God's Favor

I could not resist this precious picture of Westin that we took Monday night. When I look at this picture it matches the title of my blog....peacefully awaiting. This precious baby boy is the joy of our days. When I think of how much joy he brings to us I am quickly reminded that it is that same joy that God gets when he looks down at us. The love we have for our children is the same love that God has for us. In fact the bible says we are the righteousness of God and we are favored by him. In my devotional yesterday (which I think was titled appropriately Beat the Odds with the Favor of God) the author talked about the story of Ruth and how all things would have appeared to be against her in her time, but yet God showed his favor to her and she became the wife of Boaz and a great grandmother to David and considered in the geneology of Jesus Christ even though she was not a Jew. God's favor shone on Ruth and she was His. If we have committed our life to Jesus then we are God's chosen and His favor WILL shine on us. I tell you that blessed my soul yesterday when I read the title as I was walking out to get the car after Westin got his isotope injection. We have never once looked at the cure rate for Westin because we believe in the report of the Lord....the Favor of God. There is no such percentage with God!! As we get ready to go for Westin's scans today I look at his precious picture above and it reminds me of the peacefull awaiting that we all need. That of a precious child resting in the arms of God....no fear, no worry, no concern....just nestled up in the big strong arms of our savior who will shine His favor on those who love Him and are considered the righteousness of God.

We thank all of you for praying for our little boy and we ask that each of you this day pray God's favor to shine on Westin and the report that we are given will be the report of the Lord and astound the medical profession. May God Bless you all!!!

In His peace.....Julie

This weekend we have had the honor of having my grandmother with us. Westin absolutely loves having her with us and really keeps her busy running and doing!! Here they are watching Space Buddies for the third time!! They have played and played this weekend and we hate to see her leave. We will be taking her back to Kingsport today as we go to get Westin's Isotope for this MIBG scan tomorrow.

The title of my blog is peacefully awaiting and I would like to share with you why I chose that title. Of course I went through many titles that were not available like Standing Still, In His Grip, etc. None were available. Then it came to me, peacefully awaiting? Hum......that may be a little misleading. However, it is a goal that I strive for everyday. A peaceful awaiting for the complete manifestation of my son's earthly healing. A total reliance on the Holy Spirit to carry the burden and for me to leave it at the foot of the cross. I would hope that by now I would have conquered this better than I have, but I have to say that as I walk this journey I am learning more and more everyday. It is a total dependence upon Christ. The Bible says that we must cast all our fears upon Him. So when we fear (yes Christians do fear) we have a place where we can go and cast all our fear/worries. Cast - means to hurl: throw forcefully or shed: get rid of. So we must get rid of our fear/worries. Jesus carried those burdens to calvary and conquered those for all of us. I sometimes find myself angry because I let fear creep in when we get to this stage of Westin's journey and I feel less "christian" and I get angry with myself. "I should know better" I tell myself. Then I have well meaning people say, "it is only natural", which is exactly what I do not want to be "natural". I want the living Word of God manifest in my life daily and to do that I have to operate above the "natural" man. But when people do say "it is only natural" that is my wake up call....."julie, you are operating in the flesh....not the spirit.....remember you must cast all your fears upon the Lord and let Him carry the load." When we do this and begin to operate in the fullness of what God has intended for us then we can truly peacefully await!!

May God bless you all this day.

Well, I had promised that I would work on this blog and start to post some new things, but I have just been very very busy with taking care of business around here. Westin goes for chemo to Johnson City every 5 days then off for 2 days then back on for 5 and then off for 9. That completes one cycle. So, on the 9 days off I try to catch up on things that I have let go over the past week......mainly Emma's school. It is extremely difficult to juggle school and travelling, but we are catching on and getting back into the swing of things. I cannot imagine having her in school with all this going on. It is extremely difficult keeping up with what Hailee and Alli are doing in school and trying to make ballgames to support Hailee with all the travel. I can't imagine if Emma were in school and me missing parent days, parties, field trips.....etc. I am so thankful that we are able to homeschool. It is a tremendous blessing for all of us.......tough, but a blessing!!

Westin will go tomorrow at 10:30 to have his MIBG injection and his scan will be on Wednesday at 10:30. We are believing for good results. Westin has such a good quality of life right now and is enjoying everyday....even when we have to travel! I pray that we have made correct choices and are able to continue with what we are doing. To be finished would be great, but I know that is not the docs plan no matter what right now. So.....we pray that all looks good and we can continue. It does make for a very busy life, but I would do whatever to keep him well. I pray that we see the evidence of the healing power that has flowed through Westin and that the doctors will be amazed by what the Lord has done.

I can tell you it has been an extreme test of my faith over the past few weeks because we have gone through a period when Westin was limping and it really was getting to me. However, we continued and did not give much air to the issue and petitioned God to move. Westin is now limp free and running faster than any of us can!! God is so good all the time and many times we have to turn our eyes away for the "earthly" view and see through spiritual eyes. I tell you it is not the easiest thing I have ever done, but it is the most rewarding!!

This picture is from a couple of Sunday's ago. Westin loved the tie because he looked like his daddy! They are such hams!!

I hope God shines His face upon you this day.......Julie