God Is Not Just On Our Side...HE IS OUR SIDE

We (Karly, Danielle, Kassi, and I) enjoyed a Mother-Daughter Brunch today with Grandma Billington and Grandma Foster.  We were in the middle of the presentation part when, evidently, there was an earthquake in Michigan.  We didn't feel anything, but I actually thought there might be a "rumble" and my brain went off on a tangent for a little bit because they did this one game where the mom who came the furthest distance won a prize.  Well, it ended up being between my mom and the other pastor's wife's mom....both are from the Indy area.  So, then the person running the game said, "What part of Indy are you from?"  My mom said, "NORTH SIDE" and the other pastor's wife's mom said, "WEST SIDE"....and all I could think of was West Side Story and that we should just all form our gangs and fight for the prize or have a dance off....ha!

We could'a taken them :P  Remember when they dance fight in West Side Story :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP-50YA9ApQ

"North Side"  Gang Members

Grandpa Billington took our picture before we left for the brunch....everyone always says I look just like my mom....OKAY, all you people.....I see it now :P...ha!  We do turn into our parents, don't we?!  No offense, MOM....you're hot! :P

Some of the ladies in attendance for the brunch at the Parma Church...and Kassi, the photo bomber

I have a prayer request for you if you are willing to pray for this need.  One of the things on my heart over the last week has been that we found out Karly has Scoliosis.  We got the call while we were at my conference.  I had taken her for her annual physical the week before and the doctor had noticed that one side of her back was slightly higher in a spot than the other side.  They even tested it with a level.  We talked about her gymnastics and thought it was possible she had a little extra muscle on that side, but we had to have X-rays done just to check.  Unfortunately, it was not just muscle.  At this point it is not bad, but the issue is that as kids grow it usually gets worse...especially through adolescence when they hit their big growth spurts, so we will need to monitor it for quite a few years.  When we had to tell Karly, she was pretty upset....she is concerned that she won't be able to do gymnastics anymore and that she will look funny.  She didn't want us to tell anyone.  Then, today, at the Mother-Daughter Brunch she changed her mind and said it was fine to let people know so they could pray for her....she wanted to tell her Sunday School teacher first...(that was a sweet moment).  We have an appointment in Ann Arbor on Tuesday....I WOULD LOVE THEM TO TELL US IT WAS ALL A MISTAKE AND SHE IS FINE....but, I saw the X-ray too and could see the curve that is starting.  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUR GOD, THOUGH!  So, anyway, that was a shock....I don't know what they will say about her gymnastics.  I am praying they won't tell us she needs to be done with that, but I have tried to prepare her for that decision if necessary.

I am so thankful that Karly realized that her need for prayer is more important than her fears.

Mother's Day gift?  CHECK.  

FAITH....that is already a stepping stone for her from this struggle.