Gabe Me a Code

For some reason, I remember reading this Garfield cartoon  as a kid, and it has really stuck with me.  I guess I thought it was pretty funny!  Well, poor sweet Finn is struggling through a cold!  He is just so congested! He can’t eat, he can’t sleep well.  *sigh*  It is really heartbreaking! And tiring for Mommy and Daddy, too.  He is only eating about ½ at one sitting of what he was, so he is also eating 2x as often.  Add to that the getting so congested in his sleep that it wakes him up, and you get the picture…  This started about a week ago, so we are really hoping we are on the downhill side.  

In the meantime, there is some good that came of all this!  When you are congested, and your oxygen flow is only 1/32 L, there comes a point when the cannula in your nose plus the swelling is more of a fight than a help.  So, after asking about that Monday night when we saw our pediatrician at a school function (I know, I’m *THAT* mom), we started weaning him pretty aggressively.  He was off oxygen support most of the day Tuesday – only putting it back on for feedings, then was on overnight on Tuesday.  Wednesday, we followed the same routine, but I know I forgot to hook him back up for at least 2 feedings.  Plus, he had completely removed the cannula and tape in time for his middle of the night feeding, so we just left it off the rest of the night.  Thursday, we went on another excellent adventure (more on that in the next paragraph), and we had him on O2 in the car to and from, but the rest of the day he was off – including overnight!  So, by Friday, we has COMPLETELY OFF OXYGEN SUPPORT!  He has done great since then – even with fighting the cold!  So, here are the first few pictures of Finn with no oxygen support!  No more cannula and no more adhesive on his face!

Room Air test on Tuesday

 

No Cannula on Wednesday

 

So, Thursday was one of the BEST days I have had in a very long time!  After we got up and got around to get the big kids off to school, Britt, Finn and I loaded up and headed for Edmond.  First stop, my friendMel’s house!  Melissa is a sorority sister of mine and thanks to facebook we have been able to keep up with each other over the last few years.  She had agreed to watch Finn for a couple of hours while Britt and I got to go to a special event for our church.  I am so thankful for loving friends who care about our family!  She and Finn has a good time getting to know each other – and the treats we brought for her and her 1 year old to share helped, too!  Next stop, LifeChurch.tv Edmond.  Pastor Steven Furtick  (author of Sun Stand Still, lead pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina, my own personal spiritual leader) was scheduled to tape two sermons on God’s Favor, and the host team coordinator at our Stillwater campus MADE SURE we had a spot for this taping since we are both such HUGE Furtick Fans (Finn is the result of many Sun Stand Still prayers)!  It was everything we expected, and more.  He is such an amazing man of God, and excellent preacher, and just plain fun to be in his presence!  The first week of his talks, “Finding Favor” can be found this week on Church Online.  Don’t miss next week, when he talks about “Walking in the F.O.G.”  It’s incredible!

After we came down off that spiritual high a little bit (I have heard week 1 twice now, and I’m still high – might watch it again this afternoon), we went back to Mel’s house to get our baby, and just chatted for a bit.  It was nice to be in the presence of another Mommy and to just talk about our kids.  But after some time there, it was time to minister to another Mommy I have recently been introduced to.  Next up – Mercy NICU – Finn’s old stomping grounds.  We had alerted a few of the staff that we were coming (and bringing treats; that seems to be Finn’s (Britt’s) trademark), but we were also there to meet a new friend who had just started her long micro-preemie NICU journey 2 weeks ago.  After much ooh’ing and aah’ing over Finn in the little lobby area of the NICU by nurses, nurse practitioners, and one of his neo-natologists, I scrubbed up to head back and meet little baby Savannah.  She is so tiny, and has such a long way to go.  Being in that room immediately flooded me with memories and reminded me just how far Finn has come.  After just a few short minutes in her room, the door opened, and in walked Britt.  Without Finn.  My first question (as, I am a GOOD mom) was WHERE IS MY BABY???  Well, the nurse practitioner said she had a report to write, so she just took Finn from Britt, and off she went with him!  It was really nice to have Britt in the room, too.  We asked lots of questions about Savannah, prayed over her isolette and for her family, gave her the book Finn had brought for her, and spent a long time just being in there with them.  I know how much I cherished visitors to help the long days go by faster.  But, we had to be getting back to Stillwater, so it was time to find my baby.  Which was a little harder than I thought!  I went out of the baby’s room, looked to the nurses’ station, and did not see him.  There were several nurses there (none I recognized, of course), So I just said “Um, Where’s my baby?”  He was around the corner with the nurse practitioner and one of the doctors.  Just chilling out, being a big boy!  I forget how far we have come until I see a tiny 1 pound 9 ounce baby in an isolette with all those wires and tubes, then a few moments later see my big 10 pound son sitting up in someone’s lap, watching the flickering screen of a computer.  Savannah’s Mom thanked us for coming and said seeing Finn gives her hope.  That makes me happy.

