Dear Faithful friends,

I'm sorry it has been so long since my last update for Jordan. I felt like I did get lost in a time warp, after we got back from our last visit to St. Jude. We hit the ground running and didn't slow down until now, but it's so good to be back with everyone here on CB!

First, I want to say what a blessing it was to receive another good report from St. Jude! Jordan only has one more 6 month check up in May of 2010, and then he will officially enter the ACT Clinic! This stands for
After Cancer Treatment. Wow...this will be such a major milestone for us.

We spent an entire week at our visit to St. Jude in November. Jordan did another sleep test only to find out he has narcolepsy. This is very common for people with brain tumors. We are working on new meds now to help with this. It was a two day test, and it was taxing on Jordan. I'm just glad it's behind us now.

We never take Jordan's health for granted, and we know how blessed we are. Thanks so much for all your faithful prayers and words of encouragement over the years. I cherish each and everyone one.

Jordan continues to work at Wal-Mart. He made associate of the month recently, and we were so proud of him. Bless his heart, he works so hard.

We had a wonderful Christmas and now look forward to the New Year ahead. I pray God's richest blessings on you and your families. We are grateful your friendship!

Note to a couple of Friends...Randy, thanks for being so patient with my updates! Lynn, I covet your prayers and words of encouragement.

With more love then word could ever convey,

Greetings my faithful friends,

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted. No news is always good news around here. Jordan continues to do great, and we are just so grateful for this.

I'm so excited to share some with you some pictures that were taken when Jordan spent a week with the Nason's.

Jordan had been wanting to spend time with Tonya's boys since they visited with us. So after weeks of making plans, his dream came true!

Tonya, Link and the boys spoiled him rotten and he had the BEST TIME ever. This was Jordan first time to stay away from home this long, and not get homesick at all! I must say I was amazed. I didn't think he would make it.

As soon as he returned, he was talking about his next trip!

Thank you so much Tonya, Link, Zach and Gabe! He was so grateful and had such a great time with you all.

I'd like to remind you all to dine at Chili's on September 28th. Chili’s will donate 100 percent of profits from participating restaurant sales to St. Jude! Amazing...

Thanks so much for stopping by! Sorry I'm not updating here more often. Please visit Tonya and I on our blogs for more frequent updates.

FORVER HIS

Safe In His Arms His

God bless you!

"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." Psalms 126:3

Sorry it’s been so long...

Thanks so much for all of you who prayed for Jordan during our most recent scare. In case you were unaware, a few weeks ago Jordan started complaining of arm and leg pains. It got so bad he could hardly walk or use his hands. After he was tested for just about everything our doctor could think of, the one thing they could find was his muscle enzymes were out of balance. CPK is an enzyme, which is very useful for diagnosing diseases of the heart and skeletal muscle.

At first, Jordan's levels were slightly elevated, but as the days went on his numbers continued to rise. They got so high we were referred to a Rheumatologist. By this time, Jordan was in a lot of pain. We continued to watch them over the next week. The doctors felt like this was a viral infection in his muscles and it would eventually clear up. We are holding on to that dx, because the other possibilities could have been much worse. As the time went on, they continued to go off the charts and we were
very concerned.

It finally got to the place that if they got any higher they were going to schedule a muscle biopsy. This procedure is only done when something very serious is being considered. I'm just so grateful that after two weeks, his counts finally started to come down on their own! Talk about RELIEF! They are still not where they should be, but we are on the road to recovery. And in Jordan fashion, the doctors have never seen anything like it before! The main thing, he’s doing well now…

I finally have the pictures from the
Relay for Life to share with you. We had a great time. It's always so emotional when Jordan and all the other survivors take that famous lap around the park. We made some new friends and saw many of our old ones. I'm so grateful for this awesome organization and all it does to help bring awareness to cancer.


(Our special hero’s)


A new friend, Pam. Trevor’s mom.


The survivor’s lap!


Clowing around!




One last thing, my husband and I are planning an anniversary trip to New York the first week of August and I'm
so thrilled to let you know I'm finally getting the chance to meet someone very near and dear to my heart. Yes, Timmy’s mom Susan Pauxtis I've looked forward to meeting her in person for a very long time, and finally we're going to get the chance to meet and spend some time together. I can hardly wait to share all about our trip with you once we return.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you are enjoying your summer.

We're Back Home!

Thanks so much for all of your prayers and many words of encouragement. Jordan got another clean bill of health. His scans showed,
"no progression of disease"! Can you say, AMEN? Yeah!!!

As always, being at St. Jude is like visiting home after you have been away for a long time. We were so blessed to see some of our friends, and meet several new ones while we were there. My hubby drove up to meet us this time, and it was so great to have him along with us. We all go to spend a little R&R time away from the pressures back home.



(Jordan waiting for his eye apt.)



(Jordan in the new Chili Center)



(during his eye exam)



On Sunday, we went out to the “ Hope House” and had dessert with Mark and Mylissa from Habitat for Hope. Then on Monday night, we caught up with Dawn and Mason and had a wonderful dinner together. We really look forward to visiting with them every time we go back!

I'd like to ask for prayer for two families that have become very dear to our hearts during this past year. One is a precious little girl named Elizabeth with AML. Elizabeth is from our hometown and we have known her family for a long time. We visited with Elizabeth, her mom, and grandmother on Tuesday afternoon. They were staying on the same floor and only four rooms down from us at the Grizzly House. Please pray for this precious little child. She is really in a battle right now. You can visit her at this site.

Another new family we met was a young boy named Trevor . He is 16 and also battling AML. Trevor lives close to us here in Baton Rouge. Just in case you don't know, AML is a very aggressive form of leukemia. These two great families love the Lord and believe that God will send them a miracle healing for their children.

Something really neat happened while we were St. Jude this time. Jordan's neurologist asked if we would be interested in placing him in a study for post-rad children with movement/sleep disorders. So, on our next visit, he will do a two-day sleep study at the hospital. We've been praying for an answer to this problem, and hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it soon.

Finally, a real highlight for Jordan was getting to meet Bishop Eddie Long who came and spoke at a minister's meeting at the hospital while we were there. He is the pastor a very large church in the Atlanta area, and has worldwide television show. Jordan was just beaming when he personally got the chance to meet him, and of course, I captured the moment with this picture of them.



Jordan also got to go to the Redbird’s Baseball game with a new family he met! Jordan never passes up an opportunity to have fun. Here he is with the mascot!



Thanks for stopping by and being such a blessing in our lives! Hope you have a great Memorial Day!




PS My youngest son Joel graduated the Friday before we left, here are some pictures from that night! He’ll be headed to college in the Fall.

Can you find Jordan? Thanks Heide for making this, you are the BEST!

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month

Know the Facts!

· Because brain tumors are located in the control center for thought, memory, emotion, sensation, and movement, their effects can be devastating.

· Primary brain tumors can be benign or malignant; in either case, primary brain tumors begin in the brain and can be life threatening.

· Brain tumors are the second most common cancer of childhood, and comprise approximately 25% of all pediatric cancers. (7) Over 3,400 children are diagnosed in the U.S. each year; of that, about 2,600 will be under the age of 15. (1) Brain tumors are the leading cause of solid tumor cancer death in children; they are the third leading cause of cancer death in young adults ages 20-39

· The types of brain tumors found in children are different from those in adults. Further complicating treatment is the fact that children's developing brains are more susceptible to damage from toxic treatments. Although more than 70% of children now survive their tumors, they are often left with long-term side-effects, including:

- Learning problems due to cognitive, neurological, and psychological changes.
- Vision and/or hearing impairments that can contribute to problems in school.
- Increased risk for second cancers due to the late-effects of treatment.

Greetings to you my faithful friends,

May is a very special month for us here in the Brain Tumor world. Each year this month set aside to bring greater awareness to real issues surrounding brain tumors.

We are so grateful for all the support we have received since Jordan’s diagnoses. We have made many friends along this journey, and have treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

I have listed some important facts above to give you a better understanding about all the issues that face children with this type of cancer. I hope that it will inspire us all to keep up the fight until a cure is finally found.

As an update on the home front, we will be flying out to St. Jude on Sunday May 17th for 4 days of testing. While we look forward to seeing all of our friends while we are there, it is also a sobering time for us.

Jordan has been so blessed to be a survivor.
We never take that lightly. We have lost too many friends over these last 5 years. Each time we return it brings back so many memories for us, and truthfully, some are very difficult. However, we know that there is a great reward once we pass through this life, which will last an eternity.

As we walk the halls of St. Jude, it is always difficult to see so many new families just beginning their treatment, while others are fighting really hard to finish their course and get back home to loved ones.

Please remember to keep Jordan in prayer while we are there at the hospital. Much of the testing he will be going through will be tiring and very uncomfortable for him.

I would also like to ask you to remember all of our brave warriors who went on ahead of us.

Mother’s Day can be very difficult for those moms who have children in heaven now. So keep them in your thoughts and prayers. If you have time to stop by and visit their sites, a word of encouragement at this time could mean so much!

