Can't think of much to say but maybe you will like to take a look through some photos?

My Pastor mate Mick from Nyngan.
Mick is always full of the joy of the Lord.
They planted this crop after prayer in faith
and harvested the best crop of dryland
sorghum ever heard of in this area.



In ICU 2007

 If you want to leave us a message you can just click on the little envelope at the bottom of the page




























 




James Tackle of the match James
tackled a 130 kg Islander!!

 



The night we were evacuated by fire from
Ronald Mcdonald house





Georgie's room at Westmead





Ron ministering to Georgie





Memorial Statue at Westmead
for all the children





A day out in 2008









Ros playing for Georgie in ICU



In Dubbo hospital April 2009

Hi there just thought i better put something down as it's been a month since the last post.

It is very wet up here. poor wheat farmers - so much ruined crop but so wet now after such a long drought. Creeks and rivers are full and flooding and with more wet weather coming who knows what will happen.

Em finished off her HSC. Thankyou to all who have been praying for her.

Georgie has been very unsettled for some weeks now and has required more medications than normal for seizures which is very sad.

At westmead a skin biopsy at their request was taken and we were told just a thin scar would be left but it opened up as the stitches dissolved early and so it will leave an ugly scar near her shoulder and still has not healed. The site where the central line came out is great and nothing but a small pink dot remains.

Most of the blood tests etc that were taken at Westmead showed that Georgie is probably in better health overall now than what she was when she left there two years ago.

A quick trip to Westmead this week. Ange and Georgie flew down on Monday morning and I drove.
Em and James stayed back at Dubbo.
Tuesday evening Georgie had her central line out.
We were able to go in with her and i while they did the anaesthetic and into the recovery afterwards.
The surgeon said it all went very well and just a little tug and out it came. That part of the procedure he said took only about 48 seconds! No Adhesions. No clots. Very little bleeding - so was all very straight forward.
What a relief! We had a peace that all would be well although the Dubbo Dr had told me she could NEVER have it removed as it would have grown over and could not be taken out again Ever - would have to live with it for life, she would not handle the anaesthetic, she would bleed to death etc etc. There was such a peace at the hospital when we arrived in our room and for the whole time we were there. Some lovely friends we made down there kept us almost constant company, First Mirrie Dawes our dear sister was there just after Ange arrived - to make her feel at home and then Serah who now works in the theatre section, (Serah who once went to sleep so low in life and who received a vision of Jesus standing at the end of her bed showing the nail holes in his hands and who awoke changed and never been the same again), then our lovely friend Iris May from the volunteer police office in the hospital, also a strong believer came for a cup of tea. Kathy Bates a pastor from parramatta baptist came along also and encouraged us. (Parra Baptist still pray for Georgie and us every week). Surely they will be rewarded for their faithfulness. Hospital staff came down from the CT ward where Georgie stayed for a year after she left ICU. Anges folks came down for the afternoon also.
The neurologist now the chief epileptologist came and did an examination of Georgie and organised an EEg scan and various blood tests etc. All in all it showed that she is in better health overall than when she left Westmead 2 years ago. A credit to Ange and the nurses up here and God who sustains her by His loving kindness. The 20 minute EEG scan showed that there is still lots of little epileptic firings going on in our little possums mind. Unfortunately not much else they can do with any medication but fiddle around the edges.
The Neurologist said that this kind of condition is becoming more widespread around the world yet they are still not much closer to working out the puzzle. What causes it , what does the damage and what could stop it. They are thinking more though that there is some kind of immune response to a virus. In all cases children are previously well - usually very healthy and all around the same age of 8 to 12.
He also said some positive things for us in that despite all that has happened to always talk to her as even what she has suffered she will still be hearing and probably understanding. He said there is no reason at all to assume that she cannot hear. (used to make me so mad when drs would stand over her and say all kinds of stuff about her dying etc etc)
He said the brain is just so complex that even say when one sense becomes damaged the other senses often then increase and that the brain is not always the same eg she will have periods when she does seem to be interacting and others when she's not. This was very affirming as we have often felt like there are days or times when she is "right there" and others when she's not.
Everything went to plan - the operation nearly didn't happen but some staff pulled some strings and made sure it went ahead.
They also got the OT's to come in and look aher hands and feet and make a consulting report to Dubbo to get them on the job to try to help her more.
The hospital staff just loved seeing Ange and Georgie again.
At 5am wednesday morning the Ambo's arrived at the hospital and took Ange and Georgie to the airport and they flew back home. Amazing. Down and back in less than 48hrs.
Well all a very positive time.
Thanks so much for your prayers.

Friday

Em's first day of HSC exams today. Thankyou for praying for her.
Georgie been going OK this week except for a reflux problem she frequently still has.
There doesn't seem to be any identifiable cause and we have tried everything really.
Westmead got back to me and yes they are quite happy to do a bit of a neurology examination whilst she is there. They sure have tried.
It has been a very long wet winter (we are grateful for the rain) harder for Georgie tho. It is going to be a cold wet weekend with likely frosts.
We had two new nurses come to our home yesterday for training for looking after Georgie.
James and I have been putting up a new shed. James has also been getting a bit of weekend work with a builder who says he works well.

