Raise a glass...

Jay was the best man at his brother's wedding, March 15, 2008. Here was his toast/blessing to Chris and Carrie. I thought it was such a great toast!

It's customary for the best man to toast the bride and groom. It's also customary for an older brother to pass along words of wisdom. Since I am both, I would also like to give them a blessing in place of Dad. When mom found out that I was giving a toast, she knew how Chris and I are and she made me promise to "toast" not "roast"--I am going to do my best to honor that.

Chris and Carrie--I pray that you remember your actions that brought you here today, because your actions make your words reality.

Your mothers have prayed for your mate since you were children, I pray that you remember that when God is the center of your marriage there is nothing you two can't do and your love will grow more than you ever thought possible.

I pray that your good times are plenty, and when the hard times come; and they will, that you embrace them for what they are and allow God to do His work inside of you to make you perfect, complete, and lacking in nothing.

I pray that when the time is right, God blesses you with children. Because nothing fills your heart with more joy and melts the worries of the world away like the laughter of a child.

All through life, I can remember my mom saying "The man maybe the head of the house, but the woman is the neck that turns the head." I see lots of ladies nodding. One day, a few years ago I asked mom if that is were the saying "pain in the neck" came from. I can remember Dad falling on the floor with laughter and mom slapped me on the back of the head. Chris, I pray you learn a phrase that will help make your marriage happier--"yes dear."

Finally God has placed all of these people in your life to help support and guide you; when necessary, stand in the gap for you. So if anyone here would like to join me in affirming this blessing to Chris and Carrie, please stand and raise your glass to them and the journey of marriage they are starting.

To Chris and Carrie--God bless you and Salud!

Praise You In This Storm

They say tragedy comes in 3's. That has happened in our family of God.

This song helps me through. My heart aches tremendously for all those suffering their losses.

*Please pray for the Team of Missionaries in the Dominican Republic.

*Please pray for the family who lost their son.

*Pray for the college students who lost their friend.
http://web.mac.com/coryandlaurabeth/Site/Blog/Blog.html

*Please pray for the family who has lost their husband and father.

*Pray for our country who lost one of it's protectors.

*Pray for the sister who lost her brother.

*Pray

Casting Crowns--Praise you in this Storm

I was sure by now

God, You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes awayI lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

We're leavin' on a jet plane

Tomorrow we are headed to sunny Florida! My BIL (brother in law) is getting married this weekend to one of the most sweetest girls I have met! I can't wait for there to be another Mrs. Sergio!

On a sadder note, there is a family at church who could use your prayers. God knows why. This family needs peace that only God can give.

Our hearts are with you. We cry your tears and we lift you up to our Lord God who is the ultimate comforter and bearer of our sorrows.

Have a great week everyone! Pics of the wedding will come when we get back!

why can't life be like t.v.

I didn't weigh in this week. My weigh in buddy was not feeling well and I just wanted to sleep on Sat. I really like having the accountability partner and someone to celebrate with me when I get off the scale. So when I didn't get htat on Sat....well, I stayed home.

Why can't life be like "The Biggest Loser"? When I get on the scale, I DO NOT want them to announce my weight but I want the drama of the numbers going down and up and down and up and then landing on the final number and every one looking at me in shock and amazement and then having some say...You lost 2 lbs. and then everyone in the room clapping for me! And the hostess asking me how I feel to be 2 lbs. lighter and have a total weight loss of 14.4 (but since it is t.v. we will round to 15).

Why can't my weigh in's be like that? Maybe I should put that in the weight watchers suggestion box. I bet they'll do it!

update

I thought I would update you all on the recent activities in our house and that will also update you on my last post.

So when last we met-- I was under going some changes!

1. I am doing rather well with my daily bible reading and praying!
2. I am down a total of 14.4 pounds! (since Oct)
3. God is working well in our finances area.... (the dryer saga turns out well!)

On a down note--my son has mono! Not sure how he got it....he doesn't kiss girls!

So to expand on the dryer saga....if you remember from my last post, our dryer started to trip the breaker and we could only dry 1 or 2 items of clothes at a time on extra low heat. It was pain but I wasn't paying a repair man $200 to fix it...we were just going to save up for a new dryer. Well there are some wonderful people at our church who are very generous with their time and resources. As God would have it, they have an extra dryer. They said we could borrow it until the Army relocated them! GREAT! Jay and a good friend from out of town went over on Friday and picked it up and brought it in.

Now the "new" dryer has a 4 prong plug....we have a 3 prong outlet. So Jay and Joey thought no big deal, we will just switch the plugs on the dryers. They did that and I put a load of clothes in to dry! I was giddy with delight that I could now dry a whole load of laundry at one time! I set the dryer up and pressed the button and left the room. We got busy with our out of town friends that evening and I totally forgot that I had put t hat load in the dryer. So Sat. morning I went down stairs to take out the newly dryed clothes.....wrong! They clothes were not dry, the dryer and popped the breaker! Joey then tells me....that he thinks it is our breaker that is broken not the dryer! So he pulls out the old breaker and we go to home depot via starbucks to get a new breaker. We come back and install it and I go to the dryer and nope....it won't turn on!

Frustrated, we went to the spy museum (which is cool!) and then to Bertucci's for dinner and then to Home Depot to get yet another breaker! Joey installs the new breaker and I go to turn on the dryer and NO LUCK!!! And then my leg hits the dryer door! Yes my cognitively higher developed friends...the dryer door was open!!! That is why it wouldn't start! Now the old breaker was bad but the new breaker was just fine!

All I have to say is Thank you Lord for saving me $200!!!

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I am not a believer in "new year's resolutions". Why because I don't stick to them. Instead, I believe in life style changes.

My 3 that God has completely convicted me about it:

1. a deeper, daily relationship with Him
2. my weight
3. our finances

So far, so good.....

1. reading my bible almost everyday (I started with Proverbs and James) and then spend about 3 minutes in prayer.
2. down 9 lbs.
3.saying "no" to eating out and other non-necessities. I am clipping coupons again!

But isn't it always like this...I start to make those changes and WHAM! Our dryer starts to go on the fritz! I can only dry one towel at a time on ex low heat. I can only dry about anything one at a time on extra low heat! But I have not built up our "emergency fund" yet to $1000, so we are going to bite the bullet and deal. I am not putting it on credit, we are just dealing!

So life changes are hard and Satan doesn't want you to get your life right. What life changes could you make? I will pray for you in your quest to getting your life right!

HILARIOUS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-8Ihsccknw

I am sure you have seen this t.v. commercial but it is hilarious! I don't know how to post a video from youtube...if anyone knows how...let me know

Thankful

So--I am sure that about a bazillon people will post something today about what they are thankful for and because I very rarely have any unique ideas and I tend to be a follower not a lead.......well you catch my drift.

The one thing I wanted to do this holiday was be just the 4 of us. We almost never get to be just the 4 of us. Suzanne, I know you are reading this and OF COURSE you are "the 4 of us" even though you make 5! Suz is a permanent fixture in our family now. My kids were upset when they thought that she was going to be in town but not with us today. Anyhoo--I told my mother that I wanted it to be the 4/5 of us. That we were going to laze around in our pj's all day and eat and watch movies and then watch the Cowboys win another game! God had a different plan for me today...

I have just come from the hospital visiting one of our families whose 3 year old little girl had surgery this morning. As I am waiting for the family to spend a few minutes with their daughter before she goes to surgery, I am watching all the staff walk to and fro. There are very very few none hospital workers that I see. I am touched by the fact that they are working today. I know that the majority of them don't have a choice. It is their shift to work. Some of them did choose to work today for whatever reason and because of that, this little girl gets to have surgery to heal her from her illness.

This family is suppose to be in Nashville visiting family. Instead, they are sitting in the waiting room with me awaiting to hear that the surgery is going to have done it's job.

• I am thankful for hospital staffs who work on days like today instead of being with their family.
• I am thankful for quiet waiting rooms so that we can talk and try to be comforted during this scary time.
• I am thankful that God shows me what is important and that I can recognize when He is showing me and I listen.
• I am thankful for my kids. They got up when i told them I was headed to the hospital and they cleaned the house for me! The kitchen is ready to be worked in. The living room is free of dog hair and ready for us to spend the day together.
• I am thankful for hugs from my kids when I got back.
• I am thankful for a daughter who has such a great sense of self and not willing to compromise it for anyone.
• I am thankful for a son who is always ready to sing and make us laugh and tell us, what he thinks are the best stories ever!
• I am thankful for my husband who is currently flying back from AL because his been taking care of his family during their time of sadness with the loss of their matriarch (Jay's grandmother).
• I am thankful for a daughter who can drive to the airport to pick up her daddy while I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner.
• I am thankful for clergy signs so I didn't ahve to pay the money to park at the hospital...even though I would have anyway.
• I am thankful for songs of praise that I can lift to honor God daily.
• I am thankful for His forgiveness of all my many many sins

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were meant to live for so much more....

The Year--1988
The Driver--me
The Passenger--my friend Debbie
The Car--Volkswagen Rabbitt (Belonged to the Belknaps)
The Situation--a tree fell on me!

