Hello everybody........
It has been a great weekend. We got a new computer at the church and Clay & I have been getting it all set up and ready to go for this morning. I just can't wait to get to church......Sundays are always sooooooooooooo exciting and the most awesome day of the week!!! Hey, also, I am back on the losing side of the weight loss and am down 0.2 pounds today (hey I take every bit I can). I took off the last part of the week from exercise, so I will get back at it on Monday morning. It is also a great stress-reliever, too!
We are sooooooooooooo excited......our daughter, Amber, comes home this coming Saturday for a day or so, and then Clay and her make that big OFFICIAL move (and 2 & a 1/2 day drive) to Washington DC with all her stuff, and then Clay flies back home that Thursday. She has found a great apartment, directly across the street from the Ballston Mall (which is where her church is, AND a Metro Station). She has two old friends (one a former college sorority sister and the other was one of her US House of Representative Page Roommates back when she was a junior in High School) who will be her roommates, too. So, God, is just blessing her with incredible favor. GO GOD! Britt & Merrida are getting settled into Nashville. Merrida is still looking for a job, but she'll find one soon, and Britt is LOVING his job as Department Manager of the Guitar Department at Guitar Center (the Nashville store is the 2nd or 3rd largest guitar store in the US).
I hope that each of you have an INCREDIBLE Sunday today and a very blessed week this week!
GO GOD! GO GOD in you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren
Go GOD!!!! The Bone Scan came back clear as well!!! It showed some arthritic changes in most of the joints, but nothing unexpected. WOO HOO! Not much new to report today. We are on the count-down for when Ambs will be back (to move the rest of her stuff). She flies in on Sept. 1st (Sat.), and then she and Clay leave out on Sept. 3rd (Mon.) headed to Washington DC for the BIG MOVE! Clay will then fly home on Thursday, Sept. 6th.
Well, (drum roll, please).....................................
We had the CT Scan of the abdomen/pelvis and the Bone Scan done this morning, and then saw Dr. Benson this afternoon.........
The CT Scan was CLEAR (praise God!!!!) and we are still awaiting the results of the bone scan, as it hasn't been read yet, but Dr. Benson said he doesn't expect it to show anything either (we'll hear tomorrow). Anyway, because Clay is 45 years old, and his gleason score (rate of aggressiveness of the cancer) is 7 (3+4), he said we should get fairly aggressive with this thing. They have scheduled Clay for a laproscopic, robotic prostatectomy on Thursday, October 4th @ 8:30 AM at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, TX. Dr. Benson's partner, Dr. Beck will be the one doing the actual surgery. This method of surgery doesn't disturb the nerves as much, but we need to wait 6-8 weeks AFTER the biopsy, to let the prostate and surrounding area, as the doc said, "settle down a little bit". We are PRAISING GOD for this great report and are at such peace about everything! The doc said that with this surgery, they have a lot better success at maintaining continency of urine and potency. ALSO, the survival rates with this surgery in a 15-year study was 93% (WOW!). Barring any complications, and praise God, there won't be any, Clay should be in the hospital 2-3 days, and doing what he feels like in 2 weeks. Isn't that awesome and just amazing!!!?!!!
Hey everybody!
Well, I got all my paperwork caught up (again) and ALL the RN visits done that I could do legally today. I also got my schedule and Case Conferences done for next week. I am sitting pretty and actually ready to get the tests done and speak to the doctor tomorrow. We are claiming COMPLETE and DIVINE healing and miracles. GO GOD!!!
Thanks again for all your prayers and friendship!!!
God's love & mine,
Lauren
Hey everybody! Hope your Sunday was as blessed as ours was. We started the day praisin' and ended the day praisin'. Guess you could say our day was hemmed in with PRAISES to our God! We had an incredible time of Praise & Worship with the LCF Worship Team prior to this morning's services. The services were AWESOME too! Then we came home and took a little nap, got up and with to Harvest Christian Fellowship in Plainview for a Praise Night! What a great day!!!!
Have a super-blessed week!
God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren
Well, it has been two months now that I have been on the Kimkins WOE (way of eating), and I have lost 37.2 pounds! WOO HOO! The exercises this week seem to have slowed down the weight loss, but sped up the inches lost! Starting this next week I will post my inches so I can keep up with inches lost, too! Thanks for your prayers in this area for me! GO GOD!
Well, we have had a very BLESSED weekend! I went to work yesterday and totally got my desk cleared off and ALL of my charts audited! PTL! We got to watch Glory of Zion and Chuck Pierce's FIRST FRUITS web event last night (Saturday night) and were sooooooooooo blessed! WOW! We are now starting the month of Elul, which means the KING is in the Field! We are declaring and decreeing that!!!!!
Gotta go get ready to go to church! Can't wait!!!! Services are gonna be AWESOME! Have a super-blessed Lord's Day today!
Hey everybody!
Today was a G-R-E-A-T day! Clay & I went and worked out at the new gym bright and early this morning. Then we came home and did little odds-and-ends of things here and there. Both got a much needed nap this afternoon. Tonight we went out to eat at Pedroza's (a local Mexican Food Restaurant) and then had an INCREDIBLE Praise Team practice tonight! There was such a sweet and powerful Spirit in that place. GO GOD! I just can't wait for Sunday morning to get here! God is soooooooo awesome and is moving so powerfully in our midst. What a mighty God we serve!!! (And what a privilege to get to serve Him, too!) Tomorrow I plan on going in my office and getting some work done. I took yesterday & today off, and need to clear my desk and tend to a few other things (and prepare my work for Monday morning, too. When I do that in advance, things go soooooooo much smoother on Mondays! PTL!) You have a super-blessed weekend! ('Cause I'm gonna!!!!!)
We h ave received soooooooooooo many notes of encouragement from our friends and family. THANK YOU! I wanted to share an excerpt from one of them that especially touched our hearts today:
A friend, named Sandie, was sharing how she had a doctor tell her that she had breast cancer, but that NO fear had come upon her. So much so, that the doctor and her mother thought she was in shock or denial. Anyway, that night, after the doctor gave her that diagnosis, she had a dream, and this is where we pick up in her e-mail:
Well anyway, that night I went to sleep and my dream was this. I was standing and there was a Gold Shield covering me from head to toe, the most beautiful shield, and I could see fiery balls being thrown at me, but they never touched me because the Shield was protecting me. I remember that as I saw the balls being thrown at me I would stoop down, but I didn't have to. I also noticed that I could stand because the Shield covered me from head to toe, even when I was standing up! I'm not saying that Clay does not have faith, or that he doesn't believe. I want to encourage both of you with this scripture that the Holy Sprit led me to: Genesis 15:1 After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I AM your Shield, your exceeding Great Reward."
God is with you both, He has not left you nor forsaken you, remember, the story of three that were thrown into the fiery furnace? They said they knew who they believed in, and that He (God) was more than capable to deliver them from the king's hand, but that if God did not deliver them, they still would not bow down to him (the king), remember they were thrown into the furnace, but there was also Someone else there with them and protected them, instead of three in the furnace, there was four--- The Son of God.
The Word of God says, you will go through the river, but you will not drown. You will go through the fire and you will not be burned. You will come out and your clothes will not even smell like it was burnt, because, I the Lord am with you.
God our Father has seen the attack on your family. The enemy thinks he is smart, but what the enemy does not realize is that he has just given you the opportunity for you to give Your Father in Heaven the opportunity to Rise Up and Defend His Own. God your Father will Rise Up and show Himself as your Father who watches over You, as Your Healer Who Heals Yours Diseases, as Your Strong Tower who You can Run to, as Your Defender who will Fight for You, as Your Shield who You can Hide Behind, and God Your Father will Rise and Defend You, because You belong to Him, and no one messes with the Children of the Living God. As a good king who goes out to war to defend his nation, so will the King of Kings Rise Up and Defend You. Through this, God reveals Himself to you in such a way, but not only do you see it, but the people around you see it as well.
