Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Hope

This week has been a reminder of Who is in control...
our Great and Mighty God. Our Hope is in Him.
We know it is a miracle that Jordan survived.

He is now conscious and has spoken to his family several times!
He's asked that everyone continue to pray. 
We are all greatly encouraged. 
However, he didn't pass the stress test for his heart, so he was unable
to fly to Maryland this week.
His wife and parents are now on their way to Germany 
to be with him. 
Please continue to pray for all of them.

I'm so sorry that I haven't gotten back to most of you for your kind words
on my last two posts. I will try to get around to visit this week.
Please know that our family is very thankful
  for your love and care, and most especially,
for your prayers.
 Blessings,
Marcia

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Update on Jordan

 I cannot begin to ♥thank you♥ enough for your outpouring 
of prayers and support for Jordan.
Thanks especially to those of you who blogged about him.
Our family has been forever touched by your kindness.
A facebook page has been set up about Jordan, 
and I wanted to share the latest update here.
I'll warn you though, it is heart wrenching to read
about what he's already been through.
This is from his facebook page, written on Friday.

"I talked with Jordan's surgeon tonight approx. 5:20 MST (3-25-11) which is approx. 1:30 am in Germany. The surgeon enlightened me on many of the facts which we had been shielded of,  from the start. First off, Jordan's heart didn't just stop. Jordan arrived at the first medical facility in Afghanistan with no pulse. The medics there, or doctors, opened Jordan's chest so that they could manually massage his heart. They found Jordan's heart void of blood. In medical terms, Jordan had bled out. They tied off his main artery in an attempt to force and keep blood back through the heart and to his brain. 

Jordan was stabilized and transported to Germany but arrived with a fever and he was very sick. The two thumbs up referred to earlier was to determine his brain activity. Two thumbs up is an indication that both sides of the brain were functioning. However, with the lack of blood flow to the tissue in Jordan's left leg, it had become infected, in other words gangrene had set in. Jordan's surgery was an "adjustment". They had to take more of the leg, just about to the hip.

Jordan is in a "medically induced coma". He is being pumped with antibiotics. He still has a fever but the surgeon feels confident that the situation is under control. If all goes well, Jordan could fly out as early as Sunday to Maryland. He will have to go through several more surgeries and skin grafts to his left leg.

This news was devastating since we all thought, and were adjusting to, his injuries being isolated to the loss of his legs from the knee down. Sweet, sweet, sweet dreams my son. Thank you and bless you to all that post here, those that just check in, the gifts and prayers."

Please continue to pray for Jordan and his family, 
especially his wife, son, parents and siblings.
We also now know that other families 
are going through the same thing. 
 We've been told that 7 other soldiers were injured.
 They and their families all need our prayers.

I will get back to regular blogging soon, 
but I know that you understand that Jordan is in the 
forefront of our thoughts right now.
Thank you so much.
Blessings,
Marcia

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Our Hero, My Nephew...Please Pray

 I'd like to ask you all to pray for my nephew, Jordan.
He's been serving his 2nd tour of duty in Afghanistan. 

There is no easy way to say this.
Yesterday, he stepped on an I.E.D. and lost both of his legs.
Now he's fighting for his life. 
 He is a wonderful young man, willingly serving our country.
He's also a husband, and father to a young son.

Today our hearts are heavy and breaking.
Please pray for Jordan and his family.
  We ♥love♥ you Jordan.
You are our Hero!!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Yummy Goodness :-)

Sometimes you just have to quit taking photos....
 and dig in!!
 Another temptation from our Betty Crocker calendar 
has added some weight gain around here, I'm sure :-)
Last month it was *cupcakes*,
and this month it is ♥Grasshopper Fudge Cake♥.
Yes, those are Andes Mints on top :-)
My daughter made this one, and it's delicious!
You can find the recipe *here*.
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Blessings,
Marcia

Monday, March 14, 2011

You Have Blessed Me....

♥ I wish I could give you all a sweet bouquet ♥
 Do you know who you are as a blogger?
 I'm an amateur when it comes to decorating, 
gardening, photography, and cooking, 
 but love reading and seeing all of these things on your blogs. 
I'm a mom of 6, and a homeschooling mom for 16 years,
but rarely post on the how-to's of homeschooling or motherhood,
yet you inspire me in both of these. 
I'm not a writer either. Writer's block is a way of life for me. 
I wing it here my friends.
I really have no idea who I am here in blogland :-)

 One thing I do know...
that the world has become a smaller place since I started blogging. 

You have allowed me to become a world traveler.
You have changed how I view your ways of life,
your countries, and your beliefs. You have taught me so much.
You have encouraged, challenged, and blessed me
beyond anything I could've imagined.

{{You}} are also who I think of when devastation hits your part of the world. 

It's an honor to call you *friends*
 ♥Thank you♥ for sharing your world!
 Blessings,

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Simple ♥Spring♥ Joys

  It's been a beautiful week here in the high desert,
so I've started prepping my veggie garden...
 and planting ♥spring♥ flowers :-)
It's hard to stay inside when the weather is this nice.
We have very hot summers, so we really enjoy our mild and sunny spring days.
 The little walkway up to my front door is bursting with cilantro.
We just love this in fresh salsa :-)
♥Spring♥  is definitely in the air around here.
I'm joining Sarah at *Modern Country Style* for her Inspiration Journey Party,
and Joyce at *I Love Pretty Little Things* for  Friday Pretties.
Sending you all some sunshine this weekend!
Blessings,
Marcia
P.S. Right after I finished this post tonight, I heard the news
about the huge earthquake in Japan and the tsunami that followed.
I've lived in California all of my life and experienced several
strong earthquakes, but nothing like this.
Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers.  

Friday, March 4, 2011

Sunny Day Pretties

Wishing you much *sunshine* this week :-) 
Thank you for all of your great ideas on vintage dresses 
and your sweet words about my daughters.
Your kindness always blesses me, my friends!
See more Friday Pretties *here*,
White Wednesdays *here*,
and Good Life Wednesdays *here*.
Blessings,
Marcia