Answered Prayers

Just wanted to update about the current happenings right now in the Stanfield House...

Thankfully I was discharged from the hospital on Monday evening and was home in time to see Deacon before he went to bed.  He has done a much better job this time adjusting to all of the changes and I am so thankful for all the prayers for him... God hears them and continues to answer as we seek Him... as you all seek Him on our behalf.

Preschool was obviously something that I was really concerned about this past week.  Again, another tremendously answered prayer... Deacon has done GREAT!  He has really enjoyed going to his school and we are 2 for 2 of no crying.  YAY!  It makes me so happy and thankful that this has been possible.  It is something special that he can do by himself and he says he feels like a "big boy" when he goes.  I know it will help to continue building his confidence in Himself and what he knows about the Lord.  

In regards to lil missy, Faith Clare is doing well.  We repeated the FFT on Tuesday and I found out today that it was again negative.  With those negative results, in addition to the fact that I haven't progressed any more, things are looking good.  I will continue to be on bedrest for several more weeks to ensure that we can get in to the mid-30 weeks.  My goal right now is to make it to November with no more bleeding.  (Please pray for that... if I have any more bleeding I will be back in the hospital until delivery!)  I know Faith Clare is a strong girl and I continue to pray for her health, safety, strength and ability to stay put for a while longer.  

Now that my mom is on her return flight home, we are entering the period of "reality."  Because Dusty still has his regular obligations at work, he is now picking up a lot of the load here at home... which means added stress for everyone.  Thankfully we have been so blessed to have one of our occasional sitters/Deacon's teacher from his former daycare be able to help us out during the week.  I know this will be great for Deacon and she will be able to help us transition into this temporary period for the next month.

Thank you again for continuing to pray for us.  You know... it's interesting because I just watched a movie I had wanted to see for a while and there was a line repeated in the movie several times that said "If it wasn't this... it would be something else."  At first I thought that was so pessimistic but as I have continued to think about it a little bit more, I have realized that it is true.  God doesn't promise us a life without struggle and hardship.  Just because we have accepted Him and realized our need for a Savior, we are still in this sin-filled world with great difficulties on the road.  Each and every one of us are either confronting something right now, are just walking out of something major, or have dealt with heartache in the past.  We all still have many "road blocks" ahead... BUT the beautiful promises of the Lord and our sealed eternities promise us a "forever-future" without struggle and allow us to be able to place all of our hope and faith in the One who created us.     

As I have continued to be so thankful for your prayers for our family, I would ask that you lift another beautiful family up to the Lord tonight and in the days ahead.  I have become personal friends with this family and they have instilled so much hope in SO many families for sweet babies diagnosed with genetic disorders.  Please visit Connie's blog at http://www.malmalrose.blogspot.com that chronicles her daughter Mallorie and many of the things that they have faced.  Mallorie had a cleft-lip surgery this morning and seems to be doing well.  This is hopefully her last cleft surgery and we are praying for a quick recovery without complications and with minimal pain.  Mallorie is now a thriving 19 month old.

Thank you for being so generous with your prayers and so faithful in your prayer life!  We are eternally grateful.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."- John 16:33