Just a few updates for everyone...

Sis. Ann Tucker has her good days and bad. We are still hoping that we will be able to visit and sing with her, when she feels up to it. I'm not sure of any decisions that they have made about her treatment. I do know though that they really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers of everyone, so please continue to remember them.

Gary Sr. is healing really well from his surgery. They got good news earlier this week from the doctor. Despite it being stage 2 cancer, and that he was a second generation (in that his father had this same cancer, same place), they feel that he is in the 90% for non-reoccuring cancer, and because they were able to easily get everything he will not need chemo. After he is completely healed up (March 11 or a little later) he will be able to go back to work and business as usual.

Jim has had some oppertunities come up that he is considering for jobs. Please continue to be in prayer for that family as they search for a good, stable, career to provide for them.

Gary's cousin Craig and Janell Cunningham had their little boy, Brent last night. He was 8 lbs and 3 oz. After a very long labor, and three hours of pushing they needed to have a C-section, she is a very tiny girl and that boy just wouldn't fit. They are all doing very well up at Lakeland Hospital, and we thought we would share the good news.

As for us, still searching for a job, there have been a few more applications that we've been able to put in. Maybe we will hear back from something soon. Keep us in mind, as there may be some hard decisions that we need to make over the next few months. We would like to think that we will have something before we need to make such decisions, but we are also being realistic that in this economy we may need to devote some careful thought to these things.

Today was just a day to get out of the house. It looked so nice and warm outside our window with big blue sky, and Britt loves going outside. So, I suggested that we have a sandwhich for lunch down at the park. We stepped outside and it was a nice temp so we loaded up and off we went.

Of course when we got there the wind really made it too cold for me, but Britt seemed to love it. He went all over the place - back and forth over the blanket, trying to squash my sandwhich; round and round us, all over the grass trying to eat leaves and playing with sticks. Gary put him in a tree at one point, but he didn't like that. We had a really nice time, even if I did have to go and find Gary's suit coat in the car to put on.

Oh and by the way, we determined this evening that this was his first time to walk in shoes, so not so bad little man!

So this weekend we treaked over to Wintergarden to attend the Florida Fellowship Meeting. It was a great weekend of visiting with new and old friends, eating great food, and best of all enjoying worshiping the Lord.

Friday morning we picked Bro. John Yadamec up from the airport, it was a fun trip. Especially when Gary missed our exit and just kept driving on the toll road. It was a nice time to catch up, the only down fall was that we missed the morning service. However, by all reports Brother Ben Winslet preached a very blessed sermon on John 3:16, and then Brother Marty Hoskins followed him. Everyone said that it was a wonderful way to start the meeting.

After lunch was more serious. Elder Randal Cagle preached on sucide. He talked about it not affecting the Lord's work and where we spend eternity, but gave us encouragement to not follow that route or for those who had family members who had. Next, Elder Charles Kitchens preached on having comfort for those who had pasted or had family who had pasted.

Friday night was closed with Elder Tim Montgomery preaching on peace. He talked about being at peace with the Lord, because of the work of Christ and then discussed four points of having peace of the Lord here. I'm eager to get that sermon on tape, because it was very interesting and I missed the tail end of it taking Britt out. Next Elder John Melvin talked about the old man, the new man, and what we should be as one of the elect. He made the comparison that the old man is Windows 1.0, and then when the Lord changes us, calling us and giving us the new man that we are now Windows 2.0. He said that we are still windows but we have a new facet, we now have both within us. Then he said we are to strive to be Windows 3.0 more perfect, more Christlike, in our walk. He preached it in a way that I had never heard or considered.

Saturday morning started out just as strong. Elder John Yadamec preached on Good Works, not only that we were created that we SHOULD walk in them (Eph 2:10) but also what those good works are. They aren't only the public things like giving to the poor and care for others, but the more difficult things of being a better more Christlike person in our attitude and actions and thoughts. It was a very good sermon. Then Elder Ronald Lawrence got up and talked about the power of God. It had already be preached during the meeting that we needed to do good works and to do them we needed a passion for the things of Christ, the peace of God to walk here, and the love of Christ, but he pointed out that we also need to lay on the power of the Spirit. He went to many good scripture but the first one, and one that sticks out because I learned it many years ago is in II Timothy 1:7, "God hath not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." He said we need to know something about the power that God has given us.

Saturday Afternoon I got almost none of. Britt was pretty fussy that service, oh so tired, but wouldn't go to sleep (he also got in two new molars the night before), but Elder Hall from Mississippi preached and Elder Shannon Whipp from Nashville. There was a speaker system in the nursery, but there were several sleeping babies with Mommas in there, and we didn't go in to wake them.

