Snowy Sunday in Oregon!

[Guest guest]

Howdy everybody,

Thought I would write a report from Springfield, Oregon. It snowed all night here and half the day, and is about 8 inches deep right now, with more expected through tonight and tomorrow. And I got up and went to church, slipping and sliding and praising the Lord! I'm glad I did not have very far to go because it was scary. I have a big old GMC van with back wheel drive, and it did not do too well on the parking lots, the main road wasn't too bad.

I just wore my snow clothes to church, and as I walked in got a great welcome for making the effort. I thought, Good grief, I am full blooded Scandinavian, this is nothing to me! Mostly the pastor, associate pastor, and praise team was there, not many in the audience, but it was really good. I am glad I went. The associate pastor preached, he has been there for 5 years, and he is such a blessing, has really come a long ways. When he first came to our church he had a failing liver from drug and alcohol abuse, and had been lying in the hospital and they told him he probably wouldn't live much longer.

His abdomen stuck out like a woman nine months pregnant from his swollen liver and he took a handful of pills every day. But he pressed ahead, and felt called to preach, went to Bible school, and was ordained with the Assemblies of God a few months ago. Then he fell in love and married a sweet lady in the church, she had been praying for a husband. When he used to get up in front of the congregation he used to get so scared, but now he is so smooth, today he said he doesn't get nervous anymore, just thirsty and took a drink of water.

Since I am talking about him so much, I would like to ask prayer for him and his wife. She learned she has breast cancer not long ago, and underwent surgery and is now on chemo. I saw them the day I took my mom over there and we talked, and he said it was very stressful for him since his first wife had died in a car wreck some years before. That is when his life went down hill, he couldn't handle it, and went to drugs and alcohol, and lost his kids to the state because of it.

But now he has them back, they are grown now, and he said although he didn't look it he has 5 grandchildren now and life sure isn't getting easier. Their names are and nne Fairchild if you would like to add them to your prayer lists.

As for my son Tommy, I thank you for your prayers. I took him over a box of test strips for his diabetes thing last night. He had a few left and said his blood sugar was still pretty high but had taken two of his pills and needed to watch it so it didn't go too low. I guess he has not been taking his pills or testing his sugar level. He was so weak it kind of broke my heart to see him like that. He got the prescription for the Prednisone and has to take a pill a day for four days after the three they gave him in the hospital.

At least he did not sound drunk anymore and said he had cut way down on his cigarettes also, but now it is going to be hard for him because he goes into withdrawal immediately when he cuts down on either of them. So please keep praying for him, that he turns his life over to Jesus Christ, and quits messing around before it is too late for him. I take hope from 's story, the Lord saved him and he was as sick, or sicker than my son Tom is now. They say Tom's liver is not failing yet, but the diabetes of course can be just as lethal for him.

Well that is about it from here. I am a little tired from playing with those kids, they run me ragged, we made a snow man, then changed it to a snow hippopotamus, a snow easy chair, and ottoman, and an igloo. When their parents came to get them they didn't want to go, but I was kind of glad I got to go in and crash and veg in front of the TV. ; 0 ) Tiger Woods is kicking their behinds in the Buick classic, he has -20, the closest to him is -10. I kind of like Tiger.

Now I think I will call Jeff and see how much snow they got up north of in Portland, they usually get more up there. Once I asked Jeff if he was rooting for Tiger Woods, and he said "He doesn't need my help." I thought that was funny.

You know I love snow, wish we could go skiing!

Much love to you all,

Carolyn