As always, I will look forward to bringing you back some GOOD news once we return! Thanks again for being such wonderful friends over the years!

(Jordan and our precious Cole)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2Peter 3:18)



Your relationship with God is ongoing, it unfolds day by day, and it offers countless opportunities to grow closer to Him...or not to.

As each new day unfolds, you are confronted with a wide range of decisions like:

- how to behave
- where you will direct your thoughts
- with whom you will associate, and
- what or who you will worship

These choices, along with many others like them, are yours and yours alone. How you choose will ultimately determine how your relationship with God will unfold.

Are you continuing to grow in your love and your knowledge of the Lord?

Billy Graham once said;

Greetings to you my wonderful friends,

I first want to apologize for not updating Jordan's site for quite some time. My blog FORVER HIS has definitely kept me busy and then I discovered Facebook, what can I say?

Please know I have not forgotten about you and I also appreciate that you have continued to stop by to check up on Jordan.

I've been blessed to keep up with most of you through email or on facebook, and that has been a blessing.

Jordan continues to do well, and we are just so grateful for this.

He went to his doctor here in town recently and yes once again; we had to increase several of his meds. It seems like his pituitary is not functioning well at all. I'm just blessed there is medication to help replace the hormones he so desperately needs.

We will be flying up to Memphis once again in May for Jordan's next 6 month scan, labs and other tests, I promise to keep you posted as the time gets closer.

My baby is graduating high school in May also! It's hard to believe I'm finally finished school after all these years. Joel will be going to college in the fall.

My hubby and I will be taking a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia this coming week. It is a company sponsored reward trip that he received for all the work he was called on do in Iowa last summer. We're sure are looking forward to a wonderful time of R & R.

I pray you are all doing well. If you ever have any prayer requests, please let me know! I would be honored to pray along with you.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and please come visit me at my blog as well!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”--Proverbs 3:5-6



The Christian life is really a matter of the heart. That's what God is really interested in. What this means is that both you and I are really supposed to live "inside out."


Our verse today has a promise you can live by. The promise is that God has a will for your life, which is His best for you. How do you say yes to God's best? Trust Him. When you trust God, you look to Him, count on Him, and have confidence in Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, that's trust, but it's only the beginning.


Trust is not only an act, it's an attitude. Trust is an activity that guides the way we live every day of our lives. It's both a point and a process. It understands that God is for you, and that He is always working with your best interest at heart.


According to 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."


When you trust God, you begin an exciting adventure. When you surrender and give Him control of your life, that's when you can start to see God's best for you.

TRUST IS NOT ONLY AN ACT, IT'S AN ATTITUDE

Greetings my faithful friends,


Don't know how many of you are out there and still checking up on Jordan, but I just wanted to drop a quick line to say HI.

We are already into the thick of the New Year, and like everyone, just keeping really busy. Jordan is doing very well these days and I want to thank you for your many prayers!

We were scheduled to go to back to St. Jude in March, but because of a conflict, I had to push it back until May! I’ll fill you in on more of the details of that visit once we get a little closer to the date. In the meantime, we still see all of his doctors here at home, and they are really taking very good care of him!


Now here is some good news. Jordan and I are now on Facebook and we are having a blast catching up with lots of old friends and making many new ones. If you are also there, please let us know. I’d love for us to be friends! OK?

Well, I hope you enjoyed today's devotional. This scripture has to be one of my all time favorites, and one of the very first ones I committed to memory.

My prayer is to always have an attitude of TRUST and GRATITUDE!

Please keep our special friends in prayer. The battle rages on for so many, and we so desperately need a cure!

Again, thanks so much for stopping by today!


Trusting in Him,

Hi Everyone,

I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to update Jordan's page. With so much going on, time has just gotten away from me. We finally concluded our house renovations from Hurricane Gustav, and then it was time to take down the Christmas decorations from the attic! Yikes...where has this year gone? We're exhausted!

I’m sure most of you heard about our special “snow day” down here, oh it was so nice. We’re now heading into the 80’s this week. Go figure!

As you know this is a super busy time for Jordan at Wal-Mart. However, he does manage to keep a big smile on his face in spite of all the pressure to keep that produce isle stocked up and looking good. For all you who know Jordan, you know how serious he takes his responsibilities at work. I'd love to see the world through Jordan's eyes.

I thought I would share my first official picture with all four grand-kids together in one place. Now, as you might imagine, this was no easy feat. Aren't they just precious? Oh I know I may be a little bit bias.

Happy Thanksgiving my faithful friends!!

Praying you will be surrounded by God's love this day as we take time to give thanks.

I'm so grateful for each and everyone one of you who continue to pray and stop by to check up on our Jordan.

As you can imagine, he's super busy at Wal-Mart this time of the year!! I'll be back with pictures from Thanksgiving.

So grateful for you!

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. (1 Chron. 29:13)

Hi Everyone!

So sorry it's taken me this long to finally get back here at CB to update you guys. When I got home from St. Jude, I really hit the ground running. Life is just so busy these days.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. Our visit to Memphis this time was
wonderful. After getting the positive results that Jordan ’s scans showed everything has remained stable, we were able to take a deep breath and then enjoy the rest of our time visiting with our friends.

Jordan did get an unexpected treat. While we were at the hospital it just so happened that the NASCAR race was being run in Memphis that weekend. Several of the drivers came to the hospital and brought their cars for all the kids to see. Jordan got to take his picture with them and even got to sign his name on car #40.

We went out to the
Hope House, and as always, this was one of the highlights of our visit. Mark and Mylissa were so kind to fix us a home cooked meal and oh, the dessert, it was just the best. Chocolate cake and ice-cream, yummy!!

I enjoyed catching up with Mylissa while Jordan had a great time playing the kids and hanging out with Mark. We're so grateful that the Lord allowed our paths to cross. I was also surprised to see Joni over there that night! What a blessing. As many of you know, she is a nurse at St. Jude, and from what I hear, she's just about every-one's favorite!

On Friday night Mark and Mylissa drove us over to meet up with Dawn, Todd and Mason for dinner. This is another St. Jude family that is so near and dear to our hearts. We celebrated Jordan ’s good news at Chili's (where else?). Thanks Dawn for taking time to see us, it's always such a great reunion.

On the home front, we're still getting estimates to fix our home after Gustav. Hopefully it'll be done before Christmas. I never dreamed I'd have a blue tarp on my roof for this long! We've got used to looking at the hole in our den ceiling now. It'll be a big project once they start ripping out all the sheet-rock, but once it's behind us; our house will be like brand new once again!

Jordan is doing well at his job, and staying very busy between friends and family. If you would like to keep up with what is going on more frequently, you can visit over at my blog. Just stop by anytime you get the chance. Tonya has been keeping up her’s as well. Check us out here:

FORVER HIS

Safe In His Arms His

Thanks again and again for checking up on Jordan . Your friendship means so much to us.

Holding on to Hope,

To my faithful friends,

First, I want to apologize for being so long at updating Jordan's page! A note to Randy, “No, I'm not on a Grammy-maternity leave”!! You are just so funny; I love your humor and thanks for the smile . Anyway, you can always know that – “no news is GOOD news”.

We celebrated Jordan's birthday this weekend. I hope you enjoy the pictures. He had a wonderful time with family and friends. Jordan is one young man that is truly loved by so many. The Bible says, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov. 18:24). This proverb is so true in Jordan’s life, and I'm very grateful for all the love and support we continue to receive for him.

We'll be flying up to Memphis next Wednesday, so Randy, (sorry don't mean to keep picking on you!!) you can officially start to worry! I promise not to keep all of you guys waiting for the results. I'll try and post the GOOD news before we fly back on Saturday afternoon.

Jordan saw his endocrinologist a few weeks ago, and his labs were pretty good. However, he is still very low in some areas and once again they will have to up the dosage on a couple of the meds. He will also have to start getting injections for two of the medications because the pill form is not strong enough to do the job. I'm praying and believing for a miracle that one day Jordan will shock the doctors with his results and they will take him off all the medications. He has been a real trooper through this whole journey with all of its twists and turns.

Thanks to all of you who still stop by and check up on us. We appreciate your visits and words of encouragement. You have been our faithful friends over all these years.

Holding on to Hope

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1).



I’d like to start out by thanking so many of you for your prayers and kind words of comfort during this past week as we dealt with the blow of Gustav. After going through all the challenges of Katrina only 3 years ago, I must say I had many concerns as I watched this storm approaching.

Now I can report that I’m so blessed to say that God was faithful to show Himself mighty in the midst of the storm. We were surrounded by His divine protection as the winds blew, and He sent the right people at the perfect time to help us out when we needed them.

We are especially grateful for our neighbor, Gerald, (who just happens to be a builder) that lives in our subdivision. He came over in the middle of the storm with a roll of plastic sheeting and helped Rick get up a temporary patch in our attic to cover the hole where the tree fell through the roof.

Oh, how beautiful is the body of Christ!

