ISABELLA-IN GOD'S HANDS

 Monday morning, August 4, I was getting things done, laundry, dishes, straightening the house in preparation for the next day. I wanted a free and clear day, not have anything to  do. We were going to have a baby-great, granddaughter, Isabella, was scheduled to come into this world.   

Then the phone calls started coming in. Grandson, Travis, Isabella's daddy, called-Erin, Isabella's little momma, doesn't feel right, is going to doctor. 

Another call-they can't find the heartbeat

And another-yes, they did find a heartbeat

And another-he is going to the doctor's office, the heartbeat is gone

And then-"Mammaw, we lost her".  

Talk about your world being tossed upside down. I have been through some bad times, bad weeks, bad months, bad years but this is the ultimate of bad. Erin was being sent straight to the hospital. My son, Jeff, had to drive me there because by this time I was unable and for the next two days the hospital was our home. I still don't know why a C-section couldn't have been done and get this all over with but instead that beautiful young couple went through a day and a half of knowing this child was not going to make it as the rest of us had to stand by and watch and try to ease their grief a little. Great, grandmothers, grandmothers, grandfather, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends-some from a distance came as soon as they could. The chaplain said the outpouring from the family was good, that a lot of times there is no support. The whole staff was great to all of us, respecting each and everyone who was there. 

I put out calls for prayer just to get us all through this, especially Erin and Travis. They were so sweet together and so very gracious even in these circumstances. They made it easier for the rest of us, at least for me in the way they handled everything. 

Then, Tuesday evening, the time was near for Isabella to be born. Erin and Travis had decided that they wanted to be alone during the birth so we gathered round them for one last prayer with them, maybe to petition God one more time to let us keep this precious baby and to please keep Erin safe and don't let anything happen to her. Then we were all shooed out by the nurses so they could do their job. 

I made another round of phone calls for prayer that this would soon be over, that Erin would do well and be ok and the wait set in. It was about 7:30 p.m. It had been a long 2 days. 

As were the next couple of hours. No one came out to let us know anything for a long time but I guess Trav and Erin wanted to block the world out as long as possible, to have as many precious moments as they could with Isabella before they had to share her with us. 

When we went in, Erin was holding Isabella and they both were so beautiful. Travis told us how well Erin had done. What a trooper she had been. Isabella was all swaddled in blankets and a hat, they didn't want her unwrapped except for that pretty little face. I wish I had thought to have taken the crocheted outfit I had made for her to the hospital so it could have been put on her. 

Each of us got to hold Isabella-her two great, grandmothers, her two grandmothers, her grandfather, her  aunts, her uncles, her great aunts and I don't remember who else but we were all given the opportunity to say goodbye.   

Then it was time to leave, to let them try and rest, to let them be alone in one of the worst times they will ever have, to try and find peace when things make no sense at all. 

I was getting ready to go back to the hospital the next day but Travis called and said they had checked out and wanted to get home. They could have stayed another day but that wasn't going to happen. "Do you need anything?", "No, Mamaw, we're ok". "Do you need me to bring anything to eat?", "No, Mamaw, we have plenty of food in the house, we'd don't need anything right now". 

Arrangements had been made for Isabella to be picked up and now her funeral arrangements needed to be made. Travis was adamant that Isabella was to be placed with his beloved Pappaw who had passed 2 years before. They only wanted a simple graveside service and that was the way it was. 

The funeral director said he hadn't seen so many people at a newborn's service before. Did I expect that many? No, I didn't know what to expect but it was so appreciated that so many did come to give their support.

Jeff read the poem I had written for Isabella, he said it was the most important thing he had ever read.

ISABELLA LYNN TACKETT

OUR HOPE

This life God gave has so much worth, 

for Isabella was not to be bound upon this earth.

The angels bore her quickly back to whence she'd come,

back to be with Jesus in His safe and loving arms.

