Tayveon, cont’d…
If you read this in the morning hours of June 26th, please pray for this little man. He is having surgery, as I type, to remove his eye. Please pray that the pain will be minimized (our wonderful healthcare system dictates that this is an outpatient procedure, so no extra pain medication), and that the biopsy of his eye will come back free of cancer. Also pray for David, Kelli, Corwin, and Joni, who are Tayveon’s mommies and daddies, that they will experience extraordinary peace during this time.
You could go to Tayveon’s CaringBridge site to see progress, and to leave a note of encouragement for the family, if you feel so inclined.
Laminin
Have y’all heard of laminin? If not, you should watch this:
Really, you should see the whole thing from Louie Giglio. You can find it on the How Great Is Our God DVD by Chris Tomlin.
It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. So relevant to me, yet again. I guess you’ll just have to see for yourself.
Confirmation
It’s nice to have tangible evidence that moving to the hottest place on earth was worth it. We just got confirmation. This fall, the junior colleges around here will be blessed with Jarid’s presence for some games!!! This is pretty big…a major stepping stone.
Woo hoo!
Storms
I love Calvary Chapel for their verse-by-verse (expository) approach to the Bible. We attend Calvary Chapel in Queen Creek, and went to Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel in Colorado Springs when we lived there. Since I got we got the ipod, I’ve started downloading Pastor Eric’s (RMCC) sermons to listen to whenever possible. They are currently in the book of Matthew, just past the sermon on the mount.
As I was listening today, he was teaching on Matthew 8:23-34, where Jesus calms the storm. Eric highlights four points about facing storms in our lives:
- storms expose our fears
- storms challenge our faith
- storms cause us to know our Savior
- storms direct our steps
It hit me just how relevant that passage is to me right now. Honestly, I feel like the last year of my life has been a storm. No, actually, the last three years have been a storm. And let me tell you, it certainly has exposed my fears and challenged my faith.
While I’m not quite ready to share all of the details, I can tell you that the last two and a half years have been a struggle, a challenge to figure out what was going on with my precious little boy. Was it a parenting issue? Discipline? A strong-willed child? Maybe I was just lazy or incapable. Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe I had problems. Was I crazy? Did I have an anger problem? Maybe I shouldn’t even have had kids or been allowed to have them. It’s kind of impossible to relate all of the thoughts and feelings I’ve experienced. Add to that a few job changes, a move, financial stress….pretty much a disaster waiting to happen.
Fears? Yeah, it definitely exposed fears. Fear that I just couldn’t handle what was given to me. Fear that I was going to ruin my life, my marriage, my relationship with my children because I couldn’t get a handle on things. Fear that my children would grow up to resent me. Fear that I would have those children, be that parent. Yep, I had fears.
Has this storm caused me to know my Savior more now? You bet. What a compassionate, loving Savior we serve. And His grace and mercy leaves me speechless. How many times did I deserve so much worse? How many times, when I thought I couldn’t go on, did He shower his grace on me, giving me hope? Every time I was at the end of my rope, everytime I cried out that I couldn’t take one more step, Jesus was there, revealing a little more of His plan for my life.
As a side note, remember in the story where Jesus calms the storm, the disciples cried out to Him as He slept. He knew that the storm was coming, He knew how it would end, so the disciples could have just clung to the boat in fear, waiting for the storm to pass. Instead, they cried out to Jesus in dispair. It’s okay to cry out to Jesus during our storms. It gives Him a chance to respond and show us who He really is!
So, where has this storm directed my steps? Well, let’s go back to Matthew first. When they reached the other side of the lake, after the storm, they found two demon possessed men who needed Jesus. Often times, Jesus brings us through a storm to reveal others who need help, who need Him. They are people we might not have crossed paths with had we not gone through the storm. Not only that, but we may not have been equipped to help them before the storm.
I’m not really sure where that leaves me, or where my steps are being directed. I only know that already, God had brought a few people into my path who needed to know about gluten. He’s already brought a few people into my path that are heading down the same road…. There are lots of moms (and dads) who are struggling with their children, kids who have physical ailments, and they don’t know what to do.
I never had intended for this to become a blog about gluten/casein, etc… But plenty of people are literally searching, and they need answers. I don’t claim to know everything there is to know, I don’t claim to have all of the answers. Again, I can only relate my experiences. And maybe someone out there needs Jesus…and this is the way they’ll find Him.
As our pastor in Queen Creek says often, “Are you willing and available to let the Lord use you?”
Update on Tayveon
Quickly, because I’m at work…and really not supposed to be on the internet…..
Just learned that they are 90% sure the tumor is NOT cancerous!!! For now, it looks like they will still have to remove his left eye, but his right eye is perfect.
God knows the end before it happens. But the power of prayer is unmistakable.
Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
The Verdict
Benjamin’s test results came back today. To give you a quick rundown, here is the verdict:
“You have active dietary gluten sensitivity”
“It is recommended that you follow a strict and permanent gluten free diet”
“You have an autoimmune reaction to the human enzyme tissue transglutaminase, secondary to dietary gluten sensitivity”
You have an elevated fecal fat score which is usually due to “gluten-induced small intestinal malabsorption/damage when associated with gluten sensitivity”
You have an elevated level of (anti-casein) IgA antibody, at 35 units…levels “greater than or equal to 10 are indicative of an immune reaction, and hence immunologic “sensitivity” to that food. For any elevated fecal antibody level, it is recommended to remove that food from your diet”
“Gene analysis reveals that you have one of the main genes that predisposes to gluten sensitivity and celiac sprue”
“Each of your offspring has a 50% chance of receiving this gene from you, and at least one of your parents passed it to you”
“You also have a non-celiac gene predisposing to gluten sensitivity”
So what does it all mean? It means Benjamin has an autoimmune disorder that makes him unable to process gluten and casein. It means mom or dad probably passed the gene on to him and something “triggered” the gene to activate. We are in agreeance that mom probably passed it on. (Jarid hardly has ANY health problems!) It means that two and a half years of searching/struggling/wondering has finally come to an end, for good. It means this is a permanent way of life! Praise the Lord it isn’t something worse……(see the post below).
Yay for definite results.
Tayveon Feenstra
I feel such an urgency to post this, so please excuse the rambling or spelling errors.
A good friend of mine from middle school and high school, David Emmelkamp, needs your prayer right now. They just found out that his little boy, Tayveon, who is 4, has a tumor behind his eye. In the last few days, they learned that his sight is gone from that eye and that the tumor, and possibly his eye, will have to be removed. They rushed to Mayo Clinic in Rochester and were told today that the tumor may be cancerous. Additionally, it may have gotten to his other eye and his optic nerve. If I understand correctly from his sister’s update, if it is cancerous and has reached his optic nerve, it is terminal and very aggressive. They will not have any answers until tomorrow, when Tayveon has surgery.
Please pray for this little boy and his family. I know I’ve been guilty of deleting the emails, skipping the forwards where you are asked to urgently pray for so-and-so, or such-and-such, and you don’t even know them. Our human nature is to push this aside and disconnect ourselves. I am asking you on a personal note to say a prayer for this little boy. Pray fervently. God hears, no matter how long or short your prayer. He hears one prayer. He hears them all. The power of prayer is a real thing, and this little boy needs your prayer. David and his wife, Kelli, need your prayers.
I could write about how God is in control and He knows exactly what will happen, etc… Right now, just pray.
As an FYI, David grew up in the Belgrade/Amsterdam area, and attended Belgrade High School. His parents are Keith and Karen Emmelkamp and they attended the Belgrade Alliance Church. That may ring a bell for a few of you…
Please just take a minute.
***I have to add this, because it’s so fitting and because I relate so many times and areas of my life to music.
I’m hopin’ this prayer will turn out right.
See, there is a boy that needs Your help.
I’ve done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired,
I’m sure You can understand.
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand,
And she tries
Not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes.
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place some how.
See, he’s not just anyone, he’s my son.
Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep,
I dream of the boy he’d like to be.
I try to be strong and see him through,
But God, who he needs right now is You.
Let him grow old,
Live life without this fear.
What would I be
Living without him here?
He’s so tired,
And he’s scared
Let him know that You’re there.
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place some how.
See, he’s not just anyone, he’s my son.
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow.
See, he’s not just anyone.
Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don’t leave him,
He’s my son.
Click here to listen/watch on YouTube.
Oh, Kaiya.
It’s been a rough evening. Neither child wants to settle down. I’ve made a few trips upstairs for some well-deserved discipline. Mostly for a certain little girl. After one such trip, I had just gotten comfortable on the couch so I could continue listening to this on my ipod, when I heard a massive thump, followed by wailing. So I drag myself upstairs again and find Kaiya laying in bed, under the covers, just slightly disheveled.
Me (as sternly as possible): What happened?
Kaiya (between sobs): The wall hit me!!!
Me (holding back laughter and trying unsuccessfully to conceal a smile): The wall hit you?
Kaiya (holding her arms out for a hug): Mmmm hmmmmm!
Oh, Kaiya.
Progress, Basketball, and Sweat
So, we’ve been doing the gluten/casein free thing for about 5-6 weeks now. I think? I really don’t think I can put into words how much of a difference it has made for all of us. Though Jarid, Kaiya, and myself aren’t strictly gfcf, I cook all of our meals that way because it’s too exhausting to even think about cooking two separate dishes for each meal. Anyway, for Benjamin, he has so much more clarity of mind, he’s much more confident, he is able to make fewer rash decisions, his behavior has improved immensely, and his comprehension level has shot through the roof. Suddenly, I have a child who can write his name with almost no help. He even tried to write the word tornado the other day. I have a child who went from not wanting to jump into the pool when daddy is right there, to a child who will run and do a cannon ball without his ”floatie”!?!?! Without having seen the “before”, you can’t even begin to understand what a huge success this is! Remember, when someone has a gluten/casein intolerance, ingesting those foods is like being on drugs. There are days where it’s almost like you can literally see the fog clear. It brings tears to my eyes.
Not only has Benjamin improved, but I can tell you with certainty, that Kaiya’s behavior has improved as a result. Not because of the gluten/casein, but because of Benjamin’s improvement. All of that leads to a less stressed mommy. 
And, I continue to feel better as I make this change in my life. (I’m still waiting for the clarity of mind, though!) If I cheat and have some cheese or a piece of bread, etc…, I will pay for it the next day. My stomach turns very sour and I get really bad heartburn. REALLY bad. I won’t push the topic, but if you have some sort of ailment that has hounded you for a while, you might try going gluten free. Just try it. It won’t hurt.
So, we are almost half way through the summer basketball season. What that really means is we are half way through the tryouts. Aka: job interviews. Right now, Jarid is attending a camp where he is vying for a job opening in the JUCO (junior college) league. This is a really important stepping stone. All of the camps are important, because this is where he’ll get exposure. NCAA and NBA officials will be watching. Assignors for Division I conferences will be watching.
I was able to go watch one of his games yesterday and it was so much fun to see how he has improved just since the season ended in March. His physical stature has changed since the beginning of the season (he’s put on almost 30 pounds of muscle!!!!), but the biggest change is his confidence. I have no doubt that he will do extremely well this year….there shouldn’t be any problem getting a few JUCO games. And who knows what else may come his way.
And finally, it’s hot. I went running this morning at 5:50 and it was already hot enough that I was sweating just from the heat, not the exercise! It is actually kind of annoying that I couldn’t gauge the intensity of my workout from how hard I was sweating. I would guess that it was already 75-80 degrees out. I think I heard that it is supposed to reach 110 today.
Blech.
But praise the Lord for progress and basketball, yeah?
Slow Fade
Wow. What a poignant illustration of how easy it is to let Satan get his foot in the door.
Slow Fade by Casting Crowns
Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you’re thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
