Thursday, July 30, 2009

UPDATE ON ELLEN




















Thank you for continuing to pray for Ellen. I have passed along all the well wishes and commitments to prayer to her family. She is overwhelmed and moved to tears by your love and support.

Edie at Rich Gifts was gracious once again. She made a prayer button for Ellen. Please feel free to pick it up and place it on your blog. Also, visit Edie and thank her for continuing to be a willing and gracious servant of our LORD!

Ellen is continuing to recover at home in the face down position. Each day is difficult, yet she is managing. She must be face down 23 out of 24 hours of each day. She was overwhelmed with the outpouring of prayer on her behalf. She could not believe that so many people who do not know her would care enough to pray. What a testimony of faith each of you are during this difficult time in Ellen's life.

I attached the original prayer request below for any who do not know about Ellen's condition. Please continue to storm the heavens on Ellen's behalf. GOD BLESS you all!


Please pray for our friend Ellen. She lives in Arkansas. She has a very serious condition in her left eye. These are her words:


"After 2 1/2 years the macular hole in my left eye has reopened and I am had surgery Thursday, July 23rd. I will be in "face down recovery" again for 2 weeks...ugh! Please keep me in your prayers that this time it will remain permanently closed and that this doesn't occur in my right eye. A scan showed signs of it developing there, but the doctor says he has seen this reverse in a small % of cases. This is the small % I want to be in! Ellen"

Storming the heavens on Ellen's behalf,

Andrea

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

UPDATE ON ELLEN



















Ellen is continuing to recover at home in the face down position. Each day is difficult, yet she is managing. She must be face down 23 out of 24 hours of each day. She was overwhelmed with the outpouring of prayer on her behalf. She could not believe that so many people who do not know her would care enough to pray. What a testimony of faith each of you are during this difficult time in Ellen's life.

I attached the original prayer request below for any who do not know about Ellen's condition. Please continue to storm the heavens on Ellen's behalf. GOD BLESS you all!


Please pray for our friend Ellen. She lives in Arkansas. She has a very serious condition in her left eye. These are her words:


"After 2 1/2 years the macular hole in my left eye has reopened and I am had surgery Thursday, July 23rd. I will be in "face down recovery" again for 2 weeks...ugh! Please keep me in your prayers that this time it will remain permanently closed and that this doesn't occur in my right eye. A scan showed signs of it developing there, but the doctor says he has seen this reverse in a small % of cases. This is the small % I want to be in! Ellen"

Storming the heavens on Ellen's behalf,

Andrea

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Urgent Prayer Request

















Please pray for our friend Ellen. She lives in Arkansas. She has a very serious condition in her left eye. These are her words:


"After 2 1/2 years the macular hole in my left eye has reopened and I am had surgery Thursday, July 23rd. I will be in "face down recovery" again for 2 weeks...ugh! Please keep me in your prayers that this time it will remain permanently closed and that this doesn't occur in my right eye. A scan showed signs of it developing there, but the doctor says he has seen this reverse in a small % of cases. This is the small % I want to be in! Ellen"

Storming the heavens on Ellen's behalf,

Andrea

Friday, July 24, 2009

Sunset



























"And they who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Thy signs; Thou dost make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy." Psalm 65:8

Last nights sunset was certainly shouting for joy!

Enjoying GOD's creation,

Andrea

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Beach Bound

















Today, my husband and I will travel to the Outer Banks. We will be driving two separate cars, because he will return on Monday and I will stay through the end of next week. We were extended an offer by a close friend to share their vacation. They rent a "huge" home, ocean front with many amenities. GOD has truly blessed us.When my husband returns, our son will leave for lake Gaston with other close family friends.

Please pray for safe travel and safe adventures for each of us. Each of us are fortunate to share our adventures with close friends. We are thankful for the opportunities God has given us. These vacations for each of us are beyond what we could do on our own and they are certainly "extravagant."

GOD knows our needs down to the smallest detail. He cares deeply for us and wants the best. Sometimes we take these abundant gifts for granted. I praise HIM for all the opportunities He has laid at our feet.

"I'm ready, GOD, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a GOD song: Wake soul! Wake,lute! Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!" Psalm 108:12 The Message

I am ready for my adventure!

Andrea

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Bring Comfort to Others
















"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of His healing comfort--we get a full measure of that, too." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 The Message

Today's verse reminds us to use the hard times in our lives to bring comfort to others. Tough times happen in all our lives. Are we using those times to help someone else or trying to forget they ever happened?

In HIS grip,

Andrea


*Update on the prayer request for Jim, Mary's husband. Jim was released from the hospital after a battery of tests. All tests were normal. Jim clearly had two cardiac episodes in the presence of Doctors and hospital staff, yet everything appears normal. The doctors were baffled. Both Mary and Jim believe GOD healed him as a result of all the prayer.

