26 Shopping Days . . . . and Class News

Can you believe that?! 26 days until Christmas! Yep, it's here . . .

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. How about we start off by saying a big thank you to Kirsten E. for baking us some delicious snacks this morning! Great stuff, Kirsten. Next week, the faithful Hookham clan is in charge. Thanks, Hookhams!

We have a number of prayers and praises to get to, so let's get at it.

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

Let's keep praying for little Levi Ramsdell and his Mommy Beth. They are both doing fine, but let's keep praying for healthy days and a full term pregnancy. We're praying for you, Beth!

Let's not let up on our prayers for little Reese. It sure was great to see the Nicholson clan in church this morning! Reese looked great running down for children's time. She goes back for another round of chemo treatments tomorrow. She was quite sick last week following her Monday dose. Please pray for a safe drive tomorrow morning and for Reese to be in as little discomfort as possible.

We need to keep praying for Shannon Smith and her Mom as they continue to mourn the loss of Shannon's brother. We are praying for you, Shannon!

Christina G.'s surgery just before Thanksgiving went well. Pray for her continued recovery. Christina also asked us to pray for his brother as he finishes up the semester at Baylor.

The Mays had a great trip to Disney World and related destinations. Let's say a big praise for that. Steve also asked us to pray for him as his company goes through a period of layoffs. Pray for nothing but good news for Steve.

Also on the May front, Jennifer has a praise that her first semester of graduate school has gone well. She is preparing to take the GRE, so let's pray for a good result there.

Last but not least, we need to keep praying for safety for Ben Sullivan. He was out of town for Thanksgiving and will be out of town for Christmas as well. Pray that God will look over him while he works and Teresa and the kids while they are here.

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I think that covers matters for this week. What a busy time of year!

May all of you have a great week. We look forward to seeing you again next Sunday.

Wes

Turkey Week Update

Friends:

Good afternoon, all! I hope you're enjoying your Sunday afternoon. Let's begin by saying a big welcome to Matt and Liz Workman. They visited our class this morning. We enjoyed having you with us, Matt and Liz! (They also brought along little Maddie Grace, who was a perfect angel during the entire class, by the way!). We hope you'll come back and see us again next Sunday, Matt and Liz!

Us Nulls brought the donuts this morning. Next week, Kirsten and Shane are in charge. Thanks, guys!

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

As expected, we have lots going on this week. Let's begin by praying for everyone who will be traveling. Pray for safe travel and an enjoyable holiday weekend for everyone. Us Nulls will leave Wednesday morning for New Mexico and will return Saturday.

We need to keep up our prayers for Reese. As I think all of you know, she is now at home and doing just fine. From what I understand, she will begin chemo treatments tomorrow. Please continue to pray for strength and health during the weeks and months that are ahead. We also need to pray for the rest of the Nicholson clan. Pray that they will find a sense of "normalcy" during the many trips they will make during the upcoming weeks and months.

Let's keep praying for Shannon Smith as she deals with the death of her brother. Pray for peace and comfort and healing. We are here for you, Shannon!

We also need to pray for little Everett, Shane and Kirsten's son. He came down with a virus (not flu, swine flu, or RSV) this week that landed him in the hospital for a couple of nights. He has bronchialitis and will be taking breathing treatments. Please pray for better health for Everett!

Steve and Jennifer May are at Disney World this week. Pray that they will have a great trip and will return home safely.

Jill VanZee has asked that we pray for little Rylie, the daughter of her co-worker (Dr. Mundy) who recently had twins. Rylie had to have surgery to remove part of her small intestine. Pray for Rylie's recovery and for Dr. Mundy as she begins life with these two little girls.

Jill also brought a praise for her niece, Alexa. Her team won the South Dakota state volleyball championship last week. Great news for Alexa! Ask God to be with Alexa and her teammates as they celebrate this exciting victory. Who knows, before long Alexa just might turn into a South Dakota State Jack Rabbit like her aunt and uncle! Go Jacks, baby!

We need to pray for Christina G. as she goes in for surgery on Wednesday. Pray that everything will go smoothly and that the surgery will do exactly what it is supposed to do. We are praying for you, Christina!

