Harvest Table 2007

Thought I would share my Harvest Table 2007 with you. This is my dining room table in my home. I have the plate chargers set, so all we have to do each meal is set our plates on top of them and .... WAHLAH!.....a festive harvest holiday table setting each meal. WOO HOO!!!
(And the floral arrangment in the center is the arrangement that Wells Farmers Coop Gin sent us when Clay was in the hospital.....it is still beautiful. What a blessing!!!)

Enjoy!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Week is nearly 1/2 over!!!

Well, now I am officially OFF-CALL. WOO HOO! \o/ Clay had a massage this evening, and it really seemed to be good for him. Someone in our church had given him money to have 2 massages. What a blessing!!! My dear friend, Sue Barkowsky, lost her grandma, Betty Johnson (from Lamesa, TX) this morning. Please keep Sue and her family in your prayers. Thanks!!!
Ambs (our dtr who lives in Washington DC) is NOT going to Houston afterall this week, but worked until 1 AM this morning, then until nearly 9 Pm tonight, they told her to come back EARLY in the morning, and bring a change of clothes with her, that they would probably be working all through the night to have the legal deal they are working on completed by sometime Thursday (hopefully in the morning). Ambs is really tired. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks!
Britt & Merr (our other kids, in Nashville, TN) have gotten moved into their new home they are renting. They are soooooooo excited (and we are excited for them, too!).
Have a super-blessed, super-natural rest of the week!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Off-Call & Clay update

Well,
I am officially OFF-CALL at 8 AM this morning. WOO HOO! \o/ (Thanks for your prayers, it was a peaceful week.)
Also, we did not go to the neuro-surgeon yesterday after all (for Clay). He feels that the numbness in his hands has improved some, and he wants to give it another couple of weeks because he thinks it will improve even more. I have him scheduled to see a massage therapist (locally) this evening. She has a certification in carpel tunnel, and should be able to help Clay. An awesome lady at our church has given Clay money to use towards two sessions of massage therapy. Isn't that amazing?!? We had talked about going to the massage therapist after Clay got a little past surgery (and were going to do it anyway), and a couple of weeks ago, this woman in church walked up to me after Church and said that during the service she felt like she heard God say that Clay needed some massage, and she wanted to pay for two sessions. GO GOD!!!

Prayer Request Update

I heard from Sue last night (see below) and they will be taking Mrs. Johnson off of life support this morning (Tuesday). Please keep the family in your prayers, especially her hubby, Bill.

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

A dear friend of mine, Sue Barkowsky, got a message to me tonight that her grandmother, Betty Johnson (of Lamesa) had had a stroke and was being airlifted to Lubbock. Please keep Betty & family in your prayers. Thanks!

Dear Lord,
We lift Betty up to You right now, in Jesus' name. We know that You are Jehovah Rapha, our Healer, and we lift Betty up and plead the blood of Jesus over her. We know that by Jesus' stripes, You bring healing, even today, and we claim this for Betty. We pray for traveling mercies for Betty as she is airlifted, even now, and for the family as they travel to and from Lubbock. We pray peace and provision over Betty's family and extended family, too. We lift this up to You, Father and pray it and all things in Jesus' name. GO GOD! AMEN! \o/

Please continue to lift them up in prayer.....pray in the Spirit (if you have a prayer language). Thanks!!!

God's love & mine,
Lauren

P.S. ~ You will note that I have added PRAYER REQUESTS to my right hand column of this blog. I will try to keep them updated, but that way you will always know how you can be praying for us (and our friends/fam). Take care! We love y'all!!!

Great Call Weekend

Have had a GREAT Call weekend. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! I will officially be off of call on Tuesday morning at 8 AM....so keep those prayers going up! Ambs is still in DC. The trip to Houston is still in the air, and she may have about a moment's notice and then be going, or not at all. She is packed and ready to go when they give the word. She has worked all weekend. Britt & Merr had a blast at the mansion murder mystery Friday night and are moving into their new home tomorrow (Britt's day off). Clay is doing great! Church was awesome (according to Clay, I was working). We had a party for my bro-in-love tonight at my in-loves. He is now retired from the military after 27 years, 9 months and 1 day.....SALUTE!!!! (yeah, from the ol' Hee Haw days!)

Have a super-blessed, super-natural week this week!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

FABULOUS Friday!!!

Good day everybody! Hope that today is a FABULOUS Friday for you all. The week has been a smooth one. Clay is still healing nicely, and took it easy yesterday. We got out last night for Praise Team practice, but by the end of it he was exhausted and hurting, but he got a pretty good nights rest last night. THANK YOU, LORD!
Ambs called last night, and VE (her job) is flying her out to Houston either tonight (Friday) or Saturday morning, and she will be working there through probably Monday or Tuesday. She says she is coming back to the "Motherland" (Texas). LOL! We won't get to see her, but it will be a nice change of scenery anyway. Britt (our son) is being considered for an Assistant Manager's position with Guitar Center. WOO HOO! and we received an e-mail from our daughter-in-love, Merrida, yesterday, that she has helped with a new office stamp design, or something (I'm probably really messing this up). Anyway, they are doing well. They got the keys yesterday to the first HOUSE that they will be renting in the Donaldson community. It is a nice 3-bedroom home and only about 1-2 miles from Merr's family that lives in Nashvegas (as they call Nashville). So, they will begin moving in this weekend. They are going to one of those Murder Mystery things tonight where you dress in costume & character, and it's in an old mansion...etc etc etc (extravagant game of Clue, basically). Anyway, they are really excited about that too.
I'll be working this weekend, as I'm on-call. Continue to pray for a PEACEFUL and QUIET weekend.

ALSO......please note that I am now posting Prayer Requests in the RIGHT-HAND column now. Just so you have specifics. Thanks!

Remember.....Whatever is not super-natural is superficial! (---Jack Taylor)

SO, have a super-natural day today!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Have a Super-Natural Thursday!

Good Morning (or afternoon or evening....LOL!)
How are you doing this morning? I'm soooooooo BLESSED! The week is going GREAT! (Thank You, Lord!)......even my call-week and work-week are going GREAT. Isn't God good !?! Thank you, for your prayers for me during this call week......keep 'em up, they're working.
Clay is doing well. He is still not sleeping very well at night, because he gets up so often to go to the bathroom. Not much urine leakage (during the day or at night).....PRAISE THE LORD! He is tending to "over-do" some, and keeping him down and stressing the importance of rest and how it relates to healing is pretty tough.......just keep praying.
We had an AWESOME service last night at LCF (Church). The Praise Team was back from the SHATTER Festival and was sharing with us about the conference. They are soooo on-fire. God, our Creator, puts in each one of us the ability (and it is His desire that we operate in this) to be soooooooo creative, but through our fear of man, fear of failure, timidity, etc., we squelch that so often......and the whole Body of Christ and even unbelievers suffer and our world is just black-and-white because of it. BE CREATIVE TODAY! It is in each one of us.....and it's not a copy of somebody else......we are all created unique and different.....different isn't bad........BE CREATIVE TODAY!

Have a super-blessed, super-natural day today!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

P.S. ~ The cotton harvest is going GREAT! They finished our farm over on the west side of O'Donnell (at the community of New Moore) yesterday. They are moving the cotton strippers (harvesting equipment) back over to Clay's parents house today to work over there some more. WOO HOO! \o/

HAPPY Wednesday!

Have a great middle-of-the-week day today!!! Well, we had a good night last night. Clay seems to be feeling better today. Is a little tired because he is not sleeping well at night since he got his catheter out, because he has to get up quite often to go to the bathroom now.
The kids all seem to be doing well. Thank You, Lord.
Not much else to tell you. I am reading a very thought-provoking book right now called: A MORE EXCELLENT WAY / Be in Health / Spiritual Roots of Disease / Pathways to Wholeness by Henry Wright. It is a very deep book, and takes a little longer reading, but it is very good. It was recommended by one of my hound-club buddies (long story......inside joke, huh, Pam!?!). The book has really got me to thinking, though. Will share more later.

Have a super-blessed, super-natural day!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Update on Clay

Clay is not feeling as well today as he has been. Please keep him in your prayers for complete and divine restoration and healing. GO GOD!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Another Call Week

Good Morning!
I am still marveling at God! Yesterday was just an incredible day from start to finish. I used to say that I was "standing in awe of God", but as my pastor has brought out that she used to say that, and one day she heard God say....."Don't stand around for too long"......so now my pastor says, "I'm running in awe of God." I LOVE THAT! So, today, I am running in awe of God. Clay has not had any urine leakage since he got his catheter out yesterday. GO GOD! He is having to go to the bathroom more often, but that is our miraculous God still the same!!!
Today, I start a week of call for Medical Arts Hospital Home Care. Please agree with me in prayer that (1)Peace be still over the phone and phone calls, (2)The nursing visits will be few and peaceful. (I won't go on-call again until Thanksgiving week after this weekend, which is great because we have a special Conference coming up at church in a couple of weeks.....I'm soooooooooo excited about it.)

Hope you have a super-blessed, super-natural day today!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

PRAISE GOD!

Hallelujah! \o/ PRAISE GOD!!! \o/ (1) Clay (my hubby) got his catheter out today, (2)My sister-in-law, Allison, got out of the hospital in Dallas and got to come home to Lubbock, TX,---and we are seeing miraculous healing in her life! GO GOD!!! (3)We had an INCREDIBLE joint-prayer service (and lots of praise, too!) with a Hispanic Church family from Lamesa tonight. It was soooooooo powerful, anointed and a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ coming together. WOW! WOW! WOW!, (4) Britt QUIT the Christian rock band, chasetheglow, tonight. There were some character issues that were involved, and Britt got out before they were on the road together, things got worse, etc. I am soooooooo proud of him. I know that God has bigger and better things planned for him. WOO HOO!
AIN'T GOD GOOD!?!!!

G-night!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

WOO HOO!!!

WOO HOO!!! \o/ We just got back from seeing Dr. Beck. Clay got his catheter out. Doc says that everything looks great. We go back to him in two weeks. They did not do a PSA (prostate bloodwork) today, but will do the first one since surgery in two weeks when we go back to Dr. Beck. Clay is still supposed to not drive and to "take it easy", but this is one GIANT step in his healing. GO GOD!

Thanks for all your prayers, support and friendship!

What a mighty God we serve!!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

The Exclamation Mark

Okay, so I will admit right up-front that I am in one of those analyzing, kinda funky/spunky moods. But I wanted to add to what I just blogged below......
When all is said and done.....and your life is over here. Have you ever wondered what others will say (and think) about you and what your life represented? I have heard (and seen) the little deal about the DASH (-) that goes between the day you were born and the day you die....and how that one little dash represents your entire life...and what does that dash really represent. But I want mine to look something like this:

LAUREN MICHELLE CHILDRESS

January 15, 1965 !!! XXXXXXX xx, 20XX

I don't want a little dash. I want my life to be explained by an exclamation mark (and hopefully more than one!!!!!!!) I also hope that the exclamation mark is POSITIVE and not NEGATIVE. I like living my life "out-loud". I don't want a dash (-) that just lays around and whatever happens, happens.....boring! I don't want a period (.) where everything is my way or the highway....PERIOD. I don't want a comma (,) where I am too cautious and miss out on life because I am so hesitant, fearful, or whatever, that I don't just live it. I don't want a question mark (?) where I over-analyze, question or be critical about everything and everyone. I don't want quotation marks (""), where it's what and who you know, throwing around names and trying to look like a somebody. I just want my life to be explained by that exclamation mark. Yeah, I know that I am loud.......WOO HOO!!!.......I even whisper loud (it's really not a whisper). I can do nothing else.....because I am an EXCLAMATION mark.....what are you?

Think about it.

GOOD Monday Morning! TGIM!

GOOD MORNING! It is cold this morning. I think in Lubbock, they said it was 38 degrees this morning, and the wind chill is 29 degrees and the high today is only supposed to be 58 degrees or something like that. BBRRRRRRRR!!! I hope that you all had a super-blessed & super-natural SON-Day yesterday. WE DID! \o/ WOO HOO! \o/ Most of our Praise Team (except Clay & I and another person) got to go to a Praise Conference this past weekend (the SHATTER Festival). They said it was awesome! One of the quotes that they shared was this:

