October 21, 2009..6 weeks and 2 days...

Parker is scheduled for surgery! There is a story here, one I can only contribute to the power of prayer and our biggest ADVOCATE, the Lord God Almighty. Last week, the nurse from the surgeon's office called to give me November 17th as a surgery date. Let's just say that didn't sit well with me, but what was I to do? Gee, the world reknown surgeon has to work around "my" schedule...anyways, I reacted in my typical fashion (instant anxiety), but after a few phone calls I gave it to the Lord. At 4pm, we received a call back from the nurse with a "cancellation" for October 21st. Now, that is one day before Madeline's 6th birthday and Aunt Tammy's actual birthday. As she put it, "I can think of no better present than to have Parker's heart repaired!" We will celebrate Madeline's birthday the weekend before and we have Miley Cyrus tickets the week before too, so we pray that we can have a birthday that "hits it out of the park" even if her actual "birthday day" might be a bit of a disappointment.

We still have not talked to the kids about surgery, so please keep us in your prayers for that timing as well as the preparation for surgery. We will take Parker the morning of the 20th at 8am, he will have a series of tests and we will be admitted that evening. Surgery will be first thing on the 21st. More details to come after we meet the surgeon on the 5th of October for our consult.

This week my devotions have again been about worry, so as we face the future I am trying to "unlearn" my worry..did you know worry's root meaning is "to choke or strangle" go figure..let's see if I can loosen the grip..

"Worry is something you learn to do.There is no such thing as a “born worrier.” It is a learned response to life. You learned to worry from two sources:

1. You learned to worry from experience. After years of mistakes, failures, and unfulfilled expectations, you’ve discovered that things don’t always turn out right. Out of these experiences you formed the habit of worrying.

2. You learned to worry from examples. There are many models around you. Studies show that children usually pick up their parent’s worries. Anxious parents raise anxious kids.Since worry is a learned response to life, it can be unlearned!

The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize it is useless. It does you no good to worry. It is “stewing without doing.” Worry has never changed anything. Worry cannot change the past. Worry cannot control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today.Worry has never solved a problem, never paid a bill, and never cured an illness. It only paralyzes you so you can’t work on the solution. Worry is like racing a car when its engine is in neutral; it doesn’t get you anywhere, it just uses up gas.

The Bible teaches, “An anxious heart weighs a man down” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV). On top of that, worry exaggerates the problem. It plays on your imagination. Have you ever noticed that when you worry about a problem it gets bigger? Every time you repeat if over and over in your mind you tend to add details, amplifying it so you feel worse.What’s the solution? Instead of worrying, talk to God about what’s worrying you. He is someone who can do something about it."

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7 MSG).

PS the pic today is of Aunt Tammy and I at the hospital checking in for Parker's delivery :) and my 3D ultrasound that shows Parker fearfully and wonderfully made!

Be blessed! Lara