Updates on Matt and Uncle Tim

I know I’ve been horrible with keeping up on my blogging, I’m sorry. I still think of, and pray for, you often!

I wanted to give you all a few updates. First, my brother, Matt, is doing great. He has one more procedure next week, but after that he should be good to go. He’s making great progress, and is tube free! He’s back to work, and getting back to life as usual. It’s been a long and excruciating 6 months, but praise The Lord, He is ever faithful! Even in the darkest times, The Lord made His presence known. We believe there were many Heavenly interventions and miracles taking place the whole time. We continue to pray for complete healing in Matt’s pancreas, that the issues would never resurface in any way, shape, or form. Thank you SO much for covering us all in prayer.

My other update is on Uncle Tim. He never did wake up after the accident this summer. He was finally taken off of life support about a month ago. His body finally let go last night just before eleven. Thanks for all of the prayers. He was an awesome guy and will be greatly missed by many.

His knack for sarcasm was one of my favorite qualities in him. There were many times when we lived in Texas that I would be so sad, missing loved ones. Out of the blue one day, he popped up on instant messenger and struck up a conversation, we talked most days after that. We would chat over instant messenger or video chat (he lived in California), and he would have me rolling with laughter over his sarcastic humor. The next moment he would be encouraging me with comforting words, and bringing tears to my eyes. He and Aunt Kathy (who has since passed away) included me in their day to day life, sending pictures of their garden, new projects, and pictures of recipes/wine they were testing out..because of him, and Aunt Kathy, I didn’t feel so alone. After Aunt Kathy passed away, it was hard for him to communicate as much with all of us, which I understood. I saw him a few times after she passed, he still always had a smile, a heartfelt hug, and an I love you to offer. That was enough for me. I simply adored him. We were truly blessed to call him family. It’s my hope and prayer that he is dancing on streets of gold this morning, and forevermore.

Love to you all, have a beautiful day. Make the moments count!

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Going Home and The Dentist

My brother, Matt, finally got to go home from the hospital yesterday!! He’s been eating for a few days now with no adverse effects, so that is awesome! He will still have the PIC line in for about a month I think, for added nutrition, but he’s improving lots and lots. Praise God, He is good all the time! I know you will continue to stand with me in prayer over his full recovery, and I thank you for that! I’ve had two people in the past few days tell me that this has been like the walls of Jericho..and those walls are finally tumbling down. Love that!

Now, I have to go to the dentist. I always tell him I love him, but I never want to see him again! Here’s hoping for zero cavities in my pearly whites! 🙂

Happy Thursday everyone, no matter what obstacles you face, choose to make it a great day! I believe in you!

Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen
Ephesians 3:20-21

You are blessed,

Sarah

Matt, Uncle Tim, and Little ol’ Me!

Hi, friends!

My brother, Matt, has been in the hospital again. Over a week so far this time. It turns out the duct (I think that’s what it’s called) between his gallbladder and pancreas is much smaller than its supposed to be, so they took care of that. But then that caused the pancreatitis to worsen, which isn’t unusual..but not what his body needed! The lipase count skyrocketed back up to 2400, and the pain was no good!

So..then they decided after a few days that it was time to remove the gallbladder and hope it would help/remedy the problem. That brings us to yesterday, surgery day! They removed the gallbladder, he made it through surgery fine, and as always, had a good attitude/outlook.

I checked in with him earlier today to see how he was feeling and he said he was doing great! He said the lipase count was down to 399! What?! 399?!? Wow!!! I don’t think it’s been that low since this whole thing hit his system back in May. Of course the goal is to still get it down much lower. But 399 was AWESOME NEWS!!! He says the pain is less now. Of course, he has the pain from the gallbladder removal surgery, but I’m sure that’s a cakewalk compared to the other pain he’s had. He will try food in a few days.

I’m not sure when he will get to leave the hospital, but his wife and son are sure ready for him to be HOME. So lets pray he keeps improving and gets to go home very soon.

I am so excited to be able to give you all, my fellow prayer warriors, this wonderful update! Thanks very much for continuing to pray for him, I appreciate you all more than I could ever express.

Another update..this time on me and my “dirty mouth”! (Anyone else think of the Orbit commercial when I said that? Haha) Im doing sooo well! I think I told you I’ve slipped a few times, but the improvement is awesome. I don’t even think swear words anymore! When I see them at random times online, my spirit cringes a bit. So thank you for your prayers on that.

They were able to transfer Uncle Tim back to a Portland hospital, but last we heard he was still in a coma. The update today said that today was “the big day” for him and to be thinking of/praying for him..but none of us knew what that meant. We hope to get a real update soon.

Whatever you’re dealing with today, whether spiritual, physical, or otherwise, know that my prayers are with you. Keep praising Him in advance – it may not come today, it may not even come next week – but, believe me, breakthrough is on the way, friends!

Blessings to you and yours,

Sarah

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. -Isaiah 40:31

**8/13/13 UPDATE: Matt’s lipase count was finally in “normal range” today at 150!! He is getting ready to *drum roll please* EAT! Lets pray his body likes the food. 🙂

Update!

I don’t have much time this morning to give you a proper update, but Matt will have surgery again today. Please be prayin! Things are looking up, friends! God is so, SO good!

Until later…

Sarah

Update, Update, Pray All About It!

Hello, friends!

It’s been awhile since I’ve updated you on my brother. He went in for an MRI which showed cysts on his pancreas, but showed no cancer! So that was great, and very encouraging. He then went in to the pancreatic specialist where he told him to go back on the liquid diet for a week (he’s never truly gotten off of the liquid diet! He’s still waiting to eat a “real” meal for two months now), that week ends tonight. Tomorrow he will go in to the hospital so this specialist can perform a scope, where they will examine his insides further and see what’s going on. Since he will already be under anesthesia, they will put a feeding tube in as well. He will be able to go home tomorrow.

He will have the feeding tube for a month, which will allow the “food” to completely bypass the pancreas. This will allow his pancreas to rest fully, and hopefully recover. The specialist is hoping to have him fully recovered by the time Matt & Laura’s baby is born, which is late October. We are joining him in that hope!

Anyway, Matt is upbeat and optimistic, he’s refusing to be depressed or worried. He’s excited for the feeding tube, he will finally have nourishment!!

Our GodParents are in town for a visit, perfect timing! They were able to go and anoint him with oil and pray over him tonight. What a blessing!

Matt also told me today that their new baby, a girl, will be named (middle name) after me! Her full name will be Hailey Sarah. Ahh! What an honor! I’m thrilled and can’t wait to meet her. October can’t come fast enough!

On another note, my husband’s uncle Tim was in a horrible motorcycle accident last night and is suffering severe injuries, in critical condition. He’s got multiple broken bones, swelling on the brain, and internal bleeding. Please lift him up in prayer.

One of my besties has two family members in the hospital right now, please keep them and their family in prayer as well.

My daughter’s elementary school music teacher’s son died over the weekend in a river accident, please lift that family and all involved in prayer. Her son had just been married a few weeks ago.

Praise Report: The sun came up today! We have another day of air to breathe! God is good!

Thanks for lifting everyone up in prayer, I pray for you often as well! If you have a specific prayer need, please feel free to leave it in a comment below, or email me at mrsmendiola@me.com

You are blessed!

Sarah

That’s Not a Lemon, That’s Lemonade in Waiting!

* Photo credit: http://www.yestdayslunch.com

When you look at things..do you see them as they are? Or do you look past the surface, and see them as they could be? As they will be if effort is applied? Is it a sour, bitter lemon? Or is it the key ingredient to an ice cold, refreshing summer drink?

I have an update on Matt for you. He went in for an MRI last week and the results were good. There’s no cancer or anything, but there are a few cysts on his pancreas. Apparently that’s not unusual? Interesting! Anyway, so that was good to hear. They’re now passing him onto another specialist. Mom said a doc gave him a list of foods he can try eating..foods..not liquids…FOODS! Progress!

Im not going to try and pass a lie off to you and say that it’s not been extremely frustrating for me to stay positive at times. It has. I will find myself slipping into anger over the doctors, and have to then remind myself..they are doctors, not THE Doctor. They are not Matt’s healer, He is. And so, I choose to continue to praise Him in advance for complete restoration of every cell in Matt’s body.

But it is a very conscious choice, friends.

If I don’t choose to praise, I won’t.

If I don’t choose to be hopeful, I’m not.

Because with human eyes, this experience is just too hard on a sister’s heart. I must constantly choose to look with spirit eyes. I must choose to see things through the veil of faith. I must choose see things not as they are, but as they will be.

“..So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist.” Romans 4:17b

In what area(s) of your life are you having to apply this scripture?

Let me encourage you to embrace the reality that He’s still on the throne, still working miracles, still answering prayers, and He still has His eyes firmly planted on you. He loves you, He’s working all things for your good, He knows your struggle, and He is not about to leave you alone. Look up, friends!

Thanks so much for all of the encouraging comments, texts, emails, prayers, smiles, and hugs. You all encourage me so much! I know that in relation to other things going on in the world, this struggle is small. But, I thank my God that my struggles are important to Him, no matter the size. He has time for me. He has time for you, too. Call on Him today.

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
– 1 Peter 5:7

Moving onward and upward,

Sarah

Encouragement: Better Than Discouragement!

Have a great day today, and take the time to make someone feel special. We all have a spare moment to do a little something for someone, or say a kind word to someone. A little encouragement goes a long way. Go on now, get to it!

Also, please continue praying for my brother, Matt, today (Thursday) as he goes into a new doctor. We are praying, and believing for, answers! And solutions! And progress! And peace! And total healing! The enemy is fighting hard, but we know that his fighting is a reaction to The Lord doing something good. He wouldn’t fight if he had nothing to fight against. So we praise The Lord even through the trials. Everyday with Him is a beautiful one, challenges or not.

You are blessed,

Sarah

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Today’s devo selection:

Encourage Someone Today!
By Andy at http://www.gospel.com

There’s nothing quite so uplifting as receiving an unexpected compliment or a kind word in the midst of a hectic day. And on the flip side, we’ve all had a day ruined by a careless or cruel remark. Words have tremendous power to encourage or to hurt. That’s the message of this devotional from Daily Encounter, which challenges us to offer encouragement to someone today:

Every one of us “young and old alike” needs encouragement. To encourage someone is to put courage into them. To discourage is to take courage out of them. It costs nothing to put courage into another… to speak a kind word… to let them know you appreciate them… to tell them you believe in them… that you admire them… to thank them and so on.

So, today, make a point of putting courage into your spouse… your children… your boss… your employees… and the clerk at the local store. Go out of your way to do it. And in blessing others you will be blessed yourself.

Offering encouragement is one of the simplest but most effective ways you can reflect Christ’s love to others. Take a look around you, whether you’re sitting in an office cubicle, your living room, or an airport terminal. Who do you see who could use an encouraging word? Why not take a moment to say something kind?