March 18, 2006

  • We just got off the phone with Lorena -- and it was a WONDERFUL conversation.  Jorge answered the phone and transferred our call to the main house where Lupita got us immediately in to talk to Lorena.  She was in very good spirits, and we had some really good laughs.  Kacy and Tyra, she really enjoyed your news, and was especially joyful when I mentioned Patrice Trickey becoming a grandma!!!  (Tyra will be a wonderfu Mommy, and Patrice will give new meaning to the word "spoiled" for this grandbaby...  Congrats to all of you... 


    We had a great visit from Dorothy Thomas and Hilda Foster last week.  They were up in this neck of the woods and had run by Steve's for an adjustment.  Then they went by Bluejay to see Dena and Craig -- except that they have not lived there for several years now, so I ran them over to Diane and Phil's place, Steve and Julie's (where Steve fed us lunch) and then over to Dena and Craig's house where we all had a nice visit.  Dorothy and Hilda are both looking well, and Hill is having the rest of a basal cell carcinoma removed from his face.  (His doctor had removed it, but the lab results said that all of it had not been excised, so hopefully they got it all the second time.)  They and Dena even kicked the idea around of a reunion sometime this summer.


    Jerome and Ruth Smith tried to get us down to the Holder area over the break, but we were just too busy.  They sound great, and had the boys down, so they wanted us to come out for some fishing and some wiener roasting (which I almost cried declining...)  We sure do miss them -- and it has been ages since we have been down there.  There house was Lorena's other home here in Texas, and she really does look upon them as family as close as her own.  Thomas Smith is now living in Palo Duro Canyon outside Amarillo where he is an ER doctor.  We had been concerned about him and his family with the wild fires out in that part of the country, but they are well, with the fires all well to the east of them.


    The girls are all well, as am I.  It is nice to be back in the blogging business and trying to catch everyone back up.  I really needed this break because life really gets me down sometimes now, but this has been wonderful.


    Be sure to check out the following link.  You will benefit from it -- as I did.  http://wandascountryhome.com/interview/


    Kacy Chandler update dated March 11:  


    Woohoo!

    We have safely arrived in Mali! It was a long couple of days in the airport, but we're here. and thank the Lord all of my stuff actually got here too, and in working order. I would write more, but I've only been here about 12 hrs, so I don't have much else to say. Give me a week or so and I'm sure I'll have lots to tell you! Thanks for your prayers and your love.

    Continue to lift us up as we adjust to the culture and languages. We have a lot to learn in the coming months...

    kacy

     

    Update from Tyra Trickey Portwood (former student and favorite neonatal ICU nurse) along with sonogram pictures of an already BEAUTIFUL little girl:  
     

    On March 9th at 10:30 a.m. we found out that we are having a little baby......well....I will let you see for yourself!!!

     

    Open the first file to see what sex and then the second file is an added bonus!!!

     

    We are very excited!! We can't wait until July 31st!!!

     

    Love you all!!

    Tyra

     

    I also received the following prayer request from Jean Gilliam:

    Michael, this is cousin Jean.  Could you please put our son Wayne on a prayer list?  He is the one I wrote about who attempted suicide three years ago tomorrow, trying to escape bad financial problems.  Three years almost to the date, the creditors have put in garnishment paperwork on his wages at work today.  He is stressed out over this very bad, and is trying to figure a plan to deal with the creditors tomorrow.  The two grandchildren are living with him now, and they daily live on the brink of disaster I am afraid of what could happen if things don't work out.  He is being treated for depression with medication but I am so concerned.....I just told him when he left the house this evening,,,,,to talk to the Lord and ask him to handle things for him.



    I hope things with Lorena are improving....she has been in my prayers too!


    I tell Lorena how many folks are praying for her -- and she cries so hard.  Don't worry, though, because they are tears of gratitude and hope and faith...  I just got off the phone with my sister Christy Constantine where I learned that my niece Brandi is starting her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy working with brain injury patients.  Thank God for people such as she -- because I couldn't do it...  Mikhaila is supposed to come down this summer and stay with us while she looks for a place to work with horses here in Stephenville.


    We are well, folks.  (Oh, yes, I think I mentioned yesterday how upset Stephanie was at the STUFF written on my classic Pinto.  Today I learned that her boyfriend Joey walked over here, broken foot and all, and washed all the idiocy off of my classic automobile.  They are pretty special kiddos...)


    Lorena is well, her father is doing great, we are well, life is good, hope is abundant, and you are all appreciated.  Thank you so much!!!  Lorena's miracle continues.  To God be the glory!!!