Updates

Sorry that I haven't updated the situation here at the City Smith house.  Jim's brother died on Jan 25th, and Jim and I went to the funeral the following week...... long story to tell there, but not for now.  God was definitely good to us in the trip and the time that we were there... although it was a very sad time also. 
We returned and I went to Erin's to help her and immediately came down with a stomach bug or food poisoning which kept me up all night in a not very pleasant way.  I left early the next day to keep away from her and the children... that turned out to be very interesting, too.  The streets were icy but the overpasses were even more icy... cars in ditches, or over turned or stuck or.... well, you get the idea....  I made it home by His grace.   Several days later, I lost my voice and am still a little croaky, although I have felt good and Jim has probably liked my lack of voice. It has probably been allergies.  So that is why I have not been in touch with you all.... love you.... Blessings...
Linda 

Happy Valentine's Day

Ash Wednesday

How deep the Fathers love for us,

how vast beyond all measure,

that He should give his only Son,

to make a wretch His treasure.

 

We love... because He first loved us.  (I guess that explains why we love you all so much.)

                         

 

Jim's brother

In my mind I wrote you all with an update on Jim's brother.... in reality, I did NOT!!!  Sorry!!  As you know he developed (or they found) a number of other problems with Bob's health... pneumonia, elevated blood sugar, atrial fibrillation, and finally kidney failure.  They had tried to reduce his sedation to wake him up, and he did not wake up... so the doctors told Carol that there was nothing else they could do since they were carrying on all his vital body systems with machines.  She and their son decided to take him off the ventilator, and when they did, he went peacefully to be with the Lord.  (If I have told you all of this, just humor me).  This was merciful since he had emphysema and dying in his sleep is the grace of God.  Even before the pneumonia took him to the hospital he was hardly able to walk across the kitchen, etc.  We praise the Lord for His grace and mercy.
So the funeral has finally been set for Wednesday with visitation on Tuesday night.  We will be leaving Tuesday AM (by car) and will probably be back on Thursday night or Friday.  Please pray for us as we travel and that we can minister to his family.

Happy Birthday Jim Brown !!!

Happy Birthday Jim Brown !!!

Happy Birthday, Jim Brown... and other news

Happy Birthday to Jim Brown!!!!!  I can't do the poster thing that Ernie does but want to say a very special day to you, Jim.  God bless you in every way this year.  You are a blessing to us all!!! 

Then just a little info on Jim's brother.  He is still on a ventilator, but they are slowly waking him up, and he is breathing about 15% on his own at this time.  His lungs are full of emphysema, his pneumonia is some better, but it will be awhile before it is gone, his blood sugar is running 400 (so he is on insulin... he has probably had undetected diabetes for a while), and the good news is that his urine output has improved.  Please continue to pray for him and for Carol who sounded like she was getting sick with a cold or the flu.

Jim's brother

Jim's brother, Bob Smith, was admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath and just not feeling good.  It turns out that he was in Atrial Fibrillation (a heart rhythm problem) and has pneumonia.  He also has emphysema so this made this all worse.  They put him on a ventilator and sedated him to give his lungs a rest and to deal with his heart rate, etc.  His heart rate is much improved and he is receiving IV meds for the pneumonia.  Something has now happened to cause his kidneys to not function as well (a little confusion here when talking to his wife, Carol), but suffice it to say that Bob is very ill.  Also this is the weekend for their granddaughter's wedding.... the good news is that all of the immediate family is in town for the wedding.... the bad news.... Bob is very ill....  but the best news... God knows and His ways are perfect.  Oh, and the father of the bride just came down with the flu.  Please pray.... meet you at the throne of Almighty God for grace to help in time of need.

Happy Birthday, Ernie!!!!  Oh, how I wish I could make you a poster like you do for everyone else.... but I can't!!!  Maybe someone will do it for you later.  In the meantime we wish you a great day in Him in the middle of ice, snow, and any other difficulties in your life.  We pray that God will show Himself mighty as you walk through the day.  That His Presence will over shadow you and overwhelm you with Joy.  That you will see Him in all that happens today and praise Him in it all.

We love you much!!!!

Blessed and Merry Christmas to you!!!