Back with others like her to be kept on Jesus' knee,

 cause Jesus can take so much better care than even we.

Back to be sung to sleep by angels, play peek-a-boo with God,

catch fly balls hit by Jesus, play tag on holy sod,

fly kites so high they touch the stars, do everything you'd want her to.

For those of us whose child is there, Jesus keeps them for me and you.

We don't know what life here for her would be,

but we do know that God does give life abundantly.

And how much more abundant than to be with Him from the start

and not have to trudge through life's hurts and broken heart.

How selfish 'twould be on our part to keep her bound here

than loose her to the freedom of Heaven to save ourselves a tear.

For, in time, you will be greeted with "Momma, Daddy, I'm so glad you're finally home!

Come over here and see what Jesus and I have done!"

Then this child you've missed so much will take you by the hand

and the time will fade away as she shows you that heavenly land.

You'll see all her grand works of art that were saved for you to see

and won't have missed a thing because you'll have all eternity.

So when we're told earth's bad news with which we'll have to cope

we need to keep in mind that heaven is our hope.

© Carolyn Wainscott-2014

After the service, Travis and Erin went home and shut the door to the nursery they had ready for Isabella. The bed was made with new sheets, afghans and the attached changing table. There were new curtains, custom wall lettering plus many shower gifts. It is still shut. Decorative boxes are ready for special things made just for Isabella that they want to keep. The rest will be packed up when they can or if they want someone else to come in and do it but so far they are handling everything together as well as they can. 

Why was this written today? It has been on my mind for a time but couldn't bring myself to get to it but this morning I woke up with Isabella on my mind and now is the time, I guess. 

No, we don't know what happened. Everything was fine on the last check up on Wednesday. There was life til that Monday morning but when Erin woke up she said things were just not right. They had been shopping the day before getting last minute things. Erin had been having pain in her back the whole week before. Isabella weighed 8 lbs. 9 ozs. and was 21" long. She was at least 1 1/2 lbs. larger than expected to be. 

It has been two months now, it seems like centuries ago but it also seems as though it was just yesterday. That doesn't make much sense, does it? Isabella is the latest saga of heartache in this family. 

God bless this young couple of my heart. I know that He has a special mission for them.

In God's love,

Carolyn Wainscott

GRIEF-WHAT DO YOU DO?

There has surely been enough to go around in our family as in many other families and in time every family. 

What do we do-there is a natural progression of grief-shock, anger, tears, numbness, hopelessness, depression, listlessness, restlessness.  What can we do? 

Let me tell you about Pam. Pam is my sister's sister-in-law. She has extreme health issues including just coming through a bout of cancer and the most devastating thing a parent can experience-the sudden death of her only child, Tony, in June of this year.

My heart goes out to her. There isn't anything to be said that eases the pain but I was going through the same thing in the illness & passing of son, Rick, which wasn't so very sudden. Then when I was almost beginning to breath, my great, granddaughter, Isabella, was stillborn. [I am trying to get ready to share these-I don't want to be maudlin, or have a pity party but just share-that is one of the ways I can cope and maybe help someone else]

But you see, Pam, in her physical pain and deep heartache was working on an afghan for Isabella. I don't know when she started it, I think, maybe for a shower we were going to have in June before all this happened. I'll find out but haven't been able to talk with her yet. 

At any rate, she so touched my heart when she sent the afghan a few days ago for me to give to Travis and Erin, Isabella's mommy and daddy. She wanted them to have it now and for me not to hold it for a future time. She was sending her love and prayers out of her own heartache. 

   

  It is in rainbow colors and so very soft that it is one of those that a baby holds onto and carries around for years until it is nothing but threads. The afghan is in one of those beautiful storage boxes that will be put away with some other things. Maybe one of these days it will be brought out for another baby to be snuggled in or kept in the box. Either way, it is a true gift of love and caring and doing something for someone else when your own world has fallen down around your ears. 

What can we do then. Like Pam, reach out to others, God bless her.

Carolyn Wainscott

A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER

It is comforting to know when there is a crisis, there is someone to call on for prayer-

my family-and believe me there have been desperate, urgent needs as with, I am sure, some of you. Then, there were other times of requests for healing, a job needed, safe keeping-the list goes on and on. 

There is our miracle baby, Ayden that I shared in a previous post @ cwainscott.blogspot.com/2011/04/gods-miracle-baby-ayden and my niece, Debbie, @ cwainscott.blogspot.com/2011/06/family-being-sisters but others that have not been written of yet. 

My current most pressing concern is my stepson, Rick, who is in treatment for cancer. We found that he had stage 4 lung cancer just a couple of months after my husband passed in June, 2012.  He is surprising the doctors with how well he is doing. I know he is tired all the time from the second round of chemo but the initial malignancy was irradicated and his blood work is good right now.  

I'm not shy about asking for prayer, I ask the ladies at Bible study on Friday mornings, I ask the church I am attending, I ask friends, and I ask all those out there in Facebook land that I message back and forth with. Some that I have never met face to face but even some of them let me know they are praying.  So if you have a spare minute and no one else to pray for, would you pray for my Rick for healing-thank you.

And, yes, when I was told I had breast cancer a couple of months ago, you had better believe the calls went out for prayer for healing. 

 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.    Heb 4:16  

I spent quite a bit of time pulling photos and cutting photos from my videos [I always have my camera with me-wouldn't want to miss anything precious-and I have a lot of precious]

There are photos from a service of an observance of The Lord's Supper in which families could share together-yep-those are precious. In that service the four children of my nephew, Keith, went to the altar to pray together. Now that was really precious to see them kneeling together unashamedly. 

One photo is of our venerable Matriarch with her face upturned in our prayer at Thanksgiving in 2008. [She was usually the first call we made to start prayer]. That year we had four additions to our family-three of them are being held by Mom and my brother, Larry. Had to include those- too precious not to. You see, Mom left us in June of 2012 also. 

The last photo is our first Christmas here in my new home with my children, grandchildren and great, grandchildren. I want the legacy of prayer to go on into my generations.

May God bless you and keep you

Carolyn Wainscott

OUR TSUNAMI OF PRAYER

My sister, Shirley, typed this up and gave us each a copy after our prayer gathering at her house for our family. Her daughter, Cathy, was there, our other sister, Jackie, my daughter, Donna and her granddaughter, Hannah, who is 7.
-----------------------------
TSUNAMI OF PRAYER
A tsunami is usually caused by a powerful earthquake under the ocean floor. This earthquake pushes a large volume of water to the surface creating waves. These waves are the tsunami. In the deep ocean these waves are small. As they approach the coast these waves get bigger.

Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning harbor wave.
Tsu-harbor, Nami-wave.

"THEN SAMUEL TOOK A STONE AND SET IT UP BETWEEN MIZPAH AND SHEN, AND CALLED ITS NAME EVENEZER, SAYING, "THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US"
1 SAMUEL 7:12

Carolyn said a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to start the new year in a powerful and God honoring way and she felt getting together for a prayer time to seek the LORD with praises to his name and our lists of blessings would be a good way to start the year. Thus, the tsunami of prayer which has been quaking in our hearts has begun.

These words from the devotional "Streams In The Desert" for December 31st seemed to speak volumes. "So let us call out to one another through the darkness, till the gloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging the pilgrim host. Let the echoes gather till a storm of Hallelujah break in thundering waves around the sapphire throne, and then as the morning breaks we shall find ourselves at the margin of the sea of glass, crying, with the redeemed host, "Blessing and honor and glory be unto Him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever".

