tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698351474358722262024-03-12T18:04:01.276-04:00♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥This is my personal blog where I share about my life and personal walk with Christ, as I deal with a very rare and debilitating illness called Dysautonomia - POTS. I hope to educate and help spread awareness about the disease, while keeping my friends and family up-to-date on all that is going on with my family and me.Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-16491179004279186522012-04-14T21:48:00.000-04:002012-10-22T11:07:07.154-04:00UPDATE & REPOST: CAN THOSE WITH AN INVISIBLE ILLNESS PARK IN A BLUE SPOT WITHOUT OTHERS SEEING RED??I have been REALLY sick since my last post. I was in the hospital for 9 days, 7 of which were spent in the ICU. I had a very serious infection and was also diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency and possible Bartter Syndrome. I will be going to see two of my doctors this week. One is my endocrinologist and the other is my GI doc. Hopefully, between the two, I will figure out what is going on. I don't like coming home with new diagnoses and new meds every time I go to the hospital! However, I have continued to have extreme nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, much more than normal - and that's a lot! - so, I'm hoping they can help me. <br />
<br />
In the meantime, here is a re-post of a post/article that is really important to me and was well received the last time I posted it. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it is seen by a lot of people who have not seen it before. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gc7ozI_edq5C9lXYEGt_JGr2QW73CAIfA9CAuBYQQsPv74qbr0Dk7jWjR1mt3uy-P5lM6eYW18SdQDD1RSUYjJYdd3YWrHdqJuodllSnCMD9JAJvM3I4KfPMm7Tb1rpXLf_OyQVFjxou/s1600-h/disabled-placard.gif"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412981199065056594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gc7ozI_edq5C9lXYEGt_JGr2QW73CAIfA9CAuBYQQsPv74qbr0Dk7jWjR1mt3uy-P5lM6eYW18SdQDD1RSUYjJYdd3YWrHdqJuodllSnCMD9JAJvM3I4KfPMm7Tb1rpXLf_OyQVFjxou/s320/disabled-placard.gif" style="display: block; height: 195px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 293px;" width="320" /></a><br />
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I saw the following article on the <a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/">Invisible Illness Awareness Week</a>
website and it really struck a cord with me. The
biggest reason is because I used to be extremely passionate about people who parked in those designated parking spaces but, in my
ever-so-holier-than-thou-professional-medical opinion, surely did not
need them! HA! What does that Proverb say?? 'Pride goes before the
fall'?? Yeah, that's it.<br />
<br />
Since I know this is a very sensitive subject for us all, I thought I would post <span style="font-size: 85%;">(with permission)</span>
this great article. I hope that it will help EVERYONE to
think twice the next time you see someone parking in one of those
precious parking spaces who may not 'look' as though they 'need' to.
Disabilities come in lots of different shapes and forms as do those who have them. Many are
invisible to the untrained AND the trained eye. It is simply impossible
to know if someone is truly disabled just by looking at them. Here's that amazing article:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>CAN THOSE WITH AN INVISIBLE ILLNESS </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>PARK IN A BLUE SPOT WITHOUT OTHERS SEEING RED??</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_75uJLXRRjJqTDH6Oj_EYEiT31Cpad8yKYBz6gab6I3l41oJGcYujlPWRnKLqLUYyK4DX6NDUEtgXHRFYgLAfuZr213COtF2GmZ5rN-rheQk36SGMMLFCwSegjEcomZf0UXEqYZX1WlO/s1600/disabled_bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_75uJLXRRjJqTDH6Oj_EYEiT31Cpad8yKYBz6gab6I3l41oJGcYujlPWRnKLqLUYyK4DX6NDUEtgXHRFYgLAfuZr213COtF2GmZ5rN-rheQk36SGMMLFCwSegjEcomZf0UXEqYZX1WlO/s320/disabled_bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></center>
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<i>“Do you know the fine for using someone else’s handicapped parking permit is $300?” “That parking spot is saved for the disabled! You should be ashamed of yourself!” </i>Nearly
everyone with an invisible illness has been told, <i>“You don’t look
disabled to me!”</i> One of my friends replied, “Well, you don’t look stupid
to me.” I just bite my lip to try to prevent the tears from forming,
broken-hearted that I appear to be deceptive, when I would do anything
to give back this parking perk that I use on a rare occasion.<br />
<br />
As I
circle the parking lot a fourth time on this day I hope for a spot to
open up within two-hundred yards of the store, but there is nothing
remotely close at this bustling superstore where I need to buy my
prescriptions and milk for my toddler. My rheumatoid arthritis is
flaring badly, causing extra fluid in my knees to dislocate pieces of
loose bones. Every step is painful and unpredictable.<br />
<br />
Finally I
sigh in resignation and pull into the farthest “blue parking spot.” I
reach for the placard–the one that has a bold white symbol of a
wheelchair–and no, I don’t have a wheelchair–yet. So after fifteen years
of having this “privilege” at my disposal I still warily scan the area
before reluctantly dangling the placard from the rear view mirror. Is
there anyone watching, wondering, or waiting, ready to confront me?<br />
<br />
I’ve
had scathing notes left on my windshield and many people, empowered by
television exposés, have approached me with their opinions. Judgmental
expressions and whispers sting just as much. My husband and I adopted a
baby and when I would get my child out of the car I would avoid eye contact
with onlookers because I could hear their whispers of, “She’s not
disabled! Or–if she is–she has no right to have a child!”<br />
<br />
Nearly 1
in 2 Americans (133 million) live with a chronic illness. It could be
diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis, fibromyalgia or even chronic back
pain. Many illnesses make walking long distances impossible because of
limited lung capacity, physical pain, or unpredictable numbness in the
legs. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, about
96% of these illnesses are invisible. There is no sign of the illness
existing, nor the use of an assistive device like a cane or a
wheelchair.<br />
<br />
I began National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness
Week in 2002, which is held annually in September, after witnessing
thousands of people who had frustrations, fears, loneliness, and
bitterness, about feeling invalidated. One’s illness, age, diagnosis, or
level of disease degeneration, doesn’t change the emotional pain.<br />
<br />
Strangers
and loved ones alike doubt the severity of our illness or even the
diagnosis. We’ve heard, “You look so good! You must be feeling better.”
But we don’t feel better. We just bought some fake tan in a bottle and
pasted on a smile.<br />
<br />
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness
Week is a time to acknowledge that invisible illness is more prevalent
than we’d imagine and everyone–both those who are healthy and ill–can
make a difference by encouraging someone with an invisible illness,
rather than tearing someone down.<br />
<br />
Are those parking spots painted
blue because they give so many people the blues? That small area of
square footage is a breeding ground for many frustrations as we are
forced to defend our illness and character to total strangers. I’d
gladly trade in my placard indefinitely for just a week of having my old
body back when I could run, sit on the floor, or even hold a fork
without tendons popping out of place.<br />
<br />
I anticipate the day when a
nationally designated system is formed. Texas law states that blue
placards are for those who use assistive devices; red permits are for
people with a “condition that impairs mobility.” In other states, red
symbolizes six months of disability and blue is permanent. It’s
confusing! And for one with invisible illness, the wheelchair symbol
discredits both our physical pain and–in the eyes of others–our
reputation. Until then, we rely on Invisible Illness Week bumper
stickers.<br />
<br />
The next time you see a healthy looking man loading
groceries into his car–parked in the “blue spot”–don’t glare. Stop and
offer to help him, or just smile nicely, giving him the benefit of the
doubt. Seventy percent of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a
factor. Your smile may save his life. At the least, it will astonish
him, perhaps providing him with genuine encouragement he hasn’t felt for
months.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="color: #330000; font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #990000;">To find more articles and overall support while living with a chronic illness and/or pain, please visit </span><a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/">The Invisible Illness Awareness Website</a><span style="color: #990000;"> or </span><a href="http://restministries.com/">Rest Ministries</a><span style="color: #990000;">! </span><a href="http://www.restministries.org/admin-speakerinfo.htm">Lisa Copen</a><span style="color: #990000;"> is the director of Rest Ministries, author of '</span><a href="http://www.beyondcasseroles.com/">Beyond Casseroles</a><span style="color: #990000;">:</span><a href="http://beyondcasseroles.com/"> </a><span style="color: #990000;">505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend' and founder of </span><a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/">National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week</a><a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">.</span></a></span></span><br />
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Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-86292203525571545962012-03-14T03:15:00.000-04:002012-03-14T21:00:48.188-04:00~SBW~ AWESOME SITE FOR CHRONICALLY ILL TEENS<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJkAzEYuqglYnC5h_fPwnIT3KsmTsDxQr8RIiW6Wy4yyhO88Y41KkkM2eUCUKkShqhNrG_vhKHSWzIJQiqTmlJLpMjaIXwHkSRWhGiAhy4UskddeRxv_DbhBzGqA7LXsHCeb-9WQK5LAR/s1600/Slideshow_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJkAzEYuqglYnC5h_fPwnIT3KsmTsDxQr8RIiW6Wy4yyhO88Y41KkkM2eUCUKkShqhNrG_vhKHSWzIJQiqTmlJLpMjaIXwHkSRWhGiAhy4UskddeRxv_DbhBzGqA7LXsHCeb-9WQK5LAR/s320/Slideshow_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Hi Everyone~</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">I have really
missed seeing you all! I have just not been well enough to write new posts in quite some time. I've continued to become much more sick over the past several months and have been bedridden for over 16 months now. If that wasn't enough, my family and I have been really struggling in all kinds of ways since my husband lost his job over a year ago. We are doing everything we can to hang on to our home (which is currently in foreclosure status), keep food on the table and make sure all of my medical necessities are taken care of. It has really been a struggle, but no matter what, God is SO GOOD! <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">To get my mind off things, I wanted to jump back in, try to touch base with you all and maybe post a little here and there, as I can. If I don't, I think I'm going to go stir crazy! :0) For now, I thought I'd start by choosing a few of my previous posts, update them a tad bit and then put them out there again. These posts were/are very important to
me. Some of them received a lot of feedback the first go-round and I believe it's because they contain a lot of useful information that's helpful to those who are living with this monster we all have come to know as Dysautonomia. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br />Here's
the first one I chose. I hope you enjoy it, whether you're reading it for the first time or not:</span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/2010/06/starlightstarbright.html"><b><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: papyrus;">STARLIGHT, <br />STARBRIGHT</span></span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: papyrus;"> </span></span></center></b></a>
</h3>
<a href="http://www.starbrightworld.org/default_login.aspx?ReturnURL=%2fhome.aspx"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483127771847892322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudcOvhK22aokCRWP6D283vfUDt8539ar0XZ4fqJam-q_Rv9jMrOy51-7iB7VmKAeG2WBfZWf0HuVOgZc7aPAMXe-beiJI5ex0xrPrmpMmnbW23MmTZ6N37AIcgxMSUW36QiypXjqVcyxH/s400/Starbright-World-Logo.jpg" style="display: block; height: 158px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">As some of you may remember, my youngest daughter, Rebekah, <a href="http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/2009/09/dysautonomia-and-my-daughter.html">was recently diagnosed</a>
with Dysautonomia/POTS (the same illness I have) last year (2009). Most days,
Bekah functions fairly normal for the most part. However, she does
have many days when she can't do much more than attend school, come home
and go to bed. There are even the occasional days when she can't even
do that. She can only stay in bed and rest/sleep because of the
tachycardia (high pulse rate), fatigue and nausea that she suffers
from. For a 15 (now 17) year old, having a chronic illness definitely puts a
kink in your social life. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">A
few months ago, I found a very interesting link when I was visiting
the website, <a href="http://butyoudontlooksick.com/">ButYouDontLookSick.com</a>. The link was to a social networking
site for young people ages 13-20. It is called <a href="http://www.starbrightworld.org/default_login.aspx?ReturnURL=%2fhome.aspx">STARBRIGHT WORLD</a> (SBW). I went to check it out and I was really impressed. I even thought it was something my daughter might be interested in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Here is a little info from their homepage: </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;"> </span><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERyVuavthZKpTFITXcEFJdsnZeFU2HjKkD6NZHxRUoYEmVf3ZYdjHMonyD1XyjXipbcnUqwSl5o12NdjMZmGQgS347NZHyGJLGMC_b-5wNspJFdFdI9k_z3NZ-LeyCl6450y-l9BsOCZ8/s1600/SBW+2.PNG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;"> </span><a href="http://www.starbrightworld.org/"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRl9cI0AOeBzTJoMRV-ctdp4HbDqsIIg5aku8StGXumvlC6l5Qr7wN6GckREZsyWoi3Kffq64mN8gEjGx-5GZX2Wk1yz-a1p4cYtZ5kbghDuXXvg2tSKm04XRxY7MqCPG59hKrPyeHnhH/s320/Slideshow_1.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<div style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Teen;">'Starbright
World is a virtual hangout where you can build on existing friendships
or create new ones, from home or from the hospital. Starbright World
is an online social network where teens (ages 13 to 20) who have
serious medical conditions, and siblings of seriously ill teens, can
connect with each other via moderated chat rooms, games, bulletin
boards, videos, and more.'</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">They have a list of '<u>some</u> of the illnesses and conditions that qualify for SBW membership':</span><br />
<div style="color: #33ff33; font-weight: bold;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Teen; font-size: x-small;">A – autoimmune disorders, AIDS/HIV, anemia, severe asthma, arthritis<br />B – burn injuries, brain tumor, blood condition<br />C – cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, cardiac (heart) problems<br />D – diabetes (type 1 and 2)<br />E – endocrine problems, epilepsy<br />H – Huntington’s disease, HIV/AIDS, hydrocephalus, hypophosphatasia<br />I – infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)<br />K – kidney disease<br />L – leukemia, lupus, liver disease, lymphoma<br />M – migraine headaches, muscular dystrophy, mitochondrial disease<br />N – neurological disorder<br />O – obesity/overweight, osteosarcoma, osteomyelitis<br />R – respiratory problems, rheumatic disease<br />S – sickle cell anemia, seizure disorder, spina bifida/myelodysplasia, spinal cord injury, stomach or digestive problems<br />T – transplants, tumor or mass<br />U – ulcerative colitis</span></div>
<div style="color: #33ff33; font-weight: bold;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #33ff33; font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b><span id="lblContent" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><b>**Because
of the fast-paced nature of an online community, SBW may not be the
most appropriate place for teens with developmental/emotional/behavioral
conditions. If there is a primary medical condition present as well, we
may make an exception, with input and guidance from a parent or
healthcare provider.If you have a question about whether your teen
qualifies for SBW membership, contact us via the "Report an Issue" link
at the bottom of the home page.</b></span></span></b></i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since
I found the site, Rebekah has become a very involved member. She has
been spending A LOT of time there and has made a lot of really close
friends whom she chats with online quite often. As a parent, I really
like the site. It is monitored very well by adult 'hosts'; so, no foul
language or inappropriate behavior is allowed and any suspicious
activity is handled immediately. Therefore, the possibility for
adults to be there preying on our children is almost non-existent.
