Perrin Update #4

It has been a while since I've had a chance to write an update about my friends, the Perrins. A lot has happened in the last three weeks, that's for sure!

Let's start with Hayes. Chris was able to hold him for the first time on September 28 (Day 55), and they had all kinds of great conversations about sports. Chris is the director of game-day operations for the Houston Texans (in addition to his full-time job as an accountant), so he had all kinds of things to share with Hayes about that week's game. This is something that Chris has been so eager to do with a son--talk about "the game"--so this was no small blessing! Considering that Hayes could have died on multiple occasions already, we know that this is a MIRACULOUS blessing and one that is not taken for granted! Check out his SWEET face!!!!!

Since that day, Hayes has continued to PROGRESS (also a word that the doctors didn't really expect to use to describe Hayes' condition). He moved from continuous drip feeds through the feeding tube to bolus feeds (where they dump a feeding's worth of milk through his tube at once instead of a slow steady drip). He handled this really well and was required to practice sucking at the same time he was being fed so that he would begin to associate the sucking motion with feeding. Shortly after, he began to drink from a bottle!!!! This is again totally miraculous, because the doctors told Chris and Emily to expect that Hayes would NEVER be able to move off the feeding tube to a bottle or other form of feeding, because his brain most likely wouldn't tell his airways to shut off to push his food to his stomach! AMAZING!!! The next time you swallow anything... a drink, food, saliva, your gum... you'll know that this is a GIFT!

Chris heard that reggae music is stimulating for babies' brains, so he did his good daddy duty and played some Bob Marley for Hayes on the iPod. Hilarious!

Hayes is now almost 4 pounds. He continues to struggle with some apnea episodes, and while it's definitely an area that we hope improves, this is normal for a baby in his stage of development. He is completely off the ventilator and is just relying on the nasal cannula for a bit of supplemental oxygen... something else that the doctors told Chris and Emily not to expect he'd ever be able to do for any length of time.

There is still so much that is unknown about how long or how completely the Lord will allow Hayes to develop. He is amazing people left and right though as He works to grow this little boy. Our merciful Father is granting Hayes the ability to do things that no medical professional thought he'd be able to do.

A couple months back, I gave this little guy the nickname "Tank", and when you see this next photo of his handsome face, you'll see that this nickname is seeming more and more fitting every day! If you scroll a few blog entries back and see his tiny, very frail self just a couple months ago, you'll know how HUGE the details found in the last few paragraphs are!!!! The Lord has performed miracle after miracle in this little man's life! We have reason to HOPE in our strong, perfect, wise, and purposeful Creator! Please continue to pray with great hope that the Lord will continue to work miracles in Hayes' life and that the 25% of Hayes' brain that is remaining will be used in astounding ways as he develops further. Please also pray against further infection, especially as we enter cold and flu season.

And on to Bailey. Throughout this whole ordeal, Bailey has definitely dealt with a greater number of physical issues (recall her ruptured intestine and surgery, necessary heart surgery, collapsed lung, and a couple smaller infections). Despite this fact, her prognosis has consistently been more optimistic than her little brother's. She has an ostomy bag until her intestine repairs enough for it to be reattached, and this has slowed down her feeding progress compared to Hayes. She has had to be fed smaller amounts and has progressed each step a bit more slowly, because the tear in her intestine was so high that they have to be careful not to rupture it again. The problem is that the ostomy bag, while helpful as her body heals, is an additional site for infection to enter her body.

Bailey began to regulate her own body temperature, and so she was able to start wearing clothes. (Hayes did this as well several days after Bailey.) Here she is in one of her super-cute flowery outfits next to her Beanie Baby so you can get an idea of her size. Chris estimates that she's about 12-14 inches long max. He also joked that if you had to wake up to a life-size Beanie Baby, you'd quickly see how traumatic this whole experience has been for the babies! Ha!

Bailey moved from the ventilator to the nasal cannula a few days after Hayes. And finally on day 65, Chris was able to hold her too! Can you even imagine waiting 65 days to hold your baby girl!?! I cried when I saw the photos. I imagined how happy it must have made Emily to see Chris have the opportunity to finally hold both the babies. As a mom, it's fantastic to hold your babies... and it's equally fantastic to see them all snuggled up in Daddy's strong arms.

You probably noticed Emily's awesome hair in that last photo. She always has GREAT hair, even if it's in a ponytail! Probably not the most important detail, but it's definitely noteworthy.