Whatever is not super-natural is only superficial.
~~~~Jack Taylor

WOW! Chew on that one a while. (And I hope I got it right.) We should all be living SUPER-NATURAL lives and operate in super-natural manifestations day in and day out. If not......then it's superficial. God, I wanna have a SUPER-NATURAL day, week, month and year!!! I wanna see signs and wonders. I want to move when You say move, and be still when you want me to be still. Say what You want me to say and do (or not do) what You want me to do.

Clay goes to Dr. Beck (the urologist/surgeon) this afternoon. They will do a dye test and hopefully he will get the catheter out today. GO GOD!

Have a super-blessed, super-natural day today!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Sing a New Song

I heard a minister tonight make a profound statement! : What you have believed and spoken over your life has become your song. ---Ray Hughes. WOW! So here is a dangerous question (for me): So, what does my life song sing to you? What song and sound am I transmitting to the world and those around me.....does it bring my Father glory and portray beauty? does it bring only me glory? or is it just ugly & destroy and destruct? OUCH! I want my lifesong to portray the beauty of God. I want my lifesong to be so beautiful, because it shows that I believe and speak what GOD SAYS about me....about you. Our words are powerful, as are our thoughts and thought processes. God purify them!!! GO GOD!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Praise the LORD!!!

GOOD MORNING!!! Well the weekend is getting closer and closer. Clay is feeling better and a little stronger everyday. PRAISE GOD....my sister-in-law, Allison's surgery went well yesterday, and she should be in the hospital for about 3-5 days and then out. Continue to pray for her speedy and complete recovery. TODAY (Thursday, October 18th) is the day my brother-in-law, Bill Grant, retires from the military, after 27 1/2 years of service for his country. WOO HOO, Bill!!! We are sooooooooo excited for Bill & Kathy (Kathy is Clay's sister). Kathy is doing better after her compression fracture (somewhere in her spine???). Our family and friends are such a blessing to us and we thank God for each one of you!

Have a super-blessed, super-natural day!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Isn't God Amazing ! ? !

Isn't God just sooooooooo amazing !?! He never ceases to amaze me. Clay is healing well. Feels GREAT. Actually, pray with me that Clay continue to "Be Still and KNOW that I am God", because Clay wants to do more right now than he is supposed to do. My work is going great. They have hired another RN Case Manager (full-time). The cotton harvest is going great too. We are praising God! WOO HOO!!! God is just answering prayers left and right! Today our church's Praise Team leaves for a Worship Conference in the DFW area. We aren't able to go. Keep them in your prayers for traveling mercies and that they just to be blown away & touched by God (as always!). Thanks! Also, PLEASE pray for my sister-in-law, Allison Cobb, she is having 2/3 of her colon removed today, and then her small intestines reattached to the stomach. Also pray for my brother, Robby (her hubby) too.

Monday.....here I come!!!

GOoD Monday Morning everybody!!!
Lots of stuff going on here. Clay is getting stronger everyday (makes it harder and harder to keep him from doing stuff the doc told him NOT to do!). I go back to work today. and Clay's farming operation starts stripping cotton today. I am adding the prayer from my daily devotional from Bob Gass that I got today. It is very good. Have a super-blessed, super-natural day today!!! (I'm gonna!!!!)

********************

Are you worried today? Have you lost your peace of mind? Begin to pray this prayer until it takes root in your heart and becomes your fixed attitude:
"Father, You told me not to be afraid because You are with me, You will uphold me, and those who come against me will not succeed. (See Is 41:10-11). You said no evil would come upon me, nor any plague touch my home for You have ordered Your angels to protect me. (See Ps 91:10-11). You said when I walk through rivers of difficulty (when I'm 'in over my head') You won't let me drown, and when I walk through fires of adversity (when 'the heat is on') You won't allow me to get burned for You are watching over me. (See Is 43:2-3). You said no weapon formed against me shall prosper. (See Is 54:17). I cannot keep the enemy's weapons from being formed, but I know You will keep them from prospering. You said if I ask anything according to Your will, You would grant my request. (See 1Jn 5:14-15). You said when I walk in obedience before You I will be blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out, blessed when I lie down and blessed when I get up. (See Dt 28:6). You told me to give all my troubles to You and You would take care of me. (See 1Pe 5:7). So Father, here they are! Today I'm standing on Your Word. You said it! I believe it! That settles it! Amen."

**********************************

Make the decision to have a GREAT day today!!!!

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

Glorious SON-day!!!

It was sooooooooo wonderful to be back at our home church, Lamesa Christian Fellowship, this morning----WITH my hubby, Clay. GO GOD! We had great services today (as we do every time). Pastor Gwen was preaching from Judges 4&5 about Deborah, Barak, Heber (a Gentile) & Jael (Heber's wife). It was awesome.....wish you could've been there to hear it. We all need to flow in the gifts, talents and abilities the Lord has given us, and when we are in those uncomfortable or tight situations, allow God to do His thing through our weaknesses so that HE would be glorified---and oh how HE does shine, especially in the darkest hour, and when we feel the most inadequate and unable. FOR THE LORD WILL DELIVER ME FROM EVERY EVIL DEED, AND WILL BRING ME SAFELY TO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM; TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

(---2 Timothy 4:18 )

Hope you had a glorious SON-day as well!!!

Have a super-blessed and super-natural week this week!!!

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

CHANGE THE STATION

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ~~~ Ephesians 2: 1-7 (NASB)

*NOTE: I took the liberty of capitalizing the BUT GOD (one of my favorite two-word phrases of all times!!!)

I heard Pastor Chris Craig preach a sermon last Sunday, when I was visiting Harvest Christian Fellowship in Lubbock, while Clay was in the hospital. In the sermon, Pastor Chris talked about how in the air around us, unseen to any of us, are text messages, and radio waves, and all kinds of messages floating around that none of us could see, but if we "tuned-in" to the right frequency, we could retrieve, see or hear them. That statement really got me to thinking…….that statement has a lot of spiritual concepts to it.

Everyday, we make a choice, what “station” (just like a radio station) that we “tune into”. We can “tune-in” to K-SELF and hear replays and rebroadcasts of every unkind and untrue word that has been spoken over us, and what we think and feel about every situation. Or, we can “tune-in” to K-LIE and listen to satan and the lies he says about us, others and our every situation. Another option for us would be, K-NOW and just listen to the newest guru or fad and be tossed by the waves of life to hither and yon and back. We can even get religious and tune into K-LAW and get stuck in all the rules and regulations that man has established and spend all of our time jumping through hoops and trying to live by man’s rules rather than by God’s ways and in God’s love. We can “tune-in” to K-SPANK and filter every word, deed and action through the idea that if we are “bad” God will punish us, and live in constant fear that we can’t do things right. God so longs for us to “tune-in” clearly to HIM…..at K-TTT, where God filters everything through the finished work of Jesus’ cross and His unconditional love. Where God still freely brings healing, deliverance and salvation to ALL. Where He has already stated “IT IS FINISHED”…..and He meant it!

I can talk about these stations, because at various times in my life, I have listened to them all…….it is a choice that we each have to make...everyday and every moment. What are you listening to? Have you even paid attention to what is “playing” inside your head? 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB) says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” It is time to be alert and vigilant. We need to pay attention to what we are “listening to” inside our hearts and heads. Pastor Gwen Aldridge (my pastor) has challenged us to a “WORD FAST” and to speak out-loud God’s Word (as we listen to it read on tape or CD) everyday for 45-60 minutes a day. It will “re-wire” your thinking. So, get into God’s Word and ….. CHANGE THE STATION!

\o/ You can do it! \o/

\o/ GO GOD and GO GOD in YOU!!!! \o/

\o/ WOO HOO!!! \o/

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

The fields are WHITE unto Harvest...

"Do you not say,

'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest?' Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest."