Last but certainly not least, let's keep up our prayers for Beth and Matt. Little Levi will be here in less than 3 months! These days are quite exciting for the Ramsdell family. Pray for continued growth, strength, and health for Levi. Pray for comfort for Beth and understanding for Matt as he learns the joys of installing a car seat for the first time. Use that knee, baby!

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I believe that catches us up with everything for this week. May God bless all of you during this Thanksgiving holiday. May we thank God on Thursday for the wonderful friends and family we are able to enjoy each day. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

See you next Sunday!

Wes

Reese going home tonight!!!

I just heard word that Reese is going home tonight! Thank God for that! I don't believe they have achieved the necessary poop event just yet, but the Scott & White folks are letting them go home anyway.

Yea for the Nicholson clan!

Wes

Update on Miss Reese . . . .

Friends:

Well, I had a chance to see beautiful Miss Reese this morning. Doesn't she look great! She seems to be making great progress. Brian and Amy still aren't sure when they will be able to go home, but Reese is eating normal food (cereal, applesauce, sandwich, etc.). She is up moving around and, as you can see, riding that tricycle all over the hospital. They still need some bowel movement action before they will let her escape. That could happen today, but there is also a chance they could still be in the hospital for 1-2 more days. Please keep praying that Reese will be released soon.

They also continue to wait on the second pathology report. Everyone expects it to confirm the first set of results, but we need to keep praying for that. I believe they are hoping to get this second round of results tomorrow.

As for the chemo treatments, they will start as soon as they have the pathology reports. I don't think they know how long these treatments will last, but I've heard anything from 12 weeks to 18 weeks. It looks as though they will be driving to Scott & White once each week for the duration of the chemo treatments.

I think that's all for now. Keep praying for strength and patience for all of the Nicholsons. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will let you know know as soon as I hear news that they are able to go home. They will need our support even more then as they get settled into their new routine.

Brian, my offer's still good on that Shreveport trip. How about March or April?

Wes

Path Results: Best News Possible!

Friends:

Great news here. I just received a text from Brian. Here's what he says:

"Path report back . . . . stage 1--favorable . . . oncologist said this was the best possible news we could have asked for . . ."

Praise God for this! I believe they are looking at 3-4 months of "bland" chemo. Let's keep praying that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Reese and the rest of the Nicholson clan.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying. Let's keep it up!

Wes

Hopefully pathology report tomorrow . . . .

Friends:

As far as I know, Reese continues to make good progress. They have now been able to remove her IV, so she is completely free from the bed. Woohoo!! Praise God for that news. She also has begun to do a bit more standing up and walking. I also think she has begun to eat a bit more, especially popsicles.

The biggest matter we need to pray about now is the pathology reports. The first should come back tomorrow. Amy was told they should know something by Noon. Please continue to pray that they will receive the best news possible. Pray also for Brian and Amy during this stressful time of waiting.

We also need to pray that they will be able to leave the hospital as soon as possible. I don't believe they have been given a day yet, but maybe sometime within the next 2-3 days. Let's pray for that. All of you know how stressful and draining time in the hospital can be.

Finally, let's keep up our prayers that Reese will be in as little pain as possible. Everyone is quite proud of how she is handling the recovery.

That's all I know at this time. Thanks very much for your continued prayers for Reese, Brooke, Mallory, Brian, and Amy.

Wes

A Full Week of Prayers . . . . .

Friends:

Good evening! I hope everyone has had a good Sunday. This is obviously a busy, busy time for lots of people (and it will only get busier with the holidays arriving!). We also have lots of prayers to get to today. First off, though, let's say thank you to Ben and Teresa Sullivan for bringing our snacks today. We appreciate it, Sullivans! Us Nulls are in charge next week.

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

We have a long list of people to keep in our prayers this week. To begin, the service for Shannon Smith's brother was this afternoon. We need to keep praying for strength and comfort for Shannon and her family. Pray that God will surround them with exactly what they need during this difficult time.

We also need to continue our prayers for little Reese and the entire Nicholson family. We need to pray for continued positive news as they receive the pathology reports back this week. Pray for strength for Reese and understanding for Brooke. Pray for rest and easier days for Brian and Amy. You can read their latest update by clicking here.