On Friday, we did take Finn to the doctor to make sure he didn’t have RSV or the flu (which he does not) He weighed in at 10 pounds 13 ounces, and we captured this cute giggle on camera:

After a pretty lazy weekend, and suffering through the dreaded time change, today it was back to routine.  SonnerStart was here earlier for Finn’s evaluation, and he is right on track!  Even showed off a bit by “dancing” and smiling to his favorite song:

 

Here’s to another week!  Knowing I cannot ACHIEVE favor, I have to RECEIVE favor (-Steven Furtick).  Finding Favor with God in the things I do, nurturing my family and making sure they are all where they need to be when they need to be there, and watching Finn grow (and get over this cold), preparing him to be a world changer in the future.  Easy, right?

What a Ride

Today is day 10.  Day 10 of flat on my back, on my couch or in my bed, not leaving the house (except to go to the hospital or Doctor’s office), other people catering to my every, single need.  Day 10 of wondering how long we are going to go this, how much is too much, and what else can I do.  Day 10 of a ride I never EVER thought I would be on (have you heard that a lot since April from me?  I know...)  I have good days and bad days.  Good moments and bad moments.  Periods of unwavering faith, and pure doubt and fear.  This is one crazy roller coaster!  But, I am keeping my eye on the prize, and the finish line will SO be worth it!  Christmas with my newborn son, Finn!  Let’s go back to the beginning - Monday the 29th (the last day I blogged!)

Monday, August 29 - I had a regular OB appointment that afternoon.  Typical in and out appointment: urine check, weight, BP, Doppler for the heartbeat, out the door.  I was told I would have to do the icky orange drink to test for gestational diabetes next time, and that would be in 4 weeks.  Easy-peasy.  See you then.

Tuesday, August 30   - normal Tuesday for most of the day.  There was a PTA meeting that evening at our elementary school, so we went.  Although sitting in the small, hard aluminum folding chair was not the most comfortable thing on the planet, it was working fine.  The meeting us running a few minutes long, and I needed to pee, so I had told Britt the minute it adjourned, I was out the door to the potty.  He had actually gotten up a few minutes before it was over to stand in the back and be ready to assist with putting the chairs away when we were done.  So, the gavel sounded, I stood up, and headed towards the exit to the hall. That’s when I felt something warm and wet running down my leg.  I thought Oh, S^*#!  I just peed myself!  But, I was headed towards my husband, his eyes were bigger than half dollars, he called my name in a panicked voice I never hear, and it prompted me to look down.  BLOOD.  Everywhere.  Initially, The 2 main feelings were embarrassment and shock.  That quickly turned to panic and fear!  Fast Forward through some details, and we were in the ER about 15 minutes after that (would have been a bit faster but we had to find out kids on the playground).  Once in the ER reception area, they asked how pregnant I was (21 weeks) and had nurses from Labor & Delivery come get my in a wheel chair.  After a stressful evening of poking, prodding, doctor visits, prayer vigils in the parking lot, visitors to my room, lots of monitoring and very little sleep, it was finally morning and time for an ultrasound.

Wednesday, August 31 - started off with an ultrasound first thing in the morning.  GREAT news - Finn is fine.  Growing steadily, perfect heart rate, fluid levels are great, kicking, flipping, and being cute as every on the fuzzy little screen.  Placenta is right where is should be and attached all the way across as it should be; cervix is long and closed.  The technician did find a small blood clot near the cervix (remnants of “The Spot” perhaps?  Britt and I believe so) that looked to be a few small dark areas, but she didn’t seem too concerned about them.  Unfortunately, I was also having MANY strong contractions that morning, and that is bad news.  We had to get them under control, but they cannot medicate for those if you are actively bleeding.  So, it was rest, water, rest and relax to get them to stop.  They lasted pretty steadily though lunch, but were done by early afternoon.  Spent the rest of the day in the hospital.  My Doctor came by in the early afternoon and said I should stay another night.