Trip to Westmead planned

Hi all a quick answer to prayer re getting the central line removed.
Westmead staff are very positive and helpful in organising Georgie's transfer to westmead and surgery for the 1st Nov.
Please pray it all goes well and that she remains stable now for a good period of time leading up to this so this can all happen.
Please also pray that the epilepsy staff will be willing to look at her while she is there and that they will be happy to do an EEG scan on her epilepsy. I have just emailed and asked the neuro liason lady if this could also be done (God even changes the minds of kings remember)
It is planned to be a quick trip Monday 1st Nov and home again on Wednesday 3rd Nov.
Well bless all of you who pray for our little Georgie.

Mostly over it now

Hi Georgie has made yet another miraculous recovery and has been stable for a couple of days now.
It has been a very exhausting two weeks. Thankfully it was school holidays even if it meant Em and James probably missed out on doing other fun things. I've been off work for a week and a bit to help.
THANKYOU all for your many prayers.
Also Westmead have consented to getting Georgie down there to remove the central line. Hopefully sometime before Christmas they said.
So she will need to have a bit of a period of stability again to make it happen.
James has been doing a bit of work for a builder friend.
Em is really busy with her HSC study.
Praise God for His mercies which are new every morning.

Saturday afternoon

Hi Georgie is probably a little better but please pray for her as you think of it.Calmness, infections, so on.

Thursday 30th Sept

Dear all, Georgie is quite ill. I don't want to be alarmist. We have seen her low before.
The facts are that the nurse is worried about her being able to pull through.
It seems that perhaps a number of complications have arisen including retaining fluid.
She has had some difficulty with breathing and we have had her on oxygen on and off for the last few days. Her breathing is quite shallow and she is very tired not even opening her eyes today during her shower.
She is peaceful though and we are very thankful for that.
We are all trying to read to her etc. Work has slowed down a little this week which has been a welcome relief and of course Ange and Em and James are all on school holidays.
The staff at Westmead were planning to discuss the possibility of getting Georgie's central line out yesterday and just needed to consult with surgery but thought it should be possible and they would arrange the patient transfer etc. No trouble really as long as the surgeon says it can be done. Anyway her immediate need is pretty serious.

"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart.Wait I say on the Lord."
Psalm 27 v 13,14

Monday Sept 27

Hi there Georgie has had a really good couple of weeks with visits from both lots of grandparents.
Over the weekend she has become "sick" with something causing fevers again.
Hoping to get onto Dr this morning.
Ange tired.
James at cricket camp, Em studying for HSc (I hope)

Monday 13th Sept

Dear Friends, well almost a month since we last left a comment. The worst of winter is gone and the spring is here with some lovely warm days. Anges garden is full of flowers and many more coming.
Well our nurse had a little party for Georgie at home with Ange and the kids on the 1st Sept because she got through winter without a trip to hospital. Indeed she hasn't been in since December last year. I don't ever want her going back there again either. Not unless they will do something useful like remove the central line tube which she still has inserted under her collar bone and which can no longer be used due to infection and being physically blocked. We are told it can't now be removed. It is a source of recurrent infection for her which is a problem. The hospital drs don't see it this way and i don't think necessarily care as they think she needs to die of something. (sorry to be blunt - that's just how it is)
Still learning to give Georgie to God daily to see what He will do - not doubting that one day He will do something great for her but just trying to trust and have faith, continuing to believe that He is good and all His ways are just.
I learned from our wheat breeder last week that the tiny germ end of a wheat seed already contains the first 8 leaves of the plant. Not that they develop after germination but they are already there -fully formed and waiting to burst into life. If ever we doubted the plans of God there just can't be. He says I know the plans I have for you..... Even down to the detail of a wheat seed He already has set in place the plans for that plant.
Em is going pretty well and not too phased by doing her HSC. Friday is her last day at school. I can't believe it. (It was only last week i dropped her off to start kindergarten!)
Work is very hectic with running 3 districts now due to staff absence.(one is off on stress leave)
Our home bible study from church has been good. We have been together for about 4 years and been through a lot together. one fellow miraculously recovered from a brain aneurism just 4 months before Georgie got sick. RPA said it was the worst bleed on the brain they had ever seen and he was not expected to live let alone recover 100%. It is encouraging to see them all with various things they battle with still clinging onto God and loving Him.
You may remember me writing about a little girl about a mile down the road who we met the family of one day when our dogs wandered away and how she had developed all of these issues with seizures etc. I found out during the week that she passed away in early winter aged 4.
Had a great visit from Mum and Dad last week. They are such an encouragement to us.
Well bless you all.

Thursday 19th

Hi not too bad a week earlier on.
Georgie chesty and coughing a lot.
Hassles getting meds now that hospital decided they are no longer supplying them. No proper handover given between hospital and pharmacy and things in a bit of disarray.

Friday 13th Aug

Hello all, sorry I haven't written in a while.

Work has been so flat out with staff absent and I am now helping look after 4 districts.

We are all well but looking forward to the end of winter.

It has been a long winter for Georgie but so far she has not needed to go to hospital.

Her main day to day issue (almost every day) is chest trouble brought on by so much pneumonia last year and lack of mobility has increased her susceptibility so frequent coughing affects her.

The nurses do what they can with physio etc and showering and so on but are also looking forward to warmer days when they can take her out in the wheel chair for walks.

If this doesn't sound too silly please pray Georgie will sleep at night and be peacefully awake during the day! For the last couple of months it has been the other way around- very exhausting!



Em is currently doing her Trial HSC.

By the way - Georgie turned 12 on the 17th July!

Friday 30th July

Some better days recently with a bit of a bad cycle again since yesterday.
Shaky with temp overnight. So we have dosed her up on everything we can really.
We (including the nurses) are all hanging out for the end of winter and some warmer weather so we can get Georgie outside into some fresh air and for some walks a bit more often.
Our main nurse says "if we can get her through winter with no hospital admissions we will have done well." This will be good as she hasn't been in there since last December. Ange been so tired over the winter too as she has taken on the bulk of the care at night.
Please thank God for all of the help we get from these nurses. It would be impossible without them.
The nurses are planning to come out for a few hours each second sunday so the rest of us can go to church together again which will be a bit of a return to normality.
Our lovely Dr Sandra came out for a monthly check up on Tuesday and was happy enough overall.
Sometimes the gravity of it all hits again and we labour in prayer for Georgie.
Em and James are well.
Em starts the HSC in 7 months. She hopes to take a gap year next year and would still like to go back to Uganda for several months so she is trying to save up for that.
We had our first weekend away recently and went to Jenolan caves. Anges folks came up too which was great.
Well thankyou for your continued interest and prayer.

Some good days this week.

Sunday night

A good day for all!

Friday

A very busy couple of weeks with most of us with colds etc inc Georgie.

Wednesday 22

Hi Georgie had a very peaceful night but the nurse today thinks she is getting "chesty" again. Not surprising after all the sickness really.
Ange is very tired.

I am sitting in the office at Nyngan and just heard feet jogging along the footpath outside up to the door and for a split second thought it was my kids coming in after school -like they always used to do, burst in the door and call out Hi Dad! Life goes too quickly hey.

Sunday morning

Not the best week for Georgie but seems to be gradually getting back on track again now over the weekend.

"Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Tuesday

Hi We had a good weekend and Em and James away for the weekend gave us a taste of what it will be like when Em starts to leave home maybe from next year onwards.
Georgie was quite sick most of the day saturday but sunday and monday were good but woke up shaky again this morning showing whatever the infection is it is still troubling her.
Was sleeping peacefully when we left for work and the nurse took over.

Friday

Georgie still not "herself" this morning.
Thankyou Lord for a cheery, helpful nurse!
Huge frost this morning.

Wed 9th

Hi Georgie was OK overnight and ok today.
We think she has a urinary tract infection so we got her some antibiotics today.
Thanks to you for praying and for the lovely comments of hope filled prayer still going on.

Tuesday

Georgie still sick but we are unable to determine just what it is. She is just not so well and maybe becoming less stable. There is definitely something wrong.

The nurse yesterday believed Georgie was looking jaundiced so we will need to get some tests done. Our usual Dr is away this month. We have not dealt with this stand-in Dr before -also difficult as he goes to our church.


Have been caused to think about unbelief, doubt and praying amiss. Jesus warned against them all. He said "IF I can?"

Sunday night

Feverish again tonight.
Hard work - harder still for Georgie.
Please keep praying.
Thanks.

Saturday 5th June.

A pretty good week really but this morning Georgie just not right. Mild temp and was quite sick.
Almost six months since her last hospital visit & hoping not to go back ever really.

Saturday night

Wet, wet, wet up here. Steady rain for several days now.
Ange and Em and James all in town at a fundraiser for some kids going on a short term mission to Thailand. Georgie and I at home - she unsettled and just had a big fit a little while ago which is unusual.
Had some friends drop out today. Amanda and Ange were both in hospital together when Georgie and her little Holly were born. Holly and Georgie used to do dancing together at Nyngan. It is the most beautiful thing you ever see when your little girl comes out onto the stage in a little tu tu.

We had our home group last night. Was very sad that a number of people in the group do not really know for sure if they are truly saved or if they will definitely get to heaven. One lady feared she would be one of those whom God says "I never knew you" to.
My observation is that when people doubt their salvation, struggle with sin and believe God is not helping them they give up in despair. (and the enemy rubs his hands together because he has neutralised them) Those who accept they are truly saved and nothing can change it get on with the job of the cause of Christ from a heart of gratitude.
1 John 3 v 20 "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things".

Monday 17th May

Can't believe how the year is slipping past.

My boss Chris passed away and i believe now on into glory.

I am reminded of the thief on the cross. He had no life left to give and no time to learn anything he just simply believed and asked that Jesus would remember him. He would have witnessed the saviour on the cross and all He said and seen his agony and his love and heard the things he said. All he said was "remember me when you come into your kingdom"
A turning of the heart.