Jill VanZee brought good news today that Raelynn's surgery went well. She also brought a praise that her friend from work, Dr. Mundy, gave birth to two healthy girls last week. Let's pray for a quick recovery for Mom and a great start to life for the twin girls.

Jennifer Fadal has a praise that Miss Grace turns 5 today. Can you believe that?! I swear it was just yesterday when Grace was born. Let's pray that Grace will have a great day.

Jennifer also would like for us to pray for her sister. Her baby boy, Easton Kyle, has been having some fussy days lately. Pray for easier days soon.

Brian VanZee is out of town and will be home in a few days. Let's pray for safety for Brian while he is away and a safe trip home later this week.

We need to keep up our prayers for little Levi-to-be. Let's pray that he and Beth will get stronger every day and that Levi will arrive right on time and completely healthy.

Kirsten and Shane have asked that we pray for little Jack Kemper, their nephew. He's 3. He is battling leukemia. Pray that Jack will respond better to treatments and will be able to live as complete a life as possible while he battles this disease.

Jennifer Fadal would like for us to pray for Annette Engel. She is also battling luekemia. She is making some changes in her medications. Pray that her physicians will find the right combination that will help her feel well.

Last but certainly not least, Christina G. has asked that we pray for her Mother. She has not been feeling well. Pray that she will get back to complete health very soon.

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I think that covers matters for today. Thanks to all of you for keeping these friends in your prayers. The past couple of weeks have been difficult ones for many people in our class. Let's pray that the upcoming week will be as enjoyable as the last one was difficult!

See you next Sunday.

Wes

Reese making progress . . . .

Friends:

I thought everyone might like to see a picture of Miss Reese. Does she look beautiful and peaceful or what?! For those of you who don't know, she gets that thumb sucking thing from her father. He does that every time Texas plays a football game. Okay, well, maybe not today . . . . not much stress for the Longhorns. : )

Reese continues to make good progress. Everyone seems to be quite pleased with how strong she is. She looked great to me! I believe they are down to just one IV in her, which is certainly a move in the right direction. Reese also has managed to get out of the bed to take a few trips around the hospital. Sounds like great progress to me.

The wait right now appears to be on the pathology reports. They should hear more Monday and then again on Wednesday. The results from within Scott & White should come Monday and the second round from the Wilms Institute people on Wednesday. We need to continue to pray for nothing but good news. Pray that what Reese had was indeed Wilms tumor and that she will be able to put all of this behind her in just a few months after chemotherapy treatments. From what I understand, Brian and Amy will know a great deal more on Wednesday or Thursday about what the next few months will hold. We also need to keep praying that Reese will be in as little pain as possible. I believe today has been a bit better, but listen to Amy on these matters. By the way, I've posted a link to their Caring Bridge page at the top right of this blog page.

Amy wants everyone to know how thankful she is for the support. Either Dana or I plan to go visit again tomorrow, so if you would like to bring a gift for them to church/class, bring it in the morning and we will make sure they get it.

Let's keep praying, everyone!

Wes

Funeral Service for Shannon Smith's Brother

Friends:

Here's an update on the funeral service for Shannon Smith's brother. It will take place this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at the Wilkerson Hatch Bailey chapel. Steve R. will be doing the service. After the service, the Smiths will host a reception at their house (204 Westlane Circle, Woodway) for anyone who would like to come.

We need to keep praying for Shannon, her Mom, and the rest of the family during this difficult time. Let's pray for a service that will celebrate Corey's life. We are here for you, Shannon.

On Sunday morning, I would like for us to talk as a class about how we can support Shannon and Rod during the weeks to come.

Thanks for your prayers for them,

Wes

Reese out of PICU . . .

Friends:

From what I know, Reese has now moved out of pediatric intensive care and into a "regular" room where she was before the surgery. I believe they have had a somewhat difficult day today dealing with Reese's pain. We need to continue to pray that the pain will get better with each passing day. I believe today and tomorrow are expected to be the hardest days. We also need to keep praying for Brian and Amy as they go through difficult hours and days of helping Reese to recover.

