A Few Prayer Requests - UPDATE

Yesterday was a crazy day in our home. I had to take Benjamin to the doctor for a minor urology issue he was born with. He will be having a surgical procedure done on March 12 to correct the problem, hopefully for the last time.

It had been a crazy morning getting everyone ready and organizing childcare and vehicles. I needed to leave early to make a stop at the March of Dimes office to drop off the photos for the slideshow. Since the appointment was at 2 and Ben would be missing his nap, I figured I could leave early and he would sleep in the car. Thankfully, he did. As I was driving my cellphone rang and I saw that it was my OB office calling, so I picked up the phone and spoke with my OB's nurse. She said that the ultrasound we had done last week looked good, but that they were not able to get all of the measurements they wanted and that the doctor wanted me to come in sooner that four weeks to try again.

This instantly sent my heart into a bit of a panic, I started asking questions, and she assured me that everything looked fine, but because of the baby's position they weren't able to get all the measurements needed (which we knew) and that the doctor thought coming in sooner would help to assure we get the proper measurements before the baby grows too big. So, our next ultrasound will be next week. It has been moved to February 11. So we would greatly appreciate your prayers from now until then. I am trying hard to tell myself not to worry, that this is all perfectly normal, but I am just not even sure what normal is anymore.

I also would like to ask your prayer for Howard. He is having a difficult time with work right now. As most of you know he is a teacher. He teaches in a public school. He really likes the district and the teachers he works with. He has always had waves of frustration hit since he started teaching, but it seems to be getting much worse. I have been in his classroom and I know he feels like what he is doing isn't making a difference, but I know otherwise. You could spend a day in Howard's classroom and see that he is "shining his light". He wants so badly to make a difference, he has a passion, but it is slowly but surely getting squashed. There is so much more to being a teacher than just teaching. Anymore the politics of it all are overwhelming and many teachers feel that their hands are basically tied. He teaches Current Events and since this is not a subject that is tested via standardized tests, there is not as much importance placed on that subject and that is a tough thing for a teacher who fully believes that what he teaches is of the utmost importance...I mean come on, in today's society, kids need to be aware of what is going on in the world around them. I am struggling to see him so torn and frustrated.

Ok...I have to go get breakfast for two hungry boys, but I would greatly appreciate your prayers in these areas. Thank you all for your love and support! You mean the world to me!


******UPDATE*********

As I have spent as much time as possible in prayer for Howard this morning, I feel God has given me some scripture to use in all of this...

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-14

I am praying this afternoon that Howard is able to see that he is the salt. The salt in a rotting and rotten world....sometimes salt causes irritation in the process of fertilizing and preserving. We must live for the benefit of this rotting world even when it is hard and frustrating. Salt prevents decay, and there is certain decay in the world and the educational system today. I am praying that Howard is able to see his role as the salt even when it is hard and disheartening. I pray that God would use him to protect and preserve what is good from rotting away and that he does not lose his saltiness.

I am praying that he can see that he is shining Jesus' light in the darkness. Sometimes being that light brings with it resistance and persecution. Sometimes we make mistakes, we are human, but what is important is that we not allow ourselves to conform and become part of that darkness...I am praying that he doesn't give up, but keeps fighting for what is right and good and for the lives of our young people. The world's perspective does not define the truth of who we are, the world's perspective is skewed. Interestingly enough when we walk with Jesus, our lives instead of becoming easier, often become harder, and we suffer even more. This happens because this world is not our home and we cannot be fulfilled fully here. I pray that the Lord would fill Howard with the hope, joy and comfort that he needs right now to be that salt and light in this world of darkness.