Anyway, back to Bailey.... With regard to feeding, she was on continuous feeds through the feeding tube, getting less than Hayes so that her intestine didn't rupture. She got extra calorie supplements as well so that she would keep growing. She was moved to bolus feedings, getting smaller amounts than Hayes at each feeding, and went through the same sucking-while-being-fed practice with the hope that she too would be able to move to bottle feeds and have her intestine reattached (she needs to be able to tolerate bolus feeds before this surgery can happen). I told Chris it was a little bit strange to pray that his kids would suck... but I agreed to do it in this case. It won't be the last time we pray such things for them, I guess, so we better get used to it. Bailey was progressing, slowly, but surely.

"Was" is the key word in that last sentence. Sadly, Bailey came down with an infection several days ago. They backed her off the bolus feeds and went back to the continuous drip-style feed. She was put on antibiotics. Then stronger antibiotics. It wasn't working well. Chris and Emily went to the hospital yesterday morning, and she looked very sick (see the left photo below). By the time they went back in the afternoon, she had been put back on all her monitors, had her cute clothes taken off, and was back on the ventilator (see below right).

Today, it seems as though her infection is getting a bit better, as her spinal tap was clear. Can I just stop and say that I've had just a couple needles in my spine throughout my life, and they were not fun! I had a spinal tap when I was about five, and I still remember it. I don't remember a lot of details about being five, but I DO remember that. I know that these things have to be done, but it makes me sad for these tiny little ones. They have these kinds of things done REGULARLY. They are troopers! Thankfully they won't remember ANY of this!

The goal for Bailey is to change her antibiotics again tomorrow to something stronger, re-start the bolus feeding (as a reminder, that's when they do a feeding of several ounces all at once through the tube as opposed to a slow drip through the tube)... and as soon as she's healed from infection and tolerates the bolus feeds, then hopefully they'll get to reattach her intestine to get rid of the ostomy bag and eliminate this entryway for infection. There are also discussions about whether or not they will remove her PICC line (a central IV line), because that too could be an entry route for infection.

Somewhere during the last three weeks, Chris and Emily learned that Bailey has ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity). There are several levels, 4 being the worst. She's at level 2. This could mean nothing really, except that she might need glasses. It could also be worse, and could end up leading to complete blindness (that's usually a level 4 issue, from what I understand). Basically, it's too early to tell.

If you have followed all the way through this note, you are able to see very clearly that our bodies are very complex and that, in order for life to go on, so many things have to right all at the same time! Bailey's and Hayes' bodies have had some pretty crushing blows in the last 11 weeks or so since their birth... but overall, SO MANY THINGS HAVE GONE RIGHT!!!! We have reason to praise the Lord, and we have reason to HOPE in Him!

Please continue to pray for both babies, for Chris and Emily, for their other family members who do so much to support them, for the doctors and nurses caring for Hayes and Bailey, and for their church family who is walking through this with them helping them do things like mow the lawn and clean their house in addition to holding them up with prayer and encouragement. In the midst of this trial, Chris and Emily have already had countless opportunities to share their faith with others, pointing many people to the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are not only speaking of the hope they profess, but they are demonstrating it daily! As you pray for the babies, pray not only for their healing, but that the things the Lord is doing in their lives will continue to change the lives of many and that He will be glorified!

Thank you to those of you who are concerned and praying for our friends! I will leave with this simple truth from Scripture as Job is talking to God:


I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
--Job 42:2

Amen! May we all be reminded that the one true God can DO ALL THINGS! He is the ONLY One who can do all things! Every one of our prayers is heard by this infinite God. Let's appeal to Him on behalf of the Perrins with increasing HOPE, trusting Him fully!

Perrin Update #3

Wow! So much has happened since my last post asking for prayer for my friends, the Perrins! Chris wrote an update yesterday that pretty well sums up what's been happening. I'll post that here and then leave you with some super-sweet photos of Hayes and Bailey (I stole the captions from their mommy and daddy).

Before I do that, I'll stop for a minute and tell you that I tear up just about every single time I look at these babies. Not because I'm sad... but because it is just apparent that they are wonderfully created. Try to pay attention to their little features. Their hands and feet are what get me every time. Those tiny little fingers and toes are amazing!