Several people have asked when Reese might be able to come home. I have heard different estimates, but I believe she might be able to come home sometime during the middle of next week. That is when we will need to find many additional ways to help Brian and Amy.

We are praying for you guys, Brian and Amy!

Wes

A Good Day of Recovery for Reese

There is nothing but good news today for Reese. They have apparently been able to manage her pain just fine. She has been sitting up in bed and talking. From what I understand, they may not be able to move her to a regular room until tomorrow sometime. They also are waiting to get the pathology reports back. I believe they hope to hear by sometime early next week. Those reports will determine a great deal as far as the treatments are concerned. I believe the tumor will go to a place called the "Wilms Institute" for special analysis by people who spend their lives with this stuff.

Let's keep praying for healing for Reese every minute of the day. We also need to keep praying that Brian and Amy will have time to get some rest.

If I hear that things have changed in any significant way, I will post an update.

Let's keep praying and supporting them. You know we are here for you, Brian and Amy!

Wes

Caring Bridge Page for Reese

Friends:

Here is the link to the page Brian and Amy have set up for Reese:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/reesenicholson

Wes

A bit more on the surgery

Once again, the surgery went according to plan. It lasted approximately 7 hours. It lasted that long not because of any complications, but because the surgeon wanted to be careful and make sure he got everything. The tumor was quite large, approximately 7 inches. It was shaped something like a football and weighed about a pound and a half. Brian saw pictures of it, and he compared it to a nerf football. The stage of the cancer looks to be either stage 1 or stage 2. It is most likely not stage 3, but they won't know more for a few days. The doctors are quite certain at this point that it is not stage 4 or 5 since the cancer has not spread to any other organs or lymph nodes. The surgeon did remove a couple lymph nodes just as a precautionary measure. They will be tested.

The only real concern the surgeon seemed to express was related to one spot on the tumor that looks a bit different from the rest. The surgeon said he would be surprised if what Reese has wasn't Wilms tumor, but they won't know for sure until they receive pathology tests back in a few days. The spot on the tumor that looks a bit different could be nothing.

At this point, the main thing we need to pray for is Reese's pain. She will be in a considerable amount of pain for the next few days. She is currently in pediatric intensive care. She will most likely be there for 1-2 days. They will be giving her Tylenol and other narcotic-type medications. Pray that Reese will be in as little pain as possible. Pray also for Brian and Amy as they help Reese deal with her pain and recovery.

Once again, I am so very proud of Brian and Amy. They are handling all of this in such a strong way. They are such great role models for the rest of us.

I plan to go visit again either Friday or Saturday. Thanks again to all of you who have sent gifts to them. I know they appreciate anything (text messages, emails, facebook posts, etc.). They read everything and are very grateful for the love that they are feeling from all of you. If anyone wants to send something with me, just let me know and I will take it with me when I go.

God bless all of you for praying for precious little Reese!

Wes

Surgery went well

Friends:

Well, there is great news tonight. The surgery went according to plan. The tumor has been completely removed. Amy and Brian are very relieved. I am going to go ahead and post this short message and provide details in a second one in just a few minutes.

Thank God for a successful surgery!

Wes

Surgery not over yet, but getting close . . .

Still only positive news regarding the surgery. The internal part is over, and she has now been sewn back together. They are now inserting the port that will be used for treatments after surgery.

I'll post another update as soon as the surgery is over. Reese will be spending at least a little bit of time in ICU tonight.

All of us should be very proud of how strong Brian and Amy are being through all of this. I know I am!

Let's keep praying for them. More in a bit.

Wes

Surgery Update

Hello everyone. Brian and Amy have just heard great news about the surgery. The kidney and the tumor have both been removed. The best news is that the tumor has been removed without being ruptured. This is very important and good news. Praise God for that! The surgery is still underway and shouldn't be complete for a little while longer. I will post another update as soon as the surgery is completed (great wireless in the waiting room, by the way, which is important for updates).

Thank you for your continued prayers for Reese and the rest of the Nicholson crew. Let's pray that the surgery will end smoothly and that Reese will be on her way to recovery within an hour or so.

