Church was AWESOME!!!

Well, we are home and getting settled back in after a nice vacation and trip to the doctor in Garland. Church was AWESOME this morning! There have been several of us out over the past few weeks, and it was like a family reunion with everyone getting back into their places. GO GOD! There was such a sweet and powerful spirit in our services too. WOO HOO!

Our poor dog had quite an experience at the vet's (Phideaux....pronounced FIDO), while she was boarded there this past week, and we just do not want to put her through that again at the end of the week when Clay goes into the hospital, so after church, Clay & I went to the Home Depot in Lubbock this afternoon and got the supplies, and Clay fenced in our backyard so the dog can stay there while Clay is in the hospital (yes, our Rottie is a spoiled indoor dog). There was just a little opening on the east side of the back yard that had to be fixed, and TADA.....it is done!!! That is gonna be so nice, and even give us privacy when we are in the backyard, in the hot-tub, etc.

We talked with both the kids today and they are doing GREAT! Both had to work today, but had good days and a blessed past week. They are not coming down for the surgery, as both have just relocated across the country, and it is just too expensive for them to do that right now. (Clay and I have requested that they not come right now, because of the cost.....that is not them but us). My other mother (step-mom, Anna) is coming in from Arlington and my mom and step-dad will be there as well as Clay's family and probably other friends, too. The surgery is planned for Thursday, October 4th at 7:30 AM at Covenant Hospital (the old Methodist Hospital).

Please keep Dr. Beck and his associates in your prayers as well. This is the urologist that is doing the surgery. Thanks for your prayers and friendship!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

P.S. ~ Also keep the Clay Branham and Chris McGee families (from Lamesa, TX) in your prayers as these two men lost their lives in a tragic car accident over the weekend. Please, also keep Bobby Bruce (from Lamesa, TX) in your prayers. He had an aortic aneurysm rupture on Thursday and is in a Lubbock hospital, too. Thanks for your prayers for these people and their precious families.

We're Home!!!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we made it home safe and sound today! ALL IS WELL!!!

Will see some of y'all tomorrow or later this week!

Take care!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

The Doctor and Nutrition

Okay, now to what the Doctor said.....

As he (Dr. Jairo Olivares, M.D.) was going over Clay's file, he asked what Clay had been told about Prostate Cancer up to this point and what Clay knew (which wasn't much). He told us that most "conventional doctors" will schedule the surgery, and if they "get it all" say you are "cured" and if not, prescribe further treatments, but never deal with the root cause, and therefore we see many reoccurrences of cancer. (Lots of spiritual applications, here too! We got quite a download from God!!!) Dr. Olivares talked to us about statistics, specific to Clay's case, and then asked if any doctor had discussed with us what had CAUSED the cancer.....? (Of course the answer was NO!). He said he felt that there were two issues (and they are interrelated): (1) Obesity (which greatly increses, just to name a couple, your risk for prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women, along with lots of health problems) and (2) Clay's lifelong exposure to pesticides, herbicides, etc. To top it off, when we come in contact with all these "cides", they are stored in our fat, and when you have an excess of that.....guess what????......it just hangs out with you forever (unless you lose the fat). He said that some people seem to be more sensitive to the chemicals than others, and evidently Clay is very sensitive to them, too. Anyway, he has told Clay to have the surgery, begin losing weight sensibly by eating good whole foods, stay away from sugar and processed foods as much as possible, drink lots of water (either distilled or RO water), exercise 3-4 hours a week and stay out of the fields when chemicals are put down and away from the chemicals, etc. and also to regularly fast (which naturally detoxes our bodies). We are still having surgery in Lubbock on October 4th (Thursday). Dr. Olivares will follow-up in three months (or sooner if needed). He also gave us a tote bag from a former Stage 4 prostate cancer patient (who is now in remission---PTL!), who now gives the doc these totes to give out. This former-patient started a ministried called "HOPE and HELP MINISTRIES....Offering Hope to Cancer Patients" (this is out of Abilene, TX) and their website is: http://www.hopeandhelp.ws/ . This tote had the book Dr. Olivares recommends (BEATING CANCER WITH NUTRITION by Patrick Quillin / ISBN#978-0-9638372-9-5---Barnes and Nobles has them, too!), a Bible, some pamphlets/Scripture on healing, etc. AWESOME! We highly recommend Dr. Olivares to anyone. GO GOD! Clay had been really quiet since we saw the doctor in Lubbock and had a really bad time there right before vacation, but after our visit with Dr. Olivares, his spirits are lifted again. THANK YOU, LORD!!!
We are briefly staying with my other mother (my step-mom Anna) here in Arlington, TX, and will travel back home this morning. We can't wait to get back to church tomorrow and PRAISE GOD with our friends there.
Please keep us in your prayers this week (and traveling mercies today, too!).

GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

God's love and mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

VACATION and the Doctor

Hey everybody!!!

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. We went to Pagosa Springs, Colorado on vacation and it was nice & relaxing!!! Clay didn't get to do as much fly fishing as he wanted because it rained, and muddied up the water, and the fishing was lousy while we were in Pagosa, but we did get a lot of much needed rest and down time. We also went over to Mesa Verde to the Indian Cliff dwellings for a day and that was a nice trip. I will try & post some pics from that trip later.

The doctor.....
We left our vacation early on Thursday to travel from Pagosa Springs, CO to Garland, TX (in the Metroplex) to see an oncologist there that specializes in Cancer Nutrition. Clay was a little upset with me at first for making the appointment, especially since we had to leave lovely Colorado and our mountain vacation to travel approx. 800 miles to the Metroplex, (and the Pagosa experts all said that the fly fishing was supposed to improve by Thursday or Friday.....and we had the timeshare through Sunday.....yeah, Clay was a little upset with me). While enroute, early Friday morning, the docs office calls and says, "Are y'all on your way?" YEAH! "Well, he has had a meeting that was supposed to be finished on Thursday, be changed to Friday afternoon, and he is having us call and reschedule all his afternoon appointments (ours was for 2:45 PM) and move them to Monday. She said she would check with the doctor and call us back. Called back & said, as soon as you arrive here, come on over. (Our GPS was telling us we would arrive there about 12:00 Noon). Anyway, we arrived in Garland on Friday and was seen IMMEDIATELY by Dr. Jairo Olivares at 12:00. What an incredible doctor and an AWESOME God! Dr. Olivares is a very Godly doctor, and originally from Columbia. A very humble man that gives God the glory for all that he does. He constantly says, "God's Word says this"......."the Scripture says this".....and quotes Scripture, while he is talking to you. Basically he agreed that Clay does need the surgery (and laproscopic/robotic surgery) and that that is the very best option for him. This post is getting long, so I will add another one about the Nutrition part. Long story short though, WE LOVE DR. OLIVARES!!!

TTFN!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Nutrition Specialist

Well, I got an e-mail from a friend about someone nearby that HAD prostate cancer, with much the same aspects like Clay, EXCEPT this guy's PSA = 265. WOW! After seeing a couple of other docs first, they heard about this doctor in the DFW area and went to see him in January of 2006. Within 2 months of seeing this doctor, the doctor had the guy's PSA down to 0, using hormone therapy, diet, exercise and nutritional supplements (January 06 through March 06) and afterwards he had 37 radiation treatments April through June 9, 2006. The guy is healthy as a horse now and has not had another problem. So, long story short, through a Christian friend, they found out about a specialist doctor in the DFW area, whose specialties include hematology (study of blood), oncology (cancer) and internal medicine. I have also heard that this guy is a Christian. His main specialty is cancer nutrition. I prayed last night that if it was meant to be that God would open doors, and if NOT that He would close every door. I called this morning, and we got an appointment to see this guy NEXT Friday at 2:45 PM (CST). We will cut our vacation a few days short and drive from Colorado to Dallas to see him. We are still scheduled for surgery the following Thursday (Oct. 4th). Be praying that God give us wisdom and discernment about this appointment and the things that we will discuss. Thanks!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Nonnie..........

Okay,
I have had a lot of folks ask where the name "Nonnie" came from. So here is the history of my nickname. I was born on January 15, 1965. One short year and six days later, my sister, Lisa was born on January 21, 1966 (we affectionately call her "Sissy"). My dad told us that "Sissy" couldn't say "Lauren" and somehow it came out "Nonnie" and that has been my name with all my family members since. This is the petname that Clay calls me, and all my nieces and nephews call me by this name. Clay's side of the family has picked it up too (and I LOVE the name....as I do my original name, too!). It is the name I intend to use when I become a grandma (whenever that happens.........LOL!..........NO! no new news here......LOL!!!!!).

So now you know.........to my friends I am usually "Lauren", but to my family I am "Nonnie".

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

1 more day to go!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

Only one more day until we start VACATION!!!! I can hardly wait to go and see my sister. I am soooooooooooooo excited about that, and then onto beautiful COLORADO! Man, we love that place. Clay & his dad went to the deer lease to fill up deer feeders yesterday, and I went to work, but got a LOT done. Got up early this morning to work on wash and cleaning, especially cleaning out the dreaded refrigerator, so we'll be ready to go tomorrow! Did I tell you that I was excited about leaving on vacation???? LOL! Once again I want to thank everybody for your prayers for us and especially for your friendship! We have some incredible friends and we thank God for you everyday!

My pastor, Gwen Aldridge, called yesterday to check in on us (she is wonderful!!!) and said that they had had special prayer for us during the weekly Tuesday morning prayer meeting. She said one of the new folks that have been coming to our church said that while they were praying for Clay, that he heard the Lord say that "Clay is gonna be alright". I have to tell you that we have had MANY of our Christian/praying friends tell us that they have heard that (and Clay and I have heard it too). Thanks again for your prayers and friendship!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Doctor's Visit

Well, yesterday was quite the interesting day! We went to the doctor and this doctor had very poor and unprofessional bedside manner, to say the least.....long story short, I now have a new prayer request. We are still having the surgery Thursday, October 4th. They re-ran Clay's PSA (it was originally 25.78 , and yesterday it was 16.30---still too high.) Clay asked the doctor, "Is everything going to work alright after this surgery?" (A valid question before prostate surgery.) And the doctor went off on him, and basically said, that was the wrong question to ask, and finished with, "You should be asking me if I can cure you!" Clay then was trying to explain himself and our Christian beliefs, and the doctor cut him off and said, "I'm a Christian! I go to church every Sunday......but if you think that God is going to do some super-natural thing here and take care of everything, well....that is JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!" So, we are still, of course, praying for Clay's complete and divine healing and restoration, but I am asking all my praying friends to #2, put Dr. Howard Beck on your prayer list. I pray through this, that Dr. Beck will come to KNOW God's healing power through this and will acknowlege that GOD is the Healer and Great Physician. I don't know if God wil send an angel into that surgical suite, or what, but I truly pray that Dr. Beck will experience Him in a new and fresh way that he never has before through all of this. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! Thanks for your continued prayers and friendship. Please continue to lift us up in your prayers, yesterday was a very hard day!......but GOD IS AWESOME and we PRAISE HIM!!!! GO GOD!

WOO HOO!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Finally Home Tonight!

Well, it has been QUITE a weekend. Now I did NOT say a QUIET weekend, make sure you see the "T" is before the "E". I have been on-call since Tuesday of this past week and this weekend was CRAZY (and Praise God I survived it)! I still lack about an hour of paperwork tonight, and then will hit it again EARLY in the morning. Please continue to keep Clay & I in your prayers. Clay goes to the doctor tomorrow afternoon (Monday, 9/17) for an exam and then the pre-surgery bloodwork and pre-admission paperwork at the hospital. This coming Thursday, Clay & I leave for 10 days of vacation in NW New Mexico and SW Colorado. YEAH!!!

Have a super-blessed week!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

2007 Dove Hunt

We had a BLAST with our friends from Harvest Christian Fellowship last weekend, here at our home. Here is a link to some of the pictures and a couple of videos. Have a super-blessed day!

2007 Dove Hunt

News from O'Donnell

Well, yesterday's services were AWESOME at FBC. Today is the last day of revival services. Be in prayer for this church, it's pastor (Scott Hensley) and their leaders, that they will be given Godly wisdom and knowledge about how and where to lead to continue in this move of God. GO GOD!

Clay talked with the urologists office yesterday, and next Monday, (at 2:15 PM---CST), Clay goes back to the doctor. He will be examined, and bloodwork will be done. They were NOT going to do another PSA, or another prostate exam, but Clay spoke with their office yesterday, explained that he was believing God for a healing miracle, and that he was requested (and not looking forward to, though...LOL) another prostate exam, and for them to include another PSA (blood work that tests for prostate problems). The nurse said she totally understood, and that they would schedule him for that. Clay told her, that if the exam and/or bloodwork still showed that he needed surgery, he would go ahead with the surgery, and that God does still heal through doctors, nurses and medical treatment, and THEN he would be healed. Please continue to unite with us in prayer for God's complete and divine healing. GO GOD! Prostate cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer, and with this new laproscopic, robotic surgeries, a 15 year study showed that 93% of the men were still aliving and kicking 15 years AFTER surgery. We may not even get to the surgery, but that is great news, too! WOO HOO!!!

PRAISE REPORT!

Sherbert, the 48-year old man I asked you to pray for got out of the hospital today. Truly a miracle of God. Also, we went to the services in O'Donnell tonight, and the altar was FULL, especially of youth, giving their lives to Christ, and others (including adults) rededicating their lives to the LORD. WOO HOO! Ain't God good! (ALL THE TIME!!!!!)

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

O'Donnell Revival

Well, O'Donnell First Baptist Church started a revival yesterday (Sunday). Be in prayer for them. Chunky Nelms is leading the worship AND preaching at 11:45 AM and 7:00 PM (CST). They have been praying and fasting for over a month now, and also they had 6 men from this small 1000+ community just come back last night from a Walk to Emmaus, AND at least that many served on the Emmaus team as well. God is ready to just pour out His Spirit upon this community and area.......PRAY!

GO GOD!!!!!

HELLO!

Sorry I haven't been on in a few days, but our internet has been down since Saturday and has just now come back up. We had a GREAT weekend with the Harvest guys. And church Sunday morning was CHURCH! We had such a manifestation and feasting of the gifts of the Holy Spirit from the Body of Christ.....all I can say is WOW!!!

Thought I would share a poem and story with you that I wrote today in response to an e-mail I receive not only from my boss at work but another co-worker and friend from work too. Read below:

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

<)))>< <)))>< <)))>< <)))>< <)))><

I received a little poem
From a dear friend
I am sending this response
To put a myth to an end
When I get to heaven
It’s not angels I will seek,
But My Master and My Savior….
And I will worship at His feet
I will join with the throngs of angels
Singing, Holy is Jesus, King of Kings
I love my friends and family
But I won’t have time or need to turn in wings
I pray that I will see you there
Up in heaven some day
And we can praise the Lord together
If you don’t know Him-----do NOT delay!
Ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour
Jesus longs for you to invite Him in
For He’s our Redeemer, Deliverer and Lord
And He’s with us until our earthly life ends
And when our last breath on earth we breathe
And our earthly life is gone
Those that believe in Him will leave this world
And join in the eternal and heavenly song
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of Power and Might
You are our only Help indeed
And the only One who makes things right.
We bow before you Lord
And lay our crowns down at your feet
You’re the only One that can save
And bring Satan and his demons to defeat!

(C) 09-10-2007 by Lauren Childress

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

**********************************
*NOTE: The poem I received is below ~

Of all the friends I've ever met,
You're the one I won't forget.
And if I die before you do
I'll go to heaven and wait for you
I'll give the angels back their wings
And risk the loss of everything
Just to prove my friendship is true
I'm thankful to have family and friends like you!