</span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">In fact, to keep our children safe</span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">, a child must have parental consent for membership and the SBW chat rooms are monitored at all times by trained, paid adult staff. The 13-20 age requirement is due to SBW being in compliance with the federal Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). SBW has also received a <a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/starbright-world">positive review</a> from the Common Sense Media, an independent non-profit organization that helps parents manage their children's media lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">So,
if you know of a young person who has a chronic illness and think they
would like to get to know other kids going through something similar,
let them know about Starbright World. No matter who you are, how old you are, or what you're going through, it helps to know you're not alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">{{HUGS}} </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">Teresa </span></div>
<a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">P.S. Since I wrote this post nearly 2 years ago, Bekah has grown extremely close to many of the youth on this website. She has even met some of them in person, with chaperones of course. She has even had the unfortunately experience of one of her close friends dying. So, that is one really sad, but inevitable, reality that comes along with making really close friends there. It was very hard for her, but it really helped her to realize that young people are not invincible like most teens tend to think they are. Although it is a tough experience, I think it was good for her. She has learned to cherish each day as it comes. I just thought I would give you a 'heads up' about that side of it as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<br />Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-66432712305973594272011-12-24T15:30:00.002-05:002011-12-24T15:44:16.634-05:00~ MERRY CHRISTMAS!! ~<a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><br /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"></span><a href="http://www.angelapascale.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.angelapascale.com</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I pray you all are having a wonderfully blessed Christmas season! As most of you know, I haven't well enough to blog very much lately, but I just had to stop by in time for Christmas to check in with everyone. Plus, I wanted to share this adorable Christmas card that was created by Angela Pascale, an amazing artist/illustrator, who also happens to suffer from Dysautonomia/POTS. If you get a chance, please check her out on her <a href="http://angelapascaleillustrations.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, <a href="http://www.angelapascale.com/site/home.html">website</a>, or her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Pascale-Illustrations/113272252049799">Facebook</a> page to see her other incredible creations. Also, if you have Dysautonomia and are looking for an absolutely AWESOME place for treatment, you should really consider <a href="http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=adc">Vanderbilt's Autonomic Dysfunction Center</a> in Nashville, Tennessee. You can find more information about them by clicking on the card or link. You can also read more about them and my adventures there by clicking on the <i style="color: #38761d;"><b>RESOURCES</b></i> or <i style="color: #38761d;"><b>MUST READ</b><b>S</b></i> links above. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's so good to post again! I hope to do it again really soon! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS, </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><b><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;">Teresa </span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-11847448902523484312011-05-01T17:19:00.004-04:002011-05-02T00:47:17.245-04:00~ GOD IN THIS CITY ~ Tornado Outbreak April 26-28, 2011<center><object height="243" width="374"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/i5hwAzjVBII?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/i5hwAzjVBII?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="243" 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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Comic Sans MS"">Tornadoes swept through seven southern states this past week, including my home state of Georgia, leaving behind catastrophic destruction in its wake. There were hundreds killed, thousands injured and damage to homes and businesses estimated to be into the billions. As of today, the official death toll has risen to 344, but is likely to continue to rise. Of those fatalities, 334 occurred during a single 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday, making it the ‘deadliest single day for tornadoes’ since March 18, 1925, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The National Weather Service estimates there were 288 tornadoes during the entire 48-hour outbreak, which lasted from 8:00 am, April 26th to 8:00 am, April 28th.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Of the states affected, Alabama suffered the hardest hit of all, with tornados touching down in six different counties.</span></p> <span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">As many of you know, my daughter, Morgan, began college this past fall at Auburn University in Alabama. Praise God, that area of the state was spared the brunt of the storms. However, Tuscaloosa, the home of the University of Alabama - Auburn's arch rival - did not fare so well. It took a direct hit from a HUMONGOUS tornado, which the National Weather Service determined to be an EF5. This monster was approximately 1.5 miles wide and appears to have stayed on the ground for somewhere between 200 and 370 miles (from Newton County, Mississippi to Macon County, North Carolina)!! Reports from Tuscaloosa/Birmingham indicate that at least 65 people were killed in that area, with over 1000 injured in the Tuscaloosa area alone and another 600 still missing. Alabama's Emergency Management Personnel are reporting that, as of today, the official statewide death toll in Alabama currently sits at 250, but is expected to rise in the coming days. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:13.5pt;" ><br /><br /></span><center><object height="243" width="374"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/5ohIVzIZLuQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/5ohIVzIZLuQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="310" width="374"></embed></object></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">UNBELIEVABLE</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">EF5 Tornado that hit University Mall in Tuscaloosa</span></span><br /><br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Comic Sans MS"">Auburn University students have established a Facebook page to collect supplies and coordinate help for those devastated by the tornado in Tuscaloosa and other areas in Alabama. It is called </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Toomers-for-Tuscaloosa/127019264041188"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Toomers For Tuscaloosa</span></a><span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">. Some of the biggest needs at this time are water, sports drinks, non-perishable food items, baby supplies (food, diapers, formula, bottles, clothes, etc.) sunscreen, bug spray, toiletry items, bedding, blankets, coolers, tarps, paper and plastic bags, flashlights, batteries, porta-potties, adult diapers, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you are interested in helping, please check out the Facebook page or contact the Auburn students via email at toomersfortuscaloosa{at}gmail{dot}com.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> In the meantime, I hope you will join my family and me in praying for ALL those affected by last week's deadly storms and, as we head into this next week, let's all remember to stop and count our many, many blessings.<br /><br />{{HUGS}}</span><span style="line-height:115%; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:13.5pt;" ><br /> </span><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong></strong></em></b><br /></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-62372922165978640892011-04-22T23:18:00.000-04:002011-04-23T05:35:59.610-04:00WHAT JESUS FELT THE DAY HE DIED FOR ME<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN5c0FfbencqjYIZaqwqErTkDLlLTHZBiBM-yj3qnFKnbaAXyd5T8Q2bkrT2bQmJuM_VuZVCM4cKYQIILTMoRROguZ6G0cMDUXPHt3sXzJ2ObZj8-VfIk6eL4tZa-4WN3ctdREHHPFaty/s1600/Easter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN5c0FfbencqjYIZaqwqErTkDLlLTHZBiBM-yj3qnFKnbaAXyd5T8Q2bkrT2bQmJuM_VuZVCM4cKYQIILTMoRROguZ6G0cMDUXPHt3sXzJ2ObZj8-VfIk6eL4tZa-4WN3ctdREHHPFaty/s400/Easter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598706563389119666" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><big>'But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that,</big></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><big> while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.'</big></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><big> ~ Romans 5:8</big></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(148, 54, 52);"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#943634; mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:191">NOTE: When you start reading this, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">may</i> recognize it. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s because I posted it last year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, it is such an AMAZING read, I thought I would post it again this year for those who might have missed it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is SO very incredible!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span></span></b><br /></p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" > </span></b></p> </div></div><p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:Papyrus;font-size:130%;" >I think those of us who are Christians sometimes take for granted what Christ did for us on The Cross. Not only the incredible sacrifice He made by giving up His life for ours, but exactly what He had to endure by doing so. </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:Papyrus;font-size:130%;" >Several years ago, I read a physician's account of what exactly happens to a person when they are put to death by crucifixion. It really stung my heart as I read it and pictured in my mind how my Lord suffered so severely for someone so unworthy as I. As Good Friday has been approaching, I've been thinking back to that description and thought I would share it with you. I know this is really long but it is WELL worth the read. I caution you, it is definitely not for the faint of heart.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style=";font-family:Papyrus;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">A Medical Explanation of What Christ Endured on The Day He Died</span></strong></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">by Dr. C. Truman Davis</span></p> <p align="center"> </p><br /><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>Gethsemane</b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The physical passion of Christ began in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of His initial suffering, the one which is of particular physiological interest is the bloody sweat. Interestingly enough, the physician, St. Luke, is the only evangelist to mention this occurrence. He says, "And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground" (Luke 22:44 KJV).<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Every attempt imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away the phenomenon of bloody sweat, apparently under the mistaken impression that it simply does not occur. A great deal of effort could be saved by consulting the medical literature. Though very rare, the phenomenon of hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional stress, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process alone could have produced marked weakness and possible shock.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Although Jesus' betrayal and arrest are important portions of the passion story, the next event in the account which is significant from a medical perspective is His trial before the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the High Priest. Here the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiaphas. The palace guards then blindfolded Him, mockingly taunted Him to identify them as each passed by, spat on Him, and struck Him in the face. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;" ><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;" > </span></p><br /><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>Before Pilate</b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and worn out from a sleepless night, Jesus was taken across Jerusalem to the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. We are familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to shift responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate. It was then, in response to the outcry of the mob, that Pilate ordered Barabbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Preparations for Jesus' scourging were carried out at Caesar's orders. The prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. The Roman legionnaire stepped forward with the flagrum, or flagellum, in his hand. This was a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip was brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first the weighted thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continued, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The small balls of lead first produced large deep bruises that were broken open by subsequent blows. Finally, the skin of the back was hanging in long ribbons, and the entire area was an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it was determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner was near death, the beating was finally stopped.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p><br /><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>Mockery<br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The half-fainting Jesus was then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with his own blood. The Roman soldiers saw a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be a king. They threw a robe across His shoulders and placed a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still needed a crown to make their travesty complete. Small flexible branches covered with long thorns, commonly used for kindling fires in the charcoal braziers in the courtyard, were plaited into the shape of a crude crown. The crown was pressed into his scalp and again there was copious bleeding as the thorns pierced the very vascular tissue. After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers took the stick from His hand and struck Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tired of their sadistic sport and tore the robe from His back. The robe had already become adherent to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, and its removal, just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, caused excruciating pain. The wounds again began to bleed. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p><br /><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>Golgotha<br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans apparently returned His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross was tied across His shoulders. The procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion began its slow journey along the route which we know today as the Via Dolorosa.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">In spite of Jesus' efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious loss of blood, was too much. He stumbled and fell. The rough wood of the beam gouged into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tried to rise, but human muscles had been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to proceed with the crucifixion, selected a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus followed, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock. The 650-yard journey from the Fortress Antonia to Golgotha was finally completed. The prisoner was again stripped of His clothing except for a loin cloth which was allowed the Jews.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The crucifixion began. Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic, pain-reliving mixture. He refused the drink. Simon was ordered to place the patibulum on the ground, and Jesus was quickly thrown backward, with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire felt for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drove a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moved to the other side and repeated the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum was then lifted into place at the top of the stipes, and the titulus reading "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" was nailed into place.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The left foot was pressed backward against the right foot. With both feet extended, toes down, a nail was driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The victim was now crucified.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>On the Cross<br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">As Jesus slowly sagged down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shot along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain. The nails in the wrists were putting pressure on the median nerve, large nerve trunks which traverse the mid-wrist and hand. As He pushed himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He placed His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there was searing agony as the nail tore through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of this feet.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">At this point, another phenomenon occurred. As the arms fatigued, great waves of cramps swept over the muscles, knotting them in deep relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps came the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by the arm, the pectoral muscles, the large muscles of the chest, were paralyzed and the intercostal muscles, the small muscles between the ribs, were unable to act. Air could be drawn into the lungs, but could not be exhaled. Jesus fought to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, the carbon dioxide level increased in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>The Last Words<br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Spasmodically, He was able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences that are recorded.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The first - looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The second - to the penitent thief: "Today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise."<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The third - looking down at Mary His mother, He said: "Woman, behold your son." Then turning to the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John , the beloved apostle, He said: "Behold your mother."<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The fourth cry is from the beginning of Psalm 22: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">He suffered hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, and searing pain as tissue was torn from His lacerated back from His movement up and down against the rough timbers of the cross. Then another agony began: a deep crushing pain in the chest as the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, slowly filled with serum and began to compress the heart.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The prophecy in Psalm 22:14 was being fulfilled: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The end was rapidly approaching. The loss of tissue fluids had reached a critical level; the compressed heart was struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood to the tissues, and the tortured lungs were making a frantic effort to inhale small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues sent their flood of stimuli to the brain. Jesus gasped His fifth cry: "I thirst." Again we read in the prophetic psalm: "My strength is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of death" (Psalm 22:15 KJV).<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine that was the staple drink of the Roman legionnaires, was lifted to Jesus' lips. His body was now in extremis, and He could feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brought forth His sixth word, possibly little more than a tortured whisper: "It is finished." His mission of atonement had been completed. Finally, He could allow His body to die. With one last surge of strength, He once again pressed His torn feet against the nail, straightened His legs, took a deeper breath, and uttered His seventh and last cry: "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit."<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > </span></p><br /><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>Death<br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the leg. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest, and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers approached Jesus, they saw that this was unnecessary.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Apparently, to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. John 19:34 states, "And immediately there came out blood and water." Thus there was an escape of watery fluid from the sac surrounding the heart and the blood of the interior of the heart. This is rather conclusive post-mortem evidence that Jesus died, not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><br /></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b>Resurrection<br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#000000;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">In these events, we have seen a glimpse of the epitome of evil that man can exhibit toward his fellow man and toward God. This is an ugly sight and is likely to leave us despondent and depressed.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"> </p> <p style="margin: 1px;" align="justify"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">But the crucifixion was not the end of the story! How grateful we can be that we have a sequel: a glimpse of the infinite mercy of God toward man--the gift of atonement, the miracle of the resurrection, and the expectation of Easter morning.</span><br /></p><strong><span style=";font-family:Papyrus;font-size:130%;" ><br />I hope you made it all the way through. I admit, it is very HARD for me to read it. Not because it is long, but because it is so intense. It makes me so sad to think about all Jesus endured that day but it also makes me feel so very special. I really need to read it often so that I am continually reminded of just how much the Lord loves all of us - how much He loves ME!!<br /><br />Jesus knew me THAT DAY! He thought about me when He was being beaten, mocked, and spat upon. Even when He was hanging on The Cross, suffering and trying so very hard just to breath and stay alive long enough to do and say the last few things He was sent to this Earth for....<br /><br /><br /></span></strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><big>He was thinking about <big>ME!</big><br /> <br /> </big></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><big>He was thinking about <big>YOU!</big><br /> </big></span></span></p><br /><b><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Papyrus;font-size:130%;" ><br />I pray that each of you have an amazingly blessed Easter weekend. I hope you will spend some time thinking about what Easter is really all about.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></strong><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://bit.ly/g2Ily7"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >SOURCE OF DOCUMENT</span></a> </span> <span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;" ><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >Dr. C. Truman Davis is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He is a practicing ophthalmologist, a pastor, and author of a book about medicine and the Bible.</span></p></span></b>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-90987132857909515982011-04-20T23:42:00.001-04:002011-04-21T05:01:43.657-04:00WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY<a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/wfw/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjUrCwtnSEzOgFImszelCBNq7flJRWByuWRpGXBu3NjjleptH6EEcuXRAsoI5ztgT2R7ujLEVdjnY17FFIKvT9cRH95pqGc1WD7HaSn_GrJRDBLyjvaWut_yP48M2tIYzxOA5JfyJXMPE/s320/Word+Filled+Wednesday+Meme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493819754406908690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO47lYh5A_chCRWp7sM9l92G2bKmpAUqr3qPbi6SOl6g_dSpVjw_MF7kLQ5jQsvdJkNJos0ysjKvTolnZHKQ76oe43YQ_K7t9TdlF8zbpKCMaPjjjDcZcqVEhOsC_P4W2odgNbO6DVHUbF/s1600/john3-16_Defenders+of+the+Catholic+Faith.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO47lYh5A_chCRWp7sM9l92G2bKmpAUqr3qPbi6SOl6g_dSpVjw_MF7kLQ5jQsvdJkNJos0ysjKvTolnZHKQ76oe43YQ_K7t9TdlF8zbpKCMaPjjjDcZcqVEhOsC_P4W2odgNbO6DVHUbF/s320/john3-16_Defenders+of+the+Catholic+Faith.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597956463287919314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><big><big><span style="font-family:Papyrus;">"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but may have eternal life."</span></big></big></b><br /><b><big><big><span style="font-family:Papyrus;"> ~ John 3:16</span></big></big></b><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The purpose of <a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/wfw/">Word-Filled Wednesday</a> is to share God’s word through photo or graphic image combined with a verse from the Bible. Word-Filled Wednesday <strong>is not</strong> about books, authors or artists, it’s about God and <strong>HIS WORD ONLY</strong>. If you’d like to join me and other ladies as we share our Word-Filled Wednesday, just click on the icon below.</span><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/wfw/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAse9-VGTuW9Z40gbv1gFBg4JbQ-jRUULVwQBsXOLzlBGGloVn6CdOewgkWsc6sVwYw04NExCgxXMkelhI-f7sFNFadMtGvXgDaRAkqLBkEobyZ-Z1u7eeRi83lfUoZRsh7QGn-C9Fq-2u/s320/wfwbutton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493819890674386642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><br /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-20957825250392799972011-03-25T21:30:00.001-04:002011-03-25T21:52:15.393-04:00URGENT PRAYERS NEEDED!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBIrPbQlnA-wD4rvxR1hqKK-lvEgJTKtlk7NaD6uWd8ZoaH5m11G0qqc_zpFQNiBlWC7m9-CzYLGqFUQTVE1rInaUarkhQHi5lt1KS8Rb_1-pmELYIkpI6RfTq2X4rGww7YtYBs7W_j0F/s1600/Power+of+Prayer+Pic+TLS.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBIrPbQlnA-wD4rvxR1hqKK-lvEgJTKtlk7NaD6uWd8ZoaH5m11G0qqc_zpFQNiBlWC7m9-CzYLGqFUQTVE1rInaUarkhQHi5lt1KS8Rb_1-pmELYIkpI6RfTq2X4rGww7YtYBs7W_j0F/s320/Power+of+Prayer+Pic+TLS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588199159605769778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Hi Everyone,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >As you may remember, my husband, David, was placed on furlough, with benefits, Feb.25th and was assured it would only be for approximately 2-3 wks. His company was in the process of securing several new contracts and it appeared to be only a matter of time before he would be starting a new project. However, things have not gone so well.<br /><br />Last Friday, all employees who did not already have an active site to manage were laid off indefinitely AND all benefits were discontinued. Their amazing benefit package included, but was definitely not limited to, an incredible FAMILY healthcare plan provided at absolutely no charge, and a brand new retirement plan they just established and signed employees up for in late January<br /><br />Today is the end of the 4th week we have gone without David earning any income.<span style=""> </span>The unemployment ‘benefit’ is barely ¼ of his usual bring home pay. <span style=""> </span>He has been scouring Alabama and Georgia for work, but has been unsuccessful so far. We really are trying hard not to worry. <span style=""> </span>However, after his lengthy furlough in November and December, my continued medical expenses, Morgan's college tuition and many other unexpected associated costs, a HUGE jump in our auto insurance premiums after Bekah's accident last Fall, and now this – we have pretty much exhausted ALL our savings. Therefore, it is very hard to fight our human flesh and NOT be a little afraid sometimes. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >But we quickly remember that we serve a mighty Lord and we know none of this has taken Him by surprise!! <span style=""> </span>We know scripture tells us that He has a wonderful, amazing plan for us and His timing is impeccable! <span style=""> </span>How awesome is that??<span style=""> </span>If HE is for us, who can be against us? <span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >YES!<br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><br />Thanks SO much for stopping by and taking the time to read.<span style=""> </span>I know I haven’t been around much lately, but I am trying my best to get better and be here more often.<span style=""> </span>I hope you will continue to keep my family and me in your prayers as we wait upon the Lord.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><span style=""> </span><br />Thank you so much!<span style=""> </span>Have a fantastic weekend.<br /><br />{{{HUGS}}}</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></p><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:donotshowcomments/> <w:donotshowinsertionsanddeletions/> <w:donotshowpropertychanges/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> 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Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></p><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-88143557698752684372011-03-08T13:50:00.003-05:002011-03-08T15:24:43.379-05:00STAYCATION!! WOOT!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaVrQqGjqdfwX74BwYHmUi7BgPXxWZM0HMI6GBcNw3VvCkAgKcKARwbnqhelE8adr9P-oQpDazuC0dhwXC5wKmWi9MWG1S9HYpTS1-psY209GrjG6_KmiPGEDJcN6t6DYNt1Mk010pI2_/s1600/Staycation_Apt+Therapy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaVrQqGjqdfwX74BwYHmUi7BgPXxWZM0HMI6GBcNw3VvCkAgKcKARwbnqhelE8adr9P-oQpDazuC0dhwXC5wKmWi9MWG1S9HYpTS1-psY209GrjG6_KmiPGEDJcN6t6DYNt1Mk010pI2_/s400/Staycation_Apt+Therapy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581778615217186546" border="0" /></a><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/travel/staycation-variation-escape-from-your-home-but-not-your-hometown-121028"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:78%;" >Source</span></a><br /></div><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /><br /><br />Hi Friends,<br /><br />I just wanted to touch base and let you all know that I am still alive! I'm so sorry I have not been able to post in such a long time. I've had an especially hard time with my illness lately, even more so than usual, and I've been almost completely confined to my bed since before Christmas. Before my symptoms worsened, I was usually able to make it downstairs with assistance and stay in a recliner most of the day. However, I've only been able to make it downstairs to our family room two or three times since Christmas and I definitely haven't felt like spending much time on the computer. I sure have missed you all, though! I just haven't had any strength to put into blogging, or even reading blogs for that matter. Plus, there have been SO many things going on in my life and in the lives of my family.<br /><br />A few things include: 1) My husband working 70+ hours a week, including several weekends</span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"> (without being paid any overtime because of his position in the company)</span></big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><big> since the beginning of the year, only to learn he was being furloughed for the 2nd time in less than 4 months, with absolutely no notice. 2) My dad falling and fracturing both bones in his lower leg, which required surgery to pin it all back together. 3) Shortly after my dad's accident, the <span style="font-style: italic;">very unexpected</span> death of his brother. This came, as you may remember, only about 8 months after my dad's 96 year old mother, my very precious grandmother, passed away. Needless to say, it has been a very hectic and stressful time for us all, but being sick and confined to my home and bed definitely seems to make dealing with these kinds of things so much more difficult.<br /><br />With all that said, David and I have decided to take advantage of a few days this week to enjoy him being home. He and I have decided to spend some much needed time with just each other. It has been a VERY long time since we have done so. Since I'm not really able to travel right now and we definitely do not have the money to spend on even one night at the Motel 6 down by the interstate, we have decided to have our own little stay-cation right here at home. We will be 'off the electronic/communication grid', so to speak, for the next few days. I am SO excited at the thought of NO phones, No iPods, NO computers......NO interruptions!! I would really appreciate it if you would please pray with us that I will feel well enough to enjoy it. :0)<br /><br />I hope you all are doing well and I hope to start chatting with you all and visiting your blogs again really soon! Until then, I pray each of you have a wonderfully blessed week!<br /><br />{{HUGS}} </big></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:Comic Sans MS;" ><big>P.S. I HAVE to tell you all about something amazing that has been happening!! About a month or so ago, I started receiving tons of cards in the mail every day! I'm not sure who initiated it, but I have received loads of Encouragement cards, Get Well cards, Thinking of You cards, etc. I was also blessed with an <span style="font-weight: bold;">enormous</span> amount of Valentines and Birthday cards, too!! As of last count, I had received roughly 160 cards in just over a month! And, I still have some that have been opened and read, but not yet added to that count.<br /><br />This has truly been such an amazing and timely blessing! The Lord definitely knew how much I needed these precious little gifts of sweet, encouraging words that I get to read each and every day. They serve to remind me that there ARE lots of people out there who think about me, love me and pray for me, even though I don't get to see them very often. There are even strangers all over the U.S. AND in other countries who are sending cards and praying for me. How awesome is that?!? I can not begin to thank each<span style="font-style: italic;"> ANGEL </span>who has taken precious time out of their busy life to send me a little piece of love and encouragement through a beautiful card(s). Each one has truly been a great big blessing during such a terrible storm in my life!! Bless you, bless you, bless you!<br /><br />Speaking of cards, I have to say a very special thank you to my dear friend, Teresa, at <a href="http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/">Grammy Girlfriend</a> and <a href="http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/">A Baby Changes Everything</a>. Long before all these other cards started arriving, she had been sending me really sweet, really gorgeous encouragement cards. For a long, long time, I received one from her EVERY SINGLE DAY! Plus, they are not only beautiful and sweet cards, but she always covers the envelope with some kind of stickers....and I don't mean one or two. She COVERS them with really pretty stickers, front and back. (My favorite were the nutcrackers at Christmas! I collect those, so they really made my day!) To this day, I still receive one from her at least once a week. She is such an amazing friend and blogger. You should really check her out! </big></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Related articles</span><div class="zemanta-related"><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/44374.aspx">Five Ideas to Liven Up Your Staycation</a> (brighthub.com)</span></li></ul></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=9e8da7fc-9c4b-4ce9-b93c-f0fc79bdad59" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution paragraph-reblog"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-87758898633553362192011-02-05T16:00:00.001-05:002011-02-05T19:32:27.226-05:00MY PARENTS' GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!! <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><i>Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />LOVE NEVER FAILS ... </span></i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><i><b>1 Corinthians 13:4–8a<br /><br /><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc2prgq1Y3kTssGrWgo-0Y7wOwu0a61xM-y-7WrzAI6KLnkTV5m6H84cQget2QaenU1BUackIVVxIiziVvPAVFxUnn8bQ-PcgccxwLy-1ds4eblAPSGDzXbZv-FHtUrU-EEZLPZtr-E60/s1600/Daddy_Mama_December+1960+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc2prgq1Y3kTssGrWgo-0Y7wOwu0a61xM-y-7WrzAI6KLnkTV5m6H84cQget2QaenU1BUackIVVxIiziVvPAVFxUnn8bQ-PcgccxwLy-1ds4eblAPSGDzXbZv-FHtUrU-EEZLPZtr-E60/s400/Daddy_Mama_December+1960+%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570354152053524002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Daddy and Mama - Dating in 1960</span></span><br /></div><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Today my family is celebrating my mom and dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary, which was officially yesterday. I am writing this as my own small way of honoring them since I was not able to attend the big celebration that is being held right now at their church. </span></big><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /><br /></span></big><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmLI_zV5_wHa7Ev77rB67riqr7c6TCT0_rF6WT2zzbFaDjkt3xVl5Wy1vocm-36EJxUm4APNB087Omrzt5wQ7phm7LQ6gmC-Knvmmw9mlFgvIXGQbxM4GAPMKyAgz8FHH5z4cHiUmn-OA/s1600/1-27-2009+4%253B01%253B49+PM.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmLI_zV5_wHa7Ev77rB67riqr7c6TCT0_rF6WT2zzbFaDjkt3xVl5Wy1vocm-36EJxUm4APNB087Omrzt5wQ7phm7LQ6gmC-Knvmmw9mlFgvIXGQbxM4GAPMKyAgz8FHH5z4cHiUmn-OA/s400/1-27-2009+4%253B01%253B49+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570354157301304178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Daddy and Mama - Wedding Reception 2/4/61</span></span><br /></div><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br />I wanted to tell them, <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">'CONGRATULATIONS'</span> </span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">and say a great big </span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >'THANK YOU'</span> to them for hanging in there together through all these years! I know it has not always been easy and they have definitely seen their share of the <big><i>'worse'</i></big>, the <i>'<big>poorer'</big></i> and, especially lately, the <big><i>'sickness'</i></big>. However, through it all, my Mom and Dad have proved to the rest of us that real, unconditional love IS possible. They have shown us that when the Lord brings two souls together, in His name, and they each work VERY hard on that marriage, nothing can tear that bond apart. Nothing!!<br /><br /> So, I wish my AMAZING parents a very, very <big><b>HAPPY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY</b></big>!! I love you both with all my heart and I feel truly blessed to call myself your daughter!<br /><br /></span></big><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9VcBdq_re1_W4jXlAxcCs-XSF-SbGDhsciciI-YCBnWKJ-SMid3lpE-S5A3sRujUyxAAzacrnNPz3-DoBcX3UXaYjShJeUWpuLCl457UwO2UuQEzD3_mHZ7SV2cDyK8_5Yd5MyF2tLom/s1600/Mama+and+Daddy+2010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9VcBdq_re1_W4jXlAxcCs-XSF-SbGDhsciciI-YCBnWKJ-SMid3lpE-S5A3sRujUyxAAzacrnNPz3-DoBcX3UXaYjShJeUWpuLCl457UwO2UuQEzD3_mHZ7SV2cDyK8_5Yd5MyF2tLom/s400/Mama+and+Daddy+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570354162963817330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Mama and Daddy - recently </span></span><br /></div><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br />Now, I look forward to ATTENDING their 75th Anniversary Party, although I do not want it to arrive anytime soon!! :0)<br /><br />I appreciate that you stopped by today and I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed weekend!!<br /><br />{{HUGS}}</span></big><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br />P.S. I would also like to wish my nephew, Andrew, a very HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY today!! It is so hard to believe he is now an adult! WOW, how the time just keeps on flying. We need to figure out how to slow it down a bit, no?!? :^) </span></big><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-73094549805825822162011-01-24T23:30:00.000-05:002011-01-25T03:44:25.627-05:00MEET ME ON MONDAY<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKobR1iBtUQwxsKV0_ylo-fXJJXsz60HXhYVQtcfjmQspwVjlH-7VXGUA_c4_0LMIKneZcs5REqIgl5BcN9muOzVvoV7erXV5NXld34Y8U0vhl2yS3PZfWGsoWVY1gax13bnBgtqRUZJRW/s400/Meet+Me+On+Monday_Java.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534721343021746738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Welcome to the 32nd edition of 'Meet Me On Monday'. It is a neat little blog hop hosted by Java at '<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">NEVER GROWING OLD</a>', the same wonderful blogger who hosts 'Friday Follow 40 and Over'. Here is her description of, and directions for, this magnificent Monday Meme.....<br /></span></span></big><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />"Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I <i>don't</i> know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!<br /><br />Every Sunday I will post five </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>'get to know you'</i> questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!! I will add a linky so we can follow who participates and get to know them better!! Be sure to link the POST and not just your whole blog!</span><small>" </small><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;">Here are today's 5 questions:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><u><big><b>Questions:</b></big></u></span><br /><big><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /></span></span></big><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">1. What is your favorite kind of fudge?<br />2. Is there snow outside your window?<br />3. What is your favorite meal of the day?<br />4. Do you text on your cell phone?<br />5. Waffles or pancakes?</span></span><br /><br /><br /><b style="font-family: georgia;"><u><big>My Answers: </big></u></b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: lucida grande;">1. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">What is your favorite kind of fudge?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: lucida grande;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Peanut Butter Fudge, especially from Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen in Helen, GA! YUMMY! <br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Is there snow outside your window?</span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> No, the</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">re is not, but I sure wish there was! We live in the south and we don't see it nearly as much as I would like to. My hubby and I would LOVE to move north and build a beautiful log home in the North Georgia mountains, or possibly somewhere in Tennessee or North Carolina. However, our youngest daughter really wants to finish high school here AND all of our family is here, so we just continue to think about it and dream. Maybe one day? <br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">What is your favorite meal of the day?</span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I love breakfast foods and I love them for any meal of the day. Yummy eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, hash-browns, biscuits & gravy, cereal, etc. I love just about all of it. However, these days, my body just won't let me eat much of it at all. :*( Fruit is the only thing I'm able to tolerate most of the time. That is very frustrating. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">4. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Do you text on your cell phone?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I have 2 teenagers....what do <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> think?? Seriously, yes, I do have text on my phone and I use the feature quite a bit. The main reason I had it put on all our phones several years ago is because it made me feel better knowing my girls had it, especially at school. That way if there is ever anything serious going on at the school, I am able to get in touch with them to make sure they were OK, without trying to go through the busy main office. This has actually happened a couple times before and it is such a helpless feeling when you KNOW something is going on at the school because it is on lock-down, but when you call they will not give you any information! <br /><br />Oh, and it is very helpful when your child rides the bus, too! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">5. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Waffles or pancakes?<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">YES!! :o) My husband makes some AMAZING waffles and Cracker Barrel has THE best pancakes in the world!!</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQvpl1_lmUPpNked22y8Q0BYFvU3TI0Gr1vKcK7Px_kjgG4QQr2liL50JLooXsFgaaOJPBqQSQLnNe-rdqu3VB0nyoQPo2Lx_EBIEWd0_6bAC_heHnYGb1vSCnvIbJVf8m_zsAoLBM6_Y/s400/Never+Growing+Old+-+Java.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534721346144330338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;"><br />Thanks so much for stopping by for '<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">Meet Me on Monday</a>'! I hope you have learned a few more things about me. If you would like to join in the fun with us next week for 'Meet Me on Monday', just click on one of the icons/links above to learn how! </span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;">Java and I would LOVE for you to participate so we all can learn more about YOU! <br /><br />Have a wonderful week!!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 130%;">{{HUGS}}</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-55512586459396992952011-01-20T23:20:00.001-05:002011-01-21T14:16:50.768-05:00PRAYERS NEEDED!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWtZoTPxhE-CO7KvP_B0Px1Xi3ovwZgvVybKZXTru3vJOroKnF22R9pxt1GQy3TvyW1iIJjU8AEaQOSHD6ep9NiycrQqK8vHsv9P09o2G4GG1RBWhzSA0fEgzCA1xaNuBYjFeB-MpFNns/s1600/TooManyHeartbeats_CanWePray.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWtZoTPxhE-CO7KvP_B0Px1Xi3ovwZgvVybKZXTru3vJOroKnF22R9pxt1GQy3TvyW1iIJjU8AEaQOSHD6ep9NiycrQqK8vHsv9P09o2G4GG1RBWhzSA0fEgzCA1xaNuBYjFeB-MpFNns/s400/TooManyHeartbeats_CanWePray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564520960556784306" border="0" /></a><br /></div><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Hi everyone,<br /><br />I'm gonna try to make this short and to the point because it is very LATE and I'm still having a hard time sitting up for extended periods of time. However, I needed to reach out to all my amazing prayer warriors and ask you all to PLEASE pray hard for my parents.<br /><br />First of all, my dad was working behind his shop yesterday when his feet got tangled up in some lumber and he fell. He fractured both his tibia and his fibula (the 2 bones in the lower part of the leg), down close to his ankle. I truly PRAISE the Lord that he had his cell phone with him and was able to call my brother for help! (Since finding out about the accident, I have thought over and over about what would have happened if he had NOT had that phone. I have pictured him lying out there all alone, injured and in severe pain, with no way to get in touch with anyone! )<br /><br />After seeing an orthopedist today, it was decided that he will have surgery tomorrow morning, at 9:00 EST, to have some heavy duty 'hardware' placed to stabilize his leg/ankle and help it to heal quicker. He will not be able to be up on his leg (no weight bearing) for at least 4 weeks! That is going to be extremely tough for my dad because he is used to being active, especially working in his shop where he makes all kinds of beautiful things out of wood. <br /><br />If you don't mind, please pray specifically for the surgeon and other healthcare personnel as they work on my dad's leg tomorrow. Also, pray that the surgery goes really well, the pain is completely relieved and that he has super-speedy healing. Please also keep my mom in your prayers, too. She has been having severe problems with her back, in addition to her other significant medical issues which I've shared with you before.<br /><br />Needless to say, the next few weeks are going to be an extremely difficult time for my mom and dad. Your prayers for them, and our entire family, would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for always being here for me! You are the best!<br /><br />{{HUGS}} </span></big><br /><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">UPDATE: </span></big><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">The surgery went well and he is back home, but as the anesthesia wears off, he is beginning to experience a great deal of pain. Please continue to pray for pain relief! Thank you SO much!! </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-28055893013208339522011-01-10T23:30:00.001-05:002011-01-11T05:39:58.505-05:00MEET ME ON MONDAY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKobR1iBtUQwxsKV0_ylo-fXJJXsz60HXhYVQtcfjmQspwVjlH-7VXGUA_c4_0LMIKneZcs5REqIgl5BcN9muOzVvoV7erXV5NXld34Y8U0vhl2yS3PZfWGsoWVY1gax13bnBgtqRUZJRW/s400/Meet+Me+On+Monday_Java.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534721343021746738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Welcome to the 30th edition of 'Meet Me On Monday'. It is a neat little blog hop hosted by Java at '<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">NEVER GROWING OLD</a>', the same wonderful blogger who hosts 'Friday Follow 40 and Over'. Here is her description of, and directions for, this magnificent Monday Meme.....<br /><br /></span></span></big><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I <i>don't</i> know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!<br /><br />Every Sunday I will post five </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><i>'get to know you'</i> questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!! I will add a linky so we can follow who participates and get to know them better!! Be sure to link the POST and not just your whole blog!</span><small>" </small><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" >Here are today's 5 questions:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><u><big><b>Questions:</b><br /></big></u><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">1. Have you (only you..not a group) ever won first place in anything?<br />2. Are your toes always painted (sorry guys...this question for girls only)?<br />3. What color eyes do you have?<br />4. Look to your left....what do you see?<br />5. Soft cookies or crunchy cookies?</span></span><br /><br /><br /><b style="font-family: georgia;"><u><big>My Answers: </big></u></b><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >1. Have you (only you..not a group) ever won first place in anything?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">That's a hard one. The only things I can remember winning 1st place in, if you can call it that, is being 1st chair playing flute in the band during my elementary, junior high and high school years and then graduating at the top of my class from my Paramedic Academy.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Are your toes always painted (sorry guys...this question for girls only)?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> No, they are not, but I wish they were! </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I absolutely love to have a good mani and pedi, but it is just about impossible these days. </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Being so sick makes it hard to feel well enough and/or afford to go and have someone else do it. Also, I have very little energy to do it myself, but I really wish I did because when I am at the doctor's office or in the hospital, it is kind of embarrassing not having them done.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. What color eyes do you have?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Blue</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Look to your left....what do you see?<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> An IV pole with an almost empty bag of fluids, a side table covered with meds, my phone charger and my favorite drink right now, which is the generic for Diet Mountain Dew Code Red, and, last but not least, my ever so attractive potty chair that I must use when I am receiving fluids. I just have no energy to go back and forth to the real potty. I hate it. It makes me feel like I am 80 years old. :0(</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Soft cookies or crunchy cookies?<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Absolutely soft and gooey, right out of the oven, if possible! YUMMY!!</span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQvpl1_lmUPpNked22y8Q0BYFvU3TI0Gr1vKcK7Px_kjgG4QQr2liL50JLooXsFgaaOJPBqQSQLnNe-rdqu3VB0nyoQPo2Lx_EBIEWd0_6bAC_heHnYGb1vSCnvIbJVf8m_zsAoLBM6_Y/s400/Never+Growing+Old+-+Java.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534721346144330338" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><br />Thanks so much for stopping by for '<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">Meet Me on Monday</a>'! I hope you have learned at least one thing about me you didn't already know! I would LOVE to know more about you, too. If you would like to join in the fun with us, I would LOVE for you to participate next week for 'Meet Me on Monday' and I know Java would, too! Just click on one of the icons/links above to learn how!<br /><br />In the meantime, I hope you are having a wonderful week! Our family has been able to enjoy a few more days together, unexpectedly. We have been watching snow, sleet and ice accumulate around our home. The storm was not nearly as bad as the weather folks had predicted, but it is still extremely dangerous out there, especially if you are trying to drive. Therefore, we are just staying home, all bundled up by our wood burning stove while we watch movies, sleep, eat and generally enjoy each others company. We also watched our Auburn Tigers WIN the BCS Championship game tonight, something they have not accomplished since 1957, I believe!! It has all been really nice. I just wish we all felt a little better so we could enjoy it even more.<br /><br />So, what have YOU been doing? Is the weather affecting your area of the country? I'd love to hear!<br /><br />{{HUGS}}<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-41234221422713816402011-01-08T19:14:00.006-05:002011-01-08T22:41:05.025-05:00THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAYS~ LEGACY ~<a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="306" width="374"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/FSuhE0i6bHk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/FSuhE0i6bHk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="306" width="374"></embed></object></center><br /><div align="center"><big><span style="font-family:Perpetua;"><b><big><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >'LEGACY'</span></big></b><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />By~ Nichole Nordeman</span></big><br /><br /></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;" align="center"><big><span style="font-family:Perpetua;">I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me<br />And I enjoy an accolade like the rest<br />And you can take my picture and hang it in a gallery<br />Of all the Who's Who's and So-and-So's<br />That used to be the best at such and such<br />It wouldn't matter much<br /> <br />I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights<br />We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"<br />But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides<br />The temporary trappings of this world<br /> <br />I want to leave a legacy<br />How will they remember me?<br />Did I choose to love?<br />Did I point to You enough<br />To make a mark on things?<br />I want to leave an offering<br />A child of mercy and grace<br />Who blessed Your name unapologetically<br />And leave that kind of legacy<br /> <br />I don't have to look too far or too long awhile<br />To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy<br />It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile<br />Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon<br />enough destroy<br /> <br />I want to leave a legacy<br />How will they remember me?<br />Did I choose to love?<br />Did I point to You enough<br />To make a mark on things?<br />I want to leave an offering<br />A child of mercy and grace<br />Who blessed Your name unapologetically<br />And leave that kind of legacy<br /> <br />Not well-traveled, not well-read<br />Not well-to-do, or well-bred<br />Just want to hear instead<br />Well done, good and faithful one<br /> <br />I want to leave a legacy<br />How will they remember me?<br />Did I choose to love?<br />Did I point to You enough<br />To make a mark on things?<br />I want to leave an offering<br />A child of mercy and grace<br />Who blessed Your name unapologetically<br />And leave that kind of legacy<br /> <br />I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me<br /><br /></span></big></div><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and are now enjoying a wonderful New Year with your family. I'm sorry I have not been around much lately, I hope this will be changing really soon.<br /><br />The holidays were very busy and quite difficult for our entire family. Not only have I continued to really struggle with my illness, but my husband also became extremely sick during Christmas with what turned out to be a very serious bacterial pneumonia. He just went back to work, but he is not completely well, so we would appreciate your prayers, as usual.<br /><br />Also, it looks like we are about to be slammed by a severe winter storm tomorrow and Monday. They are forecasting quite a bit of snow to be followed by lots of freezing rain and sleet. It will be SO beautiful, but these ice events are ALWAYS very dangerous for us southerners, especially when the temps are going to be staying below freezing for several days. Forecasters are anticipating wide spread power outages due to falling trees and downed power lines. We would appreciate your prayers on this as well.<br /><br />I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I hope to be back again really soon. Take care!<br /><br />{{HUGS}} <br /><br /> </span></big><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong>For more inspiring and uplifting music, please visit</strong></em></b><br /><b><em><strong>Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><br /></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-70253101850634127832010-12-23T22:30:00.004-05:002010-12-23T22:57:58.044-05:00THE ARRIVAL<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfOxgJtSx6gsDO_Mq7yz_TIOLRMoXBeulqMJl3vX1tS_p0QNpuAg4NUNtGR4zajiIGhgYW2Uo-HkJbL78OeSQY45uxB_FWRPwK3EQjC2cgkkOR7N8Fs5nL8iSTNKVT4IU_Sm8xgSQ9XPh/s1600/Baby-Jesus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfOxgJtSx6gsDO_Mq7yz_TIOLRMoXBeulqMJl3vX1tS_p0QNpuAg4NUNtGR4zajiIGhgYW2Uo-HkJbL78OeSQY45uxB_FWRPwK3EQjC2cgkkOR7N8Fs5nL8iSTNKVT4IU_Sm8xgSQ9XPh/s400/Baby-Jesus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554080666485460626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em></em></small></span></big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><big><b><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></b></big></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><big><b><small><span style="font-family:Georgia;">'The Arrival</span></small></b></big></span>'<br /><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><big><span style="font-size:85%;">by Max Lucado</span><b><br /></b></big></span><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em><br />The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village. As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets. Vendors were positioning themselves on the corners of the most heavily traveled avenues. Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops. Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts.</em></small></span></big> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town. After all, the inn was full, all the beds taken. Every available mat or blanket had been put to use. Soon all the customers would be stirring and there would be a lot of work to do.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>One’s imagination is kindled thinking about the conversation of the innkeeper and his family at the breakfast table. Did anyone mention the arrival of the young couple the night before? Did anyone comment on the pregnancy of the girl on the donkey? Perhaps. Perhaps someone raised the subject. But, at best, it was raised, not discussed. There was nothing that novel about them. They were, possibly, one of several families turned away that night.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Besides, who had time to talk about them when there was so much excitement in the air? Augustus did the economy of Bethlehem a favor when he decreed that a census should be taken. Who could remember when such commerce had hit the village?</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>No, it is doubtful that anyone mentioned the couple’s arrival or wondered about the condition of the girl. They were too busy. The day was upon them. The day’s bread had to be made. The morning’s chores had to be done. There was too much to do to imagine that the impossible had occurred.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><b><em>God had entered the world as a baby.</em></b></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>A more lowly place of birth could not exist.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Off to one side sit a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him—so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is. He can’t remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy. He still hasn’t figured it all out. The mystery of the event still puzzles him. But he hasn’t the energy to wrestle with the questions. What’s important is that the baby is fine and that Mary is safe. As sleep comes, he remembers the name the angel told him to use . . . Jesus. “We will call him Jesus.”</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph’s saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can't take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel,<br />“His kingdom will never end.”</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>He looks anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey!</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>This baby had overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><small><em>Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking.</em></small></span></big></p> <p><small><em><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?</span></big></em></small><em></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><br /></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</em></p> <span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">This piece really spoke to me and made me really stop and think. Like most, I know it is so very easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of planning, preparing, shopping, baking, wrapping, traveling, visiting, eating, etc. that we often tend to lose focus of why we are even celebrating in the first place! Therefore, over the next few days, my fervent prayer will be that we all take time to stop, think and reflect on the true meaning behind this glorious season. . . and the most awesome Gift ever given.<br /><br />May you and your family enjoy a wonderfully blessed and Merry Christmas!!<br /><br /></span></em></span><small><em><big><span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;">~ 'The Arrival' is excerpted from '<a href="http://maxlucado.net/_product_30305/God_Came_Near">God Came Near</a>' © by Max Lucado ~</span></span></big></em></small><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-73276955512293450072010-12-04T17:58:00.003-05:002010-12-05T10:58:24.333-05:00THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY<a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="306" width="375"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/dZvjPCcHI4g?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/dZvjPCcHI4g?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="306" width="375"></embed></object></center><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video 1</span> - Part of TV show with some song</span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="306" width="375"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Z07LaaY8VJ8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Z07LaaY8VJ8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="306" width="375"></embed></object></center><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video 2</span> - Entire song & photos from show</span><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Drummer_Boy"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgNKr2tOMmE2EpPP7VGWn2DrwtW5aZnNJaOFBMoKZD7IQSh3NmeEVFmMEdZS7wqEJqxKFg1LL0-gMk9GK2AxqOqC8cyLj7tSGkDFoW5sMUam8Rwz_uUNHWO_LgR-m6QpgyZ4KnM9fgK8N/s200/TOO+MANY+HEARTBEATS+DYSAUTONOMIA+The+Little+Drummer+Boy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546946729632218290" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Berylium;"><big><small><b><big><big><br />'THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY</big></big></b></small>'<br /></big></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:Berylium;"><big><b>aka 'Carol of the Drum' </b><br /><br /></big></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:Berylium;"><big><small><b>Originally Written By~ Katherine K. Davis</b> 1941<br /> <b>This Version Arranged By~ Harry Simeone Chorale </b>1958</small><br /><br /></big></span> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Berylium;">Come, they told me</span> <span style="font-family:Berylium;">(pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;">Our newborn King to see</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;"> (pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> Our finest gifts we bring </span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">(pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> To lay before the King </span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">(pa-rum pum pum pum, </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> rum-pum pum pum, </span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">rum-pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;">So, to honor Him (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> When we come. </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> Baby Jesus (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> I am a poor boy too </span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">(pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> I have no gift to bring (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> That's fit to give our King (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum,</span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;">rum-pum pum pum,</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;"> rum-pum pum pum, </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;">Shall I play for you (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> On my drum? </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> Mary nodded </span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">(pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> The ox and lamb kept time (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> I played my drum for Him (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> I played my best for Him</span> (<span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum, </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> rum-pum pum pum</span>, <span style="font-family:Berylium;">rum-pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;">Then, He smiled at me (</span><span style="font-family:Berylium;">pa-rum pum pum pum) </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Berylium;"> Me and my drum. </span></b></span></div> </div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><div align="left"><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">This song is SO very special to me! It takes me WAY back to when I was a child growing up in the 70's & 80's. My dad would play it often during Christmastime every year - a vinyl record, of course! My sister, brother and I loved to pretend we were the drummers in the song and we would beat our imaginary drums and sing our hearts out every single time Daddy played it, and then we'd beg for him to play it again! :0) It will forever be my absolute favorite Christmas song, as well as, favorite animated Christmas TV special. Both bring back such treasured memories of our family's Christmas past. Plus, unlike most Christmas shows today, both do a great job explaining the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas every year. I pray this Christmas tradition is one that our entire family will continue to pass down for generations to come.<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend with your family. Things are still extremely tough here, but we are maintaining our faith and know the Lord is going to see us through. My family and I truly appreciate all of your continued support through comments, emails, cards and, most of all, your prayers. You ALL are a huge blessing!<br /><br />Now, before you leave, how 'bout leaving me a quick comment to let me know <i>your</i> favorite childhood Christmas song. Is it still your favorite now? Do you play it for your children? I'd love to know!<br /><br />{{HUGS}}<br /></span></big><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong><br />For more inspiring and uplifting music, please visit</strong></em></b><br /><b><em><strong>Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><br /></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-78914503544163010362010-11-21T13:16:00.003-05:002010-11-22T08:34:46.046-05:00A Strong WomanVSA Woman of Strength<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tabithablue.