Remind the enemy Who your Father is, and do what both of you do best, and that's Worship the Lord God Almighty, the I AM, that I AM. I AM Your Healer, Defender, Strong Tower, Provider, Father, Refuge, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Lord Your God.
WOO HOO! There is no way I could've said it that well myself! Go Sandie! And GO GOD in Sandie!!!!!!
Have a super-blessed week and weekend! We're gonna!!!
God's love & mine,
Lauren
aka Nonnie
Amber (our awesome 22 year old daughter who lives and works in Washington DC) goes to National Community Church. Her pastor, Mark Batterson has written a book: "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day" It is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture, and it challenges you to grab life by the mane when opportunity roars. Here is the Scripture the book is based on:
Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it. ---II Samuel 23:20
Now here is Pastor Mark Batterson's compilation and Manifesto that goes with his book. ENJOY! Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase.
Thought these were funny. And we all need to laugh (even at ourselves) now and then!!! (Guys PLEASE take note.....you never know, this information just might save your life!). LOL!
1.) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they>are right and you need to shut up.
2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with Nothing usually end in Fine. (Refer back to #1 for the meaning of Fine.)
4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it!
5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word , but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of Nothing.) 6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake. 7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you --do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome.
8.) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!
9.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "what's wrong"; and for the woman's response to be, "nothing". (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of Nothing.)
Well, we have been waiting on the doctor's report from dh (Clay) prostate biopsy. Today the office called and said that the report says that Clay has prostate cancer. Clay goes Tuesday (8/21/07) for a bone scan, CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis and that afternoon to consult with the doc about what his options are. Here are my prayer requests concerning this, and I'm letting you know so you can stand in the gap with us:
1. We pray divine healing and intervention over Clay. We know that by Jesus' stripes HE HEALS! GO GOD! And we claim this for Clay.
2. Pray for God to shut the mouths of those that speak negatively and all the naysayers.
3. Pray that God be glorified in and through this. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! WOO HOO!
Thanks for your prayers for us during this time of testing, and we know that the victory is just around the corner. To quote my hubby, when this all started, he said, "This is just something we are having to go through, but God is gonna get to show how BIG He really is!" GO GOD!
I am on the Kimkins WOE (way of eating) plan. Here is an awesome recipe from their website that I wanted to share with you. YUMMY!
Ingredients
1 Chicken breast, boiled and shredded
1 tsp. Taco Seasoning
1/4 cup Enchilada Sauce
1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, low-fat preferred
4 Egg whites
Salt and Pepper, to taste
No of Servings: 3
Calories: 191 K.cal.
Preparation Time: 20 (minutes)
Cooking Time: 10 (minutes)
Instructions: Boil chicken, shred, season w/ taco seasoning, and set aside. Spray baking dish with non-stick spray. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, make 3 egg 'tortillas', as follows: Heat (on medium heat) a small skillet sprayed w/ cooking spray. Use fork or whisk to lightly mix egg whites with salt and pepper to taste. Once skillet is heated, pour about a third of the egg white in THIN layer over bottom of pan. swirling to make sure it covers the bottom evenly. Let cook until set (fairly hardened), Use spatula to loosen from edges of pan; then gently flip for just a few seconds to set other side. In center of each tortilla, place a third of the chicken and a sprinkle of cheese. Fold the sides in to cover the filling. Place close together in prepared baking dish, and pour enchilada sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 - 10 minutes or until filling is heated through and cheese is melted.
Notes: The counts will vary depending on what you use for taco seasoning and enchilada sauce, so check your own counts. You can make your own low-carb versions of these, too. This basic egg white crepe recipe can have MANY other uses. You can also use 3 whole eggs to make the 3 crepes instead. You can vary the fillings as well.
Hey everybody..........
Well just a quick update, then I gotta get off to work.....
They opened up a brand new gym in our small and rural West Texas town yesterday, and I went for a work-out this morning. This is the first time I have officially worked out in a LONG time. I have done a little walking here and there, but nothing consistent. I am sooooooooo excited and I actually feel GREAT right now. As of RIGHT NOW (7 AM) I am officially OFF-CALL too! WOO HOOOOOO! Now that is AWESOME news! One week of call is tough! (That also means I will have a 3-day weekend this Fri-Sat-Sun too!). It just can't get any better than that! GO GOD! My weight loss is really aggravating right now, but I'm hanging in there. A co-worker really noticed my progress last night at work, because she hadn't seen me in a couple of weeks. That really made my day! :) Well, better go get ready for work and on the road! TTFN!