Throughout the last several weeks of watching and listening from afar (we're states away from the Perrins), I have at various times felt like throwing up, singing songs of praise, and sometimes both at the exact same moment. Like I wrote last time, this is REAL LIFE, and we can't run away from it. People struggle daily, sometimes with more intense trials than others... but people struggle daily. The only hope we have is in Christ.

Chris's words:

Bailey is doing great. She's 2 lb 9 oz now (which is a full pound since birth). She's on 5 cc's of continuous feeds, which is all she can tolerate right now due to how high the perforation in her intestines was. They've upped the calorie supplements though so that she will get big enough that they can begin to feed more, and that she will be able to absorb more in the short track of intestine before you colostomy bag. Once all of this takes place, they'll be able to go back in and re-attach her intestines. She is completely over the infection that started Labor Day weekend, and is completely off antibiotics. Outlook is really good for her going forward, but she is still less than 32 weeks from gestation, and about 8 weeks from being a full term baby. She continues to need prayers as she is still about two months from going home even if all goes well.

Hayes is doing great physically, which continues to make the brain issues that much harder to swallow. He is now 2 lb 8 oz, which is more than a pound gained since birth. He is on full feeds of 20 cc, and the full load of calorie supplements, so he's growing very quickly. He's also breathing well. Two nights ago they put him on a breathing cannula (sp?), which is exactly what you see elderly people with (the tubes in the nose connected to oxygen). This is really good because it means he's breathing basically on his own. He's breathing well, eating well (through feeding tube), peeing and pooping, growing, and moving all over the place. His only issue right now is the brain issue, and if not for that, his prognosis would probably the same as sissy's.

So, more on the brain... since the news from the neurosurgeon last week, we've sought out many second opinions. Our friend who is a nursing director at the NICU at Memorial Herman (which is one of the best hospitals in the world) took Hayes' records for the medical director there to look at. He basically confirmed what the neurosurgeon said, and added that his concern was that Hayes would never be able to close off his throat and prevent food, liquid, saliva, etc. from going directly into his lungs. This would not only mean feeding tubes, but constant suctioning of saliva and mucus. It would also mean that if he gets sick and throws up, most will go into his lungs, and on top of whatever illness he has, he will also have to fight pneumonia.

We have another friend from church who passed Hayes' story onto a friend of her's who is a neonatologist at Texas Children's (which is one of the best children's hospitals in the world), and she said that based on the info she had, that Hayes would not develop much past that of a three month old. Meaning, he would behave like a baby his entire life.

Finally, Emily's family has a friend who is the medical director at the NICU at Cook's Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth (also one of the best in the world.. and he trained at Texas Children's on top of that) who was in Houston on Friday. He agreed to come to the hospital and meet with Hayes' doctor, get all the details he could, and then meet with us, and give his professional assessment, but also talk to us as someone who has followed this whole thing from the start as a friend, and who has been praying and aching for us as well. He was very helpful in that he reinforced the level of care that they've gotten at Clear Lake, and the course of treatment. He said he wouldn't have done anything differently to this point. He also started from the very beginning, and explained in detail how we've gotten to where we're at, and how we've really already defied many of the odds. Unfortunately, he also reconfirmed Hayes' outlook.

It was good to hear him explain everything in such detail, and to have someone with that level of expertise weep with us and have a deep level of care for us than just that of doctor/patient. We haven't gotten any opinions that have given us any hope in not just a positive outcome, but in any kind of "quality of life" for our son, or any kind of longevity to his life because of all the complications and medical procedures he will require.

At this point, we continue to pray for a miracle, but also pray that God will give us the wisdom and strength to face the outcome that we've been given. We've already been through so much, and I know there's nothing we can't handle, but ache for our son. We ache that he isn't going to be able to do the things that "normal' kids do, and that he probably won't survive past childhood. We're grateful for all of the insight, and grateful to have such consensus in what he's up against, but it is heartbreaking to hear about him.

We know God has a plan, and that we don't always understand it, so we just pray that God will use the lives of Hayes and Bailey to glorify Him, and to make Emily and I better parents, spouses, and people. We thank everyone again for their prayers and support, and ask you to keep it up. We cannot thank everyone enough, and cannot express enough the way you all and your prayers have lifted us up through all of this.

Thanks again,

CP and Em (and Hayes and Bailey)

Hayes - Day 45 You sure you're comfy? This is how he wanted to lay.

