I'm sure by now that most of you have heard the latest with the Skinner family. The Saturday before Christmas they had a house fire. Thankfully no one was at home. Missy's sister-in-laws on Jeff's side came by and took her and Megan Christmas shopping. Their husbands came by and took Jeff out of the house for a little while.
During this time, there was a fire with the dryer. It has been said that there was an electrical spark that caused the fire. The insurance company has already been out and started the ball rolling. They are going to gut their townhouse down to the 2x4's and start all over.
The day of the fire they moved in to our house in Morris. You take the lemon and make lemonade. I thought for a little while that Missy was going to lose it. She got it together and has really had a good outlook on life.
On Saturday or Sunday night ( I can't remember because all of the days are running together.)Missy made a list of problems and blessings. Praise the Lord her blessings were many more pages than her problems. She listed only 10 problems in her life and had 6 pages of blessings! Do you see God at work? I do!
I am proud of myself. On Monday, I was left at home all day with the list and did not read it! I was so tempted! I felt this was a private matter even though she had told me about it. I knew if Missy wanted me to read it she would tell me so. Thankfully, she finally told me that I could read it. It was very touching. Maybe later I will share the contents with her permission.
Through all of this we have been able to spend some special time with Jeff, Missy, and Megan. If you want to see Jeff at his best, come over around 7:00 AM. It is still a long road ahead...but...with God all things are possible! Please continue to pray for healing and encouragement!
I almost forgot to share how good God is! On that blazing Saturday, when everything had settled down, you could choose to laugh or cry. So of course, we chose to find humor. We were joking about writing in to Extreme Home Make Over. We all felt that their story was sad enough that they might just get picked. On Monday, Missy called me and tearfully said...Who needs Extreme Home Make Over when you have a community, family, friends, work related acquaintances, and special people that God places in your life at the right time. God has truly taken the bad and turned it to good. He does what He says He will do. His blessings have been poured out on them. To all of you special people that have been a part of God's blessings...THANK YOU and PRAISE AND GLORY BE TO OUR GOD!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Jeff...The Doctor's words...MIRACLE
Since Sunday, December 7, 2008, things have not just been exactly right for our brother-in-law, Jeff. (Health wise) On Tuesday during his treatment they said he was having a seizure. Next no it is a stroke. No he is having continuous seizures. Things just did not add up. We left our apartment at 4:04 PM and talked with Chuck's sister to see if she needed anything and that we were on our way. She says, oh don't bother with coming he is fine. Within the next 30 minutes the next phone call is...they have put him on the ventilator and are calling in the family. By the time we reached the hospital they were preparing him for emergency surgery. He was suffering from swelling on the brain. They removed some dead brain cells, new cancerous cells, and the steel plate they put in after his first surgery. As if this wasn't bleak enough news, the doctor ends with we have done all we can do...he is in the Lord's hands. Well he has been in the Lord's hands for a very long time!
On Wednesday morning, December 10, 2008, his vitals are looking good but he is still non-responsive. We were there later when the doctor stood before Chuck's sister and said...Mrs. Skinner, do you know that your husband is a miracle! The answer of course was yes! He is doing better and is more responsive.
It has been a very long week for the family. Jeff was finally moved in to a room on Sunday, December 14, 2008. The goal of the doctors is to have him home by Christmas. It was determined that he did have another stroke on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. This is from the swelling on the brain. His vision has been affected. It will possibly get better with time. Reality has set in that this is going to be a part of life. Unless God intervenes, the Jeff we all know and love is in there somewhere but only through God will we every see that Jeff again.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2008, Jeff got to come home from the hospital. While he gave Missy and Megan a hard time about getting out of the car in the rain, the good part for all is that he is home in time for Christmas.
Please continue to pray for Jeff, Missy and Megan. As much as a healing is needed, encouragement is needed. Please have all prayer warriors that you know to pray and believe God for a miracle for Jeff. We are continuing to believe that God will heal Jeff. I praise Him and thank Him for one more miracle. All things are in His hands and His timing.