Thursday, September 1 - Bleeding was getting much better, I was feeling better, and the Doctor said if I could get up and walk the halls without it causing more bleeding, I could go home that afternoon.  I spent the morning in bed, but after lunch one of the AMAZING nurses that had been with me over the course of this adventure took me and my IV pole on a walk.  While I was still bleeding a little bit, the trip didn’t cause any major bleeding, so after a phone call to my doctor, I got to go home - to strict bed rest - that afternoon.  Made an appointment to follow up with my doctor in a week.  Once I got home (I took a shower) and started settling in, it really hit me how hard this was going to be.  My kids had been with my parents this whole time, and I know it is stressful for EVERYONE!  I was definitely overwhelmed by the reality that was setting in.

Friday, September 2 - the kids didn’t have school this day, and I ignorantly thought I could handle it.  By 10 am I was begging Britt to find something for them to do in the afternoon.  Sweet friends rescued me!  The kids went on a play date, then my mom took them back to her house after she got off work, so I got a solid afternoon of sleep.  This was the night food started rolling in, and we met with our life group leaders to come up with a plan for helping us.  My husband is taking on SO MUCH MORE responsibility with all of this, and I fear he will hit a wall, so we are trying to keep him going, and keep me gestating!  I felt better emotionally after Friday night's meeting - I felt like there was a plan, and people to help, and things would be OK!

Saturday, September 3 - While I made myself cozy on the couch, the kids found games to play, rode bikes, and generally behaved pretty well.  Britt started cleaning the house, and rearranging furniture, trying to make this place work for our new reality.  He even got Jake’s old crib out and set it up for Finn!  The kids had another swimming play date this afternoon, too, so I got to rest while Britt worked around the house.  Pretty uneventful day - medically.  Later that evening, my bleeding increased a bit, but we weren’t too worried, as the nurses had told us I would still bleed for awhile, so I went to bed, satisfied with the day.

Sunday, September 4 - Everyone slept in, thankfully!  We were lazing around in bed, thinking about getting up so Britt and the kids could get ready to go to church in about an hour.  I got up to go to the bathroom, and while in there, I had another HUGE bleeding incident, including large clots. It scared me, alarmed Britt, and back to the hospital and L&D we went!  Called my mom to come sit with the kids while we loaded the car, told Emma she was in charge, and out the door we went!  Again, so impressed with the care I received.  It was not 5 minutes from the time we got out of our car in the parking lot that I was in a gown in a bed with a baby monitor strapped to my belly!  I was again having a few mild contractions - caused by the bleeding making my uterus “hostile,” but nothing like earlier in the week.  My doctor was out of town, but the on-call doctor was the one who discharged us a few years ago when Jake was born, and we know him socially as well.  He ordered an ultrasound, which again showed Finn and his environment to be perfect.  He, too, saw some even smaller clots near the cervix (“The Spot?”), but he saw them smaller and fewer than what was seen earlier in the week.  The on-call doctor decided to keep me about 6 hours for observation.  Spent the day resting, drinking water and greeting visitors, then got to go home around 5pm.  Home again, home again!  Settled back in to my bed rest, and just trying to stay flat.

Monday, September 5 - Thursday, September 8 - BED REST!  Monday was a holiday, so again, ALL my people were home with me.  So glad for the time with my kids and my husband, but this day was emotionally hard for me as the physical realities of my restrictions really set in.  I couldn’t help the kids do the things they wanted to do.  It seemed like every 5 minutes there was something just beyond my reach that I wanted or needed.  But, we were all figuring out the ways to best help me.  Again, my kids were surprisingly well behaved, and have adjusted so well.  The girls are really being helpful and considerate, and I think it finally clicked with Jake on Wednesday that I literally can’t get up and help him.  Lara is always checking my water cup and asking if I need refills!  Things started to fall in to a routine, and the highs and lows began to even out a bit.  We are by no means experts at our new routine, but better than the first 4 days of pure chaos!  I think one of the main stresses for Britt and I right now is trying to figure out my job situation and the paperwork process.  You only have a few days after being admitted to the hospital to file certain things.  That’s a little hard when you are SICK and on BED REST and can’t DO anything, plus the holiday weekend, and we are now in a bit of a scramble to meet deadlines.  Plus, we are not sure how long this will last and what to apply for, so it has been a bit of a maze (as well as a headache!) for us - and mainly Britt since he is the one having to DO everything.  Wednesday evening we squeezed 19 people in our tiny living room for Life Group - they came to me since I can't go to them!  So blessed!  Then, I had an appointment with my regular OB Thursday afternoon.  Such a blessing to hear Finn’s heartbeat on the Doppler!  This had been the longest I had gone without hearing or seeing him in awhile!  He’s still doing great!  I, am still not.  LOL!  My doctor recommended going back to the specialist in 10-14 days (when I am 25 weeks along) to discuss next steps and baby viability (According to data years 2003-2005, 20 to 35 percent of babies born at 23 weeks of gestation survive, while 50 to 70 percent of babies born at 24 to 25 weeks, and more than 90 percent born at 26 to 27 weeks, survive. ~ Wikipedia).  So, we left our paper work with him, made a return appointment with him for next week, and came home to bed.  My appointment with the specialist in the city in on the 26th (I will be 25 weeks and 3 days pregnant).

So, here I lay!  Typing this has been a mess - it is hard to type laying down!  Plus, it brings all my emotions back to the surface.  My prayers are for strength for my husband, understanding for my children, patience for me, and growth, safety and stability for Finn.  Also, for the physicians, nurses, technicians, and all medical professionals involved in our care.  I pray for my employers and the decisions they have to make, as well as the insurance companies handling my case.  This reminds me so much of where were were in April when my brother died.  It is the WORST moment of your life, and you have to make a MILLION decisions in the middle of your grief and pain.  Here I am being told to rest and relax, again, while my whole world is in a complete whirlwind - so many needs that need to be met!  I saw God show off this week with a sweet friend who has cancer and was faced with more complications, but multitudes of people prayed Sun Stand Still prayers with her and for her, and it worked.  I’ve seen His miracles over and over and over with this pregnancy, and I know He will continue to provide!  You just watch!
 

What does it mean to be BOLD?

This past weekend, Lifechurch.tv and Pastor Craig Groeschel shared the second message in a series called BOLD.  The first week was called Amazing Boldness  and we learned that Boldness is a behavior born out of belief.  That God gives ordinary people extraordinary boldness and that your boldness will amaze the world.  This all came at an amazing time in my life, as I was in the middle of the being the boldest I have ever been.  This blog is my expression of BOLD!  Sharing Christ through the circumstances of my life, and praying that my words have touched, helped, or inspired someone – ANYONE – to be more like Christ and put their faith in Him. Not too long after this sermon was preached, I had an acquaintance tweet me, THANKING me for being BOLD.  That was a little affirmation that what I am doing here is making a difference – at least for that one person.

Fast Forward to week two: Bold Prayers.  This week we learned that what you pray for reflects what you believe about God.  Do you pray small, self-focused prayers?  Or do you pray Big, BOLD (Sun Stand Still) world changing prayers?  Pray for BOLDNESS!  Pray for MIRACLES!  If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you know the last 120 days have been an utter roller coaster for me and my family.  The disbelief of my brother’s death (4 months ago yesterday, in fact) and the circumstances surrounding it.  The shock of finding out we were expecting our fourth child and the wondrous surprise that was.  The terror of discovering we might lose the baby – a gift that had been presented to us; one that we never knew we even wanted. And, the miracle of being saved that tragedy.  All God’s work.  All for his glory.  All so I could learn to pray BOLD prayers and bear witness to miracles.  So that I could share these words with you, show you that our God is greater than anything you are facing, and encourage you to be faithful, and to be BOLD.

So, I have been thinking about this BOLD thing a lot the past few days.  At life group last night (shout out some LOVE to my LTC friends!), we went over the Talk It Over questions from this week (as best we could with a dozen kids running around!) and I got to share a little bit more of my story and what it means to me to be BOLD.  And how my journey with Christ has changed over the past 4 months, and what it FEELS like to be on this side of a miracle.  I told them I won’t feel completely comfortable until it is January and I am holding a healthy baby in my arms, but I KNOW that day is coming!  I feel blessed to know so many are praying for us, humbled to know that this life growing inside of me is already changing lives, and loved by so SO many people.  What an amazing demonstration of God’s purpose for our lives!  I received an email from a dear friend earlier this week reflecting on being BOLD, the miracle we have all gotten to be a part of, and how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  I want to share a portion of it with you:

I’m not just amazed by the journey you’ve already been on and the miracle that has taken place over the last 2 weeks.   I am so moved by you guys and the way you handled every step of the situation.  Believing and knowing that God would hear our prayers and remain faithful.  I look at both of your facebook pages and see the people that commented and joined you in prayer and I’m just blown away.  The number of people alone is incredible…Today I am moved by the impact that Shocker is making in so many of their lives before he/she is even here.  God is already using this baby to lead people to Christ and to witness His work and love in and through you.  This world better watch out for what is coming with the 6^th Dream Weaver!