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4ljQPLZ9H12O06D1Bq7LatRBP5FfXfphoCh05sm9o-5H1KszQxSEzvgrvmRZgHVmxT0IwNthtlLDCDJGvUHe4-9oon3dc4DfblIoa8XMjtO1zklRPH7rO4NTksXo2mrMSSjGApH9b9ky/s400/Dysautonomia_Too+Many+Heartbeats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542054893387460626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlGTycLzZU19OBUy3Udz-WWjgNo76GRNe2L-QBgpyTxF0c79Fa5FR6rgs4CNd-xG4o5NB7DCYlrXBFa-JVRK3wluUpXmDnhueciKcHZxmWorMsev2FRk6dV3oskZGBVermulwxvmSyuyN/s1600/STRONGWOMAN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlGTycLzZU19OBUy3Udz-WWjgNo76GRNe2L-QBgpyTxF0c79Fa5FR6rgs4CNd-xG4o5NB7DCYlrXBFa-JVRK3wluUpXmDnhueciKcHZxmWorMsev2FRk6dV3oskZGBVermulwxvmSyuyN/s320/STRONGWOMAN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542048713049995586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Strong Woman VS A Woman of Strength</span><br /><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman works out every day,<br /> Pride in her appearance she portrays,<br /> But a woman of strength kneels to pray,<br /> Keeping her soul in shape, God leading the way.</span></p> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman isn't afraid of anything,<br /> Looking forward to challenges each day will bring,<br /> Women of strength show courage in the midst of fear,<br /> Knowing triumph through faith because the Lord is near.</span></p> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">Strong women won't let anyone get the best of them,<br /> So skilled in defense even if they have to pretend,<br /> Yet a woman of strength gives her best to everyone,<br /> Being anointed with divine blood from the only begotten Son.</span></p> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman relies on the physical attributes making her tough,<br /> In her search for power and money she will never have enough,<br /> A woman of strength understands that it’s not about material stuff,<br /> Knowing that before becoming a diamond, first she’ll be in the rough.</span></p> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman sometimes disguises her feelings shadowed by clouds,<br /> Unhinged when challenged on her policy becoming boisterous and loud,<br /> A woman of strength concerns herself not with judgment from others,<br /> And will not let business interfere with commitments as a wife and mother.</span></p> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman is easily impatient back and forth she will begin to pace,<br /> Counting on her holier than thou attitude instead of depending on faith,<br /> A woman of strength is assured trust in God will always carry her through,<br /> And at the Creator’s appointed time she’ll receive all that is justly due.</span></p> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same for tomorrow,<br /> Refusing to take time looking back with reverence and Godly sorrow,<br /> The woman of strength realizes life's mistakes no matter how slim,<br /> While thanking God for the blessings as she capitalizes on them.</span></p> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman walks head first with no doubt in her mind,<br /> Again, no matter what, she’ll not make this mistake a second time,<br /> But a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls,<br /> So when a situation arises again, she’s not afraid to answer the call.</span></p> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face,<br /> Always doing whatever it takes to finish, seeking only first place,<br /> The woman of strength competes with an emotional sense of grace,<br /> Understanding it’s more important to run a Holy Spirit filled race.</span></p> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman has faith that for the journey she’ll have enough,<br /> No matter how uneven the terrain or roads being rocky and rough,<br /> A woman of strength knows it’s in the journey she will become strong,<br /> And the love of God is forever with her, no matter how difficult or long.</span></p> <div align="center"> </div> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">A strong woman when uninformed thinks that she is being mistreated,<br /> In the end her physical attributes fail causing doubt to become seeded,<br /> A woman of strength will compromise as a little give and take is needed,<br /> Why? Because a lesson not learned the first time is soon to be repeated.<br /></span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Constantia;">Ladies start every day on your knees with supplication & prayer,<br />Trust and believe that God will always get you from here to there,<br />And should your giant steps seem to be moving only inch by inch,<br />The journey is not as A Strong Woman but A Woman of Strength.<br /></span></p> <span style="font-family:Constantia;"><br /></span> <div align="center"> </div> <span style="font-family:Constantia;">© 2006 by Luke Easter & Dee Cheeks<br /></span><span style="font-family:Constantia;">from the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gracious-Spiritual-Uplifts-Poetry-Lyrics/dp/1424178762/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287188548&sr=1-1">Gracious Spiritual Uplifts from Poetry & Rhyme Lyrics</a></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">This poem really touched me and gave me a lot to think about. I pray that it does you, too. What do your goals and priorities look like today? Do they reflect the desire to be a strong woman or a woman of strength? <br /><br />I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! It is really good to pop in again after being totally out of commission for a couple of weeks. I am still not doing very well and have had to spend most of my time lying down in bed, instead of being able to sit up in my recliner like I had been doing for so long. I am hoping and praying that this is just a set-back and that I will be better really soon.<br /><br />I have been to the ER and 2 different doctors over the last few weeks. They all have done a good bit of testing and rearranging of my meds. I still have 2 more tests that need to be done, probably after Thanksgiving. If those don't show anything significant, then I will be going to another specialist. It's been a very LONG drawn out process and each time I go out, it takes several days or longer for me to recuperate from the outing.<br /><br />My family is definitely under attack and I would really appreciate your continued prayers. It seems like every day something new comes up. My husband did get furloughed from his job about 2 weeks ago. <a href="http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/2010/10/word-filled-wednesday.html">As I shared with you here</a>, this could last a few weeks or a few months. Either way, it could not have hit at a worse time. Our savings has been just about depleted recently due to a whole host of issues, the largest of which have been my medical issues and our middle daughter beginning college a couple of months ago. We also had another set back this past Wednesday when our youngest daughter was involved in an automobile accident in which she struck another driver from the rear. Everyone was able to walk away from the accident, PRAISE GOD!! However, our daughter did break her foot and our car suffered significant damage and is not drivable. Thankfully, the other party was not injured and his vehicle was only slightly damaged. Unfortunately, we did not have full coverage on this particular vehicle, so we are not quite sure what we are going to do just yet. *sigh*<br /><br />As I've said before, we know this to be true....'When It Pours, He Reigns!' I know the Lord is still on His throne and He is in control. I just have to keep this in mind on days when things seem extremely bad and I feel like I can't possibly handle this anymore. I must remember.....this, too, shall pass.<br /><br />Thank you so much to all who have continued to stop by and leave a really sweet comment, send an email to check up on me or even take the time to mail amazing cards of encouragement. I have read them all and I will do my best to write back when I can.<br /><br />I hope to be back again soon, but if I'm not, I pray that you all have a really wonderful Thanksgiving.<br /><br />{{HUGS}} </span></span><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Thank you so much for joining me once again for Sunday Citar! As you know Sunday Citar was created by Tabitha at <a href="http://tabithablue.blogspot.com/">FRESH MOMMY</a>. Please take a few minutes to check out her blog to find more inspiring quotes and photos that she and many others are sharing today AND feel free to join us if you'd like!</span></span></span></span>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-20397254870925901322010-11-06T10:35:00.008-04:002010-11-06T11:48:10.860-04:00CALL ON JESUS<a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> "Those who hope in the Lord<br />will renew their strength.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> They will soar on wings like eagles;</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> they will run and not grow weary,</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> they will walk and not be faint."</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><br />~ Isaiah 40:31</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="306" width="375"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xqhl4?width=375&theme=eggplant&foreground=%23CFCFCF&highlight=%23834596&background=%23000000&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xqhl4?width=375&theme=eggplant&foreground=%23CFCFCF&highlight=%23834596&background=%23000000&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="306" width="375"></embed></object></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><big><big><b><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">CALL ON JESUS</span></b></big></big><br /></div><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" > <big>By~ Nicole C. Mullin<br /></big></span></p> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>I'm so very ordinary <br /> Nothing special on my own<br /> I have never walked on water<br /> I have never calmed a storm<br /> Sometimes I'm hiding away<br /> from the madness around me<br /> Like a child who's afraid of the dark</big></span></big></p> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big> But when I call on Jesus<br /> All things are possible<br /> I can mount on wings like eagles and soar<br /> When I call on Jesus<br /> Mountains are gonna fall<br /> 'Cause He'll move Heaven<br /> and Earth to come rescue me when I call </big></span></big></p> <div align="center"><big> </big></div> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>lalalala.... </big></span></big></p> <div align="center"><big> </big></div> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>Weary brother<br /> Broken daughter<br /> Widowed, widowed lover<br /> You're not alone<br /> If you're tired and scared<br /> of the madness around you<br /> If you can't find the strength to carry on </big></span></big></p> <div align="center"><big> </big></div> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>But when I call on Jesus<br /> All things are possible<br /> I can mount on wings like eagles and soar<br /> When I call on Jesus<br /> Mountains are gonna fall<br /> 'Cause He'll move Heaven<br /> and Earth to come rescue me when I call </big></span><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big> </big></span></big></p> <div align="center"><big> </big></div> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>Call Him in the mornin'<br /> In the afternoon time<br /> Late in the evenin'<br /> He'll be there<br /> When your heart is broken<br /> And you feel discouraged<br /> You can just remember that He said<br /> He'll be there </big></span></big></p> <div align="center"><big> </big></div> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>But when I call on Jesus<br /> All things are possible<br /> I can mount on wings like eagles and soar<br /> When I call on Jesus<br /> Mountains are gonna fall<br /> 'Cause He'll move Heaven<br /> and Earth to come rescue me when I call<br /> </big></span></big></p> <div align="center"><big> </big></div> <p align="center"><big><span style=";font-family:Century Gothic;font-size:85%;" ><big>lalalala....</big></span></big></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm sorry I haven't been able to post this week. It has been a really rough week and I have really missed you all. I'm hoping to be around a little more next week.<br /><br />I pray you all are enjoying a wonderful fall weekend. We have just started experiencing our first really cool temperatures of the season and even had a freeze warning in effect for last night and tonight! I love it! Don't forget to set your clocks back tonight. See ya soon!<br /><br />{{HUGS}} <br /> </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong><br />For more inspiring and uplifting music, please visit</strong></em></b><br /><b><em><strong>Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><br /></a></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-19693722869318851962010-10-30T12:58:00.009-04:002010-11-06T10:32:28.227-04:00SMS {SHINE}with Lite Brite®!<a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Not only is this a wonderful song but it is an AMAZING video. It is truly one of the coolest I've ever seen. It is made with a child's Lite Brite</span></span>®<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Toy. I've never seen anything like it! Take a look.....<br /></span></span><br /></div><br /><center><object height="306" width="375"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/P8cAU475dQo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/P8cAU475dQo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="306" width="375"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>SMS {SHINE}</b></span><br />By~ David Crowder Band<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Send me a sign, a hint, a whisper<br />Throw me a line 'cause I am listening<br />Come break the quiet, breathe Your awakening<br />Bring me to light 'cause I am fainting<br /><br />Surround me with a rush of angels wings<br /></span> </span></div> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Shine Your light so I can see You<br />Pull me up, I need to be near You<br />Hold me, I need to feel love<br />Can You overcome this heart? Let's overcome<br /><br />You sent a sign, a hint, a whisper<br />Human divine, heaven is listening<br />Death laid love quiet in the night stirring<br />All around a rush of angels<br /><br />Shine Your light so I can see You<br />Pull me up, I need to be near You<br />Hold me, I need to feel love<br />Can You overcome this heart? Let's overcome<br /><br />Oh, the wonder of the greatest love has come<br /><br />Shine Your light so all can see it<br />Lifted up 'cause the whole world needs it<br />Love has come what joy to hear it<br />He has overcome, He has overcome</span> <br /><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wasn't this such an incredible video? <a href="http://davidcrowderblog.com/post/1367260078/lite-brites-r-are-fun-sort-of-well">Here's the story</a> of how it came to be. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I have!</span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Have a great weekend.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong>For more inspiring and uplifting music, please visit</strong></em></b><br /><b><em><strong>Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><br /></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-28644763556193923312010-10-27T16:35:00.004-04:002010-10-27T18:35:18.644-04:00WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY<a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/wfw/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjUrCwtnSEzOgFImszelCBNq7flJRWByuWRpGXBu3NjjleptH6EEcuXRAsoI5ztgT2R7ujLEVdjnY17FFIKvT9cRH95pqGc1WD7HaSn_GrJRDBLyjvaWut_yP48M2tIYzxOA5JfyJXMPE/s320/Word+Filled+Wednesday+Meme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493819754406908690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7qEOFXk0sXHH7U_bsjtcGaUrIuTskrUEKhbbdWvaN3jGs-VjcOlbeTaqF29ZcU4qk5Aetdg9YY1DfUl_rDTh9n_ZNS22cg27J3mafA4BVq9M5-8YGEUaCsTtDnvvSosFRjdjQU1sEP8y/s1600/TooManyHeartbeats+Matthew+6_34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7qEOFXk0sXHH7U_bsjtcGaUrIuTskrUEKhbbdWvaN3jGs-VjcOlbeTaqF29ZcU4qk5Aetdg9YY1DfUl_rDTh9n_ZNS22cg27J3mafA4BVq9M5-8YGEUaCsTtDnvvSosFRjdjQU1sEP8y/s400/TooManyHeartbeats+Matthew+6_34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532843880431763202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="font-style: italic;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Cambria;">“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? <span class="reftext"></span>Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? <span class="reftext"></span>Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life<span class="nivfootnote"></span>? </span></div> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="NPST" align="center"><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><span class="reftext"></span>“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. <span class="reftext"></span>Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. <span class="reftext"></span>If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? <span class="reftext"></span>So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ <span class="reftext"></span>For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. <span class="reftext"></span>But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. <span class="reftext"></span>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.