The next day one of my youngest son’s friends who was staying with us during the storm called his dad (who just happened to be a roofer) came over and put up some blue tarps over the roof that made the damage water-tight.

God’s hands were upholding us each day, and now looking back, my heart is so grateful for the many wonderful provisions He made for us during this storm.

After three long hot and humid days without power, my brother-in-law made the 2-hour drive from his house to bless us with food, ice, two generators, and a small A/C window unit. Wow, I thought I was in heaven, literally! Once again all we could do was to give thanks.

So, what lessons did I learn from Gustav?

· I’d say first and foremost, our God is FAITHFUL. What the enemy tries to use to bring us down, God turns around to show Himself mighty on our behalf!

· I got to meet many of our neighbors, as we all went into survival mode and spent time outside of our electricity-free houses.

· I improved my cell phone text messaging abilities. ( yes, I’m still learning!)

· I got to spend lots of precious time with my daughter-in-law and my two beautiful granddaughters who stayed with us during the storm. They kept us entertained with their silly antics and child-like faith.

· I had lots of time to read the word, and completed my first week of homework for Breaking Free! Now, if you’ve ever done a Beth Moore study, you know that is a MAJOR to-do!

Well, the list could go on and on, because in all hardships and times of testing there are always abundant blessings if you look for them.

Yesterday, as I pulled up for church, I noticed the doors all opened around the building. I was greeted with a warm smile and an ice-cold bottle of water. It was only then that I realized our church still did not have electricity. It didn’t matter; it was still a full house! Half of the people attending still had no power, but were eager to gather together to worship and bless our God.

In closing, I would ask that you would pray with us that this new guy in Caribbean named
IKE, will dissipate over Cuba, or just be blown far off to the west where no one will be in his path! It would be very difficult for our state to take another hit this soon after Gustav. I already do not like watching the weather report these days!!

Again, thanks so much for your prayers and thoughts. Kristin you did a great job updating too! Thanks...


Here are some pictures of our house hours before the storm and how it quickly digressed!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Praising God in ALL our storms,

Open Arms

by Max Lucado

If you ever wonder how in the world God could use you to change the world, look at the people God used to change history. A ragbag of ne’er-do-wells and has-beens who found hope, not in their performance, but in God’s proverbially open arms.

Abraham- God took what was good and forgave what was bad and used “old forked tongue” to start a nation. Moses- would you call upon a fugitive to carry the Ten Commandments? God did. David- his track record left little to be desired, but his repentant spirit was unquestionable. Jonah- God put him in a whale’s belly to bring him back to his senses. But even the whale couldn’t stomach this missionary for too long.

On and on the stories go: Elijah, the prophet who pouted; Solomon, the king who knew too much; Jacob, the wheeler-dealer; Gomer, the prostitute; Sarah, the woman who giggled at God. One story after another of God using man’s best and overcoming man’s worst.

The reassuring lesson is clear. God used (and uses!) people to change the world. People! Not saints or superhumans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars—he uses them all. And what they may lack in perfection, God makes up for in love.
Jesus later summarized God’s stubborn love with a parable.

He told about a teenager who decided that life at the farm was too slow for his tastes. So with pockets full of inheritance money, he set out to find the big time. What he found instead were hangovers, fair-weather friends, and long unemployment lines. When he had had just about as much of the pig’s life as he could take, he swallowed his pride, dug his hands deep into his empty pockets, and began the long walk home; all the while rehearsing a speech that he planned to give to his father.

He never used it. Just when he got to the top of the hill, his father, who’d been waiting at the gate, saw him. The boy’s words of apology were quickly muffled by the father’s words of forgiveness. And the boy’s weary body fell into his father’s opened arms.

The same open arms welcomed him that had welcomed Abraham, Moses, David, and Jonah. No wagging fingers. No clenched fists. No “I told you so!” slaps or “Where have you been?” interrogations. No crossed arms. No black eyes or fat lips. No. Only sweet, open arms. If you ever wonder how God can use you to make a difference in your world, just look at those he has already used and take heart. Look at the forgiveness found in those open arms and take courage.

And, by the way, never were those arms opened so wide as they were on the Roman cross. One arm extending back into history and the other reaching into the future. An embrace of forgiveness offered for anyone who’ll come. A hen gathering her chicks. A father receiving his own. A redeemer redeeming the world.
No wonder they call him the Savior.

Greetings my wonderful friends,

Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back over here. This has been such a busy summer, with so many things that needed to get done. My list of appointments seemed never ending. But now my schedule is getting a little more normal since school started back this week.

Yes, my baby is an official
senior this year! Where has the time gone? And now we are expecting our fourth grandchild, and this time it’s a boy. At least one thing I don’t have to deal with is the “empty nest syndrome”.

Jordan got back this past Monday from his trip to Phoenix. Oh, what a wonderful reunion it was; he had a blast there! Thank you Tim and Kelly for having him over, we really appreciated this. I really missed my boy! Jordan is like my shadow; we are together all the time. So, with Rick still gone in Iowa for his job and Jordan away on his trip, I was home with Joel, my darling 17 year old. All I can say is that it was very quiet over here in the Amato household.

Anyway, Jordan had a great time, and I’m glad he got to go. One of the highlights of his trip was going to watch our home team; the New Orleans Saints, play against the Arizona Cardinals. And best of all the Saints won!! Go Saints Go!

Here are a few pictures from his visit:













I’d like to end by asking you to pray for two very special friends of ours. One is our buddy Logan. Logan was finally released after a long stay in the hospital. He’s really been having a rough time, but hopefully things will continue to improve as he finishes up this phase of his treatment. It’s still so hard for me to believe that he relapsed.

The other one I want to mention is for a friend I recently made through my blog. Tammy’s 13 year old son Nick, has relapsed again and the cancer has metastasized. Please keep this precious family in your prayers as they seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance regarding his treatment. They are a strong Christian family and are believing for Nick’s miracle. Would you join with me to pray for both of these young boys?

Thanks once again for being such a blessing to us and stopping by Jordan’s site. I keep my blog updated more frequently if you would like to keep up on our lives on a more frequent basis.

Have a great week!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

During the Gulf War of 1991, Iraq launched a series of Scud missile attacks against Israel. Although the death rate among Israeli citizens spiked on the day of the first missile attack, the majority of the deaths were not directly attributable to the missiles. Instead, the majority of deaths were from heart failure brought on by fear of chemical and biological agents in the missiles. When it was discovered there were no such agents, fear subsided and the Israeli death rate returned to normal.

Fear is a powerful emotional force—it can literally scare us to death. Positively, fear can keep us from taking unnecessary risks. Negatively, fear can paralyze us—it can keep us from walking through doors God has opened. Even when we know God is with us, the "fear" of the unknown may be present. But fear can always be overcome by power, love, and self-discipline, all of which come from God (2 Timothy 1:7). "Butterflies in the stomach" are normal, but they should not rule the day.

Don't let what you don't know make you afraid. Let Who you do know give you courage to step through God's open doors.

Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered and no one was there.
Unknown

Greetings to you my wonderful friends!

It’s been a busy summer, but things have been going really great! Jordan is feeling so much better now that he has had his meds correctly adjusted. He is getting back to his old self and we are all so happy for that answer to prayer.

He is really excited about his upcoming trip next week to Phoenix, AZ. We have family there, and it’s been two years since he has been out West to visit with them. Jordan has already been packed for 4 days! Yes, my son is always “ready” for whatever the occasion may be. Bless his heart, he stays very busy at all times and keeps us on our toes!

I will greatly miss Jordan while he is away, because he is so much company for me. We actually spend a lot of the time together. He enjoys doing so many things that I also like to do like: shopping, eating out, going to church, or just visiting with friends.

My youngest son will be starting school next week. This will be his “big” senior year! Where has the time gone? It’s hard to believe that I still have one in school and my 4th grand baby is due in September! This has really been one crazy ride, but I would not trade a single day of it. In the good times and even through the most difficult of times, I have learned to hold on to God and trust in His promises.

Well, after a wonderful week in Charleston, SC celebrating our 30th Anniversary, my sweet husband had to fly back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for work. Sigh…I miss him already.

OK, that’s about it for now. I just wanted to give you a quick update to let you know that Jordan was doing great. When he gets back from his trip to Phoenix, I’ll update again and post some pictures for you to see.

I pray that things are going well for you and you are enjoying the ending of this HOT summer. God has blessed us with so many faithful and caring friends like you, and I always enjoy hearing from you! So drop me line if you get a chance.

Holding on to Jesus,

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

Footprints

Take a moment and reread these timeless words by Margaret Fishback Powers:

“One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonged to me and other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the lowest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. ‘Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the worst times in my life there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me.’ The Lord replied, ‘My child, I love you and would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints…they were mine. It was then that I carried you!’”

Need reassurance? “The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not” (Dt 31:8). Need more reassurance?


“For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb 13:5-6). Today you’re not alone – God is with you! (By Rick Godwin)

Greetings my precious friends,

Hope you are all enjoying the summer, and trying to stay cool, and for some of you, DRY!! The engineering company my hubby works for recently sent him to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to work on a flood recovery project at the Cargill refinery. The plant was located right on the river, and when it crested at 31 feet above flood stage the whole city went underwater.

