Healing Is In Your Hands

The past several weeks have been difficult. I've known that I won't be returning next year, so just "getting through" these two months has been a challenge. However, God has really opened up my eyes to some serious needs. Since returning, I've had a few very specific prayer requests arise. Before having Declan, I wouldn't have near as much sensitivity to some of these needs. I know that God has placed me back in this school for these two months so that I can speak to these situations and believe on their behalf.

If you pray, please help me pray and believe for healing in these situations.

1. One student, a teenage girl, doesn't speak to her dad. He is a wonderful, involved father and person, but he and her mother divorced a few years ago and she will not forgive him. I understand divorce is hard, especially when all you've known is shattered, but she will regret this season. She is being told lies by her mom about her dad. Parents should never, ever speak badly of each other.. even if it's true. A child, no matter the age, deserves both parents. Her dad calls and texts every day. He has been to every single game and anything else she has been involved in. She sees him there and ignores him. My heart breaks for him. As a parent, I just can't imagine.

2. While I was on maternity leave, one of my 9th grade students learned she has a heart condition. She couldn't tell me the name of it but said it causes her heart rate to skyrocket to over 200bpm while resting. Today I asked for an update and she said she is being consumed with worry and negative thoughts which then makes her blood pressure rise. Boy, do I know that situation! I was able to speak to her about meds, diet and lifestyle changes, and finally about Jesus! I wrote her a note with thinking and speaking positive thoughts, including scripture over her situation. She initiated the conversation about Jesus so I was able to add to it! Praise the Lord! She is also concerned with how the meds she's on is causing so many side effects which are then causing her to be on more meds to treat the new symptoms. The dr is hoping she will grow out of it to avoid surgery but she is considering surgery to avoid the problems caused by the meds.

3. Upon returning from ML, I had several "new" students. I say "new" because they are new to me. Never in my class before. One of these students, I have come to love. She is openly agnostic. But you can tell she has a desire to know God. She talks about it almost constantly. She makes comments that she is "too far gone".. but we know she isn't. She isn't a bad person by any means. The worst thing she does is play pranks on people in Walmart. Ask me about it one day and I'll tell you.. it's actually pretty funny. She suffers from depression and is considered bi-polar. These and much worse run in her family. Her father, whom she hardly knows is on dialysis and not expected to make it much longer. Her mom suffers from multiple-personality disorder and schizophrenia. The student has been in the ER lately because any exertion of energy (walking up stairs) causes her heart are to go up dramatically and causes her to pass out. The dr's haven't been able to diagnose her and are planning to put her on a heart monitor for a few weeks. I'm believing for her curiosity about Jesus to continue to grow  and for the right people to be around when she has questions. Today, I gave her a gift that had some scriptures on it. When some other students made a comment about her "lack of belief" she said she is curious. She likes to study religion. So I said that I don't do it for religion, I do it for the relationship. I know seeds have been planted.

Please, please pray with me for these ladies. Each very serious and can only be healed by Jesus.

A good day

It's been a really good, uneventful day.

I had one last personal day so I decided to take off. Levi has enough days so he took off work too. We still sent the kids to their respective child care. 

I had a physical done today- blood pressure and blood work- yuck! Blood pressure was pretty good.. I like it to be lower, but it's close to what you can expect being a rushed morning and being in a dr's office. As for blood work, it will be a few days before I get those results.

Next, Levi and I had breakfast at Stobys. Yum!! Seriously, so good! Then we organized some in the attic and got stuff together for a yard sale. Gotta make some money so I can get some Chacos. I would sell my hair for some Chacos. Then I enjoyed a nice nap.. That never happens! 

We got to pick the boys up together. Canaan loves when he sees both mama and daddy picking him up. His teachers informed us that he is a "leader" in his class. He's always correcting them and taking the lead over the class. We appreciate the way they used "leader" instead of "Mr.Bossy-pants". We will claim the leadership quality and will work with him on being Christ-like in his leadership skills. 

If you read, remember to leave a comment with an update on you and yours. 

Keeping up with the Gilberts

Here is my wish for this blog..

#1 That I would keep up with it.

#2 That it would help phase me out of Facebook.. at least get me away from being on it as much. I've found myself compulsively checking Facebook WAYYY too much. I usually end up getting sad about things I see or even mad, or jealous (a little embarrassed about that one). SO, I'm hoping to use this blog the way I planned to use Facebook. To keep up with friends and family. I may post a couple of times a day (although the goal is once or less), or it may be a few days in between posts. The main goal is to keep friends and family involved in what's going on at the Gilbert casa.

#3 My third and final wish is that if you visit my blog and read my post, that you will leave a comment with something going on in your life so I can keep up with YOU.

So here goes..

This has been a wonderful weekend! On Friday, Mark, Candace, and Hayden came to visit!! Ok, so they were getting out to celebrate their FIVE year anniversary.. but I've really been missing my nephew so it was a really great end to a stressful week.

On Saturday, Levi and I took advantage of a Christmas present that Levi got for us. He paid our favorite babysitter, KC, in advance for 20 hours of babysitting. Great present, right?! So we went to the movies to see X-Men. Great movie! We also got breakfast at Panera before and went to try on some Chacos. Which, I want some REALLY bad but not enough to shell out $100! Why must all the good things be so expensive?!

Saturday night we went to "chuch" as Canaan calls it. He alternates between calling it "skool" and "chuch" depending on his mood, I guess. It was Declan's first time in the baby room. He did great and we were told he laughed the whole time. It was nice to sit in service without fear of having to walk out with a crying or fussy baby.

Sunday we had lunch with our favorites, Uncle Abe, Aunt Sisi and Baby Zeke. It was long overdue, but I think we've all been a little nervous to get out with the now THREE kids we have between the two couples. Other than that, we had pineapple whip and enjoyed being at home!

Today we played outside, we played inside, we watched Toy Story (surprise!) and Declan and I got out to meet his Pediatrician so she could check his ears. How awesome is our friend that she would meet us at the clinic (it wasn't open) to check his ears. He's been pulling at them and as I suspected, he has an ear infection. He had one recently and we were bad parents and neglected to finish out his antibiotic (apparently twice a day is just way too much for us).  Pray for our baby's ears.

Tomorrow, Levi and I both took off work but are taking the boys to their daycares. This will be the last time we'll get to do this because in two weeks I will be home FOR GOOD! I am SO excited. I'm a little nervous too.. I mean, what DO you do with two boys all day?! I'll figure it out, I'm sure. Anyway, I also have a physical tomorrow (insurance pays for one free physical a year so I'm taking advantage. The doctor took me off blood pressure meds a month ago.. Praise JESUS! So I'm believing that my bp is still down and that everything else is perfect!

Well, Declan's mouth is finally a much lighter shade of purple after using Gentian Violet for his thrush issues, so we are going to attempt five month pictures. Remember to comment with something about your life or family.

Let's keep in touch!