Finally, that night Elder Jon Mizell and Elder Doff Payner preached. They both had very powerful sermons about the guilty of transgressing the law. Bro. Jon talked about how when we break the law we are guilty and sentenced to death, and that we often choose wrong ways to deal with the guilt - blame, denial, realitivism (where we say there is no wrong), or flat out saying there is no God to judge me, just myself. He showed us how we are wrong, but that 1) Jesus not cancelled our debt but satisified it so that we have no eternal consequences, and 2) that we can even get rid of that guilty feeling here when we own up to our mistakes and ask forgiveness that he extends it in a timely fashion. Then Bro. Doff preached on being set free from that feeling of guilt. He drew a very good visual between us and Barabbas. How Jesus was before Pilot and had been found blameless and so Pilot asked who would they have him release and the people yelled "Barabbas, Barabbas" and then he asked what they would have him to do with Christ and they yelled "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!" He told us to imagine Barabbas sitting in his cell and that all he would have heard was "Barabbas, Barabbas" and "Crucify Him, Crucify Him" and would have known he was guilty and deserved it, and thought they meant him. Bro. Doff then told us but the good news of the gospel is that as he thinks he's going to die, and the soldiers come clinking to his cell and open they door and say "you are free". He told us that we should be happy to share our knowledge with others, because many of God's people are out there struggling with burdens like trying to be good enough or make up for our past mistakes. But we can lift that burden with the good news that Christ took care of it, "you are free."

Finally on Sunday morning, Elder Carl Stanton preached on the missing link. He talked about Acts 3 where Peter and John are walking to the temple on Monday morning after a fantastic Sunday where the church got tons of members, and as they walk up there is a beggar. They tell him to "look on us" and tell him they don't have any gold to help in his situation, but they are about to change his situation, and they tell him to get up and walk, give him a hand and hoist him up and immediately he is healed. That this beggar all of his life could go no further, he couldn't enter the temple and worship; but now he goes in leaping. He told us that we have the same ability as the Church of Christ to change lives, that we can tell them to come and look at us, that our Church is different and give them a hand, encourage them to join, and that this walk is life changing. But that too often we don't know who is lame, who just needs us to reach out. He said that there was a good probablity that Peter had walked by this man many times on his way to the temple, but that today he made the effort to reach out, and the power of God changed this man's life. He encouraged us to be more aware of one another in the Church and of those we meet that we could share something that could change their life. It was a wonderful sermon, but one hard to follow.

It was a very good weekend, with many thought provoking messages. It has been wonderful to hear men that last heard a few years ago, and see in amazement how the Lord has blessed them and how they have grown in their gift. We left feeling refreshed and encouraged.

We really enjoyed being able to stay with Bro. Luke and Sis. Mary Lawrence over the weekend. They have two adorable kiddos Lorianne 2 and Nathan 2 weeks that Britt just loved. It was wonderful to be able to visit some with these folks. Hopefully next Little Union Meeting, we can have them over our way.

Last Friday, Gary and I had a for real date. We had our very on Valentine's Day on Friday instead of Sunday. I can't remember the last time that we actually went out without Britt. It was SO VERY nice! We really enjoy the little stinker, don't get me wrong, but it's nice to dress up, go out and have dinner and watch a movie in the theatre instead of juggling him at the drive in, and trying to keep him from either climbing out the window or pushing all the radio buttons.

So Gary carried me to Red Lobster, my favorite resturant in the whole wide world. We actually got to sit side by side again, that's been a while too, as usually we now sit across so that we can take turns convincing Britt that he really does want to eat. But so we got to sit side by side and talk about all kinds of non-Britt things, and have a nice quiet meal together. Then we wandered around the mall for a little while, window shopping and talking, once again without having to push a stroller, drag a diaper bag, or pick up a dropped shoe, book, cup, you fill in the blank. Ahhhh, so nice. Then Gary picked out "Dear John" for us to go and see. I have NO earthly idea what the last movie we saw together in the theatre was. I'll have to think about that a bit, but it was once again wonderful.

We are so glad that Amanda agreed to watch Britt for us for the evening. Gary did buy her a steak and got her salad stuff, so she did get some good payment out of it. haha.

Hey everybody, Granddaddy politely reminded Momma that they like to hear from me on Tuesday, so I had to be sure and blog. We haven't done much, but hang out this week. Momma keeps following me around with the camera trying to get some interesting pictures, but everytime I see her with it I rush the camera and laugh. She can't catch me walking or climbing or anything fun, AHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I got to eat a little bit of dark chocolate. It was super bitter at the end, but I kinda liked it. Then we played outside with the cat. We took turns being sweet and then me chasing her. I think she likes me. Other than that, just lots of playing outside as much as it is warm, and inside the rest of the time.

Gary spoke to Aunt Joanna on the phone for a few minutes this morning, and Sis. Ann is about the same. She doesn't have much of an appetite and is very fatigued most of the time. Right now they are getting ready to make some hard decisions about what route to take next, and I'm sure they would all appreciate your prayers. We hope to be able to go by one afternoon and sing for her and encourage her, since they aren't able to attend Church right now, but we'll just have to wait and see when she feels up to it.