As we gathered around the table on Friday, January 3, 2014, our Lord softly and gently honored us with His holy presence. He listened intently to our praises and our requests that we presented to Him:

Carolyn's concerns:
Kaitlyn [granddaughter] having baby in March-safety and healthy delivery
Dan [grandson] a job to support his family
Rob [grandson] favor in his new job and great settlement for his injuries
Travis [grandson] decisions about school, job and playing ball
Jeff [son] for a great settlement for his injuries
Melinda [daughter] new career and good health
Kim [daughter] in Florida for new beginnings, new business and better life choices [and for all mine]
David, Heather, Erica, Rick, Janna-all from Jerry Lee's family to Melinda's
Please pray for all mine: Happiness, joy, peace, love and comfort and my desire to become debt free
Little Gavin who has been fighting cancer for over 1 1/2 years
Jared  & Laura Hill and kids who are on the mission field in Uganda for 7 months-safe keeping and success in God's work

Jackie's concerns:
Prayer for my spirit and freshness in my journey.
For Connie [daughter] guidance and restoration and for Jessica, Nick, Monica, Gary Lee, Linda, Maria, Adam, Aiden, Mandy, Michelle and John and for husband, Gary. For all to have a closer walk with the Lord. Kyrstie and James in growing together as one in the Lord. Praises for bringing us this far.

Donna's concerns:
Praises for new home and being able to provide home for family. For strength to live and work and fill our home with peace and love.

Cathy's concerns:
Praises and requests mingle together for-
Dusty's [son] situation with his dad and all the things he is dealing with in that situation-for strength and wisdom.
Ryan [son] and Natalie having a baby boy in April.
Jim [husband] health issues and his growth in Christ
Keith [brother] health issues and spirit
Debbie [sister] health issues
Mom [Shirley] strength and health
Sue Howell and family
Our church and Pastor Tom
Blessings on my new business
Praises for my brother's and sister's healings; my beautiful grandkids; my whole God given family; and Jim's faith.

for Larry and Delores [our brother and sister-in-law]
Healing
and safe keeping and good health for their sons Danny and Chris, their daughters-in-law and grandchildren, Chris and Zoe

Shirley
I thank God for my family and His loving kindness over us. As He brings us into a new year of adventures and wonder filled moments, I ask Him for refreshing and joy in my walk with Him. I pray that I will always leave room in my schedule for His unexpected visits. I pray that His light will shine through me to dispel the darkness of this world. I pray for wisdon in so many decisions that are in front of me and peace in those decisions. For my family and loved ones to grow in Him in all areas of their lives and I ask Him to strengthen my resolve to be a better ambassador of Him as we are indeed pilgrims here in this land. I pray for this tsunami of prayer that our Lord has quickened in our souls and spirits to grow and grow into a force that no one can stop because He is the Author and Almighty God of creation and Sovereign over all. For His honor and His glory we ask
AMEN AND AMEN
----------------------------
We started this tsunami wave of prayer over our family, would you continue it over your family til it becomes a giant wave over this nation of ours.

This family knows that God still works miracles, we have witnessed His power and glory in healing several in our family that amaze even the doctors.

God bless you
Carolyn Wainscott

TO TRAVIS-WORD FOR TODAY-MARCH 1

About  a year ago, grandson, Travis, called from college to ask what my favorite Bible verse is. That caught me completely off guard. He had just been home for the holidays. I get points in here and there from time to time trying not to sound like I am preaching [somehow it sounds that way, though] and don't know if they are getting through or not and out of the blue, he asks what my favorite verse is. It was a nice surprise, though, so evidently something has taken hold. 

The first verse that popped into my head was:

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.    Psalms 91:4 "

because I have the faith that I am always under God's protection.

Then-"What's another verse, Mamaw?"

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen    Heb 11:1"

I gave him several other verses that night even though I don't commit verses to memory well and don't want to misquote anything. Before we hung up he asked that I send him verses daily. There have been many days that he did not get verses for one reason or another and I hear about it when they don't get sent. Of course, there is a whole lot more included with the verse[s]. Whatever is on my mind or comes to mind as I am writing. Most days I study as soon as I get up, my day goes so much better and then share with Trav so it is done before he gets up.

