growing younger!).
While in Roswell, GA, I was able to spend many days with my mom, who lives with one of my brothers and sister in law, while Randy drove to the Charleston, SC, area for a week-end missions conference in a supporting church there, and since we stayed the following week in the Atlanta area to attend the mission emphasis Sunday (March 7) at our home church in Roswell, I had those days as well to visit her. Important time. Mom has always been one to serve her family, always “there” for us. Now it is our opportunity to serve her. My brother and his wife have taken on the bulk of that ministry and I know God is blessing them for it. I will try to be there as much as I can, as well. Please pray for mom and the rest of us, too, as we learn the ministry of “being” to our mother.
When I was in GA I began to have facial weakness. I haven’t had any such weakness for over a year. I was wondering if it was a combination of the stress of the sickness which put me in the ICU in Charlotte, NC, in early February, and the travel and being on the go for the past 31/2 weeks following close on the heels of being so sick. Plus I have continued cutting back on the immune system suppressing drug for MG. Will you pray for me to increase in strength and not continue to experience weakness? I am going to the Lord, too.
Hmmm. The end of March my son Seth will celebrate his birthday. I was telling my other daughter-in-law that even though your children grow up and become adults, and you interact with them as adults, as a parent you have all that history of infancy, childhood and adolescence in the back of your consciousness; the pictures in the mind of the cute baby and child he was. An adult child will always be your “child”, to a parent. So when we look at our grown children, even though we relate to them as adults, with all that history, the love we have for them is different when compared to that for other adults we interact with. (Am I making sense here? This is fancier verbal footwork than line dancing, and “you know I can’t dance”!).
Now my son, who has a son himself, is anticipating the entrance into our world of his second child about a month following his own birthday celebration. And I am so happy for that little one (boy or girl, we will announce when we know!) knowing that he or she is part of a loving family, one happily anticipating his or her arrival.
It has been a joy to see our 2 sons and their wives (the daughters I never had before) establish loving, healthy, godly families. “I have no greater joy than this, to see my children walking in the truth.” III John 4. When you pray for Randy and me, won’t you also lift up our children and their children, too? They are fruit of our lives and we thank God for them.
Jacque
Friday, February 26, 2010
Ten days is just too short a time…to visit with family, friends and doctors. This time round I had 5 extra unanticipated doctor and test appointments! We were graciously loaned a car by Seth and Melissa, as well as had access to Jeremy and Monica’s cars so we could freely get around. Randy took me to most of my appointments so he was kept busy chauffeuring me around!
I thank the Lord the cancer doctor had no bad news for me. My cardiologist said there is no improvement in my heart function so I stay on the current heart meds. I return for checkups to both doctors in 6 months, which will be August.
My unanticipated appointments arose from having to see my primary care physician following my release from the hospital in Charlotte, NC, where I had been in ICU for 3 days. Since there was no time for seeing my doctor in WV between getting back home from NC and driving to Atlanta for our flight out to CA from there, I made an appointment with my California primary care doctor (doctors, doctors everywhere!). He ordered blood tests and a couple days later called for me to come to his office. He had inadvertently marked the box for the ovarian cancer test rather than the breast cancer test and had the results for that. Mine came back with high numbers, meaning there was the possibility I have ovarian cancer! This test gives false positives and negatives so the wise move is to have another test to further investigate. For me that was an abdominal CAT scan, which was done the next day. All went well with the test and a few days later, again to the doctor’s office. The CAT scan was normal…thank God…but my doctor said I need to have this followed up on and he recommends retesting about every 3 months.
Do I need your continued prayers? Yes! I am not worried about this but it is…unnerving, I guess I would call it. It is troubling but I am too busy living life to let this put the brakes on for me. I am concerned about continuing to suppress my immune system, which is done for the MG, because I know this makes me many more times vulnerable to sickness and disease. Healthy people get cancer! How much more could I!
