Packing up!

We're getting ready to head back to IL to see my BIG baby boy! I have never been so ready to get out of town as I am today!!!

This time tomorrow night I will be practicing with my peeps...the Shiloh praise team!!! And I'm singing with them Sunday morning! There is nothing like going back to that place of comfort. The 'Cheers' theme song just came to mind. "Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your naaaaame....bohm, bohm, bohm....and they're always glad you caaaaaame....bohm, bohm, bohm...." You know the words. Shiloh is not where I first found the joy of knowing Jesus, but it's where I learned to be immersed in him so fully that there is joy in any circumstance. It's where I learned what the family of God is really all about. We're all crashing with Amanda and Brian. We're going to visit our old neighbors, see Matt's cross country meet, spend time with old friends and just enjoy some family time. Amanda's invited a bunch of friends over Saturday night, so we can hang out like in the old days. Looking forward to seeing you guys!!!!

So here's the latest on my prayer list: Julie's having a much better week. She's hanging in there and feeling less like a cancer patient. But her battle isn't over. Anita is home from the hospital now and recovering at home, but she still has a long way to go. I got an email from Kelley that said things are still getting crazier for her. She's hanging in, but she needs continued strength and peace. Papaw B is doing well after surgery. He's hurting, but it's manageable. Now he has a long recovery ahead. Papaw R is having major surgery on Thursday. Because of his already deteriorating health (progressive supranuclear palsy, prostate cancer, etc.), this bladder surgery seems rather risky, but it has to be done. I wonder if he will have the strength to recover. Though no one has said so, I think we all wonder. Please keep him, my parents and my aunts, Joan and Betty, in prayer there. And Joan is also struggling with a very strong possibility of cancer. She is waiting on lots of tests to determine the best course of treatment, and we all know that sometimes the waiting is the hardest part. I always wonder if you all think it's overkill for me to keep blogging about my friends and family who need prayer. I realize that not everyone who reads this wants to make a list and pray for all of these people everyday, and that's okay. But I also know that some of you will....and that some of you will relate to some of these and take these people to your hearts....and that is why I keep them on here. God answers prayer! I know it from my own experience, and I've seen prayer change lives! I am thankful for the privilege of prayer. It is beyond incredible that the God of the Universe cares enough to hear what's on my heart and that what I feel and what I think really matters to Him!!!! If He has that kind of time for me, what excuse do I have for not spending time with Him?!?!

Okay, well, end of sermon! If my blogs are scarce for the next few days, please understand. I will have all my fellas and many friends around me for a short time, and I want to soak it up. I promise to catch up on anything you've missed when I get back to DE on Monday!