IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009

Another weekend is behind us and a new day has dawned and gotten pretty well started already. As I begin to type, Moms and Dads are busy preparing for work and getting beautiful blessings ready for school. We spent the weekend with 5 of our 8 beautiful blessings (and their parents) and we boldly and with humble pride say we are BLESSED!

This is an update on Mike and Vickie wrote in part as follows: Monday the 13th, day after Resurrection Sunday: He went directly for a brain MRI, and his doctors read the results immediately. The scan showed a golf-ball-sized tumor on the top, back right side of his brain which had ruptured and bled into the motor skills portion of his cerebrum, causing the damage to the left side of his body. He was admitted, and Rachel and Joshua got there later that evening. Further testing was done on Tuesday; results showed that he needed to have brain surgery to remove/clean-up the tumor/bleeding, and to hopefully restore some use of his left limbs and prevent more seizures and damage.

Testing also showed extensive progression of tumor growth in his chest/abdomen/pelvis; we were left with the decision of whether to have the brain surgery since his overall condition is worsening at a faster pace. Mike made the choice to have the surgery…and the rest of us agreed.

He had successful surgery on Wednesday, which will be followed by cyber-knife radiation in 3 or 4 weeks. Believe it or not, he was discharged yesterday, and we were home at 6:00 last night!

Mike will now be getting physical and occupational therapy at home, and the neurosurgeon feels he should be able to get most of the use of his arm/leg back. He is also taking anti-seizure medication.

His oncologist has removed him from the Interferon study, but he will begin trying another regimen in about a month and a half. We are all aware of Mike’s prognosis, but he has promised to try to enjoy each and everything possible each day. We are “open for company” on a daily basis and would love to see you. Thanks for being in our lives and helping us on this rough road.

God bless, Vickie…and Mike

2 Thessalonians 3:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all.

ABBA, where do we begin? We are so blessed. Thank You. And we are suffering. Thank You. Thank You that You are with us in our suffering. That You never leave us and that You are well able to comfort us in our sufferings and You do. LORD we hardly know how to pray for Mike. Certainly to see him completely healed and restored here on the planet we would love that. And we know You are able and we have seen You do that and we have seen You not do that. There is so much we do not know, we are grateful that You know and that You are always loving in kind and right in everything You do and everything You allow. So for Mike we pray for Your Best for him and for Vickie. We pray Your best for each soul listed here, particularly our IDOK Troops, Israel and America. Love on our IDOKs today I pray. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Cathie R’s Family. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Emily. Stellan. Chandler. Mrs. Walker. Christopher H and his family. Darlene’s Sister. Mr. Matthews. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Chloe Melissa. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Mike and Vickie. Natalie. Kathy and family. Tommy and Raye. Doug. Frank. Jeanette. Francis T. Cathy T. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Amy, Kevin and Girls. Joan. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Melissa and daughters. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Darlene and Torkel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Bay and family. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Erin. Alan. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Lance. Candance and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Friends at work.

Public and Private School Teachers.

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.

Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

IDOKs Military Families.

IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin. John L. Richard M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T. Chad B (3/2009) Kyle N. (3/26)

IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.

Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.

Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08) http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html

Military at home, specifically those emotional/spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Adam M. (great news, not only is Adam at home he is getting married!!!) Captain Tran. Josh.

As I post this it is 78°F and partly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 4:21 PM AST on April 20, 2009.