Yet God is in control of all these things. He holds my life and health in His hands. I will not be shaken. “Shaken”. Don’t you just love those words and turns of phrase? I do. They, to me are rich and deep. Solid. As in a deeply dug foundation.
That’s what you need in an earthquake, a deep foundation. We experienced 3 tremors (earthquake tremors) while in CA. That can be unnerving! But we have been in much worse shaking of the ground. It has just been a few years. The second set I felt while visiting my friend in her home…whose house is built on rock. The jolt others felt wasn’t nearly such a jolt for us, I heard later. Founded on the rock. No wonder that metaphor is used so often.
I know, and daily confirm to myself and before the universe of created beings, that my life is founded on the Rock, Jesus Christ. So whatever comes along to shake my world, my life, isn’t nearly as bad as it could be. What has potential to knock me off my foundation doesn’t have that force when the “footers” of my foundation go deeply into the Rock, the Eternal Rock, the Rock of the Ages.
How do we come to that point? How do we know we are grounded in the Rock, Jesus? By doing what He says! “He who hears my words and does them, putting them into practice, is like a man who built his house on a rock…”.
Read the Word and do the “red” words. You will not be shaken.
Jacque
I thank the Lord the cancer doctor had no bad news for me. My cardiologist said there is no improvement in my heart function so I stay on the current heart meds. I return for checkups to both doctors in 6 months, which will be August.
My unanticipated appointments arose from having to see my primary care physician following my release from the hospital in Charlotte, NC, where I had been in ICU for 3 days. Since there was no time for seeing my doctor in WV between getting back home from NC and driving to Atlanta for our flight out to CA from there, I made an appointment with my California primary care doctor (doctors, doctors everywhere!). He ordered blood tests and a couple days later called for me to come to his office. He had inadvertently marked the box for the ovarian cancer test rather than the breast cancer test and had the results for that. Mine came back with high numbers, meaning there was the possibility I have ovarian cancer! This test gives false positives and negatives so the wise move is to have another test to further investigate. For me that was an abdominal CAT scan, which was done the next day. All went well with the test and a few days later, again to the doctor’s office. The CAT scan was normal…thank God…but my doctor said I need to have this followed up on and he recommends retesting about every 3 months.
Do I need your continued prayers? Yes! I am not worried about this but it is…unnerving, I guess I would call it. It is troubling but I am too busy living life to let this put the brakes on for me. I am concerned about continuing to suppress my immune system, which is done for the MG, because I know this makes me many more times vulnerable to sickness and disease. Healthy people get cancer! How much more could I!
Yet God is in control of all these things. He holds my life and health in His hands. I will not be shaken. “Shaken”. Don’t you just love those words and turns of phrase? I do. They, to me are rich and deep. Solid. As in a deeply dug foundation.
That’s what you need in an earthquake, a deep foundation. We experienced 3 tremors (earthquake tremors) while in CA. That can be unnerving! But we have been in much worse shaking of the ground. It has just been a few years. The second set I felt while visiting my friend in her home…whose house is built on rock. The jolt others felt wasn’t nearly such a jolt for us, I heard later. Founded on the rock. No wonder that metaphor is used so often.
I know, and daily confirm to myself and before the universe of created beings, that my life is founded on the Rock, Jesus Christ. So whatever comes along to shake my world, my life, isn’t nearly as bad as it could be. What has potential to knock me off my foundation doesn’t have that force when the “footers” of my foundation go deeply into the Rock, the Eternal Rock, the Rock of the Ages.
How do we come to that point? How do we know we are grounded in the Rock, Jesus? By doing what He says! “He who hears my words and does them, putting them into practice, is like a man who built his house on a rock…”.
Read the Word and do the “red” words. You will not be shaken.
Jacque
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
I was walking down the street and suddenly something jumped out and hit me with a 2 by 4, knocking me down and out. Well…not exactly, but the mental impact of the events of this past weekend are not dissimilar.
Last Thursday, February 4, Randy and I drove to Charlotte, NC, so I could fly out from the airport there to California for my cancer follow up appointments. We came down Thursday, a day early, to beat bad weather coming in on Friday. It was a good plan.
