Hot and Bloggered

I love summer. I thrive in warm temperatures. I'm cold natured, which means if the air conditioning is working like it should, it chills me to the bone. My office building is so cold that I look forward to getting into my car at lunchtime just to thaw out. I keep a sweater in my office so I won't freeze to death.

I'm the last person you'll hear complain about the heat. You know if I'm hot, then everyone else must be miserable, and I'm telling you it's hot. Sweat-on-your-upper-lip hot. You had that figured out already, didn't you? Yeah, it takes me a while.

So I'm sitting here trying to muster up the energy to do something. Even blogging seems like a chore. I have yet to complete the Bloggy Homes Tour, and I'm behind on my regular reading and commenting. As usual, there are about a million topics zinging around in my head, but none that I'm ready to commit to a post. There are several really good discussions going on other blogs that I'm trying to keep up with, and hoping to explore a few of those further on my own blog.

I'm wondering what's up with bloglines. For some reason, I'm not getting notified of all the new posts, so if you're missing my wit and wisdom (yeah, right) in your comments, don't worry. I haven't been abducted. I'm here, just moving along at a snail's pace so as not to work up a sweat.

Did I mention that it's hot?

I Heart Buttons

Allow me to direct your attention to my sidebar. See my new button? (Pray for Emma Grace.) If you click on it, you can read more about her and get the code to add this button to your site. Go get yours today!

God is Faithful

By now, you've seen the update on Addison, who is in ICU recovering from surgery. As you continue to pray for her and her family, please include Peyton, Vicki's granddaughter who was born 3 weeks early in respiratory distress, and is also in ICU.

God is working in mighty ways to remind us of His faithfulness.

Quick Update

First, remember to pray for Addison, her doctors, and her family. Her surgery is (tomorrow) Thursday.

Second, if your family is intact, if your husband is a godly provider and spiritual leader in the home, if your home is filled with love, if your marriage is solid and your children are safe and sound, hit your knees and thank Almighty God for His blessings. Pray a hedge of protection around your family. Do not let down your guard.

Third, please pray for Kayla and Randy. Kayla is the girl I mentioned at the bottom of my previous post, and Randy is her dad. I spoke with him today, and he is appreciative of my interest in and desire to help her. He did not kick her out, and he wants her to come home. I did offer my home to her, stipulating that I would be in contact with her dad and that she would have to abide by rules very similar to his. She declined the offer.

Thank you all for you encouragement and support through prayer. You are in my prayers as well.

God is SO good!

Great news, y'all! Amy is in remission. Praise the Lord! I'm so excited for her and her family! If I hadn't been raised a Baptist, I'd be dancing!

Thank you all for your prayers for me and my girls. I nearly 'bout cried myself sick all the way home Sunday, and I looked a sight Monday (had the day off work, so I didn't scare anyone), but I'm ok now. For the most part. I know God has it all under control, even if He won't take my advice. My older daughter hates me, but I love her, and He loves her even more, so I'll let Him deal with her (as if I really have a choice!) Amen? The same goes for my younger daughter, except that she still kinda likes me. I guess. It's a good sign if the daggers aren't flaming, isn't it?

Now I know y'all think I've blown a gasket or something, but I assure you I am not under the influence of any drug, nor have I gone bonkers. I'm praising the Lord that He hears our prayers and is faithful to answer according to His will. My pity party is over, people, at least until I find something else to whine about. See, I learned something this weekend. I am my kids' mom. Meaning that they, in all their selfish glory, are just like me. Didn't I tell them that life is hard? Didn't I tell them they can't always have their way? Why yes, yes I did. Didn't I ask God to use me as an example for them? Didn't I mean it when I prayed "Whatever it takes, Lord."? You betcha, I did! Then I have no right to complain about how He sees fit to answer, do I? I should be rejoicing in my sorrow. I should be thanking Him that He is giving me a workout, adding resistance to show me how much stronger I've become by relying on Him. My abs may be soft, but my faith is rock solid. Hoo-yah! (or whatever it is they say)

I still covet your prayers, of course, because my girls are under attack. They aren't keeping company with saints and are blind to the enemy's deception. Pray that their eyes will be opened and that they will be delivered from the enemy.

In other news, I got a call from one of Lindsey's friends here who was terribly disappointed that she isn't coming back as promised. This is a girl for whom I have a burden to minister to (pardon the extra preposition) because she is without a mother, and her father is raising 4 children on his own. He is a Christian, and we met through our daughters. Long story short, they're having some disciplinary problems which he and I had discussed after an incident with our girls. He was sure that I wouldn't want her around Lindsey, but I let him know that I would be more than happy to have her here anytime in hopes that Lindsey and I could be a positive influence on her. I had told Lindsey at the time that this could very well be our purpose here. Her story is that her dad kicked her out and she's staying with a friend. I haven't yet spoken with her dad to get the rest of the story, but I have emailed him to let him know that I'm here and available to help if he deems it necessary. My husband is opposed to having her here for reasons I won't go into, but my heart is open to her whether my home is or not. That remains to be seen if/when I hear from her dad. Pray for guidance in this area. I've never been a foster parent, and it may not come to that, but my burden is to foster a reconciliation between father and daughter.

Pray on, y'all!