Roscoe's Story :: Prayer is Powerful

Today I wanted to take a little time to share with you a little bit of the story of my nephew, Roscoe. Roscoe was born almost 9 months ago - delivered at 28 weeks and 5 days and weighing in at a whoppin' 1 pound, 2.7 ounces.

We had known before the delivery that he would be coming early and the events surrounding his birth were truly scary. We were praying for him to get big enough before he was born to be able to fit the smallest breathing tube available, and he just barely passed the mark. Knowing that just because of how early he was delivered and how small he was, every day that he remained alive was such a wonderful blessing.

Roscoe has been in the NICU the entire time (almost 9 months now), and there is so much more that needs to happen before he is able to go home with his parents. We have been praying for this precious little guy. Big time.

God is good, and he takes loving care of his children...but that doesn't always mean things are easy or the answer we think is best. All of the journey has been laden with medical issues, but there have been some times in particular where it sounded like Roscoe wasn't going to make it through. One of these times was just recently. People from all over the world, including many people our family has never even met, have been praying for Roscoe. It has been so encouraging! We know that God listens to our prayers and I believe He has allowed Roscoe to live this long because of those prayers. And I am begging Him to let Roscoe live longer, be healthy enough to go home with his parents, and live a long life. God is able. 

In all this time of praying, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (in Daniel 3) keeps popping up in my mind. I think of how they told King Nebuchadnezzar that they knew God was able to deliver them from the fire. (A fire that consumed others who even got close to it.) But they also knew that even if God chose not to save them - it was not enough to sway them from trusting only in Him. 

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

Daniel 3: 17-18

In this situation, I know that God is able to heal Roscoe. He is Jehovah Rapha, The Lord our Healer. He is able to let him live. He is Elohim, Strong Creator. He is able to allow him to be healthy and go home with his parents. But I also know that even if God doesn't heal Roscoe...I will still trust in Him. I will continue to strive to live as He wants me to. And although that should be so easy to do with how much God has done for us...it is still hard to say sometimes. But I know...

God is good. 

All the time. 

My brother (Roscoe's dad) is so much better with words than I am. Please, read the blog that he keeps updated with Roscoe's story. Read how many prayers have been answered already in Roscoe's life and how God is (and has been) faithful through all of this. 

Please - pray for Roscoe, his parents, and the doctors and nurses that are watching over him. And please, encourage his parents by adding your name to Roscoe's prayer map.

Prayer is powerful.

XOXO Layout

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I love these pictures that my favorite photographer took of my kids a couple years ago at a fun Valentine's Day photo shoot.
(Yes...I said a couple years ago. I am not generally a scrapbooker, so even that is ahead of the game for me.)

When I came across this patterned paper from Crate Paper's Love Notes collection, I thought it would be perfect to pair with these love-themed photos. I added overlays (again from the Love Notes collection) on top of each picture on the page. The printing on the overlays helped the bright photos blend better with the aged look of the paper.

I finished off the page with a few transparencies and chipboard pieces from the same collection and then added in some simple pearls. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper (Love Notes - 12x12);
Chipboard: Crate Paper (Love Notes);
Transparencies: Crate Paper (Love Notes - Valentines);
Pearls: Melissa Frances (Pearls - GN297);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer); Tim Holtz (Tiny Attacher);

Loves & Kisses

After completing my Eiffel Tower project I couldn't stop dreaming of pink & black projects using the Echo Park "Be Mine" collection and the matching Unity stamps. I thought this picture {taken by Alisha from Alisha Hurt Photography} was the perfect picture to use with these papers and stamps.

I used Black Tuxedo ink from Memento to stamp the images and used an embossing stylus to add some dimension. I layered in some tulle, Prima flowers, Tim Holtz film strip "ribbon" and Maya Road trinket pins and chandelier beads.

Supplies:
Patterned paper: Echo Park Paper Company {Be Mine};
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company {I Adore You}; Unity Stamp Company {With Love};
Ink: Memento {Tuxedo Black};
Embellishments: Maya Road {Trinket Pins}; Maya Road {Chandelier Beads}; Tim Holtz {Film Strip Ribbon}; Prima Marketing {Flowers}; tulle;
Tools: Fiskars {Craft Knife}; Fiskars {Paper Trimmer}; Fiskars {Scissors}; Martha Stewart {Scoring Board}; Loew-Cornell {Embossing Stylus};

Cards from Shutterfly

Remember that promotion from Shutterfly that I shared with you about getting 50 FREE holiday cards?

Well, I received my code and placed my order today. I had already made my own handmade cards for the most part, but I did get a few spare cards to have on hand...

Love Peace Joy Holiday 5x7 folded card

Create photo new year's cards with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

I also got some generic cards from our whole family...

Mod Peony Green 5x7 folded card

Unique party invitations and announcements by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

And some special "Happy Thoughts" cards as well...

Simply Memories Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shop Shutterfly for unique, personalized Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Those aren't the only styles I got...but that's a preview at least.

Be sure to check out the card selection from Shutterfly!

{*And of course all these fabulous pictures are from Alisha at Alisha Hurt Photography!}