A NEW WEEK...WELL NEEDED AND ANTICIPATED!

Last week was filled with great opportunities and great challenges. There were some mountain top moments and some deep valleys too! But I suppose that is what makes up life.

On Monday, one of our dear friends at church got the news that her 37 year old brother in law passed away. Steven was a great Christian man with two children, Pierce and Peyton, and a beautiful wife, Michelle. Less than a month ago he had aevere leg cramp and when he got up to 'walk it off'' he had a seizure. It was determined that he had a brain tumor. Two weeks ago he had a biopsy to determine the extent of it and treatment options. A blood clot from it hemmorhaged in his brain and he was gone. We attended his funeral on Thursday.

Friday night we attended the annual fundraiser for the Chattanooga Inner City Ministry with two close friends and had a wonderfu time. Saturday morning, I got a call and found out that Charles was in the hospital and ended up in ICU with panceatitis. And really painful! Thankfully it appeared last night that he was some better.

We are also going through the Hospice experience with Gary and his lovely wife, Betty. In the last two weeks, breast cancer has really taken it's toll on her. She lost tremendous amounts of weight and now has become less and less coherent. It is really hard to watch everyday, but she is a great reminder of God's promises. As a faithful Christian she has been a powerful example of faith and trust in God.

Of course, not only is it tough on Betty but Gary is one of my closest friends and to go through this with him and her children reminds every day of looking forward to a land of no pain and suffering and death........

One of my favorite ladies at church, Sister Carson, has been battling internal bleeding and AVM since last year and has recieved 30 pints of blood since March 3, 2009! She has a great attitude but is currently in Vanderbilt and has endured numerous procedures and continues to suffer.

Our prayers continue to be with these folks and thier families and I would ask you to also.

The one blessing that God gives that always seems to come at the right time is sunshine and a rainbow in our souls after a stormy period! While there were some storms last week, there were some brilliant periods of sunshine, too!

It was Mother's Day weekend and Louise and Leigh, along with Dirt and Nathan were in town for the weekend and having the kids in town just brings renewed life and joy to an empty nest! They were a joy to have home and next week Laurie is coming so she can help me cover 'The Best of Preps" banquet in Chattanooga. She is going to be my photogarapher (by the way, Michael Phelps is the guest speaker, so it was really hard to get her help :).

Last night just before church time, Mom and Dad came in and spent the night. Jamie had corsage for Mom and we have birthday party planned for Dad on the last weekend of the month as Samantha our neice graduates from high school.

So the weekend brought lots of family and ended an emotional week with positives and the promise of better things this week.

Dad will have follow up laser surgery on a cataract today and then they are heading on to Nashville to see their sisters.

We'll get our week started as we head toward our 29th annual Tri-State singing on Frinday night at Trenton. If you have never been, it is a wonderful singing and do our ladies ever put out a spread of food, so come on if you can!