Things took a turn for the nightmarish after we ate microwave dinners. I didn’t feel good and went to bed but that was short-lived as I started running to the bathroom for the next few hours. I went into severe chills at which time Randy took me to a nearby hospital ER (Presbyterian Hospital) around 1 AM Friday. Three and a half hours later I was admitted and climbed into a bed (oh bliss) and given an anti-nausea IV. By then I was beginning to feel better but was exhausted. I had all kinds of tests run, including a blood test for bacterial infection, the results of which, coming in daily have been negative, however, they have a 4-5 day wait period for final results. We and the doctors still do not know if this was food poisoning (which we initially suspected) or a virus. Whatever it was knocked me for a loop…down and out.
I was badly dehydrated so was pumped full of fluids to try to replenish those I lost. My blood pressure was not stable but later in the afternoon Friday things seemed to smooth out and there was talk of releasing me from ER to go home (or back to the hotel, in our case). Then my blood pressure tanked. As I recall it was something around 76/55, or some such unreal number. The doctor said I was going into shock and they had to keep me in the hospital. I was transferred to ICU later that day. I did a lot of dozing and sleeping that day and the next, and more and more tubes and wires ran from my body. The doctors and nurses were excellent and we are very grateful for the good care I received.
Randy was with me the whole time. He hadn’t slept all night either, of course. Friday morning 2 friends from the Charlotte area came to visit me in ER (I was in their ER ICU unit most of Friday until moved to regular ICU later that day). The parents of Bob Hammond, our neighbor and co-worker at Mustard Seeds, came in to see me, along with their daughter who also works at the hospital. It was so kind of them to come by and offer their prayers as well as hospitality if we needed it. None of us knew then that later that weekend Mr. Hammond, Sr., would himself be going to the hospital as a patient. Do hold him up in prayer as the doctors determine what is wrong and find a treatment to help him.
Shortly after the Hammond’s left, our friend of many years, Lynn, came in to see us. Her husband, Jerry, was out of town (arriving back Sunday and visiting briefly with us even though I am sure he was tired!) but she and her son, Joel, offered Randy their guest room when he needed it, which he gratefully accepted Saturday night. Lynn went above and beyond in her commitment to care for us: Randy got sick that Saturday night and ended up in ER Sunday morning! Lynn spent time between the 2 of us and made special trips on our behalf. We owe her a debt of gratitude. Maybe we can take her up on her offer to visit them sometime and see other, more pleasant, sights of Charlotte!
Randy received IV fluids and was released from ER in a few hours, joining me in my ICU room. Earlier I had called one of my sons in California (Randy had been keeping them and others updated on my situation) and told them about Dad being sick now and in ER. I had been holding it together until the phone began to ring and I just couldn’t keep from getting choked up as Jeremy came on the phone. I felt so bad not being able to be with Randy now when he was sick. I could pray… and I had to leave things in God’s hands. And of course, he has very strong, capable hands, often demonstrated through other people. Jeremy was ready to fly out here from CA but I told him we’d be ok. Others had also been praying and offering assistance in various ways. As it was my brother Daniel, in Atlanta, called shortly after and said he and his wife Michele and my Mom, who lives with them, were packing and would be on the road to Charlotte very soon. They wanted to be there for us in this trying time. What a blessing it was to be with them and also know so many others were standing with us all the time as well. We are deeply grateful. They all are visible manifestations of the Good Hand of God.
As a result of being sick and hospitalized it was necessary to cancel at least 2 of my doctor’s appointments and cancel my plane ticket to CA. Thankfully, my doctor visits have been rescheduled for the time I will be in CA and I should get a refund of the flight cost or some of it, through flight insurance (do pray that goes through!). Randy was already scheduled to fly out to CA the week after me (Feb 14th) so I was able, once home again Tuesday afternoon, to book my flight to CA on the plane Randy will be traveling on! I am so happy about that. There were about 3 or 4 seats left on the 2 legs of the flight needed. All I needed was one.
So where did that “2X4” come from? Oh, isn’t it tempting to ask that? Lord, what is going on? As you can see, getting a case of food poisoning or the flu (whatever it was), can really throw me for a loop. But as Randy and I thought about it, we realized there is much to be thankful for, even in the midst of this very unpleasant situation.
First of all, I am grateful for the good hospital, doctors and nurses we had. Presbyterian Hospital is apparently one of the best around…and we were directed there. Next, I thought that if this had hit me even 2 years ago I would not have been strong enough to go through it as well as I did this week end. The stress of throwing up (to put it nicely) would have severely affected my strength and made it very easy to aspirate or choke…to death. I’ve almost done that one. I had to be intubated (so I could breathe) on the spot, one of the scariest and unpleasant experiences around (this was back in CA in the 1980’s). As it is I was strong, and though I became very ill, I was able to go through this ordeal and come out just as strong…and did not have to be put on life support. To Randy and me, this is a miracle. It is the first time in my life since being diagnosed with MG that this has ever happened. Even in the midst of trial, there is that for which we can praise God, and I aim to do that!
We also see this as an attack, along with some other kinds of attacks on our staff, by the evil one. We just concluded a week of intensive prayer, 12 hours a day for 7 days, each staff person taking several 4 hour shifts. Like Randy says, perhaps we ended too soon; we’ve just kicked the hornet’s nest and made them mad. We must keep the spirit of prayer in the work, take time for focused prayer and move ahead with the work God is calling us to do…alongside Him.
Of course, I don’t pretend to know and understand all the spiritual dynamics of what is going on behind the scenes. But I know there is a behind the scenes which is very real, with real good guys and real bad guys. Even our prayers can assist the good guys as they tend to the business of obeying God as He listens to our prayers and sends His messengers, the good guys, to carry out His answers, His will. Our lives do have meaning and purpose. I should never take life lightly, that is, how I live my life, because it has great impact on others.
So whatever comes my way, or yours, is no mistake, no happenstance. It is for the purpose of bringing glory to God, even though our enemy means it for evil in our lives. I hope I can rightly do so today.
Thank you for your prayers!
Jacque
Last Thursday, February 4, Randy and I drove to Charlotte, NC, so I could fly out from the airport there to California for my cancer follow up appointments. We came down Thursday, a day early, to beat bad weather coming in on Friday. It was a good plan.
Things took a turn for the nightmarish after we ate microwave dinners. I didn’t feel good and went to bed but that was short-lived as I started running to the bathroom for the next few hours. I went into severe chills at which time Randy took me to a nearby hospital ER (Presbyterian Hospital) around 1 AM Friday. Three and a half hours later I was admitted and climbed into a bed (oh bliss) and given an anti-nausea IV. By then I was beginning to feel better but was exhausted. I had all kinds of tests run, including a blood test for bacterial infection, the results of which, coming in daily have been negative, however, they have a 4-5 day wait period for final results. We and the doctors still do not know if this was food poisoning (which we initially suspected) or a virus. Whatever it was knocked me for a loop…down and out.
I was badly dehydrated so was pumped full of fluids to try to replenish those I lost. My blood pressure was not stable but later in the afternoon Friday things seemed to smooth out and there was talk of releasing me from ER to go home (or back to the hotel, in our case). Then my blood pressure tanked. As I recall it was something around 76/55, or some such unreal number. The doctor said I was going into shock and they had to keep me in the hospital. I was transferred to ICU later that day. I did a lot of dozing and sleeping that day and the next, and more and more tubes and wires ran from my body. The doctors and nurses were excellent and we are very grateful for the good care I received.
Randy was with me the whole time. He hadn’t slept all night either, of course. Friday morning 2 friends from the Charlotte area came to visit me in ER (I was in their ER ICU unit most of Friday until moved to regular ICU later that day). The parents of Bob Hammond, our neighbor and co-worker at Mustard Seeds, came in to see me, along with their daughter who also works at the hospital. It was so kind of them to come by and offer their prayers as well as hospitality if we needed it. None of us knew then that later that weekend Mr. Hammond, Sr., would himself be going to the hospital as a patient. Do hold him up in prayer as the doctors determine what is wrong and find a treatment to help him.
Shortly after the Hammond’s left, our friend of many years, Lynn, came in to see us. Her husband, Jerry, was out of town (arriving back Sunday and visiting briefly with us even though I am sure he was tired!) but she and her son, Joel, offered Randy their guest room when he needed it, which he gratefully accepted Saturday night. Lynn went above and beyond in her commitment to care for us: Randy got sick that Saturday night and ended up in ER Sunday morning! Lynn spent time between the 2 of us and made special trips on our behalf. We owe her a debt of gratitude. Maybe we can take her up on her offer to visit them sometime and see other, more pleasant, sights of Charlotte!
Randy received IV fluids and was released from ER in a few hours, joining me in my ICU room. Earlier I had called one of my sons in California (Randy had been keeping them and others updated on my situation) and told them about Dad being sick now and in ER. I had been holding it together until the phone began to ring and I just couldn’t keep from getting choked up as Jeremy came on the phone. I felt so bad not being able to be with Randy now when he was sick. I could pray… and I had to leave things in God’s hands. And of course, he has very strong, capable hands, often demonstrated through other people. Jeremy was ready to fly out here from CA but I told him we’d be ok. Others had also been praying and offering assistance in various ways. As it was my brother Daniel, in Atlanta, called shortly after and said he and his wife Michele and my Mom, who lives with them, were packing and would be on the road to Charlotte very soon. They wanted to be there for us in this trying time. What a blessing it was to be with them and also know so many others were standing with us all the time as well. We are deeply grateful. They all are visible manifestations of the Good Hand of God.
As a result of being sick and hospitalized it was necessary to cancel at least 2 of my doctor’s appointments and cancel my plane ticket to CA. Thankfully, my doctor visits have been rescheduled for the time I will be in CA and I should get a refund of the flight cost or some of it, through flight insurance (do pray that goes through!). Randy was already scheduled to fly out to CA the week after me (Feb 14th) so I was able, once home again Tuesday afternoon, to book my flight to CA on the plane Randy will be traveling on! I am so happy about that. There were about 3 or 4 seats left on the 2 legs of the flight needed. All I needed was one.
So where did that “2X4” come from? Oh, isn’t it tempting to ask that? Lord, what is going on? As you can see, getting a case of food poisoning or the flu (whatever it was), can really throw me for a loop. But as Randy and I thought about it, we realized there is much to be thankful for, even in the midst of this very unpleasant situation.
First of all, I am grateful for the good hospital, doctors and nurses we had. Presbyterian Hospital is apparently one of the best around…and we were directed there. Next, I thought that if this had hit me even 2 years ago I would not have been strong enough to go through it as well as I did this week end. The stress of throwing up (to put it nicely) would have severely affected my strength and made it very easy to aspirate or choke…to death. I’ve almost done that one. I had to be intubated (so I could breathe) on the spot, one of the scariest and unpleasant experiences around (this was back in CA in the 1980’s). As it is I was strong, and though I became very ill, I was able to go through this ordeal and come out just as strong…and did not have to be put on life support. To Randy and me, this is a miracle. It is the first time in my life since being diagnosed with MG that this has ever happened. Even in the midst of trial, there is that for which we can praise God, and I aim to do that!
We also see this as an attack, along with some other kinds of attacks on our staff, by the evil one. We just concluded a week of intensive prayer, 12 hours a day for 7 days, each staff person taking several 4 hour shifts. Like Randy says, perhaps we ended too soon; we’ve just kicked the hornet’s nest and made them mad. We must keep the spirit of prayer in the work, take time for focused prayer and move ahead with the work God is calling us to do…alongside Him.
