Waking Up on The Wrong Side of a New Year

The nurse slipped out the room just as I woke up. Quiet murmurs in the hallway. The hum of the IV machine near my head. My twenty month old baby sleeping, finally, in the crib next to me...

And I thought of my One Word for 2103: Consistency. 

The first week of the year had started with promise and plans.

I would seek out my God and Savior on a moment-by-moment basis like a breath of sweet air that would revive me. 

I would be at church each week to learn, love and do life with the hearts of those I absolutely cherish. 

I would eat well, exercise and make my body strong again.

I would write. Often. Listening for His soft, still voice amongst the chaos of our social media filled world. 

I would meet deadlines. Because I love writing for God. And I don't want to miss any opportunity to share what He is placing on my humble, grateful heart.  

I would be a present, loving wife and mother - not at the bottom of my to do list, but at the top...somehow balancing all of this life God has blessed me with... 

But then...then, my baby. Her eye swollen shut. My heart beat faster as her doctor mentioned words that included hospital, brain, serious. 

Now, days later I am here. With my baby in this hospital room. 

Why God? I don't understand. Last year? Well, last year...and yes, the year before...they were unbelievably hard. I thought....I imagined THIS year might be different. Joyful. Full of promise. Celebrating all the good. Getting to a point where remembering doesn't leave me crushed. Breathless.

And God, how can I be consistent during this current upheaval in our days? I am missing church, my computer and eating well. It's too much. This is the exact opposite of consistency, Lord!

Fear gripped my heart that night in the hospital. Had I just imagined the severe bacterial infection had spread a bit further down her cheek? Was the pink on her "good" eye just the result of no sleep...or would tomorrow morning reveal a new set of problems which would include dwindling options for antibiotics she could take? What if we hadn't caught it early enough...did it have time to spread to her brain? 

Be joyful in hope. Patient in affliction. Constant in prayer.  Romans 12:12

God whispered, Have you forgotten Romans 12:12?

Ahh. My life verse.  

I felt His peace wash over me. And He asked me to consider that  the Consistency he has asked me to focus on this year can also be applied to constant faith. Persistent prayer. Unrelenting optimism in the face of adversity. 

And then? 

Then He showed me these things in the physical sense played out by courageous, precious children and parents facing serious illness. 

You see, Isla and I made friends in the halls of that children's hospital. Little Lorelai. Troy. And Lucas. I was forever transformed by their bravery. Their optimism and the way they and their parents begin and end each day with faith. Hope. Prayer. 

Would you pray for them today? These next days, weeks and months are critical for them. 

Lorelai is a sweet little redhead like Isla. She was under strict contact restrictions so she couldn't leave her room while we were there but her infectious smile and laugh were a joy. She is Teagan's age and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia this year. If you are on Facebook you can follow her daily updates via the Love for Lorelai team!

Troy is a brave, shy boy who has been in hospital since the first part of Christmas. He's just started his fight against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He, Lorelai and Lucas are all buddies. Pray he gets to go home today for the first time in a long few weeks. You can follow his story at Troy Mathews on CaringBridge. 

Lucas is 21 months old, just a month older than Isla. He has big gorgeous eyes and loves to ride the wagons up and down the hospital halls with his mom, dad and nana. He is back at home this week and is fighting Bilateral Wilms Tumors on both his kidneys. You can follow his story at Lucas Nieman on CaringBridge.

I have one more prayer request for a most treasured friend, Jennifer. She is my next door neighbor, Beth Moore bible study leader, walking buddy and just the most amazing person ever. It breaks my heart that her mom very nearly passed away this week from diverticulitis. Her colon has been removed and we are in fervent prayer that she will not get an infection as she heals. Please remember Brenda in your prayers. 

I hope you and yours have a blessed Friday today! Brian has been traveling tons. Earlier this week he was in California and tomorrow he leaves for England and Ireland. This explains the lack of posting. I am one tired mama trying to catch up on the house after our hospital stay as well as multiple doctor's visits this week. We'll miss my sweets but are happy he'll get to see his family on the last leg of the trip!


Blessings, Michelle

The "C" Word

There is a word that has invaded my family. It has made my heart stand still. Cold. And scared.

Cancer

I never understood it. And I always feared it. But I reasoned it didn't really "run" in my family and so it couldn't possibly insert itself into my world.

