Took a little trip

"Some folks dream of the wonders they'll do before their time on this planet is through. Some just don't have anything planned. They hide their hopes and their heads in the sand.

Now I don't say who is wrong , who is right, but if by chance you are here for the night, then all I need is an hour or two to tell the tale of a dreamer like you.

We all dream a lot.
Some are lucky.
Some are not.
But if you think it, want it, dream it, then it's real. You are what you feel.
All that I say can be told another way in the story of a boy whose dream came true.

And he could be you.................."

I took a little trip to Canann last night, where I met up with the 12 sons of Jacob. I told you about them last week when I was busy creating scenes out of cardboard. Well, they went and did it! They stole Joseph's coat, threw him in a pit, killed a passing goat for the blood and guts to wipe on that coat, just to show their papa that Joseph was indeed dead. What they had really done was to sell their brother as a slave. We watched Joseph go from brother, son, sheep herder to slave, to leader of the household to slave again, to dreamer. He was able to tell the meaning of dreams while in jail, and was asked to explain the dreams of Pharoah. He was able to get out of jail, and saved Egypt!

The brothers in Canann-who had done the deed of throwing him away for a handful of coins, heard about the wealth and food in Egypt, so they came, did not recognize Joseph, but being the good man he was, Joseph fed them. Just to figure out the hearts of these brothers, he planted a golden cup in Benjamin's bag. When he was caught and Joseph threatened to throw him in jail, the 11 brothers came to his defense, saying, "It could not be Benjamin, not him, take me". Joseph knew by this his brothers were now honest men, and the time had come to be reunited with them.

Celebration all around. With the cast, the crew and the 60+ elementary children in the production, Joseph was welcomed back into the family, and reunited with Jacob, the father of this crew! Family...thicker than blood, forgiving, loving....family.....what a blessing!

The goat-before and after-

Joseph telling the baker and the butler the meaning of their dreams...

Pharoah............."the king"........blue shoes and all!





"Joseph, who you thought was dead, your brother, it is me!"

Giving thanks for Emily's healing. A couple of weeks ago, she was in the hospital, unresponsive, combative, confused............last night she was a child, celebrating the love of family. She is shown here dancing with Kendra!

What an amazing production.....thankful for directors, musicians, the dedication of the cast and crew, friends, family, children, our school, talents we have been given....and a whole lot of paint and cardboard!!!!!

Praying for Jonah

I have been asked about a link that appears on my blog each day.

This little linky reminds me to check in on him and pray for him each day.
I seem to "meet" these wonderful people through my blogging. I feel as though I know this family. I hurt for them. I care for them. I pray for them, and now I am asking you to pray as well.

Meet Jonah

Mom and Dad, Patrice and Matt, with Jonah

Looks like a nice day to be outside-

Meet Patrice, Jonah's mama. She write on her blog: http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/

"I am a child of God, a wife to a super great guy, and a mother to the two most beautiful little boys. Our first, Gabe, was stillborn at 37 weeks. He was only here with us a short time, but we treasure every single moment. On 2-27-09, I gave birth to our second son, Jonah, who was born with an extremely rare genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa. Jonah is now at home after 32 long days in the NICU uncertain of his future. He has been diagnosed with Junctional EB, which can have a good long-term prognosis or can be lethal in the first year of life. The experts are fairly confident Jonah has the less severe form, although the biopsies were inconclusive. He faces a life of painful blisters, hair, nail, and major teeth issues, as well as the possibility of respiratory involvement. Jonah is literally point five in a million. We suspect EB is the cause of Gabe's death. We know that no matter what happens with Jonah, God will be glorified. We can't wait to see Gabe in Heaven and can't wait for Jonah to meet his big brother a long, long, long time from now after he's old and gray and lived a long, full life. Please pray for a miracle for Jonah. We are."



One of her posts really affected me:

prayer request

I'm feeling weary and frustrated tonight. Jonah's feeding issues are becoming worse, and things are starting to feel insurmountable. It's no secret that feedings are a struggle and that he only eats when he sleeps, but it's getting worse. I'm having to fight him even harder for his 9 am feeding, he'll barely eat three ounces for his 1 pm feeding, he typically won't eat again until 8 pm, and even then, it's SUCH a struggle. He only took two and a half ounces tonight before bed. And last night, he wouldn't eat at all overnight. He just screams and screams. And today was not the only bad day. It's been going more and more downhill. He only ate 15 ounces today.

I'm praying my heart out that something changes and fast. I do not want a g-tube, but I have to think about what's best for Jonah. I'm out of ideas. I have nothing left. All I know to do is pray.

I know many EB kids have g-tubes. But I also know that a g-tube means surgery. I know that a g-tube means yet another blistering sore on my child. I know that it is yet another site that will infect easily. And it scares me.

I'm tired of having to make these hard decisions. I'm tired of him (and me) having to struggle at every feeding. I'm tired of feeling scared that whatever doctor has to do this operation (if it comes to it) may not handle him right or might not take the right precautions. I'm afraid someone will mess up, and Jonah will pay the price.

I've been in tears tonight over all this. I'm out of ideas. I don't want advice. I don't want comparisons. Jonah just needs prayer. I feel that it's getting out of control rather quickly. We're going to watch what happens over the next week or so, and if things don't get better, we'll have to start talking to his doctors to discuss our options.

Maybe this sounds rash to some of you, but the problem with EB is that once a child falls behind in weight/nutrition, it's almost impossible to get him caught up. So how far do you let it go? The key to EB is nutrition. And unfortunately, the key to nutrition is the g-tube.

Please pray for Jonah. I keep begging God to let him be able to eat. I can't believe that I'm having to pray for that. I'm having to ask God that my child be able to eat... who should have to pray that? I'm just so tired. I've tried everything. I don't know what else to do.

Please join me in sending as many prayers as we can for Jonah. Pass the word to all the prayer warriors you know. Add his link to your site. Our Father knows. He hears.

Jonah, Your miracle is coming!!!
These verses are taken from Jonah's website as well-

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust..." He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart... For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways... "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. - Psalm 91:1-2, 4, 11, 14
Enjoy "Angel's Lullaby" by Richard Marx-dedicated to Jonah and his mama!

"I Loved Her First"

Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each others' face
So much in love, you're alone in this place
like there's nobody else in the world


I was enough for her not long ago.
I was her number one. She told me so.
And she still means the world to me-just so you know.
So be careful when you hold my girl.
Time changes everything.
Life must go on.
And I'm not gonna stand in your way.

I loved her first.

I held her first.

And a place in my heart will always be hers.

From the first breath she breathed

When she first smiled at me

I knew the love of a father runs deep

And I prayed that she'd find you someday

But it's still hard to give her away

I loved her first-

(father-daughter dance)

How could that beautiful woman with you

Be the same freckle faced kid that I knew

The one that I read all those fairytales to

and tucked into bed all those nights?

And I knew the first time I saw you with her

It was only a matter of time.

I loved her first

I held her first

And a place in my heart will always be hers

From the first breath she breathed

When she first smiled at me

I knew the love of a father runs deep

I loved her first.

Someday you might know what I'm going through

When a miracle smiles up at you

We loved her first-song by Heartland

My niece, Kelsey Lee Childress, and Travis Lee Miller were married on October 10, 2009 at Praire Hills Covenant Church in Sioux Falls, SD-I had the honor of singing, "Love Will Be Our Home". God Bless you Always!!!