There is a Season

To Every Thing There is a Season
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3. 1-8

My favourite season is fall. It is a sigh of wonderfulness with its cooler weather, apple festivals, pumpkin patches and gorgeous colors that grace our trees. But most of all I love it because it signals that I have survived my least favourite time of year. In my mind I could do without summer at all. I hate when the sun turns everything including my pale Irish skin crispy, the air becomes oppressively hot, and bathing suits that seem to get smaller each year taunt me from the storefronts. Yep. I am no summer girl.

But this has been an especially cruel summer for so many of my family and friends. It had me thinking today that I've had enough of this season already. I am ready for the fall to arrive and bring with it some relief and new beginnings. In the meantime, I thought I'd dedicate today's post to prayer requests. I believe in the power of prayer. Yessiree I do. Would you help me by whispering a few names to God? These people are so very special to me and yet I know my tired momma brain must have left someone off the list. I suspect there may be some of you reading who need a prayer or two as well. If so please leave a comment or email me at teaganstravels@yahoo.com. I promise to pray for you and if you are ok with it I'll post your need on this site in an upcoming post.

• Shirley - My stepmother recently lost my dad who was her husband for 37 years. This has been such a tough transition for her. As if that were not difficult enough she is in the midst of her own intense fight against cancer. Pray she finds peace and that her treatment is working. We so hope she'll be able to head our way this fall for a much needed vacation.

• Dave, Shanna, Caleb and Liam - After waiting two agonizing weeks to see if toddler Caleb has the ALD gene which leads to degenerative brain disease they were told the hospital made a mistake. The lab did not run the correct test so they are having to wait again as a new round of testing became necessary. We pray both Caleb and baby Liam are spared this horrible disease and that instead Caleb has something that is curable or manageable with medicine.

• Kaitlyn B and Family - I have actually never met this family but have been following beautiful Kaitlyn's story after participating in a silent auction fundraiser for her family a few months ago. She has Niemann-Pick Disease (Type A), a rare, fatal genetic disease with no cure. The past week has been difficult for her family as she has had several medical scares. Please pray for peace for them as they cherish each moment with their baby.

• Brianne - Prayers for my sweet friend who has been out of a job for some time, is open to a career change and has an interview this week! You can do it Bri!!

• S.M. - I'm using initials here as I am not sure if she's ok with my publishing her "bidness"! She's having digestive issues which run in her family so please say a prayer she'll get some relief and quick!

• My aunt Toshiko - She is having surgery this week on her foot so please say prayers for a speedy recovery and no pain!

• Darling - He is a child that my friend Amy sponsors through Compassion International. We always include him in our family prayers at dinnertime. Darling lives in the Dominican Republic so today we are praying that he and his family are safe from any impact hurricane Irene may have on the region.

• Amy and Alden – (Speaking of Amy) These must be the sweetest sisters ever. They lost their father suddenly just before my dad passed away. By all accounts he was a wonderful man. This has been a painful transition for them so please keep them in your prayers

• Pascaline - This is our little girl that we sponsor through Compassion International. I recently got a letter that her mom has been sick for nine months with something concerning her stomach. This so worries me as ultimately it was a gastrointestinal problem that killed my dad. I pray her mom is getting better and I pray that there will be no additional impact from the instability and famine in the regions around Rwanda. I pray our little Pascaline has the food, water, shelter and safety that should be available to any child in our world.

• Krissy - (You didn't think I'd forget you now did you girlie??) She has an upcoming medical procedure she is nervous about. Pray it will be the peace o'cake I know it will be!

Ok...who have I left off? I know I am gonna be lying in bed at 4:00 am and think of someone...

Have a great Thursday everyone!