Wes

Surgery Still Scheduled for Today at Noon

Friends:

I thought everyone might like to see a picture of beautiful Miss Reese. As far as I know, the surgery is still scheduled for today at Noon. Thank you for your continued prayers for her. Thanks, also, for the many gifts that people have bought for Brooke, Mallory, Brian, and Amy. Jeff Hookham and I are headed to the hospital late this afternoon and will take everything to them then.

Let's keep praying for everyone involved in the surgery. She is going to come through this just fine!

Wes

Surgery at Noon Tomorrow

Friends:

Here is the latest. Reese's surgery is scheduled for Noon tomorrow at Scott & White in Temple. It will last approximately 4-6 hours. I don't know specifics here, but I think they are still battling fever somewhat. Reese has a urinary tract infection due to the tumor pressing on her bladder.

There is good news that the CT scans from yesterday did not show any spread to anywhere else beyond the kidney and the tumor. Let's pray for continued good news that the cancer cells will remain where they are.

Brian and Amy have asked specifically that we pray that the tumor will remain in tact and will not burst in any way. Pray that everything will go smoothly and that Reese will be on her way to complete recovery by this time tomorrow night. Brian and Amy also would like for us to pray for Brooke. Pray that she will understand everything they are going through.

I think that's all for now. I plan to head down there tomorrow afternoon about 5:15 or 5:30. I will send another update as I learn more.

Thanks so much to everyone who is praying for the Nicholsons and supporting them in so many ways. Let's keep in mind that we are running a marathon with them here, not a sprint. Amy and Brian, we are here for you every step of the way.

Wes

Waiting on news . . . .

Friends:

Heard from Brian this morning. They are waiting for the doctors to stop by for a visit. I'll post an update once I hear from Brian after they've had a chance to discuss the surgery with the doctors.

Thanks for your continued prayers for them.

Wes

Gift Cards for the Nicholsons

Okay, folks. Here is a list of restaurants near Scott & White and Temple. All of these would be convenient. I know Brian and Amy would be very grateful for anything we can do for them. I plan to go see them again late Wednesday afternoon, so, if you want to give me something to take, just email me and I will come get it from you.

Thank you for considering this way of helping them.

Schlotzky's

El Chico

Wendy's

Taco Bell

McDonald's

Chick Fil-A

Case Ole

Cotton Patch

Applebee's

Bush's Chicken

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Wes

More on Reese

Friends:

Us Nulls just returned from a trip to see Reese, Amy, and Brian. They are hanging in there just fine. I am so proud of how they are handling this. The surgery will most likely not take place until Wednesday. They still need to wait until the fever goes down to do the surgery. The physicians are still confident that what Reese has a Wilms tumor. The good news is that everyone seems positive that the tumor is entirely treatable. Even if it is in Stage IV (and they don't know a stage yet), the surgeons say they should be able to remove it and take care of the problem. They won't exactly know what kind of tumor it is, however, until it has been removed. The tumor is partly inside and around her kidney, so she will most likely lose that kidney. The good news is that many, many people live long and healthy lives with only one kidney. We should know a lot more on Wednesday.

Many of you have asked about Reese and Mallory. Amy's parents and Brian's parents are in town, so they have plenty of help. Amy's Mom is at home tonight with Mallory and Brooke. They are trying to keep things as normal as possible for Mallory and Brooke.

At this point, we need to pray that the surgery will go smoothly and that they will continue to get good news. Pray that God will use all of us to support all five Nicholsons during this stressful time in their lives. God builds classes like ours especially for times like this, so let's do everything we can to help Brian and Amy come through this stronger than ever. I am absolutely certain that will happen.

In a separate post, I will include a list of restaurants near Scott & White (in Temple, in case anyone is wondering). A number of you have mentioned that you would like to help with a gift card or something similar. Look for that post within the next hour so.

Thank you for your continued prayers for this wonderful, strong family.

Wes

Update on Reese

Friends:

Here's the latest. The first CT scan was completed this morning. It looks as though Reese has a tumor inside her abdomen that will need to be removed. She has a fever right now, so the surgery will probably not take place until tomorrow. They need to wait for the fever to go down before they can do the surgery. The best guess is that what Reese has is something called a Wilms tumor. The good news is that this is something that is very treatable. The tumor just needs to be removed. According to the Mayo Clinic web site, "The outlook for most children with Wilms' tumor is very good."