In the last few weeks cancer has taken its toll around here. I understand it now. I can say the word "cancer" without fear of somehow making it magically appear. But none of this matters. In the end, it is a big freight train rolling through our lives that I just.can't.stop.

Cancer took my stepmother's life last week. And now it wants my mother. What a cruel summer. You may think it an odd perspective, but it has also been a time full of blessings. And immeasurable hope. I know God is holding us in His arms, providing comfort. His Truth and the gift of salvation reminds us that we are just vapors in this world. That he has a heaven, glorious heaven, in store where my mother's broken body will finally, finally, finally be at peace. Where she will run and jump. And feel wonderful. Praise God!

And I know one day, I will use this time to walk beside the brokenhearted. I don't know that I would have been brave enough before.

I will be back to blogging soon. In the meantime, can I please ask Teagan's Travels friends to pray for  my mother, Maureen? We still pray she will be healed but above all we can't bear to see her suffer. And please pray for our family that is exhausted and under so much stress at the moment.

My love to all,
Michelle

Perfect Peace

Later today I will feature the top submissions from our very first Destination: Inspirations Tuesday Linky Party. But for now I am having a quiet moment. Ok. Make that I am TRYING to have a quiet moment. Teagan just will not nap and has already dumped out her pajama drawer. And her bookcase. And now she's woken up her baby sister. Sigh.

But let's just say I am taking a moment to pause out of my busy mama day. I am praising God for His wisdom, His grace, His gift of peace within an often turbulent, painfilled earth. Today marks a very serious surgery for my stepmother Shirley. At this time doctors are operating to intricately remove a massive brain tumor, one of three found recently in addition to a relapse of her ovarian cancer.

Have you seen those signs that are popping up on my beloved Pinterest? Keep Calm and Carry On? I have to admit that sometimes I get so caught up in the world we live in that I find myself acting out a not-so-similar sign that reads: DO Panic and Run Around Like a Crazy Loon. Ahem.

But not today. Today is TOO important. Today I am giving up my thoughts, surrendering them to God. As I think of Shirley, I pray for her, for the medical team, and for our family and friends in Texas waiting for news from the hospital. The image of our Lord and Savior watching over her in the operating room gives me peace. Placing my trust in Him and His plans to for us grants me peace. And this verse, His truth, gives me peace:

You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

If you are struggling with the turbulence of life today that threatens to toss you around like a leaf in the wind...well, I pray for you. Oh I have so been there with you friend, walking that desperate, anxiety-filled road. I pray you will make a decision to turn all your cares over to our God who loves you. Our God who created you. Our God who calls you child. He knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you, not harm you. May His peace, which is available to us all, be yours.

It would be my honor to pray for you. Please leave a request in the comment section below or if you'd prefer more privacy email teaganstravels@yahoo.com

In Jesus' Name,
Michelle

Pretties, Parties and Prayer!

I am beyond excited to introduce two new buttons for my blog that were designed by...moi! As in little ole' me. During naptime. Can you believe it? The best part is that I just saved myself $30-$50 that I would have spent getting someone to design these for me. And guess what? You can too because I plan to dedicate an upcoming blog post on how I did this!

But even more exciting is my announcement (I suppose the buttons gave it away) of my new Destination: Inspiration Tuesday Linky Party!! I've been wanting to host a linky party for a while and so can't wait for this Tuesday, February 7th! Any family friendly post goes. It will include Valentine's decor, crafts, tutorials, Etsy goods and more. Be sure to link up and then come back next week to see if you were featured!

Prayer Requests
I didn't blog much this week because my stepmother found out her cancer has returned for the third time. To make matters worse it has spread from her abdominal region in the form of three serious brain tumors. This was just devastating news but her faith is strong and we are taking one day at a time. My sister Melissa is in Texas with her. Our nephew Kade is staying with us and we just love it but know he misses his Mommy. Shirley has a tough road ahead of her and we would so appreciate any of you who could remember her, our family and the medical team in your prayers.

As I thought about this post today I realized it has been a while since we had prayer requests. It just seems so many have needs at the moment. What about you? Do you have something you would like help with? It would be my absolute honor to pray for you and I know others who read this blog would join me. Please leave a comment below or send me an email at teaganstravels@yahoo.com

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (NIV)


Happy Sunday everyone! We are off to church in the morning and then then it is Super Bowl time! What are you doing on the big day?

Michelle

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!