Georgie been very unsettled and needing some extra drugs the last few days.

Please be praying for Em and James it is a very testing time for them also. They can't get out and do everything they'd like to nor have friends around as often as they would like and I can't even remember the last time we all went to church together.
Not complaining - things could be worse. We have a great deal to be thankful for.

Saturday

Hi all,
Georgie had a good day.
Ange went with Em and two friends for a day trip to see an open garden. Beautiful days lately.

I went down to Wagga with a mate yesterday to see my boss Chris and it went very well.
His wife Kerry and the two boys were there but noone else so we had a good visit and he was very happy for me to pray with him.
I asked had he put his trust in God now and he said yes mate yes mate simon's friend yes.
I was satisfied he had come through and just encouraged him to keep trusting God now.
I was told tonight he is not so good and he was a bit frightened.

Re Chris

Please pray for Chris for his salvation. I wrote him an email last night explaining our hope and it was taken in by a Christian colleague this morning and read to him. He said Chris completely broke down and wept and later his wife asked if there was someone who was religious or a Christian who could speak to him. My friend Simon arranged for a guy to come and see him. Please keep praying for Chris and his wife and boys.

Hi some good news and some bad news for those I've asked us to please pray for.



Georgie is OK.



My friend Luke's Grandson is doing really well. The infection in his liver cleared up, his bile duct came clear and most of the dreadful disease scenarios Drs were looking at as possible causes have now been put aside. He is home now and Drs said they don't expect to have to see him again! Thankyou Lord. Luke was appreciative of the prayer.



My boss Chris' condition has worsened and he has been sent home to Wagga private hospital after his tumour regrowing, his health deteriorating and he picking up some infections. His prognosis is I am told very poor. My friend Simon went to see him today and said Chris is now receiving no treatment and basically saying goodbye to people. We prayed earnestly for him about 7 years ago with leukaemia and he has had no sign of it since just before Easter. He has a wife and two young teenage boys. This is a big shock to everyone in our unit at work especially since our colleague Ken passed away with cancer only very recently.

So many people have told us at times of their tragedy and so many have said "but it's nothing like what you have had to go through" One of the indiscriminant or unquantifiable things about pain and suffering is that no-one knows what you really feel and there is no level, no barometer by which it is measured. I think the negro who said Nobody knows the trouble I've seen nobody knows but Jesus. was right. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit - the comforter.

This verse from proverbs makes a lot of sense.

Proverbs 14 v 10 The heart knows it's own bitterness and a stranger does not share it's joy

I looked up a reference to it and the word in the King James for share is "intermeddleth" which apparently is not used anywhere else in the bible.

Saturday night

A fairly good week no temps and nothing going wrong.Thankyou Lord.

Our Dr came out yesterday for her monthly visit and was happy with everything.

The nursing is working out well now and Georgie seems to be more content at the end of the day. Don't ask me how I know - I can just tell. It has also meant that the home is more peaceful.

For the last three years Georgie has been on a drug called spironolactone to help with fluid removal from the body. We trialled taking her off it for the last couple of months and everything has been working well. So that is one less medication.

We got a letter from Westmead asking could they use a blood sample they had kept of Georgie's to look at immune responses as a possible cause for epilepsy in children. Maybe it will show something up?

Thankyou to all who keep praying.

Acts 9 v 32 - 35
" Now it came to pass,as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden 8 years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord."

Sat 1st May

Georgie been ok during the week, a bit chesty today. Ange and Em took her for a long walk.
We have had quite a few visitors lately and it's been nice catching up with them.
People tell us daily that they are praying for Georgie and it's such a great encouragement to us.
We had bible study at our place last night and Georgie was very settled throughout it. It was great to be able to do this and all be together again as we've only had one other since Georgie got sick 3 years ago.
I have not heard any news on Chris.
My workmate Luke's grandson is doing well and the bile duct is unblocked now. They are all very relieved.
Among our friends in our bible study is Paul who we prayed for around 4 years ago after he suffered a terrible bleed on the brain and was found unconscious. The worst the drs had seen. He was in a coma for some weeks but miraculously he came through with no after effects. He went in to see Georgie in her room last night. It must be very hard for him to see Georgie and know that he was there too.
Almost everyone in our bible study deals with something. one girl has only 5 to ten percent vision. A great witness. She loves God and often would walk across town through the dark to get to the hospital to visit Georgie at night and would keep her company for an hour or two then send us a text message saying evrything was ok and we didn't need to go in. I thanked her once for doing this and she said you never need to thank me, when i am in here I feel God's presence like I never feel it anywhere else even in church. What a wonderful God who makes Himself known.

There is also

Friday 23

Hi Good news re nursing care.
Will continue and we had a meeting wit the new care provider who will be the head lady who left Uniting Care who will organise the nursing from a number of agencies so that we will continue to get good nurses for Georgie. What a great relief.
Georgie has been Ok but a bit unsettled again since last night where she almost slipped away twice with choking episodes.
My boss Chris is still in and out of icu and having some trouble with his speech.
My Friend Luke's little 3 month old Grandson is now in Westmead after contracting an infection in the bile drainage tube that was put in. He was going downhill in Canberra and flown to Westmead where he has stabilised. Luke and his daughter Jessica are very appreciative of our prayers.
Thankyou for praying for them and us.
Work has been very difficult lately as the Department is changing our role so lots of anxst there.
Greg

Friday

Hi Ange got some word from DADHC that they will cover her on Friday next week for teaching with nursing staff to be at home so that is good. They are trying to make plans to get another organisation to take over the nursing. Some of the home carers find it very difficult to look after her on their own which is understandable.
Last night was good but two nights before she had breathing troubles through the night and was on oxygen the latter half of wednesday night.
We are all going OK.
Have had some great conversations with people at work lately. A colleague at work called Luke rang me the other day to talk about his little Grandson 3 months old who has developed trouble with his bile duct. He has been on a roller coaster he said for a few days with diagnosis and misdiagnosis. I asked him if he would mind us praying for the little guy and he shared all of our story with his daughter and told her of the prayer etc and they said "we would be honoured if you would pray for him" So please pray too for this little fellow.
My Boss Chris is back in hospital with his leaukaemia flaring up again after 6 years remission. He had some kind of bleed on the brain the other night which put him in ICU drs saying he may not make it through the night but he is OK now and back in the ward.
i was able to speak directly with our head lady in the department (who came to see Georgie twice in ICU) who actually said "it is so good you rang I really needed to download to soemeone I've just been in to see him, I know you understand about all of these things".
There is still a sense of "family" amongst the old Ag Department. Twice this lady has asked staff to pray for Chris. Please pray for the opportunities we have at work to show people the love of our wonderful God and to help lead them into his kingdom.

Still no word from nursing agency as to whether there will be any extra hours. School starts back next week and Ange still does not know whether she will get the nursing hours required to cover her teaching.

Was asked last week to do the bible reading at church and while i was there could I be interviewed about Georgie in front of the church - fortunately it was not my week to go to church. I still find this sort of thing very hard. Sometimes it would be good to just go to church.
Often feel so awkward when people struggle to pray for her and yet there are so many others at church who have so many needs but never get mentioned. When someone with such feeling prays for her and still asks for healing it is very moving. I wonder what God feels.

Wed 7th April

Dear all we had a great Easter and Georgie was very peaceful throughout it. We felt God's favour in allowing us to do some enjoyable things - even though to do things all together is not possible now.
Ange went to church on Friday with Em and James then went down to Oxley Downs where they filmed the series "outback house" then down to Yeoval to the wykes' farm. On Monday they went hiking up to the Warrumbungles with a couple of friends.
On Saturday/sunday James and I went camping and fishing at Burrendong with a mate and his son.
On the nursing front we were told yesterday we will get 3 hrs per day from 10am til 1pm.
Certainly better than nothing but not really enough to give a decent break or for Ange to keep working. Not enough for Georgie either as it is time consuming showering, changing, doing chest physio etc and Ange really needs some help with household jobs too. So thankyou for praying we will keep trying for more.
Psalm 37 v3 - 5 Trust (lean on, rely on and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord(roll and repose each care of your load on Him)trust also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

Well we will wait and see what will happen.
Commit it to prayer and wait and see what God will do.
It could be part of the answer to the difficulty we had from some nurses.
Thankyou for your continued prayer.

The next test

Hi folks Georgie has been sick a lot again lately days and nights blur into weeks somehow so couldn't really say how long.
We have had a turn of events with the nursing side of things.
First a nurse resigned then the nurse in charge of the Uniting Care resigned (her mum going into a nursing home in NZ) then another nurse has resigned leaving only two nurses in the agency. They have other clients besides ourselves so yesterday I was called by the nurse and went home and she left and the afternoon shift did not come out.
Today no nurse at all.
Without nursing help Ange will have to stop work altogether and I may have to consider what I do with work.
We are going to approach Baptist Community Services again though a year ago they told me they don't look after kids only elderly folks.
We don't know of any other agencies around Dubbo. There is supposed to be no trouble with funding but now just not enough nurses.

tuesday

Terrible evening yesterday.
We received a letter from Westmead today to say they were increasing investigations into epilepsies in children. They do not think that it will help Georgie but may help them understand more about epilepsy in children and possible future treatments.
Most web sites say they can only determine why 3 in 10 children get epilepsy or have fits.

Psalm 73 (Of Asaph)
When my heart was soured; and I was wounded to the core,
I was but brutish and ignorant;
no better than a beast before you.
Nevertheless I am always with you,
for you hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with your counsel;
and afterwards you will lead me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
and there is no one upon earth that I desire in comparison with you.

Monday

Hi the usual ups and downs with Georgie. She was somewhat better again over the weekend. ie she had no temperatures. Yesterday afternoon was one of those rare times when she is a bit awake and peaceful even looking a bit more contented at times. Last night she had another choking episode.
Things have been settling a bit with the nursing staff. I don't know what caused the trouble nor why it settled but we have been praying it would.

A verse I've been thinking about "For David after he had served God's will and purpose and counsel in his own generation, fell asleep"

Friday

Not the best night for Georgie. Been settled this morning's shift though. Mum and Dad visiting this weekend which will be lovely - Mum always does all of the cooking! (and we always get a roast- she knows what makes men happy!)
As always prayer for wisdom - hard to make sound judgements when you are so fatigued.
We do have a home visiting GP called Sandra now who is a Christian also and who tries to be helpful and positive.

A friend Julie who works for Uniting church chaplaincy from Hillston just rang to see how we all were. She spoke about a guy in Hillston who makes these little carved wooden "holding crosses". Julie said she would never have thought of them once but has given a few away after disasters and so on. Sometimes there are no words and they just hold these crosses and it gives folks something to hold that keeps them clinging to God when there are no words. The fellow who makes them said he just gives them away down the street; grown men have wept on his shoulder. What a wonderful God who puts such things into the hearts of men.
She also spoke about a "thanksgiving" service to God with the combined churches to thank God for the rain he has sent. They held it at the banks of the Lachlan river as the river was rushing past them and had been so dry for so long.
I read an amazing story to Georgie the other night - the sort where you stop reading audibly and just read on silently until the person says keep reading- only Georgie couldn't. It was of a woman who became a Christian through the prayer of a neighbour even though when she met that person her heart was hard. This person kept praying for her for 7 years. She was a wealthy business woman but she sold her three businesses and set up a Christian organisation.
She smuggled bibles into China. She took two sacks of bibles to a house but all of the believers had been arrested by the authorities. She found a ladder to an attic and climbed up it. She found rough hand made pews and knew this was their church. She waited and prayed. After a while a little old toothless woman came out from behind a false wall. She showed her inside and all of these children were hidden in there. The families of all those taken away. A book shelf was there with hand copied bibles on it that the children wrote out a page per day. A man was there who had been continually praying for ten days for someone to bring them bibles.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, forthey shall be filled.

Thursday

Georgie sick again today and shaky from infection
We will try to get antibiotics again today for her. This UTI she picked up in hospital is proving very persistent.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer Romans 12:12

How different to the world. We often feel the chief aim of some medicos is to destroy our hope. They even mock us at times sometimes behind our backs and sometimes to our face.
Yes it is hard to forgive but we know it is not an option not to. Pray for your enemies.....
It is so hard to love someone who thinks your daughter should die. God created man and they not only wanted his son to die but carried it out.

Monday

Hi all not much to report but just thought I'd put a couple of pics up of where we take Georgie for a walk.

Georgie Ok but fairly unsettled last few days. Asleep all day and awake all night- life goes on i guess! Ange and I are still smarting from all the accusation and humiliation of the meeting last week. Trying to pray for them and just forget it all.

James has a new pet - a baby hare which we found when we were slashing the long grass in the back paddock on the weekend. It is amazing how these little creatures can just live out in the paddock surviving heat, cold and rain. They don't live in a burrow like a rabbit but just in a grass "form". After giving birth the mother deposits the babies around the paddock and then visits each of them to feed them. The babies naturally lie still to hide. When the mother goes to feed them she takes a different route and will jump a long way sideways to break up the scent trail. Creation never ceases to amaze us.

More beautiful rain out here over weekend with another 60mm. The country is transformed. Many farmers are saying this is now the best summer/autumn for 20 years.

"In my distress I called to the Lord;

he answered me and set me free.

The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid;

what can anyone do to me?

It is the Lord who helps me,

and I will see my enemies defeated.

It is better to trust in the Lord

than to depend on man.

It is better to trust in the Lord

than to depend on human leaders.

Ps 118 v 5 to 9

Wednesday

Happy birthday to Mum!

Well we got through the meeting today - just. They had started the meeting with an "end-of-life" plan and discussions about the use of morphine etc so not a good way to start.......They get so bogged down in all of this stuff.

I walked in to find about ten stony-faced people in the room. (brought back memories of all those dreadful meetings at Westmead) Ange had been delayed until the main meeting was finished as HomeCare had forgotten to roster a nurse on at home while we went to the meeting they had organised.
The funding for the home care help should continue but the additional funding for some extra things may not continue after June. The home care ladies and the hospital NUM and Lourdes hospital lady were all so helpful and kind as they always are. I cannot praise them enough.

They do not have the right facilities or surgeon to take Georgie's central line out in Dubbo and it is full of infection so it never gets used and now not even flushed anymore as each time it gets flushed Georgie gets the shakes due to a sudden influx of germs. It is now just a useless piece of paraphernalia that gives her infections and is a hazard.

There was some talk of a medication review which I've asked about for some time but they said she would have to go to Sydney for it. (Late last year the hospital Dr suddenly decided she did not need one of the anti-epileptics anymore (because it cost too much) and just reduced it by half overnight and said you can take her home now. I refused and said she can stay in here for a few days until you can observe whether it works or not - which it didn't at that time.)

Maybe they can do both while she is down there - if she goes? Something else to pray about. Somehow I have always thought she would go back to visit Westmead again.
Sometimes it is strange but I actually miss it. I miss those folks who are so full of faith who come and with passion pour out their hearts to the Lord for Georgie. Those who dreamed dreams and saw visions - really did. Those who saw angels in Georgie's room - even nurses. We found a Dr in ICU just sitting in the corner in the dark one night. Ange asked him what he was doing and he said "I don't know really it was just so peaceful in here i couldn't leave". The prayer walking and the friendship to other families in distress and church and prayer meetings in Sydney and of course having our family around.

Em said at the table last night she wants a birthday this year as it will probably be her last one at home for a while as she hopes to go off next year when she has finished school. It has all gone too quickly. (I am sure I was just feeding her with a bottle last week...)

Thankyou for praying for Ken and Col. I have not been able to find out if Col was able to share anything with Ken or not. Ken passed away on Friday and his funeral was today.

I have been reading a lot lately and particularly enjoying a book called "Hardcore Christianity" by Angus Buchan. Some of you may have seen a movie about him called "faith like potatoes".
He is a 58 yr old South African farmer and evangelist. He has been running Christian men's conferences on his farm for some years now and this year they expect 400,000 men. There are many amazing and miraculous stories in it. People raised from the dead, cripples made to walk, deaf ears unstopped and many many conversions. Sometimes people are just not healed - he does not know why- that is the Lord's business he says.His is to preach the gospel and to do what James says to lay hands on the sick and pray the prayer of faith. His priority is for the gospel - the other things follow.

Friday 26th

Not too bad a week.
We have had a bit of grief lately as some of the nurses coming out to do home care have been complaining to their supervisor that they are finding the work somewhat "unrewarding" and so have been complaining about little things. We were scheduled today to have an OH&S inspection by the home care agency of our house to make sure it is safe for them to work in but they did not turn up. Things like hanging out washing on the line and so on are off the work list until it is deemed safe to do so. (what a crazy world we live in)
We have a big "case conference" with all the medical people involved from around town on wednesday next week 3rd march. This is also something to pray about that they will be positive.
Last year the paediatrician said as far as he was concerned the most important thing for him was that "when the time comes that georgie has a good death". What a position to start from.
Well thanks again.

Wed

Hi all, Georgie been a bit better again.
We think she had almost beaten the chest infection without antibiotics but then there was some other infection that took hold.
Ange woke at midnight one night last week and went and helped her. She said she was sure she would have died if Ange hadn't woken up and helped her as the fever had returned savagely in the night. A couple of days later a pastor and his wife came out ( the first visit in a year) His wife said she had woken up at that hour and had been praying for Georgie. It was very encouraging to know this. We used to often hear this kind of thing.
Thanks for your prayers and also for praying for ken and col.
Psalm 42 v 11 "Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God".

Thursday afternoon

Hi Georgie very sick with an infection overnight. Starting her on anti biotics this afternoon.
If she was much worse we would have to take her to hospital.

I went to a field day at Trangie today and met up with quite a few farmers i have not seen for some time. There is still a huge groundswell of feeling and support out there.

Would you also please pray for a colleague called Ken who has had several operations to remove brain tumours. The tumours have regrown and he is in a very bad way now. A friend Col who is a Christian is going to see him tomorrow and would appreciate some prayer. We do not think that Ken would know Jesus. Col will need a lot of strength to talk with him.

I am reminded of the thief on the cross. He had nothing to offer and no life left to give but Jesus still took him home.

Monday 15th Feb afternoon

Not so good today. Georgie been sick again.
Homecare told Ange that Georgie was looking skinny - so she's not happy.
We can only feed her as much as she will take which lately has not been a lot.

(PS Someone asked me today how to leave a comment.
Underneath each update is the word comments and if you click on that and wait a few moments it will show you how to.)

Monday morning

Hi folks, Friday evening was terrible, but later she settled and slept all night allowing us to do the same. Saturday night was good also. Last night not too bad.
She got the shivers for a while yesterday afternoon. The temps respond to panadol which is good.
In the main though she was a bit better on the weekend than late last week.

Another little story.
When we were in Westmead a fellow used to come in on Sunday afternoons and do a kind of massage therapy called Bowen massage and it used to seem to relax Georgie.
I was just remembering it the other day and wished I could remember how to do it.
A couple of days later i got a phone call on the way to work and it was Anges first day teaching at Wellington so she was with me. It was a guy from Ridgecrest Christian camp site called Clive Gibbs. Ange said "I bet that's Clive and Jenny Gibbs", who she knew from Kurrajong days.
He wondered how i knew so much about Ridgecrest. I said " I'm a Christian mate, I 've been out there".
I went out to see what the issues were with the playing field and his wife came over while we were talking and found out who i was and then found out I was Georgie's dad and she said Greg have you ever heard of Bowen massage? I have had it on my heart to come and do it for Georgie....
Anyway they called in at home the other day and Jenny did some massage.

Some other questions:-
Yes ange loved her first few days teaching.
Yes it's still raining - our third good weekend of rain since Christmas now.

Thankyou for your prayers for sleep. When we can get some sleep we can cope.

Friday arvo

Hi, Georgie still up and down with temps etc. Probably not quite so stable. We all tired.
Wisdom to know what to do. You all know how we feel about taking her into hospital.

As I was praying this morning this verse came to mind:-

James 1 v 25
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Tuesday

What a beautiful day to be out in God's glorious countryside! We had 70mm of rain over the weekend and many dams - and even spots where there aren't dams are brim full of fresh water. Pastures are coming away. Stock are looking better and there are turtles out wandering on the roads and frogs everywhere. Every thing is coming to life again. Some farmers further north are saying they think the drought is broken for them anyway. (This is despite all of the weather forecasts for el nino that I sit in on at work.)
Ange is back for her 2nd day of teaching at Wellington Christian school today. She really enjoyed the first day and is enjoying going over some old agriculture stuff for her classes. So praise God He is blessing us. (He always is, but some types of His blessings are easier to swallow than others if you know what i mean)
Georgie went OK yesterday and seems to be still holding her own. She had a temp at about 5am this morning which came down once we attended to her.
Psalm 18 v 16 "The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me; He pulled me out of the deep waters"

Friday

Georgie "chesty"' again overnight with some fevers.
I took her for a walk this morning when she had settled but her temp had come up again later.
Raining up here today.

Wednesday

Georgie been getting temperatures again the last couple of days. Most likely her chest again but can never be sure.

Monday 1st Feb

Hi Folks Georgie's chest seems ok at this stage.
A really hard morning for Ange (who feels things deeply) as Em and James went off to school to start the new year and again Georgie is still at home. Seeing other kids Georgie's age growing and doing lots of fun things but not Georgie is one of those irreconcilable pains. It is hard for Em and James too who sometimes say they still look for Georgie in the playground.

Friday

A reasonable week.
Georgie been getting a bit chesty over the last couple of days.


"Have you not known? Have you not heard?The everlasting God, The Lord, The creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow weary; tere is no searching of His understanding.
He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength(causing it to multiply and making it to abound)(11Cor 12v9) Even youths shall faint and be weary, and (selected) young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift up their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Isaiah 40 v 28 to 31

A nice afternoon too hot outside to do anything and all tired we watched a couple of movies. Georgie in her room got a bit agitated so we brought her out and she began to faintly smile, settled down and spent the afternoon waking and dozing off. Took Georgie for a late walk and came home by moonlight. All quiet, no mozzies now and a good chance to pray while walking.
Lately Georgie can become quite agitated at times and sometimes we believe she is just lonely.
The other morning she let out a bit of a frightened sort of cry but you know after just a minute or two of talking with her and touch she just settles again. We can only imagine what she must think at times when she comes to a bit as she can't communicate in normal ways. Though sometimes her mumblings sound a bit like words.
Probably been about the best month now for her for some time.
Ange said a lady at church prayed for Georgie's healing yesterday up the front. Do you know it is a hard thing for so many people to do? There are still some who will pray for what is impossible because they believe it is right and that God honours faith. I don't expect them to but it is encouraging when someone does just the same.
It is interesting to see what is in some folks isn't it? This is tremendously encouraging especially in a church which doesn't believe in miracles - they are basically sticking their neck out ("The age of miracles has passed away" I am told- oh does that mean God has also "passed away" I think?)
We have had a number of well-meaning people "suggest" to us to put her into some kind of "home"- what do you call our place? I think to myself. James and Em were mortified to think of that happening.
So again thankyou for your prayer by which God has been answering and giving us the ability to do this.

Friday arvo

Well we have been very blessed by a good period of stability with Georgie ever since Christmas. A chest infection has been threatening to start but thankfully hasn't. We have been very vigilant taking Georgie for early morning and late evening walks when it is cool enough for about 40 mins each. It takes time but is so good for her and it has also been good family time and exercise. Em especially loves to take her.
So we thank you for your prayers and we thank God for showing us so much grace.
Our final house occupation certificate was issued this week also so we can now "legally" live in our house!

Tues 12th jan

Georgie been a bit "chesty" again last couple of days so the nights have been very broken again.

Wed 7th

Dear all, Georgie has been having a really good time since Christmas with just nothing going wrong. Had many long walks up the bush road at the end of our street with fresh air, beautiful mild weather and greenery after 5 inches of rain over the Christmas/New year period.
Last night she awoke vomiting at midnight and for the next hour and a half we had a battle on our hands to clear her airway. She had a temp this morning. Can all change so suddenly. Always trying to make the most of the calm periods and being thankful for them while still praying for better times for her. Always hard to see any relapse after a good time as well as you get your hopes up.

Have had a few visitors over Christmas which has been good. Em and James had a week down the coast with mum and dad.
"In this world you will have trouble but do not fear for I have overcome the world."
Some other things to pray for:-
That the home nursing would be able to continue.
That Ange might get a chance to do something else like a bit of relief teaching