I would have posted this more quickly, but honestly my days have been very busy since a simple phone call. I got a call from Denise on Saturday that I will never forget. She just said that Chris was not doing very well at all and that she was scared. She said that she was waiting on a call back from his doctor and that they might have to go to the hospital and would I come watch Ethan, who had just gone down for a nap. Of course I said yes and was out the door, trying to hold it together and fearing the worst...
Fortunately it seemed the whole street was out in their yards as I ran down to their house and our other neighbor Joel followed me down. As we walked in, Denise was essentially getting the news from the doctor that Chris has entered liver failure and it was worsening quickly. We watched as Denise received the devastating news that this was the end of the road for Chris here on earth and it was a matter of days to weeks.
I have to be honest, I have never been around anyone when that news was delivered and to watch this strong, brave woman literally crumble onto the floor was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. (let alone processing the fact that our friend is dying...)
It has been a whirlwind couple of days full of phone calls trying to set up hospice care, priests, help from friends, care from strangers, etc. I have been truly blown away by the kindness of strangers and the sheer numbers of true angels that have come out in this time of need.
That said, they are still desperately in need of financial assistance. The medical bills are staggering and will only get worse in this last stage of care. Then the real challenge of trying to heal emotionally and take care of a child on her own will set in. I am praying for more angels to step in and make this a little easier on them financially.
Most importantly though, I ask that if you are reading this, please stop and say a prayer for them. Pray for peace, strength, wisdom and comfort and BOLDLY ask for a MIRACLE! I know it is God's time and not ours, but I also know I serve a merciful God and that He has the power to heal what medicine cannot. I praise God for the work that He has already done to answer so many prayers.
Here are some websites again:
http://www.ourseibertfamily.com/this is to donate to the Seibert's
http://livestong.blogspot.com/The Seibert blog that should be updated soon by a friend that is staying with them (thank you Amber!)
http://devine-memories.blogspot.com/2008/08/plea.htmlHerThis is the photographer's website. She is also a good friend of Denise's and has been posting needs for the family
http://themillermemo.blogspot.com/This is another neighbor and friend, the Miller's. Mitzi is setting up meals and care for the family.
Thank you so much for caring enough to do something. Whether it is prayer, donations, food, etc. it all counts and it is all very much appreciated!
She loves to sit on pumpkins! Seriously, she searches them out and "tries" out most of them!
This was the Sunday School Picnic day. Ashley has that look on her face b/c she was looking for the petting zoo (which is apparently not there on the weekend). She was not very happy about this at all.
Look, more pumpkins. Gotta sit on these too!
She decided to change shoes when I was bringing her fall clothes out of the other closet. She saw the nike's and had to make a shoe change then and there.
She insisted posing in the chair for her picture. Her hand is raised in protest in the other picture because she is showing me that she wants to go take her pic. in the chair "o'der"
"Cheese!"