Of course, I don’t pretend to know and understand all the spiritual dynamics of what is going on behind the scenes. But I know there is a behind the scenes which is very real, with real good guys and real bad guys. Even our prayers can assist the good guys as they tend to the business of obeying God as He listens to our prayers and sends His messengers, the good guys, to carry out His answers, His will. Our lives do have meaning and purpose. I should never take life lightly, that is, how I live my life, because it has great impact on others.
So whatever comes my way, or yours, is no mistake, no happenstance. It is for the purpose of bringing glory to God, even though our enemy means it for evil in our lives. I hope I can rightly do so today.
Thank you for your prayers!
Jacque
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Hard to believe a month has gone by since I last put my thoughts on this computer screen to publish on my blog. Christmas, New Year. Getting used to writing “10” instead of “09” for the date. Grudgingly giving up the nostalgia of Christmas, resident in the lights and garlands, for ordinary life without those visuals, recognizing the real essence of Christmas is Emmanuel, God with us; Jesus resident in me all year, every day. Living worthy of Him is then my life goal.
This week, Sunday, January 24 through Saturday, January 30 is Mustard Seeds and Mountains’ prayer vigil week, 12 hours of prayer by staff each day. Each staff person (there are 7 of us currently) takes several 4 hour prayer shifts during the week, going to a designated “warfare prayer” room in the Manse. We have taped up on the walls of the room large flip chart pages filled with various items for prayer. We spend time seeking the face of the Lord, listening for and to Him, as well as interceding. We are expecting great things from the Lord.
Mustard Seeds’ staff has done this kind of concentrated prayer twice in the past and it has always been a powerful time in the lives of the staff involved, not to mention the works of the Lord in answer to prayer in the community. Some of our former staff, and our new staff couple raising support to come here and serve, hearing about our prayer time commitment, have asked to join us long distance. Even though they cannot be here with us in McDowell County, they are setting aside time for prayer where they are. We emailed them copies of our prayer items so they can be praying for the same things.
We invite you, if you feel so inclined, to join us as well! We would love to email you our prayer needs and have you pick a time in which you join us in prayer.
February 6 I fly to California for several doctor appointments. Pray for my continued healing from a weakened heart, the cancer, and myasthenia gravis. God has graciously given me strength each day to continue to cut back on the immunosuppressant drug I am on for the MG. It is great to be able to talk and laugh, to have energy and strength to do…stuff, everyday tasks as well as interact more with people. I will always point to God for these gifts and praise Him. There is no luck nor happenstance about my life! I will praise Him every morning. I will praise Him every day. I will praise Him as long as I have breath.
Jacque
This week, Sunday, January 24 through Saturday, January 30 is Mustard Seeds and Mountains’ prayer vigil week, 12 hours of prayer by staff each day. Each staff person (there are 7 of us currently) takes several 4 hour prayer shifts during the week, going to a designated “warfare prayer” room in the Manse. We have taped up on the walls of the room large flip chart pages filled with various items for prayer. We spend time seeking the face of the Lord, listening for and to Him, as well as interceding. We are expecting great things from the Lord.
Mustard Seeds’ staff has done this kind of concentrated prayer twice in the past and it has always been a powerful time in the lives of the staff involved, not to mention the works of the Lord in answer to prayer in the community. Some of our former staff, and our new staff couple raising support to come here and serve, hearing about our prayer time commitment, have asked to join us long distance. Even though they cannot be here with us in McDowell County, they are setting aside time for prayer where they are. We emailed them copies of our prayer items so they can be praying for the same things.
We invite you, if you feel so inclined, to join us as well! We would love to email you our prayer needs and have you pick a time in which you join us in prayer.
February 6 I fly to California for several doctor appointments. Pray for my continued healing from a weakened heart, the cancer, and myasthenia gravis. God has graciously given me strength each day to continue to cut back on the immunosuppressant drug I am on for the MG. It is great to be able to talk and laugh, to have energy and strength to do…stuff, everyday tasks as well as interact more with people. I will always point to God for these gifts and praise Him. There is no luck nor happenstance about my life! I will praise Him every morning. I will praise Him every day. I will praise Him as long as I have breath.