I decided this morning to share today's Word for Trav in my Alabaster Box. He always asks what I am going to do today and he says he reads before he leaves his room in the morning. [yes, we live in the same house but the Word for the day is still sent to his phone-I have to try to keep up with the times]

----so here is----

Good morning, Bud. They say if March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb. I haven't paid much attention to the weather so I don't know if it is coming in like a lion or not. It doesn't make any difference, I can't do anything about the weather, God didn't give me the magic wand to change anything. 

There is a news article on tv right now about a high school basketball coach who made a movie 10 years ago and has lost his job because of it. He is evidently a good coach because the parents are standing behind him. The movie was not pornographic but a little off color and someone sent it to his bosses. I think this is one of those things I have been trying to tell you-we have to watch everything we do. What may be fun and seemingly harmless can be used against us down the road. Employers are checking Facebook and other networks on potential hires. This is what kills me about the stuff some of mine are posting-not just the harm they are doing to themselves now but in the future. They are setting themselves up for a future of nothingness. I have hope in God for them but I don't think they have any hope or don't care about anything. It looks like they would be sick of the examples they have lived with instead of following in their path. I don't understand not wanting to do the best you can. 

About something I can do, I will be working in the sewing room today after I finish the things I worked on yesterday if they don't take longer than I expect and everything usually takes 3 or 4 times longer than I think. I am working on a fairly new process for me and I want the quilt blocks to be exactly as I envision so I may have to make several test blocks. I have a fabric I bought several years ago that has been waiting on the perfect project for it and I think I have found it. I've gone through all mine and Mary's fabrics and still need several others to complete it so [such a tragedy!!], I have to go fabric shopping on Monday. I have been keeping myself out of fabric shops and using what is already on hand, and that is a lot, I admit, but this quilt needs things that I don't have. 

So that is today. Donna will be out tonight or tomorrow. We have the appointment tomorrow at noon, remember. Jeff went over to Erica's this morning. If I was going to have to go over, I was going on to a quilt show in Lebanon that starts today and then swing back to get the boys from school at 3:30 but I am glad he went. I have work to do and want to keep at it and besides it took over $70 to fill my tank the other day and I am going over there on Monday-have to make every trip count as you well know. You are very smart to be driving your car as much as possible even when you have that great, big beautiful truck. 

Since the Granny's Prayer Journal that I have been using for the last few months is full, I got one this morning I had used over 10 years ago to kind of see what I had written and to maybe use it for a few days until I get another one. This poem was in it that I had written on 9/13/03: 

------------------------------------------------------------------- 

WELL DONE 

When my last race here on earth is run, 

When I've tried my best and God lets me go on home, 

I hope I'll hear these words from His own Blessed Son, 

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant, well done". 

When I've passed through those gates of pearl, worries all forgotten, 

Before being welcomed into Heaven by each and every loved one, 

I want to hear first from the Crown of my Salvation- 

tell me, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, well done". 

E'en when they lead me to the door of my heavenly mansion, 

And I get to see God's glory, oh, I can't even imagine, 

For reward enough will be to hear The Author of Creation 

Say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, well done". 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

On the next page of the journal I had these verses: 

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about Psalms 17:8-9 

For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. Zech 2:8 

Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease Lam 2:18 

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Deut 32:10 

----------Always try to please God, don't do anything that causes Him to grieve, you are the apple of His eye-He loves you. -------------

It is easier to stay the apple of His eye if we do the following-keep His commandments and His law as the apple of our eye: 

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 

Prov 7:1-5 

Love you lots, 

The Queen Mamaw 

.......................................................

[yes-I certainly sign as "The Queen"!! sometimes people don't listen to an ordinary, gray headed grandma]

Here is my gorgeous Travis. See that toothy grin-yep, it works, he's rotten.