T.G.I.F.

WOO HOO!!!.......T.G.I.F.!.........
Most people will relate this as T.hank G.od I.t's F.riday (and praise God that is exactly what it is, too!)......but I saw something somewhere else lately, that I thought was AWESOME for these initials and this is it:
T.oday G.od I.s F.irst . I just love that, and pray that we can all run the race in such a way as to reach for that goal, too!

Clay has a bunch of guys out here at our house for a Dove Hunt, supper, breakfast & lunch tomorrow. There are supposed to be about 30-40 guys total. WOW! That is soooooo awesome, and they are supposed to do their own Praise & Worship service out there tonight in our barn......I just love that (would love to be a fly on the wall, will probably go sit out on my patio, and maybe be able to hear)...........all those guys raising their voices (and hands and hearts) to the Lord in worship. I LOVE IT!

They are also playing horseshoes, shooting clay targets, etc etc etc, too! Just a Guy's weekend to do Guy-kinda things together.

Phideaux and I are having a "Girls Night Out" here in the home.....and taking it a little easy.

All is well here....THANK YOU, LORD! HALLELUJAH!!!

Have a super-blessed weekend (and Sandy, don't work too hard!).

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

P.S. Please be praying for one of my dear friend's brothers, his name is Sherbert, who had a massive heart attack at age 48 this week. He is in a Lubbock hospital. Pray for his speedy and full recovery. GO GOD!!! (And for traveling mercies for family members, too.)

Clay is HOME!!!

Well, Clay made it home safe & sound. We had a very nice late lunch with my mom and step-dad, too! Clay had a great time on the Road Trip with Ambs, but is glad to be out of the car and back home.

Phideaux (our rottie) really missed Clay, too, and was sooooooooo excited that he was back home with us (and I was too!....LOL!).

We have a really big weekend ahead of us and we are looking so forward to it.

Have a super-blessed Friday and weekend!

TTFN

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Ambs Back in DC....YEAH!

Well, Ambs & Clay made it to Washington DC today. YEAH! They got all Ambs' stuff moved into her new apartment. Ambs says it will be WEEKS before she gets it all gone through, organized and put up. LOL!!!

Clay flies home tomorrow. I'm soooooooooooo excited about that.

Clay has the Harvest Christian Fellowship Men's Dove Hunt out here at our house on Friday night and Saturday. We are really pumped about that and excited to see old (and new) friends.

Not much else to say. I have heard from a lot of friends lately, calling in to check and see how we are doing. You really learn who your true friends are when you are going through something (and sometimes it is surprising.....both ways, too.....it has been for me). Thanks to all of you who have checked in to chat and let us know you're thinking about us and praying for us. Keep 'em going up!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

A Half-Day Away from DC

Well, I just heard from Ambs & Clay. It is 10:41 PM (EST) and they are in Somerset, Pennsylvania, just 2 & 1/2 hours outside of Bethesda, Maryland (where Ambs' old apartment is). They have traveled 1541.9 miles since they left here yesterday morning at 6:30 AM. They will be moving Ambs' stuff into her apartment in Arlington, Virginia, from 1-3 PM (EST) tomorrow. They are tired, but have had a nice road trip, too. A little father-daughter bonding time (Ambs' is a BIG Daddy's Girl!!!!).

Work was okay. My boss is still out. First, she had cataract surgery about 10 days ago, and today she discovered that she fractured her foot about 12 days ago during a fall. She sees an ortho doc tomorrow, to see what they need to do. Things at work are still CRAZY!!! We are so busy and no relief in sight, still. Just pray!!! (Thanks for that!)

Clay will fly back into Lubbock Thursday. I can hardly wait!!!