Thank you for praying for all the prayer requests on yesterday's post!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

PRAYER REQUESTS AND THANK YOU

Please pray for Doug. Doug is the father of Loren at Magoo's News. Loren is in Florida helping to care for her Dad. He is battling Cancer and recently sporting the trendy bald look. Please drop by Loren's blog and let her know you are praying for him.







Please pray for Jim. Jim is the husband of Mary at Divinely Designed. Jim entered the hospital on Saturday at 3:00 A.M. with unexplained chest pain. All tests so far are normal. This morning Jim is undergoing an Upper G.I. Please continue to pray for Jim and drop by Mary's blog to let her know you are praying.






Please pray for Ron. Ron is the husband of Alleluiabelle at Humble As I Go. Ron has many Cardiac and other health issues. Recently, he has been experiencing complications and further testing. He experiences memory loss and other problems related to a previous heart surgery. These are trying times for his family. Please pray for Ron and visit Alleluiabelle's blog and let her know you have added her beloved Ron to your prayers.






I do not normally post lots of prayer request, but these needs weighed heavy on my heart today. We are a family here in the blog world. Maybe not the normal definition for family, but who wants to be normal.

Also, please join me in thanking Edie at Rich Gifts for graciously making each of these people with critical needs a prayer button. Edie offered her services free of charge to each of these families because there was such a great need. Please stop by her blog and tell her how much you appreciate her gracious spirit. You can also pick up each of the buttons on her blog if you would like to put them on your side bar.

Storming the heavens with prayer,

Andrea

Monday, July 20, 2009

Update on Jim Moss



Jim underwent multiple tests today. They do not have the results at this time. Both Mary and Jim thank each of you for your continued prayers on their behalf.

Storming the heavens with prayer,

Andrea

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Urgent Prayer Request

Please continue to pray for Jim and Mary. I do not have an update at this time.


Please visit Edie at Rich Gifts to place this prayer button on your side bar. Thank you, Edie! You are a faithful servant.




Please pray for Jim. Jim is the husband of Mary at Divinely Designed. Jim was taken to the hospital, by Mary at 3:00 A.M. this morning (Saturday) and admitted. He has suffered a Cardiac Episode. He is stable and will have more tests on Monday morning.

By now, many of you know Mary is a close friend of mine. She is a faithful servant of our Lord. She called earlier to ask me to post a prayer request on my public facebook account. I eagerly agreed. After posting there, I felt led to post a prayer request here.

Jim and Mary are both prayer warriors and believe strongly in the power of prayer. Please storm the heavens on their behalf.

"...pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16

Thank you for praying,

Andrea

Friday, July 17, 2009

Dropping In



"..the joy of the Lord is our strength.." Nehemiah 8:10b

Dropping in to let everyone know, I am currently having issues with my wireless Internet. My new laptop visited with the computer doctor and is soaring, however my Internet router has decided to become rebellious.

Today, I would like to thank each of you for your faithfulness to follow my blog(s). You have become much more than blogging buddies. I consider each of you friends. God has been faithful to unite each of our hearts in an amazing way.

May GOD bless each of you!

By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Waiting And Hoping



"Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the GOD who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you." Psalm 25:5

I continually put my hope in the Lord. As I pray, I hope for answers to life's difficulties, immediately. I do not like to wait. I like to get things done and move on.

As I meditate on this verse I am reminded to place my trust in the Lord "all day long." All day long indicates waiting. Sometimes our waits are more than a day.

GOD is continuing to teach me about HIS timing. He knows what is best. Any answer from our Heavenly Father is certainly worth the wait.

Waiting and hoping,

Andrea

Monday, July 13, 2009

Pleasant Words



"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Today will be another adventure. I am still experiencing computer issues and I must leave shortly for a dental appointment.

I look forward to reuniting with my dental bridge. My teeth and gums have been lonely this weekend. Hopefully, it will be securely glued in place and will not take any flying leaps from this point on. One adventure for my lower bridge is quite enough.

The above verse spoke to my heart today. "Pleasant words!" Are my words always pleasant? How are my words affecting others?

Let's aim for pleasant words, healing words, sweet to the soul of each person we meet.

Blessings and prayers,

Andrea

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Never Alone




"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3b

These verses have been near and dear to my heart for many years. Each time I read them, I am reminded, I am not alone. God never leaves or abandons me in any crisis. He is a Faithful Father.

I pray GOD will lift your burdens and comfort each of you.

Walking with Him,

Andrea

Friday, July 10, 2009

Another Day In The Zoo




Thank you, dear friends for your prayers and encouragement. Each of you are a blessing. When I began blogging, I did not believe anyone would ever follow or read my blogs. I ventured into the world of blogging kicking and screaming. A dear friend pushed, pulled, and drug me into the blogging world.