All the Emergency personnel could not believe that we lived through it. I was meant to live for so much more....not sure what my purpose in life is, other than to live each day for God and do His will. I don't know that I am destined for greatness but I do know that I have been given each day since that day in 1988 as a gift. Each day that you wake up, you are given the gift of that day. What are you going to do with you day?








By the way--the Belknaps were pretty cool about the whole situation. Mr. Belknap wanted to get rid of the car anyway!

The Lord works in mysterious ways!

Not so sure about this

There is this product out on the market for women. It promotes "fewer periods for women". They state that women don't need to have a period every month.

I am not so sure about this. Our bodies are made to do this. It is part of being a woman. I think we can blame Eve for all the "joy" we get every 28-32 days.

Doctors say it is safe. I know that some of my friends are on this medication due to complications they have every month. So I can understand that reasoning but to promote it to women who are totally fine...I am not so sure about.

I think it is like playing "God" a little bit. The Jury is still out on a full fledge decision but I am curious as to what you all think about it. I have read websites and medical sites. What do you think?

This is why we stay....

When I first posted, it only contained the picture. Then I thought people might be confused by the title, so I feel like there needs to be an explanation.

Jay and I have lived here since we were married in '89. We tried very hard through the years to move becuase we have always lived paycheck to paycheck. We NEVER get a head financially. We save up to only have to spend it within that year. We don't make alot of money. Over the past 8 years, Jay has been offered jobs in places that are not in VA. He has been offered ALOT of money to move us away. We have decided to not take them, knowing it would hurt his chances for promotions in some companies. The reason is...well look at the picture above. We wouldn't have that if we lived far away. We feel it is worth the sacrifice financially for us to be close to our family. I don't say this to seem "better than you". It is our choice. We choose to live in a townhouse and drive used cars so that we can have that picture. Jay grew up military and never was around family. I was never really close to my aunts, uncles and cousins, except for the ones who lived here. We wanted both things for our family--choices have consequences. This is a kind of consequence we will gladly accept. It is as the commercial says "priceless".

Mi Hombre

1. Who is your man? James Jay Sergio III
2. How long have you been together? Married almost 18 years
3. How long dated? 1 year
4. How old is your man? He'll be 39 on Nov 19th
5.Who eats more? He does for sure
6. Who said "I love you" first? um, he did but man that was almost 20 years ago~ so I think it was him and then I confirmed!
7. Who is taller? Jay
8. Who sings better? AH--me! Jay was in a barber shop quartet in High School but age does things to people's voices.
9. Who is smarter? As I always tell Jay--I am.
10. Whose temper is worse? Jay :)
11. Who does the laundry? For a very long time Jay did but now that he is working 7 days a week...it is either me or Chelsea.
12. Who takes out the garbage? I would prefer Jay to and as long as I remind him every Sunday evening and Wednesday evening he'll do it but he can never seem to remember on his own. By the way--for our whole married life the trash has been on the same day!
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Jay, I'm closer to the bathroom.
14. Who pays the bills? I do!
15. Who is better with the computer? I am
16. Who mows the lawn? We don't have a lawn--that is the reason we bought a townhouse.
17. Who cooks dinner? Me.
18. Who drives when you are together? Jay does.
19. Who pays when you go out? He does
20. Who is most stubborn? Um--I would say Jay BUT I am really stubborn too.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? hee hee--seeing as I am always right, who do you think?
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine
23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first!!
24. Who asked who out? He asked me out.
25. Who proposed? Jay did but we had talked about it for a while.
26. Who is more sensitive? Me for sure! But the older Jay gets the more weepy he gets.
27. Who has more friends? Maybe Jay--he can be friends with anyone
28. Who has more siblings? I do
29. Who wears the pants in the family? As long as he hears my side he can wear the pants.
30. Who makes the bed in the morning? Usually Jay because he usually gets out of bed after me.
31. Who is a morning person? hmm......neither of us!

I tag Tanya and Ramona. This way I can learn more about my brothers!

I know! I know!

It's been two weeks since I last blogged....what a 2 weeks it has been! Between school, church and being sick...I just don't know what to blog about.

So here are random thoughts...

*I have thought a couple times while driving and watching people do the DUMBEST stuff because they are on their CELL phones and NOT paying attention, that I should post about those people but then when I get home...I lose my momentum.

*I have cooking every night! yeah me! I am trying to save money because we have a wedding in Fl in March to go to. Oh yes, Jay's brother is getting married on March 15th. All I can say is....FINALLY! :) She is such a wonderful person and we are blessed to add her to our small but lovely Sergio family! Carrie is her name, she is an elementary school teacher and she loves Chris very much! We got to spend time with her over labor day weekend! The kids love her, we love her! he proposed in front of Cinderella's castle at DisneyWorld. He told her that some of his best memories are with his family at DisneyWorld and he couldn't think of a better place to ask her to be a part of his family and to start their family than at Disney! AHHHHHH isn't that sweet!!! Made me tear! So March 15th here we come a wedding on the beach in St. Pete, FL! Spring Break! Uh Dido and Tony...we will want to see you!

*Jay's mom has been praying for a while now that she needs God to help her move on. It has been almost 3 years since Jim died and she just needs help moving on. When she started praying that, Chris called her and asked to have Jim's truck because his car died. Then Chelsea's car died and she wanted to give Chelsea her car so now she's bought a new car....she didn't think God would answer her in that way. So be careful what you pray for. God is showing her how to move on!

*Alex will be 14 in Oct. He had his dr. appointment this week. He is offically 5'10 1/2 and I said...so he has grown 7 inches in 18 months. Do you think he's done? She laughed and me and said "no...he's only beginning! He doesn't even have facial hair yet!" She guesses him to be about 6'3!!

*We have our pictures to be taken tomorrow at the church for our stupid pictoral directory! oH sorry did that not sound supportive? What are we in 1983? I have no idea what to put us all in. I have a great new haircut but I need to have it highlighted and I have nothing to wear.....

Ok that is all the random thougths this clogged, stuffy head can come up with!

Calling all prayer warriors!

This was just posted from Travis and Kelly--



Family and friends, I know we've said this before, but now is the most crucial "hour" for our precious boy. The next several hours and throughout the night will determine many things.

We just met with the wonderful team of doctors again. His lungs have responded better than they thought they would to being temporarily taken off ECMO. The lungs haven't responded anywhere near perfect of course, for they are still too weak. But the lungs did respond, so the decision has just been made to remove Bennett permanently from ECMO. There were a few other reasons why they wanted to take him off ECMO, including the fact that the machine had a major clot in it, but the main ones are because his lungs are functioning a little better now and to reduce his bleeding. Once he is off ECMO, he cannot return. This will significantly reduce and/or eliminate his bleeding, but it will also significantly reduce the assistance he was receiving. It's now entirely up to his lungs and heart.

So, can you see where we need prayers right now? Two main organs: his lungs and his heart. They now have to carry the burden of sustaining him, so please pray for the strength of his lungs and his heart. His heart is also of major concern because it now has to start acting like, well, a heart. But his heart has been hibernating over two weeks, so there is significant concern about how his heart will respond to the "shock" of having to work again. They will be giving his heart several drugs and steroids soon to try to kick it in gear.

The surgery option right now is still just an option. If his lungs continue to expand and strengthen, then surgery may not be needed. This would be ideal. But even if surgery is performed, the risks are much lower now because the heparin and excessive bleeding should no longer be issues. As you can imagine, so much is happening right now, and it's happening very quickly. Essentially what it boils down to is the healthy functioning of the lungs and the heart.

Before the doctors re-entered the NICU to head over to Bennett, we told them that we and several hundred people around the country are praying for them and for Bennett. They thanked us for that, and reminded us that faith is essential during times like this because their expertise can only go so far. Your prayers are sustaining us, the incredible medical staff here, and our precious son, and we ask that you once again join us in prayers for the doctors and for Bennett's lungs and heart. His has fought like a warrior, but his strength will be tested now more than ever.

We will most likely be here for the majority of the night, and as more updates become available we will let you know. As always, thank you for all your love and support.

Love,

Travis, Kelly, and Bennett

Specific prayers

I believe in the power of specific prayers. If you have been following the trials of little Bennett Speck who was born a very very very sick little baby, on August 20th; then you will see from his websites that his lungs are still filled with infection. The Doctors remain hopeful that antibiotics will work their wonders and clear out the infection.

I am asking all who read this to please pray specifically for the infection to leave his poor little body!

Then don't forget to page their prayer pager and let them know you are praying! 703-331-4825.

Thank you.

Praying for Bennett--UPDATED

Travis, Kelly and Bennett Speck are in need of our prayers. Sweet Bennett was born a very very very sick boy on Monday, August 20th. He has currently undergone an ECMO (lung/heart bypass) to keep him alive so that his body has the best chance to recover and beat his illness.

Please pray for them and then page their prayer pager to let them know you have prayed. 703-331-4825, then you will hear a series of beeps, then press your zip code so that Travis and Kelly will know how far the prayers are coming from, then hit "#" and hang up.

We are holding a prayer vigil for him at our church, Fairfax Church of Christ.
We know that he is a gift from God and that God is faithful and hears our prayers.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR A TIME SLOT TO PRAY FROM MIDNIGHT, SAT 8/25-MIDNIGHT, SUN 8/26. Please email Lisa Bosley, lisa@fxcc.org, and she will put your time request down.

You can also go to the 2 websites set up for Bennett to get updates...

1. www.prayingforbennett.blogspot.com
2. www.totsites.com/tot/bennettmitchell

Travis, Kelly and Bennett--We love you!

Urgent Prayers needed!

http://www.prayingforbennett.blogspot.com/


Please see this blog and pray for sweet baby Bennett!!! He did not do well last night and he has his own round the clock doctor team working on him.

We know that our God is faithful.

Momma said there'd be days like this...

Life is not fair. God doesn't promise us that. He promises that He will be there for us.

My daughter had to learn that lesson last night. This past week was tryouts for volleyball at the high school. She has played freshman and JV. She didn't think she would make Varsity but we all thought she would make JV. We were wrong.

Last night, I answered the phone and through tears she tld me she didn't make the team at all. My hear broke for her. The pain in her voice was gut wrenching.

She was living my worst fear....not making the cut. I have always been so proud of my children to be like their dad when it comes to trying out for things. I never had the self-esteem to be able to do that. I was so afraid of the rejection, of not making the cut.

She came home and cried. I cried with her. She went over everything with me and it just came down to numbers. There were a lot of Juniors trying out and coachs don't want juniors unless they are going to play Varsity. They only had a small number of Juniors on the JV team. So she got cut. She felt like she played the best she could have.

She went thru all the emotions and questions that people go thru when they are rejected. After a while, I told her that I loved her becuase of who she is not because she plays volleyball for the high school. I told her that even though her pain was great right now, God has a plan for her. We can't see what that is and we don't like that is seems to not include volleyball but there is a plan and we have to wait and see what it is.

Her friends have been very kind to just give her a warm hug and not talk abut it with her. She is gone this weekend on the hs retreat....it is a deeply spiritual retreat, spending a lot of time in prayer and in the word. She said that she was looking forward to getting focused for school.

This is the crappy part of being a parent. It was hard for me to not to call the Coach and give her a piece of my mind!

Well, we will see what a weekend away and days at the beach can do to make the pain subside!

Why isn't life a musical?

Just saw Hairspray! I was once again reminded of how happy I am when I see a great musical! Chelsea and I had a girls evening. We went out to eat and then went to see a movie and even though Chelsea had seen Hairspray already, she told me she would happily see it again! Now I know why!!! LOVE IT!

So here is a list of some of my favorite muscials....

1. Les Miserables
2. Phantom of the Opera
3. Sound of Music
4. Hairspray
5. Grease
6. High School Musical--yes, I love this! I sing it all the time and on August 17th. I will be sitting in my living room watching High School Musical 2!

Oh saw a preview for the movie called "Becoming Jane". It is about Jane Austen!!! I love her novels!!!


I still need to see the current Harry Potter; Live Free, Die Hard; Bourne Ultimatum; and Ocean's 13. So many movies, so little time and money. But none of them will make me as happy as a good ole song and dance!

What are your favorite musicals?

Give me your best!

Ok, I have read two books this summer. I don't get time to read during the school year, so I soak it up during the summer. I started and finished book #2 today. So I need another book...preferably one I can find in the local library. So I need suggestions. I want to read something light, romantic, funny, a good mystery. Nothing sad, depressing or real life(unless it meets the qualifications of the above mentioned qualities). I am trying to escape for a while! I don't want to watch t.v. I don't want to read anything job/church related right now. I am burnt out.

So please please please give me your suggestions! I will add them to the post and hopefully others can enjoy them too! Now, I haven't read Harry Potter #5, 6 or 7 but I don't know that I really want to either....it doesn't matter, I know how each one ends anyway.

So here is my list so far--

1. "Before I wake", by Dee Henderson
2. "The fourth Traveling Pants book" by Ann Brashares

Suggestions
1. Confessions of a Shopoholic--Shayna
2. Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair--Tanya
3. "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation" and "The Masque of the Black Tulip" by Lauren Willig.--Jacque
4. "The Book of Jane" by May Vanderbilt and Anne Dayton.--jacque
5. "Legends" by Robert Littel--Mike
6. Life is So Good By Richard Glaubman,George Dawson --Dave

Some of my other favorites are Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers the story of Judah set in teh gold rush era. Also by her is the series of books about the 5 women in the lineage of Christ! LOVE them! They are quick reads! Happy reading! I am treating myself to a mani/pedi today but I am going to stop by the library first for a book!



WOW! Now I am excited to see what you all have to say!