Caring Bridge Site for Marcus & Sue Cooper

From Sue Cooper: 

This past Thursday, Marcus was in a serious motorcycle accident. I have only been posting on Facebook but have now had the time to set up a Caring Bridge website. You can access it at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thecooperjourney/journal.

This will be the only email that I send out about the incident. This way those that want to stay updated or communicate with us can via this website. Please know that there is a "tribute" link. If you give any money it goes to keeping the website going, it is not asking for contributions to us or the his accident. The website is non-profit and it just helps folks stay connected through things like this situation. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew that, it is a little unclear if you have never used Caring Bridge before.

We love you all and just want to keep you updated as to what is happening and how we are doing. This is a whole new phase and a new way of life for us and no matter what happens, I pray we praise God through every step.

Another update from Sue

Gathered to pray before a potluck at our house, October 2010

I wanted to share another quick update about Marcus Cooper. I have tried to share just Sue's words, but there are a couple of things of note that I thought I should mention.

Even though Marcus has been on the ventilator and unable to speak, he has indeed been communicating. He is using sign language! He has known it for some time, but Sue is in the process of learning. This past year, the Coopers started a Sunday school class for the deaf community in our church, along with our dear friend Lyndi, who is an interpreter. What a perfect plan of the Lord to prepare them for this time.

Another amazing development is that at the Saturday morning men's Bible study yesterday, one of Marcus' coworkers told the group, my husband included, that everyone at work wants to donate their sick leave to Marcus! Their company has in place a process for that to happen. He told the men that it isn't weeks or months of sick leave, it is years. Years. Praise God.

Sue posted the following, around noon on Saturday, January 7th. 

Marcus continues to be stable and rested well through the night. Today is becoming rough as his body is coming out of shock and they are taking him off continuous sedation. He wakes up and is very anxious but yet can't move or talk because of restraints and the ventilator and I take comfort that I can be by his side to hold his hand, speak to him and help relax him. 

This will continue to be a rough day for him and it was very hard to see a tears roll out of his eyes as they adjust and wean from sedation, but each as hard as it is, they are all excellent signs that he is aggravated by the tube that would aggravate anyone normally. All is the same as yesterday and basically will be until Monday. 

Monday will be a very rough day. He will have the spinal surgery and they will finish cleaning up from the amputation. They will place a torso hard casting on him, begin taking the ventilator tube out, having him at a 30 degrees angle and work on getting him to cough and help his lungs. So he will have to do a lot and be aware of it all. Prayers for wisdom for the docs and staff and strength for him and I.
Love, Sue Herron Cooper

The LORD is near to all who call on him, 

to all who call on him in truth. 

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; 

he also hears their cry and saves them.

~Psalm 145:18-19

An update on Marcus

Marcus & Sue as I arrived at my surprise birthday party in November

I have to say that these smiling images made me cry when I looked through them this morning. But I have to share them because they so clearly portray the wonderful, loving, fun, funny, and sweet personalities of our friends Marcus and Sue Cooper. They have a wonderful, special marriage and a bond we could all envy. I have honestly never heard them say one cross word to one another, or have heard of any disagreement between them. They truly weather the many storms of life with few complaints. Saying that we love this family is an understatement!

It is times like these that I wish I was more of a poet than a reporter. I am having trouble expressing my heart in words, but my every breath is a prayer for this family. Yet, I am praising the Lord for his divine protection over Marcus, that Marcus is still with us. This family has been through many valleys, and this is absolutely the deepest. I am believing God for the high mountaintop to which He is leading them.

Sue is one of my dearest friends here in Charlotte. I have only been able to talk to her briefly since the accident Thursday morning. I am now in touch with her mother, who, as of suppertime last night has their children. Marcus' family has now arrived, so the family circle has tightened around Sue to support her, the children, and Marcus through this crisis. We friends are waiting in the wings, ready to do anything we can as soon as we are asked. We feel helpless and want to DO something, anything. But we all have to realize that the needs will be many and the timeline will be long. Our turn to help will come. So we continue to DO the only thing, and most important thing, we can: we pray.