~~~John 4:36 (NASB)

Indeed the fields are white unto harvest. This picture was taken Saturday, Oct. 13th at Clay's parents house. Our cotton harvest is set to begin on Monday, October 15th. Pray for our cotton harvest to g0 safely, smoothly and for the double-double. THANK YOU, LORD FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL AND BOUNTIFUL COTTON CROPS!!! Just like these fields, in the Spirit-realm, the fields are white for harvest (and it's a bumper crop, too!).....not in four months......but NOW! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and work while the day is dawning??? Let's JUST DO IT (and do it together)!!!!! \o/ WOO HOO! \o/ GO GOD!!!

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

Disturb Me

This is copied from Ambs' (our 23 year old daughter) pastor's blog (Mark Batterson of National Community Church). It will mess you up!:

DISTURB ME

When Craig Groeschel spoke at the Buzz Conference I thought it was the most powerful conference session I've ever heard. He shared the same message at Catalyst today and I needed to hear it twice. Actually I need to hear it a lot more than that! If you weren't here you've got to get your ears on the message!

First things first, I love the two prayers I've heard the last two days. Both of them are two word prayers. Rick Warren shared what he said was the most dangerous prayer. And Craig shared the other one this morning. I love both of them. They are going to become prayer mantras in my life.

~ Use Me ~

~ Disturb Me ~

So simple. So powerful. Here are the three thoughts Craig shared. He talked about practical atheism. That is when we believe in God but we do life as if God doesn't exist.

Here is what happens when we become practical athiests:

1) We believe our effort is more important than God's power!

2) We believe our private life doesn't effect our public ministry.

3) We believe we must please people more than we must please God.

(This is Nonnie/Lauren again.......THINK ABOUT IT and allow God to show you old ways of thinking, and then to transform your ways and your thoughts into HIS ways and HIS thoughts!).

GO GOD!

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

TGIF

T.G.I.F.....

THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Clay is still having trouble getting a good night's rest. When you are in the hospital, the nurses come in all hours during the night, and wake you. I guess this has disrupted his sleep, and now, he wakes up generally about 4 or 5 AM and is awake. He woke up at 4 AM this morning, but then went back to bed sometime later, and is asleep now (at 8:20 AM). His tummy is still a little sore, but I can see his strength slowly improving everyday. GO GOD!

Clay's sister, Kathy, (she lives just a few miles from us---and out-in-the-country, like us too) got fifty 2-3 day old chickies today. I am enclosing a picture of them....right now they are soooooooooo cute! (See picture above.)

I will start back to work on Monday, October 15, so this week, I have been cooking up a LOT of dishes and putting them in 1 and 2 people servings (in the freezer) so we will have healthy, home-cooked meals for our lunches and even dinners, if I don't feel ike cooking. Nutrition is a very important aspect in Clay's healing. \o/
Britt and Merrida are doing well in Nashville, and have found a 3 bedroom home to rent in the Donaldson community. This is the same community her dad and grandpa live in, and they are really excited about the home. I believe they will start moving in this weekend. Ambs' is doing GREAT in Washington DC, too! So all is well!

Have a super-blessed and super-natural day today!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Love Where You Are Planted

LOVE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

“I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it every moment, Lest anyone damage it, I guard it night and day. I have no wrath. Should someone give Me briars and thorns in battle, Then I would step on them, I would burn them completely. Or let him rely on My protection, Let him make peace with Me, Let him make peace with Me.” In the days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout; And they will fill the whole world with fruit.” ~~~~ Isaiah 27: 3-6 (NASB)

I was in our backyard today…..not doing anything spiritual……just taking out the trash. We have been gone for a few days, while my husband was in the hospital, and our dog, Phideaux (pronounced Fido), stayed alone in the backyard, for the first time ever. She did well, and didn’t really tear or dig anything up, but today, I noticed she had overturned a potted plant (probably accidentally, while she was busy doing whatever it is that dogs do). This flowering plant is a Porta Laca. It was on it’s way out, due to it being the end of the summer season. But as you see from the picture, most of it was dying, and it was out of it’s pot, but there was one orange flower just blooming in the center of the dirt heap. God brought to my mind, “Bloom where you are planted”. Now, that little plant, did not choose where it was…..and it definitely was outside of it’s “comfort zone” and not where most flowers go to “bloom”, but it was blooming all the same.

I was reminded of the season that my husband and I are going through right now…….during his healing……..out of our “comfort zone”, and experiencing a new and unknown place for us in life. Just as in Isaiah 27, we need to “make peace” with the place (or season) in life that the Lord has us in right now. It is so easy to do one of several things like, (1) gripe, grumble and complain about our circumstances, or (2) gloss over the place you are and just look forward to the days to come, but also forgetting to enjoy the “now moments” or (3) look for the lessons and hidden “jewels” the Lord has for us in the present and the “God-moments” and even the ministry moments for us to RECEIVE and also to share with others. Wow, I need to be better at doing the latter one. Thank You, Lord, for this revelation. I want to bloom where I am planted…..where YOU have planted me.

Another revelation that the LORD is teaching me during this season is about His incredible compassion for people. Matthew 9:36-38 (NASB) says, “And seeing the multitudes He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” I want to be His compassionate worker. I want to be better at learning to “Love where I am planted.” We look around the South Plains right now, and we are beginning to see incredible, white cotton fields that are beginning to be harvested. The fields are definitely white unto harvest! There are so many with so many needs……and I am one person……but as Mother Theresa once said, “Small things done with great love will change the world.” I love that saying! It is one of my favorites. We have had many, many, many friends and family speak words of encouragement and pray for us. What an incredible blessing. It has really ministered to us. If we could see (and I pray that we all come into a deeper revelation and experientially, too) in the “spirit” at what our kind words, a prayer for another, a gentle touch, a phone call, a meal to someone in need, a little card in the mail, a visit to someone’s home, etc., does for someone it would blow us away! It doesn’t necessarily have to be some big huge ministry thing, either. Lord, teach each of us to be more compassionate to, for and with others. This also doesn’t just mean with and for our Christian brothers and sisters. There is a lost and dying world out there, longing for the compassion of the Lord, whether they actually realize it or not. Lord, give me Your eyes and ears to see and hear those in need around me everyday. I want to see them with YOUR compassionate eyes and hear them with Your ears. Help me to be quick to respond with Your compassion and unfailing love. Thank You, Lord!!!

I pray God’s richest blessings upon each of you, your families, homes, churches and communities. And remember, “Small things done with great love will change the world!” ...so, LOVE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!!!

New PRAYER POINTS for Clay

\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/

New PRAYER POINTS for Clay:
(1) Pray for quick (super-natural), complete and divine healing from the surgery without complications.
(2) Pray his bowels and abdomen return to "normal" soon.
(3) Pray that his strength return quickly and the pain to cease.
(4) Pray that he regain all feeling and use of both hands.
(5) Pray that the PSA (Prostate blood test) goes down to ZERO and stays there.
(6) Pray for Dr. Beck, his staff and family to see the handiwork of God and to be blessed & transformed.
(7) Pray that we can get back into our super-natural routine soon! \o/ GO GOD!!! \o/ WOO HOO!!!!!

\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

Path Report is in............

We finally got a call from Dr. Beck's office this morning with the FINAL Path report.........................

DRUM ROLL PLEASE..............................

Lymph nodes are NEGATIVE and clear. There was some microscopic cell fragments outside the prostate, but Dr. Beck feels that he got everything, and feels that the only follow-ups needed are keeping a close check-up on Clay's PSA's. (So if the PSA's start going up, they will need to do further treatment like radiation, etc......BUT GOD......we are believing in complete and divine healing. Also, we are now working on things from the Nutritional side. Even with the Lord, HE give us things we need to do, so we will!!!)

PRAISE GOD!!!

Have a super-blessed, super-natural day!!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

GOOD MORNING!!!

