Answered Prayer!!

God's faithfulness as been so evident in my life.  As some of you may have recently read on FB, Andrew and I requested prayer for my brother, Blaine.  He was born with a heart condition, Truncus Arteriosus, and has had a total of 5+ major open heart surgeries and numerous cardiac procedures.

Last week he was complaining of being tired and his heart racing.  He had an EKG and was in atrial fibrillation which can be very scary.  He and my mom flew emergently to Dallas, met my dad, and he was admitted to the hospital.  The cardiac physiologists told my parents that they would try a new medication, but if that didn't regulate his heart rhythms then he would have to have a risky procedure on  Monday.  

We are SOOO thankful for our friends and faithful prayer warriors who have prayed for Blaine so many times over the past years.  God has answered our prayers once again and Blaine's heart responded to the medication!! The cardiologist told my mom that they rarely see the medicine take affect in just a few doses.  Blaine is a MIRACLE and God definitely displays his love in miracles just as He did in the Bible.   

"God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!!" Psalm 66:19-20

Blaine and Piper hanging out in Pagosa Springs, CO in June

"Waiting and Hoping"

Wow! It's been a few months since I last blogged!! We have been busy with our normal routines with work, church, social activities, and our new addition, PIPER! We rescued a Newfoundland puppy 2 months ago and she has brought so much joy (and a little stress:) to our lives!
She is definitely teaching us patience and may be giving us a little taste of what it's like to be new parents!!:) She is a great 95lb puppy, but loves the daily activities of digging, barking, chewing, and clanging her water bowl on the concrete until we give her attention!

God has definitely been working on my heart lately.  The "waiting" stage of life can be so hard at times.  I would be dishonest if I said I have not felt anger, bitterness, envy, and disappointment when it seems like everyone in our paths is pregnant.  We have been trying now for over a year and although the waiting does not get easier, I know that God has planted a desire deep in my heart to be a mom (to many kids hopefully;) and that one day it will happen!!

Andrew has started the job search and it will also be a waiting and faithfully praying stage as there are only a few pediatric hematology/oncology jobs in the nation.
I never realized how deep my Southern roots are until now! I would love more than anything to end up back in the South.  I know that wherever God sends us next will be an adventure and should be more thankful and praise Him that I have Andrew to do life with every day.

Even though the future is not clear, it is so awesome to know that I can give ALL control to God.  I can rest in the fact that nothing is too difficult for Him.  One of my favorite scriptures that has helped me over the last few months:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"  Phillipians 4:6-7

LOVE and blessings,

Paige

What a Week!!

Andrew and I had to say goodbye to Andrew's dog, Huey, on Tuesday. Even though, it was tough and we miss him, we saw God's hand through it. I, as well as my good friend Jessie, were at home and Andrew was able to get off work early to spend time with Huey. Andrew was also "on call" Tuesday night which was a blessing in disguise because it helped to keep his mind off things. I can't imagine the love that parents have for their kids because we LOVE our dogs and I know that doesn't compare to the love for a child or especially the love that Christ has for us. Please pray for our other dog, Skylar, as he really misses his best buddy. I never get sick and have the worst strep throat I've ever had, so please pray I can get over this so I can see my kiddos at work and have energy to walk Skylar. Much love, Paige

"Unconditional Love and Obedience"

Andrew and I have 2 dogs, "Huey"-who is Andrew's husky mix, and "Skylar"-who is my golden retriever.  I've had Skylar for 13 years and I used jokingly say, "if I could find a guy who loved me as much as Skylar, then I would be set":).  Andrew and I have talked about our dogs unconditional love for us and related it to Christ's love.  I think about how Skylar looks at me with those big, droopy eyes and loves me no matter what the circumstance.  That is exactly Christ's unconditional love for us.  No matter how many times we've made mistakes or become distant from Him, His love and mercy never fails.
Dogs are so loving and obedient and it's a good reminder of not only Christ's love, but how we should love our husbands.

Both of our sweet dogs were diagnosed with cancer within 1 month of each other.  We are trying to spend as much time with them as we can!! It's crazy how attached you can become to a dog, but they are really family.  They were both given 2-3 months to live, but are still with us and it's been almost 4 months.  We're praying for as much time as we can have as long as they're comfortable!!

FINALLY Blogging to keep in touch with our families and friends! Woohoo!

"His Plan is Perfect...Why and how could I doubt?"

God continues to amaze me with his perfect timing and plan.  Andrew and I desire so much to get pregnant soon and start a family.  I know that His timing and plan are PERFECT, but I am definitely being sharpened and refined in the process of waiting.  It is so comforting to know that Andrew and I are not in control of our lives and that our creator has it all planned down to the details.  I must keep reminding myself of that daily and keep praising Him in the waiting period...
We have been so blessed in our lives and have been shown God's love and mercy in trials and tough times.  Andrew lost his mom to cancer when he was only 15.  I am so proud of him and the strong man of God he is today.  God has truly blessed me with a sweet husband who humbly desires the Lord and to please Him. He is in his 2nd year of Pediatric Oncology Fellowship and though it has been tough and there has been lots of "on call" nights with little sleep, he is persevering and is such a blessing to those kids and their families.  He has the personal experience that can help those families on a deeper, more intimate level which sometimes is just as important as the medical care.
I have been blessed beyond belief by God's miracles and unfailing love and devotion to my family.  My brother, Blaine, was in an accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury when I was 14 and he was 12.  It has now been 20 years since that day that our lives changed, but I'm am more thankful each day that we have Blaine and that he is doing well.  He is such a miracle and testament that NOTHING is too great or difficult for God to handle.  My parents are my example of unwavering faith in God and have had so many trials but God continues to bring Blaine through them and show us over and over again HIS power.
In Genesis, God gave Abraham and Sarah a child past the age of child bearing (WAY too old for kids!!) and Sarah questioned His plan (who wouldn't, right?).  In bible study this week, we randomly chose scriptures to read and tell what they meant to us.  One that really stood out to me and was perfect in this phase of my life was:
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?  I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son". Genesis 18:4
No matter how impossible or crazy it seems, God has a wonderful, perfect plan for everyone who loves Him.

Overwhelmed today by His grace and love for me,

Paige