We were able to go and visit with Bro. Charles Carlton last week. After Church we went by and sang for him, he seemed to really appreciate getting to visit and hearing the songs. It's very evident that he misses being able to attend Church, and we miss him as well. He is still very thin and weak but seems to be recovering from the burns. Right now he has a staff infection, they have shown Aunt Patricia how to give him a daily injection and iv to help out with this so that they don't have to drive so far to the doctor's office every day. They are a little concerned that these shots may not completely clear up the staff, because several years ago when he had heart surgery they used wire to close him back up and hold several bones in place. If the staff has gotten into the wires, they may need to go in, open him back up take all the wires out and scrap the bone to get the infection out. We hope that isn't the case and that these shots will take care of the problem. Please continue to be in prayer for him.

Dad was able to come home from the hospital on Thursday. He is doing pretty well other than one minor complication. He has an infection around the incision site, they belief it was caused by the colon rubbing against it when they pulled it out. They are cleaning out the site twice a day at home now, and feel like it should be just fine. Needless to say, he's very glad to be out of the hospital and eating real food again.

Sis. Gayle Smith is doing really well. We talked with Bro. Phil a day or two ago. Since she has given up the experimental program she has had alot more energy and her counts seem to be coming down faster. She's about half way to their target numbers now.

I've not updated on little Nate in a while. He has had a few colds and a few hospital visits over the winter. Right now he is doing well, but he lost alot of the weight that he had managed to put on over the summer. He is roughly 22 lbs, and they really need him to gain alot more weight, however the mito keeps his cells from breaking down the nutrients in food very quickly. Remember to keep him in your prayers. He is a happy little man full of laughter and was constantly on the move when we saw them at MacClenny a few weekends back. Too stinkin cute!

I've also not mentioned Parker Allen in sometime. Parker is able to communicate very limited manner with his family now, and they are able to go out some. He especially enjoys getting out and watching the local high school basketball. He has hit a platto in his recovery and while they are still very hopefully that he will regain much of what was lost in the accident each new gain comes more slowly now. My understanding is that Mrs. Allen is no longer teaching and is home with him full time and that makes things a little more difficult for them. Please continue to remember them.

Finally, as for us. Gary got word late last night that the position that he so wanted has been filled. He made the top two candidates, but apparently they have chosen the other individual. We appreciate all the prayers that have been going up, especially about this particular job. We are once again looking at all the options and hoping that something comes along soon. Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers.

Ann Tucker had a stint put in today to help keep her lung open. It went very well and they let her travel from Shands in Gainesville back down here this evening. She is staying with Aunt Joanna right now so that she can better take care of her. Please keep them in prayer.

Brother Charles Carlton is doing really well. Several members from the church plan to go down to see him Sunday afternoon and sing for him. He's been unable to attend for over 6 months now, and sure misses it. We hope to cheer him up and get to visit with him a little bit.

Dad came through his surgery really well today. They seem to think that they were able to get all the cancer, since they saw no signs of cancer on the outside of the colon or on the tissue surrounding it. To be safe they took some biopsies of his lymph nodes, and expect to get the results back early to mid next week. But if they come back clean he shouldn't need any follow up chemo or radiation. Dad was still a little groggy and tired when we saw him, but he still thinks he will be home in time to see the game and go fishing on Monday. The doctors however expect him to be there 3 or 4 days, until he can eat some solids and they can be sure that everything is working the way it should be again.

Finally we have some good news on the job front. Gary had an interview today with Sunny Ridge Farms, and felt like it was a really good position. When he talks about it you can see dream job written all over his face. He would be working in a position mostly with farmers and growers to help out in any way he can and to be sure that the quality of berries is up to standard. This would be a position where he could utilize his degree in that he would also be looking for new growers to bring on to the company, and the nearly 7 years of experience in chemicals and fertilizers would be an asset in helping farmers keep a high quality crop. He wants to be able to help people and work in agriculture and this seems to be a good fit. He's most excited about the idea of getting to travel alot. They have blueberry and blackberry growers all the way up in Michigan, they have strawberries in South America, and they also do business in Europe. You know me, I like Gary here all the time, so I'm a little nervous about all the possible traveling but Gary is so very excited, and it seems to be such a good job, with good people, and good benefits, that we are really hoping something good comes from this interview. Please continue to keep us in prayer as well.

I like balls. I like to chase them, and bounce them, and roll them back and forth with my friends. I think they are funny, and they make me laugh. Uncle Benji got me one that is especially bouncey and BIG last time I was in Alabama. It keeps me entertained for a while!

That little stinker is moving like he's been walking for a month. I told you he could do it, he just wouldn't. We finally caught a little clip this morning, since last night he has been walking starting and stopping all over the living room.