NASHVILLE

Hey everybody!
We are in NASHVILLE!!!! (Sorry it has taken several days to write, no internet in room). Anyway, we are enjoying our visit with the kids. Will post pics when I get home. Love to you all and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

We're in Arlington, TX

Hey everybody!
We made it to Arlington, TX, and are spending a little time with my step-mom Anna. The road trip out here was fun, getting to spend some time with Ambs!
Will probably try to leave here around noon or early afternoon and travel part-way to Nashville, TN, so we will get there early afternoon on Saturday (trying to break up the trip a little here and there, too). I am not sure when I will be back on the computer.......hopefully soon.

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Hellooooooooooo everybody

Howdy everybody!
Well, we are off for Nashville today (via Arlington, TX tonight to see my step-mom, Anna). I will work today 'til noon and then we will leave. We are soooooooooo excited about this trip. Britt & Merrida seem to be doing well in Nashville and really love it there. Also, get to visit with my step-mom, Anna, too! WOO HOO!
Ambs has had a great time back in West Texas, seen lots of friends and family. She'll ride out to Nashville with us, and then fly home to Washington DC the middle of next week. She is absolutely loving DC and her job, too. She is in a great church there, National Community Church. They have a GREAT blog, too!
Hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Once I get to Nashville and things settle down a bit, I will try & post some holiday pictures on here, so check back often.
Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Merry CHRISTmas everybody!!!
This is such a season of wonder and delight. I pray that this season you take time to not only look at all HE has done for us......through us......and Praise God in us............ WOW! And that it's not only about the gifts that we get today, but about the gifts we GIVE........especially to Him. We are reminded of what Mary said, as recorded in Luke 1:38: "Mary said...be it unto me according to thy word." What "word" has the Lord spoken to you? What "word" has been prophesied to you through someone else? Do you think you deserve it? Do you think you've earned it? Have you got it "all figured out how it will come to pass"? Well Praise God! we don't have to have it all figured out, or have earned it or even deserve it. I pray that we walk in those things and "be it unto me according to thy word". It's just according to what Father God says. He doesn't have to qualify who gets it, when they get it and if they deserve it. He's the best dad, and He loves to give liberally to His children. GO GOD!!!
I've heard it said, "It's better to give than to receive.".....and God does shower us with His gifts everyday........but this season and this coming year, let us resolve to GIVE!!! Give to others in need......give and use our gifts and talents to bring our Father glory......and just plain 'ol give of ourselves. I bet you will be surprised as you begin to do this, how much MORE the Lord gives back (even though that is NOT the purpose of doing it!). Just give it a try. As Pastor Gwen always says, "JUST DO IT!!!!"

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Mark is here!!!

Hey everybody!
Hope you are having an excellent weekend. My nephew, Mark Eaker, who is serving in the Army in Germany, got to come home and surprise his mom for the holidays. They are here in West Texas for about 1/2 a week. YEAH! We're gonna have CHRISTmas at my mom's tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. Can't wait to see Mark!!!! We are soooooooo proud of him and all he and our supreme military are doing here and abroad. He is listed in the prayer requests to the right. Keep your prayers lifted up for him. Thanks!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Ambs is HOME!!!

Well, after many delays, and nearly missing the airport shuttle in Washington DC (twice)!!!......Amber finally got into Lubbock about 11 PM (only 1 1/2 hours late). We are soooooooooo glad to have her home. (We will have CHRISTmas with my mom tomorrow, so I will be posting pics soon.) Clay had the scope done yesterday & everything went fine. He goes back in 3 weeks, on January 11th, and they will run another PSA (prostate bloodwork). He had a little pain yesterday afternoon after the procedure, but by the time Ambs got in he was feelin' fine! LOL! WOO HOO! We are so glad to get that behind us. The predicted snow didn't come in last night and that is another answer to prayer. We lack about one more week of getting this cotton stripped and out of the fields, and then it can snow, rain or whatever it wants to do. My sister and her family were driving in from Farmington, NM, last night. Don't know if they came all the way, or if they stopped somewhere along the way, but can't wait to get to see them at Mom's tomorrow. \o/

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Still another fire pic

Another fire picture

Another picture of the back of my mom's home and it burned right up to the front barn and/or garage.....but PRAISE GOD, they are okay (see story below).

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

PRAISE GOD!!! Another answered prayer!

