Still in a holding pattern

We are slowly beginning to move a few things out of Rhonda's Forsyth Hosp residence in preparation for her move to Duke. We continue to wait on an available bed and engage details of the transfer. But nothing is wasted. The time she has in Winston continues to be filled with moments that are beautiful and empowered by the Spirit. The kindness of her health care providers everyday is such a wonderful gift. Her Pastor sitting by her bed reading her Scripture when she was too weak to even stay awake. She would listen, drift into sleep, wake back up and enjoy hearing his voice and the Truths that he brought. Such comfort, these Words truly are used to transform her thinking and remind her of her Hope.
Never one to miss an occasion, Rhonda has been organizing birthday dinner celebrations for some of her closest friends. 3 of us have had birthdays within the last month. Last night she and I celebrated mine. She asked for permission to enjoy some good red wine and paired it with an amazing dinner of pasta, shrimp and wilted spinach. An evening filled with conversation about life, friends, plans and Our Hope. What an amazing time. She had a small beautiful table cloth, real wine glasses, cutlery and plates. ( It's hard to really honor a meal with plastic cutlery and styrofoam. ) There is so much life that is in and flows from that room. There is no place for death there, even with the nurses coming in to check and change out medications with such regularity. This disease is not the powerful one, Our Father is the One who empowers and gives us each day.

• Would you pray that her time with Him will be deep and uninterrupted? Between the medications interrupting her thinking and the necessary medical attention she receives, time that is full and rich with Him is something she so longs for.
• Pray for physical healing. He can do this. It is an opportunity to ask ourselves do we believe this and will we pray for it passionately. We know He will not withhold any good thing in Christ from those He loves, what we don't know is what the best thing is.
• Pray for the many conversations, short and long, by phone- in person- or over the internet that she has during the weeks that pass; that she will be salt and light.

Thanks for your love, care and encouragement. There really are no adequate words to express our gratitude.