If you’re here today from the amazing, fabulous Rachelle’s blog in hopes of winning a set of sweetly scandalous books, welcome! I had a charming and witty post planned in hopes of convincing you all of my writing prowess, but my heart’s just not in it today.
My dear friend, Joanne, suffered a major stroke Tuesday morning, and after much brain swelling and surgery where they removed part of her skull, she’s in a fight for her very life. Today was a hard day with lots of tears. We love you so much, girl, and we’re praying without ceasing for you!!
The latest update from her hubby Toben via our friend Holly Smith (9:00pm Wed.): Praying for Joanne’s brain to rest and heal over next 48-72 hours. Praying for low stimulation, waking on her own. She’s under sedation and pain meds, unlikely she’ll wake up tomorrow. That is good–allows for healing to occur. Pray for no damage to the brain stem, for her to wake up, for her to be able to communicate and read, to physically regain mobility.
Joanne (a published author) and I first met because of a mutual love for books and writing. My hope and prayer is that the story of her stroke–and full, God-glorifying recovery–will be a best-selling book (or at least a heck of a lot of blog posts) someday. Please keep Joanne and her sweet family in your prayers!
Speaking of BOOKS, to win a copy of Is That All He Thinks About? AND The Husband Project by the fabulous Kathi Lipp (upon whose head I wished a pox), just leave a comment below answering ONE of the following questions:
1. What do you love most about your spouse?
OR
2. What’s your favorite color?
I’ll choose one winner at random Friday at noon (EST). U.S. addresses only please! Have a great day, and please pray for Joanne!
I love that my husband can make me feel like the most important person in the room just by looking at me…
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks for the chance
Praying for Joanne! Good news about Gabby Giffords showing positive signs of recovery from her brian injury, so hoping for the same for Joanne too.
My husband is willing to learn how to say romantic things in Spanish for me because I thought Spanish Buzz in Toy Story 3 was so cute and romantic.
But the best thing I love about my husband is how he makes me laugh.
Not sure if I’m too late for this (I think it depends on what state you’re in!) But I love how creative my spouse is. That and he makes me belly laugh.
1. What do you love most about your spouse?
- he is a great man of God that does most of the housework, takes care of the kids, encourages my dreams…. and most importantly, puts up with my craziness… oh, and he’s hot too!
OR
2. What’s your favorite color?
-green
I love my husband’s patience. He balances me out so well.
One thing I love about my husband: the way his butt peeks out of his new Darth Vader underwear briefs that he got for Christmas… from my parents! Gets me every time.
Today FB has given me reminders through out the day to pray for several people fighting for their lives. For Joanne, for a friends mom who had a tumor removed along with 1/2 of a lung today, for a 4 year old with cancer who had fever, for a childhood friend who is fighting cancer. Today the world of autism that I face everyday with my 5 year old seemed very easy.
What I like most about my spouse is that he is my biggest supporter, cheerleader and that he always shows that he believes in me. He gives his everything so that I can stay home with our 3 boys ages, 1, 3 & 5. He is the best friend I have ever had and better than anyone I would have ‘chosen’ on my own. He is better than I deserve and an absolute gift from God.
I have kept Joanne in prayer Marla, I also am praying for her whole family.
1.He’s still the one who gives me chills when we touch. I can look at him and he still makes me smile and he doesn’t know why I’m smiling. I am so blessed to have him in my life. We met on a blind date and got married 5 months later. When he asked me to marry him. I said ‘yes’ Then I asked him if he thought it would be to soon to marry since it was only 4 months since we met.
He said : Baby it will be an adventure for us every day! getting to know each other, it won’t be easy but it will be a ride!” Marla after 27 years of marriage..It’s been an awsome ride! Some good, some bad but I can still look at that man and smile!
Thanks for all the updates on your sweet friend. I am praying for her.
Thank you ALSO for your fabulous post over on Rachelle’s blog. I love reading over there and today’s post was so on target! I have to remind myself that when I read books on any subject I go ALL IN and read multiple authors. If I like a book, I’ll follow up on authors who blurbed it and read their books. As my agent posted on her blog a few months ago, there is plenty of good out there for all of us!
My favorite thing about my spouse is that he is steady as a rock. Totally dependable, and consistent. Oh and he can fix anything. Literally. I’ve yet to break something he couldn’t fix, and THAT is saying something!
Hi, I found you today from Rachelle’s blog. I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I just prayed for healing for her now.
As for my husband, I love that he loves life and loves making me laugh.
I found you via your “a pox on Lipp”
post at Rachelle Garner’s blog. I love your honesty and–like it or not–your humility in sharing. I like your wit, your ferver for life and I will definitely be back.
I too am a creature who must learn the hard way.
Okay, here goes. My husband is my greatest advocate and my most gentle (most the time) critic. I would not have learned half the lessons I’ve learned–the hard way–without his support. Not to mention, you gotta love a guy who adds an incredible dynamic and personality to my writing and does so even though I’m a total newbie and we’ll probably never be published!
Oh and my favorite color is green too but hopefully not “green with envy”.
So sorry about your friend.
Praying you are right and full recovery will be the talk of the nation!
Been reading your blog for a while…got caught by your name (my name!), and love what you have to say. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Joanna’s story has grabbed me also…we’ll be praying.
My favorite thing about my husband (there’s a million, but we’ll go with the one I’m thinking about most today!) is his willingness to be the one who gets up in the middle of the night to deal with puke, because he knows I can’t handle it!
Nice to meet you, Marla! I love meeting other Marlas!
I don’t know Joanne and only learned about her yesterday through your blog, but she and her family have been on my mind and heart all day.
My favorite color is purple. One thing I love about my spouse is his willingness to help with traditional “mommy jobs,” like changing poopy diapers and making dinner when needed.
I’m entering this contest to see if your random winner generator is biased toward people named Nina. If I win, then we’ll know it is!
If you win, something is DEFINITELY wrong with random.org!
Marla,
I loved your post but then I read the comment about Joanne, so sorry to hear this and I am praying too,
it’s tragic.
I was going to say my fave color is green, which it is, but then I thought, surely I can come up with something nice to say about my husband. So here goes.
My husband is someone others look to, respect and admire. I love the way he is always available, even when he doesn’t want to be. He will admit his faults and work to change them. Best of all, he’s put up with me for twenty-five years. You don’t know me, but let me just say, the man has got to be a saint!!
Oh I have done that….I mean something bigger….My heart just breaks for them….
Amy Ables will tell you I have so recently been through this with my husband. You can read about it on my blog starting
Oct 2 on http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/
I am just coming out of the blur and wondering if I have PTSS
Stroke is something I never knew anything about….I did send Tobin our story…
Prayed for you just now, Teresa. I think God will give you something tangible you can do. Just keep praying until it comes to you.