Truckin' Along

OK...I really have been doing everything I can to avoid blogging about my Crohns but it seems inevitable. This week has really been a tough week. I'll have a really GOOD day and then the very next day is COMPLETELY AWFUL!!!! This has been going on for some time now and I'm just worn out to be honest and I'm pretty sure my family is tired as well. Poor Mike gets to play the role of mom and dad on days when I'm down and although he's great...it's more than either of us bargained for.

I began reading through James this week and God used this verse to really speak to me:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let the steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Through all of this we know that we are being refined just as we had asked so many months ago. We know that God will use all of this for HIS glory and that we'll look more like HIM on the other side of these trials. It doesn't make going through the valley any easier but to know HE is there with us through it gives me all the comfort in the world.

Jayden has been a sick lil' puppy this week too. He has some sort of nasal/chest cold. He coughs all night and is so hoarse when he talks. We kept him home from school on Wednesday and sent him back yesterday. I realized when we picked him up yesterday and he sneezed in the car on the way home about 10 times that we had sent him back a bit too early. Poor guy...He is still sleeping right now at 10:20 a.m. our time because he coughed all night!!! He is just exhausted.

Also, Mike sent out some prayer requests and we have been overwhelmed with, not only the response by all of you that are praying, but by the RESPONSE of God to your prayers. PRAYER is powerful guys so I plead with you all to continue praying for us. Pray for all the people serving around the world and the spiritual/physical battles they are facing. It has been a REALLY hard week but I can't imagine how hard things would be if you weren't praying for us.

Also...I had the opportunity to have dinner with my Brazilian friend that speaks only Portuguese. We (somehow) spent 2 1/2 hours conversing and enjoying one another. (Those of you that know me well are probably thinking this is not a big deal at all with my gabbing abilities...BUT when every thought has to be translated though a filter in my wee little mind first AND THEN come out my big mouth...it is much more of a challenge!!!) ;);)

Regardless, THIS is a praise not only for my language learning but for the fact that God has given me a Brazilian Christian friend that I can trust here! Letícia is a huge answer to prayers for me!

Oh and I can't forget...GO UK Wildcats!!!! Thank you CBS for streaming the games. I can't believe we're able to watch all of March Madness from Brazil!!!