 …I hope you see that through your trials, through your little Shocker, people can’t ignore the powerful move of God that has happened…

 

Be BOLD this week.  Pray for Boldness.  Seek ways to be bold in your everyday life.  Pray for miracles.  Watch God show off.

Power of Prayer

It wouldn’t be a pregnancy for me if it didn’t include a trip to the ER.  With the girls I had unexplained bleeding at about 10 weeks, then food poisoning at 7 months.  With Jake, I never went to the ER, but we had a scare at our 10 week ultrasound which led to additional scans in the first trimester (which all issues resolved themselves).  And now, this pregnancy. We had some things happen in the middle of the night Monday night which led to a 4 hours trip to the ER, as well as some tense hours – and they’re not over yet.

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, I had two episodes of waking up feeling wet (and cold due to the air from our ceiling fan blowing on me) – almost as if I had peed myself.  The first was about 1:30, and the second, which was much worse than the first, was about 3:15am.  I was not really sure what was happening, but whatever was coming out was not urine, so I had to assume amniotic fluid.  There was also some blood the second time, so I woke Britt up that time (He had a rough night Sunday night, so I was trying to let him sleep).  While I cleaned myself and my messes up, he got on the internet.  After about 15 minutes, he said, “I think we should go to the ER.”  I tried to wave him off and told him to wait and see if it happened again, but (because he is smarter than me) he insisted.  We decided to wake the girls and tell them our plan, but to just leave the kids sleeping for the time being and call my mom when the hour was a bit more decent.

We were at the ER by about 3:45, and in our little room by 4:15.  I was so glad that the ER doc on duty was someone we knew, and was a man if faith.  (He was also the ER doc on duty a few years back when Britt dislocated his shoulder!)  The first thing they did was send a nurse in with a doppler, and she pretty quickly found a nice steady heart rate of 153 for my baby.  Then, they ran several tests, including a pap smear.  The fluid that was leaking came back positive as amniotic fluid, but there was no infection, and I was still bleeding a little bit.  Things move slowly in the ER, and it was about 6am when we got the last of the test results we were waiting on.  It was then we were told the ultrasound had been ordered for 7am.  In the meantime, I had called my mom at 5am, and by 5:30 she was at my house with the kids.  That right there eased my mind a bit!

So, 7am took forever to roll around, but I was never more excited to see one of those machines.  And the technician was so great!  Shocker was awake and moving and flipping and dancing.  Heart rate was up to 160 (that’s what happens when you exercise!), things looks great.  The ER Doc poked his head in to ask about my fluid, and she said it looked great.  After she was done, the ER doc came in to discharge me.  Told me I was on pelvic rest (indefinitely), and to take it easy, and to call my OB’s office when it opened for a follow up.  I was at the Bagel Shop by 8am for some good breakfast, then home to rest.

I called my doctor at 8:30, and was in the office by 9.  We had a hallway consultation, and he told me to come back at 11 for another ultrasound.  We went back home (which is like ½ a mile from the clinic and hospital, thank goodness!) and napped until it was time to go to the scan.  Again, everything looked GREAT on the screen.  Shocker was back to just chillin’.  Heart rate was 154, and she measured everything.  She agreed that my fluid level looked good, too.  So, afyer she consulted with my Doctor,  we got to chat with him for a few minutes.  He ordered bed rest, and to come back on Thursday for another ultrasound and visit with him.  And prayer.   

While there are 2 issues here, placenta previa (the placenta is covered the cervix – causing bleeding) and leaking amniotic fluid, the fluid is the more pressing.  The baby cannot survive without amniotic fluid.  And there is no way to stop a leak or repair a tear.  At 15 weeks, this baby is not viable outside of my womb.  This leak has to be resolved.  The placenta previa, while worrisome, usually corrects itself.  As the baby and womb grow, the placenta will move.  I already know this will be a C-section delivery (my 3^rd), so even if it continues to cover my cervix, it won’t change a whole lot, but it does need to move and resolve itself.  And I need to not be stressed and worried.  Please pray.