Jacque
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Joyous Christmas! Joyous because we celebrate the birthday of our King, Jesus the Christ. May He get lots of presents on His birthday!
Sometimes it is easy to forget Jesus is not an absentee King. Just because we cannot see Him as the disciples did, in a visible body like ours, doesn’t mean He isn’t here. He is very much Present with us who have put all our trust in Him to deliver us from our sins and promised us eternal life. He is busy at work in our world and calls us to join Him. What an unspeakable privilege!
There is so much work we do just to live in this world which must be done over and over again, yet will not last past this world. And now in the midst of that tedious yet necessary work, Jesus calls us and commands us to be about His work which will last through all eternity! Climb on board! (If you’ve been here on a mission trip with Mustard Seeds and Mountains you’ve probably heard Randy’s train parable. It is true!)
Being involved in people’s lives can be, and usually is, “messy”, as one of our former interns sagely observed. I am learning to keep my eyes on Jesus, as the scripture plainly says to do, so that my Perspective will be continually corrected to see as God sees things, and not get caught up in emotion and the ideas that abundantly propagate from people in the world, or even well meaning followers of Jesus, all around me. God alone knows best. In the heat of battle I must look to my Commander for my directives, not the enemy or even my fellowmen. I am so thankful for God’s Word! I am so grateful for His Spirit Who guides and teaches.
This past month has been full yet not overfull. There is always more to do than I have time for each day, yet God gives us only so many hours each day and energy to go with those hours so no sense fretting over that unfinished to-do list! The hours allotted are not going to change, so our expectations of what we can accomplish have to! Life is more enjoyable and we are easier to live with, too.
Randy and I are now preparing to travel to PA for a Christmas family reunion, although 2 of my brothers will be absent. It has been a few years since my siblings and Mom have been together. Though our own children and grandchildren will be in California, we have spent the last 2 Christmas’s with them and that has been a joy and a privilege.
Randy and I will be traveling again to CA in February for the next set of follow up appointments for me. I will be doing this every few months for the next several years. The upside of that travel and expense is we get to see our kids and grandkids when we go out. We will miss the birth of our next grandchild by 2 months this time, unfortunately, because he or she is due end of April. But Seth and Melissa and children are planning a trip back east this summer at which time they will be coming here for a visit. We are looking forward to having them all here, the first time in West Virginia for Caleb who is 3 years old!
Jaime, our newest grandson, is slowly showing improvement in his bout with colic and reflux. He and his parents will be very happy when he out grows this! We are so thankful for God’s mercy that everyone is otherwise healthy and faring well.
Randy has been working on the final edits of the book “Mission as Life”. He may be self publishing; we’ve been seeking the Lord’s guidance on this. Your prayers are appreciated as he moves through this process, choosing a publishing company and setting up meetings and conferences to promote the book. We see it as a tool to help parents build Kingdom vision in their families, to push forward God’s agenda in this world. In fact, if you are interested in having him come speak to your church or a group, once the book is in hand, please contact us!
Randy’s skin cancer surgery went quickly and well. He is healing up now. We pray this will be the end of this kind of thing. I haven’t had another incident of legs going useless. I had an MRI which, though I haven’t seen the doctor for an official read of the results, her office indicated it must be normal or the doctor would have called me. So life goes on as usual. I am so thankful Randy and I have been healthy this year, no colds or sickness.
I have been remaining strong as I cut back slowly on the…do you really want to know the name of the drug??? The generic for CellCept is Mycophenolate Mofetil. Yessiree! And I’ve heard it murdered more than once in the pronunciation! Can’t blame them! Anyway, this drug is a strong suppressor of the immune system, given to recipients of donor organs. But almost from the beginning of the time I started taking it, several years ago, I’ve prayed I could one day come off it. Isn’t God good. (That is a statement, not a question!)