Since I last wrote, I had noticed Jordan was drinking an excessive amount of water. Now, it is hot down here where we live, but Jordan has a condition called Diabetes Insipidus. This was brought on by the location of his tumor and the side effects of his radiation treatments to the pituitary gland.

Jordan takes medication to regulate this condition, but I knew things were not right because I saw how much he was drinking. Well, after speaking with his doctor and some testing, Jordan's labs showed his levels were completely off the charts! Poor guy's electrolytes were totally out of balance and left unchecked this could lead to a dangerous situation and will damage his kidneys.

The doctor has now doubled his medication to get this in check. Oh boy…, sometimes I take it for granted that things are moving along fine, and bam, I get a surprise like this. Just a reminder for me to continue to pray and believe for Jordan's complete healing!


I'd like to end by sharing a cute story about how sweet Jordan really is. Jordan is an early bird. I mean, he's up at the break of dawn, literally dressed and ready for work before me or my husband’s feet hit the floor. Sometimes he will get on the computer while he is waiting for his dad to finish getting ready. He loves to search around and shop for things that get his interest. He is an on-line shopper for sure!

Anyway, this morning when I came to the computer I had a little note waiting for me. I've been battling a sore throat and not feeling that great for the past few days. Here is what it said:

Good morning mom. I hope you are feeling better. You are the best mom ever. Thanks so much for all you do for me. Your son Jordan Amato

OK, talk about
melt my heart!! Jordan's tender heart is just so precious. He is a full-time maintenance project for me, but oh what rewards I receive daily from him! I'm so grateful and honored that the Lord chose us to be Jordan's parents. What a special gift he has been!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for always remembering to pray for my precious Jordan.

God is with you ALL the time,.

Have you thought about the American flag and all that it stands for? It represents an emblem of the greatest nation on the earth. It has been carried through centuries in battle. It is placed on the graves of our honored dead who fought for the right for us to remain a free nation, and it flies high during peace times, as well as war. “Old Glory” is its name.

There is another real freedom we can have. We can display it every day of the year, and that is our freedom “In Christ” to live a life to glorify Him, so that His banner of love, truth, and peace can be seen by all.

It is a flag flown high in the castle of my heart (taken from a song). We can be free in our spirit to serve the Creator of the whole universe and that my friends, is True Freedom.

Romans 8:2 says,
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death."

Just like the flag that represents freedom, Jesus is a banner over us, protecting and shielding us. He is the “Glory and the Lifter of our heads” at all times. Let freedom ring out in your heart today. (CBN)

Psalm 3:3 reads,
"But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." (KJV)

Greetings to you my wonderful friends!

I thought I would take a few minutes just to wish all of you a
Happy Independence (4th of July) Day!

I have a little video to share as a reminder of the many sacrifices that have been made, and are still being made, by the sons and daughters of families all across this great country.

I want to remind you to continue to pray for their protection, and for all of the needs of their families while they are gone. As you know, this hits very close to our home with our oldest son being a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army National Guard. He has already served one rotation in Afghanistan, and could be deployed again if his unit is re-activated. Also, my nephew Mark, who was in Iraq last year, is now in advanced training at Ft. Hood, Tx and preparing for his next deployment.

Let’s not forget Kris, Danny ’s mom, who has a son named Jeff currently serving in Iraq. Please keep him in prayer for a safe return back home, and for Kris and their family as well.

On the home front, Jordan is battling a summer cold right now and we are still working on his dry hand condition. He has also been having some bad nosebleeds. Poor guy, bless his heart, all of this can be over-whelming for such a young guy. I won’t even mention all the medication, shots and patch he takes daily. I’d really appreciate your prayers for a miracle in this area for him.

We will be getting together with our extended family and lots of friends for a huge 4th of July party at my older sister Mary’s home…so get ready for lots of pictures.

Till then I hope your week will be blessed over this holiday weekend!

“Underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV

Safe in God’s arms

During World War II, when Jill Briscoe was six, her family was evacuated to the English Lake District. Recalling a particularly scary night, she writes, “A storm had broken over our heads. Rain, like giant tears, slashed against the window and thunder grumbled. I didn’t like storms, and I was old enough to understand that an even bigger storm was raging, a war involving the entire world. But it seemed far away. The fire was warm and my father was relaxed in his big chair. Suddenly, aware that I needed reassurance, he put down his paper and smiled, ‘Come here, little girl’ he said in his quiet but commanding voice. And then I was safe in his arms, lying against his shoulder and feeling the beat of his heart.

“Looking back, I realize how my Heavenly Father shelters me from the storms of life. When sorrow swamped me at my mother’s funeral, I sought reassurance in my Father’s presence. When the winds of worry whipped away my confidence as I faced gangs of young people in street evangelism, I glanced up to see my Father’s face.

When floods of fear rose as I waited in hospital for the results of frightening tests, I sensed my Heavenly Father say, ‘Come here, little girl.’ I climbed into His arms, leaned against His shoulder and murmured, ‘Ah, this is a grand place to be.’”

The Bible says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” If life’s storms are overwhelming you, climb up into your Heavenly Father’s arms, feel the beat of His heart, and rest assured He’s bigger than the storm you’re facing. (Rick Godwin)

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute and let you know that things are going well over here at the Amato’s house. We are staying busy trying to keep cool, and that’s becoming a full-time job down here in “Bayou” Land.

We had a wonderful Father’s Day gathering over at my son and daughter-in-law’s new home on Sunday. It was also his birthday as well. On Father’s day, 29 years ago, he became our firstborn of five blessings from the Lord. Its funny how I just keep getting younger each year as my children are growing up and getting older!

I thought I’d share some pictures with you from my hubby’s famous BBQ. Leave it to Rick to bless us all with the best meal in town. He got raving reviews.

We snatched up Kayla and Grace and took them back with us after the party, so the fun kept just kept on going once we got home. Those girls are something; we really enjoyed watching them play together. They said the cutest things; I just love being a grandmother. Jordan also wanted to bring Karli home, but she’s still very attached to mom these days. I think she knows her time is limited with baby brother coming along shortly.

I hope you enjoy today’s devotional. No matter what we are going through in life, we can always know our Heavenly Father is there with us. I’m thanking God today for those everlasting arms that reach out and hold on to me everyday. Aren’t you?

Safe In His arms,

“Their weakness was turned to strength.” Hebrews 11:34 NLT

The overcoming spirit!

A grindstone can make a diamond shine, or reduce solid rock to dust. It depends what you’re made of. Charles Steinmetz, one of the founders of General Electric, was made of the right stuff. Crippled from birth, he was so short in stature that he looked like a dwarf. His mother died before he was one year old. His father was poor but he determined that young Charles would have an education. Charles couldn’t run and play games like normal boys, so he made up his mind to devote himself to science. He set this goal: “I will make discoveries that help other people.”

When Steinmetz immigrated to the United States he couldn’t speak a word of English. His face was swollen from the cold he’d endured on the boat passage. His sight was defective. His clothes were shabby. The port authorities were tempted to return him to Switzerland. But he stayed and found a job that paid $12 a week. There he showed amazing abilities. The infant company, General Electric, quickly realized his incredible potential. His career was marked by unparalleled research and development.

When he died in 1923 one writer said, “He had the mind of an angel and the soul of a seer.” What did Charles Steinmetz have? The overcoming spirit! Do you have it?
If what you’re doing doesn’t produce resistance, it’s not worth doing. The winners in your Bible are described this way: “Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle.” What turns weakness into strength? Faith that refuses to back up, back down, or settle for less than what God has promised.

Hi Everyone,

I’m so sorry I have been late in updating my post. Always no news is GOOD news about Jordan. Now a special little message to my faithful friend Randy, “please don’t worry”!

Thanks so much for your prayers for our new friend Nick. He did well with his brain surgery. They had a scare after returning home, but praise God he’s healing well now. They will need your continued prayer as they await the path report and decide on the next course of treatment.

Jordan’s hands are getting a little better. The doctor would not give him another steroid shot because his last one was too recent. We changed up some creams and we are watching it closely. I appreciate your prayers as they mean so much to us.

Our little buddy Logan has only 3 rounds of his high-dose chemo left! He relapsed 13 months ago, just shortly after finishing his 3-year treatment for ALL. What a brave young man he is to face this enemy once again! Please note Logan's new page
his mom made for him. Logan recently start running a high fever, please keep him in your prayers!

Jordan continues to remain busy with his job. We recently found out his boss has relapsed. Until this most recent news, she was an ovarian cancer survivor for many years. Now our hearts are broken with this sad news. Please keep Miss Robin in your prayers as she prepares for a very rigorous treatment of chemo.

Everyone has been so good and patient with Jordan at his job. We are
very blessed to have him working with such a caring group of people. He’s very loved there, and we are just grateful that the Lord opened those doors for him to work at Wal-Mart.