Oh yeah.....keep my sister-in-law, Allison, in your prayers. She is in a Dallas hospital, and they are running some tests to try & figure out exactly what is going on. Thanks!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Clay & Ambs in Missouri

Well, Clay & Ambs got on the road about 6:30 AM today. They ate supper at : Lambert's...."Home of the Throwed Roll". They drove on from there and spent the night at Rolla, Missouri (they are about 100 miles from St. Louis). I have posted a pic of Ambs catching a roll at Lambert's for you to see (they sent it to me via the cell pic phone.....that is why the quality of the pic isn't top notch, but you get the idea, anyway). Hope you had a Super-Blessed Labor Day and upcoming week!

Great Weekend!

We have had a really nice weekend. It was awesome to have Ambs home for a few days! She and Clay leave this morning (approx. 6 AM) on their big Road Trip to Washington DC. They are really looking forward to it and excited. Mom (me) has to stay home and work, but that is a GREAT time for them. They are meeting up with Andrew, a friend of Ambs' from her study-abroad time in Buenos Aires, Argentina in Oklahoma City for lunch, and then onto Springfield, Missouri for dinner (Lamberts----"Home of the Throwed Roll"). They are hoping to go a little further past Springfield before they call it a day today. Ambs has to get moved in and be back at work on Thursday morning, and Clay is flying back home Thursday morning, as well.

We had an AWESOME service at Church Sunday morning. We had some folks out for the holiday weekend, but also had some guests. We have so much fun at our church........it is incredible!!! What a great group of folks. We went to Clay's parents for lunch on Sunday and had a little family gathering. That was fun, too. Today is Clay's mom's birthday, so if she sees this......HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAM!!!

Not much else to tell. Clay is feeling GREAT and we are still declaring and decreeing his complete and divine healing. GO GOD!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Britt and Merrida

Here is a pic from CHRISTmas last year of our 24 year old son, Britt and his beautiful wife (she's 22, like Ambs), Merrida.

They live in Nashville, TN now, and are LOVING it!

Picture of Britt & Ambs

Wanted to share a pic of Britt and Ambs, (from Britt's wedding) and I'll follow with a pic of Britt and his beautiful bride, Merrida, too!

Let the hunting begin!

I forgot to add......

Today is September 1st, and not only is it Darryl & Regina Crutcher's anniversary (Happy A!), but today is the OPENING of Dove Season. Clay is sooooooooooo excited. He looks forward to this day every January/February when hunting season closes.

WOO HOO! What a week!!! It has been busy....but very blessed, too! We are SOOOO excited.....today Ambs (our 22 year old daughter) is coming home. Her trip home will be quick, and then she and Clay (dh) will be driving her furniture/clothes up to Washington DC, and then Clay will fly back home on Thursday morning, and Ambs will go back to work that morning, too.

You know, God has been speaking a lot to me about TRUTH......especially HIS Truth. John 14:6 says, (NASB): Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Jesus says that He is THE way, THE truth and THE life.

I was always taught by my parents, that I would get in a whole lot less trouble, if I would always TELL THE TRUTH! What do we define truth as......a recall of facts, right? But is that really TRUTH? The above Scripture tells us that TRUTH is a person......Jesus Christ! I'm also learning, in this journey that Clay and I are on together, that facts are not always TRUTH! A doctor can give you a report, it can be written in black and white and the tests run and re-run, but 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB) says:
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. So, I am learning that we have to seek HIS Truth (Jesus) with all that we are, and let HIM transform our minds, and teach us HIS ways, which are so much higher than our own (Is. 55:9). I am reading a book that Ambs' pastor, Mark Batterson, wrote, called In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, (awesome read, and highly recommended!). Anyway, Chapter 3 talks about that 1/2 of learning is learning, but the other 1/2 of learning is UN-learning. Mark even mentions that Jesus spent more time trying to help others UN-learn rather than teaching. WOW! How true! So I am trying to allow God, through the Holy Spirit to help me UN-learn things that have been set up in mind as truth and facts, and transform me so that I can truly begin to operate in and have the mind of Christ. GO GOD!

Enough of this sermon (more later, though!).

Have a super-blessed weekend and holiday......we're gonna!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren