SHINE ON US... BABIES AND GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE...

In June of 1985, I gave birth to our 3rd child, a son named Caleb. Caleb had multiple respiratory challenges in his first year of life that included one hospitalization. He also had severe colic! One night I sat straight up in our bed knowing something was very wrong. I ran to the nursery to find our baby Caleb almost a purple color. He was not breathing! Steve ran him outside in the cold and shook him upside down while I called 911. By the time the ambulance got there, he was breathing on his own and we headed for the hospital. Scarey times for young parents!.

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Caleb is now a father to be. He and his wife, Krista are expecting their first child in June. On Sunday, they were stopped at a stop sign and got rear ended by someone who did not put on their brakes. Their car has been declared "totalled".

Thank You, God, for Your protection! Thank You for Your grace and mercy as You protected Caleb's life once again... this time it was Caleb, Krista, and their unborn child. Thank You! This could have been so much worse! I realize that and am so grateful that You spared their lives! Thank You for Your amazing omnipresence... You are here and You are in Missouri... and I am so thankful!!! Because of Jesus...

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My nephew, Eric, and his wife Lindsey welcomed their newborn first child into this world on February 11. Clayton Ray Klein is named after my dad who was Eric's grandpa. Dad passed away in January of 1998. Little Clayton Ray is in the hospital right now with RSV. Yesterday, Eric posted multiple times on FB requesting prayers for little Clay. Then he said, "Tried to pull Clay off the oxygen last night around 12 this morning and he didn't last long at all. Really discouraging.....Pray for me and linz, it is starting to get frustrating ..."

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Thank You, God for this couple who love You and love their son! Please help Clay to breathe on his own today and be able to go home with his daddy and mommy! Thank You for healing! Thank You for Your amazing omnipresence... You are here and You are in Alabama... and I am so thankful!!! Because of Jesus...

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My friend Brenda was a student at York College when I taught there from 1995 to 2002. Soon after moving here to South Jersey, in 2007, we got an email from her saying that she was pregnant and her husband was being transferred to the Philadelphia area with the Marines. They began worshipping with us at Pitman and their first born daughter was born here the next year. The Marines decided that Matthew was just too good and promoted him. Soon they were transferred to Okinawa. Brenda was pregnant with twins! Those twins, Connor and Caleb, were due on March 30th but arrived very early on February 20th. They remain hospitalized!

Thank You, God for allowing Connor and Caleb to remain in utero for as long as they did! What a blessing that they were each over 5 pounds. Please give this young family strength as they meet the many challenges of each new day. Please grow Connor and Caleb's lungs to be strong soon, so they can go home with their new family. Thank You for Your amazing omnipresence... You are here and You are in Okinawa... and I am so thankful!!! Because of Jesus...

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Sunday, there was a lot of talk about "new births" in the Pitman family! We rejoiced with the news of Connor and Caleb. Then, we joined Transformed Mom, Diana, and her family as we witnessed the last of 3 children put his LORD on in baptism. Afterwards, our church family got in our traditional "love circle" to welcome L.H. to the family of God! It was a time of singing, sharing, and prayer.

Thank You, God, for Your patient calling L.H. to You. Thank You for the love of this former missionary family to France who know You and desire to make disciples of all nations. Thank You for Your amazing omnipresence... You are here and You are in France... and I am so thankful!!! Because of Jesus...

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Sunday at lunch I went for pizza and salad with Transformed Mom, Mandy and her family. Steve was at a church leaders meeting and I enjoyed the encouraging fellowship with this lovely family of three. Mandy's baby is due in August and we just had to take a picture!

Thank You, God, for the way You grow babies inside of their mommies underneath mommies heart! Thank You for Your amazing omnipresence... You are here and You are in Arkansas where the rest of Mandy's family lives... and I am so thankful!!! Because of Jesus...