The Refiner's Fire

Malachi 3:3 "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Psalm 66:10 "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver."

Refine: to free from impurities; to bring to a pure state

To refine silver, Silversmiths hold a piece of silver in a fire and let it heat up. They must hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are hottest in order to burn away all the impurities. The silversmith must sit in front of the fire the entire time to keep his eye on the silver because if it is left in the fire too long, it will be destroyed. How does the silversmith know when the silver is fully refined? He can see his image reflected in it.

Do you ever stop and think of this when you are going through a hard time in life? God is our refiner. He may put us in the fire, but he knows just how long we have to stay in there without being destroyed. When we become pure, His image is reflected in us and we can be a witness for Him!

God has definately been refining me through this whole ordeal. I feel that I have come a long way, but I still have a very long way to go. The good part of being in the fire is being able to know that my God is watching and making sure the fire does not overcome me. I want to be God's image. I want to live in a way that pleases Him and shows that He alone is worthy of our worship and praise. Praise God for these trying times when we can draw closer to Him and feel the peace and love that can only come from God above!

I pray that God sees His image reflected in my family soon. However, I know that God's timing is best and only when we are completely pure will we be removed from the fire.

God, please continue to heal Brayton and let us get good news next Tuesday! Thank you for bringing us this far. Continue teaching Luke and me that our ways aren't as high as yours are and you alone are the key to peace and happiness! Please continue to bless our sweet angel that You have allowed us to borrow! Help us to help him be all that you need him to be! In Your precious, holy name, Amen!

Change of Plans

Well, we were suppose to go to Jackson for a procedure today. However, when I called Friday, they did not have us on the schedule!!! So now we have to wait two more weeks!!! Frustrating? It depends on how you look at it.

This is actually the second time that we have been pushed back. We are suppose to go every four weeks. One other time, I called them to find out that the doctor was on vacation so we got pushed back one week. It does get aggrivating, but when you stop to look at it from a different point of view, it is not that bad.

Sure, we have to wait two more weeks before we find out if there is any improvement or not, but Brayton also has two weeks to  improve even more. When we went in December, Dr. Reed told us that there was a little improvement but it still looked bad. Nurses told us that Dr. Reed is not one to say it is getting better unless it really is. The times before December, we were told it was still bad and not any better. So December was the first time that there was some improvement.  Now it will be six weeks in between procedures! Brayton has two extra weeks to heal!

I am praying that God uses these two extra weeks to heal my little one's broken airway! He alone knows what he is doing and his timing is everything. Even though I wish we could have gone today to find out news, God knows what is best. We will go January 24th!!!

Plans change, but Jesus will still be there!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

New Year, New Hope

The new year has begun! As I look back on 2011, I am so thankful for all of the good and bad times! I feel that I have grown closer to God, and I have a new outlook on life and how fragile it is.

This will hopefully be the year that Brayton gets his trach out! We go to Blair E. Batson on Tuesday, January 10 to do another scope procedure. Hopefully, the results will show improvement!

Brayton has had the trach for a couple months now. It has become routine to clean it, change it, and do all we need to do. I am thankful that we were trained well and that we are more comfortable dealing with the trach. Even though, it is all becoming routine, I can't wait to get it taken out! I want to hear my baby babble and coo and say my name! I want to give him a bath without worrying about getting water in his trach. I want to be able to take him to the beach.

Parents, don't take the little things your children do for granted. If they cry and wake you up, be happy instead of complaining. When they bug you saying, "momma, momma, momma," soak up the fact that they are saying your name.  When they splash water out of the tub, be thankful that you don't have to worry about them getting water in their lungs and drowning.  Every breath they take, praise God that they are breathing and not turning blue! Soak up every moment you have with them. Shower them with kisses and love!

This year, my prayer is that by December 31, 2012, Brayton will be trach free! I will pray it every day from now until then! I have faith that my God, the ultimate healer, can accomplish this! I know that there is a bigger picture to all of this even though I may never see or know what the big picture is!

Praise to God for life and this new year of hope!