I've Been Tagged...Now You've Been Tagged!

So, I'm having another one of those feeling helpless to help my daughter kind of days. We were praying that Rachel's half days of school would be an easy transition back to school with minimal headache pain. After our wonderful experience with President Bush (yesterday's post) the headache pain intensified. By the time I got home from class last night, she was pretty miserable. Needless to say we are calling the Pediatric Neurosurgeon this morning.

I am doing all that I know to do to care for my precious daughter but it doesn't feel like it's enough. Do you ever feel that way? I know God is all sufficient and that He is sovereign and that He is very aware of Rachel's continual headache that has now lasted almost an entire month but my flesh is growing weary and I fear Rachel's is too. {sob!}

A dear friend of ours named Mrs. Jackie is celebrating her birthday in the hospital today. Her family is praying for a miracle that God would heal her and allow all of them more time together. I spoke with her husband yesterday and we cried together. They are such amazing people. Even in her courageous battle with cancer she and her husband are fervently praying for Rachel. For my Rachel! Isn't that humbling? When Jackie could be so understandably focused on herself, she and her husband are praying for us. And we are praying for them too!

I got to see them both yesterday at the hospital where Mr. Phil and I cried and prayed together. My heart is so burdened for them today. I left there and headed to class. With all of the things going on with Rachel, my body has kind of developed the shakes. I get cold so easily and then my body just starts shaking. It's the strangest thing and such a sight to behold, I'm sure.

Well, yesterday after visiting the hospital, my left eye started twitching. I went to class with my left eye twitching! It must have looked like I was winking at everyone. The more I tried to get it to stop, the more it twitched. Great! I had to explain that I wasn't winking to everyone around me and that I'm normally a pretty put together kind of girl, even though they wouldn't know it from looking at my shaking, winking appearance, and they just laughed. I'm just a mess, aren't I? I'm so thankful that God loves messes like me!

So, in order to divert my attention to happier things today I'm sharing a few of the awards that I have been blessed by this week and a fun meme from Debra. Wanna play too?

Debra at Clothed with Scarlet invited me to play the 10 things I love game. She gave me the letter "B" to work with. How fun! Here goes...10 things I love that start with the letter "B":

1. Bible

2. Barbia (my mom)

3. Beaches, especially Francis Bay and Cinnamon Bay in St. John, USVI

4. Books, yep I'm a nerd to the core....I hope to write a few some day

5. Blogging! It is so cathartic.

6. Blogging Buddies-ya'll are the best!

7. Brighton shoes and jewelry

8. Bargains-Free cereal tastes better than cereal I paid full price for, doesn't it?

9. Basketball games-watching my girls on the court

10. Blessings from the Lord-the ones we pray for and the ones He surprises us with. He is awesome.

So, do you wanna play along too? Let me know and I'll give you a letter. Just leave me a comment, please!

Karla at Ramblin Roads tagged me for the "5th photo in my 5th folder" game. Here it is:

This is a photo from our cruise in 2006. Fun memories to remember. My, the girls look so young in this photo!

And then I have been blessed with some awards from some wonderful friends:

BP at Raindrops and Rainbows is such an encourager and prayer warrior. I look forward to reading her blog each day as she shares what God places on her heart. She blessed me with this award. I love her blog too!

Deanna at Deanna's Diary blessed me with this award: (Deanna is a new friend. She is a wonderful encourager and her blog is delightful!)

This award is for ....."This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are extremely charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award.

And Michele from Michele's Morsals BEElieve blessed me with this (Go check out her blog. She handles every day with grace! God uses her to bless so many!)

And Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions blessed me with this "Blog Crush" award. I have a crush on her wonderful blog too! She can spend next to nothing and come home from any store with a bundle. I am in awe of her thriftiness!


Whew! I'm sorry if I overlooked any one. I am overwhelmed by all of your love and encouragement. It is my joy to get to share life with all of you. You bless me more than I'll ever be able to express!!!!!!

I may be breaking the rules, but I simply can't pick only 8 so, I'm picking all of you! Yep, I choose YOU to receive these awards. Please, take them and pass them on. You will never know the encouragement they offer. Thanks for being such a blessing to me!

Joyfully,

Kristi