Pray for the Bay

Hurricane Gustav is currently a category 3 storm but could be a category 4 or 5 by the time it hits land on Monday. Parts of Lousiana and Mississippi, including Lagniappe, are under a mandatory evacuation issued by the state. My heart is heavy and tears well up in my eyes as I pray for these people who have recently lost family, friends, homes, and possessions from Hurricane Katrina. Here is a little blurb from the Lagniappe church blog that gives you a picture of the atmosphere in Bay St Louis, MS as people contemplate the effects Gustav may have:

"There is a heaviness in the air here. The sentiment that I have heard over and over again is, 'I just can't do this again...' I find myself nodding in agreement. For tonight Bay St. Louis is peaceful. There is a band at the Mockingbird and I saw a clarinet player just playing to himself on Main Street this afternoon. This town has a soul that is resilient, but she is tired and weary. I know how she feels."
Lagniappe has asked that you pray the turths of Psalm 107: 23-32 as Hurricane Gustav approaches.

Psalm 107:23-32 (NIV)
"23 Others went out on the sea in ships;they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders."

I read this verse while watching the news and just heard that the winds have gone down 5mph and that the wind shear (winds that work against the hurricane) may keep the hurricane from gaining strength and becoming a category 4 hurricane. Cry out to the Lord! He is powerful and can still the storm to a whisper!

It has been a while

So...a lot has happened since my last post but then again..nothing really has happened. One friday night while I was home, I was talking to my dad about grad school and taking the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). I decided to sign up to take it on that Monday. I didn't study and yet managed to make an 1100. I guess this is a decent grade but I don't know what the graduate schools that I am interested in are looking for. Currently, my favorite choice for grad school is the University of New Orleans. Supposedly they have a really good early intervention program because they work with a local hospital and they have good funding. Also, I would only be an hour away from Lagniappe. :)
I have now been in school for a week. I am already overwhelmed but am trying to believe the gospel. It is taking a lot to get Best Buddies going for the year. Best Buddies has been taking up more time and effort than school. We have over 60 Buddies with intellectual disabilities then their College Buddies and extra students who do not have their own buddy.Managing 130+ people is a little overwhelming at times.
I'm enjoying my classes so far. I am taking history of social welfare, severe disabilities curriculum, educational media, and practicum. I am learning a lot of interesting things like how to make my own web page, different issues that have affected social welfare laws, and strategies to use when working with children with severe disabilities. It is awesome to be excited about school and I hope it continues through the semester!

Let the games begin!

I decided to throw a party in our pool house to celebrate the olympic opening ceremony. We invited the Boykins, Morgans, and Mary Morton to come celebrate with us. Annika and Sarah made olympic rings out of paper plates and torches out of construction paper and cellophane. Our menu was a chinese theme including: fried rice, stir fry with dog (tastes like pork), PF chang's lettuce wraps, fortune cookies, and Dissident's death by chocolate for dessert. Annika and Sarah helped me make a playlist for our party and one of their favorite songs on the playlist was the Chariots of Fire theme song. We were playing the song when Griff and Annika decided they were going to play soccer in slow motion. (If you haven't seen Chariots of Fire...Casey....then you probably won't get the video. Go out and rent it now!)

We also held our own olympic pool games (water wrestling, water polo, synchronized swimming, and synchronized diving). Cobi, Tanner, Eli, and Corey were our synchronized diving winners.

Six flags is invaded!

I finished my summer classes and now have about a week and a half until fall classes start. Woo Hoo! I met the family in Atlanta to use up our return passes to six flags before they expire. As we were walking into the park, we ran into our old friends from Community, the Griffith's. It was so fun seeing them and how big their kids are now. It made me feel so old to see these kids that I used to babysit that are now almost as tall as me. Wow! Here are some of our pictures from the park:




Thursday, was Katrina and Corey's first day at public school. They were so excited and said they had a good first day. I got to take them and my other brothers (the Boykins) to school in the minivan. Corey seemed to know a lot of the kids in his classes and Katrina had fun meeting new people. One of her friends said she looked a little lost but Katrina looks lost at home too so that is nothing new. :)
Below (left to right): Tanner, Yates, Cobi, Corey, Katrina, Seth

The special education department at Auburn is mourning with a dear friend, advisor, and professor Kelly Brumbeloe who recently lost her husband to a rare form of cancer. Her husband, Sam, began having health problems in Septmeber 2007. His health declined rapidly in January 2008 and he lost around 30 lbs by March 2008 when he was admitted into the hospital for about a week. They ran a number of tests to figure out what was causing his pain and declined health. They finally ran an MRI of his brain and found a mass. Sam was sent to UAB to see more specialists who could determine whether the mass was a vascular malformation or a tumor. Sam spent about a month at UAB and had numerous tests and scans run throughout his stay. Sam returned home in June but continued to get worse so he went back to UAB for 1o days then after more tests, returned home with a hospital bed, wheelchair, and home nurse. The doctors said that there wasn't a definite answer but that they thought it was PNET (a rare cancer) but it was definitely cancer and definitely malignant. By this time, Sam had lost close to 70 lbs. They started radiation but didn't see much improvement. This last Wednesday, Sam was moved to a residential hospice facility here in Auburn where he passed away this Friday. Sam and Kelly have 2 young children together (a 4 year old boy and a 1? year old girl).

Please pray for this wife and mother as she grieves the loss of her spouse and father of her children. Pray that God will wrap his his arms around her and comfort her as she continues through life with her children. Pray for their children, that they will be able to remember their dad and the good times they got to spend with him. Pray that they will grow up with a close relationship to their heavenly Father.

Hebrews 13:5- "...God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

I had tears running down my cheeks, soaking my shirt as I listened to this boy remind me of the gospel. It is neat to see how God speaks to us in unexpected ways.