<br /> </span></p> <p class="NPST" align="center"><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><span style="font-style: italic;">~ Matthew 6:25-34</span><br /> </span></p> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />I believe the Lord reminded me of these verses today after my husband called to tell me that there is a very good chance that his employer will have to lay off/furlough all their employees for at least the next 2-3 months. They manage very large commercial/industrial construction projects and are going through a rough patch right now. They are in the process of bidding on a whole host of new jobs, but until then, they likely will not have enough jobs and money to keep them working while they wait. <br /><br />Of course, my immediate reaction was sheer panic! My husband has an amazing job with extraordinary benefits AND he really loves it, at least most days. His employer pays our entire family's medical and dental insurance premiums, which would cost us about $800 - $900 per month. He is given a very nice truck allowance each month to help keep it maintained since he drives approximately 150 miles round-trip each day </span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;">(plus all the other running around he does after he arrives) </span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;">AND they pay for every drop of gas he uses each week! You just don't find employers like that very often these days. Plus, his salary isn't half bad either.<br /><br />Thankfully, this appears to be a temporary situation and he should be back to full-time status after the first of the year. I know that is something to be extremely grateful for. However, over the last few months, we have just about depleted all our savings due to my medical bills, our daughter starting college and a few other unexpected things that have come up along the way. Therefore, we are just not sure what we are going to do to get by until things get back to normal. But, we DO know that our God is a great big God and He is faithful. This did not take Him by surprise! He knew it was coming and He WILL take care of us, just like He always has. In the meantime, I will try very hard not to worry about tomorrow, because I know very well that today has enough troubles of its own. :0)<br /><br />Thanks so much for your support and prayers. I love you all.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The purpose of <a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/wfw/">Word-Filled Wednesday</a> is to share God’s word through photo or graphic image combined with a verse from the Bible. Word-Filled Wednesday <strong>is not</strong> about books, authors or artists, it’s about God and <strong>HIS WORD ONLY</strong>. If you’d like to join me and other ladies as we share our Word-Filled Wednesday, just click on the icon below.</span><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/wfw/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAse9-VGTuW9Z40gbv1gFBg4JbQ-jRUULVwQBsXOLzlBGGloVn6CdOewgkWsc6sVwYw04NExCgxXMkelhI-f7sFNFadMtGvXgDaRAkqLBkEobyZ-Z1u7eeRi83lfUoZRsh7QGn-C9Fq-2u/s320/wfwbutton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493819890674386642" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-65357043941795889792010-10-24T23:20:00.009-04:002010-10-25T02:08:16.953-04:00EXTREMELY URGENT PRAYER REQUEST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxO7O_0TdVCCQj5HttpTFOPPRJy8HBG1O5TjLnSH_ncYM2YDtsanE52c3JX1Enxq6sro2_XV1TEqySQl01KPReiPh8A4TQ8z1ZJ_SjOYKwvrLeN2hiyPffPCX4t0x2YUGYd8fpXDEnfZ2/s1600/TOO+MANY+HEARTBEATS+_WOMAN+IN+PRAYER.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxO7O_0TdVCCQj5HttpTFOPPRJy8HBG1O5TjLnSH_ncYM2YDtsanE52c3JX1Enxq6sro2_XV1TEqySQl01KPReiPh8A4TQ8z1ZJ_SjOYKwvrLeN2hiyPffPCX4t0x2YUGYd8fpXDEnfZ2/s400/TOO+MANY+HEARTBEATS+_WOMAN+IN+PRAYER.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531833932191508514" border="0" /></a><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br />Please take a few moments to read the article I have linked to below and then I'll tell you about the urgent prayer requests. </span></big><br /><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /></span></big><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><a href="http://bit.ly/9iMe7a">TEEN SHOT TO DEATH AT </a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/9iMe7a">COBB COUNTY RESIDENCE</a></span></span><br /></div><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br />The Langley family, whose sons were the victims of this senseless crime, lived right outside the entrance to the subdivision where we lived for many, many years. When we moved here into our new home, about 3 1/2 years ago, they still lived there. </span></big><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">The Langley boys went to school, rode the school bus and occasionally attended church with our two youngest daughters all through elementary and middle school. The boys were a permanent fixture in our neighborhood. They hung out with our girls and all the other kids in our neighborhood, especially when everyone was still a little younger. We even got our oldest furbaby, Sadee, from the youngest boy when she was born, a little over 5 years ago. </span></big><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br />As the article states, yesterday afternoon both boys were at some kind of gathering at a home about 50 miles north of Newnan, when they were shot by another teen after some kind of 'altercation' took place. The 16 year old died of his wounds early this morning and the 19 year old is still very critical and is desperately fighting for his life.<br /><br />I would like to ask that you PLEASE pray for Daniel's life to be spared, if it is God's will. Please also pray for his entire family as they begin to process this horrific tragedy and deal with its aftermath. I also ask that you pray for the teen perpetrator and his family. I have thought about this so much ALL evening and I just can not imagine for the life of me what could cause anyone, especially someone this young, to just start shooting at two other human beings with the intent to end their lives. Now he has succeeded in ended a life that had only just begun, plus his own. He has also completely torn apart the lives of <span style="font-weight: bold;">so many</span> others. It is just so very, very sad to me.<br /><br />Thank you for listening, for your heart and for your prayers. I know that I can always count on you, my friends. I will give an update as soon as I hear.<br /><br />{{HUGS}}<br /></span></big><br /><big><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /></span></big><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-19598191892665688202010-10-23T11:03:00.002-04:002010-10-23T12:43:52.810-04:00SOMETIMES HE CALMS THE STORM<a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="306" width="375"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9Ti1SULYteI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9Ti1SULYteI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="306" width="375"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b><big>SOMETIMES HE CALMS THE STORM</big></b></span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> By~ Scott Krippayne</span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">All who sail the sea of faith </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Find out before too long </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > How quickly blue skies can grow dark </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > And gentle winds grow strong </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Suddenly fear is like white water </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Pounding on the soul </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Still we sail on knowing </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > That our Lord is in control </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Sometimes He calms the storm </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > With a whispered peace be still </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > He can settle any sea </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > But it doesn't mean He will </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Sometimes He holds us close </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > And lets the wind and waves go wild </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Sometimes He calms the storm </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > And other times He calms His child </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > He has a reason for each trial </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > That we pass through in life </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > And though we're shaken </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > We cannot be pulled apart from Christ </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > No matter how the driving rain beats down </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > On those who hold to faith </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > A heart of trust will always </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" > Be a quiet peaceful place </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This week has again been VERY long and difficult. I had to make another trip to the ER Wednesday night due to excruciating back and abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever. This time the visit was very pleasant, as far as hospital visits are concerned, but all they could really determine was that whatever was going on was not 'life-threatening'. All the testing they did came back normal. This was a bit of a relief because the last 5 or 6 times I've been, it <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> been life-threatening and I've ended up staying a week to 10 days due to sepsis. It was also a bit frustrating because we still don't know what is going on.<br /><br />At this point, I have appointments to see a couple different specialists for further evaluation and testing in hopes they can identify the problem. For now, I feel a tad bit better, thanks to a couple more medications the ER doc gave me to help with the pain. *sigh* I am so very tired of just throwing meds at things to cover them up. It would be nice to know WHAT is going on, WHY I am hurting, and QUIT masking it all! I feel like they are doing their best, but it is still frustrating!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by and for listening. I love this song. I KNOW I am in the midst of a great big storm, but I can see that the Lord has chosen to hold on tight to me and let 'the wind and the waves go wild'. He is also trying to calm me, I just have to let go and let Him. </span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong>For more inspiring and uplifting music, please visit<br />Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><br /></div><b><em></em></b></div><b><em><br /></em></b>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-71458059005755542552010-10-16T15:00:00.001-04:002010-10-16T15:06:13.495-04:00BEAUTY FROM PAIN<a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><big><b><big><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><br />'Weeping may remain for the night,</span></big></b></big></span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><big><b><big><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> but rejoicing comes in the morning.'</span></big></b></big></span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><big><b><big><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> ~ Psalm 30:5</span></big></b></big></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><big><b><big><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"> </span></big></b></big></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b><big><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"></span></big></b></span><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="306" width="375"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/dV9rH3UaDNQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/dV9rH3UaDNQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="306" width="375"></embed></object></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;">Beauty From Pain</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br />By ~ SuperChic[k]<br /><br />The lights go out all around me<br />One last candle to keep out the night<br />And then the darkness surrounds me<br />I know I'm alive but I feel like I've died<br />And all that's left is to accept that it's over<br />My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I've made<br />I try to keep warm but I just grow colder<br />I feel like I'm slipping away<br /><br />After all this has passed, I still will remain<br />After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain<br />Though it won't be today,<br />Someday I'll hope again<br />And there'll be beauty from pain<br />You will bring beauty from my pain<br /><br />My whole world is the pain inside me<br />The best I can do is just get through the day<br />When life before is only a memory<br />I wonder why God lets me walk through this place<br />And though I can't understand why this happened<br />I know that I will when I look back someday<br />And see how You've brought beauty from ashes<br />And made me as gold purified through these flames<br /><br />After all this has passed, I still will remain<br />After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain<br />Though it won't be today,<br />Someday I'll hope again<br />And there'll be beauty from pain<br />You will bring beauty from my pain<br /><br />Here I am, at the end of me<br />Trying to hold to what I can't see<br />I forgot how to hope<br />This night's been so long<br />I cling to Your promise<br />There will be a dawn<br /><br />After all this has passed, I still will remain<br />After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain<br />Though it won't be today,<br />Someday I'll hope again<br />And there'll be beauty from pain<br />You will bring beauty from my pain</span><br /></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This is a song that Morgan and Bekah have loved for several years. I always thought it was a pretty 'sounding' song, but I'd never truly listened to its lyrics until today. All I can really say right now is, 'WOW'. It is like someone reached down into the depths of my heart and pulled the words right out.<br /><br />It truly gives words to how I feel about the status of my life right now, but it also explains that no matter how frustrated, sad, depressed and, sometimes, downright angry I get about the whole thing, I am positive God is going to make something beautiful out of it all. That gives me hope and helps me to keep on keeping on. <br /><br />I am SO glad you stopped by today! I hope you and your family are enjoying a beautiful fall weekend. See you soon! <br /><br />{{HUGS}} </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong><br />For more inspiring and uplifting music,</strong></em></b><br /></div><b><em><strong></strong></em></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong> please visit Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><br /></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-58516191727421015542010-10-13T18:56:00.010-04:002010-10-14T15:06:18.414-04:00Heroes At Home: Free Sears Gift Cards for Our Military<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_HAH+2010"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVvsva7suCaz6zpcS4bOqY7vdDizSFP8tmFjQJ4kck3DUTlXCGIswmNeRle9Nw_gIWVWoNQIaxcBE3zMChMr3fUVXPJD2hwxiRASziRhTQ6PKCSig3-TLEBLWo1gD713P9Xm-h6yRX66q/s400/sears-heros-at-home-wish-registry+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527670611302465170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" >I just read about an amazing event from SEARS called the <a href="http://heroes.sears.com/faq.html" target="_blank">Heroes at Home Wish Registry</a>. The 2010 Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry is an annual event which provides Sears Gift Cards to America's active duty military families to thank them for their many sacrifices and to help them enjoy Christmas. In 2009, the Sears community of customers and employees donated more than $6.7 million in gift cards to over 20,000 military families.<br /><br />For ALL the details and to read the fine print, visit the <a href="http://heroes.sears.com/faq.html" target="_blank">Sears website</a>. <a href="http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_HAH+2010">Applications</a> for this program opened today, October 13, 2010 at 9 am CST and will close on October 15, 2010 at 6 pm. You'll need to act quickly because this offer does not last long! Also, as you can imagine, since this is such a popular program, the site has been experiencing delays because of the high traffic, but don’t give up! Keep trying and eventually the page will load.</span> <p><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" >You are eligible for this program if you or your spouse are on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Reserves between October 13, 2010 and December 31, 2010.</span></p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">A great big THANK YOU to all the courageous men and women who are serving our great country and to their families who are making the sacrifice right beside them! And, thanks to Sears for supporting our Troops!<br /><br />I hope you all are having a wonderful week!<br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_HAH+2010"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dfbfgBa0RxQQeQins4j0EOK4UL_3aikknUvoqDg7KNTrNI_9jLgYsIxnBX7tDhC_YnlqpMXVETg2cL_2PVPssCYKE4qt5ohjikmcQO_wddA636u7JqLFu87s4CJdtukvDZyq7JDSQztQ/s400/Heroes_at_Home.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527671601366923410" border="0" /></a>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-11625384123814819542010-10-07T21:27:00.009-04:002010-10-09T14:49:17.360-04:00Looks like Strep, Feels like Strep, Maybe it's Strep?