Prayer Requests. . . .

Hi to all our friends and family, Some of you already know one or more bits of this news, but I wanted to share so everyone could be praying for Shane's family. It's been a tough week. On Monday, his brother, Randy, left for Afghanistan for a "year-ish" tour of duty. We have heard that they arrived safely in Afghanistan, but as many of you know, the fighting is pretty severe there, so please keep him in your prayers -- and the family he left to serve our country. We are all missing him and thinking of him and worried about him, and we appreciate your thoughts and prayers during his time there. Then yesterday, Grandma Nita (some of you know her as Juanita Vaughn; some of you have never met her, but she is Shane's 83 year old grandmother. . .) was coming back from dinner with Shane's parents -- got back into the house and was in the basement, heard an explosion, realized her car and then her house were on fire, grabbed her purse, went back downstairs, out the back door and called 911. Unfortunately, she lost everything -- the car and the house were totally destroyed. The insurance people haven't been out yet, so we don't know details -- she has a furnished place to stay for the moment, and they have bought her clothes for the time being, so the only thing she needs right now are lots and lots of prayers. There are so many blessings. . . .the car waited until she was NOT in it to catch on fire! She heard it in time and was able to get out! She grabbed her purse, which will save her some chaos! There was no one else in the house for her to worry about or go back in after (Pop passed several years ago and her cat died just a few weeks ago [another sadness she's endured. . ]). Lots of blessings, but still so hard to let go of ALL your human possessions -- and 83 years is a long time to accumulate memories to watch them all go up in smoke! Please keep her -- and Randy -- and all of the family in your prayers. We are thankful for our blessings, but it has been a difficult week! Thanks for all your positive thoughts and prayers! "Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way." Nikita Koloff