On Wednesday morning, December 10, 2008, his vitals are looking good but he is still non-responsive. We were there later when the doctor stood before Chuck's sister and said...Mrs. Skinner, do you know that your husband is a miracle! The answer of course was yes! He is doing better and is more responsive.
It has been a very long week for the family. Jeff was finally moved in to a room on Sunday, December 14, 2008. The goal of the doctors is to have him home by Christmas. It was determined that he did have another stroke on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. This is from the swelling on the brain. His vision has been affected. It will possibly get better with time. Reality has set in that this is going to be a part of life. Unless God intervenes, the Jeff we all know and love is in there somewhere but only through God will we every see that Jeff again.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2008, Jeff got to come home from the hospital. While he gave Missy and Megan a hard time about getting out of the car in the rain, the good part for all is that he is home in time for Christmas.
Please continue to pray for Jeff, Missy and Megan. As much as a healing is needed, encouragement is needed. Please have all prayer warriors that you know to pray and believe God for a miracle for Jeff. We are continuing to believe that God will heal Jeff. I praise Him and thank Him for one more miracle. All things are in His hands and His timing.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Skinner Update
I spoke with Missy this morning. Their story has been turned in to Magic 96 by Carla Bennett. They heard it on Friday evening.
Jeff starts his radiation and chemo treatment on Monday at 4:00 or 4:30 PM. Please keep Jeff in your prayers. We are believing for a Healing.
When you pray, please remember not only Jeff, but remember Missy and Megan also. There lives are also effected. Missy has been a wonderful caregiver to Jeff. Megan has also been a great trooper. Together they are making it day by day.
God will turn the bad to good. The door for ministry has been opened. As they work on their Christmas cards, I pray that God will anoint each card. They are including a letter thanking everyone for their gifts, prayers, visits, phone calls etc. Also, they are sharing that God is their strength and that they are believing God for a healing. You never know who's heart might be touched and their life changed forever. Those cards will be going out to not only family and friends this year but to vendors and work related people.
Join me in praying that someone will receive the gift of Salvation this Christmas!
Jeff starts his radiation and chemo treatment on Monday at 4:00 or 4:30 PM. Please keep Jeff in your prayers. We are believing for a Healing.
When you pray, please remember not only Jeff, but remember Missy and Megan also. There lives are also effected. Missy has been a wonderful caregiver to Jeff. Megan has also been a great trooper. Together they are making it day by day.
God will turn the bad to good. The door for ministry has been opened. As they work on their Christmas cards, I pray that God will anoint each card. They are including a letter thanking everyone for their gifts, prayers, visits, phone calls etc. Also, they are sharing that God is their strength and that they are believing God for a healing. You never know who's heart might be touched and their life changed forever. Those cards will be going out to not only family and friends this year but to vendors and work related people.
Join me in praying that someone will receive the gift of Salvation this Christmas!
Thanksgiving 2008
We had a blessed Thanksgiving. I have a new outlook on Thanksgiving. I am trying my best to give THANKS each day with a grateful heart. Every new day is a blessing from God.
My Thanksgiving Holiday actually started on Monday when I got off from work. Chase and I drove from Huntsville to Birmingham. The boys and I had dinner with my parents. Good old greasy cheeseburgers and hand made french fries. My dad is a great cook! He even had chocolate pie for Chase. This was a real treat.
The boys had plans to play basketball with some friends later that night. I sat at home by myself and overdosed on TV and Internet. I stayed up past midnight catching up on life. We could not get cable or Internet at our apartment until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Chuck stayed in Gadsden until Wednesday evening taking care of this issue.
