Lori is really enjoying everyone's comments here! They are such a blessing to her, as well as all the flowers and the cards that are filling up her walls. It is just amazing...even in her weakened state, and all the discomfort she is dealing with, she is still so appreciative of how everyone is reaching out to her. God is providing what she needs when she needs it, and He is answering all of our prayers. Lori's pain and nausea was less today than it was yesterday, although it is still there. Please continue to pray for her comfort.
Lori said today that many people have been asking her if she is having dreams, and many of her friends have told her that they are praying for God to give her visions and dreams of her Heavenly home that awaits her. God must be putting that on the hearts of alot of people to pray for her and I believe the dreams will come when she needs them most. God is just awesome that way! He has been providing for both Lori and Mike in so many amazing ways - practical things that people are doing and bringing for them. Even things that seem small - like a bottle of lotion that someone brought for her. She loves getting her arms and hands massaged with it, it has been a blessing for her. God is even sending visitors at just the right times. I didn't want to leave tonight because I was the only one there at the time (Mike couldn't be there tonight because he had to work). I didn't want to leave her alone, but I needed to go, and with hesitation I left the room. Just as I was walking down the hall, someone else was coming to see her. God knows her needs and He is providing. Even the staff at St. Annes are wonderful! Every one that I have seen interacting with Lori has been very caring and attentive. She's being well taken care of.
Lori has some things that she is looking forward to as well...such as getting her nails done tomorrow morning (she's so excited!) and the Vikings game on Sunday (can you say early superbowl party in room 211?)
'The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:1-3
Lori & Mike - we love you and are lifting you up in prayer daily that the Lord will continue to wrap you in His loving embrace.
Lisa, Vince & the kids
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Leave Lori and Mike a comment!
There is no internet access in Lori's room, only around the corner and down the hall. For some reason, St. Annes frowns on the idea of stringing 50 feet of cords from Lori's room so that we can hook up her laptop. Hmmph.
Soooo, I am printing out this blog and all the comments people have been leaving and I will bring them to her each day. Please keep leaving her comments of encouragement, memories, and love and know that they will get them!!
Lisa
Soooo, I am printing out this blog and all the comments people have been leaving and I will bring them to her each day. Please keep leaving her comments of encouragement, memories, and love and know that they will get them!!
Lisa
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Girl time
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am". John 14:1-3
I spent some time with Lori this afternoon, along with two other friends and sister's in Christ...Holly M. and Becky W. We all happened to arrive at nearly the same time, and what a blessed time it was! God orchestrated that, for sure. Lori was not having a good day physically - she continues to weaken and her pain is not as well controlled by her medications as it has been. She is also struggling with nausea, and had not been able to keep even liquids down all morning. They might start giving her a medication to help ease her nausea, which would be a blessing.
Even through her discomfort, Lori enjoyed our "girl time" today. We all talked, laughed, prayed with her, sang to her, cried a little, read scripture, and talked about Heaven...our true home. This earth is not our home, sometimes we forget that. Lori knows that God is able to heal her body, and many of us continue to pray for and believe for that. But if His will is to bring her home, she is ready...and it is going to be amazing!! Her room is filled with beautiful flowers, and we told Lori about the gorgeous snow and frost covered trees this morning...and how that is nothing compared to the beauty that awaits all of us when we are called home.
"You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder,
shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!" Revelation 19:6-7
When asked what we can do for her or what she needs, Lori asks for our prayers. She asks us to pray that her pain would be under control, and for this nausea to subside. God is faithful and He is able!!!
Lisa Howard
Monday, January 18, 2010
Welcome to Lori and Mike's blog!
While visiting with Mike and Lori tonight, Mike shared with me that although they deeply appreciate all the phone calls they receive everyday, it is a bit overwhelming for him and he simply can't keep up! They don't want people to stop calling, but there are times that Lori is not up to talking on the phone, and Mike is unable to call everyone back. So, as a way to help Lori and Mike during this difficult time, this blog is being created as a way for all of their friends and family to be informed on how they are doing. I plan on connecting with them everyday, and posting updates here everyday - maybe even several times a day.
There are a couple ways that you can participate in this blog...if you talk with or visit with Mike or Lori and want me to post an update here (aka: if you know something I don't know!), you can email me at: takemetomaui (at) hotmail (dot) com. I will post it as soon as I am able to. You can also leave a comment by clicking on "comments" at the bottom of each post. (You'll be asked to choose a "profile" and you can just click on "anonymous". After you write your comment, click on "publish". Sometimes you have to do this more than once to make it go through. I know, lame. Let me know if you have problems).
This is more than just a place to share information...I would like this to be a place of hope. A place of prayer. And a place to share the love of Christ with our dear friends Lori and Mike, as well as with eachother - those of us who know and love them and come along side them as they walk this journey together.
Tonight, Lori is feeling very weak. Her pain is being controlled by medication and they are keeping her as comfortable as possible. She says she is at peace...a peace that passes all understanding for sure. I asked her and Mike recently what specifically we can be praying for them...Lori said "courage", and her concern is for Mike more than for herself. Mike only asks for prayer for Lori, that she would not have to suffer. Lori was in pretty good spirits tonight, and enjoyed the many visitors she had while I was there. She drifts in and out of sleep, and even though she needs her rest she still wants people to come.
Just in case you aren't fully aware of what is going on, Lori was diagnosed with primary liver cancer in October, 2009. She had a short treatment of chemotherapy, which was not successful. Other treatment options were unfortunatly ruled out. Last Friday, Lori was told by her doctors that she had about a week to live.
That is what the doctors are saying......now here is what God says:
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23
"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones". - Isaiah 49:13
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16
We love you, Lori and Mike, and are standing in the gap for you!!
Lisa Howard
There are a couple ways that you can participate in this blog...if you talk with or visit with Mike or Lori and want me to post an update here (aka: if you know something I don't know!), you can email me at: takemetomaui (at) hotmail (dot) com. I will post it as soon as I am able to. You can also leave a comment by clicking on "comments" at the bottom of each post. (You'll be asked to choose a "profile" and you can just click on "anonymous". After you write your comment, click on "publish". Sometimes you have to do this more than once to make it go through. I know, lame. Let me know if you have problems).
This is more than just a place to share information...I would like this to be a place of hope. A place of prayer. And a place to share the love of Christ with our dear friends Lori and Mike, as well as with eachother - those of us who know and love them and come along side them as they walk this journey together.
Tonight, Lori is feeling very weak. Her pain is being controlled by medication and they are keeping her as comfortable as possible. She says she is at peace...a peace that passes all understanding for sure. I asked her and Mike recently what specifically we can be praying for them...Lori said "courage", and her concern is for Mike more than for herself. Mike only asks for prayer for Lori, that she would not have to suffer. Lori was in pretty good spirits tonight, and enjoyed the many visitors she had while I was there. She drifts in and out of sleep, and even though she needs her rest she still wants people to come.
Just in case you aren't fully aware of what is going on, Lori was diagnosed with primary liver cancer in October, 2009. She had a short treatment of chemotherapy, which was not successful. Other treatment options were unfortunatly ruled out. Last Friday, Lori was told by her doctors that she had about a week to live.
That is what the doctors are saying......now here is what God says:
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23
"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones". - Isaiah 49:13
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16
We love you, Lori and Mike, and are standing in the gap for you!!
Lisa Howard
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