<span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" >That sure is what it seems like. Just a note to let you know that Teresa has been under the weather...okay, I guess that would be underneath what ever "Under the Weather" is, because with her Dysautonomia, under the weather IS a normal state. Whatever you call it, she's been extremely sick this week. Fever, sore throat, pain all over, and today, the tell-tale sign - the "spotty" throat. The Doctor wasn't able to really do the Strep test, but he thought also that it seemed too Strep-y to not be Strep and prescribed some antibiotics today. After all, if it quacks like a duck, shoot it, right?<br /><br />Anyway, Teresa gave me permission to get in here and give you an update, tell you she's missed you this week, and ask that you all join us in praying for a quick response to these antibiotics so she can feel like just being Under the Weather again! You guys are awesome and -<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I</span></span>- appreciate your constant willingness to support and pray for Teresa.<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 321px; height: 89px;" src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a> <span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" >And David!</span> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><br /><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution paragraph-reblog"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569835147435872226.post-72393621373615366572010-10-02T15:10:00.005-04:002011-02-06T11:25:05.994-05:00PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><img title="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Too Many Heartbeats Dysautonomia" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vXGPqgEIZTY/S7eIFl0dzpI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fdTFh088ZaM/Too%20Many%20Heartbeats%20Dysautonomia%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="204" width="154" /></a><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em><br /></em></span></b><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em><br /><br />“I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? <strong>My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.</strong> He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you, the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” </em></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em> ~ Psalm 121</em></span></b><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em><br /></em></span></b><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" >Many of you are probably familiar with this <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.castingcrowns.com/" title="Casting Crowns" rel="homepage">Casting Crowns</a> hit single, "Praise You in This Storm." In this excerpt from his book, 'Lifestories', Mark Hall tells the story behind the song. It is about a little girl dying of cancer who never gave up her trust in Jesus and her mother who literally stood on the promises of God through it all. It is such an incredible story and song and really echos the words of my heart. It really seems to fit the very circumstances my family and I have been through over the last decade...and even still today. It is so awesome how God can use talented singers and songwriters to touch so many different lives with the very same song.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Gisha;"><small><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HE GIVES and TAKES AWAY</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns<br /></span></span></small></span> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Laurie Edwards watched her little girl gasping for air and wanted to breathe for her. She wanted the Maker of breaths to swoop in and fill her child's lungs and dissolve every tumor with His mere glance. She wanted another miracle.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">It was the early morning of Saturday, October 30, 2004. Ten-year-old Erin Browning lay in a hospice bed in her home, in such pain and shortness of breath that, in fear and exasperation, she could manage only one request of her mother.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">"Just read the Scriptures!" she said.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">So Laurie began reading the Scriptures. She included Erin's favorite passage, <a class="text" title="view Scripture passage at NLTStudyBible.com">Proverbs 3:5-6</a>. From 1 a.m. until 5 a.m., loved ones took turns reading aloud the Word of God over a child in the last, cruelest stages of cancer's grip. Little Erin had battled for more than three years.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">And now the end was near. Laurie tried to refuse to believe it, but her trust in the Lord remained steadfast. She was frightened and faithful all at once. She prayed for an eleventh-hour miracle. And she kept reading the Scriptures, as Erin had asked.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">At one point, Laurie placed her Bible on the floor and stood on it, literally standing on the Word of God as she read over her child. Finally, after the long night of reading Scripture followed by another long night of hopeful prayer, Laurie consented for a hospice nurse to administer an IV with medicine that essentially placed Erin in a painless coma on Sunday afternoon. There would be no more gasping for breath.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><strong>*****</strong></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I met Erin Browning on Valentine's Day, 2004 at Westover Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Erin loved Casting Crowns, and, after six years of dance lessons, had choreographed a dance to our song "Here I Go Again." When Laurie initially contacted us, we made arrangements to meet their family before that concert. Three months later, Erin danced for the last time as her mother and two sisters joined her for a performance of "Here I Go Again" at The Carolina Theatre.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I was gripped by the imagery of Laurie's standing on her Bible and quoting Scripture over her sick little girl. After all the e-mail updates and prayers, that moment melted my heart and sparked the lyrics to this song.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I kept up with Erin's condition through Laurie's e-mails detailing the family's wrenching ordeal. Every e-mail described a change in Erin's condition. One e-mail would offer hope: "There is a new treatment, so please be praying." So we'd pray, and then the next e-mail would report, "It's not working."</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Sometimes Laurie had questions: "What's going on? I feel like I'm all alone in this." But her love of Jesus remained fervent even though she questioned what was going on and didn't really understand the reasons. It was raw, rare faith, and it was inspiring.<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">On June 21, 2004, I e-mailed Laurie to tell her that I was writing a song for Erin entitled "Praise You in This Storm." Upon the news, Erin screamed so loud that it hurt Laurie's ears. Erin never got to hear the song, but Laurie heard it for the first time when her mother bought the CD on the day it was released and took it to the school where Laurie works. The two women sat in the car, listened to the song, and "cried and cried and cried."</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">"Erin would be so happy to know that other people were being touched by something written for her, because she was never about herself. She was about other people," Laurie said. "Other kids at school would say 'I want to be like Erin.' And she would say, 'No, you don't. You want to be like Jesus.'"</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I was impressed with Laurie's faith, but Laurie will tell you how much she was impressed with Erin's faith. Erin was six years old when she prayed to receive Christ. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was seven, and by the time she was eight she was visiting area churches to give her testimony.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Four months after Erin was first diagnosed, a second bone scan revealed that the cancer was gone. Doctors called the results remarkable. Laurie and Erin called it a miracle. Emboldened by the Lord's clear hand in her life, she began regularly sharing her faith and giving her testimony.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">"She had a desire to reach people to let them know there is no hope or joy without God. And even though she had reason in her life not to be happy, she was joyful because she had Jesus in her heart," Laurie said. "She wasn't afraid. She let the Lord speak through her, and when she would get up and speak it was like I wasn't listening to my own daughter. He would put words in her mouth, and it was just awesome."</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">But the cancer eventually returned, and this time, it didn't go away. The tumors grew so large that they displaced organs and created a visible bulge in Erin's chest. They pressed down on her spleen, pushed her heart to the right, and deviated her trachea, straining her breathing.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Near the end, Laurie's e-mail updates were desperate. Her last one before Erin's death was a simple request in all caps: "PLEASE PRAY FOR ERIN!" It was the night in which Laurie stood on her Bible during the four hours of Scripture reading. The weekend crept into Saturday, when at 1:15 a.m. the hospice nurse told Laurie that Erin's vital signs and statistics suggested she had only approximately 20 minutes to live.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Fifty-one hours later, [she] finally gave up her fight. Erin Browning went home at 4:24 a.m. on November 1, 2004.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Laurie still doesn't fully understand what happened next. She remembers only a tremendous peace and describes it as being under the shower of the Holy Spirit. She held Erin's body for 90 minutes while her daughter played in heaven.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">"It was not like how I expected her last minutes to be. I thought I'd be hysterical, but I wasn't," Laurie said. "But she was where she always wanted to be. She told me when she was six years old that she couldn't wait to get to heaven. She said she had felt an emptiness in her heart, but when she asked Jesus into her heart she never felt it again because Jesus had filled her and would never leave her. For the 10 years she was on this earth, God used her in a remarkable, powerful way.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">"I've learned that He can use an average, ordinary family to do extraordinary things and that He continues to use us despite ourselves," Laurie said. "How He has done that is beyond me. But He has a plan and purpose. A lot of times I may not like His plan, but I accept it. I'm just honored that He chose to use Erin and this family as He has."<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Through it all, I was captured not just by Laurie's faith but also by her worship. She had the worship of Job:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><em>The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord</em>.<br /><em>Job 1:21</em></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I have a son and two daughters, and I was amazed at how Laurie faced a parent's greatest fear. It doesn't mean that she wasn't angry. It doesn't mean that she wasn't sad or doubtful, but at the base of it she was leaning on God even if she was angry, sad, or doubtful. I was reminded once again that just because we cannot see God's purpose does not mean He doesn't have one. I was reminded that God is faithful, regardless of the circumstances. I was reminded that God is sovereign, and we're not.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Finally, I was reminded that we cannot control how long our lifesongs last. We only can control how loud we sing them. Little Erin lived out loud for Jesus.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><strong>*****</strong></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Were I to designate a "Godline" for this song—a lyric or message that seems to come directly from God—I would have to write every lyric. The whole song is a Godline. When it comes to writing, I wasn't there for this one. I can't think of anything for which I should ever take credit. There are so many lines that gripped me as this came together. The first one was:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><em>For You are who You are, no matter where I am.</em></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">And the first line that came to me concerning Erin's battle with cancer was the first verse: </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><em>I was sure by now, God, You would have reached down,</em><br /><em>And wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.</em><br /><em>But once again, I say "Amen," and it's still raining.</em></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">It took me a while to be able to sing that verse aloud. I was too emotional over Erin and Laurie. The bridge also is special to me. In remembering Laurie's update about reading Scripture verses over Erin, I added Psalm 121:1-2 as the bridge to try to capture the cry of a desperate mother: </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><em>I lift my eyes unto the hills; where does my help come from?</em><br /><em>My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.</em></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I remember when the second verse came to me:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><em>I remember when … I stumbled in the wind;</em><br /><em>You heard my cry to You, and raised me up again.</em><br /><em>My strength is almost gone; how can I carry on,</em><br /><em>If I can't find You?</em></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I'm saying, "God, I remember when this happened before and You pulled me out of it. But right now, my strength is almost gone and I don't know how I'm going to make it through this when I feel so alone and can't seem to find You."</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">What is so remarkable about this song is how God already has used it. His reach extends beyond just those struggling with long-term or terminal illness. Somehow, God's providence made this song also apply to Hurricane Katrina.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">The second verse especially fits the circumstances perfectly. Obviously, that wasn't me. That was the Lord. Now read the channel: </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><em>As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain,</em><br /><em>"I'm with you."</em><br /><em>And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives,</em><br /><em>And takes away.</em></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Now consider that this album was released the day after Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast. Amazing, huh?</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">While I wrote the song from my exposure to one family's battle with cancer, I realized it would apply to many people who are dealing with tragedy and heartbreak. We've all been there, so I figured it would touch a nerve. But how could I have known it would have anything to do with a national disaster? </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Unbelievable. You think you know what God is up to, and then He takes a song you wrote four or five months before and unveils an entirely new purpose for it. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="text"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Behold, He indeed makes all things new. That's what He did for this song. And that's what He did for little Erin.</span></span><br /></p><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em><br /><br /></em><center><object height="285" width="340"><em><em><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/uHdcyue0bSw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/uHdcyue0bSw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="285" width="340"></embed></em></em></object></center><em><a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/castingcrowns/praiseyouinthisstorm.html"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">CLICK HERE FOR LYRICS</span></span></span></span></span></a><br /></em></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />{{HUGS}} </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b></span><br /><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em></em></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;"><em><br /></em></span><em><br /></em></b><div style="text-align: left;"><b><em><a href="http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/?action=view&current=teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/curly2880/teresa%20sig2/teresasig_1-2-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a></em></b><br /><b><em></em></b></div><b><em><br /><br /><br /></em></b><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong>For more inspiring and uplifting music,</strong></em></b><br /></div><b><em><strong></strong></em></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em><strong> please visit Amy at </strong><a href="http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/"><strong>SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS!</strong></a></em></b><br /></div><b><em></em></b></div><b><em><br /><br /></em></b></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=316653a5-f7a8-41a8-9e41-c67b7bfd89fc" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution paragraph-reblog"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/06926075458122509648noreply@blogger.com5