On Tuesday, I did work from home and then the Holiday began. Chase and I cleaned house for our Thanksgiving guest. I picked my Great Aunt Melba (she is 81 years old.) up in Homewood around 12:30 PM. We had lunch at the Paw-Paw Patch. It was delicious! We went to Ross in Fultondale. Around 5:00 PM we picked my Mom up and went to Tanya's in Warrior. Please keep in mind that at this point I still have not been grocery shopping. Around 6:00 PM we dropped my Mom off and picked my Dad up and went grocery shopping at Wal-Mart in Gardendale. I finally got home around 7:00 PM. I had to do a little more work for my job before kicking back to relax and enjoy more TV and Internet. The boys played basketball again on Tuesday night.
Chase and I started our Wednesday off with breakfast at my parents. My nephews were here from Dothan. We enjoyed a great big pancake and bacon breakfast! Next, my mom, aunt, and myself went back to my house to start the Thanksgiving cooking. We made the dressing, pecan pies, lemon ice box pies, mac & cheese, potato salad, and cranberry sauce. Tres had to work. Chase went to help Missy with the Thanksgiving meal at Reno Refractories. At this point Chuck is still in Gadsden by himself.
When we finished our cooking Mom, Aunt Melba, and I went to do a little more shopping. We got back home around 5:00 PM. Chuck rolled in around 5:30 PM. Our family Holiday started. We went to Chili's in Fultondale for dinner. The boys went to do something with their friends but for the life of me I can't remember today. Chuck and I went to purchase our youngest niece a Christmas gift. Of course what we decided to purchase for Kennedy is one of the top 12 toys this year. I had no idea. Chuck saw the advertisement and said that's what we are going to get her. You know Wal-mart was out. They told us they had 6 coming in on the truck that night and it would be on the shelf to purchase on Thursday.
Thursday morning the dressing goes in the oven and things are running smooth. We are watching the parade and enjoying life. Chuck and I decide to make a quick run to Wal-mart to purchase our top 12 toy. The shelves at Wal-mart had not changed one bit. Disgusted we went to Kmart to see if by any chance they might have it. They did! Yeah! By the way we have never gone shopping on Thanksgiving morning before. I felt a tinge of guilt shopping on Thanksgiving morning.
Back to the house we go. The dressing is ready and the mac & cheese is baking. Chuck makes his Thanksgiving gravy and I am baking the rolls. Our families are arriving bringing their holiday dish. There were 22 of us to sit down at our Thanksgiving meal. We are BLESSED!
For the first time my brother walks in with a box of casseroles with his new wife and all the children. It was a weird site watching him come in with food in his hand. It was weird but also thrilling. We had a peaceful family Thanksgiving. Again, I say we are BLESSED!
At the same time we are experiencing a real family feeling on my side of the family we are facing an obstacle on Chuck's side of the family. God is good all the time. All the time God is good. We are counting are blessings and believing the Lord for many more blessings! We are BLESSED!
On Friday, we put up our Christmas decorations. Later Chuck, Tres, Chase, Charlie, Sissy, Sallie, Kennedy, and I went to the movies. We saw Four Christmases. It was cute.
Saturday, Chuck and I went to purchase his dad's birthday present. Next it was off to purchase food for the Ironbowl. We all went to his parents to watch the Ironbowl. ROLL TIDE! We enjoyed watching Bama beat Auburn 36-0! Chuck and I had to hurry back to our house and grab our things. We left to head back to Gadsden.
On Sunday, Tres, Chase, Charlie, Sissy, Jeff, Missy, Megan, Shane, Sallie and Kennedy all joined us in Gadsden for church service. After church we all went to Top of the River for lunch and to celebrate Charlie's birthday. After lunch they came by to see our new apartment.
That was our Thanksgiving week! Again, I say we are BLESSED!
My Thanksgiving Holiday actually started on Monday when I got off from work. Chase and I drove from Huntsville to Birmingham. The boys and I had dinner with my parents. Good old greasy cheeseburgers and hand made french fries. My dad is a great cook! He even had chocolate pie for Chase. This was a real treat.