PRAISE GOD!!! This is a picture of the back of my mom's home. They returned home from a trip just two short days ago. As you can see the fire that was at their home, stopped JUST SHORT of their actual house. They lost a barn or two at the back of their property.....but their home was spared.....a little smoky......but spared. PRAISE GOD! Now for.......the rest of the story.
I had been to church on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, that night. (Clay was unable to go with me because they were busy in the cotton fields.) It was an exceptional service....as always. When I got home (Clay still wasn't there), I heard a LOT of sirens......only there were none in the natural. I was hearing them with my spiritual ears......so I asked the Lord, "What is this?" All I heard God say was to begin to intercede.....even though I didn't know what for. So, I began to pray in the spirit, and sat there in my driveway for a short time interceeding in the spirit. (Let me add what my pastor had blogged on the church's blog spot just earlier this same day: ." Heavenly Father, grant us the spiritual eyesight, hearing and sensitivity to be aware and acknowledge Your glory that fills the whole earth!! and for us to allow Your Holy Spirit to use us!" Blessings, Pastor Gwen.....
Posted by Pastor Gwen at 11:04 AM on Wed. 12/18/07 ") I then got out of my car, came in the house, and got ready for bed. I got up this morning (Thursday, December 20, 2007), got ready for work, had a CHRISTmas luncheon and party, received my 5 year service recognition pin, and when I got to my car, noticed that I had several missed calls from my brother and my mom. So, I called my mom, and found out that there was a fire at her home. I called my boss ,and headed to my mom's home. The picture below is what I found. It was still smoldering when I arrived, and the awesome volunteer fire department was still busy at their jobs doing an OUTSTANDING job, too! The awesome thing is, my mom and step-dad had been away for a month or so, and as you know, old, small garden tractors don't hold charges well when just sitting. Well, LAST NIGHT, they felt impressed to plug it in to charge the battery, in case they wanted to do a little "yard work" today. When they got the call about the fire, they were headed into Sam's Warehouse, and came straight home. Their barns were engulfed in flames, the firemen already hard at work, and my step-dad was able to go and fire up that old garden tractor and unload the old hay that was smoldering in their barns. Had that little tractor not been "charged" they wouldn't have been able to do this, the fire would have grown much larger, and their home probably would be gone. GO GOD! Isn't it amazing how BIG and how our God works!!! Even their pets were fine. Another PRAISE GOD of the day, they had a small OLD riding lawn mower, that they had been needing to haul off (they have a newer one that works)....well, one of the Volunteer Fire Fighters offered to buy it off of them when he saw it (he repairs them), and returned about 30 minutes after they got the fire out with a trailor to load it up, and handed my mom a crisp $100 bill! WOW! Another miracle. Ain't God good!?!!!!!!!!! He NEVER ceases to amaze me! GO GOD! Clay has his scope in the morning, and our baby, Ambs, flies in from Washington DC, so keep them both in your prayers. We love you all!
Have a super-blessed and supernatural weekend.......mine is already that way. GO GOD!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

God is soooooooo GOOD!!!

Hello everybody! Well, we are just getting closer & closer to CHRISTmas. Ambs will be flying in on Friday night....WOO HOO! Clay and crew are busy in the fields stripping cotton. Clay goes Friday morning, and gets the stent out between his bladder & left kidney (via scope.....done in the doctor's office). He is doing GREAT! Such an answered prayer from a magnificent GOD! I continue to marvel at His hand and all that He is doing in, through and around us......and even greater things are coming......and coming soon and FAST! I pray that each of you in the Body are preparing and equipping yourselves for it. GET READY. MAKE ROOM. All things that had to be done for the birth of a Savior, as we celebrate this time of year, and all things that need to be done for this next incredible and power-FULL move of God that we are on the verge of getting to experience. You don't want to miss out or be left out, so prepare yourselves............we are.........and I pray you are too!

Enough rambling! Have a super-blessed rest of the week. I'm off to church......don't wanna miss ANYTHING!!!!

GO GOD!!!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Happy December 17th!!!

Happy December 17th to everybody!!!

Want to send a shout-out to my niece, Jessica Eaker----tomorrow is her 18th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESSIE!!!! (Can't wait to get to see you & your fam this weekend!!!)

Had a great day today. Clay had a good appointment with the urologist today, too. Everything is going great. God is sooooooooooooo good!!!

Keep my mom & step-dad in your prayers are they are on their way home to West Texas from South Texas and are already reporting a near auto collision while traveling through San Antonio. Thanks for your prayers!!!

Hope you all have a super-blessed & supernatural week!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

We are ALL Survivors!!!

Hey everybody..............
I just got finished watching the SURVIVOR Finals.....and I have to say, that we are ALL Survivors. We may not have hung out in the jungles of China, eaten crazy things and done even crazier stunts.....but these are trying times that we live in and we are surviving......even more than that, God's Word says that we are MORE than Conquerors......GO GOD! We are winners and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. It just keeps getting better and better (and I could go on and on and on......but I won't!)
We had great services again at LCF (of course!). Thank You, Lord!!! Hope that your Sunday was very blessed, too. Clay and crew got back out there stripping cotton this evening, and made 3 modules after being out of the field nearly the entire week due to moisture. That is another answer to prayer (to get back to stripping that cotton).
Clay is slowly re-gaining his strength. Feels pretty good most of the time; tires out very easily. He sees the doctor tomorrow about his prostate and then has that scope procedure on Friday to remove that stent between his left kidney and his bladder.
Our baby girl (Ambs-----yeah, she's 23, but still and always will be our baby) is flying home from Washington DC on Friday night.....YEAH!
Clay & I finished up the CHRISTmas shopping (and wrapping, too) this weekend. Another answer to prayer and something to check off our list.
This should be a really busy but great week.
Pray for Clay & his hands as they get back in the cotton fields for safety (always first) and productive days, so we can get this cotton out of the fields quickly. (And Clay's health through all this too). Thanks!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

BBRRRRR!!!

It's cold here today. Got a little rain overnight. Clay is doing GREAT! He sees the urologist a couple of times this next week, one about the prostate and then goes next Friday morning to have a scoped procedure to remove the stent (like a tiny straw) between his left kidney and his bladder. He gets tired very easily, but that is to be expected. THEN.....our daughter, Ambs, flies in from Washington DC on Friday night. WOO HOO!!! Can hardly wait to see her.

Can you believe that CHRISTmas is nearly here??? I can't. I haven't even finished my CHRISTmas shopping!!! (but I will).

Please keep Clay's Aunt Linda in your prayers. She was knocked down by one of their big horses and shattered the socket part of her hip. She had to have a hip replacement this week. She also injured her left hand with a fracture there and a large cut that had to be sutured. She will be taking it easy for the next few months, but is very blessed to be alive. Thank You, Lord.

Church (LCF) is going GREAT!!! We had incredible services on Wednesday night with Michial Ratliff. He spoke an awesome word over Clay that night. GO GOD! He brought an awesome prophetic musician with him....I believe his name was Steve Bower, but unsure how to spell his last name. We are just growing and MOVING at LCF!!! If you live in the Lamesa-area and are looking for a church-home.....come visit us. You can also check out our church's blogsite at:
www.lamesachristianfellowship.blogspot.com
The blogspot lists our church activities, times, has a place for prayer requests, etc. CHECK IT OUT!!!

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

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Hello out there!!!

Howdy everybody!!! Well, Clay is still doing well.......probably feeling "dangerously well" as I have been putting it. He was under general anesthetic for over 1 hour, and has felt GREAT since surgery and not even required one pain pill, and so he has this tendency to over-do things because of that. Just keep him (and me) in your prayers.

We had INCREDIBLE services at LCF tonight with Michial Ratliff (prophet) and Steve B0wer (sp?) ---- prophetic musician. WOW! Sorry most of you reading this missed it. We are sooooooooo blessed! GO GOD!

Well, we are past hump day now and getting closer to the weekend. PTL! Have a super-blessed week and weekend!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

PRAISE REPORT!!!

Hey everybody!!!

GOD is sooooooooooooooooooo GOOD!!! Clay went to surgery about 7:40 PM last night (Monday, Dec. 10th). The doc came out at 10:45 PM and said that they were finished and Clay got to a room about 12:00 MN. I got a bed about 4 AM. There was a large kidney stone "embedded" in the left ureter (the tube between his bladder and left kidney). Dr. Beck was able to get it out and then put a stent (a small straw-like tube) in the left ureter to keep it open. Clay has been PAIN-FREE since he woke up in Recovery and has had NO pain pills since before surgery. If that isn't answered prayer!!!! WOO HOO! GO GOD!!!!! We are home now (and about to take a long afternoon nap). Clay will go back in 10 days and have the stent removed in the doctor's office, through a scope procedure. Keep us in your prayers and join us is PRAISIN' GOD for this miracle that we have seen Him perform in the last 24 hours through the gifts, talents and skills He gives Dr. Beck and his helpers. Thanks for your prayers for us and your friendship!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

P.S. ~ Any of you from the Lamesa-area, Michial Ratliff, an incredible modern-day prophet will be at our church, Lamesa Christian Fellowship tomorrow night (Wednesday, Dec. 12th) at 7 PM (one night only service). Hope you can be there.......we will be! Thanks be to God! GO GOD!!!

PRAYER REQUEST

Please keep my hubby, Clay in your prayers. We went back to the urologist this morning, because he was still in so much pain. They did a CT Scan, and did find a large (4 mm) kidney stone. He is now in Covenant Hospital in Lubbock and will have it surgically removed late this afternoon or evening. Thanks for your prayers for us. I will try to give an update when he gets out of surgery.

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Clay UPDATE

Well, today has been interesting around the Childress' home. Clay has been taking the strong pain medicine and muscle relaxant for the severe back pain / abdominal / groin pain since yesterday with moderate relief. Tonight he started running some fever (100.7 orally). I called the doctor and he said we can stay home as long as (1) Clay's temp doesn't get about 101 degrees, (2) Clay can tolerate the pain level and (3) Clay isn't throwing up (that stopped yesterday). So, so far, we are staying home. Thank You, LORD!!! Continue to pray for Clay's complete and divine healing and restoration. Thanks!!!

P.S. ~ Since we were finally home together for a day, we were finally still together in one place together long enough, that we wrote and recorded a new song that God gave us. WOO HOO!!! \o/

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Continue to pray for Clay

Hey everybody.....
Wanted to give you a quick update on Clay.......
He had a pretty rough night last night.....didn't sleep well. Continued pain this morning, and the pills working somewhat okay. Needs divine intervention and total healing........and GOD CAN DO IT!!!! WOO HOO! \o/ Just keep him lifted up in your prayers. Thanks!!!

P.S. ~ Clay's parents made it home safely from Tennessee yesterday.....another answered prayer. GO GOD!

God's love & ours,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Please pray for Clay.

Howdy everybody. TGIF!!! Well, Clay woke up at 4:30 AM this morning, went to the bathroom, & before he could even get back to bed, was hit with miserable back pain. He tried to lay down and go to sleep......but couldn't. Finally got up and took a pain pill that he had leftover from surgery (Hydrocodone 5mg), and it didn't touch the pain. Soon afterwards, he started throwing up. He didn't wake me until about 6 AM. We got up and starting getting ready to go to Lubbock. We started on our way, not knowing if we could get in to see the urologist, or if we would have to go to the Lubbock ER. I called our pastor (Pastor Gwen) on the way to Lubbock, and she said she would be praying for us. We did get in to see the urologist's PA (great guy!!!) (the first answered prayer for today). They said that all of Clay's symptoms sounded like a kidney stone. They did an ultrasound of his kidneys, and they looked great and normal (our second answered prayer!!!). SO.....if he has a kidney stone, it is smaller and has started traveling down the urinary tract and is not totally blocking the urinary canal. The PA really feels it is back/muscle strain & spasms, because Clay has been on the tractor the last 2 days (first time since surgery) AND has hit the gym really hard the last 2 weeks. He told him to go home, take it really easy, drink lots of water and he gave him Flexeril (a muscle relaxant) AND Hydrocodone 10mg. We stopped by IHOP and ate breakfast, and Clay took his medicine (so it wouldn't be on an empty stomach). By the time we were to Tahoka, the pain had eased up some and he was able to nap (just another answered prayer.......GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!). We are home now (another answered prayer), and rest is on the agenda for the weekend. Thanks for your prayers for us!!!

We love all of you and pray you have a blessed, safe, fun and supernatural Friday and weekend.

What a mighty God we serve!!! WOO HOO!!! \o/ GO GOD!!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Howdy, Everybody!

Howdy Everybody!!!
Hope this finds each of you doing well, being blessed and experiencing the supernatural! All is well here. Clay is busy with the best cotton harvest we have EVER had. My work as a Home Health nurse is busy and steady, too. Church is going GREAT! These are really exciting times in the Lord, and we are being equipped and experiencing some very powerful times in Him, ahead of the great wave and explosion of ministry & the miraculous that is ahead of us (not just LCF, but the whole body of Christ) in the not too distant future. GO GOD! I pray that you too are being equipped and getting ready to be used. It would be such a shame to miss out on the incredible things of God that are being birthed and bringing and enforcing heaven's reality in our earth and world today. Let's all roll up our sleeves and work for Him together to see that it is ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. WOO HOO! \o/
You know CHRISTmas time is the time each year that we celebrate the birth of the CHRIST-child Jesus.....when God, born in the form of an earthly man, came to earth to reconcile and restore all that was lost. Did you know that God is wanting to birth something new in you during this season too? Not just for your use, or your enjoyment, but as a gift to the Body of Christ, to be fitted together with others to bring about restoration and enforcement in this earth of God's Kingdom. 2008 in the Hebraic (sp?) system is the year 5768, and is a year of new beginnings. For the new to come, it has to be birthed.....and God uses human agencies to do just that......you and me! WOW! Isn't that exciting???
So let's get after it!!!......TOGETHER.....in unity!

GO GOD!!!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren