Life by Grace Alone

Many prayed for our grandson Henry when he had brain surgery on April 19. Henry was diagnosed with hydrocephalis. His surgeon instead of placing a shunt in Henry's head opened a passage way for the spinal fluid to drain. Since there is a possibility that the passage way might close, Henry will need to be checked periodically. His last MRI was in August and his parents received a good report. Obviously we would like him to have a future of only good reports. Since everything has gone well since his brain surgery at 7 months of age many people think he is through with medical problems. For quite a while Henry has been going to physical therapy. The hydrocepalis and the hospital experience have caused significant delays in his physical development. He just turned 1 year old. He does sit up but you can't be sure for how long. Recently his parents rejoiced that he can now hold his own bottle. He can easily roll almost anywhere he wants to go. When you hold Henry up he has not been...

Last Friday I celebrated my 40th birthday as Mrs. Stephen Doe on the eve of a new phase of life as he leaves the pastorate behind and he becomes our presbytery's regional home missionary. Our focus will no longer be  the group of believers at this one church but instead all believers who are at every stage of examining the possibility of starting another church in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He will not be preaching on a regular basis. Instead of having oversight from a session, the oversight will come from the home missions committee. He will be on the road a lot and there will be many times we will have to decide whether I need to be with my grandchildren or whether the best place for me will be by his side. I expect I'll do some editing of newsletters, perhaps some informal counseling of women, as well as reading through a lot of books as we are on the road. Reading out loud marked our months of dating, our early married life, and the years of childraising. I expect we...