On Sept. 26, I think, anyway it was a Monday, I had a horrible apartment
fire.  Flurrie and I got out just fine but there was extensive property loss
including my computer equipment, bedding, and much furniture.  I was
supposed to go to Jen's shower and couldn't because I was receiving
donations and getting people to help me salvage what I could.  I felt ill
that week end and returned to work anyway on Tuesdaywith chills and fever.
That night I went to the emergency room with high fever and they kept me.  I
had a raging infection through my bloodstream and on Monday, October 11, my
middle toe on my right foot was removed because of Osteo Melitus.  I spent a
couple of weeks in a nursing home and now am back in my new apartment.  Each
day God provides something new for me.  Today it was my computer.  I thought
for sure that since the state had gotten me a computer, that was it, but
they saw the fire report and now I have a computer again.  My brandnew
freezer had been delivered the day of the fire and it, too was trashed along
with lots and lots of dishes and Tupperware treasures and stuff, but today
the new freezer was delivered and I had no fire.  God is good.

I am making a fashion statement for sure.  My right shoe is built so that
there will be little to no weight bearing on the right toes and I rock when
I walk.  LOL.  In physical therapy in the nursing home, they did all they
could to foil my balance and see if I could get up when I fell and stuff.
They only worked with me for a week saying I could do everything they had
for me to do.  I even fixed the boss's computer because I wouldn't play cd's
for her.  She thought she didn't have a sound card, so I found it for me.
Miss Flurrie was the queen deluxe.  They gave me a really hard time about
her being in the hospital with me because I have an MRSA, (Stapf infection),
but they loved her to pieces in the "facilty", as I call it.  She would go
from room to room visiting the residents by herself.  Hahaha.  Too much to
tell in one note, but God enabl3ed me to speak up for Him in the midst of my
own trials and it was sweet to see God's love flow through me to other
people there.  Some of the nurses cried when I left, but I hope we'll keep
in touch.

I have a goal.  The lady next to me said to one of m helpers, "Well, she's
blind and livng over there by herself, and she'll just do this all over
again."  It hurt.  But I"m going to invite her to dinner in a few weeks.
She needs friends. I hear she is very lonely.  And besides,  she has a
dachshound.  *Smile*

Love you all,

April

----- Original Message -----
From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 9:16 PM
Subject: Benchpressing Brad in prayer


> Benchpressing Brad in prayer you ask? Well. Since Vicki is always lifting
> us in prayer I figure she could get a workout lifting me up in this one
> lol.
>
> I began dabbling in songwriting back in the early 90's, tossed it aside,
> picked it up, tossed it aside, picked it up, tossed it aside even further,
> it popped up again and finally gave it a good hard toss but like a
> boomarang it keeps returning. I've tried to kill the desire with many
> excuses and lies hopeing it would stay dead. You know stuff like, "You
> aren't good enough", "who do you think you are anyway", "What do you
> think?
> You think you will write a number one hit?" on and on and on. Well I don't
> want to write a number one hit, I just want depth and truth and let it do
> what it does. I just like to write and want to do it with more
> meaning.   Recently I tuned into a songwriter's webcast I frequent, and
> heard a writer that was not only a Christian giving God credit for his
> position in life as a songwriter, but has proven to be a great
> encouragement to me as we email back and forth. I'll put his web page
> below, please check it out and support him he is an awesome writer and
> musician. My prayer request is for God to equip, inspire, and direct me
> as
> I pick up this gift again. I know my strengths and weaknesses and will
> work
> on them but as anything in this world worth spit, it needs God's hand on
> it. Thanks so much for your prayer in the midst of all what is going on in
> your individual lives.
>
> James Casto's web site is:
> http://www.jamescasto.com/pages/1/index.htm
>
> There are some buttons on there where you can listen to a few of his
> songs.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Brad
>
>