My Dad is out of surgery and doing better...but has a long road to recovery. The doctor said he does not know how my Dad dealt with such pain. After doing surgery, he realized just how serious his back problem was. The nerves would have been completely lost if he had gone a few more days. Continue to pray for him. He is such an amazing man and the greatest dad in the world.

Update on My Dad!

Thank you to those who are praying for my Dad. He just went into surgery an hour ago. He went to the ER last night due to extreme pain. The on call doctor happened to be the speciality doctor they wanted to see, but could not get into. So that was a blessing. They gave my dad the max amount of pain killer, because the max of morphine was not even fading him, and even that medicine did not dull the pain. He was in agony. So, the doctor told him that surgery was a must, and they admitted him, and he is being operated on as I type! Please pray for quick healing, and that the surgery will be successful in relieving his pain. My parents and grandparents are supposed to visit us the week after Labor Day. Due to my Dad's back, I doubt they will be able to drive now, not to mention my Dad has missed work a week already, and will miss 2 by the end of all this. I want my Dad to be happy and feel better more than anything else, but we also really want them to come here, so please pray that God would make a way for them to come another time. His back to be good to travel, and his boss to allow him his vacation still at another time. Please, Please Pray........really pray.

Please Pray for my Dad!

It has been so long since I last blogged, and I have so much to share about our summer so far, and so many pictures to post, but time is flying and it probably will not slow down until school starts. However, I am slowing down long enough to ask for your prayers for my dad. He has a long history of back problems, including 3 surgeries. He did something while I was in Alabama, and this week it became much worse. I called home, and I could hear my dad yelling out in agony and crying out in severe pain. It was to say the least heart breaking. His health insurance will not cover what he needs done until he exhausts all conservative options. I have never heard someone in so much pain.....other than women in labor in the movies :). Please pray for relief and pray by some miracle that he will heal somehow without surgery. Thank you to all who will pray. His name is Richard Robinson.

Congrats! Aaron, Anita, Edie, and Nate!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!!!! I am so excited for all of you. #3!! WOW! You are the best Mom Anita, and I am so happy you are having another precious baby! We know Edie wants a sister, so Madison really wants you to have a girl, but with a son as sweet as Nate, you will be blessed either way of course. I am so thrilled for you and Aaron! You and Aaron have dealt with so much lately, concerning Aaron's health, and that has to be so overwhelming, but I know Aaron must be on cloud nine now! We will pray for a healthy and wonderful 9 months for all of you, and can't wait to see you soon! I am so excited! Can you imagine Christmas now with 5 grandchildren??? Hahaha! Hopefully 6 grandchildren eventually :). Love you so much Anita and Aaron! I miss you Anita!

Endurance

Last month in Children's Church, we learned about the virtue Endurance.......sticking with something even when it gets tough. I learn as much as the kids. For the past 8 weeks, Sterling and I have been working really hard on becoming healthier and stronger. We have both tried dieting many times before, and never got very far. I am thrilled to say this time has been different. Sterling has lost 22 pounds and gone down one pants size! I have lost 17 lbs and also gone down one pants size! We are working out every day, except Saturday and Sunday, and eating healthy most meals.....a few indulgences here and there! About 3 weeks ago, I got very discouraged because I was not losing quite as fast as before, and I really wanted to give up. Which is what has always happened in the past. God brought to my attention what I had been teaching all last month to the kids at church.....ENDURANCE....sticking with something EVEN WHEN it gets tough! I tell you, eating really healthy and working out 5 days a week or more is HARD! It takes so much discipline, energy, and determination. It does not matter what size you are when you start a diet and exercise program. It does not matter how much you have to lose. It is hard for everyone. It is of course the classic struggle of giving up what the flesh wants, and pleasing the spirit. It is so hard when everyone else is eating what you want. One thing Sterling has taught me in our 14 years of marriage is appreciation for good food. And it is hard to pass up the fried foods and yummy desserts for whole wheat and fruit! But, God has blessed our efforts by giving us both more energy than we have had in many years. I feel better than ever, and I actually get depressed if I have to miss working out, because I love it now! Still hard.....but it makes me feel so good now. My anxiety is so much more under control. I cut my medication in half and I am doing wonderful! I am so proud of Sterling, and he is loving the fact that he needs new clothes now :)! He looks amazing! I have to recommend Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim walking program! She is a fabulous Christian woman who gets you energized and fit fast! Any age at any level can do her program. I love it! I want to encourage anyone out there reading, who maybe keeps putting off starting a good exercise routine, like I did for 34 years :). It is never too late to start and never too late to reap a harvest of great health and strong living! Like Leslie says "Walk Strong"!

Time is Flying!

So much has happened since my last blog entry. Sterling and I had a wonderful anniversary. He picked me up in a porsche, and we went to a romantic place for dinner and a movie. We actually got to go out on several dates the past few weeks and it has been great. I am used to talking to him on the phone through out each day and of course living next door to his office, allows me to see him all the time. When groups are here though, I see a lot less of him, and I really start to miss him.....so a few dates here and there make up for it!
Madison turned 9 on June 3. She had a Hannah Montana Pop Star Slumber Party on Friday June 1. She invited her two closest friends, which happen to go to Crossroads, and they had a blast. Maretta, from next door, came over all decked out, and gave them a manicure/pedicure. The girls had so much fun with her! They spray painted their hair pink, and enjoyed Hannah Montana cupcakes. The next morning, we had smiley face pancakes to bring the party to a close.
A precious lady at our church, treated the 4 of us to center stage orchestra seats to the Lion King on Broadway. The day ended up falling on June 2, so it made Madison's Birthday weekend all the better. It was Sterling's first show and he really enjoyed it. It was fabulous! When we were leaving, I spotted "Abby" from the TV show ER. She was right behind us. We did not want to bother her, but I did take a picture of her from afar. Another celebrity sighting....always fun. We topped off the weekend with a wonderful day at church, and I cooked Madison's favorite meal that night, and attempted to make her my Mamaw's famous red velvet cake. The icing however is very tricky......it turned out OK.....but not like my Mamaw's, so I will try again on Emma's Birthday :). It is the best cake ever! I can't believe my baby is one year away from being a preteen. She is so precious and has the best heart. Emma will be 4 on June 18. She is having a puppy party....so that should be fun. She warms my heart more every day. I will post pictures of everything soon.
There is so much to be done here at Crossroads cosmetically. So overwhelming, and it is weighing us down. But, God has really spoken to my heart, through His word, and through Sterling's wisdom, that it is all about people. Nothing else really matters. Yes, we have to get things completed. Everything needing to be done will better the ministry here. But, letting the time frame and stress get ahead of just loving people and being accessible, defeats our whole purpose. God is drawing people to Him. He is softening hearts. He is awakening hearts. He is all over the place.....and watching Him work, and being apart of it, is greater than accomplishing anything else. It is hard to stay focused on the main thing sometimes. It is so easy to get weighed down by every day worries. But, I know that God will bring it all to completion in His time, as long as we continue to place first things first.........and that is people. People come before a clean house, before finishing basement floors, before painting, before exercising, before sleep, before rest, and anything else that takes our focus off the mission.
Pray for the list of things to shorten a little more each week, each month. Pray for financial means to cover expenses. But, more than that, pray that we will continue to show God's love to all around us. We are excited for and praying for one of our most favorite people, "Mr. Pat" as our girls call him......Astronaut Pat Forrester, who is going up in space this Friday! We love you Pat!

And We Call it Love

Sterling and I began our journey together 14 years ago today. It has been a journey filled with joy, tears, laughter, sadness, renewal, restoration, happiness, and many many blessings.....the two greatest being, Madison and Emma Grace. My life....our marriage, is a testimony of not only God's great love and amazing grace, but of His Believable POWER to change lives. Most of you reading our blog, have walked with us at one point or another during our journey. In the good and bad, and some actually carrying us through the valley. I am blessed beyond measure to have such a man of God as my husband. He is my best friend and the greatest man I have ever known.
Love washes over a multitude of things and makes us whole. Praise God! Thank you Sterling for standing by me for 14 years, even when times got tough, for exemplifying God's mercy and grace, and always seeing God's very best in me. I love you more today than I ever thought possible.
Happy Anniversary!

Work is Great but Laborers are Few!

Please be praying. We have so much to be done! Right now especially, we need some men who can lay new tile flooring in the church basement and fellowship hall. We have money to purchase the flooring, but no money to pay someone to remove old flooring and lay new flooring. Please pray for men who would be willing to give of their time to remove and lay floor, and pray for funding to hire professionals to do the work needed. This is a hard and tiring job. Sterling and I removed the floor in the children's church room, and it was a huge task. Harder than we imagined and to big a job for the two of us. And we do not even have extra time to be doing this to begin with, but there is no one else to do it. And it needs done now. And that was just one room, and just the removal of the tile. We need help! We need funds! Please Pray!