I pray you all are doing well, and trying to stay COOL. It’s getting very hot down here on the Bayou! Oh, if you get a chance, please check out our Wedding Anniversary video . This was done 5 years ago for our 25th Anniversary celebration. I just got it reformatted and uploaded it on Youtube. I am very excited to share this special night with all of you! Thanks so much for dropping by today.

Staying strong in the battle,

RIPPLES

I stood on the shore of the lake and watched the kids throw rocks into the water. Whole fistfuls of pebbles or stones flew through the air. Each one hit the water with the same result...ripples. Ripples that circled out and intersected with the other ripples, ripples that went far beyond the spot where each stone landed.

This image of the ripples never fails to bring the same thought to my mind over and over. Small as each pebble is, not one touches the water without these resulting ripples.

We are like the pebble. No matter how influential or insignificant we see ourselves, we each send out ripples that circle out further than we might ever dream.

Words and deeds of kindness or cruelty, gentleness or abrasiveness, generosity or greed - all ripple out and touch other lives far beyond the boundaries we think they go. Our families, co-workers, neighbors, and even strangers are often touched by an act or a word of ours that we never dreamt would get that far.

My husband is good at skipping rocks across the water. The kids count the skips; the more the better. Sometimes we think we, too, can skip through life, independent, not touching others, hurrying on without time to stop and be concerned about anyone else.

The inevitable ripples still flow out. We do influence, we do touch others, even when we are not aware of it. God even reminds us of our ripples...

"...you be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity"(1 Timothy 4:12). (By Gail Rodgers)

Greetings to you my faithful friends,

I thought I’d get my Mother’s Day message off, and let you know I’m thinking of you and so blessed by all the beautiful wishes you sent my way. I had a nice day, and was so thrilled to have had a “sleep over” with two of my little princess. .

We took the girls to the mall, rode the carousel, read books, had a tea party, and did a lot of laughing and hugging. Just looking at my boys all grown up, I realize how quickly time passes by, and I don’t want to miss a single minute I can spend with my precious granddaughters...

I hope you enjoyed today’s devotional. This one really captured my heart because I’m living proof of the effect of so many ripples of love that have been sent our way. Isn’t it amazing how every activity in our lives has a ripple effect? Thank you all for the prayers and encouragement over the years. I’m so blessed to know that God often uses the experiences we must endure in more ways than we could ever imagine!

I’d like to end by asking you to join me in two prayer requests. From my blog I had the honor of meeting another mom who’s’ son has a brain tumor! Her son, Nick
will be having his 6th brain surgery on Wednesday. I’d greatly appreciate your prayers for this family. I’ll keep you posted on how things go!

This next request sounds so insignificant compared to the one I just mentioned, but Jordan is still having a lot of problems with eczema on his hands. They are so swollen, cracked, and bleeding again, and he is miserable. We had steroid injections, and he is using the strongest steroid ointment available on his hands. Sadly, it seems that it is continuing to get worse. We will see another specialist tomorrow. Hopefully we can get some answers, and we are asking God for a complete HEALING!

Well, I’ll end with some special memories from my visit with the girls. Hope you enjoy them!

GOD'S WINGS

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Though the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast.

Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4). Being loved this much is what makes the difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and never forget what He has done for you.

Happy Mother’s Day my precious friends!!

Just want to stop in to wish you all a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. I’m so grateful the Lord blessed me with such a wonderful mom, and also a great mother in love. They are both now with Jesus, but their love, influence and impact on my life continue each day.

I learned so much from my mom as a young girl. The most difficult challenge of her life, and Rick’s mom too, was that they both lost a child. My brother was just 18 and Rick’s mom lost a beautiful 3 year old girl. I believe this is why I’ve been able to face many difficult things in my life now. They both knew and loved the Lord and he graciously carried them through as they found refuge in HIM.

I can’t begin to imagine or fathom the love God has for us, and the price that he paid for us. I pray you will feel His love each day and it will be a source of comfort and strength.

Please remember to keep all the mom’s who have children in heaven now. I’m sending so much love to you Tonya, Carol, Heather, Dawn, Susan, Trish,Patty and all the many other mom’s out there.. Please remember all the children in treatment also, or those like Jordan who are in remission.

Enjoy your special day – mom’s! You sure deserve being queen for the day!

May God bless your day with His love,

He knoweth the way that I take" (Job 23:10)

Believer! What a glorious assurance! This way of thine--this, it may be, a crooked, mysterious, tangled way--this way of trial and tears. "He knoweth it."

The furnace seven times heated--He lighted it. There is an Almighty Guide knowing and directing our footsteps, whether it be to the bitter Marah pool, or to the joy and refreshment of Elim.

That way, dark to the Egyptians, has its pillar of cloud and fire for His own Israel. The furnace is hot; but not only can we trust the hand that kindles it, but we have the assurance that the fires are lighted not to consume, but to refine; and that when the refining process is completed (no sooner--no later) He brings His people forth as gold.

When they think Him least near, He is often nearest. "When my spirit was overwhelmed, then thou knewest my path." (Streams In the Desert)

Greetings, Greetings and more Greetings my dear friends!!

OK, I think you can sense my excitement, let’s hear a great drum-roll for these wonderful words, straight off of Jordan’s MRI report:


"Stable suprasellar hypothalamic glioma and cystic mass with no evidence of tumor progression or metastatic disease."

Words that brought JOY to our hearts, and such RELIEF! How can I thank you all enough for your prayers, for your worries, (RANDY) and for being such wonderful faithful friends over the years? We are just blessed and always ever so grateful!

Now for the fun part. Yes Randy, Jordan “dazzled everyone with his sweet smile, and outrageously stylish wardrobe”. I must say you make me smile real big when I read your precious comments! OK, hope I didn’t embarrass you, (shhhhhh, I won’t tell anyone where you live!). But I will say how wonderful you are and have been to us, and how much I appreciate that you are always cheering us on!

Our trip started out with Mark Horrock, and his children picking us up at the airport. We are so very grateful for our friendship with the Horrock’s and the ministry that they have in Memphis, Habitat for Hope. If you get a chance, please check out the Habitat For Hope's Blog and see what a wonderful outreach they recently sponsored in Memphis. I thank God for all the lives that have been touched because Mark and Mylissa were willing to answer the call of God upon their lives.



Once arriving we ran into our friends Amy and Colin. Jordan just adores Colin and Amy is so sweet. God truly blessed us when we met them last year. We look forward to our visits each time. Amy surprised me with an announcement, she was expecting! She’ll be welcoming another daughter in September. Thanks for your prayers; Colin received a great report too!



On Monday morning Dawn and Mason came to hang out with us at the Jude. Dawn lost her son Shae 7 years ago, and she has such a tender heart for the children at St. Jude. I’m always blown away by these moms who stay so connected after such a great loss in their lives. Dawn, I really enjoyed my time with you, and I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to be a support to us. Jordan and Mason had a great time. Now, is this child precious or what?





We also got to meet a new family that was coming to St. Jude for a consult. Their daughter Kate has same tumor as Jordan’s but has relapsed, again! Bless her heart. We invited them out to the Hope House for dinner on Monday night and had the best time getting to know them and their daughters. Naturally Jordan just adored little Kate, and they hit it off. Mylissa's daughter Bella was so precious, she gave Kate one of her horses to take with her, looks like Bella is already following her parent’s footsteps! Here is a picture of Jordan and Kate.



And finally, we got to have lunch with the Ross family. Di Di’s son Zach also has a brain tumor like Jordan’s, and was there for his check up. They also received a great report! I really appreciate your prayers for these children. Zach is just precious and a very funny little guy. He had me laughing with his jokes, he’s really GOOD! Di Di, I just knew Jordan would love Zach. He said, “Mom, I wish I could have gone home with them!” The funny part is...he was really serious. It was so good seeing you guys again.



As you can see, God met us in Memphis once again. I’m so grateful for the special friendships we have formed with these families, and for the many others at St. Jude.

Did you enjoy the devotional above? I received this today, and the timing was just perfect! God truly knows the way we take, and no matter where we are at in our journeys, He is always there, right beside us. My prayer is in the end, I will come forth as gold and my testimony will always bring HIM glory. Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Thanking God for your friendship and prayers,

Greeting to you my friends,

Well, it’s that time again.
Sorry, I didn’t post those pictures from the Relay for Life yet. I promise to have them up, along with the ones we’ll take in Memphis when we return. I’m sure I’ll have lots of pictures after this visit. We are also planning to attend another Relay for Life Rally here in Baton Rouge when we return.

Please remember our friends Colin and Zach who will also be doing scans at the same time Jordan is up in Memphis. I can’t wait to bring you a good report once we return.

I took Jordan to a new endocrinologist today. He was very pleased with the care Jordan had been receiving, and made some great recommendations on how to better regulate some of his meds. It was an interesting and very educational visit. There is still so much to learn in this brain tumor journey.

I thought today’s devotional was perfect timing as we get ready to leave. We do serve a “Smart God”, and He knows just what we need, and when we need it. He is faithful, and He’s true. I’m so comforted to know that Jesus is always there.

