howdy....

Well today I cut about 4 acres of grass. I'm glad I did because it is raining now and it would not have gotten done for another week. I have one more week of work with my friend, Scott. He is hiring someone and I will be helping to train them next week. Please be praying because I am not sure of my course of action after that. I am trusting that God will make clear a path before me.

I am seriously considering putting Bryan in Central High next year. My niece and nephew attend there and it will offer Bryan many different opportunities both academically, and with sports and other extracurricular activities. Please be praying for me to have the mind of Christ in this area. It is a very serious decision and I want to be sensitive to God's leading.

Lately, I have had some difficult emotional times. Not sure why people say time heals all wounds, because in some ways things have gotten worse and more sensitive. Lauren and I have talked about the difficulties of realizing that we have forgotten certain things about George. Sometimes I need to remember what his voice sounds like so I call his old cell phone, which Bryan is using now, just to hear the voicemail because we have left George's voice on the message. Sometimes, I catch myself staring at his picture so I can hold on to what he looked like. I miss him very much. When I pick blueberries, or walk in the yard to check out the fig trees I can't help but miss him. That is what he loved doing the most was being in the yard taking care of things. Thanks for letting me get all of that off my chest. I love you all and thanks again for checking in on us.
RW

sorry...

I am so sorry to all of you who faithfully check this blog just to keep up with me and the kids. Between work, starting dance class, church, keeping up with the kids and trying to keep up with the house work(haha). I have not made time to write. The Lord is so very faithful, He has been walking me through some difficult places of trying to make some decisions. Employment, school for Bryan, publisher for the book---I am trying to stay open to hear from the Lord. God has been so faithful to show me things along this journey. I am considering it a journey of discovery as God has shifted my thinking on death, has shown me depths of love I have yet explore and has held me when I thought I would fall apart. Our Father comforts in so many ways. He uses you, He uses Himself in quiet moments of reflection to assure me that all is well with my soul.

Thanks for your continued prayers
RW

happy Easter......

The kids and I went to River Ridge today to visit with Granny and Paw-Paw. Aunt Eva and Natalie are in from Alabama. We had a great time visiting with everyone. The day today was absolutely beautiful.

I pray you all have a blessed Easter.

Robin

all is well....

All is well with me and mine. We have all been quite busy. Lauren has 3 tests this week then Spring Break so she is excited and working hard this coming week for some much deserved rest. Bryan is doing track and has been busy with a project for the Social Studies Fair at school. That is behind him and he is also preparing for Easter Break. Unfortunately, Bryan and Lauren's weeks do not coordinate so we won't have the opportunity to take a trip.

I have been helping Scott out again and the Print and Copy Center because he had an employee quit and that left him in a bind. So things have been busy. And to make things busier I started taking a ballet class on Tues. nights. It is right down the road from where I work so it is not out of the way. I have been enjoying that so much. I love the discipline of dance especially ballet and oh it is a great work out. more later RW

time, time, time.....

Where is '09 going? As I watch the month of March tick away, I am wondering if time could possibly pass any faster. I feel as though it is flying pass me so quickly. I have been noticing the change of scenery around me. The leaves are budding, the azaleas are blooming and spring has basically sprung. Before you know it, it will be time to open the pool and summer will be on its heels. As time flys so do many missed opportunities. We need to be mindful of what is going on around us in the midst of our busyness and us trying to keep our heads above water. There are chances to affect eternity all around us we just need to recognize them and then to desire to take advantage of the opportunities. Another reason why dying to self is so very necessary.

Once self is out of the way, there are things we see differently and opportunities we won't let pass us by. Ask the Lord to continue to show you your life in light of eternity and why you were actually put on the planet at this time and in the place you are in. None of it is by mistake or just some random act of providence it is purposed by our Heavenly Father to accomplish a very specific plan and affect the Kingdom of God and bring forth His glory on the earth. WOW you are a vital part of God's plan. How awesome that He wants to use us. Let's purpose in our hearts to cooperate. What ya say????? RW

cruising.....

On Saturday I returned from a 5 night Mexican cruise. Lana and I left from New Orleans aboard the Carnival Fantasy and had the times of our lives. It was absolutely relaxing and beautiful. The food was incredible and the boat was incredible.