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and that we love you.  I wish I could take credit for that love but truth is that We love because He first loved us.  And He proved that love (for God so loved...) by sending Jesus (by the way He is the King of kings and Lord of lords) in a humble state (human flesh).. to be born in a humble manger (and what is it with us that we think we need more)..... to die for us (while we were yet sinners, enemies and ungodly).....  to be raised from the dead.... so that we can live in the newness of abundant life, peace, and joy (filled with His Spirit... God in us.. and the same power that raised Him from the dead dwells in us... Whooppee!!!)..... AND He is coming back!!!  I just read about it in Matthew (birth pangs preceeding it), John (prepared a place) and Revelation (whoa, Baby.... there is some stuff coming.. but He is on the throne and loves us) and it is TRUE.  He is coming back to get us and take us home to live with Him.... no more sorrows, no more tears.  Okay so if that is true.... really true....  then how should I then live! Do I believe it enough to live that truth out?  God make that real in our lives so real that we overflow in joy and gratefulness, and it spills out on others.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY !!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY !!!!!!!

 

Happy Birthday Linda !!!!!

 

Happy Birthday Suzanne !!!!!

Happy  Birthday Suzanne !!!!!

 

Happy Birthday Sherry !!!

Happy Birthday Sherry !!!

 

Kristin update

From Linda via Suzanne....... Kristin's surgery went well. She should be in the hospital until Saturday.
Pray for Kristin's healing and recovery and for Linda as she ministers to daughter and grandchildren. Thanks to all. Blessings.

Fwd: FOX News: Christian Pastor Freed After 3 Years in Iranian Jail

Subject: FOX News: Christian Pastor Freed After 3 Years in Iranian Jail

 Christian Pastor Freed After 3 Years in Iranian Jail.

Youcef Nadarkhani (from Voice of the Martyrs)

			Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of) Arrested: October 2009 Have you been praying for Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani? He needs your prayers especially tomorrow, when his trial is scheduled to take place. Please pray that Youcef will be prepared for whatever happens on Saturday and that God will keep him bold in his faith. Pray that God's glory will be shown in Iran through Youcef's testimony.

Susan Brown's aunt

Please pray for Susan Brown's aunt who is 90 years old and had major surgery last Tuesday.  Susan says that she is not getting better very fast.  Her surgery was major and was for colon cancer if I am not mistaken.  Susan says she is a wonderful Christian, and she just hates to see her in pain.  Let's all go to the Lord for this precious woman of God.

Forgot

Forgot to say that you can follow Olivia McComb on her twitter account... @OliviaMcComb or go to Google and put in Olivia McComb Twitter... and it will come up.  Lots more pictures there.

Olivia is in Africa

Olivia, Suzanne's granddaughter, and Jennifer's daughter (love that)... is in AFRICA.....  AND here is a picture of her.  She is the one in the purple shirt. Note her left arm and how they are hanging on to her.  :-)

Opps.... the top one is not clear because it came from an iphone and I received it in the small size.  Ernie, if you can do better I will send it to you in email.  BUT is it not a praise to God and a beautiful picture of His grace and love.  Besides the fact that Olivia is beautiful herself.  Suzanne asks that you will pray that Olivia will be open to ALL that God is teaching her.

Also continue to pray for Jeremy, Kelly, Felicia, Dorothy....well, all of us....  you know what I mean.
Love you...  His grace is suffficient.... His power is sure... even in our weakness.
Look at those faces.  Suzanne's legacy is going on.....  praise His Name.

Suzanne's brothers

Suzanne called and asked for prayer for her brothers.  Jerry has had some tumors or abnormal cells in his bladder.  He was checked recently and there were more so he is going to receive chemo this afternoon at 1PM.  He is pretty much alone there in Florida so please pray that God will minister to him is a special way, with peace in this situation.... and with healing.  Tommy, her other brother, who had the growth in his lung that disappeared a while ago, now has some nodules in his lung.  He will undergo a bronchoscopy tomorrow.  Please pray for him as he goes through this.  AND for Suzanne who, of course, is concerned about them.... especially that Jerry is alone.
Jennifer is still staying the course.... Praise His Name!!!  And "little" Kelly is seeming to having a life change... was saying some good things when I was there.... then went to church camp.... is reading his Bible.... staying home lots (and he isn't under house arrest at this point.. :-) )...  Let's continue to pray about that...  the Browns.... Dorothy.... Felicia... Jeremy....  on and on.... and with thanksgiving we enter His courts.