The Knotts Family

They are home with a diagnosis of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. It is a rare disease but has a 70% complete remission rate. Janell has a

blog

where she's put regular updates. You can read all about it over there. Her words to me when she called to give me the definite word was, "Dana, it's just been a series of God things".

I have marvelled at so many things this week... Ken and Janell's ability to soak everything in. If I hadn't known any better I wouldn't have thought that all of this information was new to them. I am amazed at how clear headed they seemed to be thinking. They, somehow pulled it together, with the only goal of getting their son better. They are amazing parents.

And our church family! Can I just say that I am so honored to be a part of this family. We're a motley crew. The words that were said to me when we first met them was, "we've all been broken in some way". That is so true and how wonderful it feels to be my broken self with these broken people. Everyone is laid back and comfortable so much that we're sometimes unorganized. Except when it comes to these sort of things and I am telling you, The love and compassion that these people naturally expel to those who are hurting is unbelievable. Since we have been here, I have seen this little church of about 75 members (they don't have an official count because they don't want getting our numbers up to be our focus. If we are the people that God wants us to be, He will bring us the people that He wants to be there) do more for hurting families than I've ever seen much larger churches do. Ken and Janell went home to clean laundry (well not actually went home to it since I still have to take it to them but they didn't go home to dirty laundry), a stocked refrigerator, covered in tear poured prayers and touched with thousands of hugs and no telling what that I don't even know about. I was at the hospital visiting one night when the doctor came in. His words, "you people have got to quit multiplying. I can't keep up with you". I feel sure that he thought they belonged to a thousand member church. We have had lots of discussions about we were are, what our mission at our church is. I know what our gift is,( helping hurting people heal). I don't know how that translates into an official ministry or even if it needs to. They do it quite well without it being orchestrated. The one thing I'm quite sure of.. I love my church family and there's nowhere in this world I'd rather be.

Blessings,
Dana

Benjamin

We will hopefully have an update on the Benjamin soon. If you're here in town, they have repeatedly stated how blessed they have been by the outpouring of love they have received. However, they will be meeting with several specialists to determine the path they will be taking with his treatment so they have requested no visitors for today only. There are a lot of decisions to be made. Not all tests are in but they have given a priliminary diagnosis of "Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis". They have a long road ahead but this disease has a very high complete remission rate when treated with Chemo. Please keep the prayers going up. They have felt them. And this sweet little boy has blessed us all!

I did post my promised tip below.

Blessings,
Dana

Tuesday's Tips and Tricks-- Removing a dent from your car

Yes, I know it's Friday, at least I think it's Friday. It has been a long week (see post below)


I had intended on trying this one out myself since Adam's car has a big dent in from where I backed into it. But, if you've been following the stuff going on with the Knotts family, you know that I'm not that concerned with a dent in our car right now. I did however want to share this because it's so awesome. I'd love to hear from someone that has actually tried this.


Remove Car Dent With Airduster - For more funny movies, click here

Blessings,
Dana

Begging for prayers

I'm exhausted.. I'm not sure that this is going to be coherent. I will surely write a more detailed post later. Adam's secretary and I went to sit with a friend from our church yesterday (wow, only yesterday it seems like forever ago) while she waited for the results from an MRI her little boy was having. Benign tumors run in their family. His older sister has one. They are typically outgrown but they were more concerned because this tumor is located in his head and he was swelling around his eyes.. We were shocked when the optomologist came out and told us that it wasn't that type of tumor (there is a name for this type of tumor but I am a completely ignorant when it comes to any medical terms and I can't remember it. Someone comment what it is if you know) and that she was suspicious that it was cancer. Just a few minutes later the doctor confirmed that it was cancer. He just turned two.. Just two weeks older than Chloe. He has had more cat scans, a biopsy and will have bone scans tomorrow. They are discussing starting Chemo this weekend. In just a few minutes their world has been turned upside down. They are awaiting the results of the biopsy to find out exactly what they are dealing with.. I keep thinking that I will wake up from this horrible dream. I can't imagine what his mom is thinking..

I of course cried like a loser. I am so frustrated with myself that I just become a blubbering idiot in situations when I need to be the strongest. Thank goodness for Adam's awesome secretary who not only is one of the most positive faith filled people I've ever met but is also a breast cancer survivor. She quickly grabbed us all together and prayed. I could have never gotten that prayer out. I must have skipped that chapter in my 'How to be a Minister's Wife" handbook. Please, please pray for this family. And pray for me to have strength when I need it for others..

Blessings,
Dana

Meet George

For Tuesday's Tips and Tricks, I was going to show you a cool trick I learned to remove a dent from a car. And I mean it is super cool! But, you're going to have to come back Thursday for that. Because, Tuesday is my highest traffic day and I have to free it up so you can meet George because what he has to say is kind of important. Okay, it's REALLY important. And well, I love him. And, I want you to love him too..

So George was in our youth group when we were in Albany Georgia. We kind of had a rough start with him. However, I still maintain that he had me at hello.. Or whatever it was he said because I'm pretty sure he was too cool to just say hello. Anyway, even though we had a rough start, George has an awesome mom that totally supported Adam through that rough start and before it was all said and done, I was threatening to give him chores to do at our house because he was there so much. He sort of became our partner in crime and we became quite a trio pulling pranks on the other kids in the youth ministry.. Anyway, I had a soft spot for George and was bound and determined to find him a bride.. And, I sort of did. I introduced them but they didn't decide they liked each other until like four years later. But that's just because they were too stubborn to let me think it was my idea :). Anyway, Mrs. George is named Jay. And well, I have an even softer spot for her. And their little girl, well, it was a strange thing that they ended up having their first child, just six months behind us having ours but, they did. And that little girl just melts my heart..

Anyway, Jay and George and Sarah Jane came to visit a couple of months ago and George was telling me about this cause "One Verse" that he has gotten involved in and well.. I'm just going to let him tell you the rest.. The following is my interview with George:


Let's hear your version of how we met.. This should be fun:)

We met about 15 years ago when I was in 9th grade. Adam came to my church to be the Youth Minster. For the first several months that I was there I didn’t care for Adam too much. I thought he was a big Dork. I remember one time Adam kicked me out of his class. To this day I think I’m the only one he’s ever had to kick out.

But for whatever reason my opinion of Adam (and Dana) changed. Turns out before I graduated High School I would go over and hang out with them all the time at their house. Later on I worked for Adam at the church as a Youth Intern. Then many years later Adam married me and my wife.

My relationship with Adam and Dana has come full circle. Since I’ve been married my wife and I make trips ever so often to see Adam and Dana.

Can you explain to me exactly what the organization "One Verse" is and how you found out about them?

What is OneVerse? – OneVerse is partnered with the Seed Company and they are working hard to translate the Bible for different People Groups that don’t have a Bible in their language. Right now there are 200 million people represented by 2,200 language groups in the world that don’t have God’s Word in their native language.

How I found out about them - My wife and I took a bunch kids to a Passion Youth Conference. While we were there Louie Giglio got up and stated talking about a One of the People Groups in Africa. He held up a Bible and said this is “So & So” Bible. He flipped through talking about how they would read about how much God loved them and they would read how Jesus wanted to have relationship with them. But while he was talking, he flipped the Bible around and all of the pages were blank. When he did that I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine not having a Bible in my own language. Louie challenged us to get involved and ever since I felt I’ve felt a need to help.

How did you become involved with One Verse?

A few years after I left that Youth Conference I was reading blogs and I came across one call Team OneVerse. What Team OneVerse is a way for Marathoners & Endurance Athletes to help raise money for OneVerse. When I read that I knew that I had to be a part of this team because now I can use passion of running to help a Great Cause!

Right now I’m raising money for the Rutara People Group in South Asia. There are 200,000 people in the language group that don’t have Bible in their language. I’m running Ironman 70.3 Augusta on September 27 to raise money for the Rutara People

Do you have specific personal goals related to One Verse?

Each member of Team OneVerse has a goal of raising $1,500. My personal goal is to not only raise $1500 but also raise awareness to the cause. I’ve talked with lots of people who never knew that 200 million people can’t read God’s Word because it has not been translated in to the langue yet.

How are you progressing so far in meeting those goals?
I have a long way to go in reaching the 1,500 dollar mark. I’m still looking for sponsors to help me reach my finical goal. Just $26 will translate One Verse for the Rutara People group. A gift of $26 can allow some to read God’s word for the first time. This gift can change someone’s Life, Family, and even a Nation.

If you actually could share only one verse from the Bible with the whole world, which verse would it be (ha! no pressure)?
If I could only pick One Verse to share with the WHOLE WORLD then it would have to be John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

So there you have it.. I'm so proud of him and the person he's become! He's still a long way away from his goal. So pick the couch cushions up, look underneath, toss the cheerios, and toss the rest George's way. You can click on the "One Verse" icon on my left side bar and you can make a donation to support George and more importantly, you can help tell the story of Jesus to people that have never heard it!

Blessings!

Coupon Deals and Matchups

*One set of Smart Source and one set of Red Plum. Lot's of clearance items going on

Publix
Penny Item: One big roll of paper towels

Kroger


CVS

*I'm seeing reports that some CVSs have Huggies Mega packs on clearance.
*Summer items are clearanced 50% OFF

Walgreens

Rite Aid


Other Areas:

Food World

Kroger, Texas region

Picture of the Week -- Clever Mamas

I thought I'd join in on a picture of the week contest that I came across over at "Clever Mamas". So, here's my entry.



They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is worth that to me. But what do you think it's saying?

I know you all have some great pictures on your hard drive. Let's go over there and help these girls get their contest going.

Blessings,
Dana

Mom Select Swag Suite

I was excited when Mom Select contacted me about participating in the Swag Suite reviews. They said they would send me some products for me to try and they asked that I review at least three of the products. I was super excited when I opened the box I received and found this loot inside!




I was also very excited to find that it contained some products that I'm already a fan of. So, I thought I'd go ahead and tell you about those.


First, up is Hyland's Calms Forte'. I am a huge fan of the Hyland's products! Calms Forte' is a sleep aide, sort of.. It is made with all natural ingredients like Chamomille. I'm going to be honest, this product is not going to be a replacement for a prescription sleep medication. It won't even do the job of Benadryl. It works more like a relaxant. It's a great option for dealing with nervous tension or if you don't have the full 8 hours to dedicate to sleep. My sleep problems seem to be more of a an inability to wind down. It seems that after a long day of work that is physically taxing, my body is tired but my mind is running wild. Calms Forte seems to do the job of calming, hence the name. The thing that I like the most about it is: since it doesn't leave the groggy effect that sleep medication leaves, when I wake in the wee hours of the morning, thinking about my to do list for the next day, I can even take it at that time of the morning and still wake up without that drugged feeling. There is also a formula for children. Works like a charm..And, if you are a couponer, there is a coupon in the 6/1/09 Smart Source packet for a dollar off that doesn't expire until 9/1/09



Another product included was Hyland's Teething Gel. I've used this as well as the Hyland's teething tablets. Both products are absolutely wonderful. It took me by surprise the first time I used them but just a couple of minutes after using either of these items, my children were sleeping soundly.. I have yet to try a Hyland's product that I don't love! You can print a coupon for teething gel HERE

There was one other Hyland's product that I have yet to try and that is the Hyland's Cough and Cold medicine. And from the looks of the runny nose that Chloe started yesterday, it looks like I might have a review on that soon too.

More great products coming soon!

Tuesday's Tips and Tricks-- Laundry

Adam keeps getting these grease stains on his shirt. I'm not sure where these stains are coming from as he's not much of a mechanic but, none the less... grease stains. So, I searched the internet for a remedy and I found one. Along with a couple of other laundry solutions I think I'll try. I have not yet tested these out so, proceed at your own risk!

Grease Stains: Sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch or baby powder over the grease stain, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, then brush the powder off. The powder absorbs the grease and it brushes off with the powder.

Fabric Softener: Use an old dish towel as a fabric softener sheet. Pour a couple of cap fulls of Downey on it and throw it in the dryer. .Reuse the towel for about 15 loads until you start noticing static again. It helps to use a towel that is distinct from the other laundry.

My thoughts on this one.. I think you would need to dry the fabric first or you might end up needing the grease stain removal one. I'm not sure that my grease stain problem isn't from liquid fabric softner.

Ink Stains: Put rubbing alcohol on the stain - it disappears! This must be done before washing.

Zippers: To make a zipper slide up and down more smoothly, rub a bar of soap over the teeth.

Blessings,
Dana

First Day of First Grade!

We took Emma for her first day of school this morning. It went off without a hitch or so I thought until I got home and looked at the pictures I took and realized that she had a bracelet on in the pictures. How did that get by me? Strong lecture coming this afternoon...

Anyway, it was much less traumatizing than last year. We already love her teacher. I did shed a couple of tears as I was writing the note to go in her lunch box. But, if you know me, you know that just a couple of tears for anything is quite an achievement for me.

For record keeping sake and because I doubt the note makes it back home, this is what it said:
Emma, Chloe and I will be waiting on you at home to hear how your first day went. Remember that there might be someone there that is sad. Be their friend and I know that they will be happy. We will miss you but we know that the the world needs you. We love you, Dad, Mom, and Chloe

As every parent says, time is flying by. In one way, I want time to stand still and in another, I can't wait to have one of the best adult friends I'll ever have. She walked into that school like she owned the place. It seemed like everyone knew her name. I wish I had just half of her confidence. She's already a person that I admire so much.

Chloe and I went to the grocery store and I have to admit I enjoyed having time alone with her. She is at such a fun age. And it's nice to know that she can talk herself when her big sister isn't there to answer for her.

Blessings,
Dana