On Sunday night I was able to share at church on the thought: "Shut up and die". In learning the truth about how God views death we will then be able to more easily die to self in order to live in the love of God. Self and the love of God can not coexist, it is impossible. But in pulling back the ugly mask of death and realizing how God views the death of His saints helps us to embrace without fear the concept of death. I will putting more of these thoughts down because I feel as though the Lord would have me write this out.

I am helping out my friend Scott again at work he had an employee quit on him and he is short a person at work. I had quit but now I am there helping him out. Bryan has been home sick the last two days from school but I think he is better now. We are going out tonight as a family and see a movie and hang out. LATER.....RW

hey blog family....

Wanted to ask you all to be in prayer for me. Pastor asked me to speak in church Sunday night March 8th. I am very excited because the Lord has laid some power things on my heart. I want to be able to communicate clearly the truths God has placed in my heart. Pray for the anointing.

Starting next week I will be making efforts to contact publishers and see if we can get things rolling with the book. I need to also have the mind of Christ and the favor of the Lord as I attempt to walk out this process. Thanks for praying and I love you all very much.

Remember our total reliance is on HIM. Nothing will satisfy and nothing will keep us like Jesus. Lean on Him, He will hold you up.

Robin

good times....

Tonight Lauren and I went to a concert with my parents and Max Johnson and some of his friends. This was Tommy Emmanuel, oh my goodness this was one of the most entertaining concerts I have ever attended. He is by far one of the best guitar players alive. All night Lauren and I just looked at each other and shook our heads, so awesome.

The Lord has been teaching me about trust again. I think it is a lesson we continue to learn and grow in deeper knowledge of. I have come to realize that we are only able to trust when we fully know who or what we are trusting in. The more I learn about the nature of God and who He is I am learning that it is easier to trust Him. He knows ALL and has ALL under control. If that is truly the case then what in the world are we worried or concerned about. Let go of trying to figure it all out. We don't have to have everything all spelled out for us. We just need to rely on the fact that God is in all we do. He is aware of our situation and has purposed to work something in us as a result of the things we are going through. With that being said we must purpose to trust Him and Him alone, not our bank accounts, not our jobs, not our friends and family, but Him alone. He is trust worthy. More later
Robin

thanks.....

Thanks to all of you who are praying for me. The last week ws rather difficult for me. I came upon a journal George wrote while we were dating. How sweet it is to have his thoughts on paper. To read about his feelings and questions and love for me the things he was bringing before the Lord about our possible future together. How much I began missing him. His spark for life, his effervescent humor and contagious laughter. Noone can lighten a room like my George. I am so happy for him and his time being with Jesus and all the saints that have gone before. But oh how wide is the void left beause he is gone.

Daily, I make it through because Jesus is the comforter of my soul. Daily, I make it through because my kids help me be strong. Daily I make it through because George would have it no other way. I love you all and am so thnkful for your continued prayers for me and the kids.

Lauren turned 18 yesterday. My precious sweet Lauren has crossed into adulthood. She is officially an adult. I love and respect her so much. Her love and commitment to the Lord is inspiring and she follows in her dad's footsteps with her song writing and musical ability. Happy birthday Lauren.

Robin

home again home again....

Well dad is home and on medication to help disslove the clot in his heart. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. We just finished watching the Superbowl and having some good family time. I was pulling for the Cardinals but I guess it wasn't meant to be for them. Then I came home and colored Lauren's hair. She had kind of a red color in her hair from a couple of months ago and she wanted to go back to her original color.

I have been in a strange place this past week. It seems that I am in another transition time and kind of sensing God changing and moving things. I was working for a friend of mine just a couple days a week but Friday was my last day. I want to spend more time concentrating on getting the blog published and it is taking a substantial amount of time to read through everything. I thought it would go faster but it is a slow process. Please continue to pray for God's direction in every area. I took a test Friday for a possible management position with the Census Bureau but I really don't want to do anything until May possibly so we will see.

God is oh so gracious and good to me and my family. I want to stay the course and be obedient to His leading. Love you all, Robin

dad in hospital....

Well on Wed. my dad went into the hospital. His heart is out of rhythm and after a test done yesterday they found a clot in his heart. So he is now in the hospital, on blood thinner, and being monitored. He feels fine. We are waiting for a blood work number to be where the doctors want it then he can come home.

God has all things in His hands. That is our daily confidence and confession. Where else would we be if we didn't believe that. He is our strength and in the midst of uncertainty He is our constant. Please be praying.

RW

another homegoing.....

Many of you who have read this blog from the beginning may have remember George asking for prayer for my cousin Barbara. She had been dealing with illness for over ten years. Well last week she received her great promotion and joined George and her mom and many friends and family members at the feet of Jesus. She fought valiantly for years, one surgery after the other, you couldn't count them all on your fingers and toes. Many, many surgeries ending with a small bowel transplant about 3 or 4 years ago. She had been doing well initially but the last year are so she had been battling many infections and even possible organ rejection.

She is now at peace. I am so excited that she is with George. She and George used to cut up all the time and they loved God's creation basically Barbara and George were cut from the same clothe. Isn't that funny how those who seem to go early are ones we so admire and seem to have such a testimony of the goodness of God. Maybe we are left behind because we still have a lot to learn.

2009 has started off with a bang. I am involved with the American Cancer Society--Relay for Life Baton Rouge. I am the publicity chairperson, so I will be working to get the word out about this event in order to rasie money for cancer research, and assistance for those battling this horrible disease. We are trying to get teams together to raise money. Places of business, or even family groups can form teams and raise money. It is not a race or a walking event it is like a festival. Starting now though the teams are in competition with each other to raise money. I will keep you all updated about the event, and if anyone out there wants to rally a team of people together from your work or friends and family please let me know.

School is back in full swing and we have hit the ground running with Bryan's basketball games. It has been a lot of fun.

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, lean not on your OWN understanding, ACKNOWLEDGE Him in all your WAYS, and He will make your path straight. WOW what a promise and a challenge.

Robin

2009....

Another year has come and gone. They seem to do that much quicker these days. Maybe it's just cuz I'm getting older. Lauren and I brought in the New Year in Kansas City, MO at a praise and worship/prayer conference. Bryan was in Alabama with George's mom and dad. Lauren and I and several people from our church were blessed to be at this conference. Oh the urgency of the hour. The realization of the times we live in. Jesus has called us all to be set apart and stand for Him and await and hasten His return. What an awesome thought that our Lord and Savior WILL establish His Kingdom. He will reign in it and we will rule and reign with Him. Oh Lord what an incredible thought.

Happy New Year,
Robin

Christmas...

What a different Christmas..... This has been the strangest holiday season. I got the tree up and the lights on and never got it decorated. It must have been catching because my mom did the same thing. My mom and dad didn't get the presents wrapped this year so they handed out the gifts out of the bags they bought them in. You know when you do Christmas like that you realize what is really important. Family, time together, and just playing and enjoying each other is what really matters.

We have had some great time together. We will be holding on to every moment before school starts again on Jan 6th. Lauren starts mid January.

I pray that you are all blessed and have a great New Year. I can't believe it is already 2009. How has that happened. Our lives are like sand through an hour glass (heard that somewhere before). But oh how true. That is why the Bible says redeem the time because the days are evil. We must make the most of each moment knowing that we can never repeat it or have it back to do something different.

I love you all may God bless you.
Robin

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....

WOW!!!!! This morning at 6:00 I woke up to snow cascading down like I have never seen before here. It snowed hard out here in Central until around 9:00. We accumulated about 3 to 4 inches. It is truly the most beautiful and peaceful sight. Watching it snow was so incredible. Yes I was officially declared the oldest kid out here on the property. It is after 4:00 and we still have snow blanketing the ground.

Christmas is fast approaching. Shopping still left to be done and going here and yon. Lauren finished her last final today. I am so proud of her. She has officially completed her first semester. Bryan is getting ready for his midterms. He has also started his basketball season. I love watching him and his friends play ball.

I love you all more later.
RW

Thanks---giving.......

What an awesome time with family. My mom and dad, me and the kids went to Mike and Eva's for Thanksgiving. We had 20 some odd people there. Aunts,uncles, cousins, grandparents, even my new GREAT niece. Yes, I admit it I have a GREAT niece. That concept blows my mind. She is by far one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. Michael and Audra, my nephew and his wife, live in Kentucky so this is the first time I have seen the baby since she was born in August. We ate plenty of great food, but beyond that it was fantastic being in the company of people you love so much and know that they love you.

It is now time to get the Christmas wheel turning. This weekend I will be getting out the tree and decorations and getting the place decorated. That will be fun.

Mom and Dad are following the Central Wildcat football team. They just won the quarter final game last night against Acadiana. My brother's two oldest kids are in the band and they are having a great time. If they win one more game they will go to the Superdome for the state playoff game.

Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend and remember as we enter the busyness of the holiday season to keep first things first. Love you all. RW

The Saints.....

Last night Scott, a friend of mine, and I went with Pastor Don and Eileen to watch the Saints play a Monday night football game against the Green Bay Packers. It was an awesome game and we all had a great time. The Saints won 51-29 in an offensive blowout. It was by far one of the best games the Saints have played this year.

I pray you all have a great holiday season. We are going to Mike and Eva's house for Thanksgiving Dinner. My nephew, his wife and their new 3 month old baby girl, Zoe are in from Kentucky. I can't wait to see them and hold my great niece for the first time. Bryan's off for the week and is taking it easy.

The Lord has brought a precious family from Iraq (a mom and two daughters 19 and 20) into my life. They are so sweet and I have loved getting to know them and helping them, along with many others from Hosanna. We never know what people are going through and even on the other side of the world this family was enduring great pain. But they are here now and maybe even if a little of what I have been through can allow me the compassion to feel what they feel and minister God's love to them then so be it. Thanks for your continued prayers as I still read through and edit the blog. It is a much slower process than I thought, but it is coming along.

Have an awesome Thanksgiving and be blessed my friends. RW

update...

Just wanted to update you. All the biopsies from my colonoscopy came back negative for cancer but did confirm colitis. Still curious about the regression of the colitis so when I see him in dec I will ask him about it.

Well today is an incredibly beautiful day.

Wanted to update you. Robin

howdy....

Well, I had the wonderful colonoscopy. The worst part of it is drinking the lovely drink that so graciously cleans the colon. Thanks to modern medicine and drugs I don't even remember the procedure. So honestly, there is no reason to put off having a colonoscopy if it is time for you to have one. The thought of it is worse than the actual procedure.

Well in 2000 I was diagnosed with ulcertative colitis (inflammation in the colon). It was supposed to have involved 50cm of colon (19.68 inches) then in 2003 a test said it involved 30 cm (11.81 inches). These numbers are significant because over 50 cm can increase you colon cancer risk by 50%. 30 cm or less then you have no more risk than the rest of the population. So since this is a new doc for me, he wanted to see for himself. Also, I have not taken medicine for this condition in over 2 years. He said that only 7 inches of colon was involved 17 cm. So it seems as though the condition is lessening. This is great because once you have UC it does not go away or get better according to the docs. Anyway, I am on some meds to lessen the inflammation. I will see the doc for a follow up visit on Dec 15th.

So if necessary have that colonoscopy and quit putting it off. It is not all that bad, I promise.

Continuing the editing and enjoying the LSU football season. I bought season tickets and have enjoyed being back in Death Valley watching the TIGERS.

later rw

checking in....

Hey everybody!!!! Wanting to welcome you to the holiday season. After October 31 I guess we officially enter the crazy zone of preparation for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I pray that as we enter this time that we would be conscious and purposed to love the people close to us. Let's let the LOVE of God so capture our hearts that we spill it out all around us.

Gayle you can get the book, The Shack at WalMart. It is a great read. Church yesterday was awesome. God is directing and we are following. How sweet it is.

I am having a check-up colonoscopy tomorrow so keep me in your prayers. In 2000 I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the colon). Two year ago when George and I were in Texas, we went to a church where a man was speaking. He was used as a prophet. He called George and I out and had a word for us. As he was finishing, he looked at me and said, "Mam, you have a cliche in your digestive system and God is healing you even tonight your healing is coming." So stand with me and believe that this colonscopy will confirm in the natural the spoken word of God. I believe, because although there is no known cause and no known cure for this condition God can do the impossible and heal in an instant. I will keep you updated. I have not taken medicine for the condition in over 2 years. This is just a routine test, I am not having any problems.

Love you all. RW