  

IT IS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT IS THE WORST OF TIMES

Hopefully, my borrowing of Mr. Dickens' terminology won't make him turn over in his grave since it seems to best describe this time in my life.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed,  but not in despair; Persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 CORINTHIANS 4:6-10

It is the best of times because I am 71 years young, in good health [only take an occasional aspirin], in a wonderful home that has almost everything I ever invisioned [not a mansion by any means but more than anything I really thought I would ever have]. I enjoy being a homemaker, a wife, a mother-grandmother-great, grandmother and  being able to indulge in my quilting, sewing and crafting.  

It is the worst of times because I am 71 years old and there is so much illness in my family it is heartbreaking and debilitating if I don't try and keep busy and keep my mind on the positive-that God is in control, no matter what. I have to keep in mind the tragedies He has brought us through in the past 4 years:
brother-in-law, Larry, has sustained several strokes

My son, Jeff,  almost lost his eyesight from an acid burn at work. 

Nephew, Gary, was burnt badly at work.

Nephew, Keith, was resuscitated several times as they worked on him on the operating table after his stomach and esophagus ruptured.

Sister, Jackie, was t-boned and her car totaled.

Ayden, Gary's 9 month old grandson-Jackie's great, grandson-hospitilized a month after removal of a tumor from his brain, check out his story at this link: http://cwainscott.blogspot.com/2011/04/gods-miracle-baby-ayden.html
in photo below:Gary & Ayden while Ayden was recuperating in hospital, there is very little evidence of the burns Gary sustained

Many, many people were in much prayer during each of these times. Jeff, Gary, Keith, Jackie and Ayden are all recovering nicely. Thank you, LORD!

Now:

 sister-in-law, Iretta, is being treated for cancer after surgery to remove a tumor from her brain.

brother-in-law, Wally, is being treated for cancer in the stomach and esophagus

niece, Debbie, had a double mastectomy and is scheduled for a year of chemo and radiation

nephew, Keith, faces surgery to remove kidney stones

nephew, Gary, just had shoulder surgery and is in therapy, shoulder probably sustained injury when he was burnt at work

son, Jeff, is in extensive therapy after shoulder surgery-another work injury
and
we are waiting for the results of a biopsy to see if my husband's cancer is other than or more extensive than the prostrate cancer. He has started chemo for the prostrate cancer. 

Our mother is our head prayer honcho and prays endlessly for all of us but seeing her family down to her great, great grandchildren go through so much has taken its toll. I know she turned 91 on May 31, 2011. I know she has lived a good long life which I tried to convey a little about @ http://carolynscanvas.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-calico-no-slivers-of-soap.html
in photo below: Mom with great, great grandson, Ayden, as he recuperated in hospital

But knowing all this doesn't prepare us for the inevitable. She fell last week and ended up in the hospital. Things went from bad to worse and we almost lost her a couple of days later. She has been getting better [its that prayer thing again] and has been transferred to a nursing home for further care.

My son, Jeff, told me that he had been dreading this time when he would have to face losing his grandmother and parents. I told him this is part of life and it would be selfish of us to want to keep our loved ones here if they have to  endure the pain that mom was in at the time, that Jesus Christ is her Saviour and the minute she leaves here, she will be with the love of her life-my dad- in heaven. The thought of heaven is what got me through the time of losing my beloved grandmother and I know I will see her again one day.

Ours is not the only family going through such times, I know many of you are experiencing times of your own. I know that God is sustaining us and is doing the same for you if you have asked. Please remember our family in your prayers and contact me so we can be in prayer for you. 

My quilting and crafting are my therapy whether things are bright or cloudy. Poetry is another outlet and I want to share this poem. The date on the paper tells me I wrote it in 2001.  

THE LILY OF THE VALLEYS

Though you walk through valleys of The Shadow and despair

and believe the life you've led is far beyond repair.