I am thankful for the beautiful journey. Despite my inadequacies, GOD has prevailed over and over again. He has given me words to encourage and inspire others. They are not my words, but HIS.

Today, I fought back discouragement as I work from my husbands laptop. My "new" laptop crashed yesterday as I was trying to catch up on blogging. It is easy to get frustrated and discouraged. As I fought back those feelings, I realized what Satan means for harm, my HEAVENLY FATHER uses for good.

Only GOD knows what the future holds. Today, I commit to continue my journey with HIM.

Blessings and prayers,

Andrea

Thursday, July 9, 2009

My Crazy Life


Sitka..April 2007 snow.


First, I would like to apologize for not posting or visiting your blogs the last couple of days. We call our home, "The Perdue Zoo" and there is good reason for this title. Most humans hear this title and think we use it because we have lots of animals. "The Perdue Zoo" title holds a much deeper meaning.

Our life tends to be a bit crazy. People coming and going, teenagers and animals needing our attention, and the surprise happenings of each day lend us to feel as though we are a part of a zoo.

Yesterday, was no different. We began our day as normal. While brushing my teeth, my lower bridge flew out. I rescued it from the sink and placed it in a Ziploc bag. Next, I called my dentist! I was told to bring my bridge in at 11:00 am. We journeyed across town with my appendage in hand. I received this bridge and an upper bridge in January 2009 and we have grown quite fond of one another.

Upon arriving at the dentist office, I was told I would have to leave my little friend (bridge) and it would be sent back to the lab before they could put it back in my mouth. I will reunite with my bridge on Monday, July 13TH.

Leaving the dentist, I realized I needed my B-12 shot. My journey led me back across town to the doctors office. After a short wait, I received my shot and journeyed on.

My hubby stopped at the Bridal Shop to be measured for our daughter's wedding to find they did not have the information on file. He left two voice mail messages on our daughter and her her fiance' voice mail.

Arriving home, I found a sweet note on my face book page from one of my younger sister's childhood friends. My youngest sister died tragically at age 17. Her friend lives in Gaffney, South Carolina where a serial killer recently took the lives of several people, including one teenager. Her note stated:

She had been able to share her experience with some of the teens at Gaffney High School. She shared how she and others coped through faith and knowing they would one day see Dayna again.

(I will post more later about my experience, losing my sister). Today, I share this as a praise. GOD is still working 20 years after her death to bring about good.

Exhausted, but determined to carry on we prepared to take Nanuq, our Samoyed to Dog Therapy at Central State Psychiatric Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia. We enjoyed a wonderful visit with patients.

Upon leaving the hospital, I realized I had a voice mail from home. I checked my message and called home to find my beloved Alaskan Malamute, Sitka was not using his right rear leg and in horrible pain. Sitka is 4 years old and endured 3 knee surgeries during his lifetime. He is my baby.

We hurried home and found Sitka to be in great pain. Our son had already given him pain medications and was trying to console him. My husband and I spent the next few hours trying to comfort him.

Finally around 11:00 PM he began to rest. This morning, I prepared for work and my hubby journeyed to the vet with Sitka. After his examination, our vet prescribed more pain medications and an anti-biotic. He could feel inflammation around the knee.

Please pray for Sitka and for us as we make decisions for him. I will try to get around to all of you and post more as soon as I am able.

A day in the life of "The Perdue Zoo."

Andrea

Monday, July 6, 2009

Bella Sinclair Award And Chocolate Heart Award



Squelly at a Dreamers Day awarded me the chocolate heart award. I love following her blog. She writes beautifully and embodies the warmth I feel when receiving this chocolate heart.

"Those who receive this award are of the sweetest nature. They are kind, friendly, funny, loving, eager to share their love for Jesus with others, and brave in their efforts to reflect Him to this darkened world. They are the kind of folks you're blessed to know, even if it's only in the bloggy-sphere."



Silver at Reflections awarded me with the Bella Sinclair award. I am honored. Silver has become a special friend. She pours out her heart as she journeys through the healing process with our Heavenly Father! As I accept this award, I pray GOD's blessings and healing for her heart, body, and soul! Thank you, Silver, from the bottom of my heart!

Ces said: “I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us”.

“I hope that when Bella returns, this award would have already circulated in the blogs. It is my honor to give this award to the first recipients who I hope will find the same pleasure as I have in spreading its crown, giving shade and the comfort of friendship and caring and of sisterhood by sharing this award with their blog-friends and sisters."

In the past two days I have been overwhelmed with by receiving these awards. All the glory goes to GOD. I am merely the vehicle GOD has chosen to write and share HIS love. Each of you mean more to me than I can possibly tell you. I have found prayer support, love, and encouragement from each of you. I am passing these awards to "EVERYONE" who follows my blog. You all deserve it.

Blessings and prayers,

Andrea

Sunday, July 5, 2009

TAG, You Are It!


Sitka and Mom (Andrea)

Several of you asked for a link to the therapy dog article that has been reprinted several times. I was asked to provide an article about Sitka. When I began to write the article I had a deep feeling it should be written in Sitka's voice. I battled over writing the article in this manner, but felt a clear direction from my Heavenly Father. It is a simple article, but most importantly it gives GOD the glory. Sitka states in the article, "I go wherever GOD leads and my Mom and Dad will take me."

Therapy Dog Article

I have also been tagged by Christy Rose @ The Secret Life of An American Wife and Mom. Thank you, Christy Rose! This should be fun. Hope everyone enjoys this post about my crazy self.

8 Things I look forward to:

1)Heaven...my home sweet home!
2)Dancing with my Heavenly Father...no more two left feet!
3)A new body, casting this old tent aside!
4)Capturing the visions of glory!
5)No more sorrow, pain, or tears in my heavenly home!
6)Unending happiness in my heavenly home!
7)Reunion with those gone before me!
8)Continual praise and worship!

8 things I did yesterday:

1)Spent the morning outside with my Bible, journal, and the dogs.
2)Rest
3)Played with our precious grandbaby, Savannah Faith!
4)Spent the evening with the dogs while hubby took the kids out for dinner and fireworks.
5)Shared special time with a great friend.
6)Clipped Nanuq's (Samoyed) feet (hair) and nails.
7)LOTS of laundry!
8)Laughed with the family as they told stories of their evening out together.

8 things I wish I could do:

1)Dance beautifully and gracefully.
2)Play the guitar.
3)Take drawing classes.
4)Live on the water.
5)Visit or live in Alaska.
6)Visit or live in Ireland.
7)Get away to a quiet place for a vacation with my wonderful husband and our dogs.
8)Be ALL GOD created me to be (First and foremost)!

8 shows I enjoy (this one is hard):

1)HGTV
2)Animal planet
3)Documentaries
4)TLC
5)News
6)House
7)Greys Anatomy
8)?

PHOTO TAG

1ST folder/10TH picture:

Our Savannah Faith at 5 weeks old!

6TH folder/6 picture:

This photo was taken at Virginia Beach, Virginia. A beautiful morning sky!

Tag 8 people:

Mary @ Piles of Smiles

Rosel @ Off The Beaten Trek

Kat @ Heart 2 Heart

Jen @ An Ordinary Girl Living An Ordinary Life

Alleluiabelle @ Humble As I Go

Edie @ Rich Gifts

Mary @ Divinely Designed

Leslie @ Writing For The Lord

It is always hard to choose such a small number of blogging friends. GOD BLESS each of you. Every blogger who follows my blog is a treasured friend. Please feel free to pick up the tag and post it on your page (ALL OF YOU)!

Blessings and prayers,

Andrea

Friday, July 3, 2009

Thank You


I am adding this beautiful button from Edie at Rich Gifts to my blog. Thank you, Edie!


Having a son who is a Unites States Marine, preparing to serve in Afghanistan beginning in January, I am ever conscious of the sacrifice many families make for our freedom.

Today, I would like to thank each person serving in our Armed Forces for the freedom I enjoy each day. I, too am remembering all those who sacrificed their lives in order for me to enjoy freedom.

Sacrifice is never easy. My husband grew up without a father, because his father gave his life in WWII.

May GOD bless each of you who serve or have lost a love one serving our country.

Thanking GOD for each of you,

Andrea

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A Season For Writing


"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1


God has a purpose for everything we write. I began writing at age 12 years old. For many years, God's purpose in my life was emotional and spiritual healing. During those years He never once asked me to publish.


There is a time and a season for every aspect of our lives. The first 25 years of my "writing life" were clearly for my own well being. My first published work was about four years ago. Using a poem I had recently written, God escorted a new season of writing into my life, the season to be published.


This year God used my therapy dogs to motivate me. He often uses the areas of our lives most important to us, the things we are most passionate about. Because I am passionate about "dog therapy" and their part in the human healing process, I was asked to write an article for a small newspaper in rural Virginia. Since then the article has been reprinted with updates twice more in other places.


I recognize God has placed me in a new season and I am stepping into this season with boldness and confidence. I seek daily to use the gift God so graciously gave me.


In late October 2008, I looked out my bedroom window and captured a vision of beauty in the colorful fall season, the very season man said would not produce beautiful leaves because of the lack of rain. God has an unbelievable sense of time and humor; when we live in His season, "Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17)."
Seeking Him,
Andrea



Blessings and prayers,

Andrea