Good morning

Hello friends, I have had some really cool topics cross my mind over the last several days ... if I only had time to blog :( There is so much going on in my life. My grandmother is still in the nursing home and it looks like she will be staying. She is enjoying all of the visits from family, friends and church folks (way more visits than she received when she was at home. Of course her little apartment is still sitting there full of her stuff. All of her pictures, cards, mementos from 92 years of living ... Not much of it is valuable in the sense of worldly terms, as she lived on a meager income, but it does mean something to her. She has an excellent mind, but her body is weak. Pray for her as she adjusts to this new way of life in the nursing home.

Home school is going well! It would be awesome if all children could be schooled at home. Just this morning around 6:30 I heard some kids laughing outside; I looked out the window to see them on the corner waiting for the bus. It arrived at 6:43 to take them to school. Those same children won't be home until after 3:00. What a long day for them. Oh well... that's another story.

Like I said earlier I wish I had time to blog ... maybe soon I'll get to sit down and tell you a story. Until then go be a blessing and know I pray for you daily.

P.S. if anyone wants 2 free cats I have a friend who needs to find a home for two very quickly. Let me know and I'll send pictures/ information.

Charles Billingsley - God of the Ages Album Preview

Seeing clearly through the blur

Well, it has been a long day around the Neal house. We made it to the eye doctor and on the way home Olivia's eyes were still blurry from being dilated. I told her I was happy that she had perfect vision and she said, "funny thing is right now everything I see is blurry" ... It's strange how she had to go through having blurry eyes to find out that she has good vision. That made me think of life. Don't we sometimes go through blurry times that end up helping us see things more clearly?

My thoughts turn to that sweet couple I asked you to pray for earlier today. They found out that their unborn baby girl who is due late Dec./Jan. has a heart condition called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. Right now I am sure that family is in the fog. They have one healthy child and just went in last week for a regular ultrasound when they got this unexpected news. My heart truly goes out to them, yet I can't shake this feeling that everything is going to be ok. I am a woman of faith and I know the Lord is a God of miracles. I am praying for a miracle. Right now this is a blurry situation for all of us, but God in his mercy will help us all see things clearly in the plan he has for baby girl Bentley. I trust the Lord and know He is good, all the time.

It is their prayer that we pray for them with the words from James 1:2 which says; "Count it all joy"..."when you meet trials of various kinds", please pray that they will have "JOY" during this trial and through that "JOY" He will get glory.

God is faithful.

Be a blessing ... guard your heart ... say your prayers .... love your neighbor ....

Let's pray

Hello all, please be in prayer for a friend of mine who will find out today at 3:30 if her unborn baby girl has a heart condition. On her routine visit to the doctor last week the ultrasound showed the possibility of the baby having Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. That is the same condition as Emma Kate and Charlotte; two babies that I have requested prayer for in the past right here on my blog. Emma Kate's picture is on my blog and Charlotte's story is listed under the blogs I follow under "Sam the peanut". I know this precious friend will appreciate your prayers. I don't know what it is (and I could be wrong) BUT I feel strongly that when they go to the doctor today that the results will be that their baby is 100% healthy. I am not ready to accept this diagnoses and will not, until it is confirmed. The baby could have been turning oddly or the ultrasound may not have worked clearly ... I am praying and expecting a miracle. Please pray with me.

Also at that same time today my Olivia has an eye doctor appointment. She complains with headaches quite a bit (like me) so I want to have her checked out. Our appt. is at 3:15. She is nervous as her eyes will be dilated and all. So if you'll pray for my sweet Olivia I would appreciate that.

Home school is going fantastic! We are loving it so much. If the Lord has ever put that thought in your mind; please don't ignore him. Pray about it. It is really blessing us and teaching me so much about my daughter and myself.

Ok, my lunch hour is almost over. Busy schedule to keep. Oh my grandmother is still in the nursing home, but she is progressing wonderfully. Olivia and I visited her yesterday and she had been up and out of bed. Praise the Lord. She will probably get to go home in 3 weeks. Keep praying for her too.

Lots of prayer concerns. Let me pray for you ... share and I'll add you to my list and lift you before the Lord.

love to you ...

Busy weekend

While Chris and I enjoyed The Great Marriage Experience this weekend Olivia enjoyed spending the night with her friend Abbey in the NC mountains. We got to hear comedian Dennis Swanberg (who is such a blessing) you gotta laugh to live. Then my favorite singer Charles Billingsley was there (we love Charles). His new CD, God of the Ages is awesome. We listened to it all the way up the mountain; I predict a #1 hit. It's such a perfect praise and worship song. The entire project is great; I also enjoyed a new song called "Bless the day" ... check out his stuff at www.charlesbillingsley.com you'll be glad you did. Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg were our conference leaders. They shared from their own life experiences and biblical principals about marriage. We had a great time hearing from them and fellow shipping with other married couples around us. Thank you Lord for blessing us with such a great weekend retreat.

Chris, Charles and I at the marriage conference at our church
Charles and I

Jessica and Emily

Olivia and Abbey at the fair in Spruce Pine, NC

Me and Nena

Gary & Abbey, Chris & Olivia at the fair in Spruce Pine, NC

Updates

Hello friends, I want to ask that you pray for a friend of mine who is struggling today with some unpleasant news. I really can't say more at this time, but she is a child of the king and needs to be covered in prayer. Thank you.

On to my grandmother; she was put in a nursing home yesterday. Olivia and I stopped in to see her and she looked tired, but was at peace with being there. It is very close to our home so I plan to visit her often. Keep praying for her. She is suppose to be there temporarily (for 3 weeks) while she recovers from all that's she has been through, but we are taking it one day at a time. Again thank you for your prayers.

Our first week of home school was excellent! God is so good. Thank you Lord for your greatness. Chris and I are going to hear Charles Billingsley tonight at church and then to an all day marriage retreat tomorrow. Very excited.

Have a great weekend. Go be a blessing...

My grandmother

Hello all, my grandmother is still in the hospital where her condition changes daily. When I visited with her last night she was very weak and in a good deal of pain. I really thought she wouldn't make it through the night. Today she has been eating and out of bed taking a few steps. So ... thanks for praying. I do not know what the Lord has in store for her. She is a tough lady. The great news is that she is a christian and when she passes from this life she'll go right into heaven. I am not ready to let her go. She is my last living grandparent. I love her and will miss her like crazy. She has a great mind and can carry on a conversation with anyone and I mean ANYONE. After a visit with my aunt and cousins in grandmothers hospital room on Saturday Chris commented on "how he knows where I get it from " ... Oh well ... the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Keep praying for her to be comfortable.

On another subject Olivia and I have started home school this week. We are loving it..... Can't thank the Lord enough for calling us to do this. What a praise.

I hope you have a blessed week.

Go be a blessing...

update on my grandmother

Hey all just found out my grandmother has diverticulitis. The doctor said if she were 50 he'd send her home with antibiotics, but because she is 92 and has an elevated blood pressure he is admitting her. She will receive IV antibiotics. Thanks for your prayer, keep them up as the pain meds haven't kicked in yet.


Here is a definition of Diverticulitis:Many people have small pouches in the lining of the colon, or large intestine, that bulge outward through weak spots. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Multiple pouches are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis.

The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. The most common sign on examination is tenderness in the lower left side of the abdomen. Usually, the pain is severe and comes on suddenly, but it can also be mild and become worse over several days. The intensity of the pain can fluctuate. A person may experience cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, or a change in bowel habits.

prayer request

Please pray for my grandmother Quinn. She is at the hospital right now having a scan on her stomach. She had to call 911 to come get her this morning as she was hurting very badly. My mom got to her house as the EMS guys were taking her out. Mom gathered up grandmother's medicine and other items needed and followed them to the hospital. They checked to make sure she didn't have an impacted bowel; but it was clear. She was given a special liquid to drink and was suppose to be taken down at 1:00 for the scan. That's all I know right now. Please pray for her as she is 92 years old. Also pray for my mom who even though she has 4 living siblings, one is confined to bed from a stroke, one can barely walk, another has health issues and the last sibling lives in GA and relies on others to drive her. My mom is the sole caregiver for my grandmother. I am home with Olivia and no vehicle so I can't help. Pray for both of them. Thank you. will update later.

A word from the Lord

Psalm 143:8 "Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, For in you do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You."

This is a verse the Lord brought to my attention today. He has put it on my heart to make this a verse for me and Olivia to memorize and recite every morning before home school. What a powerful verse. God is so good to us, to give us his word and make it new each morning. Pray for us as we begin our home school journey this coming Monday August 10th. We are excited.

On a side note; please pray for a friend of mine from church, I'll call her E. She told us in Bible study last night that she used to read God's word, but has put it aside and hasn't been able to work it back into her busy schedule. She really wants to get back in the word. We told her we would be praying for her and I want to ask if you could pray for her as well.

Sharing our burdens and praying for each other is what keeps us humble and strong. Jesus commands that we love others as ourselves. It's not always easy, but with Christ we can do all things ... according to the promises of his word.

Go be a blessing.

John 15:12 (New King James Version)
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
2 Corinthians 9:8

Demi Lovato and David Archuleta Summer Tour

Prayer needed

Hello praying friends, I want to ask that you pray for me today. I have a heavy heart about a personal family matter and just ask that you lift me and my family before the Lord. satan has been shooting arrows at me for days now and I need the extra power of prayer to help me. God is so good to be our rock and strong tower and I claim his promises.

Thank you.