November 2010

Friends,

Thank you for your continued prayer for Ruby and our family.

We had some happy times together this past month with birthday celebrations, a family photo shoot, enjoyable times outside, and encouraging times of prayer for Ruby's healing.

Praise Reports:

* Ruby is smiling, laughing, and talking more and more consistently. We used to see it just every few days, but it is a daily occurrence now with real social responses to myself and Mitch.

* Ruby's vision continues to develop well.

* The vomiting has decreased a little bit.

Prayer Requests:

* Pray that Ruby would be able to eat and digest food normally (that the vomiting would cease).

* Pray that Ruby's spine would straighten and be normal. Ruby's spine has been curving really fast the last few months which carries serious concerns with it. She is being followed for this by an orthopedics doctor. Pray with us for a miracle and wisdom.

Peace.

Mitch, Katie, Ruby Joy

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

October 2010

Friends,

May your unfailing love rest upon us , O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:21-22

Ruby is adorable. We love her so much.

Physically it has been a difficult few weeks here, we feel tired. Ruby has had lots of vomiting around the clock, an infection, and other challenges. The stress of weight loss from the vomiting and lack of growth have been hard and we feel emotionally done with the feeding tube. And then there are those "Ruby" moments when her adorable self comes out and all the challenges seem to dissipate under the weight of her cuteness.

We are learning the value of maintaining inner peace through it all - which really is available in Jesus - the Person. I think real inner peace - the ability to be still inside and out - is the most valuable thing a person can possess in any season of life and perhaps the hardest thing to faithfully guard.

Praise Reports: Ruby's social response is increasing - laughing and smiling. It is the most redemptive area for progress and we are overjoyed at each little noise she makes. Ruby's smiley times are by far the best times of any day. Thank you, Lord, for this grace.

Prayer Requests: Healing. Total. Complete. Healing.

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

Thankful for all the miracles so far - and pressing onward from here towards the promise,

Mitch, Katie, Ruby Joy

September 2010

Dear Friends,

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Matthew 4:23-24

Praise Reports:

* Ruby had some extensive blood work done this past month and everything came back normal, including her cholesterol level which measured at 99. (!)This is a really wonderful breakthrough for Ruby, and an answer to prayer.

The geneticist said that Ruby's cholesterol level has normalized at this time and they attribute it to the cholesterol treatment she gets (through egg yolks). We are thankful for the treatment and also for God's direct intervention and faithfulness in answering prayer. One of the biggest things that the restored cholesterol will help with right now is her immune system - the ability to stay healthy. Amen!

* We are also thankful this month for all the new noises that Ruby is making. She has been much more vocal recently, and it is a praise in regards to her hearing, social response, etc.

Prayer Requests

* It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Ps. 18:32 Pray with us for a sudden restoration of Ruby's physical strength; ability to hold head, grasp with hands, sit up, stand up, walk.

* Who satisfies your mouth with good things. Ps. 103:5 Pray with us for healing of Ruby's mouth. The feedings have continued to be a major challenge this past month including really difficult and ongoing vomiting. Persist with us - in prayer. He will answer.

Thank you! We really appreciate your steady love.

Mitch, Katie, Ruby Joy

p.s. Just for fun - we were nominated (among other worthy friends :) for a free family photo shoot. You can vote here http://www.heatherbeephoto.com/hbblog/?p=1025

August 2010

WELCOME to Ruby's blog, and thank you for making the transition with us from the e-mail list! We have experienced so much of God's goodness in this past year, and there is much more to come - we believe. We encourage you to read here not as a source of information but as a platform for prayer. We invite you to continue to stand with us in prayer for Ruby's complete healing on earth as it is in heaven.

Friends,

Grace and peace to you.

Praise Reports:

* We returned to the genetics clinic this month after a long time away and it went really well. We met with a new genetics doctor who is a much better fit for us. The doctor asked us a lot of questions and as he did it became increasingly clear that Ruby is doing remarkably well considering what they are used to seeing with this condition. He shared that children with this disease are usually in and out of the hospital constantly with critical and life-threatening illnesses. Ruby has not been hospitalized at all since the original discharge (apart from the eye surgery), and although she has been sick it has never been critical like what he was describing to us. He was really pleased, as are we! It is evident that there continues to be Divine Power at work in Ruby's life that makes the difference. We are so grateful, and look forward to His continued Presence transforming her health. Thank you, King Jesus.

Prayer Requests:

* The feeding has been especially difficult again the last few weeks. There are elements of tube feeding that are just so hard - all of which seem to be peaking at the moment. With our physical eyes we have not seen much progress in her ability to eat orally despite a lot, a lot, of hard work. The vomiting is also persisting making things particularly hard. We would not put it past God to drop in with a sudden miracle in Ruby's mouth that would change everything in a day. He is that good - so we are asking for it still; persistent and relentless in prayer because of our confidence in His goodness. Please continue to pray for Ruby to be able to eat by mouth and transition off the feeding tube.

* A breakthrough in growth and development, laughing, smiling, holding head, etc.

LOVE!

Mitch, Katie, Ruby Joy

July 2010

Friends,

We enjoyed a happy birthday with Ruby - felt a lot, celebrated a lot, and loved a lot. Ruby's birthday has been especially good for us in helping us to remember how far we have come. God has already brought us so far in this journey. It's been so healthy the last few days to sit and be reminded of all that He has already done for us - past, present, and future. We are so grateful for Ruby's life.

Praise Reports:
* Ruby celebrated her first birthday last weekend! :)

* After three and a half months of bad congestion, wheezing, breathing difficulties, ear infections, etc. Ruby is starting to feel better, In the last week the congestion has cleared up considerably and we are encouraged!

Prayer Requests:
* We continue to work daily on Ruby's ability to eat by mouth. Keep believing with us for a nearing miracle in this area of her health.

* Thank God with us for the miracles He is giving to heal Ruby's genetics. Pray for complete restoration of her cholesterol level this month on earth as it is in heaven. We have a nearing appointment (July 19) with a new geneticist. We have not been to the genetics clinic for many months by choice. Pray that this new doctor will be a good fit for us with helpful support for Ruby. Pray also that there will be a peace between us and the doctor in regard to Mitch and my preferences for Ruby's care.

Jesus bless you all!

p.s. Our plan is to post a monthly prayer update here during the first week of each month. We'll be sending out one reminder about this blog over the e-mail list early August and that will be the end of the e-mails for now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!