I have one more prayer request if you don’t mind. Joseph, my third son, will be leaving for
Taiwan this coming Tuesday. He has taken a one-year assignment and will be teaching English in the port city of Kaoshiung. Joseph is my adventurer, and he is so ready to see the world. Please pray for his protection while traveling and once he is there. Gosh, I’m going to miss him, and yes, be very worried while he is 9,000 miles away! I can’t help it; it’s a mom thing.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I covet your prayers and friendship! I’m so grateful for you all. I’ll be back next week to bring you our update on this trip.

Learning to trust God more and more,

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” Mark 6:38 NIV

Seeing it!

Learn to look for the extraordinary, within the ordinary moment! Opportunities for growth and blessing are constantly coming your way – or passing you right by. James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him” (Jas 1:5 NIV). Before you act, stop and pray: “Father, show me what I’m not seeing. The word says that You can turn a disappointment into a blessing. If I can’t change this right now, how can I use it to grow wiser and do better next time?

Before Jesus fed the five thousand He told His disciples (who’d decided to send the crowd away to find their own food), “You give them something to eat” (Lk 9:13 NIV). They replied, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages!” (Mk 6:37 NIV). That’s when Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have? "Go and see” (Mk 6:38 NIV) He’s challenging them to look for the extraordinary, in the ordinary moment. When you do that you invite God into your situation – and with Him all things are possible! The key to this miracle was Christ’s words, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” They already had the solution; they just didn’t know it. When you consult God you begin to see things in a new light, and find answers you never dreamed possible. (By Rick Godwin)

Greetings to you my wonderful friends,

Now, this was a very encouraging word. I hope you were also blessed and challenged as much as I was. It’s wonderful the way God can turn any situation around in our lives? With God everything “ordinary” can truly become “extraordinary” But we have to take the time to really “see” what God is doing.

I’m so excited to share some very good news with you! First is about little Elli our precious friend from St. Jude. Elli was just about to finish treatment when she relapsed. Oh my, everyone was stunned, and immediately prayers started going forth on her behalf. God heard our cry and answered. After a successful bone marrow transplant, Elli is finally able to go home for visits! YEAH!!! Please continue to keep her in prayer, she still has a long road ahead of her, but she is making really good progress these days. Go check out her site, she’s just a doll!

Our buddy Logan also relapsed last year. Another major shock and disappointment. But Logan is a brave little trooper that is in there for the long haul. He is doing well now, and although he has a way to go, he’s on the right track these days. Please continue to agree with us in prayer for his complete healing. Drop by and let Logan know that you are also thinking about him.

Jordan’s hands are so much better since he got that steroid shot this week. Steroids can really work like magic, but we know the havoc they play on our bodies. It is like a double-edged sword, but it had been many months since his last shot. I’m praying that with his new skin creams and treatments, we’ll see a lot of progress with this issue.

Jordan is now at my daughter in law’s house for the Relay for Life rally in the town we used to live in. Kristin has been faithful to participate in this event every year, along with her class and several friends. Gosh, she has jumped right aboard with Jordan, and has been so involved in helping out in any way she can. Thanks Kristin, this means the world to us, and all the many families affected by childhood cancer.

I’ll be posting the pictures next week!

I’ll end with some pictures we took last week at a birthday party we attended. Jordan was in his glory. Yes it’s that time of the year down here again! The crawfish are plentiful, and oh how we love to boil them up and eat those little creatures. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Be blessed, and I’ll be back soon!

“Follow me, and I will make you.” Matthew 4:19

Come as you are

Understand this: Jesus doesn’t invite us to follow Him because we believe in Him. He invites us to follow Him because He believes in us! He says, “Follow me and I will make you.” He knows what we can become when His grace touches our lives. Matthew, a Jew, collected taxes for the Romans who enslaved his people. In their eyes he was lower than scum. Yet Jesus called him and he ended up writing the first book in the New Testament.

When Nathaniel was invited to meet Jesus he was downright skeptical. “Can…any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see” (Jn 1:46). Even after 3 years of exposure to His miracles and messages, they still had doubts. Check how often He says to them, “O ye of little faith…why do you not believe? …If only you believed you would see.”

Knowing they were anxious about what would happen when He left them and went back to heaven, Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [the Holy Spirit], that he may abide with you for ever” (Jn 14:16). The Greek word for comforter is paracletos which means “one who comes alongside to help.” There will never be a day when you won’t need God’s help!

So, come as you are. Come with your halo or your hang-ups. Come, even though you wonder if He can do what He promises. Let His power and presence rub off on you. What do you have to lose? You’ve tried your way and it didn’t work, now try His way. Come. You won’t be disappointed!

Greeting to my wonderful friends,

Wow, what a great word by Pastor Rick Godwin once again. “Come as you are”! Are those not loving and inviting words? I’m just so blessed God accepts me as I am, and sees the potential even when I feel so inadequate.

I trust you all had a nice Easter Sunday. I prayed for all the precious families that are missing their children and loved ones during this season. I realize it’s just another day to miss them, but I’m sure the holidays bring back a flood of memories.

We had a great time here at the Amato household. Thanks so much for asking Randy, Lynn and any other faithful followers! Rick’s family came out and joined ours and we enjoyed some wonderful food , fun and lots of fellowship. The weather was just perfect! After lunch, the guys all played football & tennis, and we took all the kids to play on the swings and jungle gym in the community park in our subdivision. We were all exhausted at the end of the day. Great memories were made once again.

Jordan continues to battle with his eczema, and so we’ll have to go back to his doctor and get another steroid shot. We really try to avoid this with his osteoporosis. I’m praying and praying for a miracle in this area.

It’s hard to believe that April is almost here, and we’ll be heading back up to St. Jude for Jordan’s scans and many other tests. Once again, I’m getting my self geared up for the trip.

We are so blessed to be on the same schedule with a precious young boy named Zach. He has the same brain tumor as Jordan’s, but has been through a lot more complications. I got to meet him and his mom on our last visit, so it will be so nice to catch up again.

We are also looking forward to seeing Mark and Mylissa at Habitat for Hope once again. So, this trip is always bittersweet for us. While we are excited to see our friends, we are
never excited to wait for those scan results! This is part of our lives now, but it does not make it any easier for sure.

I count my blessings each day, and realize each day is truly a gift. I appreciate your many prayers and words of encouragement throughout our journey. I look forward to hearing from you, and covet the friendships that have formed over the years. It’s so nice to know you are never alone.

Here are some pictures I took on Easter Sunday…hope you enjoy them! I found a new site, so I was able to put borders and write on them. This was fun!

I have more pictures on my blog if you visit over there. Please check out Tonya’s blog as well. She has been writing up a storm. There are some really exciting things going on with her family now.

FORVER HIS
Safe In His Arms His



I promise I will not stay away so long next time!

Coming to Jesus, just as I am,

An Easter Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for the gift of HOPE
You gave us Easter morning.
Because of You we know
that no problem is too difficult
and even death does not have
power over us.

Thank you for the gift of JOY
You gave us when you were resurrected.
Because of You we know
that no matter how challenging life may be,
In the end we will rejoice again.

Thank you for the gift of LOVE
You gave us when you laid down your life.
Because of You we know
that there is no sin too great to separate us
and we are incredibly valuable to you.

Thank you for the gift of LIFE
You gave us when you left the tomb.
Because of Easter we know
this world is just the beginning
and we will spend eternity in heaven with YOU.

We celebrate you, JESUS,
with hearts full of praise and gratitude
for who You are and all You've done for us!
Amen

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. (NIV) Hebrews 12:2

Hope in the future:

O Lord You are my hope and my salvation. I envision You standing
at the finish line of my race. . .not back in the crowd. . .but
right at the line waiting for me with a big smile on Your face. . .
Your arms stretched out waiting for me to fall into Your embrace.
And Your eyes are glowing . . . radiating the love You have for
me . . . communicating, "Everything I went through, the shame, the
suffering of the cross, the frustration, it was worth it to have
you with Me."

I stumble into Your arms and am embraced with Your nail scarred
hands, kissed by the face that was beaten. I am with love
eternal; love overflowing, love overwhelming, love sufficient,
and love without fail. I am with the One who loves me more than life
itself. I am with my Beloved Jesus. O what a day it will be!
What an eternity it will be! (by Marji Kruger)

Greetings to you my faithful friends,

I’m so sorry I’ve been a so long in updating Jordan’s page. I know it sounds redundant, but yes, we’ve just been so busy these past few weeks! However, it’s been a “good busy” , and as always I’m just so grateful for your continued support, prayers, and encouragement.

Jordan did receive his labs back, but I have not had the chance to discuss them with his Endo doctor yet. Because we do this so often, I’m getting pretty good at reading his results myself. So in my humble opinion, everything looks really well, with the exception of his iron level, which still is low. He’s taking a supplement for it now, but it continues to hang out on the low side. His lipids are still pretty high, and I hope and pray we don’t have to add statins to the long list of meds he is already taking. I’ll let you know what the doctor thinks as soon as I know!

