Coffee? Tea? Serenity?

Our families could use all the prayer time that you can spare.

Mike’s dad remains in the hospital. More details will follow.

My own parents are facing one of life’s most challenging tragedies. On Wednesday afternoon, I received a call that there was a fire at their home. No one was home. No one was injured. Nearly all of their belongings are lost. What was pulled out is scorched, wet, and smells of smoke. At the ages of 62 and 67, my parents are having to start all over. The emotional storm of such a tragedy rages on. The shock is beginning to wear off and reality setting in. They have been given access to a family home that was not occupied - BUT there is NO PLACE like home and they have none at the moment. Please pray for them, and for those of us walking beside them during this difficult time.

I am not sure of the time which I will be permitted to do so, but I hope to keep family and friends up to date through this blog. So many of you have expressed your love and concern. I want you to be updated and know how they are, but there is simply no way that I can phone each of you during each day. I am rarely home, but if you have my cell phone number, you are welcomed to phone it - I have FREE UNLIMITED incoming calls. If I can, I will take your call, if not, please do not be offended by hearing the prompts of the voice mail service. When I hear your message, I will praise God for you, and I will do all that I can to return your call.

Mike’s Dad ….

I spoke to Hilda in the early morning hours on Thurs. She phoned me with concern for my parents even during her own time of difficulty - that’s my mother-in-law! God bless her in her own needs! She said that the IV would be removed and Carl would be encouraged to take in nutrients by mouth to build his physical strength up. A scope was done to see the cause of his feeling full after eating only a small amount of food. Ulcers were seen. Biopsies were taken. I have yet to hear results on that - not sure if they are even in. During the later evening hours on that same day, Mike spoke to his mother. She told him that Carl has fallen back into sleeping all of the time. His supper tray was still awaiting his attention, but even when she tried to wake him he did not stay awake long enough to eat.

I cannot begin to put into words the walk that I have had in the last two days. I cannot begin to put into words what it is like to watch my parents lose their home - 36 years of work, love, time, …the home that was my own from the age of 6 to the day I married….up in smoke.

To those of you who are close family and friends, I ask that you search through your photos. Most of Mom and Dad’s have been ruined. If you have any pictures that contain them, their children, their parents, their siblings….ANY photos that might begin to build new photo albums for them, please gather them, copy them, mail the copies to my home address, or email copies to me. There is no way that we can replace every one of those ruined, but can we try?

So many have asked “What can I do?” At this time, it is so overwhelming that we find ourselves struggling to think of that answer. They lost everything. They need everything. If the Lord places it upon your heart to be a helper in this time of need for my parents, contact me. We will work together in doing the Lord’s work to help them.

The Lord is GOOD. This I know. He is carrying us through. It is a difficult time. I look forward to the day that we can say “Look what the Lord has done through this!”

A great big hug and a great big thank you to all of you who have shared concern, love, gifts, time, talents, and given of yourselves to be of help to all of us. May the Lord bless you millions of times over for doing so.

And most importantly, as I began this post, please pray with us and for us.