Putting life in perspective...

The mother's heart in me is aching for two families right now. My mind has been rather preoccupied with concern for them. I know how hard it has been to see my own little girl suffering and in the hospital and these two families are dealing with much greater issues with their children.

This is Olivia Chatterton (Christian's second cousin). I've asked you to pray for her before. She is 18 months old and has Downs Syndrome and lots of heart related issues. She got sick this past Wednesday with what seemed like the flu. On Friday morning her mom was getting ready to take her to the doctor when she stopped breathing and then started to gasp for air. She is now in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and is on a ventilator with a high fever. All the doctors are trying to figure out what's going on with her. In the meantime she is hooked up to about 12 or 13 different things. My heart is so heavy at the thought of her suffering like this. Please, please pray for her!! Check out her parents blog for updates at http://thechattpack.blogspot.com/ I know that they would be greatly encouraged to get lots of comments from people letting them know that even complete strangers are praying for Olivia right now!
This is a premie named Gwyneth. She was born at 24 weeks and weighs just a little over a pound right now. Her parents are both Liberty University grads and her mom has cystic fibrosis. Her mom is currently waiting for a double lung transplant (her life expectancy is not long if she does not get this transplant). Her parents also have a blog that has over one million hits on it right now. You can check out their story at http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/ Please pray for Gwyneth and her mom Tricia.

These two families really put life in perspective for me. Last night, sometime after midnight, as I was a little frustrated that McKenna wouldn't sleep without being held, I thought of these two families who can't hold their babies right now and my frustration quickly disappeared. So to all of you moms out there, as your tucking your kids into bed tonight please say an extra prayer for Olivia and Gwyneth. And to all the grandparents and aunts and uncles and daddies, as you pray for the precious children in your lives please add these two precious girls to your list.