The Journey Continues..Heading to Tx, Sunday

Hello Special Ones,

Just a note to bring you up to date. We have enjoyed the short 10 days we have had in Il. visiting family and friends.

I want to share a couple of neat things that have happened since I last wrote:

1. Remember me telling you about a song called "Servant's Heart" that has meant so much to me written by Randy Whitten? I met Randy last year at the YMCA when he did a concert. I have this song on CD that played all summer by my desk as I worked. Well if you scroll down a couple of e.mails ....a day or 2 after my surgery Oct. 17....there are 2 notes (click comments) FROM RANDY!!! (Randy I would have liked to replied, but this blog will not let me see anyones e.mail address that sends a comment, and your CD with the song and your e.mail address are PACKED!) It was so very special that you signed my blog!! What an amazing world we live in that you found my blog!!

2. Remember Beth Rudy....the gal God put in my life the day I learned I had cancer. Beth was one of our guests at the resort who was attending a Christian writers convention at the YMCA.
Beth is the one who made this blog for me! She was there to pray and cry with me by the banks of the "Big Thompson River" that runs through the resort!! Here's the really neat part....Beth lives in Pa. I didn't know when I'd ever see her again and.....last week-end she was at a conference just 30 miles from where we live when we are in Il...AND THIS CONFERENCE HAPPENED DURING THE SHORT STAY WE HAVE HERE IN ILLINOIS!! The speaker at the conference was Henry Blackby who wrote "Experiencing God". This book changed my life and also was what helped Beth feel the call into her ministry writing "Prayer Pal"! Beth and our niece Melissa Milbourn were on a 'spiritual high' and it was awesome to spend time with them!! Totally God's timing!!

I will never feel I have enough words to express how much your continued prayers for me and my family mean to us. I'm still struggling with pain.....but not the horrible pain of the expanders. I look forward to this passing some day!

As you pray, I'd like to ask for travel blessings as we take 2 cars to Tx. We will arrive Tues. evening to our home there. I'm concerned with the long drive. Then 3 days later.... the following Sat. Nov. 11th we fly to Cancun for our family vacation. Please pray for strength and safety for all of us. I'm going to look for a palm tree and crash.

We will then drive back to Co. for Thanksgiving with Michele and family and on Nov. 28th I'll have the next surgery to make the 'headlights'!! (nipples)Tee Hee! It's amazing what can be done in the days we live in today!!

Since we will only be in Tx. 3 days to unload and pack for vacation.....I'm not sure I'll be back on until we return from Mx. Nov. 18th.

As I sign off tonight....I wanted to share part of a devotional. I'm just amazed at how God knows the words I need!! It's written by Dave Branon and it's called "Temporary"....

In 1 Peter, the apostle described an exchange of tough times for good results. He was writing about the temporary tough times that come into our lives even though we haven't chosen them, and he indicated that they can have lasting benefit. We rejoice during our trials, not for the trial itself but for the coming glory and honor, which is permanent!!

Tough times can bring pain and sadness---and they don't seem to promise any good news at all. But Peter told us to "greatly rejoice" in them (1:6-7) He wanted us to look ahead to the forever joy that is promised---a joy that will help us understand the temporary tough times!!

You dear ones are in my prayers also....it seems each of us have tough times and I pray you can feel and know that God is with you and me!!

Rejoicing,
Donna