<-- This is who you are praying for.  This is our Baby.  She or He is 15 weeks and 4 days old in this sonogram picture I got yesterday.  S/he needs to stay put, and to stay growing.  We covet your prayers.  My doctor boldly said in his office yesterday as we were leaving that he was declaring this event as no big deal, and that we should own that, and pray it into being so.  That’s where you come in, my prayer warriors.  I invite you to pray with me, Britt, My kids, my family and friends.  Pray our Sun Stand Still prayer with us.  Pray for the amniotic fluid to stop leaking and the fluid level around the baby to remain at a good level.  Pray for the placenta to move away from my cervix as the baby grows as to not cause any more complications.  And pray for the general health and well-being of the baby, and this nervous mom.  To quote my good friend Jesus: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." (Matthew 16:23 NIV)

Sun Goes Down

This week was the part 2 of Steven Furtick’s Sun Stand Still message (The one where he compares LifeChurch.tv to the 1990’s band Nirvana and Kurt Cobain!).  In it, he address the “What if the sun DOESN'T stand still” side of things.  The haters that get in your way, your own doubts that become obstacles.  The nay-sayers, the gossips, the Debbie Downers!  My favorite quote from the beginning of the talk was “If you want to do something that has never been done before, maybe it’s because God has left it for YOU to do.”  Just because SOMEONE is telling you no, doesn’t mean GOD is telling you no.  Pastor Furtick tweeted “Not a single #1 in the Final Four. Don't let anyone else's ranking define who you are or what you can do.”  This was from Sunday night – referring to the fact that not a single #1 seeded NCAA basketball team made it to the Final Four of the end of season tournament this year!  That rankings and statistics and numbers don’t always hold true to what is happening in our lives.  PREACH!

One of the points he made about obstacles that really stuck with me was when he talked about the “Why Bother” attitude.  He used the passage from Mark 5:21 – 43 where Jairus was taking Jesus to his sick daughter so Jesus could heal her, and Jesus was detained by another woman seeking healing, and the daughter died while they were waiting for Jesus.  One of Jairus’ close advisers told them Jairus’ daughter had died.  Saying to him “Why Bother?”   Why bother the teacher anymore?  It’s useless – she’s dead already… I find myself sucked in to that attitude A LOT sometimes.  I get discouraged with how poorly my kids listen to me, so I give up and say “Why Bother?”  I diet and exercise and the pounds stay right where they are so I give up and say “Why Bother.”  But Jesus said, “Don't be afraid; just believe."  

Towards the end of the talk, Pastor Furtick references a Journey Song (recently made popular again by the TV series Glee  - another of my favorite topics) encouraging us “Don’t Stop Believing.”  But not to hold on to the feeling, but to hold on to our FAITH!  Faith that God will do greater things.  Faith that just because we can’t see the end result, yet, to keep up the work.  Faith in God’s promises for our lives. Acts 20:24  says “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.”  (This is my husband’s life verse, BTW)  We have to “tune out the doubt” (as Pastor Furtick says) and hold on to our faith to see us through. Don’t be afraid. Just believe. Don’t stop believing!

I think one of the reasons I look up to Pastor Steven Furtick so much, is that he was the guest speaker the first time I ever stepped foot on a LifeChurch.tv campus in the fall of 2008.  It was week 3 of the Kaleo series, and Pastor Craig Groeschel introduced him as a pastor from North Carolina that has a 2 year old church with 4,000 members.  (Little Stevie Furtick with is BLOND hair! And already referencing Sun Stand Still! I remember saying to my husband "If this guy is a friend of the pastor at this church, I want to go HERE!") When he was introduced last week, Pastor Furtick’s church is now 5 years old and I can’t even remember the HUGE number of people it influences!  This guy is the real deal! Don’t stop believing in the BIG THINGS God can do when you just let Him!

And as an aside, it was weigh in Monday at my house today.  I am down 1 pound from the last time I weighed 2 weeks ago!  Small victory, but I won’t stop believing! 

(And because it’s funny, every time I see the title of my post a little Kenny Chesney song goes through my head!)