It feels like it has been a ga-zillion years since I last posted. Guess that is probably because a LOT has happened since I last posted. Here goes....Britt and Merrida got to Nashville okay. Britt starts his new job on Thursday, August 16th. Merrida has some job interviews lined out next week and we are praying that she gets just the right one. Clay (my dh) had gotten a really bad ear infection a couple of weeks ago, and had gone to see a local doctor----probably the first doctor he's seen in about 5 years----anyway, this doctor had ordered a routine blood screening, since he was establishing Clay as a patient. The routine blood screening showed a very high PSA (blood screening test for prostate problems). Long story short......we saw a urologist on Thursday (8/9) who said that Clay's prostate was firm and had nodules in it and "highly suspicious for prostate cancer" and he set us up for a prostate biopsy and ultrasound for today (Friday, 8/10). Clay has now how the tests run and we will not get the results back for approx. 2 weeks. Our next appointment is for August 24th. The Urologist says that if he gets bad test results back before our appointment date, he will call us.....so no news is GOOD NEWS! Please just lift Clay up in your prayers. He is a little sore but we are believing that GOD HEALS! AMEN!
Well, now for some AWESOME NEWS.............drum roll, please........
today I have begun a new journey through TWOTERVILLE!!! (For skinny people, let me interpret.....that means that I have gone from weighing in the 300's to the 200's). I arrived in Twoterville this morning, Praise God! I am sooooooooooo excited. Doing the Total Body Cleanse (by RenewLife Products) has really helped me get the weight-loss ball rolling, so to speak, again. I also have to say that I am proud of myself because I tend to be an emotional-eater, and this past week or two has given me every opportunity to eat (and even a lot of goodies brought up to my place of work....to tempt me), but I have been faithful, and that is paying off. WOO HOO! \o/
Have a super-blessed weekend. I am working on-call at work this weekend, so probably won't get back on to "post" again until next week. Take care!
God's love & mine,
Nonnie
Well, it's been a few days since I "blogged". I am kinda feeling a little blue. Have fallen "off the wagon" (so to speak) with my weight loss (I am struggling to get back on-track.....and I WILL). My son and his wife, left this morning, moving to Nashville, TN. I always knew that my daughter would not live close by, but this move is hitting me harder than I thought it would. Work is sooooooooo stressful right now! The paperwork is absolutely HORRIBLE and the workload is unbearable. I really don't know how much more I can take. Please agree with me in prayer for a new job opening that is FLEXIBLE and that I can work out of my home. I really want a computer-based job, but am scared to death with all the scams out there these days. Just pray with me that God will open the door. This is a possible opportunity here, and a friend of mine says she will get back to me in the next day or two about some type of opportunity like that. Thanks!
Back to where I was.....when I was a loser!
Let me explain that one. I have been on the Kimkins WOE (way of eating) since June 18, 2007. I did really well the first few weeks and lost 31 pounds in 30 days! I then stalled in the weight-loss department, and then cheated. This is the OLD way that I have done things (and the reason that I weigh what I weigh today). Anyway, it has taken me two weeks to get back in the saddle again and back on track with my weight-loss, and especially with this thing called a brain, to get back into the "frame of mind" to do this.....no matter what! As of today, I am back to the weight that I was when I was losing weight. YEAH! Just pray that I continue on this journey, regardless of "stalls" or plateaus. I need to do this not only for me, but for my family and others. Thanks for your prayers! Have a super-blessed day!
Due to a high demand from the public, the editor(s) of this blog site, have added the following link to a VERY popular website:
SUPER CHICKEN!
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!
Well, today is a day of new beginnings. Starting OVER on the Kimkins WOE (way of eating) and on to the new me that's ready to be unleashed.....GO GOD!
