A Prayer-athon for a Young Mother and Her Son

A young mother's heart is very anxious tonight. A court hearing on Thursday will determine if she is able to retain custody of her child, whom she has raised since he was an infant and he is now a pre-teen.

The anguish she is feeling must be very akin to the anguish I felt when I thought TP was dying - but even more so because I knew that if TP did die, then I realized she was going to a place which was safe and beautiful beyond our wildest imaginings. Not so for this mother, for her son will be ripped from his loving home and into an environment where it sounds like the people will do all they can to turn him against his mother. As a result, who knows what will happen to this young man and his future.

Tonight, I told my friend "In the midst of this nightmare, hold on to the knowledge that you have a clear conscience of knowing, without a doubt, that you have done nothing wrong. The only thing you have done is fight a glorious and painful battle for your son. No matter what the outcome is, you have done the right thing, while what they have done is evil and cruel - and they will have to face God as their judge when all is said and done. So, for the next several nights, I want you to concentrate on the fact that you have been a valiant warrior for your son, that you have done all that you can do to protect him and keep him from harm, and that your love will ALWAYS abide in his heart - that is one thing they can NEVER, ever take away from him. Hold on to your faith, for God is right there beside you, willing to comfort you and give you strength to go on".

For several years, I used to write court-ordered evalutions for familes and make recommendations based on my findings and my professional knowledge of what is in the best interest of a child. I had to quit that job due to the gut-wrenching anguish I would feel, knowing what was going on within families who did unspeakable things to their kids, or who would use kids as a pawn against each other. In this instance, I can't imagine that a court would take this son away from his mother. I pray that my gut instincts are right in this matter.

This young woman should not be going through what she is going through right now. More importantly, her son shouldn't have to be faced with being yanked away from his mom.

Please, please keep this young woman in your prayers over the next few days. She finds out on Thursday of the judge's decision. In the meantime, also say a prayer for her lawyer to have a change of heart about the financial demands she's placing on my friend. Please mention this post to your other blogging friends so that we can have a prayer-athon going on for her and her son - do a link, or whatever it's called :-)

Thanks, my friends!

Weighty Issues

As most of you know, the past year and a half has been very difficult on me. But, I finally feel as though I am healing from all the pain, and I'm starting to get some of my energy back. I have gained some weight, and I'm bound and determined to get back into shape because I know that it's affecting the way I feel physically and emotionally. So, now do I not only work out at Curves, but my husband and I just bought an ellyptical machine - and I love it! I have to laugh at myself because I thought it would be easy - but it's a very difficult workout! I can now do 10 minutes without thinking I'm going to die, and I plan to work my way up to 30 minutes by the end of the summer. I have over 40 pounds to lose - it's disgusting that I let myself gain that much weight. Ideally, I should lose 50, but I'll see how it goes. Food has become a "fix" for me, and so I've decided to spend some time not only doing more positive things for myself like exercising more and eating less, but I also want to spend more time in prayer so that His presence can fill me up rather than reaching for food to fill me up.



TP is working two jobs and is exhausted. Her college won't start until the end of October, so she's been trying to save up money for her expenses. We've been having some very nice talks lately - it reminds me of the way we used to be able to talk about anything. Our trust is slowly being built back up, and it feels so good. She has a new boyfriend who is very respectful of her and us, and who supports her in many different ways. I'm grateful that she can now experience what a healthy Christian relationship is all about!!!



DQ is starting band camp next week for half days, then the following week it will be full days. I've already been "chosen" to volunteer at different activities. I have a feeling this fall is going to be VERY busy! Her band is going to Florida the day after Christmas, which will be so much fun for her. She's been so much fung to hang out with this summer. She read the Harry Potter book in one sitting (after we had picked it up at the bookstore at midnight), and at the end of it, she sighed and closed the book and said "And thus ends my childhood". (Now you now how she gets the name Drama Queen).

I alluded to doing things a little bit differently around here a few weeks ago, and I'm still thinking it through. I haven't been posting much lately because it's summer, but I would like to do more when fall comes.

So, please keep some of my blogging buddies in prayer as they face difficult times ahead of them over the next few weeks (I'm not going to name names, but they know who they are).

Hope all is well with all of you.

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring

My dear blogging friend, Kevin, recently lost his wife's niece to breast cancer. Read his poignant post about this loss on his blog at http://www.counselingkevin.com
Kevin has this amazing ability to somehow combine music and poetry or prayer or quotes for some of his posts. In honor of his niece, I have tried to find an apprpriate music video and prayer for which to remember her and the loss others are feeling as a result of her passing.

Jesu, by that shuddering dread which fell on thee;
Jesu, by that cold dismay which sicken'd thee;
Jesu, by that pang of heart which thrill'd in thee;
Jesu, by that mount of sins which stifled thee;
Jesu, by that sense of guilt which stifled thee;
Jesu, by that innocence which girdled thee;
Jesu, by that sanctity which reigned in thee;
Jesu, by that Godhead which was one with thee;
Jesu, spare these souls which are so dear to thee;
Who in prison, calm and patient, wait for thee;
Hasten, Lord, their hour, and bid them come to thee
To that glorious home, where they shall ever gaze on thee.

~John Henry Newman

Kevin, I am so sorry for the loss of your wife's niece. Please send my condolences to your wife and the niece's daugher. I shall keep all of you in prayer.

A Hundred Years

This song gives me the shivers. Live your life to the fullest, each and every day!!!

Thoughts

It's been quiet around this blog lately.

I'm enjoying the summertime. It's nice to have everybody home again. TP is working two jobs, but the full-time one isn't exactly giving her the hours she needs, so she may pick up a job as a waitress. Her new boyfriend spends a lot of time at our house - he eats here almost every night! - but we enjoy having him around because he's a nice young man who's very helpful and who has a great sense of humor. DQ wasn't able to find a job this summer, so she's been helping me out a lot around the house. She's joining the marching band at school, so we purchased a trumpet a few weeks ago, and she's now taking lessons. This should be VERY interesting when she heads off the band camp because this girl absolutely wilts in the heat and doesn't have much stamina whatsoever. But, she's very determined to do this, and I'm looking forward to being a "band parent" - they've already hit me up to volunteer for a few things. My husband had a stress test and some bloodwork done recently - and everything came back normal, which was a relief. He had a heart attack when he was quite young, and it's been awhile since he's had a physical - so his mom kept on bugging him to go in and get a physical. I'm glad he listened to his mom!

I find myself writing in my journal a lot lately. I used to write in it on a daily basis for years, but got away from that habit a few years ago. I forgot how valuable it can be to put down thoughts and feelings without worrying about punctuation and grammar, and without fearing how things are going to sound to other people. It's just me and my pen and paper - and I'm having fun with it! I have a lot to process, and I"m trying to put a lot of things into perspective, and I'm hoping to eventually share some of what I've written with you.

I trust that all of you are enjoying the summer, too.

My Second Mom

The woman on the left is one of my very dearest friends. She was my mom's best friend for the last several years of my mom's life. We reconnected about 7 years ago, and she came back into my life during a time in which I needed a "mom" desperately. She's an MSW like myself, and we are similar in other regards. She has been such a source of strength and comfort to me over the past several years, but especially this past year and a half where I've been in so much turmoil over my home situation. I'm the "monkey" in the middle of this photograph, and the lady to the right is another wonderful friend whom I have made over the past four years. We were sitting together at my sister's 40th wedding anniversary, and we had so much fun together! I just want to say "thank you" to my dear friend, for helping me through the tough times and letting me know that I am handling things the right way with my family. I love you!!!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!