Though the enemy awaits you in his dark, craggy lair

and in the past you've been unable to escape his snare.

Though the burden you carry is more than you can bare

and hopelessness engulfs you and keeps you so aware

that you feel so all alone and no longer dare

to lift your eyes to meet another cold, dark stare.

Though your valleys seem impassable there is The One who cares.

Just go to Him on bended knee in prayer

and THE LILY OF THE VALLEYS will go with you there.  

God bless all of you,

Carolyn Wainscott

  

THE FAMILY- BEING SISTERS

The precious ointment in my Alabaster Box being poured out today is of the love between sisters. I have a great bond with my 2 sisters and it is wonderful to see the same between my nieces, Cathy and Debbie.

Several months ago, younger sister, Debbie, found a lump in her breast. It was sore. It kept getting bigger. It didn't go away. She didn't have a regular doctor or insurance because her husband's job had evaporated and he had only been working part time. Debbie's is the main family income from her house cleaning. She has twin daughters. She can't afford to miss work. She didn't know what to do. The lump got bigger, more sore, she put off going to be checked out until they could afford insurance in a few months when work picked up.  

It's a good thing her mother was told what was going on at this time. She was talking with a friend at church and found out about The Breast & Cervical Cancer Program which would make it possible for Debbie to have a mammogram even without insurance.

To capsulize the whole thing, the lump was found to be cancerous. There was much discussion, more testing to see if the shadows in the other breast and in the lung were malignant also, to see if Debbie carried the genetics for predisposition to cancer, much thought, much prayer in what direction should be taken. After several weeks, it was decided a double mastectomy would be the best course of treatment.

There were many trips to the hospital and doctors. You, who have been through this, know what this is like. It is a full time job getting back and forth for medical appointments.

Debbie tried to work as much as possible between all this but her income dropped drastically. Husband, Chris, worked as much as possible. There were the girls to take care of and bills don't take a day off even if you have to.

So big sis,Cathy, stepped up to the plate once again.  Cathy was taking the whole thing very hard and could barely stand seeing her baby sister in such  precarious health. She had been with Debbie through the pregnancy and the long night of labor and delivery of Baby Ross who only lived a short while. She was there as Debbie carried the twins, Summer and Sierra, through their delivery then the long hospital stay as they grew out of the isolettes and got to come home.  She was there to help with their care-she was just always there.

Even before Debbie's surgeries, Cathy and friends sponsored fundraisers to help with all the extra travel expense and loss of income.

The night of the first surgery, it was Cathy who stayed all night to watch over Debbie and make sure she was being well taken care of.  Cathy still looks in and  helps with her care.

My sister, Shirley, would give anything to be there but has a critically ill husband who needs 24/7 care-the effects of multiple strokes. She wouldn't leave, however, till Debbie's surgery was over and the doctor assured her that it went well but then had to get home to relieve her husband's caregiver.

There will be more surgery and chemo, loss of hair, more expense, more loss of income but Cathy is still hanging in there. She is planning a large fundraiser to fill the income void and there will be others-this is going to be a long journey. In her follow-up checkup, Debbie was told there had been several other tumors that had been removed but her lymph nodes were clear. Realizing how disastrous it would have been had she waited any longer to be treated was a traumatic day.

Debbie is encouraging everyone to have a mammogram-there are agencies out there that will take care of you. Please don't procrastinate!!

My sister, Shirley, had a friend paint The Guardian Angel  depicting her children Cathy, Keith and Debbie. Even as a young child, Cathy was looking out for the younger ones.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

PROVERBS 31:15 & 20

Would that everyone had such a sister and friend as Cathy. These are hard times but having such a great family and our faith in God is getting all of us through. Our family has been through several heart breaking disasters in the last several years. We have gathered in prayer for each other in those times as families need to do. We are believing God will heal Debbie as he has healed our others.

God Bless You,
Carolyn Wainscott