Thank you for your prayers for the Nicholsons. We are planning to go see them this afternoon, so I will let you know what we can do to help them.

We're here for you, Amy and Brian.

Wes

Prayers for Reese, Amy, and Brian

Dear Friends:

We need to pray for the Nicholsons. They learned late last night that Reese has some sort of mass either on her stomach or her kidneys. They are at Scott & White this morning having a CT scan done. Amy has asked that we pray for healing and good news for Reese and strength for her and Brian.

Please say lots of prayers for them. We are here for you guys, Amy. I promise. Every step of the way. Let us know whatever you need. There are many, many people who want to help you. We are here to help you do whatever needs to be done. Just call me.

Let's all pray that the Nicholsons will get good news this morning and they will be able to put this behind them very soon. As soon as I hear from Brian after the CT scan is over, I will update our class blog. Check there for more information. I'm hoping this will help Brian focus on Reese and the other girls but still help us let everyone know what to pray for.

Thanks, everyone.

Wes

Lots Going on this Week . . . .

Dear Friends:

Well, there is no shortage of prayers and news today. Hope you guys are prepared to read a short novel!

Let's start out by saying a big welcome to David and Amanda Young. They were visitors in our class this morning. They have three kids ranging from 7th to 2nd grade. Great to have you guys with us, David and Amanda! We hope to see you guys again next week. As I said this morning, one thing's guaranteed. Good snacks and bad jokes every Sunday.

Next up, how about a big thank you to Nicki Sanchez! She whipped up some delicious pineapple upside down cake for us this morning, complete with homemade whipped cream. You are incredible, Nicki! Thanks so much for doing this for us. Next week, Ben and Teresa Sullivan are in charge. Thanks for signing up, Teresa!

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

We have lots of people to remember this week. For starters, we need to keep up our prayers for Shannon Smith and her family. As I think most of you know, Shannon's 31 year old brother passed away earlier this week. His name was Corey. Shannon and her Mom leave Waco on Monday morning to travel to Scottsdale to bring Corey back here. They will be back in Waco Thursday. The service will be next Sunday afternoon. We are praying for you, Shannon. Please let me know what we can do for you. Rod, be sure to call this week if you need anything while Shannon is out of town. God is with you during this time, Shannon. I promise.

One more quick point about next Sunday. As you ladies know, Shannon's baby shower was planned for next Sunday. Obviously, that will be postponed. We'll discuss possibilities next week in class.

Teresa Sullivan has asked that we pray for the family of one of her former students who was killed in a car wreck this week. He had a blowout and flipped his pickup. Pray for everyone who is mourning.

Brian Nicholson has had an interesting few days. Amy has been out of town, and, as luck would have it, Ms. Reese came down sick. There hasn't been much sleep at the Nicholson home, from what I understand. Let's pray for better health for Reese and for sanity for Brian. (Brian, now is the perfect time to make that pitch for a return trip to Shreveport. How about Wednesday, January 6th?) By the way, Brian, ushering went as smooth as possible this morning. In fact, it went smoother than when you are there. Does this mean you need to be fired?

Steve and Jennifer May are returning from New York City today after a weekend celebration for Jennifer's birthday. Pray for safe travel for them.

I don't know many details on this one, but I think Shawn Buhner is having some tests run soon. Pray for good news for Shawn. Shelley, text me the details when you get a chance! We're praying for you, Shawn.

We need to keep praying for the Ramsdells, especially Beth and little-Levi-on-the-way. Pray for good days for Beth.

Vince E. has several prayers and praises for us this week. For starters, Ms. Malia is dealing with chicken pox. Pray that she will get over them soon. Second, Vince would like for us to keep praying for his friends, the Menekers. They are the ones in Oklahoma fighting for custody of two twin boys. There will be another court date in December. Pray for resolution soon and for the best situation possible for the boys. Next, Vince wants us to pray for Christian Erickson (no relation). He apparently had a wreck this weekend and needs our prayers for recovery. Last but not least, Vince brought great news that he is looking at several job possibilities. For starters, he will be helping with the broadcasts (don't know any details here) of the BU basketball games. He also has a few TV sportscaster options that he's looking at, the best one of which looks to be in Colorado Springs, CO (a great spot, by the way, Vince!). Let's pray that God is with Mary and Vince as they look at options and make some important decisions. We're praying for you guys!

Christina G. is off to a good start with her new job. Pray that next week will go well, also. We also need to pray for her as she goes in for some outpatient surgery on the day before Thanksgiving. Pray that the surgery will go smoothly and that it will do everything it needs to do.

Brian VanZee heads out for a hunting trip on Wednesday and will be gone for several days. Pray for his safety and for an enjoyable trip. Jill, as usual, please call if you need anything!!!

Also on the VanZee front, Raelynn goes in later this week to have one of her little ear tubes replaced. Pray that the procedure will go well. She also might have her adenoids removed on Friday. If that happens, pray that it will go smoothly as well. Busy end of week, Jill! I can help with kid dropoff if you need to bring Breeley to our house for some reason.

Lastly with the VanZees, Jill would like for us to pray for one of her friends from college, Renee. She has been dealing with an alcohol problem for some time. The good news is that she has at last decided to get some professional help. Pray that the treatment will do the job and that Renee will have many alcohol free days very soon.

Last but not least, let's pray for everyone who has been affected by the terrible shooting at Fort Hood. Pray for peace, comfort, and support for all of the families.

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I think that catches us up for now. As you can see, lots of people need our thoughts and prayers this week. Thanks for keeping all of these people in mind as you tackle your busy week ahead.

Look forward to seeing all of you again next Sunday.

Wes

Prayers for Shannon Smith

Friends:

Shannon Smith received some very difficult news yesterday. Her 31 year old brother has passed away. Please keep Shannon and her family in your prayers. I believe the funeral will take place here in Waco, perhaps late next week.

We're here for you, Shannon. Thanks, everyone, for keeping Shannon in your prayers.

Wes

Uh, November?!, and Other Class Stuff

Friends:

Good afternoon, all! Is it seriously November?! Incredible!

Even without Jeff and I in attendance, it looks as though the Cowboys may pull out a victory. Hope I'm not jinxing them! (That statement could cause a death threat or two, by the way?! Bring it on!).

Thanks to the Hookhams for feeding us donuts this morning! Appreciate you guys. Next week, Ben and Nicki Sanchez are in charge. Thanks, Ben and Nicki!

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

Let's move on to prayers and praises. Jill V-Zee would like for us to keep praying for her friend, Dr. Mundy. She is on bed rest and is set to have twins within the next few weeks. Pray for healthy babies and a quick recovery for Dr. Mundy.

How about a praise for the great Pumpkin Patch last weekend! The kids had a great time. Thanks to everyone who made it happen! I especially want to thank those who worked the booth for our class. We appreciate you guys very much!

Brian V-Zee has asked that we pray for one of his co-workers, Bobby Farquhar. Bobby's Mother passed away this past week. Pray for the family during this difficult time.

Mary Erickson has a high school friend, Carol Tillman, who passed away this past week from swine flu. Please pray for Carol's family.

Christina G. brought great news this morning that she now has a job! She will begin with the Texas Collection at Baylor tomorrow. Pray for Christina as she begins her new job. She also would like for us to pray for her friend Cayte. Her Dad was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. Pray for good treatment and good news. Last but not least, Christina goes back to see her physician on Thursday to check on a dysplasia situation that she recently learned about. Please pray for nothing but good news for Christina on Tuesday.

Dana would like for us to pray for Shirley Thrailkill. She and Clifton have been tackling some problems lately and could use our prayers.

Would you believe Jennifer May turns 40 this week! Yep. Happy birthday, Jennifer! I believe the big day is Tuesday. Let's pray that Jennifer will enjoy her special day.

Last but certainly not least, let's keep praying for Beth and little Levi Ramsdell. Pray that Levi will get stronger every day and that Beth will experience nothing but health and comfort.

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Well, I think that's it for today, everyone. Better get started with that Christmas shopping!

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Wes