The boys had plans to play basketball with some friends later that night. I sat at home by myself and overdosed on TV and Internet. I stayed up past midnight catching up on life. We could not get cable or Internet at our apartment until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Chuck stayed in Gadsden until Wednesday evening taking care of this issue.
On Tuesday, I did work from home and then the Holiday began. Chase and I cleaned house for our Thanksgiving guest. I picked my Great Aunt Melba (she is 81 years old.) up in Homewood around 12:30 PM. We had lunch at the Paw-Paw Patch. It was delicious! We went to Ross in Fultondale. Around 5:00 PM we picked my Mom up and went to Tanya's in Warrior. Please keep in mind that at this point I still have not been grocery shopping. Around 6:00 PM we dropped my Mom off and picked my Dad up and went grocery shopping at Wal-Mart in Gardendale. I finally got home around 7:00 PM. I had to do a little more work for my job before kicking back to relax and enjoy more TV and Internet. The boys played basketball again on Tuesday night.
Chase and I started our Wednesday off with breakfast at my parents. My nephews were here from Dothan. We enjoyed a great big pancake and bacon breakfast! Next, my mom, aunt, and myself went back to my house to start the Thanksgiving cooking. We made the dressing, pecan pies, lemon ice box pies, mac & cheese, potato salad, and cranberry sauce. Tres had to work. Chase went to help Missy with the Thanksgiving meal at Reno Refractories. At this point Chuck is still in Gadsden by himself.
When we finished our cooking Mom, Aunt Melba, and I went to do a little more shopping. We got back home around 5:00 PM. Chuck rolled in around 5:30 PM. Our family Holiday started. We went to Chili's in Fultondale for dinner. The boys went to do something with their friends but for the life of me I can't remember today. Chuck and I went to purchase our youngest niece a Christmas gift. Of course what we decided to purchase for Kennedy is one of the top 12 toys this year. I had no idea. Chuck saw the advertisement and said that's what we are going to get her. You know Wal-mart was out. They told us they had 6 coming in on the truck that night and it would be on the shelf to purchase on Thursday.
Thursday morning the dressing goes in the oven and things are running smooth. We are watching the parade and enjoying life. Chuck and I decide to make a quick run to Wal-mart to purchase our top 12 toy. The shelves at Wal-mart had not changed one bit. Disgusted we went to Kmart to see if by any chance they might have it. They did! Yeah! By the way we have never gone shopping on Thanksgiving morning before. I felt a tinge of guilt shopping on Thanksgiving morning.
Back to the house we go. The dressing is ready and the mac & cheese is baking. Chuck makes his Thanksgiving gravy and I am baking the rolls. Our families are arriving bringing their holiday dish. There were 22 of us to sit down at our Thanksgiving meal. We are BLESSED!
For the first time my brother walks in with a box of casseroles with his new wife and all the children. It was a weird site watching him come in with food in his hand. It was weird but also thrilling. We had a peaceful family Thanksgiving. Again, I say we are BLESSED!
At the same time we are experiencing a real family feeling on my side of the family we are facing an obstacle on Chuck's side of the family. God is good all the time. All the time God is good. We are counting are blessings and believing the Lord for many more blessings! We are BLESSED!
On Friday, we put up our Christmas decorations. Later Chuck, Tres, Chase, Charlie, Sissy, Sallie, Kennedy, and I went to the movies. We saw Four Christmases. It was cute.
Saturday, Chuck and I went to purchase his dad's birthday present. Next it was off to purchase food for the Ironbowl. We all went to his parents to watch the Ironbowl. ROLL TIDE! We enjoyed watching Bama beat Auburn 36-0! Chuck and I had to hurry back to our house and grab our things. We left to head back to Gadsden.
On Sunday, Tres, Chase, Charlie, Sissy, Jeff, Missy, Megan, Shane, Sallie and Kennedy all joined us in Gadsden for church service. After church we all went to Top of the River for lunch and to celebrate Charlie's birthday. After lunch they came by to see our new apartment.
That was our Thanksgiving week! Again, I say we are BLESSED!
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