Just a Note:

I sat up all night because I couldnt get to sleep. I was asked by a very good friend of mine last night. since some of us were having so much trouble getting this surgery to improve our lives, is it a sign from God that it was not meant to be. I told this dear friend this. God tests us very day of our lives. This is where he sees our faith. Each thing that comes up l ke a brick wall is just like a hurdle that you can get over if you keep trying and believe in him. My grandparents were Ministers later on becoming evanglists. In church one night I heard this lady stand up and give a testimony on what Jesus had done for her that week. She told of many wonderful things, and that she was blessed to have such a wonderful friend in Jesus. But, then, she said: I thank GOD for my burdens". I was like :-0 , why would she be thankful for burdens. I cant stand them....I asked my grandfather after service and he told me. Craig, if we didnt have those burdens, it would be harder for us to show our faith. and to pray to Jesus. he went on and explained further in details. I did understand then......Now mind you. This church was a bottom of a church that was not fully built and it was built into a side of a hill. They called it the basement church. So, one day my grandfather took me to church on a friday afternoon to help him put coal on the stove for services that night......I was picking around on the piano with my finger and I looked up.... I told my grandfather that I sure would like to play the piano for him during church service since they hadnt had one in decades...He come over to me and laid his big coal miners hand on mine and he asked me this. "Do have the faith, to believe in Jesus, and you will use your talent for him, and to make people happY"?...I told him yes and we began to pray....I felt the warmth all over my body and i began to cry with deep emotions. I felt the love of Jesus touch my body...That following Sunday morning I was playing by ear during church using both hands.. I was so amazed that my hands played that old piano like i had no control...Well, later on in the years, i began reading notes from hymn books without any lessons....To this day 35 years later I now can stilll play the piano. I did keep my faith and I did keep my promise that I would play to make people happy. Ive played for funerals, weddings, church services. etc.....NOW, God has watched over me through 8 years of having a tracheostomy.. Five years ago. my heart was enlarged due to congestive heart failure and it was doing great so they were going to remove my trach tube...I was going on the interstate and this young boy (drunk and high) tried to go to the medium before i got there and i didnt stop in time and tboned him...I had to keep my trach again... I finally got better...Then one night I was on the computer and I grabbed my chest and they took me to the ER..they gave me meds and i went home . The next day this doctor called me and told me that I had a lung mass on my left lung...Rebuking satan..I then had to go to the Ellis Fishel Hospital in Columbia where this other Doctor wanted to remove half my lung.. Well, I refused...My family sent me a prayer clothe, I put it on my chest and prayed with a friend. ..NOW, they cannot find it on exrays or MRI"S.....so you people. GOD is there everytime.. KEEP the faith, Keep going...Every doctor, Nurse or friend you have is a tool from God...Forgive me for typing so much but I wanted to share that with you all.....Thanks Craig Lee

Craig - dear friend Thank you for that! I needed that today. I came home from working all day as a nurse and giving it my all. You were there for me. I am going to Maundy day services tonight and singing in choir. I am saying a special prayer for you and Jan asking God to please make it possible for your surgery to be sooner and to bless and keep you both safe. Thanks again, Colette

Craig, I totally agree with you. I have been trying for over 8 months and with two different insurances to get this surgery. God pointed me in the direction he wanted me to go and I was approved today. You see, I tried to get into school this semestar which means I wouldn't have been working my seasonal job but I was not able to get financing for the school. I went back to my seasonal job and got on their insurance which approved me for the surgery. I think this is where God wanted me but he wanted me to show him that I have Faith in Him. That is what it took for me to be approved.

Thank God for you Craig. I needed this today. I wouldn't say I had a bad day because I am alive and have too much to be grateful for any day to be called bad. I was however in the "give up" mode. I started to not check the messageboard but I did and I got exactly the message I needed. I have been discouraged by the insurance changes rumored to be coming on my job. I need to have faith. God always has a plan and sometimes part of his plan is to find out if we can live on his timeline for us without losing faith in him.His answer may not be no it may just be wait. Thanks, Dannielle

All I can say is WOW!! Thank you so much for sharing that with us... God Bless, Kelli