Hey everybody!
G O O D M O R N I N G ! ! !
I heard someone say that there are two kinds of people out there. One wakes up and says, "Good Lord, it's morning!" and the other "Good Morning, LORD!!!!" The latter one would be me. I am a morning person. Mornings are so fresh and new and AWESOME!
We had a nice and restful night. Are getting back into a schedule. Clay is moving around slowly, but doing well (especially now that we are home). I will call the doctor later today to see if the final path report came in. Will let y'all know as soon as it is here. GO GOD! Thought I would start off the day with a prayer..................
Good Morning, LORD!!! Thank You for a wonderful night of rest and peace. We praise You this morning, not for anything but for who You are! You are our Father. \o/ You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.....You are the ALMIGHTY and the Great I AM. \o/ You are the Giver of Life and our Redeemer and Hope. \o/ We praise YOU! \o/ You are Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. \o/ You are El Shaddai......our God of MORE than Enough! \o/ Lord, You have given us this 24-hour day...and with it we want to bring You glory. Help us to glorify You in all we do, in all we say, not only in how we act, but how we re-act. Help us to bring Your light to the darkness and Your salt and miraculous to the ordinary. Give us Your eyes today to see others and circumstances and situations like You see them. We want to make a difference today.....in the lives of all those we will come in contact with. GO GOD! \o/ WOO HOO!!!!! \o/ \o/\o/ GO GOD in me and GO GOD in YOU!!!! We pray this and all things in the Mighty Name of JESUS!!!!! AMEN!!!

Have a super-blessed day today!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Prayer Points

Hi everybody!

GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!! We are home today, after spending 5 days at CMC in Lubbock for Clay (my hubby) to have robotic, laprascopic prostate removal. The doctor's report said that Clay had prostate cancer.....but PTL!......the LORD'S REPORT says that Clay is healed! Dr. Beck feels that he got everything and that NO FURTHER TREATMENT is necessary. We are still waiting on the final path report that is due out this week, but Dr. Beck feels confident that it is clear. PRAISE GOD!!! Clay came home with a catheter and will have that for at least 2 more weeks. We go back to Dr. Beck 2 weeks from today and they will run a dye test to make sure the surgery is healed, and if so, they will pull the catheter out at that time. Clay has 7 small incisions. They are glued, so no staples or sutures. I am going to give you new prayer points to pray for us, but I want to explain one of them now. When Clay woke up in recovery (after the surgery), both of his arms were numb from the shoulders all the way down through the fingertips. He could not use them, etc. That has now improved some and although his hands are still numb, it is mainly in his fingers, and he can now use his hands. PRAISE GOD! Although a couple of doctors and nurses gave us several possibilities about why this was happening, we don't have to know what it is........just praying for manifestation of complete healing and restoration. GO GOD!!! I am enclosing a link again to my blog for those of you that don't have it. I will post updates there, etc. I also occasionally post pics there, too! The doctor said that Clay can do TWO things (we expanded it to three) over the next two weeks until we see him on Monday, October 22nd: (1) Watch TV and, (2) Read the paper (and we added (3) Play the guitar). So we will be here for a little while. Clay can't drive for 6 weeks. He can "ride" when he feels like it, but no bumping across the turn rows in the cotton fields.

PRAYER POINTS:
(1) PRAISE GOD that we got to come home and that CLAY IS HEALED!!!
(2) Pray for manifestation of complete restoration and healing in the Clay's abdomen, intestines, pelvis, genito-urinary function and his hands/arms.
(3) Pray for quick and speedy recovery with no complications.
(4) PRAISE GOD for Dr. Beck, Clay's urologist and surgeon, and pray that he come into a deeper revelation of God's love and plans for him as God's instrument of healing.
(5) WE PRAISE GOD for all of our incredible friends and family (you!)!!!!! You are wonderful.

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

P.S. ~ YES! I know that part of this is a repeat, but I cut and pasted this, 'cuz it was easier. Sorry!

WE'RE HOME!!!

Sorry it has been nearly a week since I blogged, but I was a little busy, and the motel I stayed in didn't have internet connections. Anyway.....
Clay's prostate surgery went well. Dr. Beck feels that he got everything, and the final path report will be in sometime this week. Dr. Beck doesn't think that there will be ANY further treatments needed. Clay came home with a catheter. Also, when Clay woke up in surgery, both arms were numb and he couldn't use them (from the shoulders all the way down to the fingertips). A neurosurgeon and neurologist was called in. They feel it is some type of neuropathy aggravated by the anesthesia. Dr. Beck said it could be the CO2 gas they pump you full of for the robotics, and the nurses said it is probably nerves irritated, because the surgery is 5 hours long, and your hands are pinned behind you for proper positioning. WHO KNOWS!?! The numbness is now down to about Clay's fingertips. He can use his hands, although not perfectly, and can now feed himself, etc. Just pray for the feeling and use to be completely restored in Jesus' name. THANKS!
The doctor told Clay that for the next two weeks he can do two things: (1) Watch TV and (2) Read the paper (yep, we'll throw in guitar playing, too). So we'll be here. I will try and go back to work next week, Monday, Oct. 15th.
Thanks for your prayers and friendship. We serve an AWESOME God and we are seeing His mighty healing power!!!! GO GOD!!!

WOO HOO! \o/

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Wednesday, October 3rd

Hey everybody!
Well today we had LOTS to do, and it is nearly midnight, and we are getting a little closer to getting them all done. Clay's surgery has been moved to 8:30 (CST) for the morning. It is scheduled to last 3-6 hours. thanks for your prayers (see prayer points below). Clay is in bed, and I am trying to get a few last minute things done. My other mom, (Anna) got in this afternoon without any problems (from Arlington, TX).

A lot of you have said you want me to let you know how things go......please check the blog, I will update as I can, but probably won't get many calls out, because there are so many of you.

Thanks again for your prayers and for your friendship!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Rough Night

Well, we had a pretty rough night around here last night. I don't think Clay nor I got more than a couple of hours of sleep. (Between bowel prep and restlessness.) BUT GOD................

GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!

It is a new day and we go out to enforce HIS Kingdom!

GO GOD!

Have a super-blessed day!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Britt's in the band

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!

We just got a call from our 24 year old son, Britt, who has recently moved to Nashville, TN. He is joining a new Christian Rock Band called, "CHASE THE GLOW" (as their lead guitarist). They have a "deal" and go into the studios at the end of this month to work on an album. They already have shows booked, including ones in South Carolina and Ohio in November (and some in Texas next summer! Even possibly one in Lubbock.) I will list links to their music/myspace when it is released.

WOO HOO! We are soooooooo proud of Britt.

Prayer Points

Yeah, it's me again! Thought I would give you some specific prayer points to pray for us:
(1) Pray for divine, miraculous, QUICK healing for Clay.
(2) Pray for Dr. Beck and the surgical team to experience God and His healing power and for their successful surgery.
(3) Pray for traveling mercies for ourselves and friends/family members who will be traveling to/from the hospital.
(4) Pray that the prostate cancer is contained only in the prostate and we get good, clean "margins".
(5) Come into agreement with GOD'S REPORT and not the report of man.
(6) Pray that there will be NO excessive blood loss during or after surgery and NO complications.
(7) Pray for our kids that are away at their homes and for peace for them, as well.
(8) Come into agreement with God's prophetic Word that we have received over and over and over again that CLAY IS WELL and that everything will be okay and restored. GO GOD!!!

Thanks for your prayers & friendship!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Tuesday, October 2nd

Well, another day this week down. Thanks again for all your prayers. We have had so many friends tell us that they are praying for us. THANK YOU!!! My other mom (step-mom, Anna) gets here tomorrow and then we go to the hospital first thing Thursday morning. Don't forget that Clay as we all know him, will be listed under "KENNETH CHILDRESS". (Since Kenneth is his legal first name.) Clay is going to get his type and cross-match tomorrow in prep for the surgery and run a few little errands here and there. I am trying to tie up a few loose ends, too.

Be praying for my co-workers, too. We are a little short-handed right now, and with me taking off a few days, and we have another RN that is taking vacation next week, things will be a little crazy (and this is the beginning of our busy season, too). Pray for MEDICAL ARTS HOSPITAL HOME CARE. Thanks! I love my co-workers. They are a great bunch of gals!!! :)

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

da Vinci Prostatectomy - Robotic Minimally Invasive Prostate Surgery

Below is the link if you want more information about the Robotic, Laprascopic Prostatectomy surgery that my hubby, Clay will be having later this week. There is also an informational video on the website too. It is very informative and interesting.

da Vinci Prostatectomy - Robotic Minimally Invasive Prostate Surgery

Clay's name (FYI)

Oh yeah.........

Most of you probably do NOT know, (if you come by the hospital or try to call) that Clay's legal name is: Kenneth Clay Childress,
so he will be listed as Kenneth Childress
(and to that we always say, "Who is that???")

Covenant Medical Center # (806) 725-1011

Back to Work!

Well, it was back to work for me today. Not a bad day, though. Kinda glad to get back and see my patients today. They are so sweet and kinda like having a bunch of surrogate grandparents. Clay had lots of errands to do, etc. Please keep him in your prayers. He starts taking the antibiotics and doing the dietary changes and bowel prep for surgery tomorrow. YUCK!

There has been quite a bit of confusion from friends and family about when surgery is, so here is another reminder:

SURGERY DATE: Thursday, October 4th @ 7:30 AM (ish)
LOCATION: Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, TX

We are scheduled to be in the hospital for 3-5 days (could be one less or a few more.....we are praying for one less! GO GOD!)

Thanks for your prayers & friendship!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren