Frog Hat and Other Things

Well, it has been awhile since I posted anything here, but Tim's mom sent me something that really speaks volumes to us as Christians regarding being witnesses.  So, I will post that after I give you a brief update as to what has been going on lately.

We had a wonderful time while Tim's mom was here.  Jennifer, Tim's sister, brought her down and stayed a couple of days, too.  We had a great time! 

They arrived Tuesday evening, Oct. 12th.  I had cooked roast, potatoes and carrots in the crockpot for dinner.  The weather was cold and rainy all day as they traveled and was not looking good for much of the week.

Wednesday, with the weather being bad, we did not want to do any outside activities, so we hit the thrift stores in the morning and Jennifer treated us to lunch.  After lunch Tim took Jennifer and I to the shooting range while his mom stayed at the house and rested.  The only thing I'll say at this point is that Jennifer and I out-shot Tim!  :D

Thursday, Jennifer headed for home around 8 a.m.  At around 10, we went to the Farmer's Market about 20 miles away from us.  We really didn't expect to find anything.  But there was some fruit (pumpkins and apples) and peppers, etc.  Tim's mom found some good deals on flowers.  There was a nice garden store there, too, that we enjoyed.

Friday, we didn't do much but Liz came down with the kids to spend the weekend while "Gram" was there.  She didn't arrive til around 6, so we waited on her to eat.  I fixed spaghetti, which is always pretty safe to fix for kids!

Saturday, Mega Thrift was having a $0.99 sale on kids clothes.  So, the 3 women and the kids went to Mega Thrift while Tim hit the thrifts by himself......you know.......in and out............not what we were going to be doing!!  :D 

Sunday, after church we went to Pizza Hut to get their $10 pizza deal on any kind of pizza you wanted!  Jake, Sharon Russell's grandson, LOVED Abigail!  He talked with her at church and hung out by her at Pizza Hut til his food came.  He only left because grandma insisted!  It was so cute!  After pictures at home, Liz packed up the kids and headed back home.

Monday, we just hung out around the house and Jeanne packed up her belongings for the trip home on Tuesday.

Tuesday, we left the house around 7:15, ate lunch on the road and arrived at her house at around 4.  Tim worked on her computer and we left around 5 and headed to Liz's house to spend the night before we headed back to NC on Wednesday.

Wednesday, left WV at around 8.  The house sure was empty now!  I worked on laundry and the computer the rest of the day.  I had lots of digi work to get caught up on because we were leaving again on Saturday back to WV for Tim to preach revival beginning Sunday thru the following Friday.

Saturday, we left the house a few minutes after 3 p.m. and arrived at the hotel at around 7.  Sunday was the first day of Revival.  No one was there but the members for the morning services.  Dinner was served at the church.  The afternoon services began at 3:30. Several visitors had come. 

Monday, today, the pastor and his wife took us up on the mountains to see the wind turbines.  HUGE and fascinating is all I can say!  You've got to see them to believe them! Noisy, you ask?  NO!  We spent about 3 house traveling along the ridges to see the MANY wind turbines that were up there.  Then we went to the pastor's house for lunch.  Then I drove back to the hotel and Tim went with the pastor to shoot their guns behind the church.  For dinner, the pastor and wife picked us up to take us to dinner at one of the members' house.  The revival services began at 7 and there were LOTS of visitors from area churches.  It was a good service.
 
Tomorrow, the pastor and his wife will pick us up and take us to a flea market.  Later on, I'll try to post pictures from Gram's visit and our trip here. 

OK, here's the story I promised I'd share with you.  ENJOY!

FROG HAT

 

My 9-year-old's last-second request surprised his doctor and taught me a valuable lesson about sharing the gospel....Tina Blessitt

 

Last fall my 9-year-old son, Austin, had his tonsils removed. Before the surgery, Austin 's anesthesiologist came to start an IV. He was wearing a cool surgical cap covered in colorful frogs. Austin loved that "frog hat." The doctor explained that he had two choices. He could either try to start the IV, or he could wait until Austin was up in the operating room. In the OR the doctor would give Austin some "goofy" gas, and start the IV when he was more relaxed.

 

"So, Austin ," he asked, "which do you want?"

 

Austin replied, "I'll take the gas."

 

But when the doctor started to leave, Austin called, "Hey, wait."

 

The doctor turned. Yeah, buddy, what do you need?"

 

"Do you go to church?"

 

"No," the doctor admitted. "I know I probably should, but I don't."

 

Austin then asked, "Well, are you saved?"

 

Chuckling nervously, the doctor said, "Nope. But after talking to you, maybe it's something I should consider."

 

Pleased with his response, Austin answered, "Well, you should, 'cause Jesus is great!"

 

"I'm sure He is, little guy," the doctor said, and quickly made his exit.

 

After that a nurse took me to the waiting room. Someone would come and get me when Austin 's surgery was done.

 

After about 45 minutes, the anesthesiologist came into the waiting room. He told me the surgery went well and then said, "Mrs. Blessitt, I don't usually come down and talk to the parents after a surgery, but I just had to tell you what your son did."

 

Oh boy, I thought. What did that little rascal do now?

 

The doctor explained that he'd just put the mask on Austin when my son signaled that he needed to say something.

 

When the doctor removed the mask, Austin blurted, "Wait a minute, we have to pray!"

 

The doctor told him to go ahead, and Austin prayed, "Dear Lord, please let all the doctors and nurses have a good day. And Jesus, please let the doctor with the frog hat get saved and start going to church. Amen."

 

The doctor admitted this touched him. "I was so sure he would pray that his surgery went well," he explained. "He didn't even mention his surgery. He prayed for me! Mrs Blessitt, I had to come down and let you know what a great little guy you have."

 

A few minutes later a nurse came to take me to post-op. She had a big smile on her face as we walked to the elevator. "Mrs. Blessitt, I couldn't wait to tell you something exciting that your son did."

 

With a smile, I told her that the doctor already mentioned Austin 's prayer.

 

But there's something you don't know," she said. "Some of the other nurses and I have been witnessing to and praying for that doctor for a  long time.  After your son's surgery, he tracked a few of us down to tell us about Austin 's prayer. He said, 'Well girls, you got me. If that little boy could pray for me when he was about to have surgery, then I think maybe I need his Jesus too."

 

She then recounted how they joined the doctor as he prayed to receive Christ right there in the hospital.

 

Wow! Austin had played a small part in something wonderful. But then, so did the nurses who prayed and witnessed.

 

I thought about John's words in his Gospel, "One sows and the other reaps" (John 4:37 ).

 

Austin 's experience taught me that, although we never know which role we may be called to play, in the end it doesn't matter. What's important is that we remain faithful in sharing the gospel.

 

Tina Blessitt, a freelance writer, lives with her husband and four children in Kentucky ...

 

"Don't tell God how big your troubles are--tell your trouble HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS