Sunday, August 28th

I am preparing to fly to Riverside, CA early tomorrow morning. Kirk called and reported that Ezekial is stabilizing, but is not breathing on his own yet. The doctors hope that he will be able to breathe on his own in the near future. We are so grateful for all of the prayers that have been said. I received more messages this week from friends close to home and from Japan. Having a family of believers is so comforting.

This has been a busy week. I drove Mom to the Seminole Courthouse on Wednesday to finalize my Uncle Johnie's will. I drove Noel to the Okla. Heart Hospital (North Campus) on Thursday for a CT scan on his heart. He will have the ablation surgery next Wednesday. Mark and I hung out at Starbuck's (inside the hospital).

I have been fighting sinus drainage due to all of the air conditioning. Bill drove me to Ada to get some meds on Saturday. Bill has been the wind beneath my wings while I have worried over family members this summer. He has washed dishes, mowed the lawn, helped shop, and taught my Bible Study Class. He has done all of these things while teaching full time at TLC, and setting up his new on-line computer class. I'm blessed!

Baby Ezekial

My new grandson, Ezekial, is bringing the Christian world together this week. He has so many people from around the world praying for him! Yesterday, my brother Roger called. He said that his daughter had called from Asia to check on baby Ezekial.

I have a ticket to fly to Riverside, California next Monday. Although the baby will most likely stay in the hospital, we are hoping that Tamra will be home and I can assist her. Yesterday, Kirk reported on the phone that Ezekial's blood pressure had risen, and they wouldn't have to give him plasma. He still cannot breathe on his own. The email pictures of Kirk and Tamra praying for the tiny bundle with tubes everywhere are so sweet and made me cry! (He can't be held yet.) There must be sooo many angels surrounding him.

Tamra's mother continues to recover in the hospital from an amputation of her leg, and she has no sisters.

Times like these make me so glad that I have faith in a power greater than myself or any doctor. When I feel helpless, I just talk to God and feel secure that He knows what life is all about and has a plan. That gives me an unexplainable peace that no one on this earth can take away.

Back Home/Baby Ezekial

Bill and I had a great two weeks in Manistee, Michigan! We arrived back home last Sunday evening, and haven't had time to take a breath since! The big news is that Tamra had an emergency C-section yesterday, August 21 at 4:30 a.m. My grandson, Ezekial Zion Overstreet came into the world gasping for breath. He has Miconium Aspiration - he pooped into his lungs. That seems to be a common affliction, and is very dangerous. As Kirk said, "Ezekial has already started a prayer movement!" The doctors feel that he is doing much better, but he remains on breathing tubes. Although Kirk and Tamra live in Riverside, California, Ezekial was born in the same hospital that Kirk was born in 36 years ago. I had an emergency C-section at Redlands Community Hospital in California. Kirk also started a prayer movement!! Dr. Reynolds admitted to me that he learned to pray in those 7 minutes

Tamra's mother remains in the hospital after having a leg amputated due to diabetes. I am waiting for Kirk's call to let me know if I am needed to fly to California to be a nursemaid.

Noel continues to stay at Mom's apartment. He has a CT scan this week, and his heart ablation is scheduled for August 31. I need to be here for him as well, so I will see where God sends me.

I taught my Bible Study class yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks. There were 16 people present. Our lesson centered on what Paul had to say about criticism of each other. We had a great discussion.

The day before we left for Michigan, I was told that the school would not have enough students to keep me as a part-time teacher. Okay. I decided to go back to teaching piano until I'm old enough to collect Medicare. Without any real advertising, I already have 5 students ready to start in September!

We really enjoyed seeing Kelli and her kids, Caleb and Hannah. We also had a great time with Keri and her kids, Sofia, Selah, and Isaiah. The condo was modern, extremely well decorated and furnished, and the location was perfect! It was on a yacht harbor and across the street from a beautiful beach with a nice playground. Harbour Village also had two pools -one inside, and one outside. Bill and I enjoyed a concert at Interlochen and one on Manistee River. Our last night there, we saw the play, "Bus Stop" at the Ramsdell Theater on stage. I continue to say that I will post some pictures in the future. I'll surprise myself and get it done soon.

Noel/Michigan

August is here and the heat goes on! My roses could care less about the heat, they continue to thrive and be beautiful! What an example to us all!

I taught 12 people in Bible Study on Sunday morning, and then traveled to OKC to visit with Noel in the Heart Hospital. He is toughing it out until the ablation surgery....maybe two more weeks. Galen and Sondra have remained in Oklahoma to be with him.

Knowing that Noel is in good hands, we decided to go on to Michigan and stay in touch. We rented a 3 bedroom condo on Lake Michigan and the kids will join us. However, we will stay with Roy and Marlene for a couple of nights on Bar Lake. They were our neighbors for 25 years until we sold our cottage last year. It will seem a bit strange to be sleeping next door. However, Bill is looking forward to waking up in the morning and not having any chores. Every year, he had a list of things he wanted to do to keep the place in top shape. Now, he can swim and canoe.

I may not be blogging for two weeks. If we find a wi-fi , I will blog a bit on our computer. As my dad would say to me when I left for Japan, "God will take care of you, and God will take care of me."