Let’s worship this Good God with the gift He most desires, our living sacrifice of ourselves to Him. He is Worthy.
Jacque
Sometimes it is easy to forget Jesus is not an absentee King. Just because we cannot see Him as the disciples did, in a visible body like ours, doesn’t mean He isn’t here. He is very much Present with us who have put all our trust in Him to deliver us from our sins and promised us eternal life. He is busy at work in our world and calls us to join Him. What an unspeakable privilege!
There is so much work we do just to live in this world which must be done over and over again, yet will not last past this world. And now in the midst of that tedious yet necessary work, Jesus calls us and commands us to be about His work which will last through all eternity! Climb on board! (If you’ve been here on a mission trip with Mustard Seeds and Mountains you’ve probably heard Randy’s train parable. It is true!)
Being involved in people’s lives can be, and usually is, “messy”, as one of our former interns sagely observed. I am learning to keep my eyes on Jesus, as the scripture plainly says to do, so that my Perspective will be continually corrected to see as God sees things, and not get caught up in emotion and the ideas that abundantly propagate from people in the world, or even well meaning followers of Jesus, all around me. God alone knows best. In the heat of battle I must look to my Commander for my directives, not the enemy or even my fellowmen. I am so thankful for God’s Word! I am so grateful for His Spirit Who guides and teaches.
This past month has been full yet not overfull. There is always more to do than I have time for each day, yet God gives us only so many hours each day and energy to go with those hours so no sense fretting over that unfinished to-do list! The hours allotted are not going to change, so our expectations of what we can accomplish have to! Life is more enjoyable and we are easier to live with, too.
Randy and I are now preparing to travel to PA for a Christmas family reunion, although 2 of my brothers will be absent. It has been a few years since my siblings and Mom have been together. Though our own children and grandchildren will be in California, we have spent the last 2 Christmas’s with them and that has been a joy and a privilege.
Randy and I will be traveling again to CA in February for the next set of follow up appointments for me. I will be doing this every few months for the next several years. The upside of that travel and expense is we get to see our kids and grandkids when we go out. We will miss the birth of our next grandchild by 2 months this time, unfortunately, because he or she is due end of April. But Seth and Melissa and children are planning a trip back east this summer at which time they will be coming here for a visit. We are looking forward to having them all here, the first time in West Virginia for Caleb who is 3 years old!
Jaime, our newest grandson, is slowly showing improvement in his bout with colic and reflux. He and his parents will be very happy when he out grows this! We are so thankful for God’s mercy that everyone is otherwise healthy and faring well.
Randy has been working on the final edits of the book “Mission as Life”. He may be self publishing; we’ve been seeking the Lord’s guidance on this. Your prayers are appreciated as he moves through this process, choosing a publishing company and setting up meetings and conferences to promote the book. We see it as a tool to help parents build Kingdom vision in their families, to push forward God’s agenda in this world. In fact, if you are interested in having him come speak to your church or a group, once the book is in hand, please contact us!
Randy’s skin cancer surgery went quickly and well. He is healing up now. We pray this will be the end of this kind of thing. I haven’t had another incident of legs going useless. I had an MRI which, though I haven’t seen the doctor for an official read of the results, her office indicated it must be normal or the doctor would have called me. So life goes on as usual. I am so thankful Randy and I have been healthy this year, no colds or sickness.
I have been remaining strong as I cut back slowly on the…do you really want to know the name of the drug??? The generic for CellCept is Mycophenolate Mofetil. Yessiree! And I’ve heard it murdered more than once in the pronunciation! Can’t blame them! Anyway, this drug is a strong suppressor of the immune system, given to recipients of donor organs. But almost from the beginning of the time I started taking it, several years ago, I’ve prayed I could one day come off it. Isn’t God good. (That is a statement, not a question!)
Let’s worship this Good God with the gift He most desires, our living sacrifice of ourselves to Him. He is Worthy.
Jacque
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