TSMS - The Wrecking - You Remain

It has been awhile since I posted a TSMS post. I have really missed doing this since music is so much a part of my life. Anyway, this song has been playing on the Gospel Music Channel and on Air 1 which is what I have been listening to in the morning. It is an awesome song and has stuck with me all week. Hopefully you enjoy it too!

I'm here...really, I am!

Hey guys! I really do have a blog and I really do like to post. Things have just been a little crazy around here. I know it has been awhile but I am really going to try and be better at posting.


Let me get you caught up on what has been happening with us:


Mr. A finally found out what has been going on with his back. His has a disc that is protruding into his spinal column and nerve bundles. This explains a lot of what is going on with his symptoms - nerve pain in both hips and legs, light headness, dizzy spells, etc. He is still out on medical leave until the middle of April. The will re-evaluate and decide if he can go back to work full time or if adjustments will have to be made. We are praying that if God wants him to stay where he is, He will make a way.


Mr. A had his first of 2 spinal injections to fix the protruding disc. Unfortunately his blood pressure bottomed out and we had to stay at the hospital for an extra bit of time until he could stabilze. Next injection is April 13th.


I celebrated my 34th birthday on the 25th. We didn't do anything big, but the girls wrote their own cards that I am saving. They were so special and really made my day. They made me wait until I got to work before opening the cards. Note to self...go in the bathroom or another room to open the cards prior to going to work. Don't open at work unless you are prepared to explain to your fellow co-workers about the tears and blood shot eyes. They were really special and I will truly cherish them.

Mr. A & I joined the youth staff at our church. We are really loving the youth group. We are hoping to do human videos, drama and outreach with the students. Our youth pastor is really open to the ideas which is really exciting. Hopefully the students are as equally excited.

We survived our first lock-in with the youth group. Mr. A stayed all night with KA and the others. I had to come home to stay with AJ. We got home a little after 12 am and got up at 4:45 am to start making breakfast casseroles for the group. We don't have an oven in the room at church so I had to bring them in hot in the morning. Everyone had fun...Mr. A survived and the kids had a great time! That is what it is all about.

2009 has been hard on everyone. I am definitely not complaining. God has been faithful! It may not be what we are use to, but who says what we were use to is what we were suppose to do. We have enough. I am thankful that even though the circumstances haven't been ideal, God has made a way.

2008 and 2009 have definitely been about learning faith and trust. God is in control and I do not have to worry.

I promise that these updates will be more frequent. I really do miss my small community of friends.

Update on Betty - She is home in heaven

For those who have check this blog and have been praying for Betty, here is the latest: Betty is now home in heaven as of Tuesday, March 10th. Below is the email from my friend Melissa, who is Betty's daughter:

It is with a heavy heart - I never really got that saying until now - my heart truly feels heavy like it could fall from chest at any moment - anyway - that I tell you all that Mom has gone to be with Jesus! Larry and i came home last night because there was just no way of knowing how long it would be. It was incredibly difficult to leave her yesterday knowing that the next time I saw her would be her funeral. But the gift was that there was nothing left unsaid between my mom and her loved ones. We are an incredibly close and open family and always say things to each other when we need to so there were no last minute apologies or anything like that and there is a peace. I had prayed that she would go in her sleep and that God will allow me to feel when she was gone. I actually took a sleeping pill last night because I had not slept in about 4 nights but maybe a couple hours and it was taking its toll on me. SO I expected to sleep until about noon today :) (like that could happen with the kids lol). Anyway, I sat right up in bed at 4:19 and knew with my whole heart that mom was gone. Then dad called me exactly 20 minutes later to tell me that they woke him up. He was upset that he was not right there holding her hand in that last breath and I wish I could have been there, too, but she went in her sleep. The nurses said it was right around 4:30, but after telling the doctor (her doctor is a wonderful amazing Christian man who loved her and loves my dad!) what I had told my dad the doctor said he was sure it was 4:19. My mother will be missed every second of everyday and I have been told that it does get easier! I know that my mom is dancing and praising God today! Her doctor said that Heaven has a new member of the choir and we said not a member a leader!! She will be teaching everyone their parts! :) Yesterday, before we left, I was singing to my mom and she tried to raise her hand and I know that today she is praising Jesus! I miss her already, but I am so happy for her! thank you all for your prayers and we ask that you continue to keep dad and all of us in your prayers! If you are interested in when the funeral is and location and all of that then just email me and i will send that information to you when I know it. we will be leaving to head back to Virginia either tonight or very early in the morning!
My love and thanks to all of you,
Melissa and Family