Bailey -Day 47--Crazy hair after snuggling with mom and oh so sleepy

Bailey - Day 48--Nap time

Hayes - Day 48 -- Almost seven weeks old. 31 weeks from the beginning.

Breathing and eating well. Need a miracle on the noggin though.

Bailey - Day 49 --Posing for her upcoming hip hop album cover... Fo shizzle

Hayes - Day 52... Hook em horns! -------- Bailey - Day 52... M-I-Z

Hayes - Day 54-- We had a staring contest. I won... Get used to it son

Romans 5:1-5 and Psalm 73:23-28 are scriptures that come to mind MULTIPLE times a day as I think about Chris, Emily, Hayes and Bailey. May these scriptures be an encouragement to you to lean fully on the Lord and hope ONLY in Him as you encounter trials of every kind. In the end, the purpose of it all is the GLORY OF GOD! There IS purpose in these trials, and it's bigger than we could imagine! Right now, He's working to cause many (thousands just through this story alone) to humble themselves and lean on Him, to hope more fully in Him alone, and to be THANKFUL even if they're crying at the same time.

I told Chris that it's the hope of every parent that their children will impact lives and change the world around them. Already, in these short 7+ weeks, the lives of Hayes and Bailey and the stories of those who are caring for them are impacting generations! As people are drawn to their knees and learn more and more what it means to hope in the Lord, literal generations will be changed. And that's just PART of the really big picture! How great is that!?! May God continue to be glorified through the Perrin family! Please continue to pray for them all!

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Psalm 73:23-28
Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Please Continue Praying for the Perrins

Hayes (left) and Bailey (right) on Day 45. Bailey is now up to 2 lbs 8 oz.

I talked to Chris tonight. Let me just say first that he and Emily seem to be thinking SO WISELY about things and are unified. The Lord is their strength, and they are understanding what it means to lean completely on Him in a totally different way than ever before. They are being changed forever as they walk through this trial.

Chris and Emily (and Emily's mom) got to meet with the doctors again this morning. According to these doctors, the outlook for little Hayes is very bleak. The neurosurgeon's estimate is that there is a 90-95% chance that he will have SEVERE developmental disabilities and a 5-10% chance that it would be anything better than the worst case. The neurosurgeon put it in perspective and told them that he only sees cases this bad 3 to 4 times a year. Considering that this doctor is on staff at a large hospital in a large city where he cares for many patients, we can see that this news is worse than horrifying.

Unfortunately, one of the doctors who has been present for some of these discussions is one of the less helpful neonatologists on the team of three that rotate through (the same doctor comes every day for a week, and then they rotate) to see the babies. It seems like so many conversations they have with physicians are complicated because of language or cultural barriers. In fact, only one of the doctors on their team speaks fluent and clear English and communicates descriptively and thoroughly. It just doesn't seem like they've got a full picture of what's really going on and what the possibilities are just yet.

Thankfully, next week one of the more helpful neonatologists on the team will be visiting the babies each day, so Chris and Emily are eager to get this doctor's perspective on what they've heard this week. Chris and Emily will also be sending a copy of Hayes' file to some doctors at another very advanced children's hospital in another city hoping to get additional information from these doctors about what they recommend as next steps for Hayes' care.

Hayes is scheduled for another ultrasound on Tuesday to see what's going on in his brain. Please join me in storming the gates of heaven with hope-filled prayers that a miracle occurs and that there is clear re-growth of brain tissue, that the fluid in his head will be replaced by healthy brain matter that is reconnecting. My thought is this: If God can redeem a people for Himself and turn wicked sinners into Christ-followers, if He can part a sea for those who are trusting Him, if He can form a man from the dust of the ground, if He can save entire nations of people from destruction... then He can most assuredly grow Hayes' brain tissue back again and fill that tiny little skull with healthy, connected tissue.

Please pray with Chris and Emily that they will have clarity, wisdom and discernment as they hear additional opinions. We are praying that there is no confusion about how to care for Hayes and that there is unity on all fronts.

Of course, we are to be praying for all things in accordance with God's will. But how in the world do we do that when it seems like there are so many complex issues involved? How do we even know exactly what to ask? This is real life, so we know we can't just pretend like it'll all just go away or that we can delay and come up with ideas some other time. It's happening now, and we can't see the big picture. Praise God that He knows the big picture and has provided His Holy Spirit and His Son who are interceding with and for us! What amazing comfort!

Romans 8:26-39
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 33:20-22
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

URGENT Call to Prayer... Hoping You'll Join Me

Joel 2:15-17
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly; gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders;
gather the children, even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

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

On August 4, two tiny little people came into this world at just 24 weeks gestation. Bailey and Hayes Perrin were born to my college friend, Chris, and his wife, Emily. They were about one-and-a-half pounds at birth and were whisked away to the NICU before Emily could even see them. They were TINY, and they were fighting for their lives. They have had many others fighting right alongside them.

Bailey --Day 2-- Hayes

Hayes --Day 4-- Bailey

Bailey and Hayes are now 44 days old, and they have gained almost 60% of their original body weight. They are receiving their mother's milk. They open their eyes. They rest easy when their mom holds them and throw fits when she has to put them down. Their daddy's hand on their back helps keep them warm and comfortable as they sleep. They have come SO FAR since that first day!

Hayes --Day 11-- Bailey

Bailey--Day 19 Hayes--Day 20

But... there have also been set-backs. For example, in Bailey's second week of life, her intestines ruptured necessitating a move to another hospital for immediate surgery. Her intestines have been by-passed while she heals. She has a colostomy bag at this point, and her intestines will be surgically reattached once she gets bigger and has healed more. A couple days later, she had to have heart surgery to repair a valve. It was several days after that second surgery that she got to join her little brother again. A while later, little Bailey's lung collapsed, and it had to be re-inflated. It seems fine now.

Bailey being held by Emily for the FIRST time--Day 21

While Bailey was healing from surgery, Emily got word that she was going to be able to hold Hayes for the first time the next day (this was about Day 11 if I remember correctly). Well, overnight, Hayes came down with an e.coli infection, and he was SICK. He puffed up with fluid and was bruising. It was so sad to see photos of his stretched out little skin and to know that Emily hadn't been able to hold him. I cried... and I'm not even his mom. I can't imagine how disappointing and heartbreaking that would be! Shortly after, the doctors learned that Hayes was not only fighting off the e. coli bacteria, but he also had meningitis. Let me just stop and say that even one of these things could have wiped him out completely... but he survived BOTH... at the SAME TIME! That, my friends, is what we call a miracle!

Hayes --Day 29-- Bailey

Due to the infections, however, there were some pretty harsh things going on in Hayes' little brain. Fluid was building up, but the worst offense was the fact that his blood pressure was so low that there was not enough oxygen going to his brain. As a result, brain tissue was damaged and died. The neurosurgeon informed Chris and Emily earlier today that Hayes has about 25% of his brain tissue remaining, which he predicts will lead to some serious developmental issues. He suggested that Hayes may not walk, talk, or even be able to sit up.

For those of us who are trusting in the One True God--the maker of heaven and earth and sustainer of all--we know that these assessments are helpful in that they tell us what we're dealing with. But we also know that this is NOT the FINAL WORD for Hayes. Only God has the final word. He can bring dead people back to life, heal the lame, give sight to the blind, and cause seizures to stop. When we look at where Hayes and Bailey were in those first pictures and see how far they've come, we recognize the Lord's hand clearly. He spoke these babies into motion, and He is the only One who knows His plan for them.

EYES WIDE OPEN

Bailey--Day 34 Hayes--Day 40

So, where does that leave US? On our faces before the LORD. Praying. Hoping. Trusting. BELIEVING. I am asking that you join me in praying for the Perrin family.

Pray for Hayes, please pray that the Lord would re-grow his brain tissue. Pray that there will be new paths between brain cells developed and that his brain can be re-mapped. Pray that he will grow to love and honor God with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Pray for Bailey as well. She is just getting over an infection that doesn't seem as bad as Hayes' was, but these babies are susceptible to so many things. Pray for continued growth, that her intestine would heal well so she can start receiving more of her mom's milk, and that the re-attachment of her intestines will go smoothly when it's time for that to happen. Pray that she also will grow to love and honor God with her whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Pray that both babies are protected from future infection, especially as we enter cold and flu season.

Pray for Chris and Emily. Pray that the Lord will uphold them and that His strength will shine right through their weakness so that others will KNOW the hope they profess and will give glory to God in heaven. Chris and Emily have a meeting with the physicians again in the morning to discuss next steps for Hayes. Emily's mom is on her way to be with them at the appointment, and Chris and Emily are spending tonight formulating questions. Please pray for wisdom, discernment, clarity and unity regarding Hayes' care.

This time is crucial!

I am asking as many people as are willing to FAST with me throughout the night tonight and the day tomorrow (or longer if you desire) and PRAY. Please join me in supporting Chris, Emily, Hayes and Bailey this way!

Hayes and Emily --Day 41-- Bailey and Chris

To motivate our prayers, I'd like to leave you with a couple passages that are so encouraging.

Pray in faith, believing that the Lord can do more than we're even asking of Him!

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Redeemer Church Launch

Wow! What a great weekend! Redeemer Church had its official launch yesterday, and it was FANTASTIC! Seventeen months after our arrival in town, thirteen months after the start of core team development, nine months after our first Sunday gathering, and one week after the start of the new semester at the University of Illinois, Redeemer Church is off the ground! Chet, Ladan and I were some of the last people to walk in to find our seats, and as I looked around, I think I said out loud, "Oh, wow." It was humbling and exciting! Jim's welcome was enthusiastic, Chet's sermon was excellent (no bias involved... it really was great), and Caleb's very intentional design of the order of worship was super!

There was much activity leading up to yesterday's service, and so many things went on behind the scenes before and during the service that I can't possibly list them all. I'm guessing Chet probably has that list somewhere on his computer, but checklists aren't the point really. The point is that many people stepped out, took risks, were forced to trust the Lord to provide help when they didn't know what to do, and relied on the Holy Spirit to speak through them when they didn't know exactly what to say. As a result, I'm assuming that these people are the ones who noticed the most joy and satisfaction yesterday morning. Joy that is not based on their own efforts, but the shear joy that comes from participating in the LORD's work as He unfolds His plan. There's nothing like it!

We're not super-focused on numbers, so I don't think anyone took an official count. However, somewhere along the way, someone counted 81 present. Here's the great part about that. At the end of the service, Chet took a poll and asked people how many came because they received a door hanger at their home. Answer: ZERO. He then asked how many came because they saw the Facebook ad. Answer: TWO. He then asked how many came because they received a personal invitation from someone they knew. Answer: HALF THE ROOM.

The lesson is this.... Most of the time, people come to church or demonstrate interest in things of the Lord because a PERSON shows an interest in them and invites them. Let this be an encouragement to all of us to build relationships with others, share the Gospel, and INVITE them to join us in our pursuit of the Lord. Don't get hung up on whether or not they're rejecting or accepting you. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with God. They're rejecting or accepting Him. If they accept the invitation, praise God (not yourself). If they reject the invitation, pray for them, knowing that they are not ultimately rejecting you, but the Holy God who created them and who offers the only lasting joy and salvation they can find. And don't be afraid to invite them again just because they said no one time.

It will be exciting to see how God decides to use Redeemer over the course of the next weeks, months and years! To those of you who have participated in bringing this body of believers together (either from a short or long distance), THANK YOU!

Hopefully some photos will follow shortly.

Salsa Recipe

It's about that time.... Time to make the first batch of SALSA this year. And this year I get to eat it! Last year, I had all these awesome tomatoes that were transformed into yummy salsa. I spent quite a few hours making it. I burned my hands on the peppers because I forgot to get rubber gloves every time I went to the store. I chopped and chopped, boiled, chopped some more, stirred, poured... and then STARED at the salsa... SO wanting to eat it but realizing that Claire would literally revolt if I did. Considering the fact that it would be unfair to my newborn to indulge, I tasted just one bite per batch, and that was it. Well, this year will not be the same! I will likely eat it by the jar-full! Okay, that's extreme. That would also be punishment of a different kind. The point is that I'm excited about this batch of salsa. I think the tomatoes are perfectly ripe, and it's going to be AWESOME!

For those of you who'd like to try to make it also, it's actually fairly easy. I started with the "Chunky Salsa" recipe from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book and adapted it as I saw fit. It makes about 5 or 6 pints of salsa.

Here's what you need:

• 7 pounds ripe tomatoes (20 medium--or any grouping that comes to the equivalent). Some folks say Romas are the way to go. I found last year that it didn't matter what kind of tomatoes they were as long as they were homegrown and ripe from the garden.
• 10 fresh Anaheim or poblano chile peppers, seeded and chopped (abt. 3 cups) I use Anaheim peppers, mostly green with hints of red. I only seed about half of them... partly because I don't want to take the time and partly because the seeds help add spice and flavor, so I don't want to throw them out.
• 3 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped. I only seed about half of these peppers as well. If you like your salsa extra-spicy, you can substitute serrano peppers for jalapenos.
• 1 large green pepper, seeded and chopped. I did actually seed this well, because it was easy and fast.
• 1 cup chopped white or yellow onions (1 large)
• 2 cups chopped green onions (the whole onion except the tips and end of the bulb)--I found that the green onions from my garden were really lots better than the onions from the store
• 1/2 cup snipped fresh cilantro
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/2 of a 6 oz. can (1/3 cup) tomato paste [I use organic tomato paste]
• 5 garlic cloves (minced)--I went for fairly large cloves, so if you have only small ones, add more than 5
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• Rubber gloves for chopping those peppers... they really will burn your skin off

Now here's what you do:

• Seed, core, and coarsely chop tomatoes. I actually wasn't too concerned about the seeding part. I did get the tough core out, and I scraped away the seeds that were easy to reach, but I didn't have time to worry about all of them, and it worked out just fine. You'll have about 14 cups of tomatoes.
• Place tomatoes in a large colander. Let drain 30 minutes.
• Dump drained tomatoes into a large heavy stainless-steel stock pot or cast iron kettle. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered about 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add all peppers, onions, cilantro, vinegar, tomato paste, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Return mixture to boiling. Then reduce heat.
• Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Can or freeze as necessary... if you have any that lasts that long! FYI--This salsa does not last as long in the refrigerator as store-bought salsa... because there are no preservatives.

Now, what are YOUR favorite recipes for garden-fresh tomatoes?

"My Hope and Treasure Lies Above"

This summer, I am finishing up the 1st grade portion of the Veritas Press Phonics Museum with Ladan. I have learned and been challenged a good deal as he reads the included books aloud to me. Many of the stories are brief accounts of true historical events. The most recent book he read was a biography of Anne Bradstreet, a Puritan poet.

Anne was well-educated. She married in England at the age of 16 and moved to New England with her husband, Simon Bradstreet. They had eight children. Her husband was a governor and traveled a lot as a result. Anne's life was challenging. She worked hard. She encountered many trials. Through it all, she maintained a strong faith in an unchanging, faithful, just, and GOOD God. Her poems reveal her heart as she experienced life and a very real relationship with God. I've been captivated by her writing the last several days. One poem was written in the wake of the complete burning of their house. Keep in mind as you read it that they did not have insurance as we do today. They had to start completely over.

Verses upon the Burning of our House
by Anne Bradstreet

In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken'd was with thund'ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful sound of "fire" and "fire,"
Let no man know is my Desire.
I starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To straighten me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless.
Then coming out, behold a space
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own; it was not mine.
Far be it that I should repine,
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sate and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best,
My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lie.
Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity.
Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast a house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished
Stands permanent, though this be fled.
It's purchased and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A price so vast as is unknown,
Yet by his gift is made thine own.
There's wealth enough; I need no more.
Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.
The world no longer let me love;
My hope and Treasure lies above.

This stuff is RICH! I'm reading this on the heels of several weeks of meditating on the truth that my home is not here on earth. It's good to work toward the goal of being a good and godly homemaker, and it's good to hope that we and others will consider our home to feel like "home". But it's all too easy to begin to count on the treasures of this world and to desire comfort here on earth to the point where disappointment comes up when those things fall short, when things are uncomfortable, when things are in process, or when things change. Scripture is an excellent reminder of where I need to place my hope, but sometimes there is something very real and very helpful about "experiencing" these truths with another person who is learning them as well... even if that person lived 400 years ago. So, for what it's worth, may these words serve as encouragement to you as well.

The truths that encouraged Anne have not changed. She served the same God that I serve today. It matters that we know who God is. It matters that we believe Him. It changes our lives, our responses, the way we think, who we are. And hopefully, by His grace, His work in our lives will impact the lives of others.

Additionally, things like this paint just a small picture of what it is like to worship the ONE TRUE GOD with the church universal. I cannot fathom what it will be like to join in praise with all believers in Christ when we are raised up together in heaven. This is definitely a foreshadowing of things to come... and I can tell it's going to be FANTASTIC! Beyond expression.

For more info on Anne Bradstreet, including more of her poetry, please see http://www.annebradstreet.com/. "The Flesh and the Spirit" is definitely worth reading and contemplating if you only have time for one.