1) Do you think of summer as a particularly good season for reading? Why or why not? I love summer for reading. I love sitting and soaking in the sun while reading a good book. There is just something about reading outside during the summertime whether it be on the porch, at a pork or at the pool.

2) Have you ever fallen asleep reading on the beach? Nope never on the beach!

3) Can you recall a favorite childhood book read in the summertime? Hmmm I cant think of one particular from the summertime but Ive always loved The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar or Good Night Moon or any of Max Lucado’s childrens books.

4) Do you have a favorite genre for light or relaxing reading? Im a fan of just about anything except sci-fi. I just cant get into sci-fi books for some reason!

5) What is the next book on your reading list? Im currently reading “That Distant Land” by Wendell Berry so maybe Ill read another Wendell Berry book but I dont really have any books on my reading list so do you have any ideas? Its always fun to see what others are reading!

My cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby girl Maia at 3:30 am on Friday June 20th. She came into the world beautifully weighing 6 lbs 6 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. They thought everything was fine. However it was not. Maia was blue and not getting enough oxygen. After working with her with a hand respirator for what seemed like forever, she was moved up to the ICU. Her lungs weren’t functioning. They were “stiff” and didn’t want to expand. A specialist worked on her for three hours trying to get her lungs to expand etc. He told my cousin that he was sending Maia via air flight to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas! He told my cousin and her fiance to come because the specialist wasnt sure Maia would make the flight. Angel One from Little Rock came and helped transport Maia. She made it to Little Rock and did well on the flight. The purpose of sending Maia was to place her in an EKMO (basically an iron lung);one of the only two in the U.S. and to have the expertise and staff of Children’s hospital. My cousin and her fiance drove to Little Rock on Friday afternoon after getting advice for my cousin since she had only given birth about 10 hours earlier. They were starved, exhausted etc. A friend of my cousins surprised both of them with their fave foods and they said it was just who/what they need at that moment. Maia is now stable with no changes. Its been very difficult. My aunt and uncle (my cousins mom and dad) and her sister (my other cousin) and her family are all with them in Little Rock. Its been hard. However there have been moments of seeing God at work. My (other)cousin’s friend prayed that Maia would open her eyes for her mom and the last two times my cousin has gone in to see Maia she has opened her eyes. Praise the Lord! It’s been frustrating because the reports have been very unclear. They would love to tackle a doctor and have them sit down and tell them what is going on. My cousins’ fiance (Maia’s dad) sits for hours to get information from a knowing dr. The latest report is that Maia’s pulmonary arteries going into her heart are okay. The narrowing is of the pulmonary artery branches into the lung. Narrowing makes it difficult for blood to reach the lungs to pick up oxygen. In an effort to overcome the narrowing the pressure in the right ventricle (the one that pumps blood into the pulmonary arteries) arises to levels that can be damaging to the heart muscle. My cousin and her family came to Little Rock knowing that if there weren’t positive results, Maia may be taken off the ECMO which is what is supplying her with oxygen. We are praising God that Maia is still here and that the doctors are willing to work with her. I along with my cousin and our families covet your prayers for Maia, Mom and Dad. Thanks!

I was just reading another friend’s blog and it got me thinking. On this friends blog, she asks the question,what makes you valuable? After reading her post, it really got me think. What truly makes me valuable. I guess when I think about, I feel valuable when my friends want to spend time and come to me with advice. I love being there for them even if that just means sitting with them in silence. I feel valuable when I can help someone else. I love being with children especially babies. I guess in a way I feel valuable when someone trusts me enough to hold their child. I also feel valuable getting down and dirty. I dont know that I’d ever let anyone from my family know this, but I honestly feel valuable when I can help on the farm whether picking rocks or driving a tractor or even chasing cows! What makes you feel valuable?

I also wonder about life. Will I ever find Mr. Right and when do will he make me feel valuable? I hope so! I know that it will happen in time but Im at that time in my life when everyone around me is getting married or having children. I absolutely hate being the fifth wheel! I am so ready to settle down but I’ve come to the realization that it will happen when it is suppose to happen. God is probably preparing someone special for me who will totally make me feel valued!

Again what makes you feel valuable?