Giving some time

I made a commitment several months ago to volunteer at a local shelter that Jim and I have supported somewhat financially for awhile. I go to the Sunday breakfast mission http://www.sundaybreakfastmission.org/ once a week for several hours. I work wherever there is a need from preparing food to administration needs to loading and unloading donations and I also get to talk with some of the men that are residents at the mission. What stories they have to share and what courage they have to do better. It is such a great experience to serve in this setting. I began my volunteering to "do good to others" when in fact my volunteering has given SO much back to me. May your week be filled with unexpected goodness to those around you as well as to yourself. God IS good all the time. All the time God IS good.

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' Matthew 25:37-40(The Message)

Peace Perfect Peace

The scripture below has come alive in my daily walk. The amount of prayers that have been said on our families behalf has been overwhelming. Those prayers are felt in the peace that we have in our lives. God is in control and will keep us at peace throughout. When I am asked to pray for someone or a situation, I take that very seriously.

I want you to savor this scripture and know that you are being prayed for as earnestly and precise as you pray for my family. What a glorious God we have that He gave us this ability to share our burdens, our joys, and daily lives with each other and have the confidence that our bond with each other is growing stronger and stronger through Him--our common center!

Have a blessed week no matter what obstacles come your way. My life is strengthened through God's presence in my daily life no matter what that day holds. He hears my cries of fear, joys, praises and even doubts and He gives me peace.

There is an older hymn entitled Peace Perfect Peace and it has come to my mind alot this past week. It is rather a simple hymn, but filled with God's presence and inner peace. I am so thankful that I am becoming more and more aware of His awesome power in my weaknesses.

Peace and Blessing to you!

Colossians 1:9-13 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Our first Meeting with the Team

Dear Friends and Family,


Though the day was very long and filled with a ton of information for us, it was a very good day. We feel very comfortable with the transplant team at the Christiana Care. We could feel your prayers on our behalf.

At this point, Jim is going ahead with testing, etc, and continued follow-up, but his numbers aren't at the point to be on the transplant list (that is very good), so he'll be "ready" when the numbers get to that point and after talking to the team, it is most likely that his numbers will get to that point over a few years. The goal is to avoid any dialysis before the transplant (or have minimal dialysis).

People that are interested in being live donors at this point should just find out what your blood type is so when the time comes (Jim being put on the donor list), you already now your blood type. (At that time, if you want to share that information with the Transplant Center we have information to send or give you to follow through on that process.) That is the first step to seeing if you could be combatible for Jim's donor in the matching of his blood type. Thank you for the prayers on our behalf. We know that God is working in this situation!

You are all very dear to us,

Tina and Jim