Jordan’s nosebleeds have almost ceased, and his dry hands are finally doing better. He has to continually put steroid creams on them throughout the day, and he’s not really a happy camper about that. But he manages to put up with my nagging and
constant reminders.

Things continue to go well at work for our dear Jordan. He is so loved, and he enjoys meeting people and serving them. We’re just so blessed God opened the door for this perfect job for him at Wal-Mart!

I thought I’d share this touching devotional today, with Easter coming soon. I can’t help but be moved each time I read that passage. Can you imagine feeling “joy” before you endured one of the most painful deaths imaginable? Death by crucifixion. Jesus was able to see beyond that cross, because He knew what his great sacrifice would bring to all mankind. Oh what a day it will be when we finally see His glorious face, and stand in His awesome presence! I’m so grateful for the cross, and for the empty tomb that sealed the victory for all who believe.

I pray for you all today that are reading these words. No matter what you are going through, have been through, or will go through in the future, remember that
Jesus is there. He is waiting to bring you closer to Him, to comfort you, and to be the ROCK upon which you can stand.

OK, looks like I’m back preaching again. Thanks for stopping by today. If you get a chance drop by and visit me on my blog. I do post to that site quite often. I’d also like to ask you to stop by Tonya’s blog as well. She’s been busy writing these days, and I’m enjoying reading about all the things going on in her life. I’m sure you will be also. Oh, and Mylissa Horrock (Habitat for Hope) started a personal blog as well!( Mylissa's Blog)

Looks like many of our friends are starting personal blogs these days. Heather Duckworth has one also! I know I have really enjoyed doing mine, because it has become an avenue to meet so many new and wonderful friends
just like you!

Thanking God for the cross today,

World Record Heavy Lifter

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.
Psalm 55:22a

Juraj Barbaric's idea of taking the train differs from the average commuter. He earned his title of "strongman" by pulling twenty freight cars filled with scrap metal more than fourteen feet. Needless to say, this muscular man collapsed in a heap after hauling the 984.2 tons - the heaviest train ever pulled!

Burdens come in all different sizes: wondering how to pay bills when there's no money left, caring for a loved one who is sick or disabled, putting in long hours on the job to meet the boss's demands. With so many things weighing on our minds, some days we may feel like we're trying to pull a train that isn't about to move.

Giving in to discouragement is easier than earning a title. But we have One who knows all about our struggles, and He is stronger than anyone! Jesus has offered to bear our heavy load. When He stretches out His strong hand to take our burdens, we don't need to worry that His arm will tire or His strength will fail.

Our omnipotent God can carry our problems. He will sustain us so we won't collapse. Go to Him in prayer today and give your anxieties and cares over to Him. He won't let you down! (By Rick Godwin)

Greetings to you my faithful friends,

Wow, where has the last 2 weeks gone? Seems like we have been running 'non-stop' since my precious friend Tonya and the boys came down to visit us. Now, that doesn’t mean we are not still missing them BIG TIME!


I’m just so blessed they were gone when the flu hit our home. What a nasty flu bug that has been going around. Thank God we are all so much better! Jordan and Rick managed to escape the attack, thank God for Tamiflu.

Jordan and I have been busy these days going to different doctors, and next week we’ll do an update on all his endo labs. We also had to see an allergist for his severe case of eczema on his hands. Poor guy also had several bad nosebleeds, and we had to rush him to the ENT to get his nose cauterized this past week. We have been super busy! However, things are starting to settle down, and we are so blessed for all your prayers.


I thought the devotional above was especially good this week. I hope it blessed you and encouraged you today. Have you ever felt like you were pulling 984.2 tons? I know I have, and it’s always so reassuring that Jesus has promised us His help in bearing those heavy burdens. Sometimes I think I add a lot of unnecessary weight all by myself. I start borrowing tomorrow’s problems, as if I don’t already have enough stuff to deal with today! It’s amazing how easily we can allow our minds to pull us off to worry about problems that have not even happened. I’m guilty for sure.


If I could only learn to remember when those anxious thoughts begin to trouble me, Jesus has told me to “cast all your cares (burdens) upon Me” Thank God that Jesus knows about all of our cares even before we ask, and His arms are outstretched to help us bear those burdens. AMEN?

Today I would like to ask you to pray and agree with me for a special request. Our little buddyLogan ’s platelets have been too low to start his chemo. It’s been 2 weeks, and well, it’s been too long. Please remember to pray for him and his mom April, also a dear friend of mine. Logan will go back next week to have them checked again and I am asking for a miracle that they will finally be up so he can’t get back on his treatment plan. Thanks so much for joining with us for this need.

Well, I’m going to start dinner now, but I just wanted to update Jordan’s page to let you in on what’s been going on around here. Thanks again to all of you
wonderful friends who wished me a “Happy 29th Birthday”. It’s so amazing to get another year older without aging one bit!

Leaving my burdens with Jesus,

"Among Life's precious jewels,
Genuine and rare,
The one that we call friendship
Has worth beyond compare."
(Author Unknown)

Greetings to you my Faithful Friends,

I first want to thank you for all of the wonderful the birthday wishes. I was really touched! I would have to say this birthday will be one I’ll always cherish.

On Friday afternoon my celebration began when someone very special and dear to my heart drove from over 5 hours away to come down and spend the weekend with me. This is a precious friend I’ve come to know and love over these last 3 years at St. Jude. Most of you reading this will know her too, and have followed her son’s courageous battle. She lights up a room with her beautiful smile, and her passion for Jesus is so contagious. Now, I won’t let you wonder any longer. Have you guessed who it was yet? Yes, it wasTONYA NASON and her two precious boys, Zack and Gabe! Our house was filled with joy, and the weekend just flew by.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I’ve been since the moment she told me she was planning to come! We started counting the days, and when she finally arrived I felt like it was a dream come true.

We immediately got busy catching up, and started packing in as much sister fellowship as we could in those few short days! Tonya got to meet my family and some of my dearest friends at a birthday dinner we had on Sunday. Everyone just adored Tonya, and made her feel like part of the gang.

I’m just so grateful for the friendship the Lord has given Tonya and I. I learned so much as I watched her and her family pray and care for Brent during his journey. Her faith was unshakable, and her testimony continues to challenge and inspire me daily.

In Proverbs 17:17 it says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”. Thank you Tonya for being such a loyal friend to me over these years. Your prayers, words of comfort, and great faith have been such a gift to me. God has truly knit our hearts together.

I’d also like to thank Kristin, (my daughter in law) who helped make this weekend so special also. She always knows how to bless me and on special occasions makes me feel so loved and appreciated. Thank you Kristin for all you did to help plan this special weekend! Oh, I don’t think I’ve mentioned that Kristin and my son Jason are expecting their 3rd child, in September! What exciting and wonderful news this was for our family. We are all just thrilled and can hardly wait to see what blessing the Lord will bring to us to welcome into our family. Jason is thinking
BOY – we will have to wait and see.

OK, it looks like I’m starting an epic here, so I’ll let you go for now. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Jordan and I are both feeling much better these days. The sinus drip, coughs, and other nagging cold symptoms are finally going away. We do appreciate all your prayers.

Till next time – remember we love you all.

Greetings to you all!

Not sure how many of you are still stopping by Jordan’s site these days, but I sure appreciate your visits. Jordan is doing well, and I must admit, my blogging has become something I really enjoy these days.

So, per request of Randy,(you are such a blessing!) here is a quick little update on the Amato family. Jordan and I are both getting over some really nasty bronchitis, and ear infections. Yes, we did this together. I’m still hacking and wheezing, and my husband is really praying for me to get totally healed. (I think after nine days my coughing is finally starting to annoy him!) Now speaking of my darling husband, if you want to read a really cute Valentine’s story, please come on over to my blog, I promise you it will be worth the read! Forever His, My Most Memorable Valentine’s Day Ever!

I’m really excited to share with you that our sweet little Ellie continues to do well. She is back at the Target House and each day she is getting stronger and stronger.

Logan is also doing better these days, but is now waiting on his counts to rise. We really prayed hard from him these last few weeks.

Bella had a little scare, but everything turned out well, and her scans were all clean! God has been so good.

Just thinking back, it was on February 22, 2005 that Jordan completed his last radiation treatment. It’s so hard to believe three years have gone by. God has literally carried Him through. We never take his stable status for granted. No not even for one day,
but we continually give thanks to God.

So, I pray you enjoyed the devotion I shared with you today. Oh, I can definitely identify. I’m just so blessed God doesn’t look at our lives and judge us the way man judges. Aren’t you so glad that He looks at the heart and honors our faith? No matter what happens in our lives, we are told to believe, and to always have
FAITH. The rest is up to Him.

Well, I’ll sign off for now, but I hope you will have a great week. If you get the chance, drop a line and let me know you’re still out there. We love all of you very much.

Hanging on to Faith,

When can it be said of a man, that he is rich towards God?
Never till he is rich in grace, and rich in faith, and rich in good works! Never till he has applied to Jesus Christ, and bought of him gold tried in the fire? (Rev. 3:18) Never till he has a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! Never till he has a name inscribed in the book of life, and is an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ! Such a man is truly rich. His treasure is incorruptible. His bank never breaks. His inheritance fadeth not away. Man cannot deprive him of it. Death cannot snatch it out of his hands. All things are his already,--life, death, things present, and things to come. (I Cor. 3:23) And best of all, what he has now is nothing to what he will have hereafter. ~ J.C. Ryle

Greetings to you my wonderful friends,

Looks like time has slipped by on me once again. I pray this update finds you all doing very well. Thanks so much for stopping by today and checking up on Jordan, it means so much us.

I hope you enjoy the pictures I posted from the St. Jude Ball. We had lots of fun, and are so grateful and indebted to all the wonderful people that worked so hard to sponsor this wonderful event. I wasn’t able to put names on this slide show, so I’d like to tell you a little about who these people were.

The handsome man straitening Jordan’s bow~tie is my wonderful husband Rick. I’m sure many of you know this already, but I thought I’d just take a minute to let you know what a blessing he is in my life. He is a constant support to me, and trust me, I’m high maintenance! I love you Rick.


The children in the picture with Jordan were members of the court that was presented during the Ball. These children are all still in treatment both at the St. Jude Clinic here in Baton Rouge, as well as Memphis. They were all so precious, and truly enjoyed being a part of the court! It’s such a privilege to get the chance to meet so many other St. Jude families who, like us, have been helped in countless ways.

The army officer that Jordan was standing with is Gregory C Parker Jr. Major Parker is very involved with this Benefit and has been the MC for several years now. This was not the first time we got to meet him. We sat at his table for my son, Jason’s graduation ceremony from Officer Candidate’s School. It was so enjoyable getting to see him and his fiance once again.

The woman that Jordan was with is Dr. Shelia Moore. Dr. Moore is the medical director of the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic here in Baton Rouge. She was just so gracious, and just loves her children like her very own! We appreciated getting to talk with her. When Jordan was treated at the clinic here in Baton Rouge he saw her assistant. She was out of town when we went both times. So it was wonderful to finally get to meet her.

Finally, the older man Jordan is standing with is the Chapter President for the Baton Rouge ALSAC. Mr. Charles lost his 16-year-old daughter to AML at St. Jude many years ago. He continues to sponsor many events in this area for St. Jude to help raise the much-needed money it takes to keep the research going. He and his wife were just so sweet and so caring toward Jordan. We talked to him about several things Jordan likes to do, and he is working on a surprise for Jordan. I’ll share the details when things get confirmed. Trust me, it’s really BIG.

So, as you can see we had a night to remember. I hope you enjoyed the quote I choose above. I feel so rich, and ever so grateful for all the many people the Lord has placed in our lives. I also have an inheritance that will never fade away, and treasures stored up for eternity. What more could I ever ask for or need?


I’ll try not staying away so long next time. Please remember to keep our special friends in prayer.

Little Elli is doing well post transplant, and finally at the Target House! She still has a long journey ahead of her, and that family needs all of our prayers for Ellie’s total healing.

Bella, Mark and Mylissa’s daughter, will be having scans this week. Mark and Mylissa are the founders of Habitat for Hope. God is using this family to minister to so many people in Memphis. We love the Horrocks and value our friendship. Let’s believe with them for a great report for Bella.

Loganis waiting on his counts to rebound now. Please pray they come up soon. Logan relapsed last year, and his mom April just had another baby. Her hands are so full, and they are concerned. They would also be so appreciative of your prayers.

If you could, please visit as many of the pages I have posted links for this time. Especially for the families of those precious children that are now with Jesus. They would love to know you still remember their children and are thinking of them as well.

Thanks again for stopping by today. Don’t forget, if you get the chance, try and stop by my blog,. FORVER HIS I post there fairly often as well.

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Ps. 63.1(NIV)
As I read the Psalms, I am amazed at David's heart after God. And at times, I have to admit that I get a bit jealous of His passion for God. I wish that I had the same intensity as David did for his God. Listen to what he writes . . .

** O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; (verse 1)
** my soul thirsts for you, (verse 1)
** my body longs for you (verse 1)

** Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you (verse 3)
** I will praise you as long as I live, (verse 4)
** and in your name I will lift up my hands (verse 4)
** My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; (verse 5)
** with singing lips my mouth will praise you (verse 5)
** On my bed I remember you; (verse 6)
** I think of you through the watches of the night (verse 6)
** My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me (verse 8)

Let me ask you. . .How do you earnestly seek God? Does your soul thirst for Him? Does your body long for His presence? How do your words glorify God? How does your lifestyle praise His Name? Are you satisfied with the riches of His grace? Or do you complain about your life? Do you think of God often? Is He constantly on your mind? The center of your focus? Do you cling to Him and nothing else?

Will you join me in asking God to give you the earnest desire to know Him and Him alone? Cry out to Him in this New Year and ask Him to give you the same kind of heart that David had. . . and watch the way God will empower your life through His Holy Spirit. (by Margie at Heartlight)

Greetings to you my wonderful friends,

As I begin this New Year, I’m excited about having a new start. I’m not one to make resolutions, but when I read this devotional, it truly challenged me in a great way to make it my earnest desire this year to, “seek hard after the Lord”! Some of you may ask, "How will you do this?" For me it will mean spending more time alone with the Lord daily, reading and meditating on the Word, and spending more time in prayer. I will also commit more time to fasting this year as well. So pray for me, and I will pray for you as we seek after God with all of our hearts.

If you dropped by Jordan’s site recently, I had a huge picture of the Louisiana
Superdome commemorating the BCS National Championship game between LSU and Ohio State. What an exciting night it was for all of us down here when LSU got the win!!! Jordan is a huge LSU fan, and he was so fired up about the big win. He woke me up very early the next morning to let me know how “happy he was.” Jordan is a kick. When he is into anything, there is no end to his enthusiasm. He took out all his LSU things, (paraphernalia) and set his room up with this theme first thing that morning. He had a poster made of the same graphic I posted here, and is now working on getting the front page of the Baton Rouge newspaper framed for his wall. Bless his heart; it is so much fun to see his enthusiasm and love of life.

We are proud of “our” team! What can I say? They are just the BEST!
Number ONE in the country.


Now that the New Year is here, Jordan’s calendar is beginning to fill up once again with many different appointments we have scheduled. This Friday we will go to the dermatologist for his steroid injection. Jordan suffers from an extreme case of Eczema. To see his poor hands so swollen cracked and bleeding would break your heart. The doctor told him he has never seen a case so severe on such a young person. We hate to give him steroid shots with his osteoporosis, but we are in a catch 22 position and need to treat the Eczema. This tumor in his hypothalamus just gives us so much trouble. We really need a miracle!

Jordan will be seeing his endocrinologist soon, and we have to do his bone scans as well. Life is never dull for our precious Jordan. We are just so grateful we are able to work with all these issues.

Something exciting is also coming up for Jordan this year. He will be a part of the Court at the St. Jude Ball this year. We heard about this annual event last year when we first moved to Baton Rouge, but didn’t get the chance to be involved until recently. St. Jude has a satellite clinic here, and the parents of the children in treatment host this Mardi Gras Ball each year to raise money for St. Jude. It looks like it will be a nice night out for us, and Jordan is extremely excited about wearing his tuxedo! He loves to dress up, so you can bet I’ll be taking lots of pictures to share with you.

Sorry I have rambled on so much, it’s been awhile since I sat here and took the time to update. I’ve been busy with my new blog, FOREVER HIS and it’s been so much fun. It is such a neat way to share your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and feelings about anything that is important in your life. One day I will look back on all those journals and be glad that I took the time to keep record. Now, if any of you ever decide to start one, I promise to drop by and say hi!

OK, I’ll let you go. Thanks for visiting with us today. We so enjoy hearing from you. Have a blessed week!

Seeking hard after Him,

Remembering Brent
Finding a Cure for Conner
Jake
Reid & Randon’s page
Scotty
Our buddy Logan
Danny
Our Sweet Angel Timmy
Bella
The Most Amazing Jacob
Shae Pierce
Elli's Page



Please also remember some very special angels and their families, Timmy, Haley, Jeremiah, Shae, Reid, Elisha and Jacob. Some other special friends of ours that we love and pray daily for are are Genna, Danny, Logan, Joseph, Luke, Ryan, Kara, Zach, Lizzie, Steven, and Bella. We are so grateful the Lord allowed us to meet these brave warriors!




PLEASE STOP BY THIS GREAT MINISTRY THAT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY LIVES! The Horrocks are now officially in Memphis, and in the short time they have been here have been so busy blessing so many people’s lives. I’m just so honored to know and support such an incredible ministry. Mark and Mylissa are ministering to so many families now, please continue to cover them in your prayers each day. Thanks guys for laying down your life for so many!



Stop by and visit Tonya and I at our blogs:

FORVER HIS
Safe In His Arms His