Actually, here are Sue's words from this morning:

Thank you the offer, right now family is here to help but in the weeks and months of the beginning of this journey, I know I will need help.

I have been told that Sue will start a Caring Bridge site for Marcus' recovery. I will share that link when it comes and stop posting her updates here. But for now, here is what Sue posted on Facebook, Friday morning (24 hours ago):

Marcus has stayed stable thru the night. They had an MRI at 1:30am, pain but they have good meds. He is still considered critically ill and will be for a while. He has a fracture at his t8 and t9 vertebrea, surgery will be in 3 or 4 days. It is a good possibility that he will not get feeling from that part Down, but in my opinion only if that is God's will. It was not the hip socket but a break at the top of his right femur. That surgery may be today or tomorrow. We are not sure about any injuries in the neck they hope to test him today to find out more. He'll stay in a neck brace until they know more.

Posted by Sue, Friday night (last night):

Marcus is stable & resting remarkably well. For his injuries & status, he is at the top of his class & doing excellent. He has intermittent feeling from his mid-torso (the spinal injury area) down to about the top 1/3 of his thigh. One time he feels it, the next not, the next yes. So, still unsure if it is still trauma & just temporary or if he will loose feeling completely. Monday he will have back surgery to have a temporary fix to the spinal injury. 

He will continue on the ventilator thru the weekend and Mon surgery just to allow his body complete rest without having to work. They began a feeding tube today. God promises a peace beyond understanding when our faith is in Him, I have truly felt it since the moment I received the call yesterday. The realities & future began hitting me between the eyes today, but God in His grace continued to bring someone with right scripture to me and not allow me to worry about the future.

I have decided to stay at home tonight and pray for sleep. I haven't slept in 2 days. I have read all of my posts & texts, I have not heard all of my voice mails, sorry. Thank you for prayers, thank you for your love and thank you for not letting me be alone. Good night and I will post another update after speaking with the doctors in the morning.

My precious sister in Christ is an amazing woman. Her faith is carrying her, along with the prayers of so very many. I so wish I could give her this hug right now, but dear Sue, please know that I am holding you close in my heart.

You will keep in perfect peace 

   those whose minds are steadfast, 

   because they trust in you.

~Isaiah 26:3

Prayers for our Precious Friends

My dear friend Sue posted the following on Facebook at 11 last night:

All, today Marcus was in a serious motorcycle accident. The aorta coming out the top of his heart was severely torn, 80% of victims w/ this die at the scene. His right leg was lost from the knee down, his left leg is dislocated but the artery down that leg unharmed. He has mid spinal injury but we are unsure of how severe, he'll have a MRI in the night. I pray that you can already see God's mighty hand at work. I have been told by others, not the hospital, that he has the best surgeons and docs around. He was conscious the entire time from the accident to the ER to me getting to see him just before heart surgery. Very coherent, very aware. They repaired the aorta and he is stable and resting. His right hip socket pushed to the back and it will need surgery. He has more surgeries to come but we are unsure what or when at this time. We (I) have been incredibly blessed by all the prayers, support and love shown. I will try to read texts and email as I can, please forgive me if I don't reply. I'm exhausted and now need to sit still, breathe and process. Love to you all.

Please join many who love this precious family in lifting them up in prayer. Their two daughters, 9 and 4, are staying with us. They miss their parents and just want to see Daddy & Mommy. They don't know yet the extent of Daddy's injuries. Marcus and Sue are dear, dear friends of ours. Gil spent the day at the hospital yesterday, where many were gathered to support Sue and to pray for their family. 

I have no words, except that God is sovereign and He is faithful. We lift up praises to Him that His hand is upon Marcus and his family no matter what. Please pray for the Cooper family.

Thankfulness

Since our first Thanksgiving in Charlotte in 2006, we have been blessed to have friends with whom we could share the day. This year we were invited by our friends and neighbors, Sean & Julie, to have Thanksgiving with them. They had two other families coming, as well as our good friends, Alan & Jennifer. 

We all divided up the cooking -- I was assigned rolls, cranberries, and pies. But, I also had to add in our family's traditional deviled eggs and my sister's famous stuffing, as well as whipped cream for the pies. Thanksgiving day was actually pretty relaxing because I was able to get most of my preparations done the day before. {I have been asked to share my recipes, so expect some of them to appear here soon as I type them up!}

Sean getting ready to bless the meal, what a spread of food!, Julie serving her son

We gathered around 4pm. Soon, Julie's kitchen was filled with all sorts of yummy foods! We truly had a feast of flavors. Everything was so good!!!

Julie, Alan, Jennifer

Dinner was so good that I don't think any of the adults even ate any dessert! I know I couldn't. {But that's ok because pumpkin pie for breakfast is one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving!!!}

Our sweet kids shared their own table. Jacob and Julie's daughter are in the same class, and were in kindergarten together.

We enjoyed spending time with Alan and Jennifer!

Me and my sweetie! I wish I had gotten a photo of Sean and Julie together.

Abbie & Zac didn't have to sit at the kids' table! I love this picture and love these kids!!!

After dinner, my friend Yogi and her family stopped by Sean & Julie's for dessert. Yogi also brought along her sister and family. It just added to the fun!!!

I just love my friends!

We had a fun, full evening. The kids ate dessert, and roasted marshmallows at the firepit. Each family signed Julie's tablecloth, which is such a neat tradition. I feel so blessed to have my community of friends who are becoming like family. I am thankful for all the many blessings the Lord has given me!

I am still in shock!

I am so blessed with an abundance of wonderful friends, an amazing, thoughtful husband, and sweet, wonderful children. Sunday was my birthday, and I am still in shock and having a difficult time expressing myself. We enjoyed a pleasant morning at church, had a meeting after, then went to lunch to celebrate my birthday. As we headed home, I was looking forward to our relaxing Sunday afternoon. We turned onto our street and I saw a long line of parked cars... "Someone's having a party," I said. I kept looking at each house on the left as we passed by, trying to figure out just WHO was having a party {I'm nosy like that!}.

As we headed toward our cul-de-sac, Gil said, "Why are those people standing in the street?" I was so busy looking at the neighbors' houses that I didn't know what he was talking about. I looked around, but didn't see what he meant. Then as I looked more carefully, and we got closer to our house, I noticed that in the shadows of the trees, people were indeed standing in the street. With the sun shining right at us, it took a second for it to register that I knew these people! WE were having a party!

 

My husband surprised me for my birthday, big time! It is absolutely amazing to stand in the street and have your friends sing "Happy Birthday" to you! I pulled out my camera and snapped a few photos. {Even in my shocked state, I remembered the camera!!!}

I was pretty much in a daze throughout the party. I am not sure I even said more than five words. But I smiled and laughed a lot. Our home was filled with wonderful people, and the kitchen counters were overflowing with lots of yummy treats. 

My husband was very sneaky and managed to pull this party off without a hint to me! I was shocked to learn that my kids were even in on it. But my husband also utilized his resources very well. He knew he needed help, so he enlisted some of my best friends to help with food, invites, setting up, and spreading the word. I had no clue!

Gil was even sweet enough to have them all gather around me and say a few words on my behalf. Oh, how I wish someone had a video camera going.... I can't remember all the words, but I sure do recall the love that was shared. It was overwhelming. But I really needed the tissue box handy when Gil started talking, and prayed for me. What a wonderful, precious gift it is to have a husband who loves me and prays for me.

It was a fun, fun afternoon that passed much too quickly!

And even in the midst of the huge crowd that gathered to surprise me, I realized that so many others were missing and not able to attend. I am loved and so very, very blessed!

Christmas Tea!

One of my favorite things since moving to Charlotte is the annual Ladies Christmas Tea at our church. The first year I attended, I was in total awe.... Eighty tables for eight each creatively set for a tea party. Now, for the 4th year in a row, I have been blessed to decorate a table!

Poor Jacob has had another infection in his salivary gland (we are awaiting a referral to see a specialist), so he was with me on Friday when I set up my table. Jacob was a very good helper!

Here is my table, ready for today! Once we had my table set, Jacob and I went around and admired all the other pretty tables.

We had a surprise invitation for Abbie to also attend the tea! It was fun to get dressed up and go together. Last year she got to help me set up my table, but has never attended.

Abbie sat with her Joslyn friend at a table with no adults. I think she enjoyed her first experience at the Christmas Tea!

We ate yummy, yummy food! The assortment of treats is always fun. And we enjoyed beautiful music and a wonderful speaker. I especially appreciated the message of hope that she shared.

The highlight of the day, of course, is the fabulous fellowship with good friends. It was great to spend the afternoon with Lori, Noelle and Robin! The annual tea is truly one of my favorite Christmas traditions!!!

An unlikely friendship...

She came into my home, where I hosted our ladies’ Bible study… She had made friends at a recent leadership event with the girls leading our group and they had invited her. I was intimidated by her presence, her knowledge, her big personality. And then she admitted that she was in a season of depression and I wanted to run far away in fear. But, as I got to know her, as I drank in her wisdom, I knew I needed more. I was a baby Believer, thirsty for knowledge. I asked her to be my mentor. We began to meet weekly: walking, praying, and doing Bible study together. I was in turn, able to offer her a job. She was my mentor, my assistant and my best friend. I met my husband at her house! She was definitely brought into my life by the Lord to stretch me. I wouldn’t have picked her for a friend, but I’m so glad He did! I pray that everyone could have a sweet sister-in-the-Lord like my friend of almost 18 years! Do you have any unlikely friendships?

Praying for Miracles

Ellie Potvin

I have mentioned Ellie and her fight against cancer before {here} on my blog. I receive email updates from Amy, Ellie's mom, through Ellie's Caringbridge site. I just opened up the most recent update and was blown away by Amy's post. I know you will be blessed if you read it, too. {Go here to read it; scroll down to 2/11/2010 if necessary.} And please keep praying for this sweet family.

'Tis the Season...

Merry Christmas! I know I have been missing from my blog for quite a while. I have no excuse really... I really do admire those bloggers who post so faithfully and share every little detail of life. I do long to be so transparent. I guess when I get busy, stressed, worried, and unfocused, I tend to isolate myself. And here I have a perfect, supportive outlet I could be utilizing!

We do have our home decorated for Christmas! That is done. My husband (and my kids, too!) insist that we decorate as soon as Thanksgiving is over. I will enjoy sharing our decorations with you as part of the The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes on Monday! I have a pretty button over on my sidebar that will take you right to the list of all the wonderful bloggers also participating!

As far as other Christmas preparations.... essentially I have nothing done, except for a couple of short lists created. I am heading out later today to do my food shopping. We don't have a Christmas photo of our family, no Christmas card design yet, not one gift purchased, and really, no plans to make anything unless I get inspired very quickly! Did Christmas sneak up on anyone else?!? I am not really stressed about it -- yet. But I realize I have two weeks, and probably, lots and lots to accomplish.

So what did my husband and I decide yesterday morning? We should plan a Christmas party!!! So that adds a couple extra things to my list... I designed the invitations last night and they were uploaded for printing this morning, as well as emailed out. Please come if you can!!!

I also had another divine inspiration yesterday. Allowance for my kids just has not been in our budget for a while, so they are in need of shopping money. So we are offering our services and holding "Parents Day/Night Out" times! Our friends can drop off their little ones and our 3 wonderful children will play games, do crafts, and have snacks for them. (I'll will be here too, of course!) 12/17, 3-8pm 12/18, 3-9pm 12/21, 10am-8pm 12/22, 10am-4pm! Donations accepted, and RSVP's needed!

I want to share this beautiful project I am working on! I was commissioned to create a wedding album. I am loving all these gorgeous photos I have been playing with. I am ready to upload the proofs for approval, then will get page prints made that will be put into a scrapbook album for my client. I love that with digital scrapbooking, you aren't confined... sometimes I have hardcover books printed, and sometimes I print individual pages that go in traditional albums! this project is using our new Black & White Power Palette. I am loving the designs!



Below is a detail from this page that I just love and have to show off!!! The bride wanted Ruth 1:16 in her book. StoryBook Creator Plus 3.0 has this wonderful feature that lets me easily place text "along a path". If you click on the picture, it should give you an even closer view of how I had the verse wrap around the circular photo and across the page! This was my very first attempt to use this new feature! I am so excited at how it turned out!

Have a great day! How are your Christmas preparations going?

Please Lift Up Ellie

Ellie Potvin

I first learned about Ellie Potvin as we were making final preparations for VBS in July of 2008. Her mother Amy had just found a lump in Ellie's abdomen which was quickly diagnosed as cancer. Ellie's twin sister Grace came to VBS; Ellie went to the hospital to start treatment. They were only 6 years old.

As Ellie and her family endured a year of treatments, I was blessed to take meals to them a number of times. Our kids enjoyed meeting Ellie & Grace, and all their puppies. Tim and Amy Potvin are the sweetest, most friendly couple... gracious and open and loving and full of fun. It is heartbreaking that they all have had this terrible disease invading their lives. Amy has been pouring her heart out on Ellie's Caring Bridge web site. As I have read many of her posts, tears have streamed down my face. It is unimagineable the challenges their family has had to bear.

Less than six weeks ago, the Potvins learned that Ellie's cancer is back. Now they have news that new tumors are forming on Ellie's lungs and that the tumor in her abdomen has doubled in size... all in just 5 weeks. Please join me in praying for Ellie, her twin sister Grace, and her parents, Amy and Tim. Below is an excerpt from Amy's latest blog post.

But for now this is what Team Potvin needs from all my loving prayer warriors. I need you to spread the word about our Ellie and her fight. Please send these two sites to others...

www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliepotvin

http://www.liftupellie.com/

Our Ellie needs the power of prayer. Plus, we need specific prayer for Ellie's needs over the next couple months. Our family needs the strength to endure this suffering and stand firm in hope and faith that the fight is not over.

Plus, let us allow our story serve a greater purpose for others...to remind all to cherish their family each and everyday - If you are too busy then slow down!

Life is not a promise, but a gift from God. No matter what your goals are in life... the only one important and everlasting is filling your spirit with love and helping others around you.

I have witnessed this year, this life is a temporary place, it does not last forever... but eternity is waiting for each of us through our belief in God and Jesus Christ. That is my belief and what keeps me strong in a time that logically I should have nothing left to give... but I do. That is God working, not me.

Donations

We are thankful for your donations to the Ellie Shoal Potvin Supplemental Trust Fund. Every child deserves the best chance... and a cancer family should never have to worry about finances... we will pay it back through our Non - Profit "Lift up Foundation" we have created over the last year .... we look forward to the time we can help other families fighting pediatric cancer.

www.liftupellie.com

Checks can also be mailed to :

ESP Supplemental Trust Fund
9218 Ginhouse Lane
Charlotte, NC 28277

Blessings to all you love.... every single one of them.
Amy

Please Pray!

Three years ago, Abbie played soccer on a team at our church. Coach Dan was the sweetest, nicest man. She wasn't too sure about playing soccer... had NOT enjoyed it before... so Coach Dan was the perfect match with his sweet, encouraging ways.

About a year and a half ago, I was commissioned by woman to make an album for her daughter and son-in-law's anniversary. I received the photos and was so blessed to discover that the album was for Coach Dan, his wife Angel, and his precious family! When Dan coached Abbie, he had a young son, and a daughter who played on the team with Abbie. Their anniversary book photos revealed that their family had since grown with the adoption of two children from Liberia. It was such a pleasure and my honor to get a glimpse into their lives and hearts as I created this keepsake for their family.


Just last night, I was surfing the web preparing for a talk I am giving tonight. I stumbled upon a link to a blog that belongs to Dan and Angel. My delight in discovering their online journal quickly turned to compassion and prayer as I read that their daughter Angelyn has been in the hospital for the past two weeks with complications from a ruptured appendix. Today Angelyn, who is only 8 years old, is facing another surgery. Please join me in lifting this precious family up in prayer. I am praying for healing for Angelyn, strength for her parents, and wisdom for her doctors and caregivers. Dan and Angel, whom I know barely at all, obviously have a heart to serve the Lord and minister to His orphans across the world.

So I got to attend this great swap...

Here is my dining room with my new print on the wall! I love it!!! I am partial to architectural details and furniture... and this print has both a brick wall and a chair in it. Oh, and flowers, too. I love, love, love flowers. And the colors were just right. The price? Even better. FREE!!!!



I was blessed this past Saturday to attend a housewares swap. We all showed up with stuff we didn't want anymore, put it all on a table, and then took turns choosing something we did want! I made a rule for myself that I would only choose something that I knew I had a spot for. In my second pick, I snagged this framed print!

Oh, did I mention that this swap was at the Nester's home????!!?!!!! (And I shamelessly stole these last three photographs from her post about the event!)

A little over a year ago I first began reading one blog to keep up with my friend Jenny's adoption journey. One day, she had some photos of some cute window treatments she had put up. But she called them "mistreatments" which was quite puzzling to me! They were so cute! How could those adorable windows be being mistreated??? So I had to click on the link to find out more... and I discovered a creative haven of inspiration in the Nesting Place blog!!! And my love affair with blogs, blogging, and bloggers was born.

Because I loved Nester's down-to-earth, open & easy-going style, her great tutorials and most of all, her encouragement, I was inspired to start this blog at the end of 2008. So imagine how beside myself I have been as I looked forward to attending this swap in her home!!!!

with Tracey

As I anticipated attending the swap, I was just so excited about meeting Nester, and other bloggers! I pulled together the things I would be taking to swap. But I really didn't give a second thought to what I might be bringing home! That part was really immaterial to me. And then, last Wednesday when she blogged about the undone state of her bedroom, it occurred to me that I was actually going to be in her house!!! And, as the day approached, seeing the guest list made me even more excited, knowing that I would be meeting beautiful ladies with whom my heart connects!

Top Row: Richella, Emily, Nester, The Scooper, me, Jen, Bonita

Bottom Row: Leigh Ann, Lily, Kimba

Oh, what a treat it was!!! Now, I am usually not a crowd kind of person. I would prefer to get together with one or two girlfriends so we can really talk. In a big group, I am shy and tend to be more of an observer... especially when I don't know anyone. I have been known to be fully intending to attend a gathering, and then at the last minute not show up because I am too overwhelmed by the thought of stepping into the crowd all alone. But not this time. I was excited to go, not at all nervous. I was thrilled to be there, to meet people I felt like I already knew, as well as make new friends. And being in Nester's home was just like stepping into a photograph, only better. I tried to drink in every little thoughtful touch sprinkled throughout.

I have admired so many Nesting Place photos, furniture arrangements, window "mistreatments", and tablescapes... I couldn't believe I was actually there in person!!! This home was warm, comfortable and inviting. So welcoming. So inspiring. And Nester was equally warm and inviting, so adorable in person! She was a delight, so real... a little quirky in a cute way, and ever so encouraging.

The swap part was fun. I came home with some great stuff! The food was fabulous... we all brought a treat to share. But the